Pets Care Tips – Pets Guide – Pets Store

Rabbits are perhaps one of the nature’s most adorable creatures. Rabbits are classified as mammals and have about seven different types. Different kinds of rabbits with distinct features are found in different parts of the world. Different people treat them differently, for example for some people they are adorable pets while for others such as farmers they are pests who destroy their crops.

Among all other types of rabbits, European rabbits were the first to be domesticated. Which means that most of the species of rabbits which are kept as pets these days belong to the European rabbit species. Some people also treat these European rabbits as food, therefore in some areas where their popularity as food is increasing; they are bred by livestock farmers for the very purpose. Their skin is also used for the production of leather and other fabrics. In some European markets they are sold at butcher shops like hen and other such animals.

Some people like to keep rabbits as pets for their children to play with or as their companion like dogs and cats. However in most cases they are required to be kept in a cage or pen which serves as their home. There are some breeds of house rabbits which can be trained to use litter boxes and can be taught to respond to voice commands. Generally they are also provided with toys and areas to run and exercise as it is very important for their healthy growth.

Rabbits are famous for their rapid reproductive capabilities. In a popular case study, 24 rabbits were introduced in Australia in the late 1850s which multiplied to over 600 million in less than a century later. Rabbits generally eat herbs and small plants including grass.

The rapid reproductive capabilities and the enormous grazing habit of rabbits is the reason why farmers treat them as pests. Often they build fences around their farms to prevent rabbits from entering the farms. They also make use of some rabbit traps to catch rabbits if any of them by chances slips in.

Keeping Rabbits as pets is not as easy as keeping other animals. Generally rabbits are wild animals and need their wild environment to satisfy their needs. Never the less there are different guide books and tutorials available in the markets easily which teach the basics of taking care of rabbits and ensuring that all their needs are satisfied in the confined domestic environment.

Any animal belonging to the class “Reptilia” is known as reptile. They are cold blooded vertebrates and have their skin covered with scales rather than feathers or fur. For example; snakes, lizards, crocodiles etc. They are generally classified into four different categories i.e. Crocodilia which include crocodiles, alligators etc; Sphenodontia which include tuatara; Squamata which include lizards, snakes etc; and Testudines which include turtles, tortoises etc.

Most of the reptiles reproduce by lying eggs however some reptiles have been found to give live birth. Different species of reptiles live in different environments, some are found in normal inhabited environments while others live in dense forests however most reptiles are found in dense forests and jungles. There are more than 8000 species of Reptiles.

Some people adore reptiles while others find them to be terrifying and dangerous. Some even go to the extent of keeping reptiles such as snakes and lizards as pets. Most reptiles are very dangerous and contain poisonous venoms in their bodies, generally in their mouths which they use for protection. For the same reason many wild reptiles who have not been treated to remove their poison are very dangerous for mankind.

Where there is a dark side to reptiles, there is also a positive side to them. Like all other creatures of nature they are helpful in maintaining a balance in the environment to support life for humans. Reptiles generally eat insects and small animals which checks the population of insects and these small animals. Also the venoms of different snakes can also be used to create different medicines.

According to a research the venom can be used to create anaesthetic medicines because their venom has a paralyzing effect which can cause the pain cells in an area to stop sending pain signals to the brain thus stopping the sensation of pain. Most snakes and lizards are very dangerous and their venom is deadly; however with the development in science and medicine, man has developed antidotes for these venoms.

Some reptiles such as turtles and tortoises are harmless in this regard. They are also kept as pets by many people because they are not harmful to humanity. Never the less some lizards are also kept as pets for the same reason. Crocodiles on the other side have no tameable side to them. They cannot be kept as pets in most cases unless on has a huge facility to keep it in a controlled environment. That is why they are mostly found in zoos other than their natural habitat.

Horses are perhaps one of the best known animal friends of man. Their loyalty and service has undoubtedly made them the best of beasts of burden. Horses belong to the Equidae family and are also classified as mammals. There are several different species of horses which generally differ due to location. Throughout known history, horses have been used in various ways to aid man in his quest. They have been used as faithful steeds for knights or as a ride for travel across continents.

The earliest use of horses for domestic purposes has been recorded to be since 4000BC. In the world of today, most horses are domesticated and are bred by man for fulfilling their needs. However there are some wild horses still in some parts of the world. Most of these species of wild horses are endangered and all efforts are being made to save these species.

