There are some wonderful small cute and furry animals which can make excellent pets for young children. Many parents consider that a dog or a cat is too much of a commitment and is often too big to be an ideal pet for small children.

And there are some risks. There have been instances of children being savaged by their own dog, even small ones.

One of my favourite animals that makes a perfect pet for young children is a guinea pig. My own daughter has her favourite pet piggie and loves him, along with some other pets.

They have some huge advantages as a pet. They rarely live much longer than around 5 years, so you won’t be looking after the guinea pig after the kids have left home. They are cheap to buy, usually under $20, they are cheap to feed and don’t get sick as often as other animals. They are warm and furry and like company and will happily sit on your child’s lap in the evening being petted.

Despite the fact that guinea pigs are small cheap pets there are still some important matters to think about before you get your first guinea pig. And the first of these matters is how you will house him.

A guinea pig is housed in a guinea pig cage or what is correctly called a guinea pig hutch. Usually this is kept outside the house. A guinea pig hutch is generally constructed of wire and timber, although a good material for construction of a hutch can be metal as it is easy to clean and doesn’t harbour smells.

It should have a dedicated sleeping area where he can sleep free from the risks of bad weather and snuggle inside his own sleeping area. It should have an outdoors area where he is protected from predators but can run around doing what they do like eating the grass.

It’s better to avoid using wire on the floor of a guinea pig hutch as guinea pigs do not like walking on wire and can also get a foot condition called bumble foot which can be quite serious.

Most guinea pig cages that you buy in pet shops are too small for the purpose. It’s quite easy to make your own guinea pig cage and it’s not expensive to do so. If you are making your own make sure you make it as large as you possibly can so that your guinea pig has lots of room to play and to exercise.

They are cheap to feed and not difficult to feed but you do need to learn a little bit about what they need to eat and what they don’t need to eat. They need plenty of hay for roughage, will happily eat a wide range of fresh green vegetable leaves such as broccoli or spinach as well as fruits like apples and pears. Some foods should be avoided such as lettuce and cabbage which can give your guinea pig diarrhea.

Of course like all animals you need to commit to some cleaning. You need to regularly clean out guinea pig cages , and parental supervision is often required as young children can’t always be relied on to do this properly. And he will need regular grooming to keep him free of knots, particularly if he is a long-haired guinea pig. Part of the fun of course, of having a guinea pig, is sitting with him in the evening grooming.

So if you’ve been thinking about buying a pet for the children, why not consider a small cute and cuddly guinea pig which will make the ideal pet. Just make sure you provide him with a nice big guinea pig hutch to live in and plenty of the right food.

The cat dry skin treatment you use will depend on whether or not the dry epidermis is connected with an illness, allergy or natural dry epidermis. For those who have any reason to believe that your cat may be ill or allergic to something you may desire to speak for your veterinarian as soon as feasible.

Assuming that the cat dry skin remedy you need isn’t connected with an illness or allergy you might would like to try the following steps:

Verify to see if your cat’s food has a sufficient amount of omega-3 fatty acid.  If you’re unsure or if it becomes clear that the food does not have enough omega-3 fatty acid you can need to change your food.  Quite usually cat dry skin comes about from the inside out.

Add fish oil for your cat’s diet.  All you’ve got to accomplish is mix about 1/8th of a teaspoon into his or her foods approximately four times per week.  You are able to also consider giving your feline friend a little fresh salmon one day per week.

Cats tend to groom themselves.  Make certain your cat is doing this or help them by brushing them.  If they are overweight and unable to groom themselves be certain you emphasis on obtaining them to a healthy weight too as pet care.

If your house is dry you must give some thought to getting a humidifier.  This is particularly true in the winter months when our household heating could dry out the air.

You are able to mist your cat with a diluted version of a moisturizing bath oil.  All you’ve got to perform is add 1 teaspoon of oil for each 8 ounces of water.  Don’t saturate the cat.  Lightly mist her coat with the oil and water mixture

If none of these cat dry skin remedy ideas work make sure you seek advice from with your vet.

Cats and kittens make incredibly enjoyable domestic pets, provided that they’re looked after appropriately. Responsible cat care sets out by simply learning about exactly what homing a cat will probably include ahead of dealing with the task of ownership. Here we briefly go over the key issues for consideration.

The cost of feeding

Providing food for a cat doesn’t need to be costly, but the cat or kitten has a number of needs as part of their diet to ensure he or she benefits from a happy and healthy existence. Check out a premium range of complete cat food along with the related feeding instruction to provide an idea of what and how much food to give your cat.

