Thursday, March 31, 2011

Cats and Cancer

While cancer in cats is not as common as it in dogs, it is still one of the leading causes of death in older cats. According to the Animal Cancer Foundation, 6 million cats will be diagnosed with cancer in the United States along. And because cats are masters at masking illness, it is often harder to detect. Cancer used to be a death sentence for cats, but recent advances in feline cancer research have made treatment possible in many cases. Just like with human cancers, early detection is key to successfully treating feline cancers.

Common cancers in cats

One of the most common forms of cancer in cats is lymphoma. Other frequently seen cancers are oral squamous carcinomas, similar to what people get. Fibrosarcomas, or soft tissue sarcomas, are tumors developing in muscle or in the connective tissue of the body. These are generally associated with injections and vaccinations. Other forms of cancer are less common, but they do occur in cats: lung tumors, brain tumors, nasal tumors, liver tumors. There are fewer incidences of mammary tumors (yes, cats can get breast cancer, too) since more cats are spayed and spaying is one of the best ways to prevent this particular cancer.

Symptoms of feline cancer

People and cats both show similar symptoms when it comes to cancer:

  • Lumps, especially lumps that seem to be getting bigger
  • Sores that don't heal
  • Changes in bowel or bladder habits
  • Unexplained bleeding or a strange discharge from any body opening
  • Loss of appetite and weight loss
  • Breathing problems
  • Lameness or stiffness that persists over a period of time
  • Bad odor
  • Having trouble eating or swallowing food

 

If you notice your cat showing any of these symptoms, take him to your veterinarian for a thorough examination.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis will vary, depending on the presenting symptoms. An exam will most likely include a complete blood chemistry, blood count, and urinalysis. Your veterinarian may take x-rays, perform an ultrasound, and take tissue biopsies. Depending on where the biopsies are taken from, this may require sedation, or full anesthesia. Biopsies will be reviewed by a veterinary pathologist to determine the type of cancer.

Treatment

Treatment options for cats are almost as varied as treatment options for human cancers, and will depend on the type of cancer. Surgery is the most common treatment for any lumps or growths that need to be removed. In some cases, surgery can be curative. Other cancers may require chemotherapy or radiation. Cats tend to tolerate chemotherapy much better than people, and can have good quality of life for many months and sometimes even years following treatment. Radiation therapy may be used for tumors that can't be removed. This is a more stressful therapy for cats, since it will require sedation or anesthesia for each treatment.

Causes

There isn't as much research into the causes of feline cancer as there is on the human side, but I don't think it's much of a leap to assume that some of the same environmental toxins that cause cancer in humans also cause cancers in our cats. There have been some studies looking at secondhand smoke and feline cancers. Vaccinations and other injections have been proven to be responsible for fibrosarcomas, and these findings have led to changing vaccine protocols for cats.

Prevention

While some cancers are caused by genetic mutations, there are still things cat owners can do to lessen the likelihood that their cats get the disease.

A wholesome, species-appropriate, meat-based diet is one of the most important foundations for preventing cancer, or any other health problems in cats. A balanced grain-free raw meat or canned diet provides the best nutrition for your cat. As obligate carnivores, cats do not need carbohydrates in their diet. In fact, commercial dry cat foods have been linked to many of the degenerative diseases we're seeing in cats such as diabetes, kidney failure, and inflammatory bowel disease. The latter is often a precursor for intestinal lymphoma. The one best thing you can do for your cat's health is to eliminate all dry food from his diet.

Environmental toxins and stressors are also linked to cancer in humans, and probably cause cancers in cats. Avoid exposure to commercial cleaning products and use natural products instead. Make sure your cat always has pure (bottled or distilled) water available. Most municipal water systems are contaminated with anything from heavy metals to chlorine. Don't use chemical flea and tick products on your pets, use natural alternatives instead. Minimize vaccinations, and if your cat already has cancer, do not vaccinate the cat at all.

Cancer is a devastating disease, but early detection, combined with ever increasing treatment options, makes it possible for cats to continue to live with good quality of life.

Ingrid King is the author of "Buckley's Story - Lessons from a Feline Master Teacher." She is a former veterinary hospital manager turned writer. Her online magazine "News for You and Your Pet" goes out to subscribers around the world. Her blog, "The Conscious Cat," has been called "educational cat nip for the cat lover" and is a comprehensive resource for conscious living, health and happiness for pets and their people. For more information about Ingrid, please visit http://www.ingridking.com.

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Got Cat Hair? 3 Ways To Take the Hair Out Of Your Air

If you are living with a cat, you've got cat hair. If you're reading this article you've probably got more cat hair than you want. There are lots of fabulous reasons why owning a cat is wonderful, but the hair isn't one of them. Here are 3 ways you can greatly reduce the hair in your air.

