Pets Smile Plus

QUESTION:
I am looking for a filter for my small betta tank, it is about 3 gallons. I have been told that sponge filters are a good filter here, but I also was told about under gravel filters. Also are there differences in brands?

ANSWER:
Sponge filters excel as small tank or bowl filters, they fit nicely in small spaces and are cheap to own and maintain. For a betta, there is no better filter in my opinion. They are excellent bio filters and good mechanical filters in small aquaria.
In fact, a sponge filter is probably the best choice of filtration for breeding tanks, Betta tanks or bowls, hospital tanks, and even discus aquariums, due to the fact that they do not “suck” in baby or weak fish or attract noxious bacteria.

Sponge filters are one of the best biological (and unfortunately most under rated) filters in the hobby that is often driven by anecdotal evidence. One myth, Bio Wheels and Wet Dry filters are superior to sponge filters is not true when one moves from theory to actual tests and evidence
In theory the added oxygen or bio wheels and wet dry filters is great, but in practicality the channeling of wet dry filters and the deposit build up of Bio Wheels lowers bacteria surface area, while the fact remains that with the proper dissolved oxygen levels your fish should have is more than adequate for a healthy sponge filter to maintain proper bio colonies. I have performed side by side tests with sponge filters in my service business and the sponge filters out performed the bio wheels when ammonia spikes were measured.

As for under gravel filters, there are small ones made for bowls or small tanks, but they take more maintenance than sponge filters (debris tends to collect under the plate). UGFs are more difficult to clean in small aquaria, as they are best maintained by vacuuming, which is difficult in bowls or small tanks.

The brand sponge filter I would recommend is the Hydro Sponge Filter by ATI (Lustar), they hold the best patents for sponge filters and have many patent infringements to prove it. The sponge material used by Hydro Sponge can trap vastly more aerobic nitrifying bacteria (for ammonia, nitrite removal) than their nearest rival. I have used many others (including homemade) and they are not the same.

A good place to purchase these filters is americanaquariumproducts.com/SpongeFilter.html” target=”_blank American Aquarium Products- Sponge Filters .

For a more in depth article about sponge filtration see: americanaquariumproducts.com/sponge_filtration.html ” target=”_blank Sponge filtration; How sponge filters work and the benefits of using sponge filters in aquariums and ponds

By Carl Strohmeyer

aquarium-answers.blogspot.com/2006/11/sponge-filter-proper-filter-for-small.html Sponge filter; Proper filter for a small betta tank or bowl

“Not on the Carpet!” How many times have you yelled this, or something similar, at your new puppy? While soiling the house is bound to happen on occasion with a new puppy, potty training is easier than you may think, although it does take some time, patience, and consistency.

Establish a Routine
First off, realize that puppies have a potty pattern. They need to go after they sleep, after they eat or drink, after they play, and after they’ve been confined, such as in a crate. You will find that most accidents happen when you forget to take your dog out after playing or sleeping or eating. Therefore, it really helps to establish a consistent routine with your puppy.

Whenever you lead your puppy to his bathroom spot, use a specific word like “outside,” “potty time,” or whatever word/phrase you prefer as long as you consistently use the same one.

Take your dog to the same toilet area (a spot relatively close to your house) and the same route to it each time so your puppy gets to know the drill. Don’t let your puppy roam and sniff around until he has completed his “business.” After he is done, praise him for doing a good job.

While your puppy is in the process of eliminating, use a command like “go potty.” Do this consistently and your dog will learn to go on cue. My dog does this and it is pretty amazing, although sometimes she will “fake pee” just to please me.

Teaching Your Dog to “Give the Signal”
After a week or so, your puppy will have the idea of what he is supposed to do outside. Now he needs to learn to give you a signal when he needs to go to the bathroom. Take him to the door, but don’t say anything. Does he stare at the door? Is he eager to go out? Now use your word: “What is it? Potty time? Good doggy.” Then try this from various rooms in your house. Soon your dog will be able to signal to you when he needs to go out. Recognize that different dogs have different signals. My dog stares at me, wags her tail and stomps her feet to let me know she has to go potty.

