“My dog has diarrhea!” Diarrhea could be an indication of a larger health issue in your dog. Before going to a vet, it is advised that you run some simple, at-home medical procedures on your dog so that the vet will be able to assess and prescribe the situation better. Read this guide on what to do before you go to the vet when your dog has diarrhea.

What To Do

1. Of course, the cause of the diarrhea may be your dog’s diet. Fast your dog (do not give it anything besides plenty of water – even treats and toys that involve chewing are included) for 24 hours to cycle out any of the potential causes of the problem.

2. After 24 hours, feed it something “bland” — as in, something without any seasoning or sodium, such as boiled chicken and rice. This is to make sure that your dog is able to sustain itself and will generate fecal matter for a local vet to examine. When you are boiling the bland food, take care to get rid of any floating oils.

3. When feeding the bland food to your dog, give it frequently in small portions. Make sure that the dog is also drinking plenty of water. Any bones present in the bland food should be minimized in order to ease the burden on the dog’s digestive system.

4. Continue feeding your dog the bland diet until it produces a solid stool. Then, carefully package the stool in a ziplock, air-tight bag — This is to show the stool to a vet and to identify the problem. Take your dog to a vet.

Before going to a veterinarian it is recommended to take notes of your dog’s behavior throughout the day, including diet, activity levels, and sleeping habits. This will help your veterinarian identify the problem better and more quickly.

Additional Help

“My dog has diarrhea, even after I fed it bland food – what do I do?”

If you feel like you would rather consult a veterinarian on your dog’s health, use TalkLocal to find one. We will connect you with up to three vets in your area who will be available to help you when you need it most.

Kidney failure, or renal failure, is often considered a leading cause of death in cats. If your cat is showing signs or symptoms of this dangerous condition, it is imperative to get him or her checked out by a veterinarian immediately, as often times, 70% of the kidney has already failed by the time symptoms begin to surface. If your pet is unwell, but you are unsure of whether or not it is kidney failure, here are some symptoms of kidney failure in cats to be aware of.

Symptoms of Kidney Failure In Cats

– Increase in consumption of water and increase in urination: Since kidney failure is associated with the organ’s inability to process and remove waste products that are usually exported through urine, the damaged kidneys are no longer able to concentrate water efficiently, leading to the increased urination. This urine is often very diluted (not concentrated with waste products normally present).

– Sudden weight loss

– Weakness or lethargy

– Vomiting or diarrhea

– Sudden depression

– Loss of coordination

– Foul-smelling drool

How Does A Cat’s Kidney Fail?

Your cat may have acute kidney failure, or chronic kidney failure. Though they differ in their associated risks and dangers, the symptoms are almost always similar. There are several potential causes of kidney failure in cats, including ingestion of a poisonous substance, such as an anti-freeze liquid or inedible plant; infection (e.g. urinary tract infection); cancer; severe dehydration; abnormal side effects as a result of a vaccination or medication; heart failure; trauma or injury to the abdomen; or simply old age.

Take Your Cat to A Veterinarian

If you remain unsure of your cat’s symptoms or condition, it is best to contact a veterinarian for assistance immediately. Try using TalkLocal to locate one near you. TalkLocal is a free service that will connect you with top-quality, reputable veterinarians in your neighborhood, within minutes. Just enter in your cat’s symptoms, your location and availability, and TalkLocal will work quickly to contact multiple vets in your area, who will then call YOU directly, ready to help.

Sadly, many cats go without homes. These homeless cats are called feral cats. There are an estimated 50 million feral cats in the United States. Taking care of pregnant animals can be difficult, but also rewarding — who doesn’t want a new litter of kittens? If you want to learn how to take care of a pregnant feral cat, read this article.

Trapping

A trap is needed to bring the pregnant cat into the house, as she will be aggressive or run if you get too close to her. These traps are usually cages with a trap door. The trap door encloses the animal in the cage when the animal activates a lever on the bottom of the cage. These cages can be bought for under 30 dollars. To trap the cat:

1. Put wet and smelly food into the trap.

2. Hide the trap, leaving the door open.

3. Don’t feed the cat the day before setting the trap. The cat would be likely to go into the trap out of hunger.

4. If the feral cat gets caught, immediately take them inside the house. They will be aggressive and panic, which may cause them injury when in the cage.

5. Let the cat out of the cage and let it calm down. Only do this if you are prepared to care for an animal that may not trust you, or may act aggressively towards you.

