Very often you find dogs in dog shelters with matted hair. Usually, if it is a good shelter, these dogs would be new arrivals, if not the shelter is probably short on manpower.
You'll find dogs with matted hair in homes as well. (Unfortunately not all dog owners are conscientious about their pets.)
Dogs with such problems are usually ones with long-haired coats. Sometimes, you'll find dogs with short-haired coats also have similar problems.
The problem needs to be taken care of. While this condition is harmful to the dog, it is also unhealthy for the humans and other dogs who live in the vicinity.
How is it harmful to the dog? Matted hair is a great hiding place for fleas, mites and ticks. Dandruff (yes, even dogs are affected by dandruff), has a chance to thrive in the matted coat. Last of all the odor accompanying matted coat is unbearable.
One doesn't have to be a rocket scientist to figure out that a dog with a matted coat is not comfortable and certainly not happy. How do you deal with such a problem? Read on...
1. First things first. Assess the extent of matting. Is it all over the coat? Is it dirt streaked? Is it only at the ends of the hair? Has the matting extended to the roots?
2. If the matting is all over the coat, dirt streaked and has extended to the roots, the best way to get rid of the problem is to cut away all of the dog's coat. You have to take care while sniping away the hair that you don't hurt the dog's skin.
Having done that it's time to groom the dog, treat it for ticks, mites, fleas and dandruff (more often than not such dogs will have all these infestations). Take care that the dog is regularly groomed, so that the condition does not recur.
3. If the matting is restricted to the ends of the hair, measures are not as drastic as the previous one. However, it is going to be a tedious job. Get the dog to lie on a table. (Keep some tidbits to tempt the dog to stay there. Of course if you have a way with dogs, you don't need the tidbits.)
You'll need a pair of small scissors as well as a good sized one. The small scissors are for difficult places like the paws, the ears and eyes. Carefully snipe off the matted parts.
After you are done with delicate areas, use the other pair of scissors and snipe off the rest of the matted hair. Next, thoroughly brush the dog down to remove small tangles. Once again check the dog for infestations and treat those conditions as well.
4. What happens with dogs with short hair but a badly matted coat? More often than not the matting is due to dirt. So, very simply bathe the dog down, groom it and you are rid of the problem. Once again check for infestations and treat the dog for them.
There is only one way you can avoid this problem from recurring. You have three guesses! Anybody?! You are right!
1. Regular grooming, 2. Regular grooming, and 3. ... You fill in the blanks.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Feline Heartworm Disease
Cats are very different from dogs when it comes to heartworm disease. Not only do they differ in their susceptibility to the disease, but also in how the disease affects them and how the disease is diagnosed.
There are significant differences between feline heartworm disease and canine heartworm disease. Cats are more resistant to the disease, and typically when they do become infected have a smaller burden of worms in their bodies. But due to their smaller size, even a few worms can be considered a heavy infection for a cat. Even one worm can cause illness or death in a cat.
Heartworms are caused by a parasite called Dirofilaria immitis. Cats and dogs become infected with this parasite through mosquitoes that can carry this parasite. When a mosquito bites the cat, the parasite enters the bloodstream and grows into an adult worm several centimeters long. These worms tend to accumulate around the vessels of the heart and lungs and cause inflammation of these vessels. In severe cases they can cause a thromboembolism which results in an acute death.
Since heartworm disease in cats happens less often than in dogs, cats with heartworm disease are often misdiagnosed. Cats with heartworms are often wrongly diagnosed as having asthma or allergic bronchitis. Also, many cats can have heartworms and not appear ill.
The true percentage of heartworm positive cats is hard to determine due to diagnostic limitations. In dogs an antigen test is the "gold standard" in diagnosing heartworm disease and it is a very accurate test. Unfortunately in cats these tests are not as accurate. In cats several tests must be used together to arrive at an accurate diagnosis. These tests can include serology, x-rays, and echocardiographs.
