Cattle Mag

Archive for March, 2009

Bengal cats are very hybrid type of cats; they are very comfortable and friendly by naturally with an absolute wild look. They’re really healthy and intelligent conscious. Along with being friendly in nature, they are also good enough at sports. Their well-defined characteristics are markings such for spots and rosette. It has very close resemblance to the Asiatic Leopard Cat and from its taxonomical name, which was derived from the ‘Bengal’ word.

Bengal has common habits. Males weigh up to fifteen pounds and females weigh up to ten pounds. The horizontal lines on the side of their face near eyes till neck are called as mascara. Their bodies have spotting with usually rosette or some in a marbled coat pattern. Nowadays Bengal cats with one or more color with spots are more in demand. The color of spots varies from rust to chocolate brown to cocoa to gray and black. Even their tail, hind legs and fore limbs has balanced stripes. They win championships in most of the competitions held to award the most exotic pet.

Bengal’s are very qualified experts from years by their amazing crossbreeding techniques. Bengal cats are also hybrid breed formed by crossing other domestic cats like American shorthair, Egyptian maus, Ocicat, Abyssinian cat and other shorthaired pet cats. Basically, they are originated by crossing small Asian Leopard cat or ALC. Breeders are very active in working out all over the globe to build up more calibers of this breed. The generations of the daughterly are the first three generations of Bengal. Most of the males of these generations didn’t bear the power to reproduce, wherever as the females lived. Later on the fifth generation, they were no more hybridized; so the breeding was started between two Bengal cats.

Currently there are three types of Bengal cats visible as pets, the Cheetah, the Tiger, and the Serengeti cat. The Cheetah is crossbreed cats derived by crossing Ocicat and Bengal, to get a breed of spotted cats. The Toyger are hybrid cats, which are produced by crossing domestic pets that outcome in a cat with stripes. The Serengeti cat has been brought out by crossbreeding Siamese cat or Asian cats to get a cat that looks alike an African Serval.

Bengal’s get captivated with running water and are easy to bath. They get attracted to tap water, shower bath and right away jump inner the tub. They’re also coached to vocalize so as to interact with their feeders. Youngish ones need human attention and can be bonded with by playing for at least an hour during the daytime and evening. They follow their owners, but don’t like to be placed on laps. People who accept to keep the Bengal’s as pet should be well aware that they’ve to spend lots of time with the cat, otherwise it will get bored. And whenever the cat gets bored they can get discomfited and can distract a lot. They have a very high-powered level of energy, which they need to bring out, which could only be handled by keeping them busy with activities. Owners who don’t have time to bare should surely keep Bengal’s in pairs, so that they can play with one another. But both the Bengal’s should be given balanced attention, otherwise the ignored one inclines to become jealous of another.

Alligators are the most life-threatening of the exotic pets. They’re like crocodilian, which comes from the family line of Alligatoridae. The name was derived from a Spanish word Anglicization, which was used by a Spanish people who were settled in Florida, U.S.A. Alligators are found by and large in America and China.

There are two types of alligators, Alligator Mississippians or the American alligator and Alligator Sine sis or the Chinese Alligator. The American alligator weights around eight hundred pounds and is thirteen feet long. The record for the longest alligator is of nineteen feet two inches, from Louisiana. Comparatively, the Chinese alligators are smaller in length and measure out not more than seven feet long. Alligators exist for more than fifty yrs. The most aged existing alligator is of seventy years, at the Belgrade Zoo, Serbia.

There are many characteristics of alligators that differentiate alligators from crocodiles but both of them belong to different taxonomical categories. Alligators have a wider muzzle and their eyeballs are sited nearer the upside. When light is blinked over their eyes, larger alligators have a red glow and smaller alligators have a green glow. This can be a very useful tip for those who are looking for alligators in dark. Even in daylight, we can observe that alligators have brown eyes and crocodiles have green eyes.

When the alligators close their jaws, only the upper teeth are able to be seen while in crocodiles, the upper and the lower teeth are visible when they close their jaws. The shape of an alligator’s mouth is like a “U” and the crocodile’s is like a “V”. Although the skin of both the animals is a darker, almost black, the color depends on their environment. The Chinese alligators have a light pattern skin, alligators which live in algae growing water are greenish black and in high tannic acid water which is released from hanging trees have a darker skin.

