News
How to train a puppy?
Dogs are the most loyal and the closest pets to humans. However, raising our pawsome friends is a task that requires patience and knowledge. You need to give them basic training to adapt to you and your home.
How Should Puppy Training Be?
Although puppy training differs according to the dog's breed, there are certain basic training that needs to be given to every breed. These can be listed as follows:
Socialization
Many puppies like to be loved by humans. On the other hand, there are also those who are shy in this regard. The dogs that do not like being petted as puppy carries the risk of being more aggressive as they get older. If there is such a problem, it is important to solve it during babyhood.
Taking your pawsome friend to environments where people are often present or allowing people to pet them while walking on the street will help them overcome this shyness. You can also use give them treats to get them used to being touched.
It is important to socialize them with humans from an early age, especially for dogs with biting habits. In this way, all dogs, including powerful breeds, can have a very loving character towards humans and other living beings.
Another important point in socialization training is that puppies love to jump. Jumping, which is usually an appearance of their desire to play or be loved, may seem insignificant or even cute to you as their sizes are small in babyhood. However, you should not forget that your puppy will grow and gain weight. You can prevent this behavior by saying "No" or by giving treats in social situations where they jump.
Basic Obedience Training
Basic obedience is your puppy's acceptance of your authority by obeying the basic commands you give them. This actually means command training, which includes basic commands such as "Sit, Stand, Stop, Wait". Basic obedience training can prevent aggressive behaviors that may be encountered from time to time. Basic obedience training is very important to raise a dog that follows the rules of the house and is coherent with you and other people.
Basic obedience training can be easily given in a process of 5-6 weeks. As well as the puppy's breed and character traits are important at this point, the knowledge of the person that gives the training is also important. You can work with a professional trainer to complete the process quickly and healthily.
Feeding Times
There are various practices regarding the meal schedule of our pawsome friends. Keeping food in the food bowl constantly is one of them. In this routine, your dog can eat the amount of food it wants whenever it is hungry.
On the other hand, if you plan to have a routine where you will put food in the bowl for a certain period of the day or feed meals during the day, your dog will also need training on mealtime. You can create a meal discipline by giving the same amount of food at the same time every day and not allowing it to go beyond limits.
When determining your dog's feeding schedule, it is beneficial to consult with a veterinarian. Additionally, regular veterinary check-ups are extremely important for monitoring their development.
Sleep Area
Since your puppy will be a member of the household, you need to create a living space for it in the house. Having its own play, sleep, and feeding area is important for establishing a sense of security in dogs.
In addition to establishing a sense of security, it is also important for it to learn and adopt these areas in order to follow the rules in the house. Otherwise, it may develop a habit of sleeping in unwanted areas inside the house.
When Should Puppy Training Begin?
Like babies, puppies go through a certain development process. In order for the training you give to be effective, this development process should be taken into consideration. Otherwise, you may not get any results from the training you give.
The 3-6 month period is suitable for teaching puppies the simple rules they need to follow while potty training and socializing in the house. For basic obedience training, the puppy must be at least 6 months old. After receiving the training, advanced obedience training can be given starting from the 9th month. For more advanced training such as guarding, it is advisable to wait at least 18 months.
Things to Consider in Puppy Training
You need to know the breed and character traits of your furry friend who will be a member of the house, in order for the training you give to be effective. Additionally, by paying attention to some important tips during training, you can quickly complete this process and get positive results. We can list these tips below:
Place importance on making eye contact with your puppy. By making eye contact, the commands you give will eventually become an admonisher for your tone of voice. It is important for your dog to learn your tone of voice in order to respond quickly to the commands you give.
The commands you give to your dog should be clear. Giving commands such as "No" or "Stop" while trying to make eye contact is more beneficial than general commands such as "Don't do that."
Patience and determination are very important in training. You should be prepared for the possibility that the process may take a long time.
You should not overwhelm your puppy during training, and focus on making it happy and cheerful. When your dog gets tired, you can take a break from training and play games with it. You can continue when your dog is delighted. Playing games with your adorable friend after training will make it love the training time and complete it enthusiastically.
It is important that your dog accepts you as the leader in your relationship. When it gains your respect, it will also recognize your authority.
Consistency is another important aspect of training. You should clearly set the rules. The words you use and your reactions to their behavior should also be consistent.
By paying attention to all of these issues and giving timely training, your puppy will easily adapt to your home and family, and become an indispensable part of your life like a member of the house.
Which Food Should I Choose for My Dog?
After your cute friend reaches one year of age, their food needs to be changed accordingly. A nutritious food that provides all the required vitamins and minerals to your dog affects many factors, from coat health to digestion. Choosing the most suitable food for your loyal friend during the transition process from puppyhood to adulthood is extremely important for them to complete their development in a healthy way. Feeding them with appropriate and high-quality food is one of the responsibilities you need to fulfil in dog care. When choosing food for your best bud, you should ensure that the product is produced to certain standards and whether your dog will like the food or not. The content of the food and the age and breed of your dog are also criteria that you should consider when making your choice. Wrong food choices often cause various health problems. If you also wonder, "What should I pay attention to when choosing the most appropriate food for my dog?" you can check the details.
How to Choose Dog Food?
Breed and Type of Dog
You should consider your furry friend's breed and characteristics when choosing food. The physiological features of dogs vary according to their breeds, and the types of food suitable for them also differ. For example, the jaw and mouth structure of large breed dogs is stronger. For this reason, you can choose large kibble dry foods. Small breed dogs should be fed with dry food with a smaller kibble, which may be more suitable for them.
Coat Structure
In terms of nutrition, the coat and skin structure of your dog should also be considered. Selecting dog foods that contain protein based on chicken or fish can cause skin irritation and deterioration of coat health in dogs who are allergic to them or have sensitive skin. In some cases, foods such as duck and turkey can also cause hair loss. You can consult your veterinarian to make the right food choice for your best bud and ensure that they are fed healthily and balanced. If your dog is still experiencing hair loss despite the changes you have made in its diet, you can consult your veterinarian.
Weight Control
When feeding your dog, you must read the measurements indicated on the food package. You can adjust the amount of food to your dog in varying amounts according to their age, weight, and breed. You can also adjust the amount of food correctly by acquiring a suitable measuring cup. You can give dry and wet food varieties at certain meal times. Feeding your dog more food than their daily needs can cause them to gain weight. If your little friend is overweight, light dog foods specially produced for your dog can also be a good option. Diarrhea in dogs can occur due to reasons such as sudden changes in diets and extra foods other than dry food. Food intolerance and allergies can also cause diarrhea from time to time.
