Category Archives: Pet

5 Benefits of Raising Pets With Children

Pets Are Constant Companion

Your child is bound to get bored and lonely. This happens most when you are raising a single child. However, having a pet around helps your child to have a constant companion in the house.

Pets also can match the energy and excitement level of a child. A human adult can never match the energy and enthusiasm a pet, in the form of a dog, has. The pet can keep your child busy and engaged. It can be your child’s constant playmate without getting bored.

Increase Your Child’s Activity Level

In the era of smart-phones and tabloids there are chances that your child might become less active. However, a recent study has shown that the kids, who own a dog, exercise eleven minutes more on average, than non-dog owning kids.

Eleven minutes might sound quite less but also when you add up the figure in terms of weeks and month you realize the benefits. A pet in the form of a dog really helps your child to walk the extra mile and keep him/her active.

Grows Responsibility

Children with pets become more responsible than the others. It keeps them alert whether the dog or the cat got their share of food or water. They also tend to share more than the other kids.

The kids learn to be accountable of someone else. In that way they grow up to be more responsible adults. They learn fast that how the pets are dependent on the human beings and from that understanding, the attachment develops.

Makes them Empathetic

Pets also teach your children to become empathetic and kind towards others. Kids without any kind of pets tend to become cruel or repulsive towards other animals. However, kids having pets like dogs or cats tend to care more for others.

The responsibilities of owning a pet makes them accountable and their self-esteem also increases. They grow-up to be dependable adults than kids who don’t own a pet. By keeping in mind their pet’s feeding and grooming routines, they also learn to keep track of their own routines.

Makes them Healthier

Studies have shown that there are also certain health benefits of having pets. Babies who are being raised near pets tend to fall less sick than the babies who are not. Pets, especially dogs, carry certain microbes from outside into your home. These microbes tend to help your baby by improving their immunity.

Rabbit Litter Training

You have just gotten your pet rabbit-congratulations!-and have already taken it home to show it off to your family and friends. After setting up the cage and offering it some food and water, the next step is litter training. This is one of the most important and often challenging parts of raising a pet, but once it’s mastered, the experience is all the more rewarding. Here, we provide you a step-by-step manual on how to litter train your rabbit; pretty soon, you’ll be on your way to becoming the ultimate pet owner.

Before you start…

1. Spay/neuter your rabbit. This is especially important if you own a baby rabbit; after four to six months, your pet’s hormones will kick in and soon enough it will begin to mark its territory. To lessen the likelihood of doing so, spaying or neutering your rabbit will help make it easier to be litter-trained.

2. Choose the right type of litter. While there are many types of litter that are marketed out there, many owners tend to make their own for the litter box, which is not only inexpensive, but also safer for their bunnies. Using litter designed for cats or wood shavings can be hazardous to health, as they might cause digestion or respiratory problems. An ideal type of litter is recycled paper products (e.g. newspapers), since they are harmless to the rabbits if ingested. Certain litter brands like Care-fresh or Cellu-Dri arm considered safe for them, too.

3. Clean and dispose frequently. Changing the litter box often will not only keep the cage from smelling, but also encourage your rabbit to use them more. Vinegar is a cheap and convenient tool to use to get rid of odors when cleaning the box and other stains inside the cage.

How to Litter-Train your Pet…

1. Make it comfortable. You want your rabbit to be at ease when being litter-trained while also making sure that it knows that the cage’s litter box is where it needs to go to for doing the deed. By making its cage a calm and safe environment, it will help motivate your pet to go there more often.

2. Give enough space for roaming. If you would like your pet bunny to run around the house (with supervision, of course!), then it is essential to begin litter training right away. Start small by restricting your bunny’s roaming space to a small part of the room, before increasing it to the rest of it. Make sure to always have multiple litter boxes all over the room, just in case your rabbit decides to litter somewhere other than in the cage.

