flea products
critters in your home and on your cat. Fossils show that fleas have been around for 100 million years, since the time of the dinosaurs. Likely the saber-tooth tiger had a few gnawing on his hide and couldn't do a thing about it. Fortunately, today we have better means for dealing with these bothersome critters. Fortunately, we have Advantage flea for cats.
Fleas are a real problem though. Many pets have allergies to flea bites that make them chew and scratch until their skin is raw. The secondary infections from this sort of allergy can be severe. Not to mention an infestation of fleas in your home can get you bit and scratching as well. With Advantage flea for cat, you can quickly eradicate the problem in your home.
Features of Advantage Flea for Cat Medication
Ingredients
Safety
Efficacy
Cost
Guarantee
DVM approved or recommended
Advantage flea for cats is a safe and fast acting topical pesticide for use on cats. The active ingredient for Advantage flea for cats medication is called imidacloprid and it works by spreading through the oils of the skin and hair follicles. Advantage flea for cats is a safe treatment because it doesn't get into your cat's circulatory system, but rather remains on the skin where biting fleas are poisoned. One treatment of Advantage flea for cats medication lasts 30 days and upon application kills nearly all the fleas on your cat within 12 hours. Other fleas that jump on your cat and bite will also be killed within two hours. Talk to your veterinarian, but many vets recommend Advantage flea for cats medication as a means of controlling infestation.
Using Advantage Flea for Cat Medication
Your vet will be able to help you choose the appropriate dosage of Advantage Flea for cat medication. Although it should not be used on ill cats or kittens under 8 weeks of age, Advantage flea for cat medication is very safe and overdose is rare. Watch for signs of side effects, which are rare, but pets should be monitored for side effects when taking any new medication. If you have a serious flea infestation, you can use Advantage Cat for flea medication as frequently as every week. Apply the liquid of the Advantage flea for cats medication to the nape of the neck, parting the fur to get the medication on the skin. Make sure that your cat cannot reach and groom the spot where you apply Advantage Flea for Cat Medication.
Safety Tips for using Advantage Flea for Cat Medication
Always read label instructions before administering Advantage Flea for Cat medication to your pet. Make sure that the Advantage Flea for Cat Medication is age appropriate of the correct dosage before applying. Also check to make sure the Advantage Flea for Cat Medication has not expired. Never give a dog medicine meant for a cat or vice versa. Keep safety in mind with the storage of all medications and store them out of the reach of pets and children.
heart worms
heartworm medication, also commonly referred to as cat heartworm prevention and abbreviated by most veterinarians as “HWP”. The best way to choose the correct cat heartworm medication prevention product is to get the advice of your veterinarian. Your cat's risk of disease is based on your pet's lifestyle and region in which you live. Those factors combined with your cats' overall health will influence your veterinarian's product selection for cat heartworm medication.
The very best and safest cat heartworm medication products on the market are prescription products that are only available from your veterinarian or by prescription from your veterinarian. Below we will discuss some features to consider in the different products as well as some ideal features.
Features to Consider in Cat Heartworm Prevention Medications
DVM approved or recommended
Size/dosage
Effect (do you want more than one affect e.g. fleas/ticks/heartworms)
Presentation: spot-on and tablets
Safety
Efficacy
Ingredients
Cost
Guarantee
Frequency of administration
Desirable Features in Cat Heartworm Prevention Medications
The ideal cat heartworm prevention medications product is easy to give or apply, safe, effective, and available at a reasonable cost. The product should be the proper size/dosage for your pet. It should cover the problem you are trying to prevent. You may choose a product that does more than one thing e.g. one that prevents both fleas and heartworms. You may also want to consider what type of product is easiest to give e.g. is a pill or topical easier? Indicate your preference to your veterinarian and they will help you select the best, safest, and most effective product in the presentation style you prefer. It should also come with a guarantee providing the product is given based on veterinarian or manufacturer recommendations. Monthly dosing is the common frequency of most products.
Ideal Choice for Cat Heartworm Prevention Medications
Choose a cat heartworm prevention medications specifically recommended for your cat. Make sure the product is the correct size for the weight of your cat. Some of the top products on the market include:
Heartworm Prevention in Cats
Interceptor® - Prevents heartworm disease and protects against roundworms, hookworms in cats. It is a tablet formulation to be given at a monthly frequency.
