The Shih-tzu Spa - Grooming Tips for your Shih-tzu.

The Shih-tzu Spa - Grooming Tips for your Shih-tzu.
Bathing - It is very important to bathe your shit-tzu every other week. Use a tablespoon of shampoo for a litre of water. Whisk up some foam generously, in a baby tub and rinse your dog thoroughly.Dilute some conditioner in water in pour a generous amount on your Shih-tzu. This will help reducing tangles as well as keep the coat soft. Be very careful when you choose the shampoo. Check the pH so that you do not end up buying a shampoo that is too acidic. They can dry out the coat of your dog. Even bathing too often will reduce the natural shine of the coat. Your doggie has a short muzzle, he will tend to get more dirty in the process of sniffing or rubbing things. So it is important to clean the face of your dog twice a week. Use a soft brush to do this. Clean the feet and the area under the eye and rinse well. Brush your dog before and after bath. Plug the ears with cotton balls so that water does not seep into the ears and cause infection. Also take care not to let any shampoo get into the eyes. Use a benign ointment for the eyes if necessary. If any residual shampoo is there, just wash with lukewarm saline water. Clean the anal gland of your dog regularly. Take the help of the vet if necessary. Wrap your dog in a towel and give a thorough blow dry but do not blow hot air directly on the face.

Brushing & trimming - The coat of the Shih-tzu requires regular brushing in order to prevent it from getting tangled and matted. If you prefer floor length hair for your dog, keep a wire brush handy. Start brushing from the extreme ends like feet and legs. Brush in gentle downward strokes to reach the belly and then the back. Use a coat conditioner to keep hair silky and shiny.Be gentle with tangles. Never ever pull them as this may cause pain to the dog. Treat the hair as you would treat your own! Use a softer comb near the eyes, feetpads and under ears. In case you want to remove excess hair in the ear canal, apply some ear powder and pull gently.Also keep the hair around the mouth short so that your dog does not gather food there. The last stage is trimming around your puppy s bottom area and tail. The tail should be brushed and trimmed short. This way your puppy can go to the toilet easily. The hair can be trimmed with scissors to keep this area free from hair. It is a good thing to check this area daily to ensure that no deposition of excreta is attached to the hair.

Teeth - Shih-tzu teeth are prone to Periodontal disease, Gingivitis and Plaque. So brush yor dog’s teeth twice everyday with dog toothbrushes and dental cream. Also encourage your dog to chew on a dog kibble so that it does not develop plaque easily.

Ear Care - Examine your dog’s ears once every week. Use a cotton swab daubed in ear solution to wipe the ear canal in order to remove all dirt and ear wax.

Eye Care - As the Shih-tzu has big eyes, it is more susceptible to eye infections. Use a moist cotton ball to clean the skin around the eye. Do this atleast once every week.Take care that no discharge gets deposited for a long time. Consult your vet in case of any redness or imflammation.

Nail Care - Always clip nails after bath when they are soft and easy to clip. Do not cut the red streak as this may cause bleeding. In case it bleeds,use styptic powder to stop it.

Hair-do - You can also make fancy hair-dos with your Shih-tzu’s long tresses.You can part the hair and tie it up with light rubber bands and then pin the pig-tails up in top knots. This will also prevent the hair from getting into the eye. Only make sure that it is not too tight to make the dog feel uncomfortable. Even whiskers can be attached upwards with pins. In case your dog is going for a show,keep the hair plaited all day in thin braids. When you will undo them, your Shih-tzu will have soft flowing curls all over. This way you can easily give your Shih-tzu a wonderful new makeover. So take out some time and let your imagination take wings. Have fun grooming your pretty Shih-tzu. Visit http://www.toydogtrainers.com to know about all kinds of toy dog training and care.

About the author : Nancy Richards has been a dog lover for the past 12 years. She has owned and handled dog of different ages and have helped many fellow owners in training their dog. The Toy Dog Training Institute was born out of a need to educate Toy Dog lovers across the globe on how to train and take care of their pets easily at home, without breaking the bank. Nancy Richards, a devoted dog lover, started this Institute a year back. The Toy Dog Training Institute is a leading organization in the world dedicated to the welfare of Toy Dogs . The aim was to promote public interest in Toy Dogs and convey by all possible means an unbiased presentation of the use of Toy Dogs . Terms of use: Anybody is free to use the article in their website as long as an acknowledgement is given to the author 'Nancy Richards' along with a link to the Site http://www.toydogtrainers.com .

