Bearded Dragon Enclosure

Well-designed reptile enclosures help your bearded dragon remain comfortable and healthy. Aside from planning the enclosure size or material, lighting options, and feeding bowls, you must select a substrate.

The right substrate offers your beardie’s habitat a natural look and provides your dragon with the necessary traction to give its claws healthy wear.

Here are some qualities to look for in a substrate:

• Easy to clean
• Natural-looking
• Absorbent
• Digestible
• Non-toxic
• Firm

Here are the best choices of substrates you can put in your bearded dragon’s enclosure.

Newspaper

Newspapers are the cheapest substrate you can use on your beardie’s enclosure. This low-cost option works best for young beardies since they cannot tear through it. Newspaper is easily replaceable when cleaning the tank, providing excellent flooring for rearing hatchlings.

You can substitute newspapers with paper towels since both offer even coverage and don’t warp from the enclosure’s heat and humidity. Newspapers are not reusable, so you should replace them regularly to keep your beardie’s enclosure safe and clean. Also, the floor may not look natural or attractive, but you save on costs and have an easy time replacing them.

Tiles or Slate

Tiles are among the preferred flooring for your dragon’s enclosure since they look beautiful, are easy to clean, and do not cause impaction risk. The best tiles are slate or ceramic tiles since they are eco-friendly and affordable. Also, ceramic and slate can conduct heat easily, so they will not decrease or amplify heat intensity within the tank.

Avoid gluing or grouting the tiles onto the tank’s floor; you need to remove them for cleaning. You should also cut the tiles to fit correctly, so use proper tools to cut safely and cleanly.

Alfalfa Pellets

Alfalfa pellets are often used as feeds for horses or rabbits but form an excellent substrate bedding material for bearded dragons. Beardies can also comfortably digest the material if it is accidentally ingested, so there is less risk of impaction. They are loose and good for digging, making your beardie feel like they are in a natural environment.

You also benefit since the pellets are easy to replace and available to purchase in bulk. Some drawbacks of using alfalfa pellets are their strong smell and their inability to absorb moisture. The dragon enclosure may get moldy, resulting in respiratory problems. Alfalfa pellets can also be colonized by bacteria and fungi, making your bearded dragon sick if swallowed.

Rubber Shelf Liner

Shelf liners made of rubber are an inexpensive substrate offering better durability than newspapers and paper towels. They come in various styles and thickness options and are easy to cut and install onto the enclosure. Rubber shelf liners also better withstand wear and tear from bearded dragons’ activities. You also clean easily since the shelf liners can be wiped clean using a cloth.

The main drawback of rubber shelf liners is their poor temperature conducting ability. Rubber are excellent insulators, so they don’t let heat out but take a lot of time to heat or cool down. You can have difficulty maintaining the right tank temperature your dragon needs to remain healthy.

Reptile Carpet

A reptile carpet is a felt- or plastic-made cloth specifically designed for terrariums. The carpets are great substrates since they are safe and have an easy installation. Also, they do not overheat or warp, so you can use hot or cold water to clean them. Reptile carpets come in plain or patterned designs and different colors, which will improve the tank’s look.

The carpet material is heavy enough to withstand wear and tear from lizard activity. The downside of using reptile carpets is that bright-colored options can be hard to clean. You also need to leave them out for several hours to air dry, so you should buy a spare carpet to swap during cleaning.

Sand

Sand is the most natural substrate you can use within your enclosure, but not all sand is safe. Unwashed, coarse, or silica (sand with sharp objects) sand options are bad for your beardie’s terrarium. Avoid using sand you’ve collected on your own; instead, buy clay, calcium, or reptile sand from pet stores.

Sand is easy to spot, clean, great for digging, and improves the enclosure’s look when used as a substrate. Non-silica play sand does not harbor bacteria, so your dragon will remain healthy.

A common issue with using sand is the high risk of impaction if swallowed. The risk is higher in young and juvenile beardies, so only use sand as a substrate for adult reptile enclosures.

Find the Best Substrate for Your Reptile Enclosures

A suitable substrate for your beardie’s enclosure will improve its comfort and keep it healthy. All substrates have pros and cons, so you need to be cautious regardless of the option you choose. If you are unsure about the items to put at the bottom of your reptile enclosures, ask an expert for help.

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What is the description of Advocate?

Advocate is an easy-to-use spot-on product that kills parasites, worms, and lice all in one application. It is advised to use advocate for cats and dogs.

Which parasites does advocate treat?

