Thankfully they reach adult hood a lot quicker, but even then it can greatly depend on their breed, personality and temperament as to whether they calm down and are less curious and destructive, some pets can still keep you very busy well in to their senior years.

It is well known that you should feed your pet a healthy diet, give them plenty of exercise, and provide them with a safe and secure place to live. But how safe are our homes for our loved ones? Many plants for example can be deadly to pets. It is important to find out which ones and either give the plants away or place any dangerous plants in an area of the garden/house not accessible to your pets.

One plant that has had a lot of press recently in Britain is the lily. The R.S.P.C.A. states that “as little as one leaf can kill a cat if ingested”, although the pollen and flowers are also toxic. If it has not been noticed that part of a lily plant has been eaten by a cat or veterinary help is not sort in time, the health of the cat will deteriorate within a matter of hours to the point of kidney failure followed by death.

The death of any loved one is a terrible loss, but even more so when with a bit of research it could have been avoided. Hopefully the plants I have detailed below as poisonous to animals will be of great help, please remember though that there may be many more, so it is best that each plant you have and introduce in to your home and garden be researched thoroughly.

Even the most caring, cautious, and well prepared owner can miss a potential hazard to their beloved pet. As with children I would advice pet owners to always be pre paired for any event that may occur. It can be very stressful when a loved one is taken ill. To then have practical and financial worries restricting what you are able to do for them is a nightmare. The number one advice I would give any pet owner is to purchase pet insurance, as most pet owners are unaware of the costs occurred when kitty eats their prize plant and ends up needing life saving treatment. We are not all lucky enough to have savings to dip into when emergencies like this happen, this is where pet insurance helps. Depending on whom you decided to purchase pet insurance from and which policy you decide is best for your pet’s needs, pet insurance is there to cover long term illnesses and emergencies that may occur throughout your pet’s life. Do research your pet insurance company thoroughly as you want to make sure you’re happy and satisfied with your pets cover. You will find pet insurance companies can vary greatly regarding what they do and do not cover, always read the clauses/small print.

If you don’t own a car or your partner/friend is using it a great deal of the time I would also advise having a list of friends who own cars that you can call on any time night or day in cases of emergencies. If this isn’t possible a list of taxi company’s who are happy to transport pets would be advisable as some may refuse to. All vets in the UK have to provide an emergency out of hour’s service. But not all provide the cover at the practice your pet is registered at. It would then save valuable time if pet owners were to ask who their vets contracted their out of hours emergency cover to. I have known some vets to divert pet owners to emergency services 45 minutes away from their veterinary practice. This added problem you will need to be pre pared for, although a better option if possible would be to re-register with a vets who’s out of hours emergency cover is local.

Poisonous Plants

Aloe Vera, Amaryllis, Anemones, Berries (some) Bulbiferous plants (bluebells, Crocus etc), Bindweed-Convolvulus, Boston ivy, Bracken, Bryony, Buttercups, Caladium, Celandine, Charlock, Cyclamen, Deadly Nightshade-Belladonna, Dieffenbachia (dumb cane or leopard lily) Dock leaves, Dumbcane, English Ivy, Figwort, Fool’s Parsley, Foxglove, German Ivy, Ground Elder, Hellebore, Hemerocallis (daylily), Hemlock, Henbane, Horsetails, Indian Rubber plant, Iris, Laburnum, Lily of the Valley, Lord & Ladies – Arum, Lupin, Mistletoe, Monkshood, Mouldy hay/straw, Old Man’s Beard (Toadflax), Oak leaves, Philodendron, Poinsettia, Poppies, Potato stalks, Potted Chrysanthemum, Privet, Ragwort, Scarlet Pimpernel, Toadstools, Travellers Joy, Weeping Fig, Wild celery, Yew.

It is very stressful dealing with the shock and upset of an ill pet, but having to find the funds for a potentially large vet bill can add even more stress to the situation, especially when finances are already tight. That is why many pet owners are purchasing pet insurance, as it is a well needed safety net. Though pet insurance companies vary greatly, so it is very important you choose the right pet insurance company that covers your requirements. Pet insurance review sites for example are a great place to start as they are not just informing you of one pet insurance company, they contain and compare many, you also benefit from the experiences of others as many people would have written about their experiences with Pet insurance companies.

