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Last Tuesday, something staggering occurred on Hayling Island. an 8 m long Northern Bottlenose whale beached on a mudflat just north of Hayling in the neighboring Langstone Harbour, Hampshire.

Unluckily, the whale had experienced severe dehydration, which caused it to be suffering from kidney failure, when it became pinned on Thursday night.

There was a great rescue scheme, where humans attempted bravely to save the Northern Bottlenose whale’s life. There was a time when the team thought that the kind thing to do would be to put the magnificent beast to sleep with a lethal injection. Still, the whale then swam out to sea over again. Alas, it came back towards the coast again and was beached for a 2nd and concluding time.

The special vets determined that the only nurturant thing to do would be to supply the lethal injection, which they did on Friday morning. They used Immobilon, which was a very quick acting and lethal strength of anaesthetic.

If the mammal was not put to sleep, the experts believe that it would have taken about 2 further days for the whale to die, during which it would have remained sick and distressed.

It seemed bizarre that the 6 tonne mammalian, which is commonly found about 3000 miles away, finished up here on Hayling Island, but it is another wonderful story that Hampshire’s Hayling Island brings to its history.

There were around a dozen firefighters, police, coastguard personnel as well as members of the Hayling Island harvour lifeboat staff involved in the attempt.

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When you have a dog in the house it is vital that he knows who is in charge and what he is allowed to do, he must also know what the rules of the house are.

If you do not set the rules for your dog he will think that he is in charge and set the rules himself, this can result in a dog that is very hard to train and who might become aggressive. One way to avoid such problems is to set firm boundaries that the dog is not allowed to cross, you might decide that he is not allowed in the kitchen or up stairs, this will give the message to the dog that because you are in charge you have access to every area of the home but the dog as a lower (although much loved) member of the family (or pack as the dog will see it) only has access to some areas.

Obviously you are not going to be in the same room as the dog 24/7 and if you were to go from the front room to the dining room you could not reasonably be expected to shut the dog in the front room every time to stop him wondering off, If you did do this it might cause some separation anxiety, as the dog is unable to see through the door and does not understand why you have left him.

If you have a tall indoor dog gate fitted, and they can be fitted with out leaving marks on the door or wall, then all you need do is open it walk through and close it, there is now a barrier between you and the dog, so he is unable to go into the restricted areas of the house, but the dog can see through it and the anxiety is no longer a problem.

If you have a dog that jumps up and misbehaves when you have visitors, an easy way of solving this problem is to shut the dog in a room where he can see the door that your guests are coming through but because you have put up a tall indoor dog gate he is unable to get into the same room as your visitors.

He will be excited when your visitors arrive and want to be centre of attention (this is most likely why he misbehaves) the idea of the barrier is to allow him to take some time to calm down at the thought of the visitors and once he has you may open the tall indoor dog gate and let him join your guests. Once the initial excitement has worn off he can greet your visitors in a much more acceptable manor, this technique is remarkably effective and after a short time the gate becomes unnecessary as the dog recognises to be calmer when people come to your house.

If you decide to allow your dog to go upstairs then a tall indoor dog gate is essential to stop him bolting down the stairs and hurting himself. If you do not have a barrier at the top of the stairs then the dog could run down them and loose control, and a run can very easily turn in to a fall. With a tall indoor dog gate in place you can control when the dog goes down the stairs and you can be on hand to ensure the slow decent.

I hope these observations have helped you think about the need of getting some tall indoor dog gates for your home, they can help with training and with the safety of your pet and family.

http://www.tall-indoor-dog-gates.com Tall indoor dog gates is a site dedicated to all aspects of dog care and training.

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In recent years there has been an amazing rise in the number of dog
owners interested in holistic dog care. They share a concern about
the amount of chemicals used in conventional treatments. Many believe
that an over-dependence on conventional medicine can even be harmful,
leading to different types of dog allergy and nasty conditions

‘Holistic dog care’ is a term that we hear often, but many people
admit to being unsure about what it really means.

Okay, let’s put that right!

‘Holistic’ comes from the Greek-based word ‘holism’, and when applied
to medicine (for animals as well as humans!) it means treating the
whole ‘entity’ (body and mind) and not just the symptoms of disease.

