First Coast Pet

Posts Tagged ‘animals’

When considering a new pet, it is important to decide whether a cat or a dog is going to fit better into the family. There are some people that find it hard to decide between because they like dogs and cats. That’s why you need some pet health advice to steer you in the right direction. Choose the pet that fits around your lifestyle the best.

Why Cats Are Cool

Many people would agree that cats are furry bundles of fun, and they are great for the owner looking for a low maintenance pet. It is important that you let cats have their own space. Its not that they need a lot of exercise, its more a case of the foraging instinct kicking in and they want to go out. Now when it comes to pet health, cats mainly suffer with hairball problems and these should be monitored. Avoid milk as many are lactose intolerant and cats find it hard to digest. A good tip is to add water to the dry food you feed the cat so that it aids the digestion process.

Cats are great pets and easy to look after. However, they are not the warmest of animals when it comes to companionship and affection, which is why many people opt for a dog instead. Some people suffer with cat allergies too, caused by the saliva, so check your family aren’t allergic before getting a cat.

The Dog – Man’s Best Friend

Dogs have always had a warm place in people’s hearts and there are more dogs than ever before in Britain. One thing they’re not is low maintenance though, so be prepared to devote many hours to your dog if you decide to get one. Man’s best friend is loyal and can be great with kids. However, dogs also require a lot of attention and exercise to keep healthy, and pet health is very important with dogs. The dog will need a lot of protein based foods and there are many manufacturers out there today that can provide the right type of dog food for animals in all life stages.

Remember that grooming is an important aspect you need to be aware of and this can help with general pet health. Do not feed chocolate, as this is poisonous to dogs and their pet health.

related article: Loggerhead Sea Turtle Size

Loggerhead Sea Turtles were given the name because their heads is not proportional to the bodies in term of size. Atlantic, Pacific and Indian ocean are their habitat.

– did-you-know: What is the Deepest Ocean?

They can either be found deep into the sea or in other bodies of water like wide rivers and lagoons, bays, creeks and salt marshes. These turtles can be often seen along coral reefs and rocky areas even shipwrecks when they are feeding.

Some Physical Attributes of Loggerhead Sea Turtles

Beside its large head, which holds a very strong jaw that have very strong biting power, they has other distinguishing marks on its body.

Its top shell looks like a heart and has a mixed color of red and brown. Its skin on the other hand is a mix of light yellow and brown. A mature loggerhead turtle can reach up to 364 kilograms and is about 3.5 feet long.

Nesting and Mating

Loggerhead Sea Turtles reaching their sexual peak at age 35. March – June would be the start of matting season – usually for the one found in the South-East regions of the US – and they’ll start nesting somewhere between April and September.

Loggerheads typically nest during nighttime and they can nest up to seven times in one season with intervals of approximately fourteen days apart. The average incubation time is between forty-five to ninety-five days. This variation is dependent on the present temperature at the time of incubation.

The baby loggerheads do not take on the colors of the adults and hence, their appearances may also vary ranging from light brown to dark brown; gray to black. Their average size is about forty-five millimeters long and they are only about twenty grams light.

Survival Risks

Loggerhead sea turtles are faced with threats to their daily survival mainly from being caught in a fisherman’s net, trawls, traps, and dredges. Another great survival risk that these loveable loggerheads are facing are direct hunts for them usually within Central America.

Although they are not yet an endangered species, these threats have caused their numbers to go down, particularly in the regions of the Bahamas, Mexico, Colombia, Israel, Turkey, Japan and Greece. For this reason, conservation efforts have been implemented to protect them from extinction as well as to look out for their well-being.

SAVE OUR WORLD FROM GLOBAL WARMING!!!!
Check the antartica ice thickness to know how our bad habits affecting our world.

related article: Loggerhead Sea Turtle Size

Because the size of their heads is not proportionate with their bodies, Loggerhead Sea Turtles were given as their name. These sea turtles are usually found in the tropical water of three major oceans: the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian.

– did-you-know: What is the Deepest Ocean?

They can either be found deep into the sea or in other bodies of water like wide rivers and lagoons, bays, creeks and salt marshes. These turtles can be often seen along coral reefs and rocky areas even shipwrecks when they are feeding.

Some Physical Attributes of Loggerhead Sea Turtles

Other than its unproportional large head, which holds a very strong jaw that have very strong biting power, they has other distinguishing marks on its body.

Its top shell looks a little bit like a heart and has a mix of red and brown in color. In the other hand, its skin is a mix of light yellow and brown. A mature loggerhead turtle can reach up to 364 kilograms and is about 3.5 feet long.

Mating and Nesting

These kind of turtles normally reach their sexual peak at age thirty-five. They start mating some time between March and June – usually for loggerheads found in the South-East regions of the US – and they begin to nest somewhere between April and September.

Loggerheads typically nest during nighttime and they can nest up to seven times in one season with intervals of approximately fourteen days apart. The average incubation time is between forty-five to ninety-five days. the present temperature at the time of incubation will determine this.

The baby loggerheads do not take on the colors of the adults and hence, their appearances may also vary ranging from light brown to dark brown; gray to black. Their average size is about forty-five millimeters long and they are only about twenty grams light.

Survival Risks

Loggerhead sea turtles are faced with threats to their daily survival mainly from being caught in a fisherman’s net, trawls, traps, and dredges. Another great survival risk that these loveable loggerheads are facing are direct hunts for them usually within Central America.

Although they are not yet an endangered species, these threats have caused their numbers to go down, particularly in the regions of the Bahamas, Mexico, Colombia, Israel, Turkey, Japan and Greece. For this reason, conservation efforts have been implemented to protect them from extinction as well as to look out for their well-being.

SAVE OUR WORLD FROM GLOBAL WARMING!!!!
Check the antartica ice thickness to know how our bad habits affecting our world.

If you’re considering the purchase of a new pooch this Christmas, just think about what you’re going to let yourself in for. It is unfortunate that there are so many dogs in the shelters, but this is often because people cant cope after they bought the dog as a Christmas present, thinking it would be ‘fun’ without realising the hard work that goes into owning a dog. Sometimes, the outcome is even worse and some dogs just get sent out onto the streets. Pet lovers find this thought very hard to deal with, but unfortunately it is a sad reality.

The moral of this day really is that a dog is for life and not purely for Christmas. There are boyfriends out there that will be buying their girlfriend a pet for Christmas, but you have to make sure the pet is going to have a long and happy life in the home. However, the best advice is to never buy a pet as a Christmas gift. The issue is that break-ups in the home are inevitable and the pet gets dragged into it and often associated with the person who bought it, so naturally they get viewed in a bad light. In some cases, the dog gets mistreated. Naturally, this is very sad, which is why the pet should never be associated with the person that gave it as a gift. Remember, the dog is part of the family too.

Better dog health care knowledge is one of the best ways to make sure the dog doesn’t get sent to a shelter in the New Year. The dog should be loved like everyone else in the family too, and its health is important. Regular food, playtimes and walks will help to keep your dog happy and healthy. Spend some time with your dog and swot up on dog health care tips so that the chances of it ending up onto the streets are less likely, as you understand what it takes to care for your pooch. With rising dog numbers in shelters up and down the country, something needs to be done to stop people from buying pets when they can’t look after them properly. Pets only make good Christmas presents when the dog health care is considered, and if not, don’t buy one.

Every cat owner knows that hairballs are awful things to deal with. They are caused by a build up of fur and lack of brushing. Since cat fur is thick, a hairball can be problematic if the cat ends up swallowing it. Hairballs can easily get stuck in the cat’s throat and this can cause choking. This is an unpleasant thing to have to stand by and watch.

Basic cat health care knowledge can help to prevent problems. That means watching out for hairballs and matted fur accumulating. Great advice is to make sure grooming your cat forms a part of your daily routine. Owners and pets get pleasure from grooming, so persevere with it. Make sure you do it gently so the animal becomes more relaxed and it will sit in your lap all day as you groom it!

Since some cats out there have very long and thick fur, it is important that you check with the vet if anything specific needs to be done to look after it. Take Persian cats as an example – they have beautiful long fur but if it ends up forming hairballs, this could be very risky for them. No-one can stop a cat from licking, which is why hairballs are a problem. People often ask how come dogs don’t have the same problem, but you may notice that dogs don’t lick their fur, thus hairballs aren’t an issue. Cats clean themselves by licking their fur and hairballs can occur at any time.

