OCULAR DISCHARGE - DOG AND CAT

It can be defined as abnormal secretion on or around the eye or eyes. This is also known as lacrimation and ocular secretion. The secretions can be watery or mucus in nature. An abnormal overflow of tears down the face is called as epiphora. Dogs and cats both get affected with this and onset depends on the cause. Outdoor animals are prone to infectious cause of conjunctivitis.

Hypothermia

Hypothermia is a lowering of the core body temperature below the dog’s and cat’s normal 101.5-102.5 temperature. A first reaction to the lowering of temperature is to shiver. Shivering increases muscle activity, which in turn increase heat production. Mild hypothermia causes an increase in blood pressure and heart rate, but if the time and severity of heat loss continues, heart rate and blood pressure decline and cardiac arrest can occur. Severe hypothermia leads to respiratory depression, lethargy, lack of coordination, paralysis, and collapse. Treatment for hypothermia involves rapid warming of the body. In mild cases, heating pads, hot water bottles, or a warm water bath will do the trick, but severe cases require need veterinary attention immediately.

DIARRHEA IN GUINEA PIGS

Diarrhea in guinea pigs is an increase in the water content of faeces and an increase in the frequency or volume of the bowel movements. Any changes in the normal appearance of a guinea pig’s fecal pellets should be taken seriously.

There are many causes of diarrhea - Drugs especially antibiotics, Inadequate amounts of roughage in the diet,
Stress, Infectious agents, Metabolic diseases, Intestinal parasites.

your guinea pig need emergency treatment as this can lead to serious health hazards.

GUINEA PIG - BATHING

Guinea pigs don't need bath in routine until they are soiled or you want to take them for show purpose. It is stressful for them but if you are good with bathing them, they will not have much troubles. You can use baby shampoo or mild kitten shampoo or soaps with aloe vera and neem based. Guinea pigs need frequent bath when they are infested with ectoparasites.
After bathing they should be towel dried properly and care should be taken that water does not enter their eyes and ears. They should be kept at dry and warm place for proper drying.

TURTLE - EYE INFLAMMATION

This turtle has swollen eyes and was not able to open his eyes due to pain. complete history revealed that one day the direct water supply was used instead of filetered one. on that day the chlorine content in the water was too high and the skin of turtle turned pink with in few minutes of exposure to chlorinated water. Chlorinated water was the source of this eye condition. Treatment was given and the turtle recovered very well.
always check the temperature of water and the amount of chlorine in the water to take care of your pets.

HOW TO GIVE TABLETS TO RABBIT

Giving oral medication -

Offer the tablet to your rabbit in the palm of your hand. Some take the pill easily this way, especially if the medication does not have a bad taste.
OR
Hide the whole tablet inside a piece of your rabbit's favorite food. A good food to use for hiding a pill is banana or apple.
OR
Grind up the tablet and mix the ground pill into apple sauce, banana, yogurt, or some vegetable. Put the food in a small dish and place it on the floor for your bunny to eat.
OR
Dissolve the tablet in water or fruit juice and then administer it to the rabbit using a syringe.

WORMS IN RABBIT

PINWORMS - Pinworms are small and white worms, about half the size of a grain of rice. These worms can be seen in rabbit's vent area. Take your rabbit to the vet and also take some of his poo for examination to make sure. This type of worm cannot be spread to humans. The rabbits can get pinworms from contaminated water or food. Change the water in the water bottle daily, and make sure not to feed food that is not fresh. However, even rabbits that get clean water and fresh food all the time can sometimes get pinworms for no obvious reason.
so, deworming is must for bunnies to prevent further problems.

coco (turtle)

Turtles are cold blood creatures, and they depend on outer sources for heat. the temperature of water area and land area should be maintained between 70 - 80 degree F.In summers the level should not go beyond this range and in winters you can put some light source to keep the temperature manintained.

YOUR PUP'S FIRST BATH

Puppies generally do not need to get bathed until they are three months old since they get their vaccinations during these first three months of their lives and during this time their bodies are more sensitive to catch a cold. It's always best to take all the necessary precautions. When your puppy finally takes his first bath, make sure to find a nice warm spot to it in and use the appropriate dog shampoo. Puppies and dogs don't need to get bathed very often in order to stay clean. The most important requirement for their cleanliness is to get groomed and brushed everyday. If the dog or puppy gets mud on his coat, you can clean it off by using a towel with soap and warm water.
If the puppy is very young, you can bathe him in the kitchen sink.Place a clean wet wash cloth on the bottom of the sink so the pup won't slip.Buy a dog shampoo from a Pet store.Human shampoo is not good for bathing puppies or dogs because the pH of dog skin is different from the human pH.

