At the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium on Sunday May 11, 2008, better known as Mother’s Day, a tiger by the name of Toma gave birth to a precious female cub. There were some complications and Toma began leaving the cub the next day. Zoo veterinarians took the cub’s well being into their hands to ensure that she got proper care. As of Monday night, May 12th, the plan was to feed the cub every 4 hours to make sure she was strong and healthy for the reintroduction to her mother on Tuesday, May 13th. The zoo was hoping that due to Toma being a second time mom her experiences in the past would help her with the reintroduction of her cub.

Toma currently appears indifferent to her cub. Examinations turned up no apparent evidence of any illness in Toma or in her cub. Toma’s milk production however, is below normal, which might be a factor in causing her indifference to her newborn.  She is being given a drug to spur milk production in hopes she will begin to care for her cub, which is currently being called Baby Tiger.  In the meantime, the cub is being bottle-fed. If the drug doesn’t improve Toma’s milk production and in turn spur her maternal instincts,  her cub will stay on the bottle. Tiger cubs have been successfully raised that way in the past, but zoo’s prefers its animals to raise their own young, and are working toward the goal that Toma will accept and nurture her baby.

In the past, tiger cubs have been adopted by seemingly unlikely surrogate mothers. A pig at a Chinese zoo cared for three cubs, which played with their piglet “brothers and sisters”. Another rejected tiger cub trio, also at a Chinese zoo, was nursed by a dog.

Toma is an Amur tiger, more commonly known as a Siberian Tiger. Amur tigers are an endangered species due to habitat destruction and illegal fur trade. Every birth of this species is critical to its population. Currently there are only an estimated 400 Amur tigers in the wild, and only about 190 Amur tigers in the Association of Zoos and Aquarium accredited zoos. Unfortunately the mortality rate in cubs, both in the wild and in zoos, is between 30 and 40%, so the veterinarians at the Pittsburgh Zoo are doing their best to save Toma’s little cub.

Amur tigers are some of the largest tigers in the cat world; the males are approximately 10.5 feet long, while the females are about 8.5 feet long. Both male and females are about 4 feet high at the shoulder, so the easiest way to tell them apart is by their length. The males can weigh in anywhere between 450 pounds to 675 pounds, and the females are only about 200 pounds to 350 pounds. Their estimated life span in the wild is about 10 to 15 years; in captivity they can live much long at around 16 to 22 years old. They are able to breed at about 3 years old for females and four years old for the males. Impressively these endangered animals can live in almost any climate so long as they have a few things; all they need is shade, water and food. Originating in the Amur River Valley in Russia Far East, China, and southern Russia Far East these beautiful creatures are becoming critically endangered.  Thankfully the population has grown from 24 in the 1940’s to up around 400 today.

Follow up stories on Toma  and her cub have been scarce, however I have put in a call in to Zoo officials requesting an update and will post as soon as we have word.

Fun & Educational Facts About Tigers
• Much like a fingerprint, a tiger’s stripes are extremely variable between individuals. No two are identical.
• The tiger is the largest living feline. It can weigh up to 675 pounds and grow to 10 feet in length from head to tail.
• Tigers are excellent swimmers.
• When on the prowl, tigers are successful only 1 out of every 10 hunting trips.
• Tigers eat up to 40 pounds, so they can go several days after a large meal before they need to hunt again.
• Tigers are ambush animals and only attack from behind. People who live in wild tiger areas have taken to wear masks on the backs of their heads to discourage attacks.
• Tigers have never existed in Siberia; they actually live in the Amur River Valley in the Russian Far East, in northern China, and southern Russia, which is not close to Siberia. In fact, the only place you hear them being referred to as Siberian tigers is in the United States.

Tiger-themed Home Decor & Gifts at Whales & Friends

Summer is fast approaching. I’m excited about the long, warm sunny days ahead. Our pets are sure to enjoy the fresh air and sunshine as much as we are. However, with the glorious days of summer also come some very real dangers for the pets we love so much. Heat.

Animal can suffer from sunburn, dehydration, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

While it’s wonderful for your pet to enjoy the fresh air, you must be certain to keep track of the temperature outside and the amount of time your pets spend in the heat . Please make sure that if you chain your pet up outside that they have adequate shade to go into when they get hot, and also make sure they have fresh water at all times so they do not dehydrate. Refill water bowls frequently with cool water. Also, remember that a spot that is shady in the morning may not necessarily be shady in the afternoon or early evening! Check on your pet often.

Another real danger in the summer time is leaving a pet unattended in a car. Often people take their dogs with them in the car thinking it will be okay to just “run in” to the grocery store to grab a few items. Without intentionally meaning any harm, an animal can be left to swelter in a car. Perhaps you had the air conditioner running and the car seems cool. Thinking you will only be a few moments, and that your dog may be fine, you head in to the store. What if there is a long line at the checkout or you run into a friend and begin chatting? Within 10 minutes the inside of your car can heat up to 120 degrees Fahrenheit; and if you think that’s hot for you, just think about how much hotter it is for your poor pet who’s got a very thick fur coat. While you are searching for a hard-to-find item or standing in line, or talking to a neighbor, your pet continues to absorb the heat. This can become a very dangerous situation very quickly. If you plan to run errands and you would like to bring your beloved pet with you, ask a friend or family member if they would like to go with you so that someone can sit in the car with them. This way, if the car starts to get too hot someone can either turn the air conditioning on or just simply open the windows to allow for some air flow in the vehicle. If you have to run to the store alone and must bring your pet with you, the best bet is to park in the shade and have the windows down while providing water to your pet in the vehicle; but understand that this is not and ideal situation and your pet could still very easily overheat.

