How Do I Keep My Gerbil Happy?

Ensuring your gerbil lives a healthy, happy life is a big part of having a gerbil as a pet. If you're not sure how to go about keeping your little buddy happy, here are some tips:

●      Provide plenty of toys and chewable for your gerbil to play with. Gerbils love having things to chew on so they can wear down their teeth and keep them short. You can also hang toys from the ceiling of the cage so that they have something to climb on and explore.

●      Make sure your gerbils have enough space in their cage so they can move around comfortably. The recommended minimum size for a single gerbil is 24" x 18" x 12", but if you get two or more gerbils, you should get at least 36" x 18" x 12".

●      Ensure that the temperature in your house stays between 65-75 degrees Fahrenheit (18-24 Celsius). Gerbils prefer cooler temperatures than humans do, so it's important to make sure their environment is comfortable for them (as opposed to comfortable for us).

If you have more questions or wish to schedule your gerbil for a checkup, please feel free to call us, your local veterinarian Ellicott City, MD anytime!

Tips For Choosing The Right Clothes For Your Dog

 

To ensure that your pet dog’s new threads fit properly, a measuring tape should be used to take some simple measurements.  Should you have an overly excited or very wriggly pet, you might want to ask someone else to help you and use your pet’s favorite treats so that you can have your pet behave as you measure him.

Most jumpers, coats, and jackets use a pet’s back length for measurements.  To find this, just measure the length from the base of your dog’s neck, around the collar, up to the tail’s base where his coat should end.  To find the chest measurement for your dog, gently circle the measuring tape around the part of his chest that is the widest.  The measuring tape should not be too tight, but just snug.  For neck measurements, use the same technique, but around your pet’s neck where his collar would typically be.

Your veterinarian Ellicott City, MD can enlighten you about important health issues that can affect your pet.

Helping Your Cat Overcome Fear

Do you have a feline friend that acts fearless and adventurous yet shows signs of distress during a thunderstorm or when there is a loud sound? Some felines get scared during these types of situations. If you have noticed that your kitty would begin to pace or break a sweat in these conditions, contact your veterinarian immediately. However, if you observed that your feline friend just goes into hiding when there is thunder or loud noise, there are some home remedies you can do to calm your cat down.

During a thunderstorm and you see that your kitty is scared, try to make a distraction and keep her preoccupied or take her somewhere else where it is quiet and not too noisy. Some ways to distract her are to provide her with toys, engage in playing with her, hand her some treats, or just relax with her on the sofa and read or watch some shows on TV as you would normally do. These activities could help keep your cat calm and relaxed.  When your cat senses that you are relaxed and at peace, they tend to mimic your tranquility.

If you have any questions or concerns about your pet’s health and/or behavior,  don’t hesitate to contact your animal hospital Ellicott City, MD.

Managing The Weight Of Your Pet Elderly Cat

Starting at eleven years old, most cats have a tendency to gradually lose body weight.  Elderly cats losing weight not related to a disease is called “sarcopenia.”  It could be linked to a reduced-calorie intake or a reduced appetite because of a reduced sense of taste and smell.  If age-related weight loss is associated with the loss of strength and muscle mass as well as chronic diseases, it is called “cachexia.”  And so regular veterinary appointments become important so that any underlying health issues are detected early on and management strategies can be identified properly and/or help with aging without sacrificing health.

 Movement and mobility

Even though elderly cats frequently have their mobility reduced, maintaining some form of activity is essential to your pet’s mental and physical health.  You can employ various strategies to encourage your elderly cat to engage in self-entertainment through movement, and interactive play.  These activities could be made to fit your elderly cat’s situation, activity level, and condition.

Your senior pet will benefit from regular health and wellness checks at your animal hospital Ellicott City, MD. Click here to know more about their services. 

Tips for Choosing the Best Cat Food

We all want to keep our cats as healthy as possible for as long as possible. Most of us understand that consuming high-quality food is one of the most excellent methods to do this. Finding the most suitable food for your cat, on the other hand, might be difficult. When deciding how to feed cats, the options appear limitless, and there is no shortage of controversy and dispute. With so many cat food options available in the market, cat parents are sure to be perplexed about the best choice to feed their pets. Here's how to find the best cat food for your pet:

·      Understand your pet's life stage. Different life stages (kitten, adult, senior) have different nutritional and calorie needs.