Horses generally live for about 25-35 years; however their life span generally varies upon breed and the environment in which they live. Due to their large sizes, generally ranging from 50-60 inches, they are not usually kept as pets, except at farms and large areas where they can move about freely and exercise daily. Different breeds of horses have different distinct features such as different colors, markings, length of manes and tail hairs etc.

Horses have been and are still being used for various purposes. Different breeds serve different purposes because of their temperament and features. For example there is a specific breed of horses which are used as race horses because of their high level of energy and stamina. Similarly some breeds of horses were used for warfare because of their stamina and strength.

Many horses these days are also used for sport. Different sports such as polo, horse racing etc are very famous sports which involve horses. In the past horses have also been used to pull carts and carriages which were used to transport heavy goods and for traveling. Even today in some rural areas horses are being used for the same purpose.

Horses can be trained to do different tasks and they possess significant intelligence to understand commands. They are also very loyal to their masters, which made them ideal for battle and other such tasks. Horses are also used as food however due to their intense utility as a beast of burden; their slaughter had not been much favored. Never the less many products including clothes are made as a by-product of slaughtering horses for consumption as food.

Pets, like humans can also become sick and need proper treatment. Most people ignore this fact and thus their pets have to pay with their life for the negligence. Most people believe that diseases of pets are contagious and can infect them and thus keep away from their pets if they catch disease. This may be the case in some diseases but generally animal diseases are different from human diseases and thus an infection is not possible in most cases.

For example there are some specific diseases which are found in cats such as feline leukemia which is only infectious to cats and cannot be transferred to humans. Similarly common cold cannot be transferred from a cat to humans and vice versa.

Prevention is better than cure; therefore one should take good care of one’s pets which ensures that they don’t fall sick very often. Proper and timely vaccinations can also prevent the development of a disease and will also ensure the immune system of the animal is capable of fighting the attacking viral diseases.

Some of the most common pets diseases includes the common cold. Although in some cases it can get worst if the animal is not taken care of in time, it is generally harmless and is easily curable. Indications include, running noses, flaming eyes and fever. Most cats and dogs fall prey to this disease. Cats and Dogs also fall prey to some internal and external parasitic diseases which are caused by parasites such as fleas, ticks, lice etc.

Some internal parasites include ring worms, tape worms and round worms. Ring worms are dangerous for humans also as they can pass on from the animal to the human.

Diarrhea is also one of the most common pets diseases in dogs. Almost all dogs of all ages may suffer from this disease; however the probability of infection increases with age. Diarrhea may become deadly for the dogs because in many cases it can cause death due to dehydration if medical attention is not provided in time. Many people over look the fact that their animals need medical attention as much as them. They probably rely on the note that animals get over diseases on their own as they are wild creatures. But the fact is that they need medical help just like humans.

There are many diseases which are common among birds too. Most common of them is flu and Proventricular Dilatation disease which includes weight loss among other prominent symptoms. Bird flu is infectious and can also infect humans thus proper vaccinations should be used to prevent any infections.

Birds are beautiful gift of nature to us. We human beings have respected birds for thousand of years as it is evident from drawings of birds on the walls of southern France, in Egyptian and American culture and biblical writings. We have also tried to reach the sky and experience soaring like birds, which starts from the early drawings of flying machines to Orville Wright’s first powered successful flight on 17 December 1903. Birds are basically derived from the archosaur lineage of ancient reptiles. Their similarities are so obvious that they are known as “glorified reptiles”. But according to Cladistic approach bird’s overview can be thought of as modern dinosaurs.

Scientifically birds are known as “Aves”, which is derived from a Latin word avis meaning bird. According to zoologist currently 9,100 species of living birds are present on earth. The basic characteristics relating birds to flight are, fore appendages modified as wings and feathers, acute senses, light hollow bones with numerous air spaces, their vertebral column modified for flight and high metabolic rate. Modern bird posses horny bill lacking teeth. One of the unique characteristic of birds is that their eyes are comparatively larger than their body size as compared to the other animals because they need plenty of long distance focusing. They posses double focusing mechanism.

If we take the bird’s overview according to the size, they range from the smallest thumb sized humming bird to the huge size ostrich, a bird which cannot fly because of its heavy weight, but keeps all other characteristics. They are egg laying animals and the number of eggs laid at a time varies from specie to specie. One of the catchiest living traits of birds is migration and navigation. Most birds’ migration is annual having nesting in northern and wintering grounds in south. They migrate because of climatic and physiological conditions. Some birds take long nonstop journeys so they may store 50% fats in their bodies, some take flexible approach and stop regularly to feed and rest.

