Dog Tips
Puppies are charming, but require lots of energy and patience. Look at the advantages of adopting an older dog. There are advantages to taking older dogs because some of them are already house-trained. Rest assured that your new dog will bond closely with you. Ultimately, the attention you lavish on your pets is much more important than the age at which you adopt them. This tip is made possible by Ralston Purina Company.
Humans aren't the only creatures with baby teeth. Dogs and cats have two complete sets of teeth as well. Young dogs and cats grow a "disposable" set of teeth, which usually come in by the time they're about three months old. Also called "Deciduous teeth," they are hollow and not as white as the permanent ones, which soon push out the baby teeth and are usually in place by about six to eight months. Sometimes dogs retain their baby teeth longer than then they should, which causes their permanent teeth to come in crooked. This condition prevents the animal from chewing its food properly. To avoid potential nutrition problems, consult a veterinarian. This tip is brought to you by the Ralston Purina Company.
For humans, a cesarean section often saves the lives of both mother and baby. It's also been used for many decades with animals. Cesareans are performed when animals are having difficulty giving birth. Once only performed on large animals, it's now commonly used on small animals as well. It's often seen with dogs that have predictable problems with natural delivery. Some dogs have difficulty delivering puppies because the heads get wedged in the birth canal. Breeders of dogs predisposed to birthing difficulties often schedule elective c-sections because they know when the puppies should be delivered. This tip is made possible by the Ralston Purina Company.
One of the first challenges for a new puppy owner is housetraining the dog. The trick is to anticipate when your dog needs to go out. Puppies will need to go out just about every hour or two until they're twelve weeks old. Take your pup to the same spot, one that you've chosen beforehand, just after he eats and whenever he wakes from a nap. Also, rush him out if you see him sniffing and circling. Say the same thing each time such as "want to go out?" or "hurry up." This tip is made possible by the Ralston Purina Company.
Dental health is important for your pet to prevent tooth loss, tooth decay and other health conditions. If your dog has bad breath, he probably has bad teeth, and bad teeth can lead to a host of health concerns. To keep your dog's mouth healthy, brush his teeth regularly. Get your dog used to you touching his choppers. Dip a gauze-covered finger into beef bouillon and rub it along his teeth and gums. Later, graduate to a doggie toothbrush and meat-flavored pooch paste and gently brush the outside of your dog's teeth. Never use human toothpaste. This tip is made possible by the Ralston Purina Company.
Pet owners should know that lawn chemicals can pose health hazards to their animals. A little common sense can prevent a pet from getting sick. Lawn care herbicides and pesticides are safer than they were ten years ago, according to veterinary toxicologist Dr. Larry Thompson. However, pet owners still need to use caution. Thompson says, "My suggestion to people when they have their lawn treated is to keep the animal off the lawn for at least half a day, or to inspect the lawn to see if there are any puddles of the material there that the animal could drink, ingest, or get very wet with." Thompson also says simply reading lawn care labels and keeping pets away from stored chemicals will keep your animals safe this summer. This tip is brought to you by the Ralston Purina Company.
How do new dogs and babies get along? The baby and the dog should never be left alone together. However, Bassets are the least likely to be dangerous. There are other breeds such as the Labrador, the Golden Retriever, and the Collie that are unlikely to snap at children. This tip is made possible by Ralston Purina Company.
Preventing gum disease in your dog is easier than you might think. Older dogs often develop painful and costly dental disease if their owners neglect their canine's choppers. Doctor Tom Klein, a veterinarian who practices pet dentistry recommends daily brushing: "Dogs really like flavored toothpaste. There's beef flavored, chicken flavored and the dogs really think of it as a treat, especially if you acclimate them from an early age." Simply use a back and forth motion on the outside of your dog's teeth. The dog never has to open his mouth. But watch that tongue -- it's apt to snatch a snack. This tip is made possible by the Ralston Purina Company.
The owners of male dogs can often tell from their pet's behavior if a neighborhood female is in heat. Unspayed female dogs tend to urinate more frequently when they are in heat. This is one way they communicate with potential male partners. Dogs can tell if the animal that urinated in a specific spot was male or female, and if it was a female, whether it was in heat or not. Female animals in heat produce a chemical pheromone to which males are sensitive over long distances. By marking her territory, she is attracting males and signaling that she is ready to mate. This tip is made possible by the Ralston Purina Company.
