Spring is one of the best times to purchase a fluffy flock of baby chicks. If you’ve purchased a flock of Albino chicks or are thinking about it, talk with your vet to learn about basic care and feeding. Some Albino chick owners start their chicks on a starter feed, which is simply like a mash containing proteins and nutrients to help them grow. You will want to keep the chicks on this for the first few weeks of their life. It is not recommended to give baby chicks any kind of treats or regular grain as these do not contain the needed nutrients for growth. Along with food, it is very important to make sure your Albino chicks have access to fresh, clean water. If your baby chicks aren’t drinking, pick one up and dip his beak in the water. This may motivate him to drink. Call your veterinary clinic Mission, TX for additional tips or click here.

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Your dog loves to be involved in every facet of your everyday life, and this is particularly true when it comes to dinnertime. However, it isn’t necessarily fun to have your pet begging for food when you are trying to have a nice dinner with the human portion of your family. To help stop him from begging, first make sure that all his needs are met prior to sitting down to eat. This way, you know that he is well cared for, and that he doesn’t presently need anything. Then, when he begs, simply ignore the behavior. This will mean taking the time to be consistent, as it may take a while for him to realize that he won’t get what he wants through this behavior, but your persistence will pay off in the long run. Book an appointment with your local Ellicott City, MD vet, or visit website http://vetscolumbia.com/ for more information.

Cat parents are often oblivious of the impact their actions have on their pets. It is not the intention of most cat owners to make their furballs feel stressed or anxious. Regardless of whether it is intentional or not, your actions affect your pet and can trigger changes in his behavior and eventually his relationship with you.

Punishing unwanted behavior

If you want to stop your pet’s unwanted behavior, punishment is not the solution. Punishment may inhibit the manifestation of undesired behavior, but this is only temporary, and it won’t resolve any of the underlying cause. Punishing your pet won’t make him understand that he is doing something wrong, and he won’t know what to do so he won’t be punished. Punishing your cat will eventually make him anxious and wary.

Scaring your cat ... Read more »

Dogs can suffer from seasonal allergies and food allergies. Seasonal allergies cause sneezing and watery eyes and also skin problems such as rashes and dry patches. Your dog may scratch and cause wounds that can easily become infected. You may also notice hair loss and lethargy. To help your dog you need to figure out what he is allergic to and keep it out of your dog’s environment. You can also give your dog soothing baths to reduce scratching. Your dog may even need medication for the itching or infection. Some dogs even get allergy shots if their reaction is severe. Food allergies are managed by not allowing your dog to ingest food he is sensitive to. This may be determined through a set or trials, looking for a reaction. If your dog seems to have an allergic reaction, make an appointment with your vet clinic North West London, ON for evaluation and treatment.

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If your dog’s training suddenly feels like it’s going nowhere, and you see that your dog doesn’t seem as much enthusiastic about it, either, it’s time to take steps to help summon more interest and motivation in your pet’s training. There is a need to effectively capture your pet’s attention or, in this case, reignite your pet’s interest by rewarding desired behavior. Having a motive will encourage your pet to work harder for the reward.

Motivational Tune-up

A few changes in your pet’s training regimen can certainly make a big difference. Pet owners should realize that training is an ongoing process; it’s not a single-training session or class. The best results are achieved when training is done in short sessions throughout the day and incorporating training in your interactions with your pet. In a way, training ... Read more »

Regular veterinary care is important to the health of your pet, but by serving your cat or dog, your vet is inadvertently serving you too.

A good vet clinic should make it easy to schedule an appointment. Many clinics offer after hours at least one day a week, while others may be willing to stick around for an extra half an hour to an hour to better serve you.

During your appointment, your vet should be more than happy to answer any and all questions that you have. They should also be willing to recommend certain medications and products that will work best for your pet.

The very best vets are willing to provide you with quick demonstrations. They should be willing to show you the right way to give your pet his medication, or the right way to clip his nails.

For more information, call your vet Hendersonville NC.

