KSBY Experts - When Cats Miss the Mark (the box)

Written by Bonnie Markoff, DVM, ABVP

One of the most common veterinary behavior problems we hear about at Animal Care Clinic is a cat who fails to use the litterbox. This most commonly manifests itself as urinating in inappropriate places, but sometimes in involves feces. There is no doubt as to why this is an extremely upsetting issue for cat owners!

Oftentimes the problem is medical, not behavioral. Cats that produce large quantities of urine may need to "go" more often than you can clean the litterbox. This can happen to cats with diabetes, kidney disease, liver trouble or hyperthyroidism. Other cats will have pain or increased urgency associated with urination. This will happen with bladder infections, bladder stones, bladder tumors or a disease known as Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD.) FLUTD is an inflammatory condition that comes and goes, often with stress related incidents. Cats with FLUTD often urinate in the bathtub, in purses or shoes or in other equally distressing locations. Cats that have diarrhea often have an urgency that doesn't give them time to get to the box. Cats with arthritis may have a hard time just getting up and over the edge of the box.

If your cats have all been thoroughly assessed medically and you still have a problem, then we need to look at behavior. Cats are extremely fastidious animals. They do not like dirty litterboxes, nor do they ever want to use a box that has previously been badly soiled. Imagine the worst gas station bathroom you have experienced - did you want to touch anything in there? Would you ever go back? Wouldn't you rather hide behind a large towel and use the bushes? It is essential to keep your boxes clean. If a cat ever has serious diarrhea, consider getting rid of the box that they used and buying a new one for a new location.

Cats also have substrate preferences. Some cats like pine shavings. Others like pellets. Others prefer sandy litter or shredded paper. Experiment with different products to see what your cats prefer. Recognize that you might need a different type of litter for each cat. On that note, you also should have one more litter box than you have cats. (Wouldn't a lot of human behavior issues be solved if we had one more bathroom than we had teenagers?) Cats can be territorial and may not want to use a box that another cat has used. Keep the boxes as far apart as is feasible. Be sure to have boxes in several areas of the house.

Be sure that every animal in the house is spayed or neutered. Both makes and females will mark territory. Cats usually do this by urinating on walls and other vertical surfaces. If you have an altered cat that is marking vertical surfaces, try spraying pheromones (Feliway, available at Animal Care Clinic) on the area they are marking. This can fool them into thinking they have already marked it.

If you are still having problems, it is time for a behavioral consult. Dr. Jennifer Evans at Animal Care Clinic is very interested in animal behavior and can utilize various medications to help your pets get over certain behavior problems. She can also help you to develop strategies to help your pets to better fit into your lifestyle.

Animals In The News!

There are so many interesting news stories out there about pets and other animals, veterinary medicine or other animal related topics!  Each week we'll be gathering some stories that might be interesting to you, so keep posted each week for new stories!

This week:

•"World's loudest cat:  Hear Smokey purr as loud as a Boeing 737" - This is a fun, short and sweet article with an audio clip.

•"Protect Your Pet from Alzheimer's" - Where people can get alzheimer's our dogs can get a similar syndrome called cognitive dysfunction.  As UC Irvine has found out, exercise is not only good for our dog's hearts and waistline, but for their brains!

•"Dog Head Size Predicts Strength, Speed" - Several recent studies have found correlation between head size and shape with strength and speed of dogs.  This likely applies to humans and apes as well!

•"A Teen's Best Friend?  Kids with Dogs Exercise More" - A study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine shows that children and teens in dog-owning families tend to exercise more.

•"Dog-Friendly Travel: iPhone Apps for Pets, and more" - This article gives information on some iPhone Apps that can make traveling with pets easier or at least ease the anxiety of separation.

•"Popular Exotic Pets in Focus" - Exotic pets are on the rise in homes across America and this article shows some of the more popular exotic pets.

KSBY Experts - Chronic Diarrhea

Written by Bonnie Markoff, DVM, ABVP

No one likes having diarrhea. Luckily, for all of us, most cases of diarrhea are short-lived and resolve themselves within a day or two. I'm not sure if there is anything in veterinary medicine more frustrating than chronic, or long-term, diarrhea.

