How to Care For Your English Bulldogs

Care is extremely important in keeping English bulldogs healthy and happy. These dogs have special needs thus knowledge on how to care for them is a big factor that can contribute to their well-being.

Like most dogs with brachycephalic skull, English bulldogs are temperature sensitive. They can suffer from heat stroke very easily during summer months and can get cold very easily during colder months. To prevent heat stroke, English bulldogs should not be taken out during a hot day especially if the temperature exceeds 90 degrees. It is important to keep them cool enough by placing them into a cool room with unlimited water to drink.

During winter months, they should not be kept for extended periods of time in an area in which the temperature is 60 degrees or less. While outside, they can also be kept warm by using sweater or sweatshirt and doggie booties.

And like most dogs, exercise is necessary for this breed as well. Although they will do okay without a yard, they still need to be taken on daily walks to fulfill their primal instinct to walk. And besides, an English bulldog if not properly exercised could gain weight easily and may later cause health problems that has something to do with the lungs and heart. You may also want to keep an eye on health issues such as cherry eye, certain allergies and hip issues among the older ones. These health issues, though known to affect many English bulldogs, can be treated and prevented.

Feeding the dog properly is also one of the most important things every dog owner should learn. Dogs should be fed with high quality and very nutritional foods since poor quality dog foods are made mostly of fillers and may cause excess defecating, clean up and poor health.

Grooming English bulldogs may not be very difficult. Their smooth, fine, short-haired coat needs to be combed and brushed with a firm bristle brush. Bathing should be done only when necessary but when its time to bath you need to gather everything you will need such as shampoo, Q tips, cotton balls, wash cloth and towel. The teeth must be brushed around three times a week.

And don't forget that English bulldogs love human attention. So give them lots of what they want - your love and attention.

Richard Cussons is a great fan of dogs. If you want more English bulldog information, check out this site dedicated to somewhat intimidating yet gentle English bulldogs.

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Hairballs And Cats

Hairballs and cats go together almost like ice cream and cake, but not with the same result. Ice cream and cake taste great going down, hairballs coming up do not necessarily please the cat.

No matter how often you brush and/or comb your cat, cats are always grooming themselves. These wonderful self-groomers are always swallowing their own hair, no matter how gross it sounds; it is a fact of a cat's life.

The rough tiny backward-slanted projections (papillae) that are on your cat's tongue propel the hair down its throat and into its stomach and this creates the hairball.

The name hairball generally brings a picture of a round little fur ball to mind, but hairballs are not always round. They are more often long and slender shaped more like a cigar or a hotdog. They are round in your cat's tummy, but on the route upward they change their shape while traveling through the cat's esophagus.

What causes a cat to cough up the disgusting clump in the middle of your bed or on the carpet you just had cleaned?

Unfortunately there is an element in cat hair that is indigestible called keratin, this substance prevents cat hair from dissolving in the stomach. While some of the hair will passes through the cat's digestive system, some sits in the cat's stomach and accumulates into a damp ball just waiting to leave.

It is not unusual for a cat to throw up a hairball once every week or two. It is considered nothing to worry about. Other than the inconvenience of cleaning up the mess, it is a normal "cat occurrence."

However, it can pose a serious problem if it grows too large and cannot pass through the esophagus, through the intestinal tract or if is passes into the small intestine and lodges there. These problems seldom happen and if they do, it is very serious and requires surgical treatment at once.

Symptoms to watch for:

If your cat is acting lethargic, will not eat for a day or two or is trying to throw up and cannot, it is suggested that you take your cat to the vet as soon as possible.

It is possible that the unresponsive retching is not associated with a hairball problem. It could be a sign of another gastrointestinal problem or a respiratory problem, both of which require the services of your vet.

A blockage can be diagnosed through a physical examination, x-rays, and blood work. If a blockage is discovered, surgery may be necessary, but in many instances can be handled with the use of laxatives and other clinical care. Laxatives should only be given under your vet's supervision.

Kittens and young cats are less apt to have hairballs, as they are usually too busy finding things to do, to spend too much time grooming themselves.

Cats as they get older, spend more time doing the grooming process and are more apt to have hairball problems. That is why it is important to brush your cat frequently. Brushing not only helps eliminate some of excess hair and keep it out of your cat's stomach it helps keep your house free from needless cat hair floating around.

Currently on the market are cat treats that have a hairball preventative in them, that I feed my cats on a daily basis, as a precautionary measure. I have also noticed that some dry food manufacturers have produced several dry foods with a hairball preventative in them.

I have not done any extensive research on the dry food products, but I have found that my own cats seem to be doing quite well with my using the hairball preventative treats.

So far I have not had a hairball in the middle of my bed in a very long time.

