“Dogs are our link to paradise. They don’t know evil or jealousy or discontent. To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring — it was peace. ”

These fun loving species don’t display the most fun attributes sometimes!! Just like your crazy BFF’s your loyal fellas have the craziest and the weirdest habits to set forth. Lets take a look at some of their strangest behaviours, and then try to understand them from a dog’s perspective. Most often, there’s a good reason for an odd behaviour if you just look closely enough.

TAIL CHASING: Dogs chase their tails because it’s like a toy that never goes away. This amusing behavior is simply a fun way for your pup to expend her excess energy, your pup could be bored and wants attention. The sight of a dog whirling around in a circle with his tail in his mouth might be one of the funniest scenes in dog dom and when humans see this, they laugh, and often encourage the dog which results in the engraining if of such a behavior in the dog. These actions could be a response to a itchy tail because of a flea , tick ,worm problem or dirt.  In some cases, tail chasing can be a sign of obsessive-compulsive disorder, some will literally spin and spin until dizzy, or until their nails or pads wear down from the constant friction. If you can’t distract your dog from chasing her tail, or if you suspect she has a medical condition, you should speak to your veterinarian. be sure to keep your dog as pest-free and clean as possible, thus preventing tail biting spurred from infestation or dirt. Remove tangles from his tail fur, use a flea/tick preventive prescribed by a veterinarian, and get dermatitis diagnosed and treated. Exercise your dog and provide enrichment to prevent boredom and anxiety resulting from isolation. Socialize and train and never encourage the spinning. Usually dogs with another dog around won’t tail chase; it’s almost always an “only dog” issue, so consider a second dog or play dates.

SLOBERRY KISSES: Puppies are licked immediately out of the womb by their mother, who licks off the excess goo from birth and continues the tradition to groom the pups. Firstly “licking” is their way of showing affection and secondly they love the attention they get while they are doing so. You might not be pleased with your dogs slimy interactions but they don’t have a bad intention either.

POOP EATING: This bizarre behavior is termed as “Coprophagy “. Poor diet or not being fed enough, missing key nutrients from the diet could be the reason but in such conditions you should ask your veterinarian for help. To prevent coprophagy, keep your dog’s environment perfectly free of any waste. Be sure to feed the best food possible, in amounts suitable for your dog. While walking your dog, let him sniff around only in spots where you know there is no other waste present.

BIRD CHASING: Most dogs view birds as potential pray but its ultimately because they like playing the chase game with flying entities. While they are certainly not as skilled at killing birds as cats are, some dogs derive great pleasure from chasing them. Just make sure that you are not condoning the bad dog behavior in any subconscious way, encourage a calm-submissive state. Sometimes its fun and controllable but if it starts to get obsessive and becomes a habit then be a pack leader and take control of the situation. Once you make the dog understand that he must be quiet and respectful before any dog activity, he will not be so overexcited and fanatical with the things around him.

HUMPING:  Both males and females mount and hump, and these behaviors first appear early in a dog’s life, particularly during play. Mounting and humping should not be considered abnormal behavior patterns. Puppies often mount and hump their littermates, other playmates, people and toys. Its is possible that your dog mounts and/or humps only occasionally because they like to do it and can, and you can let them be but various medical problems, including urinary tract infections, urinary incontinence, priapism (persistent, often painful erections) and skinallergies, can influence a dog’s mounting behavior.  Dogs suffering from one of these or other medical issues often spend a lot of time licking and chewing the genital area. If you notice your dog excessively mounting, licking or chewing himself, or rubbing his body against things, take him to a veterinarian to rule out medical concerns.

TRY TO TRACK MOVING CARS: Dogs evolved as endurance specialists. Wild canines, like wolves and coyotes, use speed to run down prey, and our puppies are but one paw-step away from wild cousins and have retained this instinct. The urge to pursue moving objects is hardwired into the canine brain. This is a natural hunting behavior that is demonstrated whenever your pup chases a ball, Frisbee or squirrel.  They see a car moving in the distance, and they simply have to give chase. Some dogs are so motivated to chase cars that they’ll even lie in wait at the side of the road or in a ditch and, as a car approaches, they’ll leap out to head it off. This is obviously a very dangerous pastime.  Car chasers are often seriously injured or killed—typically not by the car they are chasing, but by one passing when the dog darts into the road. They can also cause serious auto accidents when drivers swerve to avoid them and are startled by their sudden appearance in the road. Even leashed dogs who are attracted to traffic can pose problems. As a preventive measure Putting in an underground electric or above-ground fence is a helpful step. Another method that may work is to have a friend drive by in their car slowly. When your dog chases the car have your friend throw water balloons at the dog, not to hurt him, but to scare him into not wanting to chase cars anymore. If you can get your dog obedience trained well enough you can train him to stop on command, but if you are not paying attention when the car drives by you may be too late in stopping your dog. Doing special car chasing training is wise if your dog is a car chaser.

