Maneki Neko

If you're like me, walking into any house or business and seeing a Maneki Neko will bring an immediate smile to your face, no matter what kind of day you may be having.

There's just something appealing about the white or gold cat sitting there and swinging its paw, beckoning and welcoming you.

The Maneki Neko originates in Japan ("Maneki" means "Beckoning," and "Neko" means "Cat" in Japanase), but a more precise origin is unclear. One legend of the cat's origin that I find fascinating and particularly interesting is explained in Wikipedia's entry:

The Temple Cat: This story goes that a wealthy feudal lord was taking shelter under a tree near Gotoku-ji temple (in Western Tokyo) during a thunderstorm. The lord saw the temple priest's cat beckoning to him and followed; a moment later the tree was struck by lightning. The wealthy man became friends with the poor priest and the temple became prosperous. When the cat died, supposedly the first Maneki Neko was made in his honor.

(My cat Cyber and Our 2 Maneki Nekos - I'll leave it up to you to decide which is which.)

A recent Animal Planet show exploring animal myths and legends discussed and analyzed the Temple Cat Theory. According to their analysis, it is conceivable that higher ambient electricity signaling lightning could cause a cat's hair and coat to get more static. In turn, a cat may try to reduce the static by washing itself by licking its paw frequently, thereby giving the appearance of "waving." The experts then called the myth's veracity plausible.

Though thunderstorms are rare here in Southern California, I know our Maneki's have brought us many good fortunes, not to mention countless smiles, and I hope yours have as well.

Artwork

We took advantage of the clean-up after last week's fumigation to mount up more artwork. These were all gifts from our generous clients. Note: Click on images to enlarge.

In the lobby, we have the two works from Julita Jones' early days: Flights of Fancy (above left) and The Great Escape (above right and below).

Julita Jones "The Great Escape"

Karla Davison has been a client of ours for many, many years. We have been a beneficiary of her fine artwork over the years in the form of cards and such. We are glad that we are able to display one of her larger work in one of our rooms (above). My photography skills (or lack thereof) and glare are not doing it justice. Karla is a local artist with a studio in Long Beach. Contact her for more information on her work.

In the same room, we have a D.A. Simpkins work in acrylic titled "All God's Creatures Go to Heaven" (above). A close-up look is needed to truly appreciate the texture and details of this work. The piece was generously gifted to us by Ms. Simpkins several years ago.

In addition to these larger artwork, we rotate photos of our patients along the display counter, walls, and digital photo frame.

Pet photos are always welcomed.

Your artwork and photos help create the warm environment of The Family Vet. Thank you!

Clinic Fumigation

All the hospital pets are finally out and the clinic building is closed up for fumigation. Some of you may remember we were supposed to do this tenting last year (almost to the date) but a clerical error (the gas company turned off the gas to the wrong building) by the fumigating company nixed the plan. So, Clinic Fumigation Part Deux, was scheduled for today. And it looks like it will get done this time.

We will be closed until Saturday 8/15/09.
We cannot return to the clinic until late Wednesday and anticipate at least a couple of days to unpack and set everything back up in working order.

As previously advised, the best way to contact us during this time is via email: staff@thefamilyvet.net
We will reply to emails within 24 hours.

You may leave a message at the office number 562-435-6331 but we may not be able to return calls until Saturday.

For all patients currently under treatment, you were provided with my cell number. Please call or send me text messages as needed.

As always, if it is an emergency requiring immediate care, please contact an emergency clinic:
http://www.animalemergencyreferral.com in Torrance (310) 325-3000
http://www.accim.net in Tustin (949) 654-8950

Changes for August

As some of you know, I was in an accident on the 405 Fwy this past Friday night. A motorcyclist rammed into the rear end of my car at quite a high speed, sustaining injuries that tragically ended his life. I did not know who/what hit me or how he hit me until I heard from the eyewitnesses in the vehicles behind me. CHP officers are still investigating the accident. Regardless of the reasons or causes that lead the motorcyclist to lose control of his bike, a life was lost and many lives were touched and changed that night. My heart goes out to his family.

I spent Saturday and Sunday in hospital, undergoing numerous tests for the weakness in my left arm and leg, presumed from the trauma to my neck and shoulder. Long term prognosis is good, yet uncertain as we do not have a definitive diagnosis for my profound weakness. I am improving quite rapidly and have regained most of my strength in the past couple of days. However, extended use of my left arm / hand still weakens it and leave it quite fatigued for the day. I have no problem with routine daily uses, it is the prolonged use that I am not quite capable of yet.

