Archive for December, 2009

The Problem of Dog Fleas

Getting rid of fleas is a burden of pet ownership. Unless you are extraordinarily careful and extraordinarily lucky, all pet owners will be faced with some degree of flea issues. Flea infestations can be minor or can quickly develop into something major. The treatment of the problem differs depending upon on quickly you catch the problem.

The best way to deal with dog fleas is to prevent dog fleas. However, even with the best of intentions and discipline, our pets will at some time come into contact with fleas. The most effective way to deal with fleas is to take a multi-pronged approach. First, you must get rid of the fleas on your pet, Secondly, you must rid the immediate environment of fleas to prevent immediate re-infestation. Lastly, you must re-double your efforts towards flea prevention.

Thankfully, ridding your pet of fleas has gotten easier. There are now readily available products that can be applied to your pet’s coat. These products, including Frontline and Advantage, can rid your pet of fleas within 2-3 days. You simply apply a small amount of the solution to the back base of the animal’s neck. With natural scratching and licking your animal will spread this solution around their entire body. The solutions are non-toxic and very effective.

There are also ways to get rid of fleas naturally. More common methods include rubbing olive oil on to your pet’s skin. Working from the head to the tail, the olive oil drowns the fleas. Of course, this method can prove to be expensive for larger animals. A similar method uses baby powder or talcum powder.

It is vitally important to rid your environment of fleas. Failure to get fleas out of your home will result in consecutive flea infestations on your pet. Fleas will be living everywhere your pet has been. That means attention must be paid to every bed, every sofa, and every carpet that may have played host to even the briefest pet nap. Be methodical. Start with the bedding and work your way to the living spaces of your main floor. The more effort you put into cleaning your home, the more likely you will be successful in solving your flea problems.

Once you have eliminated fleas from your pet and your home you can think about taking steps to prevent further flea problems. There are commercially available flea prevention solutions and natural flea prevention solutions. Adopt whatever flea prevention tactics you are most comfortable with and which you will apply diligently. Preventing fleas is a lot easier than getting rid of fleas.

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Dog nutrition for the senior dog

Your senior dog’s life can be extended with a well planned diet. Life can become quite hard work for your dog as he gets older.

Dog nutrition for a senior pet will include purchasing brands of dog food that contain antioxidants, essential fatty acids and other beneficial ingredients which are available in our Hills Science plan at Hills Pet UK.

As your pet dog grows older, his dog health may become affected in various ways. The main areas that are usually affected are his liver and kidneys.

This can become noticeable when a dog is losing weight at an alarming rate.

Take action straight away by visiting your local vet and asking about dog nutrition and of course the right amount of exercise required at this time in his life.

Dogs at their senior time in life may be happy with the amount of food you are giving him and that is great. Do not cut back on dog nutrition; allow him to eat the amount of food that satisfies him. You can provide good essential foods as a treat such as fish and poultry as they are easily digested.

It may be that your vet recommends you help with dog nutrition in your dogs pet food with added vitamins such as Vitamin E and C. These vitamins are great for stopping mental deterioration. However, it is more important that your dog has plenty of fresh drinking water at all times. Here are three more tips:

• Allow him a little amount of fat mixed in with his food to start his bowels working again

• Fruit and vegetables in small quantities are a natural way to give your dog valuable antioxidants

• Fish oils which can be included in a dog nutrition are full of essential omega 3 fatty acids to protect his brain cells. Fish oils also make a valuable contribution in preventing pain in old dog’s joints

The Article is written by hillspet.co.uk providing Dog Health and Dog Nutrition Products. Visit http://www.hillspet.co.uk for more information on hillspet.co.uk Products & Services___________________________
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12 Rules For Being A Good Dog Owner

It’s not only your dog who requires good behavior and discipline, but as a dog owner, you do too. Owning a dog is a lot of fun. But don’t forget that it’s also a big responsibility. It isn’t all fun and games. Caring for another living being, such as your dog is important. Please don’t take this responsibility lightly.

