Ah! So now you are looking for ape friend that seemed to be a pretty smart buddy in that latest Hollywood flicks you saw recently. You must be wondering if you could own one and keep yourself occupied with your new found friend. Well, take it slow buddy, because it isn’t as easy as it looks like on the screen. No I am not saying it would turn out to be another ‘The-Rise-of-The-Planet-Of-The-Apes’, but you would surely have  a tough time handling your monkey friends. Here is why.

Disciplinary Issues

While you may find baby monkeys and Chimpanzees irresistibly cute but as they grow up, the reality would soon strike upon you in the form of disciplinary issues associated with them. Look! They are not same as a dog or cat, which would wag its tail around you and listen to your orders. They are wild and certainly not the ones who would respond when you throw the stick. As kids, the apes learn all the monkey etiquette via social interactions by observing their elders and imitating them. This way of learning is obstructed when they live in human filled environment and tend to behave differently, which can be abnormal. As babies they can be easy to handle but as they grow up they can prove to be an uncontrollable liability that would chatter and roam around in your house defying your sense of peace and safety. It is difficult to teach an ape human behavior and etiquette and it obviously not preferable and expected.

Wild, Real Wild!

They are not domestic beings. Though they are vegetarians but they have got canines that can prove to be dangerous if not fatal. There have been many cases where a poor owner lost a finger or two as his pet lost his temper. By the time they are adults, that is around five years of age, they become quite stronger than humans. In any case if they become aggressive then even the most experienced care taker cannot help but watch the mess come into existence despite all the efforts. Apes, though can be handled to some extent when they are young but as puberty hits, they long for others of their kind and become ecstatic.

Space and Time

Apes, with chimps specially stay with their moms for more than five years. Even while sleeping, the mamma chimps keep in contact with their infants while sleeping. They are raised with affection and care which a human cannot relate to or imitate. Even devoting all the affection and care, owners often overlook the everyday needs of constant cleaning, developing new tricks to keep them occupied, feeding regularly etc. Petting a chimp is not only concerned with keeping a hold on basic needs, ample space and dedicated time devotion are a part of it. No matter how big your bungalow is, or if you have a huge backyard, for a grown up apes, it would never be enough. Apes like to roam around and explore new spaces, that way your whole house can turn into a mess. It is how you imagine a 3 year old powerful kid roaming across your house, pulling down curtains and moving tables and furniture.

Chimps can become irritated if neglected. You may be off your schedule or come late sometime only to find your pet friend really angry upon you, that may take the shape of a havoc. Oh and if you think you can take your pet on a trip with you then forget that, you won’t even find a proper caretaker when you are away all by yourself.

Communicable diseases

Of course we are not much different from them, they being our ancestors. What could be more dangerous than getting infected by a disease they carry, which can b easily transferable living with your pet. Any disease that harms them can affect us too, since we are so similar genetically. So either way, a disease can be bad for both you and your ape friend equally, no matter who is the transmitter.

Time to say goodbye

Finally after going through all the headache and back breaking struggles , you would realize that these big monkeys only belong to the forest, where they can be happy and stay healthy. It can come to you that no matter how much compassion and care you show towards your pet and all the time you devoted for it, all of it turned out to be a treachery. Well, then let it be clear, like you can’t stay in a jungle with a chimp family, climbing trees and eating fruits, similarly an ape cannot be tamed to be a domestic amuse. Though you might have bonded with the ape but you realize have to let go, well deep down you actually knew this day would come.

The Disturbing Truth

Many owners don’t know this but zoo keepers don’t accept apes that have grown under human influence as they don’t mingle up well with others of their kind. They cannot adopt to the character traits that are though small  but unique and equally important to stay alive among their own species. Thus as a misfit they are targeted by other apes and suppressed. Same is the reason why they can’t be let out in the wild, the conditions being tougher there, decreasing the survival chances.