Whenever a dog or cat presents to Animal Care Clinic for chronic diarrhea, we start with a long conversation. History taking can be the most important test we do in finding the cause. We will want to gather a complete dietary history, deworming history and travel history. A thorough physical exam is also important. In most cases, further evaluation will be needed.

Parasites are a very common cause of diarrhea in pets. A proper fecal flotation should be performed to look for parasite eggs. There are good and bad ways to run this test. A proper float uses a large volume of feces (at least the size of a tootsie roll) and does not rely on a small volume scooped form the anus or the little bit that fits in those greenish collection containers that are sometimes sent home with owners. The type of fluid that is used and treatment of that fluid is also important. In other words, not all fecal floats are equal. Always ask for a Zinc sulfate, centrifugal float. Otherwise, many parasites can be missed. The most common diarrhea-causing parasites we see in dogs and cats include roundworms, hookworms, giardia, coccidia and whipworms. In cases of chronic diarrhea, we will treat for these parasites even if the tests are negative.

Systemic diseases can also cause diarrhea. A full lab panel including blood chemistry, complete blood cell count, thyroid level and urinalysis will usually be performed. We may also want to check blood levels of vitamin B12 and pancreatic enzymes. If an animal has a low-grade liver, intestine or pancreas problem, we want to know about it as soon as possible. In some situations, x-rays or ultrasound may be warranted.

Infectious agents may also play a role in diarrhea. Cats get infested with a protozoon called tritrichomonas. Dogs can get Ehrlichiosis. Animals who have been in other parts of the country could have fungal infections or other diseases you may never have heard of. Cats with Feline Leukemia or the Feline AIDS virus can have diarrhea. In middle-aged to older patients we have to consider cancerous causes.

Diet is often at the bottom of diarrhea. Many animals have dietary intolerances or a disease called inflammatory bowel disease. Sometimes, just a change in diet will solve the problem. You can always start by using a premium pet food. I define "premium" as a diet that never changes its ingredients (fixed formula), has been through AAFCO feeding trials, and is designed for specific life stages rather than being balanced "for all stages of life." There are not many diets that fit these rules! It is important to be sure that pets with chronic diarrhea do not eat anything aside from the premium diet - no table scraps, special treats, trash, goodies from the backyard, junk at the beach, etc, etc.

If your pet is properly dewormed and is eating only a premium diet, but still has diarrhea, you will need veterinary help in solving the problem. We may want to try a diet high in fiber or one with no fiber at all. Your pet may need a limited antigen diet (only 2 ingredients), a hydrolyzed diet (all proteins broken down) or specially formulated homemade diet.

The veterinarians at Animal Care Clinic can help you to determine just what your pet needs based on the physical exam, history and perhaps a few of the tests I've listed. Give us a call!

Tennis Balls & Teeth Wear

Written by Melissa Reuter-Wagoner, RVT

Many of our canine companions would agree that a tennis ball is one of themost exciting toys they own. The sight of a tennis ball usually leads to joyful tailwagging and a game of fetch. Unfortunately, this toy can also lead to excessivewearing of a dog’s teeth. The fibers that cover a tennis ball are surprisingly abrasiveand meant to withstand the hard surface of a tennis court. This abrasiveness canactually wear through the enamel and dentin of teeth, shortening the crown andsometimes exposing the internal root canal system. However, playing fetch withyour dog is a fantastic way to give them exercise and keep them fit.

A tip to keep your dog’s teeth from being damaged is to use a ball other thana tennis ball. There are medium weight rubber balls sold at pet supply stores thatcan serve just as well for a game of fetch, but do not have a fibrous covering. Rubberballs do not sand down tooth enamel because their surface is much more slippery.You should also keep in mind that smaller balls and pieces of chewed up balls(including tennis balls) are commonly removed from dogs surgically. Be sure thatthe balls you use are too large to be swallowed by your largest dog, and too tough tobe chewed into pieces by your strongest dog.

For dogs that just love their tennis ball, a good compromise is to only usethe ball for fetching and not allow free access to it. This means put the ball away inbetween games and don’t allow your dog to gnaw on it. This will help to minimizedamage to their teeth. In between games, offer your dog a safe rubber chew toy tokeep them entertained!