Taste Preferences
When choosing dog food, you should consider your dog's taste preferences. Dogs can sometimes be selective about the ingredients in their food. For this reason, you can offer the foods separately to your best bud and determine which one they like best after you've identified the healthy options. Apart from supplementary feeding, dry food varieties are the main source of nutrition for dogs. You can change the food periodically for your friend, who can eat many different types of food.
What Should a Healthy Dog Food Contain?
Puppy and adult dog food vary in nutritional value. The nutritional value of dry and canned dog food is higher when prepared for puppies. The main reason for this is that puppies are more active. On the other hand, adult dogs are fed with lower nutritional value foods because they cannot easily burn the energy they receive. Therefore, it is important not to feed adult dogs with puppy food. You can also find different types of food suitable for elderly dogs and small breeds. Before buying food, you should examine its content in particular and make a choice by paying attention to the following points. If you are unsure about choosing food, here are some tips for selecting healthy food...
When choosing dog food, make sure that the meat content is at least 30%.
It should contain minerals such as calcium, iron, phosphorus, and copper.
The food should not contain GMOs, sweeteners, or colorants.
Don't forget to check the expiration dates before buying dog food. You can make the appropriate choice by considering the amount of food your dog will consume before the expiration date.
The percentage of raw protein should be high.
You should make appropriate choices for your dog's age, breed, type, and activity level.
If your dog has a special condition such as illness, allergic reactions, or pregnancy, you can choose food by consulting a veterinarian.
Soy-based foods can cause many different problems for dogs from digestive system problems to mineral absorption. You should prefer products without soy in food preferences.
Some foods contain various additives. To avoid such situations, you should read the contents of the food carefully and if possible, consult a veterinarian.
Foods containing high amounts of corn and rice cause many problems for dogs from obesity to diabetes due to their high glycemic index. It is better to choose foods with low grains or no grains for proper nutrition.
You can ensure that your furry friend leads a healthy life by making a choice of food that is prepared with quality ingredients for good nutrition. By examining the dry and wet food varieties prepared by Kito, you can feed your dog with first-class protein-containing foods.
What Should You Consider Before Adopting a Cat?
You may dream of having a cat as the joy of your home, your sleep companion, and your best friend, but there are things you need to know before adopting a cat. Although living with your little friend can be very enjoyable, there are some responsibilities that come with it. Before the process of adoption, you must know these details and get prepared. This way, you can take a step towards a peaceful life with your furry friend without any surprises.
Adopting a cat comes with responsibilities
Adopting a cat is not just about opening your home to a cat and showing it affection.
Sharing your life with a cat means taking responsibility for it. It is necessary to keep away from dangers and have regular check-ups for your cat to have a healthy life. In addition to following the formal adoption procedures, it's important to know that a cat needs a designated area in your home to play and a cozy corner for its cushion. Also, you must ensure that your home is safe for your cat. You may need to install safety nets on your windows.
When you adopt a cat, you have a friend who will give you joy at any moment in your home. For example, For example, your cat may clumsily move around while laying down, come and show you affection, or make you smile by chasing a fly. Thus, even in the most boring moments, you can find a loving creature and a reason to smile by your side.
In addition, cats usually sit, walk, and sleep with their owners. Wherever you are throughout the day, your cat will follow you, want to go everywhere with you, and quietly curl up in your bed to sleep. Even almost no cat likes doors to be closed. You can find your little friend waiting for you excitedly at the door even when you are in the bathroom.
Cats also need to play with you to release their energy at home. Running with them, playing fetch, and playing with fishing toys can provide enjoyable activities to spend time together.
If you haven't lived with a cat before, you should know that they have their own personalities and emotions. When you adopt a cat, you can easily learn what they like and what makes them upset by getting to know them gradually. Although the first few times may be a little nervous for both of you, you can get to know your cat well enough to understand what they want over time.
Are you Ready to Go Shopping for Your Cat?
You may think that a small kitten doesn't need much, but especially when you adopt a young kitten, you need to make a long shopping list and a budget for cat expenses at the first stage. You need to complete their needs for your cat to feel good and live a peaceful life with you. The following products should be included in your shopping list:
Firstly, you should get a suitable cat food that meets their requirements. You can consult with your veterinarian to choose the food. Additionally, you can purchase the food in small packets to make sure it won't go stale and order a large amount of these small packets to save money. Also, kittens eat different food for the first few months and then transition to adult or neutered adult cat food. For this reason, if you have a kitten, you should not stockpile too much kitten food.
You should get a food and water bowl. You should buy stainless steel food bowls that do not cause allergies. The food bowls should have enough depth for the cats to easily reach their food and water.
You should get a scratching post. It is important for cats to have a scratching post that fits their size and weight to prevent them from damaging furniture at home. You can choose small scratching posts for kittens and larger ones for adults.
A litter box and litter mat should be on your list. You should buy a larger litter box, considering that your cat will grow. The litter mat prevents litter from scattering around the house, making cleaning easier.
You should purchase cat litter. Since you don't know which litter your cat will prefer or which one you will be comfortable with at first, it's best to buy several types and brands to try. Then, you can continue to use the one your cat likes.
Cat toys are a must-have. You can start shopping by buying a few toys for your cat. Every cat should have a mouse, ball, and fishing pole toy. If you don't want your cat to develop a biting habit, you shouldn't play with it using your hands, and you should always play with them using a fishing pole toy.
A carrier is also necessary. You can buy a carrier or bag from a pet shop that you can use to safely and easily carry your cat.
In addition to these, after shedding their kitten fur, adult cats shed their adult fur seasonally. Therefore, you may need equipment such as a cat brush, fur-cleaning roller, and grooming gloves. You can purchase a cat brush that you can use daily for your cat's coat health.
You can also keep a special nail clipper for your cat in your home. Even if your cat sharpens its nails on a scratching post, their nails may grow long and require clipping. You can consult with your veterinarian to learn what you need to pay attention to when clipping your cat's nails.
Apart from the first shopping list, there are certain needs that you should meet for your cat regularly. While the breed of the cat, its gender, living habits, and the rate of food consumption may vary, you should buy a few kilograms of dry food every 1.5-2 months on average. Additionally, you can reward your cat with wet food every 10-15 days. In addition, during seasonal shedding, you should buy malt paste and fish oil in the summer and multivitamins for immunity in the winter. Of course, you also need to constantly buy cat litter, fur rollers, and cat toys as they get lost or worn out.
You Should Follow Your Cat's Vaccination Schedule
You will memorize your cat's vaccination schedule after a while, but in the beginning, you can ask your veterinarian to remind you of their vaccinations. If you are a kitten owner, you can get information from your veterinarian about their first vaccinations. In later years, you can get rabies, leukemia, and distemper (FVRCP) shots once a year.
