The concept of designing artistic pet cremation urns was founded on Western society's evolution in viewing death over the last century, since the first pet memorial park was established in the state of New York around 1917. Memorializing pets is growing in popularity and people are adopting more creative ways to preserve the memory of their beloved pets. Many are seeking ways that they can honor their cherished friends with artistic pet memorials that blend with the home and are also eco-friendly.

Pet cremation is just one of the categories in the pet services business. Forecasted to top $22 billion in 2008, the pet services market is the fastest-growth pet market of all, outpacing both food and non-food supplies. 63 percent of the U.S., or 71.1 million homes, own a pet. This is up from 56 percent in 1988. The American Pet Products Manufacturers Association (APPMA) also estimated spending of $40.8 billion on pets in the U.S. in 2007. (Source: APPMA 2007-2008 National Pet Owners survey.)

Interestingly, out of this new industry, there are a number of successful artists springing forth. Artists like Métis Design & Culture is one company that is designing environmentally friendly pet urns and innovative products in harmony with society's openness as well as multiculturalism.

Today's innovative artists blend high-end industrial design and technology with traditional materials and ancient techniques, juxtaposing materials such as aluminum to lacquer, marquetry and veneer. Their work is art that celebrates life by using only sparse raw materials such as burled maple, grainy leather, and anodized aluminum.

There are hand crafted, unique pet urns, engraved stone pet memorials, pet memorial headstones and grave markers in marble, genuine river rock, cultured river rock, cultured slate, black granite or bluestone. Many pet lovers choose pet garden statues, hand-painted pottery pet urns, pet keepsake boxes, pet portrait and art, glass art, burial boxes, or custom engraved glasswork. One well known artist is offering abstract paintings with the cremains of their pet inside.

It's helpful for parents assisting children with the loss of a pet, there are also websites that provide grieving support so that people can find links to pet loss information and pet loss counseling websites to help them honor and say goodbye to a pet. Visitors can create virtual pet memorials with tributes and photof to share with family and friends.

Pet cremation services are offered through most veterinary clinics and although private crematorium prices vary, the average costs are between $75 and $350. Once the family chooses to receive the pet ashes back from the crematorium, they must decide on private burial, either in their yard with a custom pet grave marker or in a vessel such as a pet memorial urn to keep or for spreading.

Kristin Gabriel is a professional writer based in Los Angeles, CA who works with Peternity.com, a place where people honor their pets for eternity. Peternity provides custom products including pet memorial stones and grave markers, pet urns, garden statue pet memorials, pet memorial headstones, pet keepsake memorials, pet portraits, burial boxes, custom engraved glasswork, and other pet memorials. Call 877-PET-PEACE or go to http://www.peternity.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kristin_DeAnn_Gabriel

Labels: Pet Health

What is more nerve wracking than arranging your travel tickets, finding a hotel and rental car for your trip, and packing your bags? Today, internet travel sites make all that simple and fairly stress free. The most nerve wracking part of the trip happens well before you leave: trying to figure out who will care for your pets!

Among the choices available to you are commercial cat and dog kennels. A clean, well run facility is indeed an option. But the average pet would prefer not to be caged in a noisy environment, far from home, and packed with strange animals. Wouldn't it be nicer if they could just stay home? Of course it would. Perhaps the neighbor kid would be willing to let the dogs out, feed them, and clean the litter box. Sounds great right?

But what happens when that neighbor kid is asked out on a date, breaks up with his girlfriend, or must stay after school? What happens is your pets might not receive the scrupulous care and attention you would give them.

The simple answer to these problems is to know your community's professional Pet Sitter. What separates a professional from the random person who watches pets? The keys are: integrity, attention to detail, commitment and a deep love for animals. The best pet sitters are also bonded and insured by professional associations such as Pet Sitters International. This group provides educational resources and insurance to pet sitters to make sure that you and your animals receive the best care...as good as they would get from you!

If you hire a pet sitter who is not insured and bonded, you'll have no way of knowing whether you have just turned your house and beloved pets over to an honest person. Bonding protects you against loss and theft from unsavory characters. Professional pet sitters want to offer you the best reassurance that they will treat your home and your pets just like you would.

The best pet sitters also study pet health and safety. I operate a pet sitting business in my own community, and I have studied with the Red Cross by taking their Pet First Aid course, and by taking the Red Cross certification. If something should happen, professionals like me would know how to best help your pet, and when to call for veterinary assistance. Will the child next door be equipped to handle an emergency?

Moreover, pet sitter do more that just feed and walk your animals! We also make sure they have quality human time, whether it be cuddling, playing fetch in the yard, or a long walk around the block. You don't even need to go on vacation to hire a pet sitter. If you work long hours, we can make a mid afternoon visit to be sure he get's a walk and a potty break.

Along with all that, while you're away from home, a good pet sitting business will also bring in your mail and your newspapers, water your houseplants, and turn your lights on and off. You're not only getting pet sitting...you also get a vacation security service as well.

All in all, it pays to know the professional pet sitters in your community. Use the internet to find bonded and insured professionals. Then invite them over for a brief interview and introduction. The next time you need to leave home, you can leave your pets behind with no worries.

Remaining home, comfortable in their own environment is healthier for your animals, and gives you greater piece of mind. When strange animals are grouped together, the chances for communicable diseases increase. So, too, does the stress level increase on your pets when they are housed in a noisy environment, in close proximity to animals they have never met before.

Marc Goldberg, CDT is a certified dog trainer specializing in the rehabilitation of difficult dogs and improving relationships. He is Vice President of the International Association of Canine Professionals (IACP) and Editor of SafeHands Journal. The author also educates professional dog trainers in his techniques. Visit him on the web at http://www.chicagodogtrainer.com/chicago_dog_trainer.html or http://www.dogtraininginchicago.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marc_Goldberg

Labels: Pet Care

All dog owners recognize that most dogs enjoy to eat, but oftentimes they come across themselves attempting to puzzle out which dog food to purchase. It has been said for the lengthiest time that dogs are our dearest best friends, but the truth presently is that dogs have moved up from being in the best friend category to the family member category. Since dogs are another member of our family we prefer to render our darlings the finest care and that likewise includes the best dog food.

Numerous dogs over time grow sick of consuming the same food, and they become fussy. The pet food that one day they enjoyed to eat, they don't even desire to flavor presently. It's natural for dog owners to look for dog food choices once their dogs do not want to eat their regular food. This is when problem can start out. This is when the dog owners may choose to begin feeding their pet's table food, and by doing so they could compromise their dog's nutrition.

When a dog owner is changing their dog's dietary habits they're vulnerable to giving their dogs additional treats and bites. Practicing this could cause the dog to get fat. Additionally, if the dog owner doesn't over compensate by feeding his dog these goodies or dog snacks, the dog will be pushed to go for what is given to him at mealtimes. It does not really matter if you want to give him raw dog food, premium dog food or gourmet dog food, what matters is to avoid giving your dog any snacks or treats when your dog isn't eating. If you do so, this will just promotes his fussy eating and will perpetuate the fussiness.

Feeding the dog the best food will guarantee that he stays happy , fit and healthy, and besides it helps keep the dog's coat lustrous. Amid the ingredients in almost 99% of dog foods are salt, corn, sugar, phosphates, colorings and artificial flavors.

