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HELP YOUR PET LOSE WEIGHT. TURN YOUR OVERWEIGHT FUR BABY INTO A HEALTHY, LEAN, AND ACTIVE PET WITH THESE SIMPLE TIPS

HELP YOUR PET LOSE WEIGHT One of the most popular New Year’s resolutions is to lose weight.  Along with the increasing incidence of obesity in humans, our pets are faring no better.  Latest estimates by veterinarians are that 59% of all cats, and 54% of dogs can be classified as overweight.  So, now, even in the realm of weight, our pets are looking more and more like us. As there are for humans, there are many health consequences for overweight pets – diabetes, liver problems, arthritis, heart disease, and high blood pressure.  Cats and dogs who exceed normal weight limits also have more trouble jumping, playing, and breathing, than their svelte compatriots.  And, again like humans, their inactivity increases weight gain, and their weight gain increases inactivity. Fortunately, there are things we, as concerned pet parents, can do to take pounds off, and add healthy years to, our furry friends. CATS How much should my cat eat? Indoor cats should consume about 20 calories per pound daily. Therefore, a 10 pound cat should take in 200 calories for weight maintenance. Outdoor…

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INDOOR VS OUTDOOR CATS.  WHICH CHOICE WILL HELP YOUR CAT LIVE A LONGER AND HAPPIER LIFE?

INDOOR VS OUTDOOR CATS.  WHICH CHOICE WILL HELP YOUR CAT LIVE A LONGER AND HAPPIER LIFE? Indoor vs outdoor cats.  Whenever the discussion turns towards cats, there are two camps.  The first says that cats love being outside, and should have the freedom to remain outdoors.  The second says that cats are domestic animals and should remain indoors.   Then there are the half and halfers who have indoor/outdoor cats.  Which is really the best choice for the animal, and for their owners? OUTDOOR CATS FACE MANY DANGERS PREDATORS There are many wild animals who find cats the perfect prey.  Small, and apparently tasty, cats can become victims of foxes, coyotes, and dogs.  Particularly small cats can and are carried off by hawks.  Even raccoons have been known to eat domestic cats.  Keeping your cat indoors can protect them from a sudden and nasty death. HEALTH Outdoor cats are bound to come in contact with feral cats at one time or another.  Feral cats, unless in a TNR colony, do not have vaccinations.  Often sick, usually with upper respiratory infections, ferals can…

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Continue ReadingINDOOR VS OUTDOOR CATS.  WHICH CHOICE WILL HELP YOUR CAT LIVE A LONGER AND HAPPIER LIFE?

PETS AND THE HOLIDAYS. KEEP YOUR DOGS, CATS, AND GUESTS SAFE WHILE ENJOYING THE FESTIVITIES

PETS AND THE HOLIDAYS Pets and the holidays!  Keeping your pets safe during this season, particularly newly adopted dogs and cats, can be a challenge. New members of your family are beginning to adjust to new surroundings and new people, and then everything changes! As a Lovimals affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases KEEP YOUR NEWLY ADOPTED (OR LONG-TIME) PET SAFE AND HAPPY Starting with Thanksgiving, and continuing through to about mid-January (when all the post-holiday sales are finally over), things are jumping in many households.  Visitors arrive and depart, trees are brought inside for a time (I wonder what our pets think about that), and delicious smells fill the air.  Magical for you and me.  But this time of year can be frightening for a dog or cat.  And it's particularly stressful for one who hasn’t yet fully acclimatized to its new surroundings. Here are a few of the possible safety issues, and suggestions on how to handle them: SMALL CHILDREN Visitors with small children can be a major issue when it comes to keeping both them and your pets…

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WHY YOU SHOULDN’T GET A DOG.  DON’T BE AFRAID TO SAY NO NOW INSTEAD OF REGRETTING YOUR DECISION LATER.

REASONS NOT TO GET A DOG Why you shouldn't get a dog.  Despite all the hoopla about the health and mental benefits of dog ownership, there are just as many reasons not to get a dog.  Not every home, not every family, is a perfect place for a pet.  And, although every dog should have a home, not every home should have a dog. Here, spelled out plainly, are a few of the reasons why you shouldn't get a dog. COST If you’re living paycheck to paycheck, this could be a big factor in your decision. I am not one of those who thinks you need to be rich to own a dog, but you do need to have your head firmly above the financial waterline. FOOD Dog food is expensive.  The cheapest out there is the bargain basement Old Roy from Walmart (which is not the healthiest food for a pet), at about $20.00 per 50 pounds.  On the other end of the scale, Taste of the Wild dry dog food goes for $65.00 per 28 pounds.  A 40-pound dog…

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Continue ReadingWHY YOU SHOULDN’T GET A DOG.  DON’T BE AFRAID TO SAY NO NOW INSTEAD OF REGRETTING YOUR DECISION LATER.

11 SCOTTISH DOG BREEDS – RANGING FROM THE THIRD MOST POPULAR TO THE 182ND. ARE ONE OF THESE BREEDS RIGHT FOR YOU?

Many dog breeds originated in Scotland, a mountainous and rocky country with lots of open spaces.  Due to necessity and the terrain, Scottish dog breeds include a few terriers, used to control the vermin population.  Scotland also produced three few shepherd breeds, a retriever, a setter, and a sight hound used for hunting.  Although all the breeds here are still viable, some are rarely seen in the United States, which is a shame.  Read through these interesting breeds and see if one is right for you. CAIRN TERRIER HISTORY The Cairn Terrier is one of the oldest of the Scottish dog breeds, originating on the Isle of Skye in the far northwest.  The word “cairn” denotes an outcropping of rocks, as these dogs’ original purpose was to hunt otter.  One of my personal favorites, this breed was included with all the other terrier breeds until 1912.  Then, they were split from the other four breeds into their own group and first appeared in the United States in 1913. BEHAVIOR Cairn Terriers (I speak from personal experience here) are feisty, independent, and…

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A SOLUTION FOR THE FERAL CAT PROBLEM. HOW TNR (TRAP, NEUTER, RELEASE) HELPS CALM LOCAL FEARS AND IMPROVES THE LIVES AND HEALTH OF FERAL CATS.

  The feral cat problem.  These words conjure up hordes of cats damaging neighborhoods, defecating in children's sandboxes, spreading disease to domesticated felines.  But it doesn't need to be that way.  Dedicated volunteers from TNR organizations work hard every day to mitigate the concerns of homeowners and make life for feral cats easier and healthier. WHAT IS TNR? TNR is short for trap, neuter, and release.  Feral cat colonies are a problem in many neighborhoods.   These colonies, left unchecked, can grow very large.  They leave cat feces on homeowner’s properties, disrupt local wildlife, and raise concerns about contagious diseases. TNR is a program, carried out by local volunteers across the country. Unsocialized cats are trapped, taken to a veterinarian to be neutered or spayed, vaccinated against contagious diseases, and returned to the original colony.  Some, of course, living in the elements as they do, will be too ill to save, and will be humanely euthanized at the veterinary office. WHAT CAUSES CATS TO BECOME FERAL? Honestly, humans are responsible for much of the stray cat population.  Of course, some cats get…

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Continue ReadingA SOLUTION FOR THE FERAL CAT PROBLEM. HOW TNR (TRAP, NEUTER, RELEASE) HELPS CALM LOCAL FEARS AND IMPROVES THE LIVES AND HEALTH OF FERAL CATS.