Pet Care

---

When it comes to having a pet, no matter what kind it is, you need to educate yourself to the specific needs of that species. Their food, environment, toys, playtime are all very important. The more effort you put into caring for your pet the more enjoyable the experience will be. Taking them to the veterinarian is of the utmost of importance. As far as dogs and cats go it's pretty easy to find a vet in your area. Just make sure it's a good fit. just like humans, dogs and cats sense things and may shy away from certain people. As far as rabbits, rats, snakes and turtles go you must put some effort into finding a vet who examines exotic pets. Sometimes those can be some distance away. Dogs and cats need regular vet visits every 6 months to a year. They have a regular vaccination schedule just as we do. With any pet a healthy diet is essential for your pet to live a happy healthy life. Making their food is a fun way to stay in touch with your pet and to be aware of any health problems that may need attention. Dogs can eat just about 

anything we do. Cats require more protein and less carbs. Other animals have very specific diets depending on the species. 

With the exceptions of aquariums, they all need plenty of water to stay hydrated and healthy.

make sure your pet's environment is suited to their species. Dogs and cats can live as we do. They need heat, air conditioning, soft beds and human interaction. Aquariums can be salt water or fresh water. make sure the fish you buy is suited to the tank you may already have. Make sure the filter and lights are in good working order. as for rodents, amphibians and reptiles go, they need a good clean cage big enough for them to move around freely in. they need toys and environmental habitats appropriate for the species. Dogs and cats need socialization and training. the bigger pet stores offer dog obedience classes. this is important because dogs need discipline to lead a happy life, it will make your life more enjoyable too. cats need litter box training. For the cleanliness of your environment and for everybody's health this is a must. So go on, get a pet that is suitable for your lifestyle.

Oral care

Make a combination of fennel, dill, parsley and ginger extracts with peppermint or spearmint oil and pour some drops in the water bowl. Remember to do that every  so often when time you refill the water bowl. Or you can put it in their wet food.

Flea treatment

The easiest way of ridding dogs of fleas is by using a flea 

comb. Flea combs are fine-toothed comb that can trap fleas 

and flea eggs on your dog’s fur.

Homemade flea spray

1 quart warm water  

3 drops of pure lavender essential oil  

3 drops of pure cedar wood essential oil  

Fill the spray bottle with the water, and then add the essential oils. Spray the mixture of essential oils throughout your dog’s fur. Run your fingers through the dog’s fur to really get down deep. Be careful when treating areas around the head and making sure that you avoid sensitive areas like the eyes.

Homemade flea collars

2 Tablespoons peppermint essential oil  

1/2 cup rosemary essential oil  

2 Tablespoons white cedar essential oil  

1/4 cup citronella essential oil  

2 Tablespoons eucalyptus essential oil 

Soak a natural fiber rope in mixture and let dry for several hours. Tie around pet's neck. DO NOT use on cats.

Bath

I use homemade liquid soap; the oils in it will suffocate the fleas and keeps the eggs from sticking to the hair follicles. I also use plain olive oil and massage it through the dog’s fur. It keeps your dog’s skin and fur from drying out. When washing your dog makes sure to soap up the dog’s neck first it creates a barrier so the fleas don’t swarm up to the dogs face area and into the ears and nostrils. The deal is to completely soap them up, and then keep them soaped up for at least 5 minutes. Rinse well, and a majority will be gone soon. Follow up in a week or so to get rid of any remaining stragglers and use a flea comb daily.

Herbal anti-flea dip

2 cups packed fresh Peppermint, Pennyroyal, or Rosemary  1 quarts boiling water  4 quarts warm water   Prepare an infusion by pouring the boiling water over the herbs and allow it to steep for 30 minutes. Strain the liquid and dilute it with the warm water. Saturate the animal's coat thoroughly with the solution, allowing it to air dry. Use at the first sign of flea activity. This remedy will need to be repeated every three to four days

Ear mite treatment

To eradicate ear mites, the ears need to be cleaned first. Ear mites can cause a thick crust of blood, serum and wax to build up in the ear, protecting the mites from any medications. To soften and remove the crust, use an eyedropper to deposit several drops of room-temperature olive oil into the ear. Gently massage the ear and allow the oil to penetrate for at least one hour. Use cotton balls dipped in equal parts distilled white vinegar and warm water to wipe out the debris. Do not use cotton swabs and do not probe deeply into the ear canal. Repeat this procedure every day until the ears are clean.

