Small Animal Husbandry Videos - Movie Review Example

 Small Animal Husbandry Videos 1. Training Your Pet to Take Medication The first video addresses the issue of the ways pets take medication. The narrator emphasizes that it is easier than one might think, to train a pet to take a pill voluntarily. She proposes a systematic scheme for giving medication to a pet. For the first two steps, a set of soft pliable treats, pill popper, canned food, kibble, and hard treats would be helpful. In addition, some piece that could serve as a mat is required. Step three suggests showing a pill popper to a pet before showing it treats or food. Step four states that one should place the pet’s favorite food or treat on the outside of the pill popper, and then place the pill popper in the plate leaving the pet to it. This should be repeated to the moment the pet eats the food from the pill popper. The important thing about this step is patience in getting one’s pet used to the procedure. The next step in this sequence is staying near the pet while it is eating its food from the pill popper, and holding the popper in the process. Later, one should hand-feed the pet from the popper so that the pet is used to it. With this step successful, one can place a pill mixed with the food on the outside of the pill popper and feed the pet. In the next step, the pet is already excited to eat the pill. 2. How to Get Rid of Fleas on Dogs and Cats This piece is Dr. Andy Roark’s guide to pet owners addressing the issue of fleas on cats and dogs. Dr. Roark in a humorous way explains how to get rid of fleas on pets without using the flea shampoo. Significantly, the narrator states that fleas are not only a pet problem, but also a house problem because fleas had already laid eggs in the house by the time the owner noticed them on the pet. Sr. Roark suggests that a pet should be on the flea preventatives for a year. If not, it should be at least three months. Otherwise, the owner will be trapped in a vicious cycle. Another solution is flea medicine, but it applies only to adult cats and dogs. Moreover, there is a need to get advice from a vet before buying flea medicine, as there is a lot of worthless cheap medicine for pets. A good solution for puppies and kittens appears to be dish detergent. For cats, removing fleas works with a comb with a mixture of detergent and water. For dogs, it would be a simple bath with detergent in water. An important thing to remember is treating all pets in the house, as the fleas would likely move to another pet if it is not treated as well. Finally, treating the whole house is also an essential point in removing fleas because fleas may be in the house, but now on the pet yet. Cleaning the house while treating a pet would help to get rid of the fleas both on the pet and in the house, which is extremely important. 3. 8 Secret Signs Your Pet Is In Pain Dr. Andy Roark discusses the issue of pets being in pain, but hiding it. He states that many owners do not pay attention to the subtle signs of pain from the pet. The first secret sign is the messier or greasier hair of the pet. It means the pet stopped grooming, and most likely, the reason is pain. The second sign is aggression. Pets are often becoming grumpy due to their age, but, as Dr. Roark suggests, grumpiness and aggression can also be a sign of pain. When the pet is uncomfortable, such as in pain, it shows aggression. The most common sign of pain is shallow rapid breathing of the pet. Panting in this case is not a sign of tiredness, but rather a sign of pain. The fourth sign of pets experiencing pain is not going to places they used to. For instance, when the common place for a dog was bed, and he jumped on it, when he stops doing, it can mean the pet is in pain while jumping, which can mean he has arthritis or other reason for pain. Another sign is pet being restless. It can mean it is not comfortable and experiences pain. The sixth sign is a pet not liking being picked up. Housetraining accidents are also a possible cause of pain. 4. Are You Feeding Your Dog Crap? Dr. Roark in this video talks about nutrition issues and names five things an owner would not want to feed his dog. First of all, dog owners forget about the differences between the dogs and expect all of them to like the same food. He emphasizes the examples with the black dogs who would lose their color due to the lack of phenylalanine in their diet. The narrator points out the fact that the dog food is not “one size fits all”. Secondly, fiber is not filler. Violation of this rule leads to health problems in dogs, such as diarrhea. Next, to provide a nutritionally balanced diet, an owner should not mix the pet’s food with something from the table, which is not a balanced meal for the dog. Feeding amounts is another important thing in dog’s nutrition. There is no such thing as “average” dog food amount. While some dogs are couch potatoes, as the narrator states, and need less food, others need a lot more, and it is normal. Therefore, the food bag guidelines are only a starting point for deciding how to feed a dog. The owner is to measure the amount of food his or her dog needs starting from weighing the dog and ending with using the measure cup. This procedure will help in determining the amount of food one’s dog actually needs. 5. 5 Tips for Tiring Your Dog Indoors This video is dedicated to the issue of exercise for pets indoors. The narrator starts out with the fact that dogs need exercise, even if the owners cannot provide them with it due to the lack of time, bad weather conditions or something else. The possible solution for those who do not have time for exercising with their pets is indoors activities. The first activity that can be used is simple hide-and-seek. The owner would hide somewhere and then call the dog by name, so it would start searching. Stair ball is the second suggested activity, and it is only suitable for certain kinds of stairs. Otherwise, it can just be a game of ball tossing up and down the stairs. Food toys and puzzles are a great deal of activity to spend mental and physical energy. The fourth tip is scavenger hunts for pets. Dogs are natural scavengers, Dr. Roark highlights. Letting a dog search for his food would be a great and challenging activity for a pet. It will also help with getting the dog’s energy in use. An organization of a play date is the last tip from the video. This activity helps one’s dog with exhausting their energy, and it would be a fun and playful time for both dogs engaged in activity. All in all, these tips are essential for the dog owners due to the vitality of exercise in the life of dogs. Due to the rapid lifestyles of people nowadays, these indoor activities are a valuable guide for dog owners. 6. Canine Influenza Outbreak: Is Your Dog Safe? The video addresses the issue of canine influenza. Dr. Roark states that there is a new strain of canine influenza, so there are a few things the dog owners should know about it. This new strain is an Asian strain of canine influenza. Thus, the American dogs have not been exposed to it before, which means they would get it, if exposed. Another thing is that the existing vaccines would not work against this strain of canine influenza. The first thing to do is to watch news, as it provides information about influenza in one’s area and the owner can decide what to do later on. The second suggestion is quite surprising, as Dr. Roark advises not to take the dog to the vet in case one is concerned if the dog has canine influenza. Instead, he emphasizes, it would be better to call the vet and state one’s concern. It would give the doctor time to prepare the hospital and get the other pets in the hospital safe. The last is to not be a carrier of the virus yourself. Dr. Roark states that the infection can be vital during 48 hours, and it means the sick dog that sneezed on the owner might infect the owner’s dog through the infection left on the owner’s clothes. All in all, these tips would be helpful for all dog owners concerned about canine influenza. Read More