Spring is currently in the air for those living in the Northern Hemisphere. It is hard to find someone who doesn’t like the springtime. There is a buzz about planet earth in the spring; there are beautiful new-born lambs in the fields and daffodils in every corner.

There are a new set of dog health care considerations in the springtime. The grooming of the dog is one thing that will radically change. The warmer climate means the dog will start to shed their coat. You will have to clean their habitat more regularly because it will be covered in hairs.

We all love daffodils, but we should also be aware they are toxic to dogs and other animals. Make sure your dog doesn’t start nibbling the daffodils in your back garden.

Humans aren’t the only animals to suffer from hay fever. Dogs can be allergic to pollen, dust and airborne moulds. If your dog starts sneezing during spring, they may be suffering from hay fever. If they are you should consult a vet on the next step to take.

As well as doing this, you should still perform all your staple dog health care tasks, such as regular de-worming and general hygiene maintenance. These keep your dog on the cusp of health, warding off problems before they arrive.

There aren’t as many new dog health care challenges in spring as there are in winter, which is good news. Don’t sit back on your laurels though. Dog health care should be viewed as a constant process. The hard work pays off though when your dog is a picture of health.

If you will be having a party in your home, think about the noise levels and whether it will prove distressing to any animals in your home, especially pets or any nervous animal. If you will be having guests, especially if they are children who are likely to be overexcited, try and find somewhere quiet and comfortable for your pets to stay until things settle down again.

If you’re using Halloween as the perfect opportunity to treat yourself to some sweets or other treats make sure your pets don’t do the same, because some human treats can cause serious pet health care problems. Chocolate is the well known example of a human food which can lead to the death of a dog.

Similarly, dogs and cats might be attracted to playing with the wrappers of sweets and chocolates. As well as the obvious choking hazard that wrappers can present, if they are swallowed there could be internal damage to the digestive system and certainly some discomfort.

Many owners like to give their animals Halloween outfits to wear, this is ok provided they consider pet health care when doing so. If an animal cannot comfortable eat or drink, breathe or go to the toilet then it will become distressed and this could lead to illness.

Of course, keep in mind too that it isn’t just pet health care that is at risk when animals are around at Halloween. If you have decided to use some candles for spooky decorations then be sure to place them somewhere where dogs can’t knock them over, injuring themselves and potentially causing a fire at the same time.

Hydration is really important for both us and cats. If a cat is denied fresh drinking water it can become seriously ill in a matter of hours. Dehydration can cause serious cat health care problems and even death.

The diet which cats require is very specific. Felines are what are known as obligate carnivores which means that they cannot live on a vegetarian diet. Depriving a cat of meat in its diet cause such cat health care problems as malnutrition, blindness and death.

Owners must take care to maintain the delicate balance of our cats’ specific diet. Although we may think of it as a harmless treat, giving titbits of human food can have serious consequences for cat health care. The food we eat is generally too high in calories and fat and could even be toxic to a cat. Onions, for example, are highly toxic to felines.
Cats naturally eat several small meals a day, so as far as possible we should try and allow this. In many cases school and work commitments might mean that owners are unable to be at home to feed their cat during the day. This problem can be overcome by leaving dried food down for the animal to nibble on throughout the day.

Finally, at the same time as considering diet we must consider obesity which is one of the greatest threats to cat health care. Obesity can lead to heart problems, breathing problems, diabetes, arthritis and eventually death, so it must be avoided. A short haired cat is generally considered a healthy weight when its ribs can be felt but not seen. Always follow the instructions on portion size on cat foods and consult a vet if you think your cat’s weight is a problem.

Like with other animals, a major starting point for pet health care is providing a suitable home. They’ll need a good sized cage which contains a water bottle and food bowl. Always position the cage away from cold and out of sunlight, in a quiet spot.

Cat litter makes a good bedding base, as do hay and shredded paper in which degus will love burrowing. Pet health care problems can arise through lack of regular cleaning, so clean once a week at least.

Carrots, cucumbers and other hard veg are perfect for degus. But don’t feed them sugary foods because they could cause diabetes. Provide your degu with clean water. Teeth need to be worn down with fibre because they constantly grow. Healthy degu teeth are orange: if they are yellow or white this could be indicative of a serious pet health care problem.