One dark truth that follows is that, these chimps are sent to various laboratories for innumerable experiments that are conducted ruthlessly upon these creatures. The are subjected to pain and torture and kept in inhuman conditions. Though the owners are told not to visit their chimps and disturb them in their new and happy homes, they don’t come to know that their beloved friends actually become victims to various horrendous conditions they are kept in. Thus following this many countries and places have banned keeping apes as pets.

The post The Ape Gape appeared first on Pet Attack.

The smallest breed of dog in the world, Chihuahua got its name from the Chihuahua state in Mexico. The progenitor of the breed was found in the same place in 1850s though the origin of the breed is still deduced from many different theories. Right from the traces in the Great Pyramid of Cholula and ruins of Chichen Itza to the discovery of a similar looking dog effigy to 1325 AD in Georgia, there are various arguments over the breed’s origin. History is by-gone, now these little dogs have become the most popular breeds as a toy dog. A litter may have pups that may differ drastically in weight and size. Chihuahuas give you a good long company of up to 20 years if cared well for. They are good pets to keep and easy to take around. They are feather light so just hold them into your arms and carry on. A quirky breed, it doesn’t need much exercise. If not anything it will be a loyal protective companion at least.

Appearance

There are two breeds of Chihuahua, recognized by the hair length- the short haired and the long-haired. The height ranges from 6-9 inches however some breeds even grow to 12 to 15 inches tall while the weight of around 1.8 to 2.7 kilograms is considered healthy. They have big round eyes, ears that stand erect and round or sometimes deer like skull. Their furs can have velvety touch or can be upright like whiskers. Surprisingly the short haired breeds shed more hair than the ones with long hair. The fur color is a mix of hues that range from solido red, cream, brown and spotted.

Temperament & Traits

The behavior of the owner greatly affects the behavior of the Chihuahua. Temperamental Chihuahuas can get provoked easily and may even attack, so it is better not to have this breed in a family with small children. Sometimes they may become possessive towards their owner and may even attack in the act of protecting them. Children of 13 years or above can manage with the dog if properly taken care of. Chihuahuas don’t get along well with other breeds as much as their own breeds. Despite being the smallest in the canine family of dogs, they dare to show their bold side at other dogs. They usually sneak into small places making their own den kind of thing. They also love to bury themselves under pillows, blankets, clothes and bottom of beds. Many people treat Chihuahuas like a doll or a baby, carrying them everywhere along, shushing them playfully, ignoring signs of aggressive display and swaying it all off in one or two excuse maybe. But the reality is the temperament of your dog totally depends on how you raise it. They generally get suspicious towards strangers. A  Chihuahua cab be trained to various things including not barking at anyone and everyone. They bark because they usually get suspicious about strangers which is the first sign towards building a tendency of biting.

Health

Chihuahuas require extra care in case of births and dental care. They also have tendency to have some genetic disorders generally neurological like epilepsy and seizure. They don’t grow equally in a litter, with drastic variations in weight and height among their siblings. Chihuahuas have larger eyes hence more chances of eye infections and watery eyes due to dry air or air-borne allergies. They also shiver when excited, stressed or feeling cold. The ones with shorter coats are less tolerant than their counter breeds. They usually like to be in sun or under blankets to get warmth. They would look for the tiniest sunspot and gather themselves there to warm up. It is recommended to make them wear something warm during winters, specially the breed with shorter hair.

Taking Care

People buy toy dogs out of wish, of just to have one, but they don’t realize that a breed this small can be easily injured or stepped over. Now that you know they have tendency to hide under pillows and blankets, you might sit on one, unknowingly or maybe hurt him, while he has slit under the sofa pillow.  Proper care is required towards the breed and they should be always kept under your eyes so that you are assured, they don’t run away and injure themselves. It is better to put them on leash and getting themselves to injury. They jump around and use their front claws like cats, so if you have leather furniture just be careful with this little devil, as they even have tendency to chew off your possessions. Your home should be comfortable enough with not too many holes and spaces as these dogs tend to snug themselves almost everywhere. Chihuahuas shed a lot of hair, but that also depends upon which is it.

