Posts Tagged ‘health’

Most dog owners regard their dog as one of the family. We want to do everything possible to keep our dogs healthy and happy. Learning about dog health is important for all dog owners - a healthy dog is a better canine companion and provides more enjoyment. Here are a few tips about dog health that can help keep your dog in top shape.

Proper Nutrition

Good health starts with dog nutrition. Giving your dog high quality food that has the proper nutrients is the best way to maintain the health of your dog. Poor quality food, on the other hand, can actually contribute to the deterioration of your pet's health. Cheap dog food is loaded with grains which have been overcooked so that your dog can digest them. This kind of food is not very nutritious so it has to be supplemented with vitamins and minerals.

Dogs are carnivores, so they need lots of meat. You can also give them vegetables and a certain amount of grain based dog food, but the bulk of their diet should be meat - high-quality meat. Pet food manufacturers are allowed to use meat from sick or disabled animals - all the meat that is "unfit for human consumption." This type of meat is used in the cheapest dog food, so it's worth it to buy the best food you can afford.

Getting Enough Exercise

The next step in maintaining dog health is exercise. Just like humans, dogs need plenty of exercise to stay in top shape. One of the great benefits of dog ownership is you can take your exercise together - going for a walk twice a day with Rover is a great way to keep in shape and get some fresh air.

One of the best things you can do for dog health is to keep him from becoming overweight. Many owners give their dogs too much food and not enough exercise. Overweight dogs are susceptible to all sorts of health problems and live shorter lives than slim dogs.

Preventing obesity in your dog is simple - don't give him too much food and give him plenty of exercise. Your veterinarian bills will go down and your pooch will be happier.

Prevention of Common Diseases

Even with the best of care, your dog may still get sick. Here are four of the most common canine diseases and what you can do to treat them.

Distemper is a deadly viral disease. Dogs can catch it from other dogs through contact with saliva, urine and feces. Symptoms include runny nose, coughing, sneezing, diarrhea and lack of appetite. If you notice any of theses symptoms, especially in puppies, take your dog to the vet immediately. The longer you wait for treatment the less likely it is that your dog will survive. There is a vaccine for distemper that will protect your dog and is given once year.

Rabies is a serious disease that affects the central nervous system. It is usually transmitted through bites from infected animals with symptoms appearing anywhere from 30 to 60 days after exposure. Rabid dogs can be hostile and are dangerous to handle. Dogs can be protected from rabies with an annual vaccination.

Leptospirosis is caused by bacteria and affects the kidneys and liver. The symptoms are vomiting, loss of appetite, runny nose, stiffness and a change in bowel and urinary habits. Dogs with leptospirosis can infect humans. There is a vaccine against this disease, and if your dog shows these symptoms take him to the vet immediately.

Canine hepatitis is another common disease that affects dog health. It is a viral disease that is spread through contact with saliva or urine of an infected dog. Hepatitis has similar symptoms to distemper with the addition of a high temperature and bloody stools. Take your dog to the vet if he shows as of these symptoms.

Canine hepatitis as well as all the diseases mentioned here can be prevented by annual vaccinations. It is important for dog health to visit your vet on a regular basis and keep up with vaccines.

Internal Parasites

Many dogs get infected with internal parasites at some point in their life. Internal parasites are commonly known as worms and come in many types. Roundworms can live in your dog's liver, heart, and lungs. They eventually find their way to the intestine where they eat the dog's food. Your dog will be show persistent hunger, have diarrhea and be bloated with gas.

Hookworm is another common parasite. These are very small but are usually found in great numbers. They can consume your dog's blood and cause anemia. Symptoms of hookworm infection are diarrhea, gas, and weight loss.

Worm infection is treatable and can be cleared up relatively easily. As with all matters of dog health, if your dog looks sick or uncomfortable, take him to the vet as soon as possible.

By addressing these areas of dog health you can pretty much ensure you will have a healthy dog for many years to come.

Jane K is a lifelong dog enthusiast with a family of four beloved dogs of her own which provide the inspiration for this site. To learn more about how to care for your own beloved dog ? visit her at http://www.simply-dog-care-and-more.com Or sign up for K9 Care News at http://www.simply-dog-care-and-more.com/news-letter.html to receive more tips and info on caring for your dog delivered right to your inbox.

