How Often Should You Bathe Your Ferret?

 

Bathing pet ferrets is a hotly debated topic.  Some people seem to be very sensitive to a ferret’s natural musky odor, thus advised or tempted to often give their pet ferrets a bath, frequently backfiring.  A ferret’s odor is due partially to the animal’s natural oils coming from its skin.  Giving your ferret a bath could reduce this musky odor, but only temporarily.  Since the bath will strip the ferret’s fur and skin of these body oils, that bath you gave your pet may actually just stimulate skin oil production even more.  Because of this production increase, that musky odor might end up being stronger for several days after giving your pet a bath.  Keep your ferret’s litter and cage clean to aid in maintaining your pet’s fresh smell.

Bathing your pet ferret tends to the animal’s coat and skin to dry out, so at the most, baths are recommended to be given once every month. Unless the animal gets into something which needs washing off, one bath every two or three months should be enough.

Any skin and/or hair coat issue exhibited by your pet should warrant an appointment with your professional vet clinic Cy-Fair.

Factors That Can Increase Your Pet’s Risk To Urinary Tract Infection

 

What could cause urinary tract infections in pets? What are the factors? Bacteria in the urinary tract, feces, or other sources can multiply to astronomical levels and this can bring about an infection in your beloved pet. A cat or dog's risk of getting a urinary tract infection can be due to certain factors such as the following:

● A pet dog or cat that has a compromised or weak immune system is at a higher risk. This would include kittens or puppies, senior pets, as well as pets that have pre-existing health problems such as periodontal disease, cancer, or cats that have feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) or feline leukemia virus (FLV).

● Any gender is at risk of developing urinary tract infection, but females are generally more at risk than males.

● Cats and dogs that have diabetes mellitus are more likely to get bladder infections or urinary tract infections.

● Pets with masses in the bladder or have bladder stones are at higher risk.

Any sign of illness exhibited by your pet should be brought to the attention of your veterinarian Cy-Fair. 

Lost Dog

If your dog is lost or has accidentally escaped out of the house or yard, don’t panic. Instead, the first thing you should do is search your house to make sure he’s not inside. If you saw him get out, go in the direction you saw him go and start searching. Search a one mile radius ASAP to make sure he’s not close by. If you still don’t find him, call your vet and all other veterinarians, shelters, policy departments, animal control officers, etc. in a 20 mile radius to alert them of your missing dog. You should also put together posters with a recent picture of your dog along with a description of him and your contact information. Put the posters up within a one to two mile radius of your home and especially at intersections where people will have time to stop and see the poster. Contact your animal hospital Cy-Fair for more tips. 

Dementia and Your Dog

Your dog may display what appears to be signs of dementia as he ages. He may experience cognitive dysfunction, become disoriented, or his senses may show some decline. This is especially evident in his hearing and vision. Dementia may contribute to incontinence, sleep problems, trouble eating and disinterest while exercising or playing. These issues can be attributed to other conditions and diseases. Thus, you shouldn’t assume your dog has dementia before your medical professional checks for underlying health problems. Cognitive changes come gradually for the most part. Mental stimulation and changes in your dog’s diet can sometimes slow down his cognitive decline. Consider using food puzzles so your dog must figure out how to get the food inside. You can keep your dog healthier, both physically and mentally, through exercise and socialization. Be patient with your aging dog and treat him with kindness. Learn more from your vet clinic Cy-Fair.

Can Your Cat be a Vegetarian?

Cats have evolved to eat meat. The strong hunting instinct of wild cats have been passed on to your domestic cat. Her body is designed for successful hunting. She has no teeth to grind up vegetables or grains. If your cat had no meat to eat, she would eat greens and grains to survive. However, she would suffer from dietary insufficiencies. There are essential nutrients missing from a vegetarian diet on its own. You could feed your cat vegetarian cat foods that have synthetic amino acids. However, it is still difficult to sustain good health with these foods. Your cat will be prone to heart issues, and urinary and bowel difficulties from eating a vegetarian diet. Although not impossible to raise your cat as a vegetarian, it is a lot of work. Even if you are a vegetarian, consider choosing a meat-based diet for your cat to ensure continued good health. Contact your vet Cy-Fair to learn more.

Reasons to Keep Your Dog’s Nails Short

You lead a busy life. You have more important things to do than clip your dog’s nails! Or do you? There are actually some very convincing reasons why you should keep your furry friend’s claws short.

First, it’s better for his health. When his claws get too long, they can affect his gait. He will adjust how he walks and runs to accommodate his long nails, which can be very bad on his muscle tone and joints. If he has to deal with long nails for a long time, his gait may never return to normal without physical therapy.

Long claws are also more likely to tear. It’s easy for them to get caught in clothing and carpeting. Then, when your dog pulls on his foot, his claw can tear off, which is very painful!

Long nails can scratch you too! For help clipping them, call your animal hospital Cy-Fair.