PetSugar

To the Rescue: How to Make Friends With a Friend's Cat

PetSugar — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 10:40:14 -0700

While my house is feline-free, I've got plenty of friends with kitty housemates. Most of the time, they're pretty receptive to my overtures, but here's an easy tip I've learned the sharp way.

When reaching out to pet a cat, approach with fingers tucked under and fist together. Open hands with spread fingers can look a bit too much like unsheathed claws to some cats, and they could perceive your gentle petting desires to be a sign of aggression and lash out. Ouch. Move slowly - so you're not a moving target - and show the cat your hand first to sniff your scent before reaching in for a rub.

If you've had this problem, or other issues with animals, big and small, share your questions and concerns with our Pet Peeves group - I'm only here to help!

Source: Flickr User FriaLOve

I Need Your Help . . . Dealing With Aggressive Dogs on Walks

PetSugar — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 04:00:00 -0700

Nothing turns a walk time from rad to bad quicker than a foul-tempered pooch. I'd hazard a guess that very few, very lucky pet owners have never encountered an aggressive dog while out and about - even an attempted lunge is scary stuff - and what if it continues on way too far? Community member Beaner explains:

We've been going in the woods off-leash ever since we had our dog and, last weekend, the same dog went after him for the third time. I told the owner he should leash his dog since he's aggressive, and his response was, "Well I think dogs should just work it out themselves." When I saw him again, and I yelled to scare the other dog off, then leashed mine and walked the other way home. Is there anything I can do?

Get more of the story and offer your own advice when you read more.

Here's where the story gets more ridiculous as the offending owner asked Beaner if her dog was neutered - he is - but, when she asked back, he said "pretty much" even though she could see evidence to the contrary. Umm, horrible. Now, it's definitely a good idea to remove any dog from a dangerous situation but, unfortunately, there are some people that just won't do the right thing and ruin the fun for everyone else. Other than contacting the local animal care and control facility to see if there are any policies regarding aggressive dogs, I'm at a loss about what she can do - any tips?

(If you have problems of your own, don't forget to submit any questions to the Pet Peeves group - and we'll help work them out!)

I Need Your Help . . . Ear Protection From Rain?

PetSugar — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 08:00:46 -0700

Rainy days go away! Not only does the wet stuff totally annoy some pets, it can be harmful, too. Check out this message about a three-year-old blue American Pitbull:

We rescued Diva at seven months old, and she had already had her ears clipped. It was a chop job to say the least - the problem now is that she is getting gunk in her ears when we walk, especially in the rain. I am looking for something to protect her ears and not block her hearing.

To see my advice, and offer your own, read more.

First off, I'd check with a vet to confirm that build up isn't coming from an infection. To keep ears clean, pick up a safe cleanser with Almond or Macadamia nut oils to repel water and soften stubborn wax. Anyone else have any suggestions to make walk time less sticky and less waterlogged?

(Remember if you have questions to be answered, either send me a private message or simply post to the Pet Peeves group - we're all here to help!)

Pet Peeves: Can I Put My Moisturizer on My Dogs' Paws?

PetSugar — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 09:30:43 -0700

Q: My dog's paw pads are super dry, so dry they're nearly cracking. I know cold weather is coming soon and this will worsen - can I rub some of my lotion or Vaseline on them?

A: I commend your concern for bow owwies on the paw pads but you need to be careful what you rub him down with. Maybe you also want to sweeten them up, corn chip smell and all, but step away from your perfumed lotion! Search for a good pad moisturizer (Samson likes Opie and Dixie's healer) or ask your vet if the problem is severe. Not only can human hand moisturizer soften the pads too much for extra slips or slides, but the ingredients may also be harmful if ingested (read: licked).

If you have problems with pets, don't forget to submit your questions to our Pet Peeves group - I'm here to help!

Source: Flickr User lisatozzi

Pet Peeves: How Do I Know If My Dog's Toy Is Too Small?

PetSugar — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 12:10:59 -0700

Q: I was soooo excited for my new dog, I went out and bought a ton of "puppy" toys . . . but now I'm wondering if he's outgrown them since he's almost one year old now. How can I tell if his playthings are the right size?

A: Ahh, new-puppy-mom syndrome - happens to the best of us! Not sure what kind of dog you have, but if he's a larger breed that grew significantly in size, there's a chance you may need to remove some of his old toys. Also, many puppy toys have a softer consistency so his adult teeth could tear them to shreds in no time at all.

My quick and easy rule is that if your dog can fit the entire toy easily is his mouth, it's too small. If you have a small dog, you may want to use the method some parents recommend - make sure it doesn't fit inside a toilet paper tube. Regardless, stay alert and promptly discard any tiny, torn bits or other possibly choking hazards. Don't forget, the same thing rings true for multiple pet homes (Saint Bernards could easily choke on a Chihuahua-sized toy) as well as those houses with tiny kitty toys laying about.

Source: Flickr User flygraphix

Pet Peeves: How Do I Clean My Dog's Eyes?

PetSugar — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 11:15:50 -0700

Q: I just recently got a little Boston Terrier who seems to have been neglected by his previous owners. I have an appointment with the vet for next week, but I wanted to know some good products to protect/clean his eye?