Managing Your Flowerhorn Aquarium
Managing Your Flowerhorn Aquarium

If you’re thinking about purchasing a beautiful Flowerhorn fish, you’re not alone. The beautiful Flowerhorn fish is one of the more popular additions to your aquarium. However, if you have chosen a Flowerhorn, proper tank management is essential. It is, indeed, more important to practice a good tank management than it is to purchase the suitable type of fish for your tank.

Proper fish tank management and beautiful Flowerhorn fish complement each other perfectly. It is, therefore, crucial for all hobbyists to have proper knowledge of good fish tank management. While it is not as simple as dumping clean water in every few weeks, it isn’t as terribly complicated as you may imagine.

The Tank
As the Flowerhorn’s ancestry originated from the Central and South American cichlids, it is essential to set up your tank to a closely simulated natural habitat for the fish, which at the same time, is incredibly pleasing to the eye.

Various sizes and designs of fish tanks are available at your local fish store. Choose one that will complement your house, and always assume that your Flowerhorns will grow to be about 500 mm in length. It is advisable to get at least a 3 feet tank to start comfortably. Acrylic aquariums are recommended as these tanks are leak proof, lightweight and the wall materials provide exceptional clarity. The SeaClear 26 gallon flat back hexagonal tank is one good example of an acrylic tank that is great for keeping Flowerhorns.

Tank Accessories
Once you’ve gotten the tank, you may want to think about backgrounds. Various attractive background designs for aquariums are easily available. Choose one that will fit the natural environment of the fish. Added pebbles, stones and gravels is a good idea as well. They can be used as substrate for biological filtration as well as a tool to help smooth and polish the teeth of Flowerhorns as they dig, shove and carry these pebbles. Keep in mind that in captivity, the teeth of the Flowerhorn tends to be quite sharp, and if you can help to take the edges off a bit with pebbles or gravel, less damage will be caused during mating or fighting sessions. Once you’ve added that gravel, expect to see it migrate around the tank a bit. Flowerhorns tend to build their ‘nest’ by moving the pebbles and stones from one place to another. This behavior normally indicates that the fish has matured, and it is ready for mating purposes.

Even though you may think that sunken pirate ship looks neat, other unnatural tank ornaments are discouraged. These do not serve any purpose at all in the tank, and they may even be hazardous because they can cause accidental cuts and injuries on your Flowerhorns. These fish possess fierce territorial behaviors, and fights among fishes are common. Keeping objects like these in the tank only causes problems during fights.

Lighting
Suitable aquarium lighting will enhance the coloration and the overall physical development of your Flowerhorn. It is recommended that you place your tank where is it able to get at least an hour of indirect sunlight a day. While you may worry that algae will infest your tank because of the sunlight, with proper water quality management, your tank should not go green with algae with that minute amount of sunlight. If sunlight isn’t possible in your living space, getting a full spectrum light is advisable. Be sure to leave it on for four to eight hours a day to maintain the color development of your Flowerhorn.

Water quality
Flowerhorns are ‘hardy’, which means these fish are highly adaptable to different water conditions, including bad water ones. However, just because they’re ‘hardy’ fish doesn’t mean that you should keep poor water conditions in your tank. Adequate feedings and frequent water changes promote better growth, and, as a result, can even change the whole body morphology of the fish.

Water pH level and Mineral Content
Water pH levels indicate the acidity and alkalinity of the water. Dissolved minerals in the water are often termed the “hardness” of the water. These two water parameters are interrelated. The water is considered ‘hard’ when there is a high content of dissolved minerals in it (like calcium), and normally the pH of ‘hard’ water is above 7, which is more alkaline. When there’s a lack of dissolved minerals in the water, it is considered ’soft,’ and thus the pH will be lower than neutral making it acidic.

Local breeders have indicated that higher pH levels (7.5 to 7.8) will favor the growth of the nuchal hump, and lower pH levels (6.1 to 6.5) will favor color development in Flowerhorn fish. Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Proper pH powder is widely used to maintain water quality. As a bonus, with its aloe vera and electrolytes contents, it also works to eliminate chlorine and heavy metals from the water while reducing fish stress. Depending on which traits you desire in your Flowerhorn, it is possible to adjust your water pH level accordingly.

Temperature
Flowerhorns are tropical fish. They can survive in water with various temperature ranges, but they grow well in water temperature of 28 C. During transportation, the water temperature is usually maintained at about 22 C, and the temperature is raised to about 30 C when the fish is sick. This, though, doesn’t mean that all illnesses are curable this way. Check out the “Common Illnesses” section for more information. A simple thermometer may be purchased to monitor water temperature changes in your tank.

