Breed of the Month: Russian Blue

Striking green eyes and a shimmering silver coat are what makes the Russian Blue a magnificent cat for owners who appreciate beauty.


The Russian Blue (bing images)

History: The Russian Blue, once called the "Archangel blues," is believed to have originated in the Archangel Isles in Russia; making it's way to London in 1871 with British sailors who were fascinated by the look of the breed. In the late 1900's, the Russian Blue was introduced in the US.

Temperament: Surprisingly, the Russian Blue is an easily trainable cat and enjoys a good game of catch every now and then. It is a very active cat and if ignored, has been known to act "hurt" in order to receive affection from it's owner. Although, as most cats, the Russian Blue is content with spending time alone and entertaining itself. My grandfather had a Russian Blue named Grey and I remember never seeing him unless he was being fed.

Grooming: With most cats, unless long haired, grooming isn't necessary. Regular nail clippings and affection are about the only grooming requirements the Russian Blue will need.


Look at those eyes! (Great Pictures of Cats)

Health Concerns: The Russian Blue is a pretty healthy breed. The only main concern for an owner with a Russian Blue is weight control. This breed loves to eat, therefore monitoring food consumption is a must to ensure your pet doesn't become overweight. A healthy Russian Blue can live anywhere from 10-15 years.

Did You Know? The Russian Blue is considered a "natural" breed meaning no human intervention has occurred.
During World War II, the Russian Blue was almost extinct. It was saved with the help breeders that combined the Siamese and British Blue creating the breed we know today.

Unfortunately there isn't much more known about the Russian Blue. Cats are very elusive and very hard to study. Of course, getting to know your pet whether it be a Russian Blue or any type of breed is of utmost importance!

If you think the Russian Blue is the breed for you there are plenty of sites online where you can find the one that is just right.

(Petfinder)

Here's to a tail waggin' day!

-Noelle

*Information obtained for this post is from cattime.com and petmd.com
*Pictures can be found via link provided.




To Spay or Not to Spay?

Spaying your pet is a big decision and an important one. I am not here to talk badly about the people that do not spay their pet but rather explain why the veterinary world recommend it.

Female Dog Anatomy
(Baywood Vet Hospital)

The Meaning of "Spay"
Understanding female anatomy is not a must in making a decision whether to spay or not but it will help you understand what "spaying" actually means. During this surgery the animals' uterus as well as the ovaries are completely removed by making a small incision just below the "belly button." The uterus is y-shaped (cats and dogs), so therefore this can be done fairly easy if there are no complications. The recommended age to do this procedure is between four to six months because this is before the female will go into her first heat cycle. Doing this before her first heat cycle occurs will greatly decrease the chance of mammary cancer (breast cancer).

Spaying Advantages
There are several benefits you and your pet will get from this procedure.

Mammary Tumor in a Dog
(Phys.org)

Mammary. Uterine and Ovarian Cancer
The main reason is the prevention of mammary cancer. The levels of estrogen (female hormone released during their heat cycle) will effect mammary development; therefore to decrease estrogen in the animals' body it is best to spay before the hormone can be released. As with people, breast cancer can be scary. The breast tumor can be taken off because it develops in the mammary gland but this doesn't mean that the cancer itself is gone; which is why this is hard to treat. Uterine and ovarian cancer can also develop if these organs aren't taking out.

Pyometra

Normal Uterus vs. Infected Uterus
(Marvista Vet)

Pyometra is also a big concern especially in older intact dogs. This is when there is an infection in the uterus caused by "hormone changes in the female reproductive tract." (VCA Hospitals) It normally occurs two to eight weeks after the female's last heat cycle. There are two types of pyometra: open or closed depending on the dilation of the cervix. Open cervix pyometra isn't as life threatening but still requires veterinary intervention. Strong antibiotics can be given but are not promised to treat the infection. Vaginal discharge, fever and lethargy are common signs of this type of pyometra. If it is a closed cervix pyometra the situation becomes life threatening and will more than likely need surgical intervention because the bacteria trapped in the uterus cannot escape as with open cervix pyometra. Dogs with this problem become sick very fast. Listlessness, vomiting, and anorexia are signs to look for in a closed cervix pyometra.

What Do I Do Once My Pet is Spayed?

Example of an E-Collar
(Pet Project Blog)

Most dogs and cats will do just fine post-operatively after a spay. Rest and leash walks with pain medications are the only things a doctor will prescribe. Rest and leash walks are to help ensure proper healing internally and at the incision site. Pain medications are to keep your pet comfortable until everything internally has healed. One thing to monitor your pet for is scratching, licking or irritating the incision site. This can cause unwanted infection. There are steps, such as an e-collar, you can take to ensure this doesn't happen.

(Bark Pouch)

There Are No Real Disadvantages
Many people believe that by spaying their pet, obesity and laziness will occur. This is false. Spaying your pet does not cause these problems. A nutritional consult with your veterinarian can help prevent obesity. Regulating and monitoring your pet's food intake is an easy way to prevent obesity.



This is a lot of information to take in, I know. I hope that you understand the importance of spaying your pet as it can increase it's health quality as well as possible life expectancy. If you have any questions or need further information on this topic, please don't hesitate to contact Tenth Street Animal Hospital and we will help you anyway we can!

Here's a tail waggin' day!

-Noelle

*Information for this post was obtained from: VCA Hospitals and TSAH handout.
*Pictures in this post can be found at the links provided.

Fleas: The Constant Threat

During the fall and winter months many people are celebrating the holidays and enjoying the cool weather, but many pet owners don't realize that their pet is still susceptible to the flea.

(SPCA)

Fleas start out as an egg and make their way to an adult. Depending upon the humidity and temperature, the fleas' life cycle will vary. The dog and cat are the main hosts for this external parasite.

A single "female flea can lay several hundred eggs over her life span." (PetMD) She lays around twenty to thirty eggs a day on the host. The eggs will then fall off and hatch when environmental factors are in the fleas' favor. This is when the flea, with it's powerful legs, jumps onto it's host and starts the process again from the beginning.

Flea Dirt
(Google User)

Signs Your Pet May Have Fleas
Itching and hair loss are the two main signs to look for on your pet, if you think he or she may have fleas. The base of the tail and tips of the ears are the places to look for hair loss. Flea combs are very helpful in finding the external parasite as well. Owners can also look for what we call "flea dirt," which is flea feces containing dried blood, that look like small specs of dirt.

Prevention is Key.
First and foremost, prevention is key. It is easier to prevent then treat because fleas breed so fast. There are several flea prevention products on the market that you can purchase at a veterinary office. Your veterinarian will choose the appropriate prevention for your pet based on its' health and environmental needs.

The Flea, Ctenocephalides
(Orkin.com)

My Pet Has Fleas, Now What?
The products available for flea prevention also help in flea treatment. It will seem like the infestation will never go away, but stick with it. Every animal in the household should be on flea prevention in order for treatment be successful. The main thing I think owners do not understand about flea control and treatment is that the fleas are not only on their pet, but also in the environment. While treating your pet, the environment (household, bedding, etc) needs to be treated as well. If the fleas are being treated on your pet, but are still on their bedding the fleas will not go away. There are several products, from an exterminator or your local veterinarian, that you can purchase to help treat the environment. The fleas will eventually be taken care of and from there a rigorous flea prevention plan will have to be put in place.

Bring your pet in today and we'll start he or she on a flea prevention plan! If you have any questions about the flea, call Tenth Street Animal Hospital today!

Please comment and let me know what topics you would love to read about!

Here's to a tail waggin' day!

Noelle

*Information obtained for this blog from: Petmd.com

Kitten's First Visit: What You Should Know Right Meow!

We've taken an in-depth look at what your first puppy visit entails. But what about the first time kitten owners? This is for you! From vaccinations, fecal flotations and FIV/FeLV testing I hope to break down what all of this means to the first time owner.

Now if you're a pro and have owned a kitten before, you know the purpose of FIV/FeLV testing (hopefully it was explained to you by your technician and/or veterinarian). This is probably the FIRST thing that any clinic will want to do to insure safety for other cats you may have and for your new kitten. It involves collecting 2-3 drops of blood and using a "snap test" that will test for the presence of FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus: comparable to AIDS in humans) and FeLV (Feline Leukemia Virus: "named because of the way it behaves in the blood cells" (Cornell University). If you're a first kitten owner, the reason we test for this is because it is highly contagious to other cats that come in contact with a cat that is infected.
*FIV/FeLV will be discussed in depth in a future blog!

As with puppies, vaccinations are of utmost importance when it comes to building your kittens immune system and ensuring quality health. Here is a list of the vaccines that are recommended by your veterinarian:
Age                                             Vaccine
6 weeks                                      Testing for FIV/FeLV
                                                   1st FVRCP (Distemper,
                                                   Rhinotrachetitis, Calici,
                                                   Chlamydia)
9 weeks                                      2nd FVRCP
                                                   1st Leukemia if appropriate
12 weeks                                    Final FVRCP
                                                   2nd Leukemia

As stated, all of these vaccinations are recommended by veterinarians to help ensure quality health of your kitten.

A fecal float would be the final thing we would do to your kitten for this visit. This would test for whipworms, roundworms, and hookworms. As we do with puppies, we would give a basic dewormer to your kitten. After the fecal float has been read under the microscope, the doctor will tell you the results and give you any medication needed.

If you get a new kitten friend, please don't hestitate to call and schedule an appointment with Tenth St. Animal Hopsital. We would love to meet you and your new friend!

I'm talkin' to the doctor lady.

I'm a very adventurous kitty

I came in for my first kitten visit today (11/1/14). I was found underneath my owners car. I am a boy but don't have a name yet. My owners want to get to know me first and see my personality. I have gotten off to a good start to become a healthy adult cat!

Here's to a tail waggin' day!

Noelle