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Decorating Your Pet’s Room

For a lot of people, pets are like furry children. If that describes you, then you know the importance of your pet having its own living space. Whether that space is a kennel or a whole room, your pet deserves a decorated environment.

Cats and dogs, which are two of the most popular pets, have different degrees of colorblindness. They don’t perceive colors the same way as humans. Therefore, you should pick a color scheme that is pleasing to you! You will be spending time playing with your pet, and you’ll be affected by the color more than your pet.

Make sure that your pet’s space is nice and roomy. When you are looking at apartments for rent, be sure to ask about room measurements as these can help you evaluate whether or not there is enough room for your pet’s food, toys, and sleep area.

As you begin decorating your pet’s room, try to make sure that most of the decorations have a purpose. Decorative shelves can be used to hold pet treats, a leash, or pictures. A beautiful over sized pillow can also serve as your pet’s bed. A nice selection of pet toys can double as decorations; scatter them around the room to keep your pet active and entertained. You will find a wide array of options, stores and ideas in ebayclassifieds to make your pet’s living environment as cozy as can be.

For the best decorative effect, try to keep the center of the room clear of clutter and toys. Not only does this look more aesthetically pleasing, it is better for your pet! Your pet can have more space to run around and play.

 

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Finding a Home near a Dog Park

Keeping your canine companion comfortable is important to all dog owners, and a good way to ensure they get the exercise they need is to live near a dog park. Finding a suitable home near a dog park can be trying, but there are plenty of areas that offer dog parks to suit canine owners.

Check in with your local property management HOA. They can assist you with finding a house near the area you wish. When searching for that perfect home, it’s a good idea to test the walk to the local dog park. Most homes near a park are usually within walking distance. However, if the walk is too long for you and your dog, hopping in a vehicle may be the remedy for this predicament.

Also, you may want to look into a duplex or apartment complex that is near a dog park. These generally have a higher chance of being near the desired area. This may be an option if renting is something you’re more inclined to do before purchasing a house in the area. Be sure that the rental property does allow pets.

Check with the landlord about the deposit amount for pets. Also, some properties don’t allow specific breeds of large dogs. Make sure you look into this thoroughly before moving. Depending on the area you live in, you can typically find more than one canine-oriented park. Check around for the park you think will work with not only your companion, but also your budget.

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Decorating Your Pet’s Room

dog and cat 

Image by pt via Flickr

The notion of home isn’t a purely human one. It instead belongs to your pet — with you wanting to offer her all of the comforts you demand for yourself, the luxuries. You can find almost anything you need or want for your pet online. Sites like ebayclassifieds are heaven on earth for affordable goods, especially for pets.

It’s important then to create a room that belongs to her, letting the space reflect her needs:

Color Choices 

Walls aren’t meant to be bare: endless spans of white and beige. They instead, you’re certain, should be painted; and your pet’s room will have the same advantage of color as the rest of your home. The choice you make, however, requires consideration (specifically of emotions). Red, orange and similar shades are stimulating. Blues, greens and browns, however, are known to subdue. Understand the intentions of the space before painting.
Bedding Decisions

 

A spare pillow won’t suffice; a collection of sheets is gauche. Your pet deserves a bed worthy of her needs, and you intend to offer it. That’s — thankfully — an easy thing. There are a variety of bedding types to discover: from traditional loungers to memory foam pads to even cat condos. You can find the right size (and style) for your animal. 

Fabric Selections 

The purpose of a pet room is to offer sanctuary for your four-legged family member. That requires more than good intentions, however. It instead demands wisdom. Choosing fabric (whether window treatments, blankets or rugs) should be a careful process. Be certain you select cloths that can be cleaned easily; avoid pastel colors or prints as these can’t disguise dirt; and consider synthetic fibers to ensure durability against potential teeth marks. 

Use these suggestions to create the perfect space for your pet.

 

 

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Check In With A Check Up for Your Pet

As many folks will tell you, there are two kinds of people in this world: Dog people or cat people. One thing all of those folks have in common is their pets need to visit their doctors on the same schedule as their human owners. A wellness exam is encouraged to be scheduled every six months with a veterinarian. And just like humans, pets are living longer thanks to advances in medicine. However, there is no escaping the fact that our pets age quicker than us. This means we need to stay on top of their healthcare with a bit more diligence.

At a typical pet wellness exam, the veterinarian will first make sure that your pet’s vaccinations are up to date. This is especially important with dogs. Because they are such social animals, dogs literally get their noses into all kinds of places. This can lead to all kinds of health concerns. Having the proper vaccinations can prevent troubles after a visit to the dog park.

