Animals in the House

People of different professions and ages much of his free time paid breeding pets. One is a hobby brings joy of communion with nature, others see his team of friends who love to pay to them a touching affection. In most families there are animals in the house at the request of children for whom particularly high cognitive and educational importance of communication with animals. Caring for fish, birds and small animals instills industriousness, punctuality, creative skills, and respect for all living things.

Setting the stage for the animals in the house, the family takes up a lot of concern that require some expenditure of funds, time and effort. Requires some skill, patience, discipline and knowledge of biological features of the animal. Of the more than half a million different species of animals in the home may well exist and be safe for humans, less than 1%. Sometimes people are trying to help those in need wild animals, take them home, so that in some time to release them back to freedom is stronger and healthier. But such altruism can result in disaster – tamed young animals, as adults, can no longer live independently and die. In this case it is better to leave the pet at home or transfer to the pet store, a school of living area, a station of young naturalists.

At present, opportunities for breeding in the home increased significantly: introduced new types of pets, in most major cities of the specialized pet shops are open, amateur associations are created, published a lot of literature.

Among domestic animals the most popular and widespread are exotic fish and other inhabitants of the aquarium. Aquarium – is not only container, a vessel for the content of aquatic organisms, and the specific biological system capable of self-regulation. Is rectangular, cylindrical, round, nodular with truncated apex, etc. Buy an aquarium, as well as his pets in pet stores can. To create a normal environment you need to create at the bottom of the tank bottom (sand, gravel, pebbles, shells), dilute aquatic plants and algae (water sprouts, , kobomba, Ricci uviranda and others), to acquire or produce their own devices for additional light and oxygen saturation of water. The aquarium can live as inhabitants of the local rivers and lakes (bitterling, eel, rudd, tench, gudgeon) as well as various types of exotic fish (Chinese, and calico telescope, the comet, celestial eye, a common goldfish and many others). Buying fish, you should consult the compatibility of different species and their feeding. It is best to refer to the literature.

More and more amateurs home terrarium – space for amphibians and reptiles content, as well as invertebrates and small mammals. However, keeping animals in terrariums little studied and is poorly lit in a special and methodological literature. First of all, must be carefully insulated enclosure to prevent the possibility of leaving his animals and the creation of a specific microclimate: a certain temperature, humidity, etc., Terrarium, usually manufactured without cracks of thick metal wire and a wall of glass (for observation). It can include toads, frogs, newts, snakes, turtles and lizards.

Fun activity is to breed the birds. When deciding to purchase feathered friends, you need to find out if someone is suffering from allergic diseases of family members, as the presence of birds in the house sometimes contributes to their aggravation. Do not rush to buy birds at random people, but before examining the requirements of feeding and caring for feathered refer to the pet store or a section of the amateur poultry. At home, the birds are kept in cages, aviaries or cages. Of the herbivorous birds can live in captivity sparrow grosbeak, finch, linnet, bunting, waxwing, bird, bullfinch, siskin, goldfinch, from insectivorous – lark, robin, common nightingale, singing thrush, nuthatch, starling, wagtail other. The most common is domestic content of exotic birds, especially parrots. They are all herbivorous, and many of them well to imitate human speech and are long-lived (live 50 – 80 years). Among poultry in the territory of Russia, the most common budgerigar, finch rack, parrot, gray parrot, pink cockatoos, and others.

When breeding wild or domestic mammals, in addition to the conditions and feeding, it is necessary to consider a number of ethical and sometimes legal issues. All mammals have well-developed psychic, teachable, trainable, responsive to affection and pain. In this regard, human relationships with them are governed by a number of legal acts: the rules of detention, transportation, quarantine, the decrees of the responsibility for cruelty to animals, etc. But there are unwritten laws of kindness and humanity. Therefore, to decide on the content of the mammals in the house should be, considering its capabilities and features of the animal.

From wild animals at home can live successfully protein, hedgehog, loir, hamster (Syrian or Central Asian).

Of the 300 breeds of dogs in the home would be best to include decorative. This variety of poodles, terriers, as well as Western and Oriental decorative dog (Maltese lap dog, or french, dwarf Pinscher, Pug, French Bulldog, Japanese Chin, Pekingese, and others).The plant in the house dog of any breed, it must be remembered that it is not a toy, but above all else and demands appropriate attention. Dog – the most loyal, selfless, forgiving, and understanding to each lot. Quite a few pleasant minutes delivers the contents of the house and different types of cats. They, like dogs, are the most common domestic mammals.

