By Sam Carter
Teaching a puppy or a dog proper socialization skills is vital to the safety of both your dog and other dogs and people with whom he comes into contact. A properly socialized dog is a happy dog, and a joy to be around for both humans and animals. A poorly socialized dog, or one with no socialization at all, is a danger to other animals, other people and even his own family. Socialization is best done when the puppy is as young as possible The socialization lessons a young puppy learns are difficult to undo, and it is important to remember that the socialization skills the puppy learns will affect his behavior for the rest of his life.
A dog that is properly socialized will be neither frightened of nor aggressive towards either animals or humans. A properly socialized dog will take each new experience and stimulus in stride, and not become fearful or aggressive. Dogs that are not properly socialized often bite because of fear, and such a dog can become a hazard and a liability to the family who owns it. Improperly socialized dogs are also unable to adapt to new situations. A routine matter like a trip to the vets or to a friends house can quickly stress the dog out and lead to all sorts of problems.
Socialization is best done when the puppy is very young, perhaps around 12 weeks of age. Even after 12 weeks, however, it is important that the puppy continues its socialization in order to refine the all important social skills. It is possible to socialize an older puppy, but it is very difficult to achieve after the all important 12 week period has passed.
The following text describes how to properly socialize your puppy.
*Make each of the socialization events as pleasant and non-threatening for the puppy as possible. If a puppy's first experience with any new experience is an unpleasant one, it will be very difficult to undo that in the puppy's mind. In some cases, an early trauma can morph into a phobia that can last for a lifetime. It is better to take things slow and avoid having the puppy become frightened or injured.
*Try inviting your friends over to meet the new puppy. It is important to included as many different people as possible in the puppy's circle of acquaintances, including men, women, children, adults, as well as people of many diverse ethnic backgrounds and ages.
*Also invite friendly and healthy dogs and puppies over to meet your puppy. It is important for the puppy to meet a wide variety of other animals, including cats, hamsters, rabbits and other animals he is likely to meet. It is of course important to make sure that all animals the puppy comes into contact with have received all necessary vaccinations.
*Take the puppy to many different places, including shopping centers, pet stores, parks, school playgrounds and on walks around the neighborhood. Try to expose the puppy to places where they will be crowds of people and lots of diverse activity going on.
*Take the puppy for frequent short rides in the car. During these rides, be sure to stop the car once in a while and let the puppy look out the window at the world outside. *Introduce your puppy to a variety of items that may be unfamiliar. The puppy should be exposed to common items like bags, boxes, vacuum cleaners, umbrellas, hats, etc. that may be frightening to him. Allow and encourage the puppy to explore these items and see that he has nothing to fear from them.
* Get the puppy used to a variety of objects by rearranging familiar ones. Simply placing a chair upside down, or placing a table on its side, creates an object that your puppy will perceive as totally new.
* Get the puppy used to common procedures like being brushed, bathed, having the nails clipped, teeth cleaned, ears cleaned, etc. Your groomer and your veterinarian with thank you for this.
* Introduce the puppy to common things around the house, such as stairs. Also introduce the puppy to the collar and leash, so he will be comfortable with these items.
For information on training visit Dog Training
About the Author
Sam Carter has produced a Dog Obedience e-book that will help solve the most common dog behavior problems quickly & easily, thanks to this powerful insider information thousands of dog owners worldwide have been successful with their dog training, and solved their dog's behavior problems.
To download it instantly visithttp://www.dogobedienceexpert.com
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Friday, February 26, 2010
Caring For Pet Ferrets
Posted By: Bette J
Ferrets may not be a common animal choice for pets, but these critters have been domesticated by humans since way back in 4 BC. Many people find ferrets nice to have and as easy to keep, if not easier, as other typical pets like dogs and cats. Here are some basic tips about caring for ferrets.Keeping Ferrets Active
Keeping Ferrets Active
Ferrets are very energetic animals. It is recommended to keep them entertained with toys that aren’t easy to break to maintain the animals safety. Ferrets can be nice pets when one knows the right ways of caring for them. Having them can be a fun and exciting experience.
