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Cats:

How To Tell If Your Cat Is Sick - Pet Care Information

How To Tell If Your Cat Is Sick - Pet products cat supplies kitten accessories The most important thing is to know your cat. Recognizing what is “normal” for your cat, i.e. his daily routine sometimes is the only way to tell that something is not right. If he normally eats at 7 a.m. when you’re having your coffee but opted to stay on his pet bed one morning should not be overlooked. Cats are subtle creatures and you must learn to read their moods and quiet signs for trouble.


If you do notice that your cats behavior has suddenly changed such as you notice his litter habits are different, his appetite has subsided or increased, he’s staying in more, or limping you should get immediate veterinary care for him. Nothing is a substitute for seeing a professional. You should never try to diagnose or treat your pet on your own as they many require medication or physical therapy. A monthly hands-on examination will help you become aware of changes that could signify something serious.


Some helpful tips on getting to know your cats health is a monthly hands-on exam where you stand back and study your pet for a few minutes, consider his posture, activity level, gait, coat and overall appearance for an impression of good health. Trouble signs include exposed skin, thin or dry coat, ribs showing, sluggishness, limping, or just lack of "spring" in his step.


Next, you’ll want to pick your cat up put him on the bathroom scale. Note your weight with your cat, then yours alone. The difference is your cat's weight, and it should be between 8 and 10 pounds. Your cat is normal if a comfortable pad of fat lies over his ribs but you can still feel the ribs if you press your hands in gently. A difference of a pound up or down is fine over the course of a few months; anything more or rapid weight loss is reason for concern.
Other signs you should look for include:
Nose. Your cat's nose should be moist and clean, not dry, scabbed or cracked. There should be no discharge or bleeding.


Eyes. Probably the most beautiful part of any cat, eyes should bright, moist and clear, centered between the eyelids, with the pupils of equal size. Eyes that are dull or sunken, that appear dry or have thick discharge are not right. Take your cat into a darkened room, then quickly turn on a light. The pupils should contract quickly, with no difference between them.


Ears. The skin should be clean, dry, smooth and without wounds. The ear canal should be clean and almost odor-free. Crust, moisture, discharge or strong odor in the ear canal is bad news, as is pain at the touch or an unusual way of holding the head or ears.


The mouth. Your cat's teeth should be clean and white, with gums that are uniformly pink. Press on your pet's gum with your finger or thumb and release quickly. The color will be white but should return to the same color as the surrounding tissue within one or two seconds, a sign your cat's circulatory system is working well. Problem signs here include loose or missing teeth, tartar, or gums that are red, pale, inflamed or sore in appearance.
Breathing. It should be hard to hear your cat breathe, and his chest wall should move easily in and out as he does. Most of the act of breathing should be performed by the chest wall; the stomach should barely move. "Crackles" or wheezes indicate a problem, as does labored or rapid breathing.


The abdomen. Start just behind the ribs and gently press your hands into the abdomen. Proceed toward the rear of your pet, passing your hands gently over the abdomen. Some bumps should be there -- they're internal organs, such as the kidneys. You should find no other lumps, bumps or masses, though, and your pet should feel no discomfort as you press gently into him.


Hydration. Check to ensure your cat has enough fluids by pulling the skin just behind his shoulder blades into a tent and then releasing quickly. Your pet's skin should snap immediately back into position. Another good sign of hydration is that the gums just above the teeth are moist when touched.
Again, if anything comes up that worries you make an appointment with your vet.

Lizards:

How to Feed a Pet Lizard

Enjoying a lizard as a pet starts with knowing how best to care for one. You must know the particular foods your breed of lizard will eat; some are vegetarians while others are not. Learn how to feed your breed of pet lizard properly and ensure its health and quality of life in captivity.


Instructions:

Step 1

Know that most lizards eat insects like crickets and mealworms. To balance their diets it's best if the insects are coated in calcium and/or a vitamin powder. Live crickets can be bought either at your local pet store or over the Internet.

Step 2

Discover that some lizards have vegetarian diets. Some examples of what they like are green leafy vegetables, green beans, snap peas and fruits such as figs and peaches. They also benefit from vegetable-based protein sources like rolled oats to round out their diets.

Step 3

Realize that some larger lizards will eat small rodents. These can be ordered over the Internet and will be shipped frozen to your home.

