9 Cat Facts (AKA the 9 lies of cats)
Veterinary Wellness Partners • Oct 23, 2014
9 Cat Facts (AKA the 9 lies of cats)
Veterinary Wellness Partners
Thu, 10/23/2014 - 1:52pm
The Nine Lies of Cats
You have heard that cats have 9 lives, but did you know that Zoetis Inc. has developed a list of the nine LIES of cats. This is a booklet that we have in the lobby, but we modified it into web content for the purpose of getting as much information to our clients as possible. Many may not know the name: Zoetis, but it is the animal division of Pfizer. Without further comment, here are Zoetis's "Tope nine lies of Cats:"
- Indoor cats are not exposed to the outdoors
- Heartworm disease is for dogs only
- Litter is the only thing that is in a litterbox
- The deck, balcony, porch, etc does not count as the outdoors
- Only the dog uses the "doggy door"
- My owner's shoes are a great place to curl up to sleep
- My cat carrier is just like my home, yet with a handle
- A little bit of dirt is good for cats
- Because I groom myself I am clean
So what is the point? I am glad that you asked. This content is basically derived from an advertisement promoting Revolution, which is a topical parasite medication. You can read more about Revolution by clicking Here. In a nutshell, Revolution protects your cat from fleas, heartworm disease, ear mites, roundworms and hookworms.
Now that you have seen the 9 lies, what are the truths that go with these lies?
- No matter how clean you house may be, parasites can travel in. Be it a worm egg on your shoes or a flea on your pants, these parasites need to find host animals in order to survive. As a result, they will stop at no cost to find your feline friend.
- Heartworm disease is transmitted by mosquitoes. Not only can a mosquito bite your kitty and transmit heartworm disease, but heartworm disease in cats is not treatable. This makes prevention all the more vital for you kitty.
- It may be obvious that there is more in a litterbox than just the litter. After all, it is your cat's toilet. Even if you scoop your litterbox daily, there is some residual feces and urine within that box. Most internal parasites (worms) are shed in the poop and the eggs are very sticky. This means that they stick to the litterbox and then to your cat's feet. All it takes is for your cat to lick that area (See grooming myth below) and that parasite is ingested, beginning its life cycle all over again.
- Anytime a cat steps outside the home, he/she is no longer indoors. A simple trip to the deck can expose them to fleas due to squirrels and other animals that may visit your deck. This is true of stray cats, possums and other animals that roam about.
- Mosquitoes, fleas, ticks and rodents are all seeking a way to find food, whether that food is you, your cat or your pantry. Many of these insects are either parasites themselves, or carries of different diseases.
- Mud, dirt and other debris can contain parasite eggs. In addition, parasite eggs are very sticky and it is easier to step in a small area of poop than you may think.
- Thought your cat may hate the carrier, we think of it as a nice, clean place. The fact that the carrier gets set on the ground on the way to the car, gets set down at the veterinary clinic or the groomers; making it an easy place for parasites to find your cat.
- Even commercial potting soil can be contaminated with parasite eggs. Zoetis cites an article (February 18th, 2006 in the Veterinary Record) which states that 15% of potting soils contain the cat roundworm.
- Grooming is your cat's way of taking a bath. The difference is that they ingest a small amount of material from their hair coat when they groom. This is why cats get hairballs. Guess what? They also ingest small amounts of mud, dirt and poop; which can all contain parasite eggs.
This article is published and written by Dr. Fink. It is adapted from the promotional handout from Zoetis, Inc. entitled The 9 Lies of Cats.
By Veterinary Wellness Partners
•
16 Mar, 2021
Earlier this month, USA Today published in article in which it was stated that the Environmental Protection Agency issued a report about potential problems with one of the more popular flea and tick products, the Seresto collar by Elanco Animal Health. According to the USA Today article, Seresto collars have been associated with the death of close to 1700 animals. In addition, the article claimed that tens of thousand of pets were injured, along with several hundred human injuries.
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Veterinary Wellness Partners
By Veterinary Wellness Partners
•
17 Mar, 2020
Covid-19 Policy 3/16/2020
Veterinary Wellness Partners
Mon, 03/16/2020 - 11:14pm
Our offices are continuing to monitor the Coronavirus situation and listening to the leaders of our state and nation. Currently we are taking the following steps;
1) We are wiping down door handles and areas every hour
2) We are offering car side delivery of medications with a call ahead and credit card payment via phone
3) We are limiting the number of clients in each room to one per appointment. If you have multiple family members, they will be asked to remain in your car. We can take your pet in if there is a reason to remain in your car
4) We are requesting that anybody with respiratory signs cancel their appointments.
5) Our staff is washing hands regularly
6) We are abiding by the social distancing rules of no handshakes and trying to keep personal space of 6 feet whenever possible.
7) We recommend that you call to get 60 day supplies of any needed medications
8) We highly recommend using our online store if you order online. As things get more and more limited, we can continue to supply medications via this route. If offices need to limit staff, we will only be able to service online orders through our online store. IN addition, this supports us directly, sticking with the spirit of BUYING LOCAL.
9) We are limiting our usage of facemasks by reusing disposable face masks as often as we can. We are also ordering fabric, washable, reusable masks to replace the disposable ones.
Please call our office and ask if you have any questions or concerns.
Phone:
330-336-5823
Fax:
330-336-1450
Email:
SWVC@VWPOHIO.COM
Address:
3898 Greenwich Rd
Seville, OH 44273
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