Short Takes

Dolasetron Fails for Vomiting in Felines

Dolasetron (brand name Anzemet) has been used in people to help with chemotherapy-induced nausea. It inhibits vomiting and nausea via pathways in both the gastrointestnal tract and the central nervous system. This dual action made it sound helpful to cats, thought researchers in California. Their study was reported in the August 2018 Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery.

Understanding Time

Ever wonder how your cat knows youre late coming home from work? A recent study found evidence that mice can judge time. By examining mouse brains medial entorhinal cortex, researchers discovered neurons that turn on like a clock when they wait.

Of Course Theyre Family

According to a recent note in SmartBrief, a New York Times report found that Pets are increasingly thought of as family members and their owners are increasingly willing to spend more on veterinary care.....

Cats vs. Rats, Rats Are Winning

The first study to document interactions between feral cats and a wild rat colony finds that, contrary to popular opinion, cats are not good predators of rats.

100 Cats

News 5 in Cleveland, Ohio, reports that police received multiple calls about multiple cats in a mans home.

What the Cat Dragged In

A cat in Great Britain brought home a bag of illegal drugs, which the owner turned in to the police.

New California Divorce Law

Effective January 1, in a divorce, the judge has specific criteria to use when deciding who gets the cat (or dog).

Tick Identification Service Available

In an effort to identify the tick species in pets across the United States, the National Center for Veterinary Parasitology (NCVP) at Oklahoma State University is offering a free tick identification service.

No More Compounded Mirtazapine Ointment

Compounded drugs are medications where bulk ingredients are mixed together by a pharmacist, as opposed to a commercial drug that is approved by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and manufactured under the FDAs monitoring. When an FDA-approved drug becomes available, the FDA forbids the same medication to be compounded. This is the case with Mirataz (mirtazapine transdermal ointment), which is applied to the inner surface of a cats ear to manage undesired weight loss.

Rehoming and Asthma

A study from the Nationwide Childrens Hospital analyzed environmental exposures, like pets and secondhand smoke, to determine if they have a role in asthma control among children whose asthma is managed per National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP) guidelines. Researchers found that, once asthma guidelines are followed, environmental exposures were not significant factors in overall asthma improvement over time.

Heartworm in Cats

Centragard (eprinomectin and praziquantel transdermal solution) was approved by the FDA in April and is now on the market. This drug is used to prevent heartworm disease caused by Dirofilaria immitis, which is spread through the bite of mosquitoes. It is applied monthly. Centragard is also approved for the treatment and control of roundworms, hookworms, and tapeworms in cats and kittens 7 weeks of age and older and weighing at least 1.8 lb.

Landlords Must Check for Pets

A new law signed into legislation in New York state requires law-enforcement officials to check for pets who may have been abandoned by the renters and left behind when enforcing an eviction notice to renters.