Sometimes referred to as the Domestic Shorthair, the American Shorthair was the cat breed found on the Mayflower catching mice! Affectionate and endearing, it quickly became one of the earliest cat breeds kept in the home.
Mixing wet and dry cat food is different than adding a topper, which is often used to aid in weight gain or boost certain nutrients. Instead, cat parents and their vets combine wet and dry foods for more practical reasons, such as increasing palatability and improving appetite. ,Does your feline seem to have a strong opinion about her food? She loves it one day, but the next day won’t even look at it? You’re not alone. Cats can be notoriously finicky eaters, making it harder to find the right options that provide a healthy, balanced diet they will consistently devour. This can be especially true for senior cats. If this sounds familiar, you might consider mixing wet and dry cat foods together at meal time. Besides increasing palatability, it turns out there are some potential health benefits to feeding a combination diet. Read on to find out when and how it makes sense to transition your cat to a mixed diet. As always, if you have questions about your cat’s feeding, your vet is a great resource.
WRITTEN BYTeresa Manucy, DVM Veterinarian Dr. Teresa Manucy is a 1997 graduate of the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine. She completed an internship in small…,Medium-sized dogs are the perfect size between small dogs and large-breed dogs. They can still be lap dogs, but they can play like bigger dogs, which appeals to many pet parents. Medium dog breeds require regular exercise, balanced nutrition, routine health care, and mental stimulation. Here are some tips for how to take care of dogs that fall within the range of medium-sized dog breeds. Jump to Section: List of Medium-Sized Dogs and Weight Range Health Issues in Medium-Sized Dogs Life Span of Medium-Sized Dogs Puppy: 0-12 Months Adult: 12 Months – 8 Years Senior: 8-16 Years What Is the Weight Range for Medium-Sized Dogs? Medium-sized dogs range from 20-60 pounds. Some can be smaller or bigger depending on their gender and genetics. The terrier, hound, sporting, non-sporting, and working-breed groups are often represented in this size category. Along with an endless variety of medium mixed-breed dogs, this category includes: American Pit Bull Terrier American Staffordshire Terrier Australian Cattle Dog Australian Shepherd Basset Hound Beagle Border Collie Brittany Spaniel Bulldog Bull Terrier Cocker Spaniel Collie Dalmatian English Springer Spaniel French Bulldog Miniature Australian Shepherd Siberian Husky Standard Poodle Standard Schnauzer Vizsla Welsh Corgi Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier Whippet
“Does my horse need an English horse bridle or a Western horse bridle? And what size are they? Cob? Draft?” These are the questions you’re likely asking yourself when shopping for a bridle for a horse—and we’re here to help.
Ash, crude ash, incinerated residue, inorganic matter: These terms all refer to the same thing, and it’s not as concerning as it sounds. In the pet food industry, ash in pet food is very different from the ash at the bottom of your fireplace. “Ash is what is left when a food sample is completely combusted (burned). It represents the mineral content of food,” says Dr. Jennifer Larsen, DVM, PhD, a professor of clinical nutrition in the School of Veterinary Medicine at University of California, Davis. The minerals that remain after combustion originated from sources like bone, cartilage and other tissues, says Dr. Sara Ochoa, DVM, a veterinarian at Animal Hospital of West Monroe in West Monroe, Louisiana, and the co-founder of How To Pets. She adds that these ingredients naturally contain minerals like calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and potassium, among others. In short, pet food manufacturers heat food to extremely high temperatures. The organic matter (bone, cartilage and tissues) burns up and leaves behind inorganic matter (minerals). What remains represents the total mineral content of the food, and this is called ash (or crude ash, inorganic matter, etc.). It’s in dry pet food and in wet pet food, although the percentage is often lower in the latter.,Jump to section What Is Ash in Pet Food? The Importance of Ash in Pet Food How To Find Ash Content in Dog Food and Cat Food FAQs about Ash in Pet Food
