Posts Tagged ‘put’
Dieting Is For The Dogs
Posted on: January 29, 2011
By Connie Janzen
Sure my dog is a little chunky. But I was a little more than surprised when the veterinarian told me that I needed to put my Lhasapoo on a diet. She needed to lose three pounds! That may not seem like much but on a 18 pound dog it’s a lot of weight.
I never did give her people food and snacking really wasn’t an issue. She is just a sedentary dog and is quite happy spending the majority of the day going from one napping place to the next. Occasionally she’d get a rare burst of energy and want to play fetch with a toy back and forth down the hallway, but other than that sleeping is one of her favorite things to do.
So at her doctors request here’s what we did:
* Changed her food to a low fat formula
* Measured out her daily food allotment to only ? of a cup a day
* Changed her treats to low fat, high protein treats and only gave then sparingly
* Cut back to a ? small dog bone in the morning instead of a whole treat
* Rewarded her with rawhide chews
* Increased her activity
* Gave her canned green beans if she was still hungry
In the six months between vet visits she met her goal, lost the required weight, and was looking really good…then the marks I put on the scoop I was using to measure out her food wore off. I began eyeballing the amount of food I was giving her.
I didn’t change anything else and I couldn’t have been off by more than a few pieces of kibble at each meal, but apparently those few pieces were enough for her to start putting the weight back on. I was so shocked when I saw the scale at her last vet visit and made them re-weigh her, twice, because there had to be an error. There was no way that she’d put the weight back on.
Well, now we’re starting over again.
The only problem is now she thinks that she’s never going to get enough food. I’ve had to switch to a larger size kibble to force her to chew her food instead of just inhaling it. As well, I’ve begun placing a soup can in the middle of her food bowl and then pouring the food around it so that it slows her down and makes her work a little harder when eating. (Recently I’ve found that you can actually purchase bowls with raised pegs in them that are specifically made to slow down fast eaters. But if you’re on a budget and don’t mind the homemade version, a soup can works just as well.)
Since the beginning of this journey, now any time I use the can opener, no matter what I’m opening, she thinks it’s green beans and that they’re for her. She’ll come running from wherever she’s been sleeping, start jumping up and down, so excited for her healthy treat. That I can live with.
Having her healthy, and making sure she has the best quality of life she can have, is not only my responsibility but my goal. For all the love she gives me it is the least that I can do to love her enough to see that she is healthy and happy.
Like it or not, dieting is for the dogs, but it’s for me too. If the scoop was in the other paw I’m sure I’d have lost a lot of weight by now too!
About the Author: Connie Janzen is a bonafide animal lover, a foster parent for the Humane Society, and the proud owner of Barkley Paws Pet Boutique. Your everything for your dog place to shop online – from pet strollers to dog treats. Great prices, personalized service, and fast shipping! Check it out today! If you can’t find what you’re wanting let her know and she’ll do her best to find it for you.
Source: www.isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=419876&ca=Pets
The Right Stuff For Your Bird Feeder: Making Sure Birds Love What You Bring to Dinner
Posted on: January 29, 2011
By Joseph Kortez
It is settled, done, and you’re ready – you have decided to make the ultimate jump into supporting avian wildlife in your community, and have purchased a bird feeder. This is a great addition to your outdoor paradise, as it encourages feathered friends to come down and frequent your deck, patio, or wherever you put it. Plus, it adds an exotic flavor to your patio, as you now have wildlife circling your patio as if it were their property.
So you get home, put the bird feeder up near your deck, and are ready for avian wildlife of all kinds to show up and start enjoying the benefits of your deck. There’s a major problem, however: the birds are not showing up at all. You’ve put in different kinds of seed, tried moving the feeder to different parts of your deck, even tried putting on a three ring circus for the birds – but nothing seems to attract them. Believe it or not, this is a common problem for the bird feeder owner. Not knowing what kind of birds they are catering to, many people get the value bird seed. The result is inferior bird seed that nobody – not even the rodents – wants to eat.
The good news is that it is not your fault – being a misinformed consumer is something that affects us all time and time again. Furthermore, wanting to help the ecosystem by putting up a bird feeder isn’t a bad thing either. And both are easily corrected with a little research, and knowing what type of seed will benefit you the most.
First off, consider the type of bird feeder you have before you consider what kind of seed you want. If you are using a tube feeder, bigger grain and coarser seed will not be of any benefit to you whatsoever – it will get stuck in the tube easier, and won’t be appealing to smaller birds. Conversely, you don’t necessarily want a finer grain seed in a hopper-style feeder, as the feeder won’t be able to hold back the small grains as well. By considering the birds you want to attract with the feeder you have, you are on the right track to marrying the two and bringing birds back to your deck.
