Pets And Animal-Dog

11 Protective Care Approaches for a Vigorous and Happy Pet Dog

2009-01-15T23:42:00.003-08:00

11 Protective Care Approaches***Lots of Attention,Exercise,Safety Collar,Obedience,Yearly Veterinarian Checkups,Dental Care,Practice Good Hygiene,Give Your Dog Company,Provide Dog Space,Heartworm Medicine.....

11 Protective Care Approaches for a Vigorous and Happy Pet Dog

Pet treatment goes beyond countering a particular disease or health problem - it's about preventive care and ensuring your dog enjoys a long and happy life. Once your pet has reached adulthood, your relationship will probably settle into a routine.

Make sure it's a mutually rewarding one by following these guidelines.

Lots of Attention

Give your dog at least a half hour of your undivided attention every day. Play with him, brush him, or practice obedience tricks or commands.

Exercise

Make sure your dog gets plenty of exercise every day. It's critical for a healthy body and a healthy temperament.

Safety Collar

Though an ID collar isn't a health issue or medical pet treatment, it will possibly save your dog's life if he is ever lost or injured by a vehicle.

Obedience

Obedience training doesn't just produce a well-trained dog, it also helps your canine lead a disciplined and structured life, something that's critical to their pack mentality. Obedience training also helps to keep the mind sharp.

Yearly Veterinarian Checkups

Visit your veterinarian on an annual basis. Have your dog examined, and be sure to discuss any potential health concerns.

Dental Care

Most veterinarians recommend brushing your dog's teeth every day. It's difficult, cumbersome and not always fun, but it will keep gingivitis, tooth decay and disease at bay. Remember, you don't have to brush forever - a few nightly swipes should do the trick.

Practice Good Hygiene

You should bathe your dog whenever he is itchy, smelly or dirty. Your dog can pick up a lot of parasites, dirt and bacteria when he's out splashing in puddles or rolling around in the dirt. Just like with humans, good hygiene is critical for good health.

Give Your Dog Company

Dogs are social animals, which is why they live and travel in packs in the wild. If you plan to leave your dog home alone all day, then you should invest in a dog walking service or possibly doggie daycare. Otherwise, your dog can become depressed, bored and possibly destructive.

Provide Dog Space

Dogs need their own space, so give your dog a peaceful and comfortable place where he can go to lie down, have some quiet time and take a nap. When your dog is resting or relaxing, be sure to respect his space and need for rest.

Buy Good Dog Food

Invest in quality dog food that's formulated for your pet's weight, age and health. If you love your dog, don't cheap out on its diet and nutrition.

Heartworm Medicine

Probably the most important preventive pet treatment is to keep your dog on heartworm prevention medicine during mosquito season. Heartworm is a deadly disease that is excruciatingly painful, so keep your dog safe from it.

By: Trevor Price
Article Source: http://www.ArticleBiz.com

Caring for Your Dog

2009-01-15T23:42:00.001-08:00

Caring for Your Dog--Watch your dog's weight...Give your dog plenty of exercise...Providing your dog with things to keep it occupied is important...Nutrition is a very important part of your dog's physical health....

Caring for Your Dog

Through years of faithful friendship we can become very attached to our pets, and this can be especially true of "man's best friend". It's a tragic day when we have to say goodbye to our beloved friends, but by looking after your dog well, you can ensure it has a long and healthy life in which you can share many years of joy together.

Here are ten great ways to help keep your dog healthy and give you more years to enjoy together.

Take your dog for regular wellness tests at the veterinary clinic, especially when it is getting old. These tests help to provide early identification for various illnesses to which the animal may be susceptible. A thorough physical examination is given which includes teeth, ears, eyes, heart and lungs. Other tests may also be carried out depending on the vet's judgment of the animal.

Watch your dog's weight. An obese dog won't live as long as one which is kept at a healthy weight. Too much weight creates a lot of extra work for the heart - something which an older animal will struggle particularly badly with.

Be aware of when your dog is getting older. An older dog requires more care. What constitutes "older" varies between breeds of dog.

Be on the lookout for illness. Whilst at home pay careful attention to your dog's behavior. Watch its sleeping and eating habits. Dogs tend not to show pain as obviously as humans do, so being extra observant is an important means to keeping your dog well.

Don't let your dog have completely free-run of the outside world. Whilst dogs need plenty of exercise, allowing your dog to run around wherever and whenever he pleases can allow it to get into dangerous situations, especially as it grows older. Make sure you keep your dog in a garden that has a fence surrounding it.

Give your dog plenty of exercise. Dog's have a natural desire to use up energy by running around. Playful exercise is good for your dog's body and mind. Keeping a dog locked up all day can make it miserable. Allowing it to run around provides it with entertainment and exercise which helps keep its body healthy.

Providing your dog with things to keep it occupied is important. An unhappy dog can get other kinds of illness as a result of depression, and it can also cause itself harm. Provide it with plenty of toys, teach it tricks, and engage with it in a variety of ways.

Nutrition is a very important part of your dog's physical health. Without the right foods it can easily fall ill. Products such as Iams? or Eukanuba are excellent food supplements to feed your dog healthily.

Provide your dog with a safe environment. Keep dangerous chemicals and other household items in places which your dog cannot access.

Neuter or spay your dog. There are a variety of benefits to this including elimination of pregnancy complications and a reduced tendency for male dogs to want to escape to find a mate.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/

What Is Excessive Licking? Read More Of The Dog Symptoms Of Licking

2009-01-15T23:41:00.002-08:00

The Dog Symptoms Of Licking** dogs lick themselves to the point of self-mutilation for a variety of reasons...Other dog licking symptoms result in open wounds and lesions on your dog’s body....

What Is Excessive Licking?
Read More Of The Dog Symptoms Of Licking

If your dog spends his time licking himself repeatedly, it may be time to pay closer attention to your dog’s licking habits and dog licking symptoms.

Some dogs lick themselves to the point of self-mutilation for a variety of reasons. Boredom, lack of entertainment or stress could cause your dog to begin licking his paws, legs or some other body part. Is your dog constantly following you and sitting down when you sit then starts to lick himself? If this is the case, he’s probably simply looking for something to do. Could you take him out for a walk now?

Dogs are like humans in the sense that they also have unhealthy quirks or habits that they start doing when they are bored. For example, take a look at people waiting in line in grocery stores. Can you spot some of the sneaky habits that people have to entertain themselves when they are bored or anxious while waiting in line? Dogs also have little habits that grow out of boredom. Some women may run their hands through their hair without even thinking about it and some dogs lick their paws or other body parts out of habit or boredom.

Thousands of years ago, our ancestors bred and domesticated dogs for the purpose of being worked. Now that society’s needs have changed, dogs are no longer used as workers unless they are used on a farm for herding sheep or hunting. The purpose of dogs has evolved from helping people to survive to a being a fury friend with loads of energy.

Other dog licking symptoms result in open wounds and lesions on your dog’s body. These lesions could become infected with bacteria and spread to the rest of his body via your dog’s bloodstream. Such infections could cause severe health problems if not dealt with promptly.

There are occasions when licking is beneficial. For example, when a puppy first comes into this world, the mother will lick him clean to remove all natal debris. The licking also helps puppies breath and it stimulates bowel movements. There is no evidence to suggest that excessive licking at birth by the mother would result in puppies developing a licking habit that could cause health problems later on.

Another reason behind your dog’s excessive licking could be allergies. If you believe that your dog suffers from allergies, you should document your dog’s licking symptoms and take him to see a veterinarian. The vet may suggest an allergy test and should provide possible treatments for your dog. You should know, however, that allergy tests for animals can run as high as $300 for a dog.

In order for the vet to perform the allergy test, your dog will likely be put under some mild anesthesia. The procedure shouldn’t last more than 20 to 30 minutes and your dog will be a little drowsy afterwards. The vet normally uses another drug to reverse the anesthesia and your dog should feel a little more awake after the second drug. There will be a shaved patch on the underside of your dog, but the hair will grow back soon.

After the vet has completed the allergy test, he or she will probably discuss the various treatments available. You should consider the options wisely without forgetting about the financial consequences. Now that you can recognize some dog symptoms for licking, you should be able to help your dog feel more relaxed by properly addressing the issue and getting the right kind of medical treatment for your dog.

By: Daniel Waser
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Tips On Bathing Your Puppy

2009-01-15T23:41:00.001-08:00

Tips On Bathing Your Puppy--During the first few bathing sessions, you’ll definitely find yourself impatient when bathing your puppy...This is a good strategy for your pup to associate bathing with playing...

Tips On Bathing Your Puppy

Most dogs, in the early stages of their life, are afraid of the water or taking a bath. But no matter how hard it is to bathe your puppy, you should still do this to make him clean, healthy and free from pet infestations. During the first few bathing sessions, you’ll definitely find yourself impatient when bathing your puppy. Like training your dog to obey you, bathing your pup also requires a lot of patience and persistence.

It takes time before your little dog gets used to bathing time. You need to establish a good relationship with him before anything else. One of the most effective ways to make your puppy’s bathing session easier and faster is by establishing a playtime zone which is a specific location where your puppy will become familiar to bathing. This is a good strategy for your pup to associate bathing with playing.

During the first week before giving him his very first pet bath, choose an area where you want to wash your dog. It can be anywhere inside or outside your house, in the bathroom or even the backyard. Bear in mind that you need to make a notion to your puppy that that specific zone is his playtime area. Play with him for a few minutes everyday in that area until he gets comfortable in it.

As much as possible, don’t bathe your puppy if he doesn’t want to cooperate. Don’t rush things. Allow your dog to become accustomed with the playtime zone you created for him. Make sure that you put dog toys or treats within the pet bath tub before introducing water to him.

Bathing your puppy should also not take too long. To make the bathing time even faster, brush your puppy’s fur first. Tangled fur holds water which can result to skin irritation. Remember not to bathe your puppy if he is younger than 8 weeks old. Alternatively, dogs that are under 8 weeks can be cleaned using water and puppy wipes.

If your puppy seems too uncooperative, you can do a dry pet bath for him instead. This type of bathing method involves wiping him with a damp cloth and rubbing him with am towel. Waterless bath sprays can also do wonders for your puppy. By doing this, you’ll surely be amazed how clean your puppy will be!

By: Andrei Smith
Article Source: http://www.ArticleBiz.com

Teach Your Dog Good Manners - How to Train a Well-behaved Dog

2009-01-15T23:40:00.000-08:00

Teach Your Dog Good Manners***Teaching your dog good manners is one of the best things you can every do for your dog and yourself...

Teach Your Dog Good Manners
- How to Train a Well-behaved Dog

Dogs, like kids, need a loving, consistent environment to learn good behavior. Dog owners (like moms and dads) need to teach them and guide them to learn appropriate and acceptable behaviours without sacrificing their self-confidence.

What kind of dog would you like? A dog that is afraid and submissive, or a happy, well-adjusted, well-mannered member of the family?

Teaching your dog good manners is one of the best things you can every do for your dog and yourself. Studies have shown that dogs are highly intelligent animals that want to please their owners. There is a clear link between how owners treat their dogs and how their dogs behave. Research shows that most dogs can learn to be well-behaved. However, this strongly depends on the time and effort the owner puts into training them.

Teaching your dog good manners is beneficial to both you and your pet. A well-trained dog learns to respect the people around it, and makes a shy dog more sociable and confident. Owners that engage with their dog and take responsibility for their training and socialization tend to experience less behavioral problems from their dogs.

The owner’s attitude in training their pets is of utmost importance. Focusing on positive reinforcement and rewards while training your pet will help you get the best from your dog, have fun and helps ensure that living with them is easy, enjoyable and emotionally rewarding – all the things you want from man’s best friend.

Dogs are learning all the time. Owners need to teach their dogs appropriate and acceptable behaviour as early as possible, and in a variety of different situations. This means that the dog is confident and well-mannered even in challenging circumstances.

Training you dog in basic manners benefits everyone; you, the pet owner, and your happy, loved and well-behaved dog.

By Expert Author: Shelley Smith
Article Source: http://www.articlesphere.com

Dog Have Itchy Skin? Improper Nutrition Could Be The Cause

2008-12-24T01:03:00.004-08:00

Dog Have Itchy Skin--One common answer for your dog’s itchy skin is food allergies -- your dog is reacting to a certain ingredient in his dog food. Another common answer is psychological -- your dog has issues (nervousness, hyperactivity, anxiety).....

Dog Have Itchy Skin?
Improper Nutrition Could Be The Cause

Does your dog scratch all the time? Does he go on and on scratching? If you’re like most people, it probably drives you crazy – not to mention your poor dog. You look your dog over – no fleas to be found. So then why won’t the scratching stop?

One common answer for your dog’s itchy skin is food allergies -- your dog is reacting to a certain ingredient in his dog food. Another common answer is psychological -- your dog has issues (nervousness, hyperactivity, anxiety). However, one area that tends to get overlooked in the diagnosis of a dog’s itchy skin is nutrition, or lack thereof.

When you deprive your dog of essential nutrients (vitamins, minerals, fats), their body may respond with inflammation of the skin and scratching – your dog’s itchy skin!

Your dog is a beloved member of your family. You don’t deprive him of nutrients! Do you? You might very well and not even know you are doing it. If you answer yes to the following question, there is a very good chance that you are.

Do you feed your dog commercial dog food?

Most dog food companies provide very substandard dog foods without you even knowing it. Just because the label says “well balanced” and “complete nutrition” does not mean that it is. Most of the food that goes into dog food are by-products. A by-product is whatever is left over of a whole ingredient after the healthy, useable portion has been removed. So even though the dog food says it has a certain ingredient, chances are the good part, the part with the nutrients, aren’t in your dog’s food. This lack of quality nutrients results in your dog’s itchy skin.

By: K.C. Jones
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

How To House Train A Dog – Easy Steps

2008-12-24T01:03:00.003-08:00

A puppy does not yet have the ability to wait for a door to open if it wants to toilet....To house train a young and even older dog is basically the same as training a young puppy....

How To House Train A Dog – Easy Steps

To house train a dog and especially a puppy is very easy and only requires patience, consistency and awareness. Nobody wants a dog that messes in the house, so many people just leave their dogs in the backyard – never allowing them in the house. These backyard dogs many develop undesirable behaviour which is caused by a lack of attention. If you are the new owner, you might have a dog that has never been house trained.

House Training a Puppy

A puppy does not yet have the ability to wait for a door to open if it wants to toilet. You as owner are responsible for being aware of when the puppy needs to go out.

Listed are few definite situations and times when you should take your puppy to the area in your garden where you want it to toilet:

? The moment it wakes up, in the morning or during the day when it was sleeping.

? Just after feeding times

? When you see the puppy sniffing around and turning in circles

? When you see the puppy going behind furniture. (It is not playing hide-and-seek!)

At these times, pick up your puppy and take it outside. Wait there, sunshine or rain, until it has done everything. Do not go inside, the puppy will just follow you and do it in the house. And it will be all your own fault! Never scold your puppy if it had an accident in the house, it was NOT his fault.

You can be very successful in the dog training basics if you are consistent. Your patience will pay off and very soon you will notice your puppy start going outside all on its own. Remember also to praise your puppy everytime it does its toilet outside. It is also a very good idea to take your puppy to a dog training school for puppy classes and basic dog obedience training.

House Training an Adopted Dog

To house train a young and even older dog is basically the same as training a young puppy. It will even be quicker, but you need to be very consistent. Make sure to praise you dog when it is doing right. You can even train your dog to touch a bell when it wants to go out. You can do that by using the method of clicker training.

In all your dog training, be it house training, basic obedience training, dog agility training, always use positive reinforcement methods and you will achieve your goals much faster and both you and your dog will enjoy it.

By: MS du Toit
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Clicker Train Fido To Sit

2008-12-24T01:03:00.001-08:00

Clicker Train Fido To Sit***a small device making a click sound when pressed...This is extremely important. Even when you click at the wrong moment, Now that Fido knows how the clicker works,...

