Becoming a Cat Parent

If you’re ready to make a pet part of your family, a cat can be a great choice. They will provide you with lots of entertainment, love, and companionship for many years to come. However, they will also need some things from you, including training, attention, patience, and supplies. Before you purchase or adopt a cat, take time to learn more about cats and what their needs are.





The following articles will provide you with information on cats, the adopting or purchasing process, and readying your home for its newest resident.

Is a cat the right choice for you? Are you ready for the responsibility? Take this quiz to find out.
Once you’ve decided a cat is the right pet for you, there are a few other things to determine before you can bring one home. Learn about your options and how to choose the best cat for your lifestyle.
Indoor and outdoor cats can both make great pets. Find out more about them and how to keep your cat safe, inside or outside.
Shelters, rescue organizations, pet stores, and breeders can all be great options for places to get your cat. Learn more about the options and decide which one is right for you.
What seems like a clean and safe home to you can be a dangerous place for your kitty. Find out how to create a safe environment.
Your new cat will need lots of love and attention… and much more! Learn about the supplies you will need to ensure your kitty lives a long and happy life.

Dogs & Travel

So what's better than going on vacation? Going on vacation and taking your dog with you! In order to have the most fun when travelling with your dog, there are a few things you should take care of ahead of time.


One of the most important things to do before travelling with your dog is to make sure he is up to date on all his vaccinations. If you're travelling internationally, you may have to obtain a certificate of health from your veterinarian, but for trips that are closer to home, it's still a great idea to make sure your dog is protected from any diseases you may encounter along the way.









Before it's time to step on to a cruise ship for a few days or climb on to a plane for a few hours, you should make sure your dog is accustomed to his travel crate or bag. If your dog feels at home in his crate or bag, he should have no trouble adjusting to his travelling circumstances, no matter what they are. If you're lucky, he'll curl up and fall asleep for most of the ride.


Decide in advance what items your dog will need for the trip. Some basic things you should have with you when travelling with your dog, include food, water, a collar, his leash, some treats, a pooper scooper, and a small first aid kit. It's also a great idea to bring a picture of your pup, in case he gets lost.


During your trip, it's very important that your dog gets the opportunity to relieve himself whenever possible. He shouldn't be deprived of water or food. Be respectful of other people and places by cleaning up after your dog and keeping him leashed.









If you're travelling in a car in the summertime, make every effort to never leave your dog in the car. If you must leave him there for a short period time, make sure the windows are open to provide some ventilation. Once you're on the move again, either close the windows or keep your dog in his crate to prevent possible injury to his eyes or ears.


By preparing yourself and your dog ahead of time, taking a vacation together can go off without a hitch. And don't forget to have fun with your dog and enjoy the time together!

Selecting a breed of dog

When it comes to choosing a dog, there are lots of things to think about: puppy or adult dog? Male or female? Purebred or mixed breed? And once you've answered all of those questions, you still need to decide what breed of dog you want. Every breed has its own set of distinctive traits, so it's a great idea to do some research on different breeds before making your final decision.

The following are some of the basic traits to consider when deciding what breed is right for you:

Size

From the Chihuahua and Yorkie all the way up to the Saint Bernard and Great Dane, dogs come in a variety of shapes and sizes. A dog's size can be a part of his appeal (Westies can be at home just about anywhere, no matter how tight the quarters are.) or a deterrent (It's much easier to accidentally step on a Westie than a Rottweiler!). You should choose a breed whose size fits with your lifestyle.

Temperament

While a dog of any breed could be happy to snuggle up in your lap, some breeds are more likely to enjoy spending time like this. On the other hand, certain breeds will be more inclined than others to join you for a run in the park. Before getting a dog, decide what personality traits are important to you and look for a breed that meets your standard.

Trainability

How important is it to you that your dog can do tricks? How much time are you willing to spend training your new pup? Some dogs are more easily trained than others. There are great dogs out there that, try as they might, will never be able to roll over on command. And there are other dogs that can learn several tricks in one day, but they may not have certain other traits that are desirable to you. You'll have to decide which is more important.

