Local Value Veterinary

Category: Cats

  • Predict your Cat’s Age

    Predict your Cat’s Age

    Predict your Cat’s Age with these Simple Tips.

    Predicting your cat’s age might not be as easy as it seems, especially if you don’t know their birth date. However, a closer look at your cat’s appearance can help you identify their age.

    There are so many other factors that contribute to the present appearance of your cat. For instance, if your cat was a stray before adoption or didn’t receive appropriate care in their earlier ages, they might appear older than they should. The tips below seek to give you a rough idea into the prediction of your fur friend’s age;

    Teeth

    The newly born kittens don’t have any teeth. However, at two weeks you might notice some deciduous incisors. At the fourth week, expect to see deciduous canines and by the sixth week’s deciduous pre-molars emerge. You should, however, expect them to have all the baby teeth in place by the 8th week. At one year, your cat’s teeth are white and firm. A few yellowing sets in at year two with advancements up to the 10th year with more wearing. It continues to get worse after the tenth year.

    Appearance

    Young to middle-aged cats have lean, strong muscles and a shiny, healthy looking coat. At age eight and nine, they begin to lose muscle tone and mass.

    Eyes

    Cats over seven years are at risk of developing lenticular sclerosis. Here the lens loses their color and you should contact your veterinarian immediately.

    Claws and Feet

    The claws of your cat grow with age. At middle-age, they tend to be longer and drier. Their footpads also get firm as they grow. They might even crack.

    Growth

    Most cats reach maturity at one year. However, some breeds such as Maine Coon experience growth to the fourth year. As cats age, they lose the youthful look and appear more filled up.

    SOURCE: Pet MD, Cat World, The Nest

  • Getting Your Dog and Cat Along

    Getting Your Dog and Cat Along

    Getting Your Dog and Cat Along; Simple Tips For Pet Owners

    Over the years the rivalry witnessed between cats and dogs has become an acceptable practice. Because of this, many pet owners prefer adopting either of the two as opposed to both of them at a go. 
     
    However, with your help, this perspective can change. Therefore if you are planning to keep a cat and a dog, you have to put in a little more effort to ensure sanity in your household.

    Consider adopting kittens and puppies at the same time

    We highly advise you to consider adopting kittens and puppies as opposed to grown cats and dogs if you are thinking to keep them under one roof. Since both puppies and kittens are both young and unexposed to everyday reality, it is simpler to modify their relations into getting along from a tender age.
     
    Additionally, going through different phases of life together, getting to play with each other, etc. allows time for bonding which cannot be easily erased even with external influence. However, you will have to teach your puppy how to understand when the kitten is tired as they are more energetic.

    Conduct Some Background Check

    Just the same way you conduct a background check on your employees, we suggest you do the same with pet adoption. Get to know more about your dog/cat’s habits, more so about the other pair. Doing this goes a long way into helping you decide which animal fits your needs. If the cat or dog you wish to adopt relates well with other animals in the shelter, there are higher chances of them getting along with the one(s) you have back at home. Most people tend to assume that most cats are friendly, we urge you not to as some cats prefer having the whole space to themselves.

    Don’t Rush on the Introduction Sessions

    We understand that sometimes you might get too excited to introduce your pets to each other. But you have to slow down. Remember they speak from entirely different angles which can make getting along a bit confusing. So your enthusiasm might not really work for them. Instead, take one step at a time. For instance, you can let them watch each other from a distance for the first couple of days and then get to reduce the range with time. Remember to be present all the time at least until you are sure of them correctly getting along.
     
     
  • Dogs in Winter

    Dogs in Winter

    4 Classic Tips For Dog Care During Winter

    Caring for your dog during winter is vital just as it is to you and any other member of your family. However, in some instances, pet owners tend to forget to plan for caring trends of their dogs in the winter weather. Just because your dog covering is made up of fur, doesn’t mean they won’t get cold during this season. How then do you go about it?