Making a Home for the Ferret
Ferrets prefer living in spaces that resemble dens in the wild. A wired cage that is about 30 inches wide, 18 inches deep, and 18 inches long may suffice. Many ferrets like living in cages that have things to climb such as ramps and stairs. The cage should allow good ventilation, thus it is not wise to use aquariums. The floor may be covered by linoleum tiles and carpets or other soft washable materials to make the flooring more comfortable for ferrets to walk on than wire floors. The cage should be kept within 55 to 70 degrees. It should also be cleaned regularly with hot soapy water.
Feeding Ferrets
Ferrets are carnivores that require at least 22% fat and 34% protein from animal sources. It isn’t recommended to feed them dog or cat food. Chicken and turkey are ideal. Ferrets should never be fed vegetables because they are difficult to digest. Fruits are also not an option because sugars may increase tendencies for insulinoma. Egg whites should also be avoided because they can cause hemolytic anemia.
Potty Training
A small 3 to 5 inches-high cardboard box may be used as a litter box for ferrets. Litter pans should be secured to a side of the cage, far from the ferrets eating and sleeping areas. Litter products made of plant or paper fibers are recommended to prevent clumping of fecal matter.
Keeping Ferrets Clean
Ferrets tend to produce undesirable odors. To prevent them from smelling to strongly, they can be bathed using a special ferret shampoo, kitten shampoo, or diluted baby shampoo. It isn’t advisable to bathe ferrets daily, because it will dry their skin, causing overcompensation of oil secretion, making the ferret smell more. It is also important to check the ferrets ears for mites regularly. Ears should be cleaned using cotton soaked in a special cleanser that can be bought from a pet store.
If you would like to find more articles about Ferrets, Please click here: ezcooldata.com/ferrets/. Proper caring for these little critters is very important to keep them healthy. Like any pet, be sure you check into what is involved to take care of this animal before you take it home. The pet will need your time and it will depend on you for it's food and care. Have a Happy Time with your new pet.
Source: http://bettes88.blogspot.com/2010/02/caring-for-pet-ferrets.html
Ferrets may not be a common animal choice for pets, but these critters have been domesticated by humans since way back in 4 BC. Many people find ferrets nice to have and as easy to keep, if not easier, as other typical pets like dogs and cats. Here are some basic tips about caring for ferrets.Keeping Ferrets Active
Keeping Ferrets Active
Ferrets are very energetic animals. It is recommended to keep them entertained with toys that aren’t easy to break to maintain the animals safety. Ferrets can be nice pets when one knows the right ways of caring for them. Having them can be a fun and exciting experience.
Making a Home for the Ferret
Ferrets prefer living in spaces that resemble dens in the wild. A wired cage that is about 30 inches wide, 18 inches deep, and 18 inches long may suffice. Many ferrets like living in cages that have things to climb such as ramps and stairs. The cage should allow good ventilation, thus it is not wise to use aquariums. The floor may be covered by linoleum tiles and carpets or other soft washable materials to make the flooring more comfortable for ferrets to walk on than wire floors. The cage should be kept within 55 to 70 degrees. It should also be cleaned regularly with hot soapy water.
Feeding Ferrets
Ferrets are carnivores that require at least 22% fat and 34% protein from animal sources. It isn’t recommended to feed them dog or cat food. Chicken and turkey are ideal. Ferrets should never be fed vegetables because they are difficult to digest. Fruits are also not an option because sugars may increase tendencies for insulinoma. Egg whites should also be avoided because they can cause hemolytic anemia.
Potty Training
A small 3 to 5 inches-high cardboard box may be used as a litter box for ferrets. Litter pans should be secured to a side of the cage, far from the ferrets eating and sleeping areas. Litter products made of plant or paper fibers are recommended to prevent clumping of fecal matter.
Keeping Ferrets Clean
Ferrets tend to produce undesirable odors. To prevent them from smelling to strongly, they can be bathed using a special ferret shampoo, kitten shampoo, or diluted baby shampoo. It isn’t advisable to bathe ferrets daily, because it will dry their skin, causing overcompensation of oil secretion, making the ferret smell more. It is also important to check the ferrets ears for mites regularly. Ears should be cleaned using cotton soaked in a special cleanser that can be bought from a pet store.
