Saturday

Helpful Tips to Provide the Best Care for your House Cat

As a pet owner, you probably know the importance of taking good care of your cat, and you no doubt want to make sure that you are doing everything you can to make sure that your cat can lead a happy and healthy life. Starting when they are kittens, the kind of care that you provide for your cat can have a big impact on the health of your cat when they grow up. Taking good care of your cat involves giving them the proper nutrition, showing them lots of love and affection and making sure that they get the proper attention from their vet and exercise.

The kind of food that you feed your cats is one of the most important ways to make sure that they are healthy and will stay healthy. Natural cat food is one of the best choices for your cat because it does not contain chemicals and has lots of good vegetables and proteins in it. Even if good quality food is a little bit more expensive than generic and processed foods, it is well worth it if it can make a big difference in the overall health of your cat.

Another thing you can do to help make your house cat healthy is to check them regularly for fleas or other allergens that may be affecting them. If your cat can stay inside at all times and not go outside, this is the best preventative way to make sure that he will not contract fleas or other diseases that are out there from other animals. You should also pay good attention to the dental and gum care of your cat. If you feed them healthy and natural cat food, they are much less likely to develop diseases in the gums and mouth, and it can help them stay healthy.

Getting regular checkups from your vet is another good way to help protect your cat, and make sure that you pay close attention to your cat to help notice any changes in his mood, behavior or eating habits that could indicate a possible illness or problem. Make sure that you are very affectionate and loving with your cat, especially when they are kittens, this will help them to get used to being close to you, and help them to grow up into healthy and happy cats.

Friday

Some Rules of Thumb While Training Your Puppy

As the owner of a puppy, you are probably the most overwhelming element of its little canine life, taking up the roles of its mother, father, siblings, caretaker and playmate. If you add to that list the role of ‘trainer’ then you’ve got yourself a cute, big ball of responsibility rolling your way. Training a dog, of course, requires a little more than simply giving it a command and expecting it to obey. Unfortunately, many people end up trying to train their canine companions exactly in this way. They also make a host of other mistakes that are common enough and, as such, easy to avoid as well.

The first thing you should do is head over to your nearest bookstore and get the best book on dog training you can find. If it has a picture of regal looking German Shepherds on the cover, so much the better. Probably the first thing you will learn from it is that your dog is ‘human’ too, that it has feelings and, though it does have a brain, it is not a super brain. What this means is don’t expect too much from the little pup. It’s not going to know immediately what you want to teach it and whatever it does learn will have to be repeated over and over for the lesson to truly sink in.

And remember, you need to take into consideration many different factors such as the breed, the gender and the age of the dog. You also need to be aware of how the puppy was treated before it came to you. All these aspects have a bearing on how well the puppy will respond to the kind of training methods used. But remember, if you do your research right you can teach your dog all sorts of necessary commands (heel, sit, stay, guard) as well as a few fun tricks also, like high fives! You can see that one in action here (http://www.labradorsavvy.com/labrador-training.html). Some dogs, like Labradors, German Shepherds and even Cocker Spaniels, are more receptive to ‘tricks’ training than other breeds so you need to keep this in mind as well.

Concomitantly, how fast and well the puppy learns your commands definitely has a direct correlation to its intelligence. Whether it learns the commands at all is up to the trainer. Perseverance, patience and praise are crucial to this end, but the first thing you need to do is establish your dog’s trust. Always speak soothingly, calmly and firmly. Enunciate the training word clearly without being harsh or too loud – an angry tone can confuse the dog and make it timid, impeding the training process even more.

Building on that, it’s always best to keep punishment to a minimum. This applies to when you’re potty-training the dog but when training it to obey commands there is never a need for scolding. Patience and, above all, praise for when the puppy does get it right, however voluntarily or involuntarily, is of key importance. And once you’ve got the puppy house-trained and able to understand a few commands, you’ll start noticing again what a treasure that little ball of fluff has become. Remember, dogs are for life, not just Christmas!

Thursday

Home Cures for Dog’s Ears

Your pets are prone to infections, just as you are. Dogs and cats are commonly prone to ear infections, dogs maybe more so than cats. An infection in the outer ear canal by yeast or bacteria is the most common form in dogs. Known as ‘otitis externa,’ it is most likely to occur in dogs with large or hairy ears.

Some of the symptoms can include the dog scratching its ear more than usual, rubbing its head against objects trying to get rid of the fluid and debris building up inside the ear and vigorously shaking its head. Sometimes the buildup can cause a discharge accompanied by a strong odor from the dog’s ear. In the worst case a tumor could form in the ear canal if the infection is left untreated for long enough. This can then result in hearing loss and other complications that can be prevented by timely and effective intervention.

So, what do some of the interventions include? There are some home remedies you can use as preventions. Many vets recommend wiping the ear out with acetic acid, more commonly known as vinegar, which removes dirt and buildups in the ear. Another common remedy is the use of essential oils, for instance olive oil, that prevent as well as cure. The best way to actually wipe the dog’s ears is by using a cotton or tissue wad moistened with the liquids mentioned and gently mopping in an outward direction from the inner ear. There is not need to do this everyday but it should be done regularly to keep your pet’s ears clean and healthy.

Another painless home remedy is trimming the hair on the inside of the dog’s ears, especially if it has long fur or long ears that flop down. The hair is important to the dog’s hearing but just trimming a little will greatly reduce the possibility of foreign objects finding a home in its outer canal. You might want to make sure the dog can’t move too much so it doesn’t flinch while you’re trimming.

