In some cats you might find that there are small deposits in the corner of the eye and these should be removed. You can do this with a piece of cotton wool and it is a good idea to dampen this in boiled water first and then let it cool as this will reduce the chance of infection in the eye.

Cats have very different eyes to humans and they actually have three different sets of eyelids, compared to our one. They also have an eyelid that closes the other way round, on the vertical, but this is something that you usually don’t see as it is hidden behind the other two eyelids which function in the way that is familiar to us. Sometimes this third eyelid can become visible if the cat has something wrong with their eye. If you are beginning to see this, you should wash the cats eye with water.

The visibility of this third eyelid is not always caused by something in the eye and if you wash your cat’s eye and this still continues to happen, it could be a sign that your cat is about to get sick. If you continue to see this eyelid for over a day then you should make sure that you take your cat to visit the vet.

You should also remember that if your cat is crying it is not because they are emotionally upset. Cats clean their eyes through tears and so seeing tears run down your cat’s face is not really a cause for concern.

After a while a dog will begin to learn its name and this will become the best way for getting the attention of the animal. However, dogs do not always understand that the name is related to the fact that they should pay attention to you. Therefore whenever they do pay attention to you when you call their name, you should reward them.

As with all commands for dogs it is important that it isn’t overused. After a while the dog will start ignoring you because it doesn’t feel as if you necessarily mean what you are saying. If a dog does disobey you then it is important that you do not reward its behaviour, this can cause a great deal of confusion and can make training the dog difficult.

When your dog is learning how to behave, it is very important that you only punish them when they are actually doing something wrong. If you found out they are doing something wrong and punish them later, this will only confuse the dog. By punishing them when they are committing the act, they understand what the punishment is associated with and can learn to stop doing it.

If you punish your dog when they are not doing anything wrong then it will damage your relationship with them and they will lose the trust in you that is essential if you want to successfully train the dog.

The easiest way to do this is to give a treat to the puppy when they hear the word ‘come’. With your puppy on a lead take one step back, then hold out the treat say his name and the command ‘come’, rewarding him with the treat. As you increase the distance between you and your pet, continue to praise him for coming to you.

Another method is to practice calling your dog at home or in the garden, where there are not too many distractions. When you feel that the recall is strong enough, take him outside to a quiet area. Using a training lead, just in case he will not come back, use the call and treat technique, giving more freedom gradually.

Use whatever motivates your dog most, for training. It may be a toy or cuddle, rather than food. Squeaky toys are great for getting your dog to focus. So that your pet does not get distracted during training, try to find an area which has as few distractions possible, then gradually increase the number of distractions. Allow your dog off the lead only when absolutely positive he will return to you.

Always choose an area which is safe for your dog to run around and use a positive and enthusiastic tone of voice when using the recall. Always move away as you are calling them, do not chase or run towards them. Following these few tips should ensure that you and your dog have many pleasurable walks together.

The main options given to humans with the disease are a kidney transplant after dialysis treatment. It is possible for a cat’s life to be improved by these treatments; however they are not available in the UK. Many treatment advances have been made in the past few years, with more options available to cat owners. All options should be discussed with your cat’s own vet, however it is important for you to know the range of difficulties a cat with CRF may have.

Cats suffering from Chronis Renal Failure often show signs such as depression, sickness and weight loss. About one third of sufferers have an increased thirst, although it is possible that this could be a sign of other conditions, including diabetes and over-active thyroid conditions.

Blood and urine samples are taken before full diagnosis of CRF can be made. Identification of azotemia is the most common form of diagnosis, also if the owner notices that the urine is more diluted than usual, however further tests could be required, including ultrasound examination of the kidneys, to identify the cause of the disease in some cats.

A range of treatments can be specifically tailored to the cat can manage the disease effectively. Most cat owners do not use the method however as the veterinary recipes are available for owners to cook at for pets with Chronic Renal Failure is impractical and too time consuming for many.

Not only will this test give you peace of mind, but it will tell you if your pet is going to have a problem and allow you to take the best steps to protect it from being too affected by the disease.

There are other sorts of factors that can affect the health of a dog, primarily environmental, and if the animal is going to be predisposed to a condition, there are certain environmental factors that are best to be avoided.

