Many horses spend much of their time in their stalls, so it is imperative for us to ensure that we provide the best stall possible. Horses that spend a lot of time in an indoor stall will need to be given the most attention in terms of cleaning and keeping the stall safe for them.

If you have large breed horses, such as Thoroughbreds, Quarter Horses or Warmbloods you may want to go with a stall that is 16×16. These stalls are often referred to as stallion and foaling stalls. Ponies will not need any more than a 10×10 stall. Moderate size horses will do well with a 12×12 stall.

The dividers between your horse’s stall and the next stall need to be made of a heavy material. Most stalls are constructed of two-inch plans that go up to about five feet or so. Another divider should be placed so that the horses can see each other but not necessarily make contact. The same is true for the front of the stall. Stall doors may have gates that swing open so that the horses can stick their heads out into the barn aisle.

Watch the latch on the door. It is not uncommon for a horse to figure out their stall door latch and easily let themselves out. If your horse figures out his latch you will also want to place a chain with a simple clip that the horse cannot undo. Never padlock a horse in stall, as you may not be there to release the horse in the case of a fire or other emergency.

It is important that the stall be very well ventilated. Horses can produce a lot of heat from their bodies and a poorly ventilated stall may cause bacterial growth in the walls, sickness, respiratory problems and bad smells.

Horses do like to lie down and sleep at night and they will do so, if they feel safe and comfortable in their stall. They have to take a load off of their limbs during the night, so you need to be sure that the horse has enough room to lie down. Sometimes horses will lie down but not leave themselves enough room to get back up – this is know in the horse world as being ‘cast’. When a horse is cast they may thrash about and panic because they can’t get enough room to leverage themselves back on their feet. You will need to get in the stall and assist the horse in getting back on it’s feet – be careful even a quite horse may be scared and lash out in fright.

Most complexes use shavings as bedding for horses. Many people will put several wheelbarrow loads of shavings in their stall for their horse, but this is not necessarily good. If you have too much bedding then your horse’s legs can become weak due to the lack of contact with the ground. Bones need to be stressed and concussed by the ground in order to maintain their strength. You want to have just enough bedding that the horse can still feel the ground, but the bedding will also absorb urine.

Your horse’s stall should contain a feeder, a water bucket or automatic waterer, possibly a salt/mineral block and a toy to prevent boredom. The less that you have in the stall the better and safer it will be for the horse. You should also provide some hay for your horse to munch on.

Jo Thompson just loves her three horses and loves anything and everything to do with horses. And she does not think the horses should stop at the stall door, she adores horse d

A lot of dog owners disregard kennel cough. The reason for this is because of the fact that the disease can possibly heal on its own. But this is such a very big risk to take.

Dogs suffering from kennel cough need medical care and attention. Kennel cough could get worse any minute. Furthermore, it can just be a symptom of a much severe disease lurking inside your dog.

You know that your dog has kennel cough if it makes hacking cough sounds every now and then. There may or may not be white to yellow mucus forming in its nose. Some people mistake kennel cough for retching. However, kennel cough tends to occur chronically. Besides, your dog would look ill if it has kennel cough. It may even develop fever because of the disease.

The moment you discover that you dog has kennel cough, you have to take it to the veterinarian. To treat kennel cough, the viruses and bacteria that are causing the disease should be eliminated. The most effective way is to do so is to use antibiotics and similar oral medical treatments. Depending on the severity of your pet’s condition, the vet may administer intranasal vaccines or inoculations. These modes of treatment can provide dogs with an almost immediate relief to kennel cough.

Dogs that are very prone to acquiring kennel cough are better off taking continued natural medications. Natural medications may come in the form of tinctures, oils, herbs, and teas. The preparation is similar to humans and you’ve got to administer it to your pet to improve its defenses against the disease. Tinctures should be added to water. With the use of a medicine dropper, give your dog several drops of natural herbs such as wild cherry bark, yerba santa, peppermint, or honey.

Kennel cough is a very common disease. Dogs tend to suffer from it at least once in their lifetime. However, it can easily be prevented. Keeping your dog healthy and strong is the first step. Also, you shouldn’t let your pet stray away too much because kennel cough is a highly contagious disease. Mere association with other dogs suffering from it may cause your dog to acquire the disease. Direct contact is not necessary for kennel cough to be transmitted from one dog to another. Furthermore, such a cough may be transferred from cats, birds, or rabbits. The carrier of the disease doesn’t have to be another dog.

