Create A Healthy Environment for Your Pet

EVERY pet depends upon it’s owner to keep it’s living / play areas clean and safe!

Start by keeping your pet free of parasites. This is often more challenging in an outdoor pet but you must be persistent ~ try various products to find one that gives good results, with an absolute minimum of side effects. Remember to also treat and clean your pets bed once a week to reduce infestations. If your pet or home seem to be heavily infested, consult your veterinarian for advice and alternatives.

Your pet’s excrement is a breeding ground for disease. Although cats will usually attract your attention in one way or another when the litter box is overdue for a cleaning, pets such as rabbits are less communicative, and will be depending on you to be observant and responsible. Even if the litter box looks clean, and is clear of clumped litter, it may still smell of urine. A through washing (and new litter for cats and rabbits), at least once per week, should meet your pets needs.

Observing your pet on a daily basis, knowing its habits and personality, will help you detect any changes. Noting any changes in your pet early can prevent future health concerns. Scheduling cuddle time with your pet, when you gently inspect its overall condition, is not only pleasurable for BOTH of you, it’s also your “Early Warning” system of anything amiss. Learn to look for any signs of illness such as fever, or a dull coat and/or eyes. If your pet is not showing any specific signs, but you know s/he is simply not behaving as usual, there is no harm in calling your veterinarian for advice.

Take the time to search out any hazards that could harm your pet ~ rabbits, especially, but also other pets, will chew electrical wires, so be sure to keep the two separated. Although you don’t want mice, mousetraps and poisons could also hurt your pet. It’s tempting to use air fresheners around your pet, to keep any odors to a minimum, but these can often be harmful to your pet.

Common sense, combined with LOTS of knowledgeable advice, will help you to spot any potentials for danger. Creating a healthy environment for you and your pet will enhance your relationship, keeping your pet comfortable and content.

Remember ~ a healthy pet is a happy pet!

News about Crash

i've been posting to the PetsHub Rabbit forum, and discussing the release/non-release of Crash with them. This is my latest post there, and i think it is pretty self-explanatory:

*********

In answer to to your posts, BeetleBunny and prettybea:

My folks have a little 40 acre ranch, on which live: wild water fowl; tame water fowl; scads of wild birds; 2 dogs; 6 cats; a monkey; wild hogs; cattle; skunks; raccoons; rabbits; a mountain lion; deer; opossums; well, you get the idea. We live in an EXTREMELY rural setting ~ we are 2 miles, down a dirt county road, from the "main highway" of TX 119, and 4 miles down another dirt county road from the other "main highway" of TX 80. The nearest town with a WalMart is about 30 miles away. Our best grocery store is 25 miles away, although we can drive 17 miles to
the "bad" one. We live in the middle of nowhere ~ literally.

Anyway, about 5 weeks ago, my folk's dog came up with something in it's mouth ~ that
something was an approximately 3-day-old baby cottontail rabbit. The dog, who we THINK is part retiever, hadn't harmed a hair on the little bunny's body! My Mom recommended Pet milk, with a little drop of Karo in it, as a formula, and i began feeding it with an eyedropper.

i've got to tell you, we didn't hold out much hope of it surviving. i've rescued wild things before and i know that the mortality rate is high, especially if another animal has mauled the creature. After getting on line, i read about feeding it, and all the dire warnings, etc. (There was no choice about putting it back, once i found one of it's siblings that the other pets had gotten to.) He's now 5 weeks old, and seems to be doing great.

Okay, now about the 'cage' he'll live in ~

Like i said, we live on a ranch, so we could build a nice, large cage ~ we already have 6' x 12' x 6' dog run that a wire floor could easily be added to, along with adding a "loft" area that would make it 2 levels along one side. Until then, we have a small 2' x 4' x 2' cage that i have been putting him outside in, as well as a 4' x 4' x 4' cage. And, no, it's not being free, but it's the closest thing i can do.

This is ugly of me, but can you please explain to me how keeping him, in safety and some semblance of luxury (steady food, clean water, fresh veggies, a female "friend" ;) ) and having him "slip away" is somehow WORSE than some sort of horrendous, violent death?

And that's what it comes down to ~ i'd rather see him die from kindness.

*********

i've thought and thought about it, and that's what i finally decided to do ~ keep him in the manner to which he has become accustomed.

WWWAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!

*sniffle* i've been over in the PetsHub forums ~ an EXCELLENT site, and the advice/information is top notch ~ asking and reading about what to do about Babby Bunny Boy. It would appear that i must turn him loose... Wild animals NEED to be wild and whenever we start monkeying around with the natural order of things, we really aren't doing ourselves or the object of our concern any favors. Sad, but true. We can help, but only to a certain extent; when the time comes, we have to be willing to let go. *sigh*

But you know me ~ i'll have my handy-dandy camera ready for big release! lol

Bummer...

You know, i think we missed a perfect opportunity to litter train Baby Bunny Boy (who Kev now calls Crash because of his many mishaps of skidding into the sink, etc). i had been offering Rabbit Pellets (PetSmart has a house brand that is good AND reasonably priced ~ Nutriphase) to supplement Baby Bunny Boy's Pet milk formula, and to give him something to chew on. He did gnaw at them, but i don't think he realized that they were food. Anyway, he would sit in his little dish of them, and i would find a glurcky mess in it, meaning that he was probably sitting there, taking care of his business. i didn't snap to it in time, but i could have used some of that pelleted-cotton litter to potty train him, since rabbits only like to urinate in certain places, and usually only ONE certain place, whether it's in their cage or out and about. Cats are so easy to litter train ~ you put them in the box and show them they can dig, and they're trained! With rabbits, i think you have to let them decide exactly where they want to go, then it's up to us to keep those areas clean. Now, because a couple a days ago, i made some curried rice with an applesauce gravy and decided to use the little applesauce tubs as (pellet) food bowls, Baby Bunny Boy has been actually eating the pellets, so i'm afraid i've missed my chance. *sigh*

Hope everyone's dinner is settling ~> i'm off for another round!

HAPPY TURKEY DAY!!!

To everyone AND their brother's out there, we'd like to wish all of y'all a wonderful (and FILLING!) Thanksgiving! See y'all after the leftovers settle! lol

Almost 1 Month Old ~ and still kicking!

Baby Bunny Boy is going to be a month old on the 25th, and he's not such a baby anymore. He's grown so much! Check out the difference in the pics. That Pet milk is 'da bomb!' lol

We've been working on an outdoor cage for him ~ not such an easy task when you consider that we have to make sure that not only can nothing (Baby Bunny Boy) get OUT, but also that nothing (the 6 cats, 2 dogs, various assorted birds of prey) can get IN. Seems like our best bet is to dig up the yard where we want the cage to a certain depth (like 6 inches), lay the rabbit wire for the bottom of the cage, put the turf back on top of the wire, then tie the bottom to the above-ground part of the cage. *sigh* Sounds like a lot of work. Thankfully, it's all outside doings, and you know what that means, right? MEN'S WORK!!! rofl i suppose i'll have to supervise, but i can do that from an adirondack chair, in the shade, sipping a nice glass of Irish Cream!

Until next time ~

Baby Bunny Boy's 1st Foray into the World

>

Baby Bunny Boy went outside!!! i put him in an old cage that doesn't have a bottom so that he could forage on the grass and he seemed to like it. i did pick a day that was guaranteed to be a little spooky to him, though ~ the winds were blowing like no tomorrow. i figured that he'd still be able to enjoy the outing, but he wouldn't be just SUPER anxious to get back out. (i know ~ i'm a mean mama. Oh, well.)

i pulled up a chair, then realized that i wanted the camera, too, and ran in to get it. When i came back out, i got frantic ~ he wasn't in the cage, anymore! i looked all around and almost fell over when he moved ~ in the cage! i was looking right AT him and couldn't see him! Here's a "Find Baby Bunny Boy" picture/game for y'all:


i promise you, he's in this picture, and in plain sight ~ unfortunately, you won't be able to see him move, so, well, um, good luck finding him! lol

Until next time ~

YIKES!!!

He's so bright-eyed! (And a bushy tail, too ~ even if it IS just a little cotton ball of a tail! lol) He's discovered carrots, thanks to my Mom sending some baby carrots home with us, and he LOVES 'em!

You know, i've sat, watching him, and i don't think he blinks his eyes! That would be a very valuable trait out in the wild for a baby bunny rabbit, but it's sort of disconcerting to me.

Today, he either heard something (which i'm leaning toward) or saw something that has made him super hyper-active. When i was walking home with him, i heard some coyotes baying in the distance, and that may be what's gotten him all riled up. i let him out on the table, which is a disaster zone right now, and he had a grand old time hippity-hopping around through all the cool stuff, but when it came time to go to bed, he wasn't down with that, and is STILL rustling around in his cage. i wish our place was rabbit-proof, but with 2 cats and a dog, not to speak of a million live electrical wires that appear to have some sort of magical magnetic pull on rabbits, we don't dare just cut him loose here in the house. We're going to have to figure out an outside pen / cage for him, so that he can just be a bunny and do bunny things for certain periods of the day.

More later ~

OK, One Last Site

I promise this is the last site for the time being, and we will get back to the rabbit updates shortly.

