Unusual Pets: Hedgehogs

Pet Hedgehogs are usually hybrids caused by the mating between the White-bellied Hedgehog, the Four-toed Hedgehog and the North African Hedgehog. The resultant small Hedgehog is usually referred to as the African Pygmy Hedgehog. These little mammals are friendly and curious and have a lifespan of 4 to 7 years, although individual animals may live for shorter or longer periods.

Pet Hedgehogs are quite small, about 5 to 8 inches (12.5 – 20 cm) in length with an average weight of ½ to 1 ¼ pounds (.227 - .568 Kg). However, some can be as small as 6 to 7 ounces (.170 - .198 Kg) in weight and others could be as heavy as 1 ¾ to 2 pounds (.796 -.908 Kg).

Domestic Hedgehogs are prone to obesity caused by either poor diets or lack of exercise. This frequently leads to fatty liver disease or cardiovascular disease. Pet Hedgehogs also suffer from cancer, particularly squamous cell carcinoma but, by and large, they are usually quite disease resistant.

When buying a pet Hedgehog, pick it up. Does it unroll after a few seconds? If it doesn't, it's too timid and you should consider a different one. Does it click, jump or hiss? Hissing is OK, but if it clicks, it is trying to threaten you and you should pick one with a better temperament.

Its eyes should be nice, round, beady, wide open and bright, with no sign of discharge. Its nose should be clean with no sign of running. Its ears should be short (unless it is a Long-eared Hedgehog), clean and with no sign of discharge or crustiness. Note that some young Hedgehogs may have ears that have teeth marks or chunks bitten out of their ears. This is caused by siblings fighting and is OK as long as the bites are healed.

Make sure that the Hedgehog has all of its quills and that there are no bare spots, mites, fleas or crustiness on the body.

Check the pen in which the Hedgehog is being kept. There should be no sign of green droppings or diarrhoea.

The body of the Hedgehog should be plump, but not fat and its walk should be a cross between a walk and a shuffle. There should be no sign of a wobble or any difficulty staying upright.

Make sure that there is no rattle when it breathes. Do not confuse chirping, cheeping or purring, normal noises for this animal, with the rattle of a Hedgehog with breathing problems.

Ensure that the Hedgehog you are considering is at least six weeks old before you bring it home.

The Cage.

The home for your new pet should be placed in a comfortable, warm, well lit area free from drafts and direct sunlight. It should be a minimum of 16 by 24 inches in size. An enclosed cage or aquarium should never be used as it could result in your Hedgehog becoming overly warm, suffering heat stroke and dying. The temperature for your new pet should be between 65 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. If cooler, your Hedgehog could go into hibernation, and if warmer, as mentioned it will usually suffer a fatal heat stroke.

When you first bring your pet home, leave it undisturbed in its cage for the first day. For the rest of the first week, you can pick it up for a few minutes a couple of times a day. After that you can handle it frequently as it should be familiar enough with you that it will not become frightened. During its first month with you, your new pet will spend quite a bit of time sleeping. However, as it gets older it will become more active and interesting.

You should let your pet Hedgehog out of its cage for a few hours each day so it can get exercise and to prevent boredom. Once your Hedgehog bonds with you, it will follow you around like a dog. It can also be trained to use a litter box like a cat. Non-clumping litter is preferred, and make sure the litter box is cleaned daily.

Bedding.

Your pet's bedding should be dust free. It can consist of aspen or pine wood shavings (not sawdust), but should never be cedar shavings. Immature females and adults can also use dust free crushed corn cobs. NEVER use crushed corn cobs for immature male Hedgehogs. Shaving or corncob bedding should be 2 to 3 inches deep. You can also use several layers of inexpensive fleece material to line the cage and act as bedding. Replace bedding when it begins to smell. If using fleece material, it can be washed, dried and then returned to the cage.

Food.

Basic diet of high quality dry cat food is recommended. This can be supplemented 2 or 3 times a week with raw or cooked vegetables, meal worms, crickets, pinkies (newborn baby mice), cooked meat and fresh fruit. Only leave the supplemental food in the cage for 15 minutes and then remove it. The dry cat food can be left in the cage 24/7. Note that commercial Hedgehog food is now becoming available. This may be used, but most Hedgehog owners that I contacted felt that high quality cat food was a better alternative.

Food Bowl.

The food bowl should be 3 to 6 inches in diameter and a maximum of 3 inches tall. Heavy ceramic is recommended as it will prevent your pet from tipping it over and using it as a toy.

Water Bottle.

Use a water bottle for your pet Hedgehog (one designed for rodents or rabbits would be excellent). Never use an open dish for water for your Hedgehog. If you do, your pet will fill it with bedding material and then there won't be any water left for it to drink. It will then suffer dehydration which is usually fatal.

Hiding Place.

Your pet will enjoy having a hiding place. You can use an old plastic pitcher, a 4 inch by 12 inch piece of PVC pipe (make sure your pet can get in and out easily), or a small cardboard box like a shoe box, with a 4 inch diameter hole cut in one end. If you use a cardboard box, it should be replaced with a clean one every 2 to 3 weeks.

Toys.

Toys can be added to your pet's cage. Some people use empty toilet paper rolls, which are favoured by pet Hedgehogs, however, if you choose to use one, make sure that you slice it open from end to end on one side so that your pet cannot get its head stuck inside the roll. A Hedgehog wheel is highly recommended. This wheel will assist in keeping your pet fit and healthy.


Sexing Hedgehogs.

Female – genitals close to the anus.
Males – penis sheath ½ inch or more toward the nose from the anus.

Both males and females make great pets. However, you should never put a male and a female in the same cage unless you intend breeding them. Breeding should only take place after the female is more than 5 months of age as pregnancy earlier could result in problems and even death of the female.

After the female becomes pregnant, the male should be removed from the cage as the male will very likely kill the newborn babies. The gestation period is between 35 and 58 days, depending on the breed of your pet Hedgehog. The litter will consist of 5 or 6 babies on average.

Pet Hedgehogs are diurnal animals. This means that they are awake part of the day and part of the night. They are friendly, curious animals that require no immunization. They are usually odour free if regular cleaning of the cage is done. They are peaceful, humorous, solitary animals. They are also very intelligent and have good memories.

Hedgehogs have excellent sight and smell abilities. Their pointed little noses are constantly twitching as they sample the scents in the air around them.

When frightened, they roll into a ball protecting their soft white tummy. Their back is covered in short quills for protection. Unlike the quills of porcupines, these quills do not have barbs and they usually remain attached to the hedgehog.

As noted above, obesity is a problem, so if your pet develops “ham-hocks” for legs or has double chins, eliminate the supplemental food, and if your pet does not have a Hedgehog wheel, get one. If there is no sign of weight loss after one month, change to a dry cat food with at least 20 percent fat content. The extra fat content should cause your pet to eat less and thus lose weight. If it still doesn't lose weight, consult a veterinarian.

So, if you want a smart, friendly, cute, little pet that is fun, quiet, gentle, fairly odour free, that doesn't climb your curtains, chew your furniture, require vaccinations or daily walks, then you may want to consider a Hedgehog as your next pet.

However, be aware that some states in the USA and some Canadian municipalities have laws banning the keeping of Hedgehogs as pets, so before purchasing one, please check with local authorities.

Until next time,

Teia
PS. Hedgehogs enjoy baths. We put our pet hedgehog in about two (2) to (3) three inches of barely warm water in our bathtub every Monday, Wednesday and Friday for ten (10) minutes. Make sure the tub is clean before putting the hedgehog in and make sure that NO chemical cleaners have been used. If you are not sure, rinse the tub out thoroughly before putting the hedgehog in the tub. NOTE! the hedgehog may have a bowel movement in the tub. After the bath take your hedgehog back to its cage and thoroughly clean the tub with hot water.

A Great Pet: Budgerigars

Usually called a Budgie, this small parrot originated in the harsh inland part of Australia where it has lived for more than five million years. It became popular as a pet cage bird and is now bred domestically in most countries.

In the wild, this bird is a small long-tailed green and yellow bird with scalloped black marking on the wings and shoulders. However, aviary bred birds also come in blue and white, all white, all yellow and various combinations of these colours. Their beaks are olive grey and their legs bluish-grey. Two of their toes face forward. The male budgie has a blue cere (the area containing the nostrils) and non breeding females have a pale brown or whitish cere. A breeding female will usually have a brown cere.

Male budgies are usually cheerful, extroverted, flirtatious, peacefully social and very vocal. They can frequently be taught to talk, sing and do tricks. The amount of their vocabulary depends on the bird and the amount of time you spend teaching it. Most will learn 20 to 30 words, however, some have learned up to several hundred words. Female budgies are usually dominant and socially intolerant birds. They can also be taught to talk, sing and do tricks, but their vocabulary is usually quite limited.

