This post may contain affiliate links at no additional cost to you.  By making your purchases through the links on this website HIGP may make a small percentage at no direct cost to you. HIGP only promotes products we use & truly believe in. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please refer to my Privacy and Disclosures for further information. HIGP thanks you for your support!

With the best intentions, I have TRIED to brush my dogs and cats teeth! And have you ever tried to brush a cat’s teeth??? NOT FUN! This was met with a LOT of resistance and very little success…I tried different flavors of toothpaste. I tried different approaches. The end result was that the cats never let me into their mouths to begin with…being cats of course…and the dogs? Well Grace tolerated it for a VERY short period of time. Benson, being a big scaredy cat as any of you who read that post know, was of course scared of the toothbrush and would high tail it to the door as soon as he saw it!

According to the AAHA, most dogs and cats will have some sort of dental issues by the age of THREE! I noticed with Grace that she started getting plaque buildup right when her adult teeth came in. So I knew I had to do something about it sooner rather than later!

Early Signs of Dental Disease

Signs of dental disease in dogs and cats tends to show up early in their lives, and can include tartar buildup, bad breath and red swollen gums. If it is not treated, it can lead to chronic pain and inflammation. Dental treatment at the vet is not fun for anyone (not to mention expensive!) so early treatment is the key here!

Signs to Watch For

Pets are EXPERTS at hiding pain so you may not realize that something is amiss! Also, dental disease may not be apparent by simply looking at your animal’s teeth as it can be hidden under the gums. Signs to watch for can include decreased appetite, lethargy or irritability.

With Gizmo, I noticed that he wasn’t coming to eat his food which he usually would yowl for! So off to the vet. And they found that his front teeth were broken off, had gotten impacted in his gums and caused infection requiring his front teeth to be removed!

Bubbles had an interesting situation as well…She had just come back to live with me so I did not know what her normal behaviour was and had no idea that anything was wrong. She was a bit of a cranky cat which I attributed to the adjustment from being an outdoor cat to an indoor cat. When I took her to the vet for her annual checkup they found that she had tooth resorption. This is a condition where the tooth starts to erode and be reabsorbed by the body!

This is actually quite a common condition in cats surprisingly, causing her a lot of pain. The vet removed that tooth and she was a different cat all of a sudden!! Much more friendly and loving. As this condition can reoccur in other teeth, I make sure that she gets to the vet for her annual checkup.

Health Conditions

Dental disease in your pet can end up leading to other health issues. Besides tooth loss, the blood stream can carry bacteria from the gums to your pet’s kidneys, liver and heart which is why proper oral care is so important for our pets!

Prevention

It is recommended that you try to brush your pet’s teeth daily to prevent dental disease. Your pet’s annual vet checkup is also an important step in early detection of dental problems. However, with my experience and the inability to actually brush their teeth I ended up looking to other solutions.

Pet food was the first thing I looked to! My cats and dogs both eat Hills Science Diet Oral Care food. It is a larger kibble designed to clean your pet’s teeth when they bite it. And the best part is that it seems to taste great to my pets! And all other pets as well…I don’t even need to buy any other treats for the dogs, as they will come running for a piece of kibble! And Grace and Benson will pick that kibble out of the bowl before eating their other food! All the dogs at the dog park really like it too and I am frequently asked by other owners what treats I am giving out…

My cats have great teeth when we go in for checkups now. But it still wasn’t quite enough to keep my dog’s teeth entirely clean. I give Grace and Benson frozen marrow bones once a week, which acts to brush and floss your dog’s teeth if there is enough meat and cartilage left on them. The marrow can cause some stomach sensitivities in some dogs however.

Grace and Benson were also getting a dog teeth brushing chew but I found that raw frozen chicken feet are nothing short of amazing! Their teeth at 3.5 years old look perfect! It’s a bit gross to watch them eat them, but hey it works! And it also comes with the added benefit of joint support since they have an abundance of protein, glucosamine and chondroitin.

Brushing their teeth daily is still the best way to clean your pet’s teeth, but I have found that my cats and dogs have good oral health with the steps I have taken above.

What to Avoid

If you are considering bones for your dog, it is important to find the right ones!! They should be raw as smoked and cooked bones can splinter and end up causing other health issues. Also, if they are too hard for your dog they can crack and break their teeth (I have heard of this issue with antler chews).

Size also matters! You want to make sure that you are getting bones that are too large for your pet to swallow. With my beasts this means finding the biggest bones I can!!

Treatment

Treatment of dental disease is done at the vet, and requires general anesthesia. The anesthesia in itself carries its own risks and I try to avoid it. It is also particularly risky to older pets. Nemo had really bizarre teeth and had to have dental cleaning twice and each time it was a nerve wracking process!

Prevention really is the best way to keep your pets happy and healthy! Dental care is an important part of caring for our pets and ensuring that you are taking care of it properly is vital to their overall health.

Be sure to read our other posts for more health tips!

The post How to Care for Your Pet’s Teeth first appeared on Help! I've Got Pets.

And guess what? Did you guess I was too late?

Sprinting from my office down the hallway, a quick glance into my daughter’s room revealed Miesha sleeping soundly on my daughter’s bed. Moving on, Whiskers stared at me wide-eyed from the floor at the bottom of my bed as I burst into the bedroom at full speed! Not him, and he skittered off to the side…and there it was. My sweet old gal Bubbles, sitting in the middle of my freshly washed bed proudly presenting me with a GIANT hairball! UGH.

This post may contain affiliate links at no additional cost to you.  By making your purchases through the links on this website HIGP may make a small percentage at no direct cost to you. HIGP only promotes products we use & truly believe in. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please refer to my Privacy and Disclosures for further information. HIGP thanks you for your support!

What Are Hairballs?

Hairballs are long and cylindrical mats of hair, tube like in their appearance. When you find one, you may notice food or liquid (mucous) with it as well. They obtain their cylindrical shape when they pass through the esophagus. If you didn’t see (or hear) your cat throwing it up, it could almost be mistaken for cat poop at a glance! But generally they are some sort of color related to the color of your cat. Pleasant, right?

How Do They Form?

