posted by Tess on Sep 26
While you may think that the hardest part of designing an aquarium is over the moment you have picked out the best looking and most practical tank; that was only just the beginning. From here on out, every little decision you make in regards to what types of flora and fauna you put in your tank will have an effect the lifecycle of the fish, plants and everything else in this miniaturized ecosystem.
From the plants to the coral to the size and density of the fish to what rocks and sand you use to how many invertebrates you accent your tank with – everything will affect everything else. For this reason, picking out the best plants for your tropical aquarium is of the utmost importance and should certainly not be taken lightly.
Since tropical aquariums are all salt water, you can start narrowing down your search for the perfect plants by eliminating all plants that are fresh water only. A great way to search for plants for a beginner aquarium lover is to narrow down the amount of plants little by little until there are just ten or twenty different options to choose from. Another great way to shrink down the number of plants you can choose from is by look.
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posted by Tess on Sep 24
Cat dandruff is common among diabetic cats. A study shows that happens in 1 in 200 cats have what is known as diabetes mellitus (DM) and if you want your pet to get better, here are some things you can do.
The cause of this problem is associated with poor nutrition. So, instead of buying one of those generic brands of cat food, maybe you should change it and go for one of those that are of good quality even if it may cost a little more.
You can also give food supplements that contain fish oil which have proven to correct the dandruff problem. This may also come from canned tuna since it is rich in Omega 43 fatty acids that will improve their hair in about a week.
The symptoms that will tell you if your cat has a skin care problem like dandruff includes an increase in their appetite, excessive thirst or urination, dehydration, depression, muscle wasting, lethargy, weight loss and an umkempt hair coat that is a direct result of poor grooming. It gets worse when the cat displays weak rear legs.
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posted by Tess on Sep 22
If your cat is coughing and sneezing or has watery eyes or is expelling serous or opaque discharge from the nose, you are most likely to equate it with common colds that humans normally suffer from. Although cat colds too are self limiting in nature, cats do not suffer colds the way humans do. Cat colds normally turn out to be one of the feline respiratory diseases and these seemingly harmless symptoms may progress into something serious.
The most common agents that infect cat respiratory tract are feline rhinotracheitis virus (herpes virus) and feline calicivirus. The herpes virus produces more severe symptoms and also tends to recur frequently. In both cases the infection runs it own course and the cat recovers within a couple of weeks. This, however, is no reason for complacency.
Frequent infections are liable to damage to the mucus secreting membrane of the nasal passage and lead to secondary infection of the spongy nasal bones and bone marrow. This is a chronic condition known as post-viral rhinitis (inflammation of the mucous membrane lining the nose usually associated with nasal discharge).
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posted by Tess on Sep 19
Your cat’s teeth must be cleaned regularly to avoid dental diseases since the consequences can prove to be more serious as the problem ages. If plaque is not removed on a regular basis, it mineralizes and forms tartar, which can irritate gums and lead to gingivitis.
Untreated gingivitis can further lead to a more serious condition called periodontitis, which affects gums and bones around the teeth. The matter does not stop at offensive cat breath that mouth infections are liable to cause. Dental diseases lead to tooth extraction and can potentially spread further and affect vital organs like the kidneys, the liver and even the heart.
Any dental program for your cat must first consider the present condition of cat teeth. If tartar has already built up, it is necessary to first get it removed by a veterinarian before starting regular dental care. The veterinarian will manually clean your cat’s teeth and polish them.
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posted by Tess on Sep 17
Stomach cancer is rare in dogs and male dogs are more likely to develop it rather than females dogs.
There are four major types of cancers - leukemia, carcinoma, sarcoma and lymphoma. Leukemia is a malignant neoplasm of the blood forming tissues and is thus not associated with stomach cancer in dogs. The other three types of cancer can potentially develop in the dog’s stomach. The specific four types of stomach cancer in dogs include:
- Carcinomas - These are malignant cancers derived from the epithelium tissue. Canine stomach cancer usually has a glandular origin and known as adenocarcinoma. This type of cancer usually spreads to the liver, causing secondary liver cancer in dogs.
- Mast cell tumors - Mast cells are present in the digestive tract, skin, nose and lungs and a part of the immune system. Cancers associated with these are called mast cell cancers.
- Sarcomas – These consist of mostly leiomyosarcomas, which are sarcoma of smooth muscle like walls of the stomach.
