Friday, December 26, 2008
Dog Allergy Should Never Be Ignored
By: Alex De La Cruz
If your pet is healthy, raising and training it would be much easier. However if it is sick, you as the owner becomes worried. Trying to find the solution to you pets health problem is often times difficult especially if you don't know the source of the illness. Sometimes the complications are not that serious and your pet might just have a mild allergic attack. But dog allergy sometimes is not as easy as avoiding the things your pup is allergic to. And if you don't know how to treat your pet's allergy problems you might be making things worst.
Some complications are extreme which can be fatal to your pet. So if your dog has allergies make sure you have it checked with its vet to know the things you have to do when it attacks. If your pet is behaving beyond normal and looks sick, watch out for the following signs: puffy eyes, a lot of sneezing and scratching, eye and nose discharges, coughing, some problems with breathing, and vomiting. Sometimes the effects cannot be observed right away and rashes will form and its hairs will fall after a few days. Dog allergy is caused mostly by foods.
It is difficult to pin point the particular food that needs to be avoided in a certain dog breed. Generally stay away from the following foods in your dog's next meal. Grainy products such as wheat, soy, corn, dairy products, eggs, fat rich food such as ham, bacon and others processed meat, fish, beef, and venison. For the coming holidays make sure you watch what your pet eats. Tell the kids to stop giving it treats if you are not sure of the ingredients used unless you made them yourself. Plus your pet might be overfed. Chocolates and grapes should also be avoided.
If you are uncertain with regards to the food that you feed to it you have to make observations every time you introduce a new food so you will know which of those makes it allergic. Ask your pet's veterinarian about what particular chemical or substance in the food which makes your dog sick. Oftentimes it is not about the food but the ingredients that compose it. So it means that what you really have to avoid is not the food itself but that particular substance which composes it. After you have the list of possible food ingredients that makes your dog allergic all you have to do is make sure that your pet has no access to those foods.
Another cause of dog allergy is due to environmental factors such mites, fleas, and other parasites that invade your pet's body. They usually attack the skin which causes irritations resulting to rashes all over their body. To avoid these allergens all you have to do is to keep its dog bed or shelter clean. Disinfect its sleeping area if you have to because this is usually the breeding area of those parasites. Taking care of your pup is not easy especially if it has allergies. However, the responsibility of protecting your pup from dog allergies rests with you as its owner.
Make sure that you make its health your top priority.
The author of this article Alex De La Cruz is a Dog Trainer who has been successful with several dog training courses for many years. Alex decided to share his knowledge and tips through his website http://www.doggyweb.info. You can sign up for his free newsletter and enjoy a healthy and submissive dog.
Labels: pets/dogs
Friday, December 19, 2008
Natural Diet For Your Dog
By: Avery Blanchard
We love our dogs as if they are humans. We spend the time and money on training them, we worry about getting them their daily exercise, and we constantly strive to make them as healthy and happy as we can. With that in mind, have you looked at the ingredients of your dog food lately? Go ahead and grab the bag of dog food and read the ingredients...Do you even know what most of those are? A lot of those don't sound very natural and healthy, do they?
A natural diet for your dog will no doubt require more planning when feeding time comes, but will be well worth it in the long run, as it will inevitably lead to a longer life, healthier coat, as well as having the piece of mind knowing what's going into your dog food.
When planning a natural diet for your dog, you'll need to consider that your dog is best suited with eating a diet that they would have in the wild. This would consist of a raw diet, and ideally organic. One of the main staples would be raw meat; this will provide a protein source for your dogs' diet. Other sources of protein would be raw eggs, and will provide some variety. Other foods to use in your dog's natural diet can consist of turkey necks, chicken necks, and chopped vegetable pulp (carrots, celery, etc.).
Now I mentioned organic above, and really, if you're going to make the effort to feed your dog a natural diet, why not make it organic? It will cost a little more money, but I think in the end you'll find that you are saving more by abandoning the off the shelf dog food.
