Cat Food Myths Debunked

A few months ago I wrote about cats and “cat salad.” Since we are at the end of Adopt–a-Cat month, I hope there are many new cat owner readers who will be interested in these food myths about cats. These myths have come from conversations with my cat-owning clients at The Animal Medical Center.

All cats like fish.
Partial myth. Cats’ food preferences are strongly influenced by those of their mother. If the mother liked and ate fish, the kittens are likely to crave fish as well. But the food preferences of the finicky feline are not so simply categorized. Despite the daredevil behaviors of young cats – flying from cabinet to refrigerator and scaling bookshelves with abandon – they are not so adventurous when it comes to food. Young cats fed the same diet consistently are often reluctant to eat a different diet if one is offered to them later in life. A cat food with a “good” smell is more likely to be chosen by a finicky feline, and if your cat doesn’t find any of the food attractive based on smell, it may taste several before choosing one. One fun fact about cats’ food preferences is cats probably don’t chose food based on salty or sweet flavors since their taste buds are insensitive to salts and sugars.

Cats should have milk to drink.
This is a companion partial myth to “cats like fish.” Some cats like milk, some don’t. Most cats lack the digestive enzyme, lactase, responsible for digestion of lactose, or milk sugar. A bowl of milk may lead to an upset stomach or diarrhea in cats. This situation can be avoided by treating your cat to a bowl of low fat lactose-free milk or one of the cat milk products available at the pet store. Since treats should comprise only 10% of the daily caloric requirement, keep the amount of milk to about 1/3 of a cup, or roughly 30 calories per day for the average 8 pound cat. Cat milk products have the added advantage of supplemental taurine, an essential amino acid for cats.

Cats can be vegetarians.
This is a myth, and a dangerous one. Nutritionally speaking, cats are obligate carnivores. Everything about their physical structure says “meat eater” from their sharp pointy fangs to their short digestive tract. Veterinarians will discourage owners from preparing vegetarian or vegan foods at home for their cats. Without the input of a specialized veterinary nutritionist, homemade vegetarian and vegan diets for cats are frequently deficient in taurine, arginine, tryptophan, lysine and vitamin A. Taurine deficiency leads to heart failure and a cat fed a diet without arginine may suffer death within hours. Both taurine and arginine are found in meat.

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This may also be found in the “Tales from the Pet Clinic” blog on WebMD.com.

For over a century, The Animal Medical Center has been a national leader in animal health care, known for its expertise, innovation and success in providing routine, specialty and emergency medical care for companion animals. Thanks in part to the enduring generosity of donors, The AMC is also known for its outstanding teaching, research and compassionate community funds. Please help us to continue these efforts. Send your contribution to: The Animal Medical Center, 510 East 62nd Street, New York, NY 10065. For more information, visit www.amcny.org. To make an appointment, please call 212.838.7053.

Keeping Your Cat Young

For those families adding a feline member during Adopt-a-Cat Month this June, keeping your cat young and in good health is a priority. Here are The Animal Medical Center’s top six tips to achieving purrfect health and maintaining a long life for your feline family member.

1. Give your cat a routine. Research has shown changes in feeding schedule or in caretaker can result in “illness behaviors” such as having a poor appetite, vomiting and not using the litter box. Basically, cats don’t like surprises.

2. Provide your cat with an interesting environment. Cats need climbing structures where they have a good view of the room and a window with an outdoor view. The perch should be comfortable for resting. Leave a radio on tuned to quiet music when you are away.

3. Encourage your cat to hunt. Not outdoors, but indoor hunting. Use food dispensing toys such as the FunKitty line. Keeping your cat’s brain active by having her “hunt” for her food will keep her engaged and active longer.

4. Cats may have a “hands off” personality, but when it comes to healthcare you need to be hands on, and the hands should be those of your cat’s veterinarian. Visit your cat’s veterinarian for routine health checks at least once a year and twice a year if your cat is 10 years of age or older.

5. Clean your cat’s teeth regularly. The American Veterinary Dental College and the AMC Dental Service recommend daily tooth brushing and annual cleanings under general anesthesia.

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This may also be found in the “Tales from the Pet Clinic” blog on WebMD.com.

