The first common mistake is getting to close to the skin while shaving. The clippers can leave a nasty razor burn that can open its way to later infections. If you accidentally give your pet a burn while grooming, stop and apply first aid. Put on some anti-bacteria salve and if possible clean the wound. Hug you pet and let it know that you are sorry and it was an accident. Though they might not understand the words, your pet will understand the tone and will react accordingly. The emotional pain is just as bad as the physical. Watch the wound carefully and if it becomes red or issues puss, contact your veterinarian immediately. If the animal licks or otherwise irritates the wound, you might want to get a protective plastic collar to stop the behavior.

Another mistake in novice pet grooming is getting shampoo or other chemicals in your pet’s eye. Either from your mistake or from the animal’s head movement soap can splash. This unintentional act will sting your pet’s eyes and lead to an unpleasant pet grooming experience. Wash the soap out with water or saline solution and dab the corners of the eye with a sterile cloth. Sooth you animal and try to take the focus off their eyes and maybe gain their attention by showing them a favorite toy or ball. Hold the toy up so the pet can see it. Move the toy back and forth. As your pet tracks the toy, look into their eyes for signs of irritation.

A possible fatal mistake in pet grooming is leaving your animal unrestrained or loose during grooming. Some animals, especially cats hate baths and will run at any opportunity. Your dog and cat can put themselves in dangerous situations by trying to escape the pet grooming activity. They may run out in the street and be hit by a care or be attacked by a stray animal. Make sure your dog is at least on a leash. You may even want to put a muzzle on your pet to protect both you and them. If you wash your dog outside, wash it in a fenced yard so that the temptation to run will be short lived and safe.

Pet grooming is best left to a professional. The temptation to do it yourself may lead to a successful experience that will be cheaper. The bonding time with the animal is another perk to grooming your pet yourself. It can be rewarding for both parities involved if the proper safety tips are followed and you as the owner fill comfortable in the enterprise.

Natural dog food plays an important role in the overall development of your dog. These dog foods are highly nutritious and your dog will simply love it. Your dog will definitely stay healthy and fine if natural dog foods are given on a regular basis.

Natural dog food recipes are not difficult. In fact it is very easy to make natural dog food. Without any problem, you will be able to make these dog foods at home. All you require is access to some fresh natural ingredients. Natural dog food recipes also perform the preventing diseases. If you want to strengthen the immune system of your dog then natural dog food recipes are a must.

Your dog will no longer suffer from any kind of allergies or fleas. Natural dog food recipes are much better than processed pet food recipes. Some experts believe that processed food is responsible for causing illness. It may also lead to premature death of your dog. Lack of natural dog food may give rise to coat and skin problems and other serious health problems.

You can always take the help of internet if you want more knowledge about natural dog food recipes. There are a number of websites that provide natural dog food recipes.

Natural dog food recipes are a major source of energy and hence it is essential to feed your dog with these foods. Various natural dog food recipes are also published in the book. With the help of these books, you can make your own natural dog food diet at home. A recent survey has found that many are taking the help of books to prepare their own natural dog food.

Dogs not only survive but thrive on these natural dog food recipes. Here is one of the popular natural dog food recipe. This natural dog food recipe is safe and healthy for your dog

Akita Style Rice and Lamb: The ingredients of this dog food recipe are lamb, brown rice, broccoli, potatoes, carrots and kombi. The brown lamb is kept in a small fry pan. Cubed potatoes are added to the small fry pan. A small quantity of water is boiled in a crock pot and broccoli pieces are then added to the crock.

The ingredients in the fry pan are also then added in the crock. Mix these ingredients properly. Pepper is added for taste. So the next time you try to feed your dog with processed food, think twice as it may harm your dog.

Vitamin such as beta-carotene is helpful in removing toxins from the body commonly known as free radicals.

Animals normally eat meat thus, their bodies gain lots of toxic material and if toxic material is not removed from their body then, there is the chance of them getting infected with diseases of lungs and heart. It is good to give supplements of all natural food daily to keep their metabolic system free from infection and diseases.

All natural dog foods are a good source of fiber and antioxidants. Some of the natural foods contain manganese, phosphorous, calcium and potassium; all these vitamins and minerals are very much necessary in their diet. There are many vegetables rich in antioxidants such as, dark green and bright orange. By feeding all natural dog food in their meal is just like getting a insurance policy for your loving pet.

There are many brands of natural food available in the market for your pet. However, it is better to consult with your vet before feeding canned natural food.

