Your pet should see the veterinarian for a full examination, shots and a heartworm blood test every year, and right away if he is sick or injured.
While many of us may object to our dog's foul breath, we should focus on what it may be telling us. Bad breath is most commonly an indication that your pet is in need of a dental check-up. Dental plaque caused by bacteria results in a foul smell that requires experienced treatment. After a knowledgeable cleaning, the teeth and gums may be maintained in a well-being state by brushing the teeth regularly, feeding a specially formulated dental diet and treats, and avoiding table scraps. Your veterinarian can give you more tips on minimizing dental disease and bad breath.
You can clean your canine’s teeth with a toothpaste made specifically for pets or a baking-soda-and-water paste once or twice a week. Use a child's soft toothbrush, a gauze pad or a piece of nylon pantyhose stretched over your finger.
Some of our furry friends are prone to periodontal disease, a pocket of infection between the tooth and the gum. This distressful condition can result in tooth loss and spread infection to the rest of the body. Veterinarians can clean the teeth as a regular part of your puppy's fitness program.
While foul breath caused by dental condition may not be too serious if caught early enough, some odors may be indicative of fairly serious, chronic problems. Liver or intestinal conditions may cause foul breath, whereas a sweet, fruity smell may be indicative of diabetes. If your dog’s breath smells like ammonia or urine, kidney disease is a possibility. Any time you notice your pet has bad breath accompanied by other signs of ill health, such as loss of appetite, vomiting, weight loss, depression, excessive drinking or urinating, schedule a visit to the veterinarian.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Monday, February 18, 2008
Cat Signals
The most popular felines of all are non-pedigree—that includes brown tabbies, black-and-orange tortoiseshells, all-black cats with long hair, striped cats with white socks and everything in between. Treat and talk to your cat as a friend and it will be one to you.
Their hissing, purring, meowing, and snarling is an absolute part of their lives and the way they interact with others. A wagging tail doesn't mean a cat is friendly or happy to see you.
Owners can get to know their cat and bring out the best in them by playing with them whenever possible. Never pick up a cat by the scruff of the neck or by the front legs.
Frightened or defensive cats flatten their ears against the side of their heads as a sign of submission. Your cat will develop its own body signals when it wants different things from you. An irritated or sick cat has whiskers that are pulled back more tightly towards the face.
Cats like watching other animals, as well as anything bright, colorful, and rapidly moving. New owners will want to get to know their cat, much the same way they get to know a new person. Pay attention to what the cat does – what are their likes and dislikes?
Their hissing, purring, meowing, and snarling is an absolute part of their lives and the way they interact with others. A wagging tail doesn't mean a cat is friendly or happy to see you.
Owners can get to know their cat and bring out the best in them by playing with them whenever possible. Never pick up a cat by the scruff of the neck or by the front legs.
Frightened or defensive cats flatten their ears against the side of their heads as a sign of submission. Your cat will develop its own body signals when it wants different things from you. An irritated or sick cat has whiskers that are pulled back more tightly towards the face.
Cats like watching other animals, as well as anything bright, colorful, and rapidly moving. New owners will want to get to know their cat, much the same way they get to know a new person. Pay attention to what the cat does – what are their likes and dislikes?
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Cats Like Us
Cats like watching other animals, as well as anything bright, colorful, and rapidly moving. Cats were domesticated sometime between 4,000 and 8,000 years ago, in Africa and the Middle East. Stimulate your cat's natural intellect with toys, games and training. Emotional and intellectual stimulation are the way you relate to your cat.
So you think you have what it takes to be a good cat owner. Your cat is a friend and it will be one to you. Just like humans, cats have their own way of expressing themselves without ever opening their mouths.
If your cat sits focused on you in front of you in an upright and perky position for a long period of time, perhaps it wants to be fed. Dilated pupils indicate a cat that is frightened and about ready to become aggressive. You may also notice that its ears point downward and point toward the back of its body, that means it’s ready to fight.
By merely relating to your cat as you go about your day; talking to it when you enter the room, calling it for food or bed; your cat will become attentive to you. When a cat kneads, it is happy and kneading comes natural to cats as early as just a few days old.
So you think you have what it takes to be a good cat owner. Your cat is a friend and it will be one to you. Just like humans, cats have their own way of expressing themselves without ever opening their mouths.