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“Best friends come in all shapes and sizes. But the best ones come with short legs, and torsos.”

Yes, I am talking about the lovely Dachshund breed of dogs, which are often nicknamed wiener dog or sausage dog because of their ling and narrow build. This short-legged, long-bodied breed belonging to the hound family is a lively breed with a friendly personality and keen sense of smell.

The Dachshund, meaning “badger dog” in German were first bred in the early 1600s in Germany. The goal was to create a fearless, elongated dog that could dig the earth from a badger burrow and fight to the death with the vicious badgers. Packs of Dachshunds were even used to trail wild boar. Today their versatility makes them excellent family companions, show dogs, and small-game hunters. There are three varieties of Dachshund: the shorthaired, the wirehaired, and the longhaired. The Dachshund’s body is long and muscular with short legs. It has an elongated head and a slight, convex skull that is arched with protruding eyebrows. The muzzle is long and the jaw is robust with non-pendent lips. The almond-shaped eyes are dark red or brown-black. The mobile ears hang long on its cheeks. The body has a strong protruding sternum and a moderately retracted abdomen. The tail is carried in line with its back. The short-haired Dachshund’s coat should be shiny, sleek and uniform. Dachshunds have soulful eyes and complex facial expressions. Their lungs are large for a dog this size and they have a barrel-like chest. Because of these things, Dachshunds have a loud, deep bark that sounds as though it comes from a much larger dog. And they do like to bark, which is something you might consider if you have neighbors who could be annoyed rather than amused by the antics of your brave little Dachshund. No matter what their size, Dachshunds are a delightful addition to any family, which is why they have ranked near the top of most popular dogs lists since the 1950s.  Dachshunds are ideal family companions. Additionally, many people show them in conformation, obedience, agility, field trials, and earthdog trials. They are also hard-working and well-appreciated therapy dogs. The Dachshund is a versatile companion. With his variety of sizes, colors, coat types, and personalities, there’s a Dachshund to suit almost anyone.

These are active dogs with surprising stamina; they need to be walked daily. They will also enjoy sessions of play in the park or other safe, open areas. Be careful, however, when pedestrians are about because Dachshunds are more likely to be stepped on than more visible dogs. They should be discouraged from jumping, as they are prone to spinal damage.

To be kept in mind:

Longhaired Dachshunds need brushing and combing to prevent mats and tangles, and some minor trimming. Wirehaired Dachshunds need regular clipping. All three Dachshund coats shed doggy odor, though the wirehaired sheds less than the other two. But Dachshunds are not hypoallergenic dogs at all, and many individuals have a noticeable doggy odor. If you think your dog is shedding excessively, changing his diet will probably help.

The daring, adventurous and curious Dachshund is fond of digging, hunting, chasing game, and tracking by scent. It is a true combination of terrier and hound. Although the dog is playful with children, time spent with them should be attended to by adults, since the Dachshund does not have a wealth of patience for being mishandled — unintentional though it may be. Dachshunds have a lot of stamina and energy. They love to take a walk or play outdoors with other dogs, and they like to hunt and dig. They are also active inside the house and can do well in small living quarters so long as they get a moderate amount of daily exercise. Two half-mile walks a day (about 10 minutes each) is about right. Occasionally, when time is short, a game of fetch will meet their need for activity.

The Dachshund, which has an average lifespan of 12 to 14 years, occasionally suffers from diabetes, gastric torsion, deafness, seizures, patellar luxation, keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) and Cushing’s disease. The major health concern affecting the dog is intervertebral disk disease (IVDD), causing spinal cord problems due to the Dachshund’s elongated body. Obesity will increase the risk of spinal injury. Eye tests should be included as part of the regular physical check-up, especially for “double dapples,” or Dachshunds with two different colored eyes, which are prone to hearing and visual problems. Dachshunds are prone to having epileptic seizes. In dogs that are affected, it’s thought that the condition is either genetic or brought about as the result of a fall or a hard blow to the head. If your Dachshund has seizures, take him to your vet to determine what treatment is appropriate. In many cases, epilepsy can be controlled with medication. If you’re buying a puppy, find a good breeder who will show you health clearances for both your puppy’s parents. Health clearances prove that a dog has been tested for and cleared of a particular condition.  Many Dachshunds live a good long life, but unfortunately 1 in every 4 Dachshunds will become crippled or paralyzed in middle age from disk disease. The vertebrae in their long back has simply been stretched to the breaking point and is genetically weak. In Dachshunds, you should expect to see a health clearance from the Canine Eye Registry Foundation (CERF), certifying that the eyes are normal. Health clearances are not issued to dogs younger than 2 years of age. That’s because some health problems don’t appear until a dog reaches full maturity. For this reason, it’s often recommended that dogs not be bred until they are two or three years old.