There's nothing wrong by giving your pet homemade dog food, (this is the type of food prepared for animal pets at home) or holistic dog food (this is natural dog food) merely the dog owner has to be careful to feed the dog on food that will render him with enough nutrition. Numerous dog owners have even decided to feed their dogs' vegetarian dog food or even organic dog food. Feeding your dog with vegetarian dog food is yet harder for many as cooking vegetarian food for your dog could take a long time.

As your dog with home cooked food, the dog owner may want to include rice, corn, oatmeal or wheat. All these are good carbohydrates sources.

An alternative that dog owners could consider is to sum up the home made dog food to a medium quality dog food. If you choose to go this path, you might need to add some nutritional supplementation or vitamins. In that way you will be able to assure good nutrition for your dog at altogether.

Make sure that you scan the labels of the dog food prior to you buying it. It is best that the food contains as primary constituent beef, turkey, or chicken. Attempt to ward off vegetal protein as the principal component for the dog food. Vegetable protein, which includes wheat shorts and middling's, soybean, meal, peanut meal, peanut shells (same as cellulose), ground yellow corn and rice husks, is the pillar of dry dog foods.

Increase the happy years of your dog by checking out my free e-book. In it I reveal all the secrets I've used to develop a happy, healthier dog. Visit Dr. Alfonso's dog health blog right now...

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrew_John_Daniel

Labels: Pet Adoption

The health of their dogs is a very important and crucial matter for the majority of owners. Most dog owners want their dogs to be healthy, fit, and to enjoy a long life. There is a major health issue that can affect a dog significantly, and this is dog allergies.

Allergies in dogs are among the most common health issues confronted by dog owners. This is genuinely something to worry about. It is a reality that nearly all puppies don't develop allergies in their 1st year. However, a lot of dogs develop allergies due to their environment. In case, your puppy exhibits any signs of allergy, you want to take it seriously and seek for treatment. Think that allergies will worsened over time if not treated properly on a timely basis. For very few fortunate dogs, allergies could get better overtime, but in general, once a dog develops allergy they are forever and they worsen over time.

You can spot allergies on your dog's skin in the form of rashes, scratching, skin eruptions, loss of hair, moisture, ear infections etc. When dogs develop allergy, they tend to over wash themselves, rub, chew or scratch. This is not a good sign since they can develop skin outbreaks via scratching. Dogs develop allergies because they're exposed to pathogens or other materials and affect them afterwards. There are a lot of things that could bear upon your dog and develop allergies such as grass, bushes, molds, trees, mites and fleas. Fleas are the most common cause of your dog's allergy.

You might not even be aware that your dog has fleas. Nevertheless, it only takes a brief period of time for your dog to get them. To preclude your dog from potential allergies, you should protect him against fleas. You could purchase some powerful products that you buy from the pet shop or your vets office to protect your puppy against fleas. These products could be used after a simple blood test.

Remember that fleas can attack from anywhere. Therefore you want to be doubly sure that your dog is living in a protective environment. If there are fleas in your environment you could see fleas in your garden, on your carpet, your furniture and even on your bedding. Hence, you would need to treat your house, pets and yards to eliminate fleas from the environment. The product, you select to use must be safe for the health of your pets. Make certain that the product you use is recommended by a professional veterinarian.

If your dog has been affected by small skin inflammation during the summertime, all you need is to give your dog an oatmeal bath and some antihistamines.

You might also want to visit the vet often if you need to give your dog steroids injections, steroid tablets, change their diet, get flea medicines, special baths and antihistamine. Some dogs also suffer from food allergies and need to be given special care.

You can purchase special diets for your pet dog in this instance. You also need to give only a particular diet to your dog for 60 days and withdraw everything else from their diet.

Allergy testing is the optimal way to learn what sort of allergy your dog is suffering from. You could as well conduct a blood exam to know precisely what they're hypersensitized to.

Whenever you observe signs of allergy in your dog, you want to take him to a veterinarian as soon as possible. This is the best method to fix the problem. The earlier you detect it and try to fix it, the earlier your dog will get rid of the allergy.

Increase the happy years of your dog by checking out my free e-book. In it I reveal all the secrets I've used to develop a happy, healthier dog. Visit Dr. Alfonso's dog health blog right now...

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrew_John_Daniel

Labels: Pet Allergies

Everyone agrees that training a puppy is imperative for him to learn how to behave and to teach him his boundaries, but there are some basic tips you need to know before starting your dog training. Magazines, books and online articles addressing the basics of acquiring a new puppy abound. They may all sound repetitive, and a lot of the tips and advice are actually simple and requires common sense, but they are vital nonetheless.

When you bring home a new puppy, keep in mind these 6 things you should avoid doing:

1. Never hit your puppy, whether with your hand or with a rolled up newspaper or any other object, regardless of what he does. Keep in mind that your puppy is like a baby -- it is very delicate and is easily injured. Hitting your puppy will only frighten him and be a traumatic experience for him that can possibly lead to behavioral issues when he is fully grown. Remember that being taken away from his mother and litter mates is a traumatic and scary enough experience for him so be a little patient with this new addition to your family. Your puppy will probably whine for a few days, but he will soon get used to his new family, and will give you all his love and loyalty.

2. If you have objects in your house that you cherish or have sentimental value, keep them out of your puppy's reach. Your puppy, and all puppies for that matter, will eat everything it can get its mouth on. If you want to keep your socks free from holes, don't leave them laying on the floor or in places where your puppy can easily reach them. If you smoke, don't throw the cigarette butts on the floor; your puppy won't think twice about chewing on those. The same goes for any gadgets you have that can be easily scratched and damaged.

3. Don't let other people, family members included, handle your new puppy -- at least for the first couple of weeks or so. It is better that you and another family member handle the new puppy first. If too many people are handling the puppy, he may become nervous and have problems socializing.

4. Avoid picking up the new puppy by his forelegs. Children tend to pick puppies up this way so if you have kids in your house, tell them they should not pick up the new puppy this way. Your puppy's legs are not strong yet and if he can get injured if he is picked up by the forelegs.

5. Don't leave holes inside your house uncovered. Puppies are incredibly curious and they will literally try to get into everything. It can be fatal if your puppy gets stuck in a hole.

6. Don't leave electrical wires uncovered or accessible to your puppy. Cover any exposed wires in your house because your puppy won't spare those. Many puppies have died from electrocution because the house they were living in were not puppy-proof.

Increase the happy years of your dog by checking out my free e-book. In it I reveal all the secrets I've used to develop a happy, healthier dog. Visit Dr. Alfonso's dog training blog right now...

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrew_John_Daniel

Labels: Pet Adoption

Taking on a brand-new puppy can be among the most exhilarating things that could come about to an individual or a family, but that precious little fur ball can as well cause a great deal of tension, particularly during the 1st couple of days of coming to his new household. If you've just took in a pup, there are some things you want to bear in mind to make certain that this novel add-on to your family grows up fit, happy and healthy. Below are 6 dog training tips you ought to know for the benefit of the newly-arrived puppy:

1. Provide your brand-new puppy with a great deal of love and care, in particular when he does something "justly," especially after you start training your dog. When you begin training a puppy it is very important to communicate with him the instant you take him home. Do not await for your puppy to make a mistake or do something inappropriate prior to beginning communicating with him. Whenever you begin communicating with your puppy this way, you're fundamentally conditioning your puppy that you're good some of the times and not nice at different times.

