Good evening! I am a client at Jarrettsville Veterinary Center and the front desk ladies very helpfully advised me to post here saying I was a client to ask my question. =) We are in a bit of a kitten conundrum.

Our neighbors’ barn cat had kittens, and they are living under our garden shed. The kittens are about 7 weeks old or so, according to my neighbors, and they are extremely friendly, outgoing, adventurous, playful, etc. We are assisting the neighbors in trying to find them homes, and we are trying to figure out when it is appropriate to separate the kittens from their mother. We have read/heard 12-14 weeks, however we (my husband and I) are concerned for the kittens’ safety. There are foxes and hawks that live around our house, and the mother cat is staying away from the kittens for longer and longer. The kittens are starting to venture out further and further away from the safety of our shed (where they are just…exposed in our yard), and we are uncomfortable with the idea of leaving them outside for 6 more weeks (though they have managed this far okay).

Additionally, the mother cat has already moved the kittens twice, according to the neighbors, and they didn’t know she was over here until we found the kittens and told them. We are worried that she might move them again and we might not be able to find them if she does so. We are willing to bring them into our house for their safety, but the mother bolts, and we are worried about hurting the kittens’ development during this young stage of their lives and causing mama cat undue stress. We also don’t want them to get eaten by foxes or hawks. =\ Any advice would be super helpful!

Thank you!

Good evening,

My wife and I are struggling trying to help our cat with megacolon and obstipation. He was diagnosed over 4 years ago but he had been put on a Royal Canin GI diet that worked wonders. It suddenly became unavailable and our cat deteriorated rapidly. He had to be hospitalized for a week to remove the blockage and we’ve gone back and forth with the internist on how to move forward. He’s currently on miralax, Lactulose, Cisapride. We recently introduced an anti-nausea medication and appetite stimulant as he stopped eating a few days ago. The suspicion being that he just becomes backed up again. At this point it’s been multiple hospital stays and several thousands of dollars trying to help our guy.
I watched the video on regular palpation – it’s difficult in our cat, both personally and from the vet, due to his large size. He’s a very long cat and also a chunky boy.

Do you have any guidance on palpation in obese cats? Suggestions we can explore with our vet?
I’m worried we’re looking at the colon surgery to remove part of it – but the vet noted many cats are unable to form or control stool following that and have constant diarrhea.
At this point if we can’t get him stimulated at home and eating a little and defecating a little we’re likely headed back to the animal hospital.

I appreciate any guidance or suggestions.

Hello to everyone,

I have three cats (2 boys & one girl) and I believe one of them keeps throwing up their food. I have been feeding all of them with dry food since day one. I just started to notice a few months ago. Doesn’t happen A lot but it does happen often. I ordered cat grass to see if that would help which it did for a little bit. I also bought those new cat bowls which I feel that also helps but I just noticed he still vomiting his food. Not sure what to do.

Hello Dr Magnifico
I watched your video on Beerus the cat (Megacolon/ Obstipation) on YouTube! Currently my 8 year old English bulldog was diagnosed with megacolon. My dog is my life. The last week I’ve spent $4000 which included a deobstipation. The deobstipation wasn’t successful as there is a hard piece deep in the colon. They stated they removed a good amount but couldn’t reach the hard piece deeper in the colon and he will need two more procedures. I truly can’t afford to spend any more money and I don’t want anything to happen to my dog. Each procedure is about 2500 in the area and that only includes 24 hour care. Right now he is feeling much better but that piece is still in there. I’ve increased his exercise to 2-3 short walks. I’ve also changed his diet. Chicken, very little rice, raw liver, flaxseed, watermelon, blueberries, coconut oil, green beans, carrots and pumpkin. He’s feeling much better and is having diarrhea which I hope is chipping away from that hard piece. Can you recommend anything? Days ago he was vomiting, shaking, couldn’t walk, didn’t eat or drink and was lethargic. It was so scary! I literally would do anything for this dog. But I can’t keep shoveling out thousands of dollars and not get any results. Anything would help, I can’t have anything happen to my boy. You also mentioned to learn how to palpate the abdomen. Can you explain how that is done. Any help or recommendations would be much appreciated. Thank you!

Hello!

My dog Glorie was attacked by another dog last Saturday. She is on Carprofen, Clavamox, Gabapentin and CefPod. She had sutures and a penrose drain placed, amd two days ago the drain was removed. My questiom is regarding a large puffy lump immediately to the left of her sutures. When I palpate the lump, it feels like subcutaneous fluid, but it doesn’t seem to hurt her. The vet said to come back if it was red, hot to the touch or seeping pus, but didn’t tell me what it is or if it would go away.

Does this sound like a seroma? And if so, what is the beat treatment? My main concern is infection once she stops taking the antibiotics. I’ve veen doing warm compresses without seeing any impact. Should I take her back in and ask them to do a needle aspiration? Place another drain? Lance and flush? None of the above?

Please help a worried dog mama out! Glorie is my furry daughter and I want whatever is best for her!

My cat gave birth to her first litter last night and everything seems to be fine but she may have a slight fever. I’ve done a lot of research and I’ve given her wet food and added water to it while she eats, but she’s not drinking water directly from the bowl. What else can I do?

Hello. My 4 year old cat has known allergies and therefore, is often pawing at her ears. I clean them weekly with Salicylic Acid (as prescribed by our vet). 2 days I noticed that she as a foul odor coming from her ears. Is this a part of her ear allergies or is it an infection? I’d hate to drag her into the vet (very stressful for her) for them just to tell me the odor is a part of the allergy. I also do want to ignore thing if the problem has gotten worse. Thank you!

Hi. My cat was diagnosed with a throat polyp, however, my vet does not perform the procedure. They referred to a specialist with the cost of 3k. I live in the western suburbs of Chicago and was wondering if anyone has a referral for a much less expensive possibility. Thank you-

Possible anal sac issue? I am currently unable to drive due to a tbi so I’m trying to figure out if this can wait until Monday or not. She is a 4 year old lab mixing started licking the area last night. Other than that, she’s going to the bathroom fine and she has a little area of concern which I’m attaching the picture for. She’s acting normal, eating, drinking, playing.

I brought my 12-year-old cat into the vet today. He hasn’t been eating or drinking a lot so they decided to hydrate him. Since I brought him home, his breathing has been shallow and he is coughing a lot. I am seriously concerned. I don’t hear much air moving in his chest. I have no idea what may have caused this. What a bummer on the back of hydration caused him to not be able to breathe? The fluid is already disbursed throughout his body, so I thought he would be feeling better by now. I know that this has helped to park him up before. Please help