In Case Of Emergency

Natural disasters (and man-made ones, as well) strike without warning. If we had an earthquake, do you have a plan for your cats? Many people make emergency plans for their families and don’t remember to take pets into account. Here are a few suggestions for emergency plans that can help make a bad situation just a little less stressful.

First, it is important to make sure any emergency workers are aware that there are pets in the home.  We recommend a rescue alert sticker which can be placed in a very visible place (such as by the front door of the residence) which gives you a space to write how many pets are in the household.

Make sure your pets have a safe place to go in the event of an evacuation. Not all emergency shelters will accept pets. Find hotels that are not in your immediate area which will allow pets or speak with friends and family who are not in your immediate area about whether they would be willing to take in your pet in the event of an evacuation. Don’t leave your pets behind. If it isn’t safe for you, it isn’t safe for them.

Do you have an evacuation kit for yourself? Be sure to have one for your pet as well and keep them both together near an exit. Wondering what to include? Here are some suggestions: phone numbers for your regular veterinarian and an emergency clinic outside the immediate area, 3-7 days worth of food (rotated regularly), bottled water (rotated regularly), disposable litter pans and litter, food and water dishes, recent photographs, copies of medical records, a blanket, a carrier, and of course, a supply of any medications which your pet may need (rotated regularly). Proper identification for your cat is also critical. We advise microchipping all pets, but a tag with your name and contact info as well as that of your veterinarian is also important

While disasters usually take us unawares, a little preparation goes a long way.

Dental Care For Cats - Why Bother?

By Dennis Wackerbarth, DVM

Dental health care, particularly in cats, was something veterinarians paid little or no attention to 30 years ago. Was it not an issue?

As cats have transitioned from outside cats to family members the veterinary community and cat owners have become more concerned about the quality and longevity of a cats life. After having observed the significant negative impact dental disease has on the lives of cats, we were no longer able to ignore it anymore than we could ignore a heart murmur. Then, after seeing dramatic improvements in cats health and/or behavior after dental work had been done, even in what often appeared to be mouths with minimal outward concerns, veterinarians finally realized the true significance of dental disease. Subsequently the veterinary profession embarked on a public education campaign (Dental Health Month) to increase awareness about the importance of preventative dentistry. 

Our frustrations include our patients' inability to communicate early discomfort/pain to anyone and the need to use a general anesthetic to perform a true dental cleaning. Due to a fear of anesthesia, dentistry is often postponed or ignored in the early phases then acted on when significant problems have arisen. We really would like to be more proactive and do dentals before cats are painful and before they require extractions. So, first thing to do is go to the Cats Exclusive Dental Care page and then compare the photos there with what you see in your cat's mouth. Call us if you have any concerns. Let's work together and be proactive in preventing pain, tooth loss, and possibly even more significant health consequences.

Check out our Winter Mewsletter that features our February dental specials and see our new webstore to have dental care products shipped to your home.