Posts Tagged ‘cat ear mites’

Skin and Coat Problems in Dogs and Cats

The skin, your pet’s largest organ, acts as a barrier against harmful invasions from the environment. As an organ of elimination, symptoms of disease often show up in the skin and the body rids itself of toxins

Skin problems are probably the most common ailments seen in dogs. Usually they are not a disease in themselves, but a symptom of another underlying problem.

The most common reason for skin problems in both dogs and cats is an allergy. Foods, pollens, dust or medications may cause signs of allergy. Problems can also show up due to dietary deficiency or poor diet in general. Symptoms include such as itching, redness, and poor coat quality.

If no other reason for the problem can be found, it is time to look for food allergies. Changing to a premium or home-made dog food can usually make a big difference in a short time. Often simply adding raw meat to the diet is enough to see an improvement.

If the problem persists, or the pet is already on a healthy diet, then you must look at the specific ingredients in the food. Beef, chicken, corn and soy are the most common allergens, but cats and dogs, like people, can be allergic to anything. Try eliminating the above four things first, if that doesn’t work a more drastic “elimination diet” may be necessary. This usually takes at least 6-8 weeks to get a good reading.

If no food allergy can be identified, or if eliminating an offending food has not solved the problem, then you must look to the environment – inside as well as outside. Once an allergic reaction has been allowed to continue for some time, the immune system is taxed and the body may become sensitive to other irritants.

Play detective! Ask yourself if anything has changed in the house recently; new carpeting, new cabinetry, fresh paint? These things can all give off chemicals which may cause illness. Are the symptoms seasonal? Pollens are a common allergen, and difficult to avoid, especially for a dog. Did the symptoms start suddenly? What happened just before they appeared – vaccinations? Other illness? Emotional upset? Finding and eliminating the cause can be a long and difficult process.

Essential Fatty Acids, also known as Omega-3 and Omega-6 are important nutrients for the skin and coat of dogs and cats. You might also consider certain herbs, such as Milk Thistle or Dandelion, which support the liver and help the body detoxify. There are many natural topical products that can be used to calm the symptoms.

Bathing is not always the answer. If the dog’s coat is dry, bathing may just make matters worse. If you must bathe, use a gentle shampoo. For dogs or cats with itchy skin, look for oatmeal as one of the ingredients in a pet shampoo.

Another common cause of itching and redness for dogs and cats is flea bite dermatitis. Not all animals are allergic, but fleas will at least cause scratching or biting in all pets simply because they are annoying! Flea allergies however, cause the pests to be more than just an annoyance. Symptoms of flea allergy include hair loss, redness, and sometimes sores kown as “hot spots”.

If you suspect your pet has fleas but you haven’t actually seen any, look for the tell-tale black “specks” at the base of the hairs. Fleas particularly love the areas at the base of the tail, ears and hind legs (where they meet the belly). To determine if the specks are flea dirt (dried blood) and not just dirt, put some on a white paper or cloth and wet them. If they turn red, you’ve got fleas.

Some diseases cause symptoms of the skin and coat. Thyroid imbalances may cause dull, flaky or greasy coat and sometimes hair loss. Skin and ear infections are common with Cushing’s Disease.

There are some specific skin diseases as well. Mange is caused by a mite and causes lesions and hair loss, usually around the mouth and eyes. This most often clears up on its own, but some dogs and cats cannot rid themselves of the mites and have a more severe case. Ringworm is a highly contagious fungus affecting cats, dogs and people (especially children). It shows up as circular lesions that are raw, hairless and scaly. The disease spreads rapidly.

Boredom or anxiety can cause a dog to lick its paws repeatedly and constantly, resulting in “lick granulomas”. These are raised nodules, often rough and scaly. There is also a group of autoimmune diseases called Pemphigus which cause scaly skin, scabs and pustules. Some breeds are particularly susceptible to the disease.

Elyse Grau

http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/skin-and-coat-problems-in-dogs-and-cats-250087.html

More about Ear Mites.

Technorati Tags: , , , , , ,

Allergies in Children

Many people do not think that young children can have allergies as doctors at one time believed since the nasal cavities are not completely developed then allergy problems should not exist.