Source: http://www.articledashboard.com

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There are a few specific deworming medications that should not be given in early or late pregnancy, but your veterinarian will assign a safe type of dewormer, and prescribe an appropriate deworming schedule for your husbandry situation. Deworming is not usually performed during the last month and a half of pregnancy.

The two most commonly used dewormers are ivermectin and pyrantel based, but your veterinarian will review the fecal sample before prescribing the deworming therapy. Some stud farm veterinarians will also give the mare a dose of ivermectin on the day of foaling to decrease the transfer of Strongyloides westeri in the milk.

Other aspects of worm control are very important. Pasture rotation, removal of manure, low pasture grazing density, and harrowing of the pasture can all contribute to a significant reduction in the resident farm worm burden.

Other aspects of care that need to be adjusted during pregnancy include vaccination schedule and nutrition. Your veterinarian will be able to provide advice appropriate for your specific location etc.

The normal gestation of a mare is 340 days (335-342), but foals have survived pregnancies without intensive care support with a range of 320 days to 370 days! If you have had little or no experience with normal foalings, ask for references from your clinic. It is a good idea to read up about this event in advance so that you know what kind of things to have on hand, and when to call the veterinarian if the foaling is not progressing normally.

Source: http://www.animalhealthcare.ca/contents/content.asp?id=237&cat=farm

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Iguana iguana (green iguana) is the most common pet iguana species. They are herbivores so their nutrients come from plant material such as fruit …

Iguana iguana (green iguana) is the most common pet iguana species. They are herbivores so their nutrients come from plant material such as fruit, vegetables, leaves, hay, and flowers. They eat mostly vegetables. A moistened chow is offered to provide protein, though the recommended types of chow may vary.

Basic Biology

The lifespan is variable, but it is not unusual for them to reach 10 years of age with proper husbandry. Adult males are much larger than females, and they live apart except at breeding times. The female lays an average of 40 eggs, and these hatch in 3 months. A nesting area needs to provide the female with a soft, deep substrate to “bury” their clutch or egg binding (retention) may occur.

Housing

This is an ectothermic species, which means that they use the environmental temperature to regulate their own body temperature. The old fashioned term for this was cold-blooded, but since they can have very warm internal body (and blood) temperatures, this term has gone out of general use.

An important housing parameter is the provision of gradients of temperature within their environment so that they are not subjected to inappropriate heat or cold. They should have a choice to move about and select the preferred temperature zone. A source of warmth externally at one end of the enclosure should be provided. Special heat tape products are available that produce relatively safe sources, but for a single cage, a moisture-proof warm water circulating pad can easily be placed in a dry area. If heat bulbs (infrared) or incandescent bulbs are chosen, they must be placed outside and at a distance from the pet that will not lead to burns.

A thermometer should be mounted in the housing to check for average ambient temperature since chronic exposure to a temperature below optimum is a frequent cause of health and appetite problems. Humidity should also be maintained in an optimal range.

A glass terrarium with a screen top is useful. The provision of lots of climbing territory (e.g., tree branches or large rocks) will help them to maintain a healthy level of exercise. Various bedding substrates can be used, but a favorite for the hide box area is sphagnum moss. Wood chips are an acceptable environment substrate. Fresh water is essential, and smaller iguanids may need a drip system. Provide a large water pond as well so that they can soak as needed.

Fluorescent black lights should be provided as a source of UV light. The UV light acts to support Vitamin D production.

Handling and Behaviour

The young iguanas should be exposed to handling in a very graduated fashion, since over-handling can be stressful. Once they are adjusted to handling, they will tolerate contact well.

Health Considerations

If inadequate humidity is provided, retained shed skin on the feet can lead to toe infections.

Proper levels of Calcium intake in the diet, and regular UV ray exposure are important strategies to help prevent skeletal problems (metabolic bone disease); a fairly common, but preventable health problem.

Fuente: http://www.healthypet.com/library_view.aspx?ID=125

They may be fat and happy, but they may also be in danger

They may be fat and happy, but they may also be in danger.

It’s the picture of contentment . . . your favorite furry four-legged companion, curled up on the floor in a patch of warm sunlight, snoozing with a belly full of the steak scraps left over from last night’s dinner. Oh yes, he’s content. But is he healthy? Not likely. Ensuring your pet’s health goes beyond resisting the sad eyes and whimpers that plead for leftovers. Ignoring the content of your pet’s food and his need for exercise can lead to dangerous health habits that may haunt both you and your pet in the future.

