Our pets are the love of our lives, they're part of our family. We provide shelter, food and medicine and in return they give us happiness and comfort. However, just like any other family member sometimes our pets get sick and it's up to us to make sure they feel better as soon as humanly or (catly) possible. Cat flu is popular among cats, it's similar to a human cold. It causes cats to sneeze, have drippy noses, sore throats etc. It also causes mouth ulcers, loss of voice and more. Cat flu can be deadly for kittens and adult cats if they have other underlying diseases. This type of flu can also cause eye damage so severe that the cat can lose it's sight. Eye ulcers form and grow in size, until the sight of the animal is completely gone. Cat Flu Caused by Viruses Cat flu is caused by both viruses and bacteria. When it comes to the virus it is passed onto other cats by saliva and discharges from the eye. The virus can also be passed on to other cats through infected toys, feeding bowls, even clothing. There are two kinds of viruses that spreads cat flu. One is called calicivirus and the other is called feline herpes virus. There are so many different kinds of strains when it comes to calicivirus that it is difficult to control. Vaccines can only cover certain types of strains. The feline herpes virus is more dangerous and can causing eye ulcers etc. This all sounds pretty scary, right? But the good news is that, cat flu can be prevented. Cat owners can give their cats a vaccine to fight against this virus. Remember, when applying the vaccine, that two doses are needed, one will not do the trick. Once the two doses are taken, the animal needs to receive regular booster shots. Bacteria that Cause Animal Flu The different types of bacteria that can cause cat flu is Bordetella Bronchiseptica and Chlamydophila Felis. Bordetella Bronchiseptica is the bacteria that causes dogs to cough. It affects the lungs of the animal. The flu that is caused by this bacteria can be treated by antibodies. However, there is also a vaccine for this illness. Chlamydophila Felis is a bacteria which causes a cold. It is considered a mild cold. You will notice your pet having red eyes etc. Though their are antibodies and vaccines available, they will not fully protect the animal from getting the flu. Fading Immunity When it comes to cat flu, things can get tricky. Just because a cat does not show the symptoms of the flu, does not mean that he/she is not a carrier. That particular cat can pass the virus onto other cats through their eye droppings, saliva etc. At other times, a kitten can have immunity to the flu, for many years, then all of a sudden when the kitten is older, it will lose it's immunity. Once the kitten losses it's immunity, it will be subject to the illness just like any other cat. So be attentive to your young pet and watch for signs of fading immunity. The hardest thing for a family who has a group of cats to do is determine who is the carrier of the flu. The best thing to do is to make sure each pet gets his/her scheduled vaccine. Also, make sure each one is eating properly and sheltered from the cold during winter months. Be sure to watch for runny noses. Checking saliva and other fluids with a cotton swab, for the presence of flu bacteria is always a wise choice.

There's a variety of reasons a cat can vomit constantly. It can be because of a food intolerance, eating too quickly, and too much time between meals, poor diet, or they could have an infection. Other issues can include gastrointestinal (GI) issues that cause hairballs, medical conditions like kidney disease, GI cancer, toxin ingestion, and parasites. If your cat is constantly vomiting hairballs, you will see undigested bits of food, wads of hair and debris, and phlegm to hold the disgusting mess together. Your cat might vomit at certain times as well or even pass out. Cats with long hair really enjoy grooming themselves — and sometimes other cats, (dogs and even people) who are living with them. These type of cats typically have more hairballs than normal. Cats who eat dry foods normally don't get enough moisture in their diet so this upsets the digestive process. And unlike dogs, cats don't make up for the lack of water by drinking a bunch of water, so they often end up a little dehydrated. A GI tract that lacks moisture is least likely to transport a hairball than a digestive tract of a well-hydrated cat, eating a diet that's appropriate for them. Cats in the wild pass hair in their bowel movements on a daily basis. Cats have tiny bristles on their tongues that are made to swallow and process hair. So cats digesting hair is normal. The solution: Feed your cat a diet rich with moisture and brush their hair. This will help them digest the hair better and eat less hair when they are grooming themselves. If there's other cats in the house, make sure they are brushed and groomed, especially if your cat loves to groom other cats and people. What other solutions do you know help with cat vomiting? Tell us in the comment section below and don't forget to like us on and share us with others who are looking for solutions to their cat vomiting issues!

