How To Select Nutritious Pet Food

The ingredients in your dog or cat food, be it packed, raw or organic, may shock you. What is even more surprising is that even the premium pet food brands don't contain the right nutrients that will sustain your beloved pet's health.

And what are some of these important components? For both cats and dogs, a nutritious pet diet must have vegetables and fruits. These organic foods contain antioxidants, as well as fiber, vitamins, and phytonutrients. Your pet's food should also have direct-fed microbials which are commonly found in yogurt. Omega-3 fatty acids must be added in your list for they can keep pet's coat shiny.

Don't feed your dog with foods like corn, soy, or wheat, especially in large amount. Such foods are not sufficient sources of protein and your pet will get a hard time digesting them, resulting to colitis and urinary tract infections. As much as possible, purchase a nutritious pet food that has grain and uses ingredients like brown rice, oats, barley, or other easy-to-digest components.

Whenever you buy a pet food in the supermarket, make sure that it contains the "complete and balanced" label. These dog foods have met the standards established by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO).You can visit www.fda.gov to know more tips on selecting nutritious pet food.

Cat Ear Infection Treatment

Chronic ear infection is a common health problem among cats that needs to be consulted with the veterinarian. One of the most prevalent feline ear infections is called “otitis externa” or the inflammation of the external ear canal. This kind of infection must be examined carefully for it might be a sign of more serious issues such as polyps, ear mites and even tumors. But there’s no reason to be anxious for this can be resolved, prevented and cured with the proper care, medicine and consultation with your vet.

A cat suffering from otitis externa has an external ear canal filled with fluid and debris. Depending on how bad the infection is, a diagnosis may either need a simple ear cleaning technique or very thorough ear-cleaning under anesthesia.

So how can you determine if your cat has an infected ear? The answer lies in the behavior of your feline pet. Most cats with infected or inflamed ears look and act uncomfortable. They often scratch their ears with their paws as well as shake their heads all time. You can also notice that your pet looks irritated and has a lop-sided appearance because of the painful ear.

You can save your cat a great deal of discomfort if you have her or him checked by the vet. You must do that to avoid other possible dangers from happening caused by ear infection if not cured immediately. Cats who scratch their heads relentlessly may break small blood vessels within the external ear flap, resulting to dramatic swelling.

Treatment for otitis externa in cats may be as simple as applying a few drops of ear medicine, in liquid form, prescribed by your vet, or as involved as pursuing the root of an allergy or addressing an underlying illness. Since the causes differ, cat ear infection treatment also varies. Your veterinarian will advice a treatment plan targeted specifically for your cat.

Tips on Bathing Your Cat

Bathing your cat is probably one of the most challenging tasks you could ever encounter as a pet owner. Most cats are hydrophobic and hate water and bathing them is not that easy. So if you don’t want the fuss of bathing your cat, better read these tips which will help you bathe her with ease.

Training your cat to bathe as early as possible would make the bathing session effortless in the long run. If you start bathing your cat while she’s still a kitten, she will get used to it.

Bathe your cat on a regular basis, atleast once a week. It’s not only hygienic but also a fun way to bond with your cat. Bathing her at an early stage will prevent your cat from getting the fear of getting wet because she will be accustomed to the water.

One of the common mistakes that pet owners commit when cleaning their cats is that they tend to act anxious. Just relax. Being calm when bathing your feline friend will make the job more trouble-free and faster.

If you are calm enough and not frightened, and most especially, happy with what you’re doing, your cat will experience less anxiety. Remember to loosen up and massage the shampoo gently into your cat’s fur. Rinse it well too. Also make sure that the room is quiet throughout the bathing period. Running water from the faucet while you’re bathing your pet might cause a struggle or distraction so better turn it off.

Another technique is that you bathe your cat as quickly as possible. Prepare the essential things such as shampoo and a large towel beforehand. Always use products that won’t irritate the eyes and fur of your cats.

Adding a non-toxic wetting agent to the water will also help a lot. It is also advised that you use diluted soap instead of ordinary feline soap for faster bathing.

These simple cat bathing tips will only make your life easier but will also make your cat healthier, preventing her cat from getting fleas and ticks and other infestations.

Important Facts About Cat Hiccups

Cats and kittens can also get hiccups like humans do. The sound may be different but the reason why they get them is scientifically the same. Cats like humans have diaphragm muscle too that can suddenly contract and involuntarily react to irritation, resulting to hiccups.

While it is a normal behaviour among cats, a cat owner should also be cautious because not all noises or hiccup-like sounds that your feline pet creates are actually hiccups. Some may be a cause of more serious health problems of your cat.

Here are some important facts you need to know why your cat gets hiccups.

1. It is normal for cats to get hiccups.

2. Cats get hiccups commonly just after eating.

3. Ocassionally, it can happen if your cat didn’t chew her food thoroughly or gulped it too fast.

4. Hiccups can sometimes be a sign that your cat is sick.

5. If the coughing or hiccups persists for a long period of time and she looks distressed, better take your cat to the veterinarian.

6. Hiccups among cats can be attributed to a anatomical problem at the back of your cat’s throat. This can be cured by your vet.

7. Kittens can get hiccups more often than cats.

8. Cats can get hiccups because they are allergic to dusts or grass.

9. It can also be a sign that your cat has something stuck in her throat. Hairball is the common thing that a cat swallows that results to that.

10. The nerves extending from the neck to the chest of your cat may also be irritated that’s why she gets hiccups.

So how can you prevent your cat from getting hiccups? To control or minimize it, next time try to elevate her food dish or cat bowl. Since your cat exerts more effort to get her food, it will make your cat eat it slowly.