Once the hairball gets into the digestive system, the cat will start trying to cough it up. This is when you will hear choking sounds and it can make pet owners quite nervous when they hear this, as they don’t know how to deal with it. The best cat health care advice is to just let the cat cough it up, but keep a watchful eye. Look out for any worrying signs and just make sure the cat is okay after coughing the fur up. If you like to stay prepared, there are some hairball treatments out there which a vet can advise on.

Cat lovers would like not feel down within the mouth concerning protecting their pets from serious disease. Of course, their cat’s mouth may be a sensible place to start. A recent study shows that cats with common forms of oral disease have the next rate of testing positive for additional serious diseases.

The great news is that with early detection and correct veterinary care, cats with serious diseases like feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), the feline version of HIV, and feline leukemia virus (FeLV) can live long and healthy lives. Having cats tested could be a key factor in slowing the spread of these diseases.

An estimated 31 million cats within the U.S. are at risk for FIV and FeLV. These diseases are unfold from cat to cat (they can’t be spread to folks) and are highly contagious. Since cats with FIV and FeLV typically have no visible symptoms and several cat owners are not aware their cat has been exposed, it’s vitally important to have cats tested. Treatment usually consists of a nutritional diet, nearer monitoring and a lot of frequent visits to the vet.

The study, conducted by veterinary clinics around the country, found one in each eight cats that had some kind of oral disease also tested positive for FIV, FeLV or both. Cats with oral diseases are four times more doubtless to possess those conditions than cats without.

“This study encourages testing cats that have gingivitis and different oral diseases for FIV and FeLV infection. This provides veterinarians valuable new information in their efforts to fight these contagious viruses,” said Dr. Jan Bellows, a diplomate of the Yank Veterinary Dental School and the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners.

Cat owners ought to work with their veterinarian to establish a regular schedule of comprehensive wellness exams, as well as dental screenings and FIV/FeLV testing.

The American Association of Feline Practitioners says a cat should conjointly be tested for FIV/FeLV:

• When sick, irrespective of previous negative results. Signs of illness might embody changes in behavior, grooming and eating habits.

• When cats and kittens, irrespective of age, are newly adopted.

• When cats live in households with unknown infection status. Infected cats who don’t have symptoms can still transmit the viruses to uninfected cats.

• When cats have had potential exposure, whether they snuck outdoors or got in an exceedingly fight with a cat of unknown infection status.

• Annually, especially for cats that fight or live with infected cats.

The Yankee Veterinary Medical Association recommends cat owners visit their veterinarians for a wellness exam twice a year.

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Most horse illnessesses and injuries (excluding those caused by shorts injuries or mistreatment are caused by a few horse management mistakes. Following are the 10 most important tips for correct horse management and protecting your horse’s health

1. Start with a healthy horse

The most important rule is to start out with a healthy horse, rather than buying a sick horse. There are lots of horses which you can get cheap (or even free) because of their health issues but it is a bad investment since you will likely spend more on vet bills than you save on the purchase price. With horses for sale, beware of sellers passing off a sick horse as a healthy one. Before buying a horse, put it through a horse health checklist. 

2. Food (type and quality)

Give your horse as natural a diet as possible. Feed grass when possible, with hay the next best alternative. Although old, weak or ill horses may need grain for some extra energy, for young and healthy horses the best choice is grass.

As well as feeding the correct type of food, ensure that it is of good quality. Never feed hay or other food which is moldy or has fungus. If feed gets wet, use it immediately (within a day) or throw it away. Bad feed can be a cause of serious illnesses such as colic or laminitis.

A mineral stone and salt lick should also be provided, to compensate for any deficiencies in the horse’s food.

3. Natural environment (pasture & herd)

Just as a horse should have natural food, it should spend as much time as possible in a natural environment. The two most important parts of this is that it should be on pasture as much as possible and that it should be part of a herd (i.e. with other horses or horse equivalents). Time on pasture gives the horse a natural diet (grass), a natural feeding regime (many small feeds throughout the day rather than a couple large and short feeds), exercise and mental stimulation. Being with other horses gives a sense of safety (horses have a very strong herd instinct) and the social interactions gives it mental stimulation.  

