Puppies for Adoption

K9 Advantix Only Needs To Be Used Once A Month

There are many problems that can occur from pets being left unprotected from the parasites that populate the earth. Simple mosquito bites can end up being deadly to a dog. Fleas can cause all kinds of problems to the animal and can even infest a house creating a lot of problems to the family as well. Then there are ticks that carry an array of bug born illnesses, including Lyme disease. While many of these illnesses and diseases caused by these parasites can be a challenge to get rid of, many of them are simple to prevent. One of the best and easiest methods of preventing these problems is to use K9 Advantix.

K9 Advantix is a simple product to use. And anything that is simple to use will be commonly used. The reason this particular product is gaining popularity is because it so easy to use and so effective against so many different parasites. This is a topical medication that is dispensed from a single use tube and squeezed onto the back of the pet’s neck, in between the shoulder blades. The natural oils in the pet’s skin then help to disperse the medication and allay a host of problems. Best of all, this product, K9 Advantix only needs to be used once a month.

When K9 Advantix is used, it prevents mosquitoes from biting the pet. Without the worry of mosquito bites, there is less worry of the pet being infected with heartworm from the bite. Heartworm, when left untreated and undiagnosed, can be deadly to the pet. In addition, the K9 Advantix kills fleas and ticks. When these parasites are no longer a concern the pet owner has far less worries.

While there are plenty of products on the market that will kill fleas, few kill fleas, ticks, and prevent mosquito bites. That makes K9 Advantix much sought after. And because it is so much easier to use than practically any other product of its kind on the market, it will continue to gain popularity among pet woners.

For more information or to purchase K9 Advantix, visit http://www.nomorefleas…

Adopt a Dog

Xingyiquan – Twelve Animals Kung Fu and Applications

Okay, I’ll admit that one of the first things I noticed when reading the back of the DVD cover was that the DVD was 45 minutes long. The reason this stood out is because I’m so used to YMAA DVDs containing two and three hour programs. Even with the shorter length, “Xingyiquan: Twelve Animals Kung Fu and Applications” with Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming and Master Liang, Shou-Yu is an informative and well produced DVD reference on this Chinese internal martial art that can be translated to “Shape-Mind Fist.”
The program begins with an introduction explaining what Xingyiquan is and some basics regarding the history and art. This is taught with a voice over and subtitles and you see demonstrations of movements without instruction and some charts to illustrate points. This brief introduction also points out that this DVD accompanies the book Xingyiquan by Master Liang, Shou-Yi and Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming. While the DVD provides good information, using it with the text will provide a much more complete understanding of this art.
The program progresses in the same way, with a voice over explaining certain movements and concepts and on the screen mainly students demonstrating. While the program and book were written by Dr. Yang and Master Liang, Dr. Yang does not appear in the DVD except for some still photographs near the end. Master Liang is shown in some scenes demonstrating certain movements, but he doesn’t “teach” to the camera. The only speaking is done through the voice over, and the program is demonstration, not instruction.
A person is not going to learn Xingyiquan from this DVD. It is however, a good demonstration of the art. Fundamental postures, explanations of the postures and their relationship to the Five Elements, two -person Five Phases Matching exercise and Linking sequences are demonstrated. Movements based on the twelve animals; Dragon, Tiger, Monkey, Horse, Water Lizard, Chicken, Harrier, Swallow, Snake, Chinese Ostrich, Eagle, and Bear are demonstrated along with martial applications of the movements.
I see two groups of people who will find value in this DVD. The first group are those who are learning this art and want an additional resource for home. The book accompanied by this DVD would be good to review if you are already learning the art. Again, you won’t learn it from this DVD, but it will assist you if you are learning from a qualified instructor. The second group would be people like myself. I enjoyed learning a bit about the art and seeing the movements demonstrated for a better understanding of the art for my global perspective on martial arts as a whole. I like to learn about all arts, and once in a while borrow things to include in my training which has the Korean art of Hapkido as its core. I don’t anticipate trying to learn how to perform these animal forms, but I enjoyed learning about them. The video is a little slow to watch repeatedly, but I liked watching it to just find out more about this art.
It’s a well produced DVD, but I think it has a limited audience. You must enjoy learning about all martial arts like I do, or be a practitioner of Xingyiquan to gain value, and for deeper instruction and information you need the book that this DVD accompanies. And to learn the art, you will need a qualified instructor.…

General Articles

Supply Checklist For Bringing Home Your New Kitty

Supply Checklist For Bringing Home Your New Kitty

* Food

* Treats

* Food and Water Bowls

* Litter

* Litter Box

* Collar

* Name Tag

* Kitty Toys

* Kitty Bed

* Grooming Tools

* Scratching Post

* Kitty Carrier

* Lint Rollers

I recommend a higher quality of food for your kitty. It is more costly but is also more nutritious, which means your kitty can live a healthier life. You will notice a difference in their skin and coat when using a higher quality cat food.