Keep your pet safe from kennel cough by boosting its immune system. Don’t skip regular checkups with the vet either. There are also kennel cough vaccinations for puppies available these days. If you really want your dog to be cleared from this disease, give it the shots that it needs.

Dogs, whenever they are sick, demand care and attention from their masters. They are not too different from humans that need companionship if they are ill. As such, you should do what it takes to restore the good health of your dog. If your dog is well and lively, it will be in its usual joyful self, which can brighten up even your gloomiest day.

For more information related to the kennel cough infection, visit us at KennelCoughInDogs.com and read more about the main kennel cough treatments and kennel cough home remedies.

So, will ear mites propose a danger to my dog? The simple answer to this question is yes. Ear mites may affect your dog greatly.

While it can rarely cause accidental death, it would certainly affect your dog’s joyful nature. Ear mites are small inconveniences for your pets. Worse, they are living organisms that are thriving on their body for food.

It is possible to find ear mites in dogs and cats, as well as other small animals. Ear mites can be considered as parasites, which actually feed on the epidermal wastes of your pet’s body. In this case, they found food in the ears. And there they will stay for as long as they are getting the proper nourishment.

Ear mites may or may not be seen by the naked eye. There are species that are big enough to be seen floating about the hair and the skin of your pet. However, there are also some that can only be observed under a microscope. But then again, you don’t have to see ear mites just to know whether or not your dog is suffering from it. There are telltale signs to watch out for.

Dogs that are very irritable and are scratching their ears a lot are most likely to be suffering from this condition. And most of these dogs would have brownish discharges coming out of their ears. The discharges are excessive ear wax. The mites trigger its production.

Generally, you don’t have to clean the ears of your dog frequently because they can do it by themselves. So if you see a build up of ear wax in your pet, there’s every reason to be alarmed. Your dog could be suffering from ear mites and you have to provide a quick solution to it.

Ear mites rarely lead to death. But that doesn’t mean that it is not possible. The most common problem with ear mites is the fact that they can trigger the loss of your dog’s hearing. Mites penetrating deep into the ears may cause damage to the ear drums. Keep in mind that the ear is responsible for keeping the body’s balance. This is true with both dogs and humans. Ear mites could disrupt that balance and cause seizures to your pet. And if your dog suffered from a bad case of seizure, that’s when sudden or eventual death may arise.

Ear mites are highly contagious. So you definitely want to keep your other pets away from the infected ones. This is also the reason why it is very important to address the problem early on. If you are not careful, the disease may spread to all of your pets. And in which case, the mites become harder to eliminate.

Keep your dog clean. That’s the first line of defense against ear mites. Make sure that it gets is daily bath. Groom your pet as frequently as required. A healthy, hygienic dog is not likely to acquire any type of diseases - especially not ear mites.

DogEarMites.net - resources and articles dealing with the ear mites in dogs infection, how to prevent ear mites in dogs and how to diagnose ear mites in dogs

Feline health is all about maintenance. This article will give you three easy steps for keeping your cat(s) happy and healthy on a long-term basis.

Cats are independent creatures in many ways. If you follow a few simple guidelines your feline friends will enjoy maximum health and a very long life.

Use the information below to formulate your own feline health care plan:

Feline Health Tip #1 Choosing The Right Food

It’s critical that you feed your cats a high quality food product. You might save money by going with a dollar store brand of cat food, but the end result will be poor health and possible even complications.

A quality food will ensure optimal feline health by providing the proper nutrition. A good product like Science Diet, Iams, or Eukanuba will boost your cat’s energy levels, give them a healthy, shiny coat, and support a strong digestive system.

Also, a higher-grade food will not contain the kind of fillers and junk found in low-grade stock. Such byproducts can cause digestion problems and sluggish performance over time.

Feline Health Tip #2 Providing A Cat-Friendly Environment

Feline health experts agree that cats living indoors fulltime live longer than cats that are allowed to go outside frequently. Obviously felines will encounter far fewer hazards in your home than they would when wandering the streets or countryside.

However, cats love being outside. So you may want to allow some outdoors time if you live a safe distance from a busy road and there are no free-roaming, aggressive dogs in your area.

