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If you want your dog to thrive, then you need to learn the best ways to keep him happy and healthy. Dogs with proper health care and appropriate behavior will also make your life more delightful. Your dog’s health and behavior go together and one directly impacts the other. A sick dog might exhibit certain clues of illness or develop behavioral problems, while a healthy dog learns faster and shows positive body language....

With the right tank, care and attention, your goldfish can live for well over ten years. You want to make sure that you pick a name that you like, as you are, hopefully, going to be using it for a long time. If you are struggling, we have provided a list of classic, and a few leftfield, suggestions for goldfish names that will hopefully help to inspire you. Oh, and when we say classic, we have still avoided the old faithfuls like Goldie, Flipper and Bubbles....

Hermit crabs are among the more unusual pets, although they do make interesting, easy care companions. They have distinct personalities, are active and curious, and their unique characteristics and low maintenance requirements make them good pets. Hermit crabs are not “true crabs.” They have a smaller, soft abdomen which they protect by living in an empty snail shell. They must find larger shells as they grow, and owners of these pets must provide progressively larger shells as their pets grow....

What Is Eclampsia? Symptoms Causes Diagnosing Treatment Prognosis Prevention Eclampsia is a life-threatening drop in blood levels of calcium that strikes some nursing dogs, usually when the puppies are one to four weeks of age. Also called puerperal tetany, milk fever, or hypocalcemia, eclampsia can cause agitation, muscle tremors, seizures, and even death if not treated right away. Although eclampsia is relatively uncommon, you should know the signs and symptoms if you own a female dog used for breeding, especially if your dog is a small breed, or has given birth to a large litter of puppies, as these are the two most common scenarios for the development of this disorder....

Have you ever considered fostering a dog? As a pet foster family, you can help homeless dogs without making the long-term commitment of adoption. However, there are a few things you need to know before you foster a dog. Why Foster a Dog? Many regions have overflowing animal shelters filled with dogs in need of homes. Many are euthanized because there is simply no place for them to go. For rescue organizations, foster owners are one of their most valuable resources....

When summer approaches, it’s natural for people to want to spend more time outside with their family, friends, and pets. But sometimes, the heat can be too much. People may wear less clothing and more breathable fabrics to prevent becoming overheated outside, but dogs aren’t able to shed their fur in order to stay cool. It’s important for dog owners to know when it’s too hot for their dog to be outside, as well as to recognize the signs of overheating....

Socialize Your Dog Spay or Neuter Obedience Training Positive Reinforcement Body Language Problems and Proofing Behavior Any dog can bite. According to the Centers for Disease Control, dogs bite around 4.5 million people each year. This number may seem frightening, but there are a number of things you can do to ensure that your dog doesn’t contribute to this dog bite statistic. When a dog bites a person, it is often out of fear or protectiveness, or when they aren’t feeling well and want to be left alone....

History Temperament Speech and Vocalizations Colors and Markings Care Health Problems Diet and Nutrition Exercise Where to Adopt or Buy Further Research Smart, energetic, and loving little parrots, jenday conures make good pets for owners who can spend time socializing with them. Colorful and intelligent, these birds have been popular pets for many years. They are suitable for families with children. If you’re looking for a big bird personality in a compact size, this colorful and friendly species may be a good fit....

History and Origins Size Breeding and Uses Colors and Markings Characteristics Diet and Nutrition Health and Behavior Grooming Notable Horses Rocky Mountain Horse for You More Horse Breeds Good-natured, surefooted, and hardy, riders love the Rocky Mountain Horse for many different reasons. But one of the horse’s most appealing characteristics may be its four-beat single-foot gaited. That gain conserves the horse’s energy but makes for a smooth, enjoyable ride, making the horse suitable for endurance riding, trail riding, and more....

Urine leakage is unintentional and is different than voluntary urination or even just urinating when excited, nervous, or fearful. Some dog breeds are more susceptible than others to have urine leakage issues. It occurs in older dogs or it is a sign that your dog may have a problem that requires veterinary attention and should not be ignored. It’s important to recognize the signs of urine leakage and when to seek medical help if it continues....

