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Archive for February, 2011

cat-keyboradRunning my online pet business, writing my pet blog and programming my internet radio stations requires a lot of time on the computer. I spend several hours a day doing this. My older cat, Molly likes to have my attention all the time. Every day, while I’m on the computer, she will jump up and try to pull my arm away from the keyboard. If I don’t get off, she will let out a “meow” of disgust, swat me and run away. So I do believe that our pets do get angry at us.

There is a story of a person who had to go out of town. She left the cat alone for one night with plenty of food and water. When she returned home, she found that her cat pooped on the floor and peed in her bed. Now I would agree that this cat was pretty mad at her owner.

I do believe that cats have their regular routine and if that routine is broken or changed, they actually get angry at their owners. My older cat Mollie also will jump up and swat me while I’m getting into bed sometimes. She wants me to stay up with her. She doesn’t even want to play with her cat toys, she just doesn’t want me to go to bed yet!

What if your cat stops eating?

Saturday, February 26, 2011
posted by Jim Murphy

cateatA healthy cat usually has a healthy appetite. If your cat suddenly stops eating, these are the things that you should look for. Is he still drinking water?  Is he lethargic? Is he vomiting or have diarrhea? If he appears fine and is drinking, he may be having a couple of “off” days. Try moving his food to a quiet place, or adding some wet food to his diet. Try giving his some cat treats. If  he does not start eating normally in two days, contact your vet. If he is vomiting, or has diarrhea, get him to the vet immediately! If you wait too long, it may be too late.  Cat illnesses come on very fast and can really take it’s toll on your cat.

How your dog communicates

Wednesday, February 23, 2011
posted by Jim Murphy

dog-bark

Did you know that they type of bark that your dog gives, in an indication of what they are trying to communicate to you. Here are some kinds of barks and what they mean.

  • Continuous fast barking at a medium pitch – This indicates a problem like a stranger entering the house or yard.
  • Continuous slow barking at a low pitch – The intruder is close by.
  • Fast barking with pauses every three or four seconds – He is warning you that there is an approaching problem and he wants you to investigate.
  • Long, drawn out barks at a high pitch with pauses in between – He is lonely and needs your company.
  • One or two high pitched barks – This is a normal greeting
  • One bark at a normal pitch – He is alert and curious.
  • Short back in a high pitch – He is showing you surprise. If he repeats it twice, he’s saying ” hey look at this.”
  • Brief bark at a medium pitch – He is happy.
  • Faltering Bark at a medium– he wants to play with you or his dog toys.
  • Howl or short bark with high pitch – This indicates pain.
  • Repeated howls at regular intervals – He is in extreme pain and need immediate attention. This may also indicate that something is really scaring them.
  • High pitched barks that sound desperate without any reason – He is just probably letting off some steam.

Pay attention to your dog’s barks. He is speaking to you and you should know what he is trying to tell you!

My nervous cat

Tuesday, February 22, 2011
posted by Jim Murphy

cat-hidingI have two cats and one is much more nervous than the other. Any noise sends her scurrying under the couch or the bed. If I turn on the vacuum, she’s gone!  Nervous cats are fearful which prevents them from discovering that the noise was actually harmless. Some cats are more fearful than others which could be something genetically related. However, the majority of nervous cats are those that have had a lack of experience with people or new situations during a crucial time in their development. My younger cat, the nervous one was adopted when she was four months old. She was abandoned and I suspect faced a very fearful situation which makes her frightened all the time as an adult cat. Even though, I do everything to try to make her feel calm, any sudden noise will send her running. Sometimes she stays in her cat bed with her head down

Curing your dog’s bad breath

Saturday, February 19, 2011
posted by Jim Murphy

dog-brushing1You love to hug and kiss your dog but when he lays a big sloppy one on you, you turn away in disgust because his breath is awful. What can we do to cure this problem? Take a peek at your dog’s teeth. Flip his upper lip up to show his upper and low molars.  Are the teeth white and shiny or are they yellow and brown?  If they are yellow or brown, your pet may have plaque buildup or gingivitis.  He could even have advanced periodontal disease.  You need to take him to the vet if this is the case.

If this is not the case and his teeth are still white, prevent the problem by:

  • Brushing your dog’s teeth daily. Ask your vet for a doggie toothpaste. There are lots of flavors like beef or chicken that will entice your pet.
  • Give dental dog treats on a regular basis.
  • Feed a dental diet. Some products include ingredients to freshen breath and remove plaque.
  • There’s a new vaccine to prevent periodontal disease. Ask your vet if this would benefit your dog.

Take the time to prevent the problem before it starts. Give your dog regular visual check ups.

How often should you exercise your dog?

