Do You Know if Your Cat Is In Pain?

No pet owner wants to think that his or her cat can possibly be in pain, but it does happen. There are many reasons why our beloved cats experience pain. Common reasons for pain in cats include pain from injury, surgery, and also illness or infection. Proper pain management has been proven through studies to help reduce stress and help speed the healing process. Pain management not only makes your cat more comfortable it can help her to live longer.

Your cat may experience different types of pain. There is acute pain, which comes from an injury, from surgery or from an infection.

Acute pain can make your cat really uncomfortable, may limit her ability to move around and can make her not want to be touched. Acute pain is usually temporary and should go away when the condition that is causing the pain is treated.

Chronic pain is the second type of pain that a cat can experience. Chronic pain is long lasting pain that is usually slow to develop but can be related to old age, or disease and certain conditions such as arthritis. Chronic pain can also happen as a result of illnesses such as bone disease or cancers. This type of pain is the most difficult for cat owners to come to terms with because they will watch their beloved cat have to deal with chronic pain for the rest of the cat's life.

Signs that your cat may be hurting:

Look for changes in the cat's behavior that may signal to you that something is not the same such as the cat becomes unusually quiet, or becomes listless, restless, or is unresponsive to you. A cat will not necessarily show signs of pain but we can look for clues that may be there to help us determine pain is present.

Your cat may constantly meow, bite or nip, act funny or out of character such as becoming aggressive or unusually submissive.

Your cat may flatten its ears, or constantly lick a particular body part.

Your cat may have difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep or eating.

A cat in pain, may seek more affection from you than it usually does.

Your vet is the best source of pain information and will know how to determine if your cat is indeed in pain and how to manage the pain. Your vet will need to know some information from you such as your cat's recent behavior, activity level, whether or not the cat allows you to handle her. You will also be asked about how the cat is able to move and whether or not your cat has been jumping up on perches or areas of the home as it normally has in the past. These are all clues that the vet will use to help make a diagnosis.

After the vet examines the cat, x-rays may be needed to help make the diagnosis. Your vet may also need to draw blood, or perform other lab tests. If your cat is in pain, the cause will help to steer the vet to a pain management plan that may include physical therapy, drugs, or in serious cases surgery may be necessary.

                                         A Few Treatment Solutions of Cats

It is always good to know a few treatments that you can give your cat when they have minor health problems.

Often this is sufficient to help them recover but never leave anything for more than a couple of days before consulting your veterinarian as problems can soon compound if left unattended.

If your cat becomes constipated, and this can be quite painful for a cat, then you might need to add a little bit of olive oil to its food .

It is obviously lacking moisture in its diet or there could be a problem with fur blocking its digestive system and bowels.  In this case you can give it a bit of
Hairball Removal Gel. This will help removal the hair and clear up the constipation.  This should be given to your cat on a regularly scheduled basis.

If on the other hand your cat has diarrhea then you need to consider the types of food that it has been eating and particularly liver or heart meats.

Cow milk can also cause your cat to get diarrhea so it is best to use milk that is specifically formulated for cats.

If your cat has been coughing for several hours consult your veterinarian immediately as it could be a cold or something more serious.

If the cat has been in an accident lay it on its side making sure to keep it covered and warm and contact your veterinarian immediately letting them know that you will be there as soon as possible.

Keep the cats head slightly down to make sure that there is sufficient blood supply to its brain.

     FIND ALTERNATIVE REMEDIES TO HELP YOUR SICK PET

Just like humans, domesticated animals like dogs and cats are affected by the health hazards of modern living. Pollution, poor nutrition, stress and unhealthy lifestyles can lead to a variety of illnesses and conditions that are very similar to those experienced by humans.

In fact, many, if not most pet health concerns can be addressed by helping your pets to live a healthier lifestyle.

While it has its place, conventional medicine for animals and 'modern technology' have failed our pets in many ways.

This has led many veterinarians to search for alternatives and to espouse more holistic methods of keeping our pets healthy.

Visit the website below and use its search engine for alternative remedies to help your sick pet.

                                     The Cost of Keeping Your Cat Healthy

While we all expect to pay for pet food on a regular basis when we own a cat, it is those times when we need to get additional prescriptions for medical supplies where the expense quickly builds up.

While you should always listen to the recommendations of your veterinarian, there are alternative places where you can buy medical supplies that are considerably cheaper than many of the outlets we commonly use.

These savings have been the result of Internet sites that offer the supply of pet prescriptions at discounts that are not available elsewhere.

They all offer the same products that you would expect to find at your veterinarians, but with reduced overheads and widespread distribution throughout the country you can save a considerable amount of money and ensure that your cat gets optimal treatment without having to worry about the financial aspect that is so often a determining factor for many people with their pets health.

You no longer have to make decisions that a determined primarily on finances, as you will be unable to buy the required prescriptions at more suitable rates.

