Dog Health Blog

Millions Of Pets Are Euthanized Every Year, Simply Because
People Never Learn How To Choose And Care For A New Animal
In Their Home

(New York) Dec. 31 — Owning a pet is as American as apple
pie. Whether people choose to bring a dog or cat into their
home for companionship or protection, pet ownership is a
high priority for a majority of people.

So, why is it that, according to the American Society For
The Prevention of Cruelty To Animals between 5 and 9
million pets are euthanized in animal shelters every year?

“The problem is that people really never learn how to care
for their animals,” said noted pet expert Kath Turner.
“They choose pets that are inappropriate for their
lifestyle, don’t learn how to train them properly and
finally give up when they don’t end up with the perfect dog
sitting in their living room.”

Turner works with .the group Pets As Therapy - which brings
animals into nursing homes to help provide love and
companionship for elderly patients. She has also worked as
a dog breeder for most of her adult life.

“People have this vision that all they need to do is find a
cute puppy and bring it home and everything will be fine
and dandy,” Turner commented. “Most people don’t realize
that having a dog in your home is a real commitment for
years to come. Your dog will be almost completely dependent
on you - and if you don’t know how to be a responsible dog
owner you will be doing yourself and your pet a great
disservice.”

Turner pointed out that many people don’t really understand
the how different types of dogs have different
personalities and have never really learned how to figure
out what type of dog would best meet their lifestyle.

“It’s also sad that people don’t realize they they will
have to protect their home before bringing a new puppy
through the front door,” Turner said. “I’ve heard of people
who’ve taken their dog to the animal shelter because he
ruined their expensive furniture. It’s not fair - because
dogs only behave that way if their owners are not prepared
to deal with them.

Learning how to properly feed and train a new pooch are two
of the most elemental - yet least understood skills
relating to pet ownership, Turner said, noting that people
who just grab random dog food at the supermarket may
actually be hurting their beloved canines.

“I will never get over the neglect and misunderstanding
I’ve seen when it comes to dog ownership,” Turner said. “In
a society as prosperous as ours there is no reason that up
to 9 million former pets are put to sleep every year simply
because people didn’t bother to learn the basics about
taking care of their new friends.”

Turner says many people don’t even understand the basics of
dog ownership including how to find the right vet, the many
differences among dog breeds or even how to train and care
for dogs and puppies.

“It’ doesn’t take a lot of work to treat a dog right,”
Turner said “as long as you are willing to make an effort
to understand their needs.”

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Dogs deserve to live a long and healthy life but 1,000’s
suffer an early death simply because their owners are
getting it wrong.Find out more at
http://www.thenewdogxpert.com No automatic download at present. Email for a copy.

You hit the pet shop on a mission - to find the perfect
tough dog toy for your new pooch. So, you hit the dog chew
toy aisle, only to find thousands of different choices.
Big ones, little ones, brightly colored ones, black and
white ones ‘ you name it, they’ve got it. So, in the midst
of all these wonderful dog toys, how do you pick the right
dog chew toy for your favorite pooch? We have a few tips
and ideas to help you in our short guide to buying safe and
fun toys for your dogs:

1. Know your dog. Do a little research on the breed before
you head out to the local pet shop for a dog chew toy. Is
the breed a chaser? Is the breed bred to fight? Knowing
what traits your dog possesses is a key ingredient to
picking the right dog chew toy that your pet will love. A
tiny bit of research on the net about the breed of your dog
can help you to know if you should get a lovable plush dog
toy or an indestructible dog toy for your pooch to pull on.

2. Choose the right size. If you have a toy breed, you
don’t want a huge dog chew toy. So, when you are looking
through all the indestructible or plush dog toy choices at
the pet shop, make sure that you choose one that will fit
in your dog’s mouth so they will be able to play with the
plush dog toy or indestructible dog toy, not just stare at
it.

3. Inspect the dog chew toy before you buy it. When you are
looking through the choices of dog chew toys, make sure
that you inspect it before you buy it. Make sure that
there are no small pieces that can fall off and choke your
pet or strings that can come unraveled and wrap around your
pet. Pull on the dog chew toy, tug on it, twist it, even
try to rip it apart. If you can’t, then it’s probably a
good pick. If you can, then stash it behind some others
and move on!

