From the monthly archives:

November 2009

Pet Rabbit Care Tips For Picking A Rabbit

by Pet Care on November 17, 2009


Buying a little furry rabbit fills many families with joy. With over 40 different rabbit breeds, there’s certainly many to choose from. Many of the breeds have multiple varieties and colours. Understanding all aspects of rabbit care is important as these are animals that can grow very large in size.

For most people choosing the gender of their rabbit, they may not know which one to choose as they’re not entirely sure of their different characteristics. A lot of the differences are dependent on how people look after their rabbit. Often a doe (girl rabbit) that is not spayed, can become territorial was she reaches maturity. It is fair to say that some female rabbits will have a tendency to nip at their owners if they get too close or invade their private space. However, if a familiar face does the feeding and suchlike, they should calm down considerably. Some does can be non-aggressive, and yet others can become territorial towards everybody, but that is very rare. If you do not plan to breed your rabbit, and you want a doe, it is best to have her spayed to help reduce the chances that she may protect her den. Starting off on the right foot like this is a good way to make sure your rabbit care approach heads in the right direction.

Another important thing to consider when it comes to rabbit care is the art of grooming. The wool breeds such as angoras and jersey woollies require extra work in grooming. Naturally, all rabbits need to be groomed, but it is the wool breeds that will require a good brush on a regular basis.

There are some recommendations that rabbit owners would suggests, and one is to make sure you don’t buy a rabbit without seeing it first, either at a pet store or from a breeder. Choose a breed you like and do your research, then try to find a rabbit breeder in the local area. Next, head over to visit the breeder and the rabbits they have. Ask to see all round the house and see where the rabbits are kept so you can check if they are sanitary conditions. Ask if you can hold a rabbit. At this stage, watch closely to see how the rabbit reacts when someone leans down to pick it up. If they are happy rabbits and like the attention, they will come to the door and make cute little noises to get you to stroke them. In some cases though, rather timid rabbits will move backwards as though they don’t want picking up. Look out for these signs as they could indicate that the rabbit won’t make a good pet.

Searching for a rabbit should be fun, but you should also make sure you think about all the important details that rabbit care involves. There are many sizes, colours and choices and finding the right one for you can be time consuming but will be very rewarding in the end.

Pet Health And Rabbit Care Grooming Is Crucial

by Pet Care on November 17, 2009


If allergy attacks suddenly become a problem for you and it is not caused by the common cold, weather conditions and other uncontrollable factors, it may be caused by dander or scurf from the coat of your pet rabbit, in which case you need to look at improved rabbit care. You should follow regular rabbit grooming routines to prevent occurrence of unwanted allergies.

By looking at rabbit care in an objective way, you will see that small changes and grooming make all the difference. Grooming is one essential aspect of rabbit care. If you have a lovely large house rabbit, you may find that winter requires a longer grooming session, but this is good because it will help to reduce the allergies in the house.

Rabbit care is great if done properly and you will notice that you become much closer to your pet, forming a special bond in the process. Holding your rabbit will be much more pleasant too. In addition, you will get to know your pet rabbit, allowing you to know what areas he or she dislikes or likes to be touched. Also, you will examine whether your pet has a health problem when he or she flinches when you touch a certain area.

When getting involved with rabbit grooming, make yourself aware of the fact hair loss problems might become apparent to you and these should be examined by a vet. Things like fleas and ticks are also common with rabbits, just like with cats and dogs, so be sure to check for these.

Rabbit grooming should be a long-drawn out process and by doing this it will help you to achieve the best results. Pet owners will know that rabbit grooming forms a small part of rabbit care in general, but it is still important. Don’t just assume that dogs and cats need grooming, because there are many animals that need to be groomed.

No-one wants a sick pet, but grooming can help reduce the risk. Making sure your pet receives proper grooming not only provides physical benefits, but also makes you and your pet closer to each other.

