When the temperature drops, our pets rely on us more than ever to help them navigate the challenges of winter. Here are some tips to ensure your pets stay warm, healthy, and happy during the cold months:
Tumors that occur inside the nose are uncommon in cats. These tumors are more commonly seen in older males or females. Radiation therapy is the most common cancer treatment for nasal tumors.
Nasal tumors can metastasize (spread) to the nearby lymph nodes and the lungs. A thorough evaluation is necessary to include a physical examination, blood work, chest x-rays, a biopsy or aspiration of the tumor, lymph node assessment, abdominal ultrasound, and a CT scan.
Radiation therapy is one type of treatment for cancer. It is often best used for localized tumors, or cancer that is only in one spot in the body. At times, it is very useful after surgery if there are cancer cells that surgery could not remove or if a mass is too big or in too risky of an area for surgery to be performed.
Radiation therapy uses high-energy beams (ionizing radiation) aimed at specific points on the body in an attempt to kill tumor cells. As it is important that these beams target the cancer cells and damage as few healthy cells as possible, pets need to be anesthetized and precisely positioned to deliver radiation treatment most effectively.
The Association for Pet Obesity Prevention estimates that 60% of cats are overweight or obese. In animals, fat starts to accumulate around internal organs before it’s visible from the outside. That means by the time you notice your cat is gaining weight, her health may already be negatively affected. A 10-pound cat only needs about 200 calories a day.
Being overweight or obese doesn’t just affect how your cat looks, it also increases her risk for many health problems including:
Cancer
Decreased lifespan
Heart disease
Bladder stones
Type 2 Diabetes and insulin resistance
Osteoarthritis
If your cat does become overweight or obese, talk with your veterinarian about ways to get your cat back to a healthy weight. This could include a change in diet or starting an exercise program. Your veterinarian can help you to find a solution that works for you and your cat.
Recognizing when something isn’t right with your pet is one of the most valuable skills you can develop as an owner. Checking your pet’s vital signs — heart rate, respiratory rate, and temperature — is a simple but powerful way to assess their health.
Practice taking your pet’s vital signs regularly in a calm, non-emergency setting. This will help you become more confident with the process and establish a baseline for what’s normal for your pet, making it easier to recognize when something changes.
Keep in mind that vital signs can be influenced by stress or environmental factors such as room temperature. Any change from your pet’s usual baseline is worth a call to your veterinarian, especially if there’s no clear cause.
