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**** I've been gone quite a long time. However I'm still breathing though it's touch and go. Don't expect me to answer or check in much. ****

Welcome to the junkdrawer that is my brain! I know something about many things, and I if I don't know it, I admit that I don't know. That I am constantly finding things I know nothing about and correcting that ignorance keeps me busy and happy. More junk for the drawer.

I love and have experience with many types of animals, including the human. I don't offend easy and I am generally cynical and a smart-butt. I love to drive, read, work on the computer and I spend WAY too much time watching Anime and bidding on ebay.

advice

how 2 my cat from useing my house plants as liter box?

gravel, the large chunky kind. Put it on top of the dirt and the cats will have a hard time digging. If that doesn't help nothing that I know of will.

I would like to know information on herpes in/on Bengal cats. Cures or if it can be spread or passed on.

Thank you
Cheryl

I have had no personal experience with this problem in my cats, but I did look up at least one web site that may help you. If this site doesn't tell you everything you need, look up "feline herpes" in your search engine. I'm sorry I haven't had time to check out the info myself, but I will as a loving and responsible owner of three felines. Luck to you an health to your pets!

www.animalhealthchannel.com/rhinotracheitis/

my dog is a 7 month old schnauzer, and he has been throwing up! he also has really bad hip problems. my dad keeps saying he will die really early. i am crying just typing this up. i dont want my puppie to die! does anyone have any helpful tips on how to cure throwing up? my mom said she gave him peptobismol... but he just threw up in my room so i dont know what to do! please help me fast!
i rate all fives!

You must get your puppy to the vet. It sounds like he is having problems that only a vet can fix. Your mom did fine giving him pepto, that won't hurt him, but your puppy will dehydrate and die if you can't get the vomitting to stop. Tell your parents that part of responcible pet ownership is to take the pet to the doctor when it's sick. Also that they can be report to ASPCA for neglecting a pet in clear distress. By the way, just because his hip is hurting does not mean that he'll die early. However tell your dad to check and see if he got a health guarenty that states the dog will be free of HIP DISPLAYSIA. This is a common problem inherited by some breeds of pure bred dogs. (Usually the large breeds.) He may be able to get the breeder of your pup to help pay for the vet bills. I'm sorry your puppy is so ill. I hope he gets better.

my dog is 6 months old and recently she started having seizures... shes reallyplayful and all that... but the past week ive been scared to death for her... weve already been to the vet and they said to take her off this certain medicine for fleas/mites... idk...and it scares me so bad... what do u think is wrong? and what do you think could helP?

Yes, you need to tell your vet all the chemicals she's been exposed to. If you are lucky she may get better, but prolonged exposure to some chemicals can cause permenant nerve damage. Only your vet can really help you with this. I wish I could tell you something better. If it's just the meds, the problem should correct itself with little trouble. Good luck!

I have an Alligator Snapper. It is still very young and is only about 9-10 ounces. What should I feed it? I have tried "Reptile Sticks" that float, but Squirt(The Turtle) doesn't eat them that much...What other kinda stuff is out there?

Thanks....
I rate!

It needs live food, buy it feeder guppies or goldfish. Also, you may want to check to see if it is legal for you to have one in your state. My cousin had some box turtles that he had to free because of that.

My dog barks at the slightest movement or sound. He chases my four cats around and when hes on a walk he chases cars. He is a Border Collie, so it is natural for him to try to herd things. He is so out of control sometimes that he will see the neighbor dogs from the inside window and will throw himself at the window, barking like a maniac. What do you suggest I do?

Water squirt bottle training! I had a Sheltie that went through a phase like this. (Except the cat thing, that is my Poms) Keep a squirt bottle with you at all times. For the first few days keep him on a leash even inside the house. (He should associate the lead with training and obedience. This will reenforce that you are in control.) Inside manners are very different from regular obedience training. A spray of water to catch your dog's attention and a firm no bark, or leave it (useful command for not chasing cats, cars or eating bad things on the floor) when he does wrong will go a long way to training him away from these bad habits. The car thing is an extention of these indoor bad habits. He can get away with charging the windows, why can't he get by with going after what he wants outside?

Another thing, if you just sent him to obedience school, it may have been an useless expense. Dogs obey the pack leader. If someone else trained him, that person is his pack leader not you. If your dog has a dominant personallity, and with the behavior issues you describe, he does, you will need to take a refresher course in obedience training with your dog to gain his respect. If you did train him, he needs alot of work and practice and additional classes. Reenforcement of behavior is the MOST important thing in training. A dog can't just go through a training course and be perfect and remember all his manners. It takes constant work to keep his lessons in mind. Luck!

