Archive for February, 2009

dog food natural choice

There are so many various dog foods on the market nowadays and there are various points of view about the premium ingredients, developed processes and supplements to choose from and it will be a challenge to pick the right dog food for your pet.

There are ways to do a basic dog food analysis from the premium dog food, natural dog food to organic dog food. You have to take into consideration the dog food ingredients over these many types of dog food.

There are different methods of rating your dog food that doesn’t requires a degree in math or science; however you need to concentrate to be able to realize how to make a premium dog food comparison in accordance to its quality or the presence of certain ingredients needed for the wellness of your dog.

You can start by examining and rating the dog food you are currently using and make dog food comparisons over against the brand you want to try. Be cautious about the following ingredients in your choice of dog food such as:

Meat by products: These are pet grade meat by products that consists of organs and parts such as bones, intestines, lungs, ligaments, head, feet and feathers that were either not desired or deprecated for human consumption.

Corn products because it is difficult for dogs to digest.

Food fragments may include wheat bran and brewers rice which is the waste product of the alcohol industry. These are the lower cost by products of another manufacturing food processing that may be harmful for the health of your canine.

Meat and bone meal are low-cost sources of animal protein. The protein in this kind of meal contains large amount of bone that is difficult to digest and fall short to give enough nutrition for your dog.

Animal fat is a nonspecific source of fat that is usually made up of formulated animal fat, restaurant grease or other oils too rotten and believed unfit for human consumption. Search for a label fat source like poultry or chicken fat that is naturally preserved.

Chemical preservatives such as BHA, BHT and ethoxyquin are possible cancer causing agent that may be ultimately harmful for your dog.

Sweeteners like syrup from corn, sugar and cane molasses usually gives additional appeal but lower quality for the health of your pet. It can only heighten the risk of health problems such as diabetes.

Rating your dog food will help you to have a quality dog food and right guidance in choosing between apparently equal brands in the market. Making some research about the couple of varieties of dog food will give you enough information about the nutrients you can get from a certain dog food products.

This dog food rating will give you an assurance of providing the finest, safest, suitable and healthiest dog food. Dogs also need balance diet with a large variety of nutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals to keep him healthy. And the good way of rating and selecting the right dog food for your pet is to read the label before giving it to your canine.

Want To Feed Your Dog Natural Dog Food?

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dog health mange
1 year old dog refuses to poo outside…please help!?

My boyfriend’s family rescued a puppy almost a year ago. The puppy was neglected, malnourished and had a bad case of mange. He was nursed to health and now is their beloved pet.

The only problem with the pup is the fact that he will not poo outside. The family is not lazy and takes him out often… and he will pee. But he refuses to poo outside.

Does anyone know any way that they can help the dog get over his hurdle and learn to go outside?

Thank you!
He was rescued at a couple of months old.

Since this puppy was neglected during the important times of it’s life, you basically have to treat it like a younger puppy. Start a zero. crate train, that will give him a comfort zone and he will have a safe place to go when he needs it. Keep a hawk eye on him, and when you see him poop, teach him not to like you’d do with a new puppy. Never leave him alone in your house, and if you leave put him in his crate. Hopefully, he will learn what he should have during the first part of his life. Most important, give him lots of love. He deserves it :-)

Dog Health Treatment & Advice : What Does Mange Look Like?

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dog cancer treatments
How much does it usually cost for cancer treatment in dogs? Approx 5k, 10k, 15k?

I am purchasing vet insurance with cancer coverage but do not know a realistic amount of what cancer really cost.

Call your vet and ask them, but I would assume it would depend on (1) breed of dog, (2) type of cancer, and (3) how advanced it is. My guess would be $5k maybe up to $10k, but call them and ask them for a range.

K-9 Immunity: Powerful Organic Dog Cancer Treatment

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dog health testing

Having a pet implies an assumed responsibility: you are going to provide for the animal and look after it. Therefore, it is more than sure you will need lots of dog health information, regardless of whether you’ve got a puppy or an adult dog. Fortunately there are very many sources that you may turn to for dog health information and the first one to try is the vet or the breeder. Mention should be made that sometimes dog health information is different according to breed specificity: there may be very vigorous breeds, but there are also some weaker ones that require extra care.

Dog health information is one click away if you choose to surf the net for the details you need on how to raise a dog. If you take a puppy from a professional breeder for instance, make sure you get all the dog health information necessary for the future: vaccination and de-worming as well as any specific dysfunctions or weaknesses. All dog health information should be included in the contract you sign with the dog breeder, where you also have the pedigree warranty. Many buyers choose to have the dog health information provided by the breeder checked by a vet.

Thus, it is not uncommon practice to take the vet with you and have him or her examine the puppy before you buy it. Very detailed dog health information is crucial when it comes to breeding and raising pure pedigree and future champions. Anyone who would pay a few hundred if not thousands dollars on a pet would like to have a medical evaluation of the animal. But, getting back to regular dog owners, quick access to dog health information is very important when you care enough to provide what’s best for your pet. For instance, little do people know that processed food is not the ideal dog meal.

Specialized magazines, professional sites such as dog-training-expert, dog raising guides and so on, all provide very comprehensive dog health information. If every dog owner had at least the general picture of what it is good for the dog, neglect would be no longer such an issue. Many of those who volunteer for home fostering dogs from rescue centres use the knowledge and the dog health information any dog owner should have. Therefore, with every visit you make to the vet, try to get even more dog health information for your friend’s sake.