Some Final Potty Training Tips
Although it may be frustrating, sometimes accidents will happen during the potty training process. If you catch your puppy in the act, make a loud noise, jump up and down, or clap your hands, anything to startle him and get him to stop. Immediately take your dog outside to his toilet area and act like nothing is wrong. Be sure to praise him when he finishes. Never scold your puppy or rub his nose in it if he goes in the house. Although the puppy may understand you are mad, he won’t be able to connect it with the act he just did.

Be sure your puppy has a consistent diet and don’t change dog foods while you are house training. A change of food may upset his stomach. Also watch your dog’s water intake, as some puppies will drink too much water out of boredom. In this case, some people like to monitor water intake by providing water at meal times and bathroom times and not 24/7.

Most of all, be consistent and give praise for a “job” well done. Take heart and keep a positive attitude; you will have a potty-trained pup very soon.

Valerie Goettsch is webmaster of my-favorite-dog.com My Favorite Dog featuring articles and information on my-favorite-dog.com/dog-training-videos.htm puppy potty training, dog health issues, dog beds, meds, and more.

After years of practicing both conventional and holistic medicine for horses, I decided to compare the cost, effectiveness, and net results of managing and treating horses holistically versus conventionally.

In this article I compare results for the average trail horse that is ridden about 2-3 times a week. I have used average feed and veterinary costs for my area (Austin, Texas), and drug and supplement costs from a major horse supply catalog.

I then discuss the issues related to each area of care, including feed, supplements, vaccines, dewormers, and first aid. Stay tuned for different profiles in coming months, when I will compare horses in different disciplines, young horses, older horses, and broodmares.

>>> Holistic Horse Oats (2 lbs/day): $131br
Hay (3 bales/week): $780br
Super Blue Green Algae (1-2 tsp/day): $156br
VEWT, West Nile Vaccinations: $48br
Spectrabiotic Natural Wormer: $115br
2 Fecal Exams: $32br
Acidophilus (for occasional immune support): $7br
TOTAL ANNUAL COST: $1269/p

p> Conventional Horse

The Dachshund, a German Breed meaning badger dog or “hole dog”, can be dated as far back as the Ancient Egyptians. These adorable “showboat dogs” were of the highest rank, and they were bred to chase and hunt badgers and other space-tavern fowl. Common traits that include a pervious barrel chest, an elongated body, loose skin and short legs make this full-figured breed perfect for burrowing in tight places.

The Dachshund is clever, effervescent and valorous ….Any display of shyness is a serious fault. Beyond that, Dachshunds are loyal, playful, true dogs. Because of this determination, some of these “hot dogs” may be hard to train and can become aggravated.

Maintaining the Dachshund properly is extremely important. They are prone to serious vertebral column injuries due to their long spinal columns and short rib cages. Spinal injuries can be made more illustrious off and on and are aggravated by the strain of obesity. Fortunately, profligate cases of spinal injury can be deprived of a chance to injure by the owner. The owner can also judge what steps are needed to take before the trauma occurs. For one thing, anyone who wishes to hold a Dachshund has got to be intimate with the “football hold”. This hold stabilizes the skeletal structure specifically because the dog is occupied against the body and supported by the the carrier’s arm. In addition, many veterinarians affirm Dachshunds should be discouraged from jumping and made agreeable to climbing stairs. These steps can improve the dog’s chances and keep unneeded impact from the spinal sirocco.

Dachshunds are perfect family dogs. Though they were intended to be a German declaration of pride, these footlong dogs are one of the most in-crowd breeds in America. Their loyal friendship can be a welcome addition to any home.

Grant Carroll proud father of four dogs and co-owner of littlepamperedpets.com littlepamperedpets.com with littlepamperedpets.com/dog_gifts.html Unique Dog and Cat Gifts.

Visit Little Pampered Pets for littlepamperedpets.com/dog_gifts.html Dog Occasion Gifts.

Most dogs go through a phase where they will chew on anything that will fit in their mouth. There are also dogs that don’t even grow out of the chewing phase. There are even some breeds that have a tendency to chew more than other breeds.

