Ready to Adopt? What You Need to Know

In addition to the helpful article (below), remember to use Music My Pet to ease the transition in adopting a pet....

Adopting a pet is a wonderful deed—you’ll help a dog or cat in need while at the same time find a devoted animal companion. But it’s also a long-term commitment and not to be taken lightly. You’ll need to be prepared to provide care, food, training and attention— be ready to deal with a pet that may shed on or chew or scratch furniture—and be able to afford years of veterinary costs. But what you’ll receive in return is priceless and immeasurable: the gift of unconditional love.

Shelter Pet Myths

There are many myths associated with shelter animals that prevent potential pet-owners from considering adoption. One myth is: you can’t find adoptable puppies or kittens, while in reality shelters have pets of all ages and sizes waiting to find a forever home. Another myth is that there are no purebred dogs or cats available for adoption. The truth is 25% of shelter animals are purebreds. In addition, there are many breed-specific rescue groups that work to match up the right owner with the perfect purebred pet. Finally, many believe falsely that shelter animals have been given up because they’re un-trainable, while in fact many healthy, sweet, smart animals have been surrendered to shelters not due to their dispositions but due to situations out of the pets’ control. Plus, many pets adopted through shelters and rescues are spayed or neutered, behavior tested, and microchipped.

Many healthy, sweet, smart animals have been surrendered to shelters not due to their dispositions but due to a divorce, a move or lifestyle change, or a family member developed allergies, or because an owner was not truly ready for the responsibility of pet ownership. Shelters offer adoptable dogs and cats of all ages, breeds, mixes and sizes. And if you’re truly set on a purebred pet, there are breed-specific rescue groups that work to match up the right owner with the perfect purebred pet.

Finding Your New Pet

When considering a new pet for the whole family, it’s good to involve all members of the household in the process, which means having everyone visit the shelter together to pick out your new dog or cat. That includes your current dog. Some shelters even provide special rooms for dog-to-dog meet-and-greets to ensure the right match. It’s also a smart idea to keep an open mind about the kind of dog or cat you want and work with the shelter experts to find the pet best suited to your lifestyle and temperament.

The Adoption Process

Most shelters have an adoption screening process that includes paperwork plus personal references. And you should know that adoption fees often cover vaccinations, micro chipping, spay/neuter surgery.

A Period of Adjustment

It’s common to experience a period of adjustment when you bring your new pet home. Remember, your pet has just gone through many changes and is often confused. Dogs are creatures of habit and need time to get used to new smells, schedules and people. Cats are very territorial and often hide for a few days, even up to a week, when introduced to new surroundings. Have patience—this initial adjustment period can last a month to three months. In taking the time to learn about and get used to each other, you and your pet will build a loving relationship that will last for years.

Music My Pet ~ CD Giveaway! From PBU...

Another great resource for pet owners!

Another Animal Pets and Friends Dogs article for you HOMEOPATHY FOR DOGS | LEARN ABOUT

I will get straight to the point about homeopathy for dogs. I am sure that you are looking for alternative treatments over conventional medicinal remedies for your dogs. I know how you feel about wanting to provide safe and effective treatments for your pets. Imagine being able to do this and save money at the same time over traditional vet bills.

There is no better time to help your pet than today.

WHAT IS HOMEOPATHY

A form of alternative medicine first proposed by a German physician in 1796

Widely used by the public in over the counter medications

Homeopathy uses animal, plant, mineral and synthetic substances in the preparation of various remedies.

Traditional medicine believes that symptoms are created by the sickness or illness whereas homeopathic medicine believes that the symptoms are the body’s response to the illness and therefore tries to stimulate the symptoms to fight the illness.

Homeopathic remedies are considered safe with very few exceptions.

VETERINARY HOMEOPATHY

Dates back to the original concept of human homeopathy first discussed in 1796

Not approved by the FDA for veterinary medicine in the United States

There is a international group of homeopathic veterinarians

Use of homeopathy by veterinarians is controversial

There has been little scientific research to support homeopathic treatment in animals.