Make it a practice to regularly remove wax and dirt from your dog’s ear. It is important that you be responsible for all aspects of your pet’s health as you are its main source of love, food, happiness and healthy living. A few last things to keep in mind and then we’re done here. First, you can boost the dog’s immune system through a regular dose of vitamin C and, of course, a healthy diet to ensure the dog is fighting fit and able to recover from any infection, not just in the ear. Antiseptic and antimicrobial herbal remedies, such as Marigold, Rosemary extracts and Tea Tree Oil, all help in ear and skin health and are available from PetAlive Ear Dr. for instance. Finally, groom your dog regularly, make sure it is well fed and exercised and interact with it often. A happy pet is a healthy pet!

Monday

How Protein Rich Cat Foods Can Affect Your Senior Cats

If you have a senior cat in your house, you no doubt are aware of the special needs and care that he may require because of his advanced age. One of the things that you should know about is how feeding him a cat food that is too high in protein can have negative effects on his health. The reason that protein can be harmful for your senior cat if you feed him too much of it is because senior cats actually require less protein than younger cats and they have weaker vital organs.

Because senior cats have weaker vital organs than younger cats do, they are generally less active and do not require as much protein to function as they once did. If you feed your senior cat too much protein, it can actually start to damage his vital organs like the kidneys and liver. When cats consume protein, their digestive systems need to breakdown the proteins to make their bodies be able to absorb all of the nutrients efficiently. Sometimes, if their body is flooded with too many proteins when they get older, the digestive system is not able to keep you with it and it can actually produce harmful products that the kidneys will have to work extra hard for to remove.

If the kidneys and livers in senior cats have to work too hard for too long, it can cause too much strain on them and make it very difficult for them to be able to rid all of the toxins out of their bodies. This can be potentially dangerous for them. You should monitor carefully the amount of protein that your senior cat takes in through his diet, and if you have any questions on what is the right amount, or how much is too much to feed him you should check with his vet. If your cat already has problems with his kidneys or liver, you may want to talk to your vet about choosing a formula of food that is right for him and that has lower levels of protein in it. You want to take care of your senior cat, so make sure that you are feeding him the best diet that you can and help ensure that you can keep him healthy.

Sunday

How to Tell if Your Dog May Have Canine Diabetes

Diabetes is a serious illness for both humans and animals. While there has been extensive work and research done on the treatment and symptoms of diabetes in humans, animals have not always been in the spotlight for getting the disease and possible treatments. But there are certain things that you can watch for in your dog that may indicate that he may have diabetes. If you suspect your dog may have canine diabetes, make sure that you contact your vet and find out so that you can properly treat him for it before it gets worse.

Here are some common symptoms to watch for in your dog for canine diabetes:

· Your dog may begin to drink excessive amounts of water – more than he used to or more than you think is normal – especially if he has not increased his activity level or if it is not excessively hot outside.


· Frequent urination – if your dog has to go to the bathroom a lot more than he used to , or if it seems in excess of the amount of water you see him consuming.


· If your dog suddenly begins to have significant weight gain or weight loss.


· If your dog appears to be lethargic or have a loss of energy during the day when he used to b ea lot more active.

If you think that your dog may exhibit any of these signs of canine diabetes, you can contact your vet to perform a simple kind of blood test that can help your vet know if the glucose level in your dog is pointing toward canine diabetes. You should also have your vet do a complete physical every year, which can help to find the disease earlier and start treatment.

Canine diabetes can be controlled, and if your dog is diagnosed with it, you generally will be given insulin injections to give to your dog daily, and usually these injections are enough to be effective in controlling the disease and keep the glucose levels where they need to be to keep your dog healthy. You should make sure that you or someone in your home is properly trained by a vet to give your dog the shots he needs and that is able to know what to do in case of an emergency with your dog.

Saturday

Helpful Hints for Washing your Dog

When it comes to bath time, your dog may not always cooperate with you, and you may try to avoid the whole situation because it is too stressful for both you and your dog. But there are better ways to deal with bath time and dogs and things that you can do to make it an easier process for both your dog and yourself.

Washing your dog is important for keeping him clean and healthy, although it may not always be the most positive experience for either of you. The important thing that you need to remember is that part of having a dog involves keeping them properly bathed and cleaned. You need to be patient with your dog, and the earlier that you begin to introduce him to the idea of getting washed, the easier that the process will be for you. If you start early with your dog, when he is a puppy, and work your way into it, that is generally the best approach to take.

If you do not bathe your dog when he is young, the whole situation is new and potentially stressful for him. When you do start to wash your dog, be patient with him and let him know that it is not a form of punishment, but an activity that you do together. Make sure that you have a rubber mat in the tub when you are washing your dog, if he can not feel his grip on the tub and slides, it can be scary for him, so make sure that he is able to keep his footing.

You may want to try using a booster bath; these are easy to use and affordable. It can be more comfortable to use a booster bath for you and make your dog feel more comfortable. You can also place cotton wool inside of your dog’s ears so that they will not get any water in their ears, which can also scare them. Make sure that you use shampoos that are formulated for dogs, and not humans. You can find a lot of different kinds of shampoo to use on your dog, and depending on the breed and kind of fur that your dog has, you are find one that is the best to use on him.
Washing your dog does not have to be a terrible task for either of you, as long as you are patient and loving with your dog and let him know that it can be a good experience.



Friday

How Nutrition Affects Your Dog’s Behavior

Have you ever wondered if there is any link between the kind of nutrition your dog receives and the way that he acts? According to experts, there are links between the kind and quality of nutrition that your dog receives and how he behaves.