The major inherited problems which can face this sort of animal are hip and eye problems. Many of the conditions that previously affected these animals have now been eliminated through selective breeding. However, it is important that you buy the animal from a credible source because otherwise the seller might not be telling the truth about the conditions the animal might be predisposed to.

Springers are some of the most intelligent dogs and often this is correlated with a great amount of excitability. This is something that will gradually fade with age, but during the early years, this dog will get very excited, especially around children who will tend to tease it more.

Another problem that dogs can have is nervousness. This is something that will often be the result of poor treatment by an owner and it is something that if your dog has you should be understanding of. You should show your dogs that they can trust humans and this should help improve their temperament.

While pet owners are often looking out for their animals best interests, they often forget that it is important to take care of a cat’s teeth. There are certain foods that can be very beneficial for cats and help prevent them from developing dental problems later in life. If certain dental conditions are left untreated in cats, then they will develop gum disease which might mean they have to have some of their teeth removed. Not only can this cause feeding problems for the animals, but the process of removing the teeth can be very distressing for them.

Wet food is a popular option for cats, but unfortunately it is not the best option for helping keep a cat’s teeth healthy. The main reason it doesn’t do much for teeth health is because it doesn’t assist in the cleaning of the teeth, because it is so soft for them to chew.

Many pet owners are making the decision to switch to dry food so their cat has healthier teeth. When the food rubs against the teeth it is effective at removing plaque buildups and other forms of dirt. It is also important that cat owners realise that there are some types of cat foods that are better for their animals teeth and others, stick with something recommended by your vet.

Show a little respect

Try your best not to startle your cat whilst you are about your everyday business.  Something as simple as a slammed door could make them jump and make them uneasy.  Likewise, suddenly picking them up off the floor without any warning could catch them unaware.  So make any movements slow and deliberate so that they can get an idea of what is happening before it actually occurs.  When approaching your cat you should speak to them in a soft voice so that they know it is you, which will help to reassure them.  Letting them have a smell of your hand before you stroke them is also a good idea.

Be consistent

Your cat’s health can be greatly affected by its familiarity with surroundings.  The fact that it cannot rely on its sight, means that the cat will find its way around using memory.  If you move pieces of furniture around, the cat will become disorientated and its confidence will suffer.  As a result it may stop roaming about and stay where it feels safe, on the sofa or in its bed.  You should also consider the fact that even a shopping bag or clothes basket on the floor could cause much confusion.  In addition, be consistent what time you put their food out and where you place the tray.

Encourage activity

It is important for all cats to be active and that shouldn’t change just because your cat has sight issues.  There are toys out there that your cat can chase as you roll it across the floor.  Look for balls that have bells inside or that smell of catnip.  Another great way to get them exploring the house is to hide bits of dry food all over the place.  If your cat has just gone blind it could be that they take some encouraging before they start playing and exploring again.  Do persevere and they will become more responsive to the toys that you have bought them as time goes by.

Monitor their weight

As part of your effort to keep the cat active you should also keep a check on their weight.  Obviously there is the risk that a less active cat will pile on the pounds.  If you don’t have some suitable scales to weigh the cat, you can simply hold them whilst stepping on your bathroom scales – then subtract your weight.  Overall cat health can be affected by obesity, so be sure to speak to your vet in such instances.

Considering the garden

Whilst it is natural to want to protect a blind or partially sighted cat from the risks of the outdoors, it will do them some good to get a bit of fresh air now and then.  If you have an enclosed garden then you can let your cat out without fear of it getting lost.  Where your garden is less secure you could consider fitting it with a harness.  Having a micro-chip fitted is also a wise move just in case your furry friend does escape and gets itself lost.

Article by pethealthinfo.org.uk

Yet this can create a problem, as the pet doesn’t know the recent it can’t curl up on your lap – it just knows it is being shooed away. While cats are known for their independence, they enjoy consistency much like dogs, so these mixed messages can damage the relationship between you and animal. However, if you utilise cat/dog blankets, available from retailers such as Pets at Home, you can maintain a consistency with the way you treat your pet and keep that bond strong.

While the fabric provides a barrier between the moulting cat or dog and your clothes and furniture, the soft materials often provide a more comfortable place to sleep. Furthermore, if you have a cat with a tendency to dig its claws in, a blanket can provide valuable protection for your legs!

One way to reduce the amount of cat hair you have around the home is to brush your cat or dog on a regular basis. By brushing your pet down every few days you can prevent the hair from being spread around your home. It is also another great way to bond with your animal.

