Clinic News
Welcome Dr. Jessica Stern
After a determined search for a new veterinary associate, we are very pleased to announce the addition of Dr. Jessica Stern to the Cat Clinic of Seattle. We feel she is "just the right" feline doctor to join our practice and our dedicated staff.
Dr. Stern graduated Summa Cum Laude from Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine in 2004. She is also certified in veterinary acupuncture, so we are excited to offer this new innovative therapy now at the Cat Clinic. She is currently working towards her board certification in feline practice.
She has been practicing the past five years at various cat hospitals in Ohio and California. Now she has chosen to make her home in the beautiful Northwest. She brings with her four "furry children", two cats and two dogs as she moves cross country to join us in March.
In short, Dr. Stern loves cats and brings a high level of expertise to our practice. We know she will help us to continue the tradition of quality, compassionate care here at the Cat Clinic. Please join us in extending a warm welcome to her.
Safety tips for your playful cat
Lucy, an adorable 2-year-old shorthair, had no idea what was in store for her when she stole an earplug to play with. Her newfound toy was a cat's delight. She could bat it around and sink her teeth into it, but oops — getting too much into her game she swallowed it whole!
Fortunately her owners don't miss a clue and knew something was terribly amiss when Lucy started vomiting and not eating suddenly. They brought her right in to the clinic. At first we couldn't see anything on Lucy's plain radiographs of her belly, but after giving her a barium swallow we could tell that there was an obstruction in her bowels not letting anything past through. After an exploratory surgery to remove the earplug Lucy was back to her old self — hopefully wiser but under watchful eyes.
A word to the wise for us cat lovers to safety proof our cats' environments. We've removed pennies, bottle caps, dental floss, needles and thread, bra straps, telephone cords, puzzle pieces, tinsel and Easter grass from our playful beasties to name a few. Strings can be especially dangerous if a portion of the string becomes tethered around the tongue while the rest tries to move through the intestines sawing its way through the gut. So beware if suddenly your cat starts vomiting or stops eating and call us. Quick action can save lives.
Did you know lilies are toxic to your cat?
Unfortunately not everyone is aware of how a beautiful lily can be deadly toxic to a cat. Since we don't see a similar sensitivity in other species the newshas not be widely distributed to pet lovers. So please be aware that any part of a lily if ingested can cause rapid kidney failure in cats unless medical intervention occurs within 24hrs.
Symptoms of lily ingestion are vomiting, salivation, anorexia and depression. The initial symptoms of vomiting and drooling can go away in 4 to 6 hours leading owners and veterinarians to believe that the cat only has a mild stomach upset or hairball. Meanwhile the kidneys are failing and dehydration develops. If intravenous fluids are started within 24hours after ingestion the kidney failure can be reversed and cats have a good prognosis. Without medical intervention the kidneys totally close down and the only possible means of treatment would be through peritoneal dialysis or hemodialysis with a guarded outcome.
So pass the word around to your cat lover friends — no lilies.
In our 2007 remodel we installed comfy kitty condos
We've updated our boarding facilities to give our clients cats more comfort and space with a resting perch and a pass through portal if they're sharing their den with a friend. Our facilities are not designed to board hundreds of cats but rather limited to provide a smaller intimate space for our furry friends.
As we get to know our regular boarders they actually help us to lighten our day with their antics and affection. Our licensed technicians are watchful for any changes in appetite or behavior and are able to give any medications your cat might be taking. We had a lot of happy kitties thankful to escape the heat and stay with us during this summers heat wave.
Also we are glad to have gone online so that we now can update our world travelers on how their loved one is doing. So please feel free to stop in to check out our facilities should the need arise for your friend to stay with us. While you travel you can rest assured your kitty is getting the best of care in a caring and stimulating environment.
When your kitten becomes a 'grey panther'
When your 'little kitten' becomes about ten years old we feel that he or she is entering the 'golden years'. Consequently, certain symptoms can start appearing and can be important for us to know about. Generally speaking, we advise to watch for and report significant changes in attitude, appetite, activity, weight, water consumption and urination. Certain geriatric problems can be responsible for increases in some of the above, while others can cause decrease. Physical problems like vomiting, diarrhea, straining to urinate or defecate, stiffness, vision problems, bad breath or eating problems and skin lumps can be associated with potentially serious diseases or disorders and should be addressed.
Even with a healthy older cat, a good time to review any changes is during an annual physical examination. With the advances in veterinary medical care coupled with conscientious home care, pets are statistically living longer, better quality lives — and we want your 'grey panther' to be in that number!
Microchipping — The definitive way of identifying your cat
Microchips are great for cats that won't wear collars or are always losing them. Should your cat be injured and taken to a veterinarian or shelter by a Good Samaritan, any hospital with a scanner will be able to locate you. Also, if Animal Control ever picks up your cat they will be able to find out who owns him and how to reach you. Even microchipping indoor cats is a good idea in case of an emergency requiring quick evacuation where you may temporarily be separated from your cat.
The procedure for placing the microchip is quick and easy. It is placed in a hypodermic needle and slid under the skin much like giving a vaccine. Anesthesia or sedation is not necessary, and the procedure requires only a regular office call or a visit with our technician. Your cat's personal identification number (his PIN, if you will) is put inside a tiny rice-shaped piece of biocompatible material (called 'a microchip') and placed under the skin over the top of his shoulders. By holding a hand-held scanner near the area the number reads on the screen built into the scanner. By registering your current address and contact numbers with the chip maker they will keep a record of each cat's personal chip number and identify you as the owner as soon as some one calls.
It is always a good idea to also include an alternative person to contact in case you may not be available. No two animals will ever have the same numbers and the microchip will never wear out or cause your cat any discomfort.