Knowing what traits your dog’s breed possesses and a little
about your dog will be the major determining factor in what
type of dog chew toy that you should choose. You can also
find some great ideas for homemade dog toys online when you
are doing research on your dog’s breed. You will know when
you have picked the perfect dog chew toy when your pet
won’t leave it alone

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For information about dog toys, visit
http://www.find-my-product.com/dogdotcom.htm The article
brought to you by ==> http://www.find-my-product.com

Keeping Your Pet Safe In The Warm Weather Months
Copyright © Laurie Raphael
http://dogadditions.com

The hot summer months can pose a real threat to pets. Cats and dogs simply cannot tolerate extreme temperatures. As a responsible pet owner, you need to make sure that your pet is safe during these warm weather months. Here are some tips to help you and your pet.

Never leave an animal in a car: All pet owners should know the dangers of leaving any pet in a hot car, even if it is just for a few minutes. This especially applies to dog owners. Dogs love riding in the car and it is very tempting to let your dog ride to the grocery store with you. However, pet owners should never leave cats or dogs inside a car during hot weather. Even with the windows open, a car parked in the hot sun can reach sweltering temperatures. Pets left in hot cars can die within minutes or can suffer from severe dehydration. The best rule of thumb is the leave your pet at home in the cool air conditioner during the hot weather. You should also know that if you are a dog owner that allowing your dog a ride the bed of a truck could be very dangerous for a dog at any time of the year. One jolt can send your dog flying out of the bed of the truck, resulting in injury or worse. Even putting your dog unsupervised in the bed of a truck in a public place can be a recipe for disaster. Be extra careful with your pet during traveling. If you must travel with your dog or cat, secure your pet in the car and leave the air conditioning on at all times. Let your pets take frequent breaks on long trips and give them a chance to get a drink of water.

Be Careful Walking the Dog: There are many areas where the temperatures soar in the warm months. In places where the temperatures reach an all-time high, it is a good idea to walk your dog either in the morning or in the evening when temperatures are lower. During the summer, temperatures will be at the highest during midday. You should refrain from walking your dog during this time. Not only will you and your dog become hot and dehydrated, the hot concrete can burn your dog’s sensitive paws. When you do walk during hot weather, take along water for your dog and stop frequently to let your dog drink. Your dog will thank you for this.

Practice Proper Pet Grooming: It is always a good idea to keep your pet properly groomed, but it is especially important during the summer months. If your dog has very long fur, it is like wearing a fur coat in 95-degree weather. It is not comfortable to your pet. Also, keep an eye out for pets that have much of their fur trimmed off, such as poodles. Longhaired dogs can quickly overheat in the high temperatures. Poodles and other breeds with short cuts can get sunburned. Sunscreen does not protect dogs. With long haired dogs, regular brushing also helps remove the winter undercoat and can help your dog better regulate body temperatures during hot weather. Regular clipping of long hair can also help keep your dog cool. Even longhaired cats can benefit from a summer clipping. Longhaired cats are easily overheated, even if they do stay indoors.

Watch for Insects: Insects can be bothersome to your pet during the warm, summer months. Spring and summer are when fleas and ticks are the highest. Mosquitoes are also out during this time of year. It is always a good idea to make sure your dog and cat are getting their monthly flea and tick preventative. Your dog also needs to stay current on heartworm preventative, as mosquito bites can cause heartworms. Also, keep a first aid kit on hand for bee or wasp stings.

Outdoor safety: Summer is often when people spend a lot of times outdoors. Whether it is working in the yard, visiting the lake or swimming in the pool, you need to take extra caution when your pets are with you outside. If you mow your yard or put chemicals on the grass, be sure your pets are indoors and away from the dangers. Also, if your dog enjoys the water, keep a close eye on your pet. Most pets can swim instinctively, but it is always a good idea to watch. If you enjoy taking your dog out boating, you can buy life preserver vests for your dog to wear. You can never be too safe when it comes to your beloved furry friend.

About the Author:

For your dogs health:
http://DogAdditions.com
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Author: David P Lee

As a dog owner, you want to be sure that you establish a healthy
and happy relationship with your new friend. Understanding how
to do that is the key to enjoying your pet. In this article, we
will discuss the five things that you as a dog owner should know.
After reading this article, you will have everything you need to
start creating the relationship you want with your dog.

