Track Your Pets- Pet Tracking Options

Are you in need of a good way of tracking your pet? It is unfortunate that some pets often run away from home. Although your pet could be mainly one that never leaves the home, you could probably need a tracking device in case the pet happens to leave home one day.There are three varieties of tracking devices for pets and while deciding which of the devices is best for tracking your pet, you consider factors like budget and the merits and demerits of each device.

Tracking using Radio

These are the cheapest tracking devices. It is one of the best containing methods since all that is needed is dog collar that has a radio transmitter. When the dog has the collar on, you just need to point the receiver device to the direction where the dog is and a signal shows. You are able to know which direction to track the pet and by following the transmitter feedback you can track the pet until retrieval.There are some demerits that come along with this device including the limited range of signal receiving which is mainly four miles. Land terrains are among the determinants of the transmitter’s signal collection.

GPS / GSM TrackingGPS

GSM Tracking has similarities with the radio tracker since it involves a pet collar too where the pet has a collar with a (GPS Global Positioning System) receiver and a (GSM Global System for Mobile Technology) modem which is mainly for sending and receiving satellite signals in detecting the pet’s location. This is mainly within a circumference of 15 meters.

The GSM modem works like a cell phone where transmission is through text messages from the pet’s location.This is a more reliable way of pet tracking since regardless of the distance between you and the pet, as far as there is GSM service, you will get the pet. It is therefore important to ensure that there is availability of GSM network in your area. It is very expensive and it requires you to asses your budget first.

Microchips tracking

Microchips are an expensive way of tracking though they are highly reliable. If you implant a microchip under your pet, your pet will easily be identified though the microchip will not track the pet. A simple scan of the pet will make it identifies since it will have the address of the owner and the pet is returned to you.

Tips that will help you in washing your pet

A major consideration while you want to give your pet a bath is choosing an appropriate environment. When giving your pet a bath, always ensure the environment is secure for the pet and well fenced to avoid the pet getting hurt by running into traffic in case they escape from your grip. When you are bathing your pet in a sink or a bathtub, always ensure that you have tight grip on them to avoid chance where they would escape. The best way to make the pet feel secure while you are bathing them is by placing door rubber mats the sink or tub. The rubbers mats are cheap and they are effective in preventing the pet from running during bath sessions.

The best shampoos for washing your pets are those that are made specifically for the particular breed. This is because they do not destroy the coat of the pet by scraping off the oils on the coats that ensure the pet’s skin is healthy. If you opt to bath the pet with human shampoo, it is advisable to use shampoo made for children since it has a mild effect on the sensitive skin of the pet. When you use shampoo that has perfume on your pet, it could dry the pet’s skin which is sensitive and this will make the pet scratch and have hot spots which will in turn need treatment.

Before bathing your pet, brush its coat. This makes the pet relax and it also removes the loose and dead hairs. This avoids the loose hair blocking the drainage system.

Water that is luke warm is the best for a pet bath. Hot water burns the pet’s sensitive skin and cold water chills the pet and makes the bath a torture. Avoid filing the tub with water to avoid excess spillage when the pet is nervous during the bath. Always give your house pet a bath with minimum water.

While the pet bathing involves a sprayer or a hose, always take care not to spray the mouth, eyes and nose. When water enters these parts of the pet, the bath will not be memorable and enjoyable.

The correct way to bath a pet is by starting to rub the shampoo from the area behind the ears headed to the tail. Rub the shampoo on the coat in circular motion and when you rinse the coat ensure all the soap is removed to avoid irritation of the pet’s skin which in turn makes the pet to scratch and rub. An irritation could make you treat your pet for hot spots.

Playing with the pet after the bath is good ways of showing it that you still love it.

An Amazingly Easy Way to Stop the Barking of a Dog

There is no way one can expect the dog to stop barking once and for all. The best way to stop the dog from barking is by teaching it the right times to bark and when it should not bark. It could be helpful if you get a word that could be used as a command when you want the dog to bark. Such a word is helpful since it reduces the urge that the dog feels of barking even when it is not necessary and the dog will become accustomed to barking only when commanded. An example is when you train the dog and it only barks when it hears the command, “Rover, speak!”

The next step is making the dog to stop barking when there is no need to bark. There are reasons why the dogs bark even when it is not necessary though you might not notice this. There are reasons that are primarily known to the dog that make the dog to bark even when you do not see the need for the bark.

When a dog is barking, they could be trying to inform you of oncoming danger or they could be trying to attract your attention towards something. The important thing is that you should try and realize why the dog is barking and attend to the reason even if it is by removing the same. You should then appreciate the effort of the dog by giving it a compliment like “Thank you Rover” I see it and this should be done as you point at the cause. You should then in a polite but firm tone command the dog to stop barking and after you have commanded, the dog should realize your seriousness and stop. This is a good way of teaching the dog to stop barking.

When you use this method, it should lead you to the right direction towards reducing the frequency of the dog barking and you will have a dog that is quiet and well behaved.

Important Information about Cats and Dogs Pain Relievers

In a case where a dog has arthritis or another painful ailment, a good owner will not only look for medication to relieve the dog off its pain but will also ensure that they get to know the root cause of the dog’s ailment and they also ensure they treat the ailment. This makes the pet live longer. For people who sincerely love the pets they live with, they should follow the treatment given below which is a sure treatment that most of you would like to know.

Animal and human physiologies have similar characteristics that make cats and dogs to similarly experience discomfort and pain. If you sincerely love the pet, watching it suffer will leave your heart broken. There are people who will watch as their pet ages and slowly becomes lazy. If your dog does not run fast, it could be a problem of the hips that could be making the dog not to run up the stairs or hop on and off the couch. If feels bad when the dog cannot do this and you wish they could as much as you once kept them off such activity.

Natural supplements being the best medication for both man and their friends, dogs, make them more popular. Toxic medication is also experienced in dogs as it happens in man and it also raises the same concern. This is mainly because most of the medicines that are used on pets harm them more than they help them. How could you know that the bottle of medicine that you have for your dog doesn’t have a substance that the dog is allergic to? This doubt as to whether the chemicals that make the medication for the pets has dangerous toxins makes most of the people opt for medical supplements.

Surgery also applies in the case where it is not sensible to make the dog to go through all the pain while the pain could be relived and the condition could be medically treated. This is safer and it works better with supplements like Flexpet. Surgery for the dog is frightening and expensive and the recovery process is a long one and this puts the dog through more trouble. Unless you are sure that the dog is ready for such treatment, it is always important to consider other treatment.

Knowledge that Can Save Your Dog From Canine Liver Disease

Canine liver disease is the fifth leading cause of death from illness for dogs. If you have a little bit of information and knowledge about this disease, you may be able to save your dog’s life. There are signs and things that you should look for in your dog to help catch the disease early. Liver disease is described as having a medical disorder in the liver. The liver removes toxins from the dog’s bloodstream and it can still function with even 75 to 80 percent of it being affected by the disease. But usually by the time the diagnosis is made, the damage is done.

Some of the common causes of liver disease in dogs include the following:

· Exposure to having high levels of chemicals that are toxic such as lead, phosphorus, lead and insecticides

· Having infections like chronic ear or skin infections or an infection anywhere in the body

· Hepatitis

· Dental infections

· Genetically inherent liver disease which is common in certain breeds like English and American cocker spaniels and West Highland terriers

· Inbreeding of dogs

· Prolonged use of certain drugs like cortisone, anti convulsants, steroids, parasite control and antibiotics

Symptoms of liver disease in dogs may include:

· Jaundice – the eyes, skin and gums turn yellow

· Vomiting – may or may not have blood

· Diarrhea – may or may not have blood

· Urinary changes – frequent urination and increased thirst or urine may be orange

· Swollen belly

· Stools may appear to be gray, yellow or orange

· Lethargy or depression – your dog may begin to be withdrawn or apathetic

· Behavioral changes like pacing around or circling

Avoid foods that include sugar, fried meat, grilled meat, chocolate, onions, peppers and tomatoes to feed your dog. Also, make sure you provide your dog with fresh water and a healthy diet. If you suspect that your dog may have a liver disease, you should take them in the vet as soon as possible. The vet will conduct tests to diagnose your dog with liver disease. Try to catch the disease early so that you can help your dog stay healthy. It is important to feed your dog a healthy diet and avoid the foods that can cause harm to your dog. Watch for the signs and symptoms of any kind of disease in your dog and go to the vet if you have concerns.

All Caring Pet Owners Should Go For Training on Handling Violent Dogs

I love pets and I have had dogs ever since I was young. Some were hostile while others were calm and every dog had a different temperament and I all gave them fair treatment for a good life.

Everyone should train their dog and it is important since the owner can get into legal troubles if they fail to train a hostile dog.

Let’s look at training for hostile dogs since every dog owner wishes to have a peaceful coexistence with their pets. This article is not meant to list down the steps of training. Instead, it is supposed to offer some advice on the training of the dogs.

When we place ourselves in the positions of the hostile dogs trying to think what could be the reason behind the hostility, we might understand why the feeling occurs in the dogs. Though some of the dogs could be having a hostile upbringing, some of the dogs could have a threatened feeling while others could be playful.

