So you just took home your tiny Chihuahua, now you have to know how to care for it. Chihuahua’s are a wonderful breed and with a little know how, you both can enjoy a long and fun filled life together. Here are five facts to get you started.

1. Feeding your Chihuahua – Your chihuahua must know that you’re the one that is in control. It is recommended that you feed him twice a day once in the morning and once around dinner time. I do not recommend table food unless you give him things like the white meat of a chicken or turkey once in a while. Check with your vet when it comes to table food. Feed your chihuahua about 8 to 10 hours apart. Also, give him a few treats two to three times a day and no more. I had a problem with my Chihuahua in that I gave him treats when he wanted them and then refused to eat his “real food.” Feed your Chihuahua wisely. A poor diet can led to poor health.

2. Bathing your Chihuahua – You may bath him about once a month. Chihuahuas’ are groom themselves well and rarely have that “dog smell.” Use a mild shampoo with a moisturizer to prevent dry skin. Make sure that you dry him thoroughly. A wet chihuahua is a cold chihuahua. Do not bath puppies that have not had all of their vaccinations. Consult your veterinarian as to when to start bathing him.

3. Brushing your Chihuahua – You really don’t have to brush him often because his hair is short and he won’t shed that much.

4. Nail Clipping – This is a nerve racking experience. Leave this to the experts and have your vet do it.

5. Walking your Chihuahua – Make sure that you walk your chihuahua at least three to four times a day. Puppies need to be walked more often. Make the walks fairly long to give him the exercise that he needs. Being that chihuahua’s are small dogs, they get cold very easily. Have a few dog coats on hand and use them when it gets cold.

Good luck and enjoy your little friend!

Remember, your pets count!

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She’ll be turning 15 in August.!

One thing that really stresses me out is knowing that my older cat Molly will be turning 15 this summer. In case you don’t know, Molly is extremely attached to me. In fact, she’s sitting and leaning on my computer as I type this. She doesn’t leave my side. We are the best of friends as we’ve been together for 15 years. I always look for signs that she’s aging. One thing that I did notice, she has slowed down and sleeps more. Are there other signs that a cat is aging? Not really. If she is healthy, she should still have a good appetite and she should have bright eyes and a shiny coat. Luckily Molly seems like she still is in good health.  Take your senior cat in for a checkup a few times a year to rule out any possible problems.

If you notice any of the following symptoms, take your cat in for a checkup immediately.

• Loss of appetite or weight.
• Coughing, shortness of breath, or rapid, labored breathing.
• Weakness or difficultly moving about.
• Increased thirst and/or frequency of urination
• Change in bowel function with constipation or diarrhea.
• Bloody or purulent discharge from a body opening.
• An increase in temperature, pulse, or breathing rate.
• A growth or lump anywhere on the body.
• Any unexplained change in behavior.

Remember, your pets count!

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When seniors have pets, they often share a very powerful emotional bond. That’s why a senior may need a lot of emotional support after a beloved pet dies. You can help by encouraging them to talk about their pet and what it meant to them. Give them time to grieve openly. You may also wonder if it’s a good time to replace the pet. Jane Shaw, director of the Argos Institute at Colorado State University says that some people want a new pet fairly quickly to re-establish an important routine. Others may need time to adjust. So ask your friend or relative what they would prefer. If he or she needs more support than you or other friends can offer, suggest a grief counselor or a pet lose support hotline. It’s very difficult for anyone when a beloved pet dies. It’s even difficult to look at their belongings like their dog or cat bed, their dishes, leashes etc. When my rabbit passed away, it took me five months to get rid of her cage. Grieving is an important step in the healing process and make sure that you allow time to grieve.hen seniors have pets, they often share a very powerful emotional bond. That’s why a senior may need a lot of emotional support after a beloved pet dies. You can help by encouraging them to talk about their pet and what it meant to them. Give them time to grieve openly. You may also wonder if it’s a good time to replace the pet. Jane Shaw, director of the Argos Institute at Colorado State University says that some people want a new pet fairly quickly to re-establish an important routine. Others may need time to adjust. So ask your friend or relative what they would prefer. If he or she needs more support than you or other friends can offer, suggest a grief counselor or a pet lose support hotline. It’s very difficult for anyone when a beloved pet dies. It’s even difficult to look at their belongings like their dog or cat bed, their dishes, leashes etc. When my rabbit passed away, it took me five months to get rid of her cage. Grieving is an important step in the healing process and make sure that you allow time to grieve.

Remember, your pets count.

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There are some common signs of digestive problems in dogs. They are usually gas, bloating and diarrhea.  If your dog has more than three bowel movements in a day, you may want to withhold food for twenty four hours.  There are simple causes to lots of digestive problems. Food changes can cause some digestive problems. If you switch to a new food, do it gradually for a week or so to get your dog used to the new ingredients.  Some dogs have food sensitivities. Some dogs have trouble digesting foods like corn, wheat products or soy. If this is the case, switch to a rice based diet. Parasites will cause digestive problems. There are several types of internal worms that can cause diarrhea and gas in dogs. Follow the proper deworming guidelines.  If you give your dog table scraps, digestive problems can occur. Do not give your dog spicy, salty or heavily processed table scraps. If the problem persists, see your vet who may prescribe pet medication that can help.

