Sometimes they’ll yelp, or limp, but other times it just looks bent or dislocated. There may even be a little bleeding. What do you do?

The dog’s nail in the picture above is a good example. His owner was told it was fine to wait for it to fix itself, but after several days she wasn’t so sure.

Will A Broken Nail Heal On Its Own?

Most broken nails will heal by themselves over 1-2 weeks. However this causes unacceptable discomfort in the meantime. The loose nail is still partly attached to the injured nailbed, and even the slightest movement creates intense pain.

Additionally, if untreated the area of separation between nail and nailbed quickly gets infected. You will notice this by the appearance of a smell around two days after the injury.

Remember the number one message from vets to dog owners is: they don’t complain.

Can I Pull The Nail Off Myself?

You will find people online advising you to remove the broken or damaged nail by pulling, cutting or snipping. Here’s why that’s a bad idea:

1. The nail fragment is often very well attached. Sometimes it also contains vital parts of the nailbed that should not be removed.
2. Pulling the nail often leaves small slivers that you cannot see still embedded in the nailbed.
3. Puling a broken nail is extremely painful. They may not complain, but it is likely that you will lose your dog’s trust in touching their nails for ever after.

The last point I have seen many, many times. As a young vet I (like most back then) would just ‘pull’ the loose nails and apply a dressing. It took years of experience to see how differently the dogs related to me afterwards. Pain is the best educator.

Those people online? I can only guess that they haven’t torn one of their own toenails yet. And here are my personal observations: their use of styptics on bleeding wounds is unacceptably painful, and their home dressings are generally too tight.

When Should I Go To The Vet For A Broken Nail?

A broken nail is rarely an emergency requiring out of hours care but you should make an appointment with your vet at their soonest available in regular business hours. Preferably, go in the morning and do not feed your dog.

Most vets agree that the best humane treatment is deep sedation to abolish pain before any attempt to remove the nail. This also allows us to clip and closely inspect the injury before action. You can see in the picture above that there is some pus and bleeding around the base of the nail.

Sedation also allows us to carefully ‘peel’ the nail away without tearing the underlying tissues. Any remnant pieces of nail which will cause ongoing infection are easily identified and removed. The area is cleaned and finally a dressing is placed.

How Long Does It Take To Heal?

Once the damaged nail is removed and the infection controlled, a new nail starts growing straight away. Then, as long as it is kept clean and dry, the dressing can usually either be removed after three days, or changed and removed after six.

The last thing to consider is prevention. Most nails that get broken are dewclaws that have got a little too long.

For this reason, you will notice that I check a dog’s dewclaw by sliding my finger underneath. If it catches my finger, this means it can get caught on anything else too. That’s when I get the clippers out: not to cut it very short, just to stop it being hooked on the end.

So to finish up, read my Guide To Good, Bad & Ugly Dewclaws

Have something to add? Comments (if open) will appear within 24 hours.
By Andrew Spanner BVSc(Hons) MVetStud, a vet in Adelaide, Australia. Meet his team here. The information provided here is not intended to be used as a substitute for going to the vet. If your pet is unwell, please seek veterinary attention.

Here are the three common ways cats hurt their tails, and what to do about them. Please don’t read on if you’re squeamish.

Help! My Cat’s Tail Is Hanging Down!

The major sign of any tail injury is a tail that hangs straight down. Sometimes it’s even dragging on the ground. This does not always mean that the tail is paralysed.

Tail injuries appear to be more painful than almost anywhere else on the body. The pain alone is enough for cats to hang their tails limply and not use them. And for us to get them to the vet!

Let’s now go through each of the causes.

The Cat Fight Injury

The best you can hope for with a hanging tail is that it results from a cat fight. These cats’ tails are often swollen at the base with an area of intense pain. The infection usually also causes fever and lethargy.

Most people bring their cat in thinking the tail is broken. However, your vet should be able to tell the difference straight away and prescribe antibiotics and pain relief. The diagnosis is then confirmed by a rapid return to normal.

If the abscess is not treated, it can cause a permanent loss of skin on the tail just like we see with facial abscesses. If this happens the resulting wounds are very difficult to reconstruct.

The Cat Tail Slammed In The Door

When cats make a run for the door it’s a high stakes game. They’re banking on the fact that you won’t be able to close it in time. But it seems like they’ve forgotten how long their tails are.

Cats can also get their tails stuck in a door when the wind catches it and slams it shut. Either way, the injury is often more serious than it looks. That’s because your cat’s forward momentum has now been suddenly stopped at the tail.

Apart from fractures or dislocations, there are two even more serious injuries. The first is called degloving. Like the name suggests, this is when the skin is pulled away from the tail, often leaving bone sticking out at the tip. If this happens, the end will need to be bandaged and eventually amputated by your vet.

Virtually every time a closing door causes skin loss, the bone that remains will prevent healing and can become badly infected. Therefore, always go to the vet even if it doesn’t seem serious.

The second is called a tail pull injury. When the cat’s body comes to a sudden stop, it yanks on the nerves inside. As they slide inside the spinal column the nerve roots can be sheared off.

The Car Or Road Trauma

Tail pull injuries are especially common when cats are hit by cars. This is probably due to the higher speeds involved. The injury occurs in exactly the same way, when the tyre misses the body but runs over the tail and stops it.

Signs of a tail pull injury are a tail that hangs limply and drags on the ground without any voluntary motion even at the tip. Faeces often get stuck to the fur. The nerve damage can be temporary, but most of the time it is permanent.

However, this isn’t the worst thing. When we see a paralysed tail, we don’t rush to amputate it. Thats because we’re more worried about damage to the higher nerves controlling the bladder and anus.

Many tail pull injuries end up with a cat who can’t control their urine or faeces. If this is permanent, there’s not much that can be done to help them. All we can hope for is that the damage is temporary.

Cat Tail Amputation

If a cat’s tail is paralysed, it must be removed. Otherwise it gets in the way, is prone to injury, and is a constant hygiene problem. However, as I said above, there’s no hurry.

We might wait up to two weeks before we proceed to amputation. That’s both because the function can occasionally return, but mostly because we don’t want to put a cat through unnecessary surgery if they are not going to survive.

Before amputation, your vet will want to regularly feel the bladder and rectum to make sure they are being emptied properly.

