The Pet Health Care Gazette

Follow these tips to save on your pet’s medications.

Prescription (and sometimes non-prescription) medications are a necessary part of taking care of a dog or cat. All pets need certain medications to maintain their health and well-being, such as heartworm prevention and flea and tick control. In addition, if your pet gets sick, chances are good that your veterinarian will prescribe some type of medication for you to give your pet at home. While almost all pet owners want to do the best for their pets, the costs of these medications can sometimes become prohibitive. Fortunately, there are some tips that pet owners can take advantage of to help them cut costs on both prescription and non-prescription pet medications.

Generic Prescription Drugs Versus Brand Names

Generic replacements are not available for all pet medications, but when they are available, the cost is likely to be much lower than for brand name products. Ask your veterinarian if there is a generic equivalent of the medication required by your pet.

In most cases, generic drugs will be just as effective as brand name products. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule and your veterinarian will be able to advise you whether replacing a brand name drug with a generic will supply the same results. For instance, if your pet is taking Atopica®, the brand name is generally more biologically available to your pet than the generic and your veterinarian may recommend not using the generic in this case, or may offer to allow you to try the generic with the assumption that if the generic is ineffective, you may need to switch to the Atopica® brand.

Filling Pet Prescriptions at the Local Pharmacy

Many (but not all) of the prescription medications used in veterinary medicine to treat dogs and cats are also used in human medicine to treat people. As a result, these medications may be available through your local pharmacy at a lower cost. Pharmacies can often offer lower prices because they purchase bulk medications in larger quantities than your veterinarian can stock and are able to pass the resulting savings to their customers. Ask your veterinarian if the medication is available at your local pharmacy (i.e. Walgreens, Wal-Mart, Rite-Aid, CVS, etc.). In most cases, your veterinarian will happy to provide you with a prescription to be filled at the pharmacy if the drug is available there.

Pharmacies also often carry generic brands of commonly used medications which may offer additional price savings. Ask the pharmacist and/or the veterinarian if a generic can be substituted.

Shop around. Call different pharmacies in the area to compare pricing information.

Some pharmacies offer discount plans or savings cards which can be used to save money on the cost of prescription medications also. There is a Community Discount Drug Card which is available online. The card is free and offers discounts on pet medications also. (Please note I have no personal experience with this discount card but offer it as a potential resource for pet owners based on recommendations from other pet owners I’ve spoken to. I advise you to perform your due diligence research before applying for and using this card.)

Online Pet Pharmacies

Online pet pharmacies often offer substantial savings to pet owners on both prescription and non-prescription medications. These pet pharmacies may be the only option (other than your veterinarian’s office) for those medications which are not available in human pharmacies. These would include heartworm preventive medications (such as Heartgard Plus®, Interceptor®, and Revolution®), flea and tick control medications (such as Advantage®, Frontline Plus® and Promeris®), some antibiotics (such as Baytril®), some non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (such as Rimadyl® and Previcox®), and others.

As with brick-and-mortar pharmacies, it pays to shop around and compare prices at different online pharmacies before purchasing your pet’s medications.

A word of advice is in order here though. While these online pet pharmacies can offer significant savings on the cost of pet medications, there is some concern about the sourcing of some of these products and there are documented cases of counterfeit medications being dispensed even from the larger, well-known online pet pharmacies, including counterfeited Frontline® and Advantage® products. Use discretion when purchasing from these sources and know how to identify counterfeit products if you do elect to purchase from them. Before purchasing, it may be worthwhile to consult with your veterinarian’s office to compare prices and ask if they are able to meet the online pharmacy price if there is a difference.

Financial Aid for Low-Income Pet Owners

If your pet is in need of medications that you cannot afford, there may be financial aid organizations in your community who are able to help. Contact your local SPCA, shelter or veterinary medical association for advice. These resources are primarily reserved for pets with life-threatening or painful conditions. Routine medications such as heartworm prevention and flea and tick control would likely not qualify.

Cutting Costs on Pet Medications

Though pet medications (both prescription and non-prescription) can be expensive, by comparing prices, substituting generic medications where possible and making use of local pharmacies and/or online pharmacies as well as your veterinarian’s hospital, it is possible to reduce the expense of many of your pet’s medications.

Photo Credit: klynslis/Flickr.com

Feline litter box problems are frustrating for cat owners.

When cats choose to urinate or defecate outside of the litter box, cat owners can rapidly become frustrated and angry with the cat. Feline litter box problems are one of the most common behavioral problems cat owners have to deal with and are also one of the most common reasons cats are given up to shelters, abandoned or forced outside to live.

What many cat owners do not understand is that their cat is not acting out of spite when he/she does not use the litter box. There are numerous reasons for litter box problems, but most of them result from disease, mismanagement of the litter boxes by their human owners or normal feline behavior patterns.

