Before you leave...
Take 20% off your first order
20% off
Enter the code below at checkout to get 20% off your first order
FEATURED/RECOMMENDED ARTICLES
How to Housetrain a Puppy or Kitten
Puppies and kittens aren't like human babies. You can't wait 2 years to start potty training. "With a puppy or kitten you say, "Oh it's just a little mess." But when that puppy is a 70-pound dog, it's not as cute," says Bernadine Cruz, DVM, associate veterinarian at Laguna Hills Animal Hospital in California.
Start getting your pet into the habit of going outside or in a litter box as soon as you come home from the shelter or breeder. "Puppies and kittens like routines, just like human children," Cruz says. "They may not catch on immediately, but they will learn." If you're lucky, your pet will have already picked up a few training tips from mom and dad before coming to live with you.
Don't give your new family member free rein of the house until you've established some training routines. Set up a space where you can confine your pet -- and their messes. For puppies, a crate is ideal. "Often people think of crates as being somewhat cruel, but it can be a secure area for them," Cruz says.
A good rule of thumb is to keep puppies in the crate for no more than 1 hour per month of age, plus 1 additional hour. So a 2-month-old puppy can stay in the crate for 3 hours max. Confine kittens to a small section of your house, like a bathroom, a closet, or even a playpen. Put everything your kitten needs -- food, water, and litter box -- within reach.
Learn to read your pet's body language. Some dogs are obvious when they have to go, Cruz says. Others are subtler. "They will give you that doe-eyed look and wander around." If you notice your pup nosing around, pick it up and head outside. When your puppy goes in the yard, instead of on your Persian rug, some serious praise is in order. Training might take some time, but by 4 months your puppy should be in the habit of doing their business outside.
Kittens are a snap to house-train. Cats instinctively cover their messes (to hide their waste from predators), so put them in the litter box a couple of times and they should get the idea.
If your puppy or kitten does make a mess, don't punish. More often than not, the problem is yours: Either you didn't let your puppy out in time, or you forgot to clean the litter box. ("If someone only flushed your toilet once a week, would you want to go in it?" Cruz asks.) Get a good odor neutralizer to clean up the mess, but never hit or scold. When a pet just won't house-train, see the vet. Your kitten or puppy might have a physical problem, such as a bladder infection, that you need to address.
Toilet Training for Cats
Ever wonder if you really can train a cat to use the toilet? You can! Jane Brunt, DVM, executive director of the CATalyst Council and founder/owner of the Cat Hospital at Towson in Maryland, shares these tips.
Move your cat's litter box into the bathroom. Then, put a cardboard or plastic box inside the toilet bowl, resting it on the rim of the bowl and putting the seat down, and fill it with a couple of inches of kitty litter.
Once your cat gets used to going on top of the toilet, replace the box with a sturdy piece of cardboard with a hole. Gradually make the hole bigger until your cat is going in the toilet bowl. Then remove the cardboard. Cat toilet training kits are also available.
Make sure the toilet is always unoccupied when kitty wants to use it. "The lid has to be up, and it has to be accessible," says Brunt.
Expert Tip
"The idea with the litter box is you want your cat to go in it. You want it to be a positive thing. So we encourage people to not put the litter box in an area that might be scary." -- Jane Brunt, DVM
Find more articles, browse back issues, and read the current issue of " Shoppetx Magazine."
Where Ticks Thrive Outdoors
Hitching a Ride
Ticks can’t fly or jump, so they have to be clever about how they hitch a ride. Ticks often climb to the highest point of a shrub or blade of grass that they can reach. They perch there, holding on with their back legs and with their front legs extended. When a potential host – like a person or animal – brushes by, they grab on and look for a place to attach. They’re sensing breath, body smells, body heat, moisture, and vibrations.
Where Ticks Thrive Outdoors
Tall Grasses and Weeds
Ticks can only climb to about 18 to 24 inches from the ground. That’s the perfect height for tall grasses and weeds. They’ll crawl to the tops and wait for a chance to ambush a host. Mow your lawn regularly and remove weeds around your yard to make it harder for ticks to lurk and pounce. Keep pets (and people) out of tall, grassy areas where ticks hang out.
