Epiphysitis, also known as equine rickets, is a condition of the bones that occurs in horses and is recognized by a slight lameness in the animal. It usually affects the longer bones, occurring when joints, such as the knee joint, become enlarged. While there are several theories as to where this comes from, the most respected one is that it is caused by the overfeeding of young horses. When a young horse is fed on a high plane of nutrition, or a high caloric diet, its metabolism becomes unbalanced, sometimes causing growth issues like rickets on the small body. In short, their bones grow too large or too quickly for the rest of their body. It is most commonly seen in Welsh Cobs and fillies that are preparing for an exhibition or show, and generally doesn’t affect every type of horse. Symptoms and Types
Pain in the joints
Swelling in the joints
Knee joint problems (e.g., knuckling of the knee joint, slight lameness)
Knuckling of the fetlock (or the metacarpophalangeal and metatarsophalangeal joints)
Abnormal contraction of flexor tendon (allowing the flexing of the joints)
Abnormal contraction of cannon tendon (between the fetlock and the knee joints)
Causes Horses on a high plane of nutrition, whether they be preparing for an athletic event or show, are more susceptible to rickets. Mineral and hormonal imbalances, especially brought on by overfeeding, can also lead to this condition. Diagnosis In order to diagnose epiphysitis, your veterinarian will probably need a great deal of information about your horse, including its medical history and nutritional information. What your horse has been fed is vital in determining the diagnosis. Treatment Most cases of rickets are treated with ease. Since the condition is based almost entirely on dietary imbalance, it is important to establish a nutritional plan with your veterinarian that will allow the horse's body to heal and grow in proportionately. This new diet should balance minerals and vitamins respectively, while lowering the caloric intake of the animal. Prevention Proper nutrition and a well-balanced diet recommended by your veterinarian should prevent rickets in your young foals.
Sheep, being multi-purpose animals, have always been a part of many cultures. Recently a breed of sheep dubbed the “world’s cutest sheep” has been taking the world by storm, and it’s not hard to see why. The Valais Blacknose sheep are unbelievably cute. Their snow-white shaggy fleece is soft and incredibly fluffy. Their faces and hocks are black and their eyes are hidden under stringy wool. The breed is native to the Valais region in Switzerland, hence the name. The animals live high up in the snow-capped mountains and graze in the alpine meadows on wild herbs. Due to their physiology, the breed is not suited for every country. Within the past decade, the Valais Blacknose has been imported into the United Kingdom and Scotland, where its popularity began to soar. Sally and Lindsay Strathdee, breeders from New Zealand, fell instantly in love with the animals after seeing a picture of them on the internet, according to Newshub. The couple wanted to import the animal into the country but stringent laws forbade it. However, their business partner, Christine Reed, found a loophole in the law that allowed for embryos and sperm to be imported, so that’s what they did. “We implanted in June 2017 and later in October had the most gorgeous 16 lambs on the ground—9 girls and 7 boys,” Reed told the MailOnline. Today, the Valais Blacknose sheep is growing in demand by breeders and has a burgeoning fanbase. “We have visitors willing to jump off cruise ships and rent cars just so they can see the sheep,” Reed shared. “Some visitors are also wanting to come to New Zealand just to see them and one photo quickly taken on a cell phone in January 2018 has now had 2.3 million views.” The sheep’s appearance is definitely unique, capturing the hearts of anyone who sees it. Not only are they lovely to look at, but the animals have a pleasant nature too. “One of the most wonderful surprises for us though, was that not only were these the cutest sheep in the world, but they had friendly inquisitive natures unlike any other sheep breed, more like your family dog following you around the fields,” Reed said. The breed will be showcased at the New Zealand Cup and Show Week held in Christchurch in November.
