How to Clean up Cat Pee
14 May 2009How to Clean Up Cat Urine
One of the most common questions we get asked is “Why does my cat keep urinating in the same place”?? Well the reason behind this is that your cat has a sense of smell 14 times greater than yours!! So all though you think you have done a wonderful job of cleaning up, your cat can still smell where it last used the toilet and will continue to go back to that area until the smell has totally gone. So, you may be asking, how do I get rid of the smell, well below are some methods that you should find will solve the problem, if not please feel free to email us and we can discuss other methods with you. Statistics show that the main reason people surrender their cat is due to inappropriate elimination and we don’t want you to be another statistic. Also remember that it is not just the male (Tom) cat that sprays and marks their territory, female cats can also do this.
Cleaning Methods:
Carpet
1. Get some paper towels and blot up as much as you can as soon as you are first aware the cat used the area.
2. Cover the area with a towel or a pile of paper towels and stand on them. You may have to do this several times.
3. When you have soaked up as much as you possibly can, get out the carpet cleaner or use a few drops of dish detergent mixed with water. Saturate the area with this, and just let it sit on the area for an hour or two. No scrubbing
4. Rinse the area by gently blotting. Wet a sponge with tap water and rinse the area again.
5. Soak the area with a mixture of soda water and salt for ten minutes.
6. Blot up the mixture and place fresh paper towels or a fresh towel over the area.
7. Weigh down the towels with something heavy, e.g., books, furniture, etc., and leave overnight.
8. In the morning, spray the area with a bio enzymatic cleaner. In Australia you can use Urine Off
9. Never use ammonia or ammonia-based products on the carpet. The smell may attract the cat to that area and can encourage cats to urinate in the area.
10. DO NOT EVER use any chemicals that contain Phenol, this is HIGHLY TOXIC to cats and can cause serious liver damage.
11. Keep the cat away from the area.
12. If the smell is bad and the cat continues to use this area despite all the cleaning, replace the padding underneath and clean the area under the carpet.
Linoleum
1. Wipe up the puddle with paper towels or a mop soaked in soapy water.
2. Clean area thoroughly and rinse with warm water.
3. Wipe the area with a sponge dampened with white vinegar.
4. Let the area air-dry.
Hardwood and Cement
1. Blot up as much liquid as you can, then use a bio enzymatic cleaner.
2. If the smell is strong then bleach and refinish your hardwood floors.
Laundry
1. Machine-wash your laundry using a cup of white vinegar and no detergent.
2. When the laundry cycle finishes, add detergent and wash regularly.
Pet’s Surgery Costing an Arm and a Leg (Literally)
14 May 2009I beg all of you to consider pet insurance for when your pets get injured. PETS are needlessly losing limbs as cash-strapped owners forgo veterinary treatment.
The Melbourne Lost Dogs’ Home has recently amputated the limbs of four abandoned dogs.
Vets said inexpensive early treatment would have saved three of the dogs the trauma of major surgery and life-changing disfigurement.
Animal owners in Britain are reportedly dumping pets at more than twice the normal rate as the world economic crisis takes hold.
The British RSPCA said 30 pets were dumped daily – a 60 per cent increase.
While most Australians kept their pets and adopted strays at much the same rates, Lost Dogs’ Home staff said some owners appeared to baulk at paying for treatment for pets in poor health.
“In the past month we have had more surrenders, and people invariably cite financial reasons,” said Lost Dogs’ Home shelter manager Sue Conroy.
“Of the four dogs to have undergone amputation, three had accidents causing injuries that did not receive medical care at the time, and we have been left with no option but to amputate.”
Ms Conroy said people were feeling the pinch across the board and would be pressed to pay some vets’ bills.
The Lost Dogs’ Home covered the costs of the four dogs’ life-saving surgery and will offer them for adoption. While one is still recovering from the surgery, the others are available now.
“One is a golden retriever and there are two terriers,” Ms Conroy said.
“All three have delightful temperaments and have adapted remarkably well to the loss of a leg.”
Coincidentally, all the dogs lost their left rear limb.
If you are looking to adopt a dog why not pay a visit to the Lost Dogs Home or have a look at their website: http://www.dogshome.com/content/give-dog-home
Are Cats attracted to people with cat allergies?
