Keeping Your Pet Safe During Very Cold Weather

 

As a pet owner, it's important to be cautious of slips/falls, frostbite, de-icing chemicals, and hypothermia during winter. Follow these pet safety tips for cold seasons:

●Wellness examination

Extreme coldness can worsen some of your pet's current medical conditions like arthritis, heart and kidney diseases, hormonal imbalances, and diabetes. To prevent this, bring your pet to the vet every year, and ask how winter can affect your pet's condition.

●Frigid temperatures

Just with extremely high temperatures, super low temps are also dangerous to pets. Depending on their age, coat density, activity level, body fats, and overall health, some pets can or can't sufficiently tolerate the cold. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, thick-coated or long-haired dogs manage cold temps better than short-haired ones. Short-legged dogs are also less tolerant because their bodies and bellies are closer to the snow-filled ground.

If your pet is showing signs of hypothermia, contact your veterinary clinic Raleigh, NC immediately.

Regular Brushing: Fool-Proof Way To Protect Pets Against Dental Disease

 

One aspect of periodontal disease management in pet cats and dogs is prevention.

One of the most effective methods to keep your pet’s oral health up between scheduled professional dental checkups is brushing your pet’s teeth.  If you have a kitten or puppy, start brushing their teeth because these young pets will have an easier time acclimating to the procedure.  Brushing should be done every day for optimum dental health.  

A lot of dogs will eventually take to brushing, but you have to take it slow and be patient.  Brush mainly your pet’s “cheek teeth” outside parts,  beneath their upper lip.  Never use your own toothpaste because human toothpaste contains components that might be hazardous if inhaled or swallowed by pet cats and/or dogs.  Use toothpaste products specifically formulated for dogs or cats.  They even come in the flavors that pets like.  Unsure of the proper methods of brushing your pet’s teeth?

Make an appointment at your veterinarians Frisco TX for your pet’s health and dental checks.

Permethrin Is Toxic To Cats

 

Permethrin is a chemical found in various solutions designed to kill pests. It can be a spray to drive away bugs from your home or a product for ferreting out the unwanted inhabitants of your garden. It can also be one of the ingredients of a shampoo used for lice removal.

Once an insect is exposed to this neurotoxin, the chemical attacks the bug's nervous system, which leads to death. Some manufacturers also use it for their tick removal products which are popular among dog owners.

There's a common misconception among pet owners, especially those who have cats and dogs, regarding shampoos that contain permethrin. It's the idea that they can use on their cats the same chemicals that they use on their dogs. But the truth is, you'd have to be crazy to even consider it.

Permethrin is harmful to cats, especially in large quantities. There are things -- food that your cat and dog can share, but not this one. We all want to economize and get the best possible value for our money. But there should be a limit to the compromises we make. 

Any signs of toxicity exhibited by your pet must warrant a visit to your animal hospital Frisco TX immediately.

Safety Tips To Keep In Mind Around Dogs And Babies

 

Becoming a mother is a life-changing experience that comes with a lot of responsibilities. Are you expecting to be a mom anytime soon? Congratulations. And it may be a question for you whether you have to let go of your first baby, yes your pup, because of the arrival of a new one.

Do not worry. Do not give up on your beloved canine. You have to ensure that both your baby and pup are safe and secure. How? Consider the following tips.

• Do not let your pups go near, lick, or sniff your baby’s tiny face. They may smell or sniff the feet, but not the face or head.
• Do not leave your baby alone with your pups or one of them. They may not have established that connection or relationship. It will take time for them to get used to each other. Do not rush on things.
• Supervision is important when your baby and your dogs are present in one room. Neither of them knows what must be done or what must be avoided.

Give them time to adjust and be familiar with the presence of each other. Sooner or later, your dogs and baby may become best of friends.

A sudden change in your pet’s behavior should warrant a visit to your vet Chesapeake VA, the Barker Animal Hospital.

Types Of Adverse Food Reactions In Cats

 

Various categories of negative food reactions could happen to a cat: 

Food Poisoning.  This adverse reaction to food is triggered by the food item itself.  Food poisoning might include the following: 

• Swallowing too much of a certain nutrient like vitamin D or vitamin A. 
• Scavenging spoiled food items.
• Swallowing plants, (like rhubarb) could cause irritation to the gastrointestinal tract.
• Food additives.  Negative reactions to some food additives can happen in people, often caused by things like monosodium glutamate, sulfites, and specific spices.  You may have heard that there are food additives that could trigger issues in cats, but supporting evidence for this is lacking.  Disulfides are food additives known to cause issues.  Onions contain disulfides and could damage red blood cells.
• Drug-like food reactions.  Humans could suffer from critical clinical reactions brought about by histamine.  Some of these reactions include facial swelling, vomiting, nausea, sweating, diarrhea, and flushing.  But histamine might not be a problem for cats, barring occasional idiosyncratic reactions.
• Carbohydrates. Various notable carbohydrate intolerance conditions exist in humans.  Cats reacting negatively to carbohydrate intolerance are not as commonplace.  Lactose intolerance is quite a common carbohydrate reaction seen in cats.  Indicators include abdominal discomfort, bloating, vomiting and diarrhea after ingesting milk from goats or cows.
• Dietary indiscretion.  Dogs exhibit dietary indiscretion more than cats.  However, cats do sometimes eat stuff that they must not.  Gastrointestinal indicators might be triggered by bones, bacterial contamination, grease, or fat.

If your pet is showing any signs of illness, make an appointment with your vet clinic Chesapeake VA. 

Dogs And Babies: Safety Tips To Keep In Mind

 

Can’t let go of your beloved canine when you are about to welcome your little one? Do not worry. You do not have to give up being a fur parent just because you are becoming a mother. You can still be both. Ensure that both parties are safe with the existence of the other. 

What can you do? Here are some tips to consider:

• Set up the nursery of your baby as soon as you find out you are expecting. Why? Doing this will give your pup time to accept that there will be a new family member. Let your pup explore the room.
• While inside the nursery, you may pretend to be caring for your little one. What is the essence of doing this? Your dog will be aware of what will happen when the baby arrives home.
• Start introducing your pup to the little one’s things and the limitations he should follow. Training or practicing before the actual day comes is good preparation for your pup.

Make an appointment with your veterinarians Virginia Beach VA if you have any concerns about your pet’s behavior.

These Items Are Toxic To Pet Ferrets

 

When you decide to have pets at home, ensure that it is a safe place for them. Regardless of their kind, breed, age, or personality, give them a living environment where they can live happily and healthily. You have to provide them with a home that can satisfy their needs in all aspects of their lives.

If you have a pet ferret at home, be careful. Of course, there are times that you must let your ferret out of his cage to explore and roam around your home as a form of exercise. And when this happens, your house should be ready. Ready in the sense that it is safe for your pet. No hazardous materials are out in the open. To help you make your house ferret-friendly, keep the following items out of your pet’s reach:

• Nicotine – This substance is used in cigarettes, vaping liquids, and tobacco. It is toxic to ferrets as it can lead to acute poisoning.
• Xylitol – This is a sugar substitute. This item is used in gums candies and is therefore safe for humans. But, it is not the case for ferrets who can suffer from serious medical problems when they take in this substance.
• Pest control agent – These agents, such as ant killer and slug pellets, should be kept away from your ferret. Accident exposure or ingestion may cause serious harm.

Any sign of illness or poisoning exhibited by your pet should require an immediate visit to your animal hospital Virginia Beach VA for proper medical attention.