Dr. Lori is going to b a guest speaker on 94.9 FM, CHRW on Wednesday Dec 3 at 11:00 AM. You can call in if you wish at 519 661-3600 or listen live at www.chrwradio.ca, then click on the listen live tab in the top right corner. Read More
Over the past number of years, cats have become the most popular pets in North America, with over 70 million pet cats in the United States alone. The lifestyle of the average pet cat has also changed, so that over fifty percent of pet cats are kept exclusively indoors. Statistics show that the average life span of indoor cats is about 14 years, while the average for cats that are allowed to roam free outdoors is reduced to 4 years.
The benefits of an indoor life are numerous. Outdoor cats may be exposed to various types of toxins, to parasites such as fleas, ticks and worms, or to infectious diseases such as feline leukemia, feline immunodeficiency virus, feline infectious peritonitis, upper respiratory infections, panleukopenia and rabies. They are at a greater risk of being injured in an automobile accident, a fight with another cat or an attack from a predator such as a dog or wild animal. Viewing things from an alternative perspective, outdoor cats are natural hunters and prey on rodents and songbirds – by keeping your cat indoors, you will keep bird lovers happy!
The main drawback for indoor cats is that they get less exercise and may suffer from boredom or anxiety when confined within four walls. Some behaviorists speculate that this contributes to behavior problems such as house soiling, excessive grooming and other neuroses. This is supported by the fact that these behavior problems are relatively rare in countries where cats are regularly allowed out of the house, and relatively common in Canada and the United States, where more cats are confined indoors.
Fortunately, we, as cat lovers, can provide stimulation for our cats and enrich their lives. It is our responsibility to provide opportunities for our cats to exercise, play and otherwise interact with family members. In some cases, the ideal option is the company of another cat. A multitude of cat toys are available in the retail market, and creative pet owners can invent inexpensive playthings from paper bags, cardboard boxes or other household items to satisfy even the most finicky cat. You can devise interactive games using a flashlight, a laser pointer, a fishing pole, or a battery operated toy. Climbing structures are great for exercise and allow your cat to view the world from high up, while a seat that allows your cat to look outdoors through a window may provide hours of distraction, especially if there is a bird feeder strategically located nearby. Patient cat owners can train their furry companion to walk on a leash and you can enjoy strolls in the fresh air.
The idea is to create an environment in which the cat is happy and gainfully occupied. For more ideas on enriching your indoor cat’s life, call our clinic or visit The Indoor Pet Initiative by Dr. Tony Buffington and The Ohio State University at http://indoorpet.osu.edu/cats/.
If your pet suffers allergies, did you happen to notice an increase in symptoms on Thursday? There was a real change in the weather! Some of our pets who’s biological systems have been compromised by various things over time could have had a real stimulus change due to that. For all of the fall allergy sufferers, there are things that can be done, but none are a quick fix. Western Medicine can certainly deal with the current symptoms, but digging down to the root cause of the disease is like peeling back the layers of the onion. To quote current pop culture’s Shrek, ‘It’s Complicated”. If you are interested in more information, please have a look at some of our “Holistic Articles” tab to find out.more.
Dr. Lori Van haren is glad to announce that she is now open for buisness! Main Street Veterinary Services is a veterinary office that practices integrative veterinary medicine. We offer a range of conventional and holistic veterinary services to explore all aspects of good health and preventative medicine for our animal companions. Alternative therapeutic modalities include: Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine, basic acupuncture, chiropractic, basic nutrition and homotoxicology (a branch of medicine that uses homeopathy). We are committed to continually educating ourselves to deepen our understanding of the modalities that we practice as well as to learn about new modalities that will allow us to go above and beyond in helping our patients to heal themselves.