Dog Chewing Paws and Nails: Reasons and How to Help

 

Dogs have the habit of licking and chewing. Every dog lover knows that it is quite natural to watch your dog licking its paws and nails. However, there is a limit to this as more frequent licking and chewing can be a sign that your dog is sick with some inflammatory condition. 

Dogs chewing Paws and Nails: Is it Normal? 

Brief sessions of chewing and licking especially after a walk or play sessions are pretty normal behavior by dogs. Sometimes dogs also start licking before they relax and settle into their bed.

You should be aware of any irregular pattern of licking shown by your dog. For instance, if licking becomes more frequent and aggressive, it can be a sign that something is going wrong. If the licking lasts for more than 15 minutes and the paws of your pet appear red afterward you need to inspect your dog's feet and get the necessary help from a veterinarian  San Diego, CA. 

Taking Care Of Your Senior Cat: Food And Water Intake

 

If you have decided to get a senior cat to add to your growing family, congratulations. This decision will surely impact your life meaningfully as you change the life of an old cat and witness how she transforms into her golden years.

Now, be sure to understand all needs of your senior cat. Such knowledge will help you be the best fur parent you can be. Read on and take note of the things you need to keep in mind.

• Senior cats experience more physiological changes such as the inability to absorb or digest food well
• Senior cats fail to use their sense organs to the full
• Senior cats are more prone to being dehydrated and having heat stroke or heat stress 

How can you address these concerns?

• Give your senior cats highly absorbable food filled with nutrients to support their healthy aging
• Motivate your senior cats to increase their water intake to keep hydrated and to support kidney function

A sudden change in your pet’s drinking and/or urinating habits should be brought to the attention of your veterinarian San Diego, CA. Read more here.

Memory Foam Beds For Pets

 

You might be wondering why memory foam is called such.  This is due to the material remembering the original shape it had and it returns to that shape after your dog moves or gets up.  This reaction is important to that material.  The ability to spring back to its original form lets it support your pet continuously even if he moves around. 

As your pet lays down on the foam, the material reshapes itself around your dog’s body.  But when your dog shifts around, that same material returns to its previous shape, providing support.  Thus, you will not have to fluff the bedding as it does it for you by itself.  If your pet moves around on a regular blanket, for instance, any support he had would be gone. 

Here is another example: if you place a heavy bowling ball onto a bed made of memory foam, it then sinks, but does not roll over to one side.  The foam bends to the weight of the ball and supports it on every side.  As you pick up the bowling ball, the foam would spring back to its normal shape.  If you tried rolling that ball along the mattress surface and it stops on another area, it would just stay still because the foam would still support it on every side.

Your professional veterinarian San Diego, CA is a valuable resource when it comes to your pet’s health and needs.

Can You Feed Your Pet Dog Scraps?

Be sure that you are feeding your pet dog a balanced and complete commercial diet.  If you add something that is not balanced and complete, it could mess up his diet.  Generally, you do not want to offer table scraps to your dog.  But if you are the type who likes to offer treats to your pet outside of the normal feeding times, ensure that you offer treats that are healthy.  Also, be sure that treats are not going over 10 percent of your pet’s daily calorie intake recommendations.

Knowing this, cannoli and spaghetti should not be offered to your dog.  Try some turkey or vegetables like cooked peas.  Small pieces of cooked lean meat are ideal.  Small quantities of fruits and vegetables too, except grapes, raisins, and onions.  Just do not cook them with too much salt and butter.  Dogs seem to like celery, carrots, and various other vegetables that you would think otherwise.  Some dogs even like bok choy.  Do not offer food items that have macadamia nuts and chocolate because these could be harmful to dogs.  Before offering a new type of doggie treat to your pet, ensure that it is not toxic to him.

A sudden change in your pet's appetite and/or eating habits should warrant a visit to your animal hospital San Diego CA. 

Some Reasons Why Cats Meow So Much

There are many reasons why cats meow so much. Here are two of them

The presence of other cats

●Your pet cat might start meowing quite loudly should she spy on another cat passing by outside.  An indoor cat most especially will be on the lookout as various other cats roam around the nearby areas and wander into her territory.  These cats may just be curious, while there are ones that are territorial and may meow more coupled with a growl or a hiss.  Cats like the latter can stress out your poor indoor cat.  There may also be cases where cats will stare down each other and produce low meowing vocalizations and growls as they encounter one another on any unclaimed territory.

Hormones

If your pet is intact, she is going to be quite vocal as she goes into heat.  The recommendation is to always have your pet neutered or spayed to avoid undesirable behaviors and also control pet overpopulation.  Thousands of adoptable pets get euthanized yearly because they are unable to find homes to be in.  If you want some specific breed, then try looking for specific breed rescues.  Adopt instead, and avoid shopping for pets.

 If you have concerns about your pet’s behavior, contact your pet clinic San Diego CA.

Ticks in Pets

What are ticks? Ticks are bug-looking parasites that feed the animal host’s blood to survive. Pets typically get ticks from outdoors, especially in places that have grass or bushes. So, they are at risk when the weather is warm as pets do more activities outside the house such as hiking, walking, or playing at the park. When traveling, pet owners should take extra caution when in places that have a high tick population. Ticks are also disease carriers and as such, are harmful not only to pets but to pet owners too.

Pet owners can remove ticks in their pets by using specially-formulated treatment products such as soap, shampoos, sprays, powders, dips, topical spot-on, medicated pills, and tick collars. Some pet owners employ natural ways to treat ticks like using a homemade spray solution or essential oils. 

Before purchasing a product or making a homemade remedy, consult first with your animal hospital San Diego CA on the most effective tick treatment appropriate you should give to your pet.