Monday, September 21, 2009

Puppy Training Pads Why You Shouldn't Use Them

By Alex Pendry

Getting a new puppy can be one of the most exciting things for anyone; in fact when a family gets a new puppy they all become concerned with potty training tips. Well we wanted to provide you with some reasons why you should avoid using puppy training pads.

With over a million people in the United States who own pets; many of them do not like the fact that they will have to learn how to train them. However if you plan on keeping them inside then you are going to want to concern yourself with how to properly train them.

What would you do if you woke up in the morning and she left you a little present on your brand new carpet; it could take just a few seconds of being left alone. All you have to do is leave them alone while you step out of the room for a quick second.

When you come back into the room where you left her; then you will notice that she has now ruined your new beige carpet. When people notice these types of accidents from their puppies they tend to become upset; however it can all be stopped when you learn how to properly potty train your new best friend.

Chances are you may be considering using puppy training pads; however before you move forward with this consideration there are some things that you should know. Puppy training pads are a bad move because they can ruin your home by causing it to smell badly.

You will notice that even when you change out the dirty puppy training pads it will leave a nasty smell in your home. Your puppy will never become potty trained and you will continue to have to deal with this problem as the become older.

It is important to learn how to take the steps to potty training a puppy without puppy training pads. It is not as difficult as you may think it is you should stop by our site below for some great tips that you can use to help you raise the best obedient puppy possible.

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Sunday, September 20, 2009

Is Diarrhea In Dogs Dangerous?

By Moses Wright

Dogs commonly suffer from occasional bouts of diarrhea. Diarrhea in dogs is not always a veterinary concern, but a dog owner should know when to call the veterinarian.

Dogs may develop diarrhea if they have eaten something they should have eaten, have contracted a viral illness, or they are experiencing a digestive intolerance to something in their food. Diarrhea is often the body's way of flushing out toxins.

The dog owner should contact the veterinarian immediately if there is blood in the diarrhea or the diarrhea lasts for more than a day or two. If the dog owner suspects that the dog may have ingested poison or there are other signs of illness such as vomiting or fever, the dog should be examined by a veterinarian as soon as possible.

It is a veterinarian emergency if the dog is struggling to breathe. If weight loss occurs or the dog doesn't seem to be able to relax or lie still, the dog owner should have the dog examined by the veterinarian as soon as possible.

If a puppy that has not received all of its vaccinations develops diarrhea, the puppy should be seen by a veterinarian. Diarrhea in puppies is often caused by intestinal parasites. If a dog frequently has bouts of diarrhea, a veterinarian should be consulted to determine the cause of the frequent diarrhea and recommend treatment.

The dog owner should take away the dog's food and water at the onset of the diarrhea. The dog owner should occasionally give the dog small amounts of water. By restricting food and water intake, the dog's digestive system may settle down.

If the diarrhea has gone away, the dog owner may begin to feed the dog bland foods such as a mixture of one third lean, cooked meat and two thirds cooked rice. Two options for the meat can be a chicken breast or a hamburger that has been patted with paper towels to remove excess fat.

The dog owner may want to add two or three tablespoons of plain yogurt the dog's food mixture. The plain yogurt can help replenish a healthy bacteria in the digestive system of the dog and help calm the digestive tract. The dog should remain on the special bland dog food diet for a few days.

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Is Diarrhea In Dogs Dangerous?

By Moses Wright

Diarrhea in dogs is a common occurrence. Though diarrhea and dogs is not always threatening to dogs health, the dog owner should know when to consult the veterinarian.

Eating something that upset their stomachs such as something from the trash, a viral or bacterial illness, or a digestive intolerance to something in the dog's food can cause dogs to have diarrhea. The diarrhea is often the body's way of expelling toxins from the dog's body.

If there is blood in the diarrhea or the diarrhea lasts for more than a day or two, the dog needs to be seen by a veterinarian. The dog should be taken to the veterinarian immediately if the dog owner suspects that the dog may have ingested poison.

It is a veterinarian emergency if the dog is struggling to breathe. If weight loss occurs or the dog doesn't seem to be able to relax or lie still, the dog owner should have the dog examined by the veterinarian as soon as possible.

Dogs that have frequent bouts of diarrhea or diarrhea in puppies that have not have all their vaccinations should be examined by a veterinarian. Intestinal parasites are a common cause of diarrhea in puppies.

When the dog first experiences diarrhea, the dog owner should remove the dog's food and water. By restricting the dog's food and water intake, the dog owner allows the dog's digestive system to settle down. Occasionally, the dog owner should allow the dog to drink small amounts of water.