2. Puppies love chewing therefore give your puppy a great deal of chew toys. You can make chew toys for your puppy or you can buy some from your local pet store. This manner your puppy understands early on to chew on his toys rather than your shoes!

3. Have comfy, warm bed for your puppy. If you expect for your puppy to live outdoors, make certain to provide him with weatherproof doghouse. The doghouse ought to be roomy too. If you resolve to allow your puppy sleep indoors, you'll be able to use a rectangular wooden box for his bed. You can also check out crates and kennels sold at local pet shops.

4. Observe your puppy when small kids are present. Puppies are practically no match for rambunctious little children. Puppies can easily become injured and even killed if they are left alone with youngsters. Small kids commonly do not understand that puppies are very delicate creatures and that they should be managed with additional care and gentleness.

5. Start your puppy on a steady feeding agenda the 1st day it comes in your home. If your puppy is six months old or younger, give him 3 to 4 solid meals daily. During each feeding, give your brand-new pup all the food he can eat within half-hour. After 30 minutes, remove any leftovers. It's really important that you allow for your puppy plenitude of fresh drinking water in between meals.

6. Begin training your puppy to go on steady bathroom breaks. Take your puppy to the same bathroom spot at the same times day-after-day, whenever at all possible. It's advocated that you take your puppy on bathroom breaks after every meal and two to three hours in between his meals, and after he's taken a nap. At nighttime, take your new puppy on late-night bathroom trips if possible. This will educate your puppy early on to go to his bathroom spot whenever he requires to urinate in the midst of the night rather than doing it right in his crate.

Remember that dog obedience training should remain consistent. When training a dog you do not want to do one think one day and something different the following day, this will just confuse the dog.

Increase the happy years of your dog by checking out my free e-book. In it I reveal all the secrets I've used to develop a happy, healthier dog. Visit Dr. Alfonso's dog training blog right now...

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrew_John_Daniel

Labels: Pet Adoption

Dental disease in pets is actually one of the most common and most overlooked pet diseases. Proper tooth and gum exams are now part of a regular veterinary visit because dental health is an essential aspect of your pet's long-term health.

What are the symptoms of pet dental disease?

Bad breath is the most common symptom of poor pet dental health. Some other symptoms include swollen gums, difficulty or pain when chewing, excess tartar, poor appetite, and weight loss. If your pet has gingivitis, you want to make sure that it does not escalate to periodontal disease, which could cause the infection to spread to other organs.

How is it diagnosed?

Dental disease can only be diagnosed after a complete oral examination which is performed by a veterinarian. Following the oral exam most veterinarians will also look for other common signs of dental disease. Once the disease is diagnosed the veterinarian can then set up a treatment plan.

How is dental disease treated?

If your pet has a mild form of dental disease, such as tartar or gingivitis, the treatment is a simple cleaning plan, but if tartar or gingivitis is more serious, a veterinarian should perform a professional tooth cleaning. In such cleanings, your pet will be anesthetized to allow for the tartar to be removed from the teeth as well as from under the gum line. Once the tartar is removed, the teeth are cleaned with an antibacterial rinse and are polished to make it more difficult for tartar build up to start again.

How is it prevented?

Pet dental disease is easily preventable. In order to slow down the build-up of tartar and gingivitis, you should feed your pet a prescription diet and brush its teeth regularly. If you cannot brush your pet's teeth, you can feed them enzyme chews as a substitute. Whatever you choose to do, just remember that dental disease prevention is an important step to ensuring your pet's overall health.

Corner Animal Hospital : Pet Pharmacy & Veterinary Service
(http://www.corneranimal.com)

Buy the Medications Your Pet Needs With Confidence. Owned by Ivy League Educated veterinarians. "We treat your pets as family members. Their health and comfort are our primary concern."

Visit our Blog to read more, comment, and/or ask questions about Pet Care at (http://corneranimal.wordpress.com)

Submitted by Victoria M. Brown at NewSunSEO.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Victoria_M._Brown

Labels: Pet Health

It is traditional to buy cute little chicks, ducklings, and bunnies as gifts for children around Easter time. Nothing wrong with that - so long as you keep in mind that these cute baby animals will grow up and live through many more Easter holidays, requiring care - food, space, and time.

The easy solution, is not to buy a live animal at all, but one of the wonderful plush toys instead. In general, giving a live pet as a gift is a poor idea. If it is for your own child, consider the animals needs as far as care and whether or not you are able and willing to provide for it. If it is for someone else's child, consult with the parents first about whether they would welcome a new addition to the family.

However, if you do have the time, space, love and money to care for a new little member of the family and are willing to take the responsibility of doing so, here are a few care tips to give you a start.

Chicks and Ducklings

Baby chickens and baby ducks have similar needs. For the first few weeks baby birds need almost constant monitoring. For this reason, a slightly older chick is probably a better choice. The caretakers where you purchase your baby bird should know about how old they are.

Warmth - Baby chicks and ducklings need to be kept warm. Depending on the climate in your location, it will probably be a few weeks before they can be kept outdoors. Baby chicks need to be kept at 95 degrees the first week of their life, 90 the next, and so on, going down 5 degrees per week until they are 4-5 weeks old and fully feathered out. The idea source of heat is a red heat bulb, and you'll want a thermometer in their cage.

Food - Baby chicks have special needs as far as food, and the same is true for ducklings. No, they don't eat the same food. You will want to make sure you can purchase the proper feed for your pets, either where you purchased the pets, or at a local feed store. The local feed store will have a proper commercial feed for baby chicks and ducklings - but some do not keep it in stock past Easter. You will want to ask if they keep it in stock, and if not, purchase enough to keep your chicks or ducklings fed until they can switch to an adult feed.

You will also want to purchase a proper chick feeder. They will lose food tossed into their bedding, and tend to soil food in an open bowl as well as waste quite a bit as they peck through it.

Water - Don't plan on sticking any old bowl in the pen for chicks or ducklings. Baby birds need clean water. Baby birds also have a tendency to soil their water by walking through it, pooping in it, and throwing bedding into it. You will want to purchase a chick waterer from the feed or pet store. It will be built to keep the soiling to a minimum, but for the first four weeks or so you will have to check the waterer several times a day and provide fresh, clean water as often as necessary. When the chicks are a couple of weeks old, they will probably be big enough for you to set the waterer on a flat board or brick in the pen to elevate it from floor level (the water should be at the same level as the backs of the chicks) which will cut down on the mess a bit.

Shelter - For the first few weeks, a cardboard box with ventilation holes and sides at least 12 inches high will do fine as a home for your chicks or ducklings. A round container, such as a kiddie pool is better, as chicks and ducklings might tend to "pile" in corners and suffocate the bottom birds. Plan on giving them about 2 foot of space per baby bird. This sounds like a lot when they are 2 days old, but they are going to grow!

You will also need bedding. Wood shavings, such as the type sold packaged for small animal bedding, is the best. Plan on changing it every few days depending on the size of their pen.

When they are about 4 to 5 weeks old and fully feathered, they can move outdoors (weather permitting). They will then need a coop of some sort, and a pen to roam.

Company - Chickens and Ducks are flock animals. You don't have to buy more than one, but they will be much happier in the long run if you do.

Chicks and ducklings do, however, offer a very special reward for your tender, loving care. Last years Easter chicks will be laying eggs for this Easter's celebration!

Chickens and Ducks live for ten to fifteen years, and the females will lay eggs from about 5 months of age to approximately five years of age. Some will lay for a much longer time, although not as much as in their younger days.

