Scientists have explained how cats and dogs heal the human heart

It’s difficult to resist the cute face of a fluffy beggar, so cats often end up with some human food. However, it is worth remembering that not all foods are healthy for cats. Some can cause severe allergies and be fatal.

Why is garlic recommended for pets?

Herbalists recommend using garlic as an antibacterial or antifungal agent and to lower blood lipid and cholesterol levels in humans. It is also sometimes used to lower blood pressure and suppress tumor formation. However, many of these goals are not supported by clinical trials.

For pets such as cats and dogs, garlic is recommended to reduce internal and external parasites. Flea products for dogs and cats also often contain large amounts of garlic.

Only happy cats purr

Photo: Shutterstock

Cats purr when they're happy, but that's not the only reason. Sometimes they greet each other like this. Purring can be a sign of illness and extreme stress. On the other hand, low frequency vibrations caused by purring trigger self-healing processes in the cat's body.

Worm infestation in cats

Parasitologists count several dozen species of parasitic worms. Due to species specificity, not all cat helminths are dangerous for owners. However, some of them can parasitize in the human body for a long time, causing digestive upset and general intoxication.

Symptoms. Symptoms of helminthic infestation in cats are:

• weight loss and changeable appetite;
• stool disorder;
• the presence of traces of blood and mucus in the stool;
• itching in the anal area;
• excretion of parasite segments in feces;
• pallor or yellowness of the mucous membranes;
• belching, periodic vomiting and bloating;
• dull, tousled fur;
• dry cough;
• souring of the eyes.

Consequences.

Parasitic worms are especially dangerous for small kittens, causing anemia, exhaustion, growth retardation and even intestinal rupture.

Reasons for appearance . Helminthic infestation is caused by:

• intrauterine infection of kittens from the mother cat;
• feeding raw fish, meat and offal containing worm larvae;
• contact with carrier animals;
• the presence of fleas as carriers of certain types of worms.

Also watch the video is garlic dangerous for cats:

Can grapes ever be good for my cat?

You may want to feed your cats fruits and vegetables to supplement their diet with added nutrients. That's all well and good, but a regular store-bought cat diet will provide all the nutrition he needs. Unless your vet says otherwise, or your cat has specific dietary needs, there is no need to add additional foods to his diet, including fruits and vegetables. If you still want to, choose products that are known to be safe and stay away from grapes.

Cats love milk

Photo: davidmaitland/cc

A very common myth is that cats supposedly adore milk. In fact, most of them are lactose intolerant. Therefore, drinking milk can cause diarrhea and other digestive disorders.

How safe is garlic?

There is a possibility that garlic may increase insulin secretion and hence it may also benefit dogs suffering from diabetes. However, at the same time, garlic should be used with caution in animals receiving insulin. Garlic can also reduce blood clotting and enhance the effects of anticoagulants.

The main problem caused by garlic consumption in dogs and cats is its ability to cause oxidative stress, which leads to red blood cell damage and therefore increases the risk of anemia in animals. However, this requires large doses, but with a small intake of garlic, red blood cell counts have been proven to remain at the same level. Concomitant use of antioxidants may also protect red blood cells from the harmful effects of garlic.

Cooking garlic in a water bath

The easiest to prepare is an infusion. To do this, 2-3 large cloves of garlic need to be crushed and pour 200 milliliters of boiling water. Let it sit for 12 hours, after which you can rub it into animal fur.

An effective remedy is to cook garlic in a water bath. To do this, turn the head of garlic into a pulp, add 1 liter of water and boil for 5-7 minutes in a water bath or low heat. Let the product brew for 7-10 hours, then strain and rub into your pet’s fur.

Garlic can only be applied to the withers of pets. If a cat or dog starts licking garlic from its fur, it can become seriously poisoned.

What studies have been done on garlic supplements?

Despite the large number of flea treatments that contain garlic, there is no scientific evidence that it is effective. However, there are some studies that support the partial effectiveness of garlic as an antiparasitic in dogs and cats.

Studies have also been conducted that show the effectiveness of garlic in the fight against Giardia (protozoan intestinal parasites) and dermatophytes (fungal skin diseases) in dogs and cats. It is believed that garlic may lower blood pressure in dogs and minimize aminoglycoside (antibiotic) toxicity in many pets. Some laboratory studies have shown garlic's ability to suppress tumor formation.

