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Socializing a puppy without all of the vaccinations I have a 10 week old puppy, but since she is too young she doesn't have all her shots. Should I wait till she's 16 weeks old to introduce her to new puppies or should I just introduce her to adult dogs with all their shots? <Q> No, no, don't wait!!!! <S> There are cri... | If you have friends with dogs and know that they are vaccinated, then by all means introduce your puppy to them. The important thing is to expose her to a lot of different stimuli, so that when she's older she will take new experiences in stride.
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My kitten was desexed young? I got my 10 week old kitten yesterday and he was desexed 3 days before that. That seems too young. Wondering what effects this could have on his hormones, personality and development? <Q> I don't think you need to worry. <S> The ASPCA says: It is generally considered safe for kittens as... | SPCA's spay/neuter the kittens super young, this helps them to be adopted MUCH faster. One of the biggest effects of this is that he will (hopefully) never develop a marking habit.
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Wet cat food mixed with tuna for cats? I usually give my four cats two cans of Fancy Feast wet cat food in the morning, which is about half a can of wet cat food per cat, plus the dry cat food they always have in the house. Today I only had one cat of wet food, so I decided to mix it with tuna. In terms of dieat & he... | All I can say is that my 9-year-old cat likes tuna (tuna-in-water) Dry food should not be fed as a full meal either because it's dry (cats naturally aren't great at drinking a lot) as well as usually filled with wheat or other stuff cats can't even digest properly.
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What types of grass do cats eat? I have a cat who loves to eat wheat grass. The only issue is that wheat grass dies about 2-3 weeks after germination. So I have been planting them from wheat berries every 4-5 days so that he gets a continuous supply. I am wondering if there is some hardier and longer lasting grass that... | I've purchased cat grass in the past yet my cats are happy with our natural grass in the garden. Another plant one could recommend is cyperus gracilis - the last bit is the important part as other cyperus plants also can grow too sharp or tough for the cats to eat safely.
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What to feed newborn wheel bugs My baby wheel bugs hatched recently, and I'm having a hard time finding food for them. I tried to make a fruit fly trap with a bottle, a funnel, and some smashed tomato, but I guess it's too cold outside. Yesterday I brought the trap inside, but I haven't seen any flies yet. I know I ... | In addition to fruit flies, aphids could form the foundation of a healthy herd to feed your Wheel bugs.
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Guppies and turtles together? Since turtles have eaten all of my goldfish, I stopped putting more fish in their aquarium. Now the problem is: today morning I saw too many mosquito larvae on surface of water. Seems like turtles don't like eating them, but I know guppies do. But I am concerned whether I can put them in... | You can try guppies but chances are your turtles will eat them, however if you add enough plants for them to hide in they may survive.
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Do betta fish attack snails? I had a small snail (about 1" / 2.5 cm shell) in the same tank as my betta fish. They seemed to both be doing fine living together for the 7 months I've had them. But this week, I checked up on the tank and found the snail shell overturned. I tried flipping it upright but when I looked late... | Some bettas really love to eat snails, some do it only if hungry, some do not eat them at all (but may learn it later). Because from what I've read online with Betta tank mates, that Bettas will create their own territory, so if you add something to that territory if gets territorial and attacks them.
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Will an airpump increase the CO2 level in my aquarium? Air pumps (let's say with 200 l/h) slightly increase the level of oxygen in the water simply by making bubbles rise from the bottom of the aquarium to the water surface. Can I expect an (even minimal) effect for the CO 2 level as well? I know that concentrated CO... | But at least anecdotally in several decades of keeping planted tanks, aeration and increased surface area through mechanical means, decreases CO 2 concentration and increases O 2 absorption.
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Dog snaps at me sometimes, problem? I have a dog that's part Amstaff. This is my first dog. It is generally well behaved. It is about 10 months old. Sometimes the dog snaps at me. For example, just now my face was near its stomach checking out a rash, and it snapped its mouth close to my face. Not hard, and not a... | What a trainer can do is train you in how to train the dog. If your dog thinks its the alpha, however, this will eventually become a problem as it will expect you to do the submitting and could potentially bite you in order to try to enforce its dominance in the pack.
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Chronic conjunctivitis in cats About six months ago, I adopted two cats from a local shelter who are the light of my life. Unfortunately, one of my cats, "Dr. Lavender", has chronic conjunctivitis.The vet verified that there were no problems with the cornea,then said she probably had feline herpes virus (FHV) and that ... | If the black material builds up, it could be a breeding ground for bacterial which could hurt your cat, so just keep it clean. FHV is not contagious to dogs or humans.
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Why does my cat meow a lot more since moving? I've moved from a two bedroom apartment into a two storey house. My cats have a lot more room to roam around in. My older cat meows a lot more now. He almost never did before. When he does it, he does it over and over for minutes at a time. It's a throaty or guttural meow... | Another possibility: The kind of meow you are discribing also resembles the sound a cat can make in an unexpected encounter with another cat, not one of the other cats in the house or the yard, but one from outside the territory.
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My 6 month old cat suckles and kneads on a blanket My cat suckles and kneads on this really soft blanket that I have and I think might resemble his mother. I was wondering if I could bottle feed him, but I dont know what or how I should do that? I know adult cats cannot have milk or cream. Should I bottle feed him or j... | The suckling is a self-comforting device your kitten uses to feel safe.
