Supervising Your Pet And Baby’s Relationship
Animals are unpredictable, and babies make erratic movements, which may frighten pets. This is why you should always be present when your baby and pet are in the same room.
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An accident might occur if the cat lies down on the newborn’s face, so caution is wise, Reisner says. Dogs can attack babies, so that’s a well-founded fear that should be addressed with supervision or separation, as needed.
When your baby is old enough to crawl or walk, teach them to stay away from your pet’s toys, food bowls, and litter boxes. Child safety gates can keep babies away from litter boxes while still offering cats access to the facilities.
Things that don’t look appetizing to us can be quite appealing to babies and toddlers, Levine says. If your child accidentally ingests anything, call Poison Control at 800-222-1222. They’ll need to know the type of litter ingested, so have that information on hand.
What Are Matted Fur Clumps
The clumps are basically tangled hair. The hair gets so knotted and tangled up that it becomes a hard bunch of hair. The matted clumps can vary in size from barely noticeable to very large clumps. Often it looks as though the hair has been glued together.
Skin flakes, dead fur, dust and skin oils cause matting. When the cat isn’t able to properly clean his fur, all this dirt builds up and causes the fur to stick together.
Matted fur clumps need to be removed because they’re extremely uncomfortable for the cat. They pull on the skin and can cause quite a bit of pain. They also restrict air flow making the skin itchy underneath the clump. Sometimes skin infections can start under the clumps because of the air flow restriction.
Make A Good Vacuum Cleaner Your Bff
A good vacuum cleaner is essential to managing cat hair. Many manufacturers design their vacuums with pet hair and allergens in mind. Youll want one with a HEPA filter to reduce allergens and one that excels at picking up pet hair.
Vacuum the main living area weekly, and use the attachments to go over furniture, window treatments, and car seats as needed. My husband even vacuums the cat trees on occasion.
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Is Cat Hair Dangerous For Children
It is an old belief that cat hair is dangerous because it can be swallowed and cause serious illnesses. However, the idea that if you swallow hair it sticks to the esophagus or throat or to the internal organs is just a myth.
The debate is huge on this subject there are mothers who say that cats have to be kept around children because they help a childs healthy growth others think cat hair is extremely dangerous for health.
So I researched the subject, and heres what conclusions I got to about how dangerous cat hair is.
Like human hair, cat hair can be swallowed accidentally. In fact, any small and hardly noticeable items can be inadvertently ingested especially by children: lint, dust, hair, nail scraps, small fish bones etc.
Hair itself poses no danger because it is eliminated during digestion. It doesnt attack the internal organs nor does it stick to the esophagus or the intestines. Although it may seem strange or disgusting, the truth is that we ingest hair often, especially if we have pets. No matter how much we clean our home, we cant eliminate all risks, just as we cant control everything that the baby accidentally swallows.
There is a case when the ingestion of a cat hair may be dangerous, due to certain parasites that live on hair and can cause diseases if they get into the body, such as the Echinococcus parasite. This parasite is carried by sick and unvaccinated animals that consume raw meat.
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Petting Zoos And Farms
Some people are allergic to farm animals like cows, sheep and chickens, as well as small animals that are often found in petting zoos, like guinea pigs and rabbits.
This could be a problem for children in particular, who might go on a school trip or to a party at a petting zoo or farm, but schools have to make sure that pupils with medical conditions like asthma are able to take part in school trips.
If your child is visiting a farm or petting zoo, make sure the adults who are going with them know about their asthma.
Its essential for your child to take their reliever inhaler with them, and if the school has a spare inhaler for emergency use, an adult accompanying the trip should take that with them, too.
Your child might need to take an antihistamine beforehand. They should avoid contact with the animals as much as possible, and always wash their hands after touching an animal.
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The Bottom Line On Hair Loss In Cats And Alopecia In Cats
Dont panic over a cat losing hair just take your cat to the veterinarian for an exam. Chances are, it is not serious, Dr. Bateman says. But you dont know that just by looking at the cat, which is why its important to get it checked out.
Tell us: Have you had your own experience with a cat losing hair? What issue was at hand?
Trust The Care Of Your Pet To The Professionals At Everhart Veterinary Medicine
At Everhart Veterinary Medicine, our veterinary professionals strive to provide your pet with the very best of veterinary care. We believe that the best care for your pet should be provided by experienced, compassionate, and knowledgeable veterinary professionals. With two Maryland locations in both Baltimore and Pasadena, we are always ready to welcome your pet as a new patient! Give us a call today at 410-355-3131 or 410-793-7670! For more information, as well as updates on veterinary news and topics, visit us on , , , or Pinterest!