Grooming

Are you looking forward to spending hours every week brushing and caring for your dog's coat, or do you feel tired just thinking about that? Are you prepared to get out the vacuum as often as necessary to rid your carpet of tons of dog hairs, or would you rather not have to think about that? The answers to these questions will help you determine what breed is right for you. Maintaining a dog's coat can be a huge time commitment or none at all, depending on the breed. It's up to you to decide what kind of coat appeals to you and how much time you're willing to spend taking care of it.

While researching the standard traits of a breed can be helpful in making your decision of what breed to purchase, it's important to remember that every individual dog is different. Every dog will have its own quirks, some positive and some negative. Before making your final decision, find a puppy or dog that you love on a personal level—not only because of his breed. And make sure you won't be too quick to give him away if he isn't a perfect match to the breed standard

wing clipping in your bird

          

Wing Clipping

To prevent a parrot from flying very high or very far, some owners trim the lower half of the primary flight feathers (the first ten feathers from the outside of the wing). The procedure is painless and common among pet bird owners but is also subject to debate among others, as there is evidence that wing clipping can frustrate a parrot and even result in some health problems if he isn’t active enough in his daily life following the clip.

        

To Clip or not to Clip
When a parrot loses his ability to fly due to clipping, it can result in neurotic behavior, such as self-mutilation. However, clipping your bird’s wings may be vital for his safety—a free-flighted bird is more prone to injury or escape. 

The decision to clip your bird’s wings is yours to make. If you do clip your parrot, give him plenty of attention and exercise outside of the cage. You should also provide a particularly large enclosure—anything you can do to create the sense of freedom he would normally experience through flight will be beneficial.


If you don’t clip your bird, you must thoroughly pet-proof your home. Make sure that there is absolutely no way for your parrot to escape or injure himself, and never allow him outside of his cage unsupervised

feeding your parrot

 

Fruits and Vegetables

Fruits and vegetables provide an extensive array of vitamins and minerals. Additionally, they are low in fats. Always wash all the produce you feed your bird thoroughly, and buy organic fruits and veggies whenever possible. Although iceberg lettuce is fine to feed as a treat, it is low in nutrients, so it should not be a staple item in your bird's diet. Other, healthier choices include:


                                                       

• apples
• asparagus
• beets
• bell peppers
• broccoli
• butternut and other winter squashes
• carrots
• cilantro
• collard greens
• corn on the cob
• dandelion greens
• hot peppers (yes, most parrots enjoy these)
• mangos
• mushrooms
• mustard greens
• okra
• papaya
• parsley
• peaches
• pumpkins
• spinach
• sweet potatoes
• tomatoes
• zucchini

Basically, any item in the produce department is fine for your parrot. The one exception is avocados, which are toxic to parrots. Feed fresh vegetables whenever possible, although frozen veggies are okay in a pinch

nail trimming

   

          An important part of the grooming process is to trim your cat’s nails. They should be trimmed about once a month. It’s a great idea to take care of this at the start of a grooming session, as the shorter your cat’s nails are, the more likely you will be able to make it through the entire session without being scratched.

 

To start trimming, have your cat sit in your lap. While firmly holding him in place, gently press down on his paw so the nail comes out. Using a pair of cat nail clippers, cut off the tip of each claw, just outside the edge of the pinkish part where the nerves are located. If you accidentally cut into the quick, the nail will bleed. When this happens, apply light, direct pressure to stop the bleeding. This will likely upset your cat, so the rest of the grooming procedure may have to wait until another day when your cat has calmed down.

Finding a lost dog

       

               Not many things in a dog owner’s life are sadder than realizing your dog is missing. It can be a scary, stressful time, and the process of searching for your lost pup can seem overwhelming. Many dog owners don’t have any idea how to get started.

One of the best ways to ensure that your lost   dog makes it home again if he is ever lost is to make sure he wears an identification tag at all times. There are also services that will  microchip your pet as a form of identification. If your pet is lost but he has some form of identification, there is a very good chance that you will see him again.

An important thing to do right away if you’ve lost your pet is to put up flyers in the area where he went missing. List the location where and date when he was lost and add some general information about him, such as his height, weight, and color. Make sure every flyer includes your contact information. You may also need to walk the neighborhood, going door to door, handing out flyers and asking people if they’ve seen your pup. Also stop by the local animal shelter and drop off some flyers.

