Domestic Animals

Dogs

Choosing a Dog

There are many different shapes and sizes of dogs. But before you get a dog you have to ask yourself:Can I exercise the dog? If you have a small apartment you probably don’t want a great dane. If you don’t have a lot of space you don’t want a big dog. Will a long-haired dog shed and cause problems?If you don't want to clean up dog hair a short-haired dog might be better. Do you have enough money for dog food? You might think that is a stupid question but it could cost you over a hundred dollars to feed a big dog. Also, you might think you want a puppy but that cute fur ball could grow into a very big dog.

Feeding Your Dog

When feeding your dog,at first, you should give the puppy the same kind of food and the same and the same number of meals each day. When your dog is older you can gradually change to a different kind of food.The dog must have its own food and water bowls for good hygiene. The dog must have fresh water to drink at all times.

Grooming Your Dog

All dogs should be groomed every day to stop tangling of the fur and to lessen the amount of hair shedded. Dogs with very long and thick coats especially need to be brushed regularly using a metal comb. Short haired dogs need a stiff brush while medium coats need a related brush and a hound glove.

Toys For Your Dog

Your dog could swallow some smaller toys so when buying toys for your dog make sure that your dog cannot swallow it. While puppies are teething you should get them a chew to bite on, which may help them to not chew on your furniture and other things your dog might want to chew on. Some toys that older dogs like to play with include the frisbee and just a ball that they can chase.The toys can give them exercise that is both fun for dog and owner.
 

Cats

Choosing A Kitten

When choosing a kitten, eight weeks is a good age for getting a non-pedigree kitten. When you choose a kitten you should try to choose from a whole litter. You should select a kitten that is happy and frisky. Choose one that comes up to you and not one that hangs back. If any of the kittens seems sick do not get any kittens from there, choose a kitten from somewhere else.

Feeding Your Cat

You should feed your cat in the same place and at the same time every day. Many cats drag out their food to eat, so put a newspaper under their bowl.When a cat is eating let it eat undisturbed. Cats are usually slow eaters so leave the food out for at least n hour. Don’t give your cat any spicy food and try to avoid any sudden changes in the cats diet.If you give your cat any meat with bones in it, such as fish and chicken, remove all the bones to prevent choking.

Children And Your Cat

If you have a child three years old or younger you should watch them very carefully. Children will probably get scratched if they grab at the cat so you should teach them not to grab the cat. It is probably a good idea to put your cat in a different room if you have a baby even though they may not bother them.

A Collar And Harness For Your Cat

Your cat should have a collar with an identification tag attached to it.The collar should be elastic in case the cat got it caught on something. Some cats are trained to walk on leads.If you want to teach your cat this you first need to get the cat acquainted with the lead. Take your cat out in the yard at first until the cat is used to it.
 

Birds

Choosing A Bird

When choosing a bird you first need to know what kind of bird you want. Some birds can be very noisy such as the larger parrots.Healthy birds should notice you when you come near them. Their nose shouldn't be stopped up and their eyes should be clean.When buying your bird you need to check to make sure that the bird has all of its flight feathers.

Feeding Your Bird

A lot of birds can be fed partly on seeds but they also need some vegetables. Seeds don’t have very much vitamin A and calcium which are very important in a birds diet. You should always feed your bird what it is used to when you first get it then,if you want to change its’ diet you should change it gradually.

Hazards In The Home For Your Bird

Some plants in the house can be poisonous, so make s ure that your bird can’t get to any of them. Birds could drown or could drink the water in an aquarium so you need to cover the aquarium whenever your bird is out. You need to keep other animals such as dogs and cats away from your bird and out of the room that the bird is in if it is out. Your birds cage should never be near a window or your bird could have a heaatstroke. Always position the cage away from direct sunlight. Your bird could try to chew on electrical wires so you need to made sure it can’t get to any wires.

Preparing Your Home For A Bird

If you’ve already bought a cage, before you bring your bird home you need to clean out the cage with a safe product, your pet store can tell you what to use. You should clean the food and water bowls and also check to make sure the perches are tight and are near to the food and water. When you first bring your bird home you should leave it in its container until you fill up the birds food and water bowls.

Rabbits

Choosing A Rabbit

When you are getting a rabbit you should get it when its young because they usually don’t live very long. A healthy rabbit shoudn’t have any scabs on the ears and they shouldn’t be torn. The eyes should not swell and the nose should be free of scabs. The body of the rabbit should have no scabs or bald places on it.

Feeding Your Rabbit

A domestic rabbit usually eats about 40 meals a day because rabbits eat their food eats its food all day in small amounts. The rabbit should have enough food to eat all day. The food should be in a small but heavy bowl that the rabbit can’t knock over. The rabbit should have fresh water that should be changed every day. The rabbits drinking water should be in a bottle attached to the side of the cage. It should be cleaned every at least twice a week using a bottle brush.

Hazards In The Home For Your Rabbit

If your rabbit is out of its cage make sure that all the doors are closedso that the rabbit cannot get outside. Your rabbit could fall down the stairs and hurt its back so if you have stairs block them with child-proof gates if your rabbit is out of its cage. Your rabbit could try to eat your household plants so make sure that your rabbit cannot get to them. Your rabbit may try to chew on electrical wires so keep it away from them.

Your Rabbit And Children

Your rabbit needs to be supervised when a young child is handling it even though rabbits are very good with children and can put up with them. When you are choosing a rabbit for a child you need to make sure that the breed you are getting will not grow very big.
 

Iguanas

 

Choosing An Iguana

When choosing an iguana there should be no wounds on the legs and toes. The eyes of the iguana should be bright and shouldn’t be swollen.The mouth shouldn’t smell and his nose shouldn’t have any discharge.

What Age To Get Your Iguana

When you are getting an iguana you should get it when it is young because if you get an older iguana you wouldn’t know the age of it. A young iguana might be easier to tame than anolder iguana and it will probably settle in better.

Feeding Your Iguana

You can now feed your iguana canned and pelleted food made espeially for iguanas. It usually doesn’t need anything added to it. You could hurt the iguana if you don’t follow the directions on the package. Your iguana should have fresh water every day and it should be in a boul that it can’t tip over.

Where To Get An Iguana

If you’ve never had an iguana before it might be a good idea to get one that was bred in captivity. They will probably cost more than imported iguanas but you wont have to be as concerned about parasites and you would know their age which could help you. Iguanas that were bred in captivity would also probably be easier to manage.


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