Fear Free Happy Homes
Reading Time: 4 minutes Cats are famously difficult to medicate successfully. Fortunately, compounding medications and customizing them to a cat’s particular tastes is becoming more common. Such meds allow veterinarians to better treat their feline patients and pet parents to successfully administer the treatment. Cats are particularly sensitive to bitter tastes, and many cat parents often recount their devious […]
Reading Time: 4 minutes Your horse forcefully nudges your jacket pocket. What does he want? Oh, right, you put a handful of peppermint candies in it last night when you were leaving the restaurant. Sniffing them out is a pretty good feat for that long muzzle. While the vision and hearing of horses has been studied thoroughly, the equine […]
Reading Time: < 1 minutes The phrase “fighting like cats and dogs” isn’t really accurate. In our experience, cats and dogs can become best friends–if they’re introduced properly. This handout provides guidelines on ways to set up your household to facilitate introductions, keep cats safe during the meet-and-greet, avoid mistakes, and ensure that everyone gets their fair share of attention.
Reading Time: 5 minutes While I hate exercising in general, walking our Poodle mix Dorie around our neighborhood is a pleasure because I love seeing all of her senses engaged. She’s sniffing the air, sniffing the ground, holding her cottony tail high, and like the Terminator, constantly scanning for enemies. Squirrels and grackles both incite Dorie’s wrath, but by […]
Reading Time: < 1 minutes It’s job number one (and number two) for new puppies: Learning where to “go potty.” It might seem difficult, but we have three magic tips that will ensure a winning training program for both of you: consistency, scheduling, and praise. In our handout, we offer advice on how to set up a routine, avoid mistakes, […]
Reading Time: 3 minutes I had just started a private training lesson when I noticed the little Poodle’s right eye was swollen, with yellow-greenish goop gathering in the corner and seeping down the side of his nose. He kept winking at me, clearly uncomfortable. “Has Buddy seen your veterinarian?” I asked. “Poor guy, his eye looks awful!” “I just […]
Reading Time: < 1 minutes It’s a never-ending conflict: Your cat jumps onto the kitchen counter or dining room table, you tell her to get off, and she ignores you. It doesn’t have to be that way. In our handout, we explain why cats are attracted to these areas and the best ways to “purr-suade” them to perch elsewhere.
Reading Time: 4 minutes Like many pets, birds aren’t always fans of visiting the veterinarian. Part of that is likely because they aren’t used to riding in a car. Most avian companions rarely travel outside of the home. This means travel may have the potential to be challenging. Training your bird in advance for transportation can give you peace […]
Reading Time: 3 minutes Recognizing the emotional and physical needs of chickens reduces stress for them and you.
Reading Time: < 1 minutes Is your cat relaxed, interested, anxious, getting scared, or ready to run under the bed? You can tell a lot by reading body language and paying attention to vocalizations. In our handout, we offer tips on how to recognize whether your cat’s level of fear, anxiety, or stress is escalating. If you have concerns, talk […]