Pets do get lonely during the day when we are not home or if they are in a cage in a shelter.  Lots of people leave the radio or TV on during the day to keep their pets company. This is OK, but dogs and cats do not really get any pleasure or comfort out of it. It has been proven that animals do respond to music.  Classical music is what animals tend to respond to best. There are companies that sell music that is especially designed to calm and comfort pets. So when you leave the house in the morning, don’t just leave around dog or cat toys, put on some soothing classical music to calm and comfort your pets while your gone.

It’s the holiday weekend and many people are on the road with their pets. Make sure that you have  a sturdy, well ventilated dog crate that is an adequate size for your pet to stand up and turn comfortably. The crate should not have any hazardous protrusions on the inside that could injure your pet. Make sure that the latch on the door is secure. The handle should also be secure so that your dog does not get accidentally  dropped and possibly injured. The bottom of the crate should be leak proof and you should place a soft blanket or cloth on the inside for your dog to lie down comfortably.

Print your pets name, your name and home address as well as the address of your destination on the outside of the crate with a permanent marker. Include your 800 number if you have one or if not, print call collect on the outside of the crate. Never put the leash inside the crate as your pet could get tangled in it.  Finally, make sure that your dog is used to the crate before beginning your trip.

If you have a pet, you will always have some kind of stain that you will need to remove but if you do it the wrong way, you will make the stain worse. If the stain is wet, blot the area with a dry cloth then use a removal product that has absorbent granules.  You may apply these granules directly to the urine stained area. After you have blotted the stain and applied the granules, spray or pour on a pet stain and removal product that contains live bacteria and enzymes. The natural organisms in these products “eat away” the odor causing bacteria. This will permanently remove them from deep in your carpet. This is the best method for removing this type of stain.  The natural organisms do not stop working until they have “eaten away” all of the odor causing bacteria. These products also contain mild detergents which will help to restore the carpet fibers to their original state and leave behind a pleasant scent.

If the stain has dried, do not use the same products that you would use on a wet stain. More aggressive bacteria and enzymes are needed to get rid of dried stains. Special formulas are available that penetrate deeper and are more effective on dried stains. You will need to re-apply within 24 hours.

When a cat who in the past had no problems using his litter pan and then suddenly begins urinating all over the floor, the problem could be either physiological or psychological. I would take him to the vet for a check up to rule out any physical problem.  Once the vet rules out any urinary or physical problems, then I would look to behavior issues that could have caused this change in behavior. Is he scent marking or flat out urinating? Have there been any changes in his environment?   Did you get a new carpet, new furniture, or a new pet? Changes in a cats world can cause him to “mark” his territory. Also, think about what’s happening to cause the cat to be nervous. Are you or your spouse gone more than usual? In my case, my younger cat, Millie suddenly began to urinate on the rug in the dining room.  I was constantly using pet odor removal products.It turns out that my older cat, Mollie, would chase her away from her litter box and block her from getting into the bathroom to use her litter. Mollie is my oldest and when I adopted Millie, Molly became very resentful. This resentment still continues to this day. Things are better now after I added additional litter boxes.

Never hit or scold your cat if this happens. Just relax and see if you could determine the cause of the problem.

According to a recent survey by the travel industry,70% of pet owners want to take their pets with them when the go on vacation. Fortunately, there are now over 20,000 pet friendly hotels and motels nationwide. Some chains even allow pets in all of their locations. There are lots of websites that list hotels that will welcome your cat or dog. Many sites allow you to make reservations online and some also offer reviews and advice from other travelers. Check out, petswelcome.com, petfriendly.com, bringyourpet.com, takeyourpet.com, and travelpets.com, or you could just search the internet for pet friendly hotels.  Make sure you take along your dogs favorite bone or your cats favorite cat toy to make him feel right at home.

Are planning a trip soon? You know that you are placing a lot of responsibility in the hands of your pet sitter. You’re trusting this person to care for your precious pet while you’re gone.  You should help the sitter out by preparing your home properly. Start by doing an inspection of your home. Make sure that cleaning supplies and other materials that may be toxic to your pet are locked up.  Put poisonous plants out of reach. Lock outdoor gates and turn on any outside lights. In addition to leaving detailed contact information and detailed feeding and exercise instructions, make sure that you tell you pet sitter about any unusual circumstances like a door that doesn’t shut or a sink that doesn’t drain.  Make sure you tell the sitter where your pet supplies like pet food, dog leashes, dog water bowls and pet medication are kept. These small preparations will ensure the well being of your pet and will help ease your mind while you’re away.

It’s not unusual for dogs to have occasional bouts with diarrhea or constipation that get better on there own. If your dog has ongoing episodes or it you see blood in his stool, consult your veterinarian right away!  Michael Leed, a professor of small animal internal medicine at the Virginia, Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine says that your pet can be suffering from irritable bowel syndrome.  He also mentions that this can be quite serious requiring hospitalization and fluid therapy. Stress and bad eating habits can be associated with this syndrome but these aren’t the only causes.  Your veterinarian will run a series of tests to determine exactly what’s wrong and come up with an appropriate treatment solution. In the meantime, if your dog is suddenly having “accidents,” never yell or punish him. Just keep using the pet odor remover and get him to the vet right away!

When seniors have pets, they often share a very powerful emotional bond. That’s why a senior may need a lot of emotional support after a beloved pet dies. You can help by encouraging them to talk about their pet and what it meant to them. Give them time to grieve openly. You may also wonder if it’s a good time to replace the pet. Jane Shaw, director of the Argos Institute at Colorado State University says that some people want a new pet fairly quickly to re-establish an important routine.  Others may need time to adjust. So ask your friend or relative what they would prefer. If he or she needs more support than you or other friends can offer, suggest a grief counselor or a pet lose support hotline. It’s very difficult for anyone when a beloved pet dies. It’s even difficult to look at their belongings like their dog or cat bed, their dishes, leashes etc. When my rabbit passed away, it took me five months to get rid of her cage. Grieving is an important step in the healing process and make sure that you allow time to grieve.

You have a dog who is friendly all of the time.  You clip his dog leash on and he suddenly becomes a monster!  There are lots of explanations for this kind of behavior but it could be a sign of frustration. Your dog is used to expressing himself by the freedom that he is given. When on a leash, his movement is limited and he no longer has the freedom that he enjoys so he gets frustrated.  Proper socialization as a puppy is a key to preventing leash aggression.  Don’t worry, even learned behavior can be changed.  Pulling on the leash and speaking to your dog will only re-enforce the unwanted behavior. You have to teach alternative behavior and utilize the help of a professional. A professional will give you the proper training tips on how to improve his behavior.   If the pulling is really bad, you should consider a  harness or a halter. This is much better for you and your dog. Pulling on a leash hurts your dogs neck and can cause serious problems down the road. A halter will give you more control and your dog will not pull as much. A collar chokes the dog and causes him to pull more. A harness will make things much easier for you.   Good luck, this could be a tough one if your dog wasn’t trained as a puppy on how to behave when his leash is on.