Hair loss in cats

Hair loss in cats are an unsightly problem and these are the most common area affected and the most likely diagnosis:-

• itchy alopecia at the tip of the ear together with crusty and sometimes ulcerative lesion (most likely diagnosis scabies)

• Alopecia at the area just above the eyes (most likely demodex mites)

• Focal or singular rounded alopecia of the size of 5 or 10 sen at either the limbs, body or the base of the tail. Can appears blackish and crusty (Fungal)

• Thinning of hair along both side of the flank and sometimes lower abdomen area (furmites or sometimes stress induce)

 The siamese or mixed siamese can suffer from heriditary familial alopecia. These are manifest as non itchy alopecia of both ear pinna (total hair loss of both ear flap).

Unlike dogs, fur loss associated with food allergy are rare (thats why we seldom see catfood with hypoallergenic labels). So, if your cats are suffering from fur loss and alopecia do visit a vet for a check. Goodnews are most of the condition above can be treated.

Chicken, Lamb or Fish: What to choose?

The most frequently ask questions, particularly by new puppy owners is' What to choose and why such variety of food exist?' First i must explain food allergy. As the name implies, food allergy is an allergic reaction to a type of food. In most cases, it is due to the protein source of the food( Chicken, Lamb or Fish). I must emphasize that there are NO difference in between giving chicken, lamb or fish based protein diet to your pet(apart from the price). The ONLY difference is, which protein is your pet allergic to? Some dog when consume chicken, they develop food allergy, hence i will suggest lamb. Some dog when consume lamb develop allergy, hence i will suggest chicken. Some dog develop allergy to chicken and lamb, hence i will suggest fish. Some dog is allergic to fish, i will recommend chicken or lamb based diet. Some pets develop alllergy to all three, i will suggest a hypoallergenic diet. Ah, the terms hypoallergenic i believe are used very commonly now. What i mean with hypoallergenic food is a hydrolyze protein diet: meaning the protein of the feed undergoes hydrolyze process to break the protein to the smallest molecular weight. Thats when the protein is believe to be purely non- allergenic. So as i have explain earlier, there is NO problem with the diet, just which food is your dog allergic to. I have cases in which, there is the same type of food eaten by two different household dog and one develop food allergy and the other got no problem at all. So to new dog owners out there, just choose any reputable feed, either one of the chicken, lamb or fish and see hows the outcome. If allergy develop, look for your local vet and he or she will develop a plan to diagnose your dog allergy.

Are You Ready for a Pet?

It seems like a lot of fun seeing friend's pet is so obedient and cute!

Your boy friend says want to give you a pet as a gift, so touching!

Having a pet to welcome you everyday when you are back from work is so warm and lovely!

But, are you ready for a pet?

Here are some questions to ask yourself before you get a pet.

Do you have time?

You need time to feed them, play with them, walk them, train them and clean them. Do you travel often? Is your work need overtime unexpectedly? Are you willing to wake up earlier to manage them? Do you have time to bring them to a vet when is due for their health check or sick. “I don't have time to bring my pet to vet” should not be your excuse when you decide to have a pet.. By the time you have “time” to bring them to a vet, your pet may be critically ill already. Bare in mind that when you have a pet, part of your time will be given to them. Some types of pets require a lot of attention such as dogs, demand a lot from their owners. Even lower-maintenance animals still require dedication and regular care.

Are you ready to make a lifetime commitment?

Puppies and kittens are irresistible, they are cute and cuddly. However, pet will grow, they may grow bigger and less cuddly and cute as before. What if they get sick especially having chronic skin disease, they smell and shed fur. They will get old with bad eye sight, bad leg, less shinning fur coat and sometime urine incontinent. Dogs can live up to 20 years, and cats have been known to live 25 and more years. Are you ready for that?

What is your future plan?

We have come across a lot of cases where the owner given up their pet because owner has baby, because the couple break up or because they are moving and etc. So, is your life stable? Is there a new baby on the way, or planned? Will you be moving or forced to relocate? The more stable your environment, the more you are ready to have a pet.

Do you have the patience and toleration?

Can you tolerate some damage to your furniture and floors? Can you tolerate the noise of attention. Can you tolerate the smell of their urine and bowel? Can you tolerate your favorite garden end up mess up by your pet. Puppy or kitten just like toddlers, they will test their limits, they need time to learn. Do you have the patient to teach with kindness and treats.

Do you have a suitable and safe living arrangement?

