New Dog at Home

Today’s domestic dog is still closely related to the wolf. Like all wolves living in a pack, dogs must be part of a stable family and feel safe. Most domestic behavioral problems occur when the dog is confused about how …

Dewlaps and Dogs

The dewlap is defined as a flap of skin beneath the lower jaw. Fat is stored beneath the surface of the skin and if an animal has a fur coat, there will be fur covering the outside of the dewlap. …

Deaf Cats – Pet tip 227

As cat owners, we of course want our pets to be as healthy as possible and live as long as possible. Sometimes though, certain diseases or problems become evident only after we have brought the cat or kitten into our …

Clipping your Pet’s Nails

Cutting or clipping your dog cat or pet’s nails is a preventative measure.

Clipping your pet’s nails is a part of it’s regular care and should be done on a routine basis, as long nails can lead to many problems …

Dog Tricks – Dog Training Level 2

Once you’ve mastered basic dog tricks (people call them dog tricks but many of these are part of obedience training) such as “sit” and ‘”lie down” you can easily move onto other dog tricks. Some dog tricks are really just for fun and for bonding with your dog, but other dog tricks are really important. These ‘tricks’ can save your dog from injury or worse.

COME

Another extremely important command is the ‘come’ command. It is most important when you want your dog to come to you in case of an emergency, like before he/she runs onto a dangerous road. You want your dog to come to you under any circumstance, so it is important to associate the ‘come’ command with positive rewards and use it in as many situations as possible. For example, use the command to call the dog while he/she is playing in the dog park. Instead of using the come command only to end the play session, reward the dog and then allow him/her to return to his/her friends. The dog will then realize that by coming to you, his/her play session will not necessarily end.

Puppies that Chew – Pet tip 159

Chewing is a natural activity that most puppies like to engage in. It gives them something to do with their surplus of energy and it also relieves the discomfort of teething. The problem with this 100% natural activity is that …

Veterinary Appointments

You always have the best intentions when you take your pet to the vet. Whether you are proactively bringing in your dog for his annual exam and vaccines, or bringing in your cat after a bout of vomiting and diarrhea; …

Cat Heart Disease

Cats, as most people know, are extremely stoic animals. It is very rare that a cat will complain about pain or discomfort. This may seem like a desirable trait to some, but in fact, it makes it much more difficult …

Dog coats and shedding dogs – Pet tip 103

We choose our dogs mostly based on their character and their appearance. But for some of us, our preference also accounts for the dog’s type of coat. Some people prefer fluffy dogs, while others prefer short-haired dogs. But few take …

Surgery in Cats and Dogs

In North America, every household pet is likely to undergo at least one surgery throughout its lifetime. Surgery, in veterinary medicine, refers to more invasive procedures usually performed under general anesthesia. The most common surgery performed is the spaying or …