WHAT GENERALLY HAPPENS? 

No matter how much we humans might love the monsoons, that brings along with itself the ability to relieve us from the scorching heat, the same monsoon season might be a nightmare for our little furry creatures. From birds to dogs, the showers affects them all, and ends up leading to a dampener of all activities. There so many diseases under the umbrella of this rain that might affect them, of which one must be wary of. Allowing for your pets to run around in this kind of weather might only lead up to more health complications which in turn might lead to dire consequences as well. The pleasant weather might not be so pleasant for them, as however much we even try to get sore throat and cold out of our heads, it’s even more difficult for a pet who end up going through problems regarding indigestion, fungal infections, skin infections and a lot more!

PETS LIKE DOGS WHO STAY OUT IN THE RAIN CATCH MANY DISEASES

Being vulnerable to many diseases during this monsoon season, there are a host of different problems that might be faced when taking care of our beloved pets, and it is even harder to take in to account ALL such problems and their remedies, which is why one’s knowledge will always be restricted, but the most common of all problems and remedies are given as follows for directional purposes when it comes to taking care of pets:

1. DIET PLAN:

It is vital to make a meal plan for your pet and it is even more essential to follow it up- REGULARLY!

• DO – make your pet eat HEALTHY NUTRITIOUS FOOD compromising of nutrients like chicken/lamb eggs, fat, fish oil etc. Boiled, and filtered water is a must and it should be taken care of that the pet does not eat/drink unhealthy, unauthorized food, water.

• DON’T- have your pets eat corn, soy or wheat.

2. REGULAR NUMBER OF MEALS PER DAY:

Food is one of the most important things when it comes to nutrition of a pet and it becomes imperative to give your pets, ideal number of food supply every day at least till the monsoon ends.

• DO – make your pet eat twice or thrice a day (for adults) and four to five times for a new born

• DON’T – overfeed your pet!

3. RAINY FUR COAT:

One of the common problems all pet owners face are the dirty fur that their pets carry around after it rains, dirty paws lead to yeast/fungal infections, dirt fur if not scrubbed or washed properly may even lead up to the death of the dog triggered because of the dirt present around. The mud that a dog likes to play in, might go inside their mouths which may end up causing problems in their stomach.

• DO – Wash/Scrub/Comb your pets fur two or three times a week of heavy monsoon rains, if your pet is incapable of staying put at your homes, and is very restless that he/she sneaks out for a little run-  it is imperative on your part to make sure their fur is clean and dry. One may use a blow drier or heaters to help serve that purpose.

• DON’T – direct heat from the heater/ blow drier might electrocute your pet and scrubbing everyday might even result in rampant hair fall – both the things must be done only and when required.

4. PLAY TIME?

It becomes extremely crucial to make a pet stay put in a house during the monsoon season. For one who may afford a big lavish mansions wherein the pet has free enough space to survive in, it might not be a huge deal but for the others it might be!

• DO – Lesser walks, indoor playtime with Frisbee/ ball, making the pet climb up and down the stairs or leaving it out in the open in the inner garden will let the pet remain active for a long time.

• DON’T – take them out for usual regular long walks, especially when it is pouring down.

5. PSYCHO PETS:

Scientists reveal that the most amount of fear for an animal is generally triggered by – THUNDERSTORMS. It might shake up the most peaceful and calmest of animals and end up making them have nightmares and howl throughout the night time.

• DO – hug your pets, make them feel as comfortable to you as possible, keep them cosy enough and try sleeping them if possible! Anti- anxiety pills must only be used in the rarest of rare cases.
• DON’T – leave the pets alone in such dire situations which results in excessive aggressiveness, howling, barking, chewing up of furniture etc.

6. FURRY CARE:

It is believed that not only dogs but even birds face issues with body odor, sweat and gastroenteritis. They must be taken regularly to their respective vets/ doctors for regular check-ups in such a weather and must be taken care of

DO – for dogs, clean their claws after they come back from a walk, changing water in their pails is necessary. For fishes, their aquariums must be drained out regularly and should be cleaned with fresh water added at least twice a month; making sure that organic foods and all the dirt is cleansed out, thoroughly.

