How To Prevent Your Pets From Spreading Coronavirus

While there's no evidence that pets can catch coronavirus, some vets believe there's a way they can spread the virus through touching pet hair.


POTOMAC, Md. — Veterinarians are taking unprecedented precautions in the age of coronavirus, such as not allowing walk-in appointments and meeting pet owners outside. It's all in an effort to protect people from fomites. 

The Centers for Disease Control says there is no evidence that pets can catch coronavirus. But some veterinarians believe that pets can pass it on. If a person doesn't know they have coronavirus, but has a virus droplet on their hands and then pets a dog in someone’s backyard, the virus could end up on the pet’s hair.

To read more on this story, click here: How To Prevent Your Pets From Spreading Coronavirus

FOLLOW US!

Tips on Keeping Your Dog’s Coat Healthy

Anyone with a furry friend can tell you that keeping up with a dog’s shedding is a full-time job.  Some dogs can grow 100 feet of fur per day...that’s adding up all the new strands covering the entire animal end-to-end, including the fluff between your dog’s toes. So it’s easy to see why taking care of your dog’s coat can sometimes seem overwhelming. But all that fluff’s got real substance! You may not know it, but your dog’s fur:

• Is eight times warmer than wool 
• Is fire-resistant
• Wards off dirt
• Repels static
• Protects from parasites

So how do you keep your dog’s coat healthy and handsome? Use these tips and tricks from the experts! 

A Healthy Diet
Like humans, dogs are only as healthy as what they eat, says Michael Weiss, a veterinarian at All Creatures Veterinary Care Center in Sewell, N.J. Two things to look for in your dog’s food:

Protein
If your dog lacks this vital nutrient, its body will dedicate protein to muscle first, leaving its fur and skin dry and dull. Make sure your dog’s food is rich in protein. Omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids. These essential building blocks keep your dog’s coat healthy, thick and lustrous. They may also help reduce itching, dandruff and allergy-related skin problems. On the ingredients panel, look for fish oil, fish meal or flax, all excellent sources of omega-3 fatty acids.

Exercise
Exercise not only keeps your dog slim, it may also help keep her fur in top condition. Weiss says regular exercise benefits your dog’s overall health -- and a healthy dog is more likely to have a healthy, shiny coat.

Grooming
The fact is you can’t keep your dog from shedding. But with a few key products and techniques, you can easily take great care of your dog’s coat at home to keep it looking its best:

Brush at least once a week. In order to keep your dog’s mane manageable, give the fur one good brush each week with a de-shedding brush to get out the undercoat, says New York City-based groomer Lisa Caputo from the dog service company Biscuits and Bath. Part the hair and brush from the skin out to avoid matting, moisture and heat build-up, which can cause yeast and bacteria. For an even slicker look, give your dog a quick brush every day. Bathe with gentle shampoos and conditioners. If your dog has sensitive skin, try a hypoallergenic or oatmeal shampoo. It is recommended that you wash your pooch every four weeks.

Medical Checkups
If you notice your dog has consistently itchy, uncomfortable skin or is shedding more than usual, your best bet is to take him to a veterinarian. It could be something as small as a food allergy to a more serious problem, like ringworm.

FOLLOW US!

Cats Are Especially Prone to Hairball Formation, Since They Groom Themselves by Licking Their Fur

What is a hairball? A hairball is a small collection of hair or fur formed in the stomach of animals that is occasionally vomited up when it becomes too big. Hairballs are primarily a tight elongated cylinder of packed fur, but may include bits of other elements such as swallowed food. Cats are especially prone to hairball formation since they groom themselves by licking their fur, and thereby ingest it.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) says, that during a cat’s daily grooming regimen, they may inadvertently swallow loose hair, which generally passes through the digestive system into the cat’s stool. Some hair can remain, however, and collect in the stomach or small intestine, causing the cat to hack, gag or retch until he vomits the offending detritus.

How to Recognize Hairball Problems:

• Cylindrical (cigar-shaped) masses on the floor or furniture.

• Constipation, or hard stools with hair showing.

• Dry, matted coat

• Frequent dry coughing or hacking, particularly after meals

• Lack of interest in eating.

• Depression or lethargy.

Why Don’t Dogs get Hairballs?
Unlike cats, dogs are not particularly fastidious when it comes to cleaning themselves. Dogs can tolerate being dirty, stinky, and messy. Cats, on the other hand, groom excessively and don’t require baths. They have a naturally barbed tongue that grabs shedding hair. Because dogs don’t groom, they don’t develop hairballs

The number one way to avoid hairballs on the floor and in your cat is brushing!

FOLLOW US!

Why Don't Cats Go Gray?

Why don’t cats go gray like dogs do? Betsy Joliat

I’m jealous of my brown-and-black tabby, Fergie. When I adopted her as a 1-ish-year-old she sported a cute little white patch around her mouth and chin. I was in my mid-20s and my hair was blond. Eighteen years later, Fergie’s white patch is the same size and shape as the day we met — I have photos to prove it — but my blond hair now has gray highlights. She’s a super senior, but I’m only middle-aged and her lack of gray hair seems unfair.

One of my favorite dog friends is a black Labrador that started showing his age with lots of white hairs on his muzzle and around his eyes.

To read more on this story, click here: Why Don't Cats Go Gray?

FOLLOW US!

31 Problems Only Dog Owners Understand

Early-morning walks in freezing weather. You have to put on so many layers just to go around the block, and he'll be sure to stop and sniff every single tree, fire hydrant, and trash can as you shiver.

The cost of walks, grooming, boarding, and vet visits. You're not going to be stingy about taking care of him, and the people who run these businesses totally know that.

To read more on this story, click here: 31 Problems Only Dog Owners Understand

(To subscribe to The Pet Tree House, click on this icon
in the black drop-down menu on your right. Thank you.)

on Twitter @thepettreehouse

Visit my blog! The News Whisperer, An informative blog of what's going on in your world today!
 at: www.whispersoftheworld.com

FOLLOW US!

Choosing the Right Pet for You

Sharing your life with an animal has great benefits and can bring you great joy. If you are thinking about adding a pet to your family, it’s best to learn about the needs of different types of pets to find one that will best suit your lifestyle.

Each type of pet is different in terms of care, feeding, behavior, cost, housing and demands on your time. If you know what you’re getting into, you’ll be more likely to have a happy animal, a good relationship with your pet, and an easier time dealing with any challenges that might arise.

To read more on this story, click here: Choosing the Right Pet for You

(To subscribe to The Pet Tree House, click on this icon
in the black drop-down menu on your right. Thank you.)

on Twitter @thepettreehouse

Visit my blog! The News Whisperer, An informative blog of what's going on in your world today!
 at: www.whispersoftheworld.com

FOLLOW US!

Tips on How to Keep Your Pet's Coat Healthy

Every pet owner wants their pet's coat to be shiny, soft and full. With proper diet, nutrition and grooming, the dullest of fur can be brought back to life. Making a pet's coat shiny can be achieved within a few weeks of maintenance. To preserve the shiny coat, a new lifestyle of high protein foods and regular grooming must be maintained.

Regular grooming with a brush or comb will help keep your pet’s hair in good condition by removing dirt, spreading natural oils throughout her coat, preventing tangles and keeping her skin clean and irritant-free. And grooming time’s a great time to check for fleas and flea dirt, those little black specks that indicate your pet is playing host to a flea family.






FOLLOW US!