Feeding Your Bird Nutritiously

Birds require constant care and a proper nutritious meal to ensure that they live to their full lifespan without having to suffer from constant sickness outbreaks. Therefore, feeding your pet bird nutritiously goes a long way in ensuring that it is lives for a long time and that you will spend less on veterinary care.

Depending on the bird you have, feeding your pet bird nutritiously if it is a small bird should ensure that there are fifty percent of pellets, twenty-five percent of seeds and at the very least twenty five percent of fruits. For much bigger birds for instance parrots, the meal should consist of fifty to sixty percent of pellets and the rest should include some sizable quantity of fruits and some seeds.

To ensure that you are feeding your pet nutritiously, it is always advisable to try out new diets for your bird. Though some can be very picky, a slow introduction with a few treat placed on top of the food are essential in luring the bird to feed on the new meal.

A worthwhile trick of feeding your pet bird nutritiously on new foods is to give them the new dish early in the morning since this is when they are known to forage for food and it will be easy for them to start on something new then. Finally ensure that you feed your pet bird nutritiously by adding some vegetables into the diet. Find out if your bird loves it raw or cooked.

Yair Wood enjoys spending her Sunday evenings scrapbooking with her friends. Yair has written a site containing reviews on Alphabet Stamps, as well as alphabet rubber stamps.

How to Feed Bearded Dragons a Healthy Diet

What can I feed bearded dragons? This is one of the most frequently asked questions from first-time reptile owners. Most enthusiasts are aware that these lizards are omnivores, thus needing insects as well as veggies to fulfill their diet. But many keepers are unaware of which plants and insects have the most nutritional value for their pets health. Others may have a grasp on the proper items to offer, but are failing to provide supplements that are critical in promoting a long healthy life.

Vegetables

Beardies should have fresh veggies available at all times to them. Not only do the vegetables possess crucial vitamins, but they also provide hydration to our pet. I always mist my salads with water to boost the hydration value.

Every Day Staples

Collard, Mustard, Dandelion and Turnip Greens
Spaghetti, Summer, Acorn, Butternut, Hubbard and Scallop Squash
Kale
Escarole
Cactus Pads
Endive

Occasional Treats

Garbanzo, Green, Kidney, Lima and Pinto Beans
Red, Yellow, Green and Red Bell Peppers
Red and Green Cabbage
Okra
Asparagus
Snap Peas

Avocado and rhubarb are poisonous and can be fatal to your pet, therefore should never be offered.

Insects

There are several insects that are great for our dragons. Always buy or raise your own insects, never offer wild-caught insects. Wild bugs can carry parasites and even be poisonous to our pets. Always gut-load your insects by feeding them either fruits and veggies that are good for your lizard, or buy specific insect feeds found at pet suppliers.

Every Day Staples

Phoenix Worms (Calci-Worms)
Silk Worms
Dubia Roaches (Illegal in some states)
Crickets
Superworms
Butter Worms
Hornworms

Stay away from meal worms, especially for younger dragons. They have a hard chitin (shell) that are difficult for beardies to digest.

Fruits

All fruits should be fed only on occasion. Fruits that are very high in sugars should be avoided. You should also peel any fruit that has skin to make them easily digestible.

Occasional Treats

Apples
Apricot
Blue, Straw and Cran-berries (Fresh)
Cantaloupe
Mango
Mandarin Orange
Pineapple
Plums
Watermelon

When you feed bearded dragons, whether it is veggies or insects, you should be dusting with calcium supplements at least 5x a week. A multi-vitamin should be given at least 2x a week also. Always make sure all items are smaller than 3/4 of the dragon's head, or the space between their eyes, to ensure proper digestion, and always have a fresh water dish available. Feed them as much as they will eat within 5-10 minutes and remove any uneaten foods. Stick to these simple guidelines and your beardie will be in tip-top health condition, and eating like a king.

For more in-depth info on what to Feed Bearded Dragons check out Joselyn's website Caring for Bearded Dragon

All the Best,
Joselyn Rhodes

Myths On How To Feed Your Dog

Good nutrition is the best way to prevent health problems in our pets. The harmful effects bad nutrition can have on our pets translated into higher costs for veterinary services and a poor lifestyle.

Manufactured dog food is not suitable for all dogs, although this is a myth that most people believe in. Dog food is supposed to be made for dogs, but what often goes into manufactured foods is not fit for human consumption. Although pet food is advertised as nutritionally complete, it is hardly whole food that can cover all the basic nutritional requirements of your pets. Another myth is that the larger the size of your pet, the more food you should give it.

Manufacturers claim that modern pet food is formulated based on science and balanced to provide complete nutrition that maintains health. It is thought that feeding your pets leftovers from your meals can upset the balance the scientifically formulated diets can offer.

Another myth that is promoted by many dog food producers is that you should feed your dog the same type of food because variety causes health problems. Animals can adapt to diets that are deficient in nutrients to some degree but health problems will develop in time. Some such conditions are not always linked to improper diets but can nevertheless be cured with proper diets and supplements. Examples are obesity, diabetes, allergies or more serious conditions related to the immune or endocrine systems. Animals enjoy variety in their diet, just like carnivores and omnivores living in the wild. Feeding your pet different animal proteins can help you identify sensitivities for certain types of food or allergies, but it is also a good way to reduce deficiencies in nutrients or imbalanced triggered by one type of pet food.

If you think that your pet does not need vitamins, minerals and other supplements because there is plenty in the pet food you buy, you are wrong. Nutrients in pet food can easily be destroyed by the processing methods involved in its production. Synthetic additives added to correct the nutrient deficiencies, come along with chemical preservatives and coloring agents. The science of pet nutrition is not as well developed as the interests to obtain higher profit margins in the industry.

Inferior quality pet food is just as present on the grocery stores shelves as junk food and sodas are for humans. Although there are brands offering organically certified ingredients, raw, canned or freeze dried foods, these get less attention than the brands highly advertised on TV.

Regular dog foods are too often manufactured using human food byproducts, sometimes imported from third world countries in order to maximize the profit margin for its producers. Testing of such food can never be done for every batch of products because the costs would be too high. The recalls are frequent with such products because of bacterial and fungal contamination occurring in poor quality ingredients.

Good nutrition can be a better way to avoid expensive treatments and offers better insurance against serious diseases.

Please visit ThePound.org to learn more about your local Animal Shelter and Pet Kennels.

The Dangers For a Sudden Change in a Pets' Dietary Pattern

Are you thinking of changing your dogs diet and wondering how to go about it? Congratulations, the solution is here. I will only share with you; two major reasons, why any dog owner may wish to make a change in his dogs' dietary pattern. Before I proceed, do you know that a sudden change in your pets' diet can cause him unexpected health problem and stress? A sudden change in a puppy' diet makes them susceptible to diarrhea infection and other digestion related problems like indigestion and vomiting. To an older dog, it could lead to stomach cramp, heart burn and a low response in the course of trainings he undergoes. However, a saying goes that slow and steady win the race. It is advisable that when trying to make a change in your pet dietary pattern, you need to follow a gradual process, as you put the interest of your pet in mind first.

Changing a pet dietary pattern must take at least seven to fourteen day, to make it easier for your pets' digestive system. Please avoid changing your dogs' diet abruptly, instead; you can progressively introduce the new diet in a friendly manner. Most dog owners makes this common mistake, by treating their pet in a harsh manner and believing they are animals that have no choice, in terms of choosing a diet for themselves, or making a demand for whatever they feel they deserve. I call this a misconception, and most results of these are usually negative.

Your pet may turn out to be a closer friend than even some members of your family, depending on the relationship you have taking time to build with him. Making your dog very happy, will afford you a friendly and happy environment every time. At the same time a sudden change in your pet dietary pattern, may result to an aggressive behavior in the dog, and you know what to expect from an aggressive dog.

When you make your dog feel unsecured being around you, he may turn out to be hostile and violent with you and sometimes may destroy some things in the home. This is the main reason why you must always consider if it is necessary for you to make any change in your pet diet, and also let it take a gradual process whenever you have to do so. There are many unnecessary reasons why most dog owners do change their pet diet at times. I can only recommend two main reasons that should lead to a change in a pet dietary pattern below. And I assure you that it will be you best option to choose, and also a solution to you anytime you think of making a change in your pet dietary pattern.

The first and major reason that should lead to a change in a pet dietary pattern is when you discover that the present diet you are feeding your pet is harmful and can cause damages to the dogs' health. Most dog owners need to be educated on this, because it matters a lot to ensure that you get your dogs' feed from a guaranteed source, or to contact your vet for an advice.

Another major reason for changing a pet dietary pattern is determined by the growth of the dog. Every veterinarian will always recommend a particular diet for your pet at different stages of his life. It is very dangerous to keep a dog at home and fail to have a veterinarian you consult often to get directions on how to take a proper care of him in various aspects. The best way to play safe is to always sort for information that will yield you a huge success in all issues relating to your pets' welfare. You can visit the links below.

