Pets Best Newsroom

Blog posts Categorized under ‘Cat Health News’

Common Sense Care Tips Keep Pets Safe in Summer

Posted on: August 8th, 2007 by

Posted by Kim Campbell Thornton on 8/8/2007 in General Articles

Summertime brings fun in the sun, but it also signals potential dangers such as heatstroke, sunburn, insect stings and water hazards to dogs and cats. To ensure a safe, adventure-filled summer for your pet, we offer several ways to recognize, treat and prevent problems.

Heat and humidity affect pets, especially breeds with flat-faces — such as Bulldogs, Pugs, Pekingese and Persians — or pets with heavy coats. High temperatures can lead to heat exhaustion or the more dangerous heatstroke. Pets who are outside or enclosed in cars are most at risk of heatstroke.

Heed these signs of heat exhaustion and heatstroke:

Panting excessively
Fatigue
Dizziness
Nausea
Loss of consciousness

Treat early signs of heat exhaustion by pouring cool — not cold — water on the coat and working it into the hair. Loss of consciousness is an emergency situation and requires immediate veterinary care.

Practice prevention by keeping your pet cool. Leave at-risk pets in air-conditioned comfort during the day. If your pet stays outdoors in hot weather, provide plenty of cool, fresh water and a shady place to rest. Be aware of how the sun travels through your yard. A spot that looks shaded in the morning may be in full sun a few hours later. Schedule walks for cool mornings and evenings.

Most importantly, never leave your pet in a car during warm months. The inside of a car heats up to more than 120 degrees Fahrenheit in less than 10 minutes. Don’t be fooled by outside temperatures of 70 degrees. The temperature is a lot hotter inside a vehicle.

Apply sunscreen when your pet goes outdoors. Dogs and cats with thin or light-colored coats are susceptible to sunburn, and cats that get sunburned are more likely to develop skin cancer. Dogs who lie on their back outdoors can get painful sunburns on their bellies, but the areas most prone to sunburn are the nose, face, and ear tips.

Purchase pet sunscreen at pet supply stores, or apply zinc oxide or PABA-free sunscreen. Avoid getting it in your pet’s eyes.

Next threat: Pests like bees, wasps, fire ants and mosquitoes can put the “p” in pain for your pets. Reactions to insect bites and stings range from slight swelling and pain to anaphylaxis — a sudden, severe allergic reaction that can be fatal if not treated immediately. If your pet is stung, seek veterinary help right away in the event of an allergic reaction.

Mosquito bites don’t provoke a skin reaction, but they can transmit potentially fatal heartworm disease. The best way to prevent heartworm disease is by giving a heartworm preventive pill orally once a month. While some flea-control medications repel mosquitoes, it’s important to remember that they don’t prevent heartworm disease if a mosquito does bite your pet.

Third summertime hazard – water. Does your dog love swimming in the pool or riding on the family boat? Be sure he knows how to get out of the pool or onto the boat. Problems occur when pets fall into pools or off boats and panic.

Teach your dog how to find the pool steps and climb out. Then put him into the pool and see if he can get out on his own. Repeat this until he is consistently able to get out of the pool on his own. If you have a boat, put the dog in the water next to the boat and then ‘rescue’ him. This way, he’ll be prepared if he falls off the boat unexpectedly.

Consider purchasing a product such as a Skamper-Ramp, which can be used in pools and on boats. Another sound buy: life vests made for dogs. They come in various sizes to accommodate different breeds.

For those trips in the car, if your dog likes to ride with his head hanging out the car window, consider protecting his eyes with a pair of Doggles — strap-on eyewear that offers UV protection and impact-resistant lenses. Doggles can also be protective for dogs that ride on boats, catch balls or flying discs, or enjoy hiking in wooded areas.

Take the Palm Test

One way to ensure that the sidewalk is not too hot for your dog’s feet is to simply place your hand, palm side down, on the concrete. If it feels too hot to your touch, it will be too hot for your shoe-less canine. If you need to walk your dog in the hot sun, bring water and try to walk on cooler surfaces like grass.

Now you and your pets can enjoy a safe, fun and cool summer.

Changing Your Pet’s Diet: What You Need to Know

Posted on: March 21st, 2007 by

Posted by Pets Best on 3/21/2007 in General Articles

This week, we have been receiving many calls regarding the pet food recall, and one of the primary questions we have heard is, “How do I switch foods without causing stomach upset?”

Normally I would advise pet owners to switch foods slowly by mixing in the new food with the old food to facilitate the adjustment of the pet’s digestive system adapting and help avoid stomach upset and diarrhea.

However, when a food is suspected of causing medical problems, especially something as dangerous as kidney damage, you should eliminate the offending food immediately.

If you suspect (or know) that your pet’s food is included in the recall, do not feed one more morsel of the offending food! Why? Because with many toxins or tainted food, it is the amount of the food and how long the pet has been eating the food that exacerbates the problem. The longer they eat the food, the more damage that can result, because of the buildup of the toxin or harmful ingredient.

