Month: April 2021

General Articles

What is Rhinotracheitis (FVR) – Feline Herpes Virus?

Rusty

What is Rhinotracheitis (FVR) – Feline Herpes Virus?

Rhinotracheitis (FVR) is caused by the feline herpes virus. It’s a common disease in cats worldwide and causes an upper respiratory infection.

The virus is highly contagious and can be cat-to-cat transmitted by nose, eyes and ingestion. In can be indirect contact such as food and water bowls, bedding, etc. Being among other infected cats, crowded conditions, physical or emotional stress can all increase the risk of infection.

In most cases it’s not lethal and tends to pass in two weeks. Immune challenged cats such as young kittens, ill or stressed cats are likely to experience more severe symptoms.

Rhinotracheitis creates respiratory symptoms such as sneezing, nasal discharge, inflammation of the nose (rhinitis), coughing, watery eyes, inflammation of the eyelid lining (conjunctivitis), fever, loss of appetite in part due to diminished smell. In some cases a cat may develop corneal ulcers on the eyes.

Approximately 80% of infected cats will become lifelong carrier of the virus and can become symptomatic numerous times.

Rhinotracheitis can be detected with lab tests, tho, often in milder cases, a Vet may rely on health history and symptomology.

Treatment

As far as treatment, there are a number of options. Your main goal is to keep the eyes and nasal passages clear. For eyes it’s mostly tending to the discharge using a clean cloth. For the nose, a nasal decongestant may be helpful. The easiest treatment (for you and your cat) is to increase the humidity. You can use a humidifier or simply bring the cat in the bathroom with you when you take a hot shower.

Make sure you cat gets enough food and water. This can be challenging since cats rely heavily on smell to get them eating. Since their sense of smell is diminished, you can make their food more “smelly”. So something like tuna. You can sit with and hand feed your cat but force feeding – while getting food in him – creates a lot of stress. You want to reduce stress as much as possible and keep your companion warm and quiet. Antibiotics are sometimes indicated to control secondary infections such as pneumonia. And Antiviral eye ointments or drops may be indicated if there are cornela ulcers. In most cases, the infection will run its course in a week to 10 days.

Prevention

Prevention from infection is a bit difficult since the virus is so common and easily spread. A cat can be infected with the virus and not develop symptoms. Good nutrition and a low stress clean environment lead to a strong immune system.

There is also a vaccine. It does not provide immunity against infection but seems to decrease the incidence and severity of disease. It should be received before any infection. It’s commonly given as a core vaccine – typically the “3-in-1” which includes Panleukopenia, Rhinotracheitis and Calici Virus vaccines.…

Animal Rescue

Best Chicken Coop Guide For The Diy Adventurer

Rusty

Chicken coops are very simple to make. Chicken coop plans will of course make it a lot easier, but at the end of the day it’s a simple job, especially if you’re already familiar with hammers and nails. This article outlines what you need to think about before building a chicken coop.

To start off, you need to decide on how big your flock is going to be, thus how big of a coop you require. There are essentially 3 sizes here: a portable triangular prism coop, a larger box-shaped coop, or a full blown premium coop with a run. I highly recommend starting off with a medium coop, since you never know how big your flock is going to get, and they’re easily expandable in the future.

Next comes positioning. Most chicken breeds need sunlight to remain in peak laying health. Place the coop away from light blocking trees or walls, and try to position it to get as much morning sunlight as possible. Placing your coop correctly can be the difference between 2 eggs a week and 5 eggs a week.

Research what kind of predators live in your geographical area. You really should build security precautions depending on what wild animals are around. For foxes you should bury a length of wire mesh around the perimeter of your coop to prevent them from digging underneath. There is not a lot you can do about snakes, but it pays to know what the risks are anyway.

Chicken Coop Plans Online

There are plenty of options available when it comes to downloadable building plans. However, some plans are much better quality than others, and will provide you with additional information about different types of chicken coops.…

Pet Rescue

Owner's Guide to Herpes in Felines

Rusty

Feline herpes is also known as feline viral rhinotracheitis or FVR for short. The upper respiratory tract is affected by this illness. Caused by the feline herpes virus type 1 (FHV-1), it can affect a cat of any age or breed.

Transmission

Cats infected with this virus shed it in secretions from their mouth, nose, and eyes. These secretions will infect cats who come into contact with them. Cats that come into contact with contaminated food dishes and litter boxes are also at risk. Owners can also harbor the virus on their clothes and hands.

There are also felines who are particularly prone to this type of infection. Those who live in poorly cleaned or ventilated conditions are at risk. Kittens and cats around plenty of other cats are also susceptible. Cats are also at risk when they’re sick from some other diseaes and have a weakened immune system.

