Choosing And Settling In A Young Kitten

By Maxine Lumkin

Whether you are a long time cat buff or someone who is new to cat ownership, the decision to purchase or adopt a kitty is an energising one. As you head to the breeders to choose your brand new pet, preserve these tips in mind to guarantee that the animals starting weeks in your house are good for both of you.

Picking a Kitten The first step in bringing a young feline comrade into your family is choosing the correct kitten. Start by deciding whether you want a show cat or merely a companion animal. If you wish to show the cat, make certain it fits the breed standard well.

Choose a kitten that is vigorous, has bright eyes and a clean coat. Check for whatever obvious signs of malady or soreness, and do not pick out a kitten that has them.

Ask to see the kittens parents if feasible, you should at least see the queen if buying a pedigree cat from a breeder. Arranging this can help you to determine the possible character of your brand-new cat.

Bringing Your Kitten Home The brand-new kitty will require time to get used to its new surroundings separated from its siblings, it will be frightened at first. Provide your cat with a uninterrupted supply of water from the first off time it sets paw in your home.

When it comes to food always offer only the best quality dried kitten food. A well-fed cat will acclimate a lot easier than one whose nutritionary wants are not being matched.

Settling In Put the kitten in a warm, safe room within its carrier with the door open. Do not pressure the kitten out of the carrier, simply leave it to explore as it wishes to. Provide food, water and a litter tray within the room, making it obvious where they are.

Spend time in the room, and sooner or later your kitten will come to you. You could easily make your fledgling feline apprehensive of you if you attempt to rush along the bonding process.

If you afford the cat sufficient time, you will establish a reciprocally trusting and positive relationship, and you will soon make a lifelong friend.

About the Author:

Maxine Lumkin is a lifelong cat lover. She offers practical help & advice on any aspect of your felines life. Visit her at Saffis Cat Bed , read about the cat litter basics , for a happy, pong-free house.

Cool And Custom Designer Dog Beds

By Andrew Murray

The designer dog bed can encompass a host of different styles, not to mention materials. You can have organic, eco-friendly designer beds, as well as very chi-chi, stylish beds with a definite aura of luxury. The one thing that these beds seem to have in common is that they all tend to be good quality dog beds. And beyond that, they usually come with a particular kind of flair, a certain extra spice to them that makes people sit up and take notice.

Along with those beds that lean toward streamlined European elegance, you'll also find the designer dog bed that leans more toward the exotic. For example, this would include the type of bed that has a bit of an eastern flair. You can see examples of this at Glamour Dog (www.glamourdog.com), with luxury dog beds that call to mind a Sultan's tent or a yurt on the Caucasian Steppes. These are round tent beds, often decorated with jewels or fur, that have canopied roofs that rise to a spire in the center. Although, if it comes with flaps that hang down from the edge of the roof, it starts resembling a circus tent.

But a designer bed for your puppy isn't inevitably a thing of opulence. You can find distinctive designs that concentrate on different things also. Some beds possess a country feel to them, made to look like four-poster beds or big, overstuffed chairs. Other designs are more eccentric, which means you might end up with your dog napping in a truck, a laundry basket or even a gazebo.

And don't forget that memory foam beds, which are more orthopedic than anything else, are also considered designer beds as they add something special to the conventional design.

A designer dog bed can have functionality as the determining factor in its special design, or its pattern can be a matter of sheer whimsy. You might prefer the sort of cool dog beds that feature feathers and velvet, simply so you can express a sense of luxury. Or you may be more interested in the responsibility implied by going with an ecologically friendly bed, made of recycled or all natural materials. The dog probably won't care that much, but if you can find a designer bed that allows it to sleep comfortably but still lets you express yourself, then you'll both be happy.

About the Author:

If you have a dog, you need to be thinking about things he or she needs, such as a dog bed. Surprisingly, there are a lot of different options in pet beds, from a dog water bed to luxurious designer beds. Click here to find out more about what to look for in a dogs bed that's just right for you and your pet.

3 Gold Standard Dog Arthritis Treatments

By Luke Blaise

Dog arthritis is a very common medical condition. It is a degenerative joint disease that is very painful in advanced stages. This disease can be caused by joint injuries, poor joint conformation, and long-term stress on your dogs joints.