All budgies like to chew, particularly females, and they will chew anything that they can get their beaks on. Therefore, it is wise to ensure that they have cuttlebone, mineral block (iodine enriched) and soft wooden pieces to both satisfy their need to chew and to keep their beaks properly trimmed.

Budgies are relatively small, but very active birds. The minimum cage size for a single bird is 18 by 18 inches (46 by 46 cm). However, to keep your bird happy and healthy, a cage 18 inches wide by 30 inches long (46 by 76 cm) is recommended. The spacing between the cage bars should be ½ inch (1.25 cm) or less.

Several male budgies can be placed in a cage, which should be appropriately larger in size, but be very careful about putting more than one female in a cage, as they frequently fight viciously doing serious and sometimes fatal injuries to each other.

Budgies should have a daily supply of seeds and fresh water, but that can be supplemented with fruit, vegetables and nuts. DO NOT FEED THEM AVOCADOS AS THEY ARE TOXIC TO Budgerigars.

Budgies typically live from 5 to 8 years, but if well cared for and provided healthy diets and exercise, some will live 15 to 20 years.

If you want an inexpensive, entertaining pet cage bird, then a Budgerigar or Budgie is a great choice.

Until next time,

Teia

CURING YOUR CAT'S BAD BREATH

Bad breath in a pet is usually associated with dogs, however, if you happen to own a cat with bad breath, you will know that it smells awful. Usually, bad breath is caused by bacteria in the mouth which breaks down protein in your cat's food releasing sulphur compounds into the air. Since sulphur has a foul odour, when your cat opens its mouth this sulphur smell is released. The bacteria responsible for the release of the sulphur smell is the kind which is associated with a buildup of tartar on your cat's teeth. Tartar, which also forms on human teeth, is yellow or greenish yellow in colour and it is made up of minerals in the cat's saliva which adhere to plaque on the surface of the cat's teeth. Once the tartar builds up on your cat's teeth, it becomes very hard and it is difficult to remove. Severe cases will require professional removal, which is quite expensive. The best way to eliminate it is to catch it in its early stage when use of pet toothpaste with anti tartar enzymes can, if used daily, virtually prevent the formation of dental plaque which will, in turn, eliminate the formation of tartar because it will not have the plaque to anchor it to the teeth. There are now cat foods that are designed to reduce the buildup of tartar. Some cat treats apparently have enzymes that will dissolve dental plaque eliminating the formation of tartar. Before considering these foods and treats, consult with your veterinarian to ascertain that these enzymes do not cause other medical problems for your beloved pet.

As mentioned above, if you catch it early enough, that is before the tartar becomes as hard as cement, you may be able to clean the tartar off your cat’s teeth at home. There are several toothpastes available for pets, in several different flavors, which are designed to prevent the formation of plaque and thus prevent tartar buildup. You can remove it with a basic toothbrush, but you will probably find that an electric toothbrush is much better, because the motion of these brushes is better at removing plaque. If you start when your cat is young and easier to handle, you will have more success. Brushing your cat's teeth will not be easy, but it will prevent the buildup of plaque and thus prevent the bad breath associated with the formation of tartar. Note! You must ensure that you use PET toothpaste. Human toothpaste contains chemicals that must be spit out. Since neither cats or dogs can spit like a human, they have to swallow the toothpaste. If you have ever accidentally swallowed human toothpaste, you know that it makes you quite ill. Doing so on a daily basis as your pet would have to do could lead to many very serious maladies.

Some of the bacteria that leads to plaque and tartar buildup can be found in your cat’s diet. Because of this, make sure you feed him premium food and that you brush his teeth or rinse his mouth out after he eats. This way, you’ll get the bacteria out of his mouth before it has time to build up on his teeth.

Another reason for consulting your veterinarian when you detect a bad odour on your cat's breath is that sometimes, in rare cases, the cause of the bad breath could be caused by either liver or kidney disease. So, if you notice bad breath coming from your cat, you should take him or her to your vet. Even though it may be something to do with tartar, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Your veterinarian can pinpoint the problem, let you know what the cause is and how you should go about fixing it.

Until next time,

Teia

A DOG and YOUR LIFESTYLE

If I was to come up to you and ask what affect a dog would have on your lifestyle, you would have a reaction, whether you like dogs or do not care for them. Either way, dogs affect your lifestyle. Dogs and humans have interacted for thousands of years, so rare indeed is the person who does not have an opinion or feelings about man's “best friend.”

Therefore, it is safe to assume that you have had at least one experience with a dog that was either positive or negative. This experience has had an impact on your life, whether you realized it or not. If it was a negative experience, you will be scared or distrustful of dogs and avoid them as much as possible. If it was a positive experience, then you will probably have a pet dog or have done so in the past. If the experience was kind of benign, you may not have formed an opinion one way or the other, however, this type of situation is not typical. Typically, that experience with the dog has left you with a life long emotional feeling regarding dogs.

If you think that dogs are big or small stinky nuisances, then you will probably not have a pet dog and you will never experience the emotion of receiving unconditional love (you may have a great love life, but it will have conditions attached to it). In spite of this, you will have to admit that dogs, or a specific dog, has influenced your current lifestyle. If you are completely honest, and haven't substituted another pet in the place of a dog, you will have to admit that your life is somewhat sterile and maybe, just a little empty, or at least missing a little something.

Now, just for fun, let's look at a hypothetical example to see how your emotions and lifestyle can be changed. For this example, let's say you are a twenties or thirties single person who is career orientated. Because you are so wrapped up in your career, you are probably not at your optimum weight or physical condition. You may have even tried to diet or taken out a membership in a gym, but they didn't work because your lifestyle didn't leave enough time to properly adhere to the regimen required,

One night, you come home tired and just want to get off to bed when you realize that tomorrow is garbage collection day and you must put the garbage in the bin in the back alley. It's raining and quite cold. You grab the garbage you've placed into a garbage bag, pulled on a coat and a raincoat and rushed out to the garbage bin. There, huddled whimpering beside the garbage bin is a little puppy. It appears to be abandoned, and it looks pathetically at you. You don't particularly care for dogs because they don't really fit in your lifestyle. But, this one looks so pathetic and helpless that you feel pity for it and pick it up and take it in out of the wet and cold, just for the night.

Once inside you grab a towel and dry the poor little thing. It licks your hand. Once it's dry, you pour a little milk in one bowl and a few leftovers from the refrigerator in another. The little thing devours everything in minutes, then licks your leg and curls up near your feet. You resolve to arrange for the puppy to go to the place where they put abandoned dogs, but you're not sure if it is the city pound or the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA). You take the puppy out to relieve itself just before you head to bed. Next morning, just before you head off to work you take puppy out again, then when you come back in you put a few pieces of newspaper on the kitchen floor and head off to work.

Work is a bedlam of calls and demands and you don't have time to find out where to take the little stray. You'll have to keep it another day. On the way home you stop at Walmart and go into the pet department to get some puppy food. The clerk recommends that you take the puppy for a daily walk, so you buy an inexpensive collar and leash.

When you get home, you find that puppy has wet partly on a piece of newspaper and partly on the floor. You put the newspaper in the garbage and wipe the floor. The puppy bounces over and licks the back of your hand.

You put food and water down for puppy and make a quick supper for yourself. Then you put the collar on puppy who is not happy with it at all. She keeps trying to pull it off with a hind leg. After putting your coat on and pocketing a bunch of paper towel and a couple of plastic sandwich bags to pick up any bowel movements, you snap the leash onto the collar and partly lead and partly drag puppy to the door.

Once out on the front sidewalk, puppy rushed off to the end of the leash pulling madly as she explores everything she sees. A couple of gentle tugs on the leash slows her down a little and you make it erratically to the end of the block. You decide to walk around the block a few times. By the time you get around the block the first time she is walking more normally and not pulling as frantically as she was. The second time around the block, she stops and you're glad you brought two plastic bags. You pick up after her and seal the bags to enclose the odour. When you get back to the front door of your building, you realize that you've just walked eight blocks or about eight-tenths of a mile as most city blocks are about one-tenth of a mile in length. Puppy looks tired and you're a little fatigued yourself. You haven't walked that far in quite a while.

The next day at work is another busy one and you don't get time to phone about the puppy, again.

When you get home, there's no mess left by puppy who happily bounds up to you. You bend down to pet puppy and get a sloppy lick on your chin. You feed puppy and yourself and repeat the walk again. Your legs area a little stiff and sore from the unusual exercise and puppy is much more manageable.

This routine continues for the rest of the week and by Friday, you find, much to your amazement, that you've become quite attached to puppy and can't bear the thought of her going into a cage at the pound or the SPCA. Since you've decided to keep her, you give her a name and get some toys and some piddle pads in case she has to go when you are out. The walks continue and the length of them has increased to three times around the block. “Taffy” has grown a bit and always greets you enthusiastically when you get home from work.

