You share your home with a hamster and you want to make sure you are there for her every step of the way. How can you keep your pet in shape?

Your pet needs you to consider the fact that her wild counterparts get a ton of exercise each and every day. She is made to head from one area to another in search of food and staying out of harm’s way. While these activities may not be necessary in your home, your pet’s body does still need to move about quite a bit. You can help her stay in shape by offering her plenty of time outside of her enclosure and encouraging her to take part in play that will keep her moving around. You should also make sure there is space in her enclosure for her to move about freely as well. For more information, please contact your local Edison Park, FL veterinarian.

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Sharing your home with a feline friend helps you get to know a wonderful creature. You have come to know your pet to be very knowledgeable about the world around her, as her senses are quite acute. This makes you wonder – what is her sense of smell like?

Your cat can smell quite a bit. This means that her nose is sensitive to even minute changes in the environment around her. She utilizes this in many ways. She will identify different foods with her sense of smell in a very similar manner to the way that you do, but she can go beyond this as well. She can also identify family members and other animals by their scent and detect scent markers left behind by others to show where their territory begins. For more information, please contact your local Cameron Park, CA veterinarian.

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Your hamster is a big part of your life and you want to be able to understand how she is feeling at all times. How can you tell if she might be getting sick?

Your pet needs you to understand that there are a lot of things she loves to do, and plenty of activities she looks forward to. However, she may shy away from these if she isn’t feeling well. Your pet isn’t likely to want to be active if she is sick and she may not chow down on her food like she normally would. Essentially, any atypical behavior could be a sign of an illness impacting your pet’s life, so be vigilant and seek out the attention of a professional if you think this may be the case. For more information, please contact your local Somerville, MA veterinarian.

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You will soon be bringing a new pet into your home and you want to make sure your family is ready for this. How can you talk about pet care responsibilities with them?

Your pet will have to be cared for day in and day out. This means that the people in your household will need to meet her needs. Get everyone together and determine how this will be done. Talk about each person’s preferences and capabilities so you can understand where each individual will best be able to help out. Assign jobs as appropriate and make a point to have a back-up plan in case something unexpected were to pop up. For example, if one individual needs to work late one night, have someone else feed your new addition so she can stay on her routine. For ... Read more »

Shot requirements or medical requirements for boarding your dog at a kennel or doggie daycare depends a lot of the individual facility itself. Most boarding places require the basic shots of DHPP, Rabies and Bordatella. Some facilities will require a recent negative fecal test as well. Make sure you check ahead of time so that you’ll have the right records when your drop off your pup for daycare or boarding. Your dog should already be update on these shots as they’re required at the annual wellness exams. The fecal test may not be required by all vets so be sure to check in plenty of time prior to the kennel stay so the test can be done and results returned ahead of time. Always keep a printed out record of shots to give the boarder as well as a print out record for yourself. For more information, talk with your Wake Forest, NC veterinary clinic. Or check this site: http://raleighncvet.com/

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Your mouse is an adorable little creature, and you know he depends on you for quite a bit. A simple way to help keep him healthy is to feed him a proper diet. What should you be offering your little furry friend?

Your mouse will need you to offer him a few different things in order to get the nutrients his body requires. Commercially made food is a good place to start, as it covers a large amount of nutrients and will make a good base for your pet’s diet. Choose a high-quality option that is free of artificial ingredients and fillers. You should also offer your pet appropriate fresh produce items to munch on. Treats can also be offered from time to time, and will likely be made up of seeds, cereals, or grains. For more information, please contact your local Niwot, CO veterinarian.

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Your dog is a big part of your life and you spend a lot of time with him. This is why it’s so easy for you to notice when he begins to smell a bit. How can you help him get back to normal?

To get rid of the stench you will first need to determine where it’s coming from. It’s likely that your pet is simply in need of a bath. He may have gotten dirty over time and needs to get cleaned up, or he may have rolled in something outside. If this doesn’t do the trick, your pet may need to have his teeth brushed as the smell could be from his breath. Something he is eating could be causing the smell as well, so be mindful of any dietary changes. For more information, please contact your local Carolina Forest, SC veterinarian.

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Heartworm pills are a monthly medication given to dogs to help prevent the development of heartworms. If your dog has not been on heartworm medication for more than a couple of months, you may need to have your vet run a heartworm test before the monthly preventative can be started. If your dog tests positive, the heartworms will have to be treated aggressively until the test comes back negative. Once a test comes back negative, monthly prevention can be given. Ask your vet for a chewable pill if possible. If it’s not chewable, you may need to hide the pill in a piece of cheese or bread to convince your pup to take it. If that still doesn’t work, open your dog’s mouth, place the pill at the back of the tongue, gently close your dog’s mouth and hold it closed until he swallows. For more tips, discuss with your vet Wake Forest, NC.

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Treating bloat is a very dangerous illness that affects deep chested dogs like the Azawakh. Bloat can come on suddenly due to stress, wrong diet, eating too quickly or too much after playing, drinking too much or too quickly after playing, etc. It causes large amounts of gas to form in the stomach, which then causes the stomach to expand and push out against the vital organs. This causes eventual cut off from blood flow to the organs and to the stomach lining. The pain is excruciating for the dog and must be addressed with immediate surgery. During the surgery, a veterinarian professional may insert a tube into your Azawakh’s mouth and down to the stomach to release built up pressure in the stomach area. A stomach twist is almost always fatal. Learning what bloat is and how to prevent and recognize it is the best way to treat it. Talk with your Raleigh, NC vet to learn more. Or visit this website.

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Testing your Black Coonhound for heartworm disease should be done on a yearly basis during your dog’s annual wellness exam. If your vet does not run the test automatically at the wellness exam, request it. All dogs must test negative for heartworms in order to receive the monthly prevention medication. If your dog tests positive, then you will need to start aggressive treatment immediately to cure your dog of heartworms. The worms themselves can invade the heart and lungs and cause vital organ shutdown. Treatment is available, but if the heartworms aren’t discovered soon enough the dog could be sick for treatment. Your dog will have to be completely clear of heartworms to start a prevention medication. The best way to treat heartworms is to prevent them ahead of time with the yearly test and monthly prevention medications. Talk with your Raleigh, NC veterinarian to learn more about the disease and ways to protect your dog. Set an appointment ... Read more »

Treating gingivitis is easier than it sounds. In fact, gingivitis is a common illness in many types of cats including the Burmilla cat. Around 80 percent of pets three years and older will most likely develop gingivitis or another form of gum disease. Treatment for gingivitis will depend on the severity of the symptoms. For instance, if there is a lot of irritation and inflammation, then your vet may prescribe anti-inflammatory medication to reduce swelling before going back in to remove decay and scrape the teeth of plaque and tartar. Once an initial cleaning is done, your vet may also recommend additional cleanings every six months to a year. At home, you can help prevent additional breakouts of gingivitis by feeding your cat hard cat food which naturally breaks down tartar and plaque. Routine teeth brushing may also be suggested by your ... Read more »