3. Discipline firmly. Rabbits are naturally habitual animals, and so if you are not firm in disciplining when it marks its territory, then it will be very difficult to break the cycle for future littering sessions. Give a gentle, but stern “no” every time it starts to litter in a place other than where its designated to, and move it quickly to a nearby litter box (whether in the cage or the room) to reinforce where it should do its business.

4. Reward your pet. Positive reinforcement is just as important to litter training your rabbit as reprimanding it when it goes wrong. Treat your pet with something small, like a piece of fruit or its favorite play-thing when it correctly disposes in the litter box. Of course, you don’t have to do this every time that it works, especially after more than several times, but during its initial stages it is highly suggested.

5. Be patient. Like with babies and other pets, rabbits take time to be properly litter trained. Slip-ups will happen, and it is a matter of being calm and correcting your pet’s behavior as soon as they occur that will help the process go more smoothly. Having patience is key to being a good pet owner, and it will no doubt build a solid and trusting relationship with your rabbit.

3 Amazing Pet Products That Make Pet Ownership Easy

Every pet owner wants to get the best things for his furry pal. But are there any best hacks that can take your pet ownership skills to the next level? With a wide array of pet products available in the market from apparels to grooming supplies, sanitation, feeding supplies, cleaning, pet techs and gadgets it sometimes becomes a difficult ask to select the best ones for your furry pal. With the advancement of technology, it has now become possible to make pet ownership easy.

Let us look at some of the products that will assist you in achieving this feat:

Automatic Feeders & Waterers

This product has been developed for the convenience of pet owners. Now you do not have to worry about feeding or watering your pet until and unless the stock is over in the storage area. There are a variety of DIY automatic feeders and waterers available in the market that can make your life easier. Normal bowls are now a thing of the past. Pet feeders and waterers that need you to only fill up the storage is a total fad. Now you do not have to put any reminders to feed your furry companion or water them. This will now be done by an automatic feeder. But to be safe, always keep a watch on the automatic waterers and feeders just in case a sneaky pal who might break into the storage bin. The automatic feeder aids your pet to eat at scheduled timings and prevent overeating. You can set the timer on a program timer present in the feeder or waterer. There are certain feeders that work by gravity.

Pet Monitor

Pet monitors are similar to baby monitors. With the aid of this instrument, it is possible to speak, interact, view and listen to the pets from anywhere. The monitor contains inbuilt speakers and microphones that aids in communication from both sides. This can all be controlled through a smart-phone. It can rotate 340 degrees with up and down video motions. This feature makes it easier for you to place it at heights as well. It is also possible for you to capture pictures and videos from the mobile device paired with the monitor. The great thing about this device is that it is now possible for multiple users to connect to the pet monitor. They come in different colours too.

Pet Flap Doors

Tired of opening the door repeatedly for your pooch? If yes; there is a solution for it. Thanks to pet flap doors it is now possible to stop moving even an itch. The great thing about these doors is that they can be installed to the existing doors. These doors are available in plastic, wood or any other material as preferred to you. They are generally made up of vinyl and certain flaps consist of a magnetic bar at the end that aids in secure closing of the pet door. These doors come in different sizes depending on how big is your pet. These doors make it easier for your pet to go to the balcony or garden area to conduct their business. The other great thing about this door is that you do not need to get back to the pet during your work timings to open the door for your pal.

4 Mystifying Facts About Ticks And Pets

Do you really think that only the dogs that spend their time in the woods get ticks? Or do you believe that ticks are not a big problem for cats since she gets rid of them when she grooms herself? All these things are incorrect. Let us now put the facts right. Some of these facts might even surprise you:

When you or a pet brushes against them or the plants they are resting they climb aboard, attach to the skin and feed on the blood for hours or even several days. Once the feeding is complete, they drop from the host’s body. Immature ticks can be seen on leaf litter or in the layers of decomposing leaves under trees. They may then crawl onto the host when the debris is disturbed.

Ticks do not die in cold winter weather

It is falsely acclaimed that ticks cannot survive in cold weather. But the truth is there are certain ticks that become dormant while others hide in the leaf litter of wooded and bushy areas or remain indoors. It has been found that adult black-legged ticks, the tick species that are renowned to transmit Lyme disease start feeding during the time of first frost. Those adult ticks that do not find hosts during colder temperature remain covered under leaf litter or other plant material.

