Help Your Pup be a Good Neighbor

white poodle sitting smiling at camera in front of green grass

Photo by Pixabay

 

Being a dog parent isn’t too difficult. Primarily, you just make sure your pooch is fed, walked or played with, and gets their regular vaccinations and vet visits. But you may be overlooking an important part of dog-ownership: being a good neighbor. While you may think your dog is the best ever, your neighbors might be less in love with him. Whiskers to Tails Petsitting sponsors these ways to make sure your pup is easy to live near.

 

Introduce: When you are shopping for a new place to live, do your research. Make finding a dog-friendly house and neighborhood a priority. Look for dog-friendly amenities like dog parks, restaurants, groomers, boarders, etc. Take a walk around the area you’re considering; after all, spotting other dog owners, or hearing their furry companions, is a good sign.

 

When you first move into a neighborhood, take some time to introduce your dog to the neighbors. Let them know that you intend to be good neighbors, and if there are any problems, you are open to their concerns. They will feel much better about discussing issues with you, and you’ll make some new friends, including their dogs. If they have a particular dislike or fear of dogs, you’ll find out which houses to avoid on your walks. If your dog ever escapes, your neighbors will know him and know where to return him.

 

Hire help: If you work long hours or have a busy schedule, consider hiring a dog walker or sitter who can come during the day and let him out. You wouldn’t want to go eight hours with no bathroom breaks, so why should your dog? Also, a bored dog can howl and bark all day, disturbing the neighbors or  even doing serious damage to your home. A good dog sitter can take him outside to potty, take him for walks or just spend a little time playing with him. You’ll feel better about leaving him, and your dog will be thrilled to have a new friend.

 

Train: Training your dog is key to helping him become a good citizen. Start early and train often. It usually only takes a few minutes a day to keep his skills fresh. If your dog is a barker, you can work to train him not to bark as much. You won’t eliminate all barking because it’s your dog’s job to protect his home and people; however, you can teach him to be quiet on command or only bark once or twice.

 

Fence: Having a good, sturdy fence can help ease a lot of neighborhood issues. It will prevent you from having to walk the dog every time he needs to potty, and it will keep your dog safely on your property. Before hiring a fence company, make sure they have good ratings and they’re able to provide clear price estimates. Take the average costs of materials (wood costs about $16 per foot, for example) and labor ($30 to $50 per hour) into consideration as well, as you don’t want to end up with a price that’s outside your budget.

 

Talk: If you have any issues with your dog, discuss it with the neighbors. If your dog is not friendly, make sure those who have dogs and children know not to go near the fence. Post “Beware of dog” signs everywhere you think someone could come into contact with him. Kids often don’t understand the danger of a dog that isn’t friendly to them. If he’s unfriendly to other dogs, your neighbors should know to avoid you when you’re out on walks. The more communication you have about this, the better.

 

Be calm and cooperative: If you were having a problem with a neighbor’s dog, you’d hope that the neighbor would respond calmly and politely. When a neighbor comes to you with an issue, respond the way you’d like someone to respond to you. Often, people aren’t aware that their dog is causing an issue. Discuss ways to address the problem, and then get to work. Your neighbors will appreciate your prompt and friendly response.

 

Being a good neighbor goes a long way toward peace and harmony in the neighborhood. You’ll show people that you are a responsible dog owner, and you and your dog will be much happier. You’ll get to know your neighbors and their pets, and they may become lifelong friends. Your walks in the neighborhood will become like a reunion, and you’ll get invited to all the cookouts on the block.

 

Guest Author: Cindy Aldridge is the creator of OurDogFriends.org, a website advocating for the love and ownership of dogs. She believes that dogs truly are our best friends and wants to see less dogs in shelters and more in loving homes.

 

 

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Don’t Mind if I Poo – Healthy Litter Box Habits

two gray cats sitting next to each other in the opening of a litter robot

Photo from Unsplash.com

February is National Cat Health Month, so we wanted to discuss something vital to your cat’s health – their litter box! While it may not be the most glamorous topic, keeping an eye on your cat’s litter box habits can help you manage their overall health and wellness.

Healthy Habits

Bowel Movements

Your cat’s digestive habits can be a good indicator of their overall health. Typically we try to spend as little time as possible taking care of our cats’ deposits, but taking a quick glance at their poop as you clean it can help you gauge their proper food intake and watch for potential illness.

Most cats have a bowel movement once per day, although that can depend on their age, activity levels, diet, and frequency of feeding.  Their poop should be brown in color and well formed but not too hard. Your cat’s poop should also not be too stinky. Some odor is normal, but if you have to hold your nose to get close to the box that may be an indication of a problem.

Emergencyvetsusa.com has a great chart (shown below) for understanding cat’s bowel movements as well as more detailed information about what could be the problem if your cat’s poop is not normal. Fetch by WedMD also has a helpful chart for clarifying what your cat’s poop may be telling you about their health.

Cat Poop Chart - What Does Your Cats Poop Look Like

In general, your cat’s poop should be unvarying in color, consistency, and frequency. If your pet’s diet has not changed, their poop should not change, so if you notice a difference in color, consistency, or frequency you may want to contact your veterinarian.

Urinary Health

Your cat’s urinary habits are also important to track. Much like with bowel movements, the color, consistency, and frequency of your cat’s urinations can tell you about their health. While it might be difficult to tell with most types of litter, according to the PetHealthNetwork.com urine should be light yellow or clear without any cloudiness or debris. Most cats typically pee a plum sized amount about 2-4 times per day, but that’s just an average and can vary based on your cat’s diet, water intake, and medical conditions.

If your cat’s urine is pink, red, or brown, if your cat is suddenly urinating more volume or more often, or if your cat is urinating outside of the litter box, this could be an indication of a problem and you should contact your veterinarian. Also, if your cat’s urine has a strong odor, this may be an indication of an illness or underlying condition that should be discussed with your veterinarian.

If your cat is ever straining to urinate, this is an indication of a serious, potentially fatal problem and your cat should go to the emergency veterinarian immediately.

Bonus Tip

A litter company called Pretty Litter has created a new silica based litter that can help you track your cat’s health. When your cat urinates, the litter changes color depending on the contents of the urine. If your cat’s urine is within normal ranges the litter will be a yellow/green. If the litter is blue, orange, or red, that could indicate a deviation from normal urine and a potential issue with your cat’s health.

Why a Clean Litter Box is Essential

Be sure to clean your cat’s litter box daily. Your cat likely does not want to use a dirty litter box (who would!?), so keeping it clean can help ensure that your cat uses their box regularly. Cats are fastidious creatures, so if their litter box is dirty they are much more likely to find an alternate location to eliminate more comfortably. If your cat continues to use their litter box when it’s dirty, they may try to do so less frequently per day, which can increase the risk of several medical problems. Daily cleanings also makes it easier for you to track the frequency of your cat’s deposits to know what is or isn’t normal for them.

A dirty litter box can potentially make you and your human family sick. Many of us have heard about toxoplasmosis being dangerous to pregnant women, but there are a host of other illnesses that humans can get if their cat’s litter box is not kept clean. This means not only scooping it daily, but fully scrubbing the box and replenishing the litter at least several times per year.

If your cat is having trouble using the litter box for either urination or bowel movements, there may be an underlying medical, behavioral, or environmental issue. Speak with your veterinarian or a behavior consultant to help ensure that your cat has all he or she needs to comfortably and safely use their litter box.

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