Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with pets Questions tagged with 'pets' at Ask MetaFilter. Fri, 14 Feb 2014 13:18:01 -0800 Fri, 14 Feb 2014 13:18:01 -0800 en-us 60 No Room for A Pony In The House Our kids are finally old enough to care for their "own" pets - please help us pick appropriate creatures! Our kids, aged 10 and 14, have repeatedly asked to have their own pets - creatures that can live in their respective bedrooms. Now that they're older, we're willing to consider it. We're trying to figure out what pet(s) would be best and could use your help!<br> <br> Criteria:<br> <br> - cannot be in the rodent family (my husband is allergic to their urine)<br> - no cats or dogs (we have those, already, as a family)<br> - easy to care for (not requiring a delicately maintained ecosystem)<br> - somewhat hardy (bedrooms are kept on the 'cool' side)<br> - not requiring a large amount of space (kept in bedroom)<br> - no live-feeding required (we're willing to feed crickets and mealworms but nothing larger)<br> - nothing poisonous or likely to become bitey<br> - interesting to interact with/watch/observe<br> - if it's not diurnal, it'd be great if it could be quiet about it<br> - a reasonable lifespan (no parrots or tortoises)<br> <br> About the kids/family:<br> <br> - kids are quite responsible for their ages, but they're still <em>kids</em> <br> - have been very caring toward our dogs/cats<br> - both parents will provide backup care and make sure that the pets are tended appropriately<br> - both parents will provide the food/resources for the pets<br> - both parents are willing to assume care if the pets are not well-tended (we're not going to dump the creatures on a rescue or the local humane society)<br> - the bedroom doors are always kept closed and our existing cats/dogs are not permitted into the bedrooms <br> - we believe <em>very</em> strongly in providing a healthy, as-natural-as-possible habitat for our pets but, in this case, would also like to keep things simple and relatively inexpensive<br> <br> Between the parents, we've had experience with:<br> <br> - cats<br> - dogs<br> - tarantulas (and breeding crickets to feed them)<br> - rats<br> - hamster (dwarf and regular)<br> - garden snails<br> - finches<br> - goldfish<br> <br> Thanks for your help - I promise to post an update with pictures of our new family member(s) if we go forward with this!,2014:site.257153 Fri, 14 Feb 2014 13:18:01 -0800 children easycare firstpet pets VioletU Home Alone I'm trying to decide what to do if I have to leave my dog alone for seven hours? We have a fairly new dog. She is from the pound and approximately one year of age, or greater. She is definitely not a puppy. We have left her once before from about 8:30-2:15 but we had neighbor walk her around noon and my father picked her up at 2:15 and took her to his house and I picked her up around 3 pm When we leave her alone, we always leave her in the crate.<br> <br> For the next three weeks there will be one day of the week where both of us will be working. I do not feel comfortable asking my neighbor to walk her and I don't want to ask my dad to come get her because he has cats.<br> <br> Here are our three options (after a long walk in the morning):<br> <br> 1. Leave her in crate for seven hours.<br> <br> 2. Allow her to roam the kitchen and living room only and leave the doggie door closed.<br> <br> 3. Allow her to roam kitchen and living room and leave doggie door open to fenced-in back yard.<br> <br> I am anxious about leaving her for so long. A dog walker is out because my spouse does not want "stranger" in our home. Spouse also thinks we should not allow her to go outside because she could be barking all day or escape. My coworker thinks I should leave her on back porch all day with dog bed and chew toys. This would also allow her to potentially disturb the peace by barking all day or escaping. She has never tried to dig under fence or escape so far. She's generally not much of a barker but will bark like crazy if there is a lawn service person or another stranger in the next yard.<br> <br> What should I do if I have to leave dog alone for seven hours? Thank you.,2014:site.257096 Thu, 13 Feb 2014 10:48:46 -0800 alone dog home pets Fairchild Resetting a goldfish tank Hi everyone. This is a bit of a follow-up to my <a href="">previous question</a>. So our second and final goldfish died today (don't think this one was ammonia poisoning, was fine last night and belly up-dead this morning). I want to take this opportunity to set up the tank properly and do better by the next fishies, because we weren't very prepared for these ones a few months ago, and sort of learned on the fly. I have a few questions. (Lots of detail inside because I don't want to forget anything.) Info about our set up:<br> <br> 1. We have <a href="">this tank</a>, 10 gallon, which I know (now) is only really good for one goldfish. <br> <br> 2. We were using the filter with a carbon insert in the cartridge (not cleaning the cartridge, just changing the