Dechlorination
Tap water is commonly used by hobbyist, but most tap water contains high levels of chlorine, which poses a danger to your Flowerhorn. High chlorine toxicity may lead to fatalities. Dechlorination of tap water is crucial prior to usage. Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Tap Water Conditioner instantly removes and detoxifies heavy metals from tap water. Add one teaspoon to your water to treat up to ten gallons.

Filtration systems
In an artificial aquatic environment, a good filtration system is extremely important. Flowerhorns feed on huge amounts of food, and as a by product, they secrete large amounts of ammonia. A good filtration system eliminates solid wastes from the fish, leftover food, ammonia and even dusts from the atmosphere. There are various types of filters available in the market. The efficiency of these filters depends on usage, stocking density and other factors.

Mechanical filters work mainly to sieve out wastes, but they do not break it down. It makes the water clear, but this doesn’t mean it is ‘clean,’ as the ammonia produced by fish is still in the tank. The misconception of ‘clear water’ being ‘clean water’ often contributes to a lot of fish deaths. A mechanical filter normally uses filter wools and filter sponges as sieve materials. Mechanical filters work best coupled with biological filters.

Biological filters are more efficient as they provide bio-media surfaces for beneficial bacteria to grow on. Bacteria colonize these surfaces and ‘work’ on the ammonia waste left by fish to break it down into fish friendly water components. You can read more about this in the “Ammonia and Nitrogen Cycle” article.

Flowerhorn fish are quite beautiful, and they’ll make a lovely addition to your home aquarium display, but ensuring successful aquarium management is essential to keep your fish healthy and happy.

Copyright 2000-2007 Flowerfish.com. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.
Reprint Rights: You may reprint this article as long as you leave all of the links active, do not edit the article in any way and give the author name credit.

About The Author: FlowerFish.com is the complete Flower Horn Fish Resource center. We are also one of the world's biggest and most recognised Flower Horn breeder, exporter and wholesaler.Please visit us at http://www.FlowerFish.com for more articles and Flower Horn fish picture galleries.

Giving Your Pet A Proper Adoption
There is a severe overpopulation of cats and dogs roaming the streets all over the world. Some animals that are not getting proper care and are being abused by their owners tend to escape from their mistreated homes and tend to wander off on their own.

Because of this situation, there are now lots of domesticated animals that are caught and placed on animal shelters or dog pounds, just waiting for someone to adopt them. However, there are lots of municipal shelters that can no longer adopt this great number of abused or abandoned pets, so they just kill them.

In general, pets are great companions and friends. Like the dogs, they are very loyal and friendly and can be used to safeguard our homes. They can act as our friends and can provide us with lots of entertainment and love.

On the other hand, we have our feline friends. Cats are not so demanding. All you have to give them is a clean litter box; a little affection and they will be satisfied. And in return, these pets will give their loyalty and companionship to you.

Some pet owners don?t really abuse their pets; they give their pets away because they love them too much. The reason why pet owners sometimes have to give away their pets is that they are afraid that they could not provide the best care for them. The owner of the pet will look for the right person that will adopt their pet and leave them in good hands. They sometimes go to their relatives and friends and ask for help.

If the owners cannot find a suitable person to adopt their pet, there are institutions and organizations that are established to adopt pets that has strictly no killing policies.

Here are some of the several pet shelters here you can entrust your pets.

1. The Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons (ARF) - you can find this in the East Hampton Pine Barrens. They rescue those pets that cannot be taken cared of by the owners. The goal of the ARF is to lessen the number of pets that do not have shelters or homes. They provide a sufficient amount of food and a good shelter as well as medical care..

2. Bide-a-Wee ? this has three shelters that can be found in Wantagh, Westhampton and Manhattan. They keep animals in their shelter, until they can find a new home. You can take your per here if you do not want them anymore. They got a big area where the pets can roam a round. As a matter of fact, Bide-a-Wee has two pet memorials, just goes to show how much they love animals.

3. Grateful Paws Cat Adoption Center ? they rescue the cats from the Town of Huntington Animal Shelter. From here, the cats are being brought to the Grateful Paws Adoption Center. So if you are planning to give your pet to them, you must bring it first to the Town of Huntington Animal Shelter so that it will reach the Grateful Paws Adoption Center.

