yoga12333

It may come as a surprise, if you're a new cat owner, that many health problems may befall your feline friend. Some problems are easily preventable, while others are hereditary.

Hairballs

Hairballs are among the most common of cat health problems. Cats groom themselves almost constantly, and swallow the loose hair that comes off their tongues. Occasionally, the hair gathers into a ball and lodges in the cat's digestive tract instead of passing on through the body. If your cat starts coughing and hacking, he probably has a hairball. While the end product is unpleasant for the owner, most cats don't have a problem dislodging hairballs.

However, hairballs can occasionally pass into a cat's intestines and cause a blockage. This can be a life-threatening problem. There are a few signs to look for to see if your cat's hairball is dangerous. If your cat is constipated, off his feed, or is lethargic with a dull coat, then he could have a serious blockage. A vet exam is definitely in order.

To prevent hairballs, groom your cat frequently to remove loose hair. In addition, feed your cat food that helps control hairballs.

Worms

For many cats, worms are a recurring problem. Roundworms, tapeworms, and hookworms most commonly infect cats. Cats can occasionally develop heartworms, as well. If your cat seems unable to gain weight, is infested with fleas, or has white specks that look like grains of rice in his stools, take him to the veterinarian for worm testing.

Worms are easily cured with a few doses of medication, but if left untreated, they can be fatal.

Urinary Tract Infections

Urinary tract infections are another common health problem in cats. This infection is particularly common in unneutered male cats, although female cats can also develop this problem. If your cat suddenly stops using the litter box, a urinary tract infection is suspect. If your cat's urine smells strong, again a urinary tract infection may be the cause. These infections need to be treated by a veterinarian. Ask about cat foods that reduce the likelihood of another infection.

Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP)

FIP is caused by a mutation of the corona virus. According to some experts, cats living in multi-cat environments tend to test positive for enteric corona virus. Cats can live with that virus remaining quietly in the intestines with no sign of disease for their entire lifetime. In other cases, probably a genetic pre-disposition, the virus mutates into FIP.

Once a cat has contracted FIP, it will display symptoms of a mild upper respiratory infection: sneezing, watery eyes, and nasal discharge. It may also have diarrhea, weight loss and lethargy. Most cats fully recover from this primary infection, although some may become virus carriers. A small percentage of exposed cats develop lethal FIP weeks or even years after the primary infection.

Feline Immunodeficiency Virus

FIV, or cat AIDS, is not always fatal. FIV decreases the ability of the cat's immune system to fight infections. Cats with FIV may remain free of symptoms for years. It is when the cat contracts other illnesses in the chronic stage of FIV infection that FIV is first suspected. This long list of illnesses includes oral-cavity infections, upper-respiratory infections, weight loss, ear infections, kidney disease, and many others. Although there is, as yet, no vaccine, all cats should be tested for the virus. The virus is transmitted through saliva, usually when a cat is bitten in a cat fight.

Feline Leukemia Virus

FLV was, until recently, the most common fatal disease of cats. But with a vaccine now available, the number of cases is dwindling. Although the name leukemia means cancer of the white blood cells, this is only 1 of the many diseases associated with this virus, such as other types of cancer, anemia, arthritis and respiratory infections. FLV is preventable if the cat is immunized before being exposed to the virus. Although the disease is not always immediately fatal, cats with FLV rarely have a long life expectancy. NEVER bring other cats into your household when you have a cat with FLV.

Lyme Disease

If your cat spends time outdoors, you should check him regularly for ticks. If you find a tick on your cat's body and he has been lethargic and acts as if he is in pain, ask your vet to test for Lyme Disease. This disease is transmitted to people and animals by deer ticks.

Some cats may show subtle symptoms while others may show none -- symptoms are hard to recognize and often may be confused with other illnesses or old age. Be observant of your pet's behavior. It is the only way to know if your pet has contracted Lyme disease if no tick was found. Some symptoms of Feline Lyme Disease include:

(a) lethargy,
(b) reluctance to jump or climb stairs,
(c) limping, or reluctance to put weight on a paw,
(d) loss of appetite.

The key to dealing with Feline Lyme Disease is prevention and early diagnosis and treatment. You should reduce the tick population around your home with simple landscape changes and spraying.

Good Health Care

Taking your cat for a regular check-up with the vet, and keeping all vaccinations on schedule will help assure your cat a long and healthy life. Prevention is the first line of defense for most feline illnesses.

Many owners keep their cats indoors to protect them from cars, from cat fights which may expose them to deadly viruses, from ticks, and other hazards.

Outdoor cats will enjoy greater freedom, but require a watchful eye, loving attention to their health status, and regular visits to the veterinarian.

Visit New Cat to learn more. Copyright 2005 Ron King. Ron King is a full-time researcher, writer, and web developer. This article may be reprinted if the resource box is left intact.