    Keep Their Drinking Water Warm

    Even during winter, your dog needs to quench its thirst. So we urge you to make sure a bowl of warm water is readily available for your dog. To make this possible, you might consider purchasing a heated water bowl for this purpose. Make sure to keep checking the temperature of your dog’s food and water from time to time to eliminate the accumulation of snow. However, be sure to adjust your dog’s food to light meals as they are not so active during this period.

    Keep your Dog in Sight

    It is during winter that we witness massive loss/ injury of dogs. Therefore, make sure to keep your dog from straying by ensuring you know its whereabouts. You might also consider keeping them indoors as it chills on the outside. If your dog starts to exhibit any signs of cold such as shivering, cover them with a warm blanket, warm clothing can also do the trick.

    Safeguard your Dog from Room Heaters

    While we understand the role played by heaters during winter, we also know how dangerous they can get especially with your dog around. The cold weather might trigger your dog into snuggling too close to the heating source a move that endangers their lives in case of a fire breakout. Hence, you should, by all means, avoid using space heaters and instead consider the installation of baseboard radiators for warming purposes.

    Keep Them Moisturized

    The harsh winter weather has diverse effects on your dog’s skin. So it is essential to keep them moisturized all the time. However, while motorizing is vital, it doesn’t necessarily mean you have to bathe your dog frequently. In fact, you should reduce dog baths to a minimum during winter as this exposes them to cold, which might lead to a wide range of infections. Pay particular attention to your dog’s paws as they can easily get irritated with chemicals on the outside.

    You might also consider getting your dog footwear for protection from sand and salt.

    SOURCES: Dogs Naturally, Love To Know, Batter Sea

    COPYRIGHT: Local Value

  • Laser Toys; Are They Good For Your Cat?

    Laser Toys; Are They Good For Your Cat?

    Cats get amused by laser toys. The little moving dot tights make them even more interesting to your cat.
     
    Additionally, the constant movement of dots in the laser dots bring a life aspect to the game; reason as to why cats cannot help but chase laser dots as they change direction and speed. Though this might seem fun to watch, how safe is a laser toy for your cat?

    The Laser Beam

    Although most people like the idea of laser toys for their cats, there are some concerns about the laser-bright laser lights causing damage to your cat’s eyes. But then how true is this? As much as we don’t advocate you directly pointing the laser lights into your cat’s eyes during play time, there is nothing much to worry about if you happen to do so. The light released from laser toys is at a little range of milliwatts(typically 1-5) and is practically safe for you and your cat’s eyes. Nevertheless, we urge you to be careful when selecting a laser toy for your cat as some models contain far too much light for pet use.

    Exercising

    Just the same way exercise is essential to you, so is it for your cat. However, sometimes you get too indulged in other activities and forget to take your cat for that evening walk. This makes your cat’s life boring hence they end up lazing around at their favorite corner while keeping an eye on you. If this becomes a habit, your cat might develop lifestyle complications such as obesity due to lack of enough exercise. However, with laser toys, this is bound to change as you can still take your dog for a vigorous exercising session right at the comfort of your home. The good thing is that it doesn’t take a lot of time for both of you to have fun while keeping fit.

    Bond Building

    As we earlier on indicated, a busy lifestyle can lead to a strained relationship between you and your cat. When playing with a laser toy, you not only help your cat master vital prey tactics but also make them feel loved. Through this, you get to build a stronger relationship with much understanding of their prevalence, just as they do yours. Laser toy games also help you to teach your cat social skills such as boundaries and coordination.
     
    COPYRIGHT: Local Value
     
  • 5 Important Questions For Your Vet

    5 Important Questions For Your Vet

    We urge all pet owners to take their companions to the vet but most importantly, to learn how to ask the right questions. Here are five of these vital inquiries.

