Pet Advice

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Search or browse 1405 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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What level of training understanding can you expect from your puppy?

6th March 2014

It is vitally important to begin training your new puppy as early as possible, while they are most amenable to training and most likely to find it easy to learn new skills. From the time when you first bring your puppy home you should begin almost immediately, but of course, when your puppy is young, their level of understanding and wh....Read Full Article

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Common Reasons Why a Cat Might Refuse to Use a Litter Tray

6th March 2014

Cats can be funny creatures, normally they like a routine and are pretty set in their ways. However, there are times when they might act a little oddly which could be a sign of stress, an illness or maybe they are just beginning to go down with something. A change in their behaviour always merits a trip to the vet to find out if someth....Read Full Article

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Dander in Cats Explained

6th March 2014

Sadly, many people who love animals suffer from allergies making it hard for them to own pet. Cats too can cause people to have an allergic reaction because it is a known fact the dander they continuously shed is the culprit. However, this is only true to a certain extent because there is a little more to it than just that. There are o....Read Full Article

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10 Lovely Curly, Wavy & Long Coated Cat Breeds

5th March 2014

There are some really gorgeous exotic looking cats around and some of them have incredible coats. There's the lovely long-haired Himalayan cat and the delightful Norwegian Forest Cat to name but two but then there are the breeds which boast u....Read Full Article

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The Rosella Family of Australian Parrots

5th March 2014

Rosellas are a family of Australian parrots which have become popular in aviculture and are available in a wonderful range of colours.  They have a reputation for being aggressive in captivity with other birds so are commonly kept either amongst similar birds or in separate areas.  Their average lifespan is 20 years. ....Read Full Article

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Gorgeous White Coated Cats – But Are They Prone to Deafness?

4th March 2014

Although many white cats with gorgeous blue eyes are deaf, a lot of others are not. There are breeds of cats with pure white coats that even have odd coloured eyes. However, if a cat with odd eyes is found to be deaf, it is usually on the same side as their blue eye happens to be. Studies have ....Read Full Article

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6 Great Rewards For Your Dog

4th March 2014

Owning a dog can be a whole lot of fun, they are real characters, always faithful, loyal and rarely in a bad mood. With this said when they are good and well behaved, as an owner you have to be ready to reward them with things they really like and enjoy. That's what the partnership between dog and owner is all about – our fou....Read Full Article

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Looking After the Older Horse

4th March 2014

Horses are magnificent creatures and for centuries they have served mankind in many ways. As they age, horses just like people need a little extra care because just like us they can suffer from all sorts of age related health issues including arthritis. Knowing how to feed, rug and generally take care of an old horse means taking a clo....Read Full Article

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Top Tips on Guinea Pig Skincare

4th March 2014

A lot of guinea pigs suffer from skin problems which are often triggered by things in their environments. However, a lot of these on-going skin complaints that are commonly seen in these lovely little creatures can be avoided. You can do this by finding the root cause o....Read Full Article

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Caring for an adolescent dog

4th March 2014

Once a puppy reaches the age of five to seven months, they enter the phase equivalent to human adolescence, or the early teenage years. Just as with human teenagers, this age is a whirlwind of growth and development, both physically and emotionally, and can be both a fun and challenging time for dog and owner! Lots of help an....Read Full Article

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How to tell if your dog is happy

4th March 2014

A wagging tail and of course, exuberant play are both signs of a happy dog, but as well as being able to tell that your dog is happy at any given moment, are you also confident that your dog is happy in general, and feels comfortable and secure in their life as a whole? We all try of course to do the best for our dogs, but it can be ea....Read Full Article

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Brood Parasites in Birds

3rd March 2014

The Common Cuckoo is probably the most widely recognised brood parasite in the bird world.  Its familiar call may have been heard across the country, but its numbers have fallen dramatically in recent times.  It lives in the open fields across Europe and Asia and migrates to Africa in the winter.  More than 100....Read Full Article

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Children & Rabbits

3rd March 2014

For years rabbits have been one of the most popular kiddies pets and if well looked after, they live long and happy lives. As such, these delightful creatures often become a real member of the family. With this said, rabbits are not the ideal choice for very young children and even older children should not be given the sole responsibi....Read Full Article

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10 of the Most Affectionate Dogs on the Planet

3rd March 2014

There are some truly adorable and loving dogs on the planet, breeds like the Labrador Retriever which is a firm favourite as a family pet and has been for decades. However, there are many more breeds which boast being truly affectionate canines, s....Read Full Article

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How the behaviour of an un-neutered male dog differs from that of a neutered dog

3rd March 2014

If you have a male dog that is un-neutered, their behaviour will naturally be rather different than that of a neutered male. While this is true as a general rule in the everyday life of the un-neutered dog, their hormone levels and drive to reproduce will reach fever pitch if they are exposed to an unspayed female dog that is in season....Read Full Article

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Phantom pregnancy in female dogs

3rd March 2014

If you own an unspayed bitch, there is a possibility, albeit slim, that she might experience a phantom pregnancy at some point. A phantom pregnancy is when a bitch behaves to all intents and purposes as if she is pregnant, which may involve both behavioural and physical changes, when it is impossible for her to have conceived. This con....Read Full Article

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Traits and dealing with a puppy that has been mistreated

2nd March 2014

While it is of course to be hoped that any puppy comes into this world as a result of planned breeding, with a loving home waiting for it and appropriate care from the breeder until it finds it, sadly this is not always the case. Thousands of unwanted puppies are born in the UK every year, and may be neglected, mistreated or abandoned ....Read Full Article

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The Scarlet Macaw

28th February 2014

The Scarlet Macaw (Ara macao) is a group of parrots called macaws which live in the humid, evergreen forests of South America.  It is probably one of the most recognisable birds, even to those not interested in bird keeping with its brilliant red, blue and yellow plumage, long tail and hooked beak.&....Read Full Article

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Equine Hoof Shape & Lameness - Valuable Research Carried Out

28th February 2014

Recent studies have shown that the shape of a horse's hoof could well be associated with chronic lameness commonly seen in many horses and ponies. This is breaking news for horse owners because it means that by studying a horses hooves, it may well be possible to see whether they will be predisposed to certain chronic conditions wh....Read Full Article

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A Guide to Exotic Finches

28th February 2014

If you are new to bird keeping or looking to expand into a new area, then there are certainly exotic finches for every set-up and budget.  I am referring here to the family called Estrildidae which are nicknamed exotic finches to separate them from British finches and canaries.  In this family are some of the most familiar av....Read Full Article