Articles

10 Pet Gerbil Do's and Don'ts

Submitted by PortiaM on Fri, 12/23/2011 - 00:00

1. Do keep gerbils in same sex pairs.
2. Do make sure your gerbils always have water and food.
3. Don't keep your gerbil's tank or cage in the sunlight or where there are drafts.
4. Don't hold or pull a gerbil by the tail.
5. Do clean their cage every couple of weeks.
6. Do keep the gerbil cage closed securely.
7. Do give a gerbil plenty of cardboard to chew - toilet paper rolls are perfect.
8. Don't hold a gerbil very far away from the ground - they are jumpy and can easily get hurt.
9. Do stay calm while holding a gerbil, the calmer you are the calmer they are.
10. Don't give a gerbil a bath, if their fur is dirty use a wet rag to clean them off.

Bearded Dragons

Submitted by PortiaM on Tue, 11/15/2011 - 00:00

Bearded Dragons

The proper name for a bearded dragon is Pogona Henrylawsoni. Bearded dragons originated in the rocky desert regions and dry open woodlands. In the wild they will stand up on their hind legs to escape from potential danger, which is thought to be used for temperature control. They also use their ability to change color to keep their temperature stable and to hide from danger. Bearded Dragons will show you their beard if they are at all threatened, startled or excited. They exted a bone-like structure that resembles a beard and the color of their skin changes to almost black and can extend down to cover the dragons chest.

Top 10 Animal Group Names

Submitted by PortiaM on Thu, 08/25/2011 - 11:38

Have you ever wondered what a particular group of animals is called? Here are ten common pets and their group names.

Pet Hedgehog Care

Submitted by PortiaM on Tue, 08/16/2011 - 16:30

Hedgehogs are fairly low maintenance pets. They don't make much more noise than a quiet purr when they are excited, they don't have any real temperature needs, they can be fed hedgehog food you get at the pet store, and they don't need much room in their cage. They are content as long as you feed and water them and give them an hour of out of cage time each day.

Green Anoles

Submitted by PortiaM on Thu, 07/28/2011 - 13:47

Anoles are small lizards native throughout the southeastern United States, the Caribbean and other Western regions. Most anoles are green in color although they can change color to blend in with their environment based on their mood and their surroundings. They can change color pretty quickly, but if they stay brown for a long period of time it is a sign that they are stressed or ill.

Pet Chinchilla Care

Submitted by PortiaM on Tue, 07/26/2011 - 14:38

Chinchillas are native to the Andes Mountains in South America, however they have been raised in captivity for years and generally love people. As pets, chinchillas require a lot of exercise, a climate controlled habitat and a specialized diet. They also have an average lifespan of 15 years, with 18 - 22 years not being out of the question. Be prepared for this long term commitment before getting a chinchilla.

Owning A Pet Skunk

Submitted by PortiaM on Mon, 07/25/2011 - 16:12

Skunk Skunk

As hard as it might be to believe, skunks actually make pretty amazing pets. If you raise them correctly, they can become lap pets and friendly pets. Generally, they get along with other animals such as dogs and cats, but the respect has to be mutual. It is better to get skunks at a young age so you can raise them to be accustomed to other pets. Skunks are quick learners and can be trained easily. Similar to cats, skunks can be litter trained. BUT! Skunks like to chew so, in order to distract him/her from your furniture you need to provide your skunk with some type of chew toy.

Heaves in Horses - Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Submitted by Emily on Mon, 08/02/2010 - 23:00

Heaves is a respiratory disease of horses 6 years of age or older, characterized by difficulty breathing, chronic coughing, abnormal lung sounds and decreased exercise tolerance. These signs manifest themselves as a result of narrowing of the small airways of the lungs. This narrowing is caused by inflammation and thickening of the lung tissues, constriction of the smooth muscles surrounding the lungs and accumulation of mucous and exudate within the lumens of the lungs. The end result is known as emphysema or a trapping of air in the lungs.

Pancreatitis in Dogs - Lois Lane's Story

Submitted by Christy on Wed, 05/26/2010 - 09:10

Lois Lane is an Australian Kelpie mix who we adopted from a local rescue in July of 2006. She's a feisty little girl and one of the smartest dogs we've ever had. Last July, when she was 4 years old, Lois Lane was diagnosed with severe canine pancreatitis. We never believed she would truly pull through, but she did. It was a very difficult process for her and for us and we hope Lois Lane's story will help shed some light on pancreatitis symptoms so that your dog may not have to go through what Lois did. Knowing the symptoms and getting help right away will be a huge stress reliever - on yourself, your dog and your wallet.

Tick Removal and Prevention in Dogs and Cats

Submitted by Christy on Mon, 05/03/2010 - 15:20

It's that dreaded time of year again - tick season! Whether you are going camping, hiking or just hanging in your own backyard with your pet, ticks are something we all need to be aware of for ourselves and our pets. There are over 850 different species of ticks and they will feed on every kind of vertebrate animals, including your pets.