Pet Care Tips That Aren’t Talked About Enough

First, we preface what we’re about to say with the disclaimer: rope tug toys aren’t always hazardous. So if your pooch’s favorite toy is made of rope, you can breathe a sigh of relief. However, rope toys are worth keeping an eye on because when they become an issue, it’s no exaggeration to say they can be life-threatening. As you likely know, rope eventually frays, especially if the tug toy is well-loved!

Did you know that we humans aren’t the only species that can have thyroid issues? In fact, cats can also suffer from conditions like hyperthyroidism. There are a few surefire symptoms to look out for. Needless to say, if your cat is exhibiting these behaviors, you should take them to a vet to get their professional opinion and/or treatment. That said, here are some of the symptoms to look out for:

Dog chews and bones can be an easy way to keep your dog occupied when you haven’t got time to play. However, feeding your dog too many bones and chews does have a downside. They can cause your dog’s teeth to wear down too quickly, resulting in expensive visits to your vet. Also, beware of gastrointestinal issues that can arise when hard pieces of a bone or chew get stuck in the small intestine.

Humans and dogs have plenty in common. This, unfortunately, includes smelly feet. Where doggie paws are concerned, let’s not forget they’re on their bare feet a lot! So it’s no surprise they pick up microbes such as yeast and bacteria on their travels. However, you only really need to worry if your dog’s paws start to smell worse and/or your dog begins licking and chewing its paws more than usual.

We, humans, can live with hot weather by staying indoors in air-conditioned homes or rooms with fans. However, for cats who are used to hanging out in the great outdoors, that may be a problem. It’s much tougher for our furry friends to cool down. So why not help them by popping wet paper towels in your freezer? When it’s time to cool your pet down, simply retrieve the paper towel.

Who doesn’t love buying themselves a bouquet of flowers as a treat? Or hope their beloved turns up on the doorstep holding the biggest bunch you’ve ever seen? The bad news is that if your favorite flowers are lilies, and your animal of choice is a cat, you’ll have to make a choice. Why? Because cats are highly allergic to lilies, so much so that it can cause kidney failure!

Dog Moms and dog Dads, listen up. You’d imagine anything edible sold for dogs to chew on would be safe, right? Wrong. Take pig ears and other kinds of chews. Many of these are bleached, and, unsurprisingly, bleach isn’t good for dogs. As for chews specifically made out of pig’s ears, these have a super-high fat content, which increases the risk of obesity, diarrhea, vomiting, and too much bacteria in the small intestine. None of which is good for your pup!

There’s a specific formula used by the American Kennel Club to calculate a dog’s age. But what about cats? Well, the answer is that cats age differently from dogs. In its first year of life, your cat’s age is equivalent to 15 human years. After this, the age equivalent to a human’s gradually reduces. So when your cat is two years old, its second year is equivalent to an extra nine human years.

One of the joys of being dog parents is taking your pup for walks and playing with them in your backyard. However, it’s not all fun and games if your pup is stung by a bee! Fortunately, you can apply an at-home triage-style treatment before taking your dog to the vet. First, remove the bee sting, but don’t use tweezers. Instead, apply a homemade mix of baking soda and water to the sting.

An old school of thought believes that if a dog decides to chow down on grass, it’s telling you it’s sick or lacking something in its diet. But, apparently, this is just a myth. Yes, if a dog eats grass, it’s likely to vomit. But that’s the end of it. Apparently, the urge to eat grass is instinctive in dogs. I.e., they do it just because it appeals to them.

Unfortunately, rawhide and rawhide-alternative chews often come with these double knots. If you’re unsure what we mean by the ‘double knot,’ take a look at the pic. Because they’re so prevalent on the market, understandably, not many dog parents know these knotted ends can be a choking hazard. If a dog manages to break one of these cute-looking knots off, it could choke them (especially if they’re a smaller-mouthed dog).

Most kitties seem happy to spend their days sleeping, eating, running around the neighborhood, and occasionally pouncing at you as you pass them in the hallway. Sounds pretty good, right? Who wouldn’t turn down the opportunity to nap for hours on end? However, there are a few tell-tale signs that your feline friend is bored of their routine. For example, if they’re picking fights with other cats more than usual.

Is your dog’s nose wet? If so, great, that’s perfectly normal and healthy. Your doggo’s wet nose assists with their sense of smell. It also aids them with cooling down. So, with that in mind, it’s unsurprising that if the opposite is true and your dog’s nose is very dry, that might be a reason for concern. In this scenario, it’s worth taking your furry friend to the vet to get their opinion.