About a month goes by and you notice that your clothes are not fitting as well as they did. They all seem to have stretched. You step on the bathroom scale and are shocked to see you have lost ten pounds. You realize that your daily walks with “Taffy” have resulted in a loss of weight and then you also realize that you are not nearly as stressed or “up tight” as you had been.

“Taffy,” the little stray you were going to put in the pound or SPCA (you're still not sure who looks after strays in your city), has helped you to reduce your weight and make you a happier and less stressed person. She has also provided you with attention and plenty of affection. Quite a reward for taking her in. And to top it off, she has changed your lifestyle and possibly your whole future.

Although the above was a fictional account, get yourself a dog and see if it doesn't make you into a whole different person...I dare you!

Until next time,

Teia


PS. Let me know if a dog has changed your lifestyle.

Six Tips for Finding a Good Pet Sitter

A good pet sitter can help make your life easier, especially if you are away from home frequently. Pet sitters can not only take care of your beloved pets while you're on vacation or a business trip, but they can make your house look lived in by turning lights on or off, opening and closing the drapes and bringing in the mail and newspaper. Even if you're not on a trip, a pet sitter can come at noon to walk an over-active dog, administer medications, or give potty breaks.

The first person to consider as a sitter for your pets is a family member that lives nearby. They will be familiar with your pets and your pets will be familiar with them. If you do not have a family member living within reasonable driving distance, or a trusted neighbour who will look after your pets, then you will have to consider hiring a professional pet sitter.

If you've never employed a pet sitter before, or you've had trouble locating one, here are some tips that will help you.

1. Word of mouth is always a great way to find a pet sitter. Ask around. If your neighbour, friend, or co-worker has a pet, check to see if they use a pet sitter. If they do and they are satisfied with the sitter, then give the sitter a call and arrange for an interview.

2. Go to the professionals. Call your veterinarian or groomer and ask them for recommendations. They may know which pet sitters are good through conversations with clients, or they may have personal experience with pet sitters themselves.

3. Real estate agents are a wealth of information about anything going on in the community. If they don't have suggestions for you, they can at least point you in the right direction for finding the information.

4. Go online and search for a pet sitter in your area. Many pet sitters have websites these days and this can be a good way to locate them. Look at their websites carefully and make sure they service your area. They're likely to turn you down if you live outside their territory due to high gas prices. In addition, read over any testimonials they may have from clients and when you call them, ask for references.

5. Sometimes, you'll find that the good pet sitters are already booked. Ask them to recommend other pet sitters that they would trust with their own pets. Most of them will know other pet sitters and can steer you clear of any that don't have stellar reputations.

6. A number of stores have bulletin boards, particularly grocery stores. Check bulletin boards for advertisements posted by pet sitters and record their names and phone numbers so you can set up appointments to interview them. Note! DO NOT post a request for a pet sitter to contact you. You are alerting the criminal element that you will be away from your home, which could lead to someone stealing all your valuables and possibly harming your pet(s) or letting them out of the house to fend for themselves.

A good pet sitter can be hard to find if you don't know where to look. Using these tips should help you locate one, which will make both you and your pets happy. It will be a big relief to know that you have one less thing to worry about when you're planning your next trip.

Until next time,

Teia

PS. Please refer to “Ten Steps to Finding the Perfect Sitter for Your Pet” posted March 24, 2009. This post will give you further suggestions and also tell you about the problem mom and dad had with the sitter they hired. It may help you avoid a similar disaster.

How to Prepare a Raw Diet for Your Pet(s)

In spite of mom and dad’s concerns about raw food diets, these diets seem to be more popular than ever. With that in mind, I chose this article for today’s post.

Before there was such a thing as commercial pet foods, dogs ate table scraps and the leftovers, including bones from on the farm butchering; cats usually lived on the rodents they caught around the house or outbuildings, occasionally supplemented by a bowl of milk or a squirt of milk from a cow’s teat during milking in the barn.

The acquisition of pets by city dwellers and their need for a more convenient means of feeding their pets gave rise to the pet food industry we have today. However, after the pet food disaster of a couple of years ago, more and more people have come to realize the dangers and inadequacies of commercial pet foods.

The Most Highly Touted Benefits of a Raw Diet.

Numerous articles and books have been written about raw pet food diets. In fact, they have become so popular that now commercially prepared raw diets can be obtained in fresh, frozen or dehydrated condition. The most commonly mentioned benefits of raw food diets include increased health and vigour, a much more glossy coat, cleaner teeth and longer, healthier lives.

Cautions that Should be Followed.

Discuss any change in diet with your veterinarian. Ill or aging animals may need to be eased into a raw food diet. You may want to start with lightly cooked food, particularly if their digestion or immune system is compromised in any way. For the safety of your dog, bones should initially be ground or be large enough so the dog will chew off any meat and cartilage but not be able to break and ingest bone fragments.

The "One Hundred Percent Complete" Myth.

Most commercial diets on the market are usually advertised as "100% complete and balanced." This was the case back in the 1970’s when pet food diets did not contain taurine and pets were dying from heart problems because no one realized taurine was an essential nutrient. Now, quietly, taurine is also being added to previously "complete" pet foods. What nutrients will be “discovered” as being essential in the next few years?

As an example in human terms, the cereal Total (R) is advertised as 100% complete -- would you feed your child nothing else for her entire life? I don’t think so! It is nearly impossible for a manufactured food to be 100% complete because we simply don't know everything there is to know about nutrition, either human nutrition or pet nutrition. And, since we do not know enough, how can we manufacture 100 % complete food products?

Diets for Dogs.

Dogs, while technically carnivores, are opportunistic scavengers. They will grab anything that smells good to them and run away to gorge themselves on it. No matter how well trained, most dogs will grab any food item that they can reach on a counter, table or window ledge and some have been known to grab meat off a BBQ. If allowed to run free, they also spend time searching through human garbage for tasty tidbits. A dog's diet can consist of a wide variety of foods; however, meat and bones should still be the primary ingredients. If vegetables are included in your dog’s diet, they should first be blanched and frozen to break down cell walls and release nutrients for the dog to absorb. Carrots are very hard for dogs to digest, so they should be pureed. Since some dogs like fruit, this can be provided to them, but avoid grapes, raisins, nuts and onions, which can be toxic, especially to small dogs. Feed garlic only in moderation. Grains are not required and in fact can be harmful to some dogs. However, if your dog needs to gain some weight, then rolled oats, brown rice, or barley will help. Dogs will also like an OCCASIONAL piece of whole grain bread as a treat, but be warned that this will quickly cause your dog to gain weight and overweight dogs tend to develop diabetes or heart problems more easily.

Diets for Cats.

Cats are completely carnivorous animals, which means that they MUST eat a meat-based diet. Almost all commercial cat diets are completely inappropriate with their grain and vegetable fillers. Obesity, diabetes and irritable bowel disease are some of the most common problems in cats that are continuously fed a dry food diet. You should choose a variety of raw meats and organs to provide a good diet. Most cats like their food ground, however some enjoy gnawing on raw chicken wings and necks.

Keeping the Balance in Your Pet’s Diet.

You do not eat the same thing every day and the same should be true for your pet. They need variety in their diet to obtain the best health benefits. When you first start feeding a raw diet, most likely you will start off with one meat source (most people use chicken because it is readily available and inexpensive). If you can get a frozen mix, like Oma's Pride, your job will be much easier, as it is made up of ground meat, bones, vegetables and organs (for dogs), or a variety of ground meats (with or without bones) and organs for cats. When planning meals for your pet(s), you must remember to balance the ingredients over time so the pet(s) get the full benefits of a raw diet. Meats from different animals, even different cuts of meat from the same animal, will have different nutrient content. By choosing a wide variety of meats and including organs as well, you can achieve balance over time. Add yogurt or cottage cheese (if your pet does not have an allergy to dairy products) and raw or cooked eggs at least once a week.

When feeding raw diets, puppies don't need special diets, however, they will require as much as 10% of their weight in food to start off with, gradually decreasing to the adult maintenance level of 3% by 1-2 years of age.

Working dogs and dogs involved in sporting activities should get 3-5% of their body weight in daily food. Judge the success of your feeding program by body condition which should show a definite indentation in the stomach area. The dog should be active, alert and have a good coat if the diet is balanced and adequate. Good meats for dogs include chicken, turkey, lamb, beef (for most dogs, although some dogs have shown allergic reactions to beef), also duck (for weight gain) and rabbit. Most of these are available from larger grocery stores, butcher shops or raw pet food distributors.