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Learn the Art of Feeding a Dog For Coat Health

If you have a pet dog, you have to constantly remind yourself that making his coat or fur or skin shiny and healthy is not just about outer beauty but taking care of its outer covering can give the impression of a healthy dog, an inner beauty in him and of course, a very happy and healthy home in effect. Can you expect to have a "no-flea or tick zone" if your dog's coat is not that shiny and healthy? And when you do have fleas around, would you expect to have a healthy home? No, sir, you can't and one of the best ways to avoid these things is to learn the "art" of feeding a dog for coat health.

The "art" of feeding a dog for a good healthy coat includes everything from watching his diet, balanced every food that he eats, making sure that the utensils that you use for his dinner is clean and free from dirt and of course, be wary where you buy dog feed and the quality of the dog food that you're buying.

Feeding your little buddy is one of the best tips to make his coat healthy, aside from always making a habit of checking your dog's fur once in a while for fleas and ticks, use a conditioner for your dog's fur, and for a shampoo, don't try to share your human shampoo with your dog. If you have heard that dog shampoo is not good for you, then, the reciprocal of that is also true. Human shampoos can be harsh for your dog.

Then, you also have to spoil your dog (sort of) with a brush. Brush his fur regularly and not just any ordinary brush but with a vet-recommended gadget.

Anyway, those are just few of the tips to make your dog's fur coat healthy and shiny. Going back to your buddy's diet, it's just true that what you give to your dog does influence the quality of his coat. It's always highly recommended that you should listen to your breeder's advice about feeding.

Matter of fact, breeders have some good diet recommendations up their sleeves and if you don't have a breeder, the next best person to approach is your vet.

Now, another important rule of the thumb is to never ever make your dog or let your dog be a scavenger. Dogs are naturally hunters and in a concrete jungle, the best hunting spot for dogs that gets out of your house and out of your yard is the garbage can. This is one of the finest places where you can find lots of catalysts to spread diseases for your dog. And aside from that, you may not be aware that, say for example, a juicy chunk or slice of meat can also have some parasites inside that can affect your dog's health and it's coat's health as well. Don't you know that a cooked steak, when poured with a soda drink, can reveal a very long and thin tapeworm? That's right so that's why you have to be very careful what you give to your pet.

In conclusion, to give you the best idea for the "art" of feeding a dog for coat health, it's best that you should consult an expert about it, preferably a breeder or your vet but if you want to know more pet health information the fast and convenient way, the best place to go to is a virtual or online pet store or online vet and it's through the Internet where a lot of sites are ready to give you the best in pet health care.

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Things to Remember When Feeding Hermit Crabs

Hermit crabs are becoming popular as pets because of their unique and interesting characteristics of changing their shells when they feel like it. They are also different in many ways and only require low maintenance when caring for them. Feeding is one important factor you have to consider when rearing hermits as pets because although they are not choosy with their food, we have to give them food that must be nutritious, clean and must not pose danger in their habitat. They can be kept on aquariums so the problem of keeping them is very minimal and less costly. We can find commercial food for our hermits easily at local pet shops but they can also enjoy some food items that are readily available in our kitchen.

They will munch on fruits, vegetables, breadcrumbs, and would you believe they also love peanut butter? So how do you make ways in feeding hermit crabs? You just need these simple things:

· Commercial pet food anything from grounded to palletized commercial food.

· Fruits

· Vegetables

· Shells that are shaped like dishes

· Water that is completely de-chlorinated

When you have these just follow these simple steps:

First step

Use the shells as containments for their food and water. The calcium in these shells can be absorbed by the food thus providing calcium supplements to your hermits. Feeding hermit crabs that are small while using a large shell can be a problem so you can put pebbles or rocks in the middle of the shell so that the smaller ones can be able to crawl over and will not drown.

Second step

When feeding hermit crabs with commercial food, you can put only about 2 small pinches of the food on their feeding shells and this can sustain the small hermits. For larger hermits, palletized commercial food is better.

Third Step

Providing sustenance from natural food is a must for hermit crabs so you have to provide them fruits regularly. Their favorite fruits are grapes, bananas and apples. They also love to munch on ripe mangoes, papaya and grated coconut. You can slice the fruits in medium size cut before feeding it to them but make sure you remove the hard skin of the fruits first.

Fourth Step

Vegetables are necessary for the hermit crabs' diet and they can eat any kind of vegetables. It would be better, however, if you could feed them carotene-rich vegetables such as carrots and corn. The carotene supplement can help them to go through their molting process easily.

Fifth Step

Because they love to eat, they must also be provided with continuous supply of clean de-chlorinated water in their tank for their drinking and bathing. Always replace old water because their water can get dirty easily as they will crawl all over their dishes.

Sixth Step

Feeding hermit crabs is much like feeding your other pets. You can treat them with other food such as plain crackers, cereals, groundnuts, corn meal, small seeds or unbuttered popcorn and they will love it.

If you want to learn more about many things on how to feed your hermit crabs with different kinds of nutritious food, you can find this information on my sight.

Steven is a hermit crab enthusiast. For more great tips and advice on feeding a hermit crab, visit [http://www.hermit-crab1.com].

Feeding Dogs the Healthy Way!

Any responsible dog owner wants to feed their pet to provide the best possible nutrition and health. Feeding dogs according to the needs of their bodies - that is, the needs for certain nutrients and the needs of canine digestive processes - is the best way to ensure the health, well-being, and long life of your pet. This article will discuss one common sense way we can feed dogs so that we know without a doubt their diets are full of the best ingredients and nutritional quality possible.

First, it's important to understand what attracts dogs to certain food. I don't know about you, but I am not a dog. While you and I are impressed by visual stimuli - the colors of the foods we eat and how they are arranged on the plate - dogs are not. The dog's nose knows! Dogs are attracted to food by how good it smells to them.

While it's true that not all dogs are exactly the same in their food preferences, we can generalize somewhat when it comes to what dogs like to eat. Most dogs are attracted to the aromas emanating from most meats - things like liver, beef, lamb, horsemeat, chicken, etc. Most are also attracted by the smell of cheese, fat, garlic and onions.

That brings up the subject of vegetables, and when it comes to feeding dogs vegetables there are not as many universally appreciated smells. You can learn what vegetables your dog likes by offering it leftovers. Notice what gets gobbled and what gets ignored. It may surprise you what vegetables, and even fruits, your dog enjoys.

Our neighbor Bonnie has a Shih Tzu that loves fresh tomatoes. For many years in the summers she would plant a tomato plant or two in large planters on her back porch. This is the same back porch where her dog Snickers would spend much of his day. Bonnie began to notice that her tomatoes would sometimes disappear when they began to ripen, especially the ones closest to the ground. This was a puzzle, and Bonnie began to suspect that perhaps some of the neighborhood kids were making raids on her tomatoes. Not MY kids of course!

One day Bonnie noticed red around Snickers' mouth. She thought it was blood at first, and looked closer. It was the remains of one of her ripe tomatoes! When I tell this story to other dog owners, I hear all kinds of stories about how their dogs like everything from lettuce, to rutabaga to grapes and oranges! Go figure.

While cats should not be fed starchy vegetables like peas and corn, dogs can have pretty much any vegetable they like. We should not, however, be feeding dogs extra salt. The salt nature provides is plenty for our canine friends.

So why not feed dogs the foods they love, and why not make it yourself? When you feed dogs homemade food you know exactly what's in it and that it is fresh and healthy. A good rule of thumb is to use about three quarters carbohydrates (grains and vegetables) and about one quarter meat products. It's also a good practice to add grains - whole wheat bread crumbs, cooked oatmeal and wheat germ are probably the healthiest. There's one very good recipe you can try below, although you may need to tweak it according to what you know about your own pet's preferences.

Combine a chicken liver, chicken giblets, a chicken heart, a chicken neck, and 2 cups water and 1 tablespoon finely chopped parsley. Cover in a pot and simmer until the giblet is tender. Be sure to chop up all the meat, and remove all the bones. Add whatever chopped cooked or raw vegetables your dog likes. Substitute any leftover meats and fish you may have in place of the chicken parts.

Experiment with this recipe, and find combinations that your pet appreciates most. Taking a little time and expending the effort to make your pet's food will save you money while feeding your dog a healthy and nutritious diet that will have plenty of variety and be customized to your dog's particular tastes. What better expression of your love could your dog receive?

Go to [http://www.PetDogHealthEtc.com] to read more articles by Jonathan Richardson. Mr. Richardson's career in corporate training has helped him hone his writing and editing skills. He has lived in Connecticut for the last 22 years raising a fantastic family with his wife Elaine.

Puppies - Seniors Learn What to Feed Them

What is a good feeding schedule for your dog? You naturally do not want your dog to get overweight. Each stage of your dog's life requires different feeding habits. When you have a puppy, you will of course have a complete different feeding schedule then you would for an older dog. Each stage is important for your dog's health. You also have to monitor your dog's weight. Not enough weight is just as dangerous as too much.