Like every dog or any pet for that matter, your Chihuahua requires a lot of attention. If you work late and have  little time for your pet then this breed is not the right choice. Your pet will gift you with its tremendous loyalty and compassion.

The post Say Chi-huahua.. appeared first on Pet Attack.

We all want to keep pets. However, it does not always seem plausible to keep a dog or a cat even if we ourselves are more than ready to shoulder the responsibility. The problem, as is most common in apartments in big cities, is the lack of space and the objection of flatmates and neighbors about having a pet. This, even though a problem which loos large over the urban life in general, can be somewhat alleviated by adopting what we can call apartment pets. Apartment pets can vary in genus- they can be rodents or reptiles or even mammals, but one which unites them into one single category is their small size. So, to put it simply, apartment pets are very similar to pocket pets, are easy to carry and can kept without letting the entire housing colony know. Although hamsters, rats, mice, chinchillas ,degus and gerbils are considered popular apartment pets, people who have a thing for reptiles and amphibians but do not have the time and space for a snake and the desire to house a common toad can opt for Fire bellied newts. Fire bellied newts, contrary to popular belief, are easily available in pet shops that house more than cats and dogs.

Fire bellied newts usually belong to the genus cynops, and the most available kind is called the Chinese fire bellied newts or Cynops Orientalis. You might also find them named variously as the oriental fire bellied newts or the dwarf fire bellied newts. Another variety, though not that common is the Japanese fire bellied newts or Cynops Pyrrhogaster. Both of these varieties show an alarming similarity in their appearance. They range from dark brown to black with the occasional;y contrasting fiery reddish orange markings on the belly. These markings are what you can call the newts’s self defense mechanism since these markings produce potent skin toxins which wards off potential predators. The main difference between a Chinese and a Japanese fire bellied newt is that the Japanese one can handle a larger prey while content with a little space to live in.

I will talk about housing a fire bellied newt in the next article. For now, I am limiting myself to the food habits of a newt in captivity. You can give it an assortment of bloodworms, frozen or live, according to what you are more comfortable with, chopped earthworms, which you can chop yourself or buy chopped ones from the pet shop, brine shrimp, glass shrimp, daphnia ans also freeze-dried tubifex cubes. Quite a meal, I must say! If you fail to find the above mentioned newt food, you might just consider looking for frozen bloodworms since they are the most available of the lot. Bigger shops will, I imagine, be keeping these since fire bellied newts are fairly common with people desiring to keep amphibians as pets, and are thus variously available. If you find their food habits a bit yucky , and I am sure this is not a very uncommon feeling considering their peculiar( to us, at least) dietary preferences, you might oft for floating reptile or amphibians sticks, more commonly known by the name of  Repto-Min. However, do not be cocksure that your  pet newt will be okay with this because more often than not, fire- bellied newts reject this food and wait till their choice of food is provided. They are very resilient creatures, and will not budge till they get what they want!

If you are more inclined to adopting a Japanese fire bellied newt, which, as I said earlier, are more used to hunting for larger plays, you can consider feeding them feeder guppies. This is recommended only if you are comfortable with giving your newt live food, and are okay with some bloodshed. For trust me, blood will be spilled if you introduce a guppy or any such smaller small fish into the aquarium! There is a very practical reason for the popularity of the fire bellied newt as an ideal apartment pet apart from the obvious ones that they are less vulnerable and therefore need less tending or looking after. You can take a lucky guess: it is something that makes it somewhat akin to a goldfish. Well…what do you think that is? Ta da!You do not have to feed your pet everyday if, luckily, your pet is a  fire bellied newt who can live for two to three days without food, and unlike goldfish, you do not have to worry about their dying on you if you fail to feed them. They do not require to looked after and they do not really have predators, unless in the wilderness. You might want to do a little experiment and decrease or increase the intake of food to witness at what rate it is going plumper or thinner. Also, you must keep in mind, and this is actually a common knowledge, that it is always better to underfeed than overfeed. Another reason to not overfeed your fire bellied newt in particular is because the excess food left uneaten or undigested causes the production of toxins which builds up in the tank, making a poisonous habitat of an otherwise compliant place.

