Most pet owners can easily teach a dog to shake hands.  But cats?  Believe it or not, it is actually possible to teach your cat to shake.

One must be patient and consistent when teaching a cat to handshake.  And one must ALSO have yummy cat treats, of course!

To teach your cat to shake, first be armed and ready.  Purchase a few jars of chicken baby food and a rubber tipped baby spoon.  Then gently touch your cat’s paw while saying “shake.”  The minute your cat moves his or her paw, give your kitty some baby food on a spoon.  Continue this for a few days, eventually putting your finger gently under your cat’s paw from behind so kitty will lift the paw upwards in your hand.

Remember patience?  Continue being patient, trying this every day until your cat lifts his or her paw when you say, “shake.”  Good Kitty!

By Jay, from The Depp Effect

Every year, thousands of greyhounds retire from racing.  Luckily for them, more and more people are realizing what great pets they can make.

The most cat-like of all dog breeds, these are easy dogs to care for.  They are sprinters with only a short burst of energy at their disposal, so they don’t need hours of walking – twenty minutes twice a day will do, and then they’ll most likely rest quietly for hours on end.

Greyhounds have a short, non-oily coat and are often thought of as ‘low-allergen’ dogs.  Their fur is soft and fine, they shed less than most breeds, and need minimal grooming.

Questions?

How old are they when they retire?

Most are between three and five years old when they retire.  Some get rejected as pups because they aren’t fast enough or won’t chase, so they retire early.  Some go on to be brood mothers or stud dogs and retire later.

What can I expect when I bring a new greyhound home?

It depends whether they come straight from the racing kennel or they’ve been fostered in someone’s home.  Dogs who’ve been fostered are more than halfway to becoming a great pet already, whereas dogs coming straight from the kennel will need some help getting used to living in a house.  They won’t understand glass doors, stairs, or slippery floors.  They may be freaked out by vacuum cleaners, washing machines, televisions, and children, and may never have seen a bus or cycle.  However, most of them quickly adapt with gentle handling and patience.

One important thing to remember is that newly retired greyhounds are unlikely to have been left alone, ever.  They are born and raised in a kennel and they spend their working lives in the constant company of other dogs, so when they retire, most will need some degree of ‘alone’ training before they are happy to be left on their own for more than a few minutes.

What kind of health problems can I expect?

Greyhounds are pretty healthy dogs but they do have one or two little medical quirks.  Thin-skinned, with little or no subcutaneous fat, they can suffer badly from extremes of heat and cold.  And that thin skin can tear easily, so they are more vulnerable to cuts and scrapes.

Their blood chemistry is different to other breeds, too, and they are extra sensitive to some anesthetic agents, drugs, and pesticides, but this isn’t a huge problem, your vet should already know about these.

They have very few genetic diseases, though the American lines seem to have a high incidence of osteo-sarcoma, a form of bone cancer.  Treatments are available, and research is continuing, but it’s something to be aware of.

Since greyhounds are a deep-chested breed, new owners will need to familiarize themselves with the symptoms of bloat, or gastric torsion.  It’s rare, but when it happens it is a medical emergency and there is no first aid option.  Affected dogs need to see a vet immediately.

Apart from that, you can just expect the usual kind of doggy issues.

What about behavior and training?

Being hounds, ex-racers may need a different approach to training.  Greyhounds are independent and can seem stubborn if you’re used to a ‘people-pleaser’ breed like a retriever or collie, but clicker training works really well, and all you need is plenty of patience and understanding.

The biggest issue with greyhounds is that they’ve been bred for thousands of years to hunt small animals.  You should bear in mind that this was pretty much their job when racing, too, although at the track they chase an artificial lure.  So, most will need careful introduction to small furry creatures, because it’s instinctive for them to chase and kill animals such as rabbits, squirrels, and possibly cats – and some even need to be persuaded that other breeds of dog can be friends.

