Your guinea pig needs exercise to keep healthy and happy. Since he spends most of his day in the cage, make it a fun place to be. Add ramps to climb on and tunnels to run through to encourage movement. However, don’t add so many things that it becomes difficult to move around. Your pig will need at least a half hour of exercise time outside the cage daily. Allow him to run around and explore your home. Supervise your guinea pig at all times when he is outside the cage. Protect him from children and pets. Make sure no one accidently kicks him or steps on him. Get down to your guinea pig’s level and play with him. In addition to exercise, this gives him time to socialize and bond with you. Most importantly, have fun. For more information, contact your Crown Point, IN veterinarian, the ... Read more »

Your cat can be injured or you can anger her if you don’t pick her up properly. First determine whether your cat wants to be picked up. Unless it is an emergency, look for signs of a content, friendly cat such as purring, an erect tail and interest in you. A crouched cat with pinned back ears who is hissing is telling you to leave her alone. Heed this message. Act efficiently when you are ready to pick up your cat. Use one hand under her chest just behind the front legs. Use the other hand and arm to scoop her up under her belly. Keep your cat horizontal and be prepared to put her down on a safe surface. Never pick up your cat by a limb, the scruff of the neck, her tail or even by her front legs as you would a human child. For more information, contact your experienced vet clinic Crown Point IN ... Read more »

If you can’t be there for your cat because you’re heading out of town, you may decide to drop him off at the local boarding facility. Is it a good idea to have your cat groomed while he’s there?

Having your cat groomed while he’s being boarded can make life a lot easier for you. If he’s groomed while he’s there, you don’t have to make a separate appointment. In addition, if he’s already a little stressed, it may just be easier to get it ... Read more »

Cats peeing in their owner’s bed are a common scenario in many households where owners are frequently out of the house or work long hours. While most cases of inappropriate peeing take place when the owner is out, some cats wait for their owners to arrive before peeing in the bed of their humans.

There are also instances when the behavior is caused by sudden changes in the cat’s routine such as moving to a new home or the arrival of a new pet or member of the family. When cats are stressed out by what’s going on in their immediate environment, peeing on their owners’ beds may be their way of staking their claim combining their own scent with that of their owners’. Being able to accomplish this can be comforting to the cat. More often than not, it can be a challenge to pinpoint the exact cause of a cat’s undesirable behavior, thus it’s important to work with your Moore, OK vete ... Read more »

Certain behaviors displayed by dogs can leave their owners baffled and confused. Even if you have shared your life and home with a pet dog, your pet may display certain body language and social cues that don’t make any sense. Here are some canine behaviors deciphered:

Tail-chasing

Many dogs just love chasing their tails; it’s a fun way to exercise and burn excess energy. But persistent tail-chasing can be an important indicator of flea allergy dermatitis. Dogs with anal gland problems may also display the behavior. It may also be an obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Licking humans

Licking their humans is a dog’s way of showing affection, or it could possibly be an attention-seeking behavior. Some experts also believe that the behavior is also used as a sensory tool to investigate ... Read more »

Have you noticed your pet dog tilting his head to one side when he hears something? Many people really find this behavior quite amusing. Although head tilting in dogs is not fully understood by animal behaviorists, many believe that it may be an attempt to make sense of what they are hearing. Some experts also believe that a dog cocks his head in anticipation that what is being said could lead to something exciting, like a romp in the yard or a visit to the dog park. Head-tilting may also indicate the ability of dogs to understand and comprehend some words and tones of the human voice. They could be trying to focus in an effort to pick out a word or tone of voice that may indicate his favorite activity.

A dog’s ears have movable flaps that help them trace the source of a sound. Even the slightest change in the position of the head and eventually the ears, enables the dog to pick out information that can help the ... Read more »

The saying “you can’t teach old dogs new tricks” is not really true. Adult dogs are often much easier to train than puppies because they are able to exercise self-control and are more mature in dealing with things.

Some tips for successful adult dog training

Use a crate

A crate is an important tool in dog training. This will come in handy during crate training and housetraining. Housetraining adult dogs is much easier and quicker because they have more control over their bladders and bowels. A dog that is crate-trained will make it easier for you to keep him confined when you’re not around to keep an eye on your pet. This is also a good way to make sure that your pet won’t get into accidents or create a mess when you’re out. Once you’re home, don’t delay in bringing your pet outside t ... Read more »

Guinea pigs cannot create vitamin C on his own Thus to prevent scurvy, you need to add it to your pig’s diet. Vitamin C drops in your pig’s water don’t work well since the potency dissipates quickly. Ensure that some of the fruits and vegetables you feed your pig are rich in vitamin C such as papaya, oranges, kale, spinach and tomatoes. Preventing a vitamin C deficiency is easierthan dealing with the problems of scurvy. This could cause mobility issues from swollen joints, a lack of energy and weakness. Wounds may heal slowly or bleed excessively. Bleeding under the skin may be present. Your pig may lose his appetite and get thin. He may also have diarrhea. Scurvy is a serious disease and can kill your guinea pig. Make an appointment with your Louisville, CO veterinarian for evaluation and treatment if you notice any signs of scurvy.

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Grooming is an innate behavior in cats. They make a habit of engaging in the behavior on a daily basis; they groom themselves as well as other cats that are familiar to them. A cat’s tongue is made for grooming. It has hook-like ridges (papillae) that make it easy to remove dirt, debris, and loose hair. They also run their claws through their hair like a brush or comb. They also instinctively know which parts of their body need extra work and spend more time grooming these spots.

Unlike what many people think, cats are actually social creatures. They may not have the same social graces as dogs, but this doesn’t mean they are not socially-inclined. Cats just differ in the way they interact with other cats.

The ancestors of domestic cats were used to hunting alone; but they eventually return to their clan where a social relationship exists. When cats are comfortable with ... Read more »

Dogs and cats of all ages are sensitive to temperature extremes, but senior ones are extra sensitive to very cold or very hot environments. Age-related health issues have affected the efficiency of their body to adjust and adapt to extreme temperature.

Pet dogs and cats particularly geriatric ones are sensitive to temperature extremes. They are more comfortable staying in places where it’s cool or warm, and avoid very cold or very hot environments.

Those with arthritis and joint problems benefit from sleeping in heated beds; and those with short or spare hairs may need to wear a doggy jacket during winter. This is also true for dogs that don’t have enough fat deposits in their body to keep them warm. But pets carrying excess pounds or those with underlying health issues can be very sensitive to high environmental temperature and tend to seek out colder places to be more ... Read more »