Change Central Heat And Air Filters Often - These filters are exposed to all of the air in your home. If you are seeing lots of particles in your air, it's an indication that the filters are clogged and are no longer able to trap enough particulates to make a difference. Or it can also mean that the type of filter you're using is not effective against the particles in your home.

When your heating and cooling systems are serviced, ask if the filters you are using are the best at removing cat air, and if not, what your options are. Also ask for a suggested length that the filter will last based on how full it is on the day of the maintenance. Take that advice and be consistent about changing the filters.

Use A HEPA Vacuum - This type of vacuum is a little more expensive but it is well worth it because of the efficiency with which it keeps particles contained. Many cleaners will blow air out and in the process send particles back into the air.

This type of filter on the vacuum keeps particles from re-entering your air and reduces the hair that is available to go airborne again with daily activities in your home. Sticking to a regular cleaning schedule will make a huge difference in reducing hair on surfaces, furniture and floors.

Continually Filter Your Air - Even though the hair isn't an actual allergen, the dander (dead flakes of skin) from your cat sticks to the hair. The highly potent protein in the dander is what makes most people's allergies go into overdrive. So by eliminating the hair you are also eliminating the airborne trigger that can make owning a cat tough.

Regardless of how well you vacuum or change your filters, there is still going to be some hair in your air. Using a high efficiency particle arresting (abbreviated as HEPA) filter, you are constantly removing 99,997 out of every 10,000 particles that are .3 microns or larger in size.

Because cat hair is way bigger than .3 microns, it's an easy target for this type of filter. So without lifting a finger, cat hair and dander are constantly being reduced so that the air is fresh and clean all the time.

An excellent HEPA air purifier to remove cat hair and dander from your air is offered by PurerAir.com at http://purerair.com/cat_dander_air_purifier.html

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Finch Resources 

 

information about finches

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Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Feed Your Family By Raising Good Chicken Egg Layers

If you have the time and space to raise chicken egg layers, it is a great way to feed your family healthy eggs full of nutrients. Eggs raised organically, from chickens that have been fed organic feed and have been allowed to graze on natural grass are healthier than eggs available in grocery stores. In fact, eggs raised organically have been known to be lower in cholesterol, and to be higher in Vitamin E and Omega-3 fatty acids, all of which are great for overall health.

While not all types of chickens are suitable for egg laying, all chickens lay eggs. Chickens also lay different colored eggs, depending on their breeds. You can tell the color egg a chicken will lay by inspecting the skin next to their ears. If the skin is a white-ish color, then that chicken will most likely lay white eggs. Similarly, a chicken with reddish-brown skin by their ears will inevitably lay brown eggs. A chicken with red ear skin will most likely lay blue-green and/or blue colored eggs. Remember, the color of the egg makes no difference in how it will taste, or the nutritional content. Rather, the color of the egg is a matter of personal preference.


Chicken egg layers that lay white eggs are most popular for mass egg production on a commercial scale. Keep in mind that white egg-laying chickens are usually more nervous and more difficult to tame than their brown-laying counterparts. For this reason, birds that lay white eggs are not as popular for backyard pasturing. White or Pearl Leghorn birds produce 90% of the world's white eggs, but this is mostly on a commercial scale due to the temperament of these birds.

Flocks that lay brown eggs are the most popular choice for backyard raising. This is because they are mild mannered and more suitable for this type of environment. The shade of brown will vary depending on the chicken, but a good rule of thumb is that younger chickens traditionally lay darker colored eggs. Hubbard Isa Brown, while the most popular brown egg laying chicken, is a hybrid bird. This type of bird is very tame and easy to take care of. Red Star, Black Star, and Golden Comet birds are also hybrids, but considered very good egg layers and suitable for backyard flocks.

If you are looking for something a bit more on the wild side, consider the Ammeraucana or the Araucana, both of which lay blue and blue-green colored eggs. The shade and tone of these eggs will vary, but it's interesting and fun to see this color when enjoying your eggs.

Of course, chicken egg layers should be chosen based on a variety of factors, not just on the color of egg they produce. In order to have a successful and healthy flock you need to be sure you are raising birds with the right temperament for the amount of space you have. Conduct your research and careful planning before you invest in any chicken raising endeavors.


If you are looking for the best chicken egg layers try the Red Star, Black Star or Golden Comet. Get a FREE chicken mini-course that is packed with additional information about the best hens to get as well as building the best chicken houses your flock.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tom_Dewey

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The following articles provide information on variety of topics about finches. Please visit the site for more information and a FREE Finch Online Course.