Improper diet for your pets can lead to health problems serious enough to endanger their lives. Diarrhea can result from allergic reactions to foods, sudden changes in diet, sickness, or dietary indiscretions (such as eating trash). If not treated, these reactions can lead to dehydration and weight loss. Extra pounds on an overweight dog can be associated with heart and respiratory ailments and skeletal stress, and obese dogs and cats are more prone to diabetes. A poor diet in your cat can result in urinary tract infections, which can block the ability to urinate. As a result, your cat could become critically ill within as little as 24 hours. And just one treatment to clear a cat’s urinary tract can cost several hundred dollars.

Controlling Fluffy and Fido’s diet and being aware of what to look for in the food you buy is as important for your pets as it is for your two-legged family members. As many as 89 percent of dog and cat owners feed their animals table scraps occasionally, according to a study done by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA). But unfortunately, not only is people food often too high in fat for an animal to appropriately metabolize, but your pet may become a more finicky eater, refusing healthier pet food when the table scraps are gone.

But table scraps are not the only pitfall when it comes to nourishing those four-legged friends of ours. Many pet foods also have a high fat content, which, of course, Fluffy and Fido love. The more they eat it, the more they love it, and many eventually refuse to eat anything else.

So what should the concerned pet owner look for in buying acceptable food for pets? High fiber foods, often made with finely ground peanut hulls, are nutritionally balanced and complete. It usually takes a 10 to 20 percent fiber diet to change the weight of an obese pet. But a lower-fat food will probably not taste as good to your pet as his regular, fatty canned food, and he may refuse to eat it at first. Gradually changing finicky Fido’s diet over a few weeks should solve the problem.

But eating a healthy diet is only half the battle for you and your pet. Exercise is also an important tool to help keep your furry friends in shape.

Fuente: http://www.healthypet.com/library_view.aspx?ID=125

So, you have a pet bird and are now worried about its potential danger of contracting the Bird Flu and passing it to you or your family? Or maybe you were thinking of buying a pet bird …

So, you have a pet bird and are now worried about its potential danger of contracting the Bird Flu and passing it to you or your family? Or maybe you were thinking of buying a pet bird but may now go with a hamster instead for fear of bringing the Avian influenza virus home.

Well, what are the real chances of it affecting you or your pet birds?

The answer is practically none.

There are many facts involved in this answer:

1. It is chiefly a waterfowl and poultry disease.

2. There is no cases in the USA in poultry or otherwise

3. Strict quarantine laws greatly hinder the possibility of an outbreak occurring (30 day quarantine)

4. There is not a case of human to human transfer yet .

5. The H5N1 strain is the only strain to affect humans.

6. Influenza viruses do not persist in environments outside the hosts for long period of time (ideal condition about a week)

Now, I’m not going to tell you that it will never happen. In medicine and viruses there is no absolute. But, there are so many factors against it that the possibility is a thousand times less than being stuck by lightning. Let’s examine this in more detail. This is mainly a Chinese strain that is effecting humans since 1997. It has not yet passed on from human to human but with those people working with fowl, swimming in infected rivers, playing in an area where carcasses were buried, or breathing air near a poultry processing plant, can lead to infection. Unfortunately, Asian environments often involve people living in close quarters with poultry even running into houses. It is not uncommon also for the oriental diet to include raw duck livers and other unprocessed poultry products.

Bird flu has been around for more than a century and this is the only known strain to have mutated to affect humans. Studies show that with viruses like this that it is far more likely, like SARS, that if this does develop further, a person were more likely to contract this disease from an infected international traveller than from a pet or wild bird. It is also unlikely that migratory birds will carry it east to west since migration is primarily north to south.

Legal pet bird trade is safe. Quanantine periods and local breeding has further helped stop many illnesses from being past around. It is admitted that Illegal pet trade is an X factor but strict laws have reduced considerably the illegal trade, with most of the trade coming from South America to North America instead of Asia.

Remember, unless it is an exotic large pet bird, it is more economically feasible to breed them locally. Even large birds are being breed here. Also the chance of them getting in contact with a infected fowl is slim. And the chance of your indoor pet bird drops off the map. So would I be afraid to buy that companion pet bird from your local pet store. I’d have to answer No, there just no evidence so far to warrant any cautionary measures.

Source: http://www.talktothevet.com/ARTICLES/BIRDS/petbirdflu.html