Anything For Animals

posted by admin on May 6

Welcome to Part II of this article discussing the reasons your pet may suffer from bad joints - and how to prevent this damage and discomfort.

Hopefully, the previous point all made sense to you, and have highlighted how easy it is too affect your pets life by simple decisions. Well, here are the final 2 to make sure you have the best partnership with your pet, for as long and as healthy as possible.

5) Excessive Weight:
This one is totally in your control - and there is no excuse for an overweight young animal!

With correct feeding and exercise, you pet should maintain a healthy weight for it’s breed - and your veterinary nurses and vets will be able to offer you all the advice and assistance you need. Nobody wants to see an animal in pain (which an overweight animal could well be) - so keep the weight off and you will extend it’s lifespan and make him a happier pet!

Some illnesses and medications can cause an animal to gain weight, but you can still make sure that it has a limited effect on it’s health. By offering controlled and low impact exercise you can reduce the strain on your pets body - rather than still taking it on day-long walks or running it along side you on a job or bicycle ride!

6) Age Related Problems:
Although you may think that it is inevitable that an elderly pet should get ‘a bit stiff’ it doesn’t have to be the end result for your pet.

If you are able to care for your pet from day one with alertness to their needs and great preventative care, you can reduce the chances of bad joints in old age.

For example, if you select a breed that doesn’t have hereditary joint problems, you are on your way to a healthy pet. Or if you select a breed that is known for joint problems but have had the parents and grandparents checked for low incidence, then again, you are reducing the risks.

And by the way - actions like this can help prevent all dogs and cats from having hereditary problems - as if you are not buying litters that are not guaranteed to be healthy - then they won’t breed them again, eradicating these potentially ‘bad’ genes. I mean who wants to buy a puppy or kitten that will be in pain for most of it’s potentially shortened life? Try to remember that nearly all puppies and kittens are ‘adorably cute’ - so don’t go on looks - go on health.

In terms of accidents - if you control your pet properly through it’s life - you will reduce injury through accidents, and if you control it’s food and exercise, again, you can reduce damage to joints in the same way.

Getting your pet insured from Day 1 can also work in your advantage. If you pet is born with a congenital defect (present from birth) then having them insured will guarantee that they have the best medical treatment available as all expenses will be paid for by the pet insurance company - not you. That way they can have all the scans and tests necessary to treat an improve their health.

Similarly if your pet gets an infection and you take it straight to the vets and they are not restricted by your wallet - they can deal with the problem asap and with the best available treatment, restricting it’s long term effect.

‘Aging’ is just the accumulation of all these effects. If you pet has had a healthy active life with little long-term illnesses it may well age very slowly - but if it is overweight and plagued by injury and illness, it will age quickly.

So, whether you are thinking of buying a new pet, or you have just acquired one - I hope this has given you a few things to think about and plan for in the future with regards to the health of your new pet.

posted by admin on May 1

There are many pets out there who have stiff joints, impaired movement or a mild limp - and many could be avoided.

With 6 main factors involved in the cause it can be easy to identify the main reason for the disability and discomfort.  And at least 3 (possibly 5) that are totally avoidable reasons - ways in which you can not only help your pet not to suffer, but to protect future generations.

I know this sounds a bit far reaching, but once you have read the information below and in Part II, you will no doubt agree.

1) Due To An Accident:
This is the most unavoidable of the reasons for bad joints - although it affect can be limited by your actions. By allowing an animal to get hit by a car for example with inadequate garden security, could seriously affect it’s joints in old age - even if the animal recovered well from the original incident.

And in the same light - by restricting over-enthusiastic activity of young animals - particularly in the larger dog breeds for example - you can limit the ‘accidents’ they are exposed to and so help make sure they grow up without a predisposition to problems.

2) Your Choice Of Breed:
One way to make sure that your pet doesn’t suffer from bad joints during it’s life, is to avoid selecting for breeds that a known or associated with joint problems, like German Shepherds.