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Why does my puppy like to bite her foot? Sometimes my puppy will bite her foot. I can't tell if she is bored or playing, but the bite looks fairly aggressive which is odd to me since it's herself she is biting. She does like to nibble on toys and furniture (which we do not let her on the furniture), so I'm trying to un... | Sometimes puppies like to play with their feet and will bite at them or paw at the inside of their mouths.
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Dog refuses to eat unless fed by hand My dog is a 3 year old Pomeranian. He is very happy, active, and loves to be around other people. He used to eat only when people were around him so I used to accompany him during his eating times, which are during the morning and the night. Nevertheless, I have been having a probl... | The biggest concern in hand-feeding situations is that it can be covering up a health alert that the dog doesn't want to eat his food at all. Talk to him; praise him. Perhaps play some games on your phone with the volume low. But if he continues refusing food, you should speak with your vet and get professional advice.... |
Can we leave a pug alone for 9 to 11 hours during the day? We are thinking of getting a Pug but want to know if this breed of dog would be okay left alone during the day. The dog could be alone for up to 11 hours but usually more like 9 hours. <Q> If you are going to be out for 9-11 hours a day then your sleep time wi... | Consequently, many dogs do not like being left alone and may suffer if left without company, or with nothing to do for long periods of time. Add the time you will do household chores and ask yourself if you are going to be able to give your dog even 3-4 hours a day, which according to me is very minimal. They require a... |
Food for cat with urinary problems? I have a cat that recently was hospitalized with a urinary blockage. The vet put him on a prescription food for urinary care that comes in both wet and dry varieties. He doesnt like the dry, so we've been feeding him the wet food twice a day. Now heres the issue, I have a second cat... | My vet says the more the cat eats of the medicated food the lower the risk of blockages. Another thing you can try is called Surefeed
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Cat Toy(s) For Energetic Cat One of our cats (male, 3yo) is very energetic and almost dog-like, personally I love it! Our other cat (female, same age) is quite the opposite, she is far more sedentary and gets quite annoyed when our male cat tries to chase after her and play with her. That said, does anyone have sugge... | I have a bunch of bought toys that my cat plays with sometimes (his favorite being a tube looking stuffed animal thing with a feather on the end), but his absolute favorite things to play with are just random things he finds around the house. If you have an energetic cat, you personally should spend more time exercisin... |
How to teach an adult cat not to bite About 8 months ago, my wife and I adopted a cat from a shelter. She was about two years old at the time (meaning she's approaching three now). We love her a lot and do what we can to teach her how to be more sociable, but she unfortunately has some bad habits from her life before w... | So I think in addition to what you are already doing, you need to try to get your cat to play in appropriate ways more. There's a trick that I used on puppies and kitten: if you feed the cat by hand, from time to time, he will learn to lick your hand but not bite. I also suggest more interaction in the house with toys,... |
Is a McDonald's hamburger safe for my dog? I want to make my dog's birthday special. Is it okay to give her just one McDonald's hamburger (and no more after that)? <Q> All that grease can cause a number of problems such as diarrhea or acute pancreatitis - which has a possibility of turning into a long term issue (... | Better safe than sorry and don't give it, lots of grease in these burgers! It won't kill her, but depending on her size, the salt, the bun, the ketchup, mustard and especially the onions will upset her digestion, possibly causing uncomfortable gas and diarrhea. I recommend that you only feed her the meat patty if at al... |
Drinking fountain or bowl for a cat? My cat has a stainless steel water bowl which I clean and refill every day. In the last few days, I have been looking for a drinking fountain (ceramic or stainless steel) because I want the best for my cat, but some comments in Amazon says that they can be pretty anti-hygienic as th... | Water consumption is VERY important in cats so the more enticed they are to drink the risks of crystals diminish as well as it promotes kidney health.
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Cat throws up every day I have a serious problem with my cat, she throws up every day, sometimes twice a day. It seems to happen at random, no set time after meals. She is 3 now, she has been doing this since she was around 1. I have taken her to the vets, blood tests are fine, and was given special food, but it didn'... | The frustrating thing about chronic vomiting cats is that there is a decent chance you do every test under the sun and still don't come up with an answer – in which case, you're back at: it's most likely a food allergy. It sounds like you have tried many protein sources so it may be a challenge to find one that she has... |
How can I regain my dog's trust after accidentally hurting them with a toy? I just purchased a chuck it tennis ball that comes with the throwing handle for my dog. Just about 15 mins after I bought it and tried it out with the dog, she loved it. The throwing handle is a little hard to adjust to for me so I was throwing... | Be reassuring with your voice and with petting/belly rubs/ear scritches for good behavior and following commands. Get some gloves if you don't want to dirty your hands picking up the stick or toy. The only way your dog will "remember" that you've hurt her whilst playing is that if you feel that bad moment and remind he... |
Is changing water daily in a fish bowl harmful to the fish? I have two goldfish and have kept them in a fish bowl for now. As I do not have a water filter in there, should I change the water daily in the bowl? It does seem a bit dirty after a day, but I don't know if it is in fact dirtier than it should be. Of course,... | It is in fact very harmful to put fish into an aquarium on the same day you've set up the aquarium.
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How many ghost shrimp can I put in a 20g tank with 7 neon tetras? I have a 20g fish tank, dimensions are around 18in high, 24in length, 12in wide. Currently it contains 7 neon tetras, a plastic column, and a plastic plant (medium size, about as tall as the tank and around 6 inch diameter base). I'm looking to get som... | This site seems to have some good information about ghost shrimp and it mentions 10 shrimp/gallon. I'd start with a small number, maybe 5 males and 5 females.