National Animal Poison Prevention Week

Written by Nicole Gunkel, RVT

This week is National Animal Poison Prevention Week!  Say that 10 times fast!  This really is no joking matter though and can be very serious for your pet.  In 2010, human medications topped the list of pet toxins, followed by insecticides, rodenticides, people food, veterinary medications, chocolate, household toxins, plants, herbicides and outdoor toxins.  Treatment of a pet can vary widely based on what the toxin is, how much, and if it was consumed or came in contact some other way.  The FIRST thing you should do is always call your veterinarian!  Your vet can guide you if your pet should be seen immediately or if there is something else that can be done at home.  Of course, prevention is always the key.  Almost any item can be toxic in the right amount, but it is a great idea to become aware of toxic human foods or plants.  Our website has some information on poisonous substances to pets between links and blog articles, for a summary click here.


The ASPCA runs the Animal Poison Control Center.  If you are ever concerned you can call the APCC at (888) 426-4435. For a $65 fee to your credit card they will tell you exactly what to do.  When a poison or ingestion emergency comes in to our hospital and we need more information on how best to treat your pet, we will call the poison control center for you for the same fee.  This may be easier for you since, depending on the case, the specialist on the other end can throw out some difficult medical jargon and treatments only a veterinarian can do
  The ASPCA website has an entire section on the poison control center and articles about toxic substances to your pet.

HealthyPet.com is always a great resource.  They have a great article on keeping your home a "Poison Safe Household."

Cornell University has an online toxic plant database containing information and pictures.


There was a very good article recently on USA Today on "Vet's view: Xylitol can be deadly to dogs." Xylitol is a sweetener used so widely now that can be extremely dangerous to dogs and cats.  This article has some great information about what xylitol is, why it's dangerous, and what to do about it.  Another source is an article Dr. Greenberg wrote on "The Dangers of Xylitol."

Prevention is always the best way to arm yourself and your pet from the dangers of poisonous and toxic substances.  If you have any question, as always, please call us or stop by!

Meet Bethany Lara!! Our Featured Employee of the Week!

Bethany came to us originally from Littlerock, California and is currently attending Cal Poly and working on a bachelor’s in animal science. Bethany currently works both in our lodging and veterinary nurse teams since March 2010. Her goal is to finish school and become a Registered Veterinary Technician and to work at an exotic animal park. Bethany has 2 dogs, Rascal and Luna. She also loves to dance, watch movies, hang out with friends, and perform theatrically.

About Your AAHA Accredited Practice

Learn more reasons why it is so beneficial to take your pet to an American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) accredited practice. Animal Care Clinic is very proud to be AAHA accredited since 1993 and is currently a top-5 finalist for the AAHA Practice of the Year Award! AAHA accreditation is a voluntary commitment that we have made to you and your pets. Only about 15% of small animal hospitals are accredited with AAHA!

You Be the Vet! Brewsters Jaw Wound

Brewster, a neutered male, 2 year and 7 month old dachshund was brought to us a day after getting adopted from Animal Services.  Brewster presented to Dr. Tao as a healthy young dog.  The only concerns at this time was a slight cough, which could have been from either an upper respiratory infection or irritation of the trachea tube placed during the neuter from 2 days previous.  A small wound was noted in the chin area (below mid mandible) and the owner was recommended to keep an eye on it and if not healing we could try a course of antibiotics.

The wound on Brewster’s chin was not healing and so he was given some antibiotics.  Even with a round of antibiotics the wound had not healed.  Brewster came in for an appointment with Dr. Markoff to reassess the wound.  Dr. Markoff noted it looked similar to a foxtail tract.  A slide of the wound discharge revealed no bacteria and mostly some round cells.  The wound was probed with no foreign body found inside.  We cleaned the area after taking a culture and then sent Brewster home on a different antibiotic.  The culture revealed nothing that the antibiotics shouldn’t take care of.  The wound continued to swell up and go back down.  The next step was to bring Brewster in for anesthesia and take a dental x-ray of the area.

Brewster came in and was put under anesthesia and a dental x-ray taken.  The image clearly shows that there is some foreign object between the mandible bones.  What do you think it is?

Click this link to see what we found!

Animals in the News!

There are so many interesting news stories out there about pets and other animals, veterinary medicine or other animal related topics!  Each week we'll be gathering some stories that might be interesting to you, so keep posted each week for new stories!

