Saucy Pet

Posts Tagged ‘animal health’

If you are considering getting a pet as an addition to the family, it might be worth thinking about whether you want a cat or a dog. There are some people that find it hard to decide between because they like dogs and cats. Either way, here are some basic pet health facts about dogs and cats so you can decide which you would rather get. Remember, this is a long-term commitment and you should make the right choice.

Consider Furry Bundles Of Joy

Many people would agree that cats are furry bundles of fun, and they are great for the owner looking for a low maintenance pet. It is important that you let cats have their own space. Although exercise isn’t a must with cats, they just need easy and quick access to outside. Now when it comes to pet health, cats mainly suffer with hairball problems and these should be monitored. Vets also recommend that milk is avoided as it can be hard for cats to tolerate. Cats can also suffer with constipation because dry food is quite difficult to swallow, so add some water to the dinner if needs be.

It is easy to see that cats are generally easy to care for. The only thing is, they are not always the best at showing affection and some owners might not like this. Also think about cat allergies, which many people suffer with, and in general more people are allergic to cats than dogs.

Dogs – Barking Mad?

In 2002 it was announced that cats were more popular than dogs in Britain, but it is now felt that the shift has changed somewhat. Generally thought of as quite high maintenance, dogs offer loyal companionship to all family members. Dogs are faithful and will also act as good guards of the family and the home. Give your dog a walk on a daily basis and make sure you keep on top of your pet health in general. In terms of food, dry dog food is recommended. Ensure the dog has regular access to plenty of water.

Remember that grooming is an important aspect you need to be aware of and this can help with general pet health. Do not feed chocolate, as this is poisonous to dogs and their pet health.

As a nation of dog lovers, we’re all aware of the curious nature of our pets, which can lead them to eat anything but some things are really bad for them. There are many things outside the home that dogs end up eating, but the same also applies inside the home, and with a number of toxic chemicals lying around, there is a great risk of harm coming to your dog. So, if you read on you’ll see that there is a list of 4 very important home-based products that should be kept out of your dog’s reach. Follow these steps and you won’t compromise on dog health care.

1) Antifreeze: Something like antifreeze can kill pets quickly and painfully.   It’s the sweet smell of the antifreeze that attracts dogs. Ethylene glycol is toxic however, and each winter, many animals are killed by it. Once ingested, antifreeze can cause seizures and other horrific symptoms which put your dog through lots of pain. So, to prevent this, simply keep antifreeze far away from your dog. Of course,  if the worse does happen, take your dog to a vet for a health check.

2) Chocolate: Dark chocolate is a prime example of something very dangerous to dogs. People assume that only large amounts kill pets, but in fact any amount can prove dangerous. Chocolate poisoning has horrific symptoms for dogs, including frequent urination and hyper-activity.   This can progress to seizures and unusual heart rhythms. Even the slightest suspicion that your dog might have even chocolate means you have to visit the vet to get checked out. Chocolate ingestion is very dangerous for your dog’s health.

3) Bleach: Its not difficult to comprehend that bleach is toxic.   Keep all products containing bleach out of your dog’s reach. If your dog does drink bleach, the symptoms are nasty, including abdominal pain. It is an owner’s common instinct to try and make the dog be sick to get rid of the product it has eaten, but doing this can be fatal for your pooch, so please don’t try it. Just by following these tips, you can feel confident that you’re doing all you can to keep on top of your dog health care routine.

4) Mouthwash: Mouthwash can contain boric acid which is highly toxic to dogs. There are some symptoms associated with mouthwash which are very unpleasant, and these include drooling and seizures. You should take your dog to the veterinarian immediately if you suspect poisoning by mouthwash or other household item containing boric acid like contact lens solution or denture cleaner.

It is an owner’s responsibility to make sure dogs don’t get anywhere near to toxic substances. As owners, we try our best to keep on top of a dog health care routine, but its no good washing them and grooming them if you then poison them accidentally with household substances. As long as you stay vigilant, you shouldn’t need to visit the vet with a sick dog that has just ingested something toxic.