It’s believed that animals are adapted to all kinds of weather as God has given their body such mechanism. This is entirely true but not when it comes to pets, because our dear pets are already used to warmth and shelter that we provide them. So like human beings pets also need extra care to survive the vagaries of weather.

When we talk of extreme cold we mean conditions where the temperature dips down to negative and there is snow all over. Pets can face various health issues during such adverse weather, for example, breathing trouble, skin problem, appetite issues and so on.

Let’s look at some of the important pet care tips during extreme cold:

• The first and the foremost thing that should do while gearing up for snow is to get your furnace checked and ensure that there is no carbon monoxide leakage. This can cause discomfort and health problems not only to pets but also human beings. Extra carbon monoxide in the air can cause breathing troubles, fatigue, and headache. Since it’s the tendency of pets to spend maximum time near the heat, it is pertinent that you ensure safety and take preventive measures.
• Ensure that your pet is getting enough water during the winters. We usually think that winter is a time when pets can manage with less water, however this is not right. Dehydration is a risk during winters too. Many times the water in the pet’s bowl freezes and the owner fails to notice this. As a result the pet goes thirsty or might drink water from a wrong place like puddle, or soiled water collected in some pot. This can cause serious health issues. So keep checking the water bowl and change fresh water every day.
• Always check beneath the car or other vehicle before starting for somewhere. Cats and dogs have a tendency to cuddle next to the automobile engine to keep them warm. And of your start the engine without checking this can turn to be fatal for the poor pet.
• Winter is a time when you mostly prefer to stay indoors. In such case, make sure that you take the pet for a regular check-up to the vet before the acute weather finally sets in. This vet will check for any serious health issues that can become serious during winters, and also ensure that all the vaccinations are up-to-date.
• If your pet is old and suffering from ailments like diabetes, heart problem, kidney disorder, skin problems, or low immunity, then make sure that your pet stays indoor most of the time. You can take the pet for a walk twice or thrice a week when it’s sunny. Get a nice warm coat for your pet. Also try to put warm socks, ear pad, etc because pets lose most of the heat from their paws, ears, nose, and so on.

Here is a list of common diseases in pet birds

Candida – Candida is a yeast infection that affects human beings too. Candida mostly affects the digestive tract of the birds. If the infection is severe it can reach the mouth too. It also affects the crop of the bird. Candida can occur in all types of birds but is more common in growing or new born birds when their digestive system is still developing and immunity low. Symptoms of candida in birds are smell from the mouth and beak area, white lining inside the mouth, diarrhoea, loss of appetite, weight-loss, and so on. Improper sanitation, stress, change of environment, malnutrition, are some of the common causes of candida in birds. Candida can be treated with the help of antifungal medicines as prescribed by an avian vet.

Feather Cyst – Feather cyst is a very common skin disorder. It occurs very commonly in certain species like Golden and Blue Macaw, Canary, and Budgies, but the problem is not restricted to these species and can occur in other birds too. Feather cysts occur when feathers are not able to grow properly or obstructed. It can also occur due to some injury when the feather is growing. The cysts look elongated and swollen and can involve more than one feather. Feather cyst can be removed with the help of surgery and should not be taken lightly. The problem can recur if the keratin present in the cyst is not removed properly.

Psittacosis – Psittacosis is rather a fatal disease and most strikingly can be transmitted to humans and other animals. It is also known as “Parrot Fever”. If not treated on time the disease can cause death of birds. If you spot any signs of fever, lose dropping, eye infection, and difficulty in breathing, consult an avian vet immediately to rule out any possibilities. If the case is not that advanced the disease can be treated with proper antibiotics.

Above mentioned are few commonly occurring disease in birds. If the bird owner spots any symptoms of these ailments then he should consult the avian vet and take the bird for appropriate treatment.

If the mother of the new born bird is there to take care of the infant then nothing like it. One can never replace the care and love that a mother can provide. But if the bird is alone and abandoned and you decide to become its care-taker then you must keep some points in mind.

