You need to start housetraining your puppy as soon as you bring him home. Crate training relies on your puppy’s resistance to mess where he sleeps. You need to take your puppy out at times he most likely needs to go and listen and watch for signs as your puppy learns. Other people use a paper training method where your puppy has a bigger puppy-safe area to hang out in. Cover the entire floor with newspaper for your paper to mess on. Start removing a little paper at a time until there is just one paper by the door that your puppy uses. Whenever he goes to the paper or starts signaling he needs to go, shoo him out the door. Circling or squatting are the obvious signals but whining or fussing offers clues. Praise your dog for all successes and never punish accidents. ... Read more »

If you suspect your Miniature Pinscher may be sick, call your vet and schedule a routine exam. There are a variety of illnesses that could affect your pup and your vet will need to run tests to make a diagnosis. One example of a common disease in small breed dogs is fatty liver disease. Fatty liver disease, which is also known as Hepatic Lipidosis, happens when large amounts of fat are deposited into the liver. The liver cannot process the fat and begins to swell and shut down other vital functions. When this occurs, you may notice symptoms in your dog that include prolonged anorexia, rapid weight loss, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, muscle wasting, depression, yellowing of the eyes, drooling, and possible collapse in later stages. If your dog has any of these symptoms, contact your ... Read more »

Your puppy is a big part of your life, and you really enjoy being able to play with her whenever you can. Caring for her has changed the way you go about your day, and has really enriched your life. With so much work that you put in to making her life great, it can seem a bit disheartening when she bites you. Why does she do this?

Your pet isn’t biting because she feels anything negative toward you. You can rest assured that your puppy is happy to spend her time in your home. This is simply a way for her to interact with you, and because dogs do this with one another she doesn’t realize that there is anything wrong with it. She needs to be taught that biting isn’t a fun way for you to play, and that you don’t enjoy it. For more information, please contact your local ... Read more »

Lizards are cold-blooded so you need to provide them with an enclosure that is climate controlled. The climate is controlled with lighting. Lights provide illumination so you can see your pet but also provide heat. To best simulate natural conditions you also need to provide a dark, nighttime period for your lizard. However, you still need to provide heat so you will need to invest in heat lamps that don’t provide illumination. Research your particular type of lizard and their precise heating and lighting needs. Monitor the temperature carefully. Eliminate any hot spots such as a hot rock or steamy water that could injure your pet. Keep a barrier between the lighting and your lizard so it cannot accidently touch a hot lamp and get burned. And check that the enclosure is evenly heated but with shaded areas for a respite from the heat. For more information, contact your licensed Sugar Land TX vet.

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Your pet rabbit needs a variety of foods in his diet to keep healthy and happy. Start with high-quality rabbit pellets, fresh leafy greens, other crunchy vegetables such as carrots and squash and a bit of fruit as a treat. Your rabbit also needs lots and lots of hay. Hay provides roughage to keep your bunny’s digestive system working properly and all that nibbling keeps his teeth trim. Alfalfa hay has too much protein for adult rabbits so timothy hay is the best choice. You can purchase small bales of timothy hay at quality pet stores. You may also find fresh timothy hay at a feed store or online. Fresh hay can add extra moisture in your rabbit’s diet. Be generous when giving your rabbit hay and throw away old hay daily. After a week or so, you can tell how much hay your rabbit eats. Contact your Sugar Land TX vet, Stafford Oaks Veterinary Hospital to learn more.

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Your cat is pretty sturdy but can be injured if you pick her up incorrectly. Start by observing your cat for signs that she is okay with being picked up such as purring, rubbing against your legs, an alert straight tail and the like. Unless it is an emergency, don’t pick up your cat if she doesn’t want to be picked up. When you are ready to pick her up, act quickly and efficiently. Place one hand under your cat’s chest behind the front legs. And use the other hand and your forearm under your cat’s belly to lift her and keep her horizontal. Pull your cat to your chest so she doesn’t fall. Never pick up your cat by a limb, her tail, the scruff of the neck or even by the front legs like you would a human child. Each of these methods could cause injury. Learn more from your experienced veterinary clinic Sugar Land TX.

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