Near the end of March, we will be visited by members of the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA).  This organization is committed to improving pet care and pet care providers by establishing standards and goals to which animal hospitals are held.  Less than 18% of the animal hospitals in the United States are AAHA accredited.  For the doctors and staff of Metairie Small Animal Hospital, AAHA accreditation is a public proclamation of our commitments to facility, practice and veterinary enhancement.

AAHA certification guarantees standards of patient care.  This is accomplished by evaluating every aspect of the animal hospital from medical records to the physical facility to educational resources. 

An on-site evaluation by certified AAHA representatives will be completed at the end of March.  We trust we will be in compliance with their standards and that we'll be eligible for recertification.  One huge benefit of this evaluation is the infusion of ideas and direction from this vanguard organization.  Over the years, we have benefited greatly from these evaluations, and as a result all of our clients and patients have benefited as well!

The following article appeared in the February 2004 issue of Cat Watch.  Cornell university College of Veterinary Medicine.

How to Foil the Feline Houdini

Here are ways to prevent your cat from making that mad dash out the door.

              You're getting ready to leave the house.  As you put on your coat, you notice your cat Sammie eyeballing you from a few feet away.  You slowly open the door, hoping to step across the threshold before he runs for it.  But just as you try to squeeze through the opening, Sammie darts past you in a disappearing act that would make a magician envious.
              For many cat owners, keeping their feline companions safely indoors represents the safest care.  Cats living indoors are not at risk of injuries from traffic or predators--human or animal.  An indoor cat is less likely to be infected by fleas, ticks, intestinal parasites or life threatening viruses, and is less likely to get lost.  If you live with a cat that appreciates indoor living, keeping him inside is no problem.  But if you live with a cat for which the great outdoors constantly beckons, preventing him from escaping the confines of your home requires consistent behavior modification.  Some cats never want to go outside, while others want to run out the door every chance they get.  "Most escapees are cats that have recently spent time outside,"  says Drew Weigner, DVM, whose practice is The Cat Doctor in Atlanta, Georgia.  "They can be newly adopted stray cats, outside cats made into inside cats, cats that got outside by accident, etc.  It seems the call of the wild is a strong innate instinct."

Your Best Defense

             If your cat is sexually intact, he or she may want to wander outside to satisfy biological urges.  This is compounded if suitors are hanging around.  "Wanting to be outside is magnified during breeding season, usually spring and fall,"  says Dr. Weigner. 
            Spaying and neutering may help keep the feline escape artist from wanting to roam. "To some degree, this does help mitigate the desire to roam, but many spayed and neutered cats still want to go outside,"  says Dr. Weigner.
            Once a cat desires the outside world, it usually takes two things to change the behavior.  One is consistency.  "Whatever method you choose, do it the same way, over and over again,"  says Dr. Weigner.  "It's fine to use more than one method at the same time, just as long as they're both employed consistently."  The second key to modifying your cat's behavior is time and patience.  "It may take several months of consistent behavior modification before a cat stops trying to go outside," says Dr. Weigner.
           Whatever method you use, don't involve physical punishment.  Punishing a cat can destroy his trust in you and reduce his self confidence.

Ways to Change Her Mind

"Redirecting your cat's attention with toys can work, as well as throwing the cat a treat as you exit."  says Dr. Weigner.  Keep a basket of toys or crumpled paper balls near the door to toss for your cat to chase as you leave.  You'll be accomplishing two goals--giving your cat exercise and keeping him from escaping. 
                                                                                                              (Continued on Page 3)

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                      Volume 6, Issue 3                               

Richard Richmond is our March Employee of the Month.  Richard has been working here for over a year and has continued to do a great job.  He is a junior at Grace King High School and predominantly covers our weekend shifts, as well as some shifts at our West Esplanade Outpatient Clinic.  Richard has proven to be a great asset, working with doctors in emergencies and dealing with our clients during emergency hours.  In his free time he enjoys watching movies and working with computers.  Richard plans to attend college where he will study Computer Science.  Thanks for all your hard work, Richard!

The photograph at right is what is called an impression smear.  Tissue is removed from a patient (in this case, a lymph node) and is sectioned, or cut in half.  The smaller section is then pressed onto a microscope slide.  After staining and prepping, we can look at the cells under a microscope.  Note the large number of uniform cells in view.  What's your diagnosis?

                            (Answer on page 5)

(Continued from page 2)

You can also leave a trail of treats for your cat to follow to distract him as you leave, or use your daily morning departure as his mealtime.
                "Shaking a can of pennies when the cat starts to dart, or using a squirt bottle can be effective deterrents if used consistently,"  says Dr. Weigner.  "A squirt bottle has the advantage of being effective when you're trying to get in the door if the door is barely opened and the cat is squirted when she puts her nose to the crack." 
                If possible, install a storm or screen door in addition to your regular door to give you extra protection when you come or go.  If your cat pushes on the window screens to let himself out, make sure the screens are securely latched, especially if you live in a high rise apartment building.

               Enriching your indoor cat's environment goes a long way in changing his desire to go outside.  "Another important aspect to changing his desire to go outside is to give your cat an alternative," says Dr. Weigner.  "It often helps to make a window ledge so he can see outside.  It also may help to put a bird feeder near the window to attract wildlife."

What's In A Name?

According to a recent survey conducted by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA)  here are the Top Ten Most Popular Pet Names!

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                      Volume 6, Issue 3