After considering the type of bird feeder you have, its now time to put some deeper thought in the seed you are putting in for your wildlife to enjoy. Different kinds of birdseed will attract different kinds of birds to your patio, depending on what is indigenous to your community. Sunflower seeds are some of the more common bird feed out there, because of their high fat and oil content that birds need in their diet. However, not all sunflower seeds are equal: stripped sunflower seeds come in shell, and are harder for birds to open on their own, where as black oil sunflower seeds are easy to eat and high in nutrition for birds. Hulled sunflower seeds are the happy medium between the two, attracting a wide variety of birds without the mess that comes with. If you live where upland birds are plenty, consider adding millet seed to your bird feeder. Also high in nutrition and small, this seed attracts upland birds because of their dietary needs. Cracked corn is also an excellent choice for upland game, as it is a natural part of their diet.
Buying a bird feeder is only the first step to getting birds attracted to your homestead. By knowing the correct seed to apply, you are ensuring that birds will be attracted to your feeder, giving you enjoyment out of your feeder for years to com
About the Author: Joseph Kortez is a freelance writer with diverse interests including home and garden, outdoor furniture and backyard living. As a media professional, his work has been featured on CNN and the CBS Evening News. He currently writes for Outdoor Furniture Plus.
Source: www.isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=372195&ca=Pets
By Paul Graham
Birds, especially wild ones, are a good source of entertainment and peace. Who has ever hated hearing the amusing chirps of the birds in the evening? What’s even better is to see them hopping around your yard while you are in your pation, sipping your coffee and gearing yourself for a new day. The absolute charm of birds never fails to entice many homeowners to keep on placing items to attract them to visit their backyards every so often. If you are one of those who enjoy observing the beauty and amusement these little creatures give, one logical step is to put a bird bath in your yard. Birds can put up one fun show while they are bathing and drying off in various manners. Some can do the bathing timidly, while some can be really gregarious.
1. The Depth of the Bathing Basin
Less than 3 inches; that should be the depth of the bathing basin. It should allow you ti fill it with only 2 inches or 5 centimeters of water. Any deeper than that or you risk not having too many birds to enjoy and frequent your bird bath. Most songbirds prefer to hunker down in a depth that does not reach the bottom of their bellies.
2. The Surface of the Bottom of the Bathing Basin
It is advisable that you get a bird bath with a bottom that has a rough surface. This is because several bird bath bottoms are usually too slick that they don’t provide secure footing for birds. This could be aggravated when a coat of algae forms on submerged surfaces. If you can’t find one that has a rough bottom surface, you can either use a sandpaper or hammer claws to rough it up before putting water on it. This is applicable to plastic basins only, though. Or you can put some textured materials such as sand, pebbles, stones, and concrete to provide sure footing.
3. Buying Tips:
– Place your bath somewhere sunny, away from shrubs and trees, so birds can keep an eye out for the neighborhood cat or other predators
– Make sure that you place the bird bath somewhere it is visible and convenient for you. Your indoors views should be given consideration too
– Keep the bird bath close to a faucet for cleaning and refilling. Every 2-3 days in the summer, empty and scrub it to prevent the formation of algae and bacteria
– To keep the birds coming even during the winter, use birdbath heaters
– To attract more birds, provide something that will produce the sound of gently moving water. A simple dripping hose or an artificial water fall can be very good sources of that little water music
– Ensure constant supply of water or refill the bird bath consistently. When birds ran out of water source, they might go to dangerous places such as aircon units and even a pet water dish
– Don’t place bird baths under perchers or feeders. Droppings may fall into them that can cause the fouling of the water
4. The Fit of the Bird Bath on the Pedestal
If the basin does not fit securely on the pedestal, it will be subject to tipping by thirsty animals, i.e., raccoons, dogs, deer, or even bears. It would be a great hassle to keep on picking up an overturned bird bath every morning. It could even get broken.
5. Your Budget
You don’t have to break the bank in getting a bird bath. It should provide you cheap entertainment, not a pile of bills unpaid. Many furniture stores have bird baths that don’t pinch your wallet that much. Just shop around. It would be good to get a one-piece bird bath, or attach the basin to the pedestal with a waterproof adhesive. You can also use weight to secure the base or simply sink it in the ground to avoid its getting tipped over.
About the Author: For more great bird bath related articles and resources check out http://birdbaths.outdoorvista.com
Source: www.isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=36639&ca=Pets
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