With the recent “Snapping”…OK, darn right biting of a reporter by the President’s dog, it seems that there has been more talk of Pets Behavior Problems these days.  I guess as tough as the reporters have been to our dear ‘ole President, it is no wonder he gets a little snappy form time-to-time…the dog, not the President.
How about you?  Are you dealing with some Pet Behavior Problems yourself?  Hey, I’m not a Doctor and I don’t even play one on TV, but I have had a long obsession with my pets and have spent a lot of hours working with various Animal Rescue organizations as it a passion and one I contribute to as much as I can yearly.  In that time I have had a lot of conversations with various Doctors who have given me some excellent information when it comes to Pet Behavior.  Everyone has their own remedies, that much is for sure, but there seems to be some consensus as to some of the methods people use.
Here are some of the most frequent questions that I have heard that have seemed to begged answers from new pet owners that were adopting a pet.  They relate to barking excessively, chewing in a destructive manner, accidents, a pet that seems to pace about, licking or drooling excessively and inactivity, usually in older dogs.  There are tons of other questions, many that seem more Breed related, but most of the questions seem to fall under the previously mentioned categories.
First and foremost, there are questions you need to ask yourself.  I believe that many problems from a Pet Behavior standpoint can be directly related to the owner’s behavior.  You see, your pet often reflects back what you are feeling.  I know that my cat can seem to pick up on my moods and there is no doubt that your pet may be doing the same.
So ask yourself is there something going on in you life that has caused a “Disruption” in the usual routine?  Have you changed their diet in some way?  Has a “new” pet or child been introduced into the fold?  Great questions to determine any external situations that may be causing a different behavior from your pet.  Have you spent more time away from your pet than usual?  There is a thing called “Separation Anxiety” and pets are certainly not immune.
Now see if your pet has any overt signs of sickness that will be causing a problem.  Many times at the beginning of a sickness, the problems start to manifest.  Just be aware of your pets changing moods and don’t be so quick to want to punish bad behavior.
A couple of tips for dealing with your pet.
When you see a problem, deal with it quickly.  Don’t try to dismiss it and think it will go away if you ignore it.
Always be gentle with your pet.  Just as with a child, I don’t ever believe you should hit a pet out of anger.  Your pet should never fear you by thinking they are going to get hit when you raise your hand.
The quieter you are when dealing with your pet, the better and rarely scold them.  How do you feel when you are constantly derided at work or by a significant other?  Why do you think pets are any different?
Rotate the toys for your pet.  That keeps them interested in playing more if they have new stimuli to play with.
The most important aspect to remember about your pet is that, by and large, you chose them somehow, right?  You decided that you wanted a pet.
I’ve often heard that you can’t pick your family, but that you can pick your friends…and your pets.
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The decision to bring a pet into your home for you and your family should not be taken lightly. A pet will become a member of your family and not just a fixture in your home. Pets are not meant to come and go, but to remain as part of your home for years to come. Unfortunately for some, pets are disposable items that will be moved if they are an inconvenience. This should be avoided since unstable homes can make unstable pets.

A checklist for pet care can be an essential tool when you first bring home your new pet. For many people, a new pet is their first experience at being a full-time pet parent, and for those this list will be most useful. Preparing yourself, your home, and your pet for those first few months in a new environment will make the change go gracefully and help everyone adjust easily.

1. The first thing you want to be sure of is that your pet has all of their vaccinations up to date. It is important that your new pet is protected from such outside irritants as fleas, tics, ringworm, or many other ailments such as distemper or rabies. The health of your pet is one of the most important aspects of ongoing care. Wellness exams each year are important for your pet. A veterinarian will perform a thorough exam on your pet looking at such things as their vital signs, ears, eyes, mouth, the heart and lungs, as well as the reproductive organs and their skin. This step is a very important preventative measure for your pet each year.

2. Getting your home ready for your new pet can be a big task, but one that is essential for the big day that your new friend comes home. If it is a small caged animal, a small space that is quiet is fine for them to be used to their surroundings. You will not want to take your new friend out just yet, but let them get used to the sounds and smells of their new home before you start introducing them outside of their immediate surroundings. If it is a larger, self-sufficient animal such as a cat or dog, you will want to make sure that they have their own space, a blanket or pet bed for retreating to, out of the way in case they are too overwhelmed at the beginning.

3. Regular physical routine is essential for any pet. This is their exercise routine since they are not like us and do activity regularly without the help of us. Larger pets such as dogs must be walked every day, smaller animals like cats, ferrets, guinea pigs, and birds can be trained to play with anyone in the family. Toys such as balls, bells, tubes, or even apparatuses are useful in helping your pet achieve physical activity during the day while you are away or even you interacting with them while they are exploring.