Nutrition For your Dog

Some do's 

Always cook the dog’s meat. 

This will keep your dog free from food borne illnesses 

like salmonella, parasites, bacteria and viruses, and 

always remember that cleanliness is important. 

Here is a list of some basic healthful foods to include 

in your pets diet:      

Red Meats   

Poultry  

Organ meats 

liver   

Eggs     

Cultured dairy products

yogurt 

buttermilk

cheese 

Complex carbohydrates 

rice 

potatoes 

beans 

legumes  

Fiber

bran 

fresh vegetables 

whole-grains

Dogs Can eat   

Apples   

Bananas   

Blueberries   

Broccoli  

Brussel sprouts   

Cantaloupes  

Carrots 

Celery 

Cranberries  

Cucumbers   

Green beans   

Mangoes   

Oranges   

Peaches   

Peas 

Pineapples  

Raspberries   

Strawberries   

Spinach

Sweet potatoes

And Some Don'ts

Don’t feed your dog any of the following:

Asparagus   

Avacado's   

Cherries,   

Grapes   

Mushrooms   

Onions   

Tomato  

Raisins 

Garlic 

Chocolate 

Artificial sweeteners 

artificial fats 

raw meat. 

Do not feed your dog bones, especially cooked bones. 

Fragments can become lodged in the throat and digestive 

tract. Canines in the wild eat the bones and the 

hide and hair as well. This pads the digestive tract 

and protects it. 

Weight of dog   Amount per Day

5lb.                   1/2-5/8 cup 

10 lb.                 3/4-1 cup 

20lb                   1 1/4 cup- 1 3/4 cup 

40lb.                  2 1/4 cups-3 cups 

60lb.                  3 cups - 4 cups 

80lb.                  3 1/2 cups to 5 cups 

100lb.                 4 1/4 cups-6 cups

Dog Food Recipe

8 to 12 ounces lean meat 

1 to 2 ounces organ meat  

1 to 2 eggs  

1 to 4 ounces cultured dairy products such as yogurt, kefir or cottage cheese 

2 to 8 ounces cooked grains, pasta, or starchy veggies  

Any amount of greens. you may choose to add some berries or a banana. 

1000 mg calcium for example, 1/2 tsp ground eggshell or 1 tsp bone meal that has 1000 mg calcium per teaspoon 

There are several things you need to take into consideration when feeding your dog.  How much they weigh, how much exercise they get and any allergies they may have among other things. Most adult dogs need to eat two meals a day, puppies require more feedings.  so you’ll need to divide the amount in the table by the number of meals you are offering. You can make this homemade dog food and keep it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days at which time you will need to throw it out.

Exercise

Most dog breeds require some exercise. Some more than others. You may want to do your daily walk with them. You can take them to the local dog park and throw a ball around.

Vaccinations

Dogs like children need vaccines. The core vaccines for dogs are parvovirus, distemper, rabies and hepatitis. Vaccines can begin once a puppy has been weaned.

DHLPPC

First vaccination: 6 to 8 weeks 

Second vaccination: 9 to 11 weeks 

Third vaccination: 12 to 14 weeks 

Fourth vaccination: 16 to 17 weeks 

Booster shots: 12 months

Bordetella

First vaccination: 14 weeks 

Booster shots: 6 months

Rabies 

First vaccination: 16 weeks (varies by state) 

Booster shots: 12-36 months

Giardia 

First vaccination: 14 weeks 

Second vaccination: 17 weeks 

Booster shots: 12 months

Lyme

First vaccination: 14 weeks 

Second vaccination: 17 weeks 

Booster shots: 12 months

Homemade kitty litter

According to TreeHugger.com, you can  make Kitty litter that  

is very close to commercial grade kitty litter using 

newspaper,  water, dish soap, and baking soda. You shred 

the paper (if you  have a paper shredder that is a plus) 

and add the water and dish soap.  You then proceed to drain 

it, rinse it and add baking soda. Let it  dry and then 

crumble it. The resulting material is more like  

conventional kitty litter than any of the other options 

Ive read about. You can read  the complete tutorial at 

TreeHugger: Make Your Own Newspaper Cat Litter?.