The money necessary for veterinarian care

You should take into consideration the price of preliminary neutering, annual vaccinations, in addition to any specific random vet attention which might be needed through the course of your cat’s lifetime. If you get your cat or kitten, in the event it does not have any past history involving going to the vet, we urge you to take he or she to a veterinarian straightaway and they can advise the very best course of action regarding shots, worming, fleas, feeding etc.

The time your cat or kitten requires from you

Cats and kittens are generally independent creatures, but they do need time for playing and friendship. In addition they require frequent grooming, notably when they are very fluffy.

How will you take care of you pet while you’re on holiday

It is advisable to take into account what you can do with the moggy in the event you go overseas, on holiday for instance. You’ll want to make different plans during those time periods to guarantee the continual good care of your pet cat, whether it is booking a stay in a cattery, asking a pal to help ‘cat sit’, or asking a responsible family friend to help out by residing at your house while you are away from home.

Dog Training From Home

Dog training along with an behavior instructor may vary in price and also it usually takes place in a class. If you do the dog training your self it is usually totally free and you can do it from your own house. You will soon see for your self how effective a crate will make your dog training a lot easier!. Many people consider this part of training done mostly with puppies.

Should You Scold Your Dog?

Reprimanding is a kind of dog training which must not be done unless necessary. It is possible that reward training for dogs has been around as long as there have been dogs to train. Early humans probably used some informal kind of reward training when taming the wolf pups that eventually evolved into modern dogs. Dogs are very much like small children and have brief attention spans.

Dogs are Simple Creatures..

But the dog is simply following its basic programming. Some collie owners acquire a family of ducks for their dog to “boss around” this satisfies the dog’s herding instinct and the ducks do not mind. Establishing yourself as pack leader to your dog is very important. Each dog pack only has one particular leader and in your case it should be you the human. Simple dog obedience training will not really solve your dog’s aggressive problems only some serious dog training will do the trick. Dog aggressiveness does not just mean biting it means barking and lunging at people as well. Within a week your dog must sit when you tell him to.

Can Dogs Be Controlled?

Professionals say that dog behaviors can be controlled by way of proper dog training. Dog behaviors are actually responses that are mostly triggered by environmental and social factors. Your best bet will be to maximize training of your dog when it decides to bark. Provide Adequate Food and Water – Provide food suited to your dog’s age size and condition. Walk Your Dog – Your dog will let you know when it needs to be walked.

Just before producing a trip to your local canine breeder, you should consider searching at some canine rehoming centres (rescue centers) in your area, so you can give your adore to a dog who could possibly desperately need somebody to rescue them.

While rescued dogs have a reputation for being wild, or somehow damaged, they are anything but. You could think about it similar to adopting a child, rather than bringing a new one into the world. Animals from dog rehoming centers are already here and need somebody to feed, exercise and love them.

Most cities will have various government funded and private pet health care canine rehoming centres obtainable, where you’ll be able to go and have your selection of various various breeds, sizes and ages. Anybody who may fear that an older canine could have poor habits, or be unable to train, shouldn’t worry as dogs of all ages are incredible at adapting to new environments and owners.

All most of these creatures require is really a little adore and a family — like most humans do. You will see a mixture of backgrounds found in rescue centers: Some dog could have been abused and removed from their abuser, others may possibly have strayed too far from home and their owners not located, etc.

Rescued dogs from dog rehoming centres can typically be viewed online, so you are able to make your choice just before going. This can be helpful to some folks, as having thousands of needy eyes staring at you although making a selection in individual can be heartbreaking. Numerous rehoming centers will cover the price of necessary shots the canine may well require, as well as have access to dog insurance for older animals, so you can be sure you and the canine are covered, if any pet health problems surface down the road.

You will find couple of reasons not to use a rehoming center, so acquire down to 1 today and make your selection.

Cats and kittens make incredibly enjoyable domestic pets, provided that they’re looked after appropriately. Responsible cat care sets out by simply learning about exactly what homing a cat will probably include ahead of dealing with the task of ownership. Here we briefly go over the key issues for consideration.

The cost of feeding

Providing food for a cat doesn’t need to be costly, but the cat or kitten has a number of needs as part of their diet to ensure he or she benefits from a happy and healthy existence. Check out a premium range of complete cat food along with the related feeding instruction to provide an idea of what and how much food to give your cat.

