Thursday, July 23, 2009

Prescription and Raw Diet For A Cushing's Dog

By Moses Wright

Cushings disease, also called hyperadrenocorticism, causes the dogs body to produce excess corticosteroids. Tumors on the adrenal gland or pituitary gland are common causes of Cushings disease in dogs.

Canine Cushings disease symptoms are increased appetite and thirst, increased urination, patchy hair loss, high blood pressure, and panting. The dogs skin is affected by Cushings disease. This condition can cause calcified lumps, thinning of the skin, and makes the skin prone to infections.

Blood tests are often used to diagnose Cushings disease in dogs. Treatments for Canine Cushings disease include medications and surgery to remove the tumor if that is the cause. Dogs diagnosed with Cushings disease have a shortened life expectancy even with treatment.

A special diet for a Cushing's dog may help alleviate some of the symptoms. The recommended content of a diet for a Cushing's dog is high in protein and low in fat. The diet for Cushings dogs should also be low in fiber and purine.

The Hills Prescription i/d diet dog food is sometimes recommended as a special diet for dogs with Cushings disease. Hills Prescription i/d diet is made to treat gastrointestinal disorders, but it is often used to as part of the treatment for other dog health disorders.

Some dog owners opt to help treat the dog with a raw food diet for a Cushings dog. Raw meat and vegetables are the primary ingredients for a raw diet for a dog with Cushings.

Many supplements and vitamins with antioxidants are marketed as treatment for Cushings disease, but a dog owner should consult the veterinarian before using these supplements. Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and selenium are antioxidants that are thought to improve the negatively impact Cushings has on the immune system.

The dog should always have access to fresh water which may need to be filled more often than usual due to the increased thirst. Foods that contain potassium are recommended. Potatoes with the skin, beans, and broccoli are high in potassium.

About the Author:

Sources Of Cat Food Coupons

By Moses Wright

With a troubled economy, many people look for ways to save money. Cat food coupons are a way for cat owners to save money on one of the expenses associated with cat ownership.

Cat food coupons are available from a variety of sources. A traditional source of cat food coupons is the Sunday edition of the local newspaper. Cat owners may find valuable coupons for cat food and other items.

One source of cat food coupons is through the websites of cat food manufacturers. A cat food manufacturers website may feature many offers for cat food coupons or cat food samples. If the cat owner requests a cat food sample, the sample may arrive with coupons as well.

Signing up for a free membership on the cat food companys website may be required to receive the cat food samples or coupons. The website may have clubs for cat and kitten owners. After signing up for these clubs, the cat owner may periodically receive cat food samples and coupons without having to request them.

Cat food companies often offer samples and coupons for new products. If a cat owner sees a new cat food product advertised, the cat owner should check the cat food companys website for a sample or coupon for that product.

If the cat food manufacturer does not have a coupon offer on their website, the cat owner may have some success of sending a request by email or regular mail for cat food coupons. The cat owner should be sure to include their full name and address in their request.

Coupon websites allow the websites users to select and print coupons. Cat owners can look for cat food coupons as well as coupons for other things they need.

Using a coupon does not save the cat owner money if the product is something that is not needed or if the cat food product goes to waste. A cat owner should not buy cat food in a flavor that the cat always refuses to eat just because they have a coupon. If the cat food goes to waste, the cat owner wasted money on the product even though they saved a little money at the time of purchase by using a coupon.

About the Author:

Diet For A Cushing's Dog

By Moses Wright

Cushings disease in dogs is also known as hyperadrenocorticism. Canine Cushings disease causes the dogs body to produce excessive amounts of corticosteroids. A common cause of canine Cushings disease is a tumor on the adrenal or pituitary gland.

Canine Cushings disease symptoms are increased appetite and thirst, increased urination, patchy hair loss, high blood pressure, and panting. The dogs skin is affected by Cushings disease. This condition can cause calcified lumps, thinning of the skin, and makes the skin prone to infections.

For the diagnosis of Cushing disease, the veterinarian may perform blood tests. Medications or surgery to remove any tumors may be recommended for treatment of the disease. Treatment does not necessarily lengthen the dogs life, but may improve the quality of the dogs life.

