Your pet is an independent creature to a certain extent, and it’s important that he has all the freedom he can safely handle. However, it’s also important that you are looking after him and tending to his needs. How can you tell if it’s time to head in to see the vet?

Your pet needs to be able to enjoy his life without dealing with much stress. This means that he will need you to bring him into the vet’s office before any issues get out of hand. You will generally want to seek out an evaluation for him if something comes up that you can’t handle on your own or you aren’t sure what actions to take. Illnesses and injuries should be addressed by a veterinarian to make sure there isn’t something more serious going on than there appears to be and preventive care should be addressed as well. For more information, please contact your local ... Read more »

Did you know heartworm disease is a serious and potentially fatal disease that can occur in both dogs and cats? Heartworms are foot-long worms that are capable of invading the heart, lungs and blood vessels of your dog. The disease, if not caught early, can be fatal as it can cause permanent damage to your dog’s main organs including the heart and lungs. The disease is transmitted primarily through mosquitoes. They bite infected animals and transfer heartworm larvae to dogs when they bite them. It takes 10 to 14 days for the baby worms to enter the infective stage. Once the mosquito bites another dog, it deposits the larvae into the dog. It can take 6 months for the babies to mature. Heartworms can live five to seven years in dogs. It’s important to keep your dogs on a monthly prevention medication to keep them healthy. For more information, click here, or call your New Tulsa, OK vet.

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Puppies love to play with toys. Giving them toys is a great way to keep them distracted and to help satisfy their desire to continuously chew. Finding the right toys for a puppy, however, can be tricky. Some toys are too large and others may be too hard. Talk with your vet to determine what type of toys may be the best for your little pup. For example, if you have a small puppy like the Pomeranian, purchase small, soft plush toys that they can cuddle with or sleep with. Make sure the toy does not have hard, marble eyes to ensure that he doesn’t pull them off or swallow them. A larger puppy like the Labrador pup will obviously need something stronger to play with. For instance, a durable rope toy or rubber tire toy would be great for a big dog to chew on. For more suggestions, talk with your pet clinic New Tulsa, OK.

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Do you use a monthly flea and tick prevention medication on your dog? If not, talk with your vet about adding this to your dog’s monthly routine. Most medications come in the form of a pill, injection or a liquid application ointment. If you are using the ointment, make sure you follow the application instructions. Different brands have different instructions. In general, open the tube of the ointment and place the tip of the applicator underneath your dog’s hair on his back right between his shoulders. Gently squeeze the tube and apply it down your dog’s back. Some ointments suggest applying it in small spots along the back and not a continuous stream. Allow the ointment to soak into the skin. Do not rub it in and do not wipe at it. Make sure you use all of the tube. Once finished, reward your dog with a treat. Contact your veterinarian New Tulsa, OK for help.

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Cats and closed doors go together like oil and water—which means they don’t really go together at all! That doesn’t mean you have to give your feline friend free reign in your home. Here are some tips for getting Fluffy used to that closed door.

First, you have to stand your ground. If you open the door, no matter how long he has been meowing, he will learn that he can get his way if he throws a fit. If you’re worried about your cat damaging the door, use double sided sticky tape so he isn’t tempted to scratch.

If you can’t handle all the meowing, start leaving the door shut when you’re away from home. That way, your cat can get used to the door being closed when you aren’t there to hear him throw his fit!

Your veterinary clinic Pasadena, MD has more tips too ... Read more »

Positive reinforcement is a very powerful tool in training regimens for shaping or correcting a dog’s behaviors. It involves reinforcing desired behavior with treats, play time, lavish praise, etc. Thus, it encourages a dog to keep on displaying the desired behavior in anticipation of the rewards. In order for positive reinforcement to be effective, here are some important things to keep in mind:

Timing is of utmost importance when positive reinforcement is applied during training. The reward should be offered immediately after the dog has displayed the desired behavior. This will tell your dog that he is reward for the behavior. In clicker training, a clicker is used to mark the behavior before a treat is given.

Consistency is very important during training. Remember that dogs are creatures of habit.

Punishment has no place in dog trainin ... Read more »

Pet cats also benefit from crate training. They should feel comfortable being inside a crate while they are being transported to the veterinarian or the groomers. Being inside the crate can help keep your cat safe and secure. Crate training should start as early as possible. Here are some tips to help pet owners achieve crate training success:

Introduce the carrier to your cat by leaving it open in a room where your cat frequently stays in. Make the crate more appealing by placing one of his blankets inside as well as some toys and treats.

Placing some of your pet’s favorite treats near the opening of the carrier will surely attract him to check it out.

Once he starts spending more time inside the crate, try to close the door of the carrier. Be quick to offer your kitty some treats after opening the door again. Repeat this several times un ... Read more »

Pet birds need to spend time out of their enclosure regularly. These “time outs” are excellent chances for physical and mental stimulation, giving your feathered pet hours of fun and stimulation. Birds that are cooped up inside the cage throughout the day can become bored; their pent up energy can fuel vices and undesirable habits. This is quite common in bigger bird species. Finches, lovebirds, and other smaller types of birds can thrive well in an enclosure with adequate space. You can also enrich your pet’s enclosure with bird-safe toys or even a jungle gym. These will give your feathered pet plenty of things to do.

Before letting your bird out of its cage, make sure there are no potential hazards inside the room, like ceiling fans, open pots on the stove, electrical wires, and even hot bulbs. Also, hang curtains on windows so your pet bird won’t fly straight right into them.

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