Owing a cat can be a very gratifying experience especially if you’ve done your homework and understand the tasks involved in having one as a pet.

The First Few Days
It is only natural that when you take your new kitten home, it may feel lost and disorientated. It will meow in search of her mother, hide in tiny places, refuse to eat and in general be sad. The way to alleviate this stress is to try and make her feel at home and comfortable all the time.

Cats, like many other pets, like good habits. It is important to keep a clean litter pan as they are very fussy. Feeding should be carried out at regular intervals especially in the first few days. It is wise to check the diet required for particular breeds, as various foods will be composed of different nutrients and vitamins which may apply to some breeds and less to others

Attitude and Training
Cats are an independent species and can be very hard to control especially if they have reached a certain age. It is advisable that training starts from the first few weeks. If this is done properly, the sacrifice and time spent to train your cat will serve a lifetime. Here is a short list of some cat attitudes and their meaning:

Biting – starting to having new teeth
Constant meowing – hungry, lonely or possibly dirty environment
Trying to get out the minute you open the door – need more outdoor time

Burying everywhere except the litter box – not pleased with litter box
Rubbing of head against you – marking you or your stuff as its territory
Scratching against windows – frustration of not getting hold of what’s out there
Hissing while petting – thank you, but I had enough of stroking and petting for today!

Care
Brushing and grooming is very important for your cat. As much as diet is the primary important factor in taking care of your cat, psychological attention forms an important part in the formation and character of your cat’s actions. Taking care of your cat, however, does not stop in giving it food and petting it. Reproduction is an aspect one needs to consider when owing a cat. Unless breeding is something you are into, taking precautions such as spaying and neutering your cat are some things to consider.

The experience of owning a cat should be a pleasant one both for you and the cat. Cats are very difficult pets to please and they are very choosy in what they like, but with some research, particularly on the breed one prefers and some good advise, the feeling of having a cat or even many of them, is without doubt an enjoyable and rewarding one.

Sandro Azzopardi
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/cats-loving-and-maintaining-50453.html

Just like humans, dogs require certain vitamins to maintain proper metabolism and fight off disease. Vitamins and nutrients may be obtained through food, directly or indirectly. But sometimes the forms of vitamins found in food are not easily absorbed. For this reason, the nutritional contents listed on dog food packaging can sometimes be misleading.

What you don’t know could turn out to be bad for your dog!

While most of us don’t pay a lot of attention to what we’re feeding out pets, we really shouldn’t be trusting manufacturers to label things accurately and follow regulations. There aren’t many rules about what can be used in dog food, and what you don’t know could make your dog VERY sick.

Not Fit To Eat

Did you know that many different brands of dog food could contain unpleasant substances like hair, ligaments, organs, skin, nervous tissue, and meat from diseased animals? Or that spoiled meat and the bodies of euthanized zoo animals and pets could be used?

Even the good meat that ends up in cat and dog food has undergone heavy processing, losing most of the value it once had. Ingredients like “poultry broth” and “animal meal” are far removed from the meat we imagine.

Animal meal, for instance, is what’s left after fat and meat have been processed out of a carcass. What’s left is dried and ground, resulting in a meal similar in texture to cornmeal. Broths are made up of processed carcasses from many different animal types, in just about any condition.

It’s Not Illegal!

You might think this sort of thing would be against the law. After all, there are strict rules about what can be used in human food and those laws are fairly well enforced. Unfortunately, pet food regulations are a lot looser and are rarely well enforced.

Just about anything could end up in your pet’s food, and the labels mean almost noting, even if they claim the food is balanced and healthy. Those words just indicate that the food has a particular percentage of protein, fat, and artificial minerals and vitamins.

Toxic Additives

All of us have probably heard of the recent pet food recalls created by contaminated wheat gluten from China. However, melamine isn’t the only dangerous additive that can be found in pet food. There are a lot of preservatives that aren’t allowed in human food, and which cause illnesses like cancer, kidney failure, liver failure and more.

