Choose the right dog breed for you to make a sound decision about the pet you bring into your home.

Duration :
0:1:49

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How to choose a cat that's right for your family

How can you tell whether a cat's personality will fit your family's lifestyle? Dr Katherine Miller of the ASPCA explains how to choose the right cat.

Duration : 0:2:35

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A horse with equine colic is a situation that strikes fear into any horse lover. But what is colic in horses? What symptoms should you keep an eye out for?

Colic in horses is in reference to pain which stems from the abdomen. Generally horses do not hide abdominal pain well. So in the event of any disturbance of gut function they will usually display signs of discomfort.

Signs of discomfort could be stretching, standing as if to urinate, and hoofing the ground. If in more pain the horse will get up and down, and try rolling to get more comfortable.

The horse will likely start to sweat. In more severe cases it will get up and lie down and roll constantly.

What Can You Do?
If you believe your horse is suffering from colic, you should call an experienced equine vet straight away. The vet will be able to supply emergency pain relief and decide whether further treatment is appropriate.

What can you do while waiting for the vet to arrive? Leading your horse for a walk sometimes helps. It can sometimes encourage his intestines to start working normally and help soothe the pain. It could also prevent the horse lying down to roll. However if he is already lying down peacefully then you should let him stay lying down.

It was thought that a horse could cause a twisted gut by rolling. That has been proven to be probably incorrect. Though it is best to prevent him rolling around if possible. That way you will stop your horse injuring himself by knocking itself on any walls. Of course take care that you don't hurt yourself. It's likely horses will forget all their normal manners if in pain.

There are several different reasons as to why horses get colic. But often the signs look similar regardless of the cause.

What will the vet do to investigate the problem? They will have a listen to the abdomen using a stethoscope which will show them whether there is more or less activity in the intestines than there should be.

Monitoring the heart rate gives a good indication of the severity of the discomfort and the seriousness of the problem. A horse with a normal heart rate doen't have a sever problem. Whereas fast heart rates are not such a promising sign.

A very helpful area of the examination is the examination of the rectum. By feeling the intestines, your vet may be able to find the root of the issue. It goes without saying that this is a very complicated procedure, that is potentially dangerous for both parties. But for an experienced equine vet the information it provides is incredibly useful in deciding the cause of the problem. Revealing a blockage, or a swollen area of gut as a result of a loop or other intestinal issue.

It's likely that in all but the most straightforward scenarios the vet may inset a tube through the horses' nose into the stomach. Though it sounds unpleasant but can make the horse more comfortable by releasing the built up pressure from the stomach. Doing this can also give the vet useful feedback about whether the stomach is functioning properly.

Sometimes the horse is in so much pain that it is impossible for the vet to examine him fully without first applying a dose of pain killer.

Only by considering all of the signs revealed by a detailed examination is the vet able to make an initial diagnosis. Even then it may not be possible to diagnose exactly what is going on.

It might be the case that, after the first inspection, the horse requires surgery. But more usually your vet will decide to treat the horse with a fast-acting painkiller and monitor his progress after a few hours. Most examples show a quick improvement. However some will either not respond to the treatment, or they might respond initially, only to start showing signs of discomfort again later.

In preference to having to bring the vet to your horse several times, it is normally preferred to move these cases to a specialist practice so they can be closely monitored and surgery can be performed if appropriate.

In Conclusion
Luckily most colic cases respond quickly to medical treatment. Although if surgery is necessary - it is important to operate as soon as possible. The likelyhood of a successful outcome is far greater if the surgery is performed before too much damage has taken place.

For more information, horses for sale and more, please visit the Horse and Pony Directory.

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Pet turtles may react to the owner's presence, especially if they are fed often by the same person. Discover common pet turtle behaviors with tips from the owner of a reptile store in this free pet care video.

Duration :0:1:16

Expert: Tim Cole
Bio: Tim Cole has kept reptiles for more than 40 years. He has professional experience working with zoos and scientific field studies. Cole is the owner of Austin Reptile Service.
Filmmaker: MAKE | MEDIA

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Curious about what to expect at your cat's first veterinarian visit? Learn the process for determining a healthy kitten in this free pet care video clip from a practicing veterinarian.

Check back soon for more cat care tips

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Canaries love water, so it's important to have a big water bowl for them to bathe in; learn about different accessories to get like a calcium block and cuddle bone in this free pet care video.

