NOSE-TO-TOES®

We present the SEPTEMBER edition of Nose-To-Toes for your reading pleasure.

Everything you always wanted to know about your pets but didn't know who to ask.

Home

Products

Services

Ask Our Vet

Classes

Special

Events

Contact Us

 

TRAUMATIC TIME

 

 

     It’s September already, the summer is coming to a close and children are heading back to school. This can be an exciting time for the kids but it can be traumatic for pets. 

     Typically around this time of year, many pets, especially dogs, will seem lethargic during the day, may quit eating, and won’t want to play as much as usual. If there are children in your family, this canine behavior could be attributed to Separation Anxiety.

     All summer, the animals have had someone to play with at any time of the day.  Now, all of a sudden, that child is gone all day, and pets don’t understand why.

     There are ways to help your pets adjust to this change. When you or the children are leaving the house for the day, don’t make a big deal out of going. The bigger the event of you leaving, the more traumatic the experience for the animal. Simply give him a hug (as you always do), tell him you love him (as you always do), and tell him you’ll see him tonight!

 

Click here for more Dog features

Click here for more Cat features

Click here for more features about a variety of Pets

Click here to continue to the next feature

Return Home

Please click this ad for more information about Pet Haven

 

 

CALL” vs “SONG

 

 

     Almost all birds have a variety of calls which are primarily very short bursts of sharp, high-pitched notes.  They use these calls to keep in touch and communicate with others in their flock, to signal that they have found food, and to warn of danger.  Researchers have determined that birds of different species will heed each other’s warnings about danger. 

     A bird’s song is usually a longer sound, often with a recognizable rhythmic pattern, usually heard only from males.  They use this talent to proclaim their identity as well as establish territory.

     Regardless of whether it is a call or a song, most birds are quiet during the middle part of the day.

 

Click here for more Bird features

Click here to continue to the next feature

Return Home

 

 

 

A FIRST

 

 

     Thomas Edison may have been credited with discovering the electric lightbulb, but do you know about the world’s

first flashlight?

     The Flashlight Fish eats tiny plant that contain billions of glowing bacteria which create a light. Below each of his eyes is an organ that lights up. This ability makes him glow in the dark, thus making the Flashlight Fish the world’s first flashlight! If an enemy approaches, he can “turn off” the lights by covering them with flaps of skin. Also, the glowing bacteria may continue to shine for several hours after this fish dies.

 

Click here for more Fish features

Click here to continue to the next feature

Return Home

 

 

 

PLAY EARLY

 

 

     Scientists have discovered about cats what parents have known about children for ages:  Playing with an infant and giving him lots of stimuli will help the child as he grows and develops.

     The more action a kitten’s brain gets, the more connections form between his brain cells.  More stuff and stimulation in the kitten’s environment means a smarter feline as an adult.

 

Click here for more Cat features

Click here to continue to the next feature

Return Home

Please click this ad for more information about Paws-Abilities

 

 

DESIGNS

 

 

     When purchasing a dish for your dog’s food or water, consider the color of the dish, is it made of, ceramic or aluminum, and is it a single bowl or a double-bowl design. An important consideration should be the depth of the bowl. This is not important for esthetics, but rather for your pet’s ease in eating from or drinking from the new bowl.

     The breed of dog should be taken into consideration when buying bowls for him. Dogs with long noses need deep dishes. Shallow dishes are for flat-faced or short-nosed dogs.

 

Click here for more Dog features

Click here for more Cat features

Click here for more features about a variety of Information

Click here to continue to the next feature

Return Home

 

 

 

NATIONAL HUMMINGBIRD DAY

 

 

     The first Saturday of September has been designated as National Hummingbird Day. These small birds have long been  the focus of fascination of scientists as well as children.

     There are 308 different species of Hummingbirds, one of the largest bird families.

     Their tiny size is always a curiosity. It would take 83 newborn broad-tailed hummingbirds to weight an ounce. Ruby-throated hummingbirds weight less than one-tenth of an ounce.

     We often see crows hopping on the driveway, or robins in the garden looking for food, but you will almost never see a hummingbird walk. Most hummingbirds do not walk, but they certainly do fly. In fact, most will visit up to 1,000 flowers each day.

    Speaking of looking for food, These small birds often consume more than half their total body weight in food and drink eight times their weight in water per day. 

