Archive for November, 2009
Adopting a Kitten – cat toys, litter boxes are only a small part of the process.
When you decide to adopt a kitten, you must take this decision very seriously. Kittens are cute and everyone that sees one, wants on. You must realize that when you adopt a new kitten you must make a commitment to loving and caring for it for at least 15 years if not longer. It is not uncommon for a cat to live to 20 years. The next thing that you may want to consider is the living arrangements with you new pet. A cat that is adopted should not be an outdoor pet. Indoor cats live longer, happy and healthier lives. If a stray cat comes to your door and he has always been an outdoor cat, in this case, it may be better to let him came and go as he pleases. Consider the cost of having a cat. Adopting, neutering and vaccinations can run about $150 or more. This does not include litter, litter boxes, food, cat toys etc.
You should go to your local animal shelter or pound to adopt your kitten. These are the kittens that need homes most immediately. You can also look at a pet rescue organization such as the Humane Society to adopt your kitten. Remember your are doing a good service by adopting one of these animals.
Make sure that the kitten is healthy. Check his eyes and ears. Ask if he’s had his shots and has been spayed or neutered. Make sure that the kitten is friendly toward children.
When you get your new kitten home, it is best to isolate him to a small area such as a bathroom for a few days. Let him get use to the sights and smells. I would also take mine out at night and let him roam around a little. It is important that you spend time with your kitten. Kittens are social animals and do not really like being alone all the time. Provide fresh food, water and litter at all times.
If you have a child, it is very important that you teach your child how to handle the kitten. Handle it gently. You don’t want to injure or hurt it. Lastly, make sure that your decision to adopt is the right one. There is nothing more cruel than to adopt a pet and a few days later, bring it back to the shelter. Unfortunately, there are many heartless people who either dump the kitten in a park or outside or bring it back to the shelter. There should be laws against this. As far as I’m concerned this is criminal behavior!!
How to lead your dog on his dog leash without him leading you!
Here are some tips on how you become leader of the pack rather than your dog.
1. When walking your dog, you should be the first one out the door and the first one back in. Your dog should walk either beside or behind you.
2. Use a short dog leash because this allows you to have more control. If you attach the leash to the top of your dogs neck, you can communicate, guide and correct your dog easier. When you are correcting him, always keep his safety in mind. Never yank or pull him.
3. Make sure that you set enough time aside for the walk. You should set aside 30 minutes to a full hour. Morning walks are ideal. Keep a close eye on your dog while you are walking him.
4. After your dog has behaved and maintained the proper state of mind, reward him by letting him relieve himself and sniff around. You now have to decide when the reward time is over. It should always be less than the time spent focused on the walk.
5. When you get home, don’t stop leading. Have your dog wait patiently while you put away his dog leash or take off your shoes.
6. Give your dog a meal after the walk and make sure that you pick up after him.
This information was according to Cesar Millan’s tips on how to become leader of the pack.
Pets as presents – is it a good idea? How about pet food, dog leashes, etc?
If you are thinking of giving a pet as a present, planning is key. How many times have you seen this on TV and in the Movies. “Little Suzy” runs down the steps on Christmas morning and sees the cutest little puppy with a big red bow around it’s neck under the tree. The problem with this is that Suzy is only three and doesn’t know what caring for a pet really means. She cries the first time the puppy bites her on the hand while the two were playing. Mom and Dad never really did any research about the dog and don’t have a clue as to how to care for it. The end of this story is a sad one. Mom and Dad put the puppy in the car and drop him off at the nearest animal shelter along with three to five million other dogs and cats that are returned to shelters each year. This makes me sad just writing this.
Before you decide on giving a pet as a gift, you must decide on these things.
1. How old are your kids? Remember the first priority in a teenagers life is their social calendar. Caring for a dog would interfere with their social activities.
2. Do your kids really want a pet? Children like animals, but does that mean that they like to have them in the house?
3. Have you thought about the cost? A cat costs $350 – $400 a year while a medium size dog costs between $400 and $500 a year. Larger dogs cost even more.
4. Are you committed? You will be the one feeding and walking it.
5. Are you educated about what caring for an animal entails? You have to clean up their “accidents,” take them to the vet, protect your furniture etc. It’s a big responsibility and you must understand what you are getting into.
6. You have to teach you child responsibility or both the child and pet may be harmed.
I’m not saying that it’s not a good idea to give a pet as a gift but returning him to the shelter is much worse than not adopting him at all. Be responsible, do your research and make sure that you are committed before giving a sweet, innocent dog or cat as a gift. Remember that you will need all of the accessories like food, dog leashes etc. Prepare for the expense and responsibility.
Chronic pet defecation difficulties – are you buying more pet odor removal products than usual?
It’s not unusual for dogs to have occasional bouts with diarrhea or constipation that get better on there own. If your dog has ongoing episodes or it you see blood in his stool, consult your veterinarian right away! Michael Leed, a professor of small animal internal medicine at the Virginia, Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine says that your pet can be suffering from irritable bowel syndrome. He also mentions that this can be quite serious requiring hospitalization and fluid therapy. Stress and bad eating habits can be associated with this syndrome but these aren’t the only causes. Your veterinarian will run a series of tests to determine exactly what’s wrong and come up with an appropriate treatment solution. In the meantime, if your dog is suddenly having “accidents,” never yell or punish him. Just keep using the pet odor remover and get him to the vet right away!
