Hedgehogs in a Multi-Pet Household

 

Thanks to their unique defense mechanism, hedgehogs usually thrive in a house with multiple pets. Their quills, or the thick layer of spikey hair, serve as a deterrent to other pets' would-be aggression. The quills become pointy and upright when a hedgehog feels threatened. Other pets get acquainted with the quills through time. Cats and dogs are aware of the hedgehogs' prickly armor, so they avoid getting close. Ferrets, too, are wary of getting in close contact with the quills. There are, however, large dogs that are rough and aggressive that could harm a hedgehog despite the quills. Hedgehogs are amiable and generally agreeable living with other pets under one roof. When introducing a new pet to the resident ones, it is best to supervise each pet's reactions closely. If symptoms of stress or aggression show, isolate the pets from each other by placing them in separate rooms.

Any sign of illness should prompt a visit to your experienced vet clinic Fayetteville NC.

Get To Know The Health Issues Of Your Older Pet Cat

As your pet cat grows older, she will develop health issues. Thus, you must bring your senior cat to the vet regularly. This way, your vet can check the health condition of your cat.

 

Expect that your pet cat will get poor skin and hair coat appearance. She can no longer move quickly especially if she suffers from arthritis and joint pains, and obesity. You might notice that your pet is often sick, due to the weaker immune system.

 

Help your older cat age gracefully by giving her a routine. These activities will help you and the vet to identify if your cat is suffering from an ailment. Try to maintain the routine because your geriatric cat might find it difficult to adjust to a new routine. If there is a need to introduce changes, do it gradually to avoid undue stress.

 

Remember that your cat will benefit from regular visits to your vet hospital Metairie, LA. She may be suffering from age-related diseases that need medical attention.

How Much Should An Adult Dog Eat ?

 

When feeding your adult pet, it should be according to his energy output and physical size. To make it easier, dogs with an activity level that is normal should have “maintenance” energy. When a pet regularly exercises outdoors, he may be required maintenance plus twenty to 40 percent more, while pampered ones might only require ten percent of that. 

When you start to learn about your pet’s amount of ideal “maintenance”, you might want to adjust his portions. It is best to consult a veterinarian to know what type of food and what is the best schedule when feeding your dogs.

Temperature, along with other outside factors, contributes to the amount of food your pet should be fed with. Extreme cold or hot weather can also add to a pet’s needs in terms of energy, since keeping cool or warm needs extra expenditure of energy. 

If you have concerns about your pet’s diet or eating habits, contact your vet hospital New Orleans, LA. Click here to know more.

Why Do Cats Need To Have Vertical Spaces

 

Domestic cats are born with natural predatory instincts, therefore they naturally want to be in an area where they can have a birds-eye view of their immediate environment so that they have an edge.  Even as they are tamed and domesticated, house cats are still fond of spending time in high places.  To fill this requirement, be sure you have enough vertical spots or piercing areas in your house.  If you have a multi-cat home, ensure that there are enough perch spots for all your pet cats so that territoriality and competition for spots are avoided.  Try to have perching spots close to windows to give your cat a view of what events are unfolding outside.  Other vertical space options are cat shelves, cat trees, and cat condos.  Clearing some bookshelf space, or your fridge top or even the mantle can also work.  Cats like to be aware of what is happening around them, this makes them less anxious and alleviates stress, and makes them more confident.

Should your cat exhibit behavior and/or health changes, call your animal hospital Folsom, CA, and schedule an appointment as soon as you can.

Keep Your Cat Well-Nourished

 

If your cat is choosy about their food, she might get malnourished. The same will also happen if the cat does not get a complete and balanced diet. Prevent your cat from getting malnourished; give her the proper nutrition she needs.

These are some recommendations for you to follow:

●       Heat the cat food before giving it to your pet. The heat will bring out the aroma to make it more appetizing for your cat.

●       Introduce new food to your pet, if needed. Give your cat some time to adjust to the taste and flavor before letting go of the usual meal you serve.

●       Check the quality of food that you give to your cat. Be familiar with the ingredients so you’ll know if it is harmful or not. Always give premium food, because cheaper brands are known to contain fillers rather than real meat.

You can ask your animal hospital Wichita, KS for more information regarding your pet’s nutritional needs.

Signs Of Stress In Dogs

 

A dog that is exposed to stress-inducing situations can affect him negatively in terms of his well-being and health, particularly if that exposure is chronic.  Behavioral changes in the dog could be one of the effects of this constant exposure to stressful incidents.  A number of dog owners, regrettably, are not aware of this and the negative impact it has on their dogs.  Below are some symptoms that your dog is under heavy stress:

• Your dog’s appetite suddenly changes, particularly a sudden appetite loss. Other health conditions and issues must also not be discounted, as reduced appetite can be a symptom of a different issue, therefore, taking your pet to the vet for a check-up is much needed.
• Digestive distress, like constipation, vomiting, or diarrhea.  Should this symptom be present for  over 24 hours, take your pet to the vet immediately. The same goes for blood present in the vomitus or feces, or if accompanied by some other symptom. A trip to the veterinarian is a good thing.
• Dogs in highly stressful situations could also have certain shifts in their sleep patterns. Sleeping a lot more than what is usual for your pet as well as lethargy could also be observed.
• Stressed pets are easily triggered and aggression is displayed almost instantly.

A sudden change in your pet’s behavior should prompt a visit to your animal hospital Marietta, GA or click here.

Warning Signs That Introducing A New Pet Is Not Going Well

 

While there are dogs and cats that do not mind sharing the same living area, there are also those that are not open to peaceful coexistence.  Below are some forewarning indications of possible aggressive and hostile behaviors that the pet owner should be aware of:

●Your dog focuses so much on your cat or even just the area where the cat stays. Your dog could suddenly lunge whenever the cat is seen.

●Your cat swatting, hissing, or growling at the dog even though they have been in close proximity with one another for a substantial amount of time.

If a new pet is to be introduced to your home, allow for ample time for both new and current pets to get accustomed to each other.  There should be a transition phase between them to give them time.  For the initial days or even weeks, you will need to keep them confined in separate areas of the house.  You will need to supervise closely each interaction between new and current pets so that if any aggression is displayed, you can quickly intervene.

Consult with your veterinarian Marietta, GA should you have issues or concerns with the behavior of your pets.

Set an appointment here: https://smyrnaveterinary.com/.