7 Signs Your Pet Might Be Stressed

5 Signs Your Cat Might Be Stressed

Cats often seem calm and independent, but they can experience stress just like we do. Recognizing the signs early can help keep your furry friend happy and healthy. Here are five common signs that your cat may be feeling stressed.

4 Things Families Should Discuss Before Bringing a New Pet Home

Bringing a new pet into your home is exciting. There’s nothing quite like the joy of a wagging tail or the purr of a happy cat. But before you rush out to the shelter or breeder, it’s important for the whole family to have a real conversation about what this new addition means. Pets bring love, but they also bring responsibility, time, and a bit of chaos. Here are four things every family should talk through before saying yes to a new furry (or feathery, or scaly) friend.

Hamsters vs Guinea Pigs: Which Pet Is Right for You?

Hamsters and guinea pigs are two of the most popular small pets, especially for young children. While they both may be small and cute, they have notably different personalities, needs, and care requirements. Understanding their differences will help you decide which furry companion suits you best.

What To Look For In a Pet Camera

A pet camera will make it possible to monitor your pets throughout the day and night, whether you’re checking in on them in real time or reviewing recorded footage. This can give you peace of mind both while you’re at home and away from home, as you’ll be able to see what your pets are doing and if they need anything. These days, there are a range of pet cameras on the market. The key is choosing the one that will meet your expectations and fit your budget. So, what should you look for in a high-quality pet camera? Here’s a list of features you can focus on as you shop.

3 Fun Facts About Golden Retrievers

Golden Retrievers are known for their warm personalities and iconic golden coats, but there’s more to them than their friendly faces. Here are three interesting facts that show just how remarkable this breed really is.

Dirty Socks Draw Lost Dog Home

Missing for over a week, Labrador retriever named Sunny instantly picks up scent of owner's unwashed socks for a happy rescue.

Why Your Dog Keeps Biting Their Tail

Is your dog suddenly biting or nibbling their tail? Tail biting is often harmless, but in some cases it can also be a sign that your dog’s uncomfortable or trying to tell you something. Understanding the most common reasons behind this behavior can help you decide when to shrug it off and when to step in.Disclosure: PetGuide may receive a small affiliate commission from purchases made via links in this article but at no cost to you.

Obstinate Dog? Here's How To Get His Cooperation.

(photo credit: By-_-BY / shutterstock.com)I love my feisty dogs. Two Schnoodles that are completely bonded, and while confident, spirited, and totally outgoing, both are happy to immediately fall in line when instructions are given. Then there’s my Miniature Schnauzer, who moves to the beat of a different drum. She’s quick to push back when she disagrees with me, ignores my calls at the dog park, and can deliver a blistering stink-eye when she knows she’s about to lose her way – like when she realizes we’re going for a walk versus a car ride.Now, some of this may be breed-specific. Many dogs have, in fact, been bred to be independent thinkers – particularly those raised for hunting and herding. Understandably, scent- or sight-hounds inherently zero in on their surroundings when tracking prey and, as a result, tend to fob off human interference.But according to the American Kennel Club (AKC), while dogs can be stubborn and focused, they aren’t intentionally disobedient. It’s more likely that your pet simply doesn’t understand what you want from him. With that in mind, how do you work around this breakdown in communication to get your pet to respond to instructions? Responsiveness is particularly important if your pet gets loose and needs to be called back because a willful pooch can put themselves in harm’s way if they venture into traffic and refuse to listen.It’s not just down to training the five basic commands (sit, stay, down, come, leave-it) but effectively training your pooch.How Do You Make Training Effective?

How to Stop Your Dog From Barking During the Night

If your dog keeps you up at night with constant barking, you should know it’s not just you. It’s one of the most common frustrations for dog owners, especially when all you want is a good night’s sleep. The good news is that with a little patience and consistency, you can help your pup settle down and stay quiet through the night.Disclosure: PetGuide may receive a small affiliate commission from purchases made via links in this article but at no cost to you.

5 Ingredients That Are Great For Your Dog

When it comes to choosing the best food for your dog, the ingredient list can feel overwhelming. With so many formulas on the market, it’s helpful to understand which ingredients truly support your dog’s health and happiness. While every dog has unique needs, the following five ingredients offer great nutritional benefits for most of our canine friends. Disclosure: PetGuide may receive a small affiliate commission from purchases made via links in this article but at no cost to you.

New Genetic Test Can Detect Kidney Disease Risk in Cats

Kidney disease is common among cats, and it’s a progressive condition without a cure. Catching it early may give you the chance to work with your veterinarian to slow its progression, but even that can be a challenge, which is why experts have been working on ways to diagnose chronic kidney disease sooner. Now, there’s a new genetic test that can help you do just that. It may even give pet parents a heads-up years in advance of kidney disease symptoms.

Ferret Enrichment: How To Make Your Ferret’s Life More Exciting

Ferrets have awesome personalities and a lot of energy to expend. If you don’t provide them with daily interaction, a fun-filled enclosure, and environmental enrichment inside and outside of their cage, they’ll feel bored and unhappy, and may even become destructive. Here are some tips to help you make your ferret’s life more exciting with enrichment strategies that are easy to implement.

