Important Tips When Traveling with Cats

May 10, 2011 by  
Filed under Pets

Levi Quinn asked:

Animal lovers would love to be able to take their pets along on trips. However, the whole activity can be nerve wracking especially with the cats when they begin hissing, clawing and even moaning. Nevertheless, there are ways that individuals may comfortably travel with their cats.

When traveling with cats planning well in advance is imperative. When making the travel itinerary and before embarking on a trip cat lovers need to ensure that they are conversant with rules related to pets; especially where they are allowed in motels and hotels.

The cats should be adequately prepared for the trip. It is important that the cat’s shots are updated. So this would involve a visit to the veterinarian where the cat is vaccinated in preparation for the journey. When traveling with pets such as cat, pet owners are required to provide the animal’s health certificate. The veterinarian may provide this on request. Traveling may expose pets to health risks which is why a visit to the vet is recommended. Cats may appear nervous and distressed about leaving familiar environments. In such a situation the pet owner may request the vet to administer a mild tranquilizer.

While traveling, it is advisable that the cat is confined, thus the need for a cat carrier. This helps to comfort the cat. However, before leaving for the journey, cat owners are advised to acclimatize their cats to their carriers. This involves letting the cat sleep in the carrier and sometimes taking the cat for short drives while in the carrier. In order to make traveling seem like fun, the cat owner may reward the cat by giving snacks. With time the cat is sure to get accustomed to traveling.

It is important that cat owners place some kind of identification on their pets. A harness on a cat is particularly important. An id tag with such information as the owners name and contact information such as address and telephone number should be attached to the harness. Tagging a cat is also a good idea. By fastening a leash on the harness, the cat owner may also be able to take the cat for a walk.

A litter box for use on potty breaks is a necessity when traveling with cats. The cat owner may make the litter box from a small card board box that contains clay litter, old newspapers, cloths or towels. The litter box should be placed in the cat carrier. Absorbent towels come in handy in case of potty accidents. Nevertheless, having out door breaks comes highly recommended.

Cat owners should refrain from feeding their cats just before embarking on the drive. A full bladder is likely to make the cat even more uneasy. Consequently, potty accidents may occur. In some instances, the cat may vomit. Cat owners are also advised to carry drinking water from home. Traveling may bewilder the cat; consequently it may refuse to drink water that has a strange taste resulting in dehydration.

Through careful planning, cat owners may make traveling with cats stress free and more enjoyable.

A Fitting Dog or Cat – What Do I Do?

May 10, 2011 by  
Filed under Pets

Alison Grimston asked:


(c) 2008 The Naturally Healthy Pet.com

Animal health care is so vast and complex, and the central nervous system in particular is still largely uncertain territory. Diseases of the nervous system are rare, but sadly often severe.

The commonest neurological problems in cats and dogs are due to road accidents and other forms of head injuries, chemical poisoning, and infections such as rabies. Any of these can induce fits (seizures).

Seizures (fits) tend to be seen as uncontrolled shaking, although other sorts of fits with the dog going vacant can also occur.

It is important to try to find the reason for the fit. There may be signs of injury from car accident or fight. Evidence of having ingested poison may or may not be obvious – antifreeze with ethylene glycol is particularly dangerous, causing seizures.

Always call or take your animal to a vet. Your vet is essential in helping you to work out what the cause of the symptoms are. Neurological problems are so complex that even they may not be able to find the cause. Be guided by your vet on management.

If your cat or dog has a seizure: Keep away from your cat or dog’s mouth, as he or she may bite you accidentally. Try to move your animal away from hazards. If electricity is involved, use a stick or some other non conducting material. It may help to put a soft cushion or blanket under its head. If the fit lasts more than 6 minutes, take the animal to the vet immediately. Animals can die during prolonged seizures.

