Just because your dog goes potty outside doesn’t mean you won’t have to deal with all his waste eventually! Here are some tips that will make cleaning up after your dog a breeze.

Although dogs don’t naturally cover up their waste, you can teach a dog to go potty in the same area of your yard. By minimizing his potty area, you don’t have to worry about accidentally walking into his waste when you’re in the backyard. In addition, a smaller area makes cleanup much easier.

You can wait for the waste to pile up, then use a shovel to dispose of the waste in the garbage, but picking up after your dog as he goes is a lot easier. Use a scooper or a baggie to take care of the mess right away and you don’t have to deal with it later.

Interested in more tips? Call your veterinary cli ... Read more »

Making sure your cat gets enough exercise can be difficult. It’s not like you can put a leash on him and take him for a walk! To encourage your cat to play, consider turning your home into a cat playground.

Cats like vertical spaces, so make sure there are plenty of vertical places for him to explore. Cat trees are a great accessory, but you can also purchase cat-friendly shelving that can be installed throughout your home.

Nothing is more interesting to a cat than a cardboard box. Now, imagine if you took multiple boxes and glued them together to build a kitty fort! Just cut strategic holes and you’ll have a fun place for your cat to play that doesn’t cost a lot of money.

Rotating his toys is also a great way to keep him interested. For more tips, click here, or visit with your vet Ellicot ... Read more »

Cats may be more independent than dogs, but they can still get lonely while you’re away at work! To keep your cat company, consider leaving the radio on!

By leaving the radio on, it can make your cat feel like someone’s at home. If you play the radio for your cat while you’re at home, you can learn which stations your cat likes the best. Some pet parents prefer light music or orchestral tunes to help calm their kitty while they’re gone.

Cats have a different range of hearing than humans, so they aren’t likely to hear music the same way we do. To make sure the music is appealing to your cat, consider purchasing a CD that is specially made just for cats!

The radio isn’t the only way you can keep your cat company. Leaving the TV on can work too! For more tips, click here, or ... Read more »

If your Burmese cat has been diagnosed with feline diabetes then you may want to ask your veterinary clinic Ellicott City, MD about treatment options and immediate treatment plans. Your vet will most likely have a plan already in place after diagnosing your cat. If not, push for treatment to start right away. In some cats if treatment is delayed or is not given, there could be fatal consequences. For instance, a condition called Ketoacidosis could develop. This condition is a metabolic imbalance that occurs with unmanaged or poorly regulated diabetes. Ketoacidosis is caused when fat and protein is broken down due to a need for more metabolic energy. The excessive breakdown of these reserves causes a toxic by-product called ketones. While the ketones continue to build in the blood stream, the pH and electrolyte imbalance continues as well. Symptoms related to Ketoacidosis include loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, weakness, dehydration, and d ... Read more »

Your veterinarian Ellicott City, MD can tell you that the Great Pyrenees breed is among several breeds of dogs that are prone to illnesses and diseases that can affect their mobility. One such disease is Degenerative Myelopathy (DM), which can cause the loss of mobility and feeling in the legs. If your Great Pyrenees has been diagnosed with a condition that affects his mobility, talk to your vet about a specialized dog cart or wheelchair for your dog. Specialized carts have been created to give your dog back some of his mobility. For instance, Eddie’s Wheels and K9Carts.com develop carts for dogs with DM. These carts are standard rear wheel carts that are essentially used like walkers. The cart allows the dog to take his regular stride with the front legs while the cart rolls along carrying the backend. Models are available for all dog sizes and can be ordered to specifically fit your Great Pyrenees.

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Your vet Columbia, MD can tell you that although fatty liver disease is one of the more severe liver diseases in cats, it is not a very common disease in dogs. In general, a dog’s primary liver function is to produce chemicals necessary for digestion and detoxification of the body. Fatty liver disease occurs when the dog becomes ill and stops eating. This causes his body to go into survival mode by sending excessive amounts of fat to the liver to be broken down into energy. A dog’s liver is not meant to handle such large masses of fat and becomes swollen. An abnormal bile flow in the liver and deficient hepatic function is also noted. Not only is the liver unable to process the fat, but it is also unable to handle other functions including processing red blood cells. As a result you may see a yellowing of the dog’s eyes. Veterinary treatment is needed immediately. To learn more, click here.

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Your vet Columbia, MD can tell you that diabetes mellitus or sugar diabetes is a common occurrence in cats. Feline diabetes generally occurs when a cat’s body doesn’t produce enough insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is produced in a cat’s pancreas and is in charge of regulating the flow of glucose from the bloodstream into the body’s cells. When there isn’t enough insulin the cat’s body starts breaking down fat and protein reserves as an alternative. Ideally, the energy source should therefore come from glucose and not stored fat and proteins. As a result the cat may start to lose weight and develop high levels of sugar in the bloodstream. Cats with diabetes tend to face a number of additional health issues including pancreatitis and frequent urinary tract infections. Both humans and dogs are known to have eye problems such as cataracts as a direct result of diabetes. Eye illnesses such as these; however, are rare in ... Read more »

If your cat has been diagnosed with feline diabetes then you may need to talk to your vet Columbia, MD about necessary treatment options. For many cats, insulin injections will be required. Your vet can show you how to administer the injections. A few tips to remember in the process include not reusing syringes. Never administer if there is an air bubble in the syringe. Release the insulin back in the bottle and try again. If you inject your cat on the right side in the morning, alternate and inject her left side at night. If your cat does not cooperate, talk to your vet about making adjustments to the way you administer the injections. Always reward your cat with a treat or a gentle stroke of the fur to ensure her that she is OK and doing a good job. Try not to become stressed as it will affect your cat’s reaction to the procedure as well.

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Your cat is a great friend to you, and you want to help to make her life easier in any way you can. If she is experiencing limited mobility, she is likely to need an extra hand around the house. Because this can cause her to no longer have access to areas she has frequented all her life. Many of these areas you can help her get to by offering an easier way to access them, but others you may need to replicate in an alternate location. You can also place her belongings in a more concentrated area so she can get to them more readily. Keeping a vigilant eye on your pet will help you understand what she needs from you. As you notice issues arise, try to find a way to help her with them to prevent future problems. Your local Greensboro, NC vet clinic can offer additional help.

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