If you see a dog licking its lips, you might assume it is simply eating or drooling over something. But if there is no food around, a dog might be licking its lips because there is something going on around them that they perceive as a threat. Lip licking is a type of dog communication, and a dog who licks its lips is using body language to let you know how they’re feeling....
Guinea pigs can be lovely pets, but there are a few things you should know before making that big commitment. From the expected lifespan to the social nature of guinea pigs, here are some things to consider before choosing a guinea pig as a pet. 01 of 07 Guinea Pigs Are a Long-Term Commitment The Spruce / Kristie Lee While a guinea pig doesn’t live nearly as long as a cat or dog, they’re still a large time commitment....
The number of coat colors that pet rabbits can come in is long and sometimes confusing. The following list covers the basic color descriptions or color groups found in pet rabbits. Not all breeds of pet rabbits can come in all of these colors or patterns. Colors and Patterns 01 of 28 Agouti Fur Types Mary Swift / Getty Images Agouti: Bands of color occur on each hair in rabbits with agouti fur....
Box Canister Diatomic Fluidized Bed Power Sponge Trickle UGF (Under Gravel Filter) A healthy aquarium depends on maintaining clean water, which requires some means of filtration to remove contaminants and purify the water. Technically, there are three means of filtering aquarium water: Biological filtration refers to the process by which beneficial bacteria break down ammonia and nitrite to transform them into nitrate, which is much less toxic. For beneficial bacteria to thrive, oxygen-rich water is needed, as well as a surface that bacteria can attach to, such as rocks or sand, or the media in the filter....
If you’re an experienced aquarist, chances are good that you’ve considered the idea of owning a pet shark. While most sharks are far too big for a home aquarium, the Brownbanded Bamboo Shark is an exception to the rule. At about 41 inches long, it can be kept in a large 180-gallon tank along with other compatible fish, and it often does well in captivity. The only real challenges in keeping these sharks relate to feeding and health issues: You may need to “target feed” your shark to be sure it eats properly and to provide it with medications needed to maintain its health....
Do you sometimes sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese on your dog’s food to entice them to eat? Maybe you’ve stopped and wondered if your dog should be eating Parmesan. Parmesan is a hard, aged cheese originating from the Reggio Emilia, Parma region of Italy. It is a hard cheese, meaning it is low in lactose, as opposed to softer cheeses such as mozzarella and brie. It is also an aged cheese (sometimes aged up to 12 months), meaning it is higher in sodium than non-aged cheeses....
There are about 1,500 different species of scorpions crawling around the world in a variety of habitats including rainforests, deserts, woodlands, grasslands and more. However, they prefer tropical or subtropical warm environments. Scorpions are becoming increasingly popular as pets, especially emperor scorpions. They are not great for handling, but they are quiet, clean and easy to care for. With a lifespan of six to eight years, they require a fairly long-term commitment....
If you’ve ever seen an African Grey parrot, then you know that they are beautiful birds, but did you also know that they are capable of amassing vocabularies of up to 1,000 words or more, and using the words that they learn to speak in context? To say that these birds are intelligent would be an understatement, and the best part is, that’s not the only thing that makes the African Grey parrot so special....
Behavior and Temperament Housing Diet Vet Care Similar Pets Purchasing Frequently Asked Questions Ferrets are playful pets that are very entertaining to watch. These long, slender animals are smart and curious and thus require training and lots of interaction with people. Some say they are like a combination of having a cat and a dog. They like attention and can bond closely with their humans. Their diet is pretty straightforward, and their housing is fairly easy to set up....
When pet box turtles stop eating for a short period of time but are otherwise healthy, it’s often because there’s something that’s not quite right with their environment. This can cause them stress, which leads to a loss of appetite. So it’s important to make sure you’re providing the correct environment, as well as the proper food choices, to minimize their stress and get them eating normally again. Check the Temperature of the Turtle’s Environment If your box turtle’s environment is not warm enough, its metabolic rate will decrease....
Is your dog a leaner? It might stand or sit by your legs and put much of its weight on you. Leaning is common in dogs, especially large and giant dog breeds. Many dogs that lean also like to lie with part of their body against yours. Is this common behavior normal, or is it a behavior problem? Why Dogs Lean on People The answer is as simple. Dogs lean on people because they want to be close to them....
One of the first recorded instances in history of marine aquatic life being kept in just about any sort of a closed system (aquarium by today’s definition) was thousands of years ago when the pharaohs in Egypt had large enclosures built for keeping saltwater fish and invertebrates for the pharaoh’s viewing pleasure. Those ancient aquariums, by all accounts, weren’t exactly a roaring success. At that time, absolutely nothing was known about what it takes to make a closed system work....
Top Human Dog Names Tips Girl Human Names Boy Human Names Celebrity Human Names Humorous Human Names Names for Dogs A to Z Other Dog Name Ideas Your dog is more than just a pet, he or she becomes part of the family. Why not choose a human name that reflects that? Naming your pet is an important step, and some careful thought can lead to the perfect choice....
Dogs have well-known reputations as loyal, loving companions—the quintessential “man’s best friend.” Dogs communicate their moods, emotions, and desires in a variety of ways, from obvious to subtle. Although affection should be reciprocal, dogs are unique in that many offer us blind adoration, whether we deserve it or not. It is rare for dogs to be indifferent to people, although mistreatment and/or poor breeding can warp the canine personality into a dysfunctional animal....
Reptiles in the pet trade are prone to being very stressed and sometimes ill. There are some specific things to watch out for when choosing a pet red-eared slider to help ensure your turtle isn’t sick before you even get it home. The following tips should help you assess the level of stress and health in a potential pet red-eared slider. Assess Turtle Demeanor and Movements Assess the red-eared slider’s demeanor....
History and Origins Size Breeding and Uses Colors and Markings Characteristics Diet and Nutrition Health and Behavior Grooming Notable Horses Fjord for You How to Adopt or Buy More Horse Breeds The Fjord horse, sometimes called the Norwegian Fjord Horse, has a distinctive appearance. This compact, hardy, mild-mannered horse may be small, but it’s strong enough to carry adults. The Fjord is a great choice for disciplines like dressage and driving, and if you’re looking for an equine partner who’s happy to go to work and who isn’t easily spooked, you’ll find it in this unique breed....
Several species of birds are able to imitate human speech, but parrots have mastered the ability. They don’t do it to have intimate conversations with their owners but rather to “fit in” with their flock, according to a 2015 study published in Plos One. The lucky owners of the parrots that imitate human speech are often at a loss as to what types of words and phrases would be best to teach their pets....
The word parasite refers to an organism that lives off of another—in this case your puppy—at the expense of that puppy. Parasites may live on the skin, within the skin, and inside the body such as in your puppy’s intestines or bloodstream. They may be bugs or worms you see, fungus that’s microscopic, or single-cell organisms like protozoan. These parasites can cause aggravating symptoms at best and deathly illness at worst....
Some snails, such as the Mystery Snail and Nerite Snail sold in fish stores are nice additions to aquariums and do not readily multiply in the aquarium, But Pond Snails, Rams Horn Snails and Trumpet Snails can rapidly reproduce and overrun a tank quickly. One day you gaze at your aquarium and notice a small snail on the glass. It looks harmless enough. A week later, the snail has half a dozen companions....
What is a Runny Nose? Symptoms Causes Diagnosing Treatment Prognosis Prevention Runny noses can be annoying for cats, but this common occurrence may have many causes. A cat can have a runny nose because of an allergy, upper respiratory infection, or more complex disease. Sometimes a runny nose will clear up on its own, and other times, especially if there are other symptoms present, a trip to the vet will be necessary....