I usually buy the cheaper kitty treats because I know that it is just a treat and is not something they need to live off of.

It is fun picking out the food and water bowls, but be mindful of its function. The plastic food bowls can harvest more bacteria then ceramic or glass. Ceramic and glass are also easier to clean in the dish washer.

Finding the right litter is very important. There are so many types, clump-able, non-clump-able, corn and even crystal. I have tried all of them but the choice is yours. Are you going to clean the litter box out every day? Then use the clump-able. If not use the non-clump-able. Do you have the litter box in a room you use all the time, if so I would use the corn or crystal litter for the smell. Whatever litter you train your cat on is what you should stick with. If you change the litter type your kitty may get mad and refuse to use the box.

There are many varieties of litter boxes, corner ones, covered ones and plain ones. I use a plain one because I have scoop-able (clump-able) litter and it is much easy for me to scoop it without the hassle of a lid. However covered litter boxes do help more with the smell.

Do you want your kitty to wear a collar? If so you will need to buy a collar that is designed for cats. It will be a break-away collars, so if your cat get the collar stuck on a fence it can still get away without choking itself. The collar does not do any good unless you also buy a name tag (*with a phone number*). This will be the only hope of getting your kitty back if it escapes.

Toys are a must if you have a kitten, they will help socialize the kitten.

Kitties also love their beds, however the kitty usually chooses where it wants to sleep all by themselves. I have several kitty beds, I put them in shots that my cats have already chosen to stay. For example, Madison loves to sleep on top of the dog kennel so she can look outside and enjoy the sunlight. I put a bed on top of that kennel and you will find her there most days.

Cats usually groom themselves, but sometimes their hair can get matted and will need to be brushed out. Cats with long hair will need to be brushed out more often then short haired cats. It may be best if you had a selection of brushed to use.

Is your kitty declawed? If not you will want a scratching post. If you don’t have a scratching post it will be very likely that you will have some torn up furniture in the first few month of owning a cat or kitten.

Your cat should always be transported in a carrier. When buying a carrier make sure to get it big enough that your cat fit into it as an adult. No need to waste money on a carrier that will be to small in 6 months.

Lastly, I would purchase a lint roller cats can shed a lot and you don’t want to go to work in a nice black suit and have white kitty hair all over it.…

Rescue Dogs

Llama and Alpaca Normal Vital Signs and Physical Examination Parameters

– Heart rate: 60-90 BPM, found by listening (ausculting) with stethoscope at fleece-free area under elbow. Heart rates can be increased due to exercise/exertion/excitement, stress, fever, or pain. Arrhythmias are common in SAC’s-generally no big deal.
-Temperature: Varies from 99.5 to 102F. Neonates are unable to thermoregulate and have a wider temperature range. Ambient temperatures can greatly influence body temps. SAC’s are prone to heat stress and care must be taken to ensure cooling systems (shade, misters, and fans) are utilized.
– Resting respiratory rate: Varies from 10-30 BPM, can be difficult to hear with stethoscope due to fleece. Watch for rise and fall of chest/flank area or place hand in front of nostrils to feel warm breath.
Respiratory rates can be increased due to exercise/exertion/excitement, stress, fever, illness (ex. pneumonia), obstruction, or pain
– Mucus membranes and capillary refill time: Check non-pigmented areas of the gums, should be light pink, moist and when pressed with the fingertip color should return in 1-2 seconds. Vulva may also be examined if pigment covers entire oral cavity.
– Temperament/attitude: Each animal will be different so your observations are vital! Be aware of “normal” behaviors for individuals as well as the herd. Watch for isolation, failure to compete at feeding, excessively quiet animals, sudden aggression…anything unusual
– Body condition: Ideally animals should be weighed throughout the year. Fleece can hide even a severely emaciated condition, so a thorough palpation of the body (esp. bony parts) should be performed as able.
– Gait: Is the animal moving all limbs normally in the walk, pace, trot and gallop? Failure to weight bear on a particular limb likely indicates pain or injury.
-Conformation: When evaluating for health pay close attention to head and neck carriage. A weak, sick or depressed SAC will hold the head lower (extended) or arch it back over the thorax.
– Eyes, ears and mouth: Eyes should be wide open and clear. The globe should be smooth. Squinting and tearing are signs of a problem. Ears should be in a normal position and move according to stimulation. A drooping ear (esp. with a head tilt) or foul odor indicates a potential problem. The mouth should be symmetrical and functional. Observe animals during feeding to ensure normal chewing and swallowing behaviors.
– NOTE: Everyone (!) should own a thermometer dedicated to animal use. Additionally know where it is, and be comfortable using it. An inexpensive stethoscope may also be handy. Always have basic wound care supplies on site (betadine or novalsan scrub, triple antibiotic ointment, vet-wrap, non-stick pads, saline eye irrigation, clean washrags or towels…) if you have multiple animals discuss common medications you may want with your veterinarian.…

General Articles

Ferret Training – No Bites

Ferret Training – No Bites

The first thing we all want to do in ferret training is to teach him not to bite. If you have been suffered from ferret bites before, you know that this is a very important thing you must solve. If you want to keep the ferret as a pet, especially when there are kids in the house, the ferret bites must be resolve.