Uroplatus phantasticus are one of the smallest species within the genus Uroplatus. Being in the Genus Uroplatus, Phantasticus have evolved to mimic leaves. Their tails have the shape, coloration, veins, notching, and lichen commonly found in their natural environment. Uroplatus phantasticus have evolved to mimic dead or dying plant matter instead of branches and living vegetation. Their unique appearance and size have made them one of the most desired gecko species available. Scientific name : Uroplatus phantasticus Distribution : Madagascar Average Size : 0.12 m (0.4 ft) Life Span : 8 years or more Difficulty : Advanced Housing There is more than one correct way to house your Phantasticus, but there are a few requirements to ensure your geckos’ needs are met. Like other species in the Genus, Phantasticus are predominantly an arboreal species. We suggest using vertical enclosures that still provide adequate substrate exposure. We have had the best success with 0.3 x 0.3 x 0.45 meters (0.9 x 0.9 x 1.5 feet) or 0.45 x 0.45 x 0.6 meters (1.5 x 1.5 x 2 feet) glass enclosures (depending on age/size of the pairs being housed with most being housed in the 0.3 x 0.3 x 0.45 meters). Unlike most others in the Genus, Phantasticus have evolved to mimic dead or dropped leaves instead of branches and live plant matter. For this reason I cannot stress enough how important the development and enrichment in the bottom 1/3 of the enclosure is for this species. There are 3 ways of planting a U. phantasticus enclosure: real, artificial, or a combination of both. Although there isn’t a wrong way, the least preferred is the exclusive use of artificial plants. Artificial plants provide cover and enrichment but they do not help with humidity or air quality within the enclosure. When selecting plants for the enclosure, you have to first determine what is safe and best for the Phantasticus. I have found a combination of Pothos and Ficus to be the best options. These plants are hardy, strong enough to support movement, safe for the geckos, help retain humidity, and are easily obtained. To read more on this story, click here:Meet The Satanic Leaf Tailed Gecko
What is an ultimate gecko? A gecko that fascinates the keeper. This gecko is beautiful, a pleasure to keep and has a long life expectancy, one that frequently outlives the family cat or dog. We are in luck. This gecko is within our grasp! Today, we can obtain some really sensational geckos from breeders and pet shops. We can also get captive-bred specimens, so they are healthy to start out with and are used to being in captivity. Wild-caught lizards do not offer these advantages and should be avoided. The ultimate geckos that are great choices for a gecko enthusiast are: The eublepharine (eyelid) geckos: the leopard gecko (Eublepharis macularius) and the African fat-tailed gecko (Hemitheconyx caudicinctus) The diplodactyline geckos from New Caledonia: the crested gecko (Rhacodactylus ciliatus), the gargoyle gecko (R. auriculatus), the mossy prehensile-tailed gecko (R. chahoua) and the giant New Caledonian gecko (R. leachianus) From the wide-ranging Gekkonidae family: the Tokay gecko (Gekko gecko); the Madagascar ground gecko (Paroedura picta); and the day geckos from Madagascar, the giant day gecko (Phelsuma grandis) and the beautiful neon day gecko (P. klemmeri). Leopard Gecko Let’s begin our adventure with one of the easiest geckos to keep. The leopard gecko (E. macularius) is the gecko gold standard in herpetoculture, with a long list of reasons why it is an ideal beginner gecko. Many of the basic principles of keeping leopard geckos apply to all of our ultimate geckos, so we will discuss them in detail here. To read more on this story, click here:Which Gecko Species Is Right For You?
Mina Starsiak has been having an awesome year. For those who don’t share in our deep-seated HGTV obsession, Mina is one of the stars of Good Bones, where she flips houses with her mom, Karen Laine. The pair, who refer to themselves as ‘Two Chicks and a Hammer,” have been teasing season four of Good Bones. Mina also recently became a mom herself, welcoming a baby boy named Jack with her husband, Stephen Hawk. Mina is learning what it means to be a mom in the spotlight. She’s been pretty open with sharing her journey throughout pregnancy and her first few months as a new mom. Of course, sharing your life publicly means you’re opening yourself up to criticism, as so many moms have learned in the social media age. Mina recently posted a sweet shot of Jack alongside one of her three dogs, Frank. The sight of the tiny 2-month-old lying with the large-breed dog seems to have upset some of Mina’s followers, but she’s not standing for it. To read more on this story, click here:HGTV Star Defends Putting Her Infant Next To Her Big Dog After Bullies Try To Mommy-Shame Her
Summer is approaching and the flea and tick season is rampant. While you are with your dogs’ either walking, hiking, or at the beach, there is always a chance that they will get bitten by a flea or tick. And ticks can carry a number of illnesses, including Lyme disease which can affect dogs and humans. Lyme disease can cause tiredness, fever and joint pain in your dogs. What is Lyme disease? Lyme disease is an infection that causes arthritis and lameness and is transmitted to dogs (and some cats) through the bite of infected ticks. If it is untreated, Lyme disease in dogs can cause heart, kidney, and neurological problems. Lyme disease is a zoonotic disease, which means it can be spread from animals to humans. Lyme disease can be transmitted if an infected tick from a dog bites a human. Cats can get Lyme Disease but it is very rare and the symptoms are just like those in dogs. Lyme disease is more common in certain areas of the United States, including the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and upper Midwest. Symptoms of Lyme disease Some of the symptoms may not appear for several months after a dog is infected with Lyme disease. And some infected dogs don’t always show the symptoms. The signs of infection can typically include the following: Your dog is very tired and stops exercising, fever, joint pain, loss of appetite, symptoms seem to get better and then re-appear later. To read more on this story, click here:Lyme Disease in Dogs- What You Need to Know!
