Obesity is now considered an epidemic in dogs and cats; in fact, it is the top nutritional disorder in pets. Obesity can significantly impact a pet’s quality of life and lifespan.

Obesity can pave the way for various health problems to set in, including serious, life-threatening conditions. These include diabetes mellitus, some forms of cancer, heart and respiratory problems, joint problems, poor exercise tolerance, premature aging, and decreased quality of life.

Basically, piling of extra pounds is a result of overeating; a pet’s caloric intake far exceeds what they need, the excess being stored as body fat. There are also instances when certain factors increase a pet’s predisposition to obesity, like breed, genes, age, and sex. However, a pet owner can exert control over his pet’s caloric intake and physical activity.

K ... Read more »

Trimming your pet’s nails need practice and using the right tool. A dog’s nail has a spot called the ‘quick’ where nerves and blood vessels are present. It is usually identified as a thin red line running through the nail. You will know that you have accidentally hit the quick because it will start to bleed. Your dog may also give a whimper as he tries to withdraw his paw.

Some dogs have black or dark nails, so the quick is not as visible. Trim the nail a little piece at a time until it is even with his paw pad.

Don’t panic when you see the quick starting to bleed. It is treated like most bleeding injuries. Apply some pressure by placing a clean tissue or cloth over the quick until the bleeding stops.

Make sure to monitor the toe for infection. You can also ask your Centennial, CO veterinarian for preparations which ... Read more »

Cats often hate their carriers because whenever they are placed inside, they usually ride in the car and visit the veterinarian or the groomer. These experiences can be stressful to your cat, and he won’t forget this anytime soon.

It is important for a cat to view his carrier as a comfortable place or refuge, and this should start while he is still very young. You can achieve this by keeping the following tips in mind:

• Don’t force your kitty to go inside the carrier. Place the carrier in a part of the house where your pet usually stays in, leaving the carrier open. The carrier should contain a comfortable blanket and a few of his favorite toys.
• Place a few treats near the carrier, each day, moving the treats near the opening, and then placing the treats further into the carrier. Do this until your kitty is comfortable going ... Read more »

Even with their fastidious grooming habits, all cats, regardless of whether they are long- or short-haired, should be brushed regularly to keep their hair coats and skin healthy, reduce shedding, prevent matting, and formation of hairballs.

In addition to regular hair brushing, a cat’s grooming regimen should include nail trimming and ear cleaning. Claws should be clipped to keep them from growing into the cat’s paws, which can be painful.

Senior cats or those suffering from joint problems often have reduced flexibility, thus they are unable to reach certain parts of their body. Grooming is also an excellent opportunity to check your kitty for mites, ticks, and fleas. Running your hand all over your pet’s body will give you the chance to discover any abnormal lumps or growths. Grooming sessions are also great opportunities to bond with your furball.

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Some people choose to adopt an old dog over newly weaned puppies. It is a fact that the decision to give an old dog a second chance at life is only made by a small percentage of people who want to adopt a pet dog.

Animal shelters have lots of adult dogs waiting for somebody to come along and bring them to their forever home. Many of these dogs have been abandoned by their owners or turned over to the shelter because they found out too late that they are unable to meet their even pet’s basic needs. Some have gotten lost and failed to be reunited with their owners.

Older dogs have already received adequate socialization and are able to adjust easily to various environments. They also come with formed behaviors, thus you may have to deal with some behavior issues that needs to be untrained during the first few weeks. Investing patience, time, and effort during this transition pe ... Read more »

Some pet owners are concerned that their pet dogs are not responding to specific cues which are often used during training. There are various reasons to explain this behavior. One is that the dog is unable to associate the cue with a particular behavior. A dog needs to learn the behavior first before it can learn to associate it with a word or signal.

Another possible reason is that the behavior and the cue have not been used consistently in various settings. A pet owner should also make the effort to ensure that both have been proofed in multiple situations. For example, your pet will come to you every time you call his name when you are inside the house and there are no distractions. However, it will be a different story when you and your dog are outside and a cat is hiding in the bushes or a squirrel is scampering among the trees.

Asking assistance from your ... Read more »

Pedigree cats often cost a considerable sum of money over ‘moggies’ because many people think of them as special in some way. However, pedigree cats are better viewed as different, rather than being better than moggies or non-pedigree cats.

Moggies are offspring of unplanned mating of different cat breeds, while pedigree cats are results of a carefully planned mating of specific breeds to create a new breed. The selection is often based on specific characteristics (color or length of hair coat or some behavioral traits) of the breeds that are used.  However, if there are health problems or disorders unique to the gene pool, these can be passed on more readily to the offspring, thus pedigree cats are often known to be prone to certain inherited disorders.

When you are planning to bring home a particular breed, you should take time to read up on its breed characteris ... Read more »