Thoughts & Ideas

Cat scratch disease is an infection that is caused when a cat will bite or scratch somebody. The symptoms of this disease can be mild to severe reckoning on how it affects the person and how well their bodies can battle the infection. The disease is induced by a bacteria known as Bartonella henselae. Read the rest of this entry »

Turtles make very unique pets and it seems that they are becoming more and more popular. One of the most common is the box turtle. This particular turtle species can be recognized by their domed shells that are hinged at the bottom. The way that this shell is set on their body allows them to close it tightly shut to help protect them from their predators.

Having a box turtle is quickly becoming a popular pet for people to have – but many environmentalists and animal right activists believe that the way they are captured and grown in captivity could have serious repercussions on the population of these turtles in the wild. Most box turtles live for 40 years – but there are some that can survive for 100. Read the rest of this entry »

If you decide to have a cat or a pet of any kind you need to be made aware of the responsibility that it entails. You must be able to take care of them and help them with whatever they need. Having a cat is like having a child in some ways.

Certain cat diseases are easier to spot than others. Cat vomiting is a condition that most owners will have to deal with. If you’re lucky your cat will only vomit on occasion. This is nothing to make a big deal of and could just mean that they ate something that didn’t agree with them. Read the rest of this entry »

There are three different types of filtration systems that we want to present to you in order to help you maintain an aquarium for your pets. The choices are either the biological, mechanical or chemical filtration system.

Mechanical Filtration
The siphoning action of a powerful mechanical filtration system will remove the particles that float freely in the aquarium water. This will significantly aid in keeping the water from becoming cloudy and contaminated. Read the rest of this entry »

Animal feces is the leading cause for animal infection – especially for animals that live in close quarters or in cages like turtles. If turtle cages are not clean often the feces along with other waste will build up quickly causing your pet to become sick.

Those who have turtles must make sure that they clean their cages thoroughly every few days. If you don’t it will begin to smell and the turtle might contract an infection or disease from all of the filth. Turtles are incredibly messy pets and it is for this reason that you have to clean their cages so often. Read the rest of this entry »

I always thought that when someone wanted a pet the choice was usually between whether or not to get a dog or cat. After all they are cute and you can cuddle with them all day long. It seems though that many people have turned their attention to starting up a fish aquarium.

I always thought that fish were some of the worst pets you could have because they were so boring. You couldn’t play fetch with them or cuddle with them while watching a sad movie. Having one single fish is boring – but having a whole aquarium full of them is amazing. Read the rest of this entry »

When it comes to our cats we know just how defenseless they are and we do what we can to make sure that they are well taken care of. But there are some things that we cannot control.

Cardiomyopathy in cats is a disease of the heart muscle. During this disease the heart walls will thicken to an extent or they will stretch. No matter which one happens that heart itself will not be able to function properly and could cause heart failure.

Research has shown that a deficiency of taurine – which is an essential amino acid in a cat’s diet – could be the cause of CM. For the longest time many commercial cat foods did not supply enough taurine. That was until they discovered the problems it was causing and gave it the proper amount.

Hyperthyroidism – a non cancerous growth of the thyroid gland – can create a variation of the hypertrophy form of cardiomyopathy. This is considered to be a restrictive form and can be associated with an inflammatory process in the heart muscle that cannot be identified.

Yet, it seems that most cases of feline cardiomyopathy is not caused by either of these. Research has not yet been unable to unearth the true reason for this disease.

CM can cause fluid to fill in the lungs – which can lead to congestive heart failure. The good thing is this can be treated. The vet will be able to treat this by physically removing the fluid. If your cat is experiencing an increased rate of perspiration than they may have already experienced at least one episode of heart failure.

Vets will usually prescribe medication to help improve their condition and to maintain a normal lifestyle and appetite for the cat. If you have noticed that your cat has not eaten for several days than your vet might recommend that they use a feeding tube to give them the nutrients and calories that they need.

Any pet owner knows that the number one rules when taking care of puppies and dogs is to show them love and make sure that they are well taken care of and healthy. In order to do that we have to do our best to protect them from the many diseases that can affect them.

Usually the worst thing we have to worry about our dogs catching is a frisbee or their favorite toy. If they get sick than we think it is usually because of worms or maybe they just caught the cold. We never think that it might be something more serious.

Dog parvo is the most serious and deadliest disease that your dog can have. It is a common viral illness that is very small. Millions of particles from the virus can live in only a few grams of stool from a dog. This particular disease can be transmitted through both indirect and direct contact with diarrhea and vomit that comes from an infected dog.

