Saturday, May 16, 2015
A Cats' Normal Life Span and Age in Human Years
The fact that cats develop and age so rapidly in a short time is both fascinating and sad to the people who love them. Kittens develop to the age of a 15 year old human child in just the first year of their lives. An adult cat in the prime of his life at 32 human years is only four years old. Shocking, isn't it?
The reality is that even relatively long-lived cats don't live as long as we'd like. On the plus side the relative age of cats can differ when factors such as heredity, diet, lifestyle, and veterinary care come into play. Although we can't do a lot about heredity, we can somewhat control the other factors.
Question:How, exactly, is a cat's approximate age determined? We took in a stray cat that we'd been feeding for several weeks, and we are curious how old he is. I know that something about cats' teeth is a clue, but I don't know what to look for, exactly. What are the guidelines for telling your cat's age?Answer: Because I am not a veterinarian, I can only respond in broad, general terms. While teeth are sometimes a good indicator, they are not foolproof. For that reason, veterinarians prefer to examine the whole cat. Here are a few of the feline organs veterinarians check to determine the age of a cat. . . .read the rest of my response More ?
You will be able to understand your cat's development more easily if you have a general idea of his age in human years. This method and the accompanying age chart will point the way for you.Keep in mind that variable factors, such as heredity, diet, environment, and physical and medical care may affect your cat's comparative age to that of a human. Although you probably don't have any control over heredity, you do have options for controlling the other factors which control your cat's aging process.
Billy, my "middle cat," pictured here, was about 24 in human years when this photo was taken. More ?
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10:50 AM by Thanapon · 0
Determining Your Cat's Breed
One of the most common questions asked among cat lovers is "What breed is my cat?" The quick answer is "If you don't know already, your cat is likely not of a specific breed, but a domestic cat." An encyclopedia could be written about this topic. However, the most pertinent information related to the question can be summed up for lay people with fewer than a dozen articles.
Read these articles carefully.
Bookmark them for future reference, and one day you will be an acknowledged "expert" if someone asks you "what breed is my cat?" Pictured here is my cat, Billy, a DMH (Domestic Medium-length Hair) dilute gray tabby cat. He somewhat resembles a Maine Coon, however, since his mother was an abandoned shorthair calico cat, therefore definitely not a pedigreed Maine Coon, at the very most, he could be called a "Maine Coon mix."Read on, and learn the meanings of those terms.
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8:14 AM by Thanapon · 0
Why a Kitten's First Year Is the Most Important
Somewhere around four months, your kitten may start losing his baby teeth, as the adult teeth develop. His gums may be painful, and this would be an excellent time to start a program of dental care, by gently massaging his gums with gauze. Plastic drinking straws are also a proven aid to teething, and make for great interactive play with your kitten.
Kittens will start establishing their place in the "social ranking order" of your house during this time.
It is not unusual to see a kitten "challenge" the alpha cat, which usually will earn the hapless youngster a cuff on the ears. Other cats, depending on their own social position and personalities, may defer to the kitten. Your kitten is still growing during this time, and it is not unusual to see a previously plump fluffball of a kitten suddenly grow long and lanky - then taller - and finally flesh out again. Kittens should continue to eat kitten food during this phase of growth - they need the additional nutrients for strong bones, health teeth and supple muscles.Health Reminder:Your kitten can, and should, be spayed or neutered between three and six months. Cats' sexual maturity can vary, and both female and male kittens as young as four or five months have been known to become sexually active. Although some veterinarians still suggest waiting until six months, advocates of early spay and neuter are proving the benefits of that practice.
Six to Twelve Months
My, how time flies! Your kitten is starting to show the physical and social traits of a fully grown cat.
No wonder - by the age of 12 months, he will have attained the physical growth of a 15 year old human teenager, and he will undoubtedly start showing some of the same personality attributes of that age. Don't allow yourself to brood over hurt feelings if your kitten doesn't seem as responsive to you. Like a human teenager, he is testing the waters of adulthood to see what it feels like. He is also playing a "dominance" game with you, just as he might with another cat or kitten. Be patient with him and give him all the affection and love he will take, but do it on his terms. I guarantee that he will come around when he is ready to stop playing "big guy."Your feline youngster will continue to grow and develop for another year, and some breeds (Maine Coons are a notable one) are not fully developed for four years.
Whatever the ultimate size of your cat, don't lose site of the fact that his overall health and well-being are of prime importance.
Documenting His Growth with Photos
This is one of the most enjoyable aspects of kitten "parenthood," that of recording his growth with photos. If there is any way you can afford one, I'd suggest using a digital recorder, to capture the inimitable action of a kitten at play. You can not only produce movies with it, but your can clip out frames for still photos. Proud of your growing furball? Share your photos with my readers by sending them to me using the photo submittal guidelines.
