Indoor Climbing Space Appeals To A Cat's Natural Instincts

Cats are natural climbers. They climb and perch as part of their natural hunting instincts in the wild. Today's domesticated cats also need vertical space to thrive. Providing vertical space options in your home is essential, especially in a multi-cat household. It is important to provide structures that fit their individual abilities and preference. One product to consider is a climbing cat tree with different level perches. These can address their instinctual need to climb and also give them a space that is safe and comfortable.

July 4th Pet Safety Tip - Check Your Pet's ID Tag

More pets are lost on July 4th than any other day. Please take a moment and double check your pet’s ID tag. Are the address and phone number current? Have the letters become worn and illegible? A pet microchip is very important too, but by having a visible and easy to read ID tag it will encourage someone who finds your dog or cat to contact you immediately rather than keeping your pet or taking your pet to the shelter.

What Type Of Collar Is Best For Your Dog?

Who's walking who? Certain dog breeds are known to pull very hard when walking. This energy and excitement can inadvertently cause harm to your dog's neck. Some neck collars, especially pinch collars and choke chains, can damage the trachea and cause breathing problems or worsen conditions like collapsed trachea. It's important to always keep a collar with an ID tag on your dog, but if your dog is a puller, try a harness, like a no-pull harness, to protect your dog's neck and have a more enjoyable walk.

For more pet health tips, please visit Ask Ariel's online pet health center. 

Holistic Cat Hyperthyroid And Kidney Disease Treatment Helps Senior Kitty

Case Study:   Cat With Kidney Disease, Hyperthyroidism And High Blood Pressure

We wanted to share with you a case study to show the benefits of using holistic care for these interrelated health issues.  Miss Sadie is a 14 year old senior kitty that suffers from hyperthyroidism, high blood pressure and kidney disease. Often these three cat health issues occur concurrently in senior cats.

Feline Hyperthyrodism is when the thyroid becomes overactive and produces too much thryoid hormone. It is the most common hormonal disorder found in cats-most often in older females.  The cat will often be losing weight, but have an increased appetite. The cat may also be anxious and have a racing heart rate.  Blood pressure can rise and cause blood to pass too quickly through the kidneys which can result in kidney disease.

Kidney Disease is quite common with senior pets, and is especially common with pets suffering with feline Hyperthyrodism. Key functions of the kidneys are to filter out toxins in the blood and help regulate blood pressure. It also produces the hormone that stimulates red-blood-cells. When kidney function is decreased and toxins build up, pets can have serious health conquences. 

Miss Sadie used: Power Probiotic, NotaSAN, QuentaSAN and Kidney Health to help address her Hyperthyrodism and Kidney Disease. Her diet was also changed to a reduced protein kidney-friendly diet, but was complicated due to food allergies. Ask Ariel provided diet suggestions using a novel protein,  avoiding allergens such as grains, poultry and fish (which is also high in phosphorous and can negatively impact kidney function).  Miss Sadie's Mom Allyn reported that using the holistic supplements and diet change has resulted in “…Her quality of life improved so much and that’s what it’s all about."   For more information on treating Kidney Disease click here.

Fluid Therapy Can Be A Life Saver for Cats And Dogs With Kidney Disease

Kidney disease affects many senior pets, especially cats. The kidneys remove waste from the bloodstream and regulate fluids in your pet’s body. If  your pet has kidney disease and the kidneys are not able to function as well as they should, toxins build up in the bloodstream making your pet feel nauseated and sick--a condition known as uremia. 

Using fluid therapy is a way to help restore good hydration and supplement a pet's kidney function, removing waste products from the bloodstream. Each pet will have a different fluid therapy protocol based on their health needs.  Fluids can be given at your veterinarian’s office or many pet owners can learn (from their vet) to give them in their own home saving a trip to the vet. 

The two most common types of fluid therapies are: 

Intravenous fluids (IV fluids) which are given at the veterinary office and are injected directly into a vein (usually on the front paw) using a catheter 

Subcutaneous (SubQ) fluid administration is when the fluid is injected under the skin and is absorbed into the bloodstream and the body slowly over time (can be done at home or in your veterinarian's office). 

Kidney disease can include a number of challenging symptoms including: Increased thrist and urine production, decreased appetite, vomiting and diarrhea to name a few, but there are many other signs and many can occur simutaneously.  Diet changes and natural supplements can help.  For more detailed information on the signs and how to treat Kidney Disease holistically please  click here . 

Pancreatitis Affects Cats Differently Than Dogs

Pancreatitis is a common ailment that affects both cats and dogs.  Pancreatitis affects cats and dogs differently.  While pancreatitis in dogs is frequently caused by eating spoiled or high fat foods, in cats there may be other causes involved.  Many cats with pancreatitis may also have diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and liver disease. Symptoms can include loss of appetite, dehydration and fatigue. Many cats experience flare-ups caused by diet however. Feeding a hypoallergenic, highly digestible diet along with LypoZyme and Power Probiotic can help. LypoZyme helps to break down protein and fat, making it easier to digest. Power Probiotic supports healthy digestion and repopulates friendly flora. For a more detailed discussion about how to help your cat with pancreatitis using a holistic approach please click here. 

Beware It's Rattlesnake Season

They’re baaaaacck. Spring and summer, when temperatures are between 80-90 degrees are the most active times for rattlesnakes. It also concides with more people being active in the great outdoors after the cold winter months. Generally, rattlesnakes will strike for two primary reasons: 1) to subdue their prey for food and 2.) to protect themselves. Dogs are 20x more likely to get bitten by snakes than people. Keep your dogs on a leash and stay on the marked trail so that if you come upon a rattlesnake you can quickly back away. Please keep your dogs safe this summer!

Signs that a rattlesnake is sensing an imminent threat:

1.) Will rattle their tails
2.) Will coil tightly to prepare for striking
3.) Will lunge forward at a high rate of speed to strike (distance can be up to half their body length)

If you or your pet is bitten by a rattlesnake it is imperative that you seek medical attention immediately.