When you get a cat, you usually buy or take home a stray kitten that has a big dose of energy and keeps you up all night because it is playing with something in the kitchen. But you have to bear in mind that your pets grow older faster than you do, and that you will have to take care of them probably until they die. Taking care of and old animal is harder than dealing with old people, because the pet can not speak and tell you what is wrong and what bothers it, so you will have to pay more attention to its reactions to different stimuli in order to make sure that it is feeling fine. For example elderly cat health problems are similar to those of people: they suffer from arthritis, have hearing problems and eyesight problems.



The first thing you have to do in order to avoid the elderly cat’s health problems is help them maintain their hygiene. If the cat is old, it gradually loses interest in the world around and it sleeps a lot, neglecting its hygiene. Help her remain clean, get a brush that will help you clean the fur and get rid of the parasites, the dust and the dead skin particles that are hidden here. Pay very much attention to the cat’s ears, because old cats can very easily get infections. Although this is not a general rule, many of them grow deaf, so it is very important to keep the ears clean and visit the vet regularly to check them. You have to have her nails done too: the fact that the cat does not pay attention to furniture any more does not mean that the claws should be left to grow as much as they like. They can grow too long and can hurt it when it is scratching.



You have to be attentive at the cat’s menu. Over the years, the cat may have dental problems, so you should try and feed it soft dishes that need not to be chewed, and that are easier to digest, too. Some cats can even lose their teeth when they grow really old; others have inflamed gums and calculus. Of course, this calls for an urgent visit to the vet.



Because the cat may suffer from arthritis and is not as flexible and as agile as it used to be when it was only a kitten you need to help it get to its favorite places. Though cats can jump from high spots and always land on their feet, this rule does not apply any more to old cats that can harm themselves easily if they jump from a big height. So you need to adjust your furniture in order to help them.

The life stages of dogs are very similar to those of humans, just as kids shed their teeth and they grow new ones so do little puppies when they are about five months old. The first canine health problem that your vet has to deal with is the bad alignment of the temporary teeth which can lead later to teeth and gum problems when the dog is mature. The first visit to the dentist should be made around the age of five moths, just to be sure that the teeth will come out ok and the dog will not suffer for the rest of his life.

People brush their teeth every day in order to prevent cavities, calculus and bad breath. You have to try and clean your dog’s teeth too because it experiences the same problems that you have. If the teeth are not properly taken care of they might fall.



The dog cleans his teeth while chewing bones, they are just like a natural tooth brush. Try and feed them beef bones, not pork or chicken bones. Chicken bones are really dangerous for the canine health because when they are broken into pieces they become very sharp and they sting the animal’s intestines.

While they are still young and can not yet chew bones puppies will tend to chew your fingers, your shoes or anything else that comes into their way. This is how they clean their gums and teeth, so don’t be mad if the dog destroys your slippers, he is just trying to stay healthy. You can buy special toys or rubber bones to replace other objects, the dog will grow fond of them and you will keep your shoes in one piece.



Pet shops sell special dog toothbrushes and toothpaste, do not try to use the same toothpaste that you use because your dog will swallow it for sure. If the dog has grown and you can not brush its teeth anymore you can buy a special gel that can be applied to its teeth while you are playing. There are also chewing toys that carry special substances and can replace toothpaste and gels.

Another thing that is very helpful is feeding the dog dried crunchy  dog food, which will act just like bones and will help him clean his mouth. What should you do if there appeared some signs of teeth problems? You immediately go to the vet, he will know what to do. He will brush the dog’s teeth and remove the calculus, and even extract the damaged teeth if necessary. If the tooth is decayed you can not fix it as you do with humans, the only solution is to get it out.

We all love our pets and consider them a member of our family rather than just an animal that we keep in the house. Just as humans, our beloved little friends need special care and medication, so I guess each owner should know the answer of some simple pet health questions. First of all, we should bear in mind that the problems that may affect your dos or cat are very much similar to the human diseases. Your dog might suffer from diabetes which can actually lead to blindness, it can have hepatitis, a disease that can be either inherited from its parents or can appear due to unhealthy food, they can have ear infections, eye problems and even toothaches. So, when it seems that your little friend is not feeling very well you should immediately call a vet and see what’s wrong.

So, what can we do to keep our pet healthy?

First of all we have to keep them clean, because many infections may be caused by parasites your dog or your cat catches while walking outside (for example flees or ticks). You have to wash them as often as possible with plain water an try to avoid  to frequently use shampoos and conditioners, even if they are especially pet products. If you use them too often(let’s say more than once a month) they lead to the drying of the skin and cause itching and scratching.



What about the visits to the vet? Try to make appointments and see the vet at least twice a year because during a routine check up you can discover an illness that is still easy to deal with. You should try to get appointments at the same vet, because your pet will get used to him or her and will not be afraid any more after a few visits.

What is the best food for my pet? You can feed them with pet food and human food too, there is no problem in that but don’t give them chocolate and cookies even if they love them because in the end this will lead to serious liver problems, this is not the kind of food they would normally eat, so their body can’t cope with that. Don’t give them pills unless they are ill and it is absolutely necessary, not even vitamins. I have the same suggestion regarding vaccines and all kinds of daily supplements.



The best thing to keep your pet in good shape is exercise. Walk your dog as much as possible, give them the chance to run in the park at least two hours a day and don’t overfeed them, I have seen many pets lately, mostly cats and dogs that have weight problems due to the fact that they eat to much and spend most of their lives on the couch.