Your dog - like you! - has an amazing ability to heal itself. The
only problem is that over the years this ability can be dampened down
by an over-reliance on chemical ‘cures’. Wouldn’t it be better to
help your pet re-activate his natural dog health, and enable him to
ward off harmful diseases and conditions before they take hold?

I became interested in holistic dog care over ten years ago when our
Border Collie pup, Ben, contracted a near fatal condition, Demodectic
Mange. Conventional medicine actually prolonged the illness and
several types of unpleasant treatments had to be tried.

Since we moved to a more holistic and natural approach Ben has never
looked back!

Let me stress again, all humans and animals have a natural tendency to
heal and cure themselves of most illnesses, so the secret lies in
boosting the immune system which our modern ways have encouraged to
become slack or ‘lazy’.

Once it’s stimulated and functioning well, a healthy immune system can
help your dog remain fit and active for longer than you might expect.
Now, that’s great news, isn’t it?

Yes, but I’m sure it’s all very complicated.

Relax, it’s not. In fact it’s simple. Nature’s ways often are, since
they’re the best.

So what do I have to do?

First of all, seek out a vet who either practices or is interested in
holistic or natural treatments. If such a vet isn’t close at hand,
you can register online with many holistic veterinary practices and
receive advice and counseling - and often this will cost nothing.
Then, if you have to go to a conventional vet, you can be forearmed
and say what type of treatment you’d prefer for your dog’s health.

There are many outlets supplying natural dog foods, and again if you
can’t find one in your area there are excellent online suppliers.
Even if this does cost slightly more (and it won’t always!) you’ll
save time and money by not having to drive to the store.

Online you’ll also find lots of advice on natural health supplements
to maintain peak health, or to combat illness and boost fitness if and
when necessary.

However, we’ve found that with a regular combination of healthy food
and exercise, Ben never needs anything other than a check-up at the
vet.

Apart from giving natural dog food and supplements, the other
requisites for holistic dog care are so obvious they are no-brainers!

Normal cleanliness is one. Groom your dog regularly and check his
coat for unwanted guests. Grooming will also promote a healthy skin.
Take care of basic things, such as cleaning and drying his ears after
a swim. See that he gets exercise every day and interact with him as
much as possible by playing with him, stroking him and so on. Holistic
dog care, remember, deals with the mind as well as the body.
Interaction has enormous psychological and emotional benefits for both
dog and human companion. Learn basic first-aid for dogs, just in case
you have to act in an emergency: the least suffering involved, the
less depleted your dog’s natural resources will be.

So let’s sum up:

* Give your dog exercise and companionship

* Feed him a healthy diet of natural dog food

* Give him natural supplements

* See to basic hygiene

* Learn some first-aid

* Take him to a vet who is in sympathy with your requirements

. . . and you will be pleasantly surprised to find your dog avoids
lots of common ailments and conditions. This is because his immune
system will have been strengthened and he will have regained the
natural immunity Nature intended him to have.

Easy, isn’t it? And isn’t your dog worth it?

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The other day I was doing a research online for an article I was writing and I came across an article, which the author started by saying: “Euthanasia, is often the hardest thing to do, yet the greatest act of kindness” Then he went on explaining the “grueling” suffering and the guilt the pet owner goes through before making the decision, how it affects the whole family, especially the kids. But then he explains euthanasia in the most loving way I’ve ever seen someone describe a murder. I remember “simple and peaceful” were some of the words he used, he even gave recommendations on how to avoid stress during the ride to the vet’s clinic.

The GREATEST act of KINDNESS? To whom? That little bundle of love didn’t know what was happening, he just knew that he was the happiest guy when you got home from work, he assumed you loved him back because you took him to walks on the park and you pampered him with professional grooming every once in a while. Little he knew that:

1.You were slowly poisoning him with the cheapest discount store pet food, that didn’t have the proper nutrients, but in turn was filled with toxins- Processed pet food suppresses the immune system and leads to liver, kidney, heart and other degenerative diseases. You are going to be shocked when you know the nasty things that are used to manufacture your pet’s food.

2.Your choice of grooming products was the reason of his constant itching- Commercial pet shampoos contains many toxic and destructive chemicals such as the foaming agents sodium laureth sulphate and cocamide betaine. These strong chemical de-greasers strip the hair of up to 4/5 of its natural oils and eventually produce sore, dry scalp/skin conditions and irritate the eyes. Sadly these foaming agents are used because consumers seem to believe incorrectly, that a lot of lather means a shampoo is working well.

