Cat's Meow

The Cheshire cat explained to Alice in Wonderland "a dog growls when it is angry, and wags its tail when it is pleased. Now, I growl when I am pleased and wag my tail when I am angry. Therefore, I am mad".

All cat owners will be familiar with the warning sign of a swishing tail when "puss" is displeased and the purr of contentment when everything is going puss's way, but there are many other ways in which the cat expresses its emotions or communicates with its owner.

Owners may notice that when the cat is sitting on their lap it slowly blinks and momentarily shuts its eyes. This is a cat's way of saying "I feel safe and I trust you" and has sometimes been described as a "cat kiss". If the owner gives a soft smile and blinks slowly many cats will respond by blinking back. When the cat is in this mood it will often appear mesmerized and knead the owner's lap or arm with its front paws, often with the claws extended which can be quite uncomfortable for the owner. Nonetheless it is a sign of affection and contentment - for the cat!

Cats also pat with their paws. In contrast to the defensive for angry swipe with claws out, the gentle pat with claws retracted is the cat's way of getting attention or inviting play. Many cats will gently tap their sleeping owner's eyelids when the cat believes it is getting up time!

On returning home, the cat owner will be greeted by "meow" which with a little imagination may sound like "hello". This particular meow will be quite distinctive and used only as a greeting. It is quite unlike the "meow" to remind you it is meal time. The cat will also rub around the owner's legs and purr and the tail will be carried flag-like in greeting.

The owner who has upset the cat will also be familiar with the rear view of their departing cat - with its erect tail and stiff legged haughty walk which very clearly demonstrates the distain with which mere humans should be treated!

A cat will also express contempt through grooming. Who hasn't noticed the cat sitting just out of reach of a dog and washing behind its ears with a look of total disinterest.

The cat is a most complex creature which has learnt that there is mutual benefit in living with humans who will provide food and warmth and comfort. In turn, humans gain the benefit of companionship and entertainment from a pet which is quiet, clean and undemanding.

My dog is itchy

Spring and Summer is the time of year when owners might notice their pets starting to scratch. It is very unpleasant to watch our loved ones biting or scratching and chewing at themselves. This constant self-trauma can lead to other problems such as secondary infections and further skin inflammation.

There are many different causes for itchy skin in our pets and your veterinarian can determine what is causing your loved one to scratch.

There are certain parasites which can cause our pets to be itchy, such as fleas and mites. Fleas breed rapidly in summer, so flea allergy problems are worse at this time of year. There are many good preventative treatments on the market. Your vet is able to do a number of small simple tests to check whether your pet has a parasite problem. Some parasites such as fleas can be seen on your pet but others such as mites can only be seen under the microscope.

Certain infections (including bacterial and yeast infections) can also cause your pet to scratch. Your vet can also check for this and treat your animal accordingly.

Similar to humans, pets can suffer from allergies and there are many different things that give your pet an allergic reaction. Dogs and cats can be allergic to foods. By feeding your animal a different type of food (under the guidance of your vet) you may see an improvement. Food allergies are usually due to a particular protein source. Feeding your pet a different type of protein may help to resolve this allergy. There are commercial diets available from your vet specifically made for animals suffering with food allergies. Your vet can advise if your pet should have one of these diets.

Dogs and cats can also be allergic to pollens, dust mites and things in the home such as carpets and certain bedding. Some pets are allergic to flea bite saliva. Your vet can help you to determine what your pet may be allergic to. Some of these things can be controlled by preventative measures, such as flea control and removal of bedding, whereas other triggers such as pollens - that can increase at this time of year - are very difficult to eliminate from your pet's environment. In these cases, your pet may need medication to help reduce the signs associated with this disease.

So, if you see your pet scratching do not hesitate to ask your vet for help. There are many different causes and your vet will work out the best treatment option for your beloved friend!

Time For A Checkup

We’ve all heard the term ‘dog’s breath’. For some reason we’ve come to expect our furry friends to have bad breath – but the truth is if they do, there’s something wrong.

Halitosis is usually caused by bacterial by-products present in plaque, a soft material that builds up on teeth and gums, irritating gum tissue.

