dog health blogs

Active dogs, like herding, sporting and working breeds, need more exercise than a walk can provide. Some owners of such dog breeds take their pets with them when they jog. This offers good exercise for the dog, but has to be done safely.

To begin with, first bring your dog to a veterinarian for a complete checkup to ensure that the dog is healthy. Dogs may appear healthy on the outside, when in fact they may sometimes have physical problems that you may not be aware of. Elbow or hip dysplasia, for instance, may worsen with strenuous exercise, and younger and older dogs may get injured from all the running. A thorough checkup will make sure whether your dog’s all right and fit to jog.

Next, refresh your dog’s memory with regards to obedience training. Make sure the dog will walk and jog only at your side. Don’t let him pull on the leash by running ahead, as it will give him sore neck and shoulder muscles, in addition to making the jog stressful instead of enjoyable for you. If you let him pull at the leash, you’ll end up having straining yourself and suffer less control over your dog. Make sure the dog runs on your side in a nice heel position, with neck and shoulders by your leg. If you have a hard time teaching your dog this position, ask help from an obedience instructor.

Start the jog gradually, especially if either you or your dog is a couch potato. Too much exercise too soon will result in sore muscles for both of you. Initially, you may alternate walking and jogging – Jog one block, walk the next, then jog the one after. Maintain a slower speed and shorter distance until you and your dog are comfortable with both, then gradually increase the distance in subsequent jogs.

It’s safer to jog on softer surfaces than on concrete, because repeated jarring on concrete can damage bones and joints. Asphalt is a much better jogging surface – just don’t jog on asphalt baked under the sun, or your dog would much rather stay home. In general, grass and sand is also a good surface to run on for both of you. Just watch out for ruts or holes to prevent both of you from tripping and hurting yourselves.

After jogging, look at your dog’s paws. See if his foot pads become cut, scraped, burned, or bruised during the jog. Such injuries heal on their own fairly quickly, but you still need to keep his foot pads clean and dry, as well as let your dog stay home until they heal. If walking is painful for your dog and his foot pads are visibly cut or badly burned, take him to his veterinarian.

Jogging constitutes a great cardiovascular workout for you and your dog. It builds stamina, strengthens resistance against illness, and relieves accumulated stress (yours from work, his from boredom). Once you find a good, safe route to run, your dog will be begging to tag along when he sees you put on those running shoes.

3-Legged Dog Jerry Hikes the Appalachian Trail

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dog food companies canada
Did you know about a huge Dog / Cat food recall?

I don’t mind losing 5 measley points if it’s going to save a dog or cat’s life ;-)

Menu Foods, the largest maker of WET pet foods has just announced a massive recall. This company makes pet foods for WalMart, Costco, Sams, Safeway, SuperValu, President’s Choice, just about any grocery store you buy your pet’s food in. The recall covers all of Canada, United States and Mexico. Check out the URL below to see if your fuzzy friend’s dinner is on the recall list. Be warned, it’s a huge list.

http://www.menufoods.com/recall

I work for a holistic veterinarian and we would not tell any of our client that IAMS or Eukanuba were good brands of food. When people ask me why, first I tell them read the ingredients. First thing on the list (dry formula) is corn or wheat then something else then possibly a meat “By product”. Do you know what a by product is? When you go to the bathroom, thats a by product. Ok maybe a little extreme. A by product are all the parts that ordinarlly get theown away in human meat companies. This includes head, feathers intestines, hooves etc. My question then is this what you really want to feed your pet? Most of us look at our pets as a part of our family so would you eat that stuff? When researching a pet food look at the ingredients. The first 3 or at least first 2 ingredients should be a meat, Chicken lamb or beef. Just the word of the meat. Also another is meat meal such as Lamb meal or chicken meal, this is actual meat with all the liquid removed and made into a powder. Of course real meat is best. Pet food companies have to list in order of what is most in their food so if corn is first on the list and a meat is 3rd then this food is made up of moslty grain. Dogs need protein too. Another thing to watch out for are chemical additives. Look for natural tocopherols or fats as preservatives. Stay away from BHA BHT nitrites and chemical additives other than natural vitamins. I have a list that I know to be human grade meats without chemical additives. Most of these brands can be found in most small non chain pet stores.
Artemis Holistic
Canidae/Felidae
Eagle Pack
Innova
Merrick
Natural Life
Petguard
Precise
It is also best to feed your pets canned rather than dry. Another food which are good are Steve’s Raw and Bravo. It is ok and the best way to feed you pet is home cooked. Although be advised that different things need to be supplement to a home cook diet for your pet such as fatty acids and bone meal and other things. Best to find a vet in your area that can give you a good fortefied recipe to a suitable diet that is well balanced and fully nutritional. I hope I have helped a few with questions. Bye

MELAMINE WARNING!