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Cat dropping food in her water This is one I haven't seen before: our cat (about 18 months old, rescued from the street before 6 months old) always wants to be sure there is food floating in her water bowl before she drinks from it. If the water is clear, then without fail she very intentionally switches to her food bo... | As for your cat, it may be that she simply doesn't like the taste of tap water. I dropped about 5 to 6 colored marbles in their water bowl, and problem solved!
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How to stop my dog walking on the road? I have a female american bull dog who is just over 2 years old and is very calm and trained. However she has the tendency when off the leash to want to walk on the road. How can I successfully train her to know the difference? <Q> Keep her on leash and walk the perimeter so she k... | Consider a retractable leash and use it to train her on "stay" such that the leash is slack If you want her always staying away from the road, even on 'new' ways, always be consistent and don't have any exceptions.
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Moving my cat and going on vacation around the same time? My lease is up this summer and I'm planning on moving apartments. The problem is that I also have a 3-day trip scheduled to start the day my lease ends (cannot be changed). My cat will be a little over a year old at that point and has always lived indoors at my... | If you can't cancel the trip, get a family member or someone the cat knows well and is used to to replace you and introduce it. I would move a week early.
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Why does my cat attack my arms when I stretch? I occasionally stretch by putting my arms straight over my head, and then lowering them to horizontal. I end up in a position like this: Every time I do this around my cat, she runs over and stares intently at my arms, waits for me to lower them, and then jumps up and t... | It is very hard to unlearn this behaviour in cats. And if you really don't want that to happen ever again then don't ever play with her with your hand. She might just have the idea that it's the most exciting thing to do for some reason
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Cause of eye gunk from dogs eye? I have an American bulldog and she's 2 years old. I've noticed this for some time right now but I just wanted to know. Every time I see her in the morning she would come up to me and rub her head across my leg and sometimes when I look on my trouser leg, there would be a ball of this ey... | It's possible he's having a mild allergic reaction to his food or it could be related to environment Discharge occurs throughout the day, not just in the morning/ after a nap. If an eye condition is left untreated, it could progress, and potentially irreversibly effect vision. Dog is continuously bothering their eyes. ... |
New cat only licks sauce / gravy from wet food and ignores the chunks, but eats dry food without issues My girlfriend and I adopted a shelter cat, unknown age, but we were told she was rather old (10 to 17 years?) Was very shy in the beginning and hid under the bed or in my wardrobe. But purred when petted. Now she has... | Some cats don't like chunks and gravy. I always recommend weighing once to twice a month for healthy pets to prevent weight gains or losses. Our senior kitties are at high risk for a number of illnesses , though the one I worry most about is kidney disease. This would be quite normal,as many of the chunks you see are n... |
Baby leopard gecko won't eat! I got a baby leopard gecko exactly one week ago and I haven't seen him eat yet. He is a hatchling and he looks like an average sized baby. I am feeding him on large calcium dusted mealworms. I have him in a 20 gallon (76 liters) tank with the hot side at about 88-90 degrees Fahrenheit (3... | It could be that the large mealworms are too large for him.
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Am I causing two cats to fight? We recently started feeding two stray cats in my apartment complex and initially they all behaved. However for the past two days one cat is trying to pick a fight and chase the other one away (the smaller one). The bigger cat is almost always near where we feed them. The smaller one actu... | However, as they get older the larger cat just may not want the smaller cat around, to share females with. This means you need to feed them in two places as far away from each other as possible, or at least out of sight of each other. So the food alone will not be the problem between them generally. They do not fight o... |
Do cats go through depression? Okay, this might sound weird but my 9 month old tomcat is going through a situation which I can only explain as depression. So he had three siblings but their mother died immediately after giving birth to them. So we took care of four of the kittens. When they were around two months old ... | The crying is probably to call females he wants to mate with. Agreed with comment above - cats can get depressed but in my experience it usually results in them withdrawing and not responding to any stimuli rather than what you say is happening, which sounds more like he is in some sort of discomfort. She didn't want t... |
Golden fish are dying I bought 4 golden fish 4-5 months back. I kept them in a bowl of water, was daily removing a glass of water and was adding fresh glass of water. Starting 2-3 months everything was fine. But slowly one of the fish started getting black spots on its outer surface of body and then died. Then one by ... | Over feeding might result in toxic substances developing in the water.
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Saving a neglected tank I have just rescued a 70 litre fish tank with about 40 guppies in it. The water is so brown that you can't see the fish and it smells really bad. When we picked it up we removed 80% of the water to transport it and replaced it with fresh water. After this 80% water change you can still only se... | For products I'd say get a gravel vacuum, water conditioner for all these water changes, some freshwater aquarium salt (helps kill some bacteria and aids in fin reproduction and ailments, adds electrolytes to water) and lastly, a beneficial live bacteria like API StressZyme or Seachem Stability, just to name a couple.
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Why is my Persian 9 month old kitten so scared of me? In fact it is getting worse 5 months ago I got a Persian 5 month old white kitten from a breeder. He didn't take too long to get along with my older cat, though he doesn't seem to like me. He is afraid if I walk by, like my feet scare him, though he will sleep wit... | Always let the kitten come to you and when the kitten is asleep/ resting near you make sure you are very relaxed and calm. Also, unfortunately, even though he has a ton of toys and likes to play with them, I have found that he has a disorder that many persians seem to have because of the breeding that went on for many ... |
Cat poops on the floor by the catflap overnight We have 2 cats and they're pretty well behaved, toilet-wise. They are allowed out during the day, but we keep them in overnight as they're black cats so would be hard to see if any cars go past. For the past few months or so though when we've come down in the morning the... | If there are garbage bins in your backyard, make sure they are cat-proof. In addition to the suggestions in mhwombat's answer, it sounds like extra affection and reassurance from you could help.