A diet for a Cushing's dog may help with the symptoms of Cushings disease. Any diet for a dog with Cushings disease should be low fat, low fiber, low purine, and high protein.

Hills Prescription i/d diet is formulated to treat gastrointestinal disorders, but it is also recommended for many other dog health problems including Cushings disease. Some experts suggest that the owner of a dog with Cushings disease avoid feeding the dog any manufactured food.

Dog owners may try to help treat their dog with a raw food diet of a Cushings dog. The recommendations for the main ingredients of a raw food diet for a Cushings dog are raw meat and vegetables.

Some vitamins and supplements are sold with claims for treating Cushings dogs. A dog owner should ask a veterinarian before giving the dog vitamins and supplements for Cushings. Antioxidants such as Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and selenium are thought to help a Cushings dogs immune system.

The dog should always have access to fresh water which may need to be filled more often than usual due to the increased thirst. Foods that contain potassium are recommended. Potatoes with the skin, beans, and broccoli are high in potassium.

About the Author:

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Pet Supplies for a Cause!


PetEssentialsDepot.com online pet store offers a huge selection of dog, cat, aquarium, bird, and small animal supplies. You'll find more than 15,000 high quality pet supplies at the best possible prices. Best yet, PetEssentialsDepot.com donates a portion of every sale to animal rescue shelters nationwide.

Help us help homeless pets when you purchase supplies for your pets at PetEssentialsDepot.com!

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Tips for House Training Puppy

by Dog Training Diva

When it comes to determining the best house training puppy techniques, you need to ask yourself a couple of questions. You as a trainer and your puppy need to be in unison. You also need to make sure that your puppy obeys you so that he or she does not bolt out the front door and put him- or herself in danger, howl from separation anxiety, or chew things like your favorite pair of shoes. If you have these worries in your life and you need some advice, welcome. This is the right place to get it. This article will cover not just how to house train your puppy, but will tell you one specific thing that will make doing this easier.

Many people have thought of the following after their new puppy has begun to act out inappropriately: - I'm pulling my hair out trying to house train my puppy - My poor dog gets so upset when I leave him alone that it's unbelievable. - My puppy ran out the front door again before I could stop him. He needs to be stopped!

These are some of the common comments that you will hear when people bring home a new puppy and set about trying to train them. Without the proper help, things can get pretty hairy around the house.

Knowledge is power, and when trying to house train a new puppy is no different. There are a ton of myths out there as to what works and what to do, but smart pet owners will search out videos, audios and books written by experts before attempting to house train a new pet. When it comes to house training puppy style, many people have looked to SitStayFetch, a dog training book that is extremely popular.

Written by author and professional dog trainer, Daniel Stevens, this book covers everything about dogs, giving you concrete reasons why puppies and doggies act the way they do and how to get the correct behavior from them in any given situation. He gives sound advice on everything from trying to correct behavioral problems to teaching your dog a new trick. Stevens answers all of your puppy training questions, and does it in a user-friendly, easy-to-read format that makes training much easier.

Many who had almost given up on House Training puppy were astonished by the results that SitStayFetch brought them. Many experts recommend it, including veterinarians; you care is just about everything, from excessive barking to separation anxiety, how to handle jealousy, and how to teach basic commands.

The book is 150 pages long filled with all sorts of dog training tips and methods that are used successfully by professional dog trainers. Now, you may not feel that when you take set out to house train, - puppy and person will find harmony.

This e-book makes the process much easier, because it lessens problems and makes life much more bearable for everyone involved, including humans and animals in the family. It also contains many testimonials; if you Google for "SitStayFetch," you will see that other sites have picked it up and are also writing a lot of positive reviews about this book. Those who own dogs love it and look to it to solve many problems. In fact, they use it in tandem with regular training efforts.

Your Dog Training Diva is the author of informative articles on dog training. Click House Training Puppy to find more about this subject and other dog behaviors.

