May 30, 2009
Guinea pigs are a popular choice as a pet for young children, as they are cute and cuddly don’t need taking for walks and you can leave them while you are out of the house.
Guinea pigs require a daily diet of fresh vegetables. Fruit is good for your guinea pig but avoid grapes as the grape could cause your pet to choke.
Some of the fresh food your guinea pig will enjoy eating are pieces of apple, cucumber, broccoli or carrot. Avoid giving lettuce as it can be poisonous.
Caution: Wash all fresh food to clear any insecticides.
Note: a daily intake of Vitamin C will stop scurvy and will help in the resistance of other diseases.
Pet supplies of hay, food pellets and water also play an important role in keeping your pet in good condition.
There is a range of dried guinea pet foods available online and in pet supplies stores. However do not buy large amounts as they need using up within a three month period.
Place a large amount of fresh hay in your guinea pig hutch and if you can, try to have a shelf in the hutch to keep the hay from the bottom of the hutch as it will stop the hay from becoming soiled.
Your guinea pig will need plenty of fresh water and there are special bottles available to keep the water in good supply.
Clean the water bottle regularly with a bottle brush just as you would with a new born baby to avoid infection.
May 26, 2009
A kitten is a cute and cuddly pet for your home. In the first six months he or she will grow quickly and it is important he or she has the correct pet food to help their bones grow strong and healthy.
The kitten’s body has an amazing immune system and all of the body including the coat will require vitamins from the pet food provided by us humans.
A kitten should be fed on pet food prepared by food manufacturers, especially for kittens, at least four times a day.
Pet foods are available in the form of tinned wet food or a dried food and can be bought at an online pet store for convenience.
This can be advantageous if you are at work all day.
A good idea is to have your kitten eat wet food regularly for a three meals and place some dried food in a bowl for him or her to graze on.
Pet food for kittens will have essential minerals such as iron, zinc, calcium and phosphorous to help the kitten to become a strong fully grown cat.
Remember to keep a bowl of clean drinking water available for your kitten especially if you have left a bowl of dried food for your kitten.
Dried food can lead to your kitten becoming dehydrated.
May 22, 2009
It is imperative wild birds have a supply of pet food available for them all the year round.
Due to the weather being unpredictable, there is more concern than ever that wild birds receive the pet food required to keep them healthy.
Most families in Britain feed birds in their garden and it is essential the birds are fed all through the year, especially at the time of mating.
Do not stop feeding them in spring as the birds need more food for their babies.
In the months of April and May it can be quite cold and they require large amounts of food to keep their young fit and healthy.
If you have bird feeders they will benefit the birds if you fill them with a variety of pet food such as peanuts, sunflower seeds, mealworms, niger seeds, fat cake and table seeds.
Keep the feeders clean and remove food which is mouldy.
It is very important to keep a large bowl or bird table in you garden, full of fresh water to allow the birds to have a drink and bathe their feathers.
Pet supplies can be bought in large amounts and further information of all the wild bird food available can be obtained online.
Warning: Do not feed wild bird’s peanuts, chips, crisps and coconut as they will either choke the birds to death or completely dehydrate them.
May 19, 2009
Nestle Purina the manufacturers of the well known pet food products have signed a licensing deal with Ethical Products Inc. who are also a manufacturer of pet products.
Ethical Products have signed and a licensed agreement with Nestle Purina Pet Care to start and develop products under the brand name of Purina.
The popular items being developed will include pet’s collars, leashes, food bowls and pet toys.
This is a step forward in providing a missing niche for Purina. The new merchandise will be colourful and will have Purina’s red and white checkerboard logo on all its products.
The red and white vibrant checkerboard colour on all the packaging of Purina’s products makes it easily recognisable on pet shop and supermarket shelves.
Mr Jonathan Zelinger, the president of Ethical Products Inc, said in a statement that he believes the new line of pet toys and accessories are innovative, functional and fun pet care products and the new line of pet accessories are unlike the pet accessories of today. He also pointed out in his statement that Purina’s resource and insight into how pets and their owners interact is invaluable.
It is expected the new Purina pet products will be ready for the shelves in June 2009.
May 16, 2009
Rabbits are a popular pet with small children and yet it is taken for granted they like to eat lettuce or carrots as their main meal.
Pet food has a variety of food to give a rabbit fibre, protein and fat which is essential in keeping a rabbit healthy.
Fibre is very import to a rabbit on a daily basis and pet supplies are good at offering advice and information on the products they sell.
Rabbits are known as hindgut fermenters and they depend on bacteria they have in their large intestine to break down fibre to give them the fibre they require.
Both domestic and wild rabbits will graze on leaves and if given the choice will munch on lettuce instead of the pet food pellets which are better for them. Rabbit pellets are essential in building up their bones and avoiding dental problems.
