The fun encyclopedia of animals is here! See pictures, wallpapers and videos and read fun reviews of products for animals, how tos, and fun stories about our animal friends here.
Here's adding to a smile on your weekend everyone! I'm just dropping by to share this nice video clips from Youtube user "rafelericsteel" featuring his Jedi (Star Wars) cats! Why the name you say? Check out this amazing clips to know that strong is the force in these cats!
Now you understand ai? Hope you didn't miss the Jedi cat's defensive force field on the second attacking Seth dog! That was just awesome if you ask me. Props to rafelericsteel for the great visual and sound effects!
Best comment on the video so far: "if you look close you can see the lightsabers are fake" by fckt3hp0l1c3
Choosing a puppy is one of the most difficult tasks dog lovers will encounter. Just looking at the puppy may not be enough to tell you how healthy it is. You don’t want to end up choosing a puppy and losing it after a year of two because of illness. Below are some tips that you can use when choosing a good and healthy puppy.
Breed background
You most likely have a specific dog breed in mind. A good way to make sure you get a healthy puppy is to read and research about the breed. Know their weaknesses and strengths and look out for common illnesses. Some early signs and symptoms of illnesses can be spotted in puppies. By doing your homework, you would know what to look for and what to avoid. Choose one that is active
Actives puppies are usually healthy puppies. Young dogs are like babies, they like to explore the area, move around, and get into things. When at the kennel, ask the dog handler if you can check puppies that are in an open area or if you can let them run around first before picking one out. Observe them and spot one that seems to be very excited and plays around.
Check the puppy’s medical history
When the puppy was born, did it have any abnormalities? Was the vet able to give it a check up? Did the mother have any problems while carrying and giving birth to them? These little details can save you a lot of hassle. It’s better to find out if there is something wrong with the puppy now then becoming worried about it later. Also check the parent’s medical history
Many common dog illnesses, such as degenerative myelopathy, cancer, and arthritis, are carried in the genes of canines. Illnesses like degenerative myelopathy only manifest after the dog is already a few years older. It’s best to check if the puppy’s blood line has a history of illnesses and disease. This way, you can be prepared if signs and symptoms would be seen on the dog after a few years.
Go to a kennel or registered breeder
As much as possible, go to a kennel or a registered breeder when getting a puppy. The dogs here are well taken care of and usually come complete with vaccinations and anti-rabies shots. You are also assured about the dog breed and bloodline.
Organized and run by the PDSA animal charity, the Pet Fit Club is made to help overweight pets shed some pounds to healthier, less risk weights and lifestyles.
Though not as “well followed” as NBC’s Biggest Loser, the Pet Fit Club puts overweight pets in a toe-to-toe competition in losing weight, with a winner to be declared after a set period of time.
This year’s Pet Fit Club highlights 18 pets, including 11 dogs, 5 cats and 2 rabbits, subjecting them to a 6 month diet course with a PDSA Pet Fit Club winner to be declared after six months.
Fifi, a Bradford-based cat, stands to be the most “rooted for” kitty, weighing 9.3 kilograms which practically puts the feline as 107% overweight. More than twice her supposed ideal weight, Fifi is known to swipe meals from other cats, and is even a master at “blackmailing” neighbors into occasionally feeding her.
Jack, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, weighs 20.5 kilograms, overweight at 105%, given that his ideal weight should be at 10 kilograms. Jack is so overweight that he could even barely walk, and he and Fifi stand as the top contenders in this year’s Pet Fit Club.
Bobby, one of the two rabbits, weighs 2.39 kilograms, roughly 49% overweight, with ideal rabbit weights at 1.6 kilograms. As it turns out, weight loss management in rabbits has to be closely monitored, since rapid weight decrease can call in other problems and concerns.
The competition is geared in announcing winners by September, with pet owners receiving year’s worth of pet food. A pet-friendly holiday is also awarded to the winner, valuing at £500.
PDSA estimates that there are roughly 3 million cats and 2.9 million dogs who are overweight in the UK. 90% of pet owners are identified to express worry and concern over their pets’ respective weights.
Think your pet has what it takes to join in next year’s Pet Fit Club?
As
many cat owners would tell, training cats to use the litter box isn’t
as challenging, given that cats are instinctively wired to find a “spot
of dirt”, do their business, then cover up.
Potty
training your cat, however, isn’t as natural as letting kitty toilet
instincts got at their own pace, but potty training your cat isn’t an
impossible feat to accomplish.
Here are simple steps, touching up on how to potty train your cat.
These steps aren’t exactly foolproof ways, but many have found them to be effective in resolving how to potty train your cat woes.
