ADOPTED STRAY PUPS

They have been adopted by a family from the road side. This family lost their pedigree dog and then then adopted these traumatised pups. Its really a wonderful thing to take care of these abandoned pups. God is great to send the kind people like this family.

TURTLE CARE

A balanced diet is very important for good health. A wide variety of foods should be fed. Fish are all suitable. Whole fish are better than gutted fish and can be fed chopped or whole. Most suppliers of feeder fish minimize their feeding to insure good water quality in overcrowded setups. Ideally, fish should be well fed prior to being fed to turtles. Freezing for more than 3 days may eliminate transfer of parasites. Goldfish can be frozen in water in ice cube trays to reduce freezer burn. Individual ice cubes containing a dozen or so goldfish can be thawed as needed. Wild caught sticklebacks and mosquito fish should not be fed because they are natural vectors for several serious parasites. Avoid large quantities of oil laden species such as mackerel, and to a lesser extent smelt and goldfish. If fed in moderation as part of a balanced diet, frozen fish should not cause any problems. Fish should not make up the majority of aquatic turtles' diets.

TIPS TO CARE YOUR DOG IN WINTERS

Winter pet care:

* Brush your dog regularly. The air in most houses becomes dry during the colder months, which depletes moisture from dog skin and fur. Brushing will improve skin, coat and blood circulation.

* A thick-coated dog typically needs grooming in cold weather. The fur can get wet and matted, making it an irritant. Clean fur lofts and holds air, thus helping the animal stay warm.

* Never shave your dog down to the skin in winter. Leave the coat longer for more warmth. When you bathe your dog, completely dry him before taking him out for a walk.

* Use omega fatty acid supplements during the winter, ideally starting several weeks before cold weather sets in, to help skin and coat.

* If your dog engages in a lot of outdoor activities, increase his food supply to help keep his coat thick and healthy.

GUINEA PIG - PREGNANCY AND CARE

The gestation period for Guinea Pigs is 66 to 70 days. The greater the number of babies the mother is carrying, the shorter the pregnancy. Most pregnancy are non problematic. Guinea Pigs are more prone to heat related death in the latter stages of pregnancy.
No changes are visible in appearance or behavior during the first four weeks. The last two to three weeks, the mother to be will become quite "plump." This is expected as the babies will comprise more than half of her body weight. You can see the movement of and feel the babies during the last two weeks. It has also been observed that fiber may contribute to preventing hair thinning, a common occurrence in late pregnancy, so the hay becomes very important. In addition, she will need double vitamin C to prevent toxemia.
The size of the litter can vary from 1 to about 6. The best size you could hope for is about 3 medium sized babies. If the litter is very small - say 1 or 2 babies they will probably be very large and the mother could have problems giving birth to them.

cockatiel bird

A cockatiel comes in many colors. The pied, cinnamon, lutinos and pearls are just a few of the many varieties available. The most important thing to remember when you pick a cockatiel is to get a healthy bird that has been well cared for. The cage should be placed in an area that is well lit and ventilated. It should be placed in a quite area, at least at first, to allow the cockatiel a quiet place to adjust when you first bring him home. As he gets used to your home you can gradually move his cage to a permanent place. A cockatiel will actually enjoy being in the center of a busy family but he needs time to adjust to his cage first.
The cage should be roomy and spacious enough for the cockatiel to move about freely. You should purchase the largest cage that will fit in the area that you have chosen to keep your pet in.It should have several perches of different sizes placed at different levels throughout the cage.
Food and water dishes should be attached to the cage and filled. The cockatiel will eat seed which can be purchased from your pet store and is specifically formulated for cockatiels.

Keep in mind that not all bird seed is the same so be sure to purchase a seed blend intended for cockatiels. Fresh fruit and vegetables can also be offered to your cockatiel in a separate food dish. All the dishes should be emptied and washed each day and refilled with fresh clean water and food.
There are many toys that you can purchase for a cockatiel. The toys will keep your pet entertained while you are away as well as giving him some exercise while he is in his cage.

CARE OF YOUR CAT'S TEETH

Cats can get a lot of teeth and gums problems. These diseases are not harmless but eventually can lead to serious problems for your cat.
There are two main methods to help your cats’ teeth and gums to stay healthy. Firstly, cats must have a regular dental cleaning, every six months. Most important thing is home care which lead to less frequent veterinary cleanings.
Veterinary dental care includes annual examining of the cats’ teeth and gums. Cat may have bad breath, reddened gums, yellowish-brown tartar on teeth, which indicate gingivitis. When severe, cats may refuse eating. Pay attention to signs like excessive salivation, bleeding from the mouth and reluctance to chew food.