You probably are already aware of how the quality of nutrition that you provide for your dog has a direct impact on the quality of his health and can help him to lead a happy and healthy life, but nutrition is a lot more complex that affecting only the physical attributes of your dog, it also can have a big impact on the way that your dog acts and how well behaved he is. Nutrition can help your dog to think clearly, lower the stress levels and overall produce a better and calmer behavior.

It takes a lot of energy for dogs and humans to be able to function mentally and think clearly. When your dog is involved in any kind of a training program, ensuring that he gets the proper nutrition can be critical to his success in the training behavior and can affect how well he learns and acts. If your dog is malnourished, he may be showing signs of being lethargic, have a loss of concentration, and can even appear confused at times. If your dog is showing any of these signs, especially when he is in a training program, he may be experiencing a lack of quality nutrition.
Most expert trainers first look and critique the way a dog eats and the nutrition that his owners are feeding him to help determine if he is apt to have any problems in training or if he exhibits any signs of not obeying and showing bad behavior. Some things that trainers look for is if the dog is unfocused or out of control it may indicate that he is receiving too many cereal compounds in his diets. Aggressive dogs tend to have higher levels of uncomplete proteins in their diets and shy dogs often are not digesting the food they eat properly.

If you want to make sure that your dog is receiving and digesting the proper nutrition, you can perform a simple test of soaking his food in water for about 3o minutes and see what happens to it. If it swells up and becomes large it is primarily cereal based and you may want to change foods, or supplement more protein in his diet.

Thursday

Detecting Lyme Disease in Dogs

It is not always easy to tell when a dog, even your own dog, has Lyme disease. In fact, it’s practically impossible to tell. There are symptoms but they are either very small or inconsistent, hence the difficulty. For instance, in humans this infection produces a rash but in dogs this is not so. Vets do not always look for it unless you specify and many other illnesses or factors can produce some of the same symptoms which again adds another level of complication in detection.

Lyme disease is an infection that most commonly, in both humans and dogs, results from a tick bite. In dogs it may present as sudden but brief lameness lasting maybe three or four days, recurring at intervals of weeks or months. Fever, anorexia and lethargy may also occur which can be symptoms of other medical problems but if your dog presents with these then get it checked up immediately. Lyme disease is curable!

Diagnosis is most commonly done with a blood test but even then it is not a foolproof method. Get your dog checked up regularly as this can be an extremely debilitating disease if left unchecked. As with most things, prevention is the best cure so make sure you keep your dog tick free! Groom your dog regularly, wash with a gentle doggy shampoo and check for ticks everyday especially if you live in woody areas or if your dog is regularly exposed to high grass and bushes. Some medicines that your vet might prescribe include Advantix, Arthramine, Cosequin, Frontline and Heartgard but always make sure you talk to your vet before getting any drugs for the dog. And remember, a healthy happy dog is a healthy happy you!

Christmas Holiday and Winter Hazards for Pets

For many people, winter and the Christmas holiday season are happy times of years. Most of us enjoy quiet evenings indoors watching the snow fall and cuddle up with our pets. But there are also a lot of holiday hazards and winter hazards that can adversely affect our pets that we should all be aware of. A lot of common products that we have in and around our house at the holiday time of year can be very dangerous to our pets. Some of these items include:


Alcoholic beverages

Chocolate

Coffee

Onions, onion powder

Fatty foods

Salt

Yeast

Dough


In addition to those food products, there are also some holiday hazards in the way of household plants that we typically find in the winter and Christmas holiday seasons that include lilies and poinsettias. There are certain kinds of lilies that can be fatal to your cat if ingested that include Tiger lilies, Asian lilies, Japanese show lilies, Easter lilies, Stargazer lilies and Casa Blanca lilies that can potentially cause acute kidney failure in cats.


Poinsettias can be generally low in toxicity, but if they are ingested, they can irritate the mouth and stomach in cats. Mistletoe can have a negative cardiovascular effect on animals and can often cause gastrointestinal upset in pets. Holly is another holiday hazard that is around during the Christmas holiday can it can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy in animals. If you fear that your pet has gotten into and ingested any of these holiday hazards, please seek the advice of your vet for proper care.


There are also holiday hazards that can be around your Christmas tree. Water in your Christmas tree can often contain fertilizers that can cause stomach upset in animals if it is ingested. Also, stagnant tree water can have a lot of bacteria which can make your pets ill if ingested. You should also keep electrical cords safely out of reach of your pets and ribbons; tinsel and other holiday trimmings can cause obstruction in the intestinal tract of your pet if ingested, so use special care when using those items.


Other holiday hazards for your pets can include batteries and glass ornaments. There are also other winter hazards that include antifreeze and ice-melting products that can be very dangerous to your pets, so make sure that you use those products with care.

Tuesday

How to Get Veggies into Your Bearded Dragon

Bearded dragons (or ‘beardies’) are a species of lizard so called because of a kind of ‘ruff’ around the lower half of their necks. They are omnivorous with non-static eating habits. When young, they will mainly require protein or meat as food to help them grow. Once they are a certain age, however, they will shift to mainly greens, but you need to encourage this transition.

Sometimes it is easy to get your beardie into the greener pastures. At other times, the little blighters can be really stubborn. If you’ve got a stubborn beardie then you’re going to have to use a few tricks to get them to ‘eat their peas’ so to speak. (Please note at the start: certain vegetables are just outright bad or lethal for your beardie and these include kale, cabbage, avocado, rhubarb, lettuce and spinach. Please do a quick search online or get advice from your vet before feeding the beardie anything.)