DON’T – Let the dogs stay out, let the water be contaminated for long, Spectrozol; an anti – bio tic lotion that allows for humidity not to affect Birds must be used regularly.

SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST:

A dog’s claws are prone to get very dirty and nails must be trimmed regularly so as to avoid yeast infections or skin infections. One might judge if their pet lie a dog is really uncomfortable if they keep on licking themselves, or are scratching their paws against their heads a lot which is an indication of ticks being present in their body.

These pet care tips are vital for any pet care takers and must be takin to account thoroughly so as to provide for a healthy, suitable environment for their pets which was promised to them in the very first place in this dirty, vulnerable weather of MONSOON RAINS!

The post PET CARE DURING THE MONSOON! appeared first on Pet Attack.

Your average English cocker is but as even tempered, amiable, affectionate, loyal and loving as you can ever hope it would be. The ideal cuddle machine, a cocker is most pleased when it is engaged in the act of pleasing you. Never will you get another living thing as devoted to the cause of making you happy as a cocker spaniel, no matter how harshly you treat it, although aggression stemming from such harsh treatment might find a way of showing itself in its manners in other ways. It goes without saying that in a world where the subtler emotions of life are beginning to get lesser and lesser importance by the day, such unconditional love is a thing to be prized by most people.

If you get yourself the pet when it is over one year old, that is, after it has already spent some time with an owner, you need to be careful the first couple of weeks as the dog remains miserable and might show aggression by chewing up everything within reach at having been separated from its previous owner. You need to be patient with it, show it that you will take care of it just well much as its previous owner and thereby gain its trust. This phase of adjustment lasts for only a few weeks if treated properly after which the dog learns to redirect its affections towards you, although its love for its first master never really fades away.

Young cockers are playful, and are wonderful companions for kids in the house. They are trainable, and love to chase balls and sticks around the place and bring them back to you. Toilet training takes some time and some amount of harshness is necessary to make the dog understand the difference between right and wrong. This can be done through the process of classical conditioning, where the dog is rewarded with a treat for doing the right thing and punished for getting it wrong. They easily blend into your family and are affectionate to everyone. However, they reserve their best behavior and harbor the most fondness for the principal care-giver, that is, the person who feeds and grooms it. They like being pampered and you wouldn’t be surprised to wake up in the morning and find your dog sleeping peacefully and snugly beside you on your pillow.

Cockers have a lovely coat of long, shiny fur which needs to be brushed and combed regularly to keep it free from tangles and dirt. As its ears hang down like two ponytails on either side of its head, the inner ear gets very little ventilation and hence, it is necessary to clean it with spirits and ointments(as prescribed by the vet)at least twice a week. Failing this, they incur infections which later may lead to loss of hearing or prove fatal to their health. Cockers are also prone to eye infections and cataract formations. The eyes should be daily cleansed of mucus with a piece of moist cotton wool to prevent this from happening. Cataract operations are risky at older ages and should be undertaken if and only if the vet is a certified expert in this field.

Female dogs require more attention with respect to health, especially during their mating season. During this time, they remain irritable and a bit aggressive. Instead of losing patience and getting angry at the mess they create, it helps to find them a proper mate and keeping the house as clean as possible until the mating season is over. If your cocker gets pregnant, take extra care to keep her out of harm’s way. The gestation period lasts for about two months on an average at the end of which she should be kept under the supervision of an experienced vet. A cocker’s litter comprises 6 puppies on an average. The mother is, not surprisingly, very protective of her children, especially if any of them happens to die during the process of her giving birth. The mother may even try to take her children away and hide them from her owner in trying to protect them from further harm. It is very important to keep the kennel clean and hygienic during this time to prevent the puppies from attracting germs and infections. Also, they should be fed on the mother’s breast milk for at least 2 to 2 and a half months after which they may move on to cereals.