While some dogs shed lightly or moderately throughout the year, double-coated breeds shed heavily during spring and fall. Some of the most common breeds of dogs that are prone to seasonal shedding or “blowing coat” include pugs, beagles, German shepherds, Newfoundlands, Bernese Mountain dogs, Siberian huskies, and Labrador retrievers. Heavy shedding can sometimes make many pet owners anxious and often call or take their dogs to the veterinarian.

There are four physiological phases that hair goes through – growth, rest, shedding, and replacement. Hair loss and growth is significantly influenced by the hours of daylight to which the dog is exposed to. As fall slowly transitions into winter, the days grow shorter, and the dog sheds off its coat to make way for a heavier winter coat. Seasonal shedding can last from several weeks to more than a month; it won’t last forever, so relax.

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With tons of dog toys to choose from, pet owners can easily be overwhelmed by the number of choices that they have. But if you already have an idea of what’s appropriate and safe for your dog, choosing a toy will be much easier.

Choose toys for their strength and durability

There are toys for dogs that are designed to withstand eager players and power chewers. Most toys are made with mild to moderate chewers in mind. Extra-strength toys are often labeled and made to resist sharp teeth and claws. But extra-strength toys are soft enough so dogs will be less likely to break their teeth when chewing on the toy. Many dogs love plush stuffed toys, but these can easily be destroyed and the stuffing sometimes swallowed.

Toys that make a sound

Aside from the common squeaking sou ... Read more »

Cats spend more than 15 hours a day sleeping, a habit that many cat parents find peculiar. This behavior can be traced back to their ancestors who need many hours of sleep in order to be up and alert during dawn and dusk to hunt for prey. Being true carnivores, cats also need enough sleep to help in the digestion of their protein-rich diet.

Another odd sleeping habit of cats is their penchant for sleeping in tiny spaces even if there are more spacious places to sleep in. These tiny spaces do not seem particularly comfortable. This is another “carry-over” habit from their ancestors who feel safer hiding or even giving birth in small spaces to avoid potential predators. And when you think about it, small spaces are generally warmer and comfortable.

If your pet cat suddenly seems to be depressed or lethargic, click here, or call your ... Read more »

When your pet dog’s panting doesn’t seem to stop, there must be something unusual going on. But there are instances when breathing difficulties come slowly that you only notice it only after it has become serious.

Pets with respiratory problems may suffer from the following symptoms:

• Takes longer, deeper breaths than normal – breathing seems to demand greater effort
• Shallow, rapid breathing is common in dogs that are panting; open mouth breathing in cats should always be considered a serious emergency.
• Cyanosis – the animal’s tongue and gums have a bluish tinge; signifies a lack of oxygen in his blood.
• Noisy breathing – the animal may be making wheezy, squeaky, loud sounds

There ar ... Read more »

Food toys are considered viable alternatives to food bowls. There are multiple options for pet owners to choose from. Here are the general types of food bowls:

• Dispense-type toys

These toys dispense kibble or treats through an opening when the toy is manipulated – rocked, pulled, turned, etc. – in just the right way. These toys are usually made of tough plastic materials and won’t easily be taken apart by pets.

• Chewing-type toys

These types can be filled with kibble or canned food; chewing on these toys will release the food. Give these toys in places where a mess can easily be cleaned up.

• Feeding stations

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Puppies that belong to giant canine breeds may look big enough to engage in strenuous physical activities when they’re only a few months old, but these breeds are slow-growers and won’t reach skeletal maturity until they’re between 18 months to 2 years old. Thus, jumping, running, and jogging, especially on hard surfaces can pave the way for orthopedic problems. Pet owners of giant-breed dogs should not let their pets jump on and off furniture or exert unnecessary pressure on their joints by letting them run on hard surfaces.

Letting your giant-breed puppy go up and down the stairs can also increase his risks of developing orthopedic problems. This is particularly important with leggy breeds such as Irish wolfhounds and Scottish deerhounds whose bones can easily break when they are allowed to use the stairs as puppies and fall. So it is a good idea to carry your puppy up and down stairs. You can also ... Read more »