Horses which spend most of their time in this natural environment will be happier and more relaxed, with a corresponding decrease in the development of bad habits (such as head weaving or cribbing), which are generally associated with stress and boredom

4. Healthy stall

Especially if a horse spends a lot of time in its stall, the stall environment should be healthy.

• It should have enough ventilation that there is not a build up of ammonia (the harsh burning smell which is produced when bacteria break down horse urine on the stall floor).
• It should be big enough that the horse has a bit of room to move, say 4 yards by 4.
• It should have clean and suitable bedding. In particular, bedding which has gone off (mold or fungus) should never be used.

5. Safe pasture

The pasture should be free of any items which could injure the horse.

The most common cause of serious injuries to horses while on pasture is inappropriate fencing wire. Barbed wire should never be used and it can puncture the horse, causing not only injuries (which can be fatal if a main artery is hit) but also abscesses and other serious infections. High-tension wire should not be used either, since it can cut through flesh and tendons, especially if it breaks and becomes entangled around a leg. If fencing wire is used, it should be a wire which will break before causing serious injury and it should be under current to discourage horses from pushing against it.

If one is using a field which has not been previously cleaned, every bit of it should be closely examined for items which could injure a horse and such items removed. I’ve seen enough horses seriously injured from being put on an old farming field which had bits of fencing wire or pieces of machinery lying about. Likewise, holes (e.g. from burrowing animals) can result in a broken leg so should be filled in promptly. Similarly, broken branches or other objects lying around can result in injuries (especially if the horses are spooked at night, when they may not see the objects and consequently run into them).

There are a number of poisonous plants, which can make a horse ill or even kill it. Learn what types of plants are on your horse’s pasture and check if any of them are poisonous to horses. Most horses will avoid the majority of poisonous plants (unless there is nothing else to eat) so if you see a type of plant which the horses are not eating, one should in particular check that it is safe.

6. Preventative medicine

An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure. One should worm a horse regularly, give it the required inoculations, and have a regular (e.g. once a year) dental check. Worming requirements depend partly on where you live (parasite types and severity vary by region). Likewise the inoculations which should be given depend not only on the local areas (what diseases are present) but also on how you use the horse (e.g. if it is transported off your property and comes into contact with strange horses). Consequently, one should discuss requirements with a local veterinarian.

7. Watch and regularly inspect the horse

Horses, like people, will naturally become ill occasionally and may suffer accidents from time to time. In most cases, one starts with a minor problem which is easily (and inexpensively) treated if spotted early, but may become a major issue if left untreated.

One should watch a horse each day, and preferably twice a day, even if it is just for a few minutes. Learn what is normal behavior for that particular horse (e.g. running about or quietly grazing) and if there is a change to its normal behavior one needs to inspect the horse more closely. In particular, any signs of the horse appearing unwell (e.g. head hanging, inactive, stopped eating) or unhappy should be checked and monitored until the cause is found and corrected, with veterinary assistance if the situation becomes worse or is already serious.

Certain illness (e.g. impaction colic, laminitis) can often be treated successfully if done so promptly, whereas waiting less than a day after the first visible symptoms can result in a maimed or dead horse. Regular observation and prompt treatment are the key to so many illnesses.

One should clean and examine the sole of the hooves each day. In part this is to remove stones, ice chunks or other items which can damage a hoof. However, an equally important part of this daily routine is that it enables one to spot hoof issues early. Likewise, regular grooming is important not only because a clean horse looks better but also because it provides an opportunity to closely examine all parts of the horse for injuries or other abnormalities.

8. Shelter

Horses should have shelter from excessive cold, rain or wind. A simple shelter, open on one side facing away from the prevailing wind, can greatly increases the horse’s comfort. Alternatively, when the weather is very bad, it may be necessary to remove the horses from pasture and paddock and put them into their stalls.