First ‘need to know’ - Vet Visits

First of all, you are going to have to visit a veterinarian
sometimes. That is a given. Your new dog will need vaccinations,
checkups and he might get sick sometimes. Vets cost money and it
might be a good idea to check out pet insurance. The cost
depends on what procedures or treatment your dog needs. The main
thing is to realize that you will have to spend money on your
pet. So find out what you can expect to spend every six months
on vet bills, vaccinations, flea control products, etc and start
saving!

#2 Tip - Who’s The Top Dog?

Dogs do like to pretend to be in charge of everything but the
truth is that you are the boss so you have to set rules
consistently and enforce them. Dogs are intelligent creatures
and are able to follow rules. They are also able to casually
break them and pretend not to know better. If you are not strict
with them over some misbehavior, they will continue behaving in
that way. In some ways, you can treat a dog like a child. Be
patient but firm.

Third ‘need to know’ - Routine Is King

Dogs like routines. They like habits and they like things done a
certain way. They know what time they get fed, what they are
expected to do and when they can expect a walk. Meal times
should be consistent and the dog needs to sleep in the same
place every night. Even if you find routines dull, your dog
finds them comforting.

#4 Tip - Exercise and Food

We require food and exercise and so do our dogs. You should feed
your dog healthy food and not too many treats or table scraps.
Save those for a special occasion or to reward your dog for
something special. Your dog needs exercise to maintain a healthy
body and stay free from diseases.

#5 Tip - The Excited Puppy

Watch your puppy, if you have ever had a toddler, you will
notice the semblance. For puppies and dogs, everything they can
get their mouth on becomes a chew toy. Shoes, clothes,
television remotes, electrical cords, and anything that is
within their reach becomes a new chew toy. It is important to
keep these things out of their reach and teach them that their
actual chew toys are the only acceptable chew toys. Be sure that
you keep a healthy supply of chew toys available for your dog.

About the author:
David Lee is the owner & designer of several pet sites. Find
info on dog food recall, German Shepherd puppy or cat furniture.

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On Sale Now at Only Natural Pet Store

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Author: Aaron Wilmont

The recent food recalls have truly hit North America by storm.

Merely a day after the first dry food was added to the more than
fifty dog brands and forty plus cat brands affected by the
recall, the list was further expanded on March 31 to also
include a new brand even as authorities were baffled as to why
the substance would kill dogs and cats, according to a report on
Excite News.

Nestle Purina PetCare Co. said it was recalling all sizes and
all varieties of the Alpo Prime Cuts & Gravy wet dog food with
certain date codes. They stated that some of the food had a
contaminated wheat gluten that was from China. This gluten is
supplied to numerous brands in fact.

For instance this same U.S. supplier furnished wheat gluten,
which is a protein source, to a Canadian firm, Menu Foods, which
this month recalled recalled some million containers of wet dog
and cat food it produces for sale under nearly one hundred brand
labels.

On April second another major supplier took a hit when the
Science Diet announced a recall.

This was particularly significant because this was a brand that
many veternarians had been recommending for some time.

The next day Yahoo News reported that many dog and cat owners
were cooking or otherwise preparing their own food for their
animals.

Menu Foods and the FDA, which regulates the pet food industry,
have refused to identify the firm which supplied the
contaminated wheat gluten in question.

Does this indicate menu Foods and other big suppliers are
policing themselves?

In this era of Enron, Worldcom, and corporate greed in general,
is it a good idea to let the big boys police themselves?

Is that fair to our pets, who cannot speak out on their own? To
me, the fact that the powers that be who regulate the industry
refuse to disclose the name of the Chinese forim providing the
badingredient seems to reinforce some suspicions that I have.
Protecting this company but not protecting our pets? I am
recommending to everyone that will listen to buy a premium dog
or cat food for their pet.

Hill’s Pet Nutrition has stated on the 30th of March that its
Prescription Diet m/d Feline dry cat food included the tainted
wheat gluten. The FDA said the source was the same unidentified
company. Hill’s, a division of Colgate-Palmolive Co.

Meanwhile, a May 6 article in the Progressive Grocer stated that
Wegmans cat food had also been ‘pulled into the web of the
notorious Menu Foods pet food recall’.

This firm has added to it’s rather extensive recall list some
items that do not have wheat gluten.

About the author:
Aaron Wilmot is a writer/researcher. More info. about premium
cat and dog food at Life’s
Abundance Premium Dog Food from Dr. Jane