careforcritters

[careforcritters]

I do not understand the argument of not eating honey for “animal welfare” purposes because managed honey bee hives are way more likely to survive than wild honey bees. Especially with the rise of varroa mites, which is ubiquitous in almost every country, colonies struggle to survive for more than a few years on their own (Colony collapse disorder has mostly been accredited to varroa now, I highly recommend you look into it if you’re interested in bees!). Honey bee rearing is very minimally invasive and for the most part they are left to perform their natural behaviors. Honey bees account for half the pollination in the US. They aren’t native, but they also aren’t outcompeting native pollinators. We are in a pollinator deficit. There aren’t finite pollination resources, it’s the monoculture, herbicides, and pesticides that are hurting pollinator’s natural diets. Also, a lot of native pollinators are specialists, and the loss or decline of their specific plant of choice is what is causing their downfall.

If you are against consuming honey for moral reasons (which is wild because the harvesting of honey doesn’t hurt the bees. You just remove the frames with honey are harvest them, the bees aren’t affected by this at all. Also bee keepers supplement the colony with sugar water and pollen so that they never lack for nutrition), you should be against consuming almonds. The biggest pollination event in the US is when thousands of bee colonies are shipped to California to pollinate almond tree fields in mass. While migratory pollination is super important for 75% of the crops, shipping and disorienting entire colonies and then forcing them out of the fields suddenly by spraying tons of pesticides and fungicides is definitely more of a welfare concern than honey production. Support your local bee keepers, they are doing a lot for the environment.

#beekeeping #honey bees #this isn’t meant to be an attack on vegans either just please do some research before spreading misinformation

[careforcritters]

I can’t tell you how much I love this artwork from ancient Egypt (the Middle Kingdom). People have been raising cattle and practicing animal husbandry for so long, that there is something almost inherently human about this scene.

Everyone in the field of veterinary medicine or agriculture knows the feeling of staying up late with a laboring animal trying to make sure both mom and baby are okay. Delivering a calf is often physically and emotionally exhausting work that takes enormous patience and learned skill. It requires a unique balance of physical strength and gentleness to do correctly. There is no feeling quite like getting that baby out and everyone is okay. I’m certain ancient people must have felt the same way, and I wonder if the artist knew this feeling firsthand. I wonder if those humans depicted were people the artist knew, if the cow and calf maybe were as well.

[careforcritters]

Vet Med in Warrior Cats: Respiratory part 2: Nasal Disease (What’s up with Runningnose?)

disclaimer

Runningnose is a shadowclan medicine cat introduced in The Prophecies Begin. The other cats often joke that he is “a medicine cat who can’t even cure his own cold”. One possible explanation for his frequently runny nose is that he may have lymphocytic-plasmacytic rhinitis (LP rhinitis). This is an immune mediated disease that could be caused by frequent irritation, allergies, or a previous nasal infection, but the definitive cause is unknown. Cats with this disorder have frequent nasal discharge and sneezing and a reduced appetite, but no systemic symptoms. LP rhinitis can’t be treated with antimicrobials. Since it is an immune mediated disease, it can only be managed by drugs that modulate the body’s immune response (which is an explanation for why Runningnose could not cure his running nose). In a veterinary clinic, cats with LP rhinitis would be given steroids such as prednisolone or cyclosporine. Antibiotics like azithromycin are needed only if there is a secondary bacterial infection present. Other management practices like humidifying the air and avoiding airway irritants like dust and smoke can help reduce the severity of disease. Unfortunately Runningnose wouldn’t have much control over that. 

Another possible, but less likely cause, for Runningnose’s ailment is nasopharyngeal polyps. Polyps are benign, granulomatous masses that begin growing in the auditory tube and can travel down to the nose and throat. Polyps cause mucoid nasal discharge, but they can also cause more serious signs as they grow, such as difficulty swallowing, change in vocal sounds, and a respiratory noise called “stertor”, which is low pitched snoring sound during expiration caused by partial obstruction of the airway. Because of this, polyps can become deadly if not treated. In a veterinary office, a polyp can be easily identified and removed using gentle traction under general anesthesia. Provided a cat would be able to reach its paw into another cat’s mouth and retract the soft palate, they may be able to remove a polyp by hooking its claw onto the base of the polyp and pulling slowly and gently. Anesthesia would be preferred, but since these cats remove limbs with no sedation this wouldn’t be as painful.

Cryptococcus is a fungus that causes granulomatous disease in cats. Clinical signs of crypto include mucoid or hemorrhagic (bloody) nasal discharge and sneezing, and sometimes a “roman nose” facial deformity (which is basically a bump along the bridge of the nose due to the space occupying granulomatous mass in the nasal cavity). Crypto is treated by removing the fungal plaques and giving antifungal medication, usually fluconazole. 

