Cat Eye Care – Is It Important?

April 18, 2011 by  
Filed under Pets

Graham Williams asked:


Cats eyes have often been used in horror films. But as a pet owner, you will know that the cats stare is really the complete opposite of what is portrayed in films. That is why cat eye care, is so very important for you to know.

How do cats say I love you? well this is through their eyes, of course. This is why you should never be frightened by there gaze. So how does this work? First of all, the cat stares at you for a long time. And after that, it blinks its eyes slowly. Some people call this the cats kiss. But you should also know that this is your cats way of showing you that it loves you.

But how do you return the favor? This is easy, all you need to do is follow your cats lead. Stare at it for a long time and then slowly blink your eyes. See? Cats eyes have also be used for romantic films as well.

Do not believe the horror films you see. Cats do not and never have had a third eye. Their eye sight is really far better than a humans. Instead of a third eye, what cats have is a third eyelid. This is called a nictitating membrane.

This inner eyelid protects the eyes of the cat from harm and also from dryness. You will always notice that when a cat is sick, this membrane will be some what closed. This should always alarm enough for you to call your vet or get your cat to them fast as possible.

But this third eyelid will also show once a cat is happy. So you will know what kind of mood your cat is in just by looking at the membrane.

You should always observe the pupil of your feline friend. A change in size of one of the pupils can often be an indication of an inflammation. It can also be a sign of a kind of a neurologic, disorder, this is called Horner’s Syndrome. Or worse, it can also indicate tumors or injuries in the central nervous system.

Never believe what others say that cats are color blind. They do see some colors. They may not see them as clear as human do, but its not true that they cannot see any colors at all.

Cats can also see clearly over long distances. There vision is very different from peoples. There vision will blurry if they are looking at objects that are very close to them.

Yes it is true, cats do have the nocturnal vision. But they can not see in complete darkness. Do you see the muscles on their iris that surround the pupils of their eyes? They are constructed in a way that it narrows into a vertical split when they are exposed in the bright lights. And it opens fully when they are in a quite dim light.

This feature of the cat may be traced back to their roots. They can use this feature to hunt for food during the night, that is if they were left out in the jungle or left with no one to care for them.

So you must forget about the horror movies that you have seen. Now it is time to put some effort into your cats eye care. Never let a minor ailments worsen. Always call your vet immediately when you think there is something not right or amiss. You do not want your cat to lose their sight or even worse lose their lives. Just remember it is always better to be safe than blind.



Four Common Feline Eye Diseases

April 18, 2011 by  
Filed under Pets

D Swain asked:


When healthy, your cat should have bright and clear eyes. There are a few common feline eye diseases that you should be aware about. Some of these include glaucoma, retinal atrophy, and conjunctivitis. Let’s take a look at some of these diseases.

Glaucoma

One of the first common feline eye diseases is glaucoma. This is a condition in which there is too much pressure on the inside of the eye. Glaucoma is the one of the leading causes of blindness in cats. In its early stages, glaucoma can be treated with medication aimed at reducing the internal eye pressure. If your cat is in an advanced stage, surgery may be required.

Retinal Atrophy

One of the next common feline eye diseases is progressive retinal atrophy. This is a condition in which your cat’s retina degenerates or shrinks. Retinal atrophy can be inherited or caused by a lack of taurine in your cat’s diet. The condition progresses very slowly, but will eventually cause your cat to become blind. Unfortunately, progressive retinal atrophy is untreatable.

Cataracts

Cataracts are usually a problem with older cats or those that have diabetes. This condition occurs when your cat’s lens become cloudy making it difficult for him to see. Cataracts can be treated with surgery to remove the lens. In some cases, the cat may receive lens implants. If the problem is left untreated, it can result in glaucoma.

Conjunctivitis

One of the final common feline eye diseases is conjunctivitis. Conjunctivitis occurs when the membrane that covers the eyelid and white of the eye becomes inflamed. It can be caused by viral, fungal, or bacterial infections. The condition can affect your cat if he has allergies. Chronic bouts with conjunctivitis is often caused by recurrent herpes viral infections.



