caring for an elderly dog
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caring for an elderly dog

When your dog doesn't seem interested in eating his food, do you know what to do? When your dog vomits often, could there be something serious wrong with him? If he struggles to get up the stairs, does he need to see a vet? Having never owned an older dog, I knew nothing about the things that can begin to go wrong when dogs age. I adopted this guy when my neighbor moved into a nursing home and had to learn a lot about how to care for an older dog. My blog is filled with the many things that I have learned over the last year through the help of my vet.

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caring for an elderly dog

Taking Care Of A New Kitten

Lucy Grant

If you are contemplating getting a kitten and you have never had a cat in the past, you may be a bit apprehensive about how to care for it properly. Taking care of a kitten is not that difficult, and the benefit of having a lovable pet to join your family is well worth the work. Here are some guidelines to follow when you first pick up your new pet, how to ease them into their new home, and some cat care tips that will keep your kitten happy and healthy.

Taking A Ride Home

When you go to pick up a kitten, you will need to have a cat carrier available in your vehicle so it will not become lost or injured during the ride home. Place a soft blanket in the carrier so your kitten will feel secure as they are transported. Keep the kitten on the seat next to you so you can observe its behavior as you drive. It will then be able to see you and you can talk to it to try to comfort it during the ride as well.

Introducing To The Home

It is best to limit the freedom your kitten has when you first have them getting used to your home. Designate one room to keep your kitten for the first few days. Bring your kitten into your home and place the cat carrier in the room and open the door. Allow the kitten to come out of the carrier on its own so it can explore the room. After a few days, open the door to the room so your kitten can explore other areas within your home while you supervise. Taking a "little at a time" approach will ensure your kitten does not become lost and frightened within your home.

Basic Kitten Care

You will need to buy a litter box, litter, and a scoop utensil to keep in the room with your kitten. Kittens instinctively know to use the litter box to eliminate and will use it regularly within a day or so as they get used to their surroundings. Kittens should not be taken from their mother until after eight weeks of age. If your kitten is younger than this, it will need to be fed cat milk every few hours with the help of a medicine dropper. If your kitten is eight weeks or older, you can feed it a soft canned kitten food for a month or two. After they have gotten used to eating soft food, you can slowly add some dry kitten food to their diet.

Bring your kitten to a veterinarian like Providence Veterinary Hospital Inc for a checkup to make sure it is healthy before exposing it to other pets in the home. The veterinarian will schedule an appointment for immunizations and spaying or neutering information will be discussed.

Make sure to take time each day to play with your new pet. Kittens love attention and will enjoy spending time with you. Grooming your kitten with a cat brush will keep their coat clean and untangled. Enjoy your new pet!


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