Finally, another option for Runningnose’s runny nose is Feline Herpes Virus. I covered FHV in the first respiratory section, but essentially Herpes is basically ubiquitous in feral cat populations. Adult cats that become infected usually aren’t seriously ill or have lower airway signs, however the virus damages the upper respiratory tract which can allow for secondary bacterial invaders to cause more serious illness. The most common clinical signs include mucopurulent nasal and ocular discharge, sneezing, nasal congestion, conjunctivitis, and ocular ulcers. Runningnose is described as having “rheumy” eyes in The Ultimate Guide (2013), which could be taken to mean that he has ocular discharge. FHV is relatively self limiting and will resolve on its own without treatment, however the virus remains latent in the trigeminal ganglia and other peripheral neurons, meaning that when a cat becomes infected they stay infected for life. Usually, this doesn’t cause problems. However, when a cat is stressed, Herpes will recrudesce and cause the cat to show symptoms and shed the virus. If Runningnose is constantly very stressed (which is pretty believable) it is possible that his Herpes infection is always relapsing. Poor thing. 

sources

https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/cornell-feline-health-center/health-information/feline-health-topics/nasopharyngeal-polyps

https://www.merckvetmanual.com/respiratory-system/respiratory-diseases-of-small-animals/rhinitis-and-sinusitis-in-dogs-and-cats

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8066322/

https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4951824

#Hello I'm here the night before a test again #I will probably redo the first respiratory section because I know I missed/got some things wrong #And there will probably be a third resp section... #warriors #vet med in warrior cats #warrior cats

[careforcritters]

Hello! I will write more vet med in warrior cats eventually (sorry for the super long gaps), but I thought it might be helpful to writers to have a list of feline diseases and conditions! This comes from the international council for veterinary assessment (The organization that writes our licensing exam), so it's not exhaustive but it is the most important/common diseases. For research purposes I highly recommend Merck vet manual (https://www.merckvetmanual.com/). They have up to date info on almost everything on this list.

#warrior cats #vet med #sorry tumblr murdered the quality it's clearer if you click on it

[careforcritters]

Vet Med in Warrior Cats: Reproduction and Theriogenology

Disclaimer

Additional disclaimer for this one: I fully understand why a lot of these issues were not addressed in the series since it is written for children, but I still think the topic is interesting and that some concepts, especially those involving kitting, could have been more accurate.

Cats are seasonally polyestrous long day breeders, meaning that the females only cycle reproductively in the spring and experience multiple heat cycles every breeding cycle. Estrous cycles occur when the females are exposed to over 14 hours of light every day, so depending on the climate that they are in, cats are only able to become pregnant in the spring and fall. A queen’s gestation period (the time that they spend pregnant) is 2 months, so queens can have their kits from about late spring to early fall. The location of warriors is never confirmed, but it is presumed to be in England or the UK since that is where the authors are based, and since it snows every winter. With a colder, darker climate, this breeding season is even shorter. Queens in warriors are shown to have their kits at any time of year, even in the dead of winter. It is possible for some females, especially short haired breeds, to be able to cycle year-round, but not common. Narratively it makes sense to spread the litters out, but realistically the clans would have most of their kittens in the summer and fall. 

Cats are also induced ovulators, which means that ovulation is triggered by and occurs about 24-48 hours after mating. Females need to be in estrus to allow mating, but the induced ovulation makes it very likely that pregnancy will result from mating. Females may also mate with multiple males over the span of a few days, meaning that one litter can have multiple fathers. This is not something we would see in warriors since there is an unspoken societal standard of monogamy. 

Pregnant cats require almost double their normal nutrient intake in the second half of gestation, and even more while nursing. Taurine deficiency can cause pregnancy loss, as well as malnutrition in general. It would not be uncommon for a queen to lose her pregnancy if prey is scarce in her clan. There are several infectious causes of pregnancy loss, including feline herpes, FIV, FIP, feline panleukemia, toxoplasma gondii, and other bacterial infections of the reproductive tract. Many of these diseases, especially feline herpesvirus, are extremely common in feral cat populations. Early, undetected embryonic loss from these diseases could be a reason for why female cats in warriors are not pregnant as often as real life feral cats, but that is unlikely. Cats in warriors seem to be able to plan when they become pregnant (except when it's a secret forbidden romance of course), and I have no explanation for why that could be. Unless the medicine cats discovered an herb that can act as contraception (progestagens, dexamethasone (a gluccocorticoid) and dopamine agonists can all be used in companion animals as temporary contraception, but they all have moderate systemic side effects). 

