Archive for the ‘Animals & Nature’ category

Silky Terrier Puppies Were Bred from the Yorkie

August 21st, 2010

Silky terrier puppies are small dogs that are bred from the terrier family. The Silky terrier puppy finds its beginnings in Australia even though its ancestors were from England.  The Silky is very similar to the Yorkie and the Australian terrier. In the U.S. we call them Silky terriers. Most of the world, including Australia, refers to them as the Australian Silky terrier.

The American Kennel club defines the breed as having a body 1/5 longer than its height. They should stand about 9-10 inches tall and weigh 8-11 pounds.  Silky terrier puppies are a little larger then the Yorkie. The silky has a horizontal topline. They have a single coat of hair which 5-6 inches long.

Newborn Silky terrier puppies are black but take a blue hue as they mature. This blue can be slate, pigeon blue, or silver blue. The legs and head may be red or tan. The face is framed with long hair. Owners sometimes tie this hair into a topknot. The fur has a natural part along its back.

The Silky is small but is not a lap dog. They are bouncy little dogs that are full life and like to play. Silkies are quick to bark if a stranger approaches.  If properly socialized these dogs can be taught to get along with kids and other pets.

Terriers in general were bred to hunt rats and therefore should be not allowed around pet rats, guinea pigs, and hamsters. Silky terriers have fur that becomes entangled easily. Daily brushing is required to keep their coat smooth. If you want to own one of these dogs be prepared for a dog that requires a good deal of maintenance.

The coat requires shampooing on a regular basis in order to keep it good condition. The Silky terrier often has dry skin and using a shampoo made for dry skin is advisable. Professional grooming is recommended every three weeks and the groomer should brush his teeth. Silkies often have dental problems so brushing becomes a priority.

The trachea of these dogs is fragile and can be damaged if a conventional collar is used. You should use a harness-style collar for this dog. Silkies are also known to have problems with epilepsy and luxating patella. They crave a nice back rub and scratching their hindquarters will cause them to freeze. You might also enjoy Havanese dogs for sale.

The Benefits of Owning a Plastic Dog Kennel

August 21st, 2010

When you start your quest for the perfect dog kennel for your pet you will be amazed by the huge variety available.  Some people like the traditional look of a wooden kennel while others find the dual purpose of a metal kennel as both a dog house and run suits their lifestyle better.  However, very many people would swear by their plastic dog kennels stating that none could do the job better.   Here we will discuss their reasons so that you can see the benefits for yourself.

A plastic dog kennel is basically a self contained unit which is light enough to be moved easily to wherever you may want it.  If you are someone who is short on space in your house and would want to move it out of the way when you have visitors then this is ideal as it is no effort at all to put it into another room where it will be less obtrusive.   This portability also makes it perfect to use as both an indoor and outdoor kennel as you can simply pop it in the back yard if you are going out and don’t want your pet to have access to furniture which he may damage while you are gone.

The non-porous nature of plastic also means that it won’t take on a ‘doggy’ smell which would then be transferred to whichever room it is in.  It is also a simple job to wipe it down to get rid of any loose hairs and clean any germs away.  If your dog has been unwell then none of the bacteria can then be transported to any of the other family pets.

Finally a plastic dog house is ideal to take with you when you go visiting so that your dog has somewhere familiar to relax in when he is in unfamiliar surroundings.

Save Money – Buy Generic Pet Meds

August 20th, 2010

Looking after our pets can be an expensive business particularly once they start needing regular medications.  One simple way to make great savings is to choose Generic Pet Meds rather than branded ones.  Many people are a little concerned that because these Cheap Pet Meds are so much cheaper (sometimes 60% cheaper or more) there must be something wrong with them.  This problem is exacerbated by vets who rarely stock many generic products knowing that worried pet owners feel more comfortable spending more money on well known brands.

In fact choosing generic pet meds from the US, Canada or Western Europe will not mean giving your pet anything other than exactly the same care they would have received if you had bought the expensive brand.  The reason is that government authorities require that all generic pet medicines are not only made to the same high quality as their branded equivalents, but also that they are totally interchangeable with them.  This means you could give a branded heartworm tablet (for example) one month and then use the generic version the following month and your dog would receive identical care and health benefits.

The active ingredients are identical and the rules and regulations governing the production and supply of generic medicine for pets is the same as for the brand.  The key difference is the price.  The company producing the generic did not have to spend so many years researching, developing and then marketing the new product so can sell at a lower price.

You will notice the packaging has to be different, and indeed silly things like the shape or color of a tablet will differ.  This is so no-one can say the generic product is trying to mislead you into thinking it is the branded one.  Frankly who cares, if you can save yourself 60% on your dog’s medication I doubt he will be bothered that the box is not quite so pretty!