It may be cute at first when your puppy begins to chew on your shoes or socks but can be very dangerous. If your dog gets into something poisonous or swallows an object it could lead to death.

Puppies typically will chew more than an older dog and will chew on pretty much anything. It is much easier to teach dogs not to chew at younger ages than it is an older dog. Use this to your advantage.

The first thing to do when training your dog not to chew is to put the items he likes to chew out of reach. It is important to keep these away from your dog at all times. The less exposure the dog has with the items, the less likely he is to chew on them at later times.

When you get everything out of your dog’s reach give him something that you don’t mind him chewing on. This can be a chew toy, rawhide bones, or rubber bones. Buy one of each and see which one your dog prefers. It may take a while before you dog will stop wanting to chew on other things such as your shoes but be patient.

After your dog has something good to chew on is when you want to start training him. If you catch your dog chewing on something it isn’t supposed to you need to let them know that what they are doing is wrong. You can tell your dog this by speaking in a sharp tone and giving him a gentle tap on his head.

Remember to be persistent, dogs are not stupid, if they know they can get away with something they will keep doing it. You should also refrain from yelling at your dog or hitting him at all times, no matter how frustrated you get. When you yell at or hit a dog it only prolongs the dog’s learning.

You can even practice with your dog by putting him on a leash and putting an object in front of him. When the dog gets the urge and moves too close to the object give the leash a small jerk. This will teach the dog that you do not want him to chew on the object.

When you are training the dog with a leash make sure to stand off to the side. You do not want to be standing directly behind the dog when you jerk the leash, it could cause damage to their throat. Remember, leash training is not to hurt or punish the dog; it is to simply tell the dog that his actions were wrong.

Training your dog will take a lot of time and persistence. Do not give up, if you do your dog will never learn. Remember to be patient, your dog will not stop chewing over night, it may take weeks or even months.

To read more articles about

I expect that you believe that you are doing the best you can for your pet by buying a cat flea collar for her? I certainly do but have you noticed how long they seem to work for? They don’t seem to last for a day let alone the three or four months that they are supposed to. I’ve no idea why this is the case but I can suggest some different ways of dealing with the problem.

Something else that I don’t like about cat flea collars, or dog flea collars is that they contain poison to kill the fleas. This poison can affect humans by causing irritation or soreness. If these cat collars can do this to humans then what are they doing to your beloved pet?

What else can you do about the fleas? There are shampoos that are designed to kill fleas. Try them out, if your cat will let you that is. Personally I’ve never met a cat that likes getting wet, they turn into alien teeth and claw monsters, so trying to give her a shampoo is out of the question. Oh and if you do have a go at this, don’t expect your cat to talk to you again for the next few days.

My vet recommends treating cats with a product that stops the fleas reproducing. You need to apply this substance to the back of your cat’s neck every 3 months for it to be effective. You have to remember that this does not kill the fleas but it does stop them multiplying so you should see a reduction in fleas after a few months. You can make this happen a lot quicker if you remove the fleas by combing them out.

If you love your cat as much as I love mine then you will find that there is nothing better than a daily use of the flea comb. I find it soothing and a great stress reliever. I think that my cat likes it too even though she will tell me off if I do it for too long. If your cat has a flea problem then you will see them on the comb. The hard part is catching and killing them before they vanish by jumping away. When you catch them you must crush them in between two hard surfaces.

Don’t forget to treat your carpets and furniture. Fleas will jump off your cat and live in your carpets and furniture until another animal comes along. It’s very important that you spray everything with a suitable anti-flea spray. Make sure that you follow the instructions on the label before you use it.

So if your pet has fleas then consider using some of the remedies that I’ve mentioned above before you go out and buy a cat flea collar.

Steve is a software engineer, a cat lover and owner of thecatcollar.com thecatcollar.com

“Missy”, was a horse I rode in my riding lessons at Haskins Farm. She was a
wonderful horse to ride and learn with.

