If you have come into possession of a duck or a goose and haven’t a clue how to care for it, you’ll learn a bit more about its care if you read on.First of all provide it with water and a safe, quiet place to stay. Keep children, pets, etc. away until it has a chance to rest and get used to its surroundings.  

Well-behaved dogs   SOMETIMES you might feel frustrated with your dog’s behaviour, remember that it’s your own responsibility to teach your dog what is acceptable behaviour and what is not. A dog that has not been given any instructions, training or boundaries can’t possibly know what you expect of him. By teaching your dog how you want him to behave, you will not only have a saner household, but a healthier and happier dog as well. A well-behaved dog allows you to handle every part of his body, to check for injury or illness and to give him medication and has good manners, so he can spend most of his time indoors with his people, which means more supervision, less boredom and fewer opportunities for mischief. The more time you spend with your dog, the more likely you will be to notice when something is wrong with him, such as a limp, a cough, a sensitive area or loss of appetite. By recognizing such irregularities early, you can seek medical attention immediately and, hopefully, prevent more serious problems. A well-behaved dog wants to stay near you, listening for instructions, and praise. This means he will have less opportunity to get into trouble. He will walk or run beside you on a leash without pulling, dragging or strangling, so you and your dog can get more exercise and spend more time together. A well-behaved dog knows that “drop it” and “leave it alone” are phrases that mean business, so he will have fewer opportunities to swallow dangerous objects. He also can be taught what things and places are out of bounds, like hot stoves, heaters or anxious cats. However, you will still need to limit his access to dangerous places when you cannot supervise or instruct him. A well-trained dog will “sit” immediately, simply because you say so. No matter what danger may be imminent, a dog that is suddenly still is suddenly safe. And a dog that will “stay” in that position is even safer. A well educated dog understands his boundaries, knows what is expected of him and has few anxieties. Less stress means a healthier dog.  

SOME canine behaviour problems affect only a dog’s owners. However, problems such as escaping and excessive barking can result in neighbourhood disputes and violations of animal control ordinances. It is perfectly normal and reasonable for dogs to bark from time to time. However, continual barking for long periods of time is a sign that your dog has a problem that needs to be addressed.

Sometimes our pets behave strangely and we might not really know why. Don’t panic but, maybe your pet is ill. We’ll show you a quick checklist to help you decide whether to take your pet to the vet or treat them yourself, depending on the case.

A behavioural test for your dog is his introduction to someone new. Make a difference in how your dog reacts to a new person with a little training and reassurance. How do I make my dog feel comfortable around strangers? Start with training. The way your dog is trained can have a big impact on how he reacts to a stranger. Make sure you can easily handle him in a group of people. Don't allow your dog to jump up on you or others in greeting.

Budgies are birds originally from Australia. They live an average between 10 and 12 years and used to live in communities, when they are free. However their immune system is very weak. They can suffer from different diseases, many of which can be prevented if we take particular care with their food and hygiene. An early detection of their disease is also key in their recovery process.

TAKING artistic pictures of your pets can be a relaxing and creative activity. If you want to be able to take nice photos of your pet, it is quite important that you have a decent camera that takes the photo as soon as you snap it. One of the first things you have to pay attention to is the light.

Snakes are fascinating creatures and with regular handling can become quite tame. However, snakes are obviously not for everyone. They have unique care and handling requirements and should only be kept by those with the commitment to understand and meet their needs. Also, some grow very large and can be dangerous, so any potential snake owner needs to carefully research snakes before acquiring one.

If there are older people in your life that you think might benefit from having a pet at home, be sure to talk to them before you pick one out. Make sure that they want the responsibility of a new pet, as well as the noise and the messes that may come along with it. Talk to them about whether they feel capable of feeding, watering, grooming, exercising, and cleaning up after an animal.

Rabbits make lovable little pets but they need plenty of care.  The also have a lifespan of more than 10 years. The safest place for a rabbit to live is indoors. They do not tolerate extreme temperatures and even in a safe enclosure, they are at risk from predators.