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Cat Allergy Symptoms In Infants
18 December, 2018
Approximately 10 percent of Americans suffer from pet allergies, according to WebMD. Cats are twice as likely to cause allergies than dogs. If your infant is suffering from cat allergies, chances are it runs in your family.
If one or both parents are allergic to pets, the risk of their child developing the condition significantly increases, points out The Asthma Center. If you suspect your little one might be allergic to cats, learn the symptoms so you can take appropriate action.
How To Prepare Your Cat For Your Babys Arrival
Preparing your cat for babys arrival will help to set the stage for a good relationship.
Cats are creatures of familiarity. Playing sounds of an infant crying before your babys arrival will help your cat get used to the noise, which will also be helpful in adjusting the cat to your new baby.
Start washing your laundry with baby detergent and wear the baby lotion you plan to use for your baby. Getting your cat accustomed to the scent will familiarize your cat with your babys scent.
Once your baby has arrived, make an effort to show more love and affection to your cat to avoid igniting feelings of jealousy. Because cats can be unpredictable, never leave your baby unattended with your cat especially when your baby starts to be more mobile. Your cat might not be open to the idea of your baby coming into their space, which can cause them to scratch or bite without warning.
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Shampoos For Greasy Fur In Cats
In any case, when you spot symptoms of feline seborrhea, it will be essential to use a suitable shampoo. A suitable anti-seborrhoic shampoo consists of an aqueous solution modified by tensioactive or surfactant agents , chemical essences and active therapeutic agents to specifically address the cause of the cat’s seborrhea.
In order to proceed with the elimination or palliation of feline seborrhea, the cat will need to have very clean skin, and you will need to use specific agents that work against their form of seborrhea.
With A Cat Losing Hair Will That Hair Grow Back
The good news for cat parents is that this hair loss in cats usually doesnt indicate a serious illness, and the hair can usually grow back, Dr. Bateman says. Dr. Hayworth, of VCA Northview Animal Hospital in the Pittsburgh suburbs, explains that how well a cat losing hair can be treated and reversed depends on the underlying cause.
Generally, if we can reverse the cause, then we can get the hair to grow back, Dr. Hayworth says. This is especially true with over-grooming related to allergies. So, if you notice hair loss in your cat, it is definitely worth a trip to the doctor.
These are six of the most common conditions behind a cat losing hair. Note that this isnt an exhaustive list, as alopecia in cats is a broad condition with many potential factors.
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Is Your Cat Losing Hair 6 Reasons For Hair Loss In Cats
One of last years litters of foster kittens brought more than joy and heart-melting cuteness to my house. Unfortunately, the outdoor kitties and their mom came with a pack of fleas, and the pests took up residence in the fur of my resident cat, G.G., who had a maddening itch. The itch soon turned into thinning hair on her belly, at the base of her tail and on her hind legs. So, is your cat losing hair? What causes cat hair loss? In G.G.s case the hair loss turned out to be caused by a flea allergy. Lets learn more about hair loss in cats, also known as alopecia in cats.
Fish Reptiles Amphibians And Asthma
Scaly animals such as fish, frogs, turtles, lizards and snakes could make good pets for people with asthma because they don’t shed dander and are less likely to trigger an allergic reaction.
Bear in mind, though, that some people do find their asthma symptoms are triggered by fish. This could be because of allergens in their food, or to algae growing in their tank.
If you think your asthma symptoms are triggered by a reptile or amphibian, you can ask your GP if you need an allergy test.
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Why Do Animals And Pets Trigger Asthma Symptoms
People often think their asthma is triggered by animal hair, but if pets are a trigger for you, youre probably allergic to proteins found in the animal’s flakes of skin , saliva, urine or even fine particles from bird feathers known as feather dust.
Touching or inhaling these allergens causes your immune system to overreact, leading to your asthma symptoms getting worse.
Lots of pets can trigger allergic asthma symptoms, from cats, dogs and horses, to rabbits, hamsters, mice and gerbils, and birds. You might be allergic to just one type of animal or more than one.
Animal allergies can develop at any stage of life. Even if you had a pet when you were younger and didnt react to it, you could be allergic to the same type of animal now.
Causes Of Matted Cat Hair
Cat hair can become matted either because of shedding or movement. When a cat sheds, hair can tangle with the intact hairs and form knots. On the other hand, frequent movement can cause the fur to mat as well. The places where matting is most common include the chest, in between the legs, the neck, or anywhere where the cats fur most meets friction. Outdoor cats and long-haired cats are more likely to develop mats than short-haired, indoor felines.