There are several ways that you are going to be able to avoid gum disease in dogs. Exams The first way is to make sure that your dog is getting an oral exam and cleaning on a regular basis. Most time, this is going to be done under general anesthesia so that the doctor can make sure they are going to be able to get a full picture of what might be happening inside of the dog's mouth. They are also going to be able to look at all of their teeth and what is happening below the gum line. Brushing The second way is to make sure that you brush the teeth of the dog on a regular basis. This is one of the best ways to ensure that your dog's teeth that are always going to be in the best shape. It is important to remember that this is going to be a very daunting task for you and the dog. Therefore, you are going to need to have a lot of patients, the right tools for your dog, and a little bit of guidance from your veterinarian on what you are going to need to do to make sure that your dog's teeth are as healthy as possible. In fact, it is a good idea to take it slow, so that the dog is going to be more willing to let you brush their teeth. This is even going to be true in your senior pets especially if they have a lot of trust in you. Food The third way is to make sure that your dog is only eating the best quality of dog food. There are a lot of dogs that are going to benefit from a dental diet. This means that they are going to be eating dog food that is going to scrub their teeth as they are chewing the food. Plus the dog food is going to have a lot of additives inside of it that is going to help to prevent the plaque on their teeth from hardening. It is a good idea to talk to your vet to see what is going to be the best diet for your dog and their needs. Treats The fourth way is to make sure that you give your dog toys and treats that will be safe for them to chew on a regular basis. When the dog is chewing on their toys on a regular basis, then it is a great way to help the dogs to prevent the dog from having gum disease. This means that the treats and toys do not need to be hard. It is going to be better for them to have rubber balls. thin strips of rawhide that are going to bend, and toys made of rubber that you will be able to hide the treats inside of. It is very important that you do not give the dog a hard type of rawhide because it is cause a lot of problems in their gastrointestinal area if the dog happens to swallow a large piece of the rawhide. The hard treats like animal bones, cow hooves, pig hooves, and nylon bones are going to cause the dog to have broken teeth or fractures in their permanent teeth.

Bloat is a condition whereby the stomach twists and then fills with gas. This process occurs in almost all mammals that have a stomach. Dogs being among the class of mammals, they also experience bloat. The process of bloat in dogs is not well understood. Regardless of the little knowledge of bloat in dogs, the process is very harmful to these organisms. Harmfulness of Bloat to dogs. Bloat is characterized by a gas filling up the stomach cavity of the dog. When the gas builds up, and the stomach cannot hold any more gas, the stomach is forced to overstretch outwards. As the stomach overstretches outwards, it puts pressure on the diaphragm thus causing breathing problems. Additionally, the built pressure stops the return flow of blood to the heart. The pressure in the stomach also causes the stomach tissues to die, thus leading to dysfunctioning of the stomach organs. For instance, the pressure causes the spleen to twist with the stomach, and this will result in the damage of the spleen tissues. Causes of Bloat in Dogs. At times, bloat may occur for no known reason. Some of the reasons that result in bloat are explained below. 1. Hereditary factors. Bloating of dogs may be a tendency, which is inherited in the dog's family. This involves passing the genes from a parent to the offspring. Therefore if a parent is suffering from bloat, this can be a predisposing factor of bloat in the offspring. 2. Age and sex. Dogs that are older, around the age of seven and above, are likely to experience bloat compared to the younger dogs, which are in the age of 2 to 4. This is because the stomach lining of these older dogs is weaker than that of the younger dogs. Besides age, male dogs are also likely to experience bloat than female dogs. 3. Eating fast. Some dogs are naturally fast eaters. This condition is highly contributed by giving several dogs food in one bowl. The dogs compete for the food which makes some dogs swallow the food even without chewing. When this unswallowed food gets into the stomach, it facilitates the occurrence of bloat. 4. Stress. Dogs that are under stress develop a bloating effect. This is because they take in a lot of air due to their fast breathing rate. This also applies to dogs that are anxious and fearful. Dogs should be led to have a stress free and happier life. Symptoms of Bloat in Dogs. Symptoms relating to bloat do appear very fast, and therefore, they can be easily noticed. Some of the symptoms include the following: A swollen hard belly. Pain in the abdomen when touched. Signs of distress such as panting and restlessness. Attempts to pass stool. Drooling from nausea. The dog looks anxious. Actions to take when Your Dog Shows Signs of Bloat. When the signs mentioned above are evident in your dog, you should do the following: Immediately take your dog to a veterinary clinic near you for an examination. Do not try to give your dog over the counter medication. The medications can worsen the situation. Conclusion. Bloat in dogs is common nowadays. Therefore, it is important to learn more about bloat in dogs. The knowledge learned will help you to quickly identify a bloat problem in your dog and solve it.

