Pets Are Good For People

Ever since history has begun, we have revealed that our pets have without a doubt made our lives more uncomplicated and even better. Animals have helped us search for our basic needs and have been the defenders of our dwelling and children. They have fixed themselves in our hearts and in our homes. It is undeniable to declare that for innumerable reasons, our pets have made it unfeasible for us not to exist without them. Even now, in an era where approximately every plausible modern convenience has been invented, simply not having your pet with you is inconceivable. Come to think of it, have you ever wondered the actual reason why there are so many of us who live with their pets? In short, pets are good for us.
Nevertheless with pets, there are also tasks to think about, mainly when it comes to pet urine removal and can be considered as a regular chore. On the other hand, it is a tiny price to pay particularly if you understand the benefits and advantages of having a pet. You will most surely see and experience personally the wonder of having a pet in your life.

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In this Issue

Pets Are Good For People The Cat's Mastery of the Present Moment Cat Eye Care - Is It Important? Intestinal Parasites in Dogs Fleas, Ticks and Mites, Oh My! Do You Have Fleas? Cat Behavior - Cat's Sixth Sense The Commercial Dog Food Controversy The Healthiest Dog Food For Your Puppy Variey and Consistency Are the Key to Diet... Homemade Dog Food Tips The Companionship Of An Older Dog Is Your Cat Under the Weather? Homemade... Pet Food Containers: The Right Storage... Are You Ready For an Exotic Pet Formicariums: Ant Farms of the Century

The Cat's Mastery of the Present Moment

Cats are masters of the present moment. Have you ever seen your cat wringing her paws over what to do about a problem or sprinting around the house multi-tasking? The only crazed feline I see in my household is Lexie Lee chasing her favorite feather toy until she pounces on it with sheer delight.
I have been the caregiver of six cats in my adult life, and I have learned about living through them. They taught me one important, life-altering lesson. All the cats focused on the present and enjoyed life immensely when doing so. My beloved cat, Tatianna, savored food when she was hungry or even when she thought she was hungry. In fact, when her face was in the food bowl, nothing else mattered. She was not worried that the last can of food had just been served.
She appreciated the dappled sunlight and could lie for hours with its warmth enveloping her body. She learned quickly when and where the sunlight would be streaming into a room. Then moment by moment she moved to follow the sun rays and entertained me with her antics. Light breezes that caught the lace curtains always captured her attention. She liked to stretch out on the window sill and let the curtains flirt and flutter around her. Movements, such as a bird washing in the birdbath, a squirrel foraging for food or a raccoon crushing leaves under foot, caused her to focus intently on the outside and what was happening that moment in her environment. Then when I arrived home, she focused on welcoming me properly by kneading her paws on the top of my shoes the minute I sat down. I, in turn, offered up a kind word, a caress, or a scratch under the chin to acknowledge our special moment.

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Cat Eye Care - Is It Important?

Cats eyes have often been used in horror films. But as a pet owner, you will know that the cats stare is really the complete opposite of what is portrayed in films. That is why cat eye care, is so very important for you to know.
How do cats say I love you? well this is through their eyes, of course. This is why you should never be frightened by there gaze. So how does this work? First of all, the cat stares at you for a long time. And after that, it blinks its eyes slowly. Some people call this the cats kiss. But you should also know that this is your cats way of showing you that it loves you.
But how do you return the favor? This is easy, all you need to do is follow your cats lead. Stare at it for a long time and then slowly blink your eyes. See? Cats eyes have also be used for romantic films as well.
Do not believe the horror films you see. Cats do not and never have had a third eye. Their eye sight is really far better than a humans. Instead of a third eye, what cats have is a third eyelid. This is called a nictitating membrane.

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Intestinal Parasites in Dogs

Author: Garry Neale

Internal parasites can take several different forms and can affect the health of your dog or puppy. The most common internal parasite found in dogs are worms. This is in large part due to fact that a majority of all puppies acquire intestinal worms prior to birth or shortly thereafter.
Roundworms - These worms are generally 2 to 4 inches long. They look like spaghetti and are usually white or tan in color. If a dog has a heavy infestation, they can pass these in their feces and on occasion they'll show up in their vomit. Roundworms can cause diarrhea and vomiting and affect the dog's basic health and appearance. Puppies that are infected with these worms will appear potbellied. Roundworms may become so bad that they can create an intestinal blockage where the stool can't pass. These worms can also be transferred to humans and can cause an infection which may even result in possible blindness if not treated.
Hookworms - These worms are parasitic worms that commonly infect both humans and dogs. These thin, tiny

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Fleas, Ticks and Mites, Oh My!

