October 2008 Archives

By Omer Ashraf

Diabetes Mellitus is a hormonal ailment that influences the metabolism of glucose. It is divided into two types, I and II. Type I is characterized by a decreased production of the hormone insulin from pancreas whereas Type II, uncommon in cats, occurs owing to the inability of cells of the body to uptake and consume glucose. At times there is a third type, Transient Diabetes, seen in cats in which the ailment comes and goes.

A disease of middle-aged and older felines, Diabetes occurs more commonly in male cats. Risk factors include obesity, diet, genetics and damage to pancreas. Clinical manifestations are increased thirst, diet and urination, weight loss, skin and hair changes and liver and kidney disease. There is lethargy, weakness of hind legs and wobbly gait. Often these, alongside urination outside the litter box, are the first signs that the cat owner may notice of this insidious illness.

Once the diagnosis is reached through analysis of urinary and blood glucose levels, treatment is initiated. In the majority of cases it involves a regimen of insulin injections. In Type II disease, oral hypoglycemic agents are given at times. Though this is rare and it is often easier for owners to inject their cats than feed them pills. Even though there is no cure for Diabetes, prompt and appropriate treatment ensures that the diseased cats live a normal and healthy life.

Diabetic cats are usually advised a prescription diet. It is important to feed the cats this at regular times through the day alongside the insulin dosage. It is equally significant to ensure that the cats get regular exercise. For if any of the three elements - insulin dose, dietary intake and exercise - are out of sync with each other, the glucose balance of the animal may be altered. If all the three aspects are maintained under control though, the cat can be expected to live a long and happy life.

The author is a blogger about cats and an expert on diabetes in cats.
Article Source: www.free-articles-zone.com

Please contact your local veterinarian if you have any concerns about your cat's health. Use our local PE pet directory to find a vet near you.

By Mary Ann Porsuelo

Dehydration is one of the most common health issues when it comes to caring for your chameleon. You will know when your chameleon is dehydrated by checking if it has sunken eyes. Then check if its skin does not go back in place when you lightly pull it. If the skin doesn't go back into place, your chameleon is most definitely dehydrated.
The best move to solve this health problem would be to give your chameleon more water. Here are the three best watering methods to help care for your chameleon:

1. The Drip System: This method allows your chameleon to have water available to it for a long period of time. It involves a receptacle to release water. One way is to put ice cubes on the roof of your chameleon's enclosure and letting it melt to drip on your chameleon. Another way is to make a small hole at the bottom of a plastic cup or container. Put it at the top part of the chameleon's cage, and then fill it with water. Put the cup or container where the water dripping would fall on the leaves and plants in the cage or enclosure. The chameleon likes to drink water dripping from the leaves.

2. Spraying or Misting: This is an effective method of watering your chameleon. It not only helps your quench your chameleon's thirst, it also helps water the plants and increase the humidity level inside your chameleon's cage enclosure. The most common method for this would be using a spray bottle. Remember to use a clean bottle, and hot water (not boiling). Spray the water at least 2 feet away from the chameleon for the water to have time to cool a little as you spray it around. You can also use a garden spray for this; just make sure it's clean.

3. Manual Watering: There are those who want to see that their chameleons are really drinking water. The oral syringe (without the needle) is used to manually drip the water slowly into the chameleon's mouth. This method, though, requires lots of patience from the owner, as you cannot rush a chameleon in his drinking. Another method is using a rodent bottle. A rodent bottle has a metal tube with a ball bearing in the tip. This is also used to manually drip the water into the chameleon's mouth. Make sure that the syringe and the bottle are clean and that you use fresh water.



You can always opt to have your chameleon shower for an hour with a plant if you're desperate for it to be back on its healthful self. Make sure there is a plant because the chameleon will drink dripping water from it. Then spray the cage before putting the chameleon back in for moisture and humidity in its home.



These are the top watering methods for chameleon care. All are efficient and effective. All are common and tested. Dehydration will never be the cause of anything serious for your chameleon with these.

About the author: 
 The author of this article is a webmaster and is currently working on www.ChameleonTips.com. Feel free to contact her at keywriterm@gmail.com for any inquiries or concerns.

Article source: Free-Articles-Zone.com

Gadzoo.com, the pets classifieds and content provider for the PE.com/Pets website, announced its Howl-o-ween Pets Photo Contest, running online from October 17 through November 14. Pet lovers are invited to enter to win great prizes by either uploading photos of their favorite pet in costume, or rating other pet photos.

Beginning October 17, site users can visit the Pets section website to enter their photos online. Prizes will be awarded to the highest-rated photos, while one "editorial winner" will be selected to receive a prize. Additionally, for every photo a user rates, they will be entered into a national random drawing to win a 20-by-24-inch custom canvas painting of their pet by Karen Derrico, www.painting4paws.com, valued at $895.

The contest offers interactive voting, real-time statistics and social networking features to share submissions with friends and family. This spook-tacular pets photo contest will begin accepting entries Friday, October 17. Submissions close November 7, but voting remains open until Friday, November 14.

The Howl-o-ween Pets Photo Contest is presented by Breeder's Choice Pet Foods, and sponsored by Breeder's Choice/Avoderm, FURminator deShedding Products, StuffedAnimals.com, and K9 Biscuit Company.

Mark your calendars and let the fun begin.

(NAPSA)-There are few things better than having your taste buds tempted by the smell of your favorite foods. Just as humans respond to appetizing scents, research shows the same is true, even more so, for dogs. In fact, a dog's sense of smell is on average 1,000 times keener than that of a human, which makes the aroma of human food often very tempting to our four-legged friends.

"People may not realize it, but dogs experience the world nosefirst, relying on their sense of smell to interpret their environment," said Dr. Alan Hirsch, the founder of the Smell and Taste Treatment and Research Foundation and faculty member at Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center in Chicago. "As a result, food aroma has a profound effect on your dog's appetite, as well as his emotions and ultimately his health and well-being."

According to Dr. Hirsch, aromas have a dramatic impact on one's enjoyment of food, primarily because 90 percent of taste is actually attributed to our sense of smell. The same holds true for our canine friends.

Hirsch stresses the important role that smell plays in keeping dogs well nourished, noting the direct link between taste and appetite.

"As many dogs age, their sense of smell decreases, causing them to lose their appetite along with interest in eating altogether," said Hirsch. "So if you're dealing with an older dog, there should be an even greater emphasis on providing him or her with something aromatic."

That's why Pedigree has enhanced its line of wet food products. The wet food varieties are enhanced with flavors and spices typically considered strictly people friendly in order to offer canines a more tantalizing, and ultimately more enjoyable, eating experience.

These newly enhanced varieties of wet dog food include common human food blends such as spices, hickory-smoked flavor and herbs such as bay leaves. Like all Pedigree products, they're made with high-quality ingredients such as real meats, poultry and vegetables.

Because of their love for dogs, keeping dogs healthy and happy is a number-one priority for PEDIGREE. Much like us, dogs want to eat something that not only tastes great, but smells delicious, too. Offering a wide variety of products for different dog life stages and sizes, Pedigree is at the forefront of pet nutrition.

For additional information and tips for keeping your dog healthy and happy, go to www.pedigree.com.