• First and the foremost precaution is to take the new born bird to an avian veterinary. The vet will perform a complete check of the bird and rule out any illness or birth defect that the bird is suffering. Ask the vet to prescribe commercial formulas available in market for infant birds and also whether the bird requires any vaccinations. Many vets suggest giving active bacteria or lactobacillus within 1-2 days after the bird is born. This helps the new born bird in smooth digestion.
• It is very important to maintain the atmospheric temperature when taking care of new born birds. If the bird is with the mother, be rest assured that it is getting the required warmth and optimum temperature to thrive well. Otherwise you can aim to set the room’s temperature between 95 – 98 degrees Fahrenheit which is best suited for the new born bird. If you have just found the baby bird and do not have a cage or nest, then you can use a box lined with soft cloth and place the bird on it. In order to keep the box warm hang a lighted bulb on top of the box. The bulb should not be more than 40 watts.
• Infant birds need to eat frequently though in less quantity. During the daytime feed the bird a commercial formula every 2 hours. After 3-4 days you can start giving the food every 3 hours. It is advisable to give food in liquid form to the bird. You can use an oral syringe or dropper to feed a new born bird. Meals can be skipped at night. As a precautionary measure test the weight of the bird every other day to ensure that the weight is increasing.
• Watch out for bird’s crop, the gullet that exists near the beak. The food passes through the bird’s gullet before getting digested. But sometimes some food particles can remain in crop and cause yeast infection also known as sour crop. Keep testing the crop of the bird and if it looks slightly heavy then consult a vet immediately.

At any point of time while taking care of a baby bird, it is advisable to visit the vet frequently and discuss all minor and major issues. When the bird is ready to fly and search for its own food, the role of the caretaker becomes minimal.

Fish are the most low maintenance pets. These beautiful little creatures silently swim and add colour and natural beauty to our home décor. But however easy it is to maintain a fish pet, the fish aquarium cleaning is definitely a challenging job. If the fish tank cleaning is not done regularly and in a proper manner, the fish might die or start suffering skin disease.

Fish aquarium needs weekly or bi-weekly cleaning depending on the size and level of bacteria growth. You will come to know that the tank needs cleaning as it starts stinking and you can see dead leaves, growth of algae and unwanted plants. Cleaning a fish tank is the most important step in fish maintenance as feeding the fish is pretty simple and does not require much skill.

Dos and Don’ts of fish aquarium cleaning

• Keep tools like algae scrapper, algae magnet, siphon, etc handy when starting to clean the aquarium. Never use any other chemical or home-based cleaning agents for sanitizing the tank. This can threaten the health and life of the fish. Always buy the fish aquarium cleaning tools from a reputed pet shop.
• Fish owners are always wondering whether to take out whole water while cleaning the tank or clean by taking out half water only. Fish care experts believe that it is better to do the cleaning by taking out water partially. Use a siphon hose to pull out 15-20 percent of the tank’s water. Remove the unwanted plants, leftover food, and other garbage from the base of the tank. Partial cleaning of the tank ensures that some good bacteria still remains in the water that is important for the survival of the fish. A considerable amount of beneficial bacteria shall remain in the water for biological filtration.
• If you feel that the items inside the aquarium are too dirty then take out the decorative materials like stones, artificial plants, etc and clean them separately in mild bleach. This will avoid algae formation that takes place rapidly on these decorative materials. Take care to wash off the bleach properly before putting these inside the tank again. Many people prefer to keep algae eater fish like Pleco fish, Coral fish, etc that are natural algae eaters. However, just by adding algae eater fish into the aquarium does not mean that you never clean the check the algae formation inside the tank and take steps to control it.
• Refill the tank with fresh water that is free of chlorine. Take care to add water that is at room temperature rather than hot or too cold water. This can prove to be lethal for the fish.

Cleaning the fish aquarium in a proper manner is important because it ensures that fish live for a long time and stay healthy. Minor mistakes like using hard chemicals, detergent, injuring the fish, or removing all the water from the tank, can prove to be lethal for the fish. So fish owners should take extra care while cleaning the fish aquarium.

The historical existence of Dinosaur has always intrigued human beings, especially kids who get curious to know whether such monstrous creatures actually existed. Among all the animals, it is the fact about Dinosaurs that the kids are most interested in exploring. The movie Jurassic Park, released in 1993, shows live and huge Dinosaurs created with the help of multimedia. The movie was hugely successful among kids and adults and aroused further interest in Dinosaurs.

Here are some good-to-know facts on Dinosaurs that kids would love to know:

1. Dinosaurs have ruled the planet for 160 million years. While human beings have existed on this earth for not more than 100 years, Dinosaurs dominated earth for millions of years.

2. There are different believes as to how Dinosaurs became extinct. Some scientists believe that they came to an end due to clash between meteor and earth, while others feel that it was due to a volcanic eruption.

3. Around 700 species of Dinosaurs existed in the span of 160 million years of their existence. Scientists only know about the species for which they discovered the fossils, which suggests that there can be more types of Dinosaurs that existed.

