Developed by Dr. Edward Bach in the 1930’s, Rescue Remedy is a trade name for the herbal remedy made from a combination of Bach flower extracts. It has been successfully used by doctors as a homeopathic treatment for emotional imbalance and behavioral problems, in both humans as well as animals. Rescue Remedy for dogs, has been effective in calming dogs who display negative emotions or hyperactivity, when faced with stressful situations. These can include visits to the vet, loud noises during thunderstorms and fireworks, mistreatment, separation anxiety, adaptation to new surroundings or loss of a companion. By using this flower essence therapy, pet owners can now deal with these situations without having to worry about the side effects, that the dog may have.

Workings of Flower Essences

The basis of using flower essences as a homeopathic treatment, lies in its use as a healing force for mental and emotional illness. It is said to release negative emotions, by helping and calming the person or animal. This in turn, seems to be a healer of the physical illnesses, that were caused due to emotional imbalances. The flower essences derived from parts of flowers and thereon diluted and potentized for effectiveness, work on the energetic level. By affecting and restoring the vital force, the particles in the essences work in a specific pattern to cure various illnesses. It is up to the medical practitioner to choose the most effective treatment based on the ailment. Since it was first developed by Dr. Bach, the 38 Bach flower essences have been used by veterinarians in the field of animal health.

Rescue Remedy for Dogs

A commonly used Bach flower remedy, Rescue Remedy is made from the combination of five of the thirty eight original remedies. The combination of the five essences allows it to become a unique essence in itself, which is different from its constituent essences.

The five constituent flower essences in Bach Rescue Remedy are:

• Clematis (Clematis vitalba): The essence is used in the treatment of faintness or bemused and stunned feelings. It is effective in increasing the attention span and focus of the animal in training. It helps an animal regain consciousness after having been in a state of comatose.
• Rock Rose (Helianthemum nummularium): It is a remedy for terror and panic in dogs who have been involved in an accident, injury, fire or any other terrifying event. It is essentially useful for the dogs who are involved in police work. It has also been effective in treating dogs who are overtly fearful of their lives.
• Cherry Plum (Prunus serasifera): Used to control hysterical and highly strung animals, this essence is effective when controlling animals in a stressed situation like competitions or training. It is also useful while dealing with seizures or anxiety attacks. For an animal which becomes crazed when provoked, or when it sees another animal in its territory, the cherry plum essence has been known to be an effective calming agent.
• Star of Bethlehem (Ornithogalum umbellatum): It is used in calming dogs who are in shock, grief or are just frightened. It is increasingly being used in kennels where animals are left alone or during the time that the injured or ill animal is required to stay in a veterinary clinic.
• Impatiens (Impatiens glandulifera): The essence helps soothe dogs who are impatient or agitated due to pain. It is also effective in any nervous difficulties that an overly anxious dog may be facing. It is used for dogs who have epileptic type fits, especially when agitated by being overly excited or upset.

To administer the dosage to your dog, just add 4-8 drops of essence either into the dog’s mouth or on its nose. The drops need not be swallowed but must only contact the mucous membranes, i.e the gums, tongue or lips. You can even place the dosage in drinking water or food. Alternately, you can add a dropper full of the essence to spring water in a spray bottle and spray it around your pet. The frequency of dosage is determined by the problem that the dog is facing. Although for most behavioral problems, you can give 3 to 4 times a day for 2 to 4 weeks, the remedy can be given as often as needed, even every few minutes.

Like humans, Rescue Remedy for pets is successful in dealing with problems in behavior, which the traumatized animal might not be able to communicate in words. So if you are faced with behavioral problems of your pets, Rescue Remedy for cats and dogs is a non toxic therapy that provides a quick solution. However, having said that, each dog is unique and the response to the remedy may differ in each case. It is imperative that a dog owner understands that the remedies are not a replacement for vital or important medical diagnosis and attention. These remedies are used to treat secondary symptoms and are not a treatment for emotional imbalance caused by physical illness.

Source: buzzle.com

Related posts:

1. Ear Infections in Dogs Ear infections are very common in dogs. Among all dog...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

And what are some of these important components? For both cats and dogs, a nutritious pet diet must have vegetables and fruits. These organic foods contain antioxidants, as well as fiber, vitamins, and phytonutrients. Your pet’s food should also have direct-fed microbials which are commonly found in yogurt. Omega-3 fatty acids must be added in your list for they can keep pet’s coat shiny.

