Category: Pets

A well-constructed cat scratching post is a must for a healthy and happy cat. Not only will a scratching post provide your cat with an outlet for their naturally occurring instinct to scratch, it also provides as much as exercise for your pet as possible. When choosing a cat scratching post for your feline friend, you want to make sure that it has enough height for your pet to climb on comfortably. The post should also have some sort of traction on the bottom so that your pet can easily move their claws along the wood.

There are many different types of cat scratching posts available on the market today. You can choose from posts that are made of wood, vinyl, metal, or even sisal rope. Each type of post has its own set of advantages and disadvantages. As far as cost goes, wooden posts tend to be the most affordable and at the same time offer the most variety in terms of designs. For those cat owners who already have a pet cat that already possesses its claws, then there really isn’t anything out there that can compare to the joys of having a pet cat that already possesses its own scratching post. But if you’re starting out with no claws and are still a cat owner then sisal rope or sisal fabric post would be best suited to your pet’s needs.

Vinyl cat scratching posts are usually made out of corrugated cardboard. These types of scratch posts are made for two reasons, one to keep your cat off hardwood flooring, and two to deter your cat from clawing everything in sight! Unfortunately, these types of scrapbooking tools are not very comfortable for cats and tend to rip out quite a bit of your cat’s skin with each scratch. At least they do make great kitty wallpaper and for people who do have cats that are not into this particular genre they can be thrown away.

There are some other types of cat scratching posts on the market today that are made from either corrugated cardboard or vinyl. The materials are varied but they tend to be softer and less likely to tear out your cat’s skin. One of the down sides to this type of post however is that it is typically not roomy enough for cats to run around in and climb on. If you have several small cats in your household then you may want to consider getting a larger post. Either way, these types of scratch posts should only be purchased if you have enough room in your house for more than two cats.

The final type of cat scratching posts that I will discuss are those that are made from sisal rope. This particular material tends to be a lot softer than the ones previously mentioned and the material does wear a little easier as well. The down side to these types of scratch posts is that they require you to have a little more space in your house and that it requires a little more cleaning up afterward. If you do not mind these things then by all means get a sisal rope scratching post.

Hopefully this brief article has given you a few ideas of what cat scratching posts are available and why. If you would like more information about cat scratching posts then by all means look online for some reviews of the best brands. Or, visit your local pet store and ask the retailer to give you some advice. Regardless of which type of cat scratching posts you decide on, always remember to keep them clean and always make sure they are comfortable for your cat.

Teaching your new puppy to do his business in the correct places is no different from potty training a child. The main ingredient on your part that is required for things to go smoothly is patience, kindness, and perseverance. There is no point getting frustrated because that will just make your dog stressed out and make the situation worse. Always remember to give your dog a reward when he does the right things. That is always a good way to enforce a good action or something they did that you would like them to remember and do again.

Step 1 – The first thing that you are going to want to do is to choose an area of the house where you will keep your puppy and not allow him to leave that area for a while. Make sure its a room or area that does not have any carpets or furniture that can get damaged or that the puppy and urinate on. Remember, we need to keep this as simple as possible with as few distractions as possible for your puppy. Make things as easy as possible for him. There is no point trying to potty train a dog at the beginning with another hundred better locations he would rather do his business.

Step 2 – Place a puppy pad somewhere in the designated room far away from the spot where the puppys bed is. This is very important because if you have the pad too close to where the puppy sleeps then he is not going to want to go because dogs do not like doing their business anywhere near where they sleep or rest.

Step 3 – What you are going to want to do next is to place a soiled piece of paper towel that has your pups urine on it right under his mat. By doing this you are going to give him the chance to learn that this is the are where he needs to go because he will smell his urine and that will be a trigger.

Step 4 – If your puppy happens to have a few mishaps which are completely normal then what you are going to have to do is clean the area where he urinated very properly. If you do not clean the area properly then what is going to happen is he is going to keep on smelling where he last made a mess and end up doing it again in the exact same place. The best way to clean these areas is to use a microfiber flat mop. These kinds of mops clean so much better than cotton mops because they are able to actually get into the grooves of the floor and remove all dirt and germs and leave nothing behind. If you use a cotton mop what you end up doing is just moving all the germs around.

Have you seen those dog memes showing a dog that has gotten into the trash, or destroyed a couch or shredded a door, clothing or just about anything the owner didn’t want destroyed?

Well that is the sign of a board dog.

How do you keep an active dog busy so he doesn’t destroy your precious house?