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Managing arthritis in cats is difficult. The drug class that is the mainstay of treatment for both dogs and people is nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs). Veterinarians may prescribe NSAIDs for short-term pain management in cats under certain circumstances. When used appropriately and prescribed by a veterinarian, they can be safe and effective. However, arthritis treatment is almost always long-term. Buprenorphine is an opioid pain reliever for cats that is safe and effective but addictive to both humans and cats. It’s relatively expensive if you are using it day in and day out for the rest of your cat’s life. Veterinarians might recommend it for short-term use when other forms of treatment are no longer able to keep your cat comfortable, but they may reserve it for late-stage arthritis. Thankfully, dietary modifications have proven to be an excellent way to help treat arthritis in cats. Here are some ways you can change your cat’s diet to support their joint health: Keep Your Cat Lean Most importantly, arthritic cats should not be overfed. The weight of extra body fat stresses arthritic joints and results in pain. Fat tissue also secretes hormones that cause inflammation, and since inflammation is at the heart of arthritis, anything that increases it needs to be avoided. For these reasons, arthritic cats should be fed an amount of food that keeps them a little on the skinny side. Ask your vet for specific measurements of how much to feed the particular diet that your cat is on. The guidelines on the bag are a start, but your vet can give you a more precise measurement. Feed the Right Amount of Quality Protein Diets for cats with arthritis should contain adequate amounts of protein. Protein helps build muscle, and strong muscles help support joints. Most cats with arthritis are older, and older cats usually need more protein than they did when they were young. Foods for arthritic cats should contain high-quality sources of animal-based protein that are easy to digest. Look at the ingredient list to make sure at least one animal protein is listed as the first or second ingredient. The minimum protein percentage on the product’s guaranteed analysis should not be less than around 35% or so, on a dry matter basis. For dry food, this is the percentage you’ll see in the Guaranteed Analysis section on the bag. For wet food, you’ll need to do a little math: Subtract the percent moisture from 100. This is the percent dry matter for the food. Next divide the protein percentage on the label by the percent dry matter and multiply by 100. The result is the protein percentage on a dry matter basis. You can compare this directly to the one on the dry food bag. Try Joint Health Supplements Dietary supplements are also quite helpful in treating arthritis in cats. Cats with arthritis can benefit from chondroprotectants (supplements that promote cartilage health). A combination of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate or extracts from green-lipped mussels are commonly used and can be mixed into your cat’s food or given as treats. Dasuquin® is a favorite option that comes in a flavored chew with glucosamine, chondroitin, omega-3, and other ingredients. An injectable chondroprotectant such as Adequan® is another option that works well. It may be difficult and stressful for all involved, however, to keep taking your cat in to see the vet for injections. Many people also like to give fish oil, the best source of omega-3 fatty acids, to cats with arthritis. Several studies have shown that arthritic cats fed high doses of omega-3 fatty acids tend to have less lameness and be more active than do cats who did not receive the supplements. Many fish oil supplements come in a pump dispenser, so you can mix the oil into your cat’s food as instructed on the label. Just be aware of how many calories you’re adding to your cat’s diet each day through fish oil. Make sure that you start out with a diet that is relatively low in other sources of fat. The last thing you want is for your cat’s arthritis supplements to cause weight gain, undoing the good you are doing by altering their diet in the first place. Featured image: iStock.com/Svetlana Sultanaeva
Dogs have two kinds of sweat glands: apocrine and merocrine (also called eccrine).,Jump to section How Do Dogs Sweat? How Do Dogs Cool Down and Stay Cool? What Are the Signs of Excessive Sweating in Dogs? Overheating vs. Heatstroke: What’s the Difference? How Can I Help Keep My Dog Cool?