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Is it safe to let my cat walk on the roof? I have a cat, who is 8 months old and occasionally climbs out the window to the roof. Is it safe to let my cat wander on the roof? <Q> The obvious first concern is falling. <S> If your cat did not fall to <S> it's death the first time, it is unlikely to fall next time. <S... | No it is not safe for cats to go out the window and on to the roof.
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Stop scratching behavior from cat I moved with my girl, who owns a cat, and the experience has been "instructive" so far. He would wake us up every morning scratching the door, and that would make me crazy for a long time, until I decided to buy a kid's water-gun, and spray him every time he would do that. After a week... | The cat will just associate the unpleasant experience with you, not with the unwanted behaviour. He probably tenses up, the tip of his tail twitches, his ears go back, or there are other signs.
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Does bleach kill flea eggs? Context: I'm having an issue with fleas in the apartment. I have three adult cats, which I bathe every 6 weeks more or less. Back 3 months ago, they got fleas from the outside. I used Frontline Plus that one time only, washed all blankets and vacuumed the house prior to cleaning. After clean... | Yes germicidal bleach will kill flea eggs on hard surfaces and in laundry, but the trick with hard surfaces is getting into the nooks and crannies where you can't see. If you have tested a small amount on the hard surfaces first, you may want to consider doing a soaking.. to let it sit and seep into cracks. This is why... |
My cat is afraid to eat My 13 year old female cat has become afraid of eating, it started when she choked on a small treat 4 weeks ago. I have tried giving her food in different rooms and in different bowls, but she would eat a little morsel and then run away from it and then she stopped eating completely until I broug... | a vet needs to check her out. Your cat could have all kinds of medical problems (esophageal problems, a dental abscess, kidney failure, etc.)
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Brothers not getting along I have two male cats age 7 years old who I purchased from a local pet food store when they were 6 weeks old. They have been friendly with each other for these seven years, eating, playing, always sleeping together until 3 months ago when something happened during the wee hours in the AM. Th... | A cat that is not well might sometimes get aggressive, but the normal thing is that the cat wants to be left alone. To do this you need to praise and reward them whenever they are peacefully interacting, or even ignoring each other. If they're having a dominance struggle, your intervention is only pushing that problem ... |
What is the optimal age to bring home kittens? I have done some Google'ing into when is a good time to bring home kittens, and I have read articles where the most common answer is "12 weeks but above 8 and you should be fine". I also read that if you bring home the kittens a little sooner , it could have pros and con... | Generally the rule of thumb is 8-12 weeks depending on how well the kitten has been socialized. You may get kittens who still suckle on things when they are brought home too young or kittens who don't know how to play properly (bite too hard). I highly advise against taking them in younger than that for a multitude of ... |
Do cats know when their owner is sick? My female cat usually sleeps alone in a different room when I of course sleep in my bedroom. She's never interested in sleeping with anyone in the family. In fact, she seems to get annoyed and leave the place if the person (trying to sleep with her) touches her a lot. She's still ... | Cats definitely can sense when we aren't feeling well. Both my two get much more "snuggly" when I'm unwell, often wanting to be near me much more than normal and will be display protective or guarding behaviors as .well
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How to stop my puppy from eating his stool? I have a 4 months old puppy who is healthy and playful. For the past one week he started eating his own stool. There is a place reserved for his #1 and #2, and he does those activities there only. I tried to constantly monitor him but I miss always. He is too sneaky. I goo... | Canned pineapple - You only need a small amount in comparison to the size of the dog to change the taste of the stool so they don't eat it. There are some non-prescription products that you can use as well to stop this behavior.
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Can desert/beach sand work as an alternative for litter? So here's my story: I find myself traveling out of the city once each month. and I'll have to leave my cat home alone for a day to three days. I live in an area where it's hard to buy litter due to the small amount of shops to sell it, not to mention the far dist... | There are some problems if you use regular sand in the litterbox.
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First time owning a cat This is the first time I have a cat in my life. She is almost 10 months. She came home yesterday and she was wandering around the house, which has a litter box, food, and water. This morning, I found my cat hiding under the bed and she hasn't come out since then. She isn't drinking nor eating.... | Your cat feels safe under the bed for now, but you have to make the cat feel safe in all the other places in your home too. There are many things you can try to solve your problem. Find a small room in your house, where you go often, that has a door.
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My kittens keep fighting? About 3 weeks ago we bought our kitten Missy. She's very playful, and we find it hard to get her to know when it's hurting when she bites or scratches. We decided to buy her a playmate. We brought Scoobie into the family yesterday. Missy is 12 weeks, Scoobie is around 9 weeks and is quite a ... | If he does not want to participate, the best thing to do is to distract them so they separate on their own. When Scoobie makes the noises, Missy should back off after a little time. Generally, I find 10-30 minutes with a wand toy sufficient to wear out a 2-3 year old cat (I don't have experience with young kittens). Bu... |
Do all female cats have longer fur around their abdomen rather than around the rest of their body? My cat has regular short fur around her body but at her abdomen (more like at her bladder) she has longer fur, a family member told me it's because she is becoming a grown up by the days and the long fur around her abdome... | The fur on the belly of cats is about the same as on the rest of the body, but the combination of loose skin and gravity, and the fact that the fur stands straight out, makes it look longer.
