Origins:

Size: Small. Weighs about 3 pounds.

Physical Appearance: Cobby, well-rounded body with a well-formed head and muzzle. Ears are short-furred, and stand erect at no more than 3 inches long. The mane is long and distinct, forming a full circle around the head, with a “fringe” between the ears. The rest of the coat should only be of medium length. Eyes may be red or blue.

Characteristics: Good-tempered, friendly, gentle, loves attention and affection.

Colors: Many marking types including self, shaded, agouti, harlequin, pointed white and others, each of which may cover many color variations like black, blue, lilac, Siamese sable, chinchilla, opal, and others.

Special Facts: The gene that expresses itself in the Lionhead’s pronounced mane is the first dominant genetic mutation to be recorded by rabbit breeders in many decades. The last previous documented mutation in fancy rabbits was that for satin fur in 1932.

Related Topics

• Rabbit’s Body Language: What Does It Means? – Part 2
• Rabbit: Lionhead Lop
• Rabbit’s Body Language: What Does It Means? – Part 1
• What You Must Know about Rearing Rabbits as Pets
• Rabbit Ears: Are You Treating Your Rabbit’s Ears Right?
• Runaway Pets: How To Keep Your Rabbit From Escaping?
• Rabbit: Dutch

Reasons For Cat Eating Disorders

Finicky Eaters: It’s very rare to see a cat would pass up food for no apparent reason. However, there are a few finicky cats out there who are so choosy about what they eat that they end up being malnourished and underweight. These cats can become this way for a variety of reasons, but is typically the fault of the owner.

Cat owners get lazy and they buy the same old cat foods—canned after canned or pack after pack—until one day they realize that their cat isn’t eating the food anymore. The cats simply got sick of the same old food day after day. One way to counteract this problem is to cycle different flavors of cat food during the week, as well as try out different brands of cat food periodically.

Medical Issue: If your cat still refuses to eat despite all the various methods and is looking very thin, chances might be a medical problem which may be unknown to you and you may have to seek veterinarian help. But before you head to the veterinary clinic, check if your cat’s ribs if they are clearly visible. If they are, you would want to consult a veterinarian as soon as possible.

Trash Eating: If your cat isn’t eating the food you bought but still remain her usual weight, then most likely she is eating trash bin food. The problem is easily solved if you cover your indoor trash bin with lid on and secure it if necessary.

What if your trash bin is outdoor and is securely covered? Yours maybe, but what about others? Cats, by natural, are explorers who practically live outside the home if they figure a way to get out when you aren’t around at home. The solution to this is to make sure that your cat has totally no excess to outside the home without your supervision. So check for any possible areas (e.g. ventilation windows) that your cat could easily squeeze through to the outside world.

Although eating trash food may not seem like a major problem, but there is a good likelihood that your cat may eat something that is bad or toxic food or pick up fatal diseases while scavenging. So don’t wait until your cat got sick to do something about it.

Related Topics

• Cat: Cornish Rex
• What Are The Health Complications When Cat Eats Dog Food
• Cat: Norwegian Forest
• Pet Obesity: Cat that Is Overweight?
• How To Train Your Cat To Use The Door Bell
• How To Stop Your Cat From Eating Houseplants
• Cat: Persian

If you take a closer look at a rabbit’s ear, you will see how thin and capillary-lined the skin is. The dedicate skin, which tears easily, is to help the rabbit cool down on hot days. So don’t even think about scrunching up those delicate membranes in your fist!

A rabbit’s ears are not sufficient to support its substantial body weight, unlike a cat’s or puppy’s scruff (the loose skin at the base of the back of the neck).

The correct way to carry a rabbit is to put one hand securely just under and behind the rabbit’s front legs (but not too low down over the stomach), and then scoop the bunny up with your other hand supporting its bum or hindquarters. Hold firmly, because rabbits can be squirmy.

It doesn’t matter how often you see others grabbing a rabbit’s ears; just don’t do it yourself—except in a real emergency when you must save your bunny from danger, and the only things you can reach are the long ears!

Related Topics

• Rabbit: Dwarf Hotot
• Rabbit: Dutch
• Rabbit: Lionhead
• Rabbit: Netherland Dwarf
• How To Potty Train Your Rabbit
• Rabbit: Lionhead Lop
• Rabbit’s Body Language: What Does It Means? – Part 2

Size: Small. Usually around 3 pounds.

Physical Appearance: Cobby, well-rounded body with lop ears and a distinct mane. Head well-formed and seems big in proportion to the body. Appearance is not always consistent as the breed is still being improved ad standardized.

Characteristics: Generally affectionate, friendly, love attention.

Colors: Various colors, mainly still being developed by crossing with other breeds.

Special Facts: The Lionhead Lop’s mane can be more prone to matting than that of the Lionhead. And just because a young rabbit has a mane, it does not mean it will keep it for life. Some individuals’ manes may molt and then never grew back.

