I Love My Pets 

Article Compilation 
BY 
Jey! 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Tips For Caring For Elderly Animals
 

When your pets or animals get older, they'll begin to find it harder to do the things that they used
to be able to do quite easily. This is common in any living organism as it is just part of the cycle
of life. When this happens with your pets, there are a number of things that you can do to help
make their every day lives a little bit more manageable.

Mobility

Mobility eventually becomes an issue when animals age because their bones and joints begin to
go through a deterioration process that prevents them from moving as quickly and easily. You
know that feeling you get after a long day of downhill skiing or tubing behind a ski boat? That
sore and achy feeling? Well that is essentially what many aging or elderly pets and animals
might feel on a day to day basis, so mobility starts to become an issue. There are a number of
things that you can do to make simple things like walking around the house much easier for
them. One, you can keep walkways clear of objects that animals might trip or stumble on. If your
dog has a favorite piece of furniture that he is now having trouble climbing up on, then you
might want to get some stairs that will provide easier access.

Heat Sources For Aching Bones

Sore and aching joints and bones can cause enough discomfort to force your dog or cat to simply
lay around and move. One way that you can soothe sore and aching joints and bones is to
provide them with a constant source of heat. Heated dog beds can provide your pet with the
constant supply of heat that they need to feel the relief that will keep them comfortable at all
times.

113 Facts About Animal Cruelty

 

