Monkeys are extremely intelligent creatures and have complex physical, social, and emotional needs that a potential pet owner must be ready to satisfy. A pet primate needs to have a busy, active, and stimulating life even in captivity. In the wild, they often live in groups and spend a good part of the day foraging for food. Many are arboreal and possess excellent ability for climbing and swinging from one branch to another.

Being social animals, pet monkeys should receive proper and adequate mental stimulation, exercise, a nutritionally balanced diet, and regular interaction.

Here are some important facts about pet monkeys that you should know about:

• Pet monkeys have social needs that need to be adequately satisfied.
• They will need an outdoor and indoor enclosure with enough space (vertical and hori ... Read more »

Cats are extremely territorial creatures and often engage in aggressive behavior to defend their established territory. The arrival of a new cat may seem like a threat to the resident cat so don’t expect that they will be playing sweet music sometime soon.

It will need time, effort, and patience to get your two cats to get along or at least tolerate each other. Proper introduction is very important to increase the chances of cats getting along or even having a truce in the household.

Here are ways to help get your cats’ relationship off to a good start:

• Make sure they are spayed or neutered to prevent hormone-fueled behaviors such as dominance, being very territorial, going into heat, etc.
• Place the new cat in a room that has been cat-proofed beforehand. Always close the door to prevent o ... Read more »

A large portion of the body of a hedgehog is covered by quills. These spiny projections also fall out in a process called ‘quilling’. Shedding occurs in baby and juvenile hedgehogs. The first quilling usually takes place at about 2 months old. The hedgehog loses its finer quills and grows thicker and longer ones.

The second quilling takes place at about 4 months of age. This is quite different from the first because new and larger quills have to push through the holes of the old quills. This is quite uncomfortable for the hedgehog; it is like teething in small children and puppies. The discomfort and pain may lead to behavior changes during quilling time. 

Quilling is a physiological process and will continue to occur regularly throughout a hedgehog’s life.

You should bring your hedgehog to your Merrillville, IN animal hos ... Read more »

When you spot signs that a dog is nervous and may bite, try your best to put space between yourself and the dog. However, always remember never to turn your back on the dog and run. It is a dog’s natural instinct to chase a potential “prey”.

If a seemingly ferocious and unfriendly dog approaches you, always keep these tips in mind:

• Presence of mind is very important; resist the impulse to run away or scream
• Avoid eye contact with the dog and try your best to remain motionless, with your hand at your sides.
• When the dog thinks you are not a threat and will lose interest in you, slowly back away until you are out of his sight.
• If the dog decides to attack, try your best to put something between yourself and the dog such as your jacket, bicycle, ... Read more »

Some people believe that declawing their cats is the best way to deal with unwanted scratching. However, this is very far from the truth. Cats that undergo the procedure suffer from extreme pain that can last a lifetime. They are also less likely to use the litter and are unable to engage in natural feline behaviors. In fact the procedure has been known to lead to the development of undesirable behavior problems that can be a challenge to deal with.

Declawing has been banned by many countries, except for rare cases when it is necessary to remove nail bed tumors and similar health problems.

Scratching is a normal feline behavior. It removes the old nails to give way to new growth. Cats also scratch to mark territory, and stretch their muscles.

Cats start to scratch when they are about 8 weeks old. This is the best time to teach kittens to use a s ... Read more »

Most of our feline friends enjoy a good hunt even if it’s only for a little insect or bug. Of course they would prefer to pounce on a bird or perhaps a field mouse, but sometimes all they get is a spider. The question to ask your vet Oconomowoc, WI in cases like these is not whether your cat  should hunt for spiders, but whether or not your cat should eat a spider. That’s right, what if your cat not only hunts and captures the spider, but what if she also eats it? A general rule of thumb is to kill all spiders and insects in your home to prevent your cat from eating them. Not all spiders or insects are dangerous for your cat. For instance, regular house or garden spiders are typically harmless to cats. However, the poisonous or venomous spiders could cause potential harm or even life threatening consequences if your cat eats them. Visit this website for more details.

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Do you own a Chesapeake Bay Retriever? If so then you may be looking for different ways to entertain your pup or bond with him. Your vet Oconomowoc, WI will most likely recommend that you give your Chesapeake plenty of room to run and to swim. The Chesapeake was originally bred to hunt and retrieve waterfowl. Their double coats give them the ability to go on the hunt in just about any type of weather. This particular dog doesn’t mind jumping into the icy cold water to retrieve his favorite toy or a recently shot down waterfowl. The Chesapeake is a strong and athletic dog. He is intelligent and quick on his toes. Your Chesapeake will probably do well in any type of agility training as well as field games and competitions. You and your pup will most likely enjoy a good swim several days a week as well. To know more, click here.

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If you are looking for a sporting dog that can both hunt and compete in field competitions then you may want to ask your vet Oconomowoc, WI about the Chesapeake Bay Retriever. This particular breed of dog not only belongs to the retriever breed group, but it also belongs to the gundog and sporting breeds. It is sometimes referred to as the Chessie, CBR or simply Chesapeake. The faithful Chesapeake was originally used as a hunting dog to retrieve waterfowl making it both a hunting companion and family pet. The breed is smart, quick, athletic, loyal, protective and highly trainable when given consistent lessons. The Chesapeake does very well with people of all ages including children. Some Chesapeake dogs may be timid around strangers while others are extremely outgoing. The dog breed has a double coat, which gives it the versatility to live in various weather conditions. See details here.

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