Having said that, it is possible to socialize greyhounds, and many live happily alongside rabbits, chickens, cats, ferrets and other pets.  However, there are those who cannot.

Whether or not they are safe with smaller animals, greyhounds are a very gentle and reliable breed with people.  They are well used to being handled at the track, and some go on to become therapy dogs, visiting folk in hospitals and care homes, providing comfort and non-judgemental love.

There are always young, healthy greyhounds needing homes.  But don’t adopt a greyhound because you feel sorry for him and want to rescue an ‘abused’ animal.  Greyhounds actually love to race.   Adopt a greyhound if you truly think he will fit your lifestyle and you believe you can provide for his needs.  These are gentle, sensitive dogs, and capable of great devotion.  If you do adopt one, you’ll be rewarded with a faithful and very loving companion.

Resources:

http://www.greytalk.com – a forum for the owners of the ex-racing greyhound.

http://dancinggreyhound.com.p11.hostingprod.com/no_fear_no_pain – a lecture by Kathleen Gilley on understanding the ex-racer.  Kathleen teaches these dogs to ‘dance’ and runs a dynamic off-lead display team.

‘Retired Racing Greyhounds for Dummies’ by Lee Livingood

‘Adopting the Racing Greyhound’ by Cynthia Branigan

When I first rescued my two female rats, they came with pine shavings.  One of the rats had a red, wet and droopy eye.  I suspected the pine shavings were bothering her, so I removed them and cleaned the cage.

When the cage was ready I filled the bottom with Carefresh.  This is what I normally use in all my cages since cedar will irritate the eyes and mucus membranes of animals.

Arania (as named by my daughter) seemed better, but over time would occasionally develop a red and droopy eye.  Just as I was ready to take her to the vet, she would get better.

Several months ago I followed a hunch and removed all of the Carefresh from the cage.  I cleaned the bottom out and left it empty.  Now I clean the cage every two nights, which is actually easier than pulling out loads of litter for a single cage cleaning.

To my delight, my rat’s eyes are no longer red, droopy or wet.  She was sensitive to Carefresh, as well as to pine shavings.  If you find your rat’s eyes become irritated, empty the cage of litter and keep the bottom empty.

Many small animals including mice, rats, hamsters and even rabbits are sensitive to litter.  If your small pet has irritated eyes, see if keeping the cage bottom empty fixes the problem.  And of course, be sure to call the veterinarian if any of your animals have health problems.

Do you or any of your friends own a rabbit?  Or are you trying to find a great way to recycle used phone books?  Then be sure to read on!

Rabbits absolutely love to tear up phone books.  If you have a phone book that needs recycling, simply rip the top cover off and place the phone book in your rabbit’s cage.  This is an excellent homemade rabbit toy that will keep your bunny busy for hours a day.

If you don’t have a pet rabbit, call your local animal shelter and ask if they would like your phone books for their rescued rabbits.  If they have never heard of this before, explain how it works and chances are they will use phonebooks on a regular basis with their rescues.

And if your rabbit needs to make a call, he or she won’t have to dial information.  (OK, so that was a little joke.  But rabbits really do love phonebooks for homemade rabbit toys!)

If you are a pet owner, you don’t need to be told that animals have the power to relax and calm.  Studies find that interacting with pets can actually reduce the rate of healing time for the sick and emotionally stressed.

Pet therapy is becoming a standard in many hospitals, including children’s hospitals.  There are pet therapy volunteer programs that bring dogs and other animals directly to patients and staff alike.   Some children’s hospitals even have “baseball cards” featuring each therapy animal that the children can collect during extended stays.

Touching a pet can lower blood pressure, help a disturbed patient to connect quickly to health care workers and speed healing for both children and adults alike.  Amazingly, interaction with a pet can bring an Alzheimer’s patient back to “the present.”  It can also calm children with attention deficit disorder and reduce depression rates in hospitals and elderly care facilities.

Do you think your dog or other pet would be a good therapy animal?  Hospitals in particular have necessary strict guidelines for animals that enter the facility.