Did you ever think of becoming a veterinary technician? Now’s the time to do it. Rebecca Rose, a certified Veterinary Technician in Colorado says that this field is expected to grow over 44% over the next eight years. The required training takes two years to complete. You will need good people skills because you will be working directly with veterinarians and will be interacting with clients on a regular basis. You should also enjoy hands on patient care. Rebecca says that the love of pets, good people skills and a hands on approach is what drives people into this profession. Most of these specialists work in clinics or in animal hospitals. Rebecca also mentions that there are many other work options from research and development to teaching to owning your own business. Maybe this is the profession for you. We’re all in a time where changing professions is becoming a common occurrence. If you love pets, you can now enjoy a profession that will pay for all of the dog and cat toys and food as well as other accessories that you spend so much money on!
Keeping the Claws
When I got my first cat last year, I wanted to let him be an outdoor cat. Although I realize that pets are supposed to be tame animals, I like the idea of maintaining some semblance of their wild nature. Since he was going to be spending a good deal of time outside, I decided against getting him declawed.
As you can probably imagine, his claws came in handy for climbing trees and thwarting the attacks of predators, but they also wreaked havoc around my house. I encouraged him to use his cat scratching post, but he was reluctant at first. After some coaxing with a spray bottle, he soon developed a habit of using the post instead of couch.
Ultra Sound and pets. It could prevent serious illness and cut the cost of pet medication.
Ultra sound is one of the most useful tools in veterinary medicine. It provides a three dimensional image of an animals entire abdomen. With this low stress, non invasive procedure a veterinarian gets a clear picture of every organ. Thomas Baker of the UC Davis Veterinary Teaching Hospital and a Veterinarian specializing in Ultra Sound technology says that the signs of an illness available in digital images can help a veterinarian pinpoint the problem early on. He says that the ultra sound enhances the clinical thought of the veterinarian. Using the information provided with ultrasound, your veterinarian can customize treatment to meet your pets specific needs. Diagnosis can be made early increasing your pets life and reducing the cost of pet medication that may not be treating the specific problem.
Doctors for destructive dogs – do not punish by putting him in his pet carrier.
If your dogs behavior is so inappropriate, your veterinarian may refer you to an veterinary behaviorist. This is an expert who deals with dogs and cats behaving badly. Jerry Flanigan, a Behaviorist with Carolina Veterinary Specialists says that if your dog or cat suffers from separation anxiety or acts out in other destructive ways, a behaviorist will develop an action plan based on your pets history and issues. Then it’s up to you to do the majority of the work making the appropriate changes to encourage better pet behavior. A reminder never punish you pet by putting him in his pet carrier, you will defeat the purpose plus create lots of anxiety for your pet!
I was in real estate and one of the most annoying things to me is that so many of the condos and co-ops in Bergen County, N.J. do not allow pets! This made my job a lot more difficult because according to a recent apartments.com survey of more than 1,000 renters around the U.S., nearly 90% who responded said that they have an animal. More than 80% said an animal friendly policy played a major role in where they chose to live. 30% sought out an apartment in close proximity to desirable animal amenities such as dog parks, walking trails and a veterinary office. There were more than 11 million searches for animal friendly apartments on apartments.com in 2008. Nothing annoys me more than a co-op or condo complex that does not allow pets. They’re too lazy to develop and enforce rules and regulations! Face it animals and a part of most of our lives. These places should get with the program or they may stay vacant for a very long time and it serves them right. If you are lucky enough to live in a pet friendly building, follow the rules, walk your dog in designated areas, keep him on his dog leash and clean up after him. If you own a pet, don’t even consider a co-op in Bergen County, NJ. The rules are ridiculous and pets are out without a doubt!!
Pet Theft Prevention – Never tie your dog to a pole with his dog leash and leave him alone!!
Did you know that dog and cat theft is on the rise this year? The American Kennel Club reported almost three times the usual number of dog thefts as compared to early 2008. The most vulnerable were animals left alone in cars or left outside a store while the owner was inside shopping. Purebreds, small dogs were among the most stolen.
You can avoid theft by helping your pet keep a low profile. If you like a particular breed, don’t broadcast it by car stickers or outdoor signs. Be very wary of strangers who appear overly inquisitive about your pet. When you’re out, always keep your dog on his dog leash or in a fenced-in yard. Never leave him unattended in a car. So many people do this and besides the fact that it is cruel and unhealthy, you really run the risk of someone snatching him!.
Be sure that your pet has an adequate and up to date ID. Micro chipping is an excellent idea. The person who steals your dog does not have any idea that he has a micro chip. If and when the “stealer” takes it to the vet for the first time, there’s a good chance that the vet will scan the dog or cat. This will reveal the true owner.
In combination with micro-chipping, the AKC recommends using a 24-hour recovery service that maintains your current contact information. This is especially helpful if you do a lot of travelling.