Dog parvo – also known as Canine parvovirus (CPV) – will attack the dog’s intestinal tract, the white blood cells, and sometimes the heart muscle. The common form of the dog parvo has a predilection for rapidly dividing cells that include the cells of the intestinal lining. Because of this it will cause ulcerative enteritis and diarrhea. When the virus attacks the cells in the dog it will prevent them from being able to absorb important and vital nutrients.

The symptoms that are associated with dog parvo can take as long at 7 to 10 days to show up. During the early stages dog parvo symptoms can be the loss of appetite and a lack of energy. Not long afterwards they will experience malnutrition and dehydration. When the virus spreads the symptoms will include; vomiting, high fever, severe diarrhea, lethargy, and severe dehydration.

It is important that you take your puppy or dog to the hospital immediately when you spot any of these signs. Both types of dogs can be infected – but it is more commonly found in small puppies.

There is no cure for this disease. For now the only treatment for them when they have been infected is to maintain their body fluids, temperature, and to balance the electrolytes levels in their body. If a dog were to survive the first onset of parvo than there is still a very high risk that they will relapse during the recovery.

It is important that you have your dog immunized to help protect them from this disease if they come into any contact with another dog that has been infected. Vets will usually vaccinate puppies every 3 to 4 weeks as soon as they are 6 weeks old and until they are 20 weeks old.

Cats are not the types of animals that will complain to their owners. Because of this we have to make sure that we look for any strange behavior patterns and symptoms that they are sick. These symptoms of sick cats will be a warning to us to take them to the vet.

One of the biggest changes your cat symptoms will have is their change in appetite. You should definitely pay attention if you notice that they are not eating as much or as frequently as they normally do. Also look to see if they are sleeping more than usual because this could be an indication of something bigger.

Other Symptoms To Look For

Kitty’s Nose

Pay attention to their nose and see if you notice anything different. Is your cat starting to sneeze a lot? Is there an abnormal amount of nasal discharge or green mucus running out of it? Perhaps there is redness around the nasal cavity? If you notice that your cat is sneezing repeatedly do not immediately take them to the vet. It is possible that your cat has allergies. Only if the sneezing is lasting more then a few minutes should you take them.

Kitty’s Ears

Have you noticed that your cat has trouble with balance? Are they scratching and shaking their head more then normal? This could be a sign of fleas or it could mean something more. If you are already treating fleas and have been for several days then it might be time to take the time to the vet.

Kitty’s Eyes

Have you noticed a small black dot in your cat’s eye or a large amount of discharge coming from it? These could be signs that there is a film over one or both of its eyes or a symptom of corneal sequestrum.

Kitty’s Fur

Normally our cats will have silky smooth fur that we love to smooth down and which can relax them. If their fur is suddenly greasy and course than this could be a sign that they have a problem. Keep an eye on their fur and look for bald patches, cuts, scratches, or other differences. This could be a sign of fungal infection.

Kitty’s Mouth and Teeth

Most pet owners don’t brush their cat’s teeth. Even so you should keep an eye out for an excessive amount of salivating, drooling, inflammation and wounds in the mouth. If they have certain diseases pertaining to this part usually you will be able to see a small bump on the bottom or top lip. A could be a food allergy. If so than they might need medication from your vet.

Kitty’s Stomach

It is normal for every cat to have a hairball every now and then. However, it is not normal for them to be throwing up. You might have to take them to the vet if they start doing this. Also look for constipation, diarrhea, or blood in the urine or stools. If you notice that your cat is drinking more than usual and you are having to refill the water bowl more than once a day than you need to take them to the vet immediately.

When you have a cat you have to be careful of all the little things that can happen. The fact that you might have to toilet train them so you will have accidents. Or that they might accidentally scratch someone. Or even the fact that if they go outside they are likely to bring in fleas.

Anyone who has dealt with fleas knows just how frustrating and difficult it can be to get rid of them. They multiply quickly and they will attach themselves to anything that your cat is near. This includes; clothes, furniture, and even you!

In order to get them out of you first need to treat your cat. It doesn’t do any good to treat your home if your cat is still carrying them. There are many different flea treatments that you can purchase. Find one that is safe for both you and your cat and that works fast. Whatever one you choose make sure that you follow the instructions carefully.

After you have treated your cat it is time to take care of your home. You will need to vacuum every room and everything in your home everyday. Once you have finished vacuuming you will need to throw out the vacuum bags. If your bedding has been exposed heavily to fleas then it is time to toss them out and find some new ones to use.

You can also purchase flea treatments for your home. You will need to find something that is strong enough to kill the cocoons and is safe to use around pets and children. Again you will need to make sure that you follow the directions carefully.