Fire bellied newts are rewarding pets if you are not a person who wants to cuddle your pets. This does not mean that these newts are unfriendly. In fact, they are quite amiable once they know you are to be trusted.  They can look after themselves and do not require constant vigil. To keep it short, they are undoubtedly the ideal apartment pets.

The post Fire Bellied Newts: The Ideal Apartment Pets! appeared first on Pet Attack.

Nostalgia, I think, is in the air. My first article was about keeping guinea pigs as pets. Now, that I am nearing the completion of this internship, I feel like going back to the start. Now, of course, since I have already elucidated on the pros of keeping a guinea pig, which are quite a handful, I thought this time I should talk about some, though not necessary, consequences. Like all other animals, guinea pigs are prone to certain diseases and if we are not astute enough while dealing with these ailments, we run the risk of an infection too.

Now, the first and most common one is definitely the Ileus. What you have to do is to monitor your pet cavy, and if you find something unnatural, seek medical help. What you actually have to look for is rather simple, at least when you are considering Ileus. Guinea pigs, if you have one or more will know, are always eating and defecating. If you see that, your cavy has not touched food for quite some time or the amount of excreta is visibly less then there is a great chance that it is infected by Ileus. Let me explain what is actually is. Ileus occurs when there is a gas build-up in the gastrointestinal tract and due to normal peristalsis; the body allows neither food intake nor excretion. This, though it might seem trivial, is actually life threatening for your pet, and requires immediate medical attention. Ileus can occur due to a variety of reasons including introducing a new guinea pig in the cage, respiratory infection, cold, lice or even a change in the weather.

Ileus, although the most common of cavy diseases, is not the only one. Now, what you need to understand is that what is not so lethal to human beings can be quite deadly to guinea pigs owing to their small sizes. However, you might be surprised to find an abject similarity in human and cavy ailments. This, sadly, is one of the reasons why there are so many experiments done on these poor creatures to make products which are claimed to be safe for human consumption.

Lice  and mites are other major concerns if you have a cavy. The most common symptoms would be the visible increase in the loss of hair and the accompanying itching and scratching. Lice, you should be able to notice in the bald patches behind your guinea pig’s ears while the mites, unfortunately, can spread to all over the body but cannot be seen without a microscope. These are extremely contagious parasites and if one of your pet is a carrier, then you should expect the others to be infected as well since they must be sharing their food and bedding. What you can do in such a situation, before seeking medical help that is, is freeze your food and bedding (cover it in a sealed plastic before freezing so that it becomes chilled but not wet) before introducing it into your cavy’s cage.  This will ward of any potential parasites that might have been lurking in the vicinity.

While the abovementioned diseases can occur to male and female alike, there are some which are a bit gender-biased! Female cavies, if housed with a male, run the risk of developing uterine and ovarian problems which might even lead to cancer. Sometimes, the cancer becomes so acute that the uterus and ovaries have to be removed. This can be done only in the first stages of the diseases of the cancer has not spread to other parts of the body, in which case the surgery is bound to be futile.  With guinea pigs, prevention is really better than cure, and the best and definitely the wisest thing to do is to perform a complete ovariohysterectomy when they are about six months of age to prevent both uterine and ovarian diseases. Now, this is a costly affair as you can imagine and a lot of owners do not find justification in paying a lump sum in what they consider a preventive measure. However, if you consider the cost of an emergency treatment which more often than not cannot save your pet, a lot of people side with the preventive measure, which is actually also performed on female dogs and cats for the same purpose.

Guinea pigs are extremely sensitive creatures and prone to respiratory infection or guess what, even pneumonia. If you were thinking about keeping another pet alongwith a cavy, I would advise you against it. As I said before, they are hypersensitive and susceptible to Bordatella bronchiseptica from your pet dog, cat or rabbit. For that reason, you should be very careful while handling your pet, and if you do intend to keep other animals in the house, make sure they are not sick or in the same room which houses your cavy. You must also make sure that you wash your hands thoroughly before touching your guinea pig.

