All Dog Foods Are Not The Same

Posted on January 18th, 2011 by doggielover

HERE'S A GREAT TIP! I've been following this dog trainer for a long time (I love her books!) and was really psyched to see that she has a video up now about this. It's only a couple minutes long but it's really helpful. Click on the video to watch it. It should answer your questions...

Introduction

Your dog’s health and wellbeing is important to you and your family. Not to mention keeping down the value of veterinarian bills! Thus you wish to carefully take into account the food that you give your dog. Folks sometimes simply decide the first dog food bag they see at the store. It’s straightforward to overlook the importance of dog food but it is essential to choose the proper one for your dog.

To stay your dog healthy he needs plenty of fresh water and ought to be fed sensible quality dog food in amounts simply right to meet his energy requirements. Always follow the rules on the dog food package for counseled feeding amounts. Selecting a dog food

The primary challenge in selecting a dog food is picking one that has overall quality. The term that comes up a lot concerning dog food is human grade. Human grade implies {that the} dog food is good enough for us to eat. Many business dog foods are made from materials unusable or less fascinating for human consumption. Often the meat that is utilized in dog food is of a top quality thought-about unfit for humans to eat.

Major dog food firms attempt to supply balanced proportions of vitamins and minerals for most profit to your dog. Although you’ll see that several brands of dog food have nearly identical labels, a reputable dog food company can provide an rationalization for every supplement and the way it edges your dog.

Always read the label to work out what proteins, vitamins and minerals are being provided to your dog. Attempt to not use store complete dog food they may short modification your dog on much required nutrition.

Studies have shown that the first ingredient in dog food ought to be meat-based mostly protein, not corn meal, flour or corn gluten meal. According to reviews a higher quality dog food results in a healthier coat, fewer digestive problems and firmer stools. Pet-nutrition consultants agree that the best dog food is made from human-grade ingredients like meat, whole grains and vegetables. Premium dog food is thus vital as a result of good nutrition is important for an extended, healthy life.

Sorts of dog food

There are a number of kinds of dog food to choose from. The three most common sorts of dog foods are dry, semi-moist and canned products. Check the colour of your dog food. Sometimes dog food made from natural ingredients can have soft earth tones and contain no preservatives, artificial colors and flavors.

Raw dog food is becoming more popular. A lot of and more veterinarians advocate feeding your dog with raw dog food. They feel that this is the best alternative and is the healthiest food for your dog. Once all, you have never seen your dog fancy business dog food the way he enjoys a smart meaty bone.

Raw food advocates concede the diet costs additional than traditional dog food, however they argue it’s worth it. You will realize that locating free natural home made dog food recipes isn’t easy. Attempt creating a mix of ground turkey, rice and carrot as your own dog food. Your dog can thanks for it.

If you choose to travel the business route, try and select a smart premium dog food since it contains a lot of energy and protein than an economy brand. Unfortunately not all dog food brands contain high quality and natural ingredients, so invariably check the label. It is best if you seek advice from your veterinarian before selecting which dog food to feed your dog or puppy. He will apprehend your dog’s dietary desires and you’ll notice that veterinary offices and feed stores usually carry wonderful and natural dog food.

All Natural Dog Food

Several natural dog foods contain solely contemporary, natural and wholesome ingredients for your dog. Not only are the protein ingredients digestible, but the carbohydrates within the dog food are digestible. Natural dog food has 100% nutritional worth that is very important for healthy robust dogs. Chicken, egg and fish are samples of protein that is provided in natural dog food. There are ingredients in natural dog food that actually help the health of your dog’s skin and conjointly your dog’s coat. One of the main draw backs of natural dog food is that it has a shorter shelf life and could spoil before it’s used.

Dried Dog Food

A smart top quality dry dog food can figure out to be more economical than the generic brands even though they value a lot of per pound. A overwhelming majority of dog owners go for dry dog food for its convenience and simple storage. The cheaper dry dog foods are created from soybean, corn or rice, whereas many premium dry dog foods are made with all-natural, human-grade ingredients.

