Taking Care of Your Dog’s Paw Pads

Since you already know the crucial role the paw pads play, you must give enough attention to them, just like the other parts of your dog’s body. Here are the different tips to ensure optimal health to the paw pads:

● Once you see your dogs walking differently or showing any signs of pain or tenderness, check their paws immediately.

●      Check for any injuries or objects on their paws, especially on the areas in-between the paw pads. What you might see are pebbles, wounds, burns, etc. Notice any presence of swelling, infection, or discoloration.

●   During summer, avoid walking your dogs during the daytime. At certain times of the day, the temperature could get so high. The heat of the pavements could hurt and damage your dog’s paw pads. Instead of walking on concrete surfaces during these times, you may walk on the grass under the shade alternatively.

Make sure that you check your furball’s paw pads regularly. If you see any serious injuries to their paws, bring them to an animal hospital Champaign, IL immediately. Your pets always feel the need to walk and move around a lot. Without healthy paws, your pet would surely have a miserable life.

Memory Loss in Cats

Generally, cats have outstanding memories. According to studies, they have memory retention for up to 10 years. There are, however, different factors that affect the recall abilities of cats. This can be intelligence levels, age, and human relationships.

With regards to human relationships, it has been said that exposure to humans should happen within the first 2-7 weeks for kittens. If not, they might not develop trust in humans at all. 

As cats grow old, they could suffer from memory loss as humans do. It is one of the most typical effects of aging in cats. They lose both learning and memory retention abilities as their brain cells age. Their brain also changes its ways of storing information.

Most of the time, the older the cat, the bigger the changes with their memories. Take note that this is a normal occurrence among cats. Studies show that short-term memory is more commonly affected in senior cats. As they get older, their short-term memory could only last for up to 16 hours.

 Make an appointment at your animal hospital Urbana, IL for your pet’s health and dental checks.

Tips To Control Excessive Barking In Dogs

 If you are ready, you can do these simple steps to help decrease barking for your dogs:

●      Remove what causes them to bark. For example, if your dog sees a stranger passing by, you can close the windows or move them to another room.

●      Sometimes, dogs just bark to get your attention. If you believe this is the motivation for their barking, it is best to ignore them. Let them feel that you are not distracted from their barking at all. Don’t talk to them or touch them. Don’t even look at them, as this can sometimes trigger even more barking.

●      Give them treats or toys. These can distract your dogs. When they play with toys that are mentally and physically stimulating to them, they would not notice the stimuli for their barking. They would also be too tired from playing and won’t have the energy to bark anymore.

If you have concerns about your pet's health and/or behavior, make an appointment with your animal hospital Urbana, IL.

What Type Of Leash Should You Get For Your Dog ?

When selecting a leash, consider how and where it will be used.  Would the leash be for daily use?  Will it be for outdoor training or indoor training?  Will you be using the leash for training distance commands?

For indoor use:

The ideal indoor usage dog leash would be thin, long, and made of rounded nylon.  These are quite light and have the least possibility of getting stuck beneath your home furniture.

For training outdoors:

The recommended leash is a nylon leash between 8and 10 feet long.  If you are training your pet with distance commands, then get one with a 30 - 50 foot line.  For both uses, get a leash made of nylon webbing.  Also, wear a pair of gloves to avoid rope burns should your pet pull the leash and you grab it but it slips through your fingers.

For daily use:

The ideal leash for pet dogs in everyday situations is the traditional 6-foot leather or nylon leash.  6 feet should be enough to offer your pet some freedom when moving, but also keep him close and manageable.  Between leather and nylon, you can take your pick.  But do avoid materials like rubber and cloth because they are not as durable or strong.

Make sure that your pet’s preventatives and vaccines are up to date before outdoor excursions. If you’re not sure, you can call your animal hospital Ellicott City MD for information.

Reasons You May Want To Free Feed Your Pet

 Free-feeding may have its disadvantages, but you may still prefer this method because of the following reasons:

●Convenience

If you’re working full-time, free-feeding offers convenience for both you and your dog. No matter how busy you get and what time you manage to get back home, you won’t run the risk that your dog will miss his meal because it’s all in his container. 

●Increased Nutritional Demands

If you have puppies, pregnant, or nursing dogs, free-feeding is a good option. Since these dogs need to eat more frequently than usual, having their food ready anytime they are hungry will be beneficial.

If you worry that your dog will eat an unhealthy amount, you may opt for controlled free-feeding for the first few weeks. Once they get used to the amount you’ve set, it will be less likely that he eats more than what he needs.

Do consult your veterinarian London, ON before making any changes to your pet's diet. 

Winter Care Tips For Dogs

It is most appropriate to keep dogs home during the grueling winter months. However, there are instances when your pet has to go out, even for a short period. Below are some suggestions for keeping your canine companion healthy, safe, and happy while at the same time enjoying the great outdoors during winter.

A comprehensive physical examination of your dog with your veterinarian can aid in the identification of any illnesses that can worsen due to the cold weather. If necessary, your veterinarian may prescribe drugs to ease discomfort. Do not hesitate on inquiring with your veterinarian about any health concerns or problems with your pet.

Canines with weakened immune systems, such as pups and senior dogs, are especially vulnerable to the cold. Avoid trimming your dog's fur during winter, as this will make your pet more sensitive to hypothermia. Short-haired dogs, in particular, should wear a dog sweater on cold winter days to keep them warm.

If your pet is showing signs of hypothermia, contact your animal hospital Columbia MD immediately.

Loud Noises Can Be Stressful To Parakeets

Loud noises can cause parakeets to respond in a variety of forms. While some parakeets can tolerate a noisy environment, sensitive ones become agitated even upon hearing the doorbell. When subjected to continuous noise, some parakeets get anxious, while others exhibit negative behavior in response to unexpected loud noises. Some parakeets become agitated by the sound of a blender or vacuum cleaner, although they can tolerate music playing at an average volume. It may take a few adjustments to discover what kind of noises disturb your pet parakeet and the degree of the effect.

A bird agitated by a noisy environment may chatter incessantly, pull its feathers, avoid using the perch, refuse to feed, or remain silent. If your parakeet behaves in this manner, consider decreasing the amount of household noise and giving your bird some privacy to see if the behavior changes.

If you have concerns about your pet's health and/or behavior, make an appointment with your pet clinic Derby.