Self Care

The treatment of behavior problems depends on the disorder and its outlook. In general, the program begins with prevention and avoidance of problems, while you and your veterinarian develop strategies to modify the cat’s behavior. Prevention is especially important in cases of aggression to ensure safety for owners and pets. Avoiding problematic behaviors is also important

Behavioral medicine is the scientific study of everything animals do, whether the animals are insects, birds, mammals, fish, or people. The field of animal behavior is concerned with understanding the causes, functions, development, and evolution of behavior. Behavior refers to the actions or reactions of an organism. Behavior is usually in relation to the environment, and is controlled by the endo

Many “health” problems faced by pet cats are associated with behavior problems or unmet expectations about behavior. Your veterinarian will first need to rule out any possible health problems that could be causing your cat’s behavior to change. For example, a medical condition could be causing your cat to become aggressive or to urinate in the house. Stress can also hav

Behavioral medicine is the scientific study of everything animals do, whether the animals are insects, birds, mammals, fish, or people. The field of animal behavior is concerned with understanding the causes, functions, development, and evolution of behavior. Behavior refers to the actions or reactions of an organism. Behavior is usually in relation to the environment, and is

There are between 8,700 and 9,600 living species of birds today. These range in size from tiny (such as hummingbirds) to huge (such as ostriches and condors). Bird species are divided into 2 superfamilies, the Paleognathae or “old jaws,” and the Neognathae or “new jaws.” The Paleognathae family includes 5 orders, the Tinamiformes, the Rheiformes, the Casuariiformes, the Apterygiformes, and the Struthion

There are some 35 to 45 million pet birds in the United States. Modern bird owners are continuing a pet bird tradition that goes back at least 4,000 years to the ancient Egyptians, who are often credited with keeping the first pet birds. The ancient Chinese are known to have kept pheasants. From writings dating back almost 3,000 years, we know that both Persians and Indians kept parrots and other birds as pets, a

Kittens can generally be taken from their mother and littermates once they are weaned, beginning at 6 to 7 weeks of age. Kittens, like babies, require a lot of attention, including veterinary care, feeding, and socialization.

Like dogs, cats also have an estrous, or heat, cycle. However, female cats, which are called queens, are induced ovulators. This means that they do not ovulate (pass an egg) unless they are bred. This greatly increases the chances of conception when bred, which is why stray queens often have many kittens per year. The queen can enter her first heat as young as 4 m

Puppies can generally be taken from their mother and littermates beginning at 7 to 8 weeks of age. Puppies, like babies, require a lot of attention, including veterinary care, feeding, socialization, and training.

The reproductive cycle in female dogs has 4 phases. Female dogs that have not been spayed (bitches) typically have 2 estrus or “heat” periods per year (about 6 months apart), each lasting about 2 to 3 weeks. In some dogs, the intervals between estrus are much longer. The first heat occurs between 6 and 15 months of age, depending on the size of the dog (later in larger breeds). Females can become pregn