Dogs, Cats and Flea Control Treatments

Feeding Your Cat
Feeding Your Dog
Flea Control Treatments
Cat Health Care
Exercising your Dog

Feeding Your Cat
The modern domestic 'moggie' is descended from wild cats that hunted for their living in the desert regions of North Africa and the Middle East. Although most pet cats are now fed entirely on tinned or packaged food, their nutritional requirements are exactly the same as their ancestors' centuries ago. So to stay healthy, a domestic cat must receive a balanced diet containing all the nutrients that would be found in the natural diet of a hunting cat.Your cat also needs a balance of other nutrients. Many of these are found in tissues forming part of the natural diet like bone and skin, so a diet of lean steak will not give your cat everything it needs. Most of these ingredients are either present in, or added to, commercially prepared cat foods. Animal fat is important both as an energy source and because it contains essential vitamins like vitamin A. Fat also gives flavor and texture to the food. The carbohydrates used for energy by humans and other animals are less important for cats because they use proteins for the same purpose. Indeed, a diet containing too much carbohydrate is likely to give a cat an upset stomach.It is a myth that cats need to be given milk. Milk is certainly a good source of calcium for building bones but calcium is usually found in sufficient quantities in commercially prepared pet foods. As kittens are weaned they lose the ability to digest lactose, a sugar found in cow's milk. Too much milk may therefore give an adult cat diarrhea. Water is the best thing for your cat to drink. As the cat is still, at heart, a desert animal it can survive on less water than many other animals. But it does need a regular supply of clean fresh water, particularly if it is being fed dried food. Canned food is three quarters water so cats fed on a moist diet may not be seen drinking.

Feeding Your Dog
Although most pet dogs are now fed entirely on tinned or packaged food, their nutritional requirements are exactly the same as their ancestors' centuries ago. So to stay healthy, a domestic dog must receive a balanced diet containing all the nutrients that would be found in its natural diet. Dogs are adapted to eating a wide variety of food and can survive happily on an almost vegetarian diet which would make a cat very ill.Your dog needs a balance of nutrients in his diet. The main parts of the diet will be protein (meat) and carbohydrates (dog biscuit). Protein is used to build the body tissues and carbohydrates provide energy. Animal fat is important both as an energy source and because it contains essential vitamins like vitamin A. Fat also gives flavor and texture to the food. There are many other essential ingredients of the diet such as vitamins and minerals. Most of these ingredients are either naturally present in, or added to, commercially prepared dog foods. In the wild, a dog would have a varied diet and be eating the whole animal (not just the meat) so a diet of lean steak will not give your dog everything he needs. There are a wide range of commercially prepared foods to suit your dog's needs. However, if you see an unfamiliar brand in the shops, be cautious especially if it is one of the cheaper foods. As in all things quality comes at a price, and a cheaper brand will often contain inferior ingredients. The well known brands are usually formulated to give your dog everything it needs. Your vet or veterinary nurse will be able to give you impartial and well-informed advice on feeding your pet.

Flea Control Treatments
How can I tell if my Pet has fleas? - Licking or biting along their lower back - rubbing their back on the ground or rubbing under tables. - Hair loss, rashes along the lower back - If your pet enjoys that back scratch just a little too much, they may be itchier than normal. - White dots (flea eggs) in your pet's coat or black sandy grit in your pets bedding (flea faces) . Brush and rub your pet's back over some white card to check for this. What should you look for in effective once a month Flea and Tick Control Treatment for cats and dogs?Compare the product you are using with the following desired features - Safe to Pets and their owners , i.e. non-Toxic - Easy to administer - Fast acting yet long acting - Water, shampoo resistant

Fleas are small, reddish-brown insects with a complex life cycle, most of which takes place away from your cat. Only the adult fleas live on your cat and drink its blood, the early stages live free in the environment, ie, your home. For every flea that you see running through your cat's fur, there may be hundreds of immature fleas waiting to jump aboard a passing pet - or if you are unlucky - on to you.

The secret of successful flea control is to treat both the pet and its environment with effective products which kill both adult and immature fleas. There are a range of tablets, injections, powders, sprays, drops and shampoos to destroy the fleas on your pet.

Cat Health Care
- Liver can be dangerous to cats. Feeding liver more than twice weekly is not advised as the high vitamin A levels can lead to spinal and leg damage. - Many drugs that are safe for dogs and people are poisonous to cats. Always check with your vet before giving any medication that is not labeled for cats. - How cats purr is still not completely understood. The sound is produced by the larynx (voice box) and results from vibration of the vocal cords. - Cats often dribble when they are happy and purring, but other reasons for dribbling include a sore mouth or teeth, a bad taste in their mouth or nausea. - Slicker brushes are one of the easiest and least stressful ways to remove dead undercoat in coats and prevent knots. They're more flexible than combs and are therefore more comfortable. - Cats can catch feline leukemia and feline aids from fighting. Early neutering and no roaming at nights are the best preventions. Neither disease can be passed to people. - Cats often get tapeworm by swallowing a flea while grooming. The flea acts as an intermediate host for the tapeworm lifecycle. Effective flea control and 3 monthly worming with a broad spectrum wormer is the best strategy for prevention. Ringworm in cats is actually a fungal disease and cannot be treated with worm tablets. - Cats with white fur, ears and nose are prone to sunburn which can lead to skin cancer. Many white cats need surgery to remove a cancerous ear. Preventative measures include sunscreen or keeping the cat indoors. Tattooing is no longer considered effective.

Exercising Your Dog
Play with owners and with other dogs, not only provides the dog with some of its exercise requirements, but also helps to meet social needs. Insufficient exercise can contribute to problem behaviours including destructiveness (chewing and digging), investigative behaviour (garbage raiding), hyperactivity, unruliness, excitability, attention-getting behaviours, and even some forms of barking. It is especially important to ensure that a dog's need for exercise has been met prior to leaving the dog alone at home and prior to lengthy crating or confinement sessions.

Taking your dog for a walk is a good way to accomplish exercise and can be enjoyable and healthy for you as well. From an early age you should acclimatise your puppy to a collar and leash. A flat nylon or leather collar is fine. Keep your puppy away from stray dogs and neighbourhood parks until all vaccinations are finished. Practice your walking skills in your own yard first. Put your puppy on leash, and with your voice and a small tug, or perhaps a food or toy reward as a prompt, encourage it to follow you. Reward the good behaviour with praise. Keep initial walks short to encourage compliance.

Playing with your pet is an enjoyable activity for both of you. Not only does the puppy get exercise, but positive interactions take place. Training sessions are also an excellent way to gain owner leadership and control, while providing interaction between you and your pet.

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