Clicker Train Fido To Sit

Dog training has over the years developed from the harsh methods of punishment to almost an art or science where precision training is possible using only a small device called a clicker. Clicker training has long been used to train other animals like dolphins.

What is a clicker?

A clicker is what it says -- a small device making a click sound when pressed. It is also known as a reward marker. The click sound marks the exact moment your dog did something that earns him a reward. If you want to teach him to sit, you will click the moment he sits, and then you will give him a reward or treat. To Fido the clicker means “Good dog, you have done this thing right!”

If used correctly, the clicker is very effective because you can catch the exact moment your dog does something right. Your timing must be perfect -- practice your timing by throwing a ball into the air and clicking the moment it turns to fall back.

The philosophy behind the clicker is that the dog gets conditioned that when he hears the click sound, he will receive a treat. He will thus do whatever he knows (which he learnt through repetition) that will result in a click. A clicker trained dog will go through a whole repertoire of behaviours to get a click.

Where to start

Let us say Fido has no experience with a clicker and you want to start training him by using the clicker. First you have to introduce the clicker to him and teach him that whenever he hears the click, he will receive a reward. This is extremely important. Even when you click at the wrong moment, he should still receive a reward, else the power of the clicker will be diminished. Do this introduction by just clicking and rewarding. At this point Fido does not have to do anything. You only want him to realise that the click is a good sound and a yummy treat will follow. It will only take about 10 to 20 clicks for him to realise that. This process is also called “charging up the clicker”.

Moving on

Now that Fido knows how the clicker works, you want to start teaching him desired behaviour. Lets take an easy example: you want to teach Fido to sit when you say “Sit”. Remember: he does not yet know the word “sit”, so you cannot expect him to sit when you say the word. So just keep quiet. Take a treat in your one hand and clicker in the other. Hold the treat-hand in front of Fido’s nose (do not allow him to take it!), lift your hand slightly up and backwards, luring him into the sit position. Click the second his bum hits the ground and give him the treat. Repeat 20 to 30 times.

At this point you can start adding the word “sit”. The sequence should be: Luring Fido into “sit” and at the same time saying “sit” – Fido sits – click – treat. Repeat that sequence about 20 to 30 times. You can now test him by giving the command before luring him into the sit position. Chances are good that he will immediately sit on command and you would not even have lure him into position. If he gets it right, give a bonus treat and make a big fuss. Congratulations! You have just taught Fido to sit on command!

What’s next?

The above is a short description of the basic training method using a clicker. You can teach your dog any trick or obedience command by following that outline. Some tricks and commands are much more complex and you should break it down into smaller steps first and combining them later. This will be described in later articles – so be on the lookout for those.

Tips for successful dog training

Set up your dog for success by keeping training sessions short.
End your training on a high note, while your dog still wants more.
Use really yummy treats and be generous.
Always treat after a click.
Do not train when you are in a bad mood or not feeling well!
Be consistent with your clicking, your praise and your rules.

By: MS du Toit
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Dog Training – The Secret To Success

2008-12-24T01:02:00.000-08:00

Dog Training – Spending quality time together...Experiencing life together...Establishing and promoting mutual Respect...Communication..Understanding each other’s needs...

Dog Training – The Secret To Success

Building a bond with your dog is the secret to successful dog training.

As with any relationship, building a bond requires:

1.) Spending quality time together.

Spending quality time together does not mean just being in the same room as your dog. It does mean having some routines and rituals together that your dog can look forward to. Dogs love routine. One such routine can be to run to your post box together and then giving the junkmail to Fido to carry to the bin. That makes life worth living for Fido.

2.) Experiencing life together.

Take Fido with you wherever you go. If you walk to the shop on the corner to buy a newspaper, take him along. Let him practice a “sit stay” outside the shop. Dogs are wonderful companions. Take him along for your Sunday afternoon drive or when you go on hiking trial in the countryside.

3.) Establishing and promoting mutual respect.

Trust and respect are very important in any relationship, even your relationship with your dog. Your dog will trust you when, over time, he realises that you will keep him safe. Respect will come when you set enforceable boundaries. You must be firm but fair. Here also, as in any dog training, it is important to be consistent. If you don’t want Fido to jump up on you or your friends, then never allow that, not even once.

4.) Communication

You must develop a way of communication with your dog so that you and Fido can understand each other. It all developes from a proper dog training foundation. And the more motivational your corrections and praise are the stronger the foundation. Communicating with your dog means that he will understand when he’s doing something right and when he’s doing something wrong. You can communicate with your voice but your strongest communication with Fido will be through body language.

5.) Understanding each other’s needs

If you have reached a point in your dog training where you can communicate with your dog, you will start to understand each other’s needs. And that is a magical point. That is when both of you are really enjoying the training and where Fido will do just about anything to please you.

By: MS du Toit
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Bringing Home a New Dog - Shopping Recommendations

2008-09-20T21:53:00.000-07:00

Bringing your new dog home ;Dog Food - Bowls for Food and Water -Grooming Tools and Supplies -Dog Crate - ID Tags -Bed Gates - Selection of Toys -.....

Bringing Home a New Dog
Shopping Recommendations
Bringing your new dog home for the first time is an important occasion and you want to be a safe and enjoyable experience for your pet. For a puppy or an older dog, this can be an intimidating time. With a little bit of preparation you can make the experience more enjoyable for both you and the dog. Besides the preparation of your home and its surroundings, you will also want to purchase furnishings and supplies ahead of time. Here are some recommendations to help you in your preparations.
Dog Food - Like humans our dog's health depends mostly on what they put in their mouth. Make sure to choose a high quality dog food appropriate for your dog's age and weight.
Bowls for Food and Water - Ceramic or Stainless Steel are probably the most sanitary choices, remembering that stainless bowls will get very hot if they are in direct sunlight. Large dogs and older dogs may benefit from raised bowls that require less stooping.
Grooming Tools and Supplies - The basic tools include a brush, flea comb, nail clippers and toothbrush. Basic supplies include shampoo and toothpaste made especially for dogs. If you are bringing home a puppy that needs house training you will also need puppy pads and urine cleaner.
Dog Crate - A crate is not only a comfortable den for your dog, but also a valuable tool for house training, for traveling, and for times when you need to keep the dog confined. The crate needs to be big enough for the dog to stand up and turn around but not so big that he can make one end a toilet area. For puppies, crates are available with dividers so that you can keep the available area small when the dog is small and enlarge the area as the dog grows.
Bed - A blanket or fleece mat if your dog sleeps in his crate, or a comfortable bed if he is not.
Gates - Baby gates can be very useful for blocking off areas that are off limits.
Leash - A four to six foot lead generally works best for walking.
Collar - Nylon or flat leather collars work well. Make sure to check the tightness often, especially if you have a dog that is growing quickly. It needs to be snug enough that he can't get it over his head but not so tight that you can fit two fingers under it.
ID Tags - The tag should include at least the dog's name and your phone number. If possible include your name and address also. If you move, make sure to update your dog's ID tags accordingly.
First Aid Supplies - Having the right supplies on hand can really help in minor emergencies.
Treats - Soft treats especially for dogs can help in the dog's training.
Selection of Toys - Make sure the toy is appropriate to the age and size of your dog. Puppies that are teething can find great relief from a nylon or rawhide bone. Kongs and other toys are good for keeping dogs from getting board.

By Tom K. Kelly
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com

So Many Dog Foods to Choose From - Right?

2008-09-20T21:46:00.000-07:00

So Many Dog Foods to Choose From - Right?
The phrase, "putting on the dog" refers to people who try to appear wealthy or more important than they really are. If you were to walk down the dog food aisle in a supermarket or pet store, the front of the bags would sound very impressive, assuring you of complete nutrition for every stage of a canine's life. But in reality, many of these pet food companies are guilty of "putting on the dog". Before you put anything "in" your dog, flip those bags of dog food over to read the fine print.

Do you want your dog to be healthy, obedient and live to a good old age? Scientists determined that dogs have the potential to live to 20 years, but in reality, most canine companions struggle beyond the 10-year mark. Veterinarians are seeing an increasing number of heart and respiratory disease, joint problems and diabetes. The shelters are full of dogs that left their "forever homes" because they exhibited hostile and even violent behavior.

All of these health and emotional issues could have a solid basis in the type and quality of food these dogs have been given. It's not enough to merely fill up a bowl with any dog food so your pet doesn't go hungry. Dog owners need to evaluate what's going into the dog's dish because those ingredients can mean a better life or one that is filled with health issues.

Buy a premium dog food. Generally, this type of food is not sold in supermarkets and not even at your veterinarian's office. There are a few exceptions where you will find top quality foods at these establishments.

Before making a selection of dog food, turn the bags over and read the list of ingredients. The first 5 ingredients make up the bulk of the dog food so take note. If more than 2 of them contain grain products, like corn or wheat, the food is mostly vegetable protein, which provides less in the way of nutrition. Dogs who eat this type of food will have more bowel movements because their bodies are not absorbing a high level of nutrients and these ingredients are processed as waste.

If the bag lists "by-products" it's best to leave it on the shelf. By-products of animals can mean the head, feet and intestines. There is practically zero nutritional value in this ingredient. Look for chicken "meal" or lamb "meal" which actually provides a greater degree of animal protein.

Avoid foods that contain preservatives, like BHT or BHA. They can be harmful to your pet's health. Canned food often contains more preservatives because they are needed to keep the food fresh. Additionally, canned food has a high water content and that should be factored into your dog food buying decision. Dogs do very well on dry dog food alone, and the crunching action helps to keep their teeth cleaner.

If you want to give your dogs treats, the same rules apply. Check the list of ingredients. Try not to get your dog "hooked" on cheap treats with no nutritional value because that may make it difficult to offer a premium dog food that is not artificially enhanced with flavor additives.
By Lori Matthews
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com

Choosing Designer Dog Beds

2008-09-20T21:35:00.000-07:00

Choosing Designer Dog Beds,Designer Dog Beds Designer dog beds aren't typically just the same old beds with a designer's name on them, however.,Fancy Prices Normal dog beds,

Choosing Designer Dog Beds
Traditionally, dogs were not provided beds, and were lucky to sleep on a pile of rags, if they were allowed in the house at all. In recent years. However, lately the trend has been for people to pamper their pets. Not only do their dogs have beds, they have deluxe, stylish designer dog beds to go with their chic haircuts.

With the growth of designer pet accessories such as dog collars and even clothing, it is no surprise that humans would want designer dog beds that would match the style of their home, and the style of their dog accessories. The trend toward high-end dog beds has become so prevalent that there are stores and websites specializing in nothing but designer dog beds.

Fancy Names, Fancy Prices Normal dog beds, which are available in a great variety of styles and colors, and which not only can meet your dog's needs but also can match your decor, only cost around fifty dollars. The price varies primarily according to the size of the bed (which in turn varies according to the size of the dog). As soon as you add a designer's name to the exact same bed, the price will at least double.

Form Factors of Designer Dog Beds Designer dog beds aren't typically just the same old beds with a designer's name on them, however. Even when these dog beds follow the same form factor as non-designer beds, the designer who puts his or her name on the label has thought out the look and style. They come in just about any style, shape or size you can imagine.

A typical form factor for these beds is the "donut" style. They don't resemble donuts all that much, as the bottom is actually solid and cushiony. They do have a ringed edge, also cushiony, and this edge is what gives this style of designer dog beds its name. The ring part of the bed makes for an excellent headrest for your pet.

Some dog beds carry the anthropomorphizing trend indicated by the prevalence of doggie sweaters and other designer doggie clothes to extremes. Designers create designer dog beds that resemble human furniture, like little sofas or lounge chairs. Chances are these mini sofas are available in a fabric or pattern that matches your own sofa.

Along those lines, some of these dog beds are styled to look like little human beds. Some even have headboards and footboards. Other designer beds are styled more like the rest of your furniture, with designer dog beds hidden away, as if they were miniature indoor doghouses, except disguised as end tables.

Special Function Pet Beds Some dog beds are available which have advanced functions to increase your pet's comfort. For example, heated dog beds are available. These heated dog beds are ideal for older or arthritic dogs. Heated dog beds may not be the ideal pet beds in warmer climates. In hot climates, dog beds are available with cooling pads.

Things to Consider When Shopping for Designer Dog Beds Different breeds of dogs have different body types, build and sleeping habits. The type of bed you choose for your dog should depend on not only your dog's body type but also your dog's habits. If your dog chews things, choose a bed that is sturdy and "chew proof".

It is very important that you consider not only the decor of the room where you wish to place the bed but also your dog's habits. A fancy doghouse style bed, which neatly hides your dog's bed away, isn't going to be all that useful if your dog doesn't like small, enclosed spaces. You don't want to spend a lot of money on pet beds for your dog only to have him ignore it.

If you are buying for a puppy, make sure you understand how big the dog will eventually grow. You will either have to buy a large bed later, or just buy one at the start. If your puppy is a larger breed it may be a waste of money to buy a small bed when he is small, as they grow fast.

By Johnathan Livingston
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com

Designer Pet Carriers For Your Designer Pet

2008-09-20T21:24:00.000-07:00

Designer pet carriers come in a wide variety of options ,Types of Designer Pet Carriers, Pet Accessories for Travel....

Designer Pet Carriers For Your Designer Pet
You have designer tastes, and why should your pet be any different? For the pets that appreciate the finer things in life, designer pet carriers are a great way for them to stand out in a crowd while pampering their every needs. Designer pet carriers come in a wide variety of options and so you are sure to find the one the best suits your designer pet.
Types of Designer Pet Carriers
There are many different types of designer pet carriers that you can choose between. You'll need to evaluate what you'll want to use your use pet carrier for and in understanding that, you'll be able to select the best option for your own individual needs. If you'll be carrying along your pet, consider backpack pet carriers. Let your small dog ride in style right on your back so they don't miss out on anything going on around them.

Another option for designer pet carriers are front pet carriers. This'll place your small pet securely and snuggly against your chest and allow them to be carried around almost like a baby. Your designer dog will enjoy the pampering the front pet carriers allow - they'll be close at hand for everything that is going on!

If your pet will be joining the jet set crowd, you'll want to investigate airline approved pet carriers. Airlines often have strict regulations regarding how to transport pets both in the passenger and cargo compartments. You can select between designer pet carriers that would work well in either instance and still ensure that you're your pet is traveling in the utmost comfort.
Other Pet Accessories for Travel
There are other pet accessories that you should consider when preparing to travel with your pet. One of the first and most important to spend time thinking about are dog beds. It can be frightening for your pet to spend a night away from home, so finding dog carriers that have built in dog beds where they will feel safe and secure can be a very big deal towards ensuring their peace of mind and comfort.

Other dog accessories to look into include basic pet supplies like dog collars. Although your dog may not need a collar while in the comfort of your own home, most locales will require that you keep your pet in a collar at all times when they are out in public, to attach their leash to as well as to display their tags. Head to the pet boutique to find the latest in dog collar styles to help your designer dog feel comfortable while on the road.
Designer Dog Clothes
Many pets can be just as fashion conscious as their discerning owners. To keep your dog in the highest of styles while on the road, remember that they'll need to bring along their designer clothes. Whether you're off to visit family or you'll be heading to a dog show competition, designer dog clothes will make your pet look extremely cute while also ensuring that they are in fashion.

To recap, you can easily plan trips away with your designer pets by simply remembering to pack a few key items. First, you'll want to have your designer pet carriers ready to go and transport your pet in style. Second, you'll want to remember to pack all of the accessories your pet will need while on the road to keep them safe and comfortable. Third, you'll want to remember additional items that will enhance their appearance while on the road. And finally, don't forget to pack a little bit of downtime so your pet can truly enjoy their time away from home. After that, put them in their designer pet carriers and you'll be ready to go!

