What it means to be a pet owner

You are thinking about bringing a new addition into your home, and this makes you wonder about what life would be like while caring for a furry friend. What does it really mean to be a pet owner?

Caring for a pet means that you have accepted an animal into your family. This means that you not only love your little fur ball, but that you are there to be with her as often as she needs you to be. She will need you to care for her day in and day out no matter what else is going on in your life or how difficult it may be. It means accepting that this creature is counting on you and taking full responsibility for making her life as wonderful as it can be. Your local veterinary clinic Los Gatos, CA can offer additional suggestions.

How to Diagnose Degenerative Myelopathy

Only a veterinary professional can diagnose your dog with DM or Degenerative Myelopathy. The disease often mimics a variety of other mobility related diseases so it difficult to diagnose even for experts. Just because your dog has trouble walking, jumping, or moving around it does not mean he has DM. Arthritis, for instance, can have similar symptoms. In order to diagnose the disease, your vet will need to examine your dog, talk over the history of symptoms and your pup’s health, as well as run diagnostics. There is also a DNA test available for breeds that are known for DM. This test can determine if the dog has the genetic marker associated with DM. Even if the marker is there it does not mean your dog will actually have the disease as he may just be a carrier. Once a diagnosis is made, your vets Crown Point, IN will be able to suggest treatment options for your pup.

Protecting Your Pet Dog From ticks

Dogs that spend a good time outdoors can easily get ticks when they ran through dense vegetation. Ticks are present on the blades of grass waiting for an unsuspecting dog to pass by so they can attach to the animal. During the peak of the tick season, it is recommended that dogs not be allowed to venture into shrubs and grassy areas.

Prevention is the best way to protect your pet against tick infestation. There are many tick prevention products available and they are not created equal. These are available in powder form, sprays, oral medication, topical preparation, injection, and the tick collar. If your dog is fond of swimming or playing with other dogs, a tick collar may not be an ideal choice because it is embedded with toxic chemicals. You should ask your veterinarian for a product that is safe and effective for your pet. Talking with your vets Teller County, CO will enable you to pick the best tick prevention production for your dog. 

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.