1. Animals caught in traps can suffer for days before succumbing to exposure, shock, or
attacks by predators.
2. Traps often kill "non-target" animals, including dogs and endangered species.
3. To cut costs, fur farmers pack animals into small cages, preventing them from taking
more than a few steps back and forth.
4. Crowding and confinement is especially distressing to minks- solitary animals who
occupy up to 2,500 acres of wetland in the wild.
5. The frustration of life in a cage leads minks to self-mutilate- biting their skin, tails, feet-
or frantically pace and circle endlessly.
6. "PETA investigators witnessed rampant cruelty to animals. Workers beat pigs with metal
rods and jabbed pins into pigs' eyes and faces."
7. Snakes and lizards are skinned alive because of the belief that live flaying makes leather
more supple.
8. Piglets are separated from their mothers when they are as young as 10 days old.
9. Once her piglets are gone, the sow is impregnated again, and the cycle continues for three
or four years before she is slaughtered.
10. Approximately 3 to 4 million cats and dogs- many of them healthy, young, and
adoptable- must be euthanized in animal shelters every year.
11. Cows produce milk for the same reason that humans do- to nourish their young - but on
dairy farms calves are taken away at 1 day old.
12. 1 day old calves are fed milk replacements (including cattle blood) so that their mothers'
milk can be sold to humans.
13. Animals can suffer brain damage or death from heatstroke in just 15 minutes. Beating the
heat is extra tough for dogs.
14. Each year, approximately 10,000 bulls die in bullfights.
15. Most cows are intensively confined, unable to fulfill their most basic desires, such as
nursing their calves, even for a single day.
16. Cows are fed unnatural, high-protein diets-which include dead chickens, pigs, and other
animals.
17. Overall, factory-farmed animals, including those on dairy farms, produce 1.65 billion
tons of manure each year.
18. Kid goats are boiled alive to make gloves.
19. The skins of unborn calves and lambs - some aborted, others from slaughtered pregnant
cows - are considered "luxurious."
20. About 285 million hens are raised for eggs in the US. In tiny spaces so small they cannot
move a wing.
21. The wire mesh of the cages rubs off hens feathers, chafes their skin, and causes their feet
to become crippled.
22. Before 1986, only four states had felony animal cruelty laws.
23. Glue traps cause terror and agony to any animals who touch them, leaving them to suffer
for days.
24. In one study, 70% of animal abusers also had records for other crimes.
25. Sealers often hook baby seals in the eye, cheek, or mouth to avoid damaging their fur,
then drag them across the ice to skin them.
26. Arsenic-laced additives are mixed into the feed of about 70 percent of the chickens raised
for food.
27. Every year, nearly a million seals worldwide are subjected to painful and often lingering
deaths, largely for the sake of fashion.
28. Scientists estimate that 100 species go extinct every day! That's about one species every
15 minutes.
29. Every year in the US, 50 million male piglets are castrated (usually without being given
any painkillers).
30. More than 15 million warm-blooded animals are used in research every year.
31. The methods used in fur factory farms are designed to maximize profits, almost always at
the expense of the animals.
32. To test cosmetics, cleaners, and other products, hundreds of thousands of animals are
poisoned, blinded, and killed every year.
33. In extremely crowded conditions, piglets are prone to stress-related behavior such as
cannibalism and tail-biting.
34. Farmers often chop off piglets' tails and use pliers to break off the ends of their teeth-
without giving them any painkillers.
35. For identification purposes, farmers cut out chunks of young pigs ears.
36. Animals on fur farms spend their entire lives confined to cramped, filthy wire cages.
37. For fur, small animals may be crammed into boxes and poisoned with hot, unfiltered
engine exhaust from a truck.
38. Engine exhaust is not always lethal, and some animals wake up while they are being
skinned.
39. Larger animals have clamps attached to or rods forced into their mouth or anus so they
can be painfully electrocuted.
40. Bird poisons attack birds' nervous systems, causing them to suffer seizures, erratic flight,
and tremors for hours before dying.
41. If you drink milk, you're subsidizing the veal industry.
42. Male calves are often taken away from their mothers at 1 day old, chained in tiny stalls
for 3-18 weeks, and raised for veal.
43. After they are taken from their mothers, piglets are confined to pens until they are
separated to be raised for breeding or meat.
44. Although chickens can live for more than a decade, hens raised for their eggs are
exhausted and killed by age 2.
45. More than 100 million "spent" hens are killed in slaughterhouses every year.
46. Forty-five states currently have felony provisions for animal cruelty. (Those without are
AK, ID, MS, ND and SD.)
47. Dogs used for fighting are chained, taunted, and starved to trigger extreme survival
instincts and encourage aggressiveness.
48. Dogs that lose fights (or refuse) are often abandoned, tortured, set on fire, electrocuted,
shot, drowned, or beaten to death.
49. Cows on average product 16 lbs of milk per day. With hormones, antibiotics, and genetic
manipulation? 54 lbs a day.
50. Humane treatment is not a priority for those who poach and hunt animals to obtain their
skin.
51. Alligators on farms may be beaten with hammers and axes, sometimes remaining
conscious and in pain for 2 hours after skinning.
52. Investigation of animal abuse is often the first point of social services intervention for a
family in trouble.
53. A Canadian Police study found that 70 percent of people arrested for animal cruelty had
past records of other violent crimes.
54. Dog fighting and cock-fighting are illegal in all 50 states.
55. Hoarding of animals exists in virtually every community. Well-intentioned people
overwhelmed by animal overpopulation crisis.
56. The consequences for hoarders, their human dependents, animals, and the community are
extremely serious- and often fatal for animals.
57. Declawing is a painful mutilation that involves 10 amputations - not just the nails - but
the ends of toes (bone and all).
58. The long-term effects of declawing include skin and bladder problems and the gradual
weakening of cats' legs, shoulders, and back.
59. Declawing is both painful and traumatic, and it has been outlawed in Germany and other
parts of Europe as a form of cruelty.
60. Kangaroos are slaughtered by the millions every year; their skins are considered prime
material for soccer shoes.
61. Across the US, 6 to 8 million stray and abandoned animals enter animal shelters every
year, and about half must be euthanized.
62. In California, America's top milk-producing state, manure from dairy farms has poisoned
hundreds of square miles of groundwater.
63. Each of the more than 1 million cows on the state's dairy farms excrete 18 gallons of
manure daily.
64. Every year, the global leather industry slaughters more than a billion animals and tans
their skins and hides.
65. Elephants who perform in circuses are often kept in chains for as long as 23 hours a day
from the time they are babies.
66. Every year, millions of animals are killed for the clothing industry.
67. An immeasurable amount of suffering goes into every fur-trimmed jacket, leather belt,
and wool sweater.
68. Neglect and abandonment are the most common forms of companion animal abuse in the
United States.
69. On any given day in the U.S., there are more than 65 million pigs on factory farms, and
112 million are killed for food each year.
70. Every year, dogs suffer and die when left in a parked car- even for "just a minute" -
parked cars are deathtraps for dogs.
71. Dog owners: On a 78 degree F day, the temperature in a shaded car is 90°F, in the sun it
can climb to 160°F in minutes.
72. 98% of Americans consider pets to be companions or members of the family.
73. For medical experimentation animals can be burned, shocked, poisoned, isolated, starved,
addicted to drugs, and brain-damaged.
74. Regardless of how trivial or painful animal experiments may be, none are prohibited by
law.
75. When valid non-animal research methods are available, no law requires experimenters to
use such methods instead of animals.
76. On average it takes 1,000 dogs to maintain a mid-sized racetrack operation. There are
over 30 tracks in the United States.
77. Female cows are artificially inseminated shortly after their first birthdays. Happy
birthday!
78. Birds don't belong in cages. Bored, lonely, denied the opportunity to fly, deprived of
companionship...
79. Many birds become neurotic in cages - pulling out feathers, bobbing their heads
incessantly, and repeatedly pecking.
80. According to industry reports, more than 1 million pigs die en route to slaughter each
year.
81. More than 100 million animals every year suffer and die in cruel chemical, drug, food
and cosmetic tests, biology lessons, etc.
82. Approximately 9 billion chickens are raised and killed for meat each year in the U.S.
83. The industry refers to chickens as "broilers" and raises them in huge, ammonia-filled,
windowless sheds with artificial lighting.
84. Some chickens spend their entire lives standing on concrete floors.
85. Some chickens are confined to massive, crowded lots, where they are forced to live amid
their own waste.
86. Neglect/Abandonment is the most prevalent form of animal abuse (approximately 36% of
all animal abuse cases.)
87. Cows are treated like milk-producing machines and are genetically manipulated and
pumped full of antibiotics and hormones.
88. Foie gras is made from the grotesquely enlarged livers of ducks and geese who have been
cruelly force-fed.
89. The best way to save cows from the misery of factory farms is to stop buying milk and
other dairy products. Discover soy!
90. A typical slaughterhouse kills about 1,000 hogs per hour.
91. The sheer number of animals killed makes it impossible for pigs' deaths to be humane
and painless.
92. Because of improper stunning, many hogs are alive when they reach the scalding hot
water baths.
93. 13% of intentional animal abuse cases involve domestic violence.
94. Animal cruelty problems are people problems. When animals are abused, people are at
risk.
95. Instead of improving conditions for animals, the dairy industry is exploring the use of
genetically manipulated cattle.
96. More than half the fur in the US comes from China, where millions of dogs and cats are
bludgeoned, hanged, and bled to death.
97. Millions of pounds of antibiotics are fed to chickens, who metabolize only about 20
percent of the drugs fed to them.
98. The 3 trillion pounds of waste produced by factory-farmed animals every year is usually
used to fertilize crops.
99. Chaining dogs, while unfortunately legal in most areas, is one of the cruelest punishments
imaginable for social animals.
100. Tens of thousands of horses from the United States are slaughtered every year to
be used for horsemeat in Europe and Asia.
101. Since the last horse slaughter plants in the US were closed in 2007, thousands of
horses have been shipped to Canada/Mexico.
102. Abusers kill, harm, or threaten children's pets to coerce them into sexual abuse or
to force them to remain silent about abuse.
103. There are no federal laws to regulate the voltage or use of electric prods on pigs.
104. Forty-one of the 45 state felony animal cruelty laws were enacted in the last two
decades.
105. In the United States, 1.13 million animals were used in experiments in 2009, plus
an estimated 100 million mice and rats.
 106. As a result of disease, pesticides, and climate changes, the honeybee population
has been nearly decimated.
107. Many studies have found a link between cruelty to animals and other forms of
interpersonal violence.
108. Cows have a natural lifespan of about 20 years and can produce milk for eight or
nine years.
109. A fur coat is pretty cool- for an animal to wear.
110. Eighteen red foxes are killed to make one fox-fur coat, 55 minks to make a mink
coat.
111. Fur farmers use the cheapest and cruelest killing methods available: suffocation,
electrocution, gassing, and poisoning.
112. In addition to diarrhea, pneumonia, and lameness, calves raised for veal are
terrified and desperate for their mothers.
113. During Canada's annual commercial seal slaughter, as many as 300,000 seals are
shot or bludgeoned.

