5 Free Ways To Monitor Your Senior Pet | Value For Your Life

April 9th, 2009

Quoting from 5 Free Ways To Monitor Your Senior Pet | Value For Your Life

No matter what type of relationship we have with our pets, they are with us through various phases in our life. They’re also there when we leave in the morning, and greet us when we come home. As the years pass, they age much more quickly than we do, and I feel like their only crime is that they never live long enough. As a veterinarian, over the years I’ve acted as a steward, guiding many animals into this world, and seeing them off on their final journey as they leave this life. Senior animals always have a special place in my heart. I think that even though the fur goes grey, the spirit stays strong, and that animal, cat or dog, or whatever other critter you share your life with deserves the kind of attention, care, and vigilance that we all deserve as we age. I lost a very special family member named Shadow almost a year ago now, and my two dogs Naula and Moab are now into senior territory as well. I know that eventually I won’t be able to cheat the inevitable, but it’s how they get to live their life that counts in my mind.

I feel that after many years of faithful companionship, unconditional love, and loyalty, our pets deserve to grow old with dignity. I know that for many of us, times are tough, and we need to do right by our pets, whatever that means for each person. While there isn’t a substitute for the care, knowledge, and expertise of a licensed veterinarian, I wanted to share with you 5 very important and completely free things that you can do for your senior pet at home, that may just save, prolong, or improve the quality of their life.

Read the entire article at:
http://valueforyourlife.com/animals/5-free-ways-to-monitor-your-senior-pet/

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Health Concerns When Breeding Cats-Part I | PetLvr.com

April 2nd, 2009

Quoting from Health Concerns When Breeding Cats-Part I | PetLvr.com – [The Blog]

Decision-making Time

While you should never, ever allow your female cat to breed unless you intend to keep the kittens yourself, have people lined up who want the kittens or you are an authorized breeder, if your queen (female) does get pregnant, you should pay special attention to her health needs.

But, before your kitty gets pregnant, you should make sure she’s in the best health, and not too young. Females will go into heat for the first time around 6 months on average, but it could be a bit earlier or later. I have a purebred Sphynx (hairless cat) queen, Sophie, that I acquired specifically for breeding and she didn’t go into heat until she was 8 months old.

Read the entire article at:
http://www.petlvr.com/blog/2009/03/health-concerns-when-breeding-cats-part-i/

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How Can I Find The Best Food For My Cat? 

March 11th, 2009

Quoting from How Can I Find The Best Food For My Cat?  by Emma Lawson

For many years I’ve been health conscious about my own diet, but then I thought what about my cats? I know what kinds of foods are healthy for me, but what cat food is truly a healthy cat food? I tried looking at labels a few times, but I wasn’t really sure what I was looking for. Which ingredients are essential and healthy and which ingredients are fillers?

I’m a firm believer that nutrition is the foundation of health and I wanted good nutrition for my cats too. I want them to have a good quality of life, to be with me for a long time, and none of us are fans of unnecessary visits to the vet. Regular check ups are essential, of course, but by feeding them a healthy diet I hope to lower the risk of them contracting some of the common cat health problems that seem to occur all too often.

So I started doing my research. First it’s important to understand the biology of a cat. Cats are obligate carnivores so they need a high percentage of protein in order for their bodies to function well. Without proper levels of taurine, which is found in meats, cats can experience a range of health problems that can include blindness. Needless to say a quality source of protein will be the first ingredient listed in a healthy cat food.

We may have domesticated them, but by nature they hunt their food and eat it raw. That sounds pretty unpleasant to us but it’s natural for them. By nature they also have a low thirst drive because they were made to get some of their moisture in their food. Some cats that only eat dry foods aren’t getting enough liquids, this can contribute to problems with feline urinary tract infections. It’s important to add at least some moist food to your cat’s diet. Moist food can include canned, raw or frozen. It’s also important to encourage your cat to drink more by providing fresh, clean water. Keeping water in a couple areas of the house can help.