If your pet is showing signs of heat exhaustion; panting excessively, fatigue, dizziness, nausea, or a loss of consciousness, be sure to poor cool water onto their fur coat and work it thoroughly into the fur. If your pet has lost consciousness this is considered a life-threatening situation, a true emergency, and will require immediate veterinary attention.

Leaving an animal unattended in a parked car in the heat, or chained up outside with little to no shade or water is considered animal cruelty. Should you see signs of this or any mistreatment to an animal, please report it to your local animal welfare agency, ASPCA, or the police.

Taking good care of your pets as well as yourself will help ensure a happy summer for you and your family.

MumblesMom

Almost immediately after welcoming the newest addition to our family, I became concerned with Mumble’s health. As a student of animal studies, I was noticing some disturbing things about him physically. He never really seemed to rid himself of the little pot belly he had when I picked him up that very first day. Thinking it was just round worms – which many kittens and puppies have – I had him tested and found out that he was not infected with this nasty parasite. Over time his pot belly didn’t disappear, but seemed to grow a little more each week. At the same time he was not gaining any weight. I brought him back to the veterinarian to figure out what was going on. As a student, I did not have enough information to make any determination and my mom had not seen this before with any of her cats. It turned out Mumble had a rare disease called Feline Infections Peritonitis (FIP), a disease that is deadly to young and old cats.

My very first question for the veterinarian taking care of my little baby was, “What can we do for him?” I didn’t care how much it was going to cost; I was going to try my best to make sure that my kitten made it through! We soon found out that FIP was not a disease that was easily treatable, and the medicines used had unreliable results. The next month was very rough for the whole family, knowing that on any given day Mumble could leave us, but still we did everything we could to keep him happy and comfortable and to help him make it through. I was away at school during the week and it was up to my mom to care for him and contact me with any and all changes. One morning, she called to tell me that she knew it was his time. As hard as it was to let go, I knew I had to. He was more jaundiced than I have ever seen any animal, he could hardly breathe on his own, and his belly was very large and very hard. I came home to be with him and held him as he passed away. My only solace was that he was no longer in pain and he was not alone. Mumble will forever be a part of my heart. I always feel he is an angel watching over me. The bond between us was immediate and strong and I’m grateful for the time we had together. I felt it was important for the Whales & Friends Blog readers to get to know me and the pets that have impacted my life. They drive me to work even harder at becoming a vet. Now that this said portion of my story has been told, you can look forward to regular posts with a happier theme. Have you hugged your pet today?

What is feline infectious peritonitis (FIP)?
Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is a disease caused by a coronavirus infection. Many different strains of coronavirus are capable of infecting cats, but most do not produce serious disease. FIP-producing strains are distinguished by their ability to invade and grow in certain white blood cells. The infected cells transport the virus throughout the cat’s body. An intense inflammatory reaction occurs in the tissues where these virus-infected cells locate. It is this interaction between the body’s own immune system and the virus that is responsible for the disease.
Infected cats shed coronavirus in their saliva and feces. Most cats become infected by inhaling or ingesting the virus, either by direct contact with an infected cat, or by contact with virus-contaminated surfaces like clothing, bedding, feeding bowls, or toys. Although the virus can survive for a number of weeks in the environment, it is rapidly inactivated by most household detergents and disinfectants. An inexpensive and effective disinfectant is one part of household bleach in thirty-two parts of water (4 ounces of bleach per gallon of water).

About two years ago, my mom acquired a new member of the family… a very large black cat named Boo. A friend of hers at work was moving and she was not allowed to bring her cat with her – a very common problem – so my mother, being the loving soul that she is, offered to take Boo in. He was a happy cat, two years old, neutered, and he had a very relaxed aura about him. He loved to be held but only on his terms, and for those of you that own cats you knows that’s pretty normal. I was away at school when I got a phone call from my mother saying that Boo didn’t seem to be feeling well. He kept going into the litter box but was not producing anything. I told her to call the emergency clinic and explain Boo’s distress. She called and described Boo’s symptoms and asked what they suggested she do. They said that she could bring him in that night to the emergency center, but that he could probably wait until the morning to be seen by his regular vet. With word that he could wait until the next day, she kept watch over Boo and headed for the vet first thing in the morning. Sadly, Boo passed away in the car on the way there. We were anxious to understand what had happened to our beloved pet… why he had died so quickly after showing signs of feeling ill. It turned out that he had a urinary obstruction – neutered male cats, around the age of two, tend to get these especially if there is a lot of ash in their diets.

Disclaimer: The information listed in this post – and all Whales & Friends posts – is not intended to replace advice from a veterinarian. Any and all health concerns regarding any animal should be discussed with a licensed veterinarian. Urethral obstruction is a serious condition, and left untreated, can be fatal. The normal flow of urine can be obstructed allowing toxins build up in the blood, leading to uremic poisoning. Death can result within 72 hours. Treatment of obstruction may consist of catheterization, fluid therapy, antibiotics, and in rare cases, surgery. If your cat shows any symptoms of distress, lethargy, using the litter box often but with little or no urine output, frequently licking his genitalia, or suddenly attempting to urinate in unusual places, contact your vet immediately.