It is important to understand the temperament of the breed as much as we would like to treat the dogs as part of the family or as friends to calm the hostility. Regardless of the amount of love and appreciation that the dogs give back, the fact remains that they are still carnivores and that does not change. When we understand that the dogs are tough animals, we realize that they need tough handling though this does not mean harassment.

DEFINITION OF ALPHA DOG – Since dogs too live in families, the lead dog that controls the activities of the other dogs is the Alpha.

Being hostile is not necessarily biting people; it could be continuous barking, puling on the leash, constant jumping and at times biting and squeezing other members in the pack or on strangers. Its advisable to train the dog to avoid such habits before it becomes used to doing them.

With the advancement in television shows like “The Dog Whisperer”, people have now embraced training dogs and the mentality of tying up the dog has been abandoned.

Dog training requires skills that you might not be having and it’s important if you consult a professional. A good place to start is at the local veterinary who could offer important advice of local people who could train the dog. This is a good step to take when beginning to train a dog to avoid attending obedience school everyday with your dog.

The first thing that one should know is that a hostile dog could only need a trainer for it to calm down. Do not leave a dog that could be a good friend due to hostility. All people have times when they experience bad moods and they say rude words and the hostile dog too can learn to calm its behavior.

What to Do When Your Cat Pees Everywhere

Whether you have a cat that is young or old, female or male, calm or excited, they can all at some time think that they can pee anywhere. Many people have been frustrated at trying to figure out why their cats are going out of the litter box and most people have tried about anything to get them to stop. There are some things that you should do if you find your cat starting to go out of the litter box. You need to be patient, but if you follow the steps your cat should return to the litter box.

· Make sure your cat has a full checkup – cats will sometimes go right in front of you if they are sick. Urinary tract infections are one of the leading causes of health problems with your cat. Make sure to get your cat a regular health check up.

· Cats who are older may have joint problems that causes them to have a hard time getting in and out of the litter box so you should make the litter box as accessible as possible to help your cat be able to use it properly.

· If you have more than one cat you may need to have more than one litter box. Also, the type of litter that you use and how much of it you use could also be a source of the problem. You should change the litter box and also scrub it.

· If your cats act out by urinating on your things, it could be because they are unhappy about something so you should try giving your cat attention and playing more with them.

· Tom cats tend to spray anything that they want to make sure they mark their territory – if you get your cat neutered it can remedy this problem

· Elderly cats may suffer from feline dementia, which means they do not realize that they are doing something wrong by urinating on your items. You can by housebreaking pads and put them down wherever your cat is going the most often.

Make sure that when you find your cat urinating on anything to not rub their nose in it. They do not understand that they did something wrong if you don’t catch them right away so it is a better idea to spray them with a water bottle.

Training Tips for Labradors to Make Them More Lovable

The Labrador retriever is a favorite dog to many people in the world including the United States. The Labrador has a good nature and this personality makes it a favorite for many people and families. Labradors should be trained when they are young and energetic just like other dogs.

The first step in training a Labrador is making him to interact with puppies and different people and taking him to different places. For one hour daily, the Labrador should be trained, and exercised by the owner as they play. Never leave a lab puppy unattended since they are always full of energy and they are likely to cause trouble.

Potty training for a lab puppy is best done when the puppy is young. Always take the lab outside for his potty session and after he is through with it always reward him. Do not yell at your Labrador when he has a wrong potty session.

Dogs learn the first commands like play and sit easily. To train a dog successfully, one has to repeat the command constantly and keep mentioning the dog’s name. These include giving the dog a food treat, patting and praising the dog and they strengthen the love between the dog and the owner.

When teaching a dog to sit, you use a treat to demonstrate by moving it over the dog’s head and mentioning ‘sit’. The dog can learn from the demonstration since it follows the treat until it sits. After the dog sits, reward it by giving the treat.

The word ‘come’ should be used often and you should reward the dog when it comes after you say ‘come’ or after you whistle. Make sure you repeat the same over and over again and reward the dog. The rewards should be regular until the dog is used to the command. When teaching the dog, “NO’ should be taught gently.

Early lead training for Labrador retrievers is essential so as to counter the resistance that comes as dog grows of pulling the strap. You can teach your lab puppy to be a fetcher naturally by throwing a tennis ball and a tiny flying disc past it and telling the puppy to ‘fetch’. When the puppy brings the ball, always reward it.

Labrador training is essential for the Labrador retrievers for them to become favorites of many people in the world. When Labradors are trained, the results will improve the world for the labs and other breeds of dogs as well as the owners who take the dogs to be part of their families.

Pain Relief Pet Sprays and More

You are a committed pet owner who does not leave out a thing about your pet. There are many options apart from the spray relief that you could use for your pet and all that you need to do is choose wisely through which the relief is natural. There are easily usable pills for pain relief like Flexpet that only require chewing. Flexpet is a well researched and approved pain reliever and it was rated amongst the best and it’s undoubtedly among the best pain relievers.

The reason why Flexpet is one of the best pain relievers is because it is designed in a special way not like other pain relievers. It is made only to relieve the pain that pets feel from arthritis and growing old as well as other ailments that are painful. There are no chemicals and toxins that are used to make the medicine and neither are there compounds whose words have 20 letters. You obviously want your pet to live longer and to stay away from pain. Though you might not know this, you would like your pet to live in a perfect condition. When you make a wise decision while choosing your pain reliever, you will be making the idea of the pet living healthily possible.

I would take any measure to relieve my dog off its pain and I am aware of the love that I have for my dog. I first forget about myself and searched for solutions for the dog’s problems such as Flexpet. I would not want to give my pet lots of medication or make him undergo therapies and surgeries. I do not support constant visits to the veterinary and constant treatments even when the pet is not in comfort. If you are also a person of such a feeling, you should also take into consideration what I have said by also learning more on the same. You will get the reward for your time that was spent researching on better ways of getting rid of dog’s illnesses and the dog will be jogging and enjoying with you.

Ways to Reduce Cat Dander

Cats are always shedding cat dander, even though it is invisible to human eye because it is so small and light weight. It can travel easily and once it becomes airborne it can become a trigger for people who have allergies or asthma related to dander. There are some ways that you can help reduce dander so that you and your cat can be happy.

1. Select a short haired cat – short haired cats typically produce less dander and certain breeds like burmese, american short hair, british short hair and short hair american curl are good choices for short haired cats. If you have a short haired cat it should be given a bath once every six weeks or so to make sure that the skin does not get too dry.

2. Groom your cat regularly – give your cat a bath every week using a shampoo that is approved by the vet. Baths can help reduce the amount of dander your cat produces and also removes that excess hair. Brushing your cat everyday can also help reduce the amount of hair and dander that is shed by your cat. If you are having a hard time grooming your cat, find someone else who can help you. You should check with your vet before you start a grooming schedule for your cat.

3. Feed your cat a nutritious diet – this includes feeding your cat what is recommended by your vet to help enhance your cat’s coat and skin and to let your cat fend off illness easier. Cats need to have a meat-based diet in order to stay healthy. If your cat has a healthy skin and coat, it can reduce the amount of dander and shedding.

4. Reduce the fabric-covered surfaces – overstuffed size sofas and chairs, carpets and drapes can all be places for cat dander to collect. Once it is in those surfaces it can be hard to get rid of it. Try finding furniture that does not attract the dander and hair and you may be able to see less dander and hair collecting on your furniture.

5. Use a HEPA air purifier in your home – if you use a high efficiency air purifier in your home you may be able to remove some of the particles including cat dander. Using this kind of air purifier you can remove cat dander and hair and these purifiers can work for 24 hours so that it is constantly filtering the air and removing the dander.

Feline Urinary Tract Disease

Feline urinary tract disease can be a very common cause for cats to go in to the vet. It is a condition that can be serious if you do not get it treated early. There are ways that you can help prevent your cat from contracting a urinary tract disease and avoid having to go to the vet and get antibiotics for your cat. There are warning signs that you should know about that could indicate your cat may have an urinary tract infection which include painful urination, missing the litter box, fever, blood in the urine and crying while urinating. Cats can hide their symptoms and may continue to purr and be affectionate but could still be suffering from a urinary tract infection.

There are conventional ways to treat the urinary tract infections that can cure the current condition, but not that prevent them from occurring. There are alternative methods that you can try to not only alleviate the current symptoms, but also ease the side effects from antibiotics and can prevent recurring symptoms. One cause of urinary tract infection could be some of the commercial cat foods that contain chemical ingredients. In order to prevent and treat feline urinary tract disease symptoms. In order to treat and prevent urinary tract infections you should feed your cat a diet that is rich in unprocessed and raw foods and give them plenty of clean water.

Using natural homeopathic remedies can help to maintain the bladder health of your cat and build a strong immune system that can fight off infections. These kinds of remedies have no side effects and are safe and effective. There are some lifestyle changes that you can implement into your cat’s diet that can make a big difference. Using natural remedies instead of conventional remedies can not only treat the symptoms of the infection, but can also prevent it from recurring. Feeding your cat plenty of healthy foods and water is one way to ensure that your cat will be more protected from getting a urinary tract infection. This can also help cut down on the visits that you need to make to the vet and the amount of antibiotics that your cat may have to take. The more you can cut down on the antibiotics for your cat, the better it is for your cat.

Offer a Home to an Old Dog

Many pounds and rescue kennels in most parts of the world are full of cats and dogs that need better homes. Christmas is an ideal time when the friends who are fur coated get good homes. The major problem is that only a number of the mature animals get another chance to live good lives again. People mostly choose kittens and puppies mostly because they look at the attractive coats. This makes the puppies and the kitten to have an advantage over the older animals in the kennels.

After I gave a home to a number of the older cats and dogs, I would make an honest recommendation that people should adopt the mature animals instead of the young ones. The dog we currently have is 10 years old and we adopted him when he was seven years old. He had fleas; he was hungry, exhausted and worried. He has since changed into a splendid animal and everywhere he goes, people comment positively about him. He makes our lives joyous, behaves well, plays anytime and he is trustworthy and sociable with children. We would not need anything else from a dog. This is because this dog has given us all the satisfaction that people look for in a dog.

There are various advantages of not adopting a kitten or a puppy. It’s absolute that if you want to adopt an animal you have some amount saved for training and caring for the animal. Younger animals will need training not only in the house but also lead training and training on obedience. There are other costs that arise from vaccinations, sprays and sterilizers and the young animals have to be watched constantly to avoid cases where they chew up Grandpa’s slippers when they are teething or they do not gnaw on the grand piano’s legs. The older pets do not need house training and vaccinations since they have already gone through the processes.

The only drawback of adopting an old animal is that they have a short life after adoption. This is because they have already lived a better part of their life which could have been characterized by unfair living conditions. The appreciation received from these fur coated friends is much more than the disadvantage of having them shortly.

Give an old dog a second life and become a friend.

The Eight Foods you Should Never Feed Your Cat

There are some things that we know are bad for our cats to eat, but there are some things that can be very dangerous for them to eat that you may not think about. There are a lot of foods that can be bad for your cat that can range from giving them an upset stomach to causing severe illness. If you want to keep your cat safe there are some foods that you need to avoid letting them have. The eight foods that your cat should never eat include:

1. Baby food – although very safe for babies, it can be very bad for cats. It may contain onion powder, which is very dangerous for cats and could lead to anemia. It also does not provide your cat with the nutrition that it needs.

2. Chocolate – most people know that we can not give our dogs chocolate, but we may not be aware that cats should also never eat chocolate. Chocolate contains theobromine, which is a chemical that humans can eat, but dogs and cats can not metabolize it as fast and even small amounts can lead to theobromine poisoning in cats and dogs which can cause vomiting, diarrhea, excitability, panting, abnormal heart rate, seizures and tremors.

3. Coffee and tea – caffeine can be toxic to cats and to dogs. There is no antidote available. It can only take a little bit of coffee or tea to cause serious harm to your cat or dog. It can cause vomiting, diarrhea, panting, restlessness, tremors, increased body temperature and seizures.

4. Grapes and raisins – although experts are not certain what it is in grapes and raisins that is toxic to cats and dogs, it is possible for them to develop kidney failure.

5. Onions and garlic – raw onions, powdered onions and uncooked onions are very harmful to cats because they can cause damage to the red blood cells, which could lead to anemia. Anemia can make your cat feel pale and lethargic.

6. Spinach – although it is not certain that spinach can do damage to cats, it does contain calcium oxalates which is a component in kidney stones. If your cat ate a large amount of spinach, it could lead to crystals in the urine.

7. Unripe tomatoes – these can be toxic to your cat because they are part of the nightshade plant family, which contains a poisonous alkaloid called solanine.

8. Yeast dough – raw dough or uncooked dough should never be given to your cat. If your cat eats the raw dough, it may rise in the stomach and that can lead to painful bloating, gas and the possibility of rupturing the stomach or the intestines.

Pet’s Kingdom – a Cheap Way of Taming Your Dog

Most people, who have dogs, may be distressed after buying a puppy or dog and taking it home. This is mostly due to problems of the dog’s behavior that the owner finds hard to control.

Some of the strategies that work in calming a dog apart from training continuously include constant communication with the dog and positively supporting the dog in calming it down. In Pet’s Kingdom, an “Alpha” is usually the leader of the pack like in wolves, coyotes and dogs. The Alpha decides the activities of the pack. Having constant control of your dog will make the dog take you as the Alpha.

The first step should be constantly communicating with the dog. For instance, when you want him off the couch, make sure that you never allow him to stay there. When you fail to keep the dog off the couch even for a single time, the dog will continue sleeping on the couch and he will be testing whether you can allow him to sleep there again. When there are many members in family, every member should se to it that they make sure the pet is behaved.

The second step to positive control over the dog is by awarding the dog after it maintains good behavior. Telling the dog “Good boy” or giving it a snack is enough for a reward. The best way to train a dog is giving it training sessions of 15 minutes since long sessions make the dog bored.

The third step in training a dog is avoiding use of punishment as a means of training since it does not work. Punishment only works when administered at the time the dog is making a mistake. For instance, when a dog urinates and you rub its nose to the spot, it does not understand since the dog’s brains have already shifted to thinking something different.

When you use a positive deed to correct a behavior you want the dog to stop, the dog connects the good deed with what he does to get rewarded. When a dog urinates, you tell him not to do it and take him out until he urinates again then you reward him. Make sure that you only reward him when he urinates outside so that it sends the right signal.

Training your dog is an easy task when he recognizes you as the “Alpha” and when you take positive control without punishment. Making your dog behave is easy and the dog will be extra fun at home.

Rainbow Lorikeets Parrot as Pets

Rainbow lorikeets are a colorful variety of parrots that are very entertaining and active as companion pets. The are monomorphic, so they do not have identifying differences in appearance between the males and the females. They are about 11.8 inches in length. The back and outside of the wings is a green color, which is a lighter green in the nape area. The color of the head is violet or blue and the chest is mainly red and has yellow markings. The abdomen of the rainbow lorikeet is also a violet blue color and the wings have a broad yellow band and are orange and red underneath. Rainbow lorikeets have a unique bristle like tongue that is used for eating nectar and pollen.

Rainbow Lorikeets as Companions

Rainbow lorikeets are fun and entertaining and amused by every noise and object that they see and hear. They like to act silly and exaggerate the moves that they make. They often will roll unto their backs and want to wrestle with your hands or play with a toy. Sometimes, you can see your bird hopping around instead of walking. They need to have a lot of toys to keep them entertained and busy. They like to have things that they can swing on; toys that they can make noise with and also foot toys.

They also require a larger size cage because they usually will use every bit of space in the cage. They enjoy baths and water and go to the bathroom often. Lorikeets eat nectar as the main source of food and require more fruit that other kinds of parrots. The diet should consist of either wet and dry nectar mix or a combination of both. The food can be purchased commercially or you can make it yourself by finding recipes. You should also feed your lorikeet fruits and vegetables. Try to avoid foods that have a lot of iron pellets are generally not recommended. Chemical free flowers such as bottlebrushes are also good choices.

The life span of a rainbow lorikeet is about 20 to 30 years. There are also many different mutations of the bird that include greygreen, dilute, cinnamon, blue-fronted, lutino, fallow, recessive pied, olive, aqua, black-eyed yellow, khaki, mustard and jade. There are also mutations of each of the above kinds of mutations which makes a large variety of birds.

How to Care for Your Pet Bird

Pet bird owners know how nice it is to have a bird as the family pet. Kids love pet birds and enjoy playing with them. They need to be handled carefully though and require love and attention from the entire family. The more you know about your pet bird, the better care you can give to him. You should research and find out about the kind of pet bird that you want to get prior to going to the pet store to pick him out.

You should know what kind of bird would be the best pet for your family and choose one that fits into the space that you have and how much time you are going to have to spend with your bird. Some kinds of birds such as cockatiels are very good companions to people, but do not like to be left alone for periods of time. They enjoy spending a lot of time with people and need attention.

If you are looking for a big bird to be your pet, you should make sure that you have enough space and that you have a bird cage that is big enough for your bird to play. Pet birds enjoy being taken out of their cages and you should choose a bird that likes to be handled. Birds that like to be handled often become closer with the family. You need to learn how to handle the bird properly and know when they want to be petted and when they don’t.

Finding the right food for your pet bird is important. You need to learn what kinds of foods that your bird should eat and which are safe for your bird. There are some foods that are harmful or toxic to birds such as house plants. Make sure you have your home ready to bring home your new family pet bird. When it comes to training your bird, each bird can have a different method that works best. There are training tools available that can help you train your bird. Treat your pet bird with love and it can be a very close part of your family for many years. They require love and attention as any pet does and if you spend time with your bird, they can make great pets.

Teach your Parrot to Not Bite

Parrots have the natural instinct to bite and especially when they are provoked by people. This stems from their natural defense mechanisms that they have to use in the wild. Biting is one of the most common defense tactics of parrots. This does not mean that biting should be allowed with your pet parrot. Unlike smaller birds, parrots are typically part of the family and are handled and around kids and other people and should not be allowed to bite.

