Before Getting a Dog 9 Things You Should Know!

Have you been dreaming of getting a dog ever since you saw the movie'Hero", 1970's Jackie Shroff movie? While your dog might not be able to save you week after week from a burning building, a runaway freight train, or the bottom of a well, owning a dog can be a wonderful experience.

Here are 9 things you should know and consider before choosing your canine friend.

1. If you are not often at home, and you really want a dog, you probably should invest in a dog walker. You'd probably be wise to choose a dog breed that isn't especially needy, too.

2. Dogs take up a lot of time and energy. Yes, they are rewarding. But if you live alone and work twenty hours a day, then perhaps a dog is not the best choice for you.

3. Any dog you get should be suitable to not only your lifestyle, but your surroundings too. If you live in a small apartment, then a large dog is not a good choice. You don’t want your dog to develop health issues, be bored, or destroy things. Large dogs really belong in big places with lots of outdoor space.

4. Consider which breeds are suitable for your place's climate, especially if you have a yard and want to keep it as an outside dog.

5. Puppies require the most work when it comes to house training. If you: (a) don’t want your things chewed up, or (b) don’t have the time or money to train the puppy, consider adopting an already housebroken, adult dog.

6. Make sure you have lots of chew toys available for your puppy and keep all expensive things (like shoes and clothes) out of its reach; the same goes for chemicals and medicines. Puppies like to investigate and try everything, so make sure there is nothing dangerous around for them to sample.

7. Get a proper leash and harness for your dog. A leash too small or too large may hurt it inadvertently during its walking routine, or, worse yet, allow it to hurt others or get loose and run away.

8. Regardless of the dog breed you choose, have fun! They say there is no better friend than a dog. We have to agree.

9. Lastly, get your dog vaccinated and spayed or neutered as soon as possible. Oh, and take your dog to the vet for its routine checkups. Your dog will thank you for it and live a much better (and longer) life.

Cheers
Team Total Animal!

Top Pets of the world

1.       Dogs can be found across the globe. Climate, historical, economic, and lifestyle differences all factor into the pets that people from other countries keep, love, and care for. Dogs are quite popular in the U.S., with over 70 million of each. While the United States has more dogs than any other country in the world by a large margin, no other country has more dogs than Brazil does. The most popular breeds in Brazil by far are the rottweiler, shih tzu, golden retriever, and labrador; with other breeds like Yorkshire terriers and cocker spaniels found less commonly. Brazil loves animals so much that they offer a special Pet Passport for anybody who wishes to bring a dog or cat into the country. Other animals, however, are much more restricted.

Many types of dogs are popular in Mexico, but none are better known than the two breeds that originate directly from Mexico: Chihuahuas and Xoloitzcuintli. The Xoloitzcuintli, in particular, is supposed to be an ancient breed with healing qualities, and has appeared in art from ancient civilizations.

2.       Cat: In US, more houses have a dog than a cat, but by the sheer volume there are more cats than dogs. Besides the United States and China, no country has more cats than Russia does. Because of the often frigid climate, most Russian cats are house cats, although there are some who are free to wander outside. Cats are so popular in Russia, in fact, that some banks are actually offering consumers a free cat with every mortgage they take out!

3.       Fish is the most popular pet in the U.S. A National Pet Owners survey found that the people in the United States own a total of 142 million fish as pets, almost as many cats and dogs that are owned as pets combined!

4.       Crickets : Traditionally in China, crickets were kept as pets because of their ability to sing and propensity to fight each other. Today, crickets are traditionally kept as pets in large, crowded cities like Beijing. Crickets are ideal pets there because they take very little room and require minimal upkeep.

5.       Rabbits: Rabbit is an ideal pet for many Japanese pet-owners. Rabbits are gentle, loving, and prefer vegetables such as carrots over meats and fish. Because they are tiny, they are also ideal for many smaller Japanese homes.

6.       Turtle:With all the exotic animals found in Australia, it’s surprising that one of the most popular pets is the simple turtle! Turtles are popular because they’re easy to care for, and naturally thrive in Australia’s typically moderate climate. The most common turtles in Australia are the long-necked and eastern snake-necked turtles. However, laws are strict in Australia and turtles cannot be caught or taken from the wild. They must be purchased from a designated store.