Of course, Easter chicks and ducklings are not divided by sex, which means you will have males - roosters or drakes - as well as females. In the case of the male ducks, this isn't much of a problem. But we all know about roosters, don't we? At about the same time the hens start to lay, the roosters will start to crow. If you live in town, this can be an issue with the neighbors - not to mention the family. Not everyone thinks we ought to jump up out of bed at 3 am - but your rooster will.

In years past, the dye used to color chicks and ducklings often caused them to sick and die a few days after the holiday. This is no longer true, as a different process is used to dye the chicks and ducklings.

This is only a very basic outline of needs for chicks and ducklings. I strongly suggest you either purchase a book for their care, or at least check one out of the library.

If someone just dropped by your house and presented your child with a chick or duckling for Easter (it happens) - set them up with a cardboard box bedded with shavings or newspaper, a light for warmth (be aware of fire hazards and be sure it is out of the chicks reach), a bowl with fresh water, and get to the nearest feed or pet store for a waterer, feed and a feeder, a proper heat light bulb, thermometer, bedding, and a book on care.

There is of course, the possibility that you can keep the baby birds for a few months or weeks, and then place them with someone who wants chickens or ducks and has the facilities to care for them. If you want to do this - that's great - but I would make sure you have the arrangement made in advance. Depending on where you live, it may not be all that easy to find someone who wants them.

Easter Bunny

Aren't those baby Easter bunnies just the cutest? Sure they are! But they grow up into rabbits, and may live over ten years. They do not need quite so much intensive care as babies as the birds do, but their needs in the long run may prove more expensive.

And they don't really lay eggs, you know. ;)

Rabbits do make wonderful pets. However, they are not typically good pets for children, especially young children. If you are prepared and want to add a rabbit to your family, there's certainly nothing wrong with deciding to do it just in time for Easter. If someone just dropped by and handed your child an Easter bunny (a live one), you might have a bit of a problem! Yes, it happens.

Fortunately, most pet stores now carry all the things your new pet will need for his or her health and happiness. Basic needs for rabbits are the same as for all pets - shelter, food, and water.

In the case of a bunny, you will first want to decide if he or she is going to live indoors or outdoors. Domestic rabbits are not as hardy as their wild relatives. A pet rabbit really should live indoors, with or without run of the house. An outbuilding, such as a shed or garage is not ideal - ventilation and temperature must be considered, as well as whether other animals are able to get into the building. A rabbit can actually die of fear from the presence of a predator animal - such as the family dog. A caged rabbit will still need at least few hours a day of playtime a day in a larger area.

Indoors or out, you will still need to purchase a cage, or hutch. Even an indoor rabbit should have a cage for their own security and for times when you may need to confine them. A rabbits cage should be at least five times the size of the rabbit. In the case of a baby rabbit, you'll either want to buy a cage based on his adult size, or plan on buying larger cages as she grows. Your rabbit should be able to stretch out and lay down, and their head should not touch the top of the cage when they stand.

Depending on the type of cage you purchase, you will also need bedding. Cages with wire floors are very common - but also hard on little bunny feet. If you purchase this type of cage, you should layer some cardboard over the wire to make it more comfortable for your bunny.

When you purchase the cage, keep in mind the type of feeder and waterer you plan to use. The best feeders and waterers are those that fit onto the cage in such a way that they remain clean and sanitary. Thus it is probably easiest to purchase the cage, feeder, and waterer at the same time and place. Most pet stores and feed stores will have all of those items available for you.

Your rabbit will also appreciate a place to hide - or have a little privacy. A simple cardboard box with a door cut into that fits in the cage is fine, or you can buy something fancier if you wish.

Commercial feed, as well as treats, are readily available for rabbits these days. However, these foods should be considered supplemental to hay (timothy hay, or grass hay is better for rabbits than alfalfa), and dark, green leafy vegetables. As with any pet, fresh food and water should be provided daily.

If you are keeping the rabbit indoors and giving them the run of the house, you can train them to use a litter box. You will want to make sure you have "bunny proofed" the house. Rabbits chew - a curious nibble of an electrical cord could have terrible consequences.

Rabbits are social animals. Even if you, or your child, spends lots of time keeping bunny company - they would be happier with another bunny friend. Consider adopting two bunnies rather than one. They will be happier for it.

As with chicks, you will find numerous books and resources on the web concerning rabbit care. This is only a very basic outline. You'll have much to learn!

Although I mentioned that with chicks and ducklings you might consider keeping them only until they are grown if you can make arrangements for a new home for adult chickens or ducks - this is less of an option with Easter bunnies. If you are purchasing a bunny, please plan on keeping it for it's own life span. If someone just surprised you with a gift bunny, and you cannot or do not want to keep it, you will find many rabbit rescue groups listed online. Many local shelters also have facilities for rabbits.

Pets are really not suitable surprise gifts for anyone at any time. This goes for Easter chicks, Easter ducklings, and Easter bunnies. They are all cute babies, but they grow up and live from ten to fifteen years. They have needs and require suitable care.

I hope you didn't buy one on impulse, but if you did, I hope you will go on now to see that it receives proper care. If someone "surprised" you (or your child) with an Easter bunny or chick, I hope you will either step up to the responsibility (and perhaps be surprised by how rewarding they are!) or take the proper steps to find them a good home. And if, best of all, you decided months ago to add some chickens, ducks, or rabbits to your family and thought you'd wait until Easter to buy them and take them home, where their cage and hay, or heat lamp and feed are all ready and waiting for them - yay you, enjoy the new additions to your family!

Summer Fey Foovay is an artist, writer, and webdesigner as well as the webmaster of Animal Nerd. She has been involved in animal care, often professionally, since childhood. You can find more of her work at Demented-Pixie.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Summer_Foovay

Labels: Pet Care

Most kids would love to have pets at home. Most kids like to have a dog or cat as a pet. Children will get a brilliant experience with pets. Pets help kids in learning about the responsibility, love, and care for a fellow living being. Parents have to give certain instructions or advice to their kids while dealing with pets. Social skills of kids can be improved by interaction with pets. Families will have a good time, where bonding can be enhanced while taking care of the pets. So many activities can be done by the families and pets together. For example, fitness can be gained by taking the pets out for a walk.

Parents can invite the kids to join them while taking care of the pets. By having a schedule for the pet care, it will become easy for you and your children in caring pets.

The responsibilities for the pet care can be shared with your children. Kids will be able to enjoy the work and makes them feel that their service is very much important to the pets. Discuss the works in prior with your children and ask them which tasks can be taken by them. Appreciate them for volunteering and remember not to force any work on them. The kid's age should also be considered while assigning the duties. The work that can be done according to their age should only be assigned to them.

The work done by the kids should be appreciated at every point of time. Parents can give their kids small rewards for their work. These activities help the kids to become independent and also to help others who depend on them. Parents should educate their kids about the importance of pets and animal life in the world. Kids should be warned and advised if they do any harmful activity to the pets. Children can be taught how to hold smaller pets by giving comfort to them. Supervise your kids while caring pets at each stage if your kids are too small. Ensure that they are not attacked by the pets. By involving kids in pet care they will get the chance to become closer with the pets and the pets too feel the same way.