By Johnathan Livingston
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com

The 5 Sure Fire Benefits of Dog Obedience Training

2008-09-20T21:06:00.000-07:00

Fire Benefits of Dog Obedience Training,The benefits of strong healthy , Basic dog training opens up the communication ,dog the knowledge setting up, puppy or dog comes to his new home...

The 5 Sure Fire Benefits of Dog Obedience Training
Dog obedience training is one of the most important elements you can have in your relationship with your dog.

The question I get asked the most is what exactly is dog obedience training and is it really all that important in the relationship you have with your dog.

In a nut shell, dog obedience training is very loose term used to describe what can be accomplished with a variety of different dog training techniques.

These techniques can range from protection dog training, puppy house training, dog housebreaking tips, dog behavioral modification and many others.

What ever training technique you decide to pursue first whether training your dog at home or at an appropriate dog training school, you should accomplish the following benefits.
1. The benefits of strong healthy bonding between your pet and you are best created by the use of some form of dog obedience training methods.

2. Basic dog training opens up the communication factor between you and your dog. This helps give you the basic idea's of what you want from your dog and helps your dog to understand and respect what it is you are teaching him.

3. Teaching obedience to your dog will give your dog the knowledge of the boundaries you are setting up with him. Boundaries will help your dog become more responsible to you and your family as well as other dogs, animals and people and create the manners you expect in any situation.

4. Dog training helps you in laying up ground work that actually helps your dog preventing the development of unacceptable behavior and bad habits such as chewing, digging, barking, biting, jumping, peeing in the house and many others.

5. Confusion is another prominent problem when your puppy or dog comes to his new home. Training your dog from the get go will eliminate all confusion and believe me, once your dog begins to understand what he needs to do, everyone life get a whole lot easier!

6. One more BONUS benefit: You will find that not only is it fun and rewarding training your dog but the confidence you will gain in knowing you can trust your dog no matter what the situation is truly relaxing. No stress in wonder what any situation may bring.

I have barely scratched the surface in name just a few of the benefits you will discover by properly training your dog.

I see so many dogs that are neglected the proper training that is only their owners would commit just a little time would bring so much happiness to them, their dogs and their neighbors.

Dogs get frustrated not knowing the rules of the road and it is up to you to teach them.
There are many ways to teach your dog that you can find online if you know where to look.
Just remember, it not about force, dominance, or cruelty in teaching your dog.

Training your dog the right way the first time can be done in a fractions of the time and done in such a way that is fun for everyone.

Do it right! You and your puppy will enjoy every minute of every training session and once those lines of communication are open and established your whole family will want in on the fun that comes with the benefits of training your dog.

By Barry Crewse
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com

Health Diseases Associated With Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

2008-09-14T20:40:00.000-07:00

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel,learning more about these diseases, you can take steps to prevent them from coming and harming your beloved canine friend.

Health Diseases Associated With Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
What comes into your mind when you think of cavalier King Charles Spaniel? When we speak of this breed, what comes first into the minds of most listeners is its origin; given the name King Charles. Indeed Toy Spaniels have been in existence for many centuries and even until now they are still gaining popularity as household pets among many families.

However, owners and soon-to-be owners should remember that fame and history are not the only things associated with this adorable breed. Two genetic defects common to Cavalier King Charles Spaniel breed are mitral valve disease and syringomyelia. Heart mitral valve disease (MVD) is a degeneration of the heart's mitral valve, one of the four sets of valves in a dog's heart. The disease is characterized by the inability of the longer valve to close fully after each pumping action thus gives way to some blood to flow backwards from the ventricle back into the atrium. Based on statistics, more than half of all Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are affected by the disease at age five thus the expected lifespan is only between seven to ten years.

On the other hand, syringomyelia occurs due to obstruction to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow. Symptoms of the disease may ranger from mild discomfort to severe pain and partial paralysis. Another common symptom of the disease is scratching in the air near the neck thus referred to as "neck scratcher's disease". The disease is usually recognized among dogs between six months to three years of age nevertheless dogs of any age especially those with more severe diseases and unhealthy lifestyle can be affected by the disease.

Keratoconjunctivitis sicca can also be seen in this breed. Also called dry eye, the disease is caused by decreased or inadequate tear production. Infections, trauma or reactions to drugs can cause injury to the tear glands or damage to these glands thus lead to the disease. A dog affected with this disease develops a thick, yellowish discharge. If left untreated, the disease will lead into chronic eye infections and may progress into corneal ulceration and worst, blindness. Other eye disorders common to this breed are cataracts, corneal dystrophy, distichiasis, dry eye syndrome, entropion, microphthalmia, progressive retinal degeneration and retinal dysplasia.

By learning more about these diseases, you can take steps to prevent them from coming and harming your beloved canine friend.

By Expert Author: Richard Cussons
Article:www.articlesphere.com

Information About Addison disease in Dogs

2008-09-10T01:10:00.000-07:00

The breeds of dogs that are most susceptible to Addison disease are Great Danes, Labrador Retrievers, Nova Scotia Duck Tolling

Information About Addison disease in Dogs
Addison disease in dogs is a rare but serious disorder where the adrenal glands do not secrete a sufficient amount of adrenal hormones. These hormones are necessary for a wide variety of functions in the body. The disease is also known as Hypoadrenocorticisim. The disease affects the salt/potassium levels in the body. The origin of the disease is unknown but Addison disease is known to be an inherited disorder. Addison disease is also known to affect some breeds more than others.

The initial symptoms for this disease in dogs include such things as gastrointestinal problems. Gastrointestinal problems occur more often in dogs that have been treated with cortisone or prednisone for any particular reason. It may also result in pituitary cancer in dogs. Other symptoms include vomiting, lethargy, and very poor appetite. When a dog is infected with Addison disease it may have a direct impact on the heart causing severe shock which can be fatal if not treated immediately.

The breeds of dogs that are most susceptible to Addison disease are Great Danes, Labrador Retrievers, Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, Portuguese water dog, Soft-coated Wheaten Terrier and the Standard Poodle. Studies have also found that seventy-five percent of dogs that are affected by this disease are female and most dogs range from ages between four and seven.

Due to the variety of clinical signs associated with the disease it is often hard to diagnose this disease. Dogs that are infected with this disease are often infected with a variety of medical problems over the course of their lives. In most cases there is no set treatment for these illnesses other than increase fluids and rest. The diagnosis is made through a series of blood tests combined with other specific tests for this disorder.

Treatment for the disorder involves taking a mineralcorticord supplement for the remainder of the dog life. There will be regular visits to the vet where the dog electrolyte levels will be checked to make sure that the supplements are working properly. At the beginning of treatment this will be done more often as the correct dose is often difficult to find for each individual dog.

If you are a dog breeder or are thinking about becoming one you should make sure that you find out the medical history of your dogs before breeding them. It is wise to avoid using dogs that have a family history of Addison disease as the genes may have been passed down through the generations. You should never use a dog that has been infected with Addison disease as there is an extremely high risk that they will pass it on to their puppies.

If you are concerned about this disease and you worry that your dog may be infected then you should contact your vet as soon as possible and arrange to have blood work done. It may be possible for your vet to rule out the presence of Addison disease without having to do any blood work but to be one hundred percent sure you must have blood tests done.

Article:www.amazines.com

A Look into Common Dog Names

2008-09-10T01:06:00.000-07:00

When choosing dog names, it is better to select names that only have two syllables or less. In this way, you will find it easier in training your dogs.

A Look into Common Dog Names
If you have just become a dog owner, either through buying your dog or being given a dog as a gift from someone, you would have to think a name for your pet. There are actually a lot of dog names to choose from. There is no rule in choosing dog names but there are usual techniques that pet owners employ when deciding on which dog names to use. There are people who choose to give classical dog names to their pets such as the known dog names: Buddy, Spike, Sam, Max, etc. A lot of people also prefer dog names that are "positive." After all, if you name your dog as "Killer" then people might fear going near your dog based on the negative name given. It is therefore best to choose dog names that would present your dogs into a positive light.

Some dog names are also said to be inspired by food. Examples of names that you could give your dogs that denote food are the following: Pepper, Peanut, Cookie, Cinnamon, Candy, and a lot more. You will find that the examples are foods that are either sweet or spicy and definitely not pertaining to vegetables or meat products.

Choose appropriate names and never use names that would poke fun at your dogs. If you have a toy dog, then it would not be wise to name your dog "Ogre" right? If you have a German Shepherd then never name your pet "Baby." You may ask the opinion of your friends and family about which names would be best for your dogs.

When choosing dog names, it is better to select names that only have two syllables or less. In this way, you will find it easier in training your dogs. You wouldn't want to train your dogs with a name with so many syllables as this will be exhausting and will leave your throat dry. "Sit, Nikky!" is better than " Sit, Hippocrates!" You may choose multi-syllabic dog names but then you should come up with a nickname that is shorter (one or two syllables) especially during your dog's training days.

Article:www.amazines.com

Enter The World Of The Yorkshire Terrier

2008-09-10T00:57:00.000-07:00

Yorkshire Terriers have long coats, usually black and tan in color.,a small dog ,he Yorkshire Terrier has been recognized by the American Kennel Club since 1885.....

Enter The World Of The Yorkshire Terrier
According to the AKC Registration statistics, the Yorkshire Terrier is one of the most popular breeds. In both 2006 and 2007 they were ranked second in the number of registrations through the American Kennel Club. The Yorkshire Terrier has been recognized by the American Kennel Club since 1885.
So though these days there are more dog breeds than ever before, one of the most popular breeds of dog you will find is a Yorkshire Terrier. Yorkshire Terriers belong to the toy group. Although being a small dog doesn't mean it has a small personality. Yorkshire Terriers are brave, energetic, investigative, and determined. Yorkshire Terriers are originally from England. They are named after the English City. In the nineteenth century they were put to work in clothing mills catching rats. The Yorkshire Terrier breed first appeared in 1861 at a bench show in England. At that time it was called the Broken-Haired Scotch Terrier. The Yorkie was introduced in the United States in 1872. In 1878, the first Yorkshire Terrier was registered with the American Kennel Club. It was one of the first twenty-five breeds to be registered by the AKC. They obtained the Yorkshire Terrier name in 1874.

For someone considering a pet they must take a few things into consideration before deciding on a Yorkshire Terrier. The Yorkshire is small and does not require as much exercise as a large breed dog. However, it does require companionship. They naturally have long coats that require time or money for grooming. Unlike some other dog breeds which remains short and falls out, the Yorkie has hair much like a humans. It grows continuously and needs to be trimmed. If you decide to keep the hair long, it will require much more care. The coat can become dirty easier and require more washing. They are independent by nature so it may be more difficult to train a
Yorkie than other dog breeds.
Yorkshire Terriers have long coats, usually black and tan in color. Because they do not have an undercoat they do not shed as much as other dogs may. Yorkshire Terriers have hair similar to human hair. It grows continually and rarely falls out. They have less dander on their coat, which means when wet they normally don't have a wet dog smell. Also because of this not as many people who are afflicted with dog allergies will have reactions to them.

Some health issues that may afflict the Yorkshire Terrier include bronchitis, lympangiectasia, Portosystemic Shunt, cataracts, and keratitis sicca. Lymphangiectasia is an intestinal disease found in dogs. It is characterized by dilation of the lymphatic vessel, chronic diarrhea, and loss of proteins. A portosystemic shunt is a bypass of the liver by the circulatory system. This condition can either be present at birth or acquired over time. Yorkshire Terriers can also have dry eyes which is known as kerratitis sicca. Because of the Yorkshire Terriers small size it can be injured due to falls, owner clumsiness, or other dogs. It may not be a good idea to have a Yorshire Terrier if you have small children because they may accidentally hurt the Yorkie. Small children do not always understand how to treat animals and because of this it is very easy for the Yorkie to become injured.

Article:www.amazines.com

An Introduction to Rottweiler Puppies

2008-09-10T00:38:00.000-07:00

An Introduction to Rottweiler Puppies...Rottweiler puppies have a lot of other great characteristics too. While it’s true that the Rottweiler is not the right dog for everyone .....

An Introduction to Rottweiler Puppies
If you’ve never had the opportunity to spend some time around Rottweiler puppies you are missing out. Rottweiler puppies, according to many different Rottweiler puppy profiles, are extremely intelligent and loving. In fact, having above average intelligence is one of the characteristics of the breed.
Other unique characteristics that make Rottweiler puppies so special according to Rottweiler puppy profiles include:
Loyalty – Rottweiler puppies are fiercely loyal to their families. All dogs are loyal to their humans to some extent but Rottweilers are exceptionally devoted. It’s one of the characteristics that makes this breed such a great family pet.
Protectiveness – Rottweiler puppies have the potential to be great watchdogs. Because they are so attached to their homes and their families they are very protective of their homes.
Courage – Because they were originally bred to be working dogs that need to show a lot of athleticism and courage in the field Rottweilers are known to be exceptionally courageous and will put themselves in danger to protect their loved ones. Rottweilers that are professionally shown need to show courage in the show ring or the judge will dismiss them because having courage is a characteristic of the breed.
Great with kids – You might not think that Rottweiler puppies are good family pets but if the Rottweiler puppies are socialized well they can be great family dogs and children’s pets. Rottweiler puppies often gravitate naturally towards children. It’s important to socialize Rottweiler puppies around children and to always supervise a Rottweiler that is around children because Rottweilers are very large dogs and could injure a child without meaning to.

If you read some Rottweiler puppies profiles you’ll see that Rottweiler puppies have a lot of other great characteristics too. While it’s true that the Rottweiler is not the right dog for everyone and you should be sure that a Rottweiler is the kind of dog you’re looking for before you get one if you haven’t thought about getting a Rottweiler you should find out more about the breed and consider whether or not a Rottweiler is the right dog for you and your family. If you think that a Rottweiler is a good fit for you and your family then visit www.vomfloodrottweilers.com for more information on Rottweiler puppies.

Article:www.amazines.com

The Importance of Dog Fences

2008-09-10T00:12:00.000-07:00

The Importance of Dog Fences,Dog causes physical harm to self,Dog causes harm to others,Physical Fencing: ....

The Importance of Dog Fences
Urban sprawl grows exponentially every year, so living in those quiet country settings that we all dream of is becoming less likely for most people. For dog owners, this can cause a host of problems that could result in a lot of frustration and pain as it becomes more difficult to contain our pets at home and still allow them safety and freedom.

Even the most well-trained dogs sometimes stray. Dogs have strong individual and pack instincts, and occasionally become so intent on doing something that they ignore your commands. This can be embarrassing, and quite frustrating: especially if your dog does not return right away. However, this can often be the least of your problems: your dog can become a major liability to you. Aside from being a nuisance and running off for a quick jaunt, your dog can get you into a whole lot of trouble:
Dog causes physical harm to self:
You dog could be hit by a car, attacked by other dogs, break a leg, or eat something harmful to their health that would not normally have been available. Your dog could be seriously injured, costing hundreds or thousands of dollars in veterinary expenses. Your dog could become lost, and not be able to return to you. He could be placed in a shelter and adopted by someone else. Sometimes, your dog could die in these situations.
Dog causes harm to others:
Perhaps your dog is not aggressive, and it might be that they would not attack another dog or a person. Nevertheless, your sexually intact dog could impregnate another dog, or become impregnated by one. If your dog impregnates another dog meant for breeding, you can be sued for many thousands of dollars. This is because most dogs, especially when they are not under your sphere of control, will revert to a highly natural (for them) way of behaving. They will eat toxins, have sex, and chase cats, chickens, and other animals- sometimes causing the death or loss of that animal. You can be held liable in these cases.
Dog causes property damage or is a public hazard:
If your dog soils a public place, you can be fined. The same is true if your dog destroys any kind of public or private property. Becoming a hazard by disrupting traffic or frightening citizens can result in fines, and sometimes your dog can be seized.

