Pet Care Articles
The majority of homes in the United States have pets, with many owners treating their pets as family members. As with any loved one, it's important to consider how pets will be taken care of in the event that tragedy strikes.
Because pets are considered personal property under state law, they need special consideration in an estate plan to ensure they receive proper care when their owners can no longer care for them. A pet trust can dictate the type of care a pet will receive after its owner is gone and supply funds for that care; it also gives owners peace of mind knowing that their beloved pets will be cared for.
While they are not a staple of every estate plan, pet trusts are growing more prevalent due to both changes in state law, and owners becoming increasingly aware of their availability. Since this is an expanding trend, and one that your clients will likely determine to be extremely important, here are some steps to ... Read more...
Dogs' noses are thousands of times more sensitive than ours, but what scent will get your dog the most excited? Your scent, according to researchers at Emory University.
Gregory Berns, director of Emory's Center for Neuropolicy, led a team of scientists to conduct the first brain-imaging study of dogs responding to biological odors. The experiment involved 12 dogs of various breeds that had been trained to enter an MRI scanner while awake and unrestrained.
As their brains were scanned, the dogs were presented with five different scents on gauze pads. The scent samples came from the subject dog, a dog the subject hadn't met, a dog that lived in the same household, a human the subject had never met, and a human that lived in the dog's household.
All five scents elicited a similar response in the parts of dogs' brains involved in detecting smells. However, the responses were much stronger for the scents of familiar humans. Getting ... Read more...
This mischievous pooch isn't supposed to be on the bed. His owners suspected he wasn't abiding by the house rules when they weren't home, so they set up a hidden camera, which captured the dog having a playful romp on the bed while the cat looks on with disapproval.
http://www.mnn.com/family/pets/videos/dog-enjoys-romp-on-forbidden-bed Read more...
Take care during playtime with Fluffy. The playful bites your cat takes out of your hand could lead to serious medical issues. A Mayo Clinic study has concluded that cat bites are a much greater health risk than previously believed. The bites can be difficult to treat because a cat's teeth are sharp enough to penetrate deep into your skin. Even if you feel only a slight sting from that nip on your hand, it could cause severe infection that may need surgery. While dog bites can create more of an open wound by tearing, cat bites are small punctures that reach a closed space deep under your skin. It may be time to teach your cat that hands aren't toys. Read more...
When they moved from striking prey outdoors to stalking socks inside, cat teeth care became our responsibility. Without clean teeth, gingivitis and stomatitis can creep in and cause serious problems.Time for pet parents to step in. It's never too late to start! Prep by getting a pet toothbrush, finger brush or a kid’s toothbrush with a small head and soft bristles. Even a piece of gauze wrapped around your finger or a cotton swab will work. Any of these tools can get slippery tartar off teeth before it hardens to plaque. Get your cat her own toothpaste, too.
Here’s how to keep your indoor cat’s teeth healthy with regular care.
1. Set up for Comfort
Hold your cat in your lap or place your cat on a table. Touch your cat’s mouth, lips and gums with your fingers. If your cat resists the setup, consider wrapping your cat in a towel. Try different handling methods to find your cat’s favorite.
2. Introduce to the ... Read more...
Cats communicate in a variety of ways. Their purrs and meows can have different meanings, but cats also communicate with body language. For example, ear position is a good indicator of how a feline is feeling. Upward ears mean a cat is alert or happy, while backward or flat ears mean to steer clear because he's irritated or frightened. But one of the best ways to get insight into your feline friend's mood is to look at her tail. Take a look below to learn all about the tales your cat's tail can tell.
Straight in the air
When a cat holds its tail high in the air, he's expressing confidence, excitement or contentment. Cats will often greet their owners with their tails straight in the air, which is a cat's way of saying he's happy to see you.
Curved like a question mark
An erect tail with a curve at the end that resembles a shepherd's crook or a question mark indicates friendliness or playfulness. Your cat is telling your it's a ... Read more...