While more common in dogs, cats also suffer from deadly heartworm infestation. Heartworms, spaghetti-like white creatures, can measure 1-foot long and cause an inflammatory response in your pet’s heart and lungs. Heartworms are especially prevalent in hot, humid parts of the country, especially in
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Although small mammals are cute and tiny, they can be a big responsibility. If you’re interested in owning a chinchilla, ferret, hamster, hedgehogs, gerbils, guinea pigs, rabbits, rats, and other small mammals, it’s important to learn how to properly care for each of these furry creatures before bringing them home with you.
Consider what size, temperament, and activity level are right for your household so you can choose the option that best matches your lifestyle. Are you looking for an animal that will take kindly to being petted and interact with you? Rabbits or guinea pigs are pets that enjoy cuddling once they’re gotten used to you. Be sure to choose a small mammal that has what you’re looking for and you’ll love having it around. Check out the articles below to learn more about the general care of each of these animals.
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Heartworms
Category: Feline, Pet Health, Pests and Parasites
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Heart Problems
Category: Feline, Pet Health, Chronic Conditions
A cat’s apricot-sized heart is susceptible to several problems. Some develop in young kittens while others may strike at any age. Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Cardiomyopathy results from a structural abnormality of the tissue around one or more of the heart’s chambers. It disrupts the heart’s normal
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Health Hazards
Category: Feline, Living With Your Pet, Providing Care
Cat lovers do not like to contemplate the expression “Curiosity killed the cat.” Nonetheless, it is true that cats like to explore and all too often they can encounter serious hazards in their own homes. Cat owners need to assess these dangers so their cats stay safe and happy. Everyday Hazards Home
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Hairballs
Category: Feline, Pet Health, Digestive and Oral Health
Cat owners are all too familiar with that distinctive sound that cats making when trying to expel a hairball, often in the middle of the night. However, did you know that coughing up hairballs is crucial to your cat? The inability to do so can result in a deadly intestinal blockage. Anatomy of a Hairball Cats’
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Gastrointestinal Issues
Category: Feline, Pet Health, Digestive and Oral Health
Cats generally face the same gastrointestinal problems that humans or other animals do. If your cat has frequent diarrhea or episodes of vomiting, or other gastrointestinal (GI) issues, make an appointment with your feline veterinarian immediately. Here are a few common GI problems many cats face. Inflammatory
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Fleas and Ticks
Category: Feline, Pet Health, Pests and Parasites
Fleas and ticks are very common in animals with fur. They hop onto your cat and make their way to the skin of the animal, where they proceed to feed on your pet’s blood. They also find your cat’s warm, soft fur to be the perfect breeding ground. Fleas can be obtained when cats go outdoors or come
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Feline Pancreatitis
Category: Feline, Pet Health, Diseases and Viruses
Pancreatitis is rare in cats, but can be very serious. It comes in two forms: chronic and acute, with chronic being more common for cats. The disorder happens when something triggers the pancreas to start destroying its own tissue. Function of the Pancreas This V-shaped organ is small—a cat’s pancreas
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Feline Leukemia Virus (FLV)
Category: Feline, Pet Health, Diseases and Viruses
Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) is a retrovirus that, like feline immunodeficiency virus (another retrovirus), produces an enzyme known as reverse transcriptase, which allows the retrovirus to inject duplicates of its own genetic matter into the cells it has corrupted. Though closely related, because a
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Feline Infectious Peritonitis
Category: Feline, Pet Health, Diseases and Viruses
Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is a terminal disease that affects cat. Caused by feline infection peritonitis virus (FIPV), it is a mutation of feline enteric coronavirus (FECV) and is more likely to occur in environments where large groups of cats are together, such as animal shelters. The virus
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Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV)
Category: Feline, Pet Health, Diseases and Viruses
Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is a type of virus that weakens a cat’s immune system and makes it difficult for the cat to fight other infections. This virus affects only felines. Spread of FIV Between 1.5 and 3 percent of healthy cats in the United States are infected with FIV. Cats that roam
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Feline Diabetes
Category: Feline, Pet Health, Chronic Conditions
Diabetes mellitus is a common disease in which a cat’s body does not make enough insulin or has difficulty using it. This hormone is produced in the pancreas. Its job is to help move glucose from the bloodstream into the body’s cells to provide them with a source of energy. Many cats with diabetes
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Feline Anemia
Category: Feline, Pet Health, Chronic Conditions
A diagnosis of anemia means your cat does not have enough red blood cells and/or hemoglobin to carry sufficient oxygen to all of his or her tissues. Each red blood cell lives only 70 to 80 days, so your cat’s body must constantly replenish these. Anemia itself is not a disease; it indicates that some
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Eye Problems
Category: Feline, Pet Health, Chronic Conditions
Cats normally have excellent vision—their eyes are about six times more sensitive to light than a human’s eyes. However, injuries and a variety of diseases can impair a cat’s vision and even cause blindness. You can help your cat keep its eyes healthy by making sure it has regular check-ups and
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Euthanasia
Category: Feline, Living With Your Pet, Saying Goodbye
It is never easy to say goodbye to a cat that has been part of your life for many years. This is even truer when your veterinarian suggests that you consider euthanasia. However, euthanasia may be the most humane way to care for a beloved best friend that is suffering. Is It Time to Say Good-bye? The
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Common Fungal Infections in Cats
Category: Feline, Pet Health, Diseases and Viruses
Fungi are spore-generating, parasitic organisms. They are able to survive by taking in food from the hosts on which they grow. Cats can develop fungal infections when fungi spores are ingested, inhaled or enter a cut or wound. Common sources of most fungal infections are soil and bird droppings, making
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Cats and Poisons
Category: Feline, Living With Your Pet, Providing Care
Many cat owners already know that insecticides and antifreeze are not things their cats should consume. However, many everyday, innocuous-seeming substances are also poisonous to cats. From a beautiful bouquet of lilies to human medications casually left around the house, you never know what you cat
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