Cats can suffer from ticks even though they remove ticks when they groom

Cats can and do pick up ticks while grooming. This is especially true for outdoor cats that spend most of their time in grassy areas and rest under shrubs. But due to the fact that cats have rough tongue, it is not possible for them to remove all the ticks while grooming. There are several ticks that produce glue like substance that aids them to stay attached to the host’s body. The ticks can even attach themselves to areas where the cat cannot groom. This includes the cat’s face or ears. Even if the cat is successful in getting rid of ticks during grooming, she can become infected with a tick-transmitted disease known as cytauxzoonosis which can be very lethal for her health and in certain extreme cases even death.

Ticks do not transmit disease as soon as they bite the host

Ticks can carry a wide array of disease-causing organisms like viruses, parasites, bacteria and toxins. But the fact is that not all ticks are infected and most tick bites do not lead to disease. There are certain bacteria that can be transmitted within 3 to 6 hours of tick attachment, while others need more than a day before transmission occurs. Since it is not possible to know where a tick is infected, immediate removal of the tick is important to prevent the pathogen from transferring to you and the pet. Hence, contact your veterinarian and ask them to recommend an appropriate tick control product for your pet.

What Pet Vaccinations Are Needed?

Just as people need to have frequent vaccinations, it is important that you do the same for your furry, four legged friends. However, unlike with human vaccinations, where the types of shots needed are fairly standard, for pets the types or frequency can vary from species to species as dogs, cats, horses, etc. each have different needs. Yet. it is to be noted that there are mutated versions of some disease that while they may be primarily a dog issue, may affect a feline – and vice versa.

Common Vaccinations for Dogs

As mentioned, the vaccine action needed depends on the pet species. For canines, the primary shots you need to be concerned about include: canine parvovirus, distemper, canine hepatitis and rabies are considered core vaccines. Non-core vaccines are given depending on the dog’s exposure risk. These include vaccines against Bordetella bronchiseptica, Borrelia burgdorferi and Leptospira bacteria.

Common Vaccinations for Cats

Your feline friends has other needs. Talk to your vet about scheduling these pet vaccinations: panleukopenia (feline distemper), feline calicivirus, feline herpesvirus type I (rhinotracheitis) and rabies are considered core vaccines. Non-core vaccines are given depending on the cat’s lifestyle; these include vaccines for feline leukemia virus, Bordetella, Chlamydophila felis and feline immunodeficiency virus.

It should be noted that while these are all the commonly suggested pet vaccinations, that not every pet will be on the same schedule. For instance, if a puppy’s mother was healthy and then nursed the puppies, then some of the shots can be delayed. For cats who are nursed by a healthy mother whose immune system is strong, it is typically not necessary to begin vaccinations until your kitten is as much as 8 weeks old. Once your kitten or puppy reaches adulthood, it generally not necessary to vaccinate your pet but once every 3 years.

However, do be sure to talk to you veterinarian as there are some diseases that may be more common in your region, and thus require you to have your pet inoculated for some diseases more frequently then mentioned here. Also, as with human immunizations, there are often side effects that will need to watch for. Be sure to ask your vet of any specific indicators that your pet has had a reaction.

Having your pet vaccinated is a way you can be proactive in keeping your pet healthy and protecting them fro any potential sickness they may be exposed to. If you are unsure about what type of shots are needed for your pet, then be sure to talk to your veterinarian. They will be happy to help determine what approach to take.

10 Reasons Why You Should Adopt a Pet

Thinking of having a puppy that wags its tails and runs to you joyfully at your every beck and call? Or, thinking of having that cute little ball of fur called a kitten running about playfully in your house? Thinking about going to the nearby pet store to buy one? Stop your pet search then and there, and think, “Why should I spend my money on buying a pet when I have the option of adopting one?”

Makes sense, right?

