FAQ’s and Expert Advice
Cats
What is a Feral cat and how does that compare to “stray” cats?
That is a very good cat question. “Feral” is a word used for both plants and animals that have reverted partially or completely to the natural wild state. While some strays may indeed be feral, some are simply pets that have somehow gotten lost or abandoned. Sadly, cats whose humans allow them to roam outdoors are frequently mistaken for stray or feral cats and may end up in shelters or worse. While all ferals are strays, not all strays are feral.
My cats always get up onto counters and shelves where I don’t want them to. What is the best way to stop this?
There are almost as many opinions and products for this as there are cats guilty of doing it. In our experience, there are two ways that are most often successful. The first is easy and inexpensive.
Put aluminum foil on the places you want to be cat-free. Flat or crinkled, it doesn’t matter. Use tape to keep it in place if necessary. This works because cats (most of them anyway) hate the feel of foil under their feet. If you do this consistently, the offending feline will begin to naturally avoid the foiled areas and you can remove the foil.
Second and a bit more expensive is something called a sensor spray. Basically it is a motion detector attached to an air can. You place the device on your counter or shelf (Also useful for near the door, too!) and when your cat hops up and gets on the forbidden area, the motion sensor activates the can and it shoots a harmless but rather startling burst of air, effectively spooking kitty into leaving the area alone.
What Vaccinations Should My Cat Have?
The Feline Vaccination Advisory Panel regularly evaluates and researches cat vaccination developments to make science-based recommendations. The panel is comprised of dedcated feline veterinarians and scientists and is regarded as a reputable source of cat vaccination standards.Their guidelines, published by the American Association of Feline Practitioners, are among the most trusted and utilized recommendations in the field.
They divide cat vaccines into two categories:
Core Vaccines for Cats
- Rabies
- FVRCP:
- Feline Rhinotracheitis Virus/Herpesvirus 1 (FVR/FHV-1)
- Feline Calicivirus (FCV)
- Feline Panleukopenia (FPV)
Non-Core, or optional vaccines, include Feline leukemia virus (FeLV), Chlamydophila felis, and Bordetella bronchiseptica , among others.
*$0.00 price products have multiple options. Click product below to see options.
Dogs
How Can I Stop My Dog from Barking?
This question is as old as the relationship between man and dog. The answer lies in training. Most dogs bark to alert their owners or other dogs about something interesting, whether it’s a squirrel or deer, a car, or the mail person. Teaching your dog not to bark can include several different methods. Positive reinforcement training teaches dogs to ignore outside distractions by rewarding your dog for quiet behavior, such as passing another dog on the street without barking. The pup quickly learns that being quiet earns a treat, while barking gets them nothing.
What Vaccinations Should My Dog Have?
Just like vaccinations for humans, immunization shots for dogs fall into two categories: necessary and optional. While laws vary by state, dogs are usually required to have an annual rabies vaccine, to prevent the spread of this dangerous disease. The ASPCA includes the rabies vaccine as a part of the core vaccines: those recommended by most vets for ALL dogs.
The other core vaccines are:
- Canine Parvovirus
- Distemper Virus
- Adenovirus-2
Non-Core, or optional vaccines, include Bordetella, Lyme disease, Leptospirosis, and canine influenza, among others. While these are optional legally, and may not be recommended for all dogs, most canine boarding facilities and dog parks require all visiting pups to receive Bordetella vaccines in addition to core vaccines at least once per year (some need Bordetella once every six months). Before bringing your dog to a daycare or dog park, be sure to go over the vaccination requirements, and talk to your vet about the best way to keep your dog safe from disease.
*$0.00 price products have multiple options. Click product below to see options.
Horses
Are Horses Color Blind?
It’s a common misperception that horses are entirely color blind, seeing the world only in shades of gray. This is not true, although horses do perceive color differently than a human with normal color vision does. Horse color perception is somewhat similar to that of a color-blind human—who is not truly blind to color but perceives it differently. A horse sees only two or three visible wavelengths in the color spectrum. It sees blues and greens, but not reds, so that a red apple or orange carrot appears as shades of green or brown to your horse.
Is a Horse a Carnivore, an Herbivore, or an Omnivore?
The term carnivore means meat-eater, a category that includes members of the cat family and animals such as crocodiles and badgers. In the predator species, teeth are developed to tear apart flesh, and the animals have a short digestive system since they don’t need to digest tough plant fibers.
Omnivores are those animals that eat a variety of meats and plants. Humans, skunks, pigs, bears, and mice are examples of omnivores. These species have both flat teeth for grinding food and sharp teeth for tearing meat. Their digestives systems are evolved to allow them to digest both plant fibers and meat.
Horses are among those animals that are pure herbivores—animals that eat only plant material. These species are equipped with flat grinding teeth and have very long digestive systems designed to break down the tough cellulose fiber in plants. In addition to horses, this category includes most of the grazing animals, such as cows, bison, zebras, elephants, and antelope.
What Vaccinations Should My Horse Have?
Vaccines are one of the easiest and most efficient ways to protect your horse’s health, preventing the contraction and spread of infectious diseases including Rabies, West Nile Virus, and Influenza. Vaccines are one of the easiest and most efficient ways to protect your horse’s health, preventing the contraction and spread of infectious diseases including Rabies, West Nile Virus, and Influenza.
The horse vaccines we carry are below.
*$0.00 price products have multiple options. Click product below to see options.