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Sandra Sellers | 5 years ago
I Could Use Some Advice To Keep My Dog From Eating Cat Poop. We Have 1 Dog …

I could use some advice to keep my dog from eating cat poop. We have 1 dog and 2 cats. On our first floor there is a mudroom with a pet gate with a cat door. The cats have their litter boxes on one side of the mudroom and food on the other side. This arrangement has worked for 8 years. My daughter’s young cat has had digestive issues for her entire life and would poop on the floor outside the box once a week. We tried all different kinds of boxes and litter and probiotics and food but no changes. She also hates the feel of litter. We tried all kinds and newspaper and towels and pee pads…you name it.
For a month she decided to poop on my daughter’s bed twice a week…which of course was a cleaning nightmare. Sometimes she pooped on the bed while my daughter was sleeping in it.
Finally we found a limited ingredient food that worked along side of a probiotic and her poops are now more manageable for her, less painful I’m guessing and pretty regular. We added a litterbox upstairs to my daughter’s bedroom but she would never use it. We moved it to the large hallway outside my daughter’s room where it was darker and more private and she still didn’t use it. Purchased cat attraction litter and after 1 week she finally used the upstairs box to poop. I held my excitement but it’s been 3 weeks now and no more pooping on the bed. Her poops are also a lot less messy and stinky. Now my problem is if she goes at night the dog jumps right up and eats it. I caught her doing this twice but she was too fast to stop. Other times you can smell that she must have pooped but it’s gone. She’s only going upstairs so I don’t want to take the box away. She’s so picky with boxes and how she sits in the box and how it smells a covered litter box won’t work. There isn’t way to put a gate up in that hallway as it’s a super old house and shaped weird. I’m afraid any change to the box will stop all the good progress. My dog probably gets to the litter box before us about half the time–so it’s not every time. My dog is healthy, eats well, is up to date on everything and is well taken care of. Thanks for your patience with the long explanation.

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  1. Laura

    Clevercat litterboxes are a LIFESAVER. Not even my long-nosed Doberman can get into them. That said, now that the cat’s using the box reliably, can you move it to a room with a gate? You can also get free-standing gates for oddly shaped entries…we use one in our puppy pre-K class to block an egress point, and it works very well.

  2. Laura

    OH and as far as your dog’s nutrition is concerned…for some reason, most dogs REALLY LIKE cat poop. I’m not sure why, Dr. Magnifico might have an idea, but this seems to be a thing even with dogs which wouldn’t normally do this. I agree it’s gross, and I hope you can find a solution which works for your situation.

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Alisha | 5 years ago
Someone Please Help Me I Have A 5yo Male Cat That Is My Entire World He …

Someone please help me I have a 5yo male cat that is my entire world he is blocked and in tremendous pain. I am a single mom of two living on a fixed income. I love my boy so much and I will be devastated to lose him. I do not have the money to take him to the vet. Someone please help me I rescued this baby he has been nuetered. He is my entire world.

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  1. Sarah

    I’m sorry, but this is something you will have to see your vet about. Have a candid conversation about affordability, and explain that your budget only allows for “x” amount. Ask if you can pay in installments monthly or weekly. Best of luck.

  2. Sandra Sellers

    A cat won’t show pain unless things are really bad. You are going to have to figure out a way to have him seen at a vet. Call around and get prices and ask about payment arrangements. If you have good credit a lot of vets take Care Credit and you can pay interest free. If not come up with x amount of dollars you can give them now and how much you can give each month and see if they will work with you. It may not be as expensive as you think.

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Karen | 5 years ago
I Have A 7 Year Old Female Cat Who Seems To Have Contracted A Bad Cold. Her …

I have a 7 year old female cat who seems to have contracted a bad cold. Her nose is completely stuffed up to the point where she has to breathe through her mouth . Because of that she is eating and drinking very litte and I am very worried about her. I have had her since she was born and she means the world to me. I know she should be seen by a vet but I can’t afford that until I get paid in two weeks . Does anyone have any recommendations for any OTC meds I can purchase locally to help open my baby’s nose so she can breathe better and start eating and drinking again. Any ideas or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thsnk you.

