Wolf Teeth in Horses
In This Article What Are Wolf Teeth in Horses? View 3 More +
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Strawberries?
Bearded dragons are omnivorous reptiles who thrive on a varied diet of leaves, flowers, and crawling insects. But as you’re enjoying some fresh berries, you may be wondering, “Can bearded dragons eat strawberries too?” Yes! While bearded dragons should get most of their nutrition from leafy greens and protein-rich insects, strawberries are perfectly fine to give your beardie in moderation. Here’s everything you need to know about the benefits and potential risks of feeding strawberries to your bearded dragon, as well as how to safely share this sweet treat. Before introducing any new food into your bearded dragon’s diet, always check with your veterinarian.
Is a Self-Cleaning Litter Box Really Less Work?
A Self-Cleaning Litter Box That Flushes An automatic litter box system that Blass calls “pure genius” is the flushing box by CatGenie. The CatGenie self-flushing cat box scoops away, liquifies and flushes feline waste out of your home. The cat bowl is filled with CatGenie washable granules that are made from natural and synthetic biodegradable materials. They are litter-like in shape, “so your cat will be able to dig his claws in and cover up as they instinctively do,” says Avery Hand, marketing director of CatGenie. She explains, “It works with the water supply in your home, and you can hook it up yourself, using your bathroom or laundry room; no need for a plumber.” She adds that her own cat Morty easily adapted to a CatGenie, and the company’s resident office cat is an on-site daily user. In addition to the self-washing granules, you will also need the CatGenie SaniSolution SmartCartridge, which is used to clean the granules and the bowl. Hand says the granules are virtually dust-free, and all you need to do is replenish them—you don’t need to replace them. The 30-minute cleaning cycle can be reset if necessary. She also says that one CatGenie system can accommodate up to three cats. Blass likes the CatGenie’s sturdy quality and says that it keeps its self-cleaning promise “because it’s flushable and waste is removed from the house via the drain pipe.” Blass does caution that “because it is noisy, it’s not good for skittish cats. And some cats will refuse to use it.” Hand agrees that “some cats don’t take to it, but we have a 92-93 percent adaptation rate, so with the thousands of cats that have tried it, that’s a good product review.”,A Hybrid, Partly Self-Cleaning Litter Box Option If you’re not quite ready for an automatic litter box, you can try a litter box that still does some of the work for you. For example, the Tidy Cats Breeze cat litter box system uses a system of pellets and pads to collect cat waste for easy disposal. The Tidy Cats Breeze cat litter pellets are poured into a tray that is suspended above the Tidy Cats Breeze cat pad. The 99.9 percent dust-free litter pellets trap and dehydrate solid waste while letting the urine pass through onto the absorbent, odor-controlling pads. The solid waste can then be scooped up, and you will need to replace the pads underneath. This does save you from having to scrape the sides of the litter tray to collect the soiled cat litter. “The ease of the Tidy Breeze system is what makes it a practical choice,” says C.J. Campeau, brand manager for Tidy Cats. “You scoop solid waste daily, change the super-absorbent pad weekly and replace the anti-tracking, dehydrating pellets monthly.” The original Breeze model did not have a hood. “When we heard that some of the cats wanted the added privacy of a hooded system, we asked experts to help us create it,” says Campeau. “Cat parents can now pick the hooded or sidewall system that best meets their cat’s needs.” If your cat prefers a more private litter box experience, you can look into trying the Tidy Cats Breeze hooded cat litter box system. Blass likes the hooded system because it has “weighted pellets that do not come out of the box as easily as lighter litters; if you hate cat litter tracking around the house, this is for you.” She says it is not for cats that spray or lift their hind ends while in the box. Blass reminds cat parents that even if we may long for the ease of a self-cleaning litter box, our felines may not agree. You have to keep your cat’s overall comfort and happiness in mind when deciding on whether or not to make the switch. “I have four cats of my own, and two of them like the automatic litter box; two of them do not,” she says. “The one who needs to always have a clean box uses the self-cleaning box, so that has helped our situation.”,Image via iStock.com/Professor25 By Kathy Blumenstock It’s the least favorite part of cat parenting: cleaning the cat litter box. Kitty, can you please DIY? Until that happens, the emergence of self-cleaning litter boxes for cats creates an option to have the litter box