Out of the numerous intestinal parasites, roundworms and tapeworms are the most common feline parasites that infest cats. The connection between these two intestinal parasites ends here. Roundworms are round and slimy creatures whereas tapeworms are flat and segmented.

Both the worms shed eggs that are passed out in the feces of the cat. But roundworms and tapeworms look different. Roundworm eggs excreted in feces are microscopic, whereas tapeworm eggs are released as packets from the end segments that detach from the worm. These segments can be seen in the cat�s feces or clinging to the hair near the anus of the cat.

Roundworms

The two common species of roundworms found in cats are:

* Toxocara cati
* Toxascaris leonina

Eggs from both the species are generally eaten by a cat when they are still in their non-infectious stage. They may also be ingested by an intermediate host, say, a mouse or a rat.

Toxocara cati differs from the other roundworm in one feature. It has the capacity to remain dormant in female cats. A queen may harbor larvae from previous infections that remain encysted in various tissues in the body. At the time of pregnancy these larvae migrate to the mammary glands. Larvae transmit through milk too. That the litter of an infected mother will be infected as well is a foregone conclusion.

The similarity in overall behavioral patterns between dogs and human beings has earned them the exceptional sobriquet �man�s best friend.� The loyalty and devotion of pet dogs resembles the human idea of love and affection to such a great extent that dog owners view their pets as family members.

Like any other family member, dogs too get sick and contract diseases and deserve as much of your attention and care, as does any other family member.

Dogs are vulnerable to the same illnesses as human beings including diabetes, epilepsy, cancer, heart disease, and arthritis as well as some dog and animal specific diseases. Some of the common diseases that you can come across in your pet dog are those of presence of parasites like fleas, ticks, and mites, common ailments like coat condition, diarrhea, and allergies. Some dog specific diseases that may surface include anal gland infections as well.

Male cats are more susceptible to diabetes and so are obese cats of either gender. Genetic predisposition is usually suspected to be behind this condition but steroids and other clinical conditions like a pancreas disease and steroidal drugs used for treating other diseases are also known to cause diabetes. An increased incidence has also been observed in neutered cats above six years old.

Diabetes is a metabolic disease where insufficient insulin production causes the blood sugar levels to rise. As the disease develops within the cat�s body, sugar is revealed in the urine as well. It is a complex disease and symptoms of diabetes in cats can remain concealed for a long time. Many times the disease is discovered when the cat�s blood is checked for another evident disease.

The pancreas in the cat�s body, situated close to the stomach, has two primary functions – that of releasing insulin and enzymes meant for digestion. Due to certain reasons, not yet firmly known to veterinarian science, the pancreas are unable to produce sufficient insulin, necessary for the storage of glucose in the liver and the oxidation of sugar in cells.

Cancer is an abnormal growth of malignant cells and can virtually affect any part of the body. The abnormal growth can take various forms like tumors. Tumors are solid masses of cancerous cells that can spread to other parts of the body. Metastasis (spreading) is one of the main reasons that results in disorders in other organs.

Symptoms of cancer in cats vary according to the type of cancer that the animal is suffering from. However, each type of feline cancer has a certain set of symptoms that are easy to observe. These are:

* Oral Cancer – Bleeding from the mouth, drooling and difficulty in eating or swallowing.
* Lung cancer – Difficulty in breathing, rapid breathing and panting.
* Cancer in the digestive tract – Projectile vomiting, diarrhea, cessation of eating and mucous or blood in feces.
* Bone cancer of the limbs – Limp in gait or stiffness of legs.
* Skin cancer – Wounds that appear minor but do not heal over time. A protracted nasal discharge is indicative of cancer in the nasal passage. Some skin cancer do not manifest as lumps but as bleeding or scabs.

Symptoms of UTI infection in pets

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are uncomfortable and extremely painful. They tend to be more common in cats than dogs and can be caused by bacterial infection, bladder stones or urolithiasis (stones in the urinary tract).

UTIs often recur and can lead to more serious kidney infections if left untreated. Symptoms include

* Straining to urinate
* Obvious pain or discomfort when urinating
* Constantly licking their genitals
* Frequent urination without passing much urine
* Urinating in unusual places
* Cloudy or bloody urine
* Fever and loss of condition

What is the conventional treatment?

Conventional treatment of UTIs will depend on the specific cause of the problem. In many cases, antibiotics are prescribed which invariably relieve the animal’s symptoms rather speedily.

However antibiotics tend to have a general weakening effect on the immune system which can cause further problems, especially in the long-term and particularly if they are prescribed regularly for recurrent infections.

What is PetAlive UTI-Free?