Cats are fastidious in their grooming habits. I think outside of sleep, this is the number one thing mine spend their time doing. And unless you have a hairless cat some of that hair is going to be ingested as they lick and clean themselves, since their tongue has tiny backward hooks that catch the hair as they lick (why your cat’s tongue feels rough when they give you “kisses”). If that hair doesn’t get passed in their stool, it can collect in the stomach and intestine.

Once enough hair has gathered and clumped together, it irritates your cat’s digestive system…and let the awful retching noises begin! Whiskers in particular has another tell, and before the hacking begins he generally runs through the house yowling at the top of his lungs and I kick into action and grab the paper towels! I have to be careful not to get too close or give chase though, as this sends him running to hide and do it somewhere I can’t reach.

Are Cat Hairballs Normal?

Having cats my entire life, I’ve never had one that has not thrown up a hair ball at one time or another. The cats I have now aren’t too bad. Whiskers, being a long-haired Ragdoll, definitely has his moments though. Miesha rarely throws up a hairball but pukes everywhere more due to her highly stressed out nature.

When Cat Hairballs Are A Problem

While most of the time a cat throwing up a hairball is nothing out of the ordinary, there are times that you might want to pay more attention. If your cat grooms itself obsessively it could lead to more hairballs. And you may need to look at ways to divert that behavior and reduce your cat’s anxiety. Like more play!

Also, if your cat is throwing up more hairballs than usual it could be indicative of some sort of gastrointestinal problem or blockage which requires a vet visit ASAP. This is usually accompanied by lethargy and/or loss of appetite. Other reasons for more frequent hairball production could be allergies or a skin disorder. With all of my cats, I noticed as they aged they tended to shed more which led to more surprises to step in.

What Can You Do About Cat Hairballs?

Brushing

While you’re not going to be able to prevent all hairballs, there are some things that you can do to lessen hearing the horrific sound you’re about to be presented with one. Frequent brushing can help remove dead and loose hair from their coats.

Most of my cats LOVE to be brushed with a fine wire brush. But my odd little cat Miesha does NOT like it and twitches her head all over and runs away! With her, I found a glove brush is just the right thing. And while these work fine on short hair, they don’t get deep enough into long coats so a longer bristle brush is what I use on Whiskers (I use the same one on my Bernese Mountain dogs Grace and Benson…You can read some of their stories HERE and HERE).

Diet

You can also get special cat food and treats designed for reducing hairballs. Your vet may also be able to prescribe a lubricated medication for hairball prevention in your cat! This will help assist the hair to pass through their system. Adding more fiber can also keep their digestive system healthy and more capable of passing the hair through. In the worst cases where a blockage has occurred, surgery may be the only way to remove a hairball.

So hairballs aren’t the end of the world. They sure sound like it though when your cat is yacking one up! If you like this post, be sure to follow us and check out other posts!

The post Cat Hairballs: What You Need To Know first appeared on Help! I've Got Pets.

Turns out, Benny had basically the dog equivalent of a pimple on his chin…But the lump on his side concerned me since it had ruptured and was crusted over. It turned out to be a lipoma (not serious) which had ruptured. With some antibiotics it cleared right up.

But how do you know if it is serious or not? And when you should be concerned? I just discovered a lump on Grace’s back that feels a lot like Benny’s but since I’m not a vet I’m going to go get it checked out to be on the safe side. November is also National Pet Cancer Awareness Month so in the post below we’ll delve a bit into what to look for in terms of lumps.

This post may contain affiliate links at no additional cost to you.  By making your purchases through the links on this website HIGP may make a small percentage at no direct cost to you. HIGP only promotes products we use & truly believe in. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please refer to my Privacy and Disclosures for further information. HIGP thanks you for your support!

Benign Tumors

Let’s face it. Finding a lump on your pet can be a bit scary! I know my mind immediately goes right to cancer. Especially after one of my cats developed lumps on his belly in his later years which turned out to be cancer. But dogs and cats of all ages can get lumps and bumps and it doesn’t necessarily mean something serious!

Lipomas

Lipomas are a type of benign fatty tissue under the skin (subcutaneous). When you touch them they feel soft and can be moved around relatively easily. They are more common in middle aged to older dogs. Lipomas generally don’t go away on their own, and are typically only removed if they start causing your pet discomfort, hinder movement or other bodily functions. They can stay the same size or grow over time. Poor diet can be a contributing factor to the development of lipomas as well as age.

Keeping your dog at a healthy weight can help prevent the development of lipomas. Dogs with hyperthyroidism can also be prone to the development of lipomas. Breed can also be a contributing factor, with certain breeds such as Schnauzers, Cocker Spaniels and Labradors can also be more at risk for developing them. Fish oil, high in Omega-3, can help prevent and even reduce lipomas.

In cats, lipomas are generally found around the abdomen. Similar with dogs, they won’t go away on their own but may decrease in size with weight loss. You can read more on safe weight loss in cats HERE. But lipomas generally tend to keep growing in cats as well and it is recommended by the Merck Veterinary Manual that they be removed (when smaller as it is less complicated).

Histiocytoma

This is the type of cyst that Benson had. What really scared me about this one was the layer of crust that had developed around it so I got him into the vet as soon as I could to have it checked out since I had NO idea what I was dealing with at that point!

Unlike lipomas, histiocytomas are typically found in dogs under three years old. They are skin lumps that are usually found around the face or feet. Benson had it right on his chin, and it was a big red raised bump and not exactly nice to look at. They typically regress on their own within three months, but because I had never seen anything like this on my dog before I took him right in to the vet!! They aspirated it to confirm what it was and it went away in no time!

These bumps are typically raised, red and hairless and don’t spread to other areas. They look very much like a pimple! If they don’t regress on their own or are bothersome your vet may recommend removal.

Papilloma

A papilloma is a virus that causes warts on your dog! They can take months to incubate and your dog can catch it from direct contact as well as contact with an infected surface like a dog bed or toys.

These warts are hard, pale and cauliflower shaped and are typically found around your dog’s lips, inside their mouth and around their eyes. Although I have seen dogs who have had them on their feet as well! If they are on your dog’s lips or inside their mouth it can make eating painful.