     September signals the early days of fall weather. But cold temperatures may not be fatal to Hummingbirds. They are able to put themselves into a temporarily dormant state of mental or physical inactivity. This condition is known as torpor.

     Here is another interesting fact about these small birds: Hummingbirds have the fewest total feathers of all birds, often less than 1000.

 

Click here for more Bird features

Click here to continue to the next feature

Return Home

 

 

 

LET’S MEASURE

 

 

     The average length of each hair on a shorthaired cat is just 1-3/4 inches. By comparison, the longhaired cat’s coat averages hairs about five inches long.

 

Click here for more Cat features

Click here to continue to the next feature

Return Home

Please click this ad for more information about Pandora's Box

 

 

SONGS IDENTIFY

 

 

     Even experienced bird fanciers have a hard time determining whether their pets are male or female. Some breeds are harder to determine than others.  

     Canaries are one of the more difficult aviary breeds to sex.  In general, the male canary has a bolder appearance with typically brighter coloring around the face, forehead, and throat. His calls are usually louder and more confident.

     It is the adult cock’s singing that produces loud, full-throated music, lasting for long periods of time.  They often accompany their songs by swaying in rhythm to the music. Cocks typically sing more than hens do, actually producing real songs of distinct, discernible parts. Canary song is a form of mating ritual.

     Marina, one of our very special readers, is a canary breeder with a great idea to help determine the sex of her aviary family.

     She plays recorded songs of canaries near her birds’ cages. The males begin singing in unison and the females begin searching for the “new guys in town.”

 

Click here for more Bird features

Click here to continue to the next feature

Return Home

 

 

 

SENIOR CITIZENS

 

 

     September is Senior Pet Awareness Month, a chance to focus on how to help senior pets live even longer, healthier, and happier lives. Senior animals need special care and attention. Awareness of an aging animal’s needs is important to their overall

health and well-being.

     Remember, whether in humans or in animals, age is simply a number, but care must be taken to insure that whatever the age, it is

a quality life. 

 

Click here for more Dog features

Click here for more Cat features

Click here for more features about a variety of Pets

Click here for more features about a variety of Information

Click here to continue to the next feature

Return Home

Please click this ad for more information about this unique band

 

 

UNIQUE BUNNIES

 

 

     Rabbits are believed to have been domesticated since about 1,000 B.C.  There are a great many varieties. Here is a sample of some of them including some of their unique characteristics:

     The Dutch Rabbit has a distinctive white belt around his chest and neck.  His body color is usually either black, blue-black, brown, red, or gray. Himalayan rabbits are typically white with smudges of black on their nose and feet.

     California breeds are white with dark brown ears and paws, similar to Siamese cats.

     The Chinchilla is a blue long-haired breed.

     The Lop is known for his pendulous ears, hanging down loosely framing his face.

 

Click here for more features about a variety of Pets

Click here to continue to the next feature

Return Home

 

 

 

BEST FRIENDS

 

 

     The third week of September is National Dog Week. Let us share a few interesting facts about canines:

     Dogs have about 100 different facial expressions, most of them made with the ears.

     Many animals with patterned coats are born in solid colors, then the pattern develops as the animal matures. The Dalmatian is no different. Dalmatian puppies are born solid white and their spots develop as they get grow. We are not sure who takes the time to count, but for those 101 Dalmatians movie buffs, the original movie featured Pongo with 72 spots, Perdita with 68 spots, and each of the puppies with 32.

     Historians have found writings describing the Afghan Hound as far back as 4000 B.C

     Both the longhaired Chihuahua and shorthaired Chihuahua can be found within the same litter. Typically, the shorthaired Chihuahua sheds more than the longhaired, although they are the same breed.

 

Click here for more Dog features

Click here for more features about a variety of Information

Click here to continue to the next feature

Return Home

Please click this ad for more information about this unique band

 

 

LETS LISTEN

 

 

     As amazing as it may sound, most horses have a wonderful hearing ability. In fact, they can hear sounds from several miles away.

     Obviously, horses hear with their ears. They usually keep their ears facing front, but can turn the ears, independently, a full 180-degrees in the direction of the sound. Because of this movement ability, horses can pinpoint almost any sound. In addition to using their ears, horses can also hear with their legs! They can detect vibrations from the ground which travel up their leg bones. In this manner, they are able to hear something large moving from a quarter of a mile away.