Don’t feed your dog with foods like corn, soy, or wheat, especially in large amount. Such foods are not sufficient sources of protein and your pet will get a hard time digesting them, resulting to colitis and urinary tract infections. As much as possible, purchase a nutritious pet food that has grain and uses ingredients like brown rice, oats, barley, or other easy-to-digest components.

Whenever you buy a pet food in the supermarket, make sure that it contains the “complete and balanced” label. These dog foods have met the standards established by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO).You can visit www.fda.gov to know more tips on selecting nutritious pet food

No related posts.

Because puppies and kittens have no shivering reflex for the first 6 days of life, an external heat source is necessary. The dam is the best source for this warmth. After 6 days, the puppies and kittens are able to shiver, but they are still very susceptible to chilling. Keeping the environment warm and free from drafts is of utmost importance during the first few weeks of life to prevent hypothermia. It is recommended that the environmental temperature be kept at 70 degrees Fahrenheit during this period, assuming the dam is providing an adequate amount of warmth and protection to the newborns.

Newborns should be weighed daily during the first 2 weeks and then every 3 to 4 days until weaning. A helpful guideline is for puppies to gain between 1 and 2 grams (g) per day for every pound of anticipated adult weight for the first 3 to 4 weeks of life. For example, if the anticipated adult weight of a dog is 25 pounds (lbs), the puppy should be gaining between 25 and 50 g/day (0.9 to 1.8 oz). Kittens usually weigh between 90 to 110 g at birth and should gain between 50 and 100 g (1.8 to 3.5 oz) per week until they are 5 to 6 months of age.

Although there is limited information available concerning milk intake in nursing puppies and kittens, one study reported that Beagle puppies consume between 160 and 175 g of milk per day. Naturally, puppies of larger breeds are expected to consume a greater volume of milk, with smaller breeds and kittens consuming less volume. Similarly, the volume of milk that a bitch produces varies with her size. German Shepherds produce about 900 g of milk per day in early lactation, with increases to a level of up to 1700 g/day during peak lactation. In contrast, a much smaller breed, the Dachshund, produces between 100 and 180 g/day in early lactation.

Other influences upon the volume of milk produced are litter size, age at which supplemental food is introduced, and age of weaning. In healthy puppies and kittens, the dam’s milk supports normal growth until puppies and kittens are approximately 4 weeks old. Supplemental feeding with commercial milk replacer should only be necessary with unusually large litters. After 4 weeks, milk alone no longer provides adequate calories or nutrients for continued normal development. At approximately the same time, puppies and kittens become increasingly interested in their environment and begin to spend more time awake and playing with each other. The time at which the dam’s milk is no longer solely able to meet the nutrient needs of the offspring corresponds to the time at which the young are becoming more interested in trying new foods.

No related posts.

First, you need to take your home environment into account: Is it well aerated and do you have natural sunlight coming in through windows and doors? Bearing in mind your bird will be happiest in a surrounding closest to their natural habitat, so light and fresh air are high on the list of importance.

Next, you should find the right sized cage for the bird you choose, and of course, the cage size will depend on your home.  If you only have a small corner allocated for your feathery friend, then a small cage on a stand will be optimal, however, if your home is very large, you could go as far as an aviary sized indoor atrium.

When you have determined the best cage for your home, it’s time to investigate your options as far as which birds will be best suited to the overall environment you have planned. There are also some tips for ensuring you buy a healthy bird:

1.   Does the bird have smooth, bright feathers?

2.   Are the bird’s breast muscles full?

3.   Are the bird’s eyes alert and clear to look in?

4.   Does the bird exhibit a playful personality?

If the answer to all of the above is yes, you can feel confident to buy the bird. It is a good idea to take new pet birds to the vet for an initial once over health check. Bear in mind not all vets accept birds at their clinics, so finding one who does prior to buying the bird is recommended.

