Free Pet Exam! (*^o^)

This link lets you sign up for a one time free pet exam for first time clients! Go take your beloved pet for a checkup! :D
http://www.banfield.com/landing/index.html

Source: arnettanimalhospital.com/checkups.asp

Featured Pet :D

This photo is not mine. :D
Source: http://www.zuzafun.com/cute-hamster

~Hamsters~

Background
Hamsters are first found in Syria; however, they are native to many other areas as well.  Its name, hamster, derived from the german word, "hamstern."  They are one of the most popular pets, but there are special requirements on taking care of these little fellows.  Hamsters only live for a few years.  For example, the Syrian hamster have a lifespan of two to three years.  Moreover,these creatures are nocturnal; therefore, they are not fit for little kids who are awake in the day.  They tend to be active in running, digging, and scratching at night, so if this is disturbing to one, that person should reconsider keeping a hamster.  Hamsters will bite especially when bothered while they are sleeping.

Costs
They need a cage, food, toys and treats, and litter and bedding materials.  According to ASPCA, the prices are around the following:

• a cage is $35
• food is around $50 per year
• $20 is spent for toys and treats annually
• $220 is for the litter and bedding materials per year

The hamster itself can be either bought or adopted at an animal shelter.  ASPCA refers to Petfinder.com to find an available shelter for adoption.

Housing
One must note the hamsters preferrences while selecting a cage.  Syrian hamsters like to live alone so one hamster per cage is a must! Dwarf hamsters on the other hand can live in pairs; however, one must be careful of putting a female and a male together because they breed rapidily contributing to a large litter.  "Keep your Syrian hamster in a wire cage or a ten-gallon aquarium with a wire-mesh top. The fancier cages with tubes, tunnels and hideaways are good, too, but they generally cost more and are harder to clean. If you have space for a larger cage, it will be much appreciated. Dwarf hamsters can be kept in a cage made for mice.  The enclosure should be placed away from direct sunlight and drafts, and lined with an absorbent bedding such as timothy hay, aspen shavings, shredded paper or pelleted bedding. Do not use pine or cedar chips, as the fumes from these products can be harmful to your pets.  Hamsters are big on exercise, so please make sure yours has a wheel for running. Hamsters also like to hide and sleep inside enclosed spaces, so you’ll need a small box with an entrance hole or a small flower pot for this purpose. And they love crawling through tubes, which can be homemade (empty cardboard tubes from paper towels and toilet paper!) or purchased from a pet supply store. And finally, you may notice that your hammy is a major creature of comfort. Remember to regularly give him small pieces of paper towel or napkin to shred and make a nest with."

Diet
They eat seeds, grains, and cracked corn and pellets, the mixture can be bought at pet stores.  Try to replace its food every two or three days, make sure to look at its food container carefully because at a glance its food bowl may seem full but there may only be empty shells of seeds.  Also, it is important to clean the leftovers before it spoils.  Do not give hamsters raw kidney beans, onions, junk food, chocolate, candy, rhubarb, and raw potato!  Remember to change the water daily and that it is available at all times.  Also, check the corners of its cages for more leftovers or eaten food.

General Care
The owner must remove its droppings, spoiled food, and uneaten food daily.  Moreover, it is important to remove all of the cages bedding and replace it.  The bottom of the cage must be washed with hot, soapy water as well.  Have a small block of wood or twig in the cage for the hamster to chew on.  Make sure the twig or wood is not treated with pesticides, chemicals, or paint.  The owner has to gradually let the hamster get used to him or her.  "Start by feeding your hamster treats; once he’s comfortable accepting treats from your hand, you can gently and securely pick him up. Hold him for a short time at first, and then gradually increase your time with him."  The hamster can play outside of its cage once it is hand-tamed.  Make sure the area that the hamsters going to run around is secure, enclosed, and the owner is there to supervise.  Hide anything the hamster can knaw on and harm itself, such as electrical wires.

Veterinary Care
Dull-looking eyes, matted fur, weight loss, shaking, runny nose and diarrhea are symptoms to watch out for! They can also get sick from their owners so be sure to watch them to see if they are unhealthy; you would not want your little buddy to be no longer by your side so PLEASE! Please go visit a vet when you see your hamster being different from usual.

This link has a pdf page on taking care of hamsters, please refer to it. :D http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/small-pet-care/hamster-care.aspx


Please note that this is not an extensive research on hamsters, please feel free to research more on this pet. Thank you!