Suggestions for switching food are numerous and depend on the types of food your pet has been eating, your pet’s health, his or her age and how sensitive their digestive tract is to changes in food. It is always best to consult your veterinarian if your pet has health problems, is older, or has a history of digestive problems.

For a healthy pet, you should be able to switch to a good quality food immediately with no resulting gastrointestinal problems. If diarrhea results, then you may have to take other measures or see your veterinarian. Your veterinarian may prescribe medication to treat and prevent diarrhea, they may suggest a special bland prescription diet or they may suggest you try mixing rice with the pet’s food, to tone down any dietary indiscretion from changing foods.

Remember, diarrhea can be very harmful and a symptom of more severe problems. If diarrhea persists see your veterinarian, and remember that you are your pet’s biggest champion and spokesperson.

History of Cats

Posted on: February 23rd, 2006 by

Posted by Pets Best on 2/23/2006 in Scratching Post Articles

Did you know that our domestic feline friends are believed to be direct descendents of the African wild cat and that cats were domesticated about 5000 years ago! During this time period mankind had began to settle down in villages and abandon the nomadic lifestyle, when vermin were began to become a nuisance with mountains of stored grain, fruits and vegetables. Canines were already mans companion but were no help in protecting stored food since they would devour the food, a carnivore was needed and the domestication of the cat began.

This life changing event took place in what was the upper region of Egypt and the Pharaoh, considered a king god, named all the cats demi- gods, half mortal and half god. This created cats being ranked higher up in society then humans. If a house was on fire cats were saved first, if a human killed a cat it was punishable by death. Once a cat passed away a priest had to determine if it was a natural death, and the towns people would endure a ritualistic mourning process, going so far as to even shave their eyebrows and beat on their chest. Of course the cat was mummified and today more cat mummies have been discovered then human mummies. Furthermore cats were able to spread all over the world by sailors smuggling cats out of Egypt and were even traded as highly valued treasures due to their ability to control vermin.

Over the years cats and humans have had a love for each other as well as hatred. The dislike for the cat is partially responsible for the widespread outbreak of the bubonic plague during the 14th century. The plague is a bacterial disease of rodents spread by fleas. Signs include swollen lymph nodes, painful lumps, fever, headache, chills, and extreme tiredness. The disease is still present today but the invention of the antibiotic has drastically lowered the mortality rate. During this time period cats were disliked and a great majority were killed leading to an overpopulation of rodents. As the disease spread even more cats were destroyed since they were believed to be associated with Satan and were partially blamed for the massive amount of deaths. As more cats were killed the number of rodents grew creating a massive epidemic. Once the cause of the disease was discovered cats were again held in high regard and loved by humans.

The cat was again persecuted and associated with Satan during the middle ages. Cats typically were companions of elderly single woman who could be considered witches. Older woman during this time were considered useless since their bodies prohibited hard physical labor and childbearing. If the year was bad for crops it was believed a witch was the culprit and a witch hunt would take place. In many cases the older woman and her cat were tortured and killed together, some would be drowned, hung or even burnt to death. It was even believed at this time that sealing live cats into the walls of buildings would bring good luck.

Cats are complex solitary mammals that are motivated by their survival needs. They are quite talented at becoming close with humans and part of the household as well as reverting back to their wild nature when humans decide they no longer adore felines. Cats generally avoid encounters with strangers but if an encounter arises they will convey messages with the use of body language and some vocalizations. Slight changes in body position can send broad messages to another feline. An aggressive cat will spit, hiss, growl, swat, arch the back, swing tail, and even flatten the ears. If the feline is feeling confident and aggressive most likely the cat will hold the tail straight up, narrow the pupils, perk the ears up and may even prance sideways to appear larger, and might try to pounce the other animal. If the cat is feeling fearful it will generally flee the scene, if it isn’t too afraid it may freeze in place, and may even lose control over the bladder. A happy cat typically purrs, blinks slowly, and partially closes the eyes. The feline is known to be one of the most sensual of all mammals, with terrific eyesight, hearing, smell and with a great many taste and touch receptors. Whiskers can actually be a great tool to tell a cat what the environment is like. They are used to aid in navigation as well as sensation; it is thought they can even pick up on air currents. Whiskers are also used to convey messages, if the whiskers are held flat against the face the feline is most likely defensive or aggressive, if the whiskers are forward the feline is most likely friendly and inquisitive. Compared with humans felines are a quite species, but if you watch them closely you can probably catch a cat communicating with the use of the body.

The domestic cat has come a long ways over the years evolving into quite a unique creature. The cat has been a member of our household as well as persecuted by man. Cats have become a social creature that still have many wild traits allowing them to enjoy the comforts of a home and still be able to survive as a feral cat.