If this article has been of benefit, please visit my web site and blog at http://www.cats-and-dogs-on-the-web.com. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Audrey_Frederick

My Cat Won't Eat! – What is Wrong?

Occasionally you may find that your cat seems fussier about its food, only choosing to sample its food before walking away. Perhaps your cat could show signs of refusing to eat whenever you try to set your feline down. Perhaps your pet is not eating at all and seems disinterested in anything.

Being familiar with your cat's habits will help you recognize any behavioral changes and you can work out why it may be unwilling or unable to eat as it did before. Cats are very sensitive to changes in routine and atmosphere and it may be something as simple as your having introduced a new cat to your household and this arouses feelings of insecurity. A change in the arrangement of furniture could also unsettle your cat.

Have you been on holiday recently and left him with a cat kennel, or perhaps hired someone to come in to feed and look after him daily? A disinterest in food might be due to a simple case of depression that will only be relieved once you've coaxed it back into being his old self with some TLC and a few healthy nibbles.

Such minor issues will not present much of a headache for you as they can be dealt with easily. Offering a little healthy treat to tempt your cat or putting a little bit of meat jelly onto its gums just might persuade it to have a little something. You could try offering a taste of something your cat really does like, to see whether it’s turning its nose up at what’s on the menu or if there are other reasons for its reluctance to eat.

With cats accustomed to receiving titbits and carbohydrate rich food, a switch to a more health conscious diet could be the reason for its disinterest in food. A refusal of food may be a cat’s attempt to show its displeasure in being denied its desires. Your cat may be under the mistaken impression that if it waits long enough you may relent and give in.

However, you should also note that putting an overweight cat on a crash diet of low carbohydrate food can result in your cat refusing to eat for more than two days. In such circumstances, a prolonged period of rejecting nourishment is likely to result in liver problems as your cat draws on his fat reserves and doesn't take in the protein which he needs.

In other circumstances, should your cat persist in not eating for more than a day or two, it could hint at an underlying health problem. In such situations, a consultation with your veterinarian is advised.

Your cat might have a problem with its teeth or jaw which makes eating painful or difficult, as would any problems associated with its digestive system. It could be suffering from inflamed gums or a broken tooth, a cut in its mouth, or an abscess in its jaw arising from a deep scratch. Your feline might be experiencing discomfort in its stomach or have an intestinal condition which will reduce its appetite. Your veterinarian will advise on the best course of treatment in these scenarios.

However, by keeping an eye on your cat and its behavior will help you deal with any problems before they get worse or chronic, and both you and your vet can make sure it has a full and happy life.

Moses Wright is the webmaster of CatCustomer.com. He provides more information on Cat Health, Cat Veterinary Diseases and Cat Nutrition that you can learn in the comfort of your home. You are welcome to reprint this article if you keep the content and live link intact. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Moses_Wright

Your Diabetic Cat - What You Need to Know About Feline Diabetes

If you've just learned your beloved kitty has feline diabetes, you're not alone. Unfortunately, diabetes in cats is becoming more and more common among our feline friends. Here's some basic information you need to know about your feline diabetic.

What Is Cat Diabetes?

Although nobody's quite sure what causes this disease, diet and obesity are the most likely culprits. Most dry foods are loaded with grains, mostly because they're cheap and abundant. However, kitties should be getting their protein from meat, not grains. Grains are too high in carbohydrates, which leads to weight gain and insulin resistance, a forerunner of diabetes.

The food your kitty eats is broken down into glucose during digestion. Glucose is the fuel your pet's body runs on. As the glucose goes into the bloodstream, the pancreas secretes insulin, which is a hormone that helps to regulate the levels of sugar in the blood. There's a delicate balance between too much insulin, which causes lower glucose levels, and not enough, which causes levels to get too high.

Type 1 diabetes happens when not enough insulin is produced. In type 2, insulin is present, but the body is unable to use it. In either case, the levels of glucose in the blood become too high, which leads to damage over time to every organ system in the body.

Your diabetic cat may be ravenously hungry, but he'll lose weight because his body isn't able to use the glucose in his system. In essence, he's starving to death.

What Are The Symptoms Of Diabetes In Cats?

As mentioned above, weight loss, along with ravenous hunger, is often seen in cats with diabetes. Other symptoms include:

• Being excessively thirsty, and drinking large amounts of water
• Frequent urination
• Lethargy and weakness
• Weakness in his legs--you may see him walking on his "wrists" on his front legs, or on his hocks in the back.

How Is A Feline Diabetic Treated?

Learning how to monitor your kitty's blood sugar levels will be one of the most important things you can do to get his blood glucose levels on an even keel. You'll either use urine test strips to see how much glucose is in his urine, or you'll check the glucose levels in his blood with a glucometer. Your vet can show you how to use either one.