"Taming" a wild bird may be a flawed word when considering a wild bird as a pet. A better word would be "habituate." Habituating means the bird accepts the presence of humans in such a way that they aren't spooked and fly away when a human is present. Several small songbirds can be habituated easily by placing a bird feeder near your house and filling it with feed. As the birds visit and revisit your feeder, they recognize your human presence as not being a threat. Amazingly, a few of those songbirds can be so habituated that they can be "trained" to take food right out of your hand! But make no mistake, these birds will remain wild. Some of those common songbirds who are willing to become friends to humans include such species as the House Sparrow, the chickadee, the tufted titmouse and the Ruby Throated Hummingbird. Other birds that will come close to humans but probably won't be trusting enough to be hand fed are the Cardinal, the Downey Woodpecker, the American Robin, the Purple and House Finches, the Goldfinch and the White-breasted nuthatch. To read more on this story, click here:Can Wild Birds Be Tamed and Kept As Pets?
Most states in the United States do allow ferrets as pets but some states do have laws prohibiting ferret ownership, so it's best to check with your state and municipality to confirm that you are allowed to keep ferrets in the home. As with other 'exotic' animals (such as snakes) your local laws may be stricter than your state laws and regulations may change, so it's a good idea to obtain up to date information from an animal control board or your local government. States Not Allowing Ferrets California or Busted In California, it is illegal to sell, import, transport or to have ferrets as pets unless you also have a permit from the California Department of Fish and Game. The permits are issued only for medical research and other special circumstances and not for home possession. This statewide ban stems from fears that escaped ferrets could establish wild populations that could upset the delicate balance of the ecosystem in the area. To read more on this story, click here: What States Don't Allow Ferrets?
Annapolis, Maryland - The Maryland Department of Agriculture confirmed on Thursday that a single adult spotted lanternfly has been found on a trap in northeast Cecil County. The invasive species poses a major threat to agricultural industries in the region as they feed on over 70 types of crops such as grapes, hops, apples, peaches, and many others. Originally from Asia, the spotted lanternfly was first seen on U.S. soil back in 2014 in Berks County, Pennsylvania. Since then, the MDA has tracked its spread through Pennsylvania to Delaware, Virginia, New Jersey. The MDA will continue to look for spotted lanternfly egg masses through the fall and winter when they can be seen. As cold weather continues to set in, adult lanternflies will begin to die off. When spring comes, each egg mass will produce 30-50 black and white-speckled nymphs. The Maryland Department Of Agriculture asks that anyone who finds a spotted lanternfly, an egg mass, or a nymph, take a picture, put it in a bag, freeze it, and then call (410) 841-5920.
These are 5 of the most common dog grooming mistakes that pet owners make when grooming their pet at home. 1. Lack of training Grooming is simply another aspect of training -- and improper training can create unhappy grooming sessions for everyone involved. If you have a new puppy, it’s important to get them used to brushing, bathing and having their feet, faces and ears handled from day one. Early, grooming is especially important for breeds who will need haircuts throughout their lifetime. For rescues or dogs acquired later in their life, it’s important to approach grooming with a calm manner and lots of praise, making every experience positive, even dogs who are predisposed to having a bad reaction to grooming can be turned around with the right encouragement. Approach a new dog’s grooming in a calm, firm and patient manner, and include lots of positive reinforcement like praise and treats for the dog’s calm cooperative behavior. If you aren't able to be calm and anxiety-free when teaching your pet about grooming, you should continue to use a professional groomer until you get used to it. 2. Long hair + water = mats A common problem that groomers deal frequently is matted fur in longer-haired dogs, but the cause of the mats isn’t always obvious to owners. Most pet owners don’t know that when a dog with long or thick fur gets wet, they have a higher likelihood of getting painfully tight tangles and mats. Brushing as much dead or tangled hair out of the coat before a bath, swim or walk in the rain or snow is recommended. A quick brush to check for tangles before getting wet can prevent a lot of uncomfortable brushing or a shave later on. Always do a quick brush after the dog has dried off, just to make sure any dead hair loosened up by the water comes out. If mats are discovered during a bath, use a conditioner and a comb to loosen them as much as possible, and blow drying will help break the tangles apart. 