Cheap cat toys #2 OR entertaining your apartment-dwelling cat

Sylvestor can play with his toys just as long as you can dangle them in front of him.

Pet cats need to be entertained, as I've discussed previously here. This week I had the opportunity to spend time with Sylvestor, the most well-adjusted apartment-dwelling cat I've visited at home (most of my patients come to me, and they act very differently than they do at home - much like most humans act very differently when they're at the dentist).

So what are Sylvestor's favourite toys?

1. Da Bird

Its a stick (or wand if you want to be fancy) with a string and feathers attached so you can suspend the feathers in front of them. There are countless videos of cats the world over going crazy for this thing. 

Sylvestor busts another acrobatic move.

2. The Laser (pointer, that is)

Cue Dr Evil. Laser pointers are not used to point at cats, or people, or their gonads. You point them at the floor or wall and let your cat chase the moving dot. The perfect toy if you want to do minimal exercise while your cat burns calories like Olivie Newtown John in the Lets Get Physical video clip. Not convinced? Check out the clip below.

I rest my case. The moral of this story, of course, is that companion animals need to be engaged and - for the most part - enjoy interacting and playing. Time spent playing with your cat is never wasted.

Animal Death

Animal Death, Sydney University Press, 2013

Its a confronting title for a confronting topic. On Monday, Sydney University Press launched Animal Death, a collection of papers presented at the Human Animal Research Network symposium of the same name last year.

Jacqui Shilson-Josling, who blogged about the book here, wrote that despite our seemingly overarching interaction with animals, 

"...we take little time to reflect on animal death and its meaning for us and non-human animals."

I think that's partly because, like many unpleasant things, we tend not to want to think about animal death head-on. Its a bit of a heavy subject, anyone who has lost a companion animal remembers vividly that feeling of despair (myself included). But when you're working with animals, especially unwell animals, death is a subject worth ruminating about.

I contributed an essay about euthanasia and morally justifiable killing in a veterinary clinical context - arguing that not all veterinary-effected deaths fit the bill for "euthanasia" and that careless use of the term can be ultimately harmful to animals in influencing the way we decide their fate. This project gave me the opportunity to look a bit deeper at the ethics of euthanasia, particularly what we mean by the word. I wrote:

If the life of your companion animal is ended by a veterinarian, it is likely that service will be invoiced under the category ‘euthanasia’ regardless of the reason. That is unproblematic if we accept the American  Veterinary Medical Association’s (AVMA) definition of euthanasia, as defined in its Guidelines on euthanasia, as a death ‘that occurs with minimal pain and distress. In the context of these guidelines, euthanasia is the act of inducing humane death in an animal’ (AVMA 2007). But what this definition fails to explain is that not all humane deaths are equal. It may be possible to induce a painless, rapid death in a healthy person by administering a toxin without that person’s knowledge – but we call that murder, not euthanasia. The above use of the term fails to capture the morally significant difference between the killing of an animal to prevent present suffering, killing of an animal to prevent inevitable or at least likely future suffering, and the killing of a perfectly healthy animal

because it is unwanted (by a particular owner or society at large).

The essay examines what those differences are and why it is important for us to identify and understand our reasoning in each case.

Animal Death is available at Sydney University Press here. On another slightly unrelated note, I couldn't help but notice a beautiful black poodle turned up to the book launch at the Life in the Anthropocene conference this week. She was absolutely delightful! It made me wish that public spaces like universities were more animal accessible.

Interview with VetPrac's Ilana Mendels

Dr Ilana Mendels: passionate about hands-on education.

Continuing education is so important for veterinarians. Veterinarians benefit by being challenged and learning new skills, clients benefit because their veterinarian has a broader skill set, and most importantly, our patients benefit.

SAT interviewed Dr Ilana Mendels, energetic founder of veterinary continuing education provider VetPrac.

Who are you and what do you do?

