Sunday

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.

Friday

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.


Thursday

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.

Tuesday

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.

Monday

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.

Sunday

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.

Thursday

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.

Wednesday

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.




Tuesday

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.

Monday

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.

Sunday

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.

Saturday

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.

Friday

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.

Thursday

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.

Wednesday

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.

Tuesday

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

Sunday

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.

Saturday

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.

Friday

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.

Thursday

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.

Wednesday

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.

Monday

Six Steps to Follow for Doggie Attire

When you have a dog, you treat it like a member of the family. You may do all the things you’d do for your children such as purchase clothes for them. There are all kinds of clothes out on the market for dogs and you aren’t limited to designer clothes. You can also get secondhand or homemade clothes for your dog.

Finding the right clothes to fit your dog with your sense of style is important. If you need help, follow these six guidelines:

Winter Clothing – As you know when you get older, you wear warmer clothing. Your dog is no exception especially if the dog is small. They do not have the ability to sustain their body temperature during the winter months.

Should you be living year round in a climate that gets extremely cold, purchase a raincoat, sweater or any other clothing that will keep him warm.

Summer Clothing – Summertime is when you can let loose. Make sure you do the same for your pup. Buy clothes that are great for the beach. These should be clothing that provide some ventilation for him. An outfit to help you out with this is the ever-popular tank top with fine mesh. Sleeveless shirts also work.

Doggie Hoods – If you want your pup to wear hoods, stick will lighter ones that fit his weight. You want your dog to be comfortable with the clothes he wears so make sure you find the ones that suit his weight.

Cotton Clothes – Make sure to purchase clothing that is made up of cotton. Cotton clothing can handle water and moisture and will last for quite some time. It’s also very relaxing for your pup to wear.

Machine Washables Find and purchase clothes that you can throw into the washer. You don’t want to wash clothes by hand or line-dry your pup’s attire when you have a busy lifestyle.

Attire Purpose – Make sure you buy clothes for your pup for all occasions. You don’t want him wearing a jumpsuit to a wedding so be sure you have clothing for all kinds of reasons.

It doesn’t matter what you are doing with your pup, it’s important to have a wide variety of dog apparel for you to choose from. By going to Puppia, you can glance through their huge line of dog clothing produced comfortably with your pup in mind.

Sunday

Repelling Fleas: Four Natural Tips to Rid Your Pet of Fleas


Are your pets suffering from fleas lately? If you are thinking about getting a chemical to get rid of them, you don’t have to do that. You can solve the issue by using green flea control. Here are four tips to help you get rid of those nasty bugs in a safe and innate way.

Vacuuming – If you want to rid your home of fleas, be sure to vacuum and sweep all the floors every week. Get rid of the bag. By keeping it inside, you’re only ensuring their survival. Wash all bedding where the pet sleeps. You want to be sure they have cotton rugs.

Combs – Use a fine-toothed metal flea comb that will catch the bugs. Once it does this, put them in soapy water. This drowns them. If the problem is terrible enough, do this every day.

Soap Dish – Be sure to place a bowl of soapy water underneath a light near your pet’s bedding. Fleas are attracted to it and will get trapped.

Homemade repellent – What kind of homemade repellent works to get rid of fleas? In a pint jar, place a peeled lemon and use boiling water. Be sure to let it sit overnight so you can strain out the pulp the next day. The next day take the mixture and sponge it all over your pet until the fur is damp. Be sure it air dries. The scent that is left behind repeals any fleas.

What other herbs will rid your pesky problem? They are:

Wormwood
Citronella
Rosemary
Pennyroyal


Herbal flea collars can be found if you care to find them. You can also make your own with dried herbs and soaking it with an organic cotton collar. Once dried, it can be used on your pet.

Be sure you place your pet outside after any flea repellant so your house isn’t infested with the little buggers. Once your pet has been taken care of on the outside, it’s time to turn your attention to their insides.

Using dietary supplements such as Brewer’s yeast and zinc, you can build up their fighting fleas ability for up to a month. In Brewer’s years, you want to take advantage of the thiamine or Vitamin B. Give one tablespoon of Brewer’s Yeast to your dog as well as a B-complex vitamin pill to help with the flea problem. You can even use the yeast to coat the fur. Sort of like a flea powder.

It’s important that your pet get enough zinc to keep a healthy skin while fighting any infestations. However, many pets lack this vitamin. Small dogs need 10 milligrams while bigger dogs should have twice that amount.

However hard you try, you may not get rid of fleas for good. In saying that, you can get rid of them for a time by using these tips while keeping your pet happy and healthy. You will also help to save the environment at the same time.

Saturday

Foods Rats Can Eat and Need to Avoid

How much do you know about rats? Did you know that they eat anything they see? If you own a rat for a pet, you probably get their food at a pet store. However, if you want to make them really happy substitute their cereal food with something else. If you can improve their nutrition, you can increase their livelihood and how long they live for.

Food Experimentation

Do some experimenting to figure out what foods you rat find is his favorite. Do healthy foods to ensure good health. These can include: carrots, juicy pears and apples. You’ll find the foods that they like most they tend to save for another eating. You’ll also find out which food they will not touch at all.

Some rats like grapes as treats. You can by fruit treats that are find in pet stores for other animals. Some rats will eat dog biscuits.

If you don’t want your pet rat to choke on the carrot or celery stick, give him a piece of bread with some peanut butter thinly spread on. Some rats will also eat chocolate and yogurt. Having soy in their diet can lessen their chances of being diagnosed with mammary tumors. Your rat may also like to try hard-boiled eggs and rinds of bacon.

Some rats will hide their treats in their parts of their cages. They do this so they can search for it later on as if they were in the wild, scrounging for food.

Moderation is Key

Be careful not to give your rat too much food. If they become overweight, they can be diagnosed with tumors and many other harmful diseases. Moderate their food intake and make sure it gets plenty of water, preferably from a dripfeed bottle that can be fixed onto the cage. Be sure this and the food bowl item is kept clean on a regular basis.

Avoiding Certain Foods

Male rats should never eat oranges. Oranges contain an ingredient called d-limonene. It will build up in the kidneys, causing cancer later on. Be sure to avoid all citrus foods to keep this from happening.

Use the foods you rat loves to eat to train him. While it may not seem like it, rats are quite smart and will learn anything to get their food and to please their favorite person.