This week:  Veterinarians in public service

•"Canine handler aids Japan rescue effort" - Firefighter/paramedic Gary Durian of Yorba Linda is one of six canine handlers who arrived Saturday in Japan.  Durian and his dog, Baxter, will spend time in northern Japan working on search and rescue efforts.

• U.S. Team bound for Japan in animal-rescue effort - A New England crew from the International Fund for Animal Welfare in Yarmouth Port is on their way to Tokyo today.  They will be meeting with animal rescuers, veterinarians, and government agencies to assess the problem of displaces pets and livestock and the need for supplies, clean water, and shelters.

•"Lompoc man a military vet and local veterinarian" - Dr. Raghavan Sampathkumaran has recently returned from returned from Kuwait and Kyrgyzstan where he was caring for army dogs that worked sniffing bombs and as guard dogs.  His role has also involved inspecting the army food supply.

•"Vet Emergency Response Team Mobilised" - The New Zealand University sent the new Veterinary Emergency Response Team to Christchurch to care for animals after the earthquake.

•"Veterinarian shares skills with Haitians" - Joe Snyder of Myrtle Point, Oregon recently spent some time in Haiti giving the people there a crash course in animal care.  This could be life saving to prevent disease in a country where there are virtually no veterinarians and animals are a life-hold to the people that own them.

•"Animal rescuers on stand-by" - No significant reports have been made by an animal search and rescue team after the earthquake in New Zealand.

Meet Sue Simenz!! Our Featured Employee of the Week!

Sue joined the Customer Service team in May 2009. Sue originally grew up in Riverside, California and then moved to the Central Coast in 1981. Sue graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in Animal Science and worked for the Cal Poly Vet Clinic as a registered technician in large animal medicine. She is married with 2 young adult daughters and also cares for 1 dog, 3 cats, and 2 horses. Aside from all this, Sue keeps busy walking, hiking, gardening and singing in her church choir. She also enjoys restoring and remodeling houses with her husband.

KSBY Experts - Riding in the Car

Written by Bonnie Markoff, DVM, ABVP

I love going for drives with my dogs. I have three of them. Zeke and Teague tend to sit together in the front seat. They are really too big for this, but manage to intertwine their legs enough to get comfortable. They trade off putting a head in my lap and both keep an eye on me to be sure I am driving safely. Pete is the older dog and he must trust me more. He likes to take the entire backseat to himself. He particularly likes to stick his nose out the window while he watches the scenery go by. On long trips they take turns stretching out on the dog beds that are set up in the back of the SUV, and they are very well behaved in hotels.

Not every pet travels like that. Some are nervous or anxious. They may whine, meow, yowl or even bark. They may pace or continually get up and down. Some just sit still and shake. Others get car sick and either drool or vomit on your beautiful car interior. This can put a serious strain on the relationship between a human and a pet - so what do you do.

Carsickness is treatable! I believe that nausea can be the root of much of the anxiousness and vocalizing that we see in some pets. It is virtually always the cause of vomiting and drooling. For years we have used diphenhydramine (Benadryl) to try to treat carsickness. It works a lot like Dramamine. There is now a drug approved specifically for treating carsickness in dogs. It is called Cerenia and is very successful. One pill a day is all they need!
Stress and anxiety in the car is much harder to manage. If Cerenia does not work, we recommend you start by confining your pet with familiar bedding. Set up a crate in the car, preferably the crate your dog sleeps in when indoors. Put his favorite blankets or toys in the crate. Be sure that the crate will not rattle or make any noises as you drive. Dogs are den-loving creatures, and the comfort of a solid sided "room of her own" can be enough comfort for many pets.

If this does not help, you may need to convince your dog or cat that car rides are wonderful. Start by feeding your pet in the car - but don't turn it on. Once they readily accept that meals are associated with the car, try turning on the engine while they are eating. After a week of two of that, drive very slowly to the end of the block & back while they are eating. Be sure there are no sudden stops or turns. After a few weeks of that, it is time to try being in the car at times other than mealtime. Ask you dog to jump into the car and then give him a treat and immediately let him jump out. Next step is to get into the car with your pet and turn on the engine. Let it idle for 5 minutes or so and then give your pet a treat and let her out. The next step is to drive a short distance and return home, followed by a treat. Keep slowly increasing the intensity of the experience, making sure it is always positive and always associated with something good, like a treat.