The money necessary for veterinarian care

You should take into consideration the price of preliminary neutering, annual vaccinations, in addition to any specific random vet attention which might be needed through the course of your cat’s lifetime. If you get your cat or kitten, in the event it does not have any past history involving going to the vet, we urge you to take he or she to a veterinarian straightaway and they can advise the very best course of action regarding shots, worming, fleas, feeding etc.

The time your cat or kitten requires from you

Cats and kittens are generally independent creatures, but they do need time for playing and friendship. In addition they require frequent grooming, notably when they are very fluffy.

How will you take care of you pet while you’re on holiday

It is advisable to take into account what you can do with the moggy in the event you go overseas, on holiday for instance. You’ll want to make different plans during those time periods to guarantee the continual good care of your pet cat, whether it is booking a stay in a cattery, asking a pal to help ‘cat sit’, or asking a responsible family friend to help out by residing at your house while you are away from home.

Dogs are considered as man’s best friend and loyal faithful but sad to say, we tend to give a little thought on how to feed them with proper nutrition. Many rely exclusively on dry dog foods or canned foods, mass-produced goods of comfort created with little to no consideration for a dog’s dietary welfare. If you truly give importance to your hairy friend, then all natural dog foods are the only way to take his health seriously.

You may have heard a lot about the health benefits of consuming all natural food and amongst those lists are increase in energy level, clearer complexion and fewer cold and allergy symptoms. All of these health benefits people experience from switching to an all natural diet can also be enjoyed by pets.

Yet with all due respect, dry dog foods and canned foods are so practical. Feeding your dog with dry dog food gives you comfort in watching over your dog if he finishes his meal or not since you can leave the dog food for days in the feeding bowl with no worries of getting the food contaminated. Your dog can simply oscillate at his stomach’s wanting.

Canned food in contrast, can be kept fresh if not open and guarantees a sultry and delicious meal no matter how long they’re been in the pantry.

That said there are some who would claim that all natural dog foods are simply trendy health craze seed from the same funky advocates that have made organic churn out and fair industry as the latest thing.

In reality, the matter is that the ease of commercial dog food comes at a price. Most brands contain filthy animal by-products, detrimental gluten and other components not appropriate for consumption by dogs.

The fact of many companies cover this reality through false advertising and roughly labeling techniques makes the situation worse. Because the “natural” word is read very substantially by food labeling policy, it is actually possible to put on sale some processed intestines or cow brains and still declare it as all natural dog foods. As such, you should focus on to which manufacturers essentially handle reliable natural products.

Commercial dog food have a great blow on your dog’s health if you’re not that serious in choosing which of those products offered the real meaning of their labels. Some dog breeds are suffering from allergies or skin conditions causing rashes and irritation due to wrong choice of dog food.

To treat these skin diseases, you are forced to buy expensive treatments and even prescriptions which in the end fail to help your dog. Special sprays, dips, ointments, shampoos and creams can really put a depression in your bank book.

If you’re running out of options to treat this type of disease, try all natural dog foods, it is the only successful, lasting treatment for skin infections. Since they have no artificial colors and flavor enhancers, chemical additives and toxic pesticides, your dog is less prone to experience an allergic reaction to natural food.

No matter if your dog has skin allergies, obesity or digestive ailments, still natural dog foods can improve his overall health.

All natural dog foods provide high quality sources of nutritional substances. Value your pet’s health ensure him he’ll get all he needs to be a contented and healthy dog…

Though many of them are fluffy and cuddly like stuffed toys, dogs will not survive on hugs, kisses or cuddles alone.  Owners and potential owners must know (yet others fail to realize) that having a dog is a significant commitment.  You don’t bring back home a Labrador simply to hug and play.  You must be prepared to provide care, grooming, Labrador training and other things a Labrador needs to grow healthy and ecstatic.  

Although the Labrador is smart as a breed, Labrador training could be a bit challenge to first time lab owners.  But with correct training tips and advice, training a Labrador may not be as hard as what it appears to be.  

Positive methodology: A Labrador is a powerful and large breed with generally good temperament.  Not surprisingly, positive training strategy works best for this breed.  Using positive reinforcement such as praise and treats can be way effective than training based primarily on punishment.  

Start early:  Although you can still teach old dogs with new tricks, it is always a wonderful idea to start training your puppy as soon as achievable.  Puppies at 6 to 8 weeks of age can start learning commands however, socialization should start earlier.  