How to Take Care of A Pregnant Feral Cat

1. Give a lot food to the feral cat to avoid pregnancy problems. These cats are usually malnourished and need to be fed two to four times per day.

2. Mix kitten food with her adult food. In the final days of her pregnancy, she should be eating only kitten food.

3. Give calcium supplements to the cat. When pregnant, calcium inside of her body drops and puts her at risk for elcampsia, a life-threatening disease.

4. Have a comfortable place for her to sleep, where she can also safely have her kittens

5. Have the litter box near the cat, and provide quality, clean litter for her.

6. Trim the hair around her nipples so her litter will have easy access to her milk

7. Do not play with kittens until they are six to eight weeks old. Playing with the kittens before this age could cause the feral cat to abandon her kittens before they are weaned or become aggressive towards you.

Find A Veterinarian or Animal Shelter

Caring for an animal, let alone a feral one, is hard work. A veterinarian or animal shelter will have the necessary facilities and supplies, and will know how to take care of a feral cat. In any case, take the feral cat to a veterinarian for an examination, as diseases and pests are more common in feral animals. TalkLocal will connect you with up to three, high-quality veterinarians in your area. Our service is free, and you will be speaking with the right local professionals in just minutes!

Have you noticed your carpet wet with cat drool and a foul smelling cat? There can be several reasons that your drooling cat smells bad. In some cases, it can be a sign of a more serious underlying health problem. We have outlined some possible conditions to watch out for when your drooling cat smells bad.

Nausea

When a cat becomes nauseated, this can cause the cat to drool. The cat may burp or vomit which then causes the cat to smell bad. Nausea can be caused by a simple stomach ache or liver disease. Liver disease causes the increase of toxins in the blood,which causes the cat to be nauseated and drool excessively.

Periodontal Disease

Plaque build-up in your cat’s teeth causes gingivitis which leads to periodontal disease.  Periodontal disease is the infection and inflammation of parts that support the tooth such as gums. Periodontal causes the cat to not eat, have bad breath, and can induce drooling.

Tooth Abscess

A tooth abscess is basically a major toothache for the cat. When a tooth decays in the mouth, bacteria get into the tissue and infect the center of the tooth (the pulp). When this occurs a tooth abscess forms and may cause the cat to have a loss of appetite and increased drooling.

Kidney Failure

Kidney failure is common among elderly cats. When the disease is severe, blood appears in their urine and ulcers develop on and around the mouth. These painful ulcers cause cats to have foul-smelling drool.

Take Your Cat to A Veterinarian

To prevent oral diseases that cause these symptoms, brush your cat’s teeth regularly with an annual dental cleaning from a vet.  There are also dental chews available to clean your cat’s teeth. If you suspect that one of these conditions is the reason why your drooling cat smells bad, find a veterinarian as soon as possible. TalkLocal will connect you with up to three veterinarians in your area, in just minutes.

Getting frustrated with chasing your pet bird around? Scared the bird will fly out the window or even hit a window? Clipping lovebird wings is necessary for taming your lovebird and preventing injury. It is recommend that a veterinarian do this procedure, but this can be easily done by the pet owner. Before attempting to clip, please have a veterinarian or an experienced bird clipper supervise the procedure to avoid injury to the bird and yourself. Here is a guide on how to clip lovebird wings.

How to Clip Lovebird Wings

1. Place one paper towel in each hand.

2. Gently drape the bird in the towel and pick it up.

3. If the bird is not cooperative, get a partner to help. Gently grab the bird and secure its head to prevent the bird from biting your hand. Let your partner cover the bird in the towel.

4. Put the bird in one hand securely and put it against the palm of your hand.

5. Pull out one wing with the free hand and secure it between your index finger and thumb.

6. Find the primary feathers on the bird. These are longest on the bird, typically on the very end of the wing.

7. Cut the primary feathers and along the wing at an angle. DO NOT CUT TOO FAR. THIS WILL CAUSE BLEEDING. Let your partner cut the feather if the bird is not cooperative.

8. Repeat this process for the other wing.

9. Let the bird go and check if the bird is flying smoothly. If not re-trim the wings so that they are even.

Tips

1. Wings don’t have to be fully trimmed. Cutting the top primary feathers can be sufficient in limiting the lovebird’s flight.

2. If the bird begins to bleed, use flour to stop the bleeding.

3. Don’t over-trim the bird’s wings. Over-trimming the bird’s wings can cause the bird to land hard after flying and may cause injury.

Want Professional Help?