Vegetarian dog foods

There are dog foods specially formulated for dogs that are allergic to wheat, corn, and/or chicken. There are vegetarian dog foods marketed to owners who do not wish their dogs to consume meat products. Most vegetarian dog foods use soy as a protein source. If your dog has allergies consult your vet before putting him on a specialised diet.

Conclusion

Overall it’s usually best to let dogs enjoy dog food and not our food, while they’ll like what we’re eating! After all you can feed your dog treats sometimes, every dog desires some TLC now and again!

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What To Do If Your Dog Has Worms

Posted on January 14th, 2011 by doggielover

Dogs would always be man’s most devoted and loving companions. Dogs have made a lot of difference to human’s way of life because of the limitless supply of unconditional love they give to their human family. The precautionary measures being done by a dog owner to ensure the health of the pet is therefore understandable. Nutritious food, regular grooming and opportunities to exercise are provided for the dog. Dogs are as well taken to the vet for their inoculation. In spite of these measures, dogs still do get sick.

Dog owners would continuously be troubled with the pet’s worm infestation. Worm infestation cannot be totally avoided given the life style of these animals. As any dog owner would know, dogs are scavengers. Dogs have this obnoxious behavior of eating feces and raiding trash cans to eat rotten food. Would it be any wonder if the pampered and regularly groomed pet would still be infested with worms?

Eradicating the worm infestation of the pet would be an easy matter, what is not would be determining if the dog is infested. A dog owner can see some types of worm being excreted by the pet. Other types of worms cannot be seen thus an owner has to be alert to the signs that the dog has worms. Worm infestation commonly causes vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss due to poor appetite. Lethargy, pot bellied and a scurffy coat are telltale signs of worm infestation. Something has to be done to stop the infestation as allowed to progress, the infestation can lead to the death of the pet. Treatment is necessary as worms can be transmitted to the dog’s human family.

Different types of worms would need different medication thus a fecal examination or a blood test would be necessary to determine the type of worm that infest the dog. Over the counter worming medications are readily available. No doubt these medications will have an effect but it would always be safe to consult a vet.

Medications for animal health concerns are commonly body weight based so that it would be very easy to administer a wrong dosage that instead of curing the illness would cause the dog more harm. Also, you may be giving the pet the wrong medication. You can save on the vet’s PF if you administer OTC medications but what would be a few bucks if you can be sure that the life of the pet will be saved.

Still wonder what to do if your dog has worms? Find out more about this and first aid for dogs at Sarah’s Dogs.

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What Do Worms In Dogs Look Like?

Posted on January 13th, 2011 by doggielover

Worms in dogs can be a persistent nuisance for canine owners. Serious health issues can arise for dogs when they have worms, especially if the infestation is in a puppy.

Primarily worms in dogs are a health threat, but their lifecycle also happens to be extreme fascinating. Understanding how to identify worms in dogs can be highly beneficial to your dog’s health, as well as quite fascinating.

The Length Of Worms

The most common worms in dogs, roundworms, usually grow to being about seven inches in length. Another type of worm commonly found in dogs is the hookworm.

Compared to their roundworm siblings, these are a lot smaller. Because hookworms are smaller, complications of tissue migration are less frequent.

Colouring and Shape

Shape and colour-wise, different worms in dogs share similarities. They will be a spaghetti shape and tan to white in colour. Tape worms are the exception here, which tend to be short, flat and red in colouring. Tapeworms are normally found in a dog’s faeces. If you identify what you think may be tape worms then you should see a vet immediately.

Knowing Where To Look

You now know how to identify what worms in dogs are, you now need to know where to look for them. It is important to know where to look.

Worm infestations in dogs can be spotted in their vomit and their faeces. Check your dog’s stool regularly as worms can be passed in it. As part of their lifecycle worms will infest near the throat. This may result in them being vomited. Always give your dog’s vomit a quick once over for worms.

