Picking Out A Dog Bed

Does your canine pal have a comfy bed to look adorable in? Dogs spend up to half of their time sleeping. It's very important for them to be able to sleep comfortably, especially as they grow older. A good bed will cushion Fido's bones and joints. This is particularly important in large breeds and senior dogs. On cold nights, good bedding also provides insulation against chilly floors.

There are some things to keep in mind when choosing a bed. You may want to observe your dog's sleeping patterns before you buy something. If your pup likes to curl up, he may like a beanbag bed or one with raised sides. Dogs that sprawl out would probably prefer a plain square bed. Seniors and large breeds will be most comfortable on orthopedic beds.

Your veterinarian Goodyear, AZ can give you more information about choosing a bed for your furry best friend. Call anytime!

Gagging In Cats

 

You will observe gagging In a cat when his senses are picking up strong stimuli such as a strong or powerful smell, unpalatable taste, or if he has ingested something toxic or unwholesome, and other factors that trigger gagging reflex. Aside from the powerful smell of perfumes and essential oils from diffusers, here are some of the stimulus that can induce your cat to gag:

Vaping or cigarettes - residues from smoke and ash can cling to your pet’s fur and be inhaled or ingested by him later. Even the airborne substance from vapes could attach to his hair coat.

Liners of litter boxes or scented litter - if you notice your cat gagging frequently and you are using scented litters or liners, try removing it to see if it helps with the reaction of your cat.

Laundry products - detergents and soaps have strong odors and can get stuck in bedding, cushion covers, etc. This smell can overpower your pet’s nose that will induce them to gag, choke, or sneeze.

Your veterinarian Bend, OR is a valuable resource about your pet’s health and well-being. Read more here.

When Severe Acne Occurs In Persian Cats

 

Persian cats can suffer from idiopathic facial pruritus, which is a severe form of acne. The cat affected with this acne will have a black waxy symmetrical pattern on the eye and chin area.

Fortunately, this condition can be treated. Excessive sebum has to be removed to prevent the formation of comedones (or blackheads) and the development of further bacterial infection.

For mild cases, the vet might recommend an antibacterial wash that contains chlorhexidine. However, if there is an infection, the vet might require some bacterial culture and sensitivity tests first. Antibiotic therapy or fungal medication could be recommended next. Your veterinarians Acupuncture might also prescribe steroids to be given for a few days to reduce the inflammation on the cat’s skin. Make sure to follow the vet's instructions on the dosage and frequency to ensure that the treatment will be successful.

Feeding Your Pet Cat

 

Feeding your pet is one of the essential aspects of pet care. It is crucial for pet owners to always make mealtime an encouraging experience for pets.

For cats, bear in mind that felines are very fussy animals as they do have preferences when it comes to feeding. Cats dislike if there are changes to their eating routine. In case you need to change your cat's mealtime schedule, you may give small rations multiple times within a day but make sure to feed them at consistent hours every day. 

Cats prefer to eat alone. When feeding your cat, make sure it is in a quiet and low people-traffic place to prevent them from getting disturbed by other people's noise or pets in the house.

Always provide clean food and water containers for your pet and make sure they are shallow to prevent the whiskers from touching the bowls' surface.

Do consult your professional animal hospital Pembroke Pines FL before making any changes to your pet’s diet.

Cat Facts: What Do You Know About Your Cat

 

Cats make a wonderful pet for many animal lovers. They are adorable, affectionate, and warm beings. Cats are friendly and known for their gentle ways. Here are a few fun facts about your adorable furball:

●     Cat paws have different numbers of toes in front and back. Front paws have five toes while their back paws have 4 toes only.

●     Cats can make more than a hundred kinds of voices.

●     Cats can jump seven times their height.

●     A litter of kittens is referred to as ‘kindle’, and a group of adult cats is called a ‘clowder’.

●     Cats have no sweat glands.

●     The tongue of a cat is covered with tiny spines that are directed backward called papillae. These tiny spines have a useful role in grooming, and also in holding their kill in their mouth.

●     The unique pattern on the ridges of the cat’s nose pad is used as their identification. It is like the fingerprint of a human.

Your local animal hospital Davie FL is a valuable resource about your pet’s health and well-being.

Sebaceous Glands In Cats And Scent Marking

 

Cats have 2 main types of glands in the skin--sweat glands and sebaceous glands. The sebaceous glands are closely associated with the hair follicles on the skin. These glands produce an oily secretion called the sebum which functions to make the hair waterproof and help promote skin suppleness. There are also larger sebaceous glands on the chin, eyelids, lips, prepuce, scrotum, and the top surface of the base of the tail. These larger glands are responsible for producing the cat’s signature scent which is important in scent marking. That’s why you see cats repeatedly rubbing their chin, lips, forehead, and base of the tail to mark certain objects. You may have noticed black-brown greasy patches on objects or surfaces where your cat keeps on rubbing his body. You may also notice your kitty rubbing against you to “mark” you.

Sudden changes in your pet’s behavior should be brought to the attention of a veterinarian care Leonardtown, MD.

How Often Should My Cat Receive Booster Shots?

 

Administering annual booster shots for some vaccines has been the norm in the past years. However, recent data has revealed that yearly boosters may not provide that much benefit as previously believed. Factors such as vaccine type, as well as the pet’s overall health and lifestyle help in determining whether booster shots are needed. Not all vaccines are created equal; there are vaccines, such as vaccines that protect against viral diseases, that provide 3 years of protection to your pets. Bacterial vaccines, on the other hand, are recommended to be administered every year.

Nowadays, full booster series are offered by experts to cats with complete vaccinations which can be given every one to three years. The frequency of booster shots to be given would only be determined after a cat’s lifestyle risk has been assessed. Indoor cats and cats with a complete vaccination record are considered low-risk cats. These low-risk cats can receive their booster series for the “core vaccines” every three years. The core vaccines include feline calicivirus, feline viral rhinotracheitis, feline panleukopenia, and rabies; feline leukemia is also often included by some experts. Non-core vaccines such as feline infectious peritonitis, Bordetella, chlamydia also have booster shots but, the booster injections for these are given on a conditional basis. Veterinarians would administer the booster only if the antibody titer tests would indicate the need for it.

Consult a veterinarian Leonardtown, MD to gather vital and relevant information that can improve your pet’s health.