Life is busy, and if you’re lucky enough to have a beloved pet in your life, it’s likely to be even more so. It’s very easy to drop a ball with everything else going on. Use the guide below to ensure your pet’s needs are completely covered in 2024 and beyond. Get the Basics Right First off, be sure that your pet’s daily care and schedule are optimal. Start by thinking about what they eat: is your dog or cat’s diet meeting their needs? There are so many pet food options on the market that choosing a brand or food type can be tricky. If your dog or cat is getting on in years, you may wish to choose one of the senior food ranges - similar ranges are available for very young animals, too. Your vet can provide you with plenty of advice and guidance on this, including how much you should be feeding your pet every day to maintain a healthy weight.  It’s essential to ensure that your pet is getting enough exercise, too. Animals that are overweight are, like people, much more susceptible to a range of health issues. Mental stimulation is also key. For cats, providing a few toys and playing with your pet regularly is likely to be enough, but dogs may need a little more interaction and challenge. Have a look at some of the dog toys available online to view a variety of toys and activities designed to challenge and entertain even the brightest of pooches.   Pencil-in Flea Treatments Dogs and cats need regular treatment to prevent a flea problem from developing. This is something you definitely want to take preemptive steps to prevent: fleas are notoriously a nightmare to get rid of once an infestation gets established.  Luckily, this is easy to avoid as part of your pet care routine for 2024 and beyond. Choose from one of a range of over-the-counter spot-on flea treatments for an easy solution. Typically, you apply the flea treatment to the back of your pet’s neck once a month to keep fleas at bay (be sure to read the instruction leaflet fully carefully, however).  The monthly flea treatment can be easy to forget, so once you’ve given your pet their first treatment, create a recurring monthly entry in your calendar to remind you going forward. If the treatment doesn’t seem to be effective, or you’re concerned about side effects, don’t hesitate to contact your vet for advice.   Schedule Vet Visits Next on the list is to book any visits to the vet your dog or cat requires for things like routine vaccinations. As well as this, many pet owners choose to take their furry friend along for an annual six-monthly wellness check-up at the vet’s office.  Wellness visits are an effective way to ensure your pet doesn’t have any unhidden health issues or is at risk of developing a problem. As well as physical checkups, the vet may test for health problems such as diabetes, anemia, heartworms, and hyperthyroidism.   Get Grooming While caring for a cat’s grooming needs is easy (they are pretty much able to take care of their own grooming needs - and could even be outraged at your trying to intervene!), dogs are likely to need some regular attention. In general, giving your dog a brush every day - or even every week - is normally fine. If you’d like to take them to a professional groomer, booking a session every one to three months is plenty. Breeds such as poodles, who have constantly growing hair, will need more grooming, plus a haircut every four to six weeks to avoid overgrowth.  When it comes to bathing, this should really only be done when necessary, as shampoos and soaps strip the natural oils from a dog’s coat. So, unless they’ve come back from a walk covered in a questionable substance, there’s no need to worry about this issue.   Don’t Forget Pet Insurance Getting a pet insurance policy in place - or ensuring that your existing one still meets your pet’s needs - is a vital part of your annual pet care routine. How does pet insurance work? Well, if your pet has an accident, suffers an injury, or develops a new health condition, an insurance policy may reimburse you for the costs, either partially or in full.  As well as accidents, illness, and hereditary or congenital conditions, routine care for your pet could be covered if you purchase a preventative care package.    Planning Your Pet’s Care for the Year Ahead Getting organized regarding your pet’s care throughout the year can help ensure nothing gets missed and your perfect pooch or charismatic cat stays in the best health possible. Use our guide above to book the essential pet visits and treatments your pet needs, and don’t forget to review your pet insurance policy for ultimate peace of mind.

As a pet parent, you need to give them the best food and water to take care of your pets properly. For more, read the comment below.