Guinea pigs are really vulnerable creatures! They seem to be prone to myriad ailments that range from a simple cough and cold to bladder stones. Uroliths or bladder stones are formed in the bladder of guinea pigs, causing extreme discomfort. If this happens, you will see your cavy peeing blood due to the irritation caused by these stones. You might, to be more alert about the health of your pet, take it for a regular check up to the vet, and once in a while, get an X-ray done to spot any such stones.

Guinea pigs, and going by what I had told you, might seem to be a cumbersome pet, but trust me, with a little extra care and protection, you can keep your cavy healthy and happy. Keep a close watch on your cavy and make sure it shows no odd symptoms. Cavies, if taken proper care of, are extremely rewarding pets, and these delectable creatures will never let you down if you do not do the same to them.

The post Common Cavy diseases appeared first on Pet Attack.

If you have a thing for pocket friendly pets, as in one that you can purchase without burning a hole in your pocket, and are small enough to fit into your pockets, then I think you should get a Sugar Glider for yourself. These petite creatures are ridiculously delectable in their appearance, and relatively easy to care for.

First things first: you need to know that Sugar Gliders are marsupials, and like the kangaroo, they start their life in their mother’s pouch. They are usually found in places in and around Indonesia, New Guinea, and Australia. Their diet and habits actually account for their being named so, much like our Snot-nose and Smelly-pants. They, when in the wild, feed on nectar and the sap of eucalyptus sap, and are therefore called ‘sugar’, and gliders because the flap of skin in between their ankles and wrists allows them to glide between trees
.

Contrary to their being called so, their staple food is not just sugar( honey or sweet sap). They are omnivorous animals, and their diet includes a plethora of items like fruit, honey, insects and even small birds and rodents.

Sugar Gliders are social creatures, which is one of the reasons why you will love having them as pets. In the wilderness, they usually live in social family units, and just cannot stay alone, without social interaction. In fact, there are many cases of them dying due to depression induced by staying alone. For that reason, you must, if you are thinking about getting one of these delectable creatures as pets, meditate on the amount of time you can spend with it so that it does not suffer from bouts of negligence or depression. A practical thing to do would be to get more than one, so that your pet gets to have his social interfaces even when you are not around.

Sugar Gliders, if you are a mushy shilly-shallying pet lover, are the perfect match. They are playful and extremely endearing pets. You must. As mentioned before, keep them in groups of two or four. Company is nonpareil for sugar gliders. Other than food and company, they are not really exacting pets, so to say. They are clean and do not need multifarious housing requirements. They are what you can call long-term pets, for they, if provided for in a proper manner, can live up to fourteen years in captivity.

Now, there are some things which you should keep in mind while tending for a Sugar Glider. As said earlier, their need for company tops the charts. You need to around them as much as possible, and I cannot stress this enough. Since they are such tiny creatures, you might, if possible, take them with you in your pockets! Trust me, they will love riding around in your pocket or a gunny bag.  Delectable as they are, they are not very good with training, so you will have to take necessary precautions. To adduce this, I may add that Sugar Gliders have sharp nails which will dig in to you when they are either climbing on landing on your body. Now, since, you cannot train them to be gentle on you, you need to trim their nails on a regular basis. Their teeth is another such concern. Although, they are not aggressive creatures to begin with, if threatened or scared, there is a high tendency that they might bite.  Now, you cannot, of course, chop off their teeth. What you can do, however, is to be patient enough to get your pet to like and trust you so that it does not feel threatened in your presence. Also, it might be in your best interests to not let anybody whom your pet is not familiar with touch or cuddle it.

Now, you need to give your pet a full meal, which contains all the necessary requirement, including vitamin and mineral supplements. Whether sugar gliders should be given sugar to eat has become a highly debatable matter, which has heightened in the wake of a disease typical to them called nutritional osteodystrophy, which stems mostly from an imbalance of calcium or phosphorous in the diet. So, I would advise you to consult a good vet-dietician for the purpose.

