Be sure the bird you choose is healthy. A sick bird is no bargain no matter what the price. By the time a bird shows any symptoms of disease, illness has usually become quite advanced. If a bird appears droopy, ruffled, tired or hides his head under his wing, this is not the bird for you. If he sneezes, sits on the bottom of the cage, has a discharge above his nostrils or droppings stuck to his tail feathers, there may be big problems. If he makes clicking sounds as he breathes or if his tail bobs, the bird may have serious respiratory disease and you should choose another individual.
Take your new bird to an avian veterinarian for a "well bird check up" immediately. Good pet stores will allow you to return a sick bird. This insures that you get a healthy pet, and lets you meet an avian veterinarian in your area. It also helps the pet store or breeder maintain healthy birds.

birds eat a wide variety of nuts, small pieces of meat, even another bird's eggs occasionally. So how do we duplicate this variety? A good rule of thumb is, if a food is healthy for a human, it is healthy for your bird. Birds enjoy spaghetti or a bit of chicken. Hard boiled egg is often a big hit. Almonds, walnuts or other nuts are fine in small quantities. Many birds love cheeses and yogurt. Monkey chow is a tasty treat and an excellent source of protein for birds. It is available at most pet stores. Cuttlebone and mineral blocks are a good source of calcium. If you have any questions about whether a food is good for your bird, call your avian vet for more information.

Those of us who have raised puppies and kittens know how dangerous a house can be. Mischievous, exploring young pets seem to find every available risky item in the first 24 hours of arrival. Having learned too dog- and cat-proof a house, we may feel prepared to safely welcome a pet bird into our lives. There are surprises in store. Birds add a whole new dimension to pet safety worries. Unlike dogs and cats, birds fly. Birds fly into windows or mirrors, injuring themselves in the process. Decals or curtains allow a flying bird to see them and avoid a crash. Birds fly out of windows, never to be seen again. Screens are essential for windows and doors. When a bird is out of its cage, always remain nearby.

Cats like to climb. You may end up doing both of you a favor if you simply put vertical blinds at the window, since the cat can then push them aside to get to the window sill. Alternatively, you could try installing tension rods that will fall down the cat when they climb. I have one cat who is extremely persistent at climbing the aluminum screening - I've not had much luck at not getting her to begin the ascent, but she's been lifted off, told NO!, and dropped to the floor enough times that I can now say, "LIBBY! GET OFF!" and she will back down almost immediately. Most cats like to be stroked on their forehead, between the ears. They also like to be skritched under the chin and along the throat. If they trust you a lot, they'll roll over onto their back for stomach-skritching. Always pet a cat in the direction of its fur, and be aware that the spot just above the tail is sensitive - some cats adore being scratched there, others hate it. If your cat suddently nips you while you are petting it, it may be because he's "overdosed" on the pleasurable sensations: some cats can tolerate only a few minutes of being petted, while others will happily doze in your lap, being stroked for hours.
Never pick up a cat by the scruff of its neck, even if it's a kitten. Pick him up with one hand under his chest, and with the other, scoop up his back feet. I hold my cats with two hands - one under their back feet, with the front paws resting over my other arm or shoulder. Your cat should be the last thing you "pack up," and if you're moving only across town, you should have the furniture in place at the new house before he arrives. If you're moving farther, his carrier should be roomy, certainly tall enough that he can stand up and turn around; it will help him very much if you put something in with him that has a familiar smell - the towel from his basket, for example. If he'll be in the car for several hours, a litterbox, food and water are essential - and yes, if he isn't allowed in your hotel room, the litterbox should be in the car where he can use it in privacy; there's no way you are going to get him on a leash and to do his "business" on command on a grassy parkway.

Scratching is one of your cat's most ingrained instincts. Keep a scratching post near where the cat usually sleeps or, if he has already picked out a corner of your sofa, keep it next to that chosen spot. You may need to train your cat to use his scratching post. Do not pick him up and put his paws on the scratching post. Make the scratching post appealing to him: rub catnip on it or mist it with catnip spray; drape a heavy string over it and wiggle it to catch his interest; put treats on the very top.