Cats that are positive for heartworm disease have many treatment options, but they all have risk associated with them. In mild cases an anti-inflammatory like prednisone may be used. This drug helps support cats by reducing the inflammation of affected vessels. For cats showing severe clinical signs, more extensive treatment and hospitalization are needed. Surgery is also an option to physically remove any worms.
There are many medications on the market to help prevent your cat from getting heartworm disease. Monthly preventatives are an option for cats living in areas where heartworm disease is endemic. Even indoor cats may be at risk if windows are left open. Year-round preventative is increasingly being recommended by more veterinarians. Kittens as young as eight weeks can be started on preventatives.
The most common products used for cats include Interceptor, Heartgard, and Revolution. Interceptor and Heartgard are given orally as chewable medication. Revolution is a topical medication that is applied to the hair over the shoulders. At a minimum the medication should be started within 30 days of heartworm transmission season, and continued until at least 30 days after it ends. In most places this means starting the medication in spring and continuing through the fall.
If you live in an endemic area of heartworm disease, be sure to keep your cat on preventative. Talking to your veterinarian is the best source of advice about the prevalence of heartworm in your area.
There are significant differences between feline heartworm disease and canine heartworm disease. Cats are more resistant to the disease, and typically when they do become infected have a smaller burden of worms in their bodies. But due to their smaller size, even a few worms can be considered a heavy infection for a cat. Even one worm can cause illness or death in a cat.
Heartworms are caused by a parasite called Dirofilaria immitis. Cats and dogs become infected with this parasite through mosquitoes that can carry this parasite. When a mosquito bites the cat, the parasite enters the bloodstream and grows into an adult worm several centimeters long. These worms tend to accumulate around the vessels of the heart and lungs and cause inflammation of these vessels. In severe cases they can cause a thromboembolism which results in an acute death.
Since heartworm disease in cats happens less often than in dogs, cats with heartworm disease are often misdiagnosed. Cats with heartworms are often wrongly diagnosed as having asthma or allergic bronchitis. Also, many cats can have heartworms and not appear ill.
The true percentage of heartworm positive cats is hard to determine due to diagnostic limitations. In dogs an antigen test is the "gold standard" in diagnosing heartworm disease and it is a very accurate test. Unfortunately in cats these tests are not as accurate. In cats several tests must be used together to arrive at an accurate diagnosis. These tests can include serology, x-rays, and echocardiographs.
Cats that are positive for heartworm disease have many treatment options, but they all have risk associated with them. In mild cases an anti-inflammatory like prednisone may be used. This drug helps support cats by reducing the inflammation of affected vessels. For cats showing severe clinical signs, more extensive treatment and hospitalization are needed. Surgery is also an option to physically remove any worms.
There are many medications on the market to help prevent your cat from getting heartworm disease. Monthly preventatives are an option for cats living in areas where heartworm disease is endemic. Even indoor cats may be at risk if windows are left open. Year-round preventative is increasingly being recommended by more veterinarians. Kittens as young as eight weeks can be started on preventatives.
The most common products used for cats include Interceptor, Heartgard, and Revolution. Interceptor and Heartgard are given orally as chewable medication. Revolution is a topical medication that is applied to the hair over the shoulders. At a minimum the medication should be started within 30 days of heartworm transmission season, and continued until at least 30 days after it ends. In most places this means starting the medication in spring and continuing through the fall.
If you live in an endemic area of heartworm disease, be sure to keep your cat on preventative. Talking to your veterinarian is the best source of advice about the prevalence of heartworm in your area.
Cat-Friendly Toys for the Picky Feline
It is usually very rewarding to have cats for pets. They're generally very affectionate and show their appreciation by rubbing all over you if they're pleased or happy. Cats however, by nature are predatory and get easily bored in the absence of prey or some other form of amusement. Unless you're keeping a cat to function stereotypically as a mouse-catcher (which is not what should be for any self-respecting pet lover), then consider looking for ways to amuse your cat. Otherwise, your furniture and personal belongings may suffer permanent makeovers.
