The Five Most Common Diseases for Cats

February 7, 2017February 7, 2017 / susanbulanda / 2 Comments

Cats, like dogs, suffer from inherited diseases. Understanding what these diseases are can help the cat owner work with their veterinarian to insure that their cat lives a long, healthy life. This article will briefly explain the five most common diseases. It is important to note that although many inherited diseases may be more common in certain breeds of cats, all cats can suffer from them.

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Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM)

Affected cats can experience heart failure or sudden death at 6 months to 7 years of age. This disease is more common in Main Coon Cats and Ragdoll cats. There is genetic testing for this disease which should be done to all cats of these breeds, including kittens before they are sold.

It also appears in Sphynx, Norwegian forest cats, Persian, Chartreux, Bengal, and Birman cats.

Polycystic kidney disease (PKD)

Is common in Persian cats as well as in high frequencies in Himalayan and other Persian-derived breeds. All longhaired cats that are suspected of having a Persian background should be suspect. Most affected cats develop kidney failure at an average age of 7 years (range, 4-10 years).

Suspect cats and kittens should have a PKD DNA test to determine if they carry the gene for this disease. There is no cure for kidney failure which results from the disease. Note that the old method, ultrasonography is not reliable and should not be used as a means of testing cats. I owned a Turkish Angora cat that suffered from this disease and died at a young age.

Lymphocytic or Plasmacytic Inflammation Disease

Also known as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This is more common in Siamese and other Asian breeds. This disease can be controlled with dietary changes, anti-inflammatory or immunoregulatory drugs, minimization of environmental stress, and dental extraction in cats with severe gingivostomatitis.

Diabetes mellitus

This is a common diagnosis in cats and can be controlled with insulin and diet. Although it is common in all cats, it is often seen in Burmese, Siamese, Norwegian forest, Russian blue, and Abyssinian cats and overweight domestic shorthaired cats. Weight control is a good preventative measure for diabetes.

Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD)

Persian cats seem to be at greater risk for this disease, but it affects all cats. It does not appear to be infectious. Owners must be diligent in treating and preventing this by minimizing environmental stress, maintaining anti-inflammatory or behavior-modifying drugs that decrease likelihood for bladder inflammation, and maintaining dietary control for cats predisposed to crystalluria.

Other common inherited health issues are:

Bladder stones, allergic skin disease, mammary tumors, and lymphoma. Hyperthyroidism is frequently seen as well but it does not seem to be inherited.

In conclusion it is best to have suspected cats tested for the various diseases that they may be susceptible to. This can be done through the Canine and Feline Hereditary Disease (DNA) Testing Laboratories at http://research.vet.upenn.edu/Default.aspx?TabId=7620

FMI:

http://www.cliniciansbrief.com/article/top-5-genetic-diseases-cats?utm_medium=email&utm_source=Clinician%27s+Brief+Newsletter&utm_campaign=Online+170207&eid=290551173&bid=1654455

Studies offer new hope for diagnosis of Chiari-malformation in toy dog breeds

February 1, 2017 / susanbulanda / 2 Comments

The public demand for certain toy dogs to have rounded head shapes and short muzzles have caused them to suffer from Chiari malformation and Syringomyelia disorder.

Chiari malformation is when the bones in the skull fuse too soon and causes fluid pockets in the spinal cord. The fluid pockets which are called Syringomyelia can cause permanent damage to the spinal cord and pain for the dogs. The most common breed that is affected by this is the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Chihuahua and the Affenpinscher.

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A new study using an MRI mapping technique has allowed scientists to study how this happens and hopefully will help them develop ways to correct this painful condition.

It goes without saying that breeders can help by carefully breeding dogs who do not suffer from this condition and not breed for a style or look but rather for the dog’s health and opportunity for a pain free life.

A New Study Shows that People “Baby Talk” To Their Dogs

January 12, 2017January 12, 2017 / susanbulanda / 2 Comments

Dr. Nicolas Mathevon from Hunter College (CUNY) conducted an international study showing that people talk to their dogs, both puppies and adult dogs, the same way they talk to human babies. They use higher tones and speak slower. Interestingly people tend to talk this way to elderly people and people who do not speak their native language.

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What the team noted is that puppies do respond to this type of speech whereas adult dogs do not. It seems as though people talk this way when they think the animal or person they are talking to does not understand or has difficulty understanding what is being said.

It would be interesting to research this further to see if people talk this way to other animals such as birds and cats. It could be fun for my readers to watch people and see if you notice that they do this or even if you do it yourself.

Read the full article at: www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/01/170111151828.htm

Are Chickens Really “Dumb Clucks?” New research says No.

January 5, 2017January 5, 2017 / susanbulanda / 5 Comments

Recent tests have shown that chickens have individual personalities, can function in a group, can reason by deduction and understand their place in the flock. Not only that, but chickens have a sense of numbers and self-awareness.

It turns out that chicken communication is also much more complex than previously thought, including visual and auditory forms of communication. They are able to make decisions based on what they determine is best for themselves.

The study also showed that chickens experience both negative and positive emotions. Mother hens display maternal feelings for their chicks and influence how the chick behaves.

How interesting chickens are. Many people keep chickens for pets so this study should be of special interest to them. Chickens have been used for years to hone clicker skills for dog trainers and potential dog trainers.

My son Tom and my araucana chickens (many years ago)

www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/01/170103091955.htm

Lady Bugs Can Pose a Threat to Pets

November 17, 2016 / susanbulanda / 2 Comments

There is a “new” threat that dog owners have to watch out for, Lady Bugs! There have been cases where dogs were foaming at the mouth, drooling, lethargic and refused to eat. Upon examination the dog’s owner and/or veterinarian found Lady Bugs in the dog’s mouth.