Though when I first saw her, I would have never guessed what was to be in store in the future. I saw her at a horse show at Haskins Farm. I didn’t think much except I picked her out as one horse there at that show that appealed to me. Another day I came to the barn for one of my lessons, and one of the girls there was excited. She asked me if I saw the new baby just born a few days ago. I said no and I followed her to the barn. I looked in to see “Missy” with her newborn foal. I remember thinking she was really beautiful, but still thought she’s probably just a broodmare at the barn. She was owned by the Co-owner of the barn. A few months later, she started to be used in the school program and was being ridden by students. One day my instructor told me to go and get her as my horse to ride. I still remember the surprise and excitement I felt at the opportunity to ride her. I continued riding her. I rode her in the 1993 Show Season and ended the year as Champions of the Walk-Trot Division.

Later, I saw and got to visit her and her babies that she had in the following years. She let me visit and pet her and her baby. She seemed to trust I wouldn’t hurt her or her baby. I got a number of pictures of her with her baby out in the corral.

It was wonderful watching them run and play and just relax. I made a portrait of one of her babies and her.

She developed a stifle problem after her last foal. It was slow at healing and would weaken the area permanently, thus they retired her from both the school program and from breeding. It was best for her health and quality of life.

Lisa Wald Guarino is a freelance artist. You may visit her website at lisasart.com lisasart.com She offers a variety of unique art products, as well as pet portrait services.

When choosing a dog trainer, many people feel overwhelmed by the sheer amount of dog training schools that exist. They are often afraid of so many things such as if the dog training schools can handle the special problems their dogs have, if the dog trainer is experienced enough, if he has extensive knowledge, and if the dog training school isn’t too expensive.

In this article, I’m going to discuss how to choose the best dog trainer and what to look for in dog training schools. I’ll be covering how to choose dog training schools based on their excellent reputation, the dog trainer’s humane training methods, his extensive behavioural knowledge, his widespread experience, and his good teaching skills.

I hope that after reading this article, you will have the ability to choose the best dog training school for you and your dog.

Excellent reputation

You should look for dog training schools that have an excellent reputation. Ask your vet, your breeder or the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) for recommendations. When all else fails, ask friendly dog owners for a recommendation. Not only should dog training schools have an excellent reputation, their trainers should use humane training methods, too.

Humane training methods

Responsible dog training schools pay attention to the methods their trainers use. A good dog trainer should only use humane training methods. He should be as concerned as you should about your dog’s health. There do exist some dog trainers which still think yelling at your dog is the only way to communicate with him. These trainers haven’t learned to communicate with dogs the right way. They certainly don’t have extensive behavioural knowledge, which takes us to the next point.

Knowledge about behavioural problems

You should look for dog training schools with trainers that have extensive knowledge about behavioural problems and solutions to them. They should be striving to keep themselves up-to-date and improve their skills by regularly attending dog-training seminars. Another important factor you should look for is widespread experience.

Widespread experience

Ask the trainer about his experience. He should be able to tell you something about his training background, where he learned training dogs, in which dog training schools he worked before, and his areas of expertise. You deserve correct answers on all your questions. Don’t be shy. If the trainer seems irritated by your questions, consider changing the school. After all, you are paying him his salary.

Good teaching skills

A dog trainer should have good teaching skills. It makes the learning for you and your dog much easier and much more enjoyable. It’s quite challenging to find out if your trainer has good teaching skills. However, you should feel comfortable with his explanations and his interaction with your dog. If unsure, many dog training schools will offer you to change to another trainer.

Conclusion

As you can see, choosing a dog training school isn’t as complicated as it seems. You learned how to distinguish bad schools from great dog training schools with the help of recommendations, finding out if their trainers use humane training methods, the trainer’s knowledge, his widespread experience, and his overall good teaching skills.

As you may know, you won’t get a well-trained dog by just getting him trained in a dog training school. For more information on general dog training, visit the article author’s website online-dog-training.info online-dog-training.info.

He leaped out of the cage and grabbed me around the shoulders. My shock quickly turned into amazement. He hadn’t sunk his claws into me! My thought was, “This cat definitely knows good manners. Somebody has worked with him.” I looked at the ticket on the cage door. It read, “Morgan, male, age 14.”

