Horse Care Safety Tips

If you have horses or are looking to have horses in the future then we highly recommend you reading this article. Within this article you will find some basic information pertaining to horse care safety tips. When it comes to equestrian accidents you should know that not all of them happen when you are riding the horse. The truth is you can get injuries from the daily horse care chores such as grooming and feeding the horse.

First we would like to mention the way you use the lead. If you wrap the rope around your hand as you are walking your horse it can cause serious injuries. If your horse gets scared he will start jumping around and that can cause a sprain, rope burn or broken bones.

Our second tip involves tacking. When you are tacking your horse you should make sure to use caution at all times, especially if you are dealing with a horse you do not know. As you are starting to tighten the girth many horses are known to bite at anything they are able to reach.

The third tip we have for you involves bridle knockout. When you are bridling your horse you will need to make sure you keep those wits about. Before the horse accepts the bridle they are known to shake their heads. At this moment if you are not paying attention you may take a hard hit to the head.

The fourth tip we have for you has to do with tranquilizing. When you tranquilize your horse he or she can actually become aggressive. When you are tranquilizing your horse or giving any other type of prescription drugs to your horse you should make sure it is by your veterinarian’s directions.

Next we have the fifth tip for horse care safety. When it comes to the environment that you will be riding in or working in you need to make sure you are aware of everything. If there are flies around that are biting you may find your horse bolting away in order to get away from them. We highly recommend you using fly sprays but you should also know that even that fly spray could wear off. This means you may have to keep reapplying the fly spray if you are going for long rides.

Our sixth tip we have for you has to do with grooming. Before you start to groom your horse you should make sure to check for sore spots on your horse. If you run your comb over a spot that is tender on your hors you may be experiencing either a dangerous kick or bite.
The seventh tip we have for you has to do with treats. There is no doubt that horses enjoy their treats. Horses are known to kick and shove in order to show their love for those treats. When you are giving your horse those treats you should make sure you stay on the outside of the fence and toss them over to him or her. If you want to be even safer you can always just put the treats into their feed buckets.

Our seventh tip we have for you involves fitting the tack. When you put the tack on your horse poorly this can cause some discomfort to him or her. When your horse is not comfortable he may try to throw you off. Always make sure the tack is on your horse correctly. Our ninth tip for you is to dress appropriately when you are around your horse. This means you will need to wear the right type of footwear and a make sure your boots fit in the stirrups properly.

Our last tip we have for you today involves the stall. When you enter the stall you should make sure you have a quick get out plan. If you have the stalls that you must close you will need to make sure you have someone there with you. This is to make sure the door can get opened fast if you are in any type of trouble.

How to Eliminate the Bad Pet Odors

Ever noticed the bad smells that your pets leave? They are not pleasant are they? Well there are many problems that pets can do to your house. Most company floor installers say that the floors in most houses are damaged because of the odors and urine from our friendly pets. No, we are not scaring you away from getting a pet because pets make great companions. You should make sure you take care of the odors and stop them in their tracks. Within this article we are going to tell you about odor elimination.

When you are getting rid of pet odors you don’t need to use just any air fresher. When you use just any air freshener you will not be getting rid of the pet odors, instead you will only be covering the pet odors up. You should know that you will not always see your pets accident unless you see it in action or step in a wet spot. There is a way to effectively get rid of the smell the right way and we will be explaining this in the next paragraph.

When it comes to cleaning up the surfaces where the pet odor is you should know that it all depends on how bad the damage is. The damage could be so serious that you will have to replace your whole carpet but in many circumstances all you need is a good carpet cleaning. There are many companies out there that will steam your entire house for pretty cheap and this can take care of the pet accidents

We would also like to tell you that you should invest in some type of device that controls odor because accidents will happen if you have a pet and it’s not your pets fault. Those scented candles and air fresheners are known to be good for pet accidents because they are quick, easy and do not cost much. The best thing we recommend you getting is some type of air purification that gets rid of those odors and doesn’t just hide them. How about those negative ion generators? If you have never heard of them then you may want to do a quick Google search.

If you are looking for something cheap to get rid of those pet odors then you may want to look into a product that is called MultiFresh. MultiFresh is known for being a natural deodorize that is made of volcanic mineral that is negatively charges. MultiFresh is very effective when it comes to getting rid of odors of different types.

Pet Food May Be Causing Your Pet Health Problems

People do not normally associate pet food with being a reason for why their pet gets sick or develops health problems. We tend to assume that pet food on the market is safe and healthy for our animals. But sometimes that is not always the case.

When a pet develops a serious health problem from food, one of the ways that it can manifest itself is in the form of seizures. This can come from a pet being unable to digest protein. If that is the case there are two options that are available:
Have a liver shunt put in to be able to help them digest protein easier
Change the diet to certain food that is carried by the vet and is designed for pets with special needs in their diets.

The first option can be very expensive, but sometimes just changing the food isn’t enough. The interesting thing that pet owners should know is that some of the special needs foods that are carried in vet’s offices could still be potentially dangerous to your pet and can cause health problems. For instance, there have been cases where one of the main ingredients in a certain type of pet food was actually a chemical that is used as a pesticide.

This does not mean that you have to necessarily worry or be concerned, but it is always a good idea to check the full list of ingredients on the pet food that you are giving to your pets. It may be causing health problems that you are not aware of. If you see an ingredient that you are not familiar with, do some research and make sure that it is not responsible for the ill health of your pet. You love and want to take care of your pets, make sure that the food you are giving them is really what you think it is and is not harmful.

Cat Health Worm Symptoms and Possible Treatments

Introduction

If your cat has worm problems both internal and external you should immediately seek help from your local vet because the worms are known for causing a number of different health problems in the cat. When you are looking for internal worms in your cat you will be looking for worms such as the hookworm, heartworm, tapeworm and even the roundworm. When it comes to known if your cat has worms or not generally you are not going to see signs unless you really look into it. The worms that the cats carry, except the heartworms, are also known to mess with humans. If you are looking for signs of worms in your cat then you may want to look for signs such as non-shiny coat, loss of weight, never gaining weight but eating a lot and in other cases the cat may have runny stool.

Heartworms in Cats

You will find heartworms in cats but you should know that dogs get heartworms more. If you are looking for some possible signs of heartworms in your cat then you may want to try monitoring your cats eating habits. If your cat is not eating at all then you may want to take him or her to the vet to get checked for heartworms. In many cases you will find a cat with heartworms will start to loose lots of weight and have normal occurrences of vomiting. You should know that heartworms in cats are known to be deadly so if you suspect heartworms in your cat you should seek veterinarian help immediately.