Related Topics

• Rabbit: Lionhead
• What You Must Know about Rearing Rabbits as Pets
• Runaway Pets: How To Keep Your Rabbit From Escaping?
• How To Potty Train Your Rabbit
• 9 Tips on Buying Small Pets
• Responsible Pet Ownership: What Is Expected of You?
• Rabbit’s Body Language: What Does It Means? – Part 1

What Is The Healthy Weight For A Normal Sized Cat

Of course some breeds of cat are larger than others, but an average sized cat will typically weigh between seven and ten pounds. If you are unsure how to gauge your cat’s weight, all you have to do is take a look at his ribs.

If the bones are prominent and obvious, then your cat is a bit on the thin side and there is a problem. On the other hand, if his ribs are completely hidden and they are hard to locate with your hand, then he is obviously too fat.

Overweight and Obese Cats

Did you know that obesity is one of the highest nutrition-based problems that veterinarians handle with cats? Records show that almost 50% of the cats that show up at veterinarians each year are considered overweight. And if you ask any of these cat owners about their overweight cat, most will smile and explain that they feed their cat out of love because the animal enjoys food. Unfortunately, this is a serious health issue that these people are clueless about.

Obesity Can Kill Your Cats

We have all heard on the news just how dangerous it is for people to be overweight because it causes a variety of diseases. The same holds true for cats. Obese cats can suffer an enormous amount of health problems. For example:

• Problems with tendons
• Torn ligaments
• Diabetes
• Breathing issues
• Skin diseases (because overweight cats cannot groom and clean themselves properly)
• Hepatic Lipidosis (an extremely serious liver disease that afflicts overweight felines)

The bottom line here is that if you care for your cat and you know you are the cause of feeding him too much food, then you have the responsibility as the loving pet owner to keep him healthy. First be sure to take him to the veterinarian for a complete check up. The doctor will be able to assess his current condition and assist you in making the necessary dietary changes needed.

Related Topics

• What Are The Health Complications When Cat Eats Dog Food
• Cat Eating Disorders: Thin Finicky Cats
• Cat: Persian
• Cat: Cornish Rex
• Responsible Pet Ownership: What Is Expected of You?
• Cat: Bengal
• Cat: Norwegian Forest

Here are some of these common sounds and their body language and the probable meaning as we interpreted them:

• Making Cooing Sounds: Feeling contented and happy
• Teeth Chattering: Watch out! It’s a warning! Often followed by a bite or a fight
• Low Rumbling Sound: A warning of danger to fellow cavies
• High-pitched Squeals: “Help!” (to owner); “Leave me alone!” (to potential predator, during medical treatment, etc.)
• Repetitive Squeaks: Begging for food
• Stretching: Feeling relaxed
• Head Stretched Forward: Curious but watchful
• Jumping, aka “Popcoming”: “Whoopee!” – a sign of happiness
• Rigid Stance, Not Moving: Playing dead to escape from an enemy

Related Topics

• Runaway Pets: How To Keep Your Rodents From Escaping?
• Responsible Pet Ownership: What Is Expected of You?
• Facts About Guinea Pig
• 9 Tips on Buying Small Pets
• Guinea Pig: Sheltie
• 5 Common Diseases Found In Hamster And Guinea Pig
• Guinea Pig: Peruvian

Origins:

Size: Small. Around 23 to 28cm tall at the shoulder.

Physical Appearance: Soft white coat of lone, curling hair. Long ears, close to the head. Tail curved over body. Shiny black nose and black-rimmed eyes.

Characteristics: Friendly, outgoing, lively, loves attention and exercise.

Colors: White. Young dogs may have some cream or apricot markings.

Special Facts about Bichon Frise: This dog’s coat will grow out of shape unless it is regularly trimmed. Professional groomers say that the ideal trimmed shape of a Bichon Frise’s head, viewed from the front is a perfect circle!

Related Topics

• Dog: Dalmatian
• Dog: Chihuahua
• Dog: Maltese
• Dog: French Bulldog

Physical Body Traits Of Green Iguana

Skin: An iguana’s skin should be bright and tight without any bagginess. Loose skin is a sign that it is not eating enough and not eating well. The skin of a young iguana should be bright green. As the animal gets older, the green gradually becomes more muted with the addition of some brown, blue, or gray patterns. Adult male iguanas also turn into various shades of orange on their arms, legs, and heads during breeding season.

Do not choose a green iguana that has dark or black skin, this is an indication of a sick iguana. Some iguanas have ticks on their skin. This is not a reason to reject the animal. Ticks are easily removed with the right tick removal product and by no mean is a sign of sickness. Also, it’s very normal for the iguana’s skin to look like it’s coming off or to see thin sheets of torn skin. Thin, torn skin coming off its body means that it’s shedding, which is a healthy, natural occurrence that will take place throughout his life.

