If you feel guilty leaving your precious pup at home, there are plenty of places where she can tag along. Whether you’re going about your daily routine or traveling somewhere new, you can take your canine along for the ride with a bit of etiquette training. Today, pets are considered four-legged members of the family. More retailers, hotels and restaurants are becoming dog-friendly places that want to accommodate their pet-owning clientele.
Deciding when to put a beloved old or sick dog down can be one of the most heart wrenching decisions that pet caregivers will ever have to make. Unfortunately, it’s an issue that faces many parents of sick and aging pets, like the carers of Marley, a 13-year-old female Golden Retriever mix. Marley was diagnosed with presumptive pancreatic cancer that involved her liver in April 2019, when I first met her. Thankfully, there’s help for pet caregivers struggling with this decision. The Quality of Life Scale I created in 2004 can help guide parents like Marley’s to make the right choice for their beloved companions. By answering questions about their pet, carers can determine a quality of life score. The higher the score, the better a pet’s quality of life. When I first met Marley, she had been undergoing symptomatic treatment to reduce her vomiting and diarrhea. At her first consultation with me, her carers said she had been feeling better on those medications. Together, we assessed Marley’s condition using the Quality of Life Scale, and determined that her score was high, indicating a good quality of life. I recommended a range of care, from supplements to low-dose chemotherapy to using diapers for her incontinence, among other tactics. Thankfully, at that time, we did not have to consider euthanasia. Over the past 15 years, thousands of pet caregivers have thanked me for providing decision-making guidance with my Quality of Life Scale. Veterinarians, their staff and pet carers tell me that using this tool has really been helpful as they lovingly provide palliative care, hospice or “pawspice” care for pets that are approaching the end of life.
The beautiful and popular freshwater angelfish (Pterophyllum scalare) has been a staple of the aquarium hobby for more than 100 years. The first importations were recorded in the decade that preceded World War I and created quite a sensation, with aquarists referring to them as the “king” of aquarium fish. For many years, they simply called them “scalare.” The term angelfish became popular in the 1920s and soon became the common name that has remained to this day. In the past decade or so, as the marine hobby became more prominent, some people started referring to them as “freshwater angelfish” to differentiate them from marine angelfish, but when most aquarists say “angel” or “angelfish,” they are referring to P. scalare. Amazingly, they still create quite a sensation to this day, drawing compliments out of folks who aren’t even aquarists. They have a stately bearing that seems to radiate graceful beauty. There’s just no other way to put it.
Kalmatsuy via Shutterstock,You might be familiar with your own cat’s acrobatic skills, from leaping tall bookcases in a single bound to pouncing on feet in the middle of the night, but which breeds take the cake when it comes to skills and athleticism? We’ve asked CABC Steve Dale to name the top sporty cat breeds, along with some tips on how to keep the busy.
5. Cats Have Variable Memories Short-term and long-term memories serve different purposes. Short-term memories are generally relevant immediately (where a treat was hidden, for example) but aren’t useful for very long. Long-term memories can have repeat value far into the future (learning how to navigate a scary encounter with a dog, for example). Research shows that cats’ short-term memory tends to fade pretty quickly (within 10 to 30 seconds or so) and their ability to find a hidden object completely disappears in 60 seconds. Studies about long-term memory in cats are lacking. One paper showed that cats have good memories for up to 10 minutes or so, but experts agree there is anecdotal evidence that cats can remember important events and relationships for much longer.,6. Cats Have Some Concept of Time and Numbers If you’ve ever been late feeding your cat a meal, it’s probably not too surprising to hear they have a good sense of time. But you might be astonished at just how good it is. One study found that cats could even discriminate between a five-second and an eight-second time interval. And while it may be pushing things to say cats have an understanding of math, it appears they can differentiate between quantities of food. A paper published in 2008 found that cats could understand three is greater than two. More recent research revealed that even kittens could differentiate between larger and smaller amounts of food—a skill that has obvious benefits when it comes to survival. Featured Image: RyanJLane/iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images,Did you know that cat brains are smaller than they used to be? This doesn’t mean that our feline friends are less intelligent than their wild ancestors, just that their brains have adapted to living with us. Some facts about feline brains are linked to how cats used to live, while others probably developed more recently as a result of domestication. In either case, knowing how cat brains do (and don’t) work can help you answer the questions that inevitably arise after watching your cat do something strange, like knocking over your cup of water (again).