Here are some feeding tips for different stages of your dog's life. For puppies less then six week old and do not have access to their mother, should be given milk. Putting the milk in a bottle with a nipple and hand feeding the puppy at least five to seven times per day. Puppies are very smart and will let you know when they need to eat. If they begin to whine and cry, they require feeding. Between 6 and 8 weeks of age, you should be able to reduce the number of times they require to be fed. By this time, you should introduce them to solid foods. Mix up a little sold food with lots of water. Try it for a couple of feedings, if they develop diarrhea wait a little longer before trying it again. Eventually you will learn the correct amount of food they need.

You should be able to cut back a puppies feedings to three times a day, but if they whine for more you should oblige them. Of course, the feedings will vary with the type and size of dog you have. Usually between three and six months of age, your puppies will begin teething. At this time, you may cut back their feedings to twice a day, but be careful. Puppies need a nutritious and balanced diet. This is a stage in their life when they can be vulnerable to medical problems. The last thing to worry about when feeding puppies is weight gain that comes later in a dog's life. After your puppy reaches, 6 months of age start them on a highly recommended and safe commercial puppy food.

After they reach, their first birthday is when you should slowly start giving them a healthy and well-balanced adult food diet. As your dog ages and becomes a senior, you may have to adjust their diet. With age, many times dogs can get medical conditions that may restrict their diet. One important piece of information you should know it when you have an older dog make sure you give them plenty of water. Elderly dogs get dehydrated much quicker.

If you find out you have a pregnant dog, for her first weeks of pregnancy you have to monitor her diet, so she does not over eat. Then at her last three weeks of her pregnancy, it is recommended to increase her food. This is when the puppies will be growing and she will need more food. Be careful not to increase it more then 30%. Make sure the puppies go to very good home, or a humane adoption shelter. You should then have your dog when she is healthy spayed. Neutering and spaying our pets is the only way we can decrease their population, and ensure that all pets will have loving homes.

These are just suggestions for your dogs feeding habits. Every dog like people is different and may require completely different care. So always, be alert to your dogs needs and monitor their food to make sure they are always getting enough good healthy food.

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Turtle Pets - How to Care For Box Turtles

Box turtles, as their name implies, have a hinge on their lower shells. This allows them to pull their legs, head, and tail inside for protection, thus creating a "box" within their lower shell, or plastron, and their upper shell, or carapace. The most well-known among this type of turtle pets are the Eastern Box Turtles, which have yellow or red spots decorating their brown skin.

In ancient times, some box turtles were hunted by humans for use in their folk medicines. Over time, due to habitat destruction and encroachment, the number of box turtles has become so diminished that they have unfortunately been added to the endangered species list.

If you are presently a pet owner, or perhaps planning to become one, you should take advantage of the fact that box turtles are not picky when it comes to food. They enjoy a wide variation of food, so that feeding them can become an enjoyable and trouble-free activity for you. Box Turtles consume slugs, earthworms, insects, snails, and carrion. They also enjoy plant materials, such as fruits, leafy vegetables, seeds, and berries.

It is advisable to place the food of box turtles on large, flat rocks instead of into commercially produced dishes or food bins. As the turtle eats, his beak and claws will abrade against the rocks. This natural approach allows the turtle to file his beak and claws, preventing both from breaking, cracking, or growing abnormally. You should also provide boiled eggshells, a calcium-rich food that your pet turtle will love to chew on. Your Box Turtle also needs clean water for drinking and soaking, so make sure you provide sufficient quantities of water that are easily accessible by the turtle.

Although the expected lifespan of box turtles is forty years, they can, incredibly, live up to one hundred years! They are very adaptable, in the sense that they can live either outdoors or in a large indoor enclosure. However, if you have the choice, housing your turtle outdoors is the best option. The floor of the pen must be covered with leaves up to three inches deep, mixed with soft soil.

A box turtle can take up to three years to become comfortable or habituated to its home. If you have purchased or acquired your turtle fully grown, you may find that during this period of adjustment, these turtle pets may attempt to break free of your care and escape, trying to return to the place where they were born.

Box Turtles are solitary creatures, and they appreciate a place where they can hide. Hollow logs and broken flower pots make excellent hiding places for your pets. Box Turtles do not like being handled, and may retreat into their shells, closing them so securely that even a knife blade cannot get in between their upper and lower shells! However, your pet turtle can also learn to trust you over time, just as long as you are quiet and gentle when around him.

Box turtles can grow comfortable in your presence if you feed them at the same time and in the same area daily. You should eventually find your pet turtle waiting for you to feed it, a feat which is highly satisfying for you as a pet owner who loves his turtle. Nevertheless, never feed turtle pets food directly from your hand, since their bites can be dangerous and painful!

Wash your hands properly and thoroughly after handling your turtle pets to prevent the risk of being infected with bacteria. Also, be sure to wash your turtles' dishes or food containers separately from the ones your family uses to ensure sanitation. With these facts in mind, you are guaranteed to take great care of your turtle pets, ensuring them optimum health.

Karma Williams is a pet turtle care enthusiast who has raised turtles for over 23 years. Discover more about turtles by visiting the turtle pets page of her website. Get your free 10 part Pet Turtle Care mini-course, valued at $49, by visiting her Pet Turtle Center website and requesting it. Check out her eBook entitled "The Ultimate Guide to Pet Turtle Care."

Learn the Basic Pet Diet to Be Able to Feed Your Own With the Right Food

The way your cats and dogs eat tells how their ancestors behaved in the wild before. Cats liked to hunt for foods alone. They only hunt every time their hunger bothered them. They didn't think much about where to get the next meal. Dogs, on the other hand, hunt in packs. They preyed on big animals so they went in groups when hunting for food. They would feast on the prize as much as their stomachs can hold because they can go on for days without food.

When it comes to food, cats are pickier than dogs. Many pet owners are constantly faced with the issue of what to feed their pets. Today, there are hundreds of pet food brands available so you have plenty of selections to choose from. However, an issue always starts every time your pet decides a favorite. There's no turning back once your dog has developed a taste for a certain food. Your dog will start begging for it, especially if he knows it is only within reach. Cats don't beg as much as dogs do but they can have their own favorite too and would demand to share every time the coveted food is around.

You can share the same diet with your pets provided you know the kinds of nutrition they need to keep them in top shape. Just like humans, too much calories are not good for your animals. Table food should only comprise 10% of your pet's diet. You should still feed him with commercial foods since these foods are especially formulated to provide animals with a balanced diet. Fruits and vegetables are good for humans and the same nutritional benefits can be acquired by your pets if you feed them these.

Dogs like to eat from their owner's hands. There will be instances when you serve him the same food in his bowl and he will pass up on it. Cats share the same habit, too, but only to a lesser degree since they are solitary animals. Begging can become a bad habit but there are ways to control it. Say no firmly or gently spray your pet with water every time he starts to beg. Vets would always tell pet owners not to give their animals foods from the table. This will inspire begging and an uncontrollable appetite. There are a lot cats and dogs that have issues with their weights because their feeding time is not strictly regulated. If you want to give them table scraps, give it to them in their respective bowls after you have finished eating.

Generally, dogs like to eat foods that are also endorsed for human consumption. Most commercial dog foods are comprised with these ingredients and they are either served dry, canned or partially moistened. You might have noticed that your dogs like the canned version better but they cost more and dry foods contain the same amount of nutrition that the canned version offers. To make dry foods more palatable for your dog, you might want to add a little amount of milk or broth. Just be prepared to do this every meal since they might refuse to eat foods that are dry ever again.

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Automatic Pet Feeders Can Help Busy Pet Owners

In today's world, our lives can become very hectic with work, school, errands, functions, etc. This sometimes means our pets may have to eat dinner a little late. Well not anymore. I found a terrific item that helped me solve this problem: an automatic pet feeder!

My husband and I both work late many nights. There were a few days a week that we had commitments and were unable to get home until after 9:00 pm. There was no time to drive thirty minutes home and back to feed our sweet dog. For a while, we asked our neighbors to feed her but felt it was just too much of an imposition for them to continue. What were we going to do? We felt too guilty to make our canine companion wait for meals and it was too expensive to pay someone. We thought of how cool it would be if there was some way to set a timer for scheduled feedings. I did a little research and low and behold...we found the PetSafe Automatic Pet Feeders. They offer a two-meal and five-meal automatic pet feeder. All you have to do is fill the compartments with food and set the timer(s). It is so easy! These handy little gadgets are battery operated, easy to clean and very reasonably priced. The batteries usually last about 6-8 months. We decided to get a 5-meal feeder and set the timer to uncover a meal every five hours. This way our dog does not run out of food or overeat and it keeps her glucose level regulated. We even purchased a 2-meal feeder for our two cats. They used to wake us up at 3:00 am begging for food. Now we set the timer for the same time and both compartments open simultaneously so they may eat together. It is nice to be able to sleep through the night again. We can even go on overnight trips and not have to get a pet sitter.

Even when life keeps you busy, you do not have to worry or feel guilty about your pet missing meals. The PetSafe Automatic Pet Feeders make sure your pet is fed right on schedule. We all love our pets and do not want to keep them waiting. Don't keep your pet waiting. Try one of these pet feeders. It sure made life easier for us!