Today, we now know allergic rhinitis is one of the most chronic childhood diseases. The main reason some children have allergies and some do not, comes down to heredity. If only one parent has allergies their children have a 30% to 50% percent chance of developing allergies and if cases where both parents have allergies the percentage goes up to 60% to 80%.

The most common allergy seen in both infants and children is an allergy to cows milk protein. This usually happens during the first year. Before a child can develop an allergy, he or she must first be exposed to a substance that may later be considered an allergen.

Besides food, some allergies that children may have include indoor allergens such as molds, household dust mites, and pets, outdoor allergens include weeds, tree pollen, and grasses.

If you think that your child may have allergies, then there are some physical symptoms that might help you make an educated decision prior to visiting your doctor.

Symptoms of food allergies in infants can cause your little one to be colicky, vomit, have diarrhea, rashes, eczema, cry more than they should, and have cold like respiratory congestion.

Physical symptoms that may show that your child has an allergy include bluish/brownish discoloration around both eyes, puffiness under the eyes and the eyes may look red and irritated, and the ears and cheeks may appear flushed. Your little one may not be able to explain to you how they feel but you may notice them breathing through their mouth, rubbing their noise, sniffling, sneezing, and have congestion that may make it hard for them to breath.

If you notice that your child is always complaining of a sore throat, has nasal congestion quite a bit and has had to be treated for chronic ear infections you may want to ask your doctor is your little one could be suffering from allergies since these also accompany allergies.

Remember, allergies can cause excess mucus secretions, this causes swelling of the nasal cavity and breathing can be difficult when your child lies down. It can be so bad that he or she may gasp for breath, cough or awaken in the middle of the night unable to breathe properly. If disturbed sleep does occur from allergies, it can result in sleep apnea.

Nicky Pilkington

http://www.articlesbase.com/non-fiction-articles/allergies-in-children-66364.htmlf

For more information on a ear mite remedy for your pet click here.

Technorati Tags: , , , , , ,

Are ear mites on a dog contagious to other animals in my home?

I have a 6 year old Huskie/ shepard mix that just moved into my home and I think she has ear mites , is this contagious to my other dog and cat?

If your daughter is a vet, there’s NO WAY she would have said no. Ask her again. Either you misunderstood, or she’s not really a DVM.

Earmites are indeed highly contagious between fur-bearing animals in contact with each other….so much so, that when we diagnose them in one pet, we automatically treat ALL the pets in the household whether they are showing signs or not. If you don’t, just as soon as one clears up, another one will have them….and when that one clears up, the first one will have them again. (The life cycle of the mites takes 3 weeks to complete.)

The problem is that many people waste their time and effort (and money) treating earmites that don’t exist in their pet. Bacterial/yeast infections are just as likely…and show the same symptoms. The only way to tell is to look into the ear with a special instrument we use (called an otoscope), and to look at the ear debris under a microscope. If earmites are confirmed, we have a medication that is 99% effective with a single application (the company says 100%, but every once in awhile we have to retreat 3-4 weeks later.) If it’s a bacterial/yeast infection, he might need a deep ear flush, followed by appropriate prescription medications. Sometimes, we’ll find a tumor or foreign object (like an embedded grass seed or thorn) down in the ear canal.

If proper treatment is delayed, permanent damage to the eardrum and middle ear can develop, resulting in deafness.

Learn more about ear mites.

Technorati Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Ear mites?

Can humans catch ear mites from cats?

We just adopted a poor little kitten and I suspect she has a bad case of ear mites. We are taking her to the vet tomorrow, but I don’t want my children or myself to get them if they are contagious.

When I first got my little kitty last September she too had those things in her precious ears. Before I took her to the vet I tried the stuff at Walmart ( I’m a 1st time pet owner OK!) and of course it didn’t work, my point is this, that kitty slept with me, on me and my 11 year old before I wised up and took her to the vet for medicine. We never caught anything nor did the Vet mention us being at risk so I think you guys are OKAY!

Learn more about Ear Mites.

Technorati Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

Pet Ear Mites

Once you get rid of your pet’s ear mites, you can prevent your pet from ever getting them back.  Did you know that?

