Ginger Biscuits for Dogs
Ginger is well known for its ability to soothe upset tummies, relive nausea and help with motion sickness. But did you know that ginger is also thought to be able to help arthritis and other inflammatory diseases in dogs?
Pets in Weddings
Thinking about including your dog in your engagement or wedding? Pets in weddings are becoming a lot more common, as many couples want to include their four-legged family members in their special occasions. Whether your dog is an active part of the ceremony or just there to join in on the fun, you’ll create memories just by sharing your special day with them.
Are Dogs Affected by Daylight Saving Time?
You already know that changing the clocks for daylight saving time can disrupt your day. You’re groggier, your regular eating time is thrown off, and even your new bedtime feels weird. So, it’s only natural to wonder: How do dogs experience daylight saving time?
8 Ways to Make Your Dog’s Bathtime Less Stressful
A truly stress-free—or as close to stress-free as you can realistically expect—bathtime doesn’t happen overnight. You’ll have to start by teaching individual behaviors that, when put together, will make bathtime both successful and enjoyable, Thomas says. “Teach your dog to jump in and out of the tub. You’ll need that later,” she says. “Then, move on to teaching her to stay still while the water is running.” Arguably the most important behavior you want to teach them is how to love the water. Thomas says doing this in a low-pressure place, like a small lake or a kiddie pool, is perfect and that you should let the dog take as much time as she needs to get in and have fun.,A hot bath is soothing and relaxing — a great way to kick back and forget about the anxiety of the day. A bath for your dog, on the other hand, is probably the source of some of that anxiety. The fact is: your dog doesn’t want to be washed just as much as you don’t want to wash him. It doesn’t have anything to do with actually being clean and smelling fresh, but rather the lack of agency that comes with a hop in the tub, says Katelin Thomas, an associate certified dog behavior consultant and owner of K9 Turbo Training in Michigan. “Think about how invasive it is and how quickly the owner wants to get done,” Thomas says. “There’s not much choice there for the dog. Choice empowers them and makes them feel in control.” It takes time to help your dog feel like bathtime is another fun part of her day, but the payoff to all that preparation is that the water will mostly stay in the tub and your dog will now feel as calm as she is clean. So, how can that be achieved? Here are eight tips to make bathtime less stressful for both you and your pup.
Black Cats Throughout History
Ancient Egyptians worshipped cats of every color, even black ones. Up until the early Middle Ages, other cultures viewed black cats as good luck. But somehow, over the years, black cats got a bad reputation. They were accused of stealing souls, shape shifting and consorting with witches and the underworld. Even in the more enlightened modern day, they still are sometimes discriminated against. For example, a black cat was blamed (or credited, depending on whether you like the Cubs) with turning around a baseball pennant race in 1969, according to mlb.com. The black cat mysteriously appeared in front of the Chicago Cubs dugout in Shea Stadium. The Cubs lost the game and went on to lose the pennant in an epic collapse—a star-crossed franchise supposedly double crossed by a black cat. Luckily, it seems as though black cats are making a comeback. Let’s take a look at how people’s perception of black cats has changed throughout history.
5 Reasons to Foster a Pet During the Holidays
Check With Your Local Shelter About Their Fostering Needs Interested in fostering an animal? Contact the shelters near you to find out what their policies are for fostering a pet. Be aware that each shelter might be different. Some may foster dogs and cats. Some may even foster exotic pets. Some provide the supplies needed to care for the pet, while others require you to purchase them. Regardless of how you choose to give back to a shelter pet, you’re making a difference in their lives, especially during the holiday season.,WRITTEN BYSandra C. Mitchell, DVM, DABVP Veterinarian Sandra Mitchell is a 1995 graduate of the New York State College of Veterinary Medicine. Since graduation, she has worked in many fields…, As the holiday season nears, it brings with it the excitement and chaos of parties, family get-togethers, shopping, and cooking. It also stirs up in us the spirit of giving and helping others. By now, you are likely thinking about what gifts to buy a loved one, or how to help your local charity or animal shelter. Donating money to an animal shelter or buying items on their wish list is always a good idea, but have you thought about giving the ultimate gift—fostering a pet to give them a break from the shelter during the holidays? When you foster a shelter animal—for a night, weekend, or the long term—you are helping them get away from the hustle and bustle of a crowded shelter environment to have some one-on-one time with human companions. Fosters Help Clear Capacity at Shelters By taking home a foster animal, you are helping the pet as well as the shelter. Especially during the holidays, shelters are usually overwhelmed and in need of extra help and space. The shelter benefits when it has fewer dogs to walk and litter boxes to clean. Fostering a pet also reduces labor and supply costs for the shelter and frees up a space that can be filled by another needy animal.
12 Tips To Keep Your Senior Dog Happy, Healthy, and Living Their Best Life
Thanks to preventative medicine and better veterinary care, our pooches are living longer than ever before. Just as with humans, senior dogs experience age-related conditions and challenges as they get older, and new needs will emerge over time. Our loyal, happy senior dogs can develop many of the same physical problems that humans experience as we age, such as heart disease, diabetes, vision problems, joint issues, and weakness. You might also notice behavior changes such as confusion, increased vocalization, more anxiety, changes in sleep cycles, and house soiling. Sometimes we notice the signs of aging in our dogs: Their favorite game of catch might feel too strenuous; they may not be able to jump up to their favorite seat by the window; they can’t hear us calling them in for dinner. Armed with knowledge about senior dog care, you can ensure your pup has the best quality of life during their senior years.
What Do Baby Chicks Eat? All About Feeds for Chicks
Baby chicks start with a diet of chick starter from the time they hatch until they turn about 8 weeks of age. You can also incorporate vitamins and supplements into their diet, such as probiotics, brewers yeast and sea kelp, to further develop their digestive system, bones and respiratory health. If their starter feed is not formulated with grit (small, insoluble particles, such as fine gravel or sand, that aid in digestion by breaking down tougher materials) and they don’t have access to dirt, then this is something else to incorporate into their diet. If your flock is mixed with other species such as ducks, geese, turkeys or peafowl, ensure each chick type is fed species-specific foods. Their needs are quite different.,Jump to section What To Feed Baby Chicks What Is Chick Starter? How To Choose a Chick Starter Vitamins and Supplements for Chicks Treats for Chicks Dangerous Foods for Chicks How Much Should You Feed Baby Chicks? When Should I Transition My Chicks to Adult Feed?
Cat Spay: Benefits, Cost, and How To Prepare Your Cat
In This Article What Is a Cat Spay? View 8 More +
Cat Dieting: How to Help Your Cat Lose Weight
Prior to starting your cat’s weight loss journey, talk to your veterinarian about how to do this safely. Cat dieting is not as simple as restricting food, and rapid weight loss can be very dangerous. Any cat weight loss plan should be a collaboration between you and your vet. Here are a few ways that you can help your cat lose weight and maintain a healthy lifestyle. How to Help Your Cat Lose Weight Safely First, speak with your veterinarian before putting your cat on a diet. They will help you establish a cat dieting plan that supports gradual, healthy weight loss without restricting food intake too drastically. Severe cat food restriction and rapid weight loss can actually make your pet very sick, causing a serious disease in cats called hepatic lipidosis, or fatty liver disease. Calculating Your Cat’s Body Condition Score The ideal weight for a cat is determined by their body condition score. This is an objective measurement of your cat’s body composition based on the visibility of their ribs, presence of a “waist,” and how easily their vertebrae can be felt. Once a body condition score has been assigned, your veterinarian can help you establish your pet’s target weight and daily calorie intake goal using the following formula for resting energy requirement (RER): 70 x (body weight in kg)0.75=RER
