A growing number of people are discovering that parrots make the perfect pet. Parrots are really beautiful, fascinating and super smart creatures. However, you need to learn about caring for them before running out to the breeder and buying the first parrot that you see. Here are a few useful tips for caring for a parrot.
Be ready for a messy and noisy house
Parrots toss fruit peels, seed casings, their toys, and the area around their cage can get very messy. Moreover, there’s also the matter of feathers and droppings. A large parrot can make lots of noise. Whether they are yodeling a country song or yelling nonsense, you cannot count on your parrot to be quiet just because you want to take a nap. Putting them in your garage or shutting them away in an isolated room is not a good option. In this way your parrot will become emotionally disturbed and can behave psychotically.
Consider location and temperature
Although parrots are social creatures, every parrot may have different needs. So depending on your parrot’s temperament, place the cage in the area where your bird will often interact with you. A kitchen is a bad place since cleaning and odors from cooking can be very harmful to your parrot! Parrots can tolerate a wide range of temperatures, so if you keep your house at a comfortable temperature for yourself, your parrot will also be comfortable. Temperature stability is the most important factor. Fluctuating temperatures can have a big effect on your parrot’s health.
Vary your parrot’s diet
No one likes to have the same thing every single day. Your parrot needs a varied diet with a wide range of nutritional value. Don’t feed your parrot seeds only. Discuss with your veterinarian what a better diet for your parrot. It’s usually agreed that a parrot needs a mix of seed, pellet, fresh leafy greens, veggies, legumes, grains and some fruits. Keep in mind that parrots must never be fed chocolate, avocado, alcohol, caffeine, salty or sugary snacks.
Keep an eye on claw, beak and feather health
When your parrot’s claws grow too long, go to a vet to trim them. Never try to do it by yourself since parrots have a very active blood supply to their claws and a cut could lead to a blood loss. Feather and beak condition are a great indicator of health. A lot of parrot deficiencies and diseases show up as poor feather condition or malformations of the beak. If your parrot shows change in feather or beak condition, see your vet as fast as possible.
Teach your parrot to talk
If you want your parrot to talk, you’ll need to spend a lot of time teaching it. If intense, limit your teaching sessions to 15 minutes at a time or just repeat the same words and phrases a few times during your ‘lesson.’ Parrots usually mimic the things they hear most often. Keep the phrases short, two or three words usually work best. After your parrot has mastered some words and phrases, you can teach it some useful communications.
Clean the cage
The bottom of the cage must be cleaned every two days, if your parrot is not too messy. Replace any liners and discard any seeds, shells, gravel, etc. Clean all of the toys in the cage. It’s also recommended to clean up any mess that does not require too much time once a day. Make sure you use a bird-safe disinfectant, which you can buy in your local pet stores.
Replace toys in different places
Once you’ve finished washing the cage, put your parrot’s toys back inside, replacing them in different places. Parrots are very intelligent and intensely curious, and unlike dogs and cats, they like changing stimuli.
Regularly visit the vet
While some parrots can be absolutely healthy forever, most of them still have some health problems, which could be solved with preventative veterinarian consultations. However, make sure your vet is one who sees parrots specifically or you’ll just be wasting your money.
Do you have any other tips for caring for a parrot? Feel free to share them with us in the comments section.
Hamsters are funny, attractive, lively, active, clean and really easy to
care for! The main thing to remember is that your hamster needs enough
space to play, sleep and feed. Check out a few tips for taking care of
your hamster!
Buy an igloo for your hamster
Your hamster needs something to sleep in, so make something in the
cage or buy an igloo for your beloved pet in the pet store. I have four
hamsters and I can say that they really love the igloo-shaped houses to
hide in.
Don’t forget to feed your pet
It’s important not to
forget to feed your hamster. You can feed your hamster a commercially
prepared hamster-food mix twice a day and give a small supply of fresh
fruits and vegetables. If you decide to give your hamster a new food,
introduce it very slowly so he/she can get used to it.
Don’t forget the importance of water for your hamster
Make
sure you keep your hamster supplied with clean water. Placing a bowl of
water in your hamster’s cage won’t work since it can end up with pieces
of food and bedding in it. So buy the type of bottles that attach to
the side of the cage. And don’t forget to refill the bottle every day.
Give your hamster enough chew toys
Your hamster also needs to have a few chew toys for his/her teeth.
All hamsters like to chew on things. There are many special chew toys in
pet stores, which have been designed specifically for hamsters. Hamster
toys are very important if you do not want your hamster to get bored.
Don’t bathe your hamster
Hamsters do not like water so never bathe your hamster. Hamsters
always keep themselves meticulously cleaned. If you believe your hamster
smell bad, then the smell is more than likely coming from the dirty
cage. Make sure you always keep the hamster’s cage clean.
Watch where you place the cage
It is important to place your hamster’s cage out of the direct
sunlight and draughts. Place it in a quiet part of your home where
you’ll visit your hamster frequently. Don’t put the cage in an unheated
room, garage, breezeway, or other cold places.
Your hamster needs to exercise
Hamsters are very quick and agile creatures and they need to
exercise, so make sure your hamster’s cage has plenty of room to
exercise. Hamsters need an exercise wheel to keep their muscles strong
and healthy. When your hamster is outside of the cage, you can put
him/her in a plastic hamster ball that you can buy in a local pet store.
A hamster is a fun animal to play with and it can really make
exciting pet. Do you like hamsters? Do you have any other tips for
taking care of a hamster? Share your thoughts, please!
“Dogs and
cats
do not have self-cleaning teeth,” Dr. Bernadine Cruz of Laguna Hills
Animal Hospital in Laguna Woods, California, says. “If their teeth are
not taken care of properly, a large percentage of pets will have some
type of
dental disease by 4 years of age.”
