Pet Care -
continued...
- Behavior (con't)-
...Dogs and cats take a lot of time and attention that
people often forget about when they pick that new
cute little puppy, kitten, or even shelter dog.
There is a lot of training, play, and time involved
in shaping man's/woman's best friend.
Puppies and kittens need to be socialized, played
appropriate with, and constantly monitored to make
sure that they learn the house rules. They won't
learn what they are and are not supposed to do if
left to their own devices (in other words they need
you to direct them).
The journey can be long but the end very rewarding.
- Spaying & Neutering (con't) -
...Castration
is the correct term when you have your do neutered.
It is best to neuter your dog by six months old to
help with the prevention of marking and wandering
but you can neuter at any age. Neutering or
castration is important because it protects your
loved one from prostate disease and testicular
cancers that can develop later in life.
Ovariohysterectormy or Spay is the best thing that
you can do for your female pet. Spaying not only
prevents against unwanted litters but it also
prevents against mammary cancer and a life
threatening uterine infection called a pyometra.
If you want to breed your pet fine but make sure
that you are well educated in what to expect.
Breeders do not breed their pets for money. They
breed to better the breed to prevent certain genetic
diseases such as hip dysplasia. If you really want
to breed your pet then I suggest you start hanging
around some dog shows and talk to some serious
breeders. You need to research genetic diseases and
perform any necessary tests your dog needs before
breeding such as OFA, PennHip, or eye Cerf. Don't
forget that mother and father should be current on
all vaccinations, dewormings, heartworm tests, and
heartworm prevention. It takes good health to
produce healthy puppies.
Good Luck!!
- Guest Corner-Check
out what others have to say about pets
at our new Guest
Corner.
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- Dental care
- (con't)...your
pet out early in life by brushing your pets teeth with
your finger. Make sure to get their molars. After they
are used to your finger you can try a real brush and
some toothpaste.
If your dog will not let you brush do not despair the
next best thing is an oral rinse. You can get this from
you veterinarian. You just stick it in the corner of
your pet's mouth every other day and voila!!
If you pet won't tolerate the rinse the third best thing
is chewing and I don't mean milkbones(they break before
they have time to brush your pets teeth). The best would
be CET treats that you get from your veterinarian but
you could try some of the others that you can purchase
over the counter. Try to stay away from greenies(they
can cause intestinal foreign bodies if not monitored
closely).
Good Luck and Go Brush!! |
- Cats out of the box - (con't)
...The number one reason is cleanliness.
Litterbox waste should be scooped every day and
the box should be dumped and cleaned once a
week. When you clean the box, don't use the
smelly stuff just use soap and water. Some cats
don't like the strong smell of some cleaners.
The number two reason cats go out of the box is
that they don't like the location of the box or
the fact that it has a hood. Cats are easily
frightened by loud noises so placing the box
next to a furnace or washer can sometimes deter
cats from using the box. The box should not be
placed near their food and water. Who wants to
eat where they go to the bathroom.
The number 3 reason cats do not use the box is
because they do not like the litter. Try
different types of litter at different depths if
you cat starts to fine alternatives to the box.
The number 4 reason is other cats. You should
always have 1 more box than you have cats and
they should be in various locations. Sometimes
some cats in the household will start to bully
other cats around the box because they see it as
their territory. Watch for this.
The final reason that a cat might start going in
other locations is a medical reason. I recommend
having your cat checked out by your veterinarian
so they can rule out a medical condition such as
cystitis, diabetes, kidney or hyperthyroid
disease.
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