Arthritis
Atopy (Inhalant Allergy)
Bufo Toad Poisoning
Cat Home Safety Tips
Collar Hazards
Common Things to Watch for
Dental Disease in Pets
Diabetes
Dog Safety Tips
Feline Heartworm Disease
Mallassezia (yeast) Dermatitis
Reasons to Neuter
Noise Phobia in Dogs
Weight Problems in Pets
Otitis (Ear Infections)
Parvo Virus
Pruritis (Itchiness)
Rabies
Seizures and Epilepsy
Senior Pets
Reasons to Spay
Toxoplasmosis, Cats and Women
people consider their pet to be a close family member, and when it is ill, it is a
time of tremendous stress and worry, not only for the pet’s health, but often
times, also for the cost of treatment.
What can make it even worse for the owner is when they realize that they either
caused or could have prevented their pet’s illness or injury. Now they are faced
with terrible feelings of guilt in addition to everything else.
While it is impossible to prevent every accident or illness from happening, pet
owners can take steps to minimize the chances that their pet will be injured or
made ill. Here are some tips to help keep your cat healthy.
Be careful with needles and thread. Even though it can be quite cute, cats
should never be allowed to play with string, thread, tinsel, floss or yarn. Barbs
on the tongue make it very difficult for cats to spit the string out and they may
end up swallowing it. As it is swallowed the thread may get wrapped around
the base of the tongue resulting in a "linear foreign body".
The normal peristaltic waves of the GI tract carry the ends of the thread through
the stomach and into the intestines. Since the thread can not pass through the GI
tract because it is caught under the tongue, it acts like a saw, cutting into the
intestines as they move around it, trying to propel it forward. Emergency
surgery is required to relieve this type of obstruction. Cat owners that like to sew
or do needlepoint need to be extra careful.
Be extra careful with medications. Cats are extremely sensitive to many common
human medicines. For instance, as little as one Tylenol [R] (acetaminophen)
tablet can be fatal to a cat. This ingredient is also present in many other brands of
pain reliever. Always check with your veterinarian before giving your cat any
medication. And be sure to keep all of your medicines stored safely. A loose
tablet on a counter or night stand could make an interesting but deadly play toy
for your cat if it were to be ingested.
Window safety. Drapery and window blind cords present a serious risk of
hanging to cats (and small dogs and toddlers). The dangerous type are the
double cords that loop at the bottom. If the animal slips it’s head in between the
2 cords, it can very easily get twisted up and suffocated or hung. To avoid this
situation I recommend cutting the loop and having 2 single cords dangling.
Kitchen Safety. Every cat owner knows that their pet is a pretty agile little
creature. Cats can jump up onto counters or sneak into the tiniest of places, often
times without being seen.
Owners with electric stoves need to be especially careful since the coils remain
hot for sometime after the burner is shut off. Many cats have suffered severe
burns to their foot pads after jumping up onto a hot stovetop.
Cat owners should also check the dishwasher (and clothes dryer) before turning
these appliances on. Cats can sneak into the open appliance and become trapped
when it is closed. The animal would be severely injured or killed if the
appliance were to be turned on.
Be careful when cooking. Try not to let your kitty walk around your feet when
you are cooking at the stove. A spilled pot of hot water or cup of tea or coffee
could cause a severe burn.
Avoid onions. Cats should not be fed table foods that contain either fresh or
cooked onions as there is a risk of causing damage to the red blood cells
resulting in anemia. Some brands of baby food contain onion powder which can
also cause the same problem. Owners with babies should take care not to leave
the infant’s food out where the cat can lick up the leftovers.
Houseplants. Cats also love to chew on houseplants, some of which can be
poisonous. Injuries include mouth ulcers, diarrhea and vomiting, cardiac effects,
neurologic disease, and death. The list of poisonous plants is quite long. Some
of the more common house plants that can be toxic include Rhododendron,
Philodendron, Easter and Tiger Lily’s, Poinsettia and Mistletoe. Pet shops sell
cat grasses that can be grown inside and are safe for cats to chew on. Visit
Cornell University's Poisonous Plant Informational Database online for indepth
information on poisonous plants.
Insecticides. A common cause of accidental poisoning in cats is the application
of a store bought flea product not specifically labeled for use in cats. Symptoms
include excessive salivation, diarrhea and vomiting, and muscle tremors often
confused as seizures. Never use a product that says "For Dogs Only" on a cat.
For more information on home poisonings in pets click here