Seattle VetSpot: 10 Substances Toxic to Dogs

As I watched Wilson, my new 11 week old French Bulldog puppy, on one of his first outdoor romps I couldn’t help notice how innately curious and innocent dogs can be when just starting to explore the world outside.

Everything was new and amazing! Look at that cool leaf, and listen to that bird call. And what is THAT…a squirrel? He was so into everything around him. All that he could see, hear, touch, and taste became fascinating to his mind and his senses.

I loved watching him enjoy it all, but as a seasoned vet,I also was on the alert for anything that could be harmful nearby to the naïve little guy. He was my new pal, and it was my job to look out for him while he learned about life in Seattle.  

It is after all, the responsibility of all dog owners take on such a guardian type role for the benefit of their canine companions. Regardless of the pet’s age, experience level, and the environment they find themselves in, dogs will be dogs. And they sometimes get themselves into heaps of trouble!

Since they also have a knack for eluding our close observation and supervision, even if just for a moment, I thought it would be good to think about what to watch for if, despite your best efforts, your dog may have eaten or contacted something toxic.

Often the sooner we can spot a toxicity problem, the more successful the outcome will be from prompt first aid and/or the necessary medical attention.

Here are some commonly encountered environmental toxins and the potential signs or symptoms that should alert a dog owner to take action. Some come from outside the home, while others are surprisingly accessible within the apparent safety of the dog’s indoor environment.

1. Rat or rodent bait ingestion: There are 3 types of rodent poisons used commonly now in North America, and each has a different toxic effect with varying post-poison symptoms.

• Anticoagulants (most common) act within days of ingestion to inhibit blood clotting by interfering with normal Vitamin K activity. Bleeding or bruising, pale gums and mucous membrane color, weakness/exercise intolerance, lameness, and swollen joints are all possible clinical signs. These signs may be delayed by days after actual ingestion and can last weeks after exposure. Early action in first 24hrs after exposure can be very effective.
• Bromethalin is a potent nerve toxin and as such can lead to acute central nervous system symptoms including muscle tremors, seizures, agitation, forelimb stiffness, incoordination, mental depression, loss of vocalization, and paralysis.  Since there is no antidote, rapid and early treatment aimed at reducing further intestinal absorption is essential to survival!
• Vitamin D containing poisons act by overdosing this important calcium and phosphorus cofactor and can result in toxic levels of these minerals in the blood leading to acute kidney failure, heart function issues and even damage to other body organs. Clinical signs usually have a delay in onset of 18 - 36 hours post ingestion. The most common signs seen includevomiting, diarrhea, reduced appetite, depression, thirst increase, and body collapse.

2. Slug bait ingestion: Most older baits use metaldehyde as the active poison and oral ingestion leads to nerve and muscular abnormalities that develop within hours of ingestion. 

Signs of this toxicity includeincoordination, severe muscle spasms/twitching, abnormal posturing or movements, and even convulsions. There is no direct antidote, but rapid post-exposure medical care can help relieve and lessen the symptoms considerably. The newer “pet-safe” snail baits frequently contain large amounts of iron mineral, and are only toxic after ingestion of very large quantities. The mechanism of toxicity is very different and more delayed (days after exposure), but preventing consumption of large amounts can keep dogs safe.

3. Antifreeze ingestion: Ethylene glycol is the most dangerous form of antifreeze. Most commercial antifreeze products contain between 95-97% ethylene glycol. A minimal dose of ½ teaspoon per pound of body weight is enough to possibly poison a dog. Acute vomiting is seen within the first few hours after ingestion and then, within 1-6 hours, signs ofdepression, incoordination, weakness, panting, increased thirst and urination occur. By 18-36 hours, acute often lethal kidney failure occurs. Propylene glycol is the main ingredient in "safer" forms of car engine coolant and is approximately 3 times less toxic in dogs than ethylene glycol.