Today my dog fell down the stairs, and she can't really walk. She can, but she falls over and stuff. She keeps throwing up flem and foam. We're taking her to the vet in a few hours. I was wondering, they won't have to put her to sleep right? Like, the worst they could do is give her fake legs?? Thanks =(

This sounds more like your pet has a concussion and a pierced lung from a broken rib or two. Depending on how bad her injuries are she could make a full recovery, but it will be extremely expensive. The worst thing about having an injured pet in this last case is can you afford treatment? With a human there is a legel obligation for care. A vet can refuse to treat your pet if you can't afford the treaments. Many times loved pets are put down not because they can't be healed, but because their owners can not afford to pay for the medical bills. Fake legs, would not be a good option in anycase. A three-legged dog can have a great life, and some dogs do well with both hind legs missing. I don't think that is the case here. Yes, she may have to be put down. Just pray she has no internal bleeding and that her lung does not collapse. If she requires surgery you may have some hard choices to make. I wish you luck, please let me know what happens. Big hug!

I was wondering what the world would be like with out those loveable gorgoues fur balls called pets?

Speaking from experience, a no furry pet policy for four years in college, I can tell you it would be sheer HELL> No one to cuddle or make innocent demands on your affections. Nothing to love you when you are at your worst and mad at the world. Nothing to take care of that wouldn't grow up just to hate you. I'm so glad they exist!

i have a mini dachshund he is 2 yrs old,he was born with what appeared to be a scratch on his eyeball,as he grew so did the scratch,it now take up half his eye and it has a foggy color to it,and what we believed that was a scratch looks as if it was actually hair,there are a few pieces of hair growing ,it is embedded inti his eye.is this possible?

Yes, it is possible. You may want to see if your vet can remove it. Your dog will likely lose his sight in that eye either way, but that is not a big deal in a dog this young. He will be able to compensate quickly to the loss, and he may not be able to see out of it now. Good luck, and take the poor dear to a vet. This condition can't feel good.

MY DOG is 12 years old and is suffering from arthritist.and last year he started to eat charcoal and vomiting it out.Do u think this is normal?does your dog do this?

Eating charcoal is not normal. When an animal even a human starts craving weird things it usually means that new food has a substance in it that they need. Try giving your dog a canine multi-vitamin. They have various formulas and you can even get a suggestion from your vet which ones would be best for your dog. All older dogs have special needs and should be watched closely for odd behavior. A lot of times this will be the only way you an catch an illness in time to save their lives. Younger dogs are stronger and missing a few signs can usually be overcome. But I think your dog just needs some extra vitamins. Good Luck!

i have a puppy she is about 5 months old and my mom is very alergic to her .. she is now living in teh gaage bcz my mom almost died ! we wanan give her away to a family taht loves her but dont know who my question is .. how could i let ppl know about my dog ??? thank u soo0o much and p.s she is a girl if that helps

If she is a prue bred dog you will have no trouble finding a good homme for her. Put an ad in your paper's classified section and specify to good fenced in home only. It is a good idea to put a money amount in the paper to make sure the people who come are serious. Discuss this with your mother. You will want to inspect the home you are sending your dog to as a condition of the sale. People can tell you anything. You need to see for yourself that your girl will be treated well. Good luck!

Ok i have a puppy, i just got the other day and she will be 7 weeks old tomorrow...well my problem is...she wont stop useing the bathroom on my floor in my bedroom and everywhere else in the house...even though i tell her no...thats bad and not to do it again but she keeps on and on whenever i see that shes about to go to the bathroom i pick her up and rush her outside....its annoying and i need advice on how to get her to stop useing the bathroom on my floor...thanks...i'll rate anyone who answers this for me!

