Floor time and your gerbil

You love your gerbil and you want to make sure she is getting all the attention she needs from you. What should you offer her for floor time to make sure this happens?

Floor time may seem like something fun to you, but it is something absolutely essential to your pet’s health. This doesn’t mean she won’t enjoy it, but it does mean that it shouldn’t be treated lightly. Find some fun activities to offer your pet at this time to help her get some exercise, enjoy the change of scenery, and have some time to socialize. This should be offered to her each and every day to ensure she is able to make the most of her waking hours and get what she needs to be both physically and mentally happy. For additional information, please contact your vets local Tipp City, OH.

Why your chinchilla loves dust baths

Your chinchilla is a big part of your life and you want to help her have the most amazing life she possibly can. To do this, you need to make an effort to understand her. For example, why does she love dust baths so much?

Your pet can’t take traditional baths where she gets soaped up in a tub of water. Her fur is so dense, that this would make it extremely difficult for her to dry off as it would saturate it completely. Dust baths allow your pet to get cleaned up without the potential risk. This means that your little fur ball can have some fun rolling around in the dust while it soaks up the oils that have accumulated on her skin to give her a nice, clean feeling. For more information, please contact your local vet clinic Marietta, GA.

Choosing a pocket pet for your family

Your family has been looking into the different pet options that are out there, and everyone seems to agree that a pocket pet would be the ideal option for your household. How can you find the right one for your family to care for?

Your family is unique, so you will need to take the time to determine what you will be able to reasonably handle for care. This will help you narrow down your pocket pet options to those pets that will be able to thrive within your household. You should also talk about the personal preferences of those within your household, as you want everyone to be excited for the new addition’s arrival. Think about what life will be like with each potential pet, and make an educated decision after you’ve done all your research. For additional information, please contact your local Somerville, MA veterinarian.Or visit the given link- http://cambridgevet.com/

Bark Control Collars

Bark control collars are designed to reduce barking in dogs. However, these collars have no effect on the underlying cause of the behavior. Thus, there is still a need for pet owners to identify what is causing their dogs’ persistent or excessive barking. The most common bark control collars include spray collars, ultrasonic collars, and shock collars.

Spray collars

Spray collars are designed to release some citronella in response to a dog’s barking. Catching a whiff of citronella can interrupt and discourage a dog from barking. However, spray collars don’t respond to high-pitched barks, thus they are not fool-proof answers to barking problems in dogs. It is not advisable to let your dog wear a spray collar when around other dogs because the bark of another dog may trigger the collar to release citronella.

Shock collars

Barking triggers a shock collar to give the dog a mild electrical shock. This is often considered the least humane of all bite control collars.

Ultrasonic collars

Ultrasonic collars are designed to interrupt a dog’s bark with an ultra-high frequency sound that only dogs can hear.

Know more about your pet's needs during your pet’s next visit to your Ellicott City, MD veterinary clinic.

Change In Routine Can Stress Pet Cats

A sudden change in the daily routine of the household can be an important stressor for cats, considering that they are creatures of habit.

l  As much as possible, make gradual changes and give your kitty lots of physical and mental stimulation to keep him busy as he adjusts to the new routine.

l  If there are changes to your daily schedule, help your kitty adjust by gradually changing to the new schedule beforehand. If the change is short-term, such as a weekend guest, it is best to go back to the old routine as soon as possible once the guests have left.

l  If the change is a long-term one, consistency should be maintained so it will be easier for your furball to adjust to the changes.

Bring your kitty to your veterinarian Columbia, MD for regular wellness checks. Click here to know more.

How Long Should A Puppy Stays In His Crate During Housetraining?

Crate-training feeds a dog’s denning instinct. A dog should view his crate as a place of comfort, security, and privacy. And how can this be achieved? Of course, with proper training and lots of positive reinforcement. Crate training should be a positive experience for dogs.

During housetraining, the time spent by a puppy inside his crate will teach him to hold it in until he is brought to the potty spot outside in the yard. Puppies that are younger than 3 months old can stay inside the crate for 2 hours, gradually increasing the time when the expected behavior is displayed. if he starts whining, you can give your puppy some chew toys to distract him. When you take him outdoors to the potty spot, be quick to offer positive reinforcement when he does his thing in the potty spot. Letting your puppy spend some time outside his crate to play is also an opportunity for physical and mental stimulation. But if the trip to the potty spot was not successful, return the puppy inside the crate and try again in 10 minutes until he does his thing.  