14 May 2009There is a popular belief that cats are attracted to people that are allergic to them. This belief probably comes from experiences that allergic people have had with some cats. We’ve all probably seen an allergic person in the presence of a cat that rubs up against her, tries to get in her lap and generally just tries to be near her. While it may be true that some cats may show friendly behavior towards people that ignore them, there is no evidence that they specifically pick on the allergic. If you think about it, such behavior by cats would require that they be able to identify those that are allergic, and then specifically treat them in a special way. It is possible that cats could identify people that were having an allergic reaction to them, but how could they identify allergic people before they had a reaction? Even if they could identify such people, why would they want to “pester” them with attention? Are cats cruel and get pleasure from seeing people suffer with allergic reactions? We have no evidence that cats are motivated in such ways and that they get pleasure from seeing people suffer.</p>
<p align=”left”>A more likely explanation for the interactions that allergic people have with cats is that most of these people try to avoid or ignore the cats they encounter so that they can minimize their allergic reactions. Many cats are initially shy around unfamiliar people. They are often fearful and avoid people that approach them, try to touch them or pick them up. Cats seem to be less fearful and more friendly to people that do not initially try to approach or touch them but that just sit quietly and let the cats approach them first. So when the allergic person ignores the cat, it reduces her fears and makes her more likely to approach and interact in a friendly way, rubbing up against the person, soliciting petting and trying to get into the person’s lap. If the allergic person yells at the cat, pushes her away, or does other aversive things, the cat is likely to leave, but she may try to come back later if the person is again quiet.</p>
The rest of us have something to learn from the way that allergic people deal with cats. If we want unfamiliar cats to be friendly to us, we should ignore them at first and let them come to us. We should let them interact with us on their terms and then be gentle with them. Often this helps to establish good relationships with cats.
Daniel EStep PHD
http://www.Melbourne-petminders.com.au
Do cats need to go outdoors?
14 May 2009This week we have a short quiz for you cat fanciers. Answer true or false to each statement.
1. Cats need some “outside time” when they can roam free.
2. Cats that roam freely outside live shorter lives than those that live indoors.
3. Cats that roam freely outside don’t present a significant nuisance to others.
The first and third questions are false and the second is true. Often people let their cats roam freely in the neighborhood because they think that their cats need some outside time. There is no evidence that cats “need” to roam freely outside. They are not harmed physically or behaviorally if they do not get outside. Certainly there are some cats that are very persistent about wanting to go outside, especially those that have been outside cats in the past. They can meow, howl, pester and try to dash out the door or even try to break out of windows. This can be distressing to owners and sometimes the easiest way to deal with such pesky cats is to just let them out. This is not a good idea because it shortens the lives of cats to be allowed to roam freely outside. They can be injured in fights with other cats, by dogs and wild animals, killed by cars and trucks and subject to diseases from other animals.
Cats that roam freely can also become a significant nuisance to the community by eliminating in the neighbors gardens and yards, by digging up plants, killing native wildlife, getting into fights with neighbor cats and if they are not spayed or neutered, by reproducing and often leaving kittens that end up in shelters. Roaming cats can also harass indoor cats by threatening them, attacking them through windows and doors and by spraying the outside of neighbor’s houses. Such harassment can lead the indoor cats to spray, fight with other indoor cats or even attack their owners. In some councils, it is illegal to let a cat roam freely away from an owner’s property.
If you have an outdoor cat the best thing you can do for her is to bring her inside and make her an indoor cat. If your indoor cat wants to go outside, try to distract her with play or attention when she gets pesky. If this doesn’t help, try putting her on a time-out away from the doors until she has quieted down. Try to enrich her environment with toys, things to climb and things to scratch. If these things don’t work and you feel you need to give the cat some outside time, either build an outside cage where the cat can be outside but safe, or cat-proof your back yard so the cat cannot escape and let her out back when she wants out. If these things are not feasible, consider putting her on a harness and leash and taking her outside under supervision.
Daniel EStep PHD
http://www.melbourne-petminders.com.au
Cats Fighting and Redirection
14 May 2009With the coming of nice warm weather, unfortunately more cats are being allowed to roam unsupervised outdoors. Not only does this put the outdoor cat at risk, surprisingly there can be repercussions for indoor cats as well.
We recently talked to a cat owner who had noticed her two cats staring out the backdoor, watching as a roaming cat paraded through the backyard. One of her cats was becoming more and more agitated by the outdoor cat’s presence, and all of a sudden turned and jumped on her other cat who was sitting nearby.
The cat who was attacked fought back to defend herself, and the owner had a difficult time separating them. This is a classic example of redirected aggression. This occurs when an aggressive response is triggered by one event (the presence of the cat in the backyard), but released onto another target (the indoor cat), usually because the aggressor is prevented from attacking the provocateur.