For over a century, The Animal Medical Center has been a national leader in animal health care, known for its expertise, innovation and success in providing routine, specialty and emergency medical care for companion animals. Thanks in part to the enduring generosity of donors, The AMC is also known for its outstanding teaching, research and compassionate community funds. Please help us to continue these efforts. Send your contribution to: The Animal Medical Center, 510 East 62nd Street, New York, NY 10065. For more information, visit www.amcny.org. To make an appointment, please call 212.838.7053.

You Learn Something New Everyday…About Pet Food

Pet food is important to pet lovers since we all want to feed our pets a diet which will help to keep them healthy family members for as long as possible. Many veterinarians at The Animal Medical Center prescribe special diets as part of the treatment for medical conditions. Research into various disease states has resulted in the development of “prescription diets” to meet the nutritional needs of pets while treating a medical condition.

Heart diets have lower sodium, joint diets contain ingredients to promote healthy joints and other diets are easily digestible for pets with gastrointestinal problems. These diets are an important part of many medical interventions. In fact, kidney-friendly diets have been shown to prolong survival in pets with kidney disease.

One of my patients, a French bulldog being treated for allergies, eats a Royal Canin novel protein diet composed of duck and potatoes. He has responded well to this diet and scratches much less when than when he was eating a regular dog food. His owner called me a day or so ago because the bag design had changed. The label said the food was the same, but when the bag was opened the nuggets were a different color.

I called the veterinary hotline staffed by customer service representatives of Royal Canin to check and be sure the food was really the same inside the bag since the outside had changed. The very helpful staff confirmed the food is being made in the same plant and the only change to the recipe was an increase in some vitamins to improve coat health. They also mentioned other consumers had called because of the color change in the food. According to the representative to whom I spoke, there is seasonal variation in the color of the duck meat and potatoes used to formulate the diet. This most recent batch was lighter than usual.

If you have a question about your pet’s food, check the label on the bag. Most pet food companies have a consumer hotline and, as I found out, they can be very helpful. Or call your veterinarian. They are a wealth of information and already know your pet’s medical issues. For tough nutritional issues, your veterinarian may suggest you consult a board certified veterinary nutritionist.

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This may also be found in the “Tales from the Pet Clinic” blog on WebMD.com.

For over a century, The Animal Medical Center has been a national leader in animal health care, known for its expertise, innovation and success in providing routine, specialty and emergency medical care for companion animals. Thanks in part to the enduring generosity of donors, The AMC is also known for its outstanding teaching, research and compassionate community funds. Please help us to continue these efforts. Send your contribution to: The Animal Medical Center, 510 East 62nd Street, New York, NY 10065. For more information, visit www.amcny.org. To make an appointment, please call 212.838.7053.

Seven Reasons to Spay or Neuter Your Pet

Yesterday, February 22, was National Spay Day and some consider the entire month National Spay and Neuter month.

Spay is the colloquial term for ovariohysterectomy. Neuter, sometimes called altering, is the surgical removal of male reproductive organs or testicles. Both procedures have the same result: they prevent unwanted pregnancies.

But wait — these procedures have health benefits beyond preventing unexpected litters of puppies and kittens. The Animal Medical Center staff gives these seven reasons to “fix” your pet even if it isn’t broken!

1. Prevent pyometra a common, life-threatening uterus infection of unspayed dogs.

2. Eliminate the risk of testicular cancer and uterine and ovarian cancer.

3. Decrease the risk of prostatitis, a bacterial infection of the prostate.

4. Decrease aggressive behavior, especially in male dogs, helping to prevent dog bite injuries in humans.

5. Decrease the risk of breast cancer in both dogs and cats, especially if she is spayed before 6 months of age.

6. Avoid stinky male cat urine on your walls, drapes or bed.

7. Save approximately 4 million lives annually. These lives belong to unwanted dogs and cats euthanized in America’s animal shelters.

This blog may also be found in the “Tales from the Pet Clinic” blog from WebMD.

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For over a century, The Animal Medical Center has been a national leader in animal health care, known for its expertise, innovation and success in providing routine, specialty and emergency medical care for companion animals. Thanks in part to the enduring generosity of donors, The AMC is also known for its outstanding teaching, research and compassionate community funds. Please help us to continue these efforts. Send your contribution to: The Animal Medical Center, 510 East 62nd Street, New York, NY 10065. For more information, visit www.amcny.org. To make an appointment, please call 212.838.7053.

