Survival Tips for Pets

Survival Tips for Pets

With winter fast approaching we also see the arrival of some very cold days and even chillier nights. Winter is a cosy time for sitting by fires and rugging up with a warm cup of tea. However avoiding the cold isn't as easy for our pets and can be a very challenging time for them as they are faced with possible flea infestations, accidental poisonings, arthritis and general discomfort with the change of season. That is why it's so important that pet owners are aware of the problems that may arise and the precautions that they will need to put in place. The 10 Winter survival tips will help your pet stay happy, warm and safe this winter.

Survival Tip #1: Treat your pet for fleas all year round

As the temperature drops many owners believe that fleas die off and using flea control is no longer necessary. This is a common misconception as a warm heated home provides the ideal environment for fleas to breed and it is crucial that flea control is a year round commitment. Pets should be treated every month to ensure they remain protected 365 days a year.

Survival Tip #2: Provide your pet with extra warmth

When we start to feel the cold we put on extra layers - we wear jumpers and socks, and if it's really cold, we put on gloves and a beanie. We also make sure that our kids are warm and cover them up with extra layers of clothes - but what do we do for our pets? Many pets are just not suited to the cooler weather and like us, will be a lot more comfortable in a warm winter coat that can protect them from the elements.

There are coats designed for dogs of all sizes and needs, with coats for indoor dogs that are lightweight and warm (the WeatherBeeta Buddy Dog Coat), to coats for outdoor dogs living in harsher conditions that are strong and waterproof (the WeatherBeeta Landa Dog Coat), as well as there being a coat for every climate or situation in between.

Survival Tip #3: Be cautious when using poison baits for rodents

Every year rats and mice invade properties in search of shelter in the cooler months, leading to an increased use of baits and poisons in winter.

These poisons can pose a great risk to our pets if eaten and can lead to a decreased appetite, blood stained urine, blood stained discharge from mouth or back end, breathing difficulties, and can cause them to collapse or even lead to sudden death.

Make sure all bait blocks and pellets are placed in bait stations to guard against the accidental poisoning of children and pets. If your pet shows any signs of being poisoned seek professional asdive immediately.

Survival Tip #4: Moderate your pets food intake

Just like humans, pets use energy to create body heat, and in winter may require extra calories to maintain a comfortable warmth. This means that if you live in the colder parts of Australia then you may need to increase the size of your pet's meals by a small amount to help them to stay healthy. It is important not to overdo it though as this may make it hard for them to lose the weight in the warmer months, so I would recommend just a small increase of up to 10% if you feel it is necessary. You may also want to check with your veterinarian to decide if your pet requires any additional nutritional intake.

Survival Tip #5: Provide a warm shelter

When the weather starts getting cooler, most pets would love nothing more than to come inside and curl up in a nice warm spot in the house, but this may not always be possible and pets that spend long periods of time outside will need to have adequate shelter and warmth to protect them.

A good kennel needs to be strong, waterproof and insulated and should be elevated off the ground and away from any wind draughts. The kennel should also be large enough for your pet to stand up and turn around inside, but small enough that it will retain their body heat.

Finches

Finches

Finches are passerine birds of the Fringillidae family. They are beautiful, small seed-eating songbirds. Most finches are native to the Northern Hemisphere. The scientific name Fringillidae comes from the Latin word fringilla for the Chaffinch, which is commonly found in Europe.

Birds of other families are often called "finches" including some species of waxbills or estrildidae finches found in the tropics and Australia.

The classic or true finches range in size from the tiny Andean Siskin at 3.8 in to the large Collard Grosbeak which reach nearly 9 in. Finches typically have strong, stubby beaks, which can be quite large in some species. All true finches have 12 remiges and 9 primary rectrices. The basic plumage color is brownish, sometimes greenish; many have considerable amounts of black, while white plumage is generally absent except as wing-bars or other signaling marks. Bright yellow and red carotenoid pigments are common in this family. Many true finches have strong sexual dichromatish, the females usually lack the bright, vibrant markings of males.

