Posts

What Is Heart Failure? Symptoms Causes Diagnosing Treatment Prognosis Prevention Dogs are less likely to suffer heart failure than humans. But, many of the same risk factors are involved and may increase the likelihood of an acute—and possibly fatal—cardiac event. These factors include obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, poisoning, or serious bacterial infection. While there are many forms of canine heart disease, all can ultimately cause heart failure. What Is Heart Failure?...

How to Tell If Your Mare is In Foal Care and Feeding Improper Assumptions If you’re wondering if your mare may be pregnant, there are a few ways to figure it out. The gestation period of a female horse is approximately eleven months. For the first few months, there may be no visible signs that the mare is carrying a foal. If you suspect your mare is in foal, it is essential that she is cared for properly right from the beginning of her pregnancy, to optimize both her health and the health of the foal....

Characteristics Breed History Training and Care Health Problems Diet and Nutrition Where to Adopt or Buy Breed Overview Further Research The Shetland sheepdog, or Sheltie, is a small herding dog breed from Scotland with a long, straight, thick coat that comes in a variety of shades. Shelties look like a miniature version of the rough collie. They have upright ears that slightly bend over, an alert expression, a low tail, and an agile build....

SportDOG Brand 425X Remote Trainers Effective 21 stimulation levels, plus vibration Waterproof Long battery life Includes training guide Ability to add more collars Confusing controls Moderate range Expensive The SportDOG FieldTrainer 425X collar is marketed toward those training their dogs for sport, but it’s an effective tool for your average pet owner, as well. Design Battery Life Range Effectiveness Humane Price Competition Final Verdict Specs We purchased the SportDOG FieldTrainer 425X Training Collar so our reviewer could put it to the test with her dog....

If you have a new dog or one that just needs more exercise, training your dog to fetch is one of the easiest ways to ensure they stay healthy, happy, and well-behaved. From balls to discs to automatic launchers, there are plenty of fetch balls and toys on the market to choose from. “When choosing a fetch toy, be sure to pay attention to the size and the toy’s intended use,” explains Fear Free Certified Professional Kelly Dunham, DVM, an area medical director with IndeVets....

The most common horse stall bedding materials are straw and shavings. Depending on what’s available in your area, there may be other options you can consider. These are only a few of the many bedding options available. Straw Clean straw is preferred for mares and very young foals. Some horses will eat straw bedding-a problem if you are trying to keep your horse on a diet. Oat straw is more absorbent than wheat straw, but it is also tastier....

The live rock in your saltwater aquarium turning white is a common problem. Many things can contribute to this trouble, but a lack of iodine and calcium or overexposure to light are the most likely causes. Live Rock Live rock is composed of the calcium carbonate skeletons of coral organisms, with many forms of microscopic and macroscopic marine life living on it and inside of it. Live rock becomes the main biological filter of a saltwater aquarium and provides shelter to the creatures in it....

Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 Socializing The all-important first six weeks in a cat’s life will do much in determining its personality and character for the rest of his life. This period is extremely important for the health of the developing kitten. Very young kittens are susceptible to several serious threats, such as parasites and upper respiratory infections (URI), which when combined with other problems can lead to fading kitten syndrome (FKS), a serious and often fatal condition....

Parrots have the capability to be very loud, and some species are prone to more noise than others. In general, large birds are able to produce louder vocalizations simply because of their size, though there are many chatty small birds, as well. Some of these birds only emit a loud call from time to time while others tend to chirp a lot throughout the day. If you don’t mind a rather noisy companion, here are eight of the loudest parrots....

Characteristics Breed History Care Health Problems Appearance Diet and Nutrition Breed Overview Where to Adopt Further Research The Abyssinian cat, nicknamed “Aby,” is a medium-sized cat with a lean, muscular body and a short coat. Unlike many domesticated cat breeds, it is extremely active and playful; it loves to climb tall pieces of furniture, tackle toys, and play interactive games with its owners. Friendly with children and other pets, the Abyssinian makes an excellent addition to an active family....

