Vacations And Holidays - Keep Pets Safe And Comfy On Flights

By Dorothy Yamich

Whenever your vacation or holiday travel plans involve taking an air flight with your pet, you are part of a growing trend that has been increasing over the last number of years. Here are some travel tips concerning flying on airlines with your pet when you are on vacations or holidays.

Most airlines, for a nominal fee, will allow your small pet to fly with you if it will fit in a FAA approved pet carrier that can be stowed under your seat. The following is some important information can help you keep your pet healthy, safe, and happy on airplane flights.

When you book a flight, it is a good idea to make reservations for yourself and your pet as early as you can. You must inform the airline that you want to bring your pet with you. It is extremely important to tell them, as they will only allow a limited number of pets on each flight. Some airlines don't allow pets at all, particularly on international flights. Always confirm your flight the day before you're trip. If you're traveling internationally you need to confirm your trip seventy-two hours before you fly.

Before you fly into the wide blue yonder with your furry travel companion, you need to take him or her to the vet for a checkup, to be sure he or she is healthy enough to travel. You will also have to take its health certificate with you, showing that your pet is up-to-date on all it's vaccinations, including rabies. Your pet has to wear its current vaccination tag when traveling. As well, your pet must meet the health regulations of the country you will be traveling to. Take along a copy of your pet's medical records listing its allergies, chronic medical conditions, and medications.

If you haven't done this already, you should have your pet micro-chipped. That way, if your pet is lost and taken to an animal shelter or vet, where its chip can be scanned, both can be reunited. Keep in mind your pet's identification tag will have both your home address and phone number on it. That won't be of much help if your pet gets lost when you are on vacation. It may be a good idea to get another tag made up that has your destination address and phone number on it. What happens if you pet isn't found until after you've returned from your holidays? It makes sense that you should leave both your home I.D. tag on your pet as well as attaching the new tag. That way you'll have all the bases covered and stand a better chance of being reunited with your pet.

You should carry a picture of you pet with you when you travel. It will help you prove that you are the pet's owner if any problems of ownership occur. Also, the picture can be used to make some flyers up to post in the area where your pet was lost.

Flying with a pet that is too large to fit in a FAA approved pet carrier isn't advisable as it will have to be stowed in the cargo hold. Putting your pet in the cargo hold can be very traumatic and dangerous to your pet's health. It would make a lot more sense to leave your pet with friends, or a reliable pet sitting service when you're on vacation.

The American Veterinary Medical Association does not recommend sedating or tranquilizing your pet when flying, especially dogs. Dogs regulate their body temperature when they pant, so when they are tranquilized or sedated, they may not be able to pant. If this happens, it may leave them defenseless against the fluctuation of air pressure and temperature that occurs in the cargo hold of every flight. Also, keep in mind that pets do not enjoy flying, or being locked up in a cramped kennel and left alone in a dark and desolate cargo hold. It must be very terrifying for them.

There are a number of websites that give additional valuable information regarding traveling with your pet. Two outstanding sites are the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) at aspca.org, and the Federal Government's Department of Agriculture at aphis.usda.gov, which has an excellent article entitled, Traveling With Your Pet.

If you want a great travel carrier for your small pet, you may want to consider the popular, FAA approved pet carrier, Sherpa On Wheels. This Cadillac of pet carriers can be a luxurious and comfortable home for your pet while flying. It has the convenience of a front and top entry, mesh ventilation panels, recessed wheels, as well as a detachable pull handle and a shoulder strap. It is available on line at SherpaPet.com. - 31851

About the Author:

To quickly find and book cheap flights and luxury cruises at really great discounts, whenever you want to enjoy an

The Perks Cat Ownership 101

By Rebetta Tyrkera

If you feel that being alone in this whole world is a sad reality, maybe you are right. However, a company can be found in the arms of a human being if one is willing to take the risk. If you are not that brave, you might try getting someone who is not that complicated to be with. Did you know that that particular someone may not exactly be human but is still in need of some motherly love and affection? What we're talking about here is a pet.