Dog arthritis cannot often be reversed, even with surgery. Therefore the main focus in treating this common dog illness is with medications designed to slow down the progression of this joint problem.

Early stages of dog arthritis are usually not painful for your dog. Owners usually only bring their dogs to see veterinarians when their dogs start to limp. Most veterinarians treat arthritis with a couple of different medications that are designed to work together. Here are three commonly used medications for dog arthritis treatments.

The most common medication used is a combination of chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine. These compounds are made from sea mollusks. Your dog consumes these supplements orally, and this helps your dog to rebuild damaged cartilage by providing the building blocks necessary to do this.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, NSAIDS, are another common class of drug used to treat dog arthritis. This class of drug helps to reduce the pain that your dog feels and also helps to how reduce joint inflammation.

Aspirin is the most common NSAID used for dog arthritis, but there are now much safer medications are available. These other medications go by the names Meloxicam, Carprofen, and Deracoxib. These safer medications do a much better job of blocking the inflammation and pain that your dog is experiencing.

A third commonly used medication is called Adequan. This is given as an injection into your dog's joint, and is basically made up of chondroitin sulfate. It is made from the windpipe cartilage of cattle. Adequan for dogs works by several different methods. It blocks joint destruction, stimulates cartilage repair, and lubricates your dog's joints.

Because dog arthritis is a progressive disease you should see your veterinarian right away. Also, if your dog is overweight, reducing your dog's weight can be a great way to relieve stress on joints.

About the Author:

Learn more about arthritis in dogs by stopping by Dr. Chris' website. If your dog is suffering from arthritis, memory foam dog beds can also help them.

Kitten Sneezing: What Cause Your Kitten to Sneeze?

By Sam Kelley

Kittens sneeze sometimes. This is nothing to be concerned about, but you do need to know that a kitten continuously sneezing may be a sign of something more serious. There are a few different reasons that your kitten may be sneezing. We will together look at a few of the causes of feline sneezing.

Kitten allergies! No, I don't mean humans being allergic to kittens... I mean kittens being allergic to other things. Among other things kittens can have a reaction (often sneezing!) to pollen, dust, cigarette smoke, chemicals, mold, carpet cleaners, aerosols, dust in kitty litter, candle smoke and other stuff. All these things could cause your kitten who is allergic to one or more of them to be sneezing. Humans who have allergies often sneeze because of them - just like your kitten sneezing.

Upper Respiratory Infection. Basically this is the common cat flu. It is highly contagious, just like a human flu and affects your kitten in a similar way. Your kitten will be affected in the mouth, nose and sinus areas cause by bacteria, viruses and fungi. Some other things you may spot your kitten displaying are fever, wet nose, watery eyes and coughing.

A kitten could also be sneezing because a foreign object is stuck in its respiratory tract. If this is a case - you should be able to see if something there by using a flashlight. You can attempt to remove the object with tweezers, but it would be a good idea to take her to the vet.

Although it is rare in young kittens, tooth decay may be the culprit behind your kittens sneezing. You will see these things if your kitten has tooth decay, bad breath, puss around the mouth and swollen gums. You need to take your kitten to the vet to get checked out, and to be advised about the necessary treatment.

When a kitten is continuously sneezing, she should be taken to the vet. If your kitten has been sneezing for more than a few days, she needs to see a veterinarian.

About the Author:

Find out more kitten sneezing at Sam Kelley's site. Be sure you get your free copy of Taking Care of Kittens from Keeping Kittens.

The Best Dog Bed Ever: 4 Tips To Help You Find Your Dog's Next Bed

By Luke Blaise

Many people claim that they have the best dog bed, and with the large number of them on the market, it can be hard to determine which one is truly the best one. In reality most of these claims simply are not true.

Most of these dog beds are inferior products that do not last very long. They are simply a pillow that has been labeled as a dog bed. By using inferior materials most of them turn into hard lumpy masses. In order for you to avoid buying the wrong one, here are four pointers to help you find the best dog bed.

1. Find a specialty website that specializes in only a few types of dog beds. Specialty websites usually sell products that are much better than those found on large pet product websites. Avoid buying from websites that list hundreds of dog beds because the majority of them are made with inferior materials.

