Some of you may have recognized a couple of familiar faces around the hospital in recent weeks.  Rene Baumer and Daryl Haydel, both long time employees, have returned to Metairie Small Hospital to work for the summer.  Rene and Daryl are currently enrolled in LSU's School of Veterinary Medicine and will graduate in May of 2004.  By working at MSAH for the summer, Rene and Daryl continue their education with hands on training in a hospital environment.  We are very lucky to have these young men with us and look forward to having Dr. Daryl and Dr. Rene join our team!

This dog presented for difficulty rising and walking.  Back pain was detected on physical exam and  a radiograph was taken and is shown below on the right.  On the left is a radiograph of a normal spine.  Can you see the problem? What's your diagnosis? Look for the answer on Page 5.

The following article appeared in Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine's publication, "CatWatch." (Volume 5, No. 9, September 2001)

    If a child and cat were born the same year, the child would be entering middle school just as the cat was entering her golden years.  That's how soon your feline friend may start to slow down.  In the natural process of aging, your cat's metabolism and hormone balance may change, her eyesight and hearing may begin to fail, and her joints may ache or stiffen.  Although a cat may live up to age 20 or more, which is the human equivalent of 96 years, your cat may start having a harder time getting around by age 12 or so.

Minor Changes Smooth the Transition

   To make life easier for your elderly cat at home, you might put her food bowls on a box or step so she doesn't have to bend her neck down so sharply.  If you also have a dog and put the cat's bowls on the counter, now put them in a closed cabinet nearer the floor with an entrance just small enough for the cat.
   Keep your cat's litter box clean, and keep a box on each level of the house so your cat doesn't have to climb stairs.  "To make it easier to enter, cut a section out of one side of the box so your cat doesn't have to jump over the side.  Place the litter box in one of those large flat plastic boxes that people use to store sweaters, line it with newspaper, and cut a doorway in that box too," says Gerry Beekman, DVM, of The Cat Clinic in York, Maine, and member of the American Association of Feline Practitioners Advisory Panel on Feline Senior Care.  "Older cats tend to make big messes around a litter box; this system makes it easier for your cat to get in and out of the box and keeps cleanup to a minimum." 
   If your cat uses a cat door and she's having trouble negotiating the door as she becomes frail, remove the heavy plastic door during the day and replace it with a piece of cloth.  Replace the heavy plastic door at night.
   Your cat will still enjoy those windowsills or ledges in the sun but may not be able to jump up.  If you want her to still have access to those beloved high places, provide a series of boxes of increasing height or a carpeted ramp.  That goes for any favorite sleep

ing spot, whether it is your bed, favorite armchair or sofa.  "But the set-up must be secure and ramps carpeted so there's no chance your cat will slip," say Beekman.  He also recommends giving older cats (and indoor cats for that matter) an outdoor pen into which they can wander for sunshine and fresh air.

Older cats tend to get bonier as their fat stores deplete.  This condition may make your lap less comfortable for your cat's rickety body.  Putting a cushion or folded towel on your lap may make it more comfortable.  If your cat is used to curling up in a little cat bed, you may find she'll need a larger bed as she gets bonier and stiffer and can't curl up as tightly.

Be sure your older cat has a place to escape from noise, children, and other stressors.  The place she calls her own should be quiet, comfortable and warm--near a radiator in the winter and away from draughts.  If you cat's eyesight is failing, don't leave obstacles on the floor.

"Many older cats start to whine or cry during the night because they get disoriented," says Beekman.  "A night light can help an older cat with failing eyesight see at night."

Keep your mature cat warm in the winter and cool in the summer, and always provide plenty of fresh water for drinking.  Finally, to make sure your senior cat is as comfortable as can be, take her to the veterinarian for a senior wellness exam.  Tell you veterinarian about any changes you've observed in you cat's behavior or appearance including weight loss and whether you think your cat is in pain.

Taking a few added precautions and responding to your cat's needs will help ensure comfort for her in her golden years.

Page 4

                        Volume 4, Issue 7

"Birthday" is an adult female/spayed mix breed dog who presented for a draining wound on her rib cage.  The rest of her physical examination proved to be within normal limits.  Her chest was radiographed and a foreign object was noted in the area of her stomach, extending to the subcutaneous tissue in the area of her 11th rib. 

It was decided that surgery should be performed immediately.  During the operation, a long wooden stick was found and carefully removed from the wound.  The stick was similar to that found in a corndog.  It appeared that "Birthday" ate the stick and it later migrated from the stomach to the outside layers of skin.  The wound was closed routinely and a drain was placed to avoid settling infection.  "Birthday" should recover uneventfully.

Below are some pictures taken during and after the surgery.

The doctors of Metairie Small Animal Hospital wish to convey to our clients our understanding of responsibility involving prescriptions written for pet medications.  We have researched this issue through the Louisiana State Board of Veterinary Medicine and it was determined that our obligation as veterinarians is to establish a clear doctor-patient relationship before issuing prescriptions for medications.  We were also informed that warnings and cautions concerning prescription medications were to be delivered by the issuing company, and not the veterinarian.  While this relieves us of our legal obligation to client education, we can not help but feel that we maintain a moral obligation to our clients. 

Client education is by far one of the most important aspects of a veterinarian's job. But, as consumers you have an obligation to attain information about products prior to purchasing them and administering them to your pets.  It is imperative that you fully understand the details surrounding the purchases you make, especially when they can affect the health of your pets.  If you are considering purchasing pet products through a "discount" agency, we urge you to research the company, their products and their sales agreements.  For instance, some pharmaceutical companies will not honor their guarantees unless their products are purchased through a licensed veterinarian.  As consumers, you not only have the right, but the obligation to ask questions and receive answers.  The doctors of Metairie Small Animal Hospital wish to convey our deepest concern for the welfare of our patients, and in keeping with this, we urge our clients to make informed decisions regarding the products and medications being administered to their pets.

In an effort to educate our clients on the possible dangers involved in purchasing "discounted" pet products, we have reprinted the following excerpt of an article which appeared in The Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. 

(continued on page 6)

What's Your Diagnosis?  (Answer)

This animal has severe spinal arthritis with bridging and fusion of the vertebrae.

Page 6

BUYER BEWARE (cont.)

The following excerpt was taken from an article ("Florida Board of Pharmacy disciplines PetMed Express, Savemax") which appeared in the June issue of The Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (Vol 220, No. 11, June 1, 2002).  Written by Kate O'Rourke.


On April 16, the Florida Department of Health's Board of Pharmacy reached an agreement with PetMed Express Inc.  whereby the company accepted penalties but did not admit guilt.  The company was accused of operating an "alternate veterinarian program" that contracted with veterinarians to write prescriptions for animals they had never examined--a violation of Florida law.
     
"Essentially, PetMed was engaged in an enterprise whereby a customer could log onto their Web site, fill out a questionnaire regarding their animal's health complaints, and that information would then be forwarded to a veterinarian who was either employed by, or under contract with, PetMed," said David Herman, prosecuting attorney in the case for Florida's Agency for Health Care Administration.  The veterinarian would review the questionnaire, write a prescription, and send the prescription to PetMed Express, which would fill it.
   
This modus operandi violates Florida law because the state does not consider the authorizing veterinarian to have a valid doctor-patient relationship.  It is also illegal in all but a handful of states, according to Edwin Bayo, legal counsel for the Florida Board of Pharmacy.

The company was also charged with selling drugs not approved by the Food and Drug Administration.