Grooming Tips for Your Cat

 

Your feline friend is very good at grooming herself. That doesn’t mean you can’t give her a helping hand on occasion, though. In fact, keeping up with a grooming routine for your cat is a good idea for her appearance and her health.

Brush your cat on a regular basis. This removes dead and loose hair from the coat and gets rid of any grime hiding underneath the fur. Brushing also spreads natural skin oils throughout the coat, which moisturizes it effectively without the need for additional products. It’s also a good idea to bathe your cat every now and then, as much as she may dislike it. (Be sure to use a feline-formulated shampoo!) Last but not least, make sure your cat is fed a high-quality diet. When Fluffy receives the right nutrients through her food, the skin and coat stay healthy.

Contact your vet clinic Westminster, MD for more tips on your cat’s grooming regimen.

Nutritional Needs of Your Pet

Your pet dog has specific nutritional needs. You cannot just feed him any food to suffice his needs. Hence, premium quality, life stage-appropriate pet foods are created to meet these needs. Dog food is formulated to meet the nutritional needs of a dog, and cat food is intended to meet the nutritional needs of a cat. Just like humans, your pet's nutritional needs may vary. A puppy requires different food from an adult dog. Further, a dog’s health problems should be taken into consideration and may need special dietary needs.

 

Here are some tips to consider to meet the nutritional needs of your pet:

●      Feed your dog with just the right amount of food.

Do not overfeed your pet dog. Overfeeding can lead to obesity and might cause him health problems like renal problems, heart disease, and more.

●      Choose your pet food wisely to avoid illnesses.

If you are apprehensive about his dietary needs, consult a veterinarian for what is best dietary for him.

 

If you have any concerns about your pet’s diet or appetite, talk to your animal hospital London ON.

Hotspots In Dogs

 

Pyotraumatic dermatitis, more colloquially known as ‘hot spots’ are lesions on a dog’s skin that sooner or later become infected, because the dog will scratch, lick, or bite at them.  These spots can happen anywhere in the dog’s body, most commonly on the hip, on the head, or the chest.  'Moist dermatitis' is another name for this condition.  The primary symptom of a dog having hot spots is having an oozing reddish area, itchy and painful.  Hair could be absent from the spot.  Or, there could be matted hair, hiding the severity and the size of the lesion.  The lesions can quickly grow in size and number in as short as a few hours as the dog incessantly licks, chews, and scratches the spot.  You might observe the spot in the morning to be an inch or so, then at night, be as big as your palm.  Since the dog might be in pain right on and around the area, he might not let anyone, including the owner, touch him there, and may snap or growl if there is an attempt by anyone.

Take your dog to the veterinary clinic if you see any hot spots.  The sooner a vet Bourne, MA sees your pet, the better.

Do’s And Dont’s When Making An Enclosure For African Pygmy Hedgehogs

 

Are you thinking of building a home for your pet hedgehog? The first thing you should consider is the size of the case you can give. Remember that hedgehogs need enough space to run around. The minimum required space is 2 x 3 square feet.

Follow these do’s and don'ts when building the home for your hedgehog:

DO:

●       Use space bars or wires with a small enclosure so the hedgehog can't come out.

●       Use a large enclosure like fish tanks or plastic storage bins. Put ventilation holes so the hedgehog can breathe while inside the enclosure.

●       Use aspen shavings or recycled paper for bedding.

●       Use fleece fabrics as alternative bedding, but cut out the extra ends to avoid accidents.

DON’T

●       Use wire floors

●       Use cedar shavings because it contains harmful chemicals that are bad for small mammals.

Once your hedgehog has settled,  make an appointment with your animal hospital North Dallas, TX for your pet’s first wellness check.

Why Cats Better Live Indoors

 

There exists a reason why you should consider keeping your cat indoors. Outdoor cats lean more to having shorter life spans than indoor-only cats. Cats whose lives are mostly spent outdoors tend to live only at an average of 2-5 years, while cats who live exclusively indoors live up to 15-20 years. There are many risks that cats who are let outdoors can encounter which shortens their lifespan. Here are two of them:

• Parasites and diseases

Your cat could possibly acquire parasites like worms, mites, ticks, and/or fleas when going outside. She could also be at higher risk of contracting other serious health problems from other outdoor cats, like feline AIDS (auto immunodeficiency virus), feline distemper (panleukopenia), feline infectious peritonitis, and feline leukemia. Having your cat stay indoors can reduce the risk of contracting these diseases.

• Wild animals, dominant cats, and dogs

While wandering outdoors, a cat could encounter dangers like stray dogs, wild animals, and also other cats who are dominant in an area. Larger wildlife can also target a cat as prey. Or if your cat gets into a fight with a dominant cat, she could come home injured or a seriously infected wound, both of which could be life-threatening.

Make sure to bring your pet to your veterinary clinic Pembroke Pines, FL to have her preventatives and vaccinations updated.

Why Giving Age-Appropriate Food Is Important

 

Pets have different nutritional needs at various stages in their life. This is why pet food is formulated according to age. Choosing premium food would also benefit your pet.

Puppies and kittens are still growing. So they need a high-calorie and high-protein diet. Puppy food contains these nutrients. Premium food also contains DHA to help in the young pet’s mental development to help support their growth.

If you give adult food to a puppy, it might have a nutritional deficiency because of the formulation. Adult food does not contain the needed nutrients of a puppy or a kitten. On the other hand, giving puppy food to older dogs can make them obese because of the high- calorie content. Since older dogs are not as active, they don’t need a lot of calories.

Remember, any changes in the diet should be consulted with your veterinarian Davie, FL. You can get advice on when is the right time to switch food.

Safety Tips To Observe At The Dog Park

 

Dogs of all ages, sizes, and personalities converge in the dog park, thus, there is always the possibility of displays of aggressive behavior. Here are safety tips to remember when bringing your dog to the dog park:

• Bring only healthy dogs. Be sure that your pet dog is vaccinated before you bring him anywhere or even at the dog park. 

• Make sure to read and follow the rules of your local dog park, some parks do not permit puppies below 4 months.

• Do not bring a female dog to a park when she is in heat. This will attract male dogs especially the unneutered ones. Keep an eye on your pet male dog that is still unneutered.

• Dress down your dog. I know you want to dress your dog especially when going out, but I advise you to not do that when you are bringing him to a park. To prevent snagging onto branches, fences, or to other dogs, remove any of your dog’s gear, harness, or dog clothes. But make sure to leave on his collar and ID tag.

• Do not bring his toys and also your kid/s. Bringing his toys might attract other dogs to get it, and they get jealous if others touch his belongings.  If it’s the other way around, take your pet to another part of the park. Do not bring kids along. Dogs might get enthusiastic and could knock down your kids. Some dogs are child-friendly but it’s best to keep your kids at a safe distance from unfamiliar pets.

Your pet will benefit from regular health and dental checks at your vet clinic Anderson IN.