2. Try and find a dog bed that is made with human grade materials. These high quality materials could be things like memory foam and orthopedic foam. Because of the high quality of these materials, they help the bed to retain its shape. Most inferior dog beds turn into lumpy pillows after just a few weeks of use.

3. Try and find a dog bed that you know your dog will use often and enjoy. This should be something that you think that your dog will fall in love with. There's nothing more disheartening for a pet owner then buy something and then to have your dog never use it at all.

4. Finally, look for a dog bed that has a removable and washable cover. This really extends the life of the product and helps to keep it looking new and fresh.

About the Author:

Want to find out more about the best dog bed, then visit Dr. Chris' site on how to choose the best therapeutic dog bed for your needs.

Pointers For Choosing Dog Collars And Leashes

By Jack Oldman

Make sure that when you are shopping for dog collars and leashes that they are the right fit for your pet. Every pet collar needs to be both safe and comfortable so taking the right measurements is extremely important. Wrap the tape measure around your pet's neck and insert two fingers under it. Use this measurement and add an inch or two to get the right sized collar for your dog. Dog collars typically come in even numbered sizes, so if your dog's neck measures eight inches, just go the next size up. Collars also come in a variety of widths and fastening devices as well, so do a little research and make an educated decision when choosing a collar for your canine.

Similar to how people wear different clothes, jewelry and accessories on different occasions, your dog can enjoy a large collection of collars and leashes too. You will find everything from dog collars with spikes or lights to those with rhinestones, and there are all sorts of custom dog collars, and also adjustable collars. What you opt for will depend on your personal style and the look you want your dog to have.

First, however, let's get the basics out of the way. Don't choose a collar that is too wide, since it can rub your pet's throat. Make sure that the collar and leash you opt for are sturdy enough to keep control of your dog if he wants to chase after things.

Limited slip dog collars and leashes are wonderful for dogs that tend to pull out of their collars. A limited slip collar is a cross between a quick-release collar and a slip collar. The way that these adjustable collars work is they tighten when the dog pulls, but do not choke the animal. This type of collar comes in a wide variety of patterns so that you aren't limited to basic styles.

Whatever type of dog collars and leashes you choose for your fashionably pampered companion, from inexpensive to over-the-top luxurious, your dog's safety should always come first. And as a quick reminder, the last thing on most people's minds when they move is to get a new collar and tag for their pet with the updated contact information on it. Don't forget when you move to make sure that this is on your to-do list.

About the Author:

There are many different types of dog collars for you to choose from. You can go with something that is purely ornamental, such as a designer dog collar, or something that actually serves a purpose. Click here to find more information on the best dog collar for your needs.

5 Diet Dog Food Tips to Get Rid of Fat Dog Syndrome

By Luke Blaise

Diet dog food used to be very high hard to find on store shelves. But now it is becoming more common and certain types of diet dog food can be a great way to help your dog shed some unwanted weight.

This is because up to 40% of America's pets are overweight or obese. Pets that are overweight are prone to more diseases just like humans when they are overweight.

So, if you're worried about your dog's health here are five tips to try when looking for a diet dog food.

1. Try and stick with the same company as your normal pet food. Most companies that make pet food also now make a reduced calorie pet food as well. By going with the same company the taste will likely be for your dog, and it your dog should not have a problem eating the new food.

2. Follow the feeding instructions on the side of the bag and only feed the recommended amount. Most people feed way to much of the diet dog food and it ends up being the same amount of calories for your dog as regular food. So it is important that you measure how much your dog eats per day, exactly.

3. It's always a good idea before you put your dog on a diet to have them examined by a veterinarian. This ensures that they are healthy and can withstand any stress that a new diet and exercise program might bring.

4. Exercise is also big factor in pet weight loss. By increasing the lean muscle mass and increasing your dog's metabolism you can help them dramatically reshape their body in the shortest amount time possible.

5. Lastly avoid giving your dog snacks. It is very tempting to give your dog table scraps, but these are often the fattiest and highest calorie foods that they eat. Don't sabotage your dog's diet before it even starts.

If you put your dog on a diet dog food and follow these five tips, then you should be well on your way to having a lean and athletic dog.

About the Author:

Looking to find the product with the best dog food ratings, then visit www.topdogfoods.org to find the best advice on today's top dog foods.