Today there are many more resources for owners with missing pets than there were in the past. The Internet has provided a lot of opportunities for information sharing on all different topics, including lost dogs. Check out the following sites for more helpful information on finding a missing dog:

www.findfido.com/

This free site, “for dogs and the people who love them,” provides searchable listings for lost dogs and found dogs.

www.1888pets911.org/

This site provides multiple, free ways for a dog owner to search for a lost pet, and it also allows someone who has found a lost pet to look for its owner.

www.sherlockbones.com/

John Keane sells several different options for dog owners looking for their lost pup. Some of his services include pet finder booklets, mailing lists for animal rescue centers and veterinary hospitals, and personal consultations.

Molting parrots

     


                 When birds molt, they shed their old feathers (which become ragged and less useful over time) to allow new ones to grow. Molting can occur as often as once or twice a year and can last for weeks or even months until the new feathers have fully emerged.
This experience is stressful for a parrot because the emerging feathers may cause discomfort or pain. However, you can help your bird through his molting process by performing the following tasks:

• Mist your bird: Frequently misting your parrot with warm water helps soften the new feathers and lessen the discomfort they cause. Only mist your bird during the day and in temperate weather so that he has time to dry before evening.
• Observe him carefully: Keep an eye on your parrot’s feathers during molting; look for bald patches on the body or places where the feathers have become so thin that you can see his skin. If he exhibits either of these conditions, take him to the vet.
• Tend to broken or injured feathers: New feathers that get damaged or broken tend to bleed—especially on the wing feathers of a clipped bird. If this happens, pull the feather straight out from the root with one quick motion, which should stop the bleeding immediately.

BATHING PARROTS

                   




                    Parrots need to bathe regularly to keep their feathers clean and their skin moist. Most will happily bathe themselves if provided with a shallow dish filled with clean water. The dish should be shallow and difficult to tip over and should contain about 1 inch (2.5 cm) of tepid water. Never use soap, shampoo, or other detergents to bathe your bird—he only needs clean, fresh water. If you’d like, you can occasionally bathe your bird in the kitchen sink or even in the shower (as long as you provide a sturdy shower perch supported by suction cups).

                     Your bird will dry on his own, but you can also provide him with a spotlight lamp (ideally, one intended specifically for birds or reptiles) that will warm him as he preens himself after his bath. Don’t use a blow dryer on your parrot—some dryers have nonstick coating on the heating coils, and this coating emits an odorless fume that can be very dangerous for a bird. 




             

To have a clarity talk contact me

http://wizpert.com/pavithrakannan

LOVE BIRDS EYE RING

                    
                   The masked lovebird is the most common of the four species and can often be found for sale in pet stores at reasonable prices. Fischer's are still fairly common, but they cannot be imported. One can expect this to Possibly raise their market value and lower their availability. Until recently, the black-cheeked love bird was extremely scarce in the United States, but there are a few breeders who are painstakingly building up colonies that will hopefully make these birds more readily available in the future.
                   Several breeders have diligently worked with the Nyasa lovebird in the past, and, in the long run, all of them met with failure. The Nyasa is a difficult bird to acclimatize, and the mortality rate for youngsters going through the first molt is usually terribly high. Presently, I know of only two breeders who are working with this bird in the U.S., and through their efforts, we will hopefully see this tiny bird established.
                    In their natural coloration, all four species have characteristics that make them similar in appearance: the eye-ring, a red beak and a green body.The mask and the Fischers are about the same size (6 inches long), with waxy red bills and blue-colored rumps. The black cheek and the Nyasa are smaller (5 inches long), with light-green rumps (any discoloration is a sure indication of hybridization with masked or Fischer's Love Birds). They have a distinct brown iris, and their bills are red at the tip and gradually fade to a pale pink at the base.           

              

weight management in pets

             Many dogs and cats in the U.S. are overweight or obese. And just like people, obesity in pets comes with health risks that include diabetes, arthritis, and cancer.

Overfeeding is the leading cause of obesity, says Douglas, who adds that keeping our pets trim can add years to their lives.

Because pets need far fewer calories than most of us think -- as little as 185-370 a day for a small, inactive dog; just 240-350 calories daily for a 10-pound cat -- talk to your vet, who can make feeding suggestions based on your pet's age, weight, and lifestyle.

