Dogs And Cats Can Live In Perfect Harmony In The Home, If Introduced The Right Way
Thinking about adopting a perky little puppy as a friend for your fluffy cat, but worried that they’ll fight -- well, like cats and dogs? Think again.
New research at Tel Aviv University, the first of its kind in the world, has found a new recipe for success. According to the study, if the cat is adopted before the dog and if they are introduced when still young (less than 6 months for kittens, a year for dogs), there is a high probability that your two pets will get along swimmingly.
Results from the research were recently reported in the journal Applied Animal Behaviour Science.
“This is the first time anyone has done scientific research on pets living in the same home,” says Prof. Joseph Terkel, from the Department of Zoology at Tel Aviv University. “It’s especially relevant to the one-third of Americans who own a pet and are thinking about adopting a second one of the opposite species.”
Talk Like a Dog
After interviewing almost 200 pet owners who own both a cat and a dog, then videotaping and analyzing the animals’ behavior, TAU researchers concluded that cats and dogs can cohabitate happily if certain conditions are met. Prof. Terkel and his graduate student Neta-li Feuerstein found that two-thirds of the homes they surveyed reported a positive relationship between their cat and dog.
But it wasn’t all sweetness and light (or, for that matter, bones and catnip). There was a reported indifference between the cat and dog in 25% of the homes, while aggression and fighting were observed in 10% of the homes.
One reason for the fighting might have been crossed inter-species signals. Cats and dogs may not have been able to read each other’s body cues. For instance, cats tend to lash their tails about when mad, while dogs growl and arch their backs. A cat purrs when happy, while a dog wags its tail. A cat’s averted head signals aggression, while in a dog the same head position signals submission.
In homes where cat/dog détente existed, Prof. Terkel observed a surprising behavior. “We found that cats and dogs are learning how to talk each other’s language. It was a surprise that cats can learn how to talk ‘Dog’ and vice versa.”
What’s especially interesting, Prof. Terkel remarks, is that both cats and dogs have appeared to evolve beyond their instincts. They can learn to read each other’s body signals, suggesting that the two species may have more in common than was previously suspected.
Peacemaking Pets Can Be a Model for People
Once familiar with each others’ presence and body language, cats and dogs can play together, greet each other nose-to-nose, and enjoy sleeping together on the couch. They can easily share the same water bowl and in some cases groom each other. The far-reaching implications of this Tel Aviv University research on cats and dogs may extend beyond pets -- to people who don’t get along, including neighbours, colleagues at work, and even world superpowers.
“If cats and dogs can learn to get along,” concludes Prof. Terkel, “surely people have a good chance.”ScienceDaily Source
After Tara died at age 18 I wanted to make sure my other two Shelties had the chance to live to 18 years old. I started looking for a great quality dog food that wouldn't cost more than the groceries for my human family. That's when I realized I could get a dog food mix, add my own grass-fed meat and water and viola, my dogs are eating a homemade dog food with real meat!
I add fresh fruits and veggies as a topping for their food. I was able to feed half the amount of their homemade raw food than what they ate with the premium natural dry dog food they ate before.
Here's what they eat now, Sojourner Farms homemade raw dog food.
Benefits of going raw, homemade and using the Sojo's food:
Free shipping
Local farm in Minnesota
Feed less than the natural dry foods
Easy to prepare using grass-fed beef, pastured chicken and fresh veggies
My dogs love it
The dogs coats are glossy, thick and they don't smell doggy
No more gunky ears
Less stool to pick up and no elimination problems
Some foods that are considered good for people can be very dangerous for pets. The list below highlights some of the most common foods that can be dangerous to animals. This is not an exhaustive list and any decision to provide your pet with food not specifically intended for animals should be discussed with your veterinarian or pet nutritionist. For more information on foods that could be dangerous to pets, visit the American Animal Hospital Association website.The following foods may be dangerous to your pet:
Alcoholic beverages
Apple seeds
Apricot pits
Avocados—toxic to birds, mice, rabbits, horses, cattle and dairy goats
Cherry pits
Candy (particularly chocolate, which is toxic to dogs, cats and ferrets, and any candy containing the sweetener Xylitol)
Coffee (grounds, beans, chocolate covered espresso beans)
Grapes
Hops (used in home beer brewing)
Macadamia nuts
Moldy foods
Mushroom plants
Mustard seeds
Onions and onion powder
Peach pits
Potato leaves and stems (green parts)
Raisins
Rhubarb leaves
Salt
Tea (caffeine)
Tomato leaves and stems (green parts)
Walnuts
Yeast dough
This information was compiled from various sources and can be read in full at The Humane Society of the United States.