Parents can teach the kids to feed them. So the pets will show a special bonding to your kids. Kids should be involved during the bath time of the pets. They can be taught about the importance of cleanliness and hygiene while caring pets. While doing the cleaning activities parents should tell them to use gloves. Children should be allowed to play with the pets as this is one way of pets getting bonded to the kids. Parents should keep an eye on them during the play time and make sure that pets are not harming the kids.

Children should be reminded once if they forget to do the committed tasks. Some kids will get bored of the repetitive tasks required during pet care. But parents should be able to convince the importance of these tasks though they are repetitive by citing few real time examples.

Victor Epand is an expert consultant about kids toys, stuffed animals, and dolls. You will find the best marketplace for kids toys, stuffed animals, and dolls at these sites for kids toys, animals, and dolls.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Victor_Epand

Labels: Pet Care

Most of us like to have pets at home, especially kids who get excited about the idea of having a pet at home. There are some pretty common pets that are usually seen in most houses and they are dogs, cats, rabbits etc. Dogs are preferred because they guard their master, and the house, and will never tolerate anyone misbehaving with their master. But if people are interested in having companions for them, they prefer cats, as they prove to be very good companions. There are some differences in the nature and habits of dogs and cats, and so it becomes quite personal as to what you are looking for in a pet.

The first difference that is seen in the dogs and cats is that dogs are social animals and like to live in groups. They like to follow the leader of the group and are termed as the happiest among all in this kind of environment. Cats are completely different by nature and they like to roam about alone and never like to follow anyone. Dogs can stay anywhere they go and will become happy after sometime but the cats will not feel happy if they are taken out of their environment even if they have the best of companions with them.

The eating habits of dogs and cats are different and it is easy to manage with the dogs as compared to the cats in many aspects. When it comes to food, dogs will eat almost anything and can survive without meat for few days. Although dogs need a good amount of meat protein to maintain their health but at times they can manage without meat. But cats need a fixed amount of meat protein daily and are not able to maintain good health without it. Dogs can also remain without eating for few days by utilizing the fat reserves of their body but even if the cat is overweight it cannot utilize its fat reserves and needs to be fed daily. In the absence of proper feeding their health deteriorates.

Dogs are very obedient and will follow your instructions in any circumstances and when it rolls over it shows its submissive nature. But when the cat rolls over it shows the sign of trust because cats are never submissive. Dogs like to roll on dirty things like the normal nature of the dogs that are seen in the street dogs. Whereas cats have the nature of digging the earth and then bury their waste in it so that no one can trace them. Both of them have their peculiar nature just because of the cause of survival, which is the most important point for all the species in this world.

Keeping in mind all the points of differences between a cat and a dog, now it is up to you what you decide. Some like cats because of their nature and habits and some prefer dogs for their obedience and guarding nature.

But probably the thing that attracts people to dogs as pets, the most is that dogs are loyal, after all they are often referred to, - 'as a man's best friend'. Irrespective of these things, it's basically a personal choice and both, dogs and cats both are kept as pets in homes.

Victor Epand is an expert consultant about kids toys, stuffed animals, and dolls. You will find the best marketplace for kids toys, stuffed animals, and dolls at these sites for kids toys, animals, and dolls.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Victor_Epand

Labels: Pet Care

Kids are curious by nature, and get very excited to learn about those things that are not apparent, and that they are not able to see. When you ask them what stories they want to listen to, the most common answer would be that they would like to listen to stories of wild animals or some dangerous and exciting stories. Kids have their own world of imagination, and they are excited to add more knowledge to that. Children have the general tendency of sharing information with friends, and as soon as they gather some, they would like to share immediately. So, if you are thinking of teaching your kid about wild animals you better start with the stories about wild animals that will arouse their interests. They would become engrossed and would like to know more about the lions, tigers, wolves etc, after listening to such stories.

The next step that you need to take is show them pictures in books or on the internet and make your kids identify the animals with their names. You have all the information on the internet so show your kids, the origin of animals, their eating habits, behavior, likes and dislikes etc. You will see that your child is getting interested in the topic and then you can also tell your kids how these wild animals such as lions, tigers, wolves, etc are facing dangers these days, in this modern world.

One thing that you need to keep in mind is the age of your child. Your child should be old enough to grasp such things that your telling them. A smaller child might not be able to associate with such things and land up getting scared rather than interested. Thus you'll end up doing more harm than good.

It is always better to educate your child with pictures or with information gathered from the internet or magazines. Show them everything and explain it directly on the computer or books, so that they believe what they see. Children like to see pictures as it makes what your telling them all the more interesting. Explain to your kids all the information and patiently answer any questions that they may have. For sure they'll have plenty!

If you can manage, take your kid to a trip to any national park and learn about the safety tips before entering. This you can do if your child is big enough and will understand and cooperate with you to look out for wild animals. In fact even a zoo is a good idea to look at wild animals. The zoo probably is a safer bet, as the animals are confined to their cages or spaces and children feel more sage. If your kids are old enough to understand the effects of the modern world on lions, tigers and other wild animals, then you can explain that to them as well.

Teaching kids about wild animals can be fun and interesting, you can also explain to them the difference between a wild animal and a pet, that you keep at home.

Victor Epand is an expert consultant about kids toys, stuffed animals, and dolls. You will find the best marketplace for kids toys, stuffed animals, and dolls at these sites for kids toys, animals, and dolls.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Victor_Epand

Labels: Pet Care

Teaching kids about animals can be quite interesting, and if you add trips to the zoo for that purpose, it will be all the more helpful. They can learn there about how animals behave, their eating habits, from where they come from, and the sounds they make. Animals of various types are found in the zoo, and you might be able to show them the varieties of dogs, cats, rabbits, monkeys and lots more. So if you are planning to take your kids to the zoo in order to teach them about animals, try to visit the website and show it to your kids to create interest in the animals. When they will watch those animals live, they will find it very interesting and will be excited to learn more about them.

Before visiting the zoo you can also find out if there are any events being organized in the near future so that you can take along your child to enjoy the activities of the animals in a different way. Take print out's of pictures of animals in the zoo so that you can easily make the kid identify them. Some of the zoos also allow you to feed the animals so you can encourage your child to feed them and enjoy the fun and excitement in it. Let the child explore the zoo on their own by just keeping a watch on them and this will make chikdren take interest in the nature of different animals.

There are animals that can be tamed or can be kept at our homes, as pets. Pets need special care and before keeping pets like dogs, cats, rabbits or any other animal, you should be aware of of how to look after them. You should have a complete knowledge of their daily care, food habits and hygiene, which is very important as they are kept inside the house and children, too play with them. Keeping pets is the best way to teach kids about these animals, but it is not possible to keep so many animals as pets. However with pets children come to know about each and every detail of the behavior and the habits of the pet animals.

Taking kids to the animal show creates an interest in children for animals and they learn about varieties of dogs in a dog show or various other animals in different animal shows. Dogs, cats, rabbits etc are common pets found in many houses of which dogs are the most common. If your friends and relatives have pets you can take your child there and let him spend few days with the pet and know a bit in details about it. When the children play with them and watch them so closely they will learn very fast and with ease. This type of lessons is unforgettable and he will remember them for his lifetime. In this way you can teach them about animals and their habits especially about the dogs, cats, rabbits, monkeys etc.

