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Is it OK to Own an Armadillo? Behavior and Temperament Housing Diet Vet Care Exercise Grooming Training Purchasing Similar Pets & Breeds Of the 20 species of armadillo in the wild, only a few are kept as pets in the United States, and each has its own unique characteristics. Armadillos are not domesticated pets like cuddly ferrets or puppies; they are wild animals that can be challenging to care for in captivity as they need space to roam and dig, and are active at night....

As challenging as posting the trot may be, many riders find sitting the trot even more difficult. Here are some tips to help you learn to maintain a secure seat at the trot. Sitting the trot is a bit like trying to pat your head and rub your tummy at the same time. You have to relax your leg muscles so that your grip is not pushing your seat out of the saddle while using your abdominal and back muscles to absorb the motion and to follow it....

Cold Weather Generalized Tremor Syndrome Muscle Weakness or Injury Diseases or Medical Reasons Treatment Prevention Many dogs tremble or shake, even when it’s not cold outside. This is especially common in small dogs like Chihuahuas. While shivering can be just a normal fact of life for some dogs, it can also be a warning sign that something is amiss. There are many different reasons that your dog could be shaking, ranging from benign to concerning....

Choosing the best pet bird for your lifestyle can be difficult. And it gets even tougher if you have a busy schedule that doesn’t allow you to spend hours with your bird each day. Birds are social flock animals, and many pet bird species need near-constant companionship from their caretakers. But some species are slightly more independent or are happy with the company of other birds, allowing their caretaker to spend more time away....

What Are Cheyletiella? Symptoms Causes Diagnosing Treatment Prognosis Prevention Are Cheyletiella Contagious? Cheyletiella are mites that can infect several species of animals, including dogs. These parasites cause itching, and when dogs scratch or chew their skin, damage and secondary infections can occur. Cheyletiella are contagious to other animals, and they can even live on humans for limited time periods, so knowing how to eliminate them is a top priority in affected households....

Characteristics Origin Colors and Markings Tankmates Care Diet and Feeding Gender Differences Breeding Further Research The flame-colored Ember Tetra is a stunning, shining addition to any freshwater community aquarium. Small in size, these fish do best in a school, like the Neon Tetra and Cardinal Tetra. The Ember Tetras are easy to keep, just be sure to maintain proper water quality and feed them a good diet. Characteristics Species Overview...

What Is Frequent Vomiting? Symptoms Causes Diagnosing Treatment Prognosis Prevention Frequent vomiting is a problem for some cats, and the cause can be tough to track down. It could be caused by hairballs or a sign of a serious illness. Occasionally, cats vomit on a semi-regular basis for no identifiable reason at all. Complications of frequent vomiting can include malnutrition and esophageal irritation, so it shouldn’t be ignored. A thorough veterinary exam can help determine an accurate diagnosis and treatment options....

Most cats are neatniks and spend up to 50 percent of their awake time indulging in some form of cat grooming. However, grooming is learned by copy-cat behavior during kittenhood. Kittens learn to lick themselves at a very young age and are self-bathing by the time they’re weaned. Understanding Why Cats Groom Grooming does more than keep the cat looking good. This activity maintains healthy skin by stimulating the production of sebum, an oily secretion produced by sebaceous glands at the base of each hair....

Having your horse’s shoes taken off, the hooves trimmed, and the shoes reapplied is called resetting or re-shoeing. Your farrier is the best person to consult in order to determine just when a reset is due. He/she can recommend the type of shoes, a schedule, and any corrective work that could be done to enhance your horse’s hoof health. The condition of your horse’s hooves should not deteriorate because they have shoes on....

Chiggers are a skin mite found in wooded areas of the U.S. as well around the world, and they cause an extremely itchy skin infestation. They go by many other names including harvest mites, red bugs, itch mites, heel bugs, black soil itch mites, duck-shooters itch mites, bush mites, berry bugs, and scrub mites, and they all belong to the family of mites called Trombiculid mites. Dogs usually come into contact with these mites when walking through tall grasses and other vegetation, and the mites attach and remain at the points of contact—most commonly on the paws, legs, belly, head, ears, and area under the tail....

