On Friday we talked about the newly discovered cat virus, feline morbillivirus, that may have a link to tubulointerstitial nephritis, a potentially fatal inflammation in a cat's kidneys, and what the finding means for cat parents. We talked with Pawcurious blogger Dr. V to learn more about tubulointerstitial nephritis in cats, its diagnosis and treatment.

PETFINDER: What is tubulointerstitial nephritis in cats?
DR: V.: Nephritis in the general sense refers to kidney inflammation. The kidney is made up of units called nephrons. Each nephron is comprised of a glomerulus and a tubule. "Tubulointerstitial" localizes the inflammation to a specific part of the kidney -- the tubules and the surrounding matrix.

What are its symptoms?
The symptoms of kidney disease are pretty widespread. The most common signs owners first notice are increased thirst and increased urination. As the kidneys are unable to properly concentrate urine, water just passes right on through and the cat attempts to keep up with this loss by increasing his fluid intake. As the disease progresses, we often see nausea, weight loss, vomiting and bad breath. [Learn more about the symptoms of kidney failure in cats.]

After the jump: How kidney disease in cats is diagnosed and treated.

A newly discovered virus, feline morbillivirus, may be linked to deadly kidney disease in cats, Livescience.com reports. A study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that tubulointerstitial nephritis, a potentially fatal inflammation in a cat's kidneys, was found in 58% of deceased stray cats who had the new virus (versus only 13% who were uninfected). Read the full article here.

We caught up with Dr. Marty Becker of Vetstreet.com to ask what this news means for cat parents.

PETFINDER: Can cat parents get their cats tested for this virus?
No, at this time there is no commercial test available for feline morbillivirus. I'd like to stress that at this point, this disease is more interesting in terms of virology than in any practical sense for veterinary medicine.

As a practicing veterinarian who has seen far too many beloved pets succumb to kidney disease, of course I hope to see diagnostics, therapies and preventive medicine arise out of this research. We're just not there yet.

Working in the veterinary industry, I know the importance of taking my pet to an AAHA-accredited veterinary practice -- whether he is exhibiting symptoms or if it is simply time for a preventive care checkup.

Unfortunately, due to the current state of the economy, many pet parents are trying to save a few bucks by searching the Internet when their pets seem to be feeling under the weather. Saving time and money by searching the Internet first seems like a good idea, right? I asked Dale Paley, DVM.

The Internet has had a huge impact on society. How has it impacted the veterinary industry in particular?
Dr. Paley: The Internet has, in many ways, complicated everyday veterinary practice. There are so many sites about pet health care that have poorly researched and even erroneous information; veterinarians often have to spend a lot of time correcting misconceptions.

Many clients use Google to diagnose their pets before visiting their veterinarian. In some cases, the pet parent begins treatment using over-the-counter medications or supplements that may complicate the problem rather than help. This "home therapy" may allow disease to become so advanced that the final outcome for the pet may be jeopardized.

What are some common issues only a veterinarian can diagnose?
As with humans, many pet health conditions require a thorough history, physical exam, and diagnostic workup to accurately diagnose. Specifically:

1. Eye problems: Many eye problems can present with a red eye. A veterinarian will need to measure eye pressures, stain the cornea, and perform a thorough eye exam to differentiate conditions such as uveitis, glaucoma, or a corneal ulcer.

2. Respiratory problems: A pet who is coughing could have anything from heart disease to bronchitis to lung worm, just to name a few.

3. Cancer: Many lumps and bumps present similarly and may be benign growths or significant cancer lesions.

4. Heart problems: Two common symptoms of heart disease, coughing and fainting, can also be present with other problems, like respiratory and neurological conditions. A visit to a veterinarian is necessary for an accurate diagnosis.

5. Toxicities: A pet can get into a human's medication, causing vomiting, seizures, kidney failure, and more. This type of incident should always be reported to your veterinarian.

Short winter trips to the dog park can be a great way to let your dog burn off some of that pent-up energy from staying inside more during the cold months. But the temperature and snow, among other things, can pose hazards to your pup.

Here are some tips for keeping your dog safe. (Not sure where the nearest dog park is? Check out the new interactive dog-park map on Animal Planet.)

1. Check with your vet. Senior dogs, dogs with arthritis, dogs with short fur and puppies can be especially sensitive to the cold weather. Ask your vet whether it's better to keep your dog indoors and restrict his outdoor activity to short walks. If your vet thinks a trip to the park is okay, ask her what cold-weather precautions she recommends.
   
   
2. Bundle up. Dress your dog in a warm coat or sweater with a high collar or turtleneck; it should cover her back from the base of her tail and also protect her belly. Dog booties can protect paws from ice and salt -- get your dog used to them indoors first.
   


3. Know the signs of frostbite and hypothermia. The risk of these conditions is especially high when the temperature dips below 32 degrees Fahrenheit. Frostbite typically affects poorly insulated body parts such as the tips of the ears and is evidenced by skin that is pale or red, swollen and painful or numb. Signs of hypothermia include slow pulse, shallow breathing,  disorientation, collapse and unconsciousness. If you think your dog has either, call your vet immediately!
   

Steve Dale is the host of the nationally syndicated radio shows Steve Dale's Pet World and The Pet Minute with Steve Dale. His column, My Pet World (of which this post is an excerpt -- read the full post here), is carried in more than 100 newspapers nationwide and his new column, The CATalyst, just debuted. Steve also serves on the board of directors for the American Humane Association.