The best way to avoid a bite is to avoid petting strange dogs. Don't look them in the eye, either-- that's a challenge. If you do need to touch an unfamiliar dog, reach your hand out first and let him sniff you. Don't put your hand over his head. Instead, scratch gently on the chest or under the chin. Don't move too fast around a strange dog. Joggers and bicyclists are often bitten because a dog almost instinctively chases rapidly moving objects. When he catches them, he is likely to bite. This tip is brought to you by the Ralston Purina Company
Veterinarians have noticed that the rate of canine skin cancer has shot up recently. There are lumps, bumps and other warning signs. Dogs are susceptible to the same environmental hazards as we are. The most common signs are lumps or bumps. But any symptoms that humans get as warnings of cancer are the same for dogs. Wounds that won't heal, difficulty breathing and a lack of appetite are warning signs. Get any persistent condition checked out by a veterinarian. This tip is made possible by the Ralston Purina Company.
When taking a walk on the wild side with your dog, you could run into hunters, wildlife, ticks, and even polluted water. Natural water sources can harbor parasites. So when you and your dog hit the trail, pack fresh water for two, dog food, and a lightweight bowl. A leash will keep your dog from chasing wildlife, which stresses the animals, and could lead to your pet being bitten or lost. Your dog should always wear tick repellent and identification tags when hiking. Keep the wild pristine by burying your dog's waste away from water sources, or better yet, packing it out in a plastic bag. Finally, be aware of the rules. In national parks, dogs are not allowed on hiking trails, but national forests are dog-friendly. This tip is brought to you by the Ralston Purina Company.
Many dogs seem happiest when they're chewing on a bone. It's important that owners choose the right type of bone for their pet. Dogs' love for bones can be traced back to their carnivorous predatory instincts in the wild. For domestic dogs, owners should avoid chicken, turkey, and pork chop bones, as these may splinter and lodge in a dog's throat. Large hock or leg bones are the best choices, along with synthetic rubber or leather bones. And while it's natural for dogs to chew their treats, the behavior does cause wear and tear on the animals' teeth. No matter what type of bone or chew toy the animal is given, the most important rule of thumb is for the owner to supervise the dog while it's gnawing away. This tip is made possible by the Ralston Purina Company.
Do you know how many puppies one unspayed female dog and her mate can produce if you don't neuter or spay their puppies? The answer: tens of thousands. In just six years, if you allowed an unspayed female and all her puppies to mate, you'd have more than sixty-seven thousand dogs! That's why veterinarians and many organizations encourage owners to spay or neuter their pets. This tip is made possible by the Ralston Purina Company.
Pets love to be fed, and well-meaning owners can easily overfeed an animal out of love. Overfeeding can lead pets down the road to poor health. It tends to create a vicious cycle where obesity creates laziness, and laziness creates further obesity. Obesity can predispose pets to hip and back problems later in life, often requiring expensive surgery to correct, which is why daily exercise and weight maintenance is an important part of your pet's preventative health program. This tip is made possible by the Ralston Purina Company.
Cat Tips
Cat owners often wonder how old their favorite feline is in human years. There's an easy way to find out how to tally up those nine lives. On average, an indoor cat can be expected to share your life for about sixteen years. In human years, a sweet sixteen-year-old is actually the equivalent of an elderly eighty. An easy way to approximate the human equivalent of a cat's age is to begin with twenty human years for the cat's first year, then add four human years per cat year after that. So, if the cat is approaching twelve, she may need some reassurance that you will still need her and feed her when she's sixty-four. This tip is made possible by the Ralston Purina Company.
We've all heard the phrase "fighting like cats and dogs," but cats are more apt to fight with other cats. What are some ways to keep the peace? Just as we don't like it when someone invades our space, the same is true in the feline world. Cats are territorial animals, and wise pet owners give them plenty of room. The feline world has a definite social order. In households with several cats, there is usually one "top cat" who will expect to be treated accordingly. This tip is brought to you by the Ralston Purina Company.
