A pet can make the house a homely place to be and there are more and more pet owners in the UK today. Choosing a right and healthy pet can create a special and lasting relation for both of you.
Being an important member of the family, your pet will bring joy and happiness to those around you, but you have to look after its health and make sure it lives as long as possible. Don’t rush into the adoption of a new animal before you know more about pet heath and how this may impact on you, the owner.
Although a pet can bring many benefits to your family, you should also make sure that it isn’t going to harm your health. Every pet carries some germs and these may affect your family in the form of allergies for example, so it is important to try and minimise the health issues animals pose to your family.
Animals can suffer with a wide range of problems from internal parasites to skin problems, and these can be quite common in all pets, so be sure to make pet health your number one priority to reduce the chances of the pet getting ill.
Due to all these unexpected illnesses and accidents, many insurance companies provide pet health insurance. This helps you to take care of your pet from accidental injuries, emergencies and illnesses and also routine care. Head online and see if there is a great quote available.
Prevention is always better the cure so it’s good to consult any vet before owning an animal. If you go online then you will able to find valuable information too.
Get your pet health knowledge up to scratch and your pet will love you forever and live for as long as possible.
Filed under Animal Info by on Oct 27th, 2009. Comment. 
Salmonella and Our Pets -With the recent Peanut Butter Recall, Salmonella once more has become headline news. Salmonella is a bacterium that can affect both humans and animals and can be passed from human to animal and animal to humans (reverse zoonotic disease). Most infections occur through ingestion of contaminated food or water or through close contact with an infected host. In the Peanut Butter recall, contaminated peanuts were used as a flavoring or an additive in products including pet food and treats. Luckily, most dogs and cats infrequently develop disease, but handling the infected treats and then handling food or not washing your hands after handling infected products can transmit the bacteria to humans.
Salmonella infection can result in acute diarrhea, vomiting and dehydration. Babies, the elderly and immune suppressed are more susceptible to infection and can be exposed by contact with pets or humans harboring the bacteria without showing symptoms. In infants, the elderly and the immune suppressd, Salmonellosis can cause debilitating illness, or even death. Salmonella is most often found in raw meat, poultry, eggs and sometimes vegetables
Cooking products to the proper temperature kills the bacteria. Most often, infections occur with cross contamination, such as cutting raw meat on a cutting board and then cutting vegetables for the salad on the same cutting board or handling a contaminated product then eating or handling food without washing hands. Most disinfectants and dilute bleach will kill the bacteria. Feeding raw meat, poultry or eggs to pets can result with Salmonella infection in our pets. Since some pets may not develop symptoms but harbor the bacteria, they may pass Salmonella in their feces for months and may cause infections in humans.
What can you do to reduce your exposure to Salmonella?
- Always cook food thoroughly. Do not ingest drinks or foods containing raw eggs (This includes licking the beaters when making cake mixes, a bad habit I am most guilty of)
- Wash hands after handling raw meats, poultry, and pets: especially turtles, baby chicks, reptiles and pet feces.
- Wash hand before eating. (Mothers are always right)
- Wash utensils, cutting boards and plates after handling raw meat and poultry. (When grilling, always use a different plate when taking the cooked meat off the grill.)
- Do not feed pets raw meat, poultry or eggs.
- Wash hands after handling pet treats (pig ears, rawhides, peanut butter treats) or after playing with pets, especially turtles, birds, baby chicks and reptiles.
- To prevent cross contamination, wash hands after changing diapers and after handling raw foods.
- If you are served undercooked meats at a restarurant, do not hesitate to send it back for further cooking. Also, you may want to ask for fresh salsa if it looks like it may have been left out too long. Salsa dips have been a source of Salmonella infections in the past.
- Carry a hand sanitizer in your purse or car as extra protection when there is no running water.
I have more tips and links to web sites concerning the Salmonella Peanut Butter recall at LuvUrDog.com/ You can also view Facts about Salmonella at CDC.org.
Filed under Animal Info by on May 6th, 2009. Comment.
Having pets around is like being with a friend or a family. They should be loved and cared for just like anybody else. Some people treat their pets as a part of their lives, while some are too busy to look out for them. Luckily when this happen there is always a pet sitter available to do the job for you.
Pet sitter is a service provider who takes care of pets in the comforts of their own homes. They devote their time and effort to make sure that your pets are well look out for. These pet sitters are trained to do their jobs well. There are a lot of advantages for you and your animal friend when acquiring the services of a pet sitter.
These are several advantages and services provided in hiring a pet sitter:
– Your pet will be more comfortable and familiar at their own home. They will not be distracted or confused with other animals and activities at the kennel.
– You can avoid the long duration of transporting your pet from the house to the kennel. And will allow the pet to evade certain travel traumas.
– Your pet will be cared and loved for by a pet sitter who they are familiar with. A pet sitter will also give the necessary attention for your animal friend.
– The activities of your pet and the sitter will make your home more protected and secured from burglary while youíre away for work or a trip.
– Some additional services like picking your mail and taking care of plants can be offered by the pet sitter.
– The pets are kept away from specific sickness and parasites from other animals in the kennel.
– You don’t have to oblige a relative, friend or neighbor to look out for your pet.
– Normal routines will be achieved because there are no sudden changes in environment.
– Some kennel recommends vaccinations to be taken, for pet sitting there ís no need for that.
– Walking and giving a proper exercise for your pet can also be done by a pet sitter.
– Managing feeding diets for the pets.
– Other pet sitters can train your animals with attentiveness. These are services that can be provided by a professional pet sitter
– Picking up the droppings and cleaning them is one of the jobs of a pet sitter.
These are the many positive advantages when getting the help of a pet sitter. And this is probably the best and effective way to prove and establish more love, affection, care, and concern to your animal friend while you are away.
Today, pet sitters are widely recognized in the market as an important provider of pet care services. You can get the services of these pet sitters from a variety of sources. You can look via the internet or find a pet sitter near your neighborhood.
You may be occupied or busy for work or a vacation lately, and you may definitely hire a pet sitter along the way. When you do that, always remember that your pet is very much secured and happily waiting for you when you get home.
Pet Sitting Long Island specializes in all kinds of Animal Care help. If you are in need of a Pet Sitters Long Island then you need look no further. For even more great advice and articles about Long Island Dog Walkers stop by today!
Filed under Animal Info by on Apr 29th, 2009. Comment.