SELF MUTILATION IN BIRDS

A few behavioral problems, dynamics, or environmental issues that can be potentially corrected:

Screaming
Chewing
Biting
Plucking
Messy cages
Aggression
Your schedule and available time
other exotic wild animals that are caged and kept in captivity, these birds suffer from emotional disturbances such as self-mutilation, obsessive compulsive behaviors, uncontrollable screaming, severe inhibition, and even insanity. Malnutrition from inadequate diet is extremely prevalent. Such physical and emotional damage is often not reversible, leaving these traumatized birds with little hope for a secure or happy future.There are various other things that people have been successful in using to prevent their birds from plucking. Sometimes moving your bird to a larger cage may help, by giving them more room to explore and be active. Allowing your bird more access to the sunshine may help as well. You may also try putting items into the cage that the bird can preen, rather than chew on itself, such as brightly colored feathers or even wigs.

BEFORE YOU ADOPT A PUP

THINGS TO CONSIDER BEFORE ADOPTING A PUP -

Time:
You need to have plenty of time to spend with a puppy. A puppy takes more time than a dog. It is a lot of work to teach a puppy all the things it needs to know to be a fun, healthy happy dog. Count on at least half an hour every morning, and an hour every evening. Some dogs will take more time than that.
The younger the dog the more time you have to add. For very young puppies you will want to take them out to relieve themselves about every two hours. That is one reason why busy people often start with an adult dog instead of a puppy.


Responsibility:
You can't forget, and you can't leave it until later. Playing, exercising, teaching, grooming, feeding and watering, and letting it relieve itself is an everyday thing. Some dogs need more of one thing, and less of another, but they all need you every single day. Having a dog is a responsibility.


Patience:
Puppies are babies. They will do things that make you mad, just because they are learning. And as they grow up they act just like teenagers. They try to get away with doing what they want, instead of what you want. And adult dogs often were not properly taught, they need help learning. Being firm is OK getting angry is useless, and can make things worse. Teaching them in a way that makes them healthy and happy, instead of afraid or angry, takes patience and understanding

CAUSES OF DANDRUFF IN YOUR DOG

There can be may causes of dandruff - poor diet, low humidity, and too infrequent grooming to distribute the oils.
A very thin layer of fat and waxes, called sebum, normally prevents the moisture in the skin from escaping into the air. Some animals do not receive enough dietary fat, or cannot absorb the fat, to form a good sebum layer. Diseases that cause an excessive loss of body water in the urine or bowel movement, such as diabetes mellitus, kidney failure, or chronic diarrhea, will cause dryness of the skin and dandruff.
Any chronic irritation of the skin will speed up the skin reproduction rate and cause dandruff.

Flakes from the surface of the skin may not be skin cells. Substances applied to the skin which dry and flake may mimic dandruff. Shampoos, conditioners, and other skin cosmetics should be thoroughly rinsed after application to the skin. If your dog has white skin flakes around the neck, or back, he's probably got dandruff and there are some things that you can do.
Do not use shampoos made for human beings on your pet, especially not baby shampoos or medicated shampoos. A dog's skin has different ph level than human skin, so the chemicals in people shampoo can actually harm your pet's skin.

Make sure that you thoroughly rinse your dog after shampooing. The shampoo residue can cause your dog to itch and scratch. The presence of dandruff can sometimes indicate that the onset of serious health problems such as skin infections, allergies or an invasion of nasty parasites.

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.

TIPS TO KEEP YOUR DOG FIT

Some tips to keep your dog fit and healthy -

1. Dry food should be your dog's basic food. it should contain at least 22% protein, preferably more for a bigger dog and if your dog has a big appetite.

2. Supplement the dry food with meat, preferably fresh frozen specifically for dogs.

3. Canned meats ot table scraps, are not advised. 4. Two smaller meals are healthier than one larger meal. Puppies up to age four months require three meals a day, with feeding times adhered to strictly-morning, noon and early evening.

5. Give puppies twice-weekly servings of yogurt to restore intestinal flora, and wheat germ for vitamins B.

6. Fresh water-in sufficient quanity-is a must. Change it twice daily.

7. Never cancel a feeding as punishment to your dog.

RENAL FAILURE IN DOGS

Renal failure is the inability of the kidneys to remove waste products from the blood. This definition can create confusion because some will consider renal failure with failure to make urine. Renal failure is NOT the inability to make urine, but the body's wastes are not being effectively eliminated.

The typical form of chronic renal failure is the result of aging. The age of onset is related to the size of the dog. For most small dogs, the early signs occur at about 10-14 years of age. However, large dogs have a shorter age span and may go into kidney failure as early as seven years of age.

***Early clinical signs of kidney failure
#increased water consumption
#increased urine production.
***Clinical signs in later stages of kidney failure
#loss of appetite
#depression
#vomiting
#diarrhea
# foul breath
#ulcers in the mouth.

HOW TO BATHE YOUR CAT

Cats do not require frequent bathing, as they keep themselves well-groomed. However, occasional baths once a month is necessary to maintain hygiene.