If your cat sits focused on you in front of you in an upright and perky position for a long period of time, perhaps it wants to be fed. Dilated pupils indicate a cat that is frightened and about ready to become aggressive. You may also notice that its ears point downward and point toward the back of its body, that means it’s ready to fight.
By merely relating to your cat as you go about your day; talking to it when you enter the room, calling it for food or bed; your cat will become attentive to you. When a cat kneads, it is happy and kneading comes natural to cats as early as just a few days old.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Puppy Training Tips
Remember keep the training sessions short but do not sacrifice content. Understanding the pet that is being trained is a vitally important talent of a good trainer. Teaching your dog some manners is just common-sense. A poorly trained dog can embarrass its owner and offend other people - or even make them feel threatened.
Too often the only time the puppy hears his or her name is when they have done something naughty. Don't over-train your puppy. Remember, a one-year old friend is, effectively, the same as a seven-year old person. It is a good rule of thumb to keep reminding yourself would I expect a three, four, five or six-year old child to accomplish some of the tasks I am asking of my pup?
Training for a puppy is similar to going to work for a human; if you do not get anything good out of it, you will stop working. Obedient dogs make the best companions. It is imperative that you remain the "leader of the pack," and obedience training helps with that.
Don't bait your friend to you and then turn upon him with the whip. Don't grab your friend or reach for him quickly. Don't nag your puppy; don't be giving orders to him constantly; don't pester him with your shoutings.
Remember to always keep praising them when they obey a command and make sure they feel rewarded. Dogs respond best to positive dog training, rather than negative. Compensate your pup for correct behavior and always end your obedience training sessions on a positive note.
Don't expect your friend to be a wonderful animal after a few weeks of training; four months to a season may be necessary in order to make the master proud of him, but the work is worth the effort. Don't consider tricks the chief end or the chief part of training. Don't work your animal without some short rest or play periods during training.
Consistency is a chief virtue in pet training. Having fun is a big plus! Remember to be consistent. Like people, dogs have unique personalities none of which are the same, and it is a good trainer that will take the time to figure out the dog before trying to figure out how to best approach introducing basic obedience.
Don't praise a puppy for doing a certain act, then at a later time, scold him for doing the same act. Don't trick or fool or taunt your pup. Don't chase your animal to catch him; he must come to you or run after you.
Your puppy will recognize your moods and associate them to their behavior by your tone of voice. Positive reinforcement is the key to training your friend.
The first part of friend training is to instruct your puppy to sit. Pup training - basic obedience, house and potty training are essential and important to a friend's education. A well-train puppy usually leads a happier and healthier life and its owner also can enjoy a trouble-free life long companion.
Too often the only time the puppy hears his or her name is when they have done something naughty. Don't over-train your puppy. Remember, a one-year old friend is, effectively, the same as a seven-year old person. It is a good rule of thumb to keep reminding yourself would I expect a three, four, five or six-year old child to accomplish some of the tasks I am asking of my pup?
Training for a puppy is similar to going to work for a human; if you do not get anything good out of it, you will stop working. Obedient dogs make the best companions. It is imperative that you remain the "leader of the pack," and obedience training helps with that.
Don't bait your friend to you and then turn upon him with the whip. Don't grab your friend or reach for him quickly. Don't nag your puppy; don't be giving orders to him constantly; don't pester him with your shoutings.
Remember to always keep praising them when they obey a command and make sure they feel rewarded. Dogs respond best to positive dog training, rather than negative. Compensate your pup for correct behavior and always end your obedience training sessions on a positive note.
Don't expect your friend to be a wonderful animal after a few weeks of training; four months to a season may be necessary in order to make the master proud of him, but the work is worth the effort. Don't consider tricks the chief end or the chief part of training. Don't work your animal without some short rest or play periods during training.
Consistency is a chief virtue in pet training. Having fun is a big plus! Remember to be consistent. Like people, dogs have unique personalities none of which are the same, and it is a good trainer that will take the time to figure out the dog before trying to figure out how to best approach introducing basic obedience.
Don't praise a puppy for doing a certain act, then at a later time, scold him for doing the same act. Don't trick or fool or taunt your pup. Don't chase your animal to catch him; he must come to you or run after you.
