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8A Daily News ��� Saturday, December 29, 2012 Pets health&activities A new year Parakeets��� food includes unwanted guests Q: We have had two parakeets for the last six months, and all of a sudden there are little brown moths flying all around their cage. We also saw a few little white worms crawling on the bars of the cage. The parakeets seem not affected at all by this, but the situation is driving us crazy. My wife wants the birds out of the house. A: The ���worms��� you see are actually little caterpillars that eat seed and grain. The caterpillar eggs must have been in bird seed that you bought. They hatched into the caterpillars and then the caterpillars spun cocoons and turned into those moths that find a bit of seed laying about to lay more eggs in. Then the cycle starts all over again. If you could keep the cage absolutely clean and free of any uneaten seed and be sure to store your seed in containers in the fridge or freezer, the moths would have no place to lay their eggs and the cycle would stop. Another tip: Buy pheromone traps, sold at most pet stores. The trap is just a little box with a glue strip in it that is baited with a bit of pheromone that attracts the moths. The moths fly into the box and get stuck on the glue strip. ��������� Q: We are going to visit relatives in Texas, By RONNIE CASEY and my wife wants to take our 8-month-old Yorkie. The airline will allow us to bring the dog on the plane if we buy it a ticket and keep it in a special carrier under the seat. I was wondering how fair it is to take the dog. Would it be better off to stay at our vet���s? A: A dog that is small enough to be comfortable in one of those cabin kennels will do just fine. If you are worried that your dog will be too anxious while you are traveling, do your best to get the dog used to the situation before you go on hol- iday. Put the dog in the carrier and go to the mall with the dog and basically anywhere else that it is legal to bring the dog. If you do this enough, over time the dog becomes desensitized to traveling. There are other alternatives these days for traveling pet keepers besides boarding the dog with the vet. There are many nice boarding facilities available, and pet sitters who will come to your house every day. Each option has advantages and disadvantages and its set of loyal followers. ��������� Q: My Quaker Parrot loves to fly over our live Christmas tree, land on the branches and chew up the needles. We got some pretty photos of her doing it, but I am worried that eating the needles may hurt her. My wife says there are lots of wild Quaker Parrots living in the evergreen trees in the park down the block, but our bird is a domesticated version. Perhaps all things are not equal in this situation. A: For those of you who still have your trees up through the start of the year, take note: As long as the tree is not sprayed with any chemicals, the bird can chew on it all she wants. I give evergreen branches to my parrots to chew on all the time and it keeps them busy for hours pulling off the needles and stripping the bark. If the branches have pine cones on them it is an added bonus. It is not the Christmas tree itself that can cause an issue with the bird, but the decorations. It���s dangerous if the bird chews on the lights��� wiring or breaks fragile glass ornaments, and birds can get tangled in the ribbons that hold ornaments. So let the bird play in the tree only while you are watching it. In a few short days, another year ends. As the New Year begins, it represents a renewed hope of a better tomorrow and provides us with a fresh opportunity to change and, perhaps, make a difference. Many New Year���s resolutions are to eat and get healthier, get a better education, get fit, enjoy life more, volunteer, and help the environment. So, if you are contemplating on making some of these typical New Year���s resolutions, why not also consider including pets. Eating healthier is something many of us often strive for. Since pets also depend on us for their nutrition needs, it is important to feed pets good quality food in accurate amounts. Feeding a pet the correct food and treats will help them live a longer and happier life. Keeping everyone healthier also entails going to the doctor for those ever-important check-ups. If you go to the doctor regularly, so should your pet. Your veterinarian can notice emerging illness and keep vaccinations up-to-date. Taking your pet to the vet for a yearly checkup will help avoid those expensive vet visits later. Monthly heartworm preventative and flea treatments will also assist in keeping our beloved pets healthy. A pet���s dental hygiene is just as important as our own. Be sure to check teeth and gums regularly, and learn how to prevent dental disease by brushing regularly. In addition, consider pet health insurance or perhaps putting a bit of money aside each month for emergencies. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Everyone benefits from more education, and a pet is no different. Taking pets to training classes not only assists in insuring they are well behaved, but that they know what is expected. By working on a pet���s training your pet will be easier to live with and potential destructive behaviors can be eliminated. Training also mentally stimulates your pet and is a wonderful way to avoid boredom. We all could use a bit more exercise in our lives and it is no different for our furry companions. Running, playing and swimming are all great options for dogs. Remember, what keeps you fit and trim can do the same for your pet. Getting fit is not only about physical exercise but also about feeling good with regard to personal hygiene. Resolve to keep your pet well groomed, keeping nails clipped and coats brushed and tangle free. Given the hectic, stressful lifestyles in today���s world, it is no wonder that "enjoying life more" has become a popular resolution. Spending time with pets is not only fun, but can also help reduce blood pressure. In addition, pets love to spend time with their human companions. So, whether you both enjoy going for walks or snuggling in front of the television, plan to spend some time each day together. It will be beneficial for the both of you. Animal Centers and Rescue Organizations are often underfunded and have need for extra personnel, supplies, and money. If you can, why not volunteer some of your time or donate money and supplies to these entities? Another way to help is to foster or sponsor one of these pets. Better yet, consider adopting one of the many loving animals that are in the shelter. You could give a homeless, needy pet a wonderful second chance at life. To resolve to be kinder environmentally can also include what we do with regard to pets. Cleaning up after your dog will help to stop the spread of bacteria, viruses, and parasites. For cats, consider using biodegradable litter products produced from natural materials. Make puppy toys from reused items from around the home. Great tug toys can be created from old towels. Old cushions can be used as dog and/or cat beds. Once you have finished with products like towels, blankets, etc. you can help to reduce waste by donating them to the shelter. Purchase food items in bulk and look for items packaged from recycled materials. Of course, that packaging gets recycled too. I would like to wish everyone a very Happy New Year. Ronnie Casey is a volunteer with Providing Essentials for Tehama Shelter. You can read her blog, Mutts & Moggies, at redbluffdailynews.com. Talking Dogs: Be responsible for your canine By Lisa Moore The Modesto Bee (MCT) Bolt, an Alaskan malamute being held at the Turlock Animal Shelter as a result of biting a young woman in the face is a hot topic of conversation. Regardless of your opinion of this situation, and what ultimately is to be done with Bolt, and other dogs that bite, it is certainly an experience we should learn from and do everything possible to avoid. As a dog owner, one must recognize that our dogs will never think, rationalize or behave like humans. Their instincts cause them to react and respond in ways that we sometimes don���t understand or approve of, but there is always a reason for them behaving the way they do. Regardless of the breed, size, age and training, we must remember Let���s get lean in 2013 We are your Resolution Solution! Start your new single, couple, or family membership We are passionate about weight loss and fitness! Let us to help you reach your goals! for only 20.13 $ that all dogs bite, and if your dog bites another person, you could end up facing the same scenario as Bolt and his owner. If you expect your dog to grow up to be highly social and relaxed around people in general, then early and continuous socialization is a must. If, as a puppy, your dog meets and has a positive experience with a few hundred different people of all shapes and sizes, he is likely to grow into an adult with a higher tolerance of human interaction. 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