Well, as you will see, besides saving your bucks, adopting a pet comes with tons of other advantages.

1. As mentioned above, pets for adoption generally cost less than the ones available for sale in pet shops.
2. A pet available for adoption may have already been trained to respond to basic commands like come, sit, go, etc., and hence it reduces the trouble of training them from scratch.
3. Pets available for sale in pet shops are reared for the purpose of selling, keeping profit in mind rather than the health of the pets and are therefore, often sick and behaviorally troubled. Pets for adoption are not reared for commercial purposes. They are available for adoption because their previous owners had to give them up due to certain unfortunate reasons for which the animals are not responsible. Since, before being available for adoption, they had an owner who took care of them, they are generally healthy and well behaved.
4. Pets for adoption come in every size, age, breed, and color and thus you get a wider variety to choose from.
5. Most pet shop owners keep the animals in horrible conditions and the elderly female animals are treated as breeding machines. They have no genuine concern for these animals. Without purchasing from them, you can feel self righteous as you have not given them a dime.
6. Most of the older animals available as pets for adoption have already been vaccinated. So you don’t have to bear the additional task of getting them vaccinated.
7. By adopting a pet, not only are you giving it a home, but also you are helping provide shelter to another homeless animal which will be taken in, in place of the animal you have adopted.
8. Having an animal as a pet has been found to be psychologically and emotionally beneficial to their companions. Not only this. The feeling that you have saved an animal by adopting it also gives you self-satisfaction and makes you feel proud of yourself.
9. When you adopt a pet from a pet shelter, they inform you in advance about the “do’s and don’ts” so that you become well aware of what your pet loves and what provokes it.
10. Last of all, you can brag in your social circles about having adopted a pet!

Now that you are convinced about the benefits of adopting a pet, make a pet search on the internet and find out the nearest pet shelter from which you can adopt your pet.

Tips To Organize Living With Multiple Pets

A family with a lot of furry members is really a heavenly abode with lots of enjoyment every day. However, with it comes – greater responsibilities, as the pet family requires lot of care and efforts to keep them all fit and fine, maintaining their overall wellbeing. Whether you have to take care of two kitties or a pack of four dogs or a whole farm, you need to take care of each vital thing ranging from food, preventive medications, and litter boxes to beds and toys.

Here are a few tips that fully aid you in organizing your day to day activities for taking care of multiple pets. Following the tips, you can definitely have time for yourself along with having a quality playtime with your furry pal.

Arrange for Multiple Beds

Having multiple pets in your home means a special place to provide all for a nap. Get beds for each and every pet in your home. Multiple bed will discourage pets from laying or bouncing on sofas.

Protect Furniture

It is crucial to cover your furniture. Tiny dog or cat hairs are more likely to get easily stick to the furniture. Cover them with fleece blankets and throws on tables, chairs and couches to keep pet hair to minimum. Additionally, when it comes to your car, it’s good to cover the seat in order to keep that mud away in case your dog must have brought it from the dog park.

Keep Food in Air-Sealed Containers

Different pets mean different requirements of various kinds of foods. To easily recognize the food, it is better to label the plastic bins for different food types. Ensure to store them in a pantry or in a kitchen counter shelf. Keep it away from damp place and check that it is not accessible to your furry pal or either to your children. Ensure that you keep the feeding place well organized and mess free. To avoid fights among your pets, maintain a feeding schedule.

Separate Feeding Locations

You are wrong if you are thinking that there is no need for separate feeding locations for your multiple pets. It is to avoid food hostility as dogs and cats are quite territorial so try to feed pets in different rooms. Some pets may go along well, but if it seems there is some tension, then it is better feed them at separate places. This helps to avoid unwanted accidents.

Keep A Folder for Pet Records

Don’t mess your pets’ medical records. Organize different pets’ health records including vet visits, adoption papers, vaccination cards, microchip registration, licenses and pet insurance policies in different folders for various pets. It would be quite helpful in case of any emergency.

