Cats, Dogs & All Pets

You’ve noticed little dribbles of cat urine where she sleeps, sits or even after she leaves your lap when she’s done with you. These wet and disconcerting pee spots means your cat is suffering from feline incontinence. Here is help to understand the causes and what you can do to help her.

A cat with incontinence is unable to control their urination. The cat may dribble urine or leave wet spots in an area where they have been sleeping. Feline incontinence is often a problem that they are unaware of and there can be many things that will cause it. Below are some of the top causes of feline incontinence.

Cause 1: If your cat has had frequent urinary problems, then it could be that the bladder has become scarred. This will prevent it from being able to expand to hold more urine, which will lead to a more frequent emptying of the bladder.

Cause 2: If your cat has had frequent urinary problems, then it could be that the bladder has become scarred. This will prevent it from being able to expand to hold more urine, which will lead to a more frequent emptying of the bladder.

Cause 3: Bladder stones can cause a blockage in your cat’s urethra. This will make it impossible for the cat to completely empty their bladder. Pressure when the bladder fills with urine could force out some of it. If you suspect this problem get your cat to the vet right away, as it can be fatal within a day or two.

Cause 4: A weakening of the urinary sphincter will often cause feline incontinence. It doesn’t happen very often in cats, but it does happen occasionally in spayed cats. This is especially true if the cat is overweight. It is often a result of hormones, and usually develops later in life.

Cause 5: A weakening of the urinary sphincter will often cause feline incontinence. It doesn’t happen very often in cats, but it does happen occasionally in spayed cats. This is especially true if the cat is overweight. It is often a result of hormones, and usually develops later in life.

Cause 6: Simple old age can cause incontinence in your cat. The bladder muscles may become weak, causing your cat to be unable to hold in urine.

Feline incontinence has many sources. Luckily, many of these causes are treatable, so you will no longer have to worry about finding cat urine on the carpet, couches, or hard wood floors. If you suspect your cat may be incontinent, your best bet will be to seek the assistance of a veterinarian, who can tell you the cause and help you fix it.

Nuisance pond algae is something every pond owner has to deal with on a constant basis. Pond setups are expensive, so are the required equipment that is vital to a healthy pond. After investing so much time and money into the pond, you get an algae bloom.

Now you can barely see your fish. And it seems like this problem will stick around for a while.

Nuisance algae can be classified into three groups. They are attached-erect algae, phytoplankton and filamentous algae.

And there is only one reason these algae are taking over pond at the moment. Nutrients. The two main nutrients we will be looking at are nitrates and phosphates.

Walk into any gardening section and take a look at the fertilizer you see there. All of them will have something called an N P K rating stamped on them. N stands for nitrogen, P for phosphorus and K for potassium. These three elements are fundamental to all fertilizers.

Nitrates and phosphates are the two nutrients that we are concerned with. These two nutrients are both used by nuisance algae and aquatic plants.

Success against nuisance algae only comes if we can keep nitrate and phosphate levels low.

A few water changes are all it takes to reduce nitrates in smaller ponds.

Water changes are not viable when dealing with very large ponds however. Cleaning the pond should be the first thing you should do. Siphon up any fish waste, detritus and sludge from the bottom. Clean up all your pumps as well as dirty filter pads.

Reduce feeding as well as the amount fed to your fish. Rotting leaves and debris should also be removed as they are a great source of nutrients.

Aquatic plants compete with algae for nutrients so introduce some to your pond. You can also use shade to your advantage, floating plants like water lilies prevent sunlight from reaching plant life in the water column or at the bottom. The general rule of thumb is with regard to shade is 50 to 70 percent via use of floating plants.

With regards to microscopic algae, UV sterilizers have proved an effective tool towards keeping their numbers low. Depending on the size of the pond, UV Sterilizers are a pricey option though.

Barley has been used with some success against nuisance algae. First used in Europe for centuries, its has become a common item in the pond hobby.

After submerging the barley into the pond, it will eventually release natural chemicals that are harmful towards most nuisance algae. It is completely safe for your fishes.

Usually sold in three forms, you can buy barley extract, barley straws or barley pellets. Not a most effective method at algae removal, they are cheap and there worth a try.

While algaecide usage is common in the hobby, i feel they should never be used. They are a poison (copper sulfate) and will definitely harm your ponds ecological system. The European Union has publicly stated that it does not work well with sustainable ecosystems.

They are a short-term fix. They do not address the cause of nuisance algae in your pond. The root cause of nuisance algae is elevated nutrients. Which takes us back to nutrient control, the beginning.

Raising or breeding chickens from the time they are hatched by you is best if you are raising them for meat. The key to your operation is to raise new chickens. If you do not know how to properly raise chickens, your operations will be compromised. We look for answers to many different questions on raising backyard chickens since it is uncommon to do so. Here are some frequently asked questions on raising chickens at home.

Do I need to hatch the eggs myself?

Hatch the eggs either artificially or naturally. A hen going broody on the said eggs will, of course, be natural hatching. A hen must be found that is gong broody, even if it is not the mother hen, or the hen that laid the egg.

Although natural incubation may seem very practical, this will put a dent on your operations. Hens that are brooding hens to not lay eggs. You can also expect them to lose weight because brooding and hatching the eggs will be the only thing they will have in mind. They are too weak to stand up and usually will not eat. The natural way to maintain the number of eggs you are producing is not the way for you. Let the hen do the work for you, if only once, if this isn’t really a problem. It will surely be an experience.

What ideas are there to raise chicks after they are hatched?

A brooder is needed for this. Instead of buying a brooder, you can make one yourself, unless you do not have the ability to make it, then it is better to buy one. You need to know how to raise the chickens after they hatch. All in all, you simply have to keep the chicks in the brooder at a 95 degree Fahrenheit temperature for the first week. You should lower the temperature every week for the next three weeks.

You need to ensure that food and water is available to the chicks at all times. Commercial feeds are appropriate and sufficient for newly hatched chicks, so you are better of feeding them a commercial feed. You can release your chicks after the first month, although you can choose to let them stay until the second month. If the weather is warm and you have a clean run for them, take them out of the incubator once in a while and increase their food and water.

If the chicks are ones that were not personally hatched by me, how to I take care of them?

How to raise chickens you did not hatch is a very important concern, especially when the chicks are shipped. The travel involved in shipping chicks often makes them weak. Put eight tablespoons of sugar for every gallon of water you give your chicks. Adding this sweet solution on their food can give them an extra jolt of energy. It is also important to know how to raise chickens that seem weak. Here, you should give extra attention. When they reject food, this is particularly true. You can and should hand-feed them in this case (although do not forget to wash your hands!).

It is best if you read more materials on how to raise chickens, especially if you are operating a commercial procedure (even if only a minor or small one).

Infectious canine hepatitis is a dog disease that is contagious and can also infect wildlife carnivores like bears, coyotes, and foxes. A vaccination for infectious canine hepatitis can prevent this disease. Infectious canine hepatitis most commonly affects puppies under one year of age.

The vaccination for infectious canine hepatitis most effectively protects the dog if given when the puppy is nine to twelve weeks old. Even though puppies are at the greatest risk of infectious canine hepatitis, an unvaccinated dog of any age is at risk.

The virus that causes this dog disease is spread through direct contact with an infected dog or contact with contaminated body fluids like urine, saliva, and nasal discharge. Dogs may also acquire the viral infection from contaminated food bowls, cages, or other items.

Sore throat, fever, and coughing are typically the first symptoms of infectious canine hepatitis. The virus may then start affecting the dog’s eyes, kidneys, and liver. Infectious canine hepatitis often causes a low white blood cell count.

A dog that has acquired a hepatitis infection may develop a bluish tint to its corneas. The eyes may appear cloudy and may become sensitive to light. Dogs may experience vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, and seizures.

Infectious canine hepatitis can cause bleeding problems. The dog may have nosebleeds or bleeding gums. Some dogs with this disease develop swelling of the head, neck, and trunk and hematomas which are collections of blood under the skin.

There is no fast cure for infectious canine hepatitis. The veterinary treatment is antibiotics and supportive care with intravenous fluids. In severe cases, the dog may need a blood transfusion.

Infectious canine hepatitis is a potentially fatal dog disease. A dog may die as quickly as two hours after the first symptoms. Young puppies are most likely to die from infectious canine hepatitis.

The urine of a dog that was treated for infectious canine hepatitis can still be contaminated and spread the disease for up to nine months even if the dog has fully recovered. Humans are not in danger of contracting hepatitis from dogs. The hepatitis that can infect humans is not the same as infectious canine hepatitis.

Anyone who is considering raising backyard chickens knows that a home chicken coop is a necessity to raise chickens the right way. Chickens certainly need a safe place to eat and sleep. They also need shelter from the elements. However, the idea of paying top dollar for a chicken coop and having it delivered can be a very expensive option. This is why building your own backyard chicken coop may be a feasible thing to do.

Thorough planning is important and there are several important factors to consider before building your chicken coop.

1. Focus on Planning: Have you ever heard that old saying that if you fail to plan, you plan to fail? Even when building a chicken coop, that old adage stands true. If you take the time up front to plan your home chicken coop, you and your chickens will reap the benefits later.

There are so many ideas to take into consideration in your plan such as: how large will your chickens be, how many windows will you need to keep proper ventilation and light, how will you maintain the safety of your chickens, how many feeders and waterers will you need and what kind of access will you have? Planning at the outset will help ward off any problems later once you have finished construction of your coop.

2. Pick a location for your coop: Next, you need to find a spot in your yard that is flat and free of high weeds or woods. You need to protect your chickens from rodents and snakes. Also, make sure that you leave space around the coop because you may want to construct a run. You also need to be able to gain access to the coop, so leaving room around it is important.

3. Make a plan: Get your measurements right and make a draft of your home chicken coop. You can even make plan more than one model to decide which might work best for you. It is also easier to change the layout and add on when the plan is still in the making. Be sure about which plan you want to follow before buying the materials. Also decide on a budget and keep it in mind while planning. That way, you will not over do it.

4. Build your chicken coop: If you are sure about the chicken coop plan, it is time for a trip to the hardware store to gather the materials. Basic wood working skill is the absolute requirement for building your home chicken coop from scratch.

Building your own home chicken coop can be a good experience if you understand the process. However, if drawing your coop is a frustrating experience and you really have no clue about where to begin, you might want to purchase some inexpensive design plans to help you along. These resources are invaluable to the new coop builder as they can even tell you what kind of coop to build.