Rearrange your cat’s Toilet Arrangement
– moving your cat’s litter box near the toilet is step one, allowing
your kitty the chance to know that this is the new setup in the house.
Position the litter box at toilet-floor level, gradually leading the box
into the toilet over time.
Raise heights
– after a day or two, depending on how long your cat gets accustomed to
the new arrangement, gradually raise the litter box from the toilet’s
floor level. You can use different items (like phonebooks or sturdy
boxes) as risers.
Reposition the litter box to be closer to the toilet seat – as you gradually increase the litter box’s level, gradually position it closer to the toilet seat.
Lessen the amount of litter in the box
– as your cat’s litter box is gaining height and getting closer to the
toilet seat, lessen the amount of kitty litter in the box. The idea is
to give your cat the “option” to find an “alternative” when he/she is
doing his/her business.
Facilitate the litter box to toilet transition
– if your cat is still uncomfortable with using the toilet, bearing
with a litter box that is sparse with the amount of kitty litter,
facilitate the litter box to toilet transition. One method comes in
adding flushable litter directly into the toilet, which “leads” your cat
into thinking that the toilet is the new spot.
Once
your cat has grown accustomed and identifies the toilet as the new
litter box, gradually re position the litter box away from the toilet
seat. Basically, do the opposite of rising and repositioning the litter
box to the toilet seat.
As
soon as your cat ignores the litter box, you can take it out from the
toilet since it’ll be fair to say kitty’s now potty trained. Don’t
forget to flush every time you or anyone in your household uses the
toilet. Cats don’t like using the toilet when it stinks of something
else. Also, keep the door open when no one is using the toilet, to allow
your cat entry when he/she has to go.
So there you have it. Simple steps in potty training your cat.
Though bad breath isn’t really something which dogs can do away with, really foul smelling breath is just wrong, not only when grooming habits and dog etiquette standards are being talked about, but also when one considers a dog’s general health and well being.
If your dog’s breath is apparently beyond “doggy” (bordering towards being “rancid”, even), here are some tips in resolving and controlling doggy bad breath issues.
Getting to the Root of the Problem Fouler than usual bad breath in dogs is typically an indicator that something is wrong with him/her, health-wise.
In most cases, foul doggy breaths are caused by the build up of plaque and tartar, or even linked with abscessed, broken or decayed tooth. Periodontal disease and periodontitis (AKA the inflammation of gums/tissue surrounding teeth) are also dental conditions which could lead to fouler bad breath.
Apart from dental concerns, issues like sinus infections and even gastrointestinal disease can lead to fouler doggy breaths. Mouth tumors or sores, and even kidney-related disease can also induce bad doggy breath conditions.
Should you suspect any of the abovementioned causes to be the culprit behind your dog’s fouler than usual breath, it is advised that you seek professional help, not only in an effort to properly address the issue, but to also avoid further injury to you and your dog.
Consider the notion of treating your dog’s tooth cavity problem yourself. Unless you’re a dentist, and even if you are, it won’t exactly be a happy experience.
What to do in simple, non-compounded bad doggy breath problems
Once the cause of your dog’s breath is identified and a resolution has been successful, it’s a good idea to maintain your dog’s oral health with easy to administer ablutions or enhanced for oral health items.
Brushing your dog’s teeth, just as with humans, maintains healthy gums and tartar free teeth. Since most human toothpastes aren’t made for swallowing, going to for-dog-use toothpaste helps in making the process as natural as possible for your dog.
Regularly changing your dog’s water bowl/dish with fresh water is also a good method of ensuring healthier doggy breaths, a way to ensure that no bacterial products get to build up in your dog’s mouth. Adequate amounts of water also helps reduce the amount of anaerobic bacteria building up in your dogs mouth, with options to add oxygenating solutions in water dishes available.
Alternating between dry and wet dog food items is also a good idea, given that the variation allows for a variety of food types which your dog chews on. Dry dog food items are known to be better compared to canned dog food items, but to go dry all the way also leaves your dog prone to other health issues, thus the value of alternating food items.
If your dog’s breath just isn’t as “normal” as it used to, it pays to find out just what the problem is before problems grow into bigger problems. By identifying the cause of your dog’s bad breath and using the technique combination mentioned in this article, your dog’s breath can be as clean and healthy as his/her general constitution, gums and teeth.
In most cases, dogs aren’t the most “bathing cooperative” pets, oftentimes involving a hide-and-seek ritual between owners and dogs before any actual bathing takes place.