Age 14? I hesitated. That was pretty old. I put him back in the cage and walked around the shelter, looking the other cats over. There were many nice ones, as well as a few kittens.

But my mind kept going back to Morgan, and I realized that, in fact, I had bonded with him. Fourteen years notwithstanding, we had become buddies.

THE PLIGHT OF THE SENIOR CAT

One of the saddest things you’ll see in Animal Shelters is the number of older cats waiting for adoption. By and large, people are looking for kittens.

The older cats languish, many from happy homes where they were loved and cared for, but brought into the shelter for some reason known only to the owner and the cat.

Many people, who don’t like older cats, like kittens. Kittens are cute, cuddly, and funny. They make pleasing pets – but lose their “playfulness” when they grow up, and with it the “love” of their owners.

Somebody said that the mark of a true cat lover is to desire to have grown cats over kittens.

A KITTEN ISN’T ALWAYS WHERE IT’S AT

Many people don’t think through the consequences of adopting a kitten, or of taking one or two kittens from the litter a friend is trying to get rid of, or bringing into your home one left on your doorstep.

Here are a few questions you should ask yourself before you adopt a kitten:

1. Taking care of themselves. Kittens are pretty marginal in being able to take care of themselves, especially when it comes to using a litter box. Do you have time to house train your kitten?

2. Young children. Do you have young children in the house? A child of 2 or 3 may inadvertently kill a kitten. Older children need to be taught how to play with them and need to be closely supervised.

3. Other pets. Are you bringing a kitten home to a household with other, older pets? Make certain you have the time to spend introducing and acclimating your pets to the kitten (and vice versa)

4. House dangers. Is there anything dangerous in your house that could harm a kitten? If you are not home during the day, have you made sure your kitten is safe while unsupervised?

5. Adoptions other than from an animal shelter. .If you are adopting a kitten from a friend, or taking one from a mother cat’s litter, are you prepared to neuter or spay the kitten and give her the vaccinations she needs?

6. Vaccinations. A kitten receives all of her vaccinations over a period of time. You should make sure you have the time and interest to get her the full regimen.

ADOPTING THE SENIOR CAT

Somebody said cats are like shoes: one size doesn’t fit all. Still there are some arguably general reasons for adopting a mature cat over a kitten:

1. An older cat is easier to take care of. In fact, to a great extent, an older cat pretty much can take care of itself. Great for the working person who can’t be home during the day.

2. Older cats are generally calmer than younger ones, and adapt more easily to a new environment.

3. Older cats usually come with their vaccinations and spaying or neutering. A kitten, even adopted from a shelter will need a series of vaccinations.

4. Older cats are better with small children than a kitten is. Better to get an older animal that can defend itself.

5. Older cats are usually housebroken. You’ll have to train a kitten.

6. Older cats can feed and take care of themselves whereas a kitten may need your help – not good for a busy working person.

7. An older cat can “hold its own” against the other family pets (like the dog) better than a kitten can. Unless you’re there to defend it, certain life situations aren’t good for a new kitten.

8. Older cats can better handle a move if you relocate your household. The only thing you have to make sure of is that your cat recognizes your new location as “its den” and doesn’t try to return to your old place.

9. And finally – older cats catch mice. In these days of smarter mice that avoid all known mousetraps, a mature cat can be invaluable.

THE JOY OF OWNING A SENIOR CAT

Well, his name was “Morgan”, but I renamed him “Tab” because he had the typical marks of a Tabby. Tab and I eventually learned to respect each other, and he – although a tough old alley cat – eventually enjoyed sitting in my lap having his battered ears stroked.

He lived five more years, and died at the ripe age of 19. During that time he was my companion during two years of unemployment, providing plenty of understanding, comfort, and love.

One day he definitely “earned his keep”. I found a dead rat in the living room, its neck bitten almost in half. The rat was almost as big as Tab was, but he’d wrestled it down and killed it.

