The Pet Tree House - Where Pets Are Family Too : October 2020 The Pet Tree House - Where Pets Are Family Too : October 2020

Sunday, October 25, 2020

Unfur-Gettable: Puppy With Green Fur Born In Sardinia


ROME (Reuters) - Italian farmer Cristian Mallocci could not believe his eyes when Spelacchia, one of his eight dogs, gave birth to a green-furred puppy.

The tiny dog, immediately named Pistachio, was part of a five-dog litter born on Oct. 9, all with white fur, the same colour as their mixed breed mum. Except him.

To read more on this story, click here: Unfur-Gettable: Puppy With Green Fur Born In Sardinia


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Scientists Have Found A Rare Half-Male, Half-Female Songbird


(CNN)It may not be one in a million, but it's pretty close.

Researchers have discovered a rare songbird that is male on one side of its body, and female on the other.

It's being described as a "once in a lifetime" discovery.

The last time the Powdermill Nature Reserve at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History found another was 15 years ago, and it's only the fifth to be discovered out of the nearly 800,000 birds that the nature reserve has seen.

To read more on this story, click here: Scientists Have Found A Rare Half-Male, Half-Female Songbird


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Dressed to Impress: Florida Police Dog Wears Uniform and Tie for His Official K-9 Badge Photo


The good boy often makes appearances on the Orange County Sheriff's Office's social media feeds

Say cheese!

On Thursday, the Orange County Sheriff's Office in Florida shared with followers on social media the brand-new official badge photo of their furry K-9 member Chico.

The steadfast pup, dressed in a decorated law enforcement uniform, looks directly at the camera for the picture as he poses for the shot in front of an American flag.

"K-9 Chico posed for his new ID badge today. He even wore a tie for the photo," the department wrote alongside the picture on Instagram.

To read more on this story, click here: Dressed to Impress: Florida Police Dog Wears Uniform and Tie for His Official K-9 Badge Photo


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A Piglet Had A Newborn Photoshoot And The Pictures Will Make Your Day


If there is one thing that all of us need these days, it’s a little break from the bad news we are hearing. Between the coronavirus pandemic, social unrest, and natural disasters, we are ready for a big smile and happy heart.

We are pleased to be able to bring that to you, thanks to a baby piglet named Dynamite. When her pictures were posted online, they went viral for all the right reasons.

To read more on this story, click here: A Piglet Had A Newborn Photoshoot And The Pictures Will Make Your Day



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The Year's Best Wildlife Photos Reveal A Super-Chill Monkey, A Rare Siberian Tiger, And An Ant Clinging To A Beetle's Leg


  • The London Natural History Museum's annual Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition awards photographers who highlight the fragility of Earth's wildlife. 
  • This year, the contest drew over 49,000 entries from photographers in 25 countries.
  • The winning images, announced this week, show a serene proboscis monkey, an iridescent squid, and a clownfish with a parasite for a tongue.
Sergey Gorshkov was determined to find a Siberian tiger. He knew it wouldn't be easy. The species is known to live only in sections of Russia and China and was hunted almost to extinction in the 20th century. In the wild, only about 540 of the tigers remain, and they're spread across vast territories.

To read more on this story, click here: The Year's Best Wildlife Photos Reveal A Super-Chill Monkey, A Rare Siberian Tiger, And An Ant Clinging To A Beetle's Leg


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Why is My Older Cat Refusing to Use the Litter Box?


DEAR JOAN: One of my cats is a 15-year-old male that was feral. We’ve had him a good long time in the house, and, finally, after 10 years, he isn’t spending most of his time under a bed because there was a noise.

He has never had a problem holding everything until he could sneak out to the litter box in the dark and do his business. Then all of a sudden about two months ago he started peeing on the bath mat in one of our bathrooms. This was usually at night.

We started keeping the door shut, but he then started using the carpet in my office as his private commode, both peeing and defecating on it sometimes. I tried using some repellent that contained methyl nonyl ketone (didn’t want coyote pee smell, too) on the carpet with little or no effect on his behavior. I ended up discarding the carpet and now keep the door closed.

