Taking on a pet requires a certain level of commitment. For the most part, you will be responsible for the safety and well-being of another creature. Taking care of a turtle is no easy task. Choosing from among the types of pet turtles will entail careful thought. You will want to select a pet whose lifestyle can easily fit in with your own way of living. Here are three common types of pet turtles that you can consider rearing.

Box turtles

The box turtle is one of the more popular types of pet turtles that are found practically all over the world. Wherever there are damp, mossy areas, one is sure to find a box turtle inhabiting the land. These types of pet turtles are pretty territorial and are required to stay near their place of birth for their entire lifetime. As a matter of fact, if you try to remove a box turtle to another area half a mile from where it was born, it acquires the tendency to systematically search for its former habitat. It may not be able to find its way back to its old home but it will spend most of its life looking for it. This is one of those types of pet turtles that you will want to be cautious about because you need to create a living environment that is very similar to its old habitat. A box turtle is omnivorous so it can live off of insects, berries and various types of food products. They are ideal pets for people who live in the country because it is easier to recreate their natural habitat. Continue reading »

A broken leg is the most common fracture in animals, and commands immediate attention. The dog’s leg must be straightened and immobilized. Anxiety over doing this must be put aside. Just do it—for the sake of the pet. A splint is required, and one can be fashioned from a trellis slat, a yardstick, or a tine from a rake. The leg must be tied both above and below the break to the splint and secured with anything that will hold it in place securely until the dog can be transported to the vet.

A splint should be applied immediately upon suspicion of a broken bone. If the bone is allowed to move, it could sever an artery and complicate the treatment of the injury further. Splinting a greenstick fracture is just as important as splinting a clean break, as leg movement with a greenstick fracture could break it further.

In the case of broken ribs, it is important to keep the dog quiet. Broken ribs can easily puncture a lung. Lay the dog down on the side opposite the broken ribs and keep him as calm and still as possible until the vet arrives. Do not try to transport a dog with broken ribs yourself.

Continue reading »

Guest Blogger: W. P. Allen

If you are a cat owner, it is immensely important for you to know about cat poisoning symptoms. Anything injurious to our body is known as poison. Cats, at times, get in touch with things like insects, dead animals and toxic plants because of their curiosity of pursuing objects such as trivial game or wood piles, weed thickets and storage ports. It is a tough job to know the cause of poisoning because of the existence of a mixed bag of poisonous plants and shrubs, unless the owner is an eyewitness to it. Consequently, sometimes the object remains unknown, whereas, sometimes we point out the wrong ones.

Household chemicals, plants, trees and shrubs can all be harmful for a cat and the cat owners should have an apt knowledge of it. When you suspect a case of poisoning, the job of a vet becomes easier, if you can particularly name the object causing this poisoning. Some plants and household chemicals are mentioned here that can affect your cat; although, it is tough to know about the agent once your cat steps out.

Continue reading »

Giving medication to reptiles can be “pretty slippery”. With their varied physiological and anatomical make-ups, choosing ‘routes of drug administration’ is fairly complicated. Having to deal with scales, teeth, and a cranky attitude makes reptile medication a daunting task for a newbie.

There are specific techniques that may be used in treating a sick reptile with drugs. Each form of reptile medication has pros and cons that should be painstakingly considered as not to give the reptile more pain.

Administering fluids or any reptile medication through the mouth is tricky since you’ll have to deal with the sharp teeth, possibly venom, and the highly sensitive glottis. Also, any reptile (even any human!) does not appreciate having some foreign object shoved up its throat and thus may be quite uncooperative. They tend to acquire a more crabby temper when sick, too. Usually, a catheter or feeding tube attached to a syringe with prepared slurry or fluid medication is inserted into the throat up to the stomach to avoid flooding into the glottis and causing the fluid to back up into the mouth. Continue reading »

Being one of the oldest species of animals on earth, tarantulas are also one of the biggest breeds of spiders. If you want to have a tarantula of your own, but do not know what kind to get, here are some guidelines to help you pick the right one.

1. Research all kinds of tarantulas, and determine which tarantula is right for you and your situation. You should consider their temperament and level of care to ensure making the right decision.

2. Start out with a docile type of tarantula such as the Chilean Rose. Pet shops commonly have this breed ready to go.

3. Once you are comfortable with the easier and more docile type of tarantula, you may be ready to consider a more complex type such as the Columbian Giant. Continue reading »

Cat dandruff is common among diabetic cats. A study shows that about 1 in 200 cats have what is known as diabetes mellitus (DM). There are many other kinds of skin disorders that can affect cats. If your cat is suffering from a skin problem, and if you want your pet to get better, here are some things you can do.

Often, a skin problem is caused by poor nutrition. So it’s a good idea to start by changing your pet’s diet if you’re currently feeding one of the budget brands of cat food. There are many high quality foods available on the market. Your vet might even suggest a prescription food to address certain dietary needs.

You can also give your cat supplements of fish oil, which has been shown to help get rid of the dandruff problem. Tuna, which is rich in Omega 43 fatty acids, will also help to improve the problem. Continue reading »

A common mistake ferret owners make is assuming their ferret is naturally inclined to use a litter box like a cat does. This is not true. Ferrets are separated from their mothers at an early age and never receive the stage at which mama ferret teaches them to use a litter box.

With that said ferrets are intelligent, trainable animals. Generally, the easiest way to train a ferret is with positive reinforcement. Simply put, by offering them a reward for performing a behavior you desire.

First: If you don’t have a cage, get one. It is very important that your ferret have a place to sleep, eat, play and use the litter box.

Initially, keep your ferret confined to the cage with a litter box. The ferret needs to get used to a small confined area, and become comfortable using his litter box before you can expand his play and roam areas.

Continue reading »