Since time immemorial, pets have been considered as great friends of people. They can provide a listening ear without spewing off harsh judgments and cynical comments. They have great virtues, such as being trustworthy, smart, affable and even responsible to a certain degree. And, unlike humans who can be so possessive, they do not require attention. They can survive even without bothering you at your place of work. Don't you find it a great relief that they don't bombard you with negative emotions?

Pet stores and veterinarians offer a great selection when it comes to potential pet choices. You can see cute dogs, furry kittens, regal-looking birds, small rabbits and even rare animals like albino pythons and deadly tarantulas. Surely, no matter what your inherent personality is, you will find a perfect match that fits your discriminating needs.

Most people go for domesticated animals like cats and dogs. However, there are certain benefits that a cat can give its owner that a dog can't. Read on why being a cat owner is great.

One, being a cat owner trains you to become more aware of other's needs. Not only will you worry about your basic necessities for the week, you will also learn what food, grooming stuff, exercise routine and medication your cat will require. You will also deal with the fact that you have to visit the vet in case your pet doesn't feel well. All these may sound like additional chores in your lifestyle but the virtues you will develop are simply priceless. Other people will definitely notice that you have changed for the better.

Second, if you possess a cat, you will be motivated to face each day with passion. This results from having found a purpose in life. Basically, you are now aware that you are being relied on; hence, you have something to look forward. You don't feel as if you are alone in this whole, wide world. Coming home after office hours is also a pleasurable experience now with your cat's presence. If you had a bad day at the office due to a fight with a co-worker or a crazy meeting with clients, you can de-stress with your beloved kitty.

Third, you can have more acquaintances and friends. You may join a cat owners' association or cat lovers' organization to learn about ways to make your cat become a better pet. Having fun with these like-minded people will be a blast and you might even meet a special someone there. If not, be content that you can have someone to talk to. There are a lot of things that can be discussed regarding the care of a cat so don't worry about possible awkward moments.

After reading the reasons why being a cat owner is satisfying, you are now ready to get your own adorable feline. Call your animal store now. - 31851

About the Author:

Wanting to become a pet owner is great. But there are two things that you need to know about. An important key is quality pet health insurance because unless you have it your pet is not safe. The second is that using cheap pet meds can hurt your pet terminally if you find the wrong quality of medication.

How To Resolve Typical Cat Behavior Problems

By Melissa Fielden

The modern lifestyle of today has brought new possibilities for many animal lovers to achieve the role of being responsible cat owners. However, the path of responsible pet rearing is not as simple as it may seem. This is because in the course of your pet ownership, you will come across several cat behavior problems that you may find too challenging to deal with. This may actually be surprising for some because they don't know that behind the cat's cuddly image and harmless demeanor, they can turn into the one of the most temperamental creatures they've ever seen.

These cat behavior problems manifest because despite the fact that they really are pets, they still possess their own minds and have their own feelings. These cat behavior problems are usually triggered because of your cat's usual habits or an immediate event that your pet dislikes. Here are some usual cat behavior problems and what to do with it.

One of the most common cat behavior problems is the cat's being either overly aggressive or overly shy to the point that the cat refuses to do anything with anyone. In the case of excessive energy or aggression, such unwanted cat behavior problems can be fixed by means of training your cat to channel its aggression on to other harmless things.

Fortunately, cat behavior problems such as this can be solved by giving your cat some proper training. You can train your cat on how to deal with aggression by diverting it to other things or activities. You can give your cat things to play with such as a ball or a yarn. You can also purchase a scratching post for it to get its claw on. This method will surely relieve your cat's stress levels and will contribute in dispersing excess energy and tension.

