The Pet Health Care Gazette

Proper nutrition is essential for all canine life stages.

One of the best things a dog owner can do for their pet is to provide proper nutrition. However, for many pet owners, canine nutritional needs are confusing. Protein, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals each play a part in keeping dogs of all ages healthy.

Water: An Essential but Easily Overlooked Canine Nutrient

Water plays an important role in keeping all dogs healthy. Fresh clean water should be made available to your dog at all times. Failure to allow your dog access to an adequate water supply can result in dehydration, illness and even death.

Protein: A Building Block in Canine Nutrition

Proteins are needed for all stages of the canine life cycle. Proteins are necessary for growth of young dogs, reproduction, and for maintenance and repair of body tissues in dogs of all ages. Proteins are a critical source of energy for cells, tissues and body organs and are also required for the production of enzymes, hormones and antibodies.

Proteins are made up of amino acids. Essential amino acids for dogs include arginine, methionine, histidine, phenylalanine, isoleucine, threonine, leucine, tryptophan, lysine, and valine. These amino acids must be supplied through the dog’s diet because dogs are unable to synthesize adequate amounts of these amino acids by themselves.

Protein sources may be animal- or plant-based. Animal-based sources are considered to be complete because they contain the essential amino acids required by all dogs. These sources include chicken, lamb, turkey, beef, fish and egg. Plant sources include vegetables, cereals and soy. These sources may not contain all of the essential amino acids.

Fat: A Potent Nutritional Energy Source for Dogs

Fats are required as a source of canine nutrition. For dogs, fat:

• provides a concentrated source of energy
• is an essential part of the structure of all cells
• is required for the production of some hormones
• is needed for absorption and utilization of fat-soluble vitamins
• provides the body insulation and protection for internal organs

Linoleic acid is an essential fatty acid for dogs and must be provided in the canine diet. However, a proper balance of omega-6 fatty acids and omega-3 fatty acids is also recommended to help control inflammatory responses in the skin, intestinal tract, kidneys and joints. Ideally, the omega-6 to omega-3 ratio should be 5-10:1.

Carbohydrates in the Canine Diet

Carbohydrates play an important role in the diet of all dogs. Minimal levels of glucose are necessary to maintain an adequate energy source to the brain and other essential body organs. Carbohydrates not only provide energy for body tissues, but they also play an important role in keeping the intestinal tract healthy. In addition, they are likely needed for reproduction as well.

Various types of fiber can produce a good source of carbohydrates in the canine diet. However, different types of fiber have different fermentation properties, which makes some sources of fiber more appropriate than others as a source of carbohydrates. Fiber is also responsible for maintaining the bacterial population in the intestinal tract. A proper mix of “good” bacteria in the intestines can help regulate the bowels and prevent diarrhea.

Vitamins and Their Role in Canine Nutrition

Vitamins are necessary to promote normal metabolism and power enzymatic reactions within the body. Vitamins are normally required in small amounts and must be provided in the food because the canine body is not capable of manufacturing them. However, in most cases, supplementation of vitamins is unnecessary as long as a complete and balanced diet is fed.

Minerals in the Canine Diet

Minerals are required in many metabolic reactions and are also a normal part of the structure of teeth and bones. They are also necessary to maintain a proper fluid balance within the body. Minerals must be added to the canine diet because dogs are incapable of synthesizing them alone.

A proper mix of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals together with a constant fresh source of water are the building blocks for a successful nutritional program that will keep your dog healthy throughout his lifetime. However, the mix of these nutrients will change over time as your dog grows, matures and ages.

Learn how to care for your new kitten.

Like all pets, kittens need proper care to keep them healthy. Caring for a new kitten requires home care as well as veterinary care.

Providing the Right Diet is Essential in Caring for a New Kitten

Feeding your kitten properly will ensure that your kitten gets all the right nutrients to grow and mature normally. The food ideally should be a diet that is formulated for a growing kitten.

Kittens, just like people, have likes and dislikes and it is important to choose a food that your kitten will eat readily. While there are advantages to feeding both dry and canned foods, it may be advantageous to feed a combination of both so that your cat will be more likely to accept a specialized diet in the event that a dietary change becomes necessary in the future.

Feeding home cooked meals to kittens is not generally advisable because it can be difficult to achieve the proper balance of nutrients and a lack of nutrients in the diet can lead to dietary deficiencies and severe illness.

