Twisted Sketches

Category: Pets Benefit

Why Can’t Every Animal Be a Pet?

Humans have been trying to domesticate animals for thousands of years. We’ve taught dogs how to fetch the paper, cats how to use litter boxes, and horses how to pull carts since ancient times. The efforts have paid off in many ways humans benefit from having well-trained workers, such as farmhands or soldiers, while pets provide companionship and entertainment.

However, there are still plenty of animals that people don’t want around them, like cockroaches or mosquitoes. And even those they do desire can be difficult to tame.
“Domestication is a complex trait,” says Dr. Steven M. Calle, professor emeritus in the Department of Biological Sciences and director of the Center of Excellence for Aquatic Research at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. “It takes time and effort.”

Calle has studied the genetics of dog breeds extensively, but he also believes that all animals possess their own unique attributes that make them more or less suitable for domestication.

For example, he notes that wolves tend to be aggressive toward strangers but not toward members of their own pack. In contrast, dogs are very social and friendly with other dogs but often wary of everyone else. On top of these innate characteristics, however, human societies also play an important role in shaping which animals thrive best among us.

In this article, we’ll look at several types of animals that humans consider our friends and why some are easier to turn into household pets than others. First up: the most popular pet on Earth.

1. Dogs

The first thing that comes to mind when you think about getting a puppy or a new dog is love. But what kind of love? Some people prefer a playful pooch who will run through the house after balls or chase cars down the street, while others seek out a loyal friend who won’t leave their side no matter where they go. Regardless of your preferences, though, one thing is clear: It’s tough being a dog.

First, dogs need lots of exercises so they can burn off excess energy. They must also be exposed to sunlight (which helps regulate their body clock) and fresh air (to help control odors). This means spending time outside every day.

Next, they require a diet rich in protein, carbohydrates, and vitamin D, as well as adequate water intake. Finally, they require constant attention from their owners, especially during playtime. All of these requirements put …

READ MORE
Pets Benefit, Pets Tips

How Long Do Lovebirds Live as Pets?

While it’s not possible to determine the exact lifespan of any animal, science is one step closer to understanding the lifespans of our pets. One new study on lovebirds suggests that the average lifespan in captivity is around six years old, with some females living up to 10 years. While this may seem like a long time for a pet, it’s important to remember that these birds are from tropical environments and don’t know what it means to be cold or hungry.

Lovebirds are known for their fun-loving personalities and high energy levels, making them easy pets to keep up with. Follow these tips for keeping your lovebird healthy and happy for as long as possible.

Lovebirds as pets

While they are active, fun-loving birds that can be difficult to keep up with at times, lovebirds make a good pet. Lovebirds enjoy affection and attention from their owners and require less time than other birds. They also have a very short breeding season, which makes them a low-maintenance pet for many people. For example, the average lifespan of a lovebird in captivity is six years old while it’s around three years old in the wild. They live much longer than chickens or most other types of birds. Here are some things to remember when caring for your lovebird:
– Provide them with plenty of toys
– Give them lots of attention
– Keep their cage clean and well-ventilated
– Provide them with a variety of fresh foods
– Cage them in a separate room away from your family

The Lifespan Of Lovebirds

Lovebirds are known for their high energy levels and fun-loving personalities. They require a lot of attention, as they need to spend time interacting with their human counterparts. They also have a penchant for getting into things and exploring their surroundings. Lovebirds sometimes can be prone to picking up parasites like mites or lice, which will cause infections and make your bird sick.

You should be diligent about taking care of your bird by cleaning its cage and changing its substrate regularly to avoid these parasites. You should also keep a close watch on your lovebird’s feathers so you can detect early signs of illness.

These birds come from tropical environments, so they don’t know what it means to be cold or hungry. The average lifespan in captivity is around six years old, with some females living up …

READ MORE
Love Birds, Pets Benefit

The Difference Between a Hamster and a Rabbit: Which is Better for You?

Many people have pets that make a great companion in their life. Unfortunately, some people may not know the difference between these two animals, which can lead to confusion about which is better for you. A hamster is a type of rodent and a member of the subfamily Cricetinae of the family Cricetidae. It is not a true hamster, but a guinea pig or Syrian golden hamster instead.

 

A rabbit is any medium-sized mammal in the family Leporidae. There are over 40 species of rabbit that exist worldwide today, with around 20 known to be domesticated species. The main differentiator between these two animals is size as well as lifespan. Hamsters typically live anywhere from 2-3 years in captivity while rabbits live for up to 10 years on average.