4. Kent Animal Shelter ? they never kill pets, as much as possible, they want all pets to be healthy. They give protection to those pets that are abandoned, abused and homeless.

5. Little Shelter Animal Rescue and Rescue Center ? They provide shelter and care for all pets. Keeping them in their folds until a new owner can be found.

Just a few reminders, before bringing your pets to the shelters mentioned above, make sure that you contact them first so that you will know if your pet can be accommodated or not and there are certain procedures that needs to be followed, so you can inquire about those procedures at the same time.

John Rivers is the owner of <a href="http://www.easypetmeds.info">Pet Meds</a>. All you need to know about pets. You will also learn where where to buy ped meds online.

How To Select Cat Toys
In the next few paragraphs, we will explore new ideas and thoughts that may help you achieve your goal and decide what is best for you when choosing toys for your cats.

Toys for girl cats and boys:

When the mouse is away, cats play. And cats have the tendency to both play hard and play soft. Toys are to cats the same as toys are to dogs. It helps fight the boredom experienced by these pets as well as gives our feline friends the opportunity to practice and use their natural inclination to chase and hunt for prey. It also gives the cat owner that great chance to play with their pets, an experience that will aid in bonding their relationship.

But what toys are best for cats? The following are tips and helpful advice to get that perfect toy for the cat owners perfect pets.

Play safe:

The good thing about cats is that they can play ball inside the house and the owners will never know it. Still, there may be things inside the house that cats could find attractive yet might actually endanger their health and safety. Houses must be cat-friendly. As much as possible, take away any string, yarn, needles, rubber bands or other objects that could easily be swallowed by cats. These things could be lethal to cats. Do not let them play with these articles no matter how cute they may appear to be.

Play soft:

Choose soft toys that can easily be machine-washed. It is best that the toys chosen to be played with by cats are also the toys marked as safe to be played with by children below three years old. Toys such as these usually contain fillings that are not hazardous. Also, avoid giving cats toys that are hard and rigid, these types do not appeal to them that much.

Know your cat, know their toy:

It is best that one also familiarize themselves with your cat. Doing so helps in ones selection of the kind of plaything that best serves the size of ones cat - the kind of activity the cat likes and its unique preferences. Know the environment in which the cat likes to spend its time the most.

Choose active toys:

Toys that are great to play with for cats are usually the round plastic ones (such as rings from shower curtains, plastic balls, golf balls, balls used in ping-pong) as these give cats the opportunity to chase and paw around. They could also carry these in their mouths, make sure though that these are big enough they cannot be swallowed but not so large that they cannot carry them in their mouths.

Choose active play:

Balls can be placed inside bath tubs filled with water. Watch as cats frolic and play on and around the toy. It is just as enjoyable to the cat as it is fun for the cat owner. Another added feature that could be placed on balls are bells. One not only sees how cats play, one could also listen and take pleasure in the playful sound
.
Another simple yet effective plaything for cats is a paper bag. Use paper bags that do not have handles. These bags are good for pouncing around. Cats hide in them too. As much as possible, avoid the plastic ones as cats have the tendency to chew these and they may eat the plastic. This is not good.

Toys with tails:

Cats like playing with soft toy animals - specially the ones that have tails. They either bite them, paw them or chase these little stuffed toys around. It is best if these toys are as big or as small as the cats playing them.

Toys with catnip:

Catnip is sometimes used as stuffing for toys that are soft. Putting catnip in such playthings make the toys more enjoyable to carry, kick and throw around. More importantly, it is safe for cats to chew on, roll around in, or eat.
It is okay for owners to place catnip on carpeted floors, or (to make clean-up easy) on towels. There are now catnip oils that can be placed on carpets, and they usually stay there. Cats detect these too. Although small cats, specifically kittens who are younger than six months have shown a certain kind of immunity to catnip.

All in all, it is best that cat owners define what kind of toy should be played by their cats. It is advisable that different kinds of toys be given on certain days, and that displaying all toys simultaneously may not be a good idea. Cats can easily tire of seeing the same fluffy toy animal again and again. Variety always works best. However if cats show a certain liking to a specific toy, let them play with it, or sleep with it - whichever they like. In closing, it will benefit you to seek out other resources on this topic if you feel that you don?t yet have a firm understanding of the subject matter.