Mary Johnson has owned dogs her entire life. She has great passion for dogs and their well being. Her current canine companion, Taffy, inspired the creation of her website http://www.mindfulpets.com. Please visit for products to help your dogs become mindful pets and keep them safe!

Snakes As Pets

Snakes are fascinating creatures and can make fantastic pets and though they are not as affectionate and cuddly as a dog or cat, they can still be very tame when handled daily and can form a special relationship and bond with their owner.

When considering a snake for a pet one should keep in mind that a snake is a long term commitment and not one to be taken on lightly, many snakes live 20 years or longer. Also snakes eat prey animals and though you can feed frozen not live, it can still be quite upsetting for those who are sensitive. You will also have to supply a safe environment for your snake, something that is big enough, offers him the proper climate and is escape proof.

Snakes are generally solitary creatures and should always be keep one per tank. Many snakes are cannibals and will eat their own kind. Snakes do fit well into a family but should not be kept in homes where there are young children and extra care should be taken in homes with other pets. Snakes are very good escape artists and it would be horrifying to come home and find your snake got out and ate your cat or toy dog. When buying your pet snake it is best to go to a breeder who offers captive bred, not wild caught snakes. Wild caught snakes do not make good pets as they are far harder to tame and can carry disease or parasites.

Just like any pet, all snake breeds have different personalities and needs. Beginners should start with one of the more docile easier to care for snakes like the Corn, King and Milk snakes or the Ball python. Those with experience might enjoy the Boa constrictor, Burmese python or Tree Boas and pythons. Venomous snakes, reticulated pythons and anacondas are simply too dangerous and should never be owned as pets.

One of the major reason many snake lovers hesitate to get one as a pet is the feeding of live food. Thankfully there is a choice. Owners can buy pre-killed frozen rodents and simply keep them in their freezer until needed. Many fanciers feel that pre-killed food is safer as there is less chance of disease and parasites and no worries about your snake getting hurt from trying to catch an ornery dinner that just might fight back. Most snakes adjust well to pre-killed food, but it certainly helps if they are started on them at a young age. The food should be completely thawed and warmed a bit. Snakes should also have available to them a shallow bowl on fresh room temperature water, this is not only for quenching his thirst but also for soaking in. The bowl should be heavy enough that it doesn't tip over.

A snake needs a home that is at least two-thirds their adult size, one that is very secure and escape proof. They also need a warm area for basking in and a shaded area if they get too hot. For smaller snakes a hideaway is also a good idea.

When going out to purchase your first snake be sure to look for a snake that shows signs of good health, like regular tongue flicks, neither too fat or thin and it should not be shedding. Check to be sure they have no ticks or parasites. If you are planning on feeding pre-killed food be sure that the breeder has already been feeding the same. Take the time to do thorough research on your chosen snake, learn everything you can about them so you know exactly what you are doing.

A snake is a big commitment and like any pet should only be added into your life after much thought, consideration and research. Snakes can be expensive and do take time and dedication, but for the right person can make an excellent and interesting companion.

More exotic pet ideas at http://www.ourbestfriend.com

Our Best Friend is a collection of helpful articles and reviews to help you choose the right pet for you.
We match people and pets.

Reward Your Pets With Dog Treats

There are a lot of dog treats which we could give our pets. There are those which we can purchase from the marketplace or alternatively, we can choose to make them ourselves. If we personally prepare our dog food, it has many built in advantages. The biggest advantage is that we are able to monitor what our dogs are actually taking.

Creating our own dog treats will grant us peace of mind about the safety of our pets' food. This is something that no manufactured dog food, regardless of the price or reputation, could give us. We simply want the best for our pets since we love them as our family members. We do not want a scenario where our dog's health is compromised by gastrointestinal disorder due to inferior manufactured dog food.

In feeding dog treats to our pets, there's only one standard - can we actually eat the food ourselves? If yes, then we're behaving as responsible pet owners towards our dogs. Still, if the answer is no, then we may be acting irresponsibly and perchance we should rethink what we are feeding them. Our great love for our dogs demands that we only feed them food that we ourselves would actually eat.

In cooking homemade dog food, we must only utilize organic foods. By doing so, we are preserving the health systems of our pets which could as well lengthen their lives. Utilizing organic foods has been proven to escalate the stamina and the health of our pets. They will end up sounder, and livelier in their activities.

It would be ideal if we employ lamb meat as our homemade dog food. In the alternative, we can also use beef or pork so long as we avoid the fattiest portions. We ought to also make a conscious effort to avoid additives and preservatives such as MSG or those which may induce an allergic reaction for our dogs. We must also be very careful to leave out any bones since they are potential choking hazards for our pets.

All of us love our dogs and it is no empty rhetoric that dogs have lived up as man's best friend. They are always by our side to give us companionship and give us solace. They shower us with love, fondness, and companionship despite the moments when we turn them away. Would it be humane to give back this loyalty by feeding them substandard dog food that is commonly full of extenders, or can we find it within our hearts to express our love by making them their personal home made dog food?

Providing homemade dog food and dog treats to our pets reap both owner and dog good benefits as compared to feeding them commercially available ones which are loaded with extenders. Creating home made dog food is easy to make and is a good expression of our love to our pets, befitting the loyalty, affection and companionship they bring us about.

Feed Baby Rabbits - Providing the Best Pet Nourishment

Baby rabbits are far more delicate than adult and more mature ones. Because of that, infant rabbits need supreme care from their raisers. Specific guidelines should be followed baby and they consist of the proper approach that raisers should feed baby rabbits.

Knowing the method of properly feeding baby bunnies has been an essential component of caring for them as well as endowing them more attention particularly during their early stage of life in which they have delicate food intake. In short, the way raisers feed baby bunnies has been predominantly important through the first weeks as this the time when they can encounter risk from the outside factors although they are positioned in a domestic environment.

Check on your pet baby rabbits on a regular basis. It could be draining for you, however, it is decidedly vital for their first weeks of existence. By and large, mama doe feed baby rabbits at early morning hours. The best time to check on them is somewhere between three and four o'clock, at dawn. Be sure that the babies are nourished well.

When raisers feed baby rabbits, the experience is rewarding especially if they have good appetite and they food might not suffice them. It can happen but you do not have anything to be bothered about since there are foods that can be supplement and alternatives, such as Kitten Milk Replacer is one. It is a food replacement found in nearby pet stores. On the other hand, the KMR may not contain adequate calorie required by the babies.

Conversely, it is still advisable that raisers feed baby bunnies the KMR. To attain the level of calorie that baby rabbits necessitate, it is suggested by experts to combine one tablespoon of cream in every can of the supplement. Through this, the calorie level is improved. You can feed them through using an oral syringe that you can find in pharmacies. With oral syringe, you can correctly measure the food quantity and become positive that your baby pets are eating food and not dropping them.

Feed baby rabbits correctly, make sure to group them together at all times. Should one or a few get separated, tenderly place it back with the group. Being away from the mother and from the crowd for a longer period might make them feel cold. Throughout their infancy, the babies need to feel warm.

Anthony Carle is a rabbit expert. Do You Want To Know How To Take Care Of Your Pet Rabbit & Build Great Friendship With Her? Discover more information about Feed Baby Rabbits, visit http://www.petrabbitcaresecrets.com.

Feeding Bearded Dragons: Essential Guide to Providing Your Beardie a Healthy Diet

Feeding your bearded dragons seems to be an easy process right? Many lizard owners will supply a food dish full of 'whatever' veggies they have in the fridge, fill up a water dish, and toss in some insects on occasion. They may even decide to use dry food pellets that can be purchased from nearly every pet supply store. This diet, as you may have guessed, will ultimately lead to poor health.

Some of this problem is caused by uninformed first-time owners who make an impulse purchase of a "cool looking" lizard they saw while picking up dog food at their nearest 'super' pet store. Now obviously these first-timers have no idea on how to provide proper care for a bearded dragon, so they turn to the 'expert' pet store clerk for answers.

This clerk will most likely point them in the direction of the packaged products (pellets and dried insects) once the conversation becomes focused on food. They will then inform the customer that beardies will also eat crickets and vegetables and to have a nice day.

Now don't get me wrong, it's not that this information is incorrect...it's just lacking detail. This is what leads keepers to believe that their bearded dragon's diet is fine, when in reality it is severely lacking vital nutrients.

"So what am I supposed to feed my lizard?"

Good question. Before we get to specific foods let's first go over a few basic guidelines that should be followed when feeding any beardie.


All food items must be smaller than the space between the eyes. This prevents choking and digestion issues.
Offer as many feeder insects as the lizard will eat within 10-15 minutes for each feeding.
Remove any uneaten insects. You don't need them defecating in your enclosure, or gnawing on your pet.
Have a water dish available at all times. Not all dragons will drink from a dish and you may need to use an eye dropper if it appears your lizard is becoming dehydrated.
Mist all plant matter to enhance their hydration value. This is how beardies get their main source of liquids.
"Gut load" all feeder insects 24-48 hours in advance of feeding them to your lizard. Gut loading is the process of feeding high-nutrient items to your insects, making them a much healthier meal.
"Dust" all insects before feeding. This is the process of coating the insects with a multivitamin, or calcium supplement before giving them to your beardie.