Step4

Find that the time of day you feed your lizard can be very critical depending on the breed you own. For some lizards, it's important to feed them in the morning. This is because, as cold-blooded creatures, they have to warm their bodies to the right temperature to aid in proper digestion. Feeding them in the morning gives them the chance to bask in the sun all day to achieve this proper temperature.

Step5

Provide fresh water at all times for your lizard to drink, and also perhaps to go for a swim from time to time.

Dogs:

Taking Care of a Dog

Dogs are very fun and loving companions. But besides being great companions, dogs are a lot of work. Unlike cats, a dog needs a lot of love and a great amount of attention and exercise. Caring for a dog is hard work but along with hard work comes a lot of love.

Before getting a dog there are a lot of things you need to consider. One of the most important things is how much time you have to care for the dog. All dogs need love, but some dogs need less exercise than others. If you have a big yard and time to play and walk your dog, you should consider getting a larger dog. Golden Retrievers, Labradors, and German Shepards are just a few of the choices. If you have a small yard you should think about getting a smaller dog, like a Dachshund or one of the many kinds of Terriers. These dogs need less exercise.

If you have children, you need to consider that. Some of the best dogs with children are Labradors and Golden Retrievers. Dalmations and Pitbulls would not be a good choice. They tend to be very temperamental.

The next things you will need to do, is decide if you want a male or a female. Females are generally calmer and easier to train. They also do not tend to urinate everywhere because they don't need to mark territory. Males, tend to be aggressive toward other males, but can be very affectionate also. You should also spay and neuter you dog. Spaying is for females and neutering is for males. Fixing your dog with stop them from having puppies and make them less aggressive.

Once you get the dog, you should guide the dog around the house so he/she can used to it. If the dog is a puppy you should get it lots of chew toys, because it is about to start teething.

Grooming your dog is very important. You should give the dog a weekly groom. You should remove the wax and dirt out the the dog's ear every week. This will not only keep the dogs ears clean, but you can get an early detection of any ear mite or other infection. Washing your dog should also be performed on a weekly basis. You can wash the dog in the tub or outside on a deck or concrete. You should use dog shampoo and warm water. If you use cold water the dog could get the chills. You can find the dog shampoo at almost any pet store.

Brushing your dog is also a good thing to do. You should brush your dog about once a week. Long haired dogs especially need to be brushed so they can avoid hairballs. For most dogs brushing time is a time to look forward to.

As soon as you get your dog, you should take it to a vet. Dogs need many shots to prevent them from disease. One shot the dog with get is the rabies shot. This is a disease that is found amongst many squirrels and rodents. Your dog will need to go in for a series of shots when it is a puppy. From then on you should take it in about every six months to a year.

You should feed your dog a balanced diet. Most people think that all dogs eat are meat. Actually dogs need carbohydrates too. A dogs diet should consist of 50 percent carbohydrates and 50 percent meat or protein.

You can feed your dog dry food or can food. It is up to you. Usually meat based can foods have a high amount of sugar in them. This can cause dental problems. The amount of food depends of many things. First the type of dog. If the dog is active then it should eat more. Puppies, working, and pregnant dogs need more calories.

A lot of pet owners like to feed their dogs table food. You should not feed your dog any more than 10 percent of it's daily intake. Feed your dog highly digestible foods, such as chicken, rice and scrambled eggs. Dogs also like vegetables and fruits. Dogs like carrots, apples, and green beans. If your dog vomits or gets sick, you may have to limit the amount of table food.

Dogs need a lot of exercise. To help control the urge to dig, chew, retrieve and chase, exercise your dog a lot. Regular exercise helps burn calories and keeps your dog in shape. The exercise level depends on your dog's age, sex, and level of health. Dogs love jogging, race walking, frisbee playing, and fetch. Be careful when doing this. You should start off slow. Some dogs don't know when to stop.

Owning and caring for a dog is hard work but is also very enjoyable. Pretty soon you will start to build a strong relationship with your dog. It will become a part of your family. Take it from me, owning a dog is a true pleasure.

What other pets should I add?

Can A worm be a pet?

SQUIDWARD!! rofl

I have a link to a website on how to take care of a new born cat.
Hope is helps! mrgreen
http://www.ehow.com/how_4489243_take-care-newborn-kittens-amp.html

Your welcome.
And that's nice of your family to do that. Good luck on taking care of your new kitten! mrgreen