Ken Charnely is webmaster at two of Internet's popular article directories. For more articles on this topic and for free content for your website visit <a href="http://www.articleteller.com/">ArticleTeller.com</a> and <a href="http://www.contentwow.com/">ContentWOW.com</a>

How Important Is Pet Dental Care?
Dental care is an important part of caring for your pet. Just like humans ? dogs have teeth that can cause problems if they are not cared for with a proper dental routine. You may have already noticed, but dogs can suffer from bad breath just like humans can.

Your vet is an important part of this dental care. Ask your vet to show you how to brush your pets? teeth properly. Your vet knows how to brush their teeth properly so your beloved pet doesn?t get gum disease or any of the other conditions associated with poor oral hygiene.

You are going to need to spend some time finding the right toothbrush for your dog. You can use a child?s toothbrush ? but it is recommended that you rather buy a special toothbrush for your pet. It will make brushing easier and will be worth the money.

To buy a toothbrush you can visit your vet or local pet supply store. You might be surprised to see how many variations of pet toothbrushes and toothpaste?s there are. Rather ask for help if you are not sure about what kind to get. There are some rules for choosing the best brush for your dog. You need to make sure that the bristles are soft so they don?t damage the dog?s gums. You also need to make sure you choose the right sized brush (just make sure its? not too big or too small for your dogs mouth). Lastly check that the handle is big enough for you to comfortably get a grip on the toothbrush.

You cannot use human toothpaste on your dog. Rather use a special high quality toothpaste with ingredients specially formulated for dogs. You need to spend some time choosing your toothpaste too. Cheaper brands might use ingredients that are harmful to your pet, and there are some common ingredients can make your pet sick. Read the labels carefully and check that the toothpaste does not contain salt, detergents or enzymes as these are dangerous for your pet. There is a huge choice at most pet supply store?s so ask for help and read the labels carefully.

Brushing your dogs? teeth for the first time can be difficult; especially if they are not used to it. This can be avoided by starting when they are puppies ? but if it?s too late for that don?t worry. The key is to be gentle, speak in a soft voice and do not force the dog. He must learn that it is not a big deal. Start from the back of the mouth and work your way forward in small circular motions.

If your dog really does not want to allow you to brush his teeth without a fight you can use a towel first. Try rubbing his teeth so he gets used to the sensation as well as your fingers in his mouth. Speak encouragingly and softly; you can even sing a little tune to calm him down. After a few patient weeks the dog should allow you to brush his teeth without any hassles.

You should be brushing your dogs? teeth daily; but if you can?t manage that ? once every second day should be fine. It?s important that you start too see your dogs mouth as your own. By doing this you will ensure that your dogs? teeth will last well into old age; and of course his dog breath will improve.

Gary Allison is a third generation of professional dog breeders. It all started with his grandparents in 1970 with the Boston Terriers and has expanded to Maltese, Yorkshire Terriers, Pugs, Shih Tzu?s and Pomeranians. He is also actively involved with dog rescue and has a website that showcases the puppies he occasionally has for sale at <a href="http://allmypuppiesonline.com">All My Puppies Online</a> Gary is also the author of two consumer guides, <a href="http://carpetsecrets.com">Carpet Secrets</a> and <a href="http://movingsecretsguide.com">Moving Secrets Guide</a>

Trimming Pet's Nails: Take Proper Care Of Your Pet
Most pet owners understand how to take proper care of their pet. Many basic grooming procedures consist of brushing, bathing, and getting their hair cut. Some, however, overlook one of the most important tasks in keeping your pet well groomed. This part involves nothing more than keeping your pet’s nails neatly trimmed. Believe it or not, this is very important for a pet’s health and well being. Several benefits of this process include better mobility, less pain, bonding, and better health. These are all excellent benefits that make this process worth attempting. Granted, trimming a pet’s nails may seem like a difficult job, and it can be because many pets do not necessarily enjoy this and they are not afraid to let their owners know about it. Fortunately, there are some incredible tools available to make the job less painful for both of you. Using them and getting the job done correctly can have many benefits that are too large to ignore. When you keep up with trimming your pet’s nails, you can discover the following benefits:

• Mobility - When a dog’s claws are allowed to grow too long, basic tasks such as running and walking become painful and more difficult. This may even become a problem for very young dogs with a lot of energy. Dogs in particular, enjoy running and playing and by keeping their nails short, you can increase their comfort level while performing these activities. Keeping your pet’s claws correctly and neatly trimmed can help ensure that he never suffers the unnecessary pain long nails can cause.
• Better health - When claws are allowed to grow too long over an extended period of time, health problems can arise. An ordinarily healthy dog can become lame from favoring paws while walking. In some cases, broken nails can be an issue and can even cause infections in the paws. Long nails can cause problems for your pet including infections. These infections are caused by the nail cracking or splitting.
• Increased comfort - If you do not trim a cat’s nails often, they may begin scratching in an attempt to shorten their own nails. They may use a variety of surfaces including your furniture. Unfortunately, this also means that they may scratch you and other objects in your home.
• Bonding - Nail trimming and other routine health care maintenance can be the perfect time to bond with your cat or dog. Try to make the experience as enjoyable as possible and it can pay off for both of you. When you begin the process by calming your pet and finish by giving your pet a treat, he or she may look forward to a weekly claw inspection and trimming. This is a great experience because you can tell that your pet is happy and you know they are healthy too.

Getting the Job Done With Ease If you want to make sure your pet enjoys the benefits of routine claw trimming, you may want to learn how to perform the job yourself. Yes, you can go to a groomer for this, but it can prove costly to keep up with on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. There are several tools and tips for trimming your pet’s nails. To trim a cat or dog’s claws with relative ease, consider the following tips:

• Getting a nail grinder - There are specialized tools for trimming canine and feline claws. Rather than technically cut, they grind. These devices make it easier for you to handle the job and less intimidating for your dog or cat. A nail grinder is a tool that grinds the nails rather than cut them. This can be less painful for your pet because there is a lower chance of cutting the quick.
• Using rewards - Do not overlook the value of rewarding your pet for behaving well during a trim. When you reinforce that a treat is coming after a trim, your pet should respond well.
• Taking it with a grain of salt - If you are new at trimming your pet’s claws and find the job is a little difficult, do not sweat it. Rather than try to trim all four paws in one sitting, do one at a time. If your pet seems distressed, just back off for a bit and come back to the job later.

There are many benefits to trimming your pet’s nails. The main benefits include better mobility for your pet, improved overall health, and less pain. These benefits are worth it and even though your pet may be uncomfortable with the process, you should try to find ways to help them get through it. Rewards are important because they show your pet that your care and they were good during the process. This helps them to behave in a similar manner during the next nail trimming.

Jeremy Foster is a freelance writer who writes about pet care and pet products, focusing primarily on specific pet care products such as <a href="http://www.taylorgifts.com/prodetail~itemNo~29015.asp">Pedi Paws.</a>

