There was a time when hen keeping was a simple matter of egg production and enjoying the self-sufficient lifestyle. Just recently, more people have begun showing an interest in backyard chicken keeping, less because of the eggs and economics, and more because of chickens’ amusing quirks and characters. These days, unless your brood is laying...
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All over the world, people are choosing to shun canned and dry dog food in favour of something called the BARF diet. This approach to feeding pets has been praised by many people, but it is not the sort of thing you can jump into without a good amount of prior research. You need to know why a BARF diet is good for your dog, what foods should be inc...
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This week is National Farriers Week which means celebrating the work of farriers everywhere and spreading the word about the importance of good hoof care. The horse’s hoof tells a story; in fact, the Arabs believed that a horse was nothing without a sound hoof to stand on. When you think that the hooves bear the entire weight of the horse &nd...
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One of the main decisions you will have to make when you adopt a new dog is whether to have them neutered or leave them able to reproduce. As a rule, it is a good idea to have the procedure done. It prevents a number of behaviours most owners would want to discourage in their dogs, such as aggression, and helps avoid unplanned pregnancies. However,...
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Cancer is probably one of the most frightening words in the English language. It is a disease we are all familiar with and will probably have encountered at some point in our lives, whether through family, friends or personal experience. Some of us will have encountered the disease through our pets and will tell you that hearing a dog has cancer is...
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If people were asked to name a dangerous breed of dog, most of them would almost certainly name the Pit Bull Terrier. These dogs have one of the worst reputations of any breed, and are often thought of as violent, aggressive dogs that should not be kept as pets, with some people even going as far as campaigning to ban the breed. However, is this re...
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Horses are non-ruminant animals with a relatively simple digestive system. On a basic level, ‘non-ruminant’ means the equine stomach consists of one digestive chamber, as opposed to four which can be found in livestock animals such as domestic cattle, sheep and deer. Ruminant animals can digest (and re-digest) large amounts of low-grade...
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If your dog appears to be in some discomfort, and is shaking their head or pawing at it, then they could have contracted an ear infection. If you have suffered from such an infection before, you will understand how uncomfortable it can be. Now imagine that with a dog's sensitive ears, and you will realise why it is important to take action. The cau...
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The holiday season is approaching, but it brings with it the grim, icy clouds of winter weather. As the temperature drops, you may start to worry about keeping your dogs warm, and making sure they get enough exercise despite the cold. However, there is another hazard you may not be aware of that can cause serious harm to your dog if care is not tak...
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It can be quite disconcerting to see a clearly anxious dog eating their food as quickly as they can, clearly making themselves ill in the process. This behaviour has nothing to do with the type of food you are feeding your pet. Both wet and dry dog food will elicit the same response. Speed eating can be very bad for a dog. The most obvious reason i...
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