SUBWAY’S Advice Alley
It’s All About the Litter Box!
Hedgehog Happy After Tooth Issue Resolved Koda Gets Well Koda is a 3-year-old male hedgehog that initially came in to see Dr. McGinty for swelling over his left cheek and under his left eye. His owners, being very astute, noticed his appetite had decreased slightly over the past several days. He was also pawing at his face and was uncomfortable when someone tried to pet him in that area. On physical examination, he had a firm swelling with mild purple skin discoloration over his left cheek. He had also lost several ounces since his last visit. Koda is a very sweet and social boy so Dr. McGinty was very easily able to do a thorough oral examination. After lifting his left lip, we saw that there was severe gingivitis and swelling coming from his upper left jaw associated with his molar and premolar teeth. With concerns for likely dental disease or oral cancer, Koda was started on an oral antibiotic called Clavamox and an oral anti-inflammatory and pain relief medication called Metacam. With this treatment, the facial swelling initially resolved completely. Koda returned to see Dr. McGinty two months later for recurrent swelling. Based on the initial response to antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medication, we suspected the cause to be an underlying abscessed tooth. To further evaluate his teeth and oral cavity, Koda was placed under general anesthesia and a thorough oral examination and dental radiographs were taken. Radiographs showed bone loss due to severe abscessing of his upper left molar and premolar. On examination, these teeth were also loose. To resolve the infection, Dr. McGinty carefully extracted the two affected teeth and flushed the area with water. Koda recovered from anesthesia very well and was sent home with his owners. He was started back on oral antibiotics and pain relief medication. Koda’s owners were told to monitor his appetite closely and any signs of pain such as pawing at his face or drooling. At his recheck examination two weeks later, Koda’s facial swelling had completely resolved and his extraction sites had completely healed. The owners reported that he was eating well and taking his medication like a champ! Koda was back in for his semiannual examination in December and is continuing to do very well, with no recurrent facial swelling or pain. Dental diseases are a very common ailment in not just dogs and cats, but in our small mammal patients as well. If possible, teeth brushing with a veterinarian-approved toothpaste and brush is best. However, most pocket pets are not enthused about having their teeth brushed. Therefore, it is very important to supply them with a variety of wood-based chewing blocks/sticks and to provide high-quality hard food to help support oral health.
Meowlo, newsletter friends! It’s your feline friend, Subway, and today we will discuss preventing urinary infections.
Let’s first start with the bin . You can purchase litter boxes at your local pet store or use a storage container. You should get a container that is as long as your cat — from their nose to the tip of their tail — and a box they can turn around in without touching the litter box’s sides. For my kitten and senior friends, you want a container that is low enough for them to get in and out of; you may even want to consider a ramp and installing a nightlight for our older felines. Additionally, if you have more than one feline, you want one litter box per cat, plus an extra one. The litter box should be placed in an area away from appliances, loud noises, and anything of value. A spare bathroom or bedroom will work great. If you have a two-story home, having at least one litter box on every level for easy access and convenience is best.
Homemade Cat Food for Picky Pets
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