Expensive Brands, Too

Unfortunately, it’s not just the cheap brands that are causing the problem. High end and organic foods are also poorly regulated. They might be higher quality, but there’s no good way to tell what ingredients they’re using. That can make it extremely hard to find foods that are appropriate for your dog, since even those recommended by the vet could be dangerous.

Solutions

There are a number of things you can do to protect your dog. First, learn to read the label – ingredients higher on the label are in larger percentages. That means you should look for named meats instead of generic terms, broths or meals.

You can also learn about the additives and preservatives that can hurt your pets, and look for the foods with the lowest percentage of grains. There are also a number of excellent recipes out there that can help dedicated pet owners make their own foods. Just be sure to do something, since most foods are actually dangerous.

Lynn Halladay
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/an-easy-way-to-make-sure-your-dog-is-in-the-best-shape-a-guide-to-the-best-dog-food-682354.html

Age Specific

Choose food specifically made for puppies. As a general rule, it’s better to buy brand name puppy food rather than generic or low-priced food. You can’t really tell from the ingredient whether or not a particular food is good or bad.

Many things that you would look for on the labels of food you buy for yourself — extra protein or vitamins — may actually harm your pet rather. Over supplementing can be factors in major health issues for your dog, including contributing to hip dysplasia or other orthopedic problems.

Size Specific

Look for large breed puppy food if you have a large breed puppy (great dane, rottweiler, german shepherd, etc.) It isn’t just the kibble size that’s different,large breed food is actually formulated differently than regular puppy food. It is specially made for very rapidly growing puppies.

How Often Should I Feed My Puppy?

Very young puppies do better when offered food three times a day. As they grow, they will require fewer feedings, but will eat more at each feeding. If your puppy doesn’t seem to be hungry that often, cut the feedings down to twice a day.

After ten or twelve weeks of age, you should just offer food twice a day — once in the morning, and once in the evening. Even adult dogs should eat two times a day. If you are currently feeding your grown dog two cups of food once a day, try feeding one cup twice a day instead.

Dogs who are only feed once a day often become overly hungry and then overeat when they are fed.

How Much Should I Feed My Puppy?

Let your puppy eat as much as she wants in fifteen minutes and then pick up the food dish. Again, this holds true for adult dogs as well.

Having food continually available encourages overeating. Pet obesity is on the rise, and many people don’t realize that the affects on your dog are just as deadly as they are to people.

Often free-fed puppies never get very hungry, so they become finicky eaters — which leads to feeding treats. Treats are OK, but don’t let them become an important part of the diet.

Remember, those cute little chubby puppies will grow up to be fat adult dogs with orthopedic issues such as hip dysplasia, torn cruciate ligaments, luxating patellas, etc., as well as the same cardiac issues humans suffer.

Canned food vs. dry food.

We used to think that canned food was bad for your puppies teeth. But, research has shown that’s not the case. The myth of dry food being better for your dog’s teeth has turned out to be just that — a myth.

In fact, for young dogs, canned food is probably the better choice overall because of the extra moisture content. Although I will be the first to admit dry food is cheaper and easier to use.

To Recap:

Cheree Miller
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/what-should-i-feed-my-new-puppy-675594.html

Because every dog is unique, it’s sometimes very difficult to determine what causes food-related allergies and what doesn’t. Common pet food culprits include wheat, corn and soy. Various proteins also create their share of problems in certain dogs. I was shocked to learn that some dogs are allergic to chicken, while I know from first-hand experience that my Jack Russell Terrier Lucy used to be allergic to beef. Here’s an approach worth trying if your dog is exessively itching and scratching.

If excessive itching and scratching are the problems, that may simply be the lack of Omega 3,6 and 9 fatty acids in your dog’s diet that’s making their skin and coat dry. Winter indoor heating may also be exacerbating the condition. Adding simple food additives to your dog’s food may be the key without switching diets. Supplements like Mrs. Allen’s Shed Stop, Flaxseed Oil, Pet Botanics Skin & Coat supplement, Royal Coat from Ark Naturals or Health & Shine from Dr. Harvey’s are all viable solutions for supplementing your dog’s diet with the needed Omegas that dog’s and cats need to lubricate their skin and coats.