Another way to make kitty litter is to use cedar shavings, 

chicken scratch,and baking soda.  In case you don't know 

chicken scratch is chicken food and can be purchased at the 

feed  store along with you cedar chips. To begin with pour 

about 2 inches of chicken scratch  into a clean, dry, empty 

litter box. Add about 1/2 cup of baking soda to the  scratch. 

be sure to mix them up really well. Take a few handfuls of  

cedar chips and mix them into the chicken scratch. Be sure 

to Keep  the chips small so they stay evenly distributed 

throughout the chicken scratch. Scoop out the litter daily, 

just as you would any kitty litter. If the  chicken scratch 

contains a high degree of ground corn or seeds, the litter  

will clump. If not, it will still be easy to scoop out. 

You must also be aware that this  type of litter attracts 

bugs and such. So you need to keep on your guard. In the 

past it has been suggested that cat feces should be flushed 

but according to sfgate.com "Actually, you should not flush 

cat feces down the toilet. Studies are showing that 

toxoplasmosis,  a parasite found in cat feces, has infected

marine mammals and otters. Most (if not all) litter 

manufacturers warn on their packaging not to flush feces or 

litter  down the toilet, and that is the reason." That is 

also the reason you should never compost cat litter.

Sand... Cats love sand. It make a great kitty litter, but 

it doesn't absorb the urine odor For added odor protection, 

add about one cup of baking soda to  the sand and mix it well.

So the other thing is that cats will track this all over the 

house. A litter box mat can help cut down on the tracking. 

Placing newspaper on the ground under  the litter box works 

and getting a litter box that's deep will help as well.   

with whichever you choose you must clean it out 2 times a day.

Kitty Flea Shampoo

Add a few drops of essential oil of rosemary to the cat shampoo you will be using. Put a pint of water in a tea pot and bring it to a boil. Add your rosemary to the water and allow it to steep for ten minutes, covered. Strain water and allow it to cool to the cat's body temperature. Wash your cat with the oiled shampoo. Rinse off the cat shampoo. Rub in the pint of water after the final rinse. Towel dry your cat without any further rinsing.

Tick Removal

To remove a tick properly, use a pair of blunt, angled forceps or tweezers. well ok you can buy a tool from petsmart or walmart that can either lasoo the head of the tick or get right at the head and pull the tick free from the body of the animal or human. Pretty cool. Expose the area where the tick is attached and latch onto its body or head as close to skin as you can. Using steady pressure, pull the tick directly away from your body without twisting, turning or squeezing it. Avoid piercing the tick's body in any way, since doing so can increase your exposure to infectious material.  While in some cases it may be possible to remove the tick entirely, it will commonly break off at the point where its mouth has embedded in your skin. Since the mouth is more likely to transmit infection, do what you can to push back the skin far enough to remove this residual section. If you cannot get the mouth out, use rubbing alcohol to disinfect the area. Eventually, it will fall off with your dead skin.  To minimize chances of infection, avoid touching the tick's body with your hands. Using your forceps, deposit it directly in an alcohol-filled container. If the tick is already dead, make sure to dispose of it away from the reach of children or other adults.   After Removal After removal, watch the site of the bite for signs of infection, including a red spot that grows with time. Consult your doctor if these signs appear.

Hairball

As with anything with cats, prevention is important. Brush your cat daily. Throwing up hairballs is not normal, it may be a sign of IBD. Check with your vet.

Dental Disease

From the time your cat is born brushing their teeth is the best thing you can do for them. It helps them to eat well.  There are several good videos on you tube to demonstrate this procedure. https://youtu.be/BKJjHBW7Dg8?list=PLzf8tGKj10zyxwR8NnmZU4r2C2Q2R6zJK. This video is by Cornell University vetrinary school. Getting the teeth cleaned by the vet once a year is also a must. Remember that just like humans health begins in the mouth.