4. Dinosaurs were both avian and non-avian in nature. Most of the Dinosaurs however certainly evolved in birds and still exists as modern time birds.

5. Dinosaur’s fossils are great source for scientists to study the facts on the species. Every part of the world has remains of Dinosaurs fossil that exists in deep sediments.

6. Dinosaurs were not very intelligent creatures. They are regarded as one of the dumbest creatures on earth. However, hunting Dinosaurs and those of predatory nature were relatively intelligent as they had to search for prey.

7. Although Dinosaurs look like huge lizards, they belong to a totally different species as unlike lizards they exhibited an upright body posture. Also Dinosaurs are warm-blooded species unlike other reptiles that are cold-blooded.

8. Scientists believe that apart from the normal animal characteristics, Dinosaurs had great social traits. By studying the fossils of Dinosaurs, found in groups, scientists say that these creatures lived in groups and colonies. Evidence also suggests good parental care traits present in Dinosaurs.

9. While it looks that Dinosaurs will leap and tear us to eat our flesh, it is surprising to know that most of the species were herbivorous.

10. The tallest Dinosaurs belonged to the Sauroposeidon group and grew up to 18.5 meters tall. These Sauroposeidon had long front legs and short rear legs that made them appear like Giraffe.

The above mentioned are some interesting and funny facts on Dinosaurs that kids would like to read and relate to the species that existed 65 million years ago. There are a number of books and movies based on the intriguing creature that tell more interesting facts on Dinosaurs.

Like us human beings, pets also “feel the heat”. The wrath of weather affects humans and animals equally. While the animals that stay in wild develop their own mechanism to manage the extremities of weather, for pets staying in man-made world the mechanics are a little different. Here are some summer care tips for your pets like cat and dog that will keep the pets pleasant, healthy, and safe.

Cats and dogs do not perspire like human beings. They use their paws to reduce the effect of heat. Cats and dogs also use panting as a technique to handle excessive heat. It is important to save your pets from the wrath of heat as excessive heat can led to stroke, brain damage, or extreme dehydration. If the pet is not provided congenial conditions during extreme summer then the situation can prove to be fatal for the animal.

The following summer care tips for pets can be useful for pet owners:

1. While travelling in the car: this is the first and foremost warning for the owners that while taking your pets in the car never leave them back inside the car while you go out for some work. Many owners leave their cats or dog inside the car with the windows open thinking that pet will be fine with the fresh air. However, this is entirely wrong as the heat wave can be unsafe for the pets. It is advisable that you either do not take the pet outside or if you take outside do not leave the cat or dog in an open car without air-conditioning.

2. The instances of indigestion and stomach infection are quite high during summers. This is true for animals too. As owners you really have to be careful that your pet eats fresh and home-made food. Any food that is left uneaten by the pet should be removed immediately and not served again. Fungus and bacteria can grow fast in leftover food and so pets should be stopped from eating any old and stale food. Also be careful when you take your pets for a walk and see that they do not eat anything lying on the street. Pets are tempted to drink from the puddle on the street which is toxic and poisonous.

3. Whether summer, winter, or rains, pets need to be taken out for walk. Preferably choose early morning or late evenings for taking the pet outdoors. The temperature is relatively low during these hours and so pets will have a nice time.

4. Keep your pets hydrated by making them drink more and more water. Dehydration or loss of water can turn out to be fatal for the pets. Also enough water in their body can save them from heat stroke and other summer induced adversities. Allow your pets to play in water and take bath for as long as they enjoy.

5. Avoid beaches and sandy areas as sand grows intensely hot and burn the skin and paws of your pet.

With these summer tips for your pets it would be much easier for you to handle pets. Although God has given animals mechanisms to handle different weather conditions but when they become pets, owners have to find out ways to protect the animals from all adverse conditions and summer is one it.

Cold and flu are viral diseases that are commonly occurring not only in human beings but also animals. Thus your pet cat can easily catch cold and flu and also spread the same to other pets in the house as cat’s cold and flu are very contagious for other cats staying together. Treating cold in cats can be tricky until and unless you exactly know and understand the symptoms. If the symptoms suggest that the cold is mild then there is nothing to worry. However, if the situation persists and symptoms get worse then a vet’s consultation is required to treat the cat’s cold.