3. Incomplete grooming Be thorough, many owners concentrate their brushing efforts on their dog’s back, missing other areas that need grooming just as much. It’s important not to forget about those trickier areas like faces, ears, tails, bellies, bums and legs when grooming at home. For shorter-haired dogs, it’s still important to brush all areas to promote healthy skin, oil production and fur growth. Your groomer can tell you which at-home tools are best for your pet, as different coats need different brushes and tools. A part of a thorough groom includes checking the inside of ears and mouths. Ask your vet or groomer what the most appropriate cleaning schedule is for your dog. Expensive and painful dental and ear issues can be easily prevented with regular maintenance. 4. Creating bad grooming habits through improper play It seems cute when your pet snaps frantically at the garden hose, shakes her head when you blow on her ears or plays chase with the hair dryer or vacuum, but this type of teasing can make grooming really difficult for you, or your groomer, and scary for your pet. A professional groom involves equipment that vibrates, shakes, sprays, and blows air at the dog. You need to make sure that they’re not teaching the dog to bite or run when a groomer turns a tool on. According to the professional groomer, “playing shake a paw, or gently grabbing their tails, jowls or ears while giving lots of praise,” makes grooming safer, as the dog won’t overreact to being touched in those areas. 5. Make grooming a year-round priority When the weather starts to get colder, owners understandably want to make sure that their dog has enough fur to keep them warm, but neglecting grooming actually does more harm than good when it comes to protecting that insulating coat. When grooming is neglected for cooler months, matting often occurs before the weather warms up in springtime. The only cure for that kind of severe matting is a short shave, the exact opposite of what dogs and owners want in the middle of winter. Regular maintenance throughout cold wet, months can prevent a bald dog in February. Regular maintenance and appropriate training seem to be the keys to grooming success.
Every sane human being loves dogs. If you enjoy photography and scenic beauty along with dogs at the same time, Czechia based photographer Honza Řeháček is the one for you. He loves travelling and makes sure his dog Sitka is part of his beautiful photography. He pets Sitka in every photo to show his love for photography and his dog. To see these awesome pictures, click here:Photographer Takes Photos of Him Petting His Dog at The Most Stunning Places on Earth
Life can be pretty stressful, so it's important to find time to relax. You could start meditating, enter a yoga class or soak in a warm bath - that is, if you're totally basic. If you're feeling more adventurous, you could try out the latest wellness trend, and pay $300 to cuddle cows. I know this sounds udderly ridiculous. (Sorry). However, animal-assisted therapy has proven effective, and grown in popularity. Science says that animals provide a sense of comfort and improve your emotional well-being. When you bond with your pet, you develop a sense of trust and self-worth. Therapy animals are often prescribed for people suffering from mental illnesses, like depression, schizophrenia and addiction. Sure, dogs and cats are the most common therapy animals, but why not cows? The Mountain Horse Farm is located in upstate New York, and offers customers a "Horse & Cow Experience." In the session, you spend quality time with horses or cows. You can pet them, cuddle them, watch them graze and even go through an obstacle course. The sessions last ninety minutes and are attended by two professionals, a licensed counselor and an equine specialist. The sessions cost $300 for up to two people and $395 for up to four people. To read more on this story, click here:'Cow Cuddling' is the New Wellness Trend for People That Want to Relax
I had no idea my older cat would hiss when my little one got back from the vet. It's called feline non-recognition aggression and here's what to do. Of all the potential problems I worried about when it came time for my kitten’s spay surgery, bringing her home to my older cat never even crossed my mind. Ever since Specter was a wee kitten, she and Ghost Cat have behaved like peanut butter and jelly — they stick together. Ghost Cat even lets the little one pretend to nurse on her. That’s why I was so surprised by what happened when my husband brought Specter home from her spay surgery last week. I had expected Ghosty to greet Specter with open paws and loving licks, but instead I heard the kind of hissing sound Ghost Cat hadn’t made since the first day she met Specter. It was like suddenly Ghost Cat didn’t even recognize her little buddy — because, I guess, she didn’t. After a little Googling I learned that what Ghosty experienced is called “feline non-recognition aggression,” and it can make the best of kitty friends turn on each other. Feline non-recognition aggression isn’t uncommon and happens when one cat in a household comes home from the vet. It makes sense when you look at it from the aggressive cat’s point of view. Their buddy smells different, acts different, and maybe even looks a little different. They don’t know who this imposter is, and so they feel like they need to defend their territory. Knowing what I know now, there is plenty I would do differently after bringing Specter home from her spay. Going forward as a cat mom, I plan to use the following tips whenever one of my kitties is returning home from the vet. To read more on this story, click here: Feline Non-Recognition Aggression: 4 Tips for Reintroducing Your Cats After One Returns From the Vet
