Everyone knows about the nose, right? Dogs are at their healthiest when it’s wet, cold, and buried someplace uncomfortable on the owner’s body. A dog’s nose can be a good, but not necessarily one hundred percent accurate barometer of the pup’s overall health. A healthy mutt doesn’t always mean one with a dry nose, but at the same time it can definitely indicate a bigger problem if it’s in conjunction with other symptoms. Let’s take some time today to take a look at the implications of a parched snout. You should always consider that you might just be a hypochondriac about your dog’s health. A warm dry nose doesn’t always mean your pup is going to spontaneously combust. It could be something so simple as your dog lying in the sunlight for a while. It could have just been near a warm spot. There are plenty of harmless circumstances that can lead to a room temperature shnoz. However,  there are some accompanying symptoms of dog illness that you should be on the lookout for in addition to the dry nose. For example, a warm, dry, and cracked nose could be indicative of sunburn. Sunburn certainly isn’t life threatening, but it also isn’t comfortable, and repeated sunburn can lead to skin cancer. So it’s best to keep an eye out for that. Similarly, scabs, cracks, and sores might also imply that your dog has a skin disorder. If these are reoccurring it’d be best to take your dog to a vet as soon as you can. The next thing you want to look out for is nasal discharge. Normally, when a dog’s nose is runny, you might think it’s funny, but it’s snot. Heh.  But seriously, a dog’s nasal discharge should be clear and watery. If it’s an ugly shade of green, yellow, black, thick in consistency, or at all bubbly it means the same thing that it does in humans: infection. It can be something simple like a respiratory issue or something awful like a tumor in the nasal passage. Either way you need to book it down to your vet to get a clear idea. If the dog’s dry nose is persistent and accompanied by lethargy, vomiting, loose bowels, or a lack of hunger then it could be something more serious like another skin disorder. These ailments are tricky and have a host of symptoms that can be both subtle and overstated. So if you’re worried about the canine’s health it is probably best to err on the side of caution and bring it in for a checkup. If you keep a sharp eye out for these symptoms, your dog shouldn’t have any trouble. Just keep in mind that a dry nose in isolation isn’t always an ill-boding portent of doggy doom. Most likely they have been sniffing a little to closely at whatever you’ve got baking in the oven.  So stay vigilant, but don’t worry, and as always join us next time for more helpful pet tips on the Petbucket blog!

We’re picking up right where we left off from yesterday with part two of our list of common cat ailments and their symptoms. First up is… Feline Panleukopenia This condition is caused by a virus and is most commonly known as feline distemper. Though any cat can contract this illness, kittens are most at risk. Distemper is a contagious infection usually spread through litter boxes. If infected, your cat may become listless and lethargic. They may have severe diarrhea, vomiting, and refuse to eat or drink. Their skin will become dry due to dehydration, and fur may fall out or begin to look dull. If you suspect distemper, get to your vet as soon as possible. Distemper can be diagnosed through the observation of symptoms, or a white blood cell count. There is no medication to fight the virus but an antibiotic will be administered to fight off secondary infections. The bad news is that distemper is very difficult to fight off, and many cats die from the infection. Fortunately, there is a vaccine, and cats should be vaccinated against distemper while they’re kittens as part of routine veterinary care. Chronic Kidney Failure Kidney failure is most common in senior cats. Their kidneys begin to deteriorate and lose their ability to properly remove waste from the blood stream. Symptoms include: constipation, lack of appetite, lethargy, and nausea. As the kidneys fail they require more liquid to process toxins. Eventually, the cat can’t drink enough water and the toxins begin to affect its entire body. Your veterinarian will most likely use blood and urine tests to confirm kidney failure. There is no cure for renal failure but your veterinarian may be able to suggest treatments that prolong your cat's life. Common treatments include an IV drip or even a dialysis machine. This special machine can help your pet filter the toxins, but is also be very costly. Diabetes Much like people, cats can develop diabetes, a condition where the body doesn’t produce enough insulin to properly maintain blood sugar levels. If diabetes isn’t properly diagnosed it can drastically shorten a cat’s lifespan. Early symptoms of feline diabetes may include increased appetite with no weight gain or even weight loss in your pet. Excessive drinking and urination is also common. As the disease progresses your cat becomes less active and their coat loses its luster. They could also experience weakness, fatigue, vomiting, diarrhea, and muscle weakness. Breathing will become labored and signs of dehydration will be evident. Your veterinarian will run both blood and urine tests to screen your cat for diabetes. If the results are positive there are a number of treatments available depending on the severity of the disease. Many cats will require insulin shots once or twice a day along with a special diet. A very sick cat will need to be treated for dehydration and other issues before insulin and diet can help. Your veterinarian will work out a treatment for your pet as needed.  So be on the lookout for these common cat ailments, and take good care of your favorite feline companion!  