Most cured ear infections never return. Some dogs do seem to be prone to infections. These dogs will be helped by using a preventative solution a few times a week. A very important preventative procedure is to make sure the ear canals are dried thoroughly with a drying solution after you bathe your pet or after your pet swims. A pet with allergies (one of the prime causes of ear infections) should be treated for allergy as soon as he starts itching.

We know it is not easy or fun spending all the time and money to treat your pet’s ear infection. However, remember the infection is not your pet’s fault or your fault. Your pet will love you all the more for your time and concern.

PetsBestRxTM has the medicinal products to clean the ears, eliminate the secondary infection and kill the mites the non toxic way.

Lear More About Ear Mites.

Yours Truly,

Joseph Marquardt
President, Q-Based Healthcare TM
The Makers of PetsBestRx TM Products
Info@qbased.com
Toll Free 1.866.314.8917

Technorati Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Do NOT Use Peroxide in Pet’s Ears

Cleaning your pet’s ears comes with a warning!  We thought you might be interested in a couple of these tips so you could better care for your pet.

WARNINGS:

If your pet has chronic ear infections, clean only the outside of the ear and consult a vet. This could be a sign of allergies or other problems.

If the ear canal looks abnormal, clean only the outside of the ears with a good medicinal.  PetsBestRx TM products were designed to heal infection quickly.

Do NOT use peroxide in your pet’s ear. Peroxide is caustic to the already red, inflamed tissue and can cause the ear drum to rupture.

Learn More About Ear Mites

Yours Truly,

Joseph Marquardt
President, Q-Based Healthcare TM
The Makers of PetsBestRx TM Products
Info@qbased.com
Toll Free 1.866.314.8917

Technorati Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Welcome to PetsBestRx™ Ear Mite News

Learn the symptoms of ear mites and learn how to get rid of them fast!

Signs of Ear Mites:

Frequent scratching
Profuse shaking of the head
Scratching when the head or ear is gently rubbed
Reddish-brown to black debris accumulating in the ear
Ear wax build-up
Bad odor
Although they normally live in the ear, these mites migrate and may be found outside the affected ear, such as, on the neck, tail, or rump. In these cases, the animal must be treated with a reputable ear mite product in the form of a shampoo, spray, or powder.

We know that it is hard to watch your pet suffering, especially knowing that there are thousands of little parasites in their ears feeding on their blood and damaging your pet’s ears and hearing. We offer you safe and effective products to eliminate ear mites from your pet and your environment. Begin using PetsBestRxTM ear mite products in order to restore your pet’s health back to full capacity.

Learn More about Ear Mites

Yours Truly,

Joseph Marquardt
President, Q-Based Healthcare TM
The Makers of PetsBestRx TM Products
Info@qbased.com
Toll Free 1.866.314.8917

Technorati Tags: , , , , , ,

Click here to view our great selection of pet supplies and begin improving your pet's life today!

Sponsored Links:

Ear Mite Treatments

  • Ear Mite Home Remedies
    When is it time for a home remedy ear mites treatment for your pet? Well, if you’ve witnessed him scratching or rubbing his ears, over and over – or noticed a thick, brown, crumbly material that always reappears in the ear canals – no matter how many times you’ve tried to remove it – it’s [...] […]
  • How to Treat Dog Ear Mites
    Dog ear mites are considered to be blood sucking parasites that live within the ear canals of your animal. Ear mites are a major health concern for animals. Not only are these mites a nuisance to your animal, they can also lead to deafness if they are not properly treated. These parasites feed off of [...] […]
  • Dog Collars Galoure
    A new fashion industry is on the rise as you read this and you won’t see it in the big fashion magazines. It is the huge growth market of style made especially for dogs. In the past, dog collars were manufactured to have little to do with how they looked and everything to do with [...] […]
  • Preventing Cat Ear Mites
    The same kind of ear mite that affects dogs is the one that also affects cats. The treatment for ear mites cats get is similar to that for dogs as well. If you notice that cat is scratching around his ears a good bit more than usual, then it may be time for ear mite [...] […]
  • Dog Strollers can Enhance Pet-Owner Relationship
    Many who opt to not have children, or whose kids have already left the house, now include one or more canines as family members. This trend has increased the number of items on the market to extend the amount of time your pup can spend with you, and add to the places you can take [...] […]