Deworming is needed every 3 months especially if she has a bad habit of eating stool. But then it is better to put your dogs on heartworm preventative medication. Heart worms are very common in Malaysia and are transmitted from dog to dog via the mosquito. So, before your puppy is 6 months of age it is advisable to put them on heartworm preventative medication to prevent this. Most of these medications (Interceptor & Heartgard Plus) also takes care of intestinal worms too. If your dogs are > 6 mths of age they need to have the heartworm antigen test first to make sure they are heartworm free before starting preventative medication. It is important to de-worm, pregnant bitches as they can pass worms to the puppies across the placenta and then through the mother’s milk.

Season or hormonal change due to menstruation in females. Stress is another factor. Unbalanced diets that are too high in certain nutrients such as protein, phosphorus etc. She should be fed complete balanced diet that is healthier such as Hill’s Science Diets lifestage formulas. Some pet foods do not regard nutrition as an important part of a pet’s health. When pet food is mass-produced it has a much lower quality and standard of manufacturing is also lower. The pet food having too much salt.

You can start on Science Diet for your pet right away, but you have to make a gradual switch from the old food to the new.

While making sure your pet’s total amount of daily food intake remains constant, mix increasing amounts of the new food with decreasing amounts of the previous food over a five-to-ten-day period. This should reduce the possibility of gastro-intestinal upset during a diet change.

• After birth some female hamsters go through some stress since the babies become her main responsibility.
• The male should be separated from the female for a few weeks.
• If there is no fighting then only it is okay to place them together.
• The bedding for the mother and babies should be good quality pine or cedar wood shavings and it should cover at least 4-5 inches of the hamster cage.
• The mother will make a burrow through the bedding and bury the babies inside when they are just born to keep them warm since they don’t have much hair covering at this stage.
• If the male and female fight it is advisable to separate them, they can even kill each other when aggressive.

The major differences between pets and humans in their response to food are that pets are,
• much less concerned about the appearance, particularly the colour, of a food,
• more influenced by its smell and taste, and
• better able to judge the quality and freshness of ingredients.

The similarity with people is that pets,
• develop individual preferences for certain ingredients and flavours,
• look for novel foods, but
• are wary of foods that are too different from those experienced previously and may need to be introduced to them graduallyOwner report that the minced testure of Hill’s Prescription Diet Feline canned products is etremely popular with their cats.

A lthough some reactions to flavours are instinctive, and there may be genetic influences, food and flavour preferences are determined in large part by experience.
Examples of innate behaviour include:
• the rejection of bitter compounds, which is a natural mechanism to protect against the ingestion of toxic substances, and
• eating only a small quantity of a new food initially to assess its safety (neophobia: fear of anything new), often evident in cats; in extreme cases a new food may be rejected persistently.
As animals mature, instinctive behaviour is modified by experience. Animals become not only willing to try novel foods but seek them out, provided that they have good palatability and are not too dissimilar to already familiar foods. New foods are eaten in greater amounts, and may eventually be preferred. However, aversion will develop rapidly to any taste or smell that is associated with an adverse experience, such as vomiting, that occurs up to 24 hours after eating.
Older pets may require stronger flavours to overcome sensory losses and maintain their appetite.

There are several things that an owner can do to increase a pet’s enjoyment of its food,
• Store the food carefully to preserve its freshness and flavour, i.e. reseal opened bags and cans to minimise oxidation and avoid contamination with offflavours, such as disinfectants, bleaches and household cleaners
• Refrigerate opened cans and use within 5-7 days
• Ensure that feeding bowls are clean and free from detergent residues
• Avoid leaving wet food in the bowl uneaten; it becomes stale and may attract flies
• Provide a quiet and undisturbed eating environment
• Site a cat’s feeding bowl away from its litter trayFor dogs, to release extra flavour from a dry food, moisten it with water at blood heat, and let it soak for ten minutes before feeding. (This isn’t recommended for cats because they so dislike sticky food.)

There are a number of steps that can be taken to encourage pets to eat:
• introduce a new food gradually, ideally over a period of a week, (unless it is essential that it should be fed as the sole food immediately). Mix it with the pet’s usual food, increasing the proportion each day until only the new food is being fed
• Warm canned food to body temperature -but no hotterbefore feeding
• ‘Loaf-type’ canned foods can be cut into slices and lightly fried before serving
• Keep the nasal passages clear to preserve the sense of smell
• Place small amounts of canned food on the paws or lips, this may encourage a licking response and stimulate appetite
• Give food infrequent, small meals

Definitely trimming. Declawing can lead to behavioral problem in the long term. It is very stressful and painful procedure, and it eliminates some of your pets rational/ability. It should only be done when all other options have been considered. i.e. scratch posts, scratch pad, trim nails.

You need to specify breed and age of your pet. Normally, dog’s first heat occurs as early as eight months of age. Again it varies between breeds.

New born hamsters need enough supply of mother’s milk. At first, you need to ensure that the mother is well fed in order to produce sufficient milk for her young. Maintain ideal temperature (32°C) and avoid any disturbance for 1-2 weeks.

Normally, spaying can be done as early as 6 to 7 month of age. However, it is better to do it after their first heat, which may vary between breeds. Asks your local vet for advice.

Periodontal disease starts from plaque buildup in your pet’s mouth, leading to tartar along the gums, and then gum inflammation known as gingivitis. The inflammation progresses and destroys the gums and tissues that support the teeth. If you notice bad breath, buildup of yellow-brown tartar, bleeding gums, pawing at the mouth, or changes in chewing or eating habits, consult your veterinarian.

No. Your pet will surely swallow the toothpaste, and human toothpaste is not intended for ingestion. Specially-designed pet toothpastes are much better suited for the task and come in enjoyable flavors for your pet such as poultry, beef, or seafood.

Yes. Regular dental check ups should be a part of your pet’s annual physical examination. By the age of three, 80% of dogs and 70% of cats show some signs of a dental problem.

A common misconception is all dogs and cats have stinky mouths. Unpleasant breath odor is often a sign of periodontal disease, a gum inflammation that can lead to bleeding gums, tooth loss, and more serious illnesses such as heart, liver, and kidney disease. Food designed to clean teeth and regular veterinary and home care can help reduce plaque and tartar buildup and maintain fresh breath so when your pets are near you can smile instead of cringe.