The risks posed by worms to a dog’s health can be minimised once you know how to look for them.

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What Can You Give A Dog For Pain

Posted on January 6th, 2011 by doggielover

Dogs are probably the most loved and the most cared for pets. Dogs may not have the ability to complain but an observant pet owner would know if the dog is in pain. Dogs are uncomplaining animals but a discerning owner would be aware of what the dog feels. Vets are the experts in these matters but an owner that has closely bonded with the pet would be more attuned to what the dog is feeling. Due to the expertise, a vet would know what ails the dog but the close attachment makes owners know if something is wrong with the pet. No dog owner would want to see the pet hurting thus it is common for owners to reach for a medication that gives them pain relief and medicate the pet themselves. Not wanting to see a pet suffer, a person would commonly give the pet their own medications for pain. Although dogs can suffer from the same diseases that afflicts humans it is not advisable to give the pet human medications for pain relief. Human disease can affects dogs too but it would be unwise to give the dog medications formulated for humans.

Dogs suffer from temporary or persistent pain. Acute or temporary pain can result from surgery or from injuries that damage bones and muscles of the dog. Acute and temporary pain can occur as an aftermath of surgery or when the bones and muscles were hurt from an injury. Chronic or persistent pains are most common in older dogs with musculoskeletal concerns. Musculoskeletal problems are the common causes of chronic and persistent pain in older dogs. It is your job to provide the pet relief from pain. The pets will depend on the owners to provide them with relief from pain. Dogs in pain can be given analgesics, the drugs that relieve all kinds of pains. Analgesics are given to dogs as this drug is an effective pain relief medication.

There are several alternatives by which a dog’s pain can be alleviated. In veterinary facilities, these pain medications are usually given intravenously or through injections. In animal hospitals the pain medication is either injected or given through IVs. Home treatments calls for oral administration of pain medications. If the pet is not hospitalized, the pain medication is usually administered orally. Non steroidal anti-inflammatory medications that were originally formulated for humans are also given to dogs. Some non steroidal anti inflammatory medications that were formulated for humans are used to give the dog pain relief. Although these NSAIDs can cause stomach and intestinal bleeding, they are given to the pets as they are effective in giving the dog relief from pain. These NSAIDs are effective pain medications but they are noted to cause stomach and intestinal bleeding in dogs. NSAIDs that were newly formulated were proven to be more pet friendly. Recently formulated NSAIDs are safer for pets. Metacam, Mobic and Rimadyl can alleviate the pain without causing intestinal bleeding. Newer NSAIDs like the Rimadyl, Metacam and Mobic are proven effective in reducing pain with minimal adverse effects. Narcotic medications are also given to dogs for their pain relieving capabilities. Narcotic medication is administered to dogs weighed down with pain because of their pain relieving efficacy. With humans, narcotics can cause addiction. Addiction is a risk if narcotics are administered to humans. Fortunately addiction is not a problem with dogs. Luckily, addiction is not possible in dogs.
 
Arthritis causes chronic pain. Dog Gone Pain (DGP) is considered by pet owners as one of the most effective medications that can immediately ease the pet’s pain. One effective medication for chronic pain is Dog Gone Pain. Joint inflammation causes the dog debilitating pain. Inflamed joints can give the dog severe pain. Corticosteroids have very little pain relief capability but these are effective anti-inflammatory medications. Corticosteroids may not be big on pain relief but these meds have excellent anti inflammatory capabilities.

Dogs have always been favored pets because of the difference they make to people’s lives. You have a lot of choices to help the pet but be sure that the one you have chosen would not only give pain relief but one that would safe for the dog as well. In opting for a medication that will give the pet relief from pain, you as a responsible owner has to consider the safety of the pet as well.

Find out more about what you can give a dog for pain as well as information on first aid for dogs at Sarah’s Dogs.

