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By: Dave Markel
There area many common sense rules to follow when caring for your cat. These rules are simple and will ensure your cat will be healthy and happy.
When your cat arrives at home:Bringing your new cat home can be frightening for it. Be prepared by having a food and water spot already set up. Also have a litter box setup in a quite spot away from the food. Your new cat should be transported in a cat carrier. When you bring the cat inside set the carrier down and open the door. Let the cat come out and explore on its own. Confining the cat to a quiet room for a day or two will make the experience less overwhelming.
Going Outside:Before letting your cat outside for the first time be sure it is comfortable with you and its indoor surroundings. There are many dangers outside so let your cat have an escape route in case it needs it. My cat uses a cat door and it has save him a few times.
Judge the risk to letting your cat outdoors. If you live close to lots of traffic having an outdoor cat may not be a good idea.
Litter Boxes:If you are using a cat box it should be cleaned daily. Clumping cat litter makes this easy. Simply scoop out the clumps and you're done. Put the litter box in a place where the cat will not be disturbed.
Food and water:Your cat should always have a supply of fresh food and water. I prefer to use a heavy ceramic bowl to prevent the cat from pushing it or tipping them over.
The water bowl should be changed daily and food should be added to maintain a good supply.
My cat is now on a high quality dry food. I found feeding him can food was a waste. He generally left some behind at each meal regardless of the portion. At 15 I weaned him onto dry food only.
Scratching Posts:Any cat is
going to have the urge to scratch. The question is where is it going to do it? Best to have a scratching post that is safe and secure. Play with your cat on the post so it gets used to being allowed to scratch there. Rubbing a bit of cat nip on the scratching post will encourage your cat to scratch.
Cat Toys:There are so many different cat toys on the market these days it is hard to choose a toy your cat will like. After much trial and error I determined my cat likes the string attached to the toy much better then the toy. Whenever I want to play I get a string, or better yet, my gold necklace (his favorite).
Sleeping Places:A cat always needs a quiet, out of the way place to sleep the day away. A bed near a heater or furnace vent is ideal. In the winter most of the vents in my house have a cat bed near them. If you have small children make sure they can't disturb your cat when it sleeps
Care for eyes and ears:When cats get a build up of discharge around the eye simply clean it with a damp cloth. A small amount of discharge is normal for a healthy cat but if there are excessive amount then consult a vet.
Regularly check your cats ears for dirt or ear mites. Any dirt can be removed with a damp Q-tip. If you spot small brown clumps of discharge you should consult your vet. This is a sign of ear mites.
Care for the claws:If you have an outside cat, claw care is less important. Climbing trees, and other outdoor stuff helps to keep claws well maintained.
An inside cat has far less need for its claws. There is really no environment where your cat needs to use its claws. You should trim your cats claws once or twice a year. Clip the very tip of each claw. Taking any more then just the tip can hurt your cat. It is recommended that you have a vet show you how to clip their claws properly.
Care of the mouth and teeth:As cats age their teeth start to get calcium build up which can cause gum inflammation. Check your cats mouth every 6 or 8 weeks. Find and remove and calcium build up before deposits get too large.
Caring for a cat is quite simple, common sense really. I believe that good food, fresh water, lots of love and exercise is best for a cat. By following these 10 simple guidelines your cat can live a long and healthy life.
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Man's Best Friend Should Be Treated As a Family Member
By Ronda Tuckness
I have always believed that man's best friend should be treated like a family member. I have held this belief since I got my first dog at the tender age of 6. She was a little white toy poodle puppy named Angie.
That sweet little dog was a big part of my life for fourteen years. She slept with me and followed me around all through my school years, and died when I was in my second year of college.
Luckily, my parents loved dogs, so our household usually consisted of at least two of them. I can remember at one point we had six pugs at one time.
Our dogs were never left out in the yard to fend for themselves. They were always with my brother and me, whether we were playing indoors or out. I cannot even begin to imagine a childhood without dogs. My life would just not have been the same.
My dogs tolerated being dressed in doll clothes and carted around in a baby doll carriage. They even allowed me to carry them around like little babies cradled in my arms. Man, I wonder now what they must have thought! However, they acted as if they were perfectly content just to be in my presence.
Especially my little Angie, the white poodle. She absolutely loved and adored me so much that it was almost ridiculous, but the feeling was mutual. I would have done anything for that little dog.
She made my childhood so much richer than it would have been otherwise. I am thankful to my parents for introducing me to dogs and their unconditional love and faithfulness at an early age.
