Disaster Preparedness Guidelines for Pet Owners

 

Disasters and emergencies are inevitable occurrences. They are unexpected and happen in many forms. Some of these unforeseen situations may require us to leave our home for a brief period and sometimes to evacuate permanently. Each event may call for specific and immediate actions to take to keep you and your pets safe. The best thing to do is to prepare your pets and yourself if these situations may happen. Here are some guidelines to prepare you for disasters and emergencies and to keep you and your pets safe.

●       Arrange a shelter for your pet. In the event of an evacuation, your pet must also have a shelter to go to. Never leave your pets behind. Always keep in mind, if it is not safe for you, it is not safe for your pet as well. They can be trapped or can wander and can put their lives in danger. Not all evacuation centers accept animals so it is needed to arrange for shelter beforehand where your pet can be safe until the disaster has passed and it’s safe to return home.

●       Inquire in your community animal facility if they offer emergency shelter or foster care for pets.

●       Determine what hotels or inns in nearby towns or cities will accept pets.

●       Ask your relatives or friends out of your area of disaster if they can accept and care for your pet for a while.

You can also ask your veterinarian Roanoke, VA for recommended lodging kennels and shelters in your area.

Keeping Your Cat Indoors

Have you recently adopted a stray, or perhaps taken in a cat that used to be allowed outdoors? We strongly recommend keeping kitties indoors. Your pet may enjoy exploring and sniffing at trees and bushes, but she's just safer staying in.

It may take time to teach your feline friend that the outdoor world is off limits. You'll want to make your home as fun and interesting for her as you can. Set out some pet-safe plants, and give her things like boxes and paper bags to explore. Toys and playtime will also help your kitty satisfy her natural urges to hunt and play.

The other thing you'll want to do is make the door seem unwelcoming. When your kitty approaches it, make a loud noise or squirt her with water. After some time, she should get the hint!

If you want to learn more about bringing an indoor cat in, contact your vets Covington GA.

How To Take Care Of Your Hedgehog In A Multi-Pet Household

Hedgehog has an extraordinary defense mechanism. It can withstand its ground in a multi-pet household. Nevertheless, its safety is relatively dependent on the temperament of the other pets inside the household. Be sure to supervise the interaction between your other pets and your hedgehog.

Hedgehogs can tolerate other pets' presence quite well. Its defensive ways can keep it safe. A cat can quickly learn to keep her distance from the prickly quills of a hedgehog. And even a dog learns to stay away from the prickly armor of a hedgehog. However, large dogs can injure a hedgehog with their rough play even with their prickly quills. Even ferrets maintain their distances from the quills of hedgehogs. Unfriendly encounters with other pets can be stressful for hedgehogs. Be sure to watch out for indications of stress like defecating or urinating in fear. If your hedgehog displays this behavior, avoid its interactions with other pets.

If you have concerns about your pet’s behavior, contact your vet clinic Scottsdale, AZ. For more detail visit website.

Caring for a Newborn Kitty

When a kitten is born, the primary concerns are bedding and feeding. Kittens are blind when they are born, and it is not until they are seven to fourteen days of age that they begin to open their eyes. They should have comfortable bedding made of soft fleece blankets. Place their bed in a safe and undisturbed place with fewer people traffic. Kittens feed on their mother’s milk. However, if the mother cat cannot nurse, you need to bottle-feed your pets with milk specially formulated for the newborn kittens. You may get a recommendation from your veterinarian on the most suitable milk brand. When bottle-feeding, give the bottle while lying on their side as if they feed on their mother. Do not bottle-feed a kitty on its back to avoid choking. Kittens wean from their mother at around eight weeks of age, at which you may already give your pet solid kitten food placed in a shallow bowl.

 

For more details your vet Tampa, FL is a valuable resource when it comes to your pet’s health and well-being.

Brushing Long-Haired Dogs

 

Brushing your dog’s coat is one way to bond with your pet. Brushing helps in natural oil production, making the coat shiny and smooth. How often you should brush your pet’s hair depends on its coat type. Short-coated dogs usually need brushing once a week. An essential tool in brushing your pet’s hair is an appropriate pet brush or comb. For dogs with a long and silky coat, brush it daily using a slicker brush to remove the tangles followed by a bristle brush. For dog breeds with hair that extends to the feet, such as the Afghan Hound, trimming the hair around the feet is necessary. Dogs that have long hair are prone to matting. In some instances, using a slicker brush will not do. You may clip the hair for heavily matted fur, but with extra caution not to cut the skin.

Skin and/or hair coat problems in dogs warrant a visit to a vet clinic Tampa FL.

Feeding Puppies – Switching Diets From Canned Food To Kibble

Most puppies don’t experience any adverse reactions when shifting to kibble from canned food though it can prove difficult to others. Here are some tips to make the transition easier:

To make an easier transition to a new food/diet, it is best to introduce the new pet food in increments. To start, mix ¼ of the new pet food along with ¾ of the old pet food you usually give. Change the proportions in the next three to five days or so, slowly adding increments to the new food and giving less of the old food. Do this until your pet’s meal is composed of  100% of the new pet food.

It may not be appealing to your pup if the food has already been left for hours, so try giving only small increments and putting it away after half an hour. Offer fresh new pet food every 4-5 hours but do not give anything else except clean drinking water. During your dog’s transition to a new diet, do not offer leftovers and treats as giving in to your pup’s craving can only make the transition more difficult.

If you have concerns about your pet’s diet, contact your pet clinic Scottsdale AZ.

Cattitude

 

Cats can be hard to read sometimes. They tend to demand attention at some times, and refuse it at others. They are also likely the only one of our animal friends that sometimes bites us just for fun.

This can be a bit perplexing, as Fluffy can go from affectionate to feisty very quickly. It's important for you to know how to tell the difference between an angry cat and a frisky one. If your feline friend is really attacking aggressively, she may flatten her ears back, and she'll bite with a lot of force. If she's being playful or even affectionate, she'll likely bite gently. She may even stop biting you in order to lick you, rub her head against you, or just meow at you.

It's best if you don't encourage this type of bad behavior. If your cat tries to bite you, tell her 'No' in a firm tone. You can also say 'Put your claws up' or 'Don't bite.' Don't punish your cat, though: this may just make her feel threatened.

 Your pet clinic Coral Springs, FL can tell you more about how to properly care for your kitty. Learn more here.