Did you know that all dogs (including the Akita) should see a vet annually for an exam? Whether they live inside or outside, all dogs should have a routine wellness exam with their vet. Akitas that live outdoors may require less upkeep than an indoor dog, but they don’t require any less veterinarian treatment. No matter where your dog lives or what he does, he should always be up to date on routine vet visits and vaccinations. It’s important for your dog to be protected against diseases such as rabies and lyme disease. Your dog should also be routinely guarded against flea and ticks with the use of a preventative program. In addition, building up a medical history for your dog with the vet can be of great help should your dog become ill and need immediate treatment. If your veterinarian Savannah, GA already knows your dog then he can move on to prescribing an alternative more quickly. Read more for additional information.

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Hamsters can be socialized and learn to enjoy being handled, but only if you handle your pet the right way. That means avoiding holding your pet like this.

Don’t try and hold your hamster like you would hold a baby. Always hold your pet right side up, unless he rolls around on his back on his own. Hamsters feel very vulnerable when their belly is exposed, so it’s best to hold your pet with his four feet planted firmly in your hand.

Don’t hold your hamster with just one hand. Always use two hands. If you only use one hand, he could easily jump or fall out of your hand, and it will likely be difficult to track him down in your home.

Don’t ever pull on your pet’s feet, and move slowly when you approach him. For more handling tips,   conta ... Read more »

Are you familiar with supplements such as FortiFlora? This is a name brand of probiotics by Purina. If your Maine Coon has been prescribed FortiFlora or something similar, talk with your vet to find out the reason for the prescription and what the expected outcome should be after the supplement is taken for a period of time. In general, FortiFlora is a type of probiotic produced by Purina a producer of dog and cat food. This particular probiotic is used as a nutritional supplement to help cats with liver health, intestinal health and balance, management of diarrhea related to diet, and promoting healthy immune systems. For dogs, FortiFlora is often recommended to help with liver health, intestinal health and balance, management of dietary diarrhea as well as help reduce gas. The supplement comes in a powder form that can be sprinkled over your Maine Coon’s meal. For additional information about FortiFlora, visit your veterinarian Savann ... Read more »

If you want to keep your hamster well socialized, it’s important to take him out of the cage every day. Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean your hamster is excited about it! Here are a few tips for getting your pet excited to come out and play.

Give your hamster something fun to do. Whether that means letting him run around in a hamster ball or setting up a fun digging box, if you give your pet something to do, he’ll be much happier.

Treats always make coming out to play more fun! Give your furry friend a small treat when he comes out of the cage, or always give him something special when he goes back in the cage. He’ll soon start to look forward to coming out because he knows he gets to eat something tasty!

Your veterinary clinic Minnetonka, MN can provide you with more tips.

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Hedgehogs are an appealing pet. There’s just something so cute about these little critters! They can be great companions, but are their quills sharp?

Hedgehog quills are definitely sharp, but if you’re careful, you won’t ever have to worry about getting poked. It starts with properly socializing your new pet. If he doesn’t feel threatened by your touch, you won’t ever have to worry about getting poked on purpose.

However, even a relaxed hog can prick you if you aren’t careful. When learning how to handle your hedgehog, wear gloves until you get the hang of it. Never pet your hedgehog, especially in the opposite direction in which his quills grow.

It can be a good idea to get a little instruction in how to hold a hedgehog. To learn how to hold your hedgehog properly, click here, or schedule an appointment with your veterinary clinic Poway, CA.

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Obesity is a problem in America, and it’s not just a problem for us. It’s fairly common for cats and dogs to become overweight, but what about other animals? Can horses get overweight too?

Horses can definitely become overweight! They become overweight the same ways that the rest of your furry friends do. They end up eating more than they should, and they don’t get enough exercise.

To make sure your horse is at a healthy weight, you need to watch his calories. If your horse doesn’t have any special needs, he may not need grain at all, which can greatly reduce his caloric intake.

Exercise is important too. It’s best to break his exercise into smaller chunks. Plan to ride or exercise your horse at least five times a week.

To find out if your horse is overweight, ... Read more »

Your dog needs your help in keeping clean, and regularly bathing him is a great way to make sure anything that is unsavory on him gets washes away. Try to make this time fun for your pet, and offer him a way to enjoy his baths. You will need to make sure you are using a canine friendly shampoo that works well with your pet’s fur and skin type. There are also shampoos designed to address specific needs in case your pet requires one of these. The frequency of baths needed will depend on your individual pet. Different breeds will have different amounts of oil on their skin naturally, and depleting this too often could cause dryness. Also, different pets have different activity levels and lifestyles, which means that some will get dirtier than others, and therefore require a bath more often. Your local Newmarket, ON vet clinic can offer additional advice.

