Bloat is a life-threatening emergency that affects dogs in the prime of life. The mortality rate for gastric volvulus approaches 50 percent. Early recognition and treatment are the… Read More »Bloat: All Dog Owners Should Be Able to Spot this Deadly Problem
Senior Dogs: Common Behavior Changes Puppies have their behavior problems and older dogs have theirs. For older dogs, in many cases it is not that… Read More »Senior Dog Behavior: What to Expect
Cats will chew on plants. And, because they love to climb and explore, it is difficult to keep plants out of their reach. Therefore, if… Read More »Know Your Dangers: Common Household Plants are Poisonous for Cats
Although it can be irksome for owners, being branded finicky could ultimately be a boon for cats — especially when it comes to ingesting potentially dangerous foods. “The… Read More »What Not to Feed Your Cat
Nutrition Your bird’s diet is one of the most important considerations of its overall care. Adequate feeding plans may be developed from a wide variety… Read More »The Basics on Bird Care
For dogs and other animal companions, toys are not a luxury, but a necessity. Toys help fight boredom in dogs left alone, and toys can even… Read More »The Importance of Dog Toys
Research comparing the brain function of dogs and humans found that dogs have “voice areas” in their brains located in the same region as humans.… Read More »How Our Pets Understand Us
When a beloved pet seems a bit “off,” it might be more than just a bad day; it could be a sign of mild sickness… Read More »Is Your Pet Sick? What Should You Do?
Has your dog turned your yard into a moonscape, with craters everywhere? If so, the first thing you should know is that your dog isn’t… Read More »Yard’s Best Friend: Your Dog and Digging
Sarah’s Pet Care does not discriminate based on breed. Pitbulls, Rottweilers, Dobermans, German Shepherds — we love and welcome them all, provided their temperaments and behavior are appropriate for our services. Read on for a fascinating and myth-busting article about the much maligned pitbull terrier …
Pitbulls Used to Be Considered the Perfect “Nanny Dogs” for Children — Until the Media Turned Them Into Monsters
Despite their reputation, the United Kennel Club doesn’t recommended using pitbulls as guard dogs because they’re too friendly with strangers.
For most of the 114 years since the American pitbull terrier was first recognized by the United Kennel Club, the breed was rightly seen as the perfect “nanny dog” for children because of its friendly nature, loyalty and stability. As the ASPCA notes, the pitbulls were “once considered especially non-aggressive to people.”
Consider two and avoid Single Kitten Syndrome.
MEOW Cat Rescue of Kirkland, WA explains why (www.meowcatrescue.org):
If you’ve ever raised a litter of kittens or adopted a pair of them, you know how much they play together. Some of this play is painful, as confirmed by the yowling and complaining that occurs. The kittens bite and scratch each other, sometimes quite hard. All the while they are learning from one another that this behavior is not the best way to make friends. If they’re lucky enough to have a mom cat around and she hears the ruckus, she will often give a warning “that’s enough of that” to the kittens and they settle down.
In order to become well-socialized cats, kittens need to learn appropriate behavior from one another. A human is not a substitute for a feline companion. You can provide attention and love but there is simply no way you can replicate the play behavior of the species. If they don’t learn limits in their play as youngsters, they often develop inappropriate playful aggression. In other words, it may be cute when a kitten attacks your ankles when you walk by or playfully nips at your fingers while you’re playing. It will be much less cute, not to mention annoying and painful, when your cat is full grown.
Read More »Thinking of bringing a new kitten into your home?
Here are some common misconceptions about dogs and cats, courtesy of onlynaturalpet.com . . .
1. A warm or dry nose means a sick dog
Regular fluctuations in the temperature and moisture of a dog’s nose are normal. Canine distemper used to be a prevalent virus which caused a thickening of the nose and foot pads. A cold, wet nose indicated the dog didn’t have distemper. Today distemper is uncommon due to vaccinations.
2. All cats are loners
Many cats love company and spending time with their humans. It’s not unusual for a cat to follow you around and try to ‘help’ with whatever chores you’re doing – from typing emails to wrapping packages.