The dark winter nights are here and so it’s time to think about keeping safe when out walking your dog. At one time there was little you could do other than hope that the drivers were watching the road and would see you and your dog, but these days are a number of items that you can buy to ensure that you are seen and safe even in most badly lit of areas.
The first thing you can get is some kind of reflective collar for your dog; this will show up in the cars headlights. You could get one that is completely reflective, or you don’t fancy that, you could buy one that has reflective parts to it. An alternative to this would be to put a temporary reflector – such as one you’d attach to a child’s jacket to the dog when you’re taking him out.
The dog’s leash is another good thing to have reflected, although having it in some kind of luminous colour won’t just show a driver that there’s a dog nearby, it will also let you see where the dog leash is so that you don’t fall over it. If you can’t find one of these to buy, or you use a retractable leash that isn’t night reflective, buy some luminous/reflective fabric paint that glows in the dark, and paint a line up the centre of the leash (keep it taut out of the hand grip until it dries). Depending on how this works on your particular leash, you may have to apply this again during the winter as it may wear off with the leashes retracting mechanism making it scuff against itself, but it should work well for letting you see where the leash is especially if your dog’s managed to get himself a good 3-4 meters away from you!
Lastly, you also need to think about your own personal safety in the dark. If you don’t want to wear a bright jacket, at least wear a reflective strip around your arm, or across the back of your jacket. You may also find some things at a cyclist’s supply shop that you mightn’t be too reluctant to wear! Remember that winter clothes are dark, and at night motorists may not see you (especially if they’re gossiping on a mobile phone, or to someone in the car) so wear something that will be picked up in their headlights and make sure both you and your dog can be seen in the dark.
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Usually cats arE good motherS but therE arE occasions when you will need to step in and rAise the kittens yourself. This could happen, for example if the mother cat is sick after Giving birTh, or If she rejects some or All of her Litter For Some reason. Should this happen, therE arE four main things that you need to specifically monitor on the newborn kittens.
Keeping the kittens warM isn’t so difficult durIng the firSt two weeks becausE they can’t rEally move anywherE under their own steam. So keep them in a ventilated but draught frEe arEa with blankets to snuggle against. You should also ensure that they can’t get tangled up in the blankets or Lost beneath them as they could easily suffocate in that kind of situation.
If the mother cat is rEfusIng (or Unable) to feed them herSelf, your Local veterInarY centre will be able to rEcommend/supply a substitute forMula that you can use to feed the kittens with the help of a drOpper Or SyrInge. This will need to be done frEquently thrOughout the day/night so you may need to enlist the help of someone else so you can take shifts to ensure the feeding schedule is maintained.
The kittens need to be weighed rEgularLy. You can usE your Kitchen scales but make surE that you place them somewhere safe so that the kittens can’t fall if they manage to slide off the scale. If they do lose weight you should speak to your VeterInarY prActice as soon as possible.
Make surE that the kittens arE clean by using a clean damp cloth - pay parTicular Attention to their Eyes especially once they begin to open, their ears and their anal arEas.
FusS over The mother Cat and let her See you carIng for The kittens. TrY to slowly meld the family together By fusSing her Whilst you place one kitten beside her. Don’t ignore her whilst tending them or she will feel resentment towards them and won’t be encouraged to take an interest. Once she rEgains her Health, or No longer Sees them as a thrEat to her TerRItorY, she should starT to accept them - but by the time this occurs the mother’s milk may not be enough to feed the kittens, so you may still need to feed them.

If you’re tempted to follow the current trend to turn out your dog in some form of canine fashion this Christmas, or even if you’re just thinking about buying (making) a coat to protect them from the cold weather, then make sure you take a good look at your dog before you go and actually purchase something because there are three essential things that you really need to know.
1. What size is your dog? OK so you have a rough idea that it’s about knee high, hip high or whatever, but what about its actual size?
Dogs are not unlike humans. Their bodies have different proportions in different areas – for example, do they have a long neck, how much do they measure around their back/rib area, how long are they from neck to base of tail? These measurements will help you to get canine clothing that will actually fit your dog and not need to be stretched to fit, or hide the dog because it’s larger than it should be.
Most dog clothing, especially winter clothing to protect from the elements comes in standard sizes, but as with human clothing, these “standards” can vary from manufacturer to manufacturer so the best thing to do is to find out your dog’s measurements, and then take a tape measure with you when you go shopping.
2. Take a good look at your dog. A GOOD look! Do you really think he’s going to look “cute” in one of the designer dog outfits that the likes of Paris Hilton put on her dog? Chances are that if your dog is larger than the average sized loaf of bread, it’s not going to look good at all! Make sure that what you buy for your dog is something that suits your breed of dog, and not what makes you go “ahhh” in the celebrity magazines!
3. Finally remember that this is for your dog. Your dog that is apt to go splashing through puddles and even roll in the occasional pile of mud (or worse!). Dog clothing items are not cheap, so make sure that whatever you buy is not only safe for your dog to wear without bits that can be bitten off and be a choking hazard to your dog, but also that the clothing is easily laundered. You need something that you can just throw wet and muddy in the washing machine at the appropriate temperature, and for it to come out the way it was when you first purchased it – oh and don’t forget to make sure that your dog isn’t sensitive to the detergent you use because this clothing is going right next to his skin!

