Making Belly Biscuits: Why Do Cats Knead People?

Close-up of cat paws.

If you are the proud owner of a whiskered friend, one of the best ways to know they’re happy is that tale-tell purr. A warm lap on a cold day, and your cat will be in heaven. Another blissful thing most felines like to do is knead. You know, “making biscuits” or that back-and-forth kneading that is akin to working dough for homemade bread. 

Our cat companions have a wide range of curious behaviors, but many cat owners wonder why cats knead people? You’re in luck! The team at East Sacramento Veterinary Center is here to explain.

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Delicious Pill Pockets for Sneaky Pet Owners

Trying to give a stubborn dog a pill.

Whether a pet has to take medication for a chronic condition or they’re recovering from an acute illness or injury, you’re probably going to have to help them swallow a few pills. For many humans and their pets, this experience is neither fun nor easy. But it can be done with some covert planning and preparation. If your pet has become wise to the commercially available pill pockets, don’t worry. You can embark on a cloak-and-dagger operation to get the job done, and we’re where to help.

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Dog Anxiety: What Pet Owners Need to Know

Anxious dog hiding from storm.

We don’t always know what is going on inside of our pet’s brains, but we do know that they can experience a range of emotions and even suffer from some mental illnesses, similar to people. 

East Sacramento Veterinary Center has experience treating many pets for problems like anxiety. We know that pet owners being able to recognize dog anxiety is an important part of us being able to help with dog anxiety and other behavioral issues. 

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Good Behavior at the Dog Park

Two dogs wrestling at the park

It can take some time in childhood and adolescence to figure out the right ways to behave in certain situations, and the same is true for dogs. They don’t instinctively know what their owners expect of them. Instead, they need to learn how to act accordingly, and many figure it out the hard way. 

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True Confessions: My Pet Eats Bugs (and It’s Probably Okay)

Pet wellness.

Many pets have a tendency to track flying objects with the intent to chomp on and swallow them. It may seem odd, and it’s definitely a little gross, but it is a fairly normal behavior in the animal world. Dogs and cats seem to enjoy snatching up flying insects. If you’ve been cautiously observing this behavior, and wondering why your pet eats bugs, we’ve got the scoop.

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Mission Impossible: Effective Ways to House Train Your Dog

A puppy outdoors on a harness

Raising a puppy, or even an adult dog who hasn’t learned the ropes, is one of the most challenging (yet rewarding!) things you can do. This early instruction helps them become well behaved, confident adults who have the skills it takes to be happy and at ease in their environment. Unfortunately, the first few weeks of getting a pup to understand where to do their business can be tough.

Your friends at East Sacramento Veterinary Center understands how difficult it can be to house train your dog, which is why we’ve put together our expert tips and tricks aimed at helping you and your pup succeed. Let’s get started!

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The Unpredictable Nature of Pet Anxiety, All Summer Long

Sacramento dog with pet anxiety

We definitely seem to be lacking in certainty these days; but some things do seem to persist no matter what. Most notably (in this instance, at least), is pet anxiety – especially during the summer months.

All but guaranteed to spike around the Fourth of July, a pet’s fear, doubt, stress and yes, anxiety, can have serious health ramifications for your floofer. Be prepared to reduce potential triggers and minimize long-lasting effects so you can better soothe your pet until the threat passes.

Fireworks and Your Pet

The unpredictability and ear-splitting loudness of fireworks can have disastrous consequences for pets. Since pets cannot make sense of the noise, they tend to fear the worst. Again, be sure that your pet cannot escape or run away in fright, or hide in hard to reach places. 

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Understanding (And Helping) Pet Anxiety

A dog hiding under a couch

It’s an all too common scene: you arrive home from work, tired, but happy to relax and unwind with your favorite furry friend. But what greets you instead is a couch chewed to smithereens, or a fresh urine spot on the carpet. Welcome home! 

It can be natural to think that your dog is angry with you or that your cat is trying to teach you a lesson when they exhibit these behaviors, but in reality, it’s likely that fear, anxiety, and stress are the root causes. 

Fear and anxiety are common contributing factors in behavioral problems in pets. Learn how to spot the signs of pet anxiety and steps to take to help your furry best friend.

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