If you cannot convince your pet that car rides are fun using the above techniques, then you need some veterinary behavioral consultation. Dr. Jennifer Evans at Animal Care Clinic has a special interest in behavior and can work with you to help your pet ride better in the car. She may use some anti-anxiety medications or other behavior modification techniques to help Fido or Fluffy ride with you more happily.

Call us at Animal Care Clinic for more information.

Animals in the News!

There are so many interesting news stories out there about pets and other animals, veterinary medicine or other animal related topics!  Each week we'll be gathering some stories that might be interesting to you, so keep posted each week for new stories!

I've seen so many news stories recently that focus on animal behavior and the human-animal bond.  I just didn't want to wait to long to share them with everyone, so enjoy!

• I Sniff, Therefore I Am.  Are Dogs Self-Conscious? This article explores self-awareness in the animal kingdom and how it varies between human, apes and down the line to dogs.  We all have our own thoughts on this idea.  Well it has been tested various ways and among them the mirror test.  See what scientists have found out so far.

• Wall-E on 'GMA': How You Can Adopt a Dog A particular story of a puppy spurs thousands of people to write and try to adopt it.  This story highlights how many great dogs (and cats) are in need of homes waiting patiently in shelters across the U.S.


• Prehistoric Dog Lived, Died Among Humans Researchers found evidence of human-dog interaction in prehistoric times based on the remains of a male dog in Siberia.


• Special-Needs Pets Will Enrich Your Lives With Love This article enforces our own Stephanie Ruggerones article from a couple weeks ago.  No different than with people, just because a pet's body doesn't function "normally" has nothing to do with the amount of love they give back to us!

• UC Davis vets' online survey asks about cats and kids Previous research has shown that cats have a calming influence on people.  UC Davis veterinarians are currently conducting a survey about the relationship between cats and children.  For more information and to take part in the survey, check out this story.


• Man and a goose form unlikely friendship Maria the Tolouse goose waits every day for her human friend Dominic Ehrler at Echo Park, California.  She is very protective of her friends.  She even seems to have affinity for rock stars as she wouldn't leave the members of the band Ok, Go alone during a filming of a music video.  Instead of fruitlessly attempting to remove her from the scenes she became one of the stars of the video.


• Cats Adore, Manipulate Women Regardless of the sex of the cat, a study has shown that the dynamics of cat-human relationships are almost identical to human only bonds.  This is especially true when the human involved is a woman.

Animals in the News

There are so many interesting news stories out there about pets and other animals, veterinary medicine or other animal related topics!  Each week we'll be gathering some stories that might be interesting to you, so keep posted each week for new stories!

This week:

•"Dogs Love of Poop Turned to Scientific Good" - Scientists at the University of California at Berkeley are now using dog's ability to sniff out poop of certain animals to study wildlife!  They use this method as a non-invasive method to study wildlife!

•"Which Breed is America's Top Dog?" - According to the number of dogs registered each year with the American Kennel Club (AKC) the bulldog has bumped the boxer down a notch, but the lab still remains America's number 1!  Check out this article to see where your favorite dog breed ranked!

•"Young Pets Require More Than Hugs" - As spring is beginning to edge in on winter we are seeing lots of puppies and kittens.  Don't forget that these youngsters require around the clock attention.  Puppies and kittens also needs more frequent trips to the vet for vaccines and other preventive care along with training to shape wanted behaviors.

•"Nearly Mailed Puppy Paired with New Owner in Minnesota" - A puppy made the headlines when a postal worker heard noises coming from a box and saved a puppy from what likely would have been a deadly ride through the U.S. postal system!

•"Earth Gets Spoils of Animal Composting" - The idea of animal composting hasn't made it's way to companion pets at this time, but is gaining momentum as a green alternative to disposing of road kill and other animal carcasses!

Meet Diane Weinreich!! Our Featured Employee of the Week!