 

What Makes These Two Animals Different?

 

There are two main differences between these two animals. The first is size, as hamsters are much smaller than rabbits. The other difference is lifespan. Rabbits typically live for up to 10 years in captivity while hamsters typically live for about 2-3 years.

The type of physical activity that you want your pet to be involved in also plays a role in the decision between these two animals. If you’re going to be doing activities with your pet and require their speed, endurance, or agility, then the rabbit would work better for you. Additionally, if you plan on using your pet as an assistant in hunting small game or as a companion on walks, then the rabbit may be better suited for you.

 

How Do Hamsters And Rabbits Live?

Hamsters live in burrows and can be kept in cages when they are not breeding. They need a wheel to run on, but they are able to exercise by wheel running. A hamster’s diet is primarily composed of hay, seeds, fruits, vegetables, and sometimes meat. A hamster eats up to 4 times its weight every day; this means that a female hamster would eat up to 250 grams a day and a male would eat up to 600 grams of the food.

 

Rabbits live in burrows or hutches and need plenty of food, water, and shelter. They love fresh vegetables, carrots especially! Rabbits typically live 10-12 years in captivity with larger breeds living longer. Their diet includes hay (50%), vegetables (30%), fruit (10%), seeds (5%), and occasional protein from commercial pellets …

READ MORE
Hamester Tips, Pets Benefit, Pets Tips

4 Things to Think About Before Declawing your Cat

Declawing is a major surgery known as onychectomy, performed under anesthesia, that removes the tip of each digit (from the first knuckle out) of the cat’s forepaws. There is a slight chance of death in the surgery, and a declawed cat may have an increased risk of infection and life-long discomfort in its paws. This surgery is not recommended for an adult animal and is considered an act of animal cruelty in some countries (see below). Get your kitty some ball toys at DoggieToys.Deals

 

People generally have cats declawed to prevent them from hunting and from damaging furniture. Rarely, vicious cats are declawed. In the United States, some landlords require that tenants’ cats be declawed.

 

Veterinarians are generally critical of the procedure and some refuse to perform it because the absence of claws in a cat:

 

1. Deprives it of its main defense abilities, including escaping from predators by climbing trees;

2. Impairs its stretching and exercise habits, leading to muscle atrophy;

3. Compromises its ability to balance on thin surfaces such as railings and fence tops, leading to injury from falls;

4. Can cause insecurity and a subsequent tendency to bite.

 

This operation is rare outside of North America. In Finland, Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland, declawing is forbidden by the laws against cruelty to animals.[17] In many other European countries, it is forbidden under the terms of the European Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals, unless “a veterinarian considers [such] non-curative procedures necessary either for veterinary medical reasons or for the benefit of (the) animal”. [18] In Britain, animal shelters find it difficult to place imported cats that have been declawed and subsequently most are euthanized.

 

An alternative to declawing is the application of blunt, vinyl nail caps that are affixed to the claws with nontoxic glue, requiring periodic replacement when the cat sheds its claw sheaths (about every four to six weeks). However, the cat will still experience difficulties because the capped nails are not as effective as claws.…

READ MORE
Pets Benefit

Spiders Have Special Benefits- But Beware Of That Bite!

Many Americans warmly welcome four-legged friends into their homes, but few are comfortable when creatures with eight legs wander in from outside.

Even though they make you shriek, some spiders play a positive role around your home by preying on other pests. For some homeowners, their contributions to reducing unwanted insects far outweigh the fear they evoke.

“Many household spiders are not dangerous to humans,” said Orkin, Inc. entomologist Ron Harrison, Ph.D. “However, there are a few species with a venomous bite. The key is distinguishing between those that make harmless houseguests and those that present a threat to your family.”

Several spiders can protect your home from pesky invaders. Cellar spiders-the web-spinning species most common in homes-have been known to prey on black widow spiders. Some, like the spiny orb weaver and house spiders, can hunt crickets and small flying insects. Wolf spiders can help rid lawns and gardens of common pests. Even the brown recluse-the most dangerous spider to humans-can assist by eating cockroaches, silverfish and other soft-bodied insects.

When protecting your family from venomous spiders, it is important to identify key characteristics of harmful species like the black widow, brown recluse and yellow sac spiders, whose bites can cause severe skin irritations.

• Black Widow: Females are shiny black, with a red hourglass-shaped mark on their abdomen.

• Brown Recluse: This spider is yellowish to brown in color, with a dark brown violin-shaped back marking; legs are long and thin with fine hair.