Provide Litter Box for Each Cat

Cats are inclined too much towards cleanliness. They are too picky about clean litter boxes. Provide each of your cat a separate litter box, which they are sure to appreciate. If you want them all to use litter box, then it is better to provide them each a separate one.

Stock Up First Aid Kit

Always have your pet’s first aid kit in handy. With so many pets in the house, there can be accidents at some times. Providing them first aid will largely cut on the vet bills. The important things that your pet’s first aid box should include are Gauze of various sizes; scissors; first-aid tape; wound disinfectant; antibiotic ointment; eye wash solution; hydrogen peroxide; cotton balls or swabs; cortisone spray or cream; thermometer.

Parasitic Preventive Treatments

A home with multiple pets mean that there is a huge probability of spreading disease due to fleas, ticks or worms from one animal to another. Missing treatment of flea and tick infestation or heartworm preventive for a few of them is of no use as gradually they too will be infected by the infected animals, and the cycle of recurring infestation will continue. Treating all the pets in the household will deploy the occurrence of parasitic infestations.

Multiple pets mean taking various responsibilities and providing the best care. Always keep a stock of essential medications including preventive treatments along with proper food and nutritional supplements. This ensures a great health and happiness for your big family of humans and four-legged companions.

Do You Intuitively Know What Your Animal Is Feeling?

Intuition Is Part of Animal Communication.

Intuition often appears as a feeling or knowing or an awareness about something.

Many people receive telepathically from animals in this way, but may not recognize it as true Animal Communication.

Often humans expect and desire to receive communication from animals in words, or even pictures.

But there is no one “right” way to experience Animal Communication.

When first learning to communication telepathically, you will be more successful if you start out where you already are.

In other words, when you receive messages intuitively and accept that, “this is how I receive telepathic information right now,” you will open yourself to receive and expand your telepathic ability with animals from there.

In contrast, if you say, “No, I don’t want to receive telepathically that way. I want to do it another way,” you’re creating a barrier of energy that will block your receptivity to messages from animals.

To strengthen your intuitive receptivity, follow through on your intuitive insights.

This provides a feedback loop that will help you expand your intuitive receptivity.

For example, if you sense your animal may be feeling sad, say something to the animal, such as ‘I’m wondering if you’re feeling sad.”

Watch how your animal responds to your verbal statement. You may notice physical signals that acknowledge your statement, such as a sigh, or closing of the eyes, for example. The response can be many different things, so just notice… notice… notice.

If you sense that there’s something wrong with your animal that requires veterinary help, don’t wait for symptoms. Go to a veterinarian that you trust and have them check out the animal.

You be surprised how this can save the animal’s life. And even if the veterinarian finds nothing wrong, the feedback will help you strengthen your intuitive abilities.

By working with your telepathic abilities at whatever level they are, you will soon find them expanding.

Your animals will appreciate knowing that you’re making an effort to communicate with them in their natural language: telepathic animal communication.

You’ll also find that increased intuitive ability can be a powerful tool in other areas of your life, such as when making decisions about jobs, where to live, or even whether to trust someone.

If intuition is your primary way of receiving animal communication, accept it with joy and work with it. The benefits will be great, and you’ll soon find yourself receiving telepathically from animals in other ways.

Tips For Breeding Rabbits

The breeding stock should be selected when they reach 4 to 5 months of age. The breeder should be selected from the largest litter. In males, it is very essential to see the presence of two testicles in the scrotum as testicles descend down from the body cavity at 12 weeks of age.

1. Extensive type of reproduction:-

Weaning here practiced is 5 to 6 weeks and re-breeding soon after weaning. Does are therefore mated once every 2.5 months. This is the best suited for tropical countries like India.

2. Semi intensive reproduction

Weaning is practised at 4-5 weeks of age. Breeding is practised after 10-20 days after kindling.

3. Intensive reproduction

Weaning is at 4 weeks of age. Mating is done immediately after kindling. Usually this practise is followed in western countries.

