Controlling Cat Shedding

Healthy shedding is a normal process for your kitty. It occurs every day and varies in degree due to factors like your cat's age, her diet, and the season. However, it can also be a nuisance! It can leave a mess on your clothes, furniture, and throughout your entire home. It could also be the cause of hairballs for long-haired breeds and other consequent problems as well. By controlling shedding, and dealing with its fallout, you can keep your cat healthier and your home cleaner. 

Excessive shedding in felines can be caused by  a variety of medical, dietary and stress-related issues. Your cat may be suffering from cat skin problems, allergies, ringworm, bacterial infection, fleas, poor diet, pregnancy or lactation, sunburn, hyperthyroidism, stress or other cat diseases. So if your cat obsessively licks, scratches or bites, if he’s losing patches of hair or stops to scratch or bite the same few spots persistently, then it’s important you take him in for a veterinary exam.

If your cat sheds a lot and your veterinarian has determined that there is no underlying medical cause,  here are some effective control techniques:

• Feed him premium cat food. Your pet's coat is a reflection of what she eats. You'll be surprised what a difference you'll see if you insist on feeding your cat a premium brand food. Feed him cat food that provide optimal nutrition rich in Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids that help soften skin and reduce excess shedding. 
• Add probiotics to their diet. Adding probiotics for cats, improves hair skin health (hot spots), strength and shine from greater nutrient absorption. Products like the OmNutra  Pet Probiotics reduce and eliminate a variety of pet health issues. It contains 3 billion CFU per scoop compared to others with just 1 billion or less.
• Use the right tools for grooming. With the right tools, daily or weekly brushing can detangle mats, remove dead undercoat, lift away excess dander, and add shine.
• Bathe your cat. Bathing your cat regularly helps remove loose hair, excess oils, and it reduces odor. If your cat is water-fussy, you may want to use disposable pads or waterless cleaners which you spritz on, massage in, and towel off.  
• Throw in some cat furniture. Placing cat beds, trees, or play furniture around your home can not only afford your cat a comfortable place of her own to hang out but also save your own furniture from all that excess hair.
•  Examine your cat’s skin and coat during your grooming sessions. Checking for hair loss, redness, bumps, cuts, fleas, ticks or other parasites will be a fast way to determine whether you need to go the vet to solve your pet’s shedding.

If your cat is experiencing normal shedding,  you may just end up with hairy furniture and wardrobe and never ending hairballs. But if her shedding is due to an underlying medical cause, including allergies, parasites, infections or disease, her health may continue to worsen if you don’t seek veterinary care.

Can Dogs Fart?

The answer is yes! Dogs can fart. In medical terms it is referred to as dog flatulence. It is the formation of gas in the stomach or intestine. It is also associated with annoying and rather offensive smell and noise, fart and gas, that is.  So living with or even sitting next to a dog with flatulence can be really unpleasant. The gaseous odors that emanate from the dog can be overbearing to the senses, but they may also be indicative of an underlying health condition that needs to be treated.

Causes of Flatulence

In most cases, gas is harmless. However, when there is an excessive production of gas then this could be a bad sign. The most common cause of excessive flatulence is a change in diet or the dog eating something new, spoiled or difficult to digest. Some examples include soybeans, beans and peas. Additional causes could be milk or dairy products, spices, high fat diets and high-fiber foods. Furthermore, dogs that eat rapidly can swallow air and are more likely to experience flatulence. Overweight, obese and sedentary dogs are at higher risk in acquiring chronic flatulence.

Signs and Symptoms of Flatulence

If your dog has bad gas, here the most common signs:

• expulsion of gas from the anus, with or without odor
• mild abdominal discomfort
• mild stomach distention or bloating
• excessive gaseous sounds or rumbling from the abdomen (borborygmus)

Some clinical signs may also inlcude, diarrhea, vomiting and weight loss.

 Treatment and Diagnosis of Flatulence

Diagnosis should be based on the medical history and clinical signs. On the other hand, treatment is based on diagnosis and commonly involves a change in diet. Some recommendations on the diet include highly-digestible, low fiber and low fat diet.  Also, the addition of probiotics for dogs is also highly recommendable. Probiotics, when added to their diet, reduces the amount of gas and odor. I say you add OmNutra Pet Probiotics to your dog's diet for it is well known to reduce and eliminated a variety of pet health issues. This product contains 3 billion CFU per scoop versus other brands that only have 1 billion per scoop or less. Work with your vet to plan a new diet program that suits your dogs current condition.

Dog flatulence can be solved as long as it is diagnosed and treated as early as possible. Once your dog's new diet is good and working, it is important that your identify those bad substances and make sure your canine avoids them to prevent other issues and complications.