Birds hide illness very well, and as a bird owner, you have to constantly be aware of what is normal behaviour for them. If they show any changes in appetite, loss of feathers, wounds or lethargy you should take them to a vet immediately. The best way to keep your bird from becoming sick is to keep him in the cage rather than allowing them to fly all around the home. Make sure his water and food trays are always clean and free of faeces, and most important, keep his water supplies up all the time. Have a good idea what amount your bird will usually eat so you can tell if he goes off his food.

Birds are low maintenance pets. You should keep their environment clean, bearing in mind they wouldn’t naturally stay in one place for so long. Newspaper or some non-glossy paper is perfect to line the cage, and this should be changed every day.  About once a fortnight, you can wipe their entire cage out with warm soapy water and a cloth.

If your bird has been sick, there are specialized disinfectant washes your vet can sell for occasional cage cleaning. It really only takes five minutes a day to keep your bird’s surroundings clean so they can live a long and happy disease-free life and, in turn, keep you happy by being the perfect pet.

No related posts.

The bat is a peculiar creature which flies and yet is not regarded as a bird. It comes under the category of mammals. Bats are only mammals capable of flight. The mammals are those animals whose females give birth to the young and suckle them. Unlike birds they don’t have feathers on their bodies but have hair. The young ones of the bat are born directly and fed on mother’s milk. It also has hair on its body. But it is the only mammal which has wings for flying. Bats are night time creatures. They have leather-like wings that enables them to swoop and glide through the darkness catching moths and other airborne insects.

The study of fossils has revealed that bats were in existence some 60 million years ago too. There are nearly 1000 different types of bats including red bats, brown bats and dog-faced bats.

Most of the bats live on insects and worms. In tropical areas they live on fruits and flowers only. There are some other kind of bats which feed on the blood of other animals and birds - they are called the ‘vampire bats’. Perhaps this is the reason why many people fear bats. The biggest vampire bat is around 30 cms. Their teeth are as sharp as needles. They pierce their teeth into the skin of an animal and suck its blood with the help of their tongues.

How does a bat see in the night

While flying, the bat produces high frequency sound waves from its mouth, which are so high-pitched that most humans cannot hear them. This is called echolocation. The sounds made by the bat bounce off a nearby object such as tree or a moth. The bat can detect the returning echoes with its large, forward-pointing ears, and in a split second it works out the size, distance and direction of the object.

Some experiments have been conducted on the bat. In one experiment, ropes were suspended from the ceiling of a room. Few bats, with their eyes sealed with gum were made to fly in the room. It was observed that the bats were flying without colliding with any of the ropes. This experiment proved that bats don’t make use of their eyes while flying. After this the mouths and ears of these bats were closed and they were again left in the room. This time they experienced difficulty in flying. They collided with the ropes or the walls quite frequently. It has been concluded on the basis of this observation that they take the help of their ears and mouths while flying.

Hibernation

Many warm-blooded animals need extra energy in order to stay warm in cold winter months, but the source of that energy such as food is scarce in winter. To save energy, bats allow their bodies to cool and their heart beat and breathing to slow down for part of the day or night. This is called torpor. Bats often huddle together as they hang upside down to prevent too much heat loss.

Many kinds of bats are threatened because of the loss of their forest homes for farmland and because of the increasing use of insecticides on the food they eat.

No related posts.

Here are a few best dog training tips for you:

1. Positive reinforcement matters a lot. It’s easier to train a dog if you do it in a positive manner rather than in a strict and punishment-based way. Reward your dog when necessary.

2. Patience is a virtue in any dog training method. Dogs, like humans, have different learning abilities. You must be able to adapt to your dog’s learning pace. Some dogs tend to pick up commands than the others. If your dog is a slow-learner, you need to allot more time and attention for him to understand everything. Never rush things!

3. Choose a training method that has worked to you before or someone you know. Consider the breed too for it is a also a big factor to consider in training.

4. All dog’s behavior problems are acquired. Start training your dog when he’s just a puppy. Most bad habits such as excessive barking, chewing and jumping can be controlled and stopped with a little foresight and consistent training.

5. The best dog training method must be a fun activity. Make your training session as lively as possible. Allot a schedule everyday for you and your dog to bond and play. Training your dog for 20-30 minutes will be good enough.

6. To further help you in training your dog, you can use training aids such as training collar system, remote trainer and many others. Make sure that every gadget you’re using is proven to be safe and effective and is applicable to the age and size of your dog.