Victor Epand is an expert consultant about kids toys, stuffed animals, and dolls. You will find the best marketplace for kids toys, stuffed animals, and dolls at these sites for kids toys, stuffed animals, and dolls.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Victor_Epand

Labels: Pet Supply Store

Care for Chihuahua dogs is much like caring for any other dog with several important exceptions. Since Chihuahuas are members of the world's smallest breed, you must consider the small physical size of the dogs. Small in size but your pet isn't necessarily small in attitude. Like many small breeds Chihuahuas often make up for small size with a lively, terrier-like disposition. Of course, disposition of dogs varies widely. Some Chihuahuas are retiring and very quiet too.

Chihuahua training must be gentle but still insist on reasonable behavior by your pet. You determine what is reasonable too.

Chihuahua Potty Training

A first training step for Chihuahua puppy care is house training. Get house training done quickly and you and your puppy will both benefit. Make sure your pup is old enough to physically control elimination. Starting house training too early is a major source of frustration. Once you determine that your puppy is old enough for house training, you can choose from several different methods of teaching.

One of the most popular methods is called crate training. Most dogs have no desire to soil their sleeping and lounging area. If you confine a puppy in a fairly small area, like a crate, the puppy will usually hesitate when the time for elimination is at hand. That uncomfortable period, is your time to spring into action. Quickly remove the pup from the crate to the appropriate area. Repetition of this exercise will train most dogs that the right place to go is the place you have chosen. That's a mission accomplished.

This method does require your close attention for the training period. You must be right by your puppy watching for signs of discomfort. After a bit, you can probably predict when the time is right based on meal times and other time day.

Protection

For house breaking and any other training, always remember the small size of a Chihuahua. Tiny dogs can be injured in many ways. Accidentally step on your puppy or sit on a dog and you may do permanent damage or worse. And it is essential that no rough treatment is acceptable in any training. Any necessary discipline can be firm and consistent, but still very gentle.

Another protection required for your dog is protection from cold. Tiny dogs do not have the mass to deal with very cold weather. Their bodies are just too small and lack the fat cover necessary for dealing with cold temperatures. Leaving your dog outside in cold weather is a bad idea. Pet clothing in cold weather is not just for decoration, but for protection from chilling.

Feeding A Chihuahua

Another challenge of care for Chihuahua dogs is at feeding time. Chihuahuas, especially older dogs, become overweight quickly. Overweight dogs are subject to a whole list of health problems. Hypoglycemia, the difficulty in dealing with sugars in the diet, is especially common in overweight dogs. Avoid many problems by feeding a moderate, high quality diet and limiting snacks. Then provide plenty of exercise opportunities. A moderate diet and quality exercise will keep your dog fit and healthy for many years.

Puzzled about care for Chihuahua dogs? Need more information? Visit our site for care for Chihuahua dogs tips.

We invite you to visit http://www.ChihuahuaTips.com for answers to your Chihuahua dog questions.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Al_Bullington

Labels: Pet Care

Jewelry is something everyone loves wearing. Let it be stones, gold, silver or pewter, there is some sort of jewelry that everyone will like. Now, to make sure that all pets are not far behind in this race for jewelry, many people manufacture pet jewelry, yes jewelry for pets! Jewelry that includes chains, lockets, collars, and anything fancy one can envisage.

So today, the creation and manufacture of pet jewelry proves to be a lucrative business. In fact, pet owners love to spruce up their pets, and themselves, in pet jewelry. Instead of buying jewelry only for their pets, or for themselves, they now venture into buying matching jewelry for both of themselves. You can create any form of jewelry; made of sterling silver, pewter, or gemstones. Be as creative as possible to create jewelry designs that will entice both the pet and pet owner!

One of the most common pieces of jewelry is jewelry with a Celtic design. This jewelry can be attached either to the pets collar, or used as a pendant in the pet owners chain or necklace. Adding a special stone to the center of these pendants, make it even more attractive to your prospective customers. You can also create matching gold charms for their pets. Adding genuine stones to these charms make the charm more charming! To make the jewelry more alluring to the customer, you could offer the charm in a lovely gift box that matches the gold charm.

Another novel idea for pet jewelry is designer pet ID tags and pet ID jewelry. It is not that you have to create all this jewelry; there are many jewelry designers out there creating masterpieces out of jewelry; you could offer to sell this jewelry for these jewelers, and charge a commission for these sales, .925 sterling silver pet tags make a very stunning presence wherever the pet goes. So, instead of using a cheap, ordinary, plastic, or aluminum pet tag for the pet let pet owners have unique pets with these sterling silver pet tags.

Of course, whatever pet jewelry it is that you are creating or distributing, it is very important to have a web presence through which you can sell your pet jewelry. Create a website with pictures of this jewelry, and with information about it. Looking at the picture itself, the pet owner should feel like buying pet jewelry for their pets and themselves. Of course, the pets that are most likely to wear pet jewelry are cats and dogs. Sometimes pets require something more rugged looking, and something more masculine.

The costs for this pet jewelry should not be too high nor should it be too cheap. Sometimes it may go up to hundreds of dollars, while some jewelry may cost only $1! Remember to keep a reasonable price range so that both rich and poor pet owners can buy pet jewelry. Do not forget to mention the shipping and handling charges that have to be borne by the pet owner to receive the selected pet jewelry!

5 home business CD's for just one penny! And I'll ship them to you free...

1) Audio CD: How to Make Money Selling Hot Niche Info Products You Can Get for Free. Value: $47.00

2) Video CD: The Lost Videos. Value: $39.00

3) Audio CD: Success Secrets Revealed. Value: $39.98

4) Video CD: How To Find Red Hot Impulse Buyers and How You Can Make Money Showing Them where to find the Solution They Desperately Desire. Value: $49.00

5) Business Start Up Power Pack CD containing 9 business plans you can implement now. Value $67.00

Click here for details...

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_J._Jones

Labels: Pet Supply Store

Rabbits are very cute and cuddly and many have the idea that it is very easy to have them as pets. Children love to play with rabbits and as they are soft and cuddly, children like to catch them or hold them. Before deciding to have a rabbit as a pet, you need to learn some points so that you find it easy to maintain them. The first thing that is important is to note that they bite and they don't like to be held or picked up when they are roaming about. So it will be a dangerous thing if you have a small child at home and if the rabbit is caught against their will, they may bite. You cannot train them not to bite in such cases.

Rabbits look very cute and it seems that they are the simplest of pets, as they just have to be caged. But the fact is that they have to be cared for a lot. They need to be taken out of the cage daily and they need to be exercised to keep them healthy. You will have to keep an area especially for them so that they exercise there daily and it should not have any harmful things. You should also keep away important things so that the rabbit doesn't bite and destroy them. Those who have studied about the behavior of the rabbits, are of the opinion that it will also get depressed if it does not get the human touch on regular basis. So you or your child will have to spare some time exclusively for the rabbit and play with it.

It depends upon the breed that how often you have to brush the rabbit because they have a tendency to swallow their own fur, which might lead to intestinal problem or even breathing problems in the rabbit. The rabbit's cage also needs to be cleaned either every day or alternate days. If taken care properly rabbits can live up to 10 years or even more sometimes. Buying a rabbit for a pet is a costly and time taking job. You will have to look after and take care of the rabbit and its habits so that they are maintained in a good health and in hygienic way. You have to take care of the type of food and the nutrition that is important for the rabbit too.

