Encouraging Your Dog’s Appetite

 

Several things affect the appetite of your dog. While this is an ordinary occurrence, you can still do something to overcome your dog’s poor appetite.

●      Consult with your vet - This is the first step to do in addressing your dog’s decreasing appetite. Your vet may give proper recommendations and needed prescriptions. And be sure that your dog is not suffering from any health problems, have him checked up.

●      Reduce snack time - Avoid giving your dog too many snacks throughout the time. This will allow your dog to enjoy a proper meal.

●      Implement a meal schedule - Let your dog learn to enjoy a meal plan with a specific and consistent time.

●      Introduce a more active lifestyle - Allow your dog to enjoy more physical activities each day. This will not only make his appetite consistent, but it can also improve his general health.

●      Serve what is needed - Depending on your dog’s age, weight, activity level, and breed, adjust the amount of food you give him. This will help you prevent over or under-feeding.

 A sudden change in your pet's appetite and/or eating habits should prompt a visit to your animal clinic Aurora, CO.

Allergies In Pets

A pet that has allergies will develop hypersensitivity and show different symptoms because their body systems will try to get rid of the irritating substance. One way to manage pet allergies is to control allergen exposure. Should the possible allergen be in food, then determining the components of your pet’s food to find the allergen is crucial. This is done through the process of elimination. One food component is removed each feeding time to pinpoint which one triggers the allergy reaction. If you are planning to modify your pet’s meals, first check with your veterinarian. Your vet might help you craft a specialized diet to offer to your pet so that any adverse reactions can be checked first before getting your pet back to regular meals. Your pet’s environment can also be rife with allergens like dust and pollen, and being exposed to these is mostly unpreventable. But the directed dosage must still be followed so that any negative side effects can be prevented.

If you have concerns about your pet’s health and/or behavior, contact your vet clinic Aurora CO.

Tips For Handling Hedgehogs

Hedgehogs can be intimidating to handle because people worry about their quills.  However, a hedgehog’s quills are different from a porcupine’s which are prickly and barbed. Knowing how to properly handle a pet hedgehog is essential to the pet owner because socialization and interaction with your pet are important.

Initially, you may want to wear gloves, like the gardening kind, for the first couple of handling instances.  If not used to being handled by people, hedgehogs can be anxious and jumpy, so be sure your voice is soothing and calm.  Softly slide your hand under your hedgehog’s belly, lifting his body, while sliding the other hand underneath. For stability, you may hold the hedgehog closer to your body, cupping your hands slightly.

Your veterinarian Aurora, CO is a valuable resource when it comes to your pet’s health and behavior.

More tips can be found at your Aspen Commons Animal Hospital.

Is It Good To Deal With Reputable Dog Breeders Only?

Are you looking to buy a puppy sometime soon? You should keep in mind to do your research and look for reputable dog breeders to buy a cute little puppy from. Having said that, if you don't mind getting a puppy that has no registration papers or pedigree, you can try checking out the nearest animal shelters in your area and there are likely many adorable puppies for you to choose from. If you are after a specific dog breed, you can research nearby animal shelters or rescue facilities that have such a breed.

Puppies from the animal shelter are free to adopt. On the other hand, getting a purebred puppy from a reputable dog breeder could get fairly expensive, depending on the breed of dog and the dog breeder's reputation. The flip side of the cost is that most reputable dog breeders ensure that you will be getting a healthy puppy.

Bring your new pet to your recommended animal hospital Aurora, CO for his first puppy wellness check.

General Tips For Feeding Pet Dogs

Contrary to popular notion, dogs are omnivores not true carnivores. A complete and balanced diet should have both plant and meat components. Here are some tips for feeding pet dogs:

l  Give a premium quality diet that is appropriate for your pet’s lifestage.

l  Although there are many types of human foods that can be given to dogs but as much as possible give them in moderation for it may affect their interest on their meal.

l  Avoid giving foods that are too rich because it may cause digestive upsets and even pancreatitis.

l  Follow a daily mealtime schedule regularly because dogs are creatures of habit.

l  When choosing pet food, never compromise your pet’s health by choosing quantity over quality. The money that you will save in buying generic pet food can eventually mean paying veterinary bills as a consequence of poor nutrition.

Your pet’s diet is one of the important concerns that you should discuss with your veterinarian Aurora, CO during your pet’s annual checks.

Common Liver Problems In Pets

The liver plays several major functions in the body, making the organ more prone to various medical conditions that can negatively impact its integrity and function. Some of these problems include:

Fatty liver disease

Also known as hepatic lipidosis, this can happen when obese or overweight cats are placed on a crash diet or starved. Starvation mobilizes the fat deposits in the body which can overwhelm the liver with fat. When fat infiltrates the cells and tissues of the liver, the organ can no longer function and results in liver failure.

Toxicity

Many types of humans medications can be toxic to cats. This is attributed to the fact that the metabolism of cats differ from that of humans. Cats lack certain chemical pathways that can help breakdown harmful chemicals. In cats, poisoning causes major damage to the liver that is often irreversible.

Sudden changes in your pet’s health and/or behavior should be checked out by a veterinarian Aurora, CO.

Why Is My Neutered Cat Spraying?

Spraying in neutered cats is a common concern among cat parents who thought that having their cat fixed can stop the behavior. In most cases, it may take a month or so after neutering for the hormonal activity of the cat to calm down. However, since spraying is not always sexually-related, it can also be triggered by certain activities or situations. So, if your kitty still keeps on engaging in the behavior, there is a need to dig in deeper to find out any underlying issues that may be causing your pet to behave this way. Aside from having become a deeply-ingrained habit, spraying can be triggered when a cat catches a whiff of scent spots. Stress can also be an important predisposing factor of spray marking. Correcting the behavior can take time, patience, and effort. It is also recommended that you see a vet Aurora, CO to make sure that it is not caused by a health issue. 

Paw Care Tips For Pets

When going for a walk with your dog, be sure to avoid puddles where toxic chemicals may be present. Dogs have the habit of licking their feet thus increasing the possibility of ingesting toxic substances. If you have been walking on wet ground, wiping off your dog’s feet using a damp towel can do wonders in preventing infections and other health conditions. Dogs with long hairs should have them trimmed to prevent the hairs from growing long. If left unattended, long hairs in between a dog’s paw can cause slipping on floors and possibly causing injury. Thus, the need to regularly clip the dog’s hair should never be taken for granted. One of the best ways to prevent foot pad injury is to use special ointments that dog owners can apply to the pads. These medications can keep in the moisture and keep the pads elastic. There are a variety of these ointments and creams which are available in pet supply stores. But it is recommended to have the wound checked by your Aurora, CO veterinarian so it can be treated appropriately.

Signs of Hip Dysplasia in Dogs

Did you know that hip dysplasia is a common skeletal disease seen in large dogs like the German Shepherd and Retrievers? The disease occurs when the ball and socket join in the hip fails to develop normally or is altered due to an injury, trauma or osteoarthritis. The malformation usually causes the ball and socket to meet incorrectly causing a grinding or rubbing instead of a smooth movement. Over time, the hip joint can deteriorate and the dog can lose complete function. It can occur as early as four months of age. Symptoms can depend on the severity or the progression of the disease and can include joint looseness or laxity, decreased activity, difficulty for the dog to rise, run, jump or climb stairs, hind-limb lameness, hopping or a swaying gate, painful hip joints, decreased range of motion, and loss of muscle mass. If your dog has any of these symptoms, call your Aurora, CO veterinary clinic.