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Would your pet cat or dog like being outside some of the time? Would you prefer they were safely enclosed while enjoying the fresh air, plant life, and scents of nature? You can easily create a protected outdoor haven for your pets, while insuring your own peace of mind. This article will tell you how to plan and build a private protected pet yard from start to finish. Sections include choosing location, size, roof cover, furnishings, supplies, and construction of the enclosure.

LOCATION

Begin by choosing the best spot for your pet's private bit of nature. Consider an existing patio or corner of your traditional yard. In our own case, my husband and I built our cats' yard over a partially covered patio located next to the back of the house. The end result provided protection on rainy days as well as a lattice-roofed section open to the sky. You might also consider adding a pet door leading to your home. Pets really like the freedom of going "outside" whenever in the mood. Our cats enjoy middle of the night watches for roaming wildlife such as raccoons and possums - all from the safety of their own protected yard!

SIZE

Determine how large of an area is practical for you to enclose. Take your pets' size and needs into consideration. While your cats or dogs won't be able to romp as freely as those on the loose, they will enjoy having enough space to prowl around their own little yard. In our case, an enclosure of 14' x 16' provided enough room for many hours of cat snooping enjoyment plus space for batting twigs, hunting insects and other fun.

ROOF COVER

If your enclosure will be for cats, you will definitely want to cover it with a lattice roof. This will keep your pets inside their private yard where you want them, and other wandering animals out. An enclosure built for small dogs, on the other hand, might not require roofing.

FURNISHINGS

All kinds of natural and other furnishings of your pet's private yard will enhance their enjoyment. Including a section of lawn is good, or adding pots of grasses and nibbling greens. Flowerbeds and plants provide necessary bathroom spaces. Other ideas are pet beds, outdoor chairs or survey perches. Toys are fun for pets outside as well as inside, and there will be a steady stream of crawling bugs and flying insects provided by nature to observe.

SUPPLIES

You will need the following supplies to build your pet enclosure:

Vertical wood supports - 4x4s work will
Vinyl or wood lattice panels - 4'x8's work well
Small trim board - 1x2 works well
Wood support boards for roof - 2x__ rafters
Cap board - 2x4
Pre-made gate or one constructed from the same materials as the enclosure

CONSTRUCTION

Follow these steps to build your protected pet yard:

1. Put up vertical supports, determining spacing distance by width of lattice panels

2. Place lattice trim boards between 4x4 supports

3. Put up lattice panels against trim boards, and sandwich in with additional trim boards

4. Continue building process until enclosure is complete

5. Add gate

6. Run a cap across top of 4x4s

7. Attach 2x__ rafters 24" apart to cap board and to house or other side if free standing

8. Attach lattice or other roofing material to top of enclosure

Once construction is complete, introduce your pet cats or dogs to their new private yard. They will soon be enjoying their own outdoor turf, and you the protection that it provides.

Though relatively uncommon, a brain tumor has always made a grim prognosis for unfortunate animal that is diagnosed with one. Traditionally they were often assumed but seldom confirmed, but since MRI and CT scanning has become more mainstream they can be diagnosed correctly. Here we discuss the different types of brain tumor that affect dogs and cats, the clinical investigations that can be performed, the treatments available and the likely outcomes.

Brain tumors seem to be more common in dogs than cats, and certain breeds are over represented such as Boxers, Golden Retrievers, Dobermans, Scottish Terriers and Old English Sheepdogs.

Primary vs Secondary

Brain tumors can be primary or secondary (metastasis from other sites). Primary brain tumors are usually solitary, the most common ones in the dog being gliomas and meningiomas. In cats, the most common type are meningiomas and these can occur at multiple locations.

Secondary tumors in dogs include extension of a nasal tumor, metastases from breast, lung or prostate cancer, hemangiosarcoma or extension of a pituitary gland tumor. Nerve sheath tumors and skull tumors have also been reported. Secondary tumors in cats include pituitary gland tumors, metastatic carcinomas, local extension of nasal tumors, skull tumors and middle ear cavity tumors.

What causes a brain tumor?

