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195 results for “bad habits”
How to Handle a Bad-Tempered Cat
A cat's bad temper may be innate or caused by poor handling or stress. Build trust through a safe environment, a stable routine, and positive training that redirects its attention, and the behavior will improve.
Everyday Habits That Seriously Harm Your Dog’s Joints
Joint disease in dogs is on the rise, and beyond obesity many overlooked daily habits do real damage. Slippery floors force dogs to grip hard and risk falls; bad exercise — long runs, sharp stops, jumping from heights — wears joints down; frequent stairs overload the knees, especially in long-backed breeds like Corgis; standing on hind legs for attention strains the spine; and overfeeding accelerates cartilage loss, particularly in large breeds with hip-dysplasia risk. Cold, damp floors stiffen joints and worsen pain. Watch for early signs — stiffness after rest, reluctance to jump, hind-leg dragging, pain when touched — and support joints with glucosamine and chondroitin.
Why Dogs Have Bad Breath and Tartar
Bad breath usually traces to tartar: poor eating habits and no dental care let plaque calcify into tartar. Scraping it at home with a dental scaler is not advised - few owners can control the dog through the whole process, and mistakes harm the gums. Better to have the vet scale once, then prevent daily with mouthwash, brushing or diet. Untreated tartar worsens breath and causes stomatitis, ulcers and red gums that block eating, and plaque harms the heart and kidneys. Prevent with daily (or every-other-day) brushing using dog toothbrush and paste, finger-wrap if the dog resists, and chewing toys; severe cases may need prescription food.
What to Do About a Kitten’s Bad Breath
A cat's breath should be a faint fish or food smell; obvious odor with yellow teeth, tartar, or calculus means serious oral disease that can become gingivitis, periodontitis, or stomatitis. Build cleaning habits early: brush with a finger brush or gauze, use vet-recommended rinse or powder, or offer dental chews that scrape away plaque.
What Causes Cat Bad Breath
A healthy cat's mouth smells faintly of fish or food, never foul. Lasting odor means trouble: soft food and cans cause cavities and tartar, digestion issues and oral infection add smell, and B-vitamin deficiency is a culprit. Watch for dirty teeth, drooling, or gum pain, brush young, and see a vet for diagnosis and treatment.
4 Things You’re Missing If Your Dog Has Bad Breath
A dog's bad breath is not normal—it often means disease. Leftover food builds bacteria that cause tartar, periodontal disease, and can spread to the liver, heart, and kidneys. Keep the mouth healthy with four habits: brush one to two times a week using pet toothpaste (human toothpaste can poison if swallowed; water and a pet brush work too); check teeth regularly and see a vet for serious issues; give chew toys and dental treats to wear teeth; and feed a balanced, mostly dry diet with supplements for micronutrients (deficiency causes mouth ulcers). About 80% of dogs without dental care develop oral disease by age three—prevent early.
What to Do When Your Dog Gets Over-Excited
Excitement is the root of many bad behaviors; it removes the dog's needed self-control, and a constantly excited dog easily forms a string of bad habits. Here are ways to calm a dog down.
How to Train Your Dog from Puppyhood
In a puppy's first year—a time of fast growth and peak learning—the dog is highly moldable, low in strength, and free of bad habits, so this year is the 'golden period' of dog training.
How to Handle a Cat That Misbehaves
Scolding or hitting a cat teaches nothing and only builds fear—cats don't grasp 'guilt.' Instead, manage the environment (close doors, add scratchers, lid trash), use gentle automatic deterrence, and patiently retrain bed and bad habits.
Why Do Dogs Eat Their Own Poop?
Dogs eat their own stool for several reasons — missing trace elements, bad habits, or poor digestion. Fix it by adding vitamins and trace elements, cleaning up promptly, and improving gut health with probiotics.