Obesity in cats are normal. Just like in humans, cats can have an excess of body fat. When cats are obese, it occurs because they are over nourished; they tend to retain a weight which makes them at risk for becoming obese, and they lack the ability to exercise when needed. Obesity in cats has serious health effects, which cuts their life span short. Various parts of their body are affected which deteriorates their joints and bones, and digestive organs which can affect their breathing. Cats that are neutered and stay indoors have the highest risk of becoming obese, due to lack of activity. There is a treatment for cats who are obese. It is mainly to help focus on their weight loss and maintaining an ideal body weight for many years. Just getting them to exercise and being successful in cutting back their calorie intake is the key to their success. Before getting these tasks for your cat under control, talk to your local veterinarian, because she will give you a prepared diet plan that you can use to shape-up your cat's schedule when they eat. Most veterinarians recommend that cats need to be on a diet which foods they eat, that are high in fiber and dietary protein but keeping foods that are low in fat. Dietary fiber is effective since they contain small amounts of energy. It fires up their energy and metabolism and energy at the same time. For ideal exercise, cats who play with toys that can communicate with them and playing with laser light beams that they can chase around the house are fun. It will help them effectively to lose weight while not being aware at the same time. Another fun game is throwing soft balls so they can run freely several times when they are in a playful mood. Cats will not feel exhausted, but they will be happy. It is important to follow-up when it comes for treating your cats for obesity by speaking on a regular basis with your veterinarian. The main thing is how your cat is progressing by what progress they have maintained with your cat's weight loss program that was setup by your veterinarian. It is important to watch your cat progression each month so if they are successful in keeping their weight under control, your goal has been achieved so your cat is eating healthy and maintaining their correct weight. There are many cat owners who think that food intake has nothing to do with their pet weight gain which leads to their obesity. The fact is, if you feel your cat is becoming overweight, besides getting them checked for a physical exam, it is important that their blood and urine tests are normal. Also, check to make sure they have no physical or metabolic dysfunction. Remember, if your cat is physically normal, other than them being obese, exercising them on an ideal program will do the trick because health in cats, just like humans are very important to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Your cat will love you even more when they have your playful attention.

Bacterial Infections are crucial issue not only for human beings but also for animals. And this present article sheds light on some bacterial infections in dogs and some types of bacterial infections and its treatment. Bacterial infections are the result of a weakened immune system and the bacteria is able to replicate and spread in dog’s body. Immune disorders can cause allergies, contagious diseases and other problems. Common types of bacterial infections in dogs Skin Infections: Skin infections in dogs are more prominent infection, because this type of bacteria emerge on skin of dogs such as, itchiness, scabbed skin and pustules are bacterial symptoms of bacterial infection of the skin. If this type of infection is ignored then dogs may lose their skin hair. Leptospirosis Infection: This type of bacterial infection is very common in dogs because it is highly contagious. This Infection occurs when dogs drink from stagnant water contaminated by urine or facal matter. If dogs are suffered from this type of bacterial infection, they may develop a fever or vomit, or flu like symptoms. Kennel Cough: Kennel Cough is a familiar bacterial infection that affects the respiratory system of dogs. This bacteria gets its name, from how its spread from dog to dog or from dogs kennel or animals’ shelters. It is easily spread through sneezing and coughing. Bacterial Ear Infection: Signs of bacterial ear infection include itchy, red and inflamed inner ears, bad odor waxy build up in the ear. Lyme Bacterial Infection: Lyme Bacteria emerge from ticks or fleas. It can lead to fever, lethargy, and other painful symptoms. While taking your dogs to woods or grassy area make sure to make ways to protect dogs. Other types of bacterial infections in dogs are; Salmonella, Clostridia, Bordet Ella etc. These are some common types of bacterial infections in dogs. Treatment and Precautions: Treatment of bacterial infection is depended on the type of bacteria present in a body and severity of the infection. After examining the effects of any kind of infection, treatment should be started. Skin infections, Kennel Cough, Lyme Infection, Leptospirosis bacterial infections are few of common bacterial infections dogs face. It is impossible to prevent your dogs from bacterial infections all the time, but taking some precautions on time can help in preventing from a major problem. Antibiotics and immunostimulants are used in the systematic treatment of skin bacterial infections in animals. Don’t let your dogs to drink water from stagnant water that is contaminated and cause many skin bacterial infections. Make sure to give clean and maintain fresh water bowl to yours dogs inside and outside. While taking dogs outside, make some plans to protect your dogs from fleas and ticks, cover them up with some cloth so that they cannot be infected by bacteria. During sever bacterial infections, consult any veterinarian as soon as possible, so that bacterial infection could not affect the whole body. Several lab tests are also possible for sever infections such as; CBC (complete blood count), Blood gas and chemical panel, Allergy testing, skin scrapings and biopsy. Cleanliness process is also very important to protect your dogs from certain diseases and bacterial infections. These bacterial infections in dogs are worrisome for their owners, and human being can get rid of these types of bacterial infections by making some healthy precautions against contagious infections.