Always females should be put to the pen of male to avoid fighting. Mating should be done during coolest part of the day like early morning or late evening. After successful mating the male usually produces a typical cry sound and falls down on one side of the female. Soon after the mating the male one should be removed from the cage. The male should not be more than 3 to 4 days in a week and not more than 2 to 3 times in a day. The ratio of male to female is 1:10. Both the sexes should reach 70% of their adult body weight.

The breeding season is almost throughout year. But in India, autumn stress is encountered during hot weather.

Signs of heat in females

1. Restlessness, Rubbing the chin on the sides of the cage.

2. Lying in mating posture

3. They are spontaneous ovulators. Ovulation begins 10 hours after mating.

4. In heat, the female rabbit accepts male, otherwise it rejects.

5. In heat, the female assumes a typical pose called “lordosis” where the back is arched downward and hind quarter is raised.

6. The female one in di-estrous phage crouch at the corner of the cage.

7. After kindling (parturition), the re breeding happens after one week in intensive management. But normally re-mating is shown one week before weaning.

8. When temperature rises above 36 degree centigrade, temporary sterility happens.

8 Tips to Cheer Up Depressed Pets

What if lately, you’ve been noticing your pet sleeps abnormally (more than usual), eats less, seems sad, and spends most of its time moping round the house. All these behaviors are totally opposite to his or her normal behavior. Without a doubt, you may start to worry! Depression is what your furry friend may be experiencing. This condition isn’t dissimilar to that of humans.

You’re used to seeing your pet happy because he or she is always there for you whenever you’re down. The mere thought of seeing your furry friend crestfallen makes you sick. Now it’s your turn to be there for him or her. How do you cheer up your best friend? What are some of the methods you can use?

If your pet is depressed, here are 8 strategies to use to cheer him/her up:

1. Spend ample time with your pet

One of the most effective ways to cheer up pets is by spending more time with them, especially when they’re depressed. Now, more than ever, he or she needs you – your undivided attention. Spending quality time together shows your pet how much you love and cherish him or her. To transit from the pits to his/her joyful, happy self, simply give your pet your support, care, and love.

2. Indulge your pet in outdoor activities

Whether you own a cat or a dog, taking him for a fun afternoon out in the park is an effective way of cheering him up. At first, the pet won’t seem enthusiastic. However, as you two enjoy each other’s company, you’ll be surprised by how jovial he’ll turn out to be. Some physical exercise, a change in surroundings, and some quality time with you, will go miles to bring back enthusiasm in your pet.

3. Show your pet you’re happy

Did you know pets and dogs are very intelligent when it comes to telling if you’re happy, just by looking at your face? Consequently, when he’s depressed, avoid frowning or showing him or her that you’re sad. An effective way to cheer up your dog is by staying happy yourself.

4. Socialize your pet

Is your dog or cat depressed because he or she lost a companion or family member? If yes, then you need to take your pet to the park, or to a daycare center, where he or she can socialize with others. According to studies, animals enjoy same-species companionship. Therefore, you shouldn’t hesitate to try out this strategy.

5. Reward your pet for positive behavior

This strategy is more of a positive reinforcement. When he or she shows any sign of getting over depression, you should give your pet a treat or pat on the head. It’s important to note that you shouldn’t be overly sympathetic as this will encourage others to remain depressed in order to enjoy the same attention. You need to show him or her how pleased you are anytime he or she eats meals properly, or plays with you in the park.

6. Comfort your pet with favorite toys

Does your cat or dog have a favorite toy? A great way to cheer up your cat is by giving him or her toys to play with. Most pets have a tendency to find comfort in familiarity. They’ll be more cheery if they are around their favorite toys.

7. Play him or her some music

In the same way music calms and soothes human beings, most pet owners admit that music is also magical to pets. Surprisingly, you’ll be able to lift up the mood of your pet by playing him or her some soothing music. Just ensure that the volume isn’t too high. The last thing you want is to make things worse.

8. Take your pet out for a ride

This strategy works wonders especially if your pet enjoys going for rides. If possible, bring your entire family with you when stepping out for a ride. In addition to enjoying the family’s company, he or she will also enjoy the fresh air.