After a fit an animal may be sleepy but also anxious and confused. Comfort it; Rescue Remedy, healing and massage may be helpful here. If this is your animal’s first fit, take it to the vet anyway to try to find the cause. Also see you vet if you have any concerns, or there are changes to the pattern of fitting.

It is important that anyone who spends time looking after your pet for you is aware that he or she may have fits, and how to manage a seizure if one occurs. Make sure that your friend has a list of actions to take, as above, as well as the emergency phone number of your vet, or a nearby vet if your pet is being cared for further from home.

As with most illness, being calm and prepared in a crisis makes it easier for all concerned.



Feel Sad No More With a Pet Cat

May 10, 2011 by  
Filed under Pets

Kritthaphat N. asked:


One of the popular pets is the cat. Some people love them because they are sweet and affectionate. But just like any other animal your pet cat also has a wild and vicious side especially when they are attacked or provoked. You will know that your pet cat is angry when he arches his back and his fur is raised. This is a sign that the cat is already angry and ready to attack. Cats attack by using their sharp nails and scratching their enemy. They can also slap and bite. One will usually end up with scratches and cuts after the cat calms down. Only on rare occasions do people get seriously hurt through cat attacks. Yet still one should be very careful in provoking the cat because no one wants a fight. On the lighter side of cats, they are also fond of playing. You may notice that your pet cat is fond of strings the reason behind this is because they see the string as the tail of their mother. Cats look for each other and follow one another through their tails. Sometimes when cats are playing with another it may seem that they are fighting because they make loud noises and they look like they are wrestling one another. But the truth is they also play the same way. The only difference is that when they are angry they bite and scratch.

Now when it comes to the nutrition of your pet cat they need essential vitamins and minerals like carbohydrates, protein, fiber and fats. Cat foods are available in the market and can be bought any time you need one. Just make sure that you read the label of the cat food before purchasing it, check if it has all the essential nutrients your pet cat needs. Another important consideration is the recommendation of your veterinarian. Since vets know the specific food that your cat needs he will be a lot of help when it comes to deciding what to feed your cat. Cats need different kinds of food depending on what stage they are in. Kittens have special needs that are different from those senior cats. Just to be sure better to consult the vet. Cats also get infected with different diseases like urinary tract infection, upper respiratory infection, kidney failure and diabetes. Diseases are usually transmitted through viruses from other cats. When you have two or more cats living in one place it’s best to bring them to the vet regularly so as to prevent problems. Another problem with the cat is fleas. We all know that fleas can be dangerous and it can lead to anemia, and tapeworms. One thing you can do to prevent fleas from infecting your pet cat is to make sure that the cat is always clean. Good grooming is the answer.

All in all caring for cats require a lot of effort on the owner’s part but once you’ve done it you’ll see that it’s very fulfilling.



Discount Pet Health Care Program – Save Big In Tough Economic Conditions

May 10, 2011 by  
Filed under Pets

Brian Cosgrove asked:


Tough economic conditions have peaked the prices of all products and services. Pet care is no exception. We all want to pamper and love our pets. They are members of the family and there is nothing more important than their long-term health and happiness. But the escalating costs of dog care and cat care in these worsening economic conditions have forced many families to give up their beloved animals. Dog care and cat care is expensive and individuals or families that need pet insurance are often denied due to their animal’s age or breed, or pre-existing, chronic and hereditary conditions. Even those who do find cheap pet insurance are in for a rude awakening when their claims are denied due to coverage exclusions, benefits schedules and payout limits.

Studies indicate that the pet adoption rate has slowed down very much because of the rising prices of dog care and cat care. Many pet owners around the country are forced to give up their pets for adoption, as they are not able to afford the costs associated with pet care. Thankfully, now there is a perfect solution for this situation – programs that offer discount vet services. Just keep reading to learn more about how discount veterinary care can help you care for your pets.

What Is A Pet Care Discount Program?

