Kidney disease in cats

   If your veterinarian has told you that your dog is losing protein through their kidneys, you may be wondering how this is possible. You may also be wondering whether losing protein through their kidneys puts your dog's health at risk in such a way that it could significantly shorten their life span.

This kidney ailment is described as protein losing nephropathy (PLN). Protein losing nephropathy usually affects large breed dogs. It causes blood serum and protein to seep into the urine instead of being sent through the body to perform other functions.

Veterinarians are aware that large breed dogs are typically at risk of being affected by this condition. This is because these dogs tend to have mutations which put them at risk of developing this disease. For this reason, they will suggest that your dog does regular tests. With this condition, as with many others, early detection can help to safeguard your dog's health.

If protein-losing nephropathy is left undetected, it can lead to end-stage kidney failure. However, if it's detected early, your veterinarian will prescribe a course of treatment which can prevent this kidney ailment from becoming fatal.

 

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Lavender and Dogs

  Medicine garden plants for dogs are safe for them to nibble on. These herbs provide health benefits to your dogs whenever they decide to chew on a leaf or two. 

All the garden plants that are toxic should be avoided. Your dogs can use safe plants to self medicate.

If a dog is feeling slightly distressed or emotionally upset, they can usually identify an herb that will help and can chew on a bit of it in order to feel more of a sense of comfort.

Dogs and several other animals are good at self medicating. This means that your dog will use their senses to find the plant that they may need at a particular time. 

If you have already observed a dog nibbling on grass whenever they feel ill, it's self medication in progress. By having a variety of plants in your garden, your dog can select the one that is best for their needs at a particular moment.

Mint is a good plant to have in a sensory garden for dogs. Mint as you already know is popular among humans because it helps to calm the stomach. Many people drink mint when they're feeling nauseous. 

Similarly, lavender also helps human beings to feel more relaxed at times when they're under stress. It has the same effect on your dog so it can be included in your sensory garden.

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Is basil good for cats?

  The herbs that you include in a sensory garden for your animals will usually also be helpful to you. However, don't automatically assume that every plant that has medicinal benefits for you or for a particular animal in your household will also be safe for every pet in your house. 

Always check to ensure that the herbs that you are including are safe for everyone in your home. Many help both dogs and cats. Catnip is a favorite of cats and it is also safe for dogs.

if your dog suffers from separation anxiety or other forms of anxiety, basil is a good herb to include in your sensory garden because it helps with anxiety. If you have an older dog in your home or a dog that is affected by arthritis even though they're relatively young, basil should also be included. Basil helps with arthritis pain

Catnip can be included in your garden for your own benefit as well as for cats and dogs. Catnip contains a chemical which is similar to another group of chemicals that are found in valerian.

The chemical in catnip is called nepetalactone and it is used by plants as a natural insect repellent. While catnip is safe for your cat, observe how much of it they're using. It can make them high if they use a lot, whether they have fresh catnip, the oil or dried catnip.

Catnip helps with relaxation. If your dog or cat chews on catnip, they'll feel more relaxed. You may also observe that they all become a little bit more playful because they're in a relaxed mood.

However, the exact effect is a little bit different in both of these mammals. When your cat has catnip it acts as a stimulant. When your dog has catnip it acts as a sedative.

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Dandelion and Contraceptive Medication

    Dandelion is an herb that is sometimes recommended along with conventional medicines because of its diuretic properties. Researchers think that dandelion's diuretic effect is due to its high potassium content. 

If your holistic medical practitioner recommends dandelion, they may first adjust the dosage of prescription medications that you are currently taking. If you're not currently being managed by a holistic health care provider, it's important to talk to your doctor about dandelion and any other herbal supplements that you may be taking. 

Dandelion can interact with several types of prescription medications including estrogen based contraceptives, prescription diuretics, antipsychotic medications, antidepressants and statins.

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Leg Pain and CVI

  Chronic venous insufficiency is a condition in which the veins in the legs don't work as they should. The veins are designed with valves which work similar to the valves that you would see in a pipe or elsewhere.

 Just as a valve in a pipe should allow water to flow in one direction, the valves that are placed in your legs also should only allow blood to flow in one direction. 

 However, patients with chronic venous insufficiency find that blood is also flowing back ways, so what happens is that excess blood collects in the legs. 

This causes discomfort and even pain. However, it is not regarded as a life-threatening condition.

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Fish for injured cats

  Cats can eat a lot of foods that humans can including fish. While it's not safe to give your cat lots of human foods without consulting your veterinarian, most veterinarians will agree that fish is a good option for cats at almost every stage of life.

Fish supplies cats with essential amino acids that they need to survive. Fish helps to build up their joints and ensure that your cat's brain is working properly.

Oily fish is especially good for your cat. Consider feeding them fish such as mackerel and tuna.

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Treating red paw pads in cats

  An antifungal cream for dog's paws can be used to alleviate itching. If your dog or your cat has a fungal skin infection on their paw, it can cause the skin between their toes to itch.

Dogs and cats with fungal infections on their paw may also have redness on the underside of their paw. This redness and itching can be treated with Clotrimazole cream or another antifungal cream.

Always apply antifungal cream for cats and dogs for the time that your veterinarian recommends. If you stop early, you may not get rid of the fungus.

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