3.You lead him to the degenerative diseases that put him in that cold, stainless steel table wondering, “What’s next?”- If you would have considered holistic pet care, for your furry friend, you could have been able to treat conditions even before the symptoms showed up and maintain your pet in balanced wellness avoiding him unnecessary pain, because holistic is not something metaphysical as many people may think, it simply means treating the body as a whole.

You don’t have to kill your dog (or cat), you have a choice: PREVENTION- that is the GREATEST act of kindness. It’s never too late to start taking good care of your pet, remember, we’re talking about the one who’s proud to be seen with you even if you’re ugly, the one who stays by your bed when you’re sick, the one who in the event of inverted positions, would not hesitate to take good care of you. Start now!

Mariangie Gonzalez has a major in Animal Science and Pre-Veterinary and runs the day-to-day operations of her home-based business and website in which you can learn how homeopathic remedies could prolong and improve your pet’s life. She can also help you start your own home-based 100% natural pet supplies business, you can visit online at: http://www.MindBodyAndPaw.com

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Your First Cichlid Aquarium

By William Berg
of Sweden, for http://www.aquaticcommunity.com

So you’re thinking about trying cichlids. A good choice. In this article I shall try to give a few examples of good cichlid aquariums that are suitable for beginners. I’ve tried to suggest set-ups that will be beautiful and easy to maintain, and species that are easily bred so that you might observe this fascinating side of cichlid behaviour.

This article targets those who haven’t that much experience with aquariums in general and cichlids in particular. If you are a more experienced aquarist who is just new to cichlids these set-ups will still be good, and you have a lot of other options as well since you are probably capable of keeping more sensitive species than those suggested in this article.

Aquarium:
It is possible to keep some cichlids, such as Lamprologus ocellatus, in very small aquariums. However, for your first cichlid aquarium I would recommend a larger aquarium of no less than 30 gallons/120 L. There are several reasons for this:

- A larger aquarium is easier to maintain and easier to keep in good condition.
- Cichlids are aggressive. Some cichlids are much more aggressive than others, but almost all cichlids are aggressive and a larger aquarium makes it easier for weaker fish to avoid this hostility.
- Cichlid behaviour is usually more interesting if you can keep more than one isolated pair in an aquarium. For example this may allow you to see the parents guarding their young.

Water conditions:
Which water conditions you should have depends on which cichlids you want to keep since their preferences differ greatly. For your first aquarium I recommend keeping species that are less sensitive to water conditions, and if you choose to try the species I recommend in this article you normally won’t have to think about water conditions. I don’t recommend keeping cichlids from the great African lakes as your first cichlids if you are an inexperienced aquarist, since they have more specialised demands.

Feeding:
The cichlids I recommend accept all kind of food, however I would recommend giving them a diverse diet consisting of pellets/flakes, frozen food and occasional live food.

Species:
Now to the fun part: choosing fish species to your new aquarium. I will give three examples of possible aquariums. The first one has its origin in African rivers and is more friendly, while the second one features cichlids from Central America. I will also give a suggestion for a composition that has its origins in the Amazon. However this composition is a little bit harder to get to breed and requires a larger aquarium. I would recommend at least 50 gallon/ 200 L.

1. African cichlid aquarium (30 gallons)
1 pair of kribs (Pelvicachromis pulcher)
1 pair of African butterfly cichlids (Anomalochromis thomasi)
1 pair of Egyptian mouth-brooders (Pseudocrenilabrus multicolor)
4 Ancistrus (plecos)

2. Central American aquarium (30 gallons):
1 pair of Archocentrus sajica (T-Bar cichlid)
1 pair of convicts (Archocentrus nigrofasciatus)
2 Hypostomus (plecos)

3. Amazon aquarium (50 gallons):
4 angelfish ( Pterophyllum scalare)
1 pair of Aequidens curviceps
1 pair of Aequidens maronii (Keyhole cichlid)
6 Ancistrus (plecos)

Tank set-ups:
1. African cichlid aquarium
All of these species are relatively friendly and have different behaviours that will reduce stress between the different pairs. These species prefer a well planted aquarium and leave your plants alone so that you can use all sorts of plants. They also require hiding and spawning places. Kribs spawn in caves which can be created using roots, rocks and flowerpots. A. Thomasi spawns on flat surfaces such as rocks. You will have to leave free areas without plants and rocks to create swimming space and allow you to see your fish more often. Use fine sand as this promotes spawning of Egyptian mouth-brooders. If you just keep the aquarium clean and your fish well fed they will thrive and spawn in this aquarium. If you find your aquarium a little empty you can add some small schooling fish such as tetras to the upper water levels.