Fungi infection does not only occur in humans. Did you know that it can also happen on cats? Yes! A Cat is prone to getting a fungal infection once it inhales any fungi present in the environment. It may as well get infected if the fungus finds its way into the cat system. Fungi affect cats of any age or breed. Some fungal infections may attack cats that are sick or those that have an immune disease. Other infections may be mild and could clear up with the right medication. But how do you identify a fungi infection in a cat? Symptoms of Fungal Infections on Cats A cat shows specific signs when affected by skin fungi. However, since the skin has hair cover, it may be difficult for just anyone to tell. Even so, the symptoms are discoverable to a veterinarian. In several cases, a veterinarian will be able to spot: Scaly skin Redness of the skin Lesions that emit a foul smell The cat may have wounds inside the nose Low energy and high fever on the cat Thick and greasy skin Swollen lymph nodes The skin surface may have patches of hyper-pigmentation For a veterinarian to give a proper diagnosis on the health condition of the cat, he will need first to get a medical history of the cat and perform a thorough examination. The doctor may either use blood samples, urine samples or even a scraping from the skin to conduct further tests and accurately diagnose the right kind of fungal infection affecting the cat. It is important to note that some fungus infection may easily be transmitted to humans. Therefore, it is imperative to get a doctors diagnosis and treatment as soon as possible. Types of Fungal Infection All the symptom above represent not just one kind of fungal infection but several types that can affect a cat. The most common examples of fungal infections include; Rhinosporidiosis Mycetomas Cryptococcosis Malassezia pachydermatis Cutaneous sporotrichosis Phaeohyphomycosis Candidiasis Disseminated sporotrichosis Once the veterinarian identifies the type of fungi infection affecting the cat, he will be in a position to administer treatment dependent on the results of his tests. The treatment administered may be through special anti-fungal creams or oral medication. If the cat has an infection brought about by yeast, the veterinarian may recommend the use of special shampoos and dips. If the cat has cysts and lesions in the nose or under the skin, surgery may be required. However, some cysts reoccur with a frequency that makes it hard to manage or treat. If the cat is noted to be too sick or contagious, the veterinarian may recommend keeping the animal under observation just until the symptoms improve. The doctor may as well give you tips on how you can stay safe while you administer treatment to the cat without getting infected. Depending on the type of infection and how serious it is, your cat may take a few weeks to heal. Even so, it is important to always inform the veterinarian of any changes in the cat’s condition.

There are several signs that you need to look for when you think your cat has had a stroke.  Alertness  The first sign is that you are going to need to check the alertness of the car. This means that the cat is not going to be acting like their normal self. This is when you are going to need to check the general health of the car. If the car has lost its consciousness, then you are going to need to make sure that the cat is breathing. You will also want to make sure that the car is responding to the sound of your voice when you talk to them.  Depression The second sign is to look for any signs that the cat is depressed. This means that the cat might seem quiet and does not respond the way that they used to you when you are playing or talking to them. More than likely, this is going to happen because the cat is feeling some of the symptoms of the stroke. Some of these symptoms might include feeling woozy, disoriented, and nauseous. Something else that the cat might be suffering from after a stroke is a thumping headache, so they are not going to know how to respond to having this type of headache.  Head Tilt  The third sign is when the cat has a head tilt that is abnormal. This means that the cat is going to hold their head at a weird angle when the ear is going to be lower than the other ear. This means that the cat might do a lot of twisting, tilting, or turning of their head. The cat is going to be doing this because the stroke has caused the cat to have some pressure on a certain part of their brain. But you will need to take the cat to the vet because this could be a sign of other problems in the cat-like vestibule disease or inner ear.    Walking  The fourth sign is when you notice that the cat is walking unstable or circling around. This means that the car is going to have problems walking in a straight line. Therefore, it is going to look like the cat is drunk or they might fall to one side. This is just going to be another sign that the cat is going to have some pressure on their brain. You might notice that the cat is going to have some weakness in their legs. Something else that you might see in the cat is that they are going to have tremors, which is going to be a seizure that they are having.    Eyes  The fifth sign is that you are going to need to look at the eyes of the cat. This is because if the cat has had a stroke, then their pupils are going to be different sizes. There is also a chance that they are going to flick from side to side when you are looking at them. This is going to happen because the blood is not flowing to the eyes like it is supposed to. You might also notice that the cat is going to be nauseous like they have a little bit of motion sickness from the side effects of the stroke.