The first little trick to try is actually quite simple. Make sure the beardie can see its food. If it can’t see the little green leaf in the corner of its cage, try putting it in its water-bowl or hanging it in front of the beardie so it can bite off chunks. Try moving the veggie around a bit as well to make it look alive, as beardies like to consume live food. You can also drop it from on top so the beardie might want to ‘catch’ it. Once a beardie finds that greens are edible, they will continue eating with some relish.

You might also want to try the whole ‘Trojan horse’ technique. If you’ve been feeding the beardie crickets, then you can actually stuff a whole bunch of greens into the cricket before giving it to your pet. Like a Christmas turkey except with a cricket. When the beardie eats the cricket it will be eating the greens as well. Or, just mix up a lot of cricket and insect food with the veggies so that the beardie ends up eating a bit of both.

Then of course there’s the ‘tough love’ method where you don’t feed your beardie anything for a couple days and then shove some greens into the cage. This is hard to do, watching your beardie go hungry and looking up at you with those imploring eyes, but that’s why it’s called ‘tough’ love right? So anyway, starve your dragon, mist the vegetables and then wave them around in its face. They might just eat them for the moisture, but they will eat them and start to develop a taste.

Don’t hesitate to use any little tricks you can to get your dragon eating greens and vegetables; it’s extremely important to the lizard’s health and growth. Hopefully after one or two weeks using the above methods or any others you may have thought of, your dragon will be happily munching away like a little cow.

Monday

The Best Canine Chow for Little Pooch

Just like growing children, growing puppies need an optimal mix of nutrition for their health and well-being. Many dog food manufacturers have pure or mixed dog food products and it is a good idea to look into what will work best for your little canine treasure. The first thing to note is that puppies normally need a ratio of nutrients that includes about 40% protein food (meats), 30% vegetables, 15% carbohydrates and 15% fats per day. Any meat is good to feed the young pup but vegetables should be given in smaller doses. Some grains that are considered good for pups include rolled oats, brown rice, millet and barley.

Good quality pre-packaged food should contain the above nutrients in small variations and the only additives included should be vitamin E or C as preservatives. Chemicals such as BHT, BHA and Ethoxyquin should be avoided. Remember, always to try a bit of the dog food yourself before giving it to your canine companion; if you’re completely horrified by it, chances are your dog will be, too. And as far as candy goes, well, I’d follow my mother’s rule of thumb. Occasionally she’d give them a cookie from the tea-table, or a small piece of chocolate after dinner but otherwise, sweets were a big no-no for the dogs, especially when they were young pups. (Note: chocolate is generally not considered good for the dog, but ours would look up so longingly we had to give them a piece, however tiny.)

If you are worried that pre-packaged dog food, or kibbles, available in stores is way too processed, then you can consider giving them ‘real’ food. This can either be given raw, semi-raw or cooked. For instance, something my mother used to do was buy a whole bunch of chicken legs from the butcher, mix them in with some grains and cook the whole lot on a low fire for about an hour or two. This softened up the chicken legs and provided a great deal of nutrition. Our pups loved them! They were healthy and happy with glossy coats and ebullient natures. Sometimes they’d be given a raw joint-bone to gnaw on as a treat and you can think about doing this for your little canines as well.

If the dog is much younger, however, then it makes sense to start with softer foods such as pieces of meat or chicken mixed in with some rice. You can even make a kind of soup from it that will be very nutritious. Preparing food yourself can be much cheaper than buying it processed and packaged from stores and it will be even healthier too! It may take a little more time, but do it right and your dog will love you. It’s not too difficult as there are all sorts of easy recipes available online or from bookstores.

Dogs are meat-eaters for the most part, and although they would survive on a vegetarian diet, they wouldn’t be very happy doing it. Therefore, you need to check whether you’re giving them a balanced diet and one way to do this is to take note of your pup’s poo. If it is firm and relatively less odorous, then you are both in the clear. If it is gooey or has blood in it, then a visit to the vet is in order. And just as with people, dogs have food preferences as well, so keep observing your dog’s reactions to the food you give and eventually you’ll find the right canine menu that’ll keep you both happy!

Sunday

How to Get Rid of Roundworms

Roundworms come from eggs that are found in animal droppings and there are a variety of ways in which the eggs could get there. One reason that the eggs can be found there is that the animal ate another animal that had the roundworms. Or as is often common with dogs, the animal can eat the feces of another animal that had roundworms.

It is hard to treat roundworms right away because the roundworm larva that have recently hatched are immune to medicines used to de-worm animals. The larva is able to move through the intestinal walls of your pet until they reach the pets’ lungs. Once the larva reaches the lungs in your pet it can be coughed out and swallowed again, or ingested by another animal. Since roundworms can be passed between animals, there is a good chance that anyone who has a pet can experience roundworms in them. There are signs and symptoms that you can watch for in your pet to help you catch the roundworms early on:

· Your pet begins to have a pot-bellied appearance

· Your pet may experience some vomiting

· Your pet may experience poor growth or frequent loss of appetite

· Your pet may experience weight loss

· Your pet may experience diarrhea and dehydration

· You may notice worms or parts of the worms that show up in your animals feces or around their anus

· You may notice worms or parts of worms in and around the bedding that your pet uses

You have to act quickly when you learn that your pet has been infected with roundworms in order to help them get rid of them and to stop the spreading of them to other pets and animals. Your vet can recommend a medication to give to your pets to help get rid of the worms and in some cases the complete removal of roundworms will require multiple treatments. You can also try to help your pets avoid getting infested with roundworms by watching them closely when they are outside and around other animals and try to stop them from ingesting the feces or vomit of another pet or animal who may be infested with roundworms.