While there are over 70 members of the genus Betta, the most popular species in the aquarium hobby—and the one often referred to simply as the betta—is Betta splendens. Betta fish are endemic to Thailand, formerly Siam, which is why this species was once known as the Siamese fighting fish. The nickname also reflects the species’ natural territorial and aggressive attitude toward male betta fish. Wild Betta splendens are unremarkable in appearance but may exhibit strong coloration when agitated. Ornamental betta fish, on the other hand, have been selectively bred for brilliant colors and a variety of fin shapes. They’re some of the most vibrant freshwater fish in the aquarium trade. How big can betta fish get? Betta fish generally only grow to a length between 2.5 and 3 inches, though long-finned varieties may appear to be bigger. How long do betta fish live? Both wild and captive-bred betta fish live for an average of 3–5 years.,Jump to section Betta Fish Overview What Do Betta Fish Need? Aquarium Setup for Betta Fish Betta Fish Tank Maintenance What Do Betta Fish Eat? Betta Fish Health Betta Fish Tank Mates FAQs About Betta Fish Care
If you’re visiting family with your pup, proper pet etiquette is essential. Rather than spending money on a pet sitter and leaving your dog behind, it makes sense to include him in the holiday celebrations. Even in the most dog-friendly homes, appropriate dog etiquette is important and requires some planning in advance to ensure everybody has the best possible time over the holidays.
We talked to three vet experts to get some intel on increased appetite in cats. Here are the most common reasons your cat may always be hungry.,Jump to section Why Is My Cat Always Hungry? 8 Possible Reasons Is Increased Appetite in Cats a Medical Issue? How Veterinarians Diagnose the Cause of Increased Appetite in Cats How To Prevent a Cat From Overeating
Pyoderma is a medical term for bacterial skin infections occurring in rabbits. These infections usually occur when the rabbit’s skin tears or breaks, or when the skin is exposed to moist conditions, therefore altering the flora found within. Normally, healthy bacteria exist in the rabbit’s skin and moist mucous membranes. At times, however, this can become compromised, allowing for harmful bacteria to overgrow. Symptoms Most signs for pyoderma depend on the type of bacterial infection the rabbit has, but some of the more common symptoms include: Obesity Diarrhea Muscle pain Nasal (and occasional eye) discharge Urinary tract infection(s) Poor sanitation and personal hygiene Matted fur (especially around the anus, thighs and abdomen) Redness and crusting around the area of infection Dental disease (displayed as swollen/bleeding gums, slobbering, and loose and decaying teeth) Cause Typically a bacterial skin infection occurs when there is a break in the rabbit’s skin, generally occurring when it has been exposed to poor environmental conditions, including moisture. It can also occur in cases of injury or poor blood circulation. Pyoderma is, for the most part, a very common occurrence, much like cuts and scrapes are in human children. The bacteria that cause pyoderma include: Staphylococcus aureus Pseudomonas aeruginosa Pasteurella multocida (one of the more common bacteria) Bacteria can also penetrate oral openings or become trapped in matted fur, especially in unhealthy or obese rabbits. Diagnosis Your veterinarian will want to look at all possible causes before making a diagnosis, as there are other things which may resemble a common skin infection. These may include: Ear mites, which can cause similar-looking crusty regions around the ears, leading to hair loss around the ears and ear canal Fleas, which can cause hair loss and matted hair in many areas around the body Skin reaction to a recent vaccination or injection, which can form crusting or scabbing Rabbit syphilis, a condition that often causes hair loss and crusty regions If these are ruled out, your veterinarian may take skin samples or cultures to identify the underlying cause of the infection. Treatment Treating bacterial infections in rabbits typically occurs on an outpatient basis. Most rabbits will require bathing; the area then needs to be dried well to avoid retaining excess moisture. If the infection is serious, the surrounding area may require shaving. Your veterinarian may prescribe topical antibiotics to apply on the affected area. Prevention It is important to provide a well-balanced diet for your rabbit. Preventing obesity will help prevent the risk of future infections occurring within skin folds. Trimming overgrown areas of hair and brushing matted fur can also help reduce the risk of infection.
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