Just like humans, dogs can suffer from gas. The odors can be overbearing at times but in some cases, gas can be a sign of a more serious health issue. In the intestinal tract of the dogs, bacteria can ferment, and the gas will need to escape. In dogs, however, most gas comes from the dog swallowing too much air.  Symptoms of Serious Gas  In addition to the smell, there are other symptoms that can indicate that a dog is suffering from a problem with gas. Diarrhea and vomiting can be a sign of gas problems. The dog may also suffer from a loss of appetite which can lead to weight loss.  Causes of Gas  There are some things that can cause a dog to develop a problem with gas. If there is a change in their diet this can lead to additional gas. If the dog eats food that is spoiled this can be difficult to digest and cause gas. Foods that are high in fat, fiber, and spicy foods can lead to gas. Milk-based products also cause gas in dogs.  Since gas can be caused when the dog swallows too much air the dog may be eating their food too quickly. Excessive gas can also be a form of a more serious health condition. The dog may have excessive growth of tissues in their bowels, may suffer from intestinal issues, or have some respiratory problems. If the gas becomes a real problem the dog should be taken to a vet for an exam.  Treatment for Gas  There are some medications that can be used to help dogs suffering from excessive gas. There are some medications that can be recommended by a vet to help dogs with gas issues. Be sure to speak to the vet since medications will vary based on age and weight.  Preventing Gas  There are some things that a person can do to help prevent their dog from having an issue with gas. If the dog is active they are less likely to develop gas. Smaller meals will also help the dog slow down so they will not ingest as much air. If this does not work changing the source of protein the dog eats and digests can be changed.  While it is normal for a dog to have gas on time, excessive gas can lead to big issues. If the dog is suffering from an excessive amount of gas, the owner should take measures to help the dog so they can be more comfortable. 

Blood pressure is the pressure caused by the blood, onto the walls of the arteries during the contraction and relaxation of the heart, while pumping blood. Due to the contraction and relaxation of the heart, blood pressure is divided into two types, which are: Systolic pressure. It is the pressure applied to the walls of the arteries when the heart contracts. Diastolic pressure. It is the pressure applied to the walls of the arteries when the heart relaxes. When this blood pressure becomes very high, it results in a condition called hypertension. In dogs, hypertension is among the diseases that affect the circulatory system. The disease causes stress to the heart as it pumps blood to the parts of the body. It is advisable to know about hypertension in dogs, to quickly note a hypertension problem in our dogs at home. Causes of Hypertension in Dogs The main cause of hypertension in dogs is not well known. Though, there are some suggested causes for hypertension. They include: Genetic factors In most cases, there are parent dogs that have hypertension, and they give birth to an offspring with hypertension. This shows that there are some genes passed from parent to an offspring, which result in hypertension. Chronic kidney diseases. Diabetes. Hypothyroidism. Glomerulonephritis. General obesity. Cushing's syndrome. Signs and Symptoms of Hypertension When a dog is affected by hypertension, the eyes are seriously affected. It's therefore important, to observe the eyes of your dog whenever you suspect hypertension. Some of the signs and symptoms that are seen in dogs with hypertension are: Eye blindness. There is some bleeding in the eye. Disorientation. Detached retina. Irregular heartbeats. Increased drinking and urinating. Seizures. Blood in the urine. Uncoordinated or wobbly movements. Treatment of Hypertension in Dogs Nearly all hypertension condition is dogs are secondary. Secondary hypertension differs from primary hypertension in that, for secondary hypertension to occur, there must be an underlying condition for its occurrence, unlike primary hypertension where it occurs naturally on its own. Some of the underlying conditions include diabetes. Taking into consideration of the above, for a treatment to be made on secondary hypertension in dogs, the underlying condition causing hypertension should be identified. After the identification of the condition, treatment is then given to the dog to treat that condition. Mostly medication of drugs is always done to the affected dog. It should be noted that medication should only be administered after a prescription from a licensed veterinarian. Measurement of Blood Pressure in Dogs Blood pressure on dogs can be done by placing a catheter on one of the major dog's arteries. When the measurements are taken indirectly, the oscillometric method and Doppler methods are used. Some dogs may be violent when taking the measurements of their blood pressure. It is therefore advisable to take the dog to a veterinary doctor for more diagnosis. Conclusion It is wise to take the time to learn about our pets at home. Pets, like dogs, need a lot of care and maintenance. This will enable these dogs to live a happy life. Whenever a condition which looks like hypertension shows any signs in a dog, the dog should be quickly taken to the nearest veterinary clinic for assistance.