4. Xylitol artificial sweetener ingestion: This common food ingredient is a naturally occurring sugar substitute found in many sugar-free gums, candies, etc. Even small ingested amounts in dogs can result in rapid, life-threatening low blood sugar levels (hypoglycemia), while larger doses result in liver damage and failure. Signs of poisoning typically occur rapidly within 30-60 minutes of ingestion including weakness/lethargy, incoordination, collapse, even convulsions.

5. NSAID drug toxicity/overdose (human or canine drugs): These common often OTC human drugs as NSAIDs (e.g. Advil®, Aleve® and Motrin) can cause serious harm to dogs when ingested, causing stomach and intestinal ulcers as well as potential kidney failure. Damaging effects can be variable with many factors such as size of dog, quantity ingested, actual active ingredient and individual sensitivity to NSAIDs dictating the degree of harm that results. Signs occur typically within hours to days and include appetite loss, vomiting, diarrhea with or without blood, and possibly increased thirst. Even an overdose of a prescription dog NSAID can have similar toxicity.

6. Antidepressant drug toxicity/overdose: Antidepressants (e.g. Prozac, Paxil, etc.) when ingested by dogs can cause vomiting and, in more serious instances, “serotonin syndrome” -- a dangerous condition that raises temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure, and may cause seizures.

7. Cocoa/Coffee stimulant toxicity: This one is a classic and quite well known. Though not harmful to people, in dogs chocolate products contain enough substances called “methylxanthines” that can cause rapid heart and irregular heartbeats, vomiting and diarrhea in small doses, but severe signs and even death if ingested in larger quantities. Darker chocolate contains more of these dangerous substances than do white or milk chocolate.

The amount of chocolate that could trigger serious symptoms depends on the type of chocolate and the dog’s size. For smaller breeds, just half an ounce of baking chocolate can be fatal, while a larger dog might survive eating 4 ounces to 8 ounces.

Coffee and caffeine have similarly dangerous chemicals with poisoned dogs experiencing similarhyperactive and overly stimulated signs as with cocoa/chocolate products toxicity.

8. Macadamia nut ingestion: This popular ingredient in human snacks (or eaten as a plain nut) isn’t well known for its toxic effects. However, after ingestion dogs may suffer from a series of symptoms, including weakness, depression, joint pain, overheating, and vomiting. The toxin hasn’t been identified and there is no antidote, but signs generally subside in 24-48 hrs.

9. Raisins and Grapes: Experts in research aren’t sure why, but these fruits can induce kidney failure in dogs. The amount of grapes or raisins that may cause such renal failure is not exactly known, so any amount could potentially be dangerous. Even a small number may cause problems in some dogs. Signs like vomiting, reduced appetite, low urine production, and a possible painful belly would typically appear within 24hrs of ingestion.

10. Marijuana ingestion: This recreational drug’s use and thereby inadvertent dog ingestion episodes are becoming more common. Most likely signs of toxicity are mental depression, incoordination, vomiting, tremors, dilated pupils, and “stealing Doritos”. Thankfully, prognosis is good and mostly supportive care and symptomatic. Effects can last between 24-72hours.

This list is a sampling of the more common potential hazardous items that unlucky dogs and their owners may encounter while living together. Hopefully, avoiding exposure and eliminating unsupervised dog activities in and around our homes and communities can prevent such toxic episodes. However, if exposure does occur, knowing what observations to make and how to proceed if poisoning is suspected can likely save much suffering and even our pet’s lives. 

If nothing else, remember that dogs will be dogs, and they can never be trusted to eat only the right things!

Dr. Mark Donovan earned his degree with Honors from the University of Florida (Go Gators!). His veterinary interests include soft-tissue surgery, endocrinology, epidemiology, and zoonotic diseases. He has one pet – a French bulldog named Wilson.

Dr. Donovan enjoys spending time with his wife and two daughters, hiking and backpacking, snowboarding, playing tennis, gardening, going to Mariners games, and reading.

