Weekly News
05/27/2013 - Ear mites are tiny infectious organisms resembling microscopic ticks. The mite can just barely be seen as a small white dot with the naked eye but usually must be detected by examination of a sample of ear wax under a microscope. Infection usually produces a characteristic dry black ear discharge commonly said to resemble coffee grounds. The mite lives on the surface of the ear canal skin, though sometimes migrates out onto the face and head of its host. Eggs are laid and hatch after 4 days of incubation. The larva hatches from the egg, feeds on ear wax and skin oils for about a week. The presence of the mites is very inflammatory and can generate very irritating ear infections. Skin disease can also result from infection by the ear mite. Most ear mite cases are found in cats.
11/30/-0001 - Ear mites are tiny infectious organisms resembling microscopic ticks. The mite can just barely be seen as a small white dot with the naked eye but usually must be detected by examination of a sample of ear wax under a microscope. Infection usually produces a characteristic dry black ear discharge commonly said to resemble coffee grounds. The mite lives on the surface of the ear canal skin, though sometimes migrates out onto the face and head of its host. Eggs are laid and hatch after 4 days of incubation. The larva hatches from the egg, feeds on ear wax and skin oils for about a week. The presence of the mites is very inflammatory and can generate very irritating ear infections. Skin disease can also result from infection by the ear mite. Most ear mite cases are found in cats.
05/20/2013 - There are four distinct stages of fleas: eggs, larvae, pupae, and adult. A female flea will continue to lay a few eggs every day until she has reached up to 200-5000 eggs. Adult fleas can live months in your environment without feeding. Their life cycle is about 3 weeks from egg to adult, this speeds up in the warmer weather. Fleas transmit not only a variety of viral, bacterial and rickettsial diseases to humans and other animals, but also protozoans and helminths. Fleas play a necessary role in the life cycle and reproduction of tapeworm. When a cat eats the flea (usually while the cat is grooming), the immature form of the tapeworm is released from the flea. This immature tapeworm then develops into an adult in the cat's intestine and the life cycle is completed. Indoor cats can easily get fleas as they come inside under doors, through windows and ride in on us. Flea control is very important all year in Portland, as fleas thrive here.
05/13/2013 - Roundworms are intestinal parasites that are common in cats. There are two species of roundworms that infect cats, one of which can cause health problems in humans, too.
- Kittens can ingest larvae through their mother's milk.
- Eating rodents or other carriers (beetles, black flies, earthworms) who have been infected with the larvae
- 15% of commercial potting soil contains roundworms
- The eggs are hardy and can remain infective for months or years.
- Roundworms are zoonotic which means the larvae of roundworms can infect people. This happens when eggs are ingested, and is most common in children who may not practice the best hygiene, and may pick up eggs on their hands when playing in the yard, for example.
05/06/2013 - Tapeworms are a parasite that is found in the small intestine of cats. They are flat and segmented, white in color and can grow up to 20cm long.
- The tapeworm cycle begins with the flea larvae eating fecal matter that contains tapeworm eggs.
- The eggs hatch inside the flea and become cysticercoids.
- A cat may then swallow or eat a flea that contains these cysticercoids while chewing or biting at a flea during grooming.
- Once the flea passes into the cat's intestine the flea is broken down and the cysticercoids develop into an adult tapeworm.
- The tapeworm attaches itself to the lining of the intestine and feeds off the nutrients.
04/29/2013 - Introducing a second cat to your resident kitty is one of the most frightening and frustrating things that cat owners go through. It’s often a nail-biting experience but it doesn’t have to be. The key is to do a gradual introduction and give the cats a reason to like each other. Take a look at this great advice! http://catnet.stanford.edu/articles/introducing_cats.html
04/22/2013 - Microchips: 1 in 3 pets go missing during its lifetime, and without proper ID, 90% never return home. A microchip for cats gives the best protection with permanent ID that can never be removed or become impossible to read. Microchips only contain a number that identifies your cat. No personal or financial info is stored on the ID chip. Microchips are very safe for your cat. They do not contribute to cancer. Yours cats body does not recognize the chip as a foreign object, thus the immune system does not attack the chip. A microchip implant takes just seconds at your veterinarian's clinic, and then your pet has permanent ID that will last its entire lifetime. The final step is to register your pet's microchip with the maker’s company and keep your information updated.
04/15/2013 - Litter box tip #3 of 3: Cats prefer a quiet place to their business. A litter box best to a loud washing machine to them is like a toilet next to a loud train for us. Don't place food or water next to litter boxes. Keep children and dogs away from litter boxes. Litter boxes should always be a quiet place. Always consult with your veterinarian if you cat is inappropriately urinating; it could be due to a serious medical condition.
04/08/2013 - Litter box TIPS # 2 of 3: Cats prefer sand type litter, closer to their natural substrate, Pellet type litter can be painful for senior and declawed cats with arthritis. Place your litter box in a core area for your cat. Forcing them to take a long journey to relieve themselves can lead to them finding a easier place to relive themselves. Also always consult with your veterinarian if you cat is inappropriately urinating; it could be due to a serious medical condition.
