Many dogs become stressed when they are forced to spend a great deal of time alone. Because of this loneliness, it is important to make the time that you do have to spend with your dog quality time. Keep up a regular exercise routine to enhance your bond with your dog, while reducing both of your stress levels. But do not make everything about working out. Make time for good old fashioned playtime to keep your dog happy, and yourself content as well.

When you are forced to leave your dog alone, provide him with plenty of toys for stimulation. Try cognitive dog toys that force the dogs to work in order to receive treats from out of the toy. These toys will give your dog a sense of purpose, and distract him from his time alone. Chew toys may also help to soothe some dogs.

Additionally, some dogs do well with another dog for company. However it is difficult to justify getting a second dog when you already have difficulties finding the time to spend with your first dog. Only get a second dog if you are certain that you have adequate time and resources to spend with both dogs. Never get a second dog to baby sit your first dog.

Remember though that no toys are substitutes for human interaction. Be sure to let your dog spend time with you whenever you can, and consider investing in a doggy daycare, pet sitter, or dog walker to keep your dog content when you cannot be around.

One of the easiest ways to socialize a puppy is to take him out with you wherever you go. Allow your puppy to learn his neighborhood as well as new sites too. Puppies should be exposed to new sounds, animals and people, as this will ensure that your puppy will grow up to be a much happier and friendlier member of your family.

However, you should use caution whenever you introduce your puppy to other dogs. Learn as much as you can about the particular characteristics of your puppy’s breed. For example, if your puppy’s breed is well known to be aggressive, you should be extra careful when introducing him to other, older dogs.

Should your puppy growl at any friend or family member, do not pick him up and hold him, as this will be seen by him as a reward for growling. Your puppy will then learn that the appropriate reaction to fear is to growl. This is not good as growling can eventually lead to biting, and you certainly do not want to be responsible for your puppy biting any of your friends or family members when he gets older.

Make sure you correct his growling by firmly saying “No” as soon as he growls. Then you can slowly introduce him to the person/dog so that he can see that there is nothing to fear.

It is also important to remember that puppies love to play, and will sometimes chew on your fingers with a playful growl. This type of playful behavior is known as ‘teething’ and is perfectly normal for a young pup to do. So do not confuse this normal behavior with the defensive fear growl mentioned above.

When introducing your puppy to babies or children, allow your puppy to smell them first. This will create the beginning of a bond between your puppy and the child. Never tolerate any growling when it comes to children as this could result in your puppy thinking that he has a more dominant role in your family.

Ear Mites in cats; Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment

Ear mites are a very common infection found in cats. Ear mites are medically termed as Otodectes Cynotis and are eight legged spider-like parasites. These crab shaped parasites are highly contagious and often live in the ear canal or head of the cat, but is can be found on other parts of the body. Though they have a life cycle of 2 to 3 weeks, they can survive without the host for a number of weeks.

The microscopic creatures are usually found inside the ear, in ear canals, where the environment is moist and air is restricted. They fed themselves on epidermal debris and ear wax. The female lays her eggs in the outer part of the ear, mostly where there is fur. Some breeds of dogs are more vulnerable to this infection, especially dogs with floppy ears.

Symptoms of Ear Mites in Cats:

Ear mites are most likely to occur in kittens, as their immunity system is still not very strong to fight infections. The symptoms of ear mites may differ from cat to cat and the level of severity, but the most common symptoms are:

• Irritation and discomfort
• Inflammation of the ear: inner or outer
• Pain and Sensitive to touch
• Head shaking
• Rubbing and Scratching of the ear frequentl
• Bleeding
• Brown or red colored discharge
• Black or Dark Brown Ear wax and Debris
• May have Foul Smelling odor

Diagnosis and Treatment of Ear Mites in Cats:

Proper diagnosis is really important, as the symptoms of ear mites can be very confusing. The procedure involves physical examination of the cat. Our vet examines the ear of a cat to look for any visible signs of excessive wax and dark brown colored debris.