Although papilloma typically go away on their own, it can take several weeks or months and your vet may opt to remove them if they are causing discomfort and pain to your dog. Much like warts in people, they are very contagious and can easily spread to other dogs in your household.

Fibroblastic Tumors

These are a type of tumor found in cats that are benign. They can be a buildup of collagen (collagenous nevi) or a raised, hairless bump that feel rubbery or soft and are fluid filled (fibroma). They are more common in dogs but also affect cats. These types of tumors can be removed by surgery or left if they are not bothersome to the pet.

Keratinized Skin Cysts

These are cysts filled with a skin protein, keratin. I have seen these pop up many times as questions in Bernese Mountain dog groups on Facebook! They are more common in dogs than in cats, and are caused by problems with the hair follicles and can be the same color as your pet’s hair. They can resemble a large blackhead but can push keratin out of the cyst giving it an almost horn-like appearance! In cats these are found on top of their head.

Don’t squeeze these if you see them on your cat or dog because it can cause inflammation and pain around the cyst if keratin is released into the surrounding skin! Surgery is the best option for removal.

Malignant Tumors

This is the really scary part of finding a lump on your dog or cat. My worst fear really. My first cat, Gizmo, had lumps all over his belly that were cancer and I lost him due to this. As my cats start entering their senior years I am always checking for bumps since early treatment usually has a favorable outcome. This is really why early diagnosis when you find any lump on your pet is important. An aspiration of the lump found will be done by your vet to get a diagnosis and treatment options.

Mast Cell Tumors

Mast cell tumors are the most common skin tumors found in dogs. It is less common in cats, but is still the second most common skin tumor in cats. They consist of mast cells, which are a type of white blood cell. There is no single cause for these types of tumors. And according to the VCA Animal Hospital, 60-70% of dogs only end up developing one tumor. And they can be benign as well as malignant so you will want to get your pet to a vet for further diagnosis.

In appearance, they are typically red and itchy and can be fast growing. They contain histamine which is the cause of the itching. They can affect dogs of all ages, although short-faced dogs are more at risk. You may only see one tumor, but there can be multiple tumors either concurrently or simultaneously and they can be found anywhere on the body. If it affects your dog’s entire body it is called mastocytosis.

Surgical removal is the best option for these types of tumors as they rarely go away on their own. You should avoid touching and pressing on these types of tumors since it can lead to a spread into the blood stream and further problems. When a low-grade tumor is surgically removed the dog or cat usually has a good prognosis. If it is more aggressive, your vet will discuss other options such as chemotherapy or radiation as a treatment. You can give your dog Benadryl to help with the itching.

Melanomas

Melanoma is a skin cancer, typically dark brown or black but can on occasion be a pink mass. Where it is found on a dog’s body is extremely important in determining if it is malignant. If the tumor is found on the body there is a good chance that it is benign.

However, if you find this type of mass around the dog’s mouth or toe bed it has a much higher chance of being malignant. These types of tumors are usually aggressive, and if on the toe can cause swelling, lameness and the entire toe may need to be removed to get rid of the cancer. In the mouth, there is a good chance that some of the cancer cells cannot be removed and further treatment includes radiation and immunotherapy.

If the cancer is malignant, there is a chance that it has spread to other areas such as local lymph nodes and/or the lungs. Further treatment of radiation and immunotherapy is likely required (chemotherapy is ineffective against melanoma).

Melanoma is much less common in cats. It is typically found in cats on the head, ears, neck and lower legs in older cats.

Unfortunately, given the aggressive spread of malignant melanoma the diagnosis is not great for our furry friends, with a survival rate in dogs after treatment only 1 to 18 months.

Basal Cell Tumors

Basal cell tumors are common in older cats, and can be benign or malignant. Longhair breeds are more at risk. These types of tumors can show up anywhere on the body, and are firm or ulcerated bumps, usually hairless. They are typically dark colored and can grow rapidly.

If it is malignant, rather than being raised they are typically flat and spread, unlike benign basal cell tumors but rarely spread to other areas of the cat’s body. These are more typical on the legs, head and neck of cats. Surgical removal is the most effective way to treat these types of tumors.

In Summary

If you notice a bump or a lump on your pet, the best option is to get them to the vet. You can’t diagnose what that lump might be for the most part just by looking at it. Your vet will look at the size, color, location and consistency of the mass to get an initial idea of what it might be. But a biopsy or aspiration will likely need to be done to confirm their diagnosis.

It is best to be proactive and get any lumps diagnosed as quickly as possible! I know I am always on the lookout for anything out of the ordinary in my pets and am always rushing them off to the vet for one reason or another! But if it turns out that bump might be malignant you want to give your cat and dog the best chances.

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The post What You Need To Know About Lumps On Cats And Dogs first appeared on Help! I've Got Pets.

My cat Chester was overweight right from almost the time he came home. He was starving when I adopted him from a shelter and gorged himself at every meal to the point he wobbled around his belly when he walked! Unfortunately, this led to him developing feline diabetes later on in his life. Given the health implications of an overweight cat, it is important to try to keep them at a healthy weight.

This post may contain affiliate links at no additional cost to you.  By making your purchases through the links on this website HIGP may make a small percentage at no direct cost to you. HIGP only promotes products we use & truly believe in. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please refer to my Privacy and Disclosures for further information. HIGP thanks you for your support!

Body Condition

The first thing you should do as a cat owner is assess their overall body condition. All of my cats are spayed and neutered so they have a little floppy belly. But this doesn’t necessarily mean they are overweight!

For an ideal body condition score, you should be able to easily feel your cat’s ribs. You should also be able to see their waist behind their ribs when you look at them from above.

If you can’t easily feel their ribs or see their waist, your cat is likely overweight! Check out Royal Canin’s downloadable graphic to more easily compare the body condition of your cat HERE.

Time To Take Action

So all those extra treats and spoiling your cat with food has led to them being overweight. It’s time to take some action! The one thing to highlight here is that it can be dangerous for your cat to lose weight too quickly.

