Administering Pills to your Canine Companion

Getting your canine companion to take a pill can be a lot of work. Some dogs simply don’t want to swallow a pill even if you hide it in a piece of food or in a pill treat pocket. If your pup has to take a pill, ask the vet to show you the best way to administer the pill. There are devices that are like syringes in which you place the pill then place the device in your dogs mouth and pop the pill into the back of the mouth. You can also open your dog’s mouth and place the pill on the tongue. The trick is to gently hold your dog’s mouth shut and give a slight tilt up. Massage the cheeks and even blow gently in the dog’s face to get him to swallow. For more tips, call your Coit Hedgcoxe Animal Hospital.

Finding a Reliable Cat Sitter

If you are going to be gone from home more than a couple of days then you should consider hiring someone to come in and check on your cat. Finding a reliable cat sitter can be difficult if you don’t have a regular sitter on call. Start the search by asking friends, family and fellow cat owners who they use as a pet sitter. Contact your veterinarian, groomer or boarding facility and ask for recommendations or referrals. When contacting the potential candidate, ask for work history and references. Make sure you call the references and ask about the person’s character, disposition and history with animals. Meet the individual outside of the home for an interview. Only bring the person to your home if you’re sure they will do well. Have the individual meet your cat ahead of time too. For more tips, call your veterinarians Plano, TX.

Socializing Your Dog

It’s important to socialize your dog at an early age so that he adjusts to being around people, dogs, and other animals. This will make it much easier to travel with your dog, take your dog to public places, etc. Dogs that are older and have not been socialized can be difficult to handle or even aggressive towards other animals and even people. If you have an older dog that needs to be socialized talk to your vet about a local obedience school and training for your pup. For young dogs, introduce them to different settings one at a time. Take your pup for a walk and allow him to watch other dogs walking with their owners. If your puppy grows, ask him to sit and be quiet. If he doesn’t stop, turn him around and walk away. He doesn’t get to visit if he’s not polite. Once your dog is used to walking you can introduce him to another social setting with animals. For tips, call your veterinary clinic Frisco, TX.

Hamster feeding basics

Your hamster is a big part of your life and you want to make sure you are giving her everything she needs to lead a long, healthy life. Food can impact this significantly, so take the time to determine what your pet needs based on her individual nutritional requirements.

Your pet’s veterinarian can help you figure out what her diet should consist of, so take the time to talk with him about your little fur ball’s dietary needs. You will likely be instructed to find a high-quality commercial mix for your pet to enjoy. This should be supplemented with a reasonable amount of nuts, seeds, and fresh produce that your pet can safely enjoy. Portion sizes should be considered, as pocket pets are prone to weight gain if they are able to overeat. Your local Crown Point, IN vet can offer additional suggestions. Make an appointment today!

Why your cat wants to mark her territory

You have a wonderful cat in your life and you know that she tries to mark her territory whenever she gets an opportunity to do so. Why is this something she feels the need to do?

Your pet loves your home and wants to continue to spend time in this space with you. This is why she is letting her wild instincts take over, as she believes that marking her territory will help to make this happen. Your pet is making an effort to leave behind both visual and scent markers to alert other animals to her presence. She hopes this will deter them from the area, so she can continue to claim it as her own. This helped her wild ancestors establish boundaries with others, and she feels that she may be able to keep her beloved home if she sticks with this behavior. Your reputed veterinarian Crown Point, IN can offer additional suggestions.

Why Cats Need Fresh, Clean Water

Water is a basic nutrient. It is an important component in all the tissues and organ systems of the body. Water is essential in all physiological functions of the body. Although cats are known to be finicky when it comes to their water intake, they should have easy access to fresh clean water at all times. To encourage your cat to drink more water, place water bowls in several locations in your home so he won’t have to go far to drink. Choose locations where your cat likes to spend the most time in. Also, be sure that the water bowls are cleaned daily and refilled because cats hate any undesirable odors as well as stale water. If your cat hates the taste and odor of chlorinated water, try bottled water instead.

Sudden changes in your cat’s water intake (amount, frequency) should warrant an appointment with your vet clinic Bolingbrook, IL.

Degenerative Join Disease in Cats

Having problems getting in and out of the litter box or going up and down the stairs can be a common occurrence for older cats or cats that have had past injuries and still favor the healed leg. Arthritis is the common cause for joint pain and inflammation which can slow your cat down. However, if your cat is young and has not had previous injury but is all the sudden having mobility problems then you may want to give your vet a call. There could be a number of reasons for this, but you want to make sure it’s not anything serious like Degenerative Joint Disease or DJD. This is also known as Osteoarthritis and it is a long-term disease that causes the cartilage around the joints to slowly deteriorate. Your veterinarian Roanoke, VA can help examine your cat and find a diagnosis and treatment solution.