Staple Insects include: crickets, superworms, silkworms, calciworms, even roaches. Make sure all insects are of proper size.

Staple Vegetables include: dark greens such as collard, mustard, dandelion, turnip and kale. All varieties of squash may also be offered as a daily staple along with cactus pads.

Fruits that may be offered on occasion include: apples, fresh blue and blackberries, pineapple, mango, fresh strawberries and cantaloupe.

The amount of feedings per day, the insect-to-veggies ratio, and the amount of supplements all depends on the age of your dragon. You will find that younger dragons may ignore their veggies, while adults rarely turn them down.

Follow these guidelines for feeder insects and vitamin supplements:


Babies - (0-6 months) Feeder insects 2-3 times daily. Dust insects with calcium everyday and multivitamin supplement 4-5 times a week.
Juveniles - (6-10 months) 1-2 times daily. Calcium daily, multivitamin 4-5x
Sub-adult - (10-14 months) 1 time a day. Calcium 5x weekly, multivitamin 3x
Adult - (over 14 months) Offer feeders every other day or so depending on your dragon's appetite for them. Calcium 5-6x, multivitamin 3x.

When feeding bearded dragons it is critical to provide the best diet that is available to them. As their owners, we have taken on that responsibility and our pets depend on us.

To Healthy Reptiles,

Joselyn Rhodes

Reptile Feeding - What's the Right Time and Frequency?

Reptiles encompass are large group of diverse animals. Lizards, snakes, and iguanas all fall into this category. Their feeding habits can be diverse as the variety of lizards. You'll often find that some reptiles only feed during the daytime, while others will only feed at night. Some eat once a day, while others eat only once or twice a week. You will need to address the specific needs of your pet.

Reptile owners need to learn as much about their pet as possible before and after taking ownership. If you do not learn the proper feeding habits you can be harming the health of your pet. If they are not eating the proper amounts of food they will be getting robbed of valuable nutrition that will help them grow happy and healthy.

One thing to consider is also the food sources that different reptiles eat. While some lizards may eat crickets, some snakes may love rodents, and tortoises like their vegetation. The snake may only eat twice a week, while the tortoises need to eat everyday to get the nutrients they need.

Trying to generalize a 'best time' or 'best frequency' for reptiles is not the best course of action. One sure thing is that if a reptile acts like it is hungry, it most likely is. Reptiles are pretty tough to overfeed. They are not like goldfish; they only eat when they are hungry. Owners should pay attention to this and look for signs that their pet may be hungry when they approach the enclosures. Although it is tough to overfeed a reptile, it is all too easy to underfeed one.

Proper research on your particular type of reptile is always the best decision. Not feeding your animal in the right amount, during the right times can cause malnutrition and maybe even worse.

There are plenty of resources online on reptile feeding based on each type of animal. Another option is to get a full care and health sheet from a breeder or animal store. We all want to raise a healthy pet, and doing a little extra research can go a long way.

If you want to find out more about frozen mice for reptiles, or where to find the best reptile food suppliers, check out the information on snakefoodking.

RSS Feeds and Optimizing

What are RSS Feeds?

RSS feeds are the initials used for Really Simple Syndication brought to us by way of an XML format. This format was created exclusively for news syndication and is used to share real time news as it happens to interested parties across the net. What it really does is send out headlines of the latest news from various websites and blogs to one location known as the RSS directory.

The directory then sends out the information directly to subscribers of that blog or website along with sending it out to all news related websites. What this does for readers is allow them to have real time news as it occurs sent to their various RSS readers including cell phones.

If you are placing an RSS feed on your website for search engine optimization purposes, then you will more than likely want to use a feed burner. Webmasters use feeds on their website to help with SEO as the feeds when using the proper keywords can help a website rank higher in the search engines as well as bring more targeted traffic.

To optimize the RSS on your website you should completely publish the RSS feed and advertise your feed such as by submitting to RSS directories. Other important factors with optimization include properly titling and describing your feed, add your feed to your email signature, use your feed when posting to other websites that are pertinent to your keywords, and send out your feed link to email subscribers.

When you add your feed to your website, you can not only ensure your latest news is in the feed but other websites that offer information on the same subject. If you are trying to promote your products or services locally, you can choose news websites locally to add to your feed. This way those looking for local news will find the RSS feed on your website along with finding your local business. The same goes for selling products or services regionally, nationally, or globally. Just use keywords that are close to your products or services and only subscribe to those that are similar or would be of interest to your visitors.

Example: If you have a product for cats such as cat trees, you would want to subscribe to not only feeds involved with cats, but also pets, pet products, and even pet food. This way the pet owners will find your website when searching for cat food and possibly purchase a cat tree.

Feedcat.net is your source for adding a quick subscribe button to your website as well as organize all of your subscriptions in one easy place. Join today free by visiting Feedcat.net.

Another Recall, What Do We Feed Our Dogs?

Over fifty percent of Americans own a dog and in today's world the big question is what do we feed our dog? With all the recalls what is safe? We need to make sure our dogs are getting all the nutritional value a dog needs. Here are some guides to help you decide what is best to feed your dog.

If you have decided that you will feed your dog or puppy prepared dog food or prepared puppy food, then your next decision is what type of food should you be feeding your puppy? There is much to recommend feeding your dog. I personally feed my dog homemade dog food. This is a very good option if you have the time to prepare it, and make sure you have recipes that give the correct ratio of nutrients, as well as the vitamins and supplements you'll need to add.

Suffice to say that if you're feeding your dog ANY commercially available dog food, you're exposing your dog to a source of chemically enhanced, overprocessed, garbage, the meat source for which includes diseased carcasses which have been left for up to 5 days before being processed. If you decide to go the commercial route, try and choose a good premium dog food since it contains more energy and protein than an economy brand. When feeding your dog you want to make sure that the adult dog food you are feeding is 22-25% protein and 15-19% fat. When considering feeding fat to your dog, the amount you feed varies by the requirements of the dog.

Even if you don't find time out of your hectic work schedule to prepare a home made dog meal, you can still provide your pet with the best dog food. One of the best ways to ensure your dog is receiving optimum nutrition while living on medium quality pet food is to add some kind of nutritional supplement. No matter what the variety of commercial dog food that you purchase, it is imperative that your dog's diet adheres to the National Research Council's guidelines on canine nutrition.

No matter what you choose to feed your dog, be sure to follow the feeding instructions on the packaging as they differ greatly. You know, if you really want your dog to be as healthy as he or she can be, you should stop feeding ANY of the widely available commercial dog foods. Like you, your dog has to deal with the effects of stress, age, exertion, a polluted environment, and foods grown in nutrient-depleted soils.

Those who choose the raw diet also say that they feel they are giving their dog the diet that nature intended, and that commercial dog food kills any real benefits of the proteins in the cooking process. Raw diet advocates also state that the commercial dog food makers put special additives into the food which makes the food more appealing to the dogs so they get addicted to the commercial foods. Raw food advocates concede the diet costs more than traditional dog food, but they argue it's worth it.

There's nothing wrong with feeding your dog a varied diet, but don't keep changing the food because he seems fussy and won't eat it. Don't let your dog "win" the food through his growling, this would reward the very behavior you are trying to eradicate. When your dog is eating, call him over to you, when he gets to you reward him, make it worth his while then let him back to the food bowl.

If we put all the food which has all this stuff in it in the dog food isle, then there would be 22 isles of dog food and 5 isles of real food and of course we would all know what side of the store to shop on to stay healthy and fit. There are many excellent dog foods on the market, and a variety of prices.

Michelle Johnson gives advice on how to care for your dog, dog health, training, feeding your dog and more. To see more articles visit: http://rustydogblog.blogspot.com

Vetraplus Pet Milk Powder Supplement And Also Mother's Milk Replacer

Vetraplus - the brands that love your pet as much as you do.

Pet Milk Powder Replacer from Vetraplus is recommended as a food source for orphaned or rejected puppies or those nursing, but needing supplemental feeding for any kind of furry animal. It is highly recommended for growing animals, nursing or older, convalescing pets like cats, dogs that are stressed and require a source of highly digestible nutrients.

Why PET Milk?

• High in calcium for stronger bone.

• Omega 3 for a healthy and shiny coat.

• DHA added for better brain development for your pets.

• All natural ingredient.

• Low sugar content & soya milk causes less intolerance & allergy.

Puppies & other cubs

Mother's milk is the most important milk for all young animals. In general, they should at least have mother's milk for two days. Colostrum milk is the best nutrition to temporary fight of immunity against diseases.

Pregnant and nursing furry animals.

Feed 1 1/2 scoops of PetMilk powder per servings with 6.76 ounces water daily until two weeks after whelping.

Growing Puppies, Show Dogs, and/or Convalescing Dogs:

• Feed one servings of Pet Milk powder daily.