For cats, rabbit, chicken, and small amounts of fish make great choices that are "close" to their natural diet. Do not overdo the supply of salmon or herring as they contain quite a lot of oil and will tend to add weight to your cat if given too frequently. Try to pick less oily fish and keep the salmon and herring for special treats.

Feeding a raw diet to pets is not complicated although it is more time consuming than opening a can or dumping dry food into a bowl. Just follow these general guidelines, check with your veterinarian regularly and read as much about it as you can, and you'll be a pro in no time.

Until next time,

Teia

PS. I like my meat cooked. To me, raw meat tastes awful, so I won’t eat it unless I am VERY hungry. I LOVE table scraps though and I like raw fruit, particularly pieces of apple that have had the skin removed and pieces of cantaloupe and watermelon.

CATS ARE SMART!

If the right definition for the term “Intelligence” is “the ability to acquire and remember information and the capability to use that information while solving different problems”, then the cat is definitely one of the most intelligent animals there is.

Put an adult cat in a room in which she has never been before and watch how she inspects every corner of that room. This detailed search gives her valuable information about the environment, information that can save her life, in some cases. Actually, the curiosity specific to cats never harmed them; on the contrary, it gave them the reputation of having nine lives!

We all know that the ability cats have to inspect surroundings is legendary, but at the same time, it has been proven that this ability is superior to that of any other domestic animal.

The intellectual capacity of the cat is demonstrated by her ability to use information she already has to pass safely through certain situations. Cats are capable of forming “learning methods,” a characteristic that was supposed to belong only to primates.

Cats learn through observation, imitation, trying things to find a solution and of course, mistakes, just like people. The stories about cats being able to open draws or cupboards are many, but there are also cats that can turn on the lights or use the toilet and this is possible only by carefully observing the ones that know how to do these things, their owners. On the other hand, it can be taught by loving reinforced training too.

Considering the fact that the cat is the most intelligent domestic animal, it is very important that the owner knows very clearly the limits of her cognitive processes, because conferring the pet with human motives can cause damage and behavioural problems.

According to animal behavioural experts, a cat cannot reflect upon the past or think in perspective, so punishing her for something she has done only minutes earlier is useless, because the cat is not capable of connecting the punishment with her past actions. In the same way, cats can’t claim revenge for a past punishment. However, they do have memories and they will remember those who were mean to them and avoid them and those who were good to them and respond positively to these people. If they find a way to open a window in the house in which they live, when they want to go out, they will go to that window and open it again. Similarly, if they spend time in a cage or carrier and they learn how to open it, they will do so again shortly after they are placed in this restrictive place.

In conclusion, don’t underestimate the intelligence of your cat! Try to know your pet better and act in such a way that living together can be a beneficial experience for both of you.

Until next time,

Teia

PS. Grandma came home from the hospital yesterday, so dad was tied up getting her settled back in her apartment.

Training Your Pet Parrot

Parrots are wonderful pets. You will quickly find that these birds are extremely smart and their ability to learn makes them fun to train. Keep in mind that any animal that shows signs of high intelligence can easily get bored, so your job is to train your pet parrot and spend the time it takes to make your bird into a wonderful pet. It takes time and patience to train a parrot, but with the proper training, your parrot will provide you with many years of friendship and entertainment. African Grey Parrots are the easiest parrots to teach to speak, although mom and dad have a grey cockatiel that is over 28 years old that has a vocabulary of more than a hundred words. He learned to talk from sitting on dad’s shoulder as he read the newspaper and talked to the bird. No formal training was ever undertaken with him.

Here are some tips to help you train your parrot. Whenever “school is in” for your parrot, it is always best to remove your parrot from his or her cage and train it in a small quiet space. Your parrot is more likely to remain attentive and retain information when it is in a new environment. The next thing you have to do is eliminate all distractions in your home. If your parrot becomes distracted during training, it will not learn what you are trying to teach. That means that you need to turn off the radio, television and perhaps even the telephone. Also, remember that parrots are a lot like children. They have short attention spans, so short training sessions are recommended.

In addition, try to plan your parrot’s training time around their schedule, not yours. After mealtime is always a good time for training, because your parrot will be content and will pay attention. Your parrot will also appreciate plenty of praise. Even if you find that you are not very successful, do not let your parrot see your stress levels rise. This makes it an unpleasant experience for your bird and you will have a harder time getting your parrot interested in learning in the future. Try to make learning fun for your bird.

When you are ready to teach your parrot a new trick, your pet parrot will respond well to treats and praise. Remember that all animals respond better to praise than punishment. Try to avoid punishing your parrot, even if he or she is acting naughty. Ignoring this behaviour is your best bet when training your pet parrot. Parrots do not understand punishment or negative reinforcement. In fact, if you respond to your parrot’s bad behaviour, your pet may actually see this as positive attention. Keep in mind that while your parrot will love food treats as rewards, try to accentuate the positive and encourage good behaviour with lots of praise and play time. Otherwise, your parrot may only perform the tricks you want him to when some kind of food reward is available.

Repetition is the key to successfully training your pet parrot. Repeating these basic steps until your pet “gets” the trick is the best way to train your parrot to perform. This works well for basic commands and advanced tricks. If you have just gotten your pet parrot, start out with very simple tricks, such as teaching your parrot to sit on your finger on command. Find a word for each trick and use it every time you train. Most of all, never force your parrot to train. If you find your parrot is tired or uninterested, then stop and try again another time.

As your parrot learns more commands and tricks, you can begin moving your training session closer and closer to the bird’s cage. As he gets better at his new skill, he will feel comfortable performing in his cage and in the hustle and bustle of your household. Some birds can learn quickly and sometimes just by listening, which may cause embarrassment to you if they learn something inappropriate. One parrot mom and dad had learned things from watching television. Cisco, mom and dad’s cockatiel, learned from dad talking to him. Every night when they were ready for bed, they would say, “nighty night” to him, turn out the lights and go off to bed. After a couple of weeks of this, he would respond, “nighty night.” Now when mom can’t sleep and sits at the table reading, Cisco will put up with it for a little while and then he loudly pipes, “nighty night” until she goes to bed.

Training a parrot can take a lot of time and patience, and sometimes, like mom and dad’s parrot “Bertsie,” an Orange-winged Amazon parrot, they never learn to talk. Mom and dad no longer have any parrots of their own, but they do baby sit a friend’s African Grey parrot several times a year. “Paco” has a large vocabulary of words and sounds that he says. The interesting thing about him is that when he says something, he uses the voice of the person he learned the word or phrase from. If he learned from his “mother,” he mimics her voice and if he learned what he is repeating from this “father,” he mimics his voice. The funniest thing he does is go through the sound of a ringing cell phone, the sound of the phone being clicked open and then he says “Hello” and carries on a conversation…then he says “Well I have to go now, Goodbye”…then you hear the sounds of the cell phone being closed. He’s really funny, but when he makes some of his really loud noises he scares me, so I’m nervous when he is here. You must love your bird and have a lot of time and dedication to make this partnership worthwhile. With patient training and love, you will end up with a fantastic and well-behaved pet that will be with you for a very long time as the average lifespan of parrots is from 50 to 80 years, with some living over 100 years. They are truly unique pets. Whether they learn to talk or not, they are great to have around, as they will give you hours of pleasure watching their natural antics.

Until next time,

Teia

Using Positive Reinforcement to Train Your Cat or Kitten

I’m sorry for the delay in posting this entry, but this month has been very trying. On December 2, my soon to be 89 year old grandmother (dad’s mom) fell in her seniors apartment and broke her left arm at the elbow. She couldn’t get up on her own, but she had a “Lifeline” button on her necklace and she pressed it. This caused her phone to contact an emergency operator who phoned dad. He rushed over to grandma’s and called an ambulance. The ambulance took grandma to the hospital, but they did not have an orthopedic surgeon available, so grandma spent the night at the local hospital and then was sent out via air ambulance to the Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon. She had her operation to pin the broken bones back together on Saturday, December 5, then flown back to the local hospital on Monday December 7. She is recovering nicely. On Thursday December 10, dad got his Windows 7 upgrade and he spent over 8 hours trying to get it properly loaded onto his computer so that the numerous crashes of Windows Vista would be a nightmare of the past. It was not an easy upgrade, as Windows 7 doesn’t use the mail system that Windows Vista used, so dad had to export all his mail contacts to another file and then import them into Windows hotmail. Quite a lot of dad’s software was not compatible with Windows 7, so it had to either be updated or removed before Windows 7 could be loaded. It was not a fun time, but hopefully everything is going to be OK….at least there have been no crashes so far today…unlike Vista which crashed multiple times a day…particularly when dad was trying to add a picture to these posts, or review his “my pictures file”. Finally he can post this entry for me. Enjoy!