In the end, consider the health of your dog, and how important your dog is to you and your family. Talk to your veterinarian about a natural diet for your dog, and do your own research to see what is best suited for your dog. You won't regret it, and your dog will eat it up, literally!
Discover new ways that you can create a long lasting relationship with your dog by providing a natural diet for your dog!
Labels: dog/pets/puppy
Thursday, December 11, 2008
How to Select Quality Dog Food
By: Robert Kokoska
Even a great depression or recession could not deter people from spending millions on dogs and dog food. Statistics say Americans still keep a major chunk of their income for dogs. This shows the importance they give for their pets. In many homes, dogs have become an extension of the family and great priority is given for their wellbeing. As the market is flooded with different brands of dog food it is really difficult to select quality food. Since the age we live in is an age of marketing, where big companies flourish deploying marketing professionals who have their own way of luring the gullible. The resulting companies and marketing industry thrive in the name of pets. So it is really important to look into the credibility of pet food before buying it.
Animal protein, grains, bacteria cultures, probiotics and antioxidants are a must in dog food. A dog that feeds on quality food out-lives dogs fed on lower quality foods. Debate is going on strong whether dog food should be protein rich or not. While some argue that dogs are omnivores and can go about with out additional protein while others say it is essential for their growth. There is a general belief that too much protein can lead to renal failure. But whatever be the contention, protein is essential along with vitamins and minerals. One thing you have to pay attention to, is the quality of the meat.
Low quality protein is difficult to digest and can cause serious ailments. So it has to be avoided at all costs. As most companies use corn gluten to increase crude protein levels, you have to be extra careful before choosing protein rich food for your pet. Since fake products have entered the fray, it is advised to be alert and not to be hoodwinked by the false claims of business tycoons. As there are no regulatory measures to protect dog food, adulteration becomes easy.
Many canned foods contain harmful chemicals and preservatives intended for shelf life. More than that, most of the dog foods use euthanized or carcass as raw material. In many cases they use corn and soy to increase the protein which is not suitable for dog as it causes indigestion. The best dog food has become a rarity as more and more manufacturers cut costs on a daily basis. Their integrity regarding love for the animals is questionable as they are more concerned with the fattening of their wallet. At least the premature deaths of dogs place them in a bad light.
The best dog food should contain only two grains with ample protein, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and essential oils. Make sure that the protein is from chicken and not from soy or corn. As vitamins and minerals are needed for the supply of oxygen the best dog food should contain adequate amount. A healthy diet should include dry food. Though canned foods claim wholesomeness, nothing can beat the homemade stuff. Even if the dog likes canned food, if it is given crumbs it will eat eventually. It is a false notion that dogs don't eat vegetables. In fact they relish it. The fiber content is good for the health of the canine.
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Labels: dog/pets/puppy
Friday, December 05, 2008
What is the Best Dog Food
By: Madeleine Innocent
There is absolutely no doubt in my mind. Without question, the best dog food is one which is based on a wild dog's diet. Dogs have evolved on this. It's raw meat. There are no cookers in nature.
People are reluctant to believe this for a variety of reasons. So lets look at some of them, and dispel your fears. Firstly, you may be worried about the presence of parasites and worms in raw meat. It's been drummed into you that meat needs to be cooked to kill them off.
I can assure you, that dogs digestion is robust. They have no trouble with worms and parasites in raw meat. They have evolved to deal with this. What they haven't evolved to deal with is cooked food, high fat content, preservatives, pathogens in cooked food, poor quality filler and the low grade food which passes for dog food.
Secondly, you may be concerned about bones perforating an internal organ. Dogs evolved by crunching up on raw bones. They have absolutely no problem with raw bones, as long as they are raw and they gnaw them. If you have more than one dog and they gobble the bone down to ensure the other doesn't get it, they may suffer some discomfort while the bone passes through their digestive system, but it won't do more than cause them discomfort. So ensure your dog gnaws the bone in peace.
The other problem is with cooked bones. These can perforate your dog's internal organs. Cooked bones are a definite no-no when working out the ingredients for the best dog food.