The Hardest Dog Food Decision Do You Go For Raw Or Cooked?

by Pet Care on November 17, 2009


So you’ve got a new dog and you’re wondering what to feed him. The market is full of commercial diets, and you’ve heard that some people feed their dogs raw meat. Naturally, you want to make sure you get the best dog food for your pet, so it is useful to know which route to head down.

Dogs are omnivores which means they require meat, fibre, and other nutrients to stay healthy. Generally, adult dogs need a diet that consists of 22-25% protein and 15-19% fat, although puppies, pregnant dogs, and active dogs will have different nutritional requirements.

All owners love their pets enough to want the best dog food, but if you choose to buy a commercial brand, you need to make sure it is has what your dog needs. You want to make sure that a good quality protein source such as lamb meal, chicken meal, or turkey meal is the number one ingredient. An important tip is to refrain from purchasing high grain foods as these will inevitably contain many preservatives.

Of course, there are some people that prefer to feed their pets pure raw food. You would expect to find eggs and offal as two main components of this diet. You’ll often find that this diet is very popular in America, but in the UK people tend to stick to commercial dog food brands.

The Truth About These Foods

The best dog food names on the market tend to come from heavily commercialised brands and thus they can be trusted that the products contain all the necessary ingredients to keep a dog healthy. Compare this to the raw meat diet and you’ll find that raw food can be costly and stressful to prepare each day.

Proponents of commercial dog food say that as dogs are omnivores, it is only natural that they require the nutritional benefits of grains. Some people are sure that a raw food diet does little to help keep their pet healthy.

People who feed their dogs raw food diets feel that nature intended for animals to eat their food raw and that cooking damages the chemical makeup of foods and that cooking the food actually damages an animal’s immune system.

Still, then you can argue that there is actually no difference between cooking a dog’s food and cooking human food.

Whether you choose to feed your dog the raw meat diet or go commercial by choosing the best dog food brand, it is important to be educated on what a dog’s nutritional requirements are. You should also consult your veterinarian for his recommendation on diet.

Pet Nutrition and Animal Pain Care go Hand in Hand

by Pet Care on November 11, 2009


My cat’s name is pumpkin. Once you realize how much better your pets could and should be eating it almost makes you cry and they’re doing animal chiropractic for animal joint pain and they offer nutritional advice and amazing products. He’s a valuable member of the family and an awesome cat. Since I’ve always been an animal lover it bothered me enormously that he didn’t want anything to do with me much. He ignored me all the time even though I made sure he never had a life free from pet pain. I decided to do some online research and I found a really great site for advice about pet care. They obviously cared deeply about all sorts of animals including cats. It really is amazing what they’re doing over at avafrick.com. She’s kind of like the pet whisperer or something like that. Animal Chiropractic

I sent them an email about Pumpkin’s cat problem and this is what they told me to do. They also had some very specific advice about the kind of nutrition Pumpkin would require going forward in his life’s stages. It was a very rewarding visit to this website which turned out to be an animal lover’s paradise. I was supposed to walk up to the cat once a day, give it a little scratch on its back (where it can’t reach itself) and walk away. That’s all, nothing else. I was told to do this twice a day; once in the morning and then in the evening. I was told that the cat should start coming to me for more attention. And guess what! I can’t get rid of him. He always wants to come around for a scratch now. They also suggested some ways to feel for abnormalities on his body and determine whether he could use some pet chiropractic care.

A friend of mine once told me that dogs have masters and cats have staff. I’m sort of inclined to believe that. Pumpkin really does expect a lot from me. He knows that he can have his itchy back scratched by me and I’ve noticed that now that he knows that he simply has this expectation that I, his slave, will accommodate him. Personally I am thrilled that my investment of time and effort into Pumpkin is paying off finally with dividends and I owe it all to Ava Frick. Pet Arthritis

Ways to Determine Cancer in Dogs

by Pet Care on November 2, 2009


I really haven’t thought that cancer could be possible for dogs. We usually thought that cancer could only affect us man, but don’t you know that it could also affect your beloved dog? A dog’s cancer diagnosis is one of frightening news you could ever face with your beloved pet. Just the mere fact of losing your loved one when they get sick is equally devastating be it in your family or your beloved dog.

