Ways to Avoid Goldfish Disease

By Sara Le

In giving your pets proper care and attention, you should not normally experience problems with goldfish disease. With a possible exception of some of the more exotic types, the goldfish is a pretty hardy little fellow, and can live a long life whether kept inside, outside, or a little of each. When hearing the word goldfish, we sometimes envision a pretty little fish swimming serenely round and round in a small bowl. While a goldfish can live in such an environment, it is not the best one for it, if for no other reason than one must take special care to keep the water fresh and clean at all times.

A poor environment is easily the greatest cause behind goldfish disease. Breeding and genetics can be a factor of course, and you can always inadvertently purchase a diseased fish, but as a goldfish owner you have a primary responsibility to keep it disease free or, when possible, treat the fish should a disease arise.

Sometimes the symptoms of goldfish disease can be quite obvious. One of the more common symptoms is when the fish begins to swim in an abnormal fashion. Gasping at the surface, or hugging the bottom (most goldfish are normally not bottom feeders) are other common signs. Goldfish can also suffer from skin problems, and when this occurs they will often spend a significant amount of time scratching against objects in the aquarium, trying to get some relief. Many conditions such as fin rot or fungus are treatable unless they spread to the gills, in which case the situation generally becomes fatal.

The two most common types of disease you're apt to encounter are worms and bacterial infections. Worms generally will not be a concern unless introduced into an aquarium with live food, and are much more apt to become an issue in an outdoor pond. If you have indoor fish and feed them non-living fish food (flakes), worms are very unlikely to ever become an issue.

The other more common type of goldfish disease is bacterial infection, which can take on many forms. Fin or tail rot is perhaps the most common, which will happen if a fin or tail is damaged, and the water is allowed to become dirty. Ulcers, present on the fish's body are another symptom of a bacterial infection. Dirty water, especially water where an accumulation of nitrites or ammonia has become too great, probably accounts for the vast majority, if not all, bacterial infections, and rather than worry about treatment, the best approach is to take the simple preventive measure of keeping the goldfish's environment clean. Antibiotics are available to treat both fin and tail rot, and must be used as the problem will not clear up on its own.

Sometimes fungus can become a problem. Fungus is generally a secondary situation, arising when, because of injury or bacterial infection, there is an open sore on the fish. The presence of fungus is also a treatable problem. There are other kinds of goldfish disease, some of which are of uncertain origin. Goldfish can suffer from lice, constipation, scale loss, air bladder problems, and even tuberculosis. Rather than worry about each and every possible goldfish disease, it's best to keep an eye on your fish and be on the lookout for abnormalities. If you have a number of fish, and one exhibits unusual behavior, it is of course a good idea to quarantine that fish. The condition may or may not be contagious but you'll not want to take chances.

Keep the environment clean, don't overfeed, and be on the lookout for injuries if you have many fish, and the chances of goldfish disease are slim indeed, and your fish should live a normal life span of 10 years or more.

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Giving Your Dog a Home Spa Treatment

Source: Nextarticles.com

Author: AmyNutt

Taking your pet to the spa can be very expensive and time consuming, but you don`t have to pay big bucks to get your dog into a special spa. In fact, you can do your own spa treatment right at home. It`s a great way to bond with your dog and since most dogs prefer to hang out with their own humans, this is something that your dog is bound to enjoy.

What You'll Need

There are a few essentials that you`ll need in order to give your canine friend a good experience. Items such as a comb or brush, dog shampoo and towels are all a very necessary part of bathing your pet. However, these are just the basics. To make the at home spa treatment something different from a normal bath, here are a few items that will make the whole experience better.

- Lavender scented conditioner. Make sure it`s formulated for dogs and don`t try using human conditioner which can burn sensitive skin. - Music. Most pets really enjoy music and this can have a calming effect on both of you. - Detangler spray. This is very helpful if your dog has long hair that tends to mat in the bath. - Removable shower head. This allows you to easily rinse your dog without having to dump buckets of water on him. - Knee pads. These will keep your knees from getting sore as you kneel by the tub. -Non-slip bath mat. To prevent slipping and sliding, your pet can stand on the bath mat.

These extras will help your dog truly enjoy his spa treatment and it will make things easier on you, as well.

Tips for a Successful Spa Session

- Start with a massage. Get your dog nice and relaxed by stroking him and then lightly massaging his back and sides. Start lightly and then increase the pressure to where your dog seems happy. Watch for the sensitive area where the hips join the body, this can be rather ticklish. - Keep treats handy. This is a pampering experience, so be sure to have some of your dog`s favorite treats on hand. Throughout the session, compliment him on his great behavior and give him a treat. - Use conditioner to add shine. One of the great things about a dog spa treatment is that your pet`s coat is bright and shiny afterwards. The best way to get this professional look is with a good conditioner and then spritz a high shine spray over his fur as you brush him out. - Don`t use a blow dryer. While it may seem faster, the heat can be too much for the sensitive skin of your pet. It`s best to simply dry your dog with a big fluffy towel instead. - Brush first. This will ensure that the extra hair will end up in the brush or mitt, rather than your tub drain. Since most dogs tend to shed, even if you've done a thorough brushing, it can be useful to get a drain trap. This is simply a small bowl made of metal screening that sits in the drain, catching anything that threatens to go down. You can just lift it out and clean it later, without having to deal with clogged drains.

Giving your pet a home dog spa treatment can be a wonderful way to spend some quality time together. The end result is pretty nice, too. You`ll have a sweet smelling dog who will be thrilled that you took the time to spend with him. Most animals are also calmer after a soothing treatment that includes aromatherapy (the lavender conditioner or spray) and music, along with a massage.