Clipping a lovebird’s wings is a delicate process that must be handled with care. A veterinarian will know how to clip lovebird wings if you are uncomfortable doing it yourself. Use TalkLocal to find a veterinarian near you. We will connect you with up to three veterinarians in your area, who will be able to help you out when you need it.

If your dog is an expectant mother, it is important that you know how to take care of a pregnant dog. A dog will typically be pregnant for around 63 days, and it is vital that you pay extra attention to her health while she is pregnant. It is also important that you take proper care of her while she is giving birth, and after she has given birth.

A Pregnant Dog Should Be Active

It is important that your dog remains active while she is pregnant. You do not want to overly exhaust you dog during pregnancy, but you should not lower her activity. Continue walking her as normal, and allow her to continue any other exercise that she engages in, such as active play.  Exercise will stop her from developing health problems during pregnancy, such as obesity, that could endanger her pregnancy or cause long-term problems for her after she has given birth.

Keep Your Pregnant Dog Away From Other Dogs During the End of Her Pregnancy

During the last three weeks before your dog gives birth and the first three weeks after she gives birth, it is imperative that she does not come in contact with canine herpes. Canine herpes will not result in death in mature dogs, but it can endanger your dog’s pregnancy and may be fatal to her puppies.

Caring for a Dog in Labor

Make sure that you are around when your dog gives birth. Begin monitoring her temperature when it comes close to her due date. If her temperature is below 100 degrees Fahrenheit, labor will likely begin within the next day. Your dog will likely remove the membrane around each puppy after she gives birth to it, but if she does not you should remove the membrane or the puppy will die. Also, make sure that you have string on hand in case she needs help cutting the umbilical cord. If this is the case, take the string and tie a knot in the cord. Cut the umbilical cord just above the knot.

Find A Veterinarian

You should not worry if your dog takes a few short breaks while in labor, but if she goes over four hours in between birthing puppies, or delivers less than one puppy per hour, there may be a problem. If this occurs, contact your veterinarian. If you do not have a veterinarian, you can use TalkLocal to be on the phone within minutes with up to three, high-quality veterinarians in your area, that are available when you are.

If you have a new kitten, you might be wondering, “when should a cat get feline distemper vaccination?” The feline distemper vaccine is given to cats usually between 9 to 11 weeks old and is administered to kittens because of the communicability of the distemper virus. The distemper virus starts by causing respiratory infections in felines, followed by gastrointestinal infections.

Symptoms of the distemper virus include seizures, twitching, weakness, neck pain, and changes in behavior. Your cat may also not eat much, act lethargic, have discharge from the eyes, and develop a cough and diarrhea.

Feline Distemper Vaccination

To prevent your cat from contracting a virus like this, you should give your cat a feline distemper vaccination as soon as is safe – as early as 6 weeks, and generally no later than 12 weeks. After the initial vaccination, a cat should be given a booster shot every two years to ensure the cat’s immunity to the distemper vaccination remains.

A feline distemper vaccine should be given to healthy cats only. If your cat is suffering from a previous disease, its immune system may not be strong enough to handle the new vaccination. Make sure your cat is fully healthy before administering a dosage. Also, kittens younger than 4 weeks of age should never be given this vaccine, as their immune system is still developing. There is a very slight chance of side effects from the feline distemper vaccination, but this chance versus the risk of a cat actually contracting the distemper virus heavily lies in the vaccinations’ favor.

Basically, if you want to keep your kitten or cat safe, make sure they are up to date on their vaccinations. The feline distemper vaccination is one of the most important of these, and booster shots should continue to be administered every two years to ensure your cat is immune to the distemper virus.

Get Vaccinations For Your Cat

If you need to get your cat the feline distemper vaccination, consider using TalkLocal to find a veterinarian for you. TalkLocal is a free service that will connect you with top-quality veterinarians in your neighborhood within minutes. Just enter in your specific problem, location, and availability, and up to three veterinarians will call YOU directly, saving you the time and stress of finding one yourself.

If you have a new puppy, getting it properly vaccinated is an important first step to helping develop its immune system. Immunizations can keep a puppy healthy much like they do babies. Vaccines are designed to stimulate the immune system and prevent future infection by producing antibodies. If you’re wondering exactly when to get Puppy vaccinated, just keep reading.

When to Get Puppy Vaccinated

Your puppy should first get vaccinated at the first visit to the veterinarian. During the first visit, the veterinarian will give your puppy a DHPP, or combination vaccine that protects your puppy from canine distemper, infectious hepatitis, parainfluenza, and parvovirus infection. These are four important vaccines that each puppy generally gets in their early weeks, usually when they are 6 to 8 weeks old.

