Cheap Pet Insurance

August 29th, 2010 by Wendell Ruben

Pet owners tend to face many challenges trying to keep their pets safe and healthy. The ears of cats and dogs are one of the harder areas to manage. Perhaps the most common issue in regard to pets is a condition known as ear mites. All dog or cat owners should take a moment to familiarize themselves with this problem.

Mite infestations of the ears are a common problem with as much as 50 percent of the pet population exhibiting the problem. Though it is common, it is generally not a serious issue. Sometimes there are no noticeable symptoms at all, making identifying the problem a bit difficult.

Both cats and dogs are the prime suffers of this problem, but other mammals may be subject to it as well. They tend to feed upon the blood and ear tissues of the animal. They may soon lay eggs, which will hatch and cause further infection. Unfortunately, the parasites are easily transferred from animal to animal through nothing more than simply contact with an infected host.

This problem, spread through physical contact with a host, is very easily caught by animals. As the infestation spreads, there may or may not be an appearance of symptoms. When they do occur, it is generally noticed that the cat or dog will shake its head and scratch at its ears out of frustration. Other times, the mites can actually be seen inside the ears. There may also be a dark, crusty discharge found with the ears.

Prevention can be tough and potentially impossible if the pet must spend time around other animals. The only real preventative measure is to keep the animal inside and away from potential carriers. There are other steps that can be taken, including frequent checks of the pets ears and gentle, regular cleanings to flush out potential parasites.

If your cat or dog seems to have developed the problem, it is best to speak with a trained veterinarian. This will give you an official diagnosis and an ideal treatment method. There are non-prescription treatments available, however, these often lack the strength to efficiently rid the animal of the parasite. Prescription medications, on the other hand, tend to be more potent and efficient.

Although they can be aggravating for your pet, ear mites are generally not a serious issue. However, you should not avoid the problem. Make an appointment with your local vet and discuss your best options. Remember to be mindful of preventative techniques and be sure to check your pets often for symptoms that can indicate an infection.

Searching all over the net for basic info on Ear Mites in Dogs ? Get the exclusive inside scoop down now in our Ear Mites guide.

August 22nd, 2010 by James Lunden

The most important thing you can do as a cat owner is to get them regular checkups. While diabetes isn’t terribly common in felines, generally about 1 in 400 will be diagnosed with diabetes in their lifetime. Most can be treated with a diabetic cat food, with a lowered carbohydrate content (less than 9% of daily calorie intake).

Symptoms

It can be sometimes hard to tell when diabetes grips your cat, but most symptoms are similar to humans. A cat who seems to spend a lot of their time around their water dish and other water sources around the house should be cause to investigate. Extreme weight gain, or loss is another common symptom to watch out for.

Bitter-smelling breath that smells like nail polish remover and wobbly legs (especially the rear legs) are all signs that you need to get your cat in for an exam and possibly put them on insulin and/or a quality diabetic cat food immediately.

Treatments

Your veterinarian may recommend insulin treatment via pill or insulin treatment. Diabetic cat food, with a “proper” feeding schedule will also be necessary. Many people let their animals feed as desired; with a full dish of food and water available at all times. While it can seem inhumane to put them on a schedule and limit the availability of food: It’s really how animals feed in nature.

A wild animal gets food from hunting and may go days without food, so while you may want to spoil your cat — it isn’t good for their digestive system and often is the reason diabetes starts in the first place. Humans get diabetes primarily from over-eating, with a small amount of us who get it from genetic predispositions and cats are no different. Regular trips to your veterinarian will help early diagnosis, to prevent increased risk to your cat’s health.

Find out more on diabetic cat food and read many interesting articles on pet health.

August 20th, 2010 by James Lunden

Anyone looking for an exotic cat can really do nothing wrong looking up one of many reputable Bengal cat breeders. This breed is known for being affectionate, exciting and extremely well behaved. Back in the mid-1960’s the first Bengal was bred, in an effort to preserve the beauty of the terribly endangered Asian Leopard Cat, while giving it domesticated qualities to make for wonderful-looking pets. The domesticated varieties that are cross-bred with the Bengal are: Abyssinians, Burmese, Egyptian Maus, American Shorthairs and sometimes Siamese.

The reason you need to use reputable Bengal cat breeders is due to the fact that they’re a new breed and also relatively expensive when compared to multiple-breed felines. The first three generations (F1, F2, F3) of any cross bred feline can result in an animal that may not yet be suitable for domestic life and are still considered “wild” by The International Cat Association (TICA).

Also, the males of this generation are either born sterile, or quickly become sterile, meaning your cat might not be suitable for breeding (which is effortless for the cat, yet can be quite lucrative for you).

Good Bengal cat breeders will be able to show the registration for the cat and it’s parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, etc — to make sure your cat is indeed a Bengal and not still considered wild.

People that want to research, or shop around are best to look at online forums, or websites geared toward Bengal cat breeders and owners, to find out who has a great reputation for producing show-quality, purebred Bengals.

Expect to pay a decent amount ($500-2000) and don’t try to go cheap on this purchase, unless you find a trusted source. With purebred animals of all kinds: You get what you pay for and breeders selling quality know what the going rate is.

Find out more on bengal cat breeders and read many interesting articles on pet health care.

July 21st, 2010 by Dr Kelly Mayo

No cat wants to be dirty, and its up to you to ensure that your ragdoll kittens stay clean. Grooming is very important, as it helps your cat remain clean and healthy. Grooming starts with brushing, as brushing helps to keep the cats hair from becoming hairballs. Brushing will remove loose hair, and help prevent the risk of hairballs. A lot of cats have trouble dislodging hairballs. If the cat isnt able to get a hairball out, it could result in a blockage of the intestines. Blockages are very serious, and can quickly become life threatening for your pet.

Cats that have long hair need to be brushed and combed on a daily basis, while cats with short hair need to be groomed on a weekly basis. When you brush your cat, you should always watch for lumps in the coat and skin irritations. You should start brushing along the cats back, going from his head to his tail. Do this a few times on one side, and then switch to the other. Each area should be brushed a few times in the direction of the way your cats hair is growing.

When you brush your cat, you should always avoid brushing his face and paws. If a cat doesnt like to be brushed, you can still groom him using another tool. The grooming glove is an excellent alternative to the brush, as most cats dont mind it at all. Starting out young is the key to grooming, as it will get your cat used to brushing and grooming. Some cats that have started grooming when they were kittens grow to love it, many of which often look forward to their grooming time.

When brushing your cat, make sure that you check his ears, eyes, teeth, and claws. His eyes should be bright and clear with nothing residing in the corners. His ears should be clean, pink in color, and no sign of ear mites. Ear mites result from dirt built up in a cats ears, and can result in the ears shriveling up and your cat losing his hearing. Ear mites are very annoying for the cat, and hard for you as an owner to get rid of. The best way to get rid of them is to ensure that your cats ears stay clean and healthy.

Each time you groom your cat, you should always aim to go a bit further with your examinations. When your cat remains still, you should always praise him and give him a treat. If your cat doesnt cooperate and starts to struggle, you shouldnt fight with him, but instead let him go and try the next day. Once your cat gets used to grooming he will look forward to it each and every day.

Want to find out more about ragdoll kittens, then visit Dr Kelly Mayo’s site that provide ragdoll kittens for sale

July 11th, 2010 by Rob Tyrrell

Pet cats, particularly young ones, have an innate desire to play. There are many ‘toys’ on the market that are designed specifically with your pet in mind but, like children, all toys lose their fascination after a while, and your cat will be looking for the next new thing to play with. Some of the most effective toys are the ones that move independently, these spark the hunting instinct, the reason your pet wants to play in the first place!

Here’s a classic children’s toy that can be made very simply, from common household items, that will do just that!

The items you’ll need are:

Empty cotton reel

A standard candle

A simple matchstick

Rubber Band (approx. 6 cm long)

Old Pencil, cut to about 10 cm long

Firstly, cut notches into the lip at both ends of a wooden reel with a sharp knife. Space them one centimetre apart around the reel, this give the toy grip. For plastic reels, use a file to make the notches.

Second, push the rubber band through the middle of the reel, leaving the band to sticking out of both ends. Trim the matchstick so it is just slightly shorter than the width of the reel, place this through a loop at one of the rubber band and pull the other end so that it is tight against face of the reel. Fix it in place with sticky tape.

Take the candle and cut off a 15 mm piece, bore a hole where the wick is with the blade of a pair of scissors, make it large enough for the rubber band. Pull the unused loop of the rubber band through the candle and fasten it off with a knot.

Lastly, pass the pencil through the rubber band loop, between the knot and candle.

It’s ready! All you need to do now is wind up the rubber band, using the pencil, about 20 times. Hold the pencil whilst you place the “tank” on the floor near your pet, let it go and it will trundle off on it’s own, making it the perfect target for your cats attention.

Optional:

To increase the interest, glue the edge of a small piece of leather to the barrel of the cotton reel, it’ll make a “slapping’ sound on hard floors as it trundles about. Or, if you’ve got some cat mint, glue some to the barrel of the cotton reel – irresistable (to cats).

Learn more about pet portraits. Stop by Rob Tyrrell’s site where you can find out all about pet portraits from photos and what it can do for you.