Even cats that live inside can endanger themselves through their tendency to investigate unsafe areas. Go over your home as if you planned to childproof it to avoid problems that arise form curious felines.

Keep cleaning chemicals and other toxic materials locked away. Cats might be attracted to the sweet smell of cleaning solutions.

Also be sure any heating/cooling ducts are protected with the proper grates to prevent cats from getting stuck in the ductwork. And avoid leaving easy access to standing water in kitchen sinks or bathtubs.

Feline Health Tip #3 Cat Maintenance

It’s a good idea to pay close attention to your cat’s eyes, mouth, ears, and feet. Look for any liaisons, discharges, or other signs of injury or illness so you can prevent infection or serious complications resulting from their active lifestyle.

And be aware that cats are vulnerable to a whole range of dental, respiratory, and ear/eye complications. By keeping a close watch on any new developments or major behavioral changes you can stop an illness from becoming too serious.

Any changes in eating or drinking habits should be taken seriously. If a cat becomes disinterested in food or water or becomes unable to use the litter box contact your vet without delay.

These three very simple tips can help you keep your cat(s) happy and healthy for a very long time. These wonderful creatures rely on you to keep them healthy and safe, and diligence in this regard is a small price to pay for the companionship they offer.

For more easy, practical tips on keeping your cats in an optimal state of feline health be sure to visit the author

Feline obesity is a threat to the health and lifespan of your cat. This article will help you work with your cat to lose the needed weight with minimal struggle.

Feline health is, in many ways, common sense. Since cats are mammals like us, many of the same basic premises apply.

When a cat is overweight, he or she is at risk for heart problems, diabetes, and the exact same complications obese humans experience. Good feline health practices for reducing obesity are the same tactics used for people who need to shed a few excess pounds.

Essentially your cat needs to take in fewer calories and get a little more exercise. That’s all there is to it unless there is some genetic setback causing the feline obesity.

You might think it’s hard to get your cat on a diet and exercise program, but in truth it’s quite easy. Where you lead, your feline friend will follow.

The first step is to ask your vet what your cat’s target weight should be. Your veterinarian should be able to give you a good range to shoot for with a basic physical exam.

Fewer Calories In Your Cat’s Diet

Once you have a target weight goal, you’ll need to start by adjusting your cat’s caloric intake. Your vet can recommend a good food with fewer calories.

Also you can adjust the current feeding schedule. If you’re leaving food in the bowl all day long, start feeding your cat twice a day instead.

Take the bowls up after your cat eats in the morning and set them out again for the evening meal. Again, once the cat has had a good meal, take the food up again until the next morning.

Clearly if you have multiple cats it might not be as easy to manage your obese feline’s diet. If you don’t want to put all cats on a reduced schedule just find a food with fewer calories and eliminate treats until the target weight is reached.

And certainly stop giving your cat people food! Especially in cases of feline obesity it is counterproductive to share people food with your cat.

Feline Exercise Program

Chance are your cat is already somewhat active. Even cats who “sleep all day” have at least one activity period during the day.

Felines are polyphasic, meaning they have multiple periods of sleep and activity during the day. You may simply be unaware of when your cat is running and playing.

Your job is to get your cat involved in a period of exercise and brisk physical activity for about ten minutes each day. And you can do this by simply playing with him or her.

Drag a string, throw a catnip ball, or do something else to intrigue your cat into motion. Keep him/her running, jumping, and swatting for ten minutes or longer without stopping.

You can use catnip to stimulate your cat if needed. Many felines get a rush from this herb and will become more active for several minutes after rolling in or eating it.

It takes a little focus on your part to correct a feline obesity problem. But you owe it to your cat to put forth the effort on this because after all, you are the parental figure in this relationship.

For more easy, practical tips on keeping your cats in an optimal state of feline health be sure to visit the author

The absolute best place for newborn kittens to be is with their mothers. They need valuable antibodies from her colostrum and need her constant licking and care. Sometimes newborn kittens are separated from their mothers and need to be raised by humans. Although this isn’t ideal, you can still raise healthy newborn kittens by hand.

Our world was turned upside down by a newborn kitten named Ricky Bobby. Our dog Shamrock, a huge German Shepard, brought a newborn kitten home in her mouth. She gently carried this brand new kitty and gently laid it down in front of us. Shamrock had always loved cats, but this was truly amazing. She was a kitten rescue dog!