If your cat loses weight too quickly it can lead to fatty liver disease (hepatic lipidosis) which is potentially fatal to your kitty. When cats don’t eat enough their body converts fat into energy. And their livers can’t process this fat efficiently which leads to fat building up in their liver. This leads to the liver functioning even less efficiently.

So a gradual approach to losing weight is the best thing for your cat. Cats weigh much less than we do, so even one pound is a high percentage of their overall body weight! Time to take your kitty to the vet to discuss how much and how quickly your cat should be losing weight to keep them healthy.

Health Problems

As much as it shouldn’t surprise anyone, there are a whole host of health problems that can come with an obese cat. The development of diabetes is one of them. After Chester developed diabetes it led to a total change in routine and food, and included insulin shots twice a day. Which may have been avoided had I paid closer attention to his weight issue over the years. You can read more on feline diabetes HERE.

An overweight cat can also be prone to many more health issues such as skin problems from being unable to groom themselves, GI issues, urinary problems, pancreatitis, lameness and more.

Food

This is a pretty obvious place to look first when attempting to get your pet to take off some weight! Make sure that you are feeding your cat a high quality diet that is high in protein. And try to avoid grains as the first ingredient.

Wet food is a great place to start with your cat. Many cats don’t tend to drink enough water so wet food helps with hydration. According to ASPCA Pet Insurance, the average cat only needs 180-200 calories a day. Be sure to measure out your cat’s food and avoid free feeding. Dry foods can also be high in calories, which is another reason to look to wet food.

Treats can also add to weight gain in cats. Cut back the amount of treats that you are feeding your cat to help limit the calories they are getting in a day.

Exercise

When you have an indoor cat, this can get a little trickier! But there are definitely ways that you can increase the activity level of your cat!

Why not get a laser pointer? I haven’t yet met a cat that didn’t love to play with these! You can get them moving all through the house as they chase the elusive red dot! As well as running them along the floors, I like to point them bit up the wall for a bit of jumping activity. Whiskers will play with this for hours on end!

You can also get more toys to interact with your cat. Mine love the wands that have mice and bees and other objects that jump and move more like real prey! Whiskers tends to just drag these off through the house and hide them though. Plushies like birds that chirp are also a big hit in my house! Just make sure you put it away at night or you’ll never get any sleep! I got one of these for my Mom’s cats and she cursed me for it…

We also have a tall cat tree that my cats will run and jump and play all over! I love seeing Whiskers run and climb right to the top at full speed.

The Right Approach

So if you have an overweight cat, there are definitely ways that you can look to help them lose the excess and improve their overall level of health! Just be sure to consult with your vet to set out the right approach for you and your cat. Now get out there, get some catnip and toys and have some fun doing it!

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The post How To Put Your Cat On A Diet first appeared on Help! I've Got Pets.

This post may contain affiliate links at no additional cost to you.  By making your purchases through the links on this website HIGP may make a small percentage at no direct cost to you. HIGP only promotes products we use & truly believe in. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please refer to my Privacy and Disclosures for further information. HIGP thanks you for your support!

An Unpleasantly Wet Bed

When I crawled into my bed and for the THIRD day in a row slid into a warm, stinky wetness of cat urine it prompted me to think a bit more about why my cat was doing it!

Miesha has always been an odd and scared cat. She frequently comes running down the stairs at top speed, stops, looks around…And even if she hears nothing she tears away like her life is in danger!

With Miesha, the peeing in my bed started a few months ago. One of the dogs noticed her and barked at her a bit. That was it. Miesha was freaked out to the point that she repeatedly started peeing in my bed…In the exact spot where I sleep…every time. I was sick of stripping down my bed EVERY SINGLE DAY (usually not noticing it until bedtime).

If you have a cat that is not using their litter box, and other inappropriate places around the house I am sure that you share in my frustration. In Miesha’s case, I knew that she was doing it because she was scared of the dogs. Yes, even after over a year of living with them. She practically lives upstairs during daylight hours, and will sneak down to the basement for food and to go to the bathroom…Then it is right back up into hiding! But she has always hidden for most of the day.

Medical Reasons Behind Litter Box Issues

There are several reasons that could be behind your cat’s sudden aversion to the litter box. The first things to rule out are medical issues. If a medical reason is behind your cat’s behavior watch for signs of a urinary tract infection (UTI). Signs of a UTI are small, frequent trips to the litter box. You can read more on this on Pets WebMD here.

Feline intersistial cystitis could be another reason. Signs for this are attempting to go to the bathroom but being unsuccessful. They could also lick themselves while going to the bathroom or you may spot blood in the urine. This could be life threatening if it is the cause. And kidney stones are another medical reason behind litter box issues. Symptoms for this also include frequent trips to the litter box but pain or meowing and crying. Their sides may also be tender to touch.

All these medical conditions are serious and require a visit to the vet.

Behavioral Issues Behind Kitty Litter Issues

Behavioral issues can be another factor behind litter box issues if medical conditions have been ruled out. This was the case with Miesha, and it wasn’t overly difficult to figure that out!

Gizmo had one episode where one morning before getting out of bed he peed on my bed right beside my HEAD! It never happened again, and I think it was simply because he was getting old and either forgot himself or couldn’t make it to the box.

Bubbles was also the culprit a couple times. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that this was because she was taken from her other house where she was marking and had gone a little wild and she was NOT happy about being in my condo.

Any cat owner can attest to how finicky they can be…about just about EVERYTHING!

There are many things that can cause them to go off their litter. This can including a change in litter (texture), not being clean enough, not being in a good location, not enough litter in the boxes, not enough boxes for the number of cats, hoods or liners, or even a conflict with another cat in the house.

Things To Try to Address Behavioral Issues

Observation of your cat while using the litter box should provide you with important clues as to the reason if one of these is the case. If it is due to the texture of litter, you can experiment with different litters until you find one that works. Cats tend to prefer unscented clumping litter (although this can present a danger to very young kittens so be mindful of that).

If you notice your cat jump into the box all wild eyed and nervously use the box and BOLT like a shot out of it after, you may want to consider changing the location of the box. An ideal location is in a quiet spot out of way of the daily action and should provide escape routes to make them feel safer while using it. Also, don’t put food and water near the litter box. You can try different spots to see if one works better, or you can try one on each level of your home to see which one is preferred.