If you would like to find more articles about Ferrets, Please click here: ezcooldata.com/ferrets/. Proper caring for these little critters is very important to keep them healthy. Like any pet, be sure you check into what is involved to take care of this animal before you take it home. The pet will need your time and it will depend on you for it's food and care. Have a Happy Time with your new pet.
Source: http://bettes88.blogspot.com/2010/02/caring-for-pet-ferrets.html
Sunday, January 24, 2010
The Fundamentals Of Exotic Pet Law
Posted By Bette J
No one wants to break any law. A law abiding citizen would first check the legality of the circumstances before getting an exotic pet. This actually takes some effort in finding out. One: it depends on the state where the owner lives. And two: it depends on the exotic animal that he is taking care of.
If you think just going online and checking it on the internet is the answer, you're mistaken. Sometimes, the information gathered on the web are already late and lacking in information. Sometimes, the local laws don’t apply on each state. It's just not consistent therefore, it's not dependable.
For an owner of an exotic pet, it is advised that he checks with the local government first. This could be the city, the town or the county. Ask a local humane society or the closest animal shelter.
So that you could provide the right habitat and right diet for your exotic pet, it's suggested that you consult your veterinarian. Sometimes health departments added regulations to the city laws that have already been imposed. Sometimes, the exotic pet is legal in your county, but then you have to double check if its legal in your state.
It may be a hassle to do this at first but then it's a necessity. If it so happens that your exotic pet isn’t legal where you reside, it might be taken away from you. Another issue that must be given attention to is that an exotic pet may be an endangered creature and bringing it to the mainland may not help in protecting their species, if it would only mean the animal would die later on.
Checking the legality of an exotic pet is also for the owners to not have conflict of interests with his neighbors. People may file a complaint against their possession of the exotic creature, so not only will this lead to the confiscation of the animal, it could also result in euthanasia.
If the creature is legally obtained, it would only result to the extinction of the animal. What's considered exotic is most of the time endangered. Check out the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora for more information.
To also protect your neighborhood, the states are concerned with regards to the animals that are brought in. Exotic creatures such as crocodiles and large cats are considered to be potentially harmful when not handled with care.
Generally, these exotic animals need special care (nutrition and living space.) These aren’t easily acquired by the owner and the consultation with a veterinarian is required.
Moving on from science regulations, the laws that concerned exotic creatures may come off as political as well. The law encompasses that the acquisition of exotic creatures require the owner to provide the proper care and diet to these creatures in order for them to no longer be endangered. If these are not met, then the animals may be confiscated and result in the heartbreak of the owner.
Source: http://bettes88.blogspot.com/2010/01/fundamentals-of-exotic-pet-law.html
No one wants to break any law. A law abiding citizen would first check the legality of the circumstances before getting an exotic pet. This actually takes some effort in finding out. One: it depends on the state where the owner lives. And two: it depends on the exotic animal that he is taking care of.
If you think just going online and checking it on the internet is the answer, you're mistaken. Sometimes, the information gathered on the web are already late and lacking in information. Sometimes, the local laws don’t apply on each state. It's just not consistent therefore, it's not dependable.
For an owner of an exotic pet, it is advised that he checks with the local government first. This could be the city, the town or the county. Ask a local humane society or the closest animal shelter.
So that you could provide the right habitat and right diet for your exotic pet, it's suggested that you consult your veterinarian. Sometimes health departments added regulations to the city laws that have already been imposed. Sometimes, the exotic pet is legal in your county, but then you have to double check if its legal in your state.
It may be a hassle to do this at first but then it's a necessity. If it so happens that your exotic pet isn’t legal where you reside, it might be taken away from you. Another issue that must be given attention to is that an exotic pet may be an endangered creature and bringing it to the mainland may not help in protecting their species, if it would only mean the animal would die later on.
Checking the legality of an exotic pet is also for the owners to not have conflict of interests with his neighbors. People may file a complaint against their possession of the exotic creature, so not only will this lead to the confiscation of the animal, it could also result in euthanasia.
If the creature is legally obtained, it would only result to the extinction of the animal. What's considered exotic is most of the time endangered. Check out the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora for more information.