God has blessed birds with different characteristics and beauties, like some birds as parrots, peacock have beautiful colors and sweet voices while others are ferocious and wild like eagle and vulture. Some are peace loving like penguin while others are very loving and innocent like swans and ducks. Even this beautiful creature can teach us lots of things in our daily life as it models its life properly, punctual and hard working which improves birds overview.

History:

Cats first became pets in Egypt around 4000 BC. It was considered as a goddess of love and fertility in Egypt. When they used to die, owners used to shave their eyebrows and mummified the cats so that they can bury them when they die.

There are more then 500 million domestic cats in the world with 33 different breeds that can’t be listed.

Cat is also known as Domestic cat or house cat. It is a skilled predator that can hunt 1000 species for food. It has been associated to humans for at least 9500 years because of its companionship and to obey simple commands. Humans like to keep it as a pet because of its ability to hunt snakes, scorpions, vermin’s and other unwanted pests. Cats understand different kinds of body languages and variety of vocalizations such as meowing, chirping, clicking, growling and hissing.

Physiology of Cat:

Physiology of cat includes different parts of its body:

· Skeleton

· Size

· Ear

· Mouth

· Legs

· Claws

· Senses

· Skin

· Metabolism

· Genetics

· Diet and Feeding

Behavior:

Following are the different characteristics of its behavior:

· Play

· Hunting

· Fighting

· Sociability

· Reproduction

· Scratching

· Heights

· Hygiene

House Cats:

Human Interaction with Cats:

Some people keep cats for their companionship and other for their hobby also called as cat fancy. It’s a small pet so no major danger is associated with it but humans can get infected by its scratches or its bite.

Domesticated Varieties:

There is a large number of cat breed that is not possibly listed. Each breed has its distinct features and characteristics. Because of common cross breeding many cats are recognized to the homogeneous breeds of domestic long hair and short hair. Here are names of some original cat breed:

· F.Catus anura-the Manx

· F.Catus siamensis-the Siamese

· F.Catus cartusenesis-the chartreux

· F.Catus-the Turkish Angaro

Coat Patterns:

There are different coat patterns of cats:

· Tabby cat

· Tortoise shell and Calico

· Bicolor, Tuxedo and Van

Color point:

Color points are mostly associated with Siamese but they are also found in common breed. Some has dark color on its ear, toes, tail and rest of the body is lighter. Different color points are found in different breeds.

There are also pure white cats and smoke cats.

Body Types:

There are different body types of cats:

· Oriental

· Foreign

· Semi-foreign

· Semi-Cobby

· Cobby

Dog is man’s oldest and best loved Pet. Lots of dog’s breeds differ largely in more than just size, length of fur, activities, cleverness, obedience, value, color. It is this vast diversity and their faithfulness that makes dogs very famous as pets.

The majority of authorities agree that dogs were among the first animals domesticated by human. Below is a brief dog’s overview which will assist to make a better decision in selecting the dog’s breed which is appropriate for home.

Brussels Griffon: These small cute dogs are lovable and they might be found in two forms, rough and smooth. These dogs normally weigh between 8 to 12 pounds. Some of the times, it is pretty hard to make them familiar to the new home. They are quite inflexible. Normally they are friendly, cheerful and playful. Sometimes they are not friendly with the outsiders but get along well with the elder kids.

French Bulldogs: This type of dogs is perfect for small homes and flats. They can have fun and play in the house. This dog adores, has a good personality, and loves their family. They are not happy in the hot weather; so if it is warm outside then move them inside. Approximately this breed lives till period of twelve years.

Australian Terriers: This is very lively and active breed. They exercise a lot. They are mostly suited for a house having a good backyard. They are courageous and daring, so they are good watchdogs.

Miniature Schnauzer: These dogs are pretty small, 12 to 14 inches tall. They come in various lively colors such as solid black, silver, salt and pepper. They are preferably suitable for a flat and a country house. They are extremely pleased as long as they are with the family and friends. This breed is clever, friendly, and they like to play with children and friends.

Italian Greyhound: This dog breed requires a little room and space to play and relax. This dog comes in very lively shades. These dogs are not violent, but let their owner identify that there is some outsider in the home. They live up till fourteen years.

Toy Poodle: This dog breed is perfect for little houses and flats, it enjoys when the owner is around. They require grooming once a week. These dogs are smart and thus might be trained easily. They don’t like to be alone and always need a company like company of their owners and kids.

This small dog’s overview shows that dogs have a good friendship of continual loyalty towards the owner, companionship and fun.