Symptoms

As you should already know by now, the upper respiratory tract is affected by this illness. Some of the most common signs include nasal discharge, sneezing, and nasal inflammation. Cats with this condition also routinely develop pink eye, or conjunctivitis. Complications during pregnancy is also a side effect of the herpes virus since it affects the reproductive tract too.

Diagnosis

This virus is pretty simple to diagnose in cats. Your cat’s nasal and eye secretions can be tested in a lab for the virus. The virus can be detected using various tests.

Treatment

Treatment of feline herpes virus mainly consists of supportive care since there is no cure. You will need to ensure that your cat eats and drinks. You will also need to clean any discharge from the eyes and nose. Cats that develop eye inflammation may be given eye drops.

It is also beneficial to minimize the amount of stress that your cat endures while he’s sick. If secondary infections occur, your cat may need to take antibiotics.

Prevention

You should be aware that after a bout with this disease, most cats become latent carriers. Latent carriers show no sign of disease although they are still capable of spreading it via their bodily secretions. Cats can be protected from thsi virus through vaccination.…

Rescue Dogs

Do You Know The Answer ? Where Do Turtles Live

Rusty

Though the question, “Where do turtles live?” may seem simple, the answer is quite broad. Turtles live just about everywhere. Depending upon their species, turtles can be found living in a number of habitats.

Where You will Find Sea Turtles – As the name implies, you will find sea turtles living in most of the oceans of the world. The only place you won’t find them is Antarctica. Most sea turtles enjoy the warm, balmy waters of the tropics, but the leatherback sea turtle will roam in colder waters in search of food. All of the sea turtles head for land when it is time to lay their eggs. They will dig a hole in the sand where they deposit their eggs and immediately after covering them up, head back out to sea.

Not much is known about sea turtle habits, but researchers are learning more everyday about these wild creatures that are in so much danger of extinction.

Aquatic Turtle Habitat – Aquatic and semi-aquatic turtles can be found in a wide variety of habitats. Some live in ponds, streams, marshes or swamps. They eat a variety of foods such as fish, plants, mollusks and insects. Some turtles, like the mud turtles, like to burrow in the mud at the bottom of the water source. They can be found in all manner of clean, clear water. They are happiest in a habitat that is chockfull of vegetation and small vertebrates for them to feast upon. You will often see an aquatic turtle at a local lake or pond basking contentedly in the sun on a comfortable rock.

If you intend to purchase an aquatic or semi-aquatic turtle as a pet, you need to do plenty of research so that you may recreate a habitat that will keep your turtle healthy and happy

Land Turtle Habitat – Land turtles can be found in a variety of habitats. Some prefer desert conditions, while others prefer cool mountainous regions. Others will live in pastures and woodlands while others prefer hot and humid habitats. Many land turtles can boast excellent climbing skills and almost all of them love to bask in the sun. Turtles that prefer solid ground to water habitats can be found wherever their food supply takes them.

Keeping a Turtle as a Pet – Many children’s first pet is a turtle. They are fairly inexpensive to keep and live a long life when cared for properly. Providing the right type of habitat for your turtle is one of the most important aspects of successful turtle care. Doing the proper research on the type of turtle you have will afford you much information about the correct diet and living conditions to optimize their captive life. If you are unsure about the right turtle for your household, keep in mind that some turtles live exclusively on land while others will prefer a habitat that allows them to swim freely. Not all turtles spend all of their time beneath the surface, but if they are aquatic or semi-aquatic you will have to ensure they have access to clean, clear water at all times.

Copyright (c) 2008 Steven Magill…

General Articles

Ferret Rescue

Rusty

Ferret Rescue

There are often many reason why ferret rescue is necessary. A ferret can accidentally get lost in the wild, or in a city. When such a thing happens it can be very stressful not only for the pet but for the owner as well. But even more tragic is when someone releases a domesticated ferret deliberately because they don’t want to care for it anymore. They probably think that the ferret is capable of surviving on its own, but this is almost never true.

Attempting To Rescue a Lost Ferret

If you find that your ferret has gone missing from you home, here are some steps to take to try to get it back.

Check everywhere you can think of that it might like to hide – both inside and outside of your home

Call your local ferret rescue agency and pet shelter (giving them a picture would be helpful)

Place an ad in your local newspaper and consider offering a reward for the safe return of your pet

Check with any vets in your area to see if anyone has dropped off a stray or injured ferret

Put up flyers around your neighborhood with a picture of your missing pet and contact information

How to Adopt from a Ferret Rescue Shelter

Most ferret rescue shelters are happy when they can place a rescued ferret with a loving family. But, don’t think that you can just go to a shelter and take one home. You will need to go through an application process to determine if your family and living environment is suitable for a pet ferret.

You will be required to show that you know and understand the basic requirements of ferret ownership and that you have the time and resources available to meet those needs.

