Are Pit Bulls Dangerous To Children?

We all know that something comes to mind whenever "pit bull" is mentioned. More often than not, that something is negative. A large part of the reason why so many of us have negative thoughts about pit bulls despite never having had a bad experience due to one is because of the media. This is why many of us tend to think of pit bulls as particularly aggressive dogs which has actually fueled a drive in some parts of the country to ban the breed altogether. Despite a constant beating in the press, here are some facts about pit bulls:

* Pit bulls are the # 1 breed in the country but do not rank #1 on biting

* Pit bulls are classified as having an average temperament with breeds such as the golden retriever actually being known to be more aggressive

* Pit bull attacks have been on the decline since 1997

Another common misperception surrounding the pit bull is that the breed simply is not safe around children. Frankly speaking, no breed of dog or cat is completely safe around children if left unsupervised. But, while the press highlights rare occurrences of pit bull attacks upon children, the fact remains that the breed is completely safe around children if the following precautions are taken:

* All action between children and pit bull supervised

* All dog toys are first picked up

* Watch how child treats dog

* Teach dog basic obedience

* Do not put animal in situations it does not like

Supervise All Interaction

It is nothing short of simple common sense to supervise a dog and a young child playing together. In fact, the child should never be left alone with the dog period. This is especially true with younger children. Almost every single recorded attack involving a pit bull (or any breed for that matter) and a child happened while the adult was not present.

Pick Up All Pet Toys

A pit bull, like any dog, is going to be possessive of their toys. While the pet owner can get away with playing with the toys, a child may be perceived as potential competition. Plus, a dog toy is not going to be the most sanitary of things for a child to play with so its just a good idea all the way around to pick up the pit bull's toys before allowing a child into the area.

See How Child Interacts with Pit Bull

While a pit bull may have a better temperament than a golden retriever, it will have its limits just like any dog. It is not uncommon for children to be mean to dogs as they tend to punch and pull on everything they come into contact with during certain ages. The child must have a basic respect for dogs or else the pit bull is apt to nip at the child if it acts overly aggressive towards it. Children unfamiliar with dogs or having a fear of dogs should not under circumstances be left to play with a pit bull or any large breed for that matter.

Teach Pit Bull Basic Obedience

A pit bull must have a fundamental respect for the owner and its wishes if it is to be controlled properly. If the dog has not learned to respect your authority and do things like sit on command or lay down, then it should not be allowed around unfamiliar people—be they adult or child. A dog must be able to sit and allow itself to be pet by strangers if it is to be around children and any pit bull should be trained to lay down when they become too excited. Without these basic commands and a fundamental respect for the owner, a pit bull, like any large breed, would be a liability around children.

Do Not Make Dog Uncomfortable

There will just be some people that your pit bull may not like or be comfortable around. While some owners can be tempted to think that forcing the dog to interact with the stranger will eventually make things all right, it sets the stage for a bad situation. Pit bulls, like any dog breed, are largely instinctual. If a person makes them nervous for any reason, they are more likely to bite that person out of fear. It is best to keep nervous pit bulls in their own space rather than force them to interact with people that they do not like for some reason.

If these simple rules are adhered to, a pit bull can be perfectly safe around children. Being there to supervise the interaction really is the most important thing to remember. You should be able to tell if your dog is getting upset and be there to remove him or her from the situation when that happens. But remember—just as the dog needs to be trained in simple obedience, the children must be taught to have respect for the animals as well if the two are to ever get along and play safely together.

About The Author
David Black is a pit bull enthusiast and author of Professional Pit Bull Secrets. Pit Bull Secrets is one of the largest online pit bull communities in the world. http://www.pitbull-secrets.com.

Chameleons As Pets

Chameleons are appealing in appearance and their mystical ways of changing colors are fascinating. Keeping chameleon as pets could be difficult as compared to other pets as they are not very friendly and they need a lot of extra care. But if you are serious about raising a Chameleon you will find they are by far the most fascinating pets you could ever ask for.

When selecting a chameleon, it is without question best to find a captive bred one. Wild caught specimens are usually extremely stressed, carry a heavy parasite load, and difficult to acclimate to captive conditions.

