2012 - Truro Vet

Wiggles’ World June 25, 2012

Wiggles’ World

Courtesy of: Wiggles

Hellooo there! Welcome to Wiggle’s World, my new monthly blog. My name is Wiggles and I’m the newest member of the Truro Vet team. Many of you have seen me romping around the waiting room, keeping Victor young (he’s 16, which is 80 in people years) and greeting all your pets. Maybe you are wondering how I arrived here and why on earth they named me Wiggles?

When I was just a baby (maybe 3 months old?) some kind people found me outside. I was shaking and trembling all over and feeling really really sick. The nice folks brought me to Truro Vet, but since they weren’t my family and they couldn’t afford to treat whatever was wrong with me, they left me at the hospital. At first my doctors weren’t sure they could help me. They believed that a flea product that was good for dogs but very bad for cats had been applied to my neck. Treatment for this problem involves a good bath, intravenous fluids, hospitalization and medication, sometimes for a few days. This can be expensive, but luckily for me there were funds in the Lost Souls Fund, so they gave it a try. Without treatment I may have died.

As you can tell, I did get better, but for a long time I had muscle tremors and I wasn’t very coordinated when I walked. Can you tell why they called me Wiggles now? Luckily my symptoms are almost entirely gone, and while I was recovering, Victor asked if he could have me as a friend. I work very hard here, being nice to all the dogs and cats who come to visit.

I want everyone to know my story, because it doesn’t have to happen to any other kitties. By reading the label on all flea products carefully and making sure the product you use is safe for cats and the right dose for their size, you can prevent any other cat from getting sick this way. If you have any questions, just call me at Truro Vet (893-2341) and I’ll have my people get back to you!

Disease June 21, 2012

My Itchy Kitty

Courtesy: Dr. Michelle

I have two cats, Flynn (I will write about his adventure in another blog!) and Earl. Earl was found at a neighboring vet clinic where my fiancé works (also as a vet) during Hurricane Earl in 2010. After an extensive search for his owners with no success, we decided to adopt him.

Earl has severe allergies to both his environment and food that make him very itchy. This is a chronic, on-going, life-long condition that can be very challenging to manage. He is on a special diet, Royal Canin’s Hypoallergenic HP (Hydrolyzed Protein) which greatly helps to increase his overall comfort level. We don’t know exactly which ingredient in his food he is allergic to- most cats are allergic to either the meat or carbohydrate component (chicken, beef, rice, and potato are common instigators). This specific diet breaks the protein down into very small molecules that an animal’s immune system does not recognize, and therefore does not stimulate an allergic response. No allergic response=no itchiness=happy kitty! Therefore, this is the only food that Earl is allowed. If I feel the need to give him a treat (usually while applying his monthly Revolution), he gets a piece of his daily allotted kibble. If he sneaks a piece of dropped food from the floor, he becomes obviously itchy the next day (don’t even ask about the day when Flynn and Earl shared a box of graham crackers that were accidentally left on the counter!).

Since Earl is also allergic to his environment (likely pollen and dust mites), he receives a shot of a long-acting steroid every 6 or so weeks, depending on the season. While steroids can have detrimental consequences when used on a long-term basis, sometimes they are needed to improve the quality of life of an individual animal. I have recently started Earl on a drug called cyclosporine, which acts on his immune system in a different way than steroids do, therefore decreasing the risk of side effects. This drug is far more expensive than steroids, but if I am able to wean him off of the steroids and can make him comfortable on only the cyclosporine, then it is worth it! It is also makes fur grow at an exceptionally fast rate, and considering that Earl is completely bald on his belly from over-grooming himself while itchy, this will be an added benefit!

If you believe that your pet may be suffering from allergies, please give Truro Vet a call at 893-2341. We can’t wait to help!

General TVH Info June 20, 2012

Welcome to our blog!

Welcome to the Truro Veterinary Hospital blog. In the upcoming weeks and months we will be bringing you a variety of entertaining posts, on everything from nail trims to bloat. Our staff will be sharing personal stories of their pets and the medical struggles they have faced. Wiggles and Victor, our clinic cats, will likely be weighing in as well. We hope that you will use our blog as a resource for great medical information as well as a source of entertainment. Please feel free to comment on our posts as your feedback is very important to us!