Apparently Lady Bugs give off a toxin that causes a chemical burn in the dog’s mouth. There are certain times of the year that Lady Bugs seem to invade homes and some dogs try to eat them.

As a general rule, if there is an infestation of bugs in a home, a pet owner, both dog and cats, should watch carefully to make sure that their pet is not eating the bugs. My own dog became sick after eating a large number of Stink bugs. Fortunately, he only vomited and as a result of the experience never ate a Stink bug again.

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http://thebark.com/content/dogs-mouths-damaged-ladybugs?utm_source=Bark+Newsletter&utm_campaign=16b764efae-BarkNews_11162016&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_e8c8dbbec1-16b764efae-78310125&mc_cid=16b764efae&mc_eid=7a6c42f027

After the Rain by Rita Gerlach

November 7, 2016 / susanbulanda / 2 Comments

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After the Rain by Rita Gerlach, ISBN: 13: 978-1517606886 & 10: 1517606888, Self-Published, 569 pgs, $19.33.

This a wonderful Historical Christian Romance novel by Rita Gerlach that takes place in Chevy Chase, MD and Virginia during the Edwardian Age. Ms. Gerlach has captured the essence of life during this time in a captivating way. She shows the reader what life was like for the privileged and the poorest unwanted children. It is a captivating, page turning story with twists that will surprise the reader. One of the things that makes this novel seem real, is the way Ms. Gerlach portrays the personality of each character and weaves it together through the relationships between the people in the story. This book is suitable for all ages.

Phillip’s War

October 19, 2016 / susanbulanda / Leave a comment

Phillip’s War by Rachel Muller, 374 pgs., ISBN: 9781536961546, $15.99

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This is the third and final book in the Love & War series by Ms. Muller. The other two books are Letters from Grace and Maggie’s Mission. All three books complement each other telling the story about three friends during WWII. The emotions and flavor of this time period are captured by Ms. Muller with accurate details about life during WWII. Phillips War shows the reader how shell shock (PTSD) affected soldiers and their families.

While each book is unique, they weave a complete story together. Often when you finish a book you are left wondering what finally happened but Phillip’s War tells the rest of the story in a special section at the end of the book.

All three books are Christian based without being preachy and are suitable for all age groups. It is a good book for young adults to learn what life was like during the war years. Although the situations in all books are unique to WWII, the way the characters handle their problems applies to modern times as well.

Do Dogs Prefer Food or Praise as a Reward?

October 13, 2016October 13, 2016 / susanbulanda / 2 Comments

In an attempt to further understand the human-animal bond, researchers investigated whether or not dogs prefer praise or food from their owners. Surprisingly most of the dogs preferred praise or praise and food equally. Two of the dogs were chow-hounds and preferred food.

While 13 subjects are not a fair sampling, especially when one considers the personality differences in breeds and even within the same breed, the study does shed some possibilities for consideration.

Most trainers, behavior consultants and handlers of working or sport dogs can tell you about individual dogs who are not food motivated. The people who try to work with these dogs have to find another way to motivate them. Fortunately, most dogs will work for both praise and food, making it easier to motivate them in training situations.

Food is still a great way to train a dog, especially when coupled with clicker training. But for those dogs who are not food motivated, a pat on the head or verbal praise is just as good. When using food, it is always best to wean the dog off of the food once he has learned the exercise and save the special treat for new exercises.

Studies such as this one are great because they open minds and possibilities for future studies. The research team in this case want to explore how dogs process and understand human language.

www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/08/160816120656.htm

Bab’s — Praise Motivated

Riley — Food Motivated and laughing about it!

K9 Investigation Errors: A Manual for Avoiding Mistakes

September 21, 2016 / susanbulanda / Leave a comment

K9 Investigation Errors: A Manual for Avoiding Mistakes, by Resi Gerritsen and Ruud Haak, Brush Education, Inc.; 256 pgs.; ISBN: 978-1-55059-672-4, $44.95

How can you make a good book better? Resi Gerritsen and Ruud Haak who wrote K9 Fraud, have accomplished that with their updated book, K9 Investigation Errors. They cover many important points in handling dogs that are common mistakes. For example, they explain how dogs can read human gestures, even the slightest ones (the Clever Hans Effect) which can cause a false response from a dog. They review some famous cases in the United States and show how the handler or poor training misled authorities, sometimes resulting in the arrest of the wrong person.

What I especially liked was their comments that dog handlers who claim fantastic results with their dogs (typically false) influence authorities who believe them and then think that properly trained dogs who cannot perform to that level are not as good, when in fact the properly trained and handled dogs are correct.

Another interesting point that they bring out in their book is what they call failure scents. This is when a dog associates a scent with failure and by association can lead to the dog’s poor performance. This is the same as people will often associate a benign event, song, scent or even food with a bad experience and react to the memory that it triggers.

There is so much information in this book that I strongly recommend handlers of all disciplines read this book and evaluate how they can improve their dogs and their handling skills.

The book is a high quality book, as is typical of Brush Education Publications, with quality binding, pages and soft cover. It is well edited with no typo’s or other common mistakes that authors tend to make when writing. It is always a pleasure to review a Brush Education book.

The chapters are:

Scent-Identification Lineups

The Dutch Training Method for Scent Identification

Dogs’ Responsiveness to Human Gestures

Tracking Dogs in Crime Investigations

Scent Research and Tracking Experiments

Errors in Mantrailing

Human Odor and Dogs’ Scent Perception

Scent Problems and Training Problems

Preventing Investigation Errors

A Blog by Susan Bulanda

Certified Animal Behavior Consultant