As a pet parent, you need to give them the best food and water to take care of your pets properly. For more, read the comment below.

Photo by Berkay Gumustekin on Unsplash A puppy makes an ideal companion for homeowners living alone or with families. According to a 2023 survey, 90% of households in the US consider dogs as part of their families. Bringing a young canine home enables you to condition it according to your lifestyle and expectations. Raising them from an early age strengthens the bond, but it also entails a responsibility. You need to ensure proper nutrition, ample exercise, and regular vet visits to give your puppy a head start with health and growth. Proper care and good health at an early age ensure longevity in dogs. While you may pay attention to your dog’s weight and energy levels, it is easy to overlook problems like tick and flea infestations. You are more likely to miss out on the issue as a first-time pet parent. Beginners are often overwhelmed by the nuances of tick and flea prevention and treatment. The bigger concern is that they are common and prevalent all around the year, not just in the warmer months. However, a little care and a proactive plan can help you prevent and manage ticks and fleas in your puppy. Surprisingly, keeping these pesky pests under control is easier than you imagine. In this article, we will share a few actionable tips for novice pet parents to manage this issue and ensure a safe environment for their furry companion.  Understand the Risks Photo by fatty corgi on Unsplash Awareness is the first step when it comes to building your puppy’s defenses against any health issue, including ticks and fleas. New pet parents often go wrong with understanding the risks they pose to their canine companions. Remember that these pests are more than a nuisance; they can cause discomfort and transmit various diseases to pets and even their owners. Flea-related problems include flea allergic dermatitis, anemia, and flea-borne diseases. Ticks are even more harmful, leading to dire illnesses such as Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Even as a first-time dog parent, educate yourself about the potential risks to understand the significance of proactive prevention and treatment measures. Use Preventative Products Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash Once you understand the risks, you will know the importance of a preventive approach. While there are numerous preventative products in the market, you need to be extra careful when choosing one for a puppy. You will have to pick a safe and easy-to-use product and ensure accurate dosing according to the age and weight of your pet. Credelio for dogs are chewable tablets with beef flavoring and Lotilaner as an active ingredient. This fast-acting formulation starts working within two hours and kills 99 % of fleas within eight hours. It leaves dogs pest-free for over a month, and the effects stay even longer for puppies. The best part is that the medication is easy to feed even to a young canine because of its flavor and chewable nature. PetCareRx recommends checking the ideal dosage of these tablets with your veterinarian before starting treatment for your puppy. Be prepared for side effects such as low appetite, diarrhea, vomiting, and an increase in urine output. Besides oral medications, you can try topical treatments, collars, and sprays for flea and tick prevention and control.  Ensure Regular Check-ups Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash According to Forbes, dog parents should commit to a yearly vet visit for a scheduled check-up for their pets. You should do it more often for a puppy or senior dog. Be extra careful if you notice anything amiss, including potential flea and tick infestations. Run your hands through your puppy's fur and pay close attention to areas such as the ears, neck, armpits, and groin. These are the areas where ticks and fleas thrive.  Besides looking for ticks and fleas on your puppy’s body, you must know the red flags of potential infestations. Novice pet parents should watch out for signs like excessive scratching, biting, licking, hair loss, redness, or inflammation of the skin. Also, look for visible parasites in your puppy’s feces or in the fur. A prompt visit to a veterinarian is essential if you notice anything suspicious on your puppy’s skin. You can use tweezers or a tick removal tool to pull these pesky pests away. This first-aid step can minimize the risk of disease transmission. However, you should still get a vet check-up for treatment and prevention guidelines. Early intervention can save your furry companion from a full-blown infestation.  Maintain a Clean Environment Photo by Erda Estremera on Unsplash Medicines and vet checks are effective control measures to keep fleas and ticks at bay. However, a preventive approach is the best way to prevent discomfort for your pet in the first place. It begins with good hygiene and proper grooming. Keeping your puppy's environment clean is an equally important step for preventing and managing ticks and fleas. Start by checking the areas where your puppy spends time. It may be a cozy nook in the living room or your backyard. These are the spaces that deserve attention. Vacuum your carpets, rugs, and upholstery to keep flea eggs, larvae, and adult fleas away from your living space. Washing your puppy's bedding, grooming tools, and toys in hot water eliminates fleas and their eggs. A well-groomed yard is another essential measure for pet owners. Commit to regularly mowing the lawn, trimming bushes, and removing debris. Also, declutter your backyard to ensure that parasites have no place to thrive. These steps can reduce the presence of ticks and fleas in outdoor spaces where puppies love to spend time. In conclusion, managing ticks and fleas in puppies is doable even for first-time pet parents. However, it requires proactive prevention and prompt intervention. You may be a novice, but lack of awareness is hardly an excuse to get complacent about these pesky pests. They can make your furry companion uncomfortable and even affect its well-being in the long run. You must understand the risks and take these measures to provide a safe space for your puppy and ensure it stays healthy and happy during the early years of its life. Also, regular vet visits can help in early detection and timely treatment

Is your cat’s coat dull? Hairballs galore? Don’t worry - in this article, we’ll outline everything you need to know about keeping your cat's coat healthy!

