The Pet Tree House - Where Pets Are Family Too

Sunday, August 16, 2020

What’s the Difference Between Llamas and Alpacas?

Llamas and alpacas have been used by humans for transportation and fleece production for a few thousand years. Both species are primarily found in Peru and Bolivia and are part of the camel family, Camelidae. Alpacas and llamas are two of the four lamoid species—the other two species, vicuña and guanaco, are their wild cousins. Interestingly, all four species are able to interbreed and create fertile offspring. While often conflated, alpacas and llamas differ in key ways. The most-distinguishing physical differences between alpacas and llamas are their size, their hair, and their face shapes. Also, they differ in disposition, which affects the way humans have used them over the years.

To read more on this story, click here: What’s the Difference Between Llamas and Alpacas?

Maine Coon Cat Sings Twinkle Twinkle Little Star With His Human [Watch video]

Cats may not be able to speak like humans. But they make every effort to communicate with their hoomans. Cats even invented the word ‘meow’ just to interact with the hoomans. Cats surprise us every now and then. We have been domesticated them since thousands of years now. And we still don’t know anything about them.

To see the video, click here: Maine Coon Cat Sings Twinkle Twinkle Little Star With His Human [Watch video]

Ear Infections In Cats: Symptoms, Causes, & Treatments

Ear infections in cats can affect both the inner ear and outer ear. Those affecting the inner ear are known as otitis media. Those affecting the outer ear are called otitis externa.

In general, otitis media infections can be more severe and dangerous to a cat’s health than otitis externa infections. If you see the signs of either type of ear infection in your cat, then you must get to a veterinarian for a proper diagnosis and treatment.

To read more on this story, click here: Ear Infections In Cats: Symptoms, Causes, & Treatments

This Aquarium Has Been Closed For Almost Five Months - Now, It's Using Old Wishing Coins To Help Care For Its Animals

For one aquarium, the coins tossed into its waterfall as wishes have become something more than submerged hopes and dreams. The North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores said it's transforming the forgotten change into cold, hard cash.

The public aquarium said in a Facebook post Saturday that its staff turned off its 30-foot-tall "Smoky Mountain" waterfall and rounded up all of the change visitors had tossed in.

Researchers Find A Preserved 12-Million-Year-Old Praying Mantis

We all remember the scene in the original Jurassic Park where dinosaur DNA was removed from a prehistoric mosquito stuck in amber. It’s perhaps the one thing that we all think about when we see pictures of insects stuck in amber – at least that is where my mind always goes to.

This one piece of amber doesn’t have a mosquito in it, but a praying mantis. The piece of amber was quite translucent and pale yellow in color, so it perfectly showed off the 12-million-year-old that was perfectly preserved inside.

To read more on this story, click here: Researchers Find A Preserved 12-Million-Year-Old Praying Mantis

Photographer Captured Rare Albino Elephant On Camera In Safari

Nicki Coertze was enjoying a safari while on vacation with his family in Shingwedsi, South Africa, when he witnessed something both rare and spectacular. He saw a herd of African elephants, and tucked behind one of the adults, he spotted an albino elephant calf.

Albino animals are rare and hard to find, especially when you’re not looking for them. It’s believed that one in every 10,000 mammals are born albino. Many go unnoticed in the wild because they’re far and few between.

Coertze, a 58-year old photographer, snapped several pictures of the baby hanging out by the Shingwedsi river. The photos document a once-in-a-lifetime experience for Coertze and his family.

To read more on this story, click here: Photographer Captured Rare Albino Elephant On Camera In Safari

“Sheep Pigs” Are Real And They’re Like Giant Fuzzy Dogs

We all know that sheep are quite fuzzy animals, which is part of their charm as farm animals. But when we think of pigs, we definitely don’t envision hairy animals. Quite the opposite, we think of pigs as being relatively sparse with their fur and constantly dunking themselves in mud in order to stay cool.

However, there is a “sheep pig” out there, and they’re quite the unusual-looking animal. The Mangalitsa pig is an actual fuzzy pig! They have the outward appearance of a sheep with the wooly coat, but they’re actually bred to be pets since they’re quite tamable. The breeder of the Mangalitsa pig has stated that they can be tamed just like dogs if they’re shown the right affection. As a result, these pigs have been known to follow around their owners or play with their owners – just like a dog!