Internal and external parasite vaccines are given every few months or every month depending on the climate where you live. The responsibility for all of these vaccines is yours. Your cat must have all its vaccines up-to-date to your travels, and its ID is checked before the trip. You should be careful to ensure that your cat's vaccines are up-to-date for both its health and travel.
When sharing your home with a cat, you should always meet its needs and show it love and care. This way, you can help your little friend live a healthy and peaceful life.
The Relationship Between Dogs and Kids
Children naturally love and are interested in all kinds of animals. A child who learns to take care of a furry friend, and treat them kindly and patiently can develop their social skills. In addition to making great memories, having a pet dog at home or growing up around these furry companions, can actually have quite positive effects on a child's emotional development and even physical health.
A puppy who is a member of your family can teach your child many important life lessons. Many parents believe that their children should grow up with a puppy or kitten for this. These cute companions teach children more than you think about real-world experiences, human love, and relationships.
Growing up together as part of the family can have many benefits for children. Most importantly, it can help children learn how to develop friendships based on mutual thought and respect. Communication between children and these companions may require an adjustment period, or it may develop immediately. This depends on the breed of furry friend you adopt. However, once this process is complete, a special bond is formed between your children and their pawsome friend. They support each other in many ways, both as playmates and life companions.
Of course, these cute companions can also help children learn better responsibility and trust. Here are 8 reasons why you should raise your children with a pawsome friend!
1- Strengthens Friendship Bonds
A furry friend can be a steady companion for children as they grow up and throughout their lives. Dogs are especially known for their good friendships and your children can see them as reliable playmates. Likewise, your children will never be alone with a furry friend and can have joyous times with them. This also teaches children about loyalty.
2- Encourages an Active Lifestyle
These pawsome friends make great companions for an active lifestyle and spending time outside. According to a recent study by the American Journal of Public Health, children with furry friends are much more active than those without pets. Having these cute friends also means frequent walks and playing outside.
3- Helps Build a Sense of Responsibility
Many children do not like doing chores, but involving them in pet care can encourage them to take more responsibility at home. Children are more likely to do some tasks for their furry playmates. Especially when it comes to fun tasks such as taking their dogs for a walk or playing together, all children are willing to help. This is an important step in developing children's sense of responsibility.
4- Hugging Can Reduce Stress
Studies have shown that taking care of and patting a furry friend lowers stress hormone levels, balances blood pressure, and increases levels of hormones that promote happiness. The stress-reducing effect, which is proven by physiological changes, has been studied in both children and adults. Spending time with these cute friends, playing, and hugging them is one of the best ways to relieve stress.
5- Develops Social Skills
According to an article by the Pet Health Council, children with pets generally develop social skills along with self-esteem. Self-esteem is an important part of a child's development. If your child needs some help developing and maintaining social bonds, a cute friend can be a head start in this direction. Children who often have difficulty communicating with anyone else can communicate more easily with a pawsome friend and can develop social skills and become more extroverted.
6- Contributes to the Development of Empathy
Children tend to focus on themselves. The ability to think that other people have their own thoughts, feelings, and desires typically develops between the ages of 4 and 5. Empathy and emotional intelligence, including pet care, can be developed and encouraged in many ways in a child. Taking care of a pet, especially taking the responsibility of a puppy and realizing that it also has needs, helps children develop both empathy and compassion.
7- Can Improve Reading Skills
Listening to audiobooks is extremely beneficial for children's education. However, this activity, which is done under adult supervision, can make children feel pressure due to the fear of constantly being corrected or making mistakes. On the other hand, furry friends are great reading companions. Because they always listen to children, do not judge them, and do not correct their mistakes.
8- Can Reduce the Possibility of Allergies
Children who grow up with furry companions in their homes have stronger immunity against many types of allergies, ranging from dust to pollen. Studies have shown that children who grow up with two or more dogs or cats are less than half as likely to develop common allergies compared to children who do not have pets at home. The most important factor here is to live with pets at an early age in order to gain immunity.
Moreover, the love for dogs learned at a young age is the key to acquiring many physical and emotional skills. Furry companions essentially provide information about all the positive and negative things that happen between birth and death. All the emotions required to be a good person, such as patience, responsibility, compassion, empathy, self-control, mindfulness, sharing, and trust, can be learned from these adorable creatures. You too can adopt a cute pet to support your child's development.
What Are the Activities for Pet Cats?
An orange cat who can compete with Garfield in laziness, a tabby cat who challenges Sherlock Holmes in investigating and reaching conclusions about the surroundings, a Turkish angora that can disappear among your white quilt cover set... Regardless of their breed, fur color, and age, your pet needs to play games. Your cat tries to meet this need by playing "hunter-prey" games with another cat in the house if there is one it can get along with. However, as a cat owner, it is important to encourage your cat to play for its physical and mental health. So, how can you motivate your cat to play and what can you use for activities?
Making Your Little Friend Ready for Cat Activities Is Easier
It is not always easy to get to move cats who are experts in eating, sleeping, and eating a little more after waking up and then sleeping again. Of course, there is an exception to this. If your cute friend at home is a furry little baby in the growth stage, their factory defaults are already adjusted for playing games. A paper crumpled up the size of a cat's paw and thrown in front of them, or a little fly that unfortunately enters your room can become the subject of an activity that will last for minutes and leave your little cat out of breath. If you have a young kitten who likes to play games with you in physical interaction, getting a cat fishing rod can make things more enjoyable for you. In the first few months, it is recommended that you play with your little furry friend with cat fishing rods to avoid possible skin scratches and minor injuries, as they may want to taste your hands during playtime. This way, you can keep your cat away from behaviors that they may repeat when they grow up, such as attacking hands and feet.
If your kitten has behaviors during playtime that you don't want, such as scratching the couch, climbing the curtains, or jumping on the counter, you can use positive reinforcement-based training methods. For example, if your kitten can't help but scratch your furniture while looking into your eyes during playtime and preparing its claws for the next play session, you can buy a scratching post for them. You can direct your kitten to use the scratching post with treats. You can show your little furry friend how to use the scratching post, who sees you as a "big cat" at home and can sometimes mimic your physical behaviors. It may seem silly to you, but if you rub your fingers as if you are filing your nails, your furry friend can happily repeat this behavior. To show your appreciation for this repetition, you can give your furry friend a treat.
