Archive for the ‘Elderly Pet Care’ Category
Dental Care by a Vet
There are 2 critical components of your pet’s dental care: 1. the oral examinations and 2. the dental cleaning procedure. Veterinarian dental care should begin at the puppy/kitten/foal stage of your pet’s life. As a baby your Vet will check for baby teeth, missing or extra teeth, swellings and proper oral development. Then as your pet matures, you Vet will check for developmental anomalies and the the accumulation of tartar and plaque, periodontal disease and oral tumors.
Your Vet can perform very basic oral examinations while your pet is awake, but a short-lasting anesthetic is required to complete thorough examinations and dental cleanings. The AAHA (American Animal Hospital Association) recommends that these exams and cleanings be scheduled annually beginning at one year of age for cats and small dogs, and at two years for large-breed dogs. For horses, have your Vet do oral exams when you schedule your vaccinations and as early as your foal is weened.
Adding a Pet Memorial Stone to your backyard or garden can bring you generations of fond memories of your lost companion animal.
Pet Periodontal Disease
If you pet has bad breath, it shouldn’t be ignored. It could be signs of an oral problem and the sooner you have it treated by your Vet, and learn to care for it yourself, the sooner your pet will be comfortable again.
Periodontal Disease is an infection of the tissue surrounding the teeth that takes hold in progressive stages. It starts out a s bacterial film called plaque. This bacteria attaches itself to the teeth and when it dies it can be calcified by the calcium in your pet’s saliva. This forms a hard, rough substance called tartar or calculus which allow more plaque to build up.
Initially plaque is soft and brushing your pet’s teeth or chewing on hard food can dislodge it. But if is left to spread, plaque can lead to gingivitis, an inflammation of the gums, causing them to become red and swollen and they bleed easily. As plague builds up below the gum line, professional cleaning is needed to help manage it. If it continues to build unchecked, it can cause an infection around the root of the tooth. In the final stages of periodontal disease, the tissues around the tooth are destroyed, the bony socket holding the tooth in place erodes, and the tooth becomes loose. This is very painful. All of this can be avoided before it even starts with regular dental check-ups and cleaning. You can also learn how you can give proper pet dental treatment at home. Together you and your Vet can give your pet a reason to smile.
Personalized Pet Memorials are a personal way to say “good-bye” and pay tribute to the life of your best friend.
Why Pet Dental Care?
Would you let years go by without a visit to the dentist? Probably not. But your pet’s dental health is just as important to his/her overall health as your dental health is to your general health. To help educate pet owners about the importance of proper dental care, the AAHA (American Animal Hospital Association) has developed Dental Care Guidelines for Dogs and Cats.
Dental care among our furry friends is one of the most commonly overlooked areas of pet health care. In fact, in a recent AAHA study, it showed that over tw0-thirds of pet owners od ont provide essential dental care. The American Veterinary Dental Society reports that 80% of dog and 70% of cats show signs of oral disease by the age of 3. This dental disease doesn’t just affect your pet’s mouth, it can lead to more serious health problems including heart, lung and kidney disease.
If you currently don’t have a dental care plan for your furry loved one, talk to your Veterinarian and get regular check ups and cleanings scheduled. It can help you pet live a longer healthier life.
Pet Memorials are a way to pay tribute to the life of your departed friend. There are many ways to memorialize your loved one from a pet headstone to a pet keepsake.
Weight Loss Supplements
Currently there are no weight loss supplements available for cats. There are some studies in dogs that show that the cautious use of some supplements can help obese dogs reduce weight and lower their cholesterol. These studies were done on dog that were not helped by reduced-calorie diets alone. These dogs did lose weight when given a naturally occurring hormone called dehydroepiandrosterone or DHEA. The DHEA levels decrease in animals as they age, very similar to other hormones in humans. Replacing the DHEA in these dogs can increase fat metabolism and subsequent weight loss.
There are other supplement still presently being studied for dogs which include L-Carnitine, Garcinia Cambogia, and Chromium Picolinate. Please do NOT self administer any of these supplements to your pet. Always consult with your Vet before using any kind of herbal supplement on animals. Together you can come up with a safe, effective weight loss plan for your furry friend.
Cat Headstones are a personal way to pay tribute to your lost feline friend. With the Absolute Black Granite stones, you can include a photo, a tribute and dates. These beautiful stone will last for generations with proper care.