Until I am confident that I have good strength back in my left hand / arm, I will have to temporarily stop performing certain surgeries. We have contacted those of you who may be affected this coming week and have already made arrangements with you. I have a follow-up with the neurologist next week and will update all of you of any changes.

We are making every effort to ensure that our clients and patients are cared for during this period. We are fortunate to have excellent referral facilities and other local practices that will be able to perform those surgeries or procedures that cannot wait for my recovery.

Other than the limitation on certain surgeries, I do not anticipate any other major changes in our services --- except for a delay on some client communication as I catch up the next couple of days.

We will be open for our usual office hours this week (Aug. 5 - 9):
Wednesday to Friday: 7 am - 1 pm and 2 pm - 5 pm
Saturday and Sunday: 7 am - 2 pm

Please note, our clinic building is being fumigated and will be closed from Monday Aug. 1o to Friday Aug. 14. We will re-open for appointments on Saturday Aug. 15. We will post reminders of how to contact us for that week.

We received many well-wishes and inquiries to my health the past several days. Elias tried to reply to them while I was hospitalized. Our apologies if we missed anyone.

Communication is essential to the trust we have developed with you over the years. Please do not hesitate to voice your concerns or questions about any aspect of our services.

We sincerely appreciate your understanding this past weekend.
Thank you.

The Story of Duke

Duke was a sweet little fellow; a Jack Russell looking puppy, maybe 6 months of age. Duke was relentless and fiercely loyal to me. He followed me home without a leash, enthusiastically passing house after house as we walked home together on a hot July afternoon. The only problem was that Duke wasn't my dog!

Luckily, Duke had a collar and tag that even more luckily, stayed on him the entire time he was lost. After walking around home to home and calling the phone number on the tag (no one was answering), I decided to take him home and call Long Beach Animal Control. Long Beach Animal Control is sometimes criticized, but my experiences with them have always been positive, and this was no exception. Even on a day off, I was able to contact them with my and Duke's information so that they could locate his owner.

After about 2 hours his owner finally called, and Duke was reunited with his grateful owner. I explained to them the importance of keeping a puppy secure. Right afterward Animal Control came by my house, and were glad to hear of the happy outcome. A simple dog tag and collar saved the family much grief.

After formally studying ethics and philosophy for many years, I've come to believe that a primary motivator of animal care should be empathy. Unfortunately empathy is not something that can be taught in schools nor trained during a staff meeting. It is something that is attained only through maturity and realization that animals and their companions experience life much as you do. Like other pet owners, I've suffered grief from losing a close companion animal; I've become nervous at the thought of expensive veterinary bills, and I've experienced the thought of having lost my pet, if only temporarily. Empathy has its upsides too, as I was glad to enjoy the pleasure of the reunion of Duke and his family.

In The News: Canine Influenza Virus Vaccine

Some of our clients have read the recent New York Times article and had questions on the soon to be released canine influenza virus (CIV) vaccine from Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health. The NY Times article has a summary of the canine flu, its clinical signs and treatment so I will not repeat them here except to remind us that in most dogs, the disease is self-limiting and/or is treatable with appropriate medical intervention. Its devastating effect is more likely seen in situations where a lot of dogs are housed or kept together (i.e. boarding kennels / doggy daycare, animal shelters, or even veterinary clinics where infected dogs may pass through) because it would mean risk of widespread contamination and possible interruption of services. But on a smaller scale, as it pertains to you (and your canine companion), CIV is often treatable with timely supportive care. Do not dismiss it as "just a cough." Contact your family veterinarian to have your dog evaluate and treat if needed.

Do we (will we) recommend the canine influenza virus vaccine?

No. At this time, most of our canine patients are not in the at-risk population. We are not considered in an endemic area for CIV. That does not mean CIV is not in Southern California, just that it's not commonly reported. As CIV becomes more prevalent in our community OR if certain dogs have higher exposure (i.e. travels to dog shows, etc...), we will re-evaluate our recommendation and vaccinate if indicated.

If a boarding facility requires the CIV vaccine for boarding, we will talk to the facility management (so we can get an idea if CIV is present locally); we will defer to their requirement. Management of the boarding facilities know their husbandry practices, are aware of the condition of their other boarders, and have knowledge of whether their facility was exposed to CIV. We would not want our patients to board unvaccinated in a facility where CIV is a concern to management.

The canine influenza vaccine does not prevent the disease; it lessens the effect of the disease. The conditional license issued by APHIS listed the vaccine as an "aid in the control of disease associated with canine influenza virus infection, type A, subtype H3N8." The vaccine can reduce the incidence and severity of lung lesions. It can also reduce the duration of clinical signs
(i.e. coughing) and viral shedding, hence lowering the risk of contamination. But, again, it does not prevent infection or its clinical signs.

