Pets

Pets

2008/9/10

Pet is any domesticated or tamed animal that is kept as a companion and cared for affectionately.?

What Makes a Pet??

Not all animals can be domesticated as pets. Dogs of course are the most domesticated pets around and are even considered to exhibit human qualities such as compassion for others around them, including humans and other pets.?
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Dogs?

Dogs are known as being the most social of any household pet. Dogs become very attached and protective of their owners which make dogs a great choice for a non-human companion. ?

Dog Breeds:?

Companion Dogs

Companion dogs primary purpose is to provide companionship or friendship to humans. They are rarely used for work or hunting like most of the other dog breeds.? For example, like Chihuahua, Bulldog, and Toy Poodle.?

Gundogs

The Gundog breed of dog is used to find and retrieve game. Gundogs are usually used to retrieve birds but can also be used with other small animals. There is even a breed of Gundogs called 'Water Dogs' which are used to retrieve water fowl from ponds and lakes.? For example, like Golden Retriever.?

Herding Dog

Different breeds of Herding Dogs have been developed to work with different types of animals such as sheep, cattle, etc. These Herding Dogs have been bred for those purposes over many generations and have become quite adept and working with different types of animals.? For example, like sheep dogs.?

Hounds

Hounds were originally bred for hunting and are specialized for either their sense of smell or their sight. Scent hounds are especially adept at tracking animals which are being hunted. They can follow the scent of their prey from great distances. Hounds that are bred for their sight abilities usually are very fast so that they are able to keep up with the game.?

Terriers

Although generally small in size, terriers are known for being strong and athletic. Terriers were originally bred to help Australian farmers hunt and kill vermin (a type of wild rabbit common in Australia). They have also been used in the past to rid houses of pests including mice and rats?

Working Dogs

Working dogs are dogs that are bred specifically to perform some kind of work. Many of the breeds that you will find in the working dogs section are no longer used for work however that is where they originated. Many working dogs have now found their way into a home as a family pet.? For example, Alaskan Malamute.?
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Dog Health & Diseases?

Keeping your dog healthy requires constant care. There are many infections and diseases which dogs may come in contact with throughout their daily activities and learning how to treat them can be very important?

- Allergies	- Rabies
- Arthritis	- Tremors
- Asthma	- Weight Problems
- Heartworm	??
- Heat Stroke	??

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Health issues are always of a concern to dog owners which is why we put together this section. Since dogs are often allowed to roam outdoors they are in contact with a variety of items and other animals which may be carrying diseases. Prevention as always is the best way to go about maintaining a healthy dog although this is not always possible. Other than that it is suggested that you closely monitor your dog?s health for any apparent changes.

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Cats

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Coat Pattern?

The coat patterns in cats normally reflect their heritage in some form. Over time, different coat patterns emerge as breeders cross-breed cats, resulting in carefully refined coats. There are 4 main patterns, which all have variations.?

Parti-colors

Parti-color cats have white fur, with another colour mixed in. It doesn't have to be one other color either, as present in the Calico. Colours can vary from white, cream, black and red, such as in the Calico, to white and black.?

Tortoiseshell

Almost all tortoiseshell patterned cats are female. The tortoiseshell pattern is black, cream and red, which are all intermingled over their bodies. Normally, mixes of black with cream or red on their faces are desired by breeders.?

Pointed

Cats with Pointed coats have light colored fur on their bodies, with their extremities, and in most cases their faces as well, are dark brown or black. The color of those extremities are changed by body temperature, climate, and hair length?

Tabby

Wild cats also have tabby markings. Tabby coloration is any combination of colors, in stripes or patches. The coloration helps in camouflage while hunting.

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Guinea Pig

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Guinea Pigs in the Wild

A common comparison to the habitat of guinea pigs in the wild is that of cows. Guinea pigs tend to inhabit grassy plains as cows do. Guinea pigs heard together in groups and eat a variety of plant matter, grass in particular?
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General Guinea Pig Care?

Guinea Pigs can live for 3-5 years and sometimes even longer. The health of a guinea pig can deteriorate very quickly so it is vital that you pay close attention to its health and take proactive action whenever possible.?
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Rabbits?

Rabbits are often known as bunnies to people around the world. Rabbits have been a part of human culture for 1000 years, and are kept as pets worldwide. ?

Rabbits VS Hares?

Rabbits differ from hares in the sense that rabbits have young that cannot care for themselves at birth because they are born blind and without hair on their bodies. In biology the term used to describe this is altricial. Rabbits are clearly the species which has been domesticated as you would be hard pressed to find someone keeping a hare as a pet. The focus of our website is domesticated rabbits although you will find some information about wild rabbits as well?