Dogs that swallow air, especially those that eat rapidly, are more likely to experience flatulence. Overweight, obese and sedentary dogs are at higher risk for developing chronic flatulence, regardless of diet. - See more at: http://www.vetwest.com.au/pet-library/flatulence-farting-and-gas-problems-in-dogs#sthash.0IZUnp0O.dpuf

The most common cause of excessive flatulence is a change in diet or from the dog eating something new or spoiled - See more at: http://www.vetwest.com.au/pet-library/flatulence-farting-and-gas-problems-in-dogs#sthash.0IZUnp0O.dpuf

The most common cause of excessive flatulence is a change in diet or from the dog eating something new or spoiled - See more at: http://www.vetwest.com.au/pet-library/flatulence-farting-and-gas-problems-in-dogs#sthash.0IZUnp0O.dpuf

The most common cause of excessive flatulence is a change in diet or from the dog eating something new or spoiled - See more at: http://www.vetwest.com.au/pet-library/flatulence-farting-and-gas-problems-in-dogs#sthash.0IZUnp0O.dpuf

The most common cause of excessive flatulence is a change in diet or from the dog eating something new or spoiled - See more at: http://www.vetwest.com.au/pet-library/flatulence-farting-and-gas-problems-in-dogs#sthash.0IZUnp0O.dpuf

The most common cause of excessive flatulence is a change in diet or from the dog eating something new or spoiled - See more at: http://www.vetwest.com.au/pet-library/flatulence-farting-and-gas-problems-in-dogs#sthash.0IZUnp0O.dpuf

The most common cause of excessive flatulence is a change in diet or from the dog eating something new or spoiled - See more at: http://www.vetwest.com.au/pet-library/flatulence-farting-and-gas-problems-in-dogs#sthash.0IZUnp0O.dpufThe

The most common cause of excessive flatulence is a change in diet or from the dog eating something new or spoiled - See more at: http://www.vetwest.com.au/pet-library/flatulence-farting-and-gas-problems-in-dogs#sthash.0IZUnp0O.dpuf

The most common cause of excessive flatulence is a change in diet or from the dog eating something new or spoiled (dietary indiscretion). - See more at: http://www.vetwest.com.au/pet-library/flatulence-farting-and-gas-problems-in-dogs#sthash.0IZUnp0O.dpuf

The most common cause of excessive flatulence is a change in diet or from the dog eating something new or spoiled (dietary indiscretion). - See more at: http://www.vetwest.com.au/pet-library/flatulence-farting-and-gas-problems-in-dogs#sthash.0IZUnp0O.dpuf

The most common cause of excessive flatulence is a change in diet or from the dog eating something new or spoiled (dietary indiscretion). - See more at: http://www.vetwest.com.au/pet-library/flatulence-farting-and-gas-problems-in-dogs#sthash.0IZUnp0O.dpuf

The most common cause of excessive flatulence is a change in diet or from the dog eating something new or spoiled (dietary indiscretion). - See more at: http://www.vetwest.com.au/pet-library/flatulence-farting-and-gas-problems-in-dogs#sthash.0IZUnp0O.dpuf

The Remedy for Obese Dogs

Try to feel around the ribs and spine of your dog. Are you able to locate both with only a thin layer of fat separating the skin from the bones? If you can't, then you have an overweight dog.

If this is the case, your dog is not alone. According to a 2011 study, 53% of dogs are overweight or obese. Every time you visit your vet, ask them to evaluate yourdog’s size at every check-up. As a rule of thumb, 15% above that weight is obese; zero to 15% is overweight.

So how do we help our dogs from weight gain or with losing weight? Hit the scales periodically (weekly or monthly) to make sure your dog is on track. There would be a scale at your vet's office to feel free to use them. And don't forget to ask your vet on what is the optimal weight for your dog.

 Also, don't overindulge your canine with treats or people food. I know our dogs love food and we love them so we feed them. But its not the dog food that's the culprit. It usually the treats or snacks between meals. Don't give in immediately to whining for snacks or treats.

In addition, if your dog is overweight, you must know the correct serving size of its food. Companies often place information on labels or include charts on their web sites. But because many variables, such as size, are factored into the equation, get advice from your veterinarian on how often and how much to feed your dog.

If you have found out that your dog really needs to slim down, put him on a diet. Consider everything he eats on a daily basis, from the actual meals, to treats, snacks, everything. Find out what needs to be cut out. If your really can't resist giving treats to you dogs, choose healthy alternatives, such as veggies or rice cakes, and decide at the beginning of each day exactly how many the dog is allowed.

Another option is reducing portions. Immediately cut daily food intake by 15% to 20% for a six- to eight-week period, then analyze the results. Ask you vet on what amount of calories is needed to be cut down per day to lose weight.

Another great tactic is by adding probiotics to their diet. Probiotics supports weight loss or normal weight, which is really good for your fat canine. I strongly recommend my dog's current supplement the OmNutra Pet Essentials Premium Probiotics For Dogs and Cats. This dog probiotics product is specially formulated for your pets and contains 3 billion CFU per scoop. It is the best probiotics for dogs for it will maintain the proper balance of intestinal microflora and is key to extending their lifespan. MY dog is really in shape now and have gone on the obese line. Proud owner here!

If you have done everything and the medication didn't do the trick maybe its a medical issue which  likely triggered the weight gain.. It maybe hormonal imbalances, diabetes, heart problems and the like. Consult your veterinarian immediately. 

 Aim for gradual weight loss and expect significant improvement to take several months. The ideal would be a loss of 1% to 2% of the initial weight per week. Once you've successfully maintained or loss the extra weight of your dog, stick to the diet that worked.