Sunday, December 12, 2010

Siamese Kitten - What to Consider When Choosing This Cute Pet


Besides Persian and Himalayan kitten, Siamese kitten is also one of the most familiar cats in the USA. There are lots of breeders and pet stores that produce Siamese kittens for the sake of profit only without having any regard for the health and well being of the kitten. If bred in an unhealthy environment, Siamese kittens can have a multitude of problems inside. Nevertheless, they look adorable after all.

Clear Eyes

The predominant specific characteristic of the Siamese kittens is on the eyes. They have striking blue eyes that become one of the popular breed's trademarks. If you find the Siamese kitten's eyes seem having a problem in focusing or have much discharge, it means this cat may have problems later on.

More often than not, Siamese cats have the appearance of being near cross-eyed. This appearance of being sometimes cross-eyed is something that is common in the breed. So, the Siamese kittens that you pick should have look like this.

Smooth, Clean Coat

After considering the eyes, you then should ascertain the Siamese kittens that you choose has a smooth and clean coat. There are short haired and long haired varieties of the breed so the type of coat may differ from each other but the smoothness should be there as well as the cleanliness. Cleanliness is a thing that is moderately natural to a cat no matter its kind.

Nature

A healthy cat is usually inquisitive and curious and thus it's important to make certain that your Siamese kitten show shows this behavior. Your Siamese kitten may shows as a shy cat that has some problems with socialization when introduced to other cats or other pets. It is quite normal however, so you do not have to worry about it.

Answer all questions of yours in regard to siamese kitten [http://catmypet.com/siamese-kitten/siamese-kitten-some-important-considerations/].








If you liked the above articles, Beth Stacey invites you to visit her website for more articles about cat Cat My Pet [http://catmypet.com/].


Friday, December 10, 2010

Chronic Bronchial Asthma in Cats


Chronic bronchial asthma in cats is usually found in certain breeds such as Siamese or Himalayan, as well as other Asian short haired breeds.

The symptoms of this condition are coughing, wheezing, and in some case, even dyspnea, which is shortness of breath and in the severest of cases, difficulty in breathing, which can be extremely dangerous for your cat.

 

Dyspnea, in medical terms, is a shortness of breath that is not caused by excessive exertion, but rather is often linked to the respiratory tract.

 

The symptoms of this condition may be random or occasional, intermittent to quite frequent, or very persistent.

 

Cats that demonstrate these symptoms are generally diagnosed as having either chronic bronchitis or what is referred to a feline asthma. However, most experts will agree that it is very difficult to distinguish the two from each other.

 

What is agreed upon, is that both symptoms can, if not properly treated, become life threatening to you cat as it affects their breathing and lung capacity.

 

Again these episodes can be quite frequent or may be separated by several months of actual attacks.

 

Actual true forms of asthma are often characterized by hyper-activity in the airways and are accompanied by a reversible bronchoconstriction, as compared to chronic bronchitis, where the symptoms are characterized by excessive mucus and inflammation of the airway.

 

This can in some cases, lead to an irreversible narrowing of the air passages. The exact cause of asthma is not fully known, but a lot of experts agree it is most probably a type of allergic reaction.

In cats, it could be the result of inhaling dust from the cat-box litter.

 

This condition will affect cats in different ways, but a large number will display both the signs of obstruction of the air passages as well as chronic coughing, and will range from quite mild, to the other extreme, where it can be very severe.

 

There is no real sex differential of this condition in cats as it affects both male and females. However, although it is most prevalent in young to middle aged cats, it can also be found in kittens and can also suddenly develop in elderly adult cats as well.

 

By far and away the best methodology of a proper diagnosis is a detailed examination by your veterinarian.

Treatment:

 

Treatment of this aliment will vary.

 

Mild bronchial asthma can easily be treated at your home. If they are very mild and quite infrequent spells, they may not need to be treated at all. Severe cases may require immediate treatment by your veterinarian,

 

If attacks of bronchial do occur in your feline companion, it is very important to try to relate to what your pet may have recently been in contact with.

 

As suggested, some experts believe that this is an allergy type of disease and it will be extremely important to try to narrow down the source and pass that information along to your veterinarian.

 

Medications will typically include steroids such as Prednisolone, Cyproheptadine, Bronchial dilators, and antibiotics. Pediatric inhalers (used by infants with asthma), have also been used for mild forms as treatment. The most important treatment, however, will still be in trying to find the common source and than avoiding it.








I am an avid lover of pets and my wife and I have had several pets throughout our years. We are especially fond of dogs, and we have a 12 year old Dalmatian (our 3rd) and a "mutt" that we rescued when someone threw him away to die in a vacant field.

He found us, nearly starved to death, and weighed about 2 pounds.

