Why your cat needs to scratch

 

Your cat tends to spend some time scratching on things around your home on a daily basis. Why is this important to her?

 

Your pet needs to be able to scratch in order to meet her needs. This behavior helps her stretch and mark her territory, but it is primarily used to keep her claws in great shape. Your pet needs you to be able to understand that she instinctually tends to a lot of her needs and this is one of them. Since her claws are continually growing, they need to be filed down so they don’t get too long and break when she utilizes them. Scratching allows her to do this with relative ease, so she will seek out places to make this happen on a daily basis. For more information, please contact your local vet clinic Norwalk CA.

Keeping your cat well-fed

You have a cat in your life who not only loves you very much, but also wants to enjoy herself as much as possible. How can you keep her well-fed so this can happen?

Your cat needs you to be aware of the fact that there are a lot of different foods out there and they are each made for a specific cat’s needs. This means that some of them will help your little fur ball stay healthy while others will just fill up her stomach. Seek out a food that will serve her well nutritionally and will also allow you to give her portion sizes that she will find satisfying. This will help her not only get what her body needs from her diet, but also the enjoyment she is looking for. Your local vets Norwalk CA can offer additional advice.

Does My Dog Need Arthritis Medicine?

No one knows your dog better than you do. If you notice that your dog is having trouble moving about, please contact your veterinarian. As dogs grow older, they tend to develop a variety of joint and muscle-related conditions. Some of these conditions can be as simple as arthritis and some could be more complex. Your vet will be able to tell you the severity of your dog’s mobility issues and recommend a treatment plan. If your dog is moving more slowly or appears to be in any type of pain then a pain medication may be prescribed, but it will be up to your vet. Please do not self medicate your dog with any type of pain medicines or NSAIDs even if they are for animals. Always follow your vet’s instructions. In some cases, your dog may be able to take an herbal supplement or herbal NSAID instead of actual pain medicine. Consult with your veterinarian Norwalk, CA.

Panting In Cats

While it occurs very rarely, panting in cats often indicates an underlying serious problem. The most common causes of panting in cats include exposure to extreme heat, extreme stress or anxiety, experiencing severe pain, respiratory problems, allergies, or heart problems in which respiratory distress is a consequent symptom. Other important causes of panting in cats include asthma, heartworm disease, respiratory infection, and neurologic disorders. Unlike dogs, cats don’t usually pant after exercise. Considering the potential causes of panting in cats, a trip to the veterinarians Norwalk, CA should be considered if your notice your kitty panting, especially if it continues for a considerable length of time. If panting is caused by heat, stress, anxiety, or strenuous activity, it usually resolves once the animal has cooled down and rested. However, if it continues, it may be an important sign of an underlying health issue that needs prompt veterinary attention.

Why You Should Spay/Neuter Your Dog

Spaying or neutering your dog reduces unwanted litters of puppies. However, there are other benefits. You can expect less territorial marking if your dog is sterilized. Your dog will also have less urges to wander off looking for mates. Sterilization will help your dog become more calm and dedicated to you and your family so he won’t want to be somewhere else. Your dog may be less active after spaying or neutering so there may be some weight gain. A little extra exercise can control this sedentary-based weight gain. You can expect a decreased risk of certain cancers if your dog is spayed or neutered such as uterine and breast cancer in females and prostate cancer in males. Spaying and neutering is a surgical procedure done under anesthesia. There is always some risk with surgery but the long-term benefits of sterilization far outweigh them. For more information, contact your veterinarian Norwalk, CA.

Bloat in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels

 Bloat is a dangerous disease that affects a variety of dog breeds. It can come on quickly and cause damage in a matter of moments. Common signs of bloat include difficulty breathing, expanded abdomen, hunched back appearance indicating pain, lethargy, and eventual collapse. These symptoms are caused because bloat occurs when gas, food or fluid is trapped in the stomach and begins to expand. It expands the stomach so much that the lining perforates or it pushes on the surrounding organs stopping blood flow and even causing the stomach to twist. It often happens after the dog eats too quickly or drinks to quickly after strenuous exercise or activity. It is also known to occur in deep chested dog breeds like the Rottweiler and Boxer. For more information about bloat and how it may affect your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, contact your veterinarian Norwalk CA.