Seattle Veterinary Associates was founded in 1971 by Dr. Sanford Olson, Dr. Donald Canfield, and Dr. Stephen Jones. In 1971, the original practice opened its doors at the current location of Queen Anne Animal Clinic. Coupled with our considerate expansion and the advancement of our medical capabilities at all our hospitals, we are proud to be providing the highest quality veterinary care to pets and their families. SVA is comprised of four locations: Queen Anne Animal Clinic, Green Lake Animal Hospital, Ravenna Animal Hospital, and Northwest Veterinary Hospital.

Source: http://www.seattledogspot.com/blog/dog-blog/post/10-substances-toxic-to-dogs

Why Veterinary Care Impacts Human Health

There is an old joke that circulates among veterinary students. The gist of it is that physicians are single species doctors, while veterinarians are multi-species doctors. While this statement arose out of the friendly competition between medical students and veterinary students for professional status, there are very real benefits of our training in multi-species medicine.

What veterinarians do as second nature is to examine the animal within its herd and to examine the herd within its environment. In companion animal practice, the ’herd’ is the pet’s human family and the ‘environment’ is urban Seattle.
Veterinary care impacts the health of the pet, the health of human family members, and the health of the environment.





Intestinal parasite prevention has recently been at the forefront of our discussion of zoonotic diseases. The reason for concern is that roundworms, Toxocara, can be transmitted to people. Human infection occurs via ingestion of eggs of these parasites which are shed in feces of infected dogs and cats.
The eggs that are shed in feces are not immediately infective to humans. Parasite larvae contained within the eggs must spend several weeks in the environment maturing to the infective stage. Once the larvae have matured, ingestion of eggs (usually via ingestion of contaminated soil) can result in human disease.
Toxocara larvae do not replicate within human tissue. Instead, the infective larvae undergo what it termed aberrant migration. These larvae migrate through body tissues producing diseases called visceral larva migrans (VLM) and ocular larva migrans (OLM).

When OLM occurs, larvae encyst in the eye causing inflammation which can result in blindness. Signs of VLM include fatigue, weight loss, fever, anorexia, headache, and abdominal pain. In this country, most cases of human toxocariasis occur in people under 20 years of age.

Most dogs and cats are infected with Toxocara before leaving their litters. This is why puppies and kittens are dosed with worming medications multiple times. Monthly de-worming of juvenile and adult dogs and cats reduces the likelihood that the individual pet will become infected and it also decreases the number of parasite eggs in the environment.

Decreasing the parasite load in the environment decreases the likelihood of: reinfection of treated animals, infection of previously uninfected animals, and human infection.

Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan parasite which can infect all warm blooded animals. Cats become infected by ingesting smaller mammals (mice, rats) or raw meat containing tissue cysts. Kittens can also be infected via passage of the parasite across the placenta and breast milk of the queen.

Most cats have been infected with T.gondii by the time they are acquired by their owners.  Oocysts, the infective form of the parasite, are shed in the feces of cats.  After 1-5 days of exposure to air and moisture, the oocyst becomes infective and can remain stable in the environment for months.

After ingestion of oocysts, the parasite forms cysts within the muscle tissues of the host. These tissue cysts can persist for life.  The robust immune response of a healthy host prevents replication of the parasite and clinical disease does not occur.

Humans and cats experience clinical illness when reactivation of the parasite occurs due to immune suppression of the host.
Clinical disease in cats can consist of anorexia, lethargy, fever, liver disease, or central nervous system disease. Disease in immunosuppressed humans results in heart disease, liver disease, or central nervous system disease. Infection of a woman during pregnancy can result in birth defects or spontaneous abortion.
Attention to routine hygiene measures including hand washing after gardening, washing fruits and vegetables, and fully cooking meats prevents human infection.

Because oocysts shed in cat feces are not immediately infective, daily cleaning of litter boxes reduces the potential for human exposure. Infection in cats is minimized by keeping cats indoors and preventing predatory behavior.
Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease which can infect most mammals.  The frequency of disease varies in different geographic areas, and different animal species manifest different susceptibilities to disease. Cows, pigs, and numerous non-domestic animals such as rats, raccoons, and skunks, become infected and shed the organism in their urine without experiencing clinical illness.

