Is there a link between heart disease and grain-free food? Grain-free dog foods have received a lot of hype lately. It seems that there are other factors besides grain-free food that can contribute to heart disease. The bottom line is that a direct connection between heart disease and grain-free food has not been proven thus far. Your best option when deciding if you should feed your pup grain-free food is to speak with your vet.
Should my dog eat a grain-free diet? Always talk to your veterinarian before giving Fido a grain-free diet. Want to learn more about grain-free dog food? Contact your local animal clinic. How to Groom a Senior Cat. Is Fluffy in her golden years?
If so, her beauty routine may need some tweaking. Senior kitties can often have difficulty stretching and bending. This can make it difficult for them to clean themselves as they get older.
Obesity can also be a problem. Brush Fluffy regularly to get the dead fur and dander out of her coat. Here, a local veterinarian provides some advice on how to groom a senior cat. The important thing here is timing. Mix in some ear scritches, pets, and treats, and talk to your kitty gently in a calm tone of voice. Do It Regularly Longhaired cats need to be brushed daily.
This can help keep their fur from matting and prevent hairballs. Be Gentle Senior cats require extreme care when being brushed. Your cat might be very sore and stiff. Pulling on the knots too hard can hurt her. And, older cats have extremely thin skin that can tear easily. Choose Proper Equipment While wire brushes are great to work on dogs with double coats, they're not the right type of brush for senior kitties. Rather, use something softer.
Talk to your vet clinic for recommendations. Use a damp washcloth or cat wipes to keep it clean. Talk to your local animal clinic for specific advice on this. Know When To Get Help If your feline friend ever gets especially matted or tangled, you might need to bring her to a professional groomer.
Fluffy may put up a fuss about going to the pet groomer, but her safety and well-being is what comes first. Pawdicures As cats grow older, their claws will thicken. Always be sure that she has a good scratching post or board! Regular Veterinary Care Your furry pal should see her veterinarian regularly. Remember that skin or coat issues can sometimes be indicators of underlying health conditions. Contact your local veterinarian for more about grooming a senior cat! Puppy Biting Tips.
Have you recently adopted a puppy? There are few things that can bring as much joy and laughter into our lives as a new pet. Fido will always be charming, but he's almost impossibly adorable at this special stage of his life.
However, that cuteness does come with a price. You're going to have a lot of pet parenting to do during that toddler phase, in order to help your pooch grow into a polite, friendly adult dog.
One thing you'll need to address is biting. A local vet offers a few helpful tips on this below. Make sure little Fido always has lots of suitable chew toys. Look for durable playthings that will hold up to lots of abuse. Kong toys are good for this.
Be Consistent Consistency is always very important when training dogs. Your canine pal won't know the difference between similar objects.
Don't give him an old pair of sneakers, and then expect him to leave your brand new ones alone. Also, if you need to tell Fido not to chew or bite something, use the same vocal commands each time. Use Positive Reinforcement Never yell at or punish your furry buddy for misbehaving, even if he did just eat your favorite shoes. This may only make him scared of you! If your puppy does something wrong, just say 'No' in a firm, disapproving tone. Then ignore him for a while. A time-out may help the little guy calm down.
Puppyproofing This one is more about safety than petiquette. Fido often uses his senses to explore the world, and he sometimes tries to learn about things by, well, eating it. Also, keep clothing in hampers, closets, or drawers, and store any personal items, like purses and phones, well out of paws' reach.
Taste Deterrent If your pooch constantly tries to bite your hand, try using a taste deterrent. In some cases, yelping—as another puppy would—can help him realize his mistake. Seek Help No luck? Don't be shy about enlisting a professional trainer. The cost of a few obedience sessions will be well worth it in the long run!
As your local veterinary clinic, we're here to help! Fluffy's Summer Agenda. Summer is finally here, and it's looking like a good one. After over a year of lockdowns, people are thrilled to be able to make plans with their friends and family members again. Of course, our feline pals also have a few things on their to-do lists. A local Oconomowoc, WI vet lists some of them below. Birdwatching We always recommend that kitties stay inside, as they really are much safer as indoor pets.
However, Fluffy will enjoy a good window seat, where she can spy on birds and squirrels and daydream about hunting. Sunbathing Cats don't run on solar power. However, it seems that no one has actually told them that. Fluffy will spend some of those summer days lounging about in sunbeams and recharging her catteries.
Do I need a pet passport to travel abroad? Post-Brexit pet travel, explained. When are dogs allowed on the beach? Our guide to enjoying the seaside with your pet. The plants toxic to dogs and cats you should watch out for this summer. What to do if your dog or cat is stung by a bee or wasp: our emergency summer tips. Are you planning on traveling abroad with your pet this summer? Help and advice. Whether you're an animal guru or a first-time pet owner, our pet-care tips will help you along the way.
Join the Community. If you have questions, our experts have answers. The background noise may also help calm your furry buddy. If your four-legged friend is extremely scared of loud noises, he may benefit from a snug shirt. These are rather like the doggy equivalent of weighted blankets. Of course, not all pups love them, so you'll need to watch how he reacts. You don't want to go overboard with this one; showering Fido with attention when he's scared could inadvertently reward him for acting nervous.
That said, if your furry friend seems frightened, petting him and talking to him may comfort him. Another thing to consider is getting some pet-calming pheromones. There are several different products you can choose from, such as treats, collars, and sprays. Ask your vet for more information on these. Also, take care to follow the instructions!