Healthy Exercise Tips
Our pet’s are a member of the family, and we want to keep them safe and healthy. A healthy pet is fit, not fat. Often we are tempted when we get home from a long day at work to plop down on the TV with our chips and pop and ignore our pet’s begging to go out and play. Pet exercise involves YOU. Pet’s generally do not exercise by themselves, they need you to take them for a walk, direct exercise play and keep them moving. If your pet is overweight and needs some extra exercise, here are some easy tips:
1. Keep is simple. Over-exercising an obese animal will do more harm than good. Excess stess and strain on an already stressed cardiac, respiratory and musculorskeletal system can be dangerous. Be sure to watch closely for signs of fatigue and adjust your exercise regime as needed. 2. As your pet adjusts to a new exercise routine, the intensity of the exercise can be increased gradually. Start with 2 easy 5-15 minute walks a day, then slowing increase it to 2-3 30 minute brisk walks per day. 3. Change up your exercise to make it fun and interesting. Play games like fetch, frisby and catch. Also don’t forget joint-friendly activities like swimming. 4. Allow your dog to play with other dogs if appropriate. They can have fun chasing and running with each other too. 5. Make sure you always have fresh water available, especially when it is hot to prevent overheating. 6. Increase your household activities and invite your pet to join you. The more you walk around, so will your pets. 7. Join a pet group like obedience or agility training. It is a great way to get out and moving and enjoy other people with their pets. 8. Exercise your pet everyday. If you have a cat who does not walk on a leash, play with ping pong balls, remote controlled toys, feathers on a pole or other commercially available toys. Playtime with our pets can be fun – so be creative and get out and enjoy some exercise together.
Dog Headstones are a fitting way to pay tribute to our lost furry family member and a personal way to say “Good-bye”.
Tips to Reduce Calories
There are numerous ways to reduce your pet’s caloric intake. Just remember that helping your furry friend lose weight should be a slow and gradual process to avoid other health problems. Here are some suggestions on how to reduce calories in your pet’s diet:
1. Elimate table scraps – they are typically high in fat and calories. 2. Learn to ignore the “begging eyes”. Send Fido or Fifi to the other room during mealtime. 3. Learn to ignore toe biting and vocal complaints and these will diminish with time. 4. Replace your need to give treats as a sign of love. Instead replace food with something constructive like exercise, play or even training. 5. Reduce the amount of food you feed at mealtimes by 15%. Large reductions can result in deficiencies – so consult your Vet before cutting down on food. 6. Consider a lower calorie pet food. You can find quality foods designed for different stages of life. You may have noticed the ”Senior” type foods on the market. They are usually lower in fat and higher in fiber. They allow your pet to eat the same volume without the same calories. 7. Feed smaller portions more frequently. If you feed only once a day, try feeding twice, three times or more. It can reduce calories but help your pet feel full. 8. If you have more than one pet, separate them at feeding time. This reduces competition and the urge to eat more. 9. Keep water available at all time. 10. Don’t leave food out all the time. If you feed canned food, leave it out for just a few minutes each feeding. 11. Be patient. It may take several months to see a desired result. 12. Weigh your pet regularly to see if your plan is working. A gradual weight loss of about 1% a week is a good goal – rapid weight loss can be very dangerous, especially for cats.
Pet Headstones are a personal way to pay tribute to your lost loved one and will help honor their memory for generations to come.
Treating Overweight Pets
If you think your pet is overweight and needs to slim down, remember the best treatment is long-term and gradual. Before you begin treating any pet for weight problems, be sure to have a Vet examination before beginning to make sure there are not other circumstances involved.
Pet weight reduction combines changes in the lifestyles of both the pet and the owners. The entire family must be onboard so no one will undermine the success of your program by sneaking treats to your pet. The basis of a treatment plan is to cut out unnecesary calories and increase exercise. Simply feeding less food or lower calorie food is typically not the answer. Low-fat diets fed long term can cause both skin and internal problems.
The best way to get started is to document the calories that you feed your pet. Remember the treats, bisquits and table scraps and even coat supplements. Then compare your calorie total to the one your Vet recommends. Then document the amount of exercise your pet receives daily. Sitting in the backyard is not exercise. Walking, running, swimming, fetching, chasing a ball or frisbee or playing with other pets are all good forms of exercise.
