Cats are known for their crazy antics and acrobatics, but take a look at an older cat and you quickly realize the difficulty these geriatric pets have in performing even the simple tasks they used to do every day—jumping onto a favorite couch or pouncing at a toy mouse. Many of these feline friends suffer more than just the aches and pains of old age. They have a condition called osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint disease that progresses with age and affects about 75 percent of senior cats.

With Morris Animal Foundation pilot-study funding, researchers at the University of Montreal are studying osteoarthritis in a new way, by looking at both the behavior and anatomy of cats with the disease. The scientists are using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology to look at joint damage in the hip lumbar region, elbows and knees of a dozen felines. In animals with the disease, the normal cartilage cushion in the joint breaks down, and the bones rub against each other, often causing bone spurs. Unfortunately, evidence of joint disease doesn’t always show up on traditional X-rays, and it can be difficult for even an experienced veterinarian to make the correct diagnosis.

“Underdiagnosis of the disease is leading to undermanagement of osteoarthritis in cats, and also underdevelopment of products dedicated to managing feline osteoarthritis,” says Dr. Eric Troncy, professor at the University of Montreal. He says MRI is much more sensitive in showing structural changes in the limbs of cats, which can help veterinarians identify joint disease.

Cats with osteoarthritis often have an altered gait and put more weight on their unaffected limbs. So, researchers are also developing a pain scale and a quality-of-life scale, using quantitative gait analysis and telemetered locomotor activity monitors to record how the disease affects the animal’s function levels.

This is the first study aimed at validating both the objective and subjective pain of osteoarthritis, and Dr. Troncy hopes the results will help his team develop an effective treatment for this painful condition. Currently, there is no approved method for alleviating the long-term pain of joint disease in cats, but the results of the study may allow researchers to look at drugs or nonconventional painkillers to help manage the disease.

“This would represent a huge change for cat osteoarthritis management and welfare,” says Dr. Troncy. With proper disease management, older cats may find themselves with a bit more spring in their steps.

About the Author: About Morris Animal Foundation:

Morris Animal Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit established in 1948, is dedicated to funding animal health research that protects, treats and cures companion animals, horses and wildlife. MAF has been at the forefront of funding breakthrough research studies benefiting animals on all seven continents. MAF has its headquarters in Denver. Charity Navigator ranks MAF as a four-star charity, the highest rating. MAF is a BBB Wise Giving Alliance Charity Seal Holder. For more information, call 800.243.2345 or visit MorrisAnimalFoundation.org.

If you want to make training cockatiels easy it is very important to buy a young bird. It is better if you buy it from a breeder because you can just ask them about its age.
If you want to make training cockatiels easy it is very important to buy a young bird. It is better if you buy it from a breeder because you can just ask them about its age. It is more difficult if you purchase your bird from a pet shop, you have to check its leg band/ring, but because not all Malaysian cockatiels wear leg bands/rings the shop assistant may not be able to help you with this information.
For training cockatiels purposes it is necessary to keep your bird in a small cage at first which is not heavy and easy to maneuver. Do not start with big outdoor cages or aviaries. Choose a small cage with excellent perching material, combination of fresh water and good food. Choose the proper place for the cage, for example it could be the living room where all family spends time together, doing different things, like watching television or other activities. It is very important for the cockatiels to get used to the environment and people around them, the more people and noise the better for the bird. Otherwise you will have nervous bird, difficult for training cockatiels. You have to observe the cockatiel, when he seems that he does not care about the surrounding activities and noise, he will start to preen his feathers, your bird is then comfortable and ready for training.
You have to be patient during the training cockatiel process so only one or two sessions should be done per day. But it is also important that the sessions are maintained, at least once a day, even if you are short of time. The period depends on the individual bird characteristics. Some cockatiels are faster learners than others. Anyway, do not be in a hurry and do not use gloves.
It is important at the beginning not to be too close to the cage to avoid scaring the bird and to give him time to adjust. This does not mean that you have to be far away, just keep the proper distance not to make the bird nervous but also to show him that you are observing him. Choose a name for the bird and use it each time when you approach him. At the end of the day the cockatiel will recognize his name and will understand that you are calling him. Also you should use his name and call it softly each time when you give him food .By doing this, you will make training cockatiel process easier and your bird will trust you by hearing your voice.
Respect your bird, show him that you are friend and treat him as a friend. Call his name and talk to him each time you approach him or when you feed him, try to understand which his favorite food is and reward him with it whenever he behaves in the desired way during training cockatiels.
The second stage for training cockatiels is to accept your presence while you are feeding him, do not just leave the food, wait near the cage and observe him .If the cockatiel hesitates to take the food, encourage him by moving a few steps away from the cage. At the moment when he takes the food without hesitation you will know what is his “own space” is. Do this exercise every day and you will notice that this “space” will become smaller and smaller and the distance will be shorter. Of course you have to be patient because it will take time. Be sure that the bird is comfortable, if you notice that the cockatiel is tense and nervous; enlarge the distance between you and the bird. This is very important and the only way to win his trust.
When the second stage is fully completed, it is the time for the third stage. Now you have to train cockatiels to take food from your hand. You can start by giving him his favorite food by standing by the cage. Reduce the amount of the food so the bird might need more. Show him that you are holding his food in your hand and offer it to him for him to take it. If the cockatiel refuses to do it, just leave the food in the food container .Repeat this activity until the bird feels more confident and takes the food from your hand. It is important for you to give him additional amount of his favorite food to his normal diet from your hand. Do not starve him, it is not ethical and may slow down the process. It may take several months to achieve this; it depends on individual characteristics of your bird. It is worth taking your time with this. Afterwards you will be proud that you are able to do this and you will have a much better understanding and relationship with your bird.