I am the daughter of a social worker and shirt salesman both of whom became national leaders in their field by the time they retired. My brother helps manage a hotel. My grandmother owned the first French beauty parlour in China, my great uncles fought in the 2^nd world war, some were doctors. One of my ancestry worked with Louis Pasteur. I was born in Australia and have studied veterinary science, games and informal education. I was brought up with principals of charity, kindness, respect, compassion and activism.

As a qualified veterinary surgeon (QVS) I bridge the gaps between the human animal-bond and help people to take better care of their animals. As the director of VetPrac I facilitate the development of individuals who want to train to be better clinicians and improve the health and quality of life of animals.

I love my job because it is gratifying to effect change in a positive way. I get to interact with people and animals. I get to be at the frontlines of science and share ideas with interesting people.

I love my job because I get to work with animals and it’s flexible enough to let me follow my passions. A lot of people get bored in practice squeezing anal glands etc. When I enter a consult I ask myself, and the owner, how can I help. It might just be an anal gland squeezing, and then turn into something else… To be able to improve the quality of life of an animal by increasing the understanding between that animal and its carer (farmer, owner, researcher) is a very important role. And to have the science training to discover and solve the problems that do exist is extremely useful.

What got you into studying veterinary science in the first place?

Apparently, I wanted a farm and I was told it would cost money to take care of the animals on it. I said, I could take care of them myself, and was told, then I’ll need to be a vet. So I said – well then – I’ll be a vet. There have been moments when I wonder what I’m doing and is this the right decision to stay in it. And so far, I keep practicing. Mostly because I don’t believe there is another profession that brings you so closely into the connection between man and animal in so many different ways.

Why the move into continuing education?

I had the vet training at university, I was reading the same books and journal articles as everyone else, I was on VIN, attending case clubs etc, but I found it hard to grasp certain concepts. There was a gap between what existed in all that material and what I was able to achieve in practice. My capabilities did not match my capacity and I sought a way to change that. I didn’t have a natural ability for some things and knew I could be taught. The experiences I had with the available continuing education resources at the time were dissatisfying. So, I built my own program. I also have a back ground in informal education. I spent 8 years as a youth leader which included a year at a training institute and a year as the national leader for education. I had an idea about how I could learn more effectively for myself and thought other people might be having the same experiences. Turns out they did.

Dr Ilana Mendels with a feline patient.

What are the biggest challenges of being a veterinarian?

Maintaining an active skill set and remembering all the information

Being appreciated.

Managing grief and compassion fatigue

Communicating with colleagues and clients

Decision making

The lack of direction in general practice

These are the challenges of life, I am told…

Are there any special non-humans in your life right now? If so, who and tell us a little about them. How do you spend time together?

I am looking after a cat named Minty. We play with a little green ball she likes and I spend a lot of time hiding plastic bags from her, because she eats them. When she gets sick of me or wants my attention she whacks me with a closed paw. My parents have a very clever Rough Collie who I play with. He has a habit of breaking up fights. It’s really cool. He will cut an aggressor from the pack and keep them separated from the play area until everyone calms down. I’ve never seen anything like it. I’ve tried teaching him tricks, but he learns so quickly and we don’t reinforce them with anything functional. So he just gets a lot of massage and cuddles and seems pretty happy.

Do you have any favourite vet or pet themed websites?

I really like the VetPrac Facebook page. It’s fun. Vetico is new one I’ve noticed that is really good for clients. I think James Martin from PetPack does a great job bridging the gap. VIN is a highly useful resource for veterinarians wanting quick answers. I’m not that thrilled with internet based consulting, because there’s always more to the picture and if you can’t touch the patient you rely more heavily on history taking, which relies on the client to provide the history and that is variable too… But it’s an interesting avenue for the profession and certainly helpful for remote communities.

How do you manage information overload?

