SUBWAY A KITT
Hello there! It’s the world’s most popular (and perhaps only) cat scribe, back again with another column! This time, I thought it would be nice to answer a few kitty-cat-related questions my human friends at Petersen Pet Hospital hear from clients all the time. (Think “Dear Abby” but with whiskers.) Anyhoo, here goes … Why is my cat hiding? Not to alarm you, but cats sometimes hide when they don’t feel well. We’re pretty stoic animals, so we tend to go off by ourselves when
we’re sick or in pain. If we’re not in our usual spots and seem a little (or a lot) less social than usual, you should definitely bring us to Petersen Pet Hospital instead of waiting for our annual exam. I’m not suggesting that all hiding indicates a possible health concern, but it’s something to keep an eye on. Why do cats sometimes stop using their litter box? Okay, this one is a little embarrassing for us cats, but I’ll answer it by asking you a few questions. Have you changed your cat’s litter lately? Has anything stressful happened in your home lately? These things could possibly make your cat go outside of their
Dutton is a handsome, 4-year-old Olde English Bulldogge who visited me for an eye recheck. Dutton has a history of severe entropion , particularly affecting his right eye, which has caused episodes of corneal ulcers, squinting, and tearing over the years. Entropion occurs when the eyelid rolls inward, allowing the surrounding hair and eyelashes to rub against the surface of the eye. The condition causes irritation and discomfort and, in more severe cases, leads to painful corneal ulcers, scarring, and other eye complications. Entropion is common in bulldogs, pugs, shar-peis, chow chows, and other breeds with short noses or prominent facial folds. After monitoring Dutton’s eye and discussing the available options with his family, surgical correction was ultimately chosen to help provide him with greater long- term comfort. I performed this correction, the Hotz-Celsus procedure, on both the upper and lower right eyelids. During the surgery, I meticulously removed crescent-shaped pieces of skin just along the edges of the eyelids. When the edges of the cut skin were stitched back together, it pulled the eyelids outward into their normal position. This mitigated the surrounding hair from rubbing against the cornea. The goal of surgery is not simply to improve the appearance of the eyelid; it is to protect the eye and improve the pet’s comfort. By reducing the chronic rubbing caused by entropion, surgery can help decrease the risk of recurrent ulcers and other painful eye conditions. Dutton returned to our office two weeks after surgery to have the sutures removed. He was the perfect patient and was no longer squinting or tearing! Dutton’s story is a wonderful reminder that chronic eye conditions can often be managed in various ways, and the best approach can vary for every pet and family. We’re excited to see Dutton enjoying a more comfortable future with happier eyes! Dutton’s Bright-Eyed Breakthrough AN ENTROPION ESCAPE
—Dr. Krystal Knutson
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