What to do When Your Cat Begins Experiencing Litter Box Problems

The very first thing which needs to be done if your cat begins to urinate or defecate outside of the litter box is to have your cat examined by your veterinarian. Numerous medical issues can cause a cat to urinate and/or defecate outside of the litter box. Other symptoms which may or may not accompany inappropriate elimination behaviors include bloody urine, frequent urges to urinate, excessive urination, excessive thirst, loose bowels or diarrhea and difficulty or pain when moving bowels. If disease is present, successful treatment may resolve the litter box mishaps.

Cats which are unable to urinate need to have immediate veterinary care. Urinary tract obstructions are an extremely painful and life-threatening occurrence and can cause death very quickly if appropriate medical intervention is not performed.

Proper Litter Box Management Can Deter Inappropriate Urination and Defecation

If your veterinarian has found no evidence of disease or illness for your cat, litter box management protocols must be critically examined and modified as necessary.

Adequate numbers of litter boxes must be provided, especially in multi-cat households. There should be at least one litter box available for each cat in the house plus one extra litter box. Many cats prefer not to share their litter box with housemates and inadequate numbers of litter boxes can result in inappropriate elimination.

Litter boxes must kept very clean. This usually means removing solid waste at least once daily. For some cats, scooping several times daily may be necessary. Scoopable litters tend to make this task easier and many cats also prefer the texture of scoopable cat litter.

Place cat litter boxes in various areas of the home. There should be at least one litter box on each floor of a multi-level home. Litter boxes need to be placed in low-traffic areas that are calm and quiet. They should be easily accessible for the cat and care should be taken that the cat is not disturbed or frightened when using the box. This means small children and other pets (such as dogs) should be kept away from the litter box area, particularly when it is in use. Litter boxes should not be placed near washing machines and dryers as these machines tend to make noises that frighten many cats as they go through their washing and drying cycles.

Litter boxes must also be chosen to allow the cat to get in and out of the box easily. For older cats with mobility issues and very young kittens, this may mean choosing litter boxes with low sides which the cat can climb over easily.

Litter boxes should also be big enough to allow your cat to stand and turn in the box easily without being cramped or hanging over the edge of the box. Cats tend to prefer large litter boxes to smaller ones.

Choose the Right Cat Litter to Avoid Litter Box Problems

Use non-scented cat litters. Cat litters that have heavy scents may be more pleasant for us, but some cats object strongly to the scents and will avoid a litter box filled with these cat litters.

Some cats have preferences regarding the texture of the cat litter used. In general, scoopable litters most closely resemble sand and many cats prefer these scoopable litters. However, this is not true of all cats. Experiment with different types of litters if your cat is avoiding the litter box. Try different types of scoopable and non-scoopable litters. Try litter substitutes as well, such as Yesterday’s News®, a pelleted form of recycled paper. Fill several litter boxes with different types of litters and place them next to each other. Observe to see which one the cat uses most often to determine which the cat prefers. Once you have identified the type of litter that your cat prefers, use that litter in his/her litter boxes.

Other Environmental Modifications That Can Prevent Cat Litter Box Problems

Stress has been shown to cause urinary tract disease in cats, specifically interstitial cystitis (a form of inflammation within the feline urinary bladder). Most cat owners do not recognize that an indoor lifestyle is generally stressful for a cat. This is true in single-cat households, but is even more of an issue in multi-cat households. Fortunately, there are some very simple things a cat owner can do to make indoor life less stressful for their cat or cats.

• Provide plenty of perches for all cats in the household. Cats enjoy being on a raised surface and may feel safer when they are not forced to nap on the ground. They also enjoy examining their environment from their elevated perches.
• Provide plenty of hiding spaces for all cats in the household. A hiding place should be a quiet, secure area where your cat can retreat if he/she feels threatened or wants to be alone. Hiding places that block the view of other cats in the house are also helpful in eliminating aggression between cats. These may be cardboard boxes, carriers left open and lined with a blanket or towel, or cat beds.
• Provide food and water at various locations throughout your home if you have more than one cat. This eliminates competition for these resources and avoids fighting and stress from a perceived lack of access to adequate food and water stations.
• Provide interactive toys which provide mental stimulation for your cat. Cats have a natural tendency to prey on small animals and appropriate cat toys can simulate that prey behavior and keep cats entertained. Toys with feathers can be used to imitate birds, toys which can be pulled along the ground can imitate mice and other rodents, and laser pointers can imitate bugs. Food puzzles can also be used to provide mental stimulation and exercise for indoor cats. Just be certain not to leave your cat untended with toys which contain strings which can entangle a cat or which can be swallowed, small pieces which could be ingested or other unsafe features. Place the toy in safe location where your cat cannot access it when you are not home to supervise play with these types of toys.