Remember, your pets count!

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Cats are meat eaters. They must eat meat that is high in protein and amino acids in order to maintain their health.  So a vegetarian cat is out of the question. Kittens that are less than one year old need food that is especially designed for their system. Their food must be as high in proteins as possible. This is necessary for the development of their muscles and bones.

If you have a dog, you may notice your cat invading his bowl every now and then but remember, a cat does not receive the proper nutrition from dog food products. Keep him away from the dog dish!  Cats should eat only cat food. When choosing a food, cat owners should look for one that contains proteins, fats, minerals, and vitamins. Extra vitamin and mineral supplements are not only unnecessary but potentially harmful.

Cats always eat efficiently. They eat small amounts frequently. This is the reason why I believe that it is necessary to leave their food out for them during the day. My vet doesn’t agree but still, I will stick to my guns on this one. You can’t treat a cat like a dog and that includes his eating requirements. This is the one time that I will not listen to what my vet says. As long as you do not overfeed, keeping your cat’s food out all day is perfectly fine.

Remember, your pets count!

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Usually you are hearing me complain about the state of New Jersey. I’ve lived there all my life and really do have a lot to complain about but there is one very positive thing about New Jersey. Did you know that New Jersey has the second strongest animal protection laws in the country? There are wide ranging regulations that protect animals from harm in homes, on farms, at racetracks and also in the wild. This information was reported by the Humane Society. In an analysis of laws in all 50 states, the animal welfare advocates ranked California number 1 for the legal protection of animals. New Jersey ranked second and Colorado and Massachusetts tied for third. Idaho and South Dakota earned the lowest scores because of their failure to make animal cruelty a felony or to outlaw cockfighting.  California is one of the few states that outlaws the use of animals in product testing when an alternative exists. It also gives students the right to choose an alternative to animal dissection such a use of simulated dissection on the computer instead.

New Jersey was cited for strong laws on animal fighting, fur labeling and alternatives to animal testing. Our pets should be kept safe and should also be given effective pet medication and treatment when needed.

Remember, your pets count!

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Happy Easter. It’s a time that the sale of chocolate goes through the roof. While chocolate is good for us in moderation, it is deadly to your cat! What are some of the reasons that chocolate can be deadly to both dogs and cats. First of all, chocolate contains caffeine, which is poisonous to pets and can result in serious health problems, including death.

Secondly, a compound in chocolate known as theobromine is also dangerous to cats. It’s known to stimulate the nervous system  and the cardiovascular system and this increases blood pressure.  This can result in serious health problems including death.  Chocolate also acts as a diuretic, which can lead to dehydration. It should be noted that baking chocolate is more toxic than milk chocolate.

Some cats and dogs can tolerate more chocolate than others but don’t let them digest any chocolate. Don’t leave chocolate around the house. Keep it in the refrigerator or in closed drawers that’s out of reach to your pets.

Be on the safe side and have a Happy Easter!

Remember, your pets count!

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A few days ago while walking in the park, I noticed a white poodle with it’s ears dyed pink. A few days later, I noticed another while dog with it’s tail dyed pink. Is this a new trend?  People dye their dogs crazy colors, pink blue, red green etc. After all, lots of girls are dying their hair blue, pink, green so what’s the difference? If you feel the need to dye your dog, at least do it safely. Choose cool-aid, food coloring or pet safe hair dye.

Personally, I guess people are bored so now they’re dying their dogs hair. Maybe they think it looks cool. But I wouldn’t do it. Here’s why:

Dying their hair can:

1. Irritate their skin.
2. Stress them out during the process.
3. And, yes, believe it or not, cause them to be a little self- conscious, making them hide more.

So just enjoy your dog the way he or she is. Dye your own hair!

Remember, your pets count!

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I cringe when I hear that pets are thrown out of cars or left in the woods to fend for themselves. As I said in another post, I believe that people who do things like that are seriously disturbed and lack a soul. What can we do to prevent it? Unfortunately there’s no quick fix.  There are some small things that you could do to help prevent animal abuse down the road.  Take care of the animals that you have but encourage others to do the same. Lots of pet owners don’t have a clue on how to care for a pet and the pet ends up getting abused or abandoned. You could educate them. Give them tips on how you care for your pet and what a blessing it is to have the unconditional love of a pet.  An organization called Pet Abuse.Com provides animal advocates, humane law enforcement and other animal welfare organizations with the valuable  service they have come to rely upon in the fight against animal cruelty. They are run strickly by donations so any amount would help.  You can also volunteer at a local rescue shelter.  The shelters would be greatly appreciative if you could come in a few days a week for a few hours and just play with the animals! Get involved with your local government.  Animal cruelty and abuse is a felony in 31 states (it should be a felony in all 50 states.)  You can read through the abuse database and see the horrible crimes committed against these poor little creatures. While your dog is sound asleep in their soft dog bed, many are on the streets with no home. Send letters to your local government alerting them that the serious problem of animal abuse exists, is getting worse and must be stopped!

Remember, your pets count!

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