Catch Roundworms In Your Cat Early

When it comes to roundworms in your cat your cat will more than likely be okay as long as you catch the roundworm problem early on in order to prevent further complications. If you let your cat continue their life with roundworms then your cat will be experiencing lots of complications that could result in death. Roundworms can be found in the intestine of the cat and can reach a length of four inches. If you look in your cats stool you may be able to see roundworms (if they have it) because roundworms can be found in the cats stool. You will even be able to find roundworms in your cats vomit. One other sign of roundworms is bloating. Sometimes roundworms are known for blocking the cats intestines and will make it where your cat can not pass stool.

Cats With Hookworms

When it comes to hookworms in cats it is a known fact that hookworms are found in kittens more than they were found in adult cats. Many say this is because the older cats have already developed immunity to the hookworms and can easily fight them off. The kittens on the other hand have not developed immunity yet. The hookworms can be found inside your cat sucking on the blood, this can result in your cat becoming anemic. Hookworms are also known to live in the cats’ intestines.

Pay Attention if Your Cat Has Tapeworms

If you have a young kitten and you let him or her go without tapeworm treatment then he or she could die. Tapeworms are known to make your cat lifeless because they feed off of the cat. If you are looking for signs of tapeworms in your cat you can start by looking at your cats rectum. If you see something that looks like a little grain of rice then this may be tapeworms.

New Kitten Could Get Intestinal Worms

If you have taken a kitten to your house where you have other cats and the new kitten has not been treated for intestinal worms then you may be putting your little kitten at risk of getting intestinal worms. If your kitten does get intestinal worms then there are de-wormer treatments that you can purchase over the counter. In some circumstances you will have to treat your kitten for intestinal worms more than once but normally one dose of intestinal worm treatment will help your kitten.

Tips To Make Owning A Fish Aquarium Easy

If you are looking to add some interest to your home then you may want to look into purchasing a fish aquarium for fish. Before you go out and purchase fish and a fish aquarium, you should read some tips to owning a fish aquarium.
First, we must tell you that you should not purchase a fish aquarium that is really deep. Purchasing a deep fish aquarium will cause more work on your behalf. If you own an aquarium that is over five gallons, you may not notice one of your fish had died and the water may become polluted before you realize it.

When you have a large aquarium, you will find it is hard to get plants to grow in it because the light does not reach them too well. If you are looking to have a large aquarium that is deep, you will need to make sure you get lights that are capable of reaching the bottom of the aquarium.
Secondly, you should consider buying the entire aquarium supplies before you start setting it up. You will need the following supplies for your aquarium: Aquarium, Aquarium cover, replacement filter, heater, gravel, glass scrubber, chemical test kits, fish food, plants, fish net and of course an aquarium vacuum.

Our third tip is for you to watch closely over your aquarium. We say this because fungus infections can build up in your aquarium if you are not careful. You should also know parasites can get into your aquarium if a fish is infected. If you do not keep a watch on your fish tank, the tank could be totally infested with parasites. If a fish shows signs of being infected you should put him or her in a separate tank.

The fourth tip we are going to tell you about includes choosing your fish. When you are choosing your fish, you should make sure you wisely choose them. You do not want to get a fish that is not compatible to your other fish. Do not purchase any fish that do not get along well together. Generally when you are purchasing fish from a store you will see a chart on their tank. This chart will tell you the other types of fish that can be put in with the fish you are looking at.

The last tip we are going to tell you about has to do with feeding your fish. You can easily over feed your fish. The truth is that many fish die because they are over fed. Make sure you follow the instructions on the back of the fish food. Now that you have read this article on the five tips to keeping fish you should be able to raise fish successfully without any problems. You will see that fish are very entertaining.

Tips To Make Owning A Fish Aquarium Easy

If you are looking to add some interest to your home then you may want to look into purchasing a fish aquarium for fish. Before you go out and purchase fish and a fish aquarium, you should read some tips to owning a fish aquarium.

First, we must tell you that you should not purchase a fish aquarium that is really deep. Purchasing a deep fish aquarium will cause more work on your behalf. If you own an aquarium that is over five gallons, you may not notice one of your fish had died and the water may become polluted before you realize it.

When you have a large aquarium, you will find it is hard to get plants to grow in it because the light does not reach them too well. If you are looking to have a large aquarium that is deep, you will need to make sure you get lights that are capable of reaching the bottom of the aquarium.
Secondly, you should consider buying the entire aquarium supplies before you start setting it up. You will need the following supplies for your aquarium: Aquarium, Aquarium cover, replacement filter, heater, gravel, glass scrubber, chemical test kits, fish food, plants, fish net and of course an aquarium vacuum.

Our third tip is for you to watch closely over your aquarium. We say this because fungus infections can build up in your aquarium if you are not careful. You should also know parasites can get into your aquarium if a fish is infected. If you do not keep a watch on your fish tank, the tank could be totally infested with parasites. If a fish shows signs of being infected you should put him or her in a separate tank.

The fourth tip we are going to tell you about includes choosing your fish. When you are choosing your fish, you should make sure you wisely choose them. You do not want to get a fish that is not compatible to your other fish. Do not purchase any fish that do not get along well together. Generally when you are purchasing fish from a store you will see a chart on their tank. This chart will tell you the other types of fish that can be put in with the fish you are looking at.

The last tip we are going to tell you about has to do with feeding your fish. You can easily over feed your fish. The truth is that many fish die because they are over fed. Make sure you follow the instructions on the back of the fish food. Now that you have read this article on the five tips to keeping fish you should be able to raise fish successfully without any problems. You will see that fish are very entertaining.

So Mr. Rabbit, What Will You Be Eating For Supper?

If you have ever had a rabbit before then you know that there are needs and responsibilities you will have while having a rabbit. The main one you should focus on is what diet you need to feed him or her. Making sure the rabbit has its Diet is one easy thing to do. If you are the one that will be giving Mr. Rabbit his or her food you should know that there is a pretty big range of food you can feed your rabbit. A pellet is one of the main foods to give the rabbit the he other food your rabbit can enjoy is the fruits and vegetables.

Getting Rabbit pellets for your rabbit isn’t that hard because you can find them in nearly every department store today. If you are into the Internet then the Internet is another place you can purchase rabbit pellets. Pellets are known for making the feeding a lot more easier for you or child. Feeding a rabbit will teach the child some responsibility and that is what they need. There are many different types of veggies and hay out there that will provide the rabbit with the right types of nutrients. When you are feeding your rabbit just pellets you should make sure you feed him or her vegetables as well.