Stomach: Its stomach should not look thin. A thin iguana is not a healthy pet. One that has recently eaten will show a big, happy belly. If you see them eating at the store or current owner’s house, that means they do not have an eating problem and will most likely remain that way when you take it home.

Legs: Healthy iguanas have rounded legs. However, the legs shouldn’t look swollen or fat. Iguanas with fat-looking legs may be suffering from calcium deficiency. Another sign of this illness is when the back or spine is twisted or distorted.

Tail: A healthy iguana tail looks thick, fat, and plump at the base (the area where the tail attaches to the body). There should not be any visible bones in the tail or the body. A fat tail is a sign that the iguana eating regularly.

Temperament Of Green Iguanas

Disposition: When picked up, a healthy iguana should display a bit of feisty behavior or may squirm and try to get away. They may even try to bite you or whip its tail. This is normal. These are wild animals and it is their natural instinct to try to get away to protect themselves. Unless it’s been tamed, if it’s too relaxed or too calm on your hand, it might be sick!

Related Topics

• What To Look For In A Healthy Green Iguana – Part 1
• What are the Pros and Cons of Owning an Iguana
• What To Look For In A Healthy Green Iguana – Part 2
• 9 Tips on Buying Small Pets
• Why Iguanas Might Be an Idea Pet for You
• What Must You Know about Keeping Iguana as Pet
• Why Iguanas Might be the Best Pet Ever?

Health Complications When Cat Eats Dog Food

• Food Formulation: Cat and dog food may look the same to you, but they are formulated with very different nutritional requirements in mind. They are not just the same product packaged differently!
• Amino Acid: Dog food does not contain added taurine, an essential amino acid for cats. Cats cannot synthesize enough triune from other amino acids, while dogs and humans can.
• Health Issues: Without taurine added to its diet, a cat can suffer reproductive disorders, eye lesions leading to total blindness and potentially fatal hear enlargement.
• Taurine: Commercial cat food has all the taurine cats needs.
• Supplementation: If you prepare your cat’s meal instead of buying commercial cat food, add taurine supplements to its diet no matter how much meat you feed it, because taurine is destroyed by cooking while raw meat poses health risks for domestic cats.

Dog food is not dangerous in itself of course. So if kitty gets the occasional can of dog food or steals from your dog’s dinner bowl, don’t panic—it won’t harm the cat just make sure it’s eating enough of its own cat food.

Related Topics

• Dog and Bone Do Not Fix
• Pet Obesity: Cat that Is Overweight?
• Cat Eating Disorders: Thin Finicky Cats

Facial Features of Green Iguana

Mouth: When you look inside the iguana’s mouth, it should look pinkish and healthy. Look for any bad signs of yellow coloring or cheesy, stringy mucous discharge. A mouth that is always hanging open is a sign of a respiratory disease, especially if it is mixed with a forced, labored wheezing sound coming from it’s lungs. To look inside the iguana’s mouth, carefully hold the nose using your thumb and index finger while using the other hand to gently pull down on the very tip of the dewlap. Be careful and very gentle, opening it just enough to see the color.

Jaw: The jaw should look firm. Watch out for any signs of swelling, puffiness in the face, or any kind of distortion. The number one medical problem associated with captive iguanas is metabolic bone disease that is caused by calcium deficiency. One sign of this disease is a soft and swollen jaw. Even if the animal’s jaw appear to look normal, check for the early symptom of this disease by applying a slight pressure on the side of its jaw. The jaw should be firm, and not spongy.

Be very careful, however, when doing this pressure test. If the iguana is suffering from metabolic bone disease, you don’t want to worsen the problem by cracking its jaw, especially if the disease is in its advanced stage. Simply apply a gentle pressure with your thumb and index finger on the sides of its jaw and you will be able to determine the presence of the disease. Also look at the animal’s face from the side. Make sure that it doesn’t appear swollen and that the lower jaw is aligned with the upper jaw instead of being drawn back.

Vent: An iguana’s vent is the opening through which the animal defecates. It is also where the sex organs are located. To check the vent, hold the animal in a vertical position at about 12 inches from your face facing at its stomach. The vent is the horizontal slit or fold in the skin. The vent should have no discharge or anything sticking around that area, as this can be a sign that there is something wrong. As for defecating, iguanas are clean animals and always clean themselves after defecation.

For the third and final part of green iguana’s characteristics, I will cover its body and temperament.

Related Topics

• What Must You Know about Keeping Iguana as Pet
• Clicker Training Dogs: Is This Training Right For My Dog?
• 9 Tips on Buying Small Pets
• Why Iguanas Might be the Best Pet Ever?
• What To Look For In A Healthy Green Iguana – Part 1
• What You Must Know about Rearing Rabbits as Pets
• What To Look For In A Healthy Green Iguana – Part 3