An emotional support animal (ESA) provides emotional support to people with mental health issues. They are animal companions that offer a benefit to someone with some form of disability. The animal provides companionship and gives support to the person to help alleviate an aspect of the disability.  

Dogs are most common in this role, but cats are also common. There are even some miniature horses that serve as emotional support animals.  

ESA’s can provide significant mental health benefits, and even just owning pets can have a positive effect on a person’s mental health. Pet owners connect emotionally to their pets and help people manage when they go through traumatic events.  

ESA’s also help people with anxiety. Petting their animals can cause people to relax and help elevate their mood. Emotional support animals are also known to improve physical health, as studies have shown that they can help lower blood pressure and improve people’s ability to handle pain.  

They also help with the feelings of care and love, as they give people a sense of purpose. The animals provide love and companionship, and they also need care in return. This simple give and take can be an emotional reward. 

If you are a dog owner, you may be familiar with the idea that dogs live on a different sense of time than their human owners. The logic goes that because the average lifespan of a human is roughly 70 years of age and a dog enjoy an average lifespan of roughly 10 years, a one-year-old dog is roughly as mature as a 7-year-old child. When you take this as a guideline on canine maturity, it becomes easier to assess whether your pooch is a pup, an adult or a senior. 

It should be noted that age is not the sole distinction of when a dog has reached seniority-the general size of that dog’s breed, or breeds, should also be taken into account. The larger the breed, the less active years it has ahead of it due to the increased physicality that a large frame yields. while a small breed like a Yorkie will hit its senior years around seven years old, large breeds like the Husky will reach that same state in five years. 

Kennel training or “crate training” teaches your dog’s responsibility and can help calm their anxiety. Dogs den animals and, as such, are naturally accustomed to small, enclosed spaces. A kennel can give your dog a sense of security. 

Kennels are a great way to begin house training, as dogs don’t like to pee in their dens, and they can be a safe method of transportation for your dog if you need to take them on a long car ride.  

When choosing a kennel for your dog, it’s going to depend on how big your pup is. You’ll want to get a kennel that is large enough that your dog can get up and turn around, but not one that’s too big.  

Be careful when using your kennel, and never use it as a punishment. If you do, then your dog will refuse to enter in the future. Also, don’t leave your dog in the kennel for too long. A dog that’s in their kennel an entire day and night needs to get more exercise and interaction, or they can become depressed. 

When you and your furry friend are out in public it’s always a good idea to have a safety dog leash on hand. Before your next walk, think about these 5 reasons why leashes are so important. 

• Protection for your dog – Some dogs may get carried away chasing a squirrel or another dog. If they’re on a leash you’ll have no worries about your pal wandering off. 
• Courtesy – A safety leash is courteous to neighbors. Not everyone wants your dog jumping excitedly on their lap or running around their yard. 
• Bonding experience – Once your dog sees his safety leash it won’t be long before he figures out he’s going for a walk. These outdoor excursions will be a great bonding moment for the owner and pet. 
• Shielding Against Injury – Moving cars and other animals may seem like fun to your dog but you know they can be dangerous. A leash will keep your dog safe and secure. 
• Keep them healthy – Free running dogs can get into a lot of mischief. From poison ivy to mud to eating rocks, keeping a dog leashed will lessen these behaviors. 

A hypoallergenic dog is one with a predictable coat that doesn’t shed. Dogs that shed a lot expose their owners to more pet dander. The dander attaches itself to your dog’s hair, and it is what most people are allergic to when they have a pet allergy. While no dog is 100% hypoallergenic, some breeds are better for allergy sufferers because they have coats that don’t shed. Some of the dog breeds that are considered hypoallergenic include Afghan Hounds, Bichon Frise and Miniature Schnauzers.  

Many of the dog breeds that are hypoallergenic have coats that are more like human hair than regular dog fur. Keep in mind that consistent grooming is an important part of caring for your hypoallergenic dog. Be sure to purchase a dog hairbrush to take care of your dog’s hair between professional grooming appointments. You should also plan to wash your dog about once a week. Some kinds of shampoo decrease allergens. You can also wipe your dog down with pet-friendly wipes that include allergen diminishing substances. 