Cat nutrition

According to vetrinarians wet cat food is better to feed your cat then dry kibble. there are several reasons why dry food is not optimal for your cats diet 

1. The water content is too low. Cats do not drink alot of water. They get their water from eating raw fish, the lack of water will open the door for cat to get urinal diseases. 

2.There is too much carbohydrates. Cats need a very small amount of carbs in their diet. They need mostly protein.  

3. Cats are carnivores. They don't need grains or plants. They eat meat.

So that being said raw or partially cooked meat left in a bowl is good. very simple.For more information go to https://catinfo.org/making-cat-food/

Homemade suet

1.3 cups of lard( you can use melted beef fat if you like)

2.You can use almost any seed or grain mix

3.You can add some berries if you like along with some natural peanut butter

4.Put it in a Plastic food container and put it in the freezer. Leave it there until it's hard enough to hold its shape, 

then place it into a wire suet cage.Birds that eat suet, including woodpeckers, nuthatches, chickadees and titmice.

Wild Bird food

1 1/4 lb. suet

1/2 Cup sunflower seeds

1/2 Cup crushed peanuts

1/2 Cup cracked corn kernels 

Melt suet in the oven or saucepan (yields about 2 cups liquid fat). Stir in peanuts, 

sunflower seeds and corn. Spoon into a 4-cup heart-shaped mold (or two 2-cup molds); 

insert a drinking straw at the top (for rope). Cool in the refrigerator until solid. 

Unmold; remove straw. Thread with string and tie to a shaded tree branch. 

Wild Bird Seed

Black-oil sunflower seeds 

Whole oats 

Corn meal 

Dried fruit 

Food processor 

Storage container 

Place 4 cups of shelled black-oil sunflower seeds into your food 

processor and grind it for two seconds on a light setting. No need to 

pulverize the seeds, just break them up for the birds. Black-oil sunflower 

seeds are high in fat, and wild birds from jays to finches enjoy the taste. 

Pour the slightly chopped seeds into a storage container. Pour 2 cups of 

whole oats in to your food processor and grind them exactly as you did the 

sunflower seeds. You can use any kind of whole oats, such as rye barley oats or 

wheat, to provide the grain for this bird seed recipe. Pour the oats in the 

container with the seeds, seal the container and shake it to mix the seeds and the grains together. Add 1 cup of corn meal to the storage container, seal and shake it to mix in the corn meal with the seeds and grains. The mixture is a bit powdery, but the birds and the squirrels will appreciate your efforts. Chop 1 cup of dried fruit into tiny bird size bites. You can use raisins, cranberries, blueberries or apricots. Add the chopped fruit in the storage container seal it and shake it to blend everything together. Place some of the bird seed mixture into your bird feeder and watch it disappear.

Homemade Hummingbird Nectar

Use 1 part cane sugar to 4 parts water (use bottled water). 

Measure and add the sugar, at the rate of 1/4 cup of sugar to 1 cup of water. Heat the mixture until the sugar is melted. Let it cool and store the excess 

in the refrigerator until you are ready to use it. Fill the container and be sure to change the mixture twice a week. 

You will need to clean your feeder every few days, with hot water and a mild (10%) bleach solution to inhibit 

bacteria and mold growth. Rinse thoroughly before refilling with water syrup.

Thistle

Finches and Chickadees love thistle. Thistle is also referred to as Nyjer seed. You can pour thistle into a 

Tube feeder with tiny ports so that the seeds won't pour out and the tiny birds can eat.

Using tube feeders with small ports will discourage larger birds some refer to as bully birds from feeding.

Homemade Bird Food

 Chop up the ingredients and mix them together. Nuts should be chopped finely as small birds such as tits can choke on large pieces of nut. Melt the fat in a pan just enough so that the ingredients can be mixed in. Ask an adult to help as fat can get very hot. Leave the fat to cool. Take the pot and make a small hole in the bottom. Thread the string up through the pot. Tie the twig onto the string at the open (top) end of the pot. This will be the perch. When the fat has cooled to a lukewarm temperature, mix it into the other ingredients. Carefully spoon the mixture into the pot around the string. Leave in a cool place until completely cold and set hard. Slowly turn the pot upside down so the twig is at the bottom, and pull the pot off the set mixture. Use the free end of the string to tie to the branch of a tree. Alternatively you can press the cooled mixture into cracks in tree bark - tree creepers and wrens love this! You could also use that old trick of a half coconut to put the bird cake into. Another method is to pour your bird cake mixture into muffin tins. Add a strong cotton string to each cake before it cools to provide a hanger.