Pet Resolutions for 2011

This time of year everyone is making New Year’s resolutions. Our pets are so much a part of our lives that when making resolutions for ourselves this year, why not consider a resolution or two that will help both you and your pet get a fresh start in the new year. Here are some possibilities to consider.

Choose healthy snacks in 2011.

Keep the amount of calories to 10% of your pet’s daily calorie requirement. Your veterinarian can help you assess how many calories this is. Choose healthy snacks like the 5 calorie baby carrot or the 50 calorie ½ apple. CittiKitty now markets Tuna Treats, premium bonito flakes for treating your cat, but a fish loving dog will find them tasty too. Because the tuna is dried and flaked paper thin, one cup has 35 calories. Using 10 flakes a day as a treat will contribute minimal calories and the taste will be a huge hit with your cat.

Get down to and maintain an ideal body condition.

Weight loss is on almost everyone’s New Year’s resolution list. Because pets come in so many sizes and shapes, it is hard to say your cat should weigh 5 or 10 or 15 pounds. What matters is maintaining an ideal body condition. Veterinarians commonly assess this during an annual examination. It is based on your pet having a waist and skeletal features you can feel with your hands. If your pet doesn’t have these, he/she is likely overweight. To see the dog and cat body condition scale, visit:

• Understanding your Dog’s Body Condition
• Understanding your Cat’s Body Condition

Take your pet to the veterinarian at least once a year.

Comparing 2001 and 2006, a decrease of 1 million veterinary visits was recorded and visits have fallen further due to the Great Recession beginning in 2007. This means pets are medically underserved and small problems can quickly become big ones. Preventive healthcare prevents potentially fatal infectious diseases and difficult to treat disorders such as heartworms. Senior pets may need twice yearly visits as a pet’s lifespan is compressed into fewer years than ours are.

Give to less fortunate dogs and cats.

Local animal shelters and rescue group are always in need. Cleaning out your old and shabby towels? Call your local shelter and see if they could use them to give a homeless pet a place to curl up. Check with your local rescue group or food pantry about pet food donations. People without enough to eat may also have pets in the same situation. Offer to walk dogs or brush cats at your local shelter. I am sure any help you offer will be more than appreciated.

Spend quality time with your pet.

We all lead busy lives. It is often very easy to overlook spending good quality time with that four-legged, furry member of your family. Instead of just walking your dog to the corner and back, vow to take him to the park, play fetch or check out the new dog run in the neighborhood. Change your cat’s toys frequently to prevent boredom. By giving your pet this quality time once a day or even once a week, your pet will return the favor with love and devotion. And, guaranteed it will improve your own quality of life!

This blog may also be found in the “Tales from the Pet Clinic” blog from WebMD.

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For nearly a century, The Animal Medical Center has been a national leader in animal health care, known for its expertise, innovation and success in providing routine, specialty and emergency medical care for companion animals. Thanks in part to the enduring generosity of donors, The AMC is also known for its outstanding teaching, research and compassionate community funds. Please help us to continue these efforts. Send your contribution to: The Animal Medical Center, 510 East 62nd Street, New York, NY 10065. For more information, visit www.amcny.org. To make an appointment, please call 212.838.7053.

Celebrate National Pet Week!

May 2-8, 2010 is National Pet Week and this year the theme is “People and Pets – Healthy Together.” Common human health issues such as obesity, diabetes and cancer are now also health concerns for our pets. Since so many of these health concerns are preventable, this year’s theme spotlights how we can help ourselves and our pets to achieve better health.

In the United States, there is currently both a human and pet obesity epidemic. We no longer work in the field to cultivate and harvest our food; we work in offices and shop in grocery stores. Our pets no longer hunt for their food; we provide them with highly nutritious pet food. This shift has resulted in too many calories going in and not enough calories expended.

Just like overweight or obese humans, overweight pets are predisposed to disease. Diabetes, joint problems and urinary stone formation are increased in obese cats. Respiratory problems, congestive heart failure and orthopedic disorders are compounded in dogs carrying extra weight. Overweight or obese dogs have a shorter lifespan than their thinner counterparts.