    1. Is my pet at a healthy weight?

    Human obesity might have the most cases, but pet obesity is just as dangerous to your little helper just as former. Your pet will only add weight if you overfeed it or present it with a poor diet. As such, you need to be stronger when your pet gives you those round, pleading eyes or sagging ears with a sad face in the hope of a slice of bacon.
    Not to mention, you also need to exercise with your pet every once in a while. For starters, dogs require about thirty minutes of exercise every day. Ask us about the ideal weight for your pet and how much food should they be given. If your pet is overweight, ask us about an exercise and diet program but remember to follow it to the letter.

    2. There’s this one thing my pet does that annoys me…

    What most people would think is a behavioral issue in their pets could escalate into a serious problem at any moment. As such, do not shy away from asking us about a particular observation regarding your pet’s behavior. A little barking today can turn into an aggravated assault on a neighbor or your couch if your pet is not examined.
    Never be afraid to ask us such a question considering even us as humans are always trying to change a thing or two in our behavior. Nipping such a problem in its early stages is key to ensuring little to no future, deep-rooted problems.

    3. Is parasite protection medication necessary for my pet?

    Regardless of your location, preventative drugs that aid your pet in fighting off parasitic infections are vital. Parasites such as heartworm are rampant can lead to chronic conditions such as lung disease and heart failure just to mention a few. Not to mention, there are other parasites such as nematode worms that not only affect your pet but people as well.
    This parasite can even cause blindness in children if the latter comes to contact with nematode larvae. As such, we advise you to consult us regarding the best parasitical drugs for your pet, and we’ll offer the best solution depending on your home area and the parasites that are most common.

    4. Does my pet need a blood test?

    The answer to this question is a big yes. We understand this might be uncomfortable for some people as well as their pets but blood samples are vital for us seeing we use them to screen for many diseases including liver disease, cancer, and diabetes just to mention a few.

    5. Do you offer emergency care on weekends and holidays?

    Unexpected events are bound to occur every once in a while in our lives and those of our treasured pets, but some situations leave pet owners helpless. Ask us about our weekend and public holiday policy to ensure your pet doesn’t endure excruciating pain for hours on end before they receive proper treatment.

    Conclusion

    While you’re at it, don’t forget to inquire about the methods of payment and an insurance plan for your pet. Also, ask us about the vaccines your pets need and the necessity of each of them to help keep your pet healthy.
     
  • How to Celebrate the New Year with Your Pet

    How to Celebrate the New Year with Your Pet

    Pets might not be able to speak, but they express their joy in an easily understandable manner. A dog will bark and wag its tail while running uncontrollably while a cat will purr and walk away feeling like the winner in that given situation. On a serious note, as most vets say, the emotional welfare of your pet is as equally important as its physical well-being.

    Your Pet And The New Year

    Here are some of the ways you can make this New Year’s a memorable one for your pet.

    1. Playdate
      Just as we enjoy the company of a friend or a neighbor ever once in a while, so do our pets when they see their fellow species. However, not all pets will be friendly with each other, so make sure they are compatible. Don’t ask your friend who owns a lizard to come over for some pet bonding if your pet is a spider.
    2. Out with the Old, in with the New
      Do you see the excitement on a child’s face when you hand them a new toy? The same feeling is felt by our pets whenever we decide to buy them something new. However, too many old toys do not help with growth or new experiences. Clean out the old toys and make space for the new ones as you usher in the New Year with your pet.
    3. Make Resolutions Together
      Instead of making self-centered resolutions this coming year, include your pet in your plans. Heck, you can sit down and drink some milk while asking for their opinion. While they might not respond verbally, they will surely be excited by the idea of a road trip to the countryside in February.
    4. Exercise
      While it may be a celebration in itself, the New Year is the beginning of another cycle. Use New Year’s Eve as the time to get some exercise with your pet so that you g plenty of rest at night. Not to mention, it is also the ideal time to shed off all the Christmas holiday weight.