Heartgard® - Prevents heartworm disease. It is a chewable formulation to be given at a monthly frequency.
Controls Fleas, Ticks and Heartworms for Cats
Revolution® - Prevents heartworm disease, kills fleas, controls and treats ear mites and the deer tick infestations. It is a liquid application to be given at a monthly frequency.
Safety Tips When Using Cat Heartworm Prevention Medications
Always read label instructions before administering to your pet
Review age and weight of your pet before application or dosage
Give all medications as directed, for example if your veterinarian recommends year round treatment, follow their instructions.
Products labeled for another animal types should not be given to another pet (NEVER give your cat products labeled for your dog).
ticks on cats
This life cycle can be completed within 2 months. The larvae, nymph and adults all feed on blood and after a feeding, the tick falls from the feeding source and the larva will molt to a nymph, the nymph will molt to an adult and the female adult will lay eggs. Male ticks ingest far less blood than females.
When ticks are in need of a blood meal, they seek out prey by heat sensors. When a warm object passes by them, they attach to this object by clinging to clothing or fur or falling from trees onto the object.
After the prey has been chosen, the tick migrates to an area that has little hair or does not present difficulty in feeding (the ears and skin around the ears or lips are common places). The tick inserts its pincher-like mouthparts into the skin and begins feeding. These mouthparts are locked in place and will only dislodge when the tick has completed the meal. Once the meal is complete, the adult female will fall from the prey and seek shelter. Eggs are born and the adult female dies.
Tick Removal
Many methods have been tried to remove ticks, many of which are not recommended. Applying a recently extinguished match or even a still lit match to the body of the tick will NOT cause the tick to back out and fall off. The mouthparts only let go when the tick has completed the meal. Also, applying fingernail polish will suffocate the tick but will not cause the tick to fall off.
The best recommendation to remove a tick is to use a tweezers or commercially available tick removal device and pull the tick off. Do not touch the tick since diseases can be transmitted. Consider wearing gloves when removing a tick.
With a tweezers or tick removal device, grab the tick as close to the head as possible. With steady, gentle pressure, pull the tick out of the skin. Frequently, pieces of skin may come off with the tick.
If the head of the tick remains in the skin, try to grab it and remove as much as possible. If you are unable to remove the entire head, don't fret. This is not life threatening. Your pet's immune system will try to dislodge the head by creating a site of infection or even a small abscess.
Usually no additional therapy is needed, but if you are concerned, contact your family veterinarian. There are surgical instruments that can be used to remove the remaining part of the tick.
Tick Control and Prevention
Control and prevention of ticks is extremely important in reducing the risk of disease associated with ticks. This includes removing the ticks as soon as possible and trying to prevent attachment.
Tick avoidance requires avoiding environments that harbor them. Extra care should be taken in the woods and areas with tall grass or low brushes. When traveling, be aware that certain areas of the country have a much higher incidence of ticks (i.e. the northeast). In addition, since they can be carried unknowingly from one place to another on clothing or the body, it is always possible for an individual or animal to come into contact with a tick.
Ticks may be killed by spraying, dipping, bathing, or powdering, or applying topical medications to affected individuals with appropriate tick-killing products. Tick collars or products applied topically may act to prevent attachment of new ticks and to promote detachment of ticks already attached.
There are many products on the market that control ticks. Some are over the counter; others are prescription, only available through your veterinarian. Whether one purchases an over the counter or prescription product, it is a good idea to consult your veterinarian first.
Some of the safest and most effective products that your veterinarian may recommend include topical spot-on products and certain tick collars. Topical spot-on products are generally applied on the skin between your pet's shoulders once a month. Some are effective against other parasites as well (i.e. fleas, internal parasites). Systemic topical products include Frontline® and Frontline Plus® (fipronil with or without methoprene, an insect growth regulator) and Revolution® (selamectin). Tick products for dogs should NEVER be used on cats because severe toxicity and death may occur.
Disease Transmission
Ticks are considered excellent carriers and transmitters of various diseases. Ticks within the Ixodidae (hard tick) family transmit the majority of disease. The brown dog tick and the American dog tick are the most common carriers of disease. This includes cytauxzoon, ehrlichia and Lyme disease.
