Non-chemical flea control for your pets

Fleas will soon be looking for a home on your cat or dog if they haven't already. With my dog Lucy's skin allergies, I'm cautious of everything she comes in contact with, and that includes chemicals in flea control. I read somewhere that the skin is the largest organ of the body, and you shouldn't put anything on your skin that isn't safe to eat, because it absorbs into your system. This applies to our pets as well.

I've been using a natural flea control product called Only Natural Pet All in One Flea Remedy for the past 7 years on both of my dogs and it works great. I never see a flea on them or anywhere in our house, and every vet check has shown no fleas as well. It looks very much like standard chemical flea powder, and is rubbed into the dog's fur. You can also shake it on carpeting, bedding, and furniture. It is odorless and completely safe, even if eaten by the animal. Ingredients are: diatomaceous earth, sage, eucalyptus, yellowdock root, fennel seed, and rosemary leaf.

Here's how it works: Based on a centuries-old insect remedy used in gardening and other applications, Diatomaceous earth is actually tiny fossilized skeletons of microscopic organisms, and are razor sharp at the microscopic level, but feels like a fine powder to humans and animals. When a flea comes in contact with it, their protective coating is pierced, they dehydrate and die.

The pesticides in standard flea products are made from toxic chemicals. There is evidence that long term use can significantly harm humans and animals. So why take the risk when a natural remedy works just as well.

Pet Adoptions

The following is a guest post written by Victoria Lynskey on behalf of the animal charity Support Adoption for Pets that helps give abandoned and homeless pets a second chance of happiness.

Support Adoption For Pets – Helping Dogs In Bristol

Support Adoption For Pets has been helping animal re-homing centres across the UK for seven years now, raising £7 million in the process and helping to give abandoned and homeless pets the best possible chance for a new and happy life. Last year, Support Adoption For Pets awarded over an amazing £1 million to 500 national and local pet rescue charities, donations which are often crucial to these charities’ survival.

One such pet charity is Bristol DAWG (Dog Action Welfare Group), an organisation that takes in greyhounds and lurchers from across the UK who have been abandoned by their racing owners or are at risk of being put to sleep. The charity also takes on dogs that other homes cannot accommodate, even working with local wardens who come across stray hounds. Currently the charity has taken on about 15 to 20 dogs, their finances stretching to cover the costs of often extensive veterinary care despite being supported by voluntary foster families.

This is where Support Adoption For Pets comes in. Bristol DAWG has been chosen by two local Pets At Home stores, Eastgate and Bradley Stoke, to be their nominated charity. This initiative is organised and managed by the Support Adoption For Pets charity. This invaluable support has already helped them to invest in a dog transporter van which has proved wonderfully useful.

This is just one of the many animal charities that Support Adoption For Pets has been able to help due to the generous donations of Pets At Home customers through animal fundraising events and other moments of kindness. Their support of a number of pet charities really helps to improve the welfare of animals across the UK.

If you want to find out more about the animal re-homing charities near you, then visit Support Adoption For Pets and find your local animal rescue centre, or alternatively find a pet that is looking for a new home.

Does your dog have worms?

Make A New Year's Resolution As A Pet Parent: Learn How To Spot The Signs Of Worms In Your Dog

The subject of parasites is not a pleasant one, but a quick primer in the five types of worms in dogs may even save your dog's life. Some worms, such as roundworm, hookworm and heartworm can be fatal to dogs if they aren't treated. So, here's the low down on what to watch out for:

Roundworm

Roundworms look like strands of cooked spaghetti in both color and shape. Puppies may get a roundworm infestation from their mother either through her birth canal or milk supply. Infected rodents and infested soil are other sources of roundworm in dogs. Roundworms cause ruptured bowel in puppies and may eventually kill a dog if the infestation is left untreated. Symptoms of a roundworm infection include an extended belly, unexplained weight loss, vomiting, diarrhea and fever.