Once weaned and eating solid foods, your kitten no longer needs to drink milk. However, fresh water should be available at all times.

A Physical Examination Should be Performed for Your New Kitten

A physical examination, performed by your veterinarian, will check your kitten for adequate body condition, external parasites (such as ear mites, fleas and ticks), congenital defects, evidence of infectious diseases and general overall health.

All Kittens Need Vaccinations to Ensure Health

Your new kitten should be vaccinated as early as 6-8 weeks of age. Vaccinations against feline panleukopenia (sometimes called feline distemper), feline calicivirus, feline rhinotracheitis (or feline herpesvirus), and rabies are recommended for almost all kittens. Rabies vaccination is mandated by law in most communities. There may be other vaccinations, such as feline leukemia, that may be recommended by your veterinarian as well.

Fecal Examinations and Deworming for Kitten Health

A fecal examination will check your kitten for evidence of intestinal parasites such as roundworms, hookworms, tapeworms, coccidia and Giardia. Roundworms and hookworms are common in kittens and many kittens are born with them. Because these parasites also have some potential for spread to people, particularly children, it is usually recommended that kittens be routinely dewormed for these parasites at an early age.

Care for Your Kitten by Testing for Feline Leukemia and Feline AIDS

Both feline leukemia and feline AIDS are viral diseases that can be passed from one cat to another. Both viruses can be passed from the mother cat to her kittens before birth. It is recommended that all kittens be tested for these viruses so that their status for the viruses is known. While a positive test, particularly for feline AIDS, in a young kitten can indicate that antibodies from the mother are present rather than being a true infection, a negative test is generally considered reliable, even in a young kitten. Many of the current tests available test for both viruses at the same time and at least one test also checks for heartworms, although a heartworm test is unlikely to be positive in a young kitten.

Protect Your Kitten Against Parasites

Your new kitten needs to be protected against parasites such as fleas and heartworms. There are numerous options available to accomplish this. Discuss with your veterinarian which product is safest and most effective for your pet. The choice will depend on your kitten’s anticipated lifestyle and what parasites your kitten is likely to encounter.

Spay or Neuter Your Kitten to Promote Health and Well-Being

Spaying or neutering is advisable for all cats. Discuss with your veterinarian what age is preferable for performing the surgery. In some settings, kittens are spayed or neutered at a very young age, as early as 6-8 weeks. At our hospital, we prefer to wait until 4 months of age. Female cats benefit from being spayed prior to the first heat cycle, which may occur any time after 6 months of age.

Provide Environmental Enrichment for Your Kitten

Providing environmental enrichment in the form of perches, hiding places, toys and scratching posts can help your kitten adjust to his new home and help avoid behavioral problems. In addition, proper management of litter boxes as well as feeding and watering stations is critical for your new kitten.

Following these simple procedures can help keep your new kitten healthy and happy and ensure that he grows into a well-adjusted adult cat free of feline diseases and parasites.

Feline behavior modification can correct behavior problems in cats.

The first step in correcting feline behavior problems is to recognize why your cat is exhibiting the behavior and to recognize normal cat behaviors. Feline behavior modification can be used to correct what we, as cat owners, see as behavior problems. In many cases, we are actually directing the cat toward another outlet for the behavior. In other cases, we will be trying to reduce the amount of stress experienced by the cat and reduce “abnormal” or undesirable behaviors that occur as a result of that stress.

Make Your Cat Feel Safe with Perches and Hiding Places to Modify Feline Behavior

Cats like to rest on elevated perches where they feel safe from predation and can survey the area surrounding them. Providing adequate numbers of perches for all cats in a household is extremely important. Cat condos can be used and even the back rests of furniture are often claimed by cats as perches. One of my cats likes the top of the refrigerator.

Cats also need hiding places where they feel secure. These should be places where the cat can retreat if he feels threatened or frightened or even if he just wants to be alone for a while. Cat beds, cardboard boxes, and medium to large carriers or crates (left open so the cat can enter and exit freely) are all suitable hiding places. Cats will also frequently hide under beds and furniture as well. In multi-cat households, there should be adequate numbers of hiding places available for all cats. Cats may prefer not to share their hiding spots.

