by rmcnicholas

Hamster Supplies – Make His House A Home

Article by Liz Andrews

Bringing your new pet home can be an exciting but also anxious time if you are inexperienced with dwarf hamster care. Thankfully, caring for dwarf hamsters is not difficult when you take the time to learn what is required. Using all available resources and doing good research is important. Here are some basic tips to get you started.

One of the first and most important decisions to make is the housing or cage type for your hamster. There are wire cages, plastic type cages, and glass aquariums that you can use to contain your dwarf hamster. You can also use a mouse cage. If you have a dwarf hamster, you should not use a wire cage for larger hamsters as they can squeeze through the wires.

More expensive types of cages have wheels and numerous tubes, which are great for your active hamster. These cost a little more so if it is not affordable, you can provide toys separately.

Hamsters love to tunnel and burrow so a basic of dwarf hamster care is providing them with toys to play with. Every hamster should have a wheel but you can also place paper towel tubes or toilet paper tubes on top of the bedding and your hamster will be thrilled. Also add objects with interesting shapes that they can hide behind.

No matter which type of cage you decide on or how you decorate your hamster’s new “pad,” the most important thing is to make sure it is kept clean. This includes changing out the bedding three to four times each month, cleaning the inside of the cage with a very gentle solution, and cleaning the cage daily as well. Daily cleaning should include scooping out droppings, removing old food, and getting rid of soiled areas of bedding.

The next important part of dwarf hamster care is diet and water. Hamster food is available in most pet stores but you should also provide some bits of fresh fruits and vegetables such as broccoli, leafy greens, carrots and apples. There is nothing quite as cute as seeing a hamster stuff its cheeks full of food to stash away for snacking on later. This is why checking for older food in the cage is so important. Don’t let your hamster snack on anything that has spoiled.

Water that is changed daily should also be provided. Use an inverted bottle that is placed so that your hamster can reach the dispenser. Even if the bottle still has water in it, you should still change it out daily.

Something else you can offer your hamster is pieces of dog biscuit. This is important for their chewing instinct to help keep their teeth grinded down a bit. You can also place a few pieces of clean, natural wood or sticks in their cage for this purpose.

Finally, the most important thing to take note of is the overall condition of your pet. If you suspect your dwarf hamster is ill, you should take it to the vet right away. There are some conditions (like wet-tail) that can be deadly but can also be treated if caught early. Look for diarrhea, lethargy or sluggishness, shaking, dull eyes, and weight loss. Hamsters need veterinary care just like other pets so make sure they get the care they need. This is probably the biggest dwarf hamster care lesson to take to heart immediately.

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by Smithsonian’s National Zoo

The Home Aquarium Supplies You Will Need

You have made that important decision to start your aquarium, but don’t feel overwhelmed by all of the home aquarium supplies that you will need to get. Here is a nice list of equipment and terms that you should know before hand.

The first and most obvious thing that all aquarium aficionados need are aquarium tanks. Gone are the days of the boring ten gallon rectangular tank that can either be for your fish or your hamsters. Nowadays, you can find just about any size or shape that you can think of. Any amount of space you have will work no matter what the size.

Now before you go out and just buy something that fits, there are some things you need to think about first, the most important one being what kind of fish you would like to keep. The three main types are saltwater, freshwater and brakish. All three are great, but each require a different set of aquarium equipment. The full grown size of the fish, the type of water chemistry they need, what other fish will live with them are all factors to take into consideration. As far as size goes, A freshwater aquarium can take fish about one inch for every gallon of water and a saltwater tank should take one fish the same size for about every three gallons of water.

Once you establish all of this, choose a tank which fits you space, keeping in mind that a twenty gallon tank weighs about 170 pounds. Make sure the base can hold up under all the weight.

The next few things you will need are aquarium lighting, gravel, aquarium filters, air pumps, and heaters. You will need to investigate which type of each of these items will best suite the type of fish you have chosen. We can however talk a bit more about each of these items first just to give you some general information.

There are several types of aquarium lighting available. Again, the determining factor is not so much the fish, but whether or not your tank has plants and or reefs in it. Each one of these types of tanks have their own requirements, so it will take a bit more research to determine which kind of lighting to use. If you are planning a tank with only fish in it and no live plants, then you can go with a fluorescent or incandescent lighting setup.

A good aquarium filter is a definite must. There are three kinds that can work and it does depend on what type of fish and plants you are planning to keep. The three types of aquarium filters are mechanical, chemical and biological filtering. You can use one type or a combination to make sure your aquarium is one hundred percent clean and the water composition is correct.

