Dogs and Rocks

Two things that don’t go together are dogs and rocks and yet dogs tend to love exploring and hunting for rocks, picking them up with their mouth and hiding them places, and sometimes even trying to chew and swallow them. Rocks, small or large, can be dangerous for dogs. If your dog has a habit of putting rocks in his mouth try to remove the rocks from your yard or fence off the area so your dog can’t get to them. If your dog has swallowed a rock, call your vet immediately. Eating rocks has a clinical name of Pica. It’s common and can be brought on by curiosity or frustration, anxiety and stress. If your dog is lethargic and refusing to eat and he has a history of eating or chewing rocks then he could’ve swallowed one. Your animal hospital Murrieta, CA team will need to run x-rays to determine the location and how to remove the rock.

Boarding Cats

Did you know that you can board your cat at quite a few dog boarding facilities? The facility may not advertise boarding for other animals, but if you have a kennel close by call and ask if they board cats. Cats may appear to be independent and able to stay on their own, but they shouldn’t be left alone for more than a day or two at the most. Even if you think you set out enough food and water, your cat can still become lonely or even anxious not understanding where you might be or when you might return. Some cats will actually eat up all of their food and water on the first day and then they won’t have anything for the rest of the time. If you can’t board your cat then it’s best to hire a sitter to come in and at least replenish food and water and provide some company to your cat. Call your veterinarian Murrieta, GA if you need help in finding a sitter.

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.