Can Dogs And Cats Be Allergic To Poison Ivy?

The hypersensitive reaction that is triggered when people are exposed to poison ivy is caused by the Urushiol, an oily substance that is present in the plant. Fortunately, dogs and cats are not allergic to Urushiol thus they don’t develop any rashes even if they rolled in it. They may also be protected from the effects of the allergen by their hair coats. The bad news is, uroshiol can stick to their hair coats and this means they can carry the substance inside the home and spread it on surfaces, objects, and even people. Because it is oily, it can exist in the surroundings for quite some time. If your pet was exposed to poison ivy, be sure to bathe him before allowing him inside the home. Remember to wear gloves to avoid getting into contact with the substance.

If your pet appears to be engaged in persistent scratching, a visit to your vet clinic Tipp City, OH should be made sooner rather than later. 

Precaution Should Be Observed When Applying Anti-Flea Products On Cats

Cats are extremely sensitive to some active ingredients or anti-flea products. Exposure to these ingredients may cause irritation of body tissues as well as toxicity. Thus, when your cat has fleas, application of anti-flea products should be done carefully, making sure that the instructions of your veterinarian are met. During administration of flea shampoos, spot-ons, or powders, be careful around the eyes, ears, and genitalia of the cat. If there is a need to use a sprayer or fogger inside and outside your home, make sure that all pets are removed from the premises and only returned after the time indicated on the product label has passed. Before application of flea products, food and water bowls, toys, beds and beddings, etc. should be removed. Make sure the product that had been applied has dried up completely. Properly ventilation after the application is also very important. Allow air to move in and out of your home by opening all the windows and/or turning on exhaust fans. If you have just applied flea product, be sure to keep a close eye on your pet. Signs of toxicity like incoordination, lethargy, vomiting or weakness should be brought to the attention of your vet Tipp City, OH. 

How Hairless Cats Keep Regulate Their Core Temperature

The haircoat serves a variety of functions. One of these is its thermo-regulatory function, that is, it plays a very important role in helping the cat’s body maintain its core body temperature. The so-called hairless cat still have hairs on their body but these are very sparse. Thus, they don’t have the same protection that cats with haircoats have when it comes to environmental extremes. Since they don’t have the optimum thermo-regulatory function of a body that is well covered with hairs, the body of hairless cats adapted to this lack of hair by having a high rate of metabolism. With a higher rate of metabolism, hairless cats need to consume higher quantities of premium quality pet food than most cats in order to meet their body’s higher needs for energy.

A sudden change in your pet’s health and/or behavior should prompt an appointment with your animal hospital Tipp City, OH sooner rather than later.