I don’t know if I do... I used to fizzle out to be honest and watch hours of TV. I’ve gotten better over the last 5yrs. These days I try to stop as I go ask myself how I feel. Have I done enough today? Do I feel like I understand this? Yes or no. If no, how much more do I need to understand to make a decision? Much more? Do I have time to invest? How can I make a short cut? These questions happen quickly in the mind, often simultaneously…Often I’ll tell myself I don’t understand or I’m not going to be able to “get this” and then I’ll say – just try once more, look again… and lo and behold – it clicks! I don’t know why that happens. It’s weird… I’m weird.

I like to do yoga to settle my mind. I like baths and baking. I love dancing and sport too. I like making friends and finding out about peoples interests. I love sleep.

Any events on the horizon that you recommend?

Always! My motto is to bridge the gap between learning and doing. In our profession – there are lots of gaps!

I am working on a national prize program for graduating veterinarians. And the training partners involved are being so generous and helpful with their investments. I get to work with some amazing companies that really care about the profession and the science. BBraun, IM3 and Medical Plus have been amazing supporters of this mission and I am so grateful that they see value in what we are trying to achieve.

The VetPrac Workshops are becoming more dynamic and responsive to the community’s needs. The website has all the details but some sneaky things to look out for are the Practical Cardiology Workshop, Hips in Practice and Echocardiography this year. I am also going to run a sneaky financial planning day with some dental radiology. I’m telling you here, so your readers can contact me directly if they are interested. It will only be a small group with not much advertising… But it’ll be definitely worth attending. I listened to this guy talk about money and made $5000.

Next year we are running the first specialist workshop in a decade. Dan Lewis and Bob Radasch are considered the bee’s knees of orthopaedics and Australian and Kiwi Specialists will have them all to themselves for three full days.

VetPrac organises international delegations of veterinarians to gain skills in our incredible training facilities, and learn from our esteemed educators. This year we have Professor Glenn Edwards leading a symposium of over 40 Japanese vets about upper respiratory tract surgery and hepatobiliary surgery techniques.

There’s always more happening, so the best thing to do is like us on Facebook and register your details with our database via email, so we can keep in touch.

Work-life balance: workaholics, workafrolics, and the rest

Phil is neither a workaholic, nor a workafrolic, but if anyone could qualify for a PhD in sleeping (he throws himself into it with abandon every time), he'd be a post-doc by now.

Work-life balance, we are told, is important because it allows us to recharge, to draw boundaries and to prevent (or at least delay the onset of) burnout. This isn't just an issue for vets - every second client I speak to seems to struggle with the elusive concept of work-life balance. Some people say we're all addicted to work. The late Dr Lee Lipsenthal, author of Finding Balance in Medical Life, draws an analogy between work addiction and drug addiction.

“What is there was a substance that made you stay away from home until very late and kept you awake at night? What is this substance created multiple family problems to the point of destroying your marriage? What if this substance decreased your efficiency and your ability to concentrate, and made you irritable and fatigued? What if this substance increased your risk of back problems, gastrointestinal disorders, heart disease, and stroke? What if you felt that discontinuing the use of this substance meant that your success and your self definition would cease to be?

 

This is often how addicts feel about their drug of choice. They are so identified with the drug that they would lose themselves without it. On seeing a patient with these self-destructive tendencies, most of us would try to convince them to seek therapy or find other forms of help to eradicate the destructive substance from their lives. Unfortunately this is now many practising physicians begin to approach the work of medicine. We become work addicted!

 

The practice of medicine becomes our drug of choice. We live in a culture that supports the practice of medicine above all else, which can often exclude our families and our health. If we stopped being a doctor, who would we be? Unlike alcoholism, workaholism is rewarded with accolades and financial success, making it a very difficult process to stop. A workaholic has lost the ability to slow down and find value in anything other than work. Workaholism is a compulsive behaviour and is probably related to other compulsive behaviours and addictions. I tend to think of it as a tendency that can be modified by learning new behaviours, but for some, the tendency is so invasive that medical treatment may be needed.