Your puppy will recognize your moods and associate them to their behavior by your tone of voice. Positive reinforcement is the key to training your friend.
The first part of friend training is to instruct your puppy to sit. Pup training - basic obedience, house and potty training are essential and important to a friend's education. A well-train puppy usually leads a happier and healthier life and its owner also can enjoy a trouble-free life long companion.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Dog Training
If your dog is very lively, take advantage of that! During training sessions, be lively yourself! Match your pets enthusiasm, when your happy, your dog will be happy and your pet will be very happy come training time. While you are training him, he must be a one-man pup, depending on you alone to feed him and care for him. It is really important to make a shy laid back dog feel super great during training sessions as this can only improve your chances of continuing successful training. First of all, understand that dogs have an attention span of no more than ten minutes.
Never scold a puppy when you have not caught them in the act. Unfortunately, behavior that is cute in a puppy often becomes annoying in an adult pup. The first thing you'll want to teach your puppy is their name. The puppy's name will be with them for life, make sure they know it by associating it with all things pleasant and fun.
Remember keep the sessions short but do not sacrifice content. When you start training your dog, he-she has no clue on earth what you are saying. Instead of forcing your pet into a sit position, bring a tasty snack above and then back over his head until he sits back to get it.
DON'T chase your friend to catch him; he must come to you or run after you. DON'T jump to the conclusion that your puppy is dumb. DON'T consider tricks the chief end or the chief part of training.
All positive commands should be spoken sharply and distinctly during training. Finally, remember that you will get more cooperation when you are positive and patient. All dog training should be positive.
DON'T sneak up on your animal or grab him from the rear. DON'T train him in feats requiring much strength or endurance until he is at least six months old. DON'T trick or fool or taunt your puppy.
A five-minute rest for every fifteen minutes of training is desirable. It is important that you remain the "leader of the pack," and obedience training helps with that. The first part of friend training is to teach your dog to sit.
DON'T punish your puppy with the lead or any instrument of training or anything he should associate with duty or pleasure. DON'T lose patience with a puppy younger than six months. DON'T train your dog promptly or soon after he has eaten.
Rewarding your animal's behavior accomplishes two things: it makes her want to repeat the behavior to reap the compensate and establishes you as her leader. Remember to always keep praising them when they obey a command and make sure they feel rewarded.
Puppy training - basic obedience, house and potty training are essential and imperative to a puppy's education. There's a popular saying among trainers: "There's no such thing as a bad dog. Since pets are social animals, they are interested in doing whatever gets them attention.
Never scold a puppy when you have not caught them in the act. Unfortunately, behavior that is cute in a puppy often becomes annoying in an adult pup. The first thing you'll want to teach your puppy is their name. The puppy's name will be with them for life, make sure they know it by associating it with all things pleasant and fun.
Remember keep the sessions short but do not sacrifice content. When you start training your dog, he-she has no clue on earth what you are saying. Instead of forcing your pet into a sit position, bring a tasty snack above and then back over his head until he sits back to get it.
DON'T chase your friend to catch him; he must come to you or run after you. DON'T jump to the conclusion that your puppy is dumb. DON'T consider tricks the chief end or the chief part of training.
All positive commands should be spoken sharply and distinctly during training. Finally, remember that you will get more cooperation when you are positive and patient. All dog training should be positive.
DON'T sneak up on your animal or grab him from the rear. DON'T train him in feats requiring much strength or endurance until he is at least six months old. DON'T trick or fool or taunt your puppy.
A five-minute rest for every fifteen minutes of training is desirable. It is important that you remain the "leader of the pack," and obedience training helps with that. The first part of friend training is to teach your dog to sit.
DON'T punish your puppy with the lead or any instrument of training or anything he should associate with duty or pleasure. DON'T lose patience with a puppy younger than six months. DON'T train your dog promptly or soon after he has eaten.
Rewarding your animal's behavior accomplishes two things: it makes her want to repeat the behavior to reap the compensate and establishes you as her leader. Remember to always keep praising them when they obey a command and make sure they feel rewarded.
Puppy training - basic obedience, house and potty training are essential and imperative to a puppy's education. There's a popular saying among trainers: "There's no such thing as a bad dog. Since pets are social animals, they are interested in doing whatever gets them attention.
