Don';t let the smile fool you - my Moe was a fish with a mind of his own, not tolerating other fish in his house

My Moe story may entertain you – check out this link:

My Special Fish

If you want to know more about these cute little guys – check out:

Blood Parrot Cichlid

But this is not what I really wanted to share with you – I want to give you a few points on what fish is great when you are starting to get into setting up your first tank. It is important that your fish can live in Harmony – and here are a few friendly and very nice species:

Dwarf Gourami

Dwarf Gourami

Dwarf Gourami comes in two tones or single colours. They mix well with all other fish

Rosy Barbs

Rosy Barbs

Rosy barbs are a schooling fish – they like to swim in packs of 5 or more. The great things about them is that they eat hair algae and are also fun to watch, because they are quite playful.

Neon Tetras

Neon Tetras

Neon Tetras are also a schooling fish. They stand out in a tank beautifully because of their colouring

Zebra Danios

Zebra Danios

Equally effective in your tank will be Zebra Danios – beautifully coloured and playful

Otocinclus ”Oto”

Otocinclus "Oto"

You can add a few of these nice fish about a month after you set up your tank – the healthy grow of algae will make them happy.

In summary – to set up a nice, colourful tank, mix two Gouramis, three Barbs and six Zebras or six smaller Tetras. And then all you have to do is maintain a healthy tank!

Hope you have enjoyed this information -please send me your comments, suggestions, experiences and pictures – your input is always welcomed and very much appreciated!

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I have a cat and a dog – both of them are getting on in years and just last weekend, we had a family member visiting, who also brought her one years old puppy with her. That reminded me to add some helpful pet tips here – we can all use some help when it comes to out furry friends!

1. How to Prevent Doggy Turf Wars:

To ensure that your dog doesn’t feel put out by a visiting new playmate, make sure you fill his bowl first – before feeding the visitor. And the key is also to pet your dog first – always – that will establish him as the dominant pet and reassure him of his importance in your household.

2. How to Make you Dog Come to You Every Time:

If you have one of those happy puppies who master all commands except the one you want him to – to come to you when you call him, try this: Ask him to “Come”  then walk backwards a few steps and say “Come” again. As he starts to walk towards you, praise him by saying “Good boy” And as he reaches you, give him a treat to reinforce that he is doing the right thing.

3, How to Stop Your Cat’s “Love Nipping”:

This happens quite a bit – each time you pet your cat, she may bare her teeth and give you a little “Love bite” It may not be pleasant and you have to worry that she will do it to children as well. To stop this behaviour, fill a tin can with pennies and as soon as you see your cat getting ready to nibble on you, rattle the can. The noise will distract her and pretty soon, she will associate that unpleasant noise with biting and it should stop her actions for good.

4. How to Solve Hairball Problems:

Not only are you tired of cleaning up hairball mess, you may also wonder how to help your cat to prevent from choking on a hair ball. And the best is a natural way – here is homemade cure: Mix about 1 teaspoon of canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling) into her food every day – the pumpkin fibre helps fur pass through the intestines.And unlike other remedies – like petroleum jelly, it will not impede nutrient absorption.

Hope these tips were helpful to you – please send in your comments, suggestions and experiences, your input is always welcomed and very much appreciated!

I believe it is important to teach your child to love and respect the nature – and to start doing that in your child’s early years. Here are a few tips on what you can do, sharing your environmental values with a toddler.

• Visit parks or woods and show your little one how to be gentle. How not to damage tress or plants or not to leave garbage behind. Tell him about how all creatures have a place in nature and that they also have job to do. If you see a chipmunk rushing around, explain that he is gathering food – most probably to feed his family.

• This time of year, you can make snacks for the hungry birds who will visit your backyard. Here is a recipe for a treat your feathered friends will love:

Bird Treat Recipe:

You will need:

• Slice of bread (fairly dense one will work the best)
• Drinking straw
• Peanut butter (at room temperature)
• Cup of bird seed
• Cookie cutter, butter knife, piece of yarn or string

What to do:

1. Toast the bread and let it cool
2. Help you child to use the cookie cutter to cut out the shape you choose (press real hard)
3. Poke a hole (about 1 inch from the edge) with the straw
4. Spread peanut butter on one side of the bread and lay it – peanut butter side down on the bird seed you have spread on a plate. Press firmly.
5. Butter and seed the other side of the bread.
6. Let your treat dry for a few minutes, then thread the yearn or string through the hole.
7. Go outside and find a good branch to hang your treat – best if you find a spot your child will see from your window.
8. Watch him enjoy his new friends and repeat as often as possible!