To also protect your neighborhood, the states are concerned with regards to the animals that are brought in. Exotic creatures such as crocodiles and large cats are considered to be potentially harmful when not handled with care.
Generally, these exotic animals need special care (nutrition and living space.) These aren’t easily acquired by the owner and the consultation with a veterinarian is required.
Moving on from science regulations, the laws that concerned exotic creatures may come off as political as well. The law encompasses that the acquisition of exotic creatures require the owner to provide the proper care and diet to these creatures in order for them to no longer be endangered. If these are not met, then the animals may be confiscated and result in the heartbreak of the owner.
Source: http://bettes88.blogspot.com/2010/01/fundamentals-of-exotic-pet-law.html
Friday, January 1, 2010
Leash Train Your Cat - 7 Easy Steps
By Bonnie Dye
Most people think cats can't be trained to do tricks or walk on a leash, and that's simply not true. Look at any circus and you'll see the big cats literally jumping through hoops for their owners.
You'll want to start with the right equipment. It’s best to use a harness rather than just a collar, for two reasons. First, a cat can quickly and easily wiggle out of a collar – their heads are not much bigger than their necks. Second, a harness will protect your cat from injury, since part of the harness goes around the cat’s body, rather than just its neck. Choose a leash and harness made from lightweight nylon. Cats are easily weighed down even by the weight of the leash clip if it’s too heavy.
Here are 7 easy steps to leash training your cat:
NOTE: To easily restrain your cat, position the cat so it's standing, facing away from you, then put your arm around the front of its shoulders below the neck. Hold it gently backed up against you. No need for a lot of force. The cat may wiggle, but it'll mostly be convinced it can't get away, so it won't try.
1)Introduce the harness
While your cat is relaxed, slip the first loop of the harness over the cat's head and around its neck. The cat will wiggle a lot!
2)Re-introduce the harness (I know!)
If the cat gets away from you, stay relaxed and it will quickly calm down. After a minute or so, go pick up the harness and start again. Be prepared to restrain your cat this time, so it doesn't create a habit of running away.
3)Fasten the harness
Act quickly here. Fasten the harness then immediately let the cat go! It will run, squirm, and wiggle for 2 or 3 minutes before it lies down and tries to lick the harness off.
4)Attach the leash
When your pet stops, walk over, stroke and talk to it, then click the leash onto the harness, letting the leash hang loosely over the cat's back.
5)Bring out a toy
The average cat will immediately lay flat on the floor on its stomach with all four legs sprawled out. Have a toy ready – choose something on a string the cat likes to chase.
6)Play with leash attached
Your cat will play, quickly forgetting the weight on its back. After 2-3 minutes, let the cat rest with the leash still attached.
7)Remove the harness
Your cat now understands it can move around even while wearing a harness and leash. Unhook the leash, and after about 15 minutes, remove the harness.
Next day, put the harness on, let the cat go about its business, and after 15-20 minutes, remove the harness.
Third day, attach the harness and leash and keep hold of it with no pressure on the cat. Let your cat lead you around while it gets used to the slight weight it's feeling, then exert pressure on the leash to let the cat know you're taking the lead. If the cat resists, don't drag it. Encourage it toward you with a treat or a toy.
Most adult cats are prepared to go outside by the fourth day, and I once had a ten week old kitten who was ready on the first day after only about 45 minutes!
That’s really all there is to it! In a very short time you’ll be able to walk through the park with your cat prancing proudly beside you. They love showing off their personal grandeur, and will quickly learn to walk with head and tail held high.
About the Author: Bonnie Dye has raised, trained and cared for dogs and cats for over 30 years. She is the co-author of "What Your Pets Want You to Know". To get your free report, "Secrets to Happy and Obedient Pets" go to Free Pet Care Tipshttp://www.isnare.com/
Source:
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=449624&ca=Pets
Most people think cats can't be trained to do tricks or walk on a leash, and that's simply not true. Look at any circus and you'll see the big cats literally jumping through hoops for their owners.
You'll want to start with the right equipment. It’s best to use a harness rather than just a collar, for two reasons. First, a cat can quickly and easily wiggle out of a collar – their heads are not much bigger than their necks. Second, a harness will protect your cat from injury, since part of the harness goes around the cat’s body, rather than just its neck. Choose a leash and harness made from lightweight nylon. Cats are easily weighed down even by the weight of the leash clip if it’s too heavy.
