My dog has heartworm. Her old vet recommended HeartGuard but for only six months. We used it but she still got heartworm. Now she has to be caged for a very long time.

Vi, loving mom of Zoey, age three.
Wheat Ridge, Colorado

In humans is well documented that physical health and mental health are closely connected. Depressed people are more likely to suffer from a host of illnesses. Illness often makes people depressed. And sick people who have strong social networks or family support get well faster.

Pets, incidentally, provide companionship and support that have been shown by numerous studies to benefit human health, prevent illness, and help sick people grow healthy.

Clinical depression has not yet been defined in dogs. And I am not aware of evidence-based studies that show happiness and mental health therapies are beneficial for dogs with heartworm.

But, as much as I support the concept of evidence-based medicine, I’m going to break away from it on this one. I think it’s clear that happy pets will heal faster than depressed ones.

Along those lines, I encourage families to visit pets that are hospitalized for treatment when I’m working. Being among loved ones motivates individuals to get well.

In Zoey’s case, I do not recommend antidepressants. Instead, focus on developing new, fun routines that won’t interfere with Zoey’s recovery from heartworm. She can’t play ball, but she can still snuggle, sit on the sofa with you while you watch TV, and sit at your feet while you read a book. You can keep her on a leash in the house if necessary. You can hold her on your lap if she’s small enough.

Be creative. One client of mine purchased a child’s bicycle trailer for her dog when canine arthritis made walks in the park impossible. The dog was thrilled to ride along as her owner pedaled her through Golden Gate Park. Just because your dog can’t exercise doesn’t mean she can’t get out and enjoy fresh air and sunshine.

I agree that weight loss needn’t be a priority at this time. However, remember that decreased activity can lead to weight gain. Excess weight stresses the heart. At the very least, try to make sure that Zoey doesn’t gain weight.

As for six month heartworm prevention . . . it is not recommended by the experts. The American Heartworm Society and Companion Animal Parasite Council recommend continuous heartworm prophylaxis in all dogs and cats. So do I.

Share this entry with your pawple anywhere:

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A link to an interesting article by Jacqueline C. Neilson, DVM, DACVB showed up in my inbox the other day. Here is a quote.

Litter preferences probably originated with the domestic cat’s evolutionary predecessor, Felis silvestris lybica, the African wildcat. A desert-dwelling creature, the African wildcat used the desert sand as its toilet, establishing a substrate preference that has apparently persisted throughout the domestication process.

In theory, this makes perfect sense. Cats evolved in a sandy desert, so they’ll generally prefer sandy litters to those made from clay, paper, corn, or synthetic materials. It’s a fine theory.

But, as Homer Simpson pointed out, communism works in theory. So, whenever I catch wind of a theory stating that cats evolved to use sandy litter, or dogs and cats evolved to eat raw food, my reply to the theorizer is put your money where your mouth is. Prove it.

I have little patience for those who throw out these sorts theories without bothering to prove them. Because proving these sorts of theories is very simple to do. In the case of feline litter preferences, all one needs to do is gather a group of cats that will yield statistically significant results, control for confounding factors, and quantitatively measure litter use.

Dr. Neilson has enough letters after her name that I would expect her to back up such a theory with hard evidence. And, of course, she does.

The article reports on several studies in which different types of litter were pitted against each other. Cats would have access to litter boxes that were identical except for the aspect under study. And then:

Excrement deposited in the boxes was collected every two hours during the daytime and in the morning, and the excrement was then counted, weighed, and recorded.

The results: cats generally prefer sandy, clumping litters. They generally prefer litters with less dust. For odor control, they generally prefer activated carbon over sodium bicarbonate (baking soda).

I have two final points to make. First, although the article provides information about cats’ general preferences, individual cats may have markedly different preferences. When choosing a litter, pick one that works best for your cat in your circumstances.

Second, next time you meet someone who says he is a research scientist, be sure to wonder to yourself whether his job involves “counting, weighing, and recording” cat feces.

Photo: Hershey analyzes his choices.

Share this entry with your pawple anywhere:

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