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dog allergies to chicken

When a dog has skin problems, we rarely suspect these as food allergies or sensitivities. As most dogs keep eating the same type of dog food for years, the food usually escapes our radar as the problem. But dogs, like humans, can develop sensitivity to any food or additive at any time. Recent estimates indicate that 10 to 15 percent of all allergic skin diseases in dogs are caused by food allergy. In such cases, they should be given allergy dog food, i.e., food that does not cause allergic reactions.

As dog food is made up of a combination of ingredients, it is difficult to pinpoint exactly which is causing the allergy. The most common ingredients that can cause problems in a dog include beef, chicken, corn, eggs, fish, lamb, milk, preservatives, pork, soy, wheat, and whey.

The primary symptom that appears in a dog having food allergy is itchy skin.

Other symptoms may include anal itching, ear inflammations, hair loss, licking front paws, loss of appetite, face rubbing, and head shaking. Sometimes asthma-like symptoms, behavioral changes, diarrhea, flatulence, seizures, sneezing, and vomiting can also be observed.

When you conclude after consultations with your veterinarian, that food may be the underlying cause of your dog’s allergy, then you can begin an elimination diet. Discard all the foods in the dog’s diet that are included in the list above, and give him/her allergy dog food, which may be a commercial or homemade diet comprising ingredients the dog has never eaten before.

The homemade allergy dog food should comprise two parts starch and one part protein. Duck, salmon, soy, venison, and rabbit may form the protein part, and rice and potatoes the starch, but soy and rice cannot be always called safe substitutes. Some animal medical centers recommend duck and potato based foods as allergy dog food.

You can also choose a special commercial food blends as allergy dog food. As the homemade food is not nutritionally complete, it should not be continued for more than 8 weeks.

Whatever allergy dog food you choose for your pet, it should be the only food the dog ingests during the elimination period. So, say adieu to table scraps, dog biscuits, dog bones, rawhide chews, vitamins, minerals or chewable heartworm pills.

If symptoms improve during the elimination period, you can reintroduce each of the eliminated food items one at a time. Each food should be tested for a week before another is introduced. This will help you to pinpoint which foods may be causing problems if symptoms resurface. And once you detect the offensive food, it will be easier for you to choose the right allergy dog food to keep your pet free from allergy.

UNTITLED: “Dog” (Episode Three)

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dog allergies help

Has your doctor diagnosed you with an allergy to cats? Do you own cats? Do you consider them your babies? Can you not live without them? Just because you have an allergy to cats, it doesn’t mean you necessarily have to give them away. There are some things you can do to help you and your beloved feline live together despite your cat allergy.

First, most people who say they are allergic to cats are really not allergic to cats at all but instead to their saliva. Because cats groom themselves regularly, their fur is covered with this dried saliva, or dander as it is called.

Since cats also shed regularly, their fur, which is coated in dander, is left where ever they may go in your home. It may settle in the carpet, on couches and drapes. Every time you clean this fur and dander is stirred up in the air, making your allergy symptoms worse.

If you find discover you have a cat allergy, the best idea is to keep your cat outside. If this is not possible because the animal is declawed, there are a few things you can do to make your life less miserable because of allergies.

First, you might want to limit your cat’s roaming to only one or two rooms of your house. After petting or playing with your feline, wash your hands thoroughly, especially before touching your face or nose. Also, never allow the cats to sleep in your bed with you.

Next, there are several ways you can help reduce the amount of cat dander that stays in your home. You might think about replacing cloth curtains or drapes with plastic or wooden blinds.

It will also help if you remove the carpet from your house and replace it with linoleum, hardwood or tile floors. These changes mean you can clean your home better and get rid of more cat dander. While these actions may be costly, they are worth the effort for those who really love their cats.

If you can’t replace your carpets because you rent your home or apartment, there are still several ways to clean more cat dander out of the existing carpet. First, there are new vacuums with extra powerful suction made specifically for removing pet hair from carpet, rugs and upholstery. Certain air filters and air cleaners can also help to cut down on the amount of dander floating in your air.

Another suggestion is to try is bathing your cat, or having him bathed, on a weekly basis. Although your cat wonÂ’t like this idea that much, the weekly bath may help to cut down on some of the dander on the fur. Another option is to have your cat shaved.

