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Information about pets and animals
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Many species of birds will not nest next to each other
But bluebirds and tree swallows are a different story. Place two bluebird houses 15 feet away from each other. That way the bluebirds get one nest box and tree swallows often willingly inhabit the other. They coexist harmoniously, yet other “pests” like house sparrows stay away.
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If you provide pieces of string for birds….
During the nesting season, remember to cut them into sections only a couple of inches long so the birds don’t get tangled in the threads.
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Cats do not need a variety of foods in their diet
The more variety a cat is offered, the more it may come to expect. And that can create a finicky eater.
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Heart disease is on the rise among pets
It’s considered among the top dog health threats and is reportedly becoming more frequent in cats too. Many vets blame modern-day living: high-sodium diets, obesity, stress. (Sound familiar?) Symptoms to watch for: coughing; difficult breathing, particularly during exercise; unexplained weight loss, a swollen stomach; too-quick fatigue. As with humans, early detection increases the chance of successful treatment.
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Do dogs love milk as much as cats do?
No! Milk contains lactose (milk sugar) which many dogs have trouble digesting and which can cause diarrhea. And, while cats love milk, it should never be given as a substitute for water.
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When a dog food label reads “complete and balanced for maintenance”….
It is not the best choice for ALL dogs. Maintenance dog foods are formulated for adult dogs with normal activity. It should not be fed to puppies or pregnant or nursing animals.
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If your cat refuses to eat a certain food right away….
Don’t run out to buy a different brand. Cats tend to nibble their food over a period of several hours. This should not be mistaken for refusal to eat a certain diet.
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When trying to photograph your pet….
Attract her attention by crinkling some paper.
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Always let cat food come to room temperature before serving
Cold food straight from the refrigerator can upset a cat’s stomach.
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Discourage a kitten from scratching furniture
Place pieces of aluminum foil on upholstery and around table and chair legs. The sight and sound will frighten her off.
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Simple step helps puppies urinate less
Nothing makes puppies urinate more than being cold. Fix their bed in a warm spot and they’ll wet it less.
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Train a puppy to not chew on everything in the house
Slip on a man’s big, heavy leather glove. Sit down and hold the puppy in your lap, stroking him with one hand and letting him chew the glove on the other. Repeat this often. He’ll come to associate the glove with such well-being, he’ll tend to chew only on that.
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Keep dog tags looking like new
Clear fingernail polish applied to a dog tag will prevent rusting and the dogs coat being stained.
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Cayenne pepper stops a dog from digging
To stop a dog from digging in the same spot, sprinkle cayenne pepper around the area. They do not like its smell and they’ll stop (repeat if he starts digging in other areas).
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Stop a dog from chewing your furniture
Rub the legs (the furniture’s, not the dogs!) with a paste made from cayenne pepper and water. Your dog will be quickly discouraged from munching on them.
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Simple homemade pooper scooper
Cut the bottom off a bleach bottle and then cut the rest of the bottle into the shape of a scoop.
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Stop your dog from continually digging in the same spot
Dig the hole big enough to accommodate a blown up balloon. Cover the balloon with a light layer of dirt. The element of shock when Fido pops the balloon on his next dig will scare him away from that particular spot forever!
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Kill fleas instantly
Add a few drops of Dawn Dishwashing Liquid to your dog’s bath and shampoo the animal thoroughly. Rinse well to avoid skin irritations. No more fleas!
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Eliminate your cat’s ear mites
Take a few drops of Wesson Corn Oil in your cat’s ear. Massage it in, then clean with a cotton ball (hopefully your cat will cooperate!). Repeat daily for three days. The oil soothes the cat’s skin, smothers the mites, and accelerates healing.
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Stop your puppy from tipping over his outside water dish
Take an angel food cake pan and hamper a stake through the center of it. Fill the pan with water. No more tipping!
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Shampoo your pet without water
Rub baby powder into your pet’s coat and then brush it out. It will absorb excess oil and leave it with a pleasant scent.
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Substitute lint brush
Used fabric softener sheets can be used to remove pet hair and lint from clothing and upholstery.
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Clean plastic pet dishes with baking soda
Plastic pet dishes may need rubbing with baking soda powder and a damp sponge to get rid of the last lingering food smells. Some canned cat and dog foods seem to be especially strong-smelling.
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Clean up pet accidents
To clean your carpet after your pet has an accident or gets sick, cover the area with baking soda and allow it to sit until the baking soda can absorb the mess. After you clean the mess up, give the carpet another sprinkle of baking soda, and a little vinegar and dab it up.
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Beautiful cat fur
If your cat loves butter, give him a little bit every day and his fur will be even more beautiful.
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Removing dog and cat odors
Spray your carpet with a mist of 50 percent water and 50 percent white vinegar to remove pet odors. First test the carpet to make sure the vinegar won’t bleach the fabric.
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Eliminating cat urine odors
If a cat sprays your furniture or carpet, saturate the area with white vinegar (test on a small, hidden area first). Blot it up with a towel. Repeat the process until the odor is gone. After the area is dry, sprinkle the spot with baking soda, allow it to sit or an hour, then vacuum.