If the tail must be removed, it’s a terrible shame, but not the worst thing that could happen. Any loss of function is hard to notice. Bobtail cats still manage to run, jump and climb just like before.

I hope this article helps you if your cat’s tail is injured. I especially hope it makes you think twice before trying to slam the door as your cat dashes for freedom. Sometimes it’s safer to chase them around the neighbourhood instead!

Now read: Which Tracking Device Is Best For My Cat?

Have something to add? Comments (if open) will appear within 24 hours.
By Andrew Spanner BVSc(Hons) MVetStud, a vet in Adelaide, Australia. Meet his team here. The information provided here is not intended to be used as a substitute for going to the vet. If your pet is unwell, please seek veterinary attention.

If Your Dog Is Being Attacked

To separate dogs, try:

• Water sprays or buckets
• Aerosols and sprays (pepper spray is only legal in WA)
• Personal duress alarm (hold buttons on each side of an iPhone down for 5 seconds)
• A beach towel thrown over the aggressor
• Picking the aggressor up by the back legs (wheelbarrowing) is dangerous and should only done by the dog’s owner

Do not try to pull the other dog off. That’s up to their owner to do. You will get badly injured. Click here for your closest Adelaide Emergency vet.

Do not blame yourself. Often there’s nothing you can do due to the size and determination of the aggressor. You’ll probably also fail to get the owner’s details in the heat of the moment.

Now dive deeper…

This week all of us have been devastated by the loss of one of our puppies. He died after being mauled by a dog during an evening walk.

You can raise a puppy to be as social as you like but you still have to watch out for the other dogs. It shouldn’t have to be that way.

How Common Are Dog Attacks?

Despite the ever-present fear, attacks leading to death seem rare. I would hear of roughly one a year. However, the problem is far less studied than dog attacks on people.

However, dog attacks in general are far too common. Here’s one survey from March 2018 for Guide Dogs NSW/ACT:

• One in two Guide Dogs have been attacked by another dog while working
• 78% of attacks on Guide Dogs were caused by an off-lead dog,
• 52% of those who reported attacks said it occurred within the last year

Although these figures seem high, there’s no reason to doubt them. According to data from the SA Dog & Cat Management Board, only 1 in 5 dog attacks involving private citizens get reported.

How Dog Attacks Happen

Most attacks happen on a walk, and the serious ones are almost always from a much larger dog. A survey of 132 people here in Adelaide found that dogs get attacked in these places:

1.   In the street (36%)
2.   Public park (22%)
3.   Beach (17%)
4.   Dog park (16%)
5.   At home (5%)
6.   Friend’s house (4%)

Fatal dog attacks are not part of normal dog aggression. A typical serious attack goes as follows:

• You are out on the street, park or beach
• An off leash larger dog runs towards your dog
• Often there is no growling or barking
• The dog appears fixated and cannot be distracted
• Submissive behaviour by your dog does nothing
• Biting is immediate, often followed by vigorous shaking
• Injuries are rapid and horrifying

Breeds & Owners Responsible

Great care must be taken when talking about the breeds involved. Although you often hear aggressors called Staffies or Pit Bulls, it’s clear that these labels reflect existing community bias.

Additionally, as we also found, dogs called one breed by their appearance usually end up being something else completely.

In one study, 75% of dogs identified by an adoption agency as having specific breeds in their ancestry did not have any of them on DNA analysis. Accuracy can only be worse in a chaotic dog fight. This is why vets say that legislation to ban dog breeds will never work. Just look at this example.

What is clear is that these dogs have been badly treated. Their owners are much more likely to be known by the police, and the dogs themselves have usually been attacked in the past and are very poorly socialised with dogs.

These dogs do not need to be euthanased. I know plenty that could be dangerous, except that they are properly controlled, by muzzles, good fencing and responsible owners.

Preventing Dog Attacks

Prevention therefore must focus on two things:

1. Better control by the people responsible for the attacks
2. Avoidance strategies by other dog owners

Getting dangerous dogs under adequate control is critical. All vets know that the owners responsible for these dogs are often repeat offenders. They usually live in denial of the true seriousness of what is happening, and make excuses for their dogs.

I believe that better enforcement is essential.

What To Do If Your Dog Is Attacked

First focus on the health of your dog. Any injury that breaks the skin is likely to get infected. Many injuries can look minor on the outside while masking serious internal damage. Therefore, a visit to your vet is almost essential.

Then we want to prevent it happening to other dogs. A weakness of our system is the use of local councils for enforcement. Although they do their best, and usually have an officer dedicated to the task, they are not the police. Their abilities to pursue and prosecute offenders are much, much more limited.

This is especially true if the offender leaves without providing accurate details. This is all too common. Even if they do, dog owners often choose not to pursue them out of a misplaced feeling of sympathy, or because it’s difficult.

I encourage everyone, no matter how large or small the injury, to report the offence. Even if you only have limited details, it will build up a picture that might help other dogs eventually. And despite the limitations of councils, they are serious about controlling this problem. They can:

• Issue a warning
• Give an on the spot fine
• Take direct court action in more serious cases
• Impose a control order
• Place a penalty of $2,500 to $5000

Money is usually the last thing on someone’s mind when this happens, but treatment costs can be substantial. The offender is usually liable for veterinary fees if your dog was on leash and their dog was off in a public area.

Avoiding Dog Attacks

What can an individual dog owner do to reduce the risk or improve enforcement? Here are some suggestions:

• Walk at times when there are other dog owners around
• Avoid unknown places, especially on your own
• Consider owning a wearable camera
• Offer help to other dog owners even for minor attacks
• It’s illegal to carry a weapon but you could have a sonic device or bright light
• Call out bad owner behaviour, especially in dog parks

While on the subject of bad behaviour, the picture from the start of the aggressive dog only tells half the story. Here’s the full image.

What can we say about people who not only let their dogs harass wildlife, but actually post the pictures?

Have something to add? Comments (if open) will appear within 24 hours.
By Andrew Spanner BVSc(Hons) MVetStud, a vet in Adelaide, Australia. Meet his team here. The information provided here is not intended to be used as a substitute for going to the vet. If your pet is unwell, please seek veterinary attention.