Get an Irresistible Cat Toy for Your Adult Cat for Playtime
After quite a fun game that lasts around 30-40 minutes, your kitten will continue to follow this activity process in its first few months, sometimes dozing off in its favorite sleeping spot and sometimes in the middle of where it plays. However, as your cat grows up, it will get bored with routine games and naturally look for new ones. To break the routine and channel them into new fun activities, you can check out cat toy models that offer different kinds of fun, each one promising its own entertainment. Toys such as jingling balls, plush mice, tumbler toys, cat lasers indispensable for jumping games, and many more, will create completely different play areas for your cat. Toys that can satisfy cats' hunting instincts can help them enjoy playtime not only with you or other cats in the house but also on their own. If you are considering different activities to keep your adult cat busy, you can purchase an activity tower, an activity tunnel, or specially designed intelligence toys that will pique your cats' curiosity.
Veterinarians recommend that cats whose activity level gradually decreases and may begin to gain weight after being neutered should be included in physical activities so that they can maintain a quality life by staying away from excess weight. That's why you might want to consider getting a cat tunnel for your cat, especially if it tends to be a bit whiny about its playtime. Cat tunnels offer entertainment that no cat can resist, and if you have more than one cat at home, they allow them to play hide-and-seek games. If your curious furry friend is not initially interested in the tunnel you brought home, you can put treats in certain areas of the tunnel or give their favorite wet food from the end of it. Your cat will memorize every millimetre of the tunnel in just a few minutes and will start to do the exercises and physical activities it needs. If you also support the cat tunnel with a cat tree, the fluffy ball of fur will be on cloud nine. Depending on the model you purchase, the structural complexity of the cat tree and cat houses may vary, and they offer entertainment at the level of how many scratchable and climbable parts they have. Cat trees, especially those containing parts that cats can enter horizontally and vertically, provide an environment for multiple cats to play hide-and-seek.
We wish you and your furry friend a fun playtime! You can enjoy playtime and feel lucky that you share your home with a child who will never grow up. Also playing games that will positively affect their health.
Life Stages of Cats
Kittens weigh only two small eggs when born, and are completely unaware of their surroundings. Their eyes are initially blue but soon change color. These are some of their characteristics. The adventurous growth process of these cute furry creatures that you share your life, home, and sometimes your food with, continues until they become adults. Enables you to learn new facts about them. If you want to refresh your knowledge about the life stages of cats or learn brand new info, you can take a closer look down below.
Kitten: Hello Purr-fect World!
After spending approximately 60-70 days in its mother's womb with its siblings, a kitten is born as a tiny creature weighing an average of 80 grams, or two small eggs, as mentioned. Its size varies depending on its breed and the number of siblings, but like all other kittens, its sensory organs are initially non-functional, and it cannot hear until the second week of its life. Its eyes start to open on the third day, but its vision is not as good as an adult cat's until the end of the second week. The kitten's skeletal and muscular system develops rapidly and making its motor skills functional as it receives all the necessary nutrients from its mother's milk. In the beginning, it may waddle and occasionally fall on its bottom, but this does not last long. In the fifth week, the kitten, which weighs up to 500 grams, continues its growth process with activities such as walking and even running. With its fully open eyes and developing hearing, the little pawsome friend can interact more comfortably with the outside world. In the sixth week, when its teeth are fully grown, you can switch to solid food. If it is no longer nursing from its mother and is being fed with wet food.
The development process of a kitten is crucial, and kittens that are separated from their mother need to be raised under the supervision and special care. If you have to take care of such a small kitten, it is essential to consult your veterinarian and follow their instructions regarding care and feeding because maintaining a body temperature between 35.7 and 37.7 degrees Celsius, which is provided by the mother and siblings, and being fed with their mother's milk, are vital for the kitten's survival. After completely passing its infancy stage and being a few weeks old, the little furball in your home will continue to grow at an unexpected pace.
Rapid Transition from Kittenhood to Adulthood in Cats
Breaking mews, one of the cutest creatures in the world is a two-month-old kitten. If you have successfully welcomed the second month with your adopted kitten, you can prepare to witness its rapid growth period. Your purr-tner, who will start to notice its presence in the house and its position next to you, can continue to eat wet food, dry food or BARF diet depending on your feeding style. However, at this stage, the vaccination process will begin. Which also concerns its health. In accordance with the vaccination schedule provided by your veterinarian, internal-external parasite and distemper shots are a must for your kitten when it is around 8-9 weeks old. If its nutrition is regular, your kitten will gain a lot of weight which will become healthier and grow faster by being rid of possible parasites. In fact, the weight of the kitten, which was 80 grams at birth, can reach 1500 grams (yes, 18.75 times) when it enters the third month. At this point, there is no need to think that your cat has gained too much weight. Because your cute little furball, who evaluates all the food it eats as building blocks for itself with all its mobility, will continue to gain weight and grow in all dimensions. You should be careful to feed it with the right nutrients during this process. If necessary, you can also get support from vitamin-mineral supplements under the supervision of your veterinarian.
The answer to the question asked by cat lovers "When do cats complete their growth?" is 1.5 years. Kittens continue to grow rapidly and complete their development at 1.5 years of age. Cats, who become adults are recommended to be neutered before entering heat because their reproductive abilities develop parallel to their own growth. It is valuable for both the health and well-being of your cat to take into account the recommendations and guidance of your veterinarian who performs detailed examinations of your cat regarding the surgery process. If not neutered, male cats may exhibit entrenched negative behaviors and a desire to escape from home, while female cats may exhibit heat behaviors first and encounter health problems in later stages. You may want your cat to be neutered to prevent all of these issues. After neutering, a new chapter begins for your cat. You can easily observe that your cat, who starts to move less compared to before due to the effects of hormones but also gets rid of restlessness due to mating desire, has become a source of peace in your home. You can feed your cat with special formulas for neutered cats or natural alternatives during this process and prevent him from gaining excess weight.
We wish you healthy and happy years with your cat, whose every stage of growth is a unique experience and will teach you more than you could ever imagine. Remember, your cat needs you as much as you need them, and even though it may not show it, your cat loves you as much as you love them back!
Introducing a New Pet to Other Household Pets
As many cat owners notice, some breeds can have personalities that are difficult to read. Depending on a variety of factors, including their upbringing, some of our pawsome friends can be timid while others can have friendly, social, and inviting personalities.
Many people believe that cats do better as the only pet in a household, but this is not necessarily true. In fact, if you have a cat, it is recommended that you also have another pet at home. That's because cats are truly social creatures, and if they are left alone too often, they can develop behavioral problems, depression, and more.
If you already have a cat or another furry friend at home and considering adopting another cute fur-ever friend, there are a few things you should keep in mind before adopting them. In this post, we will review what you need to consider before introducing another pet to your household and some tips to introduce them easily and smoothly.
Why Do Cats Living Under the Same Roof Fight Each Other?