According to a survey conducted by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, approximately 53% of cats and 55% of dogs in the U.S are overweight or obese. Data released from a nationwide collaboration with Banfield Pet Hospital reveals pet obesity continues to be a serious problem. [A 2004 study by Nestle Purina Pet Care found dogs with a healthy body weight had a median lifespan of 15% longer than overweight dogs. Read more about the dangers of pet obesity.]

So, how and why are our pets growing wider and wider? I talk about this to veterinary professionals around the world at veterinary conferences. Here, in a random order, are some reasons why there are so many overweight pets.

1) Some pet parents believe overweight is "normal." People may not recognize their pets as overweight since the pets didn't grow wider overnight. The trend of overweight pets has been happening for decades. So, while 20 years ago, those same pet parents might have been shocked, today the view of what is a normal is skewed.

The day I found a lump on my cat Toby's jaw, my heart sank. Cancer, I thought. But the truth is, pets get many types of lumps and bumps that are benign or easily treatable. My pets have had lumps that turned out to be allergies, acne, fatty tumors and even -- on my cat Kura -- an inverted nipple.

The important thing is to talk to your vet. Together, you can decide which, if any, diagnostic tests to perform what is the best treatment plan for your pet.

Here are a few lessons I've learned while going through the process with my own pets:

Get any lump or bump checked out by a vet. If it's malignant, catching a tumor as early as possible gives your pet the best shot at beating the cancer. If it's benign -- or something else entirely -- your vet may have suggestions for treating it and can offer advice on what to do if similar a lump appears again.

"A vet will want to know when you first noticed the mass, whether or not it is changing, and whether it's bothering your pet," veterinarian and Pawcurious blogger Dr. V tells us. "They will also want to know about any masses removed or biopsied in the past."

Steve Dale is the host of the nationally syndicated radio shows Steve Dale's Pet World and The Pet Minute with Steve Dale. His column, My Pet World (in which this post originally appeared), is carried in more than 100 newspapers nationwide and his new column, The CATalyst, just debuted. Steve also serves on the board of directors for the American Humane Association.

Sad news for our pets was announced at a press conference entitled "Houston, We Have a Problem" during the 2011 American Veterinary Medical Association Convention. The problem has been a steady decline in our pets' health.

"This decline has been going on for over a decade, despite an increased pet population," said Dr. Ron DeHaven, executive vice president and CEO of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).

For example, more flea infestations are being reported, even though such problems are preventable. Hookworms are up 30 percent in dogs since 2006, according to the Banfield Pet Hospital State of Pet Health 2011 report. Likewise, there's been a 13 percent increase in roundworm incidence in cats since 2006. Potentially, this is a public health issue since some of these parasites can also affect people.

It's Take Your Cat the Vet Week, and all week we've been urging cat parents to schedule checkups for their pets. Cats' illnesses can have subtle symptoms, so if you wait until your cat is sick to take him to the vet, it might be too late.

We asked our Facebook fans, "Has your vet ever found an illness or issue with your cat during a routine wellness exam?" Here are some of your answers.

Cardiomyopathy: The most common form of heart disease and sudden death in indoor cats, cardiomyopathy has few visible symptoms. But Judi H.'s vet heard something during her cat's checkup. "My vet found a heart murmur when my cat was 7 that wasn't there when she was 6," Judi says. "It turned out to be cardiomyopathy, which we treated and she lived to be 16. Even if your cats are inside, they should go to the vet every year. Mine are only inside, but if my vet hadn't found that murmur, my cat would have been dead by the age of 8."

Steve Dale is the host of the nationally syndicated radio shows Steve Dale's Pet World and The Pet Minute with Steve Dale. His column, My Pet World, is carried in more than 100 newspapers nationwide and his new column, The CATalyst (in which this post originally appeared), just debuted. Steve also serves on the board of directors for the American Humane Association.

Dogs are more than twice as likely to visit the veterinarian than cats are. Here are some reasons why.

What can cat parents do? Familiarize cats early and regularly with cat carriers, take cats to the vet for routine care and learn to recognize subtle signs of cat illness. In honor of Take Your Cat to the Vet Week, here are some subtle signs of illness to look out for:

Changes in interactions: A previously clingy cat acting uncharacteristically aloof, or an independent cat transforming into "Velcro kitty" are examples.

Changes in activity: A decrease or increase in activity, and change in the cat's daily routine are red flags -- of arthritis, for example, which is far more common in cats than previously thought. So a cat who jumps on furniture less often is a potential sign.

Steve Dale is the host of the nationally syndicated radio shows Steve Dale's Pet World and The Pet Minute with Steve Dale. His column, My Pet World, is carried in more than 100 newspapers nationwide and his new column The CATalyst (in which this post originally appeared) just debuted. Steve also serves on the board of directors for the American Humane Association.

Petfinder has proclaimed Aug. 22-28 Take Your Cat to the Vet Week, and I'm hugely supportive.

Dogs are more than twice as likely to visit the veterinarian than cats. Why is that? What the heck is going on?

Here are some answers:

• Veterinary visits are on the decline overall -- for dogs and even more so for cats. Sadly, as a result, our pets have begun to pay the price with an increase in preventable illnesses. According to the recently released Banfield Pet Hospital 2011 Report, since 2006 there's been a 10% rise in dental disease in cats; although still uncommon, there's a 27% increase in whipworm and a 12% hike in roundworm in cats (both worms can be transmitted to people); diabetes in cats went up 16%.