The cause of brain tumors is not known. Diet, environment, chemical, genetic, viral, immunologic and trauma have all been considered. In cats with meningiomas, because they often occur in very young animals, a genetic element is suspected.

Benign vs Malignant

The terms benign and malignant must be used with care when referring to brain tumors. Normally these terms apply to various characteristics on a cellular level, but on a biological level, even benign brain tumors can kill the animal due to the secondary effects like increased intracranial pressure or cerebral edema. In short, any brain tumor can kill.

What are the symptoms?

There can be huge variety here. Many animals will present with vague signs, such as one or several of the following:

1. Loss of trained habits

2. Decreased levels of activity

3. Decreased frequency of purring in cats

4. Disorientation

5. Confusion More specific symptoms are dependent upon where exactly the tumor is located within the brain, the size of the tumor and how quickly it is growing. As a tumor enlarges, symptoms tend to become more severe. These can include:

6. Seizures (often indicate a tumor in the cerebral cortex)

7. Facial paralysis (may indicate a brainstem tumor)

8. Tremors (may indicate a tumor in the cerebellum)

9. Wobbliness (may indicate a tumor in the cerebellum)

10. Full or partial blindness (may indicate tumor in hypothalamus or optic nerve)

11. Loss of smell (may indicate tumor of olfactory system)

The physical presence of the tumor can cause knock on effects due to inflammation and edema of the surrounding area. This can cause symptoms such as:

12. Changes in behaviour or temperament (irritability, lethargy)

13. Compulsive walking

14. Circling

15. Pressing head against a wall or hard surface

Animals can sometimes carry brain tumors for several years before presenting to a veterinary clinic, if the tumor is slow growing. In these cases the symptoms develop gradually, and the owner tends to get used to them so that by the time the animal is examined, the tumor has reached a considerable size.

How is a brain tumor diagnosed?

History and Clinical Examination

The first step for a veterinarian is to take a thorough history of all of the clinical signs, and when they developed. This is followed by a full general clinical examination and a full neurological examination.

Bloods

After that, blood should be taken for routine haematology and biochemistry profiles. This is to look for any disease outside the brain. Results will be normal for brain tumors, with the possible exception of some pituitary gland tumors.

Radiography

Plain skull radiographs (xrays) under general anesthetic have little value in detecting a brain tumor, but they can be useful if there is a tumor in the nasal cavities or the middle ear which could extend into the skull. On rare occasions, they can identify bony changes in the skull which can accompany a brain tumor, or mineralization within the tumor itself. Radiographs and ultrasound of the chest and abdomen are useful to look for a tumor elsewhere in the body, in cases where the brain tumor is a secondary metastasis.

MRI and CT Scans

Confirmation of a brain tumor can is usually only achieved using the advanced imaging techniques, CT scans or MRI. Both of these have pros and cons when compared to one another. CT is better for bony changes, while MRI is better for soft tissue definition, for the detection of many of the knock on effects of brain tumors such as edema, cysts and bleeding. MRI is the preferred option for diagnosing primary brain tumors.

Biopsy

This is the only way to definitively diagnose a brain tumor. The advanced imaging techniques above offer much information, but they can occasionally confuse a tumor with a non cancerous mass or a cyst, and they also do not tell us the exact type of tumor present, and therefore the appropriate treatment and prognosis. The best type of biopsy is the CT guided stereotactic brain biopsy system, which is rapid, accurate and quite safe. Since exploratory surgery is high risk, it is not usually attempted unless there is a reasonable chance of removing the whole tumor with minimal collateral damage. Many brain tumors in cats and dogs are not categorized on a cellular level until post mortem.

Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) Analysis

CSF analysis is useful for ruling out inflammatory causes of the symptoms, but tumor cells are rarely identified here. Increased levels of white blood cells and increased protein levels may be present in the CSF with many brain tumors, though this is not diagnostic. This test can be high risk when intracranial pressure is increased, as brain herniation can occur.

Treatment

Treatment is aimed at being either curative or palliative. Curative treatment eradicates the tumor or reduces its size, whilst palliative therapy reduces the surrounding cerebral edema and slows down the growth of the tumor. Palliative therapy also involves administering antiepileptic drugs, if seizures are occurring as a result of the tumor.

