I have a 9 ½ year old Labrador/Pitbull mix dog who has been healthy except for a few allergic reactions in the past.  More recently, she had a seizure.  Can this be related to the allergic reactions?  How can this be avoided?

Allergies are very common in dogs and can be triggered by many things, similar to people.  Seizures occur in dogs and cats relatively commonly as well and are very upsetting to witness.  Although both allergies and seizures are frequently seen, the two are unlikely to be related.  The most common type of seizure is a generalized seizure (formerly called grand mal seizures).  During this type of seizure, the animal suddenly loses consciousness and falls, often with the limbs extended.  The dog (or cat) often salivates, urinates or defecates.  They then progress to paddling or jerking of the limbs, and often display chewing movements.  The average seizure of this type lasts 30 seconds to 2 minutes.  There is another large class of seizures, called partial seizures, which vary greatly in appearance.  They may involve movement of one limb or one part of the body (i.e. the face), may be manifested as “fly-biting” or chewing, and the animal may or may not lose consciousness.  These often last seconds, but can last longer.  After a seizure, dogs and cats usually display what are called postictal signs.  They are temporary and may include disorientation, restlessness, wobbliness, blindness, or deafness.  These abnormal behaviors may resolve after several minutes, but may last for days, especially after prolonged/severe seizures. 

 There are several causes for seizures and it is important to identify any underlying cause of a seizure such low blood sugar, a brain tumor, or inflammation in the brain, so that treatment for the underlying cause can be started.  The most common cause of seizures in dogs is idiopathic epilepsy, meaning there is no underlying disease process causing the seizures.  The typical dog (there are some exceptions) diagnosed with epilepsy begins to have seizures between 1 and 5 years of age, often seizures at night or when the dog is resting or sleeping, and has normal behavior in between the seizures.  Epilepsy can be seen in any breed or mixed breed, but it is known to be inherited in the following breeds:  Beagle, Belgian Tervuren, Bernese Mountain Dog, Collie, Dachshund, English Springer Spaniel, Golden Retriever, Irish Wolfhound, Keeshound, Labrador Retriever, Poodle, Shetland Sheepdog and Vizsla.  

If you witness your dog (or cat) having a seizure, it is advised you bring him to a veterinarian who will perform thorough physical and neurological examinations. Next, blood work is usually performed to rule out metabolic causes of seizures.  MRI or CT scan of the brain and analysis of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) may be indicated in patients where an underlying disease process is suspected.  However, often times, if a dog fits the classic description of an epileptic, these advanced tests are not needed. 

Fortunately, the average short seizure is not life threatening.  However, multiple seizures that occur within a 24 hour period of time (called cluster seizures) or a single seizure that lasts more than 5 minutes (called status epilepticus) are life threatening events and need to be treated as emergencies.  If your pet ever experiences one of these situations, you must bring him to a veterinarian/emergency clinic immediately.  

The decision to treat seizures varies among veterinarians and owners.  Therapy should be started once the risks of additional seizures outweigh the risks of treatment.  The risks of seizures include the seizures themselves as well as the emotional effects on the family.  The risks of therapy include drug side effects and the cost and effort of daily medication and monitoring.   The goal of therapy is to decrease the frequency and severity of seizures.  Ideally it would be to eliminate seizures completely, but less than one third of dogs treated for epilepsy become seizure-free.  Therefore, therapy is typically life-long.  If therapy is ever stopped, it must be done slowly, under the careful guidance of your veterinarian.  Seizure medication must never be stopped abruptly.  Several drugs are available to help control seizures and fortunately some of the newer drugs carry few side effects.  The cost of some of these newer drugs may be significant depending on the drug chosen and the size of your dog.  Treatment options are numerous and must be tailored to the individual dog and owner.  Because each patient responds to drugs differently, it is very much trial and error in the beginning to establish the best treatment protocol.  In some cases more than one drug is needed to control seizures.  It is important to have a good relationship with your veterinarian and discuss all drug options available.  Once medication is begun, future trips to the veterinarian are necessary to monitor how your pet is responding to the drug. 

