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Educational Articles

Behavior & Training

  • Cat food has been made so palatable that it can easily create gluttonous behavior. Meal feeding and portion control are important to prevent obesity. Owners should not give in to begging behavior. Cats that are still hungry after their meal can be supplemented with snacks such as green vegetables recommended by your veterinarian. Cats that eat too quickly can be fed creatively to slow down eating.

  • Dog food has been made so palatable that it can easily create gluttonous behavior. Meal feeding and portion control are important to prevent obesity. Owners should not give in to begging behavior. Dogs that are still hungry after their meal can be supplemented with snacks such as green vegetables recommended by your veterinarian. Dogs that eat too quickly can be fed creatively to slow down eating.

  • Due to their well-deserved reputation as escape artists, ferrets should be housed in a cage that can be securely closed and/or locked. They also need a safe, "ferret-proofed" play area or room where they can explore and investigate while supervised.

  • Successful airline travel with a cat begins long before the day of travel. Do your homework with the airlines. Acquire your cat's travel carrier well before your trip to allow her to become comfortable with it. Schedule a visit with your veterinarian close to the date of travel. Consult your veterinarian to create the best travel plan for your cat if she does not travel well. With some advance planning, attention to detail, and consultation with your veterinarian, flying with your cat can be a great experience.

  • Successful airline travel with a dog begins long before the day of travel. Do your homework with the airlines. Acquire your dog's travel carrier well before your trip. Schedule a visit with your veterinarian close to the date of travel. Consult your veterinarian to create the best travel plan for your dog if he does not travel well. With some advance planning, attention to detail, and consultation with your veterinarian, flying with your dog can be a great experience.

  • Guarding food items can be a normal behavior in dogs, but when it escalates, the safety of both people and animals is compromised. Exercises to prevent and reverse guarding behavior can be beneficial to any dog. Professional guidance is needed for any dog who has repeatedly come into conflict with people or pets because of guarding behavior.

  • Gentamicin + betamethasone valerate + clotrimazole (Otomax®) is a combination topical ear medication used to treat bacterial and/or yeast ear infections in dogs. It is also used off label to treat bacterial and/or yeast infections in cats, or for the topical treatment of superficial skin infections in both dogs and cats.

  • If you are planning to add another dog to your family, take time to consider the personality, size, and sex of your current household dog. Introduce the dogs gradually, watching for subtle signs of fear or aggression. Supervise the dogs for as many weeks as needed to assure long term success.

  • When you bring a new puppy into your home, there is inevitably a period of adjustment. The adjustment will be easier if you plan how you will meet the puppy's needs and provide a positive experience, safe socialization, supervision, and structure. Puppies can be exhausting at times, but raising a puppy is intensely rewarding.

  • Head down. Eyes averted. Shoulders hunched. Tail thumping the floor. Body retreating. Your pet looks guilty, maybe even apologetic, right? WRONG! Your pet’s body posture and attitude do not indicate guilt or remorse but represent a response to your body posture and attitude.