When Squirrels Were One of America’s Most Popular Pets

Benjamin Franklin even wrote an ode to a fallen one.

IN 1722, A PET SQUIRREL named Mungo passed away. It was a tragedy: Mungo escaped its confines and met its fate at the teeth of a dog. Benjamin Franklin, friend of the owner, immortalized the squirrel with a tribute.

“Few squirrels were better accomplished, for he had a good education, had traveled far, and seen much of the world.” Franklin wrote, adding, “Thou art fallen by the fangs of wanton, cruel Ranger!”

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Recent discoveries reveal how dogs are hardwired to understand and communicate with people - even at birth

• Recent findings reveal that dogs are born ready to communicate with and understand people.
• Studies show puppies can reciprocate human eye contact and follow gestures to locate food.

• Research also suggests puppies raised with little human contact can understand gestures without training.

Dogs often seem uncannily shrewd about what we're trying to tell them.

A handful of recent studies offer surprising insights into the ways our canine companions are hardwired to communicate with people.

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Do Dogs and Cats Recognize their Owners? The Many Ways Pets Tell Us Apart

Dogs and cats have many cues to help them recognize us. Learn about all the different ways our pets know who we are.

When you watch your dog bounding across the dog park, or when you see your cat perched atop her scratching post, you recognize your pet by her shape, the color of her coat, and the way she moves. You may find yourself wondering, “Does my cat know me?” or, “Can my dog tell me apart from everyone else?” Our pets certainly know who we are, but they often know us in ways that humans, with our different set of senses, can only imagine: scent, sound, and subtle cues of movement and touch.

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Man Grabs Crab Before Realizing What It Really Is

Huge Discovery

His eyes grew wide as he stammered his word, “Don’t move.” He then slowly backed away from the scene unfolding before his eyes.

Mark didn’t understand what his friend was talking about, then noticed claws, and many legs. He felt his pulse quicken and his legs freeze in place.

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The benefits of owning a pet -- and the surprsing science behind it

(CNN)Snuggling next to my kitties while their furry chests softly rumble is a proven antidote to the day's stress.

For me and millions more, having a pet brings a circle of love into our lives -- they give affection, we give it back and all of us are the better for it.

Science agrees.

"I have a list of 10 health benefits [that] studies have shown pet owners have," said psychologist Harold Herzog, a pet-loving professor at Western Carolina University who has long studied the human-animal connection.

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10 Common Tabby Cat Health Problems (With Prevention Tips)

If there’s one thing any tabby cat owner wants it’s for their cat to be healthy and safe.  The reality though is that almost any cat breed or coat type can still sometimes face some health concerns. With a proper understanding of what issues a cat can face, you can take some preventative measures so they can always feel their best. Below is a list of the 10 most common tabby cat health problems along with helpful prevention tips!

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Selecting a pet bird

Humans have been fascinated by birds for centuries, with a variety of species kept as companion animals in cultures around the world. They can make wonderful additions to households, especially if there is limited space or family members are allergic to other animals.

What are you looking for in a bird? Your choice of bird will be affected by your preferences for appearance, personality, companionship or ability to talk.

Appearance

Pet birds come in many sizes and colors — ranging from finches with a wing span of just a few inches, to macaws whose wing span can be up to four feet. Bird feather hues range from natural greys, yellows, reds, and greens to unusual color combinations resulting from selective breeding.

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HOW TO KEEP LADYBUGS AS PETS

Ladybugs are cute little creatures that you can keep at home. It is even possible to breed them if you want. Let’s see how can you keep ladybugs as pets.

To keep ladybugs, put the adult ladybugs in a small container. You can decorate the container with some small plants, twigs, and miniature figurines or toys. Cover the container with a mesh lid or a solid lid with ventilation holes. The mesh/vent opening should be small enough so that the ladybugs do not escape. Alternatively, you can also use a commercially available DIY terrarium. Feed the ladybugs with 10% syrup solution or raisin. Feed your ladybugs with aphids or mealybug if you want to keep them healthy. The female ladybugs need to feed on aphids or other prey in order to produce viable eggs. The larvae of ladybugs also require prey as part of their diet to turn into adults.

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Grandma Adopts A Puppy For Her Grandson Who Was Saving Up To Buy One

This story speaks about a six-year-old boy called Xander Mellor, whose dream was to buy a pup. So, he’d been saving up for the past 18 months for that. The smart boy from Springfield, Illinois, would always ask his mama Natalie Ellenburg for the change to put it in his savings jar whenever she’d return home from work.

Can you imagine a kid stops buying goodies and sweets? Xander did that as he really wanted a pup! But his dream came true when his grandparents heard about his endearing struggle! So, they visited him with a big surprise!

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Maybe It’s Time to Take Animal Feelings Seriously

Dogs can read human emotions. So, it appears, can horses. Whales have regional accents. Ravens have demonstrated that they might be able to guess at the thoughts of other ravens — something scientists call “theory of mind,” which has long been considered a uniquely human ability. All of these findings have been published within the past several weeks, and taken together they suggest that many of the traits and abilities we believe are “uniquely human” are, in fact, not so unique to us.

