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There are many ways in which you can avoid asthmatic reactions to cats before they become a serious problem. Find out about asthmatic reactions to cats with help from a naturopathic doctor in this free video clip.
Cats are subject to a variety of external conditions, such as abscesses. These skin problems can occur for any number of reasons, but are more likely to occur in cats that live outdoors, such as farm cats, as they are exposed to sharp equipment, the elements and other cats. Treat abscesses on cats as quickly as possible using effective topical treatments, such as aloe vera gel.
Better known by its trade name, Valium, diazepam is a relaxer for humans that may be prescribed for cats for several reasons. Cats suffering from seizures, anxiety or lack of appetite -- or exhibiting behavioral problems such as inappropriate elimination or aggression, -- may receive the drug. Your veterinarian should determine a proper dosage based on your cat's body weight. While giving a small dose of diazepam does not differ from the way you give other pills to your cat, you must take precautions due to the sedative and sometimes paradoxical nature of the medication.
Upper respiratory infections are a common problem in cats that can lead to more serious illnesses such as pneumonia, sinus infections and conjunctivitis. Though most feline respiratory infections do not require treatment, you should nonetheless monitor your cat closely for worsening symptoms. Because a cat may be contagious for some time after treatment is begun, you may wish to isolate it from other cats in the household.
Infected wounds on a cat need to be properly treated the same way they would on a human. Treat a cat's infected wound with help from an expert in animal behavior in this free video clip.
Prednisolone acetate is one form of prednisolone, a steroid drug. Steroids are medicines that act like natural hormones in the body, and so find applications in both the veterinary world, for animals like cats and dogs and also as human medication. When a vet administers prednisolone acetate to a cat, he may need to give more medication than he would for another animal such as a dog, as, according to the Merck Veterinary Manual, cats do not respond as efficiently to the drug as other animals. As of August 2011, the Merck Veterinary Manual specifies a dose of up to…
All breeds of domestic cats groom by licking. A cat's tongue is filled with tiny papillae that grasp dirt and hair during the grooming process. Dirt and hair enter the cat's digestive system forming a trichobezoar or hairball. The digestive system expels the hairball through feces, vomit or, in severe cases, surgery. According to Cornell University, long-haired cats like the Maine Coon cat are more susceptible to hairball problems, but short-haired cats are still at risk.
Cats, like humans, suffer from urinary track infections. These infections are treated with antibiotics prescribed by a veterinarian. In order to treat a UTI successfully, the antibiotics prescribed must be given according to the veterinarian's directions. Treatment of the infection will provide your cat with relief from the uncomfortable symptoms a UTI. If your cat begins to urinate outside of its liter box, there's a good chance it has a UTI and an antibiotic might be in order.
Cats are fastidious and enjoy grooming themselves. This self-grooming helps your cat stay clean, but undigested fur can accumulate in a cat's gastrointestinal tract. Neither stomach acid nor pancreatic enzymes can break down the excess fur. If the surplus hair is not eliminated in the cat's stool, it mats together to form a hairball. Lubricants help prevent hairballs from building up in a cat's system by making them easier to excrete. A variety of commercial hairball remedies are available, but it's easy to make your own hairball lubricant for cats.
If your puppy is constipated, he doesn't feel good. His belly ache will go away, however, with the help of a natural laxative or stool softener. Puppy's system isn't so different from yours. The food he eats can help regulate his stools, and the way he processes that food makes all the difference.
Cats groom themselves several times a day not only because they are clean animals by nature, but also as a means of removing the loose hairs that accumulate. Due to the frequency of their grooming, cats will often get hairballs as the hairs collect in their stomach. This accumulation eventually leads to the cat vomiting up the hairballs on your floors or furniture. To ease the cat's discomfort and keep your house hairball-free, try out any one of many different home remedies for cat hairballs.
Chronic renal or kidney failure is the leading cause of death in older cats. According to the Feline Advisory Bureau, approximately one-fifth of cats 15 years or older suffer with some form of kidney disease. Early detection and treatment can slow progression of the disease, which is irreversible. Antibiotics are not generally prescribed for kidney treatment but are used for secondary infections resulting from a weakened immune system. It is critical to understand cautions and potential side effects of antibiotics for cats with kidney failure.
Dental health is just as important for your dog as it is for you. Dental problems in dogs often go overlooked since dogs cannot communicate pain or discomfort to us in words. Since dogs use their teeth for play and rough chewing, their teeth can easily be damaged, allowing bacteria to grow and infections to develop.
