Pets Dictionary

feral: An animal that was once tame or a household pet that has adapted to living in the wild.

grooming: A practice of staying clean and healthy; some animals naturally groom themselves while others require the aid of a professional for bathing and trimming.

hand-fed birds: These are birds that are removed from their parents at a very young age and hand-raised so they will become accustomed to human handling and thus make better pets.

hobs: Male ferrets that are able to breed.

heat: The bleeding period of the estrus cycle in a female animal.

intestinal parasites: Any number of organisms that can invade an animal or human and generally attach to the intestines, the muscle tissue and vital body organs such as the heart and lungs.

Jacobsen's organ: A mechanism found in many animals that allows them to "taste" the air by collecting odors on the tongue or by opening their mouths; especially noticeable when a snake flicks its tongue.