Housing is another important part of keeping a Sugar Glider. You might be good enough to let your pet share your pet but I would advise you against it. Other than infections that are fairly common, there is also the risk of other animals trying to make a meal out of your pet. The best thing to do is to get a cage, of more than 36 inches, for a pair. In this respect, let me remind you that bigger is better, and they are more keen on the height of the cage than the floor space. The cage should be no more than two inches wide, since horizontal bars will induce them to climb and they will not lose their typical agility.  Now, you should be creative in your decorating the cage with toys, boxes and glider pouch. An exercising wheel would be wonderful. You primary endeavour should be in keep your pet active and busy.

Sugar Gliders make wonderful pets, and I can assure you that if you do get one of these endearing  creatures for yourself, you won’t ever regret it. As said earlier, Sugar Gliders, unlike other pets, do not respond to castigation at all, so the best thing to do is to take precautions and always treat them with the love, care and respect they deserve.

The post Craving for a Sugar Overdose? Bring home a Sugar Glider! appeared first on Pet Attack.

All parents keep complaining about how tech savvy their kids have become and how they would rather spend time with their gadgets than with them. Have you ever realized that this is the exact same thing that your pet could be thinking about you when you are posting away on Facebook/ tweeting/ instagramming, playing on your XBOX or PS, or simply talking or texting via your phone? Being tech savvy is not all bad when it comes to pets though. Today, the average pet owner spends a fortune on the well being of his cuddly buddy. Keeping this trend in mind, the innovative technological industries have come up with many gadgets that could make your pets life better, let you monitor your pet when you are away, alert you about any impending illness etc. Some of the coolest ones are:

1. Pet’s Eye View Camera: It is a lightweight digital camera that can be attached to your cat or dog’s collar. It takes up to 40 photos at 5, 10 or 15 minute intervals. When you come home, you can load the pictures onto your computer to see what your pet has been up to all day. Although, there is another word for this – spying on your pet!

2. Doggles: These sunglasses for dogs screen out UV rays and protect against foreign objects like bugs, grass seeds and wind. It is also ideal for dogs that are sensitive to light due to an eye disorder. Doggles include shatterproof, anti-fog lenses with 100% UV protection and two adjustable elastic straps to keep it secure during any activity. This way, your dog can protect his eyes and look cool at the same time!

3. Poop-Freeze: Do you wish that you didn’t have to clean up the mess every time your pet vomits or has diarrhea right on your carpet or floor? Poop-Freeze is an emergency aerosol pet product that “freezes” vomit/poop into a single entity that can be picked up easily and discarded. The frosting process is said to rid smells immediately, making it ideal for pets undergoing potty training. It can be used both on carpet and vegetation.

4. Hydro Horse: Don’t have time or space to exercise your horse? Get a Hydro Horse Submerged Treadmill System, a combination treadmill, whirlpool and swimming pool, and all your problems of horse petting are resolved. The horse is partially buoyant in a water-filled tank, and the temperature-controlled water with Jacuzzi jets that are designed to relax muscles and eliminate stress on joints. Wish you could get one of these for yourself right?

5. Hydro Surge Rapid Bath Dog Bathing System: Isn’t it hard to drag your dog into the bathroom to give him a bath? H.S.R.B.D.B.S. can take this problem off your hands! It is an “all-in-one” wet, wash and rinse dog-bathing solution. The shower jets provide a massaging action, and the product’s patented Inject Air technology draws shampoo and oxygen into the water to create instant soaping and rinsing. The nozzle’s comb head allows you to remove loose hair and dander whilst untangling fur. Pretty cool, right?

6. ReptiPro 5000: are you into keeping lizards and other oviparous reptiles as your pets? With the ReptiPro 5000 incubator, you no longer have to be a breeder to raise your bird or reptile pets from their egg stage. The small, electric incubator allows you to regulate the temperature up to 140°F, and like an oven, it comes with an interior light on/off switch in the front, a drip tray and a see-through window so you can watch your pet being hatched. I can feel my senses going ‘Jurassic Park’ again!