Kerry Bailey, DVM, DACVIM

Dr. Bailey received her DVM from Cornell University School of Veterinary Medicine, completed an internship at Long Island Veterinary Specialists and a residency in Neurology at Cornell University School of Veterinary Medicine. She is a Diplomate of the ACVIM in Neurology. Dr. Bailey enjoys photography, cooking and baking. She has two cats, Laverne and Shirley.

On September 5th, 2011 around 8 PM, NJ Search and Rescue received a police request to search for a lost hiker in Norvin Green State Forest.  Chris Kempey, Operational K9 Handler arrived on the scene with his search and rescue dog Moosie, around 11 PM.  At approximately 12:30 AM and in torrential rain, Moosie and Chris found the lost hiker in a hypothermic state, wandering the trails of the park with no map, compass, rain jacket or flashlight.

Not more than two weeks later, Moosie was in need of having her own life saved.  After multiple examinations and much testing at Allendale Animal Hospital and Oradell Animal Hospital, she was admitted to Oradell Animal Hospital with what the doctors in both hospitals believed to be acute Lyme Disease with multiple organ involvement.

After being treated and released from Oradell Animal Hospital three days later, Moosie went back to the hospital every two to four weeks for blood and urine testing.  Chris was cautioned many times that Moosie may never live a normal life again, let alone return to search and rescue work!  This was heartbreaking to him and his family.

Six months and many examinations, tests, and much special care later, Dr. Mary Ann Crawford at Oradell Animal Hospital (internal medicine department) called to inform Chris that Moosie’s results had all come back within normal ranges and that she had completely recovered.  Not to mention that Moosie would be able to return to search and rescue work!  “I was, and still am, beyond words”, says Chris.

As written by Chris Kempey, ” I wanted to take a moment to thank you and your staff at Oradell Animal Hospital for not only saving Moosie’s life, but for providing her with exceptional treatment that allowed her to recover completely.  I am beyond grateful she is healed and can continue to make a positive contribution to this world as a search and rescue dog (and to be the most wonderful pet I have ever had).  I simply cannot thank you enough or tell you how amazed I was by Moosie’s complete recovery (which I attribute in large part to your work).  Thank you is simply an understatement.  I have made a donation to the NJ Search and Rescue K9 Team in your name”

                    Moosie on her first day back at work after six months of rest and recuperation

Q:  Last November I bought a female Boston Terrier puppy from a breeder inPa.She is a good dog but when she sees strangers she gets aggressive where I am afraid she may bite them if they go to pet her. It’s not all the time though, sometimes when she is on one side of the street and they are on the other she just stops and looks at them. She is not a mean or aggressive puppy its only with strangers until she knows them. Otherwise she is loving and friendly and playful. I thought allBoston’s were quiet and friendly. Is this just a stage she is going though where she is protective of us?  How can I get her to stop?

A:  If there are words I would choose when describing Boston Terriers, quiet would certainly not be one of them!  Like most terriers, they are barkers.  In your case, I think you have to watch your pup carefully to observe what her body language looks like when strangers approach.  Is she tentative, scared, or nervous?  You say you are afraid she may bite but then say she is not aggressive so there is a disconnect here.  Many fearful dogs fit that description.  If a puppy is acting fearful or aggressive or both, it is a huge alarm for concern.  Puppies should not be either.  You should talk to your veterinarian as soon as possible to find out if there is a treatment path you can begin and try to build better behavior in your dog.  Best of luck to you.  The fact that you have reached out is a great sign that you are going to be tuned in to your dog’s behavior. 

