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Are you considering adopting a dog? Fantastic! There are so many deserving dogs that are searching for their forever homes worldwide. Some dogs will have no problem in securing an adoptive family. They may be tiny and cute, perhaps they have been featured in a high profile adoption campaign, or maybe they are a breed that doesn’t come up for adoption often. Other dogs are no less deserving but, through no fault of their own, are often left languishing in a shelter for months, or even years, at a time....

You have probably seen a dog bare its teeth at one point or another. You might have thought it meant “stay away” and you were probably right. But what does it really mean when a dog bares its teeth? Do some dogs smile? If your own dog shows his teeth, is it aggression or is he smiling? When a dog bares his teeth he is using body language to communicate. It’s important to have some understanding of dog body language so you can understand what your dog is trying to tell you....

Are you wondering if dogs can eat pecans? While these tree nuts are a nutritious, protein-rich snack for humans, they aren’t the most Fido-friendly treat. When it comes to pecans, it’s best not to share them with your pooch—pecans are considered to be toxic to dogs, due to their ability to grow mold and potentially lead to GI distress, intestinal blockages, or other serious symptoms like seizures in canines. Are Pecans Safe for Dogs?...

Mayonnaise is a favorite condiment for many people. Most dogs love human food, especially foods that are rich, fatty, and flavorful. You may be tempted to let your pooch enjoy a taste of food that contains this ingredient, but can dogs eat mayonnaise without problems? Mayo can be quite tasty to dogs, but it’s not necessarily healthy for them to eat. Is Mayo Safe for Dogs? Mayonnaise contains no ingredients that are toxic to dogs....

Chameleons are known for many of their unique qualities including their sticky projectile tongues, their eyes that move independently from each other, and possibly the most fascinating of them all, their ability to change the color of their skin. But how do they change colors? Can they match any surrounding? And why do they change colors? The ability to morph into your surroundings has been attempted by humans for years and often mimicked by hunters, military, and teenagers sneaking out of the house....

A number of common garden plants are actually toxic to cats. it’s important to be safe and know which plants are potentially harmful and by what degree. Some may cause kitty just a little discomfort, and other plants can be lethal. The plants outlined are some of the more popular plants that can harm your cat. This is not an exhaustive list and you’ll also want to refer to the ASPCA’s toxic plants list to ensure your pets stay safe in the garden as well as with any houseplants inside the home....

What is Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis? Symptoms Causes Diagnosing Treatment Prognosis Prevention Feline viral rhinotracheitis (FVR), a type of herpes virus, is a very common disease in cats that causes sneezing, eye discharge, and other signs of respiratory illness. Although it is not curable once contracted, it can usually be managed well with proper treatment, and a cat can live a normal life with the virus. Proper care will also help prevent the spread of viral particles to other cats....

A number of things can make horses stressed, like being alone, loading and riding in a trailer, veterinary care, farrier work, preparing for and going to shows, changes in weather, changes in the people caring for them, changes in routine such as a new stall or differing feeding schedule, stall rest due to injury or illness, and a stressed handler or rider. Horses express psychological stress in a number of ways....

Learning to ride involves learning to control your horse at all three gaits: walk, trot and canter or lope. After you feel comfortable trotting, the next step is cantering or loping. As your skills progress you’ll learn how to ask your horse for collection, extension, and eventually feel confident enough for a “hand gallop.” What You Need To begin, start riding with your horse on the lunge line with the reins tied out of the way....

Lymphocystis is a common iridovirus found in both freshwater and marine fish. Mostly causing a change in appearance by the presence of pink or white bumps anywhere on the fish’s body. Unfortunately, there is no treatment, but the disease is self limited and does not cause any serious clinical signs. What Is Lymphocystis? Lymphocystis is a viral disease in fish. A member of the iridovirus family, these viruses are classified by having double-stranded DNA structures....

