Pat, Cat & Dog

Posts Tagged ‘pet health’

You should be prepared for your pet becoming ill or injured; your pet is, after all, an important part of your family. Being prepared for an unexpected emergency can be of benefit to your pet in the period before seeing the vet. As well as being informed and educated on what to do in the event of a pet emergency, it’s wise to ensure that you keep up to date with your pet insurance payments – just in case.

Choking.

Choking is a common problem and knowing the signs of choking can help you be prepared.Choking occurs because of some sort of obstruction in the pet’s mouth. All sorts of things can get stuck in a cat’s or dog’s mouth because both classes of animals show great curiosity. There are all kinds of things they will try to swallow including bones, balls and wood.

Choking can result not only from a rope or collar being too tight but also from a swollen throat caused by an allergic reaction to something. Some of the signs to look for include gagging, difficulty swallowing or breathing or pawing at their face. Before anything else make sure that there’s nothing, perhaps a collar, that’s constricting the neck.

Look inside the animal’s mouth and remove any foreign object you see. If this doesn’t work, you can lift and suspend a small pet with its head pointed down. For larger animals you can lift the rear legs up so the head is tilted down. The obstruction can sometimes be moved by means of a sharp slap between the shoulder blades, but attempt this only if you know what you are doing. Even if you have successfully removed the item, you should have your pet examined by your vet. By doing this you can eliminate the possibility of any internal injury.

Bleeding.

It’s vital that you apply and maintain pressure over the site of the bleeding injury. By putting a towel, a clean one, over the wound and applying gentle pressure, the blood flow can be contained. By raising the area you can limit the loss of blood. Use tape to secure a towel around the area. You should then seek vet treatment and advice immediately.

Pet Collapses.

It is essential that you stay calm. Make sure you have carefully observed your pet before you take them to the vet. You need to remember the course of events that led to the collapse, its duration, and its effects upon your pet. Such observations will enable the vet to make a diagnosis.

If your dog is no longer conscious, try to detect a heartbeat on the left side of the chest. Never forget the importance of handling your pet very cautiously. They may be confused, aggressive or disoriented. They may strike out or bite you unintentionally because of fear or pain. As soon as you can, you must seek medical assistance for your pet.

Fractures.

Fractures or broken bones are usually the result of some sort of trauma. Falling heavily or being hit by a car are amongst the causes. Rest and reassurance are required if you think your pet may have a broken or fractured bone. Use a clean cloth to cover any open wound you might see.

To avoid being bitten or scratched by an injured pet in pain, take appropriate precautions. Put your pet into a box or crate and go to the vet immediately. Don’t try to splint or fix the fracture yourself because if the limb is not placed properly it could cause additional injury to your pet.

Limping or Lameness.

Your pet’s limping could be the result of many causes. A broken bone or a slight sprain could be amongst these causes. The first thing to do is to examine your pet to see if the limping is caused by something in their paw such as a thorn or a splinter. If the limping comes and goes, make sure that your pet is kept inactive and indoors.

If the lameness lasts more than one day, you should take your pet to see the vet. Only after consulting the vet should you ever administer any medication to your pet. The kinds of medicines that can be bought over the counter for human use can be very dangerous for pets.

These are just a few of the common pet health emergencies that can occur. Unfortunately there are many situations such as these where you may need to check the terms of your pet insurance policy carefully. You must not forget that it’s essential to remain calm. A calm and rational consideration of the situation will enable the correct treatment to be provided. Unless you are confident about what to do, you should always call your vet so that your companion can be helped.

While for some pet owners, pet health insurance is a whim, for others it is a necessity. The truth is that in the situation when millions of Americans have no health insurance coverage, it sounds paradoxical that some would go to the length of insuring their pets. Nevertheless, in many cases, pet health insurance makes the only chance for medical treatment and even survival if the animal suffers from some severe problem.

Things have changed a lot in the industry ever since the costs of pet health insurance have stopped being so prohibitive. There are different levels of pet health insurance now available that help people cope with the costs incurred by veterinary treatments, regardless if we are talking about disease conditions, emergency interventions and preventive/routine care. The system for pet health insurance resembles human policies: there are deductibles, coverage plans and annual premiums.

You can create a pet health insurance when your animal friend is between six or eight weeks of age, and there are some age limits. Some have a 8 year limit while others can extend up to 27 years of age. Normally, if there has been coverage before the age of 8, the animal will have coverage after this age too. Animals with terminal diseases and current conditions may not be acceptable for pet health insurance. Some companies provide coverage if the pet’s condition is stable or controlled, usually following a waiting period between 3 months and a year.

Choose the pet health insurance that best corresponds to your pet and the specificity of the species. It is based on such considerations as well as on the comprehensiveness of the package that the monthly or yearly premiums are established. From the services covered by a regular policy we ought to mention vaccinations, preventive medication, annual checkups, routine care procedures and even spray surgeries. Illness and accidents can also be covered by pet health insurance. The coverage for accident claims is usually immediate.

If you can’t afford to pay for pet health insurance, you can take care of your pet’s health by working with humanitarian associations and non-profit organizations that offer health checkups and even emergency assistance. You can make 25% savings on veterinarian services if you work with programs like Pet Assure. They also provide other pet services and supplies for which you can even get a 50% discount. Check with them too!

Pet owners believe different things about their cat health care and dog health care practices, but not all of them are true, so it is worth evaluating what is right and what isn’t before its too late. As a nation, we love our pets, but when it comes to looking after them properly and knowing the truth, we don’t always get it right.