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Is my dog the aggressive one? we just adopted a three year old dog, she is very friendly towards people when they come at the house or approach her, and outdoors she isn't even interested in other people. I've been practicing walking her and right now i think it is safe to say she looks at me as the pack leader, she v... | Dominance-theory is actually outdated, and while I do not deny it can and will work for most dogs, reward-based training is actually the way most modern dog-trainers work now, so, yes, rewarding her when she comes to you is good. Keep working with her, sounds like your doing fine. Also, you may want to look into clicke... |
Will my puppy learn to cock his leg to pee? Our three month old boy puppy squats to pee. Will he eventually learn how to cock his leg by himself? Is this learned behavior? Is it common for puppies to be like this? <Q> No concern for this, it's genetic to be honest. <S> I've had females cock their legs and males that... | The puppy learned to cock his leg from her aging red kelpie, either through his own observation or by some other way in which dogs learn from each other. I would say this is not and issue with your dog so, keep showering your love without worries and pet him for me as well. There's a myth that goes around saying that o... |
Does medicating an entire tank harm healthy fish? I have a female guppy, that's been through a lot of stress over the past year. She's moved from my friend's overcrowded, unclear green algae tank to mine, has had babies 4 times, has had internal parasites (was separated into a hospital tank, treated and put back in ori... | I would advise against treating in a community tank unless it is thought the root problem affects all the fish and the fish are likely to tolerate it at the necessary dose. Remember that when you add medicine to a tank, you change what the water contains.
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Elderly next door neighbor and her elderly dog aggression issues My next door neighbor lives alone and I would guess that she is in about her mid to late 60's. She has a husky who is 13 years old. As of about 2 weeks ago, it came to my attention that her dog has suddenly become aggressive. She claims that the dog ... | You can contact Adult Protective Services at your local Department of Social Services and they can evaluate her safety.
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Why does my cat COME to me if I ever have an argument with one of my family members? Families always have their arguments, and for some reason whenever I'M having an argument (disagreement causing to loud voices) with any of my family members my cat suddenly appears and gets a little fussy, movative, and has a curious ... | Your cat has attached itself to you and will therefore be more inclined to seek you out over anyone else. They can bond over several things.
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How will the eclipse affect my pet? On Monday, August 21, 2017, the US mainland will experience a total eclipse for the first time in decades. Is there anything special I need to do to prepare my pets? Will they be anxious about the eclipse? What if I'm not at home during the eclipse? <Q> The eclipse will not have any... | "On a normal day your pets don't try to look at the sun and therefore don't damage their eyes, so on this day they're not going to do it, either."
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Is it necessary to keep a cat's nails trimmed? I have a six month old cat. The problem is here are too many stray dogs and they kill cats. So I think letting my cat having sharp nails will give her advantage if it comes to fighting with a dog for life. I do get occasional cuts but I can tolerate it as long as my cat ... | Young cats that regularly go outside, or indoor cats that are happy to use a scratching post regularly (so that the length and sharpness of their claws is naturally controlled) may not need their claws trimming, other than perhaps to remove the very (sharp) end to reduce the risk of them hurting you or damaging furnish... |
Letting cat in and out when living in upstairs apartment I will be living in a second floor apartment in a stand-alone house. Is it possible to have a cat there with me, who is used to going outside to hunt and explore? I'm concerned because I wouldn't know when she's ready to come back in again. <Q> For starters, I ... | I have seen quite some people who attach wooden stairs to the outside wall of their houses to let the cats in through a window or balcony.
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Cat mowing and chewing until skin bleeds We have a cat (maybe 2 years old, adopted) who has suddenly started chewing (not just licking) a spot bald from biting herself. She's clearly hurting herself (she cries when she does it) but we're baffled. I've taken her to the vet who had us try both a cortizone shot, an anti... | I tried using a cone on my kitty and the poor soul was more stressed and unhappy with the cone compared to the pain of actual licking herself raw. I have tried, changing food, changing behavior, feline calming diffusers sprays, topical skin care agents, anti allergy medication.
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Cat in a electronics hobbyist house I really want a cat, but the problem is that my hobby is electronics. Half my house is a lab. I don't have dangerous equipment, but I do have tiny pieces. Most of the time are inside boxes, but when I work on a project they're all over the desk (such as resistors, chips and stuff) th... | If you can keep the cat temporarily separate from you while you work then it's a matter of good discipline with your components and tools - making sure that you tidy everything away before opening the room back up to the cat. Make sure that wherever the cat is that it has access to plenty of toys and other safe objects... |
Can I add soda water to my tank to supply CO₂ for my plants? I have some plants in my tropical aquarium. They're not doing too well. I suspect I may have a CO 2 shortage. Can I add soda water to the tank? I've seen complicated setups for adding CO 2 to water. Soda water is cheap and pouring some in the tank every few... | Soda water uses carbonic acid to produce CO 2 so in theory it should work, but it is not that easy: carbonic acid is as the name says an acid, and any type of acid will lower the water's pH too fast for the fish and to some degree too fast for the plants to adapt to the changed pH.
