Pet The World

Chinchillas, like all rodents, need to chew. It keeps your teeth short and healthy since they don’t stop growing. There is a variety of material, shapes and flavors of things for them to chew on. Switching it up from time to time and giving your pet a variety of chew toys can make it a little more fun for them. I have noticed that through past experiences with rodent pets of both myself and friends, and with my current chinchilla, they enjoy both soft and hard things to chew.

My chinchilla will chew anything. This is important to note if you ever let your own chinchilla or rodent out of his/her cage to have some fun. You have to be careful of the environment they are in. My chinchilla has chewed through two electric wires. She has chewed on numerous furniture, books, and paper. It’s not that I don’t watch her when she’s out, it’s that she’s so fast and just gets to things quicker than I can at times.

When she’s not running through the house for her next quick snack, she is sitting in her cage chewing on a variety of things I try to provide her with. The first, which is probably the staple thing for rodents to chew on as pets, is toilet paper and paper towel rolls. These are great. Not only do you get to put what would usually be trash to good use, they are somewhat soft and easy for the rodent to chew. Sometimes they prefer this over the harder things, though you have to make sure there isn’t a lot of glue on them.

She also loves to chew wood. The constant piece she has is a wooden ledge in her cage, though she doesn’t chew that as much. She likes to jump on it and stuff, but only chews it when she really doesn’t have anything else to chew. It’s a nice thing to have in the cage for moments between her old and new chew toy.

I also get her wood blocks that she just loves. They are little, finger length, and usually come in many assorted colors. Some even are flavored. I’m not really sure if she enjoys the flavored ones more or not, but she loves all the wood chew toys. They are her favorite, a treat almost, and she will chew on that contently for a long time. I like to keep one of those, since it’s a harder toy, and a roll, since it’s a softer toy, in her cage at the same time. This gives her variety for when she wants to chew.

Of course, anything in her cage she will chew. She has a green plastic igloo for a house, and that is covered in bite marks. She usually only chews that when she is antsy and wants to get out of the cage. It’s a good sign to let me know she might be feeling too cooped up. I noticed that some, maybe even more, will start to chew these constant items in their cages when they are bored.

They also will chew their cages for the same reason. My chinchilla is no different. She will chew that when she has ran out of a good chew toy and gets bored, or when she wants out of the cage. I can tell because she is most active when I let her out after she has been chewing on the cage.

Animals are smarter than most people give them credit and a wonderful friend to have. We should treat them better by providing variety for their life. We need to not just show them love and affection with hugs and petting, but also show them that we care by providing them with enjoyable items we give them. Take note of what they prefer, what they often chew, and what gets chewed the fastest. Rodents are one of the most affectionate pets surprisingly, always amusing and entertaining, and deserve every little treat and toy they can get.

This article has been submitted in affiliation with http://www.PetLovers.Com which is a site for Pet Forums.

Jake Rose is an artist and an author from Massachusetts.

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What should you feed your cat to make sure he or she will have the necessary nutrition? What is the ideal mix of food to help your cat live to the limit of it’s life span?

To answer these questions, one should look at the diet of a feline in it’s natural habitat. In the wild, a cat eats almost exclusively animal tissue. However, they would normally eat the entire body of the animal,
including it’s stomach contents, which has many nutrients that are simply lacking in an animals muscle tissue.

Another question some cat owners have is: Is fresh meat the best possible food for cats? Not necessarily. Fresh meat will not provide a balanced diet for a cat, as they are extremely protein dense while being very low in vital nutrients such as calcium.

Conversely, some cat owners have asked, “Is it alright to feed my cat a completely vegetarian diet?” The answer to that question is a clear cut no. Cats cannot produce the nutrients it needs from an exclusively vegetarian diet in the same way that humans can.

Being a very specialized hunter, it has actually lost that ability during the course of it’s evolution. Certain skin problems are sometimes the result of a deficiency in certain essential fatty acids which can be found in animal flesh alone. Another problem is that a deficiency of the amino acid taurine, a major building block for proteins of the body, which can cause both blindness and heart failure. Cats are simply born carnivores.

Is it o.k. to give a cat only dry food? According to petshub, the answer is yes, providing that you ensure that fresh water is available at all times.

Dry food is generally more convenient, hygienic, and affordable than canned or fresh food. It also exercises the teeth and reduces the buildup of tartar, which can grow into a severe problem in cats that are fed a soft and mushy diet.

A.M Wilmont is a writer and researcher. For more information you can visit http://www.premium-cat-food.com/

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Obesity is one of the greatest health concerns facing dogs. You can and should do something about it. Overweight dogs may live shorter and less healthy lives and your enjoyment of their unconditional love and companionship may be shortened because of it.

