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Characteristics Breed History Training and Care Health Problems Diet and Nutrition Where to Adopt or Buy Breed Overview Further Research The Pumi is a medium-sized herding dog from Hungary with signature corkscrew curls on its double coat, a curled tail, and a lean, athletic body. These adorable dogs are fearless workers and easily recognizable by their eye-catching fur. Bred to be a compact sheepdog, the Pumi was once responsible for moving flocks on narrow roads between pastures in western Hungary thanks to its penchant for gathering, driving, and keeping livestock under control....

Veterinary visits are a vital part to our cat’s care. Many cats find traveling and carriers to be an unpleasant experience. Most cats don’t have much experience with traveling, and when they do, it isn’t positive, so it makes sense why many cats are not fans of traveling. Although travel can be stressful, there is a lot you can do to make traveling and carriers less stressful and even enjoyable for your cat(s)!...

Go to any pet shop and you are likely to see many water treatment products. Making sense of which ones you need, as well as when and how to use them, can be somewhat daunting. This water treatment primer covers the major types of water treatment products, including what they are used for and best practices for aquarium water treatment. 01 of 08 Algae Treatments Sooner or later algae occurs in most aquariums....

Regurgitation, perhaps one of the most perplexing bird behaviors, occurs when a bird throws up small amounts of food with the intention of feeding it to a loved one. Regurgitation is perfectly normal behavior in birds, and not a reason for concern. Vomiting, however, is a sign of illness that should be addressed immediately. Why Do Birds Regurgitate? Regurgitation is a natural behavior related to bird parenting. In most cases, a regurgitating bird will bob its head and stretch out its neck during the process, and the food it produces will not be digested....

Grapes are a healthy snack for human; they are juicy, sweet, and almost irresistible. It has long been known that grapes are toxic to dogs, but what about cats? Can cats safely eat grapes? Can Cats Eat Grapes? There is much more research pertaining to dogs and grapes, as well as more documented cases of toxicity. However, cats can also become ill after ingesting the fruit. Illnesses seen in cats after eating grapes are typically related to the gastrointestinal tract, such as vomiting or diarrhea, but there have been reports of more serious issues, such as kidney failure....

Fish can be a source of lots of key nutrients, such as essential omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D. But while it’s a well-known fact that dogs are carnivores, many pet owners wonder if it’s safe to share seafood, such as shrimp, with their pooch. From jumbo and cocktail to battered or broiled shrimp, it can be found everywhere from fast food joints to five-star restaurants…so is it okay to share this ubiquitous fare with your favorite pup?...

Characteristics Origin Colors and Markings Tankmates Care Diet and Feeding Gender Differences Breeding Further Research Best known for its coppery spots that look like taillights, the head and tail light tetra hails from freshwater rivers and streams in South America. A peaceful schooling fish, this tetra species does not need a large tank. It does, however, need plenty of open swimming space and subdued mood lighting to keep it content....

Your puppy needs to learn to “sit" and “stay” on command as a form of polite doggy behavior. These commands are useful in order to teach positive obedience in situations where your pup might be too hyper for the occasion. Learning to sit can also be used to request you to open the door or give a toy, or a thank you for serving food. Planting their tails also helps keep high energy pups under control....

Tail chasing may seem like a strange quirk that your dog has, but most behaviorists believe it is actually a normal and essential component of play activity. Excessive or compulsive tail chasing, though, is not normal dog behavior and may require intervention. Why Do Dogs Chase Their Tails? Tail chasing is an activity that begins in puppyhood. Puppies may chase their tails as a way to explore their own bodies and explore the world around them....

Characteristics Origin Colors and Markings Tankmates Care Diet and Feeding Gender Differences Breeding Further Research Serpae tetras are popular flame-colored fish that move in bright red schools through your aquarium. They’re quite popular in a community aquarium because of their beauty and ease of care, though they can become mildly aggressive when among slow-moving species. Add a school of six or more serpae tetras to your aquarium along with plants, rocks, and caves to keep them interested, and enjoy watching as they explore....

