During the week of May 4-10, 2025, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) sponsors National Pet Week. AVMA suggests a few lifecycle themes to focus on:
Choose Well: Commit for Life
Behavioral Health: Good Habits
Nutrition & Exercise Matter
Love Your Pet? See Your Vet!
Planning for Senior Care
National Pet Week from AVMA: Choose Well to Commit for Life
The first step to happiness and good health is to choose the right pet for your family and to commit to caring for the animal for its years of life. Consider these questions before bringing a new pet home.
Will this pet fit with your family’s lifestyle? Cats, dogs and other pet species all have different needs, temperaments, hardiness and health considerations. For instance, a bunny does best in a quiet, calm home. Many dog breeds need lots of physical exercise and active play. Cats need a home free from the many houseplants that are toxic to them.
Do the adults in your family have time to care for this pet? Each and every day, your pet will need basic care like feeding, elimination, cleaning, exercise and more. And for a happy life, your pet will need socialization and enrichment. Children are quick to promise responsibility, but the adults are truly responsible for family members. Also, consider how long the pet will need to spend time alone, such as when you’re at work.
Are you comfortable with the costs of caring for this pet throughout its life? Food, housing, veterinary care, gear, toys, petsitting, grooming and more really add up. AVMA offers this guide: Money Tips for Caring Pet Owners
Will a new pet thrive with any existing pets? If you already have one or more pets in your home, you’ll want to consider if the new pet will be welcomed by them.
National Pet Week from AVMA: Behavioral Health with Good Habits
For dogs and cats, socialization and training are critical to enjoying these animals throughout their lifetimes. Shelters are full of unfortunate pets who were allowed to develop bad habits. Watch this socialization video from AVMA, and check out the resource Socialization of Dogs and Cats.
National Pet Week from AVMA: Nutrition & Exercise Matter
For today’s pet, maintaining a healthy weight is a top consideration. It’s easy to feed a pet more than is healthy for them (treats are so much fun!). AVMA shares a helpful guide for how to tell if your pet’s weight is healthy.
National Pet Week from AVMA: Love Your Pet? See Your Vet!
Regular wellness exams are so important for promoting your pet’s long, healthy life. Preventive care keeps your pet safe from dangerous illnesses through immunization and heartworm/flea/tick protection. And the earlier your veterinarian can catch and treat disease, the better the outcomes will be.
National Pet Week from AVMA: Planning for Senior Care
Cats are usually considered senior at 10 years old, while senior status for dogs varies by breed and size. (from six to 11 years old). Companion Care Animal Hospital has several Senior Pet Resources we recommend you look into. AVMA also offers a Caring for Senior Cats and Dogs feature with more information.
We want to emphasize that senior pets have many benefits over younger pets, so it’s not all about extra veterinary care. These pets are usually more relaxed and have fewer unwanted behaviors.
As you celebrate National Pet Week, we hope these lifecyle tips have been helpful. If you want to learn more about pets and their care, browse through our blog.
6 Million Cats Are Diagnosed with Cancer Each Year
No one wants to imagine their precious kitty being diagnosed with cancer, but it’s important to know the signs, just in case. February is National Cat Health Month, so we’re highlighting this one aspect of cat health now. PetCure Oncology reports that over six million cats are diagnosed every year. They also share these facts:
Some cancers are more likely in cats aged two to six
Cats with FeLV are at higher risk of cancer
Purebred cats may suffer from cancer at higher rates
10 Early Signs of Cancer in Cats
The Pet Cancer Foundation provides a helpful guide to learn the symptoms of cancer in cats. Take a look at the signs, although you’ll probably notice that many of these symptoms are common to several different illnesses.
Cancer in Cats: Behavior Symptoms
Hiding more than usual and for longer than expected
Pain and discomfort that results in irritability, wincing or lashing out when touched
Unexpected or unexplained weight loss or weight gain
Urinating more or less often than usual
Constipation or diarrhea
Cancer in Cats: Coat and Face Symptoms
Nose: Changes to the color or texture of your cats nose, or nosebleeds
Mouth: If you notice a strange odor, sores or wounds in the mouth. Also, if you cat is scratching their mouth
Skin: Be aware of any lumps, bumps, rashes or lesions
Cancer in Cats: Illness Symptoms
Unexpected discharge from any body orifice, such as eyes, nose, ears, etc.