Unlike dogs, cats seem to be fairly resistant to infection. Exposure of dogs to contaminated water and soil is a more common route of infection than direct contact with an infected animal. The same is true of human infection.
Leptospires penetrate wet or abraded skin or the mucous membranes of the mouth and nose. The organisms replicate in many tissues (kidney ,liver, spleen ,central nervous system); damage to these tissues is variable. Infective organisms can be shed in urine even after active disease has resolved.
We recommend annual vaccination of dogs against Leptospirosis. By decreasing susceptibility to infection of our canine companions, we hope to decrease environmental contamination and thereby decrease the incidence of canine and human disease.

Finally, we highly recommended vaccination of all dogs and cats against Rabies. Rabies is a viral disease which can infect all warm blooded animals. The Rabies virus is shed in saliva of the infected animal. The organism is introduced to the susceptible animal via bite or scratch wounds.

The virus replicates in nervous tissue and travels along nerve axons to the central nervous system. Early clinical signs of disease consist of apprehension, anxiety, irritability and fever. As disease progresses, weakness, incoordination, vicious behavior and seizures may occur. Signs in infected people are similar to those in cats and dogs. Once clinical signs occur, the disease is fatal.

Reducing human infection has centered around the vaccination of domestic dogs. Because dogs live in intimate contact with people, dogs have been and continue to be a major source of human infection. Elimination of feral and un-owned dogs has been attempted in many locales and has not been effective in controlling human infection.

Similarly, eliminating wildlife populations known to be infected with Rabies has not been feasible due to logistics and expense.  Vaccination of domestic dogs continues to be the focus of Rabies control programs around the world.

In King County, it is now a legal requirement to vaccinate cats as well as dogs. The wildlife source of Rabies in this area is the bat. Due to their predatory behavior, cats are more likely to come into contact with bats than are dogs, hence the recommendation for vaccination of cats.


We hope that this information is useful to you –please ask us any questions that arise!

Dr. Ann Whereat earned her degree from the University of Pennsylvania. She also received a B.A. in Biology from Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin.
She has a veterinary interest in internal medicine and the human-animal bond.
Outside the office, Dr. Whereat has one pet – a Great Swiss Mountain dog – and likes to spend time with her husband and three daughters.
Seattle Veterinary Associates was founded in 1971 by Dr. Sanford Olson, Dr. Donald Canfield, and Dr. Stephen Jones. In 1971, the original practice opened its doors at the current location of Queen Anne Animal Clinic. Coupled with our considerate expansion and the advancement of our medical capabilities at all our hospitals, we are proud to be providing the highest quality veterinary care to pets and their families. SVA is comprised of four locations: Queen Anne Animal Clinic, Green Lake Animal Hospital, Ravenna Animal Hospital, and Northwest Veterinary Hospital.

Source: http://www.seattledogspot.com/blog/dog-blog/post/why-veterinary-care-impacts-human-health 

8 ways to keep your dog safe during the holidays

With the holiday season upon us we are all getting ready for the feasts that accompany them. We are not alone in this endeavor – our pets are ready to cash in as well!  Every year there are countless veterinary visits associated with this problem and some of these cases can end up with long hospitalizations and even death. The following are some points to consider as we gear up for the holiday season:

