Identify a healthy & unhealthy mouth, teeth and gums in cats this free feline dental health video. Expert: Dr. Greg McDonald Bio: Dr. Greg McDonald earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Ohio State University in 1979. Filmmaker: Diana Bacon

How do I know if my pet has worms?

Cats: A number of intestinal parasites will produce no visible symptoms in your cat at all – or at least not at first. Other parasites such as the tapeworm will usually be visible in your cat’s feces and in the hair or on the skin around his anus.

Other symptoms of worms in cats may include:

* Vomiting
* Persistent dry cough
* Swollen abdomen
* Anemia
* Diarrhea
* Persistent scratching around the anus
* Weight loss
* Eating a great deal without putting on weight
* Breathing problems
* Bad breath

Dogs: In many cases you may not even know that your dog has worms without having a sample of his feces analyzed. Certain intestinal parasites such as tapeworm however are usually clearly visible either clinging to the skin or hair around the dog’s anus or in a fresh feces.

Other symptoms of worms in dogs may include:

* Weight loss
* Gastrointestinal disturbances
* Diarrhea
* Anemia
* Scratching, particularly around the base of the tail
* Vomiting
* Mild to severe coughing
* Eating a great deal without putting on weight
* Bad breath

Feline parasites, such as roundworms infest cats in almost the same way as worms in dogs. This process is usually completed in three ways.

* The cat can consume worm eggs from the soil. These roundworm eggs generally come into the environment from the excretion of other infected dogs and cats. The eggs have the capacity to withstand environmental changes and are immune to mild disinfectants. The sticky egg shells cling to the paws or to the fur of the pet. Cats generally ingest the eggs by licking the places where these eggs cling to.
* Most kittens are infected through their mothers. Roundworms have a long migrating lifecycle inside the body of a cat. Larvae get encysted in tissues and can remain there for years. The litter of an infected mother is already infected in utero. Larvae can also be passed on to the kittens through milk during the lactation period.
* A cat can ingest an infected host animal like a rodent. Larvae in the host develop into roundworms within the cat’s body.

The first stage of the roundworm lifecycle is while it is dormant in the environment. This is the period before it actually infects the host. This fact means that fresh feces are not infectious.

One of the natural things that come along with Gert’s cycle is the natural instinct for cats mating. You may well open your front door to leave for work and she will shoot out that front door like a bullet. If you haven’t noticed every feral cat, neighbors cat and even “Ol” Roscoe, the cat from across town, has been waiting on her “Queenship” to get out the door.

Chances are all those male cats have been hanging around several days. Go take a look at your lawn and look at all the burn spots from their urine and feces. You know cats like to urinate and defecate in the same place or as near to it as they can get. Now not only do you have a pregnant cat on your hands, but a ruined lawn or flower beds. Once again you can be looking at a major expense getting your lawn back into pristine condition.

It is possible, even though unlikely, that the problem of so many cats invading one neighborhood could affect the actual real estate value of your home or your neighbors; if they hang around long enough. “Well thanks for the added problem.” You say. “What’s the solution?” You ask.

Symptoms of asthma in dogs include heavy breathing, panting, use of chest muscles to breathe, odd gum color and lethargy. Learn about treating an asthmatic dog with help from a staff veterinarian in this free video on dog health and pet care. Expert: Dr. James Talbott Bio: Dr. James R. Talbott is a staff veterinarian at Belle Forest Animal Hospital and Kennel in Nashville, Tenn. Filmmaker: Dimitri LaBarge

By Sue Martin

Please be wary of any animal practitioner or supplier of essential oils claiming that their products or techniques are completely safe to use with cats: the statement is both inaccurate and unsafe. No matter what their claims say, nothing will change the unique physiology of a cat.

Generally, essential oils consist of hydrocarbons or monofunctional compounds from mono-and sesqui-terpenes, together phenylpropanoids and other volatile aliphatic and aromatic substances.

Many terpenoids are rapidly absorbed orally and dermally by the cat’s system and are metabolized in the liver. Due to their volatile nature, inhalation of essential oil components is also possible, and these enter the bloodstream via the lungs, also to be metabolized in the liver.

The terpenoids and their metabolites are often conjugated with glucuronic acid (glucuronidation) and glycine depending on the type of terpenoid and animal species involved. The conjugated metabolites are usually more water-soluble and are easily excreted through the kidney and feces.

Cats are known to be deficient in their ability to eliminate compounds through hepatic glucuronidation (they lack enzyme glucuronyl tranferases) . Glucuronidation is an important detoxification mechanism present in most animals except cats. Lack of this important detoxification mechanism in cats may result in slower elimination and thus build up of the toxic metabolites in the body causing toxicity problems.

Over 3 weeks in June 2008 the Louisiana SPCA hosted 14 campers in 7th and 8th grade. 4 cats were trained: Cornish, Mia, Nezzie, and Tux. After thier experiences with the campers they were put up for adoption. After the camp all the campers wrote about what thier favorite thing to do at camp was. Overwhelmingly, the answer was train the cats!

Wouldn’t it be heavenly if your cat took care of its business in the designated place? Cats are very smart animals and are capable of being potty trained easily. Watch this video to learn how you can potty train your cat.

How to care for cat teeth and gums & basic hygiene in this free feline dental health video. Expert: Dr. Greg McDonald Bio: Dr. Greg McDonald earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Ohio State University in 1979. Filmmaker: Diana Bacon

Respiratory infections in pets

If you have noticed signs of lethargy, coughing, sneezing, fever and runny eyes or nose, then your pet is probably suffering from a cold or upper respiratory infection. This is an infection of the nose, throat and upper airways similar to when humans get a cold or flu. Cats are particularly prone to respiratory infections, but dogs can also contract them, including the common problem of kennel cough.

You may also notice that your pet has stopped eating; this happens particularly to cats because their appetites are primarily driven by smell. If a cat’s nose is blocked and he cannot smell, he will probably become more picky about what he will eat or stop eating altogether for a few days.

Like humans, pets are also susceptible to secondary sinus and chest infections that can result from an untreated cold or initial upper respiratory infection.

Although respiratory infections usually resolve within about 7-10 days, very young or very old pets may be at serious risk when infected with a cold or respiratory infection. For this reason, one should never ignore a pet’s illness. Prompt attention and treatment will save your pet much discomfort and, in weaker animals, may even save their life.