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Dogs and kids make a great combination under the right circumstances and often form lifelong bonds. When a dog is afraid of children, though, it’s not always safe to bring them together. It’s actually fairly common for dogs to be wary of kids (and vice versa), and if your dog is among them, there are ways you can address its fears to help prevent confrontations. Why Do Dogs Fear Children? There are two major reasons why dogs may develop a fear of children....

Similarly to a person catching a cold or getting pneumonia, turtles and tortoises are prone to developing respiratory infections. While our pet turtles don’t have play dates with other turtles that are sick, they are often subjected to an environment that may cause them to get sick. How Does a Turtle or Tortoise Catch a Cold? One of the most common reasons a turtle or tortoise gets a respiratory infection is due to its environment being too cold....

There are many substances around the home that can hurt cats so it is important for cat owners to be aware of what can cause their kitties harm. Keeping harmful substances out of a cat’s reach or locked up and checking the label before feeding something to your cat can help decrease the likelihood of your cat ingesting these items. Why Are Some Substances Harmful to Cats? Cats metabolize many things differently than humans and dogs so this means their bodies may absorb things in a way that can cause them harm....

If your dog loves chasing frisbees, it’s important to buy one that’s made for dogs, rather than repurposing a frisbee intended for humans. This can protect your dog from injury to their head, teeth, and gums. The Chuckit! Paraflight Frisbee is our top pick. If you want an affordable multipack of frisbees, the Hyper Pet Flippy Flopper Frisbee is the best option. When shopping for a dog disc, look for one made of rubber or nylon....

What Is Vitiligo? Symptoms Causes Diagnosing Treatment Prognosis Prevention Vitiligo (vi-ti-LIE-go) is a disorder that alters the pigmentation of a dog’s skin or hair, creating patches that appear to bleached. Although it may look alarming, especially if it progresses to larger areas, vitiglio is not harmful to a dog’s health. Certain breeds are more likely to develop this condition due to genetic factors, and humans can also also be affected by vitiglio, but it is not contagious....

Portuguese dog breeds vary widely in appearance, temperament, and purpose. But these breeds all can trace their roots back to Portugal. Living in a country dependent on agriculture and maritime activity, Portuguese dog breeds tend to be built for a life outdoors—on land or in water. Large shepherds, hunting dogs, and watchdogs are in the majority among Portugal’s native canines, but there are smaller companion dogs as well. Here are 10 Portuguese dog breeds to know....

Characteristics Breed History Training and Care Health Problems Diet and Nutrition Where to Adopt or Buy American Hairless Terrier Overview More Dog Breeds and Further Research Frequently Asked Questions The American hairless terrier, sometimes known as AHT, is a small- to medium-sized dog breed that’s grown in popularity since its development in the 1970s. The dog is recognized for its usually hairless body, but it does have eyebrows and whiskers, along with its signature erect, alert ears....

Piranhas are often depicted in adventure movies as ravenous and ready to bite in jungle rivers. And yet, piranhas are also kept by some people as specimens in home aquariums. This contradiction may leave hobbyists wondering just how dangerous piranhas actually are. We break down how dangerous piranhas actually are and if you should keep them in your aquarium. How Dangerous Are They? Red-bellied piranha attacks tend to peak in the dry season when food is scarce and water levels are low, which leads to heavier-than-usual concentrations of hungry fish....

History Temperament Speech and Vocalizations Colors and Markings Care Health Problems Diet and Nutrition Exercise Where to Adopt or Buy Further Research The harlequin macaw is a beautiful, popular hybrid parrot that makes an excellent pet for the right person. Macaws are needy birds, requiring experienced or dedicated parrot handlers. This full-sized macaw tends to do well with families; these birds thrive on socialization and a lot of interaction with other birds or people....

Although there are several basic facial markings on horses, each marking will be unique in shape to each horse. Like snowflakes, no two are precisely the same. This is useful for horse owners because it provides a means of accurate identification. If you need to fill out registration papers, or documents like Coggins Tests, facial markings will be part of the identifying markings recorded for your horse. In “The Black Stallion,” the horse is a solid black Arabian....

