Mammary Masses in Cats by Shann Ikezawa, DVM

The next time you’re giving your cat a belly rub, you may want to take advantage of the opportunity and check for any unusual lumps or bumps. Just like people, cats can get mammary gland tumors (breast cancer) and early diagnosis and treatment can affect long term prognosis. According to The Cornell Feline Health Center, estimates show cancer affects 30-40% of all cats and about ⅓ of these cases involves the mammary glands.

Not all cat mammary gland masses are cancerous, but unfortunately, the majority of them are. It is estimated that 90% of mammary gland masses in cats are malignant (cancerous). This is very different than their canine companions, where malignancy is estimated at 50%. Other than administration of progestin medications, there are no known causes of mammary cancer in cats. Intact and spayed female cats are most commonly affected, but male cats can develop these tumors as well. Siamese and tricolor (calico and tortoiseshell) cats appear to be predisposed to this disease.

What do you do if you feel a lump along your cat’s chest or belly? Your veterinarian will likely want to test the mass to determine what it may be. If there is evidence that it is a mammary gland tumor, surgery to remove the mass, with wide margins, is likely your best option. Testing, such as chest x-rays, a blood panel, and abdominal ultrasound, may also be recommended beforehand to ensure there is no evidence of cancer anywhere else in the body. Once the mass is removed, the biopsy report will provide further information on how aggressive the mass is, if the mass was completely removed, and whether it may have invaded the local lymphatic system.

Prognosis with mammary tumors is largely dependent on the size of the tumor. One study showed cats with tumors less than 3 cm in size have an average median survival time of around 21 months (range 3-54 months). Cats with masses larger than 3 cm had a much poorer prognosis with median survival times of 4-12 months. Radical surgery to remove all the mammary glands has been shown to increase the time before the disease recurs in patients, but not necessarily increase the median survival time. In one study, follow up chemotherapy has been shown to increase the amount of time before disease recurrence in affected cats, but not necessarily to increase survival time. In general, there is still a great deal that is unknown as far as how to best manage and prevent recurrence of mammary cancer in cats. Each individual patient will need a medical and surgical plan tailored to their unique situation and needs.

What can you do to try to prevent mammary cancer in your cat? Spaying your female cat is the most important thing you can do. A study has shown that spaying before 6 months of age decreases risk of mammary cancer by 91%, before 1 year of age, 86%. Spaying before 2 years of age decreases risk by 11%. Spaying after 2 years of age did not reveal any preventative benefits. Having kittens also did not show any protective benefits. 

Dr. Ikezawa is a 1997 graduate of the Veterinary School at the University of California, Davis, where she focused on both small animal and exotic animal medicine. She completed an internship in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery in 1998, and practiced for 2 years with an avian specialist. She was on staff at Crow Canyon Veterinary Clinic prior to its merger to become Bishop Ranch Veterinary Center. Her special interests are soft tissue surgery, internal medicine, and avian/exotic medicine (including rabbits, rodents, and reptiles). She also works closely with pug rescue and has a special interest in pugs and their unique medicine and needs

The Gena Austin Memorial Fund by Shann Ikezawa, DVM

HISTORY

Gena Austin was a tireless, dedicated advocate for pets. As president of PROS Pug Rescue, she saved many lives and touched many souls - both human and canine. We had a very special relationship with Gena here at Bishop Ranch Veterinary Center & Urgent Care. She believed in trying to provide the best medicine and care no matter what the situation or constraints. We deeply admired and respected her commitment to animal welfare. While she was never part of our staff, she was definitely part of our family.

Before her death in July of 2011, Gena expressed her wish to establish a fund to help the clients and patients of Bishop Ranch Veterinary Center & Urgent Care. In a critical situation, she never wanted to see a human-animal bond severed and a pet euthanized when it could be saved if someone was able to just lend a helping hand. The Gena Austin Memorial Fund was created in order to honor her memory and to continue her legacy of animal rescue.  