Author: Garry Neale

External parasites are common among most dogs. An external parasite is an insect that lives off the blood supply of the host. The common parasites found on dogs are; fleas, ticks, mites and lice.
Fleas
Fleas are parasites and derive most of their food supply from their hosts. Fleas not only feed off dogs, but will bite just about any other mammal they come in contact with, including humans. A dog that has a heavily infestation will scratch themselves constantly which leads to other secondary skin problems. Fleas are also a host for and infect your dog with tapeworms, an internal parasite.
When fleas are fall off or are removed from a host for a period of time, they don't have a food source. As a result, the hungry fleas will attack the first warm-blooded creature that comes near and often times, this mean biting people. The adult fleas live on blood and must have a blood meal in order to reproduce.
In order to get rid of fleas some people try using a flea comb, but this is not very effective and it's also very time consuming. Most dog owners prefer to use a flea shampoo to attack the problem. Shampooing your dog also gets rid of the skin flakes that fall on the ground and act as food for

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Do You Have Fleas?

Author: C Swarens

Every pet owner worries about the possibility if dealing with fleas. After all, these little pests can be quite irritating to both your pet and to you. Therefore, you should do everything possible to keep fleas at bay and to get rid of them as soon as you suspect an infestation.
Fleas and Your Pets
Unfortunately, your furry pet is the perfect home for fleas. When a flea lays its egg in your pet's fur, the fur serves as an incubator that helps the eggs hatch. Of course, some of the eggs may fall off from your pet and they still may hatch. This is why you might find eggs or fleas somewhere other than your pet. Most fleas, however, remain attached to the pet's fur securely.
Fleas in Your Home
If your home has become heavily infested with fleas, you might actually find some small brown worms crawling about. These worms are actually the fleas that have entered the larvae state. These worms need blood in order to survive, so they will search endlessly or a host in order to stay alive. Until they find a warm blooded host, they can actually live off of the dried feces that have been left behind from adult fleas and can even survive by eating the flakes of skin that you leave behind or even the dust balls that accumulate

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CatBehavior - Cat's Sixth Sense

For many years stories of cats with strange abilities to foretell natural disaster or weather changes have abounded. Most reports concern cats showing strange behaviors before storms, volcano eruptions, earthquake or even before less natural phenomena such as air raids. (Many households with a cat in World War II soon realized they could regard puss as a reliable early-warning system as it became agitated before sirens went off) Often stories involve a mother cat moving her kittens from an area or house which later is devastated by flood, landslide or lava to a safer refuge; or a cat trapped within four walls desperately to get out. Reports of such instances of forewarning, as displayed by many cats before the 1979 California earthquake, are now taken so seriously in America that scientists in seismology there are studying the behavior of over 200 species of animals with the help of 10,000 volunteer observers. If these observers notice anything peculiar in the animal’s behavior, they have to dial a hotline to y\the earthquake scientists. This is also done in China and in 1975, acting on the behavior of cats and other animals, Haicheng was evacuated twenty-four hours before a huge earthquake devastated the area. No doubt the cats had already taken to the hills. And, let’s face it, if you live in a region likely to suffer from quakes, all forewarnings are greatly received.
There are several theories as to how cats seem to be able to predict these happenings. During rainstorms, enormous amounts of electricity are discharged into the clouds and create electromagnetic waves that spread through the atmosphere for hundreds of miles.

