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The Truth About Feline AIDS

This is a story about a cat.

It was a typical Myrtle Beach day about 4 years ago. I was inside doing work, when I noticed our two inside cats were paying attention to something outside.

For anyone who has indoor cats, this is not an unusual occurrence. Typically they see a bug, bird, or squirrel and get all worked up. This time however, I looked out to see a cat limping around in our backyard.

As an animal lover, I immediately went outside to see what was wrong with the cat. He was a very healthy looking cat (definitely not underfed), but it seemed he couldn’t put any weight on one of his hind legs. He didn’t seem to be in too much pain, but he was having a hard time getting around.

Carolina Forest, a neighborhood right outside of Myrtle Beach, isn’t the best place for an injured cat to be wandering around. I put him in a separate room of our house to let him get rest and food.

He was one of those very friendly cats, who just starts purring when you walk in the room. He was great!

I wanted to keep him apart from our cats just in case they didn’t get along, or just in case he was carrying a disease which could be transmitted to our cats.

The Next Few Days

My first thought was he belonged in our neighborhood and he got away from his owner. I spent the first day printing out lost and found flyers and distributing them throughout the area.

The next day, I took him to the vet to see if he was microchipped. No luck!

After the days ticked off, it was apparent nobody was coming to claim this tabby color cat.

Vet Visit

We already had three cats, and certainly were not looking for a fourth, but we still wanted to take him to the vet to get his leg and health checked out.

After some inspection of his leg, which he still couldn’t put weight on, the vet at Cat’s Meow determined he was bitten by a snake and had been dealing with this issue for awhile.

The vet recommended some blood tests to make sure he was healthy before putting him around our cats, or before looking at potential homes for him to be adopted into.

The Bad News

I can still remember the road I was on, and who I was in the car with when I got this call.

It was the Cat’s Meow Animal Hospital calling with the lab results. She said, “I regret to inform you, but the tabby cat you brought to us tested positive for feline AIDS.”

My heart sank. I could feel his chances of adoption going out the window.

I was very unfamiliar with feline AIDS, so I asked the vet what they felt was the most humane thing to do. They recommended euthanasia may be the best option given his circumstance, and unfortunately I agreed.

I let them know that when my wife got off work she would come to the office to be with him during those final few minutes.

I called back Sav-R-Cats, who I had been in touch with about finding him a home, and left the bad news on their voicemail.

An Unexpected Call

I was consigned to the fact that this was the only thing which could be done. Until I got this next phone call.

It was the director of Sav-R-Cats. She was wondering if we still had this tabby cat who had been diagnosed with feline AIDS.

She told me of a lady in Darlington, SC who had three cats, all with feline AIDS, who had just recently had a tabby color cat pass away. She was looking for a new cat with feline AIDS she could provide a home for. Our tabby color feline AIDS cat was a perfect match!

My wife had already texted me letting me know she was at the office to be with the cat during the process.

My next frantic call was to Cat’s Meow Animal Hospital. I was probably screaming into the phone when they picked up.

“DON’T PUT THAT CAT TO SLEEP”

I asked her if they had euthanized the cat yet, and she said, “I don’t think they have completely done it yet.”.

My wife tells me they had already done the first injection to calm the cat, when the office manager ran in and told them to stop the procedure because we found a home for him.

It took him a a few hours to wake up, and Cat’s Meow was kind enough to hold on to him until he was able to travel.

It’s Not A Death Sentence

When you hear “feline AIDS” most people think it’s a death sentence for a cat. The reality is that a cat with feline AIDS can go on to live a long and relatively healthy life.

According to PetMD,“Within 4.5 to 6 years after the time of infections, about 20 percent of cats die; however, over 50 percent will remain without clinical signs of the disease.”

Infected cats can pass it on to non-infected cats through things such as bite wounds and scratches so it is important to keep them apart.

However, if you only are ever planning on having one cat than you can absolutely adopt a cat with feline AIDS. Unfortunately, many cats with feline AIDS are not adopted because of the stigma which goes with it.

