Dog Breeds: The Afghan Hound

Sometimes called the Tazi or the Baluchi Hound, the Afghan Hound is one of the more glamourous of the large breed of dogs. It stands about 25 to 29 inches tall (63-74 cm), weighs 50 to 60 lbs (23-27 Kg) and has a life expectancy of 12 to 14 years.

It has a beautiful long coat and comes in just about any colour. This long coat has one drawback as the dog tends to develop hairballs from grooming itself. There have been incidents where some of these dogs have choked to death on a large hairball, so owners are encouraged to groom Afghans daily to remove any loose hair.

The dogs originated in Afghanistan, hence the name, but they can now be found nearly everywhere. As well as being used as pets, show dogs and herd dogs, because of their strength and speed, Afghans are frequently used in dog races in many countries. They are also highly regarded as excellent competitors in agility trials.

Afghans have an Oriental expression and their eyes appear to look right through you, presenting a very aloof and dignified temperament. Some owners find this breed's Oriental or Eastern personality hard to handle. As well, with their strength and speed, they require extensive obedience training which can be difficult as they have a reputation of being difficult to train. In spite of this, many people hold these dogs in very high regard. One way to ease the difficulty in training is to utilize this breed's strong pack allegiance. Since a daily walk is required to prevent the dog from developing behaviour problems, the Afghan should be made to heel beside or behind the person holding the leash. This will reinforce the dog's natural instinct that the “pack leader” always goes first. In this way the dog will learn that the human is always first and must be obeyed because they are the “pack leader”. With this in mind, the owner should also teach their Afghan to enter and exit doorways after the human.

Afghans have four very distinctive features. Many have a ring (tight curl) at the end of their tail and a saddle of short course hair from the front shoulders to just in front of the hind quarters. Most also have a long topknot and all have high hip bones.

Afghan owners should be aware that this breed has a very high prey drive and as a result they usually do not get along with other small animals, so they should be tightly controlled when around small pets.

So, if you would like a large regal looking dog, you should consider the Afghan Hound as one of the top contenders.

Until next time,

Teia

CAT HEALTH PROBLEMS

When my dad was growing up in a rural area of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada, cats were hardy animals that seldom suffered any illnesses. They usually passed on from old age, being struck by a motor vehicle on the Island Highway or being shot by an annoyed neighbour. However, over the last forty or so years, with the advent of commercial cat food and “selective” breeding, cat diseases are becoming fairly common. The only one that he can recall, from his childhood, is the first one on my list.

1. WORMS.

All breeds of cats are very susceptible to worms. Tapeworms, roundworms, and hookworms are the most common worms found in cats. Often, kittens are born with worms, or get them shortly after birth. Therefore, if your cat has recently had kittens, or if you have recently obtained a kitten, it is suggested that you consult a veterinarian (vet) about worming your kitten(s). If your cat is lethargic, has trouble gaining weight, or has white specks in its stool, have it checked for worms by a vet. Worms can be eliminated by medication, but if left untreated they can prove to be fatal to your cat.

2. HAIRBALLS.

Although not a disease, hair balls cause health problems in many cats, particularly in cats with long hair. Since most cats spend a considerable amount of time each day grooming themselves, usually by licking their fur or licking their paws and then rubbing the damp paw on their fur, they normally swallow hair in the process. As a result, sometimes the long hair forms into a ball and blocks the cat's intestines, instead of passing through the cat with its stool. If your cat shows signs of straining when attempting to have a bowel movement, particularly if it is also coughing and gagging a lot, take it to your vet as it probably has a hairball. With proper treatment most hairballs can be eliminated. Untreated, hairballs can lead to serious health problems and even death.

The easiest way to eliminate the possibility of hairballs is to brush your cat two to three times a week. This will remove most of the loose hair that could end up in your cat's stomach. Apparently, there is now cat food that is supposed to prevent hairballs from forming. Before considering the use of this food, you should consult your vet. Ingredients ingested to prevent the formation of hairballs could prove to be more harmful than helpful.

3, URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS.

Many cats suffer from urinary tract infections. Interestingly, urinary tract infections are more prevalent in male cats that haven't been neutered, although it also occurs in female cats, but with less frequency. Symptoms to watch out for are:

a. The cat stops using the litter box and starts urinating in other places.

b. The cat appears to have problems urinating and when it goes there is blood in the urine.

c. The cat's urine smells very strong.

I'm a dog and as a puppy and a young adult, I suffered from urinary tract infections and also from kidney stones. My vet determined that my problems were caused by my diet. I was put on a more acidic diet and my problems went away. So, be sure to take you cat to the vet if you suspect it has a urinary tract infection. Your vet can provide medication to cure the infection and recommend ways to prevent infections from reoccurring.

4. FELINE LEUKAEMIA

This disease is actually misnamed. It is not the cancerous blood disease that humans get, but instead it is a highly contagious virus based disease. It is usually fatal., but if you get your cat vaccinated against this disease and continue getting all required booster shots, it should not be a concern. Death from the disease is not immediate, but once contracted the disease will greatly shorten your cat's lifespan. Any unvaccinated cat exposed to the Feline Leukaemia virus will catch the disease. So, be sure to discuss this disease with your vet and arrange for a vaccination.

