Your cat needs you to care for her each and every day, but when you are otherwise occupied, you can hire a pet sitter to temporarily fill your shoes. The idea of trusting someone else to care for your little fur ball may seem a bit daunting, but taking the time to select the right sitter for your pet can make all the difference.

Determine what type and how much care your pet will need. This will help you narrow down potential sitters to just those who will be able to give your pet the best possible care. Next, make sure to ask any questions you have and to call any references you are given. Your pet should also meet the sitter along with you prior to hiring him or her, as this will show you how comfortable they will be interacting. For more information, please contact your Cats Only Animal Hospital.

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While bread itself is not really harmful to cats, the problem involves the extras that are added in order to enhance the bread’s flavor and appeal. Here are some benefits and disadvantages of feeding bread to your cat.

Advantages

Brown bread contains fiber which can benefit the cat’s digestive system. But if it’s fiber you are after, there are more healthy ways to ensure your kitty receives sufficient fiber. Good quality bread can also be a good source of proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals.

Disadvantages

Cats don’t have the proper enzymes that can help fully digest most types of bread; this can eventually lead to gassiness. Bread also contains considerable amounts of processed carbohydrate, which can increase a cat’s risk to piling o ... Read more »

There are various reasons why dogs are given a bath. While there are many kinds of all-purpose shampoo for dogs, there are also specially-formulated products that can be used to treat a wide range of different issues. Some common issues that affect the skin and hair of dogs include dry skin, fleas, ticks, itchy skin, and dandruff.

Frequent baths are not advisable because it can have a negative effect on the natural oils of the skin. Dogs won’t require frequent bathing because their dead skin cells move along the hair shafts and are flicked off the ends naturally. While there is no fixed frequency, it is not advisable to shampoo your puppy more than once a week.  When buying shampoo for your dog, make sure you know what you are looking for; something that is appropriate for your dog’s grooming needs. Make sure that it’s formulated for dogs to avoid upsetting your pet’s skin. You can also as ... Read more »

While your canine buddy would love a taste of soda, there are various reasons for preventing pets from consuming these popular products. Soda contains high amounts of sugar which can increase your pet’s risk to developing diabetes. This is especially harmful if your dog has already been diagnosed with diabetes. If your pet consumes a whole can of soda, he may end up vomiting. Soda also contains caffeine, as well as other artificial ingredients that can be harmful to dogs. It also contains too many calories that are of no nutritional value. With all the calories your dog may have consumed, he will remain hyper-energetic for hours. Some pet owners make the mistake of giving soda to their dog instead of water, a practice that should never be tolerated. A dog’s healthy is largely dependent on the nutrition that is provided by his owner. Providing adequate hydration by giving fresh clean water is still the best way to go to keep your pet health an ... Read more »

Just like humans, dogs can get eye boogers occasionally. Responsible pet owners should know when to worry about the buildup, and when wiping it off is just the way to deal with it.

Dogs can get dust and debris in his eyes while going on leash walks or running around the yard. The dog’s tear ducts flushes out these foreign materials from the eye and keep it clean. This simple physiological function eventually results in the accumulation of gunk in the corner of the dog’s eye, creating a mucus-like substance that can be gently wiped away.

However, if the mucus keeps on accumulating regularly, or it’s thick and yellowish in color, there could a more serious underlying reason for your pet’s eye discharge. Some of the main causes include allergies, dry eye, and conjunctivitis, presence of foreign bodies in the eye, breed issues, and diseases affecting the eye. A ... Read more »

A bland diet is usually indicated for dog patients suffering from vomiting and diarrhea. However, pet owners should remember that this is not a cure for any underlying cause. A visit to the vet clinic should be made when vomiting and diarrhea persist, especially when it’s accompanied by other symptoms.

A bland diet is basically made up of boiled lean meat mixed with boiled white rice (at a 50:50 ratio). Avoid using any additives such as salt, garlic, butter, or seasoning. A bland diet is usually given when a dog has not been showing any signs of digestive upset for 2-3 hours, and only after it has consumed some water without vomiting or diarrhea.

Introduce the bland diet gradually by giving only very small amounts (about 1 tablespoon). If there is no vomiting within the next 2 hours, you can offer a little bit more of the bland diet. You can gradually increase the quantity an ... Read more »

Antibiotics are commonly used by many pet owners to treat pets that are suffering from infections, even without consulting a veterinarian. However, before you offer that antibiotic to your ailing pet, here are some important things that veterinarians wish pet owners to know:

• Antibiotics are meant to treat bacterial infections, thus they won’t work for infections that are caused by viruses or fungi. These infections won’t respond to antibiotics. Administering antibiotics to these types of infections will only expose a wider range of bacteria to these medications, which can increase the chances for the development of resistant strains of bacteria.
• Considering the issues involved in the use of antibiotics, many veterinarians chose to conduct culture and sensitivity testing before treating most bacterial infections.
• The use of ... Read more »