If you want your dog to live a long, healthy life and seldom need to visit the vet prepare healthy meals, get only the right vaccinations (not the ones that are either useless or risky), prevent fleas, ticks, and heartworm safely, getting dangerous (to dogs) products out of your home, healing or improving current health issues.

Did you know?

• Dachshunds are always alert and their big, deep dark bark makes them superb watchdogs.
• The right way of holding him correctly- once arm tucked beneath his hind end and one supporting his front end at the chest, keep the body in horizontal position. (This would also help in protecting his back)

Many dachshund puppy owners soon find that potty training their dachshund is a little different to other breeds. It is true that some Dachshunds can be harder to fully potty train and if the owner has not learned the correct methods some might never be fully trained. Dachshunds often appear to be potty trained for a few months and then suddenly start peeing in the house again.

They are very loyal and very loving to their people and most Dachshunds think they are the size of a Great Dane. They are proud, curious, fearless (in many instances) and they own their people and their homes therefore they must announce any stranger (even if it’s just someone walking down the road).You can’t help but love their expressive faces and demeanor even when they have been “bad.” Dachshunds are smart but tend to be stubborn, and this can sometimes make housetraining a little challenging. Don’t give up on your dog, it usually sinks in really well by 7 months.

Dachshunds are like potato chips – you can’t ever just have one! They are faithful and loving and always put a smile on my face.

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“In the end, long life is the reward, strength, and beauty.”
The most adorable off all… our little HAMSTERS! So very popular and prime choice of pet lovers, hamsters usually do not have a very long life and it is important to take their life span into consideration if you intend to keep them as pets. Just like other small pet animals hamsters too have an average lifespan which is affected by their: breed, genetics, upkeep, nurturing etc. Despite being a short lived specie they have certain exceptions. In order to surpass the average lifespan and increase the chances of a long, healthy life of your hamster you can follow general pet care procedures and your Vet’s guidance. An important fact to remember is that hamsters vary completely to other pets and hence they have a different rate of aging, hamsters have such a short lifespan because they tend to hit their fully mature state much quicker than most other animals. For instance, research studies reveal that a 2 year old hamster is equivalent to a human that is approximately 70 years old. Due to their rapid maturity, most hamsters do not usually exceed their average life expectancy by a large amount.

Life expectancy of Hamsters:

The average life span of a hamster is around 2-3 years. This is an average of all breeds, though some dwarf hamsters rarely exceed a 2 year life expectancy. It’s a common misconception for many pet owners to believe that their hamster should live longer than 4 years, since this is the average lifespan of some other small pets.. However, not all hamsters are fortunate enough to live this long. Hamsters attain maturity in a very short time. For the sake of comparison, hamsters reach puberty after around 8 weeks of age, while for humans the same takes around 15 years. The gestation period for hamsters is less than 3 weeks, as compared to the 9 months for humans. A 2-year-old hamster is equal to a 70-year-old human being! So you can imagine the pace at which changes take place in hamsters. The average life span of a dwarf hamster is even shorter at 2 years, and in very rare cases a little above that. Also, a hamster’s lifespan is also largely affected by the care and nutrition that they receive during their captive life.
Technically it is impossible to prevent your hamster from aging but one can put efforts to ensure that their cute, little pet is able to enjoy a much improved life expectancy. So here are some beneficial tips that have been lined up in order to help you attain the goal of giving your hamster a longer life.

Ways to enhance your hamster’s life span by paying attention to various attributes of their care-

Picking the right hamster- be careful when you chose your hamster and make sure that it is comes from a clean environment, has been surrounded by clean and hamsters and kept in hygienic habitats in the past. His fitness is also an important factor to be considered if you really want your hamster to live a little longer.

 Large Cage Size – If a hamster is kept in a smaller cage it will have a higher stress level than if they were housed in a larger cage. The cage is your pet’s shelter and hence should be able to accommodate the toys, food, water, sleeping set up and gives your hamster enough room to run comfortably in their cage.