General Care?

Housing

Regardless of what kind of environment you have your rabbit housed in, it is necessary to do a complete cleaning of it once per week. Remove the rabbit from the enclosure and empty out the substrate. You can then replace the substrate with fresh hay or wood shavings. You should also clean the rabbits house throughout the week as needed. Cleaning the cage on a weekly basis will help greatly to reduce the risk of your rabbit getting fleas or other parasites?

Feeding

Most pet stores sell food which is specially prepared for rabbits. This food should make up their core diet. They will also require an abundance of hay which is vital to the function of their digestive system. Fruits and vegetables can also be fed to your rabbit on a daily basis. A good variety of food is required to keep your rabbit healthy by ensuring that it is receiving all the vitamins it needs?

Health

When you remove your rabbit from the cage to do its weekly cleaning you should check it over for any signs of sickness. If you observe any abnormalities check with your veterinarian immediately. It is also important to check your rabbits teeth and nails regularly to ensure that they are not becoming overgrown. Both of these are common problems in pet rabbits.?

Tropical Fish?

Beginner Tips?

- Always inspect a fish before you buy it to check for any physical damage. Most pet stores do not do this for you and it is important that you do not start off with a fish that is already injured. If you bring a new fish into your aquarium that already has a disease or infection it is likely to spread it to your other fish.

- Ensure that the different fish you buy are compatible with each other. Putting incompatible fish together is a common mistake and will likely result in one eating the other.

- Read as much as you can about the fish you wish to buy so you understand beforehand the food to feed it and the water conditions it requires. Temperature is also a major concern as tropical fish generally have low tolerances when it comes to water temperature.

- Regularly monitor your fish for signs of diseases. Many parasitic infections such as whitespot and velvet disease have very little signs before it is too late. You will also need to monitor the activities of the fish because changes in behaviour can often indicate a health problem?

Vocabularies:?

1. disease - a disordered or incorrectly functioning organ, part, structure, or system of the body resulting from the effect of genetic or developmental errors, infection, poisons, nutritional deficiency or imbalance, toxicity, or unfavorable environmental factors; illness; sickness; ailment
2. domesticate - to tame (an animal), esp. by generations of breeding, to live in close association with human beings as a pet or work animal and usually creating a dependency so that the animal loses its ability to live in the wild.
3. affectionately - showing, indicating, or characterized by affection or love
4. Gundog - a dog trained to help a hunter, as by pointing or retrieving game.
5. Herding Dog - one of any of several breeds of dogs used originally for herding livestock, including the Belgian sheepdog, collie, German shepherd, and Old English sheepdog
6. Hound - one of any of several breeds of dogs trained to pursue game either by sight or by scent, esp. one with a long face and large drooping ears
7. Terrier - any of several breeds of usually small dogs, used originally to pursue game and drive it out of its hole or burrow
8. Allergies - an abnormal reaction of the body to a previously encountered allergen introduced by inhalation, ingestion, injection, or skin contact, often manifested by itchy eyes, runny nose, wheezing, skin rash, or diarrhea.
9. arthritis - acute or chronic inflammation of a joint, often accompanied by pain and structural changes and having diverse causes, as infection, crystal deposition, or injury.
10. Asthma - a paroxysmal, often allergic disorder of respiration, characterized by bronchospasm, wheezing, and difficulty in expiration, often accompanied by coughing and a feeling of constriction in the chest.
11. Heat stroke - A severe condition caused by impairment of the body's temperature-regulating abilities, resulting from prolonged exposure to excessive heat and characterized by cessation of sweating, severe headache, high fever, hot dry skin, and in serious cases collapse and coma.
12. Tremor - A severe condition caused by impairment of the body's temperature-regulating abilities, resulting from prolonged exposure to excessive heat and characterized by cessation of sweating, severe headache, high fever, hot dry skin, and in serious cases collapse and coma.
13. Tortoiseshell - a horny substance of a mottled brown and yellow coloration, composing the laminate that cover the inner body plates of the carapace of a hawksbill turtle, used for making combs and ornamental articles, inlaying, etc.
14. Tabby - cat with a striped or brindled coat
15. altricial - helpless at birth or hatching and requiring parental care for a period of time

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Discuss Questions:

1.?If you can have a pet, what kind of the pet do you want??? Please be specific.

2.? Do you think that is trouble to have a pet?

3.? There are so many married couples to tame pets rather than to raise children nowadays.? What do you think about that??
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