    SOURCES: Adopt A Pet, Pet Health Network, Pet Guide   
    COPYRIGHT: Local Value

  • Unique Ideas For Celebrating Christmas With Your Pet

    Unique Ideas For Celebrating Christmas With Your Pet

    Christmas present the perfect opportunity for you to give attention to the things that matter regarding your pets welfare. From a medical point of view, a few minutes off your tight schedule does not pass for proper bonding. However, such is the case with society at the moment and even during the Christmas holiday, we still have limited time for our furry friends.

    Celebrating Christmas With Your Pet

    6 ways to can spend this festive season with your pet(s) to increase the fun and add to their health.

    1. Include Them in the Family Dinner
      Normally, most pets eat canned food. Not to mention, they are not even considered in special dinners, which we have almost daily. However, you can add some flavor and nutrients to their diet by making a separate plain turkey and veggie meal for them this Christmas.
    2. Take them Outside
      Some people are used to taking their dog for their morning jog but others train at home on a treadmill. Not to mention, a busy work schedule makes it hard to take the dog for a walk as opposed to a caretaker or relative. Go fetch the holiday tree or do some grocery shopping with your pet. It will be both fun and a chance for them to get some much-needed exercise.
    3. Stockings
      Everybody gets properly wrapped Christmas presents except for some pets. You can change that and add some fun to your pet’s life by filling up a stocking with some toys and gifts. Help them unwrap the presents and even trying playing with them using some of the toys.
    4. Baking
      Baking is a significant part of the Christmas tradition. While you are baking that delicious cake or cookies, do not forget to include your pet as well. They love freshly baked treat just like the next man.
    5. Charity Party
      Christmas will be all about eating and having a good time with friends and family. Still, there is always a simple charity party somewhere in the neighborhood. You can host one with your pet and donate the proceeds to animal shelters in your area or animal welfare organizations.

    SOURCES Jet Pets, Paws Shake, 4 Knines 

    COPYRIGHT: Local Value   

  • 4 Ways To Calm Your Cat During A Visit to the Vet

    4 Ways To Calm Your Cat During A Visit to the Vet

    By this time, most cats are scared and resolve to retreat into the carrier, meowing with desperation. Still, their retreat doesn’t mean that the vet will take them without a fight. However, you can train your cat to stay calm during these visits by using some of the following methods. Putting an end to that feline resistance is the first step to ensuring your pet gives you pleasant memories for years to come.

    Calm Cats

    Here’s how to make sure that the next visit to the vet is not only trouble-free but also fruitful and drama-free.

    1. Prepare the Carrier Beforehand
      When we say prepare the carrier, we don’t want you to reinforce it with a steel wire mesh to prevent scratches or anything of the sort. Try placing it along the cat’s path a week before a visit to the veterinary clinic. You can also add treats to help the cat get more accustomed to entering the carrier to avoid a big fight on pet clinic day. This will go a long way in preparing them psychologically for the impending scheduled visit to the vet. Nonetheless, ensure that the carrier is on a flat surface when going to the vet.
    2. Cover it
      Covering the cat’s carrier can go a long way to keeping the feline calm. Unlike dogs or some flying pets, cats are not used to visiting new places or exploring the world with their tongue hanging out from the car window. Protecting them against scary and strange sights helps cats stay calm despite being inside a carrier in a moving vehicle.
    3. Friendly Veterinarian
      Just like it is with human doctors, some vets take up the job as an occupation as opposed to passion; your feline friend gets that feeling too. As such, it is essential to take them to a vet who likes cats. Some even practice in lobbies next to dog clinics, which might be the reason why your furry friend is always feisty when it comes to veterinary visits. So, do kitty a small favor this time around and find him a friendly vet.
    4. Start them off at a Young Age
      They say you can’t teach old dogs new tricks. The same saying goes for other animals such as cats. Take your kittens to the vet while they are still young but don’t take advantage of their frail condition, instead, make the experience as memorable as possible. By the time they are older, a visit to the vet will b just another day in the life of a cat.

    SOURCES: Pet Health Network, Animal Planet, Cat Friendly