PETS

If you have decided on a turtle for a pet, you will need information on how to take care of a turtle. Owning a turtle can be a rewarding experience. Here are some general care tips about turtles that will deal with all breeds to ensure that your turtle will live to its full life expectancy.


The right environment is essential for your pet turtle to life a healthy, long life. You will require a suitable habitat or aquarium to house your pet. Some turtles need a dry habitat, while others need wet conditions. Turtles need different temperatures depending on the breed. But whatever the type of turtle you have, the temperature of their environment will have to be regulated carefully. Some other things your turtle will need are plenty of space, clean water, the right amount of light and shade, and a basking lamp. These are necessary to keep your turtle in a healthy condition.


Diet is a very important part of turtle care. They can eat a variety of foods, including fresh vegetables, such as lettuce or cabbage, and fruits. If you have more than one turtle, it's a good idea to watch them eat to make sure they are each getting enough food.

Some turtles prefer living alone, while others like a more social setting. If your breed of turtle prefers a group situation, you should make sure that they are of similar size. Finding out how to take care of a turtle with regards to lifestyle is important for your pet's happiness.


Daily care is needed for your turtle's wellbeing. They must be observed carefully for any changes in behavior or health. Get to know your turtle so you will be able to pick up on any changes that may be due to its physical condition. You should keep the housing area as clean as possible as debris can build up from their food.


The life expectancy of a pet turtle is anywhere from 30 to 50 years. But this will depend on how much time you are willing to commit to caring for your turtle. The more care you give your pet, the longer it will live.

If you are looking for a pet that you can enjoy for years to come, turtles can be extremely rewarding and fun. Taking the time to learn how to take care of a turtle will ensure it will live a long and healthy life.

There are a variety of reasons why a person might want to consider purchasing pet bird insurance. When a pet bird is brought into the home for the first time, most people probably haven't given much thought to it's future health care. There is too much excitement regarding the addition of the new member of the family. However, sooner or later this issue cannot be avoided. Things go wrong with pet birds just as they do with dogs, cats and other animals. The end result is usually vet bills, and these can be very high for birds because not all vets specialize in them.

Reasons to Invest in Pet Bird Insurance

A person who has pet bird insurance will know that no matter what goes wrong with his bird, he can probably manage it financially. With unexpected problems, there is usually a co-pay amount, and the remainder is billed later. The remaining amount is typically whatever the insurance wouldn't cover, and most types of pet bird insurance will cover at least 80 percent. There are some insurance companies that will not pay any benefits upfront. If this is the case, a person might have to go ahead and pay the vet bill and then later receive a reimbursement amount from the insurance company. Some vet's offices will make arrangements with people if this is how their pet insurance works. For example, the vet's office might agree to put off payment until a person receives his reimbursement check from the insurance company.

Why Some People Don't Bother With Bird Insurance

There are some people who never take their pet birds to the vet, or they take them so little that they feel that pet bird insurance just isn't worth the cost. Buying insurance for a bird is a bit of a gamble, just as is it for other things. Ultimately, a person will probably end up needing his bird insurance because as birds age, they start to have health problems. Birds can develop beak and feather disease, fungal infections and many different types of viruses. Some of these problems are life-threatening, and medical care is often necessary.

Making the Decision to Buy Bird Insurance

A person who is concerned about the cost of bird insurance should speak with his vet about different companies to purchase it from. Not all pet insurance companies are created equally, and some might charge less than others. There might also be some plans that are cheaper than others. It is also possible to get customized insurance plans. For example, a person who feels he may never need the insurance to cover things like boarding and advertisement for missing pets can request to have these "extras" removed from his policy. The end result is usually a lower price.

In this fast-paced era where ever-busy parents find it really difficult to spend lot of time with children and entertain them, pets are great companions who can keep your child engaged tirelessly for long hours. Pets teach children about compassion toward other being.

Dogs have been domesticated for centuries together; hence many breeds are quite friendly with humans. However, parents should be careful while choosing the breed depending upon the age of the children. For example, large dog breeds like Mastiff or Great Dane are not suitable if you have infants or very small children at home. Similarly, very small breeds like Shitzu, Pekinese or Chihuahuas may find it difficult to cope up with hyperactive kids.

Some of the recommended dog breeds are as follows:

• Collies are suitable for almost all age groups. They are friendly and can be groomed easily.
• Golden retrievers are very gentle with children and are tolerant to all their naughty antics.
• Beagles are one of the most social breeds but they do not like to be disturbed when they have their food.
• Poodles are loving, loyal and trustworthy breeds as long as they are not mishandled.
• Newfoundland breed is suitable for children regardless of their age. These dogs are tolerant and protective about their owners.
• St. Bernard is advisable for older children due to its large size. However, they are gentle and extremely protective if well trained.
• Basset Hounds are gentle dogs who get along really well with children who know how to handle them well.

So you've had your dog or cat for a while, and your life is changing, and now you think you need to get rid of your pet. But are you sure this is what you want to do? Getting rid of your pet is a very drastic measure. If you leave your pet at a shelter, you may think he will find a new home soon. But it is unlikely. Many high-kill shelters must euthanize animals each day in order to make room for new ones who have come in. Some animals are only at the shelter for four or five days before they run out of luck. Fifty-six percent of dogs and seventy-six percent of cats in shelters are euthanized... many of them healthy, well-behaved animals whose owners simply didn't have time for them anymore. Even in a no-kill shelter, your pet may be doomed to live out the rest of his life in a small cage if he is not chosen for adoption.