If you follow some simple guidelines, your new pet is sure to adapt to his new family in no time at all. Regular checkups, physical activity and preventative measures can not only make your pet more comfortable, but also extend the life of your pet. A pet is an investment so you will want to be sure to take care of him for the benefit of everyone.

There comes a time when your dog will no longer be as young as they used to be and more care and attention might be needed. Everyone and every living thing gets old at some point and there’s nothing anyone can do.

There are however, things that can help dramatically in keeping your dog young and healthy and to set them up for a much better and happier aging. Don’t wait till your dog is old before thinking of the care he will need, you need to constantly look after your dog’s health to stop any unnecessary suffering later on.

The main things that affect your dog’s later life are the diet he/she is on and the exercise they get, along with other less important needs such as grooming and others, feeding and exercise are the main factors in determining your dog’s health later in life.

So what can happen to your dog in later life I hear you ask? Well there are plenty of illnesses and situations that may occur with age because of things not working as well as they used to much the same as human illnesses. Middle age for a dog is around the seven years mark although it depends on dog size and this is when the dog’s body will gradually start to deteriate.

One of the most common of old age symptoms for dogs is hearing and sight deteriation, this can cause the dog to be much more frightened and feeling more vulnerable than they used to. Old Dog personalities may begin to change in affect to this making some more friendly and other more grumpy and snappy. Other old age side effects include putting on weight, weaker muscles and bones, memory loss and being less able to fight off infections and diseases.

Weight gain is a big issue in old dogs and needs to be monitored and acted upon often to make sure your dog doesn’t get unwanted problems through obesity.

In general, if you pet is getting old and you can see he/she is feeling the pain, then take them to the local vet to get advice on any questions you have and have them checked over by an expert.

Your pet’s health is no doubt very important to you. You don’t want your dog or cat to be ill and just down-right sad. Of course not! That’s why you need to make sure your pets are in proper health. But not everyone knows how to identify a sick dog or cat – and that’s ok. Many people have pet health questions that they don’t have the answer to. Pets are not like humans. Their illnesses are unique to them and unfortunately, they can’t tell us exactly what hurts or doesn’t feel right. That’s why you need to look for signs that your pet might not be feeling just right.

Here are some signs to look for if you think your pet is under the weather.

Just not Him/Herself

One indicator of a sick pet is that he/she is not acting the way they usually do. Often lethargy (tiredness and/or fatigue) sets in when a pet is sick and your dog or cat may shy away rather than run up to greet you. Also if your pet isn’t as vibrant or energetic, it’s a good indication that something is not right. However, these signs won’t answer your pet health questions. They’ll just key you in to how your pet is feeling. When a pet is not acting his/herself, feel around his/her body and see how your pet reacts. If something is tender, your pet will definitely react with a “howl” or quick movement. That means a visit to the vet’s office is necessary.

Vomit/Diarrhea

Even though pets are not like us, there are some indications of poor health that are similar to ours, such as vomit and diarrhea. These are two clear signs that something’s not right with Fido or Mittens. This normally means that your pet has eaten something that has made him/her sick. In this case, it’s common to see your pet eat grass. The common belief is that grass helps remove the “bad stuff” from your pets system, acting sort of like a laxative, so you might see your pet eating grass prior to spotting vomit and/or diarrhea. Normally if they just ate something that doesn’t agree with them, the vomit and diarrhea will pass. However, if it persists, consult your veterinarian.

Fur Loss

We all know that our pets shed. We see the lumps of hair build all over the house that, at times, can be a bit annoying. However, if you notice large patches of missing hair, something is definitely not right. In some cases your pet might just be getting old and losing hair. However, this is not always the case. In some cases hair loss indicates skin irritations (scratching at itchy skin causing hair to be scratched away), cysts, ringworm, or an infection. Fur loss does raise a lot of pet health questions and since there could be a number of reasons, your best bet it to take your pet to the vet for some pet medications.

Discharge from Eyes and/or Nose

If there’s unusual “goop” around your dog or cat’s eyes or coming from their nose, you got a sick puppy/kitty. “Goop” normally indicates some sort of infection. If you notice such “goop”, clean your pet’s eyes/nose and see if it persists. If it does, there’s something up and it’s time to go see the vet.

Your pet’s health should just as important as yours and your family’s. The healthier your pet is, the longer he/she will be around to greet you when you come home from a hard day’s work.

In many cases, the solution to helping your pet feel better is through prescription pet meds. There are places online where you can get pet medications for less. Before you by those meds for your pet, see what generic and low cost alternatives are available to you online. The web is filled with discounted pet supplies.