Although all ticks have the potential to transmit disease, the vast majority of tick bites are disease-free. Still it is a good idea to check your pet frequently for any signs of ticks, after he or she comes back from a potential tick infested area, even if using tick prevention medications. Finding these pests and quickly removing them are important methods of controlling potential disease. The sooner ticks are removed from your pet, the less likely any disease transmission will occur.
The best method of controlling disease transmission is through a combination of tick avoidance and using tick preventative medications.
Your veterinarian can decide the best method of tick control for your pet, based on his or her risk factors (potential exposure, life-style, geographic location), and the need for any additional parasite control coverage. The advent of the many tick control medications has made tick control and prevention of disease easier and safer than ever.
cat litter boxes
are several styles, materials, features, and sizes to choose from. To help you shop, consider these factors.
Features to Consider in a Litter Box
Materials
Style (hooded or unhooded)
Vents (vented/unvented/odor control pads)
Size
Opaque vs. see-though
Durability
Depth
Ability to clean
Attractive to the cat
Automation
Cost
Guarantee (important for self-cleaning boxes)
Ideal Choice for a Cat Litter Box
Formost, the ideal cat litter box needs to be appealing to your cat, thus one he or she will use! It also needs to be compatible with your choice of litters. For example, the automated litter boxes, such as Littermaid®, requires scoopable litter. The ideal cat litter box should also be easy to clean, durable and offer good ventilation and visibility. The size may be determined by the number of cats you have but more likely, the number of cats should affect the number of cat litter boxes, not the size. You may want to choose a more shallow depth for kittens (about 3 inches) and a deeper variety for adult cats (at least 6 inches).
The ideal choice for a cat litter box is a heavy plastic durable material box placed in an area that is quiet, appealing to your cat and easy to clean.
Shopping Tips for Buying a Cat Litter Box
Most cat litter boxes come in one of about five different basic designs. Each of these basic designs may vary with the materials and other small features. The preference of the cat is variable but we will try to indicate general pros and cons of the different designs.
Basic flat box (alternative with rim) – The basic flat cat litter box is a traditional simple rectangular plastic pan. It is the least expensive, comes in a variety of sizes and depths. This style is simple to clean as you don't have to remove the lid or cover to scoop or clean. Many cats prefer this design. This basic design may have an additional feature of a “rim” that can help hold kitty box liners in place. The liners are secured under the rim of this design.
Hooded or covered boxes – Some cat litter boxes come in a traditional rectangular shape but include a hood that covers the box. There is an opening on one end that allows the cat to enter and exit and is generally high enough for the cat to stand and eliminate comfortably. The benefits are that they offer more “privacy” to some cats and may help contain litter pieces that may get pawed out of the basic flat box. Some cats like the privacy and other cats may feel “trapped” if other cats come into the room when they are using it as they only have one “escape” route. However, hooded models can be very smelly due to their poor ventilation. Some boxes have a ventilation panel at the top that can hold a filter to help trap odors. Most cat owners do not change the ventilation filter often enough for it to make a big difference. When looking at hooded models, choose a model that is large enough to accumulate your cat, has an easy to maneuver the hood which is important for when you have to scoop or change the litter, and one with big vents.
Self-cleaning box –Several companies have come out in recent years with electric “self-cleaning” cat litter boxes. These work by having a timed sensor that is activated a few minutes after your cat leaves the box. The sensor activates the cleaning cycle at which time a rake slides along the litter and scoops urine and feces into a well. This is a nice feature as it keeps the litter box clean for your cat, however, it should not be substituted for good litter box hygiene. Sometimes the rake does not get every morsel of urine or feces so you may need to occasionally use the manual scoop. The rake itself can also become clogged which may require cleaning. These generally work with scoopable litter products. Some cats really like this as they are often open, roomy and clean. Other cats don't care for the mechanical action if they happen to see the box in action. These are the most expensive boxes and may only have a 1 year guarantee which isn't all that long. You need to empty the receptacle when full, or every couple days.
