The following
is a compilation of articles that we find especially
informative and useful for any pet owner. Have
a good read through them; we’re sure you’ll
learn something new that could improve you and
your pet’s relationship. Enjoy!
Ten Things all Pet Owners
Should Know
by Steph Bairey
Following these ten tips will
guarantee you a happy, healthy relationship with
any kind of pet!
1. Your
pet needs to go to the vet. Start
saving now. Every pet needs to be examined by
a vet occasionally. Illnesses that are caught
early are often treatable, and regular vet exams
are your best weapon. Even the healthiest pet
may have an accident, calling for immediate emergency
care. Older pets may be in pain from age-related
deterioration. Face it; you're going to have to
take your pet to the vet sooner or later. Be prepared
to pay for it!
2. You're the human,
you set the rules. Don't let your
pet boss you around. Decide on the rules, and
enforce them consistently. Don't let your pet
get his way if it goes against the rules -- he'll
just try that much harder the next time. Animals
may not seem to have long memories, but they sure
remember how they got their own way the last time!
3. Animals love
a boring routine. Pets want to know
what to expect -- it makes them feel secure. Yours
will be happiest if they are fed at the same time
every day, sleep in the same spot at night, and
can count on you to always come home at a certain
time. They'll get by if the routine occasionally
changes, but keeping their day predictable keeps
them predictable, and happy.
4. Good food and
lots of exercise equals a long life.
We all know we should eat healthy foods in moderation
and get plenty of exercise. The same goes for
our pets. Healthy living prevents illness, and
you won't have to see the vet as often! If a small
pet is confined to a cage, give it lots of space
and things to climb on or explore, to encourage
exercise. Reserve treats like dog biscuits or
table scraps for very special occasions.
5. Everything ends
up in their mouths. To you it's
an electrical cord, but to your dog, it's a chew
toy. Keep in mind that your pets will chew on
anything, and keep dangerous items out of reach!
Encourage them to chew on toys instead by providing
lots of them, especially new ones once the old
ones have lost their appeal.
6. Bacteria do not
make good pets. A clean environment
keeps everyone happy and healthy. Pets are dirty,
and need lots of cleaning. On a weekly basis,
brush your dog's teeth, wash out the gerbil's
water bottle, and scoop out the cat's litter box!
If you don't, you're in for bacterial and parasitic
infections, painful tooth decay, and the smell...!
7. Tight security
saves lives. Keep your pet confined
safely. Escape-proof all cages and fences, walk
your dog on a leash, and keep your cat indoors.
The outside world is full of speeding cars, unfamiliar
animals, pesticides, and even pet thieves. Just
in case, make certain all dogs and cats have sturdy
collars with tags, or have been tattooed or micro-chipped.
8. There are too
many homeless animals already. Lost
pets without tags usually end up being put to
sleep at the shelter when they lose their way
home. Even worse off are the pets that never had
homes to begin with. There aren't enough good
homes for all the animals out there, so have your
pets spayed or neutered, and do not allow them
to breed! In America alone, four million cats
and dogs are put down every year. That's far too
many! If you want another pet, consider adoption
instead.
9. When in doubt,
look to nature. When confronted
with a pet problem, find out how your pet would
have lived in the wild. Need to know how warm
your frog's tank should be? Research his natural
habitat and try to copy it. Want to keep your
dogs from fighting? Read up on pack behavior in
the wild. Our pets evolved to live in the wild,
and by understanding their natural environment,
needs, and social behavior, we can help them live
with us more comfortably.
10. It all depends
on you. Ultimately, when you accepted
this animal as a pet, you agreed to take care
of him. This means feeding, habitat, health, safety...
you are responsible for it all. It takes a lot
of time and money to care for a pet properly.
However, it is certainly worth it! There are over
100 million households worldwide with at least
one pet, and they can't all be wrong! Take care
of your pets, so you can have a long, enjoyable
life together.
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Companion
Lines: Don't Leave Me This Way
By Jacque Lynn Schultz, Animal Watch magazine
Supposedly, absence makes the
heart grow fonder. However, the absence of an
owner sends some dogs into keen wailing and barking,
frequent house soiling and self-destructive behaviors.
These are all signs that a dog is suffering from
separation anxiety.
The canines most likely to fall
victim are second-hand dogs. Whether from a shelter,
rescue group or greyhound-track adoption program,
dogs re-homed in adolescence or older are at greater
risk of suffering separation anxiety than puppies.
This is probably because it is more difficult
for these dogs to accept changes in their routine
and environment. They cling to their new pack
leader and panic when that leader leaves home
to go about his or her daily business. For similar
reasons, unemployed companion animal owners or
those who take lengthy at-home vacations or recuperations
may find that their dog becomes disoriented when
they return to work. These distressed pets need
help.
Love hangover
Separation anxiety is often
a problem of over-bonding. It is not healthy for
a dog to follow his caretakers' every step, to
be constantly in the same room, sharing the same
piece of furniture, being in close contact all
the time. Promote independence by teaching the
dog to down-stay on his own bed while you go out
of sight. Start with a few seconds, then build
up to a length of time the dog can tolerate. Put
up a gate and eventually close a door between
the two of you. And, get family members involved
in dispensing the "good stuff" to the
dog.
Walks, play sessions and feedings
should not be provided by only one person, for
that person's absence means the end of all that
is good in the world to the dog. Panic can ensue.
If you live alone, perhaps a neighbor or relative
will share the duties, or hire a pet-care professional
to assist you.
The worst of a dog's hysteria
is often during the first hour after departure.
Diffuse the emotion of your leave-taking by heartily
exercising the dog right after you wake up. Then,
after feeding him, scale back your attention to
the point of ignoring him during the last 15 minutes
before you leave. Turn off the lights and turn
on the television, radio or white noise machine
-- whatever you play most when you are home. And,
with no more than a whispered "Be Good,"
leave the house.
Some dogs will read the signs
of imminent departure and begin to work themselves
into a frenzy. If putting on make-up, packing
a lunch or shuffling papers in your briefcase
distresses the dog, desensitize him to these or
other actions by doing them frequently and at
other times (such as before mealtime) so they
lose their direct connection to the dreaded departure.
Presenting a toy stuffed with goodies can draw
the focus of less seriously afflicted canines
toward cleaning out the item and away from your
leaving. Buster cubes, Kong toys, Goodie balls/ships
work well as canine diversions. The seriously
afflicted dog, however, will not give the toy
a second look until his pack is together again.
Separation anxiety can be severe
and all-consuming to some dogs. You may need to
seek a professional assessment by an Applied Animal
Behaviorist or Veterinary Behaviorist, for they
may need pharmacological aid while they undergo
training.
Luckily, the majority of dogs
- if the earlier suggestions are followed -- in
no time will be howling "I Will Survive."
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Caring
for Your Cat: The Top Ten Essentials
Reprinted from The Humane Society of the United
States
Although your cat may act independent
and be litter-trained, he still counts on you
to provide him with food, water, safe shelter,
regular veterinary care, companionship, and more.
Take care of these ten essentials, and you'll
be guaranteed to develop a rewarding relationship
with your feline companion.
1. Outfit your cat
with a collar and ID tag that includes your name,
address, and telephone number. No
matter how careful you are, there's a chance your
companion may slip out the door—an ID tag
greatly increases the chance that your cat will
be returned home safely.
2. Follow local
cat registration laws. Licensing,
a registration and identification system administered
by some local governments, protects both cats
and people in the community.
3. Keep your cat
indoors. Keeping your cat safely
confined at all times is best for you, your pet,
and your community.
4. Take your cat
to the veterinarian for regular check-ups.
If you do not have a veterinarian, ask your local
animal shelter or a pet-owning friend for a referral.
5. Spay or neuter
your pet. This will keep her healthier
and will reduce the problem of cat overpopulation.
6. Give your cat
a nutritionally balanced diet, including constant
access to fresh water. Ask your
veterinarian for advice on what and how often
to feed your pet.
7. Train your cat
to refrain from undesirable behaviors such as
scratching furniture and jumping on countertops.
Contrary to popular belief, cats can be trained
with a bit of patience, effort, and understanding
on your part.
8. Groom your cat
often to keep her coat healthy, soft, and shiny.
Although it is especially important to brush long-haired
cats to prevent their hair from matting, even
short-haired felines need to be groomed to remove
as much loose hair as possible. When cats groom
themselves, they ingest a great deal of hair,
which often leads to hairballs.
9. Set aside time
to play with your cat. While cats
do not need the same level of exercise that dogs
do, enjoying regular play sessions with your pet
will provide him with the physical exercise and
mental stimulation he needs, as well as strengthen
the bond you share.
10. Be loyal to
and patient with your cat. Make
sure the expectations you have of your companion
are reasonable and remember that the vast majority
of behavior problems can be solved.
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Caring
for Your Dog: The Top Ten Essentials
Reprinted from The Humane Society of the United
States
Your dog gives you a lifetime
of unconditional love, loyalty, and friendship.
In return, she counts on you to provide her with
food, water, safe shelter, regular veterinary
care, exercise, companionship, and more. Take
care of these ten essentials, and you'll be guaranteed
to develop a rewarding relationship with your
canine companion.
1. Outfit your dog
with a collar and ID tag that includes your name,
address, and telephone number. No
matter how careful you are, there's a chance your
companion may become lost—an ID tag greatly
increases the chance that your pet will be returned
home safely.