If you parrot is biting and acting out, you do not want to resort to negative reinforcement tactics. This usually causes the parrot to fight back or retaliate by acting negatively towards you and other people. If your parrot becomes rebellious, it can be harder to work with him and train him. One of the best ways to teach your parrot to not bite is to start early on and work with him every day. If you can stop the bad behavior before it becomes a problem, your chances of keeping your parrot from biting are good. If you do not catch it early on, it can be difficult to get your parrot not to bite.

Techniques to Get Your Parrot to Not Bite

1. Let the parrot trust you by using your hand to step up and to step down using different territories. In order to help your parrot behave well, it needs to trust you and you need to develop that trust.

2. Try giving your parrot treats and food by feeding him with your hand. When the parrot sees that the hand is helping and not threatening to him, he can learn to get used to it.

3. Carry your parrot around in a towel to help him get over his fears of being around unknown objects.

4. Let the parrot come out of its cage on its own time and do not force the parrot to come out when he is not wanting to.

Following those techniques can help you work with your parrot and develop good behavior habits that will make him a great family pet. Try to get him to not start biting early on, and teach him to trust you to ensure that he will be not acting out and wont start the bad habit of biting.

Things to Do to Ensure Pet Bird Safety in Your Home

When it comes to having a pet bird in your home, there are some important tips to use to make sure that you are ensuring the safety of your bird. There are six main tips that can help keep your bird safe in your home that include:

1. Avoid your bird from potential drowning – keep the doors to bathrooms closed and keep the lids down on the toilet. Cover up any pools of water that can include pots of water on your stove. If your bird does not have its wings clipped, they are drown in open water and may not be able to get away from a dangerous situation as well as birds that do have their wings clipped.

2. Get rid of poisonous plants - plants such as Christmas trees either artificial or real and the decorations that are on them can be very poisonous to your pet birds. Other toxic plants that you should not have are Amaryllis, Azaleas, Avocados, holly, lilies, chrysanthemums and other plants. You should always research how toxic a plant is before you bring it into your home. Make sure that the plant is not going to cause any negative effects to your pet bird.

3. Cover your mirrors and windows – a lot of birds can suffer a severe injury when they run into windows or mirrors. They are seen as being an open space to your bird, which causes them to fly into them. Make sure that you close off any rooms that have mirrors and keep the curtains on your windows closed.

4. Clip your birds wings – clipping the wings of your pet bird can help protect your bird when it is flying around in the house and help keep it out of dangerous places such as ceiling fans. If the procedure is done correctly, it is not painful to clip your bird’s wings. You should wait to clip the wings until the bird knows how to fly. After the wings are clipped, make sure to keep other pets away from your bird.

5. Cut down on electrical cords – keep your electrical cords behind furniture if you can. If you have cords that are exposed, put them in plastic tubing to keep your bird from getting into them.

6. Keep a good quality of air – because birds have a very sensitive respiratory system, it is important to keep the quality of air in your home good. A high efficiency particle or HEPA air purifier system is able to remove the airborne pollutants and is a great way to ensure that the bird’s quality of air is what it needs to be

Why Pet Grooming Is So Important For Your Pet’s Health

Most people know that hygiene is important. You know that you need to brush your teeth, comb your hair, bathe, wash your hair and body, and put on deodorant among many other things. Did you know that pet grooming is just as important for you beloved animal? If you are a pet owner, pet grooming is important to the health of your pet. Keep in mind that it’s easy to give most dogs a bath. However, cats don’t typically like water. Still, pet owners for any number of reasons often overlook grooming. Here are some reasons why you should pet groom your animal companion.

Reasons for Pet Grooming

First, you don’t have to do the pet grooming yourself. This is an industry that is quite profitable as well as rewarding. The entire industry takes in nearly $32 billion annually. In the entire industry, the pet grooming sector is growing bigger and bigger. For that reason, pet groomers have reasons to be happy and boast.

Second, when your animal is being groomed, it’s like they are receiving a hug from someone they love. What does pet grooming include? Shampoos, haircuts, flea treatments, etc. There is so much that can be done for your pet. When you groom your pet, you can prevent certain illnesses from striking your pet including skin diseases and parasites. Most pets can’t cool themselves off well enough so make sure you trim your pet’s hair as often as you can so their body temperature is sustained.

If you own a dog, pet grooming is a vital part. Dogs that are repeatedly groomed have shiner coats. Why? Combing stimulates the blood supply going to the skin. This stimulation puts the dog in a better state of health.

You should affection to your pet when you are grooming them. You also show other people that you love your animal when you are pet grooming them often. It’s an experience of wonderful proportions for both you and your pet. It’s healthy for them, mentally and physically, so keep your pet groomed regularly.

Having a Severe Macaw as a Pet

Severe macaws are also known as the chestnut fronted macaws and are one of the largest of the mini-macaws. They are about 16 to 18 inches in length, which includes the tail that is equal to about have of the total length. They originate and dwell naturally in South America, in the Amazonian Brazil and also northern Bolivia.

Both the males are the females are monomorphic because they are the same in appearance. In order to determine the gender of the macaw, a DNA test should be conducted. Severe macaws are mostly green and have a brown forehead ,blue crown, and brown chin. The flight feathers on a severe macaw are blue and on the tail is a red and chestnut colored underside. The edges of the severe macaw are red and in sexually aged and mature birds, the iris is orange.

Macaws as Companions

Severe macaws are similar to larger macaws in terms of intelligence and playful personalities. They are very affectionate, playful and social and they often enjoy being petted. They are very vocal and enjoy activities like climbing and hanging upside down. They are smart and some owners are able to toilet train them. They do require items to chew on and they really enjoy having ropes to swing on. They also enjoy taking showers and baths.

You should feed your severe macaw a diet that is higher in fat than most other parrots. Nuts are a good way to add protein into their diet. Seeds, vegetables, fruits and parrot pellets are also good stable foods that you should feed your macaw. Severe macaws have a typical life span of 30 to 80 years old with 40 being the average. You should also make sure that more than one person in the family handles the bird from early on to get him used to being handled by other people. They may still tend to favor one person, but it is a good idea to get them used to being around other people.

Severe macaws do not have any known mutations, although there is a new red colored female macaw that is in existence but has not reproduced as of yet. Severe macaws are also the only version of a mini-macaw that has feather lines on bare patches of the face.

Understanding Your Pet Dog’s Emotions

When you own a dog, it’s important you understand about their emotions. While it may seem inconceivable that they have emotions, your pet dog’s emotions are there just like your own… they are just as important.

Dog Emotion - Happy

Dogs do not show emotions as humans do. In fact, their emotions can be rather multifarious especially if you are unsure what a particular emotion is and what it stands for. There are many ways a dog can show their emotions about a certain event. However, you can almost always tell when a dog is happy…their ears typically perk up. Their tail may also wag. Always look for those pet dog emotions so you can learn about them.

Dog Emotion – Angry or Fearful

There are many ways a dog may show you he/she is angry. For instance, if you want to know how your pet dog will show they are angry, look for teeth. If they are showing you their teeth, chances are they are angry. The showing of teeth is a defensive mechanism your pet will use if it’s angry or fearful. Another pet dog emotion that can be seen is the muscles becoming stiff and its tail is lowered. The lowering of the tail is actually a submissive pose but it’s used in conjunction with other pet dog emotions so it looks more aggressive.

Dog Emotion – Sad or Depressed

Another pet dog emotion you may see is depression or sadness. Your pup may choose to show these two emotions in several ways. Depression can occur when your dog has suffered from a traumatic event such as: the loss of an owner, loss of another member of the family including playmate or animal, lack of interaction and family tension. How can you tell if a dog is suffering from depression? Dogs will usually not interact with anyone and would rather lie about. They may not even perk their ears up when someone they love comes into the room.

Dogs don’t cry but do have a way of showing how they feel inside. When you learn your pet dog’s emotions, you learn more about your own pet.

How To Choose Your Best Pet Name

It doesn’t matter what kind of pet you bring home with you, you have to give it the best pet name there is for your household. Never believe a name is something to choose right away. Give it some time and think about it. Watch your pet’s personality shine for a time. Come up with a name that is easy to say, isn’t embarrassing and a name your pet will recognize without difficulty. How can you come up with the best pet name?

No Names Similar to Commands

Don’t name your pet after command words. An example of this is naming a dog Bit. There are many times you’ll be saying Sit. Now say them together. Sit, Bit. It can be difficult for your pet to differentiate their name from the command.

Short Names vs. Long Names

Come up with short names such as Bandit. If you have a pet’s name that is long, come up with a nickname that you and your pet can understand. For instance, you register your animal under Scarborough. For a nickname that is considered a best pet name, try calling them Skip for short.

Best Pet Names Based on Breeds

Do you have animals of foreign breed? If so, keep this in mind when you choose the pet’s name. Put some thought into the cat’s background, do some research and come up with a name that fits them perfectly.

Best Pet Names Through Animal Behaviors

Watch their behavior when you first bring them home. Many best pet names have come about from an animal’s behavior. Pets can choose their own names by repeating certain things. For instance, you have brought home a puppy that likes to chew on anything… hence; the name they can be called is Chewy. Always keep in mind that pets do grow up. What may sound cute when they are small doesn’t when they grow up. Make sure you pick a name that works no matter the animal’s age.