Chameleons are generally best for intermediate reptile keepers. Therefore, prior reptile experience or reading would be beneficial. It is very important to have knowledge on chameleons before you keep one as pet.

Sometimes because of negligence many die due to stress, disease, improper care, dehydration or starvation hence it is very important to know about their health, diet, housing them, etc.

Depending on species, captive-bred male chameleons generally live 4 to 6 years in captivity, whereas captive-bred female chameleons live only 2 to 3 years in captivity. Wild-caught or imported chameleons do not live as long in captivity and may only live for a few months to a few years.

Before you buy a chameleon always ask your pet store where your chameleon came from and if it has been deparasitized.

They must be re-treated for parasites periodically. Ask a qualified, knowledgeable staff person or expert. If you are a beginning keeper, seek the advice of others with more experience.

Take them with you to help you choose your animal. Choose an animal with a plump, well-rounded body. Hips or backbones that are protruding are signs of several underlying problems.

Also check the eyes to see that they are bright and alert, have no "crusty" appearance, and are not sunken into the animal's head. Make sure your animal looks active, rather than lethargic.

Remember that not all species will react in the same way. Learn what to expect and make your choice based on what you have researched. If you are a beginner, you might want to start with a hardy species that is easily kept and maintained.

About The Author
McKay Robbins offers 7 free articles to better improve your pet Chameleons health and lifestyle. To recieve your free tips visit: http://www.chameleontips.com/chameleon_tips1.htm.

The History Of The Yorkshire Terrier

Although the history of the Yorkshire Terrier is sketchy, there is a great deal known about the origins of this exceptional, vibrant breed. The Yorkshire Terrier, or Yorkie for short, finds it humble beginnings in Northern England, in the counties of Yorkshire, Manchester and Leeds, during the years prior to 1750.

During this time, the onset of the Industrial Revolution gave rise to small communities located around coal mines, textile mills and factories. The people of these areas originally made their living from the land and experienced great upheaval during the time of the Industrial Revolution. Many had to learn new ways of life to continue to support their families. These persevering families, many from as far away as Scotland, were drawn to the small fledgling communities to begin a new life.

Along with this hardy group of migrants came equally hardy pets and companions. During the 19th century, Scottish weavers began to arrive and brought with them the sturdy Scottish Terrier. Far from being a simple bloodline the Scottish Terrier has been attributed to creating several different types of Terriers including the Yorkshire Terrier.

Part of the Scottish Terrier bloodlines later became the breeds today known as the Skye, Scottish Terrier, West Highland White Terrier and the last of the named from their separation, the Cairn Terrier.

The Scottish Terrier was also known to be on Argyle or the Isle of Skye. It was of a bluish color and was also known as a broken or smooth haired Scots depending on the length of coat it had.

There is every possibility that they were forerunners to the modern day Skye Terrier. Other breeds that have ancestral claim to the Yorkie are the Paisley and Clydesdale Terriers and the Broken-Haired Scotch Terrier.

All of these Scottish breeds, along with some English ones, were working dogs, used to keep the vermin under control in the coal mines and mills.

In an effort to produce canines with exceptional skill at catching mice and rats, the common men of the day would breed only smallest, quickest and best ratters of the bunch. These men were not out to produce a purebred, sophisticated breed of dog; instead they desired the best dogs to keep the mice away. This is the reason why no records were kept as to what breeds were mixed to create the Yorkshire Terrier.

The best guess is that miners in Yorkshire County bred the Black and Tan English Terrier with the many breeds of the Scottish Terriers. It is even believed that Maltese may be thrown in there somewhere. The resulting Terriers were then probably crossed with yet again other types of terriers such as the Welsh Terrier.

In the late 1800s, the first written recordings about the ancestors of the modern-day Yorkshire Terrier began to appear. Most of these were written by wealthy educated men who had traveled to Yorkshire County and witnessed the intelligent, spunky dogs chasing down their prey.

