Other Pets Like Hamsters & Bunnies

Other Pets Like Hamsters & Bunnies

There are other types of pets that may be better than the traditional ones like dogs and cats.  These can include small well-known pets such as mice, hamsters or fish. They can also include more exotic pets like snakes, lizards or even monkeys.  The type of pet that may be right for you is strictly a personal choice. There are many types of pets you may want to consider.

Hamsters

The most common type of Hamster that is kept as a pet today is the Syrian Hamster.  Although there are other varieties, different varieties do not get along together.  Even the Syrian Hamster is better to keep one Hamster buy itself in a cage. Sometimes having more than one will cause fighting.

Hamsters can have varying personalities and it is best to avoid ones that are quiet or lethargic.  When choosing a Hamster, choose one that is bright and alert.  This may be difficult to do as Hamsters are nocturnal creatures, which can tend to nip when woken.  Try to pick your pet Hamster in the evening, if possible.

Hamsters can be good pets and they often can be cuddly when handled.  They are fun to watch in their mazes, and exercise wheels. It can also be fun to purchase the paraphernalia that goes along with owning a Hamster.  Such as little Hamster cars and roller balls, a variety of tubes and housing, or little Hamster nests or burrows.

When choosing a Hamster for a pet,  be aware that Hamsters need lots of exercise so purchase a running wheel.  Hamsters are kept in a secure habitat, in cages or aquariums where they cannot escape.  They can be let to run around occasionally, but you must keep a good eye on them when loose.

Rabbits and Bunnies

Rabbits are increasing in popularity as house pets.  Generally rabbits are kept outside in rabbit hutches. They are now believed to be able to be litter trained as inside house pets.  Rabbits range can range in weight from about 2 to 18 lbs. or more, depending on the breed.  There are many types of rabbits (currently 45 recognized breeds) and they come in all sizes and colors.

Rabbits are considered the ideal “Condominium Pet” because they are clean, quiet and fairly easy to care for. They can be trained to use a litter box.  You can usually find rabbits for sale in many pet stores, with the dwarf bunnies outnumbering the other types.

There is nothing cuter than a baby bunny as a pet.  Smaller breeds of rabbits, however, do not make good pets for young children as they are fairly fragile.  Larger rabbit breeds are better for younger children because they are hardier and their bones will not break as easily.  Rabbits can, however, have sharp nails and may bite occasionally.

As mentioned before, there are many other types of pets that you may choose for your family.  You could have a horse for a pet if you live on a farm, or board your horse elsewhere.  You could have a chicken as a pet, or a skunk, or many other types of animals.  I do not recommend,  that you ever take any wild animal to have as a pet.  Exotic animals like monkeys or tiger cubs, although cute, should not be taken into your home as a pet.

Exercise Is For Pets As Well As Humans

Exercise Or Lack Of It Has Serious Effects.

Dogs, like people, can suffer from various mental health issues. They can become depressed, and in this depressed state suffer from loss of appetite, and interest in normal activities. They may seem to mope around a lot and be distracted during your attempts for their attention. Dogs can suffer from aggression, which can also be a mental health issue. And, they can become timid or fearful. If your dog suffers any of these mental health issues, regular exercise may help him to snap out of it.

Consider is your dog in a depressed state, because of the loss of a companion or friend.  Getting your dog in an exercise routine can distract him from his feelings of loss. Then you can direct his attention to other things to get his mind off of it.

Consider if your dog is timid or fearful.  If you take your dog for a walk regularly, he may learn to deal with fear issues. This can be because of his exposure to varied outside stimulus.

If your dog is aggressive towards humans or dogs, walking him may help get him socialized to other animals. Exercise will also relieve some of his pent-up energy so it isn’t directed at others in an aggressive manner.

Exercise Is Beneficial For Pets And Humans

Exercising your dog on a regular basis will also help a normal dog’s mental health. He will be more apt to learn new things because he is constantly exposed to new stimuli. His thinking and problem-solving processes will be in better working order.  He will learn more about the world around him and how to deal with unfamiliar situations.

For example, when taking your dog on one of his walks you come to a busy street corner. Instead of just marching ahead on through the intersection, you and your dog stop for oncoming cars.  After this happens a few times, your dog learns to wait to cross the road until the way is clear. The exercise has increased his learning of how to handle the world outside his home environment.

Exercise Studies Have Shown

It has been proven medically, that exercise supplies oxygen to the brain. Walking, as is seen in humans, increased blood circulation, and oxygen and glucose levels that reaches the brain. This can also help them to “clear their head” and think better. Any movement and or exercise can increase the breathing and heart rates. The more blood that flows to the brain enhances energy production, as well as waste removal.  Studies show that exercise can help cerebral blood vessels grow, even in some extent to middle-aged relatively sedentary animals.

Studies in humans have proved that walking regularly can significantly improve memory skill. This can also improve learning ability, concentration and abstract reasoning. This applies to dogs, so in fact exercise can improve your dog’s ability to think, along with their learning capacity.