Sources: " ASPCA | Hamster Care." ASPCA | The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Feb. 2012. <http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/small-pet-care/hamster-care.aspx>. 

COOL DOG TOYS

The web site, COOL DOG TOYS, tells you a lot of information about dogs. If you want to know about the breed of dogs, you should visit this web site. This web site shows you different breed of dogs  and information about each breed. Before you buy a puppy, you should know what kind of dog you want. This web site is very helpful to know dogs' personalities and characteristics. On this web site, you can  also buy toys or clothes for your dogs online.


Here is a link: COOL DOG TOYS
http://www.cooldogtoys.com/dog-breed-information.php

Weekly Ruru Post

Hello. I introduce my cute puppy today. His name is RURU! I bought him when he was two months. It has been passed one month since he came to my home, so he is three months right now.  

Because I did not know how to train a dog, I had some problems at first. For example, he always cried at night, and he had a pee everywhere. However, those problems can be solved if owners train pets properly. Pet owners have to train their pets, but it is really difficult to train animals.  On this blog, I want to introduce some good skills to train a dog. I hope Ruru would be a good example.

These Dogs are so Cute x)

These videos are not mine. :) Got these videos from YouTube, click on the videos to see the owner..

Featured Pet :)

~Cockatiels~

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Subphylum: Vertebrata

Class: Aves

Order: Psittaciformes

Family: Psittacidae

Genus: Nymphicus

Species: Nymphicus hollandicus

Geographic Range and Habitat

Cockatiels are native to Australia and can be found in Tasmania. They prefer to be inland near fresh bodies of water. These birds are nomadic and follow predictable migratory patterns in Australia. For their nesting sites, cockatiels prefer to be near bodies of water and large hollow trees.

Physical Descriptions

Cockatiels are slender and streamline. They are also the only crested parrot that has their tail come into a point. The tail makes up half of their body length; moreover, the tail fans out to help it control altitude and balance during flight. Male and female cockatiels are very similar in appearance. They both have dark brown irises and a crest about 5 cm made of a dozen of feathers. Their crests would raise at different angles to indicate their mood and is also a form of communication. The underside of their tail had alternating patterns of color. Males and females can be differentiated through the coloring of their feathers. Males have a dark brown to a gray plumage with bright orange circular patterns on its cheeks bordered by white. On the other hand, females have duller orange circular cheeks without a white border and mainly gray plumage. Cockatiels' beaks and toes are alike those of parrots; their upper beaks are curved to a point and they are zygodactyly (meaning they have two toes pointing backward and two toes pointing forward).


Reproduction
Cockatiels mate with only one partner in their lifetime; they start mating early on. Their bond is for not only for reproduction, they also stay together loyally after mating. They male and female would show several ritualistic behaviors before they mate. An example would be the females making small peeps and having their tails stand erect to show readiness while the male would pound their beaks to attract attention and strut-walk. The male would also inspect the nest to see it is safe or not before letting the female enter. The cockatiels' mating season is usually when there is much rainfall for the abundant supply of food. A pair usually claims the entire tree as their nest. If any of their eggs break, females can lay more since they are indeterminate egg-layers. The male and female takes turns sitting on the eggs, usually the male in the morning and the female at night. While the female is in the nest keeping the eggs warm, the males stand guard outside. After the babies hatch, they are fed by the parents, usually the male cockatiel. Moreover, cockatiels do not abandon their babies.


Food Habits
Cockatiels are ground foragers. They eat seeds, soft fruits, some plants, small insects, and animal matter. They drink very little water from water holes and small pools because they are vulnerable on the ground. Cockatiels do not need much water since they function with metabolic water production.


As a Pet

Cockatiels are the second most popular type of bird to be kept as pets. They are loyal to their owners once they establish a bond similar to the bond with their mate. These birds are also popular as pets since they show affection by letting the owner pet or stroke its head. Also, males are able to whistle tunes they have heard making them more popular as pets.

Please excuse the fact this post does not obtain all the information on the animal; please research more on the animal if interested.  Thank you!


Source: Newmyer, B. 2011. "Nymphicus hollandicus" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed February 23, 2012 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Nymphicus_hollandicus.html

Our First Post

Hi! Our names are Satsuki Fukano and Sheila Tran.  We created this blog for our business class, ISDS 265.  For our blog, we are going to show many different kinds of  cute household pets and put some information about them.  If you would like  to know about any specific kind of pet, you can make a request and we will do our best to provide information on it! Stay tuned and be captivated by these animals. :))