Is A Rabbit The Right Pet For You?

 

Instead of a cat or dog, have you considered a rabbit as your next pet?

Here is some information about rabbits that should help give you a sense of, whether or not, they
might be the right pet for you.

General Information:

Male rabbits are called bucks, females does.

Rabbits have a lifespan of 5-15 years, with an average of 4-5

They are very social, playful, and high maintenance! You cannot just stick them in a cage or a
hutch, and expect them to entertain themselves. They form close attachments and need company
to be happy.

They are rarely aggressive, but can show aggression when upset or threatened. They need a place
to hide, like they do in the wild.

They are most active at dusk and dawn, often napping during the day.

If your rabbit will be left alone all day, consider getting two to keep each other company. No
unfixed males and females together please!
Rabbits should be spayed/neutered, and can live together quite peacefully.

Rabbits rarely bite, but may scratch with their back legs if not handled properly.

Rabbits eat their feces to get maximum nutrition out of their food. It's normal, so don't panic.

We think rabbits and kids go together. The truth is, young children may play too roughly, and not
be careful enough when picking them up.

The rabbit skeleton is lightweight, so you must be very careful when picking them up. Their kick
is so powerful, they can break or dislocate their spines if not held securely. Never let their back
legs dangle, or pick them up by their ears. The best way to pick up a rabbit is by putting one
hand under his back legs and the other under his chest. His whole weight has to be supported by
you.

Rabbits have excellent hearing, and also use their ears to regulate their body temperature.

The veins in their ears are so large, blood for testing is usually drawn from them.

Rabbits should have as big a cage as possible, but it is still not a replacement for exercise. They
need play time out of their cage.

Please make sure to keep the cage and litter box clean at all times.

Rabbit urine can have a strong smell, but spaying and neutering, (which should be done
anyway!) can help.

They are quite easy to litter train, so you can be comfortable roping off an area in the house and
letting them run around. Just make sure it is rabbit proofed.

Rabbits' teeth never stop growing, so they must have something to chew on, at all times.

Pellets thrown into their bowl is not a suitable diet. In addition to pellets, they need good quality
hay, and fresh vegetables.

Leaving your rabbit in a hutch outside is lonely, unfair, and dangerous. He can be attacked by a
predator, eat pesticide laden grass, or die from extreme weather. Do not get a rabbit if this is the
life you are planning on giving him.

Use an enclosed, escape proof pen for play time outside. It is preferable not to leave him
unattended.

The vet you find should be experienced with rabbits..

 
 

Finding the Best Local Vet

 

When finding the best local vet for your pet, choose someone who makes you feel comfortable,
who spends time to talk to you about your pet's needs, and who answers your questions
completely. In the end, you are entrusting your pet to this professional and paying for the service
that is why they should better be good.

Evaluate the cleanliness of the office, as well as the exam rooms, and the concern of the staff. If
the staff is impatient with you, or does not want to respond to your questions, move on and keep
searching.

Some owners prefer to go to vets who specialize in a particular animal, like for cats only or dogs
only. Such veterinarian has plenty of experience with canine or feline health issues and knows
the latest studies, procedures, and other cat- or dog-specific medical information. These
veterinarians also keep the appropriately sized medical equipment and supplies on hand for cats
or dogs, which makes the visit much less traumatic for your pet. In addition, there would not be
any dogs barking in the office if you own a cat, or cats meowing if you have a dog. When you
find a feline only or canine only veterinary clinic in your neighborhood, it is worth checking out
to distinguish whether or not it meets with your approval.

Subsequent to finding the vet whom you like for your pet, keep his/her name, address, phone
number, clinic schedule, and the directions to the clinic. If you or another family member needs
to take your pet in for a checkup, all the information will be easy to get.