At the ASPCA, we encourage all pet parents to spay/neuter their pets. There are so many benefits associated with these procedures, but many pet parents may not be aware that it can be dangerous to not spay their pets until it’s almost too late. One day last spring, Sandra R. noticed that her eight-year-old cat, Petra, wasn’t eating. Her belly distended, she vomited and was lethargic—far from her normal self. Sandra decided to bring Petra to the ASPCA Animal Hospital (AAH). Petra was suffering from a pyometra, an infection of the uterus that that can be fatal in cats and dogs. Pyometra usually occurs in older females, with about 25 percent of them suffering from pyometra before the age of 10. Radiographs showed Petra’s distended belly containing a greatly enlarged uterus filled with pus. Once removed by Dr. Maren Krafchik, the uterus weighed almost three lbs.—a third of Petra’s total weight. Fortunately, Petra has since made a full recovery. Dogs are equally susceptible to pyometra infection. Gershon C., a retired sanitation worker who lives in Queens, took notice when his 10-year-old Rottweiler, Princess, had not eaten for several days and was drinking water excessively. He brought her to the ASPCA, where veterinarian Dr. Marisa Altieri suspected a pyometra. Her diagnosis was spot on, and an ultrasound showed that Princess’s uterus had ruptured in two places. Dr. Altieri set about surgery immediately, removing the uterus, which weighed 20 lbs. To read more on this story, click here:Unspayed Pets Susceptible to Potentially Fatal Infections, Massive Swelling
Two baby elephants have died after suffering a virus at Chester Zoo, leaving staff and visitors absolutely devastated. The zoo announced three-year-old Nandita Hi Way and 18-month-old Aayu Hi Way were fighting for their lives on Wednesday, after contracting deadly elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV). Despite doing everything that could be done to save the elephants using groundbreaking blood transfusion procedures, the zoo has since confirmed that both calves have died. To read more on this story, click here:Two Baby Elephants Have Died After Contracting Virus At Chester Zoo
If you're anything like me, you get creeped out by things pretty easily. The likes of spiders, moths and other types of insects make my skin crawl, so when I heard about the moth-caterpillar-worm hybrid that has been found in Australia, I naturally felt something of a shiver down my spine. Footage of the freaky, and quite frankly disgusting, insect has appeared online after it was uploaded onto Facebook by a man called Gandik. Since the video emerged on Thursday, it has been viewed more than 37 million times by people who are both intrigued and horrified by what they are seeing. People have been lending plenty of guesses as to what the beast is, with one user saying it is a "rare Pokemon" and another one saying that it was "definitely a suicide spider moth demon". Obviously, the insect is neither of those things, and despite it being absolute terrifying and looking like nothing I've ever seen before, it does have an official name. The insect is actually a Creatonotos gangis moth, and the tentacles that you can see coming off of its body are scent organs which emit pheromones in order for the moth to attract potential mates. To read more this story, click here: This Scary Footage of a Mystery Insect Found in Australia is Freaking People Out
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An injured turtle is riding in style thanks to zoo keepers at The Maryland Zoo. The wild eastern box turtle has been outfitted with a wheelchair made of Lego bricks. A zoo employee found the injured turtle in Druid Hill Park in Baltimore, Maryland, in July. "He had multiple fractures on his plastron, the bottom part of his shell," said Dr. Ellen Bronson, senior director of animal health, conservation, and research at the zoo. The turtle underwent surgery to fix its fractured shell. The zoo's veterinary team used metal bone plates, sewing clasps and surgical wire to hold pieces of the turtle's fractured shell together. The shell had to stay off the ground in order to heal, posing a challenge to staffers who had a hard time helping the turtle get around in the meantime. That's when someone came up with the idea of the Lego wheelchair. To read more on this story, click here:Injured Turtle Gets Lego Wheelchair at Maryland Zoo