Signs of cold in cats

If cat has cold and flu then following symptoms will occur:

· Sneezing and coughing

· Rise in temperature of the body or fever

· Nasal congestion and discharge

· Red and watery eyes, conjunctivitis in many cases

· Loss of appetite

Kittens are more susceptible to viral infections like cold, cough, and flu as their immune system is still underdeveloped. However, adults cats that spend considerable time outside or in a boarding kennel can also catch frequent colds. Sometimes when we take our cats to vet’s clinic for normal check-up or other issues like vaccination etc., the cat can catch cold and flu from another visiting cat suffering from the contagious situation.

In order to avoid the instances of cold, cough, and flu in pet cats, the owner should try giving feline vaccination that might reduce the occurrence and intensity of viral infections in cat but cannot eliminate the problem completely. Many vets suggest giving Vitamin C tablets to the cats, similar to the case of human beings, in order to strengthen cat’s immunity to cold, cough and fever.

When your cat gets a cold it’s important to treat the same with caution. At the onset of cold and cough in cats you can wait and watch a couple of days as to how intense is the situation. In the mean time you can help the cat reduce the discomfort by helping it clean its nose and eye of mucus with the help of a soft and damp cloth. You can also shut the cat inside the bathroom with the hot shower on so that the steam inhalation provides relief to the blocked nose.

Cat’s appetite is greatly affected when it is suffering from cold and cough. Since the cat cannot smell properly, its willingness to eat is reduced. However, during cold and cough it is all the more important for the cat to eat properly and drink a lot of fluid. Thus cook something that your cat really likes, for example a good smelling fish or chicken.

If after 3-4 days the symptoms of cat’s cold and cough does not start subsiding then it is important to consult a vet immediately. If you spot thick mucus or pus discharge from the nose or eyes of the cat then immediately go for medical consultation. In acute and prolonged cases of cold and flu, the cat can develop pneumonia or other problems like blindness and extreme weakness due to loss of appetite.

Although the problems of cold and flu look common, but not as simple in the case of cats as for human beings. The owner should take proper care to treat cold in cats and never leave it to persist beyond 10-15 days. Prolonged and untreated cold in cats can pose other serious conditions to cat’s health.

Domestic cats are different from wild cats. Domestic cats are much more sociable in nature as compared to their wild counterpart. The cat’s guardian must know the facts about cat behaviour so that it’s easy to take care of the cat well. By knowing the behavioural traits of a cat he owner can decide whether the animal is in trouble or just expressing happiness.

Like every animal cat also has some behavioural traits with the help of which they express their happiness or pain. If you want to keep your cat happy and satisfied you should be aware of these behavioural patterns and the reason behind.

Some of the typical behavioural traits of a pet cat are mentioned below:

Purring – Purring is the heavy breathing sound that cats make mostly when they are contended after a hearty meal or anything else that they really liked. Purring in cats can be loud or soft depending on the size and age. In most of the cases purring comes is a sign of contentment and health, but might be opposite in few cases. A cat might also sometimes purr when in great pain or discomfort. Thus the owner should be able to distinguish when the cat is purring out of happiness and when in pain.

Kneading – Kneading in cats is when they expand and retract their claws. Pet cats mostly do this when they are sitting in the owner’s lap. Actually the trait of kneading in cats comes from their ancestors, their innate wild nature. Kittens do a lot of kneading when with their mothers. In male cats kneading is a sign of mating. Kneading can be painful for the owners but eventually it is present in all the pet cats and increases when the cat is in anxiety due to extreme happiness or acute discomfort.

Tail Wagging – tail wagging is a common trait in cats as well as other pets like dog. Cats wagging of tail might indicate that the animal is irritated, angry, or confused.

Scratching Walls and Furniture – By scratching the walls and wooden furniture or any other hard object the cat tends to sharpen its claws. Owners should create scratching posts where the cats can regularly scratch their claws. Cats also do scratching in order to make scent.

Apart from the above mentioned behavioural traits, owners may experience temporary behaviour caused by external reasons. For example, some cats may be too shy or fearful and need to be trained properly. When some cats are depressed or undergoing anxiety they might avoid the litter box. As the cat becomes older the owner comes to know the peculiar behavioural patterns and starts dealing with the pet accordingly.

There are many people who love to keep different pets at home, and there are some who particularly fancy the idea of keeping a pet cat and pet dog together. On the face the idea seems to be tough but reconciliation between a cat and dog is not completely impossible. Here are some tips that you can use to develop a friendly relation between your cat and dog.

If the cat and dog pets know each other since tender age, that is when they were kitten and puppy, the co-habitation becomes much easier. The main challenge is faced by the owners when a cat is being brought in the house where a dog is already staying as a pet, or vice versa.

