Brushing your Dog’s Teeth: Why is it Important?

Brushing your dog’s teeth is not just about fresh breath, dog’s teeth can develop cavities and plaques the same way that human teeth do. Many dogs suffer from gum disease because they do not have an appropriate mouth care. Usually, bad breath is the first sign of a problem.

In this Article, you will find the importance, techniques, and some tips to keep your pet teeth strong and healthy.

Why is a healthy mouth so important?

If we don't remove the plaque, over time, it will turn into a rock-hard tartar that may inflame its gums. With all of these problems your dog can be experience a lot of pain, product of a bacterial infection, and this could affect the health of some others parts of its body.

What are the symptoms of a teeth problem?

Bad breath, inflamed gums, cysts under the tongue, and loose teeth could be some of the symptoms. You should take your dog to the veterinarian as fast as you can to prevent a major complication.

How often should I brush my dog?

Brushing your dog’s teeth should be a daily routine. We recommend cleaning your dog’s teeth every day, but if you don't have the time to do it daily, you should do it at least 3times a week. Ask the veterinarian about what is best for your dog.

At home or with a Specialist?

Taking your dog to the vet is the best way to prevent or discover on time any problem in your dog's mouth. Also, there is some grooming specialist that offers this service. For dogs that have not experienced a teeth cleaning before, the first time can be very traumatic, especially if they have a lot of tartar to remove. If this is the case, the specialist will put it some anesthesia for the procedure. After they have a deep cleaning with a qualified groomer or vet, you can brush your dog's teeth at home to maintain it clean. All you will need is a doggy toothpaste (never use humans' toothpaste) and a regular toothbrush.

Preventions Tips

·        Healthy diet

·        Chew toys

·        Hard Tricks

·        Give your dog regular home checks

Don't wait! Now is the time to help your dog to have a good oral care. Prevention and maintenance are the keys to keeping your buddy healthy and happy.

Syrian Hamster

Syrian Hamsters or Golden Hamsters are hardy creatures that come from the semi-desert region of Syria. The name "Hamster" is derived from a german word that means “hoard.” This word fits them very well because this is what they do with the extra food. The habit of store a lot of food in their cheek pouches enabled them to carry food back to their nest and saved for a snack later on. Golden Hamsters are popularly kept as pets and used as scientific research animals throughout the world.

Originally, Syrian Hamsters came in just one color, but a mixture of colors like black, brown, and gold gave them their "golden" nickname. However, it has been some pattern mutations to extend the variety of colors including cream, white, cinnamon and three different shades of gray. The size of an adult Hamster goes from 5 to 7 in (13 to 18 cm) long, with a lifespan of two to three years.

The Syrian Hamster is one of the most popular pets due to their small size and cuteness. However, these little buddies are not recommended as a pet for young children. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals suggests hamsters as pets only for children 10 years or older under the supervision of an adult.

If you are thinking of getting a Syrian Hamster as a pet, you have to prepare your house for the new member. Some of the things you have to do are:

• Buy a comfortable and enjoyable cage for your Hamster, providing a variety of toys to keep it entertained.
• Because, they are very energetic a running wheel and cardboard tubes are excellent for them to exercise.
• Make sure to keep in the cage some absorbent bedding such as shredded paper or timothy hay, and also a small box with an entrance hole, since they love to sleep inside enclosed spaces.
• Hamsters are messy by nature. So, remember to give it small pieces of paper towel or napkin to shred and make a nest.
• Provide to your Hamster a healthy diet that should contain a mix of seeds, grains, cracked corn, lettuce, carrots, and spinach.
• Fresh water should be available all the time; using an inverted bottle with a drinking tube.

Once you have everything set up for your Hamster, Bring it home! Let him play outside of the cage for a little while in an enclosed area and removing any electrical wires from the area. This will be a fun and free way for you curious little pet to know his new home.

Chameleon

From the Chamaeleonidae family, Chameleons are a specialized type of old-world lizards with more than 200 species that live in a variety of locations. Africa, Madagascar, Europe, Asia and the Middle East are some of the common areas where can be found. They can live from tropical to desert conditions.

