Preparing your Guinea Pig for Vacation

If you are planning to travel and will be taking your guinea pig, prepare ahead of time by calling the transportation provider to ensure your guinea pig can travel with you. Also, make sure the hotel you will be staying out allows pets like guinea pigs. Note that some hotels will allow pets but not guinea pigs, gerbils or hamsters because they are thought to be of the rodent family and their cages and bedding can cause a bigger mess than what the hotel wants to deal with. If you decide to leave your guinea pig at home, call a neighbor, friend or family member to come and check on your cavy at least once a day. You should pack or leave behind enough food for your cavy, fresh water bottles and food bowls, treats, and instructions if you have a pet sitter. For more suggestions, talk with your vets Cedar Park, TX.

How To Introduce A New Litter Box To Your Pet Cat

Most cats don’t have problems using a new litter box. However, since they are such fussy creatures, there are those that may be second thoughts about using the new litter box especially if it’s design, location, type of litter, or size is different from the old one. If you have just brought home a new litter box to replace the old one, be sure to introduce it properly. If you are changing your cat’s old litter box with a new one, be sure that your pet won’t turn his nose at the new litter box and do his business someplace else. The magic words here are ‘gradual transition’ since cats hate anything new or strange. Make the transition easier by getting a litter box that is similar in size or design to the old litter box. Even if you want to switch to a new type of litter, use the old type of litter that your cat has been used to in order to prevent subjecting your pet to more stress.  Consult with your Clarington Animal Hospital Oshawa, ON if you have any concerns about your pet’s potty habits.

Can A Pet Ferret Be Kept In The Same Enclosure With Other Species?

While ferrets can be placed in the same enclosure that has adequate space for all of them, housing them with other types of pets needs to be deliberated on carefully. These animals have a strong prey drive and they can easily prey on smaller pets, like rodents and birds. There have been instances when pet ferrets killed small kittens. With this in mind, pet ferrets should never be housed in the same cage with smaller pets that can possibly end up as food for a ferret. Even with domestication, their prey instincts are still very strong. Thus when you are considering housing your pet ferret with other types of pets, you should think about this possible scenario that can take place if you are not too careful. There have been cases of successful shared housing between an adult ferret and an adult animal of another type. The risks are significantly minimal than housing your pet ferret with smaller pets.

Ask your veterinarian Oshawa, ON for more information about caring for ferrets.

Looking for a Pet Sitter for your Bird

Traveling? In need of a pet sitter? Here are a few things to keep in mind when searching for the right person to take care of your bird. First, give your vet a call and ask for references for local pet sitters. You can enjoy time away knowing your bird is being looked after by a knowledgeable pet sitter. Some vet techs offer these services so check with your vet staff first. When looking for a pet sitter, make sure you ask for someone with pet sitting or owning experience and particularly bird experience.  Ask for references and call them! Ask for professional references such as school references, a reference from their boss, etc. This will give you an idea of the person’s work ethic. Ask the potential sitter to visit you and the bird several times before you travel. Talk with your vet clinic Ellicott City, MD for more tips.

Tips To Protect Your Dog From Kennel Cough

Kennel Cough is an extremely contagious disease. In most cases, affected dogs have a history of having spent time in close proximity with other dogs. The infection affects the upper respiratory tract of dogs. Here are steps that you can take to protect your pet from kennel cough:

l  Have your pet vaccinated against kennel cough. This is the most effective way to protect dogs against infection.

l  Keep your dog healthy with a lifestage-appropriate premium quality diet and regular exercise.

l  Minimize your dog’s exposure to environmental stressors because stress has a negative effect on his immune system.

l  There should be good ventilation in your home, especially in rooms where your dog likes to spend a good part of the day.

l  As much as possible, avoid places where your dog can have close contact with other dogs such as in dog parks, boarding kennels, etc.

Bring your pet to your veterinarian Bowmanville, ON for a regular wellness check. 

Grooming Guinea Pigs

Guinea pigs have grooming needs to.Their nails need a monthly trim and their hair coats need to be brushed regularly especially the long-haired breeds. You can use nail clippers just like what you use for trimming your nails. But make sure to do it correctly or you may injure your pet. You can ask your vet how to do it. If you have the luxury of time and money, you can bring your pet to the vet’s or the groomers for his grooming needs.

Cavies differ in the type, length, and texture of their hair coat depending on the breed. Those with long-hair coats need brushing at least twice a day to prevent tangling and matting of hairs. Short-haired breeds can be brushed less frequently. A “finishing” brush like the ones used for show cats, and a fine tooth comb can be used for the purpose.

Know more about your pet’s grooming needs by visiting your vet clinic Bowmanville, ON.

Looking after an older cat

You have been spending time with your cat for many wonderful years and you are happy to be able to be with her in her senior years as well. How can you look after her at this time in her life?

Your pet needs you to care for her needs in the same way that you always have but alter things as her needs begin to change. It will likely be a gradual process, so you will need to take note of differences in your pet’s behaviors and capabilities so you can change your care in turn to match these. Understand that there are going to be things that you won’t be able to see as well, like the need for a different food that will cater to her aging body. Your local veterinary clinic Isle of Palms, SC can help you better understand your pet.