SENIOR NUTRITION
Cats have unique needs at different stages of their lives and even though your senior cat may still look and act like a rambunctious kitty, that doesn’t mean her nutritional needs are still the same. Continue reading “What to Look for in Senior Cat Food”
Some dogs howl when left alone simply because they are lonely. Dogs are very social, and they want to be around their families. In some cases, howling can be a sign of separation anxiety—a condition that must be properly treated in order to stop it from getting worse over time. If your dog only howls when left alone, it’s probably loneliness or anxiety. On the other hand, some dogs are just very vocal and will howl whether you’re there or not.
No good pet owner likes the idea of leaving their dog alone—and hearing them howl as you pull out of the driveway only make the guilt worse. While you may not be able to quit your job and spend the entire day pampering your pooch, there are some things you can do to help ease his loneliness.
If the howling is accompanied by destructive behavior, escape attempts, and excessive chewing, your dog may be suffering from separation anxiety. This is not something that will get better on its own. In fact, when left untreated, it often gets worse. Treatment depends on the severity of the anxiety, so talk to your vet or a qualified animal behaviorist for advice about how to help your dog if you suspect separation anxiety.
Some breeds howl more than others, but if your dog becomes vocal only when he’s alone, these tips may help to ease his loneliness.
The best way to rehome your English Bulldog is by rehome_researching your prospects and finding the best new owner out of the potential candidates. Although doing this on your own will take some additional time when compared with surrendering your dog, many find it preferable. It allows to you be sure that he’ll be going to a safe home where he’ll be loved.
When you surrender your dog to a shelter or rescue, they’ll try their best to find a new home for him, but it’s not guaranteed. You want to be sure that your English Bulldog gets the treatment that he deserves. Here are some of the options and things to keep in mind.
Even dogs of the same breed will have vastly different personalities and different needs. You want to be sure that you understand what he needs. Maybe it’s a dietary restriction that needs to be maintained, a temperamental issue, or anything else that the new owner would need to know about regarding your dog.
All dogs are different, and adopters should have a good sense of what they’re bringing home when they adopt your English Bulldog, both the good and the bad. It’s also easier for you to be sure that you’re letting the right person adopt.
You’ll find a range of rehoming options on the Internet, but you have to be careful about which ones you choose. It’s always a good idea to work with a reputable site, like Rehome from Adopt-a-Pet.com. The platform makes it easier for owners to connect with people looking to adopt dogs like theirs. You’ll build a profile for your English Bulldog that has pictures, videos (if you have them), and a bio. The bio is the perfect place to put all of the most important information the adopter will need to know.
You have the opportunity to review the applications and choose the best fit for your dog. It’s nice to have full control over who gets to adopt him.
Another one of the benefits of using Rehome is that it’s free to owners like you. The adopters will only have to pay a small rehoming fee that goes back into getting other animals adopted. The rehoming fee is also important because it shows that someone is willing to invest in your dog. The fee also helps to reduce the risk of someone getting the dog to sell to a lab or to use for fighting. People with bad intentions don’t want to put out money for the animals they get.
Of course, you might be lucky enough to know someone that has been looking to adopt a dog. Maybe a sibling or a friend of yours has mentioned wanting to get a dog and would be a good fit for your English Bulldog. If that’s the case, consider asking them if they might like to adopt. If you feel they would be a good owner, it might be a perfect way to rehome your dog quickly. It’s even better if they already know and love your English Bulldog.
Obesity is just as dangerous for pets as it is for humans. The extra pounds weigh on an animal’s cardiovascular and respiratory systems, exacerbating existing problems and causing new ones. Fat cats and dogs are also prone to injury, more at risk in surgery, and predisposed to conditions such as diabetes. And the laundry list of problems doesn’t end there. Decreased stamina, diminished immune function, and digestive disorders are all potential consequences of obesity.
Being severely overweight can significantly diminish your cat or dog’s quality of life. So when your porky pet pleads with you for an extra treat, remember that saying no may be the kindest response.
Some reasons your dog may be peeing everywhere include medical conditions, improper training, fear, or infrequent walks. If the pet is a puppy or a dog that is new to your home, you’ll need to exercise some patience as some dogs take longer to train than others. If a housebroken pet has started peeing everywhere, you’ll need to try to pinpoint a reason.