Advocate for cats and dogs eliminates fleas, pest larvae, ringworm, and roundworms, as well as treating ear mite infestations and preventing heartworm. Advocate also eliminates whipworm as well as the possibly lethal lungworm in canines and cures stinging lice. It is also helpful against the following two mites, Demodex and Sarcoptes, which cause distinct types of scabies.

What are the components?

Imidacloprid, which quickly spreads over your companion’s skin and kills bugs and lice on encounter, is one of Advocate’s bioactive constituents.

Moxidectin is a toxin that enters the bloodstream after being ingested via the pet’s coat. It moves to the stomach, where it encounters intestinal worms. Such worms are rendered immobile and passed through the faeces.

Things to be Kept In Mind

• Tick and worm management should be done every year for your companion and your household.
• Flea stings can aggravate your pet’s epidermis and induce a sensitivity, making a wide-ranging impact on skin illness.
• Persons can be bitten by the cat flea, which commonly infects cats, canines, and rodents.
• Fleas pass through different carriers for one kind of parasite, thus keeping them under control can help decrease the risk.
• Certain worms that afflict animals can also transmit the virus among humans, causing significant sickness in some cases.
• Toxocariasis, which could also lead to vision loss in humans, is one of the risks.
• By touching a pet’s fur, humans may be able to catch worm eggs.
• Infections can lead to sickness, loss of weight, a thinning coat, nausea, and diarrhoea.
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Infections That Can Be Prevented By an Advocate for Cats

FLEAS –

Fleas are the most prevalent parasites found in domesticated pets. Dogs, cats, and ferrets are all infested by the feline flea. Pests in their initial phases of development can be discovered in rugs and pet clothing.

MITES –

External mites, such as ear bugs, irritate the skin and can be spread through intimate contact. Crawling mites like Demodex and Sarcoptes bury their larvae just beneath the top layer of skin, causing two separate kinds of disease.

BITING LICE –

Nibbling lice are little, flightless insects that measure between 2 and 4 millimetres in length. The most typical indicator of lice infestation is an unkempt and brittle coat.

ROUNDWORMS –

Intestinal parasites feast on the fluids of the gut. Worm eggs are collected from infected dirt. Roundworms could also be acquired through the breastmilk in kittens and puppies. If infected, spreading roundworm eggs can cause harm to the unaided eye.

HOOKWORMS –

They start eating by attaching to the intestinal walls. Larvae can also be taken up from polluted soils and can mature quickly into grownups in your companion’s intestines, taking as few as 2 weeks.

HEARTWORM –

It is a mosquito-borne disease that affects dogs, cats, and ferrets. Heartworms grow in the circulation, then mature into adults in the afflicted individual’s atrium, where they can be deadly.

WHIPWORMS –

They receive blood by embedding their heads in the membrane of the dog’s bowel. The rear end’s whipping movement causes more harm to the stomach lining. Whipworms are most commonly found in canines.

LUNGWORM –

It is a severe hazard to the environment. Lungworm is a parasitic infection that affects dogs. Adult lungworms dwell in the core and main blood veins that feed the lungs, where they can induce a variety of issues. The condition can be lethal if it remains unaddressed.

Some Tips For Pet Owners

Pets may carry a variety of illnesses that can affect humans. In the clinic, the animal health staff are trained about how to protect pets from developing infections. Here are some things you can do at home to minimise the chances of illness acquisition and safeguard your pet and human household members.

1. Make sure your hands are clean.

Handwashing may appear to be a no-brainer, but it is critical in avoiding the transmission of infection. Hands should always be washed or sanitised.

2. Keep a close eye on how you’re washing your hands.

Use water and soap to clean your hands, or perhaps an alcohol-based sanitiser to disinfect them. Fingers, nails, or between knuckles are by far the most commonly overlooked places.

3. Defend your dogs against illness.

Immunise your pet according to their habits and surroundings.

• Control fleas, ticks, and intestinal parasites using veterinary-recommended insect, bug, and intestinal worm treatments.
• Avoid giving your companion bad food, tainted water, or dirt that may carry bacteria, pathogens, or infestations from the other mammals.
• Garbage pails should be adequately covered.
• Pets should not be allowed to consume from communal water dishes.
• Offering your cat a raw-meat meal is not recommended.

Birds are a crucial part of the ecosystem, and you can contribute to their health and happiness by feeding them in your own backyard.

If you’re thinking of adding some bird feeders to your home, there are many unique options to consider.

Check out this list of five cool examples of unique bird feeders to bring into your own backyard.

1. Tube Feeders

Featured in a long cylindrical shape, tube bird feeders are a great choice for smaller songbirds. These feeders hang from a tree or hook and usually include a protective cover to keep the birds and food cool.