Dental woes are more than just a toothache; they can also pose a
serious threat to your pet’s well-being. That is because the condition
of your pet’s
teeth and gums
can directly affect her overall health. Read on to learn about the top
four signs of poor dental hygiene and the best ways to combat them.
1. Bad Breath
How often have you gotten eye to eye with a furry friend only to be put off by her breath? We usually explain away a pet’s
bad breath
as simply being “dog breath” or “cat breath,” as if it is a normal part
of her being. However, unless your pet has just eaten something stinky
such as tuna, it is important to recognize that
bad breath is not normal and can indicate a problem with her
dental health.
2. Discolored Teeth
Healthy canine and feline teeth are white. Any discolorations or
stains should be examined by your veterinary team. In addition, buildup
or darker areas on your pet’s teeth, particularly around the gumline, is
another sign that something isn’t right with her
dental health.
3. Red, Swollen or Bleeding Gums
Healthy gums are pink (although some breeds have pigmented gums). Gums that are red and swollen or are bleeding need attention.
4. Loose Teeth
Unless your pet’s jaw has been injured, loose teeth can be an
indication of bone loss. You can determine if teeth are loose by gently
pressing on them. But do so carefully, as this can be painful and even
the most docile pet may bite.
What's the Problem?
All of the above problems can be signs of periodontal disease, a disease that attacks the gums and teeth and can cause potentially life-threatening infections. Here is how it happens: Plaque builds up on your pet’s teeth. If it is not brushed away within 24 to 36 hours, it hardens into a yellow or brown substance called tartar, which can be removed only by a veterinarian (ideally, while the pet is under anesthesia). Over time, tartar that remains on your pet’s teeth also builds up under the gums. Tartar and bacteria eventually separate the gums from the teeth, forming gaps or pockets that encourage even more bacterial growth. At later stages of the disease, surgery may be needed to repair the damage, and affected teeth may need to be pulled.
Periodontal disease is painful for your pet and can lead to abscesses and loss of bone and teeth. It also presents other health risks. “If left untreated, dental disease can spread infection throughout the body,” Dr. Cruz explains. "When the health of the gums is compromised, the bacteria can get into the bloodstream and cause infection in your pet’s liver, lungs, kidneys and heart.”
Prevention Is the Key
The good news is that you can combat periodontal disease in your pet. Caring for her dental health really comes down to three simple steps:
Have your pet’s teeth cleaned professionally by your veterinarian on a regular basis.
Brush your pet’s teeth daily to help reduce the buildup of plaque.
Pay attention to your pet’s dental health. Check on her teeth and her gums regularly.
Visit Your Veterinarian
The first step in ensuring that your pet’s teeth are taken care of is to take her for professional dental cleanings.
For pets with healthy teeth and gums, cleanings are usually done about once a year. Pets that have severe periodontal disease may require more frequent visits. Your veterinarian will recommend a cleaning schedule based on your pet’s needs. Every pet is unique when it comes to dental disease. “Genetics, breed and luck all play a part in how often you will need to have your pet’s teeth professionally cleaned,” Dr. Cruz says.
One method of cleaning is to use an ultrasonic scaler. Its metal tip moves quickly and vibrates, using a stream of water to remove debris and plaque off teeth. Similar to what happens during a trip to your own dentist, your pet’s teeth will be cleaned both above and below the gumline and then polished.
Administering anesthesia is necessary for the procedure, because most pets will not sit still for their teeth to be cleaned under the gumline. Your veterinary staff will take plenty of precautions to make undergoing anesthesia as risk free as possible for your pet.
Your veterinarian may perform a preanesthetic exam and will most likely recommend a blood profile screening, which can help rule out preexisting problems that could affect the safety of anesthesia. In addition, today's anesthesia is safer for dogs and cats. Recent clinical advances in anesthesia help ensure that your pet will be alert and virtually back to normal shortly after the cleaning.
Cleaning at Home
Home care is an essential part of keeping your pet’s teeth in tip-top shape. “The best time to start a dental routine is when you first bring home a puppy or kitten,” Dr. Cruz explains. “Your first goal is just to get her used to having her teeth and gums touched.”
Start by simply wiping your pet’s teeth with a damp washcloth wrapped around your finger. Offer your pet lots of praise for being cooperative. After she has gotten used to the washcloth, she can graduate to a pet-safe toothbrush. This method can also work on an older pet that has not previously received home dental care.
Once you are ready to start brushing your pet’s teeth, you will need two essentials:
Toothpaste specially formulated for pets. Pet toothpaste comes in all kinds of interesting flavors, including vanilla, beef, chicken and seafood. Avoid using human toothpaste, which can irritate your pet’s stomach if she swallows it.
A toothbrush. One that has been specially developed for pets (e.g., a little rubber finger brush for cats, a smaller brush for small dogs) is your best bet. You can always ask your veterinarian for advice on making the brushing experience a positive one for you and your four-legged friend.
You will find that regular professional cleanings, as well as the simple act of daily brushing, will help keep your pet's teeth and gums healthier throughout her life. A little extra care in the short run will lead to important health benefits for years to come.
Toothbrushing Tips
Dampen the toothbrush first.
Press the toothpaste down to the bottom of the brush. This will help keep your pet from licking the toothpaste off the brush.
Take your time introducing this new routine into your pet’s life.
Fighting Dental Disease With Food
Diet can play a role in maintaining your pet’s dental health. Specially formulated dental diets are effective in fighting plaque and tartar buildup. For added assurance, look for the Veterinary Oral Health Council’s (VOHC) Seal of Acceptance. You can also ask your veterinary staff which diet they recommend.