How to serve

The milk should be fed at room or body temperature. Puppies or young animals should be feed 1 1/2 scoops with 6.76 ounces of warm water. Small and/or weak puppies should be fed every 3 to 4 hours. Larger puppies should be fed every eight hours. Equal portions should be feed daily. Amount required can be increased and decreased according to puppies requirements.

Storage

Reconstituted Pet-Milk may be refrigerated up to 24 hours. Opened Milk powder powder may be refrigerated for three months.

We support

• American Kennel Association, AKC

• Animal Advocates

• Save A Dog

What Are the Best Dog Foods to Feed Your Dog? - 7 Tips to Help You Make the Right Choice

As a loving pet owner you want to feed your dog the best food possible. The healthiest dog food is always homemade. However, the following rating of the nutritional adequacy of pet foods for your dog will help you make an informed decision.

Seven Things You Should Know Before You Feed Your Dog:

1.) Meat and Nothing but Meat:

Contrary to what people think dogs in the wild don't eat just meat. They eat the contents of the intestines, which includes vegetables. They also eat the bones of animals which is a source of calcium. The bones are always raw and dogs in the wild know which ones to eat and which ones to leave alone. Sometimes they don't eat the meat as the particular meat may not be edible but the content of the intestines will include sources of proteins, like that of certain other animals. If you feed your dog nothing but meat and don't add the correct amount of vegetables and other nutrients found in fresh killed animals then you are not feeding your dog a healthy diet.

2.) Semi-Moist Dog Food:

These diets are very high in sugar and they have chemicals, dyes, and other additives to make them last long on the shelf, give them color, softness and an appearance that is pleasing to your eyes.

They look meaty...like real hamburger meat. Other than that they have no nutritional value for your dog and the diet is harmful.

3.) Generic Brand Dog Foods

Avoid these at all cost. They are often substandard foods and have highly questionable ingredients. The cheap generic brand pet foods have been written about for many years in veterinary literature as being inadequate and poor in quality. They usually have severe mineral deficiencies.

4.) Name Brand Commercial Dog Foods:

For a healthy young dog and up to middle-aged these foods are adequate but not the best. They are still loaded with chemicals, preservatives and dyes. Usually the companies put price before quality. With these foods a healthy dog up to thirty pounds will consume nine pounds of chemicals in one year.

5.) Top of the Line Name Brand Dog Foods:

These are the brands you might find in your veterinarian's office. They feature higher quality ingredients than the cheaper name brands but they still use artificial preservatives and chemicals.

6.) Natural Dog Food Products:

Many of these use vitamin C and vitamin E as natural preservatives and they add chelated minerals and amino acids for better absorption. They are usually made with the finest quality ingredients. You want to pick one with the lowest quantity of protein. Too much protein can stress the immune system, kidneys and liver. Make sure they do not have any inferior products like "wheat flour" though. Read the label. Wheat flour is really white flour, you want ground whole wheat or whole-wheat flour.

7.) Homemade Natural Diet

The absolute very best food you can feed your pet is a homemade diet made with fresh foods. The diet does not have to be raw if you are uncomfortable with that. The food can be cooked, but not overcooked. Meat can be medium rare and vegetables can be steamed. Chicken and turkey must be thoroughly cooked. Fresh fish is an excellent choice. You can also use the very highest quality dog food and mix it with broth, meat, chicken or turkey and add fresh vegetables and fruits. Pasta is O.K. but no sauces, spices or salt. But, a little olive oil is good for the skin.

If you are going to feed your dog a homemade meal it's always good to double check with your veterinarian first. Your vet has a complete record on your dog and will know if there are certain foods that your pet should not have. If your vet is not into homemade meals for your dog, which is a rarity nowadays, then find a good holistic veterinarian to work with.

You will find more information to get and keep your pet healthy when you Click Here

The Right Pet Chicken Coop - How to Choose

Housing your pet chickens appropriately is vital to their well being. Chickens housed poorly rarely do well. They can become sick and unproductive, often developing severe behavioural problems.

What are the essential features of a good pet chicken coop?

Adequate space, including height, certain keeper and chicken friendly features, a decent level of workmanship and material quality for a long service life.

So lets get down to specifics and define these requirements.

Considering the size of a pet chicken coop:

If you have bantams such as Silkies you need to allow 4 sq.ft. per bird if they are to be confined all day or 2 sq.ft. each if they will be free range.

Hybrid laying hens such as ex-battery chickens will need 6 sq.ft. each if they are confined full time but this drops to 3 sq.ft. if they go out and range free.

Traditional large breeds such as Orpingtons will require 8 sq.ft. per bird if they are living in the coop and run all the time but only 4 q.ft. each if they have access to free range ground.

When planning to keep large breeds like this you will need to make sure your coop has sufficient headroom. You should allow 24" in both the run and perching areas - especially if you have a cockerel.

Cleaning:

Cleaning is certainly going to be a regular job and so you want it to be easy for both you and your chickens. A well designed coop will open up on at least 2 sides giving you complete unhindered access.

While cleaning it can also be helpful if you are able to close your chickens into their run out of your way. Additional features such as a removable droppings tray, lift out perches and side walls that open or lift off will all make cleaning quick and easy.

It can help to keep the coop cleaner if there is a way to prevent night time roosting on the nest boxes.

Feeding:

Not many people think about feeding when buying a pet chicken coop but look out for a useful covered area where you can put a chicken feeder. This keeps the feed dry and prevents the accumulation of spilt wet feed which can breed infection.

Look for space to put a water container where you can easily reach it. Fresh water is vital for laying hens and so it needs to be easy to change their water on a daily basis.

Egg Collecting:

Some coops have externally opening nest boxes but it is not essential to be able to collect the eggs without opening your coop. In reality, confined hens rarely try to escape as they feel safe and secure in their run. Those that free range may hop out as you put your hand in but that's fine anyway!

Roosting & Perching:

Roosting or perching is part of the natural behaviour of chickens. It is not strictly necessary and intensively farmed birds often don't have access to perches but for your friendly pet chickens you will hopefully want to provide perches for them to roost on at night!

These are better if they are removable for cleaning as droppings accumulate over night. Bantams prefer to roost higher up than large breeds but in most coops the perches will be at an average set height. If you intend to keep a large breed ensure there is sufficient headroom - especially if you have a cockerel.

Nest Boxes:

There should be a nest box for every 4 or 5 hens. This wants to be in a relatively dark part of the coop to encourage them to lay there. Ideally it will not be easy to perch on the edge of the nest boxes and even better would be if they are closed off at night to avoid soiling.

Attached Run Flooring:

There is a balance to be struck here between natural behaviour and safety. Chickens love to scratch about for insects and juicy grubs but they also dig out dust baths for themselves. These can become quite large dusty holes in the ground and can create gaps at the edge of a run where predators could get under.

Some coops get around this by incorporating a mesh floor. This allows the chickens access to the ground but they can't really scratch it about and certainly can't create dust baths. They are however, safer from predators. If you decide to go for an integral floor you can provide a dust bath by putting sand in a low sided box for them to bathe and roll in.

Mobility:

It is vital for the long term health of your flock that they have access to clean ground on a regular basis. If it is not practical for them to free range you need to be able to move their run on a regular and frequent basis - weekly is a sensible aim. So, make sure any pet chicken house you buy is easily portable.

Material Quality & Workmanship:

Some pet chicken coops are just cheap in all ways whilst others offer value for money but are definitely better designed and built. Which are which?

Make sure your coop is made from pressure treated timber. If it doesn't say so then it is probably only dip treated and will need retreating 2-3 times a year. If the manufacturer understands chickens then they'll use pressure treated timber unless the whole coop is being made on the cheap.

Look for screws rather than nails. This may sound petty but for decent service life your pet chicken coop needs to be jointed with screws. If it comes flat packed, make sure the "tools required" include a screw driver rather than hammer!

All metal items such as hinges and hooks should preferably be galvanised. Very few will come with stainless fittings which is even better but a surprising number can come with plain steel fittings that rust very rapidly and can end up seizing or snapping.

Pressure treated coops still benefit from occasional treatment to keep them going for 10 years or more. It's also worth oiling hinges and clips now and then to just prolong their life and keep them moving freely.

Remember, this pet chicken coop is going to live outdoors in all weathers throughout the year. If you have a decent coop and take care of it you can expect years of happy chicken keeping.

Buy your pet chicken coop [http://the-pet-chicken-coop-shop.co.uk/home.html] here online where you'll find the best coops reviewed and rated. Find more advice, ideas information and stories about living the self sufficient "good life" on this self-sufficiency site and blog.

12 Tips on Selecting a Pet Sitting Company

If you're like most American families at the conclusion of the traditional school year, you begin planning a summer vacation. Although there are many pet friendly hotels, there are just as many vacation destinations that aren't appropriate for pets.

So what do you do when you can't take Fluffy or Fido with you? Well, you have a few options: Ask Grandma to come over to feed Fluffy while you're gone... and hope she remembers, ask the kid down the street to come over and feed Fido... and hope he doesn't sabotage your house while you're away, or hire a professional pet sitter.

