Part of caring for a Bulldog with gingivitis includes routine and consistent home dental care. If your dog has bad breath or is showing signs of trouble chewing his food, then contact your vet and schedule a checkup. Your Bulldog may have gingivitis or some other form of gum disease. Lack of daily brushing and diet choices can lead to gingivitis in dogs like the Bulldog. Your vet can tell you that one of the best ways to prevent or even care for a Bulldog with gingivitis is to brush your dog’s teeth at home routinely. You can use a dog toothbrush or a simple piece of gauze to wipe leftover food, tartar and plaque from the surface of your dog’s teeth. A vet recommended toothpaste may also be helpful. In addition, feed your dog crunchy foods and treats to help naturally breakdown tartar. For further information on cleaning your dog’s teeth ... Read more »

There is a long list of underlying causes of liver disease in cats, and the treatment protocol highly depends on the specific cause of the problem. Some of the common causes of liver disease in cats include the following:

Liver shunts - this is characterized by the presence of a shunt which is actually a blood vessel that bypasses the liver. It’s normally present in the fetal stage but is supposed to shut down after birth. If the shunt remains open, blood bypasses the liver and won’t undergo detoxification. Affected cats are eventually ... Read more »

Have you ever wondered why your dog sleeps so much? Have you found yourself adding up the hours your dog sleeps each day? Every time you walk into the room you find your dog sleeping. Is that normal? Believe it or not, most dogs sleep around 12 to 14 hours a day. Some breeds sleep longer than other breeds. For instance, large dogs like the Saint Bernard and the Mastiff sleep much longer than smaller dogs like the Pomeranian or Poodle. Puppies also sleep longer than adult dogs. Puppies can sleep anywhere from 18 to 20 hours a day. Senior dogs may sleep more as well. Not all dogs will sleep straight through for this long. Many will sleep a few hours, go outside to the bathroom, play with a favorite toy, eat and drink and then sleep a few more hours. Some will sleep all day and stay up at night or vice versa. For further information, talk with your Sayville, NY veterinarian.

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If you share your home with a pet, you are likely spending a lot of time in your living space. However, there may be circumstances where you will need to spend some time elsewhere, and this is when a pet sitter can really become an important part of your life as well as the life of your pet.

This individual will be caring for your pet as if she were his own while you are away from home. He will be playing your role as the caretaker of your pet, and will need to help your pet stay calm in your absence. This can make a big difference in your pet’s life, as it allows you the freedom to head out and about without hindering your pet’s care in the least bit. Your local licensed Thorold ON vets can help yo ... Read more »

There are so many toys that are designed and marketed for pets, but do you know that even the safest-looking toy might put your pet’s health and safety at risk? Here are some tips to help you pick a safe toy for your pet:

• Check for pointy parts, such as those ‘fishing rod toys’ in which a toy dangles from a stick. Avoid letting your pet play with these toys if you’re around to supervise because the pointy end can injure the eye or any part of your pet’s body.
• Toys with small parts ... Read more »

Vomiting in dogs can be triggered by a variety of causes, from something as simple as eating something gross to an obstruction in the gastrointestinal tract to a life-threatening twist in the stomach or intestines. The scavenging habits of dogs and their curious nature increase their risks of ingesting non-food items including poisons, grapes, chocolate, human medications, and even illicit drugs. Vomiting may also be an important symptom of an underlying health issue such as pancreatitis, gastroenteritis, liver and kidney problems, parasites, and a whole lot of other important conditions that warrant prompt medical attention. Basically, anything that upsets the body’s equilibrium (homeostasis) may trigger the vomit centers in the brain and cause dogs to suffer from vomiting episodes. If your dog has been vomiting frequently, you should ... Read more »