Excessive and compulsive foot licking, or chewing and biting other parts of the body, are generally a sign that allergies are to blame.

Assuming it’s food allergies and not environmental, many vets and pet nutritionists recommend substituting a protein source that your dog doesn’t normally eat. Lamb is often used for this purpose, because it’s not as common a dog food ingredient. Lamb, in and of itself, is not “non-allergic”, but it’s less common than chicken and beef so it enables you to introduce something new into your dog’s diet, in effect, starting with a clean slate.

Some vets sell expensive “allergy free formulas” but there are ways to figure this out on your own and a lot less expensively. Increasingly, pet owners who have dogs with food allergies are feeding various pet food mixes like Dr. Harvey’s, Solid Gold Holistique Blendz or The Honest Kitchen’s FORCE formula, which is grain free, or Sojourner Farms’ new grain free Europa formula.

Mixes, while a bit more work, allow you to more closely control what your dog is eating by beginning with a good “base” that contains the proper nutrients and vitamins especially formulated for dogs. Then, you can experiment by introducing your own protein sources (whether raw or cooked) and seeing how your dog reacts over the next few days.

Because The Honest Kitchen FORCE Formula is grain free but chicken-based, I would stick to the Dr. Harveys or the Europa which have no protein or grain sources. The Solid Gold Holistique Blendz formula is also a good choice but that already contains fish protein. Because fish-based protein is an unlikely protein source for your dog to begin with, it’s unlikely that it will cause allergy problems now — same theory with the lamb or any other uncommon protein like venison or buffalo or rabbit. If later you find that chicken is ok, I would give The Honest Kitchen FORCE Formula a second look, too.

Beginning with one of these neutral, grain-free formulas, try adding chicken for a week. If that goes well, than your dog is probably ok with chicken. Then try beef. Then lamb. Try, fish, too. If that goes well, than it was probably one or more of the grains.

Now a picture is starting to form. Your dog’s allergies have improved with a grain free diet that includes certain proteins.

As we mentioned before, the point of introducing a different protein source to test your dog’s tolerance is because if your dog is suffering some type of food-related reaction, common sense tells you it’s something she’s already eating. Can’t be having reactions to something she never had yet, right?

Please note that when switching a dog’s food, do it gradually over 5 to 6 days. Begin a 4 to 1 ration, old to new food, than 3 to 2 on day 2, than half and half on day 3, than 2 to 3 on day 4 and 1 to 4 on day 5. Day six, you’re switched over completely. Than the real allergy testing can begin in earnest by sticking with the new protein source for a week and than introducing a new one every week taking note of your dog’s reaction or, hopefully, lack of one.

As you’ve probably figured out by now, there’s no one answer or “Silver Bullet” that will miraculously solve all your dog’s allergy problems overnight. You have to break the cycle by moving your dog to a neutral, grain-free food and begin experimenting with different proteins. Once you find a protein or combination of proteins that work, try slowly introducing grain formulas back into the diet to see if there’s a reaction or not. Using this gradual, common sense method combined with a good quality dog food should have your dog on the road to a happy, itch-free life.

Gene Sower
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/how-to-help-your-dog-with-food-allergies-18332.html

Thanks to modern research and veterinary medicine, dogs are now living healthier well through their golden years. High quality dog care provides your pet with a healthier lifestyle, even if he or she has been affected by environmental and genetic factors.

Smaller dogs have greater life expectancy than most bigger breeds. Actually, believe it or not, a large breed dog is considered senior once they have reached the age of five. On the other hand, it takes ten to thirteen years before a small dog is considered old.

Good dog care is an essential part of a dog’s life. If not properly attended to, the dog may acquire diseases that shorten its life. Some of these may include diabetes, liver cancer, obesity, tumors, kidney diseases, joint pains, and many dental problems. Thus it is very important that you manage your senior dog’s health by attending to the following list of necessary dog care activities.

Senior dog ailments may be controlled if preventive dog care is observed. Dog care routines should include vitamin supplements, nutrition checks, regular visits to the veterinarian, and a regular regimen of exercise.