Parrots make enjoyable pets and are relatively easy to feed and maintain. Remember that larger parrots live a long time and keeping them is a long-term commitment. Vets with avian expertise are not common, so locate one before you buy a bird, as it is often in the early days of ownership that you may need their services.

THE domesticated guinea pig is viewed by many as an ‘easy’ pet for children, believing a small pet needs only a small amount of care. It is important to understand that they have lots of requirements, including a roomy cage, specialised diet, daily cleanup, and gentle handling. They may be small, but guinea pigs require ample space to move about. Make sure there are housed in large cages as this will make them more active. Do not use aquariums, as they provide poor ventilation, and mesh or wire-floor cages hurt guinea pigs' tender feet.  

Massages for dogs are becoming increasingly popular, as in this stressful world, our animals suffer their share too. Dogs can suffer from separation anxiety, thunderstorm phobia, post-surgery stress, show jitters, temperament problems, and even fret about their owner's stress. Massages also help you to bond with your dog and your relationship will improve. Dogs feeling stress in a new environment, working dogs with sore muscles, or older pets with chronic aches can benefit from massage as well.

GOLDFISH are the most common first fish for anyone who is new to the world of fish care. They are relatively easy to care for and tend to be healthy, long-lived and pretty to look at. You will need to choose a tank with plenty of room to swim. Keep the tank out of direct sunlight. Make sure it is within range of a power outlet for lights, and filters. Tanks are heavy when filled with water. Make sure you place it on a solid surface and not too far away from the source of water. Keep the goldfish tank away from noisy areas, doors, windows and vents.

SOME of us are dog people, others may be cat people, but how many amongst us are piranha people? It might be difficult to understand what attracts someone to keeping a tarantula or a piranha for that matter as a pet, but there can be no doubt that there is a growing niche market for exotic and unusual pets.

Taking a stray or abandoned cat into your home can be quite a difficult task, but if you are successful, you will earn yourself a loving companion which will make you feel it was all worth while. There are lots of stray cats and kittens living outdoors, and this is a problem, but obviously we can’t home them all. There are many associations doing their best to sterilise feral and stray cats and in some cases home them later.

CATS are prone to bladder infections, often referred to as urolithiasis, cystitis, urethritis, urinary calculi or bladder stones, among other names. Bladder infections can be caused by bacterial infection, as well as by high ash and mineral content in dry food, or due to dehydration and stress. Most of the times there is bacterial infection, often with crystals present as well.

CHAMELEONS are astonishing creatures; known for their ability to change colour, but maybe not the best choice as pets because their requirements are quite specific. Chameleons are easily stressed and do not like to be handled at all.

THERE are about 1,500 species of rodents, but just a group of small mammals comprised of hamsters, guinea pigs, gerbils, mice and rats is commonly found at pet stores. They are all rodents, but they have varied requirements for space and social interaction, so they are actually different pets. But, how do you know which one is the best for you? We’ll try to help you with this question.

PEOPLE love their dogs, but dog poop is a big problem worldwide. Most people pick up after their dogs, and then wonder what do with it. Garbage collectors don’t want dog waste to go into the truck for obvious reasons, the sewage people don’t want it flushed down the toilet because it has a lot of grit on, and there are not really many environmentally friendly things that you can do with it.

ADANA collected 375 abandoned dogs in 2008, more than the usual average of approximately one dog per day. Looking for adoptive families is a priority
for the organisation, as the imbalance between collected and released dogs raised to 115 animals last year.

MAYBE you’ve noticed that your cat sneezes a lot. Continuous sneezing could be a sign of an upper respiratory infection, or of a foreign body lodged in your cat’s nasal passages, although it is usually not serious. Sneezing does not mean that the cat is sick. In most cases cat sneezing is not linked with a serious problem, but just do not automatically assume that this is the case.

IN a dog with normal hips, all the muscles, tissues and ligaments work together to cause the joint to function smoothly and with stability. Hip dysplasia is caused by a laxity of the muscles, connective tissue and ligaments that would normally support the joint.

CATS do not like being dirty, and it’s the owners’ responsibility to ensure that their cat stays clean.   Grooming should sta