More serious reasons for matted cat hair are that the cat is overweight or is sick. The fatter the cat, the more difficult it could be for it to groom every spot. If your pet is unwell, it may stop grooming, which could increase matting. At the sign of illness, take your cat to the vet.
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Hair Loss In Cats Around Neck
The presence of a bald spot on cat neck is an indication that your cat needs urgent medical attention because it could be suffering from mange. This condition called mange is usually caused by excessive clustering of mites on the cats neck, precisely near the ears. These mites are dangerous because they block the hair follicles making eth fur to be loose and brittle.
When you notice that your cat is over-scratching its neck and there are sores and dandruff, then be assured that your cat is suffering from mange.
If you are lucky to notice those signs earlier enough, you should take your cat to the veterinarian as soon as possible so that he or she can administer appropriate medication to treat and hinder the spread of mange to other area of the neck.
A Stronger Immune System
Studies have shown that children who arent allergic to animals will have a stronger immune system, so in the future they will be less likely to develop some kind of respiratory illness or ear infections during the first year of their lives if theres a pet in your home. In addition, most likely they will not become allergic to the pollen of flowers and grasses, as their immune system will recognize it pretty early which substances are dangerous and which are harmless.
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Myths About Cats And Babies
The experts say that cats and babies can actually be friends.
Myths about the coexistence of cats and babies have abounded for centuries.
Ill confess that I, for one, was a little on edge in the past at the thought of a cat and a human infant even being in the same room.
But over the years, Ive learned to separate the facts from the myths concerning cat/baby relationships.
Worried That Your Cat May Be Losing Too Much Hair Here’s Everything You Need To Know About The Difference Between Normal Shedding And Rapid Hair Loss
At the end of the day, you just want to curl up next to your cat on the couch. But during these snuggle sessions, you might realize that your favorite black pants are suddenly covered in cat hair. This intensive hair loss may concern you, but a certain amount of shedding is totally normal. In fact, cats shed some every day and go through one to two large sheds and hair growth cycles per year, says Dr. Jennifer Lavallee, a fourth-generation veterinarian at Cat Specialist in Castle Rock, Colorado. Heres everything you need to know about a cat losing hair.
When Should You Be Concerned by a Cat Losing Hair?Shed cycles vary with each cat, and your pets cycles may or may not match up with the seasons. As a matter of fact, every individual has different shedding patterns some very little, some a whole lot, says Dr. Lavallee. If the hair coat became thin, that would be too much shedding, but this is quite rare.
If you do find that this is the case for your cat, you should take her to the vet, as this would constitute an abnormal amount of hair loss. You may also need to visit the vet if the skin under your cats hair is red, bumpy or inflamed. In a healthy cat, this skin should be white.
For more information on introducing your cat to a baby, check out Cats and Babies Together Is It Safe?
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Can Newborns Get Sick From Dogs
Some parents worry that dogs will pass germs to their babies when they lick or slobber on them. Its true that dogs mouths can harbor bacteria, especially if theyve been chewing on unsanitary things. However, germs tend to be species-specific, meaning dog germs are unlikely to make your child sick.
Protecting Your Infant While Sleeping
I hope the above didnt scare you, but it is better safe than sorry as they say. There are several things you can do to protect your little one from too much cat love. When your infant is not in his bassinet you can establish it as a cat-free zone.
Place plastic protective floor mats wrong side up inside the bassinet or on the floor at the entrance of the nursery. This will make the bassinet or nursery an uncomfortable if not unwelcoming place.
Close the door to the nursery when your infant is sleeping. If you dont have a door use a baby gate or temporary screen door. Keeping cats and newborns separated at rest time eliminates the risk.
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Allergies Particularly To Fleas And Itching And Over
Fleas can bite and irritate any cat, but some cats have a hypersensitivity to antigens within the flea saliva. These allergic cats get miserably itchy if they encounter fleas and many of them will over-groom as a way of scratching the itch. The hair doesnt just fall out the cats actually lick it so much that they pull their hair out.
Its not that the hair cant grow, Dr. Bateman says. These cats are licking it out faster than it can be replaced.
About 90 percent of those cats we see in our clinic are over-grooming, she says. It is much less likely that the hair is falling out and not regrowing.
Sometimes, a cat may engage in compulsive grooming because of neuropathic pain from nerve damage in the skin. In rare cases, a cat may groom too much and lose hair for psychogenic reasons, like anxiety after a stressful event but, its more likely that cats licking off their hair are itching from flea allergy, Dr. Bateman says.
Mange, scabies and lice also can make a cats skin itch leading to the same over-grooming and a cat losing hair. Mites, food allergies and environmental allergies also can cause itching and over-grooming.