Pets make your home more complete by being there to greet you after a hard day at work or snuggling up to you while you sleep. Cats have been termed the most fickle of creatures; however, they are sweet lovable animals if you raise them from infancy. Most cats will recognize you by the sound of your voice and the car you drive. They will particularly know you if you are the one who spoils them the most. Like dogs, cats can be trained. A cat can be trained to come to your call, to bring their toys when they want to play, as well as more domestic issues such as using a litter box. The key to training a cat or kitten is reinforcement.

Reinforcement starts at any age, but it is wise to start when they are still a kitten. Cats cannot distinguish words, but they are very astute at distinguishing the tones of your voice. They will know they have done something wrong just by the tone of voice you use. This is why it is important to use your upset voice when they have done something wrong, otherwise they will become confused. Let’s go back to reinforcement. Reinforcement is either positive or negative. Stern words are a negative reinforcement for a cat or kitten because they typically do not care for harsh tones. Positive reinforcement can be gentle hugs, full body petting, treats, or play time. (If you wonder why I said gentle hugs, it is because many cats become panicky if they are held tightly.)

To train your kitty to come to your call you must repeat her name while she is looking at you. Look right at your cat while you are using a nice tone of voice. Another way to call your cat is to have another sound, like snapping fingers, or clicking noises with your tongue. These typically gain the attention of your cat or kitten so they learn to come when you call.

Litter box training is perhaps the easiest part of having a kitty in your life. It is best to keep them confined to one room, the room you will have the litter box in, to train them. They will learn by you putting them in the box and allowing them to familiarize themselves with the smell. Mom and dad found that during the training period if you leave a small bit of damp litter in the litter box when you change the litter, the kitten will smell this and return to the litter box more easily. Cats by nature understand the feel of litter associating it with dirt. You may have to pick them up when they first begin to go, if they do not understand the litter box, and place them inside. Occasionally a cat does not like the litter you have purchased. They usually show their displeasure by using the floor. If this happens, try a different brand. Another thing that you must ensure is that the litter box is cleaned frequently. Many cats will not use a box that is full of stool and damp clumps of urine soaked litter. Cats are naturally clean animals and they do not like to be dirty. That is why they are easy to litter train and why they spend so much time grooming themselves. Most female adult cats will train their kittens to use the litter box, so it is important they do not leave their mother’s care too quickly.

Food works in much the same way. Once you show them where their food bowls are they will continue to go there. Cats are creatures of habit. Make sure that their food and water bowls are not located near their litter box. You do not like to eat your meals in your bathroom and neither does your cat.


Habits are how you will train your kitty to bring you toys. Some cats will simply meow when they want to play and casually bat their toy. However, if you respond positively by playing with them every time they carry a toy mouse or stuffed toy to you, they will continue to bring the toy without the reinforcement of a treat. For example, a family friend’s kitty, Spooky, brings a stuffed animal to the family friend every time she wants to play. She lays it down near the end of our friend’s couch and meows until our friend recognizes the good deed and begins to play with her.

Cats are trainable, perhaps not to the degree that a dog is trainable, but they can be trained to respond to your voice commands if you are consistent with both the tones and the words you use. Cats will enliven any home and, given a lot of positive reinforcement, they can be just as much fun, if not more fun, than other pets. This is especially true when they give you comfort by stepping onto your lap and begin kneading and purring. These moments can take away a bad day at work within a few seconds.

Cats, by nature, are very independent animals. However, if you make a fuss of them and treat them well, while allowing them to have their own “private time,” they will give you countless hours of love and affection. What more could you want from a pet?

Until next time,

Teia

Toys Your Cat(s) Will Love

Do you walk through the pet store, see the many toys available for your cat, and wonder if the expense will be worth it? Cats can be fickle creatures, but they can have a good time with almost any toy. Cats are like children. They go through stages and sometimes need age appropriate toys. They can also get bored very easily. Some suggestions for toys include cat towers, stuffed toy mice, small amounts of catnip, stuffed toy animals, ribbons, plastic balls and paper bags. When mom and dad had cats, they spent as much time darting in and out of an open paper bag or a small cardboard box as they did with any purchased toy. They also enjoyed playing with empty toilet paper and paper towel rolls. A wadded up piece of newspaper tied to a string hung from a doorknob was also a great favourite of their cats.

From an early age, kittens learn to pick up things with their mouth. It is an instinct, just like using their claws. When a cat plays, they like to grab and bite their toys.

Let’s look at the toys listed above. A cat tower is a great way to teach your cat where it is appropriate to climb. It will keep them off the blinds or curtains while giving them hours of fun. There are many styles of cat towers from the two story towers to the ones rising to the ceiling. The answer to your question is, the more levels they have, the more fun and enjoyment they will receive out of a cat tower. A cat will use the tower for play as well as sleep. They like to bat at ropes and other items dangling off the tower as well as going through little tunnels up to the next level. If you have two cats, you will have fun watching them give chase to the top often trying to knock the other off. A cat tower can be practical because they will scratch at it, rather than your furniture.

Stuffed toy mice are also important to any kitty’s playtime. Not all mice are the same; most cats prefer the small leather mice with the multi-coloured fur and long tails. Cloth mice are typically second during playtime. If you find your kitty to be uninterested in toy mice you might want to check the type of mouse you bought her and consider switching to another style of mouse.

Catnip toys are very popular. Catnip will cause your cat to be more rowdy, which can be a plus because they become tired more quickly. Catnip a while before bedtime is a great way to get your cat to sleep for quite a while and allow you to slumber too. Catnip should be given out sparingly. You do not want to give your cat catnip every day because it can adversely affect their behaviour. They can start to depend on it and have mood swings.

Cats like the feel of certain things in their mouth, that is why they chew on paper, plastic and even your blankets. The feel of the material in their mouth allows them to clean their teeth or when they are teething, it helps reduce the pain. A stuffed toy animal can work in much the same way and it will keep them away from other items which could be harmful.

You do not have to go to great expense to entertain your cat, however when you spend a little on toys, you may keep your kitty from getting bored. You can even hide some toys and reintroduce them after a few months to keep from purchasing new ones all the time. Just make sure it is not your pet’s favourite toy or she may find other ways to entertain herself that you do not find amusing.

Until next time,

Teia

Indoors or Outdoors: What is best for Your Pet?

Before you take on the responsibility of owning a cat or dog, you need to take the time to consider the living arrangements for your new pet. Many people adopt pets with the idea that they will be raising an outdoor animal. How many people in your neighbourhood keep their dogs or cat’s outdoors at all times? The fact of the matter is, outside is not a safe place for a cat or a dog, as I will explain in a moment. When you adopt a pet, you need to make sure that you are ready to allow your pet into your home.

It is true that both cats and dogs will love being outside, it is their natural environment. Cats delight in chasing birds, climbing trees and hiding in shrubs. Dogs adore barking at the neighbours, chasing squirrels and digging. However, there are many dangers to keeping your pet outside at all times. Dogs tend to get more outside time than cats do. Owners take their dogs out for walks and in some cases allow their dogs unsupervised access to the backyard from time to time. Cats are usually either indoor pets or outdoor pets.

It is more common nowadays, for owners to keep their cats indoors as they begin to realize the dangers of allowing their cat to live outdoors at all times. I highly recommend that you keep your cats and dogs inside. For cats, you can help them practice their natural instincts inside by giving them plenty of places to run and play inside your home. Buy your cat a good scratching post with a high perch and install a window seat so they can gaze at the birds outdoors.

The number one danger to your pets when they go outside is other animals. You never know when your dog or cat will encounter a stray animal, or strange cat or dog from down the street. You know that your pet is properly vaccinated, but you do not know the health condition of other animals outside. In addition, if your dog or cat gets into a fight with another animal, your pet can be seriously injured or harmed. Unless you supervise your pet at all times when they are outside, you never know when your cat or dog will encounter a strange animal. Now-a-days, even quiet residential areas of large cities have coyotes, foxes, skunks, racoons, abandoned dogs and feral cats wandering the area after dark. Many of these animals carry parasites and diseases, which they can pass on to your pet. Coyotes usually work in packs and their favourite tactic is to send a lone coyote to bait your dog into chasing it. When your dog takes the challenge and chases the lone coyote, the rest of the pack come out of hiding and your dog, no matter how large, becomes a late lunch for these nighttime killers. Unless your cat can make it up a tree, she doesn’t stand a chance against these killers. If you have been watching the news over the last several months, you are probably aware that bears, wolves and other large predators are coming into suburban and city locations with increasing regularity. As their natural habitat and/or prey is decreased, they have no choice but to change their hunting areas to continue to exist. A dark city street, park or large backyard provides a perfect location to hide and spring out on unsuspecting pets and/or children.