Ricky Bobby still had his little umbilical cord and couldn’t have been more than a day old. We searched high and low for his momma, but never could find her. We decided that we were going to have to try and raise this newborn kitten on our own. We knew he had a very slight chance of survival, but we wanted to give him the best possible shot at a normal, healthy life.

Newborn kittens really need colostrum from their mothers, and although there are supplements you can buy, nothing beats that milk they get in the first 24 hours of life. Of course, we had no idea if Ricky Bobby had received his colostrum. We instantly made a homemade formula for him and then went and purchased some high quality commercially made formula as soon as we had the chance. It is important to get really good quality formula to give your kitten the best nutrition. Never give plain cow’s milk as it gives kitten’s diarrhea because they cannot digest it well.

Ricky had his good days and bad days. Some days he wouldn’t eat or eliminate well and would be very shaky. There were plenty of days when we didn’t think the little guy would make it through. We fed him round the clock and took him everywhere we went. He couldn’t be left alone for even an hour or so at the beginning.

We did everything we could to keep him warm and safe. Newborn kittens are very fragile and need constant care and attention. We fed him often and constantly stroked him and cuddled him. Raising a newborn kitten alone, without littermates is difficult. Newborn kittens with littermates will pile on top of each other for warmth and support. They feel safer having littermates near them, as they can feel their heartbeats and they know their smell. A newborn kitten that is alone needs extra care and attention from a human to simulate a mother or littermate.

Ricky Bobby made it through and is very affectionate. He came down with an inner ear infection at one point, that makes him walk with his head crooked. He looks and acts quite comical, but he is healthy and happy. Since he was hand raised he is very social. He has a very outgoing personality.

Raising newborn kittens can be tough. With a little information and persistence you can hand raise a healthy, happy cat.

For more about Ricky Bobby , our hand raised kitten success story and more great information on caring for a kitten, check out my blog Kitten Care.

The world has gotten smaller. It has gotten so small that things you used to have to buy from someone in your town or geographic area can be bought from someone on the other side of an ocean. If you’re at home with a sick baby and you only have a few days of formula left, you can purchase that formula online and it comes right to your door in a few days. If you want to buy a certain type of dog or cat, you simply make the transaction and meet that person anywhere within the country to pick up your new friend.

All of this is possible because of the Internet. All of this would not happen unless the Internet had opened up doorways to the world. People are able to carry out transactions anywhere in the world and it can be done so easily. But there is one exception and that exception is pet transactions.

Pet transactions

Pet transactions can be carried out easily on the Internet, but it is the delivery of the merchandise that gets a little bit tricky. This is because we’re talking about transporting a live animal and there is not a shipping service for this. This is the one time in which you’re not going to be able to buy a dog in England and have it shipped to you. You can, however, live in New York and buy an animal in California. That’s if the person doing the selling is willing to meet you at a halfway point. Something like that is rare unless that person selling the animal is that passionate about placing that animal in your home.

However, you can make arrangements to go to California if you’re that passionate about that particular pet. There is no problem with that. You can fly there and transport the animal on the plane to make it easier. It is up to you, but the point is that you can make such a transaction. And yes, if you want to fly to England to pick up a pet, you can do that, so an international pet transaction can definitely be done. You just have to be really passionate about that animal.

Pet transactions the usual way

The usual way in which pet transactions are carried out do not involve driving or flying across the country, or even flying halfway across the world. A person usually goes to the Internet to see if any breeders are selling a particular type of dog or cat. When they find that individual, they will contact that person and ask them questions about the pets that they are breeding. They will usually ask if the breeder would send pictures, which is most likely always done. After seeing pictures and doing some research on the breeder, the seeker will make arrangements to purchase the animal. After the purchase, the two will meet at a mutual place or the buyer will come to the breeder’s home.

It is usually better to come to the breeder’s home because you’re able to see the condition of the animals and their living quarters. This ensures that you’re not dealing with a puppy or cat mill. It also gives you the opportunity to back out of the transaction if you must. The important thing, however, is that the Internet brought you and this breeder together. You would not have been able to find this animal if you didn’t have the entire world to search.