Ear mites can be seen through the help of an otoscope or microscope. Depending upon the severity of the infection, we may recommend further investigation if needed.

The moist atmosphere of a cat’s ear is ideal for yeast or bacterial infections to grow. Neglecting the ear mites may cause open sores in the ear, which makes room for further infection. In severe cases the ear drum can be burst. It is essential to treat the ear mites as soon as possible, as they are really painful for a cat.

The treatment of the ear mites involve initial cleansing of the ear. We will clean the ear first and then prescribes ear drops or ointments. These are applied topically twice or thrice a day. Shampoos, specifically formulated to eliminate ear mites, may also be recommended. In case of severe infection, our vet might also prescribe antibiotics.

It is really important to take care of your cat´s hygiene and take preventive measures to avoid ear mites, as they can be transmitted to other pets.

Every responsible dog owner understands the importance of a healthy diet for their dog. However, not ever dog owner understands the importance of putting their dog on a feeding schedule! All dogs need to regular meals and timing mealtimes and snacks on a feeding schedule is a great idea.

When thinking about a feeding schedule for your dog, you will want to take into consideration your dog’s current age and health. All adult dogs and senior dogs should be fed their main meals at least twice a day. Puppies, on the other hand, require many more meals throughout the day depending on their stage of development. Puppies that are still nursing should be allowed to nurse on demand. Once you start to introduce solid food to the pup, you will need to offer it at least four to five times a day. Once the puppy is weaned and used to eating the dog food, you may reduce the feeding times to three times a day.

Try to be as consistent with your dog’s mealtimes as you possibly can. Try to avoid dramatically varying your dog’s feeding times. Even feeding your dog treats will become part of his daily routine. If your dog knows that every morning just before your lunch, you offer a chew bone, he or she will await that daily ritual.

By establishing a feeding schedule you will help to keep your dog’s diet on track as it is easy to get in the habit of feeding your dog regularly. The added benefit is that scheduled feeding times will help to predict your dog’s elimination schedule. This is especially helpful when you are trying to potty train a puppy or even housebreaking an adult because it will give you an idea of when your dog needs to go outside to potty. Maintaining a healthy diet and feeding schedule will make your job much easier. This is also very useful when traveling with your pet. If you know to expect your dog’s elimination schedule, you will be able to plan appropriate potty stops. In addition, you will know if your dog is feeling stress by changes to his schedule. Try to maintain normalcy and routine as much as possible.

Due to the specific anatomy of their ears, dogs are quite prone to ear infections. A dog’s ear has a horizontal and a vertical component to them, so it can be quite hard for anything in the ears to drain out.

There are several signs of an ear infection, including excessive head shaking, yellow to brown oozing in the ears, or a yeast-like smell. Additional signs of ear infections can also include redness and swelling of your dog’s ears.

There are several causes of ear infections, with the most common cause being due to allergies that your dog may or may develop. Some dogs are more prone to allergies than others; therefore they will get more ear infections.

It is best to remember that if your dog does have an ear infection, it is important to properly clean your dog’s ears before applying any type of medication. You can do this by placing a few drops of an ear cleanser into the ear and massage the ear to help loosen any debris that is in there. Then use a cloth or cotton ball to wipe the dirt out.

Once your dog’s ears are thoroughly clean, you can then apply the medication, just be sure to always follow your veterinarian’s advice about how much medication to apply to the ear. It is usually only a few drops.

Our veterinarian will prescribe a treatment plan that is unique to your dog and his specific ear infection. This is usually based on the cause of the ear infection. For examples, if your dog’s ear infection is a yeast infection, we might prescribe anti-fungal medication; and if your dog’s ear infection is a bacterial infection, we will probably prescribe antibiotics. Normally, treatment is applied directly into the ears, but in severe cases systemic treatment may be needed. This usually means having to give your dog pills orally. .

Some breeds of dogs that are prone to ear infections include breeds with large ears that flap over the ear canal, and breeds of dogs that have a very small canals. These dogs need their ears checked often.