Thirdly, you may think feeding your dog a raw food diet is expensive. After all, the connotation 'best dog food' looks expensive. It depends on what you take into consideration. If you are feeding your dog the cheapest brand of dog food from the supermarket, and don't have any ailments treated, then you may be right. If you do, I doubt you're reading this. So lets suppose you feed your dog a medium priced commercial dog food and do use the services of a veterinarian or other health professional, for ailments your dog may suffer.
Raw dog food is nutrient dense. Commercial dog food is nutrient poor. So you need to feed much more commercial dog food to come anywhere near (and it never comes close) to providing the decent diet that raw meat does. Which means you need much less volume of raw food compared with commercial dog food.
Then, if you include the fees you spend on health care, there's no comparison. Commercial pet food keeps veterinarians wealthy. They hardly see the healthy dogs fed on raw meat, nature's best dog food.
Fourthly, you may think that the purchase and preparation of the best dog food there is, is too much like hard work. You think it may be too big a hassle. I've taken the hassle out of it, by telling you how to do it without making the mistakes I did.
Fifthly, you may think you dog doesn't like raw food. Have you ever tried? With decent food, I mean? I can assure you, there is no dog alive who doesn't recognise the raw food as the best dog food. If you're overfeeding your dog, he may refuse it initially. And if you leave food out all day, that's likely. Keep in mind too, many commercial dog food manufacturers add appetite stimulants to the food. This may cause a short term problem, while he adapts.
Lastly, you may be concerned that you don't know enough to be able to get the nutritional needs of your dog correct. After all, that's what's pushed by veterinarians and commercial dog food manufacturers - you don't know enough. Just because the packet tells you this brand is 'recommended by top vets' or that brand is 'scientific', doesn't mean they are selling the best dog food. Quite the opposite, in fact. I can tell you from experience, it's not as difficult as they make out. You do need to know some important facts, but once you've opened your mind to allowing your own inner wisdom to emerge, and by following certain natural laws, you'll have no problem working it out.
If everyone started feeding their dog raw meat, many, many veterinarians would go out of business. What are you waiting for?
Madeleine Innocent has been a homoeopath, a natural health therapist, since 2000. She treats both people and animals and finds that when the diet of her patient is addressed, to one that is more in keeping with natural laws, at the same time as her treatment, enormous strides in the resultant good health are made. To underestimate a good, natural diet is to play Russian roulette with life.
For more information, click on this website:- http://www.naturallyhealthydogs.com
Labels: dog/pets/puppy
Monday, December 01, 2008
What is Your Dog Dreaming About?
Personally, I think it would be ignorant to say that dogs don't dream when they sleep. This person is someone who has never had the opportunity to watch dogs sleep.
My dogs must have some amazing dreams, hopefully not nightmares, because they kick their feet like they're running at times, they are barking with their mouths closed, and are twitching all over the place. It is clearly REM sleep. I mean, we're talking intense story lines in their dreams, I'm sure of it!
I'm certain that some dreams consist of eating mommy's steak, or running through beautiful fields chasing rabbits, cats or squirrels. They probably dream of huge bones, swimming in the lake, and cuddling up to mommy in the bed with all of their toys strewn about on the bed...
Now, they couldn't be all good dreams either...There are times that they are clearly in distress, just like a human...they have a real bark, growl or whine and cry. I wonder if another dog is invading their territory, they're dreaming of a stranger breaking into the house, or their mommy and daddy leaving them somewhere...I wonder if they have fights with other dogs or other animals.
* Tip: When I see them having a nightmare, I gently talk to them and pet them until they wake up. Be sure to completely wake them up though because, just like us, they can fall right back into a dream. This happens often, where they're still on the edge of sleep. Don't be fooled. Be sure they focus on you when they "wake up".
by Kimberly Edwards
Kimberly Edwards is the founder of Terrier Lover - Awesome Information and History on the Terrier Breed, Health, Dog Grooming, Dog Breeding, Tips & Tricks, Dog Training, Stories and More. Learn all you need to know about the Terrier dog @ http://www.TerrierLover.com
Labels: pets/dogs
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