Gravel is a must, and the type and size used is determined by the size of the fish you will keep. The type of biological filter system can also effect the size gravel chosen. As always, check with your pet shop pros to make sure that you are not making any wrong decisions.

One of the final pieces of equipment you will need is the tank heater. As you can see, the general theme here is that everything you decide on depends on the type and size of the fish, and this is no exception. Tropical fish can die if not kept at the correct temperature so care must be taken.

So that is a basic list of most of the home aquarium supplies that you will need. You can either purchase these items separately, or in a kit that has everything you need. Do some research and most importantly, enjoy your new aquatic friends.

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by jon_a_ross

Creative Cat Toys You Can Find Around Your Home

We all know that buying toys from your local pet shop can be expensive and after you bring it home, your cat may either turn up its nose at your offering or will tear the toy to pieces in a couple of hours.  Why not save your money and entertain your cat with some of these suggestions of toys that can be made out of things you can find around your own home?

One of the things found around the home is string and I guarantee all cats love string. As it wiggles along the ground, moving fast and slow, it triggers your cat’s hunting mechanism and makes a great plaything.  A great idea is to tie a long piece of string to a stick so you can drag it along the ground and tease your pet while sitting comfortable in a chair.

Other than the sound of pet food, nothing perks my cat’s ears up like the sound of paper being rolled into a ball or even an open paper bag. A ball of paper about the size of a ping-pong ball is ideal for your cat to chase around the house. An open empty grocery bag on its side it something my cat loves.  As he looks into the bag, I gently scratch on back of the bag and he will pounce. They will absolute love it.  A similar thing to use for ball cat toys are rolled up small balls of foil.

Rope is another product from arount the home and is the most versatile product you can use to make different cat toys and activities.  It’s great to wrap around a post to make your very own cat scratch post and can be pinned to pieces of board to make scratch boards that can be mounted on a wall inside or out.

There are many benefits to these activities.  It helps to eliminate your cat’s boredom, it gives your cat exercise, it gets you up off the couch, it helps you bond with your pet, and it provides amusement for you to name a few.  And it also saves you money and gets your creative juices flowing.  You may be able to create other cat toys with a little imagination.

These are just some of the things you can find inside your home to entertain your pet, without having to spend a lot of money in pet shops on toys and pet accessories.

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by honor the gift

Cat Care 101: Keeping Your Home Clean and Your Cat Healthy

Our cats are full-fledged family members – there’s no doubt about it. Their loyalty, their love, and their ability to comfort us are unparalleled. Sometimes, though, their hair or odors can leave an unwelcome footprint in our homes. Just as we clean up the spills made by our kids (or our spouses!), it’s up to us to clean up after our cats. Luckily, there are any number of products that make pet care a breeze.

Cat Litter Boxes

Cats are generally low maintenance pets, but their litter boxes often contribute little to you home decor, and can become a smelly nuisance. Today’s litter boxes, though, can bring a touch of whimsy to your interior design, while their functionality can put an end to messes and odors.

One line of litter boxes comes in an assortment of patterns and colors, from solid silver and solid black, to polka dot, leopard print and wood grain. The litter tray door pulls out, and a metal sifter rake pulls and lifts litter out of the tray for easy cleaning. Another ingenious design has a triangular shape so that you can easily place it otherwise used corner space.

If you want to make cat care even easier, self-cleaning litter boxes are the answer. One style has an internal grill that traps used litter. You simply roll the enclosed litter box on its side and remove the waste tray. Another type takes self-cleaning to the next level by having a slowly but rotating system that quietly but continuously scoops used cat litter into a receptacle. The ultimate litter box is one that automatically flushes cat waste down your toilet. Instead of cat litter, this box uses permanent granules that are washable. After your cat uses the box, the granules are automatically washed, disinfected, and dried. Liquid and any solid waste are flushed down the toilet with fresh water.

Kitty Litter

When it comes to kitty litter, many cats have a preference for one brand over another. But if you start with the right litter or are persistent, you can find kitty litter that can help eliminate odors while keep your cat healthy. One brand of kitty litter on the market not only neutralizes litter box odors, but also changes color if your cat has a urinary tract infection. Given that urinary tract infections can quickly become life threatening, early detection is key. It’s also helpful to have information about a potential infection to give to your veterinarian.

Shedding Tools

Many people who love cats are troubled by allergies, or by the cat hair that clings to furniture and clothes. Products that help with shedding take one of two approaches: either they work at the source of the problem (your furry feline) or they make it a snap to clean up hair off of furniture.