Take her outside everytime she wakes up or has been playing for awhile and 20 min after she eats. Crate her at night (I would put the crate in the bed with me and take her out when she gets restless.) and when you put her down for naps. Praise her when she pees or poos outside, give her a treat. Make sure she knows HEY THIS IS THE RIGHT THING. I GET FOOD AND LOVE WHEN I DO THIS. Clean the spots where she has gone inside with lysol or vinegar and water. Limit her roam of the house. At her age she does not need to be allowed run of the house, period. She must ALWAYS be watched and try to notice the signs that she uses before she goes. This will help you know when to take her out. As she gets older she'll be able to hold it for longer periods of time. She'll learn some way to alert you that she needs to go outside. **A note on buying a crate - you want one that she can stand and turn around in easily, but not enough room where she can potty on one end and sleep on the other. The point of the crate is to give her a place to sleep, not a litter box. She will not want to lay in her own waste and will learn to hold herself much quicker. Plus this is the SAFEST way to transport your pet. You many need to buy another as she grows, but it will be well worth it. Between me and my family we currently have 8 dogs. Mine and my sister's 3 were crate trained and they were housetrained twice as fast as my parents' . Also when ever we say "Want to go Bye-Bye," they run in the crates and are ready to go. It will take time and be a lot of work, but this is part of being a loving and responcible pet owner. Have fun and Good Luck!

My mother bought me a beta fish (a Japanese fighting fish) and I have no idea how to take care of it. I got a book on how to take care of it, but you have to decode it (meaning I don't understand a word of it) The local veterenarians don't really know how to take care of these fish because not alot of their clients have fighting fishes. Does anyone on Advicenators know ANYTHING about these fishes? Do you know any sites where I can find information?

They are Siamese Fighting Fish, not Japanese. Go to http://www.bettacave.com on the net. This guy breeds them and has great info on them. I used to breed them in college, but... Anyway they are real easy to care for. Enjoy!

ok i have 4 dogs:
-Irish Setter
-Golden Retreiver
-Beagel
-Yorkie
And I have 3 cats:
-Siamese
-Sphynx
-Pursian

I need ALL different kinds of toys for these pets! just 1 toy wont be enough they all fight over it! Do any of yall know ne good cat & dog toys??? in need of help b4 pets go boring and sad!

Blue_Fusion

Hell, my dogs like the cat toys. Of course I have Pomeranians and they are more cat than dog anyway. The only Irish Setter I knew was dumb as dirt and only wanted to chase cars, even parked ones. (I hope Sunny was an exception and other IrS are smart. Boy she was dumb.) Goldens are easy...dumbells for retrieving training. My aunt's girls tote them around everywhere. And a baby pool. They love splashing around. Beagel, balls also the Yorkie. Put a tennis ball in an old tube sock and they'll be happy for hours. Plus the Yorkie will enjoy stealing eveyone else's toys and putting them in her/his bed. Also you can plant a flower garden. Your terrier will love pulling up every bulb and plant and strowing them through the yard.(I've had many terriers, my parents currently have a Yorkie.)

Cats...love cats. Siamese love anything shiny, and plastic screw-on bottle caps. My 16lb Siamese boy steals any bottle cap he can get a paw on. I don't know any special thing for a Sphynx, but Persians love the rubber plastic material used on portable phones antenne. Something about that makes them nuts. General cat toys: There is a thing called a honeysuckle, it's a piece of flannel like material that's been treated with something that cats love. You can get them at a pet store. Also, sticks. You know the plastic sticks that have feathers on the ends. Forget the feather end, just use the stick part. They love that. THen there is the wire, it's a piece of wire that has raffia twisted into the ends. When you wiggle it the cats go crazy trying to catch the thing. Last but not least, moths. Let in a moth every once in a while. Cheap and keeps the critters and you entertained. Have fun!

i have a 3 year old bichon frise, and he IS potty trained. when he was younger we would let him out like 10 times a day to pee. well all the sudden this year he's been peeing on the carpets like at least once a week. we're selling our house, so we got BRAND NEW CARPETS throughout the house, and he still keeps peeing on those! we even get the spray stuff to disguise the smell so he won't go back to the spot but he still does. my dad says if he pees in our new house we're giving him away! =( so how do i get him to stop? i suggested obedience school but they said no he's too old. how do we discipline him PLEASE help if you know about dogs.

