Animal Care

Ant Repellent For Pets

By R Wareham  |  2012/01/04 15:13 Posted in Animal Care  |  Comments Off

There are many different types of ants that can enter the home. Ants are pesky and bold by nature and will infest honey, sugar and other sweet substances; therefore it is important to get rid of them using a natural ant repellent. When using repellents, pet owners have to be extra careful to use something that is a safe ant killer for dog and cat. Some good options for a natural ant repellent are as follows:

Black Pepper Or Vinegar As A Natural Ant Repellent

Ants have an extremely strong sense of smell. They have millions of receptors on their antennae with which they can take in the aromas of food. Vinegar and black pepper both have a very strong smell. A few crushed pepper corns give off a strong aroma which is too concentrated for the ant and this is sure to repel then. A few teaspoons of vinegar used to wipe the counters in the kitchen clean also give off an aroma which is way too strong for an ant to bear. Ants who find food, leave pheromone trails behind them so that the others from the colony can get to the food source by following this trail. Strong smelling substances like pepper and vinegar interfere with this activity by wiping out pheromone trails. Pets keep away from pepper and even if ingested, it is not harmful, which makes pepper a safe ant killer for dog and cat.

Clove Oil As A Natural ant repellent

Anyone who has used clove oil as a toothache remedy will know how strong the smell of clove oil is. It won’t leave your fingers for days. This natural ant repellent works a lot like pepper and repels ants with the intense smell. Drawing a line of clove oil on all entry points will keep the pests at bay. Clove oil will destroy their pheromone trails and will also drive the ants crazy. Clove oil is a safe ant killer for dog and cat.

Being A Responsible Pet Owner

By Carmella W  |  2011/11/21 20:59 Posted in Animal Care  |  Comments Off

Taking your dog, cat or other pet to the Vet on a regular basis is all part of being a responsible animal owner. The animal may not be able to tell you that they don’t feel well but when you love your pet, you should be able to spot the signs.

Taking him or her to the Vet can be a daunting experience particularly if you suspect there is something seriously wrong.   The vet is the expert but he often has other members of staff he calls upon for certain procedures.  One such person is the ultrasound technician.

While most people find employment working as an ultrasound technician in a clinical environment for people, some technicians put their love of animals together with their technical skills and work in a veterinarian practice.  If you are interested finding out more about how to become an ultrasound technician but treating animals not humans, it would be worth speaking to your local vet. He can put you in touch with people already doing this job.

The diagnostic imaging services are used in a similar way to those used for human beings. This form of imaging is less intrusive than other types such as bombarding the body with potentially harmful, but sometimes necessary x-rays.

Ultrasound is better for viewing soft tissue damage, cancerous and benign growths, and in the case of viewing a pregnancy is by far the preferred method since it does no harm to the unborn animal or person. Another advantage is the instant nature of the results. Vets, can get a real time view of whatever is happening which helps with treatment options and also to keep the vet bills down. 

 

 

Why I wish I had a Baby Annabell Doll instead of a Real Pet

By Clayton  |  2011/11/16 10:58 Posted in Animal Care  |  Comments Off

When it comes to owning pets I’ve got to admit that I sometimes think about what life would be like to live without responsibility for an animal.  At the moment we normally have two cats but we are looking after an extra two and two of the cats don’t get on very well.  They are usually fighting, hissing and clawing at each other and it really makes for a stressful time.

When I go and visit my little niece she’s got one of these baby annabell doll toys and all she has to do is tend to the little baby doll if it cries, feed it some pretend milk and that’s only when it is switched on. They say a pet is for life not just for xmas, but they aren’t even mine they are my partners and to be honest I have just about hit the wall, my own ceiling if you like.

The zapf creation baby Annabell doll that my little niece has is looking very, very appealing to me right now.  It’s the worst thing to have to keep playing referee to 2 cats who don’t like each other and i’m also feeling really sorry for the one that gets picked on and it makes me sad. 

All i’ll say is make sure you make the right decision before you go ahead and commit to getting a full-time pet, it’s a real responsibility and not something to be taken lightly!

Arthritis In Dogs

By Christian Gladding  |  2011/11/15 07:06 Posted in Animal Care  |  Comments Off

You might think that arthritis is a condition that only strikes humans. Most of the time people think that only those who are of advanced age develop this condition. Unfortunately, arthritis strikes individuals of all ages and is even common in household pets.

Unfortunately, most pet owners simply fail to consider that their dog may be suffering from a degenerative disease of the joints. Many of the symptoms can resemble depression or normal aging, and so go untreated. It is much preferable if you can recognize the signs and symptoms of dog arthritis (or of cat arthritis, for that matter) early on, so that a veterinarian can advise you in an appropriate course of treatment to minimize your pet’s discomfort.

The most common and easily recognized symptom is unexplained limping. If it appears to be uncomfortable for your dog to sit, stand, or move about, you should have a veterinarian investigate promptly. A further result of the increasing discomfort associated with movement during the onset of arthritis is a general change in lifestyle and behavior. Dogs suffering from arthritis tend to sleep more, and remain stationary for substantial periods of time in order to avoid the discomfort caused by movement.

You Cat Deserves Her Own Cat Furniture

By Clayton  |  2011/11/14 10:28 Posted in Animal Care  |  Comments Off

Cats are special members of the family and can benefit from having their own cat furniture. What is cat furniture, you ask? It can be anything from the lowly litter box to a simple thing like a scratching post, or even one of the sophisticated large cat towers with multiple rooms attached to a central post. Depending upon your budget and space availability, cat furniture can be chosen in many shapes and sizes.

A simple scratching post can save your furniture from your cat’s need to scratch. If you decide to get him or her a scratching post, choose one covered with rope if you afford it. It’s stronger and will last longer than some of the cheaper ones with carpet covering.

If you have room, a cat tower can be an amazingly entertaining piece of cat furniture. It’s great fun to watch as they climb on them. They like to observe their world from a height, and if it affords them a little hidey hole up there from which to do it, then so much the better.

Your cat will love having a place to do her climbing, watching and scratching where she won’t get in trouble. Providing a cat with cat furniture is a real act of love

Dangerous Dog Food

By Ted D  |  2011/09/07 11:53 Posted in Animal Care  |  Comments Off

There are certain foods that should never be used as dog food, added to dog food, or used as doggie treats. You probably already know about some of these, like chocolate and grapes. Any type of chocolate can be bad for dogs, but dark chocolate and baking chocolate are the worst culprits. As for grapes and raisins, they can be deadly for dogs. Just a few grapes or raisins have the potential to result in the death of your beloved pet.

Scientists and veterinarians have yet to figure out what it is in grapes and raisins that affect canines negatively. They do know, however, that grapes and raisins can damage the kidneys and cause complete renal failure. According to the Animal Poison Control Center, just seven grapes or raisins can inflict damage. In just one year alone, 2003-2004, seven canine deaths due to the toxicity were reported.

In addition to grapes, raisins, and chocolate, you should never feed your dog any form of garlic or onions, avocados, or fruits that have seeds or pits that contain cyanide. These include cherries, apricots, peaches, apples, plums, and nectarines. Dogs are notorious for their chewing and crushing abilities, and there’s always the chance that your pooch could chow down on a whole fruit and crush the seeds while doing so. Canines don’t know about dangerous dog food, so you, as the owner, need to take the proper precautions.