7. Go Dog Go : Are you that busy that you cannot play fetch with your dog? You should not be a dog owner (just saying!). But just because you’re busy doesn’t mean your dog can’t play fetch. Go Dog Go is an automatic fetch machine for dogs that shoots out tennis balls. Using the remote control, you can set your Go Dog Go to any one of three modes: the two automatic modes launch a ball every seven or 15 seconds, and the manual mode launches a ball only when you press the button.

8. Zen Dog : Want to turn your dog into a peaceful pet? Zen Dog is a kit designed to provide therapy and relaxation for your dog through calming music and massage. The product aims to cure fears of vacuums, thunder and other loud noises. It can also help with separation anxiety, hyperactivity, inability to walk calmly on and off a leash, and poor interaction skills with people. Each kit contains two CDs, a brush for massaging and grooming, and an instruction guide.

9. Ionic Waterless Bath Pet Massage Brush : You no longer have to bathe your pet every time you want him or her to smell clean. This brush massages and silently circulates 100 trillion air-cleansing ions per second through the animal’s fur to remove odors and reduce dander and shedding. This is an alternative for those who don’t enjoy messy baths – pets and owners alike.

10. Komfort Pets Carrier : Ever wondered how it would feel to roam around with your own personalised heater on cold winter nights or carry an A.C. with you on a hot summer afternoon? You cannot have it, but your dog certainly can! Komfort pet carrier is automatically programmed to heat or cool your pet as needed. The carrier’s temperature control system is designed to complement the natural methods by which a pet regulates its own body temperature, using conduction and convection simultaneously. Even Paris Hilton owns one for her famous Chihuahuas and Pomerians!

11. Peticure Nail Groomer : Do you get yourself manicures or pedicures? Well, you can atleast get pedicure for your pet! Clipping your pet’s nails can cause problems like ingrown nails, torn skin, foot injury and sharp nail edges. The Peticure provides a controlled, safe experience for filing your pet’s nails, making them rounded, smooth and not too short. The electric, rotary filing removes excess nail by filing down enamel in controlled increments. Prices range according to the size of the file, which comes in petite, elite and power.

12. Positive Identification of Pet (Mobile App): Pet owners can register their animals with the app, which stores a photo and basic information about your furry friend. If your pet then goes missing, you can activate an alert, which prompts PiP to contact you for more information about your situation, as well as broadcast the information to animal shelters and veterinary clinics within a 15-mile radius of the pet’s last-known location. If someone finds a pet, he or she can upload a photo of the animal’s face and PiP will check its database to see if the picture matches any pet profiles.

These are just a handful of pet-techs available! There are more like video games for your pets, Pet Emergency Evacuation Jacket, The Canine Treadmill, Remote Pet Feeder, Litter-Robot etc. Pretty groovy, right?

The post Pet-Techs: Technology for our Pets! appeared first on Pet Attack.

My Angel
This season, a cup of hot chocolate on the table is enough to keep Angel running around the table. Unfortunately, she isn’t allowed to have hot chocolate, so she’ll have to manage with its aroma. Angel is a 5 year old, black and tan, female Daschund, who’s presently sitting on the window sill, enjoying the rain outside the window.

While the rain is a refreshing break to the scorching heat, it does affect our pets in a number of ways. The thing she hates the most, this season, is her walking time being cut-short. On the other hand, she sighs in relief when she knows she wouldn’t be bathed as frequently as before. She has a habit being prepped-up for a walk, with two pairs of rubber boots and a light-weight water resistant windcheater, to avoid getting foot-infections, digestive problems, skin-infections, and a wide variety of other health problems.

Bruno, a 5 year old, golden, male Labrador, is one among the very few lucky pets to be able to roam around the city in an SUV. Bruno has a habit of looking out of the car-window, often getting some “Awww, so cute” reactions from the pedestrians. He roams around the city zipping past other street dogs in his SUV, because his owners do not want to risk getting Bruno infected by taking him for a walk. How many of our pets are this lucky?