carbon filter every month). <br> <br> 3. After the last fish death, I got the ammonia down, but then after a week or so, I couldn't get it to zero. Even with 50% water changes every other day, which is what we did if it got above 0.25 ppm. The other fishie seemed fine, until this morning. I wasn't measuring nitrites/nitrates separately, was using an API all in one kit. pH was always OK and it's my understanding that goldfish can tolerate a pretty wide pH range, with the preference to be around 7-7.5 which is what it was. If the ammonia was just barely detectable we changed 30% water every few days (I know all this water changing probably stressed out the fishie, but it was that or ammonia spikes). <br> <br> 4. We didn't have live plants because the store employee told me that bc goldfish like to eat veges, that was a good way to get them nibbling on them and eating (and excreting) way more than they should. <br> <br> 5. We fed them once every other day. They always ate the food immediately. <br> <br> My questions:<br> <br> 1. At the moment, the tank is still sitting there with water in it, because I couldn't face cleaning it out yet. I will before bed. What is the best way to clean out? We are away next week so wouldn't be putting a new fish for a couple of weeks. Should we do a full on clean, bleach the insides, clean the decorations/fake plants and just start again then? Should we just wash out with water? Should we do not much and run the filter while we are away?<br> <br> 2. Do we really need the charcoal filter? I get that we need a bio filter for the good bacteria to grow on, but I'm a little confused about the carbon one. Basically we put it there bc it came with the kit. Other people seem to just use a sponge filter and rinse it every so often?<br> <br> 3. How the hell do we keep ammonia down? We'd had the tank for a few months, so thought it had cycled fine and nothing seems to have precipitated the first spike and fish death. But I'd like to start off right. Am more than happy to monitor constantly to keep the fishie happy, but all of the questions I see online basically end with "big water changes". What if that just doesn't work? We tried to resort to an ammonia reducer a couple of times - which I know isn't a great option - and it didn't seem to work either. We tested our tap water and it came out with a zero reading, so it's not background.<br> <br> 4. How often do you scrub out the inside of the tank with an algae pad? I feel like maybe we weren't doing that enough.<br> <br> Would be great to hear any other insights as well! thanks, ask mefi. <br> <br> (I have read all goldfish-related questions on ask mefi, understand cycling the tank, and have been reading many forums about goldfish in the past few weeks. I still don't feel like I've got a handle on these specific things.),2014:site.256994 Tue, 11 Feb 2014 19:16:31 -0800 fish fishtank goldfish pets gaspode How much will this traumatized cat bounce back? We are both experienced cat owners. In November, our beloved Tigger passed away; in December, we got three black cats from a shelter. Two of them are socialised and friendly, the third is not. (We knew this and we were willing to take the chance.) Third cat was raised in the house of a pet hoarder, who let them inbreed; he lived there with 65 cats (!) for 6 months to a year, and was then seized and brought to the shelter, where he stayed for a year and a half. How normal and happy can we expect this cat to turn out over time? The cats are getting along reasonably well, there is playing and mutual earwashing and the occasional snarl. No actual fighting and no one gets hurt. All three cats are around 2 - 3 years old and spayed/neutered. <br> Everyone eats and uses the litter box; everyone seems healthy. There are two males and a female. The female is tiny and dominant.<br> <br> <a href="">Scaredy cat</a> spent the first three weeks in a closet, then started coming out when we began using Feliway. He's now out and about most of the time, allows us to pet him several times a day, and observes and learns normal cat behaviour from the other two. So things are definitely looking up, and even if this is how it's going to be from now on, that's okay.<br> However, he is still very very skittish; for example, we've not been able to put a collar on him yet, and I'm wondering in how far he will improve over time.<br> He's been here for less than two months now. Surely that's pretty short?