Archive for the 'Pets' Category
Choosing the Perfect Pet (part 2)
If your answer to the lifestyle question was travels a lot then you’ll need a low maintenance pet like a cat, rodent, reptile, or fish. A pet that you can leave enough food and water for short trips and for longer trips have a friend come over every couple of days to refill the supply. These types of pets won’t miss you like a dog will when you’re gone.
Cats. When choosing a cat, you’ll also want to pick one in its adolescence. They aren’t as rambunctious as kittens and less likely to claw and bite while playing. And when you have a small child, the cat is bigger and less fragile in little hands. Adopting is best for a family cat but if you want purebred, Ragdoll cats come highly recommended by experts as being very gentle, laid-back, and friendly. Other things to consider: males are more tolerant of young children than females and indoor domesticated cats are a necessity. Feral, or undomesticated cats, won’t be happy as an indoor family pet and you can expect a lot of scratches in demonstration. Always check with the adoption provider if the cat gets along with children.
Rodents. Caged animals such as rabbits, rats, hamsters, gerbils are fun pets for children to watch but not really handle. They also are messier than cat with cage clean up but have the convenience of cats in not needing constant affection or constant watch while on your travels.
Reptiles. Reptiles have the ease of only needing to be fed every few days but you have to be careful of breeds — turtles can carry salmonella. You also have to be comfortable feeding the animal live crickets or in the case of snakes rats and mice. Depending on your child this can be a neat thing to watch or traumatic so make sure you know your child’s tolerance and feed the animal after your child is in bed if needed. Reptiles are less messy than the rodent breeds but no where close to cuddly.
Fish. Fish are by far the easiest animal to take care of. While they don’t have any “play” value they can be entertaining for kids to watch. They would also enjoy sprinkling in the fish flakes. Tanks do need to be cleaned but if you have a good filter system it doesn’t have to be very often.
A happy pet is a well-placed pet. Make sure the pet you choose, is right for your family, and you can’t go wrong.
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Choosing the Perfect Pet (part 1)
Being healthy is always a hot topic but lately it seems the “be fit” crusade is in a definite upswing. To lose weight or maintain a healthy figure, a person can spend up to 45 - 60 minutes working out three to five times a week. To get healthy or stay that way, we eat right, in the proper amounts, and from all the food groups — and even doing this we still listen to anyone who touts a new way to eat that is “healthier”. We subscribe to yoga, meditation, and wheatgrass all in our effort to start or keep our healthy lifestyle. Even with all this die hard dedication, there is still one key ingredient missing to be completely healthy. It’s just one thing that can and should be done everyday and it’s so easy it only takes a couple of minutes to perform.
No, it’s not a new miracle vitamin, the newest energy health drink, nor a powder for shakes. It’s something you do before bed that will ensure you get a solid night of sleep, which is truly an essential key to staying healthy. There are many culprits to sabotage a night’s sleep besides uncomfortable sleep conditions and outside distractions: stress, anxiety, worries, to name a few. When a body doesn’t get enough sleep, you get run down, easily stressed out, and it can ultimately lower your immune system — allowing you to get sick easier and stay sick longer.
What is the new healthy miracle that will guarantee a full and restful night’s sleep? When you’re feeling particularly stressed or over stimulated take a few minutes, before you lie down for the night, and write all the issues that are bothering you down. Doesn’t matter how trivial you think they might be, if they are bothering you they are keeping you from sleeping healthily. By taking the time to get any and all concerns off your chest, out of your head, and onto paper you make sure you aren’t lying in bed thinking about them which can keep sleep at bay.
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The Summer of A*#-Whoopins Part 3: Crippling News
So, anyone else tired of my continuous drama this summer? I am. But, what the hell, let the royal emotional a** kicking continue!
Jackson on Easter, 2002
Our sweet dog, Jackson stopped being able to walk about four days ago. He went from walking (albeit, like an old man, but walking nonetheless) down the street with us to only being able to take two to five steps and then collapsing. Hoping that it was just arthritis kicking in, we took him immediately to the vet to get it checked out. Apparently he has a neurological disorder that is going to keep him paralyzed for good. They are not sure if it is cancer or if a disc is blocking the spinal cord - they could not tell anything after X-rays or blood work. So, we decided yesterday that we would bring him home and care for him as best as we could - as if we have an elderly family member who needs our help (which is, afterall, the case). The vet doesn’t recommend that we take on the task of trying to care for a dying elderly dog, especially since we have two very active kids to focus on. But, how can we not? Jackson has been with us for twelve years - his entire life. Granted I have only been around for five of those twelve years - he was my husband’s bachelor-days dog - but he has been my dog too and our kids’ dog their entire life. Since I have no idea how to care for invalid animals, I am having to do my research. We have decided that we will keep him home until we think that he is in any pain or becoming any sicker (he is having difficulty expressing his urine - not a good sign). While we have him home though I want to make sure we are doing things right for him.
Home care for a pet that can’t walk or eliminate is a task certain pet owners have chosen to tackle with the help of Pampers, pet wheel chairs, egg crate mattresses and ramps. Families will even acquire portable oxygen tanks for pets with compromised respiration. Some people react with fear of medical procedures and needles. Others have great interest in learning how to administer to their pets for convenience and needed financial savings. The most important ingredient to look for in oneself, in the staff and in the pet owner is willingness. Hold a staff meeting and ask the question if being a compassionate veterinary care giving facility is truly O.K. with the nursing staff. Put one special staff member as the appointed support person for a certain pet and its owner. Ask the client to direct phone calls and concerns to their designated staff member or support team. Staff can handle most of the home care problems and the doctor can see the pet on regular rechecks to answer major questions such as changes in prescription medications.
Though most of the information I am finding is advocating hospice care for dying pets, not an option for us, it is still riddled with good tips on how to cope and, physically, how to help your pet get on with their daily functions and how to make them more comfortable.
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Sunny Vs. The Furniture
Our beloved old kitty cat, Sunny, has taken up a new hobby. He loves to rip apart our new furniture. I have been lenient on him because, as we live on the third floor, he has been unable to go outside for the last year. For the first ten years of his life he was primarily an outdoor cat. He only came inside to eat and cuddle. So, I have been more acceptable of his icky behavior for a long time since he has had such a severe lifestyle change (who wouldn’t be a little weird, right?).
But, my days of understanding are near an ending. Our new couch is starting to get fuzzy in places it ought not to be fuzzy and out new (antique) armchair is his new target. I have looked up some sites with suggestions to remedy this. There are some keepers (rubbing some catnip on something they can claw), but mostly there are suggestions that need to be lost (trimming your cat’s claws?!?!? declawing?!?? putting an inflated balloon on whatever you don’t want them to claw at? huh?? do i really want big balloons taped to all my furniture?). Of course declawing is completely out of the question - I feel like that is one of the most inhumane things you could ever do to a cat. Until we move into the new house (he’ll be a free outdoorsman again) - we are going to have to be creative. Any suggestions?
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Creating A Dachshund Wheelchar
I love it when people not only have a good idea, but they share it too. A smart pet owner had a Dachshund dog that needed a doggy wheelchair, so he made one himself. You can make your own Dachshund wheelchair by following his excellent directions at instructables.com.
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Have A Pet Plan For Pregnancy Or Illness
Amy Eller in The Herald-Sun reports:
You should have plans for pet care in case you become ill unexpectedly. Daily routines with your pets can become struggles if you are not up to your physical best. Walking the dog, trips to the vet or groomer, and changing the litter box are all things we take advantage of when we are well. If you suddenly become ill and cannot do these things, who will help you out? It is important to discuss this possibility with friends, family and neighbors.
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