Before starting the bathing process, make sure to trim the nails of the cat. This would reduce the risk of scratching. Brush the cat thoroughly, especially if it is long haired before giving bath to the cat.
Once everything has been arranged, its time to get your cat. Most cats hate water, so do not let your cat know what is going to happen.
Bathing
In one single liquid motion, shut the door of the bathroom, step into the shower, close the sliding doors, and drop the cat into the water.
Make sure you place a rubber mat in the tub. Firstly, dip a cloth in warm water and wipe the area around your cat's eyes. Put a few drops of mineral oil into the cat's eyes, which will protect the eyes from soap.
Select a good-quality cat shampoo for your cat's bath. If you think your cat might have a few fleas, use flea shampoo. If your cat has long hair, you can buy cat shampoo with conditioner, which will help keep his hair from tangling.
To divert its attention from bathing, the best thing would be to talk to your cat.
After you've washed your cat, blot his tail and legs with a paper towel, as these areas tend to absorb a lot of water. Then take your cat out of the sink and wrap it in a towel.

WAYS TO GET RID FROM URINE SPOTS

Follow these steps to get rid of dog's urine spots -
I. Take towel, fold it in half, put it on the stain and step on it. Once the first old towel has soaked up as much as it can, grab the next one and repeat. Continue this with new towels until you no longer see any wetness on the towel after walking on it. If you plan to reuse your old towels, mix about a quarter cup of apple vinegar in with your regular detergent when doing the wash.
II. Soak the dog urine stain with a solution of plain white vinegar and warm water. Let it soak for about five minutes. Vinegar is a good ingredient for cleaning dog urine due to its properties as a solvent and for being antibacterial.
III. Blot up the vinegar and water using the same method found in step one. After that, pour baking soda over the entire stain. Baking soda is extremely absorbent and will help not only with dog urine stains but also with dog urine odor.
IV. It's important that you NEVER SOAK your carpet. Again, pour a little more warm water on the problem area. Now, gently rub the cleaner into the carpet and allow it to sit for a couple of minutes. Finally, extract all the liquid and cleaner from the carpet with the water.
When done correctly, the carpet should be "slightly damp" with no odor at all.

chew sticks - to curb the chewing habits

Chewing is a perfectly normal and natural canine behavior. Prevention and treatment of destructive chewing behavior focus on management and education—to prevent dog from chewing inappropriate items.
Prevention - Whenever leaving home, confine your puppy to a large confinement area -with a comfortable bed, a bowl of water, and freshly-stuffed chew toys. House trained adult dogs may be confined to a dog crate. When you are home, confine your puppy to crate with nothing but a freshly-stuffed chew toy for entertainment. Every hour, take your puppy to relieve it and if he goes, praise her and play some chew toy games with her before putting her back.
The purpose of confinement is to prevent your dog from chewing inappropriate items around the house and to maximize the likelihood your dog will develop a chew toy habit.

Feeding tips for your dog

Following are the some of the feeding tips for your dog -

1: A dog should be fed by the same person, if possible, at every feeding as dogs that have become accustomed to one person may exhibit erratic eating behavior if the person is changed.

2: Dog should have its own food and water container. This is not only good for sound behavioral psychology but is also beneficial for good hygiene. Besides improved feeding technique, feeding instructions can be written on the bottom or the side of each dog's feeding container.

3: A dog should be fed in the same place every time. A change can disrupt his life and can create cause for insecurity.

4: The feeding time should be fixed as per the schedule. once their routine is set, it is not advisable to change it as it may lead to other behavioral problems.

5: Do not change the food quite often. Always try to stick to same schedule. often change can lead to eating problems and can cause loss of appetite.

KIDNEY STONES IN DOGS

Kidney stones in dogs can be very painful and can lead to serious health problems if not treated. Kidney stones - Dogs naturally have minerals in their bodies like calcium, magnesium, ammonia or phosphorus. When there is excessive mineral salts in the urine in humans, they are filtered out through the kidneys. But it can be difficult for these minerals to be soluble in the naturally acidic urine of dogs, these minerals can form stones. While they may not pose a health risk while in the kidneys, they may grow very large and be quite painful if they pass through the rest of the urinary tract, even blocking the tract in the worst cases.
Stones may consist of different types of minerals, general causes of kidney stones can include kidney or urinary tract infections, dietary factors, medications, or geriatric affects. There are some breeds that are naturally predisposed to develop kidney stones, such as Dalmatians, Yorkshire terriers and English Bulldogs. Kidney stones tend to appear more in female dogs and also older male dogs.The most obvious symptoms will occur if the stones pass into the bladder, or the ureters. This will cause severe pain, straining until the stone passes or is surgically removed.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Most stones are visible on an x-ray. Some stones are made up of more organic matter than mineral and may be more difficult to find on an x-ray, so an ultrasound could be used to locate them. There are diets available commercially to dissolve the stones. Dogs that show no changes in five or six months will probably have the stones removed surgically. The stones are removed from the kidney, then the kidney is flushed and sewn up.In order to control reformation of kidney stones, dogs should have a urine test twice a year to prevent urinary tract infections, have access to urinate frequently and plenty of water to keep them hydrated and the urine well diluted.