Cats love to groom themselves, and will often spend hours preening and cleaning their fur. Cats even have small hooks on their tongue which are especially designed to preen their fur and keep themselves clean.[1]

At times, however, your cat’s coat may get into such a state that no amount of preening will resolve the situation. You will want your cat to look good and feel good – but it is worth knowing that bathing, grooming or de-matting your cat’s coat is not usually covered by pet insurance unless a vet has confirmed that only a vet or a member of a veterinary practice can bath or groom the cat. You will usually find that this insurance condition is in place regardless of your personal circumstances.

Since your cat’s grooming or de-matting isn’t covered by your pet insurance, you should keep an eye on your cat’s coat to ensure that it doesn’t get into knots or become matted in the first place. If you regularly stroke your cat all over, you will not only make him or her purr with delight, but you will be able to monitor the fur’s general condition on a regular basis. If a knot begins to form, you will detect it earlier and be able to comb it out before it gets too bad.

Not all breeds need the same level of attention for their coats; longhaired cats usually require a lot more grooming and bathing as their fur tends to get matted more easily. You may find your longhaired cat even requires daily grooming with a steel comb to keep the coat in order. Shorthaired cats on the other hand may only require the occasional brush through with a fine-toothed metal comb to remove dead hairs and keep their fur looking good. If you’re not sure what kind of attention your cat might need for grooming, then you can always ask the shop or breeder where you bought the cat, or just ask your vet.

The RSPCA recommends that cat owners ensure their cat’s coat is kept in good condition by grooming it regularly. Even though grooming isn’t covered on your insurance, you should still take responsibility for it as a loving cat owner.

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The best advice for keeping your dog healthy, educate yourself on the individual needs and health issue for your dog and listen to your vet. Getting your dog used to car rides is a good way to reduce stress on vet days. This will help your vet accurately monitor your dog’s health.

Dog health care options are going to depend on your dogs breed. It is important to know the breed or mix of your dog. There are specific characteristic and health issues for different breeds. Use a vet that provides quality dog health care. The more your vet knows your dog, and its breed the better care your dog will receive. You will also want to ensure that your dog is eating the right food for its size and breed. Your dog needs specific combinations of vitamins, minerals and proteins.

You and your vet should keep an eye out for any changes in your dog’s behavior. Being able to identify symptoms and warning signs of illness goes a long way in dog health care. Behavior changes can be symptoms or a warning sign that there is a problem. Knowing what is characteristic for your dog’s breed can help.

Keep your dog happy is just as important as keep it healthy. It can even affect their health. A healthy well cared for dog is usually a happy dog. Dogs love to go for walks. It is important to have the right style of leash. A dog in car is usually a happy dog. A dog should not be loose in a moving car. This is just asking for an accident. However a dog should never be put into the trunk of the car. It is not safe. Use a traveling cage instead. It is not a good idea to leave a dog in car alone for any length of time.

Summer time it gets too hot, even with a window left open a bit. Winter is simply to cold, even if windows are all closed. If you do travel with your dog you may want to get a dog in car sign for the window. Car rides with your dog can be a lot of fun. Just keep in mind that you want your dog to enjoy car rids so you can get them to the vet nice and easy.

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Most of the canine owners associate the good health of their pooches with shiny, glossy, dandruff-free coat. But dog health extends much beyond a glistening coat. A dog’s health depends to a great extent on the canine owner. Periodic check-up with the vet, ensuring a healthy, nutritious diet, grooming, keeping the dogs well hydrated, and making sure that they get their regular dose of exercise, are very important factors ensuring dog health. Dog health issues among all breeds are very common. The key to their good health is quick detection diseases and commencement of treatment. Dogs are as prone to diseases as are humans.

Since these loveable creatures cannot talk about their sufferings, one can get subtle cues by paying close attention to their daily activities and looking for minute alterations in their eating, sleeping, or drinking habits. Some of the diseases that can really impair the movement of dogs are rheumatoid arthritis, canine arthritis, canine hip dysplasia, etc. Some of the signs of joint pain among pooches are limping, swollen joints, tenderness on physical examination of a joint, tendency to put less weight on or hold up the leg with the sore joint, etc.

In addition to joint pains, dogs are also prone to a number of microbial infections. Microbial infections including those caused by bacteria, fungi, and viruses can inflict kidney, eye, skin, ear infections. The following are some the microbial infections that can have an adverse impact on dog health:

Kidney infection: Kidney infection is primarily caused in the dogs due to presence of microbes such as fungi, bacteria, and virus. Other causes could be presence of stones in the bladder, cancer in or injury to the urinary tract. History of surgeries can also contribute to kidney infections. If one detects blood or foul smell in the dog’s urine, a visit to the vet would result in early detection of the infection.

Canine eye infection: Eye infections are also caused by virus, bacteria, and fungi and in some cases as a result of allergic reactions. Key symptoms are redness of the eyes, inflammation, itchiness, and watery discharge from the eyes. After diagnosis, locally administered drugs like ointments and drops can help alleviate their condition.

Canine Ear infection: Ear infections in dogs are caused by the presence of abnormally high number of bacteria and fungi. Excess of ear-wax can lead to yeast infections. Dog allergies are also a likely cause of ear infections. Ear infections can be really painful for dogs and is extremely important to treat them. If left untreated, these can also lead to hearing loss. Treatment can include administering ear drops and ointments over a period of time.

Staphylococcal Pyoderma: Staphylococcal Pyoderma, is a microbial skin infection caused by the bacteria Staphylococci. Though these bacteria dwell harmlessly on the dogs’ skin, they can cause infection in case of cuts or abrasions, resulting in itchiness, formation of pustules and lesions. In severe cases, these can also lead to hair loss. Use of topical ointments will help soothe the skin and treat the infection.

There are a number of other microbial infections that can have an insalubrious effect on dog health, such as ringworm, histoplasmosis, pythiosis, etc, all caused by fungi and which affect skin, lungs and the small intestine, gastrointestinal system and the lymph nodes.

It has been said that prevention is better than cure. Small steps like shielding dogs from dehydration, getting them vaccinated on time, and kennel house keeping, can go a long way in protecting dogs from microbial infections and ensuring that they lead a healthy, disease-free, joyful life.

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