Signs of Pregnancy Housing Feeding Care False Pregnancy Pregnancy Prevention Two common situations may result in having a pregnant rabbit: if you recently acquired a pet rabbit from an environment where it was housed with a male rabbit, or if you have both an intact male and an intact female rabbit who spend time together. Either situation could result in welcoming baby rabbits into this world, and you’ll need to know what to expect next....

Do you use water straight from the tap to make-up your sea salt mix or add top-off water to your system? If so, you may be heading for trouble. Even though drinking water goes through our local water supply purification processes, often impurities or chemicals can still be present in the water. Here are some of the potential problems that may arise when using or adding untreated tap water to a saltwater aquarium or reef tank system....

There are a lot of choices to make when it comes to taking care of a new puppy, and one of the most important is selecting a food that fulfills your pet’s nutritional requirements. Puppies have specific needs, requiring a blend of protein, fat, and calcium to encourage immune system strength, uniform skeletal development, and optimal growth. “Puppy food, as compared to adult maintenance food, is more nutrient-dense, to complement a puppy’s higher nutrient requirements as they grow,” Megan Shepherd, DVM, PhD, DACVN, a board-certified veterinary nutritionist at Veterinary Clinical Nutrition, told The Spruce Pets....

While it’s true that bird species such as Cockatoos and some Conures are prone to flaking on their beaks, flaking is not necessarily abnormal. A Cockatoo is a powder down species so one can normally expect this powdery substance on their beak. But why do beaks get flaky? Well, the answers are down to what they’re used for and what they’re made of. A Bird’s Beak Is Their Tool A bird’s beak is a tool for the bird, much like your hand or foot....

Bed bugs create quite the buzz in homes, hotels, schools, and anywhere else they’ve been discovered recently. Similar to fleas and lice, bed bugs are small but also problematic when they decide to populate an area. Warm-blooded animals, including those that are our pets, are unfortunately prone to getting a variety of insect infestations, including bed bugs. What Are Bed Bugs? Bed bugs are small insects. They do not have wings so they aren’t able to fly to new locales so instead, they catch a ride on clothing, in book bags, or on shoes....

Cats may eat litter—and other undesirable materials—for a variety of reasons. This behavior is referred to as pica, the eating of non-food items. Pica has a variety of causes and may stem from a mom abandoning her kittens, which can manifest itself in nursing behavior. Cats with pica can target all types of materials: plastic, fabric, string, paper, dirt, and even litter. Some forms of pica may be relatively harmless or annoying—such as licking plastic bags—but eating non-food substances can cause intestinal blockages....

Characteristics Breed History Training and Care Health Problems Diet and Nutrition Where to Adopt or Buy Breed Overview Further Research Frequently Asked Questions The Yorkshire terrier is a small toy dog breed native to England with a long, silky coat that’s often black and tan. Also known as Yorkies, these dogs have tenacious but affectionate personalities. They tend to be very vocal, protective, and loyal. And, despite their small size, they can make excellent guard dogs....

Characteristics Origin Colors and Markings Tankmates Care Diet and Feeding Gender Differences Breeding Further Research Zebra danios are a favorite of freshwater fish hobbyists because of their ease of care. They are also prolific breeders and the easiest type of egglayers to breed. With their attractively striped, black and white zebra-patterned bodies, these fish are easy to recognize. Zebrafish are very durable and can withstand an impressive range of water temperatures and conditions....

People often associate the word “parrot” with large, colorful, powerful birds, and rightfully so. As pets, large parrots are certainly bold, eye-catching, dynamic companions. However, not every large bird is a good pet, and not every bird lover is suited to being a large parrot owner. Explore the information on the popular large parrot species below to see if you have what it takes to live with and care for a large pet parrot....

What Is Addison’s Disease? Symptoms Causes Diagnosing Treatment Prognosis Prevention Addison’s disease in dogs is the result of low hormone output from the adrenal glands and is a condition that can make a dog become very ill. When the adrenal glands are not functioning it causes a cascade of problems, including imbalanced electrolytes including elevated levels of potassium in the blood that can lead to heart problems. Understanding the symptoms, most of which are non-specific, can alert you to get your dog the treatment that it needs....