If you are willing to try keeping your pet, there are many things you can do. Lets look at some of the most common reasons why people get rid of their pets, and how to get around them.

Solution: Bring your pet with! A quick Google search for "pet-friendly housing" will show you many different directories of rental housing that allows pets. Here are just a few that I found: People With Pets, Pets Welcome, My New Place, Pets911, Home With Pets, and Dog House Properties. And pet-friendly housing is not just limited to those sites! Many apartment buildings and complexes will allow pets. You may have to pay an extra security deposit. But in the end, it will be worth it, to keep your pet with you!

Here is something else you should know. If things get really bad and you have no place to live, you still may not have to give up your pet. Pets Of The Homeless is a website that works to help homeless people to keep their pets, or find temporary homes for their pets until they get back on their feet.

Solution: Call your local animal shelter, or food pantry, and ask about pet food banks. They do exist, and are becoming more and more common! You can even make your own dog food, which may be cheaper in the long run. (Its not difficult! Dogs can eat much of the same things we eat!) Your local animal shelter, or your veterinarian, may also be able to tell you about free or low cost vet care for your pets.

Solution: Are you really going to sacrifice your pet on someone else's whim? Are you sure you want to date someone or live with someone who doesn't like pets? That's a pretty big lifestyle change to make for someone else. If you're sure you want to stick with this person, work out a compromise. Maybe your pet can be banned from certain areas of the house, like the bedroom or the kitchen.

Solution: As long as the person's allergy isn't life threatening, there are many things you can do to greatly reduce the allergens on your pet. Keeping your house clean is a giant step. Dust and vacuum frequently, and use a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter if possible. You can buy an air filter for your home that sucks the allergens out of the air. A company called AllerPet makes a special liquid that you can wipe your pet down with regularly to get rid of the allergens on him. Sprinkling flax seeds in your pet's food can also reduce the amount of dander he produces. The person may even be willing to take allergy medication! After all, many people have seasonal allergies and take medicine regularly. They don't just get rid of the seasons!

Solution: Pets and children are a great combination! Most pets are perfectly fine around children, although they may be a little confused by the new arrival at first. You should always supervise your pet around young children. When your child is an infant, he probably won't be unsupervised anyways, right? As your child gets older, you will have to teach the child to be gentle with the pets. Do not allow your child to pull your pet's tail, poke him, pick him up, etc. Many people feel that a pet should be obligated to put up with whatever your child deals out. But that is not good for anyone involved! Teaching your child, from a young age, to be calm and nurturing around pets, is a great learning experience for the child. If you have a dog, you may want to do some extra training with him before the baby comes, to teach him not to jump up on you when you're holding the baby, etc. Other measures may include banning the pets from certain areas of the house, hiring someone to come walk your dogs or clean up after your pets when you don't have time to, etc.

Solution: Speak to your veterinarian, neighbors, friends, people at your place of worship, etc. You can probably find some volunteers to help you take care of your pet. Having a pet can be a source of comfort when you are ill. In fact, many studies have shown that people with pets have lower blood pressure, lower heart rates, and are generally more healthy, than those without pets. If your health problems are so severe that you must move into a nursing home, maybe you can find someone willing too foster your pet for you.

Solution: Speak to your veterinarian about this. They may be able to guide you to low cost veterinary clinics, veterinary schools that offer low cost treatment, etc. Many veterinary offices now offer payment plans for treatment. They may be able to help you find creative ways of raising money to pay for your pet's treatment, too!

Solution: If your pet is suddenly having "accidents" around the house when he used to be house trained, there could be a medical reason. You may want to consult your veterinarian. If the house training has just never completely been accomplished, you may have to start over from scratch. For a dog, take him out more frequently and try to get him on a schedule. If you are not home during the day, and your dog is eliminating on the floor or furniture while you are gone, you may want to consider crating him while you are not home. For a cat, switching to a different kind of litter, getting a bigger litter box, or moving the litter box to a different area of the house, can help. Clean up accidents with a mixture of vinegar and water. This mixture gets rid of the scent of urine or poop, so that the pet doesn't feel the need to "mark" that area again.

Solution: While it may seem unfair that your pet has to spend time alone, it is still better than making him take his chances in a shelter! There are simple measures, such as providing stimulating toys for your pets, or leaving the TV on during the day, that can help your pet to feel less lonely. One nice thing you can do is buy your pet a special blanket. Sleep with it in your bed for a few nights before you give it to your pet. It will smell like you, and offer comfort to your pet when you are away from the house! You may also want to consider pet day care, or hiring someone to stop in during the day to play with your pets. Also, spending as little as fifteen minutes before you leave for work, just playing with your pet and spending quality time with him, can make a real difference. You don't have to be a perfect owner and spend tons of time hanging out with your pet. He will love you the way you are... and again, it is better to be alone at your home than to die alone in a shelter.

You may want to consider a training class for yourself and your pet. Petco and Petsmart offer fairly inexpensive training classes. It can be a good investment! If you can't afford this, then the library can provide books on dog training, and the Internet can provide websites with tips. Try Googling a specific problem you're having. For instance, search for "teach dog to stop barking." Spending ten or fifteen minutes a day working with your dog, and then consistently rewarding your dog for positive behavior, can make a huge difference.

These are just a few of the common reasons why people consider giving up their pets. But remember, every problem has a solution. So, before you give up on your pet, please take some time to remedy the problems!