Seizures, which can present as champing, chewing, shaking or foaming at the mouth
As always, if you notice any these symptoms– or if your cat’s behavior changes unexpectedly, reach out to your veterinarian. Because cats are so skilled at hiding illnesses, it’s especially important to take them in for wellness visits.
If a pet it suffering from chronic pain, the signs can be subtle. Animals are designed to mask their pain, because a sick animal in the wild is easy prey. Unfortunately, our pets today can hide their pain and prevent getting the care that would help them. Here are six behaviors that are common in pets experiencing pain:
Your pet’s activity level slows down
Your pet eats or drinks less
Your pet changes their grooming behaviors
There are changes in your pet’s urine or bowel movements
Your pet has difficulty standing up after lying down
Your pet stops going up or down stairs/ is reluctant to jump up on surfaces
It’s commonly assumed that some of these pain symptoms are a natural part of “slowing down” as our pets age. But that’s not always true, and your pet doesn’t have to live in pain.
What to Do if You Notice these Common Signs of Pain
The good news? We can often ease a pet’s pain. If you notice your pet showing any of the above signs:
Contact your veterinarian to share your pet’s symptoms
Do not give any medications without guidance from your veterinarian. Medications make up half of the Top 20 Pet Toxins in Ohio. Our pets usually require different medications from humans.
It’s true; when you have a pet, every day is Love Your Pet day. So, a leap year gives you one extra day to shower your pet with the affection they deserve. But, February 20 is set aside as Love Your Pet Day. Think of it as a furry Valentine’s Day.
10 Ways to Show Your Pet the Love
The best way to show your dog or cat you love them is to help them lead a happy, healthy life. You won’t be able to fit all of these ideas into one day! Consider this a checklist for the rest of 2024.
Help your pet stay active: take a walk or play with toys to encourage a healthy lifestyle. This counts for self-care as well!
Feed your pet a nutritious diet: avoid raw food for cats or dogs, and take into account your pet’s lifestage, from puppy or kitten to senior.
Snack sparingly and healthily: we love to shower our pets with snacks, but we also want to promote healthy weights. Go for raw carrots or frozen green beans, and offer smaller bites of pet treats.
Spend quality time with your pet: prevent boredom and loneliness by cuddling, playing and talking with your pet. Put down your devices and use your hands for pets, instead!
Learn your pet’s favorite kind of toy: some dogs like stuffed animals, while some dogs need tougher chew toys. Some cats like batting toys, while others might just prefer your robot vacuum or a cardboard box. Make your pet’s day by getting them the toys they prefer!
Stay up-to-date on wellness visits: At all ages, cats and dogs benefit from an annual wellness visit to their veterinarian. This helps them stay current on important vaccinations, along with catching early symptoms of aging or disease.
Prioritize dental health to add years to your pet’s life:Dental disease in pets becomes a systemic health issue that can ultimately lead to early organ failure.
Plan a pet photo shoot: your pet may or may not be a diva, but it’s wonderful to preserve memories of your precious pet in photo form. Go outside on a sunny day with your phone camera, or go all-out and find a professional photographer.
Go on an adventure: It’s no surprise that dogs love hikes or visits to a dog park. Plan one! Some cats also enjoy getting out and about. Check out harness and leash training for cats.
Now, stop reading and go tell your pet you love them! And give them a kiss from us.
Cats Are Carnivores, But There Are Better Solutions than Risking Raw Food
Recently, we’ve been getting more questions about a raw food diet for cats and dogs. We wrote about the problems with a “Raw Food Diet for Dogs”, and now we’re dishing out the details for cats.
A quick Google search on the subject of raw food diet for cats shows many pro-raw results. It’s important to note that most of these sources also market and sell raw cat food, so their position is going to be biased in favor of their business results.
What Do Veterinarians Have to Say about a Raw Food Diet for Cats?
Cats are obligate carnivores, which means a healthy diet consists of at least 70% meat. A cat’s diet needs to contain:
Animal protein
Fat
Vitamins and minerals
When feeding a cat a raw food diet, it’s difficult to get the balance right between protein and fat, while also accounting for important nutrients like vitamin A, vitamin D, zinc, copper, taurine, calcium and carbohydrates.
Commercially-available cat foods are usually formulated to balance the nutritional needs of cats, and are labeled as such. The Association of American Feed Control Officials has a useful article on “How to Understand a Dog of Cat Food Label.”
