Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Welcome To The Automatic Pet Feeder For 5 Star Treatment


You could possibly consider an Automatic Pet Feeder to be a bit of an extravagance. Almost like a cat or dog restaurant on tap. Some of these feeders are quite sophisticated as well. They have timers of course, in order to manage the automatic delivery. but some actually allow you to record your voice as well, so that your pet hears your dulcet tones and helps avoid pet stress.

Some models actually have an ice cooler as well. This is great if you want to leave fresh food available for your cat or dog (or even rabbit). Normally speaking you would leave dry food because there might be a risk of fresh food going off if there was a delay in your returning. Having an ice store helps keep fresh food up to scratch, so that your pet can continue living in the manner to which they have become accustomed.

The other advantage is if you want to keep your pet on a strict eating schedule. Many pets do become overweight from a combination of over eating and lack of exercise. You can certainly place some control over the former by using an Automatic Pet Feeder. The best ones have multiple set up times so that you can set the food to be delivered at very specific times. You would not normally leave your pet on their own for any amount of time. You might want to feed them in the evening for example, if you knew that you would be home late. All the models that I have come across work for a minimum of 24 hours. Some do operate over longer period though, up to 4 or 5 days even.

Maybe you are away on holiday and you have someone dog or cat sitting, and don't want to tie tour helper down too much. Either way. these gadgets do offer a great deal of flexibility.

By. Charlie Cory

How To Stop Dog Aggression Toward Other Dogs



Does your dog show aggression to all dogs regardless of size, breed, or sex? Did you know that this aggression is brought on by fear? This can be caused by some traumatic experience when your dog was young, or sometimes it may even be inherited. Regardless of what brought on your dog's aggressive behavior, it is important for you know the corrective measures that you must take so that you will know how to stop dog agression towards other dogs. Did you know that this aggression is brought on by fear? This can be caused by some traumatic experience when your dog was young, or sometimes it may even be inherited. Regardless of what brought on your dog's aggressive behavior, it is important for you know the corrective measures that you must take, as this behavior is not only annoying, but it can also be dangerous.

Dog aggression is his way of communicating his personality, and you can get a handle on his aggression, however it does require training. If you decide training your dog yourself is the way to go, then you must have patience with your dog. This will take time and patience on your part, and remember that dogs are not instant like we are. They move at their own pace.

Here are a couple of tips for you to keep in mind while you are learning how to stop dog aggression toward other dogs:
  • Don't take your dog to places where there will be a lot of other dogs that your dog does not know
  • If your dog gets attacked by another dog, removed him from the situation immediately
  • Don't use physical force as punishment-this will frighten them more
  • Taking a detached attitude with your dog-let them know you are boss
Training your dog can be a rewarding experience for both you and your dog. Not only does it put you in control, but makes your and your dog more confident with each other. If you look at it this way, your dog is heeling, lying down, or staying, he will not be preparing himself for aggression.

When you learn how to distract your dog's aggressiveness, you cool down the situation, then you can simply walk away from a situation that might other wise be trauma for you and your dog. It is always a must that you give your dog a reward when he has calmed down. A typical reward would be some kind of food that is a treat for your dog. After time, he will start picking up that if he does this or that, he gets a treat, and that could be his motivation, consistency in this department will determine your success.

By. Paula Snyder

Monday, November 9, 2009

Dental Care For Your Dog!


When you want to make sure that your dog stays in good health throughout his life, you will find that you need to look into how to take care of his teeth. Most people don't think much about the dental care of their dogs, but the truth of the matter is that when your dog gets no dental care, you will find that his general health and his digestive health are going to suffer from it. Dirty teeth and gums that get no attention are actually severe health risks, especially as your dog gets older and if you want to keep your dog in good condition, you will discover that there are a few things that you need to know.

Just about every problem that humans have with their teeth, dogs can get as well. If your dog has had no dental care by the time that he is six, there is a significant chance that he is going to have gingivitis or some other persistent dental issue. The issue that dogs are looking at is that tartar and bacteria will build up and with no attempt being made to clean them, they are going to get infected. Because of their location, the infection can get into the blood stream and go on to cause more health issues.

If you re interested in moving forward and making sure that your dog can enjoy good dental health, preventative measures are quite important. If your dog gets to a point where he needs surgery to deal with these issues, this can be quite pricey and even dangerous for him. On the other hand, through a regular regimen of tooth brushing and mouthwash, you can make sure that your dog's gums and teeth stay health. Your veterinarian can recommend good products to you for this purpose and if necessary, can show you how to use them to ensure your dog's health.

Another trick that you might need to consider is looking into treating your dog with a chunk of very tough rare meat. Essentially, you need to look into stew beef and chunk steaks because they have a lot of connective tissue. Because the meat is so tough, your dog will spend a fair amount of time chewing on it and the connective tissue will essentially act like dental floss. If you can find meat on bones that will not splinter, the bones can also scrape some tartar away. If you want to make sure that the meat does not introduce harmful bacteria to your dog's system, simply dunk it into boiling water for thirty seconds.