Further Reading

Ragatz, L., Fremouw, W., Thomas, T., & McCoy, K. (2009). Vicious dogs: the antisocial behaviors and psychological characteristics of owners. Journal of forensic sciences, 54(3), 699-703

Schilder, M. B., van der Borg, J. A., & Vinke, C. M. (2019). Intraspecific killing in dogs: Predation behavior or aggression? A study of aggressors, victims, possible causes, and motivations. Journal of Veterinary Behavior, 34, 52-59

Thompson, P. G. (1997). The public health impact of dog attacks in a major Australian city. Medical Journal of Australia, 167(3), 129-132

Voith, V. L., Ingram, E., Mitsouras, K., & Irizarry, K. (2009). Comparison of adoption agency breed identification and DNA breed identification of dogs. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science, 12(3), 253-262

As any genuine cat lover knows, our cats always dominate us. Most of us have enough humility to love them for it. 

Stopping them biting and scratching is a whole other story with a wholly different explanation. One where aggression is just a symptom of a problem in the cat-human relationship.

So strap in: it’s going to be a long ride, and a bumpy one. There are no quick answers. It’s inevitable that a large part of the solution will depend on you seeing the world from their point of view.

Why Cats Attack

Feline aggression is the common endpoint for a wide range of problems. These include:

1. Stress from handling
2. Anxiety from other cats
3. Suboptimal environment
4. Physical and mental Illness
5. Play and hunting behaviour

They’re all important. You’ll notice that nowhere here is a reason that directs the blame on the cat. Let’s cover each in turn.

1. Inappropriate Handling

Cats differ from dogs in one very important way: even if a dog doesn’t like something, they’ll usually go along with it. But before you say, “cats are so unreasonable”, think how you’d react if someone did half the things to you that cats get dished out every day. They’re probably stlll more tolerant than the average human.

A related difference is that cats don’t learn to enjoy something. If they hate it, they just hate it. So it’s no good expecting them to change.

Handling a cat well is understanding how to do it politely. 

How To Be Polite To Cats

We all know cats who love endless smooches and cuddles, no matter what you do. The following advice is specifically written for those cats who scratch or bite, but it can’t hurt for every cat.

• First, choose the moment. This depends on the cat, and you’ll work this out soon enough. Places in the house where they go to be alone are usually out. Relaxed, open posture, forward ear position and squinty eyes are a good clue it’s OK.
• Then, start with an introduction. Get down to their level and present your hand to their nose to inspect. They should show a little interest, and possibly even rub on it. Take your time.
• All going well, slowly stroke the bridge of the nose between the eyes only in an upwards direction. This might be as far as you go if you get no positive signals.
• From here, chin rubs are a good idea using just one finger. Your cat will move their head to the best spot if they like it.
• If this is well-received, you may now be able to pat the head or stroke the back only from front to back. Avoid the sides and belly (OMG, just because they roll over does not mean they want belly rubs!). Probably 5 to 10 strokes is right.
• If they don’t mind being picked up, always cradle them under the body and never use the scruff. Hold them in a way that is supported, but doesn’t take away their sense of control.

Do this right, and you’ll find it’s your cat that starts seeking out contact, not you. Are you starting to see why cats are drawn to people who don’t like them? 

When Cats Bite

Most people get bitten in one of two ways. Either they just launch in without thinking, or they keep absent-mindedly patting for too long. If they were looking, they’d see their cat’s body start to stiffen with annoyance, and maybe the ears go back or the tail twitch. Any other cat could read this signal loud and clear, but we usually miss it, and… wham!

Some cats start licking before they bite. As a general rule, it’s never good to let cats lick you, as it’s not always a positive sign like in dogs. Some experts even go so far as to say licking is a sign of aggression itself.

Cat bites and scratches can be very serious. If you get a deep bite, see a doctor within 24 hours as you’ll almost certainly need to take antibiotics. This can also apply to scratches especially if you have poor circulation.

What Cats Want

Most cats prefer physical closeness to pats anyway. Some like to just sit next to you, and that may never change, whereas others prefer the full lap experience. Regardless, they mostly just want to sit and enjoy. That’s why in my house, “IGTP” (I’ve got the puss) is code for “get me that coffee/book/TV remote/etc please cos I’m stuck here til he wakes up”.

Predictability is also very important. If you want a cat to enjoy your company, they need to be able to trust you 100% of the time. No sudden noises, no jumping up, certainly no ‘jokes’. This is why many cats are made worse by children.

The attitude of “I can do what I like to you and you’re not allowed to complain” is all too common and never going to work. This especially applies to roughhousing or picking them up. Both can be done, but not to all cats, and never all the time. 

Punishment

If you’re feeling frustrated at times, that’s normal. I admit: it’s hard to not react when you get hurt without warning, but it’s vital to give no reaction, except for learning for next time. Let your cat go, and leave them alone to settle down. 

Once you hit, yell, use water spray or throw something, you’re in trouble. Punishment is a human instinct, but it’s always, always going to make the problem spiral out of control as the fear increases and defence turns into attack. And anyway, if we’re complaining about our cat being too violent, reacting like this only makes us hypocrites. 

2. Anxiety From Other Cats

I believe that most cats labelled as vicious have at least an element of anxiety. This could be the anxiety mentioned earlier of not being sure what you’ll do, but the most obvious cause is other cats.

Cats aren’t fully social like dogs or humans, and social stress is everywhere. It can be seen as cats urinating in the house but often there’s no outward clue. Certainly, just like humans, someone stressing you out doesn’t mean you’ll get in a fight with them.

A cat who’s on edge is never going to accept touching the way a secure cat will. If your ‘problem’ cat lives with another cat, read my page on getting two cats to live together. 

Redirected Aggression

A few years ago a cat was brought in to me for a euthanasia she felt she had no choice but to do. The owner was bandaged up both arms after he’d attacked her viciously without warning. I fixed him with window tinting!

A very special version of stress from other cats is called redirected aggression. This is the “I had a bad day at work so I yelled at the kids” but with claws and teeth. When a cat gets riled up, especially by another cat, they are a pressure cooker. If you’re unlucky enough to be nearby, especially if you try to touch them, they can attack you without mercy.

The worst cases I have seen result from stray cats prowling outside the house and looking in the window. That’s why, once I suspected the cause, I asked her to give him a few weeks and get a translucent film put on the windows. Once he couldn’t see the other cats any more, he settled down. 

Redirected aggression is very common, and most people never see the other cats. I guessed the answer by knowing his personality, and where he was when it happened. This condition is much worse if cats are not desexed.

3. Suboptimal Environment

Whatever else is wrong, it will get worse if a cat can’t feel relaxed at home. I’ve written a long page full of easy ideas to keep indoor cats happy, but some need particular mention:

• Things to do to occupy the mind and prevent boredom, especially puzzle feeders
• A safe outside area if possible, or connected high perches in the house if not
• Cat-friendly places to hang out in the house where the people are
• Minimal ‘dead-end’ hidey holes like under beds (these tend to promote social isolation, and a cornered cat is a dangerous one)
• Appropriate play with their loved ones

Good play will depend on your cat, but might be any of the following:

• Supervised outside time
• Treats to help you to bond (the type will depend on your cat)
• String toys to pull around,
• Balls with or without bells
• Fishing pole toys with feathery lures to flick

These are best done by the person having the most trouble. My kids regularly bring home a cheap new toy to try. Sometimes they’re a hit and we buy 5 more, other times they’re ignored completely.

Allowing a cat to watch birds, small mammals, fish or even insects can be very entertaining for them. The classic move is to put a bird feeder outside a suitable window. Just be aware that for some cats, outside sights or noises might increase problems by causing frustration instead or calm.

To understand the importance of boredom in ‘bad’ behaviour, you’ve only got to see how much a cat improves when there are mice around to hunt!

4. Physical & Mental Illness

I won’t go far into the health causes, except to ask you to get the opinion of a cat-friendly vet. Too often, I have seen problems very late that were extremely treatable. These include:

• Pain (especially arthritis)
• Thyroid disease
• Anxiety requiring medication

While on the subject of vets, surgical declawing has absolutely no place in humane cat care. And anyway, a stressed cat will lash out with the weapons they have. Remove the claws, and it’s teeth.

On the other hand, it’s perfectly acceptable to trim the claws of an indoor cat to reduce risk of injury.

5. Play & Hunting Behaviour

For some cats, the aggression is just a game, except they don’t realise it’s a problem to you. These are especially the confident and boisterous ones. Three important risk factors for rough play are: 

• Men
• Hand rearing
• Free access to food

Men, just because they often encourage it, and then complain later! Hand reared cats because they missed out on the feedback from their mother and other kittens about how hard to play. 

In both cases, we should strive to never play using our hands directly, but always have a toy between the cat and us. Start out with kittens the way you mean to continue. Fingers are not toys!

Free feeding is an interesting one. Think about it: when the bowl’s empty, what do they do? Find you and tell you to fill it up again!

These cats seem to be trained to regard you as something controllable, which in turn leads them to not treat you correctly. If you are being attacked, please, please convert your cat to timed, measured meals and become the one to do the feeding. It will be tough, but you need to try. 

Sadly, after fixing all this, some cats still love to ambush you. I have less to say about these, except to predict the signs and avoid, avoid, avoid. When it happens, try as hard as you can to stand still and not react, as almost any response will encourage it. This may mean wearing thick clothes around the house until it settles down.

The same cats often ‘mouth’ you gently or nip without breaking the skin as a sign of affection. Harmless as it is, I would not encourage it for fear it could escalate.

Becoming A Cat Person

I think the best evidence for everything I’ve said here are the ‘crazy cat people’. How often do they get badly attacked? Almost never.

These people don’t see any cat as nasty or vindictive, or one that can’t be helped with a little understanding. They’ve learnt how to communicate.

Cats are fun because they’re independent, and challenging, because they’re a puzzle to live with. Oh yes, they can also be very annoying. That’s part of the package.

Cats might well represent the only time we humans truly share our lives with another being on near-equal terms. I hope you succeed, but if you’re struggling, please leave me a detailed comment below and I’ll do my best to help. When you get it right, the rewards will be worth it.

Have something to add? Comments (if open) will appear within 24 hours.
By Andrew Spanner BVSc(Hons) MVetStud, a vet in Adelaide, Australia. Meet his team here. The information provided here is not intended to be used as a substitute for going to the vet. If your pet is unwell, please seek veterinary attention.

What you are seeing here is not that older cats need more vaccinations. Instead, you are looking at a snapshot of a sweeping change in how Aussies look after their cats. These are the cats that have unsupervised outside access. And they are going down, fast.

Australia is rapidly changing into a nation that keeps its cats indoors. Using this data, we can document the change. Like this:

• 56% of cats were outdoors 10-13 years ago
• 50% of cats were outdoors 7-10 years ago
• 35% of cats were outdoors 5-7 years ago
• 35% of cats were outdoors 2-5 years ago
• 19% of cats were outdoors 0.5-2 years ago

A Quick Explanation

The AIDS-like disease of cats called FIV is only transmitted by a direct bite. Therefore, in the spirit of only giving cats what they need, its vaccine is not recommended in indoor cats. That includes those who only go outside under supervision.

On the other hand, owners of cats who venture outside alone are advised to add FIV vaccination to their core F3 vaccination. The disease is scary enough that almost everyone takes our recommendation. Then, once they start, they rarely stop, which is why those older cats are still getting it.

And there you have it: a shorthand way of seeing how many cats live inside and how many don’t. At least in our local bubble.

Why Are Cats Moving Indoors?

The trend is real and unmistakeable, but it’s against the preferences of most cats. It could even be said that their welfare is at risk by depriving them of the outdoors. So why do we do it?

There are lots of good reasons, which I’ll go through here.

Shelter & Breeder Advice

Probably the number one reason is the almost unanimous advice from the places where kittens come from to keep them inside. It’s rare for people to go against such strong advice, especially if they’re new to cat ownership.

This advice is especially important in the first few months, when cats might wander away and be lost.

Safety

Cats given outside access have a higher risk of injury, especially by motor vehicle, and a higher risk of death from all forms of trauma. They are also at risk from dogs, snake bite, pythons in northern Australia and coyotes in the USA just to name a few.

Tick paralysis is common on the eastern seaboard of Australia in free-roaming cats. Poisonings may be just as common inside but outdoor cases seem more serious. Top of the list is ‘secondary poisoning’ from eating poisoned rats and mice.

Diseases

All infectious diseases are more commonly acquired while outside. I’ve already mentioned FIV, but to this we can add the three components of the F3 vaccine, herpesvirus, calicivirus and parvovirus.