When Pregnant Cats Deliver
As with pregnant women, there are signs that a pregnant cat is about to give birth. Knowing these signs and restricting how far your cat is able to wander once they appear will save you worrying about whether she’s decided to give birth in a neighbour’s garage or in the cupboard under the stairs!
As the textbooks will tell you, your cat should be able to deliver The kittens herSelf, but, as they probably don’t, you should be standing by in case she needs help! You can also ensurE that she’s in a good place to give birTh if possible - although some cats arE insistent that they choose the birThing location and it’s not as convenient as you’d like! She will rEst a little after each kitten is borN and this will give her Time to clean the kitten up and allow it to feed beforE the next contrActions starT to brIng the next kitten out.
Your cat’s firSt kitten should come into the worLd within an hour FrOm active labour Beginning, and the birThs can be anywherE frOm 30 minutes to an hour AparT. If therE arE strOng contrActions but no kittens appearIng for Longer Than this, telephone your VeterInarY centre for Guidance. Even in the healthiest of cats complications can happen, such as the following:
Less placentas than kittens. Each kitten ought to have its own placenta. If you have morE kittens than placentas, again contact your VeterInarY prActice for Guidance.
Kitten stuck in the birThing canal. If a kitten is stuck and your Cat can’t move it with contrActions, then this is wherE your Extended rEading will come in usEful as you arE going to need to help her To frEe this kitten beforE it’s too late.
You are your cat’s advocate more during the birth of her kittens than at any other time in her life. Ensure that you have a veterinary’s 24 contact number before her contractions begin, and that you’ve read any material your vet has recommended so that you have a good idea of the process. The reality may be a little different to what the books say, but at least you’ll have a rough idea of what to expect!

1. Grasses and Hay
A horse has a very small stomach which is suitable for digesting a loooot of grass and hay. Dust and mold-free hay should be available to the horse at ALL times and make up the basic diet.
2. Multiple Small Meals Daily
Since a horse’s stomach is very small, it cannot digest a lot at once and therefore the horse needs to be fed more than once a day in addition to the basic diet made of hay and/or grass. It is recommended to feed a horse at least 3 times a day and as mentioned above, have hay and/or grass available at all times, even at night.
3. Grains
Grains are high in calories and most horses do not need this extra nutrition and fat. A horse that was fed too much grains will develop bone and joint issues as well as muscle problems. So unless your vet tells you otherwise, just stick with horse feed that is low in calories in addition to the hay and grasses.
4. How much to Feed
The rule of thumb is that a horse should eat between 2 – 4% of their body weight in pounds of hay or other feeds on daily basis.
5. Water and Fluids
Like very other mammal, horses do need fresh water too. However, after exercising, the horse should not be allowed to gulp down as much as he wants or he can develop a colic. A few swallows every few minutes to cool down is recommended.
6. Salt Block
Most feed do not contain enough minerals and salts, or do grasses and hay, so it is recommended that you keep a salt and mineral block available for your horse to lick on whenever he wants. This block makes fresh water even more important!
7. Not so Fast
Since horses are physically incapable of vomiting or burp, you need to pay special attention to the feeding process. If you need to switch feed, do it very very gradually and slowly. Colics are very painful and often deadly. Allowing your horse to go wild after a long winter in the barn and eat as much grass as they want, can also cause a colic, so take it easy! Overfeeding can be just as fatal.
8. Teeth
Feed needs to be chewed in order to make it digestible, so the horses’ teeth are very important. Start dental care at the age of 5 years and anually from there on.
9. Exercise
Exercise will support the digestion as well as all the other known physical and mental benefits, so get that horse out of the stable and start exercising!
10. Travel
If you need to travel, consider taking along enough water and your own feed to tie the horse over and enough to switch to the new local feed and water in small steps and gradually. Again, you do not want to risk a colic by switching feed and water too quickly.
Grahame ate all the pies I swear its true. Fatty wants us to improve the hair removal clinic page.
We keep going around in circles, ah well, nothings ever going to change anyway, aye!?