Facebook @briochepig Wheeking, chutting, and rumbling, oh my! These are just some of the noises that the most vocal of rodents, the guinea pig, use to communicate with each other, and you!  In this blog entry, I will dive into what many of the noises guinea pigs make actually mean.  Let’s start with good sounds and work the way down to the not so good sounds. READ MY FIRST BLOG POST ABOUT GUINEA PIGS   WHEEKING  The sound most people equate to guinea pigs is “wheeking”. This is a loud whistle that is essentially asking or demanding a treat. A happy noise. But, not all guinea pigs wheek. In fact, a guinea pig I have now, Cosmo, is the first one I’ve had that wheeks in almost 6 years! And his cage mate, Bentley, sits back and enjoys all the fruits of Cosmo’s efforts. So if you have a guinea pig that doesn’t wheek- no worries- they don’t all wheek.  A wheek is also often used when one pig is calling out for another, especially when a young pig loses track of his/her mother or cage mate.  In this video, Cosmo (black and white) is wheeking when he hears me with a treat bag.    In this next video, you will first hear a baby Cosmo call out for Bentley and Bentley immediately runs to him. In the second part, you’ll hear Bentley as a baby call out for his new cage mate and big “brother” Baxter, who also comes immediately over to Bentley.       BUBBLING  This is a very quiet noise that a content guinea pig may make. It is usually associated when you have a piggy super relaxed in your lap with a very gentle rubbing of teeth. Sometimes a light pet on their jaw when relaxed will bring this action and sound. But beware, teeth rubbing/grinding can also be a very bad noise- more on that later.  CHUTTING  This is my favorite of all noises. Also sometimes called “clucking”, these are noises a super happy guinea pig makes, usually when exploring around during floor time. They tend to make this noise in conjunction with each step they take. They will also occasionally make the sound in their pen, but one is most likely to hear it during floor time.  In this video you will hear Bentley and Cosmo chutting as they are running around. Bentley’s is not as loud as Cosmo.    RUMBLING  This is generally neither a good nor bad noise. For the most part, rumbling refers to “rumble strutting”. Rumble strutting is used when a guinea pig is courting another or, when between two or more males, is used to determine and define a hierarchy. Even if an “alpha male” has already been determined, the behavior can sometimes reoccur to make sure no one forgot what their role is. Among guinea pigs that are already bonded, this is a perfectly natural behavior and sound that may occasionally occur, whether courting or determining who’s in charge. However, this behavior is most likely to occur during bonding and generally not an issue unless a small “fight” breaks out and then only if blood is drawn. Rumble strutting is usually accompanied by a “butt wiggle” and a warning sound as well as teeth chattering (explained later).  Here, Cosmo (black and white) is attempting to remind Bentley (brown) that he is in charge. Bentley really doesn’t want any of it, but does try and stick up for himself. But no worries, these two are bonded buddies and 10 minutes later were napping next to each other.    Rumbling might also occur if an unfamiliar noise briefly startles a guinea pig. Usually it is a quick rumble noise followed by a temporary freezing of the pig’s position for a couple of seconds.  WHINING  This is a more soft noise where the guinea pig is not necessarily excited or pleased with what is going on. Usually it can be heard when you pick up and put a piggy in your lap but he/she isn’t exactly 100% in the mood. Many times a treat or chin scratch will make the piggy relaxed and accepting of “lap time”, but if the noise continues, you might want to consider returning him/her to the pen for a little while and try again later.  SHRIEKING  This is an unmistakable sound sure to catch your attention. The guinea pig is yelling at you to stop what you are doing immediately. If you suspect or have a sick guinea pig, the shriek can actually be helpful for a vet to diagnose just where the problem is in a hurt guinea pig as the shriek will occur when the problem area is touched. Sometimes the shriek can be a simple “don’t pick me up'' quick one. That is not one to usually worry about. Any other instances of shrieking when touched should be looked at by an experienced veterinarian.  TEETH CHATTERING  This sounds just like the name indicates. It is often included as part of a “who’s the boss” rumble strut. It is one or more guinea pigs telling the other to get away from me, I’m not in the mood for your antics right now. It can often foretell a fight. If you hear teeth chattering and it is accompanied by rumble strutting and likely loud noises, keep your eye on the situation. If things become too aggressive that a fight starts and you see blood, you will need to separate them. BUT, you can also get injured trying to do that so extreme caution is advised. Guinea pigs rarely bite humans, but as a last resort, they will. I still have a small scar of piggy incisors on a finger from when I tried to break up a fight 23 years ago and got chomped on!!!  One thing I recently learned through slowing videos down, is when a guinea pig is irritated with another, for whatever reason, an aggressive lunge towards the other pig looks very bad and makes me check for any blood. But as it turns out, the initial objection shown by the aggressor actually does not involve teeth. The guinea pig actually will cover up his/her teeth just before contact so no contact with teeth is made. So it amounts to a sort of “push” rather than a “punch” to the other piggy.  