One of the best things about doing it properly is that you get to watch the birds showing off their acrobatic skills. If you are short of time you can just add the cooled mixture direct to a bird feeder, of course.

Indoor Birds

Basic Parrot Food

The bird food pyramid:

5-10% fresh seeds

10% fresh vegetables

10% fresh fruit

50% high grade pellets

20% sprouts

List of vegetables and fruits:

leafy greens

carrots

sweet potatoes

green beans

sweet peas

snap peas

pumpkin

squash 

corn

mangoes

papayas

melons

bananas

apples

kiwi

berries

cranberries

grapes

pomegranates

never feed birds: avocados, uncooked beans, chocolate, alcohol, coffee, shellfish and raw meat.

Daily Amounts

A Conure will eat about 1/4 to 1/2 cup of this parrot food. The other large parrots mentioned will need 1/2 cup each day.

Vitamin Supplements

Ask your veterinarian what vitamin supplements you should add to be sure your bird’s nutritional needs are met.

CAUTION: We are not parrot experts. Please talk to your veterinarian about your parrot food recipe to be sure it does not contain anything harmful to the species, and that it will supply adequate nourishment.

The Bird Cage

When you get your pet bird make sure the cage is large. As a matter of fact buy the largest one you can. You can check in thrift stores i've seen a few there.

Because parakeets fly horizontally make sure the width and depth are a priority. The cage should be at least 18x24x24 inches. It should be made of stainless steel.

Zinc, Brass and lead are toxic to parakeets.The cage should never have chipped or have peeling paint nor should it be rusted. 

The bars on the cage should be horizontal so the bird can climb. You should line the bottom of the cage with

paper towels or copy paper, you should not use newspaper because of the ink. When it's dirty throw it away and reline the bottom of the cage. 

Attach a food bowl and a water bowl To the side of the cage. Make sure that it is difficult for the bird to get their waste into the bowls. 

Make sure that if you have mutiple birds in the cage that each has their own food and water bowls. The dominent bird will fight the other birds for the food, 

even if they have enough.

Get a perch for the cage. It can be made of natural woods like, apple, plum, pear, or cherry. Birds like to peck at the perch and they also use it to keep their nails neatly trimmed.

Place toys in the cage. You can pick these up from the pet store. It keeps the bird from being bored, boredom may lead to screaming. 

You should place the cage in a room where you spend the most time. This keeps the Bird socialized and happy. Keep it away from the outside door and away 

from the window. They are temperature sensative and please don't keep them in the kitchen, fumes from oils and other foods can be dangerous to your bird.

It's important to talk to your bird. socialize with him/her. you can wash them with water and play games as well.

So you want a fish tank? ok...first you need to decide wether you want a fresh water or salt water tank.

Fresh Water Tank

to have a fresh water aquarium you will need:

A tank- before you put fish in it you will have to clean it out with water. Do not use soap or any chemical to clean it off.

Gravel- you must clean this as well with plain water using no chemicals. make sure there is no chlorine in it. there is a de-chlorination

water conditioner you can buy where you buy the rest of the aquarium equipment.

Decorations- you can use live or plastic plants. you can use rocks and there are lots of decorations to buy at the aquarium store.

Water conditioners- you should either buy the water de-chlorinator or make sure you buy 

water from the store.

Net- for transferring fish

fish food- ask your expert at the pet store which you should use. this usually depends on wether you have a fresh water or

salt water tank. It depends on the type of fish you plan to keep in your 

aquarium.

Location- Now you must choose a location in your home. The tank must be located away from the a/c or heater, 

it must be on a level surface that can hold the weight of an aquarium. The tank will

weigh about 11 lbs. per gallon. It must be near an outlet so that you can plug in your 

filters and lights. please do not put it in direct sunlight. This promotes the growth of algea.

Gravel-When adding gravel you should use 1.5 to 2 lbs. per gallon of water. So if you have a 10 gallon tank you must 

use about 15 pounds of gravel.