Did you know that dogs like the Bulldog can develop gum disease? Dogs are just as apt to develop gum diseases like gingivitis as people are. Gingivitis typically develops as a result of tartar and plaque buildup on the gums and teeth. The disease can advance if there is plaque plus calculus buildup. This will generally cause inflammation, irritation, and extreme redness to the gums. If your Bulldog is showing signs of gingivitis or gum disease, call your vet and schedule a dental exam for your pup. You may also notice other symptoms such as extreme bad breath in your Bulldog. He may also have trouble chewing hard or crunchy food due to teeth and gum sensitivity. Your vet can help your dog by professionally cleaning his teeth and gums. A diet change may also be recommended as well as routine cleanings every three to six months. Talk with your Brampton, ON vet to learn more ... Read more »

Farting in dogs can be a problem especially when the pet owner is exposed to their pet’s smelly emissions frequently. There are many potential causes for farting in dogs.It may be a red flag of certain health issues that need prompt veterinary attention. Dogs that carry a heavy load of intestinal parasites can also suffer from flatulence as well as digestive issues. There are also dogs that are known ‘mouth-breathers’, such as the boxer and bulldog. Breathing through their mouth cause them to swallow excessive amounts of air. Dogs that eat too quickly can also ingest air. Dividing a dog’s daily ration into several smaller meals and placing an upturned bowl inside a larger food bowl so your dog will eat slowly are just some ways to address the issue.  A dog that seems to produce a lot of farts should be checked out ... Read more »

Your dog loves to spend time in your home, and you understand that he likes you to follow your usual routine. Why is this important to him?

Your pet needs you to care for him a lot of different ways, and while he may trust you deeply, it can be frustrating to be unaware of when and how your needs will be met. Your pet also is unaware of the passage of time, which can leave him confused about what will happen next throughout the day. Having a routine set in place takes away a lot of this guess work, and leaves your pet able to really enjoy the day. It helps him understand when things will happen in a way he can grasp. Your local experienced veterinary clinic Thorold ON can help you care for your pet.

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While wandering along the cat food aisle, have you ever been confused with the wide array of choices that are available? Yes, selecting the best pet food for your kitty can be daunting, especially if you have no idea what your pet really needs. Reading and knowing how to decipher pet food labels is the golden key to getting the right product for your pet. Here are some things to remember when assessing the ingredient label.

• The ingredient on the top of the list must be a named meat. Ideally, the first 4 items of the list must be meat or meat by-products. Take note that the ingredients are listed in order of quantity.
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You recently added a feathery friend to your household, and you are proud to call her a member of your family. However, because she is still new, you know you have a lot to learn about one another. How can you bond with your bird?

Your bird needs you to think about what she needs from you as her caretaker. This will be life-sustaining acts, like feeding her daily and seeking medical attention when necessary. However, it will also include spending time with her to offer social interaction. This will offer her mental stimulation as well, in addition to helping her get some exercise. Generally speaking, meeting her needs will help you bond with her quite well, but you can also add to this by spending additional time interacting with her. For more information, please contact your local Orangevale, CA vet.

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Cows may seem like they don’t have a care in the world and for the most part they don’t. However, there are some things they do care about like their own personal space and peace and quiet while grazing or sleeping in the field. That’s why things that annoy cows include dogs that are out running and herding them when the dog isn’t supposed to, people crowding in to pet them when they aren’t used to it, being teased with food and not given any, no water in the trough, and little to no grass in a field and no hay. Some of these annoyances can be prevented with basic care such as making sure troughs are always filled with fresh water and that hay is always available when grass is dead or covered in snow. Keeping your dog out of the cow pasture is also helpful as it will als ... Read more »

Your cat loves being able to share your home with you, and you are always happy to see her adorable face. However, you are never really happy to see all the scratch marks on your furniture. Why does she do this and how can you get her to stop?

Scratching is a natural thing for your pet, and is necessary for her to engage in. Because her claws are always growing, they need to be tended to in order to remain functional. She scratches to file them down and keep them usable. You can stop her from scratching on your furniture by offering her an alternate place to scratch and encouraging her to use it. This will help her understand what areas of your home are off-limits and which are fair game for scratching. For additional information, please contact your local Pleasanton, CA vet.

