Though pet birds are not the most conventional pet that you can get, many people around the world describe them as one of the best pets that you can keep. Birds are extremely intelligent and develop deep bonds with their human owners. For these reasons, there is no wonder why so many people are looking into adopting a pet into their home.

However, for all of the positives that come with owning a bird, there is a lot of work that you have to do to make sure that your bird is properly cared for. Before you even consider purchasing a bird, you need to learn how to care for your pet birds. Caring for a bird is much different than caring for any mammal, so you need to really do your research. Here is a vet’s guide to owning a pet bird.

 

Get a large Birdcage

One of the most common and most frustrating mistakes that people who are new to owning birds make is buying a cage that isn’t big enough. You have to remember that when a  bird is not in captivity they have the entire sky to fly in and be free, so containing them in a tiny cage is extremely cruel.

To put it plainly, if you don’t have space for a large cage in your house, then you don’t have space for a bird. It is unfair of you to keep a bird contained just so that it fits into the layout of your home. It is also recommended that you have space where your bird can be released freely from its cage for a couple of hours during the day. Without constant use, the muscle in a bird’s wings will get weaker which means they won’t be able to fly very well and their wings could become easily damaged.

If you are worried about spending too much on a cage, you could always build your own. This way you will have control of the dimensions and will be able to create a shape that fits comfortably within your home.

Keep them clean

Again, something that a lot of people do not know about birds is that they like to stay clean. Obviously, when they are contained in a small environment they are not able to move around or keep the area clean themselves, so it is your job to do this for them.

There is no set time on when you should be cleaning your birdcage, but a good bird owner will pay attention to when the cage isn’t looking as clean as it could be. We recommend cleaning out the cage at least once every three days and when you do clean out the cage you should be cleaning any other aspects of your bird cages such as their toys or their perch.

Birds themselves also love staying clean, so if you can we recommend adding a shallow birdbath to the cage to ensure that they are able to bathe whenever they feel unclean. Being able to do this will make your pet much happier, which is all we can ask for as pet owners.

 

Make sure they have plenty of entertainment

Birds are excitable creatures that are always looking for something to do while they are in the cage. It is not possible to have your bird out of the cage playing all of the time, so while they are in the cage it is important that you give them some toys to play with for entertainment.

Birds love anything that swings, but generally, anything they can interact with will satisfy them. Birds are very sensitive to colors and bright items, so be sure to pick them out when you are looking for toys for your pets. They also love bells or anything that makes sounds, but understandably that could get annoying to have in your home. You can still get them toys that make noise, you can simply just choose when to put them in the cage.

Birds get bored of toys very easily, so be sure that you are always updating the toys that you give to them in order to keep them engaged and active.

Unless you are heartless, then you are probably a dog lover.  What isn’t there to love about dogs? Dogs are a man’s best friend and there is no wonder why. Dogs are capable of showing a long list of emotions that make them more comparable with a furry toddler than an animal. If you are someone that was raised with a dog in the home, then you will know how easily they become a part of the family.  However, not all of us were lucky enough to have a dog for various reasons

One of the main reasons why some people choose not to have a dog is due to the care that they require. Dogs can be hard work and they need a lot of attention, which some people simply cannot offer. However, not all dog breeds are as demanding as others and there are plenty of breeds out there that do not require intensive attention. Here are the 6 easiest dog breeds to care for.

Dachshund

This dog breed is so popular due to its cute appearance and loving nature, however, there is a common misconception that these dogs are extremely high maintenance. This really isn’t the case as Daschunds actually require a lot less attention than other dogs. Due to their short legs, they do not like to walk for long periods of time or very often, meaning you will be able to easily fit exercise in with your daily routine.

Greyhound

Though you may find it hard to believe, these sporting stars are one of the most low-maintenance dog breeds that you can own. Though these dogs are athletic, they do not enjoy long walks. This is because they are made for speed and not stamina, so they are not interested in staying out so long. Something that you may not expect is that Greyhounds actually spend a lot of their time sleeping and just enjoying the company of their owners.

Chihuahua

Though these fiery little pets enjoy the attention, something that may surprise you is that they do very well when left alone. So if you are someone with a busy schedule, then you won’t have to worry about your dog getting lonely. The only thing you need to focus on with these dogs is their eating habits, as they have limitations on some of the foods they can eat.  If you own a chihuahua you may find yourself asking regular questions like can dogs eat jicama and will a grape harm them? We recommend research.

French Bulldog

French Bulldogs are so popular due to just how low maintenance they are. As well as being extremely social, they require minimal grooming. This is due to their short hair. You also don’t have to worry about getting them out too much as this breed is quite lazy and will enjoy just a simple walk a couple of times a day. French Bulldogs are also very friendly and make close bonds with their owners quickly, so you don’t have to worry about building a relationship too much.

Bullmastiff

These dogs are great because they have low energy levels due to their size. This means that you don’t have to constantly take them for walks and they are much happier just cuddling up somewhere warm with their owner.  Bullmastiffs also have short fur, which means that they do not require regular trips to go and see the groomer. The only issue you may face is their habit of drooling, but if you aren’t grossed out by it then it is easy to clean up.

Pug

Pugs are becoming more and more popular pets and there is no wonder why. Like other breeds on this list, pugs have short fur. Once again, this means you don’t have to take them to the groomers regularly, which will save you time and money.  Pugs are actually very lazy and do not like to exert themselves too much due to the trouble that they have with breathing, so after some short walks, they prefer to spend the evening relaxing and spending time with their owners. You do need to monitor their breathing due to their short snouts, but this is easily done.