Short and fun training sessions: Dogs, particularly puppies have short attention span; therefore it is always recommended to keep the training sessions short and fascinating.  Training should last around 15 minutes and must include challenging activities to keep his body and mind working.  Reward him with praise or treat every time the session ends so that he will associate the training with something rewarding.  

Communication: Training a dog is really more on communication.  So as to achieve positive result in training, one must be able to communicate well with the pet.  Naturally, dogs do not talk the way humans did.  They communicate thru body signals and expressions – owners must try and understand that.  A dog that’s unwell, confused, nervous or excited will not learn efficiently so keep a look out for signs.  

No punishment required:  While training a dog can be infrequently frustrating and giving punishment can be so alluring, punishing a dog is not truly a desired and effective kind of training method.  Actually it’ll do more harm than help so avoid it as much as practical.

It is advisable to read the guide on training a pug. So, without wasting time go to How To Train Your German Shepherd.

Knowing the most frequent indications of cat tumors can assist you identify when you require to obtain your cat treatment easily.  Keep your eyes and nose open for these widespread signs of cat tumors:

Change in Gait – lameness or stiffness could possibly be a sign of tumor or bone cancer

Chronic Cough – this is usually from something as easy as bronchitis to as critical as lung cancer

Chronic Vomiting and Diarrhea – this could be from a liver tumor or other digestive track tumor

Continuous Weight Loss – this might be the symptom of a tumor or other serious medical condition

Distended Stomach – a swollen abdomen may well be the sign of a liver tumor or a tumor in part of their digestive method

Foul Odor – if your cat has a foul odor from their mouth or open sore it could be the result of cancer.

Lumps – lumps beneath the surface of your cat’s skin may well be the sign of cancer.  If they appear to be growing bring your cat to the vet swiftly.

Swollen Lymph Nodes – this can be a sign of illness or cancer.  The cat’s lymph nodes are located near their throat beneath their legs.

Ulcers – ulcers that do not heal are the sign of an immune technique trouble that may well be connected with tumors

If your cat has any 1 or much more of these indicators it’s necessary you speak to a veterinarian.  You’ll desire to bring with you stool samples if requested so ensure you pay careful attention to where your cat defecates, specifically in case you have a lot more than 1 cat.

Cat tumors may possibly be non-serious or life threatening.  It is essential that you stay aware in the frequent indications so you are able to alert your veterinarian if your cat is demonstrating any from the indicators of tumor or other significant illnesses or pet health care conditions.

Licking is a normal behavior of dogs. Dogs cannot talk but they have an effective way of showing their affection to people they like. Dogs lick to communicate with humans and with other dogs as well. A mother dog will keep the litter clean by licking. Apart from being a show of affection, the mother dog will lick the pups to motivate defecation and urination.

Dogs are often seen licking their butts. Apparently, this kind of licking is not done as a show of affection nor is it a way of expressing themselves. A dog with the body all contorted to be able to reach and to lick the rear end would be amusing to watch. A dog owner though would not be amused if the dog that has been licking its butt would jump with alacrity to meet its master with sloppy kisses.

After the puppy has defecated or urinated, the mother dog will lick the pup’s anal area clean. The habit to lick was learned by puppies from their mother. Dogs use their long raspy tongue for grooming purposes. Dog’s version of human’s hand shaking is butt sniffing. If humans make sure that their hands are clean, dogs too would want to keep their butts feces free and this is done by licking. Dog owners are aware that dogs love anything that people find repulsive. Dog owners would always complain about the dogs habit of eating feces and rolling in smelly objects. A dog that licks the butt is simply giving in to the desire to indulge in something smelly

Butt licking can be due the dog’s effort to remove a foreign object. Plastics, cloth and other non-edible objects will be ingested because dogs are indiscriminate eaters. The plastic, the cloth and other indigestible objects eaten by the dog will come out in the same form. One end of the plastic or the cloth can get stuck inside so that the dog will continuously lick to get the thing out.

An impacted anal gland is another reason why a dog would continuously lick its butt. Anal glands are normally emptied when the dog defecates but inexpensive dog food that are mostly cereal fillers will result to soft stools so that the anal glands get impacted. Bacteria will build up if the anal glands are impacted. This will make the dog extremely uncomfortable. To alleviate the pain and the discomfort, the dog will be seen constantly scooting and licking the butt.

Learn more about why dogs lick their butts and dog first aid at Sarah’s Dogs.