• At home, make him help you with recycling routines. You can make it his job to take newspapers to your recycling bin on regular basis.

• Teach him to turn off the lights when you are leaving a room. If your child is old enough, provide a low stool so that he can reach the switch. And it can also be his job to remind you in case you forget to turn the light off when they are not needed to be on.

• Visit your local market or a farm so he can learn where food comes from. It will be a great trip and lots of fun if he can participate and pick some fruits or vegetables.

• These may seems like little tips but if you follow them, you will be surprised how much they can mean to a child. And chances are that he will spread his knowledge to his friends – so every little bit means a lot!

Hope you enjoyed reading this and as always, I will welcome any comments, suggestions or experiences you have – please share!

If you have a cat and you are seeing some unusual behavior, don’t just take it as signs that the cat is getting older. Your friend will be giving you signs when something is not quite right – and reading those signs can make all the difference in the world. I am listing just a few and if you have others or if you have experience that should be shared, please do that!

Have a Healthy Cat:

Sign: Cat is grooming all the time. So much so that you notice bald spots in his coat and his paws have spots on them.

What it means: Compulsive over-grooming can be a sign of emotional disorder that may require an attention from a veterinarian or animal behaviorist. It is important to take your cat for a check up to that a professional can determine the cause and provide treatment.

Sign: Repeated cold symptom and/or repeated upset stomach:

What it means: It is quite possible that there is something stressing your cat. If you have added another pet to your household – especially another cat, your old friend may be stressed trying to remain alert. If you noticed the above mentioned symptoms and if your cat has stopped grooming itself, it is important to consult a professional, before the problem becomes very serious. Stress in cats can turn into respiratory or intestinal infections quite quickly so seeking help is a definite good idea.

Sign: Overweight cat

This is not an unusual situation. There are car who just love to eat and start gaining weight quite rapidly. If you cat is gaining weight and you are giving it human food, you need to stop that immediately. Feed your cat only commercial food and pick up the weight control one – that will be a good start. And like humans – to loose weight, your cat will need some exercise – not an easy task! But playing with your friend even for a few minutes a day, chasing a toy or the cat itself will make a difference!

Sign: Fading coat colour

This is quite common especially with black cats. The coat will start loosing its luster, and in black cat, start having rusty sheen to it. If it happens in the summer, it could just be that your cat is getting too much sun. If you cat is getting older, it is loosing some of the coats pigmentation. If neither is the situation, changes in coat colour could mean something else – like bad nutrition or parasites. It is always a good idea to have your cat checked out properly by a professional who will suggest a treatment.

Hope this information was helpful to you and as always, I will more than welcome your comments!

1.      How much time do we have to spend with a cat or kitten each day?

2.      Kittens need much more play-time and socialization than adults cats do. Am I willing to clean a cat’s litter box every single day?

3.      Do I want an indoor or indoor/outdoor cat?

4.      What sorts of predators live in our area that could hurt an outdoor cat?

5.      Can we afford to feed and care for a cat? This includes high quality cat food, vaccinations from a vet, and an emergency fund.

Choosing Your Cat: If you have honestly answered the key questions and have decided that a cat is for you, congratulations! Now you have to decide where to find your new cat. Do you want to visit a breeder or go to a shelter where lots of kittens and cats are waiting to be adopted?

What to Feed your Cat: Feeding your cat a high-quality mixture of wet and dry food is ideal. That way they can get the best of both types; many cats do not drink enough water and will get some through the wet food, and dry food can be left out for ‘free feeding’, assuming the cat is not overweight.

How to Train Your Cat: Training your cat should not be very difficult – most cats and kittens will be litter box trained before coming to your home. You will have to have toys for kittens to play with as they can become destructive if left alone and bored.

Having Your Cat Spayed or Neutered: As with all animals, cats should be spayed or neutered before they reach six months of age which is about the age they reach puberty. You will want to ‘fix’ your cat not only because it will help keep your pet safe as male cats will do almost anything to get to a female in heat, but it can also help keep your cat from getting cancer later in life.

Once you decide that a cat is what you want for family pet, give consideration to its temperament and health. If you decide that you want a pet you can show or breed, talk to a reputable breeder to make sure it will meet the breed standards. And on important thing to remember is not to buy a kitten form breeder who will not show you the mother.Lot of people will go visit a shelter to get their kitten – if you do, look for a kitten with bright and shiny eyes, glossy coat, clean bottom and alert demeanour. Make sure the ears are clean, nose cool and damp without any nasal discharge with pale pink mouth and gums.

