Archives for February, 2010
Owning a dog involves more than just feeding and walking him. Dog owners must provide a grooming routine to help keep their pet healthy and happy. Regular grooming at home and with a professional groomer is an important factor in the healthy life of any dog. Your kit should include brushes, combs, nail trimmers, pet shears, a pet trimmer or dog clipper, quality shampoo and conditioner specifically for your pet.
Right now, we will take a look at the dog clipper specifically. There are numerous models to pick from, ranging in different price brackets. From experience, I can attest that the lower the price of the clippers, the more disappointment will result. For a mid-level price, you can get a better quality clipper from a more recognized company, such as Andis or Oster, which will last a longer time and give you better results. Only use pet trimmers specifically designed for animals.
Maintaining your pet’s coat can be a daunting job. If you need help with how to properly trim, brush or clean your pet’s coat, ask your professional groomer or your veterinarian. You should be able to get some advice from your groomer in between their appointments. Regular grooming, both at home and with your professional groomer, will make the experience for you and your dog much more enjoyable.
WHAT TO KEEP IN MIND WHEN LOOKING FOR A PET CLIPPER * A price tag that suits you * Manufacturer - pet industry leaders * Variable speed options * The number of RPM’s, which will determine the quality of the cut * Weight of clipper (there are battery operated models that weigh only ounces…while the electric pet trimmers can weigh one pound) * What options are available for the blades and what does the manufacture have in terms of interchangeable blades * Choose between battery powered or electrical clippers
A pet trimmer ought to be of high quality, easy to handle and rather noiseless. Correct handling of the pet clipper will result in an even trim and a calming experience for your pet. Should you want assistance in how to handle the dog groomer on your pet, request a brief appointment with your groomer to get some instruction. We would sooner help you sustain your pet’s coat than for you linger too long only to have to totally cut off your pet’s coat completely.
Invest in a high-quality pet trimmer that will last a long time and make the task much easier.
Learn more about dog clippers. Stop by Babette Woodhouse’s site where you can find out all about professional dog clippers and what it can do for you.
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Feb 27, 2010 | | Dog Health
Mange is a skin condition that includes scabies, red mange, ear mite infections and cheyletiella which is caused by mites in mostly dogs and cats. The veterinarian can offer the right advice and provide the correct Mange Medicine for your pet.
There are many varieties of mites that adversely affect live stock, dogs and cats. Some of them even affect people and are a cause for concern. There are three mites that need to be checked by the vet since they may cause sever health issues for your pet and they are ear mites, Demodex mange mites and Sacoptic Mange mites.
Surprisingly, Mange can also be contracted by humans. The condition can get transferred to a human after having contact with an afflicted pet. Humans will experience the intense scratching and irritation in the same way as the pet does. Luckily, though, the infection will disappear in just a few weeks once the pet has been disinfected. The types of Mange that can affect humans are Sarcoptic Mange and Notoedres Mites.
It is important to treat these conditions as quickly as possible, as the discomfort can become quite severe. Seepage, scabs or boils may begin to appear as well as balding skin patches. If that happens, the vet will likely have to do a biopsy to check for other types of infections that may have developed.
The vet will need to give the pet periodic injections of Ivermectin for a up to four weeks. Bath your pet with dandruff shampoos and dab the affected area with insecticides recommended by the pet. The steroid cortisone and antibiotic creams would relieve the redness and itching.
The Demodex variation of the infection is not contagious, but you still want to get it checked out and treated as quickly as possible, because you run the risk of causing a secondary infection in your pet if you don’t. With Demodex, your pet will experience the same itching, irritation and discomfort as with the other types of Mange, so of course you want to relieve your pet from that in the fastest time.
Not all dogs and cats are affected by this mite but some of them are severely affected and this is caused by hormonal changes, suppressed immunity system or a genetic disorder. This disorder is seen mostly in pups going through hormonal changes and most animals recover from it without treatment.
Vets would recommend treatment to ensure safe recovery and that includes boosting the dog’s immune system with tonics and vitamins. Baths with a Benzoyl peroxide shampoo would help the pet.
