July 12th, 2009 by admin

The muscles of most aged mammals lose much of their strength and actually decrease in size with each advancing year. This is a normal part of the aging process and is to be expected. However, there are two as yet poorly understood muscle disorders which at first may look like normal aging weakness.

In one the dog develops weakness in the leg muscles during periods of exercise or other physical stress, may fall down briefly, seem to recover, get up for a short time only to fall down again. This is often seen in polymyositis, a disease which causes inflammation of any or all muscles in the body.

Polymyositis occurs mostly in late middle age and early old age, the most common of its several possible causes appearing to be a defect in the dog’s immune mechanism. Treatment with corticosteroids is quite successful despite the often alarming appearance of the dog. Occasionally the muscles of the esophagus are affected, making swallowing difficult, but even these respond.

Muscular dystrophy, the second disorder, occurs mainly in older dogs, bears some similarity to muscular dystrophy in people, and has a cause as yet unknown. Affected dogs develop a stiff gait as the muscles become progressively weaker and smaller in size. There is nothing we know of which will stop the deterioration or cure the disease. Treatment is palliative, trying to keep the patient as comfortable as possible, and is based on your dog’s individual symptoms.

June 7th, 2009 by admin

Rat's Cage

Make sure the cage is large enough. Rats received much more than the mouse or hamster, although they are very little and nice if they babies. There is a charge, a cage large enough, from the beginning. Because it is easier for two of these rats sociable animals, the size should be at least 30 “L x 18″ W x 30 “H. The thumb rule two square meters, two or more cubic meters of rats.
The levels are diverse: a must

Rats may increase. In fact, they are probably using their skills when the monkey. Your rat with a cage on several levels. If the business does not add different levels of caged balconies, hammocks and ladders. Use boxes, shelves made of wood or even old trousers legs.

For a leg trousers, sweaters hammock two channels through the tunnel and paste it into four different positions in the upper basket. For a balcony of wood compared with two screws in a board fairly thick. The nut on the screw from the outside of the cage Wireless, the Board in the right place. For cardboard house straight out of a door and some windows of the box, add the paper towels and old clothes from the provision of bedding materials.

Phenols cause health problems

Never use cedar or pine-shaving, because the aromatic oils in the most popular pet store bought bed linen, are toxic to rats. Phenols as an odor-transmission in wood can cause asthma and other allergic reactions. Since the rats with respiratory problems are never their place in a cage full of the area.

Deliver aspen wood shaving for manure, which is not so good, smell, but prevents health. Most documents on paper, linen, anti-allergic, albeit a little expensive. It is also for the use of clothing, which otherwise would waste disposal bags, newspapers and paper kitchen towels.

Due to the respiratory problem do not house your rat in a fish-tank. If you have to do so, put an animal high-raise on top of it, to provide enough ventilation. Also do not forget to offer some climbing possibilities.

Use Narrow Wire Spacing For Baby Rats

Another important factor to watch out for is the wire spacing. Rats are able to squeeze through the smallest holes. Wherever the head can fit, the whole rat can fit. The minimum spacing therefore should be no bigger than one inch, for babies even half an inch. Store bought ferret cages are therefore no alternative for baby rats. For grown up pet-rats, those will be okay.

Make sure there is no wire-meshed floor on the bottom of your cage. Little rat feet might get stuck. Also the rats might develop bumble-foot, a very painful disease. If you offer a running wheel it also should sport a hard surface.

Ideas for Self Made Cages

There are also great self-made cages. Old cupboards or cheap office-shelves are a great choice if you have the spare space and the time to build it. Make sure there are no openings bigger than one inch for the rat to escape and enough ventilation to prevent respiratory diseases. Add some playtime equipment, like bells, ladders tubes, shelves and hiding-places to give the customized rat-cage the happy finish. But no matter how good the cage, make sure to take your rats out often to enjoy a tame and playful pet.