How To Feed Your Kitten:

Choose wholesome, high-protein food and make sure your kitten has constant supply of water. Kittens will need to eat more often than adult cats – here is a guideline:

• Age 3-5 Months: 5 to 4 meals daily
• Age 6-8 Months: 3 to 4 meals daily
• Age 9-12 Months: 3 meals daily
• Kittens should be feed canned or fresh food as part of a balanced diet with quality kitten dry cat food from a reputable manufacturer left down at all times to graze on. Your reward for feeding your kitten a well-balanced diet is a healthy beautiful adult cat.

Training Your Kitten:

It is very important that your new kitten is fully aware of where the litter box is. In a new environment, the kitten may not be able to find the littler box alone – especially in a home with two or more floors and several rooms. Good idea is to restrict the kitten to one area for a few weeks and only allow him into other areas when under supervision.

Once you allow your kitten to run around freely, keep a watchful eye and keep returning the kitten to its litter box in regular intervals. If you are living in a very large house with multiple floors, it is advisable to have a litter box on every floor.

When your kitten first arrives home, it is advisable to use the same brand of litter that he is used to. Once you are sure that he knows where the litter box is located, you can change the brand if you wish. And your litter box needs to kept clean at all times – cats will quickly find an alternative if the box is not cleaned daily.

Getting to Know Your Kitten:

All you have to do to establish a relationship with your kitten is to be patient – it will take a few days or even a few weeks. Kittens need time to bond and your patience will be rewarded!

For the first few weeks, it is a good idea not to let your kitten run around the house unsupervised when you are not there – put the kitten in their own designated room with their litter box, food and water. Also make sure your new kitten has a comfortable bed or basket to sleep in with some toys to play with. If you are gone most of the day, it may be worth considering to get two kittens – they provide a playmate for each other and won’t be lonely. And keep your kitten indoors at all times – it will take quite a while before he will be ready to cope with the dangers of outside life!

Hope you do decide to give a home to little kitten! I have one – not a kitten anymore but a cat who is now 14 years old and just keeps acting like a kitten! I can’t imagine not having him in the house, keeping me company and more often than not – entertaining me with his actions. His name is Biscuit – my sons named him when we also had another cat, whos name was Cookie…. You get the pattern here? Mama’s baking reflects in just about everything! Here is picture of Biscuit and I will be very happy to get your stories and experiences or pictures of your favourite pets!

• One thing you want to make sure about is that your dog or cat are wearing ID tags and that the besgt and safest place for them is indoors.
• Don’t leave your dog or cat out in the yard – there are plenty of stories of vicious pranksters who have harmed pets on Halloween – especially black cats.
• Candies are definitely not good for your pets – both cats and dogs. Chocolate is poisonous and tin foil and cellophane wrappers can be hazardous if swallowed.
• If you are putting a costume on your dog, make sure that it isn’t constricting or unsafe. Be careful not to obstruct the pet’s vision. Even the friendliest and sweetest dog can get snappy when he doesn’t see what is going on around him.
• It is not a good idea to let the family dog accompany your children on their trick-or-treat mission without the company of an adult. Children may a have difficult time handling the pet with so many others around.
• Keep decoration that your pet could chew on – like streamers, spider webs, wires and cords – out of reach.
• Place live flame decoration like candles and jack- o’-lanterns out of your pet’s reach. Curious critters risk being burned by the flame – and they could easily knock over a candle or pumpkin and cause a fire.
• It is a good idea to keep your pet in a quiet place, away form trick-or-treaters and other Halloween activities. Dogs and cats are creatures of habit and could easily become frightened or agitated by the strange sights and sounds of costumed visitors.
• And once more – make sure your pets is wearing ID tags – all it takes is an opened door and attention to elsewhere to find yourself searching for your pet.
• And if you cat or dog will be outside, make sure that they are visible to others – reflective or flashing collar or a tag will fo the trick.

Have a happy and safe Halloween and remember that your comments are always welcomed here!

Good dog parenting is all about:

1. Health and Safety
2. Setting realistic goals
3. Being consistent
4. Using non-violent discipline
5. Stimulating mental and physical growth with play and exercise
6. Making sure your dog has has quiet time and a place to get away from it all

Health and Safety:

Successful training does depend on you and your dog’s development skills – but his health must always be first. Making an appointment with your veterinarian and having regular check ups is the key here.

