Opinions on pet care, from a new voice, Zibby. ~Kathy
Taking Care of Our Furry Loved Ones
by Zibby Gatsoni
Most people tend to overlook their own health, much less the health of their pets. So how important is it to take care of your pet's health? Very important. These little creatures depend on us for everything. From food and water, to a cozy lil' warm spot in the house to cuddle on and fall asleep. Not to mention some extra love. Annual visits to the vet are essential for you pet to live a long healthy and painfree life. Early detection not only helps reduce the complications of certain illness and disease, but sometimes can prevent them. Besides the regular shots, heartbeat checks and body and ear probbing your veternarian does, it's important to have your vet take a FULL blood test for your pet. At least once a year. Not the regular type of blood test, but one that includes Thyroid, T3 and T4. Noone can be for sure, how healthy an animal is just by looking at their coat or teeth. Sure it can be a bit costly one might think, but in the long run a regular blood test is far cheaper than the price someone pays having their pet suffer from operations and pain that could have been prevented, or worse yet, losing them to an early death. Wouldn't you want to know your pet is healthy?
Another important health issue is having your pet spayed or neutered, depending upon the gender of your furry friend. It offers you pet many advantages. Did you know that a spayed or neutered animal is better behaved?
Males -- Neutered cats and dogs focus their attention on their human families. On the other hand, unsterilized, unsupervised males roam in search of a mate, risking injury in traffic and in fights with other males. They mark territory by spraying strong-smelling urine on surfaces. Once they smell their own scent, it's a signal to them to continue excercising bathroom habits in unwanted places. Indoors, male dogs may embarrass you by mounting furniture and human legs when stimulated. Don't confuse aggressiveness with protectiveness; a neutered dog protects his home and family just as well as an unneutered dog, and many aggression problems can be avoided by early neutering.
Females -- While their cycles vary greatly, most female cats exhibit the following signs when in heat. For four or five days, every three weeks,they yowl and urinate more frequently, sometimes all over the house, advertising for mates. Often, they attract unneutered males who spray urine around the females' home. Females (dogs and cats) also attract males from great distances. Female dogs generally have a bloody discharge for about a week, and can conceive for another week or so. With female cats, they can concieve as soon as 7 months old (that's still a kitten!) or 2 months after giving birth!
For one, if the cost of spaying or neutering isn't that bad. Females cost more (due to an overnight stay) than males, there are animal organizations though, (some local ones,check in your area or ask your vet) which offer reduced fee (usually half price) for spaying your pet to encourage even the cheap or poor pet owner. Friends of Animals is a wonderful organization that most vets accept certifcates from. Another great health tip for your pet; a spayed or neutered animal will live a longer, healthier life. Spaying a female (removing the ovaries and uterus) or neutering a male (removing the testicles) are veterinary procedures performed with the same general anesthesia used in human medicine. Both surgeries usually require minimal hospitalization.
Neutering a male cat or dog by 6 months of age prevents testicular cancer, prostate disease and hernias. Spaying a female cat or dog helps prevent pyometra (a pus-filled uterus) and breast cancer; having this done before the first heat offers the best protection from these diseases. Treatment of pyometra requires hospitalization, intravenous (IV) fluids, antibiotics and spaying. Breast cancer can be fatal in about 50 percent of female dogs and 90 percent of female cats. With an older, seriously ill animal, anesthesia and surgery are complicated and costly. Not to mention, another important fact that a responsible pet owner should know. You can help prevent the suffering and death of millions of animals. One cat or dog who has babies and whose babies have babies can be responsible for the birth of 50 to 200 kittens or puppies in one year! Almost everyone loves puppies and kittens, but some people lose interest when these animals grow up. As a result, millions of cats and dogs of all ages and breeds are euthanized annually or suffer as strays. Rarely surviving for more than a few years on their own, strays die painfully by starvation, disease, freezing or being hit by cars.
Facts vs. Myths Regarding Spaying/Neutering
Myth: A female cat or dog should have a litter before she is spayed.
Fact: The sooner you spay your female, the better her health will be in the future. As long as a kitten or puppy weighs more than two pounds and is 6 months old, he or she can be neutered or spayed. Many veterinarians are practicing perfectly safe early sterilization. The likelihood of developing mammary tumors or uterine infections increases the longer a female goes unsprayed. In fact, a female spayed before sexual maturity (6 to 9 months of age) has one seventh the risk of an intact female of developing mammary cancer.
Myth: Spaying or neutering (sterilization) will alter my pet's personality.
Fact: Any slight changes will be positive. Regardless of the age when spayed or neutered, your pet will remain a caring, loving and protective companion. Neutering will reduce the need to breed, and that has a calming effect on many animals. Both neutered male canines and felines tend to stop roaming and fighting and lose the desire to mark their territory with urine.
Myth: Companion animals will become fat and lazy if they are neutered.
Fact: Absolutely not! Lack of exercise and overfeeding make pets fat and lazy -- not neutering. Your pet will not gain weight if you provide exercise and monitor food intake. Neutering is good for your pet, since sterilized pets tend to live an average of two to three years longer than unsterilized pets.
Myth: Sterilization is a dangerous and painful surgery for my pet.
Fact: Spaying and neutering are the most common surgeries performed on animals. With a minimal amount of home care, your pet will resume normal behavior in a couple of days.
Myth: Children should witness the miracle of birth.
Fact: Countless books and videos are available to teach your children about birth in a responsible manner. Letting your pet produce offspring you have no intention of keeping is teaching your children irresponsibility. Anyone who has seen an animal euthanized in a shelter for lack of a home knows the truth behind this dangerous myth. Millions of animals are killed each year because noone wants them. There simply are too many to find homes for. Just visit your local animal shelter if you have doubts over that one.
Pet insurance is a great thing that you can do for you pet. Not to mention helping out your wallet in the future.There are many kinds of pet insurance, most offering group plans if you have more than one pet. There are small deductibles that one pays, but the yearly checkups and shots and boosters are included in all that I've come across. Also the good thing is that they usually have low monthly payments instead of high seasonal ones. Dogs can run you a bit more than cats, but it doesn't depend upon how big or small your animal is, in other words, all dogs will cost the same.
Another kind thing, take some time out each day, even 10 minutes to cuddle or play with your pet. Simply feeding them isn't enough. They do have emotional needs and a lil' attention can go a long way. I usually sing a song to them, (I have 4 cats for now) that I reserve for only them . That way they know I'm in a good mood and showing them love. My cats respond quite well, with purrs and rubbing against my leg. It makes me smile, but more importantly, they feel loved.
Related Links
Vet Resources -
A1 VetQuest Veterinary Veterinarian Search Reference
ASPCA/NAPCC Information Page
Welcome to NetVet Veterinary Resources
HomeArts -- Animal Shelter Search
Veterinary Medicine Abbreviations/Acronyms List
Friends of Animals
PETA-Online
Pet Insurance -
Pet Insurance
United Pet Care
Premier Pet Insurance
Pet Plan Home Page
Welcome to The Petshealth Insurance Home Page
Misc. -
AR Reference Materials
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