In this slowed down video, you will see that Bentley, most likely annoyed that Baxter is in his favorite spot, gives a warning look and then lunges/jabs Baxter. But you can see that just before he does, he covers up his teeth with his lips.     THESE NEXT TWO SOUNDS DO NOT HAVE A DEFINITIVE AGREEMENT ON WHAT THEY MEAN.  The first is chirping. This is a relatively rare noise that most pigs will never make. But it sounds just like a bird chirping quickly. My personal opinion is that it is a warning to others of a sensed danger, similar to a rabbit’s thumping. But again, there is no general consensus on the exact meaning of chirping.  From 2017, my guinea pig Biscotti is under the tv stand, but you clearly hear him chirping.     The second is purring. If you have a pig that purrs, it will most likely occur when you are petting him/her from mid body and back. Sometimes I’m able to mimic the sound, then immediately pet the pig and get him/her to “answer” me back. Once again, there is no general consensus on what purring means, but I believe it is a mostly positive sound.  Cosmo is having a “purring session” with me in this video.    HONKING, HOOTING, CRACKLING, WHEEZING  These are sounds that demand immediate veterinary intervention. As predatory animals, even after hundreds of generations removed from their wild ancestors, guinea pigs try very hard to hide symptoms of illness. Any one or more of those sounds, mainly during breathing, indicates a high likelihood of a respiratory illness that has already developed, which is why an immediate trip to the vet is needed.  TEETH GRINDING  If your guinea pig is grinding his/her teeth while resting, he/she is likely in pain. Most frequent cause would be a kidney/calcium stone, but no matter what the reason, this also requires an immediate trip to a veterinarian. Often the grinding is accompanied by a whimpering sound.  This is a photo of a calcium stone that Biscotti had. You can see it in the x-Ray and also see the actual stone that was removed. How painful that must have been for him. He was both whimpering and grinding his teeth in pain, and then began to lose appetite. This is why an immediate trip to a veterinarian is necessary if such behavior/sounds are noticed.    So these were many of the most common sounds these cute animals use to engage in a surprisingly sophisticated form of communicating. Hopefully this blog helped you learn something new about these furry pets.  In the next blog, I’ll explore guinea pig anatomy. How well do they see? Hear? Smell? Why is it so important their digestive system always has something going through it? How fast does their heart beat?  I hope you will join me for that next time!  Guest Post by Craig N. - long time Guinea Pig parent, currently of Bentley and Cosmo (pictured above), and they invite you to follow their antics @ https://www.facebook.com/briochepig  Until next time…. Learn more about Guinea Pigs here           

Facebook @briochepig March is here and it’s “Adopt a Guinea Pig” month! These furry, vocal, and docile little guys can make a great pet!  In this blog we’ll review some interesting history of guinea pigs and some basic information on the many advantages of adopting from a guinea pig rescue besides just giving a needy guinea pig a forever loving home.  In future blogs, we will discuss topics like; guinea pigs’ many vocalizations and what they mean, guinea pig behavior (including signs your guinea pig might be sick), some anatomy facts included things like, “How well do they hear, see, smell?” and so on, the different breeds, proper cage size, time out of cage (floor time), why I choose to use carefresh bedding exclusively over the last 7 years, and proper everyday care including diet. Read this review from Pet Keen  GUINEA PIG OR CAVY HISTORY  Early history can trace evidence of guinea pigs all the way back to 9000 BCE! And the first signs of domestication still go as far back as 2000 BCE! (The accepted date period of domestication is not agreed upon by all- but is generally accepted that it was in that general time period) But you still have to go way back to the early 1500’s when it was believed that Spanish conquistadors brought them to Europe from their native South America to primarily be used as pets at that time. They were introduced to North America in the early 1800’s. They were also popular pets among the wealthy and members of Royalty. In fact, Queen Elizabeth I is reported to be one of the earliest fans of guinea pigs way back in the late 1500’s! They aren’t from the country of Guinea and they aren’t pigs, so where does their name come from? First, in a lot of the world guinea pigs are referred to as cavies (cavy) which is taken from their proper Latin name “Cavia porcellus”.  One very common theory on the word “guinea” comes from the fact that they may have been sold for a “guinea”, an English gold coin. But the coin wasn’t created until the 1600’s and documentation of the word “guinea” being used to describe them goes back to the 1500’s. So why “guinea”? Well, that’s a good question. There are many theories, none of which are confirmed. So then, let’s look at the word “pig” used for them. This is also a mystery but the general consensus is it has to do with the grunting noises they make that can resemble some noises an actual pig makes. What a rich and mysterious history these little critters have!   INTERESTING GUINEA PIG HISTORY FACTS  The first accepted evidence of a guinea pig shown in art dates all the way back to 1580 in a portrait of three Elizabethan children with the middle one holding her pet guinea pig!    Many well-known people have had guinea pigs as children or adults. I’ll highlight a couple of them.  