Many people think of their cat or dog as a member of the family and thereby often treat their dog or cat like children. The health of their animals is just as important as the health of other members of the family which is why pet medicine is an important resource when their dog or cat becomes ill. Animals, unlike humans, cannot communicate what ails them, so it is important to observe the dog or cat closely, once it has become ill.
Attempting to decipher what ails a cat or dog can be difficult because what might seem like a sign of illness or disease might simply be an ordinary animal function. The dog might seem like it is retching because of a respiratory condition when in fact, it is simply dislodging a bone from its windpipe. But, a cat that is acting lethargic might be suffering from more than laziness, it could have a serious health problem.
Some people think that feeding their animals table scraps is a good idea, but the wrong type of human food, fed to a cat or dog, can cause problems. Dogs and cats have different digestive systems than humans, so animals should only be fed animal food. Dogs should not eat onions, raw dough, or chocolate, which can cause an irregular heart beat.
A horrible affliction that can affect animals, passed by mosquito, is heart worm disease. This disease is usually fatal if left untreated, but if treated, can be cured in most cases. If the canine appears lethargic and short of breath, the dog should be taken to the vet for a check up. In some areas of the country, vets recommend, that animals be vaccinated against heart worm disease.
The vet, although he has a lot of experience treating animals, needs help from the animal owner in order to properly treat the animal that is sick. The owner should keep track of the animal’s symptoms and eating habits and be ready to report this information during the vet’s exam of the animal. The vet, once he has made a diagnosis, will usually prescribe medication to help treat the animal’s disease.
If the vet prescribes antibiotics, it is imperative to feed the medication in its entirety to the animal. Antibiotics fight and kill pathogens. If only a partial dose is administered, the pathogens will build a resistance to the antibiotic and will build in strength, making the killing of the pathogen with follow up antibiotics difficult.
The cat and dog’s best friend, is the flea medication that kills fleas and flea larvae throughout the flea season. The medication is applied onto the animal’s skin, and helps keep the cat or dog flea free. Fleas not only are a nuisance, but also pass on dangerous pathogens.
With the advancement of pet medicine, many dogs and cats are living longer, happier lives, which is good news for animal owners. Dogs and cats cannot talk, so they cannot tell their human owners what is wrong. If an animal is acting lethargic, feverish, or otherwise strangely, the animal owner should take the animal to the vet.
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