Joseph Wakshlag, DVM, an associate professor at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine makes the statement that byprodutcs in cat food can be helpful:
“But I’m actually a big fan of using byproducts,” Wakshlag says. “They have way more nutrients than straight meat. In chicken byproduct, for example, you’ll get things like vitamin A, vitamin D, zinc, and copper — instead of just the protein in a chicken breast.”
So, veterinarians are usually skeptical of raw food diets for cats. Sadly, we see the results of nutritional deficiencies and imbalances, which can seriously affect a cat’s health and quality of life.
Raw food diets are a not recommended and can create serious medical issues for your cat, like blindness from taurine deficiency or other irreversible problems.
Foodborne Illness Risk is High with Raw Food Diet for Cats
Raw meat carries with it the risk of infection from bacteria like Salmonella, Listeria and E. coli. When feeding a cat raw meat, bacteria not only has a chance to spread from preparation surfaces, but also from food bowls, storage locations and wherever the cat may carry it.
When cats kill and eat fresh prey (like mice!), there’s much less chance for the growth and spread of bacteria. Slaughtered meat, however, sits around until consumption, and often grows illness-causing bacteria. This poses significant risk to both the cat, other animals in the household and humans.
If you’re looking into a raw food diet because you have concerns about your cat’s health, reach out to your veterinarian and make sure you’re getting your cat the care they need to enjoy life to the fullest.
We recently shared information about Solensia, a monthly injectable to relieve osteoarthritis (OA) pain in cats. It’s a wonderful innovation, since medicines and therapies available to cats are often limited, because a cat’s kidneys can’t process them. If your cat’s quality of life is suffering from pain, we hope you’ll reach out to our office to learn more about Solensia.
Cats Benefit from Solensia. Librela is for Dogs
Osteoarthritis pain is also very common in dogs, especially as they age. You may notice these symptoms of OA pain in your dog:
Limping after exercise
Going slower than normal during walks
Getting up slowly from lying down
Unwillingness or inability to jump in the car or on the sofa
Moving stiffly
Difficulty with stairs
It’s hard to see our dogs in pain, but many pain relief options can have side effects on the liver and kidneys. Fortunately, Librela is a monthly injectable that the body processes like natural antibodies.
Clinical studies have shown that Librela is both safe and effective at controlling OA pain in dogs. When a dog is not in pain, they live a more active and happier life, and we really encourage you to look into this therapy.
New Innovations in Veterinary Science Improve Care for Cats
Historically, cats have not enjoyed all the veterinary medicine options available to dogs. Their kidneys simply cannot handle the same medications as their canine counterparts.
But all the conventional wisdom is changing, thanks to new research and the resulting treatments now available to cats. Solensia is a particular treatment that can control osteoarthritis pain in cats, which is a more common condition than many pet owners may know.
How to Tell if Your Cat is Affected by Arthritis
The signs of arthritis can be more subtle in cats than other animals. WebMD Pets shares this list:
“Reluctance or hesitance to jump up or down
Difficulty going up or down stairs
Limping
Stiffness in the legs, especially after resting or sleeping
Difficulty using their litter box
Irritability
Reduced levels of activity
Less time spent on their grooming
Reduced height when jumping
Hiding or sleeping more than normal”
Solensia is a Monthly Injectable to Relieve Arthritis Pain in Cats
We’re very optimistic about the monthly injectable Solensia to help cats suffering from osteoarthritis pain. Once a month, you stop by the office for your cat’s injection. As the pain subsides, your cat feels free to go back to their “normal” life– jumping, zooming, playing and climbing. From the website:
“77% of cat owners experienced seeing improvement in signs of pain when their cats were treated monthly with Solensia in a 3-month study. In a study, Solensia was shown to increase mobility in cats after a single treatment.”
Before-and-After Solensia Video
Check out this video to learn more about Solensia may help improve your pet’s quality of life.
If you’re concerned about arthritis and your cat, please reach out to us. We can start a conversation about helping your cat live a happier, pain-free life.
“An upper respiratory infection (URI) is an infection in the nose, sinuses, mouth, and/or throat. There are several infectious agents, both viruses and bacteria, that play a role in respiratory infections in cats.”
URIs are fairly common in cats, being in the top 10 most common reasons cats visit the vet.