Image via iStock.com/sdominick By Dr. Sarah Wooten If I asked you, “What is the most common nutritional disorder seen in domestic cats today?”, what do you think the answer would be? Malnutrition? Taurine deficiency? Good thoughts, but the biggest nutritional problem we see in cats today is obesity. Obesity is a growing problem in our companion cats, literally and figuratively. It is estimated that over 50 percent of cats seen today at veterinary hospitals are overweight or obese. Obesity in cats is defined as having a body weight that is 20 percent or higher than what is considered normal for that cat’s frame. You can tell your cat is overweight by talking to your veterinarian. Obesity is bad for cats. It reduces their quality of life and shortens their lifespan by predisposing them to all sorts of diseases, including diabetes mellitus, heart disease and painful osteoarthritis. Why Are So Many Cats Overweight? Hundreds of years ago, most cats were active, outdoor hunters. They were constantly on the move and only dined on high-protein, low-carbohydrate fare like grasshoppers and mice. Today, most companion cats live sedentary lives of luxury inside a home. They have little to do except sleep and eat from a cat bowl that is often full of carbohydrate-rich kibble. Bringing cats indoors has had many positive effects, including enriching the human-animal bond, controlling the feline population, and reducing death and sickness from trauma and infections. The downside is that indoor cats are often bored and will eat frequently because there is nothing else to do. Slowly, over time, they begin to gain weight. It is a simple equation of too many calories in and not enough calories out.
Anterior Uveitis in Rabbits The front of the eye is called the uvea — the dark tissue that contains blood vessels. When the uvea becomes inflamed the condition is referred to as anterior uveitis (literally, inflammation of the front of the eye). It is a common condition in rabbits of all ages. Symptoms and Types The most common symptom is a change of appearance in the affected eye(s). A physical examination of the rabbit can reveal further symptoms including swelling of the iris, white or pink nodules on the iris, eye related discomfort (such as sensitivity to light), and a red eye. Other less common signs may include fluid buildup in the cornea (corneal edema), and unusually constricted pupils (subtle miosis). Causes One of the most common causes of iris inflammation is bacterial infection, generally due to the E. cuniculi microorganism. This bacteria can even infect the fetus while still in the womb. Other causes are a corneal ulcer (ulcerative keratitis), which may result due to traumatic injury, conjunctivitis (pink eye), or environmental irritants. Immunosuppressive disorders, which causes the immune system to not function normally, is another risk factor that may increase a rabbit’s chances of developing this condition. This can result from other diseases or even stress. Anterior uveitis can also be caused by fungal or viral infections. Diagnosis A variety of diagnostic procedures may be used to diagnose anterior uveitis. An examination of the eyes is recommended, including a tonometry procedure and flourescein stain. Tonometry measures the amount of pressure in the eye. Flourescein staining is a procedure where orange dye and blue light are used to detect foreign bodies as well as damage in the cornea (this can rule out a corneal ulcer). Additional diagnostic procedures may include CT scans to identify causes such as dental disease, ultrasounds for trauma victims, and laboratory testing for the presence of the E. cuniculi bacteria. Further tests may depend on additional symptoms and the suspected underlying cause of anterior uveitis. Treatment In most mild to moderate cases, the rabbit can be treated at home. However, some severe cases may require hospital care for the animal. Non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs may be prescribed to reduce swelling and alleviate pain. Other medications may include topical agents to be applied directly to the eye, and antibiotics to fight bacterial infection. If E. cuniculi is to blame, certain medications may be prescribed. Or in severe cases, lens removal may be necessary. Note that spontaneous lens regeneration is possible in rabbits. Living and Management A complete eye examination should follow five to seven days after treatment. The veterinarian may monitor the intra-eye pressure at the time, as as secondary glaucoma is a risk in cases of anterior uveitis. After two to three weeks the rabbit will again be reevaluated. During this evaluation time, symptoms will be monitored, medication will be administered regularly, and the rabbit will be encouraged to eat. And regardless of the rabbit’s initial response to treatment, it should continue for at least two months. Prevention There is no known way to prevent anterior uveitis. However, some of the condition’s causes, such as trauma, may be avoided by keeping pets away from dangerous situations.
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