Up to date, cancer is one of the leading causes of death of dogs in United States. Study shows that 20 million dogs die yearly in the U.S. due to cancer in any forms. Around 1 out of 4 dogs are affected in the U.S. So, to all pet lovers out there, we need to stay vigilant in detecting cancer in our animals. There are certain signs and symptoms that could signal dog cancer and they are the following;

Signs of Cancer in Dogs

1. Changes in bowel or bladder habits

2. A sore that does not heal

3. Unusual growth of bumps or swelling or even drooling

4. Chronic vomiting or diarrhea

5. Difficulty in eating or swallowing

6. Fatigue or difficulty in exercising

7. Bleeding

8. Bad mouth odor

9. Lack of appetite

10. Weight loss

11. Nagging cough

12. Lethargy

The best treatment for cancer in dogs is prevention. All pet lovers are encouraged to manually examine their dogs at home. Try to palpate your dogs body with your hands and observe for any signs of lumps, bumps, or sores or any unusual growth. If you see any of this danger signs, perhaps, it’s about time you submit your dog for a confirmatory diagnosis with your veterinarian.

Ensure that your dog receive the nutrition they need. Feed your dogs with high-quality and well-balanced diet with low amounts of simple carbohydrates and high amounts of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids.

Also, have your pet exercise regularly. Do not expose your dog to industrial chemicals and tobacco smoke as they are known to be carcinogenic, ability to cause cancer.

As a pet owner, I always see to it that I get to spend more time with my dog. I always find time to play with him in my lawn. I really like to use my favorite lawn mower blades which I bought at my well-trusted mower parts store. For me, they are simply the best. Satisfaction guaranteed.

Tips on How to Avoid Excessive Barking in Dogs

by Pet Care on November 2, 2009


I have always believed that dogs are mans best friend. I have been taking care of my terrier dog for 2 years now and I absolutely love him. He knows when I am upset and knows just how to make my mood lighter when I all gloomy. His lovable but I don’t like it when he gets to bark so loud. It pains my ear and almost everyone around the household.

If you want your dogs to stop from such misbehavior, I suggest you train them especially during their early stages. Here are some tips to get you started with the training your dog from having such too loud and excessive barking misbehavior.

Be consistent in giving your dogs reward. One common mistake of dog handlers in the past is that in order to stop their dogs from barking they would feed them with food immediately just to calm them down and this does not solve things. Dogs are encouraged to bark further because they know that they would get attention from their owners when they do. They have confusion on whether this attitude is right or wrong. So in order to modify such behavior, give rewards only when you think you’re dog had done something good.

Teach your dog simple commands like NO BARKING or STOP BARKING. These simple commands will let your dogs learn that you wanted them to be quiet. If you’ll do this most of the time, you’ll be able to teach your dogs to behave.

Keep your dog away from sounds and sights that may cause them barking. Place your dog in an environment where there is less access to excessive noise as they may trigger barking. You may want to place them in a room away from any doors or windows so that they could not look outside. if your dog barks when he’s alone in the backyard, keep him inside except when you’re able to go out with him. If your dog barks at passersby through the front window, either draw the blinds or keep the dog out of the front room except when you’re there to address the problem.

Distract your dogs. When you think that you’re dog is on barking cue again, distract him. You may give him safe chew toys to stimulate his mind. You may also want to go out and play fetch with him. It will help a lot. Maybe you’re dog is just too bored or lonely. Boredom and loneliness leads to other undesired behaviors in dogs.

Do not leave your dog outside your home. Whenever your off to work or has something important to go to, do not let your dog stay outside your home. Dogs left outside home whole day are more prone to nuisance barking.

Sometimes, the lack of attention you give your dogs contributes to their misbehavior. In order to prevent such, I always go out in my backyard with my dog during playtime. After playtime, my dog would simply sit down quietly in the backyard and watch me as I do gardening chores. I use my favorite lawn mower blades. I usually buy lawn mower blades from my most trusted and reliable store.

