Dog and Cat Health

Dogs, cats and other pets need to visit a vet once a year for an exam and for their shots. Vaccination is important as well as an exam to check the pet over and get advice on how owners can best care for their pets.

Heartworm Disease
Heartworm disease can be and is spread by mosquitoes. While heartworm disease is easy to prevent by using a monthly preventative it is difficult to treat. Symptoms of heartworm disease in dogs can be invisible or can exhibit a cough and/or lethargy. Cat symptoms can be a cough with lung problems, or even death.

Body Temperature
Extreme temperatures can be very bad for either cat or dog. Heat stroke is when normal body temperature of 101.5 degrees Fahrenheit in cats and 102.0 degrees Fahrenheit in dogs is extremely high. Anything higher than that can be a symptom of an illness or disease. Other symptoms can include vomiting, increased breathing, unresponsiveness and collapse. Avoid heat stroke by giving pets shade and fresh water. If you think your pet has heat stroke, put them in cool water or spray them with cool water and see a veterinarian immediately. Do NOT use cold or ice water. Extreme cold can also be very dangerous to your animals. Although they may seem happy to be outside in cold temperature, do not leave them out for long periods of time. Their body temperature can drop fairly rapidly and cause serious problems. If they are shaking that is a clear sign that they are cold. Longhaired dogs that have been adjusted to the cold will do better than shorthaired breeds.

Fleas and Ticks
Fleas and ticks can cause serious problems, such as mild skin irritations to life threatening diseases. Flea allergy dermatitis is the most common cause of itching and fleas can cause scratching in dogs and cats and it. Ticks may transmit numerous diseases, including Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Using a flea and tick control product can help keep fleas and ticks away. When using certain products please be sure to do a small skin test to be sure that your pet is not allergic. My dog Zoey had a skin allergy to one of the products and it actually burned her skin. Fair haired/skinned dogs may have more of a problem with this than the darker dogs. These products are very strong so be cautious when using them. Speak to your vet about any specific concerns, as it is not the same for every pet.

Teeth
Dogs and cats can have dental problems with pain, infection and tooth loss. Poor dental hygiene can cause disease in the heart, lungs, kidneys and liver. Bones and toys help reduce plaque but you may need to brush their teeth daily to prevent dental problems. Use a soft toothbrush and toothpaste specially formulated for animals.

Workouts and Play
Dogs and cats need lots of exercise, love and attention. Be very aware of their needs and make sure they do not get bored or depressed from the same routines over and over. Take them for long walks and see the sights with them. Dogs get bored with going out into the same yard day in and day out. They enjoy seeing new areas new scents! Buy you cat a new toy to play with! Cats love play. Interaction is important with all pets and if you don't have the time then don't adopt that new puppy or kitten! Think it through first so you can be sure to give them a good healthy home life!