In this time of bird flu, your cat should not be allowed to eat wild birds, particularly crows, starlings and others that either migrate long distances or mix with birds that migrate. I have not heard of any cases of a pet dying from eating an infected bird, but if your cat or dog did eat one and then crawled away to some secluded spot to die, no one would know anything about the cause of death because no city or town that I am aware of performs an autopsy on dead pets that are found within their limits. The only time that an autopsy is performed on a pet is when the owner insists and there is a possibility that the pet has been deliberately poisoned, or if the pet is suspected of having rabies. In most cities when a dead pet is found it is taken to the landfill and disposed of with no follow up of any kind. Usually the owner never even finds out the pet is dead. To the owner it just remains missing.

Other dangers of allowing your pet to live outside are cars and other people. A cat darting across the street late at night is a recipe for disaster. What if your dog gets loose from your yard and encounters a child? How will your dog react? You hope that your dog will be good and stay friendly. However, what happens if the child begins to taunt or tease your dog or poke a stick at him? If your dog bites or scratches another person, chances are, you will be responsible for your pet's actions. Many pet owners have found themselves in a serious situation when their dog or cat has acted aggressively when outdoors. Most times, you will face a court appearance and your pet will be destroyed.

When your cat or dog stays indoors, you can also help control fleas, ticks, and the exposure to heartworms. This is not to say that you should not treat an indoor pet for these problems. All dogs and cats, whether they spend most of their time indoors or outdoors, should be on a monthly heartworm preventative. This parasitic disease can be fatal to your pet and your pet can also pass these parasites onto you. It is important to remember that if your cat or dog lives outdoors, you will have many more problems when it comes to fleas and ticks. Fleas can jump from your pet to you and once they get into your home they are difficult to eradicate. Ticks frequently carry Lyme disease, which they can pass onto your pet. There is a lot of controversy about this disease, which is very debilitating. It is quite difficult to diagnose, and once infected with it, the pet or person suffering from the disease may never get rid of it, as treatment methods are not standardized and frequently not very successful.

As you can see, there are many reasons why you should keep your dog or cat indoors. Pets that are indoor pets live longer and healthier lives than pets that live outside. This includes all pets.

Once you make your pet an indoor animal, they will lose some of their outdoor survival instinct. As a result, you will need to protect them when you take them outside. Supervised walks or supervised trips to off leash parks are fine. You should also supervise them when they are in your own fenced in yard, as they will now depend on you to provide a home and protection for them. As mentioned above, you never know, particularly at night, what might be lurking nearby to attack your beloved pet.

Until next time,

Teia

PS. In the northern town in which I live and in the neighbouring city, wolves, bears, coyotes and cougars are frequent visitors and numerous outdoor pets become meals every year. Even the dog catcher had his dog attacked by a bear. Fortunately, the dog was able to get into a very well constructed dog house and avoid death, but he suffered some very nasty scratches and tooth marks that required veterinarian treatment. And of course, if you live in parts of Florida, you have to watch out for the thousands of Burmese Pythons which are devouring wildlife and pets at alarming rates.

How to Pet-Proof Your Holidays

The "end of the year" holidays can present some particular hazards to the health of your pet and consequently to your peace of mind. Here are some ideas that have worked for my mom, dad and us pets to make this time a happy one for all.

Make sure you check your veterinarian's holiday hours and emergency contacts and have the information easily accessible.

Think before you decorate with plants. Cats, dogs and birds will all nibble household plants and many, including mistletoe and some poinsettias, can make your pet very ill. Make sure your holiday greenery (and "red-ery") is out of your pet's reach.

The same is true if you have a Christmas tree. You should put only unbreakable decorations at the bottom of your tree, so there is no danger of your cat batting a glass ball and breaking it, or the pup chewing your grandmother's antique bubble lights. How about some kitty baubles or doggie toys on the lower branches instead?

Or, do what mom and dad did when they had both pets and little ones. They put the tree and gifts into a playpen. That may not stop Kitty, but at least the tree can't fall down as easily when he or she climbs it.

Another oft-forgotten item: if you have a live tree in water, wrap the base so your pets can't decide to take a drink of that water and keep the birds away from the tree as many modern live trees have been sprayed with chemicals that may be toxic to your little friends.

Be very, very careful about candles. Your cat or bird may be enticed by the flicker of the flame, and may singe his whiskers or worse. Place glass "hurricane lanterns" or other attractive covers over candles to protect your home and your pets.

Think ahead to New Years Eve and plan how to keep your pets from becoming frightened by the traditional firecrackers and other noisy merriment. Like me, some dogs may be severely traumatized by fireworks or other loud noises, so be sure to leave them inside if you go out to celebrate.

Pets, especially dogs and cats, may be stressed by the changes in household routine during the holidays, particularly if you are stressed yourself. Some cats and dogs respond to stress by becoming hyper or hysterical and some simply retreat. Plan to spend some special time with your pets to calm yourself and reassure them during this period and if your pet is especially upset with strangers visiting, prepare a "refuge" he or she can go to and escape the "maddening crowd."

To "wrap this up," have a "Meowry" Christmas, and a "Hoppy" New Year!

Until next time,

Teia

PS. This is being posted ahead of the start of the holiday season so that you can include the suggestions in your holiday plans. Birdhouse Publishing and your pet(s) thank you for keeping your pets in mind during this hectic time of year.

Unusual Pets: Ferrets

Even though Ferrets have been kept as pets for over 2500 years, they are rare pets to own. Most people choose dogs, cats, birds, or fish to complete their family, however a select few turn to the Ferret for its social, playful, curious qualities. Ferrets love to play and explore not only with other Ferrets and their owners, but also on their own. For this reason, you need to know a few things on how to take care of a Ferret.

Pros of owning a Ferret

1. Ferrets are very affectionate pets and form deep bonds with both their owners and any other Ferrets in the home.

2. They are easy to train to use a litter box.

3. They are very smart animals and fun to be with.

Cons of owning a Ferret

1. Ferrets are not recommended for families with young children (see below about their biting habits) as they are easily injured if dropped or squeezed.

2. Your home will have to be Ferret-proofed (see below).

3. Ferrets will crawl into reclining furniture or any furniture that has an opening, which means that they could be killed if the reclining furniture is raised or lowered while the Ferret is inside.

4. Ferrets are prone to cancer and heart disease, so veterinarian bills could be expensive.

5. Ferrets are fairly short lived with the average lifespan being six to eight years although some will live as long as 10 years with proper care and nutrition.

6. Ferrets require several hours of “out of cage” exercise to remain healthy.

As pet lovers, you will want to Ferret proof your home before you introduce them as pets. They will crawl into walls, furniture and anywhere they can get their little bodies. It is much like childproofing a home for a baby. Extension cords must be eliminated and electrical cords to lamps, electronics, appliances, etc. must be unplugged before you let your Ferret(s) out of the cage for playtime.

Ferrets are frequently biters. The kits, baby Ferrets, tend to bite more that mature Ferrets. Biting is part of their behaviour as it makes up part of their play fighting. Younger Ferrets tend to bite more when they are teething and do not mean any harm. For this reason, you will want to handle your Ferret(s) as often as possible to help reduce this biting behaviour. Often those who do not take the time or have the patience to train their Ferret end up leaving the animal in its cage and thus it has a shorter lifespan. Please make sure you are up to the task of training a Ferret before brining one into your home. Trained properly, they can be as great a pet as cats or dogs. In fact, a lady who runs a Ferret rescue group in Atlantic Canada advises that Ferrets capture your soul, while dogs and cats only capture your heart. However, you must remember that they are ingenious at getting out of their cage, so make sure that the cage is properly secured before leaving home or you are liable to come home to an open cage and find that your Ferret has chewed through the drywall and made a nest between your wall studs.

Ferrets are carnivores so they require a high protein diet. Most owners feed their pet Ferret mice, rats, rabbit and other raw meats such as chicken, beef or veal. Some pet stores carry commercially made types of Ferret food that many owners choose over the live food. Carefully read the label to ensure that the food has the high protein needed. If nothing else is available, kitten food can be used if it is made with high protein (32% or more) and 16% fat. Do not use any commercial food that contains carbohydrates because Ferrets cannot digest them.

While play is an important part of your Ferret’s life so is sleep. Most Ferrets spend fourteen to eighteen hours a day sleeping and they particularly like to sleep in hammock style beds. Part of that sleeping is to rejuvenate them from the active play life they have. They love to explore and to play with toys. Many pet stores have toys for Ferrets, or you might have something around the house that your Ferret will find appealing.

The type of cage is important. Multi-level cages are preferred. Ferrets tend to be very smart so you will need a cage with a very small space between the bars. The cage should also provide plenty of air. You should also clean the cage once or twice a week, depending upon the number of Ferrets you have and how dirty the cage looks. Ferrets love to burrow, so some type of bedding is required. The pet store where you purchase your Ferret should be able to recommend the best type of bedding for your Ferret.