The type of pellets is something you need to choose in order to assure the rabbits health, you should choose the pellets that have the most nutrients in it. The amount per day to feed your rabbit is twice a day to make sure he doesn’t eat too much. When you feed your rabbit you should make sure you feed your rabbit the same time everyday because rabbits get used to eating at the same time. The same time you feed your dogs and cats should be the same time you feed your rabbit. When you feed your rabbit you should make sure the pellets are fresh. When you buy the small bags you will be keeping your rabbit food fresh. You should know that rabbits are very picky eaters so keeping the fresh is something to make sure off.

Feeding your rabbits veggies is something to look into. Feeding them vegetables is something that that veterinarians recommend to make them a healthy rabbit. There are all kinds of vegetables that you can feed them like Carrots and Celery. They love carrots and celery along with many other veggies that they can have. Green peppers is something you can feed your rabbit along with radishes. If you over feed your rabbit too many veggies will end up hurting them may even cause death.

Feeding your rabbits vegetables that have a lot of water in them can cause diarrhea. So avoid regular lettuce and watermelon because they contain too much water. Giving the veggies to your rabbit might make him not want his pellets. You may want to consider giving your rabbit vegetables as a treat because this will help them with not wanting them more then the pellets. Looking into giving your rabbit fruits is something that will help his or her diet also. You will need to make sure you give the rabbit fresh fruits because canned fruits have added sugar and other stuff they can not have.

Keeping Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches As Pets

If you have been looking for some information on Madagascar hissing cockroaches then you have come to the right article. We would like for you to know that the Madagascar hissing cockroaches are from the island called Madagascar. Have you ever thought about having a cockroach as a pet? Well many people do have cockroaches as pets and the Madagascar hissing cockroach just so happens to be a popular pet.

Madagascar hissing cockroaches go by many different names. You will hear them called hissers, hisser or hissing roach. You may even hear them called by their scientific name, which is Gromphadorhina portentosa. The Madagascar hissing cockroaches are wingless. We would also like for you to know that they are great when it comes to climbing. Madagascar hissing cockroaches are known to be able to climb plastic or even glass.

Would you like to know what age the hissing cockroach matures at? Generally the Madagascar hissing cockroach will start to mature when they are around three to six months. Madagascar hissing cockroaches are known for living in captivity as pets for about five years. Have you ever wondered how the hissing cockroaches hiss? They hiss by extruding the air out of their valves abdomen. Madagascar hissing cockroaches hiss in order to chase away their predators.
If you are trying to sex your Madagascar hissing cockroach you will find this easy to do. If you have a male Madagascar hissing cockroach you will find it’s head will have horns on it and he will also have an antennae that is heavier. When the cockroach is young it is hard to tell them apart because the males produce the horns when they get older.

If you are looking to breed your Madagascar hissing cockroach you should be delighted to know this is easy as well. You should make sure you keep them in a dark environment that is moist. Also make sure they are getting lots of food and are warm. You will need to keep them in a temperature that is 85 to 89 degrees. Everything about hissing cockroaches is easy, even the care. You will need to make sure you have your hissing cockroach in something that is big enough for them. You should also make sure they have some bark in their cage. A great idea for a hide place for the hissing cockroach would be an egg crate. Hissing cockroaches are great climbers so we highly recommend you putting about two inches of Vaseline on the edges of the cage. The Vaseline will stop them from climbing.

You can either feed them fruits and vegetable or you can use cricket feed. Hissing cockroaches are known for liking carrots, yellow squash, apples and oranges. For the water you can simply mist the substrate in the cage a few times a week. You can also keep slices of oranges in their cage and they will take the water out of them. If you look in the cage one day and you see your hissing cockroaches are biting on each other this may be a sign of lack of protein. You should give your hissing cockroach eggshells, cat food, cricket food or even dog food because these are great sources of protein.

Pets Obesity Problems Can Be Helped

When you look around in public, you see that there is obviously an obesity problem going on in the world today. The obesity problems are spreading much farther than our children and adults, the obesity problems are spreading to our pets as well. Within this article, we are going to tell you about the pet’s obesity problems.

When you look at your pit bull or any other pet, chances are you are viewing him or her as a part of the family. In turns to viewing your pet as part of the family, you spoil them. Spoiling seems to be a main problem as to why there is an obesity problem in our pets today. When you look at your pet, you see he has a lot of fat on his bones and say “aww, isn’t he/she cute?” Yes, Mr. Fluffers may be cute but his health isn’t the best.

If your pet has an obesity problem, you should treat it just as you would treat yourself if you had an obesity problem. If you go too far and spoil your pet too much, you are going to find many health problems. Some of the problems that your obese pet may be experiencing are: severe respiratory, orthopedic, metabolic and cardiac. You may feed your pet the right type of food but he or she may have developed an obesity problem simply from that habit that you have started.

Think of it this way – when you feed your pet those pet treats how much do you feed your pet? Chances are you are over feeding your pet those pet treats. The truth is that those pet treats you are giving your pet has tons of calories in them. How about those scraps you give old Scrappy at the dinner table? Don’t tell us he got the name Scrappy because he loves his dinner table scraps because that isn’t healthy.

Many individuals will not admit to the fact that there pet is overweight and that is one of the reason why there are tests available so that we can see just how much out little critters are obese. The first test consists of you taking your pet and putting him or her on their back. If you can feel his or her ribs without a problem then your pet does not have an obesity problem. If you are not able to feel your pet’s ribs or can barely find it then your pet has a pretty amount of fat on there.

If you have come to the conclusion that your little fury friend has an obesity problem then you should seek the proper diet. You will need to start by controlling the amount of treats you use to award your pet. Yes, Mr. Fluffy has been a good boy but you shouldn’t give him too much treats. There are many different diets available out there for pets that need to loose weight. You should also consider taking your pet out for some good old-fashioned outdoor exercise. If you have a cat then you may want to play some indoor games with him or her.

As you see in so many ways pets are just like humans and many of us could use a little bit of improvement in the way we are caring for out pet. If you really care about your pet then you will take care of him or her and make sure you do not give them an obesity problem because your pet’s health really does count.

Is Spaying or Neutering Your Cat the Way To Go?

If you are looking to avoid future problems for the little cat in your life then you may want to have him or her neutered..\ Everyday hundreds and thousands of cats around the world get put to sleep simply because they did not have a home to stay at. These kittens and cats are suffering and do you know why? Simply because a owner did not take responsibility to spay and neuter their cat and didn’t care where the kittens went.