itself clean up after your cat. But are these self-cleaning litter boxes for cats really less work? With multiple styles and designs—including an actual flush-it-away system from CatGenie—and ever-updating versions, there are plenty of options for you to choose from to find the perfect match for you and your cat. Our 411 on self-cleaning litter boxes for cats lets you think outside the traditional cat litter box to decide if an automatic litter box is worth it. The Basics of the Self-Cleaning Litter Box With a self-cleaning litter box, a waste compartment sifts, rakes, flushes or otherwise collects feline waste, allowing you minimal contact with cat urine and feces and eliminating the need to scoop the litter tray daily. Most of the automatic litter boxes detect when your cat has used it and will clean up so that the next time they go, they have fresh, clean cat litter. Yody Blass of Companion Animal Behavior in Leesburg, Virginia, says the concept of a self-cleaning litter box is “a great one, because no one likes to clean litter boxes. It goes along with owning a cat, similar to walking a dog or cleaning a ferret’s cage.” Blass says that for cat parents working long hours or overnight shifts, or for those with an illness or disability, a self-cleaning litter box can be very helpful. They are also a helpful option for cats who want a clean litter box each time. “To get our cats to be consistent in using a box, we need to clean it daily—even multiple times a day—a challenging task with long work days and plenty to do at home. If the box gets overlooked in some busy households, that can create inappropriate elimination issues,” Blass says, adding that an automatic litter box can help to alleviate that problem. However, if the words “automatic litter box” create a mental picture of a work-free zone, delete that picture! An automatic litter box still means some work, although it will differ from your current litter box routine. Automatic litter boxes will require you to empty out a tray or compartment that holds the sifted cat waste as well as replace or replenish the cat litter for the box to function.
Demystifying The Varying Degrees Of Swordtails And Platies
Swordtails and platies are quite rightly among the most popular aquarium fish in the world. No community aquarium is complete without one or the other, or both. Most aquarists believe that they have kept a true swordtail (Xiphophorus hellerii); platy, southern platyfish or moonfish (X. maculatus); or sunset, variegated or variatus platy (X. variatus). But most aquarists have actually kept hybrids between these species — not “pure” swordtails and platies. Take a close look at any platies or swordtails you may have in your tanks or those that you see in aquatic shops. Some platies appear more elongated than they should be. Indeed, some may even look a little like swordless swordtails. Conversely, some swordtails may look somewhat shorter than they should. Faced with this situation, it is easy to think that these slight or more apparent departures from the original body shapes are down to selective breeding in captivity, and this is true — but only to a point. For example, every batch of newborn “pure” platies or swordtails will exhibit some variation in body shape. If we select, say, only the most elongated platies from these batches and breed from them, subsequently selecting just the most elongated offspring — and so on — we can eventually end up with true-breeding elongated platies. The same (but in the opposite direction) applies to swordtails. This type of intense artificial selection (as opposed to natural selection) carried out in a protected aquarium environment accelerates the pace of evolution far beyond its natural rate and often goes in directions other than those that would occur in nature.
Society Finches: The Perfect Parents
Among the many ancient treasures of Asia are wall hangings and paintings showing a variety of species of finches and songbirds, some wild, some caged. A few of these hangings, some many centuries old, depict a finch species apparently already domesticated. It is still being commonly kept all over the world, and it is known nowadays as the Bengalese finch, or the society finch, (Lonchura striata domestica). The name Bengalese is not all that commonly used, so you’ll more often hear these little birds being referred to as society finches. These charming finches have gregarious natures and are highly sociable. They don’t just enjoy hanging out with each other; they generally enjoy the company of other bird species, too, and they don’t tend to be picky about a bird’s size, shape or habits. Society finches normally come in a charming variegated pattern of dark chocolate and white, or the fairly common gender-linked recessive color of fawn and white. If you find a good finch breeder, you can usually choose from a range of colors, from all light to all dark, and various colors in between.