The Right Foods to Feed Your Ragdoll Cats & Kittens
Cat food can be divided into dry, moist, and semi-moist foods. Each one has its advantages, and Ragdolls require various kinds of food at different stages. Kittens need mainly breast milk and moist food, while adults require more protein and dry food. Pregnant Ragdolls have special dietary needs that alter during the pregnancy as well. A. Feeding Ragdoll Kittens Introductory food Ragdoll kittens should be exclusively breastfed for the first four to five weeks. Cat milk contains all the nutrients required for the kitten’s growth, including antibodies that help discourage disease. Breast milk also passes on other antibodies that the mother produced to fight previous diseases. Additional food ought to be given after four to five weeks, as the kitten needs more nutrients to support its rapid growth. Introductory food ought to be easy to digest. Mix canned food with warm water or kitten replacement milk until it becomes a loose paste. Do NOT use regular cow’s milk this is too heavy for kittens and could cause in indigestion. Dry food After another four to five weeks, your kitten should be ready for dry food. To make the change easier, moisten dry food with a little warm water in the first few feedings. It’s also important to choose high-quality supplements to dry food and some of the good brands are Iams , Science Diet , and Nutro Kitten . Science Diet Feline Growth is popular among Ragdoll kittens. Supplements can be given twice a day with morning and evening feeding. You can change to adult food after approximately 12 months. Choosing and preparing kitten food Ragdoll kittens have delicate stomachs, so take extra care in choosing kitten food. Food ought to always be warm or slightly above room temperature. Discard all food that has been left out for more than 30 minutes, especially in the summer. Bacteria grows quickly in warm, wet foods and could possibly upset your kitten’s stomach, or even lead to food poisoning. To keep from wasting food, just observe how much your kitten eats at a time so you know how much to prepare per feeding. House flies can easily contaminate kitten food, so keep your feeding area as fly-proof as possible. Wash the feeding bowl daily with hot, soapy water and replace water in the drinking bowl several times a day. Wash the drinking bowl at the same time and refill with fresh water. Table scraps can be provided occasionally, but don’t make regular meals out of them. Cooked human foods lack the nutrients necessary for your kitten’s growth. Generic cat food from groceries are better, but Stellarhart recommends high-quality foods from specialty pet stores. Also, cats don’t like the smell of plastic and metal containers, so use only glass drinking bowls. Dry vs wet foods Dry foods are generally superior for your Ragdoll, except in the breastfeeding and introductory stage. They work your kitten’s chewing muscles and help keep the teeth white. Dry food consists predominantly of meat and vegetables, and can be moistened or served dry. Serving them dry allows your cat to nibble throughout the day, rather than eating one large meal at a time. Dry food should contain about 9 to 10% moisture, 8% fat, and 30% protein. Moist food has about 75% moisture and equal amounts of fat and protein. Not all moist foods are the same some are all-meat or all-fish, while others are a mix of meat and vegetables. The former ought to not be used for regular meals, as your cat can get addicted and refuse to eat other foods. The small treat cans of variety foods are usually all-meat or all-fish. As with kitten food, moist foods ought to be warmed to room temperature before serving. Semi-moist food has about 35% water, 27% protein, and 7% fat. Most of them are nutritionally balanced, very tasty, and can be left out for nibbling, but they spoil more rapidly than dry food. Kitten treats Occasional kitten treats will not harm your kitten, but take care not to fill them up so they can still eat regular meals. Treats ought to not provide any more than 10% of your kitten’s daily caloric intake. Look for hard chew treats to help improve your kitten’s dental health B. Feeding Ragdoll Adults Ragdolls are not very active, so they gain weight more rapidly than other cats. Take care not to let them become obese provide them only 70 calories per kilogram of body weight. A lot of what people believe to be cats favourite foods are actually harmful. Here are some of the most common cat food myths: Fish Fish may be good for cats, but it can t cover all their nutritional needs, and too much of the same nutrients can be harmful. Tuna is rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, which need vitamin E to break them down. too much tuna in your cat s diet can cause yellow fat disease (steatitis). Milk Milk is rich in water and carbohydrates, but many cats are lactose intolerant and get digestive problems a few hours after drinking milk. Regular cow s milk can lead to diarrhoea and loose stools, which can cause malnutrition and dehydration. If your cat likes milk, use replacement cat milk instead. Catnip Cats love the smell of catnip leaves, but it can cause short-term behavioural changes. Catnip is a hallucinogen and may put your cat in a state of near delirium. Some effects include rolling, rubbing, chasing phantom mice, or simply staring into space. Although it s not addictive, catnip has no place in your cat s diet. Dog food It could be more convenient to feed your cat and dog from the same dish, but it s not very healthy for either pet. Cats require more protein, taurine, preformed vitamin A, B-complex vitamins, and arachidonic acids, which they can get from a meat-heavy diet. A shortage of these nutrients can make your cat seriously ill, and an overdose can have the same effect in dogs. Low ash diets A popular belief among cat owners is that diets low in ash can help deter urinary tract infection. But that s only partly true. Ash is not a single nutrient, but is actually a group of minerals including calcium, copper, magnesium, phosphorus, and zinc. Lower levels of magnesium keep urine at its normal, slightly acidic state, but reducing other minerals will have no effect. Other foods to avoid Alcoholic beverages. Alcohol can be toxic and cause fatal complications. Baby food. Many baby foods contain onion powder, which can be harmful to the blood. Fish and meat bones. Small splinters can cut into the digestive tract and cause bleeding. Caffeine (coffee, tea, chocolate). Caffeine can affect the cat s heart and nervous system. Citrus oil extracts. This can lead to stomach upsets and vomiting. Fat. Animal fats can cause pancreatitis. Don t feed your cat fatty cooked meats, or at least trim the fat off first. Grapes and raisins. These contain a toxin that can harm the kidneys. Human vitamin and iron supplements. Excessive iron can damage the liver, kidneys, and the lining of the digestive tract. Liver. Liver is safe in small amounts, but an excess can lead to vitamin A toxicity. Macadamia nuts. Unknown toxins in macadamia can damage the muscles, digestive system, and nervous system. Marijuana. Marijuana can lead to vomiting, depression, and irregular heart rate. Mushrooms. Some mushrooms contain highly toxic substances that can affect multiple systems and even cause death. Onion and garlic (powdered, cooked or raw). These contain disulfides and sulfoxides, which can lead to anaemia. They are harmful to both cats and dogs, but cats are more vulnerable. Persimmons. Persimmons seeds can obstruct the intestines. Potato, tomato and rhubarb. These can be harmful to the nervous, digestive, and urinary systems. The leaves and stems could also be toxic. Raw eggs. Raw eggs can damage your cat s hair and coat. Salt. Salt and salty foods can cause electrolyte imbalance, a potentially fatal condition affecting the heart and nervous system. String. Strings from beans and other vegetables could not be digested, which can lead to blockages. Sugar. Sweets are high in empty calories, which can lead to obesity, diabetes, and dental problems. Yeast dough. Yeast can expand in the stomach during digestion, causing it to rupture. Just remember that you are not feeding a human but an animal with unique feeding requirements.

