Be Friends With Animals

     Ear infections in dogs can be divided into three forms: outer ear infection, middle ear infection, and the inner ear infection. Among the three, the most common is the outer ear infection, which is actually caused when the outer ear canal gets inflamed, and is also called as ‘otitis externa’. This type of ear infection in dogs is actually easier to diagnose and deal with. On the other hand, middle and inner ear infection in dogs can go unnoticed leading to serious conditions which may be difficult to cure.

    Though ear infections can appear in all types of dog breeds, canines that have flopped or droopy ears are more prone to this disease. Floppy eared canine breeds like Cocker Spaniel, Bloodhound, Beagles, etc., are at a high risk of getting ear infections, because there is very less air circulation in their ears which can cause fungal as well as bacterial infections. Read more on dog ear problems.

     Causes of Ear Infections in Dogs Read the rest of this entry »

     Before we move on to the vaccination schedule for puppies, let us first understand the types of dog vaccines. Dog vaccines can be classified into core vaccines and non-core vaccines. As their names suggest, core vaccines are given to all dogs and puppies, while non-core vaccines are given only to certain dog breeds depending on above listed factors. Rabies, canine adenovirus-2, distemper, etc, are considered as core vaccines, while canine parainfluenza, Bordetella bronchiseptica, etc, are some of the non-core vaccines.

     Vaccination Schedule for Puppies

     The vaccinations required for any puppy also depend on the ability of the puppy to fight against various diseases. Puppies need a series of vaccinations before they complete one year of age. Dog vaccination schedule is usually yearly and not weekly, as it is for puppies. The vaccination schedule for puppies, which is also referred to as puppy shots schedule, may differ for every puppy depending on the individual needs of the puppy. Before you check out the table that gives the vaccination schedule for an average puppy, you should first understand what a combination vaccine is. A combination vaccine is a vaccination that includes vaccines for almost five types of diseases. These diseases include parvovirus, distemper, adenovirus cough and hepatitis and parainfluenza. Thus a combination vaccine is also called as 5-way vaccine. Sometimes a combination vaccine is also called as 7-way vaccine, and it includes prevention of two more diseases, coronavirus and leptospirosis. Read more on dog illnesses and dog health problems. Given below is a table that gives the type of vaccine that a puppy should be given according to its age. Read the rest of this entry »

     The Zebra Finches are very beautiful, cute and a delight to watch. These finches require a bigger cage to live well even though they are small in size because, they need to be comfortable flying in a horizontal direction. It will be good if you can have a thirty inch long and twenty inch high cage for the Zebra Finches. These birds are very social and they love to interact and be in company of other finches. So, when you consider having Zebra Finches as pets, you should ideally have a pair or a small group of the finches. Your Zebra Finch, which gets along well with the other birds may not get along well with you - at least during the initial stages. You should ensure that the cage in which the finches are kept, is not cluttered and causing problems for the finches to fly to and fro supplying different kinds of perches. Swings, ladders, toys and bells can also be included for the complete entertainment of the Zebra Finches. The cage position should be such that the location where it is should be quiet and peaceful, and away from air conditioning ducts and Sun rays. This will satisfy your Zebra Finches to a great extent.

     Gouldian Finches as Pets

     The Gouldian Finches are very popular in countries like United States, United Kingdom, Holland, South Africa, etc. However, Australia is the country where this finch was breaded first. The characteristic feature of these finches is that they need warm and dry conditions to live well, as cold conditions and places which have damp weather do not suit them. Read the rest of this entry »

     Tree frogs belong to the family of frogs known as hylidae. They are easily recognizable by their vivid, bright green color with shades of gray and brown that help them camouflage themselves. They are around three inches long, have adhesive discs on the tip of their toes (that help them climb tall trees), and have webbed hands and feet. Their color and size also depends on the climate and temperature of the region that they belong to. Since they make good pets, it essential for anyone wanting them as pets to know about the natural tree frog habitat, so that they can provide their tree frog pet with a comfortable artificial tree frog habitat to live in. So, here’s some information on the tree frog habitats of the different types of tree frogs.

     Red Eyed Tree Frog Habitat

     The red eyed tree frog has big bulging red eyes and is hence named so. It is bright green in color with shades of blue, and is found mainly in the lowland tropical rainforest regions of Veracruz and Oaxaca, Costa Rica, Columbia and Panama. They prefer habitats that have warm temperatures and high levels of humidity. To keep them as pets, they should be placed in a well-ventilated enclosure. A 10-gallon aquarium, that can also hold some amount of water, is usually considered perfect. You can create a substrate by using a mixture of soil and peat moss. Read more about red eyed tree frogs.

     Gray Tree Frog Habitat Read the rest of this entry »

     The following are some things that one can do when one encounters an injured bird.

     Reduce Stress: Whether or not it shows signs of physical injury, a bird that has suffered from an impact is bound to be traumatized. It will appear stunned and scared. The first approach of a human being for injured bird treatment is to call a veterinarian or a local animal rehabilitation center. If help arrives on time, nothing like it. However, till then your priority should be make the bird’s environment as stress free as possible. Keep children, pets and stray animals away from an injured bird.

     Calm the Bird: Gently pick up the bird, with your hands over the wings, pressing the wings close to the bird’s body. However, do not press the bird hard, just hold it firmly. You could put a towel around it and then handle it. To help it breathe comfortably, hold the bird up erect while picking it up and then place it in a cardboard box which is large enough for it to fit in comfortably. Make holes in the box for it to breathe, beforehand. Also line the insides with some soft material. Ensure that the box is well ventilated and place it in a dark corner. Keep the bird in this box for an hour or two. In the absence of any stimuli, the bird will calm down on its own. After this, take the bird out to an open space and remove the lid of the box. If the bird hasn’t suffered any injury and has recovered from the trauma, it will fly off on it’s own. Read more on building bird boxes.

     Be Careful: One word of caution though. The injured bird that you have encountered could be of a wild variety. It is best to let them be where they are. However, ensure that the place is free of any distractions. You could also cover it with a perforated box without moving it away from the place. In many states, it is illegal to treat wild birds. Be sure of the state laws before you treat any bird. If you have to pick it up, then for your own safety wear gloves while handling the bird. Read more on bird identification. Read the rest of this entry »