Document your pet’s weight before you begin your program then have regular, weekly weigh-ins. Weekly weigh-ins can tell you if you are on track of if you need to modify your program. Keeping your pet at optimum weight can mean a longer, healthier and better quality of life – for both of you.
A Cat Casket is a personal way to bid farewell to you lost feline friend. They come in many styles, sizes and materials to meet your needs.
Is MY Pet Overweight?
Your pet’s breed type and body structure should be taken into consideration when determining whether or not your pet is overweight. Ideally, the best way to tell is by examining your pet both visually and by touch. Judging whether or not a dog is overweight is far easier than judging a cat. Cat’s can be heavily coated or have excess skin which can make them appear to be obese when actually they are not. So feeling your feline furry friend is a better indicator. In general, cats should look and feel sleek without a huge belly or pads of fat on their hips.
Your canine friend on the other hand can be examined both ways. Look at your dog from the side as he stands. You should be able to see good definition between the rib cage and the abdomen. If you cannot tell where the ribs end and the abdomen begins, your dog is most likely overweight. When examining your dog by touch, you can tell a lot by feeling his rib cage. A weight healthy dog has a thin layer of fat over the ribs. If you can actually put your fingers between each rib, your dog is too thin. If you cannot feel his ribs, your dog is too fat. The more overweight the dog is, the heavier the layer of fat will feel. Fat can also be present along his back, over the hips and over the abdomen.
Pets kept at a proper weight will live longer and more comfortable lives. It is up to us as pet owners to make sure we control their calorie intake and increase their exercise. Dog caskets come in a large variety of styles and sizes to accomodate the smallest of toy sizes up to the largest of breeds. Measure from the top of the head to the top of the tail for length. Then from the top of the shoulder to the bottom of curled legs when your pet is lying down for proper width.
Food Vs. Exercise
Insufficient exercise and excess calorie consumption is the major cause of obesity in our furry friends, but there are other factors you need to consider also. Pet foods that have too much fat in them – even high quality pet foods – can rapidly add on the pounds. Certain breeds of animals such as Labrador Retrievers, beagles, basset hounds and others gain weight easily. Medical conditions such as hypothyroidism can also lead to weight gain. Older animals, just like humans are more likely to gain weight, and also pets that have been spayed or neutered have a predisposition to gain weight more easily.
Your pet’s breed, age and reproductive status are NOT an excuse for uncontrolled weight gain, they simply influence your pet’s tendency to add pounds. The bottom line for pet owners is that our pets eat too much and exercise too little. It is up to you to make sure that your pet’s dietary needs meet their physical activity. If your older dog has arthritis and does not like to exercise anymore, than it is up to you to intervene and help out with joint supplements and pain medications. If you spayed cat tends to add some weight, then it is your job to adjust her exercise and dietary habits to suit her altered physiology. As pet owners we control what they eat, when they exercise, and ultimately their weight.
Searching for a Cat Casket? There are many sizes and styles available to suit your cat’s personality and also your budget.
Why Overweight is Unhealthy
As pet owners sometimes we overfeed our pets because we substitute the time we want to spend with our animals with food. Or, we can’t resist those big loving eyes peering at us at the dinner table and we feed them table scraps.
In our busy lifestyles today, our pets are kept kenneled, crated or locked in the house for most of the day. We feel guilty that we don’t have more time to spend with them, and in return try to shower our furry friends with “love”. But overfeeding is not a substitute for exercise and can have many unhealthy side effects.
Obese animals can have a number of weight related illnesses: extra stress on the heart, lungs, liver, kidneys and other body organs can cause a myriad of problems now and later in their lives. Our overweight pets are more likely to suffer from cardiac disease, respiratory problems, digestive disorders and high blood pressure. Their joints, ligaments, tendons and bones also suffer from excess wear and tear, just like human’s do. They are more prone to endure arthritis, joint injuries, leg problems and back injuries. They are also at greater risk during surgery and under anesthesia. They can also develop skin diseases, diabetes, Cushing’s disease, pancreatitis, and liver disease. Cats can also develop feline hepatic lipidosis.
Next time you are tempted to throw your companion animal table scraps or give them an extra helping of “love” when they beg, go outside and play instead. They will live longer, more comfortable lives if you do. Cat Caskets are a nice way to properly intern you lost feline.