If you have a regular household cat then you should consider spaying or neutering Mr. or Mrs. Fluffy. Many times individuals have misconceptions of when to spay or neuter their cats. Many individuals believe that the female cat will have to have kittens or even go into heat once before she gets spayed. The truth is that both male and female cats should be fixed by the age of six months and you should not wait for them to go into heat.

When you spay or neuter your cat they will be going through a surgical type procedure in order to take the reproductive organs out. When you spay a female you will be removing the uterus and ovaries and when you neuter a male you will be removing his testicles. Yes, putting it this way may seem cruel and unkind but the truth is you are actually saving a kitten from suffering.

Would you like to know why you should have this procedure done before your cat reaches six months of age? By spaying or neutering a cat you are preventing the cat from developing mating instincts that can be annoying. These mating instincts include spraying urine all around your house or yard . If your cat has not been spayed or neutered he or she will also have a instinct to want to escape more in order to find a mate. If you have your male cat neutered this will lower his instincts of wanting to fight with other cats. You may not believe this but when you get your female cat spayed you could actually be preventing your cat from getting pyometra or even getting breast cancer.

If you spay or neuter your cat you will not have to listen to those annoying sounds of your cat in heat. Many individuals state that neither the male nor female cat will gain weight after he or she has gotten spayed or neutered. The procedure of spaying and neutering cats has been around for about 25 years in North America. You should also know that spaying and neutering is a safe procedure for your cat.

If you still do not support the spay and neutering programs for cats then you should think about it this way: all over the world there are cats sitting in humane societies in cages and have no place to go. Have you ever been driving down the road and saw a bony cat scavenging for food? Perhaps things would have been different for that cat if someone had had their cat spayed or neutered. Seriously, if you have not thought about it before then you should think about it now.

Pet Ear Mite Extinction

Have you been watching your pet scratch around his/her neck or ears? If so then we highly recommend you checking into ear mites. Those ear mites are pretty common in both dogs and cats but even though they are common they can still be pretty painful and very irritating. Within this article we are going to be talking about ear mites and how to get rid of those pesky things so that your pet can be healthy once again.

Are you wondering what ear mites are? Ear Mites are those tiny parasites that like to get on your dog or your cat. When they are on your dog or cat they take cover and make their home right inside your pets ear canal. That sound aggravating doesn’t it? If you do not treat the ear mites properly then it can cause yeast infections along with bacterial infections. This in terms will cause some pretty bad damage to your pets ear drums causing them to rupture which will cause seizures and deafness.

We know what you are wondering, you are wondering if ear mites can be passed on from your pets to humans and the answer to that is no. You should know that the pets can pass the ear mites to other animals though. This means you should treat your pet right away, not just to keep him or her healthy but to make sure the other animals do not get the ear mites.

When it comes to recognizing ear mite infections in your pet you should know that it can be a pretty easy task to do. Apart from seeing your pet scratch at his neck and ears you will also see him or her shake their head a lot. You will also notice a pretty bad odor coming from those ears. Ear mites are pretty hard to see but if you see a crusty type thing in your pets ears that is black or brown in color then that may be another sign. This is not ear mites but this is actually the dried blood and feces that the ear mites have left behind.

When it comes to treating your pet for ear mites you should know that it is pretty easy to do. You can start with taking a cotton swap and some alcohol and cleaning out your pets ears. In some cases this is all you will have to do to clean out the ear mites from the pets ears but in other cases you will actually have to take your pet to the vet to get some ear mite medication prescribed. We cannot stress just how important it is to treat your pets ear mites. These ear mites can cause damage to your pets ears.

What’s For Dinner Tonight For Your Pet Snake?

To start with we are simply going to say if you are feeding your pet snake live food, you may want to start feeding your snake pre-killed food. There are many reasons why we believe you should be feeding your pet snake pre-killed food and that is what we are going to be telling you about within this article.

There are lots of reasons why individuals choose to feed their pet snake live food. One of the reasons why is because people say the snake should be in its natural habitat so feeding the pet snake is only natural. If you are a believer in this then you will be changing your pet snakes feeding habits after you read this. There have been many cases of the pet snake eating live food and getting injured and that is what we will be telling you in the next paragraph.

As we were reading a forum, we came across an individual saying they always fed their pet snake live food and one day there was a fatal accident. Before feeding the pet snake her food they would take the driftwood out of the cage so she wouldn’t mistake the driftwood for food. One day the snake made a fatal error, went to get the rat and got herself bit. When she got bit this caused a punctured lung to the snake and she died minutes later. Yes, it’s sad and that is why we recommend you feeding your pet snake pre-killed food.

Safety reasons is the main reason we recommend you sticking to pre-killed food. 99% of the time your snake will have no problem with eating live rats but there is always that 1% that is still there and that 1% could cost your snakes life. Did you know that there are benefits when it comes to providing your snake with pre-killed food? One of those benefits is the fact that it is available in stores more than live food. They also state that the rats that have been pre-killed didn’t suffer when they were killed un-like that live rat that will be suffering when you feed him or her to your snake.

If you have been worrying about giving your snake pre-killed food then you should not be worrying because chances are you are worrying for no reason. The truth is that nearly every snake is going to be accepting pre-killed food. Yes, it may take a couple of times to get your snake used to eating pre-killed food if he or she has been eating live food but it is all worth it.

When it comes to feeding your snake food that has been pre-killed you will find it pretty easy to do. First you will want to thaw the rodent out for about 30 minutes in warm water. You should keep note that snakes are not going to eat the rodent if it is cold and still frozen. After the rat has been thawed out you should make sure you dry it off and then put the rat in the snakes cage. If at first the snake does not seem interested in this pre-kills rat you can get some thongs and move the rat around. When you move the rat around, it is going to look live to your snake.

There is no doubt that snakes are really good pets and can make good companions for years to come so why should you risk your pet snake dying or getting injured? If you haven’t already then you should start feeding your snake pre-killed food, you will be saving his or her life.

The Truth Behind Tapeworms and Your Cat

When it comes to cats you should know that most of them will experience some type of worm in their life. Two of the most popular worms to be found in a cat are the tapeworm and the roundworm.

What Do Tapeworms Do?

First off you should know that tapeworms are worms that can be found in the inside of your cat where they are feeding off of your cat. Tapeworms are known for making cats pretty sick so if your cat becomes sick you need to look into tapeworms. You should also know that a kitten can get tapeworms from the mother. Another way your cat can come into contact with tapeworms is the litter box, especially if you have more cats.