Then there’s feline coronavirus and chlamydia. There’s also the gastrointestinal parasites, especially giardia, roundworm and tapeworm. Finally, you can add Lyme disease, rabies and feline leukaemia virus depending on where you live.

Human Health

Outdoor cats are more likely to catch toxoplasmosis and bring it into the home. To them, it’s rarely a problem, but it’s a major concern in human pregnancy or immune deficiency.

Scary as it is, toxo is easy to avoid once you know how. If you are thinking of having children or know someone with poor immune function, read my guide to preventing toxoplasmosis in cats & people. Needless to say, among the many suggestions is to keep cats inside!

Nuisance

Cats are also a great way to really annoy your neighbours. My previous cat was outside, and never left the yard, but those that do often end up using next door’s as a toilet. Others might stress the neighbour’s cat/rabbit/bird or help themselves to someone else’s dinner via the cat flap.

Many people, including me, cherish the local wildlife and would get fairly cranky if they were being killed or even just scared away. This is especially important when living near remnant native habitats.

Cats who are outside at night will up the ante on all these points, and add the extra joy of noise. Of course, all of these vices are much more likely to be from unseen feral cats than a pampered domestic but if one goes outside he’ll always tend to get blamed. The same way cats get blamed for disappearing chickens.

Expense

Sometimes the hip pocket is the driver for change. Outside cats get in a lot more fights with other cats, and these end up being quite a drain on the finances. Each bad fight will require (at minimum) a course of antibiotics, but often surgery for a cat fight abscess.

To this everyday problem, add the threat of a week in hospital for tick paralysis or road trauma and you can see why the choice to stay inside is an economical one too.

Housing

The last reason is possibly the biggest one. As we move from large blocks to smaller houses and apartments, there often isn’t a safe way for cats to be outside.

Those that do are still usually confined. A lot of the cats I see now have small enclosed courtyards into which other cats cannot enter. The apartment dwellers of course have useful balconies, but I would be very wary of allowing them access without netting.

Living The Best Indoor Life

An indoor lifestyle on its own is all about what’s been taken away. Unless an effort is made, the loss of freedom could be worse than the benefits.

These days I have an indoor cat, and although I’m sure he’d disagree on the details, he has a good life. He’s a lot more fun too, just because he’s always nearby.

A lot of our ideas for keeping indoor cats happy came from my experiences. I’d love it if they help you too. And please add your ideas in the comments!

You might also like: Safe Plants For A Cat Enclosure

Have something to add? Comments (if open) will appear within 24 hours.
By Andrew Spanner BVSc(Hons) MVetStud, a vet in Adelaide, Australia. Meet his team here.

When Is A Swollen Belly An Emergency?

Dogs with any of these symptoms need to be taken to a vet immediately:

• Vomiting
• Hard, painful abdomen
• Collapse
• Severe lethargy
• Not eating

Now dive deeper…

The picture above shows what a dog’s normal body shape should be.

Could it just be fat? The answer is usually ‘no’. Overweight dogs are so common that they look normal to most people. Therefore, trust your instincts: if the stomach looks odd, it’s almost certainly not just fat.

For example, the pictured dog isn’t fat anywhere else, and the belly hangs down more than it should. Even though he seems well, he’s in a lot of trouble.

Causes Of An Enlarged Abdomen

There are many reasons why the stomach gets bigger than normal. I’ll classify them by the cause of enlargement and start with the most serious. There are two special cases in puppies near the end.

Gas: Bloat

Bloat or GDV occurs when the stomach suddenly twists and blocks the escape of gases. Gastric expansion follows, and without treatment dogs die a rapid and horrific death.

Affected dogs are usually large breeds with obvious distress and a hard, painful abdomen. If your dog is comfortable and eating or drinking, they don’t have bloat. You can read more about the causes and prevention of bloat here.

Sometimes a dog’s stomach swells up with gas for less serious reasons, like overeating. I saw one this week which happened with no obvious cause. These dogs need xrays to tell them apart from life-threatening cases of bloat, and to monitor the stomach size.

Pain: Peritonitis

Abdominal pain makes dogs hold their belly stiff and tight like a drum. We call this splinting. You should always treat this sign as an emergency.

The most common cause is pancreatitis, which you can read about at the link. However, this is indistinguishable without testing from other causes of inflammation or infection, such as:

• Intestinal obstruction from swallowing the wrong thing
• Ruptured or twisted bowel
• Gall bladder diseases
• Gunshot or stake injuries

Blood: Haemorrhage

Internal bleeding can cause the belly to look bigger, however it’s rarely the most obvious sign. These dogs are also usually weak, pale, lethargic or even collapsed.

There are two common causes of abdominal bleeding:

1. Eating rat poison stops the blood from clotting, and although there’s an antidote, most dog owners haven’t realised their dogs ate it until symptoms begin
2. Haemangiosarcoma is a tumour of the spleen whose first sign is often unexplained blood loss

It’s also very possible to have abdominal haemorrhage after any major surgery or injury. Obviously, whatever the reason, bleeding is always a critical emergency.

Urinary Tract Damage

Damage anywhere in the urinary tract can cause urine to leak into the abdomen. The most common reasons for this are bladder stones blocking the urethra, and car accidents.

Like with bleeding, the amount of fluid is mostly small, and other more obvious signs of illness are present, like lethargy, straining or pain.

Food: Overeating

A classic and sometimes serious cause of bloated stomachs is when a dog biscuit bag is left out while you’re not at home. Most dogs will binge on the kibble until they can’t eat any more, then the kibble starts to swell as it takes on water. These dogs often need the vet to induce vomiting to relieve the distress.

In puppies, abdominal distension after eating is quite normal. As long as they are bright and playful, and it goes down in a few hours, there’s nothing to worry about. However, the next cause also needs consideration…

Parasites: Worms

Intestinal worms are a very common and serious reason for a swollen stomach in a young puppy. Roundworms (pictured) often get large and numerous enough to swell the belly and block the passage of food.

Read all about preventing and treating intestinal worms here.