This next site we want to tell you about covers Micro Chipping our Pets. This newest site we have added goes into great detail on the subject of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) It covers the use for tracking and recovering our lost Pets, as well as how this technology is/could be used for tracking our movements, and habits.

This is a very controversial subject, especially when the technology is mentioned with us humans as the recipients. Be sure to check out www.kevincaldbeck.com/rfid/ for more information.

New Site for Dog Lovers

OK, we told you about the NEW Cat site we have created, now we need to mention our Brand New site For Dog Lovers (It's OK if you Love them Both)

We at Pet News have a NEW site to tell you about for our dog loving friends. Finding Quality Information about our Pets can be a very hard task, that is why we have assembled a new site about Dog Health at www.kevincaldbeck.com/dog_health/ and a sister site concerning Cat Health at www.kevincaldbeck.com/cat_health/

We hope you will find all the information you are seeking at these sites, or at the outside resources provided within their pages. If you have any further questions be sure to contact us.

New Site for Cat Lovers

We at Pet News have a NEW site to tell you about for our cat loving friends.

Finding Quality Information about our Pets can be a very hard task, that is why we have assembled a new site about Cat Health at www.kevincaldbeck.com/cat_health/ and a sister site concerning Dog Health at www.kevincaldbeck.com/dog_health/

We hope you will find all the information you are seeking at these sites, or at the outside resources provided within their pages.

Baby Rabbit Hauls

Howdy Folks

Well it is time for another update in the trials and tribulations of the Baby Rabbit.

We are really starting to think the little guy just might make it. Well that will leave us with another dilemma, what to do with the baby rabbit. Should we try and keep him as a pet, or release him back to his "Normal environment"

Around here his "Normal environment" will consist of six or more "Country Cats" and another two (or more) "Country Dogs" all who think that rabbit for breakfast sounds great. Oh did I mention the Coyotes, snakes, Owls, Hawks, and ? That would also love a little rabbit for dinner.

What do you think?

Baby Bunny Boy

He's growing by ~ dare i say it??? ~ leaps and bounds! lol Speaking of leaps, the baby bunny is learning to hop, so now we have to be extra careful of where we set him down. i've had him on the twin-sized bed / couch, and he's a riot! i guess what i find SO amazing about the baby bunny is that he actually WANTS to be around us. When we had the other rabbit, she was like some sort of alien life form that just wanted to be left alone, with one small exception ~ she would allow us to wait on her, hand and (lucky rabbit's) foot. Baby Bunny Boy seems to love being held and petted, and appears to be growing up to think he's a people, much like the cat (Hattie) that we got when she was only about 4 weeks old.

And speaking of the other rabbit and the cat, i've decided to use Frontline Plus on Baby Bunny Boy for flea and tick control. i've read that it also repels ear mites, but i usually doctor everyone's ears with ear mite medicine. The Frontline Plus worked on Rini, the huge Californian rabbit, with absolutely no bad side effects, but Baby Bunny Boy is a little cottontail rabbit, so i might have to use less ~ like 1/2 of the treatment. He really isn't old enough for ANY kind of parasite treatments, so this is something i'll be doing in the future, it's just that i treated the cats and the dog the other day, and it made me think about Baby Bunny Boy.

Oh! And here's another picture ~ sorry to drive you crazy, but it IS sort of like being new parents! lol

Here is yet Another Baby Rabbit Picture

Baby Rabbit Rules

Well we really are starting to let ourselves grow attached to the Baby Rabbit. When Taffy first brought him home he was only a couple of days old, and frankly, I didn't think he would make it. Now we guesstimate that he is 2 weeks old, he is eating good, and he even gets lonely and wants to be around us (even if we are some pretty ugly looking parents for the baby rabbit).

Kevin

Protecting the Baby Rabbit from the REST of the zoo

You know, we had a rabbit a couple of years ago ~ her name was Rini, and she was a huge Californian Rabbit, marked like a Siamese cat. She was still young enough to think that our 1/2 Siamese cat was 'family,' which Hattie (the cat) just freaked out about. Anyway, we did end up having a problem with protecting Rini from the other animals ~ TWO cats and a little rat terrier dog that went ballistic at the sight of her. i'm searching for places that rescue baby rabbits, to see how they house their adoptees ~ i need some better ideas than the one i keep dreading, which is that you can't have a baby rabbit AND have any other pets. In fact, that's why we had to give Rini up, but at the time, we were living in an apartment, not on 40 acres of ranch! i'll keep y'all posted.

OH! And Kevin? Very funny ~ NOT! lol

More Baby Rabbit Pictures

As promised here is another Baby Rabbit Picture.

It is amazing how small he really is when you compare him to the normal sized hand that is also in the Baby Rabbit Picture.

Now that he has opened his eyes he is getting a little more curious to his surroundings. I bet it was a real shock to him when he finally found out what an Ugly Rabbit his mother was.

More Pictures to come.

Kevin

The Baby Rabbit opened it's eyes!!!

Amazing! Went to bed last night, the baby rabbit's eyes were sort of glued shut; got up this morning and it can see us!!! And it still likes us!!! lol

So, if a baby rabbit opens it's eyes at approximately 10 days, and we've had it for 7 days, it was only 3 days old when Taffy found it's nest. It's really too bad we couldn't just put it back in the nest, but we know that the dogs had found that one, and the cats wouldn't be far behind, so we had to actually rescue the baby rabbit.

i keep calling it "The Baby," but it's becoming rather obvious that we need a name for it, since it does seem to respond to us talking to it. Any suggestions would be most appreciated. Oh! And we think it's a boy because it's privates all seemed to be on the outside of the baby rabbit's body.

i've been to several sites, looking for a formula that we could feed a baby rabbit, and i've got to give my 76-year-old Mom credit for knowing exactly what to use: Pet milk with a drop of Karo syrup in it. Since i had nothing else, that's what we fed it, at first. Then, because of what i'd read, we got some of the Cat Milk Replacement stuff, but that sort of gave him the runs. So, back to the tried and true formula.

His ears are starting to stand up and he's looking more like a rabbit and less like a rat by the hour, it seems! lol

Stay tuned for more baby rabbit pictures and postings in this continuing saga.

Baby Rabbit Picture

The Baby Rabbit Story Continues

Well as promised here is one of the many pictures we have of the newest addition to the family. I'm sure there will be more!

A Little Early Christmas Gift from Taffy

Holy Mackerel! While slogging through a major storage facility overhaul (a bunch of the stuff we own is currently stored in a school bus), i looked up to see my folks Heinz 57 / Retriever / Hound dog with something moving in her mouth. (This is the same dog that chases down the cats, grabs them by the scruff of their necks and wags them around the yard. The smallest and the most timid cats have drawn the line at being bitch-drug around, and it's nothing to be out working in the yard, see the cat run past with the dog hot on it's heels, then, in a minute or two, see the REVERSE ~ the dog hauling heinie with the cat in hot pursuit!) Anyway, back to the story of the moment ~ So, i'm looking at the dog, and her mouth, thinking "What in the world? Is it a mouse? Naw, too big. A teenaged squirrel? Naw, no tail." The whatever-it-is squirms, and i rush out of the bus to find a teeny, tiny baby rabbit in Taffy's mouth, not a HAIR of the little darling out of place!

TO BE CONTINUED... WITH PICTURES!!!

(i hope!)

Dog Training 3 Tips to Stop Your Dog from Jumping on People

This is one of our main gripes about folks who don't seem to want to be bothered with even basic dog training. Not only is it dangerous, but it is also just plain rude. We love our dogs, but we also realize our guests may not be dog lovers, and don't appreciate being jumped on, or licked, etc.

By: Marilyn Burnham
A sure sign of a well-behaved dog is when you enter someone's home and their pet does not jump on you in greeting. Not only is jumping on guests annoying, it can be dangerous. Large dogs can knock people down and are capable of seriously injuring small children or the elderly. Not to mention all the mud he gets on your clothes on rainy days!

Jumping on people is also a sure signal that your dog thinks he's the leader of the pack. Watch dogs together and you'll see them exhibiting the same behavior. Allowing your dog to jump on people undermines all your training.

These dogs have learned if they jump on people they get attention and often petted. Your job is to help them unlearn that with positive reinforcement. Here are some tips to help you do just that:

1. Ignore your dog when you arrive and leave the house. Ditch the long goodbye and the long-lost dog owner greeting. Don't greet your pet for five minutes once you get home. This will help break the habit.

2. Do you want to dance? If a week or so of not greeting your dog doesn't break the behavior, try this on your medium or large dog. When he jumps on you, firmly grip his paws while he's still on his hind legs. Hold them without squeezing until he starts to squirm, then firmly command, "Off!" Some trainers recommend stepping on your pet's back paws at the same time, but this could cause injury to your pet's delicate feet. Holding his front paws, sometimes for several minutes, will do the trick and won't be painful.

3. Use the leash. If guests are coming over, keep your dog on a leash. When he jumps on the visitors, pop the leash to engage his training collar, command, "Off!" and lead him to the other side of the room. Praise him after you lead him away.

