When you think of keeping sharks in a home aquarium, do you think of giant killer sharks that attack helpless swimmers? Well, lots of people raise sharks as pets, but they’re not like the ones you see in the movies. There are several small breeds of sharks that are more appropriate for your fish tank at home.
If you’re considering inviting a shark into your home, here are a few important tips to be aware of before you start to check out the pet stores.
1) Tank size. Be prepared to spend a large sum of money on an aquarium. Keeping a shark in your house will require a very large tank, and these don't come cheap. A single shark requires a 240 to 260 gallon tank. It will also have to be long, because sharks won't survive without some room to maneuver.
2) Tank weight. You should be aware that an aquarium that's suitable for a shark can weigh as much as a pickup truck. That means that you'll have to pay close attention to where you locate the tank within your home. Don't putt it upstairs because the weight of the tank will be too much for your floor to bear. Which means your shark might end up in the basement regardless. Your tank requires a sturdy concrete floor, several inches thick, to bear the weight of the aquarium.
3) Maintenance costs. Keeping sharks in your house isn't a cheap hobby. Just purchasing the shark and the right sized aquarium is an expensive proposition. On top of that, you'll require filters and other equipment for the tank, as well as the food that your sharks require. Remember, they're big; they'll eat a lot.
4) Attitude. You have to have the right frame of mind if you're going to raise sharks. It's not an easy task. Sharks need to be fed at least three times a day and the aquarium must be cleaned regularly.
You’ll need to do some research on the type of shark that's most suitable for you. The most common shark varieties for home aquariums are the Epaulette and the Bamboo. These creatures can grow to be about three to four feet in length. The Bullhead shark is another popular option, due to the characteristic ridges on the top of their heads.
Most shark owners take pleasure in raising them. However, it's important that you're completely committed to the undertaking. Taking care of sharks isn’t the same as having cats and dogs. They need a special environment that's well maintained in order to thrive. And you have to be very conscious of feeding them, because they can't let you know when they're hungry like other pets can.
Do your research and save up some money before you commit to bringing sharks into your home. Sharks are living creatures and shouldn't be made to suffer simply because their owner was unprepared for the responsibility of caring for them.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Trying Complementary and Alternative Veterinary Medicine on Your Pet
If you have a pet, then of course at least once in their life you are going to have to get them appropriate medical attention. This means taking them in to the veterinarian.
There are the more commonly used, better understood prescription drugs and other conventional medicine treatments that are available. But then there are also alternative and complementary medicines.
If you are interested in going with complementary and alternative veterinary medicine for your pet, there are a few things that you want to learn about first.
Veterinary medicine is constantly changing, and you need to realize that complementary and alternative veterinary medicine is a great option. With this option you can often treat your pet just as effectively as you could if you were using any type of conventional medicine, only with some added benefits.
After all, with alternative veterinary medicine you know that you are offering your pet a much safer method of treatment. They won’t have to deal with the side effects that they probably would if they were taking regular treatment, such as pills and shots.
Acupuncture therapy is one of the most popular for complementary and alternative veterinary medicine. Acupuncture is a widely used therapy but not many people are aware that it can also be used on pets. In modern veterinary applications, multiple systems of treatment are used, and this can include the classical needle alone or stimulation using a specific type of laser.
Research studies have shown that complementary medicine for pets works extremely well and that it is a great option for pet owners everywhere. No matter what health conditions your pets may be suffering from, you have the option of complementary therapy available that you are going to want to first discuss with your veterinarian.
They are going to be able to offer you more insight and information into this field and make sure that you know just what you are getting into. They will probably also let you know that if your pet is in a serious state of health that they may need to rely on conventional medicine at least until their condition is better under control. And then you can switch to the complementary and alternative veterinary medicine if you like.
Just make sure that you are aware of all the details before going through with anything so that you know that you are going to be doing the best for your pet.
There are the more commonly used, better understood prescription drugs and other conventional medicine treatments that are available. But then there are also alternative and complementary medicines.
If you are interested in going with complementary and alternative veterinary medicine for your pet, there are a few things that you want to learn about first.
Veterinary medicine is constantly changing, and you need to realize that complementary and alternative veterinary medicine is a great option. With this option you can often treat your pet just as effectively as you could if you were using any type of conventional medicine, only with some added benefits.
