Dogs, Cats, and More

Captive Husbandry of Striped Mud Turtles (Kinosternon baurii)

David T. Kirkpatrick, Ph.D

Mud turtles of the genus Kinosternon frequently are considered, by those people that even know they exist, to be small, drab and undistinguished turtles. In the wild, many people live near populations of mud turtles without ever noticing their presence. In addition to being overlooked in the wild, mud turtles are often ignored by herpetoculturists. Many of the species of mud turtle are only represented by a few animals in collections at only one or two institutions, while other turtle species are kept by many different zoos. Given their small size and uncomplicated requirements, this oversight is hard to understand. For a number of reasons, mud turtles are very good candidates for captive maintenance and breeding projects. This article will discuss the natural history and captive maintenance of one type of mud turtle: Kinosternon baurii, the Striped Mud Turtle.

Can I Give My Dog The Flu?

Avian Flu and Other Zoonotic Diseases

Everyone seems on edge about the latest outbreak of avian flu. People in China are told to kill their poultry in order to keep the virus from spreading. Meanwhile people in the United States watch on in fear that the avian flu will come to their shores. So what exactly is all the hubbub about? After all, every winter millions of people come down with bird flu.

On Feeding Turtles: When and How Much?

David T. Kirkpatrick, Ph.D

Perhaps the most frequent question I am asked concerning turtles and tortoises is how much and how often to feed them. Turtles that are overfed can become obese, just as other animals (and people) can. Although no definitive studies have been done on the health consequences of obesity in chelonians, I feel that it is best to err on the side of caution. Turtles are trapped in their shells - too much excess flesh could compress and injure internal organs. A decreased lifespan or chronic health problems may also be consequences of obesity.

Keeping African Grey Parrots as Pet Birds

African grey parrots are highly intelligent birds often recognized for their ability to talk.

African grey parrots are able to learn a sizeable number of different words, can talk in different voices, and speak in different languages. They can identify objects, colors, materials and even count.

Because of their high intelligence, the African grey parrots are easily trained. The biggest problem with having an African grey parrot as a bird is.....you'd better be careful what you say....they are very good at mimicking your words!

Learn About Loveable Lovebirds!

Lovebirds make wonderful pets. Their exquisite colors and animated personalities easily endear them to onlookers. While every bird has its own personality there are traits common to all Lovebirds which have made them a popular pet and a great choice for a first time bird owner.

Training Your Cat To Use The Toilet

Cats are wonderful pets but cleaning the litter box can be a real drag. But what if you could train kitty to use the toilet? Instead of dealing with messy, smelly litter, you could eliminate your cats elimination with just one flush!

Pet Sitters - Information on Hiring or Starting a Business

Are you looking for someone to help care for your pet while you're away? Or are you interested in making your own business as a pet sitter? Here are answers to some of the common questions about pet sitters.

Learning How to Ride a Horse

Learning how to ride a horse can be lots of fun. Whether you want to ride for the feeling of freedom or you are just a horse lover, it can be very rewarding. With just some basic equipment and a good teacher you can be on the way to having hours of fun on a horse.

Training Your Dog to Sit

Training your dog to "sit" is probably the first thing you will train your puppy to do. I write puppy because you can start the training as soon as the puppy has settled in his new home. You might think this isn't that important, a dog knows how to sit. Well, I think it is very important. Read on and you will found out why and how to train your dog to sit.

Children and Dogs - a Good Combination?

It's strange how many tales we hear of dogs attacking children and yet, as a group, parents still choose to bring dogs into their families with little instruction or research.

The truth is, most families with a dog will never deal with the terrible situations we hear about on the news. Dogs love people. Most dogs love children. Children and adults love dogs and it is very doubtful that after thousands of years the connection between canine and humankind will be broken.