Extreme Shyness of cats- Some cats have a case of extreme awkwardness whenever they are in the company of people it does not know. This aloofness is observable when in the presence of visitors it doesn't recognize. The reason for this is that some cats are not comfortable to be around things or people that are not familiar to them. However, with some exposure training it can get over this kind of behavior problem.

Potty Training Perhaps the most challenging cat behavior problems you may encounter involves putting the litter in the litter box. In some cases, cats can be observed to be littering just about anywhere. And of course nobody enjoys the strong smell that emanates from cat dung. But if you look closely, the cats usually litter on the same spot or area. This means that this bad habit, like any other cat behavior problems is treatable. Sometimes this is caused by the cat owner not situating a proper and comfortable litter area.

Some experts advise pet owners to direct the cat to litter on the litter pan, and the best way to do this is to implement the good old reward and punishment program. There are dozens more cat behavior problems that one may encounter but nothing can't be corrected by proper training and undying effort to teach your pet what is right. - 31851

About the Author:

Did you find those tips on Cat Behavioral Problems useful? Melissa Fielden, who has been a zoo keeper for over 8 years, runs an informative website about cats. You can learn a lot more about how to solve Cat Behavioral Problems by visiting www.CatBehaviorProblems.info

Cat Diabetes - How To Care For Your Cat

By Dave Quaid

When you own a cat, perhaps cat diabetes never entered your mind when your brought your kitten home. Now that you have your cat, you want to do everything possible to provide good cat care that will give your pet a long and happy life. While it's unfortunate that diabetes strikes some cats, it is important for pet owners to be aware of the symptoms and learn what to do if it affects you cat.

There are two types of feline diabetes that may affect your pet cats. Type 1 is caused by an insufficient production of insulin while type 2 diabetes is characterized by the inability of the cat's body to process insulin more effectively. And just like in humans, diabetes can also strike cats at any age but is more likely to affect older cats. There is also a secondary feline diabetes that can be caused by drugs or by some diseases that may impair the natural processing of insulin in the body.

Owners often discover their cat has diabetes through routine cat care. Your cat may exhibit unusual thirst and urination, lose weight unexplainably, have vomit, weakness, a decrease in appetite and a change in skin/coat.

If your cat is experiencing any of these symptoms, it may be time for a check up at the vet. Have your vet test your pet for cat diabetes through a simple test of sugar levels. Taking two tests will give a true result, since the sugar levels may be elevated with stress for the first reading. This will help you determine if your cat genuinely has diabetes.

Just like diabetes in humans, the feline version has no cure yet available. Instead, feline diabetes can be controlled through a number of means. And for cats, it can be done through diet and weight control. A diet that is high in fiber and complex carbohydrates would be ideal for diabetic cats, especially the obese ones. This type of diet is maintained not only to control the cat's weight but also to control the cat's blood sugar levels. There are also oral medications available that can help your diabetic pet cat maintain a suitable blood sugar level.

Pet owners of diabetic cats may also need to carefully monitor their pet's glucose and insulin levels. For those pet owners who resort to giving their diabetic cats insulin injections for their diabetes, care to avoid overdose should always be maintained. An overdose of insulin can be a very fatal condition in cats. There are also some dietary supplements that can be used to help diabetic cats deal with their condition.

Cat care for your diabetic cats can provide a long life for your pet. By providing quality care, diabetic pets can be enjoyed by their pet owners for years. Your cat will appreciate your love and concern with your conscientious cat care and seeing that he does experience all nine lives - even if he would never admit it to you. - 31851

About the Author:

David is an expert on pet health and care. Keeping your cat healthy and happy is a responsiblility of every owner. See his site for information on Cat Disease.

A Look At The Persian Cat Diet

By Cynthia Yearners

Nowadays there are so many pet products available hence a pet owner should be alert about what quality products they are purchasing for their pets. One is required to be all the more careful when buying a Persian cat's diet food items.