When the dog is recovering from diarrhea, the dog owner should feed the dog bland foods. One recommended food for recovery after diarrhea is a mixture of two thirds cooked rice and one third lean, cooked meat. Examples of the lean, cooked meat can be a hamburger that is patted with a paper towel to remove excess fat or a chicken breast.

Two or three tablespoons of plain yogurt can be added to the dog's bland food mixture. The yogurt may help calm the stomach and replenish some of the healthy bacteria in the digestive tract. The special bland diet for the dog should be followed for a few days.

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How To Detect If Your Dog Has Allergies

By Jamie Kramer

Ok so what are dog allergies and why you should be concerned about them. For one, they can cause problems for your pets to the extent that they can be suffering quite a bit from it. This means you'll have to take them to the vet and that costs money and time.

Usually these problems arise from the fact that dog owners do not take remedy actions in the early stages of dog allergies. By the time the dog allergies have become serious, it usually takes quite a bit more to solve the allergies. So take heed. Here i will share a few quick tips on how to spot early signs of dog allergies so you can do something about it right away.

Alright let's look at food allergies. The most usual sign for dog food allergies is that your dog will scratch a lot. If you see your pet scratching, licking or even chewing themselves constantly, it is a pretty sure symptom of dog allergies. Some possible triggers for this kind of reactions can be the food they are eating. A quick way to test this out is to systematically remove each dog food ingredient until the symptoms disappears. This helps you to isolate the cause of the dog food allergies.

Another common type of dog allergies is something called Atopy. This is caused by allergy due to their surrounding environment. Certain dust mites, pollen or molds can trigger such kinds of allergies. Again, some of the symptoms are chewing and scratching themselves, specifically the paws and face. Some remedy actions you can take is to remove your dog from these environmental triggers.

If they are allergic to dust mites, be sure to take them out of that area where it is full of dust mites. Now, this may not be possible in some cases, where the allergens are in the house itself. For this situation, you can clean your dog by giving them more frequent baths with medically-approved shampoos. Boosting their immune system is also another feasible way to fight against the allergies. Feed your dog with an omega three rich diet.

Those are just a few quick tips and tricks you can utilize to help alleviate your dog of allergies. Remember the golden rule: Detect early and treat it when possible!

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A Primer On Feline Bladder Thickening

By Kate Rieger

When your cat gets diagnosed with feline bladder thickening, then they likely have a urinary tract infection previously that caused the thickening. What is feline bladder thickening, and what can you do to reverse it?

First, you will need to understand that this condition is not a disease, but rather a symptom. Even though it can lead to other urinary issues, it is not going to be life threatening on its own. However, it is still something that will need to be fixed.

When a cat has had a urinary tract infection and is unable to relieve the pressure, it will feel the constant need to urinate. Over time, if ignored, then this pressure will increase and the muscle walls of the feline bladder will become thicker. This will make it even more difficult for your cat to control urination. If this happens, it can become a serious problem because the toxins within the bladder need to be emptied regularly and completely.

Using steroids and drug therapy, as well as antibiotics is one of the best ways to alleviate bladder thickening in cats. The down side is that cats are very sensitive and will not often be able to tolerate the side effects of such medications.

Natural remedies are another way that you can treat this problem in cast. Herbs like Cantharis or Staphysagris have been clinically proven to help treat the infection as well as soothe the inflamed tissues. This will help heal the bladder so that the thickening of the bladder goes away completely. Luckily, since these treatments are completely natural, they are gentle towards your cat and will not have any side effects.

Make sure that your cat always has fresh, clean water at all times. Instead of giving them tap water that is full of impurities, use filtered water. The chemicals that exist in tap water can often alter the pH balance of the bladder, leading to more infections. Make sure your cat is drinking plenty of water. The more water they drink, the better diluted their urine will be, and the more likely that the cat will flush out toxins.

Feline bladder thickening is a symptom that can lead to further problems in your cat. It is important you treat this right away so that it does not become a bigger problem in the future. We all love our cats, which is why it is important to do everything we can for them.

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Live A Long Happy Life - But Only If You Have A Pet!

By Dave Vernon

Did you know that owning a cat can decrease your chances of having a heart attack by up to 30%? Studies have found that this simple solution can improve your health and decrease the risks of heart attacks and other diseases. Owning a pet can extend your life, so adding a kitten or puppy to your household can help you live longer. There have been reports of amazing feats by dogs and cats, but this is one that bears looking into.