·      Consider your pet's overall health. There are cat foods that assist in weight management issues.

·      Learn about your cat's health history. Prescription diets are available for pets suffering from diseases such as urinary tract infections or dental difficulties. A hypoallergenic diet can also help pets that have food allergies.

·      Always respect your cat's choices. Some cats prefer canned food, while others prefer kibble.

Your pet’s diet is one of the important concerns that you should discuss with your veterinarian Ellicott City MD.

What to Know About the Bearded Collie

 

The Bearded Collie is often confused with the Old English Sheepdog. One of the best ways to tell the two breeds apart is to check their tails. In short, the Bearded Collie has a tail and the English Sheepdog doesn’t. Another interesting fact about the Bearded Collie is that his eyes are often the same shade of his coat. When the collie is first born his coat is a dark solid color. He only begins to lighten or gray out as he grows older. Over the course of the Bearded Collie’s lifetime, his coat will continue to change colors; however, the original birth shade will always been one of the main undertones. And speaking of the coat, the Bearded Collie’s shaggy fur requires daily brushing and combing. He should also be bathed every 6 to 8 weeks. Contact your vets Ellicott City, MD to learn more about this large and affectionate breed.

Caval Syndrome in Cats

Have you tested your feline for heartworm disease? Ask your vet about heartworm testing. Heartworms are long worms that invade the heart and cause damage to major organs including the hearts and lungs. It’s important to have your cat tested at least once a year and have your cat on a monthly heartworm preventative. Cats that are diagnosed with heartworm disease may already be suffering from symptoms like coughing, asthma, vomiting, decreased appetite, and weight loss. Some cats may also have trouble walking, fainting, seizures, and the buildup of fluid in the abdomen may also develop. In addition, the disease can sometimes cause a secondary disease called Caval Syndrome. Signs of this illness may include labored breathing, pale gums, and bloody or brown colored urine. Surgery is needed to remove the heartworm blockage causing Caval Syndrome. Talk to your vet Ellicott City, MD to learn more.

Asthma In Cats

Feline asthma is a chronic condition affecting the bronchial airways of cats. The primary culprit is exposure to specific allergens that cause inflammation in the airways and lungs. The disease process is slow but progressive. While it is difficult to treat, the symptoms can be controlled with medications. Some potential allergens that can trigger asthma in cats include cigarette smoke, pollens, strong-smelling cleaner or perfumes, air freshener, dusty cat litter, and molds to name a few. Cats that harbor heartworms also have a higher risk of manifesting chronic asthma symptoms. While mild cases of asthma in cats are usually self-limiting and characterized only by coughing, more serious cases can cause difficulty breathing as cats find it difficult to get oxygen throughout the body. Affected cats can suffer fainting spells and collapse. This is brought about by the severe inflammation and narrowing of the smaller airways of the lungs. If your cat is prone to bouts of asthma attacks, be sure to follow the instructions of your veterinarians Ellicott City, MD regarding the dosage and frequency of medications to prevent potential complications.

The American Leopard Hound

You’ve been learning about the different dog breeds that are out there, and the American Leopard Hound has caught your eye. What should you know about this pet?

The American Leopard hound is one of the oldest tree dog breeds in the United States, so they are rather well-known and have a lengthy history. These dogs are known for their intelligent minds and loving personality. Their athletic nature and hardiness make them well known for being hunting companions. Their ability to thrive in a variety of weather conditions only enhances this. They make great family dogs and are eager to spend time with and protect children. This is a large breed which can vary quite a bit in coat color and markings. This means that you may find solid colors or leopard and brindle patterns. Your local veterinarian Ellicott City, MD can help you care for the pets in your home.

The Colorful Cockatiel

If you’re familiar with the cockatiel, then you may know that it’s typically a bird with a gray and yellow head and orange patches around and near the cheeks. But, did you know that the cockatiel actually comes in all kinds of colors? There are various color mutations that have occurred in this bird over the years. Today, there are the usual colors plus colors known as lutino, albino, pied, and cinnamon. These colors have also mutated into newer color patters in the cockatiel. The different color patterns make the cockatiel a pretty unique bird. He’s also unique because he’s the second most popular pet bird. He’s often described as loyal, playful, intelligent, personable, sweet, cuddly, and puppy like in the way he follows people around when out of his cage. The cockatiel is also a great first bird for pet owners and he does well with children. For more information, talk with your veterinarian Ellicott City, MD.