A: Congratulations! I'm glad that you have a doctor's appointment because it's important to make sure that a tear stain is not a sign of epiphora (blocked tear duct), an eye inflammation, or other disease. There's a difference between cleaning up the stain and treating the eyes themselves, and buggy eyed pooches (Bostons, Pugs, Frenchies, etc.) can be at greater risk of dust, dryness, or scratches. Now North hates swabs, but he'll sit still for eye drops.

To see what product I use, and how to apply it, read more.

Ask your vet to recommend something like the preservative-free Halo Cloud Nine Herbal Eye Wash for Dogs and Cats. When you're ready to apply drops:

Hold the pet's head steady and tilted back so that the eye faces the ceiling.
If you need to, gently hold the eyelid back with free fingers (as you would if putting in your own drops/contacts).
Position the dropper close to eye, but don't touch it as that can spread bacteria and squeeze the drops on the eyeball according to package dosing.

Pet Peeves: Why Does My Dog Snore?

PetSugar — Tue, 12 May 2009 14:35:47 -0700

I know I'm not the only one whose home includes a four-legged snorer - North makes noises in his sleep that friends can hear in the next room or even over the phone. There are several possible reasons for the odd sounds coming out of those wriggly noses and I've gathered a bunch below:

Smooshies. Breeds with smushed faces or short snouts can be predisposed to snoring problems. If you think about it, they're forced to breathe with only a fraction of their actual nostrils and have to work extra hard to maximize that space. Since it's harder for them to control breathing (wheezing and snorting) when awake, the constriction of their nasal passages make it equally hard, if not more so, when sleeping.
Loose Tissue. Loose throat tissue also contributes - snoring also results from a slight obstruction that's vibrating during sleepytime breathing.

See three other reasons your pooch could be snoring (that you can do something about!) when you read more.

Overweight. Just like with humans, obese dogs may snore because they have more excess flesh around the throats. This can cause the obstruction that causes the vibration that causes the snoring sound. (Refresh some of my pet weight-management tips here.)
Allergies/Illness. Snoring can be a result of a bigger, medical problem. Even dogs get allergies and other breathing issues - if snoring suddenly starts where silence was found before, it may be worth a trip to a vet's office to check that nose out.
Positioning. Some dogs only snore when sleeping on their backs so picking up a donut-shaped bed that encourages curling up can help your pooch change his sleep method and hopefully the sounds that result, too.

Source

Pet Peeves: I Need to Get a Grip on Walktime!

PetSugar — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 13:00:53 -0700

Q: Although we're working on training, my 100-pound dog still sometimes pulls on the leash. Since I'm not that much bigger than he is (weight-wise), I'm always worried I'll drop the lead. Do you have any tips on getting a better grip?

A: I'd definitely recommend to handle that leash with both hands since two's better than one. Remember to hold the looped part of the leash in the hand on the opposite side of your pet – right hand at the top to walk a dog on your left side and vice versa. One way to keep better control over pulling is to put the hand on the "dog-side" in the middle of the leash (as illustrated here). It allows twice the grip and the ability to control motion since you can use this hand to hold or redirect a pet to stay on the side you want him on.

Source

Pet Peeves: My Hamster Hates Her Wheel!

PetSugar — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 14:00:34 -0800

Q: My hamster, Nibbles, doesn't ever seem to want to go on her wheel. I never hear it squeaking at night and I'm constantly watching her during the day, and she hates it. When I try to coax her on, she hops right off – my mice were always on their wheel, what's wrong with this hamster of mine?

A: My first tip would be to test out some new wheels. If you own the plastic or wire version with rungs (or this grid pattern), it could be turning off your hamster – these can be painful for small pets because tiny feet can get stuck between the rungs or in the gaps so some animals will hesitate to hop on. I'd recommend testing out a solid plastic type (such as this one) to see if you have any more success.

If you're not into buying a new wheel, though, create a quick fix by removing the existing wheel and weaving a sheet of paper in and out of the rungs or securely attaching it around the outside, making the surface flat and creating a solid wheel instead.

Lastly, some pets prefer different forms of exercise, just like people – you couldn't catch me on a treadmill! If you feel your furry friend isn't getting enough exercise, try giving her more space to roam or even a Run-About Ball instead.

Pet Peeves: Kitty Confuses Chair For Litterbox!

PetSugar — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 16:00:42 -0800

Q: My kitty keeps peeing on a chair in my living room. At first I wasn't sure, but I know that stench all too well and several times it's still been damp to the touch when I get home from work. I don't want this problem to spread so how do I save my couch and other chairs?

A: Most cats hate citrusy smells – similar to keeping them away from your plants with lemon halves, sprays, or peel shavings, soak a cotton ball with lemon juice and place it on that chair, near the spot where your cat continues to relieve herself.

Another way to keep felines off furniture is aluminum foil – cats typically don't like the sound nor feeling under their paws and should stop jumping up once you put it there. In fact, you shouldn't have to do this forever (that could get annoying when you want to plop down to watch TV and again before you go to bed) as kitties easily recall such things.

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