When you first decide to bring a guinea pig into your home, you should be sure that there is a vet who specializes in small pet care in your immediate area. Many people may not consider the expense of veterinary care for other small pets like hamsters or gerbils who live an average of two years, but guinea pigs are not disposal pets. Because they can live on average 4-8 years, they should be considered long-term members of your family, just like a dog or a cat.

Why should you find a vet this early? Because guinea pigs can become ill quickly and deteoriorate rapidly. If you wait to try to find a vet after your pet becomes ill and run into difficulties, it might be too late to save your guinea pig.

With dogs or cats, owners generally take them in for a check-up when its time to renew their shots. Since guinea pigs don't need shots, it can be easy to take their good health for granted. Your guinea pig should see his or her vet at least once a year as well.

Not all vets will treat guinea pigs, so if you have a vet already who treats your other pets, you may want to ask him or her first about whether or not they will be able to care for the new addition to your family. If they don't, ask them to recommend a vet who does.

If you don't already have a vet, then you can check with your local yellow pages to find one. Most advertise that whether or not they accept small pets. Another option is to use an online vet finder, such as the one available at http://www.aracnet.com/cgi-usr/seagull/vetfinder.cgi. You simply enter your state, and a list of vets who work with guinea pigs will appear. This particular service is not comprehensive, but it will serve as a good starting point for your search for a vet.

Once you purchase your new family member, it might be a good idea to take him or her to your vet for a thorough check-up, especially if you will be bringing it home to other guinea pigs or pets.

As I mentioned above, a guinea pig can become sick quickly and things can go from bad to worse before you realize it. For that reason, it is important to always keep a watchful eye on your cavy because there are a few signs that should immediately alert you that your guinea pig may be sick.

Florian Ross is a freelancer and small animals expert. For more tips on raising Guinea Pigs and having them live 3 times longer, see http://www.pets-lovers.com/guinea-pigs/guinea-pigs.htm

Is the Russian Blue a smarter cat than the rest? It really is hard to tell. For the most part cats are unique but different breeds have special characteristics. The intelligence of any cat cannot be underestimated and some may be smarter than others. One of the best features of the Russian Blue is the fascinating green eyes. You can feel the gaze magnetically drawing you into the depths of the cat's personality. When the eyes lock onto yours, you feel as if the animal is talking directly to you. Many times you will find yourself answering the little beast.

This little trait is what make the breeders and owners swear up and down the cat can read their minds. Don't worry! You"re not going crazy it happens to everybody. Now let's compare the Russian Blue with more different cat breeds. How about the American Bobtail for instance? If you were walking along side a country road and you spied an American Bobtail, your first thought would be; you're looking at a real bobcat. Their most distinguishing characteristic is of course the all natural bob tail.

Your Russian Blue Feline will spend hours playing and bonding with members of their adopted family. Not only do they bond well with the family, but will blend right in with the other household pets. They have been known to chase after a ball or a favorite toy and return to the one playing with them. Their energy level is quite high and will remain high through out their life, as long as they are healthy.

An extremely important fact about the Russian Blue Cats is their hardiness and resistance to health aliments that other different cat breeds often fall prey to. The majority of breeders and those in the know contribute this to their genetic background.

As you can see the Russian Blue Cats and other different cat breeds have much in common. Each cats owner and breeder say they are the best and the most intelligent. No one can really truly know for sure but there is no doubt that the RB is very bright. Actually you will find out that the cats have conspired together to keep their loved ones on their toes. Until next time!

Jeff Parke is a writer and blogger who writes articles and blog posts specializing in pets, animal rights and animals in general. His caring for cats website is one of his many projects that he is passionate about. In addition to caring for cats he has written about fish, dogs and animal rights just to name some. Click one of those links to learn more.

I am sure you have thought about whether to have a pet insurance for your pet or not. will it be worth it in the end and will the insurance company even pay when an accident happen to your pet or will you be left with the bill and have nowhere to file a complaint?

Now you can never really avoid a situation like this but there are some specific things that you look into before you go into a deal with them and if you get the answers you're looking for then you are more likely to stand a fair chance when bad luck strikes and your pet needs treatment and medication.

In the paragraphs below I am going to tell you some simple but effective strategies that can help you find a pet insurance company that will be more likely to pay when your pet is in an accident and needs treatment. These are just the simple things and if you want more high level information, be sure to go check out my website.

The first thing to consider is whether you already know something about the pet insurance company's reputation. If you already know that they are not likely to be paying for any treatment without you having to pick a fight stay clear of them. It is not worth the effort.

After that you should seek to talk to some professionals. Vets will know a lot more about pet insurance companies than you might think. Every time a pet gets injured they will be involved in one way or another and they are therefore more likely to know who pays and who don't.

Now go check out online pet insurance reviews. There are a lot of great sites that will tell you what former customers think of the service that they got from the insurance companies. But be sure to read what is said between the lines as the most active reviewers will be people that didn't get what they wanted.

Finally I suggest that you call up the company that you are planning on purchasing pet insurance with. It will be of great value to talk to their customer support personnel to see whether they are treating you in a kind manor. You can even call them up and fake an accident to see how they react.

4 basic steps that will have a profound effect on what pet insurance company to sign up with. Now there are no guarantees that they are going to pay in case an accident do happen to your pet but as least you have given it a fair try. For additional information about pet insurance companies be sure to visit my website.

Mr. John Sommer, PhD. runs a very successful pet insurance website that focuses on helping pet owners get the most benefits from their pet insurance. Mr. Sommer has written several reviews of one of the largest pet insurance companies called VPI pet insurance and you will benefit from reading those reviews.

You might need a large dog harness for your working dog, or something flashy for a show dog, there are many good choices. Your pet harness should be purchased with it's desired use and your dog's breeding in mind. Any dogs collars and dogs harnesses are should be considered tools, you have to find the one that is fitting for your dog and its disposition. Then spend the correct allotment of time required for educating your dog . But for most dogs, a harness should be a safe and effective training accessory.

Using a harness for walking strong energetic dogs may seem hard to do but some modern harnesses feature elementary but clever techniques such as the front-attachment rings. When a dog pulls, it creates a small tightening or pressure around the chest and near the front legs. These mild but odd feelings stop when the dog stops pulling or lunging. Most dogs promptly associate pulling with uncomfortable sensations. When using this kind of harness, practice, in addition to positive reinforcement, is the key. If your aim is to train a large dog that pulls and lunges on a leash, seek out a training harness with a martingale-type closure that tightens when pulling and loosens up when the pulling ends and the leash relaxes.

If your dog likes water, or you live in a moist , humid climate, you'll want a more durable nylon harness. For a well-behaved dog that doesn't get wet very often, leather is a stylish , long-lasting choice. A reflective harness and leash set should be considered if you and your dog are walking after dark. Harness training, like all training, requires consistency and patience. Most owners that try harness training can expect satisfactory results.

For the gentle dog that only needs a walking harness, style might be your main consideration and there are lots of designer and fancy made harnesses to choose from. Well made dog harnesses are made from leather or nylon, with each material having many years of use . Some other features to consider are: padding, spikes, buckles, Velcro, front leash attachments or top of the shoulder leash rings.

When doing your research on a dog harness, make sure to take into consideration ALL the features you may require. Don't forget, just by choosing a harness, you're taking a step in the right direction that will be protecting your dog's health and well being.

When searching for a harness for dogs be sure to include this site. All the dogs harnesses here are top quality.

Why is pet grooming important? Whether or not you've got a cat of dog, pet grooming is a vital part of the hygiene and emotional well being of your animal. Doesn't feel sensible once you get your hair cut or nails done? Imagine not having the luxurious of choosing how and when you clean yourself. Your pets don't have that advantage. Certain they groom themselves with their tongue and paws, however without an opposing thumb they can not grab a scrub brush and wash their back or the ability to achieve exhausting to get at places. They need the care and love of their caregivers and pet grooming lets them apprehend that they're getting their needs met.

Read the rest of this entry »