Shield Your House, Pet Supplies And Rabbit

From Chewing
 

So you've gotten determined to convey one or two of us bunnies dwelling as a pet. Again,
congratulations! Since it would be best to give your new friend some train and allow her or him
to run around the room supervised, how do you modify your personal home to make it more of a
place that we bunnies would like to reside in? Here are some ideas that my pet humans
discovered that made their hutch more "bunny pleasant"

First, we rabbits love to chew issues and it is not as a result of we like being destructive. Our
teeth are constantly growing and the one methodology we rabbits must keep our teeth from rising
an excessive amount of which is VERY dangerous (as we are going to soon see) is to maintain
chewing on one thing! Despite the fact that we're not in the wild,one thing deep with in us clicks
back into that time and we begin to chew on anything that even remotely resembles a twig or a
branch.

So what most carefully resembles a twig in the home? You guessed it, electrical cords!

I was a bit terror with regards to these things. Truly my pet people think I'm fortunate to be alive
and in a method they are correct. A variety of bunnies haven't been as lucky as me. Some rabbits
have both been electrocuted or suffered extreme mouth burns as a result.

So what can one to do to make a room or a house extra rabbit friendly? Well A number of things
were tried on my behalf:

My pet people read in a number of books that should you spread some factor referred to as
"Grannick's Bitter Apple" (obtainable at any pet shop) on electrical wire's, so we bunnies will
cease chewing on them. The Bitter Apple substance is supposed to go away a bad style in our
mouths. We're supposed to hate the taste of the stuff and never go near the electrical cord ever
again.

For some bunnies, this strategy truly works. For me, I am the exception to the rule! I LOVE the
stuff! My pet people tried spreading bitter apple on a number of of the cords round their house
and I just loved the style! I could not steer clear of the cords, so it was back to the drafting board
for them.

After just a few more experiments, 3 alarm clocks, a lamp twine, 2 telephone cords,3 laptop
laptop energy cords, and an exterior cellphone power twine (which has yet to be replaced), An
answer was lastly devised: plastic PVC piping!

I live in type of a den or examine which where my pet human has most of his laptop gear so
quite a lot of cords have been exposed. The exposed cords had been encased in the same type of
plastic tubing that one would use for a sump pump. The tubing was cheap, thin sufficient so my
pet humans might to work with, small enough to not create an eyesore in uncovered areas and
thick sufficient to protect the wires from the ravages of my gnawing enamel! This system of
tubes has been in place for a while now and I have yet to break via the plastic.

Keeping and Grooming Your Guinea Pig Pet

The Right Way
 

 
Being kept in captivity for decades, any guinea pig might seem not to be wary of human
interaction. But this is not always the same assumption as some cavy is still evasive of human
presence or interventions. But due to their calm and collected demeanor, they are one of the top
picks as household pets that are safe to raise even with kids. Also, almost in a sad tone, any cavy
breed is also becoming slaves of research and studies needing test subjects that resembles a
human system. Like their distant cousin rodents, guinea pigs are also favorite recipients of drugs
or products animal testing.

A guinea pig or abbreviated cavy can be found in almost regions of the globe but they originally
came from the Andes and brought into the streamline by some European traders in the early
1960s. These active creatures have been recognized by the Southern American dwellers as
source of meat and as companions. Active campaigns against killing of them for consumption
and experimentation have been constantly enforced by animal rights activists. These activist help
promote awareness and knowledge about the right treatment of cavy creatures.

So, as an owner or potential keeper of a cavy, what proper precautions do you need to know
about before acquiring one? First, check with your local state laws regarding buying and keeping
of guinea pigs as pets. If there is no restriction or special connotations, then go ahead and find a
breed of cavy that can fit as your pet. Some states require proper documentation of raising a
cavy. While most states have pet shops or direct breeders that sell, some are turning into
adoption in considering raising one cavy. Many animal rights organizations encourage adoption
of rescued or abandoned guinea pigs as a measure to cut back on the senseless buying and
trading of these friendly creatures.

Second, you only have to concentrate on three things when grooming your pet cavy. The teeth,
coat, and nails are the areas of concern for this furry fellows as these parts are mostly used in
their feeding and mobilization. The pronounced chewing teeth upfront a guinea pig are used to
cut grass or feeds and initially dices the big chunks of food for the cavy. Keeping these dentures
healthy can greatly aid them in their digestive system and prevent any possible infliction of pain
from gum or teeth disease that can prevent guinea pigs to consume food properly. Coats are
another issue as this thick furry coat can help a cavy to keep warm in his life. Getting topical coat
disease can compromise the body temperature of a guinea pig and can lead to disastrous
consequences like hypothermia or other life threatening diseases. Nails should be maintained in a
considerable length that can help a cavy to handle his food. These nails should be checked once
in a while to keep the cavy from suffering to any fungal or related deterioration of nails.

Lastly, all guinea pigs should be treated with respect and loving care. Most cavy pets today are
neglected once they began to grow bigger and become hard to cuddle. Kids usually have a dying
attention and devotion for their pets as pets become too big to handle for them or too old to be
played with. Parents should look after pets as if they are taking in another child in custody so that
no cases of abuse and neglect of it will occur.

