White-Coated Cats And Deafness

 

Several studies have been conducted to find out whether white-coated cats are prone to deafness. It is widely believed that cats with white coats and blue-eyes tend to become deaf. But according to research, 31% of cats with these characteristics have normal hearing. On the other hand, white-coated cats with yellow eyes tend to become deaf as well. On the other hand, only 37% of cats with white coats and blue eyes become deaf. Not many people will believe these statistics, though.

Deafness does not depend on eye color. Cats with various eye colors can also become deaf. Cats with blue eyes can become deaf, just like cats with other eye colors. The defective eye occurs on the same side, regardless of the color.

Turkish Angora, American shorthair, Cornish Rex, and the Main Coon are some of the cat breeds that possess white hair coats and blue eyes. Although many would believe that these cats are certain to become deaf, this is not always the case.

If you have concerns about your pet’s health and behavior, make an appointment with your animal hospital Lakewood Ranch, FL.

Pest Control Products That Are Bad For Your Ferrets

 

Before you let your pet ferret out of the enclosure, make sure that the house is ferret-proof first. It will want to roam around the house. Expect it to come across harmful substances that you own. 

So it’s important to put away the toxic substances to keep your pet ferret safe. Here are some household items that you should keep in a secure closet:

 

●     Pest control agents such as rodenticide, ant killer, and other poisonous substances used for rodents

●       Xylitol found in candies, chewing gum, and other food substances. While this may be safe for humans, it is considered unsafe for ferrets

●     Nicotine use can also be poisonous for ferrets. If you have tobacco, e-cigarettes, and vaping liquids in the house, put these in a safe place so your ferret will not taste any of it.

 

If you think that your pet is suffering from poisoning, consider this as a medical emergency. Bring your ferret to the local animal hospital McHenry, IL immediately.

How to Prevent Constipation in Cats

 

Constipation is common in cats, which happens when a cat is pooping less frequently or having difficulty passing stool. One of the primary causes of constipation is dehydration. It is best always to give pet cats access to clean drinking water. Water makes the stool soft and stimulates its movement in the intestines. However, cats usually dislike drinking still water in a container. Another option to increase water intake is to feed cats with wet pet food as it has high water content. Regular physical exercise can help prevent constipation, especially in obese cats, as belly fats obstruct stool movement. Constipation symptoms include dry stool, nausea, vomiting, weakness, change in water intake, and decreased appetite. Pet cats that show constipation symptoms lasting for more than a day need immediate medical attention from a veterinarian Sarasota, FL to determine constipation's root cause. Cats with chronic illnesses such as diabetes or kidney disease are prone to having constipation as well. Schedule an appointment today!

Mixed Signals During Training Can End Up Confusing Your Dog

 

It is important to cue in your dog during training sessions. This should be remembered because making multiple requests could only serve to confuse your pet. Pet training with the use of repeated commands or cues will only reinforce to your pet that commands need to be said multiple times before he responds. Be aware that your body language should also not confuse your pet. It is useful to note that dogs are very perceptive to behavior body language, especially their owners. Dogs tend to give more attention to the body language and movements over the verbalized instruction. Remember to be consistent with the gestures and body movements as you give out a command or cue. First, go ahead and teach your pet the behavior you want and use positive reinforcement. Later on, include the command or cue. Saying it once is enough, then wait. Patience can go a long way when training your dog. Allow your pet one or two minutes for his response. If he looks like he is confused, or does not perform the action you wanted, go back, and continue practicing the same behavior a little more before trying to include the verbal command again.

If you have concerns about your pet’s behavior, contact your veterinarian Covington, GA.

Dogs And Their Prey Drive

 

The forerunners of the dogs we have as pets today survived by being predators in the wild, spending most of their days hunting prey. Even as dogs have been brought to the homes of humans through domestication over long periods of time, many of our pet dogs still have that prey drive running strong. In most dog training programs, dog trainers will take advantage of the canine instincts, substituted in place of food rewards instead. Treats then become added calorie sources for dogs, and if offered when training as positive reinforcement of desirable behaviors, could cause a pet to become overweight. With your pet dog’s prey drive going strong, they tend to like getting rewards like catching a Frisbee, playing fetch, or stick retrieval as the form of reinforcement for good behavior.

In teaching your pet dog to approach when called, try throwing a stick so that he can bring it back, or give him a ball he can chase as soon as he approaches you. Be sure to only do this after giving him praise for coming over. After the training activities, keep your pet’s favorite toy, specifically, the one you use as positive reinforcement. This is to preserve the toy’s novelty.

Take your dog regularly to your veterinarians Coral Springs, FL for wellness checkups to keep him active and healthy.

Why Dogs Need To Have Their Nails Well-Trimmed

 

If a pet dog’s nails are allowed growth for too long, this will also make the “quick” grow. The “quick” is the section of a dog’s nail where nerves and blood vessels are present. Should you accidentally hit the quick when trimming your dog’s nails, it will be painful for him and it will bleed. If your dog is one that spends a majority of his day indoors, then you need to get his nails regularly trimmed so that they do not grow much too long resulting in deformation and pain.

There is also a nail that grows much higher than the others up along your dog’s legs. This is known as the “dewclaw”. This is the counterpart of the thumb and is found on the back and front legs alike. Dewclaws can be removed surgically if deformed or if they somehow interfere with your dog’s activities on a daily basis. A long dewclaw could be caught on objects easily and may cause injuries that are painful. If your pet dog’s dewclaws are not removed, then they must be included when the time comes to trim your pet’s nails.

You can ask your vet Salem, VA to show you how nail trimming in dogs is property done. Learn more here.

How Separation Anxiety Can Affect Your Dog

 

Dogs react strongly when they are separated from their humans or other household pets. When they experience separation anxiety, they can exhibit destructive behavior. This is particularly seen in dogs that have stayed in a rescue shelter. They follow their new owner everywhere. And if the owner needs to leave the house, the dog becomes anxious. He might start barking, or trash the house, or becoming destructive as a way to cope with the separation anxiety. Unfortunately, you will only make matters worse if you punish your dog for being destructive.

It might help if you can control the factors leading to separation anxiety. These are some factors to take note of: change in the family's routine that leaves the dog alone at the house for a long time, moving in a different house, dog spending time away from home, loss of another family member.

Help your dog cope with these changes so he won't engage in destructive behavior. Consult with a veterinarian White Rock TX, or a certified animal behaviorist to know more about counter conditioning and desensitization techniques.