One has to have a heart of stone not to fall in love with a kitten. My first cat came into my life when I was seven years old. Minky was a tri-colored farm cat. We fed our cats milk, which they shared with a nocturnal hedgehog family that lived in our shoe closet. How we look after young kittens and adult cats has changed drastically. We’ve learned so much about kitten nutrition, good hygiene, and health. Kittens provide a lifetime of companionship and contribute to our well-being. Here’s what you should know if you decide to make a kitten part of the family. Crucial Factors to Consider Before Bringing a Kitten Home Kittens are easier than puppies. True. However, that doesn’t mean that choosing a kitten is easy sailing. Kittens need the following: Balanced nutrition (solid food, canned or wet meat protein kitten food) Feed-free feeding or a controlled feeding style; it works for most kittens Safe drinking water Veterinarian access to checkups and vaccination Sanitation access to litter Love and affection Undivided attention Basic understanding of feline needs In return, you’ll get to watch them grow rapidly into loving, playful cats.   Ultimate Guide to Kitten Care Here are a few tips to get you going: Make your home kitten friendly Cats and kittens tend to be curious and playful. Therefore, ordinary household objects can be harmful. Remove and store these items: Fragile items that your new kitten might knock over Remove and safely secure household chemicals, alcohol, perfumes Store delicate fabrics to prevent clawing Read up on house plants as some are poisonous Put up barriers to prevent escaping Have a cat bed Prepare a sanitation station litter box Have suitable clean water and feeding bowls Bring kitten necessities Kittens and cats have basic needs. You can save on toys by providing safe household items to play with, like cardboard boxes, paper rolls, and strings to entertain a kitten. But you can’t scrimp on proper nutrition and veterinarian health care facilities. These are the must-haves: Age-appropriate food fit for a cat or kitten's diet that is low on plant-based sources Access to clean drinking water A litter box or device A cat bed (though the kitten will more than likely make do with a sunny spot or your lap) Some toys Caring for a kitten (we hope you opted for one from an animal shelter) takes time. Luckily, there is a bunch of new tech gadgets for pet owners that provide convenience, peace of mind, and enhanced care for pets. According to World Animal Foundation, an automated litter box is one such device that offers several benefits for both cats and their owners. It saves time and effort by automatically scooping and disposing of waste, ensuring a clean litter box environment. Find a vet Being a pet owner means having a good rapport with veterinarians and their staff. A vet should make you and your feline comfortable and answer your questions and concerns. A vet not only provides basic health care like: Routine physical health checks Vaccinations Microchipping Flea and tick remedies Grooming advice Veterinarians are also an excellent resource to help you decide on a diet for your kitten and tips on understanding the complicated nuances of feline parenting. Start following a proper hygiene routine When your kitten enters your home, introduce them to the litter box. Cats are super easy to train, but you must provide the resources. Kittens take quickly to automated litter boxes, and it’s the perfect time to introduce them. Automated litter devices make your life easier. Here are some litter options: Clumping and non-clumping Wood Paper Clay Pine Wheat Grass Corn Walnut shell Hygiene isn’t just about litter. It’s also about grooming, getting the kitten used to your touch, and handling its ears, toes, nails, and all parts of its body. Caressing your cat is therapeutic for both of you. Don’t overlook the socialization thing Cats get pigeonholed as solitary creatures. They need socialization and contact with others at different stages of their life. You can introduce a kitten to your neighbors, friends, and the family dog. When you bring a kitten into a pet family, the introduction should be slow. Have a plan. Train your Kitten Cats are trainable despite what dog people say. A cat learns its name, and I suggest sticking to a simple two-syllable