I heard a news item on the radio the other day that seemed too amazing to believe. The headline (or teaser as it's called) was about a cat with 4 ears, but I never heard the rest of the story. It was probably read 10 minutes later, after I had already parked my car.
Headlines like this are usually followed by some crazy, unsubstantiated story that I expect from a gossip rag in the grocery store checkout aisle. Ordinarily, I ignore all this mindless drivel. But since this was a slow week for pet news anyway, and since the report came from a larger news organization, I looked it up on the internet. And sure enough, Yoda the kitten has 4 ear flaps. This poor little guy really looks strange in his photograph. But he's an otherwise perfectly healthy cat. He hears fine, though not twice as well as an ordinary cat. And he loves to play with the family children who adopted him. They say he'll be an indoor cat. They're worried (and rightfully so) that someone may steal him because of his unique appearance.
Extra ears are, indeed, a rarity. But in the feline world, other "extras" are considered desirable. Some people actually look for cats with unusual traits. Take, for example, the cat with six or seven toes on each foot. These polydactyl cats are popular with many cat lovers. Some think the extra toes give a cat better balance. Others say that their cat can better defend himself with his larger feet. I think some people just like the looks of a cat with big feet. But if you have a cat with extra toes, you should be aware of one potential health concern for him or her. Those extra toenails aren't always kept short when a cat "cleans his claws", scratching on wood or a nice scratching post. For these kitties, the results can be a painful ingrown nail. The toenail can literally grow around and into the pad of the foot. So anyone with a polydactyl cat needs to be vigilant and regularly check the feet to make sure the nails aren't growing too long.
And while we're talking about "extras" in the animal world, let's discuss a dental condition where the animal has extra, or supernumerary, teeth. This condition, where too many teeth are literally crowded together in the mouth, can lead to a variety of health problems. Supernumerary teeth are found in the mouths of both cats and dogs, but we see it most commonly in small-breed dogs. I have seen several Yorkies with a complete extra set of incisors and canines on both top and bottom jaw. Looking at these always reminds of the late jazz talent Lionel Hampton. He played the vibraphone (a variation of a xylophone) and the teeth in the mouth of one of these little guys looks like one of those instruments with its two rows of metal bars.
Far and above, the most common problem the pet owner notices is halitosis. The breath on these patients can be so bad you can smell it from across the room. No doubt this makes snuggling on the same pillow just a little difficult. But extra teeth can cause also misalignment of the bite, a condition called malocclusion. Some of these patients suffer moderate to severe gingivitis, an inflammation of the gums. Occasionally, a tooth abscess develops as a result of supernumerary teeth.
The bottom line is this: Make sure your pet's veterinarian checks your pet's teeth every time you go in. Small problems can become large ones and the treatment for supernumerary teeth in a kitten or puppy is simple and straight forward. And the resulting fresh breath will be worth it for both you and your pet.
Q:
I'm interested in beautiful horse that's for sale. The price is right for this 6-year-old. It's almost too cheap. They say she's sound and that their vet can do a prepurchase soundness exam if I want it done. I want to use this horse for pleasure riding, eventually maybe even jumping. I'm nervous about this sale because it all sounds too good. What should I watch for in the exam?
A:
A prepurchase exam is usually done by a veterinarian hired by the buyer. I recommend you have a vet of your choice do this exam so that there are no questions later. The prepurchase should be a thorough exam lasting the better part of an hour. A large portion of this exam should focus on the legs and feet. The vet will watch the horse walk and trot both straightaway, and to a left and right circle. Hoof testers are used to check for foot problems, and flexion tests of the fetlocks help to rule out early arthritic conditions. And if you think you might want to jump this horse, you should probably have the vet take some radiographs (x-rays) of the feet and lower legs. Early changes in the joints are difficult to find without these pictures. And some of the changes might cause painful problems later.
Above all, if your instincts tell you something, listen to them. Remember that there are a lot of good horses out there, and don't buy a horse on impulse or emotion. Have a vet you choose do the exam and give you a written report of his or her findings. Good luck, and happy trails!
Pete Keesling Pete Keesling is a veterinarian at San Martin Veterinary Hospital. He writes a bi-weekly column for South Valley Newspapers and hosts a radio talk show, Dr. Pete's Petpourri, Sundays at 1 p.m. and Friday mornings at 7:10 on KSCO 1080 AM. If you have questions about pet care, e-mail them to smvet3@yahoo.com.
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