To read more on this story, click here: Why is My Older Cat Refusing to Use the Litter Box?


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Dogmantics Dog Training - Separation Training Tips


Leave your dog alone while you are home - This teaches the dog to enjoy being alone while it is not associated only with you leaving the house.   You can use baby gates and pens to keep your dog in one part of the house while you are in another.   You can give your dog food puzzles, chews, and hide treats for your dog to find while you are in another part of the house to make the alone time highly reinforcing.

To read more on this story, click here: Dogmantics Dog Training - Separation Training Tips




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Kristen Bell Makes Plea to Adopt Senior Dogs After Death of Beloved Pet


The "Frozen" actor, mourning the loss of her dog Barbara, reflected on the benefits of adopting an older dog.

After saying goodbye to her dog Barbara, Kristen Bell is encouraging potential pet parents to consider adopting senior dogs.

In an emotional video posted to her Instagram Stories on Sunday, the "Frozen" actor thanked fans and followers for their well-wishes after the beloved family pet passed away on Saturday.

"I'm going to miss her a ton, but I'm also really, really grateful that I got to spoil her in her last two years," said Bell, 40.

To read more on this story, click here: Kristen Bell Makes Plea to Adopt Senior Dogs After Death of Beloved Pet



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Thursday, October 22, 2020

An Ohio Man Built a Backyard Squirrel Bar with Seven Varieties of Nuts on Tap


(CNN) — People are going nuts for an Ohio woodworker's latest creation: A bar that caters to neighborhood squirrels.

Michael Dutko, a 35-year-old hobbyist, has been creating art and household items from wood for most of his life, and even chronicles it on his YouTube channel Duke Harmon Woodworking. But it's his fun twist on a squirrel feeder that's made him Internet famous.

"The Nutty Bar," which is attached to his backyard fence in Hilliard, looks just like a real bar, and even has a range of nuts on tap.

To read more on this story, click here: An Ohio Man Built a Backyard Squirrel Bar with Seven Varieties of Nuts on Tap


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Monday, October 19, 2020

Man Shelters 300 Dogs From Hurricane Delta In Mexico Home


LEONA VICARIO, Mexico (AP) — As the dangerous Hurricane Delta closed in on Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, Ricardo Pimentel opened his home — to about 300 dogs.

There were plenty of other critters too: Dozens of cats were harbored in his son's room; his daughter's room served as a refuge for chicks, bunnies and even a hedgehog; a patio became a haven for a flock of sheep.

Not surprisingly, the house smelled terrible, he says. But it was worth it: All survived the storm.

To read more on this story, click here: Man Shelters 300 Dogs From Hurricane Delta In Mexico Home


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Lockdown Puppies Being Increasingly Abandoned By Owners


Lockdown puppies are being increasingly abandoned by their owners, the RSPCA has warned, as its centres begin to be flooded with cats and dogs.

There was a huge surge in demand for puppies over lockdown as people on furlough and working from home wanted companionship. For some, it was the perfect opportunity to train a young dog.

However, as people return to work they have found they no longer have time for their pooch, and have been abandoning their pets at animal welfare charities.

To read more on this story, click here: Lockdown Puppies Being Increasingly Abandoned By Owners


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It’s Illegal To Own Just One Guinea Pig In Switzerland Because They Get Lonely


Guinea pigs are adorable creatures who are often kept as pets. While most people immediately think of a cat or dog when contemplating a family pet, guinea pigs bring something a bit more unusual to the table (and can be a fine option for those who are allergic to cats and dogs).

Guinea pigs can be very loving and are totally lovable themselves. But, like many creatures, they can get lonely — even with an incredibly caring human owner. So it’s important that they have another guinea pig around to keep them company.

While this is just a suggestion in most countries, it’s the law in Switzerland.

