Health Information


Also visit: Merck Veterinary and www.uan.org


ORPHAN KITTENS:
  1. Weak Kittens:
    • Bottle-feed 2% low fat milk for two weeks.
    • Then, can mix the 2% with Gerber baby cereal.

  2. Small kittens in adequate health:
    • Buy PetAg brand KMR-Kitten Milk Replacer.
    • For infant kittens mix less than 1 powder to 1 water (thin enough to run).
    • Bottle feed every 2 hours during weeks 1-2.
    • Bottle feed every 4 hours during weeks 3-4.
    • Mix a little Gerber food end of week 4.
    • Bottle feed every 6 hours during weeks 5-6.
    • Begin soft food week 5.
    • Keep kittens in a warm crate.
    • Rub down frequently with wash cloth similar to mom's tongue.
    • Be sure to clean derriere.
    • Do not use clumping litter with baby kittens. Can cause G.I. blockage. Can use Swheat or Yesterdays News.

FELINE DISEASES

Disease Symptom / Treatment
RINGWORM: Bald patches with rough skin Diagnose by blacklight over fur. Treat with Novartis Program pill. Can treat with Conofite, Grifulvin or Itraconazole.
Itraconazole liquid can be compounded at animal friendly pharmacies.
Can possibly cause bone marrow deficiency.
FECAL WORMS: White rice in stool. Treat with Strongid brand liquid. Revolution is effective with Roundworms, Hookworms.
INTESTINAL PARASITES: Brown smelly diarrhea is Coccidia parasite. Treat with Albon Liquid.
EARMITES: Shaking head side to side. Treat with Novartis Milbemite pill or Tresaderm liquid. Revolution also effective.
EYE CRUST: Dry and black dry can be Ocular Herpes birth canal. Terramycin ointment twice daily upon viral cycle. Not transmissible to humans and very rarely to other cats.
EYE & NOSE DISCHARGE: Upper Respiratory Infection. Treat with Clavamox or other anti-biotic prescribed by veterinarian.



FIRST AID: Your companion in shock may not recognize you. May need to restrain him with a blanket wrap. Normally breathing dog may be muzzled. Never muzzle a cat. If breathing erratic then clear airway by pulling chin forward.


Ailment Treatment
BITE WOUNDS: Fever is symptom of hidden wound. May have abscess or necrotic tissue.
Intact abscess (a contained area of pus): Apply warm compress to draw the pus. Veterinarian can drain the abscess and cut away infected skin. Will need anti-biotics right away.
BURNS: Cool water running for 10 minutes to remove caustic substance. Cover with wet towel of bag of frozen peas. Cover lost skin with Telfa Pads. DO NOT USE: Petroleum jelly, margarine, ointments Minor burns also require veterinarian for pain treatment and anti-biotic.
ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION: Lay dog/cat on side. Clear his airway. Pull tongue forward. Pull head/neck forward. Place hands over rig cage. Push down easily on chest then release.
MOUTH TO NOSE BREATHING: Lay dog/cat on side. Clear his airway. Pull tongue forward. Place mouth over snout and blow until lungs expand for 2 seconds. 10 breaths per minute. Stop when animal is breathing. Rattling sound in lungs is fluid: Lift back legs slightly above head to drain fluid. Do not lift legs on spine injured animal.
LABORED BREATHING: Could be Pleural Effusion- fluid inside chest Nothing to do at home. Veterinarian NOW!
SHOCK: Difficult to recognize. May appear confused. Rapid or weak heartbeat. Rapid and shallow breathing. Pink or white gums. Body cold to touch. May vomit. Shock is life threatening. Must transport to veterinarian immediately. TREATMENT: Keep warm with blanket Keep head lower than body. Talk and stroke him Clear his airway Artificial Respiration and Mouth to Nose breathing
BLEEDING: Apply direct pressure to wound with clean cloth. Keep cloth applied and place another on top. Do not remove the cloths. Can apply cold compress over cloths. Visit veterinarian right away. May also have internal bleeding.
SEVERE Hemorrhage: Apply tourniquet above the wound. Only tight enough to reduce significant blood loss. Must loosen tourniquet every 20 minutes.
SKIN CUTS: Clean with hydrogen peroxide, apply compression.
CHOKING: Wrap body in towel. Open mouth by grasping upper jaw and pressing lip above teeth. Open lower jaw with other hand downward on teeth. Remove object from inside mouth with spoon or tongue depressor Warning: all objects not in complete view must be removed surgically. Visit veterinarian immediately.
MOUTH and NOSE BLEEDING: Cold compress or ice.
VOMITING BLOOD: Means internal injury. Emergency immediate.
BLOOD CLOTS: Sudden clotting can move from heart to groin where aorta divides. Cat will have difficulty moving, condition is painful and he will vocalize. Requires immediate medical intervention.
FRACTURES: DO NOT APPLY ANY SPLINT TO THE LIMB! Place cat in carrier and pack towels/pillows around him. Bone protruding through skin: Rinse with saline or water. Cover lightly with moist dressing Rush to veterinarian.
HEATSTROKE: Symptoms: thick stringy saliva, heavy panting, noisy breathing, tongue hanging, drunken gait or collapse. TREATMENT: Douse with cold water. Use hose or bathtub. Cold compress to head. Wrap in cold towel. Heatstroke can cause brain damage. CAREFUL: companion can strike at you.
URETHRAL OBSTRUCTION: Crystal and mucous obstructs flow of urine from bladder. Cat will strain when urinating. Could appear depressed or cry. Sometimes will vomit. Must transport to veterinarian immediately.
POSIONING: Symptoms: Salivating, Retching, Vomiting, Weakness, Bleeding from mouth or through skin, muscle twitching, seizure, collapse. DO NOT INDUCE CAUSE VOMITING without veterinary permission. To induce vomiting: Use tablespoons of Hydrogen. Peroxide mixed 3% in water. 1 tablespoon per 10 pounds weight. Draw solution into syringe or baster Squeeze cheeks together and slip syringe into mouth Tilt head upwards and squirt syringe. For alkaline ingestion such as lye: Solution 3 teaspoons vinegar or lemon juice with equal water 24 hour emergency help: www.petpoisonhelpline.com 888-213-6680 .
Call North Shore Animal League America: 888-232-8870.
AASPCA www.napcc.aspca.org 888-426-4435 .



TOXIC TO DOMESTIC ANIMALS:
Aspirin, Tylenol Tomato leaves and stems Avocados (toxic to birds,mice,rabbits,horses,cattle, dairy goats) Apple Seeds Azaleas, Castor bean, Colchiqum Caffeine Cherry Pits; Peach Pits, Chocolate (toxic to dogs, cats, ferrets.) Lily of the Valley, Rhododendron, Yew Macadamia Nuts, Walnuts Mushroom plants Onions, Onion powder Plant fertilizer bone meal spayed with insecticide: disyston and disulfaton Slug or snail bait with Metaldehyde Mistletoe and Holly Raisins in large quantity can cause kidney failure Rhubarb leaves Yeast dough.

FATAL TO RABBITS, HAMSTERS, GUINEA PIGS, MICE: Softwood shaved bedding. Cedar & Pine contain aromatic oils linked to respiratory, liver and immune disease. Can induce biosynthesis and hepatic microsomal enzymes. (Human workers in softwood industries have higher incidence of respiratory tract squamous cell cancer.) Bedding to use: wood pulp, aspen, paper pellets, alfalfa, grain by-products, straw.



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