Tartar, a hard, calcified material, develops on top of teeth and provides a rough surface for more plaque to stick to. Untreated, the pet’s gums will become infected – this is gingivitis. Eventually, a painful condition called periodontitis sets in. By this time, all the structures around the teeth, including the bone, will be infected and teeth become loose.

Dogs and cats should have a dental check-up during their annual vaccination. Older pets will need a professional scale and polish under anaesthesia.

Root of the problem
Oral disease is the most common infection in our pets, with 80 per cent of dogs and almost as many cats having a degree of periodontal disease by the age of three. While bad breath may be the only sign noticed by pet owners initially, gums will turn red and bleed as the disease progresses. Pets’ eating habits will also change – usually they’ll develop a preference for softer foods as chewing becomes painful.

The effects of periodontal disease don’t stop at the mouth. Bacteria surrounding roots enters the bloodstream and harms other organs. Studies show dogs with severe periodontal disease have increased microscopic damage to kidneys, heart muscle and liver.

Prevent plaque
The key to managing gum disease is prevention. If teeth are cleaned frequently, plaque will not build up and gums will stay healthy. Oral health is maintained by daily hygiene, as with humans.

The gold standard of care is daily brushing. Diets and chews approved by the Veterinary Oral Health Council will also help.

How to clean your pet’s teeth
This experience can be challenging for all! But if you can do it effectively, it will make a big difference. Here’s what I find works best:

• Start by getting a soft cloth, then apply something your pet likes the taste of (Vegemite or anchovy paste, for example) and gently open its mouth, rubbing the cloth on the teeth. Don’t worry about trying to clean them the first time – just getting the pet used to you opening its mouth is the aim of the step. Reward your pet with a treat.
• Over a two-week period, use the cloth to work your way around the outside of the teeth at the front and back. Give a little treat and a big cuddle as a reward for cooperation.
• Once your pet has accepted the cloth, you can change to a soft child’s toothbrush. You can also use a pet toothpaste product – never use human toothpaste as pets hate the taste, and it’s too high in foaming agents and fluoride for them. Pet toothpaste comes in a wide range of flavours including malt, chicken, beef and prawn.

Cooking for your pet

The contamination of commercial pet food has pet owners across North America worried as scores of dogs and cats have fallen ill or died as a result of eating melamine-poisoned pet food.

The massive pet food recall by Ontario-based manufacturer Menu Foods started in mid-March 2007. Since that time over 100 pet food brands manufactured by six companies have been recalled, and the list seems to keep growing.

In response, frightened pet owners are increasingly turning to the internet for do-it-yourself pet recipes - but is this a good idea?

Providing your pet with a nutritious, well-balanced meal may not be as simple as it sounds. In fact, pet owners take certain risks when making a home-cooked meal for their animals, according to the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA).

"If you want to home cook for your pet, you really need to do some research into that," Danny Joffe, a Calgary veterinarian speaking for the CVMA told the CBC. "It takes a lot of work to make a well-balanced meal because every species has different nutrient requirements."

Preparing a nutritionally sound diet for your dog or cat can be as complex and time-consuming as organizing a healthy diet for humans.

Raw food diets considered risky

One alternative to commercial pet food are raw food diets that include uncooked meats and vegetables, similar to what an animal may eat in the wild.

But a raw food diet involves some risk for salmonella poisoning. In fact, a study found that 30 per cent of dogs on raw food diets had salmonella in their stool. For this reason, the Canadian Veterinarian Medical Association doesn't recommend feeding pets raw food.

Salmonella poisoning can cause mild-flu like symptoms or more serious life-threatening illnesses. Pet owners could also be at risk of cross-contamination.

Nutritious home-cooked pet food

Because pets need a vitamin-rich diet, the CMVA recommends owners talk to their veterinarian for information on healthy recipes and diet plans. While the internet is filled with home-made pet recipes, not all may right for your pet. Generally speaking, the association says to select recipes calling for cooked meat, such as hamburger or chicken, as well as potato or rice and a mineral supplement.

Recipes should also be tailored to your pet's age, food sensitivities and general health. Some foods are toxic to dogs including onion, garlic, chocolate, raisins and grapes. Household plants such as Easter lilies can also cause acute kidney failure in dogs.