Marilyn Burnham
Author: 'Dog Owners Boot Camp'The How To Guide, Dog Training Secrets Professional Dog Trainers Don't Want You To Know! For More Information On Dog Training
Marilyn Burnham was the owner operator of 4 successful dog grooming stores in British Columbia, Canada for more than a decade. To spend more time with her children Marilyn made the decision to sell her business in the mid 90's. Get a copy of her book: Dog Owners Boot Camp The How To Guide, Dog Training Secrets Professional Dog Trainers Don't Want You To Know!

Using a Crate for Puppy Training

Sylvie Leochko

When most people see a puppy, their heart melts and they start yearning to get one. They see how cute the puppy is, how playful and how affectionate it is but what about the basic dog training that it requires?

What am I talking about? Well, for starters, your new puppy will need to learn a few things such as: becoming potty trained, to walk on a leash, to go to sleep at night without howling and certainly not to chew everything in site, including you.

Like a baby, a puppy has a lot to learn and limits are one these things. First of all, your puppy has no intention to displease you so when you see it has an accident on your carpet or on the floor; it is not its fault. Why? Simply because its bladder is so small and the muscles responsible for helping to control it or his bowels are not strong enough to do it yet. As it grows bigger and older, you will see the difference.

As for howling at night don?t forget that your puppy is missing the presence of its mother, it feels lonely and needs to cuddle up. As it will grow up, and that he starts feeling comfortable and at home, this behavior will come to an end.

And what about chewing? Well, he is basically teething. Also don?t forget that it is how it learned to play with its mother and siblings. Humans are more sensitive and so are their belongings so once again, basic dog training is required.

What can you do to train your dog in the best and most efficient way possible? Well, ask any veterinarian, dog breeders or experienced dog owners, using a crate is the solution.

Several people think that putting a dog in a cage is cruel and selfish but what they do not know is that later on, even the dog itself will enjoy it. It will become a safe and comfortable place where it can relax and sleep just like a doghouse.

Also, your puppy will not always be in its crate as it will be only at night and when you are gone to work or any other event where your dog will be left alone. At first your puppy may not like it, but believe me only time and patience will prove you the opposite.

Before purchasing a crate, you should consider a few things. For example, some crates are made of metal and are foldable and others are made of plastic and have a handle to carry it around if small enough.

The plastic one may be better for air travel or in some cases; car travel depending on its size but the fact that the view is limited due to the solid panels is one disadvantage as your puppy will feel lonelier. Also, if your puppy has an accident in it, the bad smells tend to seek in its surface due to a lack of aeration plus not having a removable tray, the cleaning is more difficult to do.

The metal crate tends to be bigger, especially if you have a bigger dog like a labrador retriever which makes it more difficult to find a space for it. They are solid, foldable which makes it easier when traveling and your puppy has a great view which helps against loneliness.

Also, a metal crate has a removable tray which makes cleaning a lot easier. Since it has great air circulation, the bad smells only follow the dirty newspapers in the garbage.

Another thing that you should not about crate training is that it helps the dog training of your puppy in several areas. For example, at night, it solves the problem of finding little accidents on your floor by stepping in them. Also since a dog does not want to sleep where he relieves itself, your puppy will try its best to control its bladder and bowel movements which will help to develop these muscles as well.

Don't buy a crate too large for your puppy but make it large enough to accommodate your puppy when it will be fully grown.

When you are preparing the crate, make it inviting and as comfortable as possible for your puppy. Cover the bottom with newspapers if desired, put a blanket or basket in the opposite end and your new puppy's home is ready.

To help you with the howling, as more than likely it will happen for a while, you can also take a clock that ticks loudly to remind him of its mother?s heartbeat and a hot water bag filled with hot water to allow him to cuddle against something that reminds it of the softness and warmth of its mother.

Another thing to do to help it feel less lonely, is to put either a radio, some music or the television set on so it can hear noise and voices in the background. Another thing that can help to prevent it from peeing in his crate is to control his water intake by removing its bowl at 8 p.m. or approximately 2 hours prior to your time going to bed. This advice was given to me by my dog's veterinarian.

And last but not least, chewing will be controlled by keeping your puppy out of trouble. This way you will prevent him from being harmed by chewing electrical wires or simply from your frustration of having to replace damaged goods.

My name is Sylvie Leochko. If you wish to learn more about dog training or labrador retrievers as they are great service pets as well as wonderful with children, I invite you to visit the following sites: http://dogtraining.findoutnow.org/ and http://labrador-retrievers.findoutnow.org/

Wireless Dog Containment Systems

By: Eric Morris

There are various types of dog containment systems found for keeping your dog restricted to a certain area. Of the lot, the wireless dog containment system is the most flexible and easy to install. It consists of a transmitter working with a collar receiver. You can take the transmitter of the wireless containment system and use it anywhere you like. The only drawback here is that the area covered by it is usually smaller, and in a pre-defined shape.

To install the wireless dog containment system, you have to put the transmitter in the required room and turn it on. Then the receiver collar has to be put on the dog. If you want to restrict the dog to only one part of the home or garden, you should use a single transmitter, but if you plan to define two or more areas that are either conjoined or completely separate, you have to use double or multiple transmitter installations.

As these transmitters are installed separately, you can put the dog in one place or another, without actually having to re-set the transmitter each time. Maintenance of the wireless containment system includes periodic monitoring to ensure its proper working, and physical checking of the wires for signs of wear. Have back-up systems charged regularly and replace used batteries in the receiver on a regular basis.

The transmitter of the wireless dog containment system emits a radio signal from the room it is located in. This defines the boundary for the dog. There is a lightweight collar on the dog that listens to this signal, so that the dog knows that it is free to run and play in the yard with the signal.

However, if the dog reaches the boundary of the signal, the dog receives a warning beep; and if it still does not retreat from the boundary, a correction is given to him. With some training, the dog is bound to learn its boundaries.

Dog Containment Systems provides detailed information on Dog Containment Systems, Wireless Dog Containment Systems, Wire Dog Containment Systems, Indoor Pet Containment Systems and more. Dog Containment Systems is affiliated with Invisible Dog Fences.

Wire Dog Containment Systems

By: Eric Morris

One type of dog containment system is the wire dog containment system. This system consists of a wire buried underground around the place to be contained. Flags are placed in strategic locations to give you and the dog a visual reference of the location of the perimeter.

This wire of the wire dog containment system is combined with an electronic containment collar on the dog, which has a receiver that detects when the dog is getting close to the wire. At this point, the receiver emits an audible warning sound. If the dog keeps going towards the wire, then the collar emits a mild electric shock that only gets the dog's attention, and is not harmful.

This shock can be compared to static electricity. The intensity of the stimulation increases as the dog keeps proceeding towards the boundaries of the containment, until the dog stops and goes back. This way, the dog quickly learns to stay within the boundaries of the wire.

The installation of the wire dog containment system involves laying the wire around the area to be contained, above the ground. Then you have to dig a thin, shallow trench in the ground, put the wire in, and pat the edges of the earth back over the wire.

As the wire has to be a closed loop, any obstacles encountered have to be run through or the wire made to run under existing cracks or drainage pipes to complete the loop. You can either install the wire dog containment system to include the entire area of your house and yard, or only the backyard, or have double-loop installations that cost a little more.

However, this double-loop installation gives you the advantage of flexibility in precisely defining an area. You could also combine an electrical fence with a physical one for extra protection.

Dog Containment Systems provides detailed information on Dog Containment Systems, Wireless Dog Containment Systems, Wire Dog Containment Systems, Indoor Pet Containment Systems and more. Dog Containment Systems is affiliated with Invisible Dog Fences.

What You Should Know About Boarding Your Dog

By: Philip Nicosia

It is a well-known fact that many consider dogs as man's best friend. There are times, however, when even best friends must part ways, even if for a brief period of time only. Even if dog lovers abound all over the world, there are places and instances that simply do not allow pets. In situations like these, you just might have to leave your dog.

Boarding is becoming an increasingly common option for dog owners these days. More and more institutions are starting to offer boarding services to dog owners. Yet before deciding to leave your dog in a kennel, there are some things to take into consideration.

The first thing to bear in mind is start boarding your dog early. Just like their human counterparts, dogs do feel some sort of separation anxiety. Dogs that have had boarding experience before they are 5 years old tend to adjust better to kennel conditions as they may still have memories of litter socialization.

Choosing the right kennel to board your dog is not a joking matter. The first thing you should do is search your local yellow pages for available boarding institutions and then arrange for a personal visit to each one of them. Evaluate the kennels based on several factors.

• The overall appearance of the kennel is important.
• Take note of the cleanliness of the area. Daily cleaning is a must to ensure your dogs health while you are absent.
• Make sure that even if the kennels have a no visitors policy (in the areas where the dogs are housed), you will be given the chance to at least view where your dog will stay.
• Security is a very important consideration. You will want to rest assured that your dog will be taken care of and will not have the chance to escape. The tendency for pets is to look for their owners when they are not around. Thus you must make sure that the kennel has tight security regarding this matter.
• Your dogs safety is of utmost importance. Inspect his boarding area and see to it that there are no potential harmful objects or substances.
• It is also necessary for your dog to be alone in his temporary home. Stress might arise due to other pets housed in the kennels. Boarders should have solid dividers in between them. This is especially important for male dogs, which may be more aggressive than others.
  

