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September 26th, 2009 by K.C. Jones

Your dog’s health is largely dependent on the dog food you are feeding. Understanding your dog’s nutritional requirements will go a long way in keeping them healthy and happy.

In order for your dog to grow, they need essential nutrients. Without these nutrients, your dog may experience poor health, stunted growth, shortened lifespan, and allergy symptoms.

All animals need five basic nutrients to survive: protein, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals. Without the proper balance of these five nutrients, they can provide the different functions necessary to sustain the health and well-being of your pet.

Proteins are made up of amino acids. They are considered the building blocks to your dog’s health. Some, but not all, necessary amino acids are synthesized by the dog. However, the other essential amino acids must come from your dog’s food.

You need to make sure your dog food has an adequate amount of protein, mainly made up from animal, not grain, sources. But like all things, too much is not good and can lead to obesity (since protein that is not used is converted to fat) and has been linked to temperament problems in dogs.

Fats are as necessary for dogs as humans. Most people don’t think about the fat content, or the kind of fat, that is in their dog’s food. But without the correct kinds and amounts, your dog will suffer. Fats are needed for a healthy skin and coat, proper kidney function, and to transport the fat-soluble vitamins to cells. But just like with proteins, too much can cause problems, such as obesity.

Carbohydrates are your dog’s main energy source. But like fats, not all carbs are created equal – at least in your dog food. Look for dog foods that have whole grains, not by-products of the grain, as these contain less of the necessary nutrients that your dog needs. Certain grains, such as corn, soy, and wheat, are common sources of carbs in your dog food and also common allergy triggers.

Vitamins and Minerals are the last area of necessary nutrients for your dog. These should be supplied naturally through your dog food. However, some dog foods will need to add in a lot of vitamins and minerals because they get destroyed in the manufacturing process of the food. But these vitamins and minerals will start to diminish in both quality and quantity the longer the bag of food is opened – so you won’t get as much by the bottom of the bag as you do when you first open it. To ensure optimal health for your dog, you should provide a specially formulated vitamin supplement.

September 25th, 2009 by Richard B. Saunders

We humans share the world with many special animals, of which horses figure prominently. As is true with other highly evolved animals, horses communicate with each other quite effectively. Human beings may not wholly understand this form of interchange, but it is possible, with measured diligence, for people to learn to interpret the equine language.

Horses, since they do not have vocal cords per se, communicate for the most part by positioning their bodies in specific ways. The lexicon of horse body language can include the most subtle of signals from tiny twitches all the way though whole-body movements. The horse has at its disposal any of multiple body parts with which to express a thought or attitude. The underlying intelligence must be understood before a human can effectively interpret these gestures.

Horses can use their ears to express a number of direct statements. Both ears pricked up straight and tense might mean, ?I?m excited,? while both ears twitching back and forth in opposite directions might mean, ?I?m nervous, but not too upset.? Any human working with horses should make the effort to learn the subtle movements and associated behaviors of their horses? ears.

Horses can use their tails for much more than just swatting flies. A relaxed tail often indicates a relaxed and happy horse. However, it can also indicate boredom or confusion. An upright tail can indicate curiosity or suspicion, depending on the situation. Every horse is unique, and will approach an unknown situation differently, thus their tail movements might hold a slightly different meaning.

Keep an eye on your horse?s feet. They can show you whether your horse is calm, nervous or furious. Clearly, if your horse kicks, he is angry. This is an extreme display of emotion that indicates anger or fear. Be careful dealing with an angry horse. Remember that this animal is a lot bigger than you. If he is unhappy, handle with care.

Watch your horse?s neck and head for clues about his happiness and alertness. Even the body can be used to express feeling. Watch for twitching skin, different breathing patterns, and whether your horse is standing at attention or turned around to pay attention to something to one side (or within). Your horse?s head, neck and body can give you clues as to contentment, anger, jealousy and even illness.

Horses display sincere loyalty towards humans who have bonded with them. This bonding is a direct result of the communication skills of both mammals. Horses have given the subtle signs of their mental state, and humans have made the effort to understand this nonverbal communication.

Every person is different and so is every horse. An intelligent horse has a strong desire to cooperate and to bond with an intelligent handler. Over the centuries, horses and people have developed a symbiotic relationship that can be extremely rewarding. The responsibility of making sure it is so falls squarely on the human. Take the time and have the patience to understand your horse, and you are sure to have a rewarding relationship.

September 24th, 2009 by Elias Maseko

Many horse owners prefer good cutting horses as a matter of fact a few would even devise reasons to confirm their horse is a good one. It is difficult to tell if a cattle horse is a good cutting horse, so to possess some knowledge of horse training these animals, you need to know the popular myths about this animal.

1. A colt chases any animal (e.g. dogs or human) which ventures into the territory, but this is not a dependable sign to determine its possibilities for this role. Colts are normally playful and your horse might not be behaving as a cutting horse though merely playing or entertaining themselves along with animals and humans. People or other animals look quite varied from cattle and besides, colts don’t have riders to control their movements.

If you teach a colt to become a cutting horse, it will immediately learn this isn’t the same as playing and will have to work therefore a decent example will work cows using flair, correct form, and precision. A horse that aimlessly races across a fiend is not a good one but specific breeds are inclined to do cutting work and therefore you must choose the right colt variation. Make a note of the dame and sire of the colt – if they are good cutters, then the colt might tread the same course.

