Respiratory infections in cats and kittens are very common. The upper respiratory tract in the cat is made up of the nose, throat and sinus area. Viruses are the most common cause of respiratory disease in cats, with Feline Calicivirus and Feline Herpes virus causing 85 to 90% of all respiratory disease in cats. Upper Respiratory Tract ( URT ) infections are common in shelters, catteries and multi-cat households. The viruses are transmitted from cat to cat by sneezing, coughing,… Continue reading →

What does your pet think about Hallowe’en? I have written before about Hallowe’en parties for pets but not all pets like Hallowe’en. In fact some of them think it is very scary. Here are some things you can do to help your pet adjust to Hallowe’en. The two biggest problems with Halloween are injuries and poisoning — and animal emergency clinics traditionally see plenty of both. When you’re planning to include your pet in holiday plans, keep pet protection in… Continue reading →

Idiopathic Feline Vestibular Disease in the northeastern U.S. and Canada is seen most commonly in the fall. No one knows what actually causes this problem which is why it is idiopathic–we doctors are “idiots” because we can’t figure out a cause! The Vestibular system in the cat is responsible for making sure that the body is in the correct position with respect to gravity. This system will alert the brain if we are standing, sitting, lying down, falling, spinning in… Continue reading →