How To Measure a Horse for a Horse Blanket
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Renal Failure Rabbits, much like humans, suffer from renal failure. This causes them to produce less urine and is infrequently due to cases of dehydration. There are two forms of renal failure: acute or chronic. Acute renal failure may occur suddenly because of an accumulation of toxins in the kidney(s), or as a result of an electrolyte imbalance. Chronic renal failure, on the other hand, progresses slowly in rabbits, sometimes over the course of several months. Symptoms Depression Inability to eat Fever Diarrhea Seizures Lack of stool or inability to produce stool Heart complications (often in acute renal failure cases) Painful or tender kidneys (when palpitated) Causes The causes of chronic and acute renal failure in rabbits vary; acute renal failure (or ARF) may arise from shock, trauma, extreme stress, stroke, heart failure and blood infection. Meanwhile, a urinary tract obstruction or a urinary tract infection which has spread to the pelvis can bring on either the chronic or acute form of renal failure in rabbits. Aging and diabetes are some other common causes for the condition. Diagnosis To diagnose renal failure, a veterinarian will first want to rule out some other potential causes for the rabbit’s symptoms, including lymphoma, abscesses, or other types of kidney infections. And although it is rare, cysts in the kidneys can also cause the symptoms listed above. Laboratory tests on the rabbit may reveal high levels of electrolytes, including potassium or nutrients such as calcium. This may suggest the animal’s kidneys are not properly excreting these substances. X-rays, CT scans or ultrasounds may also be performed on the rabbit to reveal potential kidney or bladder stones in the bladder, a common source of pain. Treatment A rabbit will generally receive treatment on an outpatient basis. However, if it is experiencing acute renal failure (or crisis), it will require immediate fluid balance therapy to prevent additional injury to the kidneys. Fluids are usually administered intravenously, although the veterinarian may also suggest adding fresh greens to the rabbit’s diet for rehydration. If the veterinarian prescribes glycoprotein medication for the rabbit, it is to help with anemia or a low red blood cell count. Living and Management Lots of rest, a good diet and adequate consumption of fresh water and greens are important for a good prognosis. Even chronic forms of renal failure can be dealt with by following your veterinarian’s instructions and bringing the rabbit in for follow-up care, although older rabbits are less likely to recover with time. Also, rabbits at risk of renal problems should avoid substances that may be harmful to the kidneys including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Featured Image: iStock.com/Motortion
How to Calm Aggressive Cats Calming aggressive cats often means taking a multifaceted approach. Mild to Moderate Cat Aggression For cats that fight frequently with each other, the Feliway MultiCat pheromone diffuser can be useful in creating a positive emotional environment. Feliway Optimum may be a good choice for cats that are frequently aggressive toward people. Feliway diffusers are effective in an area measuring up to 700 square feet and should not be placed near litter boxes. Calming supplements such as Solliquin, Zylkene, and Calming Care probiotic powder are designed for daily use and may be given to aggressive cats to help regulate their reactions to other cats or to people. It can take up to six weeks for these products to start to have an effect. Feliway Classic spray can be helpful for pre-treating carriers, towels, or mats before veterinary visits or grooming tasks such as brushing and nail trims. Moderate to Severe Cat Aggression In moderate to severe cases of aggression, you can work with your vet and/or behaviorist to combine medication with behavioral methods. Prescription medications such as gabapentin, fluoxetine, and alprazolam may be needed to calm a cat down to a manageable level, and you can try behavioral therapies such as desensitization. Desensitization involves carefully assessing and correcting your cat’s behavior in a controlled environment. The idea is to ignore inappropriate behaviors and reward appropriate ones in a timely manner. For example, if your cat is aggressive toward visitors, desensitization would involve: Determining the distance from the visitor at which your cat becomes aggressive Starting 5–10 feet farther away from the visitor than that distance Slowly bringing the visitor closer while rewarding your cat for showing calm, relaxed behaviors This process can take weeks or months until they are able to remain calm around visitors. Play Aggression and Boredom Cats that fight due to play aggression and attack people out of boredom, under-stimulation, or under-socialization can benefit immensely from increased enrichment and interactive playtime. This includes appropriate toys, perches installed near windows, leash walks, or spending time on “catios,” screened-in outdoor spaces that give cats fresh air and a chance to see wildlife.,What Not to Do With Aggressive Cats To avoid injury, be sure to keep your hands, feet, arms, and legs away from a cat when they are acting aggressively. Never use physical or other forms of punishment to address aggression in cats. This includes both hitting and using spray bottles to squirt water on cats. Loud, sustained shouting is also counterproductive for treating aggression. These tactics can increase fear and anxiety in cats, which can worsen the aggression in the long run. Do not praise, reward, or comfort a cat that is acting aggressively. This will only reinforce and reward the aggressive behavior. The bottom line is that most aggressive behaviors in cats can be managed to an acceptable level with proper tools and by working consistently with a veterinary behaviorist or certified International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC) professional. In some instances, two cats may have incompatible personalities that can only be addressed to a certain degree, and rehoming may be necessary at that point. Some cats may always be aggressive about being touched in an area where they once experienced pain, such as with severe leg or back injuries. If older cats develop aggression due to cognitive decline, the aggression may get worse as they continue to age. These harder-to-manage cases make it particularly important to work closely with a veterinarian to ease the aggression and to find workable solutions if it cannot be completely eliminated. Featured image: iStock.com/GluePromsiri,Aggression is a common behavioral problem in cats. Because cats are relatively small compared to other animals, they are vulnerable to attack in the wild. This is why even domesticated house cats are genetically programmed to use aggressive behaviors to defend themselves against threats. While useful in the wild, these aggressive behaviors can be problematic for house cats. Aggressive behaviors in cats often stem from fear, stress, and anxiety, not anger, spite, or other reasons that humans usually use to explain a cat’s aggressive behavior. Understanding and addressing aggressive behaviors can improve a cat’s quality of life and your bond with your cat. What Are the Signs of Aggression in Cats? It can be difficult to understand aggression in cats because cat communication in general is pretty complex. Cats use a variety of methods to communicate with other cats, including: Body language Vocal cues Physical contact Chemical messengers such as pheromones Cats have smaller features than dogs and use more subtle, rapid movements when communicating. But decoding these signs can help identify when a cat is feeling afraid or anxious and potentially on the verge of aggressive behavior. Body Language When a cat uses body language to communicate, the main cues will come from the eyes, ears, tail, and overall body posture. Aggressive, overstimulated cats may have dilated pupils from the rush of adrenaline. Ears slightly flattened, often known as “airplane ears,” indicate fear or annoyance. Ears flattened completely against the head indicate that the cat is angry and ready to fight. An upright but stiff tail indicates wariness. When cats tuck their tail under their body, they are feeling afraid or submissive. Angry cats typically have a puffed-up “bottle-brush” tail, and when annoyed, the tail may swish back and forth. Fearful cats may crouch low to the ground to appear smaller and protect vital organs. Aggressive cats may arch their backs with their hair raised and lean away from the threat, angling their body to appear larger. Vocal Cues Vocal cues are sometimes just as important as body language. Purring can indicate both relaxation and nervousness, as cats use purring to self-soothe when they are feeling stressed. Chattering is used when watching prey animals, intended to confuse the prey by mimicking their call so the cat can attack. Cats also employ a variety of sounds when they are feeling afraid or angry, such as growling and hissing. Growling is a loud sound that originates from the throat, while hissing occurs from a burst of air through the mouth. Usually, hissing is used by a cat that is being victimized and feels fearful to scare off a larger, more antagonistic threat, as it mimics the sound of a snake hissing. Growling can also be used to banish a threat, but it implies a more dominant, possessive attitude. Physical Contact Cats may also resort to physical contact to communicate. Aggressive or fearful cats may pounce on, bite, or scratch other cats, animals, or humans. Cats that are afraid or angry will typically hide or keep their distance. Chemical Cues Chemical cues can include pheromones, oils from scent glands, and urine. Cats will rub on other cats, animals, and humans to transfer scent and claim ownership. Cats also rub on inanimate objects in the home for the same reason, establishing their territory. Urine spraying is also used to mark territory, especially if the cat spends any time outdoors. Marking in the house can occur in response to another cat in the area or some source of stress. Signs of Defensive vs. Offensive Aggression in Cats When a cat displays aggressive behavior, they will often use a combination of signals to indicate their emotional state. These signals will change depending on whether they are the victim (defensive aggression) or attacker (offensive aggression). Defensive aggression signs include crouching low to the ground to protect the cat’s underside; hissing and baring the teeth so that the threat backs away and the cat can avoid confrontation; tucking their tail under the body; or standing their fur on end to create to intimidate and scare off a threat. Offensive aggression signs include swatting at other animals or people, blocking off doorways or passages to show dominance, growling, swishing the tail rapidly side to side, chasing and attacking other animals or people, and standing up with their back arched and body turned sideways to seem larger.