 
How To Give CPR To A Dog Or Cat
 

Accidents happen, and sometimes it's our pets that get in trouble. They can drown, choke, get
electrical shocks, lose consciousness, stop breathing, etc. If something like this happens, it's good
to know how to apply CPR to a dog or a cat. Applying CPR to a dog or a cat is very similar to
how we do it in humans. If your pet is unconscious, check for breath. Watch their chest or feel
for breath or check the gums, which will turn blue from lack of oxygen.

1. The first thing you have to do is lay them on their right side on a flat surface and extend the
head and neck to form an airway. Then check for obstructions. They might have swallowed
something that got stuck in their throat.

-If it's a small dog or a cat, hold him upside down and shake him to try to remove the object. Be
careful if you try to use your fingers, because you might push the obstruction further down.

-If it's a large dog, pull their tongue outward and see if this action dislodges the object. You can
try using pliers to remove the obstruction, again, being careful as to not push the object further
down.

You can perform the Heimlich Maneuver and try to dislodge the foreign object.

If there are no obstructions and the air passage is clear:

2. Give them artificial respiration.

With a small dog or cat, you can cover their nose and mouth with your mouth and blow air into
them. Give short and shallow breaths every three seconds, just hard enough to make their chest
rise until they start breathing on their own.

With a large dog, hold the muzzle to hold the mouth shut. Put your mouth on the nose, covering
it completely, and blow gently into their nostrils. The chest should rise. Use longer and deeper
breaths every three seconds until they start breathing on their own.

Constantly check their pulse. You can try feeling the heart beats on their chest, or check for a
pulse in the inner side of the thigh, near the junction of the leg to the body. The pulse of the
femoral artery can be difficult to feel in cats. Use your index and middle fingers, not your thumb.

3. If there's no pulse, start chest compressions.

On large dogs, lay them on their side and give the compressions placing one hand on top of the
other over the widest portion of the rib cage, not the heart. On a smaller dog or cat, place your
hand on the rib cage over the heart and the other hand on top. On a puppy or a kitten, put your
thumb on the chest and compress, being very careful not to use excessive force.
The rate of compressions depends on the size of your pet:

If they are over 60 lbs, give 60 compressions per minute.

From 11 to 60 lbs, give from 80 to 100 compressions per minute.
Less than 10 lbs, give 120 compressions per minute.

Alternate breaths and compressions. Just like a human, you should give 30 compressions, 2
breaths. Continue the process until you can get the animal to respond or to start breathing on its
own.

As soon as the dog or the cat responds, bring him or her to the vet immediately.

Points in Choosing Healthy Hamsters As

Your Pets
 

As future owners of hamsters, there is that determining stage of choosing a hamster to qualify as
your healthy pet to be able to achieve that longer companionship. Be wary of the signs of
unhealthy hamsters that are being displayed in pet shops. Some points to consider in spotting a
virile and sound furry pet will be discussed below.

The surest way to identify a healthy candidate is actually buying offline in pet stores, farm fairs,
or direct breeders. Be sure to know a little bit of background about hamsters before you go and
decide to buy one. Knowing how to size up a good choice can predict how long you will be able
to keep your furry pet. If you can, ask the assistance of the shop clerk in handling hamsters. Take
your pick among five shortlisted choices and eliminate as your inspection criteria is being
assessed by you. Buy those hamsters that are easier to manage and tame in the short window of
about four-five weeks old.

Check the fur condition of a chosen candidate for parasites, sticky portions, irregular patches and
any abnormal topical growths. A healthy hamster will have even, shinny, and thick fur coating.
Anything less than these categories should warn you of the poor state of health of your candidate
hamster. Healthy coats mean healthy hamster, simply put, as they are getting the right nutrients
for the luster in their coat and they are well vaccinated and groomed that explains their thick and
even fur.

All their nose, ears, and eyes should be free from any unwanted discharge like unclean mucus or
other substance deposits. Eyes should be free from dirt and bright. Ears should have no bad smell
or wax formation. Nose should be clean and free from substance obstruction. Being kept clean
and fresh looking should be checked so you will know that the set of hamsters in one cage has
been treated well and kept healthy by pet shop owners.

Bite signs and marks in hamsters can be ill-signifying to possible owners. Either the hamster is
into aggressive behavior among his peers or is too weak to stand a chance among his aggressors.
Unwanted behavior in hamster should be a harbinger of his actual behavior when being kept on a
cage for too long. Avoid picking out these small troublemakers as their attitude and displacement
can become a problem later on when you decide to add some more hamsters in tow. You can
also check his cage mates for this point of consideration. If one cage is full of bitten hamsters,
then proceed to the next store please.

Wet tail or a behind that has a messy and wet look could mean bad hygiene for hamsters. Either
the owner of the pet shop is just into selling these furry pets without treating their welfare fairly
or there is an inborn stomach disorder for the hamster. Look away when a hamster has this
characteristic as it might mean bad health due to neglect and improper handling.

Having these helpful pointers in choosing a hamster can be helpful to would-be pet owners who
do not have a slightest idea on what to watch out for in picking up his hamster. Abide by these
guide points and you will get the perfect pet hamster for you.

   
Pet Insurance and Pet Rabbits
 

Pet insurance is usually popular with cat and dog owners, but rabbits also happen to have the
same need of extra policy care for their health needs. Bunnies are top scorers as the next in line
pets for the domestic animals planet. With their almost shy and relax demeanor, they appeal to
most pet owners as they become fun and cute to watch. But keeping these fluffy pets also puts
them into other health risks like communicable diseases from other rabbits or from the keeping
environment.

