Choosing the right Goldfish

Goldfish are a temperate breed that can be found in cool streams, lakes, and ponds throughout Asia and part of Eastern Europe. However, the ones you will buy for your tank have been bred in captivity. Once you've decided that the goldfish is the right fish for you - you will need to find the right kind of goldfish. Take your time and find out more, rather than just rush out and buy the first goldfish you find in the first pet store you come by. Decide on how many you want to buy. If you really want just a single goldfish, please do a re-think on the issue because it can get lonely and boring for a lone ranger in a tank! Once you've though it out, here are some of the things you must keep in mind:

Choose the right pet shop
When you enter the shop, look around at all the tanks. Make sure that the tanks are not overcrowded with fish. See if all kinds of fish are thrown together in one tank or care is taken to separate the various species. Look out for dead floating fish. The dead fish could have spread an infection to the other fish.

Observe how the fish swims
This is a good gauge to identify healthy fish. A fish should be active, swimming with ease and style and poking around curiously at nooks and corners. Choose a goldfish that looks active and doesn't wobble or tilt to one side or just rest at the bottom. Tap the tank and see how the goldfish reacts. A fish that is slow in its reaction might be a sick one. Make sure that it's not opening its mouth too much for air, as it might be an indication of problems with the gills.

Check out the fins
Make sure that the dorsal fin is straight and stands up. The backs of the goldfish should be smooth, without unsightly bumps. Also check that all the fins are healthy, even and are not rotted away or damaged. In all, a goldfish should have a dorsal fin, pectoral fins that extend out on each side, two anal fins or one right in the middle. Beware a goldfish with just one anal fin that's placed kind of off to one side. It could mean that the other anal fin is growing inwards and that could be fatal to the goldfish.

Inspect the looks
Make sure that you give the goldfish you are choosing a thorough look over. See that the fish has a nice symmetrical shape and make sure they don't have large heads compared to their body. Ensure that the skin is free of spots and odd bumps and that the gills are red. There should be no redness in the anal region and definitely nothing sticking out or leaking out. The outside of the mouth should be free from redness and white strings and the eyes free from white flecks.

Bag them right
Where you're buying goldfish, you will have to put them in the ubiquitous plastic bag, but do so with care. Make sure that the dealer leaves enough space on top for the oxygen and the right amount of water. The right amount of the water is that which covers the fish. Do not allow the dealer to add any medicine or drops or anything else. Don't make the bag too tight and avoid a big bag that might lead to too many folds in which the fish could get trapped and hurt. The bag should be tied till it is adequately taut.

The Right Tropical Fish Aquarium

The first decision you must make when you buy an aquarium is whether you plan to keep freshwater fish or saltwater fish. It's up to you whether you want to keep saltwater or freshwater, but if this is your first aquarium, then I suggest you start with a freshwater aquarium.

Here's why: Saltwater tanks are more expensive and more complex. You have extra things to worry about such as the salinity of the water, water conditioning, and temperature. Because of this, freshwater fish are much easier to care for if you're new to keeping tropical fish.

Here's a few other things to keep in mind when buying an aquarium:

Location
When you're deciding on a location for your aquarium, remember that it can't be placed in direct sunlight, or anywhere else that could result in changes in temperature.

Also remember that your aquarium, when filled with water, can be very heavy. As an example, a filled 20-gallon glass tank will weight about 225 pounds. Bear this in mind when you choose on a location for your aquarium...as it will be impossible to move afterwards.

Level floor
You will need a level floor for your aquarium, as this will reduce stress on the tank and reduce the chance of any cracks forming over time due to the floor being uneven.

Electrical outlet
Make sure your new tank is located near an electrical outlet so you can plug in the heaters, lights and pumps.

Accessible
You'll need to have easy access to your tank so you can use the heater controls and air valves. You also need to have room for a net, and room to move decorations around.

Shape
When you're choosing the shape of your aquarium choose short, longer shapes over tall, thinner shapes. This way there will be more surface area at the top of the water, which is much better for your fish.

Size
It is best to choose an aquarium over 10 gallons. Why? Because it's just easier to take care of a fish in a larger tank than a smaller one. Whatever aquarium you choose, it is going to, over time, have a build up of waste material. In a large tank these toxic materials have more room to be dispersed. This means the water stays cleaner for longer, and will require less cleaning than a smaller tank.

