One of the most important things you can do is give your pets their own space. When animals have their own pen, corner or the room, or furniture such as dog beds and cat trees they tend to feel more secure. When feeling ill, upset, tired, or grumpy animals would often rather huddle in their own private space (just as you might retire to your study, bedroom, or private den) than cause trouble. In absence of a private comfort and safety zone, they tend to become aggressive to animals intruding on their space. Cat trees are especially helpful with this problem, because when kitty doesn’t want to play she can scamper out of puppy’s reaches.

The next most common cause of trouble is jealousy. If the dogs see you give the cats treats, you need to have something for dogs too – and vice versa. Be careful not to give one animal or one species a great deal more attention than the others receive. Watch for hoarding or stealing, such as cats moving into the dog beds, or dogs guarding the food dish. This can usually be remedied by having plenty to go around. For example, dogs with two or three dishes rarely try to guard the food, and cats with access to cat trees rarely steal the dog beds.

When you are integrating dogs and cats, or any animals unfamiliar with each other, take their history into consideration. Adult dogs and cats may have come from an abusive or competitive environment, and they could have had unpleasant experiences with animals in the past. If this is the case, monitor the situation closely until there is time for trust to form. Kittens and puppies raised together usually learn to get along beautifully if given a good environment. All it takes is lots of love, and a little privacy afforded by dog beds, cat trees, and a few house rules.

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Give your dogs the
protection they deserve with pet insurance from John Lewis

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Though there is no exact cat hairball treatment to cure common cat hairballs, there are many preventative ways that can be done before doing any costly surgery. Remember that the formation of hairballs in a cat’s stomach is caused by a behavioral problem. Often times, cats that develop hairballs are either compulsive, bored or stressed out. You can prevent your cat from ingesting her fur by redirecting her energy and attention to fun activities such as playing in the park or giving her cat treats and toys.

Here are some simple cat hairball treatment tips to control or minimize the chance of getting cat hairballs:

1. Regular cat grooming is an effective way to prevent cat hairballs. Comb your cat’s fur as often as possible to get rid of dead hair. By doing this step, you will lessen the instances of too much ingestion of hair. After brushing, wipe your cat’s fur using a moist, clean towel to remove excess dead fur.

2. If cat hairballs continue to bother your pet’s life, use a special lubricant to help your cat digest the offending cat hairballs through her digestive system.

3. Buy special hairball treats for your feline friend. Nowadays, you can purchase a wide variety of edible cat treats with particular components that are designed to break up cat hairballs. Many of these cat treats consist of mineral oil.

4. If your feline shows problematic behaviors like retching or lack of bowel movements, bring her to the vet as soon as possible. She needs to undergo a thorough medical examination to determine the best possible treatment method to get rid of dreaded cat hairballs.

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Symptoms of Ear Infection in Dogs

You’ll know if your dog is suffering from ear infections if its ear canals seem to be very sensitive.
Normally, your dog will shake his head frequently in the attempt to get rid of the fluid or debris present in its ear. You will also see your dog scratching his ears habitually or tilting it to one side. As a result, its ears would get red and even seem swollen. You may also notice that your pet’s ears are slowly developing a foul odor. Yellowish or black discharge could also appear from time to time.

Causes of Ear Infection in Dogs

Ear mites can possibly cause ear infection in dogs. However, mites are more common to puppies than adult dogs. Adult dogs would only develop ear mites if it gets associated to puppies that have them. Ear mites could trigger the infection because they become carriers of fungi and bacteria.

Aside from ear mites, the accumulation of wax in the dog’s ear could also be the reason why dogs develop ear infection. This only goes to show that regular cleaning of the dog’s ear is very important. Proper hygiene is still the best way to preventing ear infections.

Aside from these two causes, a foreign body finding its way into the dog’s ear may also be the culprit. Any debris in the dog’s ear, such as matted hair or tumor, could possibly lead to this health concern. Impaired ear drainage is also one reason why dogs develop ear infections.

Diagnosis for Ear Infection in Dogs

Diagnosing the severity of the disease and the reasons why your dog had developed ear infection is very important so that the veterinarian can administer the right cure. To check the dog’s ears, an otoscope is used. The otoscope is a medical instrument equipped with both light and magnification powers for proper viewing of the ear canals. With the otoscope, the vet can easily see if there’s any foreign object or debris present in the dog’s ear. Some dogs would find this procedure painful. For them, sedation may be required.