Are you wondering what tapeworms look like? If you look at a tapeworm you will see that it has more than one segment. Did you know that each of these segments actually holds eggs for the worm? The segments that the egg can be found in will eventually fall off of the tapeworm and show up in your cats stool.


What Are Other Ways A Cat Can Get Tapeworms?

We told you two ways a cat can get tapeworms but we never told you the main way a cat can get tapeworms. You may not believe this but your cat can actually get tapeworms from fleas. It’s true, you see the fleas are known for eating the eggs of the tapeworms that are in the cats stool. Then when the cat is cleaning himself the cat ends up eating the fleas. If you are looking to avoid the infestation of tapeworms in your cat then you need to make sure your cat is flea free.

What Are Some Symptoms of Tapeworms Found in Cats?

When you are trying to determine if your cat is infested with tapeworms then you should start by paying close attention to the way your cat is acting. If your cat has tapeworms you will find he or she scratching and also licking around the rectum. Also another symptom of tapeworms being in your cat is if your cat does not want to eat anything and is irritable.

Looking For Cat Tapeworm Treatment?

If you think your cat has any type of worms then you will need to immediately take your cat to the veterinarian. When you take your cat in for a vet checkup you can count on the veterinarian giving your cat a de worming treatment. De worming medicine is almost always the answer to getting rid of tapeworms in your cat. Another thing you will need to do is clean up the areas of your house that the cat spends his or her time in and also clean the cat’s bed. If you put all of these techniques together along with exercise and make, good diet for your cat and regular vet checkups then your cat should not be getting tapeworms anytime soon.

Do You Want To Prevent Tapeworms in Your Cat?

If you have just go rid of your cats tapeworms then you should make sure he or she does not get them again. In order to do this you will need to make sure your cat does not come into contact with fleas. Your vet will also give you some de worming treatment and will recommend you giving him or her regular doses. In the end when it is all said and done if you follow the proper precautions your cat should be tapeworm free.

Lets Stop Your Puppy's Nipping and Chewing Habits Today

Everyone knows that dogs are primitive animals so what do you do when Mr. Nippy or Mr. Chewy will not stop his habits? You train them. The truth is that dogs are really easy to train as long as you put some effort into it. When it comes to training your puppy to behave the right way you will find that it is a pretty big responsibility and you will need to be on your toes at all times. If you have patients with your puppy you can easily redirect those natural instincts to something that is more appropriate.

Here Comes The Puppy Called Mr. Nippy

Do you know that nipping is normal with puppies? We have not come across a puppy that hasn’t nipped. Puppies normally nip when they are in a playful mood and over excited. Don’t worry because the puppy does not mean any harm when he is nipping but as he grows, this nipping can become petty painful. You should start when your puppy is young to teach him not to touch anyone’s skin with his teeth.

There are many different ways to take Mr. Nippie’s bad habits away but the best way to teach him to stop nipping is to take those urges of nipping away from your hands and introduce him to toys that are made for puppies. When choosing toys for your puppy you should pick out several different ones. Puppies like plush toys that are soft and bright colored but they also like rubber toys to chew on.

Are you wondering when you should start training your puppy? You should start training him the first time you bring him home to play and keep doing so. You should know that you can start training your puppy that is as young as 8 weeks. When you are playing and your puppy starts to nip at you as he is playing you will need to make some type of noise like “ouch” and stop playing with him for about 10 seconds. If your puppy does not listen to you and keeps trying to nip at you as you are playing then you should just simply leave the room. The truth is you should never allow your puppy to nip at you, even if it is cute because he will grow up with those habits.

What About Mr. Chewey?

You should know that puppies are a lot like infants because they teethe at things when they are developing. When your puppy is developing his teeth you will find him chewing at things because this soothes the pain he is having. If you have a puppy that goes by the nickname of Mr. Chewey in your house then you can count on your shoes and even some furniture being chewed on. No, there may be no stopping your puppy from chewing but you can stop him from chewing up your stuff.

If you are looking to stop Mr. Chewey from his bad habit of chewing on household items then you should purchasing him some chew toys. If you want the best results then you may want to consider putting your puppy in an area where there is not much furniture. Face it, when your puppy has sore gums and there is a furniture leg laying in front of him he is going to chew on it. If you find your puppy chewing on an item that he is not supposed to have then you firmly say the word no and put his toy in front of him. When your puppy is chewing on his toy, you should praise him.

In the end if you follow the proper procedures, it is possible for your dog to get rid of his Mr. Chewy and Mr. Nippy nicknames. It is just going to take some time and patience on your behalf but it will also be fun for you.

New Kitten Care-What You Should Do

There are few things that are as fun and exciting as bringing home a new kitten. There is something about how cute and fluffy they are, and the way it makes you happy when they curl up and purr on you. You want to create a good environment for your new kitten and there are some pointers that will help you make sure your home is ready to bring your new kitten to:

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   Make sure you are completely prepared – have the good, litter box, toys, scratching post and bed already set up and ready for the new kitten to use.
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   Pay the new kitten attention – make sure that you are handling the new kitten so that they will get used to being touched and enjoy it. They are much more likely to be affectionate, loving adult cats if you spend a lot of time playing and touching them.
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   Let him get used to you grooming him – the new kitten needs some help with grooming often, and it is a good idea for you to wash his face and clean his eyes and ears everyday.
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   Introduce him to his new surroundings – introduce your new kitten to everything in the house and area that will be a part of his daily life. The more things you introduce him to will allow him to be more comfortable with them.
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   Play with the new kitten – kittens love to play, show him affection and play with him everyday.
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   Feed him kitten food – there are a variety of kitten formulas in food that are best to offer the new kitten the nutrition they need.
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   Set boundaries – kittens are prone to exploring and seeing what is around, let him know where it is acceptable for him to go or not.
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   Don’t give in to the meows – kittens tend to meow a lot and although it may be tempting to give in, the new kitten will continue to meow often through his adulthood.
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   Keep him safe – you have to help your new kitten be safe in his new environment.
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    Accept that your kitten is a baby - bringing home a new kitten is like having a baby at home, they need lots of love and attention.
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    

Cat Stress Symptoms

Some people may think that the idea of a cat being stressed out is something imaginable. But it actually can be a serious problem, and there are some symptoms you should know about if you think that your cat might be suffering from stress. It is important to keep in mind that a cat that is exhibiting symptoms of stress may be in pain and you may want to get him or her checked out.