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    I’m sorry to hear about your cat. I think it is best to been seen by a get before presuming this is infection. I also think that waiting for help or trying OTCs that are probably not going to work and may possibly even be unsafe is too dangerous for me to advocate. I understand about needing to waiting to be paid but perhaps there are low cost options locally. Call every rescue, vet and shelter to look for assistance. You can certainly keep her face and nose clean by removing any caked on mucous around the nose or eyes but if it is infection or even a polyp waiting can be dangerous pr even fatal. Cal, ask for help. Reach out in all social media platforms and try to get an exam with a vet ASAP. I also think that a felv /fiv year is warranted and an antibiotic. Some vets also prescribe a humidifier or even children’s decongestant drops. But please ask about these or any medication before you give it. And don’t wait. Most cats who can’t smell don’t eat well and this can be very impactful to cats too. (Look yo hepatic lipidosis and you will see what I mean).
    Good luck.

  2. Sarah

    Hello
    I agree that your cat needs to be seen by a vet right away. The longer you wait, the worse and more costly it will be, unfortunately. Explain to your vet that you don’t get paid until two weeks, and see if they can hold your bill until then. Best of luck.

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Zoey | 5 years ago
A Repeat Rhinoscopy On My 11 Year Old Cat Revealed New Tissue Growth In The Nasopharyngeal Space …

A repeat rhinoscopy on my 11 year old cat revealed new tissue growth in the nasopharyngeal space with a very small polyp that has not changed in size since last year. The new tissue growth and polyp was biopsied again (last year it was negative) for cancer which is what the vet suspects. Her labs are all normal. I will have a definitive diagnosis in 3-5 days. If it comes back negative again, it would be highly indicative of Nasopharyngeal Stenosis according to the vet. Has anyone out there had any experiences with this possible diagnosis? In the meantime my kitty continues to have very noisy and difficulty breathing with trouble swallowing her food. The nasopharyngeal flush did nothing to improve her symptoms this. I am doing my best to keep her calm and adding water to her pate food to assist with eating as she still has a very good appetite. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    I have to say this is a very rare condition in cats for me. I am not sure who you are using for this but my recommendation would be to find a feline specialist who is also focused on internal medicine. If possible. If not go with one or the other. But get a second opinion. Also I am not sure if they offered any possible treatment options but a surgeon might be able to help. The Veterinary colleges are also excellent resources to utilize. Please keep me posted on what happens. And also make sure your cat is on a good diet and not overweight. That helps too! Good luck.

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SAMANTHA | 5 years ago
Cat Nail Quick Exposed, Urgent Issue?

My cats nail quick is exposed and her nail is not covering it. It is no longer bleeding. Do I need to take her in to see my vet in person immediately or will it heal itself?

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  1. Sarah

    Good morning. Glad the bleeding has stopped. You may want to check with the vet- keeping it clean until it is fully healed may be a challenge. Especially with the need for the litter box. You might be able to bandage it somehow to help keep it protected and clean. That would be my biggest concern- infection. Your vet may prescribe antibiotics to help. If your cat will let you clean it regularly, your vet might just suggest monitoring it.

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Zoey | 5 years ago
My 11 Year Old Cat Was Diagnosed With A Nasopharyngeal Polyp Via CT Scan And Rhinoscopy Last …

My 11 year old cat was diagnosed with a nasopharyngeal polyp via CT scan and rhinoscopy last year. A biopsy was taken and found not to be cancerous. A nasal flush was the only intervention taken (which improved her symptoms) as I was told it was too small to remove. 3 weeks ago she was taken back with the same symptoms (noisy and difficulty breathing, quacking noises, and problems swallowing food) and another nasal flush was done under anesthesia and an antibiotic injection given with steroids also. Since then she has gotten progressively worse in her symptoms. The same vet wants to do another rhinoscopy and flush and cannot guarantee any results. I am not a rich person and so far between last year and now I have spent over $4,000 to help her. I was hoping you or someone in the Brooklyn area can recommend a reputable veterinarian for at least a second opinion as I am beginning to feel that I am being taken advantage of monetarily because of my dedication to getting help for my cat. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

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  1. Sarah

    Hello-
    I’m sorry you are finding yourself in this situation. I would make a few phone calls to see about finding a second opinion. Your local humane society or scpa may be able to recommend another vet. I would also have a candid discussion with your current vet about your financial situation and your concern for your cat. Perhaps together, you can come up with a good plan that works for the both of you and more importantly, benefits your cat. Hope this helps- best of luck!!!