Being “Healthy Together” involves finding ways to spend time with your pet without food as a motivator. Instead of sitting on the sofa together, go to the park and throw the ball for your dog. It is even possible to exercise your cat. Get a laser pointer and shine it on the wall. Make them run and jump. While you are having fun, you’ll probably forget to go the fridge for a snack. If you need exercise suggestions for your pets, here’s the link to AMC’s canine and feline exercise posters.

Smoking is another behavior affecting our health. In my practice at The AMC, I have learned from our clients that many people don’t realize smoking may affect the health of their pets. Cats and dogs living in households with smokers have measurable levels of nicotine metabolites in their urine, indicating environmental exposure to smoke may pose risks for pets. Furthermore, cats exposed to secondhand smoke are more likely to develop lymphoma or oral squamous cell carcinoma. Being “Healthy Together” involves your entire family, pets included, which are all good reasons to quit smoking now.

The good news is that studies have shown that just having a pet helps keeps us healthy. Dog owners maintain a greater level of physical activity than non-dog owners and cat owners who have had a heart attack are 40 percent less likely to die than non-cat owners. Interestingly, the converse is not true. Cats don’t make us exercise more and dogs don’t seem to protect against heart attacks! 

All of us pet owners know that if we are sick, pets always seem to make us feel better. In one study, the health of humans undergoing radiation therapy for cancer felt an improved sense of well-being when randomly assigned to a dog visit compared to a human visit or a quiet reading period.

See why “People and Pets – Healthy Together” is such a great theme? To continue celebrating this great theme, join The Animal Medical Center staff and supporters for PAW Day 2010 on June 5th at Carl Schurz Park in Manhattan.

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For nearly a century, The Animal Medical Center has been a national leader in animal health care, known for its expertise, innovation and success in providing routine, specialty and emergency medical care for companion animals. Thanks in part to the enduring generosity of donors, The AMC is also known for its outstanding teaching, research and compassionate community funds. Please help us to continue these efforts.  Send your contribution to: The Animal Medical Center, 510 East 62nd Street, New York, NY 10065. For more information, visit www.amcny.org. To make an appointment, please call 212.838.7053.

New Year’s Resolutions for Pets

When you’re drawing up your New Year’s Resolutions for 2010 don’t forget to take your pet into account. The seven simple tips below from Dr. Ann Hohenhaus of The Animal Medical Center, New York City’s largest non-profit facility for veterinary care, research and education, will keep your dog or cat, and others in your community happy and healthy the whole year through!

1. Get your dog certified as a therapy dog and then start visiting hospitals, nursing homes or group living facilities. Organizations offering certification include: Bright and Beautiful Therapy Dogs, Therapy Dogs International and Delta Society.

2. Have your dog help a child learn to read! Join the R.E.A.D. (Reading Education Assistance Dogs) program at your library. This program improves children’s reading literacy using dogs as impartial listeners.

3. Don’t equate love with food. Those extra treats don’t build your bond with your pet, they only build love handles on your pet. In 2010 resolve to base your relationship with your pet on fun, not food. For a treat throw a ball to your dog or scoot the laser pointer up and down the wall to entertain your cat. Remember that cats have short attention spans so vary the activities in each play session.

4. Help your pets lose the love handles they already have by feeding them healthy snacks such as carrots, apples or air popped popcorn. And make sure that only 10% of their daily calorie requirement is fed as snacks.

5. Quitting smoking may already be on your list of New Year’s resolutions, and you should follow through on it not just for you, but for your pet! Veterinary researchers have documented that dogs and cats living in a household with a smoker do passively inhale smoke because they have elevated levels of nicotine metabolites in their urine. In cats, second-hand smoke has been also been associated with a greater risk of developing lymphoma and oral squamous cell carcinoma.

6. In the New Year don’t skip routine preventive healthcare for your pets, especially your cat. Over the past few years, the average number of times a cat visits the veterinarian per year has decreased to less than once annually. Regular veterinary care will help keep your cat or dog healthy.

7. Resolve to spend your pet’s budgeted dollars wisely. When visiting the veterinarian, make a list of questions to keep your appointment on track to get all your questions answered. Evaluate the feasibility of pet insurance with coverage for routine healthcare. ___________________________________________
For nearly a century, The Animal Medical Center has been a national leader in animal health care, known for its expertise, innovation and success in providing routine, specialty and emergency medical care for companion animals. Thanks in part to the enduring generosity of donors, The AMC is also known for its outstanding teaching, research and compassionate community funds. Please help us to continue these efforts. Send your contribution to: The Animal Medical Center, 510 East 62nd Street, New York, NY 10065. For more information, visit www.amcny.org. To make an appointment, please call 212.838.7053.