Saturday

Caring for Your Little Parakeet in Every Way

Parakeets, also known as Budgerigars (or Budgies), make perfect pets for first-time pet owner as they are generally easy to look after, easily tamed, pretty, intelligent and can even learn to talk! Of course, if you’ve just brought your parakeet home, the first thing you need to do is establish some kind of rapport with the bird so it feels comfortable and safe around you. This won’t, of course, be an overnight process but you need to start right away.

Firstly, keep it in a ‘safe’ location, generally at about head-height in some corner of a room you tend to inhabit more than any other. This will give the bird a sense of security from being at a height and also get it used to your face. It’s a wonderfully smart little thing and will even begin picking up on your moods eventually. You also need make sure the cage is big enough for the parakeet to be comfortable in and it should be kept quite clean. Remove bird droppings daily from the cage, for instance, and make sure you clear out seed-shells before putting in new food. Talk to it often, using ‘hard’ sounds like the ‘t’, ‘p’, ‘k’ used in ‘pretty parakeet’. These are easier for the bird to mimic as well and may encourage it to start talking back at you!

The next big thing, of course, is food. The kind of bird-seed you use, how often you feed the bird and what you give the bird apart from seed is of some consideration. Normally people find that some kind of seed mix that’s been fortified with vitamins is an optimal base. On this then other ‘rabbit’ food may be added, such as certain fruits and vegetables. This can potentially extend the life of your bird by up to five or six years! If you think about it, you’ll realise that in the wild, parakeets eat all sorts of food items not restricted to just seed.

Oh, a word of caution; if you see some suspiciously colourful looking seeds they may be artificially dyed seeds and you should keep your pretty parakeet away from them. Also, if the seed you bought, say, a few weeks ago becomes a bit stale and dusty, it’s likely got ‘seed moth’ and you need to buy a new bag. Try freezing it as soon as you’ve bought a bag to avoid this problem, but do remember to give it time to thaw before feeding your bird.

A few last tips: always keep fresh water in the bird’s cage and make sure there’s always enough food. Remember to ‘finger-train’ it as well so that you can allow it out of the cage for some daily exercise. It won’t ever really over-eat, but it needs to be able to fly every now and then, just so it can stay a bird and not just a pet.

Friday

Types of Seizures in Dogs and Cats

There are different classifications of seizures that can occur in dogs and cats, and differ on the severity and the duration. These are classified as mild, moderate, clustered and severe. Mild or Petit Mal seizures in pets are momentary seizures that have symptoms limited to upward eye movements and blank stares.

Moderate or Grand Mal seizures in pets are characterized by behaviors like the cat or dog falling down, a loss of rigidity in the legs and a loss of consciousness. Grand mal seizures typically last for one to three minutes and then are followed by a period of the dog or cat being restless, running around and running or bumping into objects in the home.

Status epilepticus is the most severe type of seizure in pets and can last for ten minutes or more at one time. It can also be a series of constant seizures within a short period of time without the animal being able to regain consciousness. Cluster seizures in animals are seizures that are multiple within one day and are very difficult to be able to distinguish from status epilipticus.

The seizures that occur with pets are hard to predict and they can occur at any time. The more serious types of seizures can be fatal to pets. There is a period of time known as the aura that occurs before the seizure takes place and lasts for a period of seconds. In this time, it is hard to notice any changes in the animal and can be difficult to know that it will turn into a seizure. Seizures themselves are known as ictuses and they can be a sudden occurrence or a recurrence of a disease. The dog that experiences a seizure can also experience involuntary urination or defecation, convulsions and a loss of control of the limbs. After the seizures, he may appear confused, have a loss of bladder control and be distressed and disorientated.

When you see your dog having a seizure it is best to keep a safe distance from him and only approach him from behind. Do not panic, but take good details of what is happening during the seizure to be able to tell your vet the kind of seizure that he is having. You should tell your vet about any kind of seizure that you suspect your dog or cat is having.

Thursday

Turtles for Newbies-How to Choose and Care for Your Turtle Pet

Something to understand from the outset is that your turtle won’t interact with you much and can require a great deal of care, but in all other respects it’ll make a great pet. Turtles are quiet, beautiful and fascinating and it’s important to remember that you’re taking on the responsibility of caring for another life, small though it may be. So when you choose a turtle you need to put some thought into what type it is, its behaviours and needs and how well it will fit into your lifestyle. Generally, basic care for turtles is the same, but there are some differences between turtles. Below are three of the most common sorts of turtles people normally keep as pets:

The Box Turtle

The Box turtle is, surprisingly, one of the most popular choices as a pet for people the world over. There are different kinds of box turtles but most are characterised by a large, dome shell. These turtles average a lifespan of forty years (sometimes a hundred!) so be really sure about adopting one. If you don’t move around much that helps a lot since Box turtles are quite territorial and are compelled by instinct to stay near their birthplace for their whole life. They will spend the rest of their lives unsystematically searching for their ‘home land’ even though they may never find it. It is important to note that Box turtles require more care than most other turtles as they can be easily stressed by over-handling. Hence, not an advisable pet for small children or if there are other, bigger animals around like dogs and cats. If you live in the country or have a house with a garden then that is ideal as they need lots of sunlight and a varied diet (berries, insects and other food products.)

