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35 comments:

  1. I was wondering, when is it a good age to get a dog in a house full of kids?

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    1. The best bet is to get a puppy. As crazy as it sounds, a senior or adult dog may not be used to the routine in your house. Puppies get used to your routine, no matter how wild your home can be. As an adult, he will grow on it, and it will be as normal-seeming to him as it is to you! Hope this helped!

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  2. My son's birthday is coming up and his father wants to get him either hermit crabs, or a fish tank, I was leaning toward a furry animal or a bird?!? What do you suggest?

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    1. It depends how old your son is. Birds require a lot of care, as well as dogs, cats and reptiles. Hamsters, guinea pigs, and rabbits are great pets for young and old children. They do not need a lot of exercise, and they can be very gentle and inexpensive when it comes to care and supplies. I have a rabbit and a hamster and they are very gentle towards young kids.

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  3. I have never owned a pet and have been thinking of getting one. What do you suggest as a first pet?

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    1. A great first pet is a hamster or guinea pig. Although dogs and cats are very friendly, lovable pets, they are not as easy to care for a first time animal. A little experience is needed for that. There are some rumors that hamster bite and they don't like to be handled, but this is false. If they are properly trained,(see "Can Hamsters be Trained?" post) they will enjoy being petted and held. If you are still frightened of rodents, another great first pet is a rabbit. Rabbits are affectionate pets, and they live up to 10-15 years. There are all sorts of breeds and kinds to chose from that will suit your individual personality.


      Hope this helped!

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  4. Thank you,this was very helpful.

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  5. I was wondering since you have a rabbit what kind of toys are out there to purchase and what is your rabbits favorite toy to play with?

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    1. There are many toys for rabbits but some are not safe for them. Some rabbit toys have hardening glue that the rabbits can eat and get sick, while others have dyes and colorings that can be bad for bunnies. SuperPet is one of the best small animal product line and they have safe things. I also recommend CritterWare.
      Daisy likes a lot of destroy toys like loofah chews and bunny pinatas(filled with treats). She also has a stuffed dog Skineez! toy that she grooms that looks like a bunny but is flat like a blanket. She loves it!

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  6. I live near many lakes and I see swans in the water. Since it is very cold I was wondering do they get cold in the water?

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    1. No, just like ducks they have special feathers called down that acts like a wet-suit. The outer feathers are wet, but the inner feathers protecting the skin stays warm. The reason birds do not have babies around this time is because the babies do not have these feathers and will die because of the cold. The spring you might find some baby swans around the area!

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    2. Thank you for answering my question. I learned something new today.
      Love nana

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  7. hi do you know anything about iguanas? mine will not eat the food I give him. I hope u can help. I love ur blog it's so cool!

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  8. Thank you for complimenting on my blog! (: It sounds as if your iguana has bad eating habits. Iguanas can get picky at times, so it might be time to change his food. If this does not work, it could be a possibly serious stomach issue. If you cannot help this situation just yet, force-feed him olive oil which could help loosen his stomach to retract what is inside the stomach and/or help the problem that could be causing him. Remember though, this "olive oil treatment" will not fully help his condition, so please take him to the vet.

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  9. thank you this helped me and my iguana! (:

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  10. My dog constantly chases his tail...is this normal?

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    1. Alright, this could either be nothing or very bad.
      If he is a puppy(from 0-1 and a half years of age), this is totally NOTHING to worry about! But sadly, if he is an adult, this needs further research. Puppies naturally play "the game of chase" due to their young instincts, and a playful adult dog may enjoy this pleasure from time to time. Dogs in crates use this as a stress-relief after long times in their crate. The thing I am worried about is that your dog is doing this because of medical problem. If you have seen any other signs of blindness(confusion, sniffing more often, whining, acting strange, eyes looking blurry), this could mean he is blind. After all, dogs who are blind(as funny as it seems) use their tails as built in balance.