Persian cat variety is more sensitive towards what they eat than other varieties of cats and as such they require appropriate and fixed diet to stay healthy and fit. Vitamin is a vital aspect of the cat's diet and you can make sure that it is getting enough vitamins by giving it a balanced diet. In spite of this if you feel that your Persian cat is not getting enough vitamin you can buy some animal vitamin supplements from the stores.

What you feed your Persian cat depends to a great extent on its age. A cat of one to two months old should be fed simply milk and that too of particular quality designed only for kittens. Once they grow up a little to the age of 4months and till they reach 12 months they can be given food which is soft like chicken and other items full of vitamins so that the growth of the kitten remains healthy.

You should make sure that your Persian cat should build up its natural strength against environmental pressure, illness, results of aging and other physical problems for which it would need to have a perfect immune system which could in turn can only come by giving it a balanced diet of nutritious food right from the start.

It is a necessity that you stick to a recommended diet of Royal Canin Adult Persian cat food for your Persian cat once they reach the age of one year and follow it till the age of ten. It is also suggested that you should follow a system of food rotation. This system will ensure that your cat will have different diet and not the same food daily which the pet owners have a practice of giving and may contain stuff which makes your pet sick.

To build a proper immune system and making your pet healthy you should follow the above routine. The Persian cats require proper diet without which they generally tend to fall sick.

The Persian cats suffer series of health problems like allergies to food and other allergies; digestion problem, diabetes and above all obesity which are the effects of not being active like other cats.

Correctly weighed food and balanced diet is what would keep a Persian cat healthy and free of diseases. As they are prone to obesity eating human food will lead to their developing a number of health problems and may also lead to their death.

If your cat has managed to live till 10 years of age because of all the precautions you have adopted and given it a diet that is well supervised in both quality and quantity then it is appropriate that you give your cat a diet of Royal Canin anti age mixed with skin re-generation supplements. For a healthy coat of your pet you must give it vitamin B regularly. - 31851

About the Author:

Chinchilla Persian cats are amongst the most sought after variety of all Persians. If you want to know more about the Persian kittens diet follow the links contained herein.

Can You Trust the Banfield Pet Insurance?

By Howardz Swang

The largest of the veterinarian practices that is in the world today is Banfield. They own over 700 hospitals located in the USA, the United Kingdom, and Mexico. These hospitals have almost 2000 veterinarians that are qualified and are dedicated to caring for our pets, who should get the same kind of medical care that their human owners expect for themselves. This results in every hospital that Banfield owns offers medical services that are state-of-the-art quality, plans for preventative care, horse that are extended, and they happen to be the only practice veterinarian wise, that has a program for quality assurance, in the world.

In October, 1955 the first Banfield Pet Hospital was opened by veterinarian Warren J. Wegert. This number grew and by 2001 the number of hospitals we over 300. Then in 2004 Banfield had managed to sign up over a million pets into their Optimal Wellness Plan. By their fiftieth anniversary celebration in the year 2005, Banfield had expanded to having over five hundred high quality hospitals opened.

With being practicing for over 50 years, Banfield has been able to get the experience needed to come up with a health care plan for pets that really works. This plan is designed to handle all the routine type care that you dog or cat requires for a healthy existence.

This comprehensive type health care pet plan is the Banfield Wellness Plan and can actually prolong your pet's happy life up to 25% longer. This plan can also be transferred between the various Banfield locations when you need to with no problem. Also this plan makes pet care much more affordable by saving you about 50 percent on standard type care. This is because through these plans you get office visits at no cost for life, on top of their other discounts they offer on their other services. This wellness plan also offers a valuable warranty on vaccination of up to $1000.

Just like us humans, our pets can face many different health issues over the course of their lives. With Banfield's Optimum Wellness Plans come the services that are so necessary to keep pets not only healthy, but also to eliminate potential issues before they even arise.

The Banfield Wellness plans currently cover puppies, kittens and adult dogs and cats. It is a highly cost effective way to provide your pet with the quality care it deserves, such as and including vaccinations, physical exams, and free, unlimited office calls.