Visit Sojourner Farms, and learn more about their fresh foods program for dogs and cats.
You can make all-natural, homemade pet food in minutes.
Alaska Canine Cookies Recalls Certain Canine Cookies Because of Possible Salmonella Health RiskContact:
Alaska Canine Cookies 1-800-280-2927
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- March 10, 2009 -- Alaska Canine Cookies of Anchorage, Alaska is recalling Peanut Butter, Power Bone and Carrot Cake flavors of Canine Cookies because they were manufactured using peanuts recalled by Peanut Corporation of America which have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. Salmonella can affect animals and there is risk to humans from handling contaminated pet products. People handling dry pet food and/or treats can become infected with Salmonella, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the products or any surfaces exposed to these products.
Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.
Alaska Canine Cookies were distributed in our 4 stores,
All three flavors (Peanut Butter, Power Bone, and Carrot Cake) come in a "Filled with Fun" bag (diagonally striped bag containing 3 large bones) and a "Woof Pack" (15 ounce bag labeled "Alaskan "Woof" Pack" with the Husk E. Dog on the front containing approximately 45 medium bones). Both the Filled with Fun and the Woof Pack, as well as any other Canine Cookie with a 1 ½ inch bone shaped sticker reading "Peanut Butter for Dogs, a natural treat for dogs" are included.
Additionally, the "Lollipup" (available only in the peanut butter flavor) comes in a 1 ounce bag with the Husk E. Dog on the front, and has the name "Lollipup" on the back and contains 1 large bone.
The "Polar Pooch Pouch" (offered only in the carrot cake flavor) is a 5 ounce bag with the Husk E Dog on the front, with "canine carrot cake" written across the front of the bag and contains 12 medium bones. There are no product codes or UPC codes for these products.
All three flavors have been available in bulk by request. There are no product codes or UPC codes for the bulk products.
No known illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this product. The recall was initiated after it was determined that the peanut product received was manufactured by Peanut Corporation of America.
Consumers who have purchased any of the Canine Cookies in the 3 flavors mentioned above are urged to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact us at 1-800-280-2927 (10 – 5, Monday through Friday, Alaska time).
Visit Sojourner Farms, and learn more about their fresh foods program for dogs and cats, and how you can make all-natural, homemade pet food in minutes.
Pet insurance is actually quite flexible. All pet insurance companies in the United States permit you to visit any veterinarian in the country including general, specialist, and emergency veterinarians. Some pet insurance companies, including Embrace Pet Insurance, will even cover you in Canada, Mexico, and other parts of the world when you are on vacation.
Insurance for your dog or cat is what is known as a indemnity insurance where you pay the claim up front and the company reimburses you after applying your deductible and co-pay, until you reach your policy's annual or lifetime maximum.
Step 1: Get a Policy
Most pet insurance companies will issue a new policy to pets aged 8 weeks to up to 8 or even 10 years old, sometimes older if your pet undergoes a medical exam. Usually there is a waiting period and some pre-existing conditions may be excluded temporarily or permanently from your policy. Embrace Pet Insurance
Step 2: The Waiting Period
The waiting period is the time between when you first sign up for cat or dog insurance and when your full coverage kicks in. For example, if you sign up and begin coverage on March 1st then your waiting period for accidents may be two or three days after, say March 3rd, and for illnesses as long as 4 weeks later, say March 31st.
Most pet insurance companies have a waiting period of between 2 and 14 days for accidents and between 14 and 30 days for illnesses. The waiting period is there so that no one takes out insurance immediately after an accident or illness.
The waiting period only applies in your first policy year, after that there is no waiting period on your pet insurance.
Step 3: Making a Claim
Once you've gone to the veterinarian, you pay the bill and fill out a claim form that your veterinarian signs. You fax or mail this form in to the pet insurance company along with your paid and itemized veterinary bill.
Some pet parents wonder why the pet insurance company can't reimburse the veterinarian directly like in human health insurance.
The main reason is that pet insurance is a very, very small industry compared to human health insurance. The computer systems aren't in place that would allow direct reimbursement to the veterinarian and these networks are incredibly expensive to build.
However many companies, including Embrace, can and do make exceptions to this but these must be arranged between you, your veterinarian, and the pet insurance company on a case-by-case basis.
Step 4: You Receive Your Claim Check
Once you've sent in your claim form, it is assessed and you usually receive a check or direct deposit back into your account minus any deductible or co-pay that apply to your policy, until you reach your policy's annual maximum.
If you paid for additional coverages like routine care or prescription drugs then these will be reimbursed on your claim too according to your pet insurance plan's limits.Embrace Pet Insurance