After all, with alternative veterinary medicine you know that you are offering your pet a much safer method of treatment. They won’t have to deal with the side effects that they probably would if they were taking regular treatment, such as pills and shots.
Acupuncture therapy is one of the most popular for complementary and alternative veterinary medicine. Acupuncture is a widely used therapy but not many people are aware that it can also be used on pets. In modern veterinary applications, multiple systems of treatment are used, and this can include the classical needle alone or stimulation using a specific type of laser.
Research studies have shown that complementary medicine for pets works extremely well and that it is a great option for pet owners everywhere. No matter what health conditions your pets may be suffering from, you have the option of complementary therapy available that you are going to want to first discuss with your veterinarian.
They are going to be able to offer you more insight and information into this field and make sure that you know just what you are getting into. They will probably also let you know that if your pet is in a serious state of health that they may need to rely on conventional medicine at least until their condition is better under control. And then you can switch to the complementary and alternative veterinary medicine if you like.
Just make sure that you are aware of all the details before going through with anything so that you know that you are going to be doing the best for your pet.
Friday, February 20, 2009
A Guide to Puppy Teething Symptoms
Just like humans babies, when puppies get into their teething phase, they will show various symptoms. Puppies are born without teeth, and teething is a process when new teeth start to appear.
The most common puppy teething symptom is excessive chewing, as it relieves the pain and soreness caused by the eruption of teeth. It's important to give quality care to your puppy during this phase. Accept the fact that some form of chewing has to be allowed in the house. Sometimes, puppy may chew on something valuable just out of curiosity or boredom. It is their way of exploring the world. But, as a pet owner, it is important to control the excessive chewing of the puppy, and direct it in a positive way so that your puppy can live peacefully as a family member.
To deal with puppy teething symptoms, get some chewing and teething toys from the pet store. Ensure that these items are safe for the puppy. Some of the good choices can be rawhide chewies, rope toys and toys that can be filled with treats. You can also put these toys in the refrigerator for a while and then give them to the puppy. Keep rotating the toys so that puppy does not get bored of the same toys.
Crying is another puppy teething symptom, or your puppy may show irritability and feel discomfort. There may also be loss of appetite and diarrhea, though these are not common symptoms. Swollen gums are also a symptom of puppy teething, and can make the puppy quite irritable.
To alleviate some of your puppy's symptoms, special gels and powders that are designed for veterinarian use can be used. Allow a normal level of chewing for the puppy as pressure on the gums reduces pain and soreness. Engage the puppy in physical exercise and playful activities.
Puppy teething can be much easier for the pet as well as for pet owners when there are lots of rubber objects around to keep the puppy distracted. Cold pieces of cloth or frozen foods can work wonders to alleviate soreness during the teething time. Just be patient and kind with the puppy, and keep in mind that it is just a phase, and will be over sooner than you think. A little love and affection will help your pet better cope with the pain.
Some signs and symptoms of teething are common and usual, but if you notice something unusual, report it to the vet immediately. There might be some other reason, such as infection.
The most common puppy teething symptom is excessive chewing, as it relieves the pain and soreness caused by the eruption of teeth. It's important to give quality care to your puppy during this phase. Accept the fact that some form of chewing has to be allowed in the house. Sometimes, puppy may chew on something valuable just out of curiosity or boredom. It is their way of exploring the world. But, as a pet owner, it is important to control the excessive chewing of the puppy, and direct it in a positive way so that your puppy can live peacefully as a family member.
To deal with puppy teething symptoms, get some chewing and teething toys from the pet store. Ensure that these items are safe for the puppy. Some of the good choices can be rawhide chewies, rope toys and toys that can be filled with treats. You can also put these toys in the refrigerator for a while and then give them to the puppy. Keep rotating the toys so that puppy does not get bored of the same toys.
Crying is another puppy teething symptom, or your puppy may show irritability and feel discomfort. There may also be loss of appetite and diarrhea, though these are not common symptoms. Swollen gums are also a symptom of puppy teething, and can make the puppy quite irritable.
To alleviate some of your puppy's symptoms, special gels and powders that are designed for veterinarian use can be used. Allow a normal level of chewing for the puppy as pressure on the gums reduces pain and soreness. Engage the puppy in physical exercise and playful activities.