You can even get advice from some of these sites that will help you to resolve minor problems rather than having to take your cat to the vet.

Obviously you would only use this where the problems are minor as you would not like to endanger your pet's health by making incorrect decisions.

Many of the ailments that your cat might get however, can quite easy be resolved through the use of good information, commonsense and quality products that are designed specifically for these problems.

In addition to the prescription medications, you will also find the usual worming tablets, powders and other pet health products that you would normally buy at the local pet store, at cheaper rates online.

                                       How to Know if Your Cat is Sick?

Cat lovers are everywhere and caring for them is usually quite easy as they are quite independent and self-sufficient creatures. A cat can stay pretty healthy if you provide the basics of food, water, veterinary care, and attention.

Although most cats can live long and healthy lives with very little attention; some cats do manage to become ill. Cat lovers should be able to recognize the signs of cat illness so they can act promptly to get the cat the attention they deserve to be healthy again.

One common disease in cats is skin disease, specifically ringworm. Ringworm can be contracted from the cat's bedding or other contaminated objects such as clipper or from contact with other infected cats. The treatment for ringworm is two tablespoons of colloidal silver for a week or your local vet can give a prescription.

Another illness in cats is diabetes. It is not the same disease in cats as it is in humans. A vet needs to make the diagnosis and will describe proper treatment.

Cats can easily become obese when they eat too much food and do not get the proper exercise. Being overweight can lead to liver damage and other health issues. The best way to control obesity is to not let a cat become overweight by monitoring the amount of food they ingest each day.

To not let the food sit out all day in the dish. Read and follow any dosing instructions on the manufacturers bag. Usually one feeding in the morning and one at night is sufficient.

Fleas can cause a lot of health problems for cats, especially if they are allergic to them. Fleas multiply fast and so if one is found, they must be dealt with swiftly.

Flea infestation can lead to hair loss, infections and long-term illnesses from the presence of fleas such as itching, and emotional and mental stress. Some cats are even allergic to fleas and this can cause severe allergic reaction to the presence of fleas including rashes and infection. You can see the fleas or the flea dirt when you groom the cat with a comb.

If your cat stops using the litter box it may be due to a change in litter, or it could signal a urinary tract infection or other health problem. A vet will need to examine the cat to determine why the cat is not relieving itself in the litter box.

Be careful with houseplants, as many of them are poisonous to cats. A cat can also swallow small objects such as rubber bands and string that are left lying around the house.

Many health problems can be discovered as you groom and play with your cat each day. As you groom you can notice changes in your cat's body, or behavior. These changes should be brought to your vet's attention.

Anything your cat does out of the ordinary can be a signal of illness. Knowing your cat and your cat’s habits can be the best way to spot signs of illness. Getting prompt and proper attention from a vet can be done when you recognize the early signs of illness in your cat.

                    Why You May Be Causing Your Cats Hair Loss

Did you know your cats hair loss can be caused by you? "Wait!" You cry. "I wouldn't hurt a hair on my beloved felines head." Many of you reading this article would say the same thing. But, the fact is the loss of your favorite pet's hair may be your fault. This article will discuss some of the reasons why and the ways you can help your kitty.

For the purpose of this article let's name the pet we are going to be talking about, Roscoe. Now Roscoe is your typical independent, lazy male cat and feels he is the "King" of your home. Which means he pretty well does what he wants to in your home, right? However, chances are that may not be the healthiest thing for Roscoe.

As you have discovered through the years "Ol" Roscoe can be a pretty finicky eater. So to try and please his "Majesty" you have tried one cat food after another. You have tried him on the most expensive canned filet of salmon, to your favorite dish off the table. But, all of this to no avail. Finally you put him on a "you get hungry enough you'll eat" diet. When you do that "Ol" Roscoe musters up his dignity and stalks out of the dinning room and you hear him muttering under his breath, "Put what's his name on the guillotine. Off with his head."

Frankly, switching Roscoe back and forth does more than make him miss a meal or two. Cats are creatures of habit, as you have learned over the years. Each time you changed Roscoe's food you have broken a habit.

When the "comfort zone" of Roscoe's eating habits become disturbed he has a tendency to get stressed. You have seen this in the way he paces back and forth, loud meowing, constantly grooming himself and craving constant attention. Roscoe also starts showing bald spots on his body. His cats hair loss seems to get worse and worse ever day.

Just like you his owner, when Roscoe gets stressed out and stays stressed out, his hair will continue to fall out. Since Roscoe is normally a healthy cat it's time to take him to his vet. Roscoe's vet ran a few tests and determined there was no physical illness, but he was stressed out. When you and Roscoe tell his doctor about switching his diet back and forth, the vet said that was a major contributor to the stress.

Indicates natural healing methods, treatments, and foods now available for cats. Offers advice from dozens of holistic practitioners and licensed veterinarians, who share their recipes, insights, and "prescriptions."  320 pages.