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May | 5 years ago
Extremely Matted Long Haired Cat … What Clippers Do You Recommend To Remove Matted Fur? (saw Youtube …

extremely matted long haired cat … what clippers do you recommend to remove matted fur? (saw youtube video to remove matted fur) … Thank You.

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    I think that small, quiet pet focused clippers are best. You want to make sure they are easy to use, plug in, and able to keep cool of it is a severely matted cat. My best advise is to seek a professional for help. They can give you lots of safe and easy tips to help.

    1. May Post author

      Manufacturer, brand, clipper size? I have Wahl clippers, however do not work on very fine, long hair. Thank you for your response.

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Al | 5 years ago
My 14 Year Old Cat Is Having Trouble Breathing. After Seeing Her Vet, We Suspect She Has …

My 14 year old cat is having trouble breathing. After seeing her vet, we suspect she has a polyp. The examination was brief and the vet suggested X-rays or better yet, an MRI ($2,000).

I am a teacher and am on a very tight budget. What I would like to know is what kind of tests/examination should be required for the vet to complete the diagnosis? It seems from your youtube video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCRwkQXd3Qs), that the vet could have found this by examining the inside of the cat’s mouth.

I’m trying to keep my costs down. How do I approach my vet regarding this matter?

Thanks
Al

1 Response

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    I start all of the exams that I do with a long discussion about the patient. History and environment as well as parent observations all help. After that discussion and the exam I give a list of possible causes. Essentially the list of what the possible diagnosis might be. From this i discuss the diagnostics needed to confirm. This includes their cost. I also discuss what the results will help us to do. How it will help your pet and how it will affect your options moving forward.
    For these cases I alway offer a sedated exam to look. BUT I want to be able to do something from that exam so I intubate and prepare to remove the poly if I find one. That allows me to hopefully cure the cat at a reasonable price. (About $200). It’s not a perfect plan and there are reasons others want $2000, but in every case I have helped a cat with a polyp from suffocating. I have had two regrow. Both were removed again and have never come back.
    I think what this question comes down to is finding a vet you trust to help your kitty and help you make this affordable. Please let us know what happens. I want to hear about how this goes please.
    Krista

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Alissa | 5 years ago
My 3 Year Old Cat Has A Red Bump On His Arm, Any Ideas? He Is Acting …

My 3 year old cat has a red bump on his arm, any ideas? He is acting normal, eating normally and doesn’t mind when I touch it. Thanks!

1 Response

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    In general bumps and lumps are pretty close to impossible to diagnose with a photo. In many cases an aspirate or biopsy is needed to definitely diagnose it. My best advice is always to see your vet and inquire about removing it before it becomes a problem. Let us know what happens.

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Jessica | 5 years ago
I Have An 18 Month Old Male Cat, Chubbs :) – He Was A Stray That We Took …

I have an 18 month old male cat, Chubbs 🙂 – he was a stray that we took in from the neighborhood as a kitten, vaccinated and neutered and we just adore him. On Monday this week, I noticed he was having urinary issues – lots of in and out of box and no action. Our vet was full so we drove about 30 minutes to another town to take him to an emergency vet. Vet told me that he did not have a urinary blockage, but his urinalysis showed evidence of infection and crystals. A chicken and the egg situation he said. They gave him subQ fluids, antinausea med, anti-inflammatory med and send us home with a supply of pain meds and antibiotics. He was low key the next day, but seems back to normal as of yesterday. However, still lots of urinary urgency and frequency attempts with dribbles here and there, but is producing actual normal appearing size voids 3-5 times a day. No blood, no howling. Bowel movements seem a little looser, assuming from antibiotics but no diarrhea. Is this expected behavior? Can male cats have partial blockages that wax and wane like this? Will this continue on for 1-2 weeks while treating the UTI component? Emergency vet told me to follow-up with our vet in ~2 weeks for repeat urine.

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  1. Sarah

    I would call your vet and see if you can schedule an appointment before the two weeks just to get your own vet up to speed and see if there are any changes in diagnosis. Err on the side of caution. I can tell you from experience- getting these things taken care of sooner rather than later and staying ahead of the game, is a LOT less expensive in the long run. Best of luck.