Chameleons vary in size and structure. The maximum lengths vary from 15 mm (0.59 in) to 68.5 cm (27.0 in). Many species have facial ornamentation, such as nasal protrusions, or horn-like projections or in some cases large crests on top of their heads. Usually, males are more ornamented than the female Chameleons. The lifespan of this reptile will depend on the species; they can live from 2 to 10 years.

Distinguished by their zygodactyls’ feet, very long tongues and the ability to change colors is a very exotic and versatile reptile. Another feature of this species is their stereoscopy vision. Chameleon eyes protrude laterally from the head, and the eyes move independently of each other allowing it to watch an approaching object while is scanning the rest of its environment.

Chameleons have the ability to change the color of their skin. Some species can vary the color and pattern through combinations of blue, pink, red, green, orange, black, yellow, brown, turquoise, and purple. The color changing can represent emotions, body temperature, and as a camouflage to hide from predators. If the chameleon is in a good mood, it will wear brighter colors while a stressed one will be a dark brown to black color.

As pets, they can be interesting and unique, but it may not be for everyone. It could be expensive to maintain his habitat, lighting, heating, food, and humidity control inside the house. Chameleons require a fair amount of cage space, so you need a big space inside the house to place your pet. Their diet consists of insects, but some will also eat small reptiles and other vertebrates.

If you are a beginner, and you want to get your first Chameleon, it is recommended a veiled or panther. They are hardy species that require only moderate humidity. Also, is better to get a male since females tend to have shorter lifespans. So if you are ready to take good care of a Chameleon and set up an ideal habitat; go for it! This will be an incredible pet choice.

Bathing your Bird

Often, new bird owners have doubts about how to bathe their pets. In the wild, birds clean themselves in a lake, stream or during a rain shower. However, in your home your bird could face many different challenges. Indoors, your bird's skin can become very dry, doing the bath time an essential duty for them. Baths are great to maintain the plumage because it removes dust and extra oil, maintaining the insulating properties of feathers.

Some advices to bathe your bird at home are: 

• Prepare pans or your sink only one to two inches deep with room temperature or lukewarm water.(never too cold or hot)
• Ask the veterinarian if commercial bird's shampoos are safe for your pet, and if the answer is negative, clean water would be enough.
• Never spray water directly into your bird's face.
• Do not force your pet bird to bathe; just as birds vary in behavior, they also differ in how they prefer to bathe.
• Your bird's feathers need to dry completely, for that reason you should bathe your bird in the warmest part of the day. Never use an electric blow dryer on your bird. Depending on the size of your bird it may allow you to dry it. If this is the case, grab a towel and carefully pat you bird in the direction that the feathers lay.

Most birds need little if any, encouragement to bathe. Start by offering a bath to your bird once or twice weekly. It would take a bit of observation, but you will quickly learn your bird’s preferences.

Exotic Cat

The Exotic Cat is a shorthaired version of the Persian. Back In the 50's an American breeder first crossed a Persian with a Burmese. The result was pretty good, a cat with the same beauty of a Persian and very similar in temperament, with the exception of the short dense hair that would be easier to groom. The FIFe (Federation Internationale Feline) recognized them as a new breed in 1986 and the Cat Fanciers' Association in 1996 under the name Exotic Shorthair.  The Exotic has been limited to crosses with the Persian so that the breed can maintain its pedigreed status.

The face of the Exotic is very similar to the Persians, oval head, rounded forehead and a broad nose with a pronounced stop. One of the main characteristics of the Exotic is the large, round, wide eyes, their ears are small, rounded at the tip and a short thick neck. They have Powerful muscles and may grow to be up from 7 to 15 pounds (3.5 - 6 Kg), but in height it remains relatively short and close to the ground. They can live up to 15 years.

The Exotic is a low-maintenance cat; they can keep its fur very clean with just a little bit of human assistance. It is recommended to brush the fur weekly to remove loose hair. They are flat-faced animals, so you need to wipe the cat's face periodically to clean all the overflow tears in the nasolacrimal duct, to avoiding a stain in the face.

Exotic Shorthairs have a gentle and calm personality as its relative the Persian. They are curious, playful, and friendly to other animals. They don’t like to be alone, so they want to be with their owner all the time. Also, this breed is one of the most loyal of all; which makes them a perfect companion to have at home. The Exotic will greet you as soon as you get home, and it will make you feel welcome, curling up on your lap.