Once your dog is properly housebroken, he shouldn’t start urinating in the house unless there is an underlying reason. These may include:
This is a common cause of a trained dog to start peeing throughout the house. Medical conditions that can cause this behavior include urinary tract infections, kidney issues, bladder stones, diabetes, and certain injuries. In many cases, dogs will show no other symptoms, so you should make a vet appointment as soon as you notice that the dog is urinating in the house.
This is most common in puppies, but it can occur at any age. If someone startles the dog, reaches for, or scolds the dog, he may urinate out of fear or to show his submission.
You can recognize marking as it tends to be very small amounts of urine in certain places. Spaying or neutering can help, and the earlier you fix your pet, the less likely they are to mark.
An easy-to-fix issue is that your dog simply isn’t being let out enough. If you’re gone for 8+ hours a day, your dog may not always be able to hold it until you return home. If putting in a doggy door is not a feasible solution, consider hiring a dog walker to stop by each day.
Until you can figure out and address the reason, you’ll want to be sure to use an enzymatic cleaner to fully eliminate the odor left behind by the urine. If you don’t, the dog will be attracted to urinate in that spot again—as may other of your household pets.
The good news is that the behavior can usually be successfully addressed either by the owner, the vet, or, in some cases, an animal behaviorist.
Fleas and ticks are tiny pests that can cause big problems, and the damage isn’t just skin deep. Animals can ingest fleas containing tapeworm eggs, which then hatch in their intestines. In a flea-ridden area, the same thing can happen to a child.
Ticks can also carry a variety of diseases, including Lyme Disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and Ehrlichiosis.
Risks vary by region, but Mike Paul, Executive Director of the Companion Animal Parasite Council says no risk is acceptable, so pet owners should be vigilant about flea and tick control.
Paul states, “what we’re trying to do is to get people to say, ‘well, not in my back yard,’ you know, and to keep their pets clean and their yards clean and make sure that their kids stay healthy.”
If you’ve ever wondered why your dog yawns so much, even when he’s well-rested, the answer may surprise you. When your dog yawns a lot, it could be a sign that he’s nervous and trying to relax himself. Yawning is one way that dogs communicate. So just as you might bite your fingernails when you’re nervous, a dog might yawn to calm himself down.
Owners can use this behavior to their advantage. By smacking their own lips and yawning, owners can signal to their pets that everything is okay. Try it sometime if your dog appears stressed. Get his attention, smack your lips, and show your dog a nice, big yawn. It may help calm your pooch down.
Your pet’s bad breath can be a real turn-off. It can also be a sign of a harmful condition. Dental and periodontal diseases are the most common reasons for stinky breath, so brush your dog’s teeth regularly to help prevent bacterial infections and inflamed gums.
There can also be more serious reasons for bad breath. For example, if it smells like urine, your dog could have kidney disease. Liver disease can also cause halitosis. So if your pup has dragon breath, make sure he doesn’t lose his appetite, vomit, or develop yellow eyes or gums.
Pay attention to excessively sweet breath, too. Coupled with excessive thirst or urination, it can be a sign of diabetes. So no matter how much you want to stay away, keep a close eye on a dog with bad breath.
Obesity is just as dangerous for pets as it is for humans. The extra pounds weigh on an animal’s cardiovascular and respiratory systems, exacerbating existing problems and causing new ones. Fat cats and dogs are also prone to injury, more at risk in surgery, and predisposed to conditions such as diabetes. And the laundry list of problems doesn’t end there. Decreased stamina, diminished immune function, and digestive disorders are all potential consequences of obesity.
Being severely overweight can significantly diminish your cat or dog’s quality of life. So when your porky pet pleads with you for an extra treat, remember that saying no may be the kindest response.
During the summer months, we try many different things to beat the heat. It’s important for our pets to stay cool, too. For example, pet owners often leave their dogs in the car while running an errand, but during the summer, this can prove fatal. Your car can quickly turn into an oven. In fact, a vehicle parked in the sun can shoot up to one-hundred-twenty degrees in just five minutes. When the inside temperature of the car rises above a hundred degrees, a dog can no longer cool off by panting and may succumb to heat stroke.
So pay attention to your pup’s summertime needs. Keep him clipped, provide him with shade on hot days, and never leave him in a closed car – especially in the summer.