Cats socialize from the fourth week of their lives. This usually happens with their siblings, but "single-born kittens" are the only exception. During this period, they learn all their social skills from their mothers or siblings. When they grow up with their kind, they are more likely to get along with other cats, but they may not always get along with other animals and different species of cats. Introducing a current cat to a new cat is not as simple as it seems. Cats are more possessive than other pets and may want to be the sole owner of the house. Bringing a new furry friend to a home with an adult cat can initiate a long and controlled introduction process. Of course, this depends directly on the species and personalities. The cause of the fight may be related to the idea of sharing their food or a decrease in the attention they receive.
Here are the steps and tips that need to be taken to introduce cats to other friends with paws.
Get to Know Your Current Pet
The current pet you will introduce to your new cat, may be a dog, reptile, bird or another cat. Therefore, you need to know your cute friend's behavior and their reaction to good or bad situations in advance. Because they may give signals that they are not ready for introduction. Catching these small clues can help you understand that you need to change your introduction method and prevent both pets from getting hurt.
Prepare Your Home for Your New Cat
Preparing your home for your new feline friend is one of the first steps you need to take before introducing them to their new living space.
Create a safe room designated for your furry friend. Think of this space as a sanctuary for your cat as they adjust to the new scents and sounds of their home. A safe room can be any size, but make sure it has a door, a ceiling, and a place for your new friend to hide. Additionally, you should equip the room with food, water, a litter box, and toys to meet your cat's basic needs.
Take Time to Introduce Them
Like humans, cats have unique personalities. While some may easily befriend their new feline sibling, others may need more time to adjust to a home with other pets. Rushed introductions can result in unwanted outcomes such as aggression and stress. Since cats may approach rodents and birds as food, it's important to allow them to spend time together in safe areas and to let them get used to each other.
Start Controlled Meetings
You can allow furry friends to see each other through some kind of a barrier when your current pet's behavior turns back to normal and your new pet cat exhibits social behavior or wants to explore outside of its room. However, this should be very controlled and should take place in a safe area for both.
Your next step is to choose a barrier that will serve as a buffer. You can use baby gates to introduce your new friend to the current cat in separate locations. This allows them to see, smell and interact with each other without physical contact. You can also use a cat carrier to introduce your two cats and keep them separate and safe. This applies to other pawed friends as well. Everyone should be in their own safe space, but they should have an open line of sight and eat together in the same place.
Feed Them Together
You can make them eat the same food they love at the same time to get used to each other in their own safe spaces. This will help them remember the time they spent together as a pleasant memory and condition them. You can also allow them to play with a beloved toy, not just food. Cats may be more compatible with each other, but the same may not be true for dogs. In this case, you should be patient and extend the introduction process to the dog over a longer period in a controlled manner. Because dogs and cats are beings that can live in the same house, and they will be able to adapt to each other, although it may take a long time.
Meet Without Barriers
When the new and old members of the house start to behave naturally in their own space, you can plan an unbarred meeting. At this stage, you can observe their attitudes towards each other by removing the barrier. If there is no negative behavior, you should not interrupt and wait for them to communicate with each other when they feel ready. If there is any excessive aggression beyond some hissing or showing teeth, go back to the previous step and try again when you feel that the cats are ready enough. This process may take several months, so patience is essential.
Why Do Cats Shed?
Our special companions with their pink noses, tiny paws, and fluffy fur, can experience problems such as shedding from time to time. The amount of shedding varies depending on your cat's age, breed, weight, feeding habits, living conditions, and psychology. While cats' shedding is generally considered normal, it can also be a sign of a serious health problem.
When Do Cats Shed?
If you live with a cat, you should also get used to living with cat hair. Shedding is very natural and normal for cats. Just like human hair, cats shed after completing their life cycle and make room for new and healthy fur.
Shedding, which is often seen during seasonal changes, means that your cat is healthy and will adapt to the new season by getting rid of dead fur. This process, called seasonal shedding, is particularly intense in the spring months. Your little friend starts to grow thicker and denser fur towards winter, while in the summer months, it needs thin and sparse fur. If these hairs are not shed in a timely manner, they can cause irritation on your cat's skin.
Excessive shedding outside of seasonal changes may indicate an abnormality. When you encounter such a situation, it is best for your cat's health to consult a veterinarian to determine the underlying cause of shedding as soon as possible.
Why Do Cats Shed?
In addition to living and dietary conditions, there may be both physical and psychological reasons for fur loss in cats.
Hair Loss Related to Nutrition
The way you feed your cat is very important for its fur health. Cats that are not fed in a balanced and adequate way begin to develop developmental disorders as well as skin and fur problems.
Many foods that are beneficial for humans are toxic to cats. Therefore, you should be careful not to feed your furry friend with home-cooked meals, no matter how insistent they may be. These foods can cause many bad outcomes for cats such as diarrhea, vomiting, and kidney failure.
To maintain your little friend's overall health as well as their skin and fur health, you should use cat-specific foods produced for them. These foods, which carefully provide the amount of protein, carbohydrates, and fat that your cat needs, are composed of ingredients that also support their digestive systems. In this way, you can prevent hair loss due to reasons such as insufficient or excessive protein intake, or vitamin, and mineral deficiency.
Additionally, feeding them stale food and spoiled food also negatively affects their skin and fur health. Therefore, when choosing food for your furry friend, you should be careful to choose well-known and reliable brands and pay attention to storage conditions.
Shedding Caused by Stress
Just like humans, these excited, curious, and cute creatures can become stressed and unhappy in certain situations. Especially, the disruption of their daily routines is one of the main reasons for cat stress. Situations such as a stranger coming to the house, adopting a new pet, a baby joining the family, home renovations, thunderstorms, and strong winds can stress your cat.
When you encounter such a situation, you should first help to reduce your cat's stress. By regulating the conditions that bother your pawsome friend, you can ensure that they are exposed to them to the least.
You can help reduce their stress by showing more affection, playing with them more frequently, and being careful not to raise your voice in a way that is different from normal. If their anxious state persists, you should not neglect to visit your veterinarian.
Shedding Due to Illness
Shedding can be an indicator of a health problem your cat is experiencing. Some diseases that cause hair loss in cats are:
Parasites: Shedding is usually due to parasites. Both internal and external parasites cause intense shedding. Therefore, never neglect your cat's parasite treatments.
Fungal Infections: Another common disease is fungal infections. Shedding due to fungal infections, usually seen regionally, occurs more on the back of the ears and on the back of the cat. In advanced cases of fungal infection, hair loss is accompanied by scaling and itching on the skin.
Allergy: When cats have allergies to any substance, they often scratch themselves and constantly lick the allergic area to relieve their discomfort. As a result, the hair in the area begins to fall out.
Hormonal Hair Loss
Like in humans, hormonal changes also lead to hair loss in cats. Therefore, it is normal for your cat to shed excess hair during its heat, mating, and pregnancy periods. You can consider neutering your cat to prevent shedding during these periods.