Urine Marking, Urine Spraying and Other Territorial Behaviors

Urine marking is a term which is used to describe the act of urinating outside of the litter box in an effort by your cat to mark his or her territory and tell other cats to stay away. Urine spraying is a specific type of urine marking behavior which involves urinating onto a vertical surface, such as a wall or piece of furniture.

Both male and female cats are capable of urine marking. Neutering or spaying is often helpful in controlling urine marking and urine spraying behaviors. However, it should be noted that a small percentage of cats which are neutered/spayed will still mark or spray, especially if the behavior has been occurring for a time before the surgery is performed. Neutering or spaying does not guarantee that a cat will never mark or spray but it is effective in the majority of cases (probably as many as 85-90% in my experience).

Pet owners need to understand that cats which spray or urine mark are performing what is, to them, a perfectly natural behavior. Your cat does not understand that this behavior is wrong and he/she is not marking or spraying solely to annoy you. Cats should never be punished for these types of behaviors. Punishment will only make the cat apprehensive and may actually end up making the problem worse!

Feliway® and Feline Litter Box Problems

Feliway® is a calming pheromone which is produced naturally by all cats. Being a pheromone, the cat’s olfactory system will detect the chemical but you will not be able to smell the product. Feliway® can be effective in controlling inappropriate elimination in cats and preventing urine spraying and marking behaviors.

Feliway® is available as a diffuser which is plugged into an electrical outlet in your home or as a spray which can be used around litter boxes, near doors and windows and in other areas of the home.

While litter box problems are problematic and frustrating for cat owners, there are techniques which can be used to prevent or control the inappropriate behaviors. Proper care of the litter box, choosing the correct cat litter, spaying/neutering all cats and simple enviromental modifications can all be used to help fight feline litter box problems.

Feline aggression and cat fights are common behavioral problems.

Feline behavioral issues can come in many forms and aggression is one of the most common ones, especially in a household with multiple cats. Aggression between cats can lead to cat fights and injuries. Tension between cats can also lead to disease, with cystitis being the most common stress-related disease for cats.

Causes of Feline Aggression and Cat Fights

Most aggression between cats occurs because of territorial disputes. Cats may feel as though their rank in the home is threatened, they may feel as though another cat in the home in threatening them or they may feel threatened by cats seen outdoors through windows or doors.

Most often feline aggression occurs because of an inadequate supply of resources. Competition for resources may include feeding areas, water bowls, litter boxes, resting areas, perches or even human attention.

Signs of Aggression Between Cats

In many cases, the signs will be quite evident. The dominant cat may growl and/or hiss. The hair along the spine and on the tail may stand and the cat may assume an arched posture or may act as though he is stalking the other cat. The threatened cat will likely crouch and then run from the more dominant cat.

While many cases of feline aggression are quite dramatic, other cases may be much more subtle and the cat owner may not notice the signs as easily. In these cases, the more timid cat may hide and avoid contact with family members, especially when the more dominant cat is around. The cat which feels threatened may avoid eye contact with the more dominant cat, who may attempt to stare down his more timid counterpart. In time, the dominant cat may simply need to look at the more timid cat to chase him away from resources such as food and water.

In cases of conflict, a more confident cat may try to move toward an object perceived as a threat in an attempt to gain control over the situation. A timid cat is more likely to flee from the treat. However, there is another form of conflict known as redirected conflict in which the cat cannot confront the threatening object directly and may choose instead to create conflict with another, uninvolved party (such as another cat in the household). Redirected conflict often occurs when cats housed indoors react to cats or other animals seen outdoors. These outdoor animals are seen as a threat but are not approachable so the cat finds a substitute for his aggression. Redirected aggression may also occur when one cat in a multi-cat household is being threatened by another more dominant cat and, in turn, the threatened cat becomes aggressive toward other feline household members.

Dealing with Cat Fights and Feline Aggression

The key to dealing with this type of feline aggression is to provide adequate resources for all cats in the household.

• There may need to be numerous food and water stations as the dominant cat may guard these resources and attempt to keep other cats away.
• Litter boxes are essential resources and should be provided in adequate numbers and in easily reached areas which are quiet and free of disturbances.
• Elevated perches should be available for all cats. Cats like to sit above their environment and look down, likely because of the safety factor afforded by being off the ground.
• There should be adequate hiding spaces for each of the cats. These may be in the form of cardboard boxes, cat condos, cat beds or carriers (with the door open so that the cat can enter and exit at will). Hiding places which keep the cats involved in the conflict from being in direct visual contact with one another may be helpful.

In addition, all cats in the household should be spayed or neutered to decrease the amount of hormonal stimulation. Regular trimming of the nails may also help avert injuries.

When outdoor cats or other stray or wild animals are the cause of feline aggression, taking measures to discourage these animals from coming near the house may be warranted. Potential solutions may be motion activated sprinklers or lighting, placing bird and squirrel feeders far away from the house and using natural deterrents in the yard or garden. Keeping blinds and curtains closed may be a potential solution for these situations as well.