I have two young cats who are three and four years old. At their checkups on Tuesday, I had their bloodwork done just to get an idea of their overall health. The vet I saw said the results were fine.
But their feline specialist called me back to tell me she was concerned about all of their kidney levels.
She said that while they were in the normal range, they were way at the top, looking more like the test results
of 10-year-old cats.

Thanks,
Jenna (mom to Binks and Matilda)
Pacific NW, WA

Based on your description of the situation, I am not convinced that anything is wrong with your cats. And I sincerely doubt that the food you are using is harming them.

Young, healthy cats have very powerful kidneys. As cats age, the kidneys typically weaken. Veterinarians can run a variety of blood and urine tests to assess the function of the kidneys. These tests are extremely valuable. However, it is sometimes tempting to over-interpret their results. This is especially true when the results are in the “normal” range.

I put the word normal in quotes because there is no universally accepted definition of normal test results. When laboratories report test results, they provide a range of values that are considered normal. They determine that range by averaging the results from a large number of apparently healthy animals and applying a statistical formula to determine the highest and lowest values that should regularly be encountered in healthy animals.

This method is not without pitfalls. First, animals that seem healthy but actually aren’t may be included in the sample. Also, because of the statistical method used, some completely healthy animals will have test results that are not in the “normal” range. What this means is that the normal range of values for a test result is a very useful guide, but it is most definitely not the word of God.

I suspect that your cats’ kidneys are not weakening. It is more probable that they are healthy, and their test results simply do not conform to the range that is “normal” for young animals.

The way to sort this out is to repeat the tests periodically, as you are already planning. If the results do not show a continuous, worsening trend, there is probably nothing to worry about.

I also doubt that the diet you are feeding is causing any harm to your pets. Premium cat foods are designed to be easy on the kidneys. And, unless they are contaminated (like the foods affected by the Menu Foods recall), good cat foods should not cause kidney problems.

If you are not comfortable with the food you’re using, there is nothing wrong with switching. For your situation, a low-protein diet will be most effective at preventing weakening of the kidneys. Before you switch, talk to your vet to make sure that the new diet is appropriate for your cats.

However, you may want to wait until the next set of test results are in before switching foods. Those results may show that your worries were unfounded.

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I have a 12-year-old domestic short hair who has a
severe itch on the side of her ears and eyebrows.
She is scratching so much that she is bleeding.
She has had 2 cortisone shots and they did stop
the itching for approximate 5 weeks. I have been
applying baking soda mixed in water which seems to
give her some relief but each time she scratches
the wound starts to bleed since it has not had
time to recover. The vet said it could be an
allergy but to what we do not know. I did change
her food but the result was not the food. Please,
is there anything I can do to help her, she is not
the same cat since the itch began.

Loretta
New York City, NY

When cats or dogs get itchy on their face (or anywhere on their body), allergies often are responsible. Allergies occur when an individual’s immune system reacts inappropriately to a substance (such as pollen, food, or fleas) that the body encounters. In people, the result is watery eyes, sneezing and other symptoms of hay fever. In pets, the result usually is itchy skin.

There are other problems that can lead to the sorts of problems your cat is having. These include ringworm, skin infections, skin trauma, ear mites, and problems with the immune system that are related to, but not exactly the same as allergies.

Your situation sounds very frustrating, both for you and for your cat. This is typical of allergies. Anyone who has ever suffered with bad hay fever can testify to that. Fortunately, there are some steps that might help.

First, if your vet hasn’t already done so, he or she should test for ear mites and ringworm to make sure that they aren’t playing a role. Ear mites usually are hard to miss, but ringworm can be tricky. Ringworm is a fungus that grows in the skin, and it can spread to people. It is important to make sure ringworm is not involved in the problem.

Assuming the tests for ringworm and ear mites come back negative, you have several options. To start, you may want to consider switching diets again. I realize that you have already tried this, but there is a chance that your cat may be allergic to an ingredient that is present in both foods. So you may want to consider another switch, this time to a special hypoallergenic diet that you can get from your vet. It might take 6 - 8 weeks before you notice a difference.

As well, talk to your vet about fleas. I don’t think that fleas are a problem in New York City in January. But you should confirm that there is no chance whatsoever that an occasional flea is biting your cat.

Since your cat has responded to cortisone injections in the past, you may want to consider putting her on oral cortisone. One medicine, called prednisone, is very likely to help your cat. Prednisone has side effects, but if your cat is really suffering, it would be worthwhile to consider it.

If you really want to get to the bottom of what’s happening, consider having your vet biopsy the area. This may be pricey, but it will provide valuable insight into what is happening.