Stop UTI in Dogs

by Pet Care on November 1, 2009


Many pet owners today are not aware that their dogs are also prone to developing UTI (urinary tract infection). UTI is not necessarily harmful to dogs during early stages. However, if the infection is left alone for too long, it could cause a more severe infection in dogs affecting their major organs like kidneys. Statistics have shown that approximately 14% of the worldwide dog population will acquire urinary tract infection.

Urinary Tract Infections (UTI’s) are extremely common, and many pet owners aren’t educated in how to prevent them and because of this, let me help you down on taking preventive measures for your dogs.

1. Bathe your dog regularly. Hygiene is one of the most important preventive measures when preventing all forms of infection for our pets. Have your dogs take bath on a regular basis.

2. Give your dogs ample amounts of water daily. Make sure that your dog gets sufficient fluid intake. Fluids are helpful for maintaining homeostasis in your pet’s body. Moreover, encouraging your dogs to have an ample amount of water daily will also promote flushing of bacteria during urination.

3. Encourage bladder habits. You should take your dog out few hours daily and allow them to urinate regularly. This will prevent the buildup of bacteria in the bladder, the common site of UTI.

Signs and Symptoms
• Pain while urination or even crying while urinating
• Frequent licking of genitals
• Recurrent urination without passing much urine
• Urinating in odd places
• Hazy or bloody urine
• Fever and loss of appetite

Urinary infections in dogs are bacterial in nature. It’s important to see a veterinarian for proper treatment. Veterinarians would prescribe antibiotics for your pet. So make sure that you adhere to the treatment as prescribed by your veterinarian in order to prevent possible recurrence of infection and further complications.

Another way of ensuring your dogs health is by providing them a clean backyard and allowing playtime. For my backyard and gardening needs, I use my favorite John Deeree lawn mower parts and buy John Deeree lawn mower parts at my favorite store. They really meet my dogs expectation as well as mine for a clean and well-trimmed and green backyard.

Utilizing Water Garden Containers to Create a City Oasis

by Pet Care on November 1, 2009


For urban inhabitants, yard space is at a premium. With apartment houses planted right on the streets and a minimal amount of communal land in the back, there’s no way to maintain a garden or cultivate a lot of flowers. You can, however, think on a much smaller scale. If you have access to a balcony or a deck, or even a fire escape, you can build a water garden in containers that will give you the aura of an in-ground water feature. You’ll be able to enjoy sounds of the water gurgling and watch tiny fish swimming, grow water plants, and enjoy the serenity nothing but a water garden can offer. Water garden containers give you the basis for building a watery environment in very little space.

Coming up with water garden containers isn’t as difficult as selecting exactly what you’d like. A recommended volume for a container is 15-25 gallons, and any kind of container in that size range will work. You will also need containers to produce your water plants in, because plants have to be grown in separate pots and then transplanted into the water-filled container. It’s preferable to select a container with a dark-colored interior, because the dark color will give your pond the look of depth. Dark interiors are also more environmentally-friendly in that they won’t provide an attraction for algae and yet they’ll camouflage the presence of any algae that starts growing.

Your water garden optimumly will be located in a location where it will get at minimum six hours of sun each day. The majority of water plants don’t grow and flower well without at least that much sunshine, but some bog plants will be okay with less sun. The plants you pick for your garden need to be varied for the best effect. Choose some with floating properties, a few submerged, and emergent species when selecting the plants you want to incorporate into your garden. Plants offer the function of shading the water which, once again, diminishes the growth of algae. When you build a new water garden, however, you can expect your water to get murky after a couple of weeks. Just hang in there, though, and the plants and fish will eventually start controlling the algae population, and the water will clear up.

In addition to fish, you need to put a few snails in your water garden containers. Snails are critical in eating algae, fish waste matter, and decaying organic materials. Tiny fish, such as guppies, are recommended for containers that are 20 gallons or smaller; larger than that you can try a couple of goldfish. Guppies and fish like that are excellent choices, because they resist changes in temperature well, and they gobble up those pesky mosquitoes.