Are You Sure That's a Cough?

If your dog is coughing or wheezing, don't ignore it. Pet asthma is not something that should be taken lightly. If your dog is suffering from this affliction, it is likely that he is extremely uncomfortable, or suffering from an extreme health risk.

Bronchial and asthmatic conditions can hinder your dog's breathing and put stress on the heart. Don't put off treatment - bring him to the vet as soon as you begin to detect symptoms.

If your dog shows signs of asthma, don't be so sure of that diagnosis. Heartworms generally have many of the same symptoms as asthma. For this reason, it is imperative that you ask the vet to administer a heartworm test. Your dog is counting on you to take care of him and waiting too long could be jeopardizing his health or even his life—keep that in mind.

How Necessary are Your Cat's Vaccinations?

What shots does your kitty need? Believe it or not, you have a lot of flexibility when it comes to vaccinating your cat. How should you decide what your cat needs? There are many factors to be taken into consideration before making a decision. Here are some things to ask yourself and your vet:



• Is your cat at risk to be being exposed to a disease-causing organism?

• What will be the consequences of an infection?


• Does the risk of an infected cat pose a threat to you or your family's health? (e. g., rabies)


• How effective is the vaccine?


• What is the frequency and/or severity of the reactions that the vaccine will cause?


• How old is your cat?

• Is your cat healthy?


• What types of reactions has your cat had to vaccines in the past?

Check Your Pet's Breathing

Want to know the secret to controlling pet asthma? Learn how to recognize it! You should check your pet's respiratory rate before you even notice a problem—while he's healthy (the average respiratory rate for a dog is 10 to 30 breaths per minute while a cat will have 20 to 30 breaths per minute). Follow the instructions below to check your furry pal's breathing:

• Get your pet to lie or stand still.
• Hold a stopwatch in one hand and either a Kleenex or a mirror in the other.
• Hold the mirror or Kleenex under your pet's snout to determine breathing (the mirror should fog with each breath while the tissue will move).
• Determine how many breaths your pet makes in a minute.
• If your pet's breathing is abnormal contact your vet immediately.

Be on the Lookout for Pet Heart Diseases

Does your dog have a heart condition? In early stages, signs of heart disease can be mild and undetectable. However, once the disease begins to progress, the symptoms will become more severe. When fluid builds up and vitals organs are not supplied with blood and oxygen, the disease will become symptomatic. Symptoms include:

• Depression and/or lack of energy
• Poor appetite
• Coughing
• Weakness
• Weight Loss
• Labored breathing
• Fainting
• Swollen abdomen (ascites)

If you notice any of these symptoms, bring Fido in to see a vet at once! It's better to be safe than sorry. If it does turn out that your dog has a heart disease there are numerous effective pet heart meds available.

Could Your Pet Survive as a Vegetarian?

Could your pet live a healthy lifestyle as a vegetarian? As you probably know, cats are carnivores—they need protein from meat. It has also been proven that cats have a higher need of protein intake in general than canines.

Much like humans, dogs are omnivores—they are able to utilize meat and vegetables alike to create a balanced diet. In fact, dogs are perfectly capable of getting along quite healthily on a well-balanced vegetarian diet.

If you were to put a cat on a vegetarian diet, it would be likely to suffer nutrition-wise as it requires more protein than a dog. Keep your pet's diet and nutrition needs in mind when you select a food.

Eye Care

Cat or dog eye care is essential for your pet's health. Did you know that you can clean your pet's eyes and face by gently rubbing it with a moist washrag? You should never, however, put any kind of cleaning solution in your pet's eyes unless it is prescribed or recommended by a veterinarian. Many breeds of animals have extremely sensitive eyes and you could end up doing more harm than good.

Some breeds of cats and dogs have eyes that regularly expel tears in order to protect and lubricate bulging eyes. These tears contain acidic properties that may stain areas surrounding the eyes, usually changing it to a rusty brown color. If this occurs, clean the areas gently with peroxide and cotton squares—DO NOT get peroxide in the animal's eyes.

Calm That Stressed Pooch!

High stress levels can cause your dog to develop a pet behavior problem. If your dog is prone to stress (especially during boarding or traveling) you may want to look into a medication that can help stop and prevent negative behavioral problems including:

• Barking
• Defecating
• Urinating
• Whining and Whimpering
• Chewing and Biting

Discuss effective treatment options with your veterinarian. Comfort Zone with D.A.P. is an excellent medication with proven results. It simulates natural calming pheromones that help calm the dog, even under the most stressful of conditions. This medication has the ability to reduce or even completely eliminate stress-related behavioral problems.