Brushing your dog’s teeth several times a week is the best way of preserving his or her oral health. However, be sure you are using the right brush. Choose one with bristles that are soft and will fit your dog’s mouth appropriately.
Studies show that oral health has a strong overall effect on a pet’s general health. In fact, dental veterinarians help to secure a pet’s health in many ways by keeping their teeth clean, halting the deleterious effects of bacterial toxins entering the bloodstream and compromising organ health.
Zoonotic disease refers to an infectious disease that humans can catch from their cats. This includes bacterial infections such as cat scratch disease and salmonellosis, and viral infections like rabies, as well as a host of parasitic, fungal, and protozoal infections.
To avoid sticker shock at the end of a vet visit, it's a good idea to ask about the cost of any procedures up front. Some can be comparable to human doctor visits. Pet medical insurance that covers some or all of the costs of unexpected vet bills can help give peace of mind.
If your cat won't use the scratching post, try rubbing some catnip on it to entice him or her to use it. You can also attach a toy to the post to encourage you cat to use the post.
Obesity is a serious welfare issue in pets. You should be able to see and feel the outline of your pet’s ribs without excess fat covering them, their waist should be clearly visible when viewed from above, and their belly should be tucked up when viewed from the side. If your pet does not pass these checks consult your vet.
Were you aware that a cat’s sense of hearing is remarkably superior to that of humans? According to experts, cats’ hearing range is 45 to 64,000 compared to 64 to 23,000 in humans. This means that cats can hear sounds we can’t on either side of the spectrum.
If you're spaying a female cat, you don't have to wait for a first heat or even a first litter. In fact it may even be better since in spaying the uterus and ovaries are completely removed.
If you are dealing with a cage aggressive bird, it’s important to take a calm, slow approach to cage removal. One good strategy is to leave the door open so that your bird can come out when it chooses.
Having your female cat spayed before its second heat can reduce the threat of mammary cancer. Spaying also decreases your cat's risk of getting metritus (inflammation of the uterus), pyrometra (pus-filled uterus), and endometritus (inflammations of the uterine lining).
One of the most important pet care tips has to do with routine vaccinations. All pets need regular vaccinations to prevent certain disease like distemper and rabies, and more serious ones like canine hepatitis and feline leukemia.
Did you know that a vet can focus on any of several areas- both in the types of animals they choose to work with and in the types of cases they take. Some are emergency care specialists, while others prefer the run of the mill type of case a bit more.