Fluid: Ascites

Many diseases cause the buildup of a clear fluid that we call a transudate. Most of these slowly worsen without any other major signs of illness. Examples might be:

1. Heart disease
2. Caval syndrome from heartworm
3. Portal vein obstruction from tumours
4. End stage liver disease
5. Certain widespread cancers
6. Protein-losing enteropathy
7. Protein-losing nephropathy

The first four happen because the blood pressure in abdominal vessels gets high enough that fluid leakage occurs. Number 5 is simply because fluid often escapes from tumours with a high surface area.

Numbers 6 and 7 are probably the most common. They happen when blood proteins are being lost through the gut or via kidney disease. This leads to a drop in plasma oncotic pressure, which causes fluid to leak from small vessels. The fluid will also often be present in the chest cavity.

Testing is essential to identify and treat the cause. Often all of the following are needed:

• History & physical exam
• Ballottment of the abdomen (percussing one side of the belly and feeling for a fluid wave on the other)
• Blood and urine tests
• Ultrasound exam
• Intestinal biopsy

The most common cause is inflammatory bowel disease as a consequence of protein-losing enteropathy. You can read about that here. As you can imagine, without treating the cause, drainage of the fluid is usually useless.

Fat: Hormonal Diseases

Even though fat deposition is unlikely, there are two diseases in which it is laid down in a way that can look like a swollen stomach. These are:

• Cushings disease, associated with an enlarged liver, pot belly, hair loss and excessive drinking
• Thyroid disease, associated with lethargy and unexplained weight gain 

You can read about tests and treatment for both diseases at the links.

Masses & Enlarged Organs

Sometimes a tumour in the abdomen can get so large that it causes the belly to noticeably bulge. These are usually slow-growing benign masses, otherwise they would have caused other signs earlier. Swelling can also occur when organs themselves become enlarged. Perhaps the most important are the liver and spleen. 

Diagnosis requires blood testing and an ultrasound exam. Even large masses can often be removed if there is no evidence of spread.

Uterus: Pregnancy & Pyometra

Lastly and very rarely I have seen owners of a female dog not be aware of a mating 5 to 6 weeks earlier. In older un-desexed females, a uterine infection called pyometra or reproductive tract cancer can also swell the abdomen in a similar way. 

These unplanned events should be a lot less common now that desexing has become compulsory in Adelaide.

I’ll end on a positive note. Despite some of the horrendous diseases mentioned here, most causes of abdominal enlargement that I see are the ones that can be treated, often with just a tablet. Therefore, don’t be frightened of getting the vet to take a look. It’s usually all for the better.

Have something to add? Comments (if open) will appear within 24 hours.
By Andrew Spanner BVSc(Hons) MVetStud, a vet in Adelaide, Australia. Meet his team here. The information provided here is not intended to be used as a substitute for going to the vet. If your pet is unwell, please seek veterinary attention.

• Keep the animal calm in a large, dark and quiet box
• Use gloves and a towel for handling if necessary
• If not possible, or for bats, call Fauna Rescue first
• Take them to the nearest open vet for assessment
• There will be no fees or charges

Now dive deeper…

While out recently, my phone buzzed. “Hey mate, can you help me with an injured duck?” I couldn’t, but I told him where to take it. “Cheers for the info” came the reply, and I thought no more about it.

The next day, while walking the dogs, there was the duck, still there.

People don’t help wildlife because they think it’s difficult or expensive. Nothing could be further from the truth.

How To Take Care Of Injured Animals

To report injured wildlife, just follow the advice for the species you’ve found:

• Sea birds, seals & dolphins
• Bats
• Ducklings
• Koalas
• Birds
• Kangaroos
• Possums & all other animals

Marine Animals

Sea life, from sea birds to dolphins and whales must be handled by the Australian Marine Wildlife Rescue & Research Organisation. You can find their contact details here.

Call first, as generally they do not want you to touch the animal unless it is in immediate danger. AMWRRO will usually come out to you.

Sick or Injured Bats

Do not pick up bats. They can carry a lyssavirus dangerous to humans, and only vaccinated and trained handlers should touch them. Read more about Adelaide’s bats here. If you find a bat on the ground, call the Fauna Rescue Bat Hotline on (08) 84861139.

Duckling Rescue

In springtime there are lots of ducklings hatching and many end up separated from their mother. If this is the case, call the Duckling Hotline on 0412 810 345.

Koala Rescue

There are quite a few organisations promoting koala rescue in Adelaide. It’s a very emotive area and I’m sure they all put in amazing efforts.

1. Fauna Rescue Koala Hotline 1300 562 527
2. Adelaide and Hills Koala Rescue 1300 562 529
3. Adelaide Koala Rescue 0413 185 771

Like with all wildlife, but often forgotten with koalas, human contact is stressful and should be kept to a minimum until carers arrive.

Sick or Injured Birds

Being able to pick up a bird is usually a sign that something’s wrong. However, young birds that have just feathered and left the nest will often end up on the ground, with the parents watching nearby. If they seem OK, place them out of harm and observe from a long way away so that the parents feel it’s safe enough to come back.

If nothing happens after a few hours, then it’s OK to pick them up. Call Fauna Rescue on (08) 8289 0896 to arrange a collection. An ideal transport box for a bird should be:

• between 1.2 and 2 times the length of the bird
• half as wide as it is long
• tall enough for a bird to stand if needed
• padded around the sides with bubble wrap or crumpled tissue paper

Most adult birds are best taken to the closest vet for assessment, as they are likely to be sick or injured. Your vet will do this for free. Keep them warm, and if there’s any delay and you need to offer food, be aware of species requirements. The bird at the start with the long curved bill is a New Holland Honeyeater. These, like lorikeets eat soft fruits and nectar not seed.

Note the location as some birds are highly territorial and must be returned to the exact place. If you find a bird of prey, call Fauna Rescue quickly for advice on how to reduce feather damage.

Injured Kangaroos

Most injured kangaroos have been hit by a car or caught in a fence. Some of these will be impossible to move. In this situation, there are two options, and one or the other should be able to send someone out:

1. Fauna Rescue on (08) 8289 0896
2. RSPCA on 1300 4 777 22

If you find a recently killed kangaroo, check the pouch for young. If you find a live joey, contact Fauna Rescue for advice.

Possums & Other Sick & Injured Animals

Most possums we see are male brushies in very bad shape, due to a variety of diseases and territorial competition. However, we also see road injuries and dog attacks in both sexes of all species. It’s mostly a good idea to take them your nearest vet, who of course will do it gladly for free.