Does Getting Older Mean Getting Slower?

Oftentimes the owners of my older patients dismiss changes in their pet’s behavior by saying, “Well, you know he is 13.” I would like to caution all of us to think critically about the changes we are seeing in our older pets and examine the potential causes of these changes.

The American Association of Feline Practitioners classifies a senior cat as one that is older than 11 years of age and the American Animal Hospital Association defines a senior dog as one older than 6 or 7 years of age. There is great variability in the expected lifespan of dogs compared to cats and your veterinarian may not consider your dog to be senior until 9 or 10 years of age, depending on the breed. Panels of the American Association of Feline Practitioners and the American Animal Hospital Association recommend the senior pet be seen biannually.

Weight Gain
Older pets tend to pack on the pounds as they age. Your Dalmatian may be sluggish because she is carrying around too much weight for her slender frame.  Pet owners who are successful with a weight loss plan often comment on how much more active their pets are after they reach an ideal body weight. Veterinarians can help you to design a safe weight loss program which includes both diet and exercise for your pet. Obesity not only slows your pet down, but is a risk factor for diabetes, arthritis, respiratory disease, urinary tract disease and, worst of all, a shortened lifespan.

Arthritis
Slowing down may be a clinical sign of arthritis. Arthritis brings to mind the limping Lhasa or the achy Afghan, but did you know arthritis is commonly under-diagnosed in cats? Diet change, weight loss and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, specifically developed and tested in pets, can completely revert your arthritic pet’s personality back to normal.

Dental Problems
Tooth problems can also slow your pet down too. When a pet experiences pain, it often causes a pet to be quieter than usual and dental pain is no different. An oral examination should be part of a complete physical examination. Removal of plaque build up, extraction of diseased teeth and treatment with antibiotics may be necessary to bring your Persian with a pout back to its usual vigorous self.

Cancer
When some types of cancer occur in a senior pet, the only clinical sign seen by the pet owner is a general decrease in activity. The decrease in activity may be due to pain or may be due to the growth of the cancer. Internal cancers, such as those of abdominal organs, lungs or nasal passages are types that can progress undetected, with the only sign being general malaise in your pet. Your veterinarian my recommend diagnostic imaging, such as x-rays, an ultrasound or CT scan to detect a possible cancer.

So remember, age is not a disease. Be sure to have your senior pet checked on a regular schedule and whenever your Abyssinian is apathetic.

To make an appointment for your pet, please call The Animal Medical Center’s appointment desk at 212.838.7053.
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For nearly a century, The Animal Medical Center has been a national leader in animal health care, known for its expertise, innovation and success in providing routine, specialty and emergency medical care for companion animals. Thanks in part to the enduring generosity of donors, The AMC is also known for its outstanding teaching, research and compassionate community funds. Please help us to continue these efforts.  Send your contribution to: The Animal Medical Center 510 East 62nd Street, New York, NY 10065. For more information, visit www.amcny.org. To make an appointment, please call 212.838.7053.

Calorie Counting for Pets

Now that spring is here, the dieting we promised ourselves at the start of the new year begins in earnest. We also know that to lose 1 pound per week, we need to decrease our caloric intake by 500 calories per day to equal 3,500 calories per week, the equivalent of 1 pound.

What does this mean to our furry family members? Obesity is the major nutritional disorder of both dogs and cats and we need to be concerned about the impact of excess weight on their health. Overweight pets are prone to lung problems, arthritis, bladder problems and even some types of cancer.

How does our behavior affect the weight of the family pet?
A golf ball sized serving of ice cream contains 73 calories. If you give your 20 pound beagle a ¼ cup serving as a treat once a week, that translates to a 1 pound increase in body weight per year. That would equal 9 pounds for an average adult man.

A ¼ cup serving of whole milk contains 38 calories. If you give your 10 pound cat a ¼ cup of whole milk once a week for a year, that translates to just over an additional ½ pound per year to its body weight. That would be 7 pounds for an average adult woman.