What’s In Our Dog’s Easter Basket?
Chocolate bunnies are an Easter basket staple for us humans, but they’re off-limits for our pups. (Chocolate is toxic to dogs.) Not to worry, these bunnies are pup-approved. These latex squeaker toys, shaped like classic chocolate bunnies, are best suited for small breed dogs and come in a 2-pack for double the fun.,Picture this: It’s Easter morning. Your dog follows you into the kitchen like it’s any other ordinary day when—what’s that?—there’s a dog Easter basket full of goodies just for them. Imagine the joy on their little face when you let them tear into a new toy or treat. (And imagine the photo opp!) That’s eggs-actly how we plan to spend our Easter—by playing Easter bunny for our fur babies. But what to put in your dog’s Easter basket? We shopped Chewy for festive and fun gifts sure to get tails wagging. From bunny-shaped toys to drool-worthy dog treats, here’s what we’re putting in our dog’s Easter basket this year.
Top 200 Lizard Names: The Best Names for Geckos, Chameleons and More
Lizards make great pets—from skinks to monitor lizards, basilisks and beyond, there are no other animals quite like them. So of course, they need extra-special names. Whether you prefer funny or fancy, cute or colorful, sweet or badass, this list of pet lizard names has plenty of options to choose from. Whether you have a gecko, bearded dragon, chameleon or other reptile, we’ve rounded up the best names for lizards of every likeness. Looking for the most popular lizard names? Browse top picks from Chewy pet parents.
Tips for Adjusting Your Cat’s Sleep Schedule
Before attempting to adjust your cat’s sleep schedule with behavioral modifications, make sure they don’t have an underlying medical problem that causes them to stay awake at night. Painful conditions, hormonal imbalances, flea infestations, eye conditions and deafness can make it difficult for your tired cat to sleep peacefully. If your cat seems restless during the day, too, take her to the vet to rule out these health concerns. “For example, some senior animals lose their hearing, so their loud meowing is to try to hear their own noises,” explains Dr. Rachel Barrack, a licensed veterinarian and certified animal acupuncturist. Older cats may also increase their cat sounds at night because they cannot see as well, so consider leaving some lights on when you go to bed. Also note that at certain life stages, a cat waking up at night is actually to be expected. Kittens, for example, have lots of energy to spare!,Why do cats sleep so much, but not necessarily when you want them too? If you’re dealing with your cat waking up at dawn (and stepping on your face in the process) or meowing mid-evening, it may be time to adjust your cat’s sleep schedule and figure out just how to get a cat to sleep at night. Cats are crepuscular, which means they are most active at dawn and dusk. But luckily for cat parents, cat sleep schedules are malleable and can be altered to align with yours. Goodbye to the days of yowling for food early in the morning, or begging for your attention when you just want to wind down. If you want to have your cat sleeping at the same time as you, keep in mind that some adjustments to your cat’s lifestyle must be made. Here’s how to get a cat to sleep at night.
How Often Do Pets Cause Trip-and-Fall Injuries?