Reading about breed specific problems is essential before selecting a specific breed anyway, but more so with reference to known medical traits. That way, if you still wish for that breed, you can make sure that your puppy or kitten’s parents have been checked for all associated hereditary diseases or conditions - therefore reducing the likelihood of your pet getting painful joints when older.

3) Unforeseen Circumstances:
However there are some conditions that are not present in the parents or grandparents and are just found in the individual and become noticeable in the first few months or years of it’s life. 

So you could always be unlucky enough to purchase one of these unfortunate individuals - all the more reason to always get pet insurance for the first year of your pets life (from the minute you pick it up) - this way you will find out if there is anything that is going to affect your pet long term - and then you can keep it covered and the insurance pay for it! 

4) Getting An Infection:
Another one that you might not be able to avoid, but that you can treat with differing degrees of attention - depending on the infection your pet has.

For example, if you are quick to spot a problem in your pet and get it seen by a vet as soon as possible, then a small infection might have no lasting effect on your pet.  However, if you let things drag on - or don’t apply all possible treatments due to cost or the time it takes, then it could spiral into something more long term. 

Now read Why Does Your Pets Have Bad Joints? - Part II, for the final 2 points to help your pet avoid bad joints.

posted by admin on May 7

The Feline Leukemia Virus is also known as FeLV and can infect any cat that hasn’t been vaccinated for this virus.

The virus is associated with lympho-sarcoma (lymph gland tumours) but can also affect the thymus, spleen and gut wall.  As the lymph glands are affected, this can lead to a form of immuno-suppression, making the animal prone to other infections.

Symptoms of Feline Leukemia:
An un-vaccinated cat will start to show symptoms of feline leukemia only after about 3 years!  It has a very long incubation period - although laboratory tests before this time can confirm the disease.

If your cat started showing symptoms they would probably include a high temperature initially, with noticeable lethargy (sleeping more than usual or not wanting to play and chase as normal).  It is possible that there would be a noticeable lack of appetite, although this could possibly be very difficult to spot when many cats are feeding from the same bowls.  

It is possible you will notice swollen lymph glands, but this would only be found with a proper check of the appropriate areas - they wouldn’t be felt with just regular stroking!

Persistent dental problems and gingivitis are common with this type of long-term infection.

If the virus remains active in the cats body, then the cat will be at risk of developing further disease.

Noticeable (clinical) signs of Feline Leukemia vary depending on where the Feline Leukemia virus is replicating - making more of itself - as this organ will be most affected and will probably develop a tumour.  The Feline Leukemia virus usually also involves the red blood cells in some way and can lead to related signs such as anaemia and immuno-suppression. 

If only found present late on in a cat, symptoms may well be secondary infections like bladder problems (cystitis) or other infectious diseases as the cat’s body can no longer defend itself from attack.

A positive diagnosis would need a blood or saliva test in a laboratory.

Is Feline Leukemia contagious?
Yes, and multi-cat households and breeding farms are most at risk.

A persistently infected cat can pass it on to all other cats in the household, and the only effective action is to permanently remove the infected cat from house. 

The virus is passed on through close intimate contact such as intercourse, saliva and blood.  So cat fights, same dish feeding and breeding can all spread the disease.

Feline Leukemia Treatment:
There is no cure for Feline Leukemia, and surviving Feline Leukemia is likely to be treatment that is symptom related, so removal of tumours, a course of anti-biotics for infections, etc.  The cats life will no doubt be shortened and possibly filled with illness.  It can sometimes shorten the cats life to just a few years after initial symptoms were spotted.

Sadly, the readily available vaccination would have prevented initial infection with the virus anyway, but not everyone vaccinates regularly, thinking it ‘won’t happen to them’.

In addition, make sure that any new cats entering your home or breeding cattery have been tested clear for FeLV and are vaccinated before putting your own cats at risk.