Weimaraners, often referred to as '' silver ghosts or gray ghosts'' due to their distinctive sleek silver-gray coat and light amber eyes, are generally a healthy and strong breed. However, they may at times be affected by certain ailments. Should your Weimaraner ever suffer from a urinary tract infection, a course of antibiotics in most cases will lead to the rapid resolution of symptoms. Learn about the most common antibiotics prescribed to treat your Weimaraner's urinary problem.
Salicylates are chemical compounds found in some types of plants. One such salicylate is salicylic acid, commonly called aspirin, which is a wonder drug in treating human medical conditions. However, it can be toxic to cats and should be given only in small, infrequent doses under the guidance of a veterinarian. Your cat's aching old bones are a minor problem when compared to salicylic toxicity from an excessive dose.
Like humans, cats get sick and injure themselves. Depending upon the type of illness or injury, antibiotics may be required to prevent the spread of the infection. Although antibiotics help cats regain their health, they may cause side effects. If your cat is prescribed antibiotics, pay close attention to your cat's health and monitor your pet for serious side effects.
A hairball, or a trichobezoar, is an accumulation of hair that gets into the stomach of your cat when it grooms itself. Felines are carnivores and their digestive system is able to digest hair, but some cats may have more sensitive stomachs. They don't digest the hair, so it accumulates in the stomach. Hairballs are more common in adult cats, but kittens may also have this problem. If your kitten has a hairball, it may display symptoms such as dry coughing and vomiting. Hairball treatment is only necessary if your pet doesn't vomit or pass the hairball.
Hairballs, or trichobezoars, are balls of fur in a cat's stomach that occur when hair is swallowed during grooming. Hairballs that are not vomited or passed through the digestive tract may cause health problems. While hairballs occur naturally, steps may be taken to reduce and prevent the occurrence of hairballs.
The grub is a cuterebra larva. These larvae are more likely to infect rabbits and other rodents, but they sometimes infect cats, particularly kittens, late in summer. The larvae usually appear as a moving lump with a tiny air hole in its center. The lumps usually show up on your cat's neck or chest. They can be fatal if they infect your cat's nose. A veterinarian must surgically remove the grub because simply killing the grub or removing only part of it can result in a serious infection.
Over-the-counter medicines for humans can harm or even kill pets, but these simple home remedies can help you treat pet illnesses and injuries safely. An experienced veterinarian explains in this free video on puppy and kitten care.
Hairballs are common in domestic cats. The main reason for this is that cats spend a lot of time grooming themselves and during this process they tend to ingest quite a bit of hair. The hairball itself is a combination of hair and undigested food. It's not uncommon for cats to eliminate one to two hairballs a month. But differentiating the symptoms of hairballs and other, more serious problems, takes knowledge.
Grasping a cat with one hand and letting its hind legs dangle is no way to put the animal at ease. Improper handling of a feline can result in painful bites and scratches as the animal struggles to wriggle out of your grasp. When you pick up a cat, you need to support it in the front and rear of its body, as best as you can, so it will feel safe and secure.
Cats spend a great deal of time grooming themselves. However, their stomachs cannot digest the fur that is swallowed. Over time, the fur builds up and mixes with other stomach contents, creating hairballs. Cats get rid of hairballs by hacking or throwing them up. This is a normal process that keeps the digestive tract healthy. However, cat owners need to be aware that hairballs can sometimes inhibit your breathing and should monitor their pet closely when they throw up or hack.
Tapeworms are long, flat, segmented worms that attach themselves to the intestines of cats by using hook-like mouth parts. The parasites can grow to be more than 2 feet long. Most often cats become infected with tapeworms after ingesting an intermediate host, typically a flea. This occurs when your cat is biting at an area where a flea has bitten the cat. It can also happen after a cat has eaten an infected rodent.
There are many benefits to owning a cat, from their love and affectionate hearts to their inherently playful nature. Unfortunately, one downside of owning a cat is cleaning up warm, slimy hairballs. Hairballs are caused by the ingestion of too much long hair during grooming. Most domestic cats will easily pass the hair in its feces. Unfortunately, the intense breeding of cats has left them with longer fur and more hairballs, according to Cats of Australia. Eliminating the cause of hairballs and helping the cat with its diet will cut down on the frequency of unwanted clean-ups.
