Pet Blog - Pet Care Tip – Cat Litter Training Problems

Pet Care Tips Archive

Pet Care Tip – Cat Litter Training Problems

Friday, March 19th, 2010

If you have a cat, then you may have come across the problem of your cat not always using the litter box. Sometimes this can happen when you have several cats, or bring a new cat or kitten into the house.

If you are bringing a new cat or kitten into the house, make sure that the new cat knows where the litter box is, and isn’t being bullied by any other cats.

Also some cats are very picky about their litter box, and if it gets too dirty, they don’t want to go in it. Make sure that you keep your cat’s litter box fairly clean.

Sometimes a cat can go a long time using the box, and then develop a problem and quit using it. Try moving the box along with the cat to a small room, and isolate your cat there so you can keep an eye on him or her. If your cat still is having problems with the litter box and not using it, you may consider taking your cat to the vet to rule out any physical problems.

Sometimes a cat can get urinary tract infections, or F.U.S. (Feline Urological Syndrome), and this may cause a cat to not use their litter box. It is a good idea to get these ruled out. Usually, if a cat has no physical problems, and isn’t being bullied by other cats, they will use the litter box without any trouble.

Tags: Cats & Kittens
Posted in Pet Care Tips | No Comments »

Pet Care Tip – Cleaning Your Dog’s Teeth

Friday, March 12th, 2010

According to the American Veterinary Dental Association, an estimated 80% of dogs develop some form of gum disease by the age of three years. Left unchecked, the resulting bacteria can enter the pet’s blood stream, causing infection or damage to vital organs. Establishing a daily routine of proper dental care may extend the life of your pet.

Adult dogs and puppies, over the age of three months, can be easily trained to accept a daily brushing by gradually introducing this important health routine and providing plenty of praise and reassurance throughout the process.

A good way to introduce your dog to regular tooth brushing is to place a small amount of dog dental toothpaste on your finger and allow your dog to taste. Continue to use your finger and gently rub teeth and gums in a circular motion. When ready, introduce one of the dog tooth brushes. Apply a small amount of toothpaste onto the toothbrush. Allow your dog to taste and then gently brush in a circular motion. No rinsing is necessary. Remember to praise and reward your pet with a treat after each brushing. We recommend Four Paws dental treats.

Some good pet dental products are:

Pet Dental Oral Hygiene Kit

Pet Dental Finger Brushes

Pet Dental Finger Brush Kit with Paste

Pet Dental Bone Shaped Dental Treats

Tags: Dogs & Puppies
Posted in Pet Care Tips | No Comments »

Pet Care Tip – Carbon Filter Changing

Friday, March 5th, 2010

If you have an aquarium with a filter that uses activated carbon, it is a good idea to change the filters on a regular basis. A good rule of thumb for most filters that use slide-in cartridges is to change the filter at least once a month. Rinsing and re-using is not a good idea because activated carbon only lasts so long, and then it doesn’t work anymore.

Activated carbon, sometimes called charcoal, is a chemical absorber and absorbs odors, gases, colors and some dissolved organic compounds from your water. Normally a slide-in carbon cartridge contains only a tablespoon or two of carbon, so it won’t last long in your aquarium filter. It is best to buy a filter that contains quite a lot of activated carbon, as this will remove more pollutants, and last longer too.

If you have a lot of fish or a small aquarium that is overcrowded, or if your water is dirty, it helps to change your filter more often than once a month. If you have a filter such as a Hagen Aqua Clear filter, or a canister filter, you can just change the carbon bag by itself. You can leave the bio beads in the filter, as they contain beneficial bacteria and do not have to be removed. Make sure that you don’t put any chlorinated water on these bio beads. If you have a foam sponge, this can be cleaned in some of the removed fish water.

While you have the filters out, it is not a bad idea to clean your filter’s impellor. This magnetic impellor in the filter’s pump should be cleaned about every 3 to 6 months.

Here are some filter supplies you may find useful:

AquaClear 30 Activated Carbon, 1.5 oz.

AQ-CLEAR 30 CARBON 1PK

AquaClear 30 Activated Carbon (3/Pack)

CANISTER FILTER 160

Tags: Fish & Ponds
Posted in Pet Care Tips | No Comments »

Pet Care Tip – Socializing Hamsters

Friday, February 26th, 2010

Hamsters can make very nice small pets. They have some advantages over larger pets, and one of these advantages is their small size. Being small, they don’t need a lot of room, and are usually easy to care for. They don’t eat nearly as much as, for instance, a 30 lb dog or a 10 lb cat.

When you first get your hamster, or are picking one out at the pet shop, keep in mind that the hamster doesn’t know you yet. It may be a little (or a lot) afraid. When hamsters get afraid, they might bite or try to run away. To avoid getting bitten by a new hamster, let him or her get to know you gradually. If there is a cage or tank with several hamsters in it, don’t just reach in and grab one and pick it up. Use the back of your fingers to pet the hamster on its back. Do this gently. If you have a hamster treat, offer it to him.

After a little petting, if the hamster looks like he doesn’t mind being petted and doesn’t appear to be afraid, then you might be able to pick it up. Reach around the middle of the hamster, gently pick it up and remove it from the cage or tank. Don’t stand up with the hamster, or raise him up too high. If he or she should fall, or jump, your hamster could really get hurt. Keep the hamster down low, maybe put him on your lap, or somewhere where he can’t get away or jump down to get hurt.

Keep petting your new hamster and handle him or her gently. Avoid sudden movements and loud noises. If your hamster starts to get nervous and tries to bite or gets really afraid, put him back in his cage and try again later. Just do this little by little and your new hamster will learn to trust you, and become a good pet.

Here are some treats your hamster might like:

Yogurt Drops

Healthy Bits Treat

Tags: Small Animals
Posted in Pet Care Tips | No Comments »

Pet Care Tip – Decorating Your Aquarium for Cichlids

Friday, February 19th, 2010

If you have an aquarium with cichlid fish, or are thinking of getting cichlids, you will want to consider how to best decorate your aquarium for the benefit of these fish.

If you are choosing African cichlids, of which there are a large variety, you will need a lot of rocks, caves and plants. African cichlids tend to get a little aggressive, and could fight among themselves. Try to get rocks, artificial driftwood, artificial rock, and plastic plants in enough quantity to really fill up your aquarium.

The aquarium should be fairly large if you are going to have several cichlids. Have decorations with plenty of hiding places and caves so if a cichlid needs to escape from a bully, he can. Cichlids will often have a pecking order, and usually the larger or most aggressive will rule the tank.

With a lot of cover and hiding places, your cichlids will have more color as well as more protection from the more aggressive cichlids. There are many other types of cichlids available too. Depending on what type you have, you will want to appropriately decorate with good hiding places for the less dominant types.

If you have oscars, you probably won’t have too many oscars together in one tank, as they get quite large. If you have a pair of oscars that have grown up together, they can usually get along fairly well. If you have a third or fourth one in the same tank, they may not all get along.

Having plenty of good hiding places made of rocks and plants is a good idea for most cichlids.

Here are some items that make good decorations for cichlid aquariums: