Regular veterinary exams are the cornerstone of a good health care program for your pet, but frequently, pet guardians know something is wrong long before a pet shows symptoms of an illness or problem. Additionally, cats especially are masters at hiding signs of illness or pain. By the time they show symptoms, they're often really sick.  

By learning what is normal for your pet, and keeping an eye on even subtle changes, you can get your pet to a veterinarian before problems become serious.

To keep your pet healthy, you need to know what's normal for your pet. Even subtle changes from normal behavior and routine may be cause for concern. Changes in appetite, drinking habits, litter box routine, grooming and even the sound of your pet's voice can all be signs that something is wrong.

In addition to watching for subtle changes, one of the best ways to monitor your pet's health at home is to perform periodic health checks. These monthly checks are not a substitute for regular veterinary care. All pets should receive at least annual exams by a veterinarian; pets older than seven years should receive bi-annual exams.

When performing a monthly health check for your pet, you'll want to look at the following:

Weight

Skin and Coat

Your pet's coat should be full and shiny. Skin should not be dry and flaky.

Nose

Your pet's nose should be moist and clean, not dry and chapped. There shouldn't be any discharge or bleeding.

Ears

The ears should be clean and dry. A small amount of ear wax is normal, and can be gently cleaned by dipping a cotton ball into a warm water and vinegar solution. If you notice any discharge or odor from the ear canal, this may be a sign of infection. A coffee-ground like brown or red discharge from the ear may be a sign of ear mites.

Eyes

Eyes shold be clear and bright, with no discharge. For cats, the third eye lid may sometimes come partially across the eye when he's sleepy, but it should not be visible all the time. Pupils should be equal size, and react to changes in light.

Mouth

If your pet will let you, gently open his mouth to check his teeth and gums. If his gums are red, or there's a strong odor coming from his mouth, your pet has dental disease which will need to be addressed by a veterinarian. Other signs of more advanced dental disease include difficulty eating, excessive drooling, and pawing at the mouth.

Your pet will need to have his nails trimmed regularly from time to time. This is also a good opportunity to check for any torn toe nails or injuries to the paw pads. Nails that are too long can get caught on carpeting or upholstery and get torn. If you have trouble trimming your pet's nails, get someone to help you or take your pet to the veterinary clinic for a nail trim.

Breathing

Your pets breathing should be smooth and effortless. A cat's normal respiratory rate is between 20 to 30 breaths per minute at rest, a dog's is 10-34 breaths per  minute, unless he's panting. You can measure this by timing your pet's breathing for 15 seconds and multiplying by four. Wheezing and coughing are indicators of potentially serious problems. Rapid, labored or open-mouth breathing in cats can be life-threatening and requires emergency medical attention.

Hydration

Gently pinch the skin between the shoulder blades into a little tent. The skin should spring back into normal position almost immediately. Another way to check for hydration is to make sure that the gums are moist to the touch.

Mobility

Does your pet appear uncomfortable or stiff when walking? You may be looking at signs of an injury, or arthritis.

Hands on exam

Run your hands all along your pet's entire body with gentle pressure. If your pet responds with discomfort in any one area, or if you notice any lumps and bumps, take your cat to your vet.

By performing this monthly check, and keeping tabs on your pet's normal behavior, you'll be able to notice any changes immediately, and ensure that any problems are addressed before they become serious.

Photo by Alan Turkus, Flickr Creative Commons 

©2012 Ingrid King 

I admit it: I'm a control freak. I like predictability, consistency, and routine. Maybe that's one of the many reasons why I love cats so much. They tend to thrive on those things, too. I often waste time trying to control, plan and prevent things that I can't possibly control, plan and prevent. My cats don't do this. Despite the fact that they're creatures of habit, they seem to be much better at going with the flow.

This was really brought home to me during  our recent two-day power outage. While I was stressed about not having air conditioning, internet access and refrigerated or cooked food, Allegra and Ruby simply went about their usual business. They trusted that they would be fed, loved and cared for, whether the power was on or not.

Given that we live in a world that's anything but predictable, wanting to be in control of the universe can be frustrating, not to mention futile. The desire to control is rooted in fear, and the only way to break this useless behavior pattern is to surrender.

The energy of surrender accomplishes much more than the energy of control. By surrendering, and allowing life to unfold instead of trying to control it, you'll most likely find that things will go smoother, obstacles that previously seemed insurmountable may simply disappear, and you will feel more peaceful.

Surrender does not mean doing nothing. In fact, learning how to surrender can be hard work. It simply means taking action from a place of peace, rather than responding to stress.

The following tips can help you let go of control and surrender:

Become aware. Sometimes, it's as simple as becoming aware that you're trying to control the uncontrollable, and making a conscious choice to let go.

Breathe and take stock. Take a deep breath and step back from the situation. Ask yourself what would happen if you let go of control. Would it really be that terrible? Ask yourself why a certain situation or obstacle appeared in your path. What lesson can you learn from it? In the case of my recent power outage, I know there was a clear lesson in taking more time away from the computer. Would I have preferred to take that time in air conditioned comfort? Of course I would have. But the lesson still took, and I'm making adjustments to my schedule.

Leave room for change to occur naturally. When you give in to the energy of surrender, situations that seemed impossible may suddenly resolve.

Believe in a friendly universe. Albert Einstein once said "The most important decision we make is whether we believe we live in a friendly or hostile universe." It helps to believe in a friendly universe that supports you rather than thwarts your efforts at every turn.

I'd love to be able to tell you that I reached that place of surrender during our recent power outage, but I'd be lying. In fact, I was getting pretty whiny by the time our power finally came back on almost 48 hours after we lost it. But I am working on not letting something that I can't control, such as the weather or power companies, affect me in ways that are detrimental to my mental well-being.

And I have to look no further than to my two feline teachers, Allegra and Ruby: they've purr-fected the art of surrender.