Most people prefer cats or dogs as pets, but that doesn’t mean pocket pets don’t make a great addition to your family! Here are some of the smallest pocket pets.

Dwarf hamsters are a fairly popular pocket pet. The average hamster is usually around eight inches in length. Dwarf hamsters, on the other hand, only grow to be three or four inches in length. However, dwarf hamsters can be very fearful if they aren’t properly socialized.

An often overlooked small pocket pet is the mouse. The long tail and history of wreaking havoc in the home make this pet unpopular with some adults, but mice really do make great pets. They are actually intelligent, making them fairly easy to train.

Want to learn more about these pets and other small pocket pets? Click here, or call your veterinary clinic Oceanside, CA.

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Holding a dog when he’s young is an important concept for all pet owners especially younger children. If you have small dogs or puppies in your home, talk to your veterinary clinic Georgetown, IN about the correct ways to pick up and hold a puppy. The first step is to pick up the puppy with both hands by placing your hands under the front party of the body and legs of the puppy. Next bring the puppy close to your body while moving your hands down to support his backend. Place one hand under the dog’s backend and the other under is front legs. Remember the puppy is a baby so you’ll want to hold and support him in much the same way. Support the puppy’s body when placing him back on the floor. Make sure he lands with all four feet placed on the ground at the same time. See details here.

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When weaning kittens from their mom you will want to replace their mother’s milk with a milk replacer equivalent. In addition, you will need to start mixing in a little cat food with the milk to slowly introduce the kittens to an all dry food diet. Talk to your veterinarian Georgetown, IN to find out some of the best options when it comes to choosing a cat food. Your vet may suggest picking a brand first from a list he recommends. You can also do your own research online and in pet stores. Next, you will want to look for a kitten formula of dry or wet food in that brand. Be sure to check the calorie content and ingredients to make sure it will provide all of the nutritional elements your kittens need. Talk to your vet about your selection to make sure it’s a match for your kittens.

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Many cat parents make the decision to confine their pet indoors to protect them from predators and health problems. A cat that is allowed to venture outdoors regularly may take time to transition to a strictly indoor life. The process may not be that easy especially if your kitty has spent a good part of his life exploring the outdoors. However, with lots of patience and training, transition is possible.

A cat that is allowed outdoors tends to roam to hunt for prey or follow female pheromones during the mating season. Studies have shown that indoor-outdoor cats often cover more ground when they roam compared to farm cats.

Even if you think that your kitty won’t stray far from home, there are still lots of potential risks that he can get exposed to while being outside. If the call of the outdoors seems to be so strong, you can take him on leash walks or allow him to taste a sl ... Read more »

A dog should never be allowed to lead the way during leash walks. He should receive proper training to stay close by his owner’s side. When you allow your pet to take the lead even for just a short moment, he will be entertaining thoughts of assuming the pack leadership. Being the alpha leader of the pack, you should always take the lead.

A dog that is allowed to lead the way will soon develop a superiority complex, which can make him more dominant and aggressive. As you re-establish your dominance, you will have to deal with the dog’s leadership complex, which can be a challenge to deal with.

A dog that assumes the pack leadership may start to act anxious and nervous as he tries to be alert for any potential threats to the pack. He won’t be able to relax and enjoy your walks, especially if there are other dogs on your route.

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