A Happy Ending

The next day we drove him to Darlington, SC where he was united with his new family. His new owner couldn’t believe how close he was to not making it, so it was only fitting she named him Lucky.

He now lives with two other cats who also have feline AIDS. He lives a normal cat life, despite not regaining use of his snakebitten leg.

We still get updates on him about once a year, and all I can think is how Lucky he really is.

Adding A Pet To Your Home

Adding a pet to your home can be exciting, challenging, expensive, and yes, at times overwhelming. Every family or individual has a different reason for adding a pet to their family.

We add pets to our homes because we just love having them around, we live alone and want the companionship, we recently lost a beloved pet, or the classic reason, the animal showed up at your door with no chip or identification, and you fell in love.Most of the pets in my home, my parents’ home, my in-laws homes, pretty much my entire friends and family have been the latter. Two of my cats were strays, found at various places over the past 10 years.

A Personal Story

My third cat, Yogi, seemed to come with the house. Shortly after we moved in, a cat was at the back door, staring in at us. We really did not want another cat, so I called my mother to ask her what I should do, even though I knew her answer. “Feed him and try to find out if he belongs to anyone.” Well, we all know how that goes. Yogi got a name, a place to sleep, and food and water.

At first he slept in a bed on the porch, and we told ourselves that’s where he would stay. After about a month, we took him to the vet for shots and had him neutered. After he was neutered, my wife and I agreed he could stay in the house just to recover. Well, four years later, he is still with u, and lives a very happy, full life as a house cat. Our dog, Coleman, a Treeing Walker Coon Hound, was found in the woods while we were camping.

We knew he was really sick, and we took him to the emergency vet the next day. She told us he probably would not have lived another 24 hours. He weighed just 28 pounds when we found him. Coleman now weighs a healthy 66 pounds.

Finding A New Family Member

A very important place to secure a wonderful pet is the local animal shelters. The number of healthy, beautiful, loving animals euthanized every day is alarming and heartbreaking. There are several shelters in and around Horry County, that have great pets available.

If you are purchasing a specific breed, I recommend you go to the breeder’s home, look at the conditions of the parents and the home, and ask a lot of questions before you buy. There is probably a rescue, either local or online, for every breed of cat or dog you might be interested in adding to your home. I encourage you to consider adopting first.

The Right Fit

Prior to adding a pet of any kind to your home, think about your work and home schedules, vacations, children’s after school activities, and life in general. Do you have time to properly care for a pet? If not, do you have the resources to hire a pet sitter, or do you have outside help available?

A pet sitter can be a valuable tool in helping house train your pet, as well as providing much needed exercise throughout the day. If you decide to get a cat, and think “they don’t take much time.” Think again. Cats may be independent, but most cats, especially kittens, love to play and crave companionship. Cleaning a litter box may seem like a minor detail, but some cats will not use a dirty litter box. We all know they have to go somewhere!

Happy To Help

As a pet sitter, the pets I see live in homes where they are treasured family members. I enjoy spending time with every pet we care for. Pets add immeasurable value to our lives. They are totally dependent on us for almost everything, and they reward us with unconditional love.

However, no matter what kind of pet you have, they take time, money, patience, and sometimes a lot of work. But in the end, no matter what kind of pet you have, they are worth it!

5 Ways To Make Your Pet, And Your Pet Sitter More Comfortable

I have had the pleasure of taking care of hundreds of pets during my time as the owner of Atlantic Pet Sitting. I have seen pets who accept me from the moment I walk in the door, and I have some pets who I am still gaining the trust of.

As pet parents, we are very good at worrying about our pets while we are away. This can be worrying about what time we can get off work when our pets our home alone, or how they will react to a sitter while we are gone for extended periods. One of the most common questions I am asked is, “How can I make my pet more comfortable while I’m away?”.