Fill your tube feeder with birdseed and watch your feathered friends flock to your yard. Make sure the feeder includes plenty of holes, and perches so the birds can stay supported while they eat.

2. Suet Bird Feeders

Suet is a popular type of bird food that comes in a variety of formulations. These cakes are easy to use, less messy than traditional birdseed, and inexpensive.

Most suet feeders feature a cage-like design that holds the suet cakes in place. Try a double suet feeder for maximum birdwatching fun.

3. Finch Feeders

Finches are tiny birds that will flock to your yard if food is available. Most finch feeders feature a net or mesh sock that hangs from a hook for support.

You can find bird feeders for sale and read reviews on https://www.birdinformer.com. In addition to finches, other small birds may flock here including towhees and nuthatches.

4. Ball Bird Feeders

A ball feeder is made of a durable wire mesh that makes it easy for birds to eat things like black oil sunflower seeds, cracked corn, or a mixture of bird food ingredients. Some of the seeds may fall out of the ball, but smaller birds enjoy eating their food from the ground.

Make sure you choose a durable version of these unique bird feeders that won’t get damaged if a nosy squirrel hops on. The spherical shape makes them a fun addition to your backyard, and they’re easy to hang anywhere.

5. Large Feeders

If you don’t want to spend a lot of time refilling your feeder, consider large bird feeders that can hold a lot more seeds. Most of these designs include a wide roof to provide shade and protection to your feathered friends.

When choosing a larger feeder, make sure you know how to clean bird feeders properly to ensure that it doesn’t grow mold or bacteria. The large size allows for more food, and will also typically attract a larger variety of species to your yard.

Start Birdwatching Today

If you love the idea of attracting birds to your backyard, keep these bird feeders in mind. From a tube design to a suet cake holder, it’s easy to bring a unique assortment of pieces right to your garden.

For more great articles about pets of all kinds, be sure to visit our website today!

Did you know that 68% of American families have pets?

No doubt there’s nothing you wouldn’t do for your four-legged friend. That includes making changes to your home to ensure their safety and wellbeing. After all, it’s their home too!

Whether you’re getting a new pet or moving to a new house, or both, here’s what you need to do to create a dog-friendly home (or a cat-friendly home).

1. Remove Potential Hazards

Just like you have to baby-proof your house after a new arrival, you also have to protect your fur babies from potential harm. This means keeping any medications and cleaning supplies safely locked up and away from curious noses. Keep them on a high shelf or secured with a lock or latch.

The same goes for common food items that can be toxic to dogs, such as avocados, chocolate, and tomatoes. You’ll also want to look for any choking, strangulation, or electrocution hazards, such as loose wires or long cords.

2. Reconsider Your Trash Cans

If your pet gets into the trash and eats chicken bones or fruit cores, it could turn into a medical emergency. At best, you’ll be left with a disaster in your kitchen.

Ideally, get a large trash can with a secure lid for your kitchen and bathrooms. Keep it tucked inside a cabinet if possible and secure it with a latch, especially if your pup likes to sniff through the trash.

3. Give Them Space (Literally)

If possible, dedicate a part of the house that your pet can have as its own. Ideally, this is located near an entrance so you can clean your pet when they come inside. Make sure they have a comfortable bed, cozy blankets, and plenty of toys to chew on or play with.

When it’s time to take your pet out on the town, Maxbone is changing the way we think about dog accessories. Be sure they’re just as comfortable out of the house as inside it with a cozy tote carrier bag!

4. Choose Stain-Resistant Furniture & Flooring

Pets and stains are synonymous, so do yourself a favor and get pet-friendly furniture for your home. Leather or easy-clean suede are great choices, as is anything with a washable slipcover. You could also look for synthetic materials that are labeled as “pet-friendly” or “stain-resistant.”

What about your flooring? Hardwood or tile floors are the easiest to clean, so they’re ideal if you’re building or remodeling your home. You can always use throw rugs to add some texture and give your fur baby somewhere comfortable to stretch out.

If your heart is set on wall-to-wall carpeting (or you’re stuck living with it), try to choose a color that complements your pet’s fur. You should also plan to vacuum regularly — even daily — to ensure your house is fresh and clean.

Create a More Pet-Friendly Home Today

Every smart homeowner knows the value of keeping all its residents safe, comfortable, and happy. As a pet owner, that goes for your furry family members too!

Use the tips listed above to create a warm, pet-friendly home that the entire family will love.

Looking for more great lifestyle tips and advice? Keep browsing our site for other interesting articles like this one!