Pet Blog for Pet lovers…
Jun 21 2009
Most of the people like watching a lot of birds flying around their homes. For someone bird watching is like a hobby. Many people wish to have birdhouse in their backyards, or just to transmit a house for the birds.
Here are some tips for choosing a bird house. Have in mind that each bird house fulfils the following specs.
1.The box should open on every side, front and from the top to give an easy access for cleaning. This is especially very important to clean it at the end of the season.( Only the large Martin feeders are exception. There is not possibility of holes for all compartments. Anyway, the entrance hole is big enough for easy cleaning by using a hooked instrument or tongs.)
2.The entrance should be overhung by the roof by 1 to 2 inches against rain and sun.
3.It is not necessary to have perches in a bird house. Moreover they could be a disadvantage because they could attract House Sparrows which often take over nests of other birds.
4.Depending on your birds the entrance hole could be in different sizes. Particular birds require specific sizes . Also the size of the hole keeps invasive Starlings out of the bird house but if you are not certain then a generic entrance hole with diameter 1 1/2 inches is what you need.
5.There should be holes or slits for ventilation in summer along the top of the front of the box or at the top of the box sides.
6.There should be holes or cut off corners on the bottom of the box for draining .
7.There should be a pole , a rope , a bracket or a chain to hung the box .
8.It should be made of thick wood like pine or cedar for better insulation from heat and cold.
9. Wooden and bird houses from metal can revise paint when they are exhibited to the elements. The natural weathering is a share of their looks.
10.You can magnetize birds to your yard with food, water, shelter. The bird house is a mode to make the wildlife feel welcome any time and attract them to be back every year.
11. When buying a birdhouse on Internet, you must be sure and to make a bill for you. There are such houses which could be pricey. But also there are birdhouses which you may buy inexpensive by Internet.
Jun 8 2009
Step One: Know your enemy
Fleas are the most common external parasite found on dogs and cats. A single flea can bite your pet over 400 times a day, leading to itching and painful scratching, which can in turn lead to reddening, irritated skin and hair loss in the area, or cause more serious (and costly) skin conditions like dermatitis (rashes or tiny crusts) caused by an allergic reaction to the flea´s saliva.
They can also transmit the serious tapeworm parasite if your pet swallows an infested flea while self-grooming. In a single day, a flea can consume more than it´s body weight worth of blood, which can provoke serious anemia to your dog or cat. In some cases such as extreme infestations or in the case of young, ill or old pets, this can lead to death.
Step Two: Find the Flea
It is important to detect the presence of fleas on your pet before they can reach the harmful levels described above, where your pets suffering becomes evident. When the fleas first make their appearance on your pet, you might be deceived into thinking that their scratching, nibbling or licking their hair coat and skin is part of their normal grooming routine.
Therefore you must check your pet periodically, especially during warm seasons or indoor conditions (heater or fireplace in use inside the house). Carefully look for fleas around the head, neck and ears of your pet, and inspect the armpits and legpits. You might see small dark fleas moving around, but don´t be misled if you don´t see them as they are very good at hiding between skin folds and fur.
The best way to determine the flea´s presence in your pet is to search their coat for flea feces. To do this, rub or comb (you can use a special flea comb) your pet´s coat and dump the collected hair or litter into a damp white paper towel.
If your pet has fleas, black flecks will fall onto the paper and turn red or rust color when wet. The reddish color comes from the blood sucked by the flea and transferred to the feces. If the black flecks don’t become red then it´s just regular dirt. You can also test your pets resting place with this method.
Remember that the feces are food for the larvae, so it keeps the flea´s life cycle rolling on. (Nasty! I guess we all do it in a sense, but fleas literally grow/come from their parents crap! Remember to repeat this procedure periodically, especially if your pet has been enjoying the sunny outdoors.
If you do find fleas, you must act fast against them, as they can rapidly invade your home. Fortunately, fleas are getting easier to control as there is a wide range of safe and effective products available in the market to fight them.
Step three: Attack and Destroy the Flea
Most flea problems can be eliminated by treating the fleas directly on your pet. You can take your pet to a vet so he can determine if a prescription medication is necessary, or you can use over the counter products, such as flea collars, sprays, shampoo, liquid, topical products and powders that can be applied directly on your pet´s body. Some products kill only adult fleas, while others prevent the eggs from developing. Deciding which method is best for your case may require consultation with a veterinarian.
If your pet is seriously infested, you will need to treat their resting spot and possibly your home. Frequent vacuuming of the areas your pet frequents will usually get rid of fleas at their different life stages (eggs, larvae, or adult fleas). Authorized pest control services may also treat your pet´s outdoor environment in severe cases where this is required. It is also very important that you treat any other pets in your home, as fleas can jump from one to another.
Step 4: Prevention (This should be step one, but if you are reading this it’s probably because you already have fleas!)
Due to the flea´s rapid expansion rate, they can be hard to eliminate completely, therefore prevention is essential. So whether you find fleas on your pet or not, many veterinarians recommend treating pets monthly as part of their health care routine.
It is especially recommended to treat your pet at the beginning of the warm seasons, as fleas thrive in warm environments. Vacuuming your pet´s favorite spots frequently will also prevent the fleas from reproducing and invading your house. Taking these simple steps, you and your pet can enjoy a flea free environment year round.