To prevent food poisoning, never feed animals foods that have gone bad.

If you decide to go the home-cooked route, here are two web sites recommended by the American College of Veterinary Nutritionistst

• Petdiets :
• Consulting company for vets, pet owners and food and supplement companies. You'll find information on basic nutrition facts and myths. The site also sells nutritionist-certified recipes for cats and dogs and offers individual, nutritional consultations.

• Balanceit
• Run by Davis Veterinary Medical Consulting, the website sells nutritional supplements for dogs and cats. Owners can also receive advice on choosing balanced recipes using human food from the grocery store. Recipes are reviewed by board-certified veterinary nutritionists.

• Free pet food recipes can be found on websites

Vegetarian pet foods

Experts say that healthy vegetarian diets can be formulated for cats and dogs. But because cats are carnivores, developing a vegetarian diet is a more complicated than the case with dogs, who are classified as omnivores. The main source of protein in vegetarian diets consists of millet, beans, lentils, grains and legumes. Dogs appear to require a slightly larger proportion of protein in their diets than humans.

As with home-cooked meals, consult your veterinarian on how to provide a nutritious vegetarian diet.

Dogs on holiday

There used to be no place like home for a dog when the family went away. But these days, there's a place that might be even better than home.

Like so many dog owners, Reba Love, a retired accounting professor from Panama City, Florida, is shunning the old-fashioned kennel when she leaves town. Instead, she is opting to give her pooch a vacation of its own. Love takes her three-year-old Weimaraner, Chloe, to Beaches Pet Resort when she has to travel. The upscale pet boarding facility in Northern Florida offers luxury accommodations including extra playtime with staff. Rooms have tile floors and soft blankets. Love often opts for the larger room with a doggie door so Chloe can go out into the courtyard whenever she pleases.

"You can pay more for a room with a TV," Love says. "But I have no idea what they watch." While she doesn't want Chloe to be a couch potato, Love has been thinking about treating her beloved pet to a bubble bath the next time she goes out-of-town.

Unless you take your dog with you on trips, vacations often mean that man's best friend ends up being boarded. These days, a growing number of facilities nationwide are eschewing the "kennel" label and are donning such nicknames as "Doggie Utopia." Canyon View Ranch, in Topanga, California, bills itself as a "Canine Shangri la," where dogs can run on manicured lawns, climb ramps and crawl through tunnels in Disneyland-inspired parks.

Camp Bow Wow, which expects to have 50 franchises open in the U.S. and Canada by the end of 2006, offers all-day romping, while overnight guests get tasty "campfire treats" before being tucked into cots in their own cabins. Camp Web Cams help families monitor pups over the Internet from wherever they are -- the beach, the ski resort, or the Champs Elysees.

"Our clients typically humanize their pets a bit. They see them as their kids," says Heidi Flammang, CampBowWow founder and CEO. "The thought of leaving their dog alone in a box for 24 hours a day is too much."

Here's how to decide if a pet resort is right for your pooch:

What to look for Never decide on a boarding facility from a brochure or the Internet. You have to go visit the grounds, meet the staff, and see for yourself how animals are treated. A good kennel is clean, well-ventilated, air conditioned in the summer and heated in the winter. The staff should interact with pets. "When dogs are at home, they're generally with family members being touched and petted.

Suddenly, you put them in a kennel with handlers who never touch them and it can be quite traumatic," says Elizabeth Wilmot, owner of Countryside Kennels, in Owings, Md., and the Mid-Atlantic regional director of the American Boarding Kennels Association. Countryside offers a "Sportsman's Package" for $40-a-night, including a swim in the bone-shaped swimming pool, jogging, Frisbee sessions, and bottled water. Pampered pooch guests receive playtime, moonlit walks, petting sessions, and an orthopedic bed for $35 nightly.

Consider your dog's temperament Many of these kennel redux owners shy away from cages and encourage dogs to play in groups by romping, running and chasing. Cage Free K-9 Camp, of Los Angeles, allows overnight guests to sleep in a 2,000-square-foot, climate-controlled loft on individual dog beds. In the TV lounge, they show Animal Planet. And over at CampBowWow, despite the fact each dog is given a private dining space, all dogs are temperament-tested. "We have an interview process," Flammang says. A dog needs to enjoy the company of other dogs to be boarded in a communal environment. Otherwise, individual rooms are a better bet.