Cats typically shed their undercoat (rather than the hair you see), so a product that helps you remove hair from your pet – a “furminator” of sorts – means you’ll never see it on your couch. These products brush out the dead hair from the undercoat (but don’t cut it), while bringing your cat’s natural oils to the surface. Because this type of product also helps stops over zealous self-cleaning, your cat may be less likely to be bothered by hairballs.

Cat care isn’t difficult, and the great litter boxes, kitty litter, and shedding tools make it even easier!

If a cat has fleas, the first thing to do is give the cat a bath with flea prevention shampoo. Get rid of fleas on cats with tips from a cat behaviorist in this free video on cat care. Expert: Diana Korten Contact: www.thecatbehaviorist.com/ Bio: Diana Korten is certified in Pet First Aid by the American Red Cross, and is a member of The National Association of Pet Sitting Professionals and The Cat Writer’s Association. Filmmaker: Dimitri LaBarge

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ALL NIGHT ALL NIGHT EVERY NIGHT OUTA SIGHT

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bit.ly Simple, Proven System Tackles Your Pet’s Behavior And Health Problems – Often With Items That Are Already In Your Home You`ll discover: # End your Pet’s Diarrhea FAST. Use a common people remedy or choose from other solutions . # Cure your Pet’s Leaking Bladder. Rid your home of the embarrassing stains and smells in your home, and rid your pet of the anxiety caused by doing something “bad” even though it was – until now! – uncontrollable . # Relieve your Dog or Cat’s Constipation. Constipation can be painful and dangerous. Not only will you know how to relieve your constipated pet, you’ll also learn how to prevent it from happening again . # Find effective solutions to battle your Dog or Cat’s Cancer. I’ll show you how to get your pet’s metabolism working to defeat cancer’s progression. # Find the specific massage points for Hip Dysplasia… if it is difficult for your pet to even get up, then find help with this massage. # Eliminate painful Ear Mites safely and naturally. Ease your pet’s pain simply with common pantry items. # Manage your Pet’s Diabetes. Discover an inexpensive, safe supplement which can lower your diabetic pet’s insulin requirement. # Reduce Vomiting episodes. There are many reasons your pet vomits – pinpoint the cause and choose the best remedy. # Finally ease the Ache in your Pet’s Back. Your pet will romp and play more without constant back pain. # Treat your Pet’s Dental Problems. Bacteria from your pet’s teeth can get into the bloodstream …

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Pet-friendly Home Products by “One for Pets”

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Pawsch Jacksonville provides home delivery of premium pet foods, treats, toys, medications and supplies at competitive prices. Delivery is at no extra cost, and many of the products are not available at traditional pet supply stores. Need more information? Give them a call at (904) 288-0155 or visit them on the web at www.pawsch.com

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Do you remember the last time you visited your local pet store for discount pet supplies? Did you notice while you are out there, the store was mostly filled up with pets and cages for them? If you did see anything like that, then the reason is that pet stores are earning more money by supplying pets rather than by supplying pets. But in true terms many people look out for pet supplies at cheap rates.

Cheap and Convenient

Now there is a place that pet holders can shop, which bears not only a whole choice in discount pet supplies, but also the prices on them are cheap as well. It’s on the Internet. This is the reason why more and more pet owners are now buying their discount pet supplies online. Pet owners are now feeling more convenient to shop for their discount pet supplies online by sitting at their home comfort.

Reliable Quality Pet Food

For exotic pet owners, now online shopping for discount pet supplies is the most reliable way. They simply don’t have any trouble in fulfilling all of the unique need of their unusual pets. Finding the quality pet food is no more a problem now with the availability of Internet. This is the reason why finding the best high quality food for any type of pet is a breeze from most of the online sources for pet supplies. The need for a secured and quality pet food is now becoming a need for every pet owner as there was a news happened with Chinese pet food manufacturers as they have mixed up some of the dangerous additives while processing pet foods. But now, a pet owner can relax and with just a click can grab the best pet food for his/her pet.

Readily Obtainable for Convenient Usual Use

Keeping the correct medicinal supplies gladly on hand for your pet is of the greatest value for a happy and fit animal. Regular flea, tick and worm treatments are a necessity and having the medicines that you require willingly on hand makes this all the more easier. With simple and suitable sources for pet supplies online forever at your fingertips on your computer, you don’t need to worry about going with out all of the prerequisites that are necessary for preserving your wooly friend.

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