Pets can be a major part of America’s families and solo men and women. They may be given as Christmas presents to children, who generally love them and shout out with joy, at least in the commercials. They are called “man’s best friend” or people referred to with names like “the cat lady.”
They may be a full participant in Christmas. According to a PetFinder.com poll, 53% of dog owners and 58% of people with cats give their pets Christmas presents. There are many dogs and cats in the United States. It’s estimated that 70-80 million dogs and 74-96 million cats are owned in the United States.
There are many possibilities for someone looking to get a pet. One of these possibilities is the dog, who is considered “man’s best friend.” A dog is considered a friendly pet as it generally greets the owner at his or her door, plays around with children, plays fetch, and is generally cheerful.
Dogs can also be useful in the context of a crime-ridden environment, where robbers and burglars are an issue. A dog, especially a big dog, can act as a deterrent against robbers and burglars who are trying to enter a house or an apartment. They protect the house by barking and growing and generally announcing their presence.
Dogs are also good companions for someone who is living by themselves and not in a relationship. Dogs keep those who are single company when they are still single. Dogs bring happiness to those who are not in a relationship. Dogs provide an animal and trusted loved one (if that is the case) to be with during difficult times.
Cats have a different type of behaviors and attitudes than dogs. Whereas dogs are always greeting owners at their doors and dogs are always playful, needing attention, cats are more independent creatures who take care of and look after themselves. They can have different personality types and do different things. Cats tend to:
- Knock things off shelves
- Claw on furniture
- Run around wildly in the middle of the night
- Bathe themselves
- Play with feathery objects
- Meow loudly when their food bowl is empty
- Use the litter box
Cats have personalities that are very different than dogs. Cats are moody, and their moods tend to change often. They can be aggressive (as can dogs) but generally in a way that is not overt. They will swipe at another cat or at their owner. They will tear things apart and act generally independent and above any owner needs, except for food and water.
Cats act as good companions for individuals that don’t need to be made “cheerful” all the time. They are good for owners who have little time to spend with animals and prefers an independent animal that can take care of their own needs. Cats are good for those who like animals that act a little stand-offish.
There are other kinds of animals as well that people may choose as pets. In particular, there is the horse. An estimated 2 million people own horses in the United States. Horses are beautiful creatures, with long manes of hair and hooves that are strong. They have a lot of up-keep and need to have space to run.
Many horses are seen where there is a great amount of open space to run around in. Fields where horses can run gives them a little bit of exercise and allows them to get into the open sun. There are many possibilities with horses, but illness is something that affects animals generally, including cats, dogs, and horses.
Some quick statistics are:
- One million dogs are estimated to be heartworm positive in the United States each year.
- Heartworm treatment can cost up to $1,000 which makes giving a monthly preventive a bargain in comparison.
- When horses are exposed to equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV), they may develop severe, acute signs of disease and die within 2 to 3 weeks.
There are tests that can be done, including the heartworm antigen test, veterinary diagnostics, the parvo test kit, a kit for the equine infectious anemia virus expression, the equine infectious anemia virus antibody test, and more. The equine infectious anemia virus expression kit can be helpful.
The equine infectious anemia virus expression kit could diagnose symptoms. The equine infectious anemia virus expression kit could lead to treatment.