Breeding Finches

Society Finches

Gouldian Finches

Finches Information

Breeding Zebra Finches

Finch Cages

Cages for finches

Zebra Finches

Finches Nest

Aviary Finches

Finches Birds

Finches Pets

These articles are all written by JP Jonathan

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Bearded Dragon Terrarium - How To Create The Perfect Set Up

JP Jonathan is a finch expert. For more information on finches birds, visit his blog at http://www.finchesbirdscentre.com ================================================================== If you love the exotic and unusual then the bearded dragon will completely captivate your heart. These highly sociable creatures are hardy and love the day time. They are quickly becoming a popular pet worldwide. When setting up a bearded dragon terrarium you need to remember four things: flooring, landscaping, temperature, and lighting. These reptiles originate from the Australian outback desert where it is hot and dry, the inside of the terrarium should resemble this climate; the flooring and decorations should resemble the Australian outback. Beardie's will grow in size to about 22 inches the enclosure needs to be of an adequate size to accommodate the pet when it is fully grown. If you are planning on breeding them the cage should comfortably house several pairs of breeding dragons. The terrarium can be bought at the pet store; however, keep in mind that the ones that are ready-made usually cost much more than homemade ones. You can build a terrarium yourself with relative ease. Being a cold-blooded lizard means they naturally love to bask in the sun. They do this to absorb UVA and UVB rays which are necessary for their survival. Since the sun is not always pouring through the windows in your home, you will need proper lighting. Providing your dragons with the correct temperature is super important and fairly easy. To achieve a desert-like environment heaters or additional lighting is necessary. When setting the lights and heaters, you have to ensure they have the correct temperature. If it is two set to hot you can cause thermal burns or respiratory infections which can happen if the terrarium (sometimes called a vivarium) becomes too hot or moist. You have several options for the flooring of your bearded dragon terrarium these include carpets, newspaper or fine sand. Whatever you decide to use for the flooring it should be able to retain heat. Bearded dragons by nature are very social creatures they like to spend a lot of time outside of the terrarium exploring the outside world or socializing with their human owner. Experienced keepers would recommend taking these lizards outside for at least one hour per day. Each creature has its own temperament which will determine how much time the pet is willing to spend outdoors. Seeing as they will spend most of their time inside the terrarium it should be decorated with a number of friendly accessories including rocks, tree branches, and small logs. You will be able to find many artificial bearded dragon products on the market such as rocks and artificial caves; these can be added over time giving the habitat a natural feel. In creating your own bearded dragon terrarium the objects that are of most importance are the temperature controlled flooring and landscaping along with lighting. Once these are in place your reptilian friend will feel completely at home. As long as they receive the correct care these social lizards will thrive in captivity if you decide to introduce new objects to your terrarium then you should always check for possible parasites. When making a bearded dragon terrarium the most common item that is used is a glass enclosure, this is a similar to an aquarium. Glass is used as it will a allow the caregiver, to watch the bearded dragons and enjoy their strange and wonderful behavior. This part is important, so pay attention Go to my website right now to find out even more about a bearded dragon terrarium and learn some things about bearded dragon care. While you are there, sign up for my Bearded Dragon Secrets newsletter to discover the tips and tricks it took veteran beardie keepers years to learn. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sally_Freisen Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6107101 =================================================================== JP Jonathan is a finch expert. For more information on finches birds, visit his blog at http://www.finchesbirdscentre.com

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Finches Information Resource

The following articles provide information on variety of topics about finches. Please visit the site for more information and a FREE Finch Online Course.

Breeding Finches

Society Finches

Gouldian Finches

Finches Information

Breeding Zebra Finches

Finch Cages

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Breeding Finches

Looking for expert advice breeding finches? visit his blog at http://www.finchesbirdscentre.com and download relevant resources.

Finches Information

JP Jonathan is a finch expert, for more information on Society Finches, please visit http://www.finchesbirdscentre.com
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Monday, March 21, 2011

The Best Way To Purchase Chickens

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JP Jonathan, the owne of this blog is a finch expert. For great information on and free expert advice on Society Finches, visit http://www.finchesbirdscentre.com

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There are many considerations to make when deciding what type of chickens to buy. Firstly, it's important to decide exactly what you will be using the birds for. If you're raising the birds for show and/or for pets, the type of chicken you will purchase will vary as will if you are choosing to raise a flock for egg or meat production. Once you establish what you will be raising the birds for, you can begin to make an educated decision regarding what type of chicken you will raise.

After you've decided what type of chicken you will purchase, you have to realistically establish how many birds you will raise, and in what type of environment. Some choose to raise their flock in a cage, while others pasture their chickens and allow them to roam free throughout their property. As always, check your local zoning regulations for information on legislation regarding raising chickens. It is very important not to purchase any chickens until you know for certain you can properly raise them humanely and within the confines of the law in your area.

