Kitten

Cat Scratching….Help!!

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          Concerns about inappropriate scratching among cat owners are a common occurrence. In some cases, the destruction is bad enough that pet parents consider re-homing their kitty. The good news is that for those facing this stressful situation there are some solutions that can help. It is vital to understand that scratching is a normal behavior of cats. Cats use scratching to mark their territory and frequently traveled routes. Scratching can occur more at times of change or stress – such as the addition of new furniture, a change in the family, a new pet or … Read more »

Nature Lover, Cat Lover…Should a Cat Go Outside?

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Nature lover, Cat lover…a perspective. An outdoor cat is any cat that spends time outdoors including feral, stray, farm, unowned, and indoor/outdoor cats.  An estimate from 2013 suggests that outdoor cats kill 1.3 to 4 billion wild birds and 6.3 to 22.3 billion wild mammals in the US, per year!  And not all prey are quickly killed by cats.  Many may be maimed or injured creating an even greater humane concern.  One rehabilitation center in Minnesota admitted 5600 animals in 2019 that had been attacked by cats.  Cats are considered just one of the many reasons for population decline of … Read more »

New Puppy or Kitten? Time to Get Social!

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Socialization is a critical time period in the development of  young animals,  allowing them to lead well-adjusted lives and to encourage a future of positive interactions with people, places, animals, and things. Technically this socialization period begins around 3 – 4 weeks of age, though most pet parents don’t usually pick-up their new puppy or kitten until 8-10 weeks. The period ends around 13 – 14 weeks (10 – 11 weeks in kittens); however, even after this time, there is still an opportunity to make a positive impact and reduce future fear, anxiety and stress. This critical socialization period is … Read more »

Veterinary Visits- Managing for a Fear Free Return Home

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Have you ever experienced this scenario? You’ve just picked up your beloved pet from the hospital and returned home only to have your other pets act aggressively or ignore their housemate altogether! What has happened? Why are the other pets acting this way towards their housemate that they usually get along with? This is a scenario that is more common than you may think and there are a few reasons why this may occur. First, the pet may smell different to the housemates so they act as if this is a new animal being brought into the household. Think back … Read more »

Parasite Control Recommendations

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Parasite Prevention 2018 Helping you to maintain optimal health in your 4-legged family members has always been our primary focus at Fairhaven Vet, and parasite-control is an increasingly important part of good, preventive, health-care!   The incidence of external and internal parasites has clearly been rising in our area.  These parasites not only pose a health risk to your pets, but many can cause disease in people as well. Fairhaven Vet now recommends Year-Round comprehensive parasite prevention for your pets:  Dogs: A combination of once-monthly Credelio (Fleas and Ticks) and Interceptor Plus (Internal Parasites) is recommended for all dogs for excellent, safe … Read more »

The Pet Food Dilemma

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Contributed by Dr. Kris Johnson There’s no doubt about it, people are passionate about pet food! Opinions on feeding strategies get as heated as some political or religious discussions. This is because people love their pets and desperately want what’s best for them. It is also because there is a LOT of information out there, and wading through it all can be difficult and confusing. With this article I hope to shed some light on this topic. I recently went to a local store that sells pet supplies to peruse the aisles of dog and cat food. I was amazed … Read more »

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