Enjoy your kitten's first year, and he will continue to provide unconditional love for many, many years to come!
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5:39 AM by Thanapon · 0
How long should a kitten stay with its mother...
Question: How long should a kitten stay with its mother cat?
My friend's cat just had kittens, and my friend told me that she would let me have one. I'm not sure how long the kittens should stay with their mother, so would you please let me know what is the appropriate length of time a kitten should stay with its mother?
Answer: Thank you for asking! A kitten should stay with its mother for an absolute minimum of eight weeks and preferably 12 weeks.
Although they may be "weaned" prior to eight weeks, they will still have the occasional need to nurse. Kittens taken from their momcats before this time often develop nursing behavior on themselves, other cats, humans, or fabric, and these habits will often continue throughout adulthood.They also need this time to learn proper cat behavior from their mother cat, including use of the litter box, socializing with humans and other cats.
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2:29 AM by Thanapon · 0
Tuesday, April 28, 2015
What Causes Dogs to Become Aggressive?
One of the most important steps in dealing with dog aggression is finding out the cause of the aggression. Knowing why your dog is acting aggressively can help you figure out the best plan for stopping the frightening behavior. The following are some of the causes of aggression in dogs:
There are a number of illnesses that cause dogs to become aggressive. If a dog who has never shown any sign of aggression suddenly begins growling, snapping, or biting, it may be caused by a disease or illness.
Brain tumors, thyroid disease, and rabies are just a few illnesses that may cause the onset of aggression. Talk to your veterinarian to determine whether a disease may be the cause of your dog's aggression.Dogs often show aggression to establish their dominance. Dogs who display this type of aggression feel that they are in charge. The growling, snapping, or biting occurs when they feel their dominance is being challenged. If your dog is displaying aggression in an attempt to establish dominance, he may snap, growl, or bite when you try to move him off the furniture, restrain him, grab his collar, or give a leash correction.
Fear is another reason a dog might display aggression. Usually, the dog only exhibits aggressive behavior if he feels he is in danger and needs to defend himself. This can occur if a dog is backed into a corner with no means of escape, or if a dog perceives the hand you raised over his head was to hit him rather than pet him. A fearful dog usually only bites when he feels he is unable to escape some impending harm and must defend himself.
Possession aggression occurs when a dog gets possessive of food, a toy, a bed, your yard, or some other object. A dog who exhibits possession aggression may growl if someone approaches his food bowl or goes near him when he's chewing a favorite toy. He may bite a stranger who steps into your home. The degree of aggression can vary from dog to dog and between objects. For instance, a dog might not care if you sit next to him and pet him while he chews a rubber toy, but may turn and snap at you when you do the same thing while he chews a pig's ear.
Aggression that is caused by frustration is often referred to as redirected aggression or barrier frustration. It occurs when a dog is frustrated at not being able to get to something, and he takes the frustration out in another way. An example of this is a dog who is tied in the yard and spends the day straining and trying to get to a dog that lives across the street. The dog will usually bark and growl as his frustration grows. When his owner comes to bring him in, the dog redirects his frustration and bites the owner. This type of aggression is often seen in dogs who spend a lot of time tied out, restrained on a leash, or behind a chain link fence.
5:07 PM by Thanapon · 0
Understanding Dog Growling
When you hear a dog growling, it can be very frightening. Dog growling can be the first indication of aggression. For this reason, it's important to understand why your dog is growling so you can figure out the degree of aggression and the best way to deal with the problem.
Dog growling is a form of communication. Your dog is not able to tell you when he's unhappy or uncomfortable, so instead he may growl to let you know these things.
The most common reasons dogs growl are: fear, possession aggression, territoriality, and pain.Figuring out exactly why your dog is growling is the first step in preventing escalating aggression. A growling dog is warning you that he may bite. Since we don't have a dog-to-English dictionary, the following can help interpret what a growling dog is saying:
Fear: Dogs growl when they are afraid. A good example of this can be seen with dogs who are afraid of strangers. When a stranger approaches, a fearful dog may growl. This is his way of saying, "Back off."Possession Aggression: Some dogs growl over their possessions - a bowl of food, a toy, a rawhide bone. When a dog growls when someone approaches him while he's eating or chewing a bone, it is his way of saying, "This is mine, and I'm not sharing!" Territoriality: Sometimes dogs growl when they feel the need to defend their territory - think of the mailman approaching the door. When the dog sees someone who he believes doesn't belong on the property, he wants to let them know that they're overstepping their boundaries. Dog growling in this instance means, "Hey, you don't belong here, and I'm willing to protect my people and property!"Pain: Dog growling may also occur due to the pain of an injury or illness. There is usually a combination of things going on here. First, there is the unexplained pain going on in their bodies. Very often this is followed by veterinarians poking and prodding. This means on top of the pain, dogs are experiencing a great deal of confusion. The dog may associate the people trying to help him with the pain and fear. Dog growling in this instance usually means, "I'm in pain and afraid, and you need to stop hurting me."2:32 PM by Thanapon · 0
Your Quick Guide to Seizures and Brain Diseases...