Finally, there is a remote chance that your cat’s itching has become a self-perpetuating cycle. In other words, the itching from scabs healing might be causing your cat to scratch off the scabs, starting the process all over. In that case, placing a cone collar on your cat until her face heals would be helpful. But remember that if she is really itchy, the collar will keep her from scratching and might make her miserable. I would consider this option only as a last resort.

I hope that some of this advice is helpful, and I hope that your cat feels better. But I have to warn you: this sort of problem can be quite difficult to eliminate. You may be fighting this for a while, so please don’t get frustrated.

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Dr. Barchas,

We have a three-month-old Border Collie who EATS rocks (gravel). Our back yard is about 1/3 gravel and that is where we took him to “potty” when we brought him home. He swallows them and then during the night gags and barfs them up. They, of course, are also showing up in his stool. What is the best cure for this? My husband has been raking and shoveling the gravel out, but since it is in the winter some are frozen to the ground or snow covered. The pup manages to find them somehow.

Carla
Emmett, ID

Believe it or not, a lot of dogs like to eat rocks. Unfortunately, it is a very dangerous habit.

If a dog eats a rock that is too big to pass through his intestines, the rock may become lodged inside of him. That is a very serious emergency. The rock will block the flow of food through the intestines, and will cause severe damage to the tissues near the obstruction. Dogs with foreign objects such as rocks lodged inside their intestines may vomit, stop eating, become lethargic, or have a tender abdomen.

In most cases, surgery is the only way to remove foreign objects from the intestinal tract. Without surgery, most dogs do not survive. And this type of surgery is not always successful, especially if the foreign object is in place for several days before anybody realizes something is wrong. Even when the surgery goes as planned and the dog makes a complete recovery, it is very expensive.

So far, your pup has been lucky. He has either vomited or passed all of the rocks he has consumed. But if he continues to eat gravel in the yard, eventually he will swallow a rock that will is too big. Your only option is to stop him from eating any more rocks.

Your husband is doing the right thing by trying to remove all of the gravel from your yard. Until he has successfully removed it all, I recommend that you stay with your dog and supervise him closely while he is in the yard. I realize that it’s not convenient, but it is the only way to prevent him from eating rocks.

There is a chance that your puppy eventually will outgrow the habit of eating rocks. Many do. However, I have known some dogs who have continued to consume rocks, balls, or other foreign objects well into adulthood. These dogs always require extra supervision when there is any risk that they might consume a foreign object. I have several patients who have had three (and counting!) surgeries to remove rocks from their intestines.

So, for as long as your dog exhibits the tendency to consume rocks, you will have to prevent him from having access to them.

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My two-year-old Pekingese has started licking his feet a
lot, mostly just before going to bed at night and
first thing in the morning. I thought they might
be itching and put some oatmeal spray I got from
the vet on them, but has no effect.

My vet isn’t very concerned, but the licking is
somewhat annoying and I’m worried that his paws
are bothering him. What can I do?

Jen
San Francisco / East Bay, CA

I agree that your dog’s feet are probably itching. Licking the feet (especially the tops of the feet) during periods of relaxation or boredom is a common symptom of allergies in dogs.

That may sound strange, since people with allergies usually develop problems with our eyes, nose, and sinuses. Dogs and cats are different. When they have allergies, they usually suffer from itchy skin.

There are three culprits that are responsible for most allergies in dogs. Fleas are by far the most common offender. Environmental allergens such as pollen or mold spores also lead to allergies. And finally, some dogs become itchy if they have an allergic reaction to their food.

When the main symptom of allergies is foot licking without other skin problems, many veterinarians suspect a reaction to pollen is the most likely cause. In theory, dogs walk through grass and foliage, get pollen on their feet, and then react to it. However, if your dog also is allergic to fleas or to his food, that will exacerbate the problem. So I recommend that you try to address the matter from many fronts.

First, even if your dog does not have fleas, use a good flea control product regularly. An occasional flea bite will definitely make your dog itch more.

Second, try not to let pollen build up on his feet. You can cleanse his feet with a cool, moist wash cloth after each walk to physically remove pollen. Make sure you thoroughly dry his feet after each cleansing.

Next, consider using some natural anti-allergy products. Oatmeal sprays work well in some dogs, and if you combine an oatmeal product with the above tips that may help to control the problem. Also, your veterinarian may sell fatty acid supplements (basically, fish oil capsules) that have been shown in studies to strengthen the skin’s resistance to allergic reactions.

Finally, remember that allergies are very frustrating in pets, just like they are in people. It probably won’t be possible to eliminate the licking entirely. Your goal should be to keep him comfortable.

If the basic suggestions I have listed don’t work to your satisfaction, talk to your vet about changing to a hypoallergenic diet, or about medications such as antihistamines that may help with the itching. However, I would be hesitant to use medications without first trying some of the less intrusive tactics listed above.

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