Ferrets are little balls of fur that love to play and interact with humans and each other. While there are some special concessions you need to make to have a Ferret, the results are worth it. Proper training as a kit will ensure that you have even more joy when they reach adulthood.

Until next time,

Teia

Dangerous Dog Treats: What to Know Before You Treat Your Pup

What pooch does not love getting a treat or two now and then. Most pet lovers also enjoy giving treats to their dog. If you’ve had your dog for a while, then you have a good idea of the type of treat your dog likes, but trying a new one is always a temptation. There are so many treats available these days and they come in all different shapes, sizes, colors and consistencies. For every great dog treat, there are those on the market that are not so good. These treats can harm your pet by lodging in your dog’s throat or intestines. This can cause choking or worse. If you love treating your canine friend, then you will want to be aware of those treats that can be potentially harmful. Even with treats that are not usually dangerous, you need to supervise your dog when she eats them.

Greenies: Most dogs really enjoy these treats. They are advertised as a treats that help clean your dog’s teeth. However, as a pet lover who does not want to see your pet in danger, you need to be aware that “greenies” can cause choking. This is because dogs eat these treats very quickly which causes large chunks to lodge in the throat. Young puppies should not eat this treat and dogs that are prone to gulping their food should also avoid them. There have been reports that if your dog does not digest chunks of these treats, they can lodge in your dog’s intestines or bowel, and sharp edges could tear or perforate these organs. If your dog eats these treats, be aware of potential vomiting, bloody stools, and difficulty breathing. If you notice any of these symptoms after your dog has eaten this treat, seek medical attention immediately.

Rawhide Chews: What dog does not love snacking on these chewy treats? Rawhides are good because they clean your dog’s teeth and keep your dog occupied. However, rawhides are dangerous, as well. As pet lovers, mom and dad have always provided rawhide chews for their dogs. Until they did some research, they did not realize that some rawhides that originate outside of the United States might actually be preserved with arsenic-based chemicals that will be ingested by your doggie when he or she chews. For this reason, make certain that any rawhide treat you purchase is processed in the United States where this preservative is forbidden. If you cannot tell where a treat originated do not buy it! In addition, you still need to watch your dog when he or she is munching on rawhides to help prevent choking. Any dog that gulps food has a chance of gulping in a large chunk of rawhide, which may lodge in the dog’s throat. This usually happens when the rawhide becomes partially soft and gooey. The gooey part slips down and the hard part jams in the dog’s throat. Make sure you buy rawhides that are the right size for your dog, too. A small dog needs the smaller sized rawhide treats. The other night, my “sister,” Gemma, had a rawhide lodge in her throat. Dad was nearby and he patted her on the back and dislodged the rawhide which Gemma then coughed up. If no one had been near at that time, Gemma may have choked to death.

Chocolate: Baker’s chocolate is a terrible thing to allow dogs to eat. Of course, sometimes dogs get into candy and cake without your knowledge. Chocolate is toxic to both dogs and cats, so as pet lovers, you need to be aware of your dog sneaking chocolate nibbles, especially around the holidays. Chocolate contains an ingredient called theobromine. This acts in a canine about the same way caffeine acts in a human. A little will make the doggie hyperactive, but a large dose may be fatal. If your dog has gotten into chocolate, you need to look for vomiting, shallow breathing, and irregular heartbeat. If your dog shows any of these symptoms after eating chocolate, take him to a veterinarian immediately.

Bones: It seems that it is the right of every dog to be able to crunch on a real bone from time to time. Dogs love bones of all types. However, some bones can be dangerous. Both chicken and turkey bones are especially dangerous because they are brittle. When your dog chews on them, they can easily splinter or cause choking. Some pork and beef bones can also cause the same problem. Dad’s parents had a Boston Terrier who choked to death on a steak bone that became lodged in her throat. They tried everything they could think of to dislodge the bone, but could not get it out and the dog died in their arms. NEVER give your dog cooked bones of any kind. The cooking makes them brittle resulting in splinters and sharp pieces, which could lodge in your dog’s throat. Some “raw food” advocates suggest that raw poultry bones are safe for your dog to eat, but mom and dad’s experience has shown that even raw poultry bones will splinter under some situations. As pet lovers who do not want to see any pet meet with a tragic end, mom and dad do not recommend feeding poultry bones to your dog. Veterinarians agree that one of the safest bones you can give your dog is a shinbone. If you must give your dog a bone, make sure you supervise your pooch and if he or she shows signs of bleeding, then you should call your vet immediately.

This is not to say that you cannot give your dog an occasional treat, all pet lovers enjoy giving their dog a treat, and it is one of the fun parts of owning a dog. And, of course, us dogs love them! You do need to watch your dog and make sure that your dog is safe when snacking. Always pay attention to what kind of treat you give your dog in case of a recall. Another trick to follow when thinking of trying a new teat is to read all of the writing on the packaging. If you notice misspelling or grammar mistakes, chances are that the product was made in a country that does not have good pet health and safety rules and therefore the treat should NOT be purchased for your pet.

Until next time,

Teia

PS. If you reside in Canada, where all packaging requires both French and English versions of the contents and manufacturers information, make sure that the French is correctly spelled and that it is grammatically correct as foreign manufacturers frequently make mistakes in the French version of the package information.

PPS. From Dad: Last weekend, I attended a Christmas Craft Sale in Flin Flon, Manitoba, Canada. One of the tables featured a local lady selling hand made dog treats from human grade ingredients. I bought Teia and her “sisters” some beef, garlic and cheese flavoured dog bone shaped cookies. They eat them so fast I’m not sure if they chew them or just inhale them. While at the booth, the lady gave me a copy of the following poem, which I thought you might enjoy.

MY DOGS LIVE HERE

My dogs live here, they’re here to stay.
You don’t like pets, be on your way.
They share my home, my food, my space
This is their home, this is their space.

You will find dog hair on the floor,
They will alert you’re at the door.
They may request a little pat,
A simple “no” will settle that.

It gripes me when I hear you say
“Just how is it you live this way?
They smell, they shed, they’re in the way…”
WHO ASKED YOU? Is all I can say…

They love me more than anyone,
My voice is like the rising sun.
They merely have to hear me say
“C’mon girls, time to go and play.”

Then tails wag and faces grin,
They bounce and hop and make a din.
They never say “no time for you,”
They’re always there, to GO and DO.

And if I’m sad? They’re by my side
And if I’m mad? They circle wide
And if I laugh, they laugh with me
They understand, they always see.

So once again, I say to you
Come visit me, but know this too…

My dogs live here, they’re here to stay.
You don’t like pets, be on your way.
They share my home, my food, my space
This is their home, this is their place.

Is a Guinea Pig the Right Pet for You?

Guinea Pigs, also called cavies, are lovable furry critters that will bring you a lot of joy. In addition, Guinea Pigs can be a perfect first pet for children because they are easy to care for and more cuddly than a hamster or fish. Following is information to help you determine whether a Guinea Pig is the right pet for you.

If you are thinking about getting a pet for your home, you may at first consider a dog or cat. These animals are perfect for homes if you have a lot of time to dedicate to owning a pet. Dogs and cats need a lot of attention and a lot of space. Guinea Pigs on the other hand are just as cute as dogs and cats, but they do not require near as much space or care. Many people love the idea of Guinea Pigs as first pets for children because they live a lot longer than hamsters or gerbils. In fact, a well cared for Guinea Pig can live up to eight or nine years. Once you own a Guinea Pig, you will be hooked by these cute, sweet natured animals.

When you go to the store to get a Guinea Pig, it is always a good idea to look at them carefully and choose them for their personality. Each Guinea Pig has his or her own personality. Some are more reserved in nature, while others are more outgoing. If you are choosing a Guinea Pig for your child, you want to make sure that your Guinea pig can tolerate being held and petted. Guinea pigs are not known to be aggressive or to bite, but your child will have no fun with a shy Guinea Pig.

Guinea Pigs are social animals and they enjoy the company of other Guinea Pigs. If you are planning to get a Guinea Pig, you might want to consider getting two Guinea Pigs at the same time. Male Guinea Pigs get along quite well with each other if you get them when they are both babies. Male Guinea Pigs will fight with each other if you introduce them after they are grown. Female Guinea Pigs also get along well with each other. It is not recommended that you get a male and a female, unless you want to breed Guinea Pigs.

When looking at Guinea Pig cages, you need to find one that will allow enough room for movement and play. Make sure that your cage has an exercise wheel, to keep your Guinea Pig healthy and active. Guinea Pigs like to stay hidden when they sleep, so make sure that your cage has a place where they can hide. A plastic or wooden structure inside the cage is always a good idea. You will want to add some sort of lining to the bottom of your Guinea Pig cage for easy cleanup. Cedar chips are not recommended, however pine wood chips, newspaper, ground up corn cobs or kitty litter are all fine. You also want to include a large water bottle for your Guinea Pig. If you have two Guinea Pigs consider getting two water bottles. Guinea Pigs love to drink water, so make sure that you give them plenty of fresh water EVERY day.

