Club Pet!

Health Problems in Small Dogs

Cover of "Small Dogs (Complete Pet Owner'...

Each dog and breed comes with its own set of health problems. These health problems can be of both genetic and environmental origin.

Small dogs are prone to the standard ailments that can affect any dog; however there are some ailments which are unique to their small size. Here is a list of health problems which can affect small dogs.

Canine eclampsia: dangerously low blood calcium levels. This is often seen in small dogs that have recently given birth.
Hypoglycemia: low blood sugar. Also seen regularly in small dogs that have recently given birth.
Small dogs are more prone to issues with the liver, in particular the liver not detoxifying the dog’s blood adequately.
Hydrocephalus: an excess of cerebrospinal fluid in brain caverns. This can lead to seizures, blindness and behavioral changes.
Mitral valve endocardiosis: a leaking heart valve that causes the heart to have a murmur.
Eye problems such as cataracts are common, especially as they grow older.
Small dogs can become dehydrated very quickly if they do not have access to water.
Small dogs regularly encounter joint difficulties such as luxating (dislocating) patellas (knee caps).

When it comes to caring for your small dog, keep in mind that he or she will have different care needs than a medium or larger sized dog. You can find the stores and pet shops that carry different pet essentials in ebayclassifieds. Be sure to take your dog for regular visits to the vet for a health checkup. Feed him or her good quality food and always have fresh water available to avoid dehydration.

Filed Under: Adoptions, Health Problems Tagged With: Animal, Health, Hypoglycemia

Big Cats of Africa

Cover of "Cats of Africa: Behavior, Ecolo...

Cover via Amazon

Africa is a diverse continent known for its many species of exotic animals. For many, Africa is a symbol of big cats.

Unfortunately, several of the big cat species face extinction. Here is a quick run-down of the big cats of Africa.

The species of big cats native to Africa are:

African Golden Cat: a medium sized cat with a golden colored coat. The base color of the coat can vary depending on its location. Its main habitat is the tropical rainforest areas of Africa however there is also evidence of it living in the scrub areas.
African Wildcat: this cat can be found in many areas across Africa. Because of this it is divided into many subspecies. The colorings of the wildcat, like the golden cat, differ depending on the surrounds.
Black-footed Cat: this cat is the smallest of all the big cat species, standing at a shoulder height of only 22cm. They are found only in the southern parts of Africa, around Botswana, Namibia, and Southern Angola.
Caracal: resembling the Lynx cat, it has large pointed ears and a sandy coat. It is found across many areas of Africa. It particularly likes mountainous terrain.
Cheetah: this is a big cat species which is in danger of extinction. It is one of the fastest animals on the planet and can reach speeds in excess of 60MPH.
Leopard: easily the most recognizable of the big cats, the leopard is most common in the southern countries of Africa.
Lion: this African big cat is not only a vulnerable species, but it is also endangered. It can be found in the middle African countries and is the only big cat to live in social groups.

Filed Under: Adoptions, Species Tagged With: Africa, Botswana, Cat

The Dog Whisperer

There is a man who is turning the heads of dog owners all over the world. His name is Cesar Millan and he is known as the The Dog Whisperer. He’s a dog behavior expert, and he’s teaching clueless and desperate pet owners how to care for their dogs and make them behave.

What makes him so good isn’t that he knows how to get through to the dog, but that he knows how to retrain the dog without ever knowing the root of the problem. Think about that for a minute: how hard would it be to solve a problem if you didn’t know what the root of the problem was? That is what the dog whisperer does every day.

The truth of the matter is that there are a lot of owners who don’t know how to discipline their dog, or their dog seems to be going through serious emotional problems that are difficult to fix. Owners just want the best for their pets. They like the idea of pet costumes and playing around, but there are times when being a pet owner is hard. That’s where guys like Millan come in. They make pet ownership much easier to navigate as they make big strides in figuring out how to work with problematic dogs.

The biggest thing to take away from Millan’s method is how patient and assertive he is with the dogs. There is no fear or worry. There is only supreme command and discipline. That is something that you can take away when dealing with your problematic pet.

Filed Under: General Care Tagged With: Cesar Millan, Dog, Dog Whisperer

Choosing a Child’s First Pet

Image via Wikipedia

When choosing a first pet for your child there are many factors which a parent needs to take into account. Here are two things which you should keep in mind when trying to make the decision.

Small Animals Don’t Always Match With Small Children

Many parents automatically think that a small child would benefit from a small pet, such as a gerbil or hamster. However, keep in mind that smaller animals generally require a gentler pair of hands handling it, something which a child generally does not have.

A more robust animal, such as a dog or a cat would perhaps be better suited. If your child gets a bit rough with a puppy it will not be hurt as easily as a smaller animal would be.

Who Will be Responsible for Taking Care of the Animal?

This is a very important question for anyone considering pet ownership. Who will be responsible for taking care of the animal? Who will feed it, give it fresh water and exercise it if necessary?

Obviously, depending on his or her age, your small child may not be able to do these things alone. If this is the case, ask yourself if you will have the time to assist your child in taking care of the animal until he or she is old enough to manage it alone.

Pets can be a very good way for a child to learn about responsibility, whilst forming an important childhood bond with a family pet. Owning a pet is a big responsibility, so be sure to think it through thoroughly.

Filed Under: Adoptions, General Care Tagged With: Animal, Child, Pocket pet