A calm pet makes for a happy sitter and happy owner, so here are some tips which can make things easier for everyone.

Arrange A Meetup

One of the most important steps in working with your pet sitter is getting to know them, and them getting to know you and your pet. When working with a new client we find a time to come to your house and take some notes about the care of your pet.

During this first meeting you should allow your pet to see you interacting with the pet sitter. This will help ease the tension when the pet sitter enters the home for the first time on their own.

This meeting would be a great time to discuss any special needs, as well as detailed notes regarding the care of your pets.

Keep Surroundings Familiar

It can be tempting to change things up a bit when you’re leaving your pet alone, but typically they will sense something is different and this could cause them to rebel.

If your cats like a certain scratching post, leave it there. If your dog likes to eat in a certain spot, make sure your sitter knows to feed them there. Also let your sitter know the typical walking route you do while outside.

The closer you keep the environment to when you are at home, the better it will be for your four-legged companion.

Maintain The Same Routine

Like us, our pets are creatures of habit. Similar to our previous tip, it is best to keep your pets in the routine they are accustomed to.

For example, it is best to have your sitter to come for their visit during when your pets are typically fed and/or walked. The easiest transitions we have seen is for pets who continue their feeding and exercise schedule they are accustomed to.

Access To Stress Relievers

It is very typical for pets to exhibit some levels of stress while owners are away. This is why it is so important to have stress relievers available to calm the pet and avoid destruction to the home.

I have had clients use Thundershirts, scratching posts, calming diffusers, leaving music on, and a variety of other methods to help their pets. Experiment with some methods before heading out of town.

Keep In Contact

Remember, your pet sitter is working for you and your pet. Never feel like you are bothering, or bugging your pet sitter. Keeping in touch allows the sitter to let you know of any tendencies they are noticing.

Being proactive is a great way to ensure your pet stays calm and happy while under the care of someone else. At Atlantic Pet Sitting, we are always happy to provide phone, text, and picture updates while your pets are under our care.

Following these simple steps will help you, your pet sitter, and your pet adjust to your time away.

Finding A Myrtle Beach Pet Sitter

This is the first post in our “Hiring Your Perfect Pet Sitter” series. The purpose of this post is to help you start the process of finding a qualified Myrtle Beach pet sitter.

Finding a Myrtle Beach pet sitter can be an easy process, but some important steps must be
taken to be sure your pet is receiving the best care available.

As an owner of three cats, and a Coonhound, the thought of leaving them for extended periods of time makes me very anxious without a proper care plan in place. Hiring a professional pet sitter can help ease this anxiety, and can allow your pets to stay in the comfort of their own home.

When looking for someone to care for their pets many people turn to family members, or neighbors. This is a great plan of action if you have it available, but many of us in Myrtle Beach don’t have family nearby, and our neighbors can’t always commit to 2-5 visits per day. Caring for a dog can easily take 3-4 hours per day.

If you don’t know your neighbors well enough, or your family isn’t around to help, then it’s time to look elsewhere for a Myrtle Beach pet sitter. Taking the search online is often the next step for most people.

Finding a Myrtle Beach pet sitter online can be a daunting task. Finding anything online can be like walking through a maze. Searching for “Myrtle Beach pet sitter” will return you 24,400 results, so how do you pick one reliable pet sitter?

One of the first reliable places to look is on Google maps, which will only show you local businesses. Google maps also allows you to see pet care businesses in your area, and most importantly it allows you to see user ratings of a business. Be sure to read the reviews, and make sure they are from a reliable source and not just someone trying to boost their business.

After identifying some potential candidates, your next step is to dig a bit deeper. By “googling” the name of the pet sitting business you should be able to find their website, and any social media the business participates in.

Facebook is also a great place to find the reputation of a pet sitting business before you hire them. Be sure the business is updating the page regularly, and is engaging with comments. Facebook also has a great rating/review system in which you can see how a potential business has performed with past clients.