Why Should You Use Frontline

August 19th, 2010

Many of us look for a source to buy cheap Frontline Plus and are mostly successful. It can be found from a few resources for a very low cost. Discount Frontline Plus is purchased more than other other pet medication at the moment so let’s take a look at just why it is an option worth considering.

The fact is that there are many flea medications available and we can take our pick. But the problem is that many of them are not as effective as Frontline is. This is because Frontline Plus is so effective at getting rid of fleas. Unlike other options it not only gets rid of the adults it gets rid of all stages of the flea life cycle. It will get rid of eggs and larvae as well as the adults and this is what makes it such a great choice for us to buy.

There is no doubt that when we get a flea treatment we want it to be as effective as possible and this means that we want the fleas life cycle to be broken. If we only get rid of adults then the young will grow in in time and we will have the same problem again.

So, with this product we are doing the absolute best that we can to ensure that the problem stays away for a long period of time.

And with the price being so acceptable there is no doubt that it is one of the best possible choices we can make. We simply apply it to the Dogs or Cats skin on a monthly basis, if not a little less, to ensure that we keep them totally free from fleas and ticks as well, which is another reason to buy, most treatments will only work for fleas and not for the additional problem of ticks.

Duties of a Vet Assistant

August 16th, 2010

While there are definitely a lot of duties that a veterinary assistantcan be responsible for, because they technically do not need any formal education to acquire the position there is only so much that they are capable of doing. For instance, working in a large city in a huge veterinary hospital might be pay really great in terms of veterinary assistant salary, but, they will not be able to assist in surgeries or procedures because they are not qualified to do so and to let them help would be a risk to an animal’s health.

On a daily basis, a professional will find themselves assisting clients, taking payments, working in the reception area , scheduling appointments and answering phones which are all quite simple and tedious tasks after doing them for years and years. On the positive side, while a veterinary technician must put a huge responsibility on their back in performing surgeries and operations to perfection to make sure an animal has the best chance of surviving, veterinary assistants get to do all of the minor work that adds up and make a decent income doing so.

Assisting veterinary technicians is definitely not out of the picture because these individuals are often given the task of sterilizing equipment, feeding and caring for animals, shaving animals before surgeries, cleaning surgical areas and exams rooms as well as feeding and caring for animals which all directly benefit veterinary technicians because they do not need to worry about anything but performing a high quality surgery and taking animals from injured to healthy. All in all, while a professional is not going to be seeing an outstanding veterinary assistant salary, having daily duties that involve being with and taking care of animals is a very rewarding job that animal lovers will cherish unconditionally.

Information About Training Beagles

August 16th, 2010

Training beagles should be a fun and rewarding activity for both you and your dog. No doubt it will sometimes be challenge, beagles are notorious for being quite a handful when they want to be. If you persist you should however see that you beagle begins to respect your authority and really just wants to please you.

By nature, these dogs are inquisitive and like to test boundaries whenever possible. This is one of the reasons why training beagles can be slightly more difficult than training other species of dogs. When you do begin to succeed though, you will realise just how intelligent and loyal a pet beagle is.

There are various steps you take in order to make sure your training programme is as effect and as fun as possible. New dog owners often forget the fun part, but training should be enjoyable for you and your beagle.

When it seems like your puppy just wants to ignore you and do his or her own thing, it is vital that you remain consistent in your methods. When training beagles, never let your dog feel that you have lost control or that you are just giving up on him. As we have mentioned, beagles love to test boundaries so make sure you keep your dog in line without punishing them too harshly by threatening, hitting or shouting at him.

As soon as you begin to make it clear what kind of behaviour is acceptable verses what is not, you will find that your dog will respect your unwritten rules. It will just take him a little while to work out what he can and cannot do.

Take a trip over to www.exclusivedogtraining.com and read through our extensive library of beagle training articles for free today. You will be surprised at just how much you will learn about both your pet beagle and yourself as an owner.

Riding A Treeless Saddle

August 9th, 2010

There are many equestrians who would like to learn how to ride bareback. They want to feel the freedom of riding along the trail with only their clothing between the horse and their skin. This can be dangerous if not done properly and many people never try to do it because they are afraid of falling off the horse and getting injured. With nothing to secure you to the animal except your legs and the mane, there is a certain skill to riding bareback. A treeless saddle offers the opportunity to experience what it is like to ride bareback while at the same time being safer.

As the name suggests, this type of saddle is designed without a tree. The tree is the solid part of the saddle that acts like a frame to help the piece keep its shape. There are some saddles that have adjustable trees that can be found to fit any type of horse. These are a great option for something that is halfway between standard and full treeless. Other models are extremely flexible but both types are known for their durability.

With this kind of saddle it is easy for everyone to get a good fit. Manufacturers differ in various design elements but all saddles have soft padding attached to the underside. The padding is required to prevent the saddle from rubbing the hide raw and injuring your horse. The rider will be more comfortable as well.

