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March 31, 2009
Koi carp are a beautiful fish to keep in a pond, due to their bright colours and interesting patterns. Koi grow quite large and will just continue to grow, as opposed to other pond fish which generally grow to fit their surroundings. For this reason, it is vital that you have a large enough pond for the Koi to roam around, particularly if you have a number of fish. Koi will happily mix with other pond fish, however they do need a little more care and attention put into their surroundings. Koi will eat pond base and plants so choose either heavy duty plants or keep pond plants to a minimum.
Ensure pond water is continually fresh, and if possible use a pond filter. Although Koi are fairly strong, they are inbred, which makes them slightly less sturdy than some other pond fish. Try not to feed them in too cold weather as they find this traumatic. With Japan being their country of origin, they are used to short winters but can struggle in longer periods of cold weather. Try to make the winter months as comfortable as possible by shielding the pond from strong winds or using a pond cover.
Choose high quality Koi pet food and not just standard pond food. Floating sticks with high protein content are best as these promote healthy growth. Food which contains Spirulina is highly effective in maintaining the bright colours in the Koi.
March 29, 2009
Collecting your new cat for the first time can be a very exciting experience; however for your cat this can be very scary and frightening. When your cat arrives home they will be anxious and worried. Your new cat may be very shy, want to hide away and generally keep to themselves. This behavior can last for days. This behavior is actually quite normal and you shouldn’t be too worried. As long as your cat is eating and drinking they should be absolutely fine in few days.
It is good practice to let your cat acclimatise very gradually after you bring them home. It is a wise idea to put your cat, their food, drink and litter tray in a separate and private room. Your cat will after a day or two, start to gain confidence and then begin to explore the rest of the house for themselves. The benefit of this is that it gives them the option of retreating to their own private quarters if and when they feel nervous or edgy. It is very likely that you’ll want to play and spend as much time with your new cat as possible when you get them home. However for the first few days, it is best to let them have their own space and when they are ready they will begin to come to you. It does take a little while, but eventually they will build up enough confidence to meet their new owners.
If you have other cats in the house, it may take a little longer for the cats to become used to each other. To avoid fighting and confrontation it is best to keep them separated for the first two to three weeks. You should slowly introduce them for a few minutes a day so they can slowly develop trust. It is true some cats will get-along from the outset. However some other cats take a little more time.
It is important to make sure your new cat is checked for fleas and other potential problems before they are put with other pets.
March 28, 2009
With today’s economic climate and general doom and gloom, taking a holiday here in the UK suddenly seems more appealing. The Pound has steadily fallen against both the euro and the dollar, meaning taking a break in this country makes perfect sense. People often forget that there are plenty of exciting and lovely places to visit in this country. Furthermore travelling in the UK makes it really easy to take your dog with you. The majority of dogs love to travel and to experience new places. An important thing to bear in mind is that some dogs who have never travelled in a car before can suffer from travel sickness. It is a good idea to take a few short journeys with your dog before you go on holiday, just so they get used to travelling in a car.
There are a few simple things that you can do to make the trip as trouble free and pleasurable as possible. There are many good dog carriers and dog car crates on the market these days. These enable you to keep your dog secure whilst travelling. These can also come in useful for trips to the vets etc. It is a good idea to provide your dog with access to water whilst travelling. You may have seen the ‘Road refresher non spill water bowl’ product on ‘Dragon’s den’. This product helps to avoid water spills whilst travelling in a car.
Another thing to remember when travelling is that a dog will as a rule prefer having a regular routine. This means it is a good idea to bring your dog’s favourite items with you. If your dog has a beloved toy or blanket, it’s a good idea to bring this along.
It is essential that you remember when going on holiday with your dog, to bring the right amount of pet food that your dog will need. Continuing to feed your dog his regular dog food is a must whilst on holiday. If a dog suddenly changes diet this can cause stomach problems, which is definitely not what you want when you’re trying to relax and enjoy yourself. It may also be a good idea to bring a few treats with you too, which can be given to your dog whilst travelling to ease some of the boredom. It is important to take regular stops during the journey, ideally every hour of two. Dogs just like humans need to stretch their legs and use the toilet.