Common signs that your cat may be experiencing stress include:

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  Your cat stops using the litter box on a regular basis
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  Your cat starts to urinate on towels on dirty laundry
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  Your cat seems anxious or edgy and might act nervous or unfriendly around people
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  Your cat experiences a significant change in personality, a cat that is usually confident and independent may start to appear clingy and be more anxious. A cat that is experiencing pain may start running around or become unfriendly.
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  Your cat is experiencing changes in grooming. Your cat may stop grooming itself or he may be grooming himself excessively. He may start to over groom a particular area on his fur and experience loss of fur in the spot because of it.
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  Your cat may change its daily habits gradually such as eating less or an increase in eating. He may change his activity level also.
  
  If you suspect that your cat is experiencing stress, you may want to take him in to get checked out, these symptoms could mean that your cat is in pain or is sick. Usually, anytime a cat shows changes in behavior and habits it is an indicator that something is wrong with him. Even if the changes appear subtly or over a period of time, it may indicate that your cat is sick or stressed out.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

Does the Dog Breed Matter?

If you are searching for the perfect family dog, do you pick out a certain breed based on a set of characteristics or do you go to the local pound and adopt a lonely mixed bred dog who needs a home.

Well, depending on the needs and wants of your family, the answer varies. Some argue that choosing a specific breed of a dog is the only way to go, while others insist that owning a particular kind of breed only brings on more health concerns associated with the breed and that you are better off getting a mixed breed.

When it comes to issues like biting with dogs, does the breed make a difference? The answer is that it usually doesn’t. All dogs do have the potential to be dangerous. From Chihuahuas to Rottweilers, all dogs do have the potential to bite and be aggressive. All dog bites have the potential to be very dangerous, and can do extensive damage to people.

There are certain breeds of dogs that are more aggressive by nature, and these you might want to avoid if you have children, or live in a neighborhood with lots of children and other dogs. It is possible to train dogs to not act aggressively, but if it is a concern you should go with either another breed or a mixed breed. If you do choose a breed of dog that is more aggressive, you should be willing to spend a lot of time training the dog properly to deal with aggression and not act impulsively when taunted by other dogs or children.

If you are the victim of a dog bite, it is important that you seek medical attention if you have any concerns about the dog bite becoming infected or if you are unaware of the history of the dog. It is also important to contact the local authorities so that they are aware of the situation with the dog.

What is the Best Cat Food for Your Cat?

When it comes to cat food, one is not all the same. Just like any other product, there are different kinds of cat food with a variety of nutrients and qualities. It is hard to know which kind of cat food is best for your cat. Most of the cat foods that are on the shelves are filled with additives and other kinds of ingredients that are not good for your cat.

If you are truly concerned with finding a brand of cat food that is not full of preservatives and unnatural ingredients, the best kind of cat foods to look for are natural and healthy varieties. You may not have the convenience of finding these kind of cat foods at the local grocery store, but you are likely to find them at pet stores or other specialty stores that carry natural products.

The natural cat food products that provide protein, vitamins and other essential nutrients for your cat is the best way to go. Keep in mind also that no matter what kind of cat food you feed your cat, do not feed them foods like pork, raw eggs or fish and anything with onion should never be fed to your cat. Some people make their own cat food at home, and there are resources and recipes available if you want to try making your own cat food.

If you want to give your cat a long healthy life, the best thing you can do is feed them healthy and natural cat food. Treat your cat like you want them to get the best of nutrition and vitamins and keep them healthy. Remember also that you should not overfeed your cats, especially when your cats get older and are less active you should watch how much food you are giving them to make sure that they do not get overweight.

The Benefits of Keeping Hens

More and more people are keeping their own hens today as awareness of unhealthy poultry rises.

Consumers today look for better quality poultry free of antibiotics and eggs that are not produced in unhealthy chicken farms.

Keeping hens does not take as much space as you might think. They require remarkably little space. And, they don’t make much noise.

If you live in a rural area, you can keep many more hens than those living on smaller lots. With a large flock, you’ll always have eggs on hand.

Some people aware of the unhealthy living conditions hens endure on some poorly run farms will take in hens rescued from those farms. They might have damage and blemishes, but it is rewarding to offer these hens a happy life.

Rescued hens are accustomed to living in small cages and will not be used to resting on perches. They will have a sparse covering of feathers and their legs will be weak. Consider providing them with a little ramp to help them reach their roost.

Some also have had their beaks removed, but they will grow back to a natural shape after some time in a free-range environment.

Research where to find a proper feed, which might be organic, for free-range birds. The feed mix will provide them with vitamins and nutrients. Also toss grain on the ground outside to provide them with something to feed on in a more wild and natural manner.

Those who keep hens also might buy poultry grit, which is beneficial to the hen as it helps break down food for the hen. Do not feed them meat or any food that is overly salty.

Also, be sure that if you keep hens you always provide fresh water in a shady place. Hens will not drink warm water.

And, in the evenings, make sure to close them in a building that protects them from predators.

Owning a Tiger is Complicated

Some people just dream of one day owning a tiger and keeping it as a pet in their home.

If this includes you, do a little research first and read about the complex issues involved in raising a tiger before you let one in your home.

The issues involved in owning a tiger are many and complicated. They include:

Denial is a common issue for pet owners and is rooted in the deep attachment one develops for the pet. But that same attachment can become detrimental. Having a pet that you care for and develop strong feelings for is OK, but you have to draw a line in that relationship.

Size will become an issue for owners of tigers and other large cats. When you first buy your cub, you might forget that one day that cute, little animal will grow, and grow some more.

This ultimately becomes expensive as you’ll have to feed the large animal to ensure that it is properly fed. This will involve mass amounts of food.

You’ll also have to buy a large cage for your tiger.

Remember that a large tiger also is a strong tiger. Taking the animal for a short walk might become a large chore for the owner of a tiger. If you’re unable to maintain control of the animal, then it is a safety concern.

Also as your pet tiger grows, it will naturally become more aggressive, meaning the tiger owner will have to be more aware of potential threats to his safety. If this occurs, the tiger might be kept more in its cage, which is not a healthy life.

Finally, be sure the presence of a tiger in your home will not cause resentment or fear among your neighbors. Be sure you’re able to make them satisfied that the tiger will not endanger them or their children.

Caring For Your New Pet Ferret

If you’re considering buying a ferret as a new pet, keep in mind they require some effort.

There are several key things you should keep in mind when caring for your new pet ferret, and here’s a list of the most important tips.

Picking a cage

Your ferret will need a good cage, which you will use to keep him in while you are not able to directly watch him. Letting the ferret run around without supervision is not a good idea.