Besides being gross and messy, hairballs can endanger your cat's health. Large hairballs can cause serious health problems like intestinal blockages. There have even been reports of vets surgically removing baseball-sized hairballs. Hairballs occur naturally during the grooming process, when a cat loosens and swallows dead hairs. Since it is obviously not an option for your cat to cease grooming altogether, some remedies may reduce the frequency and severity of hairballs.
One of the best things about horse training is that you do not have to be in the saddle to accomplish a lot. You can do a number of valuable exercises without ever mounting up. That means you can work with your young horse long before he is old enough to ride, then seamlessly move those ground work exercises into the saddle.
All it takes to keep most cats happy and healthy are regular checkups by a veterinarian and steady supplies of fresh water and nutritious cat food. But elderly or infirm cats may require a bit more to keep them purring. A variety of herbs and fish oils can provide numerous health benefits for your feline friend, or simply provide it with a boost of energy or nutrition.
Cats are among the most common domestic pets, though owning more than one can be a challenge for some pet owners. Cat owners should consider all of the factors that go into owning more than one of them, as dealing with litter boxes and rivalry between the pets can be difficult. Multiple cats often necessitate different methods and supplies than a single pet.
Hairballs, also known as "trichobezoars," are a normal but unfortunate side effect of the feline grooming process. When cats ingest the loose hair removed during grooming, it sometimes builds up in the stomach rather than passing through the digestive tract successfully in the form of stool. If your cat is choking on a hairball, removing the blockage from the throat is the immediate first priority, followed soon after by a number of treatments designed to ensure the safe, quick and complete passage of the obstruction through the digestive track.
A dog or cat who has ear mites will usually shake its head frequently and scratch or paw at its ears. If you want to treat the animal at home, you can do so with vinegar. Vinegar should kill the ear mites due to the acetic acid, but you will have to treat the animal's ears regularly and persistently.
Veterinarians typically recommend allergy testing and immunotherapy -- or desensitization -- for allergic pets that are symptomatic four to six months a year and when common medications don't provide relief. After the animal undergoes skin testing to determine which antigens cause a reaction, the vet or pet owner injects a commercially prepared version of the antigen into the animal in a series of shots to desensitize it over time. The veterinarians at PetEducation.com advise that this particular treatment is effective in 80 percent of affected animals. To save time and money on clinic visits, pet owners need to learn how…
Bloodhounds are a breed of dogs known for their sense of smell. Overall, they have a loose, thin coat, that contains multiple folds including on their ears. The dogs also have long ears that help deliver scents from the ground to the dog's nose. Since a Bloodhound's ears are long and fall below their face, the ears are prone to dirt collecting within the folds and ear canal. Debris can lead to yeast and bacteria growth, which can result in an ear infection if you don't clean your Bloodhound's ears on a weekly basis.
Pet mice live 1.5 to 2.5 years and, if given good food, clean water and space to play, can lead quality lives. They do encounter health problems that can be tough to diagnose. If you do not have experience raising mice, or if your mouse is having a health problem, take it to a veterinarian. Mice can die from constipation very quickly, so do not hesitate to see a vet as he can prescribe medication to alleviate the symptoms.
Cleaning a dog's ears is a necessary procedure to help prevent painful and expensive infections. Dogs with floppy ears are more likely to develop infections because moisture does not dry as rapidly in their ear canals. Dogs with upright ears are less prone to infection but still need regular cleanings. Keeping your dog's ears healthy is as easy as cleaning them once a week.
A dog's ears may be prone to irritations and infections if not cleaned routinely and disinfected. Wax, dirt and debris tends to accumulate in the dog's ear canal making it an ideal environment for bacteria, yeast and pesky parasites. A clean ear, free of wax, offers a less favorable environment for these enemies and helps prevent annoying ear conditions. Make sn effective ear wax cleaner with some easy to find ingredients.
As a supplement, flaxseed offers many benefits to horses: It is high in omega 3 fatty acids, it provides natural immunity system support and helps normal development of the brain, eyes and nerves, and it promotes hoof health. Flaxseed also encourages normal growth and development of young horses and has natural anti-inflammatory properties. Since it contains 30 to 32 percent protein and 1 to 5 percent fat, it helps add gloss and bloom to the coat. While whole flaxseed can be purchased at little cost, grinding it makes it more more digestible.
Cats can develop yeast infections of the ears, anal sacs, rectum and vagina, as well as on the skin of their bodies, according to Vetinfo. This infection causes your cat's skin to become red, inflamed, itchy, flaky, and smell foul, causing it discomfort. It can lead to hair loss, acne or dandruff. After taking your cat to the vet to correctly diagnose your cat's ailment as a yeast infection, you can treat your cat's infection with certain medications, shampoos or natural cures to provide relief for it.