Some experts recommend adding vitamin C drops to their water. This works well for some Guinea Pigs. However, some Guinea Pigs do not like the taste and will not drink the water. If you do decide to add vitamin C drops to their water, make sure they are staying hydrated throughout the day. If you choose not to include vitamin C drops with their water, you can supplement their diet with fresh fruit and vegetables. Guinea Pigs love fresh vegetables and fruit of all kinds. Just make sure that you do not overfeed your Guinea Pigs and use fruits and vegetables as treats. As far as food is concerned, you will need to feed your Guinea Pigs specially formulated Guinea Pig pellets available at pet stores. Guinea Pigs also needed a daily supply of Timothy hay, available in some pet stores and most farm supply stores, to help aid their digestion.

Guinea Pigs are great pets for all types of homes. When you get a young Guinea Pig, you and your child or children will have to work with it to socialize it. All family members are sure to enjoy these adorable pets for many years to come.

Until next time,

Teia

Choosing The Right Pet For You

Most individuals have an idea just what type of pet they want; however, the maintenance of a pet can cause some concern. Knowing how to choose the pet you want may be easy. You may have had several pets as a child and know you need a companion for your own home, or you may have always wanted a pet but been told you could not have one. Whatever the case, you need to take into consideration some key points about pet care when deciding what pet is right for you.

First, some pets take more care than others. Dogs are very needy animals. They are very sensitive toward their owners. You have probably heard of dogs tearing up a house when left alone all day. Dogs can get bored even when they have other dog companions and toys. They need human interaction. Most dog owners take their dogs out for a walk before work and after work for exercise and play time. Other owners, who work outside, will often let their dogs come to work with them to keep the dog(s) out of trouble. Cats, on the other hand, can amuse themselves and as long as you put your valuables on a shelf they cannot reach and keep a clean house, they will sleep, look out windows and play with toys while you are away. Fish are another type of pet that is typically low maintenance except for cleaning the fish tank, which can be quite a job if it hasn‘t been done for a while.

Pet care is very important when you own a pet. They need attention from their owners, positive reinforcement, training and love. Fish are usually excluded from this statement, as they just need food, proper tank maintenance and a few plants to sustain life. However, contrary to popular belief, fish if made a fuss of on a regular basis, also enjoy human interaction. Of course they don’t need training or being taken for a walk, but they do enjoy being talked to and having their owner peer through the glass at them and wiggle their fingers along the tank front. The point is, proper pet care is required when you own ANY pet. The decision will be yours to make in choosing what the right pet is for you. Above I mentioned three types of pets and a little about their care. Now we are going to look at it in a little more depth.

While dogs are high maintenance and require the most training, they are also one of the best pets to own. They can alert you to danger, alert you to someone at the door and give unconditional love to you. A dog only asks, in return, for proper care and a great deal of attention. If you cannot be home all the time, you will want to make sure the dog has a roof over its head in case of inclement weather and a huge yard to play in. Some dogs can jump six foot fences so it may be best to erect a dog run with a roof so it can move about, but not escape. Also remember that some dogs, if left alone in a yard, bark or howl incessantly, which will make the neighbours unhappy and could lead to you being charged with an offence under a noise bylaw. You may also find that the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) begins to visit frequently. And, if they are active in your area, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), which don’t always obey the law, could make your life a living hell. I’m not trying to scare you, but you should know all the possible things that must be considered when determining whether you want a pet and if you do, which one is best for you and your lifestyle.

Cats on the other hand can be high or low maintenance depending on the breed as well as their personality. Some cats require hours of people attention while others shirk attention. Some cats belong in a one pet household. They do not like to share their owner’s affections and will become upset and possibly mean toward a perceived invader. Others need a playmate’s attention to live happily. It will be hard to determine just which type of cat you own when you first obtain it as a kitten, because its personality is just developing.

Pet care is the most important factor to consider when you are deciding which pet is right for you and your home. For example, if you have very expensive furniture and carpet throughout your home, you may want to avoid dogs or cats as accidents or scratching or chewing of furniture will happen. Therefore, you will want to consider all the pet care needs of the animals you are looking at, as well as the breed you are looking at, to determine if they will have a happy place in your home and in your heart.

Until next time,

Teia

PS. Remember that getting a pet is a commitment to keeping them for their whole life. The Humane Societies in most towns and cities are overwhelmed by abandoned pets and frequently have to euthanize them to make room for new arrivals. I also recommend that you have your cat or dog, if you choose them as a pet, spayed or neutered. There are too many unwanted puppies and kittens being abandoned or taken to the Humane Society. Don’t think that you will be able to make a few dollars selling any kittens or puppies that your pet(s) may produce because by the time you pay for food, veterinarian bills, vaccinations, etc. the costs will be greater than the income. Being a profitable breeder is a full time job, not a sideline.

Pet Training and Classical Conditioning

The science of associating something with an activity is known as classical conditioning. The best example is the experiment conducted by Pavlov, a Russian scientist. Whenever he served food to his dog, he used to ring a bell. In the beginning, the dog used to salivate by looking at the food. Later he began associating the bell with the food and at a point in time, he used to salivate at the sound of the bell. This doesn’t mean that the actual noise of the ringing bell made him salivate. The dog associated the ringing of the bell with the food and that food or even the thought of it made him salivate.

Classical conditioning cannot actually make a dog sit or jump at a command, but it does change the way the pet feels about a particular situation. Classical conditioning gives explanation about the behaviour relating to a particular place, object or event. It explains how the emotional response is developed. The responses can be developed in an animal either intentionally or by chance. Also the trainer must remember that the change in the behaviour is irreversible most of the time.

In the above picture, this champion knows it must stand in that position whenever it is being judged or shown. It is conditioned to take that stance whenever its owner puts a hand on its tail and on the side of its head. It will remain unflinching in that stance until its owner releases it from that pose.

When Dad was a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, as a recruit, he had to learn to ride a horse. Because the horses used by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Musical Ride must perform in locations where sudden loud noises occur, they have to be conditioned to ignore these loud sounds and continue their equestrian routine. To condition the horses, they are taken into an indoor riding school where the riding master continually discharges a firearm containing blanks while the horses are performing. He also plays a tape containing loud strange noises. With a lot of repetitive exposure to this type of situation, the horses get so that they very seldom spook at sudden loud sounds. In this way there is less likelihood of the rider being thrown or the horse injuring itself or a spectator. However, as Dad learned, during this conditioning process, it can become really wild with horses bucking their riders off all over the place. It looked like an uncontrolled bucking bronco show at a wild west rodeo.

One of the most common behaviours dealt with in conditioned emotional response is fear. The fear can be instinctive, learned or caused by an unknown factor. For example, if a cat gets scared upon seeing a dog, this is instinctive fear. If the cat backs off upon seeing a raised hand, this is learned fear. This can happen in the case of an abused cat. If there is fear because of lack of exposure to a particular situation that has never happened before, this is known as fear of the unknown.

Conditioned emotional responses which are not liked or wanted, can be reduced with the help of classical conditioning. Classical conditioning is broken into two types of treatment, namely desensitization and counter-conditioning. Desensitization is reducing the sensitivity of the animal toward a particular unavoidable situation, as described above in the horse training situation. The bad situation is created again and again until the animal becomes insensitive or doesn’t respond to it any more. For example, if an animal is given crate training, it is locked inside the crate again and again, until it gets used to staying locked inside the cage.

In counter-conditioning the animal is exposed to a lower degree of extremity. The intensity is less and as well a positive thing is presented to the animal. By doing this the pet begins to like the nasty situation. The pet is made to respond in a way which contradicts the current or previous reaction. For example, a pet doesn’t like to be locked up in the crate all the time. But this undesirable situation can be made to look pleasant if the pet is fed with a treat from time to time as long as it stays calmly inside the cage.

Negative counter conditioning is another technique, but it is used very rarely. For example, if a cat likes to bite the hand of the owner frequently, the owner can rub something distasteful on the hand. When the animal bites the hand, it will taste the distasteful substance. If this is done repeatedly, the cat will then associate the bad taste with the hand and will not bite again.

Classical conditioning is used to alter the way an animal reacts to a particular situation. With classical conditioning the animal can be made to like an unpleasant situation or dislike a pleasant situation.

Because there has been some negative connotations associated with the term Classical Conditioning, many trainers now refer to it as behavioural training which sounds more pleasant. In addition as more is learned about animals, better methods of training are being developed. Reward based training has almost completely replaced punishment based training, which is a very good and humane change.

Until next time,

Teia