Natural Pet Health

An expert can ascertain the general health of a pet simply by keenly observing the skin and coat. Dry skin tends to spoil the glossy coat and often leads to excessive itching and scratching in pets.

Before you do anything about it, it is advisable that you ensure that the dry skin and the resultant itching is not a result of parasitic infection, immune mediated diseases, allergy or bacterial and fungal infection. Such disorders require immediate attention of a veterinarian and are better treated systematically.

Conditions like dog or cat dandruff, flaking dry skin and canine or feline acne can be addressed with diet supplements, healthy nutritional diet and medication.

Have you been wondering what to name your new puppy or kitten? Here are a number of name suggestions from T to Z (with their meanings) for fun and loveable names for pets of any size, shape or color:

Tabby – a mottled or black with grayish striped cat

Tabitha – female, personal name

Taboo – something forbidden or banned

Tadpole – a larval stage of a frog or toad

Taffy – confection made with brown sugar or molasses

Tag – a children’s game, or something used for identification purposes

Tally – a reckoning or a score

Tango – a Latin-American ballroom dance

Tantrum – a fit of bad temper

All dogs need exercise, especially young puppies. And it is very unlikely for your dog to get the sufficient amount of exercise he needs just by sitting around the house, which is what most dogs do when they are left alone for many hours at a time.

If you are planning on getting two or more puppies, they will move and play around with one another. But a puppy by himself wont do much more than make an occasional tour around the house, check the area, and then lie down.

You have to include a daily exercise routine if you want a dog to stay fit. Puppies, in particular, need exercise for their muscular development and as part of their socialization process. A physically fit puppy will grow up to be a physically fit dog that is healthier, happier, and able to live his life to the fullest.

These days, Persian cats are among the most popular breeds of cat. Well known for their gentle and sweet personalities and their long hair, Persian cats have very attractive features. They are great companions for virtually anyone, and not very demanding. Unlike other breeds, such as the Siamese breed, Persian breeds need very little attention.

Although white is the color normally associated with Persian cats, they actually come in a variety of other colors as well. During competitions, they are divided into seven color divisions – solid, silver and gold, tabby, shaded and smoke, parti-color, bicolor, and Himalayan. No matter what color of Persian cat it may be, they are best noticed during competitions by their long and flowing coats.

In today’s world it isn’t only human medical treatments that command high prices. Medical fees for your pet’s health can lead into the thousand’s quite easily. An average cost if your dog is involved in a motor vehicle accident is approximately $4,890.00, or if your dog requires cancer treatments the cost can run about $3,600.00.

No one likes to think of what may happen if your pet gets sick and possibly needs treatment. And no one likes to think about what may happen if you can’t afford those expensive treatments to make your pet well again.

Adapted from New Choices in Natural Healing for Dogs and Cats, by Amy D. Shojai.

For pets that are sensitive to heat, the steamy summer months are not only uncomfortable, they are also the time when the risk of fatal heatstroke is highest. Thousands of pets die needlessly every summer from over-exposure to heat.

Learn how to protect your pets from this easy-to-prevent killer.

Here’s how:

Heastroke is an emergency that needs medical attention as soon as possible. Even before you take your pet to the vet, however, you need to start cooling her body down by putting her in a tub of cool water, for example, or by applying wet towels or ice packs to her body, says Susan G. Synn, D.V. M., a veterinarian in Atlanta. When you are in the car, turn the air conditioner on high and get to the vet as quickly as you can.

The Persian cat breed was first brought to Europe from the Ottoman Empire in the XVI century. Although originally the Persian cat was typically short-haired, the long hair version of today’s Persian was thought to have been developed from the Pallas cat strain.

As is commonly known, today’s Persian cat breed has an extremely long, thick coat. This cat’s legs seem to be short compared to its body size. Its head is wide and the ears are rounded and typically set far apart. It has beautiful large round-ish eyes and an extremely fore-shortened, flat-faced muzzle, making its face seem almost squashed.

This breed of cat can have any color or markings, including, tortoiseshell, blue, tabby or pointed. There are tipped varieties also which are known as Chinchilla. Point types are known as Himalayan in the U.S. and Colorpoint Persian in Europe.

Does your pet come home from the park with fleas and ticks?

Are you looking for natural flea and tick pet care? Did you know that apple cider vinegar repels fleas and ticks?

To make the solution more fragrant, you can make a tincture of fresh and dried leaves such as rosemary leaves, calendula blossoms, rose petals, lavender, lemon peel, sage, comfrey and/or chamomile.

Loosely place the plant leaves & blossom in a small jar filling about one third full. Cover with vinegar. Leave the jar in warm place for two or more weeks. Occasionally shake the jar gently.

Strain the scented vinegar and add several drops essential oil of rosemary or lavender to enhance the fragrance. Store the vinegar in a cool dark place.

Unforeseen Dangers of Spring

With warmer spring weather arriving in the next few weeks, pet owners face an entire new set of challenges. While your pet was likely cooped up inside during the winter, the change in climate will soon likely bring your pet outdoors—also exposing it to potential health hazards.

Nearly every system in your pet’s body can be affected by the change in season, but preventative measures can be taken to ensure your pet stays safe and healthy while frolicking in the great outdoors!

When unleashing your pet into the yard, park, or other place of recreation, be sure to err on the side of caution regarding the territory they investigate. Puppies especially tend to mistake blooms, leaves, and branches as potential chew toys, which can disrupt digestive systems or even be poisonous.

Not everyone loves reptiles, but reptiles can also be good pets for the chosen few. Before making a decision about adding a reptile to your family, be sure to consult the laws in your area. Some reptiles, like constricting or venomous snakes, are not allowed, by Law, in some areas.

It is best to pick a captive-bred reptile when possible so that your pet will be used to handling by humans. When purchasing your reptile at a pet store or breeder, look for a healthy one with clear, alert eyes and no visible sores or lesions.