Emerging Articles

That sounds kinda crazy to me, but it’s a real live true pet.  There are bearded dragons living in homes all across North America.  One of you neighbors could actually own a bearded dragon.  I’ve seen pictures of them before, but never actually got close enough to pet one.  Probably because no one I know has ever owned one.  They are kinda freaky looking things.  I mean basically, they’re little dragons with the funny looking bunch of spikes under the chin that gives them the bearded portion of their moniker.  I couldn’t imagine having one in my hope, as they fall under the category of snakes and lizards, which to me are just creepy.  The pets I prefer, are tropical fish, or something fuzzy like hamsters, dogs or cats.  I suppose I’m ore of a dog person than anything.  But even a few years ago that wasn’t the case.  My kids kind of convinced me otherwise.

Terriers, spaniels, retrievers and other cool dudes look great in tartan coats and beds.

Plaid dog collars suit these breeds, too.

Fashion-conscious dog owners will find that dog collars are moving with the times. More and more dog boutiques are taking dog-fashion seriously and supplying matching leads, toys and all sorts of extras to match the collar. Squeaky toys like bones, teddies and comforters can all be made to match and co-ordinate.

Tartan is an old favourite and there are so many tones to choose from. Experts will explain that it all depends on the purchaser’s clan, family, or regiment.

A word of warning: Balmoral tartan can only be used by members of the Royal Family.

But there are plenty of others to choose from.

It wasn’t that long ago that when someone mentioned a dog, the image that most likely came to mind was some kind of mutt or maybe just a relatively “old school” breed such as a beagle, or a hound, or possibly something like an Irish setter. In recent years, however, novelty and specialty breeds – even something people have dubbed “designer” breeds – have been quick to emerge. Of these, perhaps only the Havanese is worth mentioning. Where these other dogs of the toy family are timid and fragile things often pictured being carried around by some debutante in her pocket book, the noble Havanese is a playful and intelligent dog, and somewhat on the larger side for a toy. As far as intelligence goes, this breed ranks near the top and, as such, many people claim that Havanese dog training is a bit easier than the raising of other breeds. In fact, the Havanese is quickly rising as one of the more popular dogs at shows and contests across the country.

If you have a cat that goes outside flea season is not a fun time. Fleas can make both you and your kitty miserable. Unfortunately they can also infest your house quickly so just treating your cat usually isn’t enough.

Most flea treatments are pesticides that can have harmful side effects for your cat and other people in your household. Small children or elderly can be particularly vulnerable to negative side effects of these treatments.

Luckily you can easily find natural flea treatment for cats that aren’t harmful for your pet or you. Most of them are pretty easy to administer too and many of them can be used directly on your pets and your carpet and furniture. If you live in an area that has a lot of fleas it’s best to keep these natural flea treatments on hand so you’re ready when you see the first sign of them.

We are all subject to a few health problems every now and again and there are five common cat health problems that all cat owners should be aware of. These are issues that most cats have to deal with at one time or another, but as long as the cat is taken care of they will be fine.

Hairballs is a really common issue in cats. Cats lick themselves to get clean and in the processes consume hair. This gets in their digestive track and causes hairballs. The first thing you should do when it comes to hairballs is to comb the cat regularly. This grabs all the loose hairs so the cat doesn’t eat it. You can also give them hairball medication which is a flavored oil based product that helps them pass the hairballs and even foods that help prevent hairballs.

Fleas and ticks are a danger to most cats and dogs. This is especially true if the cat is an indoor or outdoor cat. Fleas can often be seen in the house as well as on the pet and ticks can be felt. You can get flea and tick medication from your vet.

Worms can also be a problem with symptoms that   include weight loss, bloating, and vomiting. Also many cats who have worms look ill.  Looking for ticks is always a good idea if your cat goes out and especially if they go in areas common for ticks such as tall grasses and woods. It is also a good idea to give your cat deworming medicine on a regular basis and be prepared to take them to the vet if they look really ill.

Plant poisoning is common in many cats who have owners who grow plants or ones that go outside. If you have plants inside your home it is important to find out if they are safe and non-poisonous to your cats. It is also a good idea to keep them out of reach. It is of course safer to keep your cat inside rather then letting them outside. If you think your cat has been poisoned then call the vet immediately.

Finally many cats get urinary track infections. Often times signs that they are having a problem can include going to the litter box all the time, straining to go to the bathroom, passing very small amounts of urine, licking of the genital area (more than normal), blood in the urine, and accidents in the home. Urinary track infections will require a vet.

There are of course a lot of serious health problems that cats can have. However these are common cat health problems and most cats will have problems with at least one of them in their lifetime.