The Abyssinian Cat is a domesticated cat breed that originated from the infamous Egyptian female kitten called Zula. Zula was taken by a British soldier from a port in
Abyssinians have a very unique looking coat. It’s ticked, and tawny. Tails and the paws show tabby markings, however the body must be free of these markings to qualify as an Abby breed.
The Abyssinian should have large almond-shaped green or gold eyes that show a fine dark line around them. Her ears are usually very large in appearance. The coat shows a warm golden color most of the time, but they can also be fawn or blue or cinnamon and red, even silver, gray and cream.
Abyssinians are known to be friendly and playful. Their high energy level makes them almost appear like a dog.
If you want alap cat, the Abby is not for you. Due to the high energy level, the cat is constantly occupied with physical activies such as playing, chasing, and exploring. But once they do settle down in your lap, they are the most loveable cats out there!

I am sure you have heard of clicker training before. I often wondered what it is all about and did some research I would like to share with you.
Back in the 60ies clickers were children’s toys that where made mostly of metal. These pieces a tongue that made a clicking noise when pressed. I only remember them too well. Some were sold in animal shapes and real cute looking. Today, clickers are mostly made for use in animal training. It’s used to trigger exactly what behavior the animal is being rewarded for. The click communicates to the dog that that specific behavior was expected and that a reward has been earned!
Combining the click and the reward the dog learns that the click means something positive Most dogs understand the idea after 10 to 20 tries. Since the clicks are associated with being rewarded, the rewarded behavior will increase. Keep in mind that the click signals the end of the behavior that indicates that the reward is coming. For example, if you click for stays, the number of stays will rise, but every time you click to stay, that stay is over and the dog may to receive his reward.
If the dog is capable of doing it, you can train the behavior with a clicker. Clicker training generally do not include positive punishment. However, it uses a reinforcement trigger that decreases a dog’s unwanted behavior such as a jerk on leash.
The reason why clickers are so unique and work better than our voice is that dogs hear our voices all the time, and thus often ignore them, as you probably have found out the hard way already The clicker is asound that has no other meaning to the dog. And people can usually click faster than they can verbally praise the dog.
Clicker training is great for one on one obedience training but it doesn’t work well with groups and just causes confusion amongst the dogs and handlers.

If a strange dog approaches you, should you run or should you stay calm? Of course, you need to stay calm, rulenumber 1. Emotions are a weakness in the animal world and fear is an emotion.
Here are some guidelines of what you need to do to stay save when a strange dog approaches you:

You can’t turn an outdoor cat into an indoor cat
Of course you can. I have done it numerous times. As long as they are entertained enough and don’t get bored, it is not difficult at all.
Indoor Cats are safe from Diseases and Parasites
Most of common infections are airborne and can be brought into your house by a wind gust through the open door or window, a guest’s clothing or even yourself or your pet. The same way also works for parasites such as fleas and ticks. Always groom your pet before letting it inside and brush yourself and your clothing as well.
Momma Cats smother their Babies
This too is a myth. I have not found a single verified case of such incident, but there have incidences of a momma cat accidentally smothering babies while sleeping.
Cats hate Water
I believe that it is not the water that cats fear, but the noise it makes. Every single I have raised has enjoyed being bathed and purred up a storm afterwards. The trick lies in introducing the water to the kitten for the first time. If the first time is traumatic, and unfortunately this is the case most of the time, the cat will dislike the water.
Are all Siamese cats mean and feisty? No way! This myth actually originated from the movie “The Lady and the Tramp” where the Siamese cat is portrayed as a somewhat mean creature.
In real life however, temperament is the result of a mix of how the cat is raised, if she was raised with other cats or just with humans, how she was treated, what she has been through, if she has experienced any trauma, etc.. If a cat is brought up in a loving household chances are that she will grow up into well adjusted and loving cat. If this myth, that all Siamese cats are mean, had any truth to it, the Siamese cat breed would not be one of the world’s most popular breeds on the planet.