Ear mites cause intense itching and discharge in the ear in dogs and cats. Cats are more sensitive to chemicals hence it’s important to consult the vet in how to safely treat the feline.
Homeopathic treatments are a popular choice for many pet owners and they can be a good choice for pets that have sensitivity to certain medications. But, again, the first course of action is to talk to your vet. Of course the most important thing is the proper care, nutrition and cleansing of your pet to help prevent him from getting any of the varieties of Mange ever again.
If your dog has mange and needs a remedy or medicine to help, you can find a mange spray. There are tons of mange medicine that you can find on the Internet that could help.
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Feb 26, 2010 | | Dog Health
You can find countless varied puppy training tips you can consider. It’s important to be aware that it may not be the puppy at fault here, understanding that instead you just could be educating the puppy incorrectly. In order to avoid this, it’s imperative that you decide on the effective puppy training tips that have proven to work. These are a few illustrations of puppy training tips that should work correctly.
Training a puppy to sit appears basic nevertheless it can in fact become rather tricky, especially if you are dealing with an older dog. Using this method you are able to say to them to sit whenever people are coming into your house and visiting you or any time you are at the vet seeking to keep them calm. One of the better puppy training tips calls for coaching your puppy with this specific ability, and to get started you need to have the puppy standing up. Then you need to say to them sternly to “sit” and make certain you repeat this command several times.
The reason behind this is to use repetitive commands to be able to induce the puppy to recollect plus associate the command with the right action. This kind of positive affirmation is going to tell them that they are getting rewarded for carrying out what they were told. Whether or not you utilize a clicking device, treat or toy the key point is that you give it to the puppy right away after they obey you. Wait until the puppy is over 6 months old which is when they can fully control their bowels, in case they do go to the bathroom inside your home you need to let them know quickly this is incorrect.
You really don’t need to employ a harmful reaction to try and teach the puppy, like sticking their nose in urine they may have left around the house. This is simply going to bring the puppy lower and make them upset which might actually cause a bigger challenge with potty training. It is also best to produce a timetable for the puppy, as they should be able to grow familiar with this. Feed them their meals at the same time daily and also take them out for a stroll about a half hour after each meal.
These are all useful puppy training tips that will actually get the job done and can help you coach your puppy to become well behaved plus a delight to be around.
Learn more about Puppy Training Tips. Stop by Julie Wilson’s site where you can find Puppy Training Tips and what it can do for you.
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Feb 26, 2010 | | dog training
Are you ready for Puppy Training 101? To get started, you will need three targeted pieces of equipment to properly teach your puppy: a training collar, a leather training lead, plus a 15-foot length clothesline rope
If you’re already considering that your puppy’s current leather dog collar will work, and that his 4-foot chain lead will probably be all you need, you may as well end reading this article and save yourself as well as your puppy weeks of uncomfortableness plus hardship. There basically is no substitute for the right training equipment. A training collar is really a slip-chain type constructed of metal. You should not substitute one that’s made of nylon.
One of the numerous things an individual’s puppy will almost certainly understand is to have assurance in you. However he will never develop that feeling of trust in the event you substitute inappropriate training products that are not efficient. When there’s no confidence there can be no respect, and no respect means no want to please. No need to please indicates no enthusiasm to learn. Add them all up and you have got an unmanageable puppy which will never realize his rightful place in the human world.
The Proper Leash
Your leash should be of the regular five to six foot leather type with a hand loop at one end. Training collars and leather training leashes are available at pet shops and via online catalogs. Training collars are sometimes called choke-chains, which is incorrect. While it’s true that a training collar can choke, if it’s worn on the puppy correctly and used properly, there’s no way it can be a choke-chain and cause harm to your pet.
The Right Collar
The collar should be large enough to slide over the puppy’s head comfortably, but not so large as to fall over the ears if the puppy should lower his head. A good rule of thumb to follow is to place the collar on the puppy and cinch it up tight for a moment and observe whether you have three inches of chain left over. If so, you have a fairly good fit. It is better to have a training collar that’s slightly too large than one slightly too small.
