Pet Care Articles
October 16th, 2017
Courtesy of Time.com...
By Nolan Feeney
Scientists are learning more and more about why dogs are man's best friend, and a new study suggests they can tell when people aren't being kind to their owners.
Japanese researchers conducted an experiment where three groups of 18 dogs each watched their owners interact with two other strangers and try and open a box, AFP reports. In the first group, the owner asked for help from one of the people and was refused. In the second group, the owner asked for help and received it from one person. And in the third group, both people were neutral and neither helped nor refused.
Afterwards, the two people accompanying the owner offered the dog food. Researchers said the dogs were more likely to choose food from the neutral participant and ignore the person who refused to help in the first group.
"We discovered for the first time that dogs make social and emotional ... Read more...
By Nolan Feeney
Scientists are learning more and more about why dogs are man's best friend, and a new study suggests they can tell when people aren't being kind to their owners.
Japanese researchers conducted an experiment where three groups of 18 dogs each watched their owners interact with two other strangers and try and open a box, AFP reports. In the first group, the owner asked for help from one of the people and was refused. In the second group, the owner asked for help and received it from one person. And in the third group, both people were neutral and neither helped nor refused.
Afterwards, the two people accompanying the owner offered the dog food. Researchers said the dogs were more likely to choose food from the neutral participant and ignore the person who refused to help in the first group.
"We discovered for the first time that dogs make social and emotional ... Read more...
August 19th, 2017
Courtesy of Coloradoan.com
Hospice care, palliative care, end-of-life care – no matter how the phrase is turned, it rings with finality.
For pet owners, the terminal diagnosis of a pet is fraught with conflicting emotions, confusing information, and confounding decisions that often are made within the walls of a veterinary clinic or hospital.
For some people, this burden may be eased with the option of caring for a dying pet at home. When the goal of treatment begins to shift from curing an illness to providing comfort, pet owners may consider hospice care. Hospice care is meant for pets that have three months or less to live; it is not intended for chronic, non-terminal diseases.
"Like the hospice model found in human medicine, ... Read more...
July 24th, 2017
Courtesy of www.mississauga.com
Map Real Estate Services in Mississauga, Ontario, knows that moving can be a stressful and emotional time – not just for humans, but for animals as well.
Your dog or indoor cat has likely become accustomed to the layout of your current home and the amount of space in the yard, so it may take some time for your pet to become accustomed to its new surroundings. One helpful suggestion from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) is to gradually introduce your furry friend to each room in the new home, rather than letting it run free to explore. Set up your dog or cat’s food bowl and toys in a safe area so they have a comforting place to go to during the transition.
It’s also a good idea to scope out the neighbourhood – your dog may be used to running free in a nearby park, but that freedom may not be as readily available in the new area. Research ... Read more...
Map Real Estate Services in Mississauga, Ontario, knows that moving can be a stressful and emotional time – not just for humans, but for animals as well.
Your dog or indoor cat has likely become accustomed to the layout of your current home and the amount of space in the yard, so it may take some time for your pet to become accustomed to its new surroundings. One helpful suggestion from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) is to gradually introduce your furry friend to each room in the new home, rather than letting it run free to explore. Set up your dog or cat’s food bowl and toys in a safe area so they have a comforting place to go to during the transition.
It’s also a good idea to scope out the neighbourhood – your dog may be used to running free in a nearby park, but that freedom may not be as readily available in the new area. Research ... Read more...
July 4th, 2017
It's hard to believe it, but we've been blogging online for more than SIX years now and we recently celebrated our six-year anniversary of pet sitting, back in May. The entire Paw Minders Plus family would like to wish everyone a SAFE and Happy 4th of July! Remember, most animals don't like fireworks. The lights and loud sounds can scare them. BE CAREFUL with them around your animals. Our two little ones will be staying at home when we take in the fireworks shows around Henderson this 4th. We love the shows, but know they don't. Anyway, enjoy the fun that comes with the 4th and we'll return later this month with more tips and articles on animal care! In the meantime, click the link below to check out the fireworks show at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World, FL. Taped in 2016.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEWA_9U_IOk
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEWA_9U_IOk
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June 28th, 2017
Courtesy of HealthyPets.com...