To read more on this story, click here: It’s Illegal To Own Just One Guinea Pig In Switzerland Because They Get Lonely



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Rare Horse Cloned From Cells Taken From A Stallion In 1980


Little Kurt looks like any other baby horse as he frolics playfully in his pen. He isn't afraid to kick or head-butt an intruder who gets in his way and, when he's hungry, dashes over to his mother for milk.

But 2-month-old Kurt differs from every other baby horse of his kind in one distinct way: He's a clone.

The rare, endangered Przewalski's horse was created from cells taken from a stallion that had sat frozen at the San Diego Zoo for 40 years before they were fused with an egg from a domestic horse.

To read more on this story, click here: Rare Horse Cloned From Cells Taken From A Stallion In 1980



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Massachusetts Coastal Town Orders Locals To Stop Calling 911 About Giant Fish


The local government of Wareham, a town in southern Massachusetts’ Plymouth County, has asked locals to please stop calling the police about a big, blobby fish that has been spotted minding its own business in coastal waters.

The fish — a whopper of a creature that has attracted dozens of emergency calls since Monday from locals mistaking it for a shark or a seal, according to The Cape Code Times — is an ocean sunfish.

Formally known by the genus name Mola, the ocean sunfish (Mola mola) can grow to nearly 10 feet in length, weighing in at more than a stunning 4,400 pounds.

To read more on this story, click here: Massachusetts Coastal Town Orders Locals To Stop Calling 911 About Giant Fish



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Thursday, October 15, 2020

FDA Dog Food Recall Expands: The Bags And Brands To Check For


The FDA’s released several pet food recalls over the past few months, most of which center on dog food. Today we’re going to go over the several recalls that you’re going to want to pay attention to, leading up the the latest from Sunshine Mills. Included on the list are Nature’s Menu, Family Pet, Heartland Farms, Paws Happy Life, Billy+Margot Wild Kangaroo and Superfoods Recipe, Champ, Field Trial, Good Dog, and others.

To read more on this story, click here: FDA Dog Food Recall Expands: The Bags And Brands To Check For



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PLUMP AND FEISTY: Baby Panda at National Zoo adds 2 Inches to Waist, Turns 8 Weeks Old


When mama bear Mei Xiang left the den yesterday to eat a fruitsicle (frozen treat made from diluted apple juice), zookeepers were able to retrieve the cub for a quick exam.

To read more on this story, click here: PLUMP AND FEISTY: Baby Panda at National Zoo adds 2 Inches to Waist, Turns 8 Weeks Old



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Thursday, October 8, 2020

Hypothyroidism is a Condition That Can Affect Cats and Lead to an Array of Serious Health Issues


Detecting, Diagnosing, and Treating Underactive Thyroid Low thyroid hormone, or hypothyroidism (not to be confused with hyperthyroidism, or overactive thyroid), is a condition that can affect cats and lead to an array of serious health issues if it goes untreated. Though hypothyroidism is relatively rare in cats and affects many key aspects of a cat’s metabolism, it is usually manageable.

Low levels of hormones produced by the thyroid are usually the result of treatment for a far more common condition, hyperthyroidism. As such, most cases can be treated by simply adjusting the treatment regimen for the original condition so that the cat is producing thyroid hormones within the normal range.

Other causes of this condition include a reaction to radioactive iodine treatment, an iodine deficiency in the diet of the cat, a side effect of taking methimazole that results in the reduced production of thyroxine, the removal of either or both of the cat’s thyroid glands, a thyroid tumor or a tumor in the immediate area of the thyroid, and a variety of other autoimmune diseases.

