Your Pets Count

pet information that caters to your special friend

You are currently browsing the archives for the Litter Box category.

Archives

Calendar

March 2024
M T W T F S S
 123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031

Archive for the ‘Litter Box’ Category

Cat dander

Thursday, January 27, 2011
posted by Jim Murphy

cat-pillowYou wake up in the morning with your eyes tearing and as you grasp for the tissues, you wonder what’s making you feel so miserable. Your cat sleeps with you but you don’t make the connection at first. It’s the cat’s dander that you’re allergic to not his fur.  Cats lick themselves and leave behind deposits of saliva that dry and flake off as dander.  Dander contain a protein known as Fel-D1 which is spread as your cat licks himself. Here are some times to reduce your exposure.

  • If you have allergy  medication, always make sure the take it.
  • Wash your hands and face after petting your cat or touching his cat bed or other belongings.
  • If you hold your cat, use a towel to put him on or put on an extra shirt that you could throw in the laundry after holding him.
  • Keep your bedroom door shut and don’t allow your cat to sleep in your bed.

dog-happy-new-yearMany of you are probably either going to a New Years Eve party or having one yourself. If this is the case, here are some tips from keeping your guests and your dog safe.  Keep your dog away from food and party treats. Rich, fatty foods like gravy or grease can cause stomach problems and even Pancreatitis  for your pet. Dogs with this condition require hospitalization for treatment. As we mentioned many times before, chocolate is toxic to both dogs and cats. Keep it away and make sure that your guests know not to feed your dog anything.  Uncooked meat can cause a very serious bacterial infection. Tobacco could be toxic to your dog and bones can cause problems if swallowed. Some  artificial sweeteners that are present in some gums, breath mints, candy, and other human food can be very toxic to dogs.

Some pets love visitors and behave very well around strangers but if those party guests have a little too much to drink and get a little rowdy, your dog may behave differently. He may become aggressive and try to bite or attack your guests.  Some dogs will try to run out of the house and into harms way when the door is open. Keep your dog away from the door where your guests are arriving. It’s a good idea to keep your dog in a quiet room with plenty of  food , water and dog toys to keep him occupied during the party.

Be safe this holiday season and keep a close eye on your family pet during a party or celebration. Remember, this is a situation that your dog or cat is not used to, so be prepared for all sorts of reactions. Have a great New Years Eve party — HAPPY NEW YEAR!happy-2011

GDV or bloat in dogs is life threatening!

Saturday, October 23, 2010
posted by Jim Murphy

great-daneI heard a story about a women who was watching a friends dogs while the owner was on vacation. The dog suddenly got very ill and tried to vomit. He died when he got to the hospital. What happened?  The dog had bloat or GDV (gastric dilation and volulus). What this means is that the stomach distends with gas and then twists thus cutting off the blood supply.  Emergency treatment is needed within 5 to 24 hours or the dog will surely die.  What kind of dogs get bloat? Usually  large breeds that tend to be older. If caught early enough, surgery is done to untwist the stomach and then secure it so it can’t twist again.  Great Danes are the dogs that are most commonly affected by bloat. Labs, Golden Retrievers even Poodles and German Shepherds are also affected.  How could this be prevented? First of all, you should exercise your dog regularly but not right after he eats. Wait awhile before taking him out for exercise.Feed your dog 2 to 3 meals per day, and minimize the fat/oil content. Also limit the amount of dog treats as these usually contain fat.  Surgery is also an option for high risk dogs. As mentioned earlier, the stomach is secured in place preventing it from twisting.

dog-witchIf you are thinking of taking your dog out for Halloween and dressing him up, here are some tips.

  • Pick out a suitable costume for your dog and make sure that it fits properly and is not too tight. There are many styles and sizes to choose from. Most large department stores will sell dog costumes as well as the larger pet stores. You may even try shopping online.
  • Get your dog leash and collar ready. Make sure that your dog is securely on his leash. There will be lots of children out at this time.  This neighborhood may be busy and this can be a bit scary to your dog. Put reflective tape on the leash or your may even want to purchase a flashing leash which is available at many pet stores. It’s important that you and your dog are seen on those dark streets at night.
  • Make sure that you respect your neighbors. It’s a good idea to bring someone else with you. They can ring the doorbell and say that there’s at dog, not a child at the door. Some homeowners will want to give out dog biscuits and may even want to pet your dog. Make sure that your dog is comfortable around people.
  • Keep your dog away from children who are trick or treating.  Dogs can get scared of masks and loud noises.
  • Remember, chocolate can be fatal to a dog. Don’t let the homeowners try to give any candy to your dog. Take some dog biscuits to give to your dog while you are out.
  • Take some pictures that you will treasure for many years to come!

Do cats like music?

Sunday, September 12, 2010
posted by Jim Murphy

cat-headphonesI have two cats. Mollie, my older cat and the younger one, Millie. I’m a music lover and run three online internet radio stations each with a different format. When I listen to my oldies station, my cat Mollie, usually sleeps in her bed next to the speaker and does not pay any attention.

