Pet Care Articles
This holiday season, Pet Sitters International (PSI), the world’s leading educational organization for professional pet sitters, advises pet owners to consider their pets and take precautions when decorating and sharing holiday treats.
“With the excitement of the holiday season, it can be easy to forget that not all traditions are a good fit for pets,” warned PSI President Patti J. Moran.
Much like toddlers, pets are attracted to bright lights, shining ornaments and dangling tinsel, and pet owners should be aware that many holiday decorations can be hazardous to their pets.
To ensure a happy and safe holiday season for pets, PSI recommends pet owners keep these decoration safety tips in mind:
- Christmas trees add beauty to the home, but pine tree water can be ... Read more...
Does your dog or cat have a microchip? Microchips are tiny transponders, about the size of a grain of rice, that are implanted in your pet between the shoulder blades, providing a permanent means of identification. The implantation is no more painful than a vaccination, and most pets don’t even notice when it is happening.
Each microchip has a unique identification number, and you enroll that number in a microchip registry with your pet’s profile and your contact information, for a nominal fee. If your dog or cat is ever lost, and then found, a veterinary hospital or shelter will scan for a microchip, and alert the microchip registry that the animal was found. The registry then contacts you. Some registries, like HomeAgain, also send out email alerts when you report your dog lost, and have apps for your smart phone.
Unlike collars or tags, the microchip is permanent, and can’t be pulled off or ... Read more...
By Ashley Gallagher, DVM
Dental disease is a common problem in our pets and can lead to a variety of health issues. It is estimated that 80% of dogs over the age of 3 years suffer from some degree of periodontal disease. Every time a dog with periodontal disease chews, bacteria are showered into the bloodstream, which then lodges in the kidneys, liver, and heart causing damage and disease. Additionally, fractured teeth, feline resorptive lesions, and tooth root abscesses are painful and can act as a constant source of discomfort for your dog. Here are a few steps you can take to help maintain the dental health of your dog.
1. Start Brushing Your Dog's Teeth Early
Start brushing your pet’s teeth when they are still young as part of a routine grooming protocol. This acclimates puppies to the strange sensation of having their teeth brushed so they learn it is nothing to ... Read more...
by Jacquelyn Prestegaard, American Society of Animal Science
190 million Americans share the luxuries of human life with their pets. Giving dogs and cats a place in human homes, beds and—sometimes even, their wills—comes with the family member package.
Amongst these shared human-pet comforts is the unique luxury to overeat. As a result, the most common form of malnutrition for Americans and their companion animals results not from the underconsumption, but the overconsumption of food. The obesity epidemic also causes a similar array of diseases in people and pets: diabetes, hyperlipidemia and cancer.
During this year's ADSA-ASAS Joint Annual Meeting, five companion animal nutrition experts from around the world further examined the implications of over- or inaccurately feeding cats and dogs. "Companion Animal Symposium: Bioenergetics of pet food" was a part of ... Read more...
Ins and Outs of Bunny Rabbit Treatment and Care
Find out the care and treatment of common rabbit health problems.
By Don Jergler
If a rabbit hasn’t had something going in one end and out the other in as little as half a day, it’s time to get the patient in for a visit right away, said Nicole Wyre, DVM, Dipl. ABVP (avian).
“They should be eating and pooping all the day,” said Dr. Wyre, who specializes in exotics at the University of Pennsylvania’s Ryan Veterinary Hospital. “If it’s been more than six to eight hours, it’s an emergency.”
This may be a sign of gastrointestinal stasis and a signal that treatment is urgently needed, Wyre added.
She and other veterinarians who specialize in treating rabbits said “eating and pooping” are easy and critical signs that general practitioners ... Read more...
Three Signs Your New Puppy May Be Overly Aggressive
By Dr. Becker
Puppy play involves a number of lively behaviors, such as chasing, barking, pouncing, growling, snapping, and biting. With all that going on, it’s no wonder many new pup parents have trouble deciding whether their furry bundle of joy is playing normally, or showing signs of actual aggression. It’s really important to know the difference, because play aggression requires special handling.
The Difference Between Normal and Problem Play
During normal play, your puppy may play bow (lower her head while raising her hind end), present her front end or side to you, hold the front part of her body up, wag her tail, zip back and forth, give high-pitched barks and growls, and spontaneously “attack.” These behaviors are fun to watch and participate in with your ... Read more...
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Mike & Marcia Nazarek
Paw Minders Plus Pet Sitters
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