Where Ticks Thrive Outdoors
Leaf Litter
Dead leaves – called leaf litter – are an easy place for ticks to hide. Because piles are on the ground, ticks move from them to animals and humans walking through the yard. You can rake your leaves to remove that perfect tick-friendly habitat. But make sure you don't just blow them to the edge of your lawn and leave them. The place where lawn and woods meet is an ideal environment for ticks to thrive.
Where Ticks Thrive Outdoors
Edges of Wooded Areas
To keep ticks from hanging out at the edge of the lawn, create a natural barrier. Make a three-foot buffer of wood chips or gravel between your grass and any wooded areas. Ticks don’t like to cross over dry areas. The barrier will make it hard for ticks to move into the parts of your yard that you and your pets use the most.
Where Ticks Thrive Outdoors
Bushes and Shrubs
Bushes and shrubs give ticks a place to practice their ambush strategy. Certain varieties are a great habitat for deer or rodents, so ticks can find an easy meal. Bush honeysuckle, for example, is a popular hangout for deer. Mice nest in barberry bushes, and ticks love the high humidity underneath. They find shelter and dinner there.
Where Ticks Thrive Outdoors
In the Shade
Most ticks prefer shady areas. They like being under tree canopies and in flower beds where they can avoid too much sun and heat. Shade from overgrown plants gives them a safe place to hide. When an animal comes into the shade for a rest, the ticks are able to move onto their bodies as they brush by.
Where Ticks Thrive Outdoors
Damp Areas
Most ticks prefer humid, moist areas, which help keep them from drying out. That’s why they like to stay in piles of leaves or in underbrush where it’s damp and cool. They are less active when it’s very dry. When ticks are out in the open where it’s dry and hot, they can dry out so much that they die. A couple of kinds of ticks (brown dog ticks and spinose ear ticks) can thrive in hotter, dryer conditions, like in the South Central and Southwestern U.S.
Where Ticks Thrive Outdoors
Ground Cover
Ground cover gives ticks a damp, cool place to thrive, too. It also offers a refuge for rodents as they hunt for food. When the rodents head for cover, it becomes easy for ticks to find an animal to latch on to. If possible, remove ground cover in areas where pets and people tend to hang out.
Where Ticks Thrive Outdoors
Stone Walls
Ticks often live around stone walls, particularly those that aren’t well-cared-for and are surrounded by weeds and brush. These overgrown walls can give shelter to mice and other small animals that carry ticks. To make the area less tick-friendly, seal stone walls and fill in the gaps with smaller stones. Keep the area free of leaves, weeds, and grasses.
Where Ticks Thrive Outdoors
Furniture and Trash
Ticks also find shelter in things like old lawn furniture, discarded mattresses, and outdoor trash. Get rid of any of those items that you’re not using. Move lawn furniture away from the edges of the yard and far from trees to discourage ticks from staying there.
Where Ticks Thrive Outdoors
Tick Check
If your pet has been in tall grass, wooded areas, or any of the places where ticks thrive, be sure to check them for ticks. Check areas like the head and ears, tail, paws, and under their collar. If you find a tick, slowly remove the entire tick – including the head – with tweezers that are as close to the skin as possible. It’s a good idea to wear gloves when you do this. Because ticks can transmit disease, if you see any behavior changes in your pet, like appetite or energy changes, call your vet.
Where Ticks Thrive Outdoors
Prevention
You can regularly give tick prevention to your pet to keep ticks away. Prevention is available in many forms, including collars, topical liquids, and oral chews. They work by repelling ticks, keeping them from attaching, or killing them quickly when they latch on. Most are given monthly, and it’s important to use them year-round.
1 / 12
There’s no best product that’s perfect for every pet. What’s best for your dog or cat depends on a number of things, so you should talk to your veterinarian.
“Most products have minimum age and weight requirements, so make sure your pet meets these,” says Amy Flowers, DVM, associate veterinarian at a small animal practice. “Never use a dog product on a cat, as this could be fatal.”
Your vet will think about many things including species, breed, age, weight, health status, allergies, and lifestyle.
Types of Flea and Tick Treatments
Flea and tick treatment and prevention for pets comes in several forms. You can give a medicated chew, apply topical solution, or use a treated collar.