Edgewater Gold Radio

When I listen to my vocal and popular standard station, she actually gets up and sits on the chair right next to the speaker and listens very attentively and actually seems to enjoy the music.

Movin Easy Net Radio

When I listen to my country station, she actually leaves the room and sleeps in the bedroom. I guess that’s saying something for her taste for country music.

Constant Country KRS

My younger cat, Millie, pays no attention to music, but does like to watch TV.

Feline reactions to music are quite variable. Some react with fear while others seem to really enjoy certain types of music. Austrian scientists have found that cats seem to prefer instruments such as the oboe or deep bass. There was one cat owner who listened to an easy listening radio station and said that her cat changed it to hard rock when she left the room!  Overall, they found that cats prefer fast beats to slow beats and deep tones to high pitched tones.

Don’t go out and buy an Oboe or Bass just yet, stick to your basic cat toys! Your cat will love you especially if you’re playing her favorite music while she plays with her toys.

Music for Lonely Pets

Tuesday, July 13, 2010
posted by Jim Murphy

lonely-dog-and-catPets do get lonely during the day when we are not home or if they are in a cage in a shelter.  Lots of people leave the radio or TV on during the day to keep their pets company. This is OK, but dogs and cats do not really get any pleasure or comfort out of it. It has been proven that animals do respond to music.  Classical music is what animals tend to respond to best. There are companies that sell music that is especially designed to calm and comfort pets. So when you leave the house in the morning, don’t just leave around dog or cat toys, put on some soothing classical music to calm and comfort your pets while your gone.

dog-in-crateIt’s the holiday weekend and many people are on the road with their pets. Make sure that you have  a sturdy, well ventilated dog crate that is an adequate size for your pet to stand up and turn comfortably. The crate should not have any hazardous protrusions on the inside that could injure your pet. Make sure that the latch on the door is secure. The handle should also be secure so that your dog does not get accidentally  dropped and possibly injured. The bottom of the crate should be leak proof and you should place a soft blanket or cloth on the inside for your dog to lie down comfortably.

Print your pets name, your name and home address as well as the address of your destination on the outside of the crate with a permanent marker. Include your 800 number if you have one or if not, print call collect on the outside of the crate. Never put the leash inside the crate as your pet could get tangled in it.  Finally, make sure that your dog is used to the crate before beginning your trip.

dog-in-toiletIf you have a pet, you will always have some kind of stain that you will need to remove but if you do it the wrong way, you will make the stain worse. If the stain is wet, blot the area with a dry cloth then use a removal product that has absorbent granules.  You may apply these granules directly to the urine stained area. After you have blotted the stain and applied the granules, spray or pour on a pet stain and removal product that contains live bacteria and enzymes. The natural organisms in these products “eat away” the odor causing bacteria. This will permanently remove them from deep in your carpet. This is the best method for removing this type of stain.  The natural organisms do not stop working until they have “eaten away” all of the odor causing bacteria. These products also contain mild detergents which will help to restore the carpet fibers to their original state and leave behind a pleasant scent.

If the stain has dried, do not use the same products that you would use on a wet stain. More aggressive bacteria and enzymes are needed to get rid of dried stains. Special formulas are available that penetrate deeper and are more effective on dried stains. You will need to re-apply within 24 hours.

dog-sadThe Pet Product Guru would like to wish you are wonderful Passover and Easter Holiday! Remember not to let your dog or cat eat any chocolate. Chocolate is lethal to dogs and cats.  Chocolate contains a chemical called Theobromine which is toxic to dogs and cats. Chocolate should be kept away from dogs and cats at all times because they often like and make off with foods that are sweet. Even if you get them to a vet, pet medication may not be effective.

We would like to thank you for reading our posts. We have some great new ones on the way!

cat-fight-2When a cat who in the past had no problems using his litter pan and then suddenly begins urinating all over the floor, the problem could be either physiological or psychological. I would take him to the vet for a check up to rule out any physical problem.  Once the vet rules out any urinary or physical problems, then I would look to behavior issues that could have caused this change in behavior. Is he scent marking or flat out urinating? Have there been any changes in his environment?   Did you get a new carpet, new furniture, or a new pet? Changes in a cats world can cause him to “mark” his territory. Also, think about what’s happening to cause the cat to be nervous. Are you or your spouse gone more than usual? In my case, my younger cat, Millie suddenly began to urinate on the rug in the dining room.  I was constantly using pet odor removal products.It turns out that my older cat, Mollie, would chase her away from her litter box and block her from getting into the bathroom to use her litter. Mollie is my oldest and when I adopted Millie, Molly became very resentful. This resentment still continues to this day. Things are better now after I added additional litter boxes.

Never hit or scold your cat if this happens. Just relax and see if you could determine the cause of the problem.