Heartworm Treatment For Cats

As most pet owners already know, heartworm treatment for cats and dogs isn’t the same. Never, under any circumstances, should you give your cat heartworm treatment that is designed for a dog – or vice versa. Even though you may own both dogs and cats, you should always give them medicine that is designed for their species.

No matter how you look at it, heartworm treatment isn’t easy. The first thing to do is take your cat to the vet, as he will be able to run tests to determine just how many heartworms your pet has. He can also find out how the worms are affecting your cat and if your cat can deal with any side effects that the treatment medicine may impose.

Heartworms are a very serious condition, as the worms will feast on the vital areas around your cat’s heart. Treatment can be serious as well, especially if something goes wrong. Veterinarians are trained to deal with heartworms, even though you may be able to buy treatment medicine at your local department store, you should always consult with your vet before you give anything to your pet.

The dying worms have side effects as well, often times causing more than 1/3 of the treated cats to end up with serious problems as they can become lodged in the arteries of the heart. Pets that have a serious infestation with heartworms may need to spend some time at the hospital, to ensure that they are properly treated.

Some cats may not be able to take a certain type of heartworm treatment medicine. Depending on the side affects and how the medicine affects the cat, some breeds may not be able to take some of the better medicines. To determine the best treatment options for your cat, your vet will need to run several tests. Once the tests have concluded, your vet will be able to tell you the best options available for treatment.

With all diseases, prevention is a lot better and safer than treatment. Be sure to talk to your vet and find out what heartworm prevention medication is the best to use. Your vet can tell you what you need to get, and how to use it. This way, you can prevent your pet from getting heartworms – and the serious side effects and life threatening issues that go along with them.

Dealing With Cat Allergies

Cats are one of the most loved pets in the world, no question about it. More than 50% of all households in the United States own dogs and cats. Although cats are loved animals, cat allergies are one of the common forms of allergies.  Statistics in the past have shown that over 10 million people in the U.S. alone have allergic reactions to cats - especially their fur.

The biggest cause of cat allergies is dander. The dander, is dust that is produced by the body of the cat. Dander is basically shed skin that comes off of cats, normally in the form of small flakes. Although dander can irritate your skin, it can also get into your immune system as well, resulting in a variety of symptoms and almost immediate allergic reactions.

The dander, once in the immune system, is perceived as a threat. Even though it isn’t classified as a disease, it’s a reflex by your body and your immune system. Cat allergies occur quite often due to cats having allergens that are spread throughout their blood, urine, and saliva. Although a cat may not be present at the time, the excretions probably still are.

Cat dander, urine, and saliva, are found throughout the home of cat owners. Cats constantly groom themselves, which involves rubbing their saliva into their fur.  When they do this, they spread their dander and allergens around. Although you may try, there is really nothing that you can do about it. Cats have a natural instinct to groom or bathe themselves, no matter how many baths you give them, you simply won’t stop them from grooming.

Normally, when someone is having an allergic reaction to cats, he or she will wheeze, cough, sneeze, itch, have watery eyes, or a difficult time breathing. Different people react different ways to cat allergens, meaning that some symptoms may not occur at all.  Fever and chills are very rare, although it can happen.

Cat allergies are normally treated with antihistamines and decongestants. Those that experience asthma attacks or other forms of allergies, generally take antihistamines. Decongestants on the other hand, are normally used to cure coughs and swollen nasal passages. Sometimes, doctors will recommend allergy shots as well. They are a good form of treatment and prevention, and they can also help to decrease the risk of allergies affecting the individual.

If you suspect that you have cat allergies, you should always make it a point to visit your doctor. He will be able to further diagnose your situation, and give you the best options available for treatment. If you do indeed suffer from cat allergies, the best way to stop the attacks is to find another home for your pet.

Getting rid of a cat can be a very tough thing to do, and many sufferers choose to put up with the allergies. There is a unique option for allergy sufferers who choose to keep their pet, that is called Bee Pollen. It sounds strange, but in most cases, it works! (I have used it for years and am no longer allergic to cats, dogs, or horses. It has also helped with my seasonal allergies as well.)

Curing Bad Cat Breath

Cat owners know for a fact that bad cat breath can be downright awful.  It isn’t that much different from bad human breath, as both are caused by bacteria found in the mouth that breaks protein down and releases the sulfur compounds out into the air.  Sulfur smells really bad on its own, which is why breath containing it smells bad as well.  The bacterium that causes bad breath with cats is normally associated with a buildup of tartar around the teeth.  Tartar is yellow in color, known as a coating of bacteria, food, and minerals.