<br> <br> Does anyone have anecdotal evidence of cats that are very skittish initially, but keep learning to trust over months or years? Or of cats that don't?,2014:site.256350 Sat, 01 Feb 2014 00:36:52 -0800 cat pets resolved scaredycat skittish traumatized Too-Ticky Dream dog? My partner and I have been searching for a dog to adopt for the last two month or so - after our interview, home check and lots of hoops we are ready! The shelter we're approved by has found a match - yay! He's a small staffy that's calm, suitable for first time owners (like us), confident, good with kids, and well mannered. The only problem for me is - he's <strong>11</strong> years old. We are open to adult dogs, but we were thinking, uh more like 1 to 8 years old. Does anyone have any experience adopting older dogs? What should we be considering? I'm a bit torn - we both are - on whether we should even meet the dog or just keep waiting. I totally understand we'll hopefully outlive all our pets, but are we just setting ourselves up for heartbreak or vet bills (we'll be getting pet insurance regardless though). Then the other half of me says but but but pets can be sick at any age - there's no guarantees, and what if he has to spend the rest of his life overlooked in the kennels...<br> <br> Maybe of note; We're late 20s/early thirties, live in London, I can take the dog to work (this guy specifically ticks the confidence boxes to be in a studio with new people) and my boyfriend is home all day. We're 120% committed to being excellent dog owners.<br> <br> Any advice on taking on an oldie is much appreciated!,2014:site.256220 Thu, 30 Jan 2014 04:23:59 -0800 dog pets rescue resolved shelter teststrip Service Dogs: How do you find the right match? Several months ago, after thorough discussions with my doctor, I was given a "prescription" for a psychiatric service dog. I'm excited. I love animals and have been wanting a dog for most of my adult life. I've read the books. Watched the documentaries. Questioned dog-owning friends to death. And even did a 4 year stint as a Pet Nutritionist for a large, holistic pet food manufacturer. I like to think I'm dog-savvy. Nonetheless, I'm overwhelmed with information and can't seem to make any progress. I'll include some relevant details to help better understand the situation--I apologize if I leave anything out. I'm a male in my early-mid 30s, employed full-time (Update on my last AskM question: I did not get laid off, I moved teams and received a promotion), live alone (1 bd. apartment) and have a wonderful partner (of 3+ years; stays over on weekends; cat person but dog friendly). A few years ago I was diagnosed with a mood disorder on top of the Petit Mal seizures I have dealt with since childhood. Rather than continue to pile prescriptions onto my plate, my doctor and I both felt that a service dog could help mitigate some of the symptoms that interfere with my work. This was a decision I did not come to lightly but is a change in my life that I'm looking forward to.<br> <br> After receiving the Service Dog letter from my doctor, I did not begin to search right away due to some planned holiday travel and instability surrounding my job. Now the traveling is done and my job is stable for the foreseeable future. "On paper" everything looks in order - my employer and apartment have both been given copies of the Service Dog letter, I have steady income, no travel is planned and I've saved for any medical emergencies that might pop up. I already walk/jog a few miles every day (though I wouldn't say I'm necessarily an 'active' household) and have the free time/attention for a dog. <br> <br> The problem is finding the right match. My preferences are so fluid that I'm having trouble narrowing down what to look for, and where to do it. Ideally, I'd like an adult dog, and would prefer to adopt from a rescue/shelter. However, that seems increasingly unrealistic; I've spent countless hours/dollars traveling to shelters only to find cage-after-cage of Pitbulls/Pitbull Xs (wonderful dogs but unfortunately, not one I'm ready to own) or dogs that were not good candidates for service work due to behavior. The few times I have found dogs that might've been a good match, it's always first-come-first-served (I'm too late - even if I take off work early) and/or the rescue/shelter has requirements I do not meet (ie: fenced yard). I've tried Craigslist a few times but I've been met with flakeyness (backing out last minute), lying (dog is clearly a Pit in-person) and absurd requirements (weekend visitations, ect.).<br> <br> I'm sort of at an impasse as to how to continue. If someone were to ask me what my 'perfect' dog would be, I would answer: Sweet, Friendly, Adult (1-5 yrs old or so), (Spayed) Female, 40-50ish lbs, Lab (or Golden Retr.). But on the other hand, I can see myself with a male dog, or one slightly larger (or smaller), or of a different breed (I'm also a fan of Blue Heeler, Dachshund...Mixes)... and, well you see where this is going again. I do have dog experience - my family always had dogs growing up (Scotties and Shelties) but otherwise this will be my first dog (hence why I'm avoiding 'intense' breeds like G. Sheps, Dobermans, Rotties, ect.) I want to do it right and I know part of that is choosing the right match.