Crufts 2009 – Agria Pet Insurance Dog Health Testing

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dog health insurance australia
what is the best Health/ Vet cover insurance policy for dogs?

I am looking at one with comprehensive vetinary cover for all eventualities, and indemnity insurance if possible, (but not essential) in Australia.
If anyone has bought one of these policies, please do let me know your experiences, good or bad, and a contact number for the comapny if you thought they were good would be helpful.
yes, this is in the pets section too!

compare the companies

Perscription for Socialism

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Do you have a remedy for any kind of common problem?

Many remedies and cures are not commonly known or accepted, yet we know they work. Here are some I know personally that work, and I hope you’ll add yours no matter how unorthodox they may seem.

A simple cure for fleas (dogs love it):
Sprinkle garlic powder on your dogs food and mix it in. He may turn up his nose the first couple of times, but then quickly love it. It gets into the dog’s blood stream and when fleas bite and they taste it they won’t stay on him. Please stop using those toxic collars and pills and use this natural method.

A clove of fresh garlic stuck into the soil of indoor plants will repel all insects.

Do your children have warts?
Give them natural vitamin E capsules and they will disappear in a few weeks.

Freeze your children’s stuffed toys once a month to kill all the dust mites they collect. Very helpful if your child has allergies or asthma.

Ants in the kitchen?
Wash counters with white vinegar & water weekly.

Please share yours with us.

You need to be careful about advocating garlic for dogs. I know our vet strongly advises against it. While onions are more of a danger than garlic, they both contain the toxic ingredient thiosulphate. Garlic is LESS toxic and large amounts need to be eaten to cause illness, but why take the risk…especially with small dogs?

Pets affected by onion and garlic toxicity will develop haemolytic anaemia, where the pet’s red blood cells burst while circulating in its body.

At first, pets with this poisoning show gastroenteritis with vomiting and diarrhoea. They will show no interest in food and will be dull and weak. The red pigment from the burst blood cells appears in an affected animal’s urine and it becomes breathless. The breathlessness occurs because the red blood cells that carry oxygen through the body are reduced in number.

The poisoning occurs a few days after the pet has eaten the onion or garlic. Poisoning can occur with a single ingestion of large quantities or with repeated meals containing small amounts. The condition improves once the dog is prevented from eating any further onions or garlic.

Dog & Cat Tips : Home Remedies for Dog Skin Allergies

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dog food recall listing
Has the Hill’s Science Diet Dry Dog Food been put on the recall list? My dog is pregnant and refuses to eat it

Here is the updated list:

http://www.hsus.org/pets/pets_related_news_and_events/recalled_pet_food_and_treats.html

You can also look at the treat recalls.

Pet Food Horror – What’s in the food? It’s Soylent Green for Pets – Ingredients are dead pets

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dog health bad breath

Bad breath is not a disease. It is common with people who are not regular with hygiene of mouth. Many people do not pay much attention to their dental health. This creates plaque and cavities in mouth leading to bad breath inside the mouth. Bad breath is caused when bacteria acts upon food particles stuck between their teeth.

Medical and dental causes of bad breath include:

* Sinus infection and tonsillitis

* Lung, kidney or liver diseases

* Blood disorders

* Diabetes

* Menstruation

Dental causes for bad breath are:

* Dental decay

* Periodontal decay

* Oral infections and allergies

* Bacterial infection

* Improper oral care

Oral health is one of the most essential cares. But it is not taken very seriously by people. Neglected oral health is one of the main causes of concern. Bad breath is the first step towards deteriorating oral conditions. If it is treated right in the beginning, then the problem gets resolved there and then. On the contrary, if not taken seriously, then it leads to serious repercussions.

Bad breath can be taken care of, keeping into account some vital points:

* Brushing twice a day

* Rinse thoroughly after each meal, preferably with mouth-wash

* Use sensitive tooth-paste for sensitive-teeth

* Avoid smoking, drinking and chewing tobacco

* Avoid excessive sugar intake

* Eating healthy and avoid junk food

* Regular dental check-up with dentist, every six-month

* Some people take for granted their dental health.

In maximum case, following few simple steps leads to bad breath treatment. Still in some cases, bad breath takes a shape of the disease, which needs professional treatment.

Bad breath or Halitosis is one of the major causes of concern as it causes lack of confidence. Sour breath causes the person listening to you to flinch away. The best way to overcome such discrepancy is to visit specialized dentist who can cure bad breath. Its cure is neither time consuming nor costly. One has to follow a few simple steps to get rid-of or lessen the effect of bad breath.

Halitosis is deadliest of all dental diseases as it affects with the normal working of the person and interferes with social or professional success. But the cure is equally easy.

Dog Health Treatment & Advice : How to Prevent Bad Breath in Pets

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dog allergies licking paws
my dog is scratching her ears and licking her paws does she have allergies?

Probably; it sounds like it. She will need to be seen by a vet to get medication to keep it under control.

Good luck with her!

Using DermaPaw to Stop Paw Chewing

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Becoming a vet isn’t just a warm and fuzzy dream
Now that the concept of pets as family has arrived, it’s time to look at why the dream of working in animal health care is alive and well.
Cats meeting Dog

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