Feline lungs are remarkably similar to a human’s lungs. For example, the lungs occupy most of the space in the chest cavity, lying on both sides of the heart, just like they do in humans. In my mind, I think of the lungs as being divided into two portions – the airways, and the lung tissue. An easy way…
In a past blog post, I described the important role the kidneys play in a cat’s overall health. In addition to making hormones and regulating the blood pressure, the kidneys filter toxins from the bloodstream, creating urine in the process. So where does that urine go after it is manufactured by the kidneys? Anyone who’s waited in line for the…
Body Parts – The Spleen Ask most people what their cat’s heart does, and they’ll tell you it pumps blood. How about the lungs? They breathe in oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide. The kidneys? They filter toxins from the blood stream and put them in the urine. The spleen? That’s easy. It… it… Admit it: you have no idea what…
Body Parts – the Feline Heart The heart is the main organ in the circulatory system. Its job is to pump blood throughout the body, supplying oxygen and nutrients to the tissues. Similar to the human heart, the feline heart has four chambers. The two chambers on the top of the heart are the atria (plural for atrium). The…
Cat feet are fascinating. They function as shock absorbers when landing after aerial acrobatics. The pads on the paws are thick, with a substantial amount of adipose (fat) tissue just below the pad surfaces. This acts as a cushion, allowing for cats to walk quietly. To me, however, the most impressive parts of the feet are the claws. All members…
Body Parts – the Adrenal Glands I would venture that most people have heard of the adrenal glands. I would also bet that if asked about what the adrenals do, most folks would correctly guess that they make adrenaline, the “fight or flight” hormone that makes your heart race before that first big plunge on the roller coaster. But…
I’m sure you’ve heard of them, but do you really know what they are, or what they do? I’m talking about the lymph nodes, important structures that we don’t think about much, but play a crucial role in a cat’s ability to fight off infections. Lymph nodes are small, oval shaped organs that are dispersed throughout the body. They…
Body Parts – The Stomach by Arnold Plotnick, MS, DVM, ACVIM If you can’t stomach the thought of an article about the stomach, then this column may not be for you. But have no fear, I will make this material easy to digest. The stomach is an important part of the gastrointestinal tract. Food that is swallowed is propelled by…
Body Parts – The Kidneys by Arnold Plotnick, MS, DVM, ACVIM Like all mammals, cats have two kidneys, one on the left, and one on the right. They are shaped like…kidney beans, of course. Blood flows into the kidney through the renal artery, and leaves via the renal vein. As blood passes through the kidney, toxins are filtered from the…
Today we get a good taste – literally – of what Burma is all about, because we’re starting the day with a cooking lesson at the Bamboo Delight Cooking School. I set this up weeks in advance as a surprise for Mark. Cooking is his passion, especially Asian cuisine. He wasn’t expecting this, so he was majorly psyched. First…
Feline Body Parts – The Liver “Liver Me This” by Arnold Plotnick, MS, DVM, ACVIM Published in Catster Volume 1, No. 3, Sept/Oct 2015 “What am I? Chopped liver?” You’ve probably heard this figure of speech before, the speaker implying that he’s worthless. I can assure you, as a cat veterinarian, that the liver (unchopped, at least) is anything but…
Day 9 – Promenade Plantee, Cat Cafe, and Pompidou Center (Continued from Day 8) Our next-to-last day started at a hip breakfast place called Lockwood. They open early for breakfast, and stay open late for dinner and drinks and music. I started the day with pancakes, which immediately put me into a sugar coma. Next we were off to…
Day Four in Amsterdam – Markets, Parks, a Cat or Two, and the Eurovision Song Contest (Continued from Day 3) Saturday was our last full day in Amsterdam. We were going to check out the newly renovated Stedelijk Museum, but there was a change of plans. Our friend Udi was free that morning, and he suggested we check out some…
Common occurrence: I examine a cat that was brought in for a gastrointestinal problem. I asked the client what her main concern was, and she said that the cat was regurgitating frequently. I asked if the cat was truly regurgitating, or if he was vomiting. She said, “I didn’t realize there was a difference”. I would venture that most people…
As many of you know, in addition to my veterinary work, I also am a writer. I have this blog and I am the former medical editor and contributor to Catnip magazine. I was the Ask the Vet columnist for Cat Fancy for many years. Sadly, Cat Fancy is no more, and was replaced by a new magazine, Catster. I am…