A List Of Common Fish Diseases And Their Symptoms

April 18, 2011 by  
Filed under Pets

Devin Gilliland asked:


There are a lot of diseases fish can suffer from, and a majority of them are infections. Some of the common parasites are bacteria, flukes, ich, argulus, chilodonella, saprolegnia, etc. The following is a list of the most common diseases in aquarium fishes with their brief descriptions.

1.Bacterial Diseases in Fish

Bacteria are a very common cause of complaint for fish breeders. There are many bacterial diseases in fish caused due to pathogenic bacteria. These bacteria can either attack the fish externally, or can enter into the body of the fish through the skin and can damage internal organs, even leading to death. Fin rot and bacterial gill disease are the most common bacterial attacks in fishes, in which the fins and the gills are infected respectively. If the bacteria have managed to gain entry into the body, it is known as systemic infection. Bacteria can also cause ulcers and lesions on the body of the fish. Bacterial infections are easily apparent externally as ulcerous marks or red irritations on the skin of the fish. Bacterial infections are very common in koi fish.

2.Fish Lice

Fish lice are scientifically termed as argulus, and being about a centimeter in size, they are among the largest parasites found in the animal world. They are very detrimental to the health of the fish, because they can **** out the fluids from the body of the fluids by clamping their proboscis like mouth into the bodies of the fish.

Lice are easily to identify on the bodies of the fish because they are clearly visible. However, it is necessary to carry a careful inspection of the body of the fish, especially in the hidden areas behind the fins. Lice may appear as dark spots when they are not moving. If there are too many lice, the fish will be quite agitated and will move their body a lot.

3.Flukes in Fish

Flukes are parasites in fish that are harmless in small numbers, but can be fatal to the fish in large numbers. Flukes are small, about 2 mm in length, and are almost invisible to the ***** human eye. But these flukes have hooks through which they clamp to the bodies of the fish. Flukes can **** out the body fluids from the fish and even cause their death. The significant threat from flukes is that one fluke requires only one fish to complete its lifecycle, and therefore there is more reason why the fluke will remain clamped to the fish. Flukes have been considered to be the most difficult of the fish parasites to treat, though treatments with malachite and formalin often show positive results in stronger doses.

4.Ich

Commonly known as ich, ichthyobodo or costia is a very common parasite that is found on the bodies of fish. Several fish can live with this parasite showing no signs at all. In fact, in small numbers, ich is harmless. The defenses of the fish can keep the number of ich under control. But when fish suffer from some other disease, the defenses are broken and then ich begins to multiply. Ich can multiply at a very fast rate. In no time, the fish will show a large amount of ich on its body, its breathing will become labored and shortly, it will retreat and isolate itself from the other fish. When this stage arrives, ich often proves fatal to the fish.



Cat Eye Care – Do You Properly Care For Your Cat?

April 18, 2011 by  
Filed under Pets

Jean Morgan asked:


As a loving cat owner, you want your feline friend to be as healthy as possible, and a big part of that means taking care of her eyes. You should frequently inspect your cat’s eyes, and if you notice any changes or problems, seek prompt medical care, before your cat’s health is impacted. There are many things that you can do for your cat on a regular basis that can help keep her eyes healthy, but are you willing to invest the time to do them?

One of the easiest things that you can do for your cat is to keep her eyes clean and free of mucous, which could build up and turn into a raging eye infection. Use a damp cloth and gently wipe her eyes at least once a day or whenever you notice mucous. This small step goes a long way in caring for your cat’s eyes.

You should also protect your cat’s eyes anytime that you need to use chemical treatments on her skin, such as flea dips. Talk to your veterinarian before treatment, and ask him for suggestions on how to protect your cat’s eyes from the chemicals. He will likely give you a neutralizing ointment, which you will apply to your cat’s eyes before using the chemicals, and will neutralize any chemicals that may inadvertently come into contact with her eyes.

If your cat has long hair, you should keep in trimmed so that it stays out of her eyes. Anything that comes into contact with the eyes can cause irritation, and even lead to infection, so this is an important step in your cat’s eye care.