Related posts:

1. Dog Training Tools Bringing home a dog involves much more than just...
2. How To Stop Your Dog From Jumping A jumping dog who calls for your attention looks adorable...
3. 7 TIPS FOR NEW PUPPY OWNERS 1. Good management skills: Puppies can get into trouble very...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

It is a very understandable practice to keep a parrot, for no other birds rival or even approach members of the parrot family in their combination of tameness, beauty, intelligence, and their power to imitate perfectly the human voice. In addition a tame parrot - particularly an African Grey - makes a wonderful and cheerful companion for anyone who has to live alone.

While I myself keep my collection of parrots in pairs in aviaries, I think there can be no doubt that of all birds the larger parrots take most kindly to cage life and, provided they are well cared for and treated with real love and affection by their owner, they seem perfectly happy.

A proof of this is that if such a bird is put out in an aviary, even with another parrot as companion, it is at first liable to mope but will show every sign of joy once it is back in its cage and among its human friends again. I think the reason for this is that parrots are extremely sociable creatures.

The central perch is usually made of some very hard wood, and this is essential as a parrot would soon chew up anything softer. The exercise of its beak is, however, very necessary to its general health, and a considerate owner will not fail to supply a cotton-reel from time to time, or a small bundle of twigs which it can utilize for this purpose.

Parrots enjoy whittling, which in addition to helping to keep their beaks in order gives them something to do. This is very-important for it is partly boredom which leads to feather-plucking in caged parrots. The most important thing of all with a caged parrot is to let it out of its cage for an hour or so at regular intervals - preferably every day. A pet parrot will become extremely attached to its owner provided its affection is returned.

Now as to the feeding of the bird, I give sunflower and a few monkey-nuts, with the addition of a little canary-seed, groats or oats, and hemp. Particular care must be exercised with the latter which, in excess, is over-stimulating and fattening, and can cause heart troubles and feather-plucking.

Given sparingly, however, hemp is one of the most valuable of seeds particularly when birds are rearing young, at which time the amount can be considerably increased. At other times, and particularly in the case of a caged bird, a few grains every day or, better still, every other day, are quite sufficient, and it is better to omit it altogether than to give too much of it.

Far too many parrot owners seem to imagine that a daily supply of seed and water constitutes the sole requirements of their pets. This is quite wrong, for they need other things as well. Chief among these are fruit and green-foods, which can take various forms, but perhaps if the parrot were given its choice it would choose sections of sweet ripe apple and the leaves of spinach beet. These, or other fruits and green-foods, should be given at least twice a week.

As to titbits, this is rather a moot point, and I can perhaps do best here by referring to my own much-loved and very long-lived Senegal Parrot. She was particularly fond of scraps from the table such as new potatoes, boiled white fish and scrambled egg - all of course given only occasionally and in very small quantities. Meat and savouries, etc., should definitely not be given.

With these simple suggestions in mind, you will be able to enjoy your pet for many years to come. No more delightful companion can be found.

Related posts:

1. How to decorate Parrot cages – Part 1 1. SHAPE AND DIMENSIONS The best dimensions for parrot cages...
2. How to decorate Parrot cage – Part 2 4. Parrot CAGE BOTTOM There is a plastic base with...
3. How To Teach A Parrot To Talk Talking parrots are some very interesting and odd animals. Most...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

The best time to teach parrots to talk is in the late evening when they are apt to be in a quiet and contemplative mood, whereas in the morning they are usually at their noisiest and most active. It is essential also to choose a time when the room’s sole occupants can be yourself and your parrot - if other people are talking in the room it is hopeless.

It is a good plan to get the bird used to having the back and two sides of its cage temporarily covered over at lesson time so that it will have its attention distracted as little as possible and be able to concentrate on what you are trying to teach it.

You should then say over very clearly whatever sentence you wish it to learn, and, always. allowing a suitable interval between each, repeat this perhaps a dozen times. It is of the utmost importance that you should then leave the bird alone to think over what it has heard you say.

If you insist upon lingering in the room to lavish endearments on your pet, such as “Polly has been a good boy”, you will merely find that the sentence you have been trying to teach the bird will - if remembered at all - have “Polly has been a good boy” interposed quite irrelevantly in the middle of it - and you will have only yourself to blame!