Extra pounds place an excess burden on bones and joints and can make arthritis problems worse. Overweight dogs are less able to exercise and play comfortably and their breathing may be labored. Their bodies may be less able to resist infections, and they may be at greater risk for problems during surgery and anesthesia.

Potential health problems include:

• Joint or Locomotion Difficulties. Extra pounds add stress to joints, bones, ligaments and muscles. Conditions such as arthritis, hip dysplasia, spinal disc disease and ruptures of joint ligaments may be caused or aggravated by obesity.

• Heart and Respiratory Disease. Excess fat tissue in the chest cavity and around the muscles of the heart can decrease the efficiency of the heart and lungs. Your dog’s heart and lungs have to work harder to provide adequate oxygen and circulation.

• Diabetes. Just as in humans, diabetes is much more common in obese dogs.

• Liver Disease. Obese dogs are prone to liver disease.

• Heat Intolerance. The insulating properties of excessive fat make it harder for obese dogs to tolerate heat and they feel uncomfortable.

• Skin Problems. Obese dogs may have trouble grooming because the rolls of skin built up by fat deposits can often harbor dirt, bacteria and other harmful organisms.

• Gastrointestinal Disorders. Inflammation of the pancreas is frequently found in obese dogs. It is painful and can be life threatening.

How Dogs Become Overweight?

Dogs most always become overweight from lack of good exercise and from eating more food than they require. Food calories, which aren’t burned during their daily activities, are stored as fat.

Overeating can result from greediness, boredom, or overfeeding. Feeding leftovers or giving frequent snacks or treats often contributes to excess weight problems.

Over-fed puppies tend to become overweight dogs. They also have a greater risk of developing orthopedic problems. Properly feed puppies will be less likely to suffer from weight problems later in life.

Occasionally, metabolic disorders can cause a dog to become overweight. But overfeeding and under exercising are much more common causes of excess weight. If your veterinarian suspects that a metabolic disorder is causing your dog to gain weight, he or she will test for that disorder and treat it accordingly.

How Can I Tell if My Dog is Overweight?

A quick check to determine whether your dog is overweight is to feel his ribs with the flat palm of your hand. If you have difficulty feeling his ribs, then your dog probably needs to lose weight.

Helping Your Dog Lose Weight.

Weight loss for most dogs involves increased exercise and eating food with fewer calories. It’s generally easier to feed normal amounts of a low-calorie dog food than to feed much smaller amounts of his/her regular dog food. In addition, your dog will not feel as hungry when fed a normal amount of food

Dieting for Dogs.

Your vet will help set a weight goal for your dog and will recommend how much food he should eat each day. A special diet may also be prescribed. The food choice should be designed to satisfy your dog’s appetite and provide him all the vitamins and minerals he needs while at the same time helping him to lose weight.

Your dog may need a gradual transition from the old to the new diet. So, you would feed him increasing amounts of the new diet while decreasing the amounts of the previous diet each day over several days until the transition is complete.

To help keep your dog from begging, feed him before your family eats, and keep him out of the room during your meal. It is also a good idea to feed overweight dogs at the same time as other pets to help prevent food stealing from their slimmer companions. Always provide plenty of clean, fresh drinking water.

Regular exercise, such as walks or runs, is good for most dogs because it increases the number of calories they burn. If your dog is old or in poor health, check with your vet before increasing exercise.

The time period your dog will require to lose weight depends upon how much weight he is required to lose. Your dog may need 8 to 14 weeks or longer to reach his target weight.

What Type of Dog Food is Good for Weight Control?

A dieting dog has special nutritional needs. His diet should be balanced with a proper ratio of protein, fat and carbohydrates. The diet should also provide a normal volume of food to satisfy his hunger and the food should also provide quality nutrients.

Weight loss plans don’t need to include high levels of fiber. Fiber is not necessary for weight loss in pets, and in large amounts, it may have side effects such as increased feces and lack of interest in the food because of its poor taste.

We recommend Canine Zone - a revolutionary weight loss dog food based on Dr. Barry Sears’ Zone Diet. Millions of people all over the world have improved their health and have lost weight on Dr. Barry Sears’ Zone Diet. Now you can get your dog in “The Zone”. Canine Zone is based on the Zone’s 30-30-40 ratio of protein, fat and carbohydrates. This revolutionary new dog food will help your dog achieve a balance so his or her body can operate at its maximum efficiency while shedding unwanted pounds.

Always consult with your vet before you start a weight loss program for your dog.

About The Author

Bev Storer is a writer and researcher in the field of nutrition and nutritional supplements. To learn more about Canine Zone, go to http://www.dog-food-zone.com or e-mail her directly at info@dog-food-zone.com.

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