Beside the fact that you adore your dog and would not want anything unpleasant to befall them, any of the above situations could cost you dearly. In addition to civil suits, most dog owners can be held liable for punitive damages as well. The reason for this is that, under law, an owner is considered fully responsible for their dogs' actions or control thereof. For this reason, and in these times, it is very important to consider installing a fencing system to contain your dog; keeping them happy, healthy, and safe.

There are many brands and styles of dog fences on the market, but there are primarily only three types.:

Physical Fencing:

An actual, physical fence may be right for you and your dog. They are usually quite sturdy, and may offer additional privacy for some owners, as well as a sound barrier. One of the drawbacks of this type of fencing is that some dogs can dig holes under it, and very agile dogs can even jump them. Physical fencing is expensive compared to other choices, and requires regular maintenance. However, the biggest benefit of physical fencing is that it not only keeps your dog in, but it keeps other creatures out. This is ideal if you have a breeding female, or live in an area where domesticated animals are subject to attack by wild animals.

Electric fencing:
Electric dog fences utilizes a gridline of actual wires to contain your pet. The wires are buried 2-3 inches in the ground along the lines where you would like the fence to be. The system works with a control station, and a remote collar that your dog will wear. When your dog approaches the fence line and tries to cross it, a signal is sent to the collar that issues a correction in the form of a harmless electrical charge. This system works amazingly well with most dogs, with the only drawbacks being that you have to bury the wires, and that another dog or animal can still enter the fence.
Wireless fencing:
Wireless dog fences are a new product, and seems to be the wisest choice for most dog owners. It uses only two items: a transmitter, and a remote collar. The transmitter can be placed anywhere in your home, and can be controlled to emit a signal that sweeps from ten feet, up to ninety feet. While wearing the collar, the transmitter will send a signal to the collar, causing it to beep, when the dog approaches the limits of the radius you have set. When your dog gets too far away, the transmitter will then send a small electrical charge to the collar, which corrects the dog's behavior. This type of fencing is simple to use and install, though has the single drawback that it does not prevent other animals from entering the "fenced" area.

Most types of fencing can be obtained at pet stores, vet clinics, online websites, and feed stores, and most can be installed without the help of professionals.

Article:www.amazines.com

Discount Dog Supplies: A Lucrative Way

2008-09-10T00:05:00.001-07:00

These include grooming supplies, training supplies, hunting dog supplies, camping supplies, dog kennel supplies and many more. To take complete care of your dear,

Discount Dog Supplies: A Lucrative Way
The day a dog enters your home, it becomes an integral, adorable part of the family. Being a dog owner you have to understand that apart from love, care and attention it has some needs of its own. Their requirements differ from that of ours, but should be treated with similar concern. For their proper growth and entire well-being, you have to cater him with dog supplies. You can find a wide range of dog supplies in the market. There are plenty of offline and online ways to grab the required dog supplies at decent rates. These include grooming supplies, training supplies, hunting dog supplies, camping supplies, dog kennel supplies and many more. To take complete care of your dear, you have to first and foremost understand his needs and then only you can attend to those needs. Here is a detailed view of what all you must know about your dog’s requirements.

Firstly, you should make sure that they are medically fit and you should take them for regular vet check-ups. Always take care of their vaccinations. Paying regular visit to vets can be really expensive. Thus, buying monthly wellness products through online mode by means of comparison can be really beneficial. This way you can easily find supplies including shampoos, flea and tick products, heart worn tablets and vitamins at nominal rates. Through online mode, you can also shop for pet food. It would not only save your pennies, but a lot of time as well. You don’t have to wander in the grocery shops, searching for a specific product a simple click of mouse would do.

You will encounter a wide variety of discount dog supplies and you can easily find as per the specific needs of your pet. There are a number of dog carriers, small dog accessories, dog totes, leashes and many more. Always make it a point to bring the high quality product, especially in case of bed. Check that your dog is not allergic to the material used in the make of the bed. Considering all such things and drawing comparison among the rates offered by more than one pet store can be really lucrative.

Article:www.amazines.com

Dogs, Man's Best Friend,Basset Hound,Bulldog,Cocker Spaniel,Collie,Doberman Pincher,

2008-09-08T22:49:00.000-07:00

Dogs, Man's Best Friend Man’s best friend, dogs come in all shapes and sizes, as do their masters. They are overly stereotyped.

Dogs, Man's Best Friend

Your favorite canine will impress others that you possess the following traits-though it most certainly may not be the case.
Basset Hound:
The one thing people should do is not to rush you. Being unaggressive and lazy, your easygoing manner can make one feel both comfortable and bored.
Bulldog:
You’re tough. You wear an invisible sign on your chest - “don’t mess with me.”
Chihuahua:
Being a nervous wreck, you are as loquacious as your pet. Your talkativeness has gone to such an extent, you at times will be seen after your companion was listening to you, going off and speaking to yourself.
Cocker Spaniel:
You initially impress people as being depressed which suddenly disappears. For behind those melancholy eyes is a soft, very approachable, human being. Very corresponding to your dogs initial appearance and underlying nature.
Collie:
You are cuddly and intelligent. Akin to your collie, you are really content and passive. Should anybody attack someone you are close with, you will go to the ends of the earth to defend him.
Doberman Pincher:
Known for its maliciousness, it is you, that is the aggressor. Throughout life you have felt that you were picked on. Now let anybody even try to raise their hand at you.
German Shepherd:
You need to dominate. It is vital that others realize what status you have attained. Your powerful pet safeguarding you, hints to others that you must own a lot--this is evidenced by you strolling with him.
Mutt:
Your unassuming nature reflects low self worth. In this
case, being satisfied with little has a negative connotation, because you feel that if you were competitive you would lose, so why bother.
Pedigree:
By making a big to do about your dogs ancestry, there is a latent association or fear that your own strain is questionable. Your courteousness may be more of exhibition than actual.
Poodle:
Charming and huggable, doll like in nature, the poodle is a child surrogate which you will baby and take care of, as you would have liked done to you.
St. Bernard:
This dog is known to have faced the most difficult situations and relentlessly would pursue to liberate the needy. It is your need to be in the authority position and to assist the underdog.
Stray Dog:
With the understanding that if you do not take these animals home they may be destroyed, in addition to showing affability, you have genuine pity for those not doing as well as you. Should your home have turned into a pound, because of the endless amount of pity, this may also reflect one not knowing where to draw the line, between assisting and being taken advantage of.

Article:www.amazines.com

Socializing Your Dog,Article

2008-09-08T06:38:00.000-07:00

Socializing Your Dog
If you never intended to ever introduce your dog to another person or dog, then simply making sure that you gave your dog lots of one on one play time every day would be enough to keep him healthy and happy for the rest of his life.
Most people, however, want a companion animal that they can introduce to family and friends, as well as take jogging, out to the park, or other social environments. If the dog isn't socialized properly however, these kinds of interactions with the rest of the world may not go as smoothly as the dog owner thought they should.

Taking a poorly socialized or aggressive dog out into society may quickly become a nightmare of barking, lunging, growling and just general bad behavior. It might be directed towards other dogs or it might be directed towards strange people, either way it will eventually become such a nightmare that the dog's owner no longer wants to try anymore.

Start socializing and training your dog early and you can avoid the difficult challenge of re-training an aggressive dog later!

Before you start working on training your dog in a social environment, you need to make sure that you have control of your dog in your own home. Start working on your Basic Training lessons and be very consistent in it.

When you feel that your dog is no longer challenging your leadership then you may be ready to start working away from home.

Using your training collar, and a good leash, load your dog into the car and head to a park or other place where you know for a fact that you are very unlikely to meet dogs that are not leashed. You absolutely must have control over the situation, and you can't control it if the other dog is not leashed.

Just as you did in Basic Training, put your dog in the 'heel' position and start out for your walk in plain view of the other dogs.

Read my article on Pack Leadership for help in finding the right state of mind. You want to feel confident and yet relaxed, totally in control of the situation, and radiating your confidence to your dog.

Do not allow your dog to be distracted by the other dogs or people, the same as if you were walking down the street by your home.

If his head and tail abruptly jerk upwards towards another dog or other distraction, immediately correct him and snap him back into position. He should be paying attention to you and watching you for cues, not watching other dogs.

If someone tries to walk their dog up to you or tries to pet your dog, ask them to please stay away from him, he's training right now. Most people will understand and respect your wishes.

Walk around the park or area once the first time you're out, or until the dog is walking past other dogs and distractions without taking a second look. You want to try to end the training session on a positive note.

Reward him when you load him back in the car with a special treat you brought from home, maybe a favorite snack or toy.

Practice walking in a public place at least ten or twelve more times before you move up to the next level. When you can easily walk around the public area and your dog never jerks on the leash, tries to follow another dog or person, and appears to be relaxed and comfortable following you then you are probably ready to move up to the next step.

If you're working towards human socializing, start having family meet you at the park. If it's canine socializing, have them bring their dog.

You are the pack leader, so you must be the one to decide if a strange human or dog will be accepted by the pack. This means your dog is not allowed to growl, bark, or in any way act aggressive towards anyone or any other dog.

When you're ready, leash both dogs and start your walk around the park. Start with some distance between the dogs by walking together in the same direction and keeping one of the humans between them at all times.

At first they'll both keep looking at each other and trying to cross around the humans to reach the other dog. Just continue walking firmly forward and snapping them back into position until they remember their training and start paying more attention to you then the other dog.

The reason it helps to have the person as a friend is because dialog between the two humans helps the dogs understand that you are both pack leaders with a greater status level then they have, so they must relax and simply be good companions as you instruct them to.

Walk your dogs this way for half a dozen times, talking, laughing and making lots of noise communicating with each other while maintaining a relaxed control over the dogs. They must remain calm and obedient even if you are belly laughing, crying or in a loud debate.

Try to end each walk on a good note with both dogs feeling relaxed and happy.
It really helps if you know several friends that can rotate walking different dogs with your dog. You don't want your dog to become accustomed to just one dog, you want him to be relaxed around all dogs.

After you've practiced walking together half a dozen times, meet up at the park again, but this time after you've walked for a minute or two and the dogs are walking without distraction, abruptly stop and step close enough together that the dogs can sniff noses.

A well socialized dog will sniff anther dog's nose and then turn to look at his master as if to ask why the walk ended so soon. A dog with lesser social skills will be more focused, trying to sniff the other dog all over as if trying to determine by scent and stature who's going to be the boss. A dog with very poor skills will raise his tail up, stiffen his legs and may growl or even snap at the other dog.

If the aggressive dog's tail comes up above the level of his spine then pull him sharply back with a firm "BAH" and continue your walk without reintroducing the dogs again that day. If both dogs appear to be maintaining their calm and relaxed demeanor then it's okay to stand and talk while they interact for a few minutes, then continue the walk on that good note.

Keep practicing the introductions once or twice each day until the aggressive dog learns that he is not in control of the situation, you are. You don't want to overwhelm the dog, especially if it's an older rescue that has potentially had bad experiences with other dogs. You need to take it slow so he doesn't feel pressured.

When you have introduced your dog to half a dozen other dogs and he has responded well to all of them, then you can move up to meeting multiple dogs at a time and eventually to off leash parks.

Puppies will obviously go through these steps very easily, but it's a very important for older dogs that have not been socialized properly to take these steps at a pace that benefits them. Particularly rescue dogs that have spent years chained or kenneled without good human or canine interaction.

The important thing is to always maintain control of the situation and be a good pack leader for your dog.

In this article I referred to a couple of other lessons that I'd written previously; Understanding Pack Leadership and Basic Dog Training Lessons, it's important that you start at the right level for your dog and go from there. If you try to shove him into a social situation and he isn't respecting you as a pack leader you could have tragic results.

For older dogs, rescues, or poorly socialized dogs I highly recommend you start with pack leadership, and then move to the basic lessons before advancing to public socializing.

For puppies you can sometimes combine all of them together so long as you don't over stress the puppy. Many people will take their puppies to beginner obedience classes, and that gives them a good solid base for social skills and their training basics so long as they are protected from any aggressive dogs at that class.

Article:www.amazines.com

Do you need dog training tools when you train your dog?

2008-09-08T06:23:00.000-07:00

Do you need dog training tools when you train your dog? ...need to train dog to start with training is during its puppy... dog training tools we can advise.,

Do you need dog training tools when you train your dog?
There is no question about it, if you own a dog you need to make sure that it behaves well with people, strangers, and with other animals. Your dog needs to obey commands to keep the dog and his surroundings save. This means you need to train your dog and the best time to start with training is during its puppy time. It is possible you do not have a clue what it takes to train a dog, in that case we advise you to go to a puppy training school where you and the puppy can learn together.

During the time you are training with your dog (and that can be its whole life) you will come across dog training tools and you will wonder if these can help you to train your dog. The most controversial of the dog training tools you will come across is the electronic dog collar.
Is an electronic dog collar necessary?
Well that question can be answered quick and clear, No it is not necessary at all, there are many ways you can train your dog and there are many tools that can assist you with the training process, but an electronic dog collar is not one of the dog training tools we can advise. We already said it these kind of collars, (there are different types and forms) are controversial to say at least. If you look them up on the internet, you will read stories of people who think these collars are the best way of training and they absolutely do not harm or hurt the dog in any way, well I suppose those people did not put the collar around their arm or neck because it does, it hurts like a sting of a wasp and we all know that can hurt like hell.

The electronic dog collar works by giving the dog a shock that makes him understand that certain behavior is not right and it has to be avoided as much as possible. The idea is not bad, but there are so much other ways to train your dog
Do you need other dog training tools?
Also a no to that question, you do not need dog training tools at all, if you gather the needed basic knowledge for dog training and you do some research about how you can best train your dog you do not need a thing. But there are some handy dog training tools available that can be fun to try and dog training needs to be fun for the dog and for you, because when you play and learn, dog training comes natural and much more easy.

When you follow the market carefully for a couple of years you will notice that there are many dog training tools introduced that seem very attractive but almost all are no substitute for basic normal dog training. There is just one of the dog training tools that stick for quite a few years now, and that is the clicker training.

Clickers are hand held devices that fit in the palm of your hand and make a click-clack sound when you push them. It is rather loud and your dog should be able to hear it even when surrounded with common background noises. when you give a command and the dog obeys you click and give a treat or other reward. and you keep repeating this until you are sure that the dog understands, when you regular repeat this type of training it can be very effective.

Article:www.amazines.com

Article;;Basic Dog Health Care – What Every Dog Owners Should Know

2008-08-04T21:01:00.002-07:00

Grooming and skin care are part of the basics in caring for your dog.** Knowing when and how to give your dog a bath or dental...

Basic Dog Health Care What Every Dog
Owners Should Know
There is a reason why they call dogs ‘man’s best friend’. It's truly an honour to win and keep a dog's trust. Owners tend to build a lifelong bond with their dogs. Get to know him really well - not just about how he likes to chew your slippers, or what his favourite toy is or even why he hates the postman, but about dog health issues – what affects his body and how to recognise signs and symptoms of illness so that you can make sure he is in tip-top condition. You want your best friend to be happy!

A comprehensive book on dog health is an investment you should not overlook. Knowing details about your dog’s particular breed and general care would be helpful. Grooming and skin care are part of the basics in caring for your dog. Knowing when and how to give your dog a bath or dental care especially if he's almost as big as you are will make exercise and play far more enjoyable for both of you.

Take a walk down to your veterinary surgery enquire about the treatments and services they offer, and take note of their operation hours and emergency service telephone numbers. More vets these days complement traditional veterinary practices with holistic health care for pets and can use complementary medicine to ensure your dog’s health is holistic. Vets will keep you in the know regarding natural dog health products that work to maintain your dog’s overall health as well as function as prescription based treatments for specific ailments. They will be able to advise you on which dog care product will suit your particular dog depending on his size, breed, coat and characteristics. Remember that different breeds will have unique health issues and preferences, and your vet will have some tips that would make the first step to owning a dog that much easier.