A vet will be checking weight, heart and lungs on your pet. You might also want to bring them a special “sample” of your pet’s poo. This is the best way to check for parasites. Depending on the age of your pet, your doctor might suggest a blood draw to screen for other issues. It’s all part of a healthy maintenance plan.

Just like your annual physical, your pet’s doctor will also be examining your pet’s eyes, ears and stomach. One other item to stay on top of is your pet’s dental hygiene. Occasional bad breath issues aside, our pets don’t have the luxury of twice daily teeth brushing. Scheduling a deep cleaning is the best course of action to prevent dental disease. There are many methods to choose from including cleanings that don’t require anesthesia. For all our pets give us, twice yearly visits to the doctor aren’t asking for much!

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Starting Your Fish Right

When guests come into your home and you have an aquarium set up, they love to walk over and watch the fish for a few seconds. Children will stand in front of the tank and watch the fish for a long time. They love the free motion of fish as they swim around. Watching fish is very relaxing and quite enjoyable for most people.

Setting up your aquarium is actually quite easy and relatively inexpensive. Decide which size tank you can afford and will fit in the space you have chosen. It needs to be near a power source and out of drafts and direct sunlight. Placing two or three inches of aquarium gravel on the bottom of the tank allows the little microorganisms to live. They are needed to keep your tank and your fish healthy.

You can decorate your tank with driftwood, rocks and ornaments purchased from your pet store.  Live or plastic plants add beauty to your tank. Make sure to leave a large area in the middle of your tank for the fish to swim. They need to swim and race around as they love the ability to frolic and dart in and around your decorations. They also need to hide when they want their privacy. Many fish kept in the middle of rooms that can be viewed from all sides, do not live as long.

Using a good filtration system and tank heater will also allow your fish to remain comfortable and healthy. Keeping a hood on your tank will prevent them from jumping out and keep evaporation to a minimum.

Now you are ready to purchase your fish and start to enjoy them as they dart around in their paradise. You can now experience the enjoyment of relaxing and watching your own fish as they swim about your home aquarium knowing they are comfortable and safe.

Filed Under: General, Pets Tagged With: , ,

The Value of Pets in Recovery

The road to recovery for an addict is never an easy one. Trying to transform the mindset of an addict who gives into their addiction is not always easy. Plenty of addicts must take the time and care to go through lengthy rehabilitation programs to learn how to live in a world with temptation, and they must learn how to create ways to enforce good behavior and have good judgment.

For some addicts, this may involve the assistance of a pet. It seems odd that pets would be so important for an addict to get back on track, but the truth is there is a lot about pet care that a person who is struggling with addiction can learn about themselves and about the path to recovery.

Having a pet is a big responsibility, and one that should not be taken lightly. It’s caring for another life, and the decisions that you make that can impact that life greatly. This is a very important tool in the recovery process, and what it ultimately does is force the addict to take responsibility for something and put someone else before themselves. It also helps them to develop a nurturing relationship built on unconditional friendship and love. Many addicts have spent a long time being selfish about their own needs, and having a pet is great way for them to be both unselfish and accountable for their behavior. This also gives them the opportunity to learn about independence and self reliance.

There are many rehab facilities, such as Rehab-International.org, that actually encourage patients to bring their pets with them as a way to jump start the healing process. It’s also a great way to make the addict feel comfortable and cared for during treatment. With the love and companion of a pet, the enormous bridge to recovery is easier to cross.

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Pets Smell Better With Baking Soda

Your pet deserves good care and that care does not have to be expensive. Baking soda is relatively cheap and does an excellent job in many different ways when you want to care for your pet.

As baking soda is nontoxic you do not have to worry about hurting your animal. Baking soda absorbs many different odors, which makes your life much more pleasant. After a pet accident you can scrub the area with club soda and let it dry. Then take some baking soda and sprinkle the area you cleaned and let it stand for about 15 minutes. After you vacuum the residue you should have a clean smelling area.

Dental hygiene is just as important for your dog or cat as it is for you. Dip a damp, soft toothbrush into baking soda and brush gently. His breath will smell better and he will also appreciate the clean feel on his teeth, just as you do.

Another dental hygiene trick is to take a solution of ½ teaspoon salt, one teaspoon baking soda and 1 cup warm water and then rinse your pet’s mouth.

Skunk smell is one foul smelling stench. When Fido or Fifi have had a run in with our stripped friend, no one wants to be around them for a week. To help with the stench you can wash your animal in a bath with ¼ cup baking soda, 1 teaspoon liquid soap and 1 quart of 3-percent hydrogen peroxide. Throw away the extra solution and let your pet dry. This should allow you to snuggle with your pet again.

Help your pets sleeping area to smell good. Sprinkle baking soda, let sit fifteen minutes and vacuum.

