September, 2017

now browsing by month

 

Basic Requirements For Housing A Snake As A Pet

A recent news item about a reptile that escaped prompted me to recall the necessary features of a snake’s habitat. At the top of the list, the snake’s cage needs to be secure, but also a comfortable place to live.

The housing.

First and foremost, the cage must be secure. We don’t want the snake to escape, and it’s our duty to make sure that the snake can’t harm itself. There must be no sharp or cutting edges anywhere inside the cage and the cover needs to have locking clips. A totally glass container can be employed, as long as the top is well ventilated and can’t get too warm. Many vivariums have wooden backs and sides, and glass doors which can slide, which cuts down on weight and helps make them cheaper. The sliding glass panels can additionally be fixed in place using special mechanisms.

Nutrition.

Reptiles need water, and although some kinds of reptiles can go for long periods without taking in water, most pet snakes also like to get immersed from time to time. No other liquids are needed by the reptile except for fresh clean water changed every two days or so. Reptile food is a very broad subject, and most snake care guides cover this in much detail. Smaller reptiles migh eat small insects and crickets, whilst the larger boas and pythons will take big rats. Mice and rats can be given either dead or alive, but the animal must be relaxed or it might not eat.

Bedding and Surroundings

Normally, a snake is comfortable with either sawdust or hay strewn across the cage floor. Although snakes are not that intelligent, some extra things in the tank will serve to stimulate them, keeping them active and healthy. A rock or tree branch will do nicely. Snakes also need to hide themselves, so a small box or cover will allow it to hide when it wants. Be careful not to put anything into the tank that may contain parasites, fungus or small insects.

Comfortable Environment.

Reptiles are cold blooded, which just means they take on the ambient temperature. A chilled snake will move slower than a warm one, and generally be less happy. A decent reptile care guide should give you the best temperature for each species. A good heating source might take the form of a synthetic rock, with an electric heater element hidden inside. Another type of heating is by infra-red lamp suspended from the lid, or a normal incandescent lamp could be employed. The last example would also provide light, but is not perfect, as the temperature is better controlled thermostatically. A separate lamp may be timed to simulate day and night. Finally, make sure you take greta advice on how to buy a pet snake.

How To Entertain Your Ferret

Your ferret is highly active, and wants to interact with you. He won’t be interested in watching television or playing video games, and he of course cannot be let out into the backyard to burn off his energy. He needs you to provide some measure of entertainment for him.

You will always know when your ferret is ready to play. He will do everything but say the words! He will most likely get in front of you, bounce a bit, run back and forth, and possibly even ‘dance’ a bit. He may even tug on your pants leg to get your attention. There won’t be any doubt in your mind that he wants to play, and he has selected you as his playmate.

Ferrets like games that involve chasing, hiding and seeking, and tug-of-war the best. Naturally, there are many variations of these games that you can play with your ferret, and it won’t take long before you know which ones he enjoys the most. He will chatter, dance, and be very interested in the games that he loves.

Entertaining a ferret is not expensive. He doesn’t need fancy toys. He likes the simple things in life. An old dishtowel for tug-of-war, a ball, a paper sack with crumpled up newspaper or wrapping paper inside – these are the things that bring joy to your ferrets life.

Get down on your hands and knees and chase him – allow him to chase you back, but stay on your hands and knees. Make sure that you have lots of energy! Ferrets are a cuddly ball full of energy – and he will be able to play the game a great deal longer than you will.

Ferrets love companions. Two ferrets are always happier than just one, because they have each other for constant entertainment. A dog or cat also makes a good playmate for your ferret.

You should also purchase some toys that will allow your ferret to entertain himself when you can’t play. Toys that hang from strings are very interesting to ferrets. They don’t just want to ‘bat’ the toys like cats do – they want to figure out how to get it to their nest, and will spend hours trying to figure that out.

Your ferret may want to nip. This is a natural part of his play – until he understands that you do not want him to nip you. Do not hit your ferret. Instead, tap him on the nose and sternly say ‘no.’ Once you’ve done this, do not remain mad at the ferret. Go back to playing with him, and when he nips you again, tap him on the nose again and say ‘no.’ Make sure that you are consistent with this, and it won’t take long for your ferret to associate nipping with you being angry at him. He doesn’t want you to be angry – he wants to please you.

You can purchase Ferretone in just about any pet store, or through online pet stores. This substance can be applied to anything that you want the ferret to be interested in. Ferretone is like cat nip – but for ferrets.

Safe Diwali Celebration For Pets

Diwali is one of the most happening events in a year, this festival of light and joy is celebrated in a grandeurs way all over India. People are happy excited during this time and in this enjoyment they forget about taking care of their pets.

Now one may be wondering that what special care pets need during Diwali time? In India Diwali celebration is not just accompanied with light but also with sound. Due to this pets really get petrified and they desperately seek for some relief from this. The main reason behind this is the hearing capability of pets are more than that of humans, so what is loud sound for us, it is unbearable for them. It may so happen that pets can also develop a traumatic noise experience, thus read on these tips and know different ways by which you can protect your pet from such traumatic experience.

Keep your pet in one room which has less number of windows or close all windows. Do not push the pet into the room all of a sudden. Few days before that feed the pet in that room; spend some time with it there. Leave the pet with some food and water and try that at least someone must be there with it.

The pet may also choose a different location to hide, so wherever it prefers to hide allow it to do so create a comfortable corner in the room for the pet. Prepare a place where they can hide and make it comfortable with old clothes and a cushion. Make it such that the pet feels comfortable hiding there.

