Ticks in Dogs

Ticks are parasites that prey on the blood of their warm-blooded hosts so they can nourish themselves. Cats, as well as dogs, are common prey for ticks, and the truth is many vets and pet owners have been fighting a war with ticks for a very long time. Ticks serve as disease carriers and these diseases can infect both pets and humans. Therefore, it's really critical for pet owners to have tick control and prevention measures in order to help reduce the chances of getting tick-related diseases. 

Dogs should avoid areas that can become hotbeds for ticks. You need to be extra careful of areas that are especially woody or those that have low-lying bushes or tall grasses. There are particular areas of the country where the tick population is much higher, so you need to be careful and aware of these places, especially when you travel a lot with your beloved furry canine friend.

Work with your vet Leesburg, VA in creating a tick preventive program that will give your pet year-round protection.

Symptoms Of Dog Flu

After being exposed to the canine influenza virus, it will take 2-3 days before a dog will manifest symptoms of the infection. The most obvious symptom is a cough that can be soft, moist, or dry hacking cough. Coughing usually persists from 10-21 days. Other accompanying symptoms include sneezing, eye discharge, lethargy or depression, fever, and loss of appetite. The symptoms tend to be more severe in dogs with weak or compromised immune systems like puppies, senior dogs, and those with underlying health issues. 

Considering that these symptoms are also manifested in other types of respiratory infections, it is difficult to diagnose canine influenza based on the symptoms alone. Your vet will need to perform certain tests to confirm the initial diagnosis. Dogs that are infected or considered as suspects should be quarantined. 

Talk to your vet Ashburn, VA about the best way to protect your pet from canine influenza. Read more here.

When To Switch Your Pet's Food

Feeding your dog right requires that you give him appropriate nutritional intake during the right stages in his life. When they’re still puppies or kittens you can switch to adult pet food as soon they’re between 9 months to 1 year of age. However, there are certain caveats. There are canine breeds that need to be maintained on a growth formula for longer periods. When deciding to switch from adult pet formulas to special senor pet diets, the 7-year mark is usually a rule of thumb. 

Understand that switching foods requires timing as this will contribute to your pet’s health. During different stages in your pet’s life, he’s going to be needing different levels of nutrition. Not switching foods can lead to problems in your pet’s weight management. Lifestage-appropriate feed will provide your pet with the right nutritional intake during different stages of his life.

For more information about your pet’s nutritional needs, ask your local animal clinic Ashburn, VA.

Dog Behaviors You Should Know About

Though we may think that the time that we’ve spent with our canine buddies is enough to completely know them, you may be wrong. There are quite a number of dog behaviors that you may not know about yet. And understanding these behaviors may be key to taking better care of your dog. 

Spinning around before doing their business 

Dogs can be ritualistic like humans do. We may think that their waste elimination habits are completely random – but they’re not! Dogs prefer to do their “business” to align with the north-south axis rather than the east-west alignment. 

Different beds for different dogs 

Dogs also have certain bed preferences much as humans do. Notice how your dog sleeps. If he tends to curl up this suggests that he is more comfortable in a bumper bed. But if he has his legs straight out this means that he prefers a flat bed. 

A wagging tail is not always a friendly gesture 

There are many reasons why a dog wags his tail. Contrary to popular belief, this is not a gesture that’s exclusively shown for friendliness. Dogs may also wag their tails when they are angry, agitated, or annoyed. There are a number of signs to look out for to know if a dog is angry – body language, such as tail positioning, facial reaction, the position of the ears, and dilating pupils.

For more information about your pet’s behavior, you can contact a veterinarian Ashburn, VA.

Cat claw basics

You have a cat in your life who seems to scratch on a lot of things in your home and you want to make sure you are able to understand the motivation behind this behavior in order to help her better understand why she does this. What should you know about her claws in order to do this? 

Your cat uses her claws regularly and will go to great lengths to keep them in great shape. This is because they helped her wild ancestors stay safe and well-fed. Your pet scratches in order to maintain these, as they will require some attention since they never stop growing. Your pet will need you to offer her places to scratch so she can file her claws down to a length she is comfortable using without her having to mark up your belongings. Your local vet Jefferson County, PA can help you care for your pet. Schedule an appointment today.

Why sugar gliders need so much exercise

You have a sugar glider in your life who needs your help in order to stay as healthy as she can be. You know that they need to stay moving, so you are taking the time to think about what you can do to offer her the exercise she needs. 

Sugar gliders will need a lot of exercise in order to maintain healthy bodies. This is because they are naturally active and their habits will be based on the fact that they plan to move around a lot throughout the day. This helps them stay in great shape, burn off the food they consume, and have some fun. Your little fur ball will need a large enclosure and plenty of time outside of it within your home to meet these needs. Your local vet Brookville, PA can help you better understand your pet. Learn more here.

Lost Dog

If your dog is lost or has accidentally escaped out of the house or yard, don’t panic. Instead, the first thing you should do is search your house to make sure he’s not inside. If you saw him get out, go in the direction you saw him go and start searching. Search a one mile radius ASAP to make sure he’s not close by. If you still don’t find him, call your vet and all other veterinarians, shelters, policy departments, animal control officers, etc. in a 20 mile radius to alert them of your missing dog. You should also put together posters with a recent picture of your dog along with a description of him and your contact information. Put the posters up within a one to two mile radius of your home and especially at intersections where people will have time to stop and see the poster. Contact your animal hospital Cy-Fair for more tips.