Rawdon B. Lee, speaking of Yorkshire Terrier in "Modern Dogs says: "How the name of Scotch Terrier became attached to dog which so thoroughly had its home in Yorkshire and Lancashire is somewhat difficult to determine, if it can be determined at all, but a very old breeder of the variety told me that the first of them came from Scotland, where they had been accidentally produced from a cross between the silk-coated Skye (the Clydesdale) and the black and tan Terrier. One could scarcely expect that a pretty dog, partaking in a degree of both its parents, could be produced from a smooth-coated dog, a long-coated bitch or vice-versa.

Maybe, two or three animals so bred had been brought by some of the Paisley weavers in Yorkshire and there, suitably admired, pains were taken to perpetuate the strain."

Then, at the turn of the century, Mr. James Watson claimed in the "Dog Book," that the pedigreed origins of the Yorkshire Terrier could be traced back 60 years. Before that time, there were two Class Registrations for Toy Terriers, Rough and Broken Haired. In 1866 Broken Haired Scotch Terriers were registered as not exceeding 5 pounds. These were later registered as Yorkshire Terriers in 1874.

Since the official recognition of the Yorkshire breed, there have been many famous, well-loved Yorkies. And today, this breed is gaining newfound attention as more and more people are turning to this lovable breed for companionship.

About The Author
Rose Lenk
Get Rose's free mini course: 7 things you need to know about Yorkshire Terriers at http://www.GoodYorkie.com.

Getting The Right Saddle For Your Horse

Ensuring that you select the right saddle for your horse is vital. It not only affects the position in which the rider will sit, and therefore can be beneficial in preventing back ache or muscle pain, but it also affects the horse. No responsible horse owner would want their steed to be in discomfort and pain and so choosing the best saddle is very important. There are companies available who will measure your horse and recommend the saddles that they think are most appropriate but as with most things this service costs money. I highly recommend this service as it ensures that you will not be causing any distress to your horse when you ride it.

Once the correct saddle has been purchased it is important to remember that positioning the saddle on the horse's back is also vital in ensuring your horse is comfortable when ridden. There are three main muscles in the horse's back which can be affected by the use of a badly positioned saddle. It is important to familiarize yourself with these and their locations before attempting to position the saddle on your horse. This will give you an idea of where the saddle needs to sit in order to be most comfortable for the horse.

In addition to the muscles which can be affected by the saddle you must remember that the saddle is positioned on the horse's back and so this can have an effect on the spine and its vertebrae. Remembering this should remind you of how important this lesson is and that you cannot afford to take risks with your horse if you want it to lead a long and painless life.

Firstly, place the saddle on the horse's back, forward of the wither. Once you have done this, slide it back along the back of the horse until it cannot comfortably go any further. This will vary dependent on the shape of the individual horse but the lowest point of the saddle should correspond to the lowest point of the horse's back. If the saddle is in the correct position, the saddle tree will not be pressing on the scapula (the shoulder of the horse) but will rest in the natural grooves behind them. The most common mistake is to position the saddle too far forward and this then causes the saddle to press on the muscles in the scapula causing pain, impeding movement and creating the possibility of saddle sores.

Once you have learned how to position the saddle you will find it comes naturally after a time. It is worth taking the time to do it properly though if you wish to remain the owner of a healthy, happy horse.

About The Author
Dennis Conner is a regular contributor to Saddle Advice http://www.saddleadvice.com where more information about saddles and saddle sources is freely available.

How To Choose A Good Dog Obedience School

There are so many dog obedience schools and training centres that its often difficult to know what to look for in choosing one.

It is essential to decide what you want to achieve out of attending dog obedience training and it's a good start to ask yourself the following questions:

1. Would you prefer one to one training, or group lessons?

One to one training is significantly more expensive than group lessons, so you should consider the budget that you have set for the training.

2. What is the aim of attending dog obedience training?

Is it for puppy socialisation?

Is it simply general training; walking to heel, sitting etc?

Do you intend to compete in obedience trials?

Are you interested in any specialist disciplines; i.e trick training, Heelwork to Music, agility?

3. What type of atmosphere would you like?

Would you like to join a proper "Dog club", with all of its associated social activities and competitions? Or are you just looking for somewhere to train your dog once a week?

Once you have a good idea in your mind of what you are looking for, then you're ready to start contacting relevant dog obedience schools and finding out whether they meet what you're looking for.