 

Workaholism is not measured by the number of hours you give to work…it is more about the way you approach work and how it controls you and your ability to focus on things unrelated to your career. Workaholism can also be measured by how your work affects your life outside of medicine. If you have trouble shutting off your thoughts about work and career, you may be a workaholic.

 

…we are often in denial about these behaviours because they feel productive.”p43

But there's always a different perspective. I wrote this article about workafrolics for the Sydney Morning Herald. A workafrolic is someone who loves their job - and works a lot! But they work a lot not for extrinsic reasons (financial rewards, recognition etc) - just because what they do is inherently interesting. The concept of work-life balance, ironically, can be stressful to a workafrolic because they feel they need to meet expectations of others about what a life should be like. (Mind you if they are a true workafrolic, they are too busy working on whatever it is that makes them tick to worry about what others are thinking).

So where to draw this fine line between workaholics and workafrolics? Dichotomies like this are always a bit ludicrous as life is far more complex than two simple categories. But...maybe the answer is that the difference lies in motivation to work. Workaholics work more out of a sense of obligation, duty, and work as a means to an end, whereas workafrolics work because (mostly) work is inherently interesting, satisfying and of value.

In his book How to Find More Fulfilling Work, Roman Krznaric writes:

“A master in the art of living draws no sharp distinction between his work and his play; his labour and his leisure; his mind and his body; his education and recreation. He hardly knows which is which. He simply pursues his vision of excellence through whatever he is doing, and leaves others to determine whether he is working or playing. To himself, he always appears to be doing both.”p58

So...are you a workaholic or a workafrolic? Can someone truly be one without the other? Or can you be passionate about your work without being either?

Pets and aged care

Being senior shouldn't preclude owning a pet! (These happy pet owners and their companions are at the Ridgecrest Retirement Village in Page, ACT).

I attended the Australian Companion Animal Council think tank earlier this year and met some wonderful people. Topics included education about animals, renting with pets, access for assistance dogs and pets and aged care. Think about it - when older people go into palliative care, hospitals or nursing homes, they are often required to give up their pet. I can't imagine anything more heart breaking than being parted with your best friend during your greatest time of need.

Di Johnstone is one woman doing her bit to change this scenario. She is involved in the Pets and Aged Care Steering Group I met her at the lift on the way into the meeting, and her passion for this subject is infectious. She agreed to answer some questions for SAT. (BTW Di has painstakingly provided a host of resources for anyone wanting to learn more, so please hit those hyperlinks in the text).

Tell us a bit about yourself. Where did you come from and how did you get here?

I am a retired public servant. As a child I grew up with with dogs and cats and have had animal companions much of my adult life. On retirement, I became a volunteer dog walker at Domestic Animal Services (the dog pound) where I helped to establish a volunteer program and now edit a newsletter for volunteers. I am also a member of ACT Rescue and Foster Inc, a local dog rescue group, and a Life Member of the RSPCA.

You are involved in the Pets and Aged Care Steering Group. Who are they and what are their goals?

Our primary goals are to make it possible for the rapidly growing number of older pet owners to continue living with, and enjoying the benefits of their pets, in various forms of aged accommodation, where this is feasible; and to find ways to help support older pet owners living at home at times of health crises.

The Pets and Aged Care Steering Group (SG)  was a direct outcome of a community forum in Canberra in May last year, hosted by Mary Porter AM MLA. The forum was well attended including by aged care mangers and village residents, other aged care professionals, animal welfare agencies and pet owners. The SG represents many expert interests – including a major aged care operator, aged care volunteers, vets, the RSPCA, a pet behaviourist and inhome pet support provider. 

We are working on informing governments, aged care operators and the community about the benefits to aged Australians of being able to continue a relationship with their pets. We encourage information in guides and on websites about pet friendly aged accommodation. We also focus on practical initiatives. We recently produced a handy flyer, now widely distributed in Canberra on local pet friendly aged accommodation options. We held a workshop last year for planners and architects  and aged care providers  on designing pet-friendly aged accommodation. This was presented by Virginia Jackson, an Australian and international expert in designing pet friendly cities and buildings. 