Healthy Diet- You have to make sure that your hamster is fed with the right quantity and quality of food. This pet is an over sensitive little version of you and therefore eat whatever you give them. Diet forms an important part of the lifestyle of hamsters. The life span of hamsters can increase if you feed clean, hygienic, and nutritious food to them. Food such as fresh vegetables, fruits, and pulses can also be given. Eventually you will want to feed the little beauties out of your hand and this will lead you to teaching them tricks and rewarding them with treats, make these rewards distinguishing from daily food yet healthy. You should also provide clean and pure water to your pet, so that it does not contract any disease. If you plan to have a bowl of water, make sure that it is heavy enough to not get kicked over by them. If you decide to go the water bottle route make sure that the tip is not plastic because they are accustomed to chewing things. Make sure that your hamster is kept away from sugared sweets like sweet potatoes, melons and cherries.

Obviate lethargy and invoke activity- Feeding the hamster all the time with no exercises will make your pet fat and lazy and just like in humans, exercise has beneficial effects for hamsters as well. An exercise wheel, or taking them out of their cage for an extended period of playtime is a good idea. Other than that there are also many enclosed exercise balls which allow your hamster to explore your home from the safety of an enclosed plastic sphere. Regular exercise will not only keep your hamster healthy throughout the day but will also ameliorate its overall health.

HAIR LOSS/ HAIR THINNING/ ALOPECIA

Hair thinning and loss is normal in elderly hamsters, particularly on the belly. Hair loss varies, but is often more obvious in females. Severe and sudden spreading hair loss could be a result of hormonal problems. This is usually, but not always, symmetrical. The exposed skin may look normal or pigmented, smooth and thin. Hormonal disorders can be associated with old age and tumors. These are difficult to treat, but may not affect quality or length of life. Slight behavioral changes may occur, which you can discuss with your vet. Alopecia can be secondary to self-trauma caused by itching. This occurs if a hamster scratches itself enough to cause hair loss

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“When Rome burned, the emperor’s cats still expected to be fed on time.” 

Diet is the brick and mortar of health, putting a little thought into what you feed your cat can pay a great advantage over their lifetime and help them avoid serious, painful, and costly illnesses.

Cats are carnivores and that is the key attribute to their apt diet. WHY CARNIVORES?Their nutritional needs are met by the consumption of a large amount of animal-based proteins and they derive much less nutritional support from plant-based proteins. It is so because cats lack specific metabolic (enzymatic) pathways which cannot utilize plant proteins as efficiently as animal proteins. For instance, Taurine which is one of the most important nutrients required for cats is present in meat but it is missing from plants. Deficiency of Taurine causes blindness and heart problems in cats.

Other important facts that need to be kept under consideration while feeding your cats are its age, weight and shape. Alongside packet feeding, veterinary advice and guidelines should be taken into account in order to provide them a healthy and balanced diet that meets their nutritional needs.

Do cats of different ages need different food?

One of the best ways to achieve the correct balance of nutrients is to feed your cat according to ‘life stages’. This is because cats of different ages have different nutritional requirements. They should be fed in various ways when they are kittens, adult cats and senior cats. For example, kittens need more calories in their food, they are different from adult cats and so are their nutritional needs, the energy needed to support a growing kitten is greater than the energy requirements for an adult cat so it’s important to choose the right food for them. Several leading brands of commercially available cat food offer different foods for different life stages and buying these is a good way of ensuring that your cat gets the right nutrients.

Kittens:

If this is your first time and you have just acquired your cute, little kitten then you’re probably learning all about kitten care. You want to do all that you can to ensure that your adorable baby grows into a healthy adult. Proper feeding and adequate diet is a major part of the health maintenance and growth of your kitten. The paramount necessity of the kitten in the first four weeks is the mother’s milk but even so, there can be problems. If the mother cat refuses to take care of her kittens, you’ll have to hand feed them with a bottle. A kitten gradually transcends to kitten food, and is completely weaned off from the mother at about eight weeks, in this subtle process you should start providing kitten food and help the kitty evolve past the eight week stage. They should be fed atleast four times a day since their stomachs are small, it is almost impossible for them to attain the required nutritional values if they are not provided with the right amount of meals. One can mix water while serving their kittens dry/canned food whereas wet food should be restored in refrigerators and warmed up while serving. In this stage they should be served a minimum fat and protein and a maximum fiber and moisture rich diet. Their food has to be well balanced, and systematic as they can develop deficiencies due to lack of protein in their food.

The kitten is considered mature post six months, they continue to grow even after stepping into the category of Adult cats.