While this may sound strange, many veterinarians’ offices offer this service for less than $50. Cats with less hair will understandably have less dander. An added bonus is that they will also shed less and have fewer hairballs.

Finally, you might consult with your doctor to see if he can suggest an allergy medication that might with your cat allergy. He may suggest allergy shots, a prescription strength allergy medication or even an over-the-counter allergy treatment. You and your doctor can work together to find the best solution for your particular cat allergy.

For those who love cats, finding out that they have a cat allergy may be the worst news they can receive. While it may seem the only option is to give away their beloved pet, there are some things they can try in order to get allergy relief, but still keep their cat.

Help The Animal Shelter 6: Dog Allergies

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dog allergies pictures

If you’re a new pet owner and you want to show your new dog off to the world, why not start with a dog blog? New parents write about their babies, new car owners talk about their cars, so if you have a new dog in your family, why not open up a dog blog of your own? Are there people out there that would even care to read it? Once you have a dog blog, what exactly can you write in there?

The interest in a dog blog is there for both writers and readers. Many people love dogs, and love to hear stories about other dogs. You can share stories about a new trick you taught your dog, or maybe pose a question for other dog lovers to get advice. A state senator from the state of Washington recently introduced a bill that would allow pets and their owners to be buried together in the same people cemetery. Maybe a fun question to ask your readers, if you were the owner of a dog blog, is whether they would consider being buried in a pet cemetery instead.

You can share your thoughts, stories, and laughs with your readers in a dog blog, get their reactions, and really expand on a community that lives outside of your neighborhood. Maybe you can write in the voice of your dog, telling stories from their point of view. Or you could write about tips you’ve learned in the caring of your dog, such as how to bring an outdoor dog into the home. Share the tips behind housetraining, from knowing where they can go, where their food is, and what parts of the house are off limits.

A dog blog can be fun, informative, or anything you want it to be. Add a gallery to show off pictures. Open a forum to give your readers another way to share their own stories. Create surveys so you can get an idea of what other people think about certain issues. React to news stories about animals, like when Hurricane Katrina hit Louisiana a few years ago. Many blogs popped up immediately after, talking about the poor dogs that were left behind to fend for themselves, some people wondering how that could happen. Dog blogs can be a powerful voice, giving animals and their owners a chance to be heard, to share stories, and to make a difference.

Rocky

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Is Costco’s Kirkland brand Super Premium Dog Food really “Super Premium” or better than a grocery store brand?

With two large dogs one goes through dog food fairly fast, so I’m trying to find something that is not real expensive but still a quality diet. I have a Costco membership and noticed their “Super Premium Adult Lamb and Rice” dog food today. They also had a Chicken and Vegetables blend. The ingredients looked good – no by-products, etc., but I’m not an expert when it comes to individual food analysis.

Does anyone feed this brand to their dogs? Has your experience been good/bad? Thanks so much!
The first ingredient was lamb, the second was lamb meal, and the third was brown rice….

Yes, yes yes yes yes! Kirkland is the generic version of one of Diamond’s food (I don’t remember which style off the top of my head). It is a very high quality feed. I give it to my four dogs and have had seen a significant reduction of skin and hair problems, and the four I have all have thicker, fuller coats than their same-breed friends who eat Purina’s Pro Plan. We used to feed the lamb based food but were told that the chicken decreases flatulance so we switched and have not had a problem. I highly recommend it.

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dog allergies to frontline

Spring season is not always a happy and exciting period for some dog owners and also for their sensitive dogs. During this time of the year, most dogs often suffer from some sort of allergies and you can only notice these allergic reactions around their three to six years of age. These dog allergies may even get worse every year. Your dog can be able to acquire or obtain these sensitivities through the air, from the food they eat and from their own bodies as well.

As a dog owner, it is your obligation to take good care of your pet during times when he/she suffers from these allergies. It is your task to provide and give medications to your pet’s allergy in order for him/her to survive the season. In order for you to determine if your dog has an allergy, you should observe him first. The thing is even if you do not perform any observation you can still notice when your dog suffers from any allergy. Your pet dog is suffering from allergy when he scratches too much, he/she loses fur or hair, rubbing off his face, shakes his/ her head all the time, loss of appetite, coughing, sneezing, suffering from diarrhea and so many other unusual practices. These are the most common symptoms that you will notice when your pet dog starts to suffer pain due to allergy.