Friday, February 18, 2011
posted by Jim Murphy

dog-poolThe answer to this question depends on the dog breed. Dogs that are bred for working such as Retrievers and Huskies require lots of exercise.  Walk these dog for at least 30 minutes each day. In addition to their normal daily walks, smaller dogs such as lap dogs or toy dogs only require an occasional walk for exercise. Two or three times a week in usually sufficient. They can also run around the house which also gives them lots of exercise.

The best way to determine how much exercise your dog needs is to look at his body and behavior. If he is fit and not overweight and behaves well in the house, then he’s probably getting enough exercise.  If after you walk your dog, you notice that he is getting into everything in the house and just not behaving well, try playing with him with is dog toys in the house. Play fetch or hide and seek. If he’s a swimmer and you have a pool, take a swim with him.

Cats with extra toes

Thursday, February 17, 2011
posted by Jim Murphy

cat-six-toesA normal cat a five digits on his front paws and four on his back paws. There are some cats that have extra toes. They are known as polydactyl. This is the name give to animals and humans that have extra toes. These cats are also known as Hemingway cats after the famous author who was given a six toed cat by a ships captain. The extra toe do not inhibit these cats at all. If anything, they may even be lighter on their feet. They climb, jump and play with their cat toys just like normal toed cats.

There is a legend among sailors that polydactyl cats used to be ship’s cats and the extra toes helped them climb the rigging.

Four secrets of champion show dogs

Wednesday, February 16, 2011
posted by Jim Murphy

show-dogThe  135 annual Westminster Dog show started this week. Over 2,500 of our furry friends entered the competition this year. There are some secrets that champion dog owners do in preparation for this event.

  • Show dogs train constantly throughout the year just like athletes. This could mean some workouts on the treadmill or running along side a bicycle.
  • The short haired breeds get a dab of baby oil on their nails and tips of their noses to make them shine.
  • Most dogs have dry feet and to prevent them from slipping during the show, their owners spray soda on their pads.
  • Mousse is used on the dogs hair with even a little hair spray to keep their mane in perfect style.

After all of this fuss and pampering I think our little friends deserve lots of dog toys and dog treats after all some of them are making lots of money for their owners!

Cat whiskers

Tuesday, February 15, 2011
posted by Jim Murphy

cat-whiskersCats use their whiskers for lots of reasons.  One thing that they use them for is to communicate their emotions.  Their whiskers are like our GPS devices. Cats use them to navigate so it’s very important that you NEVER cut them. They use their whiskers to feel their boundaries, gauge distances and to determine the sizes of objects. Their whiskers also help them determine whether or not they will fit into tight spaces.  Their whiskers help guide them in the dark and they help them to avoid running into certain objects.  Being that cats communicate with their whiskers, you actually could learn to determine what kind of mood your cat is in as well as his emotional state. If his whiskers are pulled back, he is angry and in a defensive mood. If his whiskers are relaxed and pushed forward, it means that he is happy or content or even curious about something.

Cats have 24 whiskers on their face. Twelve on each side of their nose. Cats also have special whiskers on the eyes, paws, chin and legs. These are more like “feelers” and are also used for sensing objects, textures and boundaries.

So, the next time your cat squeezes through the bathroom door to pay you a visit like mine do, you’ll know that his whiskers helped him to navigate the small space that he needed to fit through. He probably just stopped by to tell you that it is time for his cat treat.

The Airedale Terrier

Sunday, February 13, 2011
posted by Jim Murphy

airdale-terrierThis dog is the largest of the terriers and is square in appearance. Their heads are long and flat. It’s eyes are small and dark in color. They have a dense, hard wiry outercoat and a soft undercoat. Their front legs are perfectly straight.

The Airedale Terrier is usually OK with children as long as they are socialized early on.  They may be a little too rough for very small children. They are a courageous and protective dog. They are fairly friendly with strangers as well as intelligent and loyal. They are always happy to please you.  They are avid hunters and it would be very difficult for you to train him to stay away from a squirrel or chipmunk. Watch out if you’re grilling a steak. If you turn your head, it may be gone!

They need lots of physical and mental exercise or they may have a tendency to become rowdy. So buy lots of fetch dog toys to keep him occupied.

The Airedale Terrier may have dominance challenges toward family members he sees as submissive. This can lead to disobedience.  The need a calm but firm and consistent handler.

They are not recommended for apartment life as they are very active indoors are really need and average size yard to run around in.

This is a very hardy breed but can suffer from eye problems. Their life expectancy is 10 to 12 years.

Their face should be washed daily especially to remove food, spurs etc from their beard. If you keep their coat stripped, they won’t shed too much and may be very good for allergy sufferers.