2. Though many animals are bothered or scared to see different creatures like cattle, certain breeds do not become scared quickly, although this is not an indication that it can be taught to become a decent cutting horse. In most cases, good cutting horses react angrily to their initial encounter of cows and should have the ability to control cows though they may be fearful at first, leaving the other creature at a safe distance.

3. Specific horse breeds are great cutting horses but this doesn’t mean that they will also do well in com petitions. A foundation bred horse isn’t as great as a decently-bred cutting horse and oftentimes, horse trainers discover it’s difficult to teach such creatures to perform well for com petitions because they tend to be slow learners and do things in their way. They also are devoid of style and athletic ability so it is often better to get a horse with the strong bloodlines of cutting horses.

4. Horses are different and so is their learning pace and while some horses learn fast, other horses do not, therefore the length of their training is not a critical element. Cutting horses are educated until they attain the level of being an effective cutter therefore if you want to enroll in com petitions, the colt should begin teaching as early as possible.

Even if your horse has experience as well as skill, accidents could be committed if it’s rider is inexperienced, so start horse training now so that your horse will learn everything it has to be aware of.

September 23rd, 2009 by Jim Gordoner

Various websites provide holistic and alternative healing solutions for your pet. They specialize in creating fashionable dog and cat necklaces crafted from various semi-precious stones and crystals.

Thousands of years ago, the Egyptians and Chinese believed that crystals and semi precious stones provided health benefits to those that owned them. They believed that because crystals are created by the earths natural forces ” wind, fire, and rain ” the person who carried the stones received longevity in life and health benefits.

These stones and crystals that are believed to contain the earths energy are now being used to create cool pet jewellery such as cat and dog necklaces.

Sites have researched the different benefits of crystals and semi precious stones, and then created gorgeous cat and dog necklaces believed to provide a holistic alternative healing solution for your pet.

The stones and crystals selected are said to provide relief for different conditions such as respiratory or digestive disorders. Some of the stones used to create dog necklaces are said to provide relief from blood disorders, nerve related pain and arthritis.

Listed below are some of the benefits believed to be provided by healing stones and crystals used to craft cool dog necklaces:

Stress relief for your pet!

Enhanced Calm!

More effective sleep.

Pain relief…

Help with depression

Stomach, heart, and respiratory help

Give your pet the alternative treatment it deserves. And do it in style!

If you want to find an alternative solution to help heal your pet or prevent illness, or you simply want an incredible cat or dog necklace, you can find some amazing options. The necklaces are crafted using lampwork, and ceramic and pewter beads to create a gorgeous pet necklace.

Get your pets bling on and pick up a stylish and gorgeous pet necklace! Your cat or dog will be the envy of the neighbourhood animals by sporting a pet necklace that makes it look and feel great!

September 22nd, 2009 by Robert Jizawa

Cats have been objects of interest to people around the world for a long time. They were first worshipped and domesticated in Egypt before they were bred and exported overseas, where they became trustworthy companions and widely admired.

The Broadway Musical “Cats” is an excellent example of how these animals can influence artists in different periods of time.

Cats were played the central roles in literature chef d`oeuvres, such as “Master and Margarita” by L Tolstoy, Cats were irreplaceable companions for known figures like Sir Winston Churchill, where his cat Jock needed to be present at the table for any meal to begin.

Sir Isaac Newton created the cat flap, now called the door flap, to stop his cats from letting too much light in the laboratory by opening hte door. Although it was invented in the 17th century, the door flap is still a necessity to let cats in and out of the house with ease.

The gifted inventor Nikola Tesla first wondered about electricity as a young child while petting his cat Macak. The repeated contact of his hand with the cat’s fur produced sparks, which led Tesla to make astonishing discoveries in the realm of mechanical and electrical engineering!

People are easily entranced by a cat’s graceful gait, their hypnotic eyes and relaxing purr. You can even find cat fancier clubs just for cat lovers as well as salons and pet clothing lines that cater to your feline’s needs. Consumers not only love their pets, they also love to spend money on their pets and they like to buy specialty items–frontline for cats is an example.

Cats aren’t only aesthetically pleasing; they also possess some therapeutic values. Contact cats can help lower high blood pressure according to a study published in 2002 by professors W.B. Mendes, J. Blascovich and K. Allen of the State University of New York. In their article called “Cardiovascular Reactivity and the Presence of Pets, Friends and Spouses: the Truth about Cats and Dogs,” they explain the means by which cats can help lower stress and benefit someone’s overall health.

One of the reasons cats are so popular in North America is that they’re low maintenance pets. There are more than 82 million domesticated cats in the United States according to a 2007 study conducted by the American Veterinary Medical Association. Wikipedia states that cats typically live longer if they live exclusively indoors. They are less likely to come in contact with diseases and bacteria, are protected from cat fight injuries and are not susceptible to being hit by a car. Whether or not to have an indoor cat is a personal decision that depends on different factors. You definitely need to love your cat. Cats we adopt are our responsibility. We need to never let them down.

“Time spend with cats is never wasted” – Sigmund Freud.