What I have said applies equally of course to any bird that can be taught to talk, but I thought it worth including this note on teaching a bird to talk instead of letting its sole repertoire consist, as is so often the case, of a hotchpotch of people laughing, dogs barking, disjointed scraps of talk and, that delight of most talking parrots, the one-sided conversation of somebody telephoning in an adjoining room.

Most parrots will pick up anything they hear - and an Amazon of mine imitates to such perfection the rather lost, eerie sound of a train whistle on a frosty night that you almost expect to hear the train itself! Some imitate the barking of dogs of various sizes; others the screaming of babies; and almost the sole sentence of some I have encountered has been “Polly want a cup of tea?” which I suppose does at any rate show that they have come from a typically English household!

What I have said about teaching a parrot to talk applies every bit as much to teaching it to whistle a tune. Whatever the tune may be it must be whistled right through from beginning to end, and, allowing suitable intervals between, this must be done several times over and the bird must then be left in peace and quiet for it to sink in.

Most parrots whistle odd scraps and snatches of tunes, but only properly and patiently trained ones will whistle a tune right through from beginning to end without a mistake; and I do think the training - which involves no hardship for the bird - is very well worth while in the way of results. Let no one suppose that, for the bird’s owner, it has been as easy as falling off a log. It has not, for it required both skill and patience, but most of all - patience. Using these simple skills most parrots can be taught to talk. Have fun!

Related posts:

1. How to decorate Parrot cage – Part 2 4. Parrot CAGE BOTTOM There is a plastic base with...
2. How to decorate Parrot cages – Part 1 1. SHAPE AND DIMENSIONS The best dimensions for parrot cages...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

For some families, a rabbit might be the right pet because of its size, manor, and eating habits. One thing that you should consider is that having a rabbit can sometimes be slightly difficult to deal with because of its natural actions. Rabbits are the type of pet that doesn’t like to be held or touched. If you continue to try and hold them they might bite, scratch, and kick you in hopes of freeing themselves from your grip. If you have kids that are going to want to pet and play with the rabbit, this might not be the best option for a pet because of its lack of a social nature. Along with being hard to handle, rabbits take quite a long time to adapt to their new environment and to bond with their owner. This process will usually take a lot of time and a lot of patience in order to make it work with your rabbit. Rabbits are not usually a good pet for children because of all the patience and time it will take for the rabbit to feel comfortable in the situation.

The next thing that you should consider is that rabbits can be quite a destructive creature. Understand that they aren’t intentionally like this, but their natural habits are to chew through things that are around them. If you don’t take away all the inappropriate things away from the rabbit, it is likely to chew up all of your cable and electrical cords if it is let loose in your home. Another factor to remember is that these rabbits will chew through anything no matter what the size or shape of the item may be.

The last factor that you should consider is that rabbits require a lot of attention to the many needs that they have. Rabbits are herbivores and will only eat food without meat. Usually rabbits will eat pellets and fresh fruits and vegetables. You need to make sure that everyday their cage is cleaned and they have some sort of fresh food and water. Although they require quite a bit of extra attention, this pet can provide a good companion for many people.

No related posts.

Environmental enrichment

A typical aquarium is a glass box with water, gravel, lights and a few ornaments. You could compare this to a room with a carpet, a sofa, and a coffee table; you could live in it, but its not much fun. What your fish need is the human equivalent of a Playstation, home cinema system, and a large garden with a trampoline. Environmental enrichment is giving your fish an environment with plenty of areas to keep them occupied, much like they would be in nature. This does not mean fluorescent ornaments, air powered divers, and plastic ‘mazes’ to confuse and trap your fish, but a more natural approach to aquascaping. Densely planted areas, surface cover, caves, quiet spots, and areas of flow are all natural components of an enriched aquarium. Individual species may have different requirements, but the majority of small aquarium fish will benefit from planted areas, scavengers such as small catfish and loaches will appreciate caves and hiding spots, and midwater ‘torpedo’ shaped fish will benefit from flowing water. Including as many of these components as possible will result in more diverse behaviour making your fish more interesting, livelier, healthier, and happier.