Baking soda can go a long way in making you and your pet smell good. Your friends will also appreciate coming into your clean smelling home.

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Man and Animals: A Symbiotic Relationship

Humans and animals belong together. We love our pets and they love us. But this relationship goes beyond just having affection for each other. We are symbiotic. We help each other physically, emotionally, and socially.

Purdue University’s Center for the Human-Animal Bond has been conducting studies since 1982. Some of their findings are quite fascinating.

When people are in frequent contact with animals they experience reduced anxiety, a decrease in blood pressure and they just feel better.

As children interact and observe the behavior of their pets they often become more nurturing. Studies are still on-going but children with pets are possibly better parents when they start having their own children.

When animals have been introduced into nursing homes, hospices, prisons and even hospitals they have found a distinct therapeutic correlation. Animals sooth the patients and bring a calm to frazzled nerves or to the injured psyche.  Recovery is faster or declines are slowed. Quality of life for the patient tends to be much better.

When people are around pets those people tend to be happier. They stop and enjoy the love that flows back to them from the animal. Both people and animals are social beings. We thrive best when we have interaction between other beings. Whether that interaction is between two people or a person and a pet does not appear to make a difference.

There have been extensive studies about the benefits of humans having pets. We know we are better off. Studies are just beginning to determine how the human interaction is beneficial to the animals. These studies are looking at not just domesticated animals but they are also looking at how wildlife and humans interact. These studies will be interesting to see how different species will show benefits or detriment from their human interactions.

Man and animals are on this earth together and we are finding that we are truly symbiotic. Mankind is happier when they interact with animals and animals are happier and live longer when they live with and interact with mankind.

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Responsibly Breeding Your Pets

Breeding your pets can be very easy. If a male and a female are around each other they, most likely, will breed.  It really is that simple. However, this laissez-faire attitude also causes thousands of animals to be put to sleep every day at humane societies all over the world.

If you decide that you do not want to responsibly breed your pets then please have them spayed or neutered and thereby save their offspring from living horrible lives or being killed early either humanly or otherwise.

Responsible breeding has four basic points.

First, acquire your animal from an established and reliable breeding source. Raise genetically healthy animals with good bloodlines.  This will allow life to animals that are free from common genetic defects and will allow their young to also be healthy and happy.

Second, as you breed animals,  do so primarily for healthy, even tempered and intelligent pets. You can breed for color and markings but these should be secondary to the health and happiness of the animal.

Third, a responsible breeder will only breed as many animals as they can handle themselves or they can find homes for. Often they will talk to others and breed only when they know they have a home ready for the animals. The adoptive family can then watch the mother progress through her pregnancy and birth. They can then enjoy the babies knowing they were wanted from the beginning.

Fourth, if the adoptive family does not work out the responsible breeder will take back the, now unwanted, animals. Recognize that not everyone can have pets in the home. When the adoptive family realizes that their children or mom or dad are allergic to the animal, the poor innocent animal must leave the home. This is hard on all involved but knowing that the animal went to a good home lets the children know the pet was lovingly moved to a new home.

And fifth, they will also make sure that the adoptive family is taught how to responsibly breed or ensure that the animal is properly spayed or neutered.

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Don’t Let Your Best Friend Go Undressed!

Pets are definitely a part of the modern family! When you choose a new outfit or a costume for a special occasion, don’t let your best friend feel left out. These days, pets of all types and sizes can be just as fashionable as their owner. If you’re interested in creating a wardrobe for your pet, try one of these ideas for pet costumes:

Dress for the Occasion

If you’re dressing up for a wedding or a party, select a tuxedo or lacy dress for your little friend. While this usually works best for dogs, cats and other pets have been seen fashionably attired at various venues. Your pet’s clothing doesn’t have to be formal! Dress them up rocker-style or as a cute little ladybug depending on the occasion. Going to the beach? Try a floppy hat or some cool sunglasses.

Holiday Outfits

One of the best opportunities to try out a few pet costumes is a major holiday. For Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, even normal retail stores stock a few pet-friendly costumes. Of course, you can order more elaborate costumes from online sites. Whether your pooch likes to look like a devil, a turkey, or Santa Claus, he’ll enjoy the holiday much more when everyone is fussing over how cute he is! Don’t forget to take a few pictures; pet postcards make great greeting cards for these holidays. They’re much more interesting than a standard item.

Everyday Style

Once you and your pet get into this new trend of costuming together, you don’t have to wait for a special day to try on a few new duds. Pet clothing is available in everything from raincoats to pajamas! You can even buy a pair or two of doggie shoes for your furry little friend.

Don’t leave your pup out in the cold on your next shopping spree! Dress your pet up to attract the attention he or she craves!

Filed Under: General, Pets Tagged With: , ,
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