A form of alternative medicine that uses animal, plant, mineral, and synthetic substances in the preparation of various remedies.

Most pet owners who are looking at homeopathy treatment are also looking at closely related issues such as natural pet r emedies, herbal remedies, and home remedies in order to provide safer treatments for their dogs over the riskier conventional medicines used by many vets today.

Take action today by getting great home remedies to use for various pet illnesses and ailments and save on vet bills. Every ailment does not require a vet bill. Read on through the last paragraph and click on the links to save some real bucks.

 By: Maral Heggemeier 

Author's Resource:

Are you making any of the classic pet treatment mistakes which will cause you to improperly treat your dog by usinghomeopathy for dogs? I hate to admit it but I have made most if not all of them myself. Find out what they are and how to avoid them by visiting www.catanddogcures.com right now before you do any serious harm to your pet. They are a member of the family also. 

Visit Animal Pets & Friends for more pet and animal articles.

Most Common Triggers for Dog Aggression

Today, we will review some of the most common triggers for dog aggression. If your dog is aggressive or reactive when exposed to any of these environmental triggers, you will want to consult with a qualified, experienced behavior professional in your area who employs dog-friendly, scientifically valid behavior modification techniques.

Handling

Many dogs respond aggressively to being handled in certain ways. Common triggers for handling aggression include:

            Being picked up

          Nail trims

          Bathing

          Brushing

The same goes for various veterinary examinations and procedures, including but not limited to:

             Eye exams

             Dental examinations

             Ear examinations

          Anal gland expression

             Injections of any sort

             Medication delivery

             Being restrained for examination

             Being on the examination table

          Ear cleaning

            Being pet or touched

Puppies

Maternal aggression is common in all species. Biologically, the point of all life is to pass on genes through reproduction. Because this instinct is strong and inherent in all animals, mothers are extremely likely to be very protective of their litters. Even a dam that is usually friendly may consider strangers to be a threat to her litter and display emotional signals which are intended to inhibit further approach.

Territory Invasion

Many dogs think guarding their home and property is a very important job. Territoriality is an extension of resource guarding, when the entire home and property become a valuable resource which is to be guarded from intruders at any cost.

Resource Guarding

Resource guarding is natural behavior. Dogs that resource guard will view approach by other dogs and/or humans as a threat to what they perceive to be valuable - be it the home property, the owner, a meal or a toy, or a preferred sleeping space.

Other Dogs

Aggression toward other dogs may have a variety of manifestations and causes:

1. Intersex aggression - Intersex aggression is aggression toward dogs of the same sex. This tends to be most common in dogs that are sexually intact and is generally resource guarding for reproductive advantage.

2. Type-specific aggression - Type-specific aggression can occur when a dog has a socialization deficit with dogs of a particular body type (large, black dogs for instance) or a history of negative experiences with a dog of particular body type.

3. Behavior-specific aggression - Dogs, like people, cannot be expected to indefinitely tolerate even the rudest behavior of conspecifics (other dogs). Many dogs will not hesitate to use their voices, body, and/or teeth to tell a rude dog to "back off!"

Movement

Because dogs are predators, they are hard-wired to chase after and bite at things that move quickly and/or unpredictably. Animals which move quickly (squirrels, birds, cats, etc.) are frequent triggers. Human triggers for motion reactivity include biking, jogging, skateboarding, or moving automobiles.

Frustration

Frustration is another common cause of dog aggression. Frustration creates stress, which contributes to aggression. Frustration aggression often forms in relation to barriers including leashes or fences. The dog may want to check out a person or dog on the other side of the fence but becomes frustrated because he cannot. He may redirect his aggression toward a familiar human or animal as a result. Frustration aggression may also occur in relation to extinction, where reinforcement is removed for a behavior that has been previously continuously reinforced. If barking always worked to get attention but suddenly the owner begins ignoring the barking, the dog may experiment to find out if nipping is a more effective way of getting attention.

