|
People who are prone to allergies may want to consider avoiding dog breeds that are more likely to cause allergic reactions. Although no dog is truly hypoallergenic, Shih Tzus, Poodles, Chihuahuas (short hair) and Irish Water Spaniels seem to cause few allergic reactions, while Saint Bernards, Golden Retrievers and Pugs seem to cause quite a lot of reactions.
A spray bottle of water will quickly train a cat not to do something.
Senior pets can not regulate their body temperature well. Sweaters and outdoor gear are recommended for walks and play outside.
If you travel by plane know that each airline has certain requirements that must be met before your pet can be boarded. Call the airline well in advance and ask them about their requirements, which may be different from airline to airline.
Restrict your pet's food and water 4 hours before departure to minimize his urge to potty.
Freeze the water so it will thaw by the time your pet is thirsty but won't splash out during loading or unloading.
Take along a few of his favorite chew toys and something with your scent on it to help settle him.
Line the kennel with shredded paper or towels in case of an accident.
Consider a mid-week or late-night flight, it usually has fewer passengers.
Dispose of candy wrappers before your pets get to them, since the wrappers can cause choking or intestinal obstruction.
Using too long a collar. When the collar is placed on the dog, the part of the collar extending beyond the loop should be only 3 inches long. That comes to 3 inches longer than the dog's neck measurement.
Don't use too tight a collar. You should be able to fit two fingers between the neck and the collar.
An excellent hint for dog and cat owners having to force feed medicine to an unwilling patient. After you have medicated your pet and held the jaw closed with the hope the animal will swallow it, partially release the animal's muzzle. If he licks his lips, never fear, the medicine is swallowed and you can let go. If he doesn't lick his lips immediately, hold his muzzle closed again. The little "so and so" is just biding his time to spit or foam the medicine out
Alleviate Separation Anxiety : Leave the room or the house for brief periods, gradually extending the length of time before you return. They learn that you’ll always come back.
-Keep departures and greetings matter-of-fact so that your absence doesn’t seem like a big deal.
-Have them perform a command, such as sit (cats can do this, too), and give a treat before you leave. They might even start to look forward to your departure!
Pamper your older pet with heated bedding. This is especially good for arthritic dogs or cats with joint problems. If you don't have a heated bed, add a warm water bottle to your pet's bed or apply it directly to aching joints.
Don't leave cigarette butts in ash trays where a puppy can get to them. If eaten, cigarette butts can lead to nicotine poisoning.
Dogs and cats should not be eating off the floor. Their dishes should be elevated on a stand. This cuts down on arthritic necks and backs, bloat, gas and general stomach problems. The reasoning behind this is they'll have better posture and less air will be swallowed while eating.
A new puppy will often whine because he misses his mother. Wrap a towel around a warm hot water bottle and place it in his bed. A ticking clock or a radio playing softly will also help.
To help keep your puppy from chewing on the carpet and furniture, be sure he has his own rubber toys. On furniture (table, chair legs, etc.) that he is chewing on, try putting a little oil of cloves on the wood. The odor should keep him away, if not, the bitter taste will.
For a new litter of puppies or kittens, confine them in a mesh playpen. With a wooden playpen with wooden slats, tape screen around the pen so they won't get out. Children's plastic pools are great for new puppies. The pool can be rinsed out to rid odors or messes.
To get your puppy's attention, put a few pennies in a empty soda can and shake. The noise will make him stop what he is doing. This can be a good training tool.
A little Peanut butter spread on a ferrets tummy can distract him long enough for you to clip his nails. And you can use a nail file to file down the sharp ends on a frisky animals nails. The metal ones, on nail clippers, for bigger animals and emery boards for smaller animals. No more bleeding nails.
Brewer's yeast rubbed on your dog's coat prevents fleas.
Reflector tape on your pet's collar might help cut down on the danger of its being struck by a car at night.
To rid your pet's house of fleas, place pine needles in the house or under his bedding. Salt crevices of dog houses to keep fleas out.
|
To keep ants out of your pet dishes, place the food dish inside of a pie pan of water.
Store large bags of pet food in clean plastic pails with lids. Keeps food fresh and easy to dish out.