Moviegoers of the 1950s put on some special glasses to see the show in three dimensions. Now both human and animal doctors can look forward to the 3-D diagnosis. With x-ray machines, medical practitioners took a giant step forward in diagnostic analysis. New computer-assisted imaging allows a cross-sectional analysis of an animal, rather like a slice of bread. This non-intrusive procedure is helping pets get diagnosed and treated more quickly than ever. This tip is brought to you by the Ralston Purina Company.
If your cat spends a lot of time by himself in the house, he may be bored and lonely. With nothing to do, he may begin to mark the house with urine, lick himself too much or engage in other kinds of compulsive behavior. To keep him out of trouble, perk up his day with treasures to hunt: hide a number of treats under a cushion, in a planter or under the couch. To build a treasure chest, tape an empty tissue box to your hardwood floor. Put a treat in the bottom and then fill it with balled up tissues or rags. Variety is the key. This tip is made possible by the Ralston Purina Company.
If you have an older relative who lives alone, you might want to ask if he or she would like a cat. Older people with pets tend to live independently longer than petless seniors. Studies show that pets can also help lower heart rate and blood pressure and reduce the frequency of serious illness. And cats are easy to care for. So ask your older relative if she would like a cat to help keep her mind and body active. If your relative says, "yes," consider choosing a short-haired cat so grooming isn't a problem. Remind her to keep her string away from the cat and not to feed her milk. Play sessions in the evening are the best way to make sure both of them have a good night's sleep. This tip is made possible by the Ralston Purina Company.
Is there any harm done if your cat eats the dog's food? A little dog food now and then won't hurt your cat, but the newly published Cornell Book of Cats second edition warns against a steady diet of canine food for felines. Cats are strictly carnivores -- meat eaters -- and they need more protein than they'll find in food for those omnivorous dogs. Cats need specific amino acids, like Arginine and Taurine, as well as B-Complex vitamins and the right kinds of vitamin A and fatty acid. The consequences can be serious -- even fatal -- if a cat's diet is deficient in these nutrients. If your pup can't keep the cat out of its dog food, that's a problem for both of them. This tip is brought to you by the Ralston Purina Company.
You could almost hear the howling noise in the background when the cat owner said, "I think my cat's in heat! How long will this go on? My cat seems so miserable. Maybe I should have her spayed?" According to experts, a cat's heat state can last anywhere from five to ten days. Having your cat spayed will stop all of that awful howling. Spaying can help spare your cat a lot of medical problems in the future. This tip is made possible by the Ralston Purina Company.
Cat owners don't expect that easy-going kitty to turn its claws and teeth on them. Are cat attacks simply play, or a behavior problem? When a tame house cat suddenly decides to attack its owner, what causes this type of behavior? The underlying root of the problem could be either a natural playfulness or true aggression. In some cases it can be inappropriate play if the cat has never learned -- or has never had the feedback from the owner -- that it was playing too roughly. The other reason that cats may be aggressive to people is that they feel they are in control of the world, and that's a totally different problem. This tip is brought to you by the Ralston Purina Company.
As your cat gets older, she's at an ever-greater risk of hyperthyroidism. If your cat develops hyperthyroidism, daily medication could control the disease, but it won't cure it. Surgery to remove the thyroid completely can be a cure. But sometimes, thyroid tissue is left behind or is in an abnormal place. This remaining tissue can become abnormally enlarged, causing a return of hyperthyroidism. A third option, which is very effective and safe -- albeit expensive -- is an injection of radioactive iodine. Always consult your veterinarian if you are concerned about your cat's health in any way. This tip is brought to you by the Ralston Purina Company.
Many of us use antifreeze in our cars over the winter. If you live in a cold climate and have a cat that goes outdoors, you should know that dogs and cats are both attracted to the sweet taste and smell of deadly antifreeze. As little as one teaspoon of antifreeze can be deadly to a cat. Less than one tablespoon can be lethal to a 20 pound dog. If your pet swallows anything unusual, you should call the Poison Center at 1-888-4-ANIHELP anytime, day or night. This tip is made possible by the Ralston Purina Company.