Feeding

I’ve heard rumours it is possible to survive on Guinness and potatoes, and although I enjoy an occasional pint of the Irish stout, I wouldn’t like to imagine what living off it might do to me. Quality branded foods provide all the essential ingredients your fish need to survive, but feeding a varied diet has plenty of other benefits. Treats, which are particularly enjoyable by many fish, can liven up your fish, and difficult to eat foods will make your fish work for their dinner, providing further environmental enrichment. For most fish, at least half of their diet should be made up from proprietary dried foods like flake, pellets, or crisps, which provide all the main staples and vitamins. Always use a known brand and avoid foods that are sold loose, since exposure to air, moisture, and light will all reduce a foods quality. To vary up your fishes diet try frozen foods or live foods and progress to occasional fresh foods. Grazers and algae eaters will enjoy most vegetables; slices of cucumber, courgette, shelled peas and lettuce are ideal. Most fish will nibble at fresh fruits and since we are all told to eat more fruit, I try and make a habit of eating soft fruits with stones or cores like mangos, plums, or pears and dropping the remains in my tanks for the fish to graze on for half an hour or so. Whilst a few other foods can be fed to fish, for safety it is best to stick to fresh fruits and vegetables.

Fasting

With a good varied diet, your fish will remain active and healthy, although a side effect is that they can become fussy eaters and may turn their nose up at more boring foods. This can be helpful because it will help to stop your fish from eating more than they need, but it may also mean they do not eat the dried foods which are more nutritionally balanced. A good solution is to have a day each week when your fish get no food at all. A fast day will ensure your fish are eager to feed on whatever they get given the next day, and they will also hunt the aquarium for leftovers (although with correct feeding levels there should be no leftover food) Fast days are only suitable for well established and healthy fish, which will cope for several days without feeding, and if they get used to regular days without food they will be fine if you have the occasional weekend away.

Set your day length

Fish have a body clock that prompts them when to carry out certain actions such as spawning, hunting, and resting. For the most part, this is set by the daily cycle of light and dark. If your fish are subjected to varying artificial day lengths by the lights being turned on and off at different times each day, their body clocks will be confused and they may begin to act unnaturally, becoming lethargic, timid, or boisterous. Setting your lights on timers will give a set period of light and dark which is the same each day. Your fish will then know when it is ‘lights on’ and ‘lights off’ time, reducing the shock of a sudden change in light and allowing their bodies to ‘plan’ their day.

Polish your water

Even with good filtration, chemical pollutants can build up in an aquarium over time resulting in a deteriation of health and often causing ‘mystery’ deaths. To prevent this, use activated carbon and/or ‘polishing’ medias such as polyfilters several times a year to remove any build-ups in the water. Many filters have carbon in them, and these need replacing on a regular basis if they are a permanent part of the filtration.

Avoid excessive treatments and chemicals

Many fish keepers fall into the trap of adding unnecessary treatments to the aquarium based on the instructions of manufacturers wishing to sell more products. Whilst the multitudes of available treatments, additives, and remedies available all have their uses, in an average established aquarium the only essential treatment is a water conditioner or dechlorinator to treat tap water. If you use anything else it should be for a specific reason and only for the time period needed for the problem to fix. Using chemical treatments as disease preventatives will put stress on your fish, and disease pathogens will become more resistant; using excessive fertilisers when plant problems may lie elsewhere will result in excess algae growth; using bacterial starters in mature tanks will result in fluctuations of waste pollutants.

Learn more

The best thing you can do to make sure your fish are as healthy as possible is to learn as much as you can about them. Whilst it is essential to find out the basics such as how big a fish gets, how peaceful it is, which fish it mixes with, and whether it has any unusual requirements before you purchase, it is equally useful to research your fish as much as possible once you have them in your tank. For instance, finding out about a fishes natural environment, what it feeds on, and how it lives can be invaluable to shape your aquarium to its needs. Researching will also uncover plenty of tips relating to specific fish, which might not come under the category of ‘general care’. Finding out that clay pots make ideal caves for Kribensis, that many suckermouth catfish need bogwood to graze on, or that some fish are over-sensitive to bright light are just examples of the items of knowledge you can gain by carrying out some proper research. Learning about your fish is part of the enjoyment of the hobby, and will allow you to appreciate your fish even more.

Related posts:

1. Keeping your dog healthy Caring for your dog and pets can sure be a...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.