Proper nutrition is essential for any animal.
When an animal is not fed the correct diet a lot of things can go
wrong. A weakened immune system and improper nutrition will often
cause animals to be more susceptible to things such as broken bones,
yeast infections, irritable bowel syndrome, infertility, dull and
lifeless coats, etc. In time, these things can progress to
even more serious problems.
Many of the commercial foods do not supply all of the
nutrients needed to promote and maintain optimum health in our
pets. Supplements are available to furnish the nutrients and
trace minerals they may miss in a normal diet. However not all
supplements are created equal. For instance, if a calcium
supplement does not contain the correct balance between calcium and
phosphorous, it can do more harm than good. I found this out the
hard way. I now use Primal Cal by Oasis.
The
backyard Predator
Evaluation
of Mineral Balance
Nutritional
Analysis of Chicken and Turkey Necks
Considerations
when designing diets for exotic felines
A
Guide to Medical/Nutritional Management of Felids (including
hand-rearing information)
Oasis
supplements Consideration
When Designing Diets for Felines
Zoo
Standards for keeping small felids in captivity
Heart
Problems
Health
Every pet deserves to be kept in peak condition.
Those that consider breeding owe it to their animals and to potential
buyers to insure that their animals are at optimum health before they
breed. It is up to the breeder to know whether or not the cat carries
inherent diseases and if so, not breed them. Do your
homework, and choose your stock carefully. Please remember -
every animal should not be bred.
Reproductive
Failure and Infertility in Cats
Feline
Health Related Links
Feline
Leukemia Virus
Hand
rearing kittens
Husbandry
Standards for keeping Small Cats in Captivity (including nutritional
breakdowns)
The
Winn Feline Foundation
Natural
Treatment for Ear Mites
Feline
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM)
Polycystic
Kidney Disease (PKD)
Feline
Respiratory Disease Complex
Zoonotic
diseases
Vaccines
- Other Vaccine Concerns
Abnormal
Events of the Feline Luteal Period
The
Merck Veterinary Manual
Bordeltella
Feline
DNA Testing
Could My Feline
Fertility Problems be Caused by G-Strep?
Feline
CRF Information Center
Coronavirus
The coronavirus is a very controversial, yet serious
virus. It can be something as simple as the common cold, or can
mutate into FIP in cats that have a weak or compromised immune
system. Unfortunately - this virus is been found in about 80% of
all catteries. The United States is behind on how it deals
with the virus and breeders really need to take a closer look at
clearing this from their catteries.
Dr. Addie's
Website
Mercks
Veterinary Handbook
Page
from the University of Georgia
Cornell
Site
Cat
Buyer's Guide
Morris
Animal Foundation
IBHA
Animal Hospital
Veterinary
Partners.com
University
of Bristol, UK
Winn
Foundation
Feline
Coronavirus serotypes 1 and 2: Seroprevalence and Association with
Disease in Switzerland
Be Informed
Many things around the home can be
toxic. Cleaning supplies should be made inaccessible
to a curious kitten. Rat poisons, insecticides, etc., should be
stored in areas away from the family pet. Also, when creating a
garden inside or outside the home, one should make sure the plants are
not toxic to pets.
Poisons
Cornell
University Poisonous Plant Informational Data Base
Cats
and Plants
Pets
and Poisonous Plants
The
Perils of Poison
There has recently been some controversy concerning
the use of soft wood shavings such as pine and cedar for bedding.
The two links below explain why.
The
Toxicity of Pine and Cedar Shavings
What's
Wrong with Cedar Shavings?