<br> <br> So... I know you're not my vet/breeder/rescue worker but for those with Service Dogs (not obtained through a Service Dog org.), how did you decide? If you started with a puppy... why? If you opted for a large breed (or small)... why? And why -that- breed (or mix)? Did you specifically choose a male or female? Have I overlooked anything that might help push my decisions in one direction or another?,2014:site.255309 Tue, 14 Jan 2014 15:20:15 -0800 animals dogs pets servicedog stubbehtail What does "I don't want to talk about it" mean, practically speaking? A dear friend of mine who lives far away has lost two of her three cats to sudden, upsetting illness, in the space of a week. She has implied that she's not interested in talking about it, which I can understand. I'm trying to decide if I should send her a short email saying "You don't have to reply to this, you don't have to say anything at all, but if you need someone to talk to, about anything, for any reason, at any time, I'm here."<br> <br> I don't want to mess with her grieving, or make it worse, or imply in any way that I think it's About Me. I just want to help my friend. What, if anything, should I do?,2014:site.254968 Wed, 08 Jan 2014 10:25:43 -0800 cats death grief grieving pets resolved Sokka shot first Are there charities to help pet owners in need? Are there charities to help pet owners in need? I came across a Craigslist ad that really bummed me out. So, I was poking around the "free stuff" section of Craigslist looking for a compost bin, and I came across a post that said, "free dog" which seemed like a sort of weirdly sparse headline so I clicked on it and read this lady's pitch to send her dog to a better home which made me so. sad. Basically, there was this picture of this little dog, which I gather from the description is apparently sort of grumpy and old and she had written in a sort of earnest way that she'd fallen on hard times and couldn't afford to pay for dog food and shots anymore. She had this list of requirements for the nice home she wanted for her dog. She'd posted it on the day after Christmas. I sent her a message to tell her that her post had really bummed me out and just wondering if she had found a home for her dog. She said that she hadn't, and told me that she's a really sweet and loving dog but if I wanted to adopt her she needed to have "Little Bites" dog food because before she got her she had formerly been a breeder and lost some of her teeth trying to chew herself out of her kennel(!) At this point I felt like I was watching the sad parts of Milo and Otis or something. <br> <br> Anyway, it seemed pretty clear that the little dog already had a loving home and I wanted to see if there were any resources for pet owners that were going through hard times. I used to volunteer at a food pantry and I remember people coming in talking about feeding their cats cornflakes, and I remembered wondering, is there assistance for pet owners? If I could I would just send her a $300 gift certificate to Pet Co but 1. I don't have $300 and 2. People would probably rightly be a little suspicious of a stranger on the internet giving them $300. I think I would be suspicious of me too. But anyway, is there anything you can do in this situation?,2014:site.254735 Sat, 04 Jan 2014 09:29:18 -0800 assistance charity dogs pets mermily Buying a house in 2014. Maybe? The only solution I can see that will allow me to live with all my pets (current and future) is to finally purchase my own home. However, I'm not entirely convinced this won't be a colossal mistake! On the other hand, if I'm not ready now I probably never will be, nor will I be able to achieve my "pet goals". Am I ready to be a homeowner? Is this really a good idea for me? Are there any other options? Obviously, there are some snowflakes. Ok mefites, I need another point of view. I'm seriously considering buying a house for the first time in 2014. (Technically a condo or townhome, because single-family homes are just not possible for me in this insane Vancouver-area market. It's beyond nuts.) I've been mentally debating buying for at least 5 years, but I just cannot pull the trigger. I have talked to a real estate agent now though, so I'm getting closer...<br> <br> I'm buying for one as a mid-30s, single female making decent but not extravagant money. No kids, but pets. I currently have 3 cats, but I also want to get a dog sooner rather than later. In fact, that's my main impetus for buying a house; I want to get into a place that allows pets. It's tough enough to buy attached housing with this many paws -- most building stratas only allow a max of 2 pets, but a few do allow more. However, renting with 3 cats is insanely tough; adding a dog while renting would most likely make me homeless or living on a farm a bazillion miles from anywhere. I also want to be able to foster again (my 3 cats are a colossal "foster failure"). And it'd be nice to actually be able to make permanent decorating choices for once, as well. <br> <br> But... the idea of committing to a house, and a mortgage, turns me into an anxiety-ridden mess. What if I lose my job? What if the neighbours seriously suck? What if this insane housing market bubble finally bursts? What if I finally truly cant take this rain any more and want out of Vancouver? What if I just *want* to move? Although I've lived in the Vancouver area