Sources: animalplanent.com, wikipedia.org, HSUS.org, cdc.gov, wikipedia.com; about.com

How to find a new pet

Posted on: February 16th, 2006 by

Posted by Pets Best on 2/16/2006 in General Articles

Before adopting or purchasing a new pet, make sure you and your families are prepared. Pets take a lot of time and work, they need daily exercise, routine feedings, create clean up duties and most require professional training. In addition a new pet is probably a ten to twenty year commitment, making this a big decision. Once you have thoroughly thought about and decided on a new pet, evaluate your lifestyle and try to pick breeds that would suit your lifestyle, always take into account your home environment; apartments are generally not suitable for large dogs and the majority of dogs need a roomy fully fenced yard. Keep in mind a certain breed is not a guarantee of behavior, all animals have unique personalities.

The best place to begin a search for that new companion is at your local animal shelter. One in four animals dropped off at the animal shelter are purebreds, and puppies can even be found. Adoption fees at the local animal shelter are generally quite reasonable and the majority of pets at the shelter are there for no fault of their own. If the local shelter does not have what you are looking for keep in mind pets enter on a daily basis, so it never hurts to keep checking in.

Good quality breeders are also an option for finding a new pet. A breeder with quality puppies typically does not make a profit off the puppies and cares very much for the dogs well being. A good breeder will not sell to just anyone with money and many times will require a home inspection. Furthermore a quality breeder has few puppies available and the majority of the litter is already spoken for. Many times a prospective buyer will need to get on a waiting list and at times it can even take a year to acquire that puppy, but it is well worth the wait. To find a breeder ask your local veterinarian, dog trainers, breed clubs or check with the American Kennel Club Association. Once you have found a breeder check out the puppy’s environment and meet the parents. Be cautious of the local pet store and newspaper ads, many times these pets were born in puppy mills, which can affect health and temperament. It is always best to obtain a pet from a professional; it can heartbreaking if the pet has serious defects.

When searching for the right pet be extremely cautious not to purchase from a puppy mill. Puppy mills are a business of substandard commercial breeding of dogs and selling the puppies for a profit. Unfortunately this is rarely done in a compassionate fashion and the dogs end up suffering. The goal of a puppy mill is to breed and sell as many purebred dogs as possible therefore very little affection or expense is given to the dogs. Many times puppy mill pets are available in the local pet store, off the internet and in the local newspaper. A mill will not label itself a puppy mill but if there is a large amount of animals being breed outside the home, and the parents or facilities are unavailable to meet or inspect then be suspicious that the breeder may actually be a puppy mill.

The condition of the typical puppy mill can be very concerning. Overcrowding, over breeding, inbreeding, lack of veterinary care, poor quality of food, insufficient shelters, lack of temperature controls, killing of unwanted dogs, and lack of socialization are all common problems. The quality of life for the breeder dogs is quite poor, they spend their entire life in a small cage, constantly are being breed until they can’t reproduce anymore and then are disposed of. The typical mill generally has sixty five to seventy five dogs, but some have thousands of dogs. The states known for having puppy mills are Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Pennsylvania. Most puppies that have been born in a mill are sold to a broker who then sells the puppies direct or to a pet store. Puppies are usually pulled from their mother at a very young age and shipped long distances in mediocre conditions to their destination for sale. Most have had to become accustom to sitting and sleeping in urine and feces making these pets extremely hard to potty train. It is common for puppy mill pets to be unhealthy, possess serious genetic defects, and major behavior issues. By purchasing a puppy mill victim a good home and quality of life may be provided for that pet but the money used to purchase that pet contributes to the ongoing crisis and opens up a slot for another puppy to fill.

There are organizations and government acts in place to help alleviate the massive problem, but the number of inspectors and enforcers is just too small to combat the large scale problem. Also, if a mill does get shut down it puts a lot of stress on the humane society in that area to provide care to all those animals. The best way the public can end this upsetting problem is to avoid purchasing puppy mill dogs, lowering the demand and thereby decreasing the amount of breeding.

Puppy auctions are another concern when searching for the perfect pet. Auctions generally take place close to puppy mills and are a way for mill owners to buy and sell breeding animals as well quickly rid the mill of any unwanted puppies. Intact adult breeders are typically unhealthy, have been over bred and the puppies found at these auctions are known for having serious defects making them undesirable for the general public. In addition when you purchase from an auction you are contributing to the overall problem allowing mill owners to continue and profit from the business.

Backyard breeders should also be avoided. A backyard breeder typically lacks the proper knowledge to breed healthy dogs with good temperaments. Many times these dogs have serious behavioral and medical problems that can wreck havoc on your home, heart and pocket book. The motive for most backyard breeders is profit, and the majority of puppies born will miss important early life experiences that a quality breeder can provide. Additionally, many backyard bred puppies have been mishandled by children at a very early age.

When beginning that search for the perfect companion take your time and do your research. There are experts around every corner that are more then happy to help an eager owner find the right pet for the right household. By purchasing a quality purebred or rescuing an animal in need can eliminate expensive veterinary bills, and save your heart from being broke by a young loving pet with genetic disorders. Once you have obtained the new companion remember to make regular visits to your local veterinarian and contact a professional trainer to get the pet off to the right start.

Sources: HSUS.org, ASPCA.org; prisonersofgreed.org; msnbc.com; gglrc.org; veterinarypartner.com

« Previous Page  1 2 ... 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17  
powered by SEO Pager