Animals and Pets

Most of us are guilty at some point or another feeding you dogs and puppies leftovers from the table or human scraps. While all dogs love the taste of human food, some are best just to be thrown out. Below are 10 foods you should avoid feeding your puppy or dog.










1. Bones - Yep we said it. Bones can cause all sorts of problems because of their sharp edges and difficult to digest material. Each year, many dogs are sent to the emergency to get treated for bones stuck in the throat or stomach. Be wise and avoid giving your dog bones and opt for a doggy snack instead.

2. Chocolate - This can be lethal if given in large quantities. It contains a compound which constricts the blood vessels and speeds up the heart. Not good for a puppy or dog. Reactions can occur within hours after ingestion.

3. Caffeine - Beyond chocolate you also should avoid giving your puppies & dogs any caffeine food or beverage. Starbucks and coffee are a big no no.

4. Dairy/Cheese - Dairy products like milk and cheese can cause digestion problems and constipation. Most dog breeds are lactose intolerant and cannot digest dairy well without causing stomach problems.

5. Mushrooms - These fungi contain toxins that when eaten by your dog can cause many problems. Some pets can go into shock because of this food so it is best to keep them away from your dogs.

6. Dough - When eaten, the dough will expand in your puppies stomach causing bloating and gas. In more serious cases, this expansion can rupture or tear your pets stomach or intestines giving you all sorts of problems. Avoid feeding your precious pet any dough related food.

7. Alcohol - Please refrain from giving your puppy or dog alcohol to drink. It will not take much to intoxicate your pet. This will cause them to stagger and run into things potentially hurting themselves. Water is always the best source of drink to give your dog.

These are just a sample of foods to avoid giving your pet despite which dog breed you have. It is always safe to just feed your pet certified dog food and water to keep them healthy and strong.

Sea sponges are one of the most interesting creatures to study about in the field of marine biology. One of the basic sea sponge facts is that sea sponges are very basic and primordial animals. They are either soft or hard, invertebrate, lacking a brain (no burden of thought), lacking organs and a digestive system (so no tummy trouble) - no heart, eyes, mouth, bones, ears and the like. They've lived on earth since around 500 million years and are often found aplenty on coral reefs!

What are They Made of?
Sea sponge facts about their body are peculiar too as they don't move and cannot escape predators. Their bodies are made of two layers and a jelly-like layer in between called mesohyl. They make spiny or bristly structures called spicules, made out of a mesh of protein, spongil and calcium carbonate, as defense against predators.

What do They Eat and How?
One of the interesting sea sponge facts is about their eating. These incredibly colored sea sponges place themselves under water in such a way so that they have a solid base to hold and grow on to and an abundant supply of food. But what do they eat? And how do they eat it? As your bathroom sponge has holes, so does a sea sponge. These holes or pores that are known as ostia. They usually simply filter the water of the ocean or sea by breathing in and out of these pores and take in any bacteria, plankton that would serve as food, and oxygen through the neatly divided canals. The quantities of water that passes through in a day is gargantuan - about 20,000 times its own volume. So a few sea sponges, could possibly filter a sea within a day. Some sea sponges have become carnivorous due to lack of the food they would eat otherwise. They come from the family Cladorhizidae. These carnivorous sponges feed on tiny crustaceans.

Girl or Boy?
One of the sea sponge facts is that you cannot tell which one of them would rather the color blue and which one pink. As they are hermaphrodites which means they can have the characteristics of both male and female. The sea sponges release their sperm in the water to float in the sea currents. If they are then absorbed by another sea sponge by way if its collar cells, the fertilization takes place inside the sponge and the larvae that are expelled into the water. These have cilia or tiny hair in order to propel themselves and finally find a good place on the sea floor, conducive for their growth. Some sea sponges are asexual and produce gemmules and bud, break off to and settle elsewhere to form a clone of their parent.

Unbreakable!
Another one of the sea sponge facts is that if you were to break a sea sponge into two, underwater, its cells would reconstruct themselves and bring it back together.