Do enquire about the vaccination programmes and feeding regimes suitable for the breed and age of dog you are intending to keep as a pet. The care of puppies can vary greatly with mature dogs; vaccination programmes could be vastly different as well. Many a time, vets will have some literature that will come in handy. It's a good idea to get all this background information before you own a dog so that you can be well prepared and can plan ahead for the regular care and treatment your dog might need.

Most importantly, do build up a good relationship with the veterinary team. Remember, they are not only there for emergencies - they are there whenever you need advice, and together, you can make sure your dog has the happiest, healthiest life possible.
Submitted By: Tim Amherst
Article:http://www.isnare.com

Article**Dog Health Checkups Are Essential For The Health Of Your Pit Bull Terrier

2008-08-04T21:01:00.001-07:00

Pit Bull, your vet will be better able to tell when something isn’t quite right, and provide prompt medical treatment.

Dog Health Checkups Are Essential
For The Health Of Your Pit Bull Terrier
All responsible dog owners know that when your pet shows signs of feeling ill or gets injured that it's time for a visit to the veterinarian.

Naturally, it is important to take your pet to the vet when there is a problem, but many people forget the importance of taking their pets to the doctor when they are healthy! Taking your Pit Bull to the vet for routine well check-ups and vaccinations can prevent many serious medical conditions, and treat others early on before they have a chance to progress and endanger your Pit Bull’s health.

No matter how good the care you provide for your Pit Bull is, you may miss early signs of disease that the vet would be able to spot at a routine visit. Catching many diseases early can help prevent them from becoming major health issues. Animals often try to hide any sign of illness, because it can be a sign of weakness to other animals. Your Pit Bull’s ability to hide symptoms makes them that much harder to catch early on.

Taking your Pit Bull for preventative care can often save you quite a bit of money. Diseases left untreated can be very costly to treat, amassing tremendous bills along the way. By early diagnosis and treatment, you can prevent it from ever getting to that level, therefore saving yourself a lot of money.

By having routine visits with your Pit Bull, your veterinarian will learn what is normal for your dog, as no two animals are quite the same. In learning what is considered normal for your Pit Bull, your vet will be better able to tell when something isn’t quite right, and provide prompt medical treatment. Your vet will keep records of every visit, so that he can refer back to them, which will help in treating old problems, and diagnosing new ones.

At your yearly well checkup, your vet will also check to see if your Pit Bull is getting the right diet he needs. The vet will suggest changes to help if your Pit Bill is overweight, or malnourished. This can be vital to your pet’s health. Obesity is a major problem that can cause your pet to suffer from a variety of medical problems. It is also crucial that he get proper nutrition, and your vet can prescribe supplements as needed.

Providing routine veterinary care is a vital part of taking care of your Pit Bull. You are responsible for his well-being, and your vet can help you make sure everything is as it should be. Please don’t take these yearly preventative check-ups for granted, your Pit Bull’s health depends on them.
Submitted By: Tim Amherst
Article:http://www.isnare.com

Dog Health Can Be Improved With a Natural Diet-Article

2008-08-04T21:00:00.002-07:00

It goes without saying that your dog needs suitable nutrition to remain healthy. Vets and pet food manufacturers often have differing views on appropriate nutrition for your dog.

Dog HealthCan Be Improved
With a Natural Diet

Although commercial pet food manufacturers are motivated in large part by profits, commercially prepared foods are routinely recommended as part of an adequate, or good, diet for your dog. Sometimes your vet or dog breeder may approve of commercially prepared foods as your dog’s sole diet. Many experts, however, tend to prefer a largely natural diet which for dogs is invariably comprised of meat and bones. Raw is preferable to cooked, as some of the minerals are definitely lost in the cooking process.

The reason why the commercially prepared pet food is so often fed to our dogs, is because, apart from the convenience, it can (depending upon the quality) actually contain many of the nutrients which are essential to your dog’s wellbeing. The key word here is quality. There are in fact very, very few commercial manufacturers which produce nutrient-rich food. And they're not the brands you find in your supermarket, or even in most pet stores or vetinarians. Raw bones with a little dry food as well as occasional rice or pasta, and perhaps the odd quality food scrap from your table, will generally contain most of the nutrients which your dog needs. All dogs must obtain reasonable nutrition from their food to maintain excellent health and performance.

The main nutrients required by your dog are water, proteins, fats, carbohydrates, minerals and vitamins. Vitamin or mineral deficiency in dogs fed a commercially manufactured diet today is not widely publicised. But then again, the slosh and dried formulae which are readily available from your vet or the local supermarket are not your dog’s natural diet. If your dog was left to fend for itself in the wild (assuming it could manage to adapt, that is), would choose raw meat. And one of the reasons why meat, and especially bones, are so good, is the chewing action and the teeth cleaning function which the bones perform. Of course, there are also commercially prepared substitutes which can also effectively clean your dog‘s teeth and satisfy his/her need to chew.

A lesser known fact is that to feed your dog only meat (with no bones and no cereals or other carbohydrate source) can cause severe deficiencies: your dog is likely to become lethargic, sick, and even death has been known to occur from an all meat diet. But what about dogs in the wild, I hear you ask? Isn’t meat a dog’s natural diet? Isn’t that what you just said, Brigitte? Well, yes and no: in the wild dogs eat the whole of their prey, not simply muscle meat - they thus obtain vegetable matter from the digestive tract of their prey, and calcium from the bones.

As well, wild dogs occasionally, but routinely, add to their diet with plants, fruit and berries. Most dogs relish some raw fruit and vegetables in their diet, so long as that's what they're used to.

A dog who has been fed commercially prepared dog food all of its life won't be used to the taste of fresh food, so may well turn up his/her nose if you introduce such healthy food later in life. But persevere - try hand feeding pieces of carrot or apple to begin with. And if your dog is still very young, all the better. Start as you mean to go on and feed him/her some raw fruit and vegetables from time to time. Your dog's health will benefit!
by: Brigitte Smith
Article:http://www.articlecity.com/

Article++Dog Health Care - Flea Fighting Tips Every Dog Owner Should Know

2008-08-04T21:00:00.001-07:00

Fleas are like small vampires that literally suck the blood out of your dog.

Flea Fighting Tips
Every Dog Owner Should Know

Fleas are like small vampires that literally suck the blood out of your dog. Not only do they live by draining his blood and cause severe irritation, if they are eaten by your dog or puppy then they can cause internal worms. Obviously these little creatures are a menace and should be kept under control at all times.

If you are unsure whether your dog is a victim of fleas, simply purchase a flea comb from the nearest pet store and run it through your dog's coat. Just one brush should help you detect whether or not there is a flea problem to deal with.

Sometimes a flea comb will pull up what appears to be dirt. However, don't be too happy just yet. Take those particles of dirt and place them on a paper towel and then drop a little water on top. If it turns into a red color, then congratulations - you have discovered a flea excrement!

How to treat your dog or puppy for fleas
There are many ways to handle flea problems; you just have to find what works best for you and which protocol you are comfortable with. Other circumstances are involved with your choice of fleas fighting tools such as how large the infestation is, whether or not parts of your house are flea nesting areas, and how many pets you have in the house.

The best thing to do is talk directly with your veterinarian and give him all of this information so that he can make a recommendation on the appropriate way for you to combat the flea issue. Personally, I prefer to use more natural methods rather than spraying chemicals throughout the home and on my dogs. Such natural flea fighting examples would be using menthol, garlic, and eucalyptus.

If you choose the standard chemical shampoos and sprays, be sure to use caution when applying them to your dog. Avoid spraying or squeezing these products near your dog's facial area and the underbelly near the scrotum. These are very sensitive areas of your dog's body and allergic reactions could be a very real possibility.

Another tip is to ask your veterinarian about the possibility of using flea tablets or power. These products do not necessarily kill all of the fleas that you and your dog are having trouble with, but they do do a terrific job of sterilizing the entire army of fleas so that they cannot reproduce. And what's more beneficial is that these products are not nearly as toxic as other shampoos and sprays that are designed to kill parasites on the spot.
By Daniel Waser
Article:http://www.justforthedogs.com/

Article**Dog Health Problem - Common questions about heart worm

2008-08-04T20:59:00.002-07:00

The common questions about heart worm are often related to the species affected .. heart worms in addition to the dogs.**Common questions about heart worm

Common questions about heart worm
The common questions about heart worm are often related to the species affected by heart worms in addition to the dogs. One should know that in addition to dogs, the cat, fox, wolf, horse, sea lion etc. are also affected. Can this be cured or not? Yes. This can be treated.

What is the drug used often for the prevention of heart worm in dogs? Ivermectin is the drug used often to have preventive actions for these heart worms. Dogs affected reveal constant coughing, panting and dullness in many occasions.

What will be the size of the worms? In the case of the females, it is about twenty-seven centimeters and in the case of males, it is about seventeen centimeters in length. Is there any vector involve in the transmission of the disease? Yes. Mosquitoes often get associated as vectors in which the early development of larvae of heart worms occur in them.

Is the prophylaxis meant only for heart worms or others also? The prophylaxis is meant not only for the heart worms but also for the hook worms, whip worms, and round worms. What is the infective type of larvae that is associated with the transmission of these heart worms? The third stage larva that is transmitted by the mosquito bites.

This occurs through out the world. In some areas, the incidences are less in colder months in which the mosquito breeding will not be there and may be dormant during these periods. What is the name of the drug used for therapy and prevention? Ivermectin and milbemycin oxime may be used for both purposes. Ivermectin is available in injection form and oral form.

Additionally, the forms for external application are also available. The cost factor needs to be worked out for all these treatments. What is the frequency of drug used for prophylaxis? One month before the mosquito season and up to two months after the mosquito season, ivermectin or milbemycin oxime may be given once monthly for the prophylaxis. Diethylcarbamazine may be used for therapy purpose.
By Daniel Waser
Article:http://www.justforthedogs.com/

Article.,Dog Health Care - Do parasites cause “Scooting”?

2008-08-04T20:59:00.001-07:00

Parasites too cause the scooting. Scooting is a an anal sac disease. First let's understand what scooting is in detail. This is the dragging of anus with the hind limbs in an extended state. Parasites causing irritation in the anus regions lead to such type of actions in animals like dogs.

Do parasites cause “Scooting”?
However, one should not be under the impression that it is the parasite that alone causes such scooting in case of dogs. There are many occasions in which the dog may have the scooting without any parasite based etiological agent. For example, the anal gland infections, tumors at the anus and injuries near the anal regions also may lead to such type of dragging of anus region, frequently by the affected dogs.

Flea bite allergy often causes irritation at the anus region and the animal may try to bite the anus region and the irritations due to these factors lead to the final dragging of anus region on the ground. Cestodiasis in dogs is the condition caused by tapeworms.

In such occasions, if the animal is not treated in time, the animal may be seen exhibiting the scooting activities. Tapeworm segments passed in the stool create crawling like activities near anus.

Such crawling activities of the tapeworm segments lead to severe itching at these regions. Hence, to make a relief from this type of constant irritation, the animal starts pressing the anus region on the ground first and then tries to drag it on the ground with typical extension of rear limbs.

Usually there is a packet of eggs when the fecal sample is examined by microscope. However, the flotation technique leads to breakage of these packets to burst and hence, diagnosis is difficult in such occasions. Scooting dogs need to be examined to rule out tapeworm segments, which look like rice like pieces.

These segments are white in color and turn yellow when taken from the body. Tapeworms themselves may be seen in the motion or near anus below the tail regions. Consult your veterinarian for specific cures for this.
By Daniel Waser
Article:http://www.justforthedogs.com/

Article**Dog Health Care – Natural Ways To Calm The Overexcited & Stress Out Dog

2008-08-04T20:58:00.004-07:00

Anxiety and fear are not necessarily the result of improper behavior or lack of training. Oftentimes your dog can feel better with less stress levels by using natural therapy.

Natural Ways To Calm The Overexcited & Stress Out Dog

Does your dog become anxious and extremely fearful for no apparent reason at all? You have probably researched and read a lot about dog psychology and behavior issues that result from aggression or fear, however, sometimes the problem is not as complicated is we make it out to be.

Anxiety and fear are not necessarily the result of improper behavior or lack of training. Oftentimes your dog can feel better with less stress levels by using natural therapy. Many dogs like this also have a tough time sleeping at night due to their anxiety.

Here are a few tips that you can try to use in
order to help your dog relieve his fear and stress:

1. Try feeding your dog any food that has wheat in it. Reports have shown that the byproducts from digesting wheat can help act on certain centers of your dog/s brain which helps make him feel calm.

2. In other way to activate the calming function of your dog's brain is to feed him warm milk with a little bit of natural honey. Add a dog biscuit to the mix and you have a great meal that is a healthy and natural way for your dog to relieve his stress and fear.

3. There is a natural herb called kava which can be found in most health food stores. Try adding a few drops of this herb to your dog's water bowl. Kava has a natural relaxation-inducing effect and is perfectly healthy for your dog to ingest. It can also be purchased as a dry herb which can be added to your dog's food. Please do not use more than the recommended dosage that comes with the package.

4. Since we are on the subject of natural food in order to help relieve your dog's stress and anxiety, simply give your dog small snacks to nibble on during the day instead of one or two big meals. Research has shown that nibbling on food in very small amounts can also create a calming effect on both animals and humans.

5. Last but not least, there is another supplement that is very similar to Kava. It is called Bach's Rescue Remedy and can be found in most health food stores. Dosages vary but of course be sure to read the label for accurate amounts to feed your dog. We suggest that you opt for the liquid form of Bach's that does not contain alcohol and simply add it to your dog's water bowl.
By Daniel Waser
Article:http://www.justforthedogs.com/

Dog Health Care - Declaring war On Ticks Part 1+Article

2008-08-04T20:58:00.003-07:00

Each year as the warm weather approaches, dog owners should be increasingly apprehensive about those gluttonous, disease-carrying “Rhipicephalus Sanquineus”.

Declaring War On Ticks Part 1
This dangerous creature can infect man with Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, cause paralysis, and even kill dogs and puppies. Referred to by most everyone as “ticks”, these parasites are blamed for carrying the micro-organism that caused the death of so many British war dogs in Singapore several decades ago. And during the Vietnam war, more than 300 U.S. war dogs had died mysteriously from tropical canine hemorrhagic syndrome, and canine hemorrhagic fever. Intensive studies resulted in the finger of guilt pointing directly at the ordinary tick. Although there are several different species of ticks (wood tick, brown dog tick, etc.), a tick by any other name is still a tick. Because of resistance to insecticides, the tick is one of the most difficult external parasites to control.

The female tick will lay up to five thousands eggs in the crevices of a kennel, baseboard, or under the carpeting in the home. Eggs are never deposited upon the host animal. After twenty to thirty days have elapsed, the eggs hatch and become larvae. The larvae then seek out a host dog, gorge themselves on his blood, then drop off again to hide. Six to twenty-three days later, the larvae molt and become eight-legged nymphs.

The nymphs obtain another blood meal from a dog, drop off again and go into hiding. Twelve to twenty-nine days later, the nymph tick molts and becomes an adult. As an adult, it once more seeks the dog, engorges blood, and mates. From the time the eggs hatch – and before the tick becomes an adult – it returns to the host dog more than once to feed on the canine's blood.

Once hatched however, a tick can live in a house for up to two years without needing a host dog to feed on. Out of doors, ticks climb onto branches and into foliage to await the arrival of a dog host. A dog napping under a bush, or walking within jumping distance of the tick is all that is needed to provide the parasite with a host. In the home, ticks will emerge from beneath rugs and carpeting, climb walls, table and chairs, and even up as high as wall pictures, to await the passing of a dog. They may even have to wait up to six months, but a tick can instantly sense the approach of a dog and jump on it as it passes.
By Daniel Waser
Article:http://www.justforthedogs.com/

Article**Dog Health Care - Declaring War On Ticks Part 2

2008-08-04T20:58:00.001-07:00

Declaring War On Ticks Part 2

Once on a dog, a female tick buries her head beneath the skin tissues, extends her barbed “tongue” and is then clamped on tight. Once the head and barbed probe are beneath the skin, no amount of shaking or scratching by the dog will cause the tick to dislodge.