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Desensitization Our furry friends all have unique personalities, and some are just naturally jumpier than others. Early Workout Fido is usually calmer after he's burned off his zoomies. Crate Time When used properly, crates can be very helpful. Calming Shirt If your four-legged friend is extremely scared of loud noises, he may benefit from a snug shirt.
Cuddles You don't want to go overboard with this one; showering Fido with attention when he's scared could inadvertently reward him for acting nervous. Pet-Calming Products Another thing to consider is getting some pet-calming pheromones.
Fall With Fluffy. Autumn is officially upon us! Every season brings its own benefits and drawbacks, both for people and pets. Cats are generally easy keepers, but they are also quite mischievous, and have a knack for getting into mischief.
Read on as an Omaha, NE vet offers some advice on spending autumn with your feline pal. Temperature As it starts getting colder, your kitty will instinctively look for warm napping spots. Offer her lots of warm beds to look adorable in! Fluffy may also like a thermal blanket or pet tent. Older cats may get very stiff and sore at this time of year.
Your vet may recommend supplements or other options to help keep your furball comfortable. Grooming Fall is a peak shedding time. Fluffy may shed more than usual as she changes into her winter outfit. Brushing her regularly will help capture that fur with a brush before it gets stuck to everything. It will also help remove dead hair, dust, and tangles from her coat. Chemicals Toxins are one of the biggest hazards to be aware of.
Fluffy only needs to walk through a treated patch and then lick her paws to ingest these dangerous chemicals! Antifreeze is another hazard. Fortunately, some companies now make pet-friendly versions.
Opt for a pet-safe brand if you fill your car at home. However, if you do let your furry pal out, make sure she has some sort of emergency shelter. You can make one out of storage totes. Put one inside another, and fill the space between them with newspaper or blankets.
Vaccinations are also important. At this time of year, many wild animals are preparing to hibernate, and may be more aggressive than usual. Halloween Hazards For Dogs. Halloween is just around the corner! Many of our canine patients love this time of year. After all, Fido gets to run and play outdoors without getting too hot or having to run on hot surfaces. A local Omaha, NE vet lists some of the major ones below.
Candies As you may know, chocolate is very toxic to dogs, and can be fatal at just one ounce per pound of Fido's body weight. Many of those Halloween treats also contain things like raisins, nuts, and xylitol, which are also toxic to Fido. Hard candies and wrappers also present a choking hazard to playful pups. Keep those sweet treats in a spot your pet can't reach.
Decorations Keep your canine companion in mind as you hang decorations. Anything small or sharp could be dangerous to him, as are items covered in paint, stain, or dye. Batteries and power cords are also a concern for some pooches. Of course, Fido may also be very scared of that mechanical alien or the cackling doormat!
Toxins Chemical ingestion is always a big concern around Halloween. Antifreeze is one of the more dangerous ones, as it's extremely toxic to dogs. Poisonous plants and mushrooms are also prevalent at this time of year. Plus, many people treat their lawns and properties with pesticides and fertilizers. Your furry best friend only needs to walk through a puddle and then lick his paws to ingest these toxins.
Traffic The shorter days mean you'll probably be walking Fido after dark quite a bit over the next few months. Make sure your four-legged buddy has a reflective leash and collar or harness, and wear clothes that will make you visible to drivers as well. It's also best to stick to well-lit areas. Pranksters Unfortunately, Halloween is a prime opportunity for cruel pranks. If you have a fenced yard for Fido to play in, limit his outdoor time this week, especially after dark.
Also, if you go to a park or on a trail, don't let your furry buddy eat anything he may find on the ground. The Leave It command can be very helpful here. Better safe than sorry! Happy Halloween! Call us anytime! Walking Your Dog. It's Walk Your Dog Week! We know, for plenty of you, it's always Walk Your Dog Week. However, this time of year makes for perfect dog-walking weather.
An Omaha, NE vet discusses walking your canine buddy in this article. Benefits For most pups, daily walks are a must, simply for sanitary purposes. However, Fido will also benefit from the workout. Keeping fit is just as important for dogs as it is for us! Walks also give your pooch a change of scenery, which is great for him mentally and emotionally.
Mental stimulation is another benefit. The good news is that you can learn rules to follow that keep you safe when lightning is flashing:. Once you're safe inside, what if you're still worried? You can tell a parent about the feelings you're having.
Describe what's bothering you. What would make you feel better? You might snuggle up with mom or dad or even a pet. Imagine your dog or cat was the one who was scared. You would probably hold your pet close and talk softly. What could you say? It will be over soon. You might encourage your loveable pet to see the upside of a storm. When you're nice and snug indoors, you have a front-row seat to quite a show.
Watch the wind bend the trees around and the leaves swirl through the air. And all that lightning and thunder can be better than fireworks on the Fourth of July.
You also can do some easy math to figure out how far away the lightning strikes are. Watch for the flash, then start counting the seconds that pass until you hear the thunder. Divide that number by 5 and you'll have the approximate distance in miles. This can be helpful because you can follow the progress of the storm as it clears out of your area.
If you'd rather not soak up the noise and commotion, you could escape under your headphones and listen to some music. Or take advantage of inside time to play a board game, read a book, or write down what you're thinking and feeling at that very moment.
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