One final thing is to make sure your dog has clear identification usually in the form of an id tag. This should have your Name, Address and telephone number on in. This means that if your dog should become separated from you, then you are easily contactable. (The Control of Dogs Order 1992 states that any dog in a public place must wear a collar with the name and address of the owner on it. You can actually be fined up to £5,000 if your dog does not wear an identification tag whilst in public)
Traveling with your dog can be a pleasurable and exciting experience. Dogs love discovering new places and spending time with you. Let’s just hope we get some good weather this summer.
March 27, 2009
Many people will not think of rats as pets, but if cared for properly these cuddly little creatures can become lovable pets. It is a common misconception that rats eat out of bins and can eat anything, but they only have small digestive systems which can upset easily.
Unless you really understand the needs of a rat’s diet then it is difficult to supply a diet based entirely on fresh food, therefore always purchase pre-packaged food specifically designed for rats. Do not buy small animal pet food as this may contain different ingredients. Choose rat food which does not contain too many nuts and seeds and is more protein based, as nuts can cause irritation to the skin and fur. Burgess, Science Selective and Reggie Rat all provide top quality rat pet food based on vegetables or chicken. They also contain all the nutrients your rat needs to be healthy. Some fresh food can be given, but try and limit this to fresh green vegetables. They can also be given dried cereals and uncooked pasta on occasion. Fruit and sweet goods should be avoided in most instances. Small portions of banana and apple can be given from time to time, but ensure there are no pips left in the apple. Avoid high acidity fruits such as oranges, limes and lemons. Rats do like treats and can cope with small amounts of human food, but ensure portions are monitored.
Rats only need to be fed once a day, with night time being the most suitable for them. Feed at a similar time each evening to create a routine. Like a lot of small animals, rats will hide their food so ensure you check for buried food after each feed. Their cage should also be cleaned regularly and a fresh supply of water be given daily.
March 27, 2009
Making sure you keep your dog’s teeth clean and healthy is essential to their overall wellbeing. Dogs use their mouth’s for many things other than eating including carrying items, playing with toys etc, so ensuring they have a healthy mouth is essential. Making sure bacteria doesn’t sit in your dog’s mouth can reduce the onset of illness and disease. Furthermore vets bills can be very high if dentistry work is needed.
It is almost guaranteed that your dog will build up a little plaque and develop a little discoloration but this is ok as long as you keep this under control. Plaque is a soft deposit that forms on the teeth and below the gum line after eating, which can cause periodontal disease and even tooth loss. This actually becomes tartar when minerals in a dog’s saliva interact with it, this then has to be scraped away. However these problems can be reduced by proper dental care measures.
It may seem a little silly but brushing your dog’s teeth can really improve overall oral health. There are lots of toothbrushes and toothpastes for dogs on the market. Dog toothbrushes are specially designed for a dog’s mouth in mind, with the majority of brushes being dual sided allowing better cleaning. You can also buy finger fitting ones which allow greater dexterity. In terms of toothpaste, it is better not to use human toothpaste as dog toothpastes are usually meat flavored and better accepted by dogs. They also have the correct ingredients to improve your dog’s teeth.
In terms of brushing, it is a good idea to brush all your dogs’ teeth in one session. It is best to place a small amount of paste on the brush and gently lift your dog’s gums to present the front teeth. You’ll then want to gradually work your way to the back of your dog’s mouth until you have brushed all your dogs’ teeth. The only thing left to do is make sure your dog has access to a drink of water afterwards.
The majority of the dry dog-foods on the market today contain ingredients to help reduce plaque. You can also buy treats such a ‘Pedigree Denta-stix’ which are designed to reduce Tatar by up to 80%. Another option is to buy dental dog toys. These toys are designed with special groves which help reduce pet food debris and plaque.