Designer or “hidden” boxes – there are some new designs of cat litter boxes that masks the box as a piece of furniture or a plant. They can be attractive and live anywhere in your home. However, cats often prefer a quiet safe area for their eliminations. Placed in a high traffic area may not be the ideal situation for your cat. Most of these units are covered and can also be smelly. Some of the containers are small and not extremely comfortable for some cats. Look for designs that are big, open as possible, and have good ventilation. Place the box in an area that is appealing to the habits of your cat.
Sifting boxes – There are a few different models but the basic one consists of two basic rectangular pans and a “sifter tray”. The two cat litter boxes stack on each other and the sifting tray rests inside the top pan. Litter is poured on top of the sifting tray. To clean the box, you separate the two litter boxes, lift out the sifting tray which removes the wastes but leaves the litter. You then put the sifter into the empty box and pour the litter on top. After you dump the waste, you again can store the empty litter box on the bottom of the unit.
Shopping Tips when Buying a Cat Litter Box
If you are unsure which type of box your cat prefers, offer both and watch his or her habits. If your cat uses both, then you can keep using both pans. If your cat prefers one over the other, either remove the hood or add a hood.
Plastic open boxes are easy to clean, durable but offer more ventilation than hooded models.
When using a hooded model, never store anything on the hood such as extra litter or the rake. These can fall off and scare you cat preventing future use. After scooping, always make sure the lid is secure on the box.
When deciding where to scoop your waste, consider a small 16 to 20 inch sealable lidded kitchen-type trash can. These are often available at kitchen or office supply stores. The ideal model has a foot pedal which allows your hands to be free to scoop. It should be tall enough to store your scoop and seal well thus containing the smells. Line the trash can with a plastic bag and replace the bag before it is smelly or when it is full. You can have this near the litter boxes for convenient use.
Don't abruptly change boxes. If your cat is using a box, you can add one but don't change and remove their current one suddenly if possible. You can add a new one and when you are sure your cat is using it fine, then remove the old one.
When selecting a litter box, make sure it is large enough for your cat to maneuver comfortably. Some commercial litter boxes may be too small or too low for cats that want to “spray” or urinate on the side of the litter box. In these cases, consider plastic storage containers. The clear storage containers work well because they are big, have high sides (which does a great job of holding in urine and litter), and are appealing to most cats. Most cats feel vulnerable when they eliminate and having a unit with clear sides can help them determine if any perceived “treats” are near. For cats that have difficulty entering/exiting a higher box, you may use a sharp knife to carefully cut and opening.
Successful litter box use depends on several factors including the type of litter box, LOCATION of the litter box, the type of litter you use, how and how often you clean the box, and the personality and behavior of your cat.
Cats generally don't like to eat and eliminate in the same spot so place the litter box in a quiet area away from where the food and water bowls are located.
More Tips on Using a Cat Litter Box
Carefully choose the cat litter box location. It is important that cats maintain optimal litter box experiences to ensure their continued use of the box. Make sure the area is appealing and quiet. Minimize locations that are dark, damp, or noisy, (such as out of the way basements) or in spots where they can be startled by people or other pets. Avoid any negative experiences around the box such as loud noises, surprising your cat while in or near the box. Keep boxes away from air ducts, furnaces, and loud appliances that can turn on and startle your cat while using the box. Make sure the access to and from the box is comfortable. If the litter box is in a separate room, make sure the door does not close either preventing access or trapping your cat. As you can see by all these rules, we want to avoid anything that can cause litter box aversion.
When you decide where to place the cat litter box, make sure it is in a spot that is easy for you to clean.
Scoop at least daily. Some cats will not use a dirty litter box!
Plastic pans will eventually pick up odors that won't come out no matter how much you scrub them, so they should be replaced periodically. When you look for a replacement box, find something similar if possible to minimize any unappealing changes to your cat.
Avoid harsh cleaners such as bleach or ammonia products on the cat litter box. They can offend cats and cause them not to use the box. Use a generally soap to clean and rinse REALLY well.
Remember, you should have at least one cat litterbox per cat plus one or one litter box per floor (or whatever is more)! For example, if you have 2 cats, you should have 3 litter boxes. If you have one cat and 2 levels in your home, you should have two litter boxes.