Many pet rabbits are kept in hutches or cages in free space of the house like the yard and the
garage. Most often than not, owners who are not concern about the hygienic considerations of
their pets can cultivate an even more dangerous environment of breeding germs and viruses that
can make their pets sick and contaminated with health hazardous diseases. For example, a bite
from a mosquito can make a rabbit sick with what they call Myxomatosis within hours of
contraction. Only counter vaccines can keep your rabbit safe from being ever contaminated by
this lethal disease. Procedures like routine checkups, vaccinations, accident treatments, and many
other listed services from the veterinary clinic can become a costly endeavor on a pet owner who
does not possess pet insurance.

As you know too well, keeping abreast with pet vaccinations can be hurtful to your pockets. That
is why pet insurance is a good alternative in covering certain amounts of vaccination and other
procedures listed in the policy that can lessen the financial burden of keeping your pet rabbits
protected. Some pets even require booster shots for some vaccinations to keep them healthy in
their life span. Also, some professional services might be required when treating your sick rabbit
or facilitating medication. More bunnies abhor the thought of being under scrutiny for a long
period of time and so vets are the only skilled professionals who can keep them at ease during
long hours of operation or consultations. Unlike dogs or cats who can somehow communicate
with their owners what they feel is wrong or aching, rabbits just do not have the facilities to call
your attention to what is bothering it. Therefore, only a vet can help you determine what is really
wrong about your pet rabbit so the right treatment can be given right away.

Pet insurance generally covers the vet's consultation fee and common procedures like neutering
and vaccinations. This discount or almost free professional fees are made possible by insurance
companies who invest your money into some investments and make your money grow and keep
certain percentage of your profits to fuel your pet insurance policy so you do not have to pay for
anything too much in the end.

Pet insurance is not only for the pets and dogs and many companies are quickly coping up with
the trend of pet medical journals in revisiting their policies for other exotic and wider range of
pets. If you must choose a pet insurance company, then you must keep in mind that your rabbits
must be able to gain the right amount of procedures an average bunny should have. Ask your vet
about this insurance policy so you also know the boundaries of the free bundles.
Yes, You Can Talk To Your Pets
 

All animal lovers believe that their pets understand most of what they say to them, but it is a
proven fact that both dogs and cats are capable of learning human language, not to the extent a
child does, of course, but enough to be able to communicate. Your pets will never have the same
extensive vocabulary as people, but they are capable of learning dozens if not hundreds of words.

Your pets love to interact with you, and talking to them often gives them the chance to be a part
of your world and feel a lot closer to you. Your pets crave the sound of your voice. They enjoy
the attention you are giving them when you talk to them. The natural rhythm of conversation
soothes them and pets detect the love and affection in your voice.

People tend to change their tone and use very simple words when they speak to their pets, just
like they do when they speak to children. However, there is no need to restrict your vocabulary
since they are very good at understanding what you are saying. Obviously, they don't understand
the words immediately, they need a little coaching to be able to understand what you're saying.
They need to be taught a little.

At first, talk to them with simple and short words, but you don't have to use only childish
vocabulary. The more extensive vocabulary you use, the more words your pets will learn, and
they will also learn to understand your voice inflections a lot better, so there's no need to talk
with an overly infantile voice as we tend to do.... you know: "Who's momma's baby? Who's the
baby?" Our tone of voice is important, however. If we use a high pitched, happy voice, it will get
them excited. If we lower our pitch and speak calmly, we'll be able to sooth them, if we use s
stern and harsh tone, they will know they did something wrong. Keep in mind that even though
pets are capable of understanding words and phrases, they can't relate them to something that
they can't see. You can't scold your cat for something he did 10 minutes ago, but he will
understand if you scold him at the very moment he's caught doing the bad deed.

One thing that's important is that both dogs and cats need to hear the same words and phrases
repeatedly to learn them. Just like when you say to your family "Dinner's ready", somehow they
know what's coming because they have experienced that whenever you say that phrase, food's on
the table. This means that in order for them to really understand the meaning of a word or phrase,
it has to be followed by an action. If you tell your cat "come here", he won't know what you're
talking about unless you coach him to come to you in some way. It's very important that the first
word you use when you talk to your pets is their name, that's the way to get their attention, but
once you get their attention, you need to follow up with some action so that they won't start
tuning out knowing that nothing happens when they turn to see you.

You can also use hand signals and body language to communicate with your dog or cat. For
instance, when you want him to stop, stand still and give them a palm-out signal. If you want
them to come to you, bend down and pat your knees.
Another thing you can do to communicate is learn their language. With dogs it's a little harder. If
you try to bark or growl they'll just look at you as if you're crazy, dog language has a very
distinctive accent, you might say. But your cats are a different story. If you approach a cat using
cat language, look at her sideways and blink your eyes to give a peaceful greeting. If you want
her to relax, purr, or if you want to scold her, hiss.

Whatever language you decide to use, whether it's body language, hand signals, cat language dog
language or human language, it's important that you communicate with your pets. It will
definitely deepen your bond and make your life together a lot more interesting.

The Pros and Pros of Spaying and Neutering

 

There are too many adoptable pets, cats and dogs, euthanized every year in North America due to
irresponsible breeding. My mission is to join in the efforts of other spay and neuter advocates
and help spread the word. In order to make my point, I will list for you the main pros and cons in
altering your pet.

