There are all kinds of dangers lurking for cats, not only outside but also in the home. Young, playful, and curious kittens are particularly at risk. Therefore, take the necessary safety precautions before a cat moves in with you. With the right knowledge, you will be on the safe side.
The classic serious hazard for cats is the tilt window (see corresponding article). Either open windows completely or fit them with a tilt window guard or cat net. Secure your balcony with a cat net as well.
Open cupboards and any hollow spaces or gaps between furniture where your cat can slip in unobserved can become traps: your cat can get stuck or trapped inside. If your cat has to wear a collar, use one with a safety clasp. This will open if your cat gets caught on something.
Make sure your cat does not burn itself on the hot stove, oven, iron, or candles. For example, place a pot of cold water on a hot stove top and always close the oven. Washing machines, dryers, and microwaves should always be closed. Check that there is no cat inside before using them. Always close the toilet lid and trash cans.
Do not leave sharp objects such as knives, scissors, or needles lying around. Another hazard in the home is freely accessible electrical cables. Cats play with them and bite into them. Cable ducts protect against this. Never leave items such as toy fishing rods, sewing thread, balls of wool, gift ribbon, or dental floss lying around unattended. There is a risk that your cat could become entangled or strangled. If your cat swallows thread-like objects, this can lead to life-threatening problems. Never pull on a thread that is hanging out of your cat's body. In this case, go directly to your vet.
There are some foods that cats cannot tolerate or that can even cause poisoning (see relevant article). Do not leave these lying around. Foods that are dangerous for cats include:
Some cats like to nibble on parts of plants. However, many indoor and balcony plants are poisonous to cats. These include, for example:
In addition to food and plants, there are many other substances in the home that are dangerous to cats. Always keep the following in a safe place:
When the body produces antibodies against its own structures, this is referred to as an autoimmune disease. The immune system mistakenly attacks parts of the body, thereby damaging certain functions and organs—in some cases leading to their complete destruction. Autoimmune diseases in dogs include various forms of the pemphigus and lupus complexes. The individual diseases are distinguished based on the different target structures in the body.
The prostate gland is the most important sex gland in male dogs. It is located behind the bladder and surrounds the beginning of the urethra. The secretion produced by the prostate gland is a component of semen and is ejaculated together with the sperm produced in the testicles. Prostate disorders are usually diagnosed in older, unneutered male dogs. These disorders can cause various changes in the gland.
Claw disorders are relatively rare in dogs. However, injuries, excessive licking or poor grooming can cause the claw bed to become inflamed due to the penetration of bacteria or fungi. Symmetrical lupoid onychodystrophy (SLO) is the most common form of claw bed inflammation in dogs. This rare but extremely painful disease of the claw bed mainly affects large dogs (Great Danes, Rhodesian Ridgebacks, German Shepherds) and can be triggered by various factors.
This brain disorder, which has not yet been fully researched in dogs, causes seizures that can be very frightening for dog owners. Epilepsy can be treated very effectively with medication, but its cause is still not fully understood.
The word distichiasis comes from Greek and means "two rows." In this condition, an extra row of eyelash-like hairs (distichia) grows out of the sebaceous gland openings at the edge of the eyelid. Since these misplaced, hard hairs grow toward the eyeball, they cause permanent irritation and damage to the cornea. Another form of distichiasis is ectopic cilia. These are scattered hair follicles that grow out of the inside of the eyelid as individual bristly hairs or as a whole tuft of hair, standing perpendicular to the cornea and causing permanent irritation to the eye. Ectopic cilia are most commonly found on the upper eyelid in dogs and very rarely in cats.
For people who have always been around dogs, talking to their four-legged friends is probably easy and almost second nature. But at the beginning of the relationship, it is important to immerse yourself in the dog's world and meet it where it is coming from. So you have to learn its language—not the other way around.
Cats communicate through various channels. Their behavior, body language, vocalizations, and scent markings, which are largely invisible to humans, speak volumes. But how can "cat language" be translated into "human language"?
Have you ever wondered whether your dog can see the magnificent colors that nature sometimes presents us with? Have you ever thought about how your dog sees you and how it perceives its environment with its eyes?
Fungal diseases are among the most common skin diseases in horses. They occur regardless of the season, are easily transmissible, and cause circular, scaly, non-itchy skin lesions. Young horses whose immune systems are not yet fully developed are particularly affected. Humans can also become infected with a skin fungus from horses, meaning that it is a zoonosis.
Castration of stallions is one of the most common medical procedures performed on horses and refers to the surgical removal of the male sex organs or gonads (testicles). This is an amputation permitted under animal welfare legislation. A castrated stallion is referred to as a gelding and is permanently infertile.
Horse influenza, similar to influenza in humans, is a highly contagious viral disease of the upper and lower respiratory tract. Its classic progression makes it easy to distinguish from other respiratory diseases. With the exception of New Zealand and Australia, it occurs worldwide. It is the most common viral respiratory disease in horses. Despite almost universal vaccination, outbreaks of the disease continue to occur.
Everyone has probably heard the term "mangy dog" before. But what exactly is mange? Mange is a contagious skin disease in dogs caused by various types of mites. Classic mange in dogs is caused by the Sarcoptes mite (scabies mite). However, there are other types of mites that cause similar skin changes.