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Pet Medications, Which Support A Healthy Skin And Coat
With the wide range of supplements, prescriptions and over the counter medications available, there is no reason for your pet to suffer with itchy dry skin, bald spots, or poor smell. Many options are available to treat the skin and coat conditions that commonly affect pets.

If your pet suffers from a cut, it is important to clean and treat it right away. If it develops an infection, it may not heal properly, and this may increase the time needed for the cut to heal. It can also develop unsightly scar tissue. A prescription topical ointment such as Animax or Panalog is commonly prescribed for treatment of such injuries. These ointments are multifunctional, and kill bacteria as well as fungus.

For pets that suffer from food allergies, it is important to realize that these allergies can affect much more than the digestive system. The skin and coat of a dog suffering from allergies may have a rough quality, and the pet’s skin may itch. This can lead to excessive scratching, which, in turn, leads to additional skin problems. Atopica is an oral form of cyclosporine that is often prescribed to treat allergies. It is a very effective medication, and can provide your pet with almost immediate relief.

For the pet that suffers from chronic ringworm or other persistent skin problems, an oral antifungal such as Ketoconazole, which may be coupled with a topical antifungal, like Panalog, is often necessary to break through the stubborn cycle of fungal infections.

There are also a variety of shampoos and sprays that can be used to treat your pet’s skin condition. Hexadene is a medicated shampoo commonly provided for skin conditions. If your dog suffers from allergies, Histacalm, which contains diphenhydramine HCI, helps to calm the skin. Dermacool, a spray that is available with lidocaine, helps to calm irritated skin as well. Gentocin is an antibiotic spray used in the treatment of skin conditions. If you dog suffers from hotspots, Oxydex Gel is an effective treatment.

Even if your pet has generally healthy skin there are a variety of supplements that can improve the quality of your pet’s coat and relieve any dryness that may be experienced. These supplements typically contain a blend of fatty acids that are rich in EFA and DHA, such as Omega-3 fatty acids, and vitamins that have been proven to help skin health, such as A, D, E and zinc.

Coat supplements make a great addition to any pet’s diet. They add shine to the coat and moisturize the skin, which reduces itchiness. The only drawback to using these supplements is that for some pets, these supplements may cause unintended weight gain because they contain mostly fats.

Providing supplements and prescription medications for your pet is an easy and effective way to deal with many problems often associated with pet ownership. Excessive shedding often occurs when a dog frequently scratches himself, damaging the skin. Dry, harsh coats often shed more readily than a soft and lustrous coat.

Keeping your pet’s coat healthy

While there are a variety of medications that can help your pet develop an attractive and healthy coat, there are other, equally important steps that you should take. The first step to a healthy coat is to keep your pet healthy. This means that your pet should be at a good weight, free of internal parasites, and up to date on vaccinations. Next, it is important to choose a quality pet food with ingredients that agree with your pet. What works for one may not work for another. It is vital to get this step right, because food allergies can play havoc with a pet’s skin and coat. If your pet is particularly sensitive to different ingredients, try one of the allergy formulas that are available. These typically have fewer ingredients, and they are less likely to be common allergens.

Regular grooming also goes a long way on improving the quality of your pet’s coat. The type of grooming required depends on the type of coat your pet has. While some pets, such as a poodle, require intensive and regular grooming sessions to look their best, others still benefit from being brushed regularly. If you start this when they are young, they may come to enjoy the time spent grooming. Also, take time to regularly wipe out the ears and eyes of your pet.

If your pet still has an unhealthy coat, you may want to add a coat supplement to your pet’s diet. These supplements can dramatically improve the quality of the coat. If your pet’s coat still leaves something to be desired, you may want to consider a visit to the vet because your pet may have an underlying health condition that is affecting the quality of its coat.

Shawn Thomas is a freelance writer who often writes about topics pertaining to the care of pets and health options for pets such as <a href="http://www.vetrxdirect.com/">pet medicine</a>

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