Specific Groups of People

Dogs can be aggressive to specific groups of people or people with certain common characteristics - men with beards, people of color, small children, people in walkers or wheelchairs, individuals with altered mobility, even individuals wearing a certain cologne or perfume.

As you can see, the predictors of dog aggression vary widely. A dog's response to a stimulus will be effected positively (create a positive, happy response) by the number of positive experiences the dog has in the presence of that trigger, particularly during critical periods of development in puppyhood. A dog's response to a stimulus will be effected negatively (create a reactive or aggressive response) by a) lack of exposure and b) unpleasant exposure experiences in the presence of the designated trigger.

Note: We hope you found the above information to be helpful. Also, remember that Music My Pet can help to reduce aggression in pets as well.

Cleaning Dog Ears

In a 2008 pet health study conducted by the VPI pet insurance company, ear infections were the number one reason dog owners sought veterinary care. Thorough and regular ear cleaning and maintenance can help your dog avoid ear problems and infections.

Many dogs do not like having their ears cleaned, which makes doing a good job very difficult. It is helpful, before you even begin cleaning your dog's ears that you learn how to make this grooming experience pleasurable for your dog.

Handling Your Dog's Ears

Practice handling your dog's ears gently. Give delicious treats while you massage the outside of and eventually the inside of the ear. Repeat this until your dog really enjoys having his ears handled. Once your dog accepts all kinds of ear manipulation with your hands, repeat the procedure using a cloth and then with cotton balls.

Your Dog's Ears

Dogs with heavy, floppy ears generally need to have their ears cleaned more frequently than dogs with prick ears (which stand upright and allow for better air circulation), and dogs that have a lot of hair in the inside of their ears may require additional maintenance (increased cleaning and for some, plucking of hair growing in the ear).

If your dog is itching his ears a lot, if the ears smell funny, are very red or inflamed, if your dog is constantly shaking his head, it is best to visit your veterinarian as these may be indications of an existing ear infection or other ear problem.

Cleaning Your Dog's Ears

Frequent ear cleanings (weekly) will keep the ears free of wax and debris, and will also allow you to understand what your dog's ears look like when they are healthy. This enables you to more easily recognize any abnormalities in the ear should they arise.

Consult with your veterinarian about recommended dog ear cleaning products. To clean your dog's ears well, you will need an appropriate ear cleaner, a number of cotton balls, and if possible, a helper - someone who can feed the dog treats and keep him calm during the process.

Some dogs have a lot of hair on the inside of the ear. This hair can serve as a reservoir for dirt, debris, and accumulations of earwax. Ask your veterinarian or groomer whether plucking is recommended for your dog. Plucking takes a bit of skill and finesse and can cause discomfort when done incorrectly, so is best left to professionals who have experience on plucking ear hair in dogs. Watch your vet or groomer closely as they pluck the dog's ears, asking any questions you may have about the procedure. Be well prepared with some yummy treats while the vet is plucking the ears, to make this a positive experience for your dog.

Once the ears are free of hair, it is time to begin cleaning. Wash your hands well before and after ear cleaning, and have your supplies ready.

Squirt a small amount of ear cleaning solution into the ear canal. Do not force the nozzle of the bottle into the ear canal as you can cause significant damage this way - only the tip of the bottle should be inserted into the canal. Once you have the solution in the ear, massage the base of the ear to encourage distribution throughout the canal. Be prepared for your dog to shake his head after you apply the solution.

Take a cotton ball and rub the inside of the ear to remove any discharge or any accumulated wax. You may use a Q-tip to get in the crevices at the base of the ear, but do not insert the Q-tip into the ear canal itself. When the base of the ear is clean, you may use soaked cotton balls or a soaked wet cloth to clean the ear flap out toward the tip.