      If this isn't the case, this could be a brain issue that is affecting your dog. Dogs can be affected like this during birth. Not to worry though, this is usually the case for only 3 in 100 "tail-chasing-obsessive" dogs.
      A much more common problem is a health problem. If this has just started a little while ago, your dog may be infected by a flea, tick, or may even have worms or mange. Your dog may be trying to scratch and bite the area where it is infected.
      In the area where he may be trying to scratch, search for red bumps, swelling, or other obvious signs of inflammation. If you see anything, take him to the vet.
      Another problem could be just because of excessive tail-biting for no apparent reason. This is sort of a neurological reason, since only 2% of dogs have this problem. This could also be a seizure disorder. Dogs who get this problem need medications constantly, so we hope it does not come to this!

      Overall, dogs who are bored usually chase their tails because they want something to do!! Always give your dog things to do like Kong toys(Dog love 'em!) and other long-lasting chew toys that prevent unwanted behavior like highly-excessive tail-chasing.

      If your dog does this from time to time, this is fine! In fact, it is really great to let your dog enjoy himself and even let YOU enjoy yourself!
      Please check out your dog and PLEASE tell Critter Corner if there is anything wrong with him! (also see our daily post to see some great dog products and websites for your awesome pooch!)

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  11. We have many Squirrels in our yard,they love eating the bird seed from the bird feeders. Is this normal? What exactly are they supposed to eat?

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    1. Squirrels are natural nibblers, so they are perfectly okay to eat bird seed. Before bird seed was "invented", so to speak, they would eat nuts, tree saps, leaves, and even a few insects. Now that they have so much other choices, they really don't think about nuts and leaves as much now.

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  12. There are several stray cats around my neighborhood. Is it a good idea to put food out for them or will this prevent them from finding food on their own?

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    1. Very sorry about the long time to reply!! The question you asked is sort of difficult to answer. On the one hand, feeding stray cats does not do anything to the cat. In fact, it may help them survive. On the other hand, soon your yard will become a place for cats to hang out, and pregnant cats will find it a safe "haven" for them to raise kits. Pretty soon, you will have cats all around the whole place. If you see a hurt cat around the area, or abandoned kits, you should try to help them best you can and call Animal Rescue or a humane Animal Control service. They will try to do their best to save the pet and normally put them up for adoption after. Overall, putting food out may help them get food, but calling for someone to humanely catch them and save their lives is a much better choice.

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    2. Thank you for your answer. It was very helpful. I found out one of the cats belonged to the neighbor and the other 2 cats I haven't seen in a while but if I do I will call someone to humanely come and get them.

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  13. The rabbits in our backyard have been coming out around Dusk every night and eating of all things the birdseed on the ground. Is this alright?

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    1. Yes. Domestic rabbits even eat birdseed! Although they don't seem to get sick after they eat the seed, they shouldn't have the seed for snacks since it can be too fatty! But no, Wild rabbits are OK to eat the seed.

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  14. Recently we replaced the safflower seed we were feeding the birds with plain old seed. The birds have not been eating the new seed. Do birds get finicky about changes and would ou suggest we switch back to what they like?

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    1. Well, if they do have a sudden dislike in that way, than yes, I would recommend sticking to the birdseed you already had. Sometimes the birdseed has Birdseed Moths' egg/larvae in the seed. Birds don't like this at all. If the bag has been used a while before it is opened than there may be unwanted debris in the bag or container. Throw it out if this seems to be the case. You seem like you ask a lot of backyard bird questions, so maybe this link (click on it) will help you! (If you can't click on it then just highlight it and drag the highlighted link to your search bar.


      http://www.birdsforever.com/problems.html

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  15. We have two older cats, and they both have trouble with vomiting. We don't have hairballs, but actual vomit. Every day we have to clean some up and it is very annoying, but we are also concerned that it may be a health problem. Could you please tell me what this is because of, and, if you know, what we can do to help them? Thanks.

