Natural Pet Health

Anytime your cat backs himself up to a door or other object in your house, lifts his tail, and releases urine – you have a problem. This problem is known as spraying, and is very common with cats kept indoors. Even though it is a very annoying problem, it’s a problem that can be solved.

Contrary to what many think, spraying isn’t a litter box problem, but rather a problem with marking. Cat urine that is sprayed contains pheromones, which is a substance that cats and other animals use for communicating. Pheromones are much like fingerprints with humans, as they are used to identify the cat to other animals.

When a cat sprays something, he is simply marking his territory through his urine. The spraying is simply the cat’s way of letting others know that the territory is his. Even though it may make you mad and annoy you, getting angry with your cat will solve nothing. If you raise your voice or show angry towards your cat, it can very well result in more spraying.

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Inappropriate urinary behavior in cats is normally associated with medical disorders like feline Urinary Infection. However, it is also true that many times it is a behavioral problem rather than a medical one.

It is only after ruling out medical causes after complete blood and urine tests that one can unequivocally state the real cause of inappropriate urinary behavior.

What we consider as abnormal may actually be appropriate when seen from the cat’s perspective. Owners train and expect their cat to always urinate in the litter box but cats, especially feral cats, are prone to mark their territory by spraying. This could be as frequent as 6 to 10 times a day.

When a cat is urinating to mark territory, it does so in a standing position with its tail in erect position so that the urine hits a vertical surface. Some cats will do the same on carpets or beds as well but the difference is that this type of urination makes a spray (linear) pattern and does not form a pool.

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If you are new to owning a cat, you may be surprised to find that health problems are a common thing. No matter what breed of cat you own, health problems are to be expected. Some may be hereditary, while others can easily be prevented.

Worms

No matter what breed of cat it may be, worms are a very common and recurring problem. Tapeworms, Roundworms, and Hookworms are among the most common that infect cats. Cats who have problems gaining weight, problems with fleas, or if you find white specks in his stool, you should have your vet test him for worms. Although they can be treated with medicine, worms can prove to be fatal if they are left untreated.

Hairball

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Practically the same drugs and antibiotics that are used for treating UTI in humans are used for treating Urinary Tract Infections in cats. Amoxicillin is semi synthetic oral penicillin that is used for treating Bacterial Infections and is one of the primary antibiotics indicated for treating feline Urinary Tract Infection.

As is widely known, antibiotics should be used only when they cannot be avoided as they are liable to become ineffective over time and with overuse. It is necessary that proper information be gathered about the drug before it is used to treat Urinary Infection in cats.

For veterinarian use, amoxicillin is available in the 100mg dose as amoxicillin trihydrate. It works by inhibiting the biosynthesis of large structural molecules in the cell walls of bacteria. It is indicated in the treatment of cystitis, urethritis and genitourinary tract infections along with infections of the upper and lower respiratory tracts.

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Tips for promoting food safety in pets

While pet owners often take extra precautions in the kitchen when preparing food for their own meals, it is likely that the same hygienic habits are overlooked when handling their dog or cat’s food.

Although the pet food scare of last year may have altered consumer pet food buying habits, it is likely that the knowledge of how to properly feed a pet its daily nutrition requirements is still inadequate — which can impact their overall health and Well-Being.

Many people think of their pets as “garbage disposals”, as many dogs and cats have the tendency to eat any leftover scraps or nibble on grass, plants, or other inappropriate snacks… therefore giving the false perspective that their stomachs are infallible to afflictions.

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Monitoring pet behavior to avoid Biting triggers

While a furry friend may usually make a great companion, they can sometimes act out of character with Aggressive Behavior—leading to nips, bites, and potentially even attacks. Often the underlying signs of Aggression go unnoticed, but sometimes there are indicators… in any case, dog and cat bites are a serious problem.

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, 800,000 dog Bite victims require medical attention in the United States annually, while countless more go unreported and/or untreated. Cat bites are not as frequently reported, but an estimated 700,000 people a year are thought to be bitten. However, almost half of all cat bites become infected… making both dog and cat bites worthy causes of concern!

Although Mother Nature may inexplicably interfere with a pet’s behavior at times, there are luckily many precautions to take that can minimize the risk of Biting.

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Adapted from The Healthy Pet Manual: A Guide to the Prevention and Treatment of Cancer by Deborah Straw (Healing Arts Press, 2005). http://www.care2.com/

What are your options for flea and tick control if you do not wish to use sprays, pills, or injections? Several healthy alternatives exist.

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The main problem with feline liver disease is that by the time it starts manifesting specific liver related symptoms, almost two thirds of it has already been affected. This is partly because the liver has a huge reserve capacity and continues to function even after a majority of its cells have been destroyed or weakened and partly because the liver cells have an enormous capacity to regenerate and get back to work. Another possible reason for late detection is the inherent similarity of symptoms of liver disease in dogs and cats with other mild conditions.

The liver is a critical organ that performs numerous and wide range of functions including Digestion, metabolism and production of chemical compounds, elimination of wastes and toxins and regulation of immunity functions. Toxins consumed by pets reach the liver almost immediately since there is a direct supply of blood from the gut to the liver. The involvement of the liver in multiple functions also presupposes secondary liver disease in cats and dogs caused by primary conditions like Diabetes. Most of the Malignant Cancers often metastasize to the liver as well.

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Author: Karyn Siegel-Maier - http://www.herbalmusings.com/

Skin is truly a remarkable feat of biological engineering. Consider for a moment that a single square inch of human skin harbors 19 feet of blood vessels, 19 million cells, 65 hairs, 625 sweat glands and at least 90 oil glands.

Equipped with all of these sensors, the skin works around the clock to shield us from invading bacteria, regulate body temperature, remove toxins and provide a glove-fitting waterproof covering for our fragile bodies. Skin is not only an amazing instrument for people, but is the first line of defense for our pets as well.

Your pet can suffer from a variety of skin disorders and, with the exception of fleas (hopefully), they may be very similar in nature to those that can affect you. Many minor irritations can be treated naturally and safely with simple herbal preparations at home.

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Adapted from The Healthy Pet Manual: A Guide to the Prevention and Treatment of Cancer by Deborah Straw (Healing Arts Press, 2005). http://www.care2.com/

Garlic has been given medicinally to humans and animals for at least 4,000 years. In the past 20 years, 2,000 studies have been performed on Garlic’s impact on our most serious, widespread illnesses. One report concluded that the Herb may have direct benefits against the “seven major diseases of our time: Hypertension, hyperlipemia (high cholesterol), heavy metal intoxication, infectious disease, free-radical damage, Cancer and immune deficiency disease.”

According to Walter Last’s research, Garlic protects against metastases and inhibits the growth of existing Tumors. It also strengthens the Immune System and allows the liver to detoxify more effectively.

Cats’ immune systems can easily become compromised from poor diet, Stress, disease, breeding and showing and Aging. Garlic is one Herb that can help rebuild the Immune System. It has been shown, through a variety of experiments, to be effective against Viral Infections, Parasites and fungal infections.

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