Daily problems in monsoon
Medicated talc and deodorants (consult your vet before using any of these) come handy when your pet starts to become smelly. This is due to the high levels of humidity which gets trapped in the fur when your pets become wet. Anti-bacterial lotions (like Spectrozol) help our winged wonders (birds) cope up with feather loss. To avoid fungal/bacterial infection, mix a tsp of antiseptic liquid in luke-warm water and apply to the foot-pads and dry the spaces between their fingers. Their ears must not be forgotten, as monsoon also invites various ear-infections. Keeping their ears dry and airy will help. Use of some commercial products including powders and liquids can help you get rid of the ticks and fleas. Worm infestation is yet another nightmare for pet parents. It causes many diseases like anaemia, general dullness of coat and other problems. Hence, deworming the pets is essential. For adult cats and dogs, the deworming can be done once in three months. Angel’s bath frequency had to be reduced, but contrary to this general belief, many pet-parents increase their pets’ bath frequency. It is always suggestible to consult your vet before taking any such decisions. Please don’t play ‘the doctor’ in such situations.

Brutus, a 2 year old male Pug, has got a different problem. Thunder, lightning, and blowing winds frighten him. This is called storm-anxiety. The symptoms include intense shivering, biting, hiding and chewing. A cozy and protective ambience is mostly what it takes to help Bruno overcome the anxiety. But in severe situations, he has to be administered with Anti-anxiety drugs.
If you feel your pet shows any of the above mentioned symptoms, try to create a cozy and soothing environment this will suffice, but if necessary, your furry friend needs to visit his vet.

Hypothermia should pop into your head when you plan to leave your pet outside for longer periods of time on a cold day. Hypothermia is a condition which displays a characteristic low body temperature. In severe cases, it might also lead to death. It is always advisable to keep your pets indoors when the air outside is below 20 degrees. And talking your miniature pets for a long-stroll is a complete no-no when the air outside is cold enough for you to wear your winter-wears.

Not to be taken lightly

A thing that mostly concerns us, pet parents, is the diet. It is always possible for the pet to develop some allergy to certain foods, this season. Observe your pet’s appetite and poop for any signs of allergy or indigestion. Aria, an 8 year old female Lassa, has a habit of eating grass! Her vet considers it to be normal. “Eating grass provides her with the required amount of fiber” says Dr. Shivaji .H. Talekar, (Associated Professor& I/C Hospital Superintendent TVCC, Govt. of Gujrat).
This habit might worry some of the pet parents, but your pet won’t turn up to grass, if fed with high fiber food. For a lighter and healthier diet, you might consider adding a banana to your pet’s diet (if your vet allows you to do so). Like humans, even pets turn allergic to milk, buttermilk might be a good substitute (if your pet is not allergic to lactic/dairy products). “You might want to store the excess dog food/cat food/bird feed in air-tight food containers to avoid the attack of moisture and the fungus. Risk of Water-borne infections are very high in this season” says Dr. Shivaji. A covered bowl of water at your pet’s side would prevent any insect larvae hatching in the pail. The water should be changed in their pails every three to four hours. Aquarium keepers should not forget to clean the tank and remove all organic materials like leftover food/uneaten food and fish-waste at least twice/thrice a month.

Buzo, a 3 year old, greyish white, male Lhasa-apso, undergoes a ritual. He has to sacrifice his beautiful locks (fur) once in every 2 months to avoid getting “knots”. The “knots” tend to increase in this season.

Comfy Bedding
A glance at my Angel, who is now sleeping on her bed, reminds me of Dry bedding. A clean, soft, warm and dry bedding is a must for your pets this season. Angel has a 2X2 mattress for herself which is cleaned regularly. If you have a cold flooring, do take some extra care of the bedding because a cold floor might give your pets joint-pains.

Trained pets save much trouble

Training your pets to be ready for this season is no easy a task. But monsoon ready pets save a lot of trouble, for themselves and for their pet-parents. Once accustomed to the newly introduced ‘monsoon schedule’, your pets would automatically cut-short their stroll and potty-break time.

The post Make your pets monsoon ready appeared first on Pet Attack.