5. FELINE ASTHMA.

Approximately one percent of the world wide cat population will catch this allergy related disease, which is incurable. However, with proper veterinarian treatment, you cat could live a nearly normal life. Symptoms to watch out for are wheezing when breathing, coughing and laboured breathing. Consult your vet immediately if your cat exhibits these symptoms.

6. FELINE SPONGIFORM ENCEPHALOPATHY (FSE)

This disease is believed to be caused by eating the meat of a cow with BSE or, as it is more commonly called, “Mad Cow Disease.” Since pet food is primarily made for animals that have died, there is a small chance of your cat getting this disease from its food. However, after the last commercial pet food debacle, there are much more stringent rules in place regarding pet food ingredients used in pet food manufactured in North America. Be very careful of pet foods from other locations as their standards may not be as stringent. FSE does not currently have a treatment available, so a painful death is a certainty unless you have your pet euthanized as soon as it is diagnosed with this disease.

7. FELINE DIABETES

One in 400 cats will be affected by feline diabetes, which usually occurs as a Type 2 insulin dependent version of the disease. Symptoms include sudden weight loss, excessive drinking and urination, lethargy and an appetite that is either non existent or completely ravenous with the cat eating 3 to 4 times its usual volume of food. If detected early enough, treatment could result in complete remission. Those cats that do not go into remission can live a fairly normal life with long lasting insulin shots and a low carbohydrate diet. If your cat exhibits any of the symptoms of this disease, get him or her to a vet as soon as possible.

Take your cat for regular visits to your veterinarian. Get all recommended vaccinations and consider making your cat into an indoor cat and you will have a pet that will live a long and happy life with you.

Until next time,

Teia

Suggestions to Help Prevent Your Cat from Getting Hairballs

Cats are fastidious animals. They prefer clean things and apparently the one thing they like really clean is themselves. Because of this, they spend an excessive amount of time grooming themselves. The act of licking themselves helps to untangle and remove loose hair. Their tongue is specifically made for the task. It is covered with little bumps and toward the center of the tongue are tiny barb-like bumps that act to snag the hair. Unfortunately, this habit of grooming can lead to the formation of hairballs in your cat’s stomach.

Cats cannot digest the hair they swallow. However, they are able to pass the hair through their digestive system in small amounts. A problem occurs when the cat does not get enough fiber in its diet to push the hair through its system and out with its stool. When this occurs, the hair builds up and forms a hairball.

The distressed cat begins to cough and attempts to vomit the hairball up. For the loving cat owner, the gagging and retching is worrisome not to mention the annoying cleanup afterward. While the occasional hairball is probably nothing to be too alarmed about, frequent hairballs could be a cause for concern because they can result in digestive track troubles such as loss of appetite, constipation and in rare instances complete blockage of the intestinal tract.

You cannot prevent your cat from swallowing its loose hair. However, there are things that you can do to lessen the likelihood of hairballs forming. There are also natural remedies and commercial products that you can use to help the cat pass the hair through its digestive tract before hairballs form or break them up before they become too tightly packed. The best way to prevent your cat from swallowing large amounts of hair is to comb or brush your cat regularly. If the cat is well groomed, there won’t be very much loose hair for the cat to swallow. Long-haired cats should be combed or brushed daily and shorthaired cats once or twice a week.

If your cat needs assistance with its hairballs, there are commercial products that can be applied to the top of its front paws. These products are available from your veterinarian or better quality pet stores. The cat will lick these products off their feet and when swallowed these products will assist the hair to pass through the digestive system. Some people have reported that they have used lubricants such as Crisco All Vegetable Shortening, mayonnaise or butter as substitutes for these commercial products. Before you consider using these home made remedies, check with your veterinarian because the use of these products could cause other digestive problems. A few people have even used Vaseline, but it is not something that I would recommend. As previously stated, if you feel that your cat needs assistance eliminating hairballs from his system, check with your veterinarian as he or she is in a better position to determine the severity of the problem and what product would work best for your particular cat.

You may also feed your cat specially made cat food diets and treats that are intended to prevent the development of hairballs. Another interesting solution that I have heard about, but cannot vouch for its effectiveness, is to mix in about a teaspoon of canned pumpkin to your cat's normal food. Another suggested preventive method is to feed your cat grass a couple of times a week. I have no idea if this works or not, but I do know that dogs frequently eat grass when they have digestive problems. Again, check with your veterinarian. If he says it is acceptable, then you can consider growing the grass indoors. Rye, wheat or oat grasses are the best types to use and can be purchased at pet stores or on the Internet. Do not feed your cat grass from a chemically treated lawn it could be fatal to your cat.

It must be noted that cats will vomit for various reasons other than hairballs. Some of these may be from serious underlying conditions. Therefore, before attempting any of these remedies, it is advised that you consult with your veterinarian to rule out any other illness and to see which, if any, of these solutions should be tried. Along with your vet's help and one or more of these suggestions, it is possible that your cat will be able to live virtually hairball free. And remember, regular grooming of your cat will do much more than cut down the chances of him getting a hairball. It will allow you to remove dead hair, keep him clean, check for fleas or hidden injuries and allow you to bond more closely with your beloved pet.

Until next time,

Teia