The tick then feasts upon the dog's blood in this manner until she bloats to about the size of a pea. The male tick (brown, and a fraction of her size) then mates with the female. When she has received her fill of blood from the dog, she withdraws her barbed probe, and drops off of the host dog. She'll then crawl into tiny crevices between sofa cushions and carpeting to lay her thousands of eggs.

Once a home or kennel is infested, eradication is no simple process, any more than ridding a dog of the parasite is a simple process. A single tick found on a dog necessitates immediate and zealous efforts at all stages of its life cycle.

Removing a tick – or ticks – from a dog can be done by the owner, providing the tick has not attached itself to the inner ear, on the eyelid, or some other inaccessible place that would require anesthesia. And because the tick's probe is barbed (similar to a fish hook), brushing or combing by the dog owner may rid ticks that haven't yet “locked on”, but does nothing for those that are already attached.

The dog's hair should be pulled back from around the tick for the benefit of full exposure. A few drops of iodine or rubbing alcohol can then be applied directly on the tick. This will momentarily shock the parasite, and in some cases, cause it to loosen its probe.

Using a pair of tweezers, and getting as close to the skin line as possible, the tick can be pulled out with a slight twisting motion so that the head is not severed and allowed to remain embedded in the dog's skin. If that should occur, secondary infection could result. It is always wise to reapply iodine, alcohol, or other antiseptic to the puncture once the tick is removed. If the tick's head remains beneath the dog's skin, applications of hydrogen peroxide can be helpful.

Once the dog is free of ticks, complacency on the part of the dog owner usually results in reinfestation. It should be remembered that if the dog picked up a tick, he may well have picked up larvae from four or five thousand recently hatched eggs. Dousing with a tick powder or other acaracide would be beneficial here, but if the larvae have dropped off in your home or yard, removing the original tick is only the beginning of the battle.
By Daniel Waser
Article:http://www.justforthedogs.com/

Article...Dog Health Care - Declaring War On Ticks Part 3

2008-08-04T20:57:00.001-07:00

Declaring War On Ticks
Part 3

Ticks are amazingly efficient at surviving almost any attack. The rate of propagation and resistance to insecticides is phenomenal to say the least. In heated kennels and homes, ticks breed all year round. When the weather is cold, they'll withdraw to cracks and crevices to await warmer times.

Since it takes twenty to thirty days for eggs to hatch, an infested home should be treated at ten-day intervals, at least four times, then once a month for two or three months. Sprays and insecticides used should be marked as a acaracide. Other insecticides appear to have little-to-no effect.

Usually it is only necessary to spray as high as two or three feet from the floor up the walls (unless tick infestation is heavy). If the family dog is accustomed to sleeping on the sofa or in overstuffed chairs, spraying should include those areas, paying particular attention to cushions as well as the edges of rugs and baseboards.

To man, the tick represents the disease known as Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. Originally, it was thought that the disease was restricted to the region of the Rocky Mountains – thus its name. However, it is not regional at all, and may be acquired over a considerable portion of the United States, east and west, and even in Canada. (The tick is also responsible for “rabbit fever” in rodents, which is transmissible to man.)

In the southern portion of the United States, as well as in France and Africa, there is an intestinal protozoan parasite – Babesia – which attacks blood cells in a dog and causes extreme anemia. This protozoan is spread from dog to dog by ticks. Heavy infestation of ticks upon a dog can cause an extreme loss of blood, anemia, paralysis, and even death.

Flea and tick collars are available commercially, but while such collars might eventually cause the tick to die, much damage and infestation can be done in the interim. Veterinarians can also prescribe tablets, which, when given to a dog, ensure that any tick that bites the dog will die.

The consequences of tick infestation should dictate the importance of tick control in homes and kennels. The approach of warmer weather signals the approach of Rhipicephalus Sanquineus. Now if THAT sounds like a blood-sucking monster from a science fiction movie, you're partially right. Blood sucking monster? Yes! Science fiction? No way!
By Daniel Waser
Article:http://www.justforthedogs.com/

Article:Dog Health Care - Ear Cropping: What's The Point? Part 1

2008-08-04T20:56:00.001-07:00

Ear cropping is simply not justifiable.** Second, the operation is performed usually at six to ten weeks of age, a time when permanent damage to the puppy's temperament

Ear Cropping: What's The Point?
Part 1

Each year in the country thousands of young puppies are subjected to major surgery which is expensive, dangerous to some degree, uncomfortable, and often painful in its recuperative stages, not to mention totally unnecessary! Ear cropping was humane in its origin. Centuries ago, when dogfighting sports such as bull baiting were popular, owners of fighting dogs decided that cropping the animals' ears was preferable to having them shredded in battle, which was even more painful.

Thank goodness this practical reason for the cropping of dogs' ears no longer exists! Why, then, do we persist in needless, expensive surgery? We do it simply because our eyes are accustomed to the appearance of crop-eared Boxers, Schnauzers, Great Danes, and the others; because the standards of these breeds call for cropped ears and consequently breeders must go along with the practice.

Although the AKC says, “Ear cropping is optional for all of the breeds that are usually shown with cropped ears; there is no need for which it is compulsory,” the fact is that a natural-eared dog in a show ring full of crop-eared animals would stand virtually no chance in the competition. Breeders wishing to sell pups with natural ears, therefore, would have an uphill battle in the face of public expectation. The arguments against cropping are numerous and obvious. First, any unnecessary surgery, especially when it requires a general anesthetic, is abhorrent to most dog lovers.

Ear cropping is simply not justifiable. Second, the operation is performed usually at six to ten weeks of age, a time when permanent damage to the puppy's temperament can be sustained as a result of the trauma of the operation, and the discomfort and annoyance of post-operative bandaging, racking, and taping. Third, it is a bloody operation over a large area of very sensitive skin. Besides the loss of blood, there is always some element of risk involved when a general anesthetic is used, especially with a very young pup.

The physical effect on the puppy cannot be anything but detrimental. Also, the ear-cropping age just about coincides with the selling age of the puppy. If the operation is performed by a veterinarian (and in some states this is the only way it can be done legally), the cost of the operation and aftercare add greatly to the expense of raising a litter of pups to selling age. The breeder must either take a sizable cut from his or her profit, or add the cropping costs to the selling price of the puppy. Furthermore, a puppy with a bandaged head does not make the best impression on prospective buyers.
By Daniel Waser
Article:http://www.justforthedogs.com/

Article..Dog Health Care - Ear Cropping: What's The Point? Part 2

2008-08-04T20:53:00.003-07:00

Often as a puppy matures, ears which looked right at cropping time become disproportionately small on an adult dog's head.

Ear Cropping:What's The Point? Part 2

Not only his ear cropping an unnecessary, painful surgery, the logical reason for it is way outdated. In addition, if the cropping is done by the breeder, too often the result is a botched job; ears that don't match, or never heal correctly, or fail to stand as they should.

Often as a puppy matures, ears which looked right at cropping time become disproportionately small on an adult dog's head. We must assume, too, that some puppies bleed to death at the hands of inexperienced breeders attempting to cut costs by doing their own cropping. In all probability there are also puppies who sustained permanent physical damage because of poorly administered anesthetic.

Even when the operation is performed by a veterinarian or an experienced breeder, there is always a risk of faulty healing or carriage, which ruins the dog for show purposes and detracts from his appearance, even as a pet.

Women's fashions are in a constant state of inconstancy. Every season brings radical changes in periods of adjustment of public taste. But after a very short time our eyes become accustomed to thigh-high skirts, short hair styles, or the latest shoes available, and these things seem normal, and even attractive. Likewise, if the practice of ear cropping were abandoned, surely it would take only a short time to adjust our eyes to the new look.

In Great Britain ear cropping has been outlawed for more than 90 years. British Boxers and Schnauzers and Danes are every bit as attractive as ours, in just a slightly different way. The natural ear of the Schnauzer is no more unattractive than that of the Fox Terrier, and breeders in those countries are spared the expense, the risks, and the bother of cropping.

In the United States, the group of breeds that have standards which specify cropped ears are: Miniature Pinschers, Manchester Terriers, Miniature and Giant Schnauzers, Boston Terriers, Boxers, Doberman Pinschers, Bovier des Flandres, and Great Danes.

The standards for Affenpinschers, Brussels Griffons and Standard Schnauzers state that the ears are usually cropped, while the Staffordshire Terrier standard says that the years may be cropped or natural. For the Briard, the standard says that the ears are usually cropped in France. Until ten years ago the Bull Terrier standard said that ear cropping was optional, then the option was deleted from the standard.

Among the people who raise these breeds, reaction to the cropping question varies from, “I hate it but there's nothing I can do if I want to show my dogs and sell my pups,” to “I've been doing my own cropping for years and I don't mind it anymore and I like the look of cropped ears.”

Still, it's hard to believe that anyone who has the best interests of his or her dogs at heart could get any sort of satisfaction out of the practice of ear cropping.
By Daniel Waser
Article:http://www.justforthedogs.com/

Article..Dog Health Care - Are Vaccinations for Pets Really Necessary?

2008-08-04T20:53:00.001-07:00

If you have been following the standard guidelines for pet vaccinations you have probably been submitting your cat or dog to a painful shot as well as the anxiety of a visit to the vet every year in an effort to provide them the best health possible.

Are Vaccinations for Pets Really Necessary?

Vaccinations are a big business. Owners will spend what they are told in order to protect their pets and possibly themselves from contacting scary and deadly diseases such as rabies or distemper. *However, some veterinarians and pet owners are starting to question the wisdom and necessity of annual vaccinations.

Dr. Margie Scherk who runs a veterinary clinic in Vancouver was quoted in a CBC news story as stating that "We have no reason to think a cat's immune system is different than a human's immune system. And we don't get vaccinated every year."

If this is true, why do vets keep warning us to have our dogs and cats vaccinated annually?

Possibly some encourage the visits for the monetary benefits, but it is also a subject that is still fraught with controversy.

Pet owners in general are not anxious to take risks with such deadly diseases and so until conclusive studies are embraced by the medical field they will continue with annual vaccinations.

On the other hand, some studies have shown that certain vaccines, such as the rabies vaccine, may be linked to an increase in tumors in cats.

Other pet owners have had personal experiences which led them to believe that vaccines in puppies may have been responsible for a higher mortality in a healthy litter.

Until these concerns have been researched further, veterinarians take their own stand on vaccinations. Dr. Kruth, who was also interviewed by CBC, believes that owners should make decisions based on the lifestyle of their pet. He explains that hunting dogs are clearly more at risk for picking up some of these diseases than a pet kept indoors in the city.

How can pet owners make an educated decision? There is a lot of information available online, as well as recommendations from Associations and veterinary schools which may reflect the more recent research. However, most individuals will likely require the experience and recommendation of their family pet's doctor or shop around to find one who seems to be implementing newer recommendations. In this case most will suggest a three year gap between most vaccinations. There are still some diseases that may require annual shots or even six month shots such as feline leukemia and kennel cough.
By Daniel Waser
Article:http://www.justforthedogs.com/

Dog Health Care - Keeping Your Dog Healthy,.Article

2008-08-04T20:52:00.001-07:00

Keeping Your Dog Healthy**Dogs are our friends, companions and often our guardians, but since they are also totally dependent on us for their well-being, it is our responsibility to look after them properly.

Keeping Your Dog Healthy
Like people, dogs need to be healthy to enjoy life. Dogs are our friends, companions and often our guardians, but since they are also totally dependent on us for their well-being, it is our responsibility to look after them properly.

*One of the most prevalent 'diseases' in dogs these days is one that also affects humans. Obesity. A fat dog is an unhealthy dog and is likely to suffer from arthritis and heart failure. Remember, in the wild dogs eat fresh meat that they have killed themselves. They also eat certain types of grass and may eat wild fruits like berries if these grow in their natural habitat.

Milk, custard and cake are the worst things you can give your grown dog and, though a puppy may benefit from the calcium in milk, there are commercial milk products available that are especially formulated for a puppy's needs.

Dry dog food, or kibble as it is sometimes called, is said to have all the nutrients that your dog will need for health, but the dearer brands are often better. Dogs fed on cheaper brands may constantly chew grass to supplement whatever is missing from their diet. Tinned food can be given as a treat.
A healthy dog should have a smooth, shining coat, clear eyes and a moist nose. Its breath should not smell foul. It should be slender, though not thin enough to see its ribs sticking out. If your dog's breath is disgusting, it could be due to the tartar on its teeth. Chewing on a big bone will help to clean your dog's teeth.

Regular worming will also help to keep your pet in top condition. Shots for distemper, heartworm, parvovirus and kennel cough are a must. Kennel cough is not likely to be a problem unless the dog is kept on cement. Your vet will need to administer the shots, but you can worm the dog yourself. The tablets should be pushed down the side of the dog's mouth until he swallows. If this is too difficult, crush the tablet into some tinned dog food and offer when the dog is hungry. Watch to make sure he eats it all.

Parvovirus breaks down the digestive system and eventually affects the heart. It tends to come in outbreaks when people forget to have their animals inoculated. Symptoms include bloody stool and the animal is quickly unable to move and in obvious pain. It almost always fatal. Luckily, it is not transmitted to humans.

Symptoms of distemper include runny eyes and a dry nose.
It is rather like flu in humans.

A dog with worms may have a poor appetite, and will often - though not always - look to be in poor health with a dry coat that is harsh to the touch. If your dog drags itself along the ground in a sitting position, suspect worms immediately. Worms can sometimes be seen hanging from the anal passage. The problem needs to be addressed as soon as possible, because worms are easily transmitted to humans.

Fleas, which will happily jump from dogs to humans, can be another problem. These bloodsuckers can actually kill a tiny puppy, simply through blood loss. Puppies too young to wear a flea collar may be washed in a suitable preparation from the vet. Pat it dry afterwards, or keep it in a warm place so it doesn't get cold. Always be sure to keep kennels and yard clean to reduce the flea problem. If they get out of hand, you may need to spray all bedding and surrounding areas to kill the fleas and their eggs.

If you live in a tick prone area, be sure to keep a tick collar on your dog at all times. Mark the renewal date on the calendar so you don't forget to renew it. Your pet's life may depend on it! Grass ticks cause itchy lumps that can become infected when scratched. If not removed quickly, the paralysis tick can cause death in three to five days.

If your dog seems to suddenly have weak back legs and falls over often, inspect it immediately for a tick and get it to the vet as soon as possible. Luckily, the tick vaccine works well and quickly and can save a dog that looks like it is gasping its last breath.

With attention to these few details, your pet should live a long and happy life, rewarding you with years of fun and companionship.
By Daniel Waser
Article:http://www.justforthedogs.com/

Article***Dog Health Care - Should You Get Health Insurance For Your Dog?

2008-08-04T20:51:00.002-07:00

Should You Get Health Insurance For Your Dog?**You would never consider going without health insurance for your family but what about your dog.

Should You Get Health Insurance
For Your Dog?
Although many people think it is an unnecessary expense, health insurance for your pet can actually save you money and spare you from making a tough decision between the life of your dog and paying the bills should a serious health issue arise. Just like everything else today, Veterinary cost have skyrocketed.

When you do not have insurance, you must pay for every visit whether they be routine or emergency. This can run into thousands of dollars so why not get some help? Just like personal health insurance, health insurance for your dog has annual premiums and, of course a deductible. The premium price depends on the dog breed and type of policy, if you have more than one pet, you can usually get a discount. As with the premium, the deductibles vary. Typically it is around $100 a year.

There are many policies to choose from based on your dogs age, breed, lifestyle and pre-existing conditions. Theres a dog health plan to please almost everyone. Some plans cover most everything from annual checkups to vaccinations, spaying, neutering and any medications as well as ay sickness and, of course accidents. These policies, of course will be the most costly. But if you can handle the yearly costs of a well dog just fine and want something just in case your dog becomes injured or sick, you can get a policy that will cover just these occasions.

Getting a new health insurance policy for your dog is similar to getting one for yourself - emergency coverage begins as soon as you sign up with your first payment and there is a 30 day waiting period for illness and other routine claims. When considering health insurance for your dog, be aware that his age will affect the coverage.

Most policies cover the dog starting at 6 weeks of age. On the other end, you may not be able to get coverage for your dog if he is more than 8 years old. Once your dog is covered, however, he will be able to retain coverage past 8 years of age. Getting health insurance for your dog should be a serious consideration for any pet owner. Think of it as the normal expense for having your pet. It's well worth it and it really set your mind at east to know that should your dog need expensive medical treatment to save his life - you'll be covered.
By Daniel Waser
Article:http://www.justforthedogs.com/

Dog Health Care - Dog Ear Infections...Article

2008-08-04T20:51:00.001-07:00

Dog Ear Infections***If your dog does have an ear infection it is important to properly clean your dog's ears . ..applying any medication.

Dog Ear Infections
Dog ear infections are also commonly called Otitis Externa. It is an infection of the outer ear canal. There are three parts to the ear; the outer, the middle, and the inner ear. Ninety percent of infections occur in the outer ear, the part of the ear that you can see.

Dogs are prone to ear infections because of the anatomy of their ears. They have a horizontal and a vertical component to them, so it is hard for anything in there to drain out, like water or debris.

Signs of an ear infection include excessive head shaking, yellow to brown exudate in the ears, or a yeast like smell. Additional signs of ear infections include redness and swelling.

There are several causes of ear infections. The most common cause of ear infections are due to allergies. Some dogs are more prone to allergies than others; therefore they get more ear infections.

Another common cause is sporting dogs that swim. They get water inside their ears, and provided their difficult anatomy, the water in the ears cannot drain out. Therefore, this provides the perfect environment for bacteria and yeast to grow. It is recommenced that if you let your dog play in the water you dry your dog's ears thoroughly afterwards.

To clean your dog's ears, start by placing a few drops of an ear cleanser into the ear and massage the ear to help loosen any debris that is in the ear. Then use a cloth or cotton gauze to whip the dirt out.

After your dog's ears are thoroughly clean, then you can apply your medication. Follow your veterinarian's advice about how much medication to apply to the ear, usually a few drops.

The treatment your veterinarian will prescribe will vary depending on the cause of the ear infection. For yeast infections they prescribe anti-fungals, for bacterial infections they will prescribe antibiotics. Normally treatment is applied directly into the ears, but in severe cases systemic treatment may be needed. This usually means have to give your dog pills orally.

In some dogs with severe ear problems, the veterinarian will usually clip the hair around the ear to help let more air into the ear. In extreme cases your veterinarian may recommend surgery to reconstruct the ear canal to let it drain easier.

Breeds of dogs that are prone to ear infections include all breeds with large ears that flap over the ear canal, and breeds of dogs that have a very small canal. By knowing what to look for, you can detect ear infections early.

By Daniel Waser
Article:http://www.justforthedogs.com/

Article--Dog Health Care - Fleas - An Irritation at Best and Major Problem at Worst

2008-08-04T20:50:00.002-07:00

Dog Health Care,Fleas are an irritation at best++ a major problemDogat worst. Not just to our pets but to us as well.

Health Care
FleasAn Irritation at Best and Major Problem at Worst

Fleas are a tiny almost invisible insect and something that most people never even think about, until they, or their pets become infected. People then realize that fleas are a major problem to many of households and will take whatever measures are available to eliminate them.

Fleas are an irritation at best and a major problem at worst. Not just to our pets but to us as well. The most common symptom of a flea infestation is itching. This comes from several sources. Firstly, fleas just itch when they crawl around on skin because this is very irritating. But worse than this is that fleas bite their host...and this can include you! They bite to feed on the blood of the host, and the bite causes irritation, itching and scratching.

However, the health effects of fleas can be worse than just the associated itching. Fleas can cause and transmit a range of medical conditions in animals and humans.

Dermatitis caused by fleas is responsible for more than half of all pet skin complaints treated by vets. This can result from excessive scratching or from an allergy to the flea bites, and can be caused by as little as one bite in a particularly sensitive individual. And the dermatitis can become more serious leading in some cases to secondary infection.

Fleas can carry worms from one host to another. Cat fleas, for example can carry and transmit dog tapeworms. This is generally not a problem for people, but can certainly be a problem for our pets.

And because fleas feed on blood they can transmit diseases from one host to another whenever there are blood borne diseases. Many years ago, it was fleas, not rats, that carried the plague which decimated much of Europe. The fleas were responsible for transmitting the disease from host to host. Even today fleas can transmit the plague in some remote villages in Africa, although this does not generally occur elsewhere.

Fleas therefore, are not something to be ignored if your pet is infected. In the warm months it is particularly easy for a wandering pet to pick up fleas very quickly and it is important to be aware of this possibility.

So what do you do if your pet is scratching and appears unusually irritated? Firstly, suspect fleas and then inspect your pet.

How do you determine if there are fleas present? They can be seen on your pet if you comb through the fur. Fleas are fast moving so make sure to look closely.

Check where you animal sleeps. Pets with fleas usually infest their bedding (or yours if this is where they sleep).

Be vigilant and keep note of any places where fleas are found as these are the places which will need to be treated to remove the fleas.

And how do you find out if you have fleas in the house? You'll see or feel them. If you find a flea on your person, chances are you've probably got fleas in the house.

A simple trick for detecting fleas is to walk around any suspect areas in your house with white socks over your shoes. Then check the socks for fleas.

Alternatively you can put a shallow dish of water in the suspect area on the floor. Suspend a light bulb (taking proper safety precautions) about 6 inches above the water and leave the light on at night. Try putting a few drops of dishwashing detergent in the water to break the surface tension. Fleas are attracted to the light and some will fall in the water and drown. So, if you find fleas in the water next morning you've got fleas!

Moral of this story - If you have fleas don't ignore them. The problem isn't likely to go away. Do something about it soon.
By Daniel Waser
Article:http://www.justforthedogs.com/

Do You Have A Fat Pet?+Article

2008-08-04T20:50:00.001-07:00

As we feed our pets more convenient, over-processed pet foods and spend less time with them exercising, we actually put their lives at risk, without even realizing it.

Do You Have A Fat Pet?

People aren't the only ones who have a problem with weight control. Many of our pets, almost 25 per cent, are overweight, with many of these medically considered as obese. Why is this happening? Are our pets also becoming victims of the electronic age?

As we become more prone to using short-cuts in every day life; remote controls, microwaves, dishwashers, etc ... one would assume that we would have more time for the simple pleasures in life, such as - walking the dog. But no, that does not appear to be the case.

Even though we are managing to do these tasks in a much quicker time frame, we are just as quickly finding new things to fill the extra time. Yes, the advances in technology have provided faster ways of doing things but technology has also created many more things to do. We now spend a lot of time indoors, especially in front of a monitor; whether it be a computer monitor or a television monitor, many hours are spent staring at a screen.

We seem to no longer find enjoyment in many aspects of our lives as we are always reaching for that higher level; for more money, for a better job, for a more prestigious lifestyle. And in the process we have also spent less time with our pets, which has resulted in this increase in pet obesity. As many people down-size their homes by moving closer to city areas, mostly into townhouses and apartments, they leave less room in the new backyard for their pets, if they even have a backyard at all.

Being overweight can drastically decrease the life span of your pet, making your overweight pet into a very unhealthy pet, and ultimately an unhappy one as well. Obesity can lead to many different diseases, including; diabetes, arthritis, heart complications, endocrinal diseases and bad joints.

As we feed our pets more convenient, over-processed pet foods and spend less time with them exercising, we actually put their lives at risk, without even realizing it. Some pet owners may even over-feed their pets to try to compensate for their lack of involvement in their pet's lives.

Take your pet to your local veterinarian if you suspect that it may be overweight. They will be able to tell you if your pet is not getting enough exercise or is being feed the wrong type or amount of food.

Lastly, take some time out of your busy schedule and spend it with your pet, it will love you for it. Remember, a pet is a friend for life, so look after it.
By Daniel Waser
Article:http://www.justforthedogs.com/

Keeping Your Dog Cool in Hot Weather**Article

2008-08-04T20:49:00.000-07:00

Water, Water, Water! And last but not least...like you, your dog needs to hydrate frequently so be sure to provide unlimited access to cool, clean refreshing drinking water.

Keeping Your Dog Cool in Hot Weather

Sunny summer days seem to incite all sorts of fun activities with your dog: from playing fetch in the park to frisbee on the beach. Unfortunately, as temperatures soar, the hot weather also brings with it some very specific hazards such as sunburn, heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Good news, these threats to your pooch are preventable.
Protecting Your Dog from Sunburn
Just like humans, dogs can be burned by the sun, especially the nose, tips of the ears and around the lip area. Commonsense dictates that you keep your dog in the shade during the hours when the sun's rays are most intense - usually between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. However, if you need to be outside during these times, it's okay to apply sun-block to your dog's nose and the exposed skin on the ears. It's a little risky to apply sun-block around the lips so instead just keep a close watch and make sure that the area doesn't get too pink. If you notice that any portion of your dog's skin is reddened or blistered, contact your veterinarian right away.
Protecting Your Dog from
Heat Exhaustion or Heat Stroke
Leaving a dog in a parked car during summer weather is the leading cause of heat stroke. Dogs can also suffer heat exhaustion or heat stroke if they exercise too heavily on a hot, humid day or, if they live outdoors and don't have shelter from the sun. Dogs are also susceptible if they are overweight or suffer from lung or heart ailments. Older dogs are less tolerant of heat and may succumb to heat strokes more readily than younger dogs. A few simple actions on your part can help protect your dog from heat exhaustion and heat stroke:

Don't take your dog with you on errands if you need to leave her in the car. However, if you're traveling with your dog and must make a stop, even for the shortest period of time, consider leaving the air conditioner on. If you're accustomed to taking your dog with you when power-walking, jogging or cycling, don't push her on exceptionally hot days.

If she falls behind, let her take a break. For dogs who live outside, make sure to provide "all-day shade" such as a ventilated doghouse, large beach umbrella or overhang that will remain shaded even when the sun shifts throughout the day. Keep older dogs and those with lung or heart conditions inside your home on hot days. If you don't have air conditioning, keep a fan running. Avoid any situations that force your dog to stand on sun-baked surfaces such as cement sidewalks, a truck bed or beach sand. The extreme heat can cause blisters on her pads. If you simply must walk your dog in the heat of the day, tread on grassy areas as much as possible.

By Daniel Waser
Article:http://www.justforthedogs.com/

How to Care for Your Dog’s Teeth-Article

2008-08-04T20:48:00.002-07:00

If you live in an area with hard water, it is more likely that your dog's teeth will develop tartar deposits. Additionally, tooth problems are more likely if your dog eats mostly soft foods, because these leave debris in gum pockets at the base of the teeth, leading to infections.

How to Care for Your Dog’s Teeth

Just like humans, dogs can get cavities if their teeth are not properly taken care of. Cavities are not as common in dogs as they are in humans; however there are some things which can increase the likelihood of your dog developing tooth problems. If you live in an area with hard water, it is more likely that your dog's teeth will develop tartar deposits. Additionally, tooth problems are more likely if your dog eats mostly soft foods, because these leave debris in gum pockets at the base of the teeth, leading to infections. These not only cause problems for your dog's teeth - studies show that a whopping 98% of cases of bad breath in dogs are caused by periodontal disease, which is the result of tartar build-up and gum infections.

The best way of preventing these problems is with regular brushing of your dog's teeth. Even if you have a great relationship with your dog, staring into its mouth and seeing rows of shining, sharp dog teeth can be intimidating. But by gradually getting your dog used to the idea of having you handling his mouth, you'll be able to clean his teeth and take care of his mouth without too many problems.

If you have a young dog, it is much easier to get started. Even if your dog is a few years old you can still get him used to the idea, but you may find that it takes a bit longer before your dog is willing to let you brush his teeth. To get your dog used to having his mouth handled, start by lifting his lips and looking at his teeth - do this two or three times a week, and each time, give him a small treat after you have finished. This will help both you and your dog relax when you are handling his mouth, and your dog will be more comfortable with the process when he knows there will be a treat when it's over.

Once your dog is used to having his mouth handled, it's time to start brushing. There are a few simple items you will need to brush your dog's teeth, which you can obtain from a pet store or from your veterinarian. You'll need a dog tooth brush (a wash cloth or gauze pad wrapped around your finger also works well), and tooth paste which has been formulated for animal use. Human tooth paste should not be used for brushing dog teeth, because dogs cannot spit, and human tooth paste is not safe to swallow in large quantities. Your dog will most likely swallow whatever you use to clean his teeth, so it is important to buy tooth paste which has been formulated specifically for dogs. In addition, dog tooth pastes come in several different flavors, so if you can find a flavor your dog likes, it will be that much easier to brush his teeth.

Once you have the right tools, brushing dog teeth is pretty similar to brushing your own. If you have a large dog, the easiest position is on the floor, with your dog in front of you. With smaller breeds or puppies, you can hold the dog in your lap. To start brushing, lift your dog's upper lip and brush the teeth in a circular motion, making sure to brush at the base of each tooth where it meets the gum line. Also make sure to brush the back molars, because these teeth are more likely than the front teeth to develop problems. To get your dog used to having his teeth brushed, do only one or two teeth the first few times. As he becomes more comfortable with brushing, you can brush more teeth in each session. Always give your dog a small treat after each session.

Brushing should be done twice a week. If your dog's teeth have a lot of tartar build-up they'll need to be cleaned by your vet
- this is a fairly quick procedure but it does require anesthesia. In addition to regular brushing, feeding your dog dry dog food or hard biscuits every day is the best way of preventing tartar build-up. Soft foods and meat should be given as treat foods only. As well as this, provide your dog with bones or hard toys to chew on
- this will help keep their teeth and gums in good condition and it will also reduce the risk of your dog chewing on furniture or destroying your property. If you give your dog bones, do not cook them. Cooked bones can splinter, and these splinters can cause your dog to choke, or if swallowed they can perforate the bowel. Choose a bone based on the size of your dog
- make sure you get a large bone if your dog is a large breed, so that there is no possibility of swallowing it.

