Cats

5. Rushing Introductions It can take days or even weeks for a cat to settle into a new environment. When you bring home your new family member, they should be given a safe space where they can acclimate to their new home at their own speed. Don’t force introductions to any existing pets in the home and give everyone ample time to adjust and get to know each other. Fearful pets are more likely to have negative interactions or be aggressive. Introductions to dogs or other cats should always be gradual, controlled, and positive.,6. Forgetting to Cat-Proof Your Home Cats are crafty creatures, and they can easily get into things they shouldn’t. You need to cat-proof your space before your kitty comes home to avoid any accidents. This includes removing any potential toxins and small objects that could be swallowed or electrical cords that could be chewed on, and making sure that any heavy objects that could fall onto your cat are securely anchored.,Bringing home a new family member is an exciting time, but it also takes careful preparation. Here are some common mistakes potential pet parents make when adopting a cat, and what you should do instead.

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This notion that the nose of a cat or dog always should be wet is a bit overblown. Yes, the average cat or dog has a moist nose, but this is not an important indicator of a pet’s general health by any stretch of the imagination. I’ve seen many perfectly healthy cats that just happen to have a dry nose. You would think that a cat suffering from dehydration would have a dry nose and that a dry nose would be an important sign to look out for. However, I’ve treated cats with severe dehydration whose noses were as moist as can be. So don’t worry about the moistness of your cat’s nose. If, however, your cat’s nose has experienced a sudden change in the degree of wetness, and is accompanied by other clinical signs (decreased appetite, excessive thirst or urination, coughing, sneezing, vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss, etc.), I would have the cat evaluated by a veterinarian. By: Arnold Plotnick, DVM Featured Image: Via Michael Blann/Thinkstock,Q:

Dr. James St. Clair, DVM, says the commonality of dog arthritis symptoms may account for the high sales of joint supplements for dogs. In his Connecticut-based practice, Dr. St. Clair writes a large number of prescriptions for joint medicine for dogs.,If you walk down the vitamin aisle at your local supermarket, you may notice that there are as many supplements for pets as there are for humans. The humanization of pets is a driving factor for the pet industry, and more than ever before, pet owners are investing in vitamins and other supplements to aid in their pet’s health and well-being, according to American Pet Products Association.

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The liver is a vital organ that supports digestion, blood clotting, immune function, vitamin storage, and the removal of toxins (yep, it’s kind of a big deal). Liver disease in cats occurs when this multitasking organ isn’t working as it should, which can lead to a whole host of serious health problems.  The good news is the liver has an incredible capacity to heal itself. With the right treatment, many cats can recover, though the outcome depends on the cause and how advanced the condition is when caught.   Here’s what to know about the signs, causes, and how to care for a cat with liver disease. 

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We’re all familiar with the saying, “Less is more.” In the case of single-ingredient pet treats, this common phrase certainly holds true. Single-ingredient pet treats are, as the name suggests, treats that contain only one ingredient. With the vast number of dog and cat treats to choose from, you may ask yourself why pet parents would select a single-ingredient product, rather than one containing a myriad of ingredients for a seemingly more nutritious source of food. The answer, in short, is to avoid artificial, potentially harmful and unnecessary ingredients that include fillers such as corn and wheat that compromise the potency of true nutritional value.

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