Any pets in the house – is not only worries and troubles, but above all it is an immeasurable joy of living creatures, with a part of nature.

Leukemia Virus in Cats.

Feline Leukemia Virus (WFC, FeLV, or from the English. Feline leukemia virus) – this is a well-known killer. FeLV weakens the immune system and also has a direct impact on the development of cancer in infected cats. This disease is considered the most dangerous infection in cats, resulting in death.
Although there is a vaccine against this deadly disease, they do not always give a positive result. As in the case of FIV, the best way to protect your cat from leukemia – to do the appropriate tests and to protect it from infected animals. Ideally, this means to keep her indoors only, one or the other, also non-infected cats.
Do tests to all new cats or kittens before bringing them into his house, where there are other cats. (Prior to vaccinate an animal, at first he in any case, do an analysis on the FeLV.) Your cats should also make the tests again after they have been in contact with potential carriers of FeLV, especially if your cat is bitten. Symptoms vary FeLV, so sick cat should be tested for FeLV. Cats walking on the street, or those who have been in contact with potential carriers of FeLV, testing should be done annually.
Most vets do a combined analysis for FIV and FeLV, which allows to determine the presence of both of these viral diseases with one blood sampling.
FeLV – this is very serious. Do not allow yourself to succumb to self-pity and take home a cat, she is not making pre-analysis on FeLV, especially if you are already living in the house of other cats. By doing so, you may be putting at risk the lives of their pet cats. But if it did happen and you find that allowed their contact with domestic cats FeLV-infected animals, do not panic. Isolate from infected their cats and take them to tests in accordance with the instructions of a veterinarian. After a contact transmission can not occur. Sometimes it takes a long time and repeated contact. So hope for the best and avoid further contact.
But what if analysis on your cat has FeLV was positive? The first thing you must understand that being a carrier of the virus does not mean to be sick. Some, in other respects healthy cats with a positive response to FeLV, live for months or even years without any symptoms of the disease. If an infected cat is the only thing your pet, the following guidelines. First, do not let her out, she was unable to infect other cats, as well as pick up any infections from them. Second, spend all the necessary preventive measures, the cat is not sick with something else, and collaborate with your veterinarian to diagnose and cure time associated with any FeLV disease that can develop in cats.
Most often the disease occurs in the form of lymphosarcoma, in particular the thymus. At the same time by progressive atrophy of the thymus and increases immunosuppression, neutropenia is detected. Sometimes the disease is in the form of myeloid leukemia. Sick cats are particularly susceptible to the virus to others, as well as to bacterial and fungal infections.
Symptoms. Cat exhausted, say fever, anorexia, lethargy, pallor of mucous membranes, glossitis, stomatitis, frequent breast cancer, glomerulonephritis, skin disease (demodicosis, sarcoptic mange), secondary infection. Signs of immune deficiency anemia, decreased hematocrit, atrophy of the thymus, and lymph nodes.

There are several options of the disease:
approximately 30% of the body produces antibodies, and the animal overcomes the viral infection;
40% of asymptomatic carriage is possible FeLV – these cats are the most dangerous source of infection of other cats, but eventually most of them due to the progressive destruction of immune system is developing one of the diseases peculiar to leukemia virus;
30% – a viral infection leads to severe neoplastic diseases of the lymphoid organs (lymphoma, lymphosarcoma).
In the diagnosis of particular importance is the identification of serum viral antigen p27 by using solid-phase enzyme immunoassay method (ELISA) and immunofluorescence analysis. According to recent data, a crucial role in determining the outcome of FeLV-infection in vaccinated cats or animals recovering from illness, acquired in a natural way to play a FeLV-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes.
In contrast to FIV, FeLV virus can be defeated by the immune system of many cats. It is therefore important in two to three months after receiving (and confirmation) of a positive analysis for FeLV do retested.

Conjunctivitis in Birds.

Conjunctivitis – an inflammation of the conjunctiva – a transparent mucous membrane connecting the eye that covers the rear surface of the eyelids and front of the eye to the cornea.