No Pet Names Based on People

Try to never name your pet after a friend. While you may think it’s a good name, the person may resent it. It can often be thought there is a comparison while that was never the case.

You probably think that naming a pet is pretty easy but coming up with the best pet name possible for you much-loved animal has to be given some thoughtful consideration.

Many Natural Gourmet Dog Treats for Your Beloved Canine Pet

Do you like to give your dog treats? If so, consider buying gourmet dog treats that are healthy for your canine pet. Most dog owners love to give their pets a treat from time to time so they want to give them the best that they can find. Some people won’t buy the treats because they’ll make it with natural ingredients themselves.

No longer considered just man’s best friend, dogs are often a part of the household. Like humans, these dog lovers want to give the best they can to their dogs. That means feeding them treats that are all natural with none of the chemicals that can be found in other dog treats.

Types of Dog Treats

Vegetarian Selection - Want to make sure your pet has the best? Try giving him or her the vegetarian selection. What is it made out of? There are made with vegetables and fresh whole fruits. Dogs that have troubles eating certain kinds of food including grain can take in these treats. You may find some dog treats that have been made from sweet potatoes. This vegetable is known to be quite nutritious and high in antioxidants.

Dog treats that are grain free have an abundance of protein and are low in carbohydrates. If your dog shuns certain kinds of foods because of the lack of certain smells or your pet is on a diet, then a treat that has been coasted with carob coating can help.

Good Dog Bakery – This South Carolina established began when a pet owner started selling her dog treats at the local farmer’s market. In 2003, the company began and rose to sell dog treats in “real” stores. If you don’t have the option to visit the Good Dog Bakery near you, go online to check out their interesting doggie treats.

Three Dog Bakery – Back in 1989, two men had three dogs and came up with a way to give one of the dogs a natural dog treat. Things eventually blossomed for them and Three Dog Bakery was born.

You don’t have to be a gourmet cook to create dog treats. If you like to bake, use some of the common ingredients found in your own food to create your pup’s treats. You don’t even have to look far to buy these products… just go to the local grocery store. Gourmet dog treats is the best way to show your canine household member that you care about how they feel and how much you appreciate them.

How To Care for A Pet Rabbit

Have you ever wanted a pet rabbit? Rabbits are make great companions and can be found in many animal shelters. However, it’s important to know their needs before you bring one home. Never adopt a pet before doing research one what they need.

Special Care for Rabbits

If you want a pet rabbit, know that their behaviors are often different from a cat or dog’s behavior. They may not show you if they are in pain and they may or may not greet you. You have to provide them a home that is safe. This means you have to commit to their safety. Be sure they see a veterinarian and get them spayed/neutered before their show signs of aggression or begin spraying urine to mark their territory.

Make sure your rabbit has a cage that is much bigger than its size. This gives them lots of room to move. Make sure wired cages have a cardboard floor. Add a cardboard box for them to hide in. You want to give them their privacy and keep them in a cool but comfortable room.

Make sure your pet rabbit has a diet consisting of timothy grass hay along with leafy green vegetables and pellet feed. Do not give them iceberg lettuce, cabbage and tomatoes. Change their water each day so it remains fresh. If you have further questions, consult with a veterinarian.

Litter Training For A Pet Rabbit

Rabbits can be litter trained but most often, they will go where they are comfortable. Be sure you use newspapers to line their “litter boxes”. Clean them often so they will continue to use them. Until they are trained, keep them in a secluded area. Once this is done, give them more freedom but keep several litter boxes handy.

Exercise and Grooming for A Pet Rabbit

It’s important to give rabbits paper and cardboard to chew on because it helps to promote good oral health and keep their teeth from overgrowing. You can use toilet paper rolls for them to chew on. Be sure there are not dangerous items for them to chew on. Whenever they are roaming around, keep an eye on them so they do not chew on power cords or plants.

Rabbits tend to shed about four times a year. For that reason, they need to be constantly groomed. Keep their hair short and remove loose fur so they have little chance of getting hairballs.

Handling Your Pet Rabbit

Keep in mind that most pet rabbits do not like being picked up. That means come up on your rabbit slowly and stroke them on their head. If they struggle when you pick them up, put them back down. They can get injured when they thrash about. Never pick them up by their ears. Instead, pick them up carefully from the front and back ends.

As long as you pay attention to their needs, a pet rabbit can be an enjoyable experience.

Two Types of Pet Parasites

No doubt as an animal lover, you have heard about vital it is to prevent parasites from infecting your pet. However, if you are a cat or dog owner, do you know which intestinal parasites you should be protecting them from? There are several kinds of pet parasites and they can do great damage to your beloved pet if they are not taken care of or treated before they become a problem. Here are two parasites that are very harmful to your pet: Coccidia and Giardia.

Intestinal Parasite – Coccidian

The coccidian intestinal parasite can affect any domestic animals, whether it is a dog, cat, bird, etc. However, this parasite has different types that affect different pets. Should you have a dog or cat, you need to look out for the Isopora coccidia infection.

How Do Animals Get This Parasite

You are probably wondering how domestic animals would get this pet parasite. There are actually two ways your beloved pet can contract this parasite. First, they can eat the feces of animals that have been infected or they can eat animals that have the disease. For example, your cat loves to chase and eat mice. If the mouse they recently ate has the Isopora infection, chances are your pet “Shadow” does to.

Most coccidial infections are nothing to worry with. Researchers believe that most cats and dogs have had it at least once in their lives. While you won’t notice the minimum symptoms of the infection, more severe ones are animals with blood diarrhea. However, these usually occur where animals are closely housed together such as a pet store.

Intestinal Parasite – Giardia

This is a one-celled parasite that harms the small intestine of your pet. If your pet is young in age, symptoms of the infection include dehydration, water diarrhea, weight loss and bad appearance. Older pets may not show any infection at all.

How Do Animals Get This Parasite

A pet that drinks water that has been tainted with this infection is likely to get the disease. If you want to treat this infection, you will need to take them to a veterinarian some drugs can be given. This parasite can cause a pet to need long term assistance in order to be rid of it.

How can you make sure your pet doesn’t get the Giardia pet parasite? Keep your house completely sanitized. Be sure there are no feces in the water or the food. If they get infected again, treatment will have to be repeated.

Certainly there are more infections that can affect the pet member of your household. If it seems you pet is sick, always call the veterinarian for advice and treatment options.

Pet Treats: Why It’s Necessary To Read Labels on Pet Foods To Find Healthy Treats

Generally, anyone who has a pet loves his or her pet. However, many pets will get the leftovers that come from the table. Owners think of these foods as treats for their beloved animal. Actually, these so-called “pet treats” can be dangerous to their health. Pet owners, often times, don’t think about those health problems that face their family pet such as obesity, heart disease, etc. To avoid these health problems, it’s up to you to find healthy treats for your animal.

Even though pets may love them, table scraps are not good for their health. While treats for you look good when you are shopping, be stricter about the treats your pet will eat. That means you have to be picky about the kinds of treats you get them. You have to find them some healthy treats.

Those pet treats you see on the commercials for dogs and cats are regulated so they have to meet the nutritional standards that pet food as to meet. While this may seem unlikely, it’s actually very true. That means you have the job as a pet owner to watch the kinds of pet treats you buy to make sure that they meet nutritional standards. Many of pet treats you find will be high in fat and additives and may contain another hidden danger… contamination.

Unhealthy Foods To Watch Out For

For instance, dog treats called pig ears are often contaminated with the salmonella virus. Other treats that have been imported from other countries have tested positive for e.coli. When you purchase these products, you take a chance with your pet’s life. Those rawhide, jerky and dried beef treats can often have bacteria, mold, fungus and toxins if they were packaged improperly prepared. Rawhide has no nutritional value; some are high in fat with lots of sugar, preservatives and salt. Foods that dogs can be allergic to are often times added to the pet treats. Rawhide is certainly not considered a healthy treat for dogs.

How To ProtectYour Pet’s Health

First, quit panicking. Most foods your pet eats will have a nutritional label of some sort. By reading them, you can discern which pet treats to put back and which ones you should get. Always do a side-to-side comparison of labels.

Second, never get pet treats that have no labels. Again, you are gambling with your pet’s life.

Third, if you are uncomfortable with getting store bought pet treats, research about the kinds of healthy treats you can make from home.

Looking out for Signs and Symptoms of Flea Control Poisoning

How do you know if your pet is suffering from flea control poisoning? Flea control poisoning can be vastly different because each animal is different in size, has a different tolerance level and may react differently to how much chemical was used.

Flea Control Poisoning Symptoms

It’s been noted that some flea control treatments can cause several symptoms in pets. Some of these include:

Increase in saliva;
Muscle tremors;
Coma (severe flea control poisoning);
Runny eyes;
Brain damge (severe flea control poisoning); and
Loss of life (severe flea control poisoning).

Every one of these symptoms have been linked to flea control poisoning after shampoos or topical treatments had been applied to a pet.