It’s best to get your dog’s teeth checked annually by a vet. Your vet will be able to examine the state of your dog’s teeth and spot any potential problems. They will also be able to offer a professional clean. Making sure you look after your dog’s teeth will go a long way to ensuring overall health and vitality.
March 26, 2009
Dogs are truly creatures of habit and enjoy sleeping in the same spot every night. This means choosing the right dog bed is very important. There is a vast selection of dog beds available to buy, choosing the right one can be very difficult.
If you have just bought a new puppy you may find that having a chew proof bed to be advantageous. This prevents a dog from chewing on their bed and potentially swallowing some of the filling, which can cause problems. What you want to do is to make sure that your dog is comfortable. The only other decisions are likely to be based on size, style, and cost.
Any dog bed you buy has to be big enough and robust enough to complement your dog’s breed and size, but not too big that you waste money on unused bed space. Dog beds that are too small may not be comfortable for your dog. If you have a puppy or junior dog then you may want to allow extra room for growth. Another important thing to take into consideration is weather conditions and time of year. As with humans trying to sleep in overly hot or cold conditions is not easy. There are many thick soft dog beds on the market which will keep you dog nice and warm in the winter months and thinner ones which will keep your dog cooler in the summer months.
Dog beds come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. This can include round ones, donut shaped ones, square mattresses, furniture shaped beds and much more besides. Selecting the right shape for your dog can be difficult. It really depends on the room you have and how your dog prefers to sleep. If your dog likes to curl up when sleeping, then a round or oval bed may be best. If however your dog likes to stretch out then a regular square of rectangle mattress bed may be better. It also depends on what style and design you like too. There are many plain black and grey beds which blend in with the surroundings, or colorful patterned beds which look more elaborate. It is really a matter of personal preference.
March 25, 2009
Birds can be loving companions at times, but they can also be bad tempered and prone to biting. Small bird bites do not hurt particularly, however a larger bird bite can be quite painful. If you have an existing bird which suddenly develops a biting habit, check that he or she is getting the correct diet or is not ill in any way.
Birds which suddenly start biting are usually doing so because they are anxious, unhappy or in pain. Check for obvious health issues such as mites or worms and if all seems ok, then look for an alternative reason. Birds do not always like change, therefore think if you have changed any part of their daily routine, bought them a new toy or cage, or changed their pet food. If this is the case then try and introduce new things gradually rather than make sudden changes. Jealously is also a major factor for birds, a new pet or addition to the family, or frequent visitors to the home can result in your bird becoming envious. Your bird will then bite to gain attention. Again, introduce people or new pets gradually and try not to take attention away from the bird.
If you have a new bird which bites, they could have been treated badly previously or not be used to human contact. To overcome this, you need to be gentle and talk quietly and happily to your bird so that they gain your trust. Never react to a bite by shouting or screaming and do not tell them off. Once they realise that you care about them and can be trusted the biting should subside.
Remember that birds are clever creatures and may bite you to get what they want from you. Most birds do not like being handled by humans initially and may bite so that you put them back in their cage. Try to persist and not put them down when they do bite, as if you do, your bird will know that all he or she needs to do to get their own way is bite.
March 25, 2009
Ferrets are fun loving, energetic and sometimes mischievous creatures. Ferrets are becoming increasingly popular as pets. They are loveable and intelligent pets with individual personalities who make very good companions.
Ferrets spend between 15 to 18+ hours a day sleeping. They are usually most active at dusk and dawn. When they are fully awake they are very energetic creatures and as a result it is best to let them roam around your home. This is a lot better than keeping them caged, as they are very independent creatures who need room to exercise. It may be best to limit the number of rooms accessible to your ferret, due to the fact they can hide very well and you could spend hours looking for them. In addition it is a good idea to keep them away from valuable furniture and other value items, as they do like to nibble and chew things.
