While disease and illness is expected and even forgiven in fellow humans, we often try to close our eyes to the possibility of our pets getting sick. And if they ever fall sick, we conveniently forget that a little timely care and treatment would have saved us the problem in the first place. First of all, let’s do away with the myth that we can catch all kinds of diseases from a pet. While some diseases are communicable, most others are infectious only among pets.

Basics of cat diseases:
You can pick up fleas or ticks from a pet that is not kept clean. But diseases like cancer, diabetes and cystitis are non-communicable. Even diseases that come too close for comfort like Feline Leukemia and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus can affect cats and ONLY cats! Also, your cat’s runny nose, cold and sneezing will not get passed to you, or vice versa.

Cats have a reputation of being cleaner than most other pets. So, it’s easy to see why people tend to overlook symptoms and signs till matters get worse. Some of the most common diseases that cats ail from include:

Upper respiratory diseases: We know this as the common cold and cats are subject to different kinds of ‘cold’ viruses, just like humans. Signs include severely inflamed eyes, high fever, sneezing, snotty noses, excessive tearing, depression and difficulty in breathing and swallowing. Secondary infections like pneumonia may set in if the cat’s resistance is lowered and the disease is not treated soon.

Parasitical infections: Cats can get infected with internal and external parasites. External parasites include ticks, fleas, mites, and lice. These parasites can cause pesky itching problems which may lead to secondary infections and skin rashes. Coats, ears and eyes have to be kept clean and infected cats will have to be treated with chemicals or medicine. Among the most common internal parasites, roundworms and tapeworms cause the most harm. Diagnosis can be made by inspecting the feces. Cats have to be de-wormed periodically to keep such parasites away.

Some other common problems seen in cats are Feline Urological Syndrome (infecting the urinary system), Abscesses (caused due to trauma to the skin) and ringworm. Ringworm is contagious and can pass on to humans.

Basics of dog diseases:
Just because you are feeding him well and exercising him regularly, don’t think that your dog is immune to diseases. Dogs are vulnerable to a number of common diseases. Some varieties of dogs also carry strains of inherited disorders that will surface as they grow older. While there is nothing much you can do about inherited diseases, you can help effect speedy recovery in other cases. As always, early detection is the key to good health. Some of the common diseases in dogs are:

Diarrhea: This is more often seen in pups than adult dogs and may be triggered by stress, a sudden change in food or a viral or bacterial attack. Diarrhea is deadly because it can lead to death due to dehydration. Older dogs may suffer from bloat and occurrence increases with age.

Upper respiratory infections: Discharge from the eyes/nose, coughing or sneezing is indicative of respiratory diseases. Airborne viruses and bacteria transfer the disease which is highly contagious between dogs. “Kennel Cough’ is a respiratory disorder that can be prevented through vaccinations.

Other common ailments like rabies, distemper and parvovirus can be prevented through timely vaccinations and booster doses. Just like cats, dogs also play hosts to a number of internal and external parasites. Good grooming and proper treatment can help prevent damage. Dogs also suffer from periodontal diseases as they grow older. Proper dental hygiene is the only way to prevent this.

Pet birds also suffer from a number of diseases; the most common among these is the Proventricular Dilatation Disease also called the ‘Macaw Wasting Disease’. This causes seizures, weight loss and regurgitation. ‘Parrot Fever’ or ‘Psittacosis’ is another common bird disease which can infect people too.

Most pet owners love their pets to distraction, and when disease strikes, they feel helpless and unsure. Take your sick pet to the vet as early as possible. Always be vigilant and try to catch symptoms as soon as they appear. Since your pet cannot tell you about its headaches, tummy disorders or toothaches, you have to be extra careful.

Our pets have become family members. When they die we grieve and we look for ways to remember them.

memorial-urns.com/pet_urns.html” target=”_blank Pet urns and memorial-urns.com/cremation_jewelry.html” target=”_blank pet cremation jewelry are both affordable and highly customizable ways to remember your companions.

Related posts

• Topics of Cat Health Care (0)
• Your Dog Will Benefit From Regular Grooming (0)
• Why Contract the Services of a Professional Pet Sitter for Your Dog? (0)
• What to Consider When Buying a Chow Chow (0)
• What the Shih Tzu Owner Should Know About Grooming Part I (0)

Tags: cat diseases, groom, parasites

Fleas are more than just disgusting; they will carry several serious diseases, parasites and even weaken your dog’s immune system. Also, fleas can bite the other pets & people in your house, leading to infestations, allergic reactions and possibly allergies & skin rashes. Fleas can be found almost everywhere on Earth, although they are usually more abundant in warm climates and in more southern or tropical locations. Keep in mind that dogs in kennels or anywhere where they frequently interact with other dogs are at a higher risk for flea infestations since not all dog owners are responsible with flea prevention.

Luckily, there are many effective topical solutions and other vet prescribed treatments to control & eliminate fleas in the house and on your dog’s body. Several of the herbal and homeopathic flea controls are not quite as effective but still serve a purpose. There are also many ineffective and bogus over-the-counter flea control products that just don’t work. Before picking flea control program, discuss with your vet and decide what will be the best approach for you and your dog.

The Life Cycle of a Flea

Despite being very annoying, fleas really do have an amazing life cycle and it is easy to see why they are so abundant around the world. A flea’s whole lifecycle protects them and gives them the best possible opportunity to reproduce, which they do in very large numbers. To understand the life cycle of the flea the stages will be outlined below:

Eggs – the eggs are spawned in your dog’s hair and are not attached to the root, instead, they are just deposited on the skin. This means that the eggs can drop off the dog onto bedding (yours or theirs), furniture, or even onto other pets. These eggs can survive for years under the right conditions. Each female flea can lay roughly 15-20 eggs per day and about 600 eggs during her entire lifespan. The eggs hatch very quickly in time periods ranging from a two days to two weeks, depending on the climate and other conditions.

Larva – roughly 30% of the fleas on a dog are in the larva stage at any given time. There are actually three distinct stages to larva but it is essential to understand that the larva are blind and avoid light at all costs. Dark areas are where they prefer to live. Creases in bedding and furniture are prime locations for larva to be discovered. They eat dried blood found in adult flea feces and dead skin. During this time they are not a true since they do not really suck blood or affect the dog’s health. The larva stage will last between two weeks to a month or longer.

Pupa – the larva spins a cocoon and develops for between five days to fourteen days. During this time they do not eat anything but the cocoon might cause irritation to the dog’s skin if it is on the body or in the bedding.

Adult fleas – adult fleas are the ones that do the biting and cause irritation. They bite the skin & suck small amounts of blood from the host, be it a dog, cat, other animal or human. Fleas will cause allergic reactions in most species that lead to scabs, dry and flaky patches of skin and possibly hair loss. Adult fleas will not reproduce without ingesting blood, but they can drop into a form of hibernation for many months if there is no blood available.

Be sure to plan for routine flea control and management for your dog. Carefully watch for any of the signs of fleas, like flea dirt, in the dog’s coat. Flea dirt looks like small round dark balls that appear similar to large, black sand grains close to the skin. This is a positive sign of flea infestations and requires immediate treatment.

Shop today for flea control products & unique dog supplies such as ohmydogsupplies.com/dog-supplies/elevated-dog-feeders raised dog feeders, high quality pet beds, and dog bowls at Oh My Dog Supplies. And for more high quality isnare.com/?s=author&a=Kelly Marshall dog articles, check for more from Kelly Marshall.

Related posts

• Yuck! My Dog Eats Poop! (0)
• Your Dogs Shedding and Bald Spots (0)
• Your Dog’s Skin - Something So Simple Yet So Complex (0)
• Your Dog’s Health is in Your Hands - Learn How to Spot the Warning Signs (0)
• Your Dog Will Benefit From Regular Grooming (0)

Tags: parasites

Fat tail geckos are common in captivity, although are not bred as efficiently as the leopard gecko. They are slightly harder to breed and are slower growing than leopard geckos. They are however, wonderful lizards and make excellent pets.

Housing

For a single or pair of fat tail geckos, a vivarium 60cm Length x 30cm Width x 30cm Height will be ample room. If you would like a trio (1 male and 2 females), than a 90cm vivarium would be required with additional hiding places. A vivarium can be made from a number of materials; wooden with melamine coating, glass, plastic and even good quality metal enclosures have been made.

I suggest a wooden vivarium, which is coated with melamine to allow the enclosure to last much longer. If you use regular chipboard or other non-coated woods, the vivarium will not last long with the water spillage and waste products related to keeping any animal. Be sure to have plenty of ventilation holes. Many vivariums are available on the market today already made to suit most reptiles, with ventilation holes and even fittings for the various heat and light appliances.

Substrate & Decor

Fat Tail Geckos come from hot and humid areas which should be re-created in a captive environment. Unlike the leopard gecko, they should be provided with a slightly more humid environment. Soil is an ideal substrate, as it holds the moisture without being wet and allows for natural burrowing to occur. If substrates such as newspaper and dry wood chips are used, it is essential to provide a moist box.

For a naturalistic environment, rocks, wood and plants can all be used. Although some live plants are safe to use, I suggest fake plants. Live plants will require more care and many give off toxic fumes. Be careful when placing heavier objects into the enclosure. Fat Tail geckos like to burrow, and will not hesitate to try and burrow underneath a rock. Make sure these objects are placed directly on the bottom of the enclosure and not on top of the sand, as this will collapse if the gecko decides to burrow under.

If you use any objects which have been outside, wash them thoroughly with hot water and weak disinfectant. It is important to be as clinical as possible and reduce any risk of bringing in infectious diseases or parasites.

Heating & Lighting

The most economical and simple way to add heat and light into your vivarium is to use a single incandescent spot lamp. Usually a 60 Watt bulb will be adequate for smaller vivariums. This should be on for 10-12 hours a day and should be used in conjunction with a Dimming thermostat. During the day time the temperature should be approximately 76ºF at the cool end, and 85-88ºF under the spot lamp. Once the light goes out, the temperature should be an overall 72-75ºF. It is often enough to just let the vivarium go down to room temperature. However, the temperature should be monitored with a thermometer and if it drops below the recommended temperature, some form of background heating will be required.

Background heat can be added with a small heat mat. This should be placed on the back wall of the vivarium and placed in the centre. Depending on how low the temperature drops at night, will depend on the size of heat you require. However, I suggest a 6”x11” HabiStat heat mat. This should be enough just to bump the temperature up a few degrees.

Feeding & Drinking

It is important that water is available at all times. Fat Tail Geckos are native to West Africa where the humidity is high. They will often drink from water droplets on logs and plants, but will also drink from standing water regularly. A shallow water dish which is hard to tip over and easy to clean is ideal. It is also an idea to have a bowl which does not have small crevices and cracks in it, which mould can build up in, and small insects can hide in.

Fat tail geckos are primarily insectivorous, feeding on insects. However will sometimes feed on small pinky mice and perhaps even eat small amounts of tinned pet food. Mealworms, wax worms, earthworms, crickets and locusts are all suitable prey items. However certain foods should be limited. It is important that the food you give your gecko is as highly nutritious as possible. It would be nearly pointless to feed a starved cricket to your gecko. Therefore, placing food such as potato peel and cabbage into the insect’s enclosure will benefit the gecko as much as the insects. Gut-Load can also be bought from many retailers. This is a balanced food for insects and should be offered to the insects at least 12 hours before feeding.

Hatchling or juvenile fat tail geckos should be fed on a daily basis. They will eat up to around 8 small crickets or similar insects. These insects should be either crickets or locusts, and should be no larger than the width of the gecko’s mouth. Wax worms can be offered in small quantities once a week, and mealworms can also be offered in small quantities twice a week. A Calcium:Phosphorous supplement should be dusted onto the food every other day. This is to aid in growing a healthy, strong bone structure, particularly in the leg and jaw areas. MediVet Repton, 2:1 Calcium:Phosphorous is a good product to use.

Adults can be fed less regularly, 2 or 3 times a week. They should eat around 8 insects at a time, but obviously these should be larger insects, approximately the size of the gecko head. It is important the food is not too small for the gecko not to be interested, and also important for it not to be too big for it to become hard to swallow. For females in breeding season, calcium supplements should be added to food on every feeding, to aid in the development of the eggs. For males and females out of breeding season, a dusting of supplements once a week will suffice.

Pinky mice should also be offered to breeding females every week, this will help build up fat reserves quickly after the laying of her eggs. They can also be dipped in calcium dust to help maintain healthy eggs.

By Chris Jones
Director of Pet Club UK Ltd.
petclubuk.com petclubuk.com

Related posts

• Yuck! My Dog Eats Poop! (0)
• Your Dogs Shedding and Bald Spots (0)
• Your Dog’s Skin - Something So Simple Yet So Complex (0)
• Your Dog’s Health is in Your Hands - Learn How to Spot the Warning Signs (0)
• Your Dog Will Benefit From Regular Grooming (0)

Tags: parasites

No matter what breed of cat and no matter how well you look after your cat, like us humans, they will suffer from common cat health problems during the course of their life. As a cat owner, you will need to be aware of the most common problems, some of which can be avoided with the right awareness and by taking basic precautions.

The most common cat health problems are colds, bite wounds, digestive problems, urinary problems and diarrhea, and eye problems.

Cats are sensitive to many respiratory viruses and infections such as the common cold and like humans they can usually rely on their own immune system to deal with it. However, if your cat is off its food and appears listless and in some distress then you should consult your vet for appropriate medication.

Cats, particularly Tom cats do fight a lot. Often with other cats and sometimes with dogs and more dangerously with the dreaded fox. This can lead to various wounds which will need treatment from a vet to avoid infections setting in. Eyes are particularly vulnerable.

Fleas are also a common cat health problem, especially if your cat is outside a lot. Tapeworm and other parasites are common problems cat health problems too and often cause symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea. Your vet will have medication to deal with these issues.

Another common cat health problem, mainly associated with Tom cats that have not been neutered, is urinary tract infection. If your cat stops using the litter box, or the urine is particularly strong smelling then these are clear signs and your vet should be consulted without delay.

Although not normally a cat health problem on its own, hairballs or fur balls are very common and can lead to problems under certain circumstances. Cats naturally swallow fur from their constant grooming and although it will normally pass through the cats digestive system, there are times when it gathers into a fur ball and may become lodged in the digestive tract or intestine with serious consequences if not treated quickly. Symptoms are not eating properly, constipation and listlessness. Often a cat will cough up a fur ball if it gets caught in the throat. You can help prevent hairballs or fur balls occurring if you brush your cat regularly.

Feline leukemia used to be a very common cat health problem and was often fatal. These days, however, with modern vaccines available the disease can be prevented. Always have you cat vaccinated if there is a risk of infection because this is a highly contagious disease.

The main message here is to monitor you cat’s health, visit the vet regularly for check ups and take advice from your vet on suitable vaccinations.

For more information on aboutcathealth.info Cat Health visit aboutcathealth.info/ aboutcathealth.info/

Related posts

• Your Dog Will Benefit From Regular Grooming (0)
• Why Contract the Services of a Professional Pet Sitter for Your Dog? (0)
• What to Consider When Buying a Chow Chow (0)
• What the Shih Tzu Owner Should Know About Grooming Part I (0)
• What Takes So Long To Groom My Dog? (0)

Tags: groom, parasites

The reasons many be anything but every one love have at least one pet at there house. Choosing a right and healthy pet can create a special and lasting relation for both of you.

A pet an addition member to a family not only brings the happiness and fun but lots of responsibility for its care and well-being regarding its health. Before adopting pet you need to consider many things but the most about pet health care this will help you to owing a pet much easier.
Pet gives you many benefits like improving your outdoor activities and many more, but at the same time they many harm your health. As we all know that every pet carries germs in there body which may effect you and your family through air, water or some other way.

We may not be aware of many other pet health decease like Spring Allergies, Intestinal Parasites, Ear infections, Skin Problems in Pet, Dry Skin, Fleas, Allergies, Bloat, External and Internal Parasites, Arthritis, Cataracts, Canine Hip Dysplasia, Fat Cats and Pudgy Pooches and many more.
Due all this unexpected illnesses and accidents many insurance company provides pet health insurance. Which helps you to take care of your pet from accidental injuries, emergencies and illnesses not only this but many other routine care. Get free quote or enroll your pet today.

Prevention is always better the cure so its good to consult any animal doctor before having any pet. Internet is an best mode where you can study deeply about pet health care and all other information for good and healthy pet at your house.
Visit one of the best site for pet health 123pethealth.com/ Pet Health Online.

Hello,

Anna Josephs here and i am professional article writer.

Related posts

• Yuck! My Dog Eats Poop! (0)
• Your Dogs Shedding and Bald Spots (0)
• Your Dog’s Skin - Something So Simple Yet So Complex (0)
• Your Dog’s Health is in Your Hands - Learn How to Spot the Warning Signs (0)
• Your Dog Will Benefit From Regular Grooming (0)

Tags: parasites