Dogs must usually be at least a year old and have been owned by one person for at least six months.  The dog cannot have any bite history and might be required to graduate from a certified training course.

Your dog or other pet must be calm as many hands come near the animal.  Facilities will also require bathing and grooming to be performed before visits, and certification of health by a veterinarian is a must.

Cincinnati Children’s Hospital has a pet therapy program with a straightforward behavior test for potential dog volunteers.  They have an excellent standardized dog therapy test that can give you an idea of whether your dog has the potential to work in therapy situations.

If you think your pet would make an excellent therapy animal, talk to your local hospital or elderly care center about their pet therapy requirements.  The benefit both you and your pet receive will far outweigh the time it takes to complete the pet therapy prerequisites!

If your dog or cat became lost, wouldn’t it be nice to have a 20% greater chance of your pet being returned to you?  Then you may wish to consider having your pet microchipped.

A recent study found that microchipped pets who were brought to an animal shelter were returned to their owners in 3 out of 4 cases.  There were 53 shelters participating in the study, each agreeing to keep records of pets who were found to have a microchip.  Of the pets that had the chip, 73% of the owners were found.

Surprisingly, some animal microchips were not detected during the first scan.  Some required multiple scans, either during a medical exam or prior to euthanasia.  This finding reveals the need for shelters to scan dogs and cats multiple times for the presence of a microchip.

Another important finding of the study?  If your dog or cat has a microchip, it is imperative that you keep your contact information up to date.  If your phone number or address changes at any time, you should make the change in the microchip database immediately.  Sadly, 35% of the owners’ phone numbers were disconnected while 9.8% of the chips weren’t even registered.

So talk to your veterinarian about placing a microchip in your dog or cat.  After all, it only takes a moment for a family pet to become lost.  And your furry friend can only count on you to bring him or her back.

This guest post is brought to you be Dog Fence DIY’s staff veterinarian Dr. Susan Wright. Dog Fence DIY will help you choose the right pet containment system for your pet, help you install it properly, and help train your pet to use the new system. Dog Fence DIY has a variety of electric dog fences at the best available prices. 

You may have heard of probiotics. They are good for your digestive system, and now there are suggestions that they may also benefit your dog. 

Here are the facts about probiotics, and how they can be beneficial in our dogs. 

1. Probiotics are food supplements which contain bacteria or yeasts. These organisms are completely harmless, but may be useful in adding healthy bacteria to your dog’s intestinal tract.

 2. Probiotics protect your dog from infection by bacteria that may make him ill. They usually work in his gastro-intestinal tract, doing their job in several ways. They kill any harmful bacteria in his intestines, and they also support his own immune sytem so he can fight off unhealthy bacteria. 

3. They appear to be particularly beneficial to those dogs with bacterial overgrowth in their intestines. Many vets find them helpful in treating dogs with diarrhea and flatulence. Some studies also suggest that they may be of some use in cases of infection elsewhere in the body, particularly the skin. If a dog is on antibiotics for a long period of time, the medication may also affect the numbers of bacteria in his intestines, causing a secondary diarrhea. Probiotics can help restore his intestinal bacterial population to normal.

4. Natural yogurt contains lactobacillus, bacteria that are often used as a probiotic. So, can you give your dog yogurt to keep his intestines healthy? Not necessarily. There’s no proof that all bacteria are effective in all species, and in fact, some probiotics work better in people than in other species, and vice versa. So, lactobacillus may not work in your dog. Even if you feed him a commercial human probiotic, it still may not do him any good. You may want to use a probiotic that has been specifically formulated for dogs. One such product is Fortiflora, manufactured by Purina. As an alternative, you may choose a dry dog kibble which has a probiotic in it, so each time your dog has dinner, he’s giving his intestines a dose of healthy bacteria.