How to Prevent Shedding?
You can reduce your cat's shedding problem by taking some precautions. Including:
Pay attention to your cat's fur and skin health. Get a cat comb suitable for your cat's fur structure and comb it regularly. This way, you can easily collect dead hair before it falls out.
Do not neglect their vaccinations and other medical treatments.
Use vitamin and mineral supplements recommended by your veterinarian without skipping.
Avoid or minimize situations that will stress your furry friend.
Cats should not be washed due to their ability to clean themselves, but in some special cases, washing may be necessary. In such cases, you should wash your cat with special cat shampoos developed for its skin and hair, rather than normal shampoos.
Not neglecting your cute friend's routine checks and making a food choice based on its age, weight, and allergy sensitivities help them live a healthy and long life. Apart from seasonal shedding, you can also ensure that your little friend is always peaceful and happy by following your veterinarian's recommendations.
How Do I Clean My Dog's Teeth?
Just like humans, dental health is very important for pets. Dental care improves the quality of life while ensuring dental health, making it easier for your furry friend to eat. Maintaining oral hygiene for dogs with different jaw structures may seem complicated and challenging. Nevertheless, a care routine can easily be established with oral care products specially produced for pets. By using toothpaste and brushes designed for your beloved pet, you can brush your dog's teeth. Brushing alone is not enough to treat dental diseases. You should also take your furry friend to a veterinarian at regular periods and have their dental health checked.
Dental Care for Puppies
Puppies have a more delicate bodies than adults. However, when it comes to oral care, puppies can easily adapt to a routine. By getting your little friend accustomed to oral hygiene and tooth brushing from the early months, you can help to keep their teeth healthy.
At first, your little friend may give unexpected reactions because they are not used to having their teeth brushed. You can get them used to oral care by gradually introducing them to it and offering treats that they enjoy. Additionally, it is necessary to take your little furry friend to a veterinarian at regular periods. This way, you can learn if there is any problem with their teeth and have routine check-ups done.
Dental Care for Adult Dogs
Many pet owners wonder how to take care of the dental health of their adult dogs. Our adult furry friends may initially react negatively to procedures such as mouth care and tooth brushing. Therefore, you should not rush the process and gradually get your pet accustomed to an oral care routine with small but steady steps.
You can start by choosing the right products for your dog. Most kinds of toothpaste manufactured for furry friends have appealing flavors such as meat juice. This way, brushing your dog's teeth can become a fun and tasty activity.
You can also use double-headed toothbrushes manufactured for dogs. Special toothbrush products designed for furry friends provide deep cleaning while fitting their jaws, without annoying your dog. After completing the brushing process, you can give your adorable friend Bon A-pet-treat! to help them get used to this process.
You should also pay attention to the food choices for the dental care of adult dogs. Choosing high-quality and appropriate food directly affects the dental health of your furry friend. Wet food may be tempting for dogs, but its moist texture creates a suitable environment for bacterial growth. At the same time, its dense consistency can stick to their teeth and get stuck between them. Dry food is suitable for dog teeth with its hard structure and relatively helps prevent the formation of multiple dental diseases.
Toothpaste Selection for Your Dog's Dental Care
The most important point to consider for the dental care of our furry friends is the selection of an appropriate toothpaste. Dogs have different biology than humans and cannot use products designed for humans. For example, fluoride found in toothpaste suitable for humans can be toxic to dogs. Similarly, toothpaste designed for humans foams, which is not suitable for dogs. Puppies may swallow toothpaste foam because they don't have the ability to spit.
You should make sure that dog oral care products have natural ingredients. Chemical-based products are not suitable for your pawsome friend's mouth structure and can lead to serious illnesses. Toothpaste should also not stick to your dog's teeth.
Nowadays, toothpaste is produced for dogs to have healthy mouth and teeth. You can obtain these kinds of toothpaste from pet stores or your veterinarian.
How often should you visit a veterinarian for your dog's dental care?
Making short visits to the veterinarian for your dog's dental care at regular periods can help prevent many illnesses from progressing by providing an early diagnosis. However, dog owners may wonder how often they should visit the veterinarian. This time period may vary depending on the characteristics of your dog. Therefore, you can create a veterinarian routine for your furry friend based on their age and breed.
The dental structure of some dog breeds is more susceptible to diseases. Often, it is appropriate to visit a veterinarian every six months or once a year. You can learn which periods are suitable for your furry friend by getting information at your first veterinarian appointment. At the same time, you can visit a veterinarian by following the symptoms in your dog.
Dental disorders in dogs can manifest themselves with various symptoms. You should visit a veterinarian immediately when you detect these symptoms in your furry friend.
Common dental disorder symptoms in dogs are:
Bad breath
Changes in eating habits
Loose or missing teeth
Discolored, swollen, or bleeding gums
Depression and lethargy
Excessive drooling
Chewing on paws
Dental disorders in dogs can lead to different problems over time. For example, the jaw structure is directly affected by dental disorders, and eating habits are often disrupted. Additionally, jawbones can weaken, and your dog may not be able to eat as before. Disorders such as dental tartar can also occur when dental care is not performed correctly and can progress quickly. To prevent serious illnesses, you should take your furry friend to the veterinarian at regular periods and not neglect oral care.
Introducing Dogs to Other Pets
Bringing a new member into the household can be very exciting for most pet owners. There are few things that can compare to the special bond that develops between a dog and its owner. However, your current furry friend may not share the same excitement as you do. The problem is that this event can be stressful for both your new furry friend and the current pets already living in your home. Therefore, you need to know how to introduce your new member to the other members of your household. If you don't pay attention to the early introductions, a beautiful moment can turn into a stressful nightmare and create conflicts between your adorable companions, and the introduction process can be prolonged for a long time.
The same rules apply to your furry friend to meet your current pets, such as cats, rabbits, birds, and reptiles, living in your house. It may not always be easy to introduce your new or old friends that Going Mutts to each other! Therefore, by paying attention to some key points, you can make this process easier for both yourself and your pets. Here are some tips for introducing dogs to other pets and creating a friendly environment between them!
Make Your Home Safe
Your home can be a safe area for your dog, but that doesn't mean it's safe for your new friend, even if they are the same breed. You should provide a "safe room" for each member to use when they feel unsafe. Having everything your dog and current pets need, including litter boxes and food bowls, in each room is a good start for creating an ideal environment. Also, make sure there are no dangerous items in your little friend's room, such as poisonous houseplants.