Tracy Kroll, DVM

Dr. Kroll graduated from Cornell University School of Veterinary Medicine. She completed her residency in behavioral medicine at Cornell University after three years of general practice. Dr. Kroll joined Oradell Animal Hospital where she consults clients and treats pets that have behavioral issues. Dr. Kroll uses an approach that is individualized to the pet and its concerned family. Her philosophy is to use behavior modification techniques that are both realistic and doable. Dr. Kroll is available for house calls.

I’m thinking of getting a Bulldog puppy but I’ve heard they may have lots of problems as a breed.  Is this true and what are the problems? 

  Bulldogs are a very popular breed because of their cute, wrinkly faces and generally pleasant demeanor and temperament.  However, many people who acquire them don’t realize how high-maintenance this breed can be.  Bulldogs inherently have a unique set of health problems because of their genetic make-up.  For example, the folds and wrinkles might appear endearing but they predispose these dogs to skin infections, especially around the face and tail areas.  Ear infections are also very common in this breed and routine ear and skin fold cleanings are needed to prevent or control infections.  They also tend to have a lot of problems with inflammation and infections of the feet (pododermatitis) which may be related to their predisposition to develop allergic skin disease. 

The shape of their heads and faces causes them to snort, gurgle and snuffle and while this may seem charming to some, it also puts them at higher risk for breathing difficulties and low heat tolerance.  This so-called brachycephalic airway syndrome (B.A.S.) can be severe and may even require surgical correction in certain cases!  As you can imagine, this also puts them at increased risk during general anesthetic episodes.  Bulldogs can be a sociable, enjoyable breed but they definitely require a lot of extra care and maintenance to keep them healthy.

Jamie DeSantis, VMD

Dr. DeSantis graduated from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. He completed a small animal medicine and surgery internship at Oradell Animal Hospital. Dr. DeSantis' special interests are surgery and emergency medicine. He also enjoys skiing, fly fishing and Tae Kwon Do. Dr. DeSantis is a 1st degree black belt. Dr. DeSantis sees appontments at Oradell Animal Hospital, Paramus and at our Fort Lee, New Jersey office.

Our 12 year old Collie has been diagnosed with degenerative myelopathy.  We started noticing a weakness in his hind legs several months ago and thought it was arthritis.  However, after a full examination, we were told he does not have arthritis and actually has a good range of motion.  He was started on azium, but no positive results were seen.  On the contrary, he got worse.  He could no longer stand up without help.  We reduced the dosage to 1 pill every other day, and he seemed to get a little better.  Do you know of any other treatments?  Can you provide us with the typical outlook for this condition?  How fast does it usually progress and what additional symptoms can we expect?

  Degenerative Myelopathy (DM) is a degenerative disease of the spinal cord, whose underlying cause is yet unknown.  It is thought to be similar to ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) in people.  Clinical signs of this disease are most typically a slow progression of hind limb weakness and ataxia (“wobbly” or “drunken” gait), and may start in one hind leg and then progress to the other.  This disorder is not painful, and often time dogs are very willing and even excited to continue trying to exercise despite their limitations. 

Diagnosis of DM is usually based on a combination of breed, age, clinical signs, and an absence of any other cause for hind limb weakness through orthopedic exam and, in many cases, imaging of the spine via MRI.  The spinal MRI of a dog with DM will be normal, ruling out other causes of similar clinical signs such as intervertebral disc protrusion (“slipped disc”), spinal malformations, tumors of the spine and/or spinal cord, and infection or inflammatory diseases of the spinal cord.  There is a genetic test for DM available through the Orthopedic Foundation of America. This test can tell if a dog is a carrier for the gene for DM, though this does not definitively diagnose the disease, as some carrier dogs will never develop any signs of DM; it is therefore more helpful to rule out the disease. 

At this time, there are no effective treatments for DM.  There are some anecdotal reports of improvement with a supplement called aminocaproic acid, however this has not been proven through clinical trials. There has been some recent evidence that daily, controlled physiotherapy including walking, range of motion exercise, massage and hydrotherapy may prolong the ability to walk with DM. 