MISSION STATEMENT

The Gena Austin Memorial Fund is a non-profit, donation-based fund, that was established in December of 2012 to provide assistance to the charitable care of a patient in need at Bishop Ranch Veterinary Center & Urgent Care. The fund is intended to support a one-time surgical or medical intervention for a pet with an excellent prognosis, which, without such support would otherwise be euthanized, relinquished, and/or endure excessive suffering.

If you would like to make a donation to the fund, please click here.  An official webpage will be up soon. In the meantime, please visit the Facebook page, www.facebook.com/GenasFund, to share your thoughts on Gena or rescued pets in your life.

Lives Saved: Lightening Hendricks

Name: Lightening Hendricks
Breed: Desert Tortoise

Age: Over 60 years old
Diagnosis: Trauma to legs and abdomen 

Having a pet in the family for over 50 years seems nearly impossible, but the Hendricks estimate that Lightening, their not-so-speedy California Desert Tortoise, is probably over 60 years old. She has lived in their yard for, literally, decades. In September of 2009 they found her not moving, with large gaping wounds in front of both of her rear legs. The wounds were deep, all the way through the skin, perhaps entering the belly, and filled with debris and maggots.The Hendricks brought her to Dr. Ikezawa at Bishop Ranch Veterinary Center & Urgent Care.

Lightening was understandably painful and ill, not moving much and losing interest in eating. While it is not known for sure what caused Lightening's wound there is a high probability that they were caused by a raccoon. She was sedated and her wounds were cleaned aggressively. Tortoises are slow to heal and she would require daily treatment in order to give her a chance at survival. The Hendricks decided to move forward full force with Lightening's care. She was hospitalized for two weeks with daily wound care, antibiotics, and force feedings, when finally the wounds looked clean enough to try to surgically close them. Under anesthesia, the wounds were surgically closed and a feeding tube placed so that the Hendricks could continue to medicate and feed her at home. 

Lightening seemed to be recovering at home when it started to get cold outside and her instinct to brumate (reptile version of hibernate) took over. At the end of October, her wounds were still not healed, but the feeding tube needed to be removed and she needed to be allowed to brumate. The Hendricks kept their fingers crossed that their aggressive care before her brumation would allow her to wake up in the spring still healthy and healing. 

In March of 2010, Lightening “woke up” and started to eat on her own. A recheck revealed that the sutures could finally be removed. There were still small defects in the incision but they appeared to be healing without complication. The Hendricks still needed to clean the wounds and apply topical medication but it appeared Lightening would make a full recovery!

A final recheck in June 2010 has shown that Lightening has healed completely. The Hendricks are finally able to take a break from tending to her wounds, and are both happy and unhappy to report that she is healthy enough to be breaking into their garden and stealing green beans off their plants! While dogs may take weeks to heal, reptiles can take months or longer, but can recover from severe injuries given the proper care and time. 

Easter Bunnies by Erin Selby

Sweet, furry, and complex.

Rabbits are exceptionally adorable and endlessly entertaining. They really do make special companion animals for the right people. In fact, they are becoming more and more popular. The percentage of households owning rabbits increased from 24% to 40% between 1992 and 2000, according to the American Pet Products Manufacturers' Association (APPMA). The popularity of rabbits as pets increases over Easter, for obvious reasons. When the new rabbit owner realizes the energy, special care, and time that goes into owning a pet rabbit, many are abandoned at the shelter or worse, turned loose outside. “Our goal is to educate the public about the realities of bunny ownership,” says Dr. Shann Ikezawa, an exotic and small animal veterinarian for Bishop Ranch Veterinary Center & Urgent Care. “Bunnies make great family pets, however they require special care that isn’t always taken into consideration when the impulse to adopt a bunny is made – especially during the Easter holiday.” 