To keep stray dogs from attacking your garbage, sprinkle full-strength ammonia over the garbage bags before placing them in cans.
If your dog stays outside in a dog house, make a flap for the house entrance to keep the wind and rain out. A rubber floor mat or carpeting cut to size and slit up the middle makes nice flaps
Cats love to hide in empty boxes or paper sacks. These make cheaper cat playthings than commercial made products and they like them better.
Attach a string to a ping pong ball and hang it on a chair or shelf to entertain your pet.
Crumble aluminum foil into a ball for your cat to bat around. Garbage bag twist ties and the plastic rings from the neck of plastic gallon milk containers are hours of entertainment for cats as well.
When your cat refuses to take liquid medicine, spill the medicine on his fur. He will lick himself clean and take medicine at the same time.
Remove your pet's hair from your clothing by using masking tape. Roll tape out and attach the tape backwards on the roll so the sticky side is out. Roll the tape on your clothes and the hair will stick to the tape.
To remove excessive hair from clothing, dampen a sponge and briskly rub clothing. Hair should ball up and you'll be able pick off the hair balls.
If you plan to travel with your pet, start out with small trips first before going on long trips.
Be sure to pack a pet's own food and water to avoid upsets on trip. Some animal's stomachs will become upset on food or water that it is not familiar with.
Pets should be confined in carriers while traveling. Your pet will be unable to leap from open doors or interfere with driving.
Dog harnesses are available that hook to car seats.
Sedatives from your veterinarian can be given to jittery pets for unavoidable traveling. Otherwise if your pet doesn't like traveling it's better to leave him with a sitter.
Be sure to have identification on your pet while traveling. Be sure to include area code with telephone number. Two collars are good in case one falls off.
If you're a bird lover, help make their nesting easier by providing building material. Collect bits of string, yarn, hair from your brush, lint from dryer. Fasten together lightly and attach to a tree branch.
In winter, treat birds to a pine treat by covering pine cones with hardened bacon grease (or other fat) and roll in bread crumbs or bird seeds.
Pine cones can also be coated with peanut butter and rolled in sunflower seeds to make a great bird treat. Get your kids to help you they'll love the mess.
To attract birds to an outdoor birdbath, drop a few colored marbles into the water.
If you have a indoor bird for a pet and it gets loose in the house try this: Close the drapes and turn off the lights. Birds will usually stay motionless in the dark and you'll be able to catch it easier.
To keep cats off of tables, put strips of double faced tape on them. Cats will not like the feel of the sticky substance on their paws.
Cats hate plastic so to keep your cat off your chairs, cover the chair with plastic until he learns it's off limits.
A spray bottle of water will quickly train a cat not to do something.
If you're going to use a flea collar on your pet, be sure to put it on before flea season starts.
Vacuum floors and carpets often during flea season. Put salt or mothballs in vacuum bag to kill hatching fleas.
Your pet's dish will stay put while he is eating if placed on a rubber mat.
Keep your pets away from toxic plants. Rhododendron, Japanese yew, and lily of the valley, as well as peach and cherry pits, can all cause problems if eaten.
Be certain automotive anti-freeze is kept out of reach and any drippings are cleaned up completely. Pets are attracted to its scent. Antifreeze is highly toxic.
Secure electrical cords to baseboards or make them inaccessible. If your pet chews on them, it can suffer electric shock burns and may even die.
To hide cords that can't be made inaccessible, you can place paper towel or toilet tissue cardboard rolls over cords. Place construction cardboard on walls over cords.
Never give your pet chocolate. This can be very toxic to your pet.
If your puppy has an accident, blot up as much moisture as possible. Rub the spot with a solution of vinegar or lemon juice and warm sudsy water. Blot a few times, then pour straight club soda over the spot and blot again. Place a dry towel over the stain and put a heavy object (like a book) on top of it. Replace towel if it becomes soggy and repeat blotting.
|
Emergency Aid Kit For Pets
Knowing basic first aid could help save your pet's life.
Place veterinarian's phone number on the refrigerator or bulletin board, and in the first aid box where you can get to it quickly.