Another part of pet health care is handling your pet. As long as you take care to be gentle handling shouldn’t be a problem. If you pick them up, hold them gently underneath. Trying to pick them up from above will frighten them. And if you try to pick them up by their tail you could be in for a surprise. If grabbed by their tails, degus have a natural defence mechanism which causes their tail to fall off. It will not grow back. Consult a pet health care expert at the vet’s or the pet shop if your degu’s tail falls off.

This common cat health care problem is easier to spot than most others: all it takes is a careful look at the cat. Cats which have a healthy weight will have a waist just in front of their hind legs which is easily visible from above and if they are short hair breeds you will be able to feel but not see their ribs.

A vet will diagnose obesity by weighing the cat and will be able to advise on the best way for your cat to lose weight. Cat health care problems such as arthritis, heart disease, diabetes and breathing difficulties are likely to follow if the obesity is not treated. Obesity really could kill a cat.

Pet shops and vet surgeries stock reduced calorie cat foods. We have to remember that any cat treats our pet eats still contribute to the daily calorie total, so if treats are given, meal sizes should be reduced accordingly. Also remember that any leftovers or titbits that cats receive could upset their finely balanced diets. Some cats may be being fed by well meaning neighbours. A polite request that neighbours do not feed your cat might make all the difference.

It is an important part of an owner’s responsibility for cat health care to ensure that their cat exercises and is physically active, but this is more difficult with cats than it is with dogs. You should try to encourage your cat to go outside everyday so that it can go for a stroll or even a run. Indoors you could also try playing with your cat. Having your pet chase balls and other playthings will help keep their weight down.

We all know the importance of keeping hydrated and this is important to felines too. If a cat is denied fresh drinking water it can become seriously ill in a matter of hours. Serious cat health care problems and even death can result from dehydration.

The diet of a cat must be very specific. Because they are obligate carnivores, felines cannot survive on a vegetarian diet. Depriving a cat of meat in its diet cause such cat health care problems as malnutrition, blindness and death.

As owners we must be careful not to upset the fine balance of our cats’ diets. However harmless they might seem, giving leftover human food can lead to cat health care problems. The food we eat is generally too high in calories and fat and could even be toxic to a cat. Onions are an example of the foods we consume which are toxic to cats.
In the wild, cats would eat several small meals everyday and owners should try to accommodate this. In many cases school and work commitments might mean that owners are unable to be at home to feed their cat during the day. This problem can be overcome by leaving dried food down for the animal to nibble on throughout the day.

Lastly, as well as diet we must think about obesity, which is one of the most common cat health care problems at the moment. Obesity can cause heart and breathing problems, arthritis and eventually death, so pet owners must try to avoid it. A short haired cat is generally considered a healthy weight when its ribs can be felt but not seen. Always follow the instructions on portion size on cat foods and consult a vet if you think your cat’s weight is a problem.

Cystitis and Feline Lower Urinary tract Disease are general terms which refer to the cat health care problems caused by an inflammation in the urinary bladder. As this problem causes irritation and inflammation related to urination, common symptoms include urinating frequently or urgently, appearing to experience difficulty urinating and possibly blood in urine. These illnesses are caused by various triggers, although very often food causes urinary crystals to form into bladder stones. It is also the case that overweight cats, which are more prone to developing cat health care problems generally, are often affected. However, there is no need for undue concern: this can be treated easily by a vet.

Spraying is more of a problem behaviour than a cat health care problem. When male cats are eight or nine months old they will become more territorial and exhibit new behaviours. He will begin spraying strong smelling urine around your house to mark his territory. It can be very hard to get rid of the smell. At the same time as this behaviour emerges, the cat is likely to start fighting with other cats, so to avoid any potential cat health care problems it is advisable to have your cat neutered.

Renal disease is a cat health care problem which is particularly prevalent in middle aged and older cats. Cat urine is very concentrated and not frequently passed, meaning that the kidneys work exceptionally hard. That an older cat’s kidneys should begin to fail is therefore not surprising or uncommon. The symptoms of renal disease in cats are increased thirst and urination, with vomiting, disorientation and weight loss as the disease progresses. Besides old age, this cat health care problem could be caused by cancer, infections or ingestion of a poisonous substance.