Bringing a new pet into your home is an exciting event, but it is important to be prepared for the commitment. Cats have a reputation for independence but still require an investment of time and money. There are several things to consider before making the decision to adopt. Do you have other pets in the home? Don't assume your pet will accept the newcomer with as much as excitement as the rest of your family. Particularly if the pet is older, a new addition can be stressful for both animals. Unfortunately, this is the exact time many people choose to add to their pet family. As the existing pet ages, he may become less “fun,” and the idea of adding a cute kitten is appealing. The older pet, justifiably, feels territorial, and may express his feelings in a variety of ways, including aggression toward the new pet, changing his toilet habits, refusing to eat or becoming less social with family members. If you have an older pet in the home, carefully consider how he may react before adding a new cat to the family. Who will take care of the pet? It is easy to say that kids will, but, until they are in their early teens, it is unrealistic to hand over the responsibility of your new cat's care entirely to a child. Encourage children to help and feel free to assign pet care chores, but, unless you or your spouse is willing to assume total responsibility for the cat's care, reconsider adoption. Is your home cat proof? Before bringing your cat home, take the time to walk through the house and determine how safe the home is for your new addition. Kittens are extremely playful and will make toys out of unlikely household items. Toilet paper, tissue, electric cords and houseplants are all tempting, and are all potentially dangerous. Gather the necessary supplies before bringing your cat home. Once your cat is home, you'll want to spend time helping him become acclimated and comfortable in his new environment, not running to the nearest pet store. Your cat will need a litter box, litter, food, dishes for food and water, brush, nail clippers, a few toys and a bed or blanket. Arrange your cat's possessions to give him the best chance of success. Place the litter box in a quiet, out-of-the-way location. Place his food and water near the litter box, but not so close that he will be averse to using the box. By spending some time thinking about what your new cat may need and preparing for his arrival, you increase the chances he will fit into the family with few problems.
“Select” is defined in the dictionary by such phrases as “a preferred choice” or “carefully chosen”. Selecting the family dog should be a well-researched and carefully soul-searched activity. Are you and your family willing to make a 10 – 15 year commitment to this sentient being in sickness and in health, for richer and for poorer, for as long as all shall live? Let’s pose some of the questions family members should discuss before obtaining a dog. How old are the members of my family? If the youngsters in your household are under seven years old, they are usually not developmentally suited for puppies 5 months old and under or toy-sized (under 15 pounds) dogs of any age. Puppies have ultra sharp “milk teeth” and toenails and often teethe on and scratch children, resulting in unintentional injury to the child. The puppy becomes something to be feared rather than loved. Toy dogs are fine-boned, touch-sensitive creatures that do not weather rough or clumsy handling well. They break relatively easily and are quicker to bite than their larger boned, mellower relatives. Unless your children are unusually sensitive, low-key, respectful individuals, a medium-to-large sized dog over 5 months old is usually the safer choice. Regardless of size, all interactions between small children and dogs should be monitored by a responsible adult. When there is no one to watch over them, they should be separated. At the opposite end of the spectrum, are there frail elderly or physically challenged individuals in the household? If so, strong vigorous adolescent dogs are not a wise idea. No aging hips or wrists are safe from these yahoos. People who were one-breed fans throughout their lives may one day find that their favorite breed demands more than they can physically handle. The new dog must fit the current physical capabilities of his keepers with an eye toward what the next 10-15 years will bring. Who will be the dog's primary caretaker? A decade or so back, this was an easy question to answer– Mom. She stayed home and cooked, cleaned and raised the family dog. Most families these days do not have that option. All adults have to go to work and the kids head off to school. This leaves the family dog to be sandwiched in between lessons and sports and household chores and so on. One parent should be designated Primary Caretaker to make sure the dog does not get lost in the shuffle. Some parents bow to the pressure their children put on them to get a dog. The kids promise with tears in their eyes that they will religiously take care of this soon-to-be best friend. The truth of the matter is, during the 10 – 15 year lifespan of the average dog, your children will be growing in and out of various life stages and the family dog’s importance in their lives will wax and wain like the Moon. You cannot saddle a child with total responsibility for the family dog and