The vet could also get a sample taken from the ear canal to check what it is made of. He would analyze it using a microscope, following the basic cytology process. Here, the vet tries to determine which organism had caused the infection. It could help him prescribe the right medicines to counter the disease-causing elements. Further lab tests and x-rays may also be required, depending upon the severity of the infection.

Treatment of Ear Infection in Dogs

To treat ear infection in dogs, the vet may prescribe medicines designed to counter attack bacteria or fungi, depending upon which organism triggered the infection. If one or more of them are present, several drugs may be given. Regular cleaning of the ears will also be advised. If your pet’s ears are infected, it should be cleaned everyday for two weeks. If you can’t clean the dog’s ear yourself, you can ask the veterinarian to do it for you. However, for more severe cases of ear infection, surgery might be required.

Prevention of Ear Infection in Dogs

Proper hygiene is your first step to keeping your pet healthy. If your dog has pendulous ears or if they tend to grow too much hair in these areas, you have to be specifically observant of their ear’s hygiene. Make sure that you inspect them everyday after their baths. Clean them as per your vet’s instructions. Have your pet’s hairs cut and plucked regularly, especially on the ear part.

Dogs that have allergies and those with other health problems could also be prone to ear infections. Try to take your pet to the vet weekly for ear cleaning. You might also need to apply some ear cleaning solution so that infections would be prevented.

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I have seen many young dogs that have been injured when left on their own. Almost all dogs at some point in their lives will be exposed to a crate. An overnight stay at the Vet’s office, a grooming appointment, or if you have to travel will all require your dog to go into a crate. It is much better to teach your new puppy to love her crate than it is an adult dog.

2. Start training early: For many years dog owners have been told that they could not start training their puppies until they were six months old. This is just simply untrue. A good reward based puppy class is the most important thing that you can do for your young puppy. Your puppy will become well socialized and many behavior problems can be prevented before they ever start.

3. Socialization: You can never over-socialize your puppy. The first four months of your puppy’s life are the most impressionable. To become a confident and stable dog, a young puppy needs to be exposed to many different people, dogs, places, sounds and scents. Bringing your puppy in for grooming is a great way to introduce him/her to new environments, sounds, smells and people.

4. Puppy proof the house: Anything that you value should be put away until after the puppy stage. Also, keep a close eye on you puppy around electrical wires. Puppies love to chew on wires. A crate is a great way to keep your puppy safe when you can’t be right there to watch her.

5. Going to the vet’s office: Drop by the vet’s office when you don’t have an appointment. Most veterinarians will allow this but give them a quick call before you come by. When you get to the vets, give your puppy some treats and have the office staff give some treats also. For the rest of your dog’s life going to the vet will not be a chore. You can also do this at a grooming shop.

6. Consistency: Have a game plan for everyone in the house to follow. Bad habits develop and many dogs become confused when half the family allows the puppy onto the furniture and the other half scolds the puppy for being on the furniture. Consistency is very important in training your young puppy or dog.

7. Take lots of pictures: You will be amazed at how fast your puppy grows and changes. You will be thankful down the road for those pictures.

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Determine your horse’s breeding. Is she bred to work cattle? Is she a western pleasure horse? If you want to pass on your horse’s natural abilities, breed her to a horse that does the same type of work.

Consider size. Do you want a foal that is bigger or smaller than your mare? Breed your mare to a stud that has a chance of giving you the size of foal you want.

Consider height. Is your mare a good height for the activities you plan to pursue? A horse that is too short or too tall will not be good for certain activities. Consider a stud that will offset the size of your mare. If she’s short and you want a taller foal, breed her to a taller stud.

Consider your mare’s traits. Does she have a back that is too long or a neck that is too short? Find a stud with the ideal or opposite traits to offset those of your mare.

Understand your mare’s personality. Is she hot, sensitive and spooky, or is she calm and laid back? If you like the personality traits she has, breed her to a stud with the same characteristics; otherwise, find a stud that has the personality traits you’re seeking.

Decide if you want to show or compete. If so, will the horse have to be registered as a specific breed, or can you have an unregistered horse? The breeding, bloodlines and registration of the stud may be very important. Otherwise, you may want to consider breeding to a horse of a different breed to give you the qualities you desire.

Determine how the horse will be bred. Will she stay at the stud’s barn for a certain amount of time, during which she’ll be impregnated and foaled out? Or will she come home directly after the breeding?

Determine if you want a live coverage - that is, will the stud actually mount the mare, or will the mare be artificially inseminated?