 

Click here for more features about a variety of Pets

Click here for more features about a variety of Animals

Click here to continue to the next feature

Return Home

Please click this ad for more information about this unique product

 

 

DON’T BE FOOLED

 

 

     Eligible - el-i-gi-ble \ adj: qualified to participate or to be chosen.

     A recent visit to a county licensing department found the following sign: “If you have a dog and live in (your town, USA), your dog is eligible for an identification tag.”

     Official translation from the county licensing department: “If you have a dog, he is required to have a license.” But that’s not what the sign says! The sign indicates that your dog is eligible for ID tags, implying that you have the option whether or not to get those tags. In reality, it is a law that the license is required.

     Bottom line: Check the regulations carefully. Ask for specific rules regarding pet licenses.

     We have all heard the phrase ignorance of the law is no excuse. The licensing department’s incorrect use of the term “eligible” in this instance is also no excuse for your pet to be unlicensed if it is required where you live.

 

Click here for more Dog features

Click here for more Cat features

Click here for more features about a variety of Pets

Click here for more features about a variety of Information

Click here to continue to the next feature

Return Home

 

 

 

MANY TO CHOOSE FROM

 

 

     Lizards are usually thought to be the pets of young children. Although most people think of one or two types of lizard, there are actually 18 groups or families, which includes about 3,000 known types. The lizard is the largest group of living reptiles.

     The smallest lizard is the Gecko, only about 1½-inches long. The largest is the Komodo Dragon. About one-quarter of all lizards are members of the Skink family, living in warm regions of the world.

     Another large family are the Iguanas and Dragon Lizards.  Iguanas live in warm areas of the United States. Dragon Lizards live primarily in Africa and Australia. The largest lizards are members of the Monitor family.  They live in the warm regions of Africa, Asia, and Australia, and all eat other animals, not just vegetation.

     An interesting trait of lizards is the variety of ways they run. Most walk or run on all four legs. Some run only using their back legs. Then there is the Basilisk Lizard. This unique animal has wide feet and strong legs, and is able to run across water, not in the water.

 

Click here for more features about a variety of Animals

Click here to continue to the next feature

Return Home

 

 

 

WATCH ‘EM GO

 

 

     Faster than a speeding bullet. Able to leap tall buildings with a single bound...

     No, this is not a feature about Superman, but it is a comparison of fast and slow maximum speeds for several animals in our world. 

     In the air, the fastest is the Golden Eagle at 120 mph. The slowest: the houseflies at five miles an hour.

     On land, Cheetahs are the fastest at speeds of 65 mph.  Turtles are the slowpokes at about 1/10th of a mile in an hour.

     In the water, watch for the speedy Sailfish, traveling at about 30 mph. Goldfish are the slowest at 4 mph.

     Also, some animals are fast for short sprints but can be outrun for longer distances.

 

Click here for more Bird features

Click here for more Fish features

Click here to continue to the next feature

Return Home

Please click this ad for more information about this unique service

 

 

VALUABLE

 

 

     The Angora goat has some unique characteristics. It has drooping ears and horns with a right angle twist to them. 

     Sheered like sheep, their fleece weighs as much as 11 pounds. Fiber from the fleece of Angora goats is mohair.

     Cashmere goats have long, straight or twisted horns, and erect ears. Their underfur is valuable and eagerly cultivated.  Referred to as Cashmere or Pashmina, this breed is known worldwide as the producer of the finest of all animal fibers used for textiles.

 

Click here for more features about a variety of Pets

Click here for more features about a variety of Animals

Click here to continue to the next feature

Return Home

 

 

 

AMAZING FACTS

 

 

     The Beluga, or Russian Sturgeon, is the largest in the world of freshwater fish at about 12-feet long and 1,600 pounds. Researchers have documented the largest Beluga at 24-feet long and 3,250 pounds.

     Although it is found in the saltwater Black and Caspian Seas, the Beluga is classified as a freshwater fish because it migrates to

the fresh water of the Volga River to mate and lay eggs, up to 7.7-million eggs at a time!

     The Beluga typically lives about 70 years, but there are less and less of them each year.

     The Belgua’s eggs are very valuable. In fact, most of those eggs are cultivated and sold as some of the finest caviar in the world.