Surgery

Whether this is an option depends on the general health of the animal, and the precise location, size, extent, invasiveness and nature of the tumor. Tumors such as meningiomas in cats can be removed successfully by surgery. However, surgery to remove tumors in certain locations such as the brainstem can be extremely dangerous, possibly resulting in death. Even partial removal can benefit the animal though, particularly if the tumor is slow growing.

Radiotherapy

This is probably the most widely used form of treatment for brain tumors. Radiation therapy can be used alone or in combination with other treatments. It is also useful in the treatment of secondary brain tumors. The aim is to destroy the tumor without harming the normal tissue too much.

Chemotherapy

The main problem with chemotherapy for brain tumors is that many drugs do not cross the blood brain barrier. In addition, the tumor may only be sensitive to high doses, doses which are toxic to normal brain tissue and therefore unsuitable for use. However, several drugs have been used for this purpose that can cross the blood brain barrier with reported success, including cytosine arabinoside, lomustine and carmustine.

Probable Outcome

Studies of animals that receive palliative treatment (corticosteroids) for brain tumors show a survival range post diagnosis of 64 to 307 days. This demonstrates the inability to accurately predict life expectancy in these cases. What is certain is that the survival times significantly increase with surgery, radiotherapy or chemotherapy. Radiation therapy seems to offer the best results, alone or in combination with other treatments. Generally, the more severe the symptoms, the shorter the life expectancy.

Pets have been around since the beginning of time. Cats are among the first to be domesticated. They were thought to be domesticated from the African wild cat. The cat is a predator and very intelligent. They supposedly hunt over 1,000 species. Cats have been domestic pets since Ancient Egypt times. They were around in circa 4000 b.c. and their job was keeping mice and rats away. Although this was what they were initially kept for, cats are trainable and obey simple commands, so after a while they became a companion.

The dog was domesticated from Wolves as recent as 15,000 years ago or possibly as early as 100,000 years ago. Domestication is the way we as humans biologically altered a mammal to live in our company. The dog was thought to have been from East Asia. The early settlers brought domestic dogs over to North America with them. The first were the Chow, Shar Pei, Akita Inu, Shiba Inu and the Basenji. These breeds are associated with China, which seems to be behind the theory of domestic dogs originating in East Asia. Dogs are very social animals, which is probably why we brought them into our households. They are trainable, playful and lovable. Most dogs are “pack” oriented. They treat the human owner as one of their pack or as their pack leader as they would another dog. Dogs were initially used for work and protection and then in time became more like a part of the family.

There is really only a small number of animals we would actually consider pets. The first were dogs, cats and birds. Pets have over the years been known for several things. Even though we do not know the exact original origin of domesticated animals, we do know the reasons for humans need for them. The reasons people have these domestic animals are far and wide. Health is huge one. Studies say that people live longer healthier lives when they have a pet as a companion. Loneliness is another one. Pets are affectionate loving creatures that cure loneliness for many people. Dogs especially have taken an amazing role in leading the blind. Dogs are trained to protect and lead a blind person in everyday life.

Regardless of your reason for owning a pet, it is clear that pets serve a distinct function in human day-to-day life. It is also clear that pets are here to stay whether you are a dog lover, a cat lover or use pets for other recreational events such as equestrian activities or hunting we know that you love and care for your pets.

Every pet owner is faced with the prospect of having to travel with their dog, cat or bird at some point. Whether it is a few days or a few weeks, there are steps and products you can employ to make this a comfortable - if not fun - time for your pet!

When traveling, the most important thing to do is to take frequent breaks. Always buckle your pet in with a harness if you are not using a crate while driving. The safest and most comfortable place for your pet during car travel is in the back seat. When you have your pet in the back seat, always have some sort of bar barrier between the front and back seat -such as the 10 Bar Euro Auto Pet Barrier - or use a hammock-style barrier. This keeps your pet out of the way when you're driving.

A great option for keeping your pet occupied during travel is some sort of cushioned booster seat, which are available for dogs up to 30 lbs. These booster seats are calming for animals that stress easily during travel. Your dog or cat will be able to watch the surroundings, and be cushioned for comfort. Some great booster seats are the Lookout I or II. An option for cat traveling is the Kittywalk Cozy Cabin. All have a seat belt harness for added safety.

