Local Value Veterinary

Tag: #kitten

  • Kitten becoming Cat

    Kitten becoming Cat

    Things to Look Out For As Your Kitten Transitions to A Senior Cat

    Senior cats will require more care as compared to young kittens. Staying vigilant about their health and taking the senior cats for regular wellness testing and veterinary exams will help to keep your cat healthy even in old age. Since your cat is more vulnerable to diseases with age, your vigilance in checking their daily habits must be increased after seven years to ensure you can catch and prevent issues early before they develop further into more severe complications.

    What to look out for when observing a senior cat

    • Odd litter box behaviors

    • Weight loss or gain

    • Reduced mobility

    • Changes in behavior like sleeping and hiding away from family members

    Common diseases that affect senior cats

    • Osteoarthritis: It affects the joints and causes mobility issues.

    • Kidney disease: It is found in most senior cats, and it is categorized by lager urine clamps, weight loss, and inappetence.

    • Inflammatory bowel condition: The common symptoms here include weight loss, diarrhea, and vomiting.

    • Cognitive dysfunction: Nearly 80% of cats will develop cognitive dysfunction once they reach 15 years old.

    • Cancer: Oral, intestinal and mammary cancers are common in older cats

    • Hyperthyroidism: Increased vocalization, appetite, and weight loss are all hyperthyroidism symptoms in cats

    • Dental disease

    • Diabetes: As the cat adds more weight with age, they are more likely to develop diabetes.

    The significant role of your veterinarian

    To maintain proper health for your cat even in old age, you will need to take them for complete physical examinations twice per year once they reach seven years old. Consider that these biannual visits to the vet are similar to a human going for a checkup after every three or four years. Because cats love hiding their symptoms and usually have several health issues simultaneously, regularly wellness testing and exams will help to keep your senior cats healthy.

    Tips for keeping senior cats healthy

    • Ensure you meet all your senior cat’s needs: They should have enough food, water, social interactions, resting and an easily accessible litter box

    • Arrange regular visits to your veterinary: Once your cat reaches seven years, schedule biannual veterinarian visits.

    • Keep track of their weight: Regularly weigh your cat at home to track any sudden changes in their weight and report to your veterinarian

    • Observe your cat closely: Be more vigilant in observing your cat since any change may mean that something is wrong.

    • Healthy nutrition: Your vet will recommend the best diet for your senior cat, which includes small but several potions of canned foods and encouraging lots of water consumption.

    References: Pet MD, The Spruce Pets

     

  • Puppy and Kitten Care

    Puppy and Kitten Care

    5 Interesting Feeding Tips for Puppy and Kitten Care

    Most pet owners are unfamiliar with the fact that puppies and kittens are not fed similarly to their adult companions. Here are some interesting points to inform and enlighten on the options regarding puppy and kitten nutrition.

    Feeding Styles

    A sign of good appetite in young pets is that they will tend to eat more frequently, with even higher appetite than their adult counterparts. The case is especially for kittens below six months requiring at least four meals a day or at times opting for free feeding (they eat at their disposal). Similarly, puppies do need at least three meals in a day, with the one under two weeks requiring food at least every two hours.

    Balanced Diet

    A puppy or kitten is at most risk of nutritional imbalances and allergies based on the food they eat, and this makes it essential that the pet gets a balanced diet for proper development. During the early weeks, the mother’s milk (dam and queen) are the ideal options for growth. If it cannot sustain, then a kitten or puppy milk replacer is another option.

    What about Meat?

    Raw meat does not contain a proper balance of the nutrients if fed alone to growing puppies. It lacks the required calcium levels that are essential for adequate tooth and bone development in dogs. Weaned kittens, which have successfully transitioned to adult food, can handle meat comfortably although this depends on the individual pet’s digestive system.

    Is Canned Food Safe?

    Unless the puppy or kitten has an underlying condition, feeding canned food or dry commercial pet food saturated with milk replacer is still recommendable for unweaned pets. The best option, therefore, is to avoid exposing the kittens to different varieties of diets by picking a product that is closer to the pet’s natural diet and meets AAFCO standards.

    Body Condition

    While there is plenty of attention on the feeding of kittens and puppies, monitoring their weight, health and appearance also play a significant role in identifying the ideal nutrition for them. Identifying the perfect body condition would need body composition charts, or visit the vet and identify the health metrics.

    There are plenty of chances than not everyone would know what to do with a new puppy or kitten at home. However with the right knowledge, and nutrition the first few months of the young pet could become less exhaustive.

    SOURCES: WSAVA, AAFCO, MDPI, The Optimal Dog
    COPYRIGHT: Local Value

  • Adopt a Cat Month – Top 5 Reasons You Should Adopt a Cat

    Adopt a Cat Month – Top 5 Reasons You Should Adopt a Cat

    1. Cats are very independent, which means that little supervision is needed.
    2. Kittens don’t need to learn where to do their business, they come potty trained! Just get your kitten a litter box and it will know what to do.
    3. You are saving a life. Over 40% of cats entering shelters are euthanized every year. (https://www.aspca.org/about-us/faq/pet-statistics)
    4. Indoor cats generally don’t need baths – they bathe themselves!
    5. Owning a cat is good for your health! Cats particularly lower the amount of stress from your life and could potentially lower your chances of having heart diseases. (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/98432.php)