threaten to get rid of it if the child is not providing that care. It is not fair to child or dog. Choosing the family dog should include input from all family members with the cooler-headed, more experienced family members’ opinions carrying a bit more weight. The family dog should not be a gift from one family member to all the others. The selection experience is one the entire family can share. Doing some research and polling each family member about what is important to them in a dog will help pin down what you will be looking for. Books like Daniel Tortora’s The Right Dog for You or The ASPCA Complete Guide to Dogs can be tremendously helpful and can warn you away from unsuitable choices for your family’s circumstances. How much can I spend? The price to obtain a dog runs the gamut from free-to-a-good-home to several thousand dollars. It does not always hold true that you get what you pay for. The price you pay in a pet shop is usually 2 to 3 times higher than what you pay a reputable breeder for a puppy of similar (or usually better) quality. Too many folks spend all their available cash on a pet shop purchase and then have no money left for initial veterinary care, a training crate or obedience classes–all necessary expenses. Remember, the purchase price of a dog is a very small part of what the dog will actually cost. Save money for food (especially if it is a large or giant breed), grooming (fancy coated breeds such as Poodles, Cockers, and Shih Tzus need to be clipped every 4 to 6 weeks), chew toys (the vigorous chewers like a Bull Terrier or Mastiff can work their way through a $8.00 rawhide bone in a single sitting), outerwear (short-coated breeds like Greyhounds, Chihuahuas, and Whippets must have sweaters and coats in the winter or in lavishly air conditioned interiors), and miscellaneous supplies (bowls, beds, brushes, shampoos, flea products, odor neutralizers for accidents, baby gates, leashes, collars, heartworm preventative etc.). And then, there is the veterinary emergency! Very few dogs live their entire lives without at least one accident. Your puppy eats a battery or pair of pantyhose, your fine-boned toy breaks a leg, your big boy has bad hips, your dog gets hit by a car or beaten/bitten by the neighborhood bully. These surprises can cost $500 or more. Unlike our children, most of our dogs are not covered by health insurance. But “How much can I spend?” is not only a question of money. How much time and energy can you spend on a new dog? Various breeds and ages of dog make different demands on our precious spare time. In general, the Sporting, Hounds, Herding, and Terrier breeds will demand more time in training and daily exercise than will the Guardian or Companion breeds. A puppy or adolescent will need more exercise, training, and supervision than will an adult dog. And the first year with any new dog regardless of age or breed type will put more demands on the owner than any other time, for this is when you are setting up house rules and routines which will last for the lifetime of your dog. America has become a nation of disposable pet owners. Doesn’t your family dog deserve better? Choose wisely, for when the bond breaks, everybody concerned suffers. Make selecting your new family dog a life-affirming act.
Please tell every dog or cat owner you know. Even if you don’t have a pet, please pass this to those who do. Over the weekend, the doting owner of two young lab mixes purchased Cocoa Mulch from Target to use in their garden. The dogs loved the way it smelled and it was advertised to keep cats away from their garden. Their dog (Calypso) decided the mulch smelled good enough to eat and devoured a large helping. She vomited a few times which was typical when she eats something new but wasn’t acting lethargic in any way. The next day, Mom woke up and took Calypso out for her morning walk. Halfway through the walk, she had a seizure and died instantly. Although the mulch had NO warnings printed on the label, upon further investigation on the company’s web site, This product is HIGHLY toxic to dogs and cats. Cocoa Mulch is manufactured by Hershey’s, and they claim that “It is true that studies have shown that 50% of the dogs that eat Cocoa Mulch can suffer physical harm to a variety of degrees (depending on each individual dog). However, 98% of all dogs won’t eat it.” Cocoa Mulch, which is sold by Home Depot, Foreman’s Garden Supply and other garden supply stores contains a lethal ingredient called ‘Theobromine’. It is lethal to dogs and cats. It smells like chocolate and it really attracts dogs. They will ingest this stuff and die. Several deaths already occurred in the last 2-3 weeks. Theobromine is in all chocolate, especially dark or baker’s chocolate which is toxic to dogs. Cocoa bean shells contain potentially toxic quantities of theobromine, a xanthine compound similar in effects to caffeine and theophylline. A dog that ingested a lethal quantity of garden mulch made from cacao bean shells developed severe convulsions and died 17 hours later. Analysis of the stomach contents and the ingested cacao bean shells revealed the presence of lethal amounts of theobromine.