Material
Aquariums can be made from glass or acrylic. Both have there pros and cons, but I recommend beginners to start with a glass aquarium. Why? Firstly, they cost less, secondly, they don't scratch so easily, and thirdly, they only need to be supported by the edges.

As you can see, you need to put some time and consideration into where you choose to place your aquarium. All these things will play a part in which aquarium you choose to buy.

How to Breed American Bulldogs

Breeding American bulldogs is not something that people should go into lightly. If you are planning on breeding for the purpose of profit, you may need to figure out the costs first before you proceed with your plans of becoming a bulldog breeder. Some of the costs that may come into play include the vaccinations, the feeding of the puppies till they are of an age when they can be taken to their new owners and the place that they will need to stay in until such time. You will also need to take your breeding bitch to the vet for regular checkups once she is pregnant and you may need to spend a lot of money on the kind of food needed to raise a good breeding bulldog for your breeding plans. If you find that you have what it takes to breed American bulldogs, financially, physically and mentally, then go ahead and start your bulldog breeding program.

Starting Out

The best source of information for neophyte bulldog breeders is not found in how-to books or instructional manuals. The best information on breeding bulldogs comes from those who have been doing it for quite a while. This can be gained from a membership into a breeding club and from associating with those experienced breeders who are willing to share their knowledge on the subject. You can still peruse certain publications about the basics of breeding American bulldogs and what kinds of bulldogs are best for you to breed. Research is a key element in knowing what is best for your breeding plans and a little information from those who are in the business of breeding bulldogs can help you get started on the right foot.

Choosing and Raising the Dogs

Very few breeders start off breeding their pups from a dog that they already have as a pet. The majority of people who get their bulldogs as pets often get their puppies spayed or neutered at the request of the breeder since a lot of them may not want careless breeding of these dogs. If you decide to become a breeder, you may need to get a stud and a brood bitch to get yourself started. This actually requires a bit of planning and some waiting if you want your pups to be of the kind of temperament and quality you want them to be. Breeding from a dog you got from a pet store is quite unheard of and irresponsible to boot. If you want to breed American bulldogs the professional way, you will have to choose a proper breeding kennel to get your stud and bitch from and you may have to wait awhile before you do get your start-up breeding pair. When you do have the dogs that you want to use for your breeding program, you will need to raise them to a certain maturity level for them to be able to take care of the resulting pups from such a union. This may mean that you won't be breeding any pups sooner than 2 years or so. This also means you will have to take extra care of your brood bitch in this length of time with the proper nutrition needed for future breeding.

Cat Mange

Types of Cat Mange

Although mange is less common in cats, young pets and certain breeds are more susceptible to mites. In addition, pets living within close proximity to dogs infected with mange can contract the infection. The types of mange commonly seen in cats include mange associated with ear mites, demodectic mange, notoedric mange and sarcoptic mange.

Symptoms of Cat Mange

The symptoms of each type of mange only slightly vary from the others. Symptoms of mange associated with ear mites include ear inflammation, itching, redness and discharge from the ear. Cats suffering from demodectic mange exhibit symptoms either all over the body or in localized areas, including hair loss, crusty skin, itchiness and skin lesions. The symptoms of sarcoptic mange include localized papules, excessive itching and all other symptoms of demodectic mange. Notoedric mange, also known as head mange, can cause excessive itching and bleeding sores.

Diagnosis of Cat Mange

The vet will perform a physical examination to determine the clinical symptoms present. A skin scraping test is then performed to analyze the cells under a microscope. Skin scraping tests reveal the type of mange infection present. Absence of mites during microscopic examination of skin cells doesn't indicate that the cat isn't suffering from mange. Cats suffering from severe demodectic mange are also tested for the feline leukemia virus and the feline AIDS virus to rule out underlying health concerns.

Treatment of Cat Mange Includes:

* Use of a sulfur lime dip to kill the infection.
* Antibiotic medication to cure secondary bacterial infections.
* Use of medicated shampoos.
* Application of hydrocortisone solutions to soothe itching and inflammation.
* Topical antibiotic medication to treat open sores or lesions.

