“Many pets suffer from ear problems”, said Dr. Al Paredes, Veterinarian at Day And Evening Pet Clinic. The most common problems include ear tissue infection, ear mites, and chronic ear infections from a lack of regular cleaning.
Signs of Pet Ear Diseases
“The signs of ear diseases are easy to spot,” said Dr. Paredes. “If your pet’s ears have a bad odor, if they are scratching or rubbing their ears, shaking their head or tilting it to one side, check the ears for signs of discharge, swelling or redness in the ear canal, or painful areas around their ears.”
The Causes of Pet Ear Problems
Parasites are a common problem, but ear mites are generally seen in cats who will scratch at their ears. Mites are not generally seen in dogs’ ears.
Both dogs and cats can have problems due to allergies from something they inhaled, ate or touched. Allergies create changes inside the ear and we often see secondary infections in the ear caused by the initial allergy.
Yeast and bacteria can also cause infection, and they are often seen along with allergies, hormonal changes, or moisture in the ears. Ear cleaning alone may not take care of these, so a good antibiotic is sometimes recommended.
General ear cleaning on a regular basis can keep ear problems at bay. Have your pet’s ears checked when they are at the vet clinic for an exam, and ask us about ear cleaning solutions for your dog or cat to keep their ear problems to a minimum.
Pet Health care – How To Handle Cat Spraying Problems
“A cat spraying problem is not typically a litter box issue,” says veterinarian Dr. Al Paredes. “Rather, it is usually a marking behavior which is a dominant nonverbal communication among cats.” Spraying [urine marking] can signal several different things; commonly to attract a mate or mark territories and boundaries. A cat’s urine contains pheromones, a substance produced by animals that is used for communication and identifies the cat.
While neutered male cats might spray when aroused, intact males have the greatest motivation to mark because of their mating and territorial agendas.
Intact female cats that are in heat can spray to signal potential mates, but they urine-mark more commonly from the squatting position.
Cats do not spray or mark things to irritate their owners. Cat spraying is instinctive genetic behavior that has helped cats survive and reproduce in the wild, and it cannot be bred out of domestic cats.
Many times, adjustments can be made in the home that can solve the problem, especially if you can recognize the purpose that the cat is spraying for – attracting a mate, marking a territory. If your cat is frequently and consistently spraying, here are some things that you can do:
Get an Exam from your veterinarian to eliminate the possibility of a medical problem.
Spay and Neuter – Talk with your vet about the advantages to you and about the health advantages to your cat. Many time the operation will stop the spraying behavior.
Eliminate the Cause If It Is Stress – If your pet is in a situation that puts it in conflict with other cats, or causes separation anxiety, attempt to identify and eliminate the cause of the stress to control the spraying behavior.
Clean up the spray marks – There are specially designed products available that neutralize the odor of the animals urine and clean off the stains. Avoid using household products that contain or smell like ammonia as the smell of ammonia simulates the smell of urine and can cause the cat to remark that same spot.
Use Pheromonal Sprays: They contain substances which discourage spraying behavior when it is applied to the areas the pet has sprayed.
Litter Boxes – Have an adequate number of litter boxes around the home and keep them clean
Restrict the view of other cats outside: It is natural response is to mark its territory when your cat sees another cat. If you can cover up the view of the outdoor area where other cats frequently can be seen by covering windows with blinds or shades and moving furniture away from the window to deny easy access to the view it can help cut down on the spraying behavior.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Cats can suffer from medical conditions that make them urinate outside the litter box. These medical conditions can be life threatening, so if you encounter this problem, call us at 727-785-7200 and bring your cat Day And Evening Pet Clinic right away to get an exam. Better to know for sure that it is just a typical cat spraying problem, especially when your beloved cat’s health is at stake.
Pet Health Care – Handling Pet Emergencies
Your pet can have an emergency at any time. “Preparing ahead of time is one of the smartest and best things you can do for your dog or cat,” said Dr. Al Paredes, a veterinarian in Palm Harbor Florida. Preparing and keeping a pet first aid kit handy in each place your pet may be could save its life. Minimally keep a basic first aid kit handy in the home and another one in the car when your pet is traveling with you.
A basic first-aid kit will help reduce worries if an unexpected emergency occurs. Keep the perishable items in the kit fresh; check the code dates on thing such as salves and cleansers every few months to ensure that the are not past the expiration date for efficacy.
First aid kits can be assembled in a metal or plastic toolbox or tackle box, and supplies can be purchased in a variety of places, including your veterinary clinic. Be sure and label the kit as one for your pets. And on the inside of the lid list the names and phone numbers of:
1. you as the owner,
2. your pet’s name, age and description,
3. your regular veterinarian and pet clinic,
4. an emergency animal clinic that is close to your home, and
5. the animal poison control hotline (888) 426-4435.