What Is Spinal Stenosis? Symptoms Causes Diagnosing Treatment Prognosis Prevention Spinal stenosis, and more specifically lumbosacral stenosis, is a painful disease affecting the lower level of the spinal cord of a dog and can cause urinary, bowel, and walking problems. Knowing what this disease is, how it is diagnosed, and what type of treatment options exist can help prepare you in case your dog is diagnosed with this problem....

Maybe your tiny dog can’t jump up on the bed or your senior pup has difficulty leaping onto the couch. You might want to look into dog stairs to make the trip up and down so much easier. “If you have a teacup Yorkie and an extra tall bed, the only way they can snuggle you is for you to pick them up and then put them back down. However, with stairs, they can come and go at their leisure,” says veterinarian Dr....

Many people who ride horses don’t consider the fact that—despite popular myth—a horse’s back is not actually designed to carry a load. When a horse carries a rider, it must use its muscles and balance in unnatural ways. Ideally, horses are schooled in a way that strengthens their muscles, and the rider rides in a way that helps the horse balance. Unfortunately, this is frequently not the case. When is Treatment Necessary?...

Cats can sometimes be found napping in some of the strangest locations. What if your cat has taken a sudden liking to napping in her litter box, though? There are medical reasons as well as behavioral reasons for a cat to suddenly start lounging where they go to the bathroom. Your vet can help you figure out the underlying reason for your cat’s questionable choice in sleeping arrangements. Medical Causes In the world of pet care, a behavioral reason for anything is a diagnosis of exclusion....

One key feature that Persians, outdoorsy Maine coons, and rare, unique Scottish folds all have in common is their long, coifed coats that make you want to pet them for days. Longhaired cats are the result of a genetic mutation, and researchers have narrowed down the gene to the fibroblast growth factor 5 or FGF5, for short. That’s why it’s not unusual to see some kittens from the same litter with short hair and others with long....

Some dogs sport icy-colored irises as a breed trademark, while others may get blue eyes as a recessive trait. Other dogs with a particular coat color, specifically merle (mottled patches) or piebald (a white coat with spots), tend to get blue eyes passed on to them. Some of the most common breeds to have blue eyes include huskies, border collies, and Weimaraners. If your dog has the merle or piebald gene, it cannot consistently create pigment, which would explain the light eyes....

Did you know that a cat’s sense of smell is about 14 times stronger than a human’s? That’s because the total capacity of the cat’s nasal organ is comparatively larger than that of a human. It could be said that a cat’s nose is its most important sensory organ. Cats depend on their sense of smell for their very survival. A cat uses scent to sniff out food, mates, and enemies, and to identify the limits of the territories they have previously marked....

Behavior and Temperament Housing Heat Light Substrate Food and Water Health Problems Choosing Similar Species The Chinese fire belly newt (also called the oriental fire belly newt) and the Japanese fire belly newt are some of the most common amphibians sold as pets. In the wild, the Chinese fire belly newt is found at low and middle elevations around slow-moving bodies of water in China while the Japanese fire belly newt is found in similar locations throughout Japan....

What Is Atopic Dermatitis? Symptoms Causes Diagnosing Treatment Prognosis Prevention Atopic dermatitis is a pruritic (itchy) allergic condition that causes cats to itch, lose hair, and develop scabs. Just like humans, cats can develop allergies to environmental irritants, and atopic dermatitis is an external sign that a cat’s body is reacting poorly to the offending allergen. Treatment varies in both approach and effectiveness, but eliminating the allergen is a sure-fire way to decrease a cat’s discomfort....

Some reptiles like to burrow, others prefer to bask, and some need a humid environment. Different kinds of bedding offer different risks and benefits. Depending on what kind of reptile you care for you may need to take some of these things into consideration. Here are some common options for reptile bedding or substrate. Wood Bedding made from wood comes in different forms, sizes, types, and even colors. The most common types of wood used to make bedding are pine, cedar, Douglas fir, aspen, and cypress....