When you look at your cat’s eyes, they should be moist and clear, as well as free of mucous. Anything to the contrary could indicate a problem that may need veterinary treatment.

Although your cat won’t enjoy it, you should clean her eyes at least once a week, even if you wash then with a cloth and water everyday, they still need to be cleaned. You can ask your veterinarian for tips on doing this, and he may suggest a commercial product that you can use, or you can make your own. To make your own cat eye cleaning solution, mix about 1 capful of baby shampoo with about 20 capfuls of water. Dip a cotton ball or Q-tip into the solution, and use it to clean your cat’s eyes, starting with the eyeball and working outward. Once you have finished, use another cotton ball with just water and rinse the eyes in the same manner.

If your cat develops an eye infection, your veterinarian will likely prescribe antibiotic medication, which you apply directly to her eye in the form of eye drops. Again, your cat will not like this treatment, but it is for her own good, and something that you must do if you want her to be healthy. Eye ointments are much easier to use, however if you apply too much at once, you could worsen the problem, so you have to be careful.

Few people realize how important it is to take care of their cat’s eyes, and often don’t even think about it until a problem develops. By properly performing cat eye care, and seeking veterinary care for any problems promptly, you are ensuring that your cat stays healthy and happy, so that she can be with you for a long time to come!



Pet Diseases: Healthy Pets Make Healthy People

April 18, 2011 by  
Filed under Pets

Subasree asked:


Pets are prone to many illnesses. Hence, they should be taken care of very well and also monitored regularly for any symptom of ill health to keep their well being. A pet can be a happy companion to human being only if it is healthy.

Some of the symptoms of pet diseases causing ill health:

Loss of appetite, excessive gain or loss of weight, excess water consumption, abnormal discharges of the nose, eyes etc., abnormal, difficult, uncontrolled waste elimination, lethargy, abnormal behavior, sudden viciousness, limping, abnormal lumps, finding difficult to get up or lie down, dandruff, open sores, dull coat or ragged coat, excessive head shaking, scratching, biting or licking any particular part of the body, tartar on the teeth, foul breath etc.

Common pet diseases:

Lyme disease: This is an infectious disease spread by a tick, which is not larger than the head of the pin in size. It is caused by a bacterium called spirochete transmitted to the pets and humans by the tick bite. If not treated properly it may lead to heart diseases or neurological complications or joint damages and kidney related problems in the pets.

Infestation due to internal parasites: Internal parasites like the hookworms, tapeworms, heartworms and roundworms rob the pets of important nutrients, causing fatigue, loss of appetite, anemia and even death. Especially puppies and kittens are very much susceptible to these kinds of infestations. This can be very well controlled and prevented.

Infestations due to external parasites: Pets are affected by external parasites like the lice, mites, fleas and ticks. They are found everywhere and can cause extreme irritation to the pet leading to skin disorders and skin diseases. Ear mites can cause severe diseases and annoyance in the pet commonly in cats and dogs. Hence, it needs to be treated well by taking the pets to the veterinarian.

Rabies: Rabies is one of the deadly pet diseases caused by a virus which attacks the pet’s nervous system. Normally rabies is transmitted by the bite from a rabid animal. It is not necessary that all rabid animals appear mad and foam at the mouth. Many infected pets can be very tame and calm. Rabies affects only mammals. It does not affect reptiles, birds, fish or amphibians.

Types of cancer in pets:

Cancer is a common pet disease and it accounts for almost 50% of the deaths of the pets over 10 years of age. Some cancer types like the ****** cancer can be prevented to a large extent with early spaying, whereas other types of cancers are very difficult to be prevented since the causes are not known properly.

Commonly found cancer types are skin tumors – More common among older dogs, but lesser among cats, ****** tumors are seen both in dogs and cats. Early spaying can reduce their incidence.

Head and neck cancer – The common disease is the mouth cancer more in dogs and lesser in the cats. Cancer in the nose also seen in dogs and cats, lymphoma is found in cats and dogs with an enlargement of one or more lymph nodes of the body, testicular tumors are seen in the dogs and rarely in cats and bone tumors are common among large breed dogs and rarely seen in the cats.



« Previous Page