If you are looking for tools that will make it easier to brush your dog's teeth and if you are interested in making sure that your dog won't dread having his teeth brushed, look into toothpastes that come in chicken, liver and beef flavors. Avoid using human toothpaste because some of the materials there will be unpleasant or even unhealthy for your dog. It can take some time to make your accustomed to this process, so be patient!

Taking care of your dog's teeth is quite important, so see what you can do!

Diabetes in Young Dogs


By. Kelly Marshall

Diabetes is a major concern no matter what gender, age, or even species you are. In addition to more children being diagnosed as a diabetic, it is also being found that some dogs, and puppies alike, can suffer from the lack of insulin as well. It is believed that some pups develop diabetes due to an autoimmune disorder or damage caused to the pancreas of the puppy from having parvovirus. It also seems to be an inherited trait most commonly passed along in the breed of Gold Retrievers. Larger dogs are often more prone to diabetes than small breeds of dogs. Overweight dogs are also at higher risk. While the disease once mainly attacked older dogs, pups and younger dogs are now more commonly being diagnosed also.

As with people, there are two types of diabetes that dogs may experience. Those two types are Diabetes insipidus and Diabetes mellitus. Diabetes insipidus is formed by the lack of a certain hormone that aids in water absorption of the kidney. Diabetes mellitus is commonly divided into two subtypes: Type I and Type II. These types are characterized by the lack of insulin. Diabetes mellitus is the more common type.

Diabetes in dogs can be identified in pups by several different factors. Inadequate growth is probably the most noticeable symptom of a puppy with diabetes. The puppy fails to continue growing although it is hungry and eats heartedly. The pup will lose weight and may even become paralyzed, often in the hind quarter, to an extent. As with humans, dogs with diabetes may be thirsty and drink more often and also urinate more often than typically expected. If your pup or dog appears weaker, thirstier, is losing weight and urinating more often, then diabetes is a strong possibility.

If it is suspected that a dog or puppy has diabetes, there are several health complications that could result from no treatment or lack of proper care. High levels of sugar in the blood are potentially toxic to certain organs in the body. Diabetes may reduce the number of years of life that the dog lives and cause organ failure.

In most cases, injections are the only treatment that is effective at controlling diabetes in canines. Control through diet or pills are often ineffective for use in dogs. The pet owner must administer daily insulin injections. In addition, the level of sugar should be examined through blood testing and testing of the urine periodically and to determine the correct amount of insulin to give through shots. It is also important to monitor the feeding amount and schedule of the pet.

It is possible to have a dog with diabetes that appears as healthy as dogs without the disease. With the proper monitoring and care, the dog may live as long as or longer than the expected life span of any healthy dog. However, diabetes must be detected, diagnosed, and carefully treated. This takes much dedication, love, and attention on the behalf of the dog's owner.

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Heat Stroke in Dogs - the Truth About Canine Heat Stroke


Heat stroke in dogs is a life-threatening situation. When your dog's body temperature rises too high, numerous organs can become damaged. The most important organs put at risk include the heart, liver, kidneys, and brain. Canine heat stroke usually affects older or overweight dogs. Those that are less than six months old are also at risk. Also, dogs that have a heavy or dark coat are more at risk.

Causes

Your dog's body temperature should be between 100 and 102.5 Fahrenheit. Various factors can cause it to rise. Heat stroke is normally brought about when dogs are locked in parked cars or other areas with little ventilation. In addition to heat and poor ventilation, excessive humidity or muscular activity can cause heat stroke in dogs. Other factors that increase your dog's risk are his weight and age.
Symptoms

Canine heat stroke can bring about a range of symptoms. In the early stages of the stroke, your dog will start to salivate excessively. As the condition gets worse, his gums will turn dry and turn dark pink. Most dogs also experience weakness, diarrhea, and vomiting. Your dog's heart rate will also rise which will cause him to pant much more than normal.

Treatment

It is very important to treat heat stroke in dogs as soon as possible. Failure to treat the condition promptly can cause chronic problems in the future or even death. Your dog's body temperature needs to be lowered quickly. If you choose to take him to a vet immediately, you should put some ice packs on your dog to help lower the temperature. At the very least, you should roll down the windows or use the air conditioner on the drive to the veterinarian's office.

Treatment involves administering fluids intravenously. As mentioned earlier, canine heat stroke can cause damage to various organs such as the liver and kidneys. Therefore, the veterinarian will monitor your dog's liver and kidney function for a few days after the stroke.

Prevention

There are a few important things you can do to prevent heat stroke in dogs. Most importantly, you should never lock your dog in the car on a hot, sunny day for too long. If you leave your dog in the car, make sure the windows are rolled down far enough to provide plenty of ventilation. Also, if your dog is outside on hot days, make sure he has plenty of water to drink so he doesn't become dehydrated.

By. D Swain