We can’t say that compatibility is completely impossible for cats and dogs, but yes in some cases it actually is never attained. Especially if the dog is ferocious and belongs to the hunter breed, they have an inborn instinct to chase and attack meeker beings, especially cats. So the owner has to be very careful before clubbing a cat with hunter breed of dog or a terrier.

Here are some tips that can help cat and dog pet bond well:

Proper introduction is important

Before introducing the cat and the dog ensure that both the pets are in good mood, especially the dog as the chances of it getting aggressive is more as compared to the cat. Maintain a reasonable distance when introducing the cat to the dog. The dog should be leashed and cat in the arms of the owner. If the dog shows signs of violence then immediately remove the cat away. Also, try to calm the dog if it barks violently at the sight of the cat. The dog doesn’t understand your language but with proper gestures you can convey that you want it to befriend the cat.

If the cat feels very uncomfortable in the presence of the dog, try to provide warmth and assurance that you are there. The first few meeting should be kept short and cat and dog should not be left alone till the time the owner is assured that they have actually accepted each other. The initial meetings should be kept short.

Providing apt living Conditions to cat and dog

Even after your pet cat and dog have accepted each other chances are that they can fight or become aggressive on occasions. So it is very important for the cat to have a safe and secured place that is unapproachable to the dog. Ideally the cat should be provided with exclusive litter box, scratch post, eating area, etc so the cat feels secured and warm. Dog guard doors are available in pet stores that can be used for cat homes.

Behavioural training

Dog need not be always rebuked for its aggressive behaviour. The owner should gently try to explain that it’s unacceptable behaviour. It is all the more important to reward the desired behaviour of dogs and cats. Whenever the dog shows love and respect towards the cat reward it by either showing love and care or giving the food of your pet’s choice.

Similarly, the cat should be rewarded for being comfortable in dog’s company and exhibiting inclinations of friendliness.

On many occasions the situation becomes opposite when dog is curious to become friends with the cat but the later does not feel easy with the dog.

With proper training the pet cat and dog can be trained to be compassionate to each other. Of course this is not possible without the owner’s efforts. The above tips can helpful in making cat and dog friendly to each other.

Rats are generally regarded as unclean and messy like other rodents. In reality rats are not really bad with hygiene. So if you are avoiding rats as pet just because you feel they will make the place dirty, you should think again. Hygiene is an issue with all the pets, be it cats, dogs, birds, or rats. If the owner follows proper cleanliness tips for pet rats then there should be no hygiene issues at all.

The owners should follow the below mentioned cleanliness measures for pet rats and ensure that the pet as well as your surroundings are clean and disease free.

Cleaning the cage of pet rats

It is highly important to keep the cage of your pet rats clean all the times. The soiled beddings of the rat and the cage floor should be washed and disinfected every day. This is even more important in hot and humid weather that is congenial for fungus and bacterial formation.

The litter box of the rat should be cleaned as and when required. Rat’s urine can get stinky as it gets transformed into ammonia very fast. The smell of ammonia becomes harsh on the air passage of both human beings and rats, so the litter box should be immediately cleared and so the bedding if soiled. Prolonged smell of rat’s urine can cause irritation to rat’s nose, eyes, and mouth.

Wash the cage frequently and use a good disinfectant spray. Re-use the cage only after completely dry. Also wash the beddings with a pet detergent and in case you spot any signs of mold on it immediately discard and use a new one.

Bathing the pet rat

Although rats are able to clean themselves by licking the dirt off, there are occasions when you would like to bathe your pet rat. Pet rats sometimes soak for a long time in urine and get stinky. Also, there can be occasions when vet advises to bath your rat when it has got parasite on its skin and needs to be cured. Rats generally do not like the idea of bathing in deep water so use a dish filled with shallow water, hold the rat in one hand and gently put moderately warm water on the rat’s body using the other hand. Then if you want you can smear a little rat’s shampoo to clean the rat’s body and then wash off gently. During the whole process of bathing the rat take care that no water or shampoo goes in the eyes of the rat. Do not put water directly on the rat’s face.

Dry the rat with a soft towel and put it back in the cage.

Apart from the above mentioned methods try to take care of your rat’s teeth by avoiding extra sugary food as they can spoil the rat’s teeth. Also, you can occasionally trim the teeth of the rat when they overgrow. Same is true for the claws of the rat. An overgrown rat nail needs to be trimmed carefully to keep your pet rat groomed and hygienic.

If these cleanliness tips for pet rats are followed carefully then rats cannot pose much hygiene issues. So keep your rats clean and enjoy their loving and affectionate company.