To read more on this story, click here: “Sheep Pigs” Are Real And They’re Like Giant Fuzzy Dogs

Woman Adopts One Cat Then Returns To Shelter For The One She Left Behind

Cats and dogs are stuck in shelters all over the world. Some are lucky enough to find forever homes, while others are at the shelter for life.

11-year-old Mojo was lucky enough to be adopted. He and 16-year-old Max were dropped off at Anne Arundel County Animal Control in Maryland. They spent years together at the shelter, but it was unknown whether or not they’d spend the rest of their lives together.

To read more on this story, click here: Woman Adopts One Cat Then Returns To Shelter For The One She Left Behind

An Adopted 14-Year-Old Girl is Helping Senior Dogs Find a Forever Home Just Like She Did

(CNN)A 14-year-old girl has raised $14,000 for senior dogs who have been left behind with the goal of helping them find a forever home like she did when she was adopted.

Meena Kumar at nine months old was found abandoned in a basket on a college campus in Pune, India. After spending a year in an orphanage, she was adopted by a couple in Mumbai and brought to San Jose, California.

To read more on this story, click here: An Adopted 14-Year-Old Girl is Helping Senior Dogs Find a Forever Home Just Like She Did

Stray Dog Who Keeps Visiting Car Dealership Is Adopted By Staff And Given A Job

A stray dog who was determined to land his dream job at a Hyundai car dealership has seen his persistency pay off after he was given a job - and a home.

Earlier this year, staff at a Hyundai Prime branch in Brazil spotted the dog waiting around outside the showroom and assumed he would eventually move on.

But as time passed by the stray continued to show up and on one particularly rainy night the manager, Emerson Mariano, took pity on the pup and invited him into the warm for some food and water.

The lonely dog seemed determined to stay and it didn't take him long to win the hearts of the staff, who adopted him as the dealership's mascot.

To read more on this story, click here: Stray Dog Who Keeps Visiting Car Dealership Is Adopted By Staff And Given A Job

Canaries: These Songbirds are a Top Choice for Bird Owners

Canaries have perhaps the sweetest song of any creature on Earth. These small, puffy birds are welcome tenants at any home, whether you live in a house or an apartment. It will take your canary some time to polish his voice — these birds, like people, get better with practice.

To read more on this story, click here: Canaries: These Songbirds are a Top Choice for Bird Owners

Tips for Ferrets

We are seeing a large number of ferrets at our hospital, as we have the expertise of Dr. Tracey Ritzman, DABVP. This week’s post will just offer a broad overview of Ferret Ownership.

Background

Ferrets (Mustela putorius furo) are members of the weasel family that have been domesticated for over two thousand years.

HEALTH

Ferrets have a lifespan between 6 to 8 years. They will require routine visits to your veterinarian for regular vaccinations (including canine distemper and rabies virus) and annual examinations. Ferrets are at risk of heartworms and fleas, so monthly preventative treatments should be used.

To read more on this story, click here: Tips for Ferrets

Pet Birds and Air Travel

You may have seen a fellow traveler bring a small dog or cat into the airplane cabin or take a larger dog with them as checked baggage. But did you know that a few US airlines allow you to bring your pet bird with you on your flight, provided you meet certain conditions?

Species

Each airline specifies which birds are permitted as carry-on baggage or as checked baggage. Typically, your bird must be a "household" bird, a pet, in other words, not a wild bird, and it must be odorless and quiet.

Hawaiian Airlines, for example, says that your bird must be "harmless, inoffensive, odorless and not require attention during the flight." Most airlines that accept pet birds will not allow you to bring chickens or other poultry, only pet birds such as finches and parakeets.

To read more on this story, click here: Pet Birds and Air Travel

Cat Falls Out Of Sky And Onto Pensioner’s Head Knocking Him Out

‘It’s raining cats and dogs’ is a saying most of us will have heard throughout our lifetimes whenever it’s chucking it down outside. But did you ever think you’d be using the phrase literally?

Nope, me neither, but mark this date in your diary because something of the sort has happened in China – and the whole thing was caught on camera.

That’s right folks, the bizarre moment a cat fell from the sky, knocking out an elderly man walking on the path below in the process, has been documented for all to see.

To read more on this story, click here: Cat Falls Out Of Sky And Onto Pensioner’s Head Knocking Him Out

Pages

Sunday, August 16, 2020