Prepare Separate Areas
First, you need to start communicating with all your furry friends completely separately. Put both of them in their own rooms and continue to watch them there for a while. You can allow them to explore the main living area at different times, but you should not allow them to see each other at this stage. Firstly, your goal should be to make the new member comfortable and introduce each one to the scent of the new one. You may need to continue keeping them apart for at least 3-4 days.
Be Patient
Regardless of the type of pet, each animal has its own personality, and its attitude towards different species can vary widely. Regardless of whether it is pawed or furry, harmony and acceptance between different species are entirely dependent on this. Your dog may instinctively behave aggressively towards your new friend, but this is something that can change over time. Therefore, you need to be patient and remember that this process can last for days or even weeks.
Allow Them to Eat Together
One of the happiest moments for each of them is when they eat. Therefore, you can use this positive time to your advantage and use it to introduce your dog to the new environment and your other friends. After your new pet has settled in, you can feed both of them in enclosed spaces where they can see each other. They can hear and smell each other, but there will be no physical contact between them. This arrangement will prevent your dog from feeling threatened and provide an opportunity for your new furry friend to get used to them.
Pay Attention to Signs of Tension
When introducing any type of pet, you should pay attention to signs of tension or discomfort. If dogs start growling or snarling, these can be clear signs that they are not happy. There are other signs that can show the same mood, and in this case, remember that your beloved pets need to be separated quickly. It is also important to pay attention to your dog's training. Understanding commands and responding positively to what you say can affect the attitude of the new member of the household.
Organize Introduction Sessions
The next step is to allow highly controlled forms of contact. You should allow your dog, cat, or other small pets to approach each other from a small, completely unobstructed section when they want to. The best time to do this is usually just before mealtime when they can both stay in their own space but still make contact with each other. Because in case of a negative situation, mealtime can help you end this experience positively. You should make these sessions a routine and maintain a balance of time for both.
Reward Your Dog
All pets like treats, so using treats or toys to reward your dog for positive reactions to your new furry friend can have a positive impact. You can let your dog roam freely with a leash to keep them under control and release the new cute member of the house. Doing this in a common area, not in either of their own areas, can prevent one from dominating the other and can make things easier as they are in the same situation. If it is a cat, let it roam freely and reward your dog when they stop paying attention to the cat or display positive behavior. Because rewarding is always perfect for creating positive feelings regardless of the type of pet.
Continue to Pay Attention
Even if you have gone through all these steps, you should not leave your dog and other pets unsupervised together for a long time. Especially when introducing puppies and kittens to each other, it can be more challenging than you expected when one is bigger than the other. Due to instincts, some unexpected negative behaviors may emerge. Dogs that have been friends with cats for years can suddenly chase a cat and seriously harm it.
How to Introduce a Cat and Dog to Each Other?
All these steps are also ideal for introducing cats and dogs to each other, but the species, behaviors, and movements of cats and dogs can give an idea of your new furry friend's point of view. If you have a calm dog, a very active and naughty cat can trigger your dog's instincts and cause negative behaviors. Therefore, you should be careful to bring compatible breeds together. After your dog becomes friends with other pets, it's time to take lots of photos of these cute little purr-fect buddies together!
How to Care for Kittens and Adult Cats?
If you have decided to share your home with a kitten or adult cat, you should know that there is nothing to worry about as long as you take care of its needs and take minimum safety precautions in your home. With the information and guidance you will read shortly, you can make your cat the source of joy in your home and build a strong bond with it. Remember, as you make your furry friend happy, it will try to make you happier.
How to Care for Kittens?
If you have adopted a kitten that is no longer cared for by its mother, which usually happens around two months old, you can consider yourself one of the luckiest people in the world. A little cat that needs attention and love, separated from its mother and siblings, can be one of the few things that can positively change your life. So, how should you take care of your little friend?
It is best to start with the question "What do kittens eat?" because your kitten at home has a high-speed metabolism and is still in the growth stage, so it can get hungry frequently and wants to eat every three to four hours. Although it has already passed the baby stage and has teeth, it may have difficulty consuming dry cat food, so it is advisable to get wet cat food for its nutrition. The amount of wet food you give, which is indicated on the usage instructions of the product you buy or recommended by your veterinarian, will fill your kitten's stomach - at least for a while. But a few hours later, the little one's stomach will start growling again. The ingredients of wet cat food require the nutritional needs of kittens until they switch to dry food or a BARF diet later. Since it contains a large amount of moisture, you need to put clean water near the food bowl for your furry friend to drink enough water.
After consuming food, your kitten's need for a litter box will arise. If you have purchased cat litter and a litter box, you can direct your kitten there. Cats instinctively use areas like soil and sand to dig and do their business and then cover their waste. The behavior of your tiny ball of fur at home will be in this direction as well. The only thing you need to do to ensure that your cat completes the toilet process safely is to show it where the litter box is. Holding your furry friend and placing it in the litterbox is sufficient for this. It can easily find this place during toilet breaks by following its instinctual GPS.
Life can sometimes present you with difficult tests, and one of these tests may involve taking care of a kitten that needs its mother's milk. If the baby cat you adopted cannot eat solid food and cannot take care of its toilet needs on its own, you will need to obtain a cat bottle and cat milk powder. You can feed your kitten by filling the bottle with the mixture you prepare as recommended. Regarding toilet needs, you can make your baby kitten urinate and defecate by massaging its urinary organs with a wet cotton swab. Don't worry, this process will pass quickly, and your kitten, which fits in your palm, will start eating solid food and using cat litter when it gets a little bigger.
Caring for an Adult Stray Cat
Your job is considered easier compared to taking care of a kitten if you have decided to adopt a friendly cat that you see while going to work or roaming around your home and trying to communicate with you. Unlike a kitten that has just been separated from its mother and siblings, the stray cat you will adopt may have been negatively affected by outdoor conditions and carry parasites such as fleas. Don't worry and don't cool off from the cat you adopted for this reason. Make sure that, your purr-fect friend is not happy to host fleas and needs your help.
At this stage, the first thing you need to do is to buy a carrier that you can carry the stray cat you adopted and take the cat to the veterinarian. After your veterinarian accomplishes the cat's tests, they will administer the necessary internal and external parasite vaccines to get rid of fleas. If your cat's general condition is good, in addition to relevant vaccines, they can also administer distemper and rabies vaccines for cats. Meanwhile, you may have questions such as "Can cats be bathed?" for extreme cases like this. Many veterinarians who are experts in their field do not recommend bathing cats. These cute creatures can clean themselves even if they are very dirty, thanks to their tongue's special structure and secretion.
After all the procedures, your cat may feel a little weak due to the effect of the vaccines, but don't worry. Your furry friend, who is glad to find its forever home, will consume the wet and dry cat foods you offer, drink its water and meet its toilet needs with the litter you bought. Then it will start getting to know its new home and playing fun games with the lucky human friend who opened its home.
