Do’s And Dont’s When Making An Enclosure For African Pygmy Hedgehogs

 

Are you thinking of building a home for your pet hedgehog? The first thing you should consider is the size of the case you can give. Remember that hedgehogs need enough space to run around. The minimum required space is 2 x 3 square feet.

Follow these do’s and don'ts when building the home for your hedgehog:

DO:

●       Use space bars or wires with a small enclosure so the hedgehog can't come out.

●       Use a large enclosure like fish tanks or plastic storage bins. Put ventilation holes so the hedgehog can breathe while inside the enclosure.

●       Use aspen shavings or recycled paper for bedding.

●       Use fleece fabrics as alternative bedding, but cut out the extra ends to avoid accidents.

DON’T

●       Use wire floors

●       Use cedar shavings because it contains harmful chemicals that are bad for small mammals.

Once your hedgehog has settled,  make an appointment with your animal hospital North Dallas, TX for your pet’s first wellness check.

Why Cats Better Live Indoors

 

There exists a reason why you should consider keeping your cat indoors. Outdoor cats lean more to having shorter life spans than indoor-only cats. Cats whose lives are mostly spent outdoors tend to live only at an average of 2-5 years, while cats who live exclusively indoors live up to 15-20 years. There are many risks that cats who are let outdoors can encounter which shortens their lifespan. Here are two of them:

• Parasites and diseases

Your cat could possibly acquire parasites like worms, mites, ticks, and/or fleas when going outside. She could also be at higher risk of contracting other serious health problems from other outdoor cats, like feline AIDS (auto immunodeficiency virus), feline distemper (panleukopenia), feline infectious peritonitis, and feline leukemia. Having your cat stay indoors can reduce the risk of contracting these diseases.

• Wild animals, dominant cats, and dogs

While wandering outdoors, a cat could encounter dangers like stray dogs, wild animals, and also other cats who are dominant in an area. Larger wildlife can also target a cat as prey. Or if your cat gets into a fight with a dominant cat, she could come home injured or a seriously infected wound, both of which could be life-threatening.

Make sure to bring your pet to your veterinary clinic Pembroke Pines, FL to have her preventatives and vaccinations updated.

Why Giving Age-Appropriate Food Is Important

 

Pets have different nutritional needs at various stages in their life. This is why pet food is formulated according to age. Choosing premium food would also benefit your pet.

Puppies and kittens are still growing. So they need a high-calorie and high-protein diet. Puppy food contains these nutrients. Premium food also contains DHA to help in the young pet’s mental development to help support their growth.

If you give adult food to a puppy, it might have a nutritional deficiency because of the formulation. Adult food does not contain the needed nutrients of a puppy or a kitten. On the other hand, giving puppy food to older dogs can make them obese because of the high- calorie content. Since older dogs are not as active, they don’t need a lot of calories.

Remember, any changes in the diet should be consulted with your veterinarian Davie, FL. You can get advice on when is the right time to switch food.

Safety Tips To Observe At The Dog Park

 

Dogs of all ages, sizes, and personalities converge in the dog park, thus, there is always the possibility of displays of aggressive behavior. Here are safety tips to remember when bringing your dog to the dog park:

• Bring only healthy dogs. Be sure that your pet dog is vaccinated before you bring him anywhere or even at the dog park. 

• Make sure to read and follow the rules of your local dog park, some parks do not permit puppies below 4 months.

• Do not bring a female dog to a park when she is in heat. This will attract male dogs especially the unneutered ones. Keep an eye on your pet male dog that is still unneutered.

• Dress down your dog. I know you want to dress your dog especially when going out, but I advise you to not do that when you are bringing him to a park. To prevent snagging onto branches, fences, or to other dogs, remove any of your dog’s gear, harness, or dog clothes. But make sure to leave on his collar and ID tag.

• Do not bring his toys and also your kid/s. Bringing his toys might attract other dogs to get it, and they get jealous if others touch his belongings.  If it’s the other way around, take your pet to another part of the park. Do not bring kids along. Dogs might get enthusiastic and could knock down your kids. Some dogs are child-friendly but it’s best to keep your kids at a safe distance from unfamiliar pets.

Your pet will benefit from regular health and dental checks at your vet clinic Anderson IN.

Eating Cat Litter Can Affect Your Dog’s Health

 

Dogs can be naughty sometimes, and quite annoying especially if they took an interest in the cat’s litter box. If you catch him before having access to it, then you are lucky until you see your dog with litter dangling from his teeth or he’s got a distinct cat poop smell emanating from his mouth. If ever your dog has had access to the litter box, he could develop the following problems:

●       Ingestion of a large quantity of litter could cause blockage in any part of this digestive system. This can mean expensive surgery to remove.

 

●       Parasites may be present in the litter contents and your dog could get infected. Cats that often go outdoors are expected to have stomach parasites and could pass to your dog when he eats from the cat’s litter.

If your pet dog is retching or arching his back in pain, bring him immediately to your recommended vet clinic Michigan City IN.

Tips For Picking Cat Litter

 

One of the great things about cats is the fact that they are so clean. Your kitty will use a litterbox to see to her needs. However, while choosing cat litter isn't exactly rocket science, there are some things to keep in mind.

If you have a kitten, you'll want to stay away from clumping and clay litters for now. These are fine for adult kitties, but baby cats are a bit clumsy, and can accidentally ingest litter. This is very dangerous! Some cats also don't care for heavily scented litters, while others may prefer or dislike certain textures.

Your cat can't tell you her choices in the matter, so the main thing for you to do is just watch how she reacts to a new litter. If you change brands, and your kitty starts avoiding her litterbox, it's probably safe to say your pet isn't impressed with the new brand. Go back to your old one.

Ask your professional veterinary clinic Helotes TX for more information on choosing cat litter.

How To Take Care of Your Himalayan Cat

 

A Himalayan cat is quite a high-maintenance cat. Its silky coat alone needs daily care and it needs a dedication to doing it every day. Here are some tips on how to take care of your Himalayan cat.

• Brush her long and silky hair daily with a sturdy, wide-toothed comb. Her hair gets easily tangled and matted if not groom each day. Brushing will prevent matting and tangling of her hair, and remove the dirt from her coat as well. It is also advised to go to a professional groomer to keep her coat clean and healthy. Also, grooming is a good opportunity to bond with your cat, she likes the attention of her owner thus grooming will not be an issue for her.

• Trim her nails regularly. This will also lessen the damage she might cause to your furniture and as she is affectionate, she might cling or scratch your legs.

• Examine her paws once a week. Trim the hair around her paws if necessary.

• Check her ears every week. Her pointed ears are susceptible to accumulating dirt and debris that might lead to irritation and infection, and other ear problems. Use peter ear cleaner to clean debris and a cotton ball to remove it gently. Do not use a cotton swab, it will cause damage to her delicate inner-ear structure. Any sign of an ear problem should prompt a visit to your animal clinic Rochester, NY.