Find a cage that includes a litter box, which you can train your new pet to use, and find some good toys to keep him occupied.

Ferrets are so quick and sneaky, letting them run around without your immediate supervision can lead to a disaster. They are able to crawl between couch cushions, which you might accidentally sit on. They might escape from your home through an open window.

Make your ferret happier by letting it out of its cage for several hours daily to get some exercise.

Keep your ferret healthy by feeding it a meat-rich diet. You’ll need to find food that contains this high percentage of meat from a good pet store. Feeding your new pet table scraps only will lead to health problems.

One thing you should know about ferrets before you take one home is that they have a naturally musky odor. Some ferrets have their scent glands removed but you still will smell some of the odor on them. So, be sure that you’ll be able to live with that odor each day.

Contact your local veterinarian to be sure they can care for ferrets. They require annual vaccinations. Be sure to come home with your ferret’s health records when you buy it.

Buying a good pet book about ferrets also wouldn’t hurt. It might offer good tips for day to day care.

The Five Cutest Exotic Pets

If you’re looking for an exotic pet that will be a showpiece and something none of your friends will own, consider these five top picks.

Kinkajou

Natives of the rain forest, the Kinkajou are very friendly, which is why they also are very popular pet selections.

They have sharp teeth yet don’t eat just meat. They are nocturnal animals, meaning they like to come out at night and sleep during the day. You’ll have to make sure this schedule fits your schedule.

Bengal Cats

This is not a relation of the Bengal tiger, despite the similarity of the name. Instead, these are cats that have been developed through cross-breeding house cats and exotic cats.

They tend to be larger than the average house cat yet owners report few problems different from those of owning a regular cat. Those would include scratching at furniture.

Sugar Glider

The Sugar glider’s home is Australia. They are marsupials and weigh no more than five ounces. The small animal is very friendly and interacts with people. They are nocturnal and want to play and show affection in the evenings. It’s recommended that you buy two Sugar gliders to provide company when you’re unable to provide it – like in the middle of the night. These will prevent your pet from getting lonely and bored.

You might buy some books on Sugar gliders to read more about them, especially about their diet. Most experts agree they eat diets high in protein and include many insects. Experts tend to disagree exactly on what should be in the rest of the diet, though.

They are messy when they eat because they spit out the pieces of food they don’t want to eat.

Squirrel Monkey

In the wild, squirrel monkeys run in large packs numbering in the hundreds. They are very affectionate animals and are extremely intelligent beings. They can be trained to live in a house but will mark their area, which can be messy in a home.

Chimpanzee

These are tremendous animals to be around. Chimps are very intelligent and in many ways, similar to us. They are very strong animals and their upper body strength is about five times that of a human being.

Tips To Easily Train Your Cat At Home

If your cat tends to get in trouble almost every day and you don’t know what to do about it, learn to train your animal at home.

It’s easier than you might think and with a few tips to get started, your cat’s behavior will improve in a short amount of time.

There are several methods to use in training your cat to behave better at home. We’ll cover a few good tactics here.

Before we begin, it’s important that you do not strike your cat or punish the animal in a physical manner if it misbehaves or does not take to the training at first. If you do, all you will teach your cat is to fear you, not listen to you. And, you will hurt it in the process.

So, here’s our first tip. Use the element of surprise to your advantage.

Cats do not like to be surprised and, as a result, you can use that as a training tool. Clapping, spraying water with a small bottle or making sharp vocal noises can surprise your animal.

Many people turn to the spray bottle method so that weird and loud noises are not generating from their homes or apartments all day long. You can buy a spray bottle at your local dollar store. Fill it up and keep it handy for when your animal misbehaves.

Make the noise or spray the animal as it embarks on its bad behavior. Don’t wait until he or she has finished. The animal won’t make the connection. Doing it repeatedly every time the animal starts the behavior is vital.

A good training tip to stop your animal from biting is to use your hand as a “bite shield” and to push the cat away in the process.

When your cat attempts to bite you or someone else, move the palm of your hand over the face of your pet and push it away. Your hand is much bigger than your cat’s mouth and it won’t be able to bite you in this position.

As you push the animal away, it will send the message that this behavior is not wanted. As you push, speak a firm negative, like “No!” Do this every time in the same manner.

It’s important to note that this is a gentle but firm push away, not a hit or strike. Nor is it a forceful push that would send the cat sprawling and possibly injure the animal.

A third tip is to train your animal to avoid bad behaviors as young as possible. It’s easier to train when they’re young, rather than when they become adults.

The Trouble With Hairballs

Hairballs are a serious problem for cats and not one to overlook as a pet owner.

The problem of getting hair lodged inside not only is a dangerous medical condition for cats, it can threaten their lives. Just watch your cat throw up a hairball and you’ll know it’s a disgusting and uncomfortable problem to have.

The hairball is generated by excessive grooming or if your cat lacks in grooming. In that case, the hair will fall out on its own and turn into a hairball.

Hairballs become a serious problem when they become lodged in the cat’s intestines. Here, they can block the intestines and prevent your pet from urinating or moving bowels properly. If this happens, take your pet to the veterinarian immediately. The cat needs medical care to resolve the problem.

There are hairball medicines on the market that will help your cat remove the blockage and also helping to prevent future hairballs. There even is cat foods that help prevent hairballs.

For pet owners, paying for the medical care can be expensive. If hairballs become a serious problem and block your cat’s intestines, it might require a costly surgery to remove it. So, paying for the preventative measures is a better, and less costly, investment.

The more you know about hairballs and their causes, the better you’ll be able to care for your cat – and your checkbook.

It is normal for cats to lose hair. They lose hair everyday and virtually every minute of every day.

Cats’ fur coats thicken upon the arrival of cooler weather in the fall and winter. Then, when spring arrives with its warmer temperatures, cats naturally begin losing some of that fur coat because they no longer need it to stay warm.

That’s when you begin to notice more cat hair on your pillow, on your couch and more dust-bunnies bouncing along your kitchen floor. You spend more time vacuuming the hair and sweeping floors. This is a common time for cats prone to hairballs to have problems.

Brushing your cat’s fur daily will do a lot to help prevent hairballs. Brushing the fur will pull out loose hair that otherwise would end up inside your cat. This will cut down on the amount of hair that potentially could build up and create a hairball. It’s an easy task and only takes a few minutes a day.

Many cats enjoy brushing and will become very affectionate during the process.

Pet shops sometimes sell wall-mounted brushes that some cats enjoy rubbing against. It feels good to the cat but also will pull out some of that loose hair and help curb a hairball problem. It’s another affordable investment to keep your cat healthy.