Make sure that you draw curtains of all rooms so that it does not feel any vibration, if required play a soft music, it must not be very loud just play it on a medium volume

One may also take some medicines from the vet to reduce the anxiety and fear of pets

Another safe Diwali tips for pets is to use some natural therapies are also beneficial for calming the pet. Lavender oil, bach flower extracts etc. are useful in making the pet stress free.

It is better to bring your pet in home before fire work starts, try to put large cotton ear balls in their ears so that they are not so disturbed by sound.

NEVER make your pet accustomed to the sound, some pet lovers try to do this with thinking that the pet will get used to the sound and will not be frightened anymore. Contrary to this the pet will become more aggressive and will be frightened more. Remember that on certain things humans and animals do not responds in the same manner.

DO NOT shout at the pet even if it does not listen to you, it will be more scared and will associate you with fear.

Follow these basic safety tips for pets during Diwali so that it stays happy during this festive season of light.

Frontline Cats Products Treating Fleas And Parasites That Attack Your Pets

Fleas are common parasites that can cause distress to both pets and pet owners.Frontline for cats products can be a proactive way for you to treat those harmful parasites that attack your pets.

Why You Need to Prevent Fleas

Fleas are blood sucking parasites that can cause misery to their hosts. Flea bites can be very irritating and cause swelling, itching and sore skin. Both humans and animals can also be allergic to the fleas saliva. This can make flea bites even more unpleasant and can make you feel generally unwell. Fleas can also sometimes pass bacteria and diseases through their bites.

Fleas are common parasites and they can quickly spread so it is important to be proactive about treating and preventing them. Regular usage of Frontline for cats products can help you to stay on top of fleas and prevent them from making you and your pets lives a misery.

How Do Frontline Cats Products Work?

Frontline cats products work in a very unique way. Instead of repelling fleas they actively work to kill them. This means that any adult fleas picked up by your cats will be killed quickly before they can irritate you pets or start laying eggs around your home.

Frontline cats products contain a chemical that works to over-stimulate the fleas nervous system. This is fatal to the flea but does not harm your pets in anyway.

Once you have treated your pets the Frontline for cats products will get to work treating existing fleas. They should be killed within 24 hours and will drop off naturally.

You will need to use the Frontline Spot On products regularly to maintain protection against fleas (every four weeks).

This can be combined with Insect Growth Regulator (IGR) products that can treat eggs and larvae already present in your home.

This can help to break the flea life cycle and prevent infestations from taking over your home.

The Spot On products will need to be applied on the skin at the back of the neck on your cats. This will ensure your cat cannot lick the product off before it gets to work

Dont forget fleas can be a problem all year round due to modern centrally heated homes. This means you should continue to use Frontline for cats products in the winter to maintain protection.

Frontline cats products can also treat other parasites such as ticks.

Ticks are also very common particularly in more rural areas that have higher wild animal populations.

Ticks are recognised as a key carrier of diseases such as Lyme disease which can be unpleasant for humans and difficult to treat.

Ticks will feed from both animal and human hosts so it is important to prevent against these blood-sucking parasites.

With Frontline cats products you can treat your pets for both fleas and ticks and help to keep these nasty parasites at bay.

The History Of The Pet Rock

Origin of Thought

In 1975, Gary Dahl, an advertising executive, launched the sale of a fad that would make him a millionaire. This great profit is even more impressive when one takes into account the short time in which the rocks were sold, only six months, and also the low cost of the product, about four dollars. Dahls ingenious marketing involved commonplace gray pebbles, bought from a construction supplier, which were then sold as live pets. The idea was inspired by the hassle, mess, and money that pets such as cats or dogs or fish required. And so, Dahl began the production and sale of the Pet Rock, which did not need to be walked, wouldnt cost hundreds in vet bills, and would not poop on the floor.

Specifics of Production

Dahl named the company “Rock Bottom Productions,” and sold the rocks for $3.95 a piece. The pebbles were imported from Rosarito Beach in Baja California, Mexico, and then packaged in a small cardboard box, designed like a pet carrier. Dahl also created a “Pet Rock Training Manual,” containing instructions on how to properly care for one’s pet, including how to house train ones pet: “Place it on some old newspapers. The rock will never know what the paper is for and will require no further instruction. The instruction manual included such commands as sit, stay, roll over, play dead, and come.

Why would anyone ever buy a pet rock?

“If there were more fads, there would probably be a lot fewer psychiatrists.” Ben Hakuta, creator of Wacky Wall Walkers

Indeed, pet rocks give us more pleasure than we know. These pets support this argument through their very existence, showing us that it is not an actual item that brings joy to the child in the human mind, but merely the idea of the item. The pet sits in a niche in the mind, created by the power of the owners imaginations. It is in the actual exercise of the mind that such pleasure is found. It is quite a valid point that finding such productive and effective uses of recreation time can be more preventative and beneficial to the health of our minds that even the most advanced psychological treatments.
People who purchased these unusual “pets” often gave them names, talked to them, petted them, and taught them to perform simple “tricks”.

Pet rocks still live on

Like most fads, it never totally died out. There are memorial pages, spin-offs, and one can still purchase such a pet, though new manufacturers have given their rocks new features and looks. For instance, not many plain gray pebbles are sold any more. One can buy rocks that are inscribed, painted, and decorated in many a manner, lending the rock much more personality than afforded Dahls creation. One can purchase a rock with an agenda, or one can buy a rock that is individually painted in memory of any dearly loved pet, or one can still purchase that rock that is completely void of previous perception, and let its idea grow in the mind.

Virtual Pets

Virtual Pets follow the same formula as Dahls product. Operating more in the mind of the owner than anywhere else, Virtual pets can be an electronic toy, a computer program, or even a video game. However, though perhaps securing more time from an owner, virtual pets do not leave as much room for imagination as the pet rock.