Despite great interest, there is a lack of common knowledge about cat healthcare.  Oftentimes, we’re at a loss when our sick cats seem out of sorts. It can make you feel helpless. Spotting symptoms early will lead to quick treatment, and less overall stress for your pet. Remember that only your veterinarian can properly diagnose and treat a sick cat's illnesses, but in the name of preparedness: here’s a short list of common illnesses, the symptoms, and the general treatment a veterinarian might offer.   Urinary Tract Infection Cats can get urinary tract infections just like people. Signs of this in cats will vary depending on circumstance. Many cats will whine when using the litter box, and you might find blood in their urine. They may also have accidents even if they are otherwise housetrained. You may notice your cat making frequent trips to the box but they seem to have trouble doing their business. UTI’s will range significantly in severity and you may not even know that there is a problem. These extremely mild cases will most often clear up before you become aware of an issue. If however, you do notice something’s wrong, it’s probably time to visit your veterinarian. Antibiotics are the common first step in treating UTI’s and will most likely clear up the problem so long as it’s diagnosed early. Your veterinarian should do a series of tests to determine the origin of the problem. In some cases, the infection may spread to the kidney and the situation becomes more complicated. Your kitty could be in a lot of pain. If you see any of these symptoms, make an appointment as soon as possible. Because any blockage that prevents your cat from urinating can become life threatening very quickly. Upper Respiratory Infection This is much like a human cold. The good news is that it’s rare for an indoor pet to contract this infection. This illness is contagious and one cat must come in contact with another to catch it. If your cats stay inside and you don't go around petting every sick kitty you see then you probably don’t have to worry about it. Cats that do go outside however, are significantly more at risk. A cat with a respiratory infection will sneeze, cough, have a runny nose, or even develop a fever. You may also notice watery eyes and a raspy meow. In many cases, this is only a minor annoyance to the cat and veterinarian’s visits won’t be needed. If you notice your cat is not eating or drinking or seems lethargic, they may be very sick so schedule a visit ASAP. URI’s are generally caused by viruses. Antibiotics are generally administered not to treat the virus but to hold off any secondary bacterial problems that can pop up while your cat is sick. Your veterinarian may also give your cat medications to break up mucus so your cat can breathe easier. In severe cases your cat may become dehydrated and will require a fluid drip. That’s all for now, Check back tomorrow for part 2 of this list!

Everyone hears about how owning a pet can improve their quality of life. However, it’s easy to take such claims with a grain of salt. Perhaps if people knew to a greater degree the benefits of pets, they may just go out and adopt a litter all to themselves! With the aim of education in mind, let’s take a look at some of the incredible ways our animal companions can have a significant effect on our health. For starters, pets increase serotonin and decrease cortisol. These two chemicals are associated with pleasure and stress, respectively. So the first health benefit of pet ownership is quite literally, medicinal-quality mood enhancement. Their very presence can alter human body chemistry! That alone is incredible, but the pet ownership perks don’t stop there. It’s also been shown that a lower resting blood pressure rate is one of the benefits of pets. They’ve even been attributed with the ability to relieve hypertension in children to a small degree.  Pet owners on average are usually less prone to high cholesterol and triglyceride counts, although no direct link between the animal and these health benefits have been established. It may be that people who own pets are predisposed to having a healthier lifestyle in which they go on daily walks, engage in more activity, and are less sedentary by default. Dogs and cats both actually have significant statistical impacts on heart disease as well, with cat owners  being far less susceptible to cardiac problems than their fellow folk who are rocking it feline free . Similarly, dog owners who did suffer heart attacks and survived are far more likely to make full recoveries within one year after their attacks take place, as compared to people without dogs that is. While pet ownership is a handful no matter what kind of animal you keep, dogs in particular have a habit of keeping you on your feet and moving. Because of their constant need for walks, outdoor play, and physical interaction, dog owners tend to have a far less prevalent occurrence of obesity and associated weight problems.  Combine these pet benefits with an Atkins diet and you’ll be beach ready in no time! Although dogs have an advantage in the physical fitness category, cats have a corner on the market of creepy intangible pet benefits. For some unknown and unquantifiable reason, cat owners are far less likely to suffer a stroke. The debilitating blood clots to the brain that can doom a person to a lifetime of paralyzed facial features can be prevented by having an odd furry roommate you’ve taught to poop in a box. Life certainly has its mysteries. Perhaps that’s why the Egyptians worshiped them. Regardless of whether you prefer a precious purring pussycat or a dutiful and delightful doggy, you can rest assured that owning either puts you ahead of the game in the health department. These are actually only a few of the incredible health benefits that pet ownership can provide. So remember to give your animal companion an extra treat for all that they do to protect their families!   Image via 55 weeks of photography blog