At the start of parturition (birthing), queens become restless, pace, and nest. Once uterine contractions begin, the “water breaks” and a kitten should be delivered every 3 to 5 minutes. This entire process can take anywhere from 4 to 42 hours, with the average being about 16 hours. It’s unclear how much time the birthing process takes in warrior cats, but it usually seems to be much faster than this. In Bluestar’s Prophecy, when Leopardfoot has been kitting for “most of the afternoon” and then into the night, this is implied to be an abnormally long amount of time. 

Dystocia (complications with pregnancy) are pretty rare in cats. The most common cause is primary uterine inertia, which is when the queen is unable to begin uterine contractions. This would be treated with oxytocin in a veterinary clinic to induce contractions. Borage is stated to be used to help with milk let down and may work to stimulate oxytocin since oxytocin is also used to stimulate milk letdown. The other common causes of dystocia are uterine torsion and oversized fetuses, both of which would require a C-section to correct. 

When Sorreltail is kitting in The Forgotten Warrior, she is described to be in pain and having trouble passing the kits. Jayfeather gives her chervil root to help, so it is implied to be either something to give Sorreltail strength or to help with uterine contractions. Several sources said that chervil can be useful for cough, eczema, and even abscesses, but there was no indication that it could be useful during childbirth. 

Leopardfoot is also described to have a long, painful kitting in Bluestar’s Prophecy. Featherwhisker gives her raspberry leaves. Raspberry leaves have been shown to benefit with strengthening uterine tone and facilitating contractions, so this herb would be more useful than chervil root. Two of Leopardfoot’s kits die young because she kitted two weeks too early. This is called “fading” and occurs because the kits were not able to thermoregulate or breathe properly. Premature kits are less likely to be developed properly, and may be lacking in reflexes such as suckling that would have helped them to acquire sufficient nutrients and immune-boosting milk (colostrum). 

In Crookedstar’s Promise, Brightsky delivered 3 stillborn kits followed by one surviving kit, and then died. Brightsky had been sick not long before her kitting and was described to still be weak from her illness. Brightsky likely was sick with a virus that causes late term abortion, like herpes, FIV, or panleukemia. While it is possible for a cat to abort some fetuses and still deliver other fetuses to term, it’s not common, especially this late into the pregnancy. I honestly was not able to find the most concrete information on this, but it is feasible for Leapordkit to have survived. As for Brightsky, she likely died because the three stillborn fetuses mummified inside of her, causing her to develop an infection. If this were true, she would have had dark or purulent vaginal discharge and had abdominal pain even before her kitting.

Silverstream also died from dystocia after delivering her kits in Forest of Secrets. She is described to have powerful spasms that slowly got weaker, which sounds like secondary uterine inertia (when the queen is too exhausted to continue contractions). Since she only had two small kits and fetal malpositioning is rare in cats, there might have been some sort of obstruction to the birth canal. In later books, Silverstream was described to have been “blood soaked”. Possible causes of hemorrhage during birthing could be uterine vessel tearing, uterine rupture, or uterine torsion. Uterine torsion would cause an obstruction to the birth canal and would require emergency surgery. The likelihood of Featherkit and Stormkit surviving would have been very low without the ability to intervene and there are no reported cases of a uterine torsion resolving without surgery. It is most likely that Silverstream experienced uterine rupture due to the stress of contractions.

There are several other common reproductive issues that do not appear in warriors. Mammary hyperplasia is the spontaneous overgrowth of mammary tissue in intact female (and sometimes male) cats. This condition usually spontaneously regresses, but it can be confused with mammary neoplasia. Mastitis is the bacterial infection of mammary glands after parturition. This condition is not only painful and dangerous for the queen, but can cause the kits to fail to thrive. This would be treated with antibiotics, warm compresses, and milk replacer for the kittens in a veterinary clinic. Cystic endometrial hyperplasia is a degenerative condition mediated by a hormone called progesterone. Too much progesterone causes the endometrial glands to proliferate and over-secrete hormones, making the uterus an ideal environment for bacteria and leading to pyometra (bacterial infection of the uterus). Depending on if the cervix is open or closed, the queen will either have purulent vaginal discharge or the pus will build up in the uterus. While a closed cervix is more dangerous, both will cause the cat to feel extremely sick, vomit, run a fever, and experience renal dysfunction. A pyometra can quickly develop into a systemic condition, so emergency ovariohysterectomy is required to save the cat's life.

