Frequently asked questions
I think my pet may have fleas. How can I check?
Category: Canine,Feline
A flea is a tiny, laterally flat and wingless insect that subsists on the blood of its host. Fleas have long legs that enable them to jump tremendous distances and they can quickly crawl through your animal's fur. Check your cat or dog frequently for fleas by brushing them over while they are standing over a white sheet or towel; flea feces are small, black flecks of digested blood that will fall off easily, indicating the presence of fleas. A flea comb with very fine teeth is helpful for removing flea debris and may remove some adult fleas if enough are present.
Most fleas congregate over the rump and tail area of the pet. If evidence of fleas is noted, the animal should also be checked for tapeworm segments, which appear as cream-colored, rice-like segments stuck in the fur around the anus or in the feces. Consult your veterinarian for recommendations concerning flea control and prevention.
For more information about preventing and treating flea infestation, see the article Flea Control in our encyclopedia.
01/05/01
How can I tell if my pet has a fever?
Category: Canine,Feline
Is there a good way to figure out whether my pet is running a temperature?
Use a thermometer.
The normal body temperature of a cat or dog at rest is 99 to 101�F. If your pet is acting sluggish or depressed, is reluctant to eat or move around, is panting or breathing rapidly, or feels warm to the touch, it is exhibiting symptoms of a fever. The most accurate method of determining whether an animal has a fever is to use a rectal thermometer.
As with taking the temperature of an infant, the thermometer should be shaken, lubricated with petroleum jelly, and inserted about one-and-a-half inches into the rectum. It is helpful to have someone hold and distract your pet while its temperature is being taken.
If the reading is above 102.5�F, you should contact your veterinarian. A temperature of 105�F or more will require an emergency visit to a veterinarian. If the pet holds a temperature above 106�F for very long, it could suffer serious adverse effects, including permanent brain damage and death.
08/14/00
Hairballs
I think my cat has hairballs, what can I do?
Hairballs can be treated with either a lubricant laxative such as laxatone or with a digestive enzyme which is found in IVD's feline treats. This is what we currently recommend. Most cats like them and they are very effective. They are available from veterinarians only.
We hope you enjoy our website, and we hope it helps not only with information on a particular disease, or problem, but also is a valuable resource on other cat-related issues. We welcome comments on what you want to see, how we can improve it, or how much it helped you.