Final Puppy Training Necessities That You Cannot Find In A Store
The remaining equipment that you’ll need cannot be purchased at any store, but without them, you cannot successfully train your puppy.
You must love and care for your puppy! You must have patience and exercise patience while your puppy is learning. A shallow patience put together along with a quick temper is going to assure complete and utter fiasco
To lose your cool and blow up means the end of training, so here’s a little tip that might help you keep your cool:
It takes 4 to 5 days for an average puppy to learn the average thing. Do not expect your puppy to perform like a professional the first few days of teaching him something new. It just doesn’t happen that way. In the event you lose control of yourself, you’ve lost control of the actual scenario. When this happens, your puppy loses confidence in you.
I hope you have enjoyed the first lesson in Puppy Training 101!
Looking for Puppy Obedience Training, then visit www.thepuppytrainingschool.com to find the best advice on Puppy Training 101 for you.
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Feb 25, 2010 | | dog training
When looking to buy a dog cage it can be quite confusing as there are so many different dog cages out there to buy. There are numerous to choose from such as the large, heavy duty travel cages, to the smaller, cute, decorative types that look more like a piece of furniture.
You will probably find one of the most popular and cheaper types are the wire cages. These are easy to service and are often used for crate training and travelling. One slight disadvantage is that they do not really provide a quiet retreat for your dog as they are open on all sides. This can be easily solved by placing a blanket over the cage.
On of the more popular choice amongst pet owners is the soft dog cage. They look cute and are often in bright colors, so pet lovers adore them. However, they are not ideal if you dog likes to chew things or if he is going to grow much bigger. If your dog is not a chewer, you will find them quite durable.
The wicker dog cage is one of my favorites which will quite easily complement living room furniture. If you are looking for something that will be mostly used indoors, these are a good choice. As with the soft cages, the wicker types are mostly suitable for the smaller dog.
For transporting dogs in vehicles, one of the most popular types used is the plastic dog cage. They have vents at the sides and top and a door at the front. They cost a bit more than the other types, so if you are going to invest your money it is worthwhile getting one that is airline carrier approved. I find this type of cage better fro travelling in cars than the wire type.
When considering what type of cage is most suitable it is important to also consider the size of your dog and his habits. If he is large and a chewer, I would recommend a hard plastic dog cage, especially if he is going to be spending a lot of time in the cage.
Whatever you decide upon, remember that a dog will see his cage as his new home which should be a place that his quiet and provides him with security.
Fran writes numerous articles on pet dog cages and about the safety aspects of dog cages to keep your pet safe whilst traveling.
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Feb 24, 2010 | | dog training
As pet lovers, is there anything we love more than dogs? What more could one want than a playful, sweet, loyal friend that will love you until the day you die? But some people may find it harder to cuddle up to man’s best friend. Dog allergies cause problems for thousands of people. In fact, 15% of the population suffers from pet allergies. Some are even forced to find a new home for their dog because of intensified allergies. While this may be a solution to dog allergies, it is not a realistic solution to this problem.
Allergens from Dogs find their origins proteins from three sources; Dander (shed skin cells,) saliva, and urine. Allergic reactions in people to these causes usually happen if they have over active immune systems. Notice that hair is not in the list. A well-known myth is that hairless dogs will not cause reactions. While they do produce far less allergens, in the case of shedding skin cells, you can’t really stop a dog from slobbering and going to the bathroom. Typically symptoms are normal allergy symptoms that everyone is used to, such as itchy eyes, a runny nose, shortness of breath, red itchy skin or a rash. While these can be annoying, there are many ways to mitigate them to make them less problematic.
A clean home is the best defense against dog allergies and allergens. Vacuuming every week or so, buy furniture that doesn’t absorb allergens, avoiding clutter, and running air purifiers will reduce the amount of dander floating around in your house. Bathing your dog will also flush out anything festering in the fur. Just remember to also wash your dog’s bedding as well, or else that bath won’t do any good.
Or take the easy way. Many companies make products that reduce allergens. Special shampoos can help reduce dander on a dog without drying the skin. Start learning some new habits and you’ll be decreasing dog allergies in not time at all.
