posted by Tess on Sep 30
Have you ever dreamed of living with a bobcat or having a pet tiger? You′re not alone, and many people share their lives responsibly and safely with such animals. My beloved companion is a African Serval, a very affectionate 33-pound spotted feline. However, this dream come true brings with it some very real challenges and responsibilities far beyond those facing the average pet owner.
A huge number of visitors to my exotic feline site are trying to make very important decisions. Should I get a exotic cat? Is this species the right fit for my family? Can I provide for one properly?
There are a number of things to take into consideration when deciding if exotic cat ownership is for you, and if the answer is yes, which species of exotic cat is suitable for your situation. They include:
1) Your ability to make a lifetime committment to an animal who may cause you considerable headaches
2) Your ability to be a responsible owner
3) Local and Federal Laws
4) Your financial ability to provide proper care and housing for the cat
5) Your level of experience in working with animals
6) Size of the cat
7) Disposition of the cat
Endangered Species Status
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posted by Tess on Sep 28
A dog will require care, attention and a commitment to look after it during its life which could be 10-15 years or longer. The commitment required includes not only routine feeding, care and time spent with the dog but also the provision of veterinary treatment if the dog becomes ill. Written below is some thing about dog caring:
Brushing your Dog’s Teeth:
How to brush your dog’s teeth?
Step one is to pick an appropriate pet toothbrush. Save yourself time by not buying a child’s toothbrush which is usually too hard for dogs. The ideal dog toothbrush will have a long handle, an angled head to better fit the mouth and extra soft bristles. Another option is the finger toothbrush that fits over the tip of your finger.
Step two is to select appropriate toothpaste. The best pet toothpastes contain enzymes that help control plaque. Try to avoid toothpastes with baking soda, detergents, or salt sometimes found in human pastes. Fluoride may be incorporated to help control bacteria. Rather than placing the paste on top of the brush try to place it between the bristles. This allows the paste to spend the most time next to the teeth.
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posted by Tess on Sep 27
Dear Fellow Dog Lover,
I assume you love your dog, or you probably wouldn’t be reading this. But, looking at your “battle-field” of a yard filled with holes sometimes makes it tough to love your dog like you want to. You look out the window, and there he is digging like crazy, for no apparent reason. As if there is something buried there that he HAS to have right now! My Border Collie used to drive me nuts!
So, I started checking around. Calling every dog expert I could find trying find someone who knew the answers. Then, Bingo! I found a trainer in who actually had some ideas.
He said most dogs don’t dig for no reason. They smell something that intrigues them and compells them to dig. It could be many things. From moles to mold.
In my case it was mold from an old decaying tree stump just under the surface. “Buster″ had dug a virtual “foxhole” around the area.
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posted by Tess on Sep 26
Whether it be by car, by train, by airplane or boat, it`s not always easy to travel with your cat. It is necessary to always arrange certain things in advance – the tickets, an adequate kennel, tranquilizers, and water – in order to assure him maximum comfort and avoid any irregular meowing during the many hours of travel…
Cat shows, week ends in the family cabin, or big vacations… For a civilized chat, the opportunities to travel are seldom missed. A worthy master who deserves to be called such will always plan ahead so that his animal experiences the transportation in the best of conditions. Certain animals are familiarized at a young age with transportation from one place to another, and they accept the situation perfectly, however others struggle with being moved around so much.
If the owner of the cat intends on staying in a hotel, he mustn`t forget to find out if his feline travelling companion will be admitted (only 1 hotel out of 6 accept clients with their pets). In all cases, always remember this precaution: to always attach an identification tag to your cat`s collar. A nervous and anxious animal will always run away quickly!
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posted by Tess on Sep 22
Thinking of getting a dog? You know your child wants a dog to play with but did you know that the love and companionship of a dog can have long lasting effects going far beyond their ability to entertain and amuse?
The current research into dog assisted therapy has turned the humble pet dog into an emotional, educational and physical resource. Everything from autism to reading ability has been tested with the use of therapy dogs. Excellent programs exist that have demonstrated a link between the interaction with dogs and improved social and reading skills.
It makes sense that even healthy children may experience benefits from owning a dog. What are some ways dogs affect children emotionally, socially and physically?