Some other popular online destinations to find a Myrtle Beach pet sitter include Care.com, Angie’s List, Yelp, and Craigslist.

A quality pet sitter should be bonded and insured, list prices online, have a local phone number, and have a history of positive reviews across several platforms.

Now you have a list of qualified candidates, and it’s time to call a few and set up some meetings. Our next piece in this series will describe the meet and greet process and layout some questions to ask your potential pet sitter.

The Silent Killer: South Carolina Heartworm Prevention

‘Heartworm!”

Most of us have heard the word, but know very little about it. Heartworm has been diagnosed in all 50 states. However, the majority of cases of heartworm are found in warmer climates, like South Carolina.

Heartworm is a life threatening disease passed by mosquitoes to our pets through a bite. It is diagnosed in cats who never go outside, as well as dogs who go on long walks, or just walk outside in their yard. Heartworm is diagnosed with a simple blood test.

Untreated heartworm gradually causes serious organ damage and eventually death. Heartworms live in the heart, lungs, abdomen, or liver of the host pet. Heartworm is often called “the silent killer.” Pets that have recently been infected show no signs.

The time from infection to being heartworm positive and/or showing symptoms is normally 6 months. Adult heartworms live in the pulmonary artery which connects to the lungs, and spread throughout the body. As the disease progresses, symptoms include: persistent cough, increased tiredness after minimal exercise, decreased interest in activities such as walking and playing, decreased appetite and weight loss.

There is no effective heartworm treatment for cats, and it is much more difficult to diagnose. However, the disease is just as deadly in cats as in dogs. Treatment of heartworm in dogs is expensive and painful.

Heartworm is preventable! Prevention of this life threatening disease in dogs is as simple as taking a pill each month. Cats are treated with drops down the back of the neck.

The veterinarian should test your pet one time per year. If your pet is negative, owners are given a one year supply of anti-heartworm medication. Costs for heartworm preventive medication costs $45-85 per year. The cost is determined by the size of the pet, feline or canine, any rebates available at the time, and individual veterinary charges.

An Unfortunate Case

About 5 years ago my parents adopted a dog who had been diagnosed with heartworm. They fell in love with “Colby Jack,” when they saw his picture on the website. Even after they were told he had heartworm, they decided to adopt him. My parents live in Maryland, where there is very little heartworm.

They knew almost nothing about the disease, and thought he could be cured with “treatment”. After an X-ray at a local veterinary office showed the heartworms, Colby Jack was taken to a specialist in Baltimore, Maryland, for treatment.

Treatment consisted of 2 injections of Immiticide, given 12 hours a part. The medication contains arsenic. The injections are given in the back of the pet, and are very painful. One of the main problems with treating heartworm is the potential that even though the heartworms are killed, they can break off and travel to the lungs.

Pets should be restricted to a crate and have minimal activity for at least 4-6 weeks. Even though Colby Jack got the best care available, the dead worms traveled to his lungs. Even though he lived for another 18 months, Colby Jack never recovered. He was always short of breath, had difficulty with any activity, and required daily medications.

It is very sad to realize that Colby Jack and many other cats and dogs could have been saved by taking a pill once a month or having drops placed on the back of their neck.

Preventing Heartworm In South Carolina

South Carolina has a very high incidence of heartworm. One of the main reasons for this high rate is the fact that we do not have the prolonged cold weather necessary to kill most of the mosquitoes who carry this virus.

Prevention is the only hope we have to limit this disease.

Please talk to your veterinarian about heartworm testing and preventive treatment. Your pet’s life could depend on it!

5 Practical Ways To Show Your Pet You Love Them This Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and many of us love to spoil our four legged family members. If you feel like skipping the heart shaped catnip toys and rawhides this year, we have put together a practical gift guide which will show your pet how much you really care.

5. Nutritional Food And Treats

As the owner of Atlantic Pet Sitting, based in Myrtle Beach, SC, I come across tons of different types of pet foods and treats. Just like the foods we eat, pet foods vary in their nutritional values.