As much as we’d love to spend all day with our dogs sometimes you need some time away. Jobs, school, vacations, shopping all these things take us away from our pets so we need a way to keep them busy when we are away.

Here are a few ideas you can try. (If you are looking for even more ideas try this article from ifitbringsyoujoy.com.

1. Puzzle Toys

Dogs love solving puzzles, well not the ones you may be thinking – but I’m sure they would love to chew a 1000 piece puzzle (or at least a few of the pieces so you can’t finish it)

What we are talking about here are dog toys designed to keep your dog mentally stimulated. Mental stimulation is just as important as physical play in keeping a healthy dog.

Puzzle toys do not need to be purchased from the store (although there are plenty great puzzle toys to choose from). You can easily make your own by cutting a hole in a tennis ball and putting a few treats inside. Your dog will spend hours trying to get at that treat.

2. Iced Treats and Toys

As long as we are on the topic of treats why not make some out of ice. Yes, ice. As strange as it sounds dogs love ice. And it is just as easy to fill up an ice tray with a sneaky inside treat. You dog will love playing with the ice to get to the treat.

If you want to be really creative you can even freeze a favorite toy inside a block of ice so he has to take his time getting to the toy. Granted this type of frozen treat is best for outdoor dogs so you don’t end up with a puddle on your new carpet. But it could also be used if you door dog has a play area on the kitchen or basement floor that isn’t covered in expensive hardwood or carpet.

3. TV Time

Okay, okay we’ve all heard it isn’t good to watch too much TV. It rots the brain, yada yada yada, at least for us humans. But dogs can benefit from a little TV time now and then to give them a break from endless games and healthy play time. Hmmm, wait that doesn’t sound like a very good idea after all.

But in reality it doesn’t hurt to distract your dog with a little TV time now and then when you really need a break. I wouldn’t suggest you leave the TV on all day while you are at work, but it might be something you could try now and then.

4. Get Another Pet

Okay, not everyone wants a house full of pets, but sometimes dogs love company. One of the best ways to keep an active dog busy is to let him play with another dog (or heaven forbid a cat).

Visiting a dog park is another option if you really don’t have the room for another pet. It is easy to sit under a tree and read a book while your dog plays with the other [park patrons.

You see there are many ways to keep an active dog busy if you just put a little time into creative ideas.

Nothing can come close to the commitment as well as unconditional love that a pet brings to family members. There is solid scientific research that has shown a number of advantages of having a canine in your household for the benefit of yourself and your family members, not to mention the dog. It’s a win-win situation.

Benefit 1

Owning a dog can teach care and responsibility to children. If you have kids then bringing a pet into your home is giving your kids the opportunity to care and look after their four-legged friends. You can instruct your youngsters how to effectively take treatment of the pet dog. This develops a sense of responsibility which is critical for later life.

Benefit 2

Owning a dog can be good for your health. It is widely acknowledged that owning a dog can keep you healthy. This is especially true for people with heart conditions as a pet can reduce anxiety levels, which is one of the key killers when it comes to heart attacks. The presence of a dog lends an atmosphere of well-being and companionship essential for heart disease sufferers.

Benefit 3

Having a dog in the family makes us happy. This has been proven by scientific studies. There’s this thing called oxytocin which is released when you are near your loved ones. This extends to our four legged friends. Just looking into their cute eyes release this important hormone and help us to feel happy. So if you want to encourage a happy family, get a dog!

Benefit 4

Dogs can detect ill health or when all is not well. Some pet dogs have actually been utilized in the detection of specific cancers cells like prostate cancer. Also without its cancer-detecting abilities, pet dogs can maintain us healthy due to the fact that they have this extremely keen feeling of scent that somehow helps them identify whether there is something incorrect with us or otherwise. Dogs can also be trained to sniff blood glucose levels to aid alert diabetics when it’s time for their insulin shots.

Benefit 5

A dog can make us do exercise. Dogs need regular walks and entertainment, so they make all members of the family more active and healthy. Plus exercise is a whole lot more enjoyable if we can do it with a pet dog. These daily workouts mean we stay in good shape. When our pets accompany us in our workout sessions, these activities take on a whole new significance. We have the ability to share those moments with our extremely dedicated four-legged pal.

Benefit 6

Dogs can improve our social lives. When you walk a dog in the local park, strangers are much more likely to talk to you and you can become friends with a network of local dog owners. Take your canine out and you’ll likely get people swarming over you. That’s the magic of having a pet dog in your life. And also if your kids were to take these pet dogs with them to the park, you can just think of how many pals they can make in a day.

