A dog with a wagging tail is a dog that’s happy and content, so the story goes. Unfortunately, this story is a myth, and pet experts feel it’s important for dog guardians everywhere to realise that. Once you understand what your dog’s tail is telling you, you can better understand dog behavior.
Pets may have shorter expected life spans than their guardians, but there remains the possibility of a guardian dying before their pet. It’s uncomfortable enough contemplating the possibility of losing a pet, let alone the reverse; but whereas the decision to euthanize an elderly or chronically ill pet is one that need only be made in some (hopefully far) distant future, pet guardians have no way of knowing when is the ‘right’ time to plan for their pets’ future without them.
Normally, your first assumption when you see your dog scratching is that he is under assault by fleas; but sometimes, there’s more going on than just your typical flea infestation. Hot spots are uncomfortable patches that dogs lick or scratch incessantly.
There is one question that all cat owners ask: Is my cat’s behavior weird or is that actually normal for felines? Most of the unusual behavior we see in our cats is perfectly normal; we just don’t understand what they’re telling us. Fortunately we have the secret that will reveal cat behavior.
If you’ll pardon the pun, obesity in pets is a growing problem. According to the 8th annual National Pet Obesity Prevalence Survey (2014), 58% of cats and 53% of dogs in the USA are obese. According to the 2014 National Pet Obesity Awareness Day survey, 52.7% of dogs and 57.9% of cats in the USA are obese. Different studies, similar results.
Ear infections are one of the most common medical issues for both cats and dogs. Dogs and pups with floppy ears, like Cocker Spaniels, are more prone to ear infections than dogs with erect ears, like German Shepherds. Outdoor cats have a higher rate of ear infections than indoor cats, although indoor cats are not immune.
In general professional grooming services for dogs and cats are a luxury for show dogs and cats or pets with long coats. However, the value of regular brushing, nail clipping and teeth cleaning has benefits beyond best-in-show status. The question is: How to choose a pet groomer?
Walking your dog off property is one of the most important things you can do as a pet parent. Off property walks provide mental stimulation as well as physical exercise – for you and your dog. It’s not always easy to walk your dog, as we shall see.
Cats are aloof and not as responsive to training as dogs. But offer a cat a treat they love and they’ll be as eager to please as any pup. Cat treats are effective training tools, and they help calm anxious cats forced into uncomfortable situations. These include introductions to an unfamiliar environment, or even worse, a bath.
Plenty of people like to treat their dogs to a gourmet dish once in awhile and some may even be contemplating substituting dog food with human food. However, it’s important to know which foods are safe for dogs and which are so dangerous they’re deadly.