By Dr. Becker
If you've taken your canine companion to an off-leash dog park, you've probably noticed that some dogs and their owners seem pretty clueless about proper dog park decorum.
Some dog guardians clearly don't plan or prepare for a visit to an environment in which dozens of dogs who don't know each other are running loose and engaging in a variety of canine behaviors, some of which are potentially dangerous.
According to Dr. Wayne Hunthausen, a veterinarian and pet behavior consultant:
"Aggression is not uncommon at a dog park. It's certainly something pet owners need to be educated about. There are things they can do to prepare at the park—and even before."1
Rule #1 is that as your pet's guardian, you assume ... Read more...
By Dr. Becker
If you've taken your canine companion to an off-leash dog park, you've probably noticed that some dogs and their owners seem pretty clueless about proper dog park decorum.
Some dog guardians clearly don't plan or prepare for a visit to an environment in which dozens of dogs who don't know each other are running loose and engaging in a variety of canine behaviors, some of which are potentially dangerous.
According to Dr. Wayne Hunthausen, a veterinarian and pet behavior consultant:
"Aggression is not uncommon at a dog park. It's certainly something pet owners need to be educated about. There are things they can do to prepare at the park—and even before."1
Rule #1 is that as your pet's guardian, you assume ... Read more...
April 20th, 2017
Courtesy of wired.com
By Danielle Venton
Curling up with your favorite ball of fur as she purrs away is pretty close to heaven, at least for cat folk. Yet, hidden between those vibrations, that most appealing of domestic sounds remains wrapped in mystery, and even a little magic.
No one is certain exactly why cats purr, though there are a number of good guesses. The obvious observation is cats seem to purr when they’re pleased and feeling good. But that’s not always the case: Some cats also purr when they’re hungry, injured, or frightened. And most surprisingly, purring frequencies have been shown to stimulate bone regeneration—yes, bone regeneration.
Cats purr by using their larynx and diaphragm muscles, both as they inhale and as they exhale, although just how the central nervous system generates and controls those contractions isn’t yet understood. Early 19th century taxonomists thought cats ... Read more...
By Danielle Venton
Curling up with your favorite ball of fur as she purrs away is pretty close to heaven, at least for cat folk. Yet, hidden between those vibrations, that most appealing of domestic sounds remains wrapped in mystery, and even a little magic.
No one is certain exactly why cats purr, though there are a number of good guesses. The obvious observation is cats seem to purr when they’re pleased and feeling good. But that’s not always the case: Some cats also purr when they’re hungry, injured, or frightened. And most surprisingly, purring frequencies have been shown to stimulate bone regeneration—yes, bone regeneration.
Cats purr by using their larynx and diaphragm muscles, both as they inhale and as they exhale, although just how the central nervous system generates and controls those contractions isn’t yet understood. Early 19th century taxonomists thought cats ... Read more...
March 21st, 2017
Courtesy of popsugar.com
By Hedy Phillips
About 10 million pets go missing or are stolen each year, according to the American Humane Association. Pet owners' best defense against this is microchipping, which is a simple procedure done at the vet. Both cats and dogs can be easily microchipped for about a $50 fee. Home Again, a prime source for microchipping needs and information, currently has more than six million pets enrolled in its program and boasts that more than one million pets have been returned home because of its services. If those numbers aren't enough evidence that microchipping is a good idea, check out the list of seven more reasons below.
1) It hurts your pet very little. Getting microchipped is as simple as getting a vaccination. It probably hurts about as much as it does when we get shots.
2) It's a simple procedure. The microchip is about the size of a grain of rice and is ... Read more...
By Hedy Phillips
About 10 million pets go missing or are stolen each year, according to the American Humane Association. Pet owners' best defense against this is microchipping, which is a simple procedure done at the vet. Both cats and dogs can be easily microchipped for about a $50 fee. Home Again, a prime source for microchipping needs and information, currently has more than six million pets enrolled in its program and boasts that more than one million pets have been returned home because of its services. If those numbers aren't enough evidence that microchipping is a good idea, check out the list of seven more reasons below.
1) It hurts your pet very little. Getting microchipped is as simple as getting a vaccination. It probably hurts about as much as it does when we get shots.
2) It's a simple procedure. The microchip is about the size of a grain of rice and is ... Read more...