A urinary blockage is a life-threatening emergency regardless of the species. Male cats, though, are most commonly seen with this issue in veterinary medicine. If your cat has struggled with a urinary blockage, or multiple blockages, your vet may recommend a procedure called a perineal urethrostomy. What Is a Perineal Urethrostomy? Male cats, in particular, have a urethra that becomes incredibly narrow as it gets closer to the outside of the body....
The death of a beloved pet is heartbreaking and the grief does not go away overnight. Many owners struggle with the decision to get a new dog. How long should you wait before getting your next dog? Will you ever be ready to share your life with another dog? There is no way to say for certain when the time is right to get a new dog. This is a very individual decision that often happens organically....
Curly-haired dog breeds are popular for their low-shedding coats and distinctive appearance. Curly-coiffed pups like poodles and Portuguese water dogs were developed for sporting since their tight curls serve as good insulation for water activities. A herding breed like the Pumi and a companion breed like the bichon also feature abundant coils. Each dog has different grooming requirements: Some require frequent brushing, washing, or grooming appointments, while others require hand stripping or a stripping comb....
Boarding a horse may seem like an expensive way to keep a horse, but compared to the purchase and upkeep of a property suitable for horses, it may be a little less expensive. For some people, the only way they can keep a horse is to board it at a stable. The cost of boarding your horse can vary greatly. There are many factors that can affect the price of board at a stable, and many stables have more than one level of board available....
What Are Elbow Hygromas? Symptoms Causes Diagnosing Treatment Prognosis Prevention Frequently Asked Questions Finding a growth or swelling on your pet can be alarming for any dog owner. This is certainly true if your dog develops a bulbous, fluid-filled swelling on its elbow. The swelling is likely a non-cancerous growth called an elbow hygroma, caused by repeated minor trauma to bony prominences on your dog, such as hitting the ground when laying down....
After your ride you’ll want to dismount safely with a minimum of discomfort to your horse and yourself. Practice these steps and you will be able to get off smoothly. When learning to dismount, you should be in an area that is safe for you to practice in. At first, it is good to have a helper to hold the horse. As you will be dismounting after riding, you should be wearing comfortable clothes that don’t bind, and proper footwear....
If you find fleas on your dog, the first thing you’ll probably want to do is get rid of them. If your dog is on an effective flea control medication, then you may never have this problem. However, if you find your dog with a flea infestation, you may want to start tackling the problem with a flea bath. Keep in mind that a flea bath will remove the fleas from your dog, but it will not keep fleas from returning to your dog....
Ignore Dance Play a Game Hide a Toy Use a Command Yelp Poking Drag-Line Tie-Down Get Help Jumping up seems cute when your puppy is a little guy, but when he grows into an adolescent, jumping on people can become more than rude. These juvenile delinquent dogs haven’t learned how to control their excitement and can bruise, scratch or knockdown owners when they launch themselves and plow into you with their paws and claws....
Why Do Cats Reject New Kittens? Stopping Rejection Food Bowls Sleeping Areas Observation Areas Litter Boxes Pheromones Treats Separation Keep Things Calm Don’t Allow Fights Some cats take to new kittens right away. Others need a lot of time to get used to a new kitty or may never fully adjust. A lot of this depends on how old and well socialized your cat is when it’s introduced to your new family member....
All cat parents are familiar with the eternal struggle between cat and laser pointer. For something so small and scentless, that little red dot sure can keep cats busy—in spite of (or perhaps because of) the fact that they never really can catch it. Interestingly though, there’s some debate about whether or not laser pointers are a great toy for our feline friends. So why do cats chase lasers, and is it time to ditch the laser in favor of a different type of toy?...
Ammonia is the natural waste product of fish metabolism and will accumulate in the aquarium to toxic levels, killing the fish. Fortunately, beneficial bacteria in the biofilter will break down the toxic ammonia. However, there are two forms of ammonia that occur in aquariums: un-ionized ammonia (NH3), which is the toxic form, and ionized ammonium (NH4+), which is essentially non-toxic. Without going into a long scientific explanation about how and why electrons are attracted to and repelled by atoms, just accept that if a nitrogen atom has three hydrogen atoms attached it is bad, and if it has four hydrogen atoms attached, it is good....
What Is Renal Amyloidosis? Symptoms Causes Diagnosing Treatment Prognosis Prevention Frequently Asked Questions Renal amyloidosis is a potentially deadly disease resulting from an accumulation of abnormal proteins in your cat’s kidney. Because the symptoms of renal amyloidosis overlap with those of many other kidney disease, they don’t always present clearly. Some of these symptoms include frequent urination, excessive thirst, and vomiting. Take your cat to the vet if you suspect any kind of kidney disease....
What Is Sepsis? Symptoms Causes Diagnosing Treatment Prognosis Prevention Is Sepsis Contagious to Humans or Other Animals? Sepsis is a serious and sometimes life-threatening condition that can affect any dog. It is a result of an infection that enters the bloodstream that can have many different causes. Just because a dog has bacteria in its bloodstream, however, doesn’t always mean that it has sepsis. When left untreated, sepsis can lead to septic shock....
Hamsters are cute, small, relatively easy to care for, and if socialized and handled gently, they can be quite affectionate for a rodent, as well. That makes them a very popular “pocket pet.” But like any pet, large or small, it’s crucial to feed the right diet to keep your furry friend healthy and feeling good. You want to provide hamster food that nourishes your pet through all life stages....
Characteristics Breed History Training and Care Health Problems Diet and Nutrition Where to Adopt or Buy Breed Overview Further Research The Yakutian Laika is a large spitz dog breed from Russia with pointed ears, an athletic build, a thick double coat, and a tail that curls upwards over its back. This rare breed has been prized for centuries in Russia as a sled dog, hunting dog, and all-around family companion....
The ways that cats show love differ from the ways humans do. Cats show love and affection by purring, bunting, and rolling over onto their back. In the cat world, there are many ways to express oneself, including these 12 displays of love. Watch Now: 14 Ways Cats Show Their Love 01 of 12 Purring spooh / Getty Images The most obvious and common way cats show their happiness and love is through purring....
If you are searching for a dog that can get along with children, many breeds fit the bill. In theory, almost any dog has the potential to get along great with children. Factors such as obedience training, age, size, and breed type can all affect your chances of finding a good family dog. Think about the ages and activity levels of your children. Toddlers can be knocked over by an awkward, gangly puppy that does not know its size....
Behavior and Temperament Housing Heat Light Substrate Humidity Food and Water Health Problems Choosing Similar Species Frequently Asked Questions The White’s tree frog is a green or blue-green frog native to Australia, Indonesia, and New Guinea. It’s a popular frog because of its petite size and facial expressions, which include sleepy-looking eyes and a smiling mouth. Its skin also has a waxy coating that allows it to tolerate more arid conditions than other common tree frog species, making it a better match for home environments....
The halter is a basic piece of horse equipment that all trained horses wear. It is made of nylon, leather, or rope and worn on the horse’s head so that the person working with the horse has something to hold on to. It has metal clasps to clip a lead rope on; this rope is used to walk the horse. It’s important to make sure a horse’s halter fits properly. Poorly fitted halters can rub and cause pain, which may result in behavior problems from the horse....
The saddle pad or blanket provides a bit of extra cushioning between the saddle and the horse and helps the saddle stay clean. Without a pad or blanket, a saddle will sit directly on the horse, where it will absorb sweat and pick up dirt from the horse’s back. Cleaning the dirt or sweat out of a saddle pad or blanket will be much easier than cleaning the fleece on the underside of a western saddle....
