About Lizards - The Leopard Gecko as a Pet

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By Jon Beebe

Leopard Geckos serve as great household pets, for older children to adults. Leopard Geckos are among the most common lizards chosen as household pets because of their small size, they are easy to care for, they are very clean for a terrarium pet (their droppings habits are similar to that of a cat - they choose a main corner to lay their feces), they have an average lifespan of 19 - 22 years (longest recorded lifespan for a Leopard Gecko is 27 years), they have interesting wide-range of colors, and they can grow very tolerant to being handled. However, children should be monitored while handling Leopard Geckos because if they are under extreme stress or fear, their tails tend to fall off.

Another good reason why Leopard Geckos as pets are a good idea is because of the fact that Leopard Geckos are very easily found available at pet stores. Just like buying a dog, you can decide to buy a Leopard Gecko today, and find a perfect one to take home with you in less than an hour (of course, that's depending on how long it takes you to get to your local pet store). For those that are hesitant about keeping wild-caught animals as pets (for example, the common blue-bellied lizard that you used to catch when you were a small child), rest assured that Leopard Geckos are one of the few lizard species that are regularly bred in captivity, for the purpose of selling as pets. As an entire package, Leopard Geckos are comparatively cheap when you look at all your getting. Leopard Geckos are beautiful lizards that come in all kinds of different colors, breeds, and design patterns; they are very tolerant to being handled, are relatively non-aggressive (I'll get to the relatively part soon); they are very clean for any kind of pet, not just lizards and reptiles; they are very easy to breed (given the proper instruction). Leopard Geckos (depending on their rarity and sometimes age) are very cheap in contrast to other reptiles that may not have all the same good qualities as Leopard Geckos.

So do Leopard Geckos bite, you ask? The reason why I said Leopard Geckos are relatively non-aggressive earlier is because I have had cases where baby Leopard Geckos would bite my fingers when I attempted to hold them, because they were not used to it. Did it hurt? Absolutely not. Leopard Geckos are toothless, very small in size, and just don't have enough power to really hurt a human being; regardless if it's a baby or an adult. That being said, I wouldn't encourage any kind of animal to bite another human being, especially small child who's fingers aren't as strong as a grown adult's.

To conclude this article, I'll end with the note that Leopard Geckos make great pets, and even if they weren't so low-cost, they would definitely still be my first choice as a reptile/lizard pet.

J. Beebe is a reptile owner and has owned and studied them for years. He specializes in Leopard Geckos and runs an information website called:

The Leopard Gecko Resource (http://www.geckosleopard.com/)
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jon_Beebe

Separation Anxiety In Dogs: The Signs

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Does your dog have separation anxiety? Here are the tell-tale signs...

If your dog shadows your every movement around the house when you’re there, and sleeps on or near your bed, and IF it has trouble doing any different, it may have separation anxiety. Any destructive behavior will occur about 20 minutes to a half hour after you leave, so another way to figure it out is to plan on returning after that time on a few occasions. A dog with separation anxiety will not likely tolerate even being left in a separate room from you with a door closed between you.

Also the things they chew or destroy are most often “escape routes,” such as doors or windows (they believe may lead them directly to you). Also, they may munch items that they associate with you by smell. Although it can seem like a vindictive reaction, I assure you it’s usually more a nervous one.

If you return home to find that your dog pees or poops in a number of different locations in the house, AND they do not appear guilty about it when you return home, they may be manifesting their separation anxiety. The dog in question may be beyond the house training stage, and the fact of the different accident locations is a sign that they are not continually returning to a scent “marked” location and confusing it with an appropriate place to go.

A dog that barks or whines continually when you are away is also admitting – to your neighbors if not to you – that they have a bad case of separation anxiety.

Separation anxiety is one of the most common problems dogs develop, and is an unsurprising result of our practice of domesticating them. They are social animals, and they crave a pack environment. The good news is there are simple and proven solutions.

About the Author:Martin Olliver is a member of the Kingdom of Pets team. For more great articles on dog training, including "Separation Anxiety: some Solutions," visit: http://kingdomofpets.com/dogobediencetraining/articles/separation_anxiety_in_dogs.php. Read more articles by: Martin Olliver Article Source: www.iSnare.com

Cat Behavior Problem And How You Can Solve It

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By Mikee Dunn

As a loving and caring cat owner, it concerned me when I found out that my precious kitty had a cat behavior problem. She had a lot of issues and we’ve worked out most of them. Here are just a few examples of what was wrong with her, and how we fixed it.

My cat suffered from the cat behavior problem of aggression. She would sometimes attack me as we played or while I was petting her. I couldn’t understand why. A veterinarian told me that cats take playing too seriously and may become overly aggressive. Once the cat’s ears get pinned back and the tail swings stiffer than usual, you know that play time should end before scratches begin. The reason for aggression during petting is unknown, but a common question among owners. The best way to stop this is to pet the cat with treats next to you. When the cat seems to stiffen up or moves around more, give her a treat and she’ll calm down. Eventually, the cat will be able to sit in your lap as long as you want without treats.