We are working on a website to make this information freely available to designers of aged care facilities. We plan to produce a guide to how to implement pet-friendly policies in aged accommodation. There is relevant experience in Australia - where some aged care providers have developed their own policies - and in other countries - in particular the UK, US and Europe.  Individual SG members are also working on their own related initiatives, such as this program of “Senior  Pets for Senior People” (see this link)  developed by the RSPCA and Anglicare.  

As for those ageing at home, there is little care-related pet support, in particular for those less well off, and ill or facing a temporary health crisis. Providing this support will help keep healthier, happier, less isolated people ageing at home - something governments are keen to encourage. The SG is working with Communities@Work , an ACT- based regional community service,  on a program to deliver an ACT in-home program to provide pet support targeted to people 65 and over who are frail aged, low income pet owners in Canberra ageing in place at home. With sufficient resources, it might be extended to assist pet owners  transitioning to higher care. When this is operating, the University of Canberra plans an associated research study. The SG is also campaigning for assistance for pet support to become one of the standard services offered to all HACC clients in the new “consumer directed” home care packages. The SG will send a Submission to the planned review of HACC services when we know the timing of this.  

There are documented health, psychological, social and lifestyle benefits of pets.

Why is it important for people in aged care to have access to pets?

There are health, psychological, social andlifestyle benefits of ongoing pet ownership for older people - especially for those living alone. Pet owners know this. Pets are part of our family.  If we live alone, our pets may be closer to us than our human families. They can be a reason for many people to get out of bed and face the world each day. They engage our attention and require our daily care.  At a lonelier time, they also require us to interact with others. When we take a dog for a walk they connect with our neighbourhood and nature. Dogs can also make us feel more secure in our homes. In an otherwise silent world, we also talk to our pets and they help keep alive our communication skills. Wherever we live, they are our comforting companions, who we love and intimately share our lives. Many of us can’t bear to imagine living without them.  

How are pet friendly nursing homes different to those that do not allow pets?

Circumstances for nursing homes will clearly be different to those for retirement villages. Pet-friendly nursing homes may allow suitable pets in some “low care” areas, where it is appropriate and also possible to manage pet welfare. In time, we would expect more nursing homes will be designed to allow for this option in low care. High care areas may want to have access to a manager or “facility pet”, carefully managed for animal welfare, and to dog or other animal therapy visits/sessions for people who would benefit from contact with animals, including dementia patients.    As the number of dementia patients grows, there will be a place for programs that deliver one-on-one therapy in dementia case management in nursing homes.

Are there any people or animals you've met who've influenced you to take this issue on?

As a volunteer at a pound for some years I have seen what happens when animals are surrendered because owners cannot take them into aged accommodation. Often these dogs are older and harder to rehome. I was also struck when reading a UK study that it was estimated in 1998 that in the UK 140 000 pets were then relinquished each year by owners who could not take them into aged facilities, and of these 38,000 were euthansed  (I am not aware of any estimates for Australia) and the Society for Companion Animal Studies “Pets for Life” campaign. I also heard many personal stories about older relatives and friends who suffered the tragedy of being parted from a beloved pet companion and others who refused to move when they should because of a pet. It seemed that other countries were doing better than we were in allowing people to bring their pets into aged accommodation. Very important, a local politician, Mary Porter AM MLA, who had vast experience in volunteering and aged care issues, agreed this was an important issue and was prepared to host events, meetings, undertake publicity and lend her considerable and very valuable credibility and support to getting a better outcome for older people and their animals. And finally, the Chair of the SG, the wonderful Jan Phillips, who singlehandedly, while manager of the Body Shop in Canberra,  ran a volunteer-based pet support program for 12 years for people living at home and facing medical crises, was and continues to be an inspiration.