As the presence of the gastroliths (stomach stones) in the stomach of alligators they can eat anything. Young alligators depend upon crustaceans, fishes, snails, and insects for their food. As they grow into larger size even they need larger feed. Bigger alligators prey turtles, bigger fishes, birds, and, other reptiles and mammals. They even eat up deer, razorbacks, small alligators and even carcass of animals when they are very hungry. They have also been reported for few attacks on humans, but the number is on arising. People set out overconfident about this reality and enter alligator habitats without more caution, resulting in provoking their aggression. But alligators don’t right away attack humans, like crocodiles.

Today Alligators have turned very protected and regulated animals. Special processing is to be experienced to get the detention of an alligator. Normally baby alligators could be bought from Florida. Owners are given a special license and must be well aware of their duties. They’re against the law of many another states to take out an alligator from its natural habitat. Alligator pets should be provided with wide and wet habitat, same as the subtropical, to live in.

Alligators are well-bound to get self-assertive and life-threatening occasionally, which can turn out disastrous to folks around. Owners should be prepared as their pet could grow more than twelve feet. A few possessors scare when they begin growing greater and lengthier and decide to give up them from the imprisonment. But this can be highly dangerous to residents of that neighborhood because by then the animal would loosen its born fear and will attack humans. When conclusion is accepted for adopting an alligator as a pet, the owner should be firm sufficient to make a lifetime consignment.

Why would I be recommended to administer colostrum to my pet?

In pets, colostrum has been recommended and anecdotally found useful for the treatment of wounds (promotes healing of insect bites, abscesses, ruptured cysts, warts, and surgical incisions when applied topically to the wound,) gingivitis, as an aid to proper functioning and motility of the intestinal tract, diarrhea, colitis, inflammatory bowel disease, constipation, food allergies, and arthritis.

How much experience is there with the use of colostrum in pets?

Colostrum has been used for many years as part of the therapy for people and pets with a variety of illnesses. While controlled studies in pets are lacking, it may be effective in stimulating the immune system or in directly killing bacteria, fungi, or viruses.

What species of animals are being treated regularly with colostrum ?

Any animal species may benefit from colostrum.

How can my pet benefit from colostrum?

Any sick pet may benefit from supplementation with colostrum as part of their treatment.

How successful is colostrum?

Studies in people are contradictory with some studies showing benefit against various infections and other studies showing no benefit. Anecdotally, many owners feel that their pets have improved when colostrum is given to their pets. Since other supplements are part of the therapy, it is difficult to assess the effectiveness of colostrums usage. However, since colostrum and similar supplements are safe, using colostrum as part of the therapy for pets with any illness is unlikely to cause harm and may have benefit.

How safe is colostrum?

Colostrum does not seem to cause any significant side effects and has been used safely in many pets.

Where do I get colostrum and do I need a prescription?

As is true with many supplements, your veterinarian may have favorite supplements that he will sell you or recommend to you. Pet owners are cautioned against buying supplements without knowledge of the manufacturer, as supplements are not highly regulated and some supplements may not contain the labeled amount of colostrum. A prescription is not needed for colostrum.

Colostrum

Colostrum is the antibody-rich fluid produced from the mother during the first day or two after birth. It contains a number of antibodies and growth factors.  Most commercial colostrum preparations come from cows. Ideally, colostrum should come from a dairy that does not use hormones, pesticides, or medications in the cows that might concentrate in the colostrum.

Whether cow antibodies are good for humans or pets is unclear, although many holistic veterinarians anecdotally report positive results with both colostrum and the more concentrated form called lactoferrin.  Lactoferrin is a component of colostrum.  By concentrating the intended nutrient, instead of having a tiny amount of it, as found in colostrum, the effect may be maximized in the body. Transfer Factor is a patented antibody rich fragment of colostrums.

What species of animals are being treated regularly with carnitine?

Dogs are the main species treated with carnitine, although any species can be supplemented with carnitine for possible benefit.

How much research has been conducted on this supplement?

Carnitine is one of our better-researched supplements and has been shown to help some dogs with dilated cardiomyopathy.

How can my pet benefit from carnitine?

For pets with carnitine deficiency, supplementation is essential to reverse the effects of dilated cardiomyopathy and secondary congestive heart failure.

How successful is carnitine?

For some dogs with true carnitine deficiency, supplementation can be life-saving. For most pets with heart disease, supplementation may be beneficial, but other supplements are often combined with carnitine to get a balanced cardiac tonic.

How safe is carnitine?