Too much of the food in our grocery stores is over processed and contains bad ingredients. The same seems to be true for cat food. Manufacturers can produce food much cheaper by adding fillers, unfortunately cat’s bodies don’t always respond so well to these fillers. It seems more and more cats have been developing allergies and sensitive stomachs. A sensitive stomach can cause them to throw up a lot after eating which makes it hard for them to absorb the nutrition in their food.

Read the entire article at:
http://www.romancetracker.com/how-can-i-find-the-best-food-for-my-cat/

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Cat Incontinence – 5 Things to Do When You Notice Your Cat Dribbling Urine

March 8th, 2009

Quoting from .org – SelfSubmit Article Directory

Cat incontinence is unpleasant to say the least. You may find that your house starts smelling like a litter box because your cat can’t seem to control his urine flow.

Incontinence in cats can be solved however. It has many underlying causes including:

- old age
- birth defects
- a tumor
- bladder stones
- bacterial infections
- illness.

Why not follow these 5 tips to keep it from being so problematic for your cat?

1. Be prudent with conventional prescription medications (always consult your veterinarian). Most medications have side effects. Be aware of the impact of these types of approaches. Instead, consider giving your cat some Vitamin C. It will help to improve his immune functioning and improve his overall health.

Cat incontinence caused by infection can be prevented and alleviated with Vitamin C because it improves his ability to fight off infection.

2. Keep your cat’s litter box tidy. Try to clean it each time he soils it. This is important because some cats avoid their litter boxes when they get messy. Holding urine in for too long can actually lead to bacterial infections and thus incontinence in cats.

3. Get your cat a fountain water bowl and fill it with filtered water. Fresh, clean water will help your cat get rid of bad toxins and bacteria. It will also keep your cat’s urine from thickening. In sum, sufficient water intake will keep your cat healthy for years to come.

Water prevents incontinence in cats because it prevents the underlying issues that lead to incontinence, such as bladder stones and bacterial infections. Consider placing multiple water dishes where your cat likes to rest in the house. Cats will not go out of there way to drink water since in the wild they get moisture from the foods they eat.

4. Apple cider vinegar is a home remedy that is popular for treating cat incontinence. You will notice that your cat stops leaking if you give him apple cider vinegar. However, results are often only temporary. Try mixing 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon apple cider vinegar for every one cup of water your cat drinks. You can also mix it into food. Many owners have seen a positive outcome by using Apple Cider Vinegar for UTI. For the best results, see #5.

5. Cat incontinence can be treated effectively with homeopathy. Homeopathic remedies contain powerful, natural ingredients that help to nurse your cat back to health. They also prevent urinary issues altogether because they strengthen the urinary tract and bladder while promoting optimal urine flow.

Homeopathic remedies are safe enough to be given to your cat everyday and cats love them. They come in small pellets that can be sprinkled on cats’ tongues or in their food.

Read the entire article at:
http://www.Catnews.org/article//cats/cat-health/cat-incontinence-5-things-to-do-when-you-notice-your-cat-dribbling-urine.html

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Identifying Your Cat’s Health Issues

March 7th, 2009

Quoting from Identifying Your Cat’s Health Issues | Very Simple Articles

If you realize your kitty is not feeling well it can be difficult because she isn’t able to tell you her symptoms or precisely what she is feeling. Instead it’s your responsibility to watch for any changes in routine or changes in behavior. This way you can be aware of any possible signs that your cat may be developing a feline illness.

It’s important to know your cat’s regular habits including regular activity level, regular eating and drinking habits and regular litter box or “bathroom” habits. Also remember that with certain feline illnesses a cat may not exhibit many symptoms or she may only show very mild symptoms of feline illness.

This makes it vital that you know their routines and habits as well as possible.

Gathering more information about your cat’s symptoms can also help the veterinarian know where to start when working on a diagnosis for the feline illness. Sometimes the diagnosis for cat health problems is determined quickly, but other times it can be complicated and any additional information from you can be helpful.

The more quickly you realize there may be something wrong the better. Starting treatment quickly can cut down on additional problems and provide a better success rate. Plus your kitty will start feeling better sooner.

Another good reason to act fast is because certain feline illnesses can contribute to cat behavior problems like urinating or defecating outside of the litter box. This behavior can become an unpleasant cycle of problems so avoiding this behavior when at all possible is of course best for both you and your feline friend.

Read the entire article at:
http://www.verysimplearticles.com/2009/pets/03/identifying-your-cats-health-issues/

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10 Tips On Keeping Pet Treatment Costs Low at Blog for pet lovers

March 7th, 2009

Quoting from 10 Tips On Keeping Pet Treatment Costs Low at Blog for pet lovers

A pet is a loved member of the family but costs of caring for a pet especially some breeds can be expensive. Food, grooming costs and vet bills can costs much more than you estimated when buying the pet. Here are a few tips from pet lovers on how to keep costs down and yet care for the pet:

1. Find out about low-cost clinics that give shots. Information can be had online or from your local vet hospital or humane society.

2. When any illness needs treatment or surgery always take a second estimate and surf the internet to find out if there are any alternative treatments in use. An useful source is the Merck Veterinary Manual: http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp .

3. Be friendly with your vet and share your problems if any with him. Often vets help patients by giving them free medicines they get from manufacturers.

4. Consider feeding the pet home cooked food instead of the more expensive commercial food. The internet has many resources about pet nutrition and balanced diets.

5. Ensure good health by giving the pet the right amount of food, exercise, and training. Obese pets have greater health problems than fit pets.

6. Think about buying pet medicines online from discount stores.

7. Train your pet well and protect it from accidents by keeping it on leash when outdoors.

8. Before buying a pet because its cute or in fashion find out all you can about the breed, costs of upkeep, susceptible diseases and more. Talk to other pet owners and find out all about their experiences.

9. Think about signing up for a preventive health care package if your vet or local clinic offer one. If you take good care of the pet the costs are likely to be low.

10. Read up on preventable health hazards and on what foods are bad for pet health. Teach the pet not to beg or eat foods lying around. A pet is a responsibility and needs great care.

As a responsible pet parent you will need to know all you can about the breed. Decide on neutering and on how you can give your pet a long disease free life. Find out about pet insurance and how you can get a comprehensive pet health policy for low premiums. The World Wide Web has in depth articles and tips on how to choose a pet, how to care for one, and all about pet health. Be an informed pet owner and buy or adopt a pet only if you can be a committed pet parent.

Read the entire article at:
http://www.love-pets.net/2009/03/05/10-tips-on-keeping-pet-treatment-costs-low-8/

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Giving Pills to Dogs and Cats | PetLvr.com

March 5th, 2009

Quoting from Giving Pills to Dogs and Cats | PetLvr.com – [The Blog]

Even the most experienced pet owners sometimes dread giving pills to dogs and cats. Children are hard enough to medicate, let alone pets, who won’t understand, “This is for your own good!” However, with a little ingenuity and persistence, even the most difficult cat or dog will take needed medication.

The Food Method

Food is the simplest and most obvious method of giving a pill to your pet. Most dog owners can stop reading after the next sentence: Dip the pill in some peanut butter and give it to your dog.  Cream cheese  or canned food can be used as an alternative if you prefer not to give peanut products. Some dogs will even gulp a pill rubbed in bacon grease.

For cats, you might need to get a little more creative. When I had a cat with high blood pressure, I found that spreading a thin layer of cream cheese on a layer of turkey lunchmeat, sticking the pill in the middle, and rolling up the lunchmeat worked well. I would then cut the roll into slices, so that I could give my cat one slice without a pill, one with the pill, then another without.

Some cats will eat pills stashed in their canned food; others will deftly pick around them, and snub food that contains crushed pills. It all depends on the cat’s personality and appetite!

Alternative Methods
If your pet won’t accept a pill in food, you’ll have to try an alternative method. Here are some:

Read the entire article at:
http://www.petlvr.com/blog/2009/03/giving-pills-to-dogs-and-cats/

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7 Secrets to Successful Cat Toilet Training

March 4th, 2009

7 Secrets to Successful Cat Toilet Training

My family never thought of cat toilet training, but like to rear cats at home. I do not really mind them around, but the problem of dealing with their wastes poses some challenges to me.

