Written by: Judy Karnia, DVM We all want the best for our pets. We want to believe that we provide a great home for them and everything they could need to be happy and healthy. For the most part, we all do this. Cats though are very complicated creatures and don’t usually
Written by: Judy Karnia, DVM We discussed how important your cat’s dental health is in preventing dental disease. Now let’s talk about dental home care, another incredibly important component of your cat’s dental health. Dental cleanings are one part, but without dental home care, your cat will likely need more frequent dental
Written by: Judy Karnia, DVM Have you ever actually looked at your cat’s teeth? When they are yawning, you might glimpse their teeth but probably not get a great look. Believe it or not, dental disease is one of the most common diseases in cats. Sure, obesity and kidney disease are fairly
Written by: Judy Karnia, DVM Any time a member of your feline family has a medical problem it can be scary and confusing. Hopefully though, your veterinarian can diagnose the problem and start treatment to make your cat feel better. Many times, however, our patients have more than one problem that may
Written by: Judy Karnia, DVM Dental disease affects all cats at some point in their lives. For at least half of cats, this includes painful resorptive lesions in one or more teeth. With these lesions, the enamel of the tooth is eroded away exposing the pulp of the tooth. The pulp contains the
Written by: Judy Karnia, DVM Cats are independent and take care of themselves pretty well. Healthy cats groom themselves often, keeping their fur clean and smooth. They generally use the litter box and don’t make messes. However, this can make us complacent with ensuring good hygiene in our cats. Even if your
Written by: Judy Karnia, DVM Twenty years ago, I was diagnosed with cancer. I had just completed four years of medical school and was a runner and pretty in tune with my body. And yet, I had no idea I had any medical problems. I had no symptoms, no discomfort, no change
Written by: Judy Karnia, DVM One of the best ways that you can keep your cat healthy is to prevent disease through vaccinations. Everyone seems to know that kittens need their shots. However, providing good immunity against disease depends on giving the right vaccines at the right times and continuing it throughout
Written by: Judy Karnia, DVM Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is the medical term for long-term changes in the kidneys leading to a decrease in their function. We may refer to it as kidney insufficiency or CRF, chronic renal failure. When I diagnose CKD in a patient, many of my clients become very
Written by: Judy Karnia, DVM I may be a bit biased, but I believe cats are very smart. They are great learners. They learn very quickly: what will get you out of bed or how to talk incessantly until you give them a treat. They can also learn things that we might