If you own a cat, never use a flea control product designed for a dog. A cat’s metabolism is vastly different from a dog and they have a tendency to lick their fur for extended periods of time. This constant licking means they ingest the flea control poison. Shortly after this bath, symptoms are likely to show up and can have very negative penalties if not treated right away. Cats can die if they are untreated quickly.

Animals aren’t the only ones in danger of flea control poisoning. Children are also at risk. Do your kids and pets love to spend a lot of time with one another? Any treatment you use can easily get onto their hands. If not washed, this flea control poison can then be ingested when they eat food with their hands. If this occurs, seek medical advice right away. Symptoms of human ingestion include:

Shaky muscles;
Increase in spit; and
Hyperactivity.

Be sure you have the package on hand that you used to treat your pet with so the doctor can take a look at it.

Research is being done on this ongoing problem with flea control poisoning. It’s the goal of pet owners to find an answer soon about this dilemma and address it. Until then, be sure you know the symptoms of flea control poisoning. Make the veterinarian or your family physician know of the chemical used on your pet that caused this problem. Doing so saves precious seconds in both animals and humans.

The Problem of Cat Urinating on Furniture

Behavior problems in cats can be very annoying to deal with. If your cat is urinating on your bed or furniture, you know how much that can upset you. Whether this trouble just started, or you’re done trying everything without any achievement, there are still some things to try before quitting it completely.

Before solving your cat's litter box problems, it is significant to figure out why is your cat behaving like this in the first place. A simple thought to the question of why, the answer to the problem becomes clear.

Cats most often pee outside their litter box because of anxiety issues. These anxiety issues could range from new pets in the house or new relatives. Even something like a change in the family schedule can add stress to a cat's life.

Cats are creatures of custom, and any modification to it can add stress to their lives. All cats react to stress differently. The main two ways cats articulate their stress is through either violence like biting, or through peeing and marking your furniture or bed.

Try to make out if there was a worrying event recently that would cause your cat to react like this. Are there any changes in the house? Once you get the idea what caused your cat to urinate here and there, then you can apply some easy remedies to the problem. Try asking your vet for a solution. Give more love and attention to the cat so it does not feel alone and depressed. Love your cat.

Why Pet Massages are so Important to an Animal’s Well-being

Has someone ever given you a massage and you felt so much better afterwards? Did it help to relieve the day’s problems? Then, you know that a massage is a tool that helps to relax the body. Humans aren’t the only ones who benefit from massages. Pets can also benefit from them. If you own a pet, make sure they get pet massages to help them relax as well as heal from any injury they may have.

Benefits for Pet Massages

There are seven benefits for your pet getting a massage. They include:

Relaxation – most pets become relaxed with a gentle massage.
Reduction of Recovery Time – If your pet has suffered a serious trauma, it’s wise to give them a massage to lessen their healing time.
Increasing circulation – A pet’s blood circulation is just as important as a human to ensure their well being.
Increasing movements – Massages help animals to move around more as well as being more lithe.
Pain reduction – Pet massages help to reduce their pain. This is necessary if your pet has arthritis.
Stress reduction – Pets can become stressed too so a good massage is necessary.
Toxin removal – It’s important that toxins in your pet’s body and organs are removed. Massages help speed this along.

Never stop going to your veterinarian if you do massages. Use massages as a secondary tool to the care your pet receives at the vet.

Six Kinds of Pet Massages

You may be surprised to learn that there are six kinds of massages that can be used on your pet. These are:

Efflurage;
Passive Touch;
Kneading;
Tapotement;
Passive Joint Movement; and
Stroking.

What does Efflurage consist of? You rub the entire body of your cat including on the inside and outside of its limbs. Using a circular, hand over hand motion you can stimulate the blood.

When using passive touch, you barely put pressure on your animal. All you do is place your hand in a certain spot for a matter of seconds to warm the tissue. Doing this relaxes your animal.

Kneading involves rolling and pinching the skin while applying force to the muscle instead of the bone.

The Tapotement technique should never be used on animals that have been abused. It consists of tapping and brushing different muscle areas, which fuels the pet.

Passive joint movement is a technique that requires the owner to move the pet’s joints. If not done correctly, this type of pet massage can lead to damage in the tissue and joints.

Stroking is much like petting. However, it must be done slower and applied lightly.

With these six pet massage techniques, you can assure your pet a long, healthy life. Still, always talk with a professional if you have any concerns or need help with pet massages.

Use Organic Flea Control Methods to Alleviate Your Pet’s Problem

You probably already know that fleas are irritating to pets. However, they can be an irritation to you as well. Why? Fleas do not differentiate between living things. All they do is suck on blood no matter where it comes from, animal or human. However, for cats and dogs, they can be more bothersome because of the skin problems that can crop up. If you see your pet with fleas, try to get rid them as soon as possible. Use organic flea control to rid your pet of their nuisance.

Should your pet have flea trouble, think about using organic flea control since it is less damaging to the environment and not as risky to your pets and you. Chemicals are not only harmful to your pet but over time, their body can build a resistance that does little to be rid of the problem. When your pet begins to resist chemicals, stronger chemicals will have to be used, making the whole process even more hazardous. Using organic flea control is safe to have in the house for you, your children and your pets. Another positive reason to use organic flea control is the money you save after a bit of time.

Three Kinds of Flea Control Methods

What can you use to be rid of fleas on your pet? First, use a comb. Most flea combs are made of stainless steel with teeth close together. They can get rid of the fleas and eggs that are hiding in their hair. When you start to comb out the fleas, place the comb in a bowl of soap and water. Each time you comb, you’ll see a reduction in the amount of fleas you comb out. However, should you still be getting a large number of them, it’s time to invest in some other organic flea control technique.

A second organic flea control method is an organic flea bath. You can do both combing and flea baths to control and reduce your pet’s fleas. Be sure to buy organic soap and use it to thoroughly wash your pet’s body. There are all kinds of organic soaps that you can purchase.

Another organic flea control method you can try is simply changing what they eat. Altering their food helps to alleviate their itching and skin irritation. You can also use lotions to help reduce the amount of fleas.

Five Tips to Owning a Cat and Dog Together

Are you contemplating the idea of owning a cat and dog together but have heard that they do not get along? Remember the Tom and Jerry cartoons where the dog and cat never got along? It’s true that some dogs and some cats just cannot live together due to the whole prey versus predator relationship. However, other dogs and cats do live in perfect harmony and may even have a close relationship.

Here are some tips on owning a cat and dog together.

First, if you already own a cat and want a dog, put the dog in a room away from the cat. Your cat should be allowed to roam the house, examining the house for clues about the new household member. Once your cat learns of the dog, they’ll want to approach him or her and learn more about it. Once comfortable with this new companion and vice versa, then it’s all right to let them spend time together in the same room of the home.

Second, if you are introducing a new cat to a dog home then you might need to take some precautions because many dogs are territorial. Trained dogs don’t usually attack so make sure you train yours. Still, exercise some caution when introducing the cat. Make sure your dog is on a leash while he or she gets used to the feline. Once the dog is no longer aggressive to the new household member is when you can release him or her from the leash.

Third, when owning a cat and dog together, always introduce them as young as possible. Make sure you get both of them before they are both over four months old. When they are this young, they don’t usually see each other as “arch” enemies. They can actually form a bond at this age and be the best of friends.

Fourth, once your animals are used to one another, you should always treat them equal. Give them the same amount of attention. Feed them at the same time but never in the same place. Why? Dogs can tend to eat cat’s food sparking the cat’s rage just a bit.

Fifth, make sure to keep some sort of baby gate or kennel handy to break them apart of they do end up fighting.

Owning a cat and dog together isn’t hard to do but taking precautions to ensure each other’s safety is a necessity. Remember the natural order of things is cats are the prey and dogs are the predators.

Want an Exotic Pet: Check Out the Wallaroo

Looking for an exotic pet to own? Look no further than a wallaroo. A wallaroo is an animal mixed between a kangaroo and wallaby. If you are looking to own one of these creatures, then you need to know a little more about them.

Wallaroos can grow to be a large animal and are wonderful pets so long as their environment is the right kind. You will have to pay some attention to this pet much like you would a domestic animal like a dog or cat. Make sure your home is a loving environment. Depending on the sex of the animal will depend on how many pounds they grow to. Females will go up to 50 pounds usually. Males can grow up to 100 pounds. It also depends on the Wallaroo breed.

Before you even bring home a Wallaroo, find a veterinarian that will work with your exotic pet. Finding a veterinarian that has experienced with these animals is wonderful but not very likely. Once you locate them, you’ll want to bring your animal to the vet and get him checked out.

Now, it’s time to find a breeder for your wallaroo. Just like veterinarians, breeders can be just as difficult to locate. Be sure your breeder bottle-feeds his or her wallaroos. Bottle-feeding lets the animal become attached to humans thus making it easier for you to buy one. Be sure your wallaroo is comfortable with you before you take him home. If this is not done, bad circumstances can arise for the both of you.

One of the last things you should do for you pet is to set up an area for him to play in. Giving them an area to play in is a vital part of their development. Wallaroos are easy to feed typically. They are herbivores and love to eat grass or hay.