This brief summary of advantages of having a pet dog in your household can continue on forever. There are some more pamper tips on the Pet Spa website. There are hundreds of benefits to owning a dog. Remember that canines were not coined man’s best friend for no reason. So what are you waiting for? Go and get yourself a do for a better balanced life.

You do your best to keep your horse healthy. You feed your four-legged companion exceptional quality hay. You even have your horses hooves carefully picked, to make sure there are no bits of dirt or gravel. Maintaining healthy hooves can ensure your horse is protected from diseases. But what if your horse does fall ill? When you know the symptoms to look for, you can take action to make sure your horse has the best chance for recovery.

Treating Common Diseases in Horses

Thrush is an infection caused by bacteria that affects the frog of your horses hoof. One symptom to look for is the funky odor on or around the frog. Thrush bacteria thrive in moist or muddy conditions, so ensure your horses stall is clean. If your horse lies on a bed of straw, consider switching to shavings, which absorb moisture better. Check with your farrier if you think your horse is infected.

Hoof Bruise looks like patches on your horses hoof wall. Horse hooves can resist trauma, but a strong impact can still injure your horse’s feet. Most bruises can heal on their own, but for bigger injuries, your horse will need more attention and care. Look into investing in hoof boots and shoes to further protect your horses feet.

Its important to remember that occasional bruising can happen. But if your horse regularly gets hoof bruises, its time to investigate. Different factors can lead to bruising like, the terrain or shoeing problems.

Lameness is a clear sign that something is causing your horse pain. You could be dealing with a bone or muscle injury, or other neurological issues. If you notice your horses gait has changed, get your horse examined immediately. Treatment can vary depending on the cause of lameness. Your horse could need a good massage, a professional trainer, or medicine.

White Line Disease is caused by bacteria or fungi that attack the white line. The white line connects your horses sole to the hoof wall. Some signs to watch out for include lameness, tender soles, and a powdery area along the hoof wall. You can also hear a hollow sound when tapping the outside of the wall. When it comes to treatment, the earlier you can catch this disease, the better. Your horse will need corrective shoes to reduce stress from the foot and to provide support.

Lockjaw, or tetanus, is a bacterial disease that affects your horses nervous system. Observe your horse for spasms, increased sensitivity, and protruding eyelids. While getting a tetanus shot is the best way to prevent this disease, your horse can also get antibiotic treatment.

Now that youre armed with this information, youll know what to do when your horse displays any of these symptoms. Working together with your veterinarian, you can give your horse the best quality care he deserves.

It’s best to allow your kitten to get accustomed to having its claws trimmed when it is still young so that problems cutting the claws when it’s an adult won’t occur. When you decide to trim the claws, begin with one or two and watch how your kitten takes to it. Should your kitten seem unhappy, stop trimming and try again later.

The trimming of the claws is perhaps one of the most neglected parts of caring for a cat. Leaving the claws long doesn’t just look bad, it’s uncomfortable as well as unhealthy for your cat too. Feral and also wild cats manage to wear their claws down on a regular basis, however, domesticated cats require more help with this. As domesticated cats don’t get to wear their claws down like wild and feral cats, should their claws be allowed to grow too long before trimming, this can result in discomfort and pain as they might grow into the paws. This means that claw trimming must absolutely be a part of their grooming routine.

It is in fact a rather unnerving task to trim the nails of your dog. The reason being, because should you cut his nails too short, bleeding can happen. Also, if they are not cut frequently enough, the nails could either break, become infected or cause his gait to be altered. It is best to calm your dog down before the trimming begins by offering him treats and praise so that he associates the cutting of his nails with enjoyment. During the nail cutting process, remember to take a look at the pads and toe spaces to ensure that all is well and healthy.

Cutting the nails of a dog is a task that is dreaded by a lot of pet owners, nevertheless, it still has to be done on a monthly basis. It is not a process enjoyed by the dog either and it’s possible that you may cut the nail down too far as well. It would probably be best to rather allow a dog groomer to do this task as they understand just how much nail to trim off and are also experienced with getting your dog to co-operate.

A good way to acclimatize your puppy to having their nails trimmed would be to handle the puppy’s paws on a daily basis which will ensure they will sit still whilst this necessary task is completed. Your dog’s nails should be trimmed on a regular basis unless they are ground down becuase your dog exercises on concrete. Remember though that consistent cutting of your dog’s nails is essential for his well-being and health.

To avoid having to cut your dog’s nails yourself, you could have a mobile pet groomer trim your dog’s nails instead or even take him to the pet groomer instead. It is however essential to take care when choosing a good pet groomer, just as you would when choosing a stylist or massage therapist for yourself.