Suggestions for First Aid for Dogs and Cats 
• Swabs, cotton applicators, gauze and vetrap
• Scissors, tweezers, towel, exam gloves
• Hydrogen peroxide, Hydrocortisone ointment, silver nitrate
• Eyewash, hydration fluid
• Splints, plastic wrap
• Instant hot and cold compresses
• Thermometer and lubricating jelly
Ask your veterinarian for any special items that your dog or cat may need for a current or chronic condition to keep in your emergency first aid kit.
We are here to help you prepare or in the event a pet emergency does happen, so call Day and Evening Pet Clinic at 727-785-7200 any time.
Pet Health Care – What Do Tinsel Ribbons And A String of Lights Have in Common
Pet health care tip. The holidays are here, and festive Christmas tinsel, ribbons and strings of lights are up, or going up, in homes across the city. What do these items have in common?
“To your dogs and cats, these things are toys, and your pets don’t know that they are dangerous,” said Dr. Al Paredes, veterinarian at Day and Evening Pet Clinic in Palm Harbor, Florida.
Ingesting tinsel and ribbon can cause choking, and a string of lights that is plugged in can cause electrocution if your pet chews on them, and is a choking hazard as well with small plastic holders and light bulbs on the wires.
Likewise, ornaments of glass, metal, plastic, or paper with glitter or paint can be toxic, even deadly, if chewed and swallowed, and choking can occur on small sharp edged pieces.
Don’t tie ribbons around dog or cat treats and leave them under the tree. They will be found easily by your pet, and the ribbon and packaging can cause choking. Also, don’t hang Christmas stockings within reach of your pets. The things inside those stockings, like chocolate or candies containing Xylitol artificial sweeteners can be toxic to your pets, and the small gifts inside the stocking can be a choking or poison hazard to both dogs and cats.
Take precautions to watch your pet when they are around areas where decorations and gifts tied with ribbon can be easily reached. We want your holiday, and your pet’s holiday to be joyous and happy. Keep them in an area where they cannot get to the decorations and gifts when you are away from home or not able to watch out for them when you are busy.
If you suspect that your dog or cat has ingested something that can harm it, call us at Day And Evening Pet Clinic at 727-785-7200 and bring your pet in right away for an examination. We are here to help you when you need us.
Happy Holidays to you all,
Dr. Al Paredes & Staff
Pet Care Tip – Are Your Pets' Eyes Healthy?
Your pet can suffer from eye problems just like humans do. At the first sign of a problem it is important to have a veterinarian check your pet’s eyes right away. This can prevent more serious complications.
Common problems include red eye, cataracts, glaucoma, eye tumors, inflammation, defects of the eyelids, discharge, retinal degeneration and other problems.
Red Eye – Both cats and dogs can get red eye. This is when the blood vessels of the conjunctiva (the pink lining of the eyeball and eyelids), sclera (white covering of the eye), or cornea (clear surface of the eye) become enlarged or more numerous. It may also happen when the structures inside the eye become inflamed, with glaucoma (high pressure within the eye) or with other diseases of the eye socket. Irritation from allergies or infections caused by viruses, bacteria, or fungi can also cause red eyes in pets.. Either one or both eyes can become red, depending upon what is causing the problem. It is important to keep your pets eyes clean, and to eliminate the cause with appropriate medication.
Cherry Eye – Unlike people, dogs and cats have a ‘third eyelid’ that contains a tear gland and is located in the corner of each eye. Normally this gland is not visible and it helps in the production of tears. This gland can “prolapse” or come out of its normal position and get swollen creating the condition. Cherry eye is not a common occurrence with cats.
Dry Eyes – This term is used describe a condition of decreased tear production. The term technically means “inflammation of the cornea and conjunctiva from drying.” When the watery part of the tears is not produced in adequate amounts, the eye becomes inflamed, leading scarring and pigmentation of the cornea and can lead to decreased vision.
Ocular (Eye) Discharge – Ocular discharge is a common symptom of eye disease. Discharge may develop suddenly or gradually. The discharge may appear to be watery, mucus-like, or bloody. The amount of discharge is a good indication of how serious the disease is.
If you notice anything irregular occurring with your pets’ eyes you should call us right away at 727-785-7200 and plan to bring them in to the clinic and get it checked out immediately. Your pet is a s dependent on their vision as we humans are, and they are dependent on you to notice something is wrong. There are scientifically formulated products to keep you pets’ eyes clean