We have seen a number of these cases over the years, in which this kind of an event turns two cats who were used to living together peacefully into animals who can’t be in the same room together without fighting. One redirected episode like this can cause a problem that can take months to resolve.
If there are many loose cats in your neighborhood, you may want to take steps to prevent such a problem from developing. When you are home, don’t let indoor cats sit in the window and observe outdoor cats. Encourage them to do something else, such as play with a toy, or if you are not home, consider confining them in a room without windows.
You can try to block the cat’s view by placing sheets of cardboard or aluminum foil across the lower part of the window, if you don’t object to a somewhat unsightly look. Another option is to “booby-trap” the window-sill so that your cats do not want to jump onto it. If your suburb/council has animal ordinances preventing cats from roaming, contact an animal control officer, or the owner of the cat.
If such an incident has already happened, and your cats are already fighting, you should separate them to prevent further fights. They will need to be re-introduced to each other as if they were meeting for the first time – allowing only minimal contact associated with something pleasant for both animals. Sometimes professional behavioral help is required and even short-term medication prescribed by a veterinarian.
Daniel EStep PHD
www.Melbourne-petminders.com.au
Guest spotlight: Comet and Angel
12 May 2009We’ve included a couple of photos and a video of Angel & Comet who stopped with us recently. Comet is 8 years old and Angel is 6 months old. Like most whippets, they have a friendly nature and enjoy human company. They enjoy relaxing around the home and will curl up and sleep almost anywhere, however, don’t be deceived, once out and about, they quickly get upto speed 
(Whippets can reach a top speed of around 60km per hour)
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Airline Just for Pets
11 May 2009A new airline scheduled to take off in the US fully expects its passengers to behave like animals.
On Pet Airways, of Delray Beach, Florida, all pets travel in the main cabin and owners are not allowed on board – not even in the cargo hold.
The airline claims to be the first designed specifically for the safe and comfortable transportation of pets.
Company founders Dan Wiesel and Alysa Binder say they got the idea while planning holidays with their pet dog. ‘Handled as baggage’ “Currently, most pets travelling by air are transported in the cargo hold and are handled as baggage,” said Mr Wiesel.
“The experience is frightening to the pets, and can cause severe emotional and physical harm, even death. This is not what most pet owners want to subject their pets to, but they have had no other choice, until now.” Seats are removed to make way for pet carriers
The airline has scheduled its first flight for cats and dogs for 14 July and will serve five US cities – New York, Washington DC, Chicago, Denver and Los Angeles.
Pets – or pawsengers, as the airline calls them – can be booked in online and are checked in to a Pet Lounge at the airport. Pet attendants give the animals a “potty break” shortly before take-off and then monitor the animals during the flight. Owners – or Pet Parents – can follow their travel progress using an online “pet tracker”.
On its website, the airline promises never to leave a pet alone adding: “A pet attendant will always be within a cat’s meow.”
The flights will be made in 19-seat turbo-prop planes operated by Suburban Air Freight, which have their seats removed to make space for the pet carriers.
Melbourne Pet Minders provides pet sitting and pet boarding in Melbourne
Updated Photo Gallery
11 May 2009We would like to apologise for the delay in updating or adding photos to the Gallery, we are slowly trying to update these as quickly as we can. You will see that we have recently added Mac a gorgeous Golden Cocker Spaniel that has boarded with us on more than one occasion. We also have Comet and Angel whose owners have been using our services for over 1 year now. There are also photos of Billy and Benji, two pomeranian crosses, one of which was totally blind, they have stayed with us and we have also pet sitted in their own home.
Not only have we been busy with dogs, cats and rabbits boarding with us but we have also been busy pet sitting in and around Melbourne and also keeping busy with the dog walking. We are currently puppy sitting for a breeder whose show girl has recently had a litter of 9 gorgeous and delightful puppies.
Canine Influenza or Kennel Cough?
11 May 2009So What is the Difference Between Canine Influenza and Kennel Cough??
Firstly, the canine influenza virus is not the same as the canine parainfluenza virus. Apart from the fact they are both respiratory diseases that can involve dry, or unproductive, coughing and nasal discharge. Both diseases can be mistaken for tracheobronchitis, or kennel cough. The canine influenza virus is a newer disease than the canine parainfluenza virus and was first discovered in 2004 on the Grehound Tracks of America. It is very similar to the equine influenza virus and some vets think it may even be a mutation of it.