The College of Veterinary Medicine at Washington State University has published great how-to instructions with photos. The restraint methods shown at the top of the article will likely be unnecessary if you have trained your dog to love having his ears manipulated in advance.

If your dog will not tolerate ear cleaning or if you are unsure of how to go about cleaning your dog's ears, you may want to consult with your veterinarian and have her do the cleaning for you. It's always easiest to learn a new skill if you have someone well experienced in its practice to coach and guide you so that you can learn the correct way to implement the task.

Understanding Pet Insurance and Deductibles

If you've ever had human health insurance or car insurance, you most likely know what a deductible is. Well, pet insurance typically has deductibles as well. However, the type can vary quite dramatically. Pet insurance can have annual deductibles, per incident deductibles, per illness category deductibles, or per condition deductibles.
 

But what does it all mean? And how do you know which is best for you? Let's start by briefly explaining what each type is.

Annual deductible: Pretty self explanatory, each policy year you are required to satisfy a given dollar amount before the insurance company will pay out anything.

Per incident deductible: Every time you have to take your pet in to see the veterinarian you are required to satisfy a given dollar amount before the insurance company will pay out anything.

Per illness category deductible: This one is a little more tricky. Some companies can break conditions down by illness category. For example, all conditions related to the respiratory system, or the skin would only have one deductible.

Per condition deductible: This is somewhat different than a per incident deductible in that you only have to satisfy one deductible per condition. Say, for example, your pet develops diabetes at age four and you are bringing him or her in to the veterinarian to get meds every few months. You would only have to satisfy the deductible once in the pet's lifetime.

Which one would be best for you? Well, I can't answer that. But what you should be aware of is that different companies may offer different deductible amounts.

Some important questions to consider might be: how does changing the deductible change the premium? Can you change the deductible after the fact?

***********************************************************

As an addition to the article above, insurance companies might like to know that you use Music My Pet (store), which could save money on prescription medication used to calm pets. Remember that Music My Pet (website) is the safe, natural and effective way to soothe anxious pets in all situations.

Does your bird need a little fresh air?

Question: Is it safe for a parakeet to go outdoors in a cage?

Answer: Some birds really enjoy going outdoors for a little fresh air and watching all the exciting activities of the outdoors.  Who doesn't love some fresh air and sunlight every once in a while.  However, some birds may become very frightened if taken outdoors, so please be sure your bird will enjoy the outing.  If your bird is not used to the outdoors, you may want to start with only a few minutes outside, making it a fun time with lots of praise, and increasing the time outdoors as your bird becomes more adjusted to all the sights and sounds.

Often people prefer to take their bird outside in a cage to keep the bird safe, rather than using a harness.  You will need to make sure all openings on the cage such as openings for feed cups, are securely fastened, just as the door should be, making sure your bird does not escape the cage.  We strongly recommend a bird never be left outdoors by itself.  If your yard is not fenced in, you can never be certain a stray dog might spot your bird and even if only curious, could cause an unfortunate accident happening to your bird.  Even a fenced in yard won't guarantee a wandering cat won't see your bird and try to reach it.  There have even been cases of snakes crawling into cages, so a bird can never be too safe if left alone.  

Also consider the daily temperatures and make sure they are comfortable for your bird.  A bird should never be left in the sun to prevent overheating and possible death.  A bird that has become too warm will often hold it's wings out to try and circulate air around it's body to try and bring the temperature down.  Your bird may also breathe with an open mouth and if this occurs, should be taken back indoors to cool down immediately.  There should always be the choice of shade so your bird can move in and out of the sun when it is ready to.  Just remember if you live somewhere where 90 degrees in the shade is miserable for humans, then it's going to be too hot for your bird for more than a few minutes.  

Just like humans, a bird can get used to the cool air conditioning of a home and might be better with only short fresh air trips before or after the hottest parts of the day, and be sure when your bring your bird back inside there are no direct air vents blowing on the bird.   

So by all means, do enjoy some fresh air with your bird!

Posted by ParrotPressNews (PPN)