Rabbits are quite destructive sometimes and messy too, because basically it is mischievous. They cannot be trained, not to destroy anything so you will have to keep things away from their reach otherwise rabbits can go to the extent of chewing a shoe, cord or anything that they like. Also you will have to groom your rabbit regularly. Even then you should be prepared to clean up the fur, as they shred them here and there. There is one important point to be noted that most rabbits die of heart attack and they fear children a lot. So by keeping all the things in mind you can have a pet rabbit for your home.

Victor Epand is an expert consultant about kids toys, stuffed animals, and dolls. You will find the best marketplace for kids toys, stuffed animals, and dolls at these sites for kids toys, rabbit, and dolls.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Victor_Epand

Labels: Pet Adoption

As pet owners, we are all concerned about the risks associated with anesthesia and surgery. Anesthesia and surgery is a more exact science than you might expect. The safety of general anesthesia is dependent upon the anesthetic agent, the equipment used, the methods of patient monitoring, patient status, and the expertise of the people involved. In fact, the safety of general anesthesia is dramatically improved by giving adequate attention to each of these areas.

To the doctors and staff of Research Pet and Bird Hospital, nothing is more important than taking steps to maximize the safety of a procedure. In fact, our core values demand that we use only the safest anesthetic agents, precise delivery systems, intense patient monitoring, and all measures available to improve the patient's status to make the procedure a success. For us, it is a mission. Our focus and intensity does not wane until the patient is fully recovered and ready to go home. Anything else is a complete failure in our minds and hearts.

If you are planning to have your dog spayed, cat neutered, your bird's broken leg fixed, the mass in your ferret biopsied, or the teeth in your rabbit floated, these procedures are performed under general anesthesia. Your pet's safety is our greatest concern.

Our goal is to minimize the risks associated with anesthesia. In order to make anesthesia as safe as possible, we use some of the safest anesthetic agents available. The use of precision vaporizers allows a constant and exact amount of anesthetic to enter the patient and allow rapid adjustments of anesthetic depth and rapid elimination of the anesthetic agent permitting quick recoveries. Our anesthetic machines also deliver 100% oxygen to provide adequate oxygen delivery to the tissues.

Our surgical nurses are the best in the business. They are hand picked to take on this profound responsibility. They understand this tremendous responsibility and they take it very seriously. We charge them with caring for the most important animals on the planet, your pet. To them, guiding your pet through the procedure to a successful conclusion is their single most important task. We train them to be the best. They are so good, our doctors ask for their assistance on their own pets. Our surgical nurses are intensely trained and care so much that often it may seem they are making too many recommendations. The reason is simple, your pet's safety is their responsibility and they want every advantage.

If you have ever seen us working on your pet under anesthesia, you would notice all the devices connected to your pet. We use state of the art monitoring equipment to provide up to the second information about patient status. Continuous cardiac and respiratory monitoring is performed and adjustments in anesthetic depth are based on objective measurements such as pulse rate, respiratory rate, % saturation of hemoglobin with oxygen (pulse oximetry), blood pressure, and electrocardiographic tracings. These measurements are balanced along with our assessments of patient status.

We take into account variables such as patient age, size, weight, and health as well as the nature and expected duration of the procedure and make adjustments according to changing observations or expectations during the anesthetic period. Without a doubt, one of the most important keys to the safe conclusion of an anesthetic event is understanding patient status. What we learn during your pet's history and physical help us identify the three greatest risk factors: the presence of pre-existing illness, organ dysfunction, or sensitivity on the part of an individual to a particular anesthetic agent. In addition, we strongly recommend pre-surgical blood screens or profiles for all patients for all anesthetic procedures. In some cases, we are already aware of a pre-existing condition that should be monitored by these tests. In other cases, these tests may reveal a hidden illness or problem that could increase the patient's anesthetic risk. Complications to anesthesia are rare, but some are serious and may result in patient death. Under no circumstances do we want to jeopardize your pet's health if we feel the risk is too high.

Pre-surgical testing decreases the overall risk of anesthesia and helps prevent unexpected complications to anesthesia and surgery. This helps to decrease the risk of anesthesia by identifying problems before the procedure, instead of finding out about them afterwards. Typical tests are a complete blood count (CBC) to identify hidden infection, anemia, potential bleeding problem, or immune suppression. It also includes chemistry tests to avoid stumbling into situations where inadequate organ function impairs anesthetic elimination or increases the likelihood of complications. An EKG is a simple way to screen patients for heart disease and potentially life threatening heart rhythm abnormalities. The testing is designed to complement the doctor's assessment of patient status and risk of the anesthetic procedure. It is used to uncover undetected illness or to monitor known problems. It provides valuable information that may prevent us from unnecessarily endangering our patient. The likelihood that the findings will impact our decision to perform a procedure in healthy adults is small, but this does happen and there is no question those patients will be better off in the long run with that information. In some cases, a decision is made to postpone the procedure and try to resolve the problem first. In other words the pre-surgical testing decreases the overall risk of anesthesia and helps prevent unexpected complications to anesthesia and surgery. This type of testing is needed and is extremely important for any patient that will be anesthetized.

Intravenous catheters are always recommended to provide immediate access should emergency measures or other medications become suddenly necessary during the procedure. The administration of intravenous fluids during anesthesia is known to improve patient recovery and is a wonderful way to improve patient status.

If we made the recommendation for your pet to have something done with general anesthesia, you can be sure the benefits outweigh the risks and that we will do everything possible to bring about an uneventful recovery.

Some of the agents we use for anesthesia are Sevoflurane and Isoflurane (anesthetic gases) and Propofol (an intravenous induction agent to take the patient from awake to anesthesia). Some of the other medications we use before and during surgery are sedatives, tranquilizers, and pain medications may be given alone or in combination. We use tranquilizers such as valium or acepromazine; pain medications such as buprenorphine, morphine, butorphanol; and non steroid anti inflammatory drugs such as Rimadyl or Metacam. Patients are maintained on anesthesia by driving the anesthetic agent with oxygen through an airway tube known as an endotracheal tube. Species of animals we perform anesthesia and surgery on include dogs, cats, birds, ferrets, rabbits, guinea pigs, rats, mice, gerbils, hamsters, hedgehogs, prairie dogs, and chinchillas, lizards, snakes, and turtles.

Common procedures include spay, neuter, endoscopy, lump removal, tumor biopsy, intestinal biopsy, liver biopsy, pancreatic biopsy, intestinal obstruction, foreign body removal, mass removal, tumor removal, fracture repair, bone plating, knee surgery, ACL repair, tracheoscopy, esophagoscopy, rhinoscopy, nasal biopsy, lymph nod biopsy, radiography, contrast studies, dewclaw removal, abscess surgery, urethral obstruction, bladder stone removal, fustula removal, resection and anastamosis, intussusception, perineal adenoma, perineal urethrostomy, perineal hernia, abdominal hernia, diaphragmatiac hernia, inguinal hernia, dentistry, dental cleaning, dental prophy, tooth extraction, oral surgery, periodontal therapy, root planing, gingivoplasy, external fixation, vaginoscopy, urethroscopy, cystoscopy, cysotomy, gastropexy, gastrotomy, feeding tube placement, jejunostomy, mast cell tumor removal, bile duct surgery, gall bladder surgery, corneal and eyelid surgery, enucleation, bulla osteotomy, lateral ear resection, total ear canal ablation, pelvic surgery, correctional osteotomy, and surgical sexing of birds.