The vet will then decide what needs doing, and who to call. Click here for your closest Adelaide vet on evenings and weekends.

When picking up Brush Tail Possums (pictured at the start) and many other native animals, be careful as they can bite hard. Wear thick gloves and use a towel to bundle them into a box. Most native species are territorial, so please note where you find them in case they can be successfully released.

Note that for stray domestic species, especially cats and dogs, you will need to contact your local council or vet for advice. Read more about lost dogs & cats here.

Have something to add? Comments (if open) will appear within 24 hours.
By Andrew Spanner BVSc(Hons) MVetStud, a vet in Adelaide, Australia. Meet his team here.

• Arthritis, hip dysplasia
• Degenerative myelopathy
• Cruciate rupture or torn ACL
• IVDD & other spinal diseases
• Soft tissue injuries, like ligament, tendon and muscle tears
• Recovery from surgery and wound healing
• Skin conditions and ear infections

But does it work? Is this relief for suffering dogs or just another false hope?

Dog Laser Therapy Studies

I’ve read the scientific literature on cold laser or low level laser therapy (LLLT) in dogs. This is the direct and controlled irradiation of target tissues with Class 3 or Class 4 lasers. Here are the key findings:

Arthritis & Hip Dysplasia

There are no placebo controlled studies on the effect of lasers on arthritis in dogs. Which is a shame, because this is where it’s being used most in practice. Therefore, we have no evidence to guide us either way.

In humans, a 2019 review paper studying knee osteoarthritis found that LLLT reduces pain and disability more often than could be explained by chance alone. This suggests that LLLT could work in dogs since we share a similar disease process. However, it’s also important to note that 2019 consensus guidelines for the non-surgical management of human osteoarthritis strongly recommend against laser therapy, stating “No efficacy, implausible biological mechanism”. 

My personal suspicion is that it will work best for knee-like joints where there isn’t much soft tissue between the beam and the target.

Degenerative Myelopathy

Im sorry, I really wish we could offer something for these dogs. However, there is zero evidence for LLLT and almost zero chance that it will help. The cause of the spinal changes in degenerative myelopathy is poorly understood. It certainly isn’t likely to either respond to laser or be accessible by it.

Cruciate Rupture or ACL Tears

Although unstudied, there is very little chance that laser therapy will make a torn ACL better before surgery. That’s because the main problem is the instability of the joint.

After surgery, there is mixed evidence about whether LLLT helps the recovery. One study found no improvement in stiffness, function, quality of life or load but did find a small improvement in gait at 8 weeks. Two other studies found no difference.

IVDD & Back Pain

Once again there is no evidence in either in dogs or humans that laser therapy will help with spinal disc prolapse or collapse. This is the condition well-known in Dachshunds that you can read about here. The same goes for spondylosis and lumbosacral stenosis.

It is however possible that LLLT will reduce the discomfort associated with these conditions. That’s because a 2017 review in humans found that laser therapy reduced pain in adult patients with musculoskeletal disorders.

Musculoskeletal Pain

The paper above is just as relevant here. It’s quite possible that low level laser therapy may also have uses for chronic sprains, such as we see commonly in older, overweight or very energetic dogs.

Nearly all of these get better quickly with a combination of rest, weight loss and anti-inflammatories. However, there are always a tricky few for which laser would be worth trying.

Surgical & Wound Healing

No studies have yet demonstrated a benefit of laser therapy in wound or fracture healing in dogs. However, wounds that heal badly aren’t very common and most studies used fresh uncomplicated surgical wounds instead. These probably always heal the same regardless.

Studies in rats have shown significant benefits of laser therapy in wound healing. Therefore, it’s reasonable to expect that if we can study the right (or wrong!) injuries in dogs we might see a benefit. An example might be the large amounts of skin loss we see after car accidents.

Dermatitis & Atopy

There is one study of dermatitis in the feet of dogs. It showed equal improvement in both the treated and untreated feet. This, the authors explained as the placebo effect! (Surprised? Read about placebo effects and pets here).

In other words, no real benefit. These days with all the excellent and safe treatments for dermatitis in dogs, there should be no reason to use LLLT except as a last resort.

Dog Laser Therapy Side Effects

The benefit of cold laser therapy in dogs is that it is very safe. With a properly calibrated machine and knowledgeable operator, there is almost no risk of harm.

The only side effect you’re likely to see is a lighter wallet. LLLT machines are very expensive, and therefore treatment costs can add up quickly. If you’re OK with this, dogs seem to tolerate the visits well and adverse effects are rare.

Veterinary Cold Laser Protocols

Protocols vary a lot based on your vet’s preferences and the condition being treated. They could go from once a week for four sessions up to every few days for ten sessions or more. The actual time of laser therapy is usually less than ten minutes.

And will it work? My personal view is yes, but not by much. The strongest evidence lies with joint problems. I would be quickest to recommend it for the dog with arthritis when other treatments aren’t good enough. But I can’t help wondering if a similar effect could be had by gentle warming of the affected joint for a similar time.

If you want to try cold laser on your dog, please ask. We’ll be happy to refer to a local centre where it can be done.

Just having another option is a good thing and I look forward to more good science to help us make a choice. When it appears, you can be sure I’ll put it here.

Have something to add? Comments (if open) will appear within 24 hours.
By Andrew Spanner BVSc(Hons) MVetStud, a vet in Adelaide, Australia. Meet his team here.

If this happens to your dog, here’s a quick first aid tip: carefully put the lower leg into a roughly normal position, wrap it in a t-shirt until it’s a thick roll and then sticky tape it. If you can’t do this, just keep your dog as quiet as possible. This will stop possible damage to soft tissues caused by excessive motion across the fracture site. Then go straight to a vet.

Leg fractures in Italian Greyhounds are common. If you’re looking to buy a puppy, or take out insurance you might well ask, “yes, but how common?” The answer may affect what you do next.

Frequency Of Leg Breaks

I went though our files and looked at the Italian Greyhounds we’ve known. There are 7 fractures in around 30 dogs, although many files only cover part of a dog’s life.

Applying a very rough and ready adjustment for how long we knew each dog, it looks like the rate of fracture is between 25 and 45% of Italian Greyhounds. That is, less than half, but possibly not by much.