Hookworm

Another deadly source of worms in dogs is the hookworm, which is a type of roundworm. Hookworms can only be seen under a microscope, so you must look for the signs of the parasite rather than for the worm itself. Bloody diarrhea, lethargy and pale gums are symptoms of a hookworm infestation. Other signs of this parasite in dogs may include, skin redness or itching, anemia and unexplained weight loss. Your vet can check for hookworm in your dog's stool sample. Contact with an infected animal or its feces transmits hookworm. Puppies may also get the parasite from their mother before birth.

Heartworm

If you live in a warm climate, you may need to be aware of heartworm all year round as this is a mosquito spread parasite. Even if the problem is seasonal where you are, it's important to be aware of heartworm and do your best to prevent your dog from contracting it because when the symptoms such as extended belly, coughing, lethargy and a dull coat appear, it means the infestation has advanced. Advanced stages of heartworm can be fatal to dogs if treatment isn't given. Limit your dog's exposure to other dogs and their stools such as by forgoing the dog park, at least during mosquito season. Also, don't let your dog dig in the dirt as it could be infected with the parasite. Discuss heartworm with your vet for prevention and check up tips that best suit your geographic area.

Whipworm

Whipworms are a type of round worm that get their name from a thin shape that is thicker at one end than the rest of the parasite. These worms are very narrow and are found in the intestines, so your vet will have to identify them by checking for whipworm eggs in your dog's feces.  Symptoms are not usually as noticeable in whipworm cases as in other parasitic infestations, but anemia and weight loss may result. Dogs may get whipworm from ingesting food or water contaminated with the parasite or from infected animal stools. 

Tapeworm

Tapeworms in dogs can cause a lot of stomach pain and skin itchiness. Dogs infected with tapeworm may be more restless due to the discomfort. Dogs get tapeworm by ingesting fleas, but tapeworms can also be transmitted to humans and lead to liver disease. Moving segments of the worm may be found in the stools of dogs infected with tapeworm, while the eggs look like grains of rice. Knowing what to look for and keeping open communication with your vet can help you and your dog stay healthy, happy and worm free.

Causes of cat and dog vomiting

A cat or dog vomiting occasionally is pretty common, and no cause for alarm. But how do you know when it's a symptom of a serious problem? First, you need to determine if your pet is vomiting or regurgitating, as your veterinarian will need to know which it is to proceed with a diagnosis. It can be helpful to take a sample of the vomit or regurgitated food to the veterinarian for ph analysis.

Vomiting

With vomiting, the stomach and upper intestine contents are ejected. Some causes may be disease of the stomach and upper intestinal tract, or diseases of other organs that cause an accumulation of toxins in the blood, which stimulate vomiting. The cat or dog will be apprehensive and will heave or retch to vomit. Vomiting can happen any time after eating, or if the pet is not eating food at all. If there is food in the vomit, it will be partially digested and have a yellow fluid (bile). If the vomit contains blood, it may be fresh, or look like coffee grounds if the blood was digested. Blood is seen with stomach ulcers, stomach cancer or uremia.

Regurgitation

With regurgitation, the contents of the esophagus are ejected (food that hasn't reached the stomach yet). This can happen if the muscle of the esophagus loses tone and dilates, so the food doesn't move through to the stomach as it should, and the dog or cat will regurgitate the food shortly after eating. The food can also be inhaled into its airways causing pneumonia and coughing. The pet will lower its head and expel the food with little effort. The food is usually undigested, and may be tubular in shape and covered in a slimy mucus. The cat or dog will often try to eat the regurgitated food.

Repeated vomiting and regurgitation can be a symptom of a serious condition, so don't take it lightly. For more information on causes and treatment for pet vomiting, CLICK HERE.

Cat flu and sinusitis

Cat flu can be caused by 3 different types of viruses. Symptoms include coughing, loss of appetite and repeated sneezing. Eventually a eye and nasal discharge will turn cloudy, an indication of a secondary bacterial infection. It becomes very painful for the cat to eat because of ulcers on the tongue. Antibiotics are effective at treating the secondary bacterial infection. Call your veterinarian if your cat shows these symptoms.

Prevention is the best defense against cat flu, and vaccinations provide protection against these infections.

For more information on these viruses as well as sinusitis in cats, click here.