What You Need to Know About Caring and Training
Whether your furry friend is a kitten or an adult, you should get a scratching post to help your cat maintain a healthy skeletal and muscular system by sharpening its claws and doing stretching exercises.
Your furry friend takes care of its fur by licking itself. However, you can also help by collecting weak hairs on your cat before it does. You can use cat hairbrushes or cat gloves for this. If your cat is shedding unexpectedly, it could be due to stress or food-related issues. In such a case, do not hesitate to contact your veterinarian.
Cat vaccinations are crucial. You should get your kitten and adult cat vaccinated regularly according to the annual schedule, consulting your veterinarian. While the leukemia vaccine is not mandatory, it would be beneficial to discuss the risks and benefits of this vaccine with your veterinarian.
Your mischievous kitten may want to bite your hands or feet during playtime. At night, if you leave your bedroom door open - if you close it, it will meow, asking you to open it as it doesn't want to be alone - it will climb into your bed. Be patient and remember that your tiny kitten has only been in this world for a few weeks. To prevent your cat from biting your hands and feet during playtime, include cat toys and chewable soft textured toys in your games. To prevent nighttime playtime adventures, tire your furry friend out by playing with it before bedtime. This will help you both sleep and wake up at similar times.
If your little friend has unwanted behavior, use positive reinforcement techniques such as giving treats and clickers for cat training. Use a soft tone of voice when communicating with your cat. When your cat tries to do something you don't want it to do, use a more authoritative tone of voice. Do not yell at your cat or punish it. Reward your cat's positive behavior by petting and hugging it or giving it treats.
Wishing you happiness in the fun adventure with your cat. Your cat will learn a lot from you on this journey, but make sure that your furry friend will also teach you many things.
How to Care for Dogs?
Sharing your life with a cute companion is one of the most enjoyable things in the world, but you need to show extra care for your dog's happiness and health. In this article, you can find some tips and tricks about dog grooming, such as bathing and nail trimming, to make dog training and care easier and more enjoyable for you.
Nail Trimming in Dogs
One of the important criteria for your dog's grooming is trimming their nails every 4 to 6 weeks. There are various nail clippers available in the market for different types of pets. When trimming the nails, you should not neglect the nail-like claws on the side of some dogs' feet. One important thing to know is that there are also blood vessels and nerves in your furry friends' nails. Therefore, you should be very careful while trimming your pet's nails. For such adjustments, you can use scissors specifically designed for pets, recommended by a veterinarian.
Order a Grooming Kit for Your Dog
The face and ear areas should be hygienic. Keeping the hair short and clean in these areas can reduce possible odors and prevent infections.
Using a grooming kit can make these tasks easier for you. To learn how short to cut your pet's fur, you should read the user manual that comes with the grooming kit.
Before Washing Your Dog, Brush Their Fur Thoroughly
To make bath time enjoyable for your furry friend, whom you love so much, it is important to pay attention to some things. First of all, before washing, you must definitely brush your little friend's fur. If you wash their fur without brushing it first, cleaning the fur can be twice as difficult. For this purpose, you can choose one of the various brushes or combs designed for your little friend's fur. Wide-toothed combs specially produced for very tangled fur are also recommended. Also, using a pet cream recommended by your veterinarian can make it easier to untangle tangled fur clusters.
Flea Treatment is Important
Flea infestation can often be an inevitable problem if you have a furry friend who loves to walk outdoors. However, your little furry friend getting fleas does not mean that the care you provide for them is insufficient. Nevertheless, it can be useful to know how to get rid of fleas. You should be very careful about getting your friend's external parasite vaccinations regularly. If there is a flea infestation despite their vaccinations, you can turn to reliable brands that your veterinarian recommends as flea medication for dogs. You should be skeptical about natural methods frequently encountered on the internet for getting rid of fleas.
After applying flea treatment to your pet, you may need to use a suitable care product to prevent them from getting fleas again. For this purpose, you can use special flea collars, drops, powders, or shampoos approved by your veterinarian. Using drops for flea medication selection is a good way to kill fleas and prevent the development of eggs.
Köpeğinize Tuvalet Eğitimi Verin
Giving toilet training to your furry friend who lives with you makes your life easier. Especially when a puppy feels the need to pee, it scratches and/or whines to let you know. As soon as you receive this signal, take your furry friend outside of the living area and take it to an appropriate place. This way, it will understand that it is not appropriate to pee in its own living area or in your living area. Using special pads or papers produced for dogs during toilet training is not highly recommended. This is because dogs are animals that can learn to hold their feces and leave them in certain places. However, in situations where you cannot take them outside a few times a day, or during very cold winter months, you can allow your furry friend to meet its needs by placing these special pads in a suitable corner at home.
Take Care of Your Dog's Dental Health
Your furry friend also needs periodic dental care just like you do. In this context, some points to pay attention to when applying dental care to your dog are as follows:
When brushing your dog's teeth, make sure to choose a toothpaste manufactured for dogs.
You can give them suitable teeth cleaner for chewing.
You can also use a dental spray to clean their teeth.
You can take your pet to a veterinarian regularly and have their teeth checked.
Your Dog Needs Exercise
Although puppies have a lot of energy, they have less strength. Therefore, it is a suitable solution to make them do short exercises at frequent intervals. You can discuss with your veterinarian how much exercise your furry friend needs daily and get health information about their movement needs according to their breeds.
External Parasites in Dogs
Brushing your dog's fur as often as possible and checking their skin frequently can help you detect and treat parasites before any infection occurs. The main symptoms you may encounter in your pet when there are external parasites are:
Excessive itching
Skin flaking
Abnormal hair loss
Black residue/scraps in the ears
To avoid such situations, you should regularly take your pet to the veterinarian and show the necessary care to have the external parasite treatment regularly applied.
Spaying in Dogs
If you have decided to have your pet spayed, you should know that there are various options available. In the surgical sterilization procedure, which is a frequently used method, two separate methods can be used depending on the gender of your furry friend:
Ovariohysterectomy (the removal of the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and uterus)
Orchiectomy (the removal of the testicles to prevent reproduction)
Other procedures that you can request from your veterinarian to have your pet spayed include:
Hysterectomy involves the removal of a portion of your female pet's uterus and fallopian tubes. This way, your pet's hormone production balance remains undisturbed.
Vasectomy, which is the removal of only the part of the testicles that carries sperm in male dogs.
Ovariohysterectomy, which is the removal of the ovaries in your female dog, leaving only the uterus behind.
If you want your little friend, who holds an important place in your life, to be with you for a longer time, you need to provide them with careful care. You can collaborate with your veterinarian at every point where you need support and improve your furry friend's quality of life.