Setting realistic Goals:

Older or larger dogs can;’t always do what younger of smaller dogs can do and visa-versa. Train at your dog’s individual learning rate and take his physical and emotional abilities into consideration.

Being Consistent:

A dog’s temperament and his ability to handle stress are directly related to his ability "predict the future". If you feed your dog at set times, play and walk at set times, groom and massage at set times, he will learn to relax and remain calm at other times. This doesn’t mean you should become a prisoner to a schedule ot that spontaneity is lost; dogs have to learn to roll with life’s ups and downs. It simply means that doing some things routinely through the day can dramatically improve his stress management skills.

Using Non-violent Discipline:

Some people think that using restrain and confinement is cruel and inhuman. Since positive training is all about flow, rather than physically competing with the dog, they question how restraint and confinement could even be considered. Restraining mean putting a dog on a leash. Confining means putting him behind a barrier such as a gate, exercise pen, fence or dog run. Think of a parent holding a child by the hand. Until the child becomes responsible, he or she must be protected. Similarly, until your dog is reliable and no longer running into the street. chewing up everything in the house or eliminating on floors or carpets, management is needed.

You can follow a step-by-step procedure of positive training for tethering that will not traumatize the dog in a least. Successful tethering eliminates the need for corrections because because the dog can’t get into trouble and it keeps everyone safe:

• Tie the dog’s leash to something so that it is flat on the ground
• Stand in the front of your dog and give him high valued treats so that being restrained is associated with something wonderful
• Progress to asking him to lie down (relaxed position) and the give him treats
• Gradually increase your distance and the duration before giving him treats

It would be abusive to tie a dog to something and allow him to exhaust or hurt himself trying to get free. That is why it is important to acclimatize your dog gradually and never leave him tethered if you are not in the same place.

Stimulating mental and physical growth with play and exercise:

Having fun and playing with your dog are the cornerstones of having the happiest, healthiest relationship with your dog. All training is a game and behaviors are tricks. If it’s not fun for you, it’s not fun for your dog.

Discipline means setting boundaries and enforcing rules. It does not mean enforcing physical punishment. The answer lies in learning the difference between correcting the behavior and correcting the dog. The deal you make with your dog includes no hitting, kicking, shocking, pinning or jerking. However, the dog must earn everything he wants. So rewards such as affection, tug games, fetch, going for a walk, getting on the furniture and so on, are given in abundance. Teach your dog to sit, lie down or stay or walk by your side, and if he does these things, he gets everything he wants. This is all done incrementally, beginning at kindergarten level and progressing to PhD.

Making sure your dog has has quiet time and a place to get away from it all:

Imagine having your senses constantly with the sounds, sights, touches and smells of the world!If you didn’t have the opportunity get away form it all once in a while, it could make you stressed and grumpy. It is important to keep training sessions short and play time structured for duration and intensity.

Final note:

Dogs are supposed to relieve stress, not increase it. Incorporating a practicing the above4 suggestions will help you achieve a safe and happy lifelong relationship of peace with your number one fan – your dog!

Finding Your Lost Pet

During the dog days of summer, many of us visit family, travel to the cottage or hike in the wilds – and we often bring family pet along for the fun. Unfortunately, sometimes the family pets take a vacation solo. An indoor cat may slip outside while the screen door is opened or the dog may dash out of the car at stopover.

Here are some tried-and-true ways – and some technological ideas – to help bring them home again.

Track Down Your Lost Pet:

• Check with everyone in your household. If no one has the pet, start looking. Search your home – room by room, checking in closets and closing each and every door after you, then thoroughly check the yard.
• Ask your neighbours to check in their houses, garages and decks. Ask for help to search the neighbourhood. Have everyone carry a cellphone and make sure that someone is at home to answer the house phone. Cats don’t usually roam too far so concentrate on a search nearby. Dogs often follow family routes so check these first.
• Call local veterinary clinics, shelters, rescue groups and pet-grooming shops.
• Run an ad in your local paper for several days and check founds pet ads as well.
• Ask the local radio station and TV station for help as well
• Make a poster, post it in your neighbourhood and fax or email  it to shelters,vet clinics, groomers and pet stores.
• If you don;t find your pet within 24 hours, visit local animal shelters and impoundment facilities. Phoning is not enough, you need to see for yourself. Bring photos and proof of ownership with you and visit every other day for at least two weeks.
• Don”t give up hope after a few days – many lost pets are found weeks, even months later. To keep your pet file active at most animal shelters, you should call back every week

