When does a puppy stop growing?
There is no set rule to determine when a puppy will stop growing, and it depends entirely on the breed. However, most puppies reach their adult weight at an average of 18 months. The general rule is that the larger the breed of dog the longer they will keep growing. Most of the very small breeds only grow for about a year and the very largest of breeds may keep growing until they are two and a half years old. A puppy should be fed a food that meets their specific nutritional needs during their first year as this is when the most important development takes place. Most puppies can be moved onto regular dog food at about a year of age.

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How is kennel cough transmitted?
The viruses and bacteria that cause kennel cough are spread through the air as infected dogs cough or sneeze. It is also spread through contact with contaminated surfaces such as toys, dog bowls and even the ground. It is a highly contagious condition and it has been reported to remain contagious weeks after the symptoms disappear. Some of the bacteria and viruses that cause kennel cough can cause medical problems for humans, but this mainly affects people with a compromised immune system.

The common treatment for kennel cough is antibiotics and cough suppressants. The viruses that cause the disease can be prevented through vaccination. Other prevention techniques include disinfecting kennels and other areas that an infected dog has been, as well as isolating infected animals.

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Why does salt kill slugs?
The body of a slug is made mostly of water, which is protected with body mucus. The reason that salt kills slugs comes down to a biological process called osmosis. This process causes water to move from an region where there is more water into a region where there is less water, and vice versa. The cell membranes of a slug are very porous and when salt is poured on a slug the high concentration of salt on the outside causes the water to move from the inside of the slug to the outside. Basically, the liquids inside the slug are used to dilute the salt and preserve the mucus layer. This loss of liquids caused by the salt eventually dehydrates the slug and this is what kills the slug. Although some gardeners use this method to kill slugs, it is not commonly used in agriculture because salt is harmful to the crops.

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What is the life span of an elephant?
Although it does vary somewhat between the different species the average life span of an elephant is somewhere between 50-70 years. They have been known to live past 80 years on occasion and the oldest elephant is believed to have been 86 years old. This Asian elephant elephant lived at the Taipai Zoo and was named Lin Wang. It was believed to have been born in the wild jungle of Burma in 1917 and arrived at the Taipai Zoo in 1954, where it lived until its death in 2003.

Did you know?
African elephants go through 6 sets of teeth throughout their life. They usually lose their last set around 40-60 years of age and then die of starvation!

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Why do dogs pant?
Basically speaking, dogs pant to keep themselves cool. Unlike humans, dogs have fewer sweat glands to keep cool. Instead, dogs pant to increase the airflow to their upper respiratory tract and as the air passes over the tongue it creates an evaporative cooling system. This process cools the blood vessels in the head area and keeps the brain cool. This is the best natural cooling technique available for a dog. This is why you may notice a dog panting on a hot day or after exercising.

To help your dog remain comfortable in extreme heat you should provide them with lots of water. The more water they have available the better they will be able to cool themselves and this will ensure their natural cooling system can perform to peak efficiency. Without enough water dogs can suffer heatstroke which may cause symptoms such as abnormal heart rate and breathing, dry mouth and nose, drooling, seizures and unusual gum coloring. If you notice any of these symptoms it is important to cool your dog down and seek treatment from a veterinarian.

Dogs are also known to pant when they are excited or stressed and it may also occur when the dog is suffering from heart or lung disease.

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Why are flamingos pink?
Flamingos can range in color from pale pink to vibrant red. The vibrancy of the color depends largely on the health of the flamingo. Flamingos gain their pink coloring from the aqueous bacteria and beta carotene that they ingest through their food. The main diet of the flamingo is brine-shrimp and blue-green algae. Both these food sources contain high amounts of beta carotene. The liver of the flamingo breaks down the beta carotene into pink and orange pigments which are deposited into the feathers, bill and legs of the bird. If a flamingo is not eating the right diet it may appear pale pink or even white in color. Flamingos that eat a large amount of algae will have a more vibrant and deep color than Flamingos that feed mainly on creatures such as shrimp. Flamingo that are kept in captivity often do not have access to the food sources they need to maintain vibrant orange, pink and red coloring. Zoo keepers have rectified this by adding canthaxanthin to their diet.

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Where do chimpanzees live?
Although both chimpanzees can be found in Africa, the territory of the two species of Chimpanzees do not overlap. In fact, the Congo River separates the distribution of the two species. The common chimpanzee is found in sections of West and Central Africa, north of the Congo River. The Bonobo is only found south of the Congo River in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The common chimpanzee is able to adapt to a wide variety of habitats including dry savannah, rainforest, swamp forest and dry woodlands. The Bonobo is less adaptable and is only found in the damp forests of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Deforestation of these habitats is a threat to both species of chimpanzees.

Did you know?
Chimpanzees are thought to have once had a much larger range in Africa. The most interesting discovery so far is chimpanzee fossils found as far away as Kenya (eastern Africa).

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Why do crabs walk sideways?
Crabs have a very flat, broad body shape, which contributes to the reason that crabs move sideways. Each crab leg has two joints. The top joint or “shoulder” is restricted by the shell across the back of the crab. The crab can use this joint in its leg to move forwards or backwards but it is very slow and time consuming. The second joint on the crab’s leg is not restricted, but does not bend forwards like human knees. These joints move sideways similar to how our elbow moves when held horizontal to the body. This allows the crab to quickly scurry sideways using this leg joint. Moving quickly is of greater advantage to a crab, because they have many predators. It enables them to quickly slip into crevices and holes to protect themselves.

Some species of crab are able to move forwards and backwards at a quicker speed. These crabs are the raninids, Libinia emarginata and Mictyris platycheles. These crabs have a different body shape to most crabs allowing the “shoulder” joint more freedom when moving.

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Why do cats climb trees?
There are a number of reasons that cats climb trees. Firstly cats are predatory animals. This means that they hunt for their food. As a predatory animal, cats climb trees to scope out their environment. From a higher vantage pint cats are able to spot potential prey and dangers. They can use the height to work out the best way to get from where they are to where they want to be. Climbing a tree gives a cat a more complete view of their surroundings. Cats are naturally curious and like to know what is going on in their world. Cats also use the branches of the trees and the foliage as camouflage. Many ground-dwelling prey will not see a cat in a tree. Cats also climb trees when chasing likely prey such as squirrels, possums, birds etc.

Cats also climb trees as a form of self-preservation. Whilst they are a predator, there are much larger predators that are a danger to a cat. They will climb a tree to hide and/or escape from predators as many predators cannot climb. In the wild certain species of cats will sleep in trees to protect themselves from ambush while resting. Some house cats will also sleep in a high place, such as in a tree, to avoid being surprised or attacked whilst sleeping. Cats are also solitary by nature and will climb to be alone and to rest.

Young kittens will climb trees to hone their skills in this area. Climbing helps develop cat’s muscles and enables them to learn important skills such as balance and agility.

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Where do opossums live?
The most well known species, the Virginia opossum, is found throughout Central America and throughout most of the Eastern United States and along a small strip of the West coast. They have also been found in Canada in recent years and this suggests that their range is expanding. The Virginia opossum is the only species of opossum found in North America. The remaining species are found throughout much of Central and South America. Most have a fairly small distribution, but some species are found over a very wide area.

Opossums frequent a wide variety of habitats and generally stay in an area as long as food and water are available. They will sometime create their own burrows, but most often use a readymade burrow or other safe area instead. They are nocturnal, which means that they like to have a dark safe place during the daylight hours.

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