The most frequent causes of disease – irritation of the eyes with smoke, corrosive gases, as well as – dust and other foreign bodies in the eye. It is known that small birds love to rub his head on the perch, especially after bathing. If the perch is dirty, they can clog the eye. On the tits, which are more likely to rub his head on the perch, why they occur frequently and conjunctivitis, in the past bird lovers say that they are overwritten by the eye.

In canaries and other birds conjunctivitis may develop after prolonged feeding of cannabis. In this case, along with eye disease occurs and intestinal disorders. Inflammation of the conjunctiva in birds is related to indoor common, especially during the cold season, with cooling, if the cell is close to the vents or the bird is on the draft.

Connecting the eye mucous membrane contact with air and the environment. Therefore, in the conjunctive bags are always a variety of microorganisms. In clinically healthy parrots, for example, is dominated by staphylococci and other gram-positive bacteria. By reducing the body’s protective properties of these and other microbes can cause inflammation of the conjunctiva. It develops and diseases of internal organs, beriberi, and – in infectious diseases.

Symptoms. In acute conjunctivitis, mucous membrane reddens and swells, develops photophobia. Therefore, the birds keep your eyes closed or half closed. Discharge from the eye slit first liquid, and later – mucous or thick, opaque and purulent. These secretions accumulate in the inner corner of the eye in the form of clumps or filaments, glue eyelids.

Treatment. His start to eliminate the cause of the disease. Conjunctivitis, which developed because of the cold go away if you put a cell to another place and the bird will stay warm. In order not to happen, “mashing” the eye, you need to constantly monitor the purity of perches. In the event of illness due to improper feeding should begin to give the bird food, which meets the needs of the species.

The eyes of birds washed with fresh urine, the holy water (water with silver).

Diseases caused by adverse temperature conditions.

For too long exposure to cold on the body heat loss compensation is broken. In fish, both cold-blooded animals with falling ambient temperature decreases and body temperature. At the same time inhibited the function of the midbrain (cold anesthesia), and then suppressed by the hypothalamus and other centers of the central nervous system, blood pressure falls, breathing movements gill covers are rare. There is hypoglycemia, ie, decreases the amount of sugar in the blood. The central nervous system is particularly sensitive to the lack of sugar, as it has no glycogen. During prolonged hypoglycemia in nerve cells, irreversible changes. With a deep and prolonged hypothermia decreases the intensity and nature of the changes of metabolism – manifested, for example, anaerobic glycolysis, which goes to the autolysis and death comes first individual cells, and then the whole body.

Resistance to the cooling depends on the state (the total resistance, fatness, age, etc.).The main cause of death of the organism from prolonged hypothermia is considered to tissue hypoxia and irreversible changes in the nervous system. Fish can live for a long time without food, but can not tolerate oxygen deprivation, even for a short period (from several minutes to several hours). In some cases, even in nature there are cases of mass death of fish with a sharp and significant reduction in water temperature (for a day or two), and the reason it is not the freezing of tissue fluid and the cooling of the protoplasm, a violation of the reactivity of the protein, leading to a profound disturbance of metabolism.

Gradual changes in temperature are rarely a threat to the health and lives of fish, while the sharp fluctuations can cause severe stress, resulting in significantly reduced fish resistance to disease. Temperature shock syndrome is well known, and should be avoided. Translate fish from one setting to another should be gradual, so that the temperature difference does not exceed 3-5 ° C.

Temperature not only affects the functioning of the body of fish, but also affects the occurrence of disease may contribute to the development of parasites. It is known that some infectious diseases of fish occur in the relatively cold water (10-12 ° C), the other most urgent occur at higher temperatures (20-25 ° C) – here are aeromonosis (rubella), inflammation of the swim bladder  other. At low water temperatures the fish are suspended or slowed physiological functions of the body, breaks down the nervous system, respiration, circulation, and the formation of blood clots inside the blood vessels in and out, damaged gill apparatus.

Too high water temperature also causes disruption of the body of fish. Thus, even for short periods of high temperature “fired” gill lobes, and the skin appears whitish intense mucosal plaque. Gill petals fish become anemic, covered with slime, there is a rupture of the capillaries, there is bleeding. After some time, is necrotic decay and complete destruction of the gill filaments. On the gills of the affected areas settled saprophytic fungi and bacteria develops the disease process, and there is a fish kill.