Choosing the best cat food is one of the first and most important decisions you will make for your cat. Feeding good quality food will enhance your cat's health and longevity. There are dozens of types and brands to choose from, and trying to choose the right cat food can be overwhelming. Here are some tips to help you choose the best food for your cat!
Desirable Features in Cat Food
Cat foods formulated for the proper life stage of your pet such as kittens, adults or senior pets
AAFCO approved (Choose diets that conform to minimal Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) standards
Recommended by your veterinarian
Consistent ingredients
High quality ingredients
Ideal Choice in Cat Food
Choose a cat food formulated specifically for your specific cat's needs. Choose complete and balanced foods, AAFCO approved for the life stage of your cat. For example, if you have a kitten, choose a food AAFCO approved for kittens (NOT adult cats). Hill's® Science Diet® makes great quality foods formulated to meet the needs kittens and cats.
Shopping Tips for Buying Cat Food
The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) publishes feed regulations and ingredient definitions. If the pet food follows the guidelines set forth by AAFCO, the label will include a statement that says "Formulated to meet the AAFCO Cat Food Nutrient Profile for Kittens/Adults/Senior.”)
It is not a requirement to meet AAFCO standards in order to sell cat food, so buyers beware. Check the labels and compare cat food products.
More Tips for Feeding Cat Food
Good nutrition may be the most important factor affecting your cat's health. This is especially true in growing kittens. Feed the best quality cat or kitten food you can afford.
cat beeding
Finding the perfect cat bed…a dream come true for your precious feline. If you can't find your cat, it might be time to get her a cat bed. Chances are she's sleeping somewhere cozy and perhaps not where you want her. If you would rather your kitty didn't nap on your bathrobe or the guest bed, you may want to get her an extra appealing cat bed of her own.
There are a variety of cat beds to choose from and you can definitely find one to suit your cat best. They range from mini-furniture to suit your décor to simple pads to lay on your cats preferred napping places. Here are some tips to help you find the best bed for your kitty.
Cat Bed Features to Consider
Materials/Fabric
Comfort
Placement (floor, desk, bed, window bed, etc)
Style/Design
Size
Wash-ability
Dry-ability
Ability to remove or replace cover
Durability guarantee
The most important feature to consider in choosing a cat bed is what your cat will consider comfortable. Cats like to be warm in the winter and to keep cool in the summer. The cozy-factor of a cat bed is critical. A cup style cat bed is often the perfect fit for a curled up kitty and can help her retain body heat. With an especially cold house, you might even consider a heated cat bed. If you need something cooler consider a simple pad cat bed, which may be nothing more than soft fabric or stuffed for a plusher feel. Whichever style you choose it needs to become your cat's favorite or she won't use it.
The best way to convince your feline friend to nap in her new cat bed however, may not be what style you choose, but where you put it. A quiet place without too much traffic, but in view of the household activities is the best place. If you choose a cat bed that is easily moved, you can adjust the bed's placement depending on the temperature or the time of day. Some cat beds can even be set up as a window perch, so in between napping your kitty can have a view of what's going on outside.
Desirable Cat Bed Features
Easy to clean
Comfortable
Attractive/Fashionable
Variety of Sizes
Durable
Safe
Water resistant
Replacement parts
Guarantee
Conserves your cats' body heat
Your cat loves it
The most desirable cat bed will be washable, or at least have a washable cover. Most cat beds will collect cat fur, which is great for cleaning up after a shedding kitty, but only if you can toss it in the washer. It should be durable enough to last for years and numerous washes. The best cat bed will also dry quickly to discourage mold and fungus. Cat beds that have covers sold separately are also a great idea so that you can rotate the covers when washing. An attractive cat bed is also a must if your cat is going to nap in the midst of things. Make sure that the cat bed doesn't just look great, but also appeals to your cat's sensibilities as well.
Cat Bed Features to Avoid
Watch for hanging fabric and strings which your cat could ingest. Your cat may choke or become ill with an intestinal blockage. Also avoid cat beds that are hard to keep clean and can house fleas if your cat should become infested. Make sure that the bed you choose also has color safe fabric that will not bleed if it gets wet or is washed.