  

Click here for more Fish features

Click here to continue to the next feature

Return Home

Please click this ad for more information about Heavenly Spa

 

 

WATER DROPLETS

 

 

     Regardless of how many bowls of fresh water you have for your cats and dogs, many still prefer to drink the water as it drips from the faucet. There are two possible reasons for this preference. 

     Some bowls, especially plastic bowls, have an odor that may not be detectable by humans but that can be offensive to your pets. 

     Even glass or metal bowls may offend some cats and dogs. Also, there may be a residual soap smell after you have washed the dish. 

     Running water is fresher than water that has been standing in a bowl, so many animals will prefer sipping the droplets.

 

Click here for more Dog features

Click here for more Cat features

Click here for more features about a variety of Information

Click here to continue to the next feature

Return Home

 

 

 

ASK OUR VET

 

 

     Each month, Dr. Susan Neary presents a feature article about your pet's safety and health.  We invite our readers to email your questions for Dr. Neary.  Her email address is NtTAskOurVet@aol.com

      For this month's feature column, please click here.

 

 

Click here for more Dog features

Click here for more Cat features

Click here for more Bird features

Click here for more Fish features

Click here for more features about a variety of Pets

Click here for more features about a variety of Animals

Click here for more features about a variety of Information

Click here to continue to the next feature

Return Home

Please click this ad for more information about Tyrrells Pet Food

 

 

CANINE TIDBITS

 

 

     The Yorkshire Terrier is one of the smallest breeds. In fact, the smallest dog ever bred was a Yorkie, but it was not a

breed standard. The smallest canine breed is the Chihuahua.

     The coat of the Weimaraner is a glistening gray. They are native to Germany where they are nicknamed Grey Ghosts.

     Shih Tzu is native to China. They are also called the Lion Dog and Chrysanthemum-Faced Dog.

     The Maltese, a favorite for over 28 centuries, has a long, heavy, glossy coat that does not shed.

 

Click here for more Dog features

Click here to continue to the next feature

Return Home

 

 

 

AMAZING HUMMINGBIRDS

 

 

** Approximately 20%-30% of the hummingbird’s body weight is wing muscles.

** The fastest wing speed for hummingbirds is 90+ strokes per second, but they average 40-80 bpm.

** Most hummingbirds fly about 30 miles an hour. At their absolute top speed, they can travel up to 70 miles per hour.

** The hummingbird’s

work uses a lot of energy. They need to consume up to half their weight in sugar every day.

** Migrating hummingbirds may travel tremendous distances. The Ruby Throated Hummingbird will travel more than 2,000 miles.

** There are over about 350 known varieties of hummingbird, 112 of those in North America.

** The smallest is the Cuban Bee Hummingbird, at just 2-inches long. The smallest in the U.S. is the Calliope at about 3-inches long. The largest known hummingbird is the Patagona Gigas of North America, measuring 5-6 inches in length.

** Depending on their size, this bird’s heart rate ranges 500-1260 beats per minute during the day and drops to below 50 during the night.

 

Click here for more Bird features

Click here to continue to the next feature

Return Home

 

 

 

SAME SIZE, BIG DIFFERENCE

 

 

     There are two types of aquariums that are typically used, the all-glass type and the metal-framed type. Although they may have the same volume, the metal-framed aquarium has a greater surface area, which is an important consideration for oxygen circulation, the number of fish that should be kept in the tank, and your ability to watch the fish. It is very difficult to see clearly through the corners of an all-glass aquarium.

 

Click here for more Fish features

Click here to continue to the next feature

Return Home

 

 

 

LET US SEND IT

 

 

     Nose-To-Toes is also available each month in print.

     If you would like to receive Nose-To-Toes each month by first class mail, or if you are looking for a gift for a pet-loving friend or family member, we invite you to subscribe to Nose-To-Toes.

     The annual subscription price is $18.00; or save with a 2-year subscription of just $30.00.

     Please send check or money order to:

Nose-To-Toes

P.O. Box 6155

Lynnwood, WA 98036

 

 

Click here for more Dog features

Click here for more Cat features

Click here for more Bird features

Click here for more Fish features

Click here for more features about a variety of Pets

Click here for more features about a variety of Animals

Click here for more features about a variety of Information

Click here to continue to the next feature

Return Home

Please click this ad for more information about commercial production

 

 

MAILMEN AND DOGS

 

 

     Have you ever wondered why many dogs seem to always bark at the mail carrier? Pavlov’s theory may play a role in this activity.