As a dog owner, you are directly responsible for your dog. It’s within your power to give your dog a healthy and happy life. Don’t take this responsibility lightly.

You can learn to be a great dog owner if you follow these 12 easy steps:

01. Obey the laws concerning your dog. Make sure to obey all vaccination, clean-up and leash laws.

02. Spend time with your dog. At least a half hour a day will help your pet to be happy and not feel lonely.

03. Know about the importance of spaying or neutering your dog. Learn more about it before you make any decision.

04. Give your dog the best veterinary care you can afford. Don’t forget yearly check ups, dental check ups and vaccinations.

05. Give your dog lot’s of exercise. It’s important for his health and wellness.

06. Get your dog’s papers in order. Make sure he has the proper license and ID tags. It’s also a good idea to get the implant chip for your dog. If he is lost, you can find him more easily.

07. You receive unconditional love from your dog. Treat him the same way. Be good to your dog and never beat or hurt him. Treat your dog with loving kindness and be a good friend to him.

08. To reduce the chance of illness and infection, always clean up properly after your dog.

09. Bond with your dog by grooming him several times per week.

10. Make sure your dog is getting the proper nutrition. Give him the best food you can afford.

11. Teach your dog to be social and get along well with others. Take him to areas where there will be other people and dogs around, like a park.

12. Your dog needs and wants training. Giving your dog the proper training will let you know how much you care for him.

These rules for dog owners will help you to give your dog a well balanced life. You’ll have less behavioral problems and you and your dog will be happy.

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If you’ve begun to notice that your dog is having a hard time getting around the house because of natural aging, then it’s only human nature for you to want to be able to help your dog have a more comfortable environment.  This can be done in a number of ways, and there are plenty of dog products that you can buy to help make your aging dog more comfortable in their home environment.

One thing to keep in mind is how well your dog is sleeping at night.  This is perhaps one of the most important activities of your aging dog’s life since a good night sleep is very important in regaining the strength they need in order to get through the day without any issues.  A good dog be will help your dog get the sleep that he or she needs and should provide enough cushion to be soft, but still have some firmness to keep them from moving around too much while they sleep.  One of the more popular types of dog bed on the market today is the memory foam which helps keep your dog comfortable at night since it seems to adapt to your dogs body while he or she sleeps.

Another item that can help make your aging dogs life much easier is a dog ramp which will help your dog get to certain spots that he or she enjoys without having to do too much jumping.  This will make it much easier on his or her joints since they won’t have to jump up and down to get to those spots that they love.  Ramps are a great item to have if you want to make your aging dog’s life a little less stressful.

If you notice that your dog does have problems jumping up and down, or even getting up from the laying position, he may be experiencing joint pain or soreness.  Providing a ramp to eliminate jumping in many situations can be helpful, but you may need to provide some additional comfort.  This can be accomplished with joint care supplements, which help soothe your dogs joints and relieve the pain that they are feeling.  Joint care supplements are meant to provide temporary relief and should not be used as a permanent medication.  For specific questions or concerns, it is best that you contact a veterinarian for the best answers.

Your aging dogs life can be stressful as it is, so these few tips can at least help make your dog’s life a little more comfortable and enjoyable.

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Best Puppy Training Secrets

Ever since the beginning of time, dogs have been the most preferred choice as pets by most households. Many have proven that they are proficient, steadfast, smart and trainable in diverse farm duties and simple household tasks. They can be charming and submissive to their owners but vicious to total strangers. These qualities make them an ideal escort for those who are single in life as well as to couples who are just planning to start their own brood. Babies to older adults will not have a hard time adjusting to their presence.

A lot of the dog’s behavior has something to do with his breed and training in his days as a young pup. Since you can’t do anything anymore about a dog’s breed because it is an inherent part of his personality, you just have to make sure that he was trained well in his younger days so that you won’t be experiencing any attitude problems when he is already a full grown adult. So the next time you want to get a new puppy as a pet, here are some of the well-kept secrets of puppy training that you should know in order to have a well-behaved pet in the future.

