Are cats generally higher maintenance than dogs?
Hi, I have two cats, and I like cats, but I detest them! Sound weird I know but I hate cats because they like killing our wildlife. I don't like them eating the birds or lizards. They are welcome to eat as much as they want of anything else! I'm a mother and I love animals. My daughter talked me into these two cats. One was from the pet shop and the other was a wild orphaned stray 3 week old kitten. I owned a black cat when I was just married and I had to get my father to put it down as it had skin cancer, well we think it did. Anyway I love these two cats, but I hate how they leave their fir all over wherever they decide to sleep for the day. I have purchased beds and large fluffy cushions for them, even given them my dressing gown that they love clawing. And i make sure that they only sleep or lay on these, but it's really hard. One of them insists on coming to cuddle up with me when I'm in bed. Ive never had a problem with them weeing or pooing anywhere like a puppy does! They have always gone in their litter trays. They don't use one now as they are both outside cats. If I had a cat of my own, it would be a proper breed that I like and also be an inside cat with a cat run!!! Male cats wee has a horrible small to it and they will do it almost anywhere. My brother left his car window open once and this tom cat weed in it and he couldn't get the smell out for years!!! Also, cats urine is toxic to a lot of animals and I know that their saliva is too. When they bite into birds, the saliva contributes to their death. AND i'm sure they have other negatives too which I don't know about!! Anyway, enough of my cats. My dog? My boyfriend got me a Golden Retriever. I had made up my mind not to get one, but he went ahead and got me one anyway! She took a bit of toilet training and she had a few accidents, but she is really good now. She's inside most of the time (which i hate), and sheds a lot of hair, hence I vacuum a lot! Dogs are more maintenance. But then there are a few breeds which are a lot less maintenance. (see link below). Cats eat and sleep when their not hunting!! Sleeping most of the time! If you get a persian, they take some maintenance, with brushing daily and probably a clip once a year in certain spots. I hope this is some help to you. Good luck TT
My dog smells like she is rotting! Why does she stink so bad?
I have a 1 year old Catahoula. I feed her a very good quality food (Natural Balance), only gets about 1 to 2 natural treats a day and is very active and happy. We keep our house pretty 'puppy proof' since we have 2 dogs. About 5 days ago she started to shed an unbelievable amount. Yesterday I gave her a good bath to try to get rid of some of the excess hair. For the past 3 nights she has been wimpering and crying, like she is having a bad dream. Last night she began to cry and wimper and after a few minutes threw up all over. She threw up what looked like yellow mucus. She never got any on herself, but this morning when she woke up, she smells horrible! She smells like a dead animal. I don't want to give her another bath since I just gave her one yesterday and I know it's not going to help. We have a Very small (20'x20') fenced in yard, so I know she didn't roll in or eat anything dead ourside. She never eats her own poop. I know it's not her anal glands and she doesn't have bad breath. Her ears are a little warm and her nose is cold and wet, but her gums are pretty pink. Since I can't bring her to the vet until Mon, I was wondering if anyone has any advice! Thanks!!
What do I feed my dog who will not eat dog food of any kind?
There are lots of people who choose to feed their dogs and cats “raw” food diets now. My own dog came to us as an adult on a raw diet, so we stuck to it, meaning a trip to the butchers once or twice a month for hearts, chicken wings, meaty bones (I try to get lamb as they are easier for him to eat, and he eats the lot…Not just chewing the meat off), mince, turkey necks, sardines, salmon heads, pig tails etc. He also gets cooked vegetables. If you are going to try this, it’s important that you get advice from an expert first. A good breeder who feeds raw would be the first port of call. You need to be able to train your dog not to “wolf” down the food and instead chew it carefully, as our dog was already doing this I can’t give advice here. You also need to make sure the bones are always raw, cooked bones are the main culprits for splintering and piercing organs. You will find people who say dogs on a raw diet don’t smell as much, shed less and have less health problems. I have to say, my dog STINKS. He eats raw fish and meat! He sheds loads, but I’m not sure that isn’t just down to breed. As far as health issues, I am concerned about how his kidneys will cope with all the protein in his old age, so I’ve introduced complete dog biscuits to his diet a couple of times a week, just to make sure he’s getting a decent nutritional balance. If you wanted to try it, but didn’t want the hassle or risks of doung everything from scratch, lots of pet shops are now offering raw freezer meals for dogs. NatureDiet is one company that comes to mind, you can buy bags of ice cube sized minced meat and veggies. It’s expensive but probably worth it in the long term.
What are some tips for controlling a Siberian Husky's shedding?