The Benefits of Spaying (female pets)

• Statistically healthier longer lives overall

• Overpopulation control
• Reduced incidents of mammary tumors, ovarian and uterine cancer
• Lack of heat cycles (less messy and easier on your pet)

The Benefits of Neutering (male pets)

• Overpopulation control
• Decreased aggressive behavior, even within the species
• Statistically proven to lead to healthier and longer lives
• Decreased risk of testicular cancer
• Lackof desire to roam and get in trouble or fights

The Cons of Spaying and Neutering

The downside of altering your pet is comparatively insignificant. This a slight risk as with all
types of surgery that involves anesthesia. The risk is higher for females. Most spayed and
neutered pets will usually get slightly heavier, something you can easily counteract with proper
nutrition and exercise.
Overall Benefits

To sum thing up, there are three main benefits to cat and dog altering. Those are: 1. the decrease
of the surplus of homeless animals that need to be euthanized every day, 2. the fact that an
altered pet has fewer health risks, 3. a happier calmer dog that does not have the need to roam or
dash in front of traffic. The entire community benefits from each and every alteration. The
capture, impoundment and inevitable destruction of each animals cost taxpayers and
humanitarian agencies over a billion dollars each year.

Proper Age for Altering

Even though many shelters and pounds insist on early age altering (between 8-16 weeks), most
vets will recommend the conventional age of 5-7 months, before the cat or dog reaches sexual
maturity.

Please help end pet overpopulation. Spay and neuter your pets and do not remain silent when
others find silly excuses to justify why they do not alter theirs. Speak up.

Treating Pet UTI's The Natural Way

 

Natural pet UTI treatment has become more and more popular in recent years. This is because
more concerned pet owners are looking for ways to not only treat unpleasant symptoms but also
improve overall urinary tract health to stem recurrence. A growing number of pet owners believe
that nothing works better on both counts than 100% natural herbal remedies.

Bacterial infection is a serious problem for all pets. In today's world, your pets are exposed to
any number of toxins and they can pick up a bacterial infection quite easily. As bacteria build up
in the delicate urinary tract, it can lead to the formation of crystals which can cause blockage and
quickly become serious and even life threatening. Natural pet UTI meds can help to counter this
kind of bacterial infection and prevent these side effects. This is particularly true when the
immune system is depressed for any number of reasons.

The first step toward successfully treating a UTI is to recognize the symptoms and get immediate
treatment. Common symptoms of UTI in cats and dogs include fever, blood in the urine,
straining to urinate and pain when urinating, along with urinating in strange places. Natural pet
UTI treatment can help ease these symptoms without any unwanted complications.

If you notice any of these symptoms in your pet, you should get it to the vet immediately for a
proper diagnosis. Normally, the initial treatment option for UTI will be a course of antibiotics.
Your veterinarian will also determine how will your pet can tolerate these types of medications.
Made from herbs and other plant based ingredients, natural pet UTI treatments are designed to
give your pet the optimum care possible. Not only do they relieve symptoms by soothing the
urinary tract and improving function, they also bolster the immune system, allowing your pet to
naturally fight off not only UTI's but a host of other illnesses as well.

Using a special blend of herbs such as Berberis vulgaris, Staphysagris and Cantharis, natural pet
UTI meds work to relieve frequent urination and bladder discomfort, maintain proper urine flow,
stop leakage and strengthen the immune system to bolster your pet's natural defenses

The effectiveness of natural pet UTI treatments can be further accentuated by feeding your pet a
healthy natural diet, ensuring continual access to a clean water source and encouraging proper
urinary habits, either by letting them out to do their business in a timely manner or, in the case of
cats, providing regular access to a clean litter box.

Urinary tract issues can quickly become a life and death issue for your pet, so you want to do
everything you can to ease and prevent them. Nothing works better on both counts than the safe,
gentle, healing touch of Mother Nature. Talk to your vet today and consider using natural
remedies to keep your pet living a happy and healthy life.

Jeff Grill is a pet enthusiast, pet health researcher and publisher. The author grew up with a
natural curiosity regarding how nutrition and supplements impact human health, and the health
of the dogs and cats that are so important to our lives. He is an advocate for natural medicine and
publishes many articles on how to blend conventional and homeopathic (natural) approaches to
achieve wellness.
 

What Do Guinea Pigs Eat?

 

Guinea pigs (or cavies as they are often called) are fun, lovable, popular pets for so many people.
If you are thinking about getting a cavy you'll need to know what their dietary requirements are
in order to provide the correct guinea pig care and guinea pig food that these animals need.

Firstly, guinea pigs eat a range of things - you can't just give them one food type for the whole of
their life, they need variety.

Perhaps the most obvious food that they need is grass - after all guinea pigs in the wild will be
eating this food type for the majority of the time. Grass has lots of fibre in which is an important
element in the guinea piggie's diet as it helps to keep the digestive system healthy and the bowel
fully functional. Cavies are grazing animals, like sheep and cows, so in the wild they'd consume
a lot of grass; this needs to be replicated in your pet's diet. Ideally your pig should have the
option to eat grass every day, however if the grass is wet, avoid feeding it, or only feed it in
small amounts, as it can cause some cavies to be ill. Be careful of where you get the grass from,
it should be chemical free (no weedkiller should have been used around it, on it or near it, or
other similar products). The grass should also not be from a place where other animals may have
soiled on. Remember this grass is your pet's food and should be good quality. When picking
grass check that you have not picked any other plants a long with it - as these may be poisonous.