Other important considerations regarding the living quarters are temperature, bedding, ventilation, and lighting. Try to choose a kennel with conditions as close to your dogs normal living conditions as much as possible. Ensure that your dog is fed the proper food and given the right amount of water. If your dog needs regular exercise, look into the facilities of the boarding institution as well.

Leaving your dog, even if only for a few days, is a serious matter. Choosing the right kennel for him or her may take a chunk out of your busy schedule but it is better to ensure his or her comfort rather than to subject him or her to undue stress.

Resources.eu.com is an online resource centre covering many topics including pet insurance and dogs.

Flea Facts And Information

On the right side column you will find some highly recommended resources for the control of fleas on your cat or dog! It would appear these persistent little buggers are every where, and they not only affect cats and dogs, but us human owners also.

By: Robert Benjamin

Fleas have been around for millions of years, sucking the blood of animals and humans.

Fleas live on pets, mammals, in carpets, in sofas as well as other household and farm goods. In a typical room, 5 percent of the fleas will be found on pets, 10 percent flea cocoons in the carpets, 35 percent flea larvae and 50 percent flea eggs again in the carpets.

Female Fleas lay eggs that turn in to grub-like larvae. The larvae then develop in to pupae and settle inside a cocoon. They wait for a host to start their life and suck blood. When something warm moves pass by the pupae, they unzip the cocoon and jump on the animal or human body. All this happens in three seconds and the flea can jump as high as four feet.

It is important to get rid of fleas by simple methods as these insects can cause serious diseases, such as, Plague, Murine Typhus and Tungiasis are just some of the diseases caused by fleas.

Fleas that are lodged on rats, which carry the bacteria, Yersinia Pestis ? The bacteria that causes Bubonic plague. Plague is a killer disease and can spread widely. It is completely curable. Murine Typhus is an infection caused by Rickettsia, R. Typhi. Rat fleas called Xenopsilla Cheopis transmit this. Tungiasis is caused by the Chigger flea, Tungia penetrans, whereby serious damage can be done to the feet as the female species burrow into the feet and breeds there.

Their feeding under the skin causes severe infection and irritation. The fleas are removed by surgery.

Fleas also transmit Tularemia and tapeworms to humans as well as pets. Other than these diseases, fleas also can cause allergies to both humans and pets.

However, there is no need to worry, as there are many solutions to get rid of fleas. You can take up the responsibility of removing fleas yourself or if the problem is severe and you are not comfortable with dealing with chemicals that may be toxic, then pest control professionals are there to help you in wiping out fleas from your house and surroundings.

Remember that adult fleas, pupae, larvae and eggs ? Fleas at all stages should be killed to rid your house of them completely. Resistive pupae and larvae grow on to become adult fleas in a few weeks even though the adult fleas are killed. Fleas should be removed from all stages in their life cycle, to protect your family and pets.

There is a Flea website that has more info on flea facts, and everything about fleas, fleas in carpets - rugs, fleas in vehicles, fleas in furniture, fleas on pets, fleas in lawns and yards, natural flea remedies and much more flea information. The website is called: Stop The Fleas, and can be found at this URL: http://www.stopthefleas.com

Robert W. Benjamin, started learning about fleas when he rented an apartment that was infested with them, he now uses his knowledge of fleas to help others deal with them.
http://www.stopthefleas.com/

Watch out Dogs and Cats

Hello Everyone and your Cats and Dogs

After some serious problems getting connected to the internet, we are back. (For good I hope)

Time to get back to the business of bring you up to date information, which we hope you will find relevant to the care of your pet cat and/or dog.

We will continue to bring you original articles as well as articles by other authors, about cats and dogs, we feel will be of interest to you.

Till next time;
Meow and woof, woof

Kevin

Cat Care Can Lengthen Your Life

By: Bruce Walls
This article covers just about all aspects I have always felt about Cat and Dog ownership, and the benefits they can bring us besides companionship. We have two indoor cats and they get the Royal Treatment, and are treated just like our children.

Research suggests that spending time providing cat care may actually increase both your life span, and your quality of life. Studies have shown that the relaxation and happiness that come from spending time with a domestic animal like a cat or a dog have numerous health benefits. Cat care that involves directly interacting with your pet may help you make your life longer, healthier and happier.

The research done on the correlation between spending time with a pet and having better than average health is conclusive. A study conducted at Brooklyn College in New York followed a number of heart disease sufferers after they were discharged from the hospital. The single social factor that was shown to be the strongest predictor of survival was pet ownership.

Other studies have proved that citizens who put time into dog care or cat care visited their general practitioners less frequently than non pet-owners, and were less likely to require prescription drugs. Because of the mental stimulation and positive emotions associated with spending time with a pet, treatment centers and retirement homes across the nation are encouraging people to bring pets to visit residents who are in recovery.

This suggests that even short term exposure to a cat or dog can have positive health benefits. If this is the case, just imagine what spending time with a cat every day can do for your body and your mind!

As an aside pets are also used in prisons where contact between pet and inmate has improved the behavior patterns and tendencies of the inmate involved. This is more proof that pets have such an influence on the well being of their handler or owner. Who can forget the 'Birdman of Alcatraz' and his care of birds.

Some experts theorize that the reason why engaging in hands on care of a cat can both increase your life span and improve your health has to do with the simple fact that cat care offers you stability.

Cat care is a daily activity that requires you to spend at least a little bit of time each day sharing love and affection with another living being. This gives your day a little bit of structure that can help you stay calm and focused no matter what life throws at you. Pet care is a regular, steady routine that can help you stay motivated and focused on making progress in all arenas of your life.

Daily care of your pet can help you feel positive and confident, two traits which research suggest can greatly improve your chances of beating a disease or making a speedy recovery from a medical procedure. Offering your pet loving care is a boon to your health because it makes you feel like a great person every single day. The love your cat shows you when you provide top shelf care can help you shake off negative feelings and emotions like sadness or anger. Cat care can help you manage stress and keep an upbeat attitude.

What all of this research adds up to is that pet care is good for your health. Making cat care a part of your routine can help you take a positive, enjoyable step towards a healthier lifestyle in the present and the future.

The better care that you can provide for your pet, the more affection and happiness your pet can offer you in return. Think of great cat care as a way to say thank you to your cat for the health benefits that it offers you.
Bruce Walls is a writer and webmaster at http://www.catcarefacts.com/.

Build Your Own Dog First Aid Kit

By: Laura Anderson

Having spent time living in the country it is amazing the trouble dogs can get into. This list will give you a heads up on treating minor problems, or gaining valuable time getting to the vet.

One of the first things to do when you get a new puppy is to build a first aid kit. You can never be too safe or too prepared. Remember you are the first line of care after an accident or injury. It could be quite a while before your puppy is able to receive medical care for an injury or poisoning, make sure you are prepared to help him through the immediate danger and pain.

You can purchase ready made first aid kits just about anywhere. There is one available through our store if you would rather spend your time engaging in other worthwhile exercises like playing fetch!

However, it doesn?t take much to build a first aid kit. Here are some of the most important things to have on hand. You could make all the difference in a life threatening situation. Make sure you are prepared!

A plastic TOOL OR TACKLE BOX

saline solution (to wash cuts )

karo syrup or glucose(for hypoglycemia)

bandage scissors

sterile gauze pads

alcohol prep pads for instruments

cold pack (break and use)

heat pack (break and use)

vetwrap flexible non-adhesive bandage

provodine-iodine ointment

magnifying glass

gloves

opticlear eye wash

iodine prep (betadine) solution

emergency blanket (silver metallic)

2" brown gauze rolls

triple antibiotic ointment (polysporin)

tweezers or hemostat

first aid booklet

splint (paint stir sticks or shims work well)

2" elasticon tape bandaging

1" standard porus tape bandaging

Peroxide (to induce vomiting)

Benedryl (1/2 -1 mg per pound of body weight for allergic

Aloe Vera gel (burns)

pack of guaze 4X4s

Ascriptin or other enteric coated aspirin

Laura Anderson http://www.puppys-place.com

Caring For A Cat Or Kitten

By: Paul Hegarty

Caring for a cat or kitten begins with a knowledge of basic first aid. This will be very useful especially in emergency situations. If you have a nearby vet clinic that offers first aid training you are doing both yourself and your cat a service by enrolling.

Knowing what to do in an emergency situation will keep you calm so that you can help your cat in an efficient and effective manner. You may be able to limit your cats injuries or help save its life.

Below is a list of first-aid items to help care for your cat when those emergencies may arise.:

Antiseptic lotion - for cleaning wounds

Antiseptic wound powder - to treat wounds and promote healing

Cotton balls - to clean wounds and bathe eyes

Cotton swabs -to clean wounds and apply ointments

Pair of scissors with blunt tips and curved blades - to cut dressings to size and for clipping fur around wounds

Antihistamine -to ease insect bites and stings

Blunt-tipped tweezers -to remove insect stingers and ticks

Thermometer -for checking temperature

Petroleum jelly -apply to thermometer before inserting

Nonstick dressings and bandages - for bandaging cuts and to keep dressings in place

Surgical gloves -use when treating wounds

Heavy-duty gloves -to protect yourself when restraining your cat

Towel -to restrain your cat

These first-aid items can be bought from a local drugstore, your vet or a pet store. Having a home first-aid kit will enable you to treat minor injuries and keeps you prepared for an emergency. Knowing your cats personality and habits will help you detect any changes in demeanor and behavior, which may be signs that he or she is feeling sick.