Here are 7 easy steps to leash training your cat:
NOTE: To easily restrain your cat, position the cat so it's standing, facing away from you, then put your arm around the front of its shoulders below the neck. Hold it gently backed up against you. No need for a lot of force. The cat may wiggle, but it'll mostly be convinced it can't get away, so it won't try.
1)Introduce the harness
While your cat is relaxed, slip the first loop of the harness over the cat's head and around its neck. The cat will wiggle a lot!
2)Re-introduce the harness (I know!)
If the cat gets away from you, stay relaxed and it will quickly calm down. After a minute or so, go pick up the harness and start again. Be prepared to restrain your cat this time, so it doesn't create a habit of running away.
3)Fasten the harness
Act quickly here. Fasten the harness then immediately let the cat go! It will run, squirm, and wiggle for 2 or 3 minutes before it lies down and tries to lick the harness off.
4)Attach the leash
When your pet stops, walk over, stroke and talk to it, then click the leash onto the harness, letting the leash hang loosely over the cat's back.
5)Bring out a toy
The average cat will immediately lay flat on the floor on its stomach with all four legs sprawled out. Have a toy ready – choose something on a string the cat likes to chase.
6)Play with leash attached
Your cat will play, quickly forgetting the weight on its back. After 2-3 minutes, let the cat rest with the leash still attached.
7)Remove the harness
Your cat now understands it can move around even while wearing a harness and leash. Unhook the leash, and after about 15 minutes, remove the harness.
Next day, put the harness on, let the cat go about its business, and after 15-20 minutes, remove the harness.
Third day, attach the harness and leash and keep hold of it with no pressure on the cat. Let your cat lead you around while it gets used to the slight weight it's feeling, then exert pressure on the leash to let the cat know you're taking the lead. If the cat resists, don't drag it. Encourage it toward you with a treat or a toy.
Most adult cats are prepared to go outside by the fourth day, and I once had a ten week old kitten who was ready on the first day after only about 45 minutes!
That’s really all there is to it! In a very short time you’ll be able to walk through the park with your cat prancing proudly beside you. They love showing off their personal grandeur, and will quickly learn to walk with head and tail held high.
About the Author: Bonnie Dye has raised, trained and cared for dogs and cats for over 30 years. She is the co-author of "What Your Pets Want You to Know". To get your free report, "Secrets to Happy and Obedient Pets" go to Free Pet Care Tipshttp://www.isnare.com/
Source:
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=449624&ca=Pets
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE
Posted By Bette J
This is the time of the year, we start to make those New Year's Resolutions. Most of us really do not keep them more than a week or two after making them. A few people are really set on keeping them and work very hard to do just that. Most of us just have trouble remembering the New Year that we must write on checks, letters and important paper work for work and home .
I hope everyone has a healthy and prosperuos New Year. Also, I hope everyone remembers their pets over the holidays. Safety is a big issue when it pertains to the playful pets. Dogs and cats alike are very curious about shiney objects that may be harmful to their health. Pease take the time to protect your treasured pet.
Happy New Year and drive carefully when returning from your trips.
This is the time of the year, we start to make those New Year's Resolutions. Most of us really do not keep them more than a week or two after making them. A few people are really set on keeping them and work very hard to do just that. Most of us just have trouble remembering the New Year that we must write on checks, letters and important paper work for work and home .
I hope everyone has a healthy and prosperuos New Year. Also, I hope everyone remembers their pets over the holidays. Safety is a big issue when it pertains to the playful pets. Dogs and cats alike are very curious about shiney objects that may be harmful to their health. Pease take the time to protect your treasured pet.
Happy New Year and drive carefully when returning from your trips.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Guinea Pig Cages How to Build a C&C Cage
By Bob Matthews
C&C cages are becoming increasingly popular. Their usage has increased dramatically over the past few years. This is largely because pet owners are beginning to realize that while standard mass-produced pet store cages may be economically feasible to house racks of laboratory guinea pig test subjects, they fail to provide a comfortable and healthy living environment for our much-loved family pets.
