Capitol Illini Newsletter
In the Summer 2010 Issue ...
The Silent signs of feline arthritis
As our dogs age we notice signs of osteoarthritis and the pain associated with it. However, cats often hide signs of pain and aging, making it more difficult to notice when they get arthritis. There are some signs to look for as our cats age: sleeping more, reduced activity, changes in temperament, difficulty with grooming, and even urinating outside of the litter box can be signs of chronic pain in cats that can be misunderstood as behavioral changes due to age or anxiety. Cats rarely show any lameness like dogs often do from pain caused by arthritis. Osteoarthritis is a chronic and progressive disease that involves deterioration and inflammation of the joints. It is a painful and debilitating disease. Treatment is necessary to improve quality of life as the disease progresses.
Doggie Alzheimer's
Many people know what it is like for a family member to have difficulty with memory loss or Alzheimer's, but did you know that dogs can develop a similar condition called cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS) as they age? Older dogs may develop changes in behavior that could actually be signs of cognitive dysfunction. Symptoms of cognitive dysfunction may include: recent onset of aggression, house-soiling when the dog has previously been house trained, pacing, separation anxiety, noise phobias, excessive vocalization, gazing, or nocturnal restlessness. Although these may be symptoms of cognitive dysfunction they may also occur with other medical conditions such as dental disease, osteoarthritis, or vision and hearing loss.
Tylenol is toxic!
Many products in our homes can be harmful to our pets. One that is often overlooked is Tylenol or Acetaminophen. It is harmful to both cats and dogs but cats are more severely affected. Tylenol is processed by the liver; therefore, the liver can be damaged by ingestion. It also affects how the animals' blood carries oxygen. Symptoms of toxicity include: brown urine, difficult breathing, depression, weakness, loss of appetite, fluid accumulation in the face and paws, brown gum color, coma and death.
A few fun facts about our furry friends
- A cat has 230 bones in it’s body, a human only has 206.
- Obesity is the number one health problem affecting dogs.
- A cat sees about six times better than a human at night because of the tapetum lucidum, a layer of extra reflecting cells in the eye which absorb light.
- A dog can smell 44 times better than a human and can hear about 10 times better.
- A cat’s heart beats at 110-140 beats per minute, about twice as fast as a human.
Staff corner
Kari joined the Capitol Illini team in February 2009. She is a recent graduate of the Certified Veterinary Technician program of Sanford-Brown College in Fenton, Missouri where she graduated with honors and received the award for "Most Outstanding Student."