Thursday, January 17, 2008

BIRD TALK

Birds are very social creature that express their feelings in a multitude of ways including these vocalization.

Singing, talking and whistling.These are all signs of a happy, healthy, content bird. Some birds love an audience and sing, talk and whistle the most when others are around.

Chattering: Soft chatter can be a sign of contentment or can be the practice of a bird learning to talk. Loud chatter can be an attention-getter, reminding you that she is there.

Tongue-clicking: Your bird may be entertaining herself or asking to be peted or picked up.

Grinding: Often a sign of contentment and is heard most often as the bird falls asleep. It is characterized be the side-to-side sliding of one beak over the other.
Source: NAPPS

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

A NUTTY TOXIN FOR DOGS

We have all heard the negative effects dogs suffer from our favorite human treat, chocolate, but there is a new danger out there and it comes in the form of a little macadamia nut. When ingested, it can cause nut toxicosis. Like chocolate, depending on the size of the dog, the amount of macaadamia nuts ingested can be lethal even if it is small compared to what we as humans would eat. For example, a toxic amount of macadamia nut for a dog is approximately 2-3g (or 1 nut/kg body weight). After ingesting these nuts, dogs may suffer from weakness, tremors,hyperthermia, joint.muscle pain. Most dogs recover within 24-36 hours, so while you enjoy a handful of these treats, give you favorite canine something healthy to chew on.
source: NAPPS Creature Feature Client Newsletter