Sponging Away Some Diseases
Sea sponges have as much iodine in them as a liter of sea water would have, which makes them, since the olden days in the time of the Greeks, the Romans and the Middle ages, useful for medicinal purposes. Iodine has an antiseptic and antibacterial effect on wounds and scars and so the sea sponges were used extensively for their cure. Scientists have taken to researching the sea sponge for anti-cancer properties. They are also used in making drugs for asthma.

The different types of sponges are the Tube Sponge, Vase Sponge, Yellow Sponge, Red Tree Sponge, Common Sea Squirt and Painted Tunicate.

Yet another one of the sea sponge facts is that dolphins have been known to use sea sponges in order to hunt for fish that hide in the floor of the sea and in order to protect their noses whilst doing so. Sea sponges will continue to populate the world longer than the human race will, so they aren't about to throw in the sponge just yet!

Intelligence and docile nature are two must have qualities when it comes to pets, and Jersey Wooly rabbits seem to be exceptionally gifted with these qualities. In fact, these rabbits are so gentle that you have to take extra care to make sure you don't end up harming it unintentionally. More importantly, Jersey woolies are not just popular as exotic pets but are also quite popular as show rabbits. The American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA) officially recognized this crossbred species in 1988, and since then, the Jersey Woolies have come a long way to become one of the most exhibited species of show rabbits in the United States of America.

Jersey Wooly Rabbit Facts

The Jersey Wooly rabbit is a domestic rabbit breed which was developed by crossbreeding the Netherland Dwarf (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and the French Angora species. The Jersey Wooly was first introduced at the American Rabbit Breeders Association Convention at Florida in 1984 - approximately four years before it was officially recognized by the ARBA. Even though the thick wool fur - which is a typical characteristic trait of this species, may make it seem heavy, the Jersey Wooly seldom weighs more than 3.5 lbs. It has a compact body and erect ears on its bold head. Even though it has thick fur wool, it doesn't require grooming on regular basis like other pet rabbit species do.

While the pale brown color is most common in Jersey Wooly rabbits, individuals with other colored fur coats are not rare as such. Other Jersey Wooly colors range from chestnut and chocolate to black and blue. If subjected to proper care, the individuals belonging to these species are known to live for 7-10 years. These rabbits are very sociable in nature with humans as well as other domestic animals. The Jersey Wooly has a moderate temperament - owing to which it seldom resorts to unruly behavior such as biting. All these Jersey Wooly rabbit facts come together to make it one of the most popular breeds of rabbits as pets for kids and adults alike.

Jersey Wooly Rabbit Care

The fact that Jersey Woolies are easy to care make them one of the most popular species of rabbits as pets, but that doesn't mean you get a rabbit and leave it to fend for itself. The foremost thing to keep in mind is that the Jersey Wooly is not the species which you can house in a rabbit hutch outside your home. It should be housed in a playpen (or some other method of housing pets) within your home. You will also have to make sure that the temperature in and around their housing is moderate - neither too high nor too low. Owing to their docile nature, this species can be litter box trained with ease. As far as Jersey Wooly rabbits' diet is concerned, you can feed them plain alfalfa pellets when they are young, and start feeding rinsed vegetables, fruits and etc as they grow. However, when feeding them with calcium rich foods, such as alfalfa pellets, you need to make sure that you don't overfeed them.

You need to be a bit careful about the fact that these rabbits love chewing, and will chew on anything that they come across - even wires around the house. Ideally, you need to make sure that you keep wires and other such stuff out of their reach. This species is subjected to several health problems including hair block, earmites, respiratory diseases, fractured back and etc. If they do suffer from these problems, you will see a considerable bit of difference in their behavior. For instance, they are known to ingest hair when grooming themselves, a practice which is also seen in cats. However, they can't vomit the fur balls which occur in their body and this results in block. If your pet rabbit is suffering from hair block, it will stop eating its food. In order to avoid any such complications, you will have to stick to the basics of pet care when raising a Jersey Wooly.

That was all you needed to know about Jersey Woolies. If you happen to reside in the United States, you will find Jersey Wooly rabbits for sale at any pet store in your neighborhood. If not - the chances of which cannot be ruled out, taking into consideration, the popularity of this pet rabbit breed, then you will have to contact the nearest rabbit breeder to get a Jersey Wooly for yourself. When choosing a Jersey Wooly as a pet, make sure you do a detailed inspection of its body. You need to keep in mind that the key to a healthy Wooly is its perfect fur ball shape.