Of course, no matter how hard you try, a moulting cat or dog will at some point leave hair somewhere in your house. To remove it easily, use a wet rubber glove – hose with a raised grip work best – and, after shaking off the excessive moisture, use a short scraping stroke to disturb the fur. Alternatively, if you do not have a rubber glove to hand, a damp sponge can provide an adequate substitute. Most pet stores will also carry sticky rollers specifically for ridding your fabrics of shed fur.

Angel

In February 2011, RSPCA Inspector Susan Hammond was called to investigate concerns regarding two kittens in Essex. Angel and Princess had been taken to a veterinary surgery with serious injuries and vets were concerned as this was was not the first time.

After a routine veterinary examination, injuries reported to both included a damaged eye, blood around the nose and month, difficulties using their hind legs and damage to shoulder and neck areas. Alarmingly, both were covered in baby oil and other products.

After fears were raised by the vets of the reoccurrence of the injuries to Angel and Princess, records into the kittens were examined. Here, Inspector Hammond discovered on numerous occasions, injuries to the hind legs were reported, as well as fractures to various digits and multiple abrasions. The last occasion on file highlighted that one of the kittens had been presented with a fractured tail, unable to stand on its back legs, while the other kitten had an open wound to the top of her head.

Upon investigation, the 18 year old female owner claimed she was not present when the injuries were caused, but expressed her concerns that they may have been caused by her partner, who she suspected was jealous of the attention she gave their young son. The 24 year old male suggested the most recent injuries had been caused by the kittens’ scratch-post failing on them in the bathroom. As for the explanation of how both were covered in baby oil, the male owner stated that the product was ‘all over the place anyway’ as they had a young child.

Deeper investigation by the RSPCA into the couple revealed that the family had owned kittens in the past, one of which had an injured and died and buried without veterinary examination. Another had been euthanised due to its poor condition. Further expert veterinary evidence was obtained and concerns previous expressed by the vets were confirmed, as the pattern of injuries and request for veterinary treatment were consistent with research reported fabricated and induced illness. In their professional opinion, the vets had no doubt that this injuries were the result of physical abuse by one or more people, with an accidental explanations highly improbable.

The 24 year old male owner was charged with causing the kittens to suffer violent physical trauma, while the 18 year old female owner was charged with causing the animals to suffer by failing to protect them from the abuse. Basildon Magistrates convicted both of their charges. The male defendant was sentenced to 12 weeks immediate imprisonment and disqualified from keeping animals for life. The female defendant was also sentenced to 12 weeks imprisonment, but this suspended for 18 months, with a supervision order. She too was disqualified from keeping animals for life.

Both Angel and Princess made full recoveries and after being signed over to the RSPCA, were successfully re-homed.

If you’ve been moved by this story and would like to know more about the RSPCA, tune into RSPCA Live - a virtual event happening on the charity’s Facebook and Twitter profiles on Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th April. Find out what it’s like to be an RSPCA inspector, take part in the Animal Oscars poll, and hear the best ever pet jokes as told by celebrity ambassadors – including Britain’s Got Talent judge Alesha Dixon. You’ll also be able to find out more about the RSPCA’s work, and join the Animal Nation by taking a pledge on Facebook.

To take part in this exciting online event, make sure you’re following the RSPCA via Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/RSPCA) and Twitter (http://twitter.com/RSPCA_official) and tune in to the activities this weekend. Don’t forget to tell your friends!

There are, however, some health issues that you should be aware of and these will make sure that your cat has a long life. One of the most important things to do is register with a local vet – talk to friends who have pets in order to find a good practice. When you first get a cat, you must make sure that they have all the relevant vaccinations. This is the only way to guarantee that they won’t die from certain diseases.

Don’t think that once you have vaccinated your cat that this is the entire process. Just like with humans, booster vaccinations are occasionally needed and some of these are needed once a year. It is also highly recommended that you neuter your cat. In females this means that they will not be able to get pregnant, which can carry associated health problems, and in males it will mean that they do not fight or spray as much.

It can also be a good idea to get a microchip implanted in your cat. This means that you will not lose them as they can be tracked using GPS. If you have got your cat from a rescue shelter, then they would have already been micro-chipped and added to the appropriate databases. Follow these important few steps when you first by a cat and it will have a long and healthy life.