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Eastman, D.V.M., and the professional staff at Island Veterinary Clinic Animal
Hospital in Key Biscayne, Florida, a fully licensed veterinarian serving all of
the Miami, Florida FL area, including Brickell Avenue, Miami Beach, South Beach
SOBE, Coconut Grove, Fisher Island, and Greater Miami-Dade County. This website
is dedicated to the better health of your dog, cat, bird, reptile, or exotic
pet! Stephen Eastman, DVM, is currently accepting new patients, and would
love to be your pet's vet.
Easy Steps to Better Cat Health
Because they're your friend, you want to keep your cats healthy!
By Daniel Delgado
Veterinary Technician
Island Veterinary Hospital
I am not quite sure when it happened. I've had Franky
(short for
Frankenstein) for 6 years. I got him on Halloween in 1998, He was 4
weeks old, tiny, with an unusually large head and square feet. Little
did I know then, this little monster would grow into a whopping 20lb
self-centered, fussy, unsocial, irritable, neurotic, sullen, need
phobic, grouchy fat cat. Most people like to have friends who like to do
the same things they do. That doesn't mean you have to be exactly like
each other, just that you enjoy some of the same things. Somehow I
became friends with my cat. I gave in and accepted the fact that we had
a lot in common, and like that we just bonded. He is one of my best
friends. Sure, he is a cat and I am never quite sure what mood he will
be in when I come home or if he will, for some odd reason, choose to
sleep on the couch or by the empty food bowl instead of on my arm in
bed. He is everything but, predictable.
There is one characteristic that makes him unique and so special
to me. Whenever I am not feeling so great, Franky does not leave my
side. He asks no questions and makes no judgments, he is just there with
me. Come to think of it, he usually cheers me up. It is only during
these times that he actually allows me to hug him. Not too many people
can hug their cat and get away without getting some kind of retaliation.
Difference is he's not my cat, he's my friend. And because he is my
friend, I want to do what I can to keep him healthy.
Being that I am a Veterinary Technician, information about
preventative medicine is readily available. For this reason I want to
share how you can keep your cat friends healthy as well. Cats are
subject to several diseases, some of which are are almost always fatal.
Feline Distemper, Feline Leukemia and Feline Immunodeficiency virus are
the most common. These diseases often kill kittens and ruin the health
of adult cats. There are vaccines for the most common of these diseases
and this is our vaccination protocol at Island Veterinary Hospital.
We consider the basic distemper vaccine (FVRCP) and the rabies
vaccine important for all cats. The Feline Leukemia (FELV) vaccine and
Feline Immunodeficiency (FIV) vaccine would be recommended if the cat
goes outside and comes in contact with other cats. FELV, a retrovirus,
is a common infection of cats. It is the cause of more cat deaths,
directly or indirectly than any other organism and is widespread in the
cat population. FIV is a virus that causes suppression to the immune
system, in much the same way HIV does in humans. The average life
expectancy from the time of diagnosis for FIV is 5 years. Humans cannot
be infected with FIV; FIV is a cats-only infection. Before vaccinating
for Feline leukemia virus or Feline Immunodeficiency virus, cats should
be tested for the viruses. We recommended always testing a new Cat and
kittens should be tested before the age of 6 months. If your cat will
live only indoors, vaccinations for FELV and FIV vaccines are not
necessary.
Every cat over the age of four months must be vaccinated against
Rabies annually in accordance with the Florida State Statute and
Miami-Dade County. According to the Florida Department of Health Bureau
of Epidemiology in 2003, there were 14 reported cases of rabies in cats,
119 reported cases in raccoons, 2 reported cases in dogs. These numbers
are low considering the entire population of cats, raccoons and dogs in
Florida. Take into account that animals are only tested once they have
exposed a person or pet. Consider the raccoon population in Key Biscayne.
These numbers are not meant to alarm pet owners on the Island, the
chances of your cat being infected with rabies are slim but, not
vaccinating your cat is probably not worth the legal liability should
your unvaccinated cat bite a person. The FVRCP vaccine is given every 3
years. The Rabies vaccine once a year. The FELV vaccine and/or FIV
vaccine if indicated are given once a year also. When your cat is
examined a fecal exam is also recommended as intestinal parasites can
not only infect your feline friends, but also your children. If you have
a kitten, a series of two or three of the FVRCP, FELV and FIV vaccines
is required in order to properly boost your new friend's immunity
against these diseases.
If you are not planning to breed your cat, the best choice is to
have your cat spayed or neutered. The most important reason for spaying
or neutering is simply that there are too many unwanted litters of
kittens being born. Millions of cats are done away with each year by
local pounds. Other unwanted cats are often abandoned by their owners
and become feral cats. Feral cats often carry diseases that they pass on
to healthy pets. A spayed or neutered cat is a healthier cat. Female
cats that are spayed before their first heat will have a lower risk of
mammary cancer, and they're unable to develop pyometra, a very serious
uterine condition. Male cats that have been neutered are less likely to
be involved in cat fights over females, or of developing problems with
their prostates. Having your cat spayed or neutered will most likely
save you money in the long run. Cats that have been "fixed" are often
more friendly with their owners than cats that haven't been fixed. There
are also fewer unwanted behaviors for their owners to deal with. It's a
lot easier to have a good relationship with your cat when you don't have
to deal with all of the unfortunate situations that accompany a pet as
it reaches maturity.
When it's all said and done with, If your cat is anything like
my Franky, I am sure he would've had you "fixed " a long time ago.
For More Information Contact:
Island Veterinary Hospital
180 Crandon Blvd., Key Biscayne, FL 33149
Tel: (305) 361-6205
Internet: contact us here