The Slider Turtle

Also known as Red Eared Sliders, these critters can grow up to a foot in length and can possibly outlive you. They make excellent pets and are popular despite a bit of a Salmonella scare back in the 70s. Initially, the tiny turtle babies will be happy enough in a decent sized goldfish-bowl of water (in fact, you can even feed them the goldfish!) as long as the water is kept clean, there is gravel at the bottom and there is enough sunlight for them to bask in everyday. Sliders are meat-eaters to start with and become more vegetarian as they grow older. So, the goldfish mentioned above, worm cubes and food sticks are a definite yes in the slider nutrient department which you can vary up with rabbit food. Interestingly enough, you can tell how well your slider is doing by its colouring: sharp and bright-eyed if healthy, dull skin with dull eyes if sick. Again, not recommended for small children but if you’re up for something different the Red Eared Slider will do you fine!

The Painted Turtle

With a beautifully ‘painted’ underbelly that is either solid yellow or with symmetrical red and black markings, the Painted turtle is a relative of the Slider turtle and also grows to just a little under a foot in length. Like their cousins, the Sliders, these turtles hibernate in the winter, and have been known to go up to five months without oxygen (they do this by slowing down their metabolic rate to an awesome degree). This should be taken into consideration when choosing a Painter as a pet – as well as that they need mud to burrow into when they hibernate, going down to almost three feet under ground level. Similarly to the Slider, the little ones prefer meat-food (insects and so forth) and graduate to vegetation as they get older. They are a little more complicated to look after than other turtles, but Painter turtles are gorgeous, fascinating creatures to have around.

Tuesday

Health Problems with Guinea Pigs

When you want to bring a pet into your home and you choose guinea pigs as the pet for your family, you should make sure that there is a vet in your local area that is familiar with the care of small pets such as guinea pigs. A lot of people are not aware of the expense that it can take to receive vet care for your small pets. Guinea pigs can live on average four to eight years, and can get sick during that time and require vet attention.

One reason that is important to make sure that there is a vet in your area that knows how to treat small pets is because guinea pigs can get sick quickly and when they do, they can deteriorate quickly also. You need to get to a vet early when you suspect your guinea pigs of being ill before it is too late. Most people take for granted that guinea pigs may require the care of the vet because unlike other pets, they do not have to go get shots or have regular checkups, but they should see a vet at least once a year to make sure that they are healthy.

There are some vets that are not experienced in treating small animals, and that may not even see your guinea pigs if you bring them in for a check-up or for treatment, so it is very important that you find out if there are vets in your local area that will treat them. It is always a good idea to ask the pet store or person that you are buying your guinea pigs from if there is a vet in the area that will treat them before your bring them home. If you already have other pets and see a vet regularly, you can always check with them first to see if they treat small animals like guinea pigs. You want to make sure that you do this before your bring your guinea pigs home as a pet, they are very social animals and you can get very attached to them, you do not want to risk them getting ill and not being able to find a vet that will treat them.

Guinea pigs can be excellent choices of animals to have as pets in your home, so make sure you know how to properly care for them.

Monday

Magnetic Therapy for Pets

Our pets share a lot more with us then our families and our homes, they also can share a lot of the same health conditions and illnesses that we suffer from. Often, we turn to alternative health remedies to aid in our healing and to improve our health and we can do the same for our pets. Magnetic therapy is used on humans to treat a number of illnesses and conditions and the good news is, we can now use it safely on animals as well.


Magnetic therapy is simple in nature and has been used for a number of years as an alternative healing method. A magnet can align molecules in a uniform direction, creating an attraction. People and animals are both made from millions of molecules and the use of magnets can help align these molecules which can help increase the power of healing and stimulate circulation. When magnetic therapy is used on pets, it can be especially useful and has a high success rate because cats and dogs both have a much faster circulation system than humans do.


It is because of the faster circulation system in animals that it is possible to access the magnetic fields and allow it to be absorbed into the body faster. There are a lot of pet owners who have turned to magnetic therapy to treat ailments in dogs and cats. A lot of those pet owners who have tried it on their pets report an increase and positive change in their animal’s health in as little time as one week. Magnetic therapy can be used with other traditional forms of medicine or it can be used on its own.


There has been research done that using magnetic therapy on ailments like arthritis, skeletal and muscle issues has been dramatically improving conditions in animals who suffer from those types of ailments. Magnetic therapy has also been used to help relieve pain of organ disorders, epilepsy and sprains and strains. One of the biggest challenges facing the use of magnetic therapy in pets is how to help the animals stay in contact with the magnets. Most of the time, a magnetic bed is used that the animals sleep on.


When you are looking for a treatment that is natural to help treat your pet’s ailments, magnetic therapy has been useful for a lot of pet owners.

Sunday

Fashion Bags that are Comfortable for Pet Travel

If you are trying to find a fashion bag that is both stylish and comfortable for toting around your pet, there are some available for about any kind of taste, style and type of small breed dog. There is a lot of buzz about them in the media with celebrities toting around their small pets with pride and showing off fancy bags with designer labels intact.

Although there are a lot of options when it comes to fashion bags for your small pets, there are certain things that are required in them in order for them to be safe for your small pet to be carried around in. One important thing to look for when selecting your pet fashion bag is that it has mesh on it in an area that will allow your pet to be able to breathe comfortably and allow for enough air circulation to be able to get through and cirulate through the bag. Your pet needs to be able to breathe at ease and should have plenty of fresh air.

The fashion bag that you select should also be free of any fringe or other types of decorations that may harm yoru small pet if ingested. You should also make sure that the fashion bag does not have items dangling on it that could easily be snagged on anything when you are walking by or when you set the bag down. Make sure that the bag is sturdy enough to help protect your pet and that it is able to safely withstand the weight of your pet without falling apart of breaking.