You should train your cat to accept daily brushing or wiping of the teeth. The easiest way to do that is by starting the training while the cat is very small. With the help of a special toothbrush, apply the bristles to the teeth at a 45-degree angle to the gums, reaching both the tooth surface and the area just beneath the gum margin. The toothpaste meant for human is not good for cats, as it can be harmful if swallowed. There are special types of toothpaste for cat, as they are flavored appropriately and are harmless if swallowed. These toothpastes contain enzymes and do not require rinsing.

Try making it pleasant to your cat, and will start enjoying teeth brushing. It is the only way of having a healthy cat without teeth problem.

Motion Sickness in dogs

Car sickness or Motion sickness is related to stress rather than the motion of your car. Like humans, dogs can also suffer from motion sickness. It can be caused by a number of factors, but primarily it is by movement in the inner ear. Receptors in the ear called the vestibular apparatus help an animal process position and movements. The dog will experience motion sickness if the signals coming in are excessive. Signs of motion or carsickness include drooling, and vomiting.
Management

1. Take very short trips. Start with just sitting in the car. Do this for a week and then start to do very short journey's (5-10 mins) with a really positive experience at the end and gradually increase the length of the car trip as the dog builds tolerance.

When your dog is able to do 30 minute journeys without stress, anxiety or sickness, you are pretty much close to your goal.

2. Allow the pet to see outside the vehicle. It's a good idea to have someone else in the car during these initial journeys as this person can sooth and distract your dog during the journey.

3. Provide lots of room to get up and move around.

4. Keep the vehicle cool and well ventilated.

5. Provide short breaks every 1-2 hours so that the dog has an opportunity to experience absence of car motion regularly. At the end of the return journey, create just as much fuss and play a short game.

You may want to make sure your dog has an empty stomach before getting in the car. Don't give him any food 3 to 4 hours prior to travel. Some vets also recommend limiting water intake just before travelling.
Allow your dog to relieve itself before travelling.

litter training your puppy

Puppies below three months of age have very limited bladder control and reflexes. They usually don't know until the last moment. you can not expect them to tell you ahead of time. If you're good observant, you'll see that a puppy who's looking for a place to relieve itself will suddenly circle about while sniffing the floor. The sniffing is instinct — he is actually looking for a place that's already been used. By preventing accidents in the house, you'll teach him that the only appropriate place is outside the house.
Set up a dog crate or small, confined area, using a dog crate will be more effective. The size of the crate is important — if it's too large, the puppy will have room to use one end as a bathroom. If you've bought a crate for him to “grow into,” you can also get dividers to reduce the inner space while he's small. If he must be left alone while you're at work, then a larger crate is okay.
Put a stack of newspapers at one end for him to use when you can't be home to let him out.
Also in the crate should be a water dish, sleeping pad and toys. Put the crate where he isn't away from the family. If you're using a confined area instead, a small gate across the doorway is preferable to closing the door and isolating your puppy.
Your puppy might not like the crate at first. If he gets really obnoxious, reach inside the crate, give him a little shake by the scruff of his neck and say NO in a deep, stern voice. Eventually he'll settle down and sleep. If you give a tempting treat every time you put the dog in his crate, he'll soon look forward to going in.
The crate is intended to be his sleeping and feeding place and is where he should be when you can't keep a close eye on him. Dogs instinctively keep their sleeping areas clean. If you've allowed him to go when he needs to, he won't dirty his crate if he can help it. Once he's developed better control, he won't need the newspapers unless you're going to be gone all day. Change the papers several times a day if they've been soiled.
Puppy's first night at home
Get off on the right foot at the beginning. After bringing the pup home, you can play with him for an hour. Plan on taking the puppy outside every two hours while he's awake. Don't wait for him to tell you that he has to go.
Feed the puppy his supper in his crate. Wait for him to have a bowel movement before bringing him back in. Some pups get their jobs done quickly, others may take half an hour.
If he's being slow, walk around the yard encouraging him to follow you. Walking tends to get things moving, so to speak!
Always take the puppy outside first thing when you let him out of the crate and always CARRY the puppy to the door - This is important. Puppies seem to have a reflex peeing action that takes affect the moment they step out of the crate onto your carpeting. If you let him walk to the door, he'll probably have an accident before he gets there. Part of this training method is psychological — you want the puppy to feel grass under his feet when he goes to the bathroom, not your carpeting!
After another short play period, take the pup outside before bedtime, then tuck him into his crate for the night. If he cries during the night, he probably has to go out. Carry him outside to, then put him back in the crate with a minimum of cuddling. If you play with him, he might decide he doesn't want to go back to sleep.