DM will typically progress over a period of 6-12 months, with gradual, if not constant decline in ability to walk.  Some dogs will appear to experience “plateaus” in which the disease remains static for weeks or months before progressing again. Most dogs have no other clinical signs, however, as the disease progresses; some dogs will experience urinary or fecal incontinence. 

If you are interested in trying to get a more definitive diagnosis for your Collie, ask your veterinarian about referral to a neurologist in your area who will be able to help you decide on a diagnostic plan. 

Michaela Esteban, DVM, DACVIM (Neurology)

Dr. Esteban received her DVM degree from Cornell University School of Veterinary Medicine. She completed a one year medical and surgical internship at Oradell Animal Hospital and then she completed a 3 year residency at Cornell University School of Veterinary Medicine in Neurology and Neurosurgery. She is a Diplomate in the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine in the specialty of Neurology. Dr. Esteban lives with her husband, and two dogs Naia and Caruso. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, traveling, skiing and cooking.

Q:  My dog was just diagnosed with lymphoma. My vet recommended chemotherapy. I heard that chemotherapy is different in dogs than it is in people. Is this true?

            A:  I am very sorry to hear about your dog. Lymphoma is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers in dogs. It is a cancer of lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell and part of the immune system. The immune system is throughout the body, and consequently lymphoma often involves multiple sites throughout the body. The most commonly affected sites are the lymph nodes, liver, spleen, and bone marrow, but almost any site in the body can be affected.

            Before starting any therapy, your veterinarian likely will recommend that some staging diagnostic tests be performed.  The purpose of clinical staging is to determine the extent of the cancer in your dog’s body, identify any unrelated diseases that might impact treatment decisions, and assess overall health. Staging information guides treatment recommendations, helps to more accurately assess response to therapy, and provides useful prognostic information. (There is a numeric staging system used for canine lymphoma, with stage I being the least advanced and stage V the most. However, the number itself has relatively little prognostic significance for this particular cancer.)

            The treatment for canine lymphoma typically involves chemotherapy. This disease rarely affects only one location or organ, and therefore drugs that circulate throughout the body are most effective. Surgery and radiation therapy play very limited roles in the treatment of this cancer. The chemotherapy drugs used to treat canine lymphoma are also used to treat non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in people. There are several different published chemotherapy protocols, and deciding which to use will depend on several factors: staging test results, clinician preference, and family-based factors (frequency of visits, length of protocol, cost). Your veterinarian likely will discuss several different treatment options along with the advantages and disadvantages of each.

            Chemotherapy treatment in dogs is very different than chemotherapy treatment in people. Yes, for the most part the same drugs are used, but there are two very important differences. First, the drug dosages are much lower, even when taking into consideration differences in body size between people and dogs. Second, in veterinary oncology not as many drugs are given at the same time; instead, we usually space them out on a rotating basis. As a result, adverse effects from treatment are less frequent and usually are muchless severe.

            The potential adverse effects depend on the specific drug(s) included in a given treatment protocol. However, the most common adverse effects seen are gastrointestinal (decreased appetite, vomiting, diarrhea). Only about 10% of dogs experience these effects, and when these signs do occur they usually are mild and resolve on their own within a day or so. For more pronounced gastrointestinal signs, there are very effective medications that often can help amelioratethem. If adverse effects are observed, future occurrences often can be prevented either by prescribing gastrointestinal supportive medications preemptively or reducing the dosage of a given chemotherapy drug. Again, maintaining quality of life throughout treatment is paramount.

            The trade-off for fewer adverse effects is lower cure rates, but most oncologists (myself included) agree that quality of life is more important.Having said that, with our most effective treatment protocols, about 85-90% of dogs with lymphoma will attain a complete remission (defined as complete resolution of all signs associated with the cancer). About half of our patients will enjoy at least one year of excellent quality of life, and about twenty-five percent will enjoy at least 2 years of excellent quality of life. Less than five percent of dogs with lymphoma are ever truly cured (i.e., the cancer never recurs). Left untreated, canine lymphoma usually is fatal within 4-6 weeks of initial diagnosis.