In other animal studies, more vigorous exercise like running showed that brain cell survival increased.  In recent studies done with mice, it was found that in sedentary mice, most newly born brain cells died. But when the mice were exercised, the numbers of newly formed brain cells increased. Which in effect this was thought to have made the mice ‘smarter’. Exercise can put off the degenerative effects which cause Alzheimer’s disease and boost the brain’s ability to remember.

This shows the positive effects that exercise can have on animals and humans. This can also result in a better mental health benefit for you and your dog.

 

Exercise May Relieve Mental Health Issues For Pets

Exercise Or Lack Of It Has Serious Effects.

Dogs, like people, can suffer from various mental health issues. They can become depressed, and in this depressed state suffer from loss of appetite, and interest in normal activities. They may seem to mope around a lot and be distracted during your attempts for their attention. Dogs can suffer from aggression, which can also be a mental health issue. And, they can become timid or fearful. If your dog suffers any of these mental health issues, regular exercise may help him to snap out of it.

Consider is your dog in a depressed state, because of the loss of a companion or friend.  Getting your dog in an exercise routine can distract him from his feelings of loss. Then you can direct his attention to other things to get his mind off of it.

Consider if your dog is timid or fearful.  If you take your dog for a walk regularly, he may learn to deal with fear issues. This can be because of his exposure to varied outside stimulus.

If your dog is aggressive towards humans or dogs, walking him may help get him socialized to other animals. Exercise will also relieve some of his pent-up energy so it isn’t directed at others in an aggressive manner.

Exercise Is Beneficial For Pets And Humans

Exercising your dog on a regular basis will also help a normal dog’s mental health. He will be more apt to learn new things because he is constantly exposed to new stimuli. His thinking and problem-solving processes will be in better working order.  He will learn more about the world around him and how to deal with unfamiliar situations.

For example, when taking your dog on one of his walks you come to a busy street corner. Instead of just marching ahead on through the intersection, you and your dog stop for oncoming cars.  After this happens a few times, your dog learns to wait to cross the road until the way is clear. The exercise has increased his learning of how to handle the world outside his home environment.

Exercise Studies Have Shown

It has been proven medically, that exercise supplies oxygen to the brain. Walking, as is seen in humans, increased blood circulation, and oxygen and glucose levels that reaches the brain. This can also help them to “clear their head” and think better. Any movement and or exercise can increase the breathing and heart rates. The more blood that flows to the brain enhances energy production, as well as waste removal.  Studies show that exercise can help cerebral blood vessels grow, even in some extent to middle-aged relatively sedentary animals.

Studies in humans have proved that walking regularly can significantly improve memory skill. This can also improve learning ability, concentration and abstract reasoning. This applies to dogs, so in fact exercise can improve your dog’s ability to think, along with their learning capacity.

In other animal studies, more vigorous exercise like running showed that brain cell survival increased.  In recent studies done with mice, it was found that in sedentary mice, most newly born brain cells died. But when the mice were exercised, the numbers of newly formed brain cells increased. Which in effect this was thought to have made the mice ‘smarter’. Exercise can put off the degenerative effects which cause Alzheimer’s disease and boost the brain’s ability to remember.

This shows the positive effects that exercise can have on animals and humans. This can also result in a better mental health benefit for you and your dog.

Cats America's Most Popular Pet, Cats Can Be Fun

Cats Are A Popular Pet

America's most popular animal, the cat, lives more than half of its life in the older years. Advances in veterinary care, better nutrition and better informed owners have actually helped enhance the quantity and quality of life. Studies show that senior cats have a hard time with weight as the result of lower activity levels. They also have a steady decline in senses, nutrient absorption and fat digestion.

" Among the most important objectives when feeding senior felines is maintaining an ideal weight and keeping that weight steady. Dr. Arnold Plotnick, developed a senior health program to address the special requirements of aging cats at his veterinary clinic. The name of this is the Manhattan Cat Specialists in New york city City.

Owners of senior felines can help aging felines maintain an ideal body weight throughout the senior years. They need to Feed a diet that takes care of their unique dietary needs. Purina Pro Plan, for example, has actually formated its entire line of senior feline foods. These help to deal with the changing nutritional requirements of aging cats. There are two different stages of the senior lifespan: ages 7 to 11 (mature) and 11 and up (senior).

Remember As Cats Age Their Needs Do Also

As cats age, there's a decrease in the body's ability to repair itself. It is hard to have normal body functions and adapt to stresses in the environment. Disease and weight changes prevail throughout the senior lifespan.

Cats are able to deal with weight gain during the growing years. When their activity level declines and metabolic process slows, around age 11, weight loss becomes a higher issue.

The older years are hard for felines because they lose their sense of smell and their taste reduces. This can also lead to losing their interest in food. The capability to absorb crucial nutrients and absorb fat decreases, making eating less efficient.

The unfavorable outcome is that more food travels through as waste and less is utilized for energy. This causes a drop in lean muscle mass and body fat that leads to potentially damaging weight loss.

In addition to having the correct diet, owners of senior felines need to pay attention to their cats' activity levels.  If their weight, eating, grooming and elimination routines change report anything new to their veterinarian.

Many of these changes are a typical part of aging, others may signify a more severe problem. Getting veterinary check ups a minimum of twice a year because major conditions are treatable if captured early.