Sources:

BSVA Manual of Canine and Feline Reproduction and Neonatology. Gary England and A. von Heimendahl, 2nd Ed, 2011

L. Ari Jutkowitz, Reproductive emergencies, Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice, Volume 35, Issue 2, 2005

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/2055116917726228

https://www.merckvetmanual.com/reproductive-system/reproductive-diseases-of-the-female-small-animal/dystocia-in-small-animals

https://www.rxlist.com/chervil/supplements.htm

https://healthyfocus.org/health-benefits-of-chervil/

https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/top-9-health-benefits-of-raspberry-leaf-tea

#I have a therio test tomorrow and spent almost 4 hours on this because priorities right? #vet med #vet med in warrior cats #warrior cats #warriors

[careforcritters]

Vet Med in Warrior Cats: Oncology (Cancer)

Disclaimer

Pebblefur, a Windclan deputy who appears in Code of the Clans, was stated to have died from a “strange, agonizing lump in his belly”. Shellheart, a former Riverclan deputy and father to Crookedstar, was also stated to have a similar painful lump in his abdomen, which caused him to retire and is suspected to be the cause of his death. The medicine cat in Crookedstar’s Promise, Brambleberry, stated that she had seen this condition before and that cats who suffer from it never get better. Ravenpaw has this same condition in Ravenpaw’s Farewell, which leads to his death.

These cats are likely suffering from a form of gastrointestinal cancer, and the most common presentation of GI cancer in cats is small intestinal lymphoma. Signs of intestinal cancer include vomiting, inappetence, diarrhea, and weight loss. While vomiting and diarrhea were not mentioned in the books, Shellheart and Ravenpaw both appear to be suffering from pain and gradual weight loss. Intestinal tumors can also lead to perforation, which would cause death fairly rapidly. Most lymphomas are small cell, which is a low grade lymphoma, and has a slow onset and progression of clinical signs. This is consistent with the three cats in warriors who were seen to have cancer, as Shellheart and Ravenpaw both knew that they were dying as their pain slowly got worse. 

In a veterinary clinic or hospital, small intestinal lymphoma would be diagnosed with a combination of histopathology, immunohistochemistry, and PCR for Antigen Receptor Rearrangement. It would be treated with a combination of chlorambucil (a chemotherapy drug) and prednisolone (an anti-inflammatory). Expected survival time is about two years with treatment. Medicine cats would have no way to know what the cause of the symptoms was, and would have no treatments for it even if they did. The best that they can do is to provide supportive care and try and ease their pain until death.

In the novella Cloudstar’s Journey, Petalfall is described as having periodic seizures and progressive weakness after suffering from an illness. As the prey grows scarce in Skyclan, she eats less and becomes weaker and has more frequent seizures until she passes. It is possible that Petalfall could have had a tumor in her brain since they can cause seizures, but this is never confirmed. Since the seizures were noted to have started after Petalfall fell ill, she is more likely to be suffering from meningitis or encephalitis after the infection spread to her nervous system. This topic will be covered in the neurology section. 

Other common cancers in cats that are not seen in warriors include squamous cell carcinoma of the mouth, skin, and nose, fibrosarcomas in skeletal muscles, and mammary tumors in intact females. All of these tumors could be visible in later stages without imaging or surgery, but none of them appear to be mentioned in the series. As stated before, medicine cats don’t have diagnostic or treatment options for any type of cancer. One explanation for this is that the warriors’ lifespans are shorter than most domestic cats and that many characters die of other causes before reaching an advanced age. However, since they live outside, have near constant sun exposure, and none of them are spayed or neutered, I would expect a much higher rate of squamous cell carcinoma (especially in pink skinned cats) and mammary gland tumors.

sources:

Gieger T. Alimentary lymphoma in cats and dogs. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract. 2011 Mar;41(2):419-32. doi: 10.1016/j.cvsm.2011.02.001. PMID: 21486644

Withrow and MacEwen’s Small Animal Clinical Oncology

#warrior cats #veterinary medicine #oncology #Inspired by today's lecture in GI tumors (This counts as studying right?) #vet med in warrior cats #warriors

[careforcritters]

Very important addition from @mycatrunsthisvetblr​. You are so right thank you for saying that.

Vet Med in Warrior Cats: Whitecough, Greencough, and Yellowcough

Disclaimer

The two main respiratory infections in the warriors series are whitecough and greencough. Whitecough is less severe and can progress to greencough, which has worse symptoms and a graver prognosis. Vicky Holmes states in the 3rd Erin Hunter chat that whitecough is similar to a cough (likely an upper respiratory infection) and greencough is pneumonia (lower respiratory infection), but the specific diseases that each of these coughs represent is never mentioned. The name “greencough” comes from the green fluid that cats cough up when they are affected, whereas cats with whitecough are stated to cough up clear (serous) fluid. A third respiratory disease, yellow cough, makes an appearance in the A Vision of Shadows series. The disease presents similarly to greencough but does not respond to catmint.