• Yellow Sac: This spider has yellow coloring; its abdomen is often much brighter than its head or legs.

According to a survey conducted by Orkin, Inc., spiders have a noticeable presence in two out of three American households. So when spiders make frequent appearances in your home, trust an experienced professional to identify the species, consider its web-building or hunting behaviors and determine the best way to control the infestation.

Homeowners can take some steps to prevent spider invasions and reduce potentially harmful encounters, such as removing food sources and discouraging nesting by keeping low-traffic areas, such as cellars or closets, clear. However, a licensed pest control company should be called upon to treat and repel spider infestations.…

READ MORE
Pets Benefit, Spider Facts

Raising A Healthy Bird.

1. If you want your bird to live a long life it is important to feed it in a nutritionally sound way. Birds often die too young because they are malnourished or they pick up a disease because they were not being fed correctly.

 

2. Birds who are part of the parrot family should be fed a variety of foods. Seeds are used by most as the only part of the bird’s diet and this is a mistake. Seeds have too much fat, not enough protein and almost no vitamins. Seeds should not make up more than 50 percent of your bird’s diet.

 

3. Try healthy table foods like items that contain whole grains and pretzels, pasta and whole wheat bread. Many birds can be persuaded, given time and encouragement, to eat dairy and poultry products. Try serving your bird low-fat cheese, yogurt and chicken. Avoid any food that is high in fat and stay away from avocados, they are toxic to

birds!

 

4. Beans and legumes as well as fruits and vegetables are good sources of nutrition for the pet bird. It may take quite awhile to get your fine-feathered friend to except these changes, (up to a year) but it will be the best thing for your bird.

 

5. When you get ready to make these changes do it slowly. Offer the fresh foods twice a day for about an hour at each feeding. Don’t leave the fresh food in the cage longer than that. It becomes unappealing and can develop bacteria.

 

6. Feeding your bird twice a day is a good idea. Your bird will become hungry between feedings and this practice produces a more active bird. With a healthy appetite the bird is more likely to try new foods. You will also be able to keep a closer watch on how much your bird is eating. (If your bird is sick,laying eggs, caring for young, or nesting they should always have food available.) When food consumption drops, a bird is usually not feeling well.

 

7. If your bird is having a hard time getting used to the new diet, try warming the food or cooking the vegetables. It will take a little time to discover what works for your bird. Offer seeds only at meal time and along with other foods until you see that your bird is eating enough …

READ MORE
Pets Benefit, Pets Tips

Pets Can Greatly Improve Your Health

Having a pet is one of the healthiest investments you can make to your long-term health and happiness. We know that having a pet enrichs our lives, and scientific studies in the last decade, have clearly shown how companion animals benefit both our bodies and our minds. Apart from lazy days in the sun, walking, fetching, and guaranteed smiles throughout the day, pets provide health benefits that extend far into the body and mind, such as lower blood pressure, heart rate, anxiety level as well as providing pet owners with both consistent behavior and offering unconditional love and affection. Pets in return, respond well to stability and the love and affection pet owners lavish upon them.

 

Pets have been known to improve the lives of pet owners, significantly benefiting health, not only for the young and families, but also for the elderly. Pets may help elderly owners live longer, healthier and ultimately, more enjoyable lives. The Journal of the American Geriartics Society published an article in May 1999 showing how independently living seniors with pets, tend to have better physical strength and overall mental health and wellbeing than seniors that do not have pets. They are more active, generally happier, cope better with stress, and have significantly lower blood pressure.

 

It would seem that taking care of a pet would be a lot of work. In fact, it is that work, that maintenance – walking, feeding, grooming, fresh water, playing and petting, that lowers the heart rate, decreases anxiety and stress levels, increases serotonin and the release of beta-endorphins in pet owners. Even just getting up to open the door for a dog to be let in or out, or changing the water for the kitty, require some cardiovascular exercise, and increase joint flexibility and keep joints limber and agile. Consistent minor exercise like this, ensures healthier bodies for pet owners.

 

Many of the benefits of having a pet are less tangible. Pets allow for physical contact and offer consistent companionship, as well as unconditional love. They act as a support system for older people without homes or families or close friends. People with pets generally remain more stable emotionally during crises than people without pets. Pets also offer protection socially from isolation, separation anxiety for people in nursing homes, and for people whodon’t have as much opportunity to interact with other people.

 

Pets help elders …

READ MORE
Pets Benefit
You are here: Page 1
RSS
Follow by Email
Facebook
Twitter