It's a good idea to visit the dog obedience schools, attend a lesson (without your dog), and talk to the trainers. You should trust your instincts when deciding whether you think you and your dog will fit into the training classes and enjoy working with the trainers.

A serious consideration in your decision should be the methods of training used by the dog obedience schools; you should look for trainers who believe in kind, positive methods of training. Dog trainers who encourage the use of choke chains or any kind of rough handling, should be avoided at all costs.

There are professional associations, regulating some dog obedience schools, so you may prefer to choose a dog obedience class that is regulated by one of these associations. But do remember that there are lots of good obedience schools that may not be registered with the associations.

About The Author
Stephanie Bayliss has written many articles on dogs which can be found at the Kennel Corner website, which also offers Dog Treat Recipes, a Dog Obedience School directory, photo galleries and lots more!
kennel-corner.co.uk
steph@kennel-corner.co.uk

Those Amazing Penguins

The movie, The March of the Penguins, has raised a great amount of interest in penguins. One never imagined penguins to be so driven. Here's an overview of the amazing penguins.

Known as the little tuxedos, penguins have always seemed a bit odd as animals go. All of that changed, however, with The March of the Penguins, a movie about Emperor Penguins. The movie focuses on the incredible hardships these penguins undergo to be parents. If you haven't seen the movie, rent it now. It will make you laugh, cry and develop a healthy respect for these majestic animals.

Penguins live in a fairly limited area. They're primary home is Antarctica. Penguins can also be found in the cold costal areas of New Zeeland, Australia and South Africa. There are no penguins in the Arctic. This is the opposite of polar bears which are not found in Antarctica.

There are seventeen species of penguins. The smallest are Rockhoppers, which average roughly twelve inches in height. On the other end of the spectrum are the Emperor Penguins, which average nearly 48 inches in height.

Penguins feed in the water, not on the ice of Antarctica. A typical meal consists of fish, squid or krill. Penguins can hold their breath underwater for six minutes, six times the average human. They are extremely strong swimmers, but can't swim backwards.

As March of the Penguins revealed, penguins have a unique breading cycle. They only breed once a year and in protected areas called rookeries. Much like salmon, penguins return to the same rookeries each year. Depending on ice flow conditions, they may travel up to 70 miles to reach the rookeries.

Once at the rookeries, penguins will flirt with each other until they find the perfect mate. The female will lay only one egg. She will push the egg to the male who holds it on the top of his feet with his stomach fat hanging over it to keep it warm. He will do this for nine straight weeks and go without food. While he loses up to fifty percent of his body weight, the mother will head back to the ocean to feed as much as she can. She will then return to the rookeries just as the egg hatches and feed the baby from her mouth. The male, in turn, will head off to the ocean to eat and recover his body weight.

When you see penguins in a zoo or water park, you should feel sorry for them. Because they are natives of Antarctica, the natural defense systems in their body are not tailored to germs found outside of the frozen continent. As a result, large numbers die from diseases caused by germs they have no defense to.

Most people, me included, never have given a second thought to penguins. That is too bad since they are truly amazing creatures. Go see the movie.

About The Author
Richard Monk is with http://www.factsmonk.com - a site with facts about everything. Visit http://www.factsmonk.com/animal_facts to read more animal facts.

The Diverse Dachshund Breed

The Dachshund is an extremely popular dog breed which has ranked in the top ten most popular dog breeds for many years. Dachshunds were ranked 6th out of 154 dog breeds registered by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in both 2004 and 2005. When most people think of a Dachshund, they think of a small dog with a smooth and shiny coat, long body, floppy ears and short crooked legs. However when you consider buying a Dachshund and start to research the dog breed, you find there are a diverse and wide range of sizes, coat varieties, colors and patterns.

The original Standard Dachshund was developed to hunt badgers. The breed had to be: built low to the ground, agile and muscular enough to pursue the badger through a maze of underground tunnels, and brave enough to tackle its formidable adversary. Many people poke fun at this "sausage dog", but they don't know how he was bred to be low, long, muscular and athletic. Dachshunds are scent hounds and track their prey by scent and not by sight. This breed is courageous and single minded in its work. Once the Dachshund had cornered its prey in a tunnel, he barked to let the hunter know where he was located under ground. Today the Dachshund still retains its hunting instinct and, if off leash, will follow a scent ignoring any previously learned commands.