Adult cats:

They should eat enough of a high-quality, nutritious food to meet their energy needs and to maintain and repair body tissues. The amount of food you feed to your adult cat should be based on his or her size and energy output this also effects the energy levels of your cat dramatically. The brand of canned food you’re feeding also makes a difference. A dense, high quality dry cat food will contain more nutrients by weight than a low-quality food, and thus require smaller portions to deliver the same amount of nutrition. Now as the cats are entering into the adult stage, you may gradually space out the meals to twice or thrice a day. Unless a kitten is showing excessive weight gain, he is considered an “adult” at the age of one year, and for the next nine years or so, may be fed adult “maintenance” food twice or thrice a day.

Studies in the past reveal that cats have lived long and happy lives on an exclusive diet of dry foods, and for working care givers, adult cats may be fed a meal of canned food every morning and night, with dry food left out for grazing.

Senior cats:

Many cats begin to encounter age-related physical changes between seven and ten years of age, and most do so by the time they are twelve. By the time a cat reaches his/her twelfth birthday, he/she is equivalent to a 64-year-old human and as they age they start to fall to many of the ailments that we do. They might not show a growth process physically as evident as of a dog or a human but scientific studies reveal that they undergo all the same aging phenomenon.

Please Note: Cats may have a decreased sense of taste and smell, plus older cats often have dental problems. Both of which can result in a reluctance to eat.

Your senior cat may still look and act young, but that does not mean you should fill his food bowl with the same food he/she has always eaten. Should you adjust your cat’s diet once he/she reaches senior status? What dietary changes do you need to make if they are diagnosed with a chronic condition? Here is some helpful advice.

There are special diets on the market especially designed for senior cats.  To ensure proper nutrition, select a nutritionally balanced and complete diet for your cat’s stage of life. If your cat has a medical condition such as diabetes your veterinarian may recommend a prescription diet to help manage it. Your veterinarian is the best person in regards to what is the best diet for your cat and what are its own specific requirements. Never attempt to change your cat’s diet without consulting your veterinarian first.

In their senior years more than ever cats need a high quality, palatable diet with easy to digest protein and a careful balance of key nutrients. Cats spend roughly 40% of their lives as seniors, so it’s important they eat the right food to stay in good health. A good senior diet provides concentrated, high quality, protein, controlled levels of fat and easy to digest carbohydrates for energy. Key minerals support ageing joints, and vitamins, along with proteins, help support the aging immune system.

To help your cat maintain or lose weight, you may need to measure out the food and feed half the allowed amount twice daily. Older cats can have a natural tendency to put on weight as their activity-level decreases. Obesity is a common nutritional disorder in cats, and needs to be monitored carefully. Keep adjusting how much you feed your senior cat as her energy level and calorie needs change. Overweight cats are more likely to develop diabetes and urinary problems and obesity will exacerbate arthritis and other conditions. Lower calorie levels in senior foods can help control the tendency. About 50 calories per kilogram per day is enough for the typical indoor cat, you can adjust that up or down depending on your cat’s health and activity level. The bottom line is ten calories- more than a cat needs in a day , it adds up to a pound of body fat in a year. It is not difficult for an animal to overeat and gain weight.

But one should never starve their cats as this can result in serious health problems and always remember that food is only a part of the equation and senior cats need to be active just like younger cats. At the same time, very old cats can often get thinner due to underlying medical problems, or aging changes in their senses reducing food intake and changes in the digestive system reducing the absorption of food. If you think your older cat is underweight, consult your vet before changing your cat’s feeding regime.

WATER:

Cats require less water than many other animals, say dogs and we often have a difficult time getting them to drink as much water as we would like. A cat needs two shallow bowls-one for water and one for food. Pottery bowls are ideal as they are easy to clean and can be replaced when they are chipped or cracked but its not that easy since cats can be very finicky about their water and it should not be taken lightly. Proper hydration is important for a healthy urinary tract and to help lower the risk of urinary tract infections. Cats with certain health problems, especially kidney failure and bladder infections, need to drink more water than an average cat. Cats may not touch a bowl of water available to them all day, but rush for a drink when you turn on a faucet. Some cats will drink from their water bowl, but insist on splashing the water, too. And others might tip the bowl over, choosing to drink only from the floor.

It is very important that your cat is properly hydrated and here are a few ways in which you can encourage your cat to drink water :

• Increase the number of bowls of water
• Move the water bow
• Vary the type of bowl
• Change the temperature
• Try running water
• Try a cat drinking fountain
• Consider the flavor of the water
• Add water to the food

You’ve gathered your most useful tips and as anyone who has ever been around a cat for any length of time knows well that cats have enormous patience with the limitations of the human kind.

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