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Elderly Cat May Be Confused
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Published: May 25, 2008
My 19-year-old part-Siamese cat meows excessively for no reason. She stands at the door meowing. If I put her outside, in a minute she's at the door again meowing to come back in the house. The vet examined her and found nothing wrong. Spraying her with water doesn't seem to help. She's also been vomiting more often. What do you make of this? - P.P., Batavia, NY
Sometimes elderly people become confused, and my hope is that we don't spray them with water! Cats and dogs can suffer cognitive dysfunction, somewhat akin to Alzheimer's disease in people. If your cat seems confused in other ways, perhaps about which way to enter a doorway, where the food dish or litter box are located, and/or begins vocalizing overnight, these may be additional symptoms. Spraying your cat with water will only add to her confusion.
Depending on the specific case of feline cognitive dysfunction, there is medication which may help.
I'm not a fan of letting cats outside (except on a leash and harness or within a contained, protected setting), even in rural areas. It's especially risky to let an elderly cat outdoors. Your pet's reflexes are not what they once were; she might not be able to escape predators, or be as quick crossing a road. If your cat is suffering from cognitive dysfunction, she could easily sit in the middle of a road, not realizing where she is, or get lost.
As for the increased vomiting, that's another cause for concern. I realize that you just saw your vet, but increased vomiting is potentially a sign of a serious condition, such as kidney disease or hyperthyroidism.
Both my daughter and myself own 8-year-old Shih Tzus. They're unrelated and live in different homes, yet have the same problem. As you can see from the hair samples I've enclosed with my letter, their coats - which are supposed to be white - are now discolored. The hair is brownish in color.
Molly, our dog, has always had trouble with food, and when she was young she became very ill at one point and couldn't keep anything down. She's better now, except for the discolored hair, eye tearing and chewing at her feet. Mollie is on Benadryl.
Our daughter's dog, Chloe, has many allergies, and gets a special diet from the vet. Her hair is really discolored around her eyes, feet and near her mouth, and on one leg in particular. Chloe has had allergy tests, and received shots at one point, which made her symptoms worse. She was also given a medication, which didn't help either. She didn't have the discolored hair until she switched diets. What do you think about all of this? - K.E., Combined Locks, WI
The dogs' saliva and tears contain iron. Exposed to oxygen, both can turn the rust color you describe. Dr. Karen Campbell, a veterinary dermatologist and professor and section head of specialty medicine at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine-Urbana, says the discoloring phenomenon is not unusual and most likely indicative of allergies, as you suggest.
Now you must figure out exactly what allergies both dogs have. The gastrointestinal issues suggest food allergies. The discoloration around the muzzle and at the bottom of the paws suggests inhalant allergies. Sadly, both dogs may have multiple allergies. Campbell suggests consulting a veterinary dermatologist. The good news is, you know much of what you've tried hasn't worked, so by the time you finish allergy testing, you and the consulting vet(s) should know what route to take.
Should the dewclaws be removed from a Dachshund? I've received conflicting opinions; the vet said that unlike in other dogs, they're tightly attached to the bone in this breed and should not be removed. The breeder says they should be removed when Dachshunds are five days old. What do you think? - J.C., Spencerport, NY
Dewclaws are found on the inside of a dog's front legs, and occasionally on back legs. These are non-weight bearing, and according to most experts, serve little purpose. However, some say dewclaws help dogs gain traction under some circumstances.
"Loose dewclaws can be a liability," says Dr. Deb Eldredge, co-author of Dog Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook. It's like wearing a loosely-fitting watch around your ankle; it's likely to get caught on something. Whether or not a dewclaw is tightly attached to the bone or not is a matter of breed predisposition; it just varies from dog to dog."
Eldredge adds, "I can't tell you how often I've seen overgrown and ingrown dewclaws. I'm an advocate of removing the dewclaws if it's likely the owner will have problems cutting them. If they are loosely attached, they are more likely to get snagged and pulled away from the skin at some point. You can avoid these problems with removal. Ideally, the younger they're removed the better, at around three to five days is about right. If you're going to show dogs, I know the Great Pyrenees and Briard standard is to keep the dewclaws."
My 8-month-old kitten is attached to her "blanky." She sleeps curled with it and carries it around the house, purring all the while. Is she neurotic? - P.N., Charlotte, NC
Your cat is like Linus from "Peanuts." "She's insecure," explains certified applied behaviorist John Wright, of Macon, GA. "The blanket is a constant, providing comfort. Or perhaps it's a substrate sensation, and the kitty likes the feel of the warm, soft blanky. Then, again, the cat could just be having a good time dragging it around the house. It might simply be its little game."
Wright says your cat may grow out of her blanket attachment. Then again, she may not. In any case, you should be grateful. It sounds like your kitty is helping dust your house along the way.
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