Filling-When filling your aquarium you should place a plate or something flat on top of the gravel to disperse the water. That way the gravel won't fly all over the aquarium.

Make sure the water is room temperature and has been sufficiently de-chlorinated. you can buy it in the store that way or you can buy the water conditioner.

NEVER USE PLAIN TAP WATER! 

Once you have a sufficient amount of water in the tank place your ornaments in it. Make sure you anchor your plants well so that they don't float to the surface. 

Then continue to fill it. fill it to within an inch of the rim.

Filtration- there are 3 kinds of filtration.

Mechanical filtration removes waste and other solid debris like uneaten food and such

Chemical filtration uses carbon to filter out dissloved polutants and such.

Biological filtration- This is the growth of bacteria that changes the nitrite and ammonia into nitrate. The water must be changed everyother week

the rid the water of this pollutant.

Heater- The aquarium must be kept at about 80 degrees. Gold fish are about the only fish that can live without a heater.

Light- the aquarium can use lighting for about 10 hours a day. If you keep it on more then that and you will have algea growth.

Before you add your fish allow the system to run a day or 2 to ensure it is running properly.

How to populate your freshwater aquarium. you will be able to use 1 inch of fish per gallon of water. you may wish to ask a knowledgeable aquarium person what fish are compatible with what fish.

when you add the fish do it slowly like 1 type of fish at a time.

Guinea pigs are small fragile pets. There require a minimum attention and exercise.

Cage- The cage size for 1 guinea pig should be bout 4.5 square feet. 8 square feet for 2 guinea pigs. 

With any living being the more space the better. It should have a solid bottom so that you avoid your guinea pig getting Bumble foot. The walls of the cage should be about 12-14 inches and it should have a lid. A lid protects your pet from things getting into the cage.

Bedding- A few inches thick of shredded paper is good for them. cedar and pine shavings may cause respiratory issues and is unadvisable.

a fleece cloth with an absorbing pad underneath is also a good idea. Bedding should be changed 2x a week. The cage should be cleaned with plain water.

No chemicals should ever be used. If you should decide o use the fleece clean it daily. It's probably a good idea to have 5 or 6 fleece cloths to use for bedding

so that you always have a clean one.

Guinea Pig Environment- Make sure the guinea pig is in a temperature-controlled environment. Do not place the guinea pig in a place that will be too cold or hot. do not place it near

a heater or a/c unit. Your guinea pig should be in an area where it can be socialized with the whole family.

Multiple Guinea pigs- If you wish to have more then one guinea pig make sure you only have 1 male that is neutered. If you place the male with females they could mate. then

you should ask your vet for instructions.

Feeding and watering- Always make sure that you have plenty of water. The best watering vehicle is a rabbit bottle. Guinea pigs are grazing animals. they require alfalfa,•Timothy, orchard grass, or bluegrass hay

when they are over 6 months old. It should always be in the cage. lack of this is very unhealthy for the guinea pig.•Veggies that are good for guinea pigs include 

leafy green lettuce, celery, carrots, off-the-vine tomatoes, cucumber, parsley, kale, a bit of raw broccoli, small amounts of 

spinach and pod-peas. Be sure to limit servings of some vegetables to avoid serious harm to the guinea pigs’ digestive tracts. 

Some fruits are okay for guinea pig treats such as strawberries and apple pieces but these can only be given occasionally as 

some of the acids can be harmful to guinea pigs. Cut this up into small bite size chunks. this will encourage them to eat it.

Do not feed your guinea pigs iceberg lettuce, rocket salads, red leaves, cauliflower, beet greens, potatoes, and radishes.

Each guinea pig requires one cup of vegetables per day. Take time to divide the meal into smaller feedings. Guinea pigs are grazing animals 

who prefer to eat throughout the day. Feed Guinea pigs pellets meant for Guinea pigs. Make sure it has alfalfa in it.

GUINEA PIG SALAD

1 fresh cucumber, sliced into fourths lengthways

1 handful of fresh spinach

1 handful of fresh parsley

1 handful of fresh round lettuce

1 handful of fresh celery tips

1 handful of fresh sliced peppers

1 cup fresh melon balls, 

1 cup freshly sliced ripe mango

1 cup cubed apple. 

