Helping your dog socialize

You have a dog in your life who needs to be able to count on you to offer her ways to meet her needs. This will sometimes mean helping her get in the socialization she craves. How can you help to make this happen? 

You have a pet in your life who is eager to get to know new people and places. To help make this happen, you will need to bring her out and about with you whenever you have the chance to do so. This will mean thinking about where you regularly go that is pet-friendly and then determining if your pet would be comfortable in these places. Expose your dog to new situations a little at a time in order to help her better understand that she is safe in these circumstances as well as how to appropriately behave within them. Your local vet Gresham, OR can help you care for your pet. Schedule an appointment today.

Prioritizing the skills you want to teach your dog

You have a wonderful dog in your life and you know she would benefit from some training. How can you determine which skills you should teach her first? 

Your pet needs you to take the time to think about her lifestyle, habits, and living environment. This will help you think about the ideal skills that would help her on a daily basis. This means that prioritizing the skills that will give her ways to stay healthy and safe will help her move about her life with relative ease. It will also help you teach her how to appropriately behave in different situations to keep those around her safe and happy as well. This can lead to a more harmonious household and it will help your pet better understand what is and is not acceptable within your home. Your local animal hospital Gresham, OR can help you better understand your pet.

Is Urinary Blockage in Cats Serious?

Are you aware that a urethral blockage (also known as feline urethral obstruction or FUO is a serious health problem in cats?

A cat that has a feline urethral obstruction can suddenly become a much worse situation in a span of just 24 hours or so. A cat with FUO might look lethargic and would not get up, drink, eat, or want to move a lot. A cat with feline urethral obstruction can die in as fast as 72 hours if no immediate vet attention has been given.

When there is an obstruction in the urinary tract of a cat, the blockage or plug will hinder the flow of urine from moving from the bladder and out of the urethra. This, in turn, will bring about a pressure buildup inside the urinary tract and this could lead to damage to the cat's kidneys. Urine is a waste material that needs to be removed by the body and FUO is preventing the body from doing its normal function.

Consult your local vet Tampa, FL  about the best way to protect your pet from urethral obstruction.

Preventing Heartworm Disease In Cats

In spite of the fact that heartworm disease cases in cats are much lower compared to cases seen in dogs, heartworm infections in cats can still be fatal and severe, make no mistake.

One of the best ways to help shield your cat from heartworm infections is to give your cat preventative medications, not just during the mosquito season but all through the entire year. Don't forget to only use preventative medications that have been recommended by your vet or the nearest animal clinic.

Anti-heartworm preventative medications help eliminate the larvae of those pesky microscopic parasites which are transferred by mosquitoes whenever they feed off of cats. If you have a household that consists of various pets, you need to give your dogs as well as cats preventative medications. But do not ever make the mistake of using the heartworm meds for dogs to your cats or vice versa.

Consult your vet Tampa FL about the best way to protect your pet from heartworm and other parasites.

Abnormal Poop in Cats

A cat’s poop can tell you a lot about your cat’s health. For instance, normal cat poop is generally a brown or dark brown color and well formed. Your cat may be having trouble or facing an illness is the poop is hard, abnormal in color or if your cat has diarrhea. You should call your vet to schedule a checkup. Diarrhea is not uncommon and may last 24 to 48 hours. If the diarrhea is black, bloody or accompanied by lethargy, fever, vomiting, or loss of appetite call your vet right away. Diarrhea is not always uncommon, but it could indicate an underlying illness from things like food allergies, inflamed bowels, colitis or something else. Just the same, constipation is not uncommon, but it could in some cases be a sign of illness and long term constipation (i.e. longer than a day or two) should be reported. Consult with your veterinarian Jacksonville FL to learn more.

When should you schedule vet visits for your pet?

Your pet needs to see her vet on a regular basis in order to stay as healthy as she can be. This allows her to have any current issues addressed while also getting some preventative care. When should you schedule these appointments for? 

Your pet needs you to take the time to assess her care needs to ensure she is seeing her veterinarian as often as she needs to. Discussing this with her vet will help with this as well, since it will offer her the opportunity to have her needs met on the schedule a professional recommends. This will likely be once or twice a year for a fully grown, healthy pet. If your pet needs assistance for a specific issue, you may have additional appointments on top of these well-visits. For more information on caring for a pet like this, please consult your local vet Gresham, OR.

Tips To Decrease Your Cat’s Chances Of Throwing Up

There are many reasons why cats vomit. The good news is that many of these can be prevented. Parasites including heartworms can be prevented by regular worming and preventative measures. Making sure that your cat’s vaccinations are up to date can help protect him from certain infectious diseases, such as feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), feline distemper, and feline leukemia virus (FeLV),  in which vomiting is one of the symptoms. Feeding a complete and balanced diet of premium quality, making sure that household, garden, and lawn chemicals are kept secured and out of your pet’s reach, and never letting your furball play with unsafe toys, such as strings, yarns, etc. can also help prevent vomiting episodes in cats. Finally, regular health and wellness checks are perfect opportunities for your cat to be examined thoroughly and undergo routine tests that can help identify any underlying health issues like diabetes, liver disease, hyperthyroidism, or kidney problems. 

Frequent vomiting in cats is not normal. Work with your vet Dallas GA to identify the cause of your cat’s vomiting so appropriate treatment can be started immediately.