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TheCommercial Dog Food Controversy

Can you trust your veterinarian for advice about which food to feed your dog. Unfortunately, vets are often placed in a compromising position because they are not necessarily experts on dog nutrition because many veterinary colleges list animal nutrition as optional course. Also, some vets make a profit from selling commercial pet foods themselves. Often, the relationship between dog food companies and veterinarians is more about business than about pet health.
In the light of recent dog food recalls many are asking what is the best diet for their dogs. This is a relatively new problem that has been developing for the past 100 years or so. Before that, dogs lived fairly healthy lives for thousands of years by eating the scraps and leftovers from their owner's dinner tables. It is now argued that many of the problems found in our dogs these days are a result of the commercial dog foods that consist of poor quality meats, preservatives, and other harmful ingredients that dogs have not evolved the ability to digest. These same people point out that commercial dog foods also lack nutritional sufficiency.
Another potential difficulty with commercial pet food is the pesticides, molds and antibiotics that can be found in the

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TheHealthiest Dog Food For Your Puppy

What is your puppy eating?
Have you ever taken the time to find out?
Many people think that the food available in stores these days are highly processed and full of a lot of preservatives. You should seek advice from your veterinarian on what is the best food for your pet and also do some research of your own. There are a lot of foods that are available for dogs, but try to find out what really is the best for your puppy. For you to approve a pet food for your puppy it must prove that it can provide sufficient nutrients. The ratio for a dog's food should be 40 % meat, 50 % vegetables and about 10 % grains or other carbohydrates. You should always ensure that protein sources are high on the list such as chicken, lamb and beef. Grains can be a long term source of energy, fibre and minerals. Grains that can be used and considered good for puppies are rolled oats, barley, millet and brown rice.
Dogs are carnivores by nature but they can survive on a vegetarian diet, however, they would not thrive on it. When purchasing food for your puppies look out for the ones that display high protein and fillers in the ingredients. This is because there is usually a lot more in the fillers than can be

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Variey and Consistency Are
the Key to Diet Success

When many people hear the terms nutrition or diet, they also typically think of starving for several weeks to lose weight that will be gained back later. However, this shouldn't be the case. Creating a proper diet should be a lifestyle change that allows people to monitor their weight without negatively impacting a person's health or mood.
There isn't a perfect diet or meal plan available. Some people have different dietary needs than others. A person's activity level, health goals, and general wellness should all be taken into consideration. In addition, as our bodies adapt to a diet, a change is needed to keep the body improving in composition and appearance.
As a person continues to eat the same foods, consume the same number of calories, and absorb the same amount of vitamins, their bodies begin to plateau in their change. Cycling a person's food variety and quantity is an important part of making sure continual progress is made. Not only is variety and food cycling important for helping your body to

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How Homemade Dog Food Tips

Author: Garry Neale

Before you start making your own homemade dog food, you need to know a couple of things. You need to find out what foods are toxic to your dog. You also should understand that preparing home made dog food may not be as easy as it sounds because it's very much like to preparing food for your children. Making homemade dog food is not the same thing as gathering up your leftovers and scraps and throwing them in a dog bowl. Keep in mind, your reason for preparing home made dog food is provide you dog with a healthy diet. On the bright side, making homemade dog food can be cheaper since you can include your dog's dietary requirements in your normal food shopping expenses. Dogs are omnivores just like people. This means they can eat vegetables and grains as well as meat.
Though people and dogs have different physiologies, there are a few things in common when it comes to diet. So many times, you'll be able to make your homemade dog food while making your people food. For example, most home made dog food recipes will consist of a ratio of two thirds meat to one third vegetables.

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The Companionship Of An Older Dog

My husband and I have rescued dogs of all ages over the years. Since we love dogs and want to help when we can, we always get our dogs from shelters and dog rescue groups. We have consistently found older dogs to be our favorites. Their gentleness and straightforwardness have always fit well into our hectic lives.
A dog at or above the age of eight is considered to be a senior dog. The great thing about adopting an older dog is that while they are far calmer than a younger dog, they are still healthy and enjoy playing.
In contrast to younger dogs, an older dog doesn't demand your attention all of the time. However, they do still like a regular routine just like a young dog. Dogs are always happiest when they can rely on a regular schedule, regardless of whether they are an older dog or still a puppy.
A regularly scheduled walk, regular feeding times and the opportunity to snuggle up to you while you read or watch television are ideal for your dog. Come up with a daily schedule which works for you and your dog and you will both be happy.
An older dog has a bit less energy than a puppy, so they will spend a little more of their time sleeping. You may need to give your senior dog a little push to ensure that they receive enough exercise to stay in good shape.
Kids And Senior Dogs
If you are thinking of adopting an older dog but have small children, remember that older dogs (just like us when we get older) do have aches and pains, meaning that they may not exactly love having children tackling them all of the time.
Parents should always teach their children to respect animals and treat them as they would want to be treated if their roles were reversed. If an older dog is a pet you’d like to take in, make sure that they are good with kids and can be relaxed in their presence. If the dog tries to escape from children, they likely will be uncomfortable around yours.
This does not by any means indicate that this older dog is a bad dog, merely that they are alarmed by their sudden movements or perhaps have been mistreated by children in the past.