If your cats eating habits change this can also suggest that it is sick and a veterinarian checkup is recommended. Caring for your cat or kitten is easier when you are prepared.
Guide to Cats. Get information on buying, owning and caring for your cat, learn about caring for a cat.

Paul Hegarty is the owner of learningfromdvds.com. Price compare Educational DVDs, read reviews, download free E-books. Read this month?s e-book on "How To Spot A fraudulent Email". Grab your free copy today.

Discount Pet Drug Supplies

By: Kent Pinkerton


The modern urban lifestyle isn?t very suitable for our pets. Pollution, stress, depression, anxiety and unhealthy lifestyles are having a devastating effect on the lives of pets. Behavioral problems become a key issue in today's life, applicable to the owners as well as their pets.

In the same way, physical ailments like diabetes, arthritis, chronic fatigue, digestive disorders, cystitis, kidney and liver disease, skin disorders, obesity, thyroid dysfunction and other problems are becoming more and more common in pets. As most of the pets are much more sensitive than human beings, a recent report says that even melancholy is a big problem in pets (although this is mostly referred to dogs).

Drugs and medications become major concerns if you want your pet to live a happy and healthy life. Just like humans, pets need proper health care to stay happy, healthy, and active. One should have a thorough knowledge regarding the potentiality of pet diseases, and should know more about flea prevention, hot spots, or hairballs. Pet supplies? health-care resources make it easy to find answers to the most common pet health questions.

There are many reasons why one should depend on discount pet drug supplies for a bright healthy life for their pets:

Professionals in this field have solved thousands and thousands of pet health problems and have tried to bring down the prices of these medicines. Discount pet drug supplies allow you to buy more drugs for your beloved pet.

The drugs that these discount suppliers offer are natural remedies, thousands of years of folklore, and the wonders of modern scientific technology applied to solving pet health issues.

Discount Pet Supplies provides detailed information on Discount Pet Supplies, Wholesale Discount Pet Supplies, Discount Pet Drug Supplies, Discount Pet Food and more. Discount Pet Supplies is affiliated with Custom Dog Tags.

Birds Egg Laying Can Kill Your Pet

By: Michael Russell

As I check out articles to post here for you I run across a lot of interesting ones that do not relate to dogs and cats, and I have decided to post them here. After all, it doesn't matter if our pet has fur, or scales, or feathers, or ?

Birds lay eggs; that's what they do. But did you know that this could be deadly for your pet?
My beloved bird is a cockatiel. She's a beautiful bird and a great companion. About twice a year she gets in a mood to respond to her God given natural activity of egg laying. The first time she ever did this it was really cute.

The problem was, the egg wasn't fertilized, so it wouldn't hatch. So after a while of the egg not hatching, she determined the trick was to lay another egg, only to get the same results. This led to more eggs until she had six or seven eggs she was watching over.

When I first got her I did some research on the Internet about cockatiels and bird care. So when this egg laying event was happening, I remembered reading something about it depleting them of calcium. I went back and read more about it. Sure enough, laying eggs depletes them of calcium and that is deadly to them.

I decided I had to take away her eggs. I didn't want to lose her over this. So, away they went. I made sure she watched me do it so she would know it's dangerous to lay eggs in her cage. They won't lay them if they are not comfortable with the nesting area.

That didn't stop her. She started again and I took them away again. After a few rounds of this, I decided to pull the bedding out of the cage, thinking it would make it less 'homey' for her and she would knock of the egg laying. It did stop for the season, but a season later she got the call to lay again and we resumed the battle.

As the days and weeks went by, she insisted she was going to lay the eggs and I insisted she wasn't. But, she was winning, in spite of my removing them. Then it happened...
One day I walked by her cage and there she was, in the bottom of her cage, still and silent and her limbs and head were twisted into a nearly grotesque position and I couldn't tell if she was even still alive. I was devastated; even to the point of not being able to react.

The evidence seemed clear that I would lose her. This was not a goldfish, but a friend. We talked and played every day. We ate and went to sleep at the same time. She sat on my shoulder and cheered me on as I worked at my computer. There would be no replacement bird; no more than you can replace your child.

I couldn't think right so I had to call on a friend. As we raced down the highway towards the veterinarian, I kept talking to my bird hoping to keep her awake and maybe get that little 'peep' to tell me she was going to be okay.

We rushed her into the emergency room and the vet rushed her behind those swinging doors. Had I seen the last of my bird?

They came out and asked me to step back into another room, where I waited to hear the news. I was waiting for the 'bird nurse' to come out and break it to me, when the door opened and I only saw her back. She walked backwards through the door and as she cleared the door she turned around to reveal the white cage I had brought my pet bird in.

Inside that cage was a vibrant, confused and curious cockatiel who saw me and let out a loud chirp as if to ask, "What's up?" My bird was going to make it and doing just fine!

She had gone into a seizure because of calcium deficiency from laying the eggs. They gave her a shot of calcium to revive her. They also gave her a shot that was supposed to keep her from laying eggs. They said it might need to be done every month.

Sure enough, several weeks went by and she was back in the egg laying business. I didn't know what to do. I couldn't keep taking her to the veterinarian every month for expensive shots, but I couldn't go through that again.

I sat looking at her cage one day thinking about how I could make it less desirable for her to lay eggs. Finally, the light bulb went off.

I jumped up, went to the pet store and bought her a cage big enough for a parrot (remember, she's only a cockatiel). The reason I wanted this was because of the big grates on the bottom of the cage. She can still walk around the bottom of the cage, but she cannot nest an egg there because it falls through the grate.

Oh, she tried. She tried one time. She laid that egg and stared at it for days as it lay underneath that grate and she couldn't get to it. That was the last egg she ever laid. She doesn't need the shot either. She's in fine health and we're enjoying each other more than ever.
Isn't that grate (uh, great)?

Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Birds

Cat Care Can Be A Treat For You

By: Bruce Walls
Although the phrase "cat care" may bring to mind thoughts of hard work or obligation, with the right attitude and a little information, cat care can become an enjoyable part of your day. If you do it right, caring for your cat can be something that you actually look forward to.

Helping your cat stay happy and healthy is only as much fun as you let it be, but by learning how to provide the optimum care for your beloved pet, you can make care routines a treat for both of you.

One important part of making cat care fun is taking enough time to enjoy it. If you whip through your care routine with one eye on the clock at all times, you won't be able to fully appreciate the experience of being with your pet. Try thinking of your pet's care as a chance to relax and escape the hassles of daily life.

Put on your favorite CD and relax as you complete care tasks like grooming your pet and playing with him or her to help you both bond and relax. The process of caring for a pet is an inherently satisfying and enjoyable one so long as you allow yourself to have fun while doing it instead of trying to rush through and minimize the time you take for cat care. After all, the time you spend with your cat is quality time indeed.

Another benefit of making cat care a pleasurable activity is education. Teaching yourself a bit more about pet care techniques can help you be certain that you are offering your cat the best possible care. The more you know about your pet's care, the better equipped you will be to keep your cat healthy and happy, and there are few things as satisfying as seeing your cat's health improve because of your love and attention.

If you want the care of your feline friend to be a reward for yourself as well as for your pet, it is important to make sure that you are doing a good job of it. The better you are at caring, the more fun you will have when caring for your cat.

There are few experiences more rewarding than reveling in the knowledge that you have done a job well, and cat care is no exception. When you improve your skills or brush up on your cat care basics, you are taking steps to transform your pet care from a run of the mill experience to something that you can be proud of.

When you provide your cat with the optimum care for his or her personality, age, and type of cat, you will be able to feel a sense of accomplishment in your abilities that is invaluable, and very enjoyable. When you improve your cat care skills, you can look forward to a happier cat, and to a happier you as well.

Bruce Walls is a writer and webmaster at http://www.catcarefacts.com.

Aquariums The Different Kinds

By: Michael Russell

Besides the enjoyment the aquarium can bring to you, just imagine the grand old time your cat could have trying to figure out how to get to the fish.

There are many different types of aquariums. There is pretty much one for each level of enthusiast and not all aquariums are for fish. There are aquatic plant aquariums as well and they are very beautiful.

One of the simplest of aquariums is a fish bowl. A fish bowl can even be part of a table arrangement. When one chooses a fish bowl it should be a big one. At least a gallon. You'll also need a small net and two 1 gallon bottles of drinking water that is not distilled or de-ionized, as tap water isn't safe for your fish. Even if water is treated with water conditioners it still wouldn't be safe. You will also need some floating fish food. You will need to fill your fish bowl 2' form the top of the bowl. Then you will need to cover your bowl with a clean plastic cover. Sometimes a clean lid from a coffee can will do.

You don't want your fish to jump out or another pet jumping in! You will need to replace about 20% of the water twice weekly and you can make your own bottled water by using the following method. Fill a bottle with tap water and leave about 2" of empty space at the top of the bottle. Add about five drops of water conditioner and then replace the cap tightly. You will need to let the bottle of water sit for at least three days before you use it for your fish.