How Crystal Healing for Animals Work… and for what conditions

Many people believe that crystals and gemstones are “gifts that come from Earth. They believe that these things can encourage healing for their animal friends as well as the rest of human life. Crystal healing for animals is a soft, non-insidious way that can help alter their energy… both mentally and physically.

Crystal Healing of the Past

Evidence suggests that crystals were used around 25,000 BC and used by many cultures including Egyptians, Native Americans, Tibetans and Aborigines to name a few. While crystals, it seems, has the power to heal humans, how does crystal healing for animals work?

Before you can understand how crystals work, you should know that every living thing consists of energy and has electromagnetic field. All gemstones, minerals and crystals resound at certain frequencies of vibrations. These vibrations, then, attract the energy of the living thing and mixes with it.

If you didn’t know already, crystals are great amplifiers and energy transmitters. Of all the matters of the world, crystals are the most constant, unified composition. Crystals, no matter what variety, has a set number of uses that can be used in healing. However, you can use different kinds of crystals to heal a certain condition. By having this knowledge you only need a finite number of crystals to act as healers for a large number of conditions.

If you wish to choose crystal healing for animals to help your beloved pet, then you should have an understanding of which crystal can help certain medical, physiological and physical ailments your pet may be suffering from.

How To Use Crystals on Animals

For starters, rose quartz helps with animals that have been abused or abandoned;
Malachite helps to break compulsive patters such as constantly licking a particular thing or scratching something that isn’t there;
Selenite is thought to help with cancer treatments;
Amber helps with kidney and/or bladder problems;
Smoky quartz helps to relieve stress; and
Amethyst helps to cure separate anxiety.

Chakras that are imbalanced can also be realigned with crystals. If you are determined to use crystal healing for animals then place them somewhere they are likely not to be swallowed. Always keep your pet’s safety in mind. Many pet owners will place the crystal on collars, put them in their bedding or give their pet a massage with them.

If you choose to do crystal healing for animals, you’ll be improving their health, emotional well being as well as their physical well being and their happiness. However, never stop going to a veterinarian for checkups even if you are using crystals.

Chinchillas: Tips To Caring For This Affectionate Creature

Are you looking for an unusual pet? If you are and have the time they need to be taken care of correctly, then take a look at the chinchilla. These creatures are extremely intelligent and have very soft fur. They have plenty of energy, which brings out their personality. Chinchillas will provide plenty of affection as well as entertainment for their owners. However, there are some things you need to know about these cute little animals.

Get To Know Your Pet - If you want a chinchilla for a pet, it’s wise to get to know them first before you bring them home. Why? Each chinchilla is different in personality and will have a bond unique to different people. If you want to own a chinchilla, it is wise to see how they will interact with you and how soon they will bond.

Trust Issues - You need to understand that these cute creatures are not born tamed. If you want your pet to be tamed, you have to get to know them first. Spend time with them. By doing so, they learn that they can trust you. Keep in mind that these creatures also have a long-term memory capacity. This means they remember things from a long time back. If they feel in anyway threatened by you, they remember it. You have to earn that trust back, just like a human.

Cages - Be sure you have a place ready for your new pet to come home to. A cage is usually ideal, specifically 2 feet by 2 feet cage. If you plan to have more than one, you will need a larger cage. These creatures like to get exercise so they need room to run about. What should you place in the cage? Include in it a space for them to hide, a balcony or pathway for them to explore and bells or block that can be hung so they can chew them.

Feedings - Feed your chinchilla at least twice a day. While food pellets are good for them to it, it’s not enough for a good diet. Make sure to give your chinchilla some hay. For a treat, provide them dried fruit or whole grains. However, these should be given sparingly.

How to Care for a Toy Poodle

If you want a pet that gives you great companionship, own a toy poodle. Of all dog breeds, the toy poodle is the smallest breed. It’s quite agile and belongs to the hunting dog family. Despite their enormous success has a hunting dog breed; many toy poodles are turning up in dog shows.

Despite their agility, many toy poodle pet owners don’t know how much exercise a day their pet should get? Toy poodles need their exercise like any other animals but careful care must be taken to keep them from getting hurt. Their size alone causes them to be quite accident-prone.

Why is it that toy poodles are susceptible to injuries? This breed of dog has a very delicate bone structure. If they are exercised too much for too long, injuries can occur in their ligaments, tendons and tissues. This is especially true for a new toy poodle dog owner.

If you want your toy poodle to get the exercise he or she needs, then only an hour of day will suffice. It’s important they get exercise to keep away the boredom they may feel as they may get into trouble if not. However, don’t misinterpret daily exercising with rigorous exercising. For toy poodles, a walk around the block is good enough. If you have a fenced in backyard, let them run about. While this breed loves kids, never let the two “kids” play together for too long. If this happens, damage to the dog’s bones can occur.

Always watch your toy poodle for any problems after the walk. Be sure you report signs of exhaustion and stress to your veterinarian. Modify your dog’s schedule a bit to make sure it doesn’t happen again.

Toy poodles can also suffer problems with hypoglycemia. This disorder causes sugar levels to reduce that can later bring on seizures, weaknesses and possibly lead to a coma. Give your toy poodle Nutri-Cal tablet to help them out.

Always do your homework before buying a pet of any kind. Once you learn what your pet’s needs are, you’ll have the capabilities to give them a warm, loving home free of every day accidents.

Procreation: Do you spay/neuter your animal?

One of the best friends you can find in this world is a four-legged dog, cat, etc. They provide a lasting companionship and can be a great sense of joy. However, with this joy comes the responsibility of taking care of it. That means you have to make vital choices pertinent to their health and safety. One such choice is whether you should spay or neuter your animal.

Meaning of Spaying/Neutering

Do you know what it actually means to spay or neuter your animal? Neutering means you remove the reproductive organs whether the animal is female or male. However, neutering is usually termed for males, whose the testicles are removed. Spaying is referred to female animals where their ovaries are surgically removed.

Spaying/Neutering: A Healthy Choice

Happy Males - If you have a male animal and decide to neuter him, you reduce his chances of getting prostate or testicular cancer. Neutering reduces, by a big margin, perineal hernias as well as penile tumors. Once neutered, your pet’s anxiety and stress levels are lowered.

Happy Females – The risk you have with females not being spayed is pregnancy as well as complications that occur from it. Spaying is often preferred because of the rise of animals being abandoned with unwanted female pregnancies. You also ward of male animals who tend to find female animals in heat.

Spaying/Neutering: A Happy Choice for All

Neutering your male animal also alters their behavior. They are less likely to mark their territory, which helps to keep your home from smelling like pee. You also reduce their aggression with neutering.

Dogs that have been neutered early in age won’t wander off to find a female pup in heat. Why is this important? Dogs that wander off are often victims of road kill. They are more likely to get hit by a car.

Pet Cremations: How Pet Owners Say Goodbye

When you lose a pet, it can be a painful experience. The feeling may not completely compare to losing a human loved one but nevertheless, it is painful still. You can feel it for days, weeks or even months to come. However, have you ever thought what you would do if you pet suddenly passed away on you? Certainly burying them is cheap. However, many people are cremating their beloved pets to keep a bit of them beside them for years to come. Why are people turning to pet cremations?

Types of Cremation

Like a human being that has been cremated, you have three options to how you will deal with your pet’s ashes. Those three options are: bury the ashes, scatter the ashes or place them in an urn. Many people that own pets like the idea of placing their pet’s ashes into an urn because it’s like a bit of them is still there with the family. There are four various types of ceremonies for pet cremations: viewing cremation, communal cremation, private cremation and individual cremation.

If you choose to do a viewing cremation, you watch as the animal is being cremated. (Some crematory places allow this, others do not. If you wish to do this, make sure you talk with the crematory manager.)

In a communal cremation, many pets are cremated at the same time and ashes are not separated. If you choose to do this type of cremation, you will not get the ashes back.

For a private cremation, your pet is the only one that is cremated and their ashes are then returned back to you once the entire process is done.

For an individual cremation, several pets are cremated all at once and separated before their ashes are mixed in with one another.

After your pet has been cremated, ashes are then put into a sealed bag and temporary urn. Then, the cremators will give this urn to the owners who will decide next what they would like to do with their beloved’s remains. If they wish to purchase an urn, there are numerous kinds available but ultimately the choice comes down to your preferred taste.

Most pet owners choose a wooden box urn for the remains. Some box carving artists can place an image of your pet with their name and birth and death dates onto the box. This makes the box more personal. However, if costs are an issue, keep this in mind when deciding what to do with your pet’s remains after it has been cremated. Pet cremations are not overly expensive but they are not cheap either.

Spiders: Little Less Known Facts About These Buggy Insects

Many people fear spiders, no matter if they are poisonous or not. Some are afraid of being bitten. It’s a natural and common fear. However, there are some things you need to know about spiders.

Spider Roots – Where did the word spider come from? Spiders came from the Old English verb spinnan. It means, “to spin”. Spiders will use the claws at each leg base along with the hairs to walk along the web without ever sticking to it.

Spider Eyes – A spider’s eyes are simple but underdeveloped. For that reasons, spiders make use of vibrations to find out what is going on in their web. They will also feel by the tactile receptors on their body. They are sensitive to many things including: touch, airflow and vibration.