Dachshunds come in two sizes – the Standard and the Miniature. Miniature Dachshunds were bred down in size by German hunters to hunt rabbits. The AKC standard says that Miniatures should weigh 11 pounds or less. Standard Dachshunds have no weight limits but usually range from 15 to 30 pounds. Apart from the size difference, both types have the same appearance.

The Dachshund breed comes in three different varieties of coat – Short-haired or Smooth, Long-haired and Wire-haired. The Shorthair is the most prevalent and has a short, dense and shiny coat that most people associate with the Dachshund. The Long-haired Dachshund has a soft and sleek coat that is well fringed on the ears, chest, under side of the body, legs and tail. The Longhair looks something like a small Irish Setter. The Wirehair has a short, dense and wiry outer coat with a dense undercoat and also has a beard, bushy eyebrows and prominent ridges over its eyes. The three coat-type varieties, while all Dachshunds, seem to have minor differences in temperament. The Longhair's temperament seems more laid back, kinder and gentler reflecting the softer coat. This gentler demeanor doesn't seem to impair its field trial competitiveness at all. The Wirehair's temperament seems to be bolder and brasher than the other varieties and a little more like a terrier in demeanor. The Shorthair seems to be the most independent and stubborn of the three varieties.

Another area of diversification is the color of the Dachshund's coat. The most common colors are red (ranging from reddish blond to deep rusty red) and a black and tan combination. The black and tan dogs are all black with tan markings on the head, chest and paws. Other two-color combinations are chocolate, blue or fawn with tan markings. Wirehairs have coats that are commonly a black and light hair mix called wild boar. The final area of diversification is the pattern of the Dachshund's coat. There is a dapple pattern that consists of a dark base color with contrasting light areas. A double dapple pattern is varying amounts of white occurring over the body in addition to the dapple pattern. Finally there is a brindle pattern characterized by dark stripes all over the body.

Given that you can decide between the size, coat type, color and pattern - why would you want to choose a Dachshund? Dachshunds are wonderful fun loving dogs that adore their owners and want to be involved in everything that is going on. The Dachshund has a whole host of virtues such as: amiable, intelligent, brave, alert, loyal, playful, inquisitive and dignified. They also make good watchdogs. On the less positive side, the Dachshund is somewhat independent and mischievous and will follow an interesting scent to the exclusion of everything else. Both Miniature and Standard Dachshunds make good apartment dogs that are small enough to travel everywhere with their owners. It really is no surprise to see why the Dachshund is one of the most popular small dog breeds registered by the AKC. Additional information can be found on our Dachshund page.

About The Author
Mike Mathews is a contributing writer and editor for the popular dog breed site: www.dog-breed-facts.com. He provides informative, real-world advice and tips on dog breeds, dog health, dog grooming and more. As well be sure to check out his free report on Dog Training.
webmaster@dog-breed-facts.com

Sell your Horse Products Online!

When you have horse products to sell, finding the best and most efficient marketplace can be a challenge. You what to know where people will go to buy horse products, which venues are the most popular, well known and reliable. When you sign or contract with a place to sell horse products, or any other products, you want to be certain that you have the best access possible to your potential customers. Horse products can be particularly tricky to sell because sometimes you may find that you must educate your buyer before making the sale. Unfortunately, it is a sad fact that some people will, on a whim, get a horse without knowing the full responsibilities involved in its care. They fumble along but have no idea what products they should have to care for their animal. So, they buy horse products indiscriminately and often in error. When you sell horse products, not only are you responsible for selling exactly what you advertise, but it is also a wise and ethical move to offer advice, direction and support to your customer. This not only enhances customer services and makes you a more desired seller, it also helps to keep buyers informed about care of their purchases when they have neglected to take the time to become educated on them.

When you sell horse products through a written advertisement, print or online, be as descriptive as possible. Vague ads may deter people who want to buy horse products. If you have an English saddle, include the size and type (cutback show saddle, jumping saddle, etc.) and your location. If you are advertising via online classifieds that do not separate ads by state or region, try to place your location in the headline. If you cannot put your location in the headline, place it in the ad where it is easily seen. While some horse products can be shipped, some cannot, or it is more cost effective to find horse products closer to your own location. Many people who want to buy horse products will look at price of item and location is usually next.

When you set out to sell horse products, make sure that you are protected in the event that something goes wrong with the shipment or sale. Customer service should be a top priority as it will give you a good reputation. The horse community is very tight knit and horse people are known for referring good sellers and providers. If you get in with a few horse owners you are sure to increase your business.

About The Author
Shannon Margolis
IT Marketing Coordinator
www.horsegalore.com
View their website at: http://www.horsegalore.com
shannonm@horsegalore.com

Dog Breed Profile - Greyhound

History

There are conflicting opinions regarding the origin of the Greyhound, from the Celts who believed that they came from Greece, to the Romans who believed that they came from Gaul (in Western Europe), with many varying opinions inbetween.

There are ancient pictures which date back to 6000BC in the city of Catal-Huyuk in present-day Turkey, depicting dogs very similar in type to Greyhounds. Pictures from 4000BC found on a funery vase in Iran also depict Greyhound-like dogs which suggest that these dogs were held in the highest regard. Ancient artists tended only to depict images of religious or social importance.

Appearance

Greyhounds have an extremley elegant and graceful appearance; slender but also strong. They are propelled by extremely strong hindquarters; when they run it appears effortless and truly beautiful.

It is a pleasure to watch these dogs race, with their long neck and face set on their long, slender frame.

Greyhounds come in a massive variety of colours; Black, red, white, blue, fawn, fallow, brindle or any of these colours broken up with white

Temperament

Despite what most people think, these dogs can be real couch potatoes! Although they are capable of short bursts of speeds of upto 64km/hr, they are not blessed with great amounts of endurance, so love to get home after walkies and sleep it off!

They are great family pets; kind and gentle with their families and very affectionate. They may be a little aloof with strangers, but never nasty.

However, their history must be remembered; they were bred to course and race and therefore have tendencies to chase and catch small things; this can include smaller dogs, cats and other small pets. They must be very carefully socialised with smaller dogs and extreme care should be taken around cats.

Grooming

With their short coats, they will only require a very minimal amount of time spent on grooming.

Exercise

Two 20 minute walks a day is ample for these dogs - they particularly enjoy getting home to relax after their walkies!! Real care should be taken with allowing these dogs off lead - unless they are EXTREMELY well trained, they are liable to run off and chase any small thing that moves - and at 64km/h, there is no chance you'll be able to catch them!!

Health Problems

Greyhounds can be prone to injury when expelling their pent up energy! They don't really suffer from any genetic diseases; they can be a little sensitive to drugs although vets should be aware of this if treating them.

About The Author
Stephanie Bayliss has written many articles on dogs which can be found at the Kennel Corner website, which also offers Dog Treat Recipes, a Dog Obedience School directory, photo galleries and lots more!
kennel-corner.co.uk
steph@kennel-corner.co.uk

Tips On Breeding Snakes

When you've had some success caring for captive snakes, you might find yourself interested in breeding them. This can be done, but it requires record keeping and attention to many details concerning the living conditions of the snakes. The breeding is generally done in the winter so that the babies are born or hatched in the spring.

Breeding snakes requires feeding them well for about four months, and then putting them into a cool state of hibernation. To do this, you first need to fatten them up, especially females, for a few months in late summer, then lower the temperature for a few more weeks or months. The exact timing varies with the species, as do the temperature requirements.

Just a quick note about determining the sex of a snake. This skill needs to be learned from an expert. It is a tricky process, sometimes requiring the use of a metal probe to look for the male reproductive organ. Even the most experienced of snake breeders make a mistake now and then.

During the hibernation, the snake is not fed, but is provided fresh water. When the time is up, the snake is gradually warmed up, and fed well again for a little while. Then the female and male are placed together. If she resists him, separate them and wait another week. If not, leave them together for a week or so.

A female snake that is developing eggs within is called "gravid." Some species of snake eat well during this time and others don't. The length of time it takes varies even within the same species. Again, the amount of heat provided makes a difference. Most females will shed shortly before laying their eggs.

