It isn’t uncommon to hire a trainer when you adopt a dog. They can help teach your dog the basics, but they can also make living with your dog much more pleasant. How do you know if your cat needs a trainer?

You likely won’t hire a trainer for your cat for the same reasons you would hire one for your dog. Your cat isn’t likely to learn how to sit, lay down, or come.

Instead, a trainer can help you deal with bad kitty behaviors. If your cat scratches or bites, or if he bolts into the bedroom and hides under the bed every time he hears a loud noise, a trainer may be able to help.

To make sure your cat’s behavior doesn’t have a medical cause, schedule an appointment with your veterinary clinic Fulshear, TX. Then, ask your vet for recommendations on cat trainer ... Read more »

Cats are fairly clean creatures. They are great at cleaning themselves, but that doesn’t mean they can’t get into a mess every now and then. Here’s what to do about dirty cat paws.

Cat paws can get dirty for a few different reasons. If your cat ventures outside, he may come back with dirty feet. However, your indoor cat isn’t guaranteed to have clean feet. Using the litter box can make those little paws awfully dirty!

There’s no need to give your cat a complete bath. Cats hate baths! Instead, use a damp washrag or a cat-friendly cleaning wipe to clear away the mess. If your cat has long toe hair, you may be able to prevent messes in the future by trimming it.

If your cat is dirty enough to need a bath, ask your veterinary clinic London, ON for a list of recommended groomers in your area. To learn more, ... Read more »

Loud noises can very easily startle us, but loud noises can illicit some strange reactions in dogs, even if the sound doesn’t seem that loud. Why are dogs afraid of loud noises anyway?

First, you need to understand that dogs can hear much better than we can. Not only are sounds louder, they can actually hear more sounds than we can. That’s why you may observe your dog behaving strangely, even if you can’t hear anything.

Some dogs may be conditioned to be fearful of loud noises because of their past. A loud noise may have once been a sign that something unpleasant was coming. It may also have been associated with a punishment.

With a little help, you can teach your dog not to be so scared of loud noises. To learn more, click here, or call your veterinarian London, ON.

... Read more »

Grooming is an important part of any animal’s regular routine, but not all animals need to be brushed. Do bunnies have to be brushed on a regular basis?

Not all rabbits have to be brushed. If your rabbit has fairly short hair, you may be able to get away with not brushing him. However, you can still brush him anyway, as it’s a nice way to bond with your pet. You might find that your rabbit really enjoys it!

If your rabbit has medium length or long hair, you’re probably going to have to brush him from time to time. You may even have to consider trimming some of his hair, especially around his rear end, in order to keep it clean and keep it from matting.

Want the help of a professional groomer? Your veterinary clinic Pickerington, OH can provide you with recommendations.

... Read more »

For most cats, regular baths aren’t necessary. That’s because they are able to clean their fur themselves. But, what about cats that don’t have fur? Felines like the Sphynx need regular baths, and here’s why.

The Sphynx doesn’t have hair, which means there isn’t any fur to soak up all those oils. If allowed to sit on the skin, they can actually cause irritation and blemishes, so they need to be washed away.

Think dealing with cat hair all over your home is a pain? That’s nothing compared to the Sphynx! Although they don’t leave hair everywhere, they leave grease everywhere instead.

By bathing your cat on a regular basis, you can help keep his skin clean and clear, and you can keep your furniture, carpets, and the bed cleaner too.

Ask your ... Read more »

Did you know that litter boxes can have a significant effect on your cat’s health and behavior? Poorly maintained litter boxes, inadequate sizes, inappropriate locations, and even the number of litter boxes, all have an influence on a cat’s toilet habits.

When it comes to the number of litter boxes, a rule of thumb is allocating N+1 litter boxes for each pet cat. For example, if you have N=3 cats, you need to have N+1 or 4 litter boxes. Having an extra box to maintain is a much better option than having to deal with your pet’s spray marking, elimination problems, and other undesirable feline behaviors that are associated with litter boxes that are not properly maintained.

Take note that cats are territorial creatures, and they prefer not to have other cats do their business in their “claimed’ litter box. Extra litter boxes in strategic places around th ... Read more »

Cherry Eye occurs when the dog’s third eyelid moves out of position and becomes inflamed. The third eyelid is a membranous structure which is located in the inside corner of the eye. When swollen and inflamed, the third eyelid looks like a cherry, thus the name. One or both eyes can be affected, with higher number of cases occurring among younger dogs. While the exact cause of cherry in dogs is not known, some breeds show a genetic predisposition to the problem. These breeds include Lhasa Apso, Shih Tzu, Beagle, Saint Bernard, Boston terrier, and Chinese Shar-Pei among others. In some cases, the inflammation of the third eyelid occurs as a sequel to inflammatory processes. The protruding mass that appears like a cherry is the most distinct symptom that can be observed. Affected dogs may have reddish or inflamed eyes; there may also be increased tearing and pus-like discharge from the affected eye. Your Thousand Oaks, CA veterinarian may conduct a b ... Read more »

Have you noticed your pet dog whining, paddling his legs, or twitching his nose while asleep? These behaviors appear strange considering that the dog is sleeping, raising an important question in the minds of pet owners—do dogs dream?

Results of many scientific investigations have supported the belief of many experts that dogs do dream. The hippocampus, a part of the brain that collects and stores memories, are structurally similar in all animals.  And just like people, dogs may replay past experiences while they sleep. In humans, dreaming usually occur during REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. It is during the phase of REM sleep when behaviors are displayed by dogs that are presumed to be dreaming. In dogs, REM sleep is characterized by irregular shallow breathing; twitching of the muscles may also be displayed.

Your Thousand Oaks, CA veterinarian is a rich source of knowl ... Read more »