Vaccination against this often fatal, hard-to-treat disease is absolutely essential. Highly contagious, it is spread by discharges from the noses and eyes of infected dogs. Symptoms can include listlessness, fever, coughing, diarrhea and vomiting; convulsions and paralysis may occur in the disease's final stages. The distemper virus attacks many organs, including the nervous system, which may be permanently damaged, even if the dog recovers.

Dogs can become infected with parasites before they are born or later through their mother's milk. The microscopic examination of a stool sample will usually help to determine the presence of intestinal parasites. Even if your veterinarian does not get a stool sample, they may recommend the use of a deworming product that is safe and effective against several of the common worms of the dog. This is done because deworming medication has no side-effects and because dogs do not pass worm eggs every day, so the stool sample may not detect worms that are really present.

Heartworm preventatives are dosed according to dog's weight. As the weight increases, the dosage should also increase. Please note the dosing instructions on the package. These products are very safe. You could overdose your dog by two or three times the recommended dose without causing harm. Therefore, it is always better to overdose rather than underdose.

There are many different recommendations on what diet is best for dogs. Some people argue that commercial dog foods contain additives or poor-quality meat or ingredients that dogs should not ingest or that certain commercial foods are not nutritionally sufficient for their dogs. Different homemade diets are recommended by various experts, from "natural dog food" diets consisting primarily of raw meat, to vegetarian diets consisting only of nutritionally balanced vegetarian ingredients, to mixtures consisting of ingredients such as brown rice, brown pasta, meats, eggs, and vegetables.

Special Dog Food Varieties
There are dog foods specially formulated to dogs that are allergic to wheat, corn, and/or chicken. These foods usually contain lamb or fish meat. Some dog foods are designed for dogs with maladies such as urinary tract infections, and some foods are tailored to the dietary needs of especially young or old dogs. There also exist vegetarian dog foods and natural dog food marketed to owners who do not wish for their dogs to consume meat products

Your dog should have regular checkups to make sure all is well for pet care and pet health. Get your puppy used to being handled; she should accept stroking, grooming and a thorough once-over as part of the daily routine. Once every week or so, take a good look at your puppy's eyes, ears, mouth, paws and nails. It pays off should you find a problem early, before it becomes serious. If you notice anything unusual, be sure to consult your local veterinarian.

In comparison with other pets, fish need very little of your time and attention. Some maintenance is important, however, when dealing with aquariums and saltwater or freshwater fish.

Your biggest chore in caring for fish will be changing their water. No matter how effective and advanced your filter system is, it cannot extract all waste materials that accumulate. When the water becomes cloudy or yellow, you're way past due for a water change. Dirty, soiled, water leads to stress, illness, and growth problems in all saltwater and freshwater fish, so it's important never to put this duty off for too long.

1. Unplug the electrical equipment attached to the tank.

2. Using a specialty aquarium scraper, begin cleaning the inside of the glass, scraping the algae and other debris downward. Always use slow, deliberate motions, so as not to cause unneeded stress to the fish still in the tank.

3. If you have live plants in the tank, take this time to remove them. You can also move plants, rocks, corral, and decorations around during this time, as well, to give the fish some new surroundings.

4. Stir up the gravel a little to allow waste matter to float freely inside the tank. Be extra cautious during this step, to be certain you don't injure or accidentally bury a fish.

5. Move the gravel to the back corners of the tank, leaving the front and middle of the tank with only a shallow layer of gravel. As you do this, debris will begin to settle toward the front of the tank.

6. Remove one-quarter to one-third of the water in the tank. You can do this with an aquarium approved siphon or by manually scooping it out with a pitcher or large cup.

7. You'll need to get rid of as much debris from the water and gravel as possible. You can do this with a specialized aquarium vacuum or your siphon. 8. You can now refill the aquarium. Be sure to use water that is aged chemically or naturally, and is within 3-degrees of the aquarium's temperature.

9. If you have saltwater fish, add the appropriate amount of aquarium salt now.

10. Replug all accessories and lighting fixtures.