First, you need to look for any allergy indications in your dog’s body, particularly in your pet’s skin. In fact, you can be able to notice immediately the symptoms and the indications. In addition, itchiness and rashes can also be an allergy indication of your pet. These series of warning signs are often noticed all throughout the spring season wherein your pet can be able to inhale the allergies blown up in this season, and the most common allergies, which your dog can acquire are the flea allergies.

In order to prevent your dog allergy from worsening, you must make your first move. You should consult your nearest veterinarian to get some advices and first aids. It is very important to follow all the prescription of your dog’s veterinarian.

You can also apply some natural medications instead of the artificial ones. We all know that some dog’s medicines have side effects that would not be good to their health. There are actually a lot of natural medicines for dog allergies that are sold in the market today. Instead of using steroid medicines, corticosteroids, NSAIDs or the antihistimines medicines, you can use the alternative one – the skin and coat tonic. This type of natural medicine contains natural herbs that will treat and heal your dog’s dry peeling skin, eczema, and itching problems. In addition, it can quickly heal the dog’s skin wounds due to scratches and some infections.

You really need to pay attention to your dog’s health. If they have the symptoms that will indicate allergies, then give him first aid right away. Do not ignore the warning signs for it might get worse and your dog will definitely suffer from those spring allergies. Thus, make sure to protect and secure your pets during the spring time.

It is very imperative to take good care of your pets, not only in spring time but also in all seasons. Let us provide them their needs and make them feel our deep affection for them.

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dog allergies wiki

Business Case For Adoption: The Federal Perspective

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dog cancer awareness
Whats the website to buy cancer awareness critters?

I’ve ordered from them before you could choose from a monkey a cow a dog a cat and sum others i cant remember the website tho anybody know?

Choose Hope, Inc.

http://www.choosehope.com/commerce/catalog.jsp?catId=56

sells bears.

Help Three Legged Dogs with New Ruffwear Web Master Harness

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dog food samples uk

Quarantine means a six month kennel stay to ensure that a pet is not incubating one of a number of contagious diseases. For many years there was no alternative but quarantine for pets entering this country – the principal concern being to maintain our rabies – free state. However, the advent of improved identification techniques and better preventative medicines now means that the alternative Pet Travel Scheme is available, operated by DEFRA (Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs).

Requirements of the Scheme

Microchipping
A microchip must be implanted into a dog or cats scruff. The microchip is about the size of a grain of rice and is implanted by injection, usually, but not necessarily, by a veterinarian. Most pets react very little to this injection, but it may be a little painful. The chip carries a unique identity number which is logged along with the owners details onto a central data base. At every stage of the procedures listed the microchip will be checked by means of a scanner, which detects the individual number.
The cost of microchipping can vary between £10 – £30.

Vaccination
Dogs and cats should have a current vaccination against the common contagious diseases according to established UK protocols.

Rabies vaccination will need to be administered, This can be done at any time but will commonly be the first step of the Travel Scheme Program alongside microchipping. There are several rabies vaccination products licensed for use in the UK. Currently all of the vaccines are licensed to be used as a single injection. However, the chance of an inadequate response to the vaccination can be reduced by giving a second injection after a period of 2-4 weeks. Manufacturers data sheets state a booster requirement at one, two, or three year intervals. Unfortunately the requirements of European states differ, which often means that an annual booster is necessary.
Blood testing for post vaccination rabies antibodies
It is necessary to have proof of a positive response to the rabies vaccination. This is achieved by a blood test to measure anti-rabies antibodies. The test can now be taken by your veterinary surgeon from fourteen days after the rabies vaccination is administered. The sample must be sent to a government approved laboratory who will issue the submitting veterinary surgeon with a certificate stating the antibody response.
Re-entry to the UK is not permitted until six months after the date of a positive blood sample being taken, although pets can leave the UK at any time.

Passport
On receipt of a satisfactory result for the rabies response, a veterinary surgeon can supply your pets passport. This is a uniquely numbered book in which all details of microchip identification, vaccinations and blood testing are entered alongside records of administration of parasite treatments given prior to re-entry to the UK.

Parasite control
Because of the risk of contracting certain worms and ticks which can act as carriers for serious infectious diseases (Leishmaniasis, transmitted by sand flies and Ehrlichiosis, transmitted by Ticks)
it is necessary to treat pets for these parasites prior to re-entry. Several wormer products are available including Drontal Plus, and Milbemax tablets. Tick control can be achieved using Scalibor collars and Advantix, Advocate and Frontline spot on products. It is necessary for the administration of a suitable product to be witnessed by a vet 24-48 hours prior to re-entry.

UK | Alot Of Free Things From Professional Companies | Part 3 | HD

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