Finicky Cats

Keeping the litter cleaner can be another thing to attempt. If I let mine go too long I KNOW that they are going to just end up going on the floor right beside the boxes! An unpleasant lesson if I let it slip and end up with a wet knee when I bend down to do it…Some cats I know won’t use the litter box after even just ONE use! But ideally you should be trying to clean it daily, and cleaning the box with either unscented soap or baking soda weekly.

Add More Litter Boxes

Not having enough litter boxes or having them be too small can also be behind a cat’s reluctance to climb in. I have three cats currently and four litter boxes. You should try to have at least one extra for the number of cats in your household. If the box is too small that can also end up being an issue they will contest to. Hoods and liners can also be a reason behind the cat’s dislike for it. Try not using them and see what the result is.

Automatic litter boxes also sound great to people! And while they can do the job of keeping the litter cleaner by sweeping it after every use…watch out. Fear can cause our feline friends to snub the litter box! I had gotten one (they are not cheap!) for Gizmo and Chester. But the sound of it turning on and motion where it was unexpected freaked them out and after using the box they would bolt like lightening right out of there to avoid it!

Amount of Litter In The Box

Sounding counterintuitive is the amount of litter in the box. Cats actually prefer only 1-2 inches of litter in the litter box. It is PEOPLE who prefer more! Try letting it run a little lower and see if that makes a difference!

Stress

Household stress can also be a cause. If there are multiple cats who don’t get along it could end up preventing one of them from using the litter box. Try moving the boxes around and see if anything works. With Bubbles I ended up getting

With Miesha being a HIGHLY stressed out cat in the best of times though I needed to try a different approach rather than just changing the litter. To calm her, I purchased Feliway Classic pheromone diffusers and pheromone spray. This has helped her calm down significantly, and she is even prone to hanging out on the main floor of the house again!

Enzymatic Cleaner

Along with these suggestions make sure that you are not using an ammonia based cleaner as urine contains ammonia and the cat could continue to use this spot. Instead, same as with puppies, use an enzymatic cleaner to thoroughly remove any traces of urine.

Make It Less Appealing

Making the inappropriate area less appealing can do the trick. I have double-sided tape in my house at all times for this very reason! It also helps when your cat is scratching something they shouldn’t be…but if you do not have this, tin foil or even just turning a rug over can work.

What NOT to Do

There are definitely things that you should NOT do if your cat is having accidents around the house.

DO NOT rub their faces in it. They do not understand why you are doing that and it can make them more fearful! Yelling at them or throwing them into their litter box can also be more adverse to their mental health than anything. Same with confinement as they just do not understand why it is happening.

With some patience and trial and error you should be able to narrow down the cause of a cat peeing where they shouldn’t be. Make sure that you are willing to work with them to find a solution and everyone will be very happy!

The post Tips You Need to Know to Address Litter Box Issues first appeared on Help! I've Got Pets.

What Is Feline Diabetes?

Feline diabetes in cats is typically type II, where glucose levels are elevated because their bodies are not responding properly to insulin. Energy for the body comes when insulin helps the glucose get absorbed in the body in order to turn it into energy.

This post may contain affiliate links at no additional cost to you.  By making your purchases through the links on this website HIGP may make a small percentage at no direct cost to you. HIGP only promotes products we use & truly believe in. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please refer to my Privacy and Disclosures for further information. HIGP thanks you for your support!

My Experience

Chester was always an overweight cat. I wanted a companion for my other cat, Gizmo, and went to a PetSmart adoption event to see if I could find a new kitten. There were so many cats and kittens but my heart really went out to the little skinny, dirty, smelly one! His whiskers and claws were broken off, he had dirt encrusted in his ears and was skin and bones.

As soon as I got Chester home my number one priority was getting some food into him (not far behind was a bath!). I gave him some wet and some dry and he GORGED himself to the point that his belly was sticking out on either side of his body and he was wiggling to walk around it!

The tone was set right from that first moment. Chester was an eater. A very avid eater! Every morning I would measure out the dry food for them. Grazing on the dry food over the course of the day, they also got some wet food in both the morning and at supper time. He never seemed to be quite as interested in the wet food as Gizmo was but somehow he still had that giant tummy!

People food was a big part of his downfall. I figure that he was eating out of trash and getting a lot of fast food. That was always what he would scream for and try to steal! McDonald’s fries and chicken nuggets in particular were favorites!

Noticing Something Wrong

There was one night that I noticed that Chester seemed very tired and listless. His eyes were dull. I bent down to give him a scratch. Noticing that his spine was sticking out really far and that he had lost a significant amount of weight (just none of it off his belly) I worried.

Knowing right at that point that something was seriously wrong with him I called the vet. He had an appointment for the next morning. I sat on the floor with him for the rest of the night, holding him and crying into his fur.

Symptoms of Feline Diabetes

In addition to a lack of energy and weight loss, other symptoms to keep an eye out for include loss of appetite, vomiting, dehydration, and problems with motor function. There could also be a noticeable increase of water intake and more frequent urination. I wasn’t aware as my ex was on kitty litter duty at the time, but apparently his pees were filling the entire litter box.

At the vet the next day they took blood samples and gave him some fluids as he was dehydrated. The vet had a strong suspicion that feline diabetes was the cause. They were doing some tests on his blood to measure the sugar levels.

They ended up needing to do several blood tests over the next few days to get an accurate idea of what his sugars were looking like and how to best treat it. The need for several tests is because cats can also produce glucose in situations of stress. A lab test for fructosamine concentrations can also be done. It will give a picture of the average blood glucose concentration over the past two weeks.

Treatment of Feline Diabetes

When I found out I was going to need to give him insulin shots twice a day, I won’t lie…I was freaked right out! It needed to be injected as oral medication for feline diabetes hasn’t been shown to be consistently effective. The vet explained to me how to administer it but didn’t actually demonstrate it. I went home with a vial of insulin and a box of needles and a LOT of anxiety. Chester was also prescribed some very specific diabetic food that he was going to need to eat from now on.

