Benefits of Adopting a Senior Pet

 

Adopting a senior pet may prove to be just as rewarding as adopting his younger counterpart. An older dog from an animal shelter or rescue group gives you the advantage of knowing his medical history, personality, his preferences, general health condition, etc.  You can already see his full-grown size so you know what to expect in terms of grooming or feeding requirements. 

Here are more reasons to consider adopting a full-grown dog:

• Calmer and more relaxed pet – At this stage, your dog will have gone past his stage of exploring, teething, etc. You can have a sense of your older dog’s temperament because their ways are already set at this time, so you know right away if his personality fits your or your family’s. 

• Less supervision needed – Your senior dog will just relish your company and will be happy to stay or nap at your feet, content and not craving constant attention. 

Your senior pet will benefit from regular health and wellness checks at your animal hospital Norwalk, CA. 

Do The Water And Food Bowls I Use For My Dog Matter?

You might be tempted to use leftover takeout containers for your pet’s water bowl, but do invest in safe pet-friendly bowls, particularly if your dog is still a puppy. Avoid cheap plastic because it breaks easily and could be dangerous if swallowed.  Selecting the ideal bowl that your pet will use is a lot more than just choosing a color.  Design, functionality, and construction material are important factors.

A ceramic bowl 

Bowls made of ceramic material are heavy.  They are quite stable when compared to stainless steel or plastic bowls, but avoid dropping this kind of bowl.  Should your pets often tip their bowl over or have difficulty keeping themselves still, then these ceramic-type bowls might work out for you.  Choose glazed ceramic food bowls because unglazed ones are highly porous, so you would have to scrub regularly to clean off any bad bacteria.

A plastic bowl 

Plastic bowls typically offer an option at a lower cost when compared to stainless steel or ceramic bowls.  Top-quality plastic can be sturdy and durable but could be challenging to maintain cleanliness because these bowls can scratch from everyday wear and use.  These scratches can then serve as breeding grounds for bad bacteria.  Should your pet still be a relatively young puppy, avoid plastic-type bowls because they will tend to chew on the plastic material.

A stainless steel bowl

Bowls made of stainless steel have been called the “veterinarian’s favorite” because they are quite simple to disinfect and clean.  These bowls are quite durable, sturdy, and very safe for teething puppies to use.

A sudden change in your pet's appetite and/or drinking habits should warrant a visit to your animal hospital Norwalk, CA. 

Excessive Hair Shedding In Cats

Pet owners know what is normal for their pets and what is not. If you suspect that your cat is losing an unusual amount of fur, take precautionary measures in case your cat exhibits other signs as there may be a bigger underlying cause.

Constant itching, an increase in hairballs, and over-grooming are just some of the things that you have to look out for. If your cat is suffering from hair loss and if there are also sore patches, then you have to take note of that. If you notice that there is a change in your cat's health and is displaying a sign of illness like appetite and energy level change, then you should seek immediate medical care.

If you notice any signs of infection, parasites, and other skin and hair coat problems, it is a good idea to make an appointment with your veterinary hospital Norwalk, CA so your pet can undergo a thorough checkup. Schedule an appointment today!

Excessive Hair Shedding In Cats

Pet owners know what is normal for their pets and what is not. If you suspect that your cat is losing an unusual amount of fur, take precautionary measures in case your cat exhibits other signs as there may be a bigger underlying cause.

Constant itching, an increase in hairballs, and over-grooming are just some of the things that you have to look out for. If your cat is suffering from hair loss and if there are also sore patches, then you have to take note of that. If you notice that there is a change in your cat's health and is displaying a sign of illness like appetite and energy level change, then you should seek immediate medical care.

If you notice any signs of infection, parasites, and other skin and hair coat problems, it is a good idea to make an appointment with your veterinary hospital Norwalk, CA so your pet can undergo a thorough checkup. Schedule an appointment today!

Myths About Shelter Pets You Shouldn’t Believe

 

Probably because of the nature of the work they do, animal shelters sometimes get a bad rap. So do the pets housed in them. You shouldn’t believe everything you hear when it comes to shelter pets! Let’s set the record straight:

●       Myth: Shelter pets are dirty. This isn’t true. Shelter pets are clean and healthy. Even if they arrive dirty or with health problems, that’s taken care of before they’re available for adoption.