It can be quite overwhelming when it comes to picking out a food for your pet. I am not a veterinarian or nutritionist, but I do know that balance is important in the diet of your pet. It’s important to be sure the food you purchase is “age” appropriate to your pet as designated on the food packaging.

The nutrition of your pet can play a huge role in their energy levels, skin and coat, and overall health.

A great way to find the right match for your pup or cat is to ask your veterinarian. They can point you in the right direction of putting together an effective nutritional plan.

4. Routine Dental Care

February is National Pet Dental Health Month so now would be a great time to schedule a routine checkup and cleaning with your veterinarian.

If your dog constantly experiences “dog” breath, or you pull away when your cat yawns, you should make an appointment for a cleaning. Routine dental health checks will keep your pet healthy, and will also save you money in the long run before a serious health issue occurs. These issues can not only affect their teeth and gums, but can also pose threat to internal organs.

Now is a great time to schedule that cleaning as many local Grand Strand veterinarians are offering coupons on February visits.

3. Exercise And Socializing

Our biggest initiative at Atlantic Pet Sitting is advocating the exercise and socialization of pets. To keep your pet healthy, both mentally and physically, daily exercise is very important. This includes both cats and dogs.

Exercising a cat can be done with complex toys like laser pointers and mazes, but can be done easily with something as simple as a string. Daily play time will engage your cat and can prevent behavioral issues, and will help them to maintain a healthy weight.

Those of us who live in Myrtle Beach, and surrounding areas, are extremely lucky to have beaches and dog parks where we can take our dogs. With Spring on the way, Myrtle Beach hosts multiple community events where dogs are welcome and can socialize with other people and dogs.

As with cats, exercise plays a vital role in the happiness and obedience of your dog.

2. Microchipping

According to Pet WebMD, up to 8 million pets end up in shelters every year, and only 15-20% of dogs and less than 2% of cats are reclaimed by their owners.

A great way to increase the likelihood of finding your pet if you ever find yourself in this terrible situation is through microchipping. Microchipping involves the placement of a tiny microchip (about the size of a grain of rice) under your pet’s skin.

Veterinarians and shelters scan for microchips when a pet is brought to them. If one is found they can contact the owner in order to return the lost pet.

If you already have your pet microchipped, please take a minute right now to double check your information is correct on the profile. Many pets are found, but the owner information (phone number and address) is no longer correct. Make sure your profile is up to date for all your pets.

I have seen pet stores and veterinary clinics in the Myrtle Beach area who are offering lifetime microchipping services for as low as $25. This is a great investment!

1. Shiny New Necklace

If you really want to show your love this Valentine’s Day, get your pet some “bling”. Replacing that old collar and outdated contact tag will be the first line of defense if your pet is lost.

On multiple occasions over the last few months I have found cats and dogs loose in neighborhoods. When I have approached them, I have noticed they either didn’t have a collar, or had a collar with no contact information on it.

Please be sure your pet consistently wears a collar with your current contact information on it. Some new collars can even embroider the pet name and contact information on the collar. These are great so even if they lose the tag, they will still have a chance to get home. If they lose the collar, they should have a microchip as a last resort.

Spoiling your pet on Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be expensive. These practical Valentine’s Day gifts will help your pet live and long and healthy life.

And while you’re at it, make sure to give them an extra hug this Valentine’s Day!

Pet-Proofing Your Home Inside And Out

When our children are young, we automatically childproof our homes and monitor their every activity, inside and outside the home. Pets, like children, don’t recognize the dangers that can be present in our homes and every day environment. It is up to the owners to recognize these dangers and correct them. [Read more…]

Top 5 Places In Myrtle Beach To Enjoy With Your Dog

Many of us along the Grand Strand have dogs, but not all of us take advantage of the wonderful surroundings which can be enjoyed with our four-legged friends. Spending time with your pooch not only keeps them healthy, both mentally and physically, but can do the same for you. [Read more…]

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