Below is some information which we hope will help both you and your vet decide if your dog has Kennel Cough or Canine Influenza.
What is canine influenza and where did it come from?
Canine influenza is a viral respiratory infection of dogs. It is closely related to equine influenza virus, which has been known for over 40 years as a cause of respiratory disease in horses. Canine influenza is believed to have “jumped species” from horses to dogs relatively recently; blood samples from before the year 2000 show no evidence of exposure, but since 2000, there has been increasing evidence of infection, first in greyhounds and more recently in pet dogs.
Is it common for a virus to suddenly infect a new species?
It’s not all that common, but it’s certainly not unheard of. Most of the time, when a virus moves into a new species, it creates a “dead end” infection; that is, it does not spread readily from animal to animal within the new species. However, once in a while a virus adapts not only to cause disease but also to spread from one animal to another, which is when large-scale epidemics can occur.
Those of you who have been around for a while may remember when this happened with canine parvovirus around 1978. Canine parvo is believed to have evolved from the closely related feline panleukopenia, and within just a few years it spread worldwide in the canine population. Other recent and well-publicized examples include the coronavirus that caused SARS in humans, believed to have originated from a strain that normally infects bats; it was perhaps transferred through civet cats. SARS proved capable of both infecting humans and spreading directly from one person to another.
People are worried about avian influenza H5N1. This virus has made the first jump—a human exposed to an infected chicken can contract the disease—but has not yet made the jump allowing it to be spread human to human. (Scarily enough, cats can also contract this infection when exposed to infected birds, and can spread disease from one cat to another.
There are some things in common among the chicken factories where avian influenza viruses tend to spring up, the wild animal markets where SARS made the transfer to humans, and the greyhound tracks where canine influenza first emerged. When stressed animals are crowded together, there are many opportunities for viruses to mutate and spread, sometimes into new species. For this reason, in breeding kennels or shelters where many of the same crowded and stressful conditions exist, it’s important to keep species separate as much as possible. This is especially true for sick animals.
If you have a kennels or a shelter you really need to isolate sick dogs. This can help stop infections we already know can cross species, such as Bordetella bronchiseptica (the main bacterial cause of kennel cough) and some strains of canine parvovirus that can infect cats.
Can canine influenza infect humans or any other species?
So far, there is no evidence that canine flu can infect humans. The closely related equine influenza has been around for many years and has never been considered a human health risk. Researchers are still investigating whether or not cats can be infected and spread the disease; no outbreaks of disease associated with canine influenza have been found in cats so far. There is no evidence at this point that the disease can spread to ferrets or back to horses.
What are the signs of infection?
Canine influenza can look just like kennel cough arising from other causes. This is especially true in breeding kennels, boarding kennels and shelters, where we are more likely to see relatively severe forms of the common kennel cough infections. The most common signs include nasal discharge and a dry or moist cough that can last up to about 30 days. Some dogs may experience fever, loss of appetite, and depression; a small percentage develop pneumonia. The incubation period is short—usually around three to five days. About 20 percent of exposed dogs will get infected without showing any signs of disease. Although fatalities are more common than with run-of-the-mill kennel cough, the rate is still low, estimated at about one to five percent. Aside from greyhounds being more susceptible to fatal infection, there are no known ways to predict which dogs will be at risk for severe disease. All ages seem to be at risk, and severe disease has been reported even in healthy, well-vaccinated pets.
In outbreaks among racing greyhounds, “acute hemorrhagic pneumonia” has been seen; this may present as sudden death with blood coming out of the nose and mouth. This has not been reported as a common feature among infections in pet or shelter dogs, and may reflect a different susceptibility in greyhounds. So if you are seeing sudden death in your dogs, some other infection is likely involved, although canine flu may be present as well. Contrary to rumors, canine influenza does not mimic parvo. If it looks like parvo, it probably is!
How can canine influenza be diagnosed?
There is no quick test to diagnose infection in a live dog. Infection is determined by finding antibodies in serum. Acute infection can be diagnosed by collecting two serum samples, one at the onset of signs and one two weeks later to detect rising antibody levels. A history of infection can be established by analyzing a single serum sample any time more than one to two weeks after exposure. Although a single sample cannot tell you whether or not a recent infection was caused by canine influenza, a high percentage of positive antibody titers in a canine population is strongly suggestive that disease is being spread.