The amount of shelter a horse requires depends on the local environment (how extreme the temperature gets locally) but also on the horse. A strong and healthy horse, which is neither very old or very young, will be much more resistant to weather extremes. Likewise, certain breeds (especially if they have a long coat, which has not been trimmed or had the coat oils removed by frequent washing) are more resistant than others. One needs to provide a level of shelter which is appropriate to the individual horse and the current weather. One should also consider a horse rug for horses which are very old, very young, sick, weak or prone to illness. One may also consider a fly sheet, which not only increases the horses comfort but also reduces the risk of sweet itch, eye infections (if a fly mask is used) and other illnesses which can be transmitted by biting or blood sucking insects.

9. Breed and individual requirements

Each breed has its own special requirements. For examples, many breeds are prone to laminitis and consequently should have only limited access to spring grass. Other breeds may have specific issues and require special treatment (e.g. many Appaloosa are night blind and consequently are more likely to run into fencing if left out at night). Learning about your breed’s strengths and weaknesses from a medical perspective will allow you to respond accordingly.

Likewise, each horse is an individual. Some are more weather resistant than others. Some are more prone to colic or other illnesses. As you watch and live with your horse, learn about its special needs and treat it accordingly. For example, if it is allergic to dust, one may need to soak its hay in water or buy low-dust feed. If it looks unhappy and uncomfortable in cold weather, one should consider taking it under shelter or providing it with a rug, as you may be looking at an early warning for a potential illness (e.g. cold-induced colic or a cold-induced lung infection). Taking account of your horse’s medical history and behavior as part of your horse management program will help keep it healthy and happy.

10. Continue to learn

Nobody knows everything about horses and everyone started out knowing nothing. However, if you educate yourself and continue to learn, you will be able to take better care of your horse, avoiding problems when possible and otherwise treating them promptly and correctly.

It is quite possible to buy a good horse for a low price at an auction, but there are often more problem horses than good horses so you need to be able to tell the difference. At most auctions, horses are sold ‘as-is’ and without guarantee, so if you find a problem afterwards you likely won’t be able to get your money back. Therefore, you need to do your homework in advance to pick out which ones meet your criteria, after eliminating the potential problems (e.g. injured, sick, bad habits, or behavioral issues).

One should start by arriving some hours before the auction starts, so that there is time to examine the horses, preferably starting as they arrive. Study them as they are being unloaded and put into their pens. They should walk easily, with no sign of discomfort. They should have an overall healthy appearance, with good muscles and shiny coat. One expects them to be alert and a bit nervous, due to the noise and unfamiliar surroundings of the auction. In fact, if they appear overly calm or indifferent, this is a sign of apathy likely due to illness or drugs.

Look at how the people unloaded the horses treat them. If they are the owners and are gentle with it, if is likely a well treated and well behaved horse, due to having received good horse care. However, if they are rough with the horse or hit it, then the horse may well have an abusive owner and resultant behavioral issues. Of course, one needs to know if the person handling the horse is the owner or not in order to decide how relevant this is.

When the horses have been moved to their pens, watch how they behave and move there. Any which have abnormal behavior should be removed from consideration. Look (without entering the pen) for any marks or scars, which may indicate a previous injury or even mistreatment.

At this point, you will likely have eliminated most of the horses from consideration and have a short list of possible candidates. Try to find the owners for these and ask them to tell you about the horse. Ask what illnesses or injuries the horse has had. Inquire as to whether it has any bad behaviors, habits or other problems. Ask how it has been kept and what it has been used for.

If you are still interested in a horse at this stage, ask the owner if he can remove it from the pen so that you can examine it. It is much better to examine a horse on its own, as it allow you to concentrate on the horse without the distractions or possible accidents associated with being surrounded by strange horses. Start by closely looking over all parts of the horse. Then run your hands over the horse, feeling carefully for any bumps or other irregularities, with special attention to the legs. Carefully examine the hooves, especially underneath. Check that no teeth are missing and that there isn’t excessive wear or other issues (be careful of your fingers). With two fingers, press down on both sides of the spine, moving down the entire length of its back, watching if the horse displays any discomfort or pain at any point. During the entire examination the horse should be alert but should not be aggressive or fearful.

If at this point everything still looks good, add the horse to your short list. If you don’t see any horses that you are absolutely happy with, it is best not to bid at all. Although the sale price may not be that high, the cost of ownership is substantial, so you need to be sure before making a commitment. Once you have finished your short list, set a maximum price for each horses; it is easy to get carried away at an auction and pay too much so one should set a firm budget in advance.