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How to determine if a cat can squeeze through a gap? I have a type of window that lets me use a small hook to hold just a small gap open at the top and bottom corners (the window opens sideways). The gap is about 5 cm (2 in) and, if I use considerable force, I can stretch it to 7.5 cm (3 in). How can I determine if th... | If the cat can get their head through a small gap (and some cats -- including my little girl --can) but can't get their body through, they can get stuck and panic. If the gap is at the bottom, they could still injure themselves
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How is a dog's health affected if he's (almost) never bathed? So, I have a neighbor on my street who has a Husky/Samoyed mix (he frequently reminds me that he's a kill shelter dog but that they got him DNA tested, hoping they'd find out he was 100% Samoyed). He walks his dog 4x a day (even in rain and snow) and given t... | In fact, too much bathing can be an even bigger issue, since it can and will affect the oils protecting fur and skin for example.
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How can I safely clean a bird's cage indoors? When I adopted my conure, I was given her old cage. My conure is at least 15, and presumably she's lived in this cage for her whole life, so it's a bit dirty. When she first arrived, I rubbed the whole cage down with plain water, and that helped a bit, but I'd like somethin... | Poop Off and the Bird Cage Cleaner made by Nature's Miracle
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How to keep my cat stress free during periods of constant 90dB+ sound? In India today and tomorrow is the festival of Diwali. It is the festival of light and banned firecrackers over 90 dB sound are all too common. It can be compared to war zone in Syria with constant sound of high dB bombs. Now my cat is very afraid ... | Make sure the cat has easy access to their favorite "hiding" places - and if they go to one of these don't try and remove them as this will freak them out more. Maybe make her a cardboard box and cover this with some thick fabric to dampen the loud noise.
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Can I break a betta food feeder in half? Can I break a betta food feeder in half? I have a 7 day feeder but I will only be away for 2-3 days. <Q> You can break these up but remember that if it's one you apply to the glass, you'll need enough surface area for it to stick. <S> I'm sure you already know ( <S> but it's wor... | I've done this before with the smaller tropical tabs for shrimp and as long as there is still enough flat space to stick to the glass it will be fine.
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Bettas with black dots on fins My Betta seems to have recently developed little black dots on his fins on both sides about a week after moving him from a small bowl to a little Top Fin 2 gallon aquarium with a heater. He eats pellet style Betta food and lives with a little nerite snail named Reggie. Now these dots may... | As Bettas age they can experience pigment changes and this includes black spots on their fins. If the fins where the dots are begin to look like they're disintegrating it is indeed fin rot.
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Why are horses broken in when they are grown up? Why are horses broken in when they are grown up? Wouldn't it be easier to do it when they are little? <Q> Horse shouldn't be ridden or in heavy training when they're less than two years, as it makes them more susceptible to injuries and musculoskeletal conditions. <S> Th... | A calm experienced handler will instil security in a young horse that will take it through it's life and making the breaking in process easier. Expecially parts of the spine (where the rider would sit) need time to grow fully and healthily.
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Something on my cat is biting me My cat is just over one year old; she's an ex-feral who we trapped at about nine weeks. Since then she's been 95% indoor cat with no direct contact with other cats, but occasionally she slips out of the back door and sits in the back yard for a little while before coming back inside. S... | Cat fleas wherever you live are very rarely found on the cat unless it's infested. They bite you to eat, so you get those red tiny spots but they are not able to live on you, so after some time they die. The treatment was frontline (or any topical flea treatment) so you could try that and see if it goes away. They jump... |
Will hedgehogs break and eat hen's eggs? I've seen a hedgehog milling about during the day. It is November, the temperature has recently gone below freezing at night, and the hedgehog looked pretty small, say the size of a large potato. These factors all add up to pretty bad news for a hedgehog, so I've decided to tr... | And a small hedgehog will probably have trouble opening an egg, larger hedgehogs might be able to open it if they see it as food.
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Is my betta aggressive? Can she share a tank with other bettas or mollys? A few months ago I had a male betta (separate tanks) pass away. I had him since I was 9, I'm currently 20. So eight months ago I adopted my fifth betta. A veiltale female. Violet. My mom and grandma BOTH gave me bettas for my birthday (a few ... | Usually female betta fish get along with other species, but sometimes female betta fish can be a bit aggressive. The fish you'd like to mix with your betta would be, mollies, platys, any of the rainbow fish family, cory catfish (must be schooled at least 3 minimum), tetras. Bettas shouldn't be housed with other male be... |
Changing out aggressive fish species? My husband and I "adopted" a 55 gallon tank that came with a number of fish, including 2 angelfish and 7 black skirt tetras. Unfortunately we've been having an issue with both species: the angelfish either fight like crazy (liplocking, nipping, etc.; the female had an infected eye... | Getting a few more angels should help ; then one fish is not always the target.
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What makes a treat only suitable for a certain age range? About a month ago I bought a bag of treats for my puppy (cracker-like, bone shaped). But when I got home I discovered that the bag said it was suitable for puppies 6 months old and older. I don't mind storing the treats for some time (until he's 6 months old) b... | The only one I could come up with are indeed the ingredients: A puppy needs a different relative amount of calcium and phosphor (more calcium) since the young dog's body won't be able to control the ratio as well as an adult dog.
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How to dissuade my cat from jumping on my bed? During the day, my cat loves to jump on my bed to groom himself there or have a nice nap. But I don't like that, because I don't like cat hair on my bed, and also as he is free to go out, he brings in some dirt on his feet. Each time that he does jump on my bed, I rush t... | Cats like their comfort, so this is a tricky one. You could cover your bed with something, e.g. chairs, to make it less inviting, or you could put something on it that your cat knows that it's OK to sleep on.