Traveling with a bird can sometimes prove precarious. The best way to prepare your feathered friend is to acclimate your bird to a travel cage a few weeks prior to actually traveling. If you are using a crate, and your bird is calm around it, you can acclimate them to the crate. We recommend a travel cage when traveling by car. It allows your bird to look out and see you at the same time. This will provide comfort to your bird during the stress of travel. Some birds actually end up enjoying traveling - they get to look out the car window and see a whole new collection of sights!

Another thing to remember while traveling with your bird is environmental control. NEVER leave any animal in a car without environment control, regardless of the weather outside.

Unfortunately, when traveling with exotic birds such as parrots, theft is common. Never leave your windows rolled down or your doors unlocked when you have to leave a bird in your car. Get a few duplicate car keys and wear one around your neck while traveling. If you make a pit stop and you have to leave your car out of your sight with your bird inside, lock the doors with the car still running (for environmental control), and use your extra key to open the door when you get back. Only be gone for a minute or two at the most, and always cover your bird when you leave him behind in your car to deter theft.

If you're not a professional bird watcher or tour guide then there are a few things that you need to know before venturing out to start your new hobby. Believe it or not, you can't just do what you like, where you like and there is a strict code of ethics, even for amateur bird watchers.

Right to Roam

In Britain nowadays, it would seem that the rights of many landowners have been eroded and that ramblers can go wherever they please. However, this isn't always the case and it is, in any case, a common courtesy to seek the approval of the owner before you go trampling all over this property. If the landowner requests that you do not go through certain areas, then do observe his wishes and likewise if he asks that you keep to the edge of fields, etc. then do so. If, while bird watching on private property, your target bird moves off into forbidden territory, you'll just have to let him go. Don't think that because you've seen a rare bird, the landowners wishes can be ignored.

In addition, just treat the landowner's property as you would wish your own to be treated; don't drop litter, don't be noisy and Use your common sense to guide you when bird watching on private property: don't litter, don't make any noise and don't do any damage.

Care for the Environment

When you pack your rucksack to go out bird watching, be sure to include a plastic bag or two so that you can bring your rubbish home with you. Never, never drop litter out in the countryside (or anywhere else for that matter) irrespective of whether others have done so before you; you don't have to follow their bad example.

Care for the Birds

Never do anything which can have an adverse effect on the birds themselves. They didn't ask for you to be watching them and they have the right to carry on their lives undisturbed, so always check with yourself whether anything you're doing could be upsetting the birds.

Photographing Birds

Don't get too close to the birds when you're photographing them, particularly if you're using a flash as this could be very frightening for the birds and may interrupt their normal routines. Use a camera with a zoom lens with a decent magnification and if it's very large, you'll need a tripod too to prevent camera shake.

Parking Your Car

When you go bird watching, remember that you may be gone for some time so be thoughtful about where you park your vehicle. Never block gates or paths or indeed, any form of entrance.

Your Mobile Phone

It's essential to take your mobile with you, in case of accidents or incidents while out bird watching. In addition, the owner of the land you're using may need to get hold of you but do make sure that the 'phone is set to silent mode with the vibrate feature on.

You have a bed of your own, so why shouldn't your cat? It's true to say that if you buy a bed or even several beds for your cat, he will probably still use your three piece suite, your own bed or indeed anywhere he wants, but you'll feel better able to move him on if he has his own special place to sleep.

There are all sorts of cat beds, ranging from the very basic to the positively opulent. You can try to fit one in with your décor but frankly, unless your wallpaper has colourful mice or paw prints all over it, you are probably on a loser there! The best you can hope for really is a colour that doesn't actually clash with that of the room that the bed will be kept in. However, you should really be more concerned about how the bed will be for your cat.

Some of these cat beds are similar to dog beds but smaller, i.e. an oval foam filled cotton cover with a fairly rigid base and sides with a lowered part of the side for the cat to walk in (as if they couldn't jump over the sides anyway). These can be good as there is usually room for a bit of fleece or blanket inside, which is not only cozy for the cat, but keeps the cover of the bed a bit cleaner that it might otherwise be.