The decision to take any animal into your family should not be something you take lightly, owning an animal is a huge responsibility and there are a lot of things that you may have to change about your home life in order to accommodate your animal’s care schedule. Having a large dog, in particular, is a huge responsibility as they require a specified diet and exercise regime that may need to be a lot stricter than what would be needed for the standard pet.

When it comes to owning a large dog I would highly recommend that you reach out to a professional who can give you plenty of helpful tips surrounding your large dog’s care. There may be a lot of things that you will need to buy before you can bring your dog home, this is why timing is important as you and your family must have the time and resources available so that you can give your dog the best possible life and make sure that all of their needs are catered for.

Exercise

Especially with older dogs, it is very important that your dog’s health is maintained by ensuring a strict daily exercise regime as part of your family schedule, larger dogs generally require much more exercise than what a smaller dog will need which is why it important to think about whether it is realistic or not for your family to own a larger animal that will need attention throughout the day. Caring for a large dog is very rewarding but if it is not something that you can genuinely make time for as a family then the simple fact remains that owning a large dog may not be suitable for you.

A great exercise that can be implemented into your daily life pretty easily would be to take your large dog on a long walk to any local fields or parks in your area, this is something that will also benefit you as your dog’s walker and owner as it will encourage you to do more exercise yourself. If your dog is very active and you find that they have a lot of energy to burn throughout the day then you may have to increase their walks to twice daily to ensure that they are getting the work out they need to live a healthy lifestyle.

Diet and Nutrition

Alongside a strict exercise schedule, your large dog’s eating habits and diet are also very important in prolonging any health conditions that could come with old age, your dog should be fed around three times a day depending on their preference of how much and what kind of dog food they like to eat. You shouldn’t scrimp on your dog’s food either, you should be looking for a brand that advertises the nutritional content of their food and provides the daily vitamins and minerals that are needed to make sure your dog is as healthy as possible.

When it comes to your dog’s diet and nutrition it would be a great idea to book a check-up with the vet who will be able to tell you any nutrients your dog is missing from their current diet and how you can include healthier foods into your large dog’s meal. In any time of uncertainty, I would recommend that you speak to a professional as they are going to give you all of the necessary information to make sure your large dog is happy and healthy.

Grooming

It is typical for large dogs to have much more hair than that of the standard pet, in order to make sure that your dog is comfortable with the length of its fur and that your home is not damaged when your dog sheds you will want to groom your dog regularly. You can either groom your large dog yourself or take it to a professional establishment but you should only brush and wash your dog’s fur and when it needs cutting you should take your time and remove fur in gradual amounts to avoid taking too much off.

Medical Treatment

Something that is often overlooked by new pet owners is the sheer cost of vet bills that could be needed to pay for your large dog’s medical treatment, even the smallest checkups have a fee and the large prices may be too much for a small family to handle. There is also the issue of how hard it is to say goodbye to your pet, in the unfortunate situation where you are forced to decide when to euthanize a dog with liver failure many pet owners find the situation too hard and the trauma deters them from owning a pet again.

Any pet owners forget how the bond and relationship grows like that of a true family member, however, this love for animals is often the culprit for overshadowing the more realistic approach that a dog is a big responsibility and you should only bring an animal into your family when you are truly prepared to look after it. Overall, owning a large dog is a very rewarding process and as long as you have the funds, resources, and time to properly look after it there is no reason why you shouldn’t look into the [process of owning a new large dog to make your family whole.

A lot of us have plenty of room in our hearts for a pet, but not much room in our house. Depending on the rules of your tenancy, some of you may not be able to keep furry friends inside your home. However, a lot of landlords are extremely relaxed when it comes to having aquatic pets due to the decreased risk of fleas entering the home. However, there is a common misconception that aquatic pets are incredibly difficult to care for, which isn’t entirely true. Here are the five easiest aquatic pets to deal with.

 

Axolotl

You may not have heard about this aquatic creator before, but once you become familiar with axolotls, you are bound to be obsessed. Axolotls are more like underwater lizards than fish and they are extremely interactive and playful. Once you have their environment correct, axolotls are extremely easy to care for. They live on a diet of shrimp and pallets and prefer colder water, meaning that you won’t even need to buy a heater. Axolotls also have extremely long life spans, so you’ll have a companion for quite a while. Because they are carnivorous, they can eat a number of different proteins. If you are interested in what proteins they can eat, be sure to check out eatthatfish.com.

 

Brine Shrimp

If you are someone that really doesn’t have the time to maintain aquatic life, then you should really look into raising brine shrimp. Brine shrimp require close to no care and live on a diet of yeast, which makes them extremely easy to raise. If you are someone who has other aquatic pets, brine shrimp are a great source of food for them, which means that if you raise them on your own, you will have close to an endless supply of food for your other pets.

 

Guppies

Guppies are known to be one of the easiest pets to care for due to how easily they adjust to their environments. With some fish, they can become extremely unwell if there are any changes to their tank. However, guppies are quite versatile animals and so will be able to deal with any changes. They interact well with each other, so you won’t have to worry about your fish attacking each other if you are someone that wants to have a few guppies in a single tank. Aside from that, they are also extremely cute.

 

Goldfish

The most standard fish that you will see people getting is a goldfish. There is a reason why goldfish are the main selection for a first pet for children and this is because they are so easy to care for. They survive on an extremely easy diet of fish food and can live for quite a long time if you care for them properly. One mistake that people often make when they get a goldfish is that they put them in a tank that is far too small for them, the best thing you can do is get them a sizable tank that will allow them to grow and be happy.

 

Tetras

You may have recognized tetras before due to their striking appearance and fast movements. Tetras live in big groups and are highly sociable, they also only require a basic diet which means you won’t have to spend lots of money making sure that they are well fed. Tetras are also among the long list of fish that help to keep their tank clean, which means that you won’t have to do full tank water changes that often.