While most people agree that these saddles are more comfortable for the rider and his mount, there are some that believe they may distribute weight inappropriately because they are so loose on the back of the horse. This will not be a concern if the saddle has been expertly fitted. There is no real difference between an ill fitting treed saddle and a treeless model that does not fit the animal correctly. Take a look at prestige dressage saddle or Cliff Barnsby saddle.

Pet Diabetes and Insulin Syringes

August 9th, 2010

Diabetes is a dangerous disease and treating it often involves injections to add insulin to your body so it can make use of the food you eat every day. Learning to give injections is part of the process and insulin syringes are made to make the injections as painless as possible and easy to do for anyone. Learning to give yourself injections is part of the diabetes education process and keeping up with them every day will soon be second nature. Some people learn quicker than others, but all can learn to do this.

Insulin syringes are available in different volumes and depending on what your doctor prescribes for a dose a specific volume syringe should available to make filling and getting the correct dose easy. They come in 1cc, ½ cc and 3/10 cc and are normally calibrated for U 100 insulin. U100 insulin is standard human strength insulin and because they are other insulin strengths on the market it is important to make sure you get syringes to match the strength of insulin you are using.

U 40 insulin is a strength of insulin normally used for pets and there are U 40 insulin syringes available for purchase. As this insulin is only 40% the strength of U100 insulin the syringes are calibrated differently and it will be confusing to figure out how full to get the syringe if the syringe doesn’t match the insulin.

Injections and syringes have been used for a long time to regulate blood sugar and keep diabetes under control. Many people have learned to use insulin syringes to give themselves injections and even buy the syringes online instead of getting them through their doctor. They can be purchased at most pharmacies so it is possible to also control some of the expense of treating this disease by clever shopping and searching online.

A Cat Fountain Helps Both You And Your Cat

August 8th, 2010

If you are an owner of cats, you know that these creatures like things their own way. That means that just because you put a plate or dish of water on the floor they are not always incluned to drink from it. the answer for some cat owners is to cater to their pet’s whims, which might include allowing them to drink from the faucet, or every faucet! The cat follows you around the house and sits by the sink when you enter the room and begs to drink from the faucet. If you cave to this behavior you will have a long road trying to break the habit. A much better way to deal with this, and also make your life easier at the same time, is to get a cat water fountain.

There are a lot of variations ot these fountains on the market today, and some are geared specifically towards cats. Others are meant for dogs or cats, but they all operate in pretty much the same way. The use of a small submersible pump allows water to be pumped through the fountain. Depending on the brand you choose, the fountain might feature some type of waterfall arrangement, or perhaps just a falling stream of water.

The Cat Mate Pet Fountain features multiple waterfalls, and this is the only fountain currently on the market that can make that claim. The water is pumped up through the body of the fountain and allowed to fall into a small pool. The water can then fall over a small ledge and down to the next level, repeat that same process again, and finally fall to the main bowl at the bottom of the fountain. Some cats like one particular part of the fountain and will drink from that area exclusively. Others like to experiment with different parts of the fountain. You might find your cat just sitting there staring at the fountain. The point is if you provide an interesting source of water, the cat will drink and you will end up with more free time.

Adding a pet fountain to your home will keep your cat entertained and healthy, and keep him off your back at the same time! Now that is a winning combination!

Foals and Their Antics

August 5th, 2010

Foals are always fun to have around. From the moment of their birth they can entertain and enthrall their owners for hours. They will run their dam’s crazy with them running around and racing off without a moment’s notice. While foals have some basic care that is a must, like farrier work on those little feet, the greatest horse gifts you can give them is manners training. Short simple lessons and then let them play and grow up. Foals tend not to stand well and will nibble.

The foals that nibble a lot we tend to call land sharks. The ones that like to rub their heads on you we call rubbers. Whatever nickname you give their antics, the entertainment value alone is well worth the months of worry and endless nights of foal watch. Once the foals get old enough to get turned out with their dams during the daytime, their antics take on a whole new level of entertainment.

When a foal gets enough coordination to use those spindly legs well they will race all over the place. They explore and will find all sorts of things to get themselves into trouble. Chickens are a favorite curiosity of foals. They will follow them around and will try to taste them which can lead to hilarious moments. Dogs and goats are another that foals love to check out.

Watching those little equines chase a chicken or goat on those long legs is one of my favorite pass times. They skid to a stop and do an amazing job of turning and racing off in another direction. Occasionally they will run into fences or their dams because they don’t have as good of brakes as an older horse, but babies tend to bounce and usually remain unhurt while giving you a good chuckle. Watching two foals play together is even better. Foals have a way of brightening our days while we watch with wonder at their growth, development, and never ending antics.