Symptoms of Feline Thyroid Hormone Deficiency

Producing insufficient levels of thyroid hormones can have various effects throughout a cat’s metabolism, and many of these effects are undetectable at home. Symptoms of thyroid hormone deficiency in cats can include:
  • A thinning of the coat
  • General muscle weakness
  • Hair loss
  • Weight gain due to slowed metabolism
  • Lethargy
  • Sleeping more than usual
  • Loss of appetite
  • Pale gums
  • Hypothermia
  • Constipation
  • Dry skin and dandruff
Diagnosis of Thyroid Hormone Deficiency in Cats

In most cases, diagnosing low thyroid hormone levels is as simple as running a few tests to determine the hormone levels in the blood. However, in some cases a veterinarian will need to perform a variety of other tests in order to arrive at a conclusive diagnosis. These tests can include:
  • A urinalysis
  • Blood tests, sometimes including a complete blood count
  • Chest x-rays or abdominal x-rays
Treating Thyroid Hormone Deficiency in Your Cat
Treatment for this condition in cats usually depends upon what the vet determines to be the underlying cause. As mentioned above, the overwhelming majority of hypothyroidism in cats is caused by treatment for hyperthyroid, in which case a simple adjustment of medication generally clears up the issue. In cats where other underlying causes are to blame, treatment for the condition can vary from surgery to remove tumors, to supplemental thyroid hormones.

If the cat has had their thyroid glands removed, then treatment will be needed for the remainder of the cat’s life. Medication typically has a positive effect on the condition following the first six weeks of treatment, but ongoing monitoring of the condition may be required for the life of the cat.

Prognosis for Cats Dealing With Thyroid Issues
Hypothyroidism can be prevented in many cases where treatment for hyperthyroidism is the cause. If the cat is seen regularly and has its hormone levels monitored, adjustment of medication can be completed proactively. In other cases, where the thyroid glands have been removed or are no longer functioning, medication and monitoring can allow for the cat to live a normal life.



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New Jersey Prepares to Open a Gruesome Black Bear Trophy Hunt


New Jersey is poised to allow trophy hunters to kill the state’s beloved black bears starting next month using barbaric methods like baiting the animals with piles of rotting sugary food. The plan would also allow hunters to chase bears off state lands, where bear hunting is not allowed, and onto private lands, just so they can be killed. Worse, it would allow the killing of baby bear cubs—a cruelty now allowed in only one other state, Alaska.

This unethical policy from the state’s Division of Fish and Wildlife is highly unpopular within the state, and a Humane Society of the United States poll last year showed that a supermajority of New Jersey residents oppose it. An even stronger majority is opposed to bear baiting. But unfortunately, attempts in the state legislature to prohibit baiting bears or bear trophy hunting have not been brought up for full floor votes.

To read more on this story, click here: New Jersey Prepares to Open a Gruesome Black Bear Trophy Hunt


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Your Dog Has Diabetes. Here Are The Next Steps:


My dog has what?! Whatever the symptoms were that made you take your pup to the vet, good for you for taking him/her in to see your veterinarian! For most people, the diagnosis is a shock… a HUGE surprise! Who even knew that dogs can get diabetes? The first thing that you do now is breathe. Deep breaths…

To read more on this story, click here: Your Dog Has Diabetes. Here Are The Next Steps:



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These Are the 11 Heaviest Dog Breeds, So Keep the Treats to a Minimum


These are the pooches most likely to be a little husky. (Pun intended.)From Woman's Day

These Are the 11 Heaviest Dog Breeds, So Keep the Treats to a Minimum

Just like humans, too little exercise and too much food can lead to weight gain in pooches. (Dogs! They're just like us!) However, some dog breeds are more likely to pack on the pounds than others. The heaviest dog ever reported by the Guinness Book of World Records was Zorba, an English Mastiff, who weighed an impressive 343 pounds. Your pup may not be in danger of beating Zorba's record, but if your dog is one of the fattest dog breeds (such as an English Mastiff), then you should keep an eye on their kibble consumption.

To read more on this story, click here: These Are the 11 Heaviest Dog Breeds, So Keep the Treats to a Minimum


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This Japanese Artist Creates Hats For Cats Made From Their Own Hair


If you’re a cat owner, you probably know that if there’s one things cats hate, it’s accessories. As much as we’d like to turn our cats into little cowboys or Santas, the hats fly off of their heads faster than you can blink. So imagine our surprise when we came across these cats calmly posing and rocking adorable furry hats!

