You may think animals need lots of water in the summer, and you‘d be right! Even though cats and dogs don’t sweat much, they lose water by panting when they’re hot. But what many people don’t realize is that your pets need just as much water in the colder months. Rather than losing water byContinue reading “Pets drinking”
Author Archives: Taylor
Natural animal behaviors
Have you ever been to the zoo and wondered why the animals have such specialized living areas, or why you sometimes see them playing with toys? It‘s not just for your enjoyment. Different species have different natural behaviors that make them feel more comfortable, and when they engage in these behaviors, it‘s a good signContinue reading “Natural animal behaviors”
Outdoor animal care
There’s nothing like soaking up the sun on a beautiful fall day. But even with cooler temperatures, there are still a number of outdoor health risks that your vet can help you manage. Ticks are active outside even when temperatures drop into the 40s. They carry bacteria which cause a number of diseases, including ehrlichosis,Continue reading “Outdoor animal care”
Ear infections
Recently I’ve been seeing a lot of ear infections, so this week’s tip is dedicated to your pet’s auricles. An ear infection occurs when there is an overgrowth of yeast or bacteria in the ear, which can cause pain, swelling, a foul smell, or a black, yellow, or brown discharge. It’s important to realize earContinue reading “Ear infections”
Separation Anxiety
Does your dog get anxious or become destructive when you leave the house? There may be a medical reason, or your pet may simply have separation anxiety. In simple terms, separation anxiety means your dog has learned that when you grab your shoes and keys to leave, a bad thing is about to happen; andContinue reading “Separation Anxiety”
Pet noise phobia
Why are some dogs scared of thunderstorms or fireworks? At some point, they learned that the loud boom, the flashing lights, and the deep rumbling were scary or negative experiences. To manage their fear, work on either making the experience less scary, or teaching them that good things can also be associated with loud noises.Continue reading “Pet noise phobia”
Spaying and neutering
Bob Barker, host of The Price is Right, taught us all to spay and neuter our pets, but did you know this was not commonly done in previous decades in the US? Still, in other parts of the world, spaying (for females) and neutering (for males) is not common. The main reason for spaying andContinue reading “Spaying and neutering”
Dog temperature
Did you know dogs only sweat from one place on their body? Their paws! But it’s not enough to stay cool. Instead, they mostly keep cool by panting. A dog’s normal body temperature is 100.2-103.8 F. If it hits 104, it’s classified as heat exhaustion. If it hits 106, that‘s heat stroke. Both of theseContinue reading “Dog temperature”