Pets

If pets had their way, they’d raid the bags containing their kibble and help themselves to an all-day feast, every day. This is hardly a desirable scenario, as it leads to obesity and digestive upset, so take care to store food where pets can’t get at it while you’re not looking.

Dogs, by the way, are not the only ones guilty of raiding bags of kibble; hungry cats have also been known to apply their claws and teeth to almost-full bags – even those heavy-duty foil models! – and help themselves to heaps of between-meal snacks.

Most pet-food storage containers are made of plastic, which is porous (so their contents are not safe from bacteria) and easily gnawed open by a large, determined dog.

Pet-supply stores sell large clips to “reseal” opened bags of kibble – but these do nothing to prevent the contents from growing stale, or permitting the entry of hungry insects.

Happily, there are much better, more sanitary ways to store large bags of opened kibble.
If there’s room in your refrigerator, stick the opened bag of kibble in there. Or, decant the contents of the bag into glass food-storage jars. These are widely available at kitchen-supply stores and online, and they come in a variety of sizes and shapes, from round to square. Some have threaded metal lids, others close with a rubber washer that securely closes with a metal clamp.

If you’d like double protection – refrigeration plus a glass jar – investigate refrigerator glassware, widely available in nesting sets, complete with convenient plastic lids. Just don’t subject glass that isn’t made for refrigerator storage to your fridge’s chilly atmosphere, or it will crack and break, and you’ll have wasted all that kibble.

In the fridge or out, glass jars keep pets and bugs away from the food, and they look quite decorative just sitting there on your kitchen counter or shelf. The good habit of transferring kibble from the bag to the jar could even inspire you to be better about putting away flour, sugar, and other bagged food items!

Like many other animals and humans too, kitten teething is a rough time when chewing and biting are more than natural reflexes: they actually become the main urge of your pet. The favorite objects to chew in such cases are wool made: it is not exactly known why cats favor fluffy stuff when they are teething, but it is a fact that they find relief from the gum soreness when they do so.

The first period of kitten teething starts when the animals are two or three weeks old, and just like in the case of humans, the incisors and the canines erupt first. The entire kitten teething period with the milk and the adult teeth included covers no more than seven months, which is an average teething age in the animal world.

Adult kitten teething usually occurs between the third and the sixth months of life; the period is pretty tense for the animals, so don’t be surprised to be bitten accidentally by your pet. A good way to alleviate the pressure in the gums is to give the cat something hard to chew on: a rubber or a plastic toy for instance. If one of your kids’ toys doesn’t do for the matter, you can always turn to special kitten teething toys.

There is a whole range of nasty symptoms that are frequently reported during the kitten teething period; the pet may experience difficulty to swallow or it may even refuse food. The best thing to do under the circumstances is to contact the vet immediately and also turn to a powder or a gel to apply on the gums of the animal in order to provide relief and comfort.

Homeopathic granules will soothe the animals and allow them to eat as comfortably as possible, not to mention that the objects in your house will be safe from chewing. We should further add that it is possible for the animal to have an altered behavior for the entire kitten teething period, but it will get back to normal as soon as the skin on the gums breaks.

You may also take advantage of the kitten teething period to train the pet for a good oral hygiene; many cats have to be taken to the vet in order to have their teeth cleaned. If, during the kitten teething period, you manage to get the animal used to brushing, there should be no problem to turn it into a habit. The pet will more easily accept the brush now since it alleviates the pressure in gums swollen because of the teeth eruption.

What kind of pet you are looking for? Have you ever thought about a gecko? You will find different kind of geckos but there is only one which is perfect as a house pet.

If you have seen pictures of leopard geckos, you are probably aware of what beautiful reptiles they are. Because of the work of breeders, leopard geckos come in an astonishing array of colours and patterns, from tangerine orange all the way to black and white striped, and many of these are quite striking creatures. I have been breeding reptiles for years and years now, and let me tell you: leopard geckos are some of my very favourite. This is not just because of their striking appearance, however. It is because they make such great pets.

Many people complain that reptiles are lousy pets. They feel that snakes and lizards are bad tempered, unaffectionate, dull, and boring company. For many of these creatures, this is true. They are simply not very easy to socialize, and are at best indifferent to humans. But the leopard gecko is different. Leopard geckos, if they are brought up among humans for their whole lives, are friendly, affectionate creatures who are really quite easy to get along with for anyone. They are pretty easy to care for as long as you remember a few basic facts about them. All leopard geckos must receive adequate, but not excessive warmth. Leopard geckos also must be fed daily with insects, and the like, and have enough space to move around. Finally, leopard geckos must not be left all by themselves. They technically can survive by themselves, but as a leopard gecko breeder, I can tell you that they are much happier when they have company. Really, leopard geckos do best when raised in groups of two or more, but even human companionship will help keep your pet happy. And a happy pet is a healthy pet.

If you are thinking of getting leopard geckos, there are a few things that you must consider first. They are not cute in the traditional sense, and so if your idea of a perfect pet is something soft that you can pet at your convenience, then the leopard gecko is right out. Although they are fairly affectionate lizards, if you are looking for some creature that will be overjoyed every single time that you enter the room, ditch the leopard geckos in favour of a nice golden retriever. But, if you are a lizard person, you probably already know it. If your idea of a nice pet is an interesting pet, then leopard geckos might be just the thing for you. I hope you already made your choice; you will never find a friendlier house pet than a gecko.