Know more about your pet’s needs by visiting your vet clinic Jacksonville, FL.

Tips To Keep Your Cat Off Furniture and Counter Tops

Cats instinctively seek elevated places to rest and be able to keep an eye on what’s going on in their surroundings. Thus, one way to provide opportunities for your furball to engage in natural behaviors is to provide vertical spaces where he can climb, rest, survey, and be safe. This is also a good way to keep cats off furniture, kitchen counters, and other places where they are not allowed.

If your kitty loves to venture into places that are prohibited around the home, here are simple ways to discourage him:

l  Don’t make these places attractive to your kitty by removing any food.

l  Provide various places where your cat can climb and spend time in. A cat tree, a window perch, a kitty condo, a space on the bookshelf, or desk are better alternatives.  At first, you may have to leave some of your pet’s favorite treats in these spots to entice your pet and make these positive places to stay in.

Know more about your cat's needs by visiting your veterinarian Jacksonville, FL.

How often should you brush your dog’s fur?

Your dog is an excellent companion and you want to make sure you are there to offer him the care he needs. This will sometimes mean brushing your pet to make sure his coat stays in top shape. How often should you be doing this?


There is no set brushing frequency that would work for each and every dog, as they are all quite different. However, you will likely be able to find something that works for your pet if you are vigilant. You will need to take into account your pet’s lifestyle and fur type to determine what would be ideal, then make sure to have the best brush to meet his needs. You may find that your pet needs to be brushed sporadically due to the activities he takes part in or that you are able to stick to a schedule as he is a creature of habit. For additional information, please contact your local vet Pleasanton, CA.

Picking Up After Your Cat

Do you take your cats on walks? If so, you might want to think about picking up after your cat when out walking. You can use doggie bags to pick up your cat’s poop. Pet potty bags can be found in pet stores, commercial chain stores, some grocery stores, and some veterinarian offices. You can even find baggie holders that will attach to your cat’s leash so you don’t have to carry them around. Even if your cat doesn’t make that big of a mess if you are outside and you see that your cat has pooped in your own yard or your neighbor’s yard use the baggies to pick it up. It can prevent future messes such as accidentally stepping in it. If your cat doesn’t go outdoors, check the litter box often and keep it scooped clean. This will help the box stay fresh longer. For more tips, talk with your veterinarian Omaha, NE.

Teaching your feathery friend the ‘step up’ command

Your bird is a wonderful companion and it’s important to you that she is able to interact with you in a meaningful way. You feel that training would help with this and the ‘step up’ command is where you would like to start. How can you teach your pet what this means?

Your pet needs you to understand that training is likely foreign to her and will take a little while to get the hang of. To help her, state the command when she naturally steps onto you from her perch or back onto something placed in front of her from your body. In time, she will grow to expect these words when she performs this action and will think of the two as going hand in hand. This will allow you to say the words and have the actions be brought to mind. For additional information, please contact your local vet Fox Lake, IL.

Moving With Pets – What To Do When You Arrive At Your New Place

Upon arriving at your new home, you should tend to your pet’s well-being first by placing his crate in a secured room before letting him out. Be sure to inspect the room thoroughly as well as the new house to make sure that there are no potential pet hazards such as holes or openings which can become potential hiding or escape places for your pet. Other potential hazards that you should be on the lookout for include open windows, chemicals that may be present in the water, drapery cords, mousetraps, etc. To help ease your pet’s nervousness at being in a new and unfamiliar place, try to arrange your old furniture in relatively the same locations as in your previous place. For the first few days, try your best to avoid changing routines or schedules to avoid aggravating your pet’s anxiety.

Before moving to your new place, make sure to ask your vet Bowmanville, ON for recommendations of veterinary clinics in your new place.

Helping your gerbil stay well-hydrated

You share your home with an adorable gerbil and you know that he needs you to look after him in more ways than one. How can you help him stay well-hydrated?

Your pet needs to be able to really enjoy his time in your care and the only way for him to do this is to help him stay healthy. Hydration will need to be a top concern of yours because it is so important. Make sure your pet has plenty of fresh, clean water available to him. This should be offered in a water bottle designed for gerbils to use to he will be able to access his water with ease. Make sure to keep refreshing his water as needed and cleaning out the bottle it is placed in regularly. For more information, please contact your local vet Scottsdale, AZ.