There are a variety of reasons why a cat may stop using the litter box. If your cat stops using the litter box, something is going on, and it could be serious.  

One common reason why a cat may stop using the litter box is if the box is dirty. Clean the litter box daily. Cats are naturally clean creatures and may not want to use a dirty box.  

Another common reason why cats may stop using the litter box is that they are ill. A cat that is suffering from a urinary tract infection may associate the pain of urinating with the litter box and avoid the area.  

Illnesses such as kidney or thyroid disease that increase the consumption of water or stomach issues that lead to diarrhea can cause the cat not to make it to the litter box in time.  

Finally, overcrowding can cause litter box aversion. You should have at least one litter box for each cat in the home, and ideally one extra. For example, if you have two cats, three litter boxes, located in different areas of the house, are ideal. 

Dog drool is an everyday occurrence for most dog breeds. Every dog drools, and just like chasing their tails or barking, it’s just another day in the dog world. The question is when is drooling normal and when is it a concern. 

Typically dogs drool when they’re anticipating food that’s either a favorite like a steak or something disagreeable like medications. These are normal times for dogs to drool. 

Dogs also drool when they are having mouth or throat issues, like mouth infections or fractured teeth. Make sure you are brushing your dog’s teeth daily and getting check-ups at the vet.  

An upset stomach can also lead to extra drool. A lot of dogs suffer from motion sickness, so that car ride may lead to excessive slobbering. Dogs eating things they shouldn’t like socks or stuffing can also lead to tummy trouble, which can cause them to drool.  

There are other examples such as heat stroke as your dog pants to try and cool off or if they have a sinus infection. Kidney disease and liver disease also have drooling as one of their many symptoms.  

Keep an eye on your dog, and if you notice any abnormal drooling, make an appointment with a vet right away. 

Cats like places, that they can crawl through and hide in when they sleep. If you have an indoor cat, you have probably noticed that they sometimes disappear for hours only to re-emerge when you least expect it. This is because cats like to find private little places where they can curl up and go to sleep undisturbed. When no place is provided, they will sleep on the chairs under the kitchen table and even under beds. 

Cat tunnels can provide your cat would just such a place, without them mysteriously disappearing. Your cat may sometimes just crawl through it playfully, but they can provide your feline family member with a private comfortable place to sleep that does not leave you wondering where they are.  

Cats can sleep just about any place and if you provide a comfortable private place for them to sleep, they will often take advantage of it. The fact that cat tunnels come in a variety of shapes and sizes and lengths makes them even more attractive to both cats and cat owners alike. 

Cannabidiol, more commonly marketed under the shorthand abbreviation of CBD, is an oil derived from hemp. CBD is known to offer several health benefits, including a boost to the immune system and improve the body’s ability to withstand or prevent: 

• Arthritis and joint pain 
• Anxiety 
• Digestive trouble 
• Seizure, epilepsy and other neurological ailments 
• Blood disorders 
• Cancer and tumors 

While CBD has become popular due to its many health benefits, the market has grown large enough to reach the pet goods industry. While CBD offers many of the aforementioned benefits, it does undergo some degree of change when baked into pet treats. Most pet treats contain between 3% to 6% CBD per amount of hemp oil involved. Furthermore, some treats only use hemp powder. 
 
If you want to maximize the benefits of CBD in your pet, consider buying a quality CBD oil by itself and add that to your pet’s food, waiting a few minutes for the food to absorb its properties. 

Trimming an animal’s nails are just as important as trimming your own. By not trimming your pet’s nails regularly, they will begin to grow into the pads. Their nails will start splitting breaking off. They may also become infected. Improper nail upkeep can also make your pet irritable and maybe even aggressive, due to being in pain. Using the proper nail trimmer for your pet is especially important. If you cut your pet’s nails too short, it can cause severe bleeding, which will lead you on a trip to the vet. There are many different types of nail trimmers on the market that are made specifically for animals. Guillotine Clippers are best for small animals. These clippers, when used correctly, will cut the end of the nail right off. For larger animals, scissor clippers are best to use. Most of the scissor trimmers have a built-in guard to keep you from going up too far. One of the most essential factors to pay attention to when buying trimmers is the quality and cut of the blade.