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If you own goats that tend to smell then one of the best ways to pamper them is to give them a nice warm bath or a cool bath on a warm day. Check with your vet to find out what shampoos are appropriate. You don’t want to strip his skin of necessary oils needed to protect the skin and hair. Use a curry comb to scrub your goat. This will give him a nice massage while cleaning him up. Once your goat is bathed don’t be afraid to let him run and roll. Yes, rolling in the dirt sort of defeats the purpose of the bath, but unless you are showing your goat there’s no reason to stop him from what he loves best. Other ways to pamper your goat include giving extra treats like animal crackers or plain saltine crackers. Contact with your veterinary clinic Marietta, G ... Read more »

Do you own a pet rabbit? If so, you probably know quite a bit of ways to make your rabbit happy. For instance, he probably loves special carrot treats, clean bedding, fresh water, and even a good brushing and ear massage. However, there are also things that can annoy your rabbit and make him uncomfortable. For instance, small children shouldn’t hold rabbits without adult supervision. This way adults can make sure the rabbit isn’t squeeze or held inappropriately or even dropped by accident. This can be very traumatic for the rabbit. Rabbits may also get annoyed by constantly having you in their cage cleaning, adding bedding, and moving things around. Clean your rabbit’s cage once a week and maybe pick out wet spots when you open the cage to feed him. Spend time with your r ... Read more »

Sugar gliders are small, rodent like pocket pets that make great pets for older children and even teens and adults. Sugar gliders get their name from the fact that they love to munch on extra sweet and sugary treats. One of the best ways to pamper your sugar glider is to give him occasional sweet treats. Yogurt covered berry drops found at the pet store make great treats. Your vet can tell you how much sugar your little guy can have on a regular basis. Never make sweets his entire diet. Other ways to pamper your sugar glider includes holding him gently and rubbing his belly, scratching his back, messaging his ears and petting him on his head. The more he likes it, the more he will stay in your hands. If he gets fidgety, let him go and wait for him to come back to you for more. Talk with your ... Read more »

If you happen to see a tick on your pooch, don’t panic. Knowing how to deal with it properly will enable you to remove and dispose of the tick properly. In addition to being bloodsuckers, ticks are important vectors of disease that can affect both dogs and humans. To remove a tick from your dog’s skin, use a tweezer to grip the tick right where the head meets the skin. Twisting a little, releases the mouth parts of the tick. Avoid squeezing the body of the tick while pulling it loose. Most ticks are found on the animal’s head and neck. You should also check in between the toes, and inside the ears and mouth. Checking your pet’s body for ticks should be done daily so any tick can be removed immediately. Avoid using any chemical ... Read more »

Metabolism involves the breaking down and processing of food so it can be used in the body as energy. But when something goes awry, there is a resulting buildup of toxins in the body, leading to seizures and distinct behavior changes. Some common causes of seizures associated with metabolic problems include:

Abnormal blood sugar levels

Hypoglycemia (very low blood sugar levels) and hyperglycemia (very high blood sugar levels) can cause neurological abnormalities including seizures.

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If you’re planning to take your kitty on a trip that will involve plane travel, you should speak with your airline before the trip. They will give you a list of paperwork that you need to accomplish and the specifications of the crate your furball will need. Complying with these requirements well ahead of time will help ensure that you breeze through the security line quite quickly. If the airline allows your kitty to be riding in the cabin with you, make sure that he is confined in a crate that’s safe and durable. You don’t want to be chasing a frightened cat through the holiday crowds. Also, make sure the crate has identification that can easily be viewed in case it gets separated from you. But if your kitty and his crate are too large to fit in the cabin, you should consider leaving your pet at home. Depending on the season, it can get too cold or too hot inside the cargo area. You should also check ... Read more »