Monday, July 20, 2009

Ragdoll Cat Breed Origins

by Ben Harper

The history of the Ragdoll cat breed is filled with controversy and myths. This cat's origins often contradict itself depending on who tells the story and some of the Ragdoll's story is simply ridiculous. Some of the breed's history is factual, for example we know the breed was founded in California during the 60s. The breed was started by Ann Baker, an eccentric woman that loved her cats. The very first Ragdoll cat belonged to Ann Baker and was named Josephine.


Ann Baker recognized a characteristic in Josephine and her kittens that became the defining feature of the breed. Ragdolls simply go limp when you pick them up and hold them. Ann Baker even trademarked the breed name so that anyone that wanted to breed the cats had to pay her a royalty. She founded the first registry for Ragdoll cats but eventually lost control of the breed partially due to her wild claims and erratic behavior.

This characteristic of going limp when held is where Ann Baker's wild stories come from. It all started when her cat Josephine was hit by car. On one account Ann Baker said she rushed Josephine to a nearby University to be treated for the accident. Ann Baker's story goes to to say that Josephine's DNA was altered and this is where the characteristic limpness comes from.

Ann baker made other wild claims, telling people for instance that her cats did not feel pain. She claimed the cats had been altered genetically and their DNA was actually a hybrid of aliens and cats. Look out x-files; alien cat hybrids have been hiding out in California since the 60s. Baker made other wild claims telling people the cats did not have fear and were hypoallergenic. She claimed that Ragdoll cats were the ideal pet for anyone suffering from allergies. When it comes to Ann Baker and the history of her cat breed, the stories she told are stranger than science fiction.

If you'd like more information about ragdoll cats, see Ben Harper's ragdoll cat website.

How to Keep your Dog Tick-Free

by Robert Thomson

Dog ticks are very common in dogs that are always in the woods or are always out on a hike. Ticks can affect other household pets so try to keep them apart whenever one of them is suffering from this condition.

While there are dog tick creams and lotions that do work in killing ticks, they rarely can physically eliminate them. Dead ticks end up still attached to your dog's hair, making them feel itchy and uncomfortable.


Removing dog ticks with tweezers is bad practice. There are different types of ticks and there are some species that can attach themselves to humans. Using tweezers alone don't really protect you from these parasites. Also, tweezers may burst the tick's body, thereby poisoning your pet even more. Certain dog ticks can cause blood poisoning and you definitely wouldn't want this to happen to your pet.

The best way to remove ticks from your dog is to use your hands. Of course, you have to be equipped with the right protection like surgical gloves and a long sleeved shirt. Put several sheets of newspaper on the floor and let your dog sit on it. Look for the ticks that have possibly found their way in your dog's body. If you do find one, slowly remove it with your hand. Pinch and then twist it in a counter clockwise direction while pulling outwards.

Don't apply too much pressure on the tick as its body could burst open. However, if you're having a hard time taking them out, add a little more pressure up until you can fully eliminate them from your dog's body. Once the tick is out, you have to dispose of it by crushing it within the pages of the newspaper. You can also put it on a bowl filled with bleach and then flush all of them in the toilet afterwards.

Ticks cause small wounds in dogs. Imagine them as blood-sucking parasites that permanently stick their mouth into your dog's skin. They take as much blood from your pet as they want. This is the reason why they are very hard to remove at times. And once you had taken them out, there will be small wounds to take care of. Clean and disinfect such wounds by applying antiseptic creams topically. Dettol and Germolene are good brands.

Ticks are in their prime during April to October. As such, you should minimize taking your dog out in the woods or open fields at this time of the year. Ticks love the warmer weather. The only time they can't thrive is during the winter days. If in case you really have to take your faithful dog for a hike during the summer, at least give it some protection from these parasites.

Natural tick repellants such as garlic and vinegar can help. Just a few drops added to your pet's drinking water would do the trick. Also, the commercially available anti-tick powders, creams, and oil, also work. Tick-repelling collars are widely available these days too. Be sure to attach it to your pet whenever you two would like to have fun under the sun.



DogTicks.Org: website and articles about dog ticks, the main causes of dog ticks and dog ticks treatments.