Cockers are native to colder, temperate countries and hence, while bringing them up in tropical regions, it should be kept in mind that they need to release as much heat as possible from their system. Their diet should be light, rich in protein and low on fat as they gain weight easily. Biscuits in the morning and a heavy lunch comprising boiled chicken and rice works fine in the Indian climate. At night it can be given a couple of chapattis for dinner. Care should be taken, however, to prevent it from eating anything harmful, especially chocolates, even if it seems to enjoy them. This sometimes becomes difficult as cockers seem overly enthusiastic in tasting everything their owners eat and proper training needs to be imparted to rid them of this bad habit.

A cocker is a joy to its owner in more than one way, but one cannot expect to reap such joy out of nothing. So, take care, keep loving and being loved!

The post The Cocky Cocker appeared first on Pet Attack.

The greatest most undeniable truth of life is mortality. Everyone dies. Growing old is a part of this journey that everyone undertakes. Growing old comes with a reduction in worldly responsibilities and duties. But sadly, it also comes with its fair share of problems. More often than not one’s health starts to deteriorate. The recovery rate is much lower than what one is used to. Repercussions of our youth’s ill- fated decisions begin to show. Along with that comes the onset of isolation. One begins to feel segregated from the rest of the world. One cannot seem to relate with so many aspects of life. Sometimes one’s own family is unable to spare sufficient time for us, and there’s that can be done. In some cases, the health of our friends or our own comes in the way of regular meet and greet. This situation is far worse, in case of disability. Disability in terms of physical health or mental both are equally heartbreaking.

A pet animal is the single most effective way to combat loneliness and provide actual and virtual relief to the elderly and disabled. Your friends and family may not be around at all times, but a pet will always be by your side no matter what. And this holds equally true for any pet that one chooses. Pets seem to have a special bond with them. They can be truly understanding and extremely lovable. Animals are such adorable friends. They ask no questions and pass no criticism.

In certain cases, the elderly lose track of what has been said, and tend to keep repeating things. Other people around may not be comfortable in dealing with such instances and may lash out, making the person in question feel even more unwanted. Pets on the other hand give a patient ear for everything that one has to say and respond sincerely. They make up for any absence in the person’s life and make them feel wanted, to reinstate their feeling of significance in someone’s life.

Spending time with a pet for an elderly person is good for their morale, uplifting their spirits and feeling of self-worth. Any act of love or kindness is received with utmost gratification. Pets treat their owners like they are the only thing that matter. They are the single most important person for a pet. A pet feels like it is their job to ensure the well-being of the owner, whether it is physical or emotional.

A pet at home is like a guarantee for the other members of the family for the safety and comfort of the elderly or disabled member of the family. They know that the pet will ensure that the person does not feel lonely or insecure in the absence of other family members. There are instances when the person and the pet are so close, that the relevance or value of presence of any other family member is significantly reduced.

Communication between the two becomes a regular feature in their daily schedules. The person talks chats with the pet, even though it may not understand exactly what is being said. But sometimes just listening intently is all that they need. In other cases the conversations are wordless, yet the pet understands if the person needs it to react or just reach out with a nuzzle and a soft sound.  Pets that may usually be considered loud, are sensitive around the elderly and disabled. A pet can recognize that it needs to be calm peaceful and quite when dealing with them.

Pets are especially adept at providing emotional support and physical comfort to them. Just stroking and gently petting your pet acts like an anti-depressant. It soothes the nerves and calms your mind. No actual conversation is required, and this time will be deemed as time well spent. Engaging in any kind of physical activity seems cumbersome if one is forced to do it. But when there is a pet for company, the elderly and disabled are encouraged to do what is necessary. Walking the dog or playing with the cat seems harmless while at the same time provide sufficient physical exercise for them and cheers them up.

Pets can be trained to act as passive companions. Such as a seeing dog is an immense asset for blind people. It is no wonder that hospitals and geriatric centers are increasingly adopting pets as an additional effort to aid in health care. Cats are known to be a proficient support system when a patient’s health is fast deteriorating. They can sometimes tell when he is about to pass away. Just watching a pet and spending time with them a stress reliever. Pets give love much more than what they receive without any expectations or falsifications. This true nature of a pet is a gentle reminder to the owner that they are loved and cared for. Scientific studies around d world continue to prove the value of a pet in one’s life. In addition to which, the faith and loyalty of a pet towards the owner even after their death has often been immortalized in literature and in movies.

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