Can Your Dog Teach Your Child to Read?
A program was started that introduced the concept of children reading to dogs. The idea was that the child would be calmed by the presence of the dog as well as stimulated by the contact without the pressures of reading to a teacher or a peer.
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posted by Tess on Sep 21
I read the book many years ago now. “Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance” A moving book, full of wisdom and love, it is a wonderful read.
It takes you on a journey, through philosophy, life, questions of quality and quantity, in an entertaining and gentle cross country journey.
So what has the book to do with keeping reptiles? Lots actually. But I only want to deal with one of the many ideas in the book. The idea of engaging yourself fully in an activity and paying attention to details. The Zen of keeping reptiles.
The author and journeyman, Robert Pirsig, looks after his motorcycle on the journey by paying attention to details and doing the maintenance and the little things regularly and enveloping himself in the activity and the moment as he does so. So it should be with your reptiles.
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posted by Tess on Sep 21
A respiratory tract ailment can be fatal to your parrot if left untreated. Find out how to recognize if your parrot is having problem with its breathing.
The most obvious indication that your parrot has a problem can be seen in their tail movement. You should barely be able to see the tail of your parrot moving. If the parrot’s tail is moving a lot, is very noticeable, and is labored, this may be a sign that there is a problem with its health.
If your parrot is having a hard time breathing because it has blocked nostrils, this could be a sign that your parrot has a respiratory tract ailment. You should check your parrot’s nostrils for discharge or even blockage.
It may be possible to relieve the blockage with medication. See your Vet for the best medication for your parrot. They will more than likely instruct you to hold your parrot on its back and put a drop of the medicine in each of its nostrils. If there is a lot discharge there, you can bathe the nostrils with warm water in order to remove the worst of the blockage before you start with the medicine.
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posted by Tess on Sep 20
Dog ownership carries with it the burden of a number of other purchases. In order to properly care for a dog and to comply with certain local laws, the owner must have a number of dog accessories in his or her arsenal. Some of these items are necessary, others are merely conveniences. It is important to know exactly what you’ll need to properly care for your dog.
The Essentials
Most of the truly necessary items for dog care are fairly obvious. If you’ve got a dog you’ll need bowls for the dog’s food and water. Mid size to large dogs have a habit of moving their food bowls around the room as they eat. This can make a lot of noise and have the frustrating result of requiring the owner to hunt around for the bowl at feeding time. The problem can be solved by using a heavy ceramic bowl that is difficult for the dog to move around. A sturdy plastic bowl with a rubber lining on the bottom can be useful as well. The rubber on the bottom prevents the bowl from sliding around as Rover enjoys his meal.
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posted by Tess on Sep 20
While you may purchase young, small koi, like other species of creatures, they will adapt their growth and size somewhat, to the restrictions of space. Food and overall conditions in the aquarium will also affect their growth rate, with premium food being important, and overfeeding to be avoided both for the health of the fish, and the health of the tank environment.
Clean water is a must, as is good aeration. Large fish eat a lot of food and produce a lot of waste. If you have a 50-gallon tank, and several fish, you may need a filtration system whose capacity is actually over 50 gallons, in order to keep the water as clean as possible.
You might like to choose from several of the varieties of koi, for a more interesting mix of colors, but remember that koi in their natural outdoor environment, tend to have more intense color in cooler weather, so keep your tank temperature in a moderate zone. If you′d like to have males and females, ask for help from the breeder or store in sexing your purchases. Very young koi are difficult to tell apart, although young adult females tend to have a fuller, cigar type shape.
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posted by Tess on Sep 20
Which kind is your pet? The pooch who is the first one in the car when the door opens, or the kitty who runs to hide at the first hint of travel? Both kinds face dangers on the road, but there are steps you can take to protect them. Even the happiest traveler can get into trouble, and it can happen even on a short jaunt to the grocery store.
What can you do?
1. Always use ID tags. When traveling, add an extra tag with your cell phone number. If you don’t use a cell phone, add the number of a trusted friend who will be at home while you’re on the road.
2. If your pets are microchipped, be sure to call and update your address and phone number. If they aren’t microchipped, consider having it done.
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