2. Follow local
laws for licensing your dog and vaccinating him
for rabies. Check with your local
shelter or humane society for information regarding
legal requirements, where to obtain tags, and
where to have your pet vaccinated.
3. Follow this simple
rule-off property, on leash. Even
a dog with a valid license, rabies tag, and ID
tag should not be allowed to roam outside of your
home or fenced yard. It is best for you, your
community, and your dog to keep your pet under
control at all times.
4. Give your dog
proper shelter. A fenced yard with
a doghouse is a bonus, especially for large and
active dogs; however, dogs should never be left
outside alone or for extended periods of time.
Dogs need and crave companionship and should spend
most of their time inside with their family.
5. Take your dog
to the veterinarian for regular check-ups.
If you do not have a veterinarian, ask your local
animal shelter or a pet-owning friend for a referral.
6. Spay or neuter
your dog. Dogs who have this routine
surgery tend to live longer, be healthier, and
have fewer behavior problems (e.g., biting, running
away). By spaying or neutering your dog, you are
also doing your part to reduce the problem of
pet overpopulation.
7. Give your pooch
a nutritionally balanced diet, including constant
access to fresh water. Ask your
veterinarian for advice on what and how often
to feed your pet.
8. Enroll your dog
in a training class. Positive training
will allow you to control your companion's behavior
safely and humanely, and the experience offers
a terrific opportunity to enhance the bond you
share with your dog.
9. Give your dog
enough exercise to keep him physically fit (but
not exhausted). Most dog owners
find that playing with their canine companion,
along with walking him twice a day, provides sufficient
exercise. If you have questions about the level
of exercise appropriate for your dog, consult
your veterinarian.
10. Be loyal to
and patient with your faithful companion.
Make sure the expectations you have of your dog
are reasonable and remember that the vast majority
of behavior problems can be solved.
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Importance
of Regular Exercise for Your Pets
Adapted from Provet Healthcare Information
If you accept the responsibility
of keeping a pet you must appreciate that, for
most animals, regular exercise is very important
for their well-being. To deny an animal the space
and opportunity it needs to exercise can result
in abnormal behavioural patterns as well as ill
health. Reptiles and insects are a few of the
species which prefer confined spaces and do not
take the opportunity to exercise if allowed to
do so.
Typical examples of pets being
deprived of exercise are:
Exercise is important as it
allows our pets to express their normal instinctive
behavioural traits including inquisitive exploration,
the use of scent, sight and hearing, tracking,
stalking, play-fighting, play-defensive behaviour,
hiding, attacking, chasing, greeting members of
the same species, dealing with strange objects
and dealing with animals from different species.
Exercise also encourages the development of a
normal daily toilet routine. Cats and dogs deprived
of regular exercise and confined to the home may
develop anti-social behaviour patterns including
destructive behaviour, aggressive territorial
guarding, house soiling and vocalization when
left alone without human companionship.
A degree of exercise (but not
excessive exercise) is needed for normal muscular
and skeletal development in young, growing animals.
Animals deprived of exercise will develop poor
muscle conformation (due to muscle atrophy) and
a sedentary life-style which will predispose them
to develop obesity and other disorders.
The most common adverse effect
of insufficient exercise is obesity and all pets
can develop this if they are fed too many calories.
Millions of pet dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs,
hamsters, rats, ponies and birds are obese simply
because owners do not control calorie intake and
provide insufficient exercise, or because they
have encouraged or enforced the development of
a sedentary lifestyle. Obesity has all sorts of
negative effects on the body - and it can make
various diseases worse (e.g. heart disease, orthopedic
disease, skin disease). Obesity also plays an
important role in the cause of some common diseases
- including diabetes mellitus.
How much exercise should
be given?
Given the opportunity most animals
will regulate their own exercise, but it is important
to encourage regular exercise from an early age
- otherwise sedentary behaviour can be difficult
to change once it is established. Small pets should
be given sufficient space in their home to be
able to move around and they should be given access
to exercise areas (e.g. runs) or exercise toys
(e.g. wheels, balls)
Different breeds of dog require
different levels of activity. Large and Giant
Breed working dogs clearly require much more exercise
than small lap dogs. Twice daily exercise periods
- for at least 20 minutes duration - should be
regarded as a minimum.
Where should exercise
be given?
Owners of pets should
show consideration for other members of society.
Cats and dogs will both defecate and urinate during
exercise periods so they should have their toilet
behaviour controlled so that they defecate in
places where the feces can be cleared up without
causing unnecessary inconvenience to other members
of the public. In urban areas and in public parks
or on public beaches the exercise of dogs is usually
controlled by local legislation and you should
only exercise your pets where you are allowed
to. This is because excretions from pets can present
a significant zoonosis risk to humans.
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