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What Can I Give My Dog For An Upset Stomach?

Posted on January 4th, 2011 by doggielover

Dogs would have an upset stomach at the drop of a hat as aside from being voracious eaters, man’s best friends would ingest anything that would fit into their mouths. Dogs are well loved pets but owners can’t help but be exasperated by the pet’s fondness for eating spoiled food and non-food items. It seems that dogs have insatiable appetites as even well fed ones would still eat inedible things.

A dog’s upset stomach can be due to a number of reasons. Although the most common culprit is dietary indiscretion, some dogs are noted to have sensitive stomach so that they are predisposed to gastrointestinal concerns. The reason for the stomach upset of some dogs can be as simple as a change in diet or as serious as a pre existing medical condition that weakens the immune system.

Stomach upset is a common concern that often resolves on its own thus pet owners normally do not take the dog to the vet. The dog’s condition can be resolved at home and in a day or two the pet would be its usual energetic self again. As upset stomach is a common problem with canines, the owner would know what must be done when the dog vomits, have diarrhea and passes gas.

Dogs are naturally energetic but one with an upset stomach will be lethargic because of the pain in the stomach area. Dogs, as mentioned have huge appetites thus they would not pass up the chance to gobble food. However, the pain in the belly would cause a dog to turn away from food . Stomach upset normally do not require medical attention but if the vomit and stool are bloody, the pet must have medical attention at once. Bloody vomit and diarrhea can be a symptom of a more serious concern.

To soothe the upset stomach of the pet you can ease up on the food intake of the pet. Older dogs are normally fasted for 24 hours. Younger dogs may be allowed to have small amounts of easy to digest food. Withholding the food is done to give the stomach a chance to rest. Food is withheld but owners must make sure that the dog is drinking enough water. Drinking may exacerbate the abdominal pain thus the dog would refuse to drink. The dog must be encouraged to drink to prevent dehydration. Instead of water, fill the water bowl with ice cubes. Easy to digest food can be given to the pet after the fasting period.

More information on what you can give my dog for an upset stomach and first aid for dogs can be found at Sarah’s Dogs.

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Dog Health Care: Getting The Diet Right

Posted on January 3rd, 2011 by doggielover

Fulfilling your dog’s dietary requirements is an important part of the dog health care process.

Your dog’s diet changes with ages, meaning its management can be slightly tricky.

This guide will inform you as to how you can tailor your dog’s diet to make sure it is benefiting their general health. The cornerstone of successful dog ownership is a good diet.

Adults

Just like a human, the most essential aspect of your dog’s diet is balance. Protein is fundamental in maintaining this balance. The recommended protein content for dogs is 20 to 30 per cent, so it is imperative to feed them protein rich foods such as chicken, salmon and lamb.

A dog’s energy is supplied by carbohydrates from rice, cereals and pastas. Complement this with plenty of fibre for a smooth bowel movement.

Feed your dog at regular intervals, ideally twice a day. Keep the portions a consistent size and aim to serve at scheduled timings.

Puppies

Puppies have very similar diets to adults, except their food needs to be higher in energy and easier to digest. Because puppies have smaller stomachs, you will need to feed them less, more often.

There are some foods you would normally give to an adult dog, which you wouldn’t give to a puppy. An example of this would be table scraps, because they can be particularly difficult to digest.

Senior Dogs

Older dogs differ from adults and puppies because they are less active and have a slower metabolism.

You will need to keep the calorie levels of an older dog down as well as making sure their diet is easily digestible. Giving them vitamins C and E will support their aging joints.

A dog’s ability to chew effectively lessens with age.

Large pieces of chewy meat should be avoided in older dogs’ diets, as well as keeping portion sizes down.

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Dog Health Care: An Ongoing Process

Posted on January 3rd, 2011 by doggielover

Dog health care isn’t something you only need to concern yourself about when your dog is actually ill.