So much for adopting kittens. I’d rather take a tough old alley cat any day of the week.

John Young is a writer and a cat lover, having owned one cat or another since he was four, and that was over 57 years ago. He is the author of the E-book: “Your New Cat’s First 24 Hours”, available on-line at:

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association’s (AVMA) U.S. Pet Ownership & Demographics Sourcebook, 58.3% of all American households have at least one pet. There are more than 60 million pet dogs in America and the average pet dog visits its veterinarian almost twice as many times as the average dog. Pet owners are now spending more than ever before on their companions with four legs (approximately US $19 billion annually in 2006 nearly doubled from US $11.1 billion in 1996).

In the past, dietary recommendations for dogs were largely drawn from nutritional management of diseases common to the aging process. Research, however, has shown that special nutrition can proactively prevent health problems common in dogs, such as the following:

* Obesity
* Loss of Muscle Mass
* Inappropriate Elimination Behavior
* Changes in Interactions
* Changes in Activity Patterns
* Unexplained Weight Loss or Gain
* Changes in Food and Water Consumption
* Changes in Grooming
* Signs of Stress
* Bad Breath or Odor

Despite continued advances in canine healthcare, behavior problems are still the most common reason for dog euthanasia. While diseases pose a threat to your dog, misunderstanding its behavior can be just as dangerous. Research shows negative behavior (like destroying furniture and unexplained aggression) is the primary reason that dogs are euthanized. Often these behaviors are associated with curable illnesses.
india-herbs.com/aff/callomiti/ayurdog
Patches of hair loss or a greasy or matted appearance can signal underlying diseases. A decrease in grooming behavior is associated with fear, anxiety, obesity, or illnesses. An increase in grooming may be a sign of a skin problem. Your dog can be stressed despite having an “easy” life because the social organization of dogs is different from that of people. Changes in the family, such as adding a new pet, should be done gradually. A stressed dog may spend more time awake and scanning its environment, withdraw from society, and exhibit signs of depression like fluctuating appetite.

Anemia is commonly associated with specific diseases in dogs like chronic renal failure. A hormone called erythropoietin (EPO) is produced by the kidneys and stimulates the bone marrow to produce new red blood cells to replace old and worn ones in circulation. In diseases such as chronic renal failure, EPO levels may be decreased and anemia may develop as a result. Typical signs associated with anemia are decreased activity and poor appetite.

Parasites exist internally and externally in dogs. Intestinal parasitism exists in all ages of dogs with the greatest frequency in puppies. Types and incidence of parasitism varies with geographic regions. Additionally, age and immune status are significant factors influencing gastrointestinal (GI) parasitism. Most parasites are diagnosed by a microscopic fecal examination using various chemicals to help concentrate the population of parasite eggs. Some parasites are visible to the naked eye although they are not consistently shed into the feces.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), the most common cause of chronic vomiting and diarrhea in dogs, is a disease in which diet may have an important role. The intestinal wall becomes thickened by inflammatory cells, and the microscopic and gross surface folds of the intestinal lining are flattened, leading to a great loss of surface area. As the surface area is reduced, the ability of the dog to digest and absorb nutrients is reduced, leading to weight loss in the face of normal or increased appetite. The stools often become looser and in some cases, more odorous.

Western medicine relies on aggressive prescription drugs and surgery to deal with many problems related to canine health. Unfortunately, these methods often result in unwanted and even dangerous side effects.
india-herbs.com/aff/callomiti/ayurdog
Ayurveda, the science of life, prevention and longevity, is the oldest and most holistic and comprehensive medical system available. Its fundamentals can be found in Hindu scriptures called the Vedas - the ancient Indian books of wisdom written over 5,000 years ago. Ayurveda uses the inherent principles of nature to help maintain good health in dogs by keeping the canine body, mind, and spirit in perfect equilibrium with nature.

India Herbs has a seasoned group of Ayurvedic doctors specialized in Vajikarana, one of the eight major specialties of Ayurveda. Vajikarana prescribes the therapeutic use of various herbal and tonic preparations geared towards rejuvenating your dog.