The first thing that you have to do is to make your pet feel secure in your company. Spend some quality time by playing with him after you have gotten home from your office. This process will ensure that you have established a good rapport. It’s a no-no to start implementing difficult tricks that would boggle his mind because it will not lead to any learning. After making your pet comfortable, slowly impose discipline by taking away his comfortable lifestyle.

Chain him, put him in his kennel or place him inside a crate to show that you mean business. At first, they might get a little noisy and howl until the wee hours of the morning, especially if they have been previously used to a very free lifestyle. Try to be immune to this kind of suffering. Sooner or later, they will realize that all their whimpering will have no effect on you. This will inculcate the fact that you are the boss and your orders must be followed strictly down to the last letter. It won’t be long before they get used to this set up and will look forward to your arrival.

Second, teach him a simple trick followed by a treat. The treat could come in the form of a small chewable bone or a piece meat. Just like the classic conditioning method by renowned psychologist Ivan Pavlov, they will learn to associate the new trick with food. This will stroke their interest and whet their appetite for more food.

Third, you can go the opposite direction and make your dog realize the power of negative conditioning. This is done by imposing the words no, stop and don’t in the training process. Use a powerful voice if possible. An example would be catching him rummaging through the garbage. So the moment you see him, say stop out loud and give him a slight slap on the tail area.

Fourth, you have to be consistent. When you give a reward or punishment, make sure that it is commensurate to the good task or the bad behavior. Variety is something that needs to be avoided like the plague in this situation because your dog will get confused if you can’t follow through with the initial rules you have set. The same rule applies to all the people in your household including your wife and kids.

Lastly, give plenty of alternatives. If there are chores that your dog can’t easily do as told, like not peeing on the plant, then provide another option like giving him a pee box. This will shift his attention and result to a more favorable attitude. Don’t be such a strict disciplinarian all the time that you will take the fun out of this training exercise. Have fun with your pet dog.

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What a wonderful thing it is to have a new baby coming home but having a dog can raise questions on what to do with a dog and a new baby. A lot of people give their dogs away to shelters because they are afraid that having a new baby will cause the dog to get jealous and the baby will be harmed. But there are things that can be done to reduce the chance of a problem. Many families are having success in introducing their dog to the new member of the family.

Having your dog introduced to the new baby is a process and it takes some time and a lot of care to make sure things go well when the baby comes home to meet his canine family member.

Having your dog prepared for the baby’s arrival in advance is a good way to avoid problems when the little one comes home from the hospital. Your dog is used to being the center of attention in your family but now with the baby coming home things have changed a bit for you. There still will be some jealousy between the two. He(the dog) used to be the center of attention but by taking some precautions like a few extra minutes of time with the dog and treats and the treats will help a lot in this type of training.

You should take the dog to the vet a few months before the new arrival. You want him checked out for any thing that could cause a problem for the baby. Also, if the dog has not been spayed or neutered now is the time to do this.

If you have friends that have babies have them come over to your home and let the dog get use to smelling babies. Keep an eye on any dog and baby interaction to make sure things are going well. Watch how your dog interacts with any little ones.

You know how nice little babies smell. Dogs like to smell things so take the baby items you have and let the dog smell them. Put baby powder, lotion on your hand and let them sniff it. So that your dog will remember it. Bring your dog into the changing room and sniff around there to get accustomed to the new surroundings and new items and smells. Also bring home any clothing you have of the baby before the baby comes home so the dog can smell that too. So when the baby comes home the smell won’t be so new to him.

Play baby music around the house. There are CD’s out there that have the sound of babies on it. But one precaution is not to allow your dog to sleep on the babies furnishings or play with the babies toys. If you do the dog may think that it is his and not the babies items.

So make it a happy and joyful experience for you and your dog and the new baby.

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Nowadays, more and more people become environmentally aware that’s why there is an increase demand for organic food. And many people realize the bad effects of taking too much commercial food to their health. Therefore, there’s a lot of them have altered their lifestyle particularly to their eating habits and diet. They change their daily meals from an unhealthy diet to organic food intake.

