Chinchillas need exercise and love leaving their cage to explore. But before you turn your chinchilla loose, it’s important that you chinchilla proof your home first.

Chinchillas love to chew and gnaw, so keep them out of rooms where they can cause serious damage or harm themselves. Rooms with computers, televisions, and gaming systems should be avoided. Otherwise, you can wrap cords in PVC piping.

It is also important to pick up and remove any items that you do not want destroyed. Blankets, pillows, shoelaces, and more can all get torn, shredded, and peed on.

Cover up areas where your chinchilla could hide. Block the areas underneath couches, end tables, and beds so you don’t have to go searching for your furry friend later.

No matter how much you chinchilla proof your home, it is still important to provide your pet with supervision. To learn more, visit the website of Ark Animal Hospital of Soudert ... Read more »

Most rabbit owners know that hay is important to their bunny’s diet, but which hay is right for your rabbit?

Timothy hay is the most common hay and can easily be found at your local pet store. It is comprised of a mix of leaves and stems from timothy grass and provides an adequate supply of fiber.

Alfalfa hay can also be found in some pet stores. However, you should limit the amount of alfalfa hay you feed to your rabbit. It is high in calcium and is often fed in large quantities to baby bunnies that need to gain weight.

Meadow hay is an interesting choice because it’s softer than timothy hay and often contains tasty seed heads and various herbs.

In most cases, you can’t go wrong, no matter what hay you choose. However, your vet Warminster can answer your questions about which hay is right for your rabbit. 

Animals also face physiological and mental decline as they approach their golden years.  Since aging is an inevitable process, it is beneficial for pet owners to know and anticipate the various changes that are expected as their pets enter their twilight years.  Monitoring for signs of aging can assist geriatric pets live out their final years in comfort. 

Pets in their golden years are likely to have urinary and bowel incontinence or may develop sensitivity to specific food ingredients.  They may develop vision and hearing problems, and their joints may become inflamed and painful.  Some may also have abnormal skin growths and become more prone to skin diseases.  Keeping a close watch on your senior pet will help spot early signs of specific problems associated with aging; this is also a good idea so you appropriately attend to their needs. 

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No matter how much you love your pooch, you won’t be happy chancing upon any evidence of potty accidents around the house. Even with toilet training, there are instances when a pet is unable to hold it in, and you should be ready to deal with these accidents properly. Be patient and take steps to identify the cause/s for such behavior.  Knowing the underlying reasons and understanding them can lead to effective management or retraining.

Just like a child, your pet needs to be toilet trained.  While this may take a while, be patient and be consistent in taking your dog to its potty area in the yard.

If you think you have done your end to correct inappropriate elimination and yet see no improvement in your dog’s behavior, seek out professional help at Sun Prairie veterinary clinic. Visit this website to know more.

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Many people think that jumping up on people is a form of greeting in dogs. This is a relatively common behavior problem that many pet owners don’t really try to correct. However, it will be another story if the dog is very large and there are kids around.

A dog continues to jump up on people because he usually receives the attention he is seeking. When your dog jumps up on you, it is best not to give him any attention. Ignore him by folding your arms across your chest and looking upward. Your dog won’t receive the physical or visual contact he is seeking while you are in this position. Command him to sit; once he does, be quick to reward him with lots of attention. Make sure that the rest of the family is involved in this particular training. Your pooch will soon learn that engaging in this behavior won’t get him the attention he is seeking.

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Knowing what motivates a dog is important when pet owners attempt to modify pet behavior. Exploring what drives your dog can be used to your advantage during training. Dogs differ in their drives, and despite these differences, food drive and prey drive are almost always on top of the list.

Dogs are highly motivated by food. Even if they are given adequate food for each meal, offering your dog a tasty treat can certainly command his full attention. Here are some pointers which are useful when you are using food as a reward during training sessions:

• Training is best done when your pooch is a bit hungry because this will make him more motivated to learn.  Training sessions held before mealtime is recommended.
• Be consistent when giving food as reward. It should only be offered once your pooch has successfully completed a task.
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Your Orangevale animal hospital knows that you want the best supplies available for your pet. However, they also know that it can be difficult to determine just what the best option for your individual pet would be due to the number of options on the market.

Don’t let this intimidate you though – your dog is counting on you to select the right bed for him to relax in. If you give in to marketing hype, you could bring home a bed that isn’t right for him to sleep on. This could cause him to be restless, or downright uncomfortable. Since neither of these are conducive to a good night’s sleep, his health may be impacted by them. Do your best to evaluate your pet’s individual needs and try to find a bed that would satisfy them the best.