Mix well and serve immediately.

WATERCRESS SALAD

1 bunch of fresh watercress

Wash well and dry with a cloth. Arrange in a pretty salad bowl and sprinkle some parsley over.

APPLE TREAT

Cut a slice off the top of a red apple and remove the core. Fill with diced cucumber. 

Note: Guinea Pigs are very sensitive to chemicals such as lawn pesticides, paints, and harsh cleansers. Be kind to yourself, the earth and your little friend by avoiding toxic chemicals. Guinea Pigs are also very sensitive to chlorine, so make sure they have plenty of pure spring water, fresh greens, sunlight, exercise, fresh outdoor air, tranquility and quiet. Guinea Pigs need mental, physical, and social stimulation just like any other pet does

Rabbits can eat many different varieties of fruits and vegetables, herbs and even oats. After you have learned what foods are safe for your rabbit to eat, and then you are only limited by your imagination as to what treats you can make. You can prepare rabbit biscuits and cookies the same way you would for yourself, in the oven. You will need finely mashed fruits and/or vegetables combined with a binder to hold the cookie or biscuit together. You will find many recipes for rabbit treats that use honey as a binder. While honey in small quantities won't kill your rabbit, honey is not a great choice to give rabbits. There are also many commercial treats for rabbits that contain honey. However, I cannot in good conscious recommend giving a rabbit honey even though they will probably enjoy it.

Fruits and vegetables give off juices that can bind your treats together. Mashed bananas can be added to oats and baked into a cookie treat that your rabbit will enjoy. Carrots also produce juice when shredded and I haven't met a rabbit yet that will reject a carrot. Carrot pancakes (much like potato pancakes) can be made with shredded carrots, a little carrot juice and oats. Place by the spoonful on a baking sheet and bake in the oven until crispy.

This can also be done with shredded apples and cucumbers. These cookies will hold together better with some mashed banana added to the mixture. I cover my cookies with foil for the first 10 minutes of baking time and then bake another 10 minutes uncovered. Your homemade recipe can also be poured out onto a cookie sheet and baked. After they have cooked and cooled, the treats can be cut into squares.

SIMPLE COOKIE RECIPE

1 mashed banana

1/2 of a large carrot, shredded

2-3 Tbsp. oats

Bake for about 15-20 minutes at 375 degrees.

If you are feeling adventurous, get out the cookie cutters and make some old-fashioned oatmeal cookies for your rabbit using oats and vegetables cut into fun shapes. Commercial pellet rabbit food can also be grinded and added to your rabbit treats which is a great alternative if you find a recipe that calls for flour. Because you’re homemade goodies do not contain any preservatives, they will need stored in an air-tight container in the refrigerator. 

Just like any other pet, rabbits enjoy treats and owners enjoy giving them to their rabbits. Treats should always be given sparingly to your pet rabbit. Excessive treats can cause your rabbit to become overweight and they may start to turn their nose up at their regular food in hopes of getting the good stuff. By preparing your own rabbit treats, you will know exactly what ingredients are going into your rabbit's body and you will spend less money than if you purchased the high-priced "gourmet" products at the store.

GERBIL FOOD

Seed Mixes: These are loose mixes of seeds, sometimes with pellets or dried vegetables added. Most of these will be nutritionally balanced, but only if your gerbil eats everything in the mix. The downside: many gerbils will pick out their favorite bits and leave the rest, which can lead to a dietary imbalance if there are components your gerbils consistently avoid. This may be especially true if there are lots of sunflower seeds in the mix, which are often favored but are quite fatty and alone are not a good diet. Because loose seed mixes don't insure a complete and balanced diet, they are not ideal as the sole component of the diet.

Pellets or Lab Blocks: these have the advantage of being nutritionally balanced. Pellets are smaller and lab blocks are the larger chunks of food.

Tank-For snakes you need a tank. most snake owners use a fish tank. Inside the fish tank you must have an enclosure of some kind.

Before you buy a tank you have to decide what kind of a snake you want. All snakes are carnivores. However there are ground dwelling snakes, 

they need a wider tank. Then the arboreal snakes need a high tank. There must be gravel, sand or some kind of material on the bottom of the tank.

