Pet Care

Simple things that you can do to help your pets feel happier and be healthier.

1. How to Better Take Care of Your Pet By: Alex Byrd

2. Cats

3. Cat Nutrition Cats need plenty of: Proteins that can be found in chicken, fish, soy, eggs and meat meals. Carbs that can be found in whole grains and potatoes. Fats/Oils that can be found in fish that contain high levels of omega-3 Minerals that can be found in fruits, vegetables, and meat meals. Vitamins that can be found in cranberries, nuts, and wheat germ.

4. Cat N utrition Cont. Wet or Dry? Both Wet food has a balance of proteins, fats and carbs. It also increases the amount of water they get. The crunch of the dry helps keep teeth clean. Hill’s Science Diet. Recommended by vets. Covers the cats nutritional needs. Offers both wet and dry foods.

5. Dangerous Foods for Cats Onions and Garlic- it can lead to anemia. Raw eggs- it can cause salmonella. Alcohol or raw dough with yeast- it can be fatal and cause seizures. Raw fish- food poisoning. Too much tuna- Mercury poisoning. Chocolate- can cause heart arrhythmias, muscle tremors, or seizures. Dairy- they are lactose intolerant. Caffeine- can cause elevated heart rate seizures and more .

6. Making Sure Your Cat is Comfortable & Happy Places to hide. High places for them to perch. Clean litter box. Plenty of water. Enough food. Toys and scratching posts. In a multi cat home, you should have one of each above for each cat you have.

7. Vaccines Some of the vaccines that you should get done are: Rabies Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis (feline herpes), Calicivirus , Panleukopenia (feline distemper) (FVRCP) And more

8. How to Get Y our Cat to the Vet Keep the carrier open in your house. Put treats in it. Put a towel or bedding that has their sent in the carrier. Put a side time to get your cat into the carrier. Once the cat is in the carrier, take it out to the car and buckle the carrier in. Take extra bedding. Be gentle when carrying the carrier. When you get into the vet room, place them somewhere quite and open up the cage.

9. Dogs

10. Dog Nutrition Dogs need plenty of: Proteins that can be found in chicken, beef, lamb, pork and soybeans. Carbs that can be found in whole grains, corn barley and potatoes. Fats/Oils that can be found in chicken and pork fats, as well as soybean or sunflower oil. Minerals that can be found in fruits, vegetables, and meats. Vitamins that can be found in cranberries, apples, carrots, and broccoli.

11. Dangerous Foods for Dogs Grapes and raisins- can cause kidney failure. Xylitol- can cause a severe drop in blood sugar and liver failure. Caffeine- can cause elevated heart rate, seizures, and more. Chocolate- can cause heart arrhythmias, muscle tremors, or seizures. Macadamia nuts- Temporary paralysis.

12. Making Sure Your Dog is Comfortable & Happy Lots of love. Going outside for walks or to the park. Play with them often. Give them treats and toys. Make sure they have plenty of water. Give them the appropriate amount of food. Make sure that they have some sort of shelter when outside. Get them a companion to play with if possible.

13. Vaccines It is always important to get your dogs vaccinated and to always get any follow up vaccines. Some of the vaccines that you should get done are: Distemper/ P arvo Bordatella Rabies And more

14. How to Get You Dog to the Vet To help them get used to the exams, look at their eyes, ears, and mouth. Also feel their stomachs, and play with their feet. Act like you are taking them for a ride. When at the vet, use treats when ever they do something good.

15. General

16. Why Vaccinate? Getting your pets vaccinated can prevent them from getting certain diseases and viruses. They could end up saving your pets life from life threatening viruses such as P arvo which is a terrible virus that targets puppies.

17. Getting you Pet Fixed Spay and neuter all cats and dogs. Between the ages of 6 and 9 months. Can cause unwanted pregnancies if left intact. Which can lead to over population.

18. Common Injuries Some injuries that are common for pets to sustain are: “Hit by Car” Broken leg Broken toe nails

19. Treatment for Injuries For most “hit by cars” and orthopedic injuries, surgery is required. A broken toe nail is usually treated in the veterinary office and is sent home.

20. Common Illnesses Some common illnesses that can pets can get are: Vomiting Diarrhea Viruses

21. Treatment for Illnesses For vomiting and diarrhea, x-rays, blood work and fecal test are usually required as well as medication to treat the problem. For viruses, fluids and medications are used and it sometimes requires hospitalizations, depending on what virus and how bad it is.

22. Prevention Going the vet for regular check ups and vaccinations. Getting wellness tests done between the age of 1 and 6 years old. This covers an Exam, CBC (complete blood count), 10Chemistries, Heartworm, Urinalysis, and Fecal tests. Getting a best care senior wellness check for 7 years and older. This covers an Exam, CBC, 25 Chemistries, Urinalysis, T4( Thyriod Screen), Heartworm tests, and 5 view x-rays. You can also try to keep your pet away from dangerous things like cars and objects that they might eat that can harm them .

23. Contact a Vet (VCA Ani mal Hospital Albuquerque, NM on Eubank and Mongomery ) Dr. Nolan (Feline) Phone: [phone] ext. 185 Email: [email protected] Dr. Schoonover (K-9) Phone: [phone] ext. 136 Dr. Russman (Exotics) Phone: [phone]