Good fresh food such as apples, raw potatoes and carrots can be fed as a treat but do not replace the essential pet food which should be the main part of their diet.
A rabbit will love to nibble its way through nice clean hay.
A bottle of water fastened in the rabbit’s cage is essential for a rabbit at all times.
Check your online pet store for further information.
May 12, 2009
Canned food can provide good nutrition and is available from online pet stores. The shelf life of tinned food has a wide variety of levels and can be mixed with dry food or fed to your feline companion on its own.
The main ingredient should be meat and if the label on the tin shows cereal as the number one ingredient then choose another product.
There is a high level of water in tinned cat food and some cats prefer wet food to dry. You will have to check the tins of cat food to ensure your cat is receiving the level of meat required and not too much water.
Cheap tins of cat food have poor meat in them and are high in poor quality grains.
Premium tinned food is a good source of nutrition and can be mixed with dried food or used on its own. Premium meats are more expensive with better meat in them and less preservatives.
There are some moist foods which have a mock look of mincemeat but are high in colourings and preservatives. They are not known to enhance your cat’s nutritional needs.
If you are unsure of the choices available check your online pet store.
May 9, 2009
Dry foods for kittens and cats are a popular choice as they are convenient and economical. Dry food is low in water and has a long shelf life which results in staying fresher in their feeding bowl.
Dry foods are good for keeping a kitten or cats teeth clean and free from plaque. However dry food should not replace brushing your kitten or cats teeth regularly.
Dry pet food has premium brands and regular brands. The premium brands have more meat and more preservatives in them then the regular brands.
It is a good idea to check the labels and avoid the pet foods which have a large amount of preservatives in them.
A good online pet store will give advice on the dry pet food which has real meat in the product. An unknown brand may have an unknown mix of meat and vegetable protein
Pet food for your kitten and cat requires meat as the primary ingredient on the label.
Details of the balance required for your kitten or adult cat.
An expiry date on the packet.
A guarantee on the packet from the manufacturer the ingredients are fresh.
May 6, 2009
Domestic and wild cats have a large brain, sleek body and can stalk a mouse or other unsuspecting animal to satisfy their hunger.
Food manufacturers have to present enough nutrition in their pet food, whether it is out of a tin or a packet. Both are available from an online pet store or local pet stores.
Kittens need to take more food in proportion than adult cats as they need more protein, fat and calories to ensure good bones and healthy growth. Feed your kitten twice a day until it is six months old.
It is essential you choose food which has been specially prepared for a kitten. Adult cat food will hamper your kitten’s growth.
Wet food can go off quickly and dry food can be left down all day. However you run the risk of your kitten eating too much and putting on weight too quickly.
When you collect your kitten it is a good idea to ask about its diet and not to change its meals to a different pet food until settled in to its new environment.
Caution: If you decide to change your kitten’s meals the timescale should be slow over a period of two weeks. Changing a kitten’s diet may result in diarrhoea.
May 5, 2009
Nutrition is very important to a new puppy and your puppy trusts you to make good choices.
Bones and muscles are still growing while your puppy is growing and when he or she is an adult the puppy’s nutritional needs will alter in order to keep strong and in good health.
Tinned dog pet food is full of these ingredients but can be a minefield. The first ingredient is the main ingredient and you will be able to keep a check on how much your puppy is eating.
Keep an eye on the lower ingredients on the label to make sure there is a balance of food your puppy is eating.
Dry food can be eaten at one meal and tinned food at another. However, do not use a mixer unless mixing with wet food.
A variety of food is good nutrition for your puppy and can be cost effective if you keep an eye on the amount of proteins, carbohydrates and fats consumed daily.
Check out online further information on pet food, in particular the different food for puppies.
Caution: Watch out for feeding your puppy too much food. Too much food given to your puppy at mealtimes can be a health risk.
May 2, 2009
When you bring your new puppy home it can be confusing as a new owner to make decisions on the correct pet food which will provide a healthy and nutritious diet.
There are dry, semi moist and wet puppy foods you can buy via an online pet store.
However to help you to choose your pet product I have listed below a few pieces of information regarding the three main types.
Dry, kibbled pet food is broken up into small pieces. They come in a bag with bits of grain and meat. The bags are sold online through pet supplies and keep fresh for a long time.
Semi-moist pet food, has, as the name suggests more moisture in its content but is not too wet.
These foods have a high amount of salt and sugar and artificial flavourings in them. A few of these titbits can be used to help a puppy receive praise when training begins.
Wet canned foods have a measure of meat in them and a high amount of water. Once the can is opened it needs using quickly. Canned food can turn out to be more expensive but can be mixed with a portion of dry kibble food.
Tip: do your research online to give you more detailed information.
