Friendly Furry Companions and Better Health

July 17, 2011 by
TaraenBram

Image via Wikipedia

Furry companions live in the moment. Pets serve as ice breakers and facilitate social situations among us. Mentally, emotionally, and physically this is a good relationship to have especially when a person is alone.

The articles on this site, dpfa.org highlight the health benefits. Pets give us unconditional love, comfort us in our woes, listen when no one else will, and teach us how to let things go. There are four elements to the human and furry companion relationship–intimacy, safety, kinship, and constancy. If you want a pet of your own, you can go to http://www.ebayclassifieds.com/ and check out their Pet page, where you can find the information you need and even interact with fellow pet lovers.

  • Intimacy with a furry companion is immediate and at the owner’s discretion. Studies show pet relationships lower blood pressure, and anxiety especially in the elderly. Often Alzheimer patients are more manageable when a pet is around for soothing.
  • Safety can be the fabulous story of a furry friend warning a person about a stranger, or other dangers. Safety also involves the fact furry friends make humans feel more secure. Walking a dark street at night is a joy if a dog is tagging along, but can be a frightening experience when alone and every shadow seems a threat.
  • Kinship is simply the fact furry friends form such deep bonds with humans that they become family. They provide a love pattern in our lives that humans take for granted until one day the furry friend is not there. Humans discover they often grieve as deeply for the loss of a pet as they do for a loved one.
  • Constancy is the concept that furry friends do not change over the years as much as humans do. The bond is stable and easy.

Loving furry friends is cheaper and healthier than taking medication.

 

 

 

Filed Under: Pets, Relationships Tagged With: , ,

Potential Problems With Your Cat’s Dry Food

July 13, 2011 by
cat and dry food

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Cat owners love to feed their cat dry cat food because it is easy to store and cost effective. The problem is that dry cat food that is being fed to your cat could be causing them more harm than good. When compared to moist cat food, the dry variety has numerous characteristics that could be potentially harmful to your beloved feline.

Here’s a look at some of the negatives that can come from feeding your cat too much dry food.

The Wrong Type of Protein

Cats need to have a diet that is high in animal protein. The problem with dry food is that is very high in plant based protein and not high enough in animal protein. This means your cat is not getting the proper nutrition or on the right type of diet for them.

Too Rich in Carbs

Like humans, cats need to worry about how many carbs they are eating. Feed a cat too many carbs and it can lead to heart and weight problems. One of the negatives about dry cat food is that it is mostly composed of carbs, which can lead to potential problems with your cat.

Not Enough Water

Cats need to stay hydrated and although they are often pictured drinking water they really don’t get enough water in their diet. Moist food can help compensate for the water they are not drinking. If you feed your cat mostly dry food it can lead to dehydration.

Dry cat food isn’t all bad for your cat, you just need to balance it out with moist, fresh cat food to ensure your cat is receiving the right amount of water and nutrients to keep it healthy.

Filed Under: Feeding, Pets Tagged With: , ,

Things to Remember when Moving with Pets

June 7, 2011 by

The quest for a new home is daunting: properties must be inspected; costs must be mastered; and your loved ones must fumble for stability amidst the chaos of packing.

Such chaos can often breed mistakes – such as ignoring your pets.

Your family isn’t shaped to two-legged precision. It’s instead defined to wagging tails, and moving requires specific steps to ensure the security (and happiness) of your pets:

Understand Laws

No city is created equal, shaped to the same laws and demands. Each is instead unique, and individuals facing relocation must understand what’s expected of them. Veterinary rules (regarding shots, immunizations and identifications) must be followed by all pet owners. These should be learned before a move occurs and can be discovered by contacting local clerks.

Note Transportation

There are, you understand, some choices that are simple: such as using HOA management to maintain your home. Others, however, seem to defy logic. The ability to transport your pet from one area to another is defined by multiple options and all must be examined. Cars, airplanes, professional carrier services and more are available to owners. Each boasts its own advantages and concerns; and individuals must be aware of the distances they must travel, the costs they can afford and the comfort of their animals before making a decision.

Choose A Carrier

A move will define your world to cardboard: with boxes stacked in uneven towers throughout your home, shoved into your car. Those same boxes do not offer the appropriate protection for your pet, however. A carrier is instead vital.

Remember these suggestions to make a move easy and safe.

