Baker Animal Clinic

Want To Know More About Caring For Your Pet? Then Visit These Websites!

Whether you have a large dog or a small rodent, your pet depends on you for comfort, health, and happiness. Find out how to detect allergies in cats and dogs and discover how to welcome a new guinea pig into your home with these helpful resources:

• This PuppyBasics.com article describes some signs of canine allergies and explains how a veterinarian can detect and treat them.
   
• Learn all about the medications and lifestyle changes available to help a dog with allergies in this document from the Labrador Retriever Adoption Service.
   
• For an explanation of atopy, which is an animal’s allergy to particles such as dust or pollen, visit Pets.ca.
   
• The Ontario SPCA offers a helpful guide to caring for guinea pigs with information on how to feed, socialize, and stimulate these pets.
   
• Find out how to create a comfortable home for your new guinea pig on this page from the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies.

Baker Animal Clinic provides comprehensive pet care, including veterinary services, animal dentistry, behavioural counseling, and alternative therapies. Call (905) 571-3700 today to learn how we can help your pet!

Understanding the Basics of Guinea Pig Care

Guinea pigs, sometimes known as cavies, make great pets because they love to cuddle, don’t take up much space, and can easily be trained. If you are thinking about adopting a pet such as a guinea pig, read below to learn about their basic care requirements:

Feeding

Unlike most mammals, guinea pigs and other rodents have teeth that grow constantly, so they require plant material to chew on at all times. Provide plenty of Timothy hay for this purpose, and feed your pet a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables in addition to dietary pellets designed specifically for guinea pigs. Cavies also need a plentiful supply of fresh water—using a cage-mounted bottle is the best way to ensure that the water does not get dirtied with food and bedding.

Housing

Your guinea pig needs a cage large enough to contain a feeding section, waste area, and place to hide. Be sure to find an enclosure with a solid bottom, rather than a wire one, in order to prevent injury to your pet. Aspen shavings or shredded newspaper make comfortable and safe bedding, while a small box or a section of PVC pipe will allow your guinea pig to play and hide. To protect the health of your guinea pig, remove droppings and wet bedding every day and clean out the contents of the cage once each week.

Socializing

Because guinea pigs are social animals, they enjoy being in the company of other guinea pigs. However, if owning multiple cavies is not feasible, your pet will still thrive on the attention provided by human caregivers. Holding and handling your guinea pig often will ensure that he or she is friendly, and allowing your pet to exercise in a secure area will promote health and happiness.

For more pet care guidance, contact Baker Animal Clinic by calling (905) 571-3700. We help pet owners in the Durham area protect their animals’ health and wellbeing by providing medical treatment and wellness services.

Does Your Pet Have Allergies?

You may be well aware of the allergies that people can experience from exposure to pet dander—but did you know that pets can have allergies, too? Pollen, ragweed, dust mites, food, and even certain plastics can trigger an allergic reaction in your dog or cat that may manifest with the following symptoms:

Continued Licking or Chewing at a Certain Area

One of the most common signs of allergies in pets is constant irritation of the skin or feet. Itchiness can cause your pet to lick or chew at his or her body, resulting in the formation of bald patches or sores. Of course, an animal may also pick at a spot because it is painful, and skin lesions may also indicate an infection or other medical issue. Schedule an appointment with your veterinarian as soon as you notice these problems.

Frequent Scratching

A pet with an itchy face will often scratch at his or her ears and rub the irritated spots with his or her paws. If your dog or cat has an allergy, you may also notice him or her rubbing repeatedly against your furniture or lying on his or her back and wiggling around in an attempt to relieve itching in that area. 

Ear Discharge

Another common sign of allergies is ear discharge. Ears that appear inflamed or oozing are a sign that you should take your pet to the veterinarian. Animals with allergies are more likely to develop ear infections, which need to be treated promptly in order to prevent further pain and potential hearing loss.

Wheezing or Coughing

Allergies may sometimes manifest with respiratory symptoms, particularly in cats. If you notice your pet coughing, snoring, or wheezing, or if your cat is breathing with his or her mouth open, contact your veterinarian right away. While these signs could indicate allergies, they may also stem from asthma or a more serious condition.

Baker Animal Clinic is here for you and your pets, whether you need to diagnose allergy symptoms, obtain vaccinations, or get help training your puppy. Schedule an appointment at our clinic in the Durham region by calling (905) 571-3700.

How to Train a Kitten to Play Gently

Watching a young kitten play at hunting and fighting is cute because of the animal’s tiny size. However, kittens grow into strong cats with sharp teeth and claws, so it’s important to encourage respectful behaviour from a young age. Check out this video to learn some ways to train your kitten to become a sweet and well-mannered cat.

When you play with your kitten, be sure to use a toy or another object, rather than directly “attacking” the kitty with your hand. If your pet does start to play with your bare hand, hold still until he or she gets bored—this will discourage the behaviour and train your kitten to focus that playful energy on toys instead.

Learn more about teaching your cat to have fun without harming you or your belongings by scheduling a behavioural counseling appointment with Baker Animal Clinic. You can also call (905) 571-3700 to learn about the cats we currently have available for adoption!

Take A Look At These Links To Find The Pet Health Information You're Looking For

At Baker Animal Clinic, we provide veterinary services for pets in the Durham Region. Bring your cat, dog, or rabbit to our clinic for regular check-ups, dental care, and vaccinations.

For more help identifying eye problems in your dog, read this article from WebMD.com.

This article from Pets.ca offers additional information about the causes of red eye in pets.

Reduce odours from your cat’s litter box by following these five tips from ReadersDigest.ca.

Get more litter box training advice on this page from OntarioSPCA.ca.

Keep your pets safe all year long and avoid unnecessary trips to the veterinarian with these tips from HuffingtonPost.ca.

Call (905) 571-3700 to schedule an appointment, and visit the websites below for more information about pet health: