admin answers:

That depends. Most shelter charge something called a re-homing fee, which covers the costs they incurred while the bird was in their care. Our amazon cost $350 in adoption fees. Then you have the fact many avian shelter require classes on parrot care and require people to gain hands on experience with large parrots before taking one home. This ensures they are prepared for the loud screaming, mess and bites a parrot will inevitably be doing. It also gives them a Idea of how much they are getting into, and the option to decided a large parrot is not right for them. The money from the classes goes to caring for the birds in the shelter. These classes sometimes cost, and if I remember back to when we adopted our bird (5 years ago) classes were around $200. You may not have to take them (we didn’t) if you already have years of experience with large parrots.

Past the actual adoption/class fess, you will need to buy a breed-appropriate cage. For large parrots, these cages START at $300 and only go up from there. Putting a large bird in a small cage is not fair to the bird, and it is a absolute must you have a large enough cage. Then you look at food expenses. Our amazon goes through a $20 bag of high-quality seed about once a month. You don’t want to skimp and get cheap food, because the nutritional quality won’t be the same, and many birds refuse to eat pellets. Past seed, parrots of any size need fresh fruit and vegetables every day. This is not an option. They need a wide array of fresh produce that can easily tack $10-$15 onto your food bill every week (you should go with organic, as not to expose your birds to pesticides). Treats for training and reinforcing positive behaviors (which is lifelong) are $15 or so for a small bag. Then we get into toys. Some toys can be cheap (like baby toys from garage sales), but parrot toys from the petstore (and they will need those too for mental happiness), cost between $20-$50 PER TOY. Toys should be rotated in and out of the cage several times a week to keep your bird occupied. They destroy toys quite fast, so frequent replacement is necessary. Past toys and food, parrots need to see specialized avian vets. A routine checkup (which they have to have once a year) will cost you $200+ just to walk through the door. Any injuries/illnesses, and it only goes up from there. When my moms bird broke her foot 10 or so years ago, getting it fixed cost well over $1500. Taking them to a regular vet isn’t an option, regular vets cannot provide proper care, and many won’t even see large parrots.

While you may be able to scrape enough together to take one home, large parrots are a lifelong commitment, and are extremely costly pets after they get home. Only those 100% dedicated to providing care for these animals for the next 60+ years deserve to have one. Our amazon is a major cost factor. We knew this going in. We know he is all we can afford to provide proper care for, so as much as we’d love a whole flock of them, we realize the cost limitations. You need to sit down and look at every factor before taking a parrot home. This includes not just cost, but the time and dedication needed. Parrots are highly intelligent animals, right on par with great apes and dolphins. They can be taught to speak in context, and identify shapes/colors so many consider them the most intelligent animals. This intelligence proves problematic for many people used to caring for dogs and cats. Large parrots are not beginner birds. Many shelters have plenty of smaller parrots along with the big guys who are just as much in need of a loving home, only without the greater cost factor. Consider carefully before bringing one of these beautiful animals home. Volunteer at an avian shelter to see if these amazing animals are something you would consider keeping in your own home, or are better left to those who can provide proper care.

admin answers:

The number one solution for your diabetic dog is to feed him or her a diet of homemade foods so you can track of exactly how much carbohydrates and sugar they are getting. A homemade diet of natural foods isn’t as expensive or as much work as you might think. I mean, you are probably already preparing meals for yourself/your family at least some of the time. Check out the many Websites with advice and easy recipes for natural dog food.

If you cannot avoid commercially manufactured dog food altogether, it is better to give your pooch good quality canned food that is low in carbohydrates and low in sodium. Canned dog food made especially for diabetic dogs is a safer way to go, but make sure it is high in protein. Even better if the food is organic. Since diabetes affects liver functions–and thus the immune system–the liver is less able to handle additives often found in commercial dog food. Check the ingredients on the label.

Most dry dog foods are largely made up of simple carbohydrates (sugars and/or starches). You are looking to drastically decrease your diabetic dog intake of carbs, especially simple carbs. There are some dry diabetic dog foods that are generally safe, but still check the ingredients to make sure it is high in protein and vegetables. Even so, dry dog food, diabetic or not, should never be the sole form of food–there is just not enough nutrition in it.

Nutritious Diabetic Dog Cookies All Natural Dog Treats
Amazon Price: $12.95
List Price: $14.95

Homemade Dog Food
The Healthy Dog Cookbook: 50 Nutritious & Delicious Recipes Your Dog Will Love
Amazon Price: $12.53
List Price: $19.95

Make sure sugar or its other forms (sucrose, fructose, syrup, etc.) is not on the list of ingredients. No baked goods in the diet either, including most dog biscuits.

Keep in mind, also, that the amount of food that your dog eats must be carefully monitored. It is better for diabetic dogs that they eat 2 or 3 smaller meals a day than one large meal to keep blood sugar levels even. Hey, Tod M. You’re right about the small meals don’t know if you were being serious or not!

Before making any changes to your dog’s diet, it is important to consult a vet about the diabetic dog food diet your pet needs, and give those foods that your dog tolerates well.

Hope this helps.

admin answers:

Http://www.thehonestkitchen.com/category/recipes/
http://www.halopets.com/resources/homemade-pet-food-recipes.html
http://www.recipegoldmine.com/pets/pets.html
http://www.twodogpress.com/dogfood.html
http://simmertilldone.com/2009/10/07/retriever-retriever-pumpkin-eater/
http://dogtime.com/dog-food-recipes.html
http://www.marthastewart.com/recipe/blueberry-dog-biscuits?autonomy_kw=dog%20biscuits
http://www.marthastewart.com/recipe/izzys-apple-cheddar-dog-biscuits
http://www.marthastewart.com/article/homemade-dog-biscuits?autonomy_kw=dog%20biscuits

I also own The Organic Dog Biscuit Cookbook by Bubba Rose (love it!!!) and The Good Food Cookbook for Dogs (not as much variety but still awesome!)
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=dog+recipe&x=0&y=0