            

LOVE BIRDS GROOMING

                      

                                 
                           As with pet parrots in general, the tips of lovebirds' toenails should wear down adequately by the parrot climbing over rough surfaced perches. If the parrot has an inactive lifestyle, however, occasionally the toe nails grow long and may need to be trimmed. Only the very tips of the toe nails are trimmed. If too much of a toe nail is trimmed away, it will be painful and bleed from the blood vessels in the centre of the nail.This bleeding should be stopped as soon as possible with the use of styptic gel or powder. Sharp pointed toe nails that scratch the owner can be blunted by simply filing the point. These procedures are usually done with the help of an assistant carefully holding the parrot wrapped in a towel.                 

                             

knowing your love bird

 
                                You have just brought your new baby Lovebird home. Once you put him in the nice new cage you bought, you are ready to play with him. But your little bird is afraid of you – what can you do? 

First you have to step back and take some time to get to know your new Lovebird. Do not be surprised if he sits, hardly seeming to move for the first day or two, especially if he is a very young bird. Be sure to have his food and water close to him, so he will be sure to eat during this time.


You will have to spend time getting him to trust you before you can tame him. Sessions should be short (10 minutes or less) and done several times a day. Each time you achieve one step, repeat it several times until your pet is comfortable with it before moving onto the next step.

Sit by the cage and talk to him or read a book, occasionally looking over at him to say hello or say his name. Speak in a soft and cheerful voice.
When putting food or water in the cage, move slowly and talk to him soothingly.


You should have some small toys in the cage – maybe a bell, ladder, a rope toy or something similar. Watch him to see what he likes to play with. Use his name when you talk to him and he will soon learn that you are talking to him. Before long, he will be looking for you when you call him by name and may even come over to the side of the cage closest to you. Your patience is showing success.
 

Love birds feeding

       Lovebirds need the same size food as cockatiels and other small parrots. If you plan to feed your birds a seed mix, choose one which contains nutritional supplements to assure a "total diet" to keep birds healthy. Other less expensive seed mixes, or seeds sold for wild birds will not have all the nutrients your bird needs, although they can also be used if you provide lots of fresh foods. Note --pellet diets like Kaytee Exact or Pretty Bird are nutritionally complete and very good for birds, though some birds will be slow to accept them. Birds that are used to seeds will need to be given adequate time to adjust and learn to eat a pellet-only diet.

commonly known as THINAI in tamil

Try to give fresh foods at least 3 or 4 times a week. Our birds love apples, broccoli, cabbage, kale, carrots, parsley, and spinach. You can try other vegetables and fruits, too. Lettuce is okay, but it doesn’t have much nutritional value. In the summer we sometimes give dandelion and clover (flowers and greens) from the yard. Make sure to wash off any pesticides or chemicals which could hurt the bird. Our birds also like corn tortillas (not salted tortilla chips) and whole grain breads. Don’t feed anything with high fat, salt, or sugar content, like donuts, cake, or cookies. Caution -- remember to remove any uneaten fresh food from the cage before it spoils.

Try to keep cuttlebone in the cage all the time to provide calcium for the bird. Millet sprays, sometimes called "seed trees" are a good treat. 

Fat Lumps in love birds

               Fat Lumps or commonly known as "கொழுப்பு கட்டி" in Tamil usually occurs in all the birds which lack physical exercise. Yes, birds do need a daily workout :P But its nothing like that of ours... They juz need a small walk inside the room maybe 30 minutes. When they are idle they seem to develop this fat lumps in their body.


REMEDIES:
* Let them walk in your for sometime
*Let them have a small flight inside your room
This is more than enough for them to stay fit and healthy :D

Red Mites in love birds

            

                                 Mites can be found on any pet bird or avian species. Mites spread from bird to bird as flock members make body contact. Contrary to what many people still believe, those metal round Protective Mite Killers you hang on the side of a bird's cage are toxic. They do in fact contain an insecticide; however, it is very doubtful they would kill any mites. They just might kill your bird. Not recommended!

It is extremely important to eliminate a mite infestation. Note that rodent and bird mites may bite people when their animal hosts are no longer available for some reason.