Thankfully, I do some reading and got some expert tips.

Here are 7 steps for cat toilet training :

1. A kitten of 8 weeks old is ready for training.

2. Each cat need to have a name, and help her to get use to the name. By being able to respond to her name, it makes the task of pet toilet training much easier.

3. By instinct, cats want to hide their wastes. Give a litter tray and it is not difficult to toilet train them. A litter tray usually is made of plastic or enamel. The container should be filled with soil, sand, sawdust or commercial cat litters.

4. Usually, a kitten that is raised together with a mother that uses the litter tray will learn to use the tray itself eventually. For kittens or cats that need to be trained, it is best to familiarize them with the litter tray. The cat should be put inside the tray after being fed, after play or when it wakes up.

5. Be careful that the litter tray is put in a quiet and secluded place. Cats would not like to be seen when they use the litter tray.

6. When the cat uses the litter tray, make sure that you praise it for the good behavior. The best way to praise the cat is to pet it or pat it on its head. Food rewards are also good tools to praise the cat. However, a cat or kitten under training that failed to make use of the litter tray should be reprimanded. The cat must be corrected on the spot. A loud and sharp “no” or squirting the cat with water is the usual ways to reprimand the cat. Do not use physical punishment. It is not a good practice. It also affects the relationship of the cat to you.

7. Gradually move the litter tray nearer to the toilet in very small steps over many days, big changes may upset the cat or make it suspicious so just edge it closer to the bowl every time you clean it out and refill it. Eventually, leave out the litter tray completely, and your cat will still come to the toilet bowl.

It is good to please the family by having their pet at home. Proper cat toilet training solves the difficulties associated with their waste. The above tips will assist you to achieve that after sometime

About The Author

Henry Matthias
Before you buy anything online, make sure you check Henry Matthias’ excellent free report on cat toilet training This and other unique content ‘cat tolilet training’ articles are available with free reprint rights.

This Article was provided by CatNews.org

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Online Kitten Cam | PetLvr.com – [The Blog]

March 3rd, 2009

Quoting from Online Kitten Cam | PetLvr.com – [The Blog]

What if you could watch kittens and cats interact all day long? You could watch them during your work break or share the experience with a friend or family member. Kittens are all about playing, and you can get a couple laughs just from watching their puffy bodies roll around the floor and leap from spot to spot. So where can you watch kittens like this every day?

The Pet Angel Adoption & Rescue Inc. in Michigan has launched a webcam show featuring their lively cats. The show runs seven days a week and has become increasingly popular since its debut a month ago. The cats have several houses to play on, and the area is setup to be fit for a kitten princess. The purple, pink and blue colors make it a bright atmosphere, and the cats enjoy relaxing and cleaning themselves on the turret like structures. After watching them in action, you come to appreciate the cats’ gracefulness and agility.

Watching these cats and kittens actually becomes relaxing after a while, so it’s no surprise that people use this site as a stress reliever while at work. The animals get pleasure from the simple things in life and that can be a reminder to us all.

Read the entire article at:
http://www.petlvr.com/blog/2009/03/online-kitten-cam/

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Asking???: How To Maximize Your Cat’s Health Condition

March 1st, 2009

How To Maximize Your Cat’s Health Condition

Pets are great and as pet owners we can’t help to love them dearly. Whether we own a cat, a dog or a parrot they have become part of our lives and we’re in theirs to keep them safe. Now even though this might not seem like an impossible task there are still a lot of different aspects that goes into taking care of a pet or at least there is if you’re going to take GOOD care of it.

One of the points were a lot of pet owners are neglecting their pets are in terms of their food. Getting the right foods with the right amount of nutrition is vital to keeping an optimal health condition and to avoid getting some of the more life threatening illnesses that are becoming more and more common these days.

When you truly realize the effect that malnutrition can have on your pet (and yourself) you’ll be likely to change habits instantly. And if you find yourself in that situation or if you’re have been giving it some thoughts that your pet might not be fed the right pet food, then luckily there is a perfect solution. And that is to go see your VET and ask her what she recommends.

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