The commonest neurological problems in cats and dogs are due to road accidents and other forms of head injuries, chemical poisoning, and infections such as rabies. Any of these can induce fits (seizures).
Seizures (fits) tend to be seen as uncontrolled shaking, although other sorts of fits with the dog going vacant can also occur.
It is important to try to find the reason for the fit. There may be signs of injury from car accident or fight. Evidence of having ingested poison may or may not be obvious - antifreeze with ethylene glycol is particularly dangerous, causing seizures.
Always call or take your animal to a vet. Your vet is essential in helping you to work out what the cause of the symptoms are. Neurological problems are so complex that even they may not be able to find the cause. Be guided by your vet on management.
If your cat or dog has a seizure: Keep away from your cat or dog's mouth, as he or she may bite you accidentally. Try to move your animal away from hazards. If electricity is involved, use a stick or some other non conducting material. It may help to put a soft cushion or blanket under its head. If the fit lasts more than 6 minutes, take the animal to the vet immediately. Prolonged seizures may be fatal for animals as with humans.
After a fit an animal may be sleepy but also anxious and confused. Comfort it; Rescue Remedy, healing and massage may be helpful here. If this is your animal's first fit, take it to the vet anyway to try to determine the cause. Also see you vet if you have any concerns, or there are changes to the pattern of fitting.
It is important that anyone who spends time looking after your pet for you is aware of his or her tendency to have fits, and how to manage a seizure if one occurs. Make sure that your friend has a list of actions to take, as above, as well as the emergency phone number of your vet, or a nearby vet if your pet is being cared for further from home.
As with all illness, being calm and prepared in a crisis makes it easier for all concerned.
Copyright (c) 2008 The Naturally Healthy Pet.com
Face it, you like toys. So does your pet. That's because toys are a fun source of amusement for your pets when you're busy living the part of your life that doesn't involve leashes and plastic bowls with the name "Killer" across the side of it. Plus proper use of toys can keep your pet healthy (and you thought they were just good for making fun of Bower when he spins out chasing it across the linoleum). Toys put your pets in the habit of regular exercise as well as building a sense of enjoyment that will keep them young. After all, a playful pet is a healthy pet.
In fact, toys play a major and important role in emotional and mental development of your pet (they may not have the same effect for you, sorry). They offer a great solution for boredom, inappropriate chewing and anxiety (and you thought you had problems).
Now keep in mind that just like the multitude of mood swings your furry friend can have, there are a multitude of toys to choose from, but hey, variety is the spice of life, and don't worry, when it comes to picking the toy that's right for your pet you just need the right information from your pet. To start with, let's say your cat is touchy and demands a smorgasbord of play things, the message in those creepy green cat eyes is simple, buy cat toy. Dog owners don't worry because dog's always have the same idea on this as the cats and it's just as simple; buy dog toy.
So just where do you do that? You will find that smorgasbord of pet toys at any pet store, and they come in affordable prices. But before you walk in like a cat-eye hypnotized zombie chanting "buy cat toy" or "buy cat toy", put some thought into what to look for in a cat or dog toy (after all, let's be honest, you're going to play with it just as much as they are). Also, don't forget to buy dog toy while you're there.
So, to get you started here are a few tips to keep in mind while purchasing;
1. Try to buy a toy that matches your pet's size, not your size.
2. Make sure that there are no dangerous small pieces, as your pet could try to swallow it leading to choking, whereas if you tried to swallow it you just might feel really weird for the next three days.
3. Bones and sticks can splinter and cause choking and vomiting. Actually, they can even perforate your pet's mouth and throat (for those of you not in the know, perforating your throat is bad) so use non-splinter chew toys such as Nylabone Edible Bones, to allow your pet to gnaw with no fear.
4. Bells can be problematic for birds, besides just being really annoying. Use a treat dispensing roll toy instead, after all, food equals fun. On that note do not offer any leather toy (if not specially tanned), paint or any wood preservatives to your feathered friend for they can be toxic. So to recap, food equals fun, toxic equals not fun.
5. Cats often enjoy hiding out in plastic bags, and while you are unlikely to go to the pet store for the sole purpose of buying a plastic bag it is important to know because doing so can get their head stuck in it's handle, leading to choking and suffocation, so you're better off with a treat dispensing roll toy which will not choke or suffocate them.
6. When purchasing toys online, make sure to do a price comparison before ordering because many online shops will offer seasonal discounts that you can cash in on.
And lastly, make sure to supervise your pet while they play with their toy, this will minimize any accidents and then maybe later, if you ask nicely, they may even supervise you while you play with it too. Enjoy the toy.
Both Alison Grimston & Chad Mcdonald are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Alison Grimston has sinced written about articles on various topics from Pets, Pregnancy Problems and Pets. Dr Alison Grimston is a holistic doctor and animal healer. If you are a pet owner or therapist, sign up for her free report on keeping your pet healthy naturally, by logging in at. Alison Grimston's top article generates over 1900 views. to your Favourites.
Chad Mcdonald has sinced written about articles on various topics from Careers and Job Hunting, Injury Claims and Education Toys. Submitted by Chad McDonald for the fun loving pet owner looking to or searching online for. Chad Mcdonald's top article generates over 110000 views. to your Favourites.