With Banfield providing such great service for pets and their owners alike it is no wonder why they have been able to expand so much. Our pets should get the same kind of care that we would provide ourselves so that they can live a good, long, healthy life. Banfield agrees with this belief and provides just that quality of care.

The pets we have can also enjoy the comforts of having insurance as we do, and the wellness plan that Banfield goes the distance as far as providing lasting good health for the pets we own. Our pets are more than animals to us they are family, and therefore merit having the best in medical care, so we do not lose them from our family before their time. - 31851

About the Author:

Have you had problems with Banfield as well? Be sure to read the comments in the two following articles: Banfield Pet Insurance Review and No More Banfield Pet Insurance. Both are filled with comment from other customers of theirs.

A Happy Dog Will Live and Love Longer

By Tornoe Rose

Owning pets is no easy task. You have a lot of responsibilities to fulfill so that they can grow up to be well-mannered animals in the future. These responsibilities include satisfying their basic needs as well as their wants. From their food to their shelter, from their grooming to their health requirements, all these chores will be yours to shoulder the moment you have possession of your beloved creature. It is no different from being a parent to a human baby.

Dogs top the list of the most preferred pet in the history of mankind. They are loyal, easy to train, smart and fun to be with. Whether you like guard dogs like German shepherd or pit bulls, toy dogs like Japanese Spitz or Shih Tzu, sport dogs like Golden Retriever and Doberman, you will surely be having the time of your life if you spent it with these wonderful animals.

If you think your dog can offer numerous advantages in your life, doesn't it follow that you should also do everything possible to keep them in an ecstatic state? It's the least you can do for all the fun moments that they have shared with you. Here are some cool ways to make your canine happy. Read on.

The first thing that you should do to keep your dog in a state of nirvana is to provide it with the requisite food, water, exercise, dog house and a regular visit to the friendly neighborhood veterinarian. Make sure that you are presenting them with nutrients that are appropriate for their breed and age. Bigger dogs need more calories and protein than their smaller counterparts. In the same manner, puppies have slightly different nutritional requirements than their adult counterparts. Dogs with thick and fluffy coat also need more zinc and other minerals compared to those with thinner and finer hair.

A regular workout schedule is also important for your four-legged friend. Walking them in the park or playing Frisbee with them three times a week for a minimum of at least 30 minutes per session is enough to give their cardiovascular system a good exercise. This will thwart the possibility of them getting fat or developing problems like an atherosclerotic heart.

A refuge is necessary to protect them from the extremes of the temperature. It will also act as their protection during windy days.

Visiting the local vet will also ensure that they are in tiptop shape. Be conscious of their needed vaccinations. Shots against rabies and Parvo virus must be ticked off in their medical record. Heed your vet's advice if he has additional immunizations because they are aware that each dog breed has varying needs.

You may also give your canine companions a treat once in a while by giving them pampering sessions in a dog spa. Bubbly shower baths nail clipping, fur trimming, tooth brushing and other related services will make your pet dog feel so loved. Accordingly, these hygienic activities will also assist in evicting the irritating fleas that might have invaded their susceptible skin.

Spend quality time with your pooch. Aside from your bonding moments during your exercise session, make time to cuddle with him as soon as you get home from work. You may also try talking to him like you would any normal person. Studies show that relating with animals lower the stress hormone cortisol in the body. Therefore, this seemingly simple task will then give long-term benefits to both of you.

Lastly, dog-proof your home so that accidents can be avoided or at the very least, minimized. Make sure all electrical appliances are kept or installed in safe places. Be meticulous about dangling wires and sharp or heavy kitchen tools and utensils spread just about anywhere. Place your things in their proper locations so that your pet dog won't trip on it. - 31851

About the Author:

Finding a VIP pet insurance is not that easy and that is why we're offering our pro bono assistance. To learn more about insurance and pet health be sure to visit the website today.