The canine influenza virus was identified in 2004. If you recall, the "Swine Flu" (H1N1) in humans was a concern because it was a new strain that the general human population had no prior exposure, no immunity. Similarly, when CIV was identified in 2004 as a novel pathogen to the general canine population, speculation surfaced that the disease will quickly spread through the canine community. In 2006, American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) called for development of a CIV vaccine due to its novel pathogen status.

Fortunately, CIV has not been as devastating as we fear. "Canine Flu" was often in pet-related news in 2004-2005. AVMA had a guideline to help deal with the "emerging disease." When CIV did not become as widespread as predicted, it fell out of the limelight --- until now, with the upcoming release of the vaccine. We need to keep in mind that CIV vaccine is not intended for all dogs, just those at risk based on their lifestyle. There is still much that we do not understand about viral mutation. Indiscriminatory widespread use of a vaccine in a low-risk population may inadvertently cause more harm in the future, not only to dogs, but also to other species including humans.

We may hear more about CIV outbreaks as we approach the release of the CIV vaccine. For those unfortunate areas, families, and dogs, the CIV vaccine may be a life-and-money-saving measure as it can reduce the duration of clinical signs and decrease viral shedding (e.g. decrease spreading of the infection). The vaccine may especially be helpful in animal shelters with confirmed cases of CIV or at risk for CIV. For the rest of us who are not at risk, it is better that we are vigilant of clinical signs and be aware of our lifestyle and exposure risk. Be aware of where we take our dogs; ask questions of the management.

One of the reasons we moved to a by-appointment only policy was to better control patient and traffic flow. With careful scheduling, we are able to minimize exposure between ill and healthy pets in the lobby. If you suspect your dog was exposed to CIV or is coughing, please inform the staff when you schedule the appointment. Even if your dog is otherwise doing fine, it is important that you mention your concern to the person scheduling the appointment in case precautionary measures are needed. This applies to any medical condition that may be contagious (sarcoptes / "scabies", ringworm, feline upper respiratory infection, etc...), not just canine influenza.

Remember that the prevalence of CIV may be different in your area. Based on their services, such as an on-site boarding facility, it may even be different among veterinary clinics in the same city. Contact your family veterinarian for information and recommendation specific to your locale.

When Making Changes to Cats' Litter Boxes...

Cats can be very particular with their litter box habits. Changing the type of litter or location of the litter box can sometimes trigger episodes of inappropriate urination or defecation --- translation: urinating or defecating outside the litter box.

Some cats will take to changes with no problems. Most, though, will not appreciate changes to their litter box, even if it means a better, prettier, easier-to-clean, litter box. A gradual change over is critical to avoid elimination issues.

Adding some of the current litter in with the new litter will help with the transition. For example, if changing from regular non-clumping clay litter to a plant fiber clumping litter (such as Arm & Hammer Essentials), place about 2 inches of the new litter in the box then add the current clay litter to the top 1/2 to 1 inch. Clean / Scoop the box at least once daily and add more of the new litter as needed. In a week, the box will contain mostly new clumping litter. Try to leave the litter box in the same location until the change is complete.

If you are changing the litter pan/box itself, such as switching over to an automatic litter box or upgrading to a larger box, place the new box next to the current one. Use the current type of litter in both litter boxes, if possible.

Stop cleaning the current (old) litter box. It will look unsightly but this is an important step in the transition. Just clean and maintain the new box. You can also remove some clean litter from the old box daily to make the box less inviting (most cats prefer a deep substrate to dig around). Your cat will start using the new box when the old one gets shallow and dirty. Remember to monitor to make sure he is urinating and defecating somewhere (hopefully in the new box). If your cat refuses to use the new box and stays away from the dirty old box, you may need to start over with a slower transition. Also look around to see if you can locate where he was eliminating in the house. If you know he is not urinating in either litter boxes and cannot tell if he is urinating somewhere in the house, contact your family veterinarian for advice. He is probably fine and is urinating somewhere, but best if you consult your veterinarian in case of problems.

A review of the different types of litter is in the works. After a brief initial research into the current "cat litter technology," I have to confess that it may take me a while to sift through the limited research and unlimited anectodes on the pros-and-cons of the available litter types for our feline companions. Nevertheless, silica gel litter, or crystals, intrigue me and will be first to be reviewed. I just introduced my cats to Fresh Step Crystals this week and will report back in a couple weeks.