Pets bring joy to people’s lives and positively impact your health and well-being. But they can also unintentionally cause trip-and-fall injuries, even resulting in visits to the emergency room. Pet-related fall injuries occur more often than you might think, so being aware of the hazards and taking steps to prevent trips and falls can help you avoid emergency situations. How Common Are Fall Injuries Caused by Pets? A 2010 study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Center for Injury Prevention and Control revealed that pet-related fall injuries happen with relative frequency. An estimated 86,629 fall injuries associated with cats and dogs occurred in the United States each year from 2001 to 2006. Of these, seven and a half times as many injuries were caused by dogs in comparison to cats. The most common injuries reported were fractures, bruises and abrasions, most of these occurring in the extremities. According to the 2010 CDC study, while injury rates were the highest for people over 75 years old, pets were fall hazards for people of all ages. Jenn Fiendish, a veterinary behavior technician who runs Happy Power Behavior and Training in Portland, Oregon, says it’s not uncommon for pet parents to sustain an injury from falling or tripping over a dog. “This is often due to behaviors such as lunging at other animals, jumping onto or trying to get past an owner, and forceful pulling on the leash,” she says. Fall Injuries Within Your Home Fall injuries can happen anywhere, even at home. You might be at the stove cooking, for example, and your pup may be right behind you, waiting for food to drop, says Melissa Winkle, an occupational therapist and president or Dogwood Therapy Services in Albuquerque, New Mexico, who works with people with disabilities. “And [they] stay so close that when you turn around, you trip.” Or you might come home to an excited dog who has been left alone all day, arms full of groceries, and if your dog jumps up excitedly and runs around your legs, you can easily trip. Winkle further cautions pet parents about the hazards of a jumping dog. “Typically we see people get new pups or smaller adult dogs, and families allow the puppy to jump … Then the pup grows up knowing that this behavior will be rewarded,” says Winkle. In this case, the bigger issue is a lack of proper training that can cause a fall injury. How Fall Injuries Can Happen Outdoors Retractable leashes are another common cause for fall injuries, according to Winkle. “People give their dogs 8 feet of leash, and the dog sees something or hears something and gets a running start, giving them mechanical advantage, and pulls the person over,” says Winkle. Dogs can also change directions abruptly or get caught up in their leash while using a retractable dog leash. “I have seen both dogs and people get serious injuries from these kinds of leashes,” says Winkle. Winkle suggests using a fixed-length 4-6 foot dog leash and being aware of your environment so you can predict if your dog will take off. Dog parks are prime spots for both dog and human fall injuries, says Winkle. “People get to talking on the phone or to other pet parents and forget to watch their dogs,” says Winkle. Dogs tend to pay more attention to each other while playing, so it’s not unusual for them to run full-tilt into an unsuspecting bystander. “Supervision is the key,” she adds. Obedience Training to Prevent Fall Injuries The CDC report says that obedience training is an important factor in reducing falls. Walking your dog on a loose leash and teaching her to stay to one side of you (aka heeling) are two training skills that can reduce the risk of tripping over a dog, explains Fiendish. “For animals with more severe behavioral issues like leash reactivity or fear aggression, one must work with a qualified behaviorist or trainer so that the root problem is addressed along with behavior modification and training,” she adds. The same training can also apply to cats and smaller dogs, she says. (Although most injuries are caused by dogs, tripping over a cat is also a real risk.) “In addition to training, the use of a collar bell is also helpful, as it gives an owner the ability to hear the pet and thus alerts them to their presence.” Winkle says that providing environmental controls, such as the Carlson Pet Products extra wide walk-thru dog gate, can be a convenient way to keep both human and pup safe. “This particular product allows people to get through easily with a very shallow step-over, and it is tall enough to keep even larger breeds out of high-traffic and low-attention areas.” Many of these trip-and-fall injuries can be prevented if both human and dog have an understanding of the rules, says Winkle. “It really boils down to training together, having a relationship, watching the dog and managing the environment all the time,” she says. Assessing your lifestyle and physical status is also essential, says Fiendish. “Big, exuberant dogs as well as small, ‘hard-to-keep-track-of’ animals are often not a great choice for those with mobility issues.” Fall injuries caused by tripping over a cat or dog happen more often than people may think—and it impacts people of all ages. Being aware, reducing risk factors and investing in obedience training can go a long way towards preventing accidents. By: Paula Fitzsimmons Featured Image: iStock.com/Yurikr
What Can Cats Not Eat? 13 Types of Toxic Foods to Avoid
It can be hard to ignore your cat’s adorable pleas for a bite of your food. But while some human foods are safe for cats in small amounts, many can be harmful or even toxic. Plus, cats require a carefully balanced, meat-based diet. Too much human food (even the “safe” kind) can cause health issues. So, what can cats not eat? Read on to learn which foods should stay far out of paw’s reach.