Ferrets often bite, but you have to understand that they do it just if they are scared of something. In this way they use their own defense tool – the sharp teeth. The young ferrets bite as a part of game, but also because in the early stage of life they don’t know how hard they should bite, in order to eat different kinds of food. They are doing experiments with their teeth that for you might look dangerous, but still it’s a major part of the ferret training life.

Some of the ferrets bite when they hear loud noises so if this is the case try to facilitate your ferret by reducing unwanted noises from the living area. By doing it you might get rid of the ferret bites without even conducting full ferret training. It’s true what they say that the solution to every problem is very simple.

There are so many other methods you can use to stop the ferret from biting. It all depends on the reason of bites. For example if he is sick or hurt than the right solution is to take him to the veterinarian. It is always advised to treat your lovely ferret with care, but if he in deep rages you can keep him in his cage just for a few minutes so he will calm down.

A very create idea to stop the ferret from biting is using the “bad taste ferret training”. In this method you cover your hands with a bitter taste of food, let’s say bitter melon. And put your fingers near his mouth. The ferret will avoid biting your fingers because he will want to avoid the bitter taste. After a few trainings he will remember not to bite your fingers.…

General Articles

Why and How Do You Train a Kitten

Why and How Do You Train a Kitten

You have adopted a kitten from a family whose cat had a litter of five kittens. Your kitten has just arrived and is ready for training. She is a lovely tortoiseshell kitten with a ginger, and tortoiseshell siblings and a tortoiseshell mother. It was sad to remove her from these other amazing animals but you and your family are excited about the new addition to the household. Take a look at why you need to train your kitten and how you train your kitten.

Why Do You Train A Kitten

Everyone in the family has to comply with a set of guidelines so why should the kitten be an exception. Angel, the name of the kitten needs guidance just like children do when they are babies, toddlers. preschoolers and beyond. After all she will need your help to feed and water her and protect her from the elements. it is great to provide a calm, warm environment and training Angel will ensure that you have a loving cat that does not eat your furniture, pee on your houseplants and is protected from potential dangers. Angel needs to know what behaviour is acceptable and what behaviour is unacceptable, especially as there are some unacceptable behaviours that can also be dangerous.

It is important to realise that cats are wonderful creatures filled with curiosity and like humans, have different personalities. Some are snugly, affectionate, friendly and are content to nap on your lap. Some are standoffish and will only allow the occasional solemn head pat before regally stalking of to stretch and preen in the sunshine. And others are ‘wild cats’, hell bent on running straight up the walls in pursuit of invisible prey, knocking down all who dare get in their pathway. Although you won’t be able to change the basic nature of Angel, you can try and change the more obnoxious behaviours – should they occur. You will have to try and remember to have patience – some cats take to training quite well, others take a little longer. You will get to know Angel.

Also cats do the things they do for various reasons and before training begins, it is important to have basic understanding of why?

Angel may misbehave due to:

~ boredom

~ growing from kitten to adult – see picture of an adult tortoiseshell cat

~ an impending or ongoing illness. It is best to rule out this one first. Maybe a health professional will be required to help out.

How Do You Train Your Kitten?

1. Make a List:

everything which needs changing and start with the worst offender first. It is best to teach one behaviour at a time because too many changes will make the cat confused and potentially worst behaved than before.

2. Give Clear, Consistent Guidelines:

Do this immediately as to what is and what is not acceptable in your home. We will have to remember not to change the rules from day to day eg if Angel climbs on the bench you should not tell her off on one day and then accept this on another day. You will have to organise consistency with all family members.

3. Treats and Rewards:

These can be effective with cats as long as they are given immediately after the behaviour.

Do not bother reprimanding your cat as it is often ineffective.

4. Clicker Technique:

This is when a loud noise from a clicker can be given to Angel should she misbehave. This intolerable noise will grab her attention and she will learn to avoid the undesired action and do an action that will give her a treat. It is not the treat that motivates her but the intolerance of the clicking sound.