That first shot was the WORST. I was shaking as I lifted the scruff of his neck up and prepared to give him a poke. Really, really hoping I wouldn’t end up messing it up or hurting him somehow. I definitely underestimated the amount of pressure I needed to put on the syringe and it took a couple of tries and lots of reassurance (both to Chester and myself!).

But I finally did it! Chester barely made a fuss! I was going to be able to do this! Chester would get better! And the needles used in the syringes are so small that the cats end up barely noticing that something is going on.

Special Diet

The food represented another problem…He now required a very special diet low in carbs. There are wet and dry options available. Seeing as how I had another cat and did not want the food mixing up I ended up getting wet so I could control what and when he was eating it. But how to keep him out of Gizmo’s food???

For whatever reason, Chester never realized that he could jump more than a foot off the ground…I found the solution by feeding Gizmo up on the counter and Chester got his food on the floor. I did not like the idea of cat food on the counter all the time. Or Giz prowling the countertops but this was the only way I could seem to think to keep the food separated!

Chester went back and forth to the vet many times in the next few weeks to figure out how effective his treatment was. When we finally got his blood sugar levels back into the normal range I was incredibly happy and relieved!!

Managing Feline Diabetes

Then it hit me like a bag of bricks. This was forever. This was the rest of his life! Chester needed insulin shots twice a day. All of a sudden vacations got tricky. One thing I love about cats is their independence and that you can leave them alone for short periods of time. Not anymore…This little guy needed me more than ever, and I needed to be there for him. Some people might give up a diabetic cat due to the work required but that is NOT me. When I bring an animal into my house, it is forever for better or worse.

There was a lot of reluctance from my ex in teaching him to administer the insulin if I wasn’t home to do it. But after you do it a few times it ends up becoming pretty second nature. I chose to do it when Chester was eating his wet food as he was distracted and I did not need to chase him down and hold him.

When I moved into my condo and got divorced, Chester and Gizmo came with me. Being on my own represented a new challenge with Chester. I made sure that he got his shots and food on time. Then summer came and I was hoping to get home to Saskatchewan…But what was I going to do with Chester?? In previous summers I would have someone check in periodically to make sure all was ok and for some fresh food, water and pets. But what now?!?

Pet Sitting – A New Challenge

Making some phone calls, I found that there are some pet sitting services that will administer shots. I also had found a mobile vet who was willing to do it for me. But a good friend of mine who lived coincidentally in the same condo building actually VOLUNTEERED to do it for me! He had never given a cat a needle before and I was touched that he was willing to learn and do it for two weeks so I could go home to see my family. Friends like that are hard to find.

Unfortunately my Chester Cheetah went over the rainbow bridge before I had to leave him alone next. I am currently owned by three beautiful cats, two females and one male. I am always keeping an eye on them and the diabetes experience is never far from my mind when I am checking them over.

Risk Factors

Risk factors for developing feline diabetes includes obesity, being a male cat, and use of some medication (i.e. steroids for treatment of asthma). Obesity can lead to up to a FOUR TIMES higher chance of developing feline diabetes…FOUR TIMES!!! I keep a very close eye on the weight of my cats for this very reason.

Feline diabetes is very manageable if your cat is diagnosed with it. Chester lived for years after he developed it and was a very happy cat in that time. Yes, it takes more work and you need to be diligent with your treatment but there is no reason that your cat can’t live a good and happy life for more years to come!

The post How to Live With Feline Diabetes first appeared on Help! I've Got Pets.

It was a LONG winter. With Toronto in and out of lockdown more times than I can count it was a very welcome change when the days started getting longer and the weather warmer. Dog walks are much more enjoyable rather than dutiful. I still managed to get them down to the beach most days, and had the sand burn on my face to prove it!

This post may contain affiliate links at no additional cost to you.  By making your purchases through the links on this website HIGP may make a small percentage at no direct cost to you. HIGP only promotes products we use & truly believe in. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please refer to my Privacy and Disclosures for further information. HIGP thanks you for your support!

Flea and Tick Prevention

However, spring can bring a whole host of new situations to deal with. The first sign that spring has arrived is the push to get your pets on flea and tick medication. With temperatures warming up much quicker than usual my vet suggested starting in March rather than April this year as they get active once daytime temperatures get above 10 degrees Celsius. My cat Bubbles got a tick on her last year…NOT an experience I want to repeat.

Dog Flea and Tick Prevention

My dogs are over a year old now, which means they switched over to Bravecto, which is given orally, and lasts for up to three months for each dose. This was a HUGE relief to me, as last year they were on Credelio which inevitably caused diarrhea for several days after giving it to them. And as it was given monthly…well you get the picture.

Cat Flea and Tick Prevention

I now use Frontline for my cats, which is a topical treatment applied monthly. It is relatively easy to apply, you pop the cap and give it a good squeeze directly onto their skin on the back of their neck. MUCH better than trying to give your cat a pill…I don’t know about you, but I like my fingers…

There have been some negative news stories on collars recently, I will not use these on my pets. Finding out Advantage offers no protection against ticks when Whiskers showed up with one, we switched to Frontline.

Dealing With Spring Showers (And Mud)

If you have read the grass story, you know that my backyard is currently a giant mud pit. And with spring comes the rain. And more rain. Which leads to mud. EVERYWHERE.

After mopping my floor several times a day, I decided to try out one of those absorbent door mats. The day it came, I rolled it out at the back door and observed the results. It actually does a relatively good job getting a lot of the mud off their paws before coming in the house! The floors were cleaner! Keep in mind that it does not get all the mud and water, but a good amount of it. I was so impressed that I ordered a second one for the front door too!

For the extremely muddy days though, the mats were still not enough. My dogs are also not patient enough to sit and let me towel off all four paws. And good luck to you with two young Bernese Mountain dogs!!

Researching again, I found the Mudbuster, which is essentially a long tube with silicon bristles lining the inside of it. You put a little bit of water into it, the paw goes in for a quick swish and voila! It does an amazing job at getting the mud off their paws, is easy and fast and even works to remove sand from the beach. It also saves my towels from being turned into rags!