Another foam filled type of cat bed is similar to that described above but a little more like a traditional dog kennel in shape being completely covered over with a door shape for entry. Cats have a nesting instinct so some like this arrangement. Equally, if there are other animals or small children in the house, your cat may feel more secure with his own little "house" to retire to for peace and quiet. These beds can actually be heated but unless your cat is very old, this really shouldn't be necessary.

Most cats moult on and off throughout the year, so some sort of mat or blanket to put on their favourite chair can be useful. You can whip it off and hide it if visitors come and the furniture shouldn't be too hairy.

If your cat is a real heat junky, you can buy a sheepskin hammock type arrangement, which you can hang on a radiator. However, this won't be suitable for an old cat as agility is the key when getting in and out of these things.

Cats often like bean bags. This are an inner lining filled with small polystyrene balls with an outer cover that can be removed for washing. Placed in a corner or other warm spot, your cat will soon get to like this arrangement.

Unless you introduce your chosen cat bed into the house when your cat is very small, your cat will probably pay it no attention at all for some time. If he ignores it completely, try picking him up and putting him on the bed while you stroke him for a while. If this approach fails, try inducing him with catnip toys or treats. Make sure that the bed isn't in a thoroughfare and is somewhere away from draughts, maybe raised a short way off the floor.

If you have more than one cat, make sure that each one has its own bed. If they choose to swap around between themselves, then that's their business, but never expect them to share a bed, although they may want to, particularly sibling kittens.

If you want to make the cat bed multi-functional, buy one of those beds cum activity centres with a scratching post but be sure that you have plenty of room for it!

Timothy is refusing to eat or drink since morning. He is inconsolable. Buster, his pet rabbit is not getting up and mom says that Buster is not well. At this tender age of eight, Timothy's family doesn't know how to tell him that Buster is dead.

Telling your child that their favorite pet is no more is never an easy task. Even more difficult is for the child to come to terms with this loss. Most of us have had pets when we were children. Pets form our world. We talk to them and play with them. Pets give us unconditional love and accept us just the way we are. Loss of a pet is often as painful as losing a family member.

Every pain or loss must be dealt with in the right way. Only then can one emerge stronger. Loss of life is the biggest pain that we must bear with. Research says that showing your beloved pet the love and respect that you have for it is one of the first steps in dealing with the loss. Just as we would go back to family photographs and keepsakes to remember the one who is gone forever, we can do the same for our pets too. Once you cremate your pet, you can keep their remains in an urn to hold on to their memory forever and show your appreciation.

Each pet is different in its unique way. They have their unique nuances, their characteristics and personality. Today you can choose a memorial urn that best suits your pets' personality and pay homage to its relationship with you. The best part is you get a wide variety of affordable urns available online and you can choose one from the comfort of your home.

Types of Urns:

Based on the type of pet you (a bird, a dog, a cat, etc.) had, you can choose figurine urns where a figure of the pet stands on top of the urn box. Such urns also come in the breed of your pet.

If you had a really playful pet that preferred outdoors, what best way to commemorate their memories than having a rock urn that can be kept outside in your lawn.

To add a personal touch to your pet's urn, you can have a photograph of your pet along with its name engraved on the urn. Photo urns come in various sizes and shapes. Generally made of solid hardwood, you would get them in the form of a box, tower, photo frame and even a dog house.

There are also various signature urns with paw prints, made of marble, in the shape of teddy bear and urn vases. Choose the one that shows you care.

Commonly a pet's remains will be handed over to you by your Veterinarian. So once you have chosen the urn that best suits your needs consider the following to decide on the size of the urn.

A pet urn size according to the industry standard is one cubic inch for every one pound of healthy weight. Check with the store from where you are buying the urn whether they have a return policy if the size of the urn does not meet your requirement.

The prices for pet urns vary based on their size and make. It may start from the USD 50 and can go up to USD 500.