To read more on this story, click here: Maybe It’s Time to Take Animal Feelings Seriously

How To Get Your Cat To Take A Pill

Getting your cat to take a pill can be a real pain!

Have you ever tried to stick a pill down kitty’s throat, only to have them immediately spit the pill out on the floor, right in front of your feet? When that happens, you know that you might be in for a “special time” with your cat.

In fact, most people refer to the whole process as “pilling your cat,” which has a bit of a negative connotation to it.

If you’re experiencing problems getting your cat to take their pills, don’t despair just yet. By following a few simple tips and tricks, you might make pill time a lot less traumatic for both of you.

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6 Tips for Giving Your Dog Pills

A spoonful of sugar might help our medicine go down, but dogs typically pose a bit more of a challenge. While some canine companions dutifully eat their pills with dinner, most tend to need a little encouragement. These tips for giving your dog a pill will make the process more pleasant for everyone involved.

Pill Pockets

Not all medication can be given with food. But if it can, putting the pill in a pill pocket or wrapping it in a piece of cheese makes it easy to slip into your dog’s system. Keep in mind that this approach works best for dogs that wolf down treats without chewing. Dogs that chew soft treats may bite into the unpleasant-tasting medicine, making them harder to trick next time. It should be noted that dogs with food sensitivities or allergies might have issues with the ingredients in pill pockets, so consult your veterinarian if your canine companion has had problems with food in the past.

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Remembering ‘Crocodile Hunter’ Steve Irwin 15 years after death

Saturday marks 15 years since the beloved Steve Irwin, also known as "The Crocodile Hunter," died after being pierced by a stingray while filming a documentary in Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.

The 44-year-old was an avid and outspoken conservationist, whose wild adventures and utterances of his down-under catchphrase, "Crikey!" onscreen captivated millions.

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Exotic Pets Actually Aren’t Hard to Care For

Caring for Exotic Pets

So you go to the zoo and see an impossibly cute little ‘wild’ animal performing some awe-inducing behavior. It’s smaller than your dog, and it looks like it would make the perfect pet. You turn to the keeper next to you and excitedly ask, “would it make a good pet?”

“Absolutely not,” the keeper replies. “They demand a lot of care. They will destroy your furniture, pee on the walls, and bite you. They are not domesticated!”

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Hypertension or High Blood Pressure in Cats

What is hypertension? 

Hypertension is the medical term for high blood pressure. A cat is generally thought to be hypertensive when its systolic blood pressure is above 160mm Hg.

Are certain cats more likely to get high blood pressure?

In humans, hypertension is related to several factors, including a stressful lifestyle. Although not all causes of feline hypertension have been identified, stress does not appear to play a role in the development of this disorder in cats.

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High Blood Pressure in Dogs (Hypertension): A Brief Guide

 

There are various health conditions caused by high blood pressure in humans, and the same applies to dogs. High blood pressure in dogs can negatively affect how your pooch functions in their daily life. This condition occurs naturally, or may be triggered by an external source or underlying cause. Your dog will experience different symptoms depending on their age and if they have any other ailments.

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Canine Coronavirus Disease

What is canine coronavirus disease?

Canine coronavirus disease, known as CCoV, is a highly infectious intestinal infection in dogs, especially puppies. Canine coronavirus is usually short-lived but may cause considerable abdominal discomfort for a few days in infected dogs. The virus is from the Coronaviridae family. The virus gets its name from the fact that when viewed from above under an electron microscope, the virus has a ring of projections that appear like a coronet, or a small crown made of ornaments fixed on a metal ring. There are many types of coronavirus, each affecting different animal species, including humans.

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What You Can Do to Prevent Lyme Disease in Dogs

Modern day living has a lot going for it, but possibly the leading attributes have to do with advances in medical arts. Disease has always been one of our greatest foes, but via timely and routine vaccinations, education, and preventive practices, we can live a relatively healthy life. This goes for our pets, too.

Lyme disease in dogs remains a formidable threat, but there are several ways to counteract possible exposure to this serious illness.

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Meet Monty, The Cat With Down Syndrome That’s Capturing Hearts Around The World

The internet has fallen in love with Monty, a very special cat with a huge heart and an adorable personality. You see, the cat has Down syndrome, but that doesn’t stop the beautiful feline from enjoying life to its fullest. The cat was living in an animal shelter when Michael Bjørn, and his partner, Mikala Klein found her and decided to adopt her. The two felt an instant connection to the cat and knew Monty was the right cat for them. No one before them showed any interest when it comes to adopting the cat simply because he looks different. Luckily, Monty now has a happy home and gets plenty of love and attention.

Michael Bjørn, and his partner, Mikala Klein from Rødovre outside Copenhagen in Denmark were looking to adopt a new cat.

To read more on this story, click here: Meet Monty, The Cat With Down Syndrome That’s Capturing Hearts Around The World