1. Avoid the fat. Ideally, pets would not receive scraps from the table and would simply stick to their prepared diets – but if you choose to give your pet some handouts please remember to avoid the more fatty portions such as trimmings, gravy, etc. The high fat content can predispose your pet to inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract and more importantly, the pancreas. If the inflammation of the pancreas goes unchecked, it can lead to debilitating pain, nausea and ultimately death of the patient.
2. Toxic sweets. Chocolate is a commonly known toxin for dogs that can cause seizures and cardiac problems and xylitol, a common artificial sweetener can cause profoundly low blood sugar levels and potentially liver failure. Macadamia nuts can cause significant tremors and neurologic symptoms.
3. Scary fruits and vegetables. Members of the allium family (garlic, shallots, onions, etc) can cause oxidative damage to an animal’s red blood cells causing anemia. Grapes and raisins have shown to be profoundly toxic to the kidneys of some animals.
4. Beware of the bones. The large uncooked bones tend to cause problems with fractures associated with the large molar teeth in the back of the mouth of dogs. Cooked bones (especially poultry bones) can become brittle and are a concern due to their potential to fracture and perforate the bowel once ingested.
5. Mind your garbage. The holidays provide endless opportunities for the dumpster divers in the group to get busy. Be cognizant of this and deal with your garbage accordingly. A pet that ingests a rotten turkey carcass, for example, could develop significant intestinal distress and worst-case scenario, an overwhelming bacterial infection secondary to the food poisoning.
6. Set your dog up to succeed. With the holidays there are often lots of guests coming to visit. Know your dogs trigger points and concerns. If your dog is timid around new people or children then plan accordingly if you are hosting or attending a holiday party. Provide your pet with a sanctuary where he/she can escape the chaos. Also remember that the majority of dog bites tend to happen around a dog protecting his food resources and toys.
7. No toast for the pet. Animals should not be offered alcoholic beverages. They can be harmful to the kidney and the liver and provoke horrible reactions for the pet.
8. Dangerous decorations. Cats are notorious for eating tinsel and other linear foreign material and dogs will eat anything. Know how discretionary your pet is and plan accordingly with holiday decorations.

These are just a few tips on precautions to take as we face the holidays ahead. We wish you a happy and veterinary-free holiday season!

Dr. Mortimer earned his degree from Iowa State University. He received a B.A. in Biology from Baylor University, and completed an internship in Small Animal Emergency Medicine and Surgery in Rochester, New York. His interests include internal medicine and surgery, including minimally invasive surgery (endoscopy and laparoscopy).


“Above all, I have a strong interest in people and animals. The relationship between my
patients and their owners is the reason I am in this profession.”
When away from the practice, he spends most of his time having fun with his family (his wife Kristie, three children, three cats and one “Labrador non-retriever”. Personal interests include fly-fishing, hiking, gardening and travel.
Seattle Veterinary Associates was founded in 1971 by Dr. Sanford Olson, Dr. Donald Canfield, and Dr. Stephen Jones. In 1971, the original practice opened its doors at the current location of Queen Anne Animal Clinic. Coupled with our considerate expansion and the advancement of our medical capabilities at all our hospitals, we are proud to be providing the highest quality veterinary care to pets and their families. SVA is comprised of four locations: Queen Anne Animal Clinic, Green Lake Animal Hospital, Ravenna Animal Hospital, and Northwest Veterinary Hospital.

Source: Seattle Dog Spot
http://www.seattledogspot.com/blog/dog-blog/post/9-ways-to-keep-your-pet-safe-during-the-holidays 

Christmas Pet Safety

“My pet would never eat food off the table!”

“My pet would never knock over the Christmas tree!”

“My pet would never bite someone!”

We all know our pets pretty well, but what we don’t always realize is that stress can make anybody do crazy things! When you have holiday guests or flashing Christmas lights or loud holiday music—or all of the above—at your house all at once, your pet may get stressed and frustrated, causing them to act out in unexpected ways. Most pet accidents are met with the statement, “He’s never done anything like that before!”

We recommend always making sure that your pet has a safe place to sit and relax during your holidays parties. Just like some people, pets need to get away from the action and de-stress, but most of the time they don’t know how to ask for their space. If your pet is comfortable in their crate, we recommend moving it into a quiet room and letting them spend some time resting during your holiday get-togethers. Your pet will be happier, and by extension, you and your guests will be happier! And holidays disasters will be prevented.  

Avoiding, identifying, and treating salmon poisoning in dogs

Salmon Poisoning Can Be Fatal to Dogs

What could be more fun than a day at the beach? While that may be true for most of our canine companions, dog owners all along the Pacific coast need to be aware of the infection referred to as salmon poisoning. 