2. Central American aquarium
The species in this set-up are more aggressive, which explains why I only recommend keeping two species in this tank. Both species lay their eggs on rocks so caves aren’t that necessary, but I would still recommended that you create a few as hiding places as these species can be quite aggressive. This is especially true when they are spawning and caring for their young. A sajica usually leaves your plants alone, but convicts often eat plants, so I recommend using more hardy plants such as sword plants, anubias and Java ferns if you want to use plants. Whether to keep plants or not is completely up to the aquarist. The cichlids will thrive with or without plants as long as you provide a few hiding places. Both species are very easy to breed and it is almost impossible to keep convicts from spawning. It can be very hard to find new homes for the fry, so I recommend letting the parents keep their young and see if any survive. In this aquarium some usually will.

3. Amazon aquarium
As I said earlier, it is preferable for this aquarium to be at least 50 gallons since these fish get a little bigger. Angelfish shouldn’t be kept in aquariums that are less than 50 cm/ 20 inches high. These species are still easy to care for but require a little more from their keeper to spawn. The aquarium should be well planted with free areas for the fish to swim in. Use large sword plants or cryptocoryne species to give the angels what they need to spawn. The other species requires roots or rocks to spawn on. Caves are not necessary but preferable, especially for A. curviceps. If you find this aquarium a little empty you might add some free-swimming schooling fish to the aquarium. Never use neon tetras with angelfish, as angelfish like to eat them. The same is true for a number of other small tetras. If you keep the water clean and the fish well fed they will thrive and with a little bit of luck, spawn.

Final words
I have given just a few suggestions for possible cichlid aquariums (there are a lot more) and when you get a little more experience with cichlids the possibilities are countless. Cichlids are very interesting and often beautiful fishes and many of them are quite simple to keep. These are only a few of the reasons behind their popularity. Try them, you won’t regret it!

About the Author

Article is written for aquaticcommunity.com by William Berg. William Berg has 20 years of aquarium experience and is the admin at http://www.aquaticcommunity.com

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When goldfish swim up to the glass of the tank, does it mean they are smart enough to recognize people?

Goldfish sure are smart not in the sense as dogs are, but they are smart. They will swim up to meet you probably because they think you are going to feed them. They might not be able to differentiate between one person and the other but they do know that the people they live with are the caregivers. Know that they depend on you and hence love you.

Why is a new goldfish not moving in its bowl, when he is very much alive?
Well first of all, he probably hates being in a bowl. Goldfish do not like bowls even though humans think the bowls are cute. Put him in a tank with a compatible companion goldfish. Meanwhile watch the fish. Is he coming up to the top of the tank when you feed him? If he is then, he’s probably just getting used to the new bowl. If it looks like he has difficulty swimming and that he keeps sinking to the bottom he might have a swim bladder disorder caused by too much dry food and bad water.

Why is a goldfish swimming to the top every once in a while?
Goldfish keep swimming to the surface of the tank because that’s where they get their oxygen. Always make sure that there is enough empty space at the top. Do not fill up the tank to the brim, as leaving space will give them the required oxygen. If your fish are normally active, swimming and chasing each other a round, don’t worry if they swim to the top every once in a while.

Why do goldfish always seem starving?

That’s because they are greedy! Don’t get tempted enough to feed them whenever they ask for it because overfeeding will cause them more harm. Besides, goldfish can never starve to death; they are always nibbling away at something or the other.

Why would one goldfish lie motionless most of the time whilst the rest swim around? Is it a social outcast?

If you have different varieties of goldfish, make sure they are compatible. The slower fancy varieties might get stressed out by the faster ones like comets. Yes, they might feel like outcasts and keep to themselves. Some goldfish might even get aggressive with another and in that case you need to one that is being badgered to another tank.

Why are all the goldfish so lifeless and tend to stay at the bottom of the tank most of the time, like they are very tired?