●       Myth: Shelter pets are poorly behaved. Think pets are dropped off at shelters because of poor behavior? Think again. Issues like abandonment and overbreeding are much more common.

●       Myth: Shelter pets are mutts. Many pets in shelters are mutts, yes. But there are also unique breeds and purebred animals, too. It all depends on what animals happen to be at your local rescue.

Set up an appointment at your animal hospital Norwalk, CA to get your new pet an examination. We’re here to help! Click here to know more.

Why your cat needs to scratch

 

Your cat tends to spend some time scratching on things around your home on a daily basis. Why is this important to her?

 

Your pet needs to be able to scratch in order to meet her needs. This behavior helps her stretch and mark her territory, but it is primarily used to keep her claws in great shape. Your pet needs you to be able to understand that she instinctually tends to a lot of her needs and this is one of them. Since her claws are continually growing, they need to be filed down so they don’t get too long and break when she utilizes them. Scratching allows her to do this with relative ease, so she will seek out places to make this happen on a daily basis. For more information, please contact your local vet clinic Norwalk CA.

Keeping your cat well-fed

You have a cat in your life who not only loves you very much, but also wants to enjoy herself as much as possible. How can you keep her well-fed so this can happen?

Your cat needs you to be aware of the fact that there are a lot of different foods out there and they are each made for a specific cat’s needs. This means that some of them will help your little fur ball stay healthy while others will just fill up her stomach. Seek out a food that will serve her well nutritionally and will also allow you to give her portion sizes that she will find satisfying. This will help her not only get what her body needs from her diet, but also the enjoyment she is looking for. Your local vets Norwalk CA can offer additional advice.

Bloat in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels

 Bloat is a dangerous disease that affects a variety of dog breeds. It can come on quickly and cause damage in a matter of moments. Common signs of bloat include difficulty breathing, expanded abdomen, hunched back appearance indicating pain, lethargy, and eventual collapse. These symptoms are caused because bloat occurs when gas, food or fluid is trapped in the stomach and begins to expand. It expands the stomach so much that the lining perforates or it pushes on the surrounding organs stopping blood flow and even causing the stomach to twist. It often happens after the dog eats too quickly or drinks to quickly after strenuous exercise or activity. It is also known to occur in deep chested dog breeds like the Rottweiler and Boxer. For more information about bloat and how it may affect your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, contact your veterinarian Norwalk CA.

Teaching Your Dog to Walk with a Slack Leash

Dog walks are great exercise for both you and your dog and it gives you a chance to bond. However, dog walks are no fun at all if your dogs are dragging you around the neighborhood by his leash. Thus you need to teach your dog to walk with a slack leash. Train your dog when he is alert but not overly excited. Start walking and continue as long as the leash is slack. If it becomes taut, turn around quickly and head the other way. Call your dog’s name so he needs to hustle to keep up. Repeat this procedure as often as needed. Praise your dog if he continues with a slack leash. Never punish or yell at your dog while he is learning. Soon dog walks will become a pleasure as your dog walks with you instead of dragging you along. For more information, contact your veterinarian Norwalk, CA.

Tips To Correct Potty Accidents In Pet Rabbits

Pet rabbits can be potty-trained but they can also commit potty accidents every now and then. Pet owners should always bear in mind that punishment has no place in pet training and will never help them attain desired results. Being a behavioral problem, owners need to be patient when dealing with the issue to eventually achieve favorable results.

Correcting potty problems in rabbits is similar to that in dogs. In order to address the issue, you have to catch your pet in the act. Pick him up gently and take him to the litter box immediately if you see him eliminating. However, if you had just come across the evidence, the best thing to do is to clean it up thoroughly so there will be no stains and residual scents.

When litter training pet rabbits, make frequent trips to the litter box every 10 minutes or so.

Bring your pet rabbit to your veterinarians Norwalk, CA for regular wellness checks. For more details visit Ashton Animal Hospital.