Featured Articles
Should I Clip My Bird’s Wings
Are you a new bird owner? Perhaps you are unsure about what kind of regular care your bird will need. Of course you need to feed and love it, but did you know that many bird owners choose to have their bird’s wings clipped? Wing clipping is one of the most controversial topics in pet bird ownership. In this article, we will discuss how wing clipping is done and what information you need to know before making this decision.
Although the thought of clipping a pet bird’s wings is horrendous to some bird owners, clipping is a very common procedure done to pet birds. It is done to prevent the bird from flying away and from flying into harmful household objects like windows and ceiling fans. The idea behind wing clipping is to cut the “primary feathers”. Primary feathers are the long feathers that are closer to the wing tip. These feathers are very important for the bird’s ability to fly and to steer while flying. Some people will clip (cut) only one wing. When this is done, it is believed that the bird will not be able to fly, but will instead float down to the ground in a spiral.
What is a Dog Whisperer – Pet tip 215
These days you hear a lot about the term ‘dog whisperer’ and most people associate the term with one particular dog trainer, Cesar Milan. Many people think that he created the term when in fact this is false. The term dog whisperer is actually a term borrowed from horse training, where certain trainers or horse whisperers seemed to be able to get horses to calm down and accept training or accept a rider on their backs. Their methods were often ‘quiet’ (as opposed to more traditional punitive techniques) to an observer as these trainers seemed to get results from quiet whispers. These days though, the term has been diluted and many people use the term loosely.
Outdoor Cats
The first time you own a cat, you must decide on several things. You must decide what food will keep it healthy and what toys will keep it happy. Then you must decide what veterinary clinic will take care of …
Tip 43 – Meowing cat – excessive meowing
Although usually quiet when left alone, cats can be quite vocal when they need to be. Hissing, growling and screaming are all vocalizations that cats make usually when they feel scared or threatened. Other familiar noises include purring and of …
Hair Loss in Rabbits
There are four main causes for a rabbit suffering from hair loss, known as ‘alopecia’. These include ringworm, fur mites, behaviourally-induced hair loss and a disease called ‘sebaceous adenitis’.
You may have heard of ‘ringworm’ which is a disease that can affect different species including rabbits, dogs, cats and humans. It’s a condition primarily characterized by areas of hair loss. Ringworm is actually not a ‘worm’ at all. Ringworm is a type of fungus that grows within the outer layer of an animal’s skin and hair. The technical name for ringworm is ‘dermatophyte’. Dermatophytes are not very common in adult rabbits, they are more common in young rabbits due to an immature immune system.
Choosing a Kennel for your Dog – Pet tip 222
Summer is just around the corner and that means that many people are thinking about vacations. For families with pets like dogs and cats, this involves deciding what to do with them during the vacation. Many families are choosing to …
Over-vaccinating Cats and Dogs
You are probably in the habit of taking your pet to your veterinary clinic for vaccinations every year. You might be surprised the next time you go to the vet, because vaccination protocols are gradually changing. Some veterinarians are starting …
Dalmatians – Pet tip 224
Of all the dog breeds out there, there are few that are more recognizable than the Dalmatian (aka a Dal). Perhaps this is because we associate them with firehouses and stories from our own youth. It seems like whenever we …