Hand’s up if you’re guilty of feeding a dog your leftovers when no one is looking! Whether it’s your own or a friend or family member’s, we think it’s safe to say the majority of us have done this at some point or another. It’s just so hard to resist those big doggie eyes! However, if everyone keeps feeding the pup “just a little treat,” your pooch might be at risk of overeating.

Like most things in life, not all canine snacks are created equal. So, suppose you’re looking to purchase a doggie chew or treat with dental benefits; it’s wise to read the packaging carefully. Never take the brand’s word for it that the treats are good for your doggie’s gnashers. Instead, scan the packaging for a VOHC (Veterinary Oral Health Council) approval stamp (as pictured here). These certify that the contents have actual dental benefits.

When it comes to pets, one popular misconception is that only dogs give and receive affection. We’re not sure we agree. Dog lovers will often say that their dogs show unconditional love way more than any cat will or can. However, we’ll dispute that by saying cats can also have similar devotion. They just communicate their feelings a bit differently. In fact, according to the experts, there are some tell-tale signs that your cat loves you.

It’s not uncommon for dogs to suffer from anxiety. This is especially true of pups purchased or adopted during the pandemic. Thanks to the lockdowns, many puppies grew up with their owner’s constant attention and didn’t get as much opportunity to socialize with other dogs and strangers. In light of that, there’s a higher chance of them suffering from separation anxiety or feeling nervous around animals and people they don’t know.

Have you ever noticed that you feel a bit happier when the sun’s out and shining? Well, that isn’t necessarily a coincidence. There’s some science behind this. Sunlight is a valuable source of vitamin D, which helps our brain release more serotonin. For the uninitiated, serotonin is a hormone that makes us feel happier. Just like us, our dogs and cats need sunlight, or they’ll be at a greater risk of developing depression.

Although giving your dog certified dental bites and chews is a good thing, unfortunately, they’re not a substitute for brushing your dog’s teeth. It’s also worth noting that many of these dental chews are pretty high in calories, so if your dog’s struggling with their weight, these might be worth avoiding. Interestingly, veterinarian Dr. Hunter Finn says that dog parents should brush their dog’s pearly whites at least once every three days.

For years rawhide has been a favorite with canines and is still widely sold in pet stores and superstores. But despite how much our four-legged friends love to chew on these things, they’re not very good for pups. Dogs can munch chunks of rawhide, clean off, and swallow them. Unfortunately, when this happens, the rawhide can get stuck in their intestines or stomach. In worst-case scenarios, this can lead to a life-threatening infection known as peritonitis.

We’ve all heard the age-old adage that dogs are “man’s best friend.” They’re incredibly loyal and, in some cases, a bit like Velcro – they never leave your side. However, if you’re wondering whether your dog loves you, pay attention to whether your dog recognizes your name. Most dogs will know the name of their owners; how cool is that? Another tell-tale sign is if your dog feels the need to protect you.

For most businesses, making money is the primary goal, and unfortunately, the same applies to pet food companies. In an ideal world, you would like their priority to be your pet’s nutrition and health, but sadly that isn’t always the case. This is why it’s wise to read the fine print and do some research into the quality of the pet food you’re considering. It’s not uncommon for brands to use clever marketing tactics.

If you notice your dog’s ear is red, or it smells, or your pooch is excessively scratching its ear or shaking their heads, there might be something wrong with their ears. In these instances, it’s necessary to check your dog’s ears for signs of infection. However, as you can see from this picture, other than the slight extra redness in the infected ear, it’s not easy to see if something is wrong.

Let’s face it; most medicine tastes bad and bitter. So if you have to give your dog his or her daily medication, avoid the fancy gimmicks and dog accessories you can buy online, and instead strategically place the pill in a strawberry to obscure the bitter taste. It’s super simple. Just slice off the top of the sweet-tasting strawberry and make a tiny hole big enough to hold the medicine. Hopefully, your dog will just enjoy the treat.

Did you know you can start puppy training as young as eight weeks old? Of course, we’re only talking about introducing the basics. For example, potty training, the ‘sit’ command, teaching them their name and familiarizing them with their daily routine. For instance, when meal times, bedtime, and playtime is. That said, you’ll likely have to wait another month or so for your pup to learn more challenging tricks and to come when called.

We’ve mentioned a few times that it’s wise to be wary of certain dog chews and treats, so you might be considering investing in a safer long-lasting chew toy specially made for dogs, like the ones pictured here. Typically they feel a bit rubbery and are sometimes flavored for extra doggie delight. Although these chews are usually soft enough for your pup, you should still keep an eye on them while they’re relishing their chew.

