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Steve Dale's Pet World - Maverick Cat Vet Answers Readers Questions Her Own Way

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Dr. Elizabeth Hodgkins is a cat-only veterinarian in Yorba Linda, CA who has authored a cutting edge book Your Cat: Simple New Secrets to a Longer, Stronger Life. (St. Martins Press, New York, NY, 2007; $29.95). Hodgkins views... See more » Dr. Elizabeth Hodgkins is a cat-only veterinarian in Yorba Linda, CA who has authored a cutting edge book Your Cat: Simple New Secrets to a Longer, Stronger Life. (St. Martins Press, New York, NY, 2007; $29.95). Hodgkins views often challenge traditional medicine, asking her colleagues to think outside the box. Shes a guru with a growing legion of fans breeders and ordinary cat owners who swear by her philosophy. She answers these recent reader questions: Q: My 10-year old, 28 lb. cat looked right at me, and urinated in the bathroom sink. I saw her do this one other time. She licks her belly constantly and was diagnosed with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). A trip to the veterinarian is horribly traumatic for her, and I dont want to put her through that. Do you have any ideas? A. M., Henderson, NV A: Because of this cats age and size, diabetes is where Id look first, says Hodgkins. Diabetic cats drink more, and therefore produce more urine. Id also strongly consider the possibility of kidney disease, and anytime a cat is urinating inappropriately, cystitis is always a real possibility. You might find a veterinarian who will go to your home. If not, if your cat has diabetes or kidney disease these are very serious diseases which require treatment. The good news is that there is treatment. As for the OCD, Hodgkins wonders whats really going on with your cat. Most cats who compulsively lick begin the excessive licking behavior as a result of an organic problem, such as allergic skin disease, for example. Heres where Hodgkins parts ways with many mainstream vets, The gold standard to deal with this is a raw food diet (if food allergies are indeed responsible), although you can get away with some canned hypoallergenic diets. Dry food is certainly implicated with these allergy issues. The compulsive licking may also have started as a result of a physiological problem (perhaps its the same problem which has precipitated your cat to urinate in the sink), but then might have become an ingrained habit even after the physical illness had been treated. Or perhaps, your cat may truly have OCD the bottom line is that shes continuing to lick. At this point, a referral to a veterinary behaviorist is suggested. Q: Our Himalayan/Persian constantly sneezes and sneezes, and mucous comes out of her nose. Our vet doesnt have answers. Do you? P. C., Palm Harbor, FL A: According to Hodgkins, the four most likely explanations for the snotty nose are polyps in the nose, a tumor in the nasal passage, an allergic reaction or the most likely of all chronic herpes virus. Because its the most likely, Hodgkins suggests simply testing for herpes first. If it turns out that this is what your cat has, theres no cure. It can be a lifetime chronic problem. However, treatment is available to makes cats more comfortable, starting with L-Lysine. Anti-viral medication is suggested for cats who are totally miserable. If allergic rhinitis turns out to be the explanation, again Hodgkins parts ways with many of her colleagues, suggesting a raw rabbit diet. Antihistamine treatment may or may not also help. If your veterinarian cant get to the bottom of the problem, consider a referral to a member of the American Association of Feline Practitioners (www.aafponline.org). Q: Suzy eats only dry food, except the geckoes she catches. She has a bowel movement only every other day. I believe shes constipated. My vet suggested vegetable oil, but my cat wont eat it. What do you suggest? Are geckoes constipating? B. B., Cyberspace Q: My one year old cat has been constipated his entire life. I tried to change his food, and that has not helped. What do you think? V. D., Cyberspace A: Your veterinarian will determine if the cat is constipated, says Hodgkins. Its normal for some cats to go every other day. Hodgkins first suggestion is to transition to a moist food diet. Its going from around 10 per cent of water in the diet to 78 per cent, she says. More water is better anyhow, I believe a good per cent of our cats are living day to See less »

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Steve Dale's Pet World - Maverick Cat Vet Answers Readers Questions Her Own Way

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