Dog care may come in forms, including grooming:
* get rid of fleas and ticks
* bath your pet monthly (more frequently as needed)
* feed your pet quality dog foods
* give it necessary vitamins and food supplements
* vaccinations
* trim its nails
* for some, dress your pet for the weather

Any dog care methods can be adhered to as long as they have the common aim of maintaining your dog’s over-all well being.

When your concern is an annoying infestation of fleas, it is not always recommended that you employ the use of powders or sprays. Flea combs work well in eliminating the fleas on your dog, not to mention the enjoyment your dog gets from being brushed.

However, there is a popular medication available, which your veterinarian may recommend, called “Program.” Another important way to get rid of these pests is to keep your home clean. Vacuuming once every two days will keep fleas off your dog for many days.

Good dog care applies to your yard, too. Keep dangerous items away from your pet, and remove objects or situations that may cause harm, such as jagged-edged boards on a broken down fence.

Regular care reduces the chance that your dog will get a fatal disease, like heartworms. Heartworms can be deadly to your dog. It is important to have your dog checked by your vet at least yearly. Your vet can prescribe the proper medicines to keep your dog from getting sick. Regular vaccinations significantly improve a dog’s health. Owning a dog can cost money, but if you consider the benefits of your companion, you will see the costs differently.

Keep an eye on your dog’s diet, as well. Many generic foods and foods you buy in the grocery store contain ingredients harmful to your dog’s health. To ensure your dog’s health, give it a food that has been scientifically formulated. Do not feed your dog “human food”, no matter how much it begs. And don’t forget the most important dog care factor: have fun and play with your dog frequently!

Linda Johnson
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/dog-care-fundamentals-for-responsible-care-110617.html

The following information will make you think twice about having iguanas as pets. Don’t get mislead into buying an iguana just because your friends own one. It is definitely not a easy work taking care of them nor having them around.

Here are a few points to note which will change your mind about having iguanas as pets.

1. Purchasing an iguana will burn a hole in your pocket.

Purchasing an iguana is just the starting and also the cheapest in the field of pet iguanas. In series with that you need to acquire a set of accessories and equipments which is required to take care of your iguana. You should also get a special cage installed with special lighting to maintain its body temperature.

You need to get some shelves for it top climb upon and also a timer to constantly have an eye upon the change in temperature. Much consideration should be given to its diet. Food which is plentiful in calcium and other vitamins are required to keep them healthy. Green leafy vegetables are preferred in this case.

These monetary problems may stand in your way of having a pet iguana.

2 Iguanas are quite costly to maintain.

Its size may deceive you to think it as a harmless silent pet. Even if they are very small they need to be given proper treatment and attention like other pets. They require much care in handling.

Their places should be kept clean by washing it regularly. If you want the iguana to be disciplined and manageable, you should tame it yourself.

In order to get your iguana trained early on, this should be followed daily. You should also catch them young as they become restless and difficult to tame as they grow.

3. Maintain your distance with iguanas.

Like dogs, cats or rabbits you cannot cuddle with your iguanas. You cannot even hold them on your lap. You can only hold them on your shoulders or in your arms. Overlooking this caution may pose a danger to your health.

You should remember this especially during your first contact with your iguana as they will be untamed or else you might end up with a scratch or even a bite.

4. Iguanas are ungregarious.

Iguanas consider all other animals as enemies or dangerous predators waiting to kill them for a meal. So how much ever you try you can never build a harmonious relationship between the iguana and your other pets of the house.

Due to their size iguanas have a great danger of being squashed or stepped upon by other pets that are playing around it. This is one of the reasons why the iguanas prefer to remain in dark and quite corners which they think is safe.

5. Iguanas are to be kept out of small children’s reach.

Never even allow your child to get a thought of having an iguana as a pet. This is because reptiles require proper care while handling them and hence not suitable for children who can be careless on this part.

If you think your child is not mature enough to handle iguanas, better stick to safer pets such as the cats or dogs.

So, which information do you think will stop you from getting an pet iguana ?

Abhishek Agarwal
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/iguanas-as-pets-5-top-reasons-people-dont-keep-iguanas-753283.html