It’s the nature of puppies to get dirty and need a puppy bath so make plans now to learn how to bathe a puppy. While some breeds need more bathing than others, excessive baths can strip natural oils from the coat and dry the skin. Unless they get quite grubby, have a close encounter with a skunk, or are dog show prospects that need frequent grooming, most puppies shouldn’t need a bath more than one to four times a year....

Kittens go through a lot of changes very soon after they’re born. The first few weeks of their lives are full of new sights and sounds, and by the time they reach six weeks of age, they are almost ready to leave their mothers. But that doesn’t mean the growing, changing, and learning comes to a halt. Between the ages of six and 12 weeks of age, there are still several big milestones that a kitten needs to pass....

What is Moon Blindness? Symptoms Causes Diagnosing Treatment Prognosis Prevention Moon blindness is a common and painful condition of one or both eyes in horses and is the most common cause of equine blindness worldwide. Named so because people in the 1600s thought that the timeline of the disease followed lunar phases, moon blindness is also known by its medical term equine recurrent uveitis or ERU. Owners may notice their horses squinting or tearing, and the cornea, or clear layer that covers the eye, may turn whitish....

Characteristics Breed History Training and Care Health Problems Diet and Nutrition Where to Adopt or Buy Breed Overview Further Research The Mountain Cur is an intelligent, hardworking, and loyal dog breed, making it a dependable addition to many families. They love the great outdoors and are the ideal dog for owners who like to explore nature and stay active. However, their need for physical exercise—and their tendency to be reserved with strangers—means they aren’t for everyone....

Grieving for the loss of your pet is an important part of coping. If you have lost a special animal companion, the emotions can become overwhelming. Take some time out to grieve your loss. Celebrate the bond you had with your pet. Don’t be afraid to cry. It takes time to heal. What to Expect After Your Pet Dies Because your pet was an everyday part of your life, even the most mundane tasks can feel heartbreaking....

Rabbits spend a good deal of time grooming themselves but that doesn’t mean we don’t have to lend a helping hand once in a while. Rabbits usually do not need baths but regular brushing helps keep their coat in good condition and helps prevent hairballs and nail trims help keep your rabbit’s feet healthy and from getting stuck in carpeting. A little grooming goes a long way. Brushing Rabbits If you have a short-haired breed of rabbit, it is a good idea to brush them at least once a week....

What Is Rat Poisoning? Symptoms Causes Diagnosing Treatment Prognosis Prevention Rat poisoning is a serious problem for dogs because rodenticide has an enticing flavor, designed to attract rodents. You may already know that rat poison is dangerous for dogs, but not everyone understands that ingesting even a small amount can be deadly. Unfortunately, it is relatively common dogs for dogs to sniff out and eat rat poison if it is accessible....

A straight bar snaffle is simply a straight mouthpiece attached to two large rings. The rings are loose or fixed. These bits are often found old and rusty at yard sales and farm auctions. Some will look quite primitive because they were probably homemade at a local forge. Straight bar snaffles are still made, and the one pictured has a rubber mouthpiece. There are straight bar snaffles that have “happy mouths” or other changes, but these are not quite the same as the old bits that have only a very straight mouthpiece and can be far more comfortable for a horse to carry....

Spaying or neutering puppies is the responsible way to care for your pet, and it’s important to know when to do it. Female pups mature more quickly than you may think. They can become pregnant as early as 5 or 6 months old, and most dogs can produce two litters a year. Spaying and Neutering The words altering, sterilizing, and neutering all refer to surgery performed by a veterinarian that removes the reproductive organs of either a male or female animal, making them unable to reproduce....

If you’ve got horses, you’ve got manure. Being interested in manure may seem odd or distasteful to some people. However, horse owners know they need to take an interest in their horse’s manure, as the consistency and quantity is an indication of their horse’s health. Compaction colic can occur if a horse becomes constipated. Diarrhea can be a sign of a very nervous horse. It’s not unusual to see when a horse is in the trailer or at a competition, or it can be a sign of illness that should not be ignored....