When this infection occurs, an important component to prompt diagnosis (and thus successful treatment) is identification of potential exposure. 

And while treatment is successful in the majority of cases, without appropriate medication the disease is highly fatal.

Bacteria Causes Salmon Poisoning

Salmon poisoning is caused by a specialized type of bacteria, Neorickettsia helminthoeca, categorized as rickettsia.   Exposure comes through a complex series of events.

Rickettsia-class bacteria are specialized in that they are not found out in the environment at large, but are always carried within some other organism (just as Lyme’s disease is carried by ticks). This particular bacterium is found within a fluke called Nanophyteus salmincola, which is a type of intestinal worm. 

Fish and amphibians can be infected with this fluke. Dogs become infected with the fluke by ingesting some part of the fish (or less commonly, amphibian). As the fluke infection develops, bacteria are released into the body.

So in essence, salmon poisoning is a bacterial infection caught by a parasite (fluke) infection caught by exposure to fish.

Salmon Isn't Only Cause

Salmon are the most common source of fluke infection, but trout as well as other amphibians can also carry it. These aquatic creatures are the typical sources of exposure for dogs: either at the ocean, or at estuaries and inland rivers where fish migrate.  

A typical history involves a dog who found a fish carcass on the beach and was either carrying it around or rolling in it.  Sometimes the history is just of being at the beach and subsequent development of illness, or of someone bringing raw salmon home and the pet getting into it. 

There are even rare reports of dogs developing this illness from exposure to fishing equipment alone (boots, etc.). Cooking destroys the infectious potential, but raw or undercooked fish can harbor the fluke -- in any tissues and even in the slime on fish skin.

Symptoms of Salmon Poisoning

Symptoms do not begin immediately after exposure. On average it takes 5-7 days to see initial signs, though this can also vary. 

Many cases start with intestinal disturbance: diarrhea and sometimes vomiting. For some cases, intestinal signs are minimal.  The infection progresses  to fever (with pets showing lethargy and anorexia), then lymph nodes become enlarged. 

Beyond this, patients will develop inflammation throughout their body (called vasculitis), which will lead to organ damage with its associated symptoms of organ failure. Eventually death can occur.

Diagnosis is typically made by identifying fluke eggs in the stool. Occasionally, advanced cases are identified by biopsies from their swollen lymph nodes. 

Treatment is Usually Effective

The infection is treated with an antibiotic (typically doxycycline or tetracycline) and a dewormer to get rid of the fluke carrying the bacteria. More advanced cases need additional stabilizing treatments such as anti-nausea medication or fluid therapy. 

Except for very advanced cases, the infection tends to be very responsive to treatment.

Fortunately, salmon poisoning is a rare occurrence. However, in the event that your dog becomes ill, it is important that exposure history be openly discussed with your veterinarian and a fecal sample evaluated promptly if salmon poisoning is a potential. 

Awareness of this rare hazard is important for the health of any dog who enjoys frolicking along the beautiful shorelines of the Pacific Northwest. 

Dr. Carina Nacewicz earned her degree from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, where she also completed her B.S. in Zoology. She interned at Florida Veterinary Specialists in Tampa.

“While internal medicine and surgery are my key medical interests, the unique bond is what drove me to pursue these avenues in veterinary medicine. After graduation, I pursued additional training in emergency and exotic pet medicine, which was then followed by employment at an emergency, critical care and specialty hospital. It is a pleasure to be able to incorporate these experiences into caring for my patients over the expanse of their lifetime.”

She has two pets and enjoys spending time traveling, listening to music, checking out art, reading, hiking, camping, bicycling, snowboarding, playing board games, and taking advantage of any excuse to socialize and laugh.