The whole point of this is to replicate the snakes natural environment. You can have rocks and branches and small green plants in the habitat.

just be sure that the things you use are natural to your snake so that they won't get sick. Make sure the habitat has a tight cover so that snake does not get out.

of course you need air in the tank. You can use a screen cover for this. You must also have a cave like structure in the habitat. 

Most snakes need a hiding place from time to time.

Light- Like humans sunlight is a very important detail to keeping your snake healthy. Some need a lot of sun. Some hardly any. 

Check with an expert on just how much your snake needs. Each variety is different. You may need an ultra violet light for varietys who need more light.

Humidity- Snakes are also sensative to humidity. It is advisable to have thermometers and hygrometers in the habitat, on the floor and walls.

Heat- All snakes need under tank heating. However under the cave area should be the best temperature for you varitety of snake you have, while the rest of 

the tank should have different temperatures so that the snake can regulate it's own temperature.

Exercise- snakes will take care of their own needs. Just provide a branch so they can climb and some vines and some rocks. If you are really and avid snake owner

you can provide them with a shallow pool to swim in.

Feeding- Depending on the size of your snake they will eat anything from insects to rats. Most snakes will eat their dinner dead while some require a live animal.

You can buy dead feeder mice and rats from the pet store or you can breed the mice and rats yourself. Also depending on a variety of different reasons they may eat 3 or 1 or well who knows. keep plenty on hand in the freezer. keep your snakes food

and your food seperate. I guess that goes without saying. I personally don't care for rats. Clean water is a must for snakes.

sloughing- Snakes usually shed once a month and it usually takes a week or so. Your snake may require help and a privacy curtain for this. This is why you need to make sure

there is enough humidity in the habitat. Dryness is a leading cause of issues in sloughing

Handling- Pick the snake up gently but firmly by slipping your hands under the middle of their body. Do not attempt this until the snake is comfortable in your home and 

they have fully ingested their dinner.

To begin with there are 2 types of turtles, land turtles and water turtles. That being said they will need 2 completely different habitats and diets.

Land turtles

out doors

Turtles love the out doors. Make the yard as close to their natural habitat as you can. They need a house. You can take anything to make this except plastic. 

for instance take a large terracotta pot. Put it on the ground fill it partway with dirt. This is a good start.

If the turtle will be living indoors, get a really large tank get a terricotta pot . Fill the bottom of the tank with dirt place the pot on the ground of the

tank and put dirt into the pot. This will create a more natural setting for the turtle. Place plants in the tank and drinking water is a good thing.

Get a small dish and put it in the dirt so that the entrance to their small pool is level with the dirt. Change the water daily.

Climate control is essential! If they are out doors, shelter from the cold and heat is a must. If they are out door turtles you may want to bring them 

indoors for the winter. There are certain breeds that will require heat lamps and such so be prepared. Indoor turtels may require heat lamps in the winter.

Keep the tank away from drafty windows. For turtles to live UVB rays are necessary. So if you have an indoor habitat heat lamps are a must.

Exercise

Let your turtle loose from time to time in a safe place. They need to roam around and get exercise. Remove all dangerous items, and keep an eye on them.

Diet

Baby turtles are exclusively meat eaters or carnivores. As they reach adulthood they will tend to eat more plant material, they become omnivores. 

Leafy greens and melons are good choices for treats.

Cleaning the tank

Clean the tank thoroughly. Do not use soap or harmful chemicals. Water on a rag is good. You can buy turtle safe cleaning 

chemicals at reputable pet store. Change the dirt or add some change out the bushes or the vegitation you may

have in the tank. Change the water daily and cleanout the water dish regularly as well.

Aquatic Turtles

An aquatic turtle needs a large tank that is full of water, about 75% or more of it’s tank should be water. However a small landing should be 

available to the turtle. They use this as a basking area. They need to have enough room to swim, and that the water is kept clean.

Remember that aquatic turtles require water with a special pH balance. Keep some test strips in the house, by the tank. Also you may want to keep the 

right materials in the house to fix the ph is necessary.

Aquatic turtle food

A carnivorous turtle should be fed live or frozen meats as a part of their regular diet. The meat should be thawed but not cooked.