If you are one of the millions of people around the globe who owns a pet, you no doubt already know how expensive they can be to take care of health wise. The price of a vet check up are continuing to gradually go up, and vaccinations along with surgeries are also getting to be at an all time high. One solution that pet owners are starting to turn to now is pet health insurance.
If you want a well behaved dog that is used to obey commands and listens to you in all kind of situations you need to train your dog and if it is possible you should start training when he or she is still a puppy. A well trained dog is of immense importance to both you as the dog. If your puppy does not learn to do his business outside of the house or to listen to you in dangerous situations like a busy road you and your dog will not have a happy long life together. Dog training is there for a very important part in the life of your pup.
Reptiles are now more popular than dogs as pets, a fact that appeared as a result of a survey carried out in early 2008. guess the most popular reptiles reptile pets. Like many things pet related, you need to make the right choice, and just as choosing the wrong breed of dog can cause problems, the same is true of reptiles.
The easiest to care for tend to be the most popular also, and as such are great first reptiles, so here they are:-
Bearded Dragon
Bearded Dragon is the name used for any agamid lizard in the genus Pogona. They are native to Australia, and are sometimes the first reptile people get as pets.
Bearded Dragons are popular pets, notably the species Inland or Central Bearded Dragon. These reptiles are also affectionately called "Beardies" by those who breed or raise them. They are a ideally suited to children, because of their friendly and calm nature, along with the low amount of work they need to be cared for.
They have broad triangular heads and flatish bodies, the adults can grow to approximately 18 to 24 inches from head to tail with males and females being of comparable size, although males usually sport a bigger head and a thicker tail base than the females.
They have a distinctive set of spines running horizontally from the head to the base of the tail. Their colour ranges from light tan to dark brown, depending on their native soil, often with highlights of black, brilliant red, or gold, and can change greatly depending upon their internal condition, mood or temperature darkening when cool. Some spefically hand reared have been selectively bred for more brilliant colorations.
They are omnivorous, capable of living on a wide variety of food sources, including both insects and vegetable food. A typical diet for captive beardies includes leafy greens and vegetables, and regular meals of feeder insects.
All species are from Australia, but they have been exported the world over and bred successfully in captivity. They live about 8–15 years with proper care in captivity, though some can live up to 20 years old
Corn Snake
The corn snake, or red rat snake, is a North American species of rat snake that subdue their small prey with constriction. The name "corn snake" comes from the fact that they have markings on their underside that looks like corn. They are found throughout the south-eastern and central United States. Their placid nature, reluctance to bite, moderate adult size 1.2 to 1.8 metres, attractive markings, and comparatively simple care make them popular pet snakes. In the wild, they usually live around 10-15 years, but can live as old as 23 years in captivity. Like all rat snakes, corn snakes are non-venomous.
They have a diet mostly consisting of rodents, mostly mice and rats, which they kill via constriction. They are proficient climbers and may scale trees in search of birds and bats. Pet Corn Snakes are usually fed by their owners on a diet of easily available rodents, mainly mice, while younger and smaller animals may eat live or dead rat or mouse pups of various sizes. Frozen mice are ideal, as live prey can have the potential to carry disease or injure the snake if it has not been raised on live prey.
The Corn Snake was one of the first snakes to be kept as pets by people, and is still one of the most popular. Large numbers are bred yearly to ensure that there is a large enough supply base, lowering the need to collect specimens from the wild. keeping in groups is inadvisable in captivity, as these are naturally solitary animals.
breeders of Corn Snakes have stressed the need for a housing with no chance of escape. Corn Snakes are top drawerescapees and will often find a way to escape from any place that is not properly suitable. More newbies lose their snakes to escapes than death. They are good at climbing, squeezing out of the smallest of holes, and can also use their bodies to force the screen top off of a poorly-fitted aquarium.
Royal or Ball Python
The Royal Python or Python Regius is a non-poisonous python species native to Africa. This is the smallest of the African pythons and is popular in the pet trade. Adults normally do not grow to more than 90-120 cm long, although some specimens have reached 152 cm and even 182 cm, around 6ft, but this is very rare. The build is thinck while the head is relatively small and the scales are smooth.
The colour pattern is typically black with light brown-green side and spinal blotches. The stomach is a white or cream that can or can not include scattered black markings. However, pet industry breeders have, through selective breeding, developed many mutations with altered colours and patterns.
The name ball python is gained from the animal's tendency to curl into a ball when stressed or frightened. The name royal python is supposed to come from the story that Cleopatra allegedly wore the snake around her wrist.
In the wild, the diet consists mostly of small rats mice and shrews. Younger animals have also been known to feed on birds. Captives usually do well on domestic rats and mice, either live, pre-killed, or frozen-thawed
There are of course many more reptile breeds kept as pets, and no doubt popularity will change, but any of the three named above will make great pets, and a great introduction to keeping reptiles.
By: Gen Wright
With so much choice available in supermarkets, there is growing concern over what the best dog food is. Dog owners want to find a healthy option as well as saving money on their dog food. You may spend a lot of time researching the best deals, but do you ever think about what the standards are for them that is sold in this country?
Like anything else, they are regulated by legislation in most countries throughout the world. For example, in the USA all manufacturers must comply with the regulations of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) is careful to monitor manufacturing standards including the ingredients that go into all brands. In the UK, and some countries of Europe, the European Pet Food Industry Federation (FEDIAF) regulated all pet food. This includes guidelines on the manufacture of the food, its labeling and its advertising.
