August, 2011 - Vol 1, Issue 2

August is Feline Health Month and so we are asking you - Have we seen your cat lately?  Often owners assume that since cats are so darn independent, they don't need health check ups as often as their more needy canine counterparts - wrongo!  In fact, it is a cat's independence and natural survival instinct to hide pain that makes them even more vulnerable. Often a problem is quite serious before your cat shows signs of a health issue. 

A recent industry survey revealed that compared with dogs, almost three times as many cats hadn't received veterinary care in the past year. The truth is, cats need regular veterinary care, including annual exams and vaccinations, just like dogs do. Without proper care cats are exposed to preventable diseases such as feline leukemia, feline distemper and panleukopenia viruses, and feline heartworms. Senior cats need to be screened for chronic diseases such as kidney failure, diabetes, and hyperthyroidism... 

Read More Here 

• The nose pad of a cat is ridged in a pattern that is unique, just like the fingerprint of a human.
• A cat's heart beats twice as fast as a human heart, at 110 to 140 beats per minute.
• During her productive life, one female cat could have more than 100 kittens. So please be sure to spay or neuter your cat!  

"Dogs come when they're called. Cats take a message and get back to you later." ~ Mary Bly

Heartworm infection takes place when a mosquito carrying infective, microscopic-size heartworm larvae, bites into a cat for a blood meal. The larvae then actively migrate into the new host and develop further as they travel through the subcutaneous tissue in the cat's body. At about 3-4 months, they usually settle into the arteries and blood vessels of the lungs, where they continue to develop to sexual mature male and female worms (Dirofilaria immitis). Cats tend to be resistant hosts of heartworms, and microfilaremia, (the presence of heartworm offspring in the blood of the host animal), is uncommon (usually less than 20% of cases). However, heartworms do not need to develop into adults to cause significant pulmonary damage in cats, and consequences can still be very serious when cats are infected by mosquitoes carrying heartworm larvae. Newly arriving worms and the subsequent death of most of these same worms can result in acute pulmonary inflammation response and lung injury. This initial phase is often misdiagnosed as asthma or allergic bronchitis but in actuality is part of a syndrome now known as Heartworm Associated Respiratory Disease (HARD)...  Read More Here

Living in the tropics we deal with mosquitoes year-round.  The best way to prevent heartworm and heartworm related illnesses is to provide your cats (and dogs) with monthly heartworm preventative available at Sugar Mill Vet Center.

>>View Feline Heartworm Animation

We hope you enjoyed this month's issue and found some helpful tips and information.  If you have suggestions or requests for future issues, please email us at info@sugarmillvetcenter.com 

Here's to wishing us all a safe and not-too-hot hurricane season here in the US Virgin Islands!

Sincerely,

Dr. Stacia Jung
Sugar Mill Veterinary Center

We know that our clients are an invaluable source for providing us with new patients - so we want to offer you a reward!  Each time you refer a new client to us, we will add a $10.00 credit to your account that you can use towards any SMVC veterinary services. Simply download our Client Referral form, fill it out with your name and your pet's name and give it to your friend. 

When they come in for their first visit, have them give the form to our front desk and we'll do the rest! On your next visit, you will automatically have a $10 credit on your account!