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Pulling my cat back to bed My cat has troubles at night. She doesn't go to bed easily. Sometimes I carry her to her bed, and she tries to run off. I then pick her up again and bring her back, at which point she tries to run off again. I grab her mid-body and pull her back. She just stops and looks at me really upset. S... | This will make your cat sleepy and easier to get to bed with you. They need to do their own thing, as they are not herd animals.
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Heater problem in my 25gallon tank I have a 25 gallon tank last week i had bought a new heater with thermostat. It is 150 watts but the water seems not to be heating. My Blue Line Shark has Ich so I raised the temperature to 32 degrees Celsius immediately. Can that also cause this problem after putting it in the tank? ... | it may be caused by insufficient water movement around the heater - point the filter outlet to the heater to increase the flow around the heater.
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Cat Exposed to Sewer Waste, Need Antibiotic? So we recently had sewer backup in our basement. It happened from the surge from outside and not something we could have prevented or controlled. By the time we got back home and discovered it, our two cats had paws covered in sewer. I am concerned that they tried to lick t... | i think it is best to wait and see,keep an eye on your cats to see if any illness is developing and if it is take the cats to your vet. Do NOT use antibiotics as a precautionary measure in pets, or even people!
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Can I give my cat large amounts of food before leaving home? I'll be moving to my new apartment in +/- 2 years, and I plan on adopting a cat, since I always wanted one, but never could due to our dogs (which I also love). But then I realized that his feeding times would be "irregular". I leave my home to go to work at... | In general, cat's being small animals need several smaller feeding's a day. Depending on the food you choose and how much your pet weighs he should be fed a specific amount daily.
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My cat gets mean when her back is pet If I try to get my cat on her back she kinda growls at first, but if I try it twice she will get mean. If I pet very lightly she might let it slide once or twice. I'm just worried she's in some kind of pain. Does anyone know about this? <Q> The lower back is often a no go zone when... | But it is also pretty common for cats to just not like being petted on their backs, especially their lower backs. Often the fur in this area can feel a little hard or like it is clumping together if there is some damage there. Long strokes all the way down their back seem to be too much for them really quickly.
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What books explain comprehensively how to train dogs to be obedient and communicative using positive reinforcement? Many books have been published on the art of training dogs for obedience and communication. What books have you read that, given your experience in the field, you believe explain the art most comprehensiv... | Many books have been written for this subject but the one that stands out for me is: The dog whisperer by Paul Owens
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How to convince people not to buy, but adopt I live in India where there are significant numbers of local dogs in need of adoption into loving homes. However many of the people looking to get a dog are instead more focused on purchasing Labradors, Golden retrievers and German shepherds. Are there any strategies I can ... | You have to get the word out (advertising or equivalent as in the previous answer). help do trap/neuter/release programs for humane population control (so fewer stray puppies), and generally create a framework for the things you need to get people to adopt dogs.
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Where do you keep aquarium plants until you plant them in an aquarium? Just wondering where can you put aquarium plants for a week or until you need them to plant in your aquarium? <Q> Not only can you put your plants in another container, but you should. <S> It is always a good idea to quarantine plants in a separate ... | Most plants will do fine (short term) in almost any food safe container of nearly any water (but you'll want to treat your tap water, if you use that, since most has chloramine, which will kill your fish and beneficial bacteria.)
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Where is the best place to buy a Cockatiel? I'm looking to buy a cockatiel. I found several in our area at Petland and wanted to know if there is a more reputable breeder? Does it matter that kids have been reaching in to touch them for a few weeks? <Q> Look for breeders that enter competitions. <S> You can always buy ... | Check for breeders in your area. If you live in a metropolitan area, see if there are is a bird mart in your area.
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Cat keeps meowing to go in forbidden room There is a room in my house where I do my carpentry work. That room is full of dust and wood debris and I don't want my cat to go in there because I don't want it to come out dusty and I am afraid it could get hurt on the sharp objects in there. So I keep the door shut. The p... | I suggest either letting the cat in occasionally (under supervision or on your lap) or to try and distract him with things that could interest him more.
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Are crows good pets? So I was curious about owning a pet crow, do you guys know in which state in the US it is legal and if it is a good idea. I have seen that they are very smart and I was wondering if by using this intelligence I could train it to stay in my shoulder out in public without having to clip it's wings. S... | If you were to get a crow it would need to be from a breeder that offers crows legal to America. Probably not Good pet might not be the word for it.
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Can yawning be transmitted across species by pets? I believe I may have caught multiple yawns from my dog. Is this possible? Can yawning be transmitted across species from pets? The setting could be a couch in the living room, for example. <Q> Yes! <S> There have been several studies between dogs and humans for contag... | Contagious yawning is a psychological effect (in the mind of whoever observes a yawn, and then involuntarily yawns himself).
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Why do my Glofish Skirt tetras stay on surface after 30% water change? I bought 7 Glofish Skirt tetras 3 weeks ago and today was the first time I've changed 25 - 30% water for them in 10G aquarium. Replaced water was tap water warmed for few hours and treated with API Quick Start as per water change instructions. 10 mi... | When fish goes to the surface of the water there is some thing wrong, likethe lack of oxygen or the presence of poisonous substances in the water.
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Can I rename a dog I get from a shelter? I’m looking into adopting an adult dog from a shelter. As I’m looking through some of the ones available, I’m not always thrilled with the names they are given. Is it possible to rename a dog so that they respond to a new name? And if so, is that an okay thing to do with the do... | If you change the name but keep the same (or similar) vowel sounds, chances are it'll be completely seamless.
