Car Engines and Cats

Having been in the veterinary industry for going on 25 years now, I have always heard about how you need to check your car’s engine compartment before leaving in case a furry creature (cat, in this case) crawls up in there for warmth. But I had never had a firsthand experience with this until last winter.

My parents live in Mayetta, KS, just north of Topeka; it’s about a 100 mile drive one way. One very cold day they came to KC for a visit. Dad is a little hard of hearing, so he thought he heard something funny in the engine compartment on the way down, but didn’t really think much about it.

After driving the 100 miles to get to my house, he pulled into my driveway. I was inside the house with all of the windows closed, and yet I could hear the most awful sound coming from his car. I really had absolutely no idea what could be making that sound…it was almost primeval. I went outside to greet my parents and found Dad at the front of his car scratching his head thoughtfully. I asked him, rather loudly to be heard over the screeching, what was making that terrible sound. He looked at me with a shrug and proceeded to pop the hood open. We both peered carefully into the engine compartment and saw a furry tail twitching just as fast it could next to the radiator. The noise stopped, and a small kitten’s head looked up at us.

As it happens, Dad’s barn cat had given birth to a few kittens just about 12 weeks prior to this trip. 
Apparently one brave (?) kitten had wandered out into the garage and had found a nice, warm spot to take a nap. When the car started up, he was either too scared or dumb (I say that with kindness) to crawl out. So, 100 miles later, there we were, literally pulling the kitten out of the engine compartment. He was scorched in a few places, but otherwise unharmed physically. We were absolutely amazed that he had survived the muck and grime of the dirt roads, not even mentioning the heat from the engine and all of the moving belts and fans. (I know very little about engines, but I do know there are belts and fans!)

Dad instantly dubbed that kitten “Lucky” and provided him with an inside seat on the way home!

So now, both Dad and I always give the hood of our cars a good whack before we start it up. Travelers belong inside the car, safe and sound.

Kerry 

 Practice Manager

Diabetes

There are two forms of diabetes in pets: diabetes insipidus and diabetes mellitus. Diabetes insipidus is a very rare disorder that results in failure to regulate body water content. Due to its rarity, this article shall discuss the more common kind: Diabetes Mellitus.

Diabetes Mellitus is a fairly common disorder. It is a disease of the pancreas. This is a small but vital organ that is located near the stomach. It has two significant populations of cells. One group of cells produces the enzymes necessary for proper digestion. The other group, called beta-cells, produces the hormone called insulin. Simply put, diabetes mellitus a failure of the pancreas to regulate blood sugar.

Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes Mellitus is characterized by high blood sugar, which occurs when there is insufficient insulin to meet the pet's requirements. This handout is provided to help you learn more about Diabetes Mellitus, a disease which may respond to pet foods that contain moderate to high levels of fiber.

A pet with Diabetes Mellitus will exhibit some or all of the following signs:

• Weakness
• Rapid weight loss
• Increased thirst
• Depression
• Frequent urination
• Abdominal pain
• Lack of appetite or increased appetite are also signs. In some pets, sudden blindness due to cataracts and/or detached retinas may indicate diabetes.

Causes

Diabetes Mellitus in dogs and cats is caused by damage to the pancreas. Predisposing factors for this disease include:

• Obesity
• Gender (in dogs, females are affected twice as often as males, and in cats, diabetes is more prevalent in males)
• Genetic predisposition
• Poor diet
• Stress
• Hormonal abnormalities
• Drugs

Home Care Management for Diabetes Mellitus

There is no cure for Diabetes Mellitus, but as with humans it can be controlled with insulin injections, exercise and proper nutrition. Your veterinarian may recommend a pet food that contains moderate levels of fiber for one or all of the following reasons:

• Studies show that foods containing moderate to high levels of fiber lower insulin requirements and blood glucose levels;
• Experts believe that fiber may cause the body to be more responsive to insulin;
• Fiber slows the absorption of glucose from the intestinal tract and decreases hyperglycemia (high blood sugar);
• Foods with fixed nutrient profiles are consistent both in ingredient content and nutrient source; many commercial foods can vary from batch to batch depending on ingredient cost and availability.

If your pet is overweight and diagnosed with Diabetes Mellitus or other fiber-responsive disease, your veterinarian may recommend a food with high levels of fiber. Remember to follow these steps, and if you have any questions, do not hesitate to ask your veterinarian or healthcare team member.

Step 1: Make sure your pet eats a meal before you give the insulin injection.

Step 2: Feed the recommended food in the correct quantity at a regular time each day in conjunction with the insulin.

Step 3: As a general rule, the diabetic pet should be fed more than once a day to help maintain a constant blood sugar level.

Step 4: Do not feed table scraps or any food not recommended by your veterinarian.

If you have any questions concerning this disease or the care your pet needs, please call our office at 913-649-0440 or 913-649-0446. We will be happy to assist you.

Cherokee Animal Clinic
Cherokee Cat Clinic

Pumpkin Ice Bites for Dogs

Want your dog to have a delicious and safe holiday treat? Here's a simple recipe you can make at home:

Blend 1 cup of canned pumpkin with 1 cup of plain non-fat yogurt and freeze in an ice tray. Dogs can be given these one cube at a time (outside, because they can be a little messy for carpet!). 

This mixture can also be stuffed into a Kong or rubber stuffable toy and frozen. That will allow hours of dog entertainment!

Be sure to ask us for more safe and healthy treats you can make at home for your pets! 

Pet Adoption Shelters Servicing this Area

Great Plains SPCA
Pet Adoption Center is located at 9800 W. 67th (just west of the train tracks) in Merriam, KS.
913-831-7722

Purrfect Pets 
Cat Adoption center servicing the KC Metro area.
913-652-6677

Wayside Waifs 
Pet Adoption Center located in KCMO.
816-761-8151

Humane Society of Greater Kansas City
Pet Adoption Center located in Kansas City, KS
913-596-1000