A seizure is the result of sudden and abnormal neurological activity, basically a kind of electrical storm in the brain. In humans and dogs, seizures can manifest themselves in many ways and have a multitude of causes. However, seizures are always accompanied by altered or loss of consciousness. They may last a few seconds, several minutes, or, in the worst cases, hours. In general, seizures in dogs can be categorized into two categories: generalized and focal.
Generalized Seizures:
These seizures are sometimes referred to as "grand mal," though this term is used less commonly in veterinary medicine than in human medicine. Generalized seizures visibly affect the entire body and are characterized by overall stiffness and/or spastic, involuntary movements. During this type of seizure, the dog typically experiences full-body rigidity along with convulsions. The dog may lose control of its bladder and/or bowels. Some dogs will vocalize. Also called "tonic/clonic" seizures, generalized seizures are the most common type of seizures seen in dogs.
Focal Seizures:
Sometimes called partial seizures, these are isolated to a particular part of the brain and therefore affect a specific part of the body. Focal seizures are typically quite mild and may simply be characterized by facial twitching. However, they can occur in another part of the body, such as a limb. Sometimes, a focal seizure will look like a fainting spell or a brief period of disorientation. In other cases, a dog experiencing this type of seizure may compulsively snap at the air (sometimes called "flybiting").
Cluster Seizures:
If your dog has more than one seizure in a 24 hour period, then they are considered cluster seizures. Dogs that experience these types of seizures have a more urgent need for medical treatment than dogs with occasional seizures. Additionally, if your dog has more than three seizures in a 24 hour period, it is considered an emergency. Your dog should be seen by your primary care veterinarian or an emergency veterinarian that day. Delaying may result in increasing frequency and severity of the seizures, posing a greater threat to your dog's health.
Status Epilepticus:
Status epilepticus is a prolonged seizure or a series of seizures that occur continuously. This is a dire emergency situation that, if untreated, can lead to brain damage, hyperthermia (elevated body temperature) and even death. Dogs in status epilepticus require hospitalization and often need to be placed on a drip of Valium (diazepam) or other drug to stop the seizures.
Phases of a Seizure:
Many seizures are preceded by a period of abnormal behavior called the pre-ictal phase. During this stage, dogs often exhibit signs of anxiety and apprehension. They may whine, pace, and/or pant. Not all dogs display pre-ictal signs, and some may only do so intermittently.
The seizure itself is sometimes referred to as ictus or the ictal phase.
Following nearly every seizure is the post-ictal phase. This period may last minutes to hours and is often characterized by stupor, disorientation and/or blindness. The post-ictal phase can vary with each seizure. This phase should not be confused with the seizure itself.
Causes of Seizures in Dogs:
Seizures occur for a number of reasons. In an attempt to find a cause, your vet will recommend a variety of diagnostic tests. This typically starts with blood tests, but may lead to advanced brain testing such as CT, MRI, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) tap. In the case of the latter, your vet might refer you to a veterinary neurologist. The following disorders may be the source of seizures in a dog:
Structural or developmental abnormality Reaction to toxin or allergen Systemic disorder, such as liver shunt or thyroid disease Bacterial or viral infection Brain tumor (malignant or benign) Idiopathic EpilepsyEpilepsy is an idiopathic disease, meaning its cause is unknown. There is no specific test to diagnose epilepsy, so advanced diagnostic tests (CT, MRI, spinal tap) are recommended in order to rule out other causes for the seizures. However, a presumptive diagnosis is sometimes made when a dog fits the criteria for epilepsy. Typical onset of epilepsy is between the ages of one to five years. Breed and family history may also play a role. Though uncommon, dogs outside of this age range may still be epileptic. Many epileptic dogs will respond quite well to drug therapy, but they usually must be on medications for life.
If you suspect that your dog is having a seizure, do not panic. However, there are some steps to take.NEXT: What To Do When Your Dog Has a Seizure
11:22 AM by Thanapon · 0