Pet Haven

Pet insurance is a huge business these days and it’s easy to see why if you take a look at how much a visit to your local veterinary clinic can cost you.  Between initial consultation costs, to routine procedures and medication, you can be looking at a couple of hundred pounds before you know it!  That doesn’t automatically mean however that insurance is actually worth it for your dog.

Insurance is usually quote on your breed/size of dog, the state of his health when you take out the insurance, his age and other factors such as the area in which you live.  As with all insurance policies there will be a monthly payment to be made, and a basic payment for each claim (policy excess) you’ll need to pay before the insurance policy can be claimed against.

Check out a number of different policies.  Read the small print carefully.  Watch out for clauses that imply you will pay larger premiums and/or excesses the older your dog becomes.  Also make sure that they don’t have a list of excluded conditions and medical conditions.  What you need to remember is that pet insurance isn’t there to help you budget financially for your dog’s health – no matter what the advertising tells you – pet insurance is a business where the insurers hope to make money!

If you have a large dog that you are insuring from a puppy then it’s probably a good idea to take out health insurance on it, especially if you have a tight budget in your home because medical expenses on big dogs can be enormous!  An alternative however would be to take the monthly payment and make a financial commitment to placing it in the bank each month and only using that account for your dog’s medical bills.  Read the rest of this entry »

Since cats can't talk to us in words, we have to learn to understand their language.

Purring, of course, is the sound we all like to hear the most. Some reasons for purring are:

• As a sign of contentment, relaxation
• Mom purrs to reassure her kittens
• Kittens purr to let mom know that everything is ok
• Cats also purr out of nervousness and fear or sick.

I'm happy
If your cat is elaxed she will have her eyelids half-closed with her ears pointing forward and a little bit outward. If she stands up, her tail will be straight up with the tip bent forward.

I'm defensive
A threatened cat's pupils will dilate and the ears will be flat down. She might arch her back to make herself look larger and more intimidating, that's also the reason why the hair usually stands up.

I'm angry
An aggressive cat looks similiar to the defensive cat, but in addition she will also hiss and growl. Her teeth and claws might be exposed and she looks like she could jump into your face at any moment. Once the tail starts thrashing from side to side, it's time to clear the danger field, because kitty is about to attack!

Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) is a retrovirus and was named as such because of the way it behaves within infected cells. Retroviruses in general produce an enzyme which allows them to make copies of itself and it’s own genetic material.

Infected cats will transmit the virus easily. It is spread in high quantities in saliva and nasal secretions. The virus is also present in the urine, feces, and milk from infected cats. All it takes is nose to nose contact, grooming each other or even a fight, and the virus is transmitted. It does not survive for more than a few hours outside the host.

If your cat is not a roamer or a fighter and otherwise healthy, he can get just as old as any healthy cat.

An obese cat is a cat that's suffering. This is not a laughing matter but rather serious. An overweight cat can be prone to all kinds of health problems, including fatall conditions related to the liver, heart, and kidneys. In addition to the health issues too many pounds inhibts the cat from being a cat, because she won't be able to move smoothly.

Remember, no cat choses to be fat!

Can your cat lose weight? Of course!

1. Measure the daily food intake and do not feed your cat more. Having food available at all times is not an option anymore!
2. Feed a very low carbohydrate diet (5-10, read the label!)
4. Stick to low calories treats, if you have to continue to give your cat treats.
5. Exercise - encourage your cat to play.

Do not put your cat on any drastic diet that makes her lose weight fast. This can be extremely dangerous and could cause liver failure! Allow your cat to lose weight slowly. If your cat is pregnant or nursing, postpone the diet until the kittens are weaned.

Love bites are the strangest thing. One minute you are petting and cuddling with your cat, he is enjoying himself, purring up a storm and then all of the sudden he bites your hand. What just happened?

This was not an angry bite, don't worry. He simply got a little bit ahead of himself and over excited. The bite was his way or releasing that tension. Usually those so-called "love bites" don't break skin or even hurt, but should your cat's love turns out to be painful for you, the best thing you can do is to completely ignore him. Do not even look at him, walk by him and do not fall for his begging for attention. Give him treats when he is calm and refuse to pet him when he attempts to nibble on you again.

Many of us are fortunate to watch our cats grow old, even though it is difficult for many to outlive their pets; the joy of the years together makes it all worthwhile. Now we want to give our senior cat the best care we can give. What should that include and what do you need to watch out for?

1. Dental Care
2. Arthritis
3. Hearing Loss
4. Vision Loss
5. Aches and Pains
6. Weakened Immune System
7. Weight Management
8. Nutritional Supplements

Of course our cats have a hard time letting us know when something hurts, so you have to practice awareness and pay attention to anything out of the ordinary. Do not hesitate to take your cat to the Vet for a seemingly unimportant symptom; nothing is unimportant when it comes to your aging cat.