            The decision to pursue cancer treatment for a family pet is never easy. It is important to have as much information as possible before making any decisions. Questions you should ask your veterinarian include: What is the chance of the cancer responding to treatment? If the cancer does respond to treatment, how long is the response likely to last? What is the potential for any adverse effect from treatment? What is the potential for a severe adverse effect from treatment? If adverse effects do occur, are they reversible?I wish you and your dog all the best.

            For additional general information regarding cancer in companion animals, I would recommend an on-line video published by the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine at the following website: http://partnersah.vet.cornell.edu/node/189.

Dennis Bailey, DVM, DACVIM (Oncology)

Dr. Bailey received his DVM from Cornell University, completed an internship at North Carolina State University, and a residency in Oncology at Cornell University. He is a Diplomate of the ACVIM in Oncology, and he spent the last two years on the clinical faculty of the College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University. Dr. Bailey's professional interests include managing chemotherapy and pain management. He enjoys playing tennis and watching football. (Buffalo Bills). He has two cats, Laverne and Shirley. Dr. Bailey is a consultant for VIN (Veterinary information network).

Question:  For the past few weeks my 13 year old cat has been drinking more water.  She is eating fine but she seems to be getting thinner.  What could be wrong? 

Answer:  There are many illnesses that can cause these symptoms.  Here are a few of the more common ones. 

1.  Diabetes mellitus:  Diabetes causes cats to drink more (frequently a lot more!), urinate more and eat more, but they lose weight despite their great appetite.

2.  Kidney disease:  The first symptom of kidney disease in cats is often excessive thirst.  At first the cat’s appetite may be fine, but eventually the appetite diminishes and they begin to lose weight.

3.  Hyperactive thyroid:  Many cats with an overactive thyroid lose weight even though they are usually eating more than ever, and some cats also drink more than than before.

 4.  Liver disease:  Certain types of liver disease cause increased thirst and weight loss without changing a cat’s appetite.

All of these conditions can potentially be helped, so be sure to take your pet to your veterinarian.  Routine laboratory testing can determine if these diseases are present, and your veterinarian can then discuss how to intervene and help your pet.

Rita Angelo, VMD

Dr. Angelo graduated from the University Of Pennsylvania School Of Veterinary Medicine where she also completed her internship in small animal medicine and surgery. After completion of internship she joined Oradell Animal Hospital as a general practitioner. Dr. Angelo enjoys general medicine and is a senior staff doctor at our Fort Lee, New Jersey office. She also sees appointments at our hospital in Paramus.

Our area is home to two native species of venomous snakes.  Although not as common as nonvenomous species of snakes both can be encountered in the hilly and forested areas of Northern New Jersey. The timber rattlesnake, Crotalus horridus, has jagged brown and black bands on its body and is often found in rocky crevices. Its most distinctive feature is the rattle on the tail, although many non-venomous snakes will mimic the rattlesnake by shaking their tails on leaves and twigs.  The copperhead, Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen, is more difficult to identify from other species of snakes.  It has dark colored hourglass-shaped bands from side to side and highly variable coloration.  Both snakes tend to be reclusive and bite only when threatened.   With their natural hunting instincts, however, dogs and cats may get bitten by trying to play with or kill these snakes.

Once bitten, a pet will experience clinical signs based on the amount of venom injected and the size of the pet.  The toxins in the snake venom can cause a variety of signs including swelling, severe tissue damage, bleeding tendencies, seizures, paralysis, and death.  These signs can take hours to develop. 