Feeding your pet on a regular schedule is very important to avoid dips and spikes in the amount of glucose in his blood. You'll probably be feeding your kitty three or four times a day. Try to feed him a high-quality canned food, if he'll eat it.

Getting and keeping your diabetic cat's glucose levels regulated can be a challenge, so don't get discouraged.

Natural Remedies For Cats Can Be Helpful In Treating Your Feline Diabetic.

Many cat owners have had great success in managing their diabetic pets by using herbal pet remedies. In fact, some people have been able to reduce or even eliminate the insulin dosage required by their pets by using these remedies.

Modern research studies have shown that certain herbs, including fenugreek, astragalus, and goat's rue, are safe and effective for regulating sugar levels in both people and pets. Chromium is a mineral that's essential for this purpose, too, but many diets don't contain enough of it.

Talk with your vet. Natural remedies for cats may be the answer you're looking for in solving your problems with feline diabetes. You'll want to learn more today.

Darlene Norris has combined her experience working at a vet clinic with her long-time interest in natural healing to bring you her new website, Natural Pet Diabetes Control. Learn how you can use natural remedies for cats to treat your diabetic cat by visiting http://NaturalPetDiabetesControl.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Darlene_L._Norris

Do Cats Talk?

Of course they do, they talk to each other and they talk to you. You just have to learn to be a good listener. It's sort of like a dog's training class, the trainer isn't training the dog, he's training you.

For instance, my oldest cat, an eight and a half year old Ragdoll, is a whiner. I often ask her if she wants whine with dinner. But, apparently, her whining has gotten her what she wants and she's not about to change.

So, when she comes into my bedroom at 5:30 or 6:00 in the morning, I first know she wants me to get up. But I've come to understand there is probably a good reason she wants me up. She has become the 'spokesman' for an empty food dish. But then, she has four other felines depending on her to make sure the food and water fountain are filled and, believe me, she is very good at it because she is persistent.

Then there is Smokey, our seven year old Russian Blue. He is responsible for getting the pet door to their outdoor kennel opened, first thing in the morning. That's why he is uncharacteristically loud early in the morning. He also takes responsibility for reporting back in, to us and his housemates, if the weather is cold or if it is raining. On cold, wet mornings, he wastes no time with his report. I can tell he wants us to do something about it. I just comfort and sympathize with him until he calms down and finds another spot inside to relax.

Our third vocal kitty is Little Bit, a two and a half year old Manx with a stub of a tail. It has fallen to her to scold the others, chasing them while she does it. She's the most mischievous one in the family. It has also befallen her to be the beggar of treats, starting about 5:00 in the afternoon. Since I like to wait until dusk to bring them in, with the shaking of the treat container like the pied piper, she sometimes has to wait but continues to make her impatience known. After all, she has four others depending on her for their daily treats, so, she continues improving her vocal demands and I know exactly what she is saying.

Then, there is Precious, sister to Little Bit. Precious was given her name before we discovered her personality. Now, when I speak of her, I often say "Precious...NOT." Don't get me wrong. She is very lovable. She is also very vocal. She can be loud when she paces the house calling for her sister. She gets cross, like a sleepy baby, when she wants me to take a nap with her and I'm too busy. She will sometimes spend an hour or more following me every step I make, asking me to take a nap(I swear she says mama, over and over), until finally she gives up and finds a place to nap by herself. She also is like a little girl, watching my every move when I'm folding clothes or some other task, as if she's trying to learn how, in order to help me.

Last, but certainly not least, is Squeaky, a three and a half year old gray Tabby . She got her name when she was a 'stray' living outside and only showing up for meals twice a day. I would call her for her food and not realize she was there until she was right next to me because of her faint meow. She is still quiet and shy with other humans, basically only trusting me. She has become friends with Precious and they snuggle together at night. Even though she is shy, Squeaky does talk, mostly to tell me when Little Bit or Smokey are bullying her or when she needs a little love from me, often demanding it, quietly, by jumping into my chair if I'm working at the computer.

So, you see, they all talk, some more than others. Once you understand the personality of each cat and you learn to listen to them, their communication will become much clearer to you.

The author (Miss Kitty) is a woman who has owned cats for 10 years, knows cat behavior and operates a retail web site for cat products http://www.kittystoreonline.com The Product prices are discounted for maximum savings. The site features the latest technological products such as unique automatic litter boxes, the best quality cat & kitty beds, pet doors, litter box furniture covers, pet carriers, crates and containment, unique artist t-shirts, sweatshirts & nightshirts, and a large selection of kitty condos, trees, scratching posts, cat toys and treats. Nothing but the best for your pampered feline. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Pat_Lemmons