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Is Your Cat Under the Weather?
Homemade Cat Food May Help!!

When it comes to considering what is the right kind of food to feed your cat there are a number of different choices you have available to you. You can either feed it the cheap commercial foods that come in packs or tins, or you can go the commercial organic cat food route, which can prove to be a little more expensive. But if you really want to feed your cat good wholesome food then why not prepare homemade cat food instead.
Below we look at some of the benefits that can be gained from preparing your own cat food rather than buying the commercial type. It is important that if you are considering changing your pet’s diet you should include in its meals sufficient amounts of nutrients, minerals and vitamins that its body needs. Cats must have meat to live, their bodies require it.
When deciding to make changes to your cat's dietary habits make these changes very slowly. The easiest way of doing this is by adding a small amount of the homemade cat food

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PetFood Containers: The Right Storage
for the Right Pet Food

Man's best friend, family member, or both - this is probably how you look at your pet. Such a close affinity would mean that you won't treat your pet any less than, say, your brother or your best friend, so, needless to say, simply storing his food in a cardboard box just won't do. Indeed, your pet doesn't only need special pet food; this food also needs special care!
Gourmet Pet
Of course, you can always feed your pet scraps from the table, but really, if you care for him that much, you wouldn't want to do that. Pets, like humans, need to eat right. They have to be able to take in the requisite vitamins and minerals in order to be strong, happy, and healthy. What may be good for you may not be good for Fluffy.
It may seem painfully obvious, but first you have to take into account what your pet actually is. After all, you wouldn't want to feed a dog cat food and vice versa.
Next, you have to take into account your pet's age. There

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Are You Ready For an Exotic Pet

Exotic pets are vastly misunderstood in the press, and are often portrayed as unruly, difficult to keep and very much a specialist pet. In actual fact exotic pets make exciting and unusual pets and shouldn't be dismissed as quickly as they often are. They come in all shapes and sizes, from the humble corn snake to the highly aggressive desert hairy scorpion to the stunning dendrobates.
They also can be surprisingly affectionate, as is the case with the bearded dragon, which is well known for the bond it forms with its owner. They can be very intelligent like the monitors and tegu's, who are renowned in the trade for their intelligence. Some unfortunately do deserve the press such as the green iguana and the Burmese python, both of which are often bought as cute hatchlings where they then develop into monsters and end up in rescue centers.
Ideal exotic pets for the beginner include the leopard gecko, this is a brilliant lizard which is very easy to keep, full of character and still one of my firm favorites. They are commonly kept in vivariums where their needs can be met surprisingly easily. The set up costs associated with all of

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Formicariums : Ant Farms of the Century

Formicariums or ant farms are being used for studying ant colonies and their behavior. They help owners learn about the complete variety of cooperative behavioral patterns ants possess. Owning Ant farms is a fun and educational hobby, especially for kids.
Formicariums are primarily designed as vivariums that are used for studying ant colonies and their behavior. These “Ant Farms” are gaining popularity especially in school projects. Hence, the ones who study these ant colonies are regarded as “Myrmecologists”.
An ant colony is also regarded as a formicarium because ants are situated inside a transparent type of plastic or glass box. It was noted that the original formicarium that was commercially-sold was only introduced in the year 1929. Then, it was patented in the year 1931 by a professor and an inventor named Frank Austin. He was an acclaimed professor of Dartmouth College’s Thayer School of Engineering. He was even noted for including wooden scenes similar to farms, palaces as well as various other settings on top of the formicariums ground level in order to

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