Natalie Punt, DVM

How to

Calm a Cat in Heat

An un-spayed female cat will go into heat, meaning she's ready to mate, every three to four weeks. Usually, this involves howls, screeches, writhing, and attempts to attract or run away with male cats. Dealing with a res...

How to

Feed Baby Rabbits

Baby rabbits are small, sweet and furry animals that can require a lot of care. Whether you find a nest of orphaned babies, which are also called kittens, or your pet rabbit has rejected her babies, you may need to feed ...

How to

Identify Different Dog Worms

There are many different types of worms that can infect dogs. Those of most concern are roundworms, tapeworms, heartworms, hook, and whipworms. Whilst each type of worm has a slightly different life cycle, the dog's symp...

How to

Tell the Age of a Rabbit

It is an unfortunate truth that there is no easy way to tell the age of a rabbit. It is certainly not possible to date a rabbit's age down to a particular date or number of years. However, by looking at some specific clu...

How to

Determine the Sex of Puppies

Discovering the sex of your puppy is fairly straightforward when you know a few anatomical landmarks. Make sure to handle your puppy gently and carefully. If you can, try to wait until the puppy is 3-4 weeks old before t...

How to

Determine the Sex of a Cat

Male and female cats and kittens look and act similarly, so it can be difficult to tell what sex they are just by watching their behavior. If you know what to look for, however, there are several key differences that wil...

How to

Tell if a Cat Has Rabies

There are a few cases of cat rabies in the United States every year. This happens because some cats are not vaccinated or their vaccines lapse and they come into contact with a rabid wild animal. If you come in contact w...

How to

Feed a Baby Bird

Lost baby birds are a common sight in springtime, their pitiful chirps awakening a mothering instinct in even the most hard-hearted of souls. It's only natural that you want to take the chick in and nurse it to health. B...

How Long Does it Take for Dogs to Get Unstuck After Mating?

Everything you need to know about copulatory ties in dog breedingDid your dog just get stuck to another dog after doing the deed? Don’t panic! This is actually a normal part of the mating process and there’s nothing...

How to Cook and Feed Chicken and Rice to a Dog

Learn to boil and portion a mild meal for a sick pupHomemade chicken and rice is a simple meal often recommended by veterinarians to help dogs recover from diarrhea or vomiting. It contains essential vitamins, fats, min...

How to

Tell if a Cat Still Has Kittens Inside

So, your cat is in labor! Home births are common and typically go off without a hitch, but how can you tell when your cat is finished delivering her newborns? Cat litters can vary anywhere from 4 to 12 kittens, so it's i...

How to

Identify Male and Female Guppies

Guppies are popular pets and make attractive additions to a home aquarium. Male and female guppies will reproduce quickly once they mate, though guppies are known to eat their young. You can identify male and female gupp...

Fatty Tumors (Lipomas) in Dogs: Causes and Natural Remedies

If you've recently noticed a squishy lump under your dog's skin, don't panic! It's probably a benign fatty tumor called a lipoma. Lipomas are very common and they usually don't pose any health risks, but you may want to ...

How to

Care for Your Cat After Neutering or Spaying

Treat pain and promote a speedy recovery after your feline friend's surgerySpay and neuter surgeries are routine operations, but they’re still surgeries. If you're worried about how to care for your cat after it’s be...

How to

Know if Your Hamster Is Dying

Paying close attention to your hamster’s health is an important part of being a responsible pet owner. Hamsters live for two to three years. Sometimes, when your hamster is old, there will be nothing you can do to save...

How to

Feed a Newborn Kitten

Ideally, kittens should stay near and nurse from their mother cat for up to eight weeks prior to being separated and/or adopted. In the case of a rescue, death of the natural mother, or when circumstances cause cat mothe...

How to

Deal With a Female Cat in Heat

An unspayed female cat comes into heat every three to four weeks, and she's not usually quiet about it! This period, when she's most receptive to getting pregnant, can last for up to seven days. This means you might have...

How to

Make a Kitten Poop

Young kittens (from a day to around three weeks of age) require a lots of attention and nurturing. Kittens that have been abandoned by their mothers are quite helpless and cannot fend for themselves. They can't even excr...

How to Determine the Age of Your Cat

Learn how a cat's teeth, eyes, and more are clues to their ageIt can be tough to tell how old a cat is unless you were there when it was born. Luckily, you can make an educated guess by examining their physical character...

How to

Help a Cat Give Birth

Whether you are breeding purebred cats for a living or you are responsible for a cat that has become pregnant in your care, it is important to know what to do when the cat goes into labor and begins to give birth to her ...