Pet First Aid

  

By Emmy E Bill 

It is important as a pet parent to be aware of your pet's normal everyday behavior. Your pet cannot tell you when he/she is in pain or discomfort, it is up to you to identify if and when they need first aid.

Pet First Aid Kit:

To start, put together a pet first aid kit. Pet first aid kits can be purchased at many pet stores or you could ask your veterinarian for a list of items to combine or add. The kit will include items similar to a human first aid kit such as:

* Vetericyn Wound and Infection Spray

* Sterile gauze dressings

* 3% hydrogen peroxide

* Adhesive bandages

* Adhesive tape

* Rectal thermometer

* Cold pack

* Grooming clippers

* Eye wash

* Penlight

* Thermal blanket

* Antiseptic cream

The above products can be used for any pet; cat, dog or horse. Vetericyn Wound and Infection Spray, compared to the human product Puracyn and made by the same company, is a non-toxic spray that will kill 99.99% of infection and bacteria in less than 30 seconds increasing oxygen to the wound and promoting rapid healing.

It is also suggested that you include a list of phone numbers related to pet health or emergencies in the kit as well. Write down your veterinarian's office number, a 24-hour animal clinic, the national animal poison control center, humane organization, and local animal shelters. Having this list of numbers on hand will save time and benefit your pet if an emergency occurs. Make sure that everyone in your family knows that this kit is for the family pet. Decide as a family where to put it so everyone knows where to find it in the case of an emergency.

Wound Care:

In the case that your pet has bleeding wounds, use gauze to apply pressure to the area which will promote clotting. If a trip to the vet is necessary, it is a good idea to call ahead and describe the injury; letting them know when you will arrive. Doing this will allow the staff time to prepare for your pet's arrival.

Penetrating Objects:

Cats and dogs are known for being curious creatures that can get themselves into a mess of trouble at times. If your pet has been stabbed by a stick, arrow or other object and it is still in the pet, do not remove it yourself. Here is what you should do to make sure the object does not penetrate further into the animal:

1. Get a foam cup

2. Make a hole in the bottom of the cup and place it over the object

3. Tape the cup around the object, if the object is long gently cut the object 5 inches above the wound. If you do not have a foam cup or something similar

4. If you do not have a foam cup or something similar, gently wrap gauze around the object

5. Get to the vet immediately

As they say, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Be prepared for emergencies; if you are, the emergency won't be quite as scary for you or your pet.

We love pets! Probioticsmart.com knows your pet deserves the very best care possible, and we're here to help. Visit our blog for more information, tips and stories on all things pet health. See you there!

Read More

Saltwater aquarium care tips

Having a saltwater aquarium can be fun. You can also find that there are some down sides to having this type of aquarium too. It is essential that you take the time to compare these options before you choose whether or not you should go with a salt water aquarium or with a freshwater aquarium.
A freshwater aquarium is easier for most to maintain because it is easier to keep clean. A saltwater aquarium will be harder to clean but it will be able to be stocked with a larger amount of variety in the fish and creatures that you can put into it. A freshwater tank will be less expensive as will the fish that you stock it with. But, again, there is more variety offered in the salt water version. And, you can even create your own living ocean in your salt water aquarium because you can put in a wide range of other sea life animals that are not fish.
You will need to do more work and invest more money into a salt water tank. You will also need to commit more time to keeping it up and running. You should realize, though, that there are many rewards offered to you in this type of tank. It will allow you to create a whole new world in your home and it can even teach children about the life under the sea. Take your time to consider your choice. Take a look at the types of fish that you would love to have in your salt water aquarium and decide if you can indeed provide for them the type of environment that they need to survive in.

source:http://www.scribd.com/doc/73341055/1/Can-You-Handle-A-Saltwater-Aquarium

Read More

Family Pet Funerals

In the past, when a pet had passed away, the family would normally hold some sort of garden memorial burial ceremony for the sake of teaching children about what happens after something or someone passes away. With the exception of some parrots, animals are not meant to be with us throughout our lives. These types of pet memorials are ritualistically similar to that of human funerals. They teach children that death is a part of life.
In some low-lying areas, communities place their dead in crypts above ground, just as the ancient Egyptians did. In other areas, for centuries, the deceased have been buried in graves. The most economical way to dispose of a body was to bury it in the ground. Coffins were created of plain wood in a rectangular type shape. At one end, the coffin was just a bit wider to accommodate the person's shoulders. Bodies were laid in coffins, lowered into a hole of similar size and covered up with dirt. Usually away from the main population, there was a designated area for coffins. These were called graveyards. Funerals for the dead were held in the graveyards.
Family pet funerals are similar. For a small pet, a shoe box may serve as a make-shift coffin. For larger animals, a comparable size hole was dug in the backyard, and the body, often in a large plastic bag or covered with a tarpaulin, was lowered down into the hole. Dirt would be back-filled into the hole, covering the deceased pet. A pet gravemarker usually consisted of a cross made of twigs, a flower or wreath, and a personal pet item.
In times past, many people were buried with no gravemarker. Unmarked graves could be unearthed years later. In present day, gravestones or headstones (named from the placement of the stone over the "head" of the body) are used to mark the burial site. They are engraved with names and the dates that span the life of the family member.
Eventually, pet lovers decided their pets deserved to be honored with more than sticks and flowers. People are not the only ones deserving of headstones. Pets deserved them as well. Today, there are hundreds of different pet memorials and urns for pets. Both are available with engraved sentiments, poems, names and dates. Many can be used for burial, but some are meant to be displayed. Some of the pet memorial urns are so beautiful, one might think them treasured antique pieces of art.
Times have changed over the centuries. What we are teaching our children about death through the loss of pets needs to be brought into modern times. Exquisite marble pet memorials and pet urns should now be part of these lessons. Perhaps the new tokens of honor will bring families comfort and beauty into pet grieving ceremonies.

For pictures and more information on pet memorials and pet urns, please visit: http://perpetualpetmemorials.com

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

Read More