5 Apartment Friendly Pets - That Are Not Cats or Dogs

THE BREGMAN VETERINARY GROUP
www.BregmanVetGroup.com

Apartment Living can be tough if your building management is strict on the pets they allow. But sometimes you just want some company! Here are our recommendations for small critters that will do well in your small space.

Fish

Studies have actually shown that fish are good for mental health! Results of these studies have shown a decrease in blood pressure and stress with fish owners. A small fish tank doesn’t take up much space and only requires minimal upkeep in changing the water and daily feeding. The downside to a fish though is it’s not going to be very cuddly or playful.

Reptiles

Snakes, lizards, geckos, turtles – there are tons of different types of reptiles that will do well in an apartment setting. Most of them tend to do well on their own for extended periods of time and they make for a quiet pet. Reptiles also tend to have longer lifespans than other pets. Just be aware that some snakes need to be fed live food!

Birds

Feathered friends are great for apartments and they have an inexpensive upkeep. However, be ready for some noise as these pets don’t like to keep quiet. Some types of birds also require constant interaction, so if you’re out of the apartment for extended periods of time maybe consider a different type of pet.

Rodents

There is a wide variety of rodents – hamsters, gerbils, rats, mice, guinea pigs, and more! They are small and inexpensive pets to have, with minimal upkeep (cleaning their cage). They require playtime and interaction so be prepared for supervised time outside of their enclosure. Another thing to note is that some rodents cause allergy issues, so make sure you interact with your pet in the store before you bring it home to make sure you won’t have an issue later on.

Ferrets and Rabbits

If you’re looking for a higher energy small pet, these are the ones for you. They too require supervised playtime so set aside time for that every day. With ferrets just be wary that they’re illegal in some municipalities, so check the legislation in your local area before committing to one as a pet.

The Cat Hospital

877-228-4131

5th Avenue Cat Clinic

718-398-1187

Paws and Claws Veterinary Hospital

718-782-8387

Hypoallergenic Dog Breeds

THE BREGMAN VETERINARY GROUP
www.BregmanVetGroup.com

Hypoallergenic dogs are breeds that tend to be okay for people with dog allergies. These are dogs that do not shed and therefore produce less dander. The following are our picks for the top hypoallergenic pups! 

Portuguese Water Dog

“Porties” are usually of medium size and tend to have a high energy level, so expect to give lots of daily exercise to this pooch! They tend to be “A” dogs – adventurous, athletic, and affectionate. They are ranked by the American Kennel Club (AKC) as the 53^rd most popular dog breed in the United States. Did you know the Obama’s have two Porties? Bo and Sunny!

Bichon Frise

The name “Bichon Frise” is French for “curly lap dog.” But don’t be fooled, bichons are small playful and peppy pups. They have a medium energy level so they require some daily exercise. Though they tend to be generally healthy dogs, be sure to pay careful attention to their dental care as this is where most issues arise from. AKC ranks these dogs as the 45^th most popular dog breed.

Maltese

These white little dogs are AKC’s 32^nd top dog breed. They tend to be charming, gentle, and playful. Expect a medium energy level with occasional daily exercise. Did you know their white fur is due to special breeding by Roman emperors? Romans believed the color white was sacred, and they wanted their pets to have a sense of divinity.

Poodle

Poodles can be anywhere from small to medium in size and have a wide range of different fur coloring. They are the 8^th most popular dog breed as ranked by AKC. They also have a medium energy level and are described as active and smart dogs. Fun fact about poodles, they have been featured on both ancient Greek and Roman coins!

Yorkshire Terrier

More commonly known as the “Yorkie,” they are right ahead of the Poodle ranked as the 7^th most popular dog breed by AKC. They are a small dog with a medium energy level, with a moderate amount of daily exercise required. They are described as affectionate, sprightly, and tomboyish. One unique fact about Yorkies is that they tend to have what is known as a “silk coat.” This means they have only one layer of hair with no undercoat, similar to human hair.

Sources

http://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/portuguese-water-dog/

http://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/bichon-frise/

http://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/maltese/

http://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/poodle/

http://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/yorkshire-terrier/

The Cat Hospital

877-228-4131

5th Avenue Cat Clinic

718-398-1187

Paws and Claws Veterinary Hospital

718-782-8387

Why You Should Be Microchipping Your Pets

THE BREGMAN VETERINARY GROUP

www.BregmanVetGroup.com

August 15^th is National Check the Chip Day, meaning it’s time to schedule your appointment to make sure that your pet’s microchip is still intact. If your pet doesn’t have one yet, here are some reasons why you should consider getting one.

Now what exactly is a microchip?

It’s a computer chip, about the size of a grain of rice, that is implanted into pets. Each one is uniquely coded with the owner’s contact information, so when scanned you can view the information on it. Implanting the chip is easy and can be done with a syringe, so it’s no different than your pet getting a vaccine.

Why is microchipping so important?

Pets get lost all the time. In fact, studies have shown that one in three pets will get lost at least once at some point in their lifetime. Sure your pet has a collar, but what if the collar falls off while your pet is lost? You then have no way of your pet being returned to you. Since the microchip is implanted under your pet’s skin it can’t be lost unintentionally. If your pet is found and it has a microchip, your contact information is in a national registry and your pet can be reunited with you no matter how far they managed to wander. Additionally, if you move or get new contact information, you need to buy a new collar which doesn’t always happen right away. With a microchip you can easily update your information in the registry.

So how effective are microchips?

It has been shown that dogs with a chip are 2.5 times more likely to be returned to their owners if lost. With cats that have microchips, they are TWENTY times more likely to be returned if lost. Getting a chip is also generally inexpensive, we charge only $45 for this service.

Book an appointment to have your pet microchipped here.

The Cat Hospital

877-228-4131

5th Avenue Cat Clinic

718-398-1187

Paws and Claws Veterinary Hospital

718-782-8387