There are also cool water aquariums. These aquariums sit at room temperature and do not require a heater. You need an aquarium and a cover. You should get an aquarium stand as well. You will need a five inch fish net, water conditioner and some food to feed your fish. . Make sure you read all the instructions from your aquarium and water conditioner. Make sure your aquarium is running for at least three days before you add any fish. Only add one fish at a time and wait for at least three weeks between fish. There is a maximum of one 1 foot fish per gallon.

Don't overcrowd your fish.

A Warm Water Aquarium will require more skill to maintain than a cool water aquarium. You'll need an aquarium, an aquarium cover, an stand and a power filter with a BIO-Wheel. You'll also need a 5-inch fish net and a bottle of water conditioner as well as fish food, such as floating flake food and freeze dried blood worms.

One other type of aquarium is the betta fish vase. This has become increasingly popular. Often times buyers of a Betta Fish Vase have been told that the Betta can live by eating the lily roots, this is a mistake. The Betta will eat the roots, but only out of desperation and it will not be a healthy fish.

The Betta should be fed floating food that is labeled for Betta Fish and freeze dried blood worms, which are actually mosquito larvae. Betta Fish usually do much better in a large fish bowl than in a vase. So if you happen to receive one, your fish may be better off if moved to a bowl. Please think twice before offering one as a gift.

Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Aquariums

Air Purifier for Pet Allergy

By: Ed Sherbenou

Are you allergic to your pet?

Approximately two percent of the U.S. population, between 6 and 10 million people, is allergic to pet cats. One third of these insist on keeping kitty, despite prodding from medical professionals. Add dogs, birds, hamsters, and other pets, and you have a near majority of the population. Many people are allergic to a pet belonging to a loved one, which they may see only on occasional visits.

The good news is that no boa constrictor allergies have been reported.

Allergies to pets can take years to develop. Signs and symptoms, which can come and go with immune system depressing factors, may be mistaken for a series of "colds." Eventually a chronic condition develops which is diagnosed by provocative testing as an allergic reaction.
For many, this is a heartbreaking discovery, especially where the pet has been a lifelong companion.

Assuming the allergic person does give up the pet, cleaning can begin. After the pet is gone, it can take months or even years to remove pet allergen from a contaminated home. Yes, an air purifier will reduce airborne dander, allergen, and odor while pets are still present, but do not expect full allergy relief.

Pet allergen comes mainly from the animal's saliva, it is a protein transmitted by licking. Dogs show affection with direct licking and cats groom themselves with their tongues.
When her fur is "clean" and dry, with saliva proteins ready to fly off, kitty feels pretty and ready for petting. The very behavior that makes a particular animal a great pet, their ability to demonstrate affection in a manner humans can see, spreads the allergens.

Humans, after interaction with pets, carry the allergenic particles on their hands, clothing, and in their hair. Pet allergen can be scientifically measured. These tiny proteins are found in schools, hospitals, doctor's offices, and anywhere pet owners congregate.

Furniture and especially carpet form a reservoir for pet allergens. Foot traffic will stir them up far into the future. Animal dander (skin flakes), while only a carrier of the proteins, is very tiny and light, it floats in the air indefinitely.

Pet allergen protein particles are one tenth the size of mold spores or pollen, in the .1 micron range. This particle size is difficult to filter effectively. Particles carrying pet allergen collect on surfaces high in rooms, where cleaning is difficult. Any draft will start them floating again.
Air purifiers chosen to deal with a pet allergy situation will need to remove .1 micron sized protein fragments. Only a few premium air purifiers can do this consistently. A top of the line HEPA such as IQAir air purifier, or a HEPA equivalent air cleaner such as Blueair, would be better for pet allergen removal.

If you choose, as many will, to keep your pet, get a powerful air cleaner. It won't be cheap. Then try to restrict your pet from your bedroom. Close off your sleeping area and try to get it clean. The air purifier should be run on higher speeds days and at the highest speed you can sleep with at night, even if symptoms subside.

The author, Ed Sherbenou, has air purifier experience dating back to 1977. He offers fact, opinion, and the most detailed air purifier reviews on the web at http://www.air-purifier-power.com.

Birds Are People Too

By: Lance Winslow

Time for a little change of pace. I think the readers who are actually cats will really enjoy this subject.

Many bird lovers find themselves closer to birds than many people, indeed birds are our friends and they seem to be intrigued by humans for the most part. Many people have birds as pets and find them to be quite content to be our companions.

One author; Dale Sheldrake has written several books, which discuss how birds and people can communicate at times via brain waves or something other than verbal communication. His verified studies and research even show the ability of birds to communicate over many miles of separation. Yet how can this be? People cannot do that?

Well actually it appears people can. For instance have you ever heard your phone ring and just knew who it was or had been thinking about someone and suddenly they call? How do they do that anyway? Well, it turns out this is perfectly normal and although it does not happen so often in long-lost tribes they describe this ability as common and they use it to communicate. Very interesting.

And did you know that sometimes wild birds over 60 miles away and totally out of range will fly to a dead animal carcass which has been left right after the very first birds of their same species find it and land and start eating? How do they know? How do people communicate like this? My only question is how much abilities do we share with our feathered friends? Consider this in 2006.

"Lance Winslow" - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/

So you're having kittens!

By: Jacqui Odell
So you're having kittens! Well, your mama cat, or "Queen", as a pregnant cat is referred to, is. Our cat recently had kittens, and after extensive research on the net for tips on what to expect, I found that experience is the best teacher. With that said, hopefully these tips of our cats' birth will help with your own experience.

The Basics:
As mentioned, a pregnant cat is called a Queen. The gestation period for a Queen is approximately 56-63 days. A queen typically will have anywhere from two to six kittens, sometimes more. Our cat had three. Several factors determine the litter size including age of the Queen, body size, how many male cats mated with her, and heredity.

Provided your Queen has a normal pregnancy, caring for her should be as normal. Ensure she always has access to fresh water and plenty of food. It's recommended that she be offered kitten food as that has a higher calorie count and extra nutrition her body will need. As well, continue to offer kitten food while she is nursing.

Allow her plenty of space to exercise, especially outside, if possible. Keep her moving and in shape for the birth and nursing period.

If she has a favorite area of the house, prepare it beforehand with towels, old clothes and similiar. Her birthing area is subject to change, though, the closer she comes to beginning labor. With our cat, she chose her spot mere minutes before her first kitten was born. I'd prepared a space in my closet, and in a big box, but she chose under my bed and would not have her kittens elsewhere. Keep her litter box nearby and her food and water, if possible. Mother cats who are attentive and interested in their kittens will not be away from them for very long.

Pre-Labor:
Within a few days before active labor begins, your Queen's behavior may change. She may do a total one-eighty. If she seemed aloof and independant, she may become especially loving, clingy and needy, wanting to be held and be near you. If she was the cuddly type beforehand, she may become distant and want to be alone. You'll know birth is but a few days away if she changes her behaviors. Her appetite may decrease. This is perfectly normal. Continue to offer food and fresh water.

Labor and Delivery:
The day of labor, you likely will see marked changes in your Queen's behavior. She may meow, or speak loudly and frequently, and may act a bit frantic. She'll also likely be searching for her nest. It's best to allow her to birth where she chooses, unless that area is not safe. Wherever she chooses, she'll likely keep the kittens there for several days to weeks, although, if she's like our cat, she may move them a few times.

Right before the birth of the first kitten, you'll see greenish liquid. This is normal, and she'll clean it up. When you see this, you'll know birth is but minutes or a few hours away. You'll know what she needs- if she wants to be left alone, or if she wants you near.

With our cat, I allowed her to give birth to the first kitten on my bed, with plenty of towels. She loved it when I gently stroked her belly. I talked to her and helped her if she needed it.

Prepare to be very excited if you've never witnessed a live birth before! Don't be away too long if you wish to see it, because once labor is in full force, the baby will come out fast! First you'll see a dark and wet ball. That is the kitten in the sac. Once the kitten is out, there's nothing you can do but watch. Mama will cut the sac open, eat it and lick the baby to stimulate it to breathe. Don't be alarmed when you don't see the baby breathing in the first few minutes. If more than 4-5 minutes pass and the baby is not responsive, immediately contact your vet.

The mother will sever the umbilical cord and deliver the placenta, which she will eat. It's rich in nutrients and there is nothing for you to do until she delivers her litter. Then, you can quietly clean up and let her be provided all is well.

After her litter is delivered, and you are certain kittens and mother are doing well, you can leave her be. The kittens will nurse on their own and mama will continue to make sure they remain alert and well. Stay nearby if possible for the first day or so, and keep her food and water close by.

Enjoy your new family and expect many changes in the coming weeks!

LifeWriter is an author on http://www.Writing.Com/ which is a site for Creative Writing.
This article has been submitted in affiliation with http://www.PetLovers.Com/ which is a site for Pet Forums.

Cat Health

By: Paul Hegarty

Paul offers some very good tips here on keeping your indoor cat healthy, and happy.

Keeping your cat healthy is the key to extending your cats life. Although cats are independent by nature they really do need a good caretaker. As an owner of a cat you take on the responsibility of caring for your cat and making sure its needs are met.