The Ideal Choice is of a Cat Bed
The ideal cat bed will be attractive to both you and your feline friend, a fashionable addition to your home and the purrfect place for a little cat nap
cat urine
outside the litter box for various reasons and removing the odor of cat urine from carpet, furniture or clothing can be difficult. To make matters worse, once the odor of urine becomes associated with an area other than the litter box, more urination in that area is likely.
There are several methods you can try to reduce the urine odor.
Wash the area with carbonated soda water or with soapy water and rinse well.
As a deterrent, mist the area with vinegar, perfumed soap, mouthwash or moth repellant spray.
Use commercial products. A variety of products are available to neutralize and break down the source of the urine odors. For most odors, this is the most successful way of eliminating the smell and eliminating the pet's return to that area. Products include: SeaYu Petrotech Odor Eliminator, Urine-off, Anti Icky Poo (AIP), Nature's Miracle, Odorban, Odornil, and Nilodor.
cat vaccs
Results 1-7 of 7 in Vaccination
1. Animal Bites, Rabies and Quarantine in Cats
Any animal that has bitten a person is often required by law to be quarantined. The amount of time, as well as the quarantine site, depend on the bite, the pet’s vaccine status and local laws.
2. Feline Leukemia Vaccine Recommendations
One of the most dangerous infectious diseases in cats today is caused by the feline leukemia virus (feLV), a retrovirus that may cause suppression of the immune system, impairing your cat’s ability to fight infections.
3. Feline Vaccine Recommendations
Newer vaccines can be administered through the nostrils and have been developed to protect against a variety of infections, but despite their well-known benefits, the practice of annual vaccination of mature cats is controversial.
4. Rabies Vaccine Recommendations in Cats
Rabies is a highly fatal viral infection of the nervous system that affects all warm-blooded animal species, including humans. The virus is most often transmitted from one animal to another through bite wounds.
5. What is a Vaccine?
Vaccinations are the introduction of vaccine into the body to produce immunity to a viral disease. The term comes from the Latin vacca, or cow, from the first inoculations of cowpox to produce immunity against smallpox.
6. What You Need To Know About Injection Site Sarcoma
An injection site sarcoma is a tumor thought to be induced by an injection – most often a vaccination. Post-vaccinal sarcomas are very rare but may occur in cats as a consequence of an overzealous inflammatory or immune system reaction to the vaccine.
7. Why Should I Vaccinate my Cat?
Vaccinations are the introduction of vaccines into the body to produce immunity to a specific disease. Through scientific advancement, many vaccines have been developed, and death due to infection has significantly declined.
grooming
Next
Results 1-10 of 14 in Grooming & Skin Care
1. Combs and Brushes for Your Cat
You can keep your cat from having a "bad hair day" by regularly brushing and combing his hair. Cats have many types of coats, but all of them need to be brushed and combed.
2. Essentials for a Shiny Coat in Cats
A bright shiny coat is a sign of vigor and good health. We want our pets to look and feel their best and grooming helps achieve this goal. All cats benefit from regular grooming. Here are a few tips to help make your pet look his very best.
3. Grooming Supplies for Cats
Grooming is a lifelong part of your pet's good health. Regular brushing, bathing and nail trimming add to your pet’s appearance – and it feels great, too. Here is a list of supplies to keep on hand that will make grooming easy.
4. Grooming Your Cat
Most shorthaired cats require little grooming but most longhaired cats will need brushing and maybe even a bath.
5. Grooming Your Kitten
Although kittens are known to be quite fastidious, they may need some assistance in keeping themselves clean. Grooming sessions also allow you to do a quick health check on your kitten.
6. Grooming Your Senior Cat - Special Concerns
As your pet ages, taking an active role in grooming becomes even more important. Older pets often groom less, may have trouble cleaning those "hard to reach places," or may develop skin conditions that require extra attention.
7. How to Clean Your Cat's Ears
Cleaning ears may look easy but it is more difficult than you think. Cats have long ear canals and improper cleaning can result in a ruptured eardrum, pain or lacerations of the canal. You can clean your cat’s ears safely if you follow these steps.
8. How to Get the Mats Out from Your Cat!
Daily combing will prevent long hair from becoming matted. Make sure the comb’s teeth reach all the way to the skin or you will just be grooming a superficial area.
9. How to Give a Cat a Bath
Bathing is an important part of the grooming process for some cats. It can keep the coat clean, reduce parasite infections and even make life easier on those who are allergic to cats.
10 . How to Give a Cat a Bath
Bathing is an important part of the grooming process for some cats. It can keep the coat clean, reduce parasite infections and even make life easier on those who are allergic to cats.
10. Safe Ways to Remove Mats from Your Cat
When your cat gets mats, removing them can be difficult. Be very careful when cutting mats to avoid cutting the underlying skin.
microchipping
®
To date, HomeAgain® has sold over 500,000 microchips and over 34,000 pets have been reunited with their owners. For more information on HomeAgain® microchips, visit them at http://www.homeagainid.com/ or call the HomeAgain Pet Recovery Service at 1-866-PET-ID24 (1-866-738-4324).
How it Works
Your pet escapes the yard and is found a few miles away by an animal control officer, who takes the pet back to the shelter and scans the pet in hopes of finding a microchip code. When a code is found and displayed on the scanner, the shelter employee is able to determine which database to contact for further information. Once the database is contacted, the microchip code is given.
At this point, there are two outcomes. If the owner did not register his name and telephone number with the database, the veterinary clinic that purchased the microchip is listed. Unfortunately, the pet must stay at the shelter until the veterinary clinic can be contacted, usually the next business day, in order to determine the name and telephone number of the owner.
The other potential outcome is based on owner's paying an additional fee and registering his name, address and telephone number, including alternates, with the database. In this situation, the database is able to supply your telephone number to the shelter employee. The shelter can then contact you directly, resulting in reuniting you with your pet that night.
Recommendations
It is recommended that all pets are microchipped. Even those pets that do not venture outside may escape one day.
Register your pet!!! It is recommended that you pay the additional fee and have your name and telephone number listed with the microchip code.
It is recommended that you use an identifier on your pets collar indicating that he or she has a microchip and what kind.
An annual visit to the veterinarian specifically to test the microchip is recommended. Have your veterinarian scan your pet to determine if the chip is still transmitting data.
Annually confirm your pet's information with the microchip database and ensure that all contact information including your address, home and cell phone numbers, email address, and pager number, etc are all current.
male fixing
A castration (neuter) is the surgical removal of the male reproductive organs. The operation removes the two testicles.
What Are the Indications For Performing a Castration?
This operation is indicated to prevent pregnancy, remove diseased or cancerous testicles, reduce male behavior such as urine marking, territorial aggression and roaming, and markedly decrease the risk of acquired diseases of the male reproductive system. The neuter operation essentially removes the possibility of testicular cancer and reduces the risk of prostatic enlargement.
What Preoperative Examinations or Tests Are Needed?
Preoperative tests depend in part on the age and general health of the pet. In young cats, minimal tests are needed provided the pet has been vaccinated, dewormed, and proven healthy based on clinical examination. Often simple blood tests, such as a packed cell volume or blood count, are done prior to anesthesia.
female fixing
An ovariohysterectomy (spay) is the surgical removal of the female reproductive organs. The operation removes the two ovaries, the uterine horns, and the body of the uterus.
What Are the Indications For Performing an Ovariohysterectomy (Spay)?
This operation is indicated to avoid heat (estrus) cycles, prevent pregnancy, remove diseased or cancerous female reproductive organs and markedly decrease the risk of acquired diseases of the female reproductive system. The spay operation essentially removes the possibility of a severe infection of the uterus (pyometra).
What Preoperative Examinations or Tests Are Needed Before an Ovariohysterectomy (Spay)?
cat health
A healthy cat can be described as having bright shiny eyes, a healthy shiny hair coat, a good appetite, able to maintain their body weight, intermittently playful and generally seems "happy".
However, cats are not always healthy and when they are not, are often very good at hiding their illness just by their nature of survival. They want to appear healthy so they are less vulnerable to predators.
Initial signs and symptoms of cat illness can be subtle and you may have to look closely to see the first clues. Advanced symptoms are generally more obvious.
Many signs of disease are non-specific, suggesting they can be common for many different diseases. Let's look at some common non-specific signs of illness in cats that should worry you and prompt veterinary care and attention:
Lack of appetite – Anorexia is often one of the first signs of illness in cats.
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