Obesity is a big problem for people. It’s an even bigger problem for pets. At least people occasionally have the wherewithal to go see a doctor and make lifestyle changes. Dogs and cats rarely have that luxury. Unfortunately, a lot of folks will tolerate an obese animal with quite a bit more humor than they will when their own waistline starts increasing. In the U.S. the obesity capital of the world, it’s estimated that a whopping fifty four percent of dogs and cats are either overweight or obese! So there’s a huge problem, people feed their fat dogs and cats too much. What can be done about it? Dogs are very much like humans in that a healthy diet and exercise are always the best way to achieve weight loss in a relatively short amount of time.  We’ve discussed the importance of proper exercise and diet for your dogs on this blog before, but as it turns out this information needs to be applied to your kitty cats as well.  It’s pretty easy to exercise your dog. Just take it outside, run around the block a few times, walk it on a leash for a while, or even visit your local dog park and let it go nuts with its friends and neighbors. Cats are as usual, slightly more complicated. Cats need constant stimulation, the trusty laser pointer works really well for a lot of folks. There are tons of other toys designed specifically with your cat in mind. If your cat hasn’t been declawed you might also consider letting it outside daily. Though coyotes can be a major threat in suburban areas depending on where you live, so be careful! Dog dietary needs are discussed in detail in this previous post, but cat’s need similar treatment. Every cat is different so you may need to do some independent research to figure out what the best diet for your pet is. However there are certain universal guidelines that you can start with. Always consult a vet before putting your cat on a diet. That’s the quickest way to determine proper portion size and dietary content. Look first at nutrients! The nutritional value of cat food is of supreme importance When trying a new dish poor a spoonful of chicken or beef broth over the food. It’ll go a long way in helping the cat accept the new taste and texture. Go for gradual weight loss. Fat cats aren’t going to take to “crash dieting” all that well. If you can use that as a start then follow your vet’s instructions to a “T” then you shouldn’t have any trouble turning your tubby tabby into a lean mean mouse catching machine. No matter whether you’ve got a dog or cat you want to ensure the best lifestyle possible for your animal companion. They only have you to depend on. So really consider what your best course of action is to tame your pet’s appetite and contain its waistline.

Most pet owners know that having a dog or cat around the house can enrich their lives immeasurably. What they might not have heard is that it can be a boon for a bouncing baby as well. Acoording to recent studies, a dog or cat can have a significant impact on an infant child’s respiratory health. What are the chances? The study comes out of Finland, a country renowned for its excellent education system and a hard line against financial corruption. They seem to be going for the feel-good hat trick with this fascinating news. This exhaustive study was undertaken by pediatricians monitoring nearly 400 children under a year old. The pediatricians looked for any health problems, defects, etc. and cross referenced that data with a weekly questionnaire presented by parents that examined their infant’s daily health and as many outlying factors as possible. Things such as siblings, daycare attendance, low weight at birth, or presence of cigarette smoke in their daily lives. The results? Pets that spent in excess of 6 hours inside the home usually meant healthier kids. 73% of the time to be exact. Children without pets were still fairly healthy, about 65% of the time. Still a majority, but what a statistical difference! If you were wondering whether or not to get a pet when you’re expecting, just know that dogs and cats give your baby a 7% head start on healthy living. As to what it breaks down to between cats and dogs, both showed a big statistical difference in infant health, but the stronger showing goes to canines. After all, cats infrequently have a pesky habit of sleeping on top of children to keep warm, that’s not all that good for a newborn. There were a range of individual health benefits, but the infants benefited most from their pets by contracting less ear infections and requiring less antibiotics. There was also a marked difference in the amount of fevers experienced by infants with dogs that spent time outside. But the question remains: why do dogs and cats prevent health issues in babies? The answer is pretty simple. Infants who are exposed to more bacteria, tracked inside along with dirt from the pet’s footsteps, develop stronger immune systems with which to fight off infections. So having a dog or cat serves as environmental training wheels for your baby to practice dealing with the elements. This research confirms what common sense has been telling parents for years. Interaction with a fluffy fun loving critter is just plain good for kids and adults alike.  The study can be read in its entirety here. It’s a fascinating read, and one more check in the pro column for pet lovers everywhere. So the moral of the story is don’t be afraid to expose your child to the outdoors or any pet on all fours, both can benefit your baby a great deal. So give your pet an extra treat for their life saving potential today!