Do you have a fenced yard? Can your pets get loose and end up injuring themselves? Do you have a safe place for your pet when everyone gone to work and nobody at home? We have seen dog destroyed and swallowed something in the house when the owner was not at home, ended up foreign body obstruction in the gastrointestinal track that needed surgical intervention. Are there children in your household and how old are they? Children need to be taught how to approach and handle a pet to prevent injuries. Does anyone in your household have allergies? Are all the members of the family agree to have pets and willing to take care of them? When you go out station or sick, who will take care of your pet? If the pet is taken care by only one person in the house, when that particular person is not around such as moved, will the pet be neglected?

Can you truly afford and willing to shoulder the cost of ownership?

The costs of ownership is far exceed the adoption fee and initial veterinary visit. Adoption fees are usually minimal but the cost of quality food, grooming, license, obedient training lesson, preventive medicine and medical care can be significant. Are you financially prepared if your pet gets sick, injured or diseased? 

So, are you sure you are ready for a pet?

How to choose a vet?

There are currently many available veterinary clinics in the Klang Valley, so how do you choose one that would be suitable for you and your pet? How would you be able to distinguish the genuine ones from bogus vets?

When choosing your family's veterinarian, think about what is important to you. Location? Convenient hours? Range of medical services? Friendliness and commitment of doctors and staff? Payment options? Your goal should be to find the veterinarian who you believe can best meet your pet's medical needs and with whom you feel comfortable in establishing a long-term relationship.


It is a good idea to start thinking about selecting a veterinarian before acquiring a new pet. In fact, a veterinarian can assist you in selecting the right pet that complements your personality, work schedule, and home life.

Not everyone's needs are the same (or your pets' either). Therefore, each person may look for something different in a veterinarian. You may even want to look for a different vet for your different pets. Here are a few guidelines to help you choose a suitable veterinarian for your needs.

Qualifications

• Be sure that the veterinarian is qualified and registered with the Malaysian Veterinary Council (MVC). Look for the current "Annual Practicing Certificate" (APC) which should be displayed at all venues where the vet practices. For more information, you can contact the MVC* through:

Department Of Veterinary Services,
Wisma Tani, Podium Block
Lot 4G1, Precinct 4
62630 Putrajaya
Tel: (603) 8870 2000 or (603) 8870 2236 (hotline to check the list of registered veterinarians)

*Note: Update - MVC new website: http://mvc.gov.my/ 

Location and Opening Hours

• Is the location of the practice convenient for you?
• What are their opening hours like?
• If they are not open, what are their policies for emergencies? It is critical that you know who to contact in case of emergencies.

Services

• What is the range of medical services the practice offers? Do they have facilities or links to X-ray, ultrasound, blood profiles, etc?
• What species of animals do they treat? (not all vets will treat exotic animals such as iguana or birds)
• Ask for what other services they offer. Some offer boarding and grooming services as well. Some will make house-calls.

Premise and Professionalism

• Visit the vet. Pay attention to the attentiveness of the staff. Do they greet you cheerfully? Do you feel welcomed?
• Is the place clean and orderly?
• How is the vet with animals? Do they treat the animal with respect and compassion, or are they rough and seemingly uncaring toward the animal?
• Do you feel comfortable talking to the vet? Does he/she take time to explain your animal's condition and treatment options, or does he/she rush with the check-up? Does he/she answer your questions willingly?

Fees and Charges

• Do not be afraid to discuss the fees and charges with your vet. You may ask about the fees for routine services such as check-up or vaccinations. But, do not choose a vet based on fees alone. Fees are based on the quality of services you get and also, do not forget, vets need to cover their overhead costs as well ( i.e. rental, medical equipment, staffs' salary, utilities, etc).
• What methods of payment are accepted? Do they accept credit cards?
• Does the vet provide discounts for multi-pet households or stray animals?

There are many more questions to ask before choosing the right veterinarian. Most importantly, WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR IN AVET?
Here are more websites to help you decide:

• Humane Society International
• Department of Veterinary Services, Perak
• Malaysian Small Animal Veterinary Association

Welcome to Pet Infoline

Welcome to Pet Infoline blog. This blog will be publishing information relating to pets, from the veterinarians' perspective. Each of the authors on this blog are veterinarians practising within the Klang Valley. More information about each author will be published later.

The authors are providing contribution to this blog without any charges. All the posts are from the author's point of view, and do not necessarily represent the views of all veterinarians.

For any urgent condition relating to your pets, please consult your usual veterinarian. The posts on this blog can never replace the actual consultation process.