C&C cages are becoming increasingly popular. Their usage has increased dramatically over the past few years. This is largely because pet owners are beginning to realize that while standard mass-produced pet store cages may be economically feasible to house racks of laboratory guinea pig test subjects, they fail to provide a comfortable and healthy living environment for our much-loved family pets.
So how do you go about building a C&C cage? As a first step, you will need to design your cage. C&C cages can be as simple as a rectangular fence placed around the perimeter of a Coroplast box; or as complex as a multi-level pig mansion complete with a top, a bottom, ramps and balcony levels. The choice is yours. Literally hundreds of photos are available online to inject inspiration into your cage design efforts.
Some things that you might want to consider when designing your cage are:
- A top or lid for your cage if you have a cat, toddler or other domestic predators in the house.
- A wire bottom if the cage is to be placed on a table. Cages with no bottoms can be dangerous for pigs because once an edge slips off the table; it may drag the entire cage down onto the floor.
- If your cage has a top, be sure that it has large openings to make cleaning and cage maintenance easy. Trying to clean an enclosed cage through a small opening is difficult at best.
You can generally obtain grids by purchasing a wire storage cube shelving unit from one of the major department stores. Be sure that the grids have openings that are no larger than 1.5 inches. One of the national department stores has recently changed the design on their storage cube units in order to save costs. The unit is constructed from grids that are 14-inches square. The old design had nine squares alone each edge. The new cost-reduced version uses 8x8 grids.
Various pig rescue organizations have reported guinea pig strangulation deaths and injuries resulting from using these 8x8 grids in C&C cages. It vitally important that these grids be avoided when building your cage. Be sure that if you are using 14-inch by 14-inch grids, that they are the 9x9 variety. As an alternative, insure that the openings are 1.5 inches or less on each side.
If grids are not available in your area, you can often obtain them by contacting one of the several online C&C cage sellers. Click on the link in the resource box below for information about online C&C cage sales.
Coroplast is generally not available in hardware and home improvement stores. The best way to buy Coroplast is to contact local sign shops. Coroplast is routinely used for outdoor lawn signs. You will want to contact multiple sign shops and get a few quotes as they vary widely in price. If you wish, sign-makers may even be willing to cut it to size for you for a small fee. When contacting sign shops, be sure to tell them you are building a guinea pig cage. They may offer you a lower price when they find that you are not a competitor.
The last thing you will need is a means of connecting all of the grids together. Most storage cube kits come with press-on plastic knob connectors included. Most C&C cage designers use these fasteners to build cages.
As an alternative, you can also use tie wraps or zip ties to hold your cage together. Although they require a little extra work to apply, they offer a much stronger, sturdier and more permanent fastening method than the press-on plastic connectors.
You can also avoid all of the work involved in designing your cage and in finding materials by purchasing a C&C cage kit online. These kits come with instructions and all the materials required to build your cage. For information on C&C guinea pig cage kits, Click on the Link in the resource box below. Either way, building a C&C cage is a great way to provide a healthy and comfortable environment for your cavies at an economical price.
About the Author: We here at Blue Stone Commerce are pet owners as well as pet cage sellers. Visit Our Website http://www.bluestonecages.com/ for lots more info on guinea pigs and guinea pig cages. Be sure to Claim Your FREE BONUS GIFT available on the front page. Follow Us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/guineapig9
Source: http://www.isnare.com/
Permanet Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=456601&ca=Pets
Common Cat Diseases
By Jon Hartford
Cats, like any other pet and humans, sometimes get sick. Some symptoms aren't particularly worrisome, but some indicate life-threatening illness. All pet owners need to pay attention to the health of their pet and make sure to find out cause of the problem before it can get worse.
Although there are lots of different symptoms and diseases that cats can get, there are a few that make up a decent percentage of problems. Whatever the issue, make sure that you get medical attention from your veterinarian if your pets' condition gets worse or if it already needed treatment in the first place.