In terms of diet, ferrets are carnivores so therefore they require high quantities of protein in their diet, and this means that they will cost more to feed than other small animals like rabbits or guinea pigs. Due to the fact that ferrets actually digest food very quickly, they ideally need small, frequent meals with high levels of protein and oil. There are some very good dry complete ferret foods available to buy from top manufacturers like ‘James-Wellbeloved’ and ‘Burgess’. These products are designed to contain the correct levels of Macro and micro nutrients.
Ferrets, like cats and rabbits can actually be trained to use a litter box. However it can be quite difficult to train them because their instinct is to spread their waste. As a rule it is usually best to use a litter tray lined with newspaper or filled with cat litter. It is very important to regularly clean the litter tray; as if it becomes ‘too’ dirty your ferret might well stop using the litter tray.
March 24, 2009
Dogs are more than just a pet, they are part of the family, and as such will like to accompany you on as many of your travels as possible. Although it can be easy to treat your dog like a human in a lot of instances, in the case of transportation it is important to remember that dogs have different needs to humans.
The majority of travel is done via car and is ideal for taking your dog to the countryside for walks or for visiting family. The crucial thing dogs need is fresh air. A dog gets a lot hotter than a human and can suffer badly and become dehydrated if they get too warm. If there is a passenger available to sit in the back seat, then have your dog in the back seat with them and wind the window down a couple of inches. Guards are available to put over the window so you can safely and confidently have the window partially open without fear of your dog jumping out. It is also recommended to buy pet products such as a harness which attaches to the seat belt to restrict your dog from roaming around the rest of the car.
The other vital ingredient is fresh water. Dog bowls can be taken and your dog given water at interval stops throughout the journey. However, to make the journey even easier, there are now non-spill bowls available, such as the Road Refresher. These work by only allowing the amount of water your dog needs and will not allow any spillages, meaning your dog can cleanly and safely have a constant supply of fresh water throughout the entire journey.
Remember to still make regular stops to allow your dog out of the car, and for the protection of your car take a rug and antibacterial wipes for muddy paws on the way home.
March 24, 2009
Every dog owner knows they should do it regularly but if they are honest, most people don’t like doing it. This added to the fact that most dogs don’t really enjoy it either can really make it seem like a chore. However bathing your dog regularly is very important. It is relatively easy to know when to bathe your dog. It is clear if your dog looks very dirty and or is exceptionally smelly then it is probably time to give them a bath. It is difficult to give a general guide as to how many times to bath a dog, but as a rule of thumb a minimum of 1 or 2 baths a month for your average dog who has exercise but not overly energetic. However if you have a very active hardworking dog who has lots of exercise then more will be required.
It can be said that you can reduce the amount of baths a dog needs simply by making sure you brush your dog regularly. This will remove excess hair, dirt and generally improve your dogs appearance. However when your dog decides to jump in that muddy puddle and roll around, a wash is a must.
It is probably best to bathe your dog in the bath or kitchen sink, depending of course on the size of your dog. It is also best to use a specially designed dog shampoo. These pet products are purposely designed for dogs and will work better than using human shampoo. There are many different types of shampoo available including anti-tangle, velvet coat, deodorant and tea tree shampoo. These products are designed to work with your dogs coat and improve condition. Another benefit of bathing your dog is that it enables you to notice any injuries such as cuts and scratches. It is not a good idea to wash your dog outside in cold conditions, where your dog can get very cold, uncomfortable and generally dislike the whole situation. However in the summer washing outside is perfectly fine.
As mentioned above it is a good idea to make sure you brush your dog before bathing. This will ensure all knots and kinks in your dogs coat are removed. It is a lot easier to do this before bathing than afterwards. It is also important to remember to be soft and gentle with your dog. They will find the whole situation less stressful and so will you. When you have finished washing your dog, it is a good idea to dry them with a towel quickly.
The more regularly you wash your dog the more relaxed they will become at bath time. It is also a good idea to get into a routine of bathing your dog regularly.
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