So, how can you avoid packing the pounds on Fluffy or Fido?  First, only 10% of your pet’s daily caloric requirement should come from treats and second, the rest of Fluffy or Fido’s daily nutrients should consist of complete and balanced pet food to ensure your pet has adequate nutrition. You might also try substituting healthy snacks in limited quantities.

Calories in 1 small Milk Bone dog biscuit = 20
Calories in 4 baby carrots = 20
Calories in level cup of air popped popcorn = 31

A 40 pound Wheaton Terrier needs about 670 calories per day.  Therefore it should have no more than 67 calories of snack per day. Sixty-seven calories is equivalent to 2.5 small Milk Bones or 12 baby carrots or 2 cups of air popped popcorn.

Snacks for cats are more difficult due to their finicky nature. Your 10 pound cat needs about 205 calories per day. Therefore it should have no more than 20 calories of snack per day. This is ¾ cup of air popped popcorn. For example, the label on Pounce Treats indicates 18-24 treat pieces is 10% of this cat’s daily nutritional requirement. I suggest you count out the pieces at the beginning of the day and place them in a small bowl.  Then when they are gone, you know you have used up the treat allowance for the day.

What to Do if You Think Your Pet is Overweight
If you think your pet is overweight, talk with your veterinarian who can give you advice on a proper diet and exercise program. Your veterinarian will determine if there are any other medical problems contributing to your pet’s obesity and give you advice on how fast your pet should lose weight.

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The Tina Santi Flaherty Rehabilitation & Fitness Service at The Animal Medical Center
The only facility of its kind in New York City, The AMC’s Rehabilitation and Fitness Service provides innovative and state-of-the-art therapies for cats, dogs, birds and exotic animals. The Service specializes in non-invasive therapies to prevent the need for surgery, and in cases where surgery has been performed, it helps to accelerate and achieve a more complete recovery. Therapies offered include hydrotherapy, treadmills and deep-tissue ultrasound, as well as holistic therapies such as Reiki and Acupressure.

The Service is directed by a team of professionals who are experts in the rehabilitative care of companion animals, including New York City’s only Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioners and Therapists.

The Rehabilitation and Fitness Service Staff
Deirdre Chiaramonte, DVM, DACVIM
Renee Shumway, LVT, CCRP
Taisha Gonzalez, LMT, LVT, CCRP
Shawna Sheridan, LVT

To reach the Rehabilitation and Fitness Service, call 212.329.8610 or email rehab.fitness@amcny.org.

For more information about The Animal Medical Center or to make a donation, visit www.amcny.org.

Ask the Vet

Q:  I recently took my cat, Cheddar, to be seen by his veterinarian because I thought he had a urinary tract infection.  My vet recommended a change in his diet from dry to wet food.  Can you explain how this will help? 

A:  In the course of evolution, felines evolved as carnivores.  Cats have adapted to eating a meat-based diet which is high in protein and lower in carbohydrates. Just look at the fangs they have – clearly not necessary for eating soybeans!!!  Because of convenience and often the cat’s preference for the crunchy consistency, owners frequently choose to feed their cats dry food, which is higher in carbohydrates than canned food.   When cats consume more carbohydrates than their body can use, they store the excess as fat.  Cats consuming a dry diet may eat more carbohydrates than they need in order to obtain a sufficient amount of protein for their needs and they can become overweight quickly.  Studies clearly show the portly feline can be at greater risk for diabetes, arthritis and feline bladder problems, like Cheddar.

So, losing weight is critical for Cheddar’s long term health.  My recommendation, and the recommendation of The AMC, is to switch him to mostly, if not exclusively, canned food.  If he doesn’t lose weight with the adult dry food as a component of his diet, then he should switch to a dry kitten food which contains more protein than the average dry cat food.  Another option is to ask your veterinarian if prescription dry diabetes food would be appropriate for Cheddar.  This food is formulated to contain more protein and less carbohydrates.  If these changes in diets are solutions which don’t work, then you may need to eliminate dry food completely from your Cheddar’s diet.

For cats with bladder problems, increasing their water consumption will help prevent the recurrence of clinical signs.  Therefore, switching to canned food with its increased water content will force the cat to consume more water than if it ate dry food.
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