CARE,Southcoast

How to Help Your Cat Get More Exercise Has your cat turned into a fluffy couch potato? Energetic kittens can quickly become overweight cats if they don't get enough exercise. Luckily, your feline friend can become more active with a little help from you. Inactivity Increases the Risk of Health Issues Your cat needs regular exercise to keep his or her heart, lungs, muscles, and bones strong and healthy. Lack of exercise and subsequent weight gain can lead to a slew of health problems, including: Arthritis Strain on the Heart Diabetes Urinary Tract Infections Decreased Lifespan High Blood Pressure Skin ...Toss a ball, dangle a string, anything that gets your cats interest and gets them moving. Watch their diets, read the ingredients on the back of the label, if it starts with a starch, put it back

Recognizing Bloat in Your Dog 

This is a real combination of symptoms that spells out EMERGENCY. These are the classic symptoms of a condition referred to as "bloat" — an extremely dangerous condition. If you notice these three combined symptoms in your dog, seek treatment immediately: 

• Pacing 

• Restlessness 

• Unproductive attempts to vomit 

Bloat is a common problem in large breed, deep-chested dogs but can also occur in smaller dogs. 

Basically what happens is this. The stomach twists causing the blood supply to the stomach to be compromised, which leads to tissue death. As tissues are damaged, toxins are released and a sequence of events occurs that, if left untreated, leads to death. 

If you ever notice these symptoms in your dog, call your local veterinarian or emergency clinic as soon as possible. 

This is a condition that is fairly common and often occurs in the evening or nighttime hours. It is also a very expensive condition to treat. I was at a local emergency clinic the other night and they had two dogs with bloat there at the same time. Buster, an 11-year-old mixed breed, was euthanized because his owners didn't have the money to treat him. The other dog was a 6-year-old German shepherd that was treated and saved with surgery. She was doing well when last I talked to the clinic. 

It is not uncommon for this hospitalization, treatment, surgery, etc. to cost over $2,000 and even up to $5,000. That is a LOT of money. 

If this type of unplanned expense would also be a lot for you — consider pet insurance.  See if it is right for you.