Archive for month: September, 2010

 Bacteria can build up in urine that remains in the bladder for long periods of time. This can make your animal more prone to infections.

There are 2 simple things caregivers can do to help protect their dogs and cats from bladder infections.

It is important to remember to let your dogs out at regular intervals so that they can eliminate this bacteria.  Just because your dog can “hold it” does not mean that bacteria isn’t building up in the bladder.  Taking him or her for 2 walks a day is highly recommended as well.

For cats, it is important to keep the litter box clean.  A dirty litter box can discourage the cat from using it as often as they should.  There may still be bacteria growing inside the bladder due to holding it in for longer periods of time. 

Don’t wait until an infection has manifested and they have already developed a problem.

Practicing these easy preventative measures will help keep your animals healthy.

Everyone if familiar with the benefits of early detection and this certainly applies to dogs and cats as well.

The most common signs of kidney disease are fairly well known.  However, there are some “subtle” signs that can be an indication of kidney disease in dogs and they are easy to keep an eye out for.

One is dehydration.  Dehydration can be a symptom of acute kidney disease. Periodically just gently pull up the skin on your dog’s stomach.  The skin should spring right back into place.  If it does not, that is often a sign that your dog may be dehydrated.  While this does not necessarily imply an illness with the kidneys, it is an easy thing for a caregiver to keep an eye on.

Another sign is if your dog seems to be walking with an arched back. Notice if the back legs appear to be stiff when they walk as well.  This can be an indication that your animal is in pain, and should be checked out by a veterinarian right away.

Paying attention to these more subtle clues are important in catching this potentially serious illness at an early stage.

Bacteria present in the bladder or urethra causes urinary tract infections, or UTI’s in dogs, just as with humans.  The most common symptom is pain during urination. And as with humans, the pain can be pretty intense.

The UTI should be treated at an early stage, not just to prevent further discomfort for your pet, but also because the infection can spread to the kidneys and cause potentially serious problems that are more difficult and more expensive to treat.

We received another nice email from someone who has an FIV cat and is using ThePetCheckup to keep a close watch on the cat’s health.

FIV cats can certainly live long and healthy lives, but there is concern for secondary infections and other illnesses that they are susceptible too.  Using ThePetCheckup as an early detection screen is a wonderful addition to their care. 

We are really pleased that the product is so helpful in caring for them. And hopefully, it will encourage others to provide homes for more FIV cats.

This is a quote about life with a dog…I had never seen it before, and it is beautiful and so true.  I am enjoying Cape Cod with Lily this week….she is legal on some of the beaches (after Labor Day) and the weather is fabulous.

“Dogs are our link to paradise. They don’t know evil or jealousy or discontent. To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring – it was peace. ”

— Milan Kundera