     Think about it for a moment: 

Each day, mail carriers come to the door or the mail box and leave.

     If your canine barks when the carrier approaches and continues until he leaves, your dog may believe that it is thanks to his barking that this stranger always goes away. His success in scaring this perceived enemy reinforces his barking activity.

 

 

Click here for more Dog features

Click here to continue to the next feature

Return Home

 

 

 

LOTS OF LETTERS

 

 

     The name is long but not the longest in the world of fish.

     The humuhumunukunukuapuaa is Hawaii’s official state fish. Pronounced HOO-moo-HOO-moo-NOO-koo-NOO-koo-AH-poo-AH-ah, it is also known as the rectangular triggerfish.

     The fish with absolutely the longest name is the long-nosed butterflyfish, known as the lau-wiliwili-nukunuku-'oi'oi.

 

Click here for more Fish features

Click here to continue to the next feature

Return Home

 

 

 

HAMSTERS MAKE SENSE

 

 

     Hamsters make great first pets for children. They teach children responsibility and they are easy to care for. Hamsters are also entertaining to watch and amazing to analyze because their senses are highly developed.

     Sight:  Hamsters have relatively large eyes that are slightly protruding, as in most nocturnal animals. They are farsighted but don’t see with great sharpness. Their angle of vision is fairly wide (about 110°) allowing them to see enemies in time to react.

     Hearing:  The sense of hearing is well developed. They hear sounds in the ultrasonic range, can differentiate between sounds, and are able to identify individual human voices.

      Touch:  A hamster uses its whiskers to explore its immediate surroundings. Those whiskers are excellent tactile organs for the hamster (and all other whiskered animals).

     Smell:  The hamster’s sense of smell is highly developed. Their whole concept of surroundings is based on smell, not on appearance as it is with humans.

 

Click here for more features about a variety of Pets

Click here for more features about a variety of Animals

Click here to continue to the next feature

Return Home

Please click this ad for more information

 

 

READER’S PHOTOS

 

 

     Each month we receive notes and letters from our readers with great information about their pets. Some also send photographs of their favorite animals that they think we might enjoy. We invite our readers to send photos of their pets, cute, serious, funny, whatever you like, so we can publish some of the best photos each month to share with all of you! Here is a picture we received, just to give you an idea.

     Email your photos (in PDF format, please) to NtTPetInfo@aol.com, or mail them to us at Nose-To-Toes. P.O. Box 6155, Lynnwood, WA 98036.

     Please note that photos cannot be returned.

 

Click here for more Dog features

Click here for more Cat features

Click here for more Bird features

Click here for more Fish features

Click here for more features about a variety of Pets

Click here for more features about a variety of Animals

Click here for more features about a variety of Information

Click here to continue to the next feature

Return Home

 

 

 

PAMPER YOURSELF

 

 

     Birds are well-known for preening and grooming themselves. The term preen originated in the 14th Century when it was spelled prenen. That term can be traced from the Anglo-French origins of pur," meaning "thoroughly," and uindre or oindre,

meaning "to anoint or rub."

 

Click here for more Bird features

Click here for more features about a variety of Information

Click here to continue to the next feature

Return Home

 

Nose-To-Toes is a monthly publication and website distributed by Melody Tucker, MTA, 1620 South Lake Stickney Drive, Alderwood Manor, WA 98087.  Nose-To-Toes is a registered trademark of MTA.  As a new/information newsletter and website, data is gathered from published reports and documents, and advertisements are received from sponsoring companies, and the inclusion of product, service, or treatment information does not constitute an endorsement, and in no way is intended as a substitute or medical counseling.  Nose-To-Toes strives for accuracy in its articles and honesty in its advertisements, but the publisher and editor assume no responsibility for injuries or loss incurred by anyone utilizing the information in the articles or responding to the ads.  Nothing may be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission from MTA.

 

© 2008 Melody Tucker & Associates

1620 South Lake Stickney Drive

Alderwood Manor, WA  98087

425-745-2942    fax: 425-745-3945    email:  NoseToToesWebContact@aol.com