Signs & Symptoms of Possible Mites on Pet Birds:

• Some mites are visible to the naked eye (i.e., red mites)
• Restlessness
• Excessive preening
• Ruffling of feathers
• Skin irritation
• In some cases, evidence of feather damage is evident
• Bird Mites / Biting Mites

   

Treatment Protocols:

• First of all -- there is no point in treating only the environment or only the patient. You have to rid the environment of mites and treat the bird at the same time; otherwise, your pet will keep getting re-infected.
• Environmental Treatment: Other than the treatment options described under each mite problem described below, the Avian Insect Liquidator is a safe solution for pet and aviary birds. It could also be used around wild bird feeders to rid the area and birds themselves of mites

Meet 11 year old Shaon! 

Shaon is not allowed a pet but loves feeding and playing with the dogs that live by his home in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Shaon had previously witnessed some dogs being poisoned, in an attempt to eradicate rabies, so when the vaccination team arrived in his community to protect the dogs he was excited to be able to help and brought a few local puppies, like this one, to them so they could be vaccinated!

With WSPA's support the Bangladesh government is carrying out a mass dog vaccination programme and is developing a national rabies action plan.

Canine parvovirus is a sometimes fatal gastrointestinal infection that mainly affects puppies.

             

                 

                

                     Canine parvovirus type 2 (CPV2, colloquially parvo) is a contagious virus mainly affecting dogs. The disease is highly contagious and is spread from dog to dog by direct or indirect contact with their feces. It can be especially severe in puppies that are not protected by maternal antibodies or vaccination. It has two distinct presentations, a cardiacand intestinal form. The common signs of the intestinal form are severe vomiting and dysentery. The cardiac form causes respiratory or cardiovascular failure in young puppies. Treatment often involves veterinary hospitalization. Vaccines can prevent this infection, but mortality can reach 91% in untreated cases. Canine parvovirus will not infect humans.

                 There are two forms of CPV2: intestinal and cardiac. Puppies are most susceptible, but more than 80 percent of adult dogs show no symptoms. Dogs become infected through oral contact with CPV2 in feces, infected soil, or fomites that carry the virus. Following ingestion, the virus replicates in the lymphoid tissue in the throat, and then spreads to the bloodstream. From there, the virus attacks rapidly dividing cells, notably those in the lymph nodes, intestinal crypts, and the bone marrow. There is depletion of lymphocytes in lymph nodes and necrosis and destruction of the intestinal crypts.   This type of infection can occur when a pregnant female dog is infected with CPV2. The adult may develop immunity with little or no clinical signs of disease. The virus may have already crossed the placenta to infect the fetus. This can lead to several abnormalities. In mild to moderate cases the pups can be born with neurological abnormalities such as cerebellar hypoplasia. 

Signs and symptoms              

 Dogs that develop the disease show symptoms of the illness within 3 to 10 days. The symptoms include lethargy, vomiting, fever, and diarrhea (usually bloody). Diarrhea and vomiting result in dehydration and secondary infections can set in. Due to dehydration, the dog's electrolyte balance can become critically affected. Because the normal intestinal lining is also compromised, blood and protein leak into the intestines leading to anemia and loss of protein, and endotoxins escaping into the bloodstream, causing endotoxemia. Dogs have a distinctive odor in the later stages of the infection. The white blood cell level falls, further weakening the dog. Any or all of these factors can lead to shock and death. The first sign of CPV is lethargy. Usually the second symptoms would be loss of appetite or diarrhea followed by vomiting.

Diagnosis 

            Diagnosis is made through detection of CPV2 in the feces by either an EIA or a hemagglutination test, or by electron microscopy. PCR has become available to diagnose CPV2, and can be used later in the disease when potentially less virus is being shed in the feces that may not be detectable by EIA. Clinically, the intestinal form of the infection can sometimes be confused with coronavirus or other forms ofenteritis. Parvovirus, however, is more serious and the presence of bloody diarrhea, a low white blood cell count, and necrosis of the intestinal lining also point more towards parvovirus, especially in an unvaccinated dog. The cardiac form is typically easier to diagnose because the symptoms are distinct.

PREVENTION:

                 Prevention is the only way to ensure that a puppy or dog remain healthy because the disease is extremely virulent and contagious. The virus is extremely hardy and has been found to survive in feces and other organic material such as soil for over a year. It survives extremely cold and hot temperatures. The only household disinfectant that kills the virus is bleach.

