How To Know If Your Pet Bird is Sick

Birds make great companions for someone who doesn’t want a major responsibility. Even with a bird, though, it is important to know when they are sick so that you can get them the proper treatment.

Birds are delicate animals. Their bodies have a small, lightweight bone structure which allows them to fly. Because they are so tiny, an illness can end their lives just like that.

Symptoms of Illness in pet birds

Talk to your veterinarian. They can help you to identify different symptoms of possible illness in your bird. It will require attentiveness on your part so that you know immediately when you need to take action.

Appetite Changes

A bird, just like a person, may respond to illness with either weight gain or weight loss. You would think it would be easy to tell with a bird but it is not always. Often, they will ruffle their feathers when there is a problem. This can hide weight loss.

A bird that consistently seems to be eating more than normal may have a parasite. Taking him to the vet could reveal that he has diabetes or that he just needs more nutrient intake because he has become more active, such as socializing with new birds in the flight cage.

Feather Issues

Like we just stated ruffling of the feathers can hide weight loss. But, ruffled feathers can also indicate that there is some sort of respiratory problem going on with your pet bird.

When feathers begin to fall out, this can indicate that something serious is going on also. Molting is a part of a bird’s development and they will lose feathers. But with French molt, the bird loses its feathers that it needs to fly. It will recover but it can be a sign of stress in the bird’s life or serious illness.

Runny Cere

Right above the beak are two tiny nostrils for the bird to breathe. This is what passes for his nose. If you notice that this area is red, runny or there is inflammation, your bird could be suffering from an infection of some sort. If they sneeze, it might indicate a cold, but even that can be caused by changes in his environment that you may need to pay attention to.

Eye Problems

Bird eyes are vibrant and clear normally. Eyes that are cloudy or have discharge coming from them could indicate a problem with the respiratory system. Other problems are also indicted by cloudy eyes: psittacosis, muscle disorders or a problem with the nervous system.

Beak changes

The bird’s beak is quite useful. It cracks seeds and helps them vocalize. If you notice cracks in the beak or color changes, consult with your vet immediately. The problem could be poor nutrition, infection or injury sustained by the bird.

How is your pet bird feeling today? If you don’t know, check him out and get help for him immediately. Please also check out Animal-World’s Bird Care page!

Cat Breeds: The American Shorthair

Have you looked at your cat lately? If he doesn’t look like any of the more unusual cats with long foreign-sounding names, then he just might be an American Shorthair.

History

The story of this cat is one for the history books. We often think of dogs as work animals, assisting their human masters on the farm and in the home. If that is so then this cat would be the feline counterpart.

He came over on the Mayflower, circa 1620. The American Shorthair is known as a working class cat often doing daily labor alongside the Pilgrims. Over the years, this strong English breed’s bloodline was diluted. In the early 1900′s those who loved the loyalty, feistiness and work ethic of the original shorthair tried to breed out the other traits and return this beautiful cat to its origins.

Have you seen one lately? Of course you have. They come in a variety of colors including: black, white, reds, grays, browns, creams, silver and tabby mixes. Usually their eyes, foot pads and their noses will match their coloring in some way. Their coloring runs the gamut and results in some beautiful combinations.

They have strong legs and paws. Their muzzle is short and they have thick fur that is close to the skin. In the winter it is thicker than in the summer so that it protects them from injury and the elements.

Temperament

You won’t find a better or more amiable cat. He is quite athletic and loves to run, jump and play. Originally brought on the Atlantic crossing to protect the food stores from mice, this cat has excellent hunting instincts.

On the other hand, he gets along well with dogs and children. He likes to be petted and played with but isn’t necessarily a lap cat. This breed is also highly intelligent.

Care

Care of cats is usually not a big issue since they are used to self grooming. With this variety, it gets even easier than that. They shed more in the spring than in the winter but even then the hairs are minimal.

In order to keep him looking fresh and groomed, regular brushing is all you need. Occasionally wiping his coat with a chamois will keep it shiny and vibrant. This can also help cut down on hairballs.

The American Shorthair tends to become overweight rather easily. For this reason it is recommended that you don’t give them too many treats and provide lots of exercise. With proper care they can live for 15 or 20 years.

Training

These cats really aren’t much of a discipline problem. When they are kittens, train them not to bite and scratch and they will learn to be well-behaved cats.

One of the most likeable cat breeds among Americans is the Shorthair. They are cute, easy to groom and good in family settings. For more information on American Shorthair Cats as pets, visit Animal-World’s American Shorthair page!

Reef Tanks – Mini Reef Aquarium Guide

Reef Tanks
Mini Reef Aquarium Guide

"Reef aquarium setup. How to set up any reef, large reef tanks to Nano reef tanks, Pico and MIcro reefs too!"

Mini Reef Aquariums can be as small or large as you want – from only a few gallons to

hundreds of gallons!

A mini reef is an aquarium set up in one’s home that keeps corals, invertebrates, and fish from the ocean that are allowed to be kept as pets. They can make for a very lively and entertaining centerpiece in your home! There is even rock used in reef aquariums called “live rock” due to all the little organisms that live and grow on it!

Actual reef aquariums differ from the a regular saltwater aquarium because they have actual corals, invertebrates and anemones rather than just fish with fake decorations in the tank… Read More!

The Kenya Tree Coral

Kenya Tree Coral
Capnella sp.
"I’m just an easy care beauty that will grow like a weed, a saltwater weed that is!"

The Kenya Tree Coral is a great soft coral for beginners!

The Kenya Tree Coral Capnella sp. is extremely hardy once established in an aquarium and easily propagated. This makes them a very good beginner coral. It is definitely the strongest coral of all the Nephtheidae family genera and most people have vast success with them. As a matter of fact, they are so easily grown and kept that if you are part of a reef club or know people with reefs, many people will give one of theirs for free!… Read More

A Saltwater Aquarium Guide – How To Set Up a Saltwater Aquarium

Saltwater Aquarium Guide
Setting up a Saltwater Aquarium
"Super Quick Guide – Beginner saltwater aquarium setup in five easy steps! All you need… supplies, setup, cycling, and fish!”

Anyone can keep a saltwater aquarium! If you so desire and are dedicated, you can begin

keeping many types of marine life!

Many types of marine life – including fish, invertebrates and corals are available to keep in a home saltwater aquarium. Owning and maintaining a saltwater fish tank can be extremely fun and exciting because of this, regardless of whether you are just starting out or not!

Check out Animal-World’s Quick Guide to a beginner’s saltwater aquarium! It gives an outline in five steps, including needed supplies, building the aquarium, cycling the aquarium, and how to introduce your fish… Read More!

Animal-World’s Featured Pet of the Week – The Australian Shepherd

Animal-World’s Featured Pet for this week is: The Australian Shepherd!

If you want a very high-energy, playful, and fun dog around, Australian Shepherds meet all of those parameters and more! They are popular as ranch dogs because of how much energy they have and can be very useful as herding dogs and just plain fun to have around. My main experience with Australian Shepherds was during college. I met a friend there who had a ‘mini’ ranch with several horses and other animals, including a couple Australian Shepherds. I would often go out to go horseback riding with her and her two dogs would always tag along with us on the rides – running along beside us and exploring as we went. They were very friendly dogs and loved when I would come over.

The name “Australian Shepherd” is a little misleading because these dogs are not from Australia! They were actually developed completely in the United States in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. There is variation in why people believe it has the name it has. It could be because of their blue merle coloring common to Aussies, the possibility that their lineage comes from Australia, or maybe because many Australian ranchers who came over to the U.S. took them in as ranch dogs. It is not sure exactly what breeds were used to develop the Australian Shepherd, but it is thought to be from other sheepdogs and collies.

Because of how friendly, energetic, and playful these dogs are, training is usually pretty easy! They love to please! This makes training fun for you as the owner and helps create a bond between you. They can learn to do just about anything you want them to, including many sports activities. Ideally, you should provide them with “work” to do that keeps them busy and gives them plenty of exercise. At the very least, make sure that you provide them with daily walks and plenty of room to play while not on the leash. This makes them a good pet when you have a large backyard or lots of acreage. They are not generally recommended as apartment dogs.

They are easy enough to care for, as long as you are a dedicated dog owner. They can have coats that are either wavy or straight and is short everywhere except on the backs of the forelegs and around it’s head. They only need moderate grooming to keep their hair from becoming matted. They do shed, so if they are kept indoors regularly, vacuuming will most likely be needed often. They also only need occasional baths. Make sure to feed them a good quality dog food that is meant for Australian Shepherds, or feed them a diet consisting of oats, wheat, potatoes, lamb and poultry.

There are a few health problems that these dogs are prone to. The most common problem is Collie eye anomaly and cataracts. Dogs that are bred irresponsibly can be blind. When purchasing an Australian Shepherd, make sure that you are obtaining your dog from a reputable breeder and that two dogs containing the merle genes were not bred together, as this gene combination is much more likely to produce offspring with health problems. Other health problems occurring in these dogs are hip dysplasia, thyroid problems, and Pelger-Huet syndrome.

