Did you know that large breed dogs like the American Water Spaniel is prone to various health conditions because of his size and build? For instance, Degenerative Myelopathy (DM) is a disease associated with larger breed dogs. It is an incurable disease of the nerves and spinal cord, which can cause loss of mobility and numbness or loss of feeling in the legs. DM is characterized as a chronic, progressive, degenerative disease that leads to eventual paralysis. Possible signs of the disease that may occur in the American Water Spaniel include a decrease in mobility and the inability to use the hind legs. As it progresses, the dog will lose all feeling in his legs. Although there is no cure, your Farmers Branch, TX veterinary clinic can recommend treatments and physical therapy to help make your pup comfortable and to prolong the dog’s quality of life. Read more here.

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Did you know that a guinea pig’s eyes can tell you a lot of his personality, temperament and health? If you own a guinea pig such as the Skinny guinea pig breed, make sure you read up on their health and especially their eye health. It’s fascinating! For instance, guinea pigs keep their eyes open all the time even while they’re asleep. This means their eyes need to be moistened or lubricated every so often and the eyes know exactly how to do that. A white secretion is discharged to naturally moisten the eyes. After this occurs, you may see your cavy take his front paws and “wash” his face or his eyes in order to remove the secretion. It’s a naturally common process to see several times a day. However, if you don’t think your cavy is doing this, give your Farmers Branch, TX veterinary clinic a call. Or click this website Summertree Animal Clinic for more information.

Your cat loves sharing your living space with you, but she sometimes uses your household belongings in different ways than you do. For example, she tends to scratch on the furniture you tend to relax on. How can you get her to stop this?

Your pet is scratching in order to maintain her claws, and she chooses to do so on your furniture because she doesn’t know she shouldn’t be doing this. Make sure you offer her another place to sc ... Read more »

Your cat loves sharing your living space with you, but she sometimes uses your household belongings in different ways than you do. For example, she tends to scratch on the furniture you tend to relax on. How can you get her to stop this?

Your pet is scratching in order to maintain her claws, and she chooses to do so on your furniture because she doesn’t know she shouldn’t be doing this. Make sure you offer her another place to sc ... Read more »

Do you own a green iguana or a similar type lizard? Have you ever noticed that they like to just sit a lot on their branches, logs or other twigs in their tank? This is what they love to do to pass the time away, but they should also be up and about moving too. Green iguanas need to be exercised just like other pets are. You can encourage your iguana to exercise by providing him with different levels in his tank and branches all throughout those levels. Climbing is great exercise. You can also create a safe zone for your iguana either inside or outside of your home. Place your iguana in this area and allow him to roam freely. Include some toys to encourage playtime. Always supervise your iguana outside of his cage. For more tips, discuss with your pet clinic Farmers Branch, TX.

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In short, no, cats don’t really have nine lives. Cats are very agile creatures. They are smart, quick in action, and have the ability to bounce from some crazy illnesses and injuries. When people say the cat has nine lives it’s usually because the cat has recently miraculously survived a life threatening incident. For instance, when cats find themselves stuck in a tree or on a high rooftop, you would think they’d need help getting down. Some cats actually do, but others simply jump straight down or to lower levels until they reach the ground. It looks like a miracle, but it’s actually a result of the cat’s reflexes, agility, and ability to judge depth and know where it’s feet are when landing. A cat’s remarkable abilities doesn ... Read more »

People show interest in each other through eye contact. However, your cat may interpret eye contact as threatening and avoid it. She may get over her fear and look you in the eye if you are able to help your cat connect eye contact with something good. This also establishes a feeling of trust between you and your cat. Sit very close to your cat while sneaking a few glances toward her. Reward her with praise and pat her gently if you catch her looking back, even if for a very brief period of time. Try using food to encourage your cat to look up at you. Hold the food close to your face. This makes it more likely that she will make eye contact with you. Practice these techniques and over time, looking you in the eye will become routine. Contact your East Dallas, TX vet to lear ... Read more »

Cleaning your bird’s cage and around the cage is a big chore, but don’t forget that there’s plenty of picking up to be done when you bring your feathered friend out too!

Waste is the biggest challenge you’ll face while your bird is out of the cage. Although you probably aren’t going to be able to potty train your bird, you can learn when he has to go potty. Most birds will ruffle their tail feathers, freeze, or get a certain look in their eyes. Pay attention and you can move him quickly before he relieves himself.

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Hedgehogs are fast-becoming popular pets. If you are thinking of bringing home a hedgehog or two, here are some amazing facts about the species:

• Hedgehogs that are kept as pets come all the way from Africa.
• In their natural habitat, they eat mostly insects, that is why they are called insectivores.
• The spines or quills on the back of hedgehogs don’t have any barbs, unlike those of porcupines.
• The face and belly of hedgehogs don’t have any quills thus they curl into a tight ball when there is a perceived threat to protect these vulnerable areas of their body.
• Hedgehogs now come in different colors and color combinations because of selective breeding.
• The average lifespan of hedgehogs is 4-6 years; with proper ... Read more »

There are about 23 species of worms that can infect pet parakeets. The most common parasitic worms that infect parakeets are roundworms and flatworms. They can get worms being in direct contact with infected birds or from contaminated food and water. They can also acquire worms from being in close contact with their surfaces that have been contaminated with infected feces. Feeding wild-caught insects to your pet parakeet can also increase their  chances of being infected with worms. There are also instances when insects that are carrying the parasites contaminate the bird’s food and water.

Diarrhea is a prominent symptom exhibited by parakeets with a heavy worm population. There may also be an unexplained loss of weight and their growth is stunted, even with adequate intake of food. Bringing your pet parakeet to your Volga, SD veterinarian for proper diagnosis and treatment. Visit this link for more details ... Read more »