About the Author: Limoeg Veigroeg is owner and editor of www.birdscomfort.com and www.mybirdcage.com where you can find high quality bird cages. Birds Comfort and My Bird Cage provides detailed information in bird cages sale, as well as hq bird cages, cage covers, bird carriers, HQ play stands, bird perches, bird toys, and bird foods.

It is given that the cat is an adorable and endearing pet. Nevertheless if it starts to disorder the house with all its litter, then it starts to nark the heck out of a vendor. What to do? Of course, cat education campaign are there to solve this trouble. Remember that a cat is intelligent, hence recurrent induce from the landlord and assistance from an exercise method can thrash out a litter-limitless, prudent fund.

Here are some of the cat guidance policy that can magically transform a misbehaved pet to an obedient one:

1. “The Potty-Cat”

This eccentric and cute-looking organism is magnetism of sorts as it has everything – a neat handbook and the emblem that can instruct the cat lacking him conscious about it! No more foul litter, just a smart-aleck of a cat! Incredible and genuine!

2. “Pet Agree Training Device”

What does it do? Its ultrasonic structure emits sounds that can certainly hitch the pet’s mind. With it’s built-in verbal orders, the cat is trained in an immediate!

3. “SSSCAT”

Because it combines the faculty of a spray can and a beckon detector, the SSSCAT emits sound and the spray that can shoo the cat away from spaces where it is prohibited.

4. “Electrostatic Pet Scat Mat”

The name sounds warning but the “Electronic Pet Scat Mat” is pretty innocent. Nevertheless that doesn’t mean it is ineffective. The electrical pulse and the static electricity can keep the pet cat from messing around the sofas, windows and front yards.

5. “Pet Boundary Indoor Pet Barrier System”

It keeps the cat away as it makes its own “useless zone” that can be as far as ten feet. The owner just has to place the transmitter to the collar and voila.

6. “Scarecrow Water Spraying Animal Repeller”

Introducing the Scarecrow Water Spraying Animal Repeller which goes to water-spraying when it notices a prowler aka the pet cat.

7. “Tattle Tale Vibration Alarm Pet Trainer”

Pets keep out! That’s what this symbol intends to forewarn the pet cats. Advancing as it is with the structural throb technology, the Tattle Tale is so precision it detects vibration right away even if there is no seeming faction.

8. “Cat Stop! Ultrasonic”

Gardens and front yards will no longer embrace the cats, because of its high-property gesture antenna.

Cat education devices abound, the cat lover will never run out of alternatives on how to keep his cat from receiving litter-eccentric.

About the Author: Information on cat constipation can be found at the About Animals site.

Caring for an iguana is quite different from caring for a more conventional pet, such as a dog. Even though it’s a very fierce looking lizard, an iguana can be very vulnerable to health problems if not given proper care. There are some aspects of iguana health that every vigilant owner should be aware of.

