Veterinary Hospital
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We all remember Hurricane Rita back in 2005 and the evacuation troubles that occurred. Stuck on the freeways for hours in the heat with no relief in sight. Hurricane season is in full swing. Here are a few helpful hints to make evacuation safe for you and your pets. 1. If you need to evacuate make sure there is enough food and water for a long trip (i.e. 7 days). 2. Make sure when you travel that your pet has shelter from the heat. Many animals died during the evacuation due to heat stroke. 3. Carry your pet’s vaccination/medical history with you in case you need to seek veterinary attention while away. Also carry your primary veterinarian’s phone number with you in case you or an emergency veterinarian needs to contact them. 4. Have a travel case with all medication that you give to your pet. You cannot be sure how long you will be gone or if things will get lost if the worst occurs. If the medication needs to stay cold, make sure to take enough ice packs to last for a while. 5. Find out what hotels accept pets along your evacuation route. As always, have an evacuation route mapped out before getting in the car. 
Yes that is correct-Feline Heartworm Disease. We are finding out that cats are getting infected with heartworms just like dogs. The problem is that the signs of heartworm disease in cats can be vague. Some of the more common signs are sudden death, coughing, and vomiting. As we know, these signs can be associated with many other diseases. The treatment for heartworm disease can have more complications in cats versus the dog. For this reason, when a cat is diagnosed with the disease we try to manage the clinical signs of the disease. We control clinical signs with steroids and bronchial dilators. The life expectancy of heartworms in cats is probably less than 2 years as compared to approximately 5 years in dogs. Studies indicate that cats residing in areas where heartworm disease is prevalent are prone to infection. Texas has a high incidence of heartworm disease. Researchers are finding that 28 percent of indoor cats are coming up positive for heartworms on the tests. For this reason we recommend all cats being place on a heartworm prevention like Revolution. You do not have to tests cats before placing them on heartworm prevention. If your cat has any breathing problems, vomiting, diarrhea, and/or weight loss we recommend having your cat tested. |
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