7.       Cow: In India, pets are used for more than just companionship. Cows provide both friendship and subsistence in the way of milk, cheese, and other dairy products. Beyond that, cows are considered sacred in most parts of India. Thus, pet owners that keep a cow are said to have especially good luck and fortune.

8.       Alpacas are a domesticated type of camel, and a much smaller, cuter version! There are roughly 3.5 million of these animals alive today, and the vast majority can be found in Peru. Alpacas are incredibly popular because their fur can be used as a luxurious fiber, and they are shown in pet competitions throughout the world. They make excellent pets because they are extremely loyal and obedient, and can easily be taught simple one-word commands.

9.       Birds: With over 12 million birds kept as pets throughout Italy, no European country comes close except for Turkey. Some of the most popular birds in Italy include goldfinches, nightingales, and starlings. 

The Macaw is a beautiful, majestic parrot with bright shades of red, blue, and yellow in Guatemala. Combined with their ability to repeat simple words, it’s no wonder that Macaws are such popular pets. Though, the pet trade for Macaws has been a problem lately as their population has dwindled due to the pet trade and the destruction of the rain forest. In order to restore their population and let future generations enjoy them as well, Macaws are a protected species and can no longer be removed from their natural habitat.

10.    Reptiles: By the sheer volume, no European country has more reptiles kept as pets than France does. While many people fear poisonous snakes in France, many French people keep more docile reptiles, like small lizards and turtles. The most common pet snakes in France are boas and brown snakes.

Need of policy to control dog and cat population

The population of dogs and cats in India currently exceeds the capacity of our society to care for them and provide homes for them as companion animals. As a result, millions do not have homes and are euthanised annually by animal control agencies, humane organizations, and veterinarians in private practice. Dogs and cats that are not adopted can become victims of trauma, starvation, or disease. Therefore dog and cat population control is a primary welfare concern of our society.

A. Education

• There is need of public education campaigns that can help pet owners be more responsible and concerned.
• Comprehensive public education campaigns to prevent abandonment will require the commitment and cooperation of state and local governmental agencies, humane organizations, and veterinary associations.
• Education to prevent abandonment should include tenets of responsible pet ownership, including appropriate selection, the importance of early-age spaying and neutering, keeping pets indoors or in restricted environments, preventing or solving behavioral problems, and consulting with veterinarians for information on these issues.
• The government should encourage all independent sources of pets (eg, breeders, pet shops, shelters, animal control facilities, private individuals) to educate new owners about the importance of surgical or non-surgical sterilization and regular veterinary care.
• Veterinary college and research institute should emphasize the prevention and/or solution of behavioral problems and other factors leading to dog and cat abandonment

B. Research

• The government should encourage research into the development and use of non-surgical methods of sterilization.
• The  government agencies should also better define and quantify the dog and cat overpopulation problem.

C. Public Policy

State and local governments must:

• Provide significantly more funding to animal control agencies to facilitate strict enforcement of existing animal control laws, and 
• Prohibit the sale or adoption of intact dogs and cats by humane organizations and animal control agencies.
• Promote surgical and non-surgical sterilization of intact dogs and cats.
• Require licensing, rabies vaccination, and permanent identification.

Launch of 'Total Animal' blog

With gradual economic growth and changing lifestyles, India ’s Veterinary industry has perceived tremendous development over the last few years. In turn, a swift change in the Veterinary market has been observed over the review period. This new trend has spawned the entire industry, with major players emphasizing the expansion.

Indian Veterinary industry has been receiving great turnovers and forecasting more in the near future. Prominent overseas companies in Veterinary industry have traced their footprints in Indian sub-continent. India is emerging as a potential market in Asia-Pacific region with more companies witnessing a splendid annual growth rate.

However, today we  do not have any ready resource  material for  the  veterinarians  and other stake-holders in pet, poultry & livestock sectors. There is a gap between those who have knowledge and those who seek that for application. To bridge this gap we have started this blog titled 'Total Animal'. This blog shall bring you the latest developments in the animal & veterinary research, government policies, veterinary industry and market,   pet, poultry   and   dairy   development,   product   analysis   &   new   launches,general market & industry scenario and much more. 

Team 

Total Animal !