You are well aware of the countless pet insurance plans that are currently available. Pet care discount programs are alternatives to pet insurance. When you compare pet insurance to discount veterinary care programs – you will see that pet insurance plans are becoming much more expensive. Pet care programs provide a competitive but cheap pet insurance alternative. Most of these pet insurance alternatives come with a very reasonable annual fee and multiple plans providing discount vet services that accommodate any budget. By becoming a member of such pet health care programs, you are eligible for discount veterinary care; discount veterinary medications and emergency vet discounts.

Becoming A Member Of Pet Care Discount Program

With the huge demand for pet insurance alternatives, various discount veterinary care programs have surfaced. It’s up to you to compare pet insurance benefits to discount vet services. Referring to client testimonials is a great way to compare pet insurance plans to what is available through a pet health care program. Client testimonials often help consumers identify the pros and cons of a given service. Make sure to spend considerable time online researching pet insurance companies or discount veterinary care programs before signing up.

Benefits Of Joining A Discount Pet Health Care Program

As already said, these discount veterinary care programs are pet insurance alternatives and hence will have all the benefits that apply to a pet insurance. However, discount vet services do not cover the entire costs involved in pet care, instead they provide some kind of discount relief. Some of the best discount Pet Health Care Programs offer discounts of up to 65%. Members are eligible for discount veterinary visits; discount veterinary medications and emergency vet discount. Even aging animals, those with pre-existing, chronic or hereditary conditions, are eligible for discount vet services up to 25%. Membership charges for these pet health care programs can be less than a dollar per day.

A discount pet health care program is really a great boon to the pets and the pet owners. Visit www.happytailsmembership.com to learn more specifics about their popular pet care discount program.



Your Dog Health Care Must Include Annual Rabies Shots

May 10, 2011 by  
Filed under Pets

Sylvia Dickens asked:


h care must include regular rabies shots, although many dog owners do not keep their pets’ vaccinations up to date. The misconception is that since the dog doesn’t run free, it’s not important.

Even though you keep your dog restrained on a leash or in a yard, you can never guarantee he will not come in contact with this deadly disease.

Did you know that your dog can pick up the rabies virus simply by licking the ground? If a rabid animal has left saliva or other body fluid shortly before you passed, your dog is at risk.

Much of the focus for many owners is on obedience training. Dog health care is often only an issue when the dog first arrives at the home or when it becomes ill.

Rabies shots are essential if you want to ensure your dog stays healthy. But that’s not the only reason. If your dog comes in contact with a rabid animal, such as fighting with a raccoon, skunk or an infected dog, your pet could be euthanized.

And if that isn’t enough to get you to the vet, consider that rabies is a threat to your family as well.

What can you do to protect your dog and your family?

Rabies vaccines gradually lose their effectiveness over time. The longer it is since your dog was vaccinated, the more at risk he or she will become. In fact, within as a little as six months, your dog could be at risk. The maximum length of time the vaccine lasts is about two years, but by that time it’s effectiveness has deteriorated significantly.

Many people use this two-year point as the period when they give their dogs booster rabies shots. This is an unsafe practice.

For the best protection, you must have your dog vaccinated every year. Any good vet will send you a reminder every year that your dog’s shots are due.

Dog health care is important, but preventative health care is more important. It ensures your dog is protected against dangerous and painful diseases. Rabid animals suffer terribly. The disease affects their entire nervous system causing death. There is no cure.

Regular dog health care measures can protect your family from the rigors of taking the ‘cure’ if your dog does come in contact with the rabies virus.

And rabies dog health care can save your dog’s life.

Recently, two dogs in North Carolina suffered after fighting with a rabid fox. One was quarantined for 6 months, the other was euthanized. That state also had a cat and a raccoon that were rabid.

You can never be sure when rabies will be present. Infected neighborhood cats, raccoons and skunks can wander into any yard without your knowledge and leave rabies-laden saliva.