Once you are ready to purchase your chickens, you can choose from three options: purchasing fertile eggs, purchasing chicks, or purchasing full-grown chickens. If this is your first chicken buying and raising experience, it is recommended that you do not choose to purchase fertile eggs. Fertile eggs require specific equipment to hatch properly. Even when properly incubated (a process involving a lot of time and work) it is not guaranteed that your chicks will hatch.

Purchasing chicks is highly recommended. Chicks cost the same as purchasing fertile eggs, and require a lot less work. Chicks are beneficial because you will know how old they are, and if you have them sexed you will be prepared in knowing if the birds are male or female. Chicks, when purchased from a quality hatchery, usually carry less disease and parasites, making them the healthier option. However it's necessary to realize that when you choose to purchase chicks you will be spending more time making sure they are raised safely. Chicks can become injured easily, so they require more care. If you do not have your chicks sexed, you will not know whether or not they will be able to lay eggs. Lastly, when you purchase chicks you cannot be certain of their quality until they are 4-5 months mature.

Buying adult fowl comes with advantages and disadvantages as well. It's not easy to tell the sex of older birds, and while you can get help in this arena, some people prefer to know for certain. When you don't know how old your adult birds are, you cannot be sure of how many eggs they will yield. There is also a greater risk for disease and parasites when you purchase an adult chicken. On the other hand, adult chickens are beneficial because you can immediately tell the quality of the bird and you do not have to wait for the fowl to mature before yielding eggs and/or meat.

After you find a quality breeder, discuss your options regarding chickens to buy. Depending on the environment you can devote to raising chickens, and the amount of experience you have in raising chickens, this can alter the age of the chickens you purchase.

It's important to learn what type of chickens to buy if you want to raise them as pets or for eggs or meat. There are different breeds that do better for each one of these purposes and you will have better success if you stay within the suggested breeds when you buy. Pick up a FREE chicken mini-course that will give you needed information raising chickens as well as building chicken coops.

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Saturday, March 19, 2011

Reducing Parrot Dust - 5 Things You Can Do To Get Rid of Bird Dust

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JP Jonathan, the owne of this blog is a finch expert. For great information on and free expert advice on finches cages, visit http://www.finchesbirdscentre.com

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Dust from birds such as African Greys, Cockatoos, Cockatiels, and Amazons can seem impossible to get rid of. As gorgeous as these birds are the dust they produce can be a hazard for both birds and humans. Nothing will completely eliminate it, but here are 5 things you can do that will limit the dust you see and breathe.

Provide Water for Bathing---Providing a bowl of water separate and apart from drinking water will encourage your bird to take the proverbial bird bath. Regular bathing will greatly reduce the amount of dust and dander that is available to go airborne when you pet preens, flies, shakes or plays.

You can also make bathing an activity that you do together by installing a shower perch. When you take a shower you can take your bird in with you and give it the opportunity to fly in and out of a gentle stream of water as it chooses. Consult with an avian vet about best frequency for baths and a recommendation for bird-friendly shampoo.

Reduce Fibrous Materials---Curtains, upholstered furniture, wall-to-wall carpet all make great hiding places for dust. Normal daily activities can cause the dust that has settled on these surfaces to go airborne and create a vicious cycle that can be hard to break. Use shutters, wood or tile, and leather than can be cleaned thoroughly and damp wiped to eliminate the particles completely.

Clean With Water----Using a damp mop to clean floors will trap particles and prevent them from being able to go airborne and settle somewhere else. Likewise using a damp cloth to capture particulates on blinds, shutters, and furniture will really take the dust out of circulation.

Give Daily Attention to the Cage----Be sure to change the cage paper each day. Use gloves and mist it first before removing it. This will minimize the amount of dust that is able to go airborne. Put soiled paper outdoors so that pollutants cannot possibly re-enter your indoor air.

Continually Filter Bird Room Air---Having a cleaner run 24 hours a day to constantly keep the level of particles low is a low maintenance, efficient and economical way to literally keep the dust and dander down.

The best type of filter for efficient removal of particulates is a HEPA (or high efficiency particle arresting) filter. Designed to remove particles that are.3 microns or greater, it is a perfect match for your bird's dust and dander.

Using these 5 suggestions to tackle the extra particles that your birds produce will provide cleaner air for both you and your bird. And clean air can greatly lengthen your bird's life span---and yours too.

Continually filter parrot dust from your air with the HEPA Bird Dust Air Purifier at http://purerair.com/bird_dust_air_purifier.html

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