While pets are good for any age, the aging population is particularly affected by pet ownership. When social networks begin to slow down, having a cat jump on your lap and ask for attention causes the owner to feel needed. The responsibility of caring for a pet also provides purpose. Once children have grown and moved away, it can keep the onset of depression at bay.

Owning a cat is good for your health. In spite of the annoyances that come along with pet ownership - the scratching of the furniture, the weekly litter box cleaning, and accidents you may have to clean up - studies have consistently shown lowered blood pressure and cholesterol. This is truer for cat owners than dog owners, although no explanation can be found. Pet owners are also more active, since they have to keep up with their animals needs. This provides a less sedentary lifestyle, leading to better health through physical activity.

Now we are not saying, just drop everything and go out and buy any old 'big eyed' dog or cat at the local shelter. There are some things that might detract from a happy experience if not taken into account. For instance, pets require special care such as flea and tick medication. Dogs need heart worm medication; accidents can require trips to the vet. Money is one of the biggest causes of stress in a person's life. So be sure the individual can properly care for their pet and not become stressed out over occasional costs. Food, litter, toys and proper enclosures can quickly pile up. If such matters can be accommodated then the benefits of pet ownership are well worth the investment.

Now if a person is stressed out because he or she is always busy and on the run, you might think twice before adding to that lifestyle. After all, it would not be fair to obtain a pet and then not have time to give it the care and time they need. After all, owning an animal requires time and affection on both sides. Dogs are like children, they need constant attention, especially if they are an only dog. Dogs will often not eat when their owner is not at home. So if you like long vacations and would not plan on bringing Fido with you, could cause health problems for your pet. Cats on the other hand usually take such things much better. Needed less personal attention they can be a better choice for a busier person.

Sometimes, it is more than health reasons that makes you want to take a pet in, it might be what they bring as your constant companion. The joy that an animal can bring comes from knowing you are loved. If you visit a shelter and find an animal that steals your heart, you can save the animal from death and maybe save your own life in the process. Saving two lives at once is something most pet owners don't think of initially, but sometimes that is what happens, when they decide to get a pet.

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Saturday, September 19, 2009

Does My New Puppy Need A Dog Bed?

By Jane A Moore

I got a very excited call from my friends the other day with big news. They just got a new puppy. They were at the mall at the pet store when they called, buying all the new stuff necessary for any new puppy owner - little collars, little leashes, puppy food, puppy treats, puppy vitamins, lots of toys, some puppy clothing. You know how new puppy owners are. What they wanted to ask me, since I have gone through the puppy stage with my dog, is whether they should buy a puppy-sized bed for their new puppy.

I told them to hold off on buying a dog bed. This doesn't mean I am not a avid proponent of dog beds. I am. However, I don't think it is appropriate for a puppy to use a dog bed. More accurately, I think it might be impossible for a puppy to be expected to stay in a dog bed. For at least the first 8 to 12 months in their new homes puppies need to sleep in a cage.

Once the puppy has grown up and you've made the decision to let your dog choose a different sleeping spot away from the crate, this is the time to choose a dog bed. Getting rid of the crate isn't a necessity - if you and your dog both like the crate, keeping a routine that is working is probably better than introducing new things. A crate actually provides a lot of security for dogs, and functions as their own little condo where they can feel like they have their own safe space.

So if you have already passed the puppy stage and your dog is ready for bed shopping, here are some things that you need to remember when you are trying to decide what type and size of bed to get for your dog. First, have you ever watched your dog when she is asleep - does she always curl up very small, or tend to stretch out and take up more space? Watch your dog for a few days so you know what kind of a sleeper they are, both during daytime naps and for full nights of sleeping. This will tell you whether you need a round curl up bed, or a bigger bed with more space, maybe even a mini mattress that fits your dogs size.

After figuring out whether your dog prefers to curl up against a wall, or whether they prefer more leg and paw room, you now need to find the size range that suits your dog the best. Again, watch your dog when they sleep, and this time take measurements of the space they occupy when they sleep. Do this at different times to see whether it changes - if in doubt, take the larger measurement. You can always add a cushion or two to take up extra room, but you dog won't be comfortable if the bed is too cramped. Once you have the final length and width sizes, add a few inches to each measurement, and take this shopping.

There are a number of other aspects to dog beds that could be considered such as construction methods, types of fill, baffled chambers, and quality of zippers, etc. All of these characteristics will get more attention in another article. However, if you are confident about the proper type of bed for your dog and the proper size of bed, then you are well on your way a choosing a great dog bed.

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