Is Your House Killing Your Dog?
May 23, 2008
You love your dog. You would do anything for your dog. Well your home may not be the best place for your dog to live a long and happy life.
Just like parents often put poisonous things into a baby’s room (like new wallpaper and plastic toys) and wonder why the baby is sick, people often expose their dog to things that will kill them and wonder why the dog is sick or dying.
Dogs get sick and die from cancer. That is a fact. But did you know that household cleaning products will cause cancer?
An example is bleach. Everyone knows that it interfers with breeding dogs by altering the sex hormones and by killing sperm. But did you know it can alter DNA to the point that tumors develop?
You find bleach in many of the household products that your dog comes in contact with on a daily basis. It is in laundry detergents, for example. Did you launder that blanket your dog sleeps on? Does you dog sleep in the laundry room? Did you spill detergent on the laundry room floor where your dog can lick it?
How To Protect Your Pets From Fleas And Ticks
May 22, 2008
Fleas are wingless, blood-sucking insects that feed on dog, cats, humans and other species. There are many different types of flea each one specific to the animal that it lives on. The most frequent fleas found in the home are the cat flea and dog flea.
THE FLEA PROBLEM Fleas and ticks are responsible for a number of diseases in pets and people. Some types of ticks, for example, can transmit the bacteria that cause Lyme disease to animals and humans and some fleas can harbor tapeworm larvae, which grow into adult tapeworms in the intestines of pets or people. Flea bites commonly cause skin irritation and itching and some pets are allergic to flea saliva.
Taking care of your pets responsibly includes protecting them from fleas and ticks. Fleas can be a problem even in the best kept homes and on the cleanest of pets. The best approach to managing fleas is prevention. But if you already have a flea problem, you can control them as long as you treat both your pet and your home. Many products are available to help control fleas and ticks on pets and in their environment. Check with your veterinarian for appropriate treatments.
The Importance of a Plan When Building a Reptile Cage
May 21, 2008
Would you put together a model plane without looking at the finished plane picture or looking at the plans? Does a builder build a house without a plan?
The answer to these is pretty clearly no. A homemade snake or other reptile cage is so much simpler though, you say. I can just put it together as I go. Not so, my young apprentice. There are many pitfalls awaiting the inexperienced. Simple things you can miss. Silly mistakes you can make, and believe me, it is very easy to make them. There are a host of things that can make a simple cage take much longer than it should plus some possible costly mistakes.
If you have never kept a reptile, then before you even plan a reptile cage, you need to do some research on what sort of cage your retile will need. A snake will need cages of certain dimensions; lizards will need other dimensions and arboreal species yet another type of cage with different dimensions. It’s also helpful if you know how large your pet will get so you can plan ahead.
New Pet Tag Services Provide A Sense Of Security
May 20, 2008
The greatest benefits of ownership is knowing that your property will be there when you need it, but ownership of a pet requires a different type of security measure. Because, pets are living creatures with minds of their own, they have a tendency to want to explore new things, and this often encompasses wandering off and not knowing how to return to where they started. This dilemma poses a unique problem for their owners inthat their pet is out there alone, and they are depending on the kindness of strangers to reunite them with their lost pet.
Now, every pet owner wants to have a sense of security that their pet will be returned if lost, and this is evidenced by the popularity of various identification techniques, such as pet tags, tattoos, and pet microchips. But, all of these means of pet identification have their limitations, and those limits are based on the fact that the owners’ information will not change, and that the finder knows how the pet is tagged. Although the most recognizable form of identifying a pet is the pet tag, this method is also subject to the limitations above, but a company called RecoveryPets.Com has rectified this problem.
Pet Friendly Vacations - 10 Tips for Hassle-Free Travel with Your Pet
May 19, 2008
Pet friendly vacations and travel planning make sense — after all, pets are family members too! In the United States alone, over 60 million households have one or more pets. Pet owners in 15 million of those households travel with their pet, and the majority stay in pet friendly lodging. Fortunately, pet friendly hotels, condos and vacation home rentals do exist. If you will be planning pet friendly vacations, here are some tips for safe and trouble-free travel.
1 - When you make your reservation, double-check that pets are allowed. An important advantage of reserving online is that you can see in writing whether or not pets are permitted and any restrictions. Online, you can print out your reservation receipt that includes the “pets allowed” information. Verbal reservations leave more room for misunderstanding and miscommunication. If reserving by telephone, ask the reservation person to mail you a confirmation receipt that includes the “pets allowed” information.
Nikki and Benny, My Therapy Visiting Dogs.
May 19, 2008
My two therapy dogs, Nikki and Benny, bring joy to our friends. Here is short report of our visit.