After severe bouts of mange and severe dehydration, and over 1,000.00 in veterinarian bills, we saved the little guys life, and he is one of the best, if not the best, dogs we have ever had and today is a muscular, fit, and firm 70 pound best friend.

After finishing my MBA, which at middle age was not easy, I decided to keep the research work ethics that I acquired, and devote about two hours each night in understanding the health benefits of supplementation for both humans and pets and how they might strengthen our, as well as our pets, immune system in a pre-emptive approach to health rather than a reactionary approach.

Both of my daughters are avid cat lovers, and asked me to help them with health concerns and challenges with their cats.

I am not a veterinarian nor claim to be, just a lover of pets that loves to research and pass on some knowledge that might be helpful, or at least stimulating to the thought process.

Several of the articles that I have written can be found on my website;

Liquid Vitamins & Minerals for Humans & Pets http://www.liquid-vitamins-minerals-humans-pets.com/


Monday, December 6, 2010

Himalayan Cats


The Himalayan cat (also known as "Himmy") is a breed of cat with a pair of vivid blue eyes and point coloration on its long hair or fur. It is originally derived from cross-breeding a Persian cat and Siamese cat. Persian cats are longhaired and bred with Siamese cats for their markings thus resulting in color point long hair cats. It is also known as the colourpoint Persian cat in Europe.

Himalayan cats are a loyal and pleasant companion. Grown-up Himalayan cats are sometimes referred as Himalayan kittens because of their sweet and gentle nature. They are people oriented and prefer to spend most of their time with their owners. They do well with family members as well as other pets and they are inclined to life indoors.

The body build of Himalayan cats is referred to as "cobby." This is a term used for animals that have a stocky or stout body. Their broad chest, well toned muscles, and their rounded appearances are further enhanced by their long fur. They have a full, round face with wide and round blue eyes. Their ears are small and rounded and they have a well-developed chin. The coats of Himalayan cats have a main color of either beige or white. The point colors appear on their tails, legs, feet, face mask and ears. They are recognized by their distinct point colors such as blue, chocolate, cream, lilac, red, seal, mixes with tortie ( example are lilac-cream, chocolate tortie and blue-cream), and tabby marked points or lynx (such as blue lynx, cream lynx, lilac lynx, tortie lynx and more).

Himalayan kittens require high maintenance or special care. They need to have regular baths. Their fur or long hair needs daily grooming to prevent matting and tangling. Himalayan kittens might get ill due to exposure to chemical products applied to them during bathing. Upon bathing, use diluted soap or shampoo, and make sure to keep it out of the cat's nose, mouth, and eyes.








Himalayan kittens are a beautiful breed of cats and truly fascinating. Since 1981, they have won over 41 national awards. They also have won over 175 awards in the regional level. Since 1993, Himalayan cats have made several appearances in movies and television programs and in 1998 they were allowed to enter cat shows.


Friday, December 3, 2010

Kidney Failure in Dogs - How to Treat and Prevent It


When healthy, the kidneys perform several key functions and remove waste products from the body in the form of urine. Kidney failure, also known as renal failure, is the inability of the kidneys to function properly.

Kidney failure is described as "chronic" or "acute". Chronic failure means that the kidneys can no longer perform their crucial functions of excreting waste products, regulating the chemical composition of body fluids, and producing hormones. Kidney function decreases slowly, which means the physical signs of failure may appear gradually.

Acute is characterized by an abrupt or sudden decline in kidney function that leads to changes in body chemistry, including alterations in fluid and mineral balances. These changes negatively affect almost every system in the body. The physical signs are more dramatic because kidney function declines quickly.

What are the causes of this failure in dogs?

There are many causes that may include:

* Age

* Viral, fungal, or bacterial infections

* Parasites

* Cancer

* Amyloidosis (cause by abnormal deposits of a certain type of protein in the kidney)

* Inflamation

* Trauma

* Toxic reaction to poisons or medications

* Congenital and inherited disorders

What type of pet is most susceptible to such disease?

Older dogs and cats are more likely to have kidney disease than younger pets. Cats and small dogs show early signs of chronic failure at 10 to 14 years of age, while large dogs may experience much earlier.

Cats have this disease more frequently than dogs. Certain breeds of dogs (such as the soft-coated wheaten terrier, Lhasa apso, shih tzu, basenji, and Norwegian elkhound) and cats (such as the Persian, Himalayan, Siamese, and Abyssinian) are more prone to developing kidney problems. But all breeds of dogs and cats can be affected, and at any age.

What are the physical signs my pet might experience?

Any of the following signs may indicate:


*Excessive drinking of water

*Increased urination

*Lethargy

*Vomiting

*Bad Breath

*Not eating for a day or more

*Weakness

*Lack of coordination when walking

*Depression

*Weight Loss of wasting of muscle tissue



How can I prevent this in my pet?