When performing surgery on an animal, veterinarians generally act as their own anesthesiologists. Partially for this reason, safer more effective drugs and anesthetic techniques have evolved. Even different breeds within the same species may respond considerably differently to a given drug or drug combinations. Because of these differences, we have to adjust the combinations that are going to be used and match them with the condition that the animal has. Anesthetic procedures chosen for a healthy dog or cat will differ greatly from those for an older ailing animal. In either case, the animal will be receiving the most advanced treatment available in the history of anesthetizing pets. This tip is brought to you by the Ralston Purina Company.
If your cat's too heavy and needs to exercise -- and you can't have a personal trainer work out with your cat -- you can try interactive cat aerobics. It's good for both you and the cat to get involved in exercise. You do not need to get down there and do push-ups with the cat, but rather find some interactive toys. An exercise toy as simple as a stick with a string on the end for the cat to chase is enough to give a cat exercise and get you off the couch, too. This tip is brought to you by the Ralston Purina Company.
Most cats are plain old housecats, but feline breeding is a business that produces elegant hybrids with exotic eyes, ears or pelts. One special breed, for example, has leopard spots and marble-colored hair. Another breed has no hair at all. These purebred cats can easily cost several hundred dollars. Some unusual cats may even cost several thousand dollars! To help find your cat if it is stolen, you could get your cat's nose printed. Like a fingerprint, every cat's nose has its own unique pattern. This tip is made possible by the Ralston Purina Company.
Do you own a fraidy cat? You're not alone. Some cat fears defy explanation. Like dogs, cats often have fear of loud noises, other animals or children. Many cats are also afraid of loud, hissing sounds - sounds that make them think another cat is present. One of the more difficult-to-explain phobias is the fear of walking across a particular room. That fear may come from a static electrical shock the cat received long ago. For other fears, the only explanation seems to be the ever-mysterious nature of cats themselves. This tip is brought to you by the Ralston Purina Company.
After any surgery, you need to keep your eye on your pet. If your dog or cat gets spayed or neutered, or any other surgery, keep him away from other pets and children his first day back. He needs to rest. Limit strenuous activity for a few weeks. Dogs and cats don't know that it might not be a good idea to run around or jump. They need to give time for that incision to heal. If your pet tries to bite or scratch you after surgery, he's probably in pain and you should call your veterinarian. This tip is brought to you by the Ralston Purina Company.
It's flea season. This is a good time to launch an effective flea control strategy. Can you use one flea product for both your dog and cat? If a product is for use only on dogs, it should never be used on cats. As well, if a product is designed for cats, it should never be used on dogs. Read the product label and directions very carefully before you use it. If your pet might have swallowed or been exposed to anything unusual, you can call the Poison Center at 1-888-4-ANIHELP anytime, day or night. This tip is made possible by the Ralston Purina Company.
If you've received a pet as a gift, there are a few things you can do to ensure a long, happy relationship. Providing general health care for your pet is vital and starts with annual veterinary check-ups and vaccinations. Make sure your animal is vaccinated against those diseases that can be spread from animal to animal and diseases such as rabies that can be spread from animal to man. Dogs should be tested for heartworm prevention yearly. Make sure you check for external and internal parasites. Fleas and ticks can be checked and removed at home, but eliminating internal parasites requires a veterinarian's care. This tip is made possible by the Ralston Purina Company.
Coughing and weight loss are both signs that your cat may be ill. Bad breath could be another sign of ill health. Your kitty's breath can sometimes provide valuable clues to her condition. If your cat's breath smells like urine, for example, it could mean kidney disease. On the other hand, a sweet or fruity scent to her breath could mean diabetes. Look to see if she's suddenly drinking and urinating more frequently than usual. Another breath clue is if your pet's breath is simply foul. If so, look to see if she has yellowish eyes or gums. Both are signs of liver disease. Always consult your veterinarian if you are concerned about your cat's health in any way. This tip is made possible by the Ralston Purina Company.