5. Cat Training Classes:

You could always take Angel along to training classes to find out some appropriate techniques.…

General Articles

Names For Kittens and Cats – How to Brainstorm For a Unique Kitten Name

Names For Kittens and Cats – How to Brainstorm For a Unique Kitten Name

Finding great names for kittens or cats can seem overwhelming at first. You want something that’s unique, different, and cute. And it has to be something you won’t get tired of repeating every day for the next fifteen to twenty years! It has to fit your new kittens looks, personality, and your lifestyle.

The possibilities are endless. That’s the great thing about naming an animal. There are no boundaries on your creativity. He doesn’t have to fit in on the playground, and no one will make fun of his name if it’s really off-the-wall. So go ahead, express yourself!

Right, so now what? Well one idea is to browse lists of popular cat names. But, that just might defeat your plan to be original. You want to be unique, so why choose the same name as everyone else? It is a good way to get started, though. It might give you some ideas.

The first thing to think about with each name is how it will sound. You are going to have to say it a lot, and you don’t want to get tired of it. Also, you want your cat to hear it easily. That’s why many cats have a name with a long vowel sound- they quickly pick up on their name if it has a long vowel, such as the “e” in Leo.

Names for kittens can reflect their appearance. If you have a black cat, how about Luna, Midnight, or Ninja? A white cat could be called Bianca. A tiger cat could be named, well, you know!

The next idea is to take brainstorming one step further. For example, let’s say you have a gray kitten. Smokey is an obvious choice. Instead, think about all things gray. Gray weather makes me think about clouds, storms, how about Twister, or Nimbus (short for the cumulonimbus cloud type)? Or maybe your kitten is more silver? Platinum is a clever name. Silver leads to jewelry, how about Bling?

You might want to think about your kittens personality. Does he love to climb? Is she a total snuggle-bug? These traits can lead into a name! I once knew a kitten that was just crazy. His owner gave him a Native American name that reflected his wild nature.

Some of the best names for kittens are ones that reflect your unique character. Do you have a favorite author, sports hero, or even hobby? Take some time to think about it, and you may just come up with the perfect name!

If you are getting two kittens, you may opt to have their names match. Twin kitten names are fun and convey a special relationship between the kittens. On the other hand, many choose to name each kitten individually. It’s totally your choice.

Want to get outlandish? I’ve personally known a Hosehead, Chainsaw, and Three. There really are no boundaries when it comes to unique kitten names!

Some of the greatest names for kittens are human names, precisely because they are human! Some of the best human name choices are so very human, that they are absolutely quirky and unique on a cat!

There is no rush. Get to know your kitten. Spend some time bonding and observing him, and in the meantime think about some of these categories:

Human Names

Mythology

Real Life Celebrities

Mythology

Literature

Weather

Your Hobbies and Personal Interests

Names for kittens can come from anywhere. These all provide great inspiration, and once you pick the perfect name, you’ll know it!…

General Articles

How Many Cat Toys Do You Have?

How Many Cat Toys Do You Have?

We are very busy these days trying to make end meet and to do this, most of us are away from our home most of the day. That action forces us to leave our cats or kitten at home all day alone. One great motivator for purchasing that cute squeaky toy, bouncy ball with a bell inside or Mr. Wrestle packed with catnap is guilt. We think of our pets as part of the family and we would feel that same type of guilt if we had to leave or children by themselves for any length of time. Curiosity may not kill the cat or kitten but it sure can leave the house a mess when you get home. You need to have something for your cat or kitten to keep their minds and body occupied while you are at work or go for the day.

There are some great toys for cats and kitten out on the market in your local pet store, Wal-Mart or online. I had mentioned the toy with catnap inside they are great and most cats will react to from differently. All cat except Australian cats so not only are Aussie different from the rest of the world so are their cats. The 30% of cats that are not affected by catnip are Australian cat 60% of the cat population cannot help themselves from reacting the catnap keeping them attention focus on the toy for five to fifteen minutes until they become accumulated to the scent. Even after that if the cat is away from the catnip toy for more than an hour and the toy is reintroduce it will trigger an immediate response over and over again. That only leaves 10% of the cat population they are the kitten younger than three months old that just do not know any better and the older mature cats that knows better or just do not care.

Cat and kitten have a built in instinct within them to help bring out or develop this instinct there are a wide range of interactive toys for cats and kitten. There are small birds or mouse that are fastened to a spring steel wire that are self supporting and other that attach to a chair, counter top or door with a clamp. They capture cats attention and when they become interacting with this toy whenever they swat, grab, pounce or bat at the life like toy it will dance unpredictably bouncing this way and that causing your cat or kitten to stay focus. If they concentrate on what the toy is doing that will give them a chance at capturing its prey.

If you want to keep your cat and kittens healthy they need to be active and exercise and play with them one on one daily will help keep the Vet away. Sharpening their skill will help them grow not only physically but mentally as well.…