Most commonly, pets develop this kind of disease as they age because their kidneys "wear out". In this situation, it is not possible to prevent the failure, although it is possible to treat it.

Outdoor dogs and cats are at greater risk because they are exposed to antifreeze more frequently. Indigestion of even a small amount of antifreeze can lead to acute failure and death.

Dog and cat breeds that are more likely to have hereditary kidney disease should not be used for breeding if they show signs of kidney disease. These breeds should be monitored for changes in their kidneys at an early age.

How is this treated?

Tests are necessary to diagnose chronic and acute failure and rule out other diseases. Blood and urine samples are used to test various kidney functions and make sure that infection is not the cause of the physical signs of disease.

Your veterinarian can differentiate between chronic and acute failure based on your pet's history, physical examinations, and laboratory testing. A kidney biopsy may be necessary in some cases. Chronic kidney failure is not reversible, but your veterinarian can manage the physical signs of the disease. Pets may not respond to treatment at all or may live another few months or even years.

Acute is potentially reversible with aggressive treatment. Both chronic and acute can be life-threatening conditions requiring hospitalization. Treatment may include:


*Intravenous fluids

*A special diet to decrease protein and salt intake

*Medication for high blood pressure

*Hospitalization and supportive care

*Control of vomiting and gastrointestinal problems with diet and medications

*Medications for anemia (decreased red-blood-cell production)

*Potassium supplements

*Medications to reduce phosphorus levels in the blood




After your pet leaves the hospital, your veterinarian will repeat blood tests and urinalyses to monitor your pet's condition. Be sure to administer any prescribed medications and feed your pet as directed. You may need to administer fluids under your pet's skin at home. Your veterinarian can provide instructions if this become necessary. Following instructions and working closely with your veterinarian will give your pet a better quality of life and may help prolong his life.

This is a serious medical condition. Whether the disease is acute or chronic, it is typically related to the cause. Work closely with your veterinarian and follow instructions for your pet's diet and medications.

You can take a look at the book by clicking on the link below:








Emy Atijera is an advocate and a volunteer of "Healthy Pets Make People Happy", an organization of more than 750 dedicated community members who come from all walks of life to donate thousands of hours of their time in helping thousands of animals in different areas of the Philippines.

http://peoplewithhappypets.blogspot.com


Thursday, December 2, 2010

Information About Cat Breeds You May Want to Know


If you're thinking of buying a cat or a kitten, you'll want to learn about some of the more popular cat breeds, to help you make an informed decision on what type to adopt.

What kind of a cat are you drawn to? The simple, elegant sculpted face of a Siamese, or the lovely long fur of the Persian, perhaps? There are many breeds to choose from, and quite a few half-breeds now as well.

Each of the cat breeds has its own pluses and minuses. For example, the Ragdoll and Himalayan cats have elegant fur, but they require more grooming. And the Siamese and Persian are regal in their carriage, but Siamese cats are often quite vocal, which will be problematic if you have a young child trying to nap.

Some of the breeds you might consider include Abyssinian cats, which look a great deal like a Siamese, except in coloring; exotic Shorthairs, which have the look of royalty with less fur; Maine Coon cats, with their trade-mark stubby or missing tail; Bengals, which are actually a hybrid between a Bengal cat and a domestic cat. Bengal cats need to be handled a lot as kittens and as cats, or some revert to their feral nature.

The Burmese might be the cat for you if you're looking for a smart and active cat. They usually get along well with children, and they will even give dogs a chance.

Another of the family-friendly cat breeds is the Turkish Angora. This breed sounds like it would need a groomer on-call, but actually, you can satisfy this cat's coat needs with a daily once-through. These cats are very playful and gentle, and they make great house pets.

The American Shorthair is the descendant of the first cats brought to America with the Puritans. They are excellent rodent hunters, and they're usually very active and curious. They are lovable and easy-going, and can adjust to other cats, dogs and children.

The Ocicat is one of the human-made cat breeds, which has Siamese and Abyssinian breeds in its background. It's considered a shorthair, and is very active and affectionate, although it looks a little on the wild side. She may greet visitors, and she is devoted and loyal to her owners.

The Devon Rex cat has a short, fine and soft coat, and large wide-set eyes. Their coat is curly, but short enough that you can groom without a brush, using a soft mitt instead. These cats have their history in England, but they have been bred to American shorthairs to propagate the breed here in the United States.

Whatever cat breeds you check into, try your best to select a cat that will fit in with your family and your routine. A lot of bad matches can be averted if you do your research first.








To learn about cat not eating and cat hair loss, visit the About Animals website.