most of my life, I get antsy staying in the same place. At 3 years, this is longest I've lived in one apartment since I was 18 (half my life!) and I'd have probably moved by now if it wasn't for the challenges of finding pet-friendly rental housing. I realize buying a house means I should be prepared to commit for at least 5 years; this is the part I'm having the most trouble with, even though I have no real plans to be anywhere else. <br> <br> Also - can I even take care of a house on my own? I'm smart, I can learn things, but the idea of dealing with my own blown hot water tank, busted appliances, exploding toilets, or any of the other random things homeowners deal with on a daily basis freaks me right out. I was way too proud of myself for simply unclogging my kitchen sink last month without calling my landlord. <br> <br> As an aside, alternatives considered include just up and moving somewhere with better weather and more reasonable housing prices, or blowing my entire downpayment on an RV and just living in that with all these animals, with the freedom of driving and staying anywhere I want. Assume for simplicities sake these really aren't viable options. If there's another option I haven't thought of though to achieve my "pet goals" though, I'm listening. <br> <br> I realize that there's no real answer to all these questions, but here's what I'm hoping to get some insight on: Is home ownership even right for me? (I've seen the NYTimes calculator. It makes financial sense to buy if I stay &gt;5 years.) When is it a mistake? How do you all deal with the nagging doubts and uncertainty surrounding making a purchase and commitment that's this huge? I'm in my freakin' mid-thirties, financially stable and with goals that do not mesh with my city's rental housing market. If it's not right for me now I get the feeling it'll never be right, and I'll be stuck here forever! Thanks all!,2013:site.254494 Mon, 30 Dec 2013 08:55:39 -0800 homebuying mortgage pets cgg Help me chose a small dog as a pet, snowflake details inside Help me chose a small dog as a pet, snowflake details inside I am a 58 year old woman, I live alone, and I've always had pets. They've died recently, so I would like to choose a dog that is small or miniature, so I can take it travelling with me on the airplane in my carry-on purse (what is the policy for this?). Preferably that doesn't shed very much hair. Also, I'd like to rescue it from a pound, or shelter, or something like that so that I can help save a life. I live near Columbus Ohio.,2013:site.254250 Wed, 25 Dec 2013 14:44:53 -0800 dog pets kikithekat Plant ID for pets Is this a polka dot plant? I need to know in case Mr. Muffin decides to munch on it (details and links to pics inside) Hi gang, any plant experts? I tossed all the unsafe plants when my bird, Muffin, arrived. I was given this plant last Christmas as a cute wee thing labelled "tropical plant". Well, the cute wee thing is a creeper plant of some sort a year later that won't stop growing. I though it was a polka dot plant, which appeared on plant safe lists. The extended nature of the plant plus low reach has caught the attention of a member of the flock ;-). It produces a small purple flower.<br> <br> Pictures of it can be <a href=""> seen here</a>.,2013:site.252150 Mon, 18 Nov 2013 06:59:19 -0800 id pets plants resolved Calzephyr Working as a petsitter For years I have wanted to be a professional petsitter. Right now I work 30 hrs./week in an office. I would do it the "right way," getting insured, learning pet CPR, paying self-employment taxes, etc. Ideally it would be my main job, along with maybe freelance writing on the side (which I have done). Have you done this? Is it possible to make an OK living doing this? I have a lot of marketing experience and animal-related contacts, so that will help.,2013:site.252046 Sat, 16 Nov 2013 07:31:13 -0800 animals business Pets petsitter petsitting resolved smallbusiness trillian Best agent for cat travel NYC-London? Howdy! We're relocating from New York City to London at the end of this year, and of course we're taking our cat Olive with us. What we're having a little bit of a hard time with is figuring out just *how* to bring her, and we're hoping you can help us. <br> UK regulations forbid her from flying in the cabin with us, so she has to be shipped as cargo (!). There are a few agents that handle this, but it's hard to get a sense of which one provides the most thoughtful and caring service, if it's possible to book her on the same flight we're on, or how much it should all cost.<br> <br> Has anyone dealt with this? Who did you use? How did you feel about them? And if you don't mind me asking, how much did you spend?<br> <br> Here are a few facts that may be salient to an answer:<br> - Olive is a 7-year-old domestic shorthair who weighs in at about 10.5 lbs.;<br> - Yes, she has both US and EU-compliant RFID tags ("chips") and current vaccinations, including rabies, and those vaccinations have duly been logged on the tags;<br> - If she's on the same flight as us, or even on a flight the same day, we can get her to JFK and collect her once she's cleared inspection at Heathrow;<br> - She's excellent!