Your hamster needs to be comfortable in her enclosure, and for this to happen she will need a bedding material that is healthy for her to be around. How can you choose the best option for your pet?

Your hamster will be spending the majority of her time in her enclosure, and that means she will be around the bedding material you choose a lot. Try to choose a natural bedding material that won’t hinder her movement at all. It should be absent of artificial ingredients, like added scents. It should also be safe for your pet to ingest, as she will likely get some in her mouth from time to time both accidentally and purposefully as she tries to move it around her enclosure. Your local Tampa FL vet clinic, Baycrest Animal Clinic can ... Read more »

Sharing your home with a pocket pet means that you have a wonderful opportunity to enjoy your time with a furry companion. He likely entertains you quite often. How can you keep your pet entertained in your home?

Your pet will need a few different choices when it comes to activities. This means that he will require ways to meet his needs in addition to ways to have some fun. Offer him plenty of open space in his enclosure and make sure to put some toys in there for him to play with. Your pet should also have access to a few different things that take him out of his enclosure during the day. This will likely include interacting with you or another family member as well as roaming around safe areas of your home while supervised to get some exercise and a change of scenery. For more information, please contact your local Savannah, GA veterinarian.

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It is so important for your cat to have fresh, clean water all the time. Unfortunately, it’s an easy thing to forget! Here are a few tips for remembering to water your cat.

Get into the habit of watering your cat at the same times each day. You might find that before you fix breakfast in the morning or while you’re working on dinner are good times to fill his water bowl.

You can also strive to change out his water every time you feed him. Your cat definitely won’t allow you to forget to feed him, which means you won’t ever forget to water him either!

If you can’t remember to water your cat, consider providing your feline friend with a self-filling water bowl. Just make sure you still clean it out frequently so the water doesn’t get slimy!

Your ... Read more »

You love your parakeet and understand that she needs you to help her stay healthy. What should you feed her to make sure this happens?

Your pet needs you to think about all the food options that are available to her and determine which will offer her the right nutrients to keep her body strong. Her veterinarian can help you determine what foods to give her in addition to the portion sizes. This will likely mean giving your pet a base food to cover most of her nutritional needs, like a high-quality pellet option. You can also offer your pet select fresh produce items that have been washed and cut up, some seeds as these are often a favorite snack, and items with calcium, like cuttle bones or crushed up hard-boiled eggs with shells. For more information, please contact your local London, ON veterinarian.

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Pet owners have important responsibilities to ensure their pet’s health and wellbeing. Here are some responsibilities that pet owners should be aware of and be ready to meet:

Veterinary care

One of the basic needs of pets is access to proper veterinary care. Pet owners should take a pro-active approach to safeguard their pet’s health. In addition to vaccination and dental checks, visits to the vet are also important opportunities to have pets examined thoroughly for early symptoms of disease.

Exercise and play

Regular physical activity is another basic need of pets. Exercise and play provide plenty of physical and mental stimulation.

Nutritionally-balanced diet

Your pet shou ... Read more »

Pet food recalls and incidents of dog-food related problems have caused many pet owners to switch their pet’s commercial dog food to a homemade one. If you are thinking along the same lines as these pet owners, here are some things to chew on before switching your pet’s food to a homemade ration.

• Learn as much as you can about pet nutrition. What your dog takes in has a very significant impact on his health and wellbeing.
• It is recommended that you consult a pet nutritionist to ensure that your dog is able to receive his daily nutritional needs.
• Your homemade ration should contain all the essential nutrients and calories that your dog needs every day. It should also be appropriate for the lifestage your pet is in.
• You should ask yourself if you have time to commit to making a homemade ... Read more »

If you seem to be getting nowhere in your dog’s training even if you have persisted for a considerable length of time already, it is time to sit down and evaluate the process. Trying to look at your pet’s training at a different perspective can enable you to spot certain mistakes that you may be guilty of committing. Here are some things to keep in mind when training your pet:

One step at a time – the training process should be gradual so your pet dog won’t become overwhelmed.

Know when to use treats – treats are important in reinforcing positive behavior but you should know when to give them and when to stop handing them out to your pooch. You have to stop using the treat once your dog understands what you want him to do.

Be consistent – stick to specific cues or commands to avoid confusing your pooch. Avoid ... Read more »

Did you know that aggressive behavior toward people can be an important sign of stress in cats? Identifying what can trigger a cat’s aggressive behavior is the first step towards addressing the problem appropriately.

Many pet cats display play aggression, an undesirable behavior that many cat parents unknowingly reinforce. If your cat displays the behavior you may have created the stimulus by allowing your pet to play with your fingers. This can send a wrong message that it is alright your cat to bite, nip, or swipe at your fingers. The behavior may also be displayed by kittens that have been separated prematurely from the rest of the litter and have not learned social manners from their mother.

To protect hands and fingers from injury, play with your cat using a fishing pole toy in order to put a safe distance between your pet’s teeth and your fingers. This type of toy ... Read more »

Your dog may be a big part of your family, but he may not necessarily be aware of this. How can you show your pet that you love him?

Your dog needs you to make a point to be with him and look after his needs. This means taking the time to figure out what you can do to help your pet stay happy and healthy while also actively looking out for him in ways he may not look after himself. Offer him ways to meet his needs and seek out opportunities to have some fun together as well. Dedicating some time to really focus on your pet each day is a great way to show him how much you care and offer him the affection he needs to know he is well-loved. Consult your vet clinic Tampa FL can offer additional suggestions.

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You love your cat and you want to make sure you are able to take the time to keep her safe when you head out of the house. How can you do this?

Your cat needs you to offer her a sturdy carrier to spend time in when she is going to take a journey with you. This will help keep her away from control panels in your vehicle and areas that could be harmful to her while allowing you to keep an eye on her during your trip. Find a carrier she will be comfortable in and is an appropriate size. This should stay securely shut and offer you a way to carry it with relative ease. There are a variety of options out there, so it’s important to think about your pet’s preferences as well. Your local Tampa, FL vet clinic can help you better understand what your pet needs from you. Visit this ... Read more »

Your gerbil is a part of your family and you want to make sure you are able to offer her everything she needs from you for care. However, you also know she needs to interact with you often on top of meeting her care needs. Why is this?

Your gerbil needs your attention so she can understand her role in your family. She needs to learn that she can trust you and know that you care about her so she can relax and enjoy your time together. This will help her feel safe and secure in your home, as it can take a while for her to become familiar enough with you to make this happen. Offering her your attention can be a great way to help your pet understand that she is in her forever home where she doesn’t need to worry about her needs being met. For more information, please cont ... Read more »