There is no way to tell which pathogens each of these diseases might be caused by because the symptoms of each pathogen are very similar, so they are likely caused by several different pathogens and/or combinations. Feline respiratory disease complex (FRDC) is a major cause of upper respiratory infections in cats and is caused by any of the following pathogens, alone or in combination: feline herpes virus (FVR), feline calicivirus (FCV), mycoplasma felis, and chlamydia felis. Bartonella henselae and Bordetella bronchiseptica can also contribute to symptoms. FVR and FCV specifically cause 80-90% of the respiratory disease that is observed in cats. These pathogens are spread by respiratory droplets, direct contact with infected cats, or contact with fomites (objects that have come into contact with the pathogen). Previously infected cats can carry and spread FVR or FCV without showing clinical signs. Acute signs include fever, sneezing, nasal discharge, conjunctivitis, and rhinitis. “Coughing” is not a symptom of respiratory infections in cats, but it is frequently mentioned in Warriors. Cats cough when affected by a lower respiratory infection, laryngeal infection, allergies, or heartworms, but rarely cough as a result of an upper respiratory infection. Symptoms are often more severe in very old and very young cats, which is consistent with the books since kits and elders die the most often from whitecough or greencough. Cats that have respiratory infections in warriors are often shown to refuse food, which is consistent with findings that sick and/or feverish animals are often anorexic. Calicivirus causes painful lesions in the mouth, which can also contribute to cats refusing to eat. 

FRDC is generally self limiting and resolves itself in 5-10 days in mild cases, but can take up to 6 weeks to resolve completely in more severe cases. Because of this, mild to moderate respiratory infections could be treated with just supportive care. Medicine cats do this by providing food, water, and rest to infected cats, which is why most cases of whitecough or other nondescript respiratory diseases are resolved in the series. The bigger issue is when there are more severe cases or cases that have ocular involvement. 

Ocular involvement can result from almost any respiratory disease causing agent, and can range from discharge to severe conjunctivitis, ulcers, and even globe rupture. Conjunctivitis and other ocular symptoms of respiratory disease are never mentioned in Warriors besides some mild tearing. I will be talking about this issue more in an ocular section later on, as it connects to some broader issues. 

To treat more severe cases of respiratory disease, veterinarians often use antivirals, antibiotics, and/or antifungal depending on the pathogens present. Supportive care should also be provided, in addition to feeding tubes and/or treatment of corneal ulcers if necessary. Medicine cats provide supportive care to their patients by providing them with food, water, and warm, dry bedding. For many cases of respiratory disease, this should be enough to help the cat survive since disease is usually self limiting and will resolve with time. A variety of herbs are used in Warriors to treat respiratory infections, but the most notable is catmint. Catmint is also known as catnip, and it is famously known to have psychological effects on cats by acting first as a stimulant from the smell and then a sedative from ingestion. While its effects mimic pheromones, which can be calming, there is no evidence that catmint can be used to combat respiratory disease. Catnip can also be toxic in large doses, causing nausea and vomiting. Cats also become slowly more resistant to its effects with repeated use. Chickweed and Hawkweed are both less effective treatments for greencough. Chickweed has been shown to have some antimicrobial properties, though it is most effective against salmonella and E.coli, both of which are not respiratory pathogens. Hawkweed has been used in some European countries to ease respiratory disease and asthma symptoms, but there has not been research on this. In Long Shadows, tansy is introduced as a way to prevent whitecough from progressing to greencough. Though tansy has been used for various medical issues in humans, it has never been reported to be used for respiratory disease. Coltsfoot is an herb that eases breathing, so it is commonly used for respiratory distress. Coltsfoot was historically used for coughs and respiratory distress in people, and recent studies have proved its efficacy in reducing lung inflammation. Brighteye and lovage are also mentioned briefly in Mistystar’s Omen as another treatment for coughing. These two herbs have been shown to improve symptoms of respiratory disease and allergies in humans, but have not been researched sufficiently. Lungwort is the herb that is presented to Puddleshine by Starclan to treat the emergent yellowcough epidemic in Shadowclan. Lungwort has been used to ease tuberculosis and asthma in humans, but again, there is no substantial research to back this. In addition, Birchsap is briefly mentioned as another possible treatment for yellowcough, but it’s not seen being used in the books. Birchsap traditionally has various medical and cosmetic uses in some cultures, but no research has been done to prove its efficacy. 