If you seldom hear about rabies, do not think that your dog is safe. Every year somewhere in the country there are reported cases of rabies in wild animals. Unprotected dogs have been euthanized after fighting with those rabid animals.

Protection is far better than treatment after the fact. There is no reason for your family or your dog to suffer. It takes about 15 minutes a year to get your dog vaccinated against rabies and other serious diseases.

Make sure your dog health care includes regular rabies vaccines to ensure your dog’s and your family’s safety.



Cat Teeth Care Can Save a Heart!

April 10, 2011 by  
Filed under Pets

Sheri Davis Collins asked:


We all know we need to keep our cat’s teeth clean to prevent widespread illness and infections, right?  But just how do we do this peacefully, without undue stress on ourselves and our pet?

My cats have been trained since kittens to allow me to gently wipe their teeth with a piece of clean gauze every 2 days.

A neighbor’s cat had dental problems that were left untreated because she could not afford it. The pet succumbed to bacterial infection that affected its heart.  She was devastated.

Dental disease affects the teeth as well as bloodstream, carrying bacteria throughout the animal’s body, which negatively affects its liver, kidneys, heart and lungs.

As a result, I decided to do all I could to ensure that in between annual dental visits I would give the best at home teeth carepossible. I never realized dental care for cats is so important.

I knew they wouldn’t allow me to use a toothbrush, however small it might be.

Therefore, I began using a dental spray, in its liquid form in an eye dropper, that was much easier to administer. It has no side effects, human grade ingredients and almost tasteless.It actually dissolves the tartar and keeps their gums healthy.  I was desperate to try anything because their tartar build up was phenomenal in such a short time.

They have an annual dental check up. However the build up was always at stage 2 or 3 and would cost me $350 to $500 each.  I had to do something to keep the vet bill down.

I had no idea I could buy a product that helped decrease tartar and dental expense.I don’t want to take a chance that my being unable to afford dental care would adversely affect my pets.

There are some dry foods that purport its advantage in assisting to remove tarter.  However some cats, like one of mine, cannot eat dry food because of urinary tract issues.  So having an alternative available that doesn’t require brushing is a definite plus.

In summation, proper teeth care at home can save your cat’s heart, kidneys and lungs. 



Taking Care of Cats

April 10, 2011 by  
Filed under Pets

Patricia Reed asked:


Cats are proving to be one of the most popular pets you can own. They are a domesticated animal that date back around 8,000 years and beyond. There are several different breeds of this animal with the most popular being Siamese and Persian. Like any other pet, including dogs, cats can cost money to take care of properly.

You need to think about the costs associated with keeping a cat. Obviously you will need food and

you will need to consider the costs of a veterinarian. You will also need litter for the litter box, which can get quite expensive as the years go by. Your cat will need a food dish and a water dish. You should also get your cat some toys as well, such as a scratching post, cat toys, pet carrier and a bed. An ID collar is a good idea also, just in case your cat gets lost.

The age of your cat will influence the feeding of your pet. Older cats require two small meals or one large meal for the day. Kittens, on the other hand, require several feedings a day until they get around the age of 12 weeks old. At three to six months of age, cats need to be fed three times a day. Canned food is good for cats, although any food that has been left out longer than 30 minutes needs to be thrown out. Canned food gets expensive very fast and you should always keep in mind that some may need to be thrown away when you buy it. Cats love canned food, although it doesn’t have any benefits to their dental health like dry food does.

An alternative to canned food is dry food. You can leave a supply out for your pet. When you give your cat dry food, you should always make sure that he has enough water. Dry food costs less than canned food, and it can also help to prevent the buildup of tartar on the cat’s teeth. When you buy dry food, you should always look in terms of health and benefits and stay away from generic food. Even though generic food may be cheaper, it may not offer the nutrients your cat needs.

If you have a kitten, you should only give him food designed for kittens. you will also need to clean and refill his water dish every day. You should avoid giving kittens and cats cows milk, even though they really like it. It can cause diarrhea. Treats are fine on occasions, but too many of them can cause your cat to get fat. Feeding your kitten human food is good on occasion, although you may have to mix it with cat food.