<br> <br> Any help you can offer us would be *hugely* and resoundingly appreciated. Thanks!,2013:site.251727 Mon, 11 Nov 2013 11:17:49 -0800 agent cat cats london nyc olive pet pets travel adamgreenfield Where can I buy these parakeet/small animal chews in bulk? My budgies love love love <a href="">these chew toys</a> and are about to chew their way through a third of <a href="">these</a>, made from the same stuff. But at $10 a piece, it's getting a little ridiculous. That first link says they're made of yucca -- is there somewhere I can either buy these toys in bulk, or just get ahold of tons of the raw (dried) material and cut it up myself?,2013:site.251455 Wed, 06 Nov 2013 07:21:54 -0800 avian birds budgerigar budgie chew chewtoy parakeet parrot pets toy yucca zygodactyl fiercecupcake What is the best bed for an arthritic dog? About three months ago I adopted a rottweiler mix, about 7-8 years of age. He's delightful and charming and basically the best dog ever, but he has arthritis. He's under treatment for this (meloxicam) and is still pretty mobile, but he does love to sleep. And sleep. And then sleep some more. So I'd like to buy him the best bed possible to ensure he gets to enjoy his favourite pastime. What would you recommend? I've heard about magnetic beds, memory foam, and so forth, but am not sure what I should get. My price limit is $500.,2013:site.251124 Wed, 30 Oct 2013 20:53:38 -0800 arthritis dogbeds dogs pets resolved lesbiassparrow My daughter is allergic to my fiancee's dog. Now what? RelationshipFilter, more detailed: My asthmatic daughter is allergic to my fiancee's daughter's dog. Now what? Even more detailed: I have three daughters (14, 12 and 8) and a cat.<br> My fiancee's 17-year-old daughter has a long-haired dachshund.<br> We have separate households.<br> <br> My 12-year-old is asthmatic, and immediately allergic to the dog.<br> <br> My fiancee is not asthmatic, but she's immediately allergic to my cat.<br> <br> How on earth are we ever going to live together?,2013:site.250463 Fri, 18 Oct 2013 16:39:52 -0800 allergies asthma pets remarriage ZakDaddy Birds! What are they good for? My loving husband gave me a pair of birds. I was able to quickly google how to take care of them, and am doing fine in that regard, but am wondering: how do bird people <em>enjoy</em> them? Bonus question: how do I get my cats to not want to eat them? These are zebra finches - a male and a female. The internet tells me that I can breed them and make baby finches, but I am concerned that this may be coming more from my love of Viva Pinata than anything sensible. Also the only thing I could think of to do with baby birds is either free the and watch them fly away or give them to other people, thus continuing the cycle of bird-gifting. My only experience with people with pet birds is watching Disney princess movies: these neither sit on my finger nor sing. What do I do? My husband is really, really hoping I enjoy my present, but I'm kind of nonplussed. <br> <br> I should note, we also have Very Interested cats, which means, I think, that we can never, ever, let the birds out of their cage. Currently it means we're not allowing the cats onto the floor with the birds. But is there a better way? I miss my cats and don't want to exile them forever.,2013:site.250210 Mon, 14 Oct 2013 10:02:14 -0800 birds entertainment mysterypets pets corb Adopting a dog with IBD. What should I expect? We are considering adoption of a dog who was diagnosed with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). Seeking advice from people who have experience caring for a dog with IBD. I am concerned about: Scavenging. We live in a dense suburban neighborhood with no fenced area. Doggie gets walked 4 times a day. As hard as I try, he grabs mysterious food items off the ground. Sometimes I can pry the food away from him. Scavenged food is bad for IBD maintenance. Progression of the disease. Can dogs live normal healthy lives with IBD? Or is it a string of crises? Our last dog had a serious heart condition. He lived a long, reasonably comfortable life. But it was costly, time-consuming, and we worried a lot. We grew attached to this dog before we knew about the IBD. I wonder if we should decline to adopt him. The dog is currently in our care while the owner is travelling on business. 