Today I want to talk to you about a major problem. I'm talking about the problem we all experience in our lives, which is facing weight problems.

Most of us at some point in our lives tried to lose or gain weight. It is a hard experience for most people, but a few extra pounds didnt hurt any one yet or did it?

I'm about to talk to you about a different kind of weight problem, now I'm not taking about being a little overweight, I'm talking about a serious, chronic illness.

What happens when you can't control your weight? When it becomes a burden and a life threat!?

In the past years we notice more and more excessively overweight people. Being overweight can cause health problems, such as:
Hypertension.
Stroke.
Respiratory problems.
Cancer.
High cholesterol problem.
Diabetes.
And many more

So why do we do that to ourselves? How do we get to the point when we can't stop eating and controlling ourselves?

"It's all in our mind"- Gosh I must have heard this sentence a thousand times but is it really true? Can we decide to just stop and take control?

We need to understand that overeating is not a cause of hunger it is something we do because we feel bad about our lives or something that happened to us. So it is really caused because of something in our mind but it is very real.

What can we do then?

There is a lot to do.
First we need to acknowledge the problem.

Then, talk to our friends and family and ask for help.
We need to understand the bad things in our lives and why we feel so bad.
We also need to know that eating will make us feel worse, because at first we felt bad about something but now after we ate we are mad at ourselves because once again we didnt take control. So take control- Get help!
Go to classes, talk to people, find hobbies, and most important love yourself.

If you feel bad or something is wrong in your life try and use natural treatments to relax your body. Take a warm bath with lavender, Take a walk, drink mint tea, put your feet in a warm tub with some rosemary, and just make sure you take care of the stress and the burden.

If you really feel you must eat try some of these solutions to make you stop:
Eat a lot of cabbage.
Smell grapefruit oil and vanilla oil 20 minutes before every meal.
Eat 2 red tomatoes every morning for breakfast for a few months.
Drink a lot of water.
From now on you decide and you take control! You only live once use your life wisely and dont waste them!

Ron Shelf

Alternative medicine advisor

http://www.alternative-remedies.org

http://www.grannymed.com

Obesity

There are many reasons to move to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Oklahoma City has the excitement of being the capital of the state of Oklahoma but yet can give you the hometown feel family members crave on some of their quieter residential streets. The city has so much to offer visitors and residents including political events, downtown activities including those of the Bricktown Entertainment district and the Myriad Botanical Gardens located in downtown Oklahoma City.

General Facts:

It is the 36th largest city in the U.S. with an estimated population in 2006 of 1,172,339. In 1993 the city passed a redevelopment package called: Metropolitan Area Projects which includes a baseball park, central library, a canal to the Bricktown entertainment district and renovations to the civic center, the convention center and the fairgrounds. The "Core-to-Shore project creates a connection between the core of the city and the shores of the Oklahoma River.

When deciding on whether or not to purchase real estate in Oklahoma City it is important to look at all the areas of interest including: Weather, schools and hospitals, sports and entertainment, demographic information including median price of housing.

Weather:

Oklahoma City weather has an average annual temperature of about 60 degrees with an average rainfall of 33.36" and an average snowfall of 9.1" per year and also the skies are usually clear.

Population and Education:

Oklahoma City is the 29th largest metropolitan city in the U.S. with 635,000-employed individuals. The Median age in years of a resident of Oklahoma City is 34.1 with 403,138 households and an average of 2.52 persons per household. The median household income is $32,286. Education is valued in Oklahoma City with 28% having a high school diploma or technical school certificate and 27% having a college degree or higher.

Schools:

Oklahoma has a mix of public schools, private and parochial schools, colleges and universities and also Oklahoma city Technology Centers.

Sports and Entertainment:

Oklahoma City has everything for family entertainment including - museums, liberated arts center, children's theatre, music hall, International gymnastics Hall of Fame, Martin Park Nature Center, National Cowboy Hall of Fame and the National Softball Hall of Fame, the city zoo, the Oklahoma Opry, parks and recreation department, the Philharmonic Orchestra, and White Water bay.

In the minor leagues Oklahoma City has the RedHawks a AAA affiliate of the Texas Rangers, Yard Dawgz of the Oklahoma City Lightning, of the National Women's football Association, City Blazers of the Central Hockey League.

The New Orleans Hornets of the National Basketball Association temporarily relocated to the Ford Center during the 2005-2006 and 2006-2007 seasons.

When considering a real estate decision, cost of housing, location, education, job opportunity and entertainment are all major items to discuss. Oklahoma City has all your major points of interest in a big city style without forgetting about the hometown residential needs of those who seek those comforts.

Robert is the owner of Real Estate Oklahoma City OK blog. Learn the ins and outs of real estate.