Determine payment for the stud fee if the mare does not conceive or slips the foal during pregnancy.

Determine where the foal will be born. Do you have protection for the mare in bad or cold weather? A foaling stall is best for mare and foal.

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Husbandry can be problematic for potential owners as well. When one keeps a dog or cat, a general understanding of their needs exists and people are usually prepared to meet those needs. Reptiles and amphibians are not as easily cared for as conventional pets. For one thing they have a wide spectrum of environmental needs. One may require a constant supply of vitamin D via exposure to sunlight, while another is completely nocturnal and sun-reclusive. Not meeting these needs can result in needless suffering, big veterinarian expenses or loss of the animal.

Sustenance can pose even more of a challenge. One must be able to meet the dietary needs of the animal they plan to keep. For instance, most people are not aware that snakes are carnivorous without exception. The cute, colorful animal at the pet store will not eat fruit or vegetables. Depending on the species, you will have to provide mammals, fish, other reptiles and amphibians or insects. Even if you opt for pre-killed frozen food, many find this a repulsive task.

Then there are the vermin that may come with the animal. Snakes are prone to mites, lizards and turtles to burrowing parasites, amphibians to fungus. Then there is mouth rot, rickets and eye caps, just to name a few of the scores of ailments that can occur.

There is much to consider before choosing a reptile or amphibian as a pet. Responsible husbandry should start with knowing the facts before you acquire an animal. If you want to be happy with the creature you choose and provide quality care, impulse should yield to knowledge. Don’t just jump at the first animal that catches your eye; research their needs and peculiarities to ensure it is a good fit.

Libraries and the internet are excellent resources for arming yourself with necessary knowledge, but joining a local herpetological group or society will pay even bigger dividends. Even if the nearest herpetological society is a two-hour drive from where you live, it is worth the once a month trip to attend meetings. There you will meet others who already have the knowledge and experience you are trying to acquire. Most, if not all, will be willing to spend time with you before or after the meeting to answer your questions and give you pointers.

You will benefit from the different speakers who will be headlined at the meetings and be added to the mailing list for the society to receive relevant herpetological news. Through your networking you will develop friendships and associations with other members that can benefit you in many ways.

Finally, for very meager annual dues, you will be a member of a group of people who come from all walks of life, who all work together for the society’s common cause, which is educating the public on herpetological interests. As a co-founder of the Everglades Herpetological Society, I made friends with many well-known zoologists and other scientists, policemen, college professors, authors, professional football players and a host of others. Our common interest in herpetology bridged all cultural and societal gaps and great friendship developed.

Best of all, my attendance at meetings and associations with other members gave me a free education in the care and breeding of reptiles. As a result of my membership, in less than a decade I went from being a complete novice to someone others sought out for expert advice on Florida reptiles and amphibians.

The bottom line is this; if you want to have a pleasant, successful experience with keeping reptiles and amphibians, know first what you are doing. To “know”, you need to be around those who have already been where you want to be. You will find them at your local herpetological society. Find it. Join it.

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A dog’s looks should not be your only consideration. Just as important is its trainability, how noisy it can be, and how good it is with children. When you take these factors into consideration, some breeds are excellent for any dog owner, while others are best in the homes of experienced dog people.

Remember that individual dogs are as different as individual people. The following charts, compiled from a worldwide survey of over 1,000 practicing vets, show the average characteristics of the average dogs of each breed. On a scale of 1 to 5, 1 is the minimum level and 5 is the maximum for each feature.

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One of the first and most important things to think about when you are considering buying a new pet is whether or not your new pet will fit into your family. You must consider allergies. If you or any of your loved ones are allergic to any specific types of pets, common ones include dogs or cats, obviously you should not choose that specific pet. Another thing you might consider is if you have children, depending on their age and size, a large pet may not be an appropriate choice. Always keep in mind that for a family to truly enjoy their pet, it must be the right choice.

Another thing you must be sure of before you choose a pet is the amount of care your potential pet will require. If you have a job with long hours or are the type that doesn’t stay home much, a more dependent animal such as a dog, requiring emotional support and letting out for bathroom breaks, may not be the type of pet you are looking for. Something definitely more independent, like a cat that has a litter box and requires a bit less attention would be more appropriate for your family.

Another thing to keep in mind when choosing a family pet is cost. You can spend thousands of dollars on pure-bred puppies or exotic birds, just to purchase them, let alone feed and care for them. You must definitely base your decision on whether or not your family can afford to make your pet comfortable and happy. If it will stress your wallet to properly care for a pet, do not make the purchase. Animals are living things. They must be cared for and properly nourished if they are to remain healthy and happy.