One issue in iguana health is metabolic bone disease. This occurs due to either a bad diet or inadequate lighting which renders the animal unable to absorb calcium properly. Symptoms can appear as severe weight loss, enlarged swollen jaw and joints, listlessness and difficulty eating. Symptoms may also appear as especially firm, swollen limbs and tails commonly mistaken as plumpness. More severe cases involve broken bones. A change of diet and lighting may be adequate treatment for some lizards; more severe cases may require calcium or vitamin injections.

Sometimes, the threat to iguana health is invisible to the naked eye. Intestinal parasites can manifest their presence in an upset stomach, followed by diarrhea. Your pet should be brought to the vet at the first sign of runny stools. External parasites like mites can also make your iguana’s life miserable. If left untreated, they may infect other pets or people in your home.

Egg binding is another common health problem for female iguanas. This takes place when an iguana is unable to expel an egg from her reproductive tract. It is a potentially life-threatening condition caused by illness, malnutrition, or when the eggs formed are too large or malformed. The iguana would have to undergo an x-ray for the problem to be diagnosed, and treatment mainly involves medication and surgery.

Taking care of this pet may sound like a lot of work, but it’s actually no more work than taking care of your own self. Don’t hesitate to get medical help for your pet if something doesn’t feel right.

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The saying “fighting like cats and dogs” didn’t come up as superstar’s idea of a hoax just for cartoons (Tom and Jerry comes into brains). Dogs are regularly territorial and will combat not just new cats but other new dogs as well. They cultivate to celebrate their territory and will attack somebody who invades their span. Cats have the same tendencies and even if they are lesser than to dogs, they will abandon and fight for their territory.

Most pet lovers who have both a cat and dog have a hard time making their pets coexist with one another. The everyday reaction to this is separating the two pets and making surefire they won’t encounter. This is not sincerely a workable emulsion to this snag as, both pets tend to wander around the house and there will come a time when they will collect. This would also trigger a lot of shattered time if you have to allocate twofold the time for playing with your pets. Another reaction would be to impound both pets but this practice is frowned ahead by most pet lovers. The best thing to do is to prepare the cat and dog to coexist peacefully. In this item is a chain of steps to sentence harmony between cats and dogs.

Perhaps the hardest thing for pet lovers to do is the introduction. Introducing a new pet requires both time and patience as, both cats and dogs requires time to adjust to something new. Both cats and dogs take up to 30 years to adjust. It is even longer if you have adult pet, but with modest retraining you can lecture your old dogs and cat’s new tricks.

The first stride is agreement. This is vital especially for the dog which is mostly the provoker in this kind of spot. You have to tutor your dog to obey when you say “no.” This could be done by viewing him some handle and every time he looks at it you say “no” you impede him from ingestion it. Do this every day and reward him every time he obeys.

While burden this with your dog, make reliable the cat and dog are solitary from one another, allowing your cat to wander around the house. Cats adoration to journey and this will make her trail scattered in your home. After burden this, link your cat in one room and let your dog wander around the house sniffing for the cat’s sniff. This will make your dog acquainted to your cats smell and instruct the dog that the cat is part of the household.

Once you’ve done this for about a week, it’s time for them to see one another physically. This part requires that you have somebody to help you. Have someone who can foothold your cat securely and that knows how to respond quickly and get your cat to shelter if the dog is showing aggressiveness. Your part is to be able to restrain your dog and making steady that if he starts lunging for your cat, you’ll be there to prevent him.

Dogs mostly birth barking when they see some other animals in their territory, eager to scare them away. They won’t actually pounce at something immediately. Once he starts barking, this is where the respect part starts to come in. Say “no” and make him reach that the cat is also a pet.

If your dog starts to calm down when in the aura of the cat, then it’s the time to let him sniff the cat. Once your dog starts to choose not to bark at your cat you know that you’ve done the introduction part successfully.

The final movement is making effective that both pets have the time to coexist. This part is usually the cat’s liability. Cats have the leaning to be remote and delay away from the dog and other people. It’s not because they are scared of the dog but more because it’s their life to be deserted. Be sure that your dog sees your cat as regularly as workable. You can allocate sometime nightly where you can do some activities with both your cat and dog. This will permit them to play with one another and you’ll have the confidence that they won’t gain fighting when they’re unsupervised.

About the Author: To read about lion speed and lions in africa, visit the Lion Facts site.