The fashion bag that you select should also be big enough for your pet to allow them to move comfortably but you should also make sure that the bag is not too big that would allow for the pet to be jolted around or slide around when you are walking. It should also be lined properly and be comfortable for your pet to be carried around in for periods of time.

Fashion bags can come in many different shapes and sizes for your small pet, and whether you choose the simple and functional design or a designer favorite, you can transport your pet around in style.

Saturday

Pet Care During the Winter Months

Winter is that time of year when the trees are bare and snow falls to the ground. It can be a wonderful time of year for many of us and we should know that pet care needs change in the winter as well. Cats and dogs know the winter season is approaching and prepare for it by growing their winter coats and they begin to react to the shorter amount of daylight as humans do.


  • Some pet owners make the mistake of assuming that their pets are accustomed to the winter conditions and think that they can still leave them outdoors for long periods of time, but there are things to consider with your pet care when the winter months approach.

  • Make sure that you take your pet to the vet before winter sets in to make sure that your dog or cat is in good health. Older dogs can tend to get sick more easily in the months of winter and if your pet has arthritis or diabetes, he should always get a good check up.

  • Make sure that you watch your pet carefully when it is cold outside. Remember that if you are cold outside, your pet probably is to so if they seem cold, it is a good idea to bring them back inside with you.

  • Keep an eye on potential winter hazards. If you live in an area by ponds or lakes, you should keep your dog away from the ice. You are not always able to judge how thick the ice is and it can be a hazard to your pet. Pet care during the winter requires special attention on your part that you may take for granted. Other hazards like sticks, rocks or trash can be hidden by ice and freshly fallen snow, so make sure you are with your dog when he is walking.

  • Watch out for antifreeze around your pets. The smell of antifreeze attracts dogs and they may drink it if they find it, it is extremely dangerous to your animals, and proper pet care in the winter requires that you keep it out of reach of your pets.

  • Make sure you have a warm shelter for your dog if they need to be outside for long periods of time. They should have a warm bed and fresh water that is not frozen.

  • Be careful when you use rock salt or other ice melting products as they can be harmful to the pads of your dog’s paws.

  • Be very gentle with dogs that are ill or elderly because they can develop worse arthritis in the winter months. Make sure that you are near them when they go around stairs and other areas where they could fall.

  • Cats like to crawl up into warm engines in cars when it is cold outside, so if your cat goes outside be sure to check every time that you start your car to watch out for your cat.

  • Pet sweaters are also a good idea for your dog if they are outside to help keep them warm.


Follow these steps for proper pet care during the winter months.

Friday

Treats That Can Kill Pets

If you are like most pet owners, you love to give your pets treats and want to make sure that they have the best in nutrition. As humans, we commonly enjoy our fair share of treats and may be tempted to offer some to our pets, but there are some that are dangerous. And some treats that you may give your pets can be very harmful, even fatal to them. It is important for you to know what treats are safe and healthy for your pets, and what you should always avoid giving your dog as a treat and what household items you should always keep away from your pets.


One item that you should always make sure that your pets do not ingest is alcohol. Pets are even more apt to experience adverse affects to alcohol than humans and there are many signs that your pets may have ingested alcohol that include the following:


• Changes in behavior

• Depression

• Excitement

•Increased amounts of urination

• Decreased respiratory rate

• Cardiac arrest

• Death


Other substances that you should always avoid your pets from getting into include chocolate. Chocolate can be dangerous to your pets and not because of the high fat content. It contains caffeine, which is dangerous to your pets and also contains the ingredient theobromine, which is dangerous to pets. Some of the signs that your pet may have ingested chocolate include:


• Vomiting

• Diarrhea

• Restlessness

• Hyperactivity

• Muscle twitching

• Increased urination

• Excessive panting

• Increased heart rate

• Increased blood pressure

• Seizure


Artificial sweeteners are also very dangerous to your pets. They contain the ingredient xylitol, which can be harmful to them. Some signs that your pet may have ingested artificial sweeteners include:


• Drop in blood sugar

• Weakness

• Lethargy

• Loss of coordination

• Collapse

• Seizure


Try to make sure that you are doing your best to protect the health of your pets by keeping them away from these dangerous ingredients. If you feel that your animal may have ingested any of the ingredients, seek help from your vet as soon as possible. Some animals depending on their size may take longer to react to certain ingredients than others so it is important to watch them carefully and keep them away from substances in your house that humans enjoy as treats but are dangerous to pets.

Thursday

The Basics of Raising a Goat

If you have ever considered getting a baby goat as a pet, you may wonder what it entails and what you need to know. Raising a goat can be a very fun and rewarding thing to do for you and your family and there are some basics that you should know when considering to raise a goat.

The first thing that you need to have to be able to raise a goat is ample pasture land. This requires about one or two acres per each goat that you want to raise. This acreage is needed for the goats to be able to graze on. Some people choose to add a supplement of goat grain to the land that the goats graze on. There should also be adequate amounts of quality hay available for your goats, especially in the winter and to help supplement the food supply in the drier months in the summer.

Another essential item that you need to have when raising a goat is plenty of fresh water. One of the easiest ways to provide your goats with ample fresh water is by simply filling a bucket every day or by using a trough. There are also automatic water stations available that you can use or if you are worried about the water becoming contaminated or dirty. Automatic water stations can also help ensure a continuous fresh supply of water.

Another essential item you need for raising a goat is proper housing. A good quality goat house used for raising a goat can be very simple like a lean-to shelter or a barn that has plenty of room for hay rooms and stalls.