He is marking. This has nothing to do with house training. When a male, even nuetered, feels stressed and out of control of his environment he will try to take some control by marking territory. Also it could be his displeasure at the activity I'm sure is taking place in the house. Also if you're selling the house new people scents can trigger the behavior. All I can do is explain some of his reasons. My sister has a Male Pomeranian and so do I. The boys are litter mates and both are "fixed," but when I moved in with my sister her boy started peeing on the bathroom rugs. This stops instantly whenever my boy is staying with my parents. When both boys are at my parents my sister's dog pees on my parent's bathroom rug. So we know my boy triggers the bad behavior in her's. Something is causeing your boy stress, if you can figure out what it is and stop it great, but I think it is most likely the changes in your house. The marking may stop once he feels secure in your new home, but... This is one of the most difficult behaviors to stop. Get a few good books and see what they suggest. Hope something works!

when is the best time to get your puppy nuetered? I have a puppy and he is like starting to hump his stuffed animal dogs..lol

Anytime after their little testes drop in site is fine, but I have always waited until they were about six months. This gives them plenty of time for their hormones to help them develop. Any later than that and the puppies will be more prone to hormone effected cancers.

Ok.Im 37 weeks pregnant...And i Know your not aloud to be around Cat Litter...What i dont know is Can You be Around the CAt Itself?? Im concerned and have no clue so please help! And exactly how can it harm the baby,Like what Kind of harm can it do on the baby?

That depends. Usually anyone who has been around cats all their life as had a little illness everyone probably thought was the flu. This is a one time thing like chicken pox, and if you've had it your baby will be immune through you and you can sleep in a boatload of kitties with no problem. I've forgoten the name of it, but your prenatal doc should know and can give you a simple blood test to ensure you have the antibodies to protect your baby. I'm not sure what effects the illness would have on the baby if you don't have the antibodies, but any possible threat is to be avoided. About the litter... great time to get out of that nasty chore. Happy baby!

I've just started breeding my male and female zebra finches -she layed 4 eggs a few days ago, one hatched but it's now been 3 days why haven't the other 3 eggs hatched? are they okay?

Not all eggs will be fertilized, but it may just be the time they were laid. Usually, my Zebra finches would push the bad eggs out of the nest after awhile. A littel note you may already know, but that killed my first laying female because I didn't. Everytime you turn the lights on and off in their darkened room, the finches think it's a new day. My poor first girl laid 14 eggs in a week. She didn't survive to a hatching. I started reading everthing I could after that. Luckily, I was able to get a new female quickly. Mates will greive themselves to death. My poor boy didn't eat until I brought in the new girl.

Any one know anything about dogs My sheltie has a sore under is neck it doesn't seem to brother him but it sure is ugly. any ideas ?

Shelties are nothing but fur, and the ruff around their neck can get matted, even if it doesn't look it and you brush everyday. This time of year they are still shedding, but their winter undercoat is trying to grow in also. Chances are your dog has developed what's called a hot spot. This is a sore caused by heat and irritation complecated by licking and bactieria. If you don't think the sore is bad enough to take to the vet, try an over the counter medication and keep the spot as clean and dry as possible. Moisture aggrivates the condition and prevents healing. IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT ANY ANIMAL. All animals will try to seem as healthy as possible until they just can't pretend anymore. This is a survival tactic too deep for them to control. If YOU are worried, don't just wait until the dog ACTS sick. Depending on the illness or wound this can be deadly. Vet first, relief later. The more experienced you become with your dog, the better you'll be able to judge what is serious and what isn't. Hope it's just a hot spot. Wishing you and your pet the best.

i have this dog who is two years old, and i love him sooo much. the problem is, he has gotten my other dog pregnant twice, and each tie we had a horrible time trying to give the puppies away. My parents are furious, and they want to castrate him. i just cant bear the though of him losing his gender! just in case any of you know, what happens when you castrate a dog? are there any side effects?

Unless you plan on breeding a dog, the very best thing , especially for the pet, is to neuter (male) or spay (female). In the case of dogs it helps them live longer, healthier lives and the only side-effects are good, even if they'd never made puppies. Males become less aggressive. They no longer try to roam as often or as far away from their homes. They are half as likely to develop certain kinds of cancer. If a pup is fixed, nuetered, by 6 months it is almost 80 percent less likely to die of hormone related cancers. Plus even in the wild, when dogs run in packs, only the leaders are allowed to breed anyway. You are the leader in your pack, controlling breeding behavior is your right and duty.

As for his age, I had planned to breed my AKC Sheltland Sheepdog years ago. Sir Micheal was 2 when we finally admitted his genes were not good enough to improve the breed. We had him neutured. His personality never changed, he did not become depressed or angry. The sugery only requires a little cut and three or four stitches. After a week, he didn't even remember anything had happened. He still looked forward to visiting the vet (only dog I've ever had that did, but the surgery didn't change it.)

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