After my pet had a long, drawn-out battle with cancer, I realized that I needed to do a better job with understanding my pet's needs. I wanted to be there for them no matter what, so I started focusing on my other animals. They needed more love, attention, and medical care, so I focused on those things. I started taking them in for regular checkups and working on their physical appearance. I was able to spot a few other potentially catastrophic health conditions with my animals because of my actions. This blog is all about understanding your pet's needs.
Understanding Your Pet's Needs
Here Kitty Kitty! 4 Things To Look For When Choosing A Kitten
Gisele Pereira
It's time to add a feline friend to your family. Before you pick the first one you find, you should know what you're looking for. In other words, you should know how to choose a healthy kitten. Luckily, choosing a healthy kitten doesn't require a trip to the vet. By looking at a kittens face, you can tell if there are any problems with its health. Here's what you should look for when choosing a healthy kitty.
Clear Eyes
Look in your kitten's eyes. Its eyes should be clear and slightly moist. The third eyelid – that semi-transparent fold of skin located near the nose – should not be visible. There shouldn't be any signs of swelling, redness or discharge. If the kitten has brown crust in the corner of its eye, it may have an eye infection. Gently press down on the corner of its eye, if yellow or green discharge comes out, you should choose another kitten.
Moist Nose
Take a look at the kitten's nose. It should be moist and clean. Place the kitten near your face. You shouldn't be able to hear any rattling or wheezing sounds coming from the kitten's nose. If the kitten has thick, yellowish discharge coming from its nose, or it is wheezing, it may have an undiagnosed sinus problem.
Pink Mouth
The inside of your kitten's mouth should be a rosy pink color. The gums shouldn't be inflamed and the tongue should be free of sores. Your kitten's teeth should be white and there shouldn't be any plaque or tartar build-up around them. In addition, your kitten's breath should smell fresh. If you see discoloration on the tongue or gums, or notice foul-smelling breath, your kitten has dental problems that will require veterinary care.
Clean Ears
Finally, look at your kitten's ears. They should be clean inside and out. Scratches on the outside of the ear could signify ear mites. Ear mites cause significant itching inside the ear. When that happens, kittens will scratch their ears and cause sores to develop. The inside of the ears should be clean. A bit of ear wax is fine, but there shouldn't be any discharge from the ear canal.
Now that you're looking for a kitten to join your family, you want to make sure the one you choose is healthy. Use the tips here to help you choose a kitten who will be healthy and happy. Be sure to schedule an appointment with your veterinarian like North Lexington Veterinary Clinic as soon as you choose your kitten. They'll be able to get your kitty started out its vaccinations.
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