posted by Tess on Jan 31
Many times cat owners are at a loss as to why their cat doesn’t use their litter box. Here are some great tips that can help you solve the problem.
The litter box is the First thing you should check. It should be in a quiet, private area of the house. Many people put them in their basements and leave the door open a little as this not only creates a private environment but also keeps odors to a minimum in the rest of the house.
Some use a closet but if you do this be sure and keep the box clean to reduce odors in such a confined space and don’t forget to leave the door open!
Another placement possibility is under a table. Many people find a place without carpeting is best from a maintenance point of view as tile or cement is a lot easier to clean.
Ask yourself if you changed the litter box in any way:
* Has the box been moved to a high traffic area recently?
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posted by Tess on Jan 25
What causes furballs?
Cats are avid groomers and seem to spend hours preening and licking themselves. Unfortunately this usually means that they end up swallowing a lot of loose fur which accumulates in their stomach to form matted lumps called furballs.
These are usually either vomited out or emitted with their feces. Problems arise however if the cat’s digestive system is weak or if their nutrition is inadequate as the furballs may remain inside the cat and act as a cork causing a number of problems including constipation, recurrent vomiting and a build up of toxins.
What is FurBall Dr.?
PetAlive FurBall Dr. has been specifically formulated for cats who suffer from furball problems and contains a combination of selected herbs and homeopathic ingredients to help with digestion and elimination, thereby preventing the distressing problems associated with furballs.
Presented in a cat-friendly easy to administer form, FurBall Dr. will help to keep both your cat and your carpet ‘furball free’!
Regular Use of PetAlive FurBall Dr. Can:
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posted by Tess on Jan 25
A dog owner contacted me the other day and said, “Adam: I’ve been using your dog training techniques for six months now and Zac, my Labrador /Heeler cross (two years old) is just about an angel now.
The only problem I have is that he digs up the lawn approximately once every two months. I have him on a running lead when I’m not home and this prevents him from digging. However, he is off the lead over night. Most of the time he’s good, but now and again he digs a hole (at night).
I’m reluctant to put him on the lead at night because this is when he goes to the toilet (he can’t go during the day). Can you please provide me with some advice so that I can stop this problem?
Thanks,
Night-Digger
Dear Night-Digger:
Thank you for your comments about my dog training techniques, which I write about at Dogproblems.com.
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posted by Tess on Jan 23
What are some of the causes for lack of energy in dogs and cats?
Dogs:
* Depression
* Boredom
* Obesity
* Nutritional Deficiency
* Inadequate or inappropriate diet
* Liver sluggishness or disease
* Intestinal worms
* Hypothyroidism
* Diabetes
* Poisoning
* Anemia
* Kidney failure
* Heatstroke
Cats:
* Liver sluggishness or disease
* Depression
* Boredom
* Incorrect diet
* Intestinal worms
* Feline Leukemia
* Cardiomyopathy (a disease that affects the heart muscle)
* Anemia
* Ulcers
* Diabetes
* Kidney failure
* Heat Stroke
As can be seen from the list above, listlessness or lack of energy may have a variety of causes.
While some causes may be serious and require professional medical attention from a vet, much can be done to improve energy levels in your pet.
What is PetAlive Energy Tonic?
PetAlive Energy Tonic Capsules contain a unique combination of Chinese, Indian and European medicinal Herbs especially chosen for their energy giving properties as well as their positive effect on systemic health.
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posted by Tess on Jan 19
As thousands of families struggled with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, many of them were also missing pets. Many people have plans to deal with emergencies for themselves, but fail to make arrangements for the animal members of their family. Whether it’s a small emergency such as a house fire, or a large emergency like a tornado, hurricane, flood or manmade disaster, advanced planning always gives the best chance of keeping all of your family members safe.
Preparation
Start by talking with your family about what you will do in various situations. Responses to localized emergencies like fires, small storms and power outages will likely differ from emergency plans for large scale emergencies such as hurricanes, tornadoes and manmade attacks. Plan evacuation routes to designated meeting points.