Lime Sulfur Dip

This is a medicated solution, available under various brand names, used to treat mange and parasites. The solution is generally diluted with water and applied to affected areas. Lime sulfur dips should be applied once every week for at least 6 weeks. The solution shouldn't be ingested by the cat and pet owners should carefully read and follow package instructions before using the product. Cats treated for mange require follow up skin scraping tests to determine if the infection is still active.

Home Care

Notoedric mange is very contagious and hence pet owners should treat all other pets living within proximity of the infected cat. Cat bedding should be washed and the surroundings treated with pet friendly disinfectants. Although long term prevention of cat mange is difficult, pet owners should keep healthy cats away from sick or infected pets.

Most cats respond favorably to mange medication. Pets that don't respond to treatment or that are suffering from frequent mange infections require other diagnostic tests to detect immune-suppressing disorders.

Dog Illnesses

Is your dog healthy?
If you are a dog owner, you probably know how important it is to have a happy and healthy pet. Daily care, grooming, and attention go a long way in keeping many health problems at bay. Taking appropriate steps to prevent diseases will save you and your pet a lot of concern and trouble.

It is a good idea to get your pet inoculated and dewormed as per your veterinarian's advise. Contact the vet if you find any kind of irregularities in your dog. If an illness is detected earlier, there will be a better chance of getting it cured.

Here are some things you should look out for:
The Dog grows listless and depressed and shows a distinct lack of stamina.
The Dog stops eating and loses interest in food.
The Dog drinks too much water.
The Dog suffers from excessive vomiting and diarrhea.
The Dog keeps shaking its head or scratching its body.
The Dog loses its hair and develops open sores on its body.
The Dog shows stiff movements.
The Dog develops prominent lumps on its body.
The Dog has foul breath.
The Dog shows significant yellowish tartar deposits on its teeth.
The Dog has excessive discharge from its eyes or nose.
The Dog shows difficulty in breathing.
The Dog shows sudden aggressive tendencies.

If you think your pet is displaying any one of these signs, you probably need to contact your veterinarian.

Parasites that cause diseases in dogs.
One of the main problems that dog owners face is battling internal and external parasites that plague their pet.

Some external parasites are Fleas, Mites, Lice, and Ticks. If your dog is constantly scratching itself, particularly around the ears and the chest area, than it probably is infested. External parasites don't just make your pet embarrassing in polite society, they can damage its coat and lead up to all sorts of diseases, even prove fatal in some cases. Regular brushing and grooming can help control the presence of external parasites to an extent. Consult your veterinarian and he will advise you of a proper treatment to follow. Numerous sprays, shampoos, and medicinal washes are available in the market to combat external parasites. You will also need to spray your immediate surroundings to kill the parasite eggs and prevent the parasites from breeding.

Internal Parasites like Tapeworms, Heartworms, Roundworms, Hookworms, and Whipworms are equally damaging for your pet's health, causing anemia, internal bleeding, and death, and should be summarily dealt with. Following a regular de-worming routine and keeping your pet isolated from areas frequented by stray animals will certainly help.

Skin diseases in dogs
Skin diseases in dogs are frequently caused by the presence of external parasites. Mange, which is caused by mites, commonly comes in two forms – Demodectic Mange and Sarcoptic Mange. Both forms of mange are extremely unpleasant and serious, the Sarcoptic Mange especially so as it can be transferred to humans. If your dog shows signs of mange, it should be isolated from other dogs and especially from children and should receive treatment immediately. Treatment is usually in the form of injections, oral medication, ointments, and medicinal baths.

Rabies
Rabies, which is specific to mammals and which is transmitted through the saliva of the infected animal or by receiving a bite from the infected animal, is perhaps the most feared of the canine diseases as there is no treatment available and death is certain. Prevention is the only way to stop this illness. Make sure your pet is vaccinated against Rabies and keep your distance from un-vaccinated dogs and wild animals.

Canine Distemper, Parvovirus, Leptospirosis, and Parainfluenza
These diseases, although not fatal nowadays, are quite serious and damaging. Again, prevention is an option better chosen. Get your pet inoculated and keep it away from other dogs until all inoculations are complete.

With some proper care and precautions, you can protect your dog from illnesses and diseases, and have a well and healthy pet.