How To Keep Your Cat Mentally Stimulated

Cats have an age-related ailment called the Feline Cognitive Dysfunction (FCD) which causes a decline in their mental capacity with age. Fortunately, providing your cat with plenty of opportunities to stimulate their physical and mental capacity can lower the chance of FCD development and eventually preventing it in the process. 

One of the consequences of a sedentary lifestyle in cats is obesity. As natural hunters, they require a lot of physical and mental activities that encourage them to bring out their natural predatorial behavior. Thus, allowing them to participate in regular physical engagements keeps them active and motivated mentally and physically. Aside from the delay in mental aging, giving your cat an active routine decreases the chances of developing certain health problems.

A great way for you to motivate your cat to engage in physical activity is to hide a couple of her favorite treats around the house. Strategically place the treats in locations where she would need to climb stairs and walk a lot, stimulating both the mental and physical aspects of her well-being as she finds a way to get to the treats.

If you have concerns about your pet's health and/or behavior, make an appointment with your veterinary clinic Westminster, MD.

Demodex Treatment

Demodex canis is a type of mite that is a normal skin inhabitant in most dogs. But when the dog’s immune system is compromised, the mites jump at the chance to multiply and cause skin problems. The good news is, demodex is not transmissible between dogs.

There are 2 forms of demodex in dogs --localized and generalized.

l  Localized form -- There are a few patches of bald skin that usually occur around the dog’s face.

l  Generalized form -- Affected dogs have multiple bald skin patches that spreads in any part of the dog’s body. The dog’s hair coat appears thin and sparse and there may be concurrent bacterial skin infections.

Dogs that are showing signs of infestation are assumed to be immuno-compromised, thus they will need extra care and attention to boost their immune system function and keep the mite population in check.

Any skin problem exhibited by your pet should be brought to the attention of a professional vet clinic Westminster MD.

Caring for a cat who tends to scratch a lot

You have a cat in your life who loves you very much and needs to scratch in order to keep her claws in great shape. This makes you wonder – how can you help her do this?

Some cats will need to scratch more than others, so you will need to take note of your pet’s needs as well as where she tends to scratch. This means taking the time to seek out places for your pet to scratch that will appeal to her. She may want to scratch vertical surfaces like the traditional scratching post or horizontal surfaces like a scratching mat. She may also prefer certain types of surfaces to others as well. Make a point to place these items in areas where your pet will be able to easily find and utilize them. For additional information, please contact your vet clinic local Westminster, MD .