Considerations in Adopting an Adult Cat

You might think that adopting an adult cat is akin to taking on someone else’s problems. There is little truth in this belief. Many adult cats are put up for adoption because circumstances changed in their original home. These changes could be cat allergies, the family relocated where pets are forbidden, or even their owner has died. There are benefits of adopting an adult cat. They are generally litter box trained. You can evaluate your cat’s personality type. Basically, you know what you are getting with an adult cat. Your adult cat will not have the frenetic activity level of a kitten. Your adopted adult cat needs transition time to find her place in your household. Provide her with a feeding station, litter box, and her own bed. Wait to cuddle or pet your new adult cat until she approaches you. Be patient and treat her with kindness. Schedule an appointment at this website vet Fort Collins, CO.

Guinea Pig Playtime

Your guinea pig is a highly social animal. Give your guinea pig apparatus to climb on and tunnel through in his cage. This will keep him busy and add exercise to his routine. Plan for supervised play sessions outside the cage daily. He will need room to run around but protect him from accidental kicks falls or attacks from other pets. Keep him away electrical wires and don’t allow him to eat toxic plants. Let your guinea pig climb on you or run through a maze. Consider hiding treats throughout the room to entice your guinea pig to run around. Never use a hamster ball or even one that seems large enough for your guinea pig. These balls put too much stress on the spine. Exercise wheels aslo cause too much curve to the spine and could injure your guinea pig. Visit this website for more information.

Cat Training

Cat training is very different than obedience training in dogs. It’s more about teaching your cat what behaviors are inappropriate in your home. Write down a list of behaviors that are strictly forbidden. This list is the minimum work needed so your cat is welcome in your home. Minimally, you training list should include consistent litter box usage, no scratching of your furniture and personal belongings, and no biting or scratching of people or other pets. Other behaviors to work on depends on the needs of your household. Lure your cat into behaving well with food treats. Use deterrents to guid her into not doing things she shouldn’t do. Redirect your cat as often as necessary to reinforce appropriate behavior. Never physically punish or yell at your cat for bad behavior. She won’t make the connection between her action and your punishment so you would just be acting cruelly. For more information, contact your Moore Animal Hospital.

Health Condition of the Basenji

Taking care of a dog long term is a big responsibility and knowing what may or may not develop as the breed grows older is also important. Generally speaking, the Basenji is a fairly healthy breed, but that wasn’t always the case. In fact, the breed was almost wiped out in the 1980s due to a disease of the kidneys called the Fanconi Syndrome. The wipeout was particularly in the U.S. and it sent breeders back to Africa to bring more of the Basenjis to the U.S. in hopes of revitalizing the breed. It worked. They were able to revive the breed and help breed out most of the Fanconi genetics. Today the Basenji needs to be tested for Fanconi in order to determine the presence of the gene. If you want to purchase or adopt the breed, have your pet clinic Sugar Land, TX test the dog first.

Facts about the American Bobtail

Looking for a cute, fun-loving, family cat? Check out the American Bobtail. This cat is energetic, fun to play with, easy to get along with, and a loyal feline companion. Here are some more interesting facts about the breed. First, did you know the bobtail is very sensitive to people’s emotions and is affectionate and comforting? The American Bobtail is also incredibly smart, eager to please and easy to train. They love to go on car rides and even travel long distances. Color-wise, the bobtail has no set pattern, coloring, or coat length meaning they could be just about any color, pattern, and coat length is whatever the cat ends up with. In addition, the bobtail has a naturally bobbed tail due to a genetic mutation. Your veterinary clinic Sugar Land, TX can tell you the breed is generally healthy and low maintenance.

Skin Problems In Cats

Did you know that cats spend about 50% of their awake time grooming themselves? This daily routine helps keep the cat’s hair coat clean and free from any odors. It also keeps the skin healthy. With a cat’s fussy grooming habits, a sore or a scab on the skin can surely mean something is wrong and needs to be seen by a veterinarian.

Cats that are ill can stop grooming and may end up with dull and dirty hair coat. Some important causes that can interfere with their ability to groom themselves include:

Obesity - the extra pounds can affect the cat’s flexibility, making it hard for them to reach certain parts of their body during grooming.

Tooth and gum problems

Arthritis and other joint and bone problems

An ill cat won’t have the energy and desire to groom

Stress can cause cats to become anxious and engage in over-grooming in an effort to find relief and comfort.

A visit to your animal hospital Las Vegas, NV can help identify the problem.

Zinc Deficiency In Dogs

Dogs that lack zinc, an essential mineral, can suffer from excessive shedding and skin problems. The deficiency is technically called zinc responsive dermatosis. Zinc is just one of the important components that play an important role in the optimum function of the body, thus it should be a normal component of a dog’s diet. The absence or lack of zinc in the diet can pave the way for various issues that affect the skin which is the largest organ of the body, as well as metabolic and immune function.

There are several causes and risk factors for zinc deficiency in dogs. These include:

• A diet that is deficient in zinc
• Calcium-rich diets (because calcium prevents absorption of zinc by binding with it)
• Genetic predisposition of certain canine breeds such as the Alaskan malamute or Siberian husky. They are unable to absorb zinc properly.
• Diets that contain excessive amounts of zinc prevent normal absorption of the mineral.
• Diets that are low in essential fatty acids and total fat negatively influence the absorption of zinc.
• High-fiber diets (or plant-based diets) because plants contain phytate, a substance that can interfere in zinc absoption.
• Abnormal absorption of zinc in dogs with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)

If your pet is ill, you should make an appointment to have him checked by a veterinarian Las Vegas, NV.