Another huge cat behavior problem that mine had was the constant meowing and purring. I read up a little and found out that some cats that do it constantly may be sick so I took her to the doctor. The check up went fine, but the veterinarian said I simply had a talkative cat. The only cure for that is ignoring her when she purrs, whereas I used to go and pick her up, adding fuel to the fire. Then after a little bit of ignoring, she finally calmed down…only to have long, loud spurts of purring. I would run into the room and see her sitting by the back door. Since I don’t ever let her out, I looked for a solution to this as well. Of all the things I tried, the one that worked the best was opening the curtains for her. Whenever I leave for work, I open the curtains and she just stares outside for hours. After I get home, there are no more loud moans to be let out!

As you can see, a cat behavior problem is very common and also very treatable with just a little bit of elbow grease. I don’t think I’ve ever come across a person who had a kitty too tough for them to handle…and I don’t intend to start now!


If you want more information on a cat behavior problem of your own, go to http://www.squidoo.com/catbehaviorproblem/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mikee_Dunn

Post Hibernation Anorexia (PHA) in Tortoises

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By Matthew Homfray

Post hibernation anorexia (PHA) is a very common problem in pet tortoises at this time of the year, and can be frustrating to treat. Prevention is much preferable to treatment, and with the correct husbandry, dietary practices and hibernation preparation, this is easily achievable.

Sadly, post hibernation problems recur each year. Many pet tortoises are still kept by owners who are ignorant of their requirements regarding heat and UVb light provision, and the fact that many tortoises can cope with poor husbandry for relatively long periods before showing clinical signs can mask the problem.

What is post hibernation anorexia (PHA)?

PHA is when a tortoise fails to eat in the days and weeks following waking from hibernation. It is not a disease in itself, merely a descriptive term that reflects underlying disease(s).

Why does PHA happen?

The main reasons for PHA occurring are:

The tortoise was not fit enough to hibernate in the first place.The hibernation was inadequately set up or poorly monitored.The hibernation lasted too long.

A veterinarian treating a case of PHA must first play detective to find out the previous husbandry practices, diet and health problems of the tortoise, and ascertain the precise hibernation set up the owner was using.

Tortoises are particularly vulnerable during the post hibernation period. When they wake they are usually very weak and have a low white blood cell count, meaning they are susceptible to infection. They also have a high urea level, due to the accumulation of metabolic toxins. This is exacerbated if the tortoise is dehydrated or has had a very long hibernation period. The combination of a high white blood cell count and a high urea level means that if anything else goes wrong, there is very little time available to diagnose and treat the problem.

The problem is made worse in countries with an unnatural climate, such as the UK. In the wild, most tortoises have a long summer to prepare them for a short winter, and therefore a short hibernation period. In countries like the UK, tortoises have a short summer to prepare for a long hibernation period. It is very important therefore to artificially control the duration of hibernation, or else the tortoise may be fatally weakened and unable to recover organ function properly.

The recommended maximum length for a hibernation is 3 months for a healthy adult tortoise, so most of them will need waking toward the end of January, and kept inside a warm enclosure until the summer.

The owner responsibilities

When a tortoise wakes from hibernation, the owner should carefully check for clinical signs such as sunken eyes (suggests dehydration) or wounds to the limbs (usually due to bites from rodents when tortoises have been hibernated outside). If any problems are suspected, veterinary help should be sought immediately.

If all seems well, tortoises should be bathed daily in shallow warm water and housed in an indoor enclosure, kept at 22 to 25 degrees centigrade, with both a basking lamp and a UVb light provided.

A healthy tortoise should start to eat and urinate within a week. If this does not occur, veterinary attention is required. The owner must closely monitor appetite, thirst, urination, defaecation and activity for at least three weeks post hibernation. If the tortoise fails to urinate within 6 weeks of waking, the prognosis is very poor sadly.

MAJOR CAUSES OF PHA

Excessive duration of hibernation period

Basically, those longer than 3 months. This occurs in tortoises left outside for the winter. Low white blood cell count This can sometimes have been present before hibernation. Stress and seasonal changes in reproductive hormones can play a role. The tortoise will be immunosuppressed on waking and if warmed too quickly, disease causing microorganisms will multiply and cause infections such as runny nose syndrome.

Disease or injury during hibernation Rat bites and frost damage are two common injuries that occur during hibernation. Blindness can also occur, which is sometimes overlooked.

Poor post hibernation management This includes failing to rehydrate the tortoise by bathing etc, not realizing the hibernation was over and inadequate food or heat provision.

Undetected long term diseases Health problems have often developed over a very long period, with hibernation being the final straw which pushes the tortoise over the edge. Examples of diseases affecting tortoises are mycotic (fungal) infections, viral infections, kidney failure, egg retention, liver disease, disease of the digestive tract and eye problems.

Treating PHA can be very frustrating for the veterinarian. It is much preferable to do all you can to stop it from occurring in the first place. Good vets will suggest a pre hibernation consultation for the following season, where long term husbandry and care can be discussed.


Dr Matthew Homfray is one of the veterinary pet experts at http://www.WhyDoesMyPet.com. Our dedicated community of caring pet experts are waiting to offer you advice, second opinions and support.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Matthew_Homfray