Archive for » July, 2010 «

Giving Your Cat A Pill

Giving a cat a pill can be a nightmare. No cat wants something shoved down his throat, and he will fight you tooth and nail to prevent it. Although most cats are small in size, you’d be quite amazed with how much power they actually have. There are ways that you can get your cat to take his pills, which we will cover below.

The easiest way to give a cat pill is to crush the power into a powdery form by putting it between two spoons. Once the pill is powder, mix it in with some wet cat food. Cats that are used to eating dry cat food will see the wet food and think of it as a treat. They will normally eat it up, unaware that they just took their medicine.

If the medicine happens to be in capsule form, all you have to do is pry the capsule apart then sprinkle the medicine on some wet food and serve it to your pet. If the food also contains the pill or if your pet is sick, chances are he won’t eat it. In this event, you should look into a pet piller. You can get these handy devices from your veterinarian. They are plastic rods that hold the pill until you press a plunger. When you get one, you should always get a long one with a softer tip.

When you get your gun, your vet should show you how to use it. The most difficult aspect of using the gun is getting your cat to open his mouth. The gun will more or less shoot the pill in the cat’s mouth, and down his throat. You’ll need to hold him tight, to make sure that he doesn’t wiggle his way loose. Once you have his mouth open, you’ll need to squeeze the trigger and pull the gun away quickly. After the pill has been inserted, make sure you give your cat a treat.

If you aren’t comfortable using the gun, you can always try giving your cat his pills by hand. To do it this way, you’ll need to hold your cat still, and open his mouth with your hand. Once you have his mouth open, you should aim for the back of his throat and throw the pill in. Once it is in his mouth, you should close his mouth with your hand and hold it shut for a few moments. This way, your cat will swallow the pill if he hasn’t already.

If you can’t get any of the above techniques to work, you can always go to a local pharmacy and get them to a make flavored gel or liquid using your cats medication. You should use this as a last resort though, as it can tend to get expensive.

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Dog Care Basics

Dog Care Basics

As a pet owner, is it your job to ensure that you are giving good basic dog care to your pet? As a member of your family, you want your him or her to live a long and healthy life. Making sure that they are taken care of a good way to make that want a reality.

One part of basic dog care is dog grooming. It’s important not just for the look and smell of your four legged friend to keep him or her groomed but for his or her health too. Brushing your pooch every day will keep his or her coat smooth and shiny and can help him or her to avoid having dry and flaky skin as well, as brushing distributes natural oils in your pet’s fur. You also want to make sure that

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5 Smart Tips For Reducing Your Dog Care Expenses

5 Smart Tips For Reducing Your Dog Care Expenses

Caring for your canine can be expensive, especially if you buy the designer products that are less about value than novelty. Each year, owners spend billions of dollars on things that can cause a monthly budget to buckle. Experts suggest that the current economy has led many owners to simply abandon their dogs due to the high cost of providing for their care.

The good news is that there are several steps you can take that will lower your long-term dog care expenses. We’ll share five of them with you in this article. These steps are preventative; by taking action on them today, you’ll reduce the likelihood of expensive veterinary bills in the

Dog Care Tips for Summer Weather

Dog Care Tips for Summer Weather

Summer is on its way and with it comes many great opportunities to enjoy the sunshine with your dog. But before you go outdoors, you should take a little time to prepare for the numerous dangerous situations summer can entail. When the weather is nice, it’s very tempting to take our furry friends with us in the car so they can enjoy the nice weather with us while we run errands or travel, but you should never leave your pet in your car, even if you’ll only be gone for a short time. In a matter of minutes, temperatures can easily reach 120 degrees in a parked car, and dogs left inside can suffer from heat exhaustion, heat stroke, brain damage, or death just as fast.

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Dealing With Cat Allergies

Cats are one of the most loved pets in the world, no question about it. More than 50% of all households in the United States own dogs and cats. Although cats are loved animals, cat allergies are one of the common forms of allergies. Statistics in the past have shown that over 10 million people in the U.S. alone have allergic reactions to cats – especially their fur.

The biggest cause of cat allergies is dander. The dander, is dust that is produced by the body of the cat. Dander is basically shed skin that comes off of cats, normally in the form of small flakes. Although dander can irritate your skin, it can also get into your immune system as well, resulting in a variety of symptoms and almost immediate allergic reactions.

The dander, once in the immune system, is perceived to be a threat. Even though it isn’t classified as a disease, it’s more of a reflex by your body and your immune system. Cat allergies occur quite often due to cats having allergens that are spread throughout their blood, urine, and saliva. Although a cat may not be present at the time, the excretions probably still are.

Cat dander, urine, and saliva, are found throughout the home of cat owners. Cats constantly groom themselves, which involves rubbing their saliva into their fur. When they do this, they spread their dander and allergens around. Although you may try, there is really nothing that you can do about it. Cats have a natural instinct to groom or bathe themselves, no matter how many baths you give them, you simply won’t stop them from grooming.

Normally, when someone is taking an allergic reaction to cats, he or she will wheeze, cough, sneeze, itch, have watery eyes, or a difficult time in breathing. Different people react different ways to cat allergens, meaning that some symptoms may not occur at all. Fever and chills is very rare, although it can happen. If someone who has cat allergies comes down with fever and chills, you should contact a doctor immediately. Chances are, it isn’t an allergic reaction to cats, but instead another type of disease that a doctor will need to identify.

Cat allergies are normally treated with antihistamines and decongestants. Those that experience asthma attacks or other forms of allergies, normally take antihistamines. Decongestants on the other hand, are normally used to cure coughs and swollen nasal passages. Sometimes, doctors will recommend allergy shots as well. Allergy shots can help to prevent the attack, especially if someone is really allergic to cats. They are a good form of treatment and prevention, and they can also help to decrease the risk of allergies affecting the individual.

If you suspect that you have cat allergies, you should always make it a point to visit your doctor. He will be able to further diagnose your situation, and give you the best options available for treatment. If you do indeed suffer from cat allergies, the best way to stop the attacks is to get rid of your cat.

Getting rid of a cat can be a very tough thing to do. If you have become allergic to your cat’s fur, there may be no other way to prevent attacks than to get rid of him. Although doctors can give you medicine and shots, it will only do so much. Cat allergens are no fun, especially if you develop them years after owning your cat. Cats are great animals to own – although cat allergies are something we could all live without.

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Professional home dog grooming tips

Here are some quick tips to help you keep your dog healthy and well groomed from a professional dog grooming expert with over 15 years experience.

1) Start grooming your puppy from day one, first with a soft brush to get him used to being brushed making it become a part of the everyday routine.

2) It’s very easy to fall out of habit so make it a priority to groom your dog daily to keep the knots at bay because once the coat gets knotted that’s when the problems begin.

3) As with brushing, it is very important to check your dogs paws on a regular basis to get him used to it.

4) Long, floppy ears are very prone to infections because they are covered and don’t get much air circulation. Regular cleaning will help to prevent serious ear infections.

5) All of the above are far more important than bathing your dog! Dogs should not really be bathed more than two or three times a year.

Remember, grooming your dog should be fun for both as long as you are gentle and consistant.

For dog grooming at home, make sure to visit www.londondoggrooming.co.uk for more information.

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