Overall, the Warriors series gives a fairly accurate depiction of respiratory illness while leaving out some crucial details. The omittance of any ocular involvement, especially in young kittens where it is most prevalent, is a large oversight. The description of the disease process is mostly accurate, however coughing is not as common of a symptom as nasal discharge and rhinitis. Cats in feral colonies are often carrying these diseases without actively showing symptoms, which is why bouts of whitecough can appear suddenly in a clan (especially in times of stress and poor nutrition such as leafbare, which would suppress the cat’s immune responses). As far as treatment goes, medicine cats are providing adequate care to most cats but simply taking care of their basic needs. In more severe cases, medicine is needed. While none of the herbs listed can effectively mimic an antibiotic or antiviral, hawkweed, coltsfoot, brighteye, lovage, and lungwort seem like the most accurate treatments for infection used in the books. Coltsfoot specifically has the most evidence for easing respiratory symptoms, and would be beneficial for medicine cats to use in moderate to severe cases of respiratory disease.

Sources:

https://www.merckvetmanual.com/respiratory-system/respiratory-diseases-of-small-animals/feline-respiratory-disease-complex?query=feline%20respiratory%20disease

https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/cornell-feline-health-center/health-information/feline-health-topics/respiratory-infections 

https://vetmed.tamu.edu/news/pet-talk/feline-fine-the-benefits-of-catnip/ 

https://botanicalinstitute.org/eyebright/

https://botanicalinstitute.org/chickweed/ 

https://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/h/hawmou08.html

https://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/t/tansy-05.html 

https://dsps.lib.uiowa.edu/roots/coltsfoot/ 

https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/plant-of-the-week/lobaria_pulmonaria.shtml

[careforcritters]

My really good and normal class notes

#vetblr #study notes

[careforcritters]

Why are the people you'd expect to own scary pitbulls the only responsible pitbull owners

#Every scary dog I’ve met has been a fancy pure bred with poor training and not enough stimulation #Most pit bulls are lovely 💖

[careforcritters]

I am too tired to make a full, thought out post on the subject so here’s a quickly written PSA.

Your cat(s) having a litterbox arrangement that is appealing to them and comfortable to use is not just a matter of hygiene or convenience it is a legitimate health concern.

If you have to remove or stop scooping your current litterboxes in order to force your cat to use the new one that is a problem.

Your cat does not care if you were dumb enough to spend $500+ on a mechanical shitter. Your cat just wants to feel comfortable and secure during the vulnerable moments when they’re eliminating.

Inappropriate, unappealing or unsanitary litterbox conditions cause stress. This will cause your cat to try and avoid using the litterbox. This can result in idiopathic cystitis and (in male cats) potentially fatal urinary blockages or other lower urinary tract disease.

[careforcritters]

As summer is approaching, I’d like to share this bird-friendly beach etiquette reminder. A lot of people let their dogs roam freely on the beach, but dogs that chase wildlife can have a detrimental effect on the animals that have no choice but to share the shoreline with us. Please enjoy the summer with your pets and make sure to give wild animals plenty of space!

[careforcritters]

Dragon Injury Reference

[More like speculation than ‘reference,’ but i did research for this. I always recommend doing your own research, too]

WINGS [Specifically webbed/bat wings] - Wings are FULL of blood vessels, and will probably bleed a surprising amount if cut or punctured. These sorts of injuries heal can without much treatment, even if a large amount of the wing membrane is missing - Fractures of the wing should be splinted, and put into a wing wrap/sling - A dragon missing a wing wouldn’t be able to fly again, except with an extremely advanced prosthetic. Lots of small movements. Also having to get used to the weight difference -An aesthetic prosthetic could still be used to combat lopsided-ness, but would be bigger and more unwieldy than other sorts of prosthetics

MISSING LIMBS - A three-legged dragon would be able to walk and run normally, once they get used to the shifted centre of mass and balancing on only three legs - Arthritis IS more common because of the extra pressure on the remaining joints. Would be worse for heavier dragons - Wings could probably be used to balance/support body, if they’re large enough to touch the ground - Missing just the tip of the tail probably wouldn’t affect much, but larger portions WOULD as that’s a lot of body mass to suddenly lose - Tails also help with balance when running and steering when flying, so a dragon might trouble getting used to the difference

HORNS - Horns are have a core of bone covered with a sheath of keratin, and never shed. They are difference from antlers, which are pure bone and do shed. - The tip of a horn is solid keratin, and will not bleed. Could be sanded or filed down for aesthetic purposes, but otherwise not a big concern - Closer to the base WILL bleed, and should be treated accordingly. - Horns will regrow over several months or a year, but closer to the base they may not regrow at all. Deformation upon regrowing is also common

MISC - Some reptiles can get Metabolic Bone Disease [MBD] from lack of sunlight/uvb.  This causes the bones to weaken, which increases the likelihood of fractures and can make the legs/tail/spine crooked, among other things. In WoF specifically, I head-canon Rainwings, Leafwings, and Sandwings are susceptible to this. - Scales over a healed injury may be smaller and irregular. Also takes a little bit for the scales to grow back in the first place - running out of juice for this but. something something infection of whatever organ produces fire/breath weapon. Think that’d be neat.