Your cat needs access to fresh water daily. The water bowl should be cleaned out regularly. Feed your cat good quality cat food. Ask your veterinarian whether the brand you feed meets your cats requirements for his lifestyle and age. Obesity in cats is common in indoor cats. If you have an indoor cat and he has free access to food all day, you may try a light variety to slim him down. If you have a senior indoor cat he may need more nutrients than the light food offers, so once again it is a good idea to ask your veterinarian.

Exercise is very important for your cat. An indoor cat will often eat out of pure boredom. Provide a selection of cat toys and cat furniture such as a cat tree, to entertain your cat. Even an outdoor cat can benefit from this. Taking time at the end of the day to play with your cat will help keep it active.

When we have been away from home and our cat has been indoors the entire day, we help him unwind his excess energy with a bouncing ball. As a kitten he learned to jump in the air and catch a bouncing ball and we keep him entertained for half an hour with his attempts. Our other cat prefers to play 'fetch', where we throw a toy mouse for her to run and find. She does not always bring it back, but as soon as I say "are you ready?" She jumps behind our bedroom door and gets prepared to stalk her prey.

Providing a good scratching post is a wise investment. It may well limit the damage to your furniture and it satisfies your cats need to scratch. Keeping your indoor cats nails trimmed is important to keep them in good condition and so that they do not get too long. If you notice your outdoor cat getting his claws stuck in carpet or fabric he may be in need of a trim too. Most outdoor cats are able to keep their claws worn to a reasonable length.

Grooming your cat regularly helps reduce shedding and prevents matted hair. Both long and short haired cats will benefit from a groom. A brush is often a better suited grooming tool than a comb as it does not pull the hair. Keep your cat free of fleas and ticks.

A healthy cat is a happy cat. Taking time to meet your cats needs will keep your cat comfortable and content. You are rewarded with a purring companion cuddled up in your lap.

Guide to Cats. Get information on buying, owning and caring for your cat, learn about cat health.
Paul Hegarty is the owner of learningfromdvds.com. Price compare Fitness DVDs, read reviews, download free E-books. Read this month?s e-book on "How To Spot A fraudulent Email". Grab your free copy today.

Are You At Risk Of Misusing Dog Treats

By: Joseph Then

I really liked the part about the doogie bad breath.

You might disagree, but hear me out on this.

Dog treats are not something that you give as bait for better behavior of your dog. Dog treats are not something that is cheap to come by.

When you think of dog treats you are probable thinking of doggie bones and snacks. There are a lot more different kinds of dog treats out there that you can choose from for your family pet. You are able to purchase many different items such as soft chew treats so that you dog is not going to be able to eat up their treat right away. When you are purchasing a dog treat that is a soft chew treat you know that you are not going to need to purchase a new different treat right away in most cases.

No matter if your dog is just a family protector for the long night or if they are part of the family, because you spoil them you are going to want to get your dog some kind of a treat every now and then. If you notice that the dog has bad breath then you may want to even check out the dog treats that will help them out with bad breath. That could be a good lifesaver if your dog is one that likes to make sure that you are up in the morning so that you do not end up running late. Just think if you are getting them one of the dog treats that will help with bad breath then you are not going to be knocked out in the morning when they are trying to get you moving.

No matter what kind of a dog treat you are looking for there is so many different ones out there that you can purchase for your dog. There are even ones that you are going to be able to make in the privacy of your own home so that you are going to be able to save a little money in the long run. Plus you may end up feeling better if you are making the dog treats for them instead of buying them all the time. At least when you make them you are going to know what all is in the dog treat that you made them.

In conclusion, never make a dog treat like bait. Use them wisely and you can reap the benefits of giving your dog the treats they deserve.

Depending on you, dog treats can have a positive or negative effect on your beloved dog. Know more about dog treats for FREE by visiting this website: http://www.1-dog-treats.info

All Dogs Go To Heaven And So Do The People That Love Them

By: Marcus Engel

I ran across this touching article, and thought I would pass it on.

"Sacrifice is a part of life. It is supposed to be. It's not something to regret - it's something to aspire to."

This quote comes from a conversation between an old soldier and his former captain in Mitch Album's book, The Five People You Meet in Heaven. Now deceased, they meet in heaven which, strangely enough, looks identical to the foreign soil on which they fought together.

As the two souls talk, the soldier, who died some 60 years after the war, learns that his captain sacrificed his own life to save those of his men during a battle. The former soldier learns from the captain, as well as the four other individuals he meets in heaven, just how much his existence affected those around him.

Very few of us will ever experience the ultimate sacrifice of giving our lives for another person. Yet, this part of the book stuck out so much due to some recent events.

We all make sacrifices every day. Some are big, some aren't, but each decision means turning away from another possibility. Maybe it is something as small as giving up a fun activity with friends in order to fulfill an obligation to a job, or maybe its something much, much larger.

Perhaps you or someone you know has given up a portion of their life to help care for an aged relative in the twilight of life. Privacy and freedom are moved to the back burner in order to assist a loved one nearing the end. The trade-off comes in the knowledge that someone is benefiting from that sacrifice.

From its inception, The Marcus Engel Newsletter has been a forum where each month I share a positive experience from which everyone can learn. If there's a little humor thrown in or you have an "ah-ha!" moment, all the better! This month, for the first time, I'm not sure thats going to happen.

If we've been acquainted for less than two years, you probably never had the pleasure of meeting my first Seeing Eye dog, Dasher, other than as a character in my autobiography.
I want to share a little history on the black lab that helped change my life.

Dasher and I were paired together when I was 19, less than a year and a half after losing my sight. Still fumbling through darkness and insecurity, Dasher helped reclaim more of the life I had prior to blindness than any other single element of my recovery. Through our seven years together, Dasher was the introduction to nearly every friend I met and every social interaction I had. As I began speaking professionally, Dasher shared the platform and broke down the barriers between the audience and me - something that is easier for a dog than any human!

In August of 2002 Dasher retired his leather harness and was lovingly adopted into "the good life" by my friends, Tempe and David. Knowing full well their new family member was in his golden years, Tempe and David still took on Dasher with all the enthusiasm and affection one would shower onto a new puppy. Handing over Dasher's leash was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do, but my heart and mind were put at ease with the knowledge that Dasher was going to a family he loved and who loved him.

Six weeks ago, Tempe and David lost a member of their family when Dasher breathed his last breath. Those of you who've experienced the death of a pet know how traumatic that loss can be. The inevitable passing of a pet is always unique and tragic in its own way.

Dasher's adoptive family made a HUGE sacrifice when they welcomed him into their home. After all, how many people really want to take on an animal in its later years knowing their time with that pet is governed by the laws of life expectancy. Practically no one. This is why I am so humbled and grateful for the sacrifice made by Tempe and David.

Friends, I cannot tell you how much it meant to me to have Dasher's final years spent under loving care and watchful eyes. That, faithful reader, is one of the truest definitions of sacrifice.

As I read the story of the captain's voluntary loss of life for his men, and especially the lessons he taught his former soldier, I couldn't help but think of what my friends gave up by adopting an old dog, and what they lost when Dasher died. Yet, what the captain said next helped ease that pain: "Sometimes when you sacrifice something precious, you're not losing it, you're just passing it on to someone else."

I'm not sure truer words have ever been spoken. If you are one of the thousands whose life was touched by Dasher, thank you. Your acceptance and love gave him one of the best lives a dog could ever ask for. I'm sorry if this newsletter is a bit of an emotional downer, but I wanted to acknowledge the sacrifices of Tempe and David.

Plus, after giving the majority of his life to my needs, Dasher deserves a fitting epitaph. In my humble notions of heaven, all things are perfect and all things are possible - including the presence of animals. So, to Dasher Thanks buddy, for seven great years. You helped me more than you'll ever know.

The article did not come with a link, so if any one knows of a link to Marcus's site I will be glad to add it.

Toilet training a cat - the pros, cons & hints

I have seen these types of articles before and they always intrigued me. I wish we had taught our two house cats how to use the toilet. Maybe we could get some comments from people who have taught their cats to use the toilet. Enjoy the following article.

Toilet training a cat - pros, cons & guide
Claudine du Plessis

Cat toilet training in easy steps:

Toilet training your cat is an easier task than you might think. Several techniques can be used for training your cat to use the toilet, and you can even buy products that will assist you in toilet training a cat.

The advantages of cat toilet training:
Teaching your cat to use the toilet can hold several advantages for any cat owner. The biggest advantage of having your cat use a toilet is that eliminates most of the disadvantages that using cat litter holds. Cat litter is expensive. After toilet training your cat, you won't ever need to buy cat litter again. Cat litter boxes needs to be cleaned regularly or they will become smelly. With cat toilet training, the water in the toilet masks most of the offending smell and all you need to do is flush regularly - much simpler and easier than cleaning a litter box. Going away for weekends or holidays also becomes easier for your neighbor - instead of asking someone to clean out the litter box, all they need to do is flush your toilet once in a while (when they come around to water your plants and feed your cat).

How to toilet train a cat (do it yourself):
Toilet training your cat depends entirely on the cat's personality. Toilet training sociable cats that love being praised make the training task much easier. You might want to adapt the toilet training technique described below to fit your cat's personality. Training your cat to use the toilet can take anything between 2 weeks up to 3 months, depending on the individual cat's personality.