How Often Should I Feed my Guinea Pig?

How often you feed your guinea pig will depend a lot on your guinea pig’s disposition, how much hay he eats during the day, and how many treats or snacks he has. In general, guinea pig’s should be fed a pellet food one to two times a day. You can fill your guinea pig’s food bowl half way in the morning and half way at night if you want to spread out the feedings. Or, you can fill the bowl every morning so that you feed just once a day. In addition to pellet food, you should give your guinea pig timothy hay throughout the day. As long as he’s eating the hay there’s no set number of times he should receive it. It’s good to keep a fresh pile in front of him continuously. Water should be refreshed daily. It should be checked multiple times a day. For more instructions and tips, call your vet Portage, MI.

What an exotic pet could add to your family

You have been thinking about the pet options that are out there and you feel like an exotic pet would really enhance your life. However, you want to make sure you are able to understand what bringing a pet into your life would really be like before doing so.

Caring for an exotic pet has a lot of interesting responsibilities because this type of pet naturally falls outside of the typical animals found in most homes. This means you may have some different care tasks to perform than you are used to seeing, so it’s important that you understand these prior to committing to caring for a new pet. It may also mean that you need to search a bit more for the supplies you will require to meet the needs of your new addition. For more information, please contact your local vet Conyers, GA.

Interacting with your sugar glider

Bringing a sugar glider into your home can be a wonderful experience and an exciting time for your family. You want to get to know your new pet and establish a close relationship with her. How can you do this?

Your pet needs you to interact with her throughout the day. When you are meeting her other needs, like cleaning out her cage and offering her food, make sure to talk with her and show her that you care. She will need a lot more interaction on top of this as well. Dedicate a portion of your day to her so you can really engage in an activity together. Pick something that will be fun for both of you to take part in and really focus on your pet. Your attention will pay off when she begins to trust you and when she shows that she genuinely enjoys your company. For additional information, please contact your pet clinic Temecula, CA.

Walking Your Dog on the Road

Lots of dog owners will walk their dogs on the roadways if there isn’t a sidewalk available. Roadways may include streets in neighborhoods, small-town roads, or even busy highways. It’s best if you do not walk your dog on a busy road whether it’s small town, rural, or in a busy city. Cars, cyclists, and others use the roadway may not see you. It’s also best to avoid winding roads or roadways with hills as there’s less visibility. Consider driving a short distance to a place where you can walk your dog on a sidewalk, trail or in a dog safe area. If you do walk on the roadway with your pup, walk against traffic. Wear visible clothing. Keep your dog close. Use a reflective leash and harness. Your vet Roanoke, VA may suggest walking at the least active times of the day for traffic.

Reasons to Keep Your Dog’s Nails Short

You lead a busy life. You have more important things to do than clip your dog’s nails! Or do you? There are actually some very convincing reasons why you should keep your furry friend’s claws short.

First, it’s better for his health. When his claws get too long, they can affect his gait. He will adjust how he walks and runs to accommodate his long nails, which can be very bad on his muscle tone and joints. If he has to deal with long nails for a long time, his gait may never return to normal without physical therapy.

Long claws are also more likely to tear. It’s easy for them to get caught in clothing and carpeting. Then, when your dog pulls on his foot, his claw can tear off, which is very painful!

Long nails can scratch you too! For help clipping them, call your animal hospital Cy-Fair.

How to Diagnose FeLV in Manx Cats

Raising a cat like a Manx can be a lot of fun. Part of raising a cat like the Manx is ensuring he goes to the vet on a routine basis for vaccinations and health checks. For instance, cats should be tested for the Feline Leukemia Virus or FeLV virus on a yearly basis. FeLV is is a contagious disease among cats and has no known cure. Cats that have FeLV may show symptoms such as pale gums, yellow coloring of the mouth and whites of the eyes, enlarged lymph nodes, bladder infections, skin infections, upper respiratory infections, weight loss, loss of appetite, poor coat condition, weakness, lethargy, fever, diarrhea, etc. If you see any of these symptoms in your cat please contact your vet immediately. Your vet will need to run a blood test called ELISA to determine if your cat has FeLV. Only your vets Saskatoon, Saskatchewan can diagnose and treat your cat for FeLV. For more details click here-