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How do I deal with my kitten's hype? I took home a stray cat about two weeks ago, and she's approximately 2 months old. When she got home, she was well behaved and pretty normal. She plays and eats just fine. But around her 3rd and 4th day, she became very hyper. She ALWAYS scratches and bites people. She sleeps about... | Also playing rough with your kitten like wrestling with it with your hand will provoke more play fighting from your cat. I typically say “Owwwwwwww” loudly and scrunch up my face like i am in pain. You need to build trust and fill it's tummy in order to get her to sleep well and behave normally.
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Can a house get too hot for tropical fish and what precautions could we take? We really want to get tropical fish but there's a problem. In the state we live in, it can get as high as low 40's °C in the summer. And worse, we don't have insulation installed in our house. Would it get way too hot for the fish even with... | There are coolers for aquariums, but I would spend the money on a home air conditioner.
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How to introduce two aggressive dogs to each other? So, in my colony a friend of mine has a German Shephard - Tyson (1.5 years old) and I have a Labrador - Vector (2 years old). They both are aggressive dogs, Tyson especially. But I want to have them both as friends. Anytime they see each other, they snarl and snap at... | Trying to get them to be friends could result in a terrible dog fight. Some dogs will not friends with other dogs and this might be only certain dogs that they will not be friends with.
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Why does my relative's dog stay between me and home on a walk? A relative's dog, who only know's me a little, will follow me on a walk but on the way out will stay behind and then as soon as I turn back home will go ahead. Is this simple submissive/safety behaviour, keeping escape home clear? <Q> Possible answer 1) <S>... | He doesn't trust you as a partner, so while he respects your strength (following you), he keeps a escape route because a strong leader could also be a violent leader. On the way back, they know where you're heading back.
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Do cats prefer transparent or opaque litter boxes? I've put together a ventilation system for a custom litter box that constantly flushes its internal atmosphere with outside air using a fan system: /| +--------------+ /|-------[clean air]------>| |window /| ... | The unbothered cat prefers the white litter box (not transparent, but lets in ambient light) and faces away from the door hole. It is hard to say if they would like transparent or opaque.
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My kitten keeps peeing in a specific place outside of his litter box Note : There are a lot of questions about can and toilet issues but I didn't find any matching my personal issue (same spot every time, cat still uses the litter box). Here are some questions that I found that don't match my question : Why does my ... | Try providing a (temporary) litterbox near the bed, and see if it opts for the litterbox then. It seems to be connected to you more than the bed itself.
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Cat keeps peeing out of fear I’m at my wits end and need some help as to what to do. My 5 year old cat has always been timid, but will come up to us and socialize and everything. Lately he’s been peeing on my bathroom rugs. Unfortunately I cannot pay for vet bills right now so I was just trying to handle it. He did ... | My cat would pee wherever he was when he got scared. He was just stressed where we were living at the time.
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How do I keep my cat off my keyboard while not discouraging her from seeking attention? I appreciate when my kitten comes looking for attention. Except when she walks on the keyboard. Then it's trouble. How do I discourage her from walking on the keyboard, while encouraging her to come sit by me? <Q> What I usually do... | I keep a small pet bed within reach, and my cats get attention when they settle down on it. If the cat starts to walk across the keyboard (so, moving from one side of the desk to the other), I pick it up and put it on the other side.
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I lost my friend's queen My friend gave me a queen for breeding with my tom. They were having fun last night and now the queen has disappeared. I looked around my house and then I also look into neighbor houses but I can't find the queen. Is there any way the queen will come back as my tom does, though the queen has st... | So if you have a cat over at your place for just a few days, it is best to not let it get outside at all, since it doesn't know that this is the place she is supposed to be (and it doesn't even have a strong bond with you!). Make sure someone stays at your friends place to be available in case Queen returns home.
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Our dog accidentally ate pimobendan We have a dog who is on pimobendan, and our other dog who weighs about 13 pounds (5.9 kg) accidentally got 0.625 mg of it. Will he be okay? <Q> By the time someone on the internet answers, if it was a problem it will likely have resulted in serious effect by now. <S> That being s... | Toxicity is therefore not a concern at such low dose. You should always call your vet as soon as possible when something like this happens.
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Is it normal for a husky to shed large patches of fur in the summer? The pictures I have are too large to upload but there are large patches of fur shedding to the point where there is just thin short hair left. Brought her to the vet today and they said there was likely nothing wrong since she isn't itching and there ... | Breeds like German Shepherds, Akitas, Malamutes, Newfoundlands etc also have them, mainly working dogs bread for harsh working conditions.
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How can I make my dog guest show that she needs the toilet rather than that she wants to go home? My parents have a female border collie of 5 or 6 years old. I have lived with my parents (and the border collie) up until recently. I have my own place now. She’s visiting while my parents are on vacation. She knows how ... | If it's not for long period, you can also try with special mats for dogs, and show here that she can pee there, but you would rather not have that I remembered my mother putting on her pyjama's before putting her to bed and by putting her in the conservatory, I mimicked my mother's behaviour of closing her cage.
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Should my dog be able to clean out an appropriately sized Kong? We have a Kong classic for our 1 year-old dog. She loves the Kong and spends plenty of time with it, but there always ends up being about half of an inch of peanut butter stuck at the very bottom of the interior. Does this mean that the Kong is too small ... | We have multiple size kongs and it seems to us its really down to your dog and its ability to "get in there".
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