As such, most dog owners tend to value the time spent on bathing their dogs (given the different hassles encountered before and after the procedure takes place), opting for the best of bathing implements and items, with dog shampoo often being looked for.
Here are some points to look into in finding the best dog shampoo for your pooch.
Identifying your dog’s type of skin
Not all dogs are the same, and working on this principle is a good start in finding the best shampoo for your dog.
Different breeds have documented records of skin types, but if you’re still unsure of your dog’s skin type, consulting with your local vet helps make the deduction process faster without any guesswork involved.
Generally, dog skin types include dry, oily and normal.
Shampoo for dogs with Dry Skin
Dogs belonging in the dry skin category tend to suffer from skin sores and skin irritations, often leading to frequent scratching fits. At times, sharp temperature changes cause dry skin related concerns for dogs, and using dog shampoo made to lock skin moisture in is perfect.
Dog shampoos with lanolin or dog shampoos with aloe vera are good choices for dry skinned dogs, given that these ingredients helps soften and keep doggy dry skin from flaking due to dryness. In cases when dry skin irritations are caused by dietary issues, the use of aloe vera or lanolin dog shampoos won’t really help much unless an effective hypoallergenic diet is imposed on a dog’s daily meal menu.
But all in all, if dry skin is your dog’s issue, lanolin or aloe vera dog shampoos are the best choices.
Shampoo for dogs with Oily Skin
If dry skin in dogs leads to frequent itching, oily skin in dogs leads to dandruff and foul smells.
Medicated dog shampoos or shampoos with anti bacterial agents are the best choice for dogs with oily skin, helping reduce the buildup of oily skin specific issues and conditions.
A veterinarian can also prescribe specific medicated dog shampoos for severe cases, oftentimes made with sulfur, benzole peroxide and urea. Deep cleansing baths with such shampoos helps get rid of dandruff flakes, along with reducing the reappearance of dandruff after a period of time.
Shampoo for dogs with Normal Skin
Dogs with normal skin conditions are defined to be without any of the extreme conditions inherent in dry and/or oily skinned dogs.
However, this doesn’t mean that getting any shampoo is okay for normal skinned dogs, since the wrong shampoo can cause problems when there shouldn’t be any.
Generally, stay clear from dog shampoos with sharp smells, since perfumes are liable to be irritants when in contact with dog skin. Also, soapy suds should be thoroughly washed out, since leaving them can cause skin problems for normal skinned dogs.
If your dog happens to be suffering from a flea or tick infestation, regardless if the pooch is dry, oily or normal skinned, opting for dog shampoos with natural ingredients in fighting them is advised. Dog shampoos with pyrethrin, a natural pesticide-ingredient, is safe when used on dogs, ensuring that no traces come into contact with a dog’s eyes and/or ears.
Picking out the right shampoo for your dog makes the most out of you and your dog’s bathing procedures. Getting rid of dirt and dust residue from a dog’s coat, as well as reducing the onset of afflictions which naturally happen with different doggy skin types, the right dog shampoo makes the most from time spent bathing dogs and the time spent in between bathing sessions.
Dogs and their bites are a proverbial pair, often matched and associated with each other.
Often brought up within the lines of “you can keep it as a pet if you train it not to make a mess in the house and not to needlessly bite anyone” by parents (oftentimes talking to their children), there is no truth in saying that dogs will always bite if given the chance.
Training dogs not to bite is possible, but the difficulty involved is highly relative, dependent on the age and temperament of the dog in question.
If you happen to be giving your dogs the hoops around not biting, here are some areas worth exploring, effective areas which have professional dog trainers attest as proven and fool proof.
The Benefits of Reward-based Training
A rewards-based training system proves to be effective in instilling lessons in dogs, and opting for this system when training them not to bite is good.
To match this rewards-based system, understanding a dog’s aggression levels and the factors which build it up is also advisable, even considered as a first step in training dogs not to bite.
Socialization helps curb a dog’s aggressiveness, giving them the opportunity to be comfortable around the presence of other dogs and/or people. As early as possible, dogs should be trained with proper manners and etiquette, but in cases of older dogs, a more thorough and disciplined method can be opted.
The saying that old dogs can’t learn new tricks, though popular, isn’t actually correct since it is still very possible to train old dogs to do “new tricks”. It just requires more dedication and determination to successfully do so.
The rewards-based training system is identified by giving a dog a “reward” for every desired reaction or action. It is one of the oldest and most basic training system used in dogs, and its application as a training system is quite effective.
Balancing a firm hand and a generous resolve helps properly train dogs into becoming model canines, pups which don’t bite on the spot at the slightest twitch.
