Keeping Your Cat off the Kitchen Counters

Your cat may like walking around on your kitchen counters because she gets food up there. She may also use the counters to peruse her territory. However, this can be annoying and unsanitary while you prepare food. Clear your counters of food and ensure that no one gives your cat food while she is up there. When she jumps up on the counter, pick her up and move her to another safe surface or the floor. Never punish or yell at your cat while she is learning. And never push her off the counter. Cover the counters with aluminum foils strips or double-sided tape when not in use. These materials feel weird to your cat’s feet and will deter her from walking around up there. Set up a perch such as a windowsill or shelf where your cat can watch the hubbub of your home in safety. Learn more from your veterinary clinic Temecula, CA.

Understanding Your Dog’s Body Language

In the wild, animals communicate with each other using body language. Your dog will use the same body language to communicate with you. Thus you can understand your dog better if you know what different postures mean to him. Your dog is afraid if he postures himself in a way where he seems to shrink away with his tail between his legs. Sometimes this is misinterpreted as acting guilty. However, that guilty look is more a fear reaction. He fears what you will do when you see him doing something bad. Your dog may indicate that he wants to play by bowing with a toy or a stick. You know he is confident if he holds his head high and his tail up. He may even show dominance while puffing up his fur and acting aggressively. And of course, he might bite you if he is showing his teeth. For more information, contact your veterinarian Temecula, CA.

Can You Decipher Your Dog’s Body Language?

A dog’s body language is a very unique and refined way of communication. Although it can be undecipherable to non-dog persons, dog owners can easily perceive what their pets are trying to tell them. It is their means of showing you what they are feeling.  As dog owners, one should learn to recognize these signs and be familiar with a dog’s body language. Like people, dogs often show emotions—they can be happy, bored, afraid, sad, excited and even angry. All these emotions can easily be discerned by a dog’s body language. Watch closely for the twitching of his ears, the movement and position of its tail, its eyes, and positions of the body all convey messages that they want their owners to understand.  Animal behaviorists have all recognized that communicating between animals using their body language exists in the wild. Animals in the wild communicate different emotions using their body movements.

A sudden change in your pet’s behavior should warrant a visit to your veterinary clinic Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

Keeping Orphaned Puppies Protected From Hypothermia

Orphaned newborn puppies need a good source of heat because they can easily develop hypothermia, a condition where the body temperature dips into abnormally low levels which can be fatal. When hand-rearing orphaned puppies, make sure to provide alternative sources of heat such as heat lamps, incubators, heating pads, or hot water bottles. Heat should be introduced gradually because when the puppies are exposed to heat quickly, they can suffer from heat stress, another life-threatening condition.

As a guide, the environmental temperature should be maintained at about 29- 32°C during the puppies’ first week of life, their . This can be gradually decreased to 26°C after a week, and to 22°C by the time they are about 4 weeks old. However, the temperature can be maintained at a lower range if there are several puppies they tend to huddle together and their combined body heat can add more warmth.

Call your Marietta, GA veterinary clinic for assistance on meeting the needs of your orphaned puppies.

Why Kittens Find Litter Appealing?

Cats possess a very keen sense of curiosity and they use their senses to explore every nook and cranny in their environment. Thus, it is quite common for kittens to try the litter in the litter tray or box because it is one way to get familiar with everything they encounter in their new home. The behavior may be quite normal among newly weaned kittens, but there are certain types of litter that can be dangerous to cats. Clumping litter is made up of clay, which can easily lodge and obstruct the digestive passage. This is an important reason why this type of litter should never be used in kittens younger than 4 months old. But if you noticed your adult cat eating the litter in the box or tray, it may be an indication of a specific nutritional deficiency or health problem. This is one important reason to have your pet checked out by your Marietta, GA vet.

Tips to Keep Your Pet Dog Still While Being Groomed

Does your pet keep on squirming and moving while being groomed? If so, it will certainly stretch your patience. Pets have very short attention spans; puppies can only stay still for about 5-10 minutes, so you should have a technique to finish the whole process in time. Thus, it is important that a dog should get used to a grooming routine while still very young so there will be fewer hassles. Each grooming session should be a positive experience with lots of treats and positive reinforcement so he will always look forward to these sessions while remaining calm and relaxed throughout.

It is also a good idea to take your pet for a long walk or engage in vigorous play before each grooming session to burn excess energy which will equate to having a calmer and more relaxed pet during grooming.

Know more about your pet’s grooming needs during your pet’s next visit to your Marietta, GA vet clinic.

Allergies in Pet Cats

Cats can have hypersensitive reactions to food and flea bites; they can also suffer from contact and inhalant allergies. Some cats are more reactive to specific allergens compared to others. If you have a hypersensitive cat, you should take steps to identify the allergen so it can be dealt with accordingly the soonest possible time. Allergies in cats are often manifested as intense skin itching, eye and ear irritation, and respiratory signs.

Food Allergies

Some cats are allergic to something in their diet such as chicken, grains, dairy, eggs, or beef.

Flea Allergies

A substance in the saliva of fleas can trigger allergic reactions in sensitive cats. The first signs are usually seen around the base of the tail, eventually spreading to other parts of the body if there is no proper intervention.

Inhalant Allergies

Mold, dust mites, pollen, and other airborne allergens can potentially trigger allergic reactions in hypersensitive cats.

Work closely with your veterinary clinic Marietta GA in managing your pet’s allergy symptoms.