Seattle Veterinary Associates was founded in 1971 by Dr. Sanford Olson, Dr. Donald Canfield, and Dr. Stephen Jones. In 1971, the original practice opened its doors at the current location of Queen Anne Animal Clinic. Coupled with our considerate expansion and the advancement of our medical capabilities at all our hospitals, we are proud to be providing the highest quality veterinary care to pets and their families. SVA is comprised of four locations: Queen Anne Animal Clinic, Green Lake Animal Hospital, Ravenna Animal Hospital, and Northwest Veterinary Hospital.

BY DR. CARINA MACEWICZ, DVM SEATTLE VETERINARY ASSOCIATES

Source: http://www.seattledogspot.com/blog/dog-blog/post/avoiding-identifying-and-treating-salmon-poisoning-in-dogs

National Dog Show

Will you be watching the National Dog Show? The two-hour NBC special will air immediately following the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. What is your favorite breed and why?
http://nds.nationaldogshow.com/event-info-breeds.php

10 Subtle Signs of Illness in Cats

Cats are very good at hiding signs of illness. They are prey animals as well as predators in the wild and have evolved the ability to hide disease, even when it is serious. This can make identification of illness extremely challenging for the cat owner. It is very important to consult your veterinarian if your cat shows any of these subtle signs.

1.      Inappropriate elimination

A cat that urinates or defecates outside of the litter box is telling you that something is wrong. Urination outside of the box can indicate multiple issues, including diabetes mellitus, kidney disease, lower urinary tract disease (infection, bladder stones, and stress related bladder inflammation), hyperthyroidism, or cancer. Defecation outside of the box can indicate problems with the gastrointestinal tract such as inflammatory bowel disease, parasites, constipation, or cancer.  Getting into and out of the box may also become painful for a cat with arthritis or musculoskeletal issues.

2.      Changes in vocalization

The change in the pitch and sound of a cat’s meow may indicate that there is a problem in the area of the larynx or that a systemic illness is occurring. Cats that vocalize or howl more frequently than usual may be suffering from hypertension or hyperthyroidism.  Stress or pain can also increase vocalization in cats.

3.      Bad Breath

Admittedly, cats may not always have the freshest breath, but a sudden change in odor may indicate significant dental disease, oral cancer, or even an underlying systemic illness, such as kidney disease.

4.      Changes in Activity

A decrease in activity or change in daily routine can be a general indicator of illness.

5.      Changes in food or water consumption

Decreased or increased water and/or food consumption may be an indicator of various illnesses.  Increased water consumption may be a result of kidney disease or diabetes mellitus.  Increased food consumption may indicate gastrointestinal disease or hyperthyroidism.  Decreased food and water consumption may occur secondary to many illnesses, all of which are serious.

6.      Unexplained weight loss or gain

Sudden unexplained weight loss may be caused by hyperthyroidism, gastrointestinal disease, cancer, diabetes mellitus, or a whole host of illnesses. Weight gain and obesity can puts cats at risk for diabetes mellitus and arthritis issues.

7.      Changes in Social Interactions

Cats are typically social and enjoy interacting with people and other pets.  Changes in interactions with others in the household may indicate pain, stress, or illness.

8.      Signs of stress

Stressed cats may hide more, eat less food, interact less with others in the household, inappropriately urinate of defecate, and appear outwardly agitated.  Ruling out physical ailments that could result in stress is very important.

9.      Changes in grooming behavior

A decrease in typical grooming behaviors is a sign of some sort of underlying health issue. It may indicate pain, anxiety, decreased energy or be secondary to obesity. Over grooming can indicate a skin issue or psychological disorder.

10. Changes in sleeping habits

Cats normally sleep during a large portion of the day. When they seem to be sleeping more than normal, it could be a sign of an underlying disease process.  If they are sleeping much less than usual, it may indicate hyperthyroidism, pain, or stressors within the household.

All of the above subtle signs of illness in felines may not be easy to pick up, especially if the changes are gradual. Veterinary wellness exams once to twice yearly are especially important for this reason. They can prevent many diseases and illnesses from reaching an advanced stage and keep our kitties happy and healthy.