Before bidding on a horse, make sure that you have a place to keep the horse and to transport it there. If you haven’t made arrangements in advance, discuss with the auction staff if they know of a reputable person that can do this for you. At this point you should be prepared for the bidding. Good luck!

You will want a great deal of commitment so as to have a cat as they do need some care (although not as abundant as dogs!) and will live as previous as fifteen years (or maybe longer in some cases).

Cats require feeding (daily), care and ‘play time’ on a regular basis. You may also have to require into thought, before getting your cat, that you will have vets’ bills to get hold of annual vaccines, worming and if treatment is needed for any illnesses.  These bills can typically be terribly expensive, however you’ll be able to purchase insurance for pets – it may be a sensible idea to ‘shop around’ to urge the best deal.

Before getting your cat, you should purchase bowls for food and water, a collar (if you want the cat to wear one), a bed (or pet quilt), some appropriate toys, and a few food.

A kitten ought to be fed throughout the day 4 times with a tiny amount of food each meal, reducing to 3 times each day at 3 months old, then at six-8 months two meals per day. Older cats (over twelve months) should only be fed twice within the day (typically morning and early evening).

Cats groom themselves, but using a soft brush on the cat, especially the long haired variety, will help to chop down the quantity of hairballs within the cat’s abdomen, that are caused by them licking / grooming themselves.

If you decide to possess a cat-flap fitted to your door in order {that the} cat will return and go because it pleases, you may have to train it to use the flap.  You’ll use tit-bits to entice the cat to go through the flap, when it is fully open. Start by gap the flap totally, simply showing the tit-bit, then next time shut the flap a little bit and continue doing so till the cat realises {that the} flap can open with a little push of the head.

Cats wish to sharpen their claws on most household furniture!  Suites, corners of walls (thick paper), carpets.  Invest in a very scratch post – there are various to decide on from. When the cat starts to scratch, carry the cat and place him/her next to the scratch post, they can soon get the message and use the post rather than the furniture.

If you’re involved about your cat going missing, or it being involved in an accident, you can have a micro-chip (approximately the size of a grain of rice) inserted into the rear of the cat’s neck.  The chip contains info, which can help to identify the cat as belonging to you.

It is usually said that ‘a cat looks once itself’. This can be obviously not extremely true, however they are doing have a more freelance nature than another domesticated pets. That said, they still create ideal companions after they ‘permit’ you to be their friend.

To get high quality and top brand name cat products for the best prices, visit: cat pet supplies. Our cat pet supplies store is a great place to buy your cat supplies at huge discounts! Go to our cat pet supplies store now!

Need to live a healthier lifestyle? Get a dog.

Studies show that pet possession helps reduce stress, lowers blood pressure and fends off feelings of loneliness and depression.

Whereas nothing can prime the love and companionship of a dog, there are some unpleasant behaviors that just will not do – from barking all night to wetting the ground to chewing on your shoes when you’re not looking.

If your dog is exhibiting this kind of behavior, it could be acting out due to boredom, pent-up aggression or because of lack of training. With proper lifestyle changes and diligent training, you may be on your way to having a cheerful, well-behaved pet. The following tips will help your furry friend become additional obedient:

* Spay or neuter. The Humane Society of the United States says that this common procedure can help your dog live longer, be healthier and have fewer behavior problems.

* Facilitate your pet relax. Just like individuals, dogs can get anxious, agitated and stressed. That is why some veterinarians counsel giving your dog a calming product, such as Pluto Pet’s Pet Calming Spray, to help relieve hyperactivity.

Created with natural ingredients, Pet Calming Spray acts quickly to alleviate restlessness, worry, nervousness and aggression and helps antsy pets sleep through the night, in line with the manufacturer.

* Have a workout routine. Provide your canine companion with often scheduled walks twice a day. This will facilitate your dog avoid boredom, which can lead to damaging behavior.

* Go to school. According to the Yank Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, enrolling your dog in an obedience class will teach you how to regulate your dog’s behavior each safely and humanely.

* Be patient. Though teaching your furry friend to be more obedient may take determination on your half, it’s value it. Once all, as man’s best friend, your dog will appreciate bonding with you during the process.

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