Misconception 1: Neutering my cat or dog is bad for its health

Wrong! In terms of cat health care and dog health care, neutering is actually very good and it can calm the animal down and make it a more relaxed pet to be around. Some think that neutering makes the animal fat and lazy, but this is only the case if you feed it more. Don’t misconstrue laziness for loyalty though, as dogs and cats tend to prefer to stay close to you when they have been neutered. There is some research being conducted to determine if neutering can shorten an animal’s lifespan, but there is no sufficient evidence at present to suggest this is correct.

Misconception 2: Dogs know when they have done something wrong

Trust us that this isn’t true. Some dogs do not know when they have been badly behaved and they will continue to misbehave if they don’t get appropriately informed that what they have done is wrong. As you would a child, show the dog what it has done wrong so it learns. If you don’t do this, how can it ever learn? Try and shift your voice to sound angry rather than getting high-pitched as this relates too closely to happy sounds. Don’t hit your dog though, as this is very bad pet ownership. In fact, no dog health care routine should involve hitting the pet. The same applies to any mistreating of cats and kittens – this is not good cat health care.

Lets bear in mind that there are many things you can end up believing about dogs and cats, but be sure to check out the truth before putting any dog health care or cat health care practices into motion. As an expert in the field, a vet will be able to advise you about what is right and wrong with dog or cat health care.

Dogs are very curious animals and as omnivores and natural scavengers, can get into and eat just about anything. Remember though that there are numerous toxic things in the home that could prove fatal for your pooch. The following is a list of 4 common household substances that you should make sure to keep out of your dog’s reach. Just by following these simple steps you can make sure your dog health care routine is boosted.

1) Antifreeze: Although not widely known, antifreeze can be a killer for dogs. It smells and tastes very sweet to your dog and is very appealing to him. The core ingredient of antifreeze is ethylene glycol and this is very dangerous. The symptoms of ingesting a toxic substance are awful, and your dog will end up with kidney failure. You can prevent this painful death by just making sure the product is kept far out of reach. If you suspect that your dog has ingested antifreeze, take him to the vet immediately for a dog health check.

2) Chocolate: Baking chocolate and dark chocolate are very dangerous. While it usually takes a somewhat large amount of chocolate to kill a dog, poisoning and death do occur with smaller amounts ingested. The symptoms you need to be aware of with chocolate poisoning are diarrhoea and vomiting. Your dog might even suffer seizures and it can raise the heartbeat. Even the slightest suspicion that your dog might have even chocolate means you have to visit the vet to get checked out. Chocolate is bad for your dog’s health.

3) Bleach: As you might imagine, household bleach is toxic to dogs. All bleach-related products are to be kept high up out of a dog’s reach.   Symptoms of bleach poisoning include drooling, vomiting, and abdominal pain.   Do NOT induce vomiting if you suspect your dog has ingested bleach and contact your vet immediately. Remember that by doing these simple things, your dog health care routine stays in check.

4) Mouthwash: Highly toxic to dogs is an owner’s mouthwash, and this is commonly found in the home. Mouthwash poisoning can even send your dog into a coma, which is a heartbreaking thought. Once again, any mouthwash ingestion requires a visit to the vet.

If you own a pet then you have to take responsibility for it and this means looking after its health and keeping toxic products out of reach. As owners, we try our best to keep on top of a dog health care routine, but its no good washing them and grooming them if you then poison them accidentally with household substances. As long as you stay vigilant, you shouldn’t need to visit the vet with a sick dog that has just ingested something toxic.

At times when your vet prescribes medication to your dog or cat, you will have to choose between the options available like fluid or tablet? Commercial or holistic? Your vet may suggest to you a few choices but it has to be your final decision.

Factors to think about:

While no vet would prescribe medication that’s harmful to your pet, some medications are more problematic than others.It is a good idea to ask the vet the optimal duration of the medication necessary for the best result for your pet.Do not forget to mention any other medication your dog or cat might be already taking or any kind of allergy your canine or feline companion has in order to avoid side effects of the prescribed medication.Do not forget to ask your vet about the variety and options regarding pet meds available in the market which suit you the best.Some medications are not user friendly so keep them out of the reach of children and be attentive.

What are the best pet meds?

You need to look after the medication chart for your pet, so be sure to ask your vet to give you only those medications for dogs which fit in with your daily routine and allow you to manage to administer in a timely manner for better health of your pet.

Choosing the best pet treatment:

The ideal dog or medications for cats is one that has few, if any, side effects or long- or short-term health implications.It should be safe to administer and cost effective, but always consult your vet regarding the breed, sex and age of your pet before any giving any medication.Don’t forget that there are plenty of options to choose from when it comes to meds, like comparing other brands or even opting for home natural remedies including a more balanced diet for your dog or cat.Knowing what medications will work against a particular ailment is often a bit hit and miss, so if you don’t think they are working properly, stop and try something else rather than sticking with those meds for too long.

Advice on safety:

With pet meds, as with your own, always read and follow label instructions. For example, often dog medication is designed for dogs within certain age, breed, or weight range. Review the instructions carefully.For topicals, apply them in a place where they can’t be licked or washed off easily. Keep all pet medications out of the reach of children and never use vet meds to treat a human condition, even if the symptoms are the same.While commercial medications may not be all they are made out to be in some cases, holistic medications can also fail to live up to expectations.Always consult with your veterinarian before giving any holistic medications or supplements to your dog or cat just to be on the safe side. It is well known, as an example, that cats are a lot more sensitive and prone to serious complications if given natural remedies such as herbal extracts.