Dog health care isn’t something that only becomes an issue when your dog starts to display symptoms of being unwell, as this article will explain. Health care should be an ongoing process for any dog owner who wants to ensure they’ve got the happiest, healthiest mutt possible.

Symptoms

Dog’s health needs to be checked regularly because in many cases an illness can exist without any symptoms. For example, dogs will only display the symptoms of worms when they are in their latter stages of development.

Diet

Prevention is easier than finding solutions when it comes to a dog’s health. Maintaining a dog’s health is something you can have an active role in. The major way you can do this is through the control of its diet.

Dogs require different diets depending on the stage of their lives they are at. Your dog’s diet will depend on its age. Adults, puppies and senior dogs have different nutritional requirements. A healthy diet will make a world of difference for your dog’s health.

Annual Checks

A dog needs a yearly ‘MOT’ regardless of its age and health, just like a car. Make sure you take your dog to the vet yearly; it will also ensure all their vaccinations are up-to-date.

There are other things you can do to make sure your dog is healthy. Keep a close eye on your dog’s eating, drinking and toilet habits and look out for anything unusual. Check for lumps under their skin regularly and check their nose, eyes and ears for signs of unusual discharge.

You know your dog better than anyone; contact your vet if they’re not acting their ‘usual self’.

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What To Do If Your Dog Has Fleas

Posted on December 30th, 2010 by doggielover

Fleas are bad news not only to dogs but to dog owners as well. A dog that is infested with fleas will be beleaguered by the severe itching that is caused by the flea bites and as a result, the excessive scratching can result to secondary skin infections. Measures necessary to eradicate a flea infestation have to be applied as apart from the discomfort the tiny parasites bring to dogs, fleas can also transmit a number of canine diseases to humans.

A dog infested with fleas would scratch incessantly, would have skin inflammation and noticed to suffer from hair loss conditions. Flea dirt is a telltale signs of infestation. These tiny dark specks that are actually digested blood should spur you to begin the war against these tiny parasites. Many dog owners are not concerned about the fleas that infest the dog as often times dogs only suffer from itching however, blood loss that results from severe infestation can lead to anemia and consequently to the death of the pet.

The flea has to be eradicated not only from the pet but also from the environment. Remember, these annoying insects can jump from the infested pet, lurk in the carpet or in dark places and jump on to the next host that can be another pet or human. Flea baths, flea shampoos and powders will remove some of the fleas from the dog’s body. As a double measure you can run a fine toothed comb thoroughly through the dog’s fur to remove the fleas. This process will kill adult fleas but will leave the eggs unharmed thus the process must be repeated to kill and remove newly hatched fleas.

Removing fleas from the environment must be included in the flea eradication plan. Vacuum all the rooms giving particular attention to the carpet and carefully discard the vacuum bag that may contain fleas. Adding a strip of flea collar inside the vacuum bag will ensure that the vacuumed fleas will be killed. Use hot soapy water to wash the dog’s toys, crate and beddings. Vacuuming will not be sufficient to remove all the fleas. Spray all the room with anti-flea chemicals and insecticides. To totally remove the fleas, the yard must be sprayed with insecticides as well.

Over the counter flea powders, flea baths and shampoos as well as sprays and insecticides make fighting the infestation easier. Dog owners though are warned against excessive use of these anti flea chemicals as they can have dangerous effect on the health of the pet.

At Sarah’s Dogs you can find out more about what to do if your dog has fleas as well as first aid for dogs.

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The Most Common Collie Problems

Posted on December 28th, 2010 by doggielover

Incredibly energetic, Collies get pleasure from nothing as much as they delight in a lengthy run. This may well offer the impression that a Collie is really a typically healthy animal, even so, just like several other breeds of dogs, Collies have a number of familiar conditions that most of them will probably cope with during their life span. In spite of any ailments, the Collie is one of probably the most intelligent canines that one could own. This particular piece will talk about the top 3 most common Collie problems.

