Spotted Cat Designs

I found this alert on another web site:

News for cats and dogs – Smokehouse Brand Dog Treats Pulled From PetSmart Shelves

I have seen these foods and some of these packages are marked “IRRADIATED FOR YOUR HEALTH, WASH HANDS THOROUGHLY AFTER HANDLING” All are labeled as “Made in China”

Here is the press release sent out by the American Veterinary Medical Association:

LAKEWOOD, Colo. – The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) has recently been made aware of several complaints from pet owners and veterinarians that multiple brands of jerky treats manufactured in China have been making pets sick. On Thursday, September 13th they posted a Media Alert to their website at www.AVMA.org. Symptoms of illness have included vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy. To their knowledge, no deaths have been reported.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is currently testing these treats to see if a contaminant can be found. So far they have ruled out melamine, one of the chemicals that led to the massive pet food recall this spring, but have yet to identify anything that might be making pets sick.

While a list of brand/product names of affected treats is not yet available, the AVMA has learned that all complaints have involved jerky treats from China. They recommend that pet owners use their best judgment in this matter and continue to consult www.AVMA.org for updates. Diplomates in the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM), who work in the field of veterinary nephrology and urology, had become aware of an unusual number of dogs with very similar presenting complaints and clinico-pathologic testing results associated with the ingestion of jerky treats from a variety of brands. No cats have been reported to date. (Italics mine)

They report that these are typically small dogs that present with a history of vomiting, lethargy and anorexia. They have all consumed jerky treats (mostly chicken jerky) within a few weeks prior to becoming anorexic. Physical examination has been relatively unremarkable. Blood chemistry in many of the cases has revealed hypokalemia and mildly increased liver enzymes. Blood gas analysis indicated acidosis. Urinalysis has consistently shown glucosuria and granular casts. These findings suggested an acquired Fanconi syndrome.

Fanconi screens on urine, when submitted, have been positive. The Metabolic Genetic Disease Testing Laboratory at the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania can run urine screens for generalized amino aciduria and lactic aciduria tests of Fanconi Syndrome and other causes of PRTA. Their website can be found at http://w3.vet.upenn.edu/research/centers/penngen/services/metaboliclab/fanconi.html

The most common severe abnormalities appear to be acidosis and hypokalemia. Liberal potassium supplementation appears to be warranted during hospitalization and often needs to be continued orally after discharge. Most of the dogs did not require long term bicarbonate supplementation, although this should be considered based on repeated blood gas analyses. Azotemia does not appear to be a consistent finding and therefore cases will likely be missed in the absence of a urinalysis.

The vast majority of dogs have recovered from their acute disease. All clinical signs of disease including glycosuria have resolved in many of the patients within a few weeks of initial presentation.

The cause of this renal tubular/GI toxicity remains under investigation. Veterinarians should seek a thorough dietary history including treats when presented with a dog presenting with acute GI signs or PU/PD. Diagnostics should include a general blood screen and urinalysis. Treatment consisting of supportive care, electrolyte and blood gas monitoring should be instituted if this acquired Fanconi syndrome is identified.

For further recommendations and assistance on a case by case basis, veterinarians may wish to consult a small animal internist in the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine in their community. Please see www.ACVIM.org to locate a Diplomate.

Whenever I see or hear one of our cats having hairball coughing, I immediately get the Laxatone or Petromalt and give them about 1 inch (2.5 cm) every other day for a week and then weekly. Then I get my family to increase brushing and combing our cats. For more on this subject see Hairball Express or the Fur is Flying.

The problem is that not all coughing means a hairball. Sometimes it can be far more serious. Asthma attacks are an emergency. Asthma can kill. I recommend you watch these videos (links below) so you can recognize the symptoms, and can take appropriate emergency measures. Know where the nearest emergency vet clinic is located. If you think you have seen these symptoms in you cat, talk to your vet ASAP.

As someone who has asthma, I know how scary a sudden onset attack can be. Seeing it in a cat was heartrending. There are medications such as albuterol inhalers, Flovent and steroids to cut inflammation — how familiar I have used them, too… They even have the aerokat pet inhaler designed as a feline friendly device for using MDI’s (metered dose inhalers). This video shows it being used.

Each of the people who took these videos did so in order to educate others.

I found Dave’s Feline Asthma attack video while browsing. That is what got me started on this blog entry. The coughing is not like hairball coughs I have heard. Much more labored and tiring for the poor kitty.

This video gives a medical explanation of symptoms associated with feline asthma.

Another video of a cat with labored breathing. As the person who posted this wrote: “The purpose of this video is to give an example of what labored or abdominal breathing looks like. This video was made in order to show our vet what we were seeing. Needless to say, Stinky [their cat] was brought in to the emergency room after capturing this footage. Note: Normal respiration should be between 20-30 [per minute].“

Cats can also have food or environmental allergies, as we found out when Glory repeatedly started scratching the side of her neck until she was bloody. For a more detailed discussion of what we learned, see my article “When Cats Have Allergies“.

I had an earlier post on some Online Feline Medical and Health Resources to find reliable medical information regarding feline health issues. Looking it over, I think I will add others in a future blog entry when I can.

I like to shop at The Animal Rescue Site. You can also click to donate (free to you) money to this worthy cause. As they describe themselves:

“The Animal Rescue Site focuses the power of the Internet on a specific need — providing food for some of the 27 million unwanted animals given to shelters in the U.S. every year. Over 10 million animals are put to death every year in the U.S. alone because they are abandoned and unwanted.

Each click on the purple “Fund Food for Animals” button at The Animal Rescue Site provides food and care for a rescued animal living in a shelter or sanctuary. Funding for food and care is paid by site sponsors and distributed to animals in need at the Fund for Animals’ renowned animal sanctuaries (including Cleveland Amory Black Beauty Ranch in Texas and the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in California), pet shelters supported by the Petfinder Foundation, North Shore Animal League, and other worthy animal care facilities supported by the GreaterGood.org foundation.

100% of sponsor advertising fees goes to our charitable partners.

The Animal Rescue Site provides a feel-good way to help promote awareness and prevent rescued animal deaths every day — through easy and quick online activities.

Please remember to click every day to give help and hope to those most in need. Every click counts in the life of a rescued animal.

In addition to clicking the purple “Fund Food for Animals” button, visitors can help more by shopping in The Animal Rescue Site store. With each item purchased, shoppers generate funds for the feeding and care of animals in shelters and sanctuaries. The store offers a wide array of items to show your support.”

Care2.com is another place to shop, send ecards, or do daily click to donate for various worthy causes.

Endangered Species Chocolate Fair Trade, educational, conservation support, great customer service, and delicious, too!

Let me know if you have any favorites, too!