If your dog or cat is bitten, do not attempt to capture or kill the snake.  Under New Jersey’s Endangered and Nongame Species Conservation Act, it is illegal to kill, harm, harass or collect any native, non-game wildlife.  Instead, photograph the snake to aid in identification and seek veterinary care immediately.  Try to keep the pet calm and immobile.  Be careful as the bite area may be extremely painful and it may be best to muzzle your pet for your own safety.  Do not attempt to cut over the bite, apply a tourniquet or ice pack the area.  Transport the pet to a veterinary facility where antivenin can be administered and the pet stabilized.  With proper care most pets can survive envenomation, but permanent damage may occur.

Frank C. Boren, DVM

Dr. Boren graduated from the University Of Florida School Of Veterinary Medicine and has remained on the staff of Oradell Animal Hospital since completing an internship here in small animal medicine and surgery. Dr. Boren has a special interest in exotic and zoo animal medicine. He is the veterinarian for the Bergen County Zoo and is consultant for The James A. McFaul Environmental Center in Wyckoff, New Jersey. Dr. Boren sees appointments at Oradell Animal Hospital in Paramus and at our Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey office.

Q: I have a 4 year old female Labrador retriever who weighs 85 lbs.  My veterinarian told me she is overweight and needs to lose over 10 lbs.  What suggestions do you have to help her lose weight?

A: Your Labrador is not alone. More of our pets are becoming overweight or obese.  A recent veterinary survey conducted by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention found that 53% of adult dogs and 55% of cats were classified as overweight or obese by their veterinarian.  Unfortunately, pet owners may not be aware that their pet is overweight nor may they realize the potential health consequences. Pet obesity is associated with several serious and debilitating health conditions including osteoarthritis and diabetes mellitus. It has been shown that overweight dogs have a decreased life span when compared to dogs who maintain a lean body condition.  Reducing weight in overweight arthritic dogs improves mobility. It’s never too late to help your pet achieve a healthy weight.

You have a very good veterinarian who identified this important health condition.  For readers who are unsure if their pet is at an optimal weight, I would encourage you to ask your veterinarian. Your pet should have a waist that can either be seen or felt when viewed from above and you should be able feel her ribs with just a slight fat covering. Find out what your pet weighed last year to see if she has gained weight.  One tip that will help with your dog’s weight loss plan is to determine how many calories she is currently eating.  If you are not already doing so, measure the amount of pet food you are feeding.  You can contact the manufacturer to find out how many calories are in a cup or can of her food.  Treats, chews, and table foods are often a major source of extra calories. All foods have calories and need to be counted in a weight loss plan.  Pet food manufacturers can tell you how many calories are in the treats and rawhide chews that you might be feeding.  The amount of calories in table foods can either be found on the package or researched on-line. As a general guideline, treats, chews, and table foods should not comprise more than 10% of your pet’s total daily calorie intake.  Therefore feeding lower calorie treats such as green beans rather than higher calorie fatty meats or rawhides may help.  Also, give more “non-food” rewards such as a scratch on the head or a quick game of fetch so that the majority of your interactions are not food focused.  Ask your veterinarian to recommend a complete and balanced food that is formulated for weight loss. These diets are specially formulated to deliver all the nutrition your pet needs while consuming fewer calories. Many also have certain nutrients that can help you pet feel full while losing weight.  It’s very important that cats do not lose weight too quickly or they may develop a very serious condition called hepatic lipidosis, so ask your veterinarian for guidance regarding feeding amounts.  The key to successful weight loss is monitoring.  Weigh your pet every 2-4 weeks to make sure she is losing at an appropriate rate.  The amount of calories your individual pet needs to lose weight may be very different from another pet, so the feeding amount will vary from pet to pet.  Your veterinarian can help you develop an appropriate plan for your pet.

Low impact exercise such as walking or swimming can be a great way to burn calories, but ask your veterinarian if you pet has any conditions that might restrict the amount or type of exercise.  Cats may enjoy playing with you by chasing a laser pointer or using an interactive feeding toy so that they can “hunt” for their food.