- Lymphomas – These are malignant cancers of the lymph tissue.
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posted by Tess on Sep 16
There is a minor difference between human and canine respiratory system.In humans the body temperature is controlled by sweat glands but dogs need to breathe hard to cool their body because they do not have sweat glands. Besides that dog respiratory problems are treated and managed differently a compared to human respiratory issues.
The dog respiratory system comprises of the upper (nasal cavities, nasopharynx, larynx and trachea) and lower respiratory tract (bronchi and lungs).
The nasal cavities that open out through the dog’s nose comprise of the nasal bone, premaxilla, maxillary bone, lateral cartilage and the nasal septum (the partition of bone and cartilage between the two cavities). They include the turbinate bones and the nasal sinuses. The turbinate bones are little spongy bones that are scrolled together and form into a cone. This provides a bigger surface area to the mucous membrane that covers them. It is here that the inhaled air is warmed and moistened. The turbinate bones and the nasal sinuses are partitioned by a middle bony partition.
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posted by Tess on Sep 12
Like cats, nobody really owns a ferret – they own you. But the question is, can you legally own a ferret in your city, state, or country? The answer to that question is varied, depending on where you live – and it is vital that you find out whether or not it is allowed before you adopt a ferret and form an attachment. It is very stressful for a ferret when they are taken away from someone that they have come to love.
Ferrets are legal in the United States, except in Hawaii and California, and some cities, such as New York City and Washington, DC. Other cities also have ordinances against ferrets, while some cities allow them, but require you to purchase a permit.
Ferrets may not be imported into Australia, or even bred in Australia – yet they are allowed in Queensland and the Northern Territory. You may own a ferret in Victoria, as long as you have a license to do so. In Australia, the question becomes ‘how do I get a ferret?’
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posted by Tess on Sep 10
Ferrets are excellent pets to have, and quite popular. In fact, in the United States, ferrets are the third most commonly preferred house pet, after dogs and cats. Ferrets are even suitable for people who cannot have a dog or cat because of allergies to pet dander since ferrets don’t produce any dander. Ferrets are essentially the hypo-allergenic pet.
But before you rush out and adopt a ferret, there are many things that you must consider. First, if you have young children in the home, a ferret probably is not the pet to get. It isn’t that a ferret would be a danger to the child – the problem is that the young child might be a danger to the ferret.
Ferrets are not cheap pets to own. Like other animals, they require food, water, and toys, but a ferret will also require a large cage, because you will want to cage it for its own safety when you are not home, and possibly even while you are sleeping. Because ferrets have so much energy, a small cage won’t do. You need a multi-level cage, which costs anywhere from $150 to $200 or more.
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posted by Tess on Sep 9
Dogs can be infected by different kinds of throat infections and conditions. The saliva in the mouth plays a critical role in the prevention of such infections. The parotid and mandibular glands in the mouth of a dog produce most of the daytime and nocturnal saliva. Besides these there are two more glands that secrete saliva.
Dog saliva is alkaline and it contains antibacterial enzymes, which along with the normal flora of bacteria provide protection against throat infections. Despite this protection, canine throat infections can occur due to a number of reasons. These are:
- Cuts
- Burns
- Foreign bodies stuck in the mouth
- Diseases of the gums
- Structures that support the teeth
- Metabolic diseases like kidney failure.
- Systemic diseases like parvovirus infection, distemper, herpes and pseudo rabies
Stomatitis or throat inflammation can manifest itself in various ways. A tender mouth compels the dog to eat slowly. He may also be selective and drop coarse and large foods. Continuously eating on one side of the mouth implies that he experiencing pain on the other side and therefore choosing to chew from one side.
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posted by Tess on Sep 7
Older and younger pets are more predisposed to disease. They are also more prone to progression of a disease and treatment failure. This happens because in older pets the vital organs and systems start to loose their functionality and, in puppies and kittens these organs and systems have not developed completely.
The immune system too is highly compromised in older and younger pets due to similar reasons. Canine and feline upper respiratory infection is common in young pets. Although inherently self-limiting by nature, home care remedies can make that extra difference to a fast recovery.
Canine flu, for example, is an infection caused by the canine influenza virus that produces fever, fever, pains and dog respiratory problems like cough, breathing problems and discharge from the dog’s nose. Death from the virus itself is unusual but may occur in puppies due to respiratory complications if proper home care is not provided.
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