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Finches are one of the most common birds to observe in the wild. During mating seasons, you probably see your trees, barns, garages or carports overloaded with birds, nests, and eventually chirping baby Finches. It’s hard not to fall in love with the cute little ones as they poke their heads out of their nests and wait for the mamma bird to return with food. If you find a baby Finch on the ground and out of the nest, talk with your vet to learn how to best handle the situation. Most often the parents of the baby bird will be nearby watching over the baby and taking turns feeding it. If the parents are absent then the baby Finch may have actually been pushed from the nest. Parents will push underdeveloped or ill babies from the nest to protect the remaining babies. In these cases your veterinary office Oshawa, ON may recommend leaving the bird alone.

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Did you know that some reptiles cannot blink? Snakes, for instance, do not even have eyelids. But what about turtles like the red-eared slider? Turtles can actually blink and if you watch your red-eared slider long enough you will see him in action. If you don’t see your turtle blink, give your vet a call and schedule a checkup. Although some turtles may not have the ability to blink, the red-eared slider is not one of them. The red-eared slider blinks his eyes in the same manner as humans. Turtles; however, can also blink their eyes by moving their membranes. If you notice your turtle is excessively blinking his eyes give your veterinarian Oshawa, ON a call to find out what you should do. Sometimes turtles will blink excessively when their water needs to be changed. For instance, ammonia build up in the water can cause excessive blinking.

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Although some believe that cats actually do have nine lives they in fact have just the one. That’s why it’s important to take your American Wirehair in for routine veterinarian checkups to ensure your cat is happy and healthy. Viruses and bacteria can threaten your wirehair’s wellness. They can invade your cat’s system through the nose and throat and cause Upper Respiratory Infections or URIs. Among the most common URIs in cats are the calicivirus and feline herpes virus. These are also the most contagious. It’s important to keep watch for signs of any type of illness in your cat especially if you have a multi-cat home. If you notice one cat is not feeling well then you should probably separate him from the others. Always call best pet clinic Savannah GA if you think your cat is ill or might be coming down with some type of illness even if it doesn’t seem serious.

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Do you own a goat or two? If so, talk with your vet to find out what type of feed and diet your goats should be on. In most cases what you feed your goat has a lot to do with the kind of pastureland your goat will be living on. For instance, if your Austrian Landrace goat has access to rich, lush grass then you will probably do well feeding your goat regular goat feed or grain and supplying fresh water and occasional hay. If your Austrian Landrace goat is on a dirt pasture then you will need to up the amount of grain and hay you feed. If you’re raising a baby then you should ask your vet about bottle feeding and what types of goat grains are safe for baby goats. Don’t forget to talk with your veterinary clinic Myakka, FL to find out what veggies and fruits your goat can have for snacks as well.

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Did you know there is a particular judging order for Rex Rabbit show shows? If you know and understand the order then you’ll have a better idea of how the overall judging process works. Teaming up with experienced show people can help you in what to expect at your first show. For instance, you can go over the rules and show layout. In general, a rabbit show may feature 1,000 to 2,000 rabbits. In order to judge fairly, the rabbits are divided into smaller groups. First, the rabbits are divided up by breed. Among the breeds the rabbits are again divided by coloring or color pattern. From there, the colors are divided by age and sex. It’s important to know this order as judges may or may not announce the next class. If you have questions about your Rex rabbit’s classification, talk with your vet Pikeville, KY before show day or speak with a judge at the show. Learn more here.

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If you are the proud owner of a little fur ball, your home may show it. However, you probably wish you didn’t find fur on furniture and carpeting.  This means that you will not only need to offer your pet a way to get rid of shed fur in a healthy way, but also try to prevent it from being left behind in your home.

To do this, you will need to prevent any unnecessary shedding by making sure your pet is as healthy as can be. This will keep her shedding to a minimum, and will allow you to combat shed fur by brushing her regularly. Removing fur in this manner will keep it from falling out of her coat and landing around your home, and will also help her fur stay tangle-free. For more information, please contact your local Oconomowoc, WI veterinarian or click here.

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Although you may enjoy giving your Chocolate Mitt ferret routine treats and even table scraps, be careful that you don’t over feed him or feed him something that could be harmful. Your vet can tell you that ferrets do actually have food restrictions even if they don’t act like it. For instance, some people feed their ferrets fruits, vegetables, chocolates, candies, and raisins. None of these foods are OK for ferrets. Ferrets are obligate carnivores meaning their gastrointestinal system is designed to digest meat and is unable to digest vegetables. Intestinal blockages can develop in ferrets due to fruits and veggie consumption. Ferrets require ferret feed that is at least 36% animal protein. Please do not feed your Chocolate Mitt ferret food meant for dogs, rabbits, or other animals. Ask your local pet store associate to show you what foods are available for your Chocolate Mitt. Ask your vet Oshawa, ON i ... Read more »