After you take your precious princess in to be spayed, you'll want to look out for some common and not so common side effects and reactions that might cause some discomfort for your kitty. Most of these side effects are from the anesthetic used to keep your cat from moving during the surgery, or feeling any pain during the surgery.   Common Spaying Side Effects:   - Digest Upset - Mild Vomiting - Mild Inflammation - Decreased Activity - Lethargy/Drowsiness - Pain Around the Incision Site - Lowered Appetite 48 Hours Post Surgery - Excessive Licking/Grooming of Surgical Site   Most of these mild reactions are short term, and you can help your cat through them by making sure they get plenty of rest, fresh water, and if they want it; your never waivering affection.   Now, if you're feline friend starts to experience any more extreme side effects, you should call a vet as soon as possible, preferably the vet who preformed your cats surgery. Look out for things like:    - Dehydration - Heavy Bleeding - Excessive Swelling - Excessive Vomiting - Infections Around the Incision Site - Continued Extreme Lethargy After 72 Hours (3 Days)     In general, serious side effects are uncommon, as spaying is a very common procedure in most rural cities and towns. The worst side effect you will probably run into, is a cat who no longer likes going for car rides with you. Though that side effect is worth it for every pet owner who knows their cats will live longer happier lives after being spayed.

Everyone knows it’s a good idea to spay and neuter your pets. Bob Barker, (rest his soul) made sure we knew. However, not everyone knows the many reasons behind this practice. It’s not as cut and dry as simply preventing unwanted, neglected, and abandoned puppies or kittens, although that is certainly the most prescient motive. The fact is that there are a multitude of reasons concerning health, behavior, and genetics that make it very important to keep your pets from copulating. So let’s take a moment to try and understand the causes behind the castrations. Let’s start with diseases. A wide range of dog diseases can be completely neutralized by eliminating the testicles. Everything from skin disorders to small cancerous tumors around the anus can be avoided simply by making a quick snip. This is because elevated testosterone in the blood of dogs can be very toxic to their systems, and produce a boat load of problems. For example: BPH, or benign prostate hyperplasia Prostatitis Prostatic abscess Perianal or perineal adenomas (those aforementioned tiny cancers occurring around the anus of male dogs) Perineal hernias Some forms of dermatoses, or castration-responsive skin disorders And these are just the conditions that can be brought on from testosterone! There’s a whole other list of conditions that can occur just because your dog’s testicles are out and exposed to the elements. Needless to say they’re even less pleasant to think about than the ones listed above. Then there are the behavioral issues that neutering can solve. If your male dog is super aggressive, and still running stock with all the equipment nature gave him, the chances are a quick trip to the vet will make him a lot friendlier to the mail man. Not only that, but it greatly reduces the chances of an embarrassing humping episode from playing out in public. Neutered male dogs are much less likely to mark territory inside the home, they aren’t as prone to roaming about looking for females, and they shouldn’t be as aggressively protective of their resources: toys, food, companions, etc. Finally, neutering is important so as to keep the gene pool free from defects. Dog breeding is a prestigious profession for a reason. It’s hard work that entails a lot of research into family lines, and genetic histories of different dogs. The reason being that they don’t want a pup with a family who has a history of canine leukemia. If your dog even has a recessive trait that could be passed on to his pups, it’s very important that he not be allowed to procreate. It’s up to human beings to keep our best friends a healthy and happy domesticated species. And of course, it would be silly not to at least mention the fact that millions of puppies are annually abandoned, neglected, and/or euthanized for the simple reason that no one has the time or resources to take care of them. So unless you know for a fact that your pup is fine breeding material, do the smart thing and visit your local vet!