At the second visit, after about 10 weeks, your puppy needs to get a second DHPP vaccine and vaccines against other diseases that they may be at risk of. These vaccines are against coronavirus infection, Lyme disease, leptospirosis, and kennel cough.

During the next visit, your puppy will get her their first rabies shot, along with another DHPP shot, and possibly some boosters. Also, if your veterinarian recommends something else, it is advisable to take the vaccinations they recommend. Once your puppy has all of these vaccinations, he should be ready to go.

There are some ongoing vaccinations as well, as booster shots will need to be administered every year to ensure the vaccine remains effective. Also, every one to three years, your puppy will also need to get a booster shot for rabies.

The risk of side effects remains, but they are uncommon. Any vaccine reactions or side effects are usually mild, and not something to worry about. However, on the rare occasion your puppy has a bad reaction to the vaccine, be sure to contact your vet immediately.

Find Vaccinations for Your Puppy

If you need to get your puppy vaccinated, consider using TalkLocal to find a veterinarian for you. TalkLocal is a free service that will connect you with top-quality, veterinarians in your neighborhood within minutes. Just enter in your specific problem, location and availability, and up to three companies will call YOU directly, saving you the time and stress of finding one yourself.

Urinary Tract Infection, or UTI, is a serious problem that is most common in cats and dogs. There are a few symptoms of UTI in cats that you can use to identify whether your cat is suffering from this deadly infection. Here are the symptoms to look for.

Symptoms of UTI in Cats

Changes in urination patterns are one of the earliest symptoms in determining if your cat has UTI. Knowing your cat’s normal urination patterns is a big help in this regard so you can spot changes in their behavior.

Related symptoms include straining when trying to urinate and urine that smells extra bad. If your cat is trying to urinate and only a few drops of urine are coming out at a time, there’s a very good chance your cat is suffering from UTI and needs to be treated. Urine that smells extra bad is also an indicator that your cat may have an issue with their urinary tract.

Another symptom of UTI is if your cat seems to be avoiding their litter box. If they are urinating in seemingly strange places like sinks, this may be a sign they have UTI, and are avoiding their litter box because they associate the pain from UTI with the litter box.

If your cat seems to be grooming his or her genitals frequently, this can also be an indicator of UTI. It is possible your feline friend could be suffering from swollen and painful genitals caused by a urinary infection. If your cat is making a whining noise when grooming their genitals, this is an even more obvious indicator of UTI and it is important to get your cat checked out as soon as possible.

A definite indicator of UTI is if your cat has blood in their urine. If there is blood in your cats’ urine, your cat needs to be treated as soon as possible.

Treat Your Cat’s UTI

If you’ve noticed that your cat is experiencing even a couple of these symptoms of UTI in cats, you’ll want to get your cat checked out as soon as possible for UTI. If you need help finding a veterinarian, consider using TalkLocal to find a veterinarian for you. TalkLocal will connect you with top-quality veterinarians in your neighborhood within minutes. Just enter in your specific problem, location and availability, and up to three companies will call YOU directly, saving you the time and stress of finding one yourself.

Hamsters are small yet resilient animals. They are usually energetic creatures, but inefficient care, improper diet, poor environment, or even bad genes can slow them down and cause illness. To ensure a long (in hamster-years), healthy life for your hamster, it is important to know how to tell if your hamster is sick. Below are some symptoms that you may notice if your hamster is ill.

Some Symptoms Include:

– Unusual inactivity

– Loss of appetite: take note of your hamster’s regular activity when it is healthy. This typically means eating well, normal grooming, and active play.

– A dirty or matted coat

– Dull eyes: take note of your hamster’s appearance when it is healthy. A healthy hamster should have bright eyes and a shiny coat.

– Red or flaky skin

– Excessive itchiness

– Lumps beneath the skin

– Sneezing, or runny eyes or nose

– Dull eyes: a healthy hamster should also have bright eyes.

– Wheezing

– Shaking or shivering

– Wetness in the tail area

– Diarrhea

If you notice strange behavior or any of the symptoms listed above, you should consult a veterinarian as soon as possible. A professional can provide your hamster with a proper diagnosis and treatment.

Get Your Hamster Well Again!

If you need to find a veterinarian in your area, look no further than TalkLocal! Just type in what, where, and when you need veterinarian help, and we will connect you to the right professional in just minutes. It’s totally fast, and free!