Why It’s Important To De-Sex Your Cat

De-sexing refers to the surgical removal of the cat’s physical reproductive organs. For male cats, the procedure is called neutering. For females, the procedure is called spaying. Cats can reproduce easily, so it’s best to remove the reproductive organs early on. 

A female cat is reproductive at six months. If you don't want your pet cat to get pregnant, you should have her spayed when she turns six months old. This is also the perfect time to de-sex her before she acquires hormone-fueled behaviors such as spray marking or wandering.

On the other hand, an intact male cat can get into trouble as he looks for a mate. When he roams the community to search for a female cat in heat, he may get in fights with other dominant cats. If he gets wounded, he might develop abscesses and infections. And in more serious cases, your pet cat might acquire immunodeficiency virus and other health problems. Get your male cat neutered to avoid these problems.

You can ask your professional animal hospital Lewisville TX for advice regarding neutering/ spaying your pet cat.

Keeping Essentials Oils Away from Pet Cats

Humans use essential oils because of their aromatherapy effects. However, you should keep essential oils away from your pet cat as they cause poisoning. The liver of cats lacks certain enzymes that can break down essential oil components. Thus, if your cat inhales or ingests essential oils, the effects can be fatal. Kittens, senior cats, and those with liver and respiratory illnesses are most vulnerable to essential oil poisoning. Always keep essential oils secure inside a cabinet. Counters and tables are not ideal spots to place reed diffusers, and liquid potpourri pots as cats love to jump to and from high spaces. If you will be using a room spray, ensure that your cat is not around to prevent inhalation or licking of airborne particles that may get in contact with its fur. If you apply essential oils to your skin, do not let your cat stay beside you to prevent any contact.  

Any sign of illness displayed by your pet should prompt a visit to your animal hospital Lewisville, TX.

Sunburn in Siamese Cats

 

Dogs and cats can get sunburn. Siamese cats are prone to sunburn on areas of skin that are not covered by fur. If you suspect your Siamese cat has a sunburn or irritated skin, please call your vetfor treatment options. Cats with white ears are particularly prone to getting sunburn on the tips or edges of their ears. If approved by your vet, a sunscreen containing titanium dioxide as the active ingredient should be used on areas of your Siamese cat that are exposed to the sun. Some cats may even need to have their body covered with a t-shirt whether it’s a people t-shirt made to fit or a cat-sized shirt. The best way to prevent sunburn is to keep your Siamese cat covered or inside. If your Siamese cat is out, make sure he has access to shade. Consult with your vets Ashburn, VA to learn more.

What to Feed Persian Kittens in the Weaning Phase

 

If you’re in the middle of weaning your Persian kittens from their mother, then you may be wondering what to feed your kittens as a substitute for milk. Talk with your vet to find out the best foods for your kittens. During the initial phases of weaning, you should serve the Persian kittens a milk replacer in a shallow bowl. Make sure you do not use cow’s milk as this might cause stomach upset or diarrhea. You will have to teach your kittens how to drink from the bowl by first dipping your fingertip in the milk and allowing the kitten to lick it. Show him where the bowl is and guide him to it. During the next phase of weaning you will want to add some moist cat food to the bowl. After this step, consult with your pet clinic Ashburn VA in regards to moving your Persian kitten on to dry food.

Possible Causes of Bloat in Thai Ridgebacks

 

Breeds like the Thai Ridgeback breed may be especially prone to a variety of health conditions including bloat. Talk to your vet about the condition. You may learn that bloat, Gastric Dilation-Volvulus, can occurwhen irregular amounts of air, fluid or foam forms in the stomach causing the stomach to swell. As the stomach swells, veins can be obstructed which can lead to low blood pressure, shock, or organ damage. The most general causes of bloat are stress, hereditary genes, temperament that causes stress, anxiety or aggression, eating habits such as elevated food bowls, rapid eating, eating of the wrong diet, eating gassy foods, drinking too much too quickly, deep and narrow build of chest, etc. It’s important to understand and recognize the signs of bloat so that you can be prepared to seek the immediate treatment needed to save your dog’s life. Learn more from your experienced vets Leesburg VA.

Newborn Kitten Care

Two essential elements of taking care of a newborn kitty are litter box training and grooming. 

The litter box should be shallow and located in a safe and uncrowded area. Make the litter box visible to your pet. As for the litter, there are many options to choose and sticking to a particular litter will depend on your pet’s preference. Allow your cat to examine the box and get familiar with it. One technique that may stimulate your pet to eliminate is to gently wipe your kitten’s genital area with a warm cotton ball or clean cloth. When you see your kitten about to go, put it in the litter box. In this way, your kitten will be able to know the purpose of the litter box.

Start a grooming routine early by regularly brushing your kitten’s hair to remove loose hairs and reduce hairballs. Clip its nails as well to reduce the possibility of claw snag. You may start with one or two nails first in one sitting until you finish the rest in the next sessions.

Your veterinary clinic Gresham OR is a valuable resource when it comes to your pet’s needs and well-being.

Anesthesia And Your Pet

If your pet needs to have a medical procedure wherein general anesthesia is required, there are some things that you may want to know about anesthetics, indications, and the side effects that could possibly happen.  For medical veterinary procedures, general anesthesia is normally indicated under the following conditions:

●If the patient needs a procedure that will be painful.

●If the patient is required to lay perfectly still while the procedure is ongoing.

●If the patient’s airway needs to be protected.

●If the procedure happens over a length of time where there is a possibility of complication occurrence.

●if regional anesthetic, local anesthetic, or sedation would not be the appropriate choice for the procedure

●In controlling severe and extreme seizures

Anesthesia has possible side effects that include hypothermia, reduced blood pressure, drug reactions, heart arrhythmia, and/or respiratory depression.

Your animal hospital Portland OR should be able to provide you the information you need and address your concerns and questions regarding general anesthesia.