The Basics of Guinea Pig Care

Are you considering adopting a guinea pig soon? These little critters make great pets for many families. Before bringing your pig home, it’s important to be aware of the basic care considerations for your new pet. 

Guinea pigs will need a sizable cage with a solid bottom that can accommodate your pig’s wood-shaving bedding material. Make sure there is space for food and water dishes, a play area, and a hiding hut for your pig to sleep in. As far as diet, your pig will need a constant supply of timothy hay—important for your pig’s digestion and to help file down their teeth—as well as a commercial pellet diet and fresh fruits and vegetables like cucumbers, romaine lettuce, kiwi, apple slices, and carrots. 

Does your guinea pig need a veterinary appointment? Want to learn more about the basic care needs of these pets? Consult your veterinarian Mesa, AZ for help from the professionals. 

Why Cats Gag

 

Cats’ senses are generally more sensitive compared to humans therefore anything with strong smell and undesirable taste can make them gag, but accidentally ingesting something toxic and other issues can also cause them to gag. 

Listed below are some of the factors that may cause a gagging reflex: 

●Cigarettes or vape

Cigarette smoke and ashes can stick to their fur and can be ingested while they are grooming themselves. Chemicals and additives from vapes become airborne and can also stick to their fur. 

●Scented cat litter or cat litter box liners

Some avoid using scented litter products to avoid such problems. 

●Laundry products

Almost all types of laundry detergent and soaps have strong scents of perfumes that can linger around for a long time on your clothes, bedsheets, curtains, and cushion covers. This smell can overpower your cats’ sensitive sense of smell that can cause them to gag and sneeze. 

Frequent episodes of gagging must warrant a visit to your vet clinic Louisville KY.

Why Your Feline Friend Kneads

You’ve probably seen your cat knead before. It’s when Fluffy presses her front paws into an object in an alternating fashion, usually before curling up for a nap. Have you ever wondered why your cat displays this behavior? 

There are actually a few possibilities. Napping preparation is one—experts believe that your cat’s wild ancestors kneaded hard dirt or grass surfaces in the field to soften them up for their litters. This instinct could have been passed down to your domesticated pet. 

Additionally, a cat’s paws contain scent glands and scent is released into the object that Fluffy kneads. In this way, she may be marking the object as her own, whether it’s a blanket or your leg! 

Whatever the reason for kneading is, it’s perfectly normal behavior for your pet. Would you like to learn more about your cat’s unique behavior and personality traits? Consult with your veterinarian White Rock, TX today.

How to Determine Whether A Cat Or Dog Is Dehydrated?

It might not be as evident but animals do suffer from some degree of dehydration due to insufficient water intake. This may also happen to them because of diarrhea and severe vomiting. You can check  whether or not your pet is dehydrated using these two methods:

●Skin Elasticity Test

Gently pull or stretch out the skin at the back of their neck and observe how fast or slow it goes back to its original place. If they are hydrated, the skin will return easily in no time (2 seconds max). The severity of their dehydration is determined by the amount of time it would take for their skin to go back to its normal position.

●Saliva Test

Gently place your finger on your pup’s or cat’s gums to check for saliva. You will instantly know if they are properly hydrated if their gums are moist enough and wet to touch.

If your pet is showing signs of dehydration, call your veterinarians Bucks County, PA sooner rather than later.

Malamutes and Blanketing Outside

If you find that it’s too cold for you to be outside then it’s most likely too cold for your dog to be outside including dogs like the Malamute that are built for colder temperatures. This includes those that tend to live outdoors regularly. If the temperature drops please consider bringing your Malamute indoors for the day or night. If you can’t bring him inside then at least provide a warm shelter for him to escape from the elements. In addition, you may want to consider purchasing a blanket or coat for your Malamute to wear while outside for long periods of time. Please note that a coat does not make it OK for a dog to stay outside in below freezing temperatures. A coat; however, can help keep snow from accumulating in the fur as well as provide temporary added warmth while outdoors. Ask your pet clinic Raleigh NC for help to determine if and when a blanket is necessary for your Malamute during the winter months.

What to Know About the Airedale Terrier

The largest of the terrier canines is the Airedale. This particular terrier can stand anywhere between 22 and 24 inches tall and weigh between 40 and 60 pounds. These playful pups love to hunt. They are highly intelligent, skillful, versatile, and fast. They have an average lifespan of 10 to 12 years. They were first recognized for their intelligence and excellent work ethic by the British Army during World War One. During this time the Airedale was trained to be a messenger dog and to deliver mail during the war. The dog became a popular pet in the U.S. during the 1920s. Laddie Boy, the Airedale Terrier, was the beloved family pet of President Harding. The Airedales tend to make excellent guard dogs or family dogs. This breed can have certain health issues such arthritis, bone and joint issues and hip dysplasia. Learn more from your vets Wake Forest  NC.

Exotic Pets Suitable For Apartment Living

If you live in an apartment, it means that there is a limited space to move around and much less to house an exotic pet. That does not mean that you cannot keep one. There are exotic pets that do not require much space and can thrive in cramped and small spaces. Exotic pets, unlike dogs, do not need much physical exercise or walks around the park. The first thing to do if you want to take home one is to ask for the permission of your building manager or your landlord then check for clauses in your contract that allow or prohibit pets in your living space. Here are some of the well-known exotic pets that can thrive in apartments:

Ferrets

Ferrets are very social in that they enjoy playing with humans as well as other ferrets. They are nocturnal beings who sleep during the day and stay up and active at night. They can also be trained to use litter boxes. For them to thrive, they should have a cage that is spacious enough for them to perform their natural habits. You must make sure that you ferret-proof the room so that when they spend their time outside of the cage, they would not have any accidents or escape the room.

Hamsters

Hamsters need to learn how to be around people while they are young as it gets more difficult to do so when they grow older. The common hamster types that are kept as pets are dwarf and Syrian hamsters. Comparing the two, dwarf hamsters are more social than Syrian hamsters who are more solitary and require a cage of their own.

Any sign of illness exhibited by your pet should warrant a visit to your animal hospital Bucks County, PA.