Sunday, February 03, 2008
Your Dog's Health
Your pet should see the veterinarian for a full examination, shots and a heartworm blood test every year, and right away if he is sick or injured.
Dental Well-being
While many of us may object to our dog's foul breath, we should focus on what it may be telling us. Bad breath is most commonly an indication that your pet is in need of a dental check-up. Dental plaque caused by bacteria results in a foul smell that requires experienced treatment. After a thorough cleaning, the teeth and gums may be maintained in a well state by brushing the teeth regularly, feeding a specially formulated dental diet and treats, and avoiding table scraps. Your veterinarian can give you more tips on minimizing dental disease and bad breath.
You can clean your canine’s teeth with a soft toothpaste or a baking-soda-and-water paste once or twice a week. Use a child's soft toothbrush, a gauze pad or a piece of nylon pantyhose stretched over your finger.
Some pets are prone to periodontal disease, a pocket of infection between the tooth and the gum. This distressful condition can result in tooth loss and spread infection to the rest of the body. Veterinarians can clean the teeth as a regular part of your puppy's fitness program.
Bad breath caused by a dental condition may not be too serious if caught early enough, however some odors may be indicative of fairly serious, chronic problems. Liver or intestinal conditions may cause foul breath, whereas a sweet, fruity smell may be suggestive of diabetes. If your puppy’s breath smells like ammonia or urine, kidney disease is a possibility. Any time you notice your pet has bad breath accompanied by other signs of ill health, such as loss of appetite, vomiting, weight loss, depression, excessive drinking or urinating, schedule a visit to the veterinarian.
Fleas and Ticks
Daily checkups of your pet for fleas and ticks during the warm seasons are absolute. Use a flea comb to find and remove fleas. There are a few new methods of flea and tick control. Contact your veterinarian about these and other options.
Heartworm
This parasite lives in the heart and is passed from animal to animal by mosquitoes. Heartworm infections can be deadly. Your puppy should have a blood test for heartworm every spring. This is essential for detecting infections from the previous season. A once-a-month pill given during mosquito season will protect your pup. If you travel south with your pet during the winter months, your animal should be on the preventive medicine during the trip. In some warmer regions, veterinarians recommend preventive heartworm medication throughout the year.
Dental Well-being
While many of us may object to our dog's foul breath, we should focus on what it may be telling us. Bad breath is most commonly an indication that your pet is in need of a dental check-up. Dental plaque caused by bacteria results in a foul smell that requires experienced treatment. After a thorough cleaning, the teeth and gums may be maintained in a well state by brushing the teeth regularly, feeding a specially formulated dental diet and treats, and avoiding table scraps. Your veterinarian can give you more tips on minimizing dental disease and bad breath.
You can clean your canine’s teeth with a soft toothpaste or a baking-soda-and-water paste once or twice a week. Use a child's soft toothbrush, a gauze pad or a piece of nylon pantyhose stretched over your finger.
Some pets are prone to periodontal disease, a pocket of infection between the tooth and the gum. This distressful condition can result in tooth loss and spread infection to the rest of the body. Veterinarians can clean the teeth as a regular part of your puppy's fitness program.
Bad breath caused by a dental condition may not be too serious if caught early enough, however some odors may be indicative of fairly serious, chronic problems. Liver or intestinal conditions may cause foul breath, whereas a sweet, fruity smell may be suggestive of diabetes. If your puppy’s breath smells like ammonia or urine, kidney disease is a possibility. Any time you notice your pet has bad breath accompanied by other signs of ill health, such as loss of appetite, vomiting, weight loss, depression, excessive drinking or urinating, schedule a visit to the veterinarian.
Fleas and Ticks
Daily checkups of your pet for fleas and ticks during the warm seasons are absolute. Use a flea comb to find and remove fleas. There are a few new methods of flea and tick control. Contact your veterinarian about these and other options.
Heartworm
This parasite lives in the heart and is passed from animal to animal by mosquitoes. Heartworm infections can be deadly. Your puppy should have a blood test for heartworm every spring. This is essential for detecting infections from the previous season. A once-a-month pill given during mosquito season will protect your pup. If you travel south with your pet during the winter months, your animal should be on the preventive medicine during the trip. In some warmer regions, veterinarians recommend preventive heartworm medication throughout the year.
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