Probably one of the most widespread of all Collie problems is actually hip dysplasia. This particular hereditary problem is typically inherited from the parents of the dog. Even though genetic, environmental variables will also play a role in this ailment. A pet that is definitely heavy or fed a poor diet will suffer a lot more than a pet that keeps the proper weight and is provided a proper diet.

The first indicators of hip dysplasia frequently show up as minor arthritis and can consist of limping and watching the pet dog experiencing a hard time standing from a lying down position. Most dogs do not need to show indicators and be clearly lame to pass it down to their pups. While the Collie is younger, food health supplements and vitamin products can help keep this ailment manageable. When the dog grows older, treatment varies from pain management including medication, physical exercise and rest, to surgery which includes the potential for hip replacement.

Yet another health problem that’s common in Collies is an inherited ailment referred to as Collie eye anomaly. This disorder can have an effect on the retina, the sclera, and also the choroid inside the pet’s eye. The cause of this condition is an unusual development of the eye. Commonly speaking it will not hinder the pet’s vision substantially, but, in the most severe instances, it may bring about blindness. In the event that a puppy has this problem, it will not grow gradually worse. DNA checks may be done to help to make certain that Collie breeders aren’t producing Collies with this condition. A litter of pups might be examined for this health problem somewhere between 6 and 10 weeks old by a skilled vet.

One of the most prevalent eye issues in Collies is generally known as progressive retinal atrophy. Signs and symptoms for this disease normally start to show themselves at around 2 years old. This genetic condition is gradual and will proceed to get even worse as the pet grows older, possibly causing blindness in the dog.

Most normally, by the time it’s identified it’s in a relatively advanced stage. To catch it early on, regular examinations are required. If a pet dog has been diagnosed with or affected by progressive retinal atrophy, it should not be utilized for breeding purposes.

Are you having problems with Collie biting? To find out more about common Collie problems and how to handle them, be sure to visit my site.

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What To Do If Your Dog Dies

Posted on December 26th, 2010 by doggielover

The death of a family dog will overwhelm the family with grief. The loss of the loyal and affectionate pet will be deeply felt especially by the children due to the fact that dogs are usually considered as members of the family. The death of a family dog would have a strong emotional impact on children given that a strong bond usually forms between the young ones and the dog. Nonetheless, the passing away of the pet has to be faced . This will be an ideal opportunity to prepare a child to the realities of life

About six hours after the death, the dog will start to smell as the body begins to decompose. Arrangements on how the body will be disposed must be made before the smell of decomposing body fills the house. The body has to be prepared before rigor mortis or stiffening sets in. This way you can easily position the body to prevent breakage. After death; the muscles loosen up causing body fluids to leak. You need to clean the dog’s mouth as well as the genital and anal areas to remove any excrement before storing the body. By tucking the legs in, the dog will appear curled up. The blanket wrapped body of the dog can be placed in a garbage bag.

The remains of the dog can be disposed in several ways. If space is available, you can have a garden burial. A simple funeral service for the pet will give the child a chance to say goodbye to the pet and to put an end to the sad event. A meaningful message on a simple headstone will signify the resting place of a dear loyal friend . Cremation or burial in a pet cemetery are other options a pet parent can take if garden burial is not possible.

The body has to be stored in a freezer while burial arrangements are being made but if none is available at home you can call a veterinary facility or a pet cemetery to pick up the body for storage . Pet cemeteries have available lots where the dog can be buried. These resting places for pets are not unlike the beautiful and well managed human cemeteries.

A pet owner can also choose to have the remains of the pet cremated. Pet crematoriums will pick up the body and deliver the ashes. Owners wishing to keep the ashes of the pet can have it delivered in an urn. This means that the loyal and loving pet can still be with the family.

What to do if your dog dies? Sarah’s Dogs have more answers to this common dog behaviour as well as information on first aid for dogs.

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