UTI-Free is a selected combination of herbal and homeopathic ingredients especially formulated to safely and effectively treat the causes and the symptoms of urinary tract and bladder infections in pets.

What is Diarrhea?

When your pet has diarrhea, the number of stools passed may or may not be increased but each stool will be much looser and more watery than normal. Diarrhea in pets can be related to something they have eaten, a viral infection, bacterial infection, worms, a foreign object they have swallowed and even diseases affecting other organs such as the liver or kidneys. It can be very serious in young puppies, kittens and in elderly pets as they can dehydrate extremely quickly. If your pet has diarrhea, make sure they have plenty of fresh water available at all times. If you have a very young or very old pet that is affected, or if you are at all concerned in any other way, please do not hesitate to contact your veterinarian.

What is RuniPoo Relief?

Pet Alive RuniPoo Relief is a 100% safe and natural remedy containing herbal and homeopathic ingredients which are carefully selected to maintain digestive balance, firm stools and healthy bowel functioning just when your pet needs it most.

Use PetAlive RuniPoo Relief to:

* Safe for all pets
* Promotes optimal bowel functioning in your pet
* Encourages healthy stool formation
* Soothes nervous stomachs
* Promotes the health of the digestive tract

Unusual behavior following a heat cycle (estrus) in the non-pregnant female dog is a common occurrence. This condition is termed false pregnancy (hyperluteoidism, pseudocyesis, pseudo-pregnancy). It is a hormonal imbalance and may cause a wide range of clinical signs.

Lets have a brief review of a normal estrous cycle on the female dog in order to have a better understanding of the abnormal type. The onset of heat is characterized by swelling of the vulva and a bloody discharge which happens from four to fourteen days.

In most female dogs, the bloody discharge lasts about ten days. During this time, the ovaries are preparing eggs for release. As the vaginal discharge changes from bloody to straw color, eggs are expelled from the ovaries. It is during this time that fertilization will take place if she is bred and this period also lasts from four to fourteen days. For most dogs, eggs will be released from the ovaries for ten days.

Following these stages the vulva will gradually return to normal size and the discharges will stop. The areas on the ovaries from which eggs erupted are termed follicles and they will undergo changes to become corpora lutea. These secrete progesterone, a hormone necessary for maintaining a normal pregnancy. If no fertilization occurs, then the corpora lutea will regress in about one month and stop secretion of progesterone.

Autoimmune diseases in dogs follow an almost similar pattern as in humans. Just as autoimmune diseases in humans are suspected to be related to a genetic predisposition, certain breeds of dogs are more vulnerable than others.

The immune system is the body�s internal and natural self-healing system of reciprocation that comes into action as soon it recognizes an intrusion of foreign bodies. We call a disease as immune mediated when some underlying cause has caused the immune system to stop recognizing foreign substances. The immune system stops creating antibodies for combating the invasion and produces an autoantibody that starts destroying normal cells. Such a disease may be restricted to a single organ or region or the whole animal.

Autoimmune diseases have far reaching consequences depending upon the extent to which they have affected the body of the dog. The pathological signs of multiple autoimmune diseases are normally seen in the same animal since the animal becomes more vulnerable to infections due to a weakened immune system. For example, symptoms of liver disease in dogs as well as feline liver disease are common once the immune system�s automatic responses are restricted.

Generally, cancer occurs in older animals. Cats are destined to live long and the price they pay for it shows in the increased incidence of feline cancer . Symptoms of cancer in cats and dogs do not present themselves in early stages. It requires a keen observation for an early detection and treatment. For example, the symptoms of liver cancer in dogs need to be evaluated after considering other conditions that throw up similar symptoms.

Cells normally multiply by division in a pattern. Initially there is a continuous increase in cells to achieve an optimal level of growth in cats. Once a particular level is achieved cell multiplication is automatically curbed and new cells are formed to replace dead cells. Certain unknown conditions cause cells to �rebel� and multiply even when the body does not need them. Characteristically, an unrestricted multiplication of cells is known as cancer. Normally a tumor or growth is formed in and around the affected organ or area, which may be localized or invasive and spread to distant organs as well. A tumor may be benign (harmless) or malignant (dangerous to health, often fatal and characterized by progressive and uncontrolled growth)

Almost everyone with a pet has been guilty one time or another of feeding their pet table scraps. When you’re eating dinner and your beloved pet gives you ‘the eyes’, it can be nearly impossible to resist. Unfortunately, an occasional table scrap may be more harmful than you think. Giving in may instill bad behaviors, such as begging and whining – which I know from firsthand experience, can get very annoying.

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Food to Never Feed Your Pet