Cats causing damage by scratching furniture and other household items is a common complaint among cat owners. Although, this can be frustrating, it is important to remember that scratching is a normal and natural behavior for cats. Even though the urge for cats to scratch is normal, scratching places we feel are inappropriate, such as our couches and stairway posts, makes it a destructive behavior. Luckily, this is one which can be easily prevented and managed....

Can your dog shake paws on cue? Shake is a fun dog trick that’s fairly easy to teach dogs, and most can learn it quickly. After just a few short training sessions your dog will be offering its paw for a shake every time they meet someone new. Prepare for Training The only things needed when training a dog to shake paws are your dog and a handful of treats. If you are clicker training, you will need your clicker as well....

The Javanese cat, also known as the colorpoint longhair, is related to the Siamese, colorpoint shorthair and Balinese. The Javanese looks like a Siamese cat with medium-long hair in lynx point, tortie point, or red/cream point. The Javanese’s semi-long coat is fine and silky, without an undercoat, so it lies close to the body. At one time considered its own breed by the Cat Fanciers Association (CFA), the Javanese is now a color division of the Balinese, which itself is essentially a semi-longhaired Siamese....

What Is Canine Rehabilitation? Why Choose Canine Rehab Types Find a Professional Physical therapy is not just for people. Dogs can also benefit from techniques used in physiotherapy. It’s called canine rehabilitation and is essentially sports medicine for dogs. Here’s how canine rehab can help improve your dog’s mobility, comfort, and quality of life. What Is Canine Rehabilitation? Canine rehabilitation is a term used to describe physiotherapy or physical therapy for dogs....

Characteristics Breed History Training and Care Health Problems Diet and Nutrition Where to Adopt or Buy Breed Overview Further Research Frequently Asked Questions The Rhodesian ridgeback is a large hound dog breed from Africa that has a short, smooth coat with a distinctive ridge of fur running down its spine. The ridge grows in the opposite direction from the rest of the fur. Having been bred to hunt big game, including lions, ridgebacks possess a high prey drive....

Many aquarium owners have gazed at planted aquariums and wished that they could have live plants in their own aquarium. Plastic plants look good initially in an aquarium, but over time the colors fade and the plastic gets covered with algae. Plastic plants can be removed from the tank and cleaned, but why not start with real aquarium plants instead? Aquarium plants vary in size and coloration, and can be purchased at most fish stores....

Generally speaking, cats are highly intelligent pets when compared to some other animals. It’s not too difficult to identify smart cats—they can be trained, interact well with other animals, and can adapt to new situations and surroundings. Here are 10 of the smartest cat breeds if you’re looking for a clever kitty. Breed Characteristics Commonalities among intelligent cats are that they usually have a lot of energy and a mischievous streak....

Have you ever seen a dog that looked so unfamiliar you just had to know what it was? Besides inherently unique mixed-breed dogs, certain dog breeds aren’t often seen as pets. Some of these dogs are fairly high-maintenance, so people tended to shy away from them for easier breeds. And others simply never took off in popularity despite being excellent dogs. These rare dog breeds range widely in appearance and temperament....

When it comes to pets, the term “body condition” usually refers to whether a pet is too skinny, too fat, or in good condition. It is an imprecise measurement, but with experience, assessing body condition will help keep your pet healthy by allowing detection of changes in weight that might indicate a problem. Weight loss or an underweight condition may indicate a health problem. Conversely, weight gain should be managed to prevent obesity and its associated health problems....

Chickens eat more than just chicken feed, but it doesn’t mean all foods they consume are healthy for them. Pumpkins are a popular food choice for chickens, but are they healthy and safe for a chicken to consume? Find out what types of gourds can be given to your pet chickens and what health benefits they have. Are Pumpkins Safe for Chickens? Yes! Pumpkins are not only safe for chickens to eat, but they love eating them, too....