You probably often see your velvet-pawed friend licking themselves thoroughly, vigorously working on one spot or another of their fur. Cats groom themselves. Nevertheless, it is useful to help them with their fur care, not least to find and remove any parasites. The coat change will also be more pleasant for your cat if loose hairs are brushed out regularly. Especially with certain breeds such as Angora or Persian cats, you should stick to a daily routine to keep your pet well-groomed and healthy.
Our cats come in different coats. Some have long hair, others short, some have more undercoat, others less. In principle, cat fur consists of two layers: the undercoat and the longer top coat. Depending on the breed, the coat varies in length, density, and texture.
Purebred cats with very long or fluffy fur need a little extra help with grooming. It is best to equip yourself with a special comb and a soft brush, both of which are available from specialist retailers. Cats do not enjoy regular brushing as much as dogs, so it is a good idea to get them used to this hygiene routine from an early age. Your furry friend should then accept a duration of ten to twenty minutes. Make sure that it does not pull – and only brush the cat's tail with the brush, not the comb. After all, you want to keep them happy.
With regular combing and brushing, you will notice that there is less cat hair lying around in your home. You can also check your cat's skin while brushing. Grooming therefore also contributes to preventive care and keeping your cat healthy.
Spare your cat foam baths. If it does come home completely dirty, it is sufficient to rinse it off with clear water. An exception is if your vet prescribes a bath with special shampoo due to a parasite infestation.
Over time, your cat's grooming will cause hairballs to form in its stomach. These are then regurgitated because the body identifies the hair as indigestible foreign bodies. To help your cat carry out this natural process more easily, offer it cat grass. The plant fibers improve the consistency of the collected hair, making it easier to excrete. Regular brushing can also help prevent too much hair from accumulating in your cat's gastrointestinal tract in the first place.
You can also improve your cat's coat with the right diet by adding omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, for example in special pastes. This is particularly useful during the twice-yearly coat change. During this time, make sure your cat gets enough protein, as more is needed than usual during the coat change, as well as zinc, copper, and vitamins. It is best to consult your vet for advice. You can make an appointment directly via petsXL.
It is often a dramatic sight for owners and riders: from one day to the next, your horse suddenly shows severe lameness. The affected limb is increasingly rested or no longer placed properly on the ground. Occasionally, but not always, the affected hoof feels warmer than the other hooves. It is obvious that your horse is in severe pain and you suspect the worst. However, it is often just a hoof abscess. The colloquial term "hoof abscess" is misleading, as it is not an abscess or tissue growth, but a purulent inflammation in the form of an abscess. In such a case, please call a veterinarian immediately who can examine your animal, confirm any suspicions and treat it immediately.
If your horse is rubbing itself more than usual, you should take a closer look, as itching can be a key symptom of many skin diseases or allergies in horses. However, some metabolic disorders can also cause itching in horses. This condition is very stressful for your animal and should therefore be examined and treated by a veterinarian as soon as possible.
It is a dramatic sight for us as owners when our own horse suddenly cannot bend its hind leg and can barely walk. In many cases, the kneecap dislocation resolves itself and the horse runs normally again. If the dislocation does not resolve, a veterinarian must remedy the situation by skillfully manipulating the horse and leading it backwards or sideways so that it can walk normally again. A brief digression into the anatomy of the knee joint provides a simple explanation for this phenomenon.
Is your dog moving more stiffly, reluctant to go down stairs or jump into the car? Is he limping or does he have a swollen joint? Around 20% of all dogs develop joint diseases such as arthritis and osteoarthritis during their lifetime. But what is the difference between them?
Ear infections in dogs are one of the most common reasons for visits to the veterinarian. However, the condition is often detected too late and not treated consistently. The anatomical structure of the ear canal in dogs and its length make it prone to inflammation. Due to various factors, some dog breeds are even more susceptible to inflammation in the ear area. Outer ear infections, also known as otitis externa, are the most common type. Middle and inner ear infections are less common. However, if not detected early, these can develop into chronic conditions that require intensive treatment.
Skin fungus, also known as dermatomycosis, is one of the most common infectious skin diseases in cats. It resembles many other skin diseases in appearance and is therefore not always easy to diagnose. Many types of fungus are also transmissible to humans, meaning that it is a zoonosis.
Just like humans and dogs, more and more cats are developing the metabolic disease diabetes. However, diabetes in cats differs from that in dogs and humans in a number of key ways. Middle-aged neutered male cats are particularly affected. Maine Coon and Siamese cats are more susceptible to diabetes.
Horses are flight animals. If something frightens them, they will run away faster than some owners can even blink. There are many possible triggers: a large green tractor while out riding, posters in an indoor riding arena, or children playing in the yard. However, with the right exercises, you can help your horse become more calm over time.
As in many other sports, doping plays an important role in equestrian sports when it comes to competitions and performance comparisons. Unlike in athletics, however, it is not the human being who tries to enhance their own performance by taking certain substances, but the animal whose performance is to be enhanced by administering these substances. Since the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, the issue of doping in equestrian sports has also come into the public spotlight due to numerous proven cases of doping, which has resulted in considerable damage to the image of equestrian sports.
Rabbit plague, or myxomatosis in medical terms, is a dangerous viral infection of domestic and wild rabbits that is widespread throughout Central Europe. The disease is highly contagious and can take on epidemic proportions in unprotected populations. An effective vaccine is available as a preventive measure. Hares, on the other hand, are virtually immune to the pathogen.
The horse's mouth is a sensitive area. Healthy teeth are important not only for eating, but also for riding with a bridle and bit. Many instances of head shaking or restlessness under the saddle can originate in the horse's mouth.
Mitral valve disease (MMVD) is a chronic degenerative disease of the heart valves. It is the most common heart disease in dogs and mainly affects older dogs of smaller breeds. An exception is the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, which often develops the disease at the age of 1.5 to two years.