Providing Scratching Areas and Entertainment for Your Cat is Part of a Feline Behavior Modification Program

Scratching posts should be provided to allow cats to sharpen claws and stretch muscles. These are normal cat behaviors and if you do not provide a place for your cat to do so, he will choose his own spot. Some cats prefer upright scratching posts while others prefer flat surfaces. Cat owners may need to experiment to find out which their cat prefers.

Toys are also helpful. These can be used to simulate a cat’s normal prey behavior. Experimentation may be necessary to determine which type of toy an individual cat prefers. Some cats prefer toys with feathers, some prefer toys which can be pulled along the ground and other prefer things like laser pointers which can simulate the movement of an insect. Toys also provide a great way for cat owners to interact with their cats and can provide much-needed exercise. (Obesity is also a major problem in cats, but that’s a different subject.)

Provide Adequate Resources for All Cats to Decrease Competition and Alter Behavior

In multi-cat households, several food and water stations may need to be provided so there is no competition for these resources between cats. As an example, I have one cat which will lie near the food dish and growl at the other cats when they come around to eat. By providing additional food and water dishes in other areas of the house, the other cats can get their food and water without having to get to the dish being guarded. Food and water dishes should also be located away from litter boxes.

Proper Litter Box Management is Essential to Correcting Behavior Problems

Litter boxes and the proper management of them is also extremely important.

• In a multi-cat household, there need to be adequate numbers of boxes provided. The rule of thumb is to provide one box for each cat plus one. (For two cats, three litter boxes. For three cats, four litter boxes. And so on).
• Litter boxes should be big enough to allow the cat to occupy the box comfortably and turn around in the box. Most cats prefer larger litter boxes to smaller ones. For young kittens and older cats that have mobility issues, a litter box with shorter sides may be necessary.
• Litter boxes should be located in low-traffic areas of the house which the cat or cats have easy access to and it is important that cats not be interrupted or frightened when using the box. A common mistake is putting the litter box near a washing machine that may be noisy enough to scare the cat away from the box.
• Keeping litter boxes clean is essential. Some cats will not use a litter box that is soiled.
• Hoods on litter boxes can also be problematic. Hoods can trap odors in the box and make the box unpleasant for a cat.
• Type of cat litter is also important for some cats. Cats may show a preference for one type of litter over another. In general, scoopable litters tend to be preferred over non-scoopable and are convenient for cat owners when it comes to cleaning as well. Scented litters should be avoided. Most cats do not find strong scents attractive. In cases where inappropriate urination or defecation is occurring (i.e. outside of the litter box), providing a number of different litters with different textures and watching to see which the cat prefers can help the cat owner choose the best litter for their individual cat.

Changes in Environment or Routine May Affect Feline Behavior

Changes which cause stress for cats include:

• new family members (such as a new child or a new roommate),
• new pets in the household (other cats, dogs, other types of pets),
• the loss of an existing pet or other household member,
• rearrangement of furniture,
• construction in or around the house, and
• changes in an owner’s schedule (for instance, being away from home more often or less often than previously or working a different shift than previously).

Even simple things like having company for dinner can be stressful for some cats. If you know there are going to be stressors taking place in your cat’s life, it is a good idea to provide an area where the cat can retreat by himself. This area should have food, water and litter boxes available. If noise is anticipated, leaving a television or radio playing in the background can be helpful. You should also attempt to spend extra quality time with the cat playing, petting or cuddling with him.

What Your Indoor Cat Sees Outside Can Cause Behavior Problems

While some indoor cats appear to enjoy watching birds, squirrels and other animals outside, some cats object to seeing these animals near their home. This is especially true if they are seeing stray cats near the house. In this case, keeping window blinds and doors closed can help block the view of these animals. Steps can also be taken to discourage stray and wild animals from approaching the house. Placing bird feeders away from the house, instead of near windows, can help. Motion sensors can be placed to scare off intruders also.

Use Feliway to Decrease Feline Stress and Alter Cat Behavior

Feliway is a pheromone product which can be used in the household to reduce stress and provide a calming effect on cats also. I use it in my house and notice a big difference in my cats’ behaviors with it. I would consider using it in any household which houses more than one cat, any household with cats that are experiencing behaviors characteristic of stress (nervousness, fear, irritability, fighting) or in any situation where stress is likely to be induced (moving to a new house, new family member, construction/renovation, etc.)