name. Repeat the name but don’t overuse it. Basic obedience training Cats respond well to methods like clicker training, positive reinforcement, and auditory markers to initiate your cat to words like ‘good cat,’ ‘yes or no,’ and other positive commands followed with affection. Set these conditions for training: The cat is awake and engaged Limit training to 1 to 5 minutes only Reward with treats or praise Repeat but don’t overwhelm the cat Train before supper but never withhold food Teach one skill Litter training Many pet parents can appreciate how easy it is to litter train a kitten. Provide a safe, accessible, yet private place for the litter box or automatic device that the kitten can access freely. Keep it away from noisy or high-traffic areas. Once you introduce a kitten to the area and box, they’ll remember. Tip: Keep the litter box tidy. It’s unhygienic for the entire family.   Mental Stimulation Needs and Exercise Cats are good at entertaining themselves with their tail. But here is what you can do to make life fun for your furry friend. Engage your kitty in puzzle games Puzzle games are a beneficial activity for cats. It provides mental and physical stimulation and echoes a feline’s natural hunting and stalking instinct. Further, it’s a great way to exercise a cat. Cat obesity is rising and leads to many health and joint issues. Puzzles make them work for their food. Play hide-and-seek Cats are natural game players. Hide and seek comes naturally to them, and don’t be surprised if they lurk behind furniture to pounce on you and yell 'Surprise!' Engaging cats and kittens in hide-and-seek can work both ways: they hide and you seek, or you hide and they seek. You can get their attention by calling their name or rattling their favorite toy or snack. Daily walk and exercise Harnessing and walking cats has become a popular activity. Training a kitten to a harness is easier than asking a senior cat. A senior cat will likely convey their discontent through body language. Train a kitten to walk in a harness by: Starting at a young age Getting a proper and secure harness that is escape proof Building a routine Making it fun Health Checkups This is the most expensive part of cat ownership. Though most cats are healthy and only require essential medical attention, there are a few musts. Vaccinations Protect your cat from diseases by keeping their vaccinations current, even if they're house cats. Animal healthcare professionals define vaccines as core and lifestyle vaccines. Core vaccines and lifestyle vaccines are routinely administered starting at 6 to 8 weeks. Some shots are also required by law. FVRCP Rabies FeLV Spaying/neutering Sadly, our shelters are full of loving cats. In the US alone, we have roughly 58.3 million pet cats and 30 to 80 million feral cats. Repeat this worldwide. Please spay and neuter your cat and consider rescuing it from your local shelter. Spaying and neutering not only protect from overpopulation but also promotes animal health. Tip: A spayed and neutered cat will not spray your bedding or soft furnishings with urine. No amount of cleaning or disinfecting will get rid of this odor completely. Grooming Needs Cats are famous for grooming themselves and have flexible and compression ribcages to reach tough spots. Brushing Helping your cat by brushing its fur promotes bonding and a healthy, shiny coat and removes excess fur. Start brushing your kitten to get used to the habit. They may make a game of capturing the brush. Bathing Good luck! Leave bathing cats to professionals. Cats don’t need to be bathed; they can swim but are not fussed about getting wet. Exceptions, of course, exist, and cats like to make liars out of us. Oral and dental care A healthy diet with crunchy food to help clean teeth is a good start, but cats can also develop tartar and gum disease. We recommend that kittens get used to having their teeth brushed; after all, all the cleaning they do with their cat tongues invites bacteria. Ask your vet how to establish a routine. Conclusion Nutrition, health, and hygiene are the foundation of kitten and cat parenthood. When you bring a kitten home, you promise to commit to its lifetime with love, patience, and ongoing care. Don’t forget to take advantage of the hundreds of valuable tips from vetted organizations.    