Cats stay fairly clean by themselves. You will need to give them a brushing at least once a day. You don’t need to bathe them very often. Brushing reduces the risk of hairballs and keeps your cat’s coat nice and clean. If you keep your cat indoors, you will need to have a litter box in the area that is easy for the cat to access. You should scoop it on a daily basis and clean it out once a week. Cats do not like to use dirty litter and will scratch it out onto your floor. They want it nice and clean.

Cats do require some work, but they are great pets that will provide you years and years of

companionship. As long as you take car of your pet, take them to the vet for checkups and generally love them, they should remain healthy and happy pets. A healthy and happy pet makes for a healthy and happy owner. They will get sick from time to time and knowing how to care for them will make a lot of difference.



Why Pets Deserve the Best Pet Care in Wesley Chapel, Hillsborough County, Pasco County and Tampa 33613

April 10, 2011 by  
Filed under Pets

Business Local Listings asked:


According to a survey done by the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association in 2008, some 63 percent of households in the United States have pets. This includes a lot of households in Wesley Chapel, Hillsborough County, Pasco County and Tampa 33613. This also includes various types of pets such as dogs, cats, rabbits, rodents, reptiles, birds and fish. There are many reasons why people love pets. These are the same reasons why all pets deserve the best pet care at home and the best veterinary care available from veterinarians in an animal clinic or animal hospital.

Everyone who has had a pet has experienced the unconditional affection that a pet gives its owner and likewise elicits from its owner. Aside from this, pets have been known to act as teachers, helpers, healers and therapists to people.

It is always said that giving a child a pet to care for will give the child a sense of responsibility. Much more than this, though, the child learns about unconditional love, empathy, loyalty, sharing and nurturing. This leads to the child learning how to care for other people, as well. Kindness to animals is eventually translated to kindness to other people. Caring for a pet naturally gives way to such learning which is crucial to the development of the child’s personality. The pet has, therefore, become the child’s teacher.

Pets have also long been used as helpers, especially for people with disabilities. Dogs, particularly, can be specially trained to assist the blind and the hearing impaired, acting as their eyes, ears and even hands. The dogs help people with disabilities do everyday tasks and functions they would not be able to do by themselves. Often, these dogs even save lives by immediately detecting changes in the body language, behavior or even odor of their human partners and promptly doing what they have been trained to do to get to safety or call for help. In fact, dogs that perform such functions are no longer classified as pets because they are so much more than pets.

Pets are also natural healers and therapists. When people care for pets and walk them, groom them and pet them everyday, the physical activity do the owners good, improving their heart condition, boosting their blood circulation and decreasing the rate of bone tissue loss. Blood pressure and cholesterol levels are lowered. Studies have actually shown how patients who have had cardiac arrest have better chances of survival if they are caring for a dog. Stress and depression as well as loneliness and feelings of isolation are alleviated and the patients become more relaxed and happier with renewed sense of purpose and fulfillment. This results in better overall physical and mental health.

With all the joy, love and other benefits pets provide their owners, these pets only crave their owner’s company and affection in return. More than that, though, we should be responsible for their well being, too, and give them the right food, shelter and holistic pet care.

All pets in Wesley Chapel, Hillsborough County, Pasco County and Tampa 33613 – including dogs, cats, rabbits, rodents, reptiles, birds and fish – truly deserve not only tender loving pet care at home but also the best veterinary clinic with veterinarians who are both compassionate and highly competent in providing preventive health care, routine medical check ups and even emergency treatment. One example would be Long Lake Animal Hospital which also provides laboratory analysis, medical diagnostics and surgical procedures including laser surgery, as well as pet boarding, pet grooming and pet supplies. Make sure your pets get all the pet care and nurturing they deserve.



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