To cure your cat from bad breath, you’ll need to remove the buildup of tartar.  There are several cat foods out there that are designed to reduce the buildup of tartar, many containing enzymes that will literally dissolve it.  You can also give your cat treats as well, as many of them will help eliminate and prevent tartar.  If the buildup of tartar is bad, you may need to have your cat’s teeth professionally cleaned.  Once the tartar has been removed, the bad breath will go away.

You may be able to clean the tartar off your cat’s teeth at home.  There are several toothpastes available for pets, that come in a variety of flavors.  You’ll need to get a battery powered toothbrush, as the motion is very important for removing tartar buildup. Most dry catfood will help eliminate the need to actually brush your cat's teeth, (something that I wouldn't even attempt with mine,) but if you feed your pet exclusively with canned, moist foods, you will definitely have to add crunchy cat treats specifically for tartar build up to his diet.


Sometimes, cats may have a bad odor in their mouth that doesn’t come from tartar or bad breath in general.  In these rare cases, it can be either liver or kidney disease.  If you notice bad breath and it isn’t tartar, you should take your cat to the vet - it’s better to be safe than sorry.  Your veterinarian can pinpoint the problem, let you know what the cause is – and how you should go about fixing it.

Ring Worm

Ringworm is a very common form of skin disease that is found in both dogs and cats. Although its name makes you think otherwise, this skin disease isn’t caused by any type of worm. It’s actually caused by fungi known as Dermatophytes that feed on dead tissues found on the surface of the skin, spreading them around the skin of the animal.

With cats, there is a certain type of fungi known as M Canis that is found with nearly 95% of all ringworm cases. Normally, cats will get the ringworm disease from contaminated objects like bedding, clippers, or another animal that already has the disease. If there are animals in or around your house that have the ringworm disease, your cat could very easily contract.

Kittens or cats that are under a year old are more susceptible to ringworm, especially if you allow them to go outside.  Both kittens and adolescent cats can easily contract the disease, because it can take a long time to build up their immune systems.  

The most common symptoms of ringworm in cats are rough or broken hairs, or hair loss around the head or the paws. Ringworm can easily be identified by a round, oval or blotcy patch of scaly or inflamed skin on the body.  There will also be broken hairs around the patch of scaly skin, generally caused by your pet scratching or chewing.

If you notice any of the above symptoms with your pet, you should immediately schedule an appointment with your vet.  If the vet diagnoses your cat with ringworm, he may prescribe ointment or tablets. Tablets should be given with meals, and oiontment is spread topically and rubbed gently into the coat. The healing process will take time, normally around six weeks or more.

Cats that have ringworm should be labeled as infectious. If you have children in the house, keep them away from your pet. Whenever you handle your cat, you should always use gloves as ringworms are contagious. Even though it’s a mild disease, ringworm can result in serious problems if not treated right away.

Feline Diabetes

Cats are one of the most popular pets in North America, capable of providing years of companionship. Like other pets, cats can sometimes get sick. There are several different types of ailments that cats can get, one of which is feline diabetes.

Diabetes is more common with humans than with cats or other animals. The cause of diabetes is actually quite simple.  Sugar, or glucose, is found in the blood, and the level of blood sugar in the body or the animal is kept under control by the hormone, insulin, which the pancreas produces.  When the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin, diabetes can be the result.

The symptoms of feline diabetes can vary, with the most common symptoms being an increase in urine and a marked increased in drinking. Other symptoms of feline diabetes include a loss of appetite, weight loss, and a poor coat.

If you don’t get your cat treated for feline diabetes immediately, the cat will eventually become inactive, vomit on a regular basis, and eventually fall into a coma. If you get the diabetes treated in time, your cat will more than likely lead a normal and healthy life. Just keep in mind that treatment doesn’t happen overnight – it takes time and dedication.

Cats that have feline diabetes will need to be fed at the same time every day, and will most likely become strictly indoor pets.  Once your veterinarian cexamines your pet, he/she will be able to tell you the dosage and how often you will need to give the shots.

Make sure to feed your cat before giving insulin shots as he could go into a hypoglycemic shock. (This can also occur from too much insulin.) Hypoglycemic shock is very dangerous and if not caught and treated right away, can result in the loss of your pet. Always keep a watchful eye on your pet after administering the insulin.

After your cat has been on insulin for a period of time (generally outlined by the vet,) your cat may be reassessed to see if the dosage can be reduced. Even if your feline friend has to remain on insulin for the rest of his life, he can still lead an otherwise normal, healthy, long life.