What To Avoid After Snake Bites

 

When a snake bites your dog, don't attempt to remove the venom. This technique only works in movies. What you should do is to bring the dog to the vet as soon as possible.

Don’t ever attempt to open the bite area because you will only create more wounds on the skin. Similarly, you don't need to use a Snake Bite Kit or Extractor Pump to remove the venom. It doesn't work plus it just costs money.

There’s no need to put ice on the affected part. The ice will only cause the blood vessels to constrict, which leads to the venom concentrated on a particular area. There is also no need to rub any solution on the snake bite since the venom has entered the bloodstream. Any substance applied topically will not help at all. A tourniquet is not needed as well. The tourniquet will only damage the affected area. It might even lead to amputating the limb.

Finally, prevent the dog from moving around. Don’t catch the snake to identify it later on.

If your pet has been bitten by a snake, contact your veterinarians Lakewood Ranchz FL immediately so the staff can instruct you on what to do.  

Reasons Why A Cat’s Eyes May Appear Watery

 

Most young cats acquire respiratory diseases. This disease is common among young ones with the virus as the main reason. There are not a lot of treatments for anti-virus, so the owner has to give supportive care to help the kitten get better. Fortunately, the young cat has a strong immune system to ward off respiratory disease.

Feline herpes virus is another respiratory virus.  It can cause eye irritation in cats. The other manifestations of the feline herpes virus are excessive tearing and partially closing of the eyelid. This condition is also called blepharospasm.

Fortunately, the infection will go away eventually. However, if the cat develops a yellowish or greenish discharge it is probably a sign of a serious health condition. The eye discharge could come from a corneal ulcer or bacterial infection. When the cat starts to produce discharge, it is time to bring the cat to your animal hospital Sarasota, FL for appropriate medical attention.

“Why Does My Dog Eat Grass?”

 

Dogs like ingesting some vegetation at times.  This usually happens in the springtime, when new grass is abundant, tastes somewhat sweet that your dog might be enticed to have a nibble.  Even though it is not fully understood why a dog will eat grass, a small quantity is pretty normal and inherently not hazardous.

Try observing your dog whenever he eats grass.  If it seems excessive and he vomits after ingesting grass, then there might be a problem.  Should you see your dog often eat grass, take him to your vet for a checkup and possibly some diagnostic tests as well.  This will help in figuring out if your pet has gastrointestinal upsets that might cause this behavior of eating grass.  If a dog eats excessive amounts of grass, he might develop grass impaction because the grass is difficult for dogs to fully digest in large amounts.

Your pet’s diet is one of the important concerns that you should discuss with your vet Dutchess County, NY during your pet’s wellness checks.

Why Do Dogs Wag Their Tails?

 

Most people think that when dogs’ tails are wagging, they are happy.  This is a common belief but may turn out to be incorrect.  Many experts in canine behavior think that a wagging tail means the animal is having some strong emotions.  In many dogs, it generally means happiness, however, it could also mean that the animal is cautious or concerned regarding a new circumstance.  Yet there are also some dogs that do a tail wag when feeling threatened.
 
It is because of this reason that you must always cautiously approach a dog that is unfamiliar, even if you see his tail wagging.  Children must also be taught about this and must never be told to go near any dog while outstretching their fingers because they can easily be bitten.  Children must also be told to check for permission with the owner before approaching a dog.
 
Make an appointment with your veterinary clinic Frisco, TX if you have any concerns about your pet’s behavior.

Which Vaccines Does Your Kitten Need?

Every pet kitten has to be given the FVRCP vaccine - Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, and Panleukopenia.  These three viruses set off upper respiratory illnesses in cats, and they can have effects ranging from mild to fatal.

For full protection, a kitten requires three vaccinations administered three to four weeks apart.  Many veterinarians suggest that the vaccinations are given when the animal is about eight weeks old, then repeated when she is twelve weeks old, and the last one at sixteen weeks.  This pattern may be altered slightly if your kitten is ill because it is known that vaccines are not as effective in boosting the already ill animal’s immune response.

Every cat will need to get the rabies vaccine.  Many veterinarians will recommend that this is done when the kitten is sixteen weeks old.

Factoring in where you live with your kitten and whether she will be allowed outdoors, your veterinarian might suggest also getting vaccinations as protection from feline leukemia.  There is no known cure for the disease, but if you plan on keeping your pet exclusively indoors, the vaccine might not be needed because the odds of an indoor cat getting it are zero.

Your pet will benefit from regular health and wellness checks at your vet clinic Burlington, ON. Click here to know more about their services. 

Tips for a Clean Home and Healthy Cat

 

Your pet cat might think her fur will look nice as an “accessory” to everything.  If this is something that is not agreeable to you, then you may want to invest in a good enough vacuum cleaner.  Try looking for models that have strong suction and an attachment for pet hair.  Remember to also vacuum curtains and chairs.  Try wearing wet rubberized gloves and running your hands all over your pet cat’s spots.  You can use tape folded with the sticky side facing out for your clothes.  Purchase simple to clean pet bedding.  And should your cat go outdoors, put a cushion, a washable one, on the area where your pet goes out and comes in to catch any muddy pawprints.

Keep Your Pet Cat Clean 

Generally, cats themselves do a great job of self-cleaning.  But your pet might require a bath every so often if she gets very dirty, or should someone living in the same house be allergic.  As a start, trim your pet cat’s claws to prevent being scratched.  You could try doing it by yourself with special nail clippers for cats and you can check with your vet regarding the procedure.  To remove matted or loose hair,  brush your cat.  Make sure to use a shampoo that is formulated specifically for cats and keep the water clear off her ears and face.  Dry your pet using a blow drying set to cool or a towel.  Offer your pet a treat after the bath so that she will associate bathing with a pleasant event.

Your pet will benefit from regular health and wellness checks at your vet hospital Plano, TX. Click to know more about their services.

Why Cats Love To Scratch

 

Scratching is normal behavior for cats.  They will want to scratch to keep their claws conditioned, mark their territory, and stretch.  The worn outside surfaces of your cat’s claws get removed as they scratch, renewing the claws, sharpening them.  But this habit could become frustrating even to cat owners who have had them for the longest time.  Perhaps even more frustrating if your cat scratches your carpet and furniture.

Various methods can be employed to curb this behavior without having to get your pet declawed.  Behavior modification and environmental management can curb most cases of scratching on inappropriate items or surfaces.

In some cases, you just simply need to restrict access to the area where your cat likes scratching things.  Another management method is to turn the surface into something that is not appealing to scratch at the same time offering something else that is appropriate for your pet to scratch, like a scratching pad or post.  Acquire a scratching post then try to rub catnip on it to entice your pet to go for it.

If you have any questions or concerns about your pet’s behavior, don’t hesitate to contact your veterinarian Murrieta CA.