Puppy digging can turn your yard into a moonscape. Puppies—and especially terrier breeds—just can’t escape the lure of kicking up dirt. Terriers were bred to “go to ground” after burrowing critters, and they can’t help themselves. If not allowed an outlet, they may dig through your sofa or carpet. Why Puppies Dig But he doesn’t have to be a “holy terrier” to indulge in diggidy-dog behavior. Puppies of any breed may notice you working in the garden and want in on the fun and copy your digging....

Origin and History Species Overview Temperament Speech and Vocalizations This bird has excellent speech abilities. Many individuals can develop a good vocabulary, and even non-talking birds will enjoy whistling and mimicking sounds around the house. Compared to other parrots, its not the loudest bird, but it certainly can scream at times. This bird is not suitable for apartment or condo living or close neighbor situations. Purchase a cage that is at least 2 feet by 3 feet wide and 3 to 5 feet high with a playpen top....

Normal puppies hear much better than we do, but some are born deaf or are genetically predisposed to deafness. Dalmatians and Jack Russell Terriers may inherit a nerve disorder of the ear that causes deafness. Aging dogs commonly suffer hearing loss, and some become completely deaf, but you won’t have to worry about that for many years. But a puppy may suffer hearing loss at birth or any age from an ear infection, ear mites or chronic otitis....

In the wild, hermit crabs are not fussy eaters so they eat a wide variety of foods. As pets, hermit crabs will also eat a lot of things, including fruits, but that doesn’t mean anything goes. Knowing what fruits a pet hermit crab should eat is important in helping it live as long as possible. How Do Hermit Crabs Find Their Food? Hermit crabs are able to find their food in two ways: by smelling the food and by seeing other hermit crabs eating....

You have probably heard the terms service dog and assistance dog before, but do you know what these terms truly mean? Generally speaking, a service dog or assistance dog is a working dog specially trained to help a person or group of people with a disability or specific needs. However, there is a bit more to the definition of a service dog, especially in the eyes of the law. A service dog is a type of working dog but is very different from other working dogs like police dogs, cadaver dogs, and search-and-rescue dogs....

If you have a lost bird, don’t panic—what you do in the next few hours and days can go a long way in bringing your bird back again. Your pet bird might have escaped its cage, flown off its perch, or slipped out the door before you could react. Regardless of the circumstances, your lost bird just might be found if you have a solid game plan and make the most of your search....

If you are a dog owner who brings your dog with you wherever you go, it helps if you have a dog with a similar disposition. If you’re an ardent hiker, recreational climber, or like to go camping, it is a good idea to have a dog with a similar energy level and physical abilities. Most dogs love the great outdoors, and many, regardless of breed, are suitable as hiking companions....

Yes, dogs can eat peas, and this small green legume has plenty of health benefits to boot. Peas contain vitamins A, B, C, and K, and are a good source of protein and dietary fiber. They’re also rich in essential nutrients like folate, thiamin, and manganese. Sweet in taste, fresh or frozen green peas make an excellent treat or meal topper, and most dogs absolutely love them. Below, here’s what you need to know about feeding peas to your dog, including guidelines for making sure you feed peas safely....

What is Conjunctivitis in Dogs? Symptoms Causes Diagnosing Treatment Prognosis Prevention Frequently Asked Questions Conjunctivitis in dogs is the inflammation of tissue in a dog’s eye. Symptoms of conjunctivitis include redness, eye discharge, and swelling. Conjunctivitis can occur independently or result from a more serious ocular disease. The treatment and prevention depend on the cause of conjunctivitis, but usually, topical anti-inflammatories and antibiotics will resolve the issue. Your vet will perform a thorough exam on your dog’s eye to identify the cause of conjunctivitis and treat it accordingly....

Old Tank Syndrome is a condition in which the aquarium environment had degraded over time, specifically the water chemistry. This water quality deterioration can have a devastating effect on your fish and even cause sudden deaths. Aside from some cases of algae overgrowth, there are generally few visible indications of the significant changes that have occurred in the water parameters. However, water tests will show a different picture. Signs and Symptoms Nitrate and phosphate levels will be significantly increased....