Remember, if you don’t have a pet shop near you, or can’t get to one easily, there are numerous pet supply businesses with Web sites. Order online and it will be delivered to your front door.

An ugly and disgusting side of a cat’s hairball problem is vomiting. Cats with this problem will vomit the hairball up. You’ll find evidence of this throughout your home – on carpets, on hard wood flooring, on your bed and on window sills. It’s a mess to clean up and can stain your cloth. It’s also dangerous for your pet to vomit so much each day.

One method to help curtail the vomiting problem is to give your cat grass to eat. Many cats enjoy eating grass and it will help clear the hairball.

Veterinarians also have remedies they will sell you, and some do not cost a lot of money. Some of these are liquids that can be dropped into your cat’s drinking bowl.

How to Train and Handle an African Grey

The most popular talking bird is the African Grey, which can develop a vocabulary of about 2,000 words and is as smart as a small child.

Many bird owners appreciate the African Grey because the words it speaks are more clear and understandable than with other varieties of talking birds. Also, among birds, it is considered very intelligent.

Training the African Grey is a challenge, especially for first-time bird owners. It is a sociable bird and very curious, requiring much attention and a strict training regimen. This is required if you want it to become the pleasant pet you desire.

A good, and sometimes bad, quality of the bird is its ability to learn sounds very quickly. It will mimic anything it hears you say around the house and may even copy sounds of machines, like phones and oven timers. If you’re not careful, it even will copy the ring of your phone.

At first, the bird will be shy around strangers and it is best to let it get used to your friends and family members slowly, over time. Later, after it is more comfortable with them, it will be friendlier and more open with them.

The bird also has a fun side and enjoys toys, but not too many at once. Bring out a toy and let the African Grey get used to that one toy. Then, introduce other toys later.

When your bird listens and follows directions, reinforce the behavior. Food is a great reward during training. You can learn what food your bird likes most by inspecting his food tray. Watch for the food that disappears first. That’s what you should use during training.

Spend time with your bird daily, talking to it and letting it become accustomed to your voice. Allow it to come outside of its cage and get to know you and trust you. A good time to do this is during feeding.

Persistence and patience is the key to success with your African Grey. Soon, the bird will sense that it belongs to you and you will feel as if it is part of your family, too.

Benefits of Feeding Dogs All Natural Diets

The rise in popularity of all natural dog foods is directly tied to the slew of product recalls in recent years and the growing number of illnesses affecting dogs.

Concerns about avoiding potentially fatal diseases and problems with popular brands of foods is enough to make a dog owner go crazy. So much rides on the decisions you make for your favorite pet.

Thus, the rise of all natural dog foods, which are beneficial for the health of your dog and, over the long run, can cut costs on visits to the veterinarian. It also will give you some peace of mind.

An all natural diet is intended to closely mimic what the animal would eat in their natural environment.

Most significant to pet owners is the ingredient content. Natural products don’t include any antibiotics, steroids or hormones that owners wish to avoid.

Once on a natural diet, you’re sure to notice the differences as the food benefits the animal’s health. The change will improve your dog’s immune system and as a result, they will be less prone to acquire infections, illnesses and leukemia.

Natural foods help to curb digestive and skin issues. It will become easier to achieve a healthy weight for your dog and they will see a boost in their daily energy.

Over the long run, the better health of your dog will cut costs at the veterinary office as you’ll not have to purchase medications as often or even visit for the run of the mill illnesses that pop up over a year. This savings makes the slightly higher cost of the natural food worthwhile.

Change your pet’s diet gradually – not all at once. Mix the new food in a little at a time. Maybe start with only a quarter portion of new food and three-quarters of the old. Then add more new food after a few days and repeat every few days until you’ve completely switched over.

Reasons Cats Lose Their Hair

Cats can lose hair for a variety of reasons and in most instances the cause is simple.

In most cases, the trigger is an allergic reaction to food or even poor nutrition. And, if so, the good news is you can combat the hair loss by altering your cat’s diet.

The solution might be changing brands of food, or switching from canned food to dry food. It might be a type of food, like fish-based food, that you need to avoid. So, finding the solution might take a little time and effort, but in the end, you’ll notice the differences in your cat. The solution will be obvious and worthwhile to make your cat more comfortable.

Sometimes, the simple solutions don’t work. This is a signal that their might be a more serious problem. There are conditions and illnesses that also cause hair loss in cats and they can be treated if caught and tended to.

Hyperthyroidism is a common ailment among cats and the primary symptom is losing hair. Cats with this condition also might show weight loss, eating too much, become overly thirsty, lose weight or become negligent with their grooming. Luckily, there is medication for cats to help battle hyperthyroidism.

Don’t confuse hyperthyroidism with hypothyroidism. They look and sound the same, but hypothyroidism is the name given for a hormone imbalance in casts. This also causes them to lose their fur and even groom excessively.

Cats with this disorder often lick all the time and even bite their skin. Sometimes, you’ll notice clumps of fur from the licking and biting that has fallen out. Cats with hypothyroidism also tend to have very dry skin.

The condition is somewhat rare and most often appears in older cats. To treat it, see your veterinarian immediately and follow his advice.

How to Detect Tropical Fish Disease Before Its Too Late

Tropical fish just as any other kind of animal and living being can get sick and suffer from disease. There are ways to tell if your fish is suffering from a tropical fish disease and treat it before it is too late.

The Five Most Common Signs of Fish Disease Include:
There is excessive mucus on the scales of the fish, or white spots. But some kinds of fish have mucus on their scales to protect them, so if in doubt ask a professional. Not all mucus is a sign of disease, but it could be.
If your fish has bright eyes, he is most likely healthy. If the eyes look cloud or nontransparent, you need to find out if it is sick. Healthy fish always have clear looking eyes.
If your tropical fish has fungus on it, it could be an indicator of fish disease. Make sure you check over the dorsal fin as well, sick fish tend to fold the dorsal fin down, and healthy fish do not.
If your fish is not swimming or moving around at all in your tank, it might be an indicator of tropical fish disease. Fish should also be swimming in different areas of the tank, not just at the top or the bottom.
If you do not keep your tank clean and the water clear, tropical fish disease can spread from one fish to another fish. If the tank becomes dirty and cloudy, you may have some sick fish.

Although these are good indicators if your fish is suffering from tropical fish disease, if you feel that one of your fish is infected, you should remove it from the tank and separate it from the rest so that it will not spread the disease to the others.