How to pack Dogs, like children, sometimes do best on "sleepovers" when they have a comfort item to remind them of home. Check with a facility before bringing a blanket, a towel, or a favorite toy, Wilmot says. This is usually fine if your pet has his or her own "room" or run. It may be more difficult -- or provoke aggressive behavior -- in the group environment.

For dogs with sensitive stomachs, or special diets, you may want to bring your own food to the kennel. Many luxury kennels provide top-notch fare for overnight guests, such as the "healthy lamb-and-rice diet with Glucosamine" included in the $50-a-night rate at Canyon View Ranch. Medications will also be administered on site at most pet resorts, although some charge extra. No matter where your dog stays, you'll want to spring for a bath and flea dip before bringing your pet back home.

These new-fangled pet resorts may cost a tad more than the old-style kennel, but pup parents say it's worth the price in peace of mind. "This is my baby," Love explains of her dog Chloe. "She's a 70-pound baby, but she's still my baby."

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Keep Your Pet Cool This Summer

During hot days and dry conditions, your four-legged friends will need all the help they can get in keeping their cool over summer.

Pets require many of the same conditions that humans need: a shady spot to spend the day, access to cool water and plenty of rest. They also require gentle exercise in the coolest parts of the day and a dab of pet-friendly sunscreen on pink noses if they are out in the hot sun.

Whether your pets are spending time indoors or outdoors this summer, remember that they need special care in warm weather.

• One of the best activities for you and your dog during summer is a walk in the cooler evening so find out from your local council where the best parks and open spaces are for dogs during summer. There can be restrictions during this period that don't apply during the rest of the year, so it is worth checking for the latest information.

• Most dogs love water but with restrictions in force in many parts of Australia, you will have to be careful about splashing the wet stuff around. Many dogs love ice cubes and this is a water-efficient way of keeping them cool.

• If you are away from home during the day and can't leave your pet indoors, ensure they have a shady spot outside with plenty of fresh water.

• Some dogs just don't know when to say no, so if you have an active dog it may be necessary to discourage high energy play on hot days.

• Keeping your dog's coat short and well-groomed during summer will help it to stay cool.

• Summer thunderstorms can be a terrifying experience for both dogs and cats. Ideally, your dog and cat should be kept inside with human company if there is a summer storm. Some dogs are very fearful in storms and may try to escape the yard, so take time to ensure your yard is secure and that your dog is identified with a collar and tag. In severe cases of storm phobias, your veterinarian should be consulted.

• We all know not to leave a dog in a car on a hot day - even with a window down, cars get very hot. Garden sheds and other small spaces also heat up quickly and can be dangerous if a dog is confined to that area.

• We may not all know that swimming pools can be as dangerous to dogs as they can be to small children. Make sure the gate is closed at all times. Better still, take your four-legged friend to a dog-friendly beach, river or lake and teach it to swim!

• If travelling with your pet, consult with your vet about any special requirements. Ticks can be found in many of the popular coastal holiday spots and can be dangerous to dogs. Also make sure all vaccinations are up to date and your pet's ID tags are securely fastened to their collar.

Kid's Best Friend

Pets and children: what a beautiful friendship. A study into the role pets play in developing children's social networks revealed a great deal about human-animal interactions. A number of children were asked who they would turn to in certain emotionally-charged situations - like the divorce of their parents or an argument with a sibling.



An overwhelming majority said they would seek out their pet for companionship. It was also discovered that children confide in their pets, talking to them, expressing fears and emotions in much the same way we interact with a human confidante.

Pets can also help facilitate learning and have a number of positive effects on a child's development. Schools are now catching onto the benefits of introducing pets into their community, by creating pet clubs, special pet days and offering pet education programs. For children, pets at school foster a sense of responsibility and respect for life.

Programs like the ‘Operation Safe: Kids 'n' Pets' run by the Animal Welfare League of New South Wales offers wonderful learning programs to teach all levels of school children about responsible pet ownership and animal behaviour. Topics include: pets in the community, the basics of pet care, what happens when people don't want their pets and pets and the law.