Topical
This is a small amount of liquid chemicals applied to your pet on areas that are hard for them to reach. Some kill adult fleas, which can mean quick relief. Other topicals kill eggs and larvae, which breaks the flea life cycle. Topicals that contain permethrin can repel ticks and keep them from attaching. Some with fipronil don’t repel ticks or keep them from attaching, but they kill them once they do latch on.
Topical treatments are often the safest choice for very tiny puppies that aren’t big enough to use other treatments. But most prevention isn’t safe for puppies until they are at least 7-8 weeks old.
Check the directions for specific tips on how to apply and to make sure your pet meets the weight and age requirements for the product you’re using.
“Most topical products are applied at the base of the skull, back of the neck, or between the shoulder blades. This makes it less likely to be ingested by the animal because they can't lick the back of their neck,” Flowers says.
Part your pet’s hair and put the liquid directly on their skin, not just on top of their fur. “Hold the applicator tip slightly away from the skin so you don't suck the liquid back into the tube when squeezing it,” Flowers says.
It’s safest to wear gloves, but at least be sure to wash your hands well after applying. Don’t let anyone touch the site for about 2 hours after it’s applied.
“It may be best to keep pets and young children separated for several hours or overnight to avoid them risking any exposure,” Claussen says. “In addition, keeping cats and dogs separated to prevent licking or grooming of this area is also necessary.”
You’ll likely notice a greasy-looking spot for a short time after you’ve applied the treatment. That’s normal.
Don’t give your pet a bath for a while after applying. Instructions on the package can tell you how long to wait, usually 2-3 days.
Collar
Flea and tick collars can repel the parasites and keep them from attaching, particularly collars that slowly release chemicals. Long-lasting collars that have the active ingredients imidacloprid and flumethrin can be effective.
The collars must be applied snugly, but you should still be able to slip two fingers between it and your dog’s neck. “A pet that has a flea and tick collar and swims regularly may need to have the collar replaced sooner than the product recommends,” Claussen says.
Oral
These are prescription chews given routinely as directed, every 1 to 3 months. Like topicals, oral flea preventives target fleas in different life stages – larvae and adult fleas. Others stop a flea’s ability to lay eggs. They don’t repel ticks or prevent them from biting, but they kill ticks quickly once they are attached.
In rare cases, chews containing isoxazoline have been associated with seizures. If your dog has a history of seizures, your vet might suggest a different product.
“Most of the oral medications should be used with caution or avoided if your pet has a history of seizures or neurological issues,” Flowers says. “Some people prefer oral medications so they don't have to deal with the greasy fur. Some dogs won't eat medication or may have neurological issues after oral meds, so topical products are better.”
Shampoos
Medicated shampoos can kill fleas (plus flea eggs and larvae) and ticks that are already on your pet. But they don’t always repel new fleas and ticks or keep ticks from attaching.
And sometimes pets can have a reaction to the active ingredients in these shampoos.
“With the oral and topical flea and tick preventives available today, I don't recommend flea and tick shampoos. They can be a lot of work for minimal results,” Claussen says.
“One must read and follow the instructions VERY carefully to avoid overdose and toxicity that can come with certain active ingredients in some of the over-the-counter shampoos. Also, the shampoos rarely prevent reinfection.”
If you use a shampoo, make sure you check that it’s labeled specifically for your pet’s species because some are just for dogs. Be sure to use the right amount of shampoo and leave it on for the correct amount of time. Check to see how often you can repeat bathing, and check with your vet if you use topicals, oral chews, or collars so you don’t give your dog dangerous levels of chemicals.
How Often Use Prevention
Check the label or talk to your vet about how often to give specific types of flea and tick prevention. Oral chews and topical products, for example, are usually given every month. But some products might last 3 months or longer.
“Remembering to repeat the preventive dosing at the appropriate time interval is crucial in keeping your pet happy and healthy,” Claussen says.
Though you may be tempted to only worry about fleas and ticks during the warmer months, it’s best to treat them year-round. It can take months to get fleas and ticks under control if they’re in your home. And be sure to treat every animal in your home.
“Fleas and ticks can occur at any time depending on your location, and time of year. Ticks can be active at 40 F,” says Claussen. “Fleas can hop a ride inside on your shoes or clothing. Year-round prevention is the best medicine.”
