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Is Your Cat Sociopathic or Just Territorial A Case Study of Pepper

Details: Category: Pet Health; Written by Lee Arnold

I adopted Pepper from a shelter in 1992, just after I moved to Philadelphia. I had cats growing up on a farm in Wisconsin, but never had the opportunity to have one as an adult, due to various rental agreements. From 1992, to 1998 when I met my partner Neal, it was just us two. I had had relationships during that time, but perhaps Pepper knew that they would not last and therefore didn’t pay much attention. Then I met Neal and after several weeks he began to notice a change in her behavior, saying one day, “You know she’s trying to kill me.”

I don’t want get ahead of the story. Neal is a psychiatrist and I used to joke that he had previously diagnosed Pepper with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and Oppositional Disorder; a charge he strenuously denies. Since she had the propensity to throw-up if she ate too fast (usually while sitting on one of us), he did characterize her as bulimic. But this was the first time any type of sociopathy was hinted.

Things started out just fine with Pepper until she figured out Neal wasn’t going anywhere. First she would just glare at him. Then he said he would notice that while sleeping he’d be woken up with Pepper placing her paw firmly on his carotid artery. At this point I need to mention that when I had gotten her from the pound, Pepper had only one tooth left (which had to be removed because it was infected), had been declawed by her previous owners, and weighed all of 8 pounds her entire life. She was not physically intimidating. She was a good, kind, kitty cat—totally non-violent--a saint really. If fact she did Yoga with me every morning.

But Neal explained it to me further. “I think she was upset because I was disrupting her domain and daily patterns. I was the interloper in her mind. It really made sense. She was the focus of your life for so many years, and when I entered the picture things changed a bit. You were still devoted to her, but your routine adjusted. We obviously spent a lot of time together, traveled, etc. Pepper was always well cared for, but things were different and in her mind I was the culprit.” Even though Pepper’s brain was the size of a walnut, I conceded that he had a point.

Anyway, the good news was that they eventually made a truce. She figured out she didn’t have enough upper arm strength to do any permanent damage to him and he acknowledged the important role she played in my life. They actually got along quite well.

Unfortunately in the spring of 2001 Pepper’s health began to deteriorate. I took her to her regular vet and then to two specialists. But in the end she simply passed. I was very distraught and Neal was too. But I am heartened to know that they both really liked each other towards the end and that I gave her a good life for nine years. Her ashes are in a pet cemetery in North Jersey.

Every now and then I still ask Neal: “So, did you think she was sociopathic?” He usually replies: “Well, let’s just say she had issues and leave it at that.”

Lee Arnold is a librarian, archivist and travel writer living in Philadelphia.

No bones about it

Details: Category: Pet Health

The idea that it’s natural for dogs to chew on bones is a popular one. However, it’s a dangerous practice and can cause serious injury to your pet.

“Some people think it’s safe to give dogs large bones, like those from a ham or a roast,” says Carmela Stamper, D.V.M., a veterinarian in the Center for Veterinary Medicine at the Food and Drug Administration. “Bones are unsafe no matter what their size. Giving your dog a bone may make your pet a candidate for a trip to your veterinarian’s office later, possible emergency surgery, or even death.”

“Make sure you throw out bones from your own meals in a way that your dog can’t get to them,” adds Stamper, who suggests taking the trash out right away or putting the bones up high and out of your dog’s reach until you have a chance to dispose of them. “And pay attention to where your dog’s nose is when you walk him around the neighborhood—steer him away from any objects lying in the grass.”

Here are 10 reasons why it’s a bad idea to give your dog a bone:

1. Broken teeth. This may call for expensive veterinary dentistry.
2. Mouth or tongue injuries. These can be very bloody and messy and may require a trip to see your veterinarian.
3. Bone gets looped around your dog’s lower jaw. This can be frightening or painful for your dog and potentially costly to you, as it usually means a trip to see your veterinarian.
4. Bone gets stuck in esophagus, the tube that food travels through to reach the stomach. Your dog may gag, trying to bring the bone back up, and will need to see your veterinarian.
5. Bone gets stuck in windpipe. This may happen if your dog accidentally inhales a small enough piece of bone. This is an emergency because your dog will have trouble breathing. Get your pet to your veterinarian immediately!
6. Bone gets stuck in stomach. It went down just fine, but the bone may be too big to pass out of the stomach and into the intestines. Depending on the bone’s size, your dog may need surgery or upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, a procedure in which your veterinarian uses a long tube with a built-in camera and grabbing tools to try to remove the stuck bone from the stomach.
7. Bone gets stuck in intestines and causes a blockage. It may be time for surgery.
8. Constipation due to bone fragments. Your dog may have a hard time passing the bone fragments because they’re very sharp and they scrape the inside of the large intestine or rectum as they move along. This causes severe pain and may require a visit to your veterinarian.
9. Severe bleeding from the rectum. This is very messy and can be dangerous. It’s time for a trip to see your veterinarian.
10. Peritonitis. This nasty, difficult-to-treat bacterial infection of the abdomen is caused when bone fragments poke holes in your dog’s stomach or intestines. Your dog needs an emergency visit to your veterinarian because peritonitis can kill your dog.