Right now, Cornell’s Animal Health Diagnostic Center is the only place set up to look for antibody titers. More information about sample submission is available on their website at www.diaglab.vet.cornell.edu/news.asp. (You can also find this page by typing “Cornell canine influenza test” into Google.) UC Davis is working on developing diagnostic testing services, and testing will likely be more widely available in the future. In addition to testing for canine influenza, diagnostic testing for other canine respiratory infections—including Bordetella bronchiseptica, canine distemper, parainfluenza, and adenovirus—should be considered.
How should we treat dogs with canine influenza?
As with all viral infections, treatment mainly relies on supportive care. Secondary bacterial infections probably play a role in causing severe disease, so antibiotic treatment may be needed, especially in dogs who develop green or yellow nasal discharge or pneumonia. A broad spectrum antibiotic should be used, as a wide variety of secondary bacterial infections have been found in dogs with influenza. Doxycycline, which is a common first-choice antibiotic for kennel cough, may not be effective against secondary bacterial infections associated with influenza. If dogs have a productive cough then Cough suppressants are not required. Trials are underway to assess whether the antiviral drug Tamiflu is effective against canine influenza, and if so, at what dose. In the meantime, using Tamiflu at ineffective or partially effective doses raises the risk of developing drug-resistant strains of influenza, a phenomenon that has already been documented in humans. In the interest of maintaining the usefulness of this valuable drug, it would be best to wait for more information before deciding to use Tamiflu for treatment of canine influenza.
How does canine influenza spread, and how can we keep it under control in our kennels/shelter?
Like the other canine respiratory agents, canine influenza can be transmitted by direct contact or fomites or via airborne spread. Spread may be similar to that of canine distemper, transmission of which has been observed over distances of up to 20 feet, even from non-coughing dogs. The virus is easily killed by any commonly used disinfectant such as a quaternary ammonium compound or bleach solution diluted at a ratio of one part bleach to 32 parts water. As with distemper, continued spread is more likely a result of inadequate isolation of sick and carrier animals, rather than inadequate cleaning. To control an outbreak, focus on quickly identifying sick animals and removing them in to isolation. Isolation in an area with separate air supply is ideal, but a separate room even with shared ventilation will be significantly helpful. Sick dogs should be handled with the usual isolation precautions: separate cleaning and care supplies, gowns or other protective clothing, and gloves, as well as shoe covers, dedicated boots, or foot baths. Dogs may continue shedding virus up to a couple of weeks after recovery.
Is there a vaccine available?
Not yet, although trials are underway. A vaccine against equine influenza is available for horses, though like many respiratory vaccines, it is not 100-percent effective. The fact that there is an equine vaccine suggests the same may be achieved for dogs, but the equine vaccine is not safe for use in dogs, nor has it been shown to be protective. Don’t use it! While we wait for a flu vaccine, vaccinating all dogs against the respiratory agents we can ward off remains a good investment; the practice will also help reduce the occurrence of false alarms regarding canine influenza. This includes distemper, Bordetella, parainfluenza, and adenovirus-2. Canine distemper vaccine is always given as a subcutaneous injection, while the other three may be given as intranasal or injectible vaccines.
REMEMBER!!
Canine influenza has spread widely recently and is likely to continue doing so. Wherever it appears, few or no dogs will have immunity. Still, most cases so far have been associated with exposure in places where dogs are closely congregated, such as boarding kennels, shelters, and veterinary clinics. “Kennel cough” is called that for a reason—it mostly happens in kennels. Casual exposure at a location such as a dog park is less likely to result in significant disease, though of course it’s not impossible. Reasonable precautions include keeping dogs up-to-date on vaccinations against other respiratory infections, keeping dogs away from dog parks and other common dog-gathering places during and at least two weeks after any illness, and making sure that boarding kennels are clean, well-run, and armed with a plan for isolating dogs who develop kennel cough.
New South Wales Registers 263 Dog Attacks
11 May 2009A new report says 263 people were attacked by dogs in New South Wales from January to March this year. During that time, 61 people required medical attention as a result of a dog attack, one death was recorded, and 100 dogs were destroyed. The report comes from an online register where local councils are required to report any dog attacks within 72 hours. The NSW Minister for Local Government, Barbara Perry, says ultimately it is up to owners to prevent dog attacks. “We can have the best tools for reporting and getting information and have the best laws and the toughest laws – which we do, here in New South Wales – but nothing substitutes for responsible pet ownership and we need to remember that as a community,” she said.