Exposure to high temperatures in the presence of other unfavorable factors (especially the accumulation of water in the tank of a large amount of organic matter, high content of ammonia, etc.) causes an outbreak branhiomikoza.  At high water temperatures dramatically exacerbated during aeromonosis (rubella) and swim bladder inflammation, accompanied by mass mortality of fish. In addition, depending on the temperature of the water appear a number of pathogens associated diseases. During the above-mentioned infectious diseases is complicated by the massive development of Ichthyophthirius, Dactylogyrus, and other agents of invasive disease. Some of these parasites are cold-loving, others – heat-loving. So, Costia necatris preferred temperature 10-22 ° C, Ichthyophthirius – 20-26 ° C, Dactylogyrus vestator – 24-28 ° C. At these temperatures, there are outbreaks of epizootic diseases of the: kostioza, ihtioftirioza, dactylogyrosis. All these temperature zones are safe, secure oxygen, carbon dioxide poor water with neutral reaction (pH = 7,0-7,1).

With the deterioration of environmental conditions decreasing the stability of the fish as too high and to very low temperatures. It should also be remembered that with increase in temperature increases the toxicity to fish and other aquatic organisms most chemicals.

From the above it follows that the temperature of water is an essential life-sustaining factor in the aquarium, which is the correct use can avoid a lot of trouble for their pets.

Vaccination of dogs: why and how to carry out.

Active prevention of diseases in dogs – tips and warnings

It’s no secret that dogs, like people who are at risk of contracting infectious diseases. Beloved pets await such a dangerous and common viral infections like enteritis, hepatitis, leptospirosis, plague and rabies. Reliable protection from these diseases – preventive vaccination.

The action is to develop a vaccine for dogs long active immunity. Vaccine should be distinguished from serum, which are intended for the treatment of infectious diseases, as initiated by passive immunity for a short time.

Vaccines.

In order not to harm the poor pet vaccination, the vaccine must be purchased in pharmacies and clinics. Domestic and imported vaccines are available in two types: monovalent, containing a vaccine against the disease, and polyvalent – against a few at a time.

Despite the fact that in the first year of life the puppy will have to move 4.5 shots, first make better use of monovalent vaccine. They contribute to the development of a reliable immunity. To support the existing immunity of adult dogs suitable polyvalent vaccine.

Before the vaccine.

At the beginning of life the baby is protected by maternal immunity, which he was still in the embryonic period and then with colostrum. If the month puppy ate exclusively breast milk, and not go outside the apartment, in respect of infectious he is healthy. On the walk baby should be protected from dangerous contact with the environment and keep it on hand. This is extremely important, because you can only vaccinate healthy puppy.

Before you make a good shot to watch the appetite, stool, pet behavior. The temperature ranges from healthy dogs 38-39 degrees. Measure the temperature should be several times a day, not less than 15 minutes after waking up and eating. Such observations will help determine how well the dog suffered a vaccine.

Weakens the body is the presence of a puppy worms, they emit toxins inhibit the immune system. Therefore, prior to vaccination is important to get rid of parasites

When and how to vaccinate dogs.

The first preventive vaccine made against enteritis and hepatitis at the age of six weeks. Approximately two weeks later to repeat vaccination. The same amount of time necessary for sustainable production of immunity in dogs to these diseases for the year. Then, a repeat vaccination. Usually, puppies are easy to carry this vaccine.

No earlier than two and a half months of a puppy vaccinated against plague. Later, the vaccine is dangerous to do. After this vaccination complications are possible, so be a long quarantine period of three weeks, during which pet are immune to the plague. At this time the dog can not walk, run down, too cold, and wash.

When the puppy will grow all the permanent teeth, in about seven months old, vaccinated against distemper repeat. Then do it every year at the same time.

When the dog turns four months, you can vaccinate against leptospirosis. Puppies up to six months, the vaccine is administered again after six months if the dog is older, vaccination is repeated in a year.
Completes an annual list of vaccinations against rabies vaccinations. Allowed to make such a shot with a six-month old, but in practice often comes after eight months, when the booster will be held against the plague. Vaccination against rabies is carried by dogs is not easy. So within two weeks after vaccination is necessary to observe a strict quarantine.
Visit our Veterinary Supplies.