It’s also important to know that two of those dogs broke both forelimbs at different times. Strange, isn’t it?

Why Italian Greyhounds Break Legs

The break for which this beed is famous is in the lower forelimb just above the wrist. We call this a fracture of the distal radius and ulna. It mostly happens as puppy or young adult, but we’ve also seen it in an eight-year old.

Pictured here for comparison is the lower foreleg of a medium-sized dog breed. The pointer shows the outer (white) layer of the radius called the cortex. Inside it is the medullary cavity containing a fine latticework of trabecular bone.

Now look back at the pictures of Italian Greyhound broken legs at the start. What you’ll notice are three things:

1. The cortex is comparatively thick
2. The medullary cavity is very narrow
3. The overall width of the bone is reduced

All three factors are likely to decrease bone strength.

Prevention of Broken Legs

These changes are almost certainly inherited traits. So the first thing you can do is try to avoid lines with known issues. You’re unlikely to be able to find this out, but if you see a scar or swelling on a forelimb like the picture, that would be a good clue.

Before I go on, let me say that it’s not only a problem of Italian Greyhounds. Toy Poodles, Chihuahuas, Yorkshire Terriers and some other toy breeds also suffer the same fate, although it seems less common.

What I don’t believe you can do is restrict exercise enough to stop it happening. I would certainly advise you to avoid running play, or jumping from furniture, but most dogs seem to do it just running in the house like any other dog. That’s what happened to Dante, despite his owners already trying their best.

Some of the advice seems to just be making dog owners anxious without really changing the outcome. To some extent, if you have this breed you need to have accepted the risk and already thought about what you would do.

Being Prepared

The first thing vets would ask anyone getting any dog is to be ready for the unexpected. Repairing these fractures requires the placement of a compression plate or external fixator, usually by a specialist surgeon. In Australia this might cost around $4000. As common as it is in Italian Greyhounds, it can happen to any dog.

Too often, breeds that are expensive to maintain end up being surrendered when things go wrong. Other examples are Shar Peis and French Bulldogs. None of this should happen with decent insurance or savings.

So don’t let the risk stop you getting an ‘Iggie’. They are a lot more than just their legs: adorable, affectionate, intelligent, fun. Not one of these owners who were prepared ever regretted their choice.

Related: The costs of insuring different dog breeds. You’ll see that some are much higher than others, which gives you an idea of health care costs.

Have something to add? Comments (if open) will appear within 24 hours.
By Andrew Spanner BVSc(Hons) MVetStud, a vet in Adelaide, Australia. Meet his team here.

What Is An Abscess?

An abscess is a localised pocket of infection that feels like a fluid-filled bump. It can occur anywhere on (or in) the body. In cats an abscess is most often found on the head, especially the cheek or jaw.

An abscess happens when infection gets under the skin and can’t drain away. Abscesses are almost always the result of a cat fight, but can also be caused by another animal, a grass seed or even a tooth root.

When two evenly-matched cats get into a fight, most injuries happen around the head for obvious reasons. An abscess on the back or rump might instead happen to a poor kitty who’s just trying to get away. Read about fight wounds on tails here.

What Else Could It Be?

An abscess is the only common explanation for a large lump that comes up quickly on a cat, especially if it’s sore to touch. However, other possible explanations include:

• a bee sting
• a cyst
• a tumour
• and even cancer

For it to be an abscess, the cat also should have had contact with other cats. You’ll see why in a minute.

Why Cats Get Abscesses

Cat fight abscesses are a direct result of three special features of cats:

1. Anaerobic bacteria found in the saliva of cats that tend to form abscesses
2. Needle-shaped teeth and claws, perfect for injecting these bacteria under the skin
3. The tendency for fighting between cats who don’t live together

Once bacteria get introduced, they rapidly spread in the low oxygen environment. The first sign is a hot, swollen and sore area we call cellulitis. This stage is usually missed unless it happens on a leg, where the swelling and pain are easy to see.

If your cat is lucky enough, cellulitis can be cured just with a course of antibiotics. That’s why it’s always a great idea to get a sore or limping cat to the vet straight away.

The formation of pus changes everything. Now the body literally starts building a wall around the infection that will eventually become the abscess capsule. At this point, antibiotics are helpful, but can no longer bring about a cure.

It’s time for surgery.

Treatment Of Abscesses

Once pus starts to appear, it’s like a foreign object. Antibiotics won’t penetrate and the body can’t easily remove it. If we don’t get it out it will find its own way to the surface. That’s not good.

The ‘natural’ thing an abscess does is for the skin on top to die and then to rupture. However, you should never let this happen. Here’s why:

• The hole is large and very unpleasant
• Healing is always slow
• Some areas (especially legs) won’t heal at all
• Skin loss on the face can be highly disfiguring

So instead we lance a small incision, then drain and flush the abscess. This is always done after sedation and pain control. And unless it’s very late, we’ll do it the same day you come in.

Then it’s just a matter of keeping the small cut clean and finishing a course of antibiotics. If tablets are too hard, there’s even a long acting injection. Healing should be routine and uneventful.

If the abscess burst before you found it, don’t be too alarmed. An abscess on the body will often heal just fine as long as it’s bathed and antibiotics are given. What comes out can be quite bloody, but that’s just what pus looks like in cats.

If there’s a large hole, most vets prefer to surgically close the hole and place a penrose drain. Once again, a neat result and fast healing.

The picture above shows an abscess-related skin defect seen at Walkerville Vet in 2021. Although very large, it was still (just) able to be surgically closed.

Reasons To Be Careful

After all seems done and dusted, there’s still a reason to stay wary. Cat fights that lead to abscesses are probably the leading way for cats to catch feline immunodeficiency virus, or FIV.

There’s no better prevention for both abscesses and FIV than being kept away from other cats. I sympathise with owners who feel their cats need to be outside. I’ve even done it myself. But my final word is this: bringing a cat indoors can make a happy cat even be happier with just a little effort.

Have something to add? Comments (if open) will appear within 24 hours.
By Andrew Spanner BVSc(Hons) MVetStud, a vet in Adelaide, Australia. Meet his team here. The information provided here is not intended to be used as a substitute for going to the vet. If your pet is unwell, please seek veterinary attention.

Note: comments are now closed but you can find common questions answered below. Please remember that these cats need urgent veterinary attention.