These dogs often run from $300 to $600 and are found almost anywhere in the United States.

If you are looking for a fun and energetic dog, be sure to check out Animal-World’s page on Australian Shepherds!

Jasmine is a team member at Animal-World and has contributed many articles and write-ups.

Mutation Cat Breeds

Mutation Cat Breeds
"There’s always an odd-ball in every family,… but when what’s "odd" is so darn cute, it becomes a whole new super cat!"

Breeds of cats that feature mutations are some of most interesting breeds!

Cat breeds that feature mutations have been developed specifically for those mutations. These include, short legs, folded ears, and sometimes extra toes! These mutations all occur naturally and are then bred by humans to keep those mutations and enhance them. Most of these breeds are recognized by cat associations only fairly recently. This is in comparison to natural cat breeds which have been recognized for a much longer time… Read more

Dog Breeds: The German Shepherd

You have probably seen this dog in a variety of places including the workplace. German Shepherds are work dogs with a noble German heritage.

History

This dog has its origins in Germany. As the name suggests, they are descended from herding dogs – sheepdogs from the German mountain regions. There these dogs have long hair, short hair and wire hair varieties.

The dog was popular in the early 1900′s due to the strict breeding and training tactics of a man named Captain Max Von Stephanitz. After World War II this changed as people had associated the dog with the infamous leader Adolph Hitler. British breeders adopted the dog and gradually changed its name to try and bring back the popularity but without the stigmatic associations.

This breed is popular in America and has been for years. They are known for their fearlessness, strength, intelligence and obedience.

Temperament

To look at them, you may think that they will bite your leg off, but this dog actually has a loyal and protective quality. In the home with young children, they are loving and gentle, requiring constant interaction with their families. They are also good with other animals in the home.

Because this is a pack dog, it is important to establish who the “alpha dog” is right away. They will assume that position if their master is timid or inconsistent in behavior in any way. From then on, you will have a problem with discipline unless you step up and show that you are in control.

Because of their fearlessness, they make good service dogs. You may have seen them in the K-9 unit as police dogs. Many use them as guard dogs and watchdogs. Disability services also train them to be guide dogs for the visually, hearing or mentally impaired.

Care

This dog is a heavy shedder. It can have a long, short or wire coat. His coat is medium length, straight but coarse or rough feeling to the touch. It is also dense and thicker in the winter. His coat can come in a variety of colors including tan and black, solid black, black and cream and black and silver.

For best results, use a dog rake on their hair daily. This removes loose hairs and can minimize shedding. Refrain from bathing (once or twice a year at most) as this can remove helpful oils from their skin and hair.

German Shepherds are prone to a few diseases. For that reason, regular vet visits are recommended. They may develop: hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, eczema, epilepsy, digestive issues and flea allergies.

Training

As we said, this pack dog needs to know who is boss right away. They are highly intelligent and respond to firm training and a reward system. They excel at agility, obedience, tracking and schutzhund. When exercising, keep them on a short leash beside or behind you.

Are you looking for a family dog that is also a great protector and worker? Try the German Shepherd. To read more on these dogs as pets, check out Animal-World’s German Shepherd Dog page!

The Knobby False Coral

Knobby False Coral
"What’s with this ‘knobby’ stuff? Don’t you think they should name me for my best attributes? After all I am the most colorful mushroom coral in the world!"

The Knobby False Coral can be expensive due to its brilliant colors!

The Knobby False Coral is another coral that belongs to the Ricordea genus and they have a large variety of amazing and beautiful colors. This makes them very sought after for coral enthusiasts! The more colorful and brilliant their colors, the more they cost. However, if you can get them to breed/multiply then you may be able to recover some of that cost. The other popular coral from this genus is the Florida False Coral R. florida… Read more

Malawi Cichlids – Haps

Malawi Cichlids – Haps
"The popular Haplochromis Cichlids and Utaka Cichlids are some very special cichlid beauties from Africa. Facts about their unique habitats, behaviors, and tips for their aquarium care!"

Malawi Cichlids, also called, Haps, are one of the most colorful fish around the world!

The beautiful Malawi cichlids often display bright colors, iridescents, or striking patterns. Many are only surpassed in beauty by the most magnificent specimens of marine tropical fishes.

Lake Malawi Cichlids from Africa have quite interesting behaviors, are very active, and most of them have successfully been bred in captivity. The Malawi Cichlids are very popular among aquarists, due to their beauty and personalities… Read more

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