You've done a lot of research about pet friendly aged care overseas. How does Australia compare?

Australia appears to be well behind the UK, Europe and US but the situation is improving. With our population predicted to expand to up between 31 to 43 million people by 2056 (ABS) and  with some 25% of us then being 65 years and over, there will be a lot of pet owners in this aged population. If we don’t find way to make it possible for older people to continue living with their pets in aged accommodation, there will be trauma for very large number of owners and pets at one of the most difficult times of an older person’s life and vastly more healthy companion animals turning up in shelters around Australia or being unnecessarily euthansed at the local vet. We need to look at this issue now and to plan for the future. Helpfully the demographics will assist to bring the change needed. The population which is now beginning to move into aged accommodation has very different expectations than previous ones and will require providers to offer more lifestyle choices. Keeping their pets will be one of those choices for the new aged population and there are commercial opportunities to meeting this consumer demand. We also need to find ways to provide support to pet owners living at home alone with pets during health and medical crises or there will be both people and pet welfare issues.

[Ed: see below for an example from Banfield Charitable Trust in the US - you will need tissues].

What advice would you give a pet owner who needs to move into a nursing home, retirement village or aged care facility?

Take look at this flyer for advice and options. 

Do you have your own pets? Can you tell us a little about them?

I have an almost nine year old golden Labrador, Oscar, and a 13 year old cat, Moonshine. Oscar and Moonshine are part of my family and much loved companions. Oscar was found wandering in Canberra with serious injuries and ended up at the pound. I brought him home and nursed him back to health. Oscar was a very energetic dog but with age is now calmer, although he still loves long walks, swimming and chasing a ball. Oscar has a lovely, people-focused temperament. He and I bring dog therapy to an Alzheimer’s patient once a week at a local nursing home. Moonshine is a highly opinioned cat. She arrived at our door in the arms of one of the neighbourhood children who had found a basket of kittens on the doorstep. Moonshine is also very people-friendly. She likes to sit firmly on an available lap when someone sits down and often sits in the middle of my desk as I work. She talks very loudly and has the household – and Oscar - under control.

How can we support this cause?

Talk about the issue. Write an article or letter to a newspaper. Start the conversation in your local area. Contact local aged accommodation and ask if they allow pets. Warmly congratulate those that do and advertise them to people who need to know.  Just remember that encouragement – not criticism – is by far the best way to persuade the aged care providers. If there is a local program to provide in home pet support, become a volunteer. 

Do you have any favourite pet or vet related links?

Yes. The Australian Anthrozoololgy Foundation; A web-based source of information on pet-friendly aged facilities. An example of aged related pet support program is the RSPCA's Pets of Older Persons program;  and for other more broadly based in-home pet support programs try here; here; and here. 

Finally, do you have any messages for vets, vet students or pet owners?

For pet owners: Don’t assume that it is not possible to take a pet into the aged accommodation you are considering. Ask and tell them how important your pet is to you. Make sure you provide all the information you can about your pet and check out this flyer for options. Some of the Australian organizations on this flyer are national. 

For vets: know which aged facilities in your local area allow owner pets so you can let clients know. Encourage owners to ask if they can take a pet. Consumer expectations will encourage more aged care providers to open up pet-friendly options. Be prepared to speak to the aged facility if asked and offer to provide a reference for the owner’s pet. Provide assistance, perhaps on a discounted basis, to older pet owners in aged accommodation. Be prepared to consider discounted services for older pet owners who are living at home with their pets and for community programs that support these owners, especially those living alone, on low incomes and in greatest need. At the same time keep a close watch on the welfare of the pets you see and raise issues if you have any concern.

For vet students: consider pro-bono work as a community service in local aged care accommodation where there are pet owners to assist older people with caring for their pets. 

If you'd like to read a bit more, Di wrote a beautiful piece for the Sydney Morning Herald entitled "Why force best friends apart?".