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Great Video on Choosing a Pet Bird

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Remove a tick from a dog's ear by grabbing the tick close to the skin with tweezers and applying firm pressure to pull the tick out. Make sure the head of the tick is removed to prevent infection.

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Animal or bird feeding is a nice experience, one in which you provide food to the feathery and furry friends. A lot of individuals enjoy feeding birds especially. They’re un-alert to the truth behind some misconceptions surrounding it. Here is a view at a few of the myths associated to feeding birds and the true facts about them.

One of the most popular untruths is that bird feeding will make them be reliant upon food handouts. That is false, and as a bird may go back every day to a feeder, that food doesn’t make up it's complete regular feeding. Current studies have proved that feeder food would make up for only about twenty-five percent of a bird's food intake daily. So, even if you have fed a bird, he is probably going to look to a natural source to maintain itself all through the daytime.

There is a myth which says rice is hazardous for birds. Many people have the misperception that bird feeding some rice to the birds will cause them to swell and also cause their death. But, the fact is, rice is a very healthy source for the birds. So, if you choose to feed the bird leftover or raw rice, you shouldn’t be concerned about any harmful effects upon it's health.

Peanut butter is additionally believed to be dangerous for birds. Several people think peanut butter might become stuck in the throat of the bird, making them choke. Peanut butter is really great for birds because its a fabulous source of fat and calories that birds love. Many birds like the woodpeckers, nuthanatches, jays and chickadees enjoy peanut butter. So, in the case that you feel the peanut butter is overly sticky; you might make it a bit flaky by putting cornmeal into it.

One more myth about bird feeders is that birdseed will never turn bad. Its important to know that birdseed is the same as all other types of food. It is just as at risk of damage as the other foods are. When you do not pay attention to the correct storage, there is a chance of it further turning bad. If birdseed is stored for a long period of time, the seeds dry out. This'll mean a drop in the feed's nutritional value. To avoid this, it is advised to store food in the suitable way. Ideally, it must be kept in a cool, dry place. When you do not pay attention to the correct storage, there's a chance of it further turning bad. If birdseed is stored for a long period of time, the seeds dry out. This will mean a drop in the feed's nutritional value. To avoid this, it's advised to store food in the suitable way. Ideally, it should be kept in a cool, dry place.

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Dog owners are exposed to the vomiting bouts of the pet one time or another. The expulsion of food from the dog's stomach can be due to a variety of reasons. Similar to humans, dogs vomit if they have eaten something that does not agree with their system. It is not surprising for a dog to have an upset stomach because this voracious eater would eat anything from spoiled food to inedible objects.

Nature has given dogs an effective way of purging the stomach of objects not accepted by the dog's system. All the dog need to do is eat grass and all the things ingested that were not accepted by the dog's system will be thrown up. Vomiting will occur if the dog has eaten substantial amount of food and has drank water quickly. The vomiting can be the result of the new dog food. Although quite uncommon, stress can make the dog vomit.

A dog that was taken to a new home where there are already other pet dogs will vomit. The situation becomes highly stressful if the nervous or shy newcomer is introduced to a large and dominant old pet. An owner has to deal with the inconvenience for a while but as soon as the dog has adapted to its new environment the stress induced vomiting will be gone. After the vomiting bout, the dog will be its normal energetic self. Owners of healthy dogs with normal energy levels and good appetite need not be too concerned with the pet's vomiting. Pet owners can usually manage this kind of vomiting at home. To prevent the dog from vomiting repeatedly, food must not be given for 24 hours.

However, a dog's vomiting may not be due to dietary indiscretion. Vomiting is not considered a disease in itself but an indication of an underlying illness. A pet parent should be vigilant and carefully observe the condition of the vomiting dog.

A dog owner has to act at once if the repeated vomiting is accompanied with diarrhea, fever and the dog is noticed to be lethargic. The vomiting of the dog may be caused by a poisonous substance that was ingested by the pet. Vomiting can be due to parasites infestation or infectious diseases such as parvovirus. A dog with bloody vomit may be suffering from intestinal obstruction, pancreatitis, kidney problems and stomach ulcer. Immediate medical attention must be given to a pet that has been vomiting for 24 hours more so if the dog is unresponsive and lethargic.

Want to know more about why dogs vomit and first aid for dogs? Sarah's Dogs is where you want to go.

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