Symptoms of Upper Respiratory Infection in Cats
The symptoms are similar to a human’s cold symptoms, and include:
Sneezing
Runny nose
Eye discharge
Swollen or red eyes
Coughing
Lethargy
Fever
Mouth ulcers
Lack of appetite
Symptoms for upper respiratory infection are also similar to allergies in cats. Your veterinarian will be able to diagnose your cat’s condition with an office visit.
Upper Respiratory Infection in Cats is Very Contagious
In households with multiple cats, URIs are very contagious. Mucus secretions spread the bacteria or virus from one cat to another. Up to 90% of URIs are caused by viruses, not bacteria.
A cat’s URI is very rarely contagious to humans or dogs. One example would be bordetella, which is a bacterial infection more common in dogs, but can also be spread to cats.
Early Diagnosis and Treatment of Upper Respiratory Infection is Important
While upper respiratory infection in cats itself isn’t typically a dangerous illness, it can lead to pneumonia or other complications. Also, as mentioned, the symptoms of URI are similar to other conditions. If your cat is unwell, it’s always best to consult your veterinarian.
Veterinarian Treatment for URIs
If your veterinarian diagnoses your cat as having a URI, they may recommend:
Antibiotics for a bacterial infection
IV fluids if your cat is dehydrated
Medication to reduce fever
At-Home Treatment for URIs
A URI can make your cat feel miserable. Here are some ways to help:
Keep your cat apart from other cats in your home
Clean around your cat’s eyes and nose with a warm, wet washcloth
Run a humidifier in a room with your cat
Feed your cat their favorite treats and food as they recover. You want to prevent unwanted weight loss
Encourage rest for your cat with quiet, comfortable places
Which Cats Are Most at Risk?
Senior cats, kittens, immunocompromised cats and some specific breeds are more susceptible to contracting a URI. You may want to reduce the risk in their environment by limiting time outdoors, making sure their life is low-stress and consulting with your veterinarian for their recommendations.
Dr. Shelly L. Vaden, a professor of internal medicine at North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine, shared at the AVMA Virtual Convention 2020:
“About 2%-20% of all cats and 30% of cats over the age of 10 have chronic kidney disease.”
About Chronic Kidney Disease in Cats
A cats two kidneys are important organs in the urinary tract. They filter out waste, which is excreted in the urine. Kidneys also:
Balance fluids, minerals and electrolytes
Help maintain blood pressure
Help in producing red blood cells
The Cornell Feline Health Center describes chronic kidney disease in cats:
“Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is the persistent loss of kidney function over time…. Cats with CKD may experience a buildup of the waste products and other compounds in the bloodstream that are normally removed or regulated by the kidneys. This accumulation may make them feel ill and appear lethargic, unkempt, and lose weight.”
Symptoms of Chronic Kidney Disease in Cats
If your cat shows any of these symptoms, you should make an appointment with your veterinarian. Many are common symptoms of chronic kidney disease or other common health problems.
Drinking more than usual
Urinating more than usual
Vomiting
Dehydration
Mouth sores
Bad breath
Unexpected weight loss
Decrease in appetite
Fever
Lethargy
Accidents out of the litter box
Pain in the lower back
Swelling in the legs
Not able to urinate (an emergency! Get to the vet immediately)
Traditional Treatment for Chronic Kidney Disease in Cats
Chronic kidney disease can have several causes, from injury to genetics. Unfortunately, most causes of kidney disease aren’t preventable. However, early diagnosis and treatment can help your cat live a happy life for longer.
Your veterinarian will usually recommend treating the disease with:
Diet changes
Proper hydration
Certain medications, based on underlying causes
More frequent veterinary visits and care
Advances in Treatment for Chronic Kidney Disease in Cats
In recent years, veterinary research into chronic kidney disease has helped more cats live longer, happier lives. The AVMA published a news article in 2021 that veterinarians across the country have been able to put into practice. Dr. Vaden comments:
“It’s been a very exciting time over the last decade or so in that we’ve really enhanced our abilities to diagnose and detect chronic kidney disease. We’ve also made many improvements in medical management.”
Advances include:
an artificial intelligence predictive diagnostic tool
new recommendations for how to stage the disease
integrated care that focuses on holistic health
new recommendations for increasing appetites in cats and reducing possible nausea
At Companion Care Animal Hospital, we’re glad to have new and better ways to treat cats with chronic kidney disease. Contact us if you’re concerned about your cat’s health.