Hay - This is a good alternative to grass in the winter when grass may be too wet to feed to your
guinea pigs. Hay should always be readily available to your pig, throughout the year, although
more should be given in replacement of grass. Again, like grass, hay contains a lot of fibre and is
an essential part of the pig's diet. A lot of owners feed their pets timothy hay, as it is soft and is
often grown especially for guinea piggies.

Many guinea pig experts advise feeding some sort of dried or supplementary food that has been
designed especially for them. This is because it contains lots of vitamins, nutrients and minerals
that your pet may not get with other foods. It is vital that the dried food given to any guinea pig
is especially for cavies, and so contains Vitamin C. Unlike other animals, such as rabbits, cavies
can't make their own Vitamin C and so need to eat it to obtain enough. If there is a Vitamin C
deficiency, the cavy will often contract scurvy which in some cases can be fatal. There are many
different types of dried guinea pig foods, the two most common being the muesli type and the
pellet form. Both have their advantages: Muesli-like dried food gives the pig more variety and
many like it more than the pellets, however some pigs will leave a certain part of the muesli food
- if this is the case your pet could be missing out on an essential vitamin or mineral, so the pellet
style food should be given as each pellet is likely to contain all, or most of the vitamins that the
muesli variety has.

Fruit and vegetables - On the whole, vegetables are better for cavies than fruit, as the latter can
sometimes be too rich and give the guinea pig diarrhea. There are of course some fruit and
vegetables which should never be given as they can poison and seriously harm your pet. Many
owners also say that you shouldn't feed vegetables everyday, as this again can result in diarrhea,
although guinea pig-safe root vegetables (such as carrots) appear to be fine for most guinea
piggies when fed daily in small amounts). Most owners settle for feeding their pigs fresh food
about 3, 4 or 5 times a week. The fresh foods given to your pet shouldn't be the same each time;
guinea pigs prefer variety and are more likely to get all the vitamins they need with a wide range
of foods. A list of some of the common safe fresh foods are: carrots, broccoli, cabbage (only in
small amounts), kiwi and cucumber (both in small amounts), celery and kale. Cavies also like
baby tomatoes and beetroot (although this can stain fur and cause their urine to turn a reddish
colour).

Some fruit and vegetables to avoid are: rhubarb, lettuce (although small amounts of Romaine
lettuce appear to be ok with most pigs), raw beans, potatoes, peaches, coconut and cauliflower.
This is because, especially in the case of lettuce and cauliflower, these foods can cause gas
production in the digestive tract.

Some owners feed small amounts of brown bread toast and apple twigs once a month as it can
help keep the length of the pig's teeth down.
Manufactured sugary treats should be limited to special occasions. Why not try natural treats
such as dandelion leaves (not the flowers) and small chunks of carrots? Many cavies are likely to
appreciate these treats a lot more than the sugary ones.

You should always make sure that your guinea piggie has a plentiful supply of fresh water
available.

Remember you should never feed your guinea pig meat as they are 100% vegetarians and need to
be fed the right guinea pig food to be healthy cavies.

Stop Dog and Cat Coughing, Sneezing, and

Respiratory Issues Naturally
 

Cats are particularly susceptible to upset lung conditions, but dogs also frequently have
respiratory issues. When we have backed up lungs or respiratory systems ourselves, we feel
weak, irritable and tired. Your pets are no different.

Also, if not acted on quickly, lung and respiratory issues in pets can morph into more serious
problems. As with humans, the especially young, especially old or sick pets have a much weaker
immune system that is much more easily attacked by outside influences.

This is why a rapid natural, homeopathic response to a minor change in behavior or respiratory
symptoms is required to head off more dangerous, costly treatments. Fast action here with a
homeopathic remedy will minimize your pet's discomfort, and possibly save a life. If severe
symptoms like coughing blood are present, get to a vet immediately! However, most first
symptoms of respiratory ills are not as dramatic.

Treatment with a non-chemical, natural, homeopathic pet remedy as soon as symptoms reveal
themselves is usually enough to boost the immune system and ward off any affliction. Some of
these less severe symptoms are...

- Coughing

- Sneezing

- Nasal discharge

- Watery eyes

- Mucous discharge from the mouth, spitting

- Lack of appetite

- Lack of energy, sleeping too much

While these symptoms are only a handful of those which manifest themselves in the respiratory
system of our cats and dogs, that can all be treated naturally, in the safety of your home, with no
shots or veterinarians in a few seconds.

These natural, homeopathic pet cures also provide a great side-effect. Since they are all natural,
they give an overall health boost, ramping up your pet's entire immune system, not fighting just
the respiratory problem.

When wild dogs and cats get sickly, or feel themselves beginning to become weak, they
instinctively eat herbs, plants and natural minerals to regulate their system. Ever seen a homeless
cat that was sneezing? I have not either!

Sometimes, this natural cure is all that is needed to cure ills in puppies, kittens, kennel cough,
sneezing and other pet flu and respiratory symptoms. Besides costing a fraction of the price of a
vet trip or two, when you have some on hand you can apply immediately for an immune system
boost!

Being natural, they have no negative side-effects, require no nasty needles and will elicit no
mean looks and distrustful glances from your beloved pet the way a trip to the vet will. They are
fast-acting, usually wiping out symptoms in under two weeks.

Some veterinarians and pet professionals have even claimed that our traditional pet inoculations
and medicines are actually causing shorter lifespans and a decreased standard of living in our
pets.