Of course, if the allergies are too bad, consulting with a professional may be your best bet. Some strong medication is out there, both prescription and over the counter, that can mitigate the runny noses and itchy eyes. For extreme cases, you can get allergy shots, which are a good idea if you have bad allergies in general. Kicking your dog to the curb should be a last resort.
More information can be found about dog foods that are hypoallergenic. You can also find out about brands of hypoallergenic dog food.
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Feb 23, 2010 | | Dog Health
Dogs are instinctively born to eat a diet of raw meat just like their mammal cousin the wolf. In the dog food industry it’s known as a BARF diet or bones and raw food diet. The dog’s earliest ancestors were capable predators.
Pretend releasing your dog into the wild. After a time, his predatory instinct would kick in and he would hunt, kill and consume his prey just to survive.
Experts would argue that feeding your dog raw meat is how a dog is meant to eat. Dogs today are mostly domesticated and most owners are not always fully aware of the best possible foods they can be giving their pet. A dog’s daily food intake should include raw meat and vegetables. If inclined, in addition to dry or canned dog foods.
A raw diet consisting of raw meat provides your dog with the essential nutrition he needs to stay healthy. If your dog consistently ate a diet of raw meat rather than over processed or over cooked foods, then his immune and digestive systems would become significantly healthier.
There will be be a noticeable increase in the quality of your dog’s general health including his: skin, coat, breath, eyes, and teeth and gums. Also, your dog will be noticeably more energetic and develop a happier disposition.
Animal researchers are discovering an emergence of diseases and other serious medical conditions manifesting in dogs and cats that have not been seen in a long time. Some believe that it could be the lack of essential nutrition that a raw food diet could be providing your pet.
Many dog owners feel their pets are okay eating a diet of over processed dry and canned pet foods. In reality, although your dog maybe getting enough to eat, he/she maybe starving for nutrition because they are not getting the proper foods.
Most pet owners are concerned about giving their dog or cat raw meat due to a preconceived notion that the meat may have parasites and/or bacteria. Parasites and bacteria don’t affect animals the same way as humans; therefore you should at least consider looking into providing your pet a raw meat diet.
If you’re like most dog owners, you want your dog to live a long healthy life. If that’s the case, then you really need to consider providing your dog some of what he/she would typically eat in the wild. Preparing a BARF diet is really not hard to do - just ensure you provide your dog a careful selection of raw meat and vegetables daily. If you’re willing to do some research, you can find some great tips on feeding your pet a BARF diet.
Find out more about BARF dog food for your animal or just want some free information on a raw dog food diet then go to www.barfdogfood.info
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Feb 22, 2010 | | Dog Food
Are you concerned about your canine friend? Both seasoned and new owners often have some dog health questions. Here are some of the most commonly sought after subjects.
What vaccinations does your dog need? Around the ages of six to eight weeks, pups should be given shots to protect against these often fatal diseases: adenovirus, parainfluenza, distemper, parvovirus, and rabies. Bordatella is also recommended though it is not usually fatal. Boosters should be given every one to three years respectively as a dog ages. Rabies shots, however, are required yearly by law. There are also vaccines available for problems associated to the different regions you live in.
How do you deal with worms? Well, there are many different kinds of worms your pet can pick up, and some can even be passed to us humans. If you see anything that looks like white rice or anything moving in your dog’s stool, you should get it to the vet. They will do a fecal exam and then de-worm accordingly. Have this done regularly at their yearly exam. Also, put your canine on heartworm prevention because it is fatal.
How can you control fleas and ticks? The best way to keep your pet free of parasites that feed from them is a topical preventative that is applied monthly. It goes right onto the fur. Should your dog be incessantly scratching or you see fleas on them, give them a flea dip. Ticks carry diseases and should be removed promptly and carefully and flushed. Use a flea killing spray throughout your home to rid them from the premises as well.