[careforcritters]

This is happening fast. Cats generally only survive 24 hours from symptom-onset.

Symptoms are hyperglycemia, stupor, limb stiffness, difficulty breathing, pupils with different widths, unresponsive pupils, seizures, and hypoalkemia.

It's unknown how many of the deaths ARE bird-flu but please be vigilant. So far it seems restricted to Poland.

Here's is another article; it was originally in Polish but google translate has provided a rough translation into English.

[careforcritters]

Someone working at this animal shelter is a warriors fan

[careforcritters]

Vet Med in Warrior Cats: Whitecough, Greencough, and Yellowcough

Disclaimer

The two main respiratory infections in the warriors series are whitecough and greencough. Whitecough is less severe and can progress to greencough, which has worse symptoms and a graver prognosis. Vicky Holmes states in the 3rd Erin Hunter chat that whitecough is similar to a cough (likely an upper respiratory infection) and greencough is pneumonia (lower respiratory infection), but the specific diseases that each of these coughs represent is never mentioned. The name “greencough” comes from the green fluid that cats cough up when they are affected, whereas cats with whitecough are stated to cough up clear (serous) fluid. A third respiratory disease, yellow cough, makes an appearance in the A Vision of Shadows series. The disease presents similarly to greencough but does not respond to catmint.

There is no way to tell which pathogens each of these diseases might be caused by because the symptoms of each pathogen are very similar, so they are likely caused by several different pathogens and/or combinations. Feline respiratory disease complex (FRDC) is a major cause of upper respiratory infections in cats and is caused by any of the following pathogens, alone or in combination: feline herpes virus (FVR), feline calicivirus (FCV), mycoplasma felis, and chlamydia felis. Bartonella henselae and Bordetella bronchiseptica can also contribute to symptoms. FVR and FCV specifically cause 80-90% of the respiratory disease that is observed in cats. These pathogens are spread by respiratory droplets, direct contact with infected cats, or contact with fomites (objects that have come into contact with the pathogen). Previously infected cats can carry and spread FVR or FCV without showing clinical signs. Acute signs include fever, sneezing, nasal discharge, conjunctivitis, and rhinitis. “Coughing” is not a symptom of respiratory infections in cats, but it is frequently mentioned in Warriors. Cats cough when affected by a lower respiratory infection, laryngeal infection, allergies, or heartworms, but rarely cough as a result of an upper respiratory infection. Symptoms are often more severe in very old and very young cats, which is consistent with the books since kits and elders die the most often from whitecough or greencough. Cats that have respiratory infections in warriors are often shown to refuse food, which is consistent with findings that sick and/or feverish animals are often anorexic. Calicivirus causes painful lesions in the mouth, which can also contribute to cats refusing to eat. 

FRDC is generally self limiting and resolves itself in 5-10 days in mild cases, but can take up to 6 weeks to resolve completely in more severe cases. Because of this, mild to moderate respiratory infections could be treated with just supportive care. Medicine cats do this by providing food, water, and rest to infected cats, which is why most cases of whitecough or other nondescript respiratory diseases are resolved in the series. The bigger issue is when there are more severe cases or cases that have ocular involvement. 

Ocular involvement can result from almost any respiratory disease causing agent, and can range from discharge to severe conjunctivitis, ulcers, and even globe rupture. Conjunctivitis and other ocular symptoms of respiratory disease are never mentioned in Warriors besides some mild tearing. I will be talking about this issue more in an ocular section later on, as it connects to some broader issues. 