You're instinct may be to go with someone you know and trust in your home. But, you should think again, and consider a professional pet sitting company. Use the friend or family member as a backup or a contact person to give to the pet sitting company you hire. You'll feel better (especially if your pet has special needs) and so will the friend, neighbor, or family member who doesn't get roped into the responsibility while you're away.

The well-being of your pet while you're away is serious business, and professional pet sitters take it as such. Still, there are some companies that won't provide the best service for what you're looking for. It's important to lay out everything that you expect, and to hear everything the pet sitting company offers. If it's not the exact fit that meets your needs, keep looking.

According to Lori Jenssen, former president of the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters, (a pet sitting education and support network group) "A pet sitter is better for animals that like their routines and feel most secure in their own home. In addition to playing with and feeding your pet, a pet sitter will also generally take in your mail, water plants and turn on lights so it doesn't look like you're away."

Here are a 12 tips on choosing the right pet sitting service for you:

1. They should be bonded and insured for your protection.

2. They should be able to provide you with solid references.

3. They should have an affiliation with a national pet sitting organization such as National Association of Professional Pet Sitters or Pet Sitters International.

4. They should be trained and certified in first aid and CPR for animals.

5. They should have a concrete back-up plan in the event that your assigned sitter cannot take care of your pet. (If using a "solo" pet sitter, ask who is their back-up in case of an emergency)

6. They should have an emergency planning manual as their "go-to" guide in case an emergency occurs.

7. They should have you sign a veterinarian authorization form and should have emergency veterinarian procedures in place.

8. They should provide a contract describing care, services, and fees.

9. They should be available to you for pet services 365 days a year including all weekends and holidays. (They should always have a secondary pet sitter available for your needs)

10. They should provide a complimentary consultation to meet you and your pets, obtain all the information needed to care for your pets and explain the services, fees, and policies.

11. They should demonstrate a level of professionalism by maintaining a website, have a logo, and business cards.

12. They should explain how they further their education on pet care. Professional pet sitting companies attend national pet care conferences, have their sitters become certified in pet care by NAPPS or PSI, read current pet care publications, and network with other pets sitting companies and veterinarians.

When deciding what to do with your pets when you travel, consider an in-home professional pet sitting service that meets these standards. Most professional pet sitting companies adhere to these standards but do your due diligence, after all you're leaving your family in the hands of someone new.

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Nutritional Feeding Recommendations For Pet Cats

If you are a pet lover you will know that your cats and dogs have completely separate dietary requirements and shouldn't be confused. Cats in particular have special needs in their diet; here are some that you may not know.

Overfeeding is a common problem is that people think their cats are too thin. Cats are meant to be lean, so make sure you give it the amount of food that it requires. A general rule is that a cat needs about ? ounce of food for every pound of its body weight. So an average 8lb cat with no special dietary needs only requires 4 ounces of cat food.

As well as not over feeding, it is very important that you feed your cat a good quality food. These should be very high in vitamins and minerals and not loaded with chemicals and additives that your pet doesn't need.

An essential ingredient in your cats food is the amino acid Taurine. Unlike humans and dogs, cats are unable to synthesize it for mother sources, so it has to be present in their food. It is so vital that if it is missing from their diet your cat can develop a serious eye disease that can lead to blindness.

Cats also need a steady supply of Vitamin A. Other animal simply synthesize this vitamin for caratenoids, but cats are unable to do this so we must ensure that they get it in their food.

One way of giving them Vitamin A is by giving them raw liver to eat, however many cats, and their owners, don't like to do this. The simplest way to make sure that your cat has all the Vitamin A that they require is to add a small amount of cod liver oil to their feed. You can do this daily or a few times a week.

Although there are feeding guides on all cat food, these are just general and there are a lot of other things that you should take into consideration. For example, an older cat will probably require a smaller amount of food which may also need to be lighter. The breed of your cat can also having a major bearing on this and the fact that your cat in an individual.

The most important of all, of course, is that you must avoid over feeding at all costs. Our modern pets have never had it so good, but rich treats are detrimental to their well being.

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Safely Feeding Your Dog

With all of the dog food companies competing for your purchase of their brands of dog food as well as all of the different types of dog food to choose from; how do owners know what is the safest choice for feeding your dog. Hopefully, this article will help to shed some light into the long isles of the many different brands to choose.

Dogs are carnivorous this means that the dogs natural food is meat. Therefore, the many pet food companies begin making their pet food products with meat and meat by products. The meat that they show as the ingredients means all different types this could include chicken, beef, goat, sheep, and even horse. The dog food is, made by from these meats being ground up together and then the process of making the dog food begins. Vitamins are added, nutrients, and oils, as well as some grains this is for a filler. Like corn or wheat. Some pet foods put milk by products in their foods as well.

You can look on the back of the bags for a list of ingredients. Try to choose the foods that specify chicken, or lamb and rice formulas. These are usually the best formulas to feed to your dog to prevent the dog from forming a food allergy.

Now you keep in mind that some dogs can have food allergies to some of the ingredients in the pet foods. Therefore, if you're pet does begin showing signs of allergies stop feeding the pet food you have chosen and try another product. Some of the things that dogs become allergic to are milk, eggs, meat, and wheat products. This creates a problem because nearly all of the pet food products contain at least one or more of these ingredients.

If this turns out to be the case, you may need to look for a way to make your own pet food at home by finding e-books or recipes on the internet with healthy pet food recipes in them.

You can also get your veterinarian to recommend a food product for your pet however, these are usually very expensive the veterinarian can also give your pet a shot to help with the allergy.

Pet with food allergies scratch almost constantly and cannot stop it is like when a human gets the hives from a food allergy. The allergy is, treated in much the same way. Many pet owners are now discovering the many benefits of making their own pet foods from their own kitchen. The owners know exactly what is in the recipes and all natural foods and ingredients are the best for you why not use them for your dog as well.

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Pets Have Fleas So How Do You Treat Them?

Pets do get fleas and not just the mucky ones; I have to tell people this quite often who come into my pet shop. Many people claim their pets don't need flea products because their animals have never been infected. Just the other day I noticed my dog was scratching a bit more than usual and when I checked her coat I discovered that "yes" she had them.

Adult fleas treats your pet as a food source, they jump on to feed but don't stay there, the rest of its life is spent in the local environment, i.e. your carpets, rugs and furniture, here it will lay it's eggs, 'thousands of them'. These eggs then hatch into larvae and find their way into any dark, warm spaces. From here they turn into pupae, which then hatch into an adult flea. This can take a matter of just days, or the pupae can remain dormant for many months, allowing the fleas to survive the winter outside. This is why, when your pets have fleas, it is so important to treat the house as well. In fact only 5% of the total flea population is the adult flea, the other 95% are the eggs, larvae and pupae of the next generation.

Fleas survive by sucking blood from your pet. In fact, they much prefer pets to people, so even if you are not being bitten, does not mean you don't have a problem! If you are getting bites, it is likely you have a large infestation and the fleas are feeding on you in desperation. This is why it is so important to regularly check and treat your pets for fleas. You don't often see live fleas on a pet (and if you do, again the infestation is likely to be heavy) but you can spot flea dirt. This looks like flecks of black soil but will readily turn red when combed from the fur and dampened on a piece of paper. Other signs include excessive scratching (in dogs) or grooming (in cats), small scabs appearing on the back or tail base and sore skin. Fleas are by far the most common cause of skin irritations in animals and should always be treated for in any dermatological problems, whether they have been seen or not.

There are various ways of protecting your pet against fleas and the most convenient and effective are spot on products. The best don't go into the animal's blood stream but stay in the skin, where they will kill fleas before they can feed. These types of product are particularly useful for animals that are allergic. With some pets even a single bite can start a bad reaction resulting in further treatment being needed. Some spot-on products will also help treat the local environment and prevent any of the larvae from developing in areas where the pet resides. These types of product are available from either your vet, on-line pharmacies or pet shops. With treating smaller animals or young ones, flea sprays or powder are best, as they allow very accurate dosing and are very safe. You may also find it beneficial to bathe the animal using a flea shampoo. Tablets are also available for pets who will take them, and who are not allergic to flea bites, with these the insect needs to bite its host before it is killed.

Remember, treating your pets is not the whole solution, you need to treat the large amount of eggs, larvae and pupae in the local environment? So you can see why it is equally important to treat your home. Use a good quality household flea spray from your local pet shop or vet. When treating the home put your heating on as this will help encourage the fleas to hatch, and so killing them with the chemical spray you are using. Do not vacuum after treating an area; leave it for at least a week, as the fleas will continue to hatch. You may have to use several treatments to rid the area of them completely. To monitor the area you can put down flea traps, these consist of a light over a plastic dish with a sticky pad in, the fleas are attracted to the light mistaking its warmth for body heat and as the fleas are trapped on the sticky pad you can easily see if the infestation is under control.