For those of you who do not intend to breed cats, one cat plus one cat adds up to a lot more than two cats. In fact, one plus one can produce thousands of cats. Millions of cats are euthanized every year in this country. Since a female kitten can get pregnant as early as four months of age, you should consider neutering or spaying your kitten early. Many vets will perform the procedure on kittens within the first few months of life. This tip is made possible by the Ralston Purina Company.
A new study is using phony pheromones to turn cats that spray urine into cats that rub their owners the right way instead. When your cat rubs her cheeks against the wall, the furniture, or you, she is actually leaving behind pheromones -- chemicals used for communication -- to mark the spot. Those pheromones in cheek gland secretions are thought to have an appeasing role. Cats tend to feel more secure and they tend to recognize familiar objects and people this way. Doctors are testing a synthetic version of this pheromone by applying it to areas around the house where cats have previously sprayed urine. With time, the pheromone may convince cats to simply rub against those areas instead of spraying them. Eventually, the cats may stop spraying urine altogether. This tip is brought to you by the Ralston Purina Company.
Does someone in your home have a chronic cough or cold? Do their ears pop? Cat-allergy symptoms easily can be mistaken for other health problems. Cat allergies can include cold symptoms, a chronic cough or hives. Eye symptoms may include redness, swelling or dark circles under the eyes. Ears may itch, pop or crackle. One way to find out is to determine if symptoms subside while on vacation. Wait several days and then assess the extent of the allergy. This tip is made possible by the Ralston Purina Company.
You've got two hundred and six bones, but your cat has forty more. Many of these are in his long, flexible feline tail. One bone that your cat doesn't have is a clavicle or collarbone. That allows him to snake through small openings. The reason your cat can jump from great heights and not get hurt is because his spine is flexible, unlike ours, which is stiff. When cats jump too far, they rarely break any legs but they do commonly hit their chins, which is why a chin dislocation is the most common injury in jumping cats. This tip is made possible by the Ralston Purina Company.
Cats sometimes need to be bathed for medical reasons. In order to avoid a traumatic experience, owners should get them used to the process at a young age. Don't try to just pick up the cat and douse it in a tub of water. Ease the cat into a sink or a tub and use a low-pressure sprayer, then towel dry the animal. In case your cat gets a little rambunctious, it's a good idea to trim his nails first. This tip is made possible by the Ralston Purina Company.
Can you really let your cat eat all he wants, all day long? Well, cats are the ultimate nibblers. They tend to eat 12-16 small meals a day. Experts say that if your cat is not obese or prone to obesity, then it's perfectly acceptable to leave dry food out for him all day long. But if a day long dry food diet makes your tabby too tubby, talk to your veterinarian about a weight loss program. This tip is made possible by the Ralston Purina Company.
Dog Tips:
Begging at Dinner
Fear of Storms
Happy Hound
Jingle Pup
An Early Start
For the Love of Dog
New Baby and Your Pet
Dangerous Mosquitoes
Diarrhea
Dry Skin
Bones for Fido
Healthy Treats
Mealtime
Not so Discerning Palate
Arthritic Dog
Bleeding Nail
Crating
Dog Noses
Flying with your Pet
Little Yapper
Diet and Disease
Foods for Cats and Dogs Don't Mix
Sick of Food
Home Dental Care for Dogs
Do Dogs See In Color?
Harmonious Relations
Southpaws
Traffic Hazard
Training Methods
3-D Perspecitive
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Cat Tips:
Applause, Applause
Clingy Cat
Digging Cat
Feisty Kitty
A Cat for Your Health
Cat's Play
Early Riser
Coughing Kitty
Hairballs
Number One Disease
Cats and Protein
Cats Love Water
Indoor vs. Outdoor
Jungle Gym
Litter boxes
Litter Change
Litter Preference
New Litter
Feral Cats
Vaccine Sarcoma
High-rise Syndrome
Dealing with Pet Loss
Do Cats Need Company?
Dogs & Cats Living Together
Cat + Dog = Love
Antibodies in Kittens
The Dreaded Disease
Toxoplasmosis
Pull down the menu above to view our list of dog tips from our Experts at Purina.
Pull down the menu above to view our list of cat tips from our Experts at Purina.