One symptom that is very common in cats is vomiting. Most of the time, this is caused be hairballs, but there can be other reasons for your cat throwing up. If your cat gets hairballs often, increase the combing, brushing, or petting you are giving your cat. Some cats shed more than others, and long-haired cats can need increased grooming. Your cat may need to be brushed every week or two down to every couple days. Another reason for cats throwing up include having a hard time digesting the food you're feeding it, or even being allergic to its ingredients. Make sure your cat is getting enough water and doesn't get dehydrated. If your cat gets worse, make sure you discuss the problem with your cats' veterinarian.
Just like people, some diabetes is common in cats. If your cat has diabetes, you have to be very careful about its diet. Some signs include urinating frequently and getting thirsty very quickly. Beware if your normally energetic cat becomes lethargic. Even though many cats get less active as they grow old, a sudden change in activity could be a sign of diabetes. A diabetic cat can be harder to care for and you need to coordinate with your vet to properly diagnose your cat and treat it.
Diarrhea is often caused by diet. Give your cat a balanced diet and make sure they get enough liquids. Feeding a cat entirely dry food can contribute to kidney failure, but many cats can't stand an entirely wet food diet either. Change your cats diet and contact your vet if your cat keeps getting diarrhea or has it often.
A troubling new disease that is affecting outdoor cats is FIV. Like its human counterpart, HIV, it is spread sexually. Getting your cat spayed or neutered does not protect against FIV. In some areas FIV is becoming a major problem--you may have to keep your cat indoors all the time. If you live in a city or area with a feral cat population, it's best to limit your cats outdoor time as much as possible. Make sure that you take your cat to your vet quickly if you suspect your cat has this disease.
Remember to watch your cats health--cats can't dial for help. (At least, I don't know of any cats that know how to use a phone...;) Educate yourself more about cat illnesses and don't underestimate the dangers to your pet.
About the Author: This article is courtesy of Nifty Pet. Learn more about cats, dogs, and other pets or view the original article.
Source: http://www.isnare.com/
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=456615&ca=Pets
Cats, like any other pet and humans, sometimes get sick. Some symptoms aren't particularly worrisome, but some indicate life-threatening illness. All pet owners need to pay attention to the health of their pet and make sure to find out cause of the problem before it can get worse.
Although there are lots of different symptoms and diseases that cats can get, there are a few that make up a decent percentage of problems. Whatever the issue, make sure that you get medical attention from your veterinarian if your pets' condition gets worse or if it already needed treatment in the first place.
One symptom that is very common in cats is vomiting. Most of the time, this is caused be hairballs, but there can be other reasons for your cat throwing up. If your cat gets hairballs often, increase the combing, brushing, or petting you are giving your cat. Some cats shed more than others, and long-haired cats can need increased grooming. Your cat may need to be brushed every week or two down to every couple days. Another reason for cats throwing up include having a hard time digesting the food you're feeding it, or even being allergic to its ingredients. Make sure your cat is getting enough water and doesn't get dehydrated. If your cat gets worse, make sure you discuss the problem with your cats' veterinarian.
Just like people, some diabetes is common in cats. If your cat has diabetes, you have to be very careful about its diet. Some signs include urinating frequently and getting thirsty very quickly. Beware if your normally energetic cat becomes lethargic. Even though many cats get less active as they grow old, a sudden change in activity could be a sign of diabetes. A diabetic cat can be harder to care for and you need to coordinate with your vet to properly diagnose your cat and treat it.
Diarrhea is often caused by diet. Give your cat a balanced diet and make sure they get enough liquids. Feeding a cat entirely dry food can contribute to kidney failure, but many cats can't stand an entirely wet food diet either. Change your cats diet and contact your vet if your cat keeps getting diarrhea or has it often.
A troubling new disease that is affecting outdoor cats is FIV. Like its human counterpart, HIV, it is spread sexually. Getting your cat spayed or neutered does not protect against FIV. In some areas FIV is becoming a major problem--you may have to keep your cat indoors all the time. If you live in a city or area with a feral cat population, it's best to limit your cats outdoor time as much as possible. Make sure that you take your cat to your vet quickly if you suspect your cat has this disease.
Remember to watch your cats health--cats can't dial for help. (At least, I don't know of any cats that know how to use a phone...;) Educate yourself more about cat illnesses and don't underestimate the dangers to your pet.
About the Author: This article is courtesy of Nifty Pet. Learn more about cats, dogs, and other pets or view the original article.
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