To treat more severe cases of respiratory disease, veterinarians often use antivirals, antibiotics, and/or antifungal depending on the pathogens present. Supportive care should also be provided, in addition to feeding tubes and/or treatment of corneal ulcers if necessary. Medicine cats provide supportive care to their patients by providing them with food, water, and warm, dry bedding. For many cases of respiratory disease, this should be enough to help the cat survive since disease is usually self limiting and will resolve with time. A variety of herbs are used in Warriors to treat respiratory infections, but the most notable is catmint. Catmint is also known as catnip, and it is famously known to have psychological effects on cats by acting first as a stimulant from the smell and then a sedative from ingestion. While its effects mimic pheromones, which can be calming, there is no evidence that catmint can be used to combat respiratory disease. Catnip can also be toxic in large doses, causing nausea and vomiting. Cats also become slowly more resistant to its effects with repeated use. Chickweed and Hawkweed are both less effective treatments for greencough. Chickweed has been shown to have some antimicrobial properties, though it is most effective against salmonella and E.coli, both of which are not respiratory pathogens. Hawkweed has been used in some European countries to ease respiratory disease and asthma symptoms, but there has not been research on this. In Long Shadows, tansy is introduced as a way to prevent whitecough from progressing to greencough. Though tansy has been used for various medical issues in humans, it has never been reported to be used for respiratory disease. Coltsfoot is an herb that eases breathing, so it is commonly used for respiratory distress. Coltsfoot was historically used for coughs and respiratory distress in people, and recent studies have proved its efficacy in reducing lung inflammation. Brighteye and lovage are also mentioned briefly in Mistystar’s Omen as another treatment for coughing. These two herbs have been shown to improve symptoms of respiratory disease and allergies in humans, but have not been researched sufficiently. Lungwort is the herb that is presented to Puddleshine by Starclan to treat the emergent yellowcough epidemic in Shadowclan. Lungwort has been used to ease tuberculosis and asthma in humans, but again, there is no substantial research to back this. In addition, Birchsap is briefly mentioned as another possible treatment for yellowcough, but it’s not seen being used in the books. Birchsap traditionally has various medical and cosmetic uses in some cultures, but no research has been done to prove its efficacy. 

Overall, the Warriors series gives a fairly accurate depiction of respiratory illness while leaving out some crucial details. The omittance of any ocular involvement, especially in young kittens where it is most prevalent, is a large oversight. The description of the disease process is mostly accurate, however coughing is not as common of a symptom as nasal discharge and rhinitis. Cats in feral colonies are often carrying these diseases without actively showing symptoms, which is why bouts of whitecough can appear suddenly in a clan (especially in times of stress and poor nutrition such as leafbare, which would suppress the cat’s immune responses). As far as treatment goes, medicine cats are providing adequate care to most cats but simply taking care of their basic needs. In more severe cases, medicine is needed. While none of the herbs listed can effectively mimic an antibiotic or antiviral, hawkweed, coltsfoot, brighteye, lovage, and lungwort seem like the most accurate treatments for infection used in the books. Coltsfoot specifically has the most evidence for easing respiratory symptoms, and would be beneficial for medicine cats to use in moderate to severe cases of respiratory disease.

Sources:

https://www.merckvetmanual.com/respiratory-system/respiratory-diseases-of-small-animals/feline-respiratory-disease-complex?query=feline%20respiratory%20disease

https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/cornell-feline-health-center/health-information/feline-health-topics/respiratory-infections 

https://vetmed.tamu.edu/news/pet-talk/feline-fine-the-benefits-of-catnip/ 

https://botanicalinstitute.org/eyebright/

https://botanicalinstitute.org/chickweed/ 

https://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/h/hawmou08.html

https://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/t/tansy-05.html 

https://dsps.lib.uiowa.edu/roots/coltsfoot/ 

https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/plant-of-the-week/lobaria_pulmonaria.shtml

#Vet med in warrior cats #vet med #warriors #warrior cats #long post #sorry to start off with an entire research paper but I think this one will be the longest section

[careforcritters]

Vet Med in Warrior Cats: DISCLAIMER

None of this information should be used as medical advice! Any concerns about cat health should be addressed with a licensed veterinarian! 

I am aware that this is a fantasy book series written for children, and that the accuracy of medical information in warrior cats books is not vital to the story telling. This is simply a fun thought experiment combining two of my interests. I am a third year veterinary student (not a fully licensed vet) and a long time fan of warrior cats. While I am showing any sources that I referenced, some of the knowledge is coming from my classes, notes, consulting with classmates, and/or previous experiences. I will attempt to cite specific books for the warriors information as well, however much of the information also comes from memory and/or the warrior cats wiki. That being said, if I get anything wrong please feel free to correct me. I am not trying to make definitive statements about what is correct or incorrect, I am just comparing the cannon of warrior cats to current medical knowledge and studies. When researching herbs especially, it was hard to find resources besides blog posts, so I am going off of whatever sources seems the most reliable. Thanks :)

[careforcritters]

I really want to make a master post of all the health related stuff in warrior cats and talk about it’s accuracy… has that been done before?

UPDATE: I'm working on it and will be posting it in sections! It may take a while for me to complete entirely :)

#warrior cats #they all have herpes for sure