Every pet owner feel his pet should have good breath, brilliant shining coat, clean teeth, bright clear eyes and be healthy all the time. For ultimate health, the pet should have good quality all natural food because a complete diet can only bring this affect to your adorable pet. One should take care of the health of their pet to enable them to live a longer life.

If the pets are properly fed food full of rich nutrition then it will be prevention against common veterinary disease. It is always suggested by veterinary doctors to give holistic food to pet because home made food because it keeps your pet away from artificial ingredients.

Certain food should be avoided, such as food containing high amounts of oil and low cost food supplement such as protein capsules. Thus, this type of food lead to digestive problem and similarly some pets face the problem of hair falling out.

All natural dog food has its own advantages and doctors say it is better to give natural food to pet. Natural food also affects the behavior of pet, it makes them more active and playful.

So feed your dogs with all natural dog food to keep them healthier.

Puppies and newborn children are very similar in some ways. They both get their immunity from the mothers milk. However, they both require additional help to make sure they are continuously protected from germs and diseases. For a puppy, he or she should have its first shots by the time it is 8 weeks old. A booster shot or second shot should be given around 4 weeks after the puppy receives its first set of shots.

The rabies vaccine is an extremely vital shot for your dog to have. Rabies is a disease that will kill your dog if he or she contracts it. Typically, a dog contracts rabies from the saliva of another animal that has rabies. Typically this can be done from a fight with a fox, chasing a squirrel or a raccoon to name just a mere few animals that can give your dog rabies.

Your puppy can have a rabies vaccine as early as 16 weeks old. However, another follow up booster shot needs to be given a year after the original shot. This is the best way to protect yourself, your family and your dog from contracting this fatal disease.

It is common in puppies and in dogs to have some side effects as a result of being injected with the immunizations. It is wise for you to watch your dog closely and monitor his or her behavior after a trip to the veterinarians office. Watch for signs of being lethargic, disoriented, vomiting, trembling and swelling of the face. If you notice any of these symptoms immediately contact your vet.

You should also take into consideration the age of the dog going for vaccines. If the dog is only 8 weeks old, you will need to pay much closer attention to the way he or she is acting after the immunizations. Trembling is most common in young puppies after immunizations.

Different shots are best to be given to puppies at certain ages. Speak with your vet about the appropriate age your dog should be when he or she gets specific immunizations. Generally, a puppy will have its first set of shots around 8 weeks old. The final set of puppy immunizations should be given around 16 weeks of age.

The rabies vaccination should be given every year for the safety of your dog and yourself. It is important that you keep each scheduled appointment for your dogs shots. It is quite simple to put them off and say you are going to reschedule, but more often than not, you might forget to make the appointment.

Jasmine Tupniak

www.mypuppycaresite.com

For more information and resources on dog and puppy care, visit My Puppy Care Site

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Dog food production has ‘developed’ in the past few decades but the life-span of these beloved animals have gotten shorter in contrast. The reason: because these ‘developments’ actually benefit commercial dog food manufacturers more than they do the dogs. It means using poor-quality and even toxic ingredients to ensure cheaper costs of production and longer shelf life. It means very poor nutrition for your pet so that these companies can make higher profits.

The truth about most available dog products is that they are made from low-grade grains, unthinkable meat by-products and artificial preservatives that are not fit for humans and pets to eat. For instance, substitution for meat protein and good carbohydrates are often done with poor-quality grain meals using soybean, corn, gluten, and wheat. These ingredients in fact commonly cause allergies in pets. Meanwhile, the meat ingredients typically used can include unwanted body parts of animals like the neck, head, guts, feet, lungs, and bones. Even harder to the stomach is that these can come from animals that are diseased, dying or already dead and decaying. All of these are mercilessly dumped, ground and mixed into a more acceptable form called ‘meal’ and made into dog food.

To add to this already unhealthy mix, chemical ingredients used by dog food manufacturers have been found to cause early dog deaths due to heart disease, kidney failure and certain cancers. So why pay for junk that will eventually kill your dog?

Dogs age much faster than humans and they require the same quality of nutrition as ours. Naturally, like any other kind of animal, a dog needs fresh and healthy food too. The ideal diet for your pet should consist of high-quality protein, carbohydrates, natural fats, fiber, and even antioxidants. Chicken and fish are good sources of protein that you can look for in dog food. Eggs also provide protein, amino acids, biotin, sulfur, as well as vitamins A, B, E, and K. For carbohydrates, brown rice is an easily digestible carb-source that is now being used as a dog food ingredient.