Have you checked for fleas and your dog is still scratching? He may have allergies to something that is around the yard or the house. Ear mites could also have settled in his ears and cause him to constantly itch. See your veterinarian if you suspect either of these problems. The last conclusion is that it could be just dry skin. This is especially true in the cool months. Find a shampoo made from tea tree oil or oatmeal to soothe his skin.
What type of diet is best for your dog? The best food for your dog is always going to be dry food. It is packed with nutrients while canned food has more water content which can cause problems with the teeth and gums and cause your dog to become overweight. Canines that live off kibble have less problems with their teeth, gums, and obesity than those that do not. When you choose your kibbles, be sure that there is real meat. The first words on the nutrition label should not be wheat or corn or meat byproducts.
Does your older canine have trouble walking? If he is stiff-legged and slow to move, he may be arthritic. Senior dogs all hit this problem at some point. It is caused by the cartilage between the bones wearing down and creating friction in the joint. Difficulty getting up is a sure sign. If you have certain breeds like a German Shepherd or Siberian Husky, your vet should check for hip dysplasia.
Whether you have owned many dogs or this is your first, there are dog health questions that we all wonder about. Now you know how to feed your dog and take care of fleas! Always consult your vet before using any treatments on your four-legged buddy.
If you want to get some FREE answers to some of the more common dog health questions, then please click on any of these given links: dog health questions dog health questions in the world
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Feb 21, 2010 | | Dog Health
Growing up minus the company of a well-loved pooch because of overbearing parents is not something worth looking back on. Even if they do have valid concerns such as filthy and flea-infested playmates, it is still a pathetic reason. Other kids were able to have their experience of a lifetime with their favorite dogs and that is something extraordinary. So, if you want your kids to lead a much happier life compared to yours, get a pet dog to be their reliable friend and companion as they grow old.
There are so many considerations to choose from when deciding to get a pet. You have to put into perspective the other occupants of the household, if there are any, the size of your house and yard, the breed of the dog and the possible maintenance cost.
Read on as this article spills the details in each factor. Hopefully, this will help you greatly in your quest for the perfect dog.
If you are a single guy or girl, then you won’t have to think of other people’s opinions about what dog to get. However, if you have a wife or kids, that’s a different matter altogether. Their opinions should be factored in so that you can make the best choice for the whole family. They can help you see clearly all the advantages and disadvantages of getting a particular dog. Collaborate with them in a harmonious manner.
Second, the size of your house and yard must be assessed. If you have a small place, a small dog should be your pet. They do not require a humongous place to play around in. If you provide them with a small dog house, they won’t complain. This is not the case for guard dogs. They want a huge area where they can run and play to their heart’s content. If they can’t stretch their lean limbs and torso every single day, they will feel bad and get depressed. This would cause mayhem because they may throw temper tantrums. You don’t want this to happen, right? Therefore, be wise enough to know what is good for your dog.
Third, find a dog whose breed matches your personality. You should spend hours of deliberation with regards to this issue. Remember that each breed has its share of quirks that must be taken into consideration. If you like small and furry animal friends, toy dogs like a Japanese Spitz and poodle are the perfect choices. You may also want to include terriers and pugs in your list of possible options. They are playful and need constant attention so someone who is enthusiastic will get along well with them. Authoritative figures are best suited for German shepherd, Pit-bull and Rottweiler. They need to be disciplined and controlled so they are definitely not for the faint of heart. They require an individual who can force them into submission when they are still young so that they will grow up as well-mannered adults.
Fourth, if you don’t have tons of money to splurge on the pooch’s maintenance cost, just get one that’s easy to take care of. This means that furry animals requiring weekly grooming care are a no-no. The same rule applies to exotic kinds like Alaskan-born Siberian huskies, who need really cold environments in order to survive.
Exercise prudence and patience in selecting the dog of your choice. More often than not, you will be together for a lifetime so it is imperative that you get the best one.
Did you know that missing knowledge about insurance and pet health is one of the reasons for many pet illnesses? The second biggest problem is that pet owners think that discount pet medication is equally beneficial compared to normal top notch medicin. They are wrong.