Filed Under: Care, Pets Tagged With: , ,

Finding a Local Dog Breeder

May 24, 2011 by

It’s highly unlikely that you will find the dog breed of your dreams at a local pet shop since most dog breeders don’t sell to them. Meanwhile, shelters and rescue facilities are typically home to mix breeds and very little purebreds. So if you want one breed and one breed only, you will have to buy right from a dog breeder of that kind. The good news is that you don’t have to travel far to buy from a renowned breeder who will overcharge you, instead there are probably numerous local breeders in your area.

Image courtesy: http://www.flickr.com/photos/schwa23/219573110/lightbox/

 

Dog breeding is a very niche business so you won’t find many commercials or billboards advertising their services. The classifieds section of your local newspaper may list dog breeders, but due to the cost and space, the information in the ad is sure to be limited. A great alternative is to search online, but it’s more efficient to use services that cater to specific areas rather than search engines that will produce unmanageable results. Concentrate on your geographic location, like canada 411 if you live in Canada.

You can also find local dog breeders through word of mouth. Meet with your local veterinarian to find out with they have any recommendations, as well as advice on how to decide if a breeder is legitimate. And don’t be afraid to ask dog owners in your neighborhood where they found their pets. Along with searching for a dog breeder, search for any organizations or dog events our area that could point you in the right direction.

Filed Under: Care, Pets Tagged With: , ,

Basic Puppy Preparation and Tips

May 15, 2011 by

Puppies are all fun and joy when they first arrive in your home. They’re playful and very curious. If you are seriously considering getting a puppy, make sure you understand what you’re getting into first. Puppies require lots of attention and time to train them.

A Keeshond-Sibirian Husky puppy 

Image via Wikipedia

If you expect your puppy to come with an automatic be-good-button, you might want to consider a goldfish. If you aren’t sure, try researching online. So here are a few basic tips about preparation for you puppy.

Rearranging your home is the first stage. Puppies will get into anything and everything that they can reach.You don’t want anything that is plush or cloth near the floor. Your darling new puppy will chew anything within reach. Also move any power cords up off of the floor – they are very dangerous for puppy.

If you have any anti-pest products, make sure you put them all away and clean up any residue. Like all dogs, your puppy has a super sniffer! On top of being able to find anything that smells, they tend to eat whatever it is too. They’ll probably find things that you never knew were there, so check around under all of your furniture before your puppy arrives.

Another option is to make puppy safe zone. If you don’t want to move all of your furniture around, just make one area into a puppy safe zone. Close it off with a baby fence, but make sure to spend enoug time with your puppy.

Filed Under: Care, Pets Tagged With: , ,

What to do if your Pet Food Is Recalled

May 8, 2011 by
Gourmet dog treats produced by dog bakery Nate...

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There are a lot of scares in the world today. A lot of them happen outside the home and seem less concerning than the ones that involve you personally. But when the scare enters your home it becomes personal and much more frightening. Take a pet food recall, for instance; you’ve been feeding your pet a particular brand of food that seems to satisfy their finicky tastes. Suddenly, the news comes to your attention that that brand has issued a recall for some reason.

First, remain calm. If your pet hasn’t been vomiting or showing other indications of an upset stomach, you’re probably in a safe beginning zone. Second, get out to the store immediately and purchase another brand of food. As much as people love their pets, it’s an all too common issue to forget to make necessary changes where animals are concerned. By buying another brand right away, you’ll nip the problem in the bud. Don’t be surprised if class action attorneys in Los Angeles get on the case.

Third, remove the recalled food from the house immediately. It’s best to remove it on the way to the store to buy another brand, so you handle the switch completely. By taking the offending brand out of your home, you’ll avoid the possibility of forgetting that there was a recall. And while you might not forget, remember that others could feed your pet. Sometimes guests will find pet food and feed your apparently hungry pet without your knowledge – and they won’t be aware of the recall!

Filed Under: Feeding, Pets Tagged With: , ,

Top 5 Pets for Apartment Living

April 24, 2011 by

Having a pet is a great way to make your apartment feel like a home. When you bring home your new pet, it’s like a cute little addition to the family. Here are five great pets for an apartment.

Guinea Pigs

The cutest of all rodents, the guinea pig is a plump, furry little ball of sweetness. When checking out apartments for rent, make sure they allow caged animals at least, just for the sake of having a guinea pig. Listen to their wheeking and fall in love—yes, at first wheek.

Fish

The most sedate pets of all, fish are great for just gazing at. The best part is when you feed them and they all scramble for the surface. Well, maybe fish can’t scramble, but they certainly hustle it on up there to get their share of the tasty morsels.