Cuddly pets? No, meerkats are savage little home wreckers: Thanks to THAT ad, meerkats have become trendy pets. But as these owners reveal, they're not as cute as they look... Bedtime in Kimmy Rudland’s house is a hectic affair. When the 27-year-old from Ipswich slides under her duvet, she allows her pet meerkats Lawrence and Lola to join her for a cuddle and catch up on a bit of TV before they turn in. Reclining against her linen sheets, or standing transfixed in front of a cartoon, their native African desert seems a very long way away. For Kimmy, who lives with parents Debbie and Mark, it’s always a special time. ‘Lola enjoys cuddling up with me but Lawrence is usually dashing all over the place playing with tassels on clothes or curtains and digging holes in the cushions and carpets. He tips the bin over as meerkats are very food-orientated and he runs out of the door when you open it. He’s very mischievous. ‘Their favourite programmes are anything to do with animals. They love watching Crufts and cartoons. But Lawrence hates anything with a jingle and will run off if he hears one. He saw the comparethemarket.com advert for the first time recently and was terrified. But they both seem fascinated by the little baby meerkat Oleg.’ The irony is not lost on Kimmy. The insurance advert featuring Aleksandr Orlov, the Russian meerkat puppet, is responsible for one of the most successful — some might argue annoying — marketing campaigns of all time. Since hitting TV screens in January 2009, Aleksandr and his six relatives have featured in 25 commercials. The latest one stars the impossibly cute baby meerkat Oleg on safari in Africa. To read more on this story, click here:Cuddly Pets? No, Meerkats Are Savage Little Home Wreckers
Belogorsk, Crimea - Three cubs of the rare white bengal tiger born in a Crimean safari park were shown to the public. Born in early October, the cubs were still not able to open their eyes and squeaked as they tried to crawl on the park grass. The Crimean safari park chief zookeeper said the birth of the blue-eyed bengal tiger triplets was an important contribution to the park's collection, which also helps saving the animals from extinction. Two of the cubs are male, and one female. The zookeeper reports that the little ones are developing really well. White tigers are a genetic variation of the better-known orange bengal tigers. Between 5000 and 7000 tigers live in the wild, down from 100,000 at the start of the 20th-century. Poaching, deforestation and over-hunting of their natural prey have hit their numbers. The peninsula of Crimea is recognized internationally as part of Ukraine, although it has been largely integrated into Russia after Moscow annexed the territory in 2014.
WARNING: The images in this story show deceased animals, which may be upsetting to some. An animal shelter president is in jail for killing more than 2,000 animals. She killed them in order to save money, even using a lower dosage of the euthanization drug to cut costs, cruelly extending their discomfort before death. The president was helped by the janitor, and they tried their best to cover up their crimes. In front of disconnected security cameras, investigators found large speakers pushed into place. They believe they were used to play loud music to help drown out the animals’ howls while they were being killed. Carmen Marin Aguilar, former president of the Paraque Animal Centre in Torremolinos, on the Costa del Sol, will spend the next 3 years and 9 months behind bars after being found guilty of animal abuse and falsifying professional documents. To read more on this story, click here:Animal Shelter President Jailed After Killing Over 2,000 Animals
Allison Cederberg and Zero Tolerance didn’t start off as the perfect pair, but you wouldn’t know that watching them top the $10,000 WIHS Adult Amateur Hunter Championship. You also wouldn’t know it was their first time ever contesting the Washington International Horse Show, as Cederberg and “Zero” looked like they’d been riding in the Capital One Arena all their lives. “It’s my first year really doing the indoors,” Cederberg, 22, said. “I’d done [the Pennsylvania National Horse Show in] Harrisburg before, but this is my first year doing Capital Challenge (Maryland), Harrisburg, and Washington. My horse was just amazing; he’s incredible, and it’s amazing to get to be here.” Cederberg, Fort Collins, Colorado, went late in the order for the first round, which saw multiple riders struggle at the last line. It wasn’t encouraging to see two horses eliminated and a handful of others rack up refusals. Cederberg and Zero—a 14-year-old Dutch Warmblood (Roven—Kim)—have been together for six years, and the strength of their relationship helped carry them through to a strong first-place finish in the first round. To read more on this story, click here:Cederberg And Zero Tolerance Have Zero Fear In WIHS Adult Hunter Championship
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Louisiana resident Stephanie Morse treats chickens like family, and like any other family member, Morse’s chickens get costumes every Halloween. "Their bare skin is exposed, I just like to put a sweater on them to keep them warm and comfortable, and some of them have more personality," Morse told CBS affiliate KNOE-TV. But people like Morse are being told not to trick-or-treat with their chickens this Halloween. The CDC is asking pet owners to refrain from dressing up their chickens this year due to a particular strain of salmonella. At least 92 people in 29 states have been infected with a strain of multidrug-resistant salmonella after coming into contact with raw chicken products. No deaths have been reported, but 21 of the sick patients have been hospitalized. The CDC warned that people could be infected by handling live chickens. When dressing a chicken, whether in a Halloween costume or a sweater, it is easier for a person to come into contact with harmful bacteria that live on poultry, including salmonella. The agency also warns, "Don't kiss your birds or snuggle them and then touch your face or mouth." Despite this, Morse said that her chickens will continue to strut their stuff.
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Epiphysitis, also known as equine rickets, is a condition of the bones that occurs in horses and is recognized by a slight lameness in the animal. It usually affects the longer bones, occurring when joints, such as the knee joint, become enlarged. While there are several theories as to where this comes from, the most respected one is that it is caused by the overfeeding of young horses.