As for where you can find breeders, you can usually find breeders selling their animals on classified ad sites, auction sites, and other places throughout the Internet. If you see in a classified ad or in something else that a breeder is selling a Bichon Frise and you’ve always wanted a Bichon Frise, you’re in luck. Maybe no one in your area breeds these dogs and that is why you’ve been unable to get hold of one. By checking the Internet you were able to find the dog of your dreams and you are able to make arrangements to pick him or her up. This is something that happens every single day, which gives dog breeders a much broader customer base.

Bringing pets and people together

It’s amazing how the Internet has brought people and their pets together. It is sort of like personal ads for people and animals. You answer the ad and the next thing you know you have the four-legged love of your life in your arms. Many happy pets and their owners have found each other this way.

Another way in which pets and people have been brought together really digs at your heart. As puppy mills and unfit owners are stopped by law enforcement, pictures of these animals are placed online. They are placed on pet adoption sites, classified ad sites, and on social networking sites. Their stories are told and this really plucks at the heart strings of people all around the world. If it were not for the Internet, most of these animals would not find homes. Fortunately, because of the Internet, over 90% of these abused animals find good homes. It is because of the Internet that awareness of these issues is coming about so that these abused animals can be rescued and put into good homes.

So if you’re looking for that perfect pet, make sure you check the classified ads online and various other sites around the web. You never know when you might become the love of an animal’s life. You can be his or her hero. No matter how you go about it, you will find your best friend, your sidekick, and the fuzzy love of your life. So if you can’t find what you want in your own area, remember that you have the entire world to find your best friend. You’re not restricted by the borders of your own state or even by your own country. Take advantage of that and have fun with it.

Jay Gaulard writes for a wide selection of websites on various topics. He is a veteran of the internet and has come to be respected in his many areas of expertise. This article was written on behalf of PetLeeg, a popular pet classifieds website.

A shy summer visitor, the corncrake now only nests in the more peaceful meadowlands of the rural north and west – driven from its former range by increasingly mechanized farming.

On warm summer evenings at the turn of the century, the monotonous, rasping crek crek of the elusive country folk, so numerous were these birds. Large numbers of shy visitor from Africa would arrive to make their summer home among thick stands of grass and rough vegetation throughout Britain. But during the last 70 years or so the corncrake has slowly and dramatically disappeared from most of its breeding haunts and is now only regularly heard in the west of Scotland, the Scottish Isles, north-west Wales and, above all, in rural Ireland, where about 1500 pairs still nest each year.

Despite its name, the corncrake prefers damp meadows with plenty of nettles and other tall weeds, to fields of ripe corn. Here it spends most of the day skulking among the vegetation, perfectly camouflaged by its brown, black-streaked plumage. About the size of a moorhen and resembling a slim, short-necked gamebird, it is, like other members of the rail family, more commonly heard than seen. Shy and secretive by nature, the corncrake cranes its neck above the grass stems to reconnoiter the scene before emerging from cover. Of approached, it quickly vanishes, creeping stealthily from one patch of cover to another. Only as a last resort will it take to the air to escape danger, as its bright chestnut wing patches, and dangling legs trailing behind its short tail, clearly identify the bird. Under cover of failing light, though, at dusk it becomes bolder and more active, searching among the grass for beetles, grasshoppers, slugs, snails, earthworms, leaves and seeds.

Night Cryer – It is the male corncrake which is responsible for the far-carrying, rasping call. He uses it to advertise his claim to territory – all night, for weeks on end, from the same field. The sound has a peculiarly ventriloqual quality, which makes this elusive bird even more difficult to locate.

However, one way of luring it into view is to mimic its call by rubbing a wooden ruler across the teeth of a comb, for a calling male often finds it hard to resist investigating what it takes to be a rival.

If two rival males do meet, they puff out their body feathers, open their wings wide to show off their chestnut patches, and stretch their heads and necks out at each other. If particularly incensed, they may stab out with their short, sharp, pinkish bills.

The corncrake’s nest is a shallow scrape, on which the female fashions a sparse pad of dry grass. It is usually well hidden deep in lush meadow vegetation or among hay crops. The female lays between 6-14 eggs and incubates them for about a fortnight. Three or four days after hatching the fluffy black chicks are able to leave the nest and find food for themselves. After 4 or 5 weeks, they can fly, and in September set off with the adults on their south-ward migration across the Meditterranean and Sahara to the grasslands of East Africa. Though apparently weak in flight, they are able to make a 4000 mile journey to their winter quarters.

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