Any owner of a teething puppy can attest, dogs like to chew on all sorts of things. The act of chewing itself can seem like nothing more than a nuisance, but if your dog happens to swallow anything that he may be chewing on, well, that’s another matter entirely. One such item dogs seem to routinely swallow is socks. Although socks aren’t on par with ingesting toxic doses of medication or food items, they can certainly be cause for concern were your dog to eat any....

Some dog breeds have more care requirements than others. For instance, if you’re considering a working breed, you’ll need to be aware that it will likely require more exercise and enrichment than many other dogs. Likewise, a long-haired breed generally needs more grooming than a dog with a short coat. And some dogs’ instincts, such as their prey drive, are very hardwired, so you’ll have to put in extra training to keep them manageable....

There is nothing wrong with popular cat names like Sooty, Tiger and Oscar, but, sometimes, standing out from the crowd and picking from more unique male cat names can be a good thing. Bringing home an adopted cat or new kitten can be such an exciting and overwhelming time. It can be hard to be struck by inspiration when you are focussed on getting your cat settled into their new home....

Because cats are such smart, sentient creatures, they can have a long list of likes (and, perhaps, an equally long list of dislikes!) In most cases, the things your cat loves are the very same things you love—like fresh, tasty food, long naps in cozy spots, and plenty of fun activities, to name a few. Just like us humans, the things cats find interesting, fun, or exciting can change as they age—your cat may love her toy with feathers one day, but find it boring the next....

What Is Bartonellosis? Symptoms Causes Diagnosing Treatment Prognosis Prevention Bartonellosis, sometimes called cat scratch fever, is a bacterial infection that can affect dogs as well as cats and humans. Although rare in dogs, bartonellosis can be acquired from external parasites like fleas, ticks, and lice (not from cat scratches, as the common name implies). This infection can cause an array of symptoms, including vomiting, skin redness, swollen lymph nodes, eye inflammation, fever, and irregular heartbeat....

Since many people like to share what they are eating with their canine companions, it’s important to know what is and is not safe before giving it to a dog as a treat. Thankfully mangos are usually safe, as long as they are prepared a certain way and only fed in moderation. In fact, they may even offer some healthy nutritional benefits. That being said, mango should only be used as an occasional treat, rather than a regular part of your dog’s diet....

Many dogs suffer from fears and phobias. These phobias can have a variety of causes, including​ a lack of early socialization oe a negative past experience. Signs of fear in dogs include cowering, trembling, drooling, barking, destructive behavior, and, in some cases, aggression. Is your dog fearful? Have you determined why? Learn about some of the most common dog fears and phobias so you can help your dog. 01 of 10 Fear of Thunder Gandee Vasan/Stone/Getty Images Astraphobia, fear of thunder, is very common in dogs....

What Is Degenerative Myelopathy? Symptoms Causes Diagnosing Treatment Prognosis Prevention Frequently Asked Questions Degenerative myelopathy affects dogs in a major way, but initially it may be confused with other conditions or disease processes. By understanding more about this genetic issue, a dog owner that is seeing signs of degenerative myelopathy, such as limb weakness, can be better prepared for how to manage this condition to provide the best quality of life possible for their pet....

Casual aquarium hobbyists and fish enthusiasts usually refer to different types of fish by their common names. Occasionally these names match the official, scientific names of the fish (such as the Bettas or Tetras), but more often the common name bears little resemblance to the scientific name by which the fish is categorized in the scientific literature. If you want to learn more about a specific species of fish, it’s crucial that you know its official Latin name....

What Is Mange? Symptoms Causes Diagnosing Treatment Prognosis Prevention Types Mange is a rare skin condition caused by various types of skin mites that can affect all breeds of horses. It is extremely itchy and irritating, and severe mite infestations can cause progressive skin lesions from mite damage and scratching. If left untreated, mange lesions can become widespread over a horse’s body, leading to great discomfort and emaciation due to anorexia....