Head-Pressing In Cats

Does your kitty frequently press his head against objects or against the wall without any obvious reason? Head-pressing in cats is thought to be caused by an abnormality in the nervous system. It can affect cats of any sex, breed, or age. Early detection and veterinary intervention is very important to improve the chances of a better prognosis. Some conditions affecting the nervous system in which head-pressing may be a prominent sign include:

l  Primary or secondary tumor

l  Lead poisoning and other types of toxic reactions

l  Trauma to the head

l  Nervous system infections

l  Prosencephalon disease

l  Metabolic disorders, such as too much sodium (hypernatremia) or too little sodium (hyponatremia) in the blood plasma

Other symptoms that are exhibited by affected cats include seizures, erratic behavior, vision problems, and poor reflexes. Sores may also form on the cats’ paw pads brought about by their constant pacing and circling.

The line of treatment that your veterinary clinic Des Moines, IA will undertake will depend largely on the underlying cause and severity of the problem. 

Rabbits and Eye Injuries

An eye injury in a rabbit is a common occurrence and should not be cause for alarm. Instead, remain calm and take a look at your rabbit’s eye to determine the severity of the injury. In most cases, a rabbit will simply scratch his eye either because something has gotten caught in the eye (i.e. dust, bedding, etc.) or he has scratched his eye with his own nails while grooming or rubbing at the eye. For small irritations due to debris in the eye or small scratches, your rabbit’s eye will most likely be watery and irritated or even inflamed. Your vet may recommend you flushing the eye out with a recommended eye solution. If you notice any kind of green or yellow discharge coming from the eye then there’s more than a simply scratch going on. This could be sign of a possible infection and requires immediate care from your London, ON veterinarian. 

Keeping Your Dog Safe During Football Season - Keep These Foods Away From Your Pet

Many people love throwing a party during a big game. With so much food around, make sure your dog does not have any access to these foods that can pose a risk to their health and well-being.

l  Cocktail sausages and other tupes of food that are placed in toothpicks or skewers. Meat that is left on the toothpick or skewers is very appealing to dogs and ingestion can cause injuries and/or puncture wounds to the mouth or any part of the gastrointestinal tract. A toothpick or skewer can also get stuck in the mouth or cause obstruction.

l  Any food that contain grapes and raisins can be potentially toxic to dogs. In fact, consumption has been linked to kidney failure.

l  Any type of chocolate – white, milk chocolate, dark chocolate, baker’s chocolate—is potentially harmful to dogs.  The severity of the reaction generally depends on several factors including the type of chocolate and the amount consumed in relation to the dog’s weight.

Take your pet to your Marion, IA if you know or think that he has ingested something that is potentially toxic. Don’t wait for your pet to show any signs of toxicity.

Ear Infections In Cats

Ear infection in cats is often accompanied by pain. Without prompt veterinary intervention, it can damage the ear canal. Fortunately, ear infection is not as common in cats as it is in dogs. Some of the important predisposing factors of ear infections in cats include allergies, ear mites, abnormal growth, and abscess in the ear canal. Ear mites are very contagious and commonly found in kittens, although cats of any age can be infected. Ear infection should be suspected in cats when they exhibit the following symptoms:

l  There is a dark discharge or crusty debris that can be seen in the ear canal opening.

l  The cat scratches at his ears persistently often causing injury

l  Massaging the base of the cat’s ears tend to cause pain and discomfort. A wet sound may be heard when the ears are massage.

l  Lack of coordination in body movements

l  The cat’s head appear to tilt

l  They size of the pupils are uneven

 After a thorough examination and perhaps some tests, your veterinarians Ellicott City, MD may prescribe antibiotic ointments or drops for the ear, and oral antibiotics. Surgery may be needed for cats suffering from recurrent ear infections or those that don’t respond well to prescribed medication.  

Urination Problems In Cats

Normally, cats produce an average of 28ml/kg of urine every 24 hours. That is equivalent to about a half cup for a 10-pound cat (on average). There are many medical conditions that can cause urination problems in cats. Here are some of them:

l  Pollakiura is a term that is used to refer to an increase in the frequency of urination.

l  Oliguria occurs when only small amounts of urine is voided out by the cat frequently. This is caused by either a decrease in urine formation by the kidneys or something that is causing a decrease in the amount of urine that is eliminated from the body. In most cases, frequent urination with small urine volume indicates an irritation in the bladder. The most common causes of bladder irritation include infection, the presence of bladder stones, inflammation, or an obstruction anywhere along the lower urinary tract.

l  Frequent urination of normal urine volume or increased attempts at urination can be an important sign of a serious problem affecting the excretory system.

Any changes in your pet’s elimination habits should be brought to the attention of your veterinarians Oshawa, ON. 

Daylight Savings and Reptiles

Just like humans, animals and pets have to readjust to time changes. Internally, your reptile knows when he should eat, take a soak, or go for a swim. You may find it odd that your reptile is begging for food at 5 p.m. in the fall but remember according to summer time it’s actually 6 p.m. and he’s ready for dinner. You also may find your turtle tucking himself in for the night and it’s barely 7 p.m. Again, his internal clock says it’s 8 p.m. and he ready for sleep. Whatever your reptile’s schedule, he’s going to keep to it even though the clocks have been set back and you’re on a different routine. You can help your reptile adjust by slowly changing the times when he eats. Have him wait a little longer each day until he’s back on clock schedule. If you’re still concerned, give your vets London, ON a call.

Trying to Get More Eye Contact From Your Cat

You know when people are interested in you when they make eye contact with you. However, your cat may avoid eye contact since she may see it as a threatening gesture. You can help her get over this fear and look you in the eyes more often if you connect this actually with good things. This also helps establish a trusting relationship with your cat. When your cat is relaxed, sit very close to her and sneak a few peeks toward her. Try to catch your cat looking back even just a brief glance. Praise her and pat her gently as a reward. You get your cat to look up at you when holding food treats. You may make eye contact with your cat if you hold the food close to your face. Repeat these techniques often. Over time your cat will look you in the eye as a habit. Learn more from your veterinarians clinic Mt. Pleasant, SC.