First, let me tell you just a little bit about my two dogs, a short little Bio on each. There are pictures on my dog therapy page. www.mimfreedom.com/dogtherapy.htm
Benny, my black lab, is about 6 years old now. Benny is a wonderful dog (even though he likes to steal my pillows). He loves going to visit our friends in the home. His tail is like a rotator as soon as we come near our first "friend". Clearly, this is where he loves to be. Actually, this is where he belongs. He is gentle, good natured and full of love and affection. And, he is always hungry?.yup, a true lab, he is always hungry. Our friends at the home love him to death, so to speak. He truly makes their day brighter and better.
Then there is Nikki, my 1 ½ year golden puppy. Nikki is a typical 1 ½ year golden. She is full of life. She keeps me hopping. And, just like Benny, she brings pure gold to our friends.
Potty Training Your Puppy
May 18, 2008
A new puppy is a joyous addition to any home. Who can resist that cute little bundle of lovable furry fun? Wouldn’t it be great if puppies were potty trained and came into our homes without any mess or bother? OK, reality check here.
Just ask any dog owner what the hardest task at hand is, and most will agree, that potty training is high on the list of unpleasant tasks. Actually, potty training is a simple task, requiring merely a little patience and diligence.
First, be mindful of puppies as infant dogs, not children. Dogs are creatures of Habitual Re-enforcement. Start early with the basics, and you will have a well trained and obedient friend for many years.
A sure fire method of potty training, at least in the opinion of a kennel and breeder friend of mine, is to simply catch the puppy in the act of relieving itself.
First, you need to decide where you want him to go to the bathroom. Immediately approach your puppy, pick him up gently but firmly, and tell him “No No” with a firm clear voice. Carry your puppy immediately outside, preferably to a pre designated area, and set him down on his haunches, holding him firmly for a few moments. If he still needs to relieve himself, keep him in that spot and pat and praise him when he’s finished. OK! Not so hard, eh?
Stop Cat Scratching Today!
May 17, 2008
Your new living room furniture is in tatters. Your nerves are frayed. Your cat thinks you have morphed into someone he doesn’t know and you need a solution to his inappropriate scratching behavior now! Sound familiar? Well, this was our situation a few months ago until we got a handle on a strategy that works.
Cats need to scratch! It helps them excercise their front leg muscles and tendons. It helps to shed old outer layers of the nail sheath. It helps alleviate frustration and boredom and it marks their ‘territory’ in your home.
Once you realize this it is much easier to arrive at an equitable solution. Rather than concentrating on eliminating the problem ( which isn’t going to happen ) you need to find a way to redirect the behavior to an appropriate area in your home.
There are many products on the market which offer a solution. We found a combination of a good quality scratching post wrapped in sisal rope and a set of clear, acrylic shields which fasten to the corner areas of your couch and chair work best. If you need to learn where to purchase these products, visit our website listed below.
Ears Stand Corrected: Cosmetic Surgery and Pets
May 16, 2008
Are you irritated by your dog’s drooping ears or your kitty’s tail which is capable of sweaping off a coffee table in a mere second? Is your puppy being too loud and your Calico scratching a bit too much? In our society, there are so many cosmetic procedures that have the capability of transforming our pets into the best citizens of their kind, into members of other breeds or into denizens of imaginary breeds.
Some could even say that these cosmetic surgeries enhance the overall quality of a pet’s life while others could possibly state that these procedures are mean-spirited, ego driven and more for the benefit of the pet owners than for the pets well being.
Cosmetic surgery for pets is not at all a recent idea. In the late 1800’s and the early twentieth century cosmetic surgery or alteration was a normal practice, most especially in the cat show world.
Such techniques as tail bobbing and ear reducing to produce the deceptive image of another breed were practices used regularly.
Breeding Your Goldfish
May 15, 2008
If you are keen on breeding Goldfish, you should know that it’s not an easy task. It will take a lot of patience, a lot of space in the tank and quite a bit of money too. Don’t get into breeding if you think it’s going to be profitable, because it isn’t! Breeding goldfish is best left to a professional but if you still want to breed them, here’s how to begin:
Decide on the breed: You also must decide before hand what variety of goldfish you want to breed. Ideally, if you are a beginner you should decide on breeding a good quality single tail type fish like the comet.
Pair and choose the breeds: You must choose high quality goldfish to breed high quality goldfish. The goldfish you choose should be two-four years. A good quality goldfish would be assessed according to its finnage, body shape, size and color. They should be at least 4-6 inches or larger and very healthy. It’s better to breed with younger fish as the older ones might produce eggs that are deformed and infertile.
* The ideal female goldfish would be heavy at the rear, protruding on the left part of her body and her anal area would be soft.
