Pet Haven

It’s estimated that more than 1 cat in every 500 is diabetic and that the numbers are rising, so if you’re a cat owner there are a number of symptoms that you should look out for to ensure that your cat doesn’t have a major health problem that’s going unattended.

The four main symptoms are not unlike those you would find in a human who was showing signs of diabetes:

-          Drinking too much, constantly thirsty.

-          Urinating more frequently, and in the case of a cat, not always in an appropriate place.

-          More hungry than usual.

-          Not much energy

The difference with a cat is that you won’t really pick up on the signs immediately unless your cat is older and you notice that these symptoms occur over time – you have a knowledge base of your cat’s usually behaviour to use as a source of reference.  If you have a cat that has always been this way, then you can be forgiven for believing that this is just the cat’s nature – it’s a hungry, thirsty cat who isn’t much into exercise. 

You should always have a weekly health check with your cat to ensure that it’s always in a good condition.   The fact that your cat’s coat isn’t looking very healthy is something that you need to investigate, is it a nutrition thing, does your cat have fleas, have you skipped grooming it this week,  is there any other reason you can think of that would make your cat’s coat dull?  If not, think about the other diabetes symptoms and your cat’s life,  Does your cat drink a lot, urinate a lot – sometimes with “accidents”, always hungry but never really wanting to run around, perhaps sleeping a lot? 

If your cat fits into this pattern, then you need to contact your veterinary centre.  Diabetes is dangerous for cats if left unattended as if they get to a stage where they go into a coma, it’s not always possible to save them.  Once diagnosed however, like humans they can live a seemingly normal life – you’ll have to watch their nutrition and exercise, plus you may need to administer medication depending on the status of the diabetes, but other than that your cat will be fine.

The American Bobtail is relatively new breed. It has been around since the 1960ies. The obvious Bobtail characteristic is the stubby, almost non-existent tail. Where the breed originated from is still unknown. The oldest known Bobtail bloodline sprung from the mating between a short-tailed orange tabby male named Yodie and a seal point Siamese female.

Many of these early bloodlines have been thinned out over the years. The current American Bobtail comes in all colors and sizes. The most common goal is to breed a cat that is domesticated, good natured, and loving cat that still has the wild look of the bobcat. The sometimes completely tail-less Manx cat is believed to be the ancestor of the American Bobtail.

Some unofficial studies have shown that American Bobtails are playful, energetic, friendly, and possess quite a talent for escapes enclosed environments. They show a people oriented side, but don't appear to be too possessive, however curiosity gets the better of them sometimes.

If you are away from home for longer periods of time, you should make sure that there are plenty of toys available to keep your cat's mentally stimulated to keep him out of trouble. Even though this breed is very sociable, you may also want to add a second cat to the Due to the fact that these cats, as most other cats, are very sociable, you might want to consider adding a second cat to the household, if you do not already have a multiple cat household.

When the Bobtail was first discovered, the breed had a few health problems, which however have been bred out of the Bobcat for the most part. These days, the American Bobtail is a strong and proud breed.

The outgoing temperament and friendly personality makes the American Bobtail a perfect choice for families. If you work with your kitten from a young age on, you should be looking forward to having a friend and family member for life.

American Bobtails come in a long haired and short haired version. Both kinds have to be groomed on regular basis to prevent hair balls. Although the longhair coat does not tangle easily, you may need to groom your longhair Bobtail more frequently. If you teach your kitten that grooming can be fun while she is still young, she will grow to enjoy the attention.

The latin name for a horse is Equus caballus. Horses are domesticated large mammals, often called “beast of burden”. Today the horse is used for various activities ranging from spots to the working environment to food. It is also an established figure in the ideals of religion, mythology, and art. Many was would have been lost, was it not for the use of horses.

Almost all horses are able to perform a certain work such as having humans ride on their backs or wear a harnessed and pull a cart or plow out on the farm. Horses used to keep our ancestors warm as well and maybe even made a fashion statement, due to the horses having many different coat colors and markings.

In recent times, horses were bred and breeds were established to adjust to modern times. Breeds were developed to be lighter for faster racing, heavier for farming, smaller for services and saver for children, horses that are shown for their beauty.

In some counties and cultures horses are a source of food while it is a big taboo in other countries and cultures.

For thousands of years, horses and humans lived and worked side by side and with each other, so naturally, specific terms were developed to describe different characteristics and markings of the horse.

Here are some of the terms that you might have heard and were not sure what they meant. These terms refer to the various stages of the horses’ age:

• Foal: is a newborn baby horse, regardless if it’s male or female. It is called a foal as long as it is under 1 year old.
• Yearling: is over 1 year old, but less than 2 years, regardless if it is male or female.
• Colt: is a horse of the male gender and he is under 4 years old.
• Filly: is a horse of the female gender and she is under 4 years old.
• Mare: is a horse of the female gender and over 4 years old.
• Stallion: is a fully intact sexually mature horse of the male gender and over 4 years old.
• Gelding: is a castrated horse of the male gender, regardless of his age.

They do this thing called accent treatment at this clinic which we now get discounts

at by our workplace. Great. Just what I wanted. Harry reckons his lady Addison is dead interested in using his discount. He seems happy with this… I wonder if that means she's not the most attractive of women…!?!?

Characteristics:

Average Height: 9-11.5 inches
Average Weight: 7- 9 lbs
Life Expectancy: 14-16 years
Breed Group: Companion Dogs
Fur Color: black, red, gray, silver, black or tan coat

Affenpinscher

The Affenpinscher breed showed up first in 17th-century Europe As a rodent hunter. The origin is not known, but the name, which translates as "monkey terrier," could be of German origin. The Affenpincher appears to be related to the Brussels griffon.

Affenpinschers are known to be loyal family members and they get along with children. Some are said to be stubborn and difficult to train. If sozialized early, they will get along with other pets. Some characteristics of Affenpinschers seem to be determintion and fearlessness which can result into being a little timid with strangers and sometimes even snap at them. Affenpinschers are well suited for being a good watchdogs.

The Affenpinscher's black, red, gray, silver, black or tan coat is wirry, short, and dense which makes him a low-maintenance breed. However, as every dog, he needs to be exercised daily to keep him balanced.

The Affenpinscher is prone to get hip dysplasia. As with many small breeds of dog they are prone to collapsed trachea, which is best prevented by walking the dog with a harness instead of a collar. Cataracts are occasionally reported as well.

To sum it up, the Affenpinscher would make a nice family dog.