Your dog is a wonderful friend, and he is always interested in your meals. However, you know that not all human foods are safe for your pet. How can you keep him from ingesting something he shouldn’t?

Your pet needs you to understand that there are many different items he simply cannot have. Make sure you do your research on each ingredient in your food before offering your pet a bite. If you are unsure of something, refrain from giving it to your pet to avoid any unsavory consequences. In fact, you can even cook in a way that will allow him to have some should you feel inclined to offer it. Common foods that your pet shouldn’t have include chocolate, avocados, garlic, onions, caffeine, alcohol, sugar, and items with a lot of salt. For more information, please contact your local Fort Collins, CO vet clinic.

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If your kitty is having litter box problems, everyone in the household will surely have a problem with the undesirable odor of cat stool and urine invading the entire house. Fortunately, most litter box problems can be stopped once the underlying cause has been identified and addressed appropriately.

Litter box problems should not be viewed as a vice. Cats don’t just engaged in it because they like to. It’s actually their way of telling their owners that there is something wrong.

Spray marking is common among cats that are intact. Getting your pet spayed (female) or neutered (male) is the best way to eliminate the problem. 

Cats like doing their thing in litter boxes that are free from dirt and undesirable odors. They prefer to do their business elsewhere if they find their litter box not to their satisfaction, especially when i ... Read more »

The massive build of mastiffs can be intimidating but these gentle giants actually make great pets for families with kids. They have sunny temperaments and are affectionate, traits that are already evident even as puppies. Mastiff puppies appear bigger than most puppies their age, and end up bigger than most full grown adult dogs.

Because of their size, mastiffs need early socialization and training so it will be easier to manage them. Obedience training is necessary so they will be well-behaved pets. Training needs to be consistent and positive reinforcement is very important. Any undesirable behavior should be nipped in the bud before it has a chance to take hold.

Mastiffs need lots of physical and mental stimulation so they will have positive avenues to burn excess energy. They can develop certain undesirable behaviors when they are bored. Mastiffs have a stubborn streak; pet ow ... Read more »

When it comes to your pet’s health and wellbeing, adequate and appropriate knowledge about your pet will empower you to make the right decisions.

Myth: Cats pee outside their litter box because they’re annoyed at their owners.

Fact: Peeing frequently in other places other than the litter box may be due to a serious underlying health issue, like urinary tract disease or diabetes. But the behavior can also be attributed to a cat’s marking behavior, or it can be caused by exposure to certain stressors in their immediate environment. In order to address your pet’s behavior, the underlying reason should first be identified. Also, make sure that the behavior is not triggered by issues such as a poorly-maintained litter box, location of the litter box, or the type of litter being used.

Don’t hesitate to ... Read more »

Applying flea medicine is pretty easy. All you have to do is part the hair between your cat’s shoulder blades and squeeze out the medicine onto his skin. However, just because it’s easy to do doesn’t mean it’s easy to remember!

If you forget to apply your cat’s flea medication, just apply it as soon as you remember. Hopefully, only a few days have passed, which means everything is probably okay. If it has been longer than a few days, keep your eyes open for signs of fleas in your home.

To make sure you don’t forget your cat’s flea medication in the future, you should set a reminder on your phone. If you like doing things the old-fashioned way, consider marking the next application in a planner or on a calendar.

To learn more about your cat’s flea medication, ... Read more »

It’s important for you to clean your hamster’s cage on a regular basis, but not all cleaning techniques are created equal. Your pet’s cage requires a deep clean every once in a while.

It’s easy for waste to build up in the cage, even if you can’t quite see it. To make sure it all gets scrubbed away, use a bristle brush or rough scouring pad and really go to town scrubbing the surfaces in the cage. If your hamster has a plastic cage, you should see the white stains disappear.

If your pet has a wire cage, you should clean the bars of the cage too. A soft sponge can make this easier, but it’s even better if you can take it outside and spray the cage with a hose.

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Adopting a dog from the shelter is highly commendable. These facilities are often filled to the brim with dogs that are waiting for somebody to pick them from the crowd and bring them to their forever home.

Before going to the shelter, here are two important things that you should consider carefully:

What traits are you looking for in a dog?

With so many adorable dogs in the shelter, you should know what you want so you won’t be swayed away easily. Do you want an exercise buddy? A dog that is ideal as pets for kids? Or do you want one that can do well in a multi-pet household?

Do online research

Before visiting shelters in your area, it’s a good idea to check out their websites and social media pages. This will be a good way to know their policies ... Read more »

Antifreeze is very deadly to cats and dogs. Even as little as one teaspoon of antifreeze can be very lethal for a cat. But pets are easily drawn to antifreeze because of its sweet taste.

Ingestion of antifreeze can lead to acute kidney failure and nervous system dysfunction. Signs of toxicity can be manifested within 30 minutes- 12 hours after ingesting antifreeze. The cat may seem disoriented and drunk. Treatment should be started immediately; it should be given within 4-8 hours after consumption, or else it may have fatal consequences.

The most common ingredient that is found in many antifreeze products is ethylene glycol. When ingested, ethylene glycol is metabolized into severely toxic forms that have lethal effects on major systems of the body.

Ethylene glycol may also be present in air-conditioning coolants, brake fluid, heat exchange flui ... Read more »

Vaccines protect pets from certain serious illnesses. In general, only a very small percentage of pets develop adverse reactions to vaccines. It’s a good idea, however, to keep a close eye on your pet after vaccination so you can report any change in your pet’s health or behavior to your veterinarian immediately.

Some dogs are extremely sensitive and can exhibit a pattern of adverse reaction to vaccination. A dog that has an adverse reaction to an initial vaccine shot has a higher risk of developing serious reactions to following vaccinations.

If your pet has been newly vaccinated, make sure to watch out for these signs and report them to your vet ASAP:

• Digestive upsets – vomiting and diarrhea
• Hives
• Pain or swelling at the sight of injection ... Read more »