Be prepared, also, to pay an adoption fee. Fees can vary widely, but as a rule of thumb you can expect to pay between $75 and $100. Fees are necessary as they help support the shelter in the terrific work they are doing.

Ferret Rescue Agencies and Shelters

There are an amazing number of agencies and shelters committed to ferret rescue. A good resource you might want to check out is The American Ferret Association’s Shelter List and the FML Shelter List in the United States.

You will find several ferret rescue shelters in the UK, Canada, Australia and lots of other countries, too. To find one near you, try an Internet search for “ferret rescue” in your area and you’ll find lots of resources.

Alternately take a look in the Yellow Pages of your local phone book. If they don’t have a section for ferret shelters, then look under “Animal Shelters.”

Surrendering Your Ferret to a Rescue Shelter

Unforeseen circumstances can sometimes force you into having to give up your pet. If you’re not able to find them a suitable home on your own, then you should seriously consider finding a shelter that knows how to care for them and may be able to find them a new home.

Never release a domesticated ferret into the wild. They have been a pet and simply won’t be able to adapt. Doing such a thing will only sentence them to a slow and lonely death.…

Animal Control

How an Effective Flea Prevention For Cats Work?

Rusty

Frontline Plus for cats

Frontline Plus is very effective flea prevention for cats. It is used to kill fleas in all its stages and works against killing ticks. There are different varieties of fleas and each one of them is prevalent more in certain regions. It is difficult to identify the type of dog fleas by a pet owner but with an effective medication like frontline Plus, one does not have to worry for his pets.

Frontline Plus is the flea prevention for cats is helpful in killing the entire family f fleas as well as ticks. In just 24 hours of application, frontline Plus will effectively kill all fleas and ticks. As a result, the pet gets instant relief from itching and scratching. This medication gives immediate result.

Frontline Plus has two powerful ingredients; one of them is fipronil which kills the adult fleas and ticks by attacking their central nervous system. This makes the fleas, ticks disable, and they are not able to move. The application of the medication prevents the ticks from jumping and thus they do not infect other places. The other ingredient present in the flea prevention for cats is S-Methoprene. This ingredient kills eggs and larva of all types of fleas. When these two ingredients mix, it provides an all-round effect in killing these tiny pests.

This flea prevention for cats is a powerful medication and comes with an instruction to apply it in the right manner. It is very essential to apply this medication properly else, it will not show the desired result. One has to part the dog’s fur with fingers after taking the medication on the tip of the finger. Then apply the medication on the dog’s skin and not on the fur. One has to wait for three days before grooming the pet.

Some precautions while using flea prevention for cats

Kids must not be allowed to touch the medication; they must not apply it on the pet.After applying the medication, make sure that the pet is made to worn veterinary cone. This is done so that the pet is not able to lick itself.

Wash the hands properly after applying this flea prevention for cats.…

Rescue Dogs

Owner's Guide to Cat Tapeworms

Rusty

There are many parasites that can give cats problems. Feline tapeworms are some of the most common. These white worms are capable of growing approximately eight inches long if they live long enough. Thanks to the suckers and hooks that Mother Nature equipped them with, they’re capable of attaching themselves to the walls of the small intestine of your cat.

Cats typically don’t experience many problems if they’re infested with just a few of them. However, tapeworms in cats can cause serious problems as their numbers increase. They will keep your feline from getting the proper nutrition from their food, eventually causing them to shed pounds. Their fur will also undergo changes, becoming rough and dull.

To understand how feline tapeworms infect cats, you first need to understand a bit about their life cycle. As you know, fleas can easily infect your cat. Sometimes, fleas will harbor cysticercoids, which are formed when flea larvae eat tapeworm eggs. If your cat bites at an area infested with infected fleas, he may end up swallowing one.

After eating an infected flea, the small intestine will break it down and leave the cysticercoids to develop into adult cat tapeworms. This is when they will attach themselves to the small intestine walls and sustain themselves with the nutrients that your cat is supposed to get from his food.

Feline tapeworms are segmented. As they grow, segments will break off and pass out of the body through the feces. Owners who inspect their cat’s feces will likely notice them. They look like small grains of rice that are moving around. Some of these segments may also appear around the anus.

Your vet can determine if your cat has tapeworms quite easily. He will simply have to take a look at a sample of your cat’s feces under a microscope. They aren’t always easy to see via the naked eye.

Fortunately, tapeworms in cats are usually easy to deal with. You will need to give your cat dewormer medication in order to get rid of them. One cycle of this medication may not be enough to get rid of the infestation entirely though.

Parasites such as fleas and lice play a vital role in the transmission of feline tapeworms. Therefore, owners need to do their best to control these parasites so that their cat doesn’t get infested with worms. Limiting the amount of time that your cat spends outside roaming around will help. Giving him dewormer medication on a regular basis will also be useful.…