The American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) recently published “Senior Care Guidelines” to help veterinarians deliver high-quality health care to older cats. A new handbook for cat owners — based on these guidelines — is now available to serve as a reference on everything from dental care to disease detection to end-of-life decisions.

“Friends for Life: Caring for Your Older Cat” was produced through a partnership between the AAFP and Nestlé Purina PetCare. The guidelines for senior cat care were developed to improve the level of care for cats from middle age onward — a mission driven by the fact that, while advances in veterinary medicine mean cats can live longer than ever before, proper home and veterinary care is vital to ensuring quality of life as well as length of life.
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Marilyn Berg Cooper forwarded this copy of a Stephen Fry & Hugh Laurel comedy sketch that takes place in a veterinary hospital waiting room. It’s absolutely hilarious. The run time is 3 minutes and 48 seconds and it’s a GREAT way to start your day with a laugh. Actually, a LOT of laughs. Enjoy. /Gary

Jasmine visits her veterinarian, Dr. Brisbin.

Thanks for writing or calling the Governor to protest this unreasonable tax. As you can see, it helped! Thanks for caring. /Gary

The California Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) and The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) today thanked Gov. Schwarzenegger and the California Legislature for responding to the public’s opposition to a tax on veterinary care.

The state Legislature passed a 17-month budget that did not include the governor’s earlier proposal to broaden the sales and use tax to include veterinary services.
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How to get the most out of a trip to see your veterinarian
In 2006, Americans spent $9.4 billion for veterinary care for their pets (source: American Pet Products Manufacturers Association).

So what types of things do you need to tell your vet in order to get the most “bang” for your buck? The answer is simple: details, details, details.

Below is a “cheat sheet” from IDEXX Laboratories with five vet visit tips for pet owners from Dr. Arnold Plotnick, veterinarian and president of Manhattan Cat Specialists. This will help you share the necessary details to maximized your visits to the vet and make sure that all is well in your furry friend’s world.

Expert Tips to Help Your Cat Live Nine Lives — All of Them in Good Health

Know The Basics: Share your cat’s age, breed, whether or not your cat is neutered or spayed, and if he is an indoor or outdoor cat.

Food For Thought: Be prepared to discuss your cat’s eating habits with the vet. What kind of food does he eat and what brand? How frequently is he fed? Does he have a good appetite? Has your pet gained or lost weight?

Vital Cat Stats: Share your cat’s basic medical history, especially when meeting a new vet. Bring copies of previous medical records.
*** Ask about testing and prevention for conditions such as feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and heartworm disease. An estimated one-third of pet cats are at-risk for FIV and FeLV, which often show no outward symptoms.
*** Heartworm disease is found in cats in all 50 states, making indoor and outdoor cats equally susceptible. Many cat owners mistakenly believe that heartworm is a disease only affecting dogs. Heartworm season varies depending on where you live, but typically starts in the spring and ends when the weather gets cold.

Brush Up On Home Care: Ask your vet what you can do to keep your cat healthy, including at-home grooming tips for nail clipping and brushing — his fur and his teeth. A recent IDEXX Laboratories study reports that cats with common dental diseases are five times more likely to test positively for FIV and FeLV.

Harmless vs. Harmful Behavior: Tell your vet about any sudden behavior changes. Lethargy, hyperactivity, aggression, growling and urinating/defecating in inappropriate places may indicate an underlying medical problem.

Your veterinarian is the best source for information on testing, disease prevention and pet wellness, but YOU are the best source of information about your pet.

(The above information can be easily modified to apply to dogs.)