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  • Want to Train a Service Dog? What to Know to Choose the Right Breed for Your Needs

    Service dogs are more than just animal companions. When properly trained and cared for, a service dog is able to live with, travel with, and provide 24/7 assistance to their owner to help them live a more normal life, even when they are impacted by severe mobility, dexterity, or other issues. While there are many professional dog trainers who specialize in training service dogs, many people who need this type of animal often choose to handle the training themselves as a part of the bonding process.
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  • Protect Your Dog From Sunburn All Summer Long

    Summer is the time of the year when everyone spends more time outside. Your dog is no exception. Did you know that your furry friend is also susceptible to sunburn? Similar to humans, for dogs a case of sunburn can be irritating and painful. Before heading outside with your pet this summer, make sure you are taking extra precautionary steps to keep them protected. Apply Sunscreen Apply a dog sunscreen any time your dog will be spending an extended period outside, even if it's just to play in the backyard.
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  • Common Household Stressors For Cats That You Can Avoid

    Anxious cats can have health issues such as over or under eating, excessive grooming, marking, and aggression. While you might be noticing these actions in your cat, these might actually be symptoms from other stressors within your cat's environment. Here are four things in your home that might be inadvertently stressing out your cat. 1. Not Enough Personal Space Cats need their own space and can be territorial. If you have multiple cats, don't forget that animals like to have their own food bowls and even litter boxes.
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  • Avoid Unnecessary Stress At The Vet With 3 Tips For Your Guinea Pigs

    Bringing your guinea pigs to the vet may seem like a hassle, but it may be your only option if you notice that your guinea pigs are sick or you want something done, such as an exam or even getting your guinea pigs spayed or neutered. While a visit the vet can be a good thing for their health, you may be concerned about putting too much stress on them with the trip.
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  • What You Need To Know About FIV And Your Cat

    Feline immunodeficiency virus, FIV, is a species-specific virus that infects cats. FIV is similar to the human immunodeficiency virus, HIV, in the way it attacks the white blood cells, allowing other infections and viruses have their way in the body. When a cat has FIV, his or her immune system is weakened and it stays that way for life. Learn more about FIV and how you can take steps to protect your cat.
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  • 3 Options That Can Help You Pay For Veterinary Care

    One of the hardest things that you can do as a pet owner is realizing that your beloved dog or cat needs expensive treatments to alleviate his or her pain or to extend his or her life but being unable to afford it. In that situation, it is not uncommon for a pet owner to forego the treatments for awhile or to consider putting the pet down because lifesaving treatments are too expensive for them.
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  • Managing Your Elderly Dog's Arthritis Pain: Options For You

    When your dog has been a part of your family for several years, it may still come as a shock one day when they are suddenly considered a senior or elderly dog. It may be even more surprising when your veterinarian diagnoses them with arthritis. Arthritis is actually a fairly common condition in dogs and often develops as they get older. While you cannot prevent them from having arthritis, there are treatments that you can get for your dog that will help manage their arthritis pain and improve their overall quality of life.
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  • Brushing Your Dog's Teeth: A How-To Guide

    Brushing your dog's teeth can go a long way towards preventing issues like tooth decay and gum disease. But how do you go about brushing your dog's teeth effectively? Follow these steps for more effective dog care. Wait until your dog is relaxed. If you try to brush your dog's teeth when he's feeling spunky or skittish, you'll have a hard time. So, wait until your dog is laying down and napping or otherwise calm to tackle this task.
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  • Four Things Sugar Glider Owners Need To Know About Nutritional Osteodystrophy

    Sugar gliders are adorable exotic pets, but if they're not fed an appropriate diet, they could develop serious conditions like nutritional osteodystrophy. Nutritional osteodystrophy is a malnutrition disorder that can damage your pet's bones. Here are four things sugar glider owners need to know about nutritional osteodystrophy. What causes nutritional osteodystrophy? In the wild, sugar gliders eat a lot of insects. Insects contain high levels of protein and other nutrients. During the winters when insects are harder to find, wild sugar gliders will eat crusted tree sap and other natural sugar sources.
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