Thank You Santa Cruz!!

All Pets Veterinary Clinic was named one of the three top veterinary clinics in Santa Cruz by the Santa Cruz Weekly readers poll.  I would like to thank all of our amazing clients who voted in this poll.  It is truly gratifying to receive this recognition.  Sometimes I get caught up in the day to day "trials" associated with veterinary medicine and can lose sight of how much good All Pets has and will continue to accomplish.  An award such as this really delivers a big dose of positive reinforcement. I feel honored to partner with my clients in providing health care for their beloved pets. I could not do this without all of you.  THANK YOU.

Sincerely,   Ken Cholden DVM

Check out the awards in Santa Cruz Weekly at

The Peculiarity of Cats

Cats suffer in silence.  They have a strength and focus and will not be pushed around.  They are among the toughest most stubborn creatures on the earth.  Often when they are in pain or sick they crawl away to some place that is apart from everyone else. They want to be left alone. They don’t want to complain. This is actually dangerous for them because it hurts our ability to get them help.  Of course there are cats that behave differently.  Some will even vocalize as if to tell their humans something is wrong with them.  They are the exception.  For this reason it becomes very difficult to tell when a cat is sick or hurting.  One must assume that if it’s obvious to us humans, the discomfort must be great.  

  As cats age they are more likely to develop chronic illness. Due to the slow progression of such illnesses, the changes are extremely small and barely noticeable from one day to the next.  The cat doesn’t complain and maybe she just can’t jump as high as she used to.  Maybe he is eating a little less, or more, or urinating more, or drinking more.  These are only some telltale signs of a problem. There are many others.  

  Cancer, Osteoarthritis, Chronic Kidney disease, Hyperthyroidism, Dental disease, and many other maladies can be insidious in onset.  You may not notice the early signs.  Many times I see cats with caring and attentive humans that had no idea they had a problem or didn’t realize how bad it was. Since cats won’t talk about their problems, regular evaluations once to twice a year especially as they age are essential to early detection and improved chances of treating a painful or debilitating disorder.  Even if you think your cat is healthy, he should still be evaluated by a trained veterinarian that you have established a relationship with. If you think your cat may be sick, he is and worse than you think.  Don’t wait two or seven days to see if he will get better. Get him evaluated quickly because if it is something serious, the sooner we start treatment, the better the chances are for recovery.