Dog Arthritis and Cold Weather: Helping Your Dog’s Arthritis Pain in Winter
In This Article Arthritis in Dogs View 3 More +
What Is a Horse Health Certificate?
In This Article What Is a Health Certificate for Horses? View 5 More +
5 Vet-Approved Ways to Calm Your Cat
4. Use Over-The-Counter (OTC) Calming Products OTC products are also a great option to help with your cat’s anxiety and don’t require a prescription from the vet. But it’s important to discuss any supplements with your veterinarian before adding them to your cat’s diet. Your vet can also help you find the best option based on your cat’s health. Some OTC products contain pheromones, which are species-specific chemical signals that can create a sense of safety. Examples include: Feliway spray Feliway diffusers including: Feliway Classic Feliway Optimum Feliway Multicat Calming wipes Calming collars,Anxiety in dogs is well-known to most pet parents, but what about the anxiety of our feline friends? Like dogs, cats can have separation anxiety, generalized anxiety, or anxiety triggered by specific events such as thunderstorms, new additions to the family, or moving to a new home. Anxiety in cats takes many forms, including urine marking, recurrent urinary tract disorders (FLUTD), overgrooming, or other compulsive behaviors. If the behavior change is sudden and without a known cause, visit your veterinarian to rule out underlying health conditions. Otherwise, read on to learn five vet-approved ways to calm your cat.
Itchy Ferrets Need Relief
Compared to dogs, cats and rabbits, ferrets really do appear to scratch and bite at their skin more than those other pet species. It is a very common complaint from new ferret owners not acquainted with this normal behavior of ferrets. Ferrets will increase their biting and scratching of their skin for numerous reasons. It is normal for any animal to increase that behavior during molting season — both when hair is growing in or hair is being lost. As you mentioned, skin parasites (also termed ectoparasites) can cause disturbances on the skin leading to increased biting and scratching. You report no fleas, but some mites and lice can cause these issues in ferrets, and finding these very tiny ectoparasites is very difficult without a microscope. And even when there is an infestation of these ectoparasites, we may not be able to find the living organisms with a microscope but just find their “eggs” instead. Sometimes, we cannot even find the eggs and treat based on the signs you report. Fungal skin and hair infections also can cause what you are describing, and that diagnosis is made after growth of the fungal organism on a culture plate that your veterinarian will inoculate during a visit. With the naked eye, you cannot diagnose a skin fungal infection. Finally, environmental allergens may cause hypersensitivity on the skin that can lead to increased scratching and biting. As you can see, the causes are varied and it usually takes a visit to your veterinarian to help make a diagnosis and then devise a course of treatment to help your ferrets feel more comfortable. By: Karen Rosenthal, DVM, MS,Q.
How To Detect Fleas in Your Home and Avoid a Full Flea Infestation
Here’s a scary thought: The fleas your vet recently spotted on your dog or cat may only be the tip of the flea problem iceberg. Your home may also be the unfortunate site of a flea infestation. When fleas are nipping at your ankles, a flea problem is more obvious. But in other cases, the signs of fleas in your house can be less apparent, especially if the infestation is still in its early stages. So, what’s a pet parent to do? First things first: You need to learn how to detect fleas in your house. We spoke to vet experts on how to spot and get rid of the pesky buggers.
How To Dog-Proof Your Christmas Tree
Trimming the tree is one of those essential holiday traditions that makes the holiday season special. Unfortunately, dogs and Christmas trees are not always the best—or safest—combination. “Depending on the size of the tree and the weight of a dog, a tree can get knocked over on the dog,” says Arden Moore, founder of The Pet Health and Safety Coach in Dallas, Texas. “There could be a limb injury, sprain, or a fracture. If you have a little Shih Tzu and an 8-foot tree, who’s going to win?” Add breakable ornaments, gifts, and even tree water that can pose a risk to dogs, and you’ve got a dangerous situation on your hands. So, how do you dog-proof a Christmas tree? Keep the magic in Christmas by using dog-friendly decorations (those fragile ornaments must go!), physical barriers, and training cues to keep your furry best friend away from the tree.
Probiotics for Dogs: Does Your Dog Need Them?
In This Article What Are Probiotics for Dogs? View 5 More +
Everything To Know About Safely Traveling With a Puppy
In This Article Before You Leave View 2 More +
Arowana Care Sheet
In This Article FAQs
How to Throw a Cat Birthday Party
While dog parties have become increasingly popular, it seems like we hear very little about people throwing a cat party. Yet there’s no reason our birthday cats should be any less celebrated on their big day than their canine counterparts! Especially if it’s a birthday kitten reaching their benchmark one-year birthday. “It is so important to include our pets in our rituals as they surely are important parts of our lives. I would not dream of skipping a pet birthday party,” says Sally Morgan, PT, CST, a holistic physical therapist for pets in Northampton, MA and author of “Dances of the Heart: Connecting with Animals.” When planning for a cat birthday party, it’s crucial to work around your cat’s personality. Despite the stereotype of the aloof feline, many cats love the company of people, other felines and even cat-friendly dogs. If your cat has an outgoing personality, you can consider planning a longer or larger party than you should if your pet is more the skittish type. In either case, here’s everything you need to know to throw a successful birthday bash for your special party cat.