I believe that every child should have a pet to love and care for. It teaches them responsibility gives them a love and respect for animals. That is a love that I have carried with me all through the years. It never wanes.
Now that I live in an apartment, I have two cats instead of a dog. I believe that dogs should have a yard where they can run and play. Now, the cats are a whole other story which I will tell at another time. Back to dogs.....
I hope that every dog owner will love and respect their pet and treat them like they are part of the family. They truly are. They live in our homes and are with us daily. They put up with our moods and show us love no matter what.
Dogs are man's best friend, and they have earned that title. They never leave us or forsake us, but love us regardless of our circumstances. They don't care if we are rich or poor, handsome or homely.
So, little Angie, wherever you are, you made my childhood great. Thank you for that. I hope that I gave you half as much joy and you gave me.
Ronda Tuckness is an affiliate marketer and big-time dog lover who hopes to eventually make a full-time income online. Find out more about her and man's best friend at http://www.squidoo.com/i-luv-dogs
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ronda_Tuckness
Emergency Poison Treatment For Dogs
By Kelly Marshall
There is nothing as frightening as having your dog accidentally come into contact with some type of poisonous substance. As with humans or any animal, dogs may eat poisonous items, inhale poisonous gases or vapors or get poisons on their skin or hair. Like humans, there are general emergencies procedures that dog owners should know to be able to treat their pet should they suspect poison. It is important to have a few general supplies on hand, but most of what you will need is likely to already be in your house.
Ingested Poisons
If you believe that your dog has eaten something poisonous, the first step is to find out what it was and then call your vet or an emergency treatment center that has information on poisons. If the poison was caustic you do not want to do anything that might cause further damage, so make sure the dog has not eaten anything that will cause a burn. If he or she has, get them to a vet immediately, do not induce vomiting or give them any food or drink unless specifically instructed to do so by the vet or poison control center.
Typically the vet will recommend a dilute lemon juice or vinegar and water solution to attempt to neutralize the chemical until you can get the dog to the clinic or animal hospital. Do not give any human medications to a dog as they can have severe reactions to "people medicines". Always bring the label form the item, whenever possible, to the vet with the dog.
If the substance is not caustic, it is important to try to get the dog to get the poison out of his or her system. The easiest way is to induce vomiting, which can be done through the oral administration of hydrogen peroxide. Be sure to only use the 3% hydrogen peroxide mixture and give about 1 teaspoon or 5ccs or 5mls per 10 pounds of dog's body weight. Use an oral syringe if possible and squirt the hydrogen peroxide to the back of the mouth over the top of the tongue. If you don't have a syringe, a turkey based can be used. Don't give more than the recommended dosage as hydrogen peroxide can also cause complications. The dog will typically vomit within a few minutes. If the dog is not swallowing, is comatose or is having difficulty in breathing or standing don't administer hydrogen peroxide unless under the direct supervision of your vet. Immediately get the dog to your vet after they have vomited.
Contact Poisons
If your dog has touched something poisonous the best option is usually to wash the area with warm, soapy water using baby shampoo or specialized dog shampoo. For tar or paint on the coat first apply a generous amount of Vaseline or petroleum jelly to remove as much of the substance as possible. The coat may need to be clipped or even shaved to completely remove the substance if the Vaseline doesn't do the trick. Follow with a soapy wash with warm but not hot water, followed by a thorough rinse with clear, warm water.
For more information recommended by Kelly Marshall, see these recent articles Before You Bring Your Puppy Home, You Need Some Supplies and Cats and Dogs: Living Together as Brothers and Sisters.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kelly_Marshall
Its Hard to Say Goodbye
by Kathy Davison
I deliberated about writing this article as I find it hard to talk or write about the loss of a pet in the past and I know how emotionally difficult it is for us to make that final call. Writing my thoughts down on paper does however help me clarify my feelings as it's something that has been paramount in my mind these last few months. Let me explain.