Dr Paul Skellenger is the Veterinarian for Veterinarian Care us and has over 20 years in Veterinarian medicine and experience with Anesthesia, Surgery and small animals. For additional information you can contact one of our Veterinarians in your area.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paul_Skellenger

Labels: Pet Care

Pets can also contract urinary tract infections, much like humans do. Most likely, cats are more prone to bladder infections than dogs and these could have a debilitating effect on the felines mobility and overall systemic health. If you have previously received treatment for an infection of this sort and endured all the related discomforts, imagine how much more painful this condition would be for a little kitty; to urinate amidst a buildup of crystallized urine passing through its tiny urethra.

At a glance, it would be difficult to determine if poor kitty is suffering from a bladder infection, much less notice the minute urine crystals discharged. Should you suspect a UTI condition, you could buy a urine pH test strip and administer it at home over a sample of your cats urine. Nevertheless, bladder infections can be directly observed through the aberrant actuations of your pet that constitute as symptoms to this disease. Symptoms may appear as gullible as the repeated self-licking of genitals; frequent urination that is more indicative of the infection; and the more obvious symptoms of pain while passing urine and in case cloudy or bloody formations become discernable over urine. Whatever the case may be, these symptoms are telltale signs of a bladder infection that should signal an immediate trip to the veterinarian for immediate consultations. Otherwise risk the complications that would go from a simple loss of appetite, to fevers and acute infections.

It is common practice to administer antibiotics to kill the bacteria-causing infection spawning within the confines of your pets bladder or kidneys. Yet recent medical findings reveal how prolonged use of anti-bacterial drugs can disrupt the delicate balance of your pets immune system in the course of providing relief. When this happens, poor kitty may not fully recover from the infection to instead suffer the ordeal of recurring UTIs throughout its lifetime.

Homeopathy is a fast rising, alternative treatment to synthetic drugs that is proven safe and effective for the treatment of your pets disease, even for prolonged medication. You might want to try herbal remedies such as Berberis Vulgaris with its potent extracts acting as naturally occurring anti-bacterial agents that not only stunt the growth of bacteria but also enhance the immune function. The Arctostaphylos uva ursi is another popular herb used as an antiseptic that is known effective in the treatment of urinary tract infections. Nowadays, herbal remedies are conveniently available through bottled medications. To obtain the therapeutic benefits contained with the abovementioned herbs, one could try a product such as a PetAlive UTI Free. Makers claim it is safe, free from undue side-effects and completely cures urinary tract infections in both cats and dogs.

Consider clearing your pets bladder infections the natural way and help your cat purr its way back into health.

Bruce Maul is a partner in Goldf Flax Seed, Inc. which provides only top quality Flax Seed, Herbal Remedies and other health related products. Learn more about Herbal Remedies by visiting http://www.myherbalremedystore.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bruce_Maul

Labels: Pet Care, Pet Health

Just like all other living creatures, pet animals like dogs and cats require a combination of carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, proteins, minerals and water. This balance can be achieved by creating a balanced nutrition diet, providing sufficient calorie amounts to meet the daily needs of the animal for activity, growth and repair. While many pet food bags claim that they are "complete nutrition" foods, this claim means absolutely nothing unless the nutrients within are in a form that the pet can absorb into their system.

For example, since the hemicelluloses and celluloses of plant cells is not digestible in raw forms by dogs and cats, foods that are based on grains as a primary source of protein and carbohydrates absolutely must be processed in a manner that allows the nutrients to be extracted by the animal's digestive system. Not only do most major pet food companies work hard to balance their pet foods, but they also make every effort to provide ingredients in the most usable form possible.

Pet foods must contain vitamins and minerals in concentrations that are balanced as well. If there is too much of one mineral or vitamin, it may actually have interference against the absorption of another vitamin or mineral. Too little of a vital nutrient can interfere with vitamin or mineral use. Major pet food companies generally strive to provide the most balanced proportions of minerals and vitamins and other nutrients based on years of studies, and most pet food companies are constantly fine tuning their recipes to benefit the pets that their foods feed.

There are differences in the way that each pet food maker processes their food, and in the quality of ingredients they use, which can contribute to the balance of the food's nutrition. There are also finished product, storage and ingredient humidity and temperature changes that contribute to variation in the quality of the food. Some pet characteristics affect nutritional needs in food, including age, breed, activity level and level of health. More and more pet food companies are coming out with specialised foods for certain animal breeds, activity levels (overweight, sporting, working), size (small dog formula, large dog formula) and age level (senior formula, baby formula) and so on.

For some pets, a balanced nutrition requires an anti-allergen food, such as a duck and potato blend for dogs and cats with allergies to certain grains.

The best way to determine what the right balance is for your dog or cat is to speak to your veterinarian. Your veterinarian will have a good idea of the myriad of food choices out there, and will be able to recommend a food that will offer the right nutritional balance for your pet. It might be fruitful to explore a second opinion, or even a third, because some veterinarians give preferential treatments to certain food brands and may be making a somewhat biased decision.

However, slight differences in processing temperatures, in quality of the ingredients purchased, and storage humidity and temperature of ingredients of the finished product can cause variations in the quality that may affect a particular dog, a particular breed, or a particular line of dogs within a breed. In addition, some breeds or groups of breeds may require slightly different percentages of particular nutrients. Therefore, all dog foods are not perfect for all dogs, a factor that leads to the production of a plethora of different foods, claims, and processing methods.

Derek Rogers is a freelance writer who represents a number of UK businesses. For advice on pet food, he recommends Seapets, one of the UK's leading suppliers of pet supplies.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Derek_Rogers

Labels: Pet Care

Still wondering what "webkinz" are? Your kids want them but you have no clue as to what they are. Well, then welcome to the world of new age toys. Webkinz are these incredibly cute stuffed extremely huggable toys that have a secret code attached to it. Entry into the Webkinz World is only possible with that exclusive secret code; and then just watch your toy come alive. Your toy is no longer just a toy but instead becomes your pet that you can take care of. It is amazing to know what all you can do for your plush pet. Starting from purchasing furniture for the room to clothing and you can even select the kind of food you'd like your pet to have. Each and every toy differs from the other in its hobbies, habits and they even have their own favorite foods. It is in fact as good as having a live pet

Adopting our webkinz online can now be done with the secret code you are provided with in the beginning. Ms. Birdy will be delighted to welcome you and will assist you through the entire procedure of adoption. Make sure you have a great name ready for your webkinz, whether it is a boy or a girl.

The best part about it is that you can adopt as many pets as you want. It does not stop at just one. All of them need to be loved and cared for so collect them and give them a home. At the end of you adoption process you will receive an adoption certificate online which you may print out. This authorizes you as the rightful owner of your newly adopted adorable pet.

You must be very careful while purchasing your webkinz. It should always come with a secret code that is attached to the ankle of your webkinz. Incase you have purchased one without a secret code immediately take it back to the place you bought it from and ask for a replacement. This special code is the key to all the fun that you can have online with your webkinz. And never lose your secret code. If you do you will not get a replacement. So make sure to keep the code in a safe place at all times.

Watching your pet come alive virtually is such a joy. If you still have not adopted your first webkinz then what are you waiting for? Go out there and get yourself one. Your kids will love it and so will you.

For More information, please visit: Webkins Cheats and Webkins Codes

Dixita is an article writer for various organizations across the globe. This is the first time I am trying out article writing for myself. For more information about me, do visit: Webkinz Cheats

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dixita_Dutt

Labels: Pet Adoption