Diane has been an indispensable addition to the ACC customer service team since August 2005. Diane grew up a Navy brat, and so has lived in San Diego, Monterey, England, Nebraska, and Maryland.  She graduated from Cal Poly with a B.S. in Animal Science in 1985. Diane is married to her husband Eric, with whom she shares 4 teenage children, 1 cat and 2 dogs. Her athletic family keeps her very busy running from one sporting event to another! She also loves sports (it’s a good thing!) and any creative outlet, especially music, photography, and arts & crafts.

Demodex Mites: What are they and ways to treat

Written by Bonnie Markoff, DVM, ABVP

Pamela has asked Animal Care Clinic if there is any treatment for Demodex besides a product called Promeris. The answer is a definite "yes!"

Demodex mites viewed through a microscope.

Let's start by looking at what Demodex is. Demodex mites are microscopic insect-like creatures that normally live on the skin of many dogs and cats. If the immune system is compromised in any way, they can rise in numbers and cause skin inflammation. This is most commonly seen in puppies as focal areas of hair loss and scaling. Sometimes we see lesions all over the body and occasionally adult dogs and cats will have chronic recurring trouble with skin infections due to demodex mites.

Treatment depends on the severity of the problem and the age of the pet. Puppies with only one or two small lesions in a limited area of the body may need no treatment at all. We use antibiotics to treat secondary infections and watch the areas to be sure they regress on their own. Adults, youngsters with many lesions and cases where lesions are not regressing will require specific mite therapy. This can take the form of topical dips or rinses, injectable or oral medications, or one of the topical "flea control" products.

For very localized lesions, particularly in young dogs, I like to use a product called Mitaban, which contains Amitraz. This dip is pretty obnoxious to use on an entire animal, and is toxic to cats, but it is an easy and inexpensive way to gain control of mild, local disease. For more extensive cases, we have classically used a deworming medication called ivermectin. This product can be injected or taken orally. It is usually very effective, but can have side effects. We usually start it at a low dose and slowly raise the dose while looking for any drug intolerance. Collies, Border Collies and similar breeds are more likely to have adverse reactions to the drug. If this product works quickly and is tolerated by your pet, it is usually quite cost effective. Promeris is one of the newer topical flea products and it has been shown to have good efficacy against Demodex. There is no currently agreed upon best method for using this product for Demodex. It is usually applied every 2-4 weeks and may be needed lifelong. Most veterinary dermatologists prefer ivermectin for treating demodex.

The most important thing to know when trying to clear demodex is that every patient will be different. It is absolutely essential to monitor the disease regularly. Skin scrapings should be performed every 1-4 weeks and it is important to count the mites with each scraping. You should hear a live vs. dead mite count each time your dog is seen by your veterinarian. This is what tells us if the treatment is effective and guides us in how long to continue the therapy. Many adult dogs will need therapy for their entire lives to control this disease.

If you have any questions about mites, skin disease or other veterinary issues, call us at Animal Care Clinic. We are open M-F 7:30-6, Saturdays 9-3 and Mondays until 8pm.

PetsMatter Newsletter March/April 2011

PetsMatter Newsletter is written by the American Animal Hospital Association with a dose of pet health, behavior and lifestyle articles from veterinary professionals. Articles featured in this issue include:

•Expert Explores Unexplained Animal Behavior

•Bringing a New Kitten Home

•Cats Get Arthritis Too

•I Want to Be a Veterinarian When I Grow Up

•Does the Carpet Match My Dog? Pet-Friendly Amenities Attract Home Buyers

Check out the full newsletter and links to this issue's articles on HealthyPet.com!

Pets Sleeping In Your Bed

Dr. Michael Cavanaugh, AAHA Executive Director, responds to a recent article that highlights the risks of letting your pets sleep in your bed. Original article from MSNBC can be found at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41235440/ns/health-pet_health/.

We think this video sums up our opinion on this story pretty well.  There are some risks of pet ownership as far as zoonotic diseases (diseases transmissible between people and animals) go, and this is our job as veterinarians to educate pet owners about.  Several team members of Animal Care Clinic share their bed with their pets and this recent article will not change this.  As long as pets are current on their preventive care there is a very low risk for anything to be passed.  Common sense of doing things like washing hands will go a long ways in keeping everyone healthy!  So keep enjoying the comfort and companionship of your pets and let us know if you have any questions about your pet's preventive care!