Over the years, these active, beautiful little birds have become popular as pets. They are beautiful to look at, wonderful to listen to, easy to keep and most finches are very easy to breed. All you need to do is provide a comfortable, healthy environment and the finches will take care of the rest.

These birds come in such a huge variety of colors, patterns and personalities. The three most popular of this species that people like to have as pets are the Zebra Finch, The Gouldian Finch and the Society Finch. Finches are very social and in most cases they can be housed in cages or aviaries with other finches and soft-billed birds. Hook-billed birds are naturally aggressive so it is better not to house these birds with your finches.

Though these birds are very social, they prefer the company of other finches to humans. Some finches can be trained to sit on your shoulder or perch on your finger for a short time, but in general, finches prefer to be with other finches so it is best to enjoy the beauties from a distance.

Though finches are easy to care for, they are very, very active so they need plenty of room to move around in. It is imperative that their housing provides them with enough room to fly freely from perch to perch.

Due to their popularity as pets, Zebra, Gouldian and Society finches are readily available for purchase. Being social animals, it is important that you never buy a single bird. You will need at least two finches to make sure they don't get lonely and become ill. Preferably a male and female of the same species.

Tips to Setting Up Your Discus Aquarium

Tips to Setting Up Your Discus Aquarium


Setting up your discus aquarium is really a very crucial step. In the event you get it wrong, you can kill your fish. There's a lot of maintenance in terms of your tank but to see the stunning discus fish swimming around is extremely rewarding. To keep happy and healthy discus fish, you are going to have to be sure that the aquarium has clean water at all times, that is has the proper temperature along with the pH levels.

Discus fish are part of the cichlid family and they thrive in large amounts of water. They originate from the Amazon River and your job is to make your tank conditions comparable to that habitat. Within the Amazon River, the water is soft and calm, the temperature is around 84-86 degrees Fahrenheit (28 degrees Celsius), it's full of driftwood, plants, trees, and it generally doesn't get a whole lot of sunlight on account of the river location.

Discus Aquarium Setup - The tank size matters

Discus Fish can grow big in size and they really should have sufficient room where they can hide and swim freely. In relation to setting up your discus aquarium, the first thing you should take into consideration is buying a larger size tank. Discus Fish require a larger tank and it'll keep them happy and tension no cost. I recommend that you start having a 40 gallon aquarium at a minimum or bigger when you have the space and you'll be able to afford it.

Discus aquarium - Location of the tank

It really is excellent practice to place the tank in a location that does not great too significantly sunlight. If you have plants in the tank the sunlight will trigger them to expand and it'll lessen the oxygen levels within the tank. Adding plants to your take can make it fairly but most importantly it can assist filter the water. Your discus needs to be in clean water and plant life will make it a healthy environment for the fish. You are going to also discover that the discus will hide within the plants. Discus fish are quite intelligent and shy and you do not need to location your tank in a high traffic region. They can grow to be stressed when there's too much visitors.

Discus Aquarium Setup- What to put in the tank

It is an excellent practice to place rocks within the aquarium. Be aware that some rocks contain heavy metals that may be unsafe to your fish. Some will add gravel but don't forget that you need to have the ability to eliminate uneaten waste and food from the gravel. Most discus keepers maintain the tank bare due to the fact food and their feces can decompose in the tank and trigger bacteria. Bacteria can cause diseases for your fish that is why it can be recommended that bottom feeders are purchased to ensure that they will consume food and eat algae at the bottom of the tank.
Discus aquarium - Supplies which are needed for the tank

Here can be a list of the supplies that you'll need for your discus aquarium.

1. Heater
2. pH Test kit
3. Under-gravel filter
4. Thermometer

Discus fish aquarium life is very important. You need to maintain a habit that is suitable for them to grow and be happy and healthy. It can take some work, but a discus aquarium might be a quite lovely addition to your property.