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Tips on keeping cats, dogs, birds, rodents, guinea pigs, reptiles, and more.
Subject: Skunk Smell. They say to remove the smell of skunk from a dog or cat is not tomato juice. My cat got skunked and I called my Vet he said the best thing is dishwashing soap. The spray from the skunk is an oil based spray and the best thing is dish washing soap, dish washing soap has a special agent in it to get rid of grease from your pots and pans and plates, well it works the same way with the oil from the skink. I tried the tomato juices as she got sprayed early in the morning I then tried the baby wash bath soap and finally got hold of my Veterinarian and he told me about the dishwashing soap and that most certainly worked - hope this helped. - adelie schaefferBirds:
Pet Birds: When letting birds fly around the house cover windows with curtains and sheets to stop the birds trying to fly through the glass. Keep the toilet lid down as well. -- Hermeine Sutherland Milton Keynes England
Febreeze and Parrots: The zinc content of the deodorizing spray can kill your parrot. Some gilded cages also are deadly too. They contain paint that has zinc in it. zinc is very dangerous to birds -- tim159@nospamhotmail.com
Subject: Aerosols and Pet Birds. If you have pet birds then you should avoid using "Febreeze". Birds are acutely sensitive to zinc which is used in the spray. Mammals can tolerate and in fact need zinc as an essential component of their metabolism. Also avoid using antiperspirants, they contain aluminum which is also very toxic to birds. Do not allow them to eat bread unless it is organic, bread can contain up to 40mg/Kg aluminum and this is enough to kill them (especially small birds) in quite a short time. Some muffins, waffles and donuts have even more in the form of aerating agents. -- John Scrase.
Subject: Birds Hi, I just came upon your interesting website, enjoyed it and thought I'd add to it if I may. Re Birds: Using Teflon pots and pans is unhealthy for pet birds in your house. The Teflon gives off a noxious gas during use. Thanks again for an interesting web site. Regards, Charyn Cordry -- "Chris & Charyn"
Reptiles:
Tortoises: When you feed your tortoise (land turtle) a few drops of cod-liver oil on bread every so often, and, in our experience, very occasionally some crushed up vitamin pills spread on his food will improve his general health.-- Comi Edmunds
Lizards and Snakes: If you have a small reptile that eats live rodents, you must be careful they don't damage your pet. Either use stunned rodents that still show some signs of life, or baby rats and mice. If you can't find rodents, or have a sick animal that can't eat them, then there are short term alternatives such as dog food, or baby food. This is normally too fatty to use for long periods of time though. -- Jake Farley, Utah, USA
Insect Eating Lizards: Never feed your lizards glow-worms or glow-bugs. They may be easy to catch but they are full of many different poisons and will kill your pet. - - Anon.
Iguanas: My Iguanas like to eat bird food, such as mynah bird pellets, but make sure they contain fruit alongside all the vegetable, meat, and vitamin ingredients. Soak them in water for two hours until they are mushy, and then feed it alongside some fresh banana. -- A L Stevenson, Las Vegas, USA
CATS:
Subject: Cats Tip. If you have a kitten in the house who gets over-excited wanting to play when you arent in the mood.. keep an eye out for some of those keychain laser pointers. You can sit on the couch and have him chasing it all over the house. LOADS of fun. I thought I would be able to run it into another room and then "lose" the dot to keep it out of my hair for awhile. But NO my kitten was too smart for that. It now paws my pocket to start the game, and if it loses the dot it comes running straight back to me. It knows where the dot comes from. -- Gandalf Parker gandalf@nospamcommunity.net
A squirt gun does work as a training device for cats but some people are leary of using it. However, a nicer and actually more effective item is the can of compressed air that you get at computer stores for cleaning the computer. You can quickly teach cats that you don't want them on the counter, or behind the fridge, or picking on the bird. They hate the blast of air, and even the sound if you are too far away for them to feel it. (don't spray more than a short blast though, its very cold) -- Gandalf Parker gandalf@nospamcommunity.net
Subject: Cats: To repel fleas feed cat one garlic capsule every other day. Annette -- Gary.Clarkson@nospamhilltop38.freeserve.co.uk
After moving to new house cats are less likely to run away or stray if you put a little butter on their paws – Wendel Quinn Hong Kong
To help stop fur-balls, occasionally add a teaspoon of liquid paraffin to their food, vary the frequency depending on whether long or short haired. - Lee Clements, New York Cats find big eyes threatening. Narrow eyes while trying to catch or control -- Wendel Quinn Hong Kong
If your cat raids the trash can, he can be deterred by sprinkling some chilli powder over the top of the rubbish -- Simon Spicer Cranfield England
Remove cats hairs from clothes and furniture by rubbing with wetted rubber gloves -- Wendel Quinn Kuala Lumpur mwpquin@nospamasia-mail.com Guinea Pigs: Oil the bearings of the wheel for your guinea pig or hamster -- Des Vine Portsmouth England
Rabbits should not be kept alongside guinea pigs, our one bullies his little friend -- Sally Proops age 10
Rabbits. If rabbits are in any heat, over 65 degrees, they can have a heatstroke, which can kill them in 5 minutes or less. take a bottle of soda, empty it, and fill it up with water. now stick it in the freezer until it is frozen. stick it in the bunny's cage, it is like their own personal air conditioner. Thanks -- Jess SkaterGal1013nospam@aol.com 16 Jul 2002
Dogs: Take your Dog for a walk before you bathe it, so it won’t have to go outside whilst it is still wet. To keep soap out of a dogs eyes when washing it, add a layer of Vaseline (petroleum jelly) over its eyebrows and around its eyes. - Ian Talbot, Rockhampton, Australia
Dirty or Tangled Dog Hair. To remove burrs or sticky substances such as paint or tar from your dog's coat soak the tangles or dirty fur with vegetable oil. Tangles can be combed out, and the oil can be washed out with shampoo. - Geoff Minter, Kansas
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