       

treating and preventing feather picking

             Feather picking is very common in parrots. Some parakeets too indulge in this activity. FEATHER PICKING, as most of us think is not a disease at all!!! Its just a HABIT. Yes, and what do you think paves way for this habit??? :O
             The main and most probable (only) cause of this habit is LONELINESS and BOREDOM. A bird who is lonely naturally tends to pick its feathers. It starts this way and may result in self injuries in a course of time. 
REMEDIES: 
*Spend some time with them, that's the important thing.
*Divert them by supplyin them with other substitutes (mop heads).
In the picture given below the bird was provided with an alternative and now has come out of this habit.

                     As we all know pets are our companions and so are we to them. But, not all of us think this way. Everyone loves to buy or adopt a pet may it be a bird or a dog or a cat or whatever it is... initially we are excited with the new comer but the fascination towards our pet decreases day by day. We all have a busy schedule, loads of work pressure blah blah blah!!! But what about our pets? Those little companions? Do they too have a busy schedule like that of ours??? :O
              Well, let me put it this way, we mean the World to them, and its obviously our responsibility to take good care of them. We should spend some time with them too. Its true that we are all busy with our work but spending some time for our loved ones is indeed necessary. So if you can't spare some of your valuble time for them never go in for such a big responsibility of owning a pet!!!
              So I hope that the readers will surely spare some time with their pets from now on! :)
              Have a great day!!!! ;-) XD

Difference between a parrot and a parakeet

Budgie(Parakeet)

Any not-too-large parrot with a long tail is likely to be called a parakeet. So all parakeets are parrots, but not all parrots are parakeets. Many parrots are known by either name, parrot or parakeet. Usage varies by region. In the US, "parakeet" is commonly (if incorrectly) used to refer exclusively to budgerigars - an Australian birdthat Australians don't call a parakeet (Australians tend to reserve the term mostly for grass parakeets). Many South and Central American parakeets are known as conures. Smaller lories are usually called lorikeets instead of parakeets.

South Indian Parrot(Parakeet)

African Grey Parrot(Parrot)

bronchitis treatment for love birds

Bronchitis:

• Acute or Chronic Bronchitis

Symptoms:

Nasal discharge, sneezing, ocular (eye) discharge, swelling below the eye, ruffled feathers; in severe cases: tail-bobbing, increased respiratory rate, and labored breathing (even at rest). Further development may include serious air sac infections or pneumonia, and death.

Medications:

Several antibiotics / anti-fungals are being used to treat respiratory infections. The doctor will prescribe something that specifically treats the pathogen that is causing the disease.

Cipro is an antibiotic that is used mostly for serious sinus and upper respiratory infections. The taste is very unpleasant and it is usually administered with a syringe. years. It was used to treat red tide in affected shore birds. It is also a treatment for Anthrax poisoning. In fact, when government buildings were under alert for toxic mailings, Cipro was the medication they provided the employees with. It is a very potent medicine and needs to be used the entire duration of the treatment as prescribed by a medical professional. It is imperative that the treatment is followed through. Do not cut it short, as the infection can come back stronger.

Causes include (but are not limited to):

Impaired immunesystems, either by stress or poor nutrition, are especially susceptible to viruses or molds (Aspergillosis).

Diagnosis:

Typically by laboratory culture.

---

Treatment & Supportive Options:

Traditional Treatment:

• Systemic antibiotics that have been shown to be sensitive to the agent involved, vitamin and nutritional supplementation, and supportive care.

Holistic Treatment Options:

Water Filtration: Most of our tap water is chlorinated and fluoridated, and when showering both chemicals become airborne and not only dry out our skin and hair, but contributes to respiratory problems. Shower filters are relatively inexpensive and very easy to install. These filters remove most of the chemicals in the water, allowing us to breathe easy. Shower filters generally contribute to healthy home environments.

This greatly benefits both humans as well as birds that enjoy showering with their owners. As birds have very efficient respiratory systems, it is even more so important for them not to be exposed to contaminants in shower water.

Clean Air Systems - a must for those suffering from any allegies and / or respiratory problems. Removing toxins, dust and pathogens from the air will provide instant relief for those suffering from respiratory diseases