These funky and stylish cat hats were created by a Japanese couple – photographer Ryo Yamazaki with his wife Hiromi – and are actually made from the cats’ own shed hair. The three handsome models, Nyaa, Mar and Mugi, seem to love posing with all sorts of hats from little aviator helmets to fancy Victorian wigs – check them out in the gallery below!

 To read more on this story, click here: This Japanese Artist Creates Hats For Cats Made From Their Own Hair


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It’s a Boy!


Smithsonian’s National Zoo’s Giant Panda Cub Is Male

The Smithsonian’s National Zoo’s 6-week-old giant panda cub is a male, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (SCBI) scientists confirmed. During the cub’s first veterinary exam Sept. 19, Zoo veterinarians obtained a swab from his cheek for DNA analysis. Outwardly, male and female cubs appear similar at birth, so a genetic test was the most accurate way to determine the cub’s sex. Veterinarians brought the swab to SCBI’s Center for Conservation Genomics, where scientists sequenced a short fragment of the zinc finger protein gene. The X and Y chromosomes both have this gene, with slightly different DNA sequences. Scientists determined that the swab sample taken by the Zoo’s veterinarians has both sequences present—confirming that the cub is male. A painting created by male giant panda Tian Tian (tee-YEN tee-YEN), the cub’s father, was used to reveal the sex of the cub to giant panda keepers and fans online.

To read more on this story, click here: It’s a Boy!

You may also be interested in reading: 

National Zoo Says Panda Mei Xiang Appears to be Pregnant, Could Give Birth Soon

The National Zoo's Giant Panda, With A Yearly Window of 24-72 Hours to Become Pregnant, May Be Expecting

Birth Of Panda Cub Brings ‘Joyous News’ To The National Zoo

Last Night Around 5:40 p.m., Mei Xiang Placed the Cub on the Floor of Her Den for Just a Few Seconds

National Zoo Panda Update: Mom Mei Xiang Leaves Cub on its Own for the First Time (LISTEN)



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Wednesday, October 7, 2020

Hypothyroidism In Dogs: Causes, Symptoms, And Treatments


Hypothyroidism in dogs is a disorder where the thyroid gland in the neck doesn’t secrete enough thyroxine, a hormone that controls metabolism. This means that a dog’s body is no longer able to convert food into fuel at an appropriate rate.

Age, breed, lifestyle, and exposure to certain substances can all influence the onset of hypothyroidism in canines. Symptoms can range from lethargy and weight gain to seizures and heart problems.

To read more on this story, click here: Hypothyroidism In Dogs: Causes, Symptoms, And Treatments


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Thursday, October 1, 2020

Zoo Removes Parrots From View After They Kept Cursing At Visitors


There is no audio in this story. So you will not hear the parrots.

Polly’s got a potty mouth.

A group of parrots at a UK zoo have been removed after repeating obscene language at visitors.

Lincolnshire Wildlife Park received the five African grey parrots back in August and quarantined them together in the same room, Lincolnshire Live reported. However, the close proximity seemed to have brought out the worst in the birds.

To read more on this story, click here: Zoo Removes Parrots From View After They Kept Cursing At Visitors



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Black Dog Syndrome: Why Black Dogs Are Less Likely To Be Adopted


Black dogs have a difficult time at the shelter than most people realize. It is especially true of larger dogs. Although there is not a lot of research that proves it is true, most shelter workers will tell you that big black dog syndrome (BDS) does exist and the reasons why are beyond sad.

Shelter workers will likely tell you that black dogs, as well as black cats, will not get adopted from the shelter as readily as other dogs and they are more likely to be euthanized. There are some studies that show the opposite is true but since there is not any data pointing toward the scientific facts, I would be likely to trust the people who actually see it for themselves, the workers at the shelters.

To read more on this story, click here: Black Dog Syndrome: Why Black Dogs Are Less Likely To Be Adopted



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