Ask Muncie Indiana Vet Animal Questions

Below are some archived questions and answers from the Care Animal Hospital Ask a Doctor section: 

Question: 
Are cat collars dangerous?  Should I use a cat harness instead of a cat collar?

Answer:
The only danger that collars pose to cats is if the get caught on something. While not a common event, it does happen occasionally. Cat harnesses could also get caught. They do make break away collars that should pop off if it gets caught and the cat pulls hard enough. The other thing we see once in a while is a cat that has tags on its collar can get them caught in the holes of a carrier or cage.

If you are taking your cat for leash walks, they do tend to do better on harnesses than collars. Some cats will stop walking if they feel the pull of their leash on their neck.

Question: 
My dog is 10 years old and starting to get cataracts - are there any drops that can help without surgery?  such as bright eyes or nu-eyes?

Answer: 
Several drops for cataracts have been released over the years.  Most contain the compound N-acetyl carnosine.  Unfortunately, there has not been any scientific evidence that indicates that these compounds actually improve cataracts.  Most dogs appear to have improved vision, but are actually just adapting to their loss of sight. 

While these compounds are unlikely to harm your pet, there are several other eye problems that can occur at the same time as cataracts that may require treatment such as uveitis, glacoma, and lens luxation.  If you notice sudden loss of vision in your pet, he or she should be examined by a veterinarian right away. 

Diabetes is one condition that causes cataracts, and there is a new drug that may delay or slow the formation of cataracts in diabetic dogs.  This drug is called kinostat.  More study is needed to determine if it is effective at this time.  However, it is unlikely to reverse cataracts once they are formed and it is only effective in dogs that are developing cataracts as a  result of diabetes. 

Question:
My cat is peeing on the couch when I am not home. We have never had this happen before, and it just recently started.  What advice can you offer?

Answer:
The most common cause of inappropriate urination in cats is discomfort during urination due to inflammation of the bladder. Your cat should have a complete urinalysis performed along with a complete physical examination. The urinalysis will help to rule out problems such as bacterial infection, bladder stones, kidney infection and a syndrome called Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD).

FLUTD is a very common problem in which cats form mineral crystals in their urine that can be very irritating to the bladder, causing pain. This problem can usually be controlled with a change in diet.

If the urinalysis checks out and no problems are found on the physical exam, your cat may be inappropriately urinating due to a behavioral problem. Many cats "lash out" by urinating due to stress or anger at something in their environment. These cats, while challenging, can be helped through behavior modification techniques and/or behavior modifying drugs.