Gauze to wrap wounds or muzzle animal
Adhesive tape for bandages
Nonstick bandages (i.e., Telfa pads) to protect wounds or control bleeding
Towels and cloth (For bleeding or wrapping an injury)
Hydrogen peroxide (3 percent) Used to clean wound.
Milk of Magnesia or activated charcoal to absorb poison (Be sure to get the advice of your veterinarian or local poison control center before inducing vomiting or treating an animal for poisoning.)
Large syringe without needle or eyedropper (to give oral treatments)
Muzzle to avoid being bit. Use a soft cloth, rope, necktie, or nylon stocking. Use a towel to cover a small animal's head. Do not use in case of vomiting.
Always keep something to use as a stretcher (A door, board, blanket or floor mat)
You MUST contact your veterinarian immediately if your pet is injured or ill. First aid and the recommended first aid kit are not a substitute for veterinary treatment.
Grooming Tips
1. Remove burrs from your pet's fur by working oil into the tangle or by crushing the burrs with pliers. You can comb out crushed burrs as they lose their holding power.
2. When bathing your pet, place a rubber mat in the bottom of the tub for a more secure footing for your pet. It will feel safer and be more relaxed.
3. When washing your pet, a creme rinse is helpful for dogs that have fur that tangles.
4. To wash away strong odors and cut soap film, add vinegar or lemon juice to the rinse water.
5. Baking soda in the rinse water will leave your pet's coat odor free, plus softer and shinier.
6. Place a tea strainer in the tub drain to keep pipes from clogging up with your pet's hair.
7. Dry clean your pet instead of washing, by rubbing baking soda into his coat thoroughly and then brushing off. This will deodorize as well as clean.
8. Your dog's ears can be washed out with a vinegar and water solution. Mix equal amounts of water and vinegar in a small bottle. This is the same thing many vets use, except it doesn't have any coloring.
9. If your pet has had a run in with a skunk, in a well ventilated area, wash your pet in tomato juice. Then wash with shampoo and water. Rinse with a gallon of water to which a few tablespoons of ammonia have been added. Thoroughly rinse your pet with clear water.
10. Wash your pet in salt water to kill the fleas on them
Small Dog Training
Training the Small Dog. Save your back. Introduce new exercises on a raised surface. A grooming table or picnic table will bring him up to big dog level and make your job so much easier. (Don't use the dining room table unless you want to find him there later!).
a. Teach sit, down and stand at your level - with a bonus: fewer distractions!
b. Stays are easy to explain at the table's edge.
c. Leash work can be accomplished by walking around the picnic table. The dog's nose will be at your elbow, the food lure will be an easy target. He will learn to stay with you on L. turns, you can halt and sit and even change pace, normal, fast or slow as you move around the table.
d. Come when called can be easy, too. Have someone hold your dog at one end of the table while you center yourself at the other end. Target a spot close to your belly button and call!
For cat accidents, follow the same steps but, when the spot is dry, rub with a cloth dampened in ammonia. This will take the offensive odor away and it will prevent the cat from ever going in that spot again
.Housebreak your dog by hanging a bell by the back door. When you want to take your puppy outside, ring the bell. As he gets older he will ring the bell when he needs to go out.
Always keep the toilet lid down if you use toilet bowl cleaners. They are often strongly alkaline and tempting for pets to drink.
Cats have AB blood groups just like people and can donate blood to other cats.
Cats can compress or elongate their spine, making them smaller to sleep in snuggly places or longer to leap across wide-open spaces.
Cats normal body temperature ranges between 100.5 and 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit.
A cat's heart beats about twice as fast as your heart—about 110 to 140 times a minute in the average cat.
To purr, cats use extra tissue in the larynx (voice box). This tissue vibrates when they purr.
Cats lose almost as much fluid in the saliva while grooming themselves as they do through urination.
Both humans and cats have identical regions in the brain responsible for emotion, and a cat's brain is more similar to a man's brain than that of a dog.
A cat will never break a sweat because it has no sweat glands.
Cats can have freckles. They can appear anywhere on a cat's skin and even in its mouth.
Cat urine glows under a black light.
|