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posted by Tess on Jan 18
You may wish to consider a chinchilla as a possible pet. They are of the rodent family, (but it doesn’t seem that way).
Also known as “chins″ they have incredible velvety fir, and they resemble a chubby squirrel with Mickey mouse type ears. They are nocturnal, although they do get up and play alot during the day. Chins are very smart and playful, and I’m told can be trained. They are also very clean,so their cage area doesn’t tend to stink as many other types of caged animals can.
I got my first pair of chinchillas, as adults, a proven breeding pair. They were nice enough but they never really did bond with us. We ended up having 3 litters total. They usually have 1-3 babies (also known as kits), and their pregnancy is 111 days (about 4 months), which is very long gestation period for an animal that size.
The babies are born fully formed, “ready to go” you might say. Fully furred, eyes opened, running around. They can even eat adult food almost from day 1, although they prefer to nurse.
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posted by Tess on Jan 18
Because your dog lives with humans, he’s going to have to learn to deal with frustration sometimes, because you shouldn’t let things always go his way if you’re to be a responsible dog owner.
Dogs that are strong-willed and confident are more likely to become frustrated when they can’t have something, especially if to them they are the dominant one, and not their owner.
To cure this bad behavior, you’re going to have to set up some situations in which your dog becomes frustrated. You must then wait for him to go through his frustration and eventually calm down. Once he’s calmed down, he’s allowed to get whatever it is he wanted.
You need to remember while you’re doing this, that you can’t react in anyway while he’s frustrated.
Here’s an example of the whole process:
Offer your dog something he wants, often a food reward of a favorite toy will do the trick, and keep it just out of his reach. If he pulls on his leash, or barks, just ignore the behavior.
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posted by Tess on Jan 17
Depression and grieving in pets
Depression and grieving in pets may take many different forms - from the obviously sad and lethargic animal to the pet who manifests illness and behavioral problems associated with depression.
Animals form very deep attachments to their owners and to each other. It is therefore not surprising when they show signs of grief and depression if their owner or a companion pet die.
Some animals experience separation anxiety when their owners go away for a vacation, or sometimes even when they leave them for a short time. Separation anxiety, can result in depression or, more commonly (especially in dogs), in destructive behavior such as digging, chewing or scratching.
Pets are also very attuned to their owner’s emotional state. If you are feeling depressed or grief-stricken, this may, in turn, impact your pet. Certain breeds of pets also tend to worry and fret more than others. They may be at particular risk of developing chronic depression.
Symptoms of grief and depression can include:
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posted by Tess on Jan 16
Many animal lovers get parrots because they are attracted to the parrot’s unusual personality. Parrots are entertaining and beautiful but they are also quick-tempered, independent and very smart animals.
With that being said is a parrot the right pet for you? There are many things to consider should you finally decide to purchase a parrot.
The first thing to consider is the size of your space. Do you have enough room to keep a large cage to house your parrot? You want to make sure that you and your parrot will be comfortable with the amount of room that you have.
Another thing to consider when deciding if a parrot is the right pet for you is noise. Parrots can be quite loud. You may enjoy the noise a parrot makes when it is trying to get your attention, however, you want to take into account your surroundings. If you are in an apartment or your neighbors are really close, it may be more noise than they can tolerate.
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posted by Tess on Jan 16
Giving your dog a bath is important, but not as critical as most people seem to believe. If your dog is healthy, he really doesn’t need to be bathed more that once every few months, but most of us put them in the tub or under the hose more often to get rid of that doggie smell and look shinier. Although most dogs do not enjoy getting a bath, it is a good bonding experience. They will appreciate the contact and attention they get from their owner.
This is also an excellent time to do some other required “maintenance” tasks that we often forget about, such as ear cleaning, brushing their teeth, and checking for fleas and ticks. It is much easier to do all these things at once since most dogs don’t enjoy sitting through these activities for very long.
Let’s go into further detail about these maintenance tasks to make sure your dog stays healthy and happy for a long time.
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