Keeping Tabs on the Road:

• Make sure your pet is wearing identification tag with your phone number or the number of someone who can reach you.
• Pack colour photos of your pet, his medical and vaccination history, copies of any prescriptions and registration papers if your pet is a purebred.
• List your pets statistics: ÍD numbers, breed of animal, age, sex, weight, shoulder height, eye and nose colours, type of ear, tail and collar, any distinctive marks or scars; coat length, type and colour.
• Seal your paperwork in a plastic bag and put it in a glove compartment of your vehicle. And make sure everyone on the trip knows where it is.

Helpful safety information:

1.Tags:

Most municipalities have mandatory dog licencing. Attach the licence tag, the annual rabies tag and tag with your phone number to teh dog’s collar. And always keep the collar on.

2. Permanent Markers:

In co-operation with animal shelters and veterinarians, some communities have pet tattoo ID programs for dogs, cats and rabbits. Check your local area businesses for this relative low cost safety feature.

3. Microchips:

Your vet can inject a small, computer coded microchip (about the size of a grain of rice) under the loose skin of your pet’s neck. Animal shelters and most North American veterinary hospitals have scanners that can read almost all manufacturer’s microchips, whether you are at home or across the continent. Ask your vet to check if the chip is readable during regular visits.

4. A Very Wide Net:

Internet based program operates in partnership with the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies and is designed to augment – not replace – other ID. For a low one time fee, owners can register pets on http://www.petlynx.net. Anyone can place a found pet ad – that is always free or lost pet ad. The program will search files for match. Some Canadian shelter will register all incoming found animals on regular basis.

I do hope you will not loose your pet this summer – or in the future. But if you do, following these tips will definitiely be of help!

]]> http://www.mama-knows.com/animal-pet-care/finding-your-lost-pet.html/feed 0 http://www.mama-knows.com/animal-pet-care/first-aid-for-your-pet.html http://www.mama-knows.com/animal-pet-care/first-aid-for-your-pet.html#comments Wed, 20 May 2009 21:58:43 +0000 Hanna Trafford http://www.mama-knows.com/?p=1608 It is always difficult when your pet gets injured – and when that happens, you should seek the assistance of professional vetenarian. But until you can get your four-legged friend the help it needs, you can do act to lessen their pain and discomfort.

Here are a few basic First Aid Tips:

• Cut or Wound:

Symptoms: Broken skin and/or bleeding

What to do: Flush with tap or bottled water to clean and apply pressure until bleeding stops

• Broken Bone:

Symptoms: Exposed bone and/or limping

What to do: Do not apply pressure to the affected area, transport to the vet in a carrier

• Heatstroke:

Symptoms: Panting, Unconsciousness, Hot to the touch, Loose bowels, Seizures

What to do: Apply or drape with cool, damp towel, encourage pet to drink cool (not cold) water, use a fan to help cool the pet, transport to the vet ASAP

• Insect bite or bee sting:

Symptoms: Swelling, Itching or scratching, Facial or eyelid swelling, hives

What to do: If irritation doesn not stop within couple of hours, take to the vet to have your pet checked for allergic reaction

• Burns:

Symptoms: Missing hair, weeping sore, licking or worrying

What to do: Do not touch affected area, take to the vet immediately for treatment and pain control

• Porcupine quills:

What to do: Do not attempt to remove quills, take to teh vet immediately

• Poisoning:

Symptoms: Vomitting, Diarrhea, Lethargy, Unconsciousness

What to do: Take to the vet immediately with a sample of ingested substance if possible

• Skunk spray:

What to do: Unless the pet shows allergic reaction, wash with pet shampoo or commercial skunk spray removal solution, rinse thoroughly

These are just a few tips -I will welcome any additional ones you may have – please share your experiences!

Pep and Kes having a rest on their property

Princess Kes

So those are my grand-dogs and….

I also have two grand-cats – Frodo and Lilo. These are Dan’s babies, currently residing in a very nice condo in Vancouver, B.C. Frodo is the thinker – he always looks like he is either in deep thought about something. Or maybe he is just incredibly content with his life and nothing much will move him. And Lilo? Gorgeous creature, long hair tabby with the funniest face design – cute as a button without a doubt!

Princess Lilo

Regal Frodo

Which way's up Lilo