5. Probiotics need to be stored carefully. They are living bacteria, and can die off if they become too hot, if they’re exposed to excessive light or if they’re left on the shelf for a long time. If you’re buying a probiotic, check the expiration date, and ask how it has been stored, so you know whether or not the bacterial count may have been reduced by poor storage. 

So, do you use a probiotic in your dog, or not?  It’s not something that you’d necessarily feed a healthy dog. However if your dog has an upset stomach or loose bowels, it’s worth considering. They are very safe, have no side effects, and you can sneak them into your dog’s food or water. Why not try them out? They may just make a difference.

Many people question whether they or their children should get the H1N1 or seasonal flu vaccinations.  But should dogs be vaccinated against the flu as well?

Some dog owners are doing just that.  There is a strain of flu that some dogs are contracting called the H3N8 flu strain, also known as the canine influenza virus.  Many vets are currently seeing the canine flu in their area.  Furthermore, some dog daycare centers and boarding businesses are requiring H3N8 vaccinations for their doggie boarders.

The canine flu cannot be transferred to humans.  Dogs with the canine flu experience respiratory symptoms which can actually lead to pneumonia.  Dogs might present with a bad cough and mucus discharge.  Fortunately, very few dogs have died from the canine influenza virus.

The canine influenza virus is highly contagious in the dog population.  If you board your dog, you should talk to your veterinarian about the H3N8 vaccination.

Many fish tank owners are interested in owning live bearing tropical fish.  Watching the babies or fry grow can be very rewarding and entertaining.  Most live bearing fish can be found in local pet stores.  These fresh water fish include fancy guppies, mollies, sword tail fish, platies and limias.

Before you purchase fish with the intention of breeding, make sure you have a large enough tank for both the parents and the babies.  Your tank should be well balanced and clean.  You can buy your fish already pregnant or purchase both males and females together.  The pet store staff should be able to tell which fish are males and which fish are females.

For mollies, females have a fan-like anal fin (under the belly towards the back) while the males have a tube-like anal fin called the gonopodium.  Female and male guppies are similar to mollies.  The female has a more “fanned” anal fin while the male has a horizontal gonopodium.  A male swordtail fish has the “sword tail” while the female’s tail is fanned.  As with mollies, platy and limia males have the tube-like fin behind the bottom belly.

Don’t be surprised to find the adult fish eating their young.  To prevent this, be sure you have plenty of places for your fry to hide.  Include plants, decorations, and rock crevices for their protection.  You can also purchase a floating plastic “baby tank” for your fry, but personally I have not had any luck with these.  Our babies have lived best swimming in the large fish tank with lots of places to retreat to if needed.

Fry should be fed a few times a day with ground fish flakes.  After a few weeks you can feed them on an “adult” fish schedule.  Again, be sure your tank is large enough to hold a school of baby fish… and remember, they will become as large as their mommies and daddies!

Going green is going to the dogs, literally!  Think of how much dog fecal matter goes into landfills today.  Some say it is more than plastics alone.  And much of the dog waste is thrown away in plastic bags, making matters even worse.

Unfortunately, it is not safe to simply “toss” dog waste into your compost bin.  The waste must reach a particular temperature to kill worms and other bacteria.  Furthermore, it must be composted with specific ingredients that help to break down the feces.  Dog matter should never be used in vegetable gardens, and homemade dog poop compost can also cause unsafe runoff into our waters.

But today, some entrepreneurs are now taking to the doggie parks for dog waste collection.  Many are realizing there is money to be made in turning dog waste into a safe manure.  And the greatest benefit of all?  This has everything to do with protecting our earth and minimizing waste in landfills.

The company Naturemill has a pet-friendly composter you can buy for $399.  It is an electronic outdoor composter that turns both animal waste and kitchen scraps into compost in about two weeks.

If you live in Colorado, Envirowagg produces Doggone Good Compost that can be purchased at many local stores.  You can also purchase biodegradable pet waste bags at Buy Green Savvy.  So if a safe composter is not in your budget, try the biodegradable dog waste bags.  Now both you and your pet can go green!