With a little care and attention, you can help keep your dog's teeth in tip-top condition for years to come.
By Daniel Waser
Article:http://www.justforthedogs.com/

Article..Dog Health Care - Caring for a Blind Dog - A Few Tips to Make Your Dog Safe

2008-08-04T20:48:00.001-07:00

Caring for a Blind DogA Few
Tips to Make Your Dog Safe
Do you have a dog that is blind or nearly blind? If so, you know that caring for a blind dog is different than caring for a sighted dog. For one thing, you probably discovered early on that your dog bumps into things that are placed in his walkway. Blind dogs, like blind people, learn the layout of a house and are able to maneuver their way through hallways, living rooms and even stairs with little trouble. But if a piece of furniture is moved, or if a toy is left in a walkway, the dog stumbles and collides with it. For this reason it is very important that a home with a blind dog does not move household items around. Do not change the position of the furniture and make sure toys or other items are picked up and put away. Another area you need to keep clear is the yard. Blind dogs will run around their own yard that they have grown accustomed to. However, if the lawn mower is left out, or if a lawn chair is put in a different spot, the dog runs the risk of running into it and possibly getting injured. Pools also pose a danger. Anyone with an in-ground pool and a blind dog needs to fence the pool off from the rest of the yard. A sighted dog could be taught to swim to the steps and climb out in case he ever accidentally fell into the pool. But if a blind dog accidentally fell in he would have little chance to figure out where the steps were before he grew exhausted from swimming and drowned. If you have a staircase that is open on one side where the dog might fall through the railing to the ground below, you probably want to put something up along the bottom portion of the railing to prevent any tragedies. Even this is just a little convenience. After all, you love your dog enough to do whatever it takes to keep him safe and happy. It is not difficult to care for a blind dog, but it does require extra patience and, as mentioned above, some extra planning. Fencing off a pool, leaving the furniture in place, and keeping walkways clear of toys and other things will help the blind dog maneuver around the house and yard almost as good as a sighted dog. There are different things that cause blindness in a dog, such as cataracts. Sometimes the blindness cannot be corrected, but some causes of blindness can be reversed if you have the money to pay for the surgery or whatever is required. Other times, because of financial strain or perhaps because the dog is very old, people opt to let the dog live out his remaining years without sight. Don't feel that your blind pet is unhappy with life and would not want to live without his sight. Dogs are amazing creatures and are capable of living a full and rewarding life whether they are blind or sighted. Caring for a blind dog is not as easy as caring for a sighted dog but well worth the extra effort. Your dog is a part of the family and deserves all the love and devotion you can give him.
By Daniel Waser
Article:http://www.justforthedogs.com/

Dog Health Care - Internal Parasites of the Dog

2008-08-04T20:47:00.001-07:00

Internal parasites (Endoparasite)can strike any dog, whether the dog appears to be clean and/or if it is from a seemingly 'well-to-do home'.

Internal Parasites of the Dog

Roundworms (Toxocara canis, Toxascaris leonina)are rather like pale earthworms and can reach approximately 10cm in length. They are pointed at both ends. Signs of presence in a dog are: mild vomiting, pot-bellied, dull coat, either sudden weight gain or weight loss. A puppy might cough or hiccup. A presence of worms will be seen wrapped around the stools passed.

The Life Cycle of the Toxocara canis starts with the bitch eating contaminated feces. The larvae migrate to various parts of the body- mammary glands, uterus, and remain in the intestine. Puppies feed off the bitch and the larvae enter their system, growing into an adult within two weeks. The adult worms lay eggs which hatch into larvae and burrow through the gut wall to the liver and lungs, causing respiratory problems. Some lay dormant while others are coughed up and swallowed thus travelling down into the intestine where they grow into adult worms and lay thousands of eggs. These eggs are passed out of the dog where they lay waiting for a passer-by to eat the feces enabling the cycle to start over.

The Life Cycle of the Toxascaris leonina starts with the eggs being ingested, and hatching in the stomach. They do not migrate, but develop in the wall of the intestine, therefore infection to a bitch's puppies does not occur.

It is therefore advisable that pregnant bitches should be wormed under the vet's supervision, puppies should be routinely wormed after the age of two weeks. Adult dogs should be wormed every six months, every three months is wise if there are young children in the household.

Tapeworms (Dipylidium caninum) are flat, segmented and can be up to 50cm long. They are not normally seen as a complete worm, but the individual segments loaded with ripe eggs. Signs of presence in a dog, is that the abdomen may become distorted, but the most common sign is the presence of rice-like grains around the anus. These worms can also be seen moving in the dog's feces. They can cause diarrhea and poor growth development in puppies.

The Life Cycle of Dipylidium caninum starts when a dog swallows a flea, which has itself swallowed an embryonated worm. The larvae develop into adult worms in the small intestine. Specific worming remedies for this type of worm are obtained from a vet. Also ensure that the dog is regularly checked for fleas.

Ticks (Ixodes species) are brownish-white and can be initially mistaken for a wart, but on closer inspection the legs can be seen, while the head is buried in the epidermis. Having gorged on the dog's blood it grows to the size of a bean or pea. Signs of presence may only be when a dog has an allergic reaction to them and due to scratching, red sore areas appear. Normally a dog will tolerate one or two ticks without showing any signs of irritation and they will only be noticed during grooming.

nternal parasites (Endoparasite) can strike any dog, whether the dog appears to be clean and/or if it is from a seemingly 'well-to-do home'.

Roundworms (Toxocara canis, Toxascaris leonina) are rather like pale earthworms and can reach approximately 10cm in length. They are pointed at both ends. Signs of presence in a dog are: mild vomiting, pot-bellied, dull coat, either sudden weight gain or weight loss. A puppy might cough or hiccup. A presence of worms will be seen wrapped around the stools passed.

The Life Cycle of the Toxocara canis starts with the bitch eating contaminated feces. The larvae migrate to various parts of the body- mammary glands, uterus, and remain in the intestine. Puppies feed off the bitch and the larvae enter their system, growing into an adult within two weeks. The adult worms lay eggs which hatch into larvae and burrow through the gut wall to the liver and lungs, causing respiratory problems. Some lay dormant while others are coughed up and swallowed thus traveling down into the intestine where they grow into adult worms and lay thousands of eggs. These eggs are passed out of the dog where they lay waiting for a passer-by to eat the feces enabling the cycle to start over.

The Life Cycle of the Toxascaris leonina starts with the eggs being ingested, and hatching in the stomach. They do not migrate, but develop in the wall of the intestine, therefore infection to a bitch's puppies does not occur.

It is therefore advisable that pregnant bitches should be wormed under the vet's supervision; puppies should be routinely wormed after the age of two weeks. Adult dogs should be wormed every six months, every three months is wise if there are young children in the household.

Tapeworms (Dipylidium caninum) are flat, segmented and can be up to 50cm long. They are not normally seen as a complete worm, but the individual segments loaded with ripe eggs. Signs of presence in a dog, is that the abdomen may become distorted, but the most common sign is the presence of rice-like grains around the anus. These worms can also be seen moving in the dog's feces. They can cause diarrhea and poor growth development in puppies.

The Life Cycle of Dipylidium caninum starts when a dog swallows a flea, which has itself, swallowed an embryonated worm. The larvae develop into adult worms in the small intestine. Specific worming remedies for this type of worm are obtained from a vet. Also ensure that the dog is regularly checked for fleas.

Ticks (Ixodes species) are brownish-white and can be initially mistaken for a wart, but on closer inspection the legs can be seen, while the head is buried in the epidermis. Having gorged on the dog's blood it grows to the size of a bean or pea. Signs of presence may only be when a dog has an allergic reaction to them and due to scratching, red sore areas appear. Normally a dog will tolerate one or two ticks without showing any signs of irritation and they will only be noticed during grooming.

The Life Cycle of Ixodes species starts with adult ticks laying eggs that drop on the ground. Larvae hatch and climb on to blades of grass, shrubs, etc., where they wait for a passer by to brush past, thus enabling them to attach themselves on to the hair of the dog. Surgical spirit soaked onto the tick suffocates it, thus loosening its grip. It can then be removed with tweezers. Never attempt to pull the tick off without soaking it first, as the head will remain and cause infection. Treat the area with insecticide. A special dip/shampoo can be obtained from the vet if infestation is severe.
By Daniel Waser
Article:http://www.justforthedogs.com

Dog Health Care - Dog X-ray Can Save Your Dog From Death

2008-08-04T20:46:00.002-07:00

Dogs may also suffer from hereditary dog illnesses like elbow dysplasia, hip dysplasia, mitral valve disease, cardiomyopathy and most of these diseases can be identified using dog x-rays.

Dog X-ray Can Save Your Dog From Death

X-rays can be used to diagnose or detect many conditions and disorders in dogs. Bone fractures, bladder stones and tumors can easily be detected through this technique. Sometimes dogs swallow the most ridiculous things that can become lodged in their gastric-intestinal tract such as nails, rocks, fishhooks, safety pins, bones, toys etc...all these things can cause serious damage if not detected soon enough. Some dogs may also suffer from hereditary dog illnesses like elbow dysplasia, hip dysplasia, mitral valve disease, cardiomyopathy and most of these diseases can be identified using dog x-rays. Hip dysplasia results into severe arthritis in dogs. In this dog illness, the socket joining the demur to the pelvis is shallow.

The caput i.e. the ball of the femur is not round and smooth but is misshapen. This causes a lot of friction within the joint as it moves. This results in severe arthritis in the dog. The dog's natural repair system will repair itself by adding new cartilage. However, the cartilage repair is a relatively slow process because the cartilage lacks blood flow, which is necessary for rapid bodily repairs.

The degraded joint may not be able to support the body weight as expected. The joint then becomes inflamed leading to a cycle of cartilage damage and inflammation. The bones of the joint may also develop osteoarthritis, which is visible on a dog x-ray as small outcrops of bone. Hence, the dog x-rays can help us to recognize these fractures so that we can treat them efficiently. However, taking x-rays require dogs to remain still. Sometimes, the dog squirms and moves during the x-ray.

This results in unclear and distorted images of the dog's insides, which can lead to wrong diagnosis. Sometimes, it so happens that a dog having hip dysplasia is not diagnosed because the veterinary surgeon cannot make out the slight shift of the bone.

The dog is already living in infinite pain. On top of this, even after the dog is x-rayed and found to have nothing wrong in his system, do not think the efforts have been wasted. X-rays should always be neatly filed up for future references. To determine the dog illnesses, the x-ray is important and so it is vital for the owner and the vet to position the dog properly on the table and take some measures to keep it still.

Some dogs are naturally obedient and won't move a muscle if his or her owner instructs so. Sometimes, a light anaesthetic is registered to keep the dog still. if the dog is being x-rayed for the muscles, anesthesia is unavoidable. It happens more often than not, that the dog x-rays might not turn out to be conclusive. In such cases, one should reserve breeding until the x-rays show something definite. By the time the dog is fully-grown the dog x-rays will reveal the proper status of the dog's bone development.

The OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) will not classify hips in dogs until they are two years of age. There are other dog diseases like blood clots, esophageal achalasia and bladder stones which x-rays can detect. People are having their dogs x-rayed these days to detect possible bone fractures that the dog might have. X-rays, therefore, have become inevitable in the field of veterinary practice. In this way, dog x-rays can help to cure the dog illnesses that trouble our cuddly friends.
By Daniel Waser
Article:http://www.justforthedogs.com/

Article..Dog Health Care - Dog illnesses and symptoms

2008-08-04T20:46:00.001-07:00

Since prevention is a better cure, we must learn something about dog illnesses and symptoms so we can better understand their conditions.

Dog illnesses and symptoms
All pet dogs should be treated as members of our family and adequate attention must be paid to the canine's health. Sometimes dogs become sick but may not look so. It is very important to recognize and understand dog illnesses symptoms.

Since prevention is a better cure, we must learn something about dog illnesses and symptoms so we can better understand their conditions. This will help us recognize some common dog illnesses. If appropriate and adequate vaccinations are administered to the puppies, most of the common dog illnesses can be easily prevented.

Some elementary observations are useful to recognize certain common dog illnesses. Dogs take a lot of sleep but their sleep is marked by alertness. If a dog is sluggish then there may be various causes contributing to it, right from anemia to old age. If the dog is limping then you should check for prospective painful areas using a firm and yet gentile hand. Check out for any signs indicating lameness from time to time.

The appetite of the dog is bound to be affected by ill health. Look for any signs of loss of appetite. An important sign of dog health problems is excessive thirst. A pronounced weight loss is also an indicator of ill health. Check the eyes for any ulcers, discharges, veins or sores.

The mouth of a healthy dog is pink. There should not be any discoloring or cavities in the teeth. Look for signs of discharge from ears. It is advisable to clean the ears from time to time. The dog's head should be regularly checked for sore patches, hair loss, or deep wounds.

Investigate the limbs and trunk for the same signs. If the dog is vomiting, there may be various underlying problems. If the body temperature of your dog is not between the range 38 to 39 Celsius it is an indication of some kind of illness. Check the female dogs for any kind of foul smelling vaginal discharge, which needs attention of a vet.

The symptoms of pain and discomfort experienced by a dog can give us many clues about the possible underlying illness. If the dog is suffering any abdominal pain, it may be due to canine hepatitis, enteritis or it can be a simple case of constipation. The abdominal swelling dogs indicate canine bloat and roundworms in puppies. Aggression of the dog may be caused by rabies. Roundworms, tapeworms, and whipworms my cause anemia in dogs. Any behavioral changes in dog can be an indicator of hookworms, tapeworms, whipworms, canine arthritis, heart disease, canine, or parvovirus.

Kidney diseases sometimes cause blood in urine. Eye infections and entropion cause bloodshot eyes in dogs. A ruptured diaphragm, obstructed airway, lungworm, bronchitis, pneumonia, food poisoning, heatstroke, allergies can cause respiratory problems in dogs.

There are various reasons of sudden change in weight of dogs like heart disease to heartworms. Hernia might be caused due to long term constipation in dogs. Allergies, parvovirus, hepatitis, lungworm, TB, pneumonia or distemper may be one of the reasons of coughing in dogs. Cannine parvovirus can also cause dehydration in dogs. Any pancreatic disorder, food poisoning can give rise to diarrhea in dogs. The dog may suffer from hair loss due to mange, red mange demodectic, scabies, cheyletiella mange, or cushing's syndrome.
By Daniel Waser
Article:http://www.justforthedogs.com/

Dog Health Care - Poisoning+Article

2008-08-04T20:45:00.000-07:00

If you catch a dog eating something potentially toxic, restrain it, remove it from the source of the poison to prevent any further contamination or ingestion and if appropriate examine the package to find out the ingredients.

Poisoning

A poison is defined as a substance that can harm health or destroy life. Because of their inquisitive natures and indiscriminate appetites, puppies and younger dogs are more vulnerable than older wiser animals. In all cases of suspected poisoning early veterinary intervention is vital. Dogs can be poisoned in several different ways. They may ingest the toxic substances by eating or drinking it. This can happen directly, for example by a dog drinking antifreeze, or indirectly, by the dog eating an already poisoned animal, for example a mouse. Toxic fumes can be inhaled and the poison absorbed through the lungs. Or a dog can be externally contaminated, for example by falling in some creosote.

If you catch a dog eating something potentially toxic, restrain it, remove it from the source of the poison to prevent any further contamination or ingestion and if appropriate examine the package to find out the ingredients. Contact a vet or your local poison control centre for advice. Identifying the poison can be of great importance in deciding what treatment would be appropriate, so take a sample to the surgery with you if possible, and also its container. Most rodenticides (rat baits) are colour-coded to show the category of the active ingredient. Samples of any vomit or feces passed may also be useful. If your dog has a contaminant such as creosote on his coat do not let him lick it off. Do not try to treat the dog yourself, without first seeking your vet's advice.

Poisoned animals can deteriorate quickly and prompt veterinary action is often needed. After assessing your dogs condition your vet will take any necessary steps to prevent further exposure to the poison. This may involve giving your dog an emetic to induce vomiting or washing the stomach out via a stomach tube. However, this will not be possible if the dog has swallowed a corrosive agent or has collapsed. If the poison is known, it may be possible to give a specific treatment, for example injections of vitamin K to help blood coagulation in the case of Warfarin poisoning, or the administration of atropine for insecticide overdose. However, specific antidotes are rarely available so it is often a case of testing the symptoms and providing as much support for the patient as possible. This may involve restoring the body temperature, controlling fits by giving sedatives, maintaining renal function and helping to excrete toxins by giving intravenous fluids, and the treatment of any circulatory collapse and shock.

Poisoning can be very difficult to prove unless the agent is obvious. Samples of vomit, urine, feces and blood are all necessary, so do tell your vet straight away if you want these investigations done. A post mortem may reveal organ damage but this requires lengthy scientific examination and is expensive and often unrewarding. Cases of suspected poisoning are rarely proven.

By Daniel Waser
Article:http://www.justforthedogs.com/