How to Choose the Right Food for Your Cat

Choosing the right food for your cat can be a confusing task, especially with the endless options on the store shelves. However, the key to a healthy, happy cat starts with understanding their unique nutritional needs and how to meet them. Here's a guide to help you make the best dietary choices for your feline friend.

How to Train Yourself to Train a Dog

Training a dog starts with training yourself. Dogs are incredibly attuned to human behavior, so if you’re impatient, inconsistent, or uncertain, they’ll notice—and it can make training much harder. Here’s everything you need to know to be ready to guide your dog with confidence.Disclosure: PetGuide may receive a small affiliate commission from purchases made via links in this article but at no cost to you.

Water-Loving Kitten Forces Temporary Closure of Richmond Cat Cafe

For most cat parents, the biggest water-related struggle is convincing their best friend that a bath isn’t the end of the world. However, as any dedicated cat lover knows, every animal has a unique personality. For a five-month-old tuxedo kitten named Roll the Dice (aka Roller), water wasn’t a deterrent; it was a playground. Unfortunately, his recent “pool party” at the Purrfect Bean cat café in Richmond, Virginia, served as a significant reminder of how much havoc a curious pet can cause! Earlier this month, staff at the Purrfect Bean arrived at their facility to find it flooded by a massive amount of water. The source wasn’t a burst pipe or a faulty roof, but rather Roller. The young cat had previously shown a fascination with water and the bathroom sink, often seen playing with the faucet, but no one could have predicted what came next. “We had seen him sort of playing with the faucet, and we were working on coming up with a way to turn it off,” explained the owner, Michelle Langham. On a night when the café was closed, Roller’s curiosity piqued. Staff believe he used a discarded towel to plug the drain before successfully nudging the handle to turn the water on. The resulting flood was described by Langham as a “monsoon.” Water from the second-story lounge seeped through the floorboards, raining down into the café area below. While the other resident cats sought higher ground to escape the water, Roller was found by a volunteer happily splashing in the rising water. The damage to the small business, which only opened in August, was extensive. An update on their Instagram account shared that they would need to redo the flooring and bathroom in their cat lounge, as well as the ceilings and walls in the café area. They are still assessing any damage to equipment. While the café is currently closed for repairs, the community has rallied to help. Fundraisers, including a GoFundMe, a local “tiramisu pop-up” and the sale of T-shirts featuring Roller’s “mugshot,” will help support the staff, as they are unsure of how long their doors will be closed for repairs. As for Roller, he’s currently back in a foster home, still looking for the ideal forever family who can keep up with his curiosity and love of all things water-related.How Can You Avoid a Similar Tragedy?For those of us dedicated to providing the best home for our pets, this story highlights the potential risk of a curious pet. High-intelligence cats, particularly those who are food-motivated or obsessed with sensory play (like water), require a little extra “ cat-proofing” to prevent accidents. If you have a cat that you are worried may “pull a Roller” at some point in the near future, you may want to consider the following updates: Install Round Knobs: Most cats find it more difficult to grip and turn round doorknobs than they do a lever-style handle. Safety Latches: Child-proof locks on cabinets containing cleaning supplies or plumbing are essential. Motion-Sensor Faucets: While these are expensive and don’t actually stop your cat from playing in the water, they do prevent the faucet from being left in the “on” position indefinitely. Water Valves: Installing a main shut-off valve for pet-accessible areas can provide peace of mind overnight. This incident serves as a testament to the fact that our pets are often much smarter than we give them credit for, and that staying one step ahead of their curiosity can be a full-time job!Join the PetGuide community. Get the latest pet news and product recommendations by subscribing to our newsletter here.

Weird Things Your Cat Might Be Doing to Get Your Attention

Cats are often described as independent, but if you live with one, you know that’s not the whole story. When they want your attention, they can be surprisingly persistent—and sometimes a little weird about it. Here are a few common (and not-so-common) things your cat might do when they’re trying to get you to focus on them.

Safeguarding Your Home for High-Energy, Too Curious Pets? We Can Help!

Dog Lost in the Woods? Here's How to Find Him Quickly!

(photo credit: StockPhotoArt / shutterstock.com)Don’t you love the heartwarming stories of dogs that are found after being lost for days, weeks, months and even years? Or the ones that travel hundreds of miles to make it home to their families? While they’re definitely upbeat, feel-good stories, make no mistake, I’m determined to avoid ever having to experience the anxious waiting and worry that those pet parents would have had to endure. And unlike losing a dog in a populated, urban area, having them go missing when away from home or worse, in the wild, takes on a whole new sense of urgency.My guess is that many pet owners would be hard-pressed to say their pooch had the survival instincts needed to get through more than a few days without food, water, shelter, and warmth. Not to mention having the innate skills needed to evade predatory wildlife.So, when you’re in the great outdoors, keeping your dog visible and/or within calling range is important, but equally so is knowing how to quickly track him down when he takes off and isn’t responding to your calls.PreventionAccording to the American Kennel Club (AKC), the first step in safeguarding your pet from becoming lost is to prevent it from ever happening, and that includes:- microchipping- using GPS collars- training- leashing or securingWhile micro-chipping is a no-brainer in an urban environment where a good Samaritan can find your little buddy and take them to a local vet or animal services for scanning, it’s not an option when you’re in a heavily rural or wilderness area.