The optimal time for kitten socialization is between six and twelve weeks of age. For the duration of this time, kittens should specifically interact with other animals as well as children and babies as it is important for them to be introduced to divergent experiences. It is important that you are present to provide supervision during these interactions until you feel that all people as well as animals involved are comfortable. It would be a good idea to offer your kitten toys to bite so that they learn not to bite people during play and also not to jump onto them.

It is essential that new-born kittens are treated with extra caution and sensitivity by their human parents which is important as it indicates your care for your new fur baby. Should you see any strange or worrying behavior during this period of development of your kitten, it would be best to consult with your veterinarian. Arrange a special visit over and above the regular scheduled appointments for pre-emptive purposes and vaccinations for your kitten.

As a general rule, kittens that are between six and twelve weeks of age, require 4 or more meals per day as kittens that are fed well may be socialized with less effort. The kitten’s stomach is very small meaning that they cannot eat a lot of food at one time. Once they reach twelve weeks of age, you may feed them 3 times per day and from six months of age they may be fed twice daily.

It is important that you begin to deworm your kitten from an early age as socialization will be easier if they are healthy. As roundworm is a significant problem in kittens, they should be dewormed at 2 weeks of age against roundworm and then again every 2 weeks until they reach twelve weeks old, after which they must be dewormed every month until they reach 6 months of age. Following this, cats must be put onto a product which is an anti-parasitic treatment prescribed by your veterinarian. These anti-parasite products assist in controlling both fleas as well as intestinal parasites, as fleas can cause tapeworms.

It is advisable to get your kitten accustomed to having itself groomed when it is still young, especially if it is a long-haired breed as they need attention every day to enable their fur to remain tangle free. Regular brushing allows loose fur to be removed so that it doesn’t enter the stomach and result in fur balls. If your cat is used to being brushed and combed from an early age, it should appreciate the grooming as the excess fur is removed. Grooming also allows you to develop a close bond with your cat as well as being able to assess its health.

Horse experts consider horse’s hooves as the most important body part of the animal. Made up of soft tissues and hard keratin (the same material that makes up human hair and fingernails), the four hooves are literally the only part that the horse can stand on. The hooves must be in healthy condition to support the movement and weight (which averages about a thousand pounds) of the animal.

Healthy Hoof

A healthy hoof should, in general, have a:

* Rounded shape at the front feet and an oval shape at the back

* Fairly short toe (about 3 to 3 and a half inches) and heel

* Frog (the central part of the hoof) that is sturdy, tough and has the firmness of leather or rubber

* Hoof wall that is smooth and shiny with almost no presence of waves, crack or rings

* Bottom hoof that is thick and tough and slightly concave in shape

* White line at the hoof’s edge that is tight, but not stretched

Causes of Hoof Problems

Much as one would like to maintain a healthy horse, illness or accidents may still occur due to the environment, weather, or the natural instinct of the animal to roam to pasture.

The several factors that contribute to hoof problems are:

* Frequent injuries

* Obesity

* Poor body structure or conformation

* Poor hygiene and nutrition

Early Signs of Hoof Problems

Some signs that a horse’s hoof may have some problems include:

* Cracks

Light cracks on horse’s hooves should not be a major concern, and are considered to be the result of normal wear and tear. It’s the deep crack that’s troubling, for it may be the early warning sign of laminitis, or the possible entry of bacteria that may cause an infection of the soft tissues.

* Foul Odor

The smell of an unpleasant odor is a warning of infection, and may indicate the presence of an abscess, canker, or thrush.

* Shifting Weight or Side to Side Movement of the Horse

In general, a horse that shifts its weight on its back legs would indicate the presence of foot pain. If the animal bears its weight on its toes, it means that there is pain in its heels.

A flare is a condition in which the hoof wall separates from the sole, enabling disease-carrying bacteria to penetrate and infect the much softer inner tissues.

* Increased Foot Temperature and Pulse

The presence of above normal heat and increased pulse when touching a horse’s foot would indicate the presence of infection.

Caring For a Healthy Hoof

To maintain the health of a horse’s hooves, a horse owner must do the following:

* Maintain a close working relationship with the veterinarian and farrier

* Provide proper horse nutrition

* Maintain a regular schedule of shoeing and trimming

* Observe proper hoof balance

* Provide proper treatment when illness occurs

* Provide proper shoeing for different footing conditions and weather

Hoof care affects the state of well-being of a horse. Without working hooves, the animal is useless. Like what the horse experts say, “no foot, no horse.”