Now that most covid restrictions are over and many of us are returning back to the office or school, local humane and rescues have seen a big influx of small animals, including rabbits. By adopting a rabbit or two from a rescue, not only are you saving them, but the staff and volunteers there can be a huge help and a continual resource, especially if you are a new rabbit parent.  Rabbits can make great indoor pets and can free roam in your home with the right precautions. They are one of the most popular exotic pets and make adorable companions. But with unique care needs and behaviors, they’re definitely not the same as cats or dogs! They are definitely NOT a low maintenance pet and young children should have adult supervision at all times.  The volunteers and fosters will take the time to acclimate rabbits to living indoors and sometimes even litter box train them. Some rabbits that are surrendered have only spent time outdoors in hutches or other enclosure. Plus, rabbit rescues usually have a partnership with local vets who will spay or neuter them and also give them a complete health check.  Rescue staff and volunteers are very knowledgeable and can help you understand the behavior and needs of your rabbit will be essential to creating a rewarding, long-term relationship. Before leaving you on your own with your new companion, they will make sure you know how to properly care for your bunny. What you need to know before adopting rabbits 1. Rabbits are a great pet for small quarters like an apartment They don't take up a lot of space and don't need to go outside, plus they make very little noise, unlike a barking dog or cat that meows all the time. However, they do shed and they need brushing to prevent matting, and their nails trimmed every four to six weeks. The Holland Lop Rabbit has a 14-year lifespan, weighs only four pounds, with irresistible floppy ears, making this dwarf bunny the ultimate pet for city dwellers. 2. Rabbits live a long time = long-term commitment With proper care and diet and indoor living, rabbits can live 8-12 years or more, longer than most small animal pets. Before you adopt, make sure you are prepared to take care of them for many years as a companion.   3. Rabbits are social creatures Their habitat or living area should be in a quiet place but not too far from rest of the family. Rabbits are easily bored and need plenty of playtime and exercise with enrichment activities. If you can adopt a bonded pair of rabbits that is optimal so they have a companion at all times.  4. Rabbits need a large space and/or free roam with daily exercise  Even though they’re sold as complete rabbit “starter kits,” most pet store cages are not ideal. They are way too small to properly house a rabbit. You can easily make a large habitat from inexpensive materials. Two designs that cost about the same as an “extra large” pet store cage can be made from either a dog exercise pen or wire storage cubes. Either design provides three times the bunny space.If you are going to do free roam, it's very important to "bunny proof" your entire home or wherever they have access to. Bunnies LOVE to chew, and that means any exposed cords, cables and wires. Also remove any hazards like poisonous plants or anything else they shouldn't chew on like important books or papers. Be sure to put out plenty of litter boxes for them in corners if they are free roaming, especially when first starting to litter box train. Put a layer of carefresh bedding or carefresh rabbit litter followed by a fresh layer of hay. Read more on how to litter box train your rabbit.  5. Rabbits Need a High-Fiber Diet to Stay Healthy Rabbits should have unlimited access to a high-quality grass hay like Timothy or Orchard, at all times. Hay is essential for digestion and also help with their teeth. Fresh dark green leafy vegetables are also good, but only feed fruits and carrots in very small amounts.  A great resource is the House Rabbit Society’s article about diet, which discusses the appropriate amounts as well as types of food to give your rabbit from youth to old age. 6. Rabbits need regular Veterinary Care If your rabbit wasn't examined by the rescue or shelter, make sure to take them to a Vet right away. They should also have annual preventative care to ensure a long and healthy life. Read more about rabbit health from our Vet, Dr Ruth MacPete   Adopt Don't Shop! If you’ve done all your research and feel sure that you and your family can properly care for a bunny, please adopt a rabbit from a rescue or shelter instead of purchasing one from a breeder or pet store.