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Reduce cat hair
To reduce cat hair around your house, gently run a damp paper towel over your cat. It collects both hair and dirt.
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Dry clean your dog
During the winter months rub baking soda into its fur. Brush out with an old hairbrush.
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Deodorize cat litter
To deodorize a litter box, sprinkle a little baking soda when changing the litter.
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Beautiful horse’s hair
During the winter, give your horse a spoonful of cod liver oil every day in its food. His hair will have a beautiful, healthy and glossy hair.
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Brushing a cat
To brush a cat who doesn't like it, wet your hands and caress it in all directions.
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Inducing a bird to sing
If you want to make a bird sing, place a small mirror in its cage so the bird is seeing itself.
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Hairballs
To resolve the problem of hairballs, place a generous amount of vegetable oil on a cat's front leg. The cat absorbs the oil while washing his fur and the hairball will move through his system.
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Preventing dog bites
When faced with a dog, remove any headdress hiding the upper face, including sunglasses. Dogs hate not being able to see the eyes of humans.
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Skunk spray
To remove skunk odor, wash your pet with a mixture of bicarbonate soda and peroxide.
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Chocolate and dogs
Chocolate is seen as a poison for dogs. It contains an alkaloid, theobromine, which is dangerous for him.
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Feeding pets
To facilitate the cleaning of a pets dining area, put their dishes on a plastic tray or plastic placemat.
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Eggshells and birds
Instead of throwing eggshells away, dry them and then offer them to wild birds in a tray. This important addition to their diet will help their digestion.
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Cats and electrical wires
To keep cats from chewing on electrical wires, make a paste with vinegar and cayenne pepper and brush it on the wire.
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Remove pet hairs
Take a large sponge, wet it, squeeze it and then rub the carpet making circles. A ball of hair will then form for easy removal.
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Giving a cat a pill
Mash the tablet into a powder, mix it with condensed milk and pour onto a small plate. The cats love the sweet milk (which will mask the smell of the medicine) and they will lick the plate clean in no time.
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Pet tortoise
To find your tortoise in the garden, put a fluorescent adhesive on top of its shell, or a small task fluorescent paint. Orange and pink are very good colors.
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New fish and aquariums
Keep your fish in its bag when you first put it into the aquarium. This gives time for the fish to get used to their new environment.
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Pet mouse
For a happy mouse, give them a wheel (such as a hamsters wheel) and you will see them running together at full speed for hours (especially at night). They love millet seeds, a piece of toast to chew and a little salad. Always provide plenty of water.
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Glossy fur for cats
Add a few drops of olive oil in your cat’s meal every day and its fur will be brighter.
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Glossy hair for dogs
Once a month, give a whole egg to your dog and his hair will be glossier.
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Deer in the garden
Pick up the hair from your dog or cat and put it in the garden or in your flowerbeds to keep the deer away.
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Taming your dog
With a small water toy, you can easily tame your pet. Just spray a jet or 2 and firmly say no. Ignore the animal for 5 minutes and act normally. This can be used for everything including barking. It does not hurt and your pet doesn't see the hand as a reprimand.
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Punishing a dog
Avoid long speeches when reprimanding your dog. Keep it short! If it is very serious, make a light slap on the nose and put him in the garage for 10 minutes.
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Lonely puppies
If your puppy cries when you leave home, turn on the radio. Hearing voices makes him feel less alone.
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Hot weather and dogs
To encourage your dog during hot weather to drink plenty of water, add a little chicken broth or beef to his water.
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Cats and green plants
To keep your cat away from green plants put Vicks around the edge of the pot.
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Immobilizing a rabbit
You can immobilize a rabbit taking by the skin of the neck. While holding it, turn it on your forearm. A rabbit does not move when on its back.
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Buying a rodent
Don't buy a rodent couple as a pet because they could have 45 babies per year!
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Osteoarthritis and dogs
When dogs get older, they are often subject to osteoarthritis. To prevent them from suffering while eating, raise their food and water bowls a little so that they no longer have to lower their head.
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Dogs and bones
Beware when you give bones to your dog. Rabbit and chicken bones are very brittle and may hurt your pet if he eats them.
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Litter boxes
Buy plastic bags designed for litter boxes (or use large trash bags). Insert the litter box into bag and then pour in the litter. When the litter is dirty, simply remove the bag. No sand everywhere and no direct contact with dirty litter.
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Pet sitter
When you need to leave your pet with others, give to the sitter some of its small personal effects to make it feel good (toys, chewy bones, etc.). Leaving an item of your clothing for the pet to cuddle up with will provide comfort.
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Medicating a cat or dog
To medicate a cat or dog, roll the medication into a piece of ham. Show him immediately a second piece so that, in a hurry to take the second one, he swallows quickly and without thinking that the ham is stuffed with the medication.
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Cutting warm brownies
A pizza cutter rolls right through warm brownies in a clean straight line... no fuss, no muss (you will have to get the edges with a knife, but that's not a problem).
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