Playing With Your Cat

Cats are truly fascinating and enigmatic creatures. They're cute, cuddly, lovable, and affectionate. They're also formidable hunters. In fact, your feline buddy is a fluffy little serial killer at heart! 

This is one reason it's so important to play with your cat regularly. Kitties are hunters by nature. In fact, they take out billions of birds and other small animals every year. In the wild, cats hunt to survive, as do all other predators. Pet cats hunt and play for fun, but also simply because they are following their instincts. 

Take a few minutes a day to play with your feline pal. Use a toy that you can control, such as a wand toy or laser pointer. This will entertain her, keep her active, and score you some points! If your kitty is nervous or grouchy, it will also help her burn off her zoomies.

Be sure to bring your kitty to your local vet Westminster, MD regularly for veterinary care. Healthy pets are happy pets!

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.

Why Does My Dog Scoot Around ?

You may have noticed your pet dog at one point drag his bottom across the lawn or the floor.  If that is the case, closely observe your pet if he seems to have some discomfort, or frequently scratches, or perhaps even feel pain in that area.

There are a pair of sacs or glands known as the anal glands/sacs that are located on each of the sides around the dog’s rectum right before the opening of the anus.  These glands secrete a substance that has a very strong odor and it is what gives the excrement its odor.  Dogs will utilize the secretion to mark and identify because the scent is different for each dog.

If a problem happens with these anal glands, like if they somehow get impacted and emptying them normally becomes an issue, then your pet could experience discomfort and pain.  If this happens to your pet, then the anal sacs will need to be emptied manually.  If the impaction becomes frequent for your pet, then check with a groomer or your vet clinic Westminster MD on the proper squeeze technique to empty them manually.

Grooming Tips for Your Cat

 

Your feline friend is very good at grooming herself. That doesn’t mean you can’t give her a helping hand on occasion, though. In fact, keeping up with a grooming routine for your cat is a good idea for her appearance and her health.

Brush your cat on a regular basis. This removes dead and loose hair from the coat and gets rid of any grime hiding underneath the fur. Brushing also spreads natural skin oils throughout the coat, which moisturizes it effectively without the need for additional products. It’s also a good idea to bathe your cat every now and then, as much as she may dislike it. (Be sure to use a feline-formulated shampoo!) Last but not least, make sure your cat is fed a high-quality diet. When Fluffy receives the right nutrients through her food, the skin and coat stay healthy.

Contact your vet clinic Westminster, MD for more tips on your cat’s grooming regimen.

Pancreatitis In Dogs

Pancreatitis refers to the inflammation of the pancreas. The pancreas has two important functions -- production of digestive enzymes and secretion of insulin to help blood sugar level regulation. When there is pancreatitis, there is inhibition of these 2 functions and the enzymes that are supposed to help digest food start attacking the pancreas which can have life-threatening implications. Pancreatitis is a very serious condition. Affected pets can develop life-long complications, such as diabetes mellitus. In some cases, it can be fatal. If your dog has pacreatitis, he will benefit from a low-fat diet. This can help prevent pancreatitis in dogs that are prone to the problem. You should avoid giving fatty treats to your dog.

If your dog has been diagnosed with pancreatitis and/or diabetes, you should talk to your vet clinic Westminster MD about treatment options that are available for your dog. 

Facial Abscesses in Llamas

Do you own a llama? If so, did you know that facial abscesses can occur in llamas? Your vet may tell you that they can be a common problem for llamas. One way to spot if your llama has or is developing some type of facial abscess is to take a look at the llama’s face. If there is swelling on the side then you should call your vet. An abscess is a pocket of pus that contains fluid, bacteria and in some cases a foreign object that may actually be the cause of the bacteria or infection itself. The abscess ruptures to release the pus and bacteria which is a way for the abscess to heal itself. However, there are occasions when the abscess may need additional treatment. For instance, if the foreign mass is in the abscess then it may need to be removed. Talk to your Vet Westminster MD to learn more.

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.