In this 1972 photo, the future Princess Diana is seen with her guinea pig, “Peanut”.     Deborah Harry, the lead singer from Blondie, a favorite band of mine growing up, is seen here with her Peruvian guinea pig.     And in New Zealand, a police department named Elliot an official Constable. Elliot was a guinea pig! He was used to bring attention to driving safety including proper speed in school zones. He was outfitted with his own uniform! Elliot had become a bit of a celebrity in New Zealand.      SHOULD YOU HAVE MORE THAN ONE? DOES SWEDEN REALLY HAVE A LAW MAKING OWNING JUST ONE GUINEA PIG AGAINST THE LAW?    The answer is yes and yes. Guinea pigs are very social animals and are absolutely most mentally healthy with at least one other guinea pig. In 2008 Sweden enacted law stating animals classified as “social creatures” , of which guinea pigs are classified as “social creatures” in their law, must be given “adequate social contact with animals of the same species”! So yes, it is against the law to have just one guinea pig (among other species classified in the law)! So unless there are some very unusual circumstances, someone considering getting “a” guinea pig should count on at least a pair.     WHY ADOPT? In addition to the obvious reason “they need a home” there are lots of other advantages. Most rescues specific to guinea pigs will only adopt in pairs unless you need a companion for your current solitary guinea pig.  Rescues do a health exam and usually will have incoming pigs spayed or neutered (usually soon after arrival or when one is healthy enough to undergo a surgical procedure, or at a proper age) and that helps control one of the main reasons guinea pigs end up in rescues- unwanted babies.  Rescues will also be happy to discuss any aspect of guinea pig care and behavior. A pet store associate, unless an experienced guinea pig owner, will only know the bare minimum basics learned during training.  Bonding is crucial. Guinea pigs have a hierarchy and when adopting from a rescue, the two (or more) guinea pigs will have already been bonded and ready for their new home. If you are getting just one as a companion for your solitary one (perhaps recently lost a mate), the rescue will usually have you bring in your guinea pig to be introduced to a prospective companion and start the bonding process to see if the two appear that they should be a good match.  A common misconception is that two boys can’t live together. However, as long as there isn’t a female in with them (in which case neutering would be recommended even if female has been spayed), most boys will successfully bond. In fact, over the last 7 years, I’ve only had boys in pairs.  While my future blogs will dive into important topics, including the most basic things to know for now, if you are considering adopting guinea pigs, but if you can’t wait, it’s very important to remember:  Be prepared for a 5-8 year commitment which includes proper medical care expenses. If you are adopting as pets for a child (children), their time with the guinea pigs should be supervised and perhaps most importantly, you need to be ready to give appropriate care if the child gets “tired” of the guinea pig.      There are many good websites for guinea pig care information, but I recommend using a guinea pig specific rescue’s website. In fact, most rescues are happy to receive messages or phone calls to help with questions related to care. So when you adopt from a rescue, you aren’t just giving homeless cuties a home, but you are getting pets that were prescreened, and treated if necessary, for health problems. You get to know the history of the guinea pig including how well it adapted to the new environment of the rescue and how easily bonding occurred. You’ll know any behavior “quirks” and possible recommendations on any special care prior to choosing. And perhaps most importantly, a place to go for information or questions after the adoption.  Of course other places, like your local Humane Society, are also good places to adopt, but keep in mind that often you won’t know anything about the guinea pig except a reason given to the shelter for surrender.        Guest Post by Craig N. - long time Guinea Pig parent, currently of Bentley and Cosmo (pictured above), and they invite you to follow their antics @ https://www.facebook.com/briochepig  Until next time…. Learn more about Guinea Pigs here   

Photo by Zach Lucero on Unsplash From ensuring your dog is controlled around others to helping them feel safe and protected, there are many reasons why proper training is crucial. That’s why, in this article, we’ll dive into eight reasons why dog training is so important, along with some top tips on how to train them properly.   So, stay tuned as we explain why training your dog is so important and ways to boost their happiness and safety…   1. Teaches good behaviour  One of the most important reasons to train your dog is to teach them good behaviour. A well-behaved dog can recognise and respond appropriately to your commands, whether sitting and waiting or returning when you call their name.  From a young age, most dogs will need to be taught recall and to sit, wait and heel. They need to be taught this to prevent poor behaviour such as jumping up, stealing food, and running off.   Positive reinforcement is the most common form of training and means your dog will anticipate a reward (whether affection or a treat) after performing a particular behaviour. This kind of reward-based learning means your dog will want to behave well, which can make them easier to train in the future.   