Rain Gear

Rain gear could also be something to consider for those rainy day walks. Canada Pooch has some super cute rain jackets and ponchos to help keep your dogs dry and reduce the amount of towel off time when you get back home. They even have a reflective jacket which is perfect for night walks!

Plant Safety

Plants are also something to keep an eye on come spring. Not all of them are friendly to our pets. I have a few things growing in my front yard that are poisonous, including Lily of the Valley and Rhododendron. Lily of the Valley is near impossible to remove as it has tuberous roots. I know. Once I tried. I did manage to kill it off, but I had to dig it all up, remove as many roots as I could and THEN placed a tarp over it for an ENTIRE summer! I have leads out front, and I keep them short enough so they cannot get to those plants.

Gardening is also a passion of mine. As soon as I think it is time, I load up on annuals and perennials. I would love to have Lilies and Foxglove out in the yard, but these are highly toxic to animals. I would strongly recommend that any pet owners make themselves familiar with what plants are toxic and which are not to keep your animals safe out in the yard.

Many home owners will also treat their lawns in the spring. There is typically some sort of signage when this is done, but there may not be…The chemicals used in these treatments can make your pets sick. Insecticides can be deadly. There can be immediate reactions such as respiratory issues, rashes, eye irritation, nausea and diarrhea. However, there can also be longer lasting effects which are more serious. As such, it is prudent to make sure that you keep your dogs off lawns when out and about.

Allergies

Like people, our pets can develop seasonal allergies. Bernese mountain dogs are KNOWN for their allergies but I have been relatively lucky with my two bears so far. If you notice that your pet develops skin issues at certain time of the year, allergies may be the culprit. Over grooming areas, thinning fur and hot spots could also be a sign of allergies. They may also rub their snouts excessively or develop ear infections.

If you notice this with your pet in the spring, you can wash their feet to prevent allergens from coming into your home. Be diligent with ear cleaning. And try to reduce the amount of allergens coming into your home. You can also consult with your vet for options.

There we have it! The rain is falling, the flowers are blooming. Time to get out there and enjoy it!! If you have any other spring tips and tricks for pets please let me know!

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The post Spring Tips You Need to Know for Your Pets first appeared on Help! I've Got Pets.

I don’t know about you, but the thought of fleas and ticks on my pets (and potentially myself) is enough for me to make sure that I am diligent in treatment of my animals. Last year the cats started venturing outside for the first time since we moved into the house. So I had not been giving them meds as I was with the dogs.

I was giving Bubbles some scratches on my bed and felt what was like an extra piece of skin like a skin tag hanging off the back of her neck. Upon looking closer and giving it a little poke, I saw the little legs wiggle and knew. It was a TICK. On my CAT. On my BED. GROSS!

This post may contain affiliate links at no additional cost to you.  By making your purchases through the links on this website HIGP may make a small percentage at no direct cost to you. HIGP only promotes products we use & truly believe in. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please refer to my Privacy and Disclosures for further information. HIGP thanks you for your support!

Tick Removal

Running downstairs, I grabbed a pair of rubber gloves, the tweezers, a bowl of alcohol and alcohol swabs. I was now ready to clean the wound when I was done with this gruesome task.

Bubbles actually sat really well for me while I tended to her. This actually surprised me somewhat as I expected a bit of a battle to keep her still enough to remove the tick. I carefully parted her fur where the tick had latched on to do its dirty business. Then I got the tweezers right down under the body where it met the skin.

Hoping for the best, I pulled straight upwards with a steady motion and I could feel how tightly it was latched on. Finally I heard a POP and it was out! But I was still sitting on my BED with a half engorged tick…Into the alcohol it went! I ended up keeping it for several days in case Bubbles had a reaction. If she did the tick needed to be tested for Lyme disease.

It’s Out!

Cleaning up the wound area, I was hoping that I got out all the body parts and that there would be no infection. I checked the site regularly for the next few days. In addition I carefully monitored her behaviour to make sure that a vet visit would not be in order. Any regular reader knows I spend half my life there already anyways!

That was the first time I have had to remove a tick from one of my pets, and a bit of an eye opener. Where I grew up in Saskatchewan ticks are prevalent in the spring. So there are lots of stories of us running scared and screaming from a tick! There was also the time I found one latched on behind my Mom’s ear when we lived in Calgary…But I had not thought much of it living in the middle of a large city.

Fleas

Although small, fleas and ticks have the potential to create a great deal of chaos in their wake.

The most common external parasites found on pets are fleas. I have been relatively lucky in this regard, as I have only had to deal with fleas on my pets once. When I first moved to the city I was living in a basement of a house. My roommate’s cat would go outside and brought GIANT fleas into the apartment. They were the biggest fleas I have ever seen, and required multiple treatments to go away.

Part of the arachnid family (like spiders and mites), fleas are wingless.

Where Fleas Live

They can live outside in your backyard, thriving in the shade and moisture of grass. Fleas can also come in on your clothing and belongings, or come from daycare and boarding facilities. They can jump up to TWO FEET to latch on to their unsuspecting host, and start feeding within five minutes and can feed for up to two and a half hours! They can stay on your pet for up to five months!

Not only can fleas infest your pets, but they can infest your home as well and live in your carpets, furniture and bedding. It can only take one flea to cause an infestation given rapid reproduction habits. A single female flea can lay up to 2000 eggs over the course of her lifetime, 40-50 a day for up to two months. There are circumstances where newly developed adult fleas can hide in nests in your home for MONTHS in some cases until conditions are ideal…

Signs of Fleas On Your Pet

Among the first signs that your pet has fleas is relentless scratching. Flea bites are itchy, and you pet will likely be scratching continuously to try to get some relief. You can also look for small, flat brown objects on your pets. They can move fast though, so I have found that the best way to check is to flip your pet over and check their groin and armpit areas as fleas tend to love these spots. For a severe infestation there could be a rash, bumps and hairloss as well as potentially an unpleasant odor. Some animals also develop allergic reactions to flea bites.

In addition to being a nuisance, fleas can transmit tapeworm to dogs and people as well as spread bacterial diseases heightening the importance of treating your pet for fleas.

Ticks

Hand-in-hand with flea season comes tick season. Ticks start out small and are relatively hard to spot. They can be as small as a pin-head before latching on to you or your pet. As with fleas, they begin to get active when the weather warms up in the spring and into summer, and may be active all year around depending on where you live.

Where Ticks Live

Ticks tend to live in tall grass, shrubs, bushes and trees (fields and wooded areas in other words). They latch on and burrow their heads into the skin for a blood meal from their host. As they administer an anesthetic when they latch on, it is likely that you may not notice a bite until it the tick begins to swell with blood (as was the case last year with my cat, Bubbles). When they are full, they unlatch and fall off.

When your pet comes in, you can check for ticks by running your hands over your pet, paying particular attention to the ears, head and feet areas. They feel a lot like a skin tag when they start to get gorged on blood.

How To Remove A Tick On Your Pet

If the unthinkable happens and you happen to come across a tick, you can take steps to remove it. You will need tweezers or something similar to grip the tick, rubber gloves and a container of rubbing alcohol.

Try not to panic…like I did for a moment until I got my head cleared…Make sure to use rubber gloves, as you can potentially transfer infection to yourself or your pet by coming into contact with the tick’s blood. DON’T squeeze the body of the tick as it can cause infected fluids to move into your pet.

A partner can help you keep the pet calm and still (in my case I was alone so I did it myself). Separate the pet’s fur around the tick and use the tweezers to grip it between the body and the head at the surface of the skin.

Once you have a firm grip on the tick at the skin contact level, pull steadily straight upwards. It is VERY important not to twist or tug too quickly as it could leave parts of the tick embedded in your pet resulting in infection.

What To Do After Tick Removal

Grab your container of rubbing alcohol once the tick has been removed and deposit the tick into it. It will not only kill the tick, but you can keep it in here for a few days in case it needs to be tested for disease. For myself, I was panicking thinking I was going to drop a half fed tick onto my bed before I got it into the container…

Disinfect the wound on your pet, and watch carefully over the next few days or weeks even for any sign of infection (redness/swelling) and make sure to wash your hands and disinfect the tweezers used. Also monitor your pet’s behaviour for anything unusual. If your pet develops an infection, the tick may need to be sent for testing.

Disease From Ticks

Aside from infection at the entry point, ticks can cause a host of medical issues including blood loss and anemia, Lyme disease, tick paralysis and other infections.

Signs of Lyme disease in pets can include loss of appetite, depression, fever, swollen painful joints and kidney failure. With treatment (typically antibiotics) your pet should start to improve within a couple days. As such, it is important to consult with your veterinarian as soon as possible on finding any unusual signs following the removal of a tick.

Prevention

Prevention is the best way you can keep your pets and yourself flea and tick free. There are many options available, including topical and oral treatments. Please consult with your vet for the best option for you and your family, and we wish you a flea and tick free summer!

Another Tick…

Update: It is May 3rd. I was scratching Whiskers on the couch and found the telltale bump behind his ear. Sure enough, I part the hair and it is another TICK in my house! UGH!!! Got the tick removal gear out again…

This tick was about half the size of the one on Bubbles and boy did it move around when I exposed it. I pinned Whiskers down on the rug at the back door and went to work.

Oh Benson

I was just applying alcohol to the bite area when Benson came to see what all the commotion was about as he was yowling like crazy. He KICKED the container with the tick in it sending alcohol all up my side, onto my face and into my hair!!! OMG WHERE’S THE TICK.

Checking the floor and rug frantically I could not see the tick. Seeing as how the contents of the container were kicked all over me I PANICKED. Clothes went flying off! Hair shaken out! Checking all over myself and my clothes to find that stupid tick. Any of my neighbours behind me could have seen exactly what was going on…

I finally, finally found the tick on the rug…It is secured. Now the watching starts, as I am hoping that he won’t need to go to the vet…because we all know how that goes…In the meantime, trying to get over the creepy crawlies.

The post How To Keep Pets Safe From Fleas and Ticks first appeared on Help! I've Got Pets.

This post may contain affiliate links at no additional cost to you.  By making your purchases through the links on this website HIGP may make a small percentage at no direct cost to you. HIGP only promotes products we use & truly believe in. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please refer to my Privacy and Disclosures for further information. HIGP thanks you for your support!

The Cats

My cats have always been relatively good at not going after many plants in the house. With exception to anything that resembles grass (which I then usually find when I step on it after it has come back up). I avoided having poinsettias at Christmas and lilies at Easter even though I adore both. I hadn’t had a garden in several years though. And I didn’t even think about what I was ordering for delivery last spring until it arrived.

Then it hit me. I hadn’t thought at all about what plants I was putting out in my garden. And I had two very playful and curious puppies on my hands.

What’s Safe and What’s Not

Then doing some research before bringing the plants around back I figured out which ones I needed to make alternative arrangements for and which ones I needed to put in the front yard where they were not easily accessible. I already knew some of the plants that were poisonous to dogs and cats and had avoided them. But I was a bit saddened by the discovery that some of my favorites could not go in the backyard as planned.

Read about what plants are poisonous for cats and dogs on the ASPCA’s website HERE. They are printable lists of what is safe and what is not which is good to have on hand!

If Your Pet Ingests An Unsafe Plant

If you suspect that your pet has eaten anything that is considered poisonous, it is extremely important to take them immediately to a veterinarian. I have peroxide and a syringe in my doggie first aid kit in case one of my dogs ends up ingesting something they should not so that I can induce vomiting as time counts in these circumstances.

Luckily my dogs do not seem to have much interest in eating plants in my garden. Benson will tenderly nibble at my strawberries when they are starting to get ripe but has much more interest in ripping the entire plant out of the ground and running around with it like a maniac. Although this summer he seems to have grown a fondness for my cucumbers and beans…Grace will chew the bark off the trees in my yard. But it doesn’t mean that I will take a chance.

I have a couple plants that are poisonous in my front garden where the dogs are not allowed. They are always on a lead and supervised in this part of the yard. And I will enjoy other plants through my neighbour’s gardens.

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The post Gardening With Pets: What You Need to Know About Poisonous Plants first appeared on Help! I've Got Pets.