Puppy teething can be much easier for the pet as well as for pet owners when there are lots of rubber objects around to keep the puppy distracted. Cold pieces of cloth or frozen foods can work wonders to alleviate soreness during the teething time. Just be patient and kind with the puppy, and keep in mind that it is just a phase, and will be over sooner than you think. A little love and affection will help your pet better cope with the pain.
Some signs and symptoms of teething are common and usual, but if you notice something unusual, report it to the vet immediately. There might be some other reason, such as infection.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Basic Puppy Training Techniques
There are a number of important guidelines that you need to keep in mind when teaching your puppy the basics about good behavior. Exercising the right dog training techniques is what will make or break your training regimen with your dog. Follow these five important guidelines and teaching your puppy will be easier than ever.
1 - Be Gentle - Your new puppy is going to be extremely sensitive at first, and as a result will not be able to handle anything that is too stressful on both an emotional and a physical level. Although learning generally quickly takes place, now is the time where your puppy will react poorly to stress or being trained too rough. If fears are picked up too easily during the training process, then it may inhibit the puppy's ability to learn, so make sure to be gentle but firm in your training.
2 - Keep Things Brief - Puppies have even shorter attention spans than children. Your puppy is only going to learn when his or her attention is on you, and you will not see the results that you are looking for when your puppy is tired physically or mentally. Make sure to be brief when putting your puppy through training activities, and then you can move on.
3 - Exercise Patience - Expecting overnight results is only going to frustrate you and cause your training regimen to lose its focus. Relax, and understand that things like this will take time, and puppies learn in spurts. Puppies also do go through brief memory lapses so do not allow yourself to become overwhelmed if your puppy seems to forget some of its training from one day to the next. Exercise patience when it comes to training and you will be just fine.
4 - Exercise Simplicity - Teaching your puppy should be done in a step by step process if you want to attain the best results. This is the best way that your puppy will learn. Exercise a simple, step by step approach and your puppy will learn more quickly and will enjoy the process more thoroughly than if you were to employ a more intensive training regimen.
5 - Build Confidence - Confidence is the core of every healthy adult dog, and confidence begins with building confidence in a young puppy. Building confidence in your puppy is not hard at all to do; all you need to do is spend positive time with your puppy as often as you possibly can. This will help to build self confidence in your puppy. You should not always be in training mode when you first get your puppy, but instead sometimes you should step back and play with your dog, having fun with him or her in the process. Training is important, but above all else your dog needs to know that you are friends.
These five fundamental puppy training tips are vital in preparing your puppy for an effective training regimen and will drive better results when properly integrated into your step by step puppy training process.
1 - Be Gentle - Your new puppy is going to be extremely sensitive at first, and as a result will not be able to handle anything that is too stressful on both an emotional and a physical level. Although learning generally quickly takes place, now is the time where your puppy will react poorly to stress or being trained too rough. If fears are picked up too easily during the training process, then it may inhibit the puppy's ability to learn, so make sure to be gentle but firm in your training.
2 - Keep Things Brief - Puppies have even shorter attention spans than children. Your puppy is only going to learn when his or her attention is on you, and you will not see the results that you are looking for when your puppy is tired physically or mentally. Make sure to be brief when putting your puppy through training activities, and then you can move on.
3 - Exercise Patience - Expecting overnight results is only going to frustrate you and cause your training regimen to lose its focus. Relax, and understand that things like this will take time, and puppies learn in spurts. Puppies also do go through brief memory lapses so do not allow yourself to become overwhelmed if your puppy seems to forget some of its training from one day to the next. Exercise patience when it comes to training and you will be just fine.
4 - Exercise Simplicity - Teaching your puppy should be done in a step by step process if you want to attain the best results. This is the best way that your puppy will learn. Exercise a simple, step by step approach and your puppy will learn more quickly and will enjoy the process more thoroughly than if you were to employ a more intensive training regimen.
5 - Build Confidence - Confidence is the core of every healthy adult dog, and confidence begins with building confidence in a young puppy. Building confidence in your puppy is not hard at all to do; all you need to do is spend positive time with your puppy as often as you possibly can. This will help to build self confidence in your puppy. You should not always be in training mode when you first get your puppy, but instead sometimes you should step back and play with your dog, having fun with him or her in the process. Training is important, but above all else your dog needs to know that you are friends.
These five fundamental puppy training tips are vital in preparing your puppy for an effective training regimen and will drive better results when properly integrated into your step by step puppy training process.
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