When raising a goat, you will also need mineral and salt lick blocks for your goats. They can help ensure the overall health of your goat and you will know that your goat is getting the proper nutrients that he needs. You should place your mineral or salt block inside of the goat shelter on something like a block of wood to help it stay dry.

Fencing is an important necessity when raising a goat, and you want to make sure that it is four feet high, has a red top woven wire and twelve inch spacing. You can enjoy a raising a goat when you have the proper equipment and are prepared by having the right size area to raise them.

Wednesday

How To Care For Your Pet Guinea Pigs

Guinea pigs can make excellent choices for pets as long as you know how to take care of them and what you need when you decide to bring one home to your family. Guinea pigs are very sociable animals and are suited ideally for families that have children. One of the first things that you need to consider when choosing guinea pigs as pets is the commitment that it takes to properly care for one. Guinea pigs like any other kind of pet, need a lot of dedication and time and require a lot of care.


You will need to work out arrangements for someone to come in and care for guinea pigs if you are going to be gone on vacation, like you would with your dog or cat. Although guinea pigs are fairly independent animals, they still require a lot of care and essentials in the first few months of their lives in order to survive. One of the biggest things that you need to consider when choosing guinea pigs as pets is to have the proper housing for them. They need a big enough area to exercise and they need the right kind of equipment, such as a run in order to do that. You also need to spend a lot of time with them.


Another important thing you need to have for your guinea pigs is the proper food and nutrition. This largely includes a variety of grains and vegetables for them and you should constantly vary the kinds of foods that you give them. You should also make sure that your guinea pigs are well groomed which involves washing them with a gentle shampoo and brushing them. You should also make sure that you are changing the bedding in their cages at least once a week.


Caring for guinea pigs can be fun and rewarding and they can be a great addition to your family. Make sure that you have the proper size housing, adequate amount of bedding, good supply of food and make sure that you spend enough time with them as they are social animals and enjoy spending time with you. As long as you are properly prepared for your guinea pigs and supply them with what they need to survive and grow, they can make excellent pets for your family and a fun addition as a pet in your home.

Cat Biting and Grabbing Problems-Know The Solution

While playing with your cat, if the cat starts rolling on his back, seizes your hand through his front feet and begins to bite you, then you should note that you have been a victim of “play aggression”.

This behavior is considered as a natural and a biological reaction which is based on the cat’s instinct in which the animal stalks its predator to defend himself, but this is an unwanted behavior which must be corrected.

The frequently asked question is what causes the animal to bite and grab?
Kittens practice their hunting skills on their mother and therefore learn the art of attacking their prey.

You need to know that this is what your kitten or cat tends to do while biting or grabbing your hand in course of play. It may seem a bit cute to some owners, seeing their pet attack their hand but when the pet matures, the habit will continue. Obviously you won’t feel nice when a fully grown cat attacks onto you.

Solutions:

In order to prevent your cat from using “play aggression” against you, you should never pretend that your hand is a toy. This wont let the cat attack your fingers.Always use a cat-friendly toy. This will prevent the cat from pouncing on you.

While playing with your cat, if he gets extra induced and tries to seize you then do no pull off your hand. If you pull away your hand then it will only tempt the cat to grasp on you harder. Just let go off your hand loosely and calmly. He will relax his grasp on you and then you can move your hand after a few moments.

Let your cat wear himself out by redirecting his used up energy towards a toy or his scratching post. This will enable him to focus his energy on the right kind of objects, suitable for him. After a few moments, he’ll calm down.

When you walk past a cat and it grabs your ankles, it only wants to play and not bite. Most cats just tend to grab your ankles with their front paws. They hand on for a second, and then let go. In such a situation, the cat is not trying to hurt you instead he is bored and is searching for someone to play with.

In other cases, some cats sink in their claws and kick with their back feet. Although they are just having fun and playing, this pattern may not be welcomed by the guests and may frighten small children.

So, try and gain some knowledge about play aggression so that you get to know when your cat has had plenty of induction. If his ears have a tendency to go flat against his head, his tail elates, and he rolls on his back, then you need to stop his play immediately and let him calm down.

Monday

Tank Accessories for your Fish Tank

There are five main tank accessories that you should always provide for your fish in your fish tank. These five tank accessories are good for your fish, can help you keep your tank clean and can help prevent diseases in your tank.

1. Fish tank pump – the fish tank pump is the key accessory for your fish tank. It is not always included with the purchase of your fish tank, but it is necessary to provide the right filtration system in your tank. The pump is able to push the water throughout the filter and a lot of pumps can also help oxygenate the water.

2. Filter system- it is necessary to filter your water in the fish tank. Water gets soiled every day in a fish tank, and if you do not clean it, your tank can get cloudy and you can put your fish at risk for getting sick. You have to be aware of how many gallons of water your fish tank can hold in order to pick out the right kind of filtration system. If you do not choose a big enough filter, it will not be able to filter all of the water.

3. Heater – fish like any animal have to have a certain temperature in their environment in order to survive the best. If you have the water in your fish tank too cold or too warm, your fish can not survive as well. Changes in the temperature in your fish tank can also have the same kind of effect, so make sure that you know what kind of temperatures your fish prefer.

4. Light – light is a tank accessory that is very important for your fish and the plants that are in your fish tank. Most fish have a sleeping cycle and an eating cycle and a lighting system can help them with that.

5. Plants – do not use only artificial rocks into your tank; make sure you add in some live plants. They can help the health of your fish and add beauty to your fish tank.

These are a few of the main tank accessories that you need to have for your fish tank. You can help improve the quality that your fish live in.