What weighs about 70 to 80 kg and can live up to 70 years in captivity? It is the alligator snapping turtle, the largest of freshwater turtles. Alligator snapping turtles have a really mean look and are not very popular turtles as pets. This is because they reach a really, really large size and can bite when aggressive. They may look very cute and easy to care when small. However, they are slow growers will soon become very big in size. They live for a really long time and you have to be ready to take care of them your entire life. Let us have a look at the following turtle care sheet and understand the requirements of this prehistoric looking pet.

Alligator Snapping Turtle Care Sheet

Alligator snapping turtle have three ridges that are pronounced on their backs. The characteristic identification of these turtles from other snapping turtles is their eyes. There eyes are placed on the side of the head. They have very strong and powerful jaws with a large head. They are called dinosaur of the turtle world due to their ancient looks. They can grow about 15 to 26 inches in size and weigh about 70 kg. These turtles are not meant for inexperienced hobbyists. Alligator snapping turtle care is very difficult and requires expert handlers. Alligator snapping turtle care will prove to be a challenge if you do not understand the basic requirements. People are fascinated by exotic pets and never ever bother to understand if they can handle them as adults. They need a lot of space to live and can snap when mishandled. Let us have a look at the following alligator snapping turtle care sheet to know the best way to take care of these pets. Read more on different aquatic turtle species.

Alligator Snapping Turtle Habitat
Alligator snapping turtle are native species of the southeastern United States. The alligator snapping turtle habitat consists of large rivers, canals, lakes as well as swamps. Juveniles as well as the hatchlings live in small river streams. Get more information on how to take care of a turtle.

Alligator Snapping Turtle Housing
These are large animals and need a lot of space to live. You can house a juvenile in a 10 gallon tank. However, large adults will require bigger enclosures. They require an aquatic setup as they love to float on the water surface. You can provide them with a heat lamp or place the enclosure in such an area that receives sunlight. The water level should be enough for the turtle to keep its nose out. They grow really big in size, therefore it is very difficult to find suitable tank mates for them. They consider anything and everything in the tank as food. Therefore, do not place any decorative plants or plastic toys in the tank. This can prove to be dangerous as the turtle might consider eating it up. So, within a few years, you might have to consider getting your alligator snapping turtle a gigantic aquarium tank or place it in a pond. The alligator snapping turtle requires an ideal temperature of about 75 to 87ºF. They are very messy creatures and you will need to keep changing the water as frequently as possible.

Alligator Snapping Turtle Diet
The next important thing to understand of alligator snapping turtle care is its diet. As I have already said, these turtles will eat anything they find in their habitat. In the wild, they are used to eating frogs, clams, snakes, fish and yes, other turtles as well. They have no qualms about eating their injured or sick tank companion. They will even feed on aquatic plants growing along the pond. So, when you bring one home, you can feed it with small fishes like guppies, minnows and crawfish. You can even feed them with mice, rats, chicks as well as cooked chicken.

Alligator Snapping Turtle Facts

* The alligator snapping turtle is very timid under water. But, if you try to move it away from its environment, it will snap and bite the person harassing it.
* The alligator snapping turtle is known by many names that include alligator tailed turtle, snapper, mud turtle, etc.
* The best way to handle a alligator snapping turtle is by catching it with its tail. This will keep its snapping head away from the handlers body.

You can read more on snapping turtles in the following articles:

* Snapping Turtle Facts
* Snapping Turtle Care

This was some information related to alligator snapping turtle care. It is very dangerous to handle an alligator snapping turtle as is can bite off an finger from your hand. Therefore, never, ever attempt to hand feed your pet. If your turtle refuses to eat, that means there is something wrong with the temperature. The ICUN lists alligator snapping turtles as a threatened species and the turtle is said to be an endangered species in several American states. You should refer alligator snapping turtle care guide books, etc. before bringing one as a pet. This pet requires an experienced handler who has a lot of time to spare in their care.