Many people believe that rabbits make good "starter" pets to help teach children responsibility. Unfortunately, children and rabbits are not always an ideal match. Young children naturally want to hug and squeeze and carry rabbits around but this can present a hazard - for both the rabbit and the child. Rabbits are very fragile and can easily come to harm. They don't always enjoy being held and can kick and struggle with their powerful hind legs. This may lead to the rabbit being dropped or jumping out of the child's arms which can cause the rabbit's legs or back to break. A rabbit with a broken back has limited treatment options and often must be euthanized. Rabbits struggling in a child's arms may also unintentionally cause harm by biting or scratching with their paws. It is not impossible for rabbits to do well with children, as long as an adult in the family is the primary care giver of the pet and the interaction between the child and the rabbit is supervised.

All of that being said, having a rabbit as a pet can be very rewarding! Rabbits combine the independence and intrigue of cats with the affection, loyalty and silliness of dogs into one soft, adorable pet. They are best suited to an adult pet owner who can provide them with an indoor space to live and play and who can tolerate a rabbit's natural tendency for digging and chewing. While a cage should be provided for them to sleep in, retreat to, and stay in when they need to be contained, rabbits should have room to roam free - with supervision of course! Make sure to rabbit proof your home in order to keep your rabbit safe and to protect your furniture and belongings. Rabbits have special dietary needs, and should eat a diet comprised mostly of hay. It is important to do your research if you are thinking of adding a rabbit to your family. Bishop Ranch Veterinary Center & Urgent Care has several informative documents regarding rabbits available to email upon request. You can email us for more information at info@webvets.com. Rabbits are not low-maintenance pets, but they just might be the right pet for you!

Rescue Kitten Lucas by Shann Ikezawa, DVM

We are saddened to report that despite aggressive and dedicated care by the Good Samaritan that originally rescued Lucas, he continued to have episodes of constipation and weakness. He spent weeks in and out of the hospital on fluids and multiple medications trying to correct his disease, but he failed to gain any weight and had intermittent periods of collapse. Ultimately, our Good Samaritan and the doctors here agreed the most compassionate decision would be to stop putting Lucas through any more and he was humanely euthanized. It is these patients that remind me of the best part of my job- our wonderful, generous clients, and the worst- the pets that can't be saved.

Bunnies, Geckos, and Budgies: The Importance of Preventative Care for Exotic Pets by Shann Ikezawa, DVM

The diminutive size of reptiles, birds, and rodents can sometimes be misleading. People often think they will make simple pets, kept in cages or tanks, requiring little time and attention. Each species, however, has specific needs, some quite complex, and the wrong diet and environment can lead to a variety of health problems.

Preventative health care is important in all the pets we see at Bishop Ranch Veterinary Center & Urgent Care, but is it even more essential in our exotic patients. Reptiles have unique requirements for temperature, humidity, light, and diet. Mistakes in their husbandry lead to fractured legs, seizures, infections, and other internal disease. Bird owners often find well meaning advice on diet and behavior is incorrect and lead to obesity and a biting, screaming pet. Rabbits and rodents are often started on inappropriate diets, leading to obesity and dental disease. 

Owners are also often unaware of signs that indicate illness. Exotic pets behave very differently than a dog or cat and tend to hide disease until they are critically ill. A little research and preventative health care go a long way in the care of your exotic pet. Unavoidable medical problems or accidents may occur, but proper husbandry can prevent some of the most common health problems we see in exotic pets. Your veterinarian will help educate and guide you in the proper care of your exotic pet so that they can live a healthy, happy life.

Good Samaritan Rescue Kitten Update by Shann Ikezawa, DVM

Our little stray kitten, now named "Lucas", has been doing well in the care of our good Samaritan client. He has had a few ups and downs, including an episode of weakness, but overall is starting to show improvement and signs of normal kitten behavior. He is down to 2 medications daily and has been able to defecate on his own. We are in the process of fine tuning medications and evaluating for congenital problems. During his check up today, he spent most of his time purring and a small amount of time yelling and complaining as I palpated his abdomen... pretty typical of an opinionated feline! He has failed to gain weight properly, which is concerning, but is strong enough to manage escape. His owner reports that he broke out of his pen last night and climbed up a chair. He was found this morning, looking innocent, as if to say, "Why wouldn't I be sitting here?"