75 lb Lab mix, 3 years old. a lovely gentle boy. He has a loving home, but his owner needs to re-home him due to employment changes. <br> <br> Doggie was diagnosed with IBD about a year ago. The vet did a surgical biopsy. Dog was losing weight and almost died. Then they stabilized him on a duck diet. He eats Royal Canin duck potato kibble and water only. He is currently healthy with a nice coat and good energy. But he seems to itch and scratch more than most dogs. We spoke with the owner's vet. She gave us data, and said the dog could develop even more allergies in the future.,2013:site.249930 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 06:39:56 -0800 allergies bowel canine dog ibd pets resolved veterinary valannc I'm the jerk who adopted cats and now cannot keep them..suggestions? I adopted two stray kittens just under a year ago. I am mildly allergic and planned to keep them temporarily, but grew quite attached. I am constantly on the road for work take them around from hotel to hotel with me, which is not ideal. On top of that, my permanent living situation is changing and I will be living with someone with severe cat allergies. I need to find a home for these two as soon as possible. I have exhausted my possible friends and family options. I really would like them to be able to stay together, as they are quite good buddies. I don't like the idea of giving them to a shelter, though I am beginning to see it may be the only option here. If it's useful, I am going back and fourth between Scranton, PA and Pittsburgh, PA right now, in case anyone has suggestions that are location specific. Does anyone have advice about facilities or other ways that I might try to find them a home? Tobias and Tzipora and I thank you.,2013:site.248919 Sat, 21 Sep 2013 20:50:52 -0800 adoption cats pets sb3 Custom-printed pet wear for adoptables? I volunteer with a rescue group that fosters and adopts out tiny dogs. I am looking for someplace that will custom-print either a collar or a pet bandana with the group's logo, so it's similar to the"adopt me" signs that many adoption groups use. Likely I'm going to want less than a few hundred, which seems to be below the radar for most commercial outfits. Any suggestions for a company that might do that without costing an absolute fortune?,2013:site.248807 Thu, 19 Sep 2013 17:53:08 -0800 cat dog pets rescue answergrape Crypton Super Fabric - really truely super and duper? Need to save sofas. Have big stinky dogs. Is Crypton the fabric or choice? Or is there something better? There have been two positive mentions of <a href="">Cypton</a>,* but I'm looking for more data. Those of you who have this stuff at home or have worked in an environment with Cypton, is it really the wonder drug the Crypton people claim that it is? <br> <br> Is it true, in your personal experience, that cleaning per the Crypton people's <a href="">instructions</a> includes using a solution made with a <a href="">zippy soap</a>? <br> <br> And finally - does anyone know how this stuff is made? Do they grind up baby orangutans for their silky, silky coats? The <a href="">FAQ</a> has a little about nylons and so forth, and they talk a good game on green, but it's hard to know. <br> <br> My goal would be to have sofas that do not stink, even with three stinky dogs home alone all day, shedding and drooling and spewing dander. Spouse is not thrilled with the more obvious solution of going with a <a href="">parsons bench</a> or three instead of a <a href="">new sofa</a> or recover the ones we have. (FWIW, I would pay someone who knows that they are doing to recover. Easy to work with is not an issue for me.)<br> <br> Mention one, <a href="">Mchelly</a> (personal experience<br> Mention two, <a href="">divined by radio</a> (fabric rep only, not personal experience),2013:site.248544 Sun, 15 Sep 2013 18:44:34 -0800 furniture pets resolved Lesser Shrew Is a sheep a legal pet? Despite my best googling I can't find out if it's legal to own a sheep as a pet. I live in a residential neighborhood in Morehead City, North Carolina. I'd like to own a sheep and keep it in my backyard. To love and pet and cuddle. Thanks for any help! Please note I intend to do plenty of research on responsible sheep owning.,2013:site.247953 Thu, 05 Sep 2013 10:47:33 -0800 pets sheep gpoint How to arrange getting new dog? What's the best way to get a new dog in this specific situation? Due to a some recent events, my wife and I are going to have to live apart for an indefinite (hopefully short) period. She will live in Scotland, me in the Netherlands. We are currently living in the Netherlands, and have one dog, a 9 year old female beagle mix we got from a shelter in the US who is quite attached to us. She is taking the dog to Scotland, but she'll come to visit when she can, and will bring our dog with her. Our dog has an EU pet passport. I will visit them regularly, as well.<br> <br> Possible relevant issue: both of us will be in new apartments, that our old dog will not be used to.<br> <br> Since I'm going to be alone in the Netherlands, I was thinking of getting myself a dog. The current issues, as I see them, are:<br> <br> 1. We want the adoption to be easy. <br> 2. We want to make sure the new dog gets along with our current dog, and vice versa.<br> 3. We want to make sure that health issues (where does the dog see his/her vet? etc) are easy to take care of<br> 4. We want to make sure that traveling back and forth is easy.<br> 5. Any other that we're not thinking of...<br> <br> There are a few plans I could see working.