All of these effects should be considered minor, and comparable to the likelihood of garlic damaging red blood cells in dogs and cats.

Help in a clinical setting

What is first aid for a heart attack in a cat, provided in a clinic? Firstly, the specialist will reduce the intensity of the pain reaction using the sedatives he has available. Secondly, he will try to understand the reasons for what is happening to your cat. For this purpose, phonendoscopy, ultrasound and chest x-ray, general and biochemical blood tests are used...

Non-hazardous plants

There are plants that have a very unpleasant smell for cats. You can put them on the windowsill without fear, because your pet won’t even come near it.

You might be interested in: What causes a cat's eyes to water?

Plants that your cat definitely won’t touch:

• lemongrass;
• mandarin;
• sheddock;
• kinkan;
• calamondin;
• panderosa;
• coleus canine (has an unpleasant odor not only for cats, but also for other animals).

Houseplants that are generally safe for cats:

• violet;
• chlorophytum;
• jasmine;
• camellia;
• begonia;
• dracaena;
• peperomia;
• arrowroot;
• indoor grapes;
• coleus;
• Venus flytrap.

It should be noted that these plants are safe for most cats. However, there remains a possibility that these plants may cause an allergic reaction in some animals.

Cat grass (sprouted oats) can be called not only a safe, but even a useful plant. Its seeds are sold in pet stores. It sprouts within a few days and does not require special care. Such grass will delight the owner with its beautiful greenery, but the cat will be able to chew it to its heart’s content, get all the necessary components and cleanse its stomach.

Vomiting after eating cat grass is not a sign of poisoning.

The following plants are also beneficial for cats:

1. mint;
2. thyme;
3. cat mint;
4. valerian;
5. thyme;
6. Melissa.

But it is worth remembering that the cat should not consume too much of these plants, otherwise an overdose or an allergic reaction is possible. Valerian and catnip are especially dangerous, as some cats react too zealously to their smell. These herbs can be dried and filled into cat toys.

A cat eats grapes - it's deadly!

Not all human treats are good for your pet. If a cat eats grapes and purrs at the same time, this does not mean that the fruit is healthy for him. Contrary to the common misconception that a cat always knows what he eats, keep your pet away from raisins and grapes. Eating habit can kill a cat.

Why do cats love grapes?

The tailed ones just have fun. They love berries: soft, colorful and flavorful mugs are hard to ignore. Cats are very curious, so they will eat at least for the sake of interest. Such curiosity sometimes turns into a real disaster for the owners: the pet becomes ill, and sometimes it dies within a day after eating.

Medicines for worms

If you suspect worms, your cat should be shown to a doctor. After the examination has been carried out and the type of parasites has been determined, treatment with medications is prescribed. You cannot treat yourself without knowing what helminths the animal is infected with. Today there is a wide selection of effective anthelmintic products for cats. They are produced in different forms. It is most convenient to use drops applied to the withers. When giving a deworming tablet to a kitten, you need to make sure that it swallows it. The suspension is injected into the animal's mouth using a syringe with a dispenser. The advantage of medications is the rapid removal of parasites from the body. Within half an hour they can be detected in the stool. Most medications are taken once, which is very convenient. For preventive purposes, you can repeat the dose after 2 weeks.

It is important to follow the dosage recommended by your doctor. Exceeding it may cause poisoning.

There are special preparations for kittens, so you cannot use products intended for adult animals for deworming.

Recommended deworming medications for cats

The most effective are drugs based on chemical antiparasitic substances. Typically, a veterinarian prescribes the following medications:

• Pyrantel, Milbemax. They have a paralyzing effect on round helminths, as a result of which the latter are eliminated from the body. Thus, intoxication is eliminated.
• Praziquantel is effective against the fluke that attacks the lungs. Fenalidon and Fenasal are prescribed against flatworms.
• Detrazine allows you to quickly get rid of roundworms.

Opisthorchiasis requires complex treatment.

Basic rules for giving medicine to a cat: any medications must be fed before meals; it is important to strictly follow the prescribed dosage; sometimes it may be necessary to cleanse the intestines before taking the medicine; After 14 days, the anthelmintic drug is given again.

If the animal refuses to eat a tablet with food, it can be given forcibly - placed on the root of the tongue so that the cat is forced to swallow the medicine. Another option is to knead and, after stirring with a small amount of water, inject the solution into the mouth using a syringe.