If they aren’t swimming as they usually do, something is definitely bothering them.

If you tank is brand new and the goldfish are having a problem because the tank has not been cycled. Wait a while and watch. Make sure you cycle the tank before you put them in because a new tank cannot deal with the ammonia that the goldfish produce.

If you tank is an old one and the goldfish are suddenly more still than usual it could be that the toxicity of the water is bothering them. So change the water. When your goldfish seem inactive, you must check the water for nitrites and the pH level.

If you would like to find the answers to more Goldfish related questions such as - What is the reason why some Goldfish attack eachother? or, What can I do to save my Goldfish from dying when suddenly it turns on its side? - Please visit my site to find the answers these questions plus a great deal more information relevant to everything Goldfish. Click here to visit.

About the Author

Having 30 years experience in everything Goldfish, Dane Stanton has spent the past 18 months researching the most pressing questions on Goldfish. This information has been recorded in his book titled - “Goldfish Secrets Revealed” - which you can pick up by going to his website - http://www.goldfish-secrets.com

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The Afghan originated in an area along the Afghan border with Iran known as Seistan. Obviously from the same stock as the other Middle East gazehounds, the Afghan changed to better do its job- coursing gazelle and leopard in the cold, mountainous terrain of Afghanistan. Its primary difference from the other coursing dogs is its long coat, which was developed to insulate the dog from the cold and protect it from scrapes as it hunted on rocky slopes.

English soldiers returning home from the Afghan war brought these beautiful dogs home with them at the turn of the twentieth century. The first Afghans were registered in the American stud book in 1927.

BODY TYPE:

An exotic appearing coursing dog of great athletic ability. The slim, muscular body is wrapped in a long glamorous coat.
Height: 25-29 inches (at shoulder)

Weight: 50-60 pounds
Hanging ears are not altered

Long tapering tail, curled at tip is not altered.

Hipbones are very prominent

A “mandarin” beard is desired in both male and female Afghans.

PERSONALITY:

Alert and aloof
Ignores strangers as if they are beneath acknowledging

Reserved nature does not make them suitable for active children.

Not particularly intelligent and can be very difficult to train.

COAT:

Long and silky , the single coat tangles easily.

The high-stepping gait of the Afghan is springy and the coat appears to flow out behind it.

Very high grooming maintenance.

TIPS:

Unusual in hunting dogs, Afghans have a low tolerance to pain - and they will let you know it.
Very high strung and will become hyperactive if not exercised regularly.

One of the first Afghans imported to the US belonged to Zeppo Marx of Marx Brothers fame.

HEALTH CONCERNS:

Like most of the greyhound family the Afghan has a sensitivity to anesthetics. Can be life-threatening

Allergic to the chemicals on flea collars, and in powders and sprays for fleas and ticks.

Genetic cataracts are known in the breed

A progressive paralytic disease is unique to the breed.

A tendency to give up fighting an illness; Afghans often just curl up and wait to die.

For more information:
Afghan Hound
Dog Breeds

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You may or may not agree with this statement but I truly believe
that toy pomeranian puppies are the cutest ever. They are so
fluffy and cuddly. A puppy of any dog breed is gorgeous I know,
but they grow up into big dogs and that is the difference with
the pomerian (as some people spell it) because when these little
treasures grow up they still look like toy pomeranian puppies.

You always feel like you own a puppy instead of a full-grown
dog. Being a toy breed means they are small and often fragile so
they do need some extra care especially around young children.
When they are puppys this is even more important. Just squeezing
too tightly or being dropped can be fatal.

If you are interested in purchasing a pom and would prefer a
puppy then do your research and find out if you and you family
will be suited to owning one of these delightful little
creatures. Have a look at lots of pictures either in books or
online. Read as much as you can about their needs and wants. The
last thing you should do is buy a pup and then realize it won’t
fit in with your lifestyle. This is not something to think of
lightly.

Ask the local vet where you can find a good breeder that has toy
pomeranian puppies for sale or look online yourself and then do
some good checking out of breeders to find reputable ones to
compare with. Always ask to see the pup’s parents and make sure
the puppy is healthy and has been vet checked. Make sure you get
documentation on this.

In the end, if you go ahead with bringing a pom pup into your
family it will be one of the best decisions of your life!

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