When a cat becomes ill, the veterinarian may prescribe liquid medication. As many cat owners know, cats do not typically like to be forced to do anything. Therefore, it can be difficult to get a cat to take its medication. However, if a veterinarian prescribed it, the medication is necessary to make your cat better again.
Ear mites are microscopic parasites that particularly like the dark, moist environment of the ear canal. Typically ear mites will go undetected until symptoms occur, such as redness, discharge, odor, head-shaking, ear-scratching, or rubbing of the ears on other surfaces. As the condition progresses, a dirty, waxy buildup will form on the dog's outer ear. Although most dogs dislike having their ears cleaned, this is an important step in the treatment process for ear mites.
Giving a cat oral medicine can be tricky and cause anxiety for both of you. Many cat medications are bitter to your cat's taste buds but there are a couple of techniques that can make it easier for you to get the medication into your cat. You may need to try both to determine which is better for you and your cat.
Cranberry extract is used to treat bacterial urinary infections in humans and dogs as it prevents the attachment of the E. coli bacteria to the bladder wall. However, cats with this problem do not have bacteria in their urine. Feline urinary tract infection is characterized by the formation of struvite crystals, which develop in alkaline urine. The high amount of vitamin C found in cranberry extract lowers the urinary pH in cats, dissolving the crystals. Therefore a cranberry pill may be a suitable treatment for your cat's urinary tract infection.
Grooming your cat is a normal process, including removing wax from its ear and off the hair on its ear. Cats are good at grooming themselves, but removing wax off their hair may be a little too much for them to handle. Clean their ears regularly to get cats accustomed to it. Some cats tolerate routine cleaning, while others may become fussy. Some tips will make cleaning wax off the hair of a cat's ear an easier process.
Cats and kittens can vomit for several reasons, including a viral or parasitic infection or an excessive amount of hair in the cat's digestive system. Cats that eat their food too quickly can also vomit up the meal because the digestive tract cannot process the excessive amount of material that fast. There are several ways to make a cat slow down at the dinner bowl in order to prevent it from vomiting up its dinner.
A common herbal medicine used to treat certain illnesses in cats is a tincture. These natural, concentrated liquid medicines are sold in health food stores and online, but you can make them at home to treat your cat. Made from various herbs, use these homemade cat medicines internally to treat illnesses, as well as externally for some skin conditions. Since cats cannot tolerate essential oils, tinctures are used instead to treat illnesses naturally. By making these homemade cat tinctures yourself, you have greater control over the ingredients and their quality.
Cats are so independent and self-sufficient; it’s easy to forget that a part of their regular care should involve weekly ear maintenance. It is indeed important to routinely inspect a cat’s ears for excessive wax, debris, inflammation or infection. For some cats, cleaning may need to become a part of a weekly grooming practice. If done consistently, calmly and confidently and in a pleasant and comfortable setting, this routine can become a positive part of a cat’s and its owner’s bonding experience.
Trying to give your cat liquid with a syringe is somewhat akin to trying to give a toddler a foul-tasting medicine. If you take the proper precautions you and your pet will quickly forget the experience and not be traumatized over it. Once your cat's health is restored, you will be glad you learned to do it successfully.
Herbal tinctures are natural liquid extracts made from fresh or dried medicinal plant parts and a liquid base. The liquid base is most commonly a 100 or more proof grain alcohol such as vodka or brandy, but may also be vegetable glycerin or apple cider vinegar, according to Herbal Remedies Info. After soaking for 6 to 8 weeks, the liquids are strained and used for medicinal purposes. Use these remedies for cats to treat certain medical conditions.
There is little more disconcerting than having your pet cat sick. When your cat refuses to take his medication, it only exacerbates the problem. Cats are usually picky eaters and do not like anything being forced upon them. There are some strategies you can implement to encourage your cat to take its medication.
Cats can contract an intestinal parasite known as Dipylidium, a type of tapeworm, through the ingestion of fleas. A tapeworm infection has potentially debilitating effects on your cat and requires treatment with specialized medication. Depending on the infection, your veterinarian will recommend an anti-helminthic medication (which kills the tapeworms) to administer to your cat, usually in tablet or liquid form, according to Pet Place. Give this medication to your cat by mouth as directed by your veterinarian, with the dosage usually based on the weight of your cat.