If your pet is regularly protected with spot on or other products against fleas, then a large home infestation is less likely. In order to breed a female flea must feed on a victim, a blood meal is what she needs and if she bites a protected pet she will die before she can do so.

Fleas are undoubtedly the most common pest in domestic pets and can cause problems from mild skin irritations through to very nasty skin infections. Protecting the animal with the aforementioned flea products of course easily prevents them and so ensuring they will not breed in your home.

On a final note if you are really struggling to get rid of these unwanted visitors to your home, consider calling in a professional pest controller. They will have access to a large variety of different treatments some of which are not readily available otherwise. You will of course still need to visit your local pet shop for the treatment for your pet.

c Gordon Bloomfield 2010 http://www.allpet.co.uk

Taking Care of Young Pets

Young pets are more sensitive than grown pets. They require more attention and at times, they need someone to watch over them all day. This is because they are usually destructive and they need constant feeding and training. It is at this age that pets also require basic training like knowing their cages or beds as well as knowing the right place for calls. For kittens, it is hard to watch over them since they are very playful. It is advisable that you get an enclosed area that is big enough for their play and then you give them play items like balls and strings. A constant check on them is important since they might strangle or entangle themselves.

Feeding for young pets is also an issue. Most of the pets ignore food for play. It is advisable that you set some time aside to feed the pet. It is advisable that you give the young pets foods that are semi liquid. This avoids cases of constipation and it makes it easier for the pet to swallow the food. For a very young pet, bottle-feeding is advised for both milk and porridge. You should hold the pet on your laps and have it take sips until you are sure that it has had its fill. When the pets are young, they also experience teething problems. It is always advisable that you give them solid foods so that the pressure exerted on chewing can loosen the teeth and when the teeth are very loose, you can remove them to avoid swallowing by the pet.

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Feeding Ferrets - 10 Best Foods to Feed Your Pet Ferret

There are many types of food that a ferret can choose from. However, there are some things that we need to consider before buying and trying one. Also remember that your ferrets are light eaters so they need to have available food throughout the day to satisfy their hunger. Also, fresh water should never be forgotten.

From here, you can choose among these ten best foods which you can feed your ferrets.

Treats

These should not replace the main meals being given to your pets. Used in moderation, these are only used in training and positive reinforcement. Use sparingly. Some treats include hard boiled or scrambled eggs, bits of cooked meats. If the food contains grains, vegetables or sugar, do not give it to your pet anymore.

Duck Soup

This food should be genuine, unprocessed and with no salt. This can be good for an ailing ferret.

Cat Food

Due to the ferret's high protein requirement, it is recommended that younger ferrets (around 3 - 4 years old) should get kitten or growth foods but if your ferret is a little older, than the adult cat food would be more recommendable. Older ferrets can have kidney problems if they get too much protein. Be reminded to not give this to them regularly.

Eggs

Eggs are also high quality protein sources. Avoid buying meat and poultry by-products because they may not be digested well and they are not really a good source of useful protein.

Turkey

Turkey meat also provides the necessary protein your ferrets need. This, along with other meat products, should be served as a natural part of your ferrets' diet.

Beef

Beef can also be one source of good protein. This can provide 30-35% of the needed protein requirement and 15-20% fat to meet the needs of the ferret.

Lamb

You don't have to serve this as too cold or too hot. Just enough warmth is right for the ferret. Lamb meat is another solid source of animal protein.

Dry Ferret Food

Before buying, check the label and the ingredients to help you decide which one is the best for your pet ferret. Select the one without any grain listed in the ingredients.

Chicken Meat

If your pet doesn't want red meat, and even ground meat, you can opt for chicken meat. Cut them into little pieces, put it on a dish and give it to them. Don't forget to remove the bones.

Smoothies

Ingredients include "1/2 cup of Pet milk (Choose the one with lactose reduced and with thiamine and taurine), one egg yolk and a squirt of Nutrigel". You can already see your pet lick their lips in anticipation!

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Homemade Pet Food - Why You Really Want to Cook For Your Pet

In March 2007, most pet owners grew very concerned about the food they were feeding their dogs and cats with the announced melamine-poisoned foods on the market. Being "mom" to my adorable and, I thought, very well-cared for King Charles Spaniel, I watched the lists daily with worry. I had believed the food I was feeding him was high quality and safe, yet I visited their website daily for reassurance. And daily I read that the food was safe, they didn't use products from China, trust them.

My dog started to experience diarrhea the day we moved to a new home. Being a sensitive soul for whom stress has this effect, I didn't worry much until day 3 when it not only continued but seemed to worsen. Again, I checked the websites to see if his food was on any of the recall lists. It wasn't. That night I had the news on in the background, sitting straight up when the latest list was announced  - his food, the food that "had never used products from China", was on the list. They lied.

I had been poisoning my beloved best friend.

Of course, I immediately disposed of the poisoned garbage and the next day, started cooking for my dog, thinking it would be temporary until the problems were resolved. I began to research what my dog needed nutritionally to make sure I was giving him everything he required to be healthy and happy.

It was that research that shocked me, then just made me furious beyond description. I found out what was really in dog food (and cat food and other pet foods), and it is disgusting, dangerous and poison garbage even without the melamine. I was sickened by what I learned, knowing I had been feeding this to my pets for years, thinking I was doing right by them with the "high-quality" foods I paid premium price for. Not any more. Never again.

Here are some of the "quality" ingredients in your pet's food:

* "Meat and poultry by-products" is material that comes from the slaughterhouse and dead animals, such as road kill and euthanized companion animals, classified as condemned and unfit for human consumption. It includes lungs (even when filled with pneumonia), spleen, brains, livers (including those infested with worms), bone, beaks, feet, heads, cancerous tissues... the list goes on. Be assured, if it is remotely fit for human consumption, it isn't in your pet's food.

* "Meat and bone meal" is the ground refuse from restaurants and grocery stores, dead stock, road kill, euthanized animals, including stomach contents, blood and hooves, cooked until the grease from it rises where it is removed and the moisture squeezed out. It also may contain foreign materials such as metals, hair, glass, mold, pesticide contamination and more.

* Fat is usually listed high on the ingredients in pet foods that give off an appealing odor so that our pets will eat the garbage. They are made up of rancid restaurant grease and rendered refuse often filled with impurities such as hair, hide, bone, dirt or polyethylene.

* Corn flour, corn bran, corn gluten meal are the corn products left when all the nutritious ingredients, used in human products, are removed.

* Wheat flour, wheat germ meals, are nothing more than what is swept off the mill floors after everything has been processed.

* Artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners and preservatives, including those believed to be carcinogenic and are banned from human foods like BHT, BHA, Ethoxyquin, Propyl Gallate.

If you can read that and then open a can or bag of food for your pet and feed it tonight, you have a stronger stomach than I do!

That's why I now cook for my dog. I know exactly what he's eating and that it is good quality, nutritious and safe (as safe as any of our food is these days). The added benefit is that it's even less expensive! I watch for specials, especially for meats, and stock up the freezer when I find them, which is often. A lot of meat and chicken is greatly reduced in price when its shelf life is nearing its end, and fine if its cooked or frozen immediately.

I only spend a couple of hours or so once a month cooking up a big batch of food, placing it in small containers with about 3 - 4 meals in each one (he eats twice a day), freezing it until I need it. I add a couple of tablespoons of low-fat plain yogurt to a serving, mix it up and "nuke" it for about a minute to get it warm and delicious for him. He loves it!

Best, he looks terrific, better than he ever did before, his coat gleaming, his eyes sparkling, endless energy, perfect weight and a healthy, happy glow.

This is not a difficult thing to do! There are many excellent recipes available and now there are cookbooks dedicated to pet food recipes, including good quality treats and biscuits that your pet will adore and that you can feel great about giving them. I do highly recommend doing some research to make sure you're giving your dog everything he requires.

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Feeding Pets After the Recession

The estimates show that there are more than 74 million dogs in United States of America. Plenty of the pets are with their home owners but many of them are in the homeless shelters. The number has greatly suffered after the recession period of 2008 because many pet owners had left their pets in the home shelters as they didn't find it feasible to feed their pets and feed their family in a proper manner. The rescue to feed their family in a proper manner only came when they submitted their pets to the shelters or to the compounds in their nearby locality. The aftereffects of those decisions had increased the homeless pet's number to an alarming situation.

So the recession have made plenty of people short of cash and plenty of people were out of their basic needs due to the jobs cut and other related affects. We also know that the people's minds were overwhelmed because the banks were putting claims on their mortgages and they were unable to find a suitable work to make their both ends meet. If you are a victim of recession then there are some guidelines that you could follow in order to feed both your family as well as your pets in a proper manner.

For sustaining after the recession you must make your choices clear as what your basic needs are and what are your luxuries. You must cut down you luxury items and stick to your basic needs so that you, your family and your pets are able to survive in that depression. For that you could give up your cable TV, you could also cut down your newspaper expenditures and you could also drop your expenditures on weekend picnic trips etc. then you could also cut down your mortgage payments and use your money only for your family needs and basic essential requirements.

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