Some snakes give birth to live offspring instead of laying eggs. The boas are examples of this. The hibernation requirements for these tropical snakes are much less, amounting to just a couple of weeks with low nighttime temperatures. Their humidity needs are higher, and they should be misted daily. With boas, you can add more than one male to the female's enclosure.

Pregnancy takes from 4 to 10 months. The mother to be usually eats well during this time, but you should choose smaller food items, since her inside body space is getting more crowded. Shedding usually precedes giving birth, but it can be as much as another month before the birth. The litter size can range from 10 to as many as 80 for large, robust females.

In general, snake babies should be removed and placed in separate containers lined with paper towels. The paper towels should be kept moist for the first two weeks. They will shed around this time, and can feed on pinkies or fuzzies (young mice) after the shed.

There may be a market for these young reptiles, and the process is certainly fascinating for the hobbyist. Do remember, though, that there are growing numbers of pet snakes being shoved off into rescue shelters because the owners just can't handle them any more. Be a responsible snake breeder, and make sure your young snakes won't just be more casualties.

About The Author
Gary Ruplinger is the owner of Boatips, a site providing great information about pet snakes. To learn more about breeding snakes, visit http://www.boatips.com/breedingsnakes/ and be sure to stop by the forum at http://www.boatips.com/forum/.

The Flea Allergy In Dogs And Cats

Dogs and cats can suffer allergies due to the presence of fleas. The identified cause is the saliva of the fleas, especially when the flea has bitten and penetrated the skin of the dog or cat. Since fleas multiply fast and do not voluntarily leave the body of the pet, the flea allergy will last for a long time.

There are symptoms that will tell the pet owner that the dog or cat is being troubled by a flea allergy. Some symptoms displayed by dogs are slightly different to those found in cats. But in general, the symptoms of a flea allergy are continuous itching, loss of hair, occurrence of sores, and unexplained depression.

Among dogs, the specific symptoms are:

· Massive loss of hair
· Presence of red and swollen sores
· Irritation and scratching in certain areas, such as

o Along the tail
o On the rump area
o All over the hind legs
o The region of the groin, which is the sensitive area between the hind legs

Among cats, the symptoms of flea allergy are:

· Constant scratching in various parts of the body
· The formation of painful scabs in sensitive areas, such as:

o The neck
o The face
o The groin
o The main body

A diagnosis of flea allergy no longer involves skin tests and blood tests. The mere presence of fleas indicates that flea allergy has befallen on the pet. The owner can even conduct his own examination by looking for fleas in the coat of the dog or cat. Fleas are parasitic insects that feed on the blood of their host. They are tiny but can cause powerful irritations. They are usually black in color, which make them more difficult to detect especially if the coat of the pet is also dark-colored.

Fleas also move fast. This makes it impossible to individually catch the fleas. They scatter their dirt all over the pet's body and this adds to skin irritation. The flea dirt looks like regular black dust when dry. But when wet, the flea dirt shows a reddish old copper-like color.

Fortunately, there are proven ways to remove fleas and allow the pet's body to heal itself from the allergy.

· Using flea combs – These devices can be purchased from any pet supply store or from the veterinarian. Flea combs are designed so that they can sweep out the fleas along with the flea dirt from the coat of the pet.

· Bathing or immersing the pet in a recommended solution – The solution is usually a mixture of water and a detergent which is recommended by the vet. The detergent can immediately kill the fleas and loosen their hold on the skin.

The pet owner will find the dead fleas floating in the bath solution. This solution may also turn reddish due to the presence of so much flea dirt.

· Cleaning the environment – A good general cleaning will get rid off the source of fleas. Cleaning the pet will not prevent the recurrence of flea allergy. The environment must be cleaned too.

· Applying anti-itch medications – These medicines can be administered orally or by direct application on the affected area. They will reduce the painful itching and prevent further infection.

About The Author
Grace Palce is writing articles for pet meds 101, a comprehensive pet medicine guide http://www.pet-meds-101.com/ Specialing in cat and dog medicine http://www.pet-meds-101.com/your-dog.php.