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Feb 21, 2010 | | Dog Food
The master is who takes care of the health of the dog and it’s a hard task to take, but that’s the responsibility of owning a dog. Watching out for health problems in your dog is a must in order to obtain a good healthy pet. If you do not pay close attention to the health of your friendly pet, it could have you paying lots of money and this is another reason why it’s important to remember the responsibilities of taking care of a dog. When you find that your pet has a health problem, you will need to take them to the vet. Dog health problems can vary between bodily problems and skin problems. Within this article, I am going to discuss how to avoid certain dog health problems.
You should take note that certain breeds of dogs are more prone to certain health problems. Take the pit bull as an example, they are more prone to having hip dyspepsia while the boxer is more prone to having eye problems. As we continue this article, we are going to tell you what to do for all breeds of dogs. That’s right, this article is for Pit Bulls, Boxers, Rottweilers and even those small critters.
Making sure that your dog is well trained will keep him happy and healthy. By properly training your canine, you will make him smart and smart dogs have a habit of staying healthy. If you care about your dog’s well-being, you will begin his training as soon as possible. You should begin by leash training him and teaching him his name. By doing this, you will have more control of him which will allow you to keep your canine out of trouble. Teaching your canine that the road is a dangerous place would also be adviseable because many innocent dogs have died on the road.
If your canine has a health issue, you need to look for a vet that can resolve any problems your dog may have. Your dog can have many health problems and one of the major ones is heart worms. Heart worms can have your canine going through a difficult time as they get older and more than likely not make it through. So, if your beloved canine is coughing, this could be a sign of heart worms and needs to be looked at by a vet. Fortunately, there are various ways to prevent heart worms that will allow your dog to live a long and healthy life. If the heart worms are detected too late (heart worms have spread throughout the body and grew all over the heart), then your four-legged friend may lose his life.
You should keep an eye out for health problems that are the most common. These problems can involve fleas and ticks. To prevent ticks and fleas from infesting your dog, you should look into purchasing one of the many popular flea and tick prevention products. There might also be parasites and bugs which can also have a detrimental effect to your canine. Parasites can feed on your dog and leave it weak. They can also cause heart problems.
When a dog has problems with his skin he can be left with mange. Mange is a common health problem that is found in dogs that spend a lot of time in the outdoors and don’t take baths on a regular basis. Most dog health problems occur because you are neglecting them or not visiting the vet enough.
Some dog health problems such as bone problems can be difficult to avoid. Many canines with hip problems and other problems with their bones will have a difficult time when they get older. They will not have an easy time moving around and they will have to endure some pain. The best thing a veterinarian can do to alleviate the pain is to give them pain medicine and/or joint supplements.
You should make sure that you provide your dog with the right type of health supplements and/or vitamins. Your pet needs to have nourishment. You will be able to improve his health by giving him some dog health supplements and/or vitamins. However, you need to make sure that you are dealing with the brand of supplements and/or vitamins that are tested. In order to know if they are trusted, you will need to speak with a reliable veterinarian on this subject. If you give your dog the incorrect supplements and/or vitamins, it could have negative effects on his health.
I highly recommend you see that your dog gets a good amount of exercise. There are some dogs that are not so active, but they still need to be exercised. When you exercise your dog, you are strengthening their stamina as well as preventing them from becoming overweight. When it comes to the type of exercises for your dog, it all depends on the breed you have. You will be able to ask your vet for some assistance on this issue.
Just as human beings need to get vaccinated, so does your dog. This is why you should pay attention to his vaccination schedule. There are vaccinations that can prevent infections and viruses from destroying your canine’s health. Some of these vaccinations may require a follow up either a couple of months or a couple of years later as your canine grows up.
It is important that you take your four-legged friend to the vet each year. The vet will check him or her over and at this point, if you have any dog health questions, it would be the best time to ask. The experience and knowledge of your veterinarian will help you understand your dog’s health a bit better. So there you have it. How to avoid your dog’s health problems all has to do with you and how you care for him.
For more information about some of the more common dog health problems, please click on any of the given links: avoid dog health problems dog health problems
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Feb 20, 2010 | | Dog Health