Pet owners want the best for the pets and that includes keeping their pets healthy by trying to prevent diseases and illnesses and treating them when they occur. Unfortunately eye infections are fairly common in pets. They can crop up on their own or occur when something lodges in the eye. They can also occur when the surface of the eye, called the cornea, gets scratched.

The common warning signs to look out for that your pet has an eye infection are: eye discharge, squinting, redness, cloudiness, and trying to rub and scratch the eye. Rubbing or scratching of the eye can make things worse for your pet. One of those cone shaped instruments that covers the head will prevent your pet from rubbing their eyes and further irritating the condition.

Eye discharge may be ugly, but it’s a valuable warning sign that something is wrong. This is important because infections can progress very quickly and even in some cases cause permanent eye damage. Discharge is a telltale sign of infection and will often be thick, yellow, gray, or green. Any off-colored eye discharge that persists for longer than 48 hours without improvement should be seen by a vet.

Infections of the eye and surrounding structures are common in pets and usually involve the conjunctiva, leading to conjunctivitis or “pink eye.” Causes of infections include various bacteria, viruses like the Herpes virus, foreign material or irritants in the eye and even Lyme disease. Eye infections may become chronic if not treated and can cause permanent damage such as blindness if neglected.

Some dog breeds are more likely to get eye infections than others. Before you get a dog, research its breed to see if they are more prone to eye infections. If you think your pet has an eye infection, you should get them examined at the Vet for a test, treatment, and to prevent permanent damage from occurring.

Vets often recommend applying an antibiotic ointment made especially for the eye. Other treatments besides an ointment are eye drops and all natural herbal treatments. Medications can be received from the Vet and there are also many websites,that offer medications for dog and cat eye infections, some being homeopathic or all natural medications. If you want to save money, you can usually get medications cheaper online than at the Vet.

To sooth the painful side effects of an eye infection, there is a product called Newtons Homeopathics Eye Irritation. It relieves pain, itching, dryness, swelling, redness, tired eyes, pink eye, and thick yellow discharge of the eyes. Sometimes your pet will get an eye infection no matter what. You just can’t prevent it. However, there are steps you can do to help prevent your pet from getting an eye infection and to maintain optimum eye Health.

The steps are:

• Always keep your dog head inside moving vehicles
• Check your dog’s eyes on a regular basis
• Make sure its annual veterinary checkup includes a thorough eye exam.
• Keep your dog’s eyes clean by wiping away any discharge that may accumulate.

There is a product called Halo Herbal Eye Wash which will keep your pet’s eyes clean, open tear ducts, and sooth irritated tissue. I use this on my pets and highly recommend it as a product to keep handy at all times.

Jean Morgan
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/how-to-treat-eye-infections-in-Pets-103054.html

However, I can’t imagine a vegan (for cruelty reasons) owning a pet. Consider that for millenia, these animals have been cross-bred and inbred to strip any and all wild tendency out of them. Then mass reproduced and sold.

Personally, I dosn’t bother me. But someone who is a vegan due to animal ethics issues would be a bit hypocritical if they owned a pet.

I wondered if anyone could list (maybe) as many Pets that I could possibly keep (indoor or outdoor) andd some sources on how to care for it.

How about a veiled chameleon? Here is a care sheet with pictures:
http://www.geocities.com/chameleoncreatures/veiled.html

Good luck

I don’t approve of all the options listed in this site, but it has some good suggestions that are eco-friendly.

http://landscaping.about.com/od/pestcontrol/a/cat_repellents.htm

My cat George is very dysfunctional since he was taken from his mom at 4 weeks. (He’s now 7 years old). He kneads bread on me and puts his head on my shoulder and in the morning, gently taps my face until I wake up to give him his breakfast. He’s better than any alarm clock I’ve had. Trouble is, he wants his breakfast at 5AM!!

Animals unlike humans cannot express their feelings and they cannot go on making demands and tell their owners when they need food. They are animals. Pet keepers bring Home fish, cats, dogs, rabbits, hamsters and birds home all the time eagerly but sadly, they fail to take proper care of their pets because of which their animals die. If pets can not speak out, pet keepers themselves should be humane enough to understand their pets heartily and give them their rights.

Some basic and simple tips for pet keepers can ensure a healthy and loving relation between themselves and their Pets. As far as dogs are concerned it is advisable to keep it in a proper dog house which should be comfortable and cozy enough for it to reside in. Whenever you take out your dog for a walk make sure you leash it. They are playful animals, they love to jump and mingle with other animals and chase things. So avoid any bad circumstances it is always better to play it safe. Cats are well mannered and they are less messy than dogs. However they too need proper care. Dogs and cats should be bathed regularly and their utensils cleaned on daily bases. If your dog or cat ever urinate or excrete in your lounge, you should never leave it unclean. It is highly unhygienic for animals and pet keepers both.

The animals that you keep in cages need a little more attention. They are enslaved so it is better to make them at least feel free. Birds or rabbits should never be kept in small cages. They should be big enough so that your birds can easily flutter their wings and fly about. It should be big enough so that your rabbit can run about and hide when it wants to hide. Animals kept at home should provide them with a sense of being in their natural habitats. This way they feel free and they live happily. Their cages, their beddings should be cleansed thoroughly and regularly.

Animals should be vaccinated whenever they need to be. They should be taken for regular medical checkups so that they stay Health and energetic. Animals too should be kept in a secured area and never be left out on their own. Pets are unlike the stray animals; they are vulnerable and require special attention. So pet keepers should make sure they take care of their pets the way they should be kept. They can always keep themselves updated through internet and magazines to acknowledge and fulfill their pet’s needs.

Jonathon Hardcastle
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/tips-for-keeping-pets-59540.html