Pet allergies are the worst. They can hinder your ability to live with pets, and make you miserable if agitated without treatment. Sniffling, sneezing, and a runny nose are the least of the problem for some. At the very worst stages of allergic reactions, asthma attacks can even prove life threatening. Unfortunately, some pet owners don’t even realize that they’re allergic to their dog or cat until after they’ve brought them into the home! Luckily, there are some preventative measures for highly allergic people to take to avoid family pet deportation. First off, there is some basic information that needs to be addressed; there are no allergy free dogs or cats. All pets have dander, (the skin flakes in an animal’s fur) and all dander has an effect. The determining factors are your own sensitivity to the stuff, and the amount of dander that your pet produces. As a general rule, a cat allergy is more prevalent than a dog allergy. However, the results are highly variable, as some people are allergic to specific breeds, or species to a greater degree than others. Another counter-intuitive pearl of allergenic wisdom is that breeds with softer continuously shedding coats are normally better for people with pet allergies. Which is somewhat odd, considering most people associate shedding with sneezing. So what to do? Begin by making certain of your allergies and go see an allergist to diagnose the cause. After all, it would be bad to blame a poor innocent puppy for something that your moldy polyester blankets in the back of the closet are responsible for. After you’ve made certain the pet is to blame, invest in an air purifier. Ideally you would want a HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) Purifier. These bad boys will pick all the worst bits of allergens out of the air and leave you breathing easy. If the dander your pet exudes is really out of control, you might need one in every room. Make sure to leave at least one room off limits to your pets, that way you always have a safe haven if the atmosphere becomes too disagreeable. Weekly baths are also a must. Keeping your dog or cat clean will immeasurably reduce the amount of pet pollution they’re producing. And if all else fails, you may consider getting some allergy treatments to help you deal with the dander. There are a wide range of treatment options for all but the most meager of budgets. The most common treatments can include: Antihistamine pills Antihistamine nasal sprays Steroidal treatments Allergy shots-->this one is particularly effective Beyond these treatments, the best method is to employ every method at your disposal. Proper house cleaning, weekly pet baths, air purification, and regularly scheduled appointments at your local allergist’s office are almost certain to clear up any avoidable allergic reactions. So unless you are just having a good time of suffering through the consistent nasal drip, try to make a trip to see a medical professional as soon as possible!

Getting down and dirty with the behaviors of parasitic worms commonly found infecting pets, is one of the best ways you could ever reward yourself and your family. This holds especially true if you have young children, as they are the most at risk for sharing unfriendly parasites such as roundworms, hookworms or ringworms.   Our young children are not the only ones susceptable to worms though, as plenty of adults and seniors find they can contract worms as well. It's simply more difficult for worms to infect adults, as we tend to avoid the objects and places where worm-infected pets might have played. The reason our innocent little angels and their furry companions, are able to quote: "share", is because our young children enjoy the pleasure of putting just about everything in their mouths and they love playing where the pets play. And despite our best efforts to keep our kids squeaky clean, there will still be times when they do something that puts them at risk of contracting parasitic worms.   More often than not, it is usually the household feline that is responsible for contaminating the kids, as they enjoy pooping in the sandbox and in other areas where little ones will play. Though that doesn't leave our canine friends any less innocent, as puppies as much as any other pet, have a habit of relieving themselves in inappropriate places in the house. This leaves the opportunity ripe for kids to get worms.   It can happen this way, because most worm-like parasites, are able to live dormant for very long periods of time. If the environment is fertile enough, like in soil or sand, they can live as long as seven years. They get there, more often then not, when your loving puppy or kitten, goes to the bathroom in un-designated areas. If your sweet canine or feline, happened to have worms at that time, they will have had released worm eggs along with their feces. Now, even though we all dotefully clean up after our pets indoor messes, worms have evolved to be very tricky creatures. Even when we think we have eliminated them, they can often sneak away unseen.   Hookworms in particular, are especially challenging, as they has extra survival mechanisms that roundworms and ring worms do not. Hookworms have the unique ability of entering our bodies through this skin. Many parents will recognize when their children have hookworms, because their children will have developed a strange and itchy rash. All other types of worm must enter through your digestive system, rendering them useless from only skin contact. Still, all worms are harmful to your child's health and well-being.   Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to be proactive about prevent, and there are plenty of worm fighting antibiotics that your child can take, to rid them of worms. The more important factor to focus on, is the first aspect - prevention.   Keeping your family pets free from fleas, is the best way to ensure your home stays worm-free. Helping them stay away from gourmet fecal meals from other animals, is the second best way to make sure that your pets don't get worms. It also keeps their breath smelling nicer.   Now, while there are plenty of alternative health remedies, prevention treatments and supplements that you can use to help prevent your animals from getting worms, your best plan of action is to invest in a once a month prevention treatment from Drontal or other top name brand medications. By doing this, you will save yourself the time and money of both a vet visit and a human visit, to de-worm you or your child, and your pet. By being so proactive, you will also be ensuring that your pup or kitten will not be spreading parasite to other animals in the neighborhood.