Whilst the ingredients are monitored, this does not mean that what being sold in the United States is monitored specifically on its nutritional value to our beloved pets. In fact many manufacturers are even able to add chemicals to their food which are known to contribute negatively to an animal's health. Not only this, but different ages of animal suit different types of food. Advertising campaigns from the major manufacturers can aim their food at the wrong age of dog, meaning that your pet may not be getting the nutrition that it really needs.
Veterinary research shows that many ingredients of pet food, both in the US and in Europe, can be harmful to animals and call for a strengthening of standards to control the inclusion of additives. Until this is regulated, what can you do to ensure the health of your dog and to make sure that what you feed him is what he needs?
When purchasing them, always be sure to read the label carefully. This will include a list of ingredients, where the top food ingredients will be listed. If you notice that cereal is top of the list this means that what you are buying is mainly made up of ground cereals which are not great for nutritional value. You may also notice several chemicals on the ingredients list, so be wary if there are a large amount or do some research into the effects of these chemicals.
You can also do some research on the internet, reading about the development and manufacture of your favorite brands. Note if they were tested on other animals, what the results were and read any advice about safety to your dog.
Once you have carefully checked the available information you can also ask your vet any specific questions that you are still unsure of. Those this may take a little time, it is extremely important to ensure that your pet lives healthily for as many years as possible. Be diligent when it comes to shopping for dog food and you will soon learn what is best for your pet.
Copyright (c) 2008 John Nolan
It is up to you to keep your dog happy and healthy. You nee to avoid potential hazards. Do you know what is toxic to your dog? You need to be a aware of where your dog goes and what they eat.
Here a list of things every dog owner should know:
Antifreeze: Yes, dogs like the taste of antifreeze and will drink it up. Keep antifreeze away from your dog. Don't let your dog wander the hood where antifreeze could be available for them to drink. Dogs that drink antifreeze usually don't survive.
Acetaminophen (over the counter pain reliever): don't give these to your dog if trying to treat him without the advice of a veterinary and make sure the bottles are away from where they could spill and your dog will eat them. Mild poisoning has a possibility of recovering, but severe poisoning will cause the dog to die.
Alcohol: if your pet has drunk enough, this develops into slow breathing, possibly coma and cardiac arrest, or heart attack.
Bread Dough: the dough fermentation in the gastrointestinal tract results in the formation of an alcohol which in turn develops into slow breathing, possibly coma and cardiac arrest, or heart attack.
Amitraz (tick control): Make sure your dog can't chew it's flea/tick collar or if you pour on tick control, be sure to use it correctly. If diagnosed quickly, most dogs will recover. Please remember when using this to prevent ticks, it is also very toxic to your pet.
Asprin: do not give to your dog for home treatment. If you simply must give your dog aspirin, use one of the buffered products to help protect his stomach, give the aspirin with a meal, and use it in close consultation with your vet.
Carbon Monoxide: don't run your car in a garage if your dog is in there, also watch out using heaters in closed rooms or area with low ventilation. The prognosis is good if poisoning is mild; however it may take up to 6 weeks for signs of brain damage due to oxygen starvation to develop. This is irreversible.
Chocolate: Your dog will show symptoms of chocolate poisoning within 6-12 hours of eating it. Vomiting, diarrhea and hyperactivity are common. Prevention of chocolate poisoning is easy - eat all the chocolate yourself!! Whether or not a dog recovers from theobromine poisoning depends on how much he has eaten, and how severe the symptoms.
Grapes: As much as dogs seem to like them, grapes, sultanas and raisins can be very toxic to dogs, if enough of them are eaten. If poisoning is caught early, before your dog shows any symptoms of kidney failure, he should survive. However, if his kidneys have shut down and he's not producing any urine, the prognosis is poor, and he's unlikely to survive.
Lead Poisoning: If you're doing any home renovations and the paint on your walls contains lead, sanding the walls can leave paint residue around the floor. Your dog may inadvertently lick the lead containing dust from his paws or coat. In the past, there have been recalls of children's toys because of excess lead content; a puppy may chew a toy and become unwell. Lead poisoning can certainly be fatal to your dog, and some dogs that recover may show permanent neurological changes.
Molds (or moulds): The main species of mold which grows on foods your dog may eat is Aspergillus, and the toxin is called aflatoxin. Aflatoxin is one of the most poisonous substances found in nature. This can also be fatal. Some veterinarians believe that this slow poisoning by low doses of aflatoxin is under diagnosed, and occurs more frequently than we think.
Mothballs: Naphthalene is the active ingredient in most mothballs. Dogs with mild symptoms usually recover with treatment, however if your dog has liver failure, the prognosis isn't as good. Keep your dog away from sources of naphthalene.
Onions: It doesn't matter if they are cooked or raw, onions and garlic both contain thiosulphate. While poisoning isn't all that common, it still occurs and it can kill, in high doses onions and garlic are quite poisonous to him.
Organophosphates: found in some older flea and tick rinses, and although there are many newer and safer alternatives, organophosphate poisoning is still one of the top three chemical agents responsible for deaths in animals. The other two are the anticoagulant rodenticides, and ethylene glycol (antifreeze). Use one of the newer flea control products which are often more effective and much safer.
By: Chris McGee