Cat toilet training basically consists of a simple procedure: gradually moving your cat's litter box closer and closer to the toilet, finally placing a bowl with cat litter inside the toilet, and removing it altogether when your cat is comfortable and used to it. Toilet training a cat is a gradual, step-by-step process, consisting of making small changes to the location of the litter box and only continuing to the next step when your cat is entirely comfortable with its current situation. You might have to wait anything between 2 days or 3 weeks before moving on a next step in cat toilet training. You might even have to go back a step once or twice when it turns out that your cat wasn't ready to move on to the next toilet training step. Beware - cat toilet training takes a lot of patience!

Cat toilet training steps:

1. Start gradually moving your cat's litter box nearer to the toilet until finally it should be next to the toilet. Ensure that your cat is always comfortable and sure of its litter bog's location.
   
2. Now start elevating the cat's litter box. Put something non-slippery like newspapers or cardboard underneath the litter box. A normal rate to increase the height of the litter box would be about 5cm a day, but be very attentive to signs that your cat is not comfortable with the current height, and adjust the pace of raising the litter box accordingly. The cat litter box should be raised until it is at a level height with the toilet bowl. Throughout this process it is very important to keep the toilet lid open and the seat down, because your cat will get used to it and might even start climbing on the toilet seat in order to reach its litter box.
   
3. Move the litter box to rest on the open toilet seat. Keep it there until your cat seems comfortable with this arrangement.
   
4. Buy a metal bowl or tray that will fit snugly inside the toilet bowl. It would be advisable for the metal bowl to have small draining holes. Fill the bowl with cat litter (preferably the flushable type). Now remove your cat's litter box entirely. If you have reached this step successfully you are very close to having a toilet trained cat!
   
5. While your cat is using the metal bowl inside the toilet, be attentive to where its paws are. The goal is teaching him to squat with all four paws on the toilet seat rim. You can move the cat while it is using the toilet and praise it (or reward it) when it is sitting in the correct position. Normally the cat will first sit entirely inside the metal bowl, then with front paws on the toilet seat, and finally it should sit with all four paws on the toilet.
   
6. Start using less and less cat litter. This can get smelly, so be sure to clean the bowl after every time your cat uses it. Cats scratch in sand or cat litter to cover up the smell (this is out of instinct), so if the bowl becomes too smelly your cat won't be comfortable using it (and you probably wouldn't be comfortable with using your toilet either). Using flushable cat litter makes cleaning the bowl very easy - just throw out the contents in the toilet and flush down, rinse out the bowl, refill with correct amount of cat litter and replace. A handy tip is to place newspaper on the floor around the toilet to help keep the room clean should your cat scratch in the cat litter. Decrease the amount of cat litter in a pace that your cat feels comfortable with.
   
7. When you basically don't use any cat litter inside the bowl anymore, start gradually filling the bowl with water. The water will also help mask the smell so your cat will be more comfortable using the toilet. Be attentive to your cat's behavior through this whole process - if your cat stops using the bowl inside the toilet, you may be moving on too fast and might need to go back a couple of steps.
   
8. When the water level in the bowl has reached about 4cm and your cat has no problem using it, it is time to remove the bowl entirely. Your cat should now be toilet trained. Remember to always leave the toilet seat up and flush regularly!
   

Products to assist you in toilet training your cat:
There are several cat toilet training kits available on the market. They basically consist of a tray that fits inside the toilet, and with a hole in the middle that you can gradually make bigger. When choosing a cat toilet training kit, ensure that you buy quality. The cat training kit should not be flimsy and should be able to support your cat's weight even when the hole becomes large. Be aware of cheap, flimsy products you buy at toy stores or pet stores, because if your cat falls in, it might loose interest in toilet training completely.

The disadvantages in toilet training your cat:
Not everyone agrees that cat toilet training is such a great idea. They argue that it is unnatural for a cat to use a toilet, as it goes against their natural instincts to cover up their smell. Toilet seats can also be slippery and there might be the risk of your cat injuring itself. Even if your cat doesn't fall in at all, he may become anxious whenever he uses the toilet and going to the toilet can become an unpleasant task.

A litter box also has the health benefit in that it's easier to monitor your cat's urine for signs of infections or sickness.

Moving locations will also be harder for the cat, because a litter box can be moved easily but the cat will first need to get used to using the new toilet. With some cats this is no problem and they can become comfortable with the new toilet very fast, while other cats might be less adaptable.

Things to remember when toilet training a cat:
The most important thing to remember is that the toilet training should be done gradually. Be very patient and never rush to the next step until you are sure that you cat is completely comfortable with the current setup.
Make using the toilet as easy as you can for the cat. Always remember to keep the toilet seat up and the bathroom door open. When you have guests, ensure that they also know about considering your cat. Flush the toilet regularly as cats do not like using smelly toilets.
For more information about interesting facts about cats, cat urine problems and cat urine removers see http://www.cat-urine.net

About the Author:
Cat Toilet Training

On a closing note I would think that in most cases at least, the cat wouldn't forget what a litterbox is for after it was trained to use the toilet. Well what do I know anyway, let's hear from some of the experts out there.

Kevin Lee

Winter and Dogs and Cats

We are well into the winter weather season and I hope everyone's pets (and the Humans too) are doing well.

This is just a quick reminder that the cold weather can take it's toll on cats and dogs. Please do make arrangements for your pet to be warm and comfortable. The best scenario would be to allow them into the home, but this isn't always possible for many reasons.

Some of the cats, and the dogs, as well as the monkey we have around here have to stay outside, but they are provided with shelter from the wind, as well as access to a heated area. Now this is South Texas and we don't get the 20 below temps, but it does get cold enough at times to be a danger to them.

This is also a time to make sure the cats and dogs have plenty of quality food available. Food will provide the calories to burn, which in turn provides some warmth. If your pets are like ours they are much more active in the cooler weather, which will also impact their food needs.

A supply of fresh water is also a must, and in the colder climates where freezing is likely please check into a heated water dish.

That is it for these basic reminders. We will be updating this blog more frequently with fresh ideas for the Health, Care, and Training of our pet Cats and Dogs. Please Bookmark us, and check back often.

Till then,
Kevin Lee

Why dogs bark and debarking

A barking dog can cause a lot of problems for their owners, as well as the neigbors. Debarking your dog should only be considered as a last resort solution, just the same as declawing a cat. This short article by Keith is packed with information, and I thank him for allowing us to share it with you.
Kevin Lee


by Keith Londrie

Picture this, you're walking in the park, minding your own business when suddenly a dog comes up to you and starts barking. You start to panic because there is no reason for this dog to be barking at you.

Why is this dog barking?

Dogs bark because we humans want our dogs to bark. For years our domestication process and selective breeding has allowed our dogs to develop their barking abilities. Wolves don't bark, so through genetic engineering and the selective breeding process, dogs these days have the ability to retain juvenile characteristics. This is through the process known as neoteny.

Humans have chosen to retain the infantile traits of wolves like large heads, flat faces, large eyes and of course the ability to communicate, barking. Barking was further developed in dogs in order to scare intruders or to help the master out (i.e. on farms to assist in gathering the sheep).

Most dogs simply bark to communicate, to get attention, or simply to show their excitement. Training and lifestyle are important factors in teaching the dog how to communicate with its master.

Dogs are extremely social animals. Wolves themselves always travel in packs are usually never alone. Bringing a dog into your family is basically like bringing a wolf into a pack. It becomes a part of the family. Try not to leave it alone otherwise it will feel as if it was abandoned by the pack. Dogs are like having a baby in the house. They need love, attention, and someone to be there to take care of them. Like people they need a companion to blossom. Meeting your dog's emotional need for companionship and play will allow the two of you to form a strong bond together.

Sometimes having a second dog in the house can minimize the barking and minimize the loneliness. Although this may be rewarding at some times, it can also be a pain. Your best bet would be to maximize training of your dog when it decides to bark. Sometimes having two dogs may cause havoc because they may teach each other to bark more.

From the example above, dogs who bark at people are trained in a specific way. Everything boils down to how the owner trains their dog. If you reward the dog for barking, then the dog will understand that it's a good thing to bark. If you don't reward the dog for barking, the dog will understand that it's a bad thing to bark. If you are training your dog to become a watchdog, sometimes their barking can be very selective and discriminating with certain people. Sometimes they may just bark at anything they see. It is important to train these dogs by developing their intelligence level and how they interpret various events.

Dogs who simply bark because of activity or excitement are relatively hard to eliminate. Most of the time these dogs are unaware of their barking and in turn becomes a process that is hard to eliminate. You must turn to a dog trainer who teaches the dog to debark.

Debarking can be somewhat inhumane because the dog is trained to let out a low, raspy bark which cannot be heard from more than a few feet away. If you consider the process of debarking your dog you must weigh the pros and cons. It can be beneficial in the sense that your dog will no longer be the irritating dog on the block who barks at anything he sees but may be a problem if the dog is in danger. As an owner you would want to know where the location of your dog was if it was in danger.

About the Author Keith Londrie II has written several articles about animals. He has put up an informative web site at http:///about-animals.info/ Please feel free to drop by the web site to learn more about animals. Keith E. Londrie II infoserve @ mchsi.com about-animals.info/