We’ve run through a comprehensive list of human treats that dogs can’t eat. The good news is that peanut butter isn’t on that list. So, when you’re at the end of your jar of peanut butter, it’s OK for you to offer it to your hound to enjoy. Alternatively, feeding your dog a small amount on your finger is also fine. But don’t give them too much, because you don’t want them to pile on the pounds!

Your dog’s fur needs regular brushing, particularly if they are blessed with long lochs. Failure to regularly groom long-haired dogs can lead to matted fur that will eventually need cutting out. In extreme cases where clumps of fur have been left tangled for ages, this can cause your canine severe discomfort. Knotted dog hair can create pressure on their skin, which in extreme cases, can lead to sore and painful bruising.

If you’ve ever wondered how to best speak to your furry friend, we have a bit of insight – and you might be glad to hear that you don’t have to stop putting on that silly, baby voice that we all put on when we talk to our fur babies! Experts believe that they actually like being spoken to this way! According to Dr. Finn, doggos enjoy exaggerated and excited high-pitched tones.

Tiny parasitic ticks that suck blood from animals can cause serious bacterial diseases. One way to prevent your dog from being bitten in the first place is to ensure they wear an anti-tick collar and that they’re up to date with their anti-flea medicine. However, if it’s too late for either of those pet care tips, and your dog has a tick, all’s not lost. You can remove it with a simple-to-use and inexpensive tick remover tool from Amazon.

There are tons of Instagram accounts with thousands of followers dedicated to adorably chunky dogs – and we love them. We’re looking at @round.animals on Instagram. However, we fear this might become a bit of a trend. Obviously, like humans, there are some health-related instances where dogs struggle to lose weight. However, where possible, the healthiest thing for your pup is to maintain the recommended weight for its breed and age.

This one’s for every dog mom and dog dad out there. While you may already know that there are tons of types of fruit you can offer your pet pooch, grapes are a big fat no, no. Feeding a dog even one grape can be lethal because it can cause severe liver and kidney damage. The same applies to the dried version: raisins. So, by extension, that also means you can’t feed your dog any sweet treats that contain these ingredients either.

Yes, our dogs look cute when they are a bit on the cuddly side, but having a chubby pooch isn’t such a great idea. In the same way that we adults are advised to watch what we eat and avoid gaining too many pounds, dog parents must do the same for their pups for health reasons. So, with that said, be sure to monitor your dog’s food content and quantities.

Have you ever stopped to wonder how to calculate your fur baby’s age in ‘dog years’? You might have heard that every human year equals a dog year. I.e., a dog year is seven human years. However, Dr. Finn begs to differ. He explains that a pooch’s body ages much quicker than us. So much so that a one-year-old pup is considered 31 in human years; that’s pretty interesting, right?

When your pet is poorly or has an accident, it’s natural to want a vet to check them out. In the same way that we humans prefer to be seen by a doctor who knows us and our medical history, it’s important you have a good relationship with a knowledgeable vet who can take care of your pet’s needs. In an emergency, you’ll be glad you can rely on them!

This might seem like one of the more obvious tips. However, it’s worth noting that walking your dog isn’t just nice to do – it’s something that responsible dog owners should do to keep their dog(s) fit (providing there aren’t any health complications that prevent your pup from doing so, of course). If you’re unable to walk your dog yourself, consider hiring a dog walker. Maybe ask around to see if anyone knows of someone reliable?

As adorable as it is when dogs sleep with their tongues poking out, have you ever wondered whether it’s normal? In answer to that question, yes, it’s completely fine – there’s nothing to worry about! So you can continue to admire how cute your dog is when it sleeps! In fact, some experts think this is a sign that your pup feels comfortable, safe, and content. How sweet is that?

So while it’s a big fat yes to strawberries, there is, unfortunately, a whole list of food items that are just super bad for dogs. This is one of the most important dog care tips on this list, so listen up. We’ve already told you about grapes, but the list is longer. The most toxic foods that can harm your dog are chocolates, macadamia nuts, garlic, onions, corn on the cob, and avocado. Dog parents may love most of these; indeed, some are healthy for us to eat.

There is always something a bit awkward about your dog sniffing another hound’s butt. It’s almost instinctive to pull them away when you see them doing this. However, there is a very good reason why they exhibit such strange behavior. First, it’s instinctual, especially if the dogs haven’t met before. As gross as it sounds, dog anal glands emit a smell unique to them that other dogs can pick up on.

We’ve hinted at this time and again, but we can’t stress the importance of being careful what you feed your dog. If you’re cleaning out the fridge, or something’s on the turn, and you’re considering giving it to the dog, think twice. Instead, chuck it in the trash where it belongs. The same goes for leftovers after dinner. Of course, feeding your dog scraps increases the risk of accidentally overfeeding your dog.