Carnitine is very safe. People are advised not to use forms of carnitine known as “D-carnitine” or “DL-carnitine,” as these can cause angina, muscle pain and loss of muscle function (probably by interfering with L-carnitine.) The maximum safe dosages for young children, pregnant or nursing women, or those with severe liver or kidney disease have not been established; similar precautions are probably warranted in pets. Pets that are taking antiseizure medications, particularly phenytoin (Dilantin) or phenobarbital, may may need extra carnitine, especially those with heart disease.

Where do I get carnitine and do I need a prescription?

As is true with many supplements, your veterinarian may have favorite supplements that he will sell you or recommend to you. Pet owners are cautioned against buying supplements without knowledge of the manufacturer, as supplements are not highly regulated and some supplements may not contain the labeled amount of carnitine. A prescription is not needed for carnitine supplements.

Carnitine – (L-carnitine)

Carnitine is an amino acid the body uses to turn fat into energy. Specifically, carnitine is required for transporting long chain fatty acids in the cells, which is essential to the conversion of fatty acids into energy for the cells, especially heart muscle cells.

It is not normally considered an essential nutrient, because the body can manufacture all it needs in the liver from lysine, methionine, and vitamins C, B1, and B6. However, supplemental carnitine may improve the ability of certain tissues to produce energy.

Why would I be recommended to administer carnitine to my pet?

The main indication for carnitine supplementation is for the pet with heart disease, specifically dilated cardiomyopathy in dogs.

How much experience is there with the use of carnitine in pets?

Carnitine has been used successfully to help some dogs with dilated cardiomyopathy. Current benefits and recommendations regarding carnitine supplementation for dogs with heart disease include:

1. Since true carntitine deficiency may exist in a small number of dogs such as boxers with dilated cardiomyopathy, supplementation with L-carnitine may be of benefit in these pets.

2. In some dogs with dilated cardiomypathy (approximately the 40% that have myocardial carnitine deficiency,) supplementation may improve clinical signs and cause some improvement in the echocardiograms of these patients.

3. Supplementation with L-carnitine may improve survival in some dogs with dilated cardiomyopathy, especially those that have myocardial carnitine deficiency.

Here are some Popular Myths about Pets

1.Feeding a pet a homemade diet, especially a raw diet, will kill your pet-this is true IF you feed bad food, an improperly balanced diet, or raw food as contaminated with deadly bacteria. However, if you feed a properly balanced diet, had supplements to the diet, and properly handle all food, a homemade diet can even be more nutritious for your pet than many of the processed foods on the market.

2. Frequent bathing would dry out your pet’s skin or coat-Nothing could be further from the truth. Unless you are using harsh shampoos, or products made for people, frequent bathing is necessary when treating pets with skin problems. The more frequently the pet with a skin problem is bathed, the less conventional medications must be used to help cure the problem. Even pets without skin diseases can benefit from bathing weekly or more often.

3. Older pets have a higher risk of side effects including death when put under anesthesia-not only is this tape and incorrect, but it discriminates against our senior citizens of the pet world. Age has nothing to do with safety of anesthesia. As long as the pet is healthy, the appropriate anesthetic agents are used, and the pet is carefully monitored during the anesthetic procedure, it is no more risky to anesthetize an older pet than a younger one. And because older pets tend to have more problems that require anesthesia to correct, they usually require anesthesia more often than younger pets.

4. Dental disease is no big deal-Dental disease is much more than a cosmetic problem. It is the most common infectious disease in dogs and cats, and must be treated aggressively as you would with any infection. Pets with dental disease are more likely to develop heart problems, kidney problems, liver problems, and diabetes. Whenever I see in older pet who is eating less, sleeping more, and is not feeling too good, I always examine the pet’s mouth. Usually the pet has dental disease, and once the teeth are cleaned, it’s amazing how much better they feel! This should be no surprise since dental disease causes chronic inflammation and chronic infection in the pet’s entire body.

5. Pets need annual vaccinations-Probably the biggest myth is that every pet needs vaccinations at least once per year. Some doctors even recommend vaccinating pets every six months! Research shows that few if any pets need vaccines throughout their lives. The vaccines currently on the market are so good that most pets buildup and unity that can last many years or even a lifetime. The best way to determine what vaccines your pet might need is through a simple inexpensive blood test called a vaccine titer test. Using this test in my own practice has shown me that most of my patients hardly ever need a vaccine.

The are just myths and not facts, do not worry about all these and enjoy with your pet.