Some 2 months ago my Jack Russell called Rex developed a back stiffness that was off and on until he started to slow up and battled to climb the stairs. I could tell that in his stiffness he was not in a lot of pain but just enough to warrant a visit to the vet and some x- rays and pain killers. The x -rays showed nothing but the pain killers worked and he rebounded. Thinking all was over and mended I was horrified when one morning he could not get up. This time he was in terrible pain and following an emergency call I rushed to the vet with my 12 year old daughter in tow as moral support. I feared the worst and being a Vets daughter myself I knew in my heart that back problems were bad news and usually not fixable. The fear of that decision I was going to have to make was looming and I dreaded that terrible burden of maybe having to end my dog s life. The Vet could see my distress and after a few strong injections he offered a glimmer of hope in the expertise of an Orthopedic specialist Vet in Belfast who he preferred would make the final judgment. Phone calls were made and the emergency team of my daughter and I drove off to Belfast to see the Vet that was going to save the day. As I sat in the waiting room I started to feel like a 3 year old child that had lost its Toy. I had Rex wrapped in a blanket on my knee and the tears rolled down my cheek. The three ladies in the waiting room all assured me that this practice can work wonders and they would get him sorted out. I wondered on how stupid I looked trying to keep my lower lip under control and stop the tears. In my mind he was already dead and buried and I started to reflect on the words of comfort the three ladies offered me to try and lift my spirits. How is it that only dog lovers could understand my misery? It got me thinking about how we feel embarrassed about our grief over our pet. The thing is, it is not a recognized grief and to many people it is just a pet and you can just get another one. To many of us our dogs are like our children, that's how strong our attachment is and when we have to make that final decision we feel tremendous quilt and wonder did we leave it too long or did we make it too early. Many of us describe ourselves as murderers such is the quilt that stays with us after they are gone. Remember also that it is not only us that are affected. Each member of the family will react differently to our pets death based on his or her age, how attached they were and also their personality. There is no right or wrong way to grieve but its essential to make sure the grief is not denied.
When it comes to talking about euthanasia we all try and asses our pet's quality of life, but how can we judge this? We can look at their appetite, how active they are, do they still interact and get on with the rest of the family. What about movement, does he still get up and move around freely. As I sat in the waiting room analysing his quality of life I knew one thing for sure that this time if my dog's time was up I had to be there right at the end.
I made that fatal mistake with Mickey. He was 16 and had a tumor in his lungs. I could not face what I had to do and so I sent my poor husband to the final hour. It was the worst mistake I ever made and for weeks afterwards I felt totally ashamed that I could not be with my dog as he passed away. I had old Mickey cremated and to this day his urn of ashes sit in my mother s house and I refuse to throw them! She keeps reminding me as well!
While sitting and thinking of past pets I was jolted to the present when the Orthopedic vet summoned me to his room. I held my breath as he examined Rex and waited for the verdict..The conclusion was to Operate, a 70% chance of recovery and the odds were in my favor. So off he was wiped to theatre and I drove home full of hope. Rex stayed at the vets for one full week. He had 2 ruptured discs and became the miracle boy when he tried to get up the day after the operation.. He came home on pain killers with strict instructions of gradually increasing exercise and he made an amazing recovery.. Its hard now to see how debilitated he was and its very easy to get lured into long walks when he seems to have so much energy and go, but there is a weakness there and when a walk becomes more of a long one then he is tired. Its hard to judge just how much is too much. I am really grateful for the fact that he is running around, full of life and happy but I am conscious of the fact that this back problem could make its ugly appearance at any time and knock me back into that feeling of despair. I know that if it happens again our time will have run out. I just could not bear to watch him struggle through a second time. It is then that I will have to put my own needs aside. I will allow myself time to grieve and not feel ashamed and most of all I will know that I did my best for Rex.
About the Author
Kathy is a health studies lecturer in human and animal health. She also has an online business dedicated to cats and dogs. http://www.yourcatmydog.com
A Few Tidbits on Proper Goldfish Care
by john
Perhaps you have just bought a goldfish in the sper of the moment and you have no idea on how to care for it, or maybe you know the basics of goldfish care but not much, like how to clean the tank or what foods or plants you can give to your goldfish. Good Goldfish Care starts with healthy goldfish, free from goldfish disease and goldfish parasites. Proper goldfish care is vital to keeping goldfish for an extended period of time. Before you bring your goldfish home, it is important to consider what you will need to do in order to maintain good goldfish care. Commonly, a water heater is not required for goldfish care, but some water preparation is.
Different varieties of Goldfish may also live at different temperatures. Anywhere from 50 degrees F to 68 degrees F is best, provided that any change in temperature is gradual.
All they need is a tank with cold water, a little tonic in the water to make it less harmful for them, and regular feeding everyday, that's it, you won't hear a peep out of them. Your fish will also grow, and you want to take this into account when choosing your tank.
The best way to keep your fish healthy is to follow the basic rules of good aquarium or pond management. Thus plenty of water, generous space, regular water maintenance and good healthy food and your goldie should enjoy a long happy life with you Last but not least: Enjoy your fish. As long as you can get past that initial hump of the first few weeks, your goldfish should enjoy a happy and healthy long life.
About the Author
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