<br> <br> A. I adopt a dog while I'm in Scotland, and all of us are together for a few weeks. We try the situation out. If it works, I take the new dog to the Netherlands with me.<br> <br> B. I adopt a dog while we are all in the Netherlands. She leaves with our older dog, the new dog stays with me if everything works out.<br> <br> C. I adopt a new dog in the Netherlands, while my wife and the older dog is in Scotland, and let the new dog get attached to me while no one else is around. Then I take the new dog to Scotland, and introduce them.<br> <br> There might be other scenarios as well. What do you think is the best way to handle this from a dog's perspective? Also, if you have any specific information about adopting dogs in either the Netherlands or the UK, that would be helpful. I've only done it in the US.,2013:site.247613 Fri, 30 Aug 2013 13:39:00 -0800 adopting dogs newdog pets Philosopher Dirtbike Help me help my cat to want to pee in the right places ... Mango (pic <a href="">here</a> of course, the smaller, less white one) has taken to peeing inside the lobby door inside the front door. He started when we had a workman in - we think the workman might smell strongly of his own, elderly cats. I am calm and understanding with him, not angry, I try not to reinforce it, we have had him checked and done many things (see list below) but it's still happening and it's not great. Have you successfully stopped your feline companion weeing in an inappropriate place and how did you do it? Background: rescue cats, aged about 3, lived together before, fairly happy, a bit of playfighting. Live indoors in a large house, they have the run of three floors, all the rooms, lots of toys. Outdoors not an option (road, dodgy neighbours, foxes, please don't lecture us on this. Vets and rescue centre happy with our setup). Seem contented and bonded to us, OK with each other, don't cuddle but do sleep next to each other etc. When they came he weed in the bath, he still does that or in the shower if the litter is not to his liking (see below for all litter details). We don't mind that so much as it's easy to clean away. Went once in room where original trays are when tray not to his liking. Original trays are in understairs cupboard, nice and private, easy access, middle floor of house. I work from home so remove poos and smooth the trays very often, also play with the boys. They have a ball in track, numerous loo roll innards, kickaroos, gloves and socks to play with. He doesn't do every pee there, just one every day or so.<br> <br> What we have done: Added another tray in the bathroom into which his larger brother cannot fit. He uses this although we had a shower-pee incident yesterday when we tried letting the door hang down after taping it open before. Door removed, has peed in there since. Vet has checked him out thoroughly inc urine sample (hooray for peeing in the shower). Notable maybe: he would NOT be expressed by the vet, vet was impressed by his tenacity in not doing it, he held it home on the bus till got home then went to tray. Feliway plug in pumping out the Feliway at all times, in socket outside their loo on floor they use most frequently. No telling off, just calm praise and some treats when he wees in the tray. Cleanup done with stuff that neutralises the smell though I think there was a patch in the lounge that was smelling but now isn't after a thorough clean. <br> <br> I think that's it. Any ideas from your experience welcome. I won't thread-sit but will of course answer questions.,2013:site.247605 Fri, 30 Aug 2013 12:11:00 -0800 cats pets LyzzyBee Can a skittish cat ever share his home with a dog? I have a scaredy-cat. He runs away from anything loud and/or fast. He is barely older than 3, and hopefully he'll live for a long time. Can I ever hope to get a dog while he's around? My cat is a cuddly, loving <a href="">ball of fluff</a> who is also terrified of most things. Lately, his two big fears are a yellow foam ball and some jangling bracelets. I once boarded him at a cattery, where he spent the entire week cowering in a corner. One time my boyfriend brought over a life-sized stuffed dog; he sniffed the dog's butt and then refused to go near it for days, even though it will still and silent and smelled like an inanimate object. <br> <br> He has had some traumas (involving loud noises and accidents) in his short past that have made him a bit skittish, and he doesn't seem to be getting any braver. He has spent some time around other cats, but has lived cat-free for 2.5 of his 3.25 years. He also has a case of feline hyperesthesia, though he's fine on meds. Finally, he's a one-person cat. He wants to cuddle and play with me all the time, but he merely tolerates my boyfriend.<br> <br> So, given all these quirks and behaviors, is there any chance he'll be able to live with a dog? I'd like to have multiple animals, and the boyfriend has a cat allergy, so I am not getting another feline friend. Does anyone have any experience introducing a dog to a scaredy-cat?,2013:site.247489 Wed, 28 Aug 2013 15:24:04 -0800 cats dogs pets MsMartian