Cats get amused with toys or playthings and it may be easy to get them preoccupied once your have the right stuff. Just like humans however, cats may become restless and bored if you give them the same toys everyday. Consider alternating or rotating cat toys. Chances are, if toys are reintroduced after an interval of a few days, cats may not remember them or may miss them and start playing with them with renewed enthusiasm.
Before you start worrying about how much you're going to spend for your cat's continued happiness, you should know that cats can be perfectly happy with inexpensive toys. Look around you and you may realize that there are hundreds of things cats may want to play with without you having to spend a single penny.
Cats for example like things made of cardboard specifically boxes of all sizes. Instead of just giving a box however, consider cutting out square pieces on the face of the box and playing toys inside for your cat to poke at. Cats also like boxes even without contents inside. They can toss smaller boxes around or jump in and out of bigger boxes. Cats also like to play around with empty toilet paper rings.
Balls are also an all-time favorite among cats. Don't give them rubber balls that are too soft or that can easily chip off. Cats may gnaw on rubber balls and ingest the rubber which may prove dangerous for your pet. Give plastic balls instead like ping pong balls. Your baby's old plastic balls with bells in them may also be fun to roll around for your cat.
The common grocery paper bag can be a plaything for a cat too. Just remember to cut off bag handles if they have any and do not, under any circumstances, let your cat play with plastic bags. Again there is a danger of accidental ingestion.
Cats may be amused with soft stuffed toys. Just make sure that these toys do not have harmful pieces that may be accidentally swallowed. Remove a stuffed toy's eyes, nose, ribbons and other small plastic pieces. As a variation, you can make stuffed toys yourself by using old socks or pieces of used cloth and stuffing these with catnip. Catnip is a common term for species of flowering plants that have come to be known as catnip because cats love them so much. A simple piece of cloth can excite a cat and make it roll and rub over it.
There are many other simple things a cat may want to play with, but always be cautious. Anything that is made of thread, yarn and plastic among other things may be potentially harmful for your cat. A small piece of these materials may seriously injure a cat's tummy.
Cats get amused with toys or playthings and it may be easy to get them preoccupied once your have the right stuff. Just like humans however, cats may become restless and bored if you give them the same toys everyday. Consider alternating or rotating cat toys. Chances are, if toys are reintroduced after an interval of a few days, cats may not remember them or may miss them and start playing with them with renewed enthusiasm.
Before you start worrying about how much you're going to spend for your cat's continued happiness, you should know that cats can be perfectly happy with inexpensive toys. Look around you and you may realize that there are hundreds of things cats may want to play with without you having to spend a single penny.
Cats for example like things made of cardboard specifically boxes of all sizes. Instead of just giving a box however, consider cutting out square pieces on the face of the box and playing toys inside for your cat to poke at. Cats also like boxes even without contents inside. They can toss smaller boxes around or jump in and out of bigger boxes. Cats also like to play around with empty toilet paper rings.
Balls are also an all-time favorite among cats. Don't give them rubber balls that are too soft or that can easily chip off. Cats may gnaw on rubber balls and ingest the rubber which may prove dangerous for your pet. Give plastic balls instead like ping pong balls. Your baby's old plastic balls with bells in them may also be fun to roll around for your cat.
The common grocery paper bag can be a plaything for a cat too. Just remember to cut off bag handles if they have any and do not, under any circumstances, let your cat play with plastic bags. Again there is a danger of accidental ingestion.
Cats may be amused with soft stuffed toys. Just make sure that these toys do not have harmful pieces that may be accidentally swallowed. Remove a stuffed toy's eyes, nose, ribbons and other small plastic pieces. As a variation, you can make stuffed toys yourself by using old socks or pieces of used cloth and stuffing these with catnip. Catnip is a common term for species of flowering plants that have come to be known as catnip because cats love them so much. A simple piece of cloth can excite a cat and make it roll and rub over it.
There are many other simple things a cat may want to play with, but always be cautious. Anything that is made of thread, yarn and plastic among other things may be potentially harmful for your cat. A small piece of these materials may seriously injure a cat's tummy.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)