Just inside a cat’s anus are two small glands: the anal glands (sometimes referred to as anal sacs). If you imagine your cat’s anus as the face of a clock (that might be the strangest beginning to any sentence I’ve ever written), the anal glands are located at the 4 and the 8 position. These glands produce a foul-smelling secretion.…
As a cat veterinarian, I’ve spent most of my adult life trying to diagnose and treat the many physical ailments, and address the myriad physical issues, that afflict cats. As for their mental state, that’s always been a challenge and a mystery, and I was hoping this book would give me a little more wisdom in this area. It turned…
Written By Dr. Arnold Plotnick; Originally published on Catster. Cats are living longer than ever. When I began my veterinary career, a 20-year-old cat was a rarity. Now, I see at least a dozen every year. It’s wonderful that we get to spend additional years with our beloved companions, but increased longevity is a double-edged sword. A longer lifespan also…
Written By Dr. Arnold Plotnick; Originally published on Catster. Disease processes occur in the mouth more than anywhere else in a cat’s body. Dental disease is very common, and if untreated, it can lead to bad breath, swollen and bleeding gums, difficulty eating, and oral pain. Cats are secretive by nature, and they often don’t reveal that they are experiencing…
Written By Dr. Arnold Plotnick; Originally published on Catster. Persistent coughing and labored breathing in humans have taken on heightened significance in the past year, as they are commonly reported symptoms of covid-19 infection. Not all coughing and wheezing in humans is of viral origin, however. Asthma in humans is a disease of the lower airways that can cause coughing,…
Readers of my blog know that I have a personal and professional interest in rabies. As a practicing veterinarian, I’ve vaccinated thousands of cats and dogs against this deadly disease, and in my retirement, I’ve volunteered with the amazing organization Mission Rabies, joining teams of international veterinarians, technicians, and laypersons to help vaccinate dogs in vulnerable communities in Africa and…
Written By Dr. Arnold Plotnick; Originally published on Catster. Dental disorders are amongst the most common medical issues seen in cats. If unaddressed, dental problems can lead to a variety of consequences including bad breath, loose teeth, oral pain, and difficulty eating. Sometimes it can be challenging to tell if a cat is experiencing oral discomfort because cats by nature…
Written By Dr. Arnold Plotnick; Originally published on Catster. My friends have heard me complain many times about my spouse’s loud snoring. A snoring cat, however, has never bothered me. My beloved cat Crispy, who died in 2017, was a notorious snorer. When she slept on the bed, I found her rhythmic respiratory sounds soothing and reassuring. If the environmental…
An excellent book about animal behavior. This isn’t simple stuff like cats not using their litterbox or dogs jumping up on counters. The book addresses true mental disturbances in a variety of animals, and it’s pretty fascinating. The author sucks you into the book with the tale of her rescue dog, a Bernese Mountain Dog that had such severe separation…
Well, it’s upon us: the last day of the project. Hard to believe how quickly this project has flown by. Despite all of the Covid-related logistical nightmares that Mission Rabies has had to put up with, the project has been a remarkable success, with the vaccine numbers about to exceed last year’s numbers. In fact, Mission Rabies is sending the…
Great day today. We were roaming again, in an area called Singisi. It’s a pretty area, with lots of lush green foliage. Many interesting pathways and homes. Courtnie had to get her pre-flight Covid test this morning, along with several other volunteers who are flying to the UK on Thursday, so I was by myself in the morning. I had…
Our assignment today was to roam in two areas. In the morning, we were covering a new area, and we saw a reasonable amount of dogs and a surprisingly high number of cats. When we set up a static point clinic, the vast majority of the pets are dogs, because they can walk their dogs over relatively easily. People here…
Well, it’s confirmed. Our KLM flight is definitely a no-go. Initially, KLM sent me an email saying that our flight was a Covid-Tested corridor flight and is therefore exempt from the new Netherlands regulations. Now I’ve received an email that said that the first email was sent in error. Our flight is NOT a Covid-Tested corridor flight. It was just…
Today could only be described as exhilarating. We started this first day of our second week with what we thought would be a quick trip to the medical clinic to get my second post-exposure rabies vaccine (I got scratched by a kitten last week). Well, today is Saturday, and the doctor doesn’t arrive until 9:00. We couldn’t wait that…
Last night I packed my bags for the big safari. A towel, some soap and shampoo, contact lens stuff, insect spray, sunscreen, a change of clothes, and my Fujifilm camera (plus extra battery). Headed off to breakfast with my similarly excited colleagues, and then we went out to the parking lot to the safari vehicles, which were already waiting. Nine…