You can't reduce a huskys shedding. Their coats were built to withstand extreme temperatures and keep the snow and water off their skin. This means that in addition to having a very thick coat, they have two layers of fur. The longer layer of guard hairs are what most dogs have primarily. These hairs keep the fur relatively dry and protect the dog. The second layer of fur is called the undercoat. This is what sheds primarily and is the layer of fur that causes the tufts you may notice during the spring and/or fall as your husky is going through a major shed (also known as blowing their coat). While most breeds have undercoats, huskies have a lot of it and being big dogs the amount of hair they shed is very noticeable.While you can't reduce the amount of shedding they do, you can take steps to prevent them shedding all over your house. Most importantly, daily grooming will reduce the amount of loose fur around your house. You can buy pet brush attachments for your vacuum hose that can help expedite the grooming process. Also make sure you are feeding a high quality diet. A food that includes plenty of healthy fats like omega 3, high quality meat, as well as few low quality fillers like corn, ash, or “grain” can improve coat quality. Healthier coats mean less hairs are shed. You don't need to reach for top shelf food, but upgrading from “Big Box Value Brand” can make a big difference in not only coat, but also energy levels and mood.And finally, never shave your husky unless instructed to do so by your vet. Huskies have evolved with their coats and to shave it could result in their inability to regulate their internal temperature. They can overheat in the summer and freeze in the winter.
How do you stop your dog from shedding?
When you picked those two breeds, did you do any research beforehand to find out if and how much these breeds of dogs shed? Because smooth-coated JRTs shed quite a lot and most resources would have been able to tell you this. Also, what do you feed? A lot of skin health issues and shedding have to do with the quality of food that is being fed. Try a high quality, organic diet (Innova, California Naturals, Wellness, etc.) and also supplements such as combination Fish/Flax/Borage oil for your dogs - this should help *some* with the shedding. However, while a diet and regular grooming certainly make a difference, these are breeds that do shed. The best thing you can do is invest in a high quality vacuum and vacuum your home daily.
Why does my shih tzu always smell?
There are several possibilities: Is he still intact? Full male dogs often have a musky male smell. Neutering will help. Is he getting urine or poo in his hair? You may have to have the affected hair clipped off and keep him in a shorter coat. If he is crated and urinates in his crate he can get a urine burn/smell to his coat. You can not really wash teh smell away - you need to get down to unaffected hair. Have you vet give him a check-up when he is smelly. The vet may be able to determine if there is a health problem associated with this smell. My dog once smelled rather rank - it was a bad tooth (although he never seems to be in pain and ate without complaint). Check-up at the Vet's and be sure to pay attention to his teeth!! Toy breeds often have bad teeth at an early age -- so it may be a possibility even though he is very young. GOOD LUCK!
Do shih tzus smell or shed a lot?
Shih Tzus don't shed. They also don't have that "Doggy Odor" they are lovable little dogs! Don't get one of those "Shih Poos" they are just mutts being sold for big money. Go to your local shelter or petfinder.com. I'm sure you'll find one there!!
How do you get rid of the "dog smell"?
One of the main contributors to "doggy" odor is a diet full of fillers. Check the ingredients on her dog food--do you see corn, wheat, and/or soy? If so, your dog is eating more filler than real food, and this contributes to the odor. This is an easy fix, however. Look into a higher quality dog food, or google "raw meaty bones for dogs" or "prey model raw diet" for a much healthier, more natural diet option. Infrequent bathing may contribute to her odor, but honestly I doubt it. I rarely bathe my dogs, once a month or less, and they are quite clean and don't have any "doggy" odor. However to control her shedding, once every few weeks you could bathe her in warm water and scrub her well with a rubber hound mitt, and this will help. Also look into buying a "Furminator" de-shedding brush; these work wonders with heavy-coated dogs. Honestly I'd try those options first before dousing her in scented shampoos or perfumes, and risking skin irritation. Hope that helps!
My Golden Retriever Smells bad even right after a bath, Why ?
More than likely its the food. Cheap dog foods like Iams or Pedigree or even brands that claim to be "higher quality" like Eukanuba are filled with corn. Corn is not good for dogs, its like feeding junk food to you dog. The best things to look for in dog foods are ingredients like, rice, oats, chicken or beef meal...not chicken by-products (big difference), flaxseed oil, or salmon oil, potato, mixed veggies, etc. Things to watch out for...Ground corn, corn meal, corn gluten, chicken by-product. Not only will you notice that your dog will smell way way better, but his coat will become less oily. Also, your dog will shed less, his poop will be smaller, his eyes will be brighter, he will have more energy, he will eat less of a higher quality dog food. Brands to look at....Pinnacle (made by Breeders Choice), Nutro, Timberwolf. All very high quality. More expensive yes, but your dog will eat less of the good stuff because he is getting what he needs from less, so the higher cost is only minimal at best. My dog stunk up my house when I first brought him home, I switched him from Eukanuba, to Pinnacle....two weeks later...he was cured. I only have to bathe him once or twice a year (when he gets really muddy). Dogs should not be bathed very much, it depletes the oil in their skin. Oh, one more thing, if you do try a high quality brand and your dog turns his nose up to it and wont eat it, mix in a spoon full of plain yogurt...he will love it, and yogurt is good for them. Good luck in whatever you do... p.s. the soap i use is called Perfect Pet-Oatmeal Shampoo..I give it an A+ and I bought it at Petsmart.