A new advancement in health food for dogs now includes antioxidants in the ingredients, specifically from whole foods like apples, carrots, celery, spinach, alfalfa leaf, and garlic. Grape seed extract is also being used for its antioxidants that may help slow down your dog’s aging and to keep its immune system strong. This new kind of dog food likewise has beet pulp, which is a source of fiber and the short chain fatty acids needed by good bacteria in the digestive tract. Lactobacillus acidophilus in this dog food similarly aids digestion by encouraging the growth of helpful bacteria.

By providing this kind of nutritious dog food, you can ensure that your pet will live healthier and stay by your side longer.

Lori Matthews studies health, nutrition and wellness. She enjoys writing articles on health for both people and pets. Please click here if you would like more information on Lifes Abundance natural dog food

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Okay, so what a vaccine is: So first we must discuss what a vaccine is. There are many types of vaccines available in human and animal medicine but currently many of our dog vaccines are modified live vaccines. This means that the scientist has slightly altered the virus so that it will still stimulate immunity but will not be able to cause disease in the patient, thus creating a safer vaccine. Immunity is just the body’s natural defense against infection. What a vaccine isn’t: Vaccines do not prevent disease in those animals already exposed to the virus. The vaccine must be present prior to exposure to provide time to grown adequate memory cells to aid in defense of the body. So, if you have a puppy that was exposed to parvo virus but not yet ill a vaccine will NOT prevent disease. How vaccines work: So many of us haven’t always understood why we need to vaccinate our pets (or children) we are just doing what is recommended by the doctor in an attempt to keep our loved one safe. As a veterinarian, I believe that it is important that owners understand why we vaccinate so that they have informed consent and know what they are protecting their pet with and against.

By giving a vaccine we are attempting to stimulate the dog’s immune system to create memory cells that will be saved in the body to fight the virus if they encounter it in the future. On the initial exposure to a virus (antigen) the immune system will create a few short lived memory cells but will not create lasting immunity. Therefore, we always provide one booster in 2-3 weeks to give a second boost to the immune system and create millions of long lived memory cells in the body. These cells are constantly circulating in the body looking for foreign invaders to attack and destroy thereby defending the body and providing the pet immunity to the virus.

Why are puppies given several vaccines? Neonate puppies or those recently born, receive all of their immunity from their mother through the uterus and the milk. The amount and level of immunity they receive is entirely dependent upon the mother’s vaccination and immunity status. Therefore a mother who has been poorly vaccinated, or even never vaccinated, will give poor immunity to her pups and those pups are at a very high risk of contracting and dying from very early infections such as parvo virus.

So, the mother’s immunity is very important in providing her pups early immunity from disease. The mother’s immunity will also block and prevent our vaccine from providing vaccinated immunity to the puppy. Also, based on her level of memory cells the mother’s immunity may last from a few weeks in the pups to as long as 4 months. This means that your newly purchased 8 week old puppy may or may not have immunity to infection. Without several costly blood tests, the best way of ensuring the puppy is protected is sequential vaccines over time.

But as we’ve said the mothers immunity blocks our vaccines so how do we know when her immunity is low enough for our vaccine to work but not so low that the pup is entirely unprotected? As we’ve learned puppies early in life are likely to be protected even from an infrequently vaccinated mother, therefore we do not typically need to vaccinate prior to 6 weeks of age. So we know that the best time to begin vaccines is from 6-8 weeks of age catching those pups that have limited or short term immunity. However some of these pups may have long immunity preventing our vaccine from working and preventing the puppy from receiving long lasting immunity to disease. The best way around this is to do sequential vaccines every 3 weeks for a series of 4 vaccines up to age 4 months. By doing this we are ensuring that the pups who have lost early immunity are protected at the proper time and we are also ensuring that the pups with longer lasting immunity are vaccinated long enough for our vaccine to work and a boosters to be given.

Summery to why sequential vaccines in pups: Start vaccines at 6-8 weeks Vaccinate every 3 wk up to 4 months old This will ensure early protection This will ensure the best lasting immunity Provide an additional vaccine booster at 18 months of age.

It is important to understand that even though there is a debate in our community about vaccinating adult animals that debate should not involve immature animals. The ONLY way of ensuring protection from deadly disease in puppies is to vaccinate them properly up to 1 year of age. At that point we have given them long lasting memory cells and may consider extending the subsequent intervals to every 2-3 years depending on the level of exposure and the vaccine used. Please vaccinate your puppies.

The most common core vaccine: Da2p-cpv:- Distemper virus- Adenovirus type 2- Parainfluenza- Parvo Virus

1. Canine Distