Archive for January, 2009
Cat Flea Control – Cat Flea And Tick Control Treatment
Trying to institute cat flea control is not that difficult. You can either call for flea control services that will take care of the problem for you, or choose to apply some of the other methods which might be more inconvenient but can achieve some of the same results. The aim of any such treatment method is to ensure that not only are the fleas prevented from feasting on your cat’s blood and multiplying and breeding in huge numbers, it is also to protect your own home from a bad infestation of these tiny bugs that can cause no end of pain, irritation and even some bad diseases.
How can you spot cat fleas? Before you wish to control them, you need to ascertain for a fact that they are present. Cat fleas are very tiny insects that can be hard to spot, although they should be unmissable if present. They can be seen jumping or crawling through cat’s fur usually at rather quick speed. Heaven forbid, but you might even have had fleas on you before, which might need more control and treatment than first thought. The most obvious sign that there might be fleas in your cat’s fur and sucking its blood is for the feline to be incessantly scratching itself. If there are broken skin patches on her, then that is a very bad case of fleas and ticks infection. You can also use a flea comb to search for flea dirt in cat fur. If these are found, then a proper program of cat flea control and treatment will have to be performed.
If left unchecked and allowed to grow into a serious problem, fleas and ticks can cause other diseases in cats. Further treatment would then have to be sought in order to cure these illnesses. For example, fleas might pass on tapeworms to cats from infected blood and germs that are spread when sucking on your pet. These can grow undetected in the intestines or internal organs and lead to more serious problems if untreated. Anemia might be another by product of flea attacks. You should also send your cat to be checked for a more fatal case of anemia, haemobartonellosis, which might require complicated procedures to eradicate the problem, such as steroids and blood transfusions.
If it is confirmed that your cat has been infected and fed on by fleas or ticks, then the next logical step would be to get hold of a control and treatment service. However, if fortunately it has not come to this stage, do not stand around and wait for it to happen. Take some steps to prevent fleas from bugging your felines and having to spend some money on extermination services. In general, the most important thing to do is to keep the cat’s home and surrounding clean, which means your own home. Most fleas love clothed or carpeted areas where a lot of dust and dirt might accumulate. They often lay their eggs in such surroundings or in cracks with little light and some humidity. Clean your carpets and mattresses, and vacuum your house regularly, especially in hard to get to areas. There are some experts who recommend using insect bombs specifically for killing fleas, but you might need to enlist the help of the flea control service to do so.
If you may so wish, there are cat flea control and elimination products that are available off the shelf which you can apply onto your pet. They are known to kill the fleas quite effectively and are applied externally on the cat’s fur. However, be sure to check that the labels state clearly the products are for felines and not canines. The latter might have more relevant and varied products that can help to control flea infestation on them, but they are not suitable for our more docile companions. That is why the advantage of cat flea control services is so that the correct methods and products are used, instead of you trying to figure out what to do, which might lead to mistakes being made and the cat suffering for it.
For those who might wish to explore flea control products on their own, some have claimed that Frontline Plus for cats have been effective in helping to kill fleas and ticks. Fipronil might be used in the product and this might be effective, but do some research prior to using it on the animal, to ensure no side effects will be experienced. A vet consultation would be useful in such circumstances. Frontline Plus flea termination has its believers and could be useful in particular cases.
Advantage cat flea control is another popular product for treating the problem. Advantage cat flea control contains ingredients which are safe for felines that are over a certain age.
Dog Ear Infection Treatment – Sore Ears In Dogs Medication
How do you know if your pet has dog ear infection and has to undergo treatment? There are several signs and symptoms to look out for when your dog develops otitis, or an inflammation of the ear. Before treatment is sought, if it satisfies these signs, then it is clear that some medication is needed to be used to cure the sore ears in dogs. The most obvious sign usually is the least serious and the best stage for an easy cure. This usually comes with irritation of the dog’s external ear canal and causes it to paw at its ears or strenuous shaking of its head in an attempt to get rid of it. You might also wish to check if there is some form of discharge from your dog’s ears at this point. It can be smelly or odorless, but the most important thing is that some liquid of pus is being secreted from its audio cavity. If your dog is not treated for its ear infection at this point and it is allowed to worsen, then the next stage is much more serious, painful and might lead to serious disability or hurt for your pet. Once the dog starts to have problems with basic movements like chewing or even opening their mouths, consistently tilts its head or develops drooping lips or eyelids, then the infection has spread to its inner ear and has affected its body balance and perhaps its nerves.
There can be various causes that have led to your dog’s ears being infected. Usually this is a direct result of inflammation. Inflammation can in turn be caused by having some form of bacterial being allowed to fester and infect the dog ear, such as a yeast infection. Sometimes, your dog might have developed a form of allergy which has otitis as a by product. Ear mites might also be another reason for the problem. Before applying any sort of medication to cure the sore ears in your dog, be sure to ascertain what is the exact cause and reason of the inflammation. There are some natural home remedies that can be used, or one can purchase the medicinal solutions either from the vet or from online stores which can be bought at cheaper prices. You might need to consult your vet to determine what form of medication is best for the specific problem that your dog is suffering from.
Do not wait too long before finding out what is causing the dog ear infection and what treatment to seek. Medication must be applied as soon as possible and regularly until the problem has cleared up. If the problem is allowed to persist, it will quickly spread to the inner ear and cause unbearable pain and disability, becoming more than just a dog ear sore. In such serious cases, surgery might be necessary to alleviate the problem, as inner ear and possibly even brain tissues might be adversely affected.
Together with the medication that is used to treat the sore ears in a dog, there must also be regular cleaning of the affected audio cavity done. Use soft cotton swabs to do this and make sure everything is sterilized and cleaned well. The frequency of cleaning will depend on the seriousness of your dog’s ear condition. If it is a minor infection, then the necessary twice a day routine should be observed. If the situation is more serious, then more elaborate cleaning procedures would probably have to be performed, with advice from the veterinarian.
Now for the interesting part. Once your dog is cured of its ear problem, do not assume that it will not happen again. In fact, sore dog ears can likely occur several times during its lifetime. You will need to make sure its surroundings are kept clean and free from dust mites and any other possible sources of infection. A dog’s ear is very sensitive and an important part of their defence mechanism. Keep the dog bed, dog house (if it has one), and clothing like your dog jackets clean as often as possible. Continue to clean its ears regularly so that medication need not be necessary in the future.
A very effective and popular treatment for dog sore ears due to otitis or any form of chronic or acute external ear inflammation is the use of Zymox Otic which is available here
Thanks to reader Jean’s comments about her experience with Zymox Otic which she used on her dogs and got the results she wanted. Many pet owners have also shared their experiences with it that you can see here
Jackets For Dogs
When the weather gets cold, a dog jacket for your pet poodle is a must. You might think that cuddling him would be enough to provide some warmth, especially since it’s from the heart. But the best heartfelt care you can give your dog is a jacket for him during the winter or in cold weather. This might come in the form of a fleece dog jacket or any similar clothing with an internal lining that serves as extra layers of protection from the low temperatures.
Even during the present tough times, you should not neglect your pet. There are other alternatives that you can explore such as cheaper dog clothes that can help achieve the double objectives of saving money and saving your dog’s life. When it comes to dog jackets and sweaters to keep the little one well heated, there are different types of designs and apparel that are available for your selection.
For the more flamboyant with a desire to attract, dog dresses are a must. These are different from the usual coats and jackets that might be a little too gaudy for some dog owners. There are variations to these in the fur coat lookalikes that make your dog look as if he or she has just walked out from a fashion show. You can be sure that it will be delighted with your choice.
Leather jackets for your dog might also be a sound investment. Leather as a material is well known for keeping warmth for a long period of time. If lined with some materials that can retain heat even better, having a leather dog jacket will be ideal for most canines.
Fleece dog jackets would be the most common choice for the majority of owners. These are widely available and mostly reasonably priced. They should be one of the cheaper options that are available for you. While many of them are not as visually appealing as designer dog clothes, they serve the main priority well, and that is to keep the animal warm and safe from frostbite or any other related ailments that might arise from the cold.
When choosing the right jacket for your dog, make sure that the size is correct. Large dog jackets are only suitable for bigger sized breeds like Alsatians, bulldogs or Dobermans, since it will be fitting enough and not allow the heat to escape. For smaller sized breeds like Chihuahuas, you might be left with no other choice than to opt for designer clothing for dogs, as they are well geared towards those styles.
While jackets are essential during the colder seasons, there are other dog accessories that will complement them and make a more complete outfit for your pet. Consider dog boots which will keep its feet warm. The boots will also prevent them from getting their feet wet when there’s snow or other similar weather conditions for example during winter. Sweaters are another type of clothing which might be more suitable for the dog if no jacket is present. For cold weather that includes rain, outfitting your dog with a raincoat would be the ideal choice, instead of the type of clothing described above, which should be the primary option for drier weather. These clothing will not be required during warmer climates, although it would be prudent then to make sure there is adequate dog sunscreen applied on your pet instead to prevent sunburn and other conditions.
Sunscreen For Dogs And Pet
While sunscreen for dogs would be most useful in summer, it is just as necessary for your pet to use sunblock in a country with hot weather. The heat alone can cause much discomfort to the dog due to its fur. You should therefore apply some to it so that both master and pet can have an enjoyable time even under the heat.
Always try to use dog sunscreen that is non oily in nature. This reduces any possible case of irritation. The sun block should also be water soluble and importantly, does not contain any silicone which might be toxic to your pooch. Animals do not react well to this chemical compound. What does the sunscreen do for your dog? It protects their skin under the hot sun and when the heat is too great or high. Most animals with fur, especially dogs, are very sensitive to heat. The coat of fur traps heat and this might lead to sunburn for your dog. Thus the need for sunscreen.
How do you know if your dog needs sunscreen to be applied? If you notice that their skin is peeling or has red patches, then it is a sign that the heat is hurting them. Your dog might also be scratching itself constantly during hot weather and that is a clear sign. When that happens, be sure to clean your dog’s fur and skin carefully first, and then apply the sunscreen on its skin, ears and nose just before venturing out under the sun.
When should you apply the sunscreen to your dog? If you intend to bring him out for various activities under the sun for a period of time longer than 20-30 minutes, and if it involves a lot of physical activity, then sunburn might be a real possibility for the canine. This would be a good time to use some pet sunblock for your dog. This is the same for dogs with less fur or hair, and they might have just as bad an experience due to direct exposure to sunlight.