“Talk with your veterinarian about alternatives to giving bones to your dog,” says Stamper. “There are many bone-like products made with materials that are safe for dogs to chew on.”

“Always supervise your dog with any chew product, especially one your dog hasn’t had before,” adds Stamper. “And always, if your dog ‘just isn’t acting right,’ call your veterinarian right away!”

This article appears on FDA's Consumer Updates page4, which features the latest on all FDA-regulated products.

Date Posted: April 20, 2010

Cat Heart Disease

Details: Category: Ask the Vet; Written by Dr Rose Dileva VMD,MS,CVCP,CVA

Q : My 15 year old Siamese cat has been diagnosed with a heart condition. The veterinarian called it cardiomyopathy. Could you explain what this is and if my cat can live with this kind of problem?

A: First let me explain the anatomy of the heart. The heart is a four chambered organ consisting of a right and left side and upper and lower chambers. The top chambers are called the atria and the lower chambers are called the ventricles. There are valves between the atria and ventricles to ensure that the blood flows in the correct direction. There is also a separation between the right and the left side of the heart called the septum. Blood from the body is received by the atria and blood from the left ventricle sends oxygen rich blood to the body.

Hazardous to Your Pet's Health

Details: Category: Pet Health; Written by Sherry Woodard

Your pets rely on you to protect them from harm. In general, you should only feed your pets food and treats specially formulated for the type of pet that you have. Some human food and drink can make animals sick, so keep them out of your pets’ reach. Here are some examples:

Canine Heart Health

Details: Category: Ask the Vet; Written by Dr Rose Dileva VMD,MS,CVCP,CVA

Q: At my dog’s last visit to the veterinarian, he mentioned that he heard a heart murmur and that “James” may have the beginning of heart disease. James is a 12 year old boxer. Can you shed some light on the subject?

A: First let me explain a little about the anatomy of the canine heart. The heart is a four chambered organ. The right side of the heart has an upper chamber called the atrium and a bottom chamber called the ventricle. The same applies to the left side of the heart. Between the top and bottom chambers on both sides are valves. The purpose of the valves is to ensure that blood flows in a consistent direction so that no “back flow” occurs. Blood should flow from the body to the right atrium of the heart which directs it towards the right ventricle. From there it is pumped to the lungs where it picks up oxygen rich blood. From the lungs it goes back to the left atrium and then into the left ventricle where it is pumped out into the body.

Ask the Vet :Summer Heat

Details: Category: Ask the Vet; Written by Dr. Rose DiLeva VMD, MS, CVCP, CVA

Q:Can you give me some advice on the dangers of heat as it pertains to my pets. I have a dog and cat plus an 8 year old rabbit that we keep in a hutch outside. What can I do to keep them safe during the hot summer months?

GOLD BEAD IMPLANTATIONS IN VETERINARY ACUPUNCTURE

Details: Category: Ask the Vet; Written by Dr Rose Dileva VMD,MS,CVCP,CVA

The 1970’s were an exciting decade in medicine in the United States. The introduction of acupuncture from the East opened up many avenues of healing. The public became more aware of alternative methods of healing, both for themselves and their pets. Individuals that had a positive response to non-conventional treatment modalities, such as acupuncture, homeopathy, Chinese herbs or chiropractic adjustments, began to question whether these same treatments would be beneficial for their companion animals.

The Scary Truth About Pet Foods

Details: Category: Ask the Vet; Written by Dr. Rose DiLeva, VMD, MS, CVCP, CVA

What are we really feeding our Pets?

A: The pet food industry is a multi-billion dollar per ?year industry. More than 95% of United States companion animals derive their nutritional needs from a single source; that source is commercial pet food. The quality of pet food is extremely variable. There are literally hundreds of pet foods on the market and they range in quality of ingredients. Some contain grains and by-products, others contain human grade meats. This is where the importance of reading the pet food ingredients label comes into play.

VETERINARY ACUPUNCTURE

Details: Category: Ask the Vet; Written by Rose DiLeva VMD, MS, CVCP, CVA

Q: I’ve recently found out that acupuncture is practiced on pets. What pets exactly?

A: Acupuncture is the placement of tiny needles into specific predetermined locations, called acupuncture points, on the body for the purposes of healing. The word “acupuncture” is derived from the Latin “acus”, which means “needle” and “pungare”, which means, “to pierce”.