Spider Bodies – A spider is an arthropod. This means their body is their skeleton. It helps to sustain moisture so it will not dry out.

Spider Foods – When spiders eat their food, they digest the food on the outside. Once the prey has been captured, spiders will discharge digestive enzymes from the intestinal tract, which is then coated onto the prey. Once on the prey’s body, it becomes like liquid, which the spider can then suck.

Tarantulas are not poisonous. While the bite is painful, it’s not a dangerous spider.

You may be surprised to learn that a daddy long legs is not a spider. There is no waist, its legs are long and thin and it’s body hangs low unlike a spider.

Spiders have spinnerets that are located near its rear. Using its legs, the spider will pull the liquid silk it creates from the spinnerets. As the silk stretches, it hardens. Before creating a new web, the spider will eat its old web. Why? Silk has protein it needs.

While most spiders spin webs, some others do not. The silk they have can be used in different ways such as protecting an egg sac. Tarantulas will use the silk to line the burrows.

If you have a big fear of spiders, you can overcome it with a few simple techniques. The fear of spiders is called arachnophobia. If you want to learn more, go to http://www.overcomefearofspiders.info/blog

Veterinarians: How To Locate A Vet Worthy of Your Pet Rat

There are many wonderful veterinarians for your rat to see but locating them isn’t as easy as it sounds.

Many veterinarians are great with dogs and cats and are quite knowledgeable about them. However, they may be less well informed about how to take care of and treat your family pet. Many of them do not revere rat the way you may and think less of your pet than he or she would a dog, cat or even guinea pig. They may think it’s easiest to let the animal die and you buy another one instead. Some veterinarians may overcharge you since you have a pet rat.

Still, you can find one or two who do show some respect to the animal and who knows a bit about them. If you have questions, they are liable to answer your questions without hesitation. These are the vets you need to track down.

Before you even get a pet rat, it’s wise to find a vet who will work with you and inform you about your pet should you have questions. They also should be available in case you have an emergency.

You should never hear bad remarks about your pet of choice.

When you choose your vet, call them and be open about your animal. Find out how many rats they have seen and dealt with. Talk with the vet. Ask him or her questions that you feel are relevant to the care of you beloved pet. If they provide surgery on the animal, ask them about their success rate. You can never ask too many questions when it comes to a member of your family… human or animal.

Once you have a pet rat and have spoken with a vet, then you can contact them whenever you feel your rat is having problems. If you find a reputable veterinarian, spread the word through friends and the Internet.

Fleas: Why Flea Collars are Important to the Health of Your Pet

When you have a pet, you ensure that they are healthy, right? However, do you consider making sure your pet isn’t infested with fleas and ticks a healthy lifestyle? These nasty bugs are very stubborn and live on the body of your pet. Fleas can be dangerous to have because they like to suck in the moisture of your pet including the area in the mouth, eyes and nose. If your pet has many fleas, it’s likely that he can become dehydrated and died if they are not taken care soon. For this, flea collars are available. They work to get rid of the bugs through a mixture of chemicals. That means you can assure your pet a long healthy life away from fleas just by putting a simple flea collar on him.

Are conventional flea collars any good? Some pets’ owners seem to think so because it gets rid of the toxic gas that are attained by your pet’s skin. Some say that collars alone don’t do the trick. Always be sure to double-check your pet’s flea collar before placing it on them. Some flea collars can cause cancer-triggering components. By checking and rechecking your flea collar components, you can ensure your pet is not harmed. Still veterinarians are still arguing about how flea collars actually work.

If you have just begun to raise a pet, you may be wondering how they work? If you want to go into specifics, talk with your pet’s veterinarian about how they can be flea free for the remainder of their life. If you use flea collars to get rid of the fleas, you will have to clean them with alcohol every other month. Don’t be surprised if your pet is allergic to the collar; some are allergic to them.

If you find that your pet is overrun with ticks and fleas, you’ll have to turn to the flea collars for help. Fleas can cause agony for your pet with severe itching and constant biting. It could possibly lead to skin infections as well fur problems on down the road. Humans can also suffer from fleabites and allergies so it is best to keep your pet groomed as often as possible and get a flea collar that works best for them.

How to Effectively Remove a Tick

You’ve no doubt been annoyed by a mosquito or two. However, ticks are more dangerous than the mosquito. Disease-carrying ticks are prevalent throughout the United States. You know they carry all kinds of diseases but did you know that it isn’t the bite that causes the real problem? It’s actually the saliva that is transfers the bacteria from the tick to the bitten recipient’s skin. However, there are two treatments that can help a tick bite.

Above else, remove the tick.
Secondly, clean and disinfect the area the tick was located.

How To Remove a Tick

While there are many thoughts as to how to get rid of tick, there isn’t an easy way to do so. Yet, if you want to stop any infection, you must be rid of it. However, you want to do so in a manner that does not make it give it contents back to you through the wound. Burning it with a match or using some sort of chemical works. There’s a catch: you may still get the saliva in your skin.

When a tick is removed, it’s not uncommon to find its mouth and head still inside the skin. A tick’s mouth is barbed. This is what lets it stay secured. If you want the tick removal to be effective, make sure you use tweezers or forceps to remove it. Pull it straight up, making sure not to twist them. Twisting will increase the chances of it being partially left inside.

Should the tick be removed with no problems, don’t be surprised to see a crater-like wound. If there is any tick parts remaining, use tweezers to remove it. If you cannot do this yourself, be sure you get medical help.

Be careful while you are removing the tick so not to touch it with any item other than the tweezers. Get rid of it by toilet or sink.

Cleaning the Site

After it’s been removed, clean the wound completely. Use soap and water then a mild disinfectant. After you get this done, wash your hands thoroughly so cross contamination cannot occur. Be sure to keep an eye on the sight for the next several days and repeat treatment with disinfectant and antibiotic cream.

As long as you follow these tips, the wound should not have an infection. However, it’s not always improbable that the tick transmitted a disease. Should a tick patient get sick, be sure you seek medical attention and the staff is conscious of the tick bite.

How To Take Quality Winter Puppy Pictures

Do you like to take pictures of your furry puppy friend? If you do, you may need to know a few things that can help you get quality puppy pictures out of your camera. Summertime pictures are always so cute and come out really good because of the camera’s settings. Does that mean the ones in winter won’t be as good? Not at all. As long as you adjust the settings for your camera, you can get wonderful winter pictures that will bring you a lifetime of memories for you of your puppy while improving your photography skills at the same time.

Listed below are some tips that can help you take good pictures all year long.

Be sure you check your camera’s white balance settings. If you don’t want your puppy too dark or too bright, this is very important to check. Most cameras out on the market will automatically check this setting. However, if you don’t have one that does this, learning this skill can help you adjust these settings based on the type of environment you are taking the picture in. To get the kind of effect you want, tweak the settings.

Camera Flash

Most cameras also come with a flash. Use it to your advantage. Flashes on a camera can give you the colors you want while avoiding the uneven colors and shades that come in some pictures. For instance, if you take a picture of snow, it can come across as a white spot without a flash. However, with the flash settings, you can get the snow. When you are adjusting the flash settings, adjust your contrast and color settings as well. If you are taking puupy pictures in the snow, you want the puppy in the foreground and the snow in the background. If you want a vast array of puppy pictures, dress him up in different kinds of clothes. Put him beside a Christmas tree that will magnify these pictures.

Shutter Speed

Be sure you let the puppy play in the snow as you take your pictures. You get the most memory for your buck with these kinds of pictures. Be sure your shutter speed is on the right setting for these kinds of pictures. You don’t want your picture to be blurry. If you aren’t sure, try different settings so you know which ones will make the picture quality outstanding.

Dog Emotions: How To Tell When They are Happy, Sad and More

Just like their human counterparts, cats and dogs do have emotions. While it may seem like a foreign concept to humans, they do have feelings. So if you own an animal, you should keep a few things in mind about their emotions.

How To Tell A Dog’s Emotions

Happy Emotion

It may not seem like pets have emotions. However, people are beginning to understand that pets do show their emotions just differently from humans. If you have a pet and are aware of their emotions, you know their feeling can be multifaceted. How they react will vary based upon specific scenarios. For instance, if you have a dog, you’ll notice their ears will rise up when they are happy. Another way to tell they are happy… a wagging tail.

Angry Emotion

Have you ever seen a dog angry? You may notice the dog acting strangely when he is upset. There are several signs for humans to figure out a dog is angry. For instance, the dog may show their teeth at you. This is done in response to being afraid or being angry. This is considered a defensive pose. A dog’s muscles may get very stiff and the tail will lower to the ground. When the tail is lowered, it looks as if the dog is being submissive. However, the will utilize its defensive pose to look more aggressive. By seeing this, you’ll know if your pup is upset.

Sad or Depressed Emotion

However, should you pup feel sad or upset, they may choose to show it in several ways. They may want to be secluded away from everyone. They may not want to play with any other pet that lives inside the home. Sometimes, if a dog is depressed, their ears won’t perk up even when someone enters their room. Even though dogs don’t cry, they do show their owners how they feel inside. They can be depressed for any number of reasons such as owner loss, no interaction with the owner, loss of playmate or tension within the family.