Hi there Advicenators.
The last time I logged on here I was 21. Im almost 30 now. Wow I thought I was well put together at that time. I wasn’t. I was looking for validation in being right, or proving that I had the solutions to problems. I didn’t. It makes me think about all the times I went looking for answers online and who was on the other end of that answer. Was it someone like my 21 year old self who didn’t know anything? Be careful out there, friends, and I hope you get the answers you’re looking for.
-Kat
Gender: Female
Location: Washington
Age: 21
MSN: katlzxdcj@live.com
Member Since: June 1, 2007
Answers: 163
Last Update: May 21, 2014
Visitors: 13349
Main Categories:
Pets
Random Weirdos
Families
View All
Favorite Columnists
Dragonflymagic
adviceman49
Razhie
WittyUsernameHere
|
| |
18/m
Hello! I was looking for some extra information on either getting a German Shepard or a Lab.
I won't be getting a dog till after college when I am able to afford it and take care of it the way it needs to be. Was just trying to get information on them so I can do my research for my decision in a few years.
I love German Shepard and Labs.
I guess my question is...
Which one is more suitable for an average American? Based on my low income out of college I want to know which one would be better to take care of and to give proper things in it's life.
Thanks! (link)
|
Both dogs are great choices. They are both very loyal, smart, obedient breeds.
Like the last answer states, they are big dogs and they will need space to run and play. Labs love the water and activities where they can catch things. They chew a lot. German Shepherds are extremely active and by nature are herders. So an apartment life for them may not be ideal unless you are a very active person that jogs frequently or goes hiking, or that kind of thing. They both eat a ton. My old dog was a lab and he would go through a big bag of dog food in about 2-3 weeks, with feeding 2 times a day. Bags of dog food you can expect to cost at least $20-30, more usually for a better brand. They can become overly protective and territorial if not socialized properly, so if you're gone a lot, that may not be a good idea.
Large breeds are prone to joint disorders like hip dysplasia, and arthritis, more so the German Shepherds. They are also known to be genetically predisposed to canine degenerative myelopathy, which attacks the spine and causes them to lose use of their back legs.
Labs are generally healthier, only because they aren't predisposed to as many things as Shepherds. But it's still possible something may happen.
You may want to get pet insurance when you do get a dog. It's usually about $20 a month. If something does happen, vet bills are expensive and not many vets will work with you.
So all in all, labs and shepherds are both good choices as long as you have the space. They both have the ability to be very loving happy dogs. My personal preference are labs due to the fact that they are less prone to genetic diseases.
|
Hi . I have a cat who is about 3 1/2 years old . She has been an outdoor cat since a young age. On July 24 , 2012 she gave birth to her first litter of kittens. On April 8 , 2013 she gave birth again for the second time. Her abdomen is bulging again and I'm am 99.9% sure she is pregnant. My mother can't afford to bring her to a vet but her babies usually come out perfectly healthy. Her last 2 pregnancies were pretty much normal her nipples were larger and pinker, bulging abdomen , and more lenient around other animals. But this pregnancy seems strange. Everything is normal except her attitude towards her daughter that we kept from the first litter. Lately she has been attacking her own daughter which has never happened before. So I have a few questions.
1.) Is this normal?
2.) Will she stop after the kittens are born?
3.) Is it dangerous to not bring her to the vet?
4.) What can I do if I cant afford a vet?
5.) Should I do something about it?
Thank you for your time (: (link)
|
It's completely normal for female cats to be aggressive durnig pregnancies, and even after they give birth, when they are still nursing. They may even get aggressive towards the kittens as they are weaned. I've had many many cats throughout the years and I had one cat that as soon as the kittens stopped nursing, she wanted nothing to do with them. Another let her kittens nurse until they were young adult cats. They all have different ways of dealing with it.
Cats are highly self sufficient and it would most likely be ok to not bring her to the vet.
HOWEVER! Having litter after litter is not healthy for any animal. If bred too many times, she may eventually start having complications with the litters, stillbirths, or she may not be able to perform the birth on her own.
I'm not sure where you are but, I know that in my area, there are shelters and charities that will do low cost or even free spays and neuters. Look online and see whats available to you. There are hundreds of cats that get put down every day because no one wants them, I wouldn't want that to happen to any of those kittens!
Best of wishes to you and the kitties!
|
|