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Explore our articles and resources for pet parents
Thinking About Adopting a Bird? 5 Things to Know
Interested in adding a bird to your home? Great! Birds are intelligent, social creatures, that don’t require much grooming or maintenance. However, most birds are anything but quiet, and they do require a lot more interaction than you may realize. It’s a good idea to do your research before adding a bird to your life.
TAKING CARE OF YOUR DOG – COMMON SENSE TIPS
It’s an exciting time welcoming a new puppy into your household. They provide so much fun and love, and are like a new child in your family. This time can also be daunting to the new puppy owner, especially if they have never owned a dog before. In this article, we will give you a whirlwind tour through everything you need to know to take care of a new puppy.
All About Guinea Pigs
If you like your pets warm and fluffy, cuddly and cute, tiny and tempered, then read on!
Ehrlichiosis: What to Look For
Ehrlichiosis is a tick-borne bacterial infection that affects canines like dogs, wolves and other species around the world. Also known as Canine Typhus, Tracker Dog Disease, and Tropical Canine Pancytopenia, this disease leads to a wide range of flu-like symptoms, which makes the disease difficult to diagnose.
THE COLLIE
The Collie, also known as the Scotch Collie or Scottish Sheepdogs, was bred as a multipurpose farm dog. This super friendly and intelligent dog breed is well known for its herding abilities. The name Collie is derived from the Scottish word black sheep, colley.
Brief History
This herding dog breed became popular in the early 20th century after Queen Victoria favored the breed as a companion dog. It is believed that the Collie’s ancestors arrived in Scotland 2,000 years before Queen Victoria did. They were brought over by the Romans during their conquest of Britain.
Physical Features
The Collie is strong, powerful, athletic and graceful. With a long, lean body, wedge-shaped head, and intelligent brown or blue eyes, the Collie is a strikingly beautiful breed. They’re also known for their high folded ears that bounce adorably as they run around. Rough Collies have long double coats, and Smooth Collies have a short double coats.
Both of these can be found in sable and white, tricolor (black, tan, and white), blue merle, tricolor, white with sable, or with blue merle markings. Collie’s have an intelligent, bright and alert look.
Average Height:
24 -26 inches
Average Weight:
55-80 pounds
Life Expectancy:
13-15 years
Temperament
The Collie makes for a wonderful family dog that is kind around children. This breed is active and intelligent, as well as outgoing. The Collie enjoys being around family, other people and animals. This breed is good with horses, and other livestock. The Collie is active, responsive and enjoys participating in agility and other canine sports. Due to their high energy, this dog does not do well with apartment living.
The Collie need lots of physical and mental stimulation. Daily exercise is a must to promote good behavior. Luckily, their intelligence makes them extremely easy to train, so fun games and tricks can easily be added to the exercise routine. his breed needs lots of love and attention. It does not do well left alone for long periods of time.
Special Needs
Collies are known for having high energy levels and lots of curiosity. Because of this, pet parents should be vigilant that your pup does not get into anything that could cause them harm.
Possible Health Concerns
The Collie is an active dog breed that may be susceptible to the following:
Collie Eye Anomaly. This is an inherited eye disease that is found in the Collie. It causes abnormal development in layers of eye tissue. Consult your veterinarian if you think that your Collie may have this eye condition.
MDR1 Mutation. Collies may be sensitive to certain medications. It is a genetic disposition to adverse reactions to certain drugs. This includes ivermectin, milbemycin, and related drugs. Ask your veterinarian about these.
Exercise
Your Collie loves to exercise. In fact, they were bred for herding, so constantly running around is in their natures. Make sure you schedule plenty of play time, long walks and trips to the dark park to keep your pup happy, healthy, and mentally stimulated.
Nutrition
There is no best diet for all dogs, since all dogs have different dietary needs, but it’s best to start with food that is high in protein, carbohydrates and without fillers. Consult with your veterinarian as to the best high-quality dog food diet for your Collie.
Grooming
Collies need to be brushed every day to prevent matting and take away dead hair. If left to mat, dogs may chew on their hair which can lead to skin infections. Collies need to have their nails trimmed regularly. Ears need to be kept clean by wiping with a cotton ball or wipe and an ears cleaned weekly with a cotton ball or clean cloth. Weekly teeth cleaning is also necessary to prevent gum disease.
What are Savannah Cats?
There’s something unmistakably striking about the Savannah cat. Descended from African wild cats and crossed with domestic cats, these exotic hybrids are graceful, captivating and leave you wanting to know more.
Summertime Pet Care: Safe Tick Removal
Ah, yes...for some people and pets in many parts of the United States the summer of 2014 was a most welcome change after a record winter of snow and artic cold. We couldn’t wait to hit the bicycle and walking paths through the woods and the dog parks to help work off the extra pounds gained throughout the harsh winter. But wait, there may be some critters lurking on the hairy bodies of our beloved dogs and cats that have the potential to cause problems as we move into the latter months of warm weather. Caution: your pet may have been in contact with nasty external parasites that can not only cause irritation and discomfort, but bring disease to both you and your pet. Here is a brief overview of what could be a problem. Your veterinarian can determine if there is cause for alarm.
All About Llamas
Ahh, the lovable Llama. This mammal weighs in at around 250 lbs and reaches a height of 47 inches.
