Pet Goddess

This is from the ASPCA, on how to keep your pets safe and healthy in winter weather.

Keeping Pets Safe in Winter Weather

Posted November 5, 2009 Comments(0)

Here is great advice on how to help keep your pet safe this winter. From the dangers of anti-freeze and rock salt, to what to feed your pet at this time of year, you’ll find great advice here: 10 Winter Tips: http://www.nsalamerica.org/press_room/10-winter-tips.html

Posted November 3, 2009 Comments(0)

a.. 70,000 puppies and kittens are born every day in the U.S.

b.. Between four million and six million pets are euthanized every year because they are homeless.

c.. That means between 11,000 and 16,000 pets are euthanized every day simply because they are homeless.

An animal in a shelter is killed every 1.5 seconds.

Only one animal in 10 born in the U.S. gets a good home that lasts a lifetime.

What can YOU do about this?

Spaying and neutering helps reverse the tragedy of pet overpopulation. It can also reduce your pet’s chances of developing deadly, costly medical problems, and can also improve your pet’s behavior.

Remember, the dog has no choice. YOU do. Help control the pet population by spaying or neutering your pet, and by making sure you take your pet parent responsibilities seriously.

Posted October 22, 2009 Comments(0)

Here is a super article from the ASPCA about the possible hidden dangers of your dog and cat toys!http://www.aspca.org/news/tri-state/10-16-09.html

Posted October 16, 2009 Comments(0)

One of the most common problems affecting cats is an ear condition.  This is caused by mites that can reside in the ear canal.   

If you notice your cat’s ears are seeping a brownish discharge and they are scratching their ears constantly, they may be exhibiting symptoms of this condition.  To avoid this potentially medical problem, it is best to keep your cat indoors as these mites come from contact with other cats. While dogs can suffer from worm infestation, so can cats.  They can develop tapeworms from eating rodents, for example.  Tapeworms can be passed from cat to cat through the feces.  Thus, it is important to check their stool to look for signs they are infected with these parasites.  Visit a vet to determine course of treatment. Worms are particularly dangerous for kittens.  

Just as humans develop allergies, cats also suffer from this condition as well.  Fleas can cause a myriad of problems such as skin infections, tapeworms, and anemia.  

The best course of action to prevent cats from becoming infested with fleas is to consult your vet to determine what type of flea protection is best suited for their age and overall health. As with any pet, any change from their normal routine may signal that there is a problem.  Keeping a watchful eye on your cat’s behavior and habits can alert you when something doesn’t seem quite right.  

If your cat exhibits any sign that he or she is having a problem, it’s time to act.   

What signs should you look for?  A lack of eating or drinking is a clear sign that something is wrong. 

If you notice vomiting, diarrhea, coughing, inability to urinate, sluggishness, scratching of the ears, eating problems, or any drastic change in behavior, and or development of any lumps or sores under its coat, it’s time to visit the vet. 

No one knows your pet better than you, so keeping  a watchful eye on all of your cat’s activities will allow for immediate treatment before the condition becomes too serious.  No cat should go longer than 24 hours without eating. If it refuses, bring it to the vet. 

Your pet may look healthy, but it is relying on you to see the warning signs, and act fast to help it before it’s too late.  Make sure no matter if you have one cat, or several, you spend time with each one every day, and  note any change in habits.

Posted January 17, 2009 Comments(0)

Another condition that can affect a cat is kidney problems.  Usually associated with older cats, in cases where the kidney begins to malfunction, this can produce renal failure.  You may notice that your cat is drinking more water than usual, losing weight; and vomiting.   

While this is relatively common, you can prevent the onset of kidney failure by reducing the amount of protein and salt in their diet. There are many special diets now which can help you cope with these dietary restrictions. 

Always feed good quality cat food; the cheaper the food, the more likely they will have problems.  

Also make sure that you take your cat to the vet if you notice any significant changes in weight or amount of thirst, since this can also signal  the onset of feline diabetes.   

If you find that your cat is having a problem urinating, or the urine contains blood or mucus, this may be a sign that your cat has cystitis.  Make sure they have plenty of water, and take them to your vet.

Posted January 15, 2009 Comments(0)

Cats can have a variety of health problems as they mature.  Here are some common cat ailments and ways to avoid them. Cats have an innate ability to self-groom.  Observe any cat, from housecat to lion, and you will notice immediately after eating they lick their paws they gently “wash” their face.   

They groom themselves constantly and because they do, they swallow the hair that accumulates on their paws.  As a result, fur balls are swallowed and this leads to vomiting and gastric distress. In order to avoid this from occurring, brushing the cat’s coat frequently is recommended, as well as keeping the cat hydrated, and giving them a hairball treatment as needed to help the fur pass more easily through their digestive tract. 

Hydration also plays a vital role in bladder infections which cats often get, particularly in male cats because they have a much narrower urinary passage compared with a female. It is also advised to limit dry food intake by not keeping a plate of food available, but choosing the time in which they are to be fed. Wet food will help a male pass more urine.

Posted January 13, 2009 Comments(0)