The German Shorthaired Pointer is a human family oriented and hunter dog. They need quite a bit of exercise and are just as willing to hunt as they are to play games in the yard. They can tend to roam and they are known as escape artists so a properly fenced in yard for exercise is ideal. Some say that a six foot or higher fence is necessary. They can tend to be noisy dogs. They may chase cats and other pets so early socialization is key. They like older children. As a reminder, never leave a child unsupervised with a puppy or dog.

Approximate Adult Size

The approximate adult size (two years old or older) of the German Shorthaired Pointer male is 23 to 25 inches to the withers (highest point of the shoulder) and 55 to 70 pounds. The female ranges from 21 to 23 inches to the withers and 45 to 60 pounds.

Special Health Considerations

Most dog breeds have certain inherited health problems associated with that specific breed and the German Shorthaired Pointer is no exception. Be on the look out for Canine Hip Dysplasia (genetic based looseness in the hip joint that can lead to arthritis pain and lameness), epilepsy (common in dogs), and Entropion, (hereditary disorder where eyelid, usually lower one, rolls inward and irritates the cornea and can cause visual problems. Surgery can correct this condition but may disqualify the dog from shows). This disease list is an informative guideline only. Other diseases may also be significant threats, please contact your veterinarian for a complete list.

She should visit the veterinarian several times in the first year for shots, boosters and check up. Then, as an adult, she should visit the veterinarian yearly for shots and check up. As she gets older, six years and on, she should visit the veterinarian twice a year for check ups and shots. Remember; avoid feeding your dog sweets.

Grooming

The German Shorthaired Pointer has a tough, short and thick coat. She should be brushed regularly. Brushing will help her maintain a clean and healthy coat and help you keep a closer eye on her health and strengthen your emotional bond with her. Her teeth should be brushed at least twice a week with toothpaste and toothbrush designed for dogs. Brushing removes the accumulation of plaque and tartar which can cause cavities (rarely) and periodontal disease. Dog periodontal disease can lead to pain, loss of teeth, bad breath and other serious disease.

Her toenails may need to be examined for growth and clipped regularly. The toenails of the rear feet grow slower than the toenails of the front feet. Generally a guillotine type trimmer is the best for this chore and competent instructions to accomplish this can be found on the net.

Her ears should be checked once a week and be kept clean. If you have her professionally groomed, make sure ear cleaning and inspection is part of the package. No water or excess fluid should get in the dogs ears, and do not try to irrigate the ears. Ear cleaning is too complicated and critical to instruct here. Look for hair growing in the ear canal, excess wax, or moisture. If her ears have a discharge, foul odor or she seems to be in distress and you suspect an infection, or tumor, consult your veterinarian.

Life Span

The German Shorthaired Pointer can live between 14 and 16 years with proper nutrition, medical care and excellent living conditions.

History

The German Shorthaired Pointer comes from Germany where they were bred as hunting dogs. They may be a cross between the Bloodhound, Old Spanish Pointer, Hounds of St. Hubert and the German Pointer. They came to the United States in 1925. They were first registered by the American Kennel Association in 1930.

Some Registries

* German Shorthaired Pointer Club of America, Inc.
* UKC United Kennel Club
* NKC National Kennel Club
* CKC Continental Kennel Club
* APRI Americas Pet Registry Inc.
* AKC American Kennel Club
* FCI Federation Cynologique Internationale
* NZKC New Zealand Kennel Club
* KCGB Kennel Club of Great Britain
* ANKC Australian National Kennel Club
* ACR American Canine Registry

Litter Size

7 to 8 German Shorthaired Pointer puppies

Category

Sporting Group, Gundog

Terms To Describe

Agile, power, endurance, intelligent, friendly, willing to please, sensible.

SPECIAL GOOD POINTS

* Very fast learner.
* Good watch dog.
* Good swimmers, webbed feet.
* Even personality.
* Very intelligent.
* They are very healthy.
* They generally like kids.

SPECIAL BAD POINTS

* They need obedience training.
* Medium guard dog ability.
* May be a one person dog.
* Can be noisy.
* They may roam.

Other Names Known By

Deutscher Kurzhaariger Vorstehhund

Every dog is an individual so not everything in this information may be correct for your dog. This information is meant as a good faith guideline only.