Curiosity can kill the cat or at least make her very ill. Cats cannot resist the creeping crawling of a spider. She will pounce and possibly eat the spider. And at the same time, that spider may bite your cat. If the spider is one that injects dangerous venom through its bite, your cat could be in great danger. You may see paralysis, muscle tremors, indications of pain, and trouble breathing. This calls for immediate medical attention. Non-venomous spiders may cause intestinal distress and your cat may suffer from vomiting, diarrhea and excessive salivation. Unless you really know your spiders and can identify the exact species, your cat has attacked, the best course of action is to seek medical attention especially if there are symptoms of venom toxicity. Seal up opening to your home to avoid contact with spiders and don’t let your cat play with any. Contact your London, ON vet to learn more. ... Read more »

Your dog loves to spend time in your home, but he also likes having the opportunity to get out and about with you. This means that your pet will likely be taking trips in your car with you from time to time. How can you keep him safe while doing so?

Evaluate the space in your vehicle, and determine where your pet will be the most comfortable. Local regulations may help you find the right spot for your pet as well as help you figure out what else you can do to keep him safe while traveling, so be sure to seek out any laws and guidelines in your area. Be sure that your pet can’t reach and window or door controls from where he is riding. Consider how he travels, as this may help you determine other items that will help him stay calm and comfortable. For additional information, please contact your local London, ON veterinarian.

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Want to bring home a pet mouse? They make great pets, but only if you make sure that your new critter’s environment is enriching.

Mice are very social creatures, which is one of the reasons why they make great pets! However, a mouse that lives alone in his cage can get very lonely. If you plan on bringing one mouse home, reconsider and bring home at least two. That way your new pet has a friend.

Mice love to play and explore! That means you can provide different kinds of toys for your mouse in his cage. Try ropes, ladders, and hammocks. You can even try some cat toys, like crinkle balls. Rotate them to keep your pet’s interest.

Don’t forget to bring your pet out of the cage so he can play! For more tips, schedule an appointment with your veterinary clinic Camero ... Read more »

Hedgehogs aren’t common pets, which means many people don’t know what’s normal and not normal for this unique animal. Here are a few common behaviors that shouldn’t cause you any alarm, even though they may seem strange at first.

Has your pet dropped a quill? Although these animals don’t shed their quills like a cat might shed his hair, it isn’t all that uncommon for one of these animals to lose a quill or two, especially as they’re growing or if they experience a little stress.

Worried that your hog is having trouble breathing? It isn’t uncommon for hedgehogs to huff and puff as a way to communicate. Some animals will even hiss or make clicking sounds!

To make sure that your hedgehog is behaving normally, it’s a good idea to schedule an appointment with your ... Read more »

Different types of canines are prone to occasional or frequent bouts of epilepsy including the Scottish Terrier. Call your vet right away if you notice your Scottish Terrier having convulsions, fits, or uncontrollable movements. These actions may be due to epilepsy. Canine epilepsy is a brain disorder that can cause your dog to have sudden, uncontrollable seizures. Many experts believe the seizures occur due to a confusion of neuron firings in the cerebrum of the brain. The cause for the confusion is unknown. Suggested causes for the seizures; however, may include congenital defects, diabetes, hypoglycemia, low oxygen levels in the blood, kidney disorders, liver disorders, infections, brain tumors, toxins, fevers, hyperthermia, trauma, medications, or idiopathic epilepsy (genetic disorder). Although the triggers for a seizure are not known, it is believed that more seizures occur when animals are excited. Some dogs; however, may have seizures in their sleep. ... Read more »

Many pet parents like to keep their cat’s accessories close together so that they don’t take over the home. Unfortunately, keeping some accessories too close can spell disaster. For example, you don’t want to keep your cat’s food and water bowls too close to the litter box.

Cats don’t like to go to the bathroom where they eat, and they aren’t likely to eat where they go potty. In the wild, this could make them sick. It’s important to keep the food and water bowls at least a couple of feet away from the box.

Cat not drinking his water? Some cats won’t drink water where they eat for the same reason! Try placing a water bowl away from the food bowl to see if he’s more likely to drink it.

Your veterinary clinic Pickerington, OH for more advice on feeding and w ... Read more »

There’s nothing quite as wonderful as placing presents under the tree during the holiday season. Cats can wreak havoc on presents wrapped in ribbon, but what about dogs? Are canines likely to destroy your presents too?

It can be hard to tell if a dog will want to destroy the presents under the tree. Unlike cats that can’t get enough of string, dogs don’t really care. However, dogs are very curious, which may lead your pet to go in for a closer look.

If your dog is a bit rowdy and he likes to tear into things, it is probably best to tuck the presents away in a closet or place them on a shelf. If your dog is relatively calm, even around unfamiliar items, it’s probably okay to leave presents under the tree.

Your veterinary clinic Lakeville, MN can provide you with more advice ... Read more »

Epilepsy is common in 20 to 40% of Siberian Gerbils. Seizures can be mild or severe. Most seizures in Siberian Gerbils will last a few minutes or an hour or so and then pass without any lasting effects. Talk to your vet if you are concerned that your Siberian Gerbil may be having epileptic seizures. In general, epilepsy is a disorder of the brain or nervous system that can cause animals to have sudden, uncontrollable seizures. If your Siberian Gerbil is having trance like behavior, twitching his ears or whiskers excessively, having convulsions, stiffening of the muscles or jerking of the entire body then you should call your vet. Your vet can teach you what to do for your Siberian Gerbil during and after seizures. Your veterinary clinic Omaha, NE may also advise you to keep a journal of your Siberian Gerbil’s seizures in order to monitor the frequency and severity. Click here for additional information.

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Your cat relies on you to care for her in many different ways, and providing her with a clean litter box of appropriate size is one thing that she needs from you. Why has she stopped using it?

Your cat is likely unhappy with one aspect of her litter box or another. If she was regularly using it prior to this point, try to determine what may have changed. Moving its location or adding items she doesn’t like to go near by her litter box can act as deterrents. There may also be something she doesn’t like about the litter you are using, or it may not be clean enough for her liking. Try to look at any details that may have changed, as these may be the reason behind her new stance on utilizing it. For additional information, please contact your local North Phoenix, AZ vet clinic.

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There are so many tips out there for dogs and cats, but what about other animals? How can you keep your pet rats safe and comfortable this winter?

Chances are, your rat won’t care much for playing around in the snow outside. If you do want to try, plan to stay outside for just a few minutes. Any longer and your pet’s little toes will get very cold. Create a protected pen so that your pet can’t run off and try and escape. If your critter seems distressed, bring him back inside immediately.

A safer way to let your rat play in the snow is to bring it inside! Bring in a pile of white fluffy snow, place it on a plate or in a bowl, and let your rat inspect it.

Your veterinary clinic Brookfield, WI can provide you with more wintertime tips.

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If your Siberian has been diagnosed with diabetes then there’s a few things that will most likely be added to your daily schedule. For instance, your Siberian will need her blood sugar levels monitored and medication given daily. If you have questions about testing your cat’s blood sugar, talk to your veterinarian. Your vet can help you learn to check your cat’s blood sugar on your own at home. In general, one of the best ways to check your cat’s blood sugar level is by using a handheld glucometer. A handheld glucometer is designed to be used by people, but most pet owners use these for their pets because they are generally cheaper than pet meters. Handheld glucometers can be bought at most pharmacy stores. Always compare your cat’s meter results with the results of your veterinary clinic Omaha, NE to ensure your meter is working correctly. For more information you can visit website http://vetomaha.com/.

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