Does Your Dog Think He Is The Boss?

 

A dog is a dominant animal, so if he is without an alpha to look up to, your pet dog might take the lead and will act as he is the boss in the pack. A dog becomes overconfident and bold as he is allowed to lead a pack. He tends to do his own thing and does not listen to commands. Male dogs assume leadership, although female ones can also take charge.

Here are ways to establish leadership over your dog:

· Establish rules. This is the primary thing you need to resolve a dog’s bossy problems. Also, make sure that all other members of the house follow these rules.

· Consistency. It is important to be consistent when you establish the rules for your pet dog. If he wants to lie down on furniture, then you must insist that he stays on the floor, or sleeps on his bed and not on your bed.

· Structure and Obedience Training. A structure is what a dominant dog needs and can be only accomplished by obedience training. He must understand and realize that he is not tolerated to do as he likes. You must be able to connect on a certain level wherein he must follow you.

· Feed your dog after all of the family members have eaten. In the dog’s wild habitat, the other members cannot eat unless the dominant dog eats first.

If you have concerns about your pet’s behavior, make an appointment with your animal hospital Norwalk, CA.

Tips For Handling Your Dog's Feet

Does your dog hate having his feet handled? Sometimes dogs get wary because they remember a previous incident. Perhaps once Fido's nails got cut too short, and he remembers that 'ouch.' Or, he could just be a bit ticklish. However, it's important that you be able to touch your pet's paws. You'll need to handle them, for clipping his nails, checking for ticks, or managing injuries.

Desensitization training will go a long way towards helping your pet become more comfortable having his feet held. Your best weapon in this case may very well be a bag of treats and a jar of natural peanut butter. Give Fido a yummy snack when he lets you handle his foot. Keep doing this, and you should see your pet's opinion of having his feet handled miraculously change.

For more information on caring for your dog's feet, contact your veterinary clinic Burlington, ON.

Things That Can Make Your Cat Gag

 

Cats have a very strong sense of smell. Thus, when their senses are overwhelmed by a strong smell, unwanted taste, toxins, and other triggers, they can end up gagging.  Aside from unpleasant-smelling perfumes and dispersed essential oils that trigger their gag reflex, here are some other factors that can trigger gagging in cats:

· Cigarettes or vape smokes. Cigarette smoke residues and ash can attach to your cat’s hair and be ingested during grooming. With vaping, the lightweight substances and additives can be airborne and can attach easily to a cat’s fur.

· Scented litter or liners in the litter box. These materials can cause your pet cat to avoid or stop using them because their sense of smell will be overwhelmed.

· Laundry products. The smell of the laundry detergents and soaps used for the washing of throw pillow covers, quilt, etc. can linger for a long period. Hence, the strong and lingering scent can overwhelm her sensitive olfactory sense, causing her to gag, sneeze, and choke.

Moreover, if you observe frequent and persistent gagging is being displayed by your pet should make you bring her to your animal hospital Dutchess County, NY for examination and tests.

The Appropriate Amount of Food To Feed Your Dog

The food consumption of an adult dog should be relatively dependent on his size and his physical activities. If your pet dog has a normal level of activity, then a maintenance diet is good enough for his daily needs. An indoor dog or dog with lesser activities may only require 10% of maintenance energy while active ones who regularly exercise outdoors should be given maintenance plus 20% to 40%. The more active your dog is the higher his maintenance energy needs.

As you learn more about your dog’s ideal amount of maintenance, you should adjust his portions. You may consult with your veterinarian to learn more and determine what best scheduling of feeding and the type of food to give.

Another factor to consider is the temperature. Keeping his body warm and cool needs extra energy to burn. The extreme cold or warm weather may increase his energy needs. 

If you have concerns about your pet’s diet, talk to your licensed vet Oconomowoc, WI about them. 

Why Do Dogs Scoot?

 

As a dog owner, you might wonder why your pet suddenly drags or scoots his bum across the floor or ground. This action is called “scooting,” and it is a sign that your pet may be suffering from a problem in his anal sacs.

The anal sacs are found in the rear end of the dog’s body, near the anal opening. These are paired glands that produce a smelly substance unique to the dog. This liquid substance is supposed to be emptied when the dog defecates. However, if the anal sacs are not emptied properly, the dog can become uncomfortable and irritated. And scooting is its way of relieving the discomfort.

More complications can arise if the impacted anal sacs are not treated earlier. This may lead to abscess formation and eventual rupture of the sacs.

Your veterinarian Matthews, NC can show you how to manually express or remove the excess liquid in the anal sacs. Even if the sacs are successfully emptied, you might notice that your dog will continue to scoot for a few days. Eventually, he will stop scooting once he realizes that his sacs are no longer full and he doesn’t feel any pain or discomfort. Visit this site to know more.

Can I Train My Rabbit To Use A Leash?

 

It is perfectly okay to put your pet rabbit on a leash. It is a smart and intelligent creature so it will respond well to training.

But before you start the training, understand that rabbits are prey animals. They have strong self-preservation instincts and may take some time to get used to a new routine. You need to be patient and use plenty of positive reinforcements to encourage your rabbit to get used to wearing a leash.

Don’t get frustrated when your pet rabbit does not learn quickly. It may have a different level of comprehension and learning than your other pets.

On the other hand, rabbits have different preferences when walking with a leash. When going out for a stroll, the rabbit usually leads and the owner walks behind while still holding the leash. It is the owner's duty to keep the rabbit safe on their outing.

When you notice any change in your pet's behavior, it is a good idea to talk to your vet Greater Cincinnati about it.

How To Treat Concussions In Dogs

 

When a dog gets a concussion, he should be given proper medical treatment. The procedure will depend on how severe the injury is, as well as the symptoms shown. The primary considerations are removing any obstruction on the dog’s airways, bringing oxygen to the brain, and treating any swelling on the brain.

The vet might use intravenous fluid if there is an imbalance in the fluid-electrolyte on the body. The seizures will also be managed using anticonvulsants. Finally, the blood pressure will continuously be monitored. These are the basic steps that will be administered to manage dog concussion.

In some cases, the vet might also recommend that the dog stay behind at the hospital for further monitoring. This is to ensure that the vet can see if the dog will show other symptoms. At this point, the owner should always check whether the dog’s condition will improve or not. It is also not advisable to engage your dog in any form of physical activity while he recovers from a concussion.

Any sign of illness exhibited by your dog must require a visit to your pet clinic Louisville, KY sooner rather than later. To know more, call your vet.