Photo: anna-roberts-7IvcP5BZ5HE-unsplash   2. Crate training = A safe space You should use crate training to provide your pet with a completely safe environment, one where other people, pets, animals, or unsettling situations won't bother them. It will be their personal safe and comfortable space where they can feel completely at ease - much like a bedroom.  Remember to take it in small steps from a young age and let them spend time in the crate with the door open, feed their meals there and slowly show them that it’s a safe space to be.   Only use positive reinforcement with crate training, and reward them with things like dog treats, toys and relaxation. Punishment is not appropriate as it can make your dog anxious and lead them to associate you and the crate with being afraid.   Photo by Ayla Verschueren on Unsplash     3. Builds their confidence  Positive reinforcement and freely given affection are massive confidence builders, and you should start sharing them with your dog from a young age.   Negative language or treatment breeds negative reactions, and research shows it can be hugely detrimental to a dog's mental and physical health and well-being. So, responding to your dog with anger, fear or frustration can be disastrous and might result in your dog acting the same way leading to fighting, injury and a terrifying cycle of fear-driven behaviour. A dog that responds to the world with positivity over anger is far safer, so whether you’re training a puppy or have adopted a shy or fearful dog, aim to build trust, affection and confidence with every step.  It’s important to remember that this can take time and patience as it's about shifting their focus from negative, scary situations to positive things.     4. Keeps your dog safe A trained dog is a safe dog – for the public, you and the dog itself. For example, dogs that ignore recall may run after another animal that could attack them or run out into a road full of traffic.   Recall is one of the most important things you can teach your dog, as it ensures they return even if faced with a threat, prey or food. It’s all about minimizing risk in tricky situations, and if you have a calm and obedient dog, there is a far higher chance of a safe outcome.   Photo by Yogendra Singh on Unsplash     5. Prevents bad habits Often, nervous and unhappy dogs will display bad habits. For example, dogs can chew things because they're bored, teething, want attention, are distressed or have an unbalanced diet.  Signs of anxiety or boredom in dogs include: Showing their gums or snarling Constant barking, whining or panting Displaying dominance  Going to the toilet where they shouldn’t  Seeking attention  Destroying toys or other objects  Changes in posture or with the eyes and ears Shedding Pacing or shaking  These are a dog's physiological reactions to their environment and feelings about a situation, so the best thing you can do is make them comfortable, train them to feel safe with you and encourage positive behaviour such as backing away from unfamiliar things, retreating to safe spaces, and chewing the right things.   The earlier you can correct poor behaviour in dogs, the better, but it can take a lot of time and effort to undo and help them to feel safe again. To start, ensure your dog gets plenty of exercise and mental stimulation during the day, from play, food puzzles, regular walks or learning new tricks. And begin their crate training and recall exercises.    6. Supports toilet training Just like babies, puppies have small bladders and cannot hold it in for long. Positive reinforcement training is crucial in providing enough opportunities to go to the bathroom, whilst teaching them to avoid accidents indoors.  You will need patience when teaching your puppy where to go to the toilet, and you might find it helpful to use puppy pads or dog litter to aid them as they learn. If they go in the wrong place, pick them up and take them outside or to their litter box.    Never tell them off or punish them if they have an accident, as this will only confuse them and lead them to associate going potty with fear. Celebrate and give them positive attention when they go in the right place. And set a routine to prevent accidents and reduce anxiety around toilet time, too.    7. Teaches safe socialization Dogs need to be safe to socialize with other animals and people without fear, so they can have a happy experience out in public. It also means you’ll be able to take them out and about with you, safe in the knowledge they will not react with bad behaviour or make a mess.   The more situations you can safely guide your dog through at an early age, the better, as they’ll know what to expect and can feel relaxed knowing there's no threat. This might include greeting visitors at home, meeting other dogs on a walk or travelling in the car.   Try to socialise your pup from an early age and show them that it’s safe to do so, whilst helping them to learn recall. You could attend puppy socialisation classes or meet up with friends who have well-behaved dogs.    Photo by Matt Nelson on Unsplash     8. Builds a bond Dogs are pack animals, and they need a leader to show them the way, help them feel safe and help maintain their daily routine. Trust is important as it helps to set the foundations of good behaviour and loyalty – and training them is a great way to work on that bond.   Building a healthy bond can also help prevent behaviours associated with separation anxiety, as they will be able to trust you enough to stay independent and protected. When training, your dog will look to you for guidance which, over time, will build both good behaviour and a healthy bond.   Now you know why proper training is essential, from helping your furry best friend to feel safe to preventing the development of bad habits. So, get started the right way and see how your pup grows in confidence, happiness and skills as they grow.