04/01/2013 - Litter box TIPS # 1 of 3: Cats prefer unscented litter as they have a much stronger sense of smell. They also prefer a large litter box. Choose a litter box that each cat can easily turn around comfortable and stand fully erect. Always consult with your veterinarian if you cat is inappropriately urinating; it could be due to a serious medical condition.
11/30/-0001 - Ear mites are tiny infectious organisms resembling microscopic ticks. The mite can just barely be seen as a small white dot with the naked eye but usually must be detected by examination of a sample of ear wax under a microscope. Infection usually produces a characteristic dry black ear discharge commonly said to resemble coffee grounds. The mite lives on the surface of the ear canal skin, though sometimes migrates out onto the face and head of its host. Eggs are laid and hatch after 4 days of incubation. The larva hatches from the egg, feeds on ear wax and skin oils for about a week. The presence of the mites is very inflammatory and can generate very irritating ear infections. Skin disease can also result from infection by the ear mite. Most ear mite cases are found in cats.
05/20/2013 - There are four distinct stages of fleas: eggs, larvae, pupae, and adult. A female flea will continue to lay a few eggs every day until she has reached up to 200-5000 eggs. Adult fleas can live months in your environment without feeding. Their life cycle is about 3 weeks from egg to adult, this speeds up in the warmer weather. Fleas transmit not only a variety of viral, bacterial and rickettsial diseases to humans and other animals, but also protozoans and helminths. Fleas play a necessary role in the life cycle and reproduction of tapeworm. When a cat eats the flea (usually while the cat is grooming), the immature form of the tapeworm is released from the flea. This immature tapeworm then develops into an adult in the cat's intestine and the life cycle is completed. Indoor cats can easily get fleas as they come inside under doors, through windows and ride in on us. Flea control is very important all year in Portland, as fleas thrive here.
05/13/2013 - Roundworms are intestinal parasites that are common in cats. There are two species of roundworms that infect cats, one of which can cause health problems in humans, too.
- Kittens can ingest larvae through their mother's milk.
- Eating rodents or other carriers (beetles, black flies, earthworms) who have been infected with the larvae
- 15% of commercial potting soil contains roundworms
- The eggs are hardy and can remain infective for months or years.
- Roundworms are zoonotic which means the larvae of roundworms can infect people. This happens when eggs are ingested, and is most common in children who may not practice the best hygiene, and may pick up eggs on their hands when playing in the yard, for example.
05/06/2013 - Tapeworms are a parasite that is found in the small intestine of cats. They are flat and segmented, white in color and can grow up to 20cm long.
- The tapeworm cycle begins with the flea larvae eating fecal matter that contains tapeworm eggs.
- The eggs hatch inside the flea and become cysticercoids.
- A cat may then swallow or eat a flea that contains these cysticercoids while chewing or biting at a flea during grooming.
- Once the flea passes into the cat's intestine the flea is broken down and the cysticercoids develop into an adult tapeworm.
- The tapeworm attaches itself to the lining of the intestine and feeds off the nutrients.
04/29/2013 - Introducing a second cat to your resident kitty is one of the most frightening and frustrating things that cat owners go through. It’s often a nail-biting experience but it doesn’t have to be. The key is to do a gradual introduction and give the cats a reason to like each other. Take a look at this great advice! http://catnet.stanford.edu/articles/introducing_cats.html
04/22/2013 - Microchips: 1 in 3 pets go missing during its lifetime, and without proper ID, 90% never return home. A microchip for cats gives the best protection with permanent ID that can never be removed or become impossible to read. Microchips only contain a number that identifies your cat. No personal or financial info is stored on the ID chip. Microchips are very safe for your cat. They do not contribute to cancer. Yours cats body does not recognize the chip as a foreign object, thus the immune system does not attack the chip. A microchip implant takes just seconds at your veterinarian's clinic, and then your pet has permanent ID that will last its entire lifetime. The final step is to register your pet's microchip with the maker’s company and keep your information updated.
04/15/2013 - Litter box tip #3 of 3: Cats prefer a quiet place to their business. A litter box best to a loud washing machine to them is like a toilet next to a loud train for us. Don't place food or water next to litter boxes. Keep children and dogs away from litter boxes. Litter boxes should always be a quiet place. Always consult with your veterinarian if you cat is inappropriately urinating; it could be due to a serious medical condition.
04/08/2013 - Litter box TIPS # 2 of 3: Cats prefer sand type litter, closer to their natural substrate, Pellet type litter can be painful for senior and declawed cats with arthritis. Place your litter box in a core area for your cat. Forcing them to take a long journey to relieve themselves can lead to them finding a easier place to relive themselves. Also always consult with your veterinarian if you cat is inappropriately urinating; it could be due to a serious medical condition.
04/01/2013 - Litter box TIPS # 1 of 3: Cats prefer unscented litter as they have a much stronger sense of smell. They also prefer a large litter box. Choose a litter box that each cat can easily turn around comfortable and stand fully erect. Always consult with your veterinarian if you cat is inappropriately urinating; it could be due to a serious medical condition.
- Hair matting around the rear can cause urine and feces to collect near the skin. This can cause all sorts of infections and illnesses.
Read More