Frogs

A frog is a simple creature. He sits on a lilly pad ribbiting, hoping to attract a mate with his song. Then he eats some flies. It’s not a complicated life, but it suits him just fine.

Turtles

Turtles and their land loving cousins the tortoises like to travel, albeit slowly. Some say that the turtle has a mating ground that they are all trying to reach, which is why they will so doggedly keep struggling against the confines of their enclosures.

Snakes

Snakes are great creatures if you have a rodent problem. They also have the uncanny ability to hang out, and then suddenly drop in. All puns aside, snakes are great creatures to have around and easy pets to take care of—they stay in their cages for the most part.

Filed Under: Pets Tagged With: , ,

Crate Training to train a dog

April 8, 2011 by

Unfortunately, many people do not understand the importance of crate training for their puppy or dog. On the other hand, they consider as the cruelty against their pests and hence don’t even think about that.

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The principle of a crate training is to establish a routine which will make your dog behave normally even in your absence, as it is imperative to make some provision for your dog, when you are out. The crate training is also the safest way to carry your dog in a car or even at any other place where you feel that it would not be appropriate to take it. The only way puppy acquires this intelligence is through the means of crate training. It is believed that a dog can never make his den dirty, if it is being trained properly and in well organized manner.

The crate must be very safe place where your dog can feel pleasure and warmth. An attractive den is considered as the comfy blanket. However, confining your dog will temporarily to a small area will make it feel stressed out and uncomfortable, but this is the part of crate training and your dog will get used to it after a certain period of time. Always try to feed your dog very close to its crate, so that he can keep in touch with the crate every time. After that dog has finished eating his meals, just push the plate out of the crate, make sure that he does not show any sign of anxiety.

Filed Under: Care, Pets Tagged With: , ,

Basic Pet Care

March 27, 2011 by

There are many different types of pets, but there are basic pet care considerations for pets of all types.

The first thing to consider is vet visits. Many animals need routine visits to check on their health and to receive vaccinations. Some pets, such as rabbits, dogs, and cats may need surgical procedures such as sterilization. The cost of these visits is something that should be considered before you get a pet.

Feeding is another basic care procedure. Animals need a source of quality food and water. You’ll want to make sure you have food and water bowls available for the pet. You’ll also want to make sure you are feeding your pet a healthy diet based on their overall needs. Feeding a low quality diet can lower your pets life expectancy. Your vet can assist you in this area if you do not know what kinds of foods you should be feeding your pet.

Grooming is something else to consider. Many pets need to be bathed and brushed. Some pets need the nails clipped. Dogs need to have their anal glands drained so that they will not rupture and cause further health problems. Many pets need their teeth to be brushed. Consider all of this before you get a pet so that you will not be burdened or overwhelmed with the responsibility. If this does not sound like something you want to be bothered with- then reconsider becoming a pet owner.

Pets need love and attention. This is the most basic part of caring for a pet. You need to spend time with them and make them feel loved. Don’t be mean or cold to your pets- they did not ask to be placed in your household and that’s not fair to them.

Filed Under: Care, Pets Tagged With: , ,

People That Should Not Have Pets

March 24, 2011 by

There are many reasons to get a pet, but pet ownership is not for everyone. You can be a loving, kind, and attentive person; but that doesn’t mean you are cut out to own a pet.

If you travel a lot you may not be a good candidate for pet ownership. Pets require attention, feedings, and other care procedures. If you travel a lot, you won’t be able to tend to the pet. True, you could hire someone to care for it while you are gone, but that can get expensive and if you travel frequently you may not feel comfortable with having someone in your house so frequently.

If you frequently lose interest in things you may not be a good pet owner. Pets are not accessories that you can just stuff in the closet when you get bored. So if your attention span is short when it comes to new projects, you should really think long and hard about getting a pet. Take some time to think about it then in a few months if you are still interested then you can proceed.

If you do not have a lot of disposable income then perhaps pet ownership is not for you. Pets can become expensive- especially if they get sick. You don’t want to fall in love with a pet, have it get sick, and then not be able to do anything about it. Also, pets need things on the regular. Toys, food, vet checkups, grooming supplies- are all basic things that pets need. If money is tight, you might not want to get a pet- unless it’s a fish. But even fish need food, a tank, and tank cleaning supplies- and all of these things cost money.

Filed Under: Care, Pets Tagged With: , ,
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