Pet Advice

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Search or browse 1230 pet advice articles on pet health, pet care and pet behaviour. The Pets4Homes site aims to provide the most informative and useful pet advice and pet care articles and information on all types of pets, from dogs and cats to rabbits and reptiles. Our articles are written by qualified veterinary surgeons, veterinary nurses, breeders and other writers who have a passion for pets.

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Does your child behave appropriately towards your dog?

4th December 2013

Having both children and a dog is generally highly beneficial to both parties, and children and dogs generally get on very well. Dogs are often much more tolerant of little people than they will be of adults, particularly if they have known your child since they were a baby or joined your family as a puppy. Whatever the age of your chi....Read Full Article

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Winter care of cats

3rd December 2013

While fireworks night has thankfully passed for this year, it is important to remember that winter presents other challenges to our feline friends as well. Keeping your cat safe and well over the winter doesn’t have to be difficult, but with the colder weather, Christmas and New Year just around the corner, it is important to pay....Read Full Article

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What to do if your child is afraid of dogs

2nd December 2013

Whether you own a dog or not, it is really important to supervise your children’s interactions with any dogs that they might come into contact with, in order to keep both dog and child safe. Having a bad experience with a dog at a young age can be very formative for children, and can grow over time into a genuine fear or phobia o....Read Full Article

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Keeping Your Dog Safe on Christmas Day

2nd December 2013

Christmas is a very exciting time of the year when close friends and family get together to celebrate the festive season. Households are busy and buzzing with all sorts of activities which includes putting up decorations, hanging lights and wrapping presents ready for the big day. If you have just adopted or purchased a puppy or new do....Read Full Article

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Dog ownership and being a good neighbour

30th November 2013

While in many communities, we do not live in such close quarters with our neighbours or know them as well as we did in times gone by, fostering good relations with one’s neighbours is important in order to ensure that everyone is happy and conflict is avoided! While dogs live on virtually every residential street on the UK and an....Read Full Article

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10 Dog Breeds That Boast Moustaches & Beards

29th November 2013

There are many gorgeous looking dog breeds around, from curly coated wonders to smooth haired delights and even some hairless ones. However, the majority of breeds boast great personalities to match their looks. But when it comes to dogs that really do have a “look” of their own, it doesn't get much better than breeds t....Read Full Article

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Five minor dog care mistakes that can lead to major consequences

29th November 2013

Looking after a dog can be both challenging and expensive, and there is always a lot to think about just on a day-to-day basis, without even getting into addressing out of the ordinary occurrences or the occasional problem that is apt to crop up now and again. Sometimes it can be easy to overlook minor issues or become a little slack i....Read Full Article

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Assessing the potential new owner of your puppies or dog

28th November 2013

If you are a professional and responsible breeder, you are probably already very adept at sussing out the people who come to view your puppies with a view to buying them, and judging if the people looking at your dogs are responsible and suitable owners. However, if you are a hobbyist breeder or for some reason need to sell o....Read Full Article

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Common Skin Disorders Seen in Reptiles

27th November 2013

Reptiles when kept in captivity are sometimes prone to contracting a variety of skin problems and diseases which is why good hygiene is essential. This means regularly cleaning out their environments and always making sure your pet has access to fresh, clean water. It's also crucial to remove any uneaten food which if left in the e....Read Full Article

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Dealing With Canker of the Ears in Dogs

27th November 2013

Canker of the ears is a nasty condition that causes a dog lots of discomfort. Outer ear inflammation or otitis externa can be a really serious problem with some dogs suffer from milder forms of the condition whereas others are affected a lot more. Canker can be caused by a few different things which includes breed and conformation. Dog....Read Full Article

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Six top tips for fighting fleas

26th November 2013

Fleas can really cause problems if they take a hold on your pet or in your home, as any pet owner that has spent some time fighting a persistent flea infestation will know only too well! The vast majority of us of course treat our pets for fleas regularly as a preventative measure, either using a spot-on flea treatment or per....Read Full Article

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Recognising When a Dog May be Suffering

26th November 2013

Recognising when a dog may be suffering can be hard, especially if they have become a valued member of the family. Suffering is defined as being in constant pain and where misery is very much a factor. Although it can be extremely hard to accept that a pet may not be as happy as they should be, it is important for dog owners to have so....Read Full Article

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What a Cat's Normal Temperature Should Be

26th November 2013

Cats are lovely creatures, they are loyal yet independent and great fun to have around the house. Some cats are brilliant mousers whereas others are happy to just lie on a windowsill in the sun. As long as a cat has a cosy corner, they are happy and content felines. However, when they are feeling under the weather cats tend to hide awa....Read Full Article

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Walking a reactive dog on the lead

24th November 2013

A “reactive dog” is one that is constantly responding to external stimulus when out walking, such as the presence of other dogs, passing cars, cyclists, pedestrians and anything else that catches their eye. This can make them incredibly challenging to walk, as they are always on the lookout for things to catch their attenti....Read Full Article

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Why It's Important to Groom a Dog & Check For Parasites

24th November 2013

Dogs are gorgeous creatures, they're loyal, good natured and wonderful companions that keep their owners healthy, fit and entertained. Making sure they are well cared for, means giving them a well balanced diet to suit their needs and taking them to the vet for their annual boosters and general health checks to make sure they are h....Read Full Article

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The importance of companionship and quality time for dogs

24th November 2013

Dogs are extremely social animals, and do not thrive without adequate companionship. In the wild, dogs form packs and groups to provide for this need, but in a domestic setting, plenty of time spent with their favourite people is vital to them, even if they have another dog as a companion too. Every dog owner knows that dogs ....Read Full Article

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10 Breeds of Dog with Wonderful Black Coats

22nd November 2013

Black has always been thought of as smart, elegant and chic so when it comes to gorgeous black coats that certain breeds of dogs have, it really doesn't get much smarter. There are many breeds that boast shiny, sleek dark coloured coats and below are just a few of these lovely canines! 1.  The Delightful Tibetan Ter....Read Full Article

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Beautiful Blue-eyed Cats

21st November 2013

Cats are incredibly elegant creatures and there's no denying they all have beautiful expressive eyes. However, there's something very special about a blue-eyed cat and their stare can often be quite mesmerising. It's easy to understand why in ancient times, cats were thought of as mystical and magical creatures especially w....Read Full Article

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Health checking your own dog

20th November 2013

Every dog owner knows that an annual check up with the vet is important to monitor and manage the health and condition of their dog, and to allow your dog to receive their annual vaccination boosters. But a year can be a long time to wait between appointments! While you will of course need to ensure that your dog goes to the vet if the....Read Full Article

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Cranial cruciate ligament rupture in dogs

19th November 2013

The cranial cruciate ligament (often referred to simply as the cruciate ligament) is an important ligament in the knee joint of dogs. It keeps the stifle stable while your dog is walking or placing weight on their legs, and keeps the bone of the shin in place and stops it from moving forwards relatively to the femur (thigh bone). Somet....Read Full Article