All in all, you must consider several things before you can appropriately choose a pet for your family. Consider whether your family will like the pet. Also don’t forget to make sure there is room in your budget for the type of pet you want. The final thing to remember is to know what type of care you can offer your pet, as far as whether the animal is dependent or not. Remember, choosing a pet is an important decision. Do some research and get to know the type of pet you want and make sure it is appropriate in all aspects.

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Anyone who owns a cat knows that they love the sunshine and the smell of the outdoors. However, as much as we love our feline friends, cats in the garden can be a real nuisance. They will end up digging your flowerbeds, which you have worked on for hours, and use them as a litter box. To add to the misery, tomcats will spray the foliage with their urine to mark their territory or just flatten all the plants as they loll around in your flowerbed, comfortably sunbathing while all your hard work goes out for a toss. The unfortunate, unappreciative behavior of cats towards flowerbeds and gardens, can result in misery and hostility towards the cat. However, instead of attacking the poor cat, try these simple and effective steps for keeping the cats out of your garden.

Tips on How to Keep Cats Out of Flower Beds

Cats are usually quite free-spirited, wanting to roam around the world, without hindrance. Since they are pretty agile and can seem to jump over or squeeze into anything, they usually manage to get into your home territory quite easily. However, there are a list of commercial as well as homemade cat deterrents, that seem to work effectively in keeping them away from your flowerbeds.

Tip 1: Before you can implement any steps to stop the cat from ruining your precious flowerbeds, it is advisable to talk to the owner of the cat and know if it is domesticated. However, if you are that unfortunate a cat owner, it is recommended that you look into options like cat proofing your garden or cat enclosures. Believe me, it will not only make your neighbors happy, but your cat will be safe as well. Building a toilet area for your cat, like a sand pit, is a great idea.

Tip 2: There are many commercial cat deterrents available in the market. Most of these chemicals contain the active ingredient, methylnonylketone, which should not be used near food crops. Any of these can be used to protect your flowerbeds.

Tip 3: This is one method that I am sure will work, even if for a limited time. As soon as you see the cats near your flowerbeds, just squirt some water on them. Since cats HATE water, they will probably just get flustered and not come back again. There are certain motion activated sprinklers, that use infrared to detect the animal and shoot a jet of water on it. If the cat belongs to someone you know, it is advisable that you tell them of the plan and assure them that you will not hurt the cat. This method is however severely limited by the fact that some weird cats might actually think you are playing with them!

Tip 4: A great way to keep the cats off the flowerbeds, is by spreading peels of lemon, orange or grapefruit on it. For some reason, cats seem to have a developed distaste for citrus smells. Drops of citrus oil or coffee grounds also seem to do the job just as well.

Tip 5: By installing a fine garden netting over the soil in the flowerbed, you can ascertain that the cat does not dig away the soil. Placing it an inch or two above the flowerbed ensures that they are not walking on it either. You can also try spreading pine cones, by adding it to the mulch on the flowerbeds. Since cat paws are sensitive, they would usually avoid such places. Alternately, you can cover the ground with rough-surfaced rocks or use the branches of a thorny plant.

Tip 6: Most gardeners around the world have the ‘perfect plant solution’ and it involves planting certain plants in the garden, that repel cats. Marigolds are a great option in this case. Not only do they look good and are fairly easy to grow, but they also possess a scent that keeps cats away from the flowerbeds. Plants such as geranium, pennyroyal, rue, lavender, garlic, lemon thyme, lemon verbena and other strongly scented plants are also unpleasant to cats. A weed originating in Europe, known as ‘coleus canina’, deters the presence of cats, by emitting an odor offensive to them (but not to humans).

Tip 7: High frequency sounds emitted by ultrasonic devices usually send the cat running, while causing no distress to your ears.

If these tips do not seem to work, try to make your garden less cat-friendly, by doing away with the huge cat magnets, like bird feeders and birdbaths. If you have catnip plants, please do away with them unless you want cats from miles away, swarming into your garden. There are people who also recommend getting a dog. However, I do not think it’s a good idea because if the dog attacks the cat, you could be fined. Also instead of the cat ruining the flowerbeds, a dog may destroy it in completely different ways and then you would probably end up reading an article on ‘how to keep dogs out of flowerbeds’.

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