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  16. Some cats can get things stuck in their intestinal tract, but it seems they both have the problem so this probably isn't the case. It most likely is their food. Older cats might need a special diet or need to cut back on a certain treat. The food might be for younger cats so its best to look for ones that are for their ages. Some older cats just vomit because of weak stomachs but I would recommend to take them to a vet if you have one. There are plenty of natural remedies on eHow, for cats with vomit issues. I think it could be the diet if their bathroom habits seem fine. If not, they might have internal injuries. Don't worry too much, as it could just be the food. My rabbit, for example, can't have alfalfa because that makes her stomach hurt and it's only for younger rabbits. This is my best guess, but cats can get so many other health problem at an older age so I would check in with a vet just in case.

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  17. Could you give me some information about pet hedgehogs? I know some people who have them, but I don't know how they behave, what they eat, etc. Thanks!

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  18. Sure! Hedgehogs are unique little pets, and they can make a sweet addition to your home. Hedgehogs should be purchased in pairs, as they need extra companionship. Hedgehogs are not found at normal pet stores, so you may need to look online for a reputable breeder or exotic pet store. Any online pet store where the pets are shipped to your home should be avoided as they raise critters in cruel conditions and illegally sell rare and endangered animals. I recommend going to a breeder that seems reputable. If they don't let you in their house where the hedgehogs are kept, beware! A hedgehog breeder that breeds her hedgehogs and cares for them is a good breeder, but one that will not show you their "facilities" is a big no-no! Hedgehogs need special cages, ideally created by DIY methods with pens, or combining cages. An IKEA shelf turned on its side and glass pieces makes a nice cage. I recommend going online for ideas, just look up "hedgehog cages" and you can find great inspiration. (And you just gave ME inspiration - I will be doing a hedgehog housing post soon this next week). Hedgehogs eat a variety of foods, most pet stores carry hedgehog food but there are some nice sub-diets online or in the appendix of hedgehog books. Some people feed their hedges mealworms, but they should be careful when feeding them fatty insects! Hedgies' personalities differ, some are shy, while some are more outgoing. It just depends on how they are raised as babies, which involves plenty of exposure to things they need to get used to and socialization with their people! Hedgies don't bite, but a hedgehog that feels threatened with roll into a ball and stick out their quills. The quills stay in the hedgehogs skin, and are the same texture of a fine-toothed comb. A hedgehog owner should learn how to handle their pets - If the hedgehog trusts the owner, his quills will lay flat and the owner can scoop him up. Hedgehogs are very fun to play with, they do not climb like rodents do, and they love tunnels. Hedgie enthusiasts know a special game their friends love to play - tubing! Hedgehogs will stick their little heads in one end of a paper towel tube and toss their heads in the air! It is actually a well-known behavior in hedgehogs as pets, and it looks cute! Hedgehogs make really great pets, and they come in several colors like blonde or dark quills. There are also hedgehog clubs out there where people can show off their hedgehogs, and many showing programs offer things for hedgehog owners and breeders so they can display their hedgie's unique designs and colors. Hedgehogs can be trained to do some tricks as well. There is some great Hedgie info at smallanimalchannel.com in the hedgehogs section. (:

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    1. Oh and almost forgot, hedgies live from 3-5 years. Some live longer, some shorter. My friend has 3 hedgehogs, and they all are 2 years old. I love the hedgehogs when they play because they are absolutely clumsy and do not run around a room like a ferret or hamster, they actually waddle like little chubby penguins. They are so cute and she has 3 small children, the hedgies are fine with the kids and are not aggressive or frightened around them. The kids love to play with them! Their black Lab is freaked out by them when they have them out, same with the cat. They make good pets for big families and just a single person looking for a pet

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  19. Do you recommend organic all natural feed for chickens?

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  20. hello i have a richardson ground squirrel and i tooked her to the vet for a surgery in the mouth becouse of her teeth that she broked but her mouth is on one side and the teeth is getting bigger again in the same time i tooked her for a visit again and he removed from the neck with the siring white liquid (pus) bit i think that she still have it becouse the neck is still like a ball and she cant eat can you give me some suggestions pls

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  21. Is Bishop's Goutweed safe for guinea pigs?

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