Helping your pet achieve a healthy weight is one of the most important things you can do for her overall health.  As with diet plans in people, it takes some commitment and determination, but the rewards are well worth the effort. Work with your veterinarian to tailor a plan that will be successful for your pet.

Laura Eirmann, DVM, Diplomate ACVN (Nutrition)

Dr. Eirmann graduated from Cornell University School of Veterinary Medicine and completed an internship at the Animal Medical Center in New York City. She then practiced at Cornell University Companion Animal Hospital where she focused on preventative medicine and routine healthcare. She joined the general medicine staff at Oradell Animal Hospital in 1998 and developed a strong interest in veterinary nutrition. She completed a residency in clinical nutrition under the supervision of veterinary nutritionists at University of Pennsylvania, Tufts University, and Angell Memorial Animal Hospital and became a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Nutrition. She is responsible for overseeing the nutritional support of hospitalized patients at Oradell, consults with Oradell clinicians regarding the nutritional needs of their patients, and provides out patient consultation appointments for clients seeking dietary recommendatons for their healthy or ill pets. Dr. Eirmann also works for Nestle Purina in addition to her part-time clinical appointments at Oradell Animal Hospital. Dr. Eirmann enjoys cooking, hiking and playing with her golden retriever Sprocket.

Why is it important to neuter my cat?

A male cat’s reproductive system has an impact on your own household, as well as society as a whole. There are over 6-8 million homeless animals that enter animal shelters yearly, with over half of these animals being euthanized due to over population, limited space, health concerns, and behavior issues. 

Neutering your cat requires a surgical procedure that excises (removes) the testicles. This surgery is recommended prior to your cat reaching puberty (typically by 6 months of age). There is minimal recovery associated with this procedure, and often the cat leaves the hospital the same day as the surgery. There is usually no bleeding or swelling associated with the operation and pain medicine and antibiotics are rarely indicated once the patient has been discharged from the hospital.

The main reason to neuter your cat is to reduce or eliminate the incidence of objectionable behaviors (roaming, fighting, and urine marking) that are normal in the feline world, but unacceptable in the human world. More than 90% of cats neutered will display a reduced tendency to roam around the neighborhood and fight, with a 60% in reduction of these behaviors immediately after the surgery. Over 90% of neutered cats will also have a reduced tendency of urine marking (spraying urine in inappropriate places), with an approximately 80% reduction in this behavior immediately following surgery. Cats neutered prior to puberty do not develop secondary sex characteristics, including a more muscular body, thickening around the face (shields), and spines on the penis.

Neutering your pet is also highly cost-effective. The cost of surgery for your cat to be neutered is far less than the costs associated with caring for and raising a litter of kittens. It also beats the cost of treatment when your unneutered tom cat escapes and gets into fights with the neighborhood stray! Furthermore, neutering eliminates the risk of developing testicular cancer later in life.

Myth – early neutering is more likely to prevent objectionable behaviors as opposed to those cats neutered at a later age. Regardless of age, the same reduction in behaviors is seen after surgery.

Myth – neutering your cat will make him fat. Lack of exercise and overfeeding will pack on the extra pounds, not neutering. Your cat will remain fit and trim as long as you monitor his caloric intake and provide him with adequate exercise.

Myth – kittens neutered early will be stunted or small. This is not true; however, your kitten will not develop a more masculine appearance.

Myth – early neutered kittens will have a narrowed urethra that will predispose them to a urinary obstruction. There is no proven association with early neutering and feline lower urinary tract disease.

Please be a responsible pet owner. Neutering your cat is the only 100% effective method of birth control.

Theresa Hess, DVM

Dr. Hess received her DVM from the University of Illinois, College of Veterinary Medicine. She completed her undergraduate education at McDaniel College. Dr. Hess has a special interest in small animal surgery. She resides in New Jersey with her two dogs, Blake and Haley. She enjoys the outdoors, sports, reading and art.