Categories
Birds Other Travel & Safety

Teaching Birds to Travel Stress-Free

Article

Reading Time: 4 minutes Like many pets, birds aren’t always fans of visiting the veterinarian. Part of that is likely because they aren’t used to riding in a car. Most avian companions rarely travel outside of the home. This means travel may have the potential to be challenging. Training your bird in advance for transportation can give you peace […]

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Dogs Fears & Anxieties

The Spectrum of Fear, Anxiety, and Stress in Dogs

Article

Reading Time: < 1 minutes Is your dog relaxed, interested, anxious, getting scared, or ready to run for the hills? You can tell a lot by reading his body language and paying attention to his vocalizations. In our handout, we offer tips on how to recognize whether your dog’s level of fear, anxiety, or stress is escalating. If you have […]

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Cats Fears & Anxieties

The Spectrum of Fear, Anxiety, and Stress in Cats

Article

Reading Time: < 1 minutes Is your cat relaxed, interested, anxious, getting scared, or ready to run under the bed? You can tell a lot by reading body language and paying attention to vocalizations. In our handout, we offer tips on how to recognize whether your cat’s level of fear, anxiety, or stress is escalating. If you have concerns, talk […]

Categories
Cats Life at Home Training & Grooming

Clip Those Claws! Tips on Trimming Your Cat’s Nails

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Reading Time: < 1 minutes A cat’s claws are formidable weapons. Cats keep them sharpened and groomed by scratching–ideally on a scratching post–but to protect our own delicate skin from accidental scratches, it’s also important to keep claws trimmed. In our handout, we offer advice on how to accustom your cat to the process, offer the best rewards, and trim […]

Categories
Activities & Enrichment Cats Life at Home

It’s Cat’s Play: Fun Feline Enrichment

Article

Reading Time: < 1 minutes High perches, secret hideouts, falling water: Cats are adventurers at heart, but they can be limited by the interiors of their homes. In our handout, we share some easy ways to build a paradise that will allow them to live out their catly dreams of exploration, fulfill their feline destiny, and still make it to […]

Categories
Equines Fears & Anxieties Other Training & Grooming

Tricks and Treats Help Horses Gain Courage

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Reading Time: 4 minutes When a horse becomes part of your life, it is important to help him learn to deal with changes and unusual interactions without fear.

Categories
Dogs Shelters & Fostering

Hotel for Homeless Dogs Reshapes Traditional Shelter Models

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Reading Time: 3 minutes Since enrichment is a cornerstone of the Fear Free Shelter Program, it’s always exciting to hear of creative ways shelters work to reduce fear, anxiety, and stress (FAS) while providing for the physical and emotional wellbeing of animals in their care. The Hotel for Homeless Dogs is a shelter founded on the notion that reducing […]

Categories
Cats Dogs Holidays

New Year’s Eve Is a Blast, But Not for Pets: How to Keep Them Safe

Article

Reading Time: < 1 minutes The celebration of the old year winding down and the new year beginning can be rowdy and raucous. That’s fun for people but can cause fear, anxiety, and stress in pets. But you can still enjoy a swinging New Year’s Eve while keeping furry family members calm and happy. Follow the tips in this handout […]

Categories
Dogs Veterinary Care

When Is an Itch More Than Just an Itch?

Article

Reading Time: < 1 minutes When dogs scratch, it’s disturbing to them and to us. It’s noisy, and it’s clear that something is wrong. An irritating itch can be caused by allergies, parasites, or infections. Our handout offers tips on recognizing causes of itching and ways to help bring it under control.

Categories
Dogs New Pets

Size Matters! How to Safely Introduce Big and Little Dogs

Article

Reading Time: 4 minutes My 80-pound Labrador, Logan, was quivering in excitement to meet his new little brother. “Little” was not an exaggeration. My new Papillon puppy, Finian, weighed a scant 1.2 pounds. Was the size difference between the two a big deal? Yes! Planning ahead, I had prepared everything for a safe, positive introduction. I sat on the […]