Crunchy, sweet and brimming with nutrients, apples are a dog-friendly fruit that many pups enjoy. They’re low-calorie and rich in prebiotic fiber, which can help support a dog’s gastrointestinal health. Apples may also freshen your pup’s breath by helping to keep their teeth free of odor-causing plaque and tartar (although apple munching certainly can’t replace daily brushing!). Do not feed your dog the core or the seeds, though. The core is a choking hazard, and the seeds are toxic. Learn more about apples for dogs.,Dogs are loyal companions, so it’s only natural that we want to treat them like part of the family and share some of our favorite human foods with them. Although many human foods are unsafe for dogs, a surprising number are A-OK for dogs to eat and even beneficial for your pup. We spoke with vet experts about 23 human foods dogs can eat—and the nutritional benefits they offer. Plus, we share how to safely feed human foods to your pet. Before introducing any new food into your dog’s diet, always check with your veterinarian.

Poop is more than just waste—understanding rabbit stools is key to monitoring your bunny’s health. Here’s everything you need to know about rabbit poop: what’s normal, what’s not, and what to do if you think something’s off with your rabbit’s poop.

An active cat is a happy cat. Just like us, our feline friends need exercise—and the best way to encourage your cat to exercise is to play games that engage both their body and their mind. Not sure where to start? You’ve come to the right place! In honor of the start of 2025, we rounded up 25 fun, enriching cat exercises to help get your pet moving all year long. After all, the new year is the perfect time to pounce on healthy habits.

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There’s nothing like a camping trip to soak up the joys of nature. But why should dogs and humans have all the fun? These days, cats are joining the adventure, too, says Diane McNamara, legacy board member of the Gifford Cat Shelter, co-founder of Girl Camper Media, and proud cat mom to an adventure cat named Holly. “It’s absolutely possible to camp with a cat,” McNamara says. “It just takes preparation and a commitment to creating a healthy, safe space where your cat can feel secure.”