Many people who relate their eating habits to organic food can testify that they improve their immunity to some widespread diseases and improve their skin complexion.

The health benefits of eating organic seem to have an enduring effect on people who consistently follow an organic diet. This trend had eventually persuaded some dog owners who went out feeding their dogs with organic dog foods, as well.

Recently, the demand and sales of organic dog food had surprisingly increased in number. Maybe, dog owners understand the negative effects of feeding their dogs with commercial dog food, to the extent that preservatives-packed foods are unfavorable to the health of human beings.

This environmental campaign of people these days was a product of their desire for a healthy living. For dog lovers, it is true that the ordinary dog foods available in the market are not the top choice for their pets. As an alternative, organic dog foods were also developed to improve the health of your dogs. Although, the U. S. Department of Agriculture declared that the distinction between organic and commercial foods is how it is prepared and produced and not their nutritional content.

Hence, there’s still a lot of studies and research to be done to supplement the nutritional benefits of organic dog foods over commercial dog foods.

On the other hand, this fact didn’t put off some dog owners from feeding organic dog food to their pets. They believe that wholesome ingredients in organic dog food are to be more tempting than synthetic ingredients or preservatives in many commercialized dog food.

If you have plans of changing your dog’s diet to organic dog food, you have to think about the price. Organic dog foods are more costly than ordinary ones, so you need to evaluate your finances before going out of your way and choose. Then, you must also do some research about some of manufacturers of organic dog foods. Check out their production process and their reputation.

One great advantage of using organic dog food is that your dog will gain more energy and keep him in good shape. Since this kind of dog food does not have bulk-fillers, your dogs will only eat what they need to keep a healthy energy levels and life functions.

In addition, organic diet can also enhance the immunity of your pets from many infections or diseases. Organic foods are easy to digest so dogs can easily absorb the nutrients. Keep in mind that high quality dog foods have a great impact on how your pet looks, feel and behave.

One way or another, by giving them organic food, you provide them the assurance of long, happy, and healthy life.

Finally, before you make a decision and get your dog on to organic dog foods, seek first your veterinarian’s advice.

Go green… Choose what’s best option available for your best companion.

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Pet Insurance Can Reduce Stress if Your Pet Gets Sick

Surprisingly not many pet owners actually bother to organize vpi pet insurance or any other type of pet insurance. This could be considered odd when you think about how important health insurance is to people.

This is an often overlooked area and thought to be superfluous by some; pet owners soon learn how costly it is when they require treatment. In the last ten years there have been many areas that have seen price increases and vets are amongst them; the result of this has meant that pet insurance premiums have also risen as well.

So other than rising costs, what are the main reasons you should consider cover for your pets? Anyone who owns a domestic animal needs to be prepared for health problems occasionally; this invariably happens at the worst times, financially.

If this situation should occur, sometimes choices have to be made; the last thing you want to think about is how you will pay for your animal to have urgent treatment.

I remember a few years ago when the vet told me that it would cost in the vicinity of $2,500 dollars to save my dog; all I could think about at the time was whether he was worth the cost, that’s awful, isn’t it? Medical science cannot cure everything and pets are vulnerable too; operations on animals can go wrong sometimes.

The average person does not always consider the costs involved with owning a pet; this is even more relevant if you are experiencing financial difficulties. You may have other pressing financial commitments to attend too so raising further capital can sometimes be a problem.

Ensuring that your pet receives the treatment it requires should be every owners aim; this situation can be avoided if a pet insurance policy is set up. Although pet care insurance costs are rising they are not going to break the bank; the average monthly premium will be less than forty dollars. And there are other options that can be paid yearly and are even less expensive - as little as one hundred dollars a year.

You can choose from a range of pet health insurance types; some companies offer a discount if you have more than one pet on the plan. Hopefully this article will make pet owners think again about their responsibility; perhaps the advice here will help you make the decision you have been agonizing over, and convince you that pet insurance is actually a great idea for your pet’s wellbeing, and your own.

Find out more on the types of pet insurance choices that are available. You could be pleasantly surprised by the variety of reasonably priced pet insurance plans there are.

Dog Food Ratings Or Dog Food Preferences - The Choice is Yours!

In searching for the right kind of dog food for your dog, you might come across dog food ratings. Basically, these ratings just tell you the quality of the dog food they are offering. But having a high dog food rating doesn’t really mean that your pooch will love it. You still have to use your owner’s instinct and common sense to choose the right food for your dog.

Indeed, choosing the best dog food goes beyond dog food ratings. But with all the products available today, it can be a confusing choice to make without the ratings to guide you. Nevertheless, you still need to know the factors which can affect your selection of dog food.

Your dog’s age is of prime importance when choosing a dog food since dogs of different ages have different nutritional requirements. You should also look at your dog’s present body condition. If your dog is a couch potato, he will certainly have different needs compared to one who loves playing in the yard. Choose a dog food that will meet what your dog needs in terms of activity.

Your dog’s health history is also another important factor to consider. If he suffers from allergies or digestion difficulties, you have to look for a dog food that is appropriate for his condition. Also to consider is the budget you have for dog food. In general, a higher priced dog food will be healthier but in the end it all boils down to the best kind of dog food you can afford.

Dog food ratings, on the other hand, will not matter to your dogs at all. You have to remember that dogs are just like humans. They have individual needs and preferences. Some dogs love canned food while others prefer dry dog foods. And there are dogs that love chicken while yours may prefer beef.

The choice of the right dog food to give is really a trial and error process. You may have to go through different dog foods before getting one that your dog will actually eat and that will meet his nutritional requirements at the same time.

Aside from dog food ratings, you also need to look at the dog food ingredients closely. Ingredients are listed by weight and the best dog foods are those that have meat or fish listed as the first ingredient. With meat or fish as the first ingredient, you are assured that your dog is getting protein from the right sources. Your dog food should not contain artificial flavors, preservatives, and color. Instead, it must be rich in vitamins and minerals necessary for a healthy coat and optimum activity.

When you are shifting your dog from one kind of dog food to another, allow ample time for your dog to get used to his new food. Wait a month before you make any judgment on whether or not a particular dog food is appropriate for your dog. If you are still confused on which dog food to buy and are unsure about choosing them through dog food ratings alone, consult your veterinarian.

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All about Dog Potty Training

Regardless of how cute your puppy is when you bring him home, resist the temptation to delay dog potty training until later. Even very young puppies can be potty trained successfully.

A Crate

A puppy crate is a very helpful tool for dog potty training. A crate gives your dog his own “space” that he won’t want to soil particularly at night. Be sure he given plenty of opportunity and encouragement to go potty before he’s crated.

Choose The Right Food

You may be tempted to buy cheap dog food, but you will most likely regret it in the end. Cheap dog foods are full of fillers. Since the fillers can’t be digested and processed into fuel, they pass through your dog’s digestive system causing gas and creating large amounts of stool. Higher quality dog foods do not have as much filler so your dog passes much smaller stools

A Standard Schedule

Establishing a schedule for your puppy from the beginning will go a long way toward potty training him. Feeding should be done at the same times every day followed by taking him outside to relieve himself about 15-20 minutes after he eats. He should also be given the opportunity to go outside after naps and immediately upon being removed from his crate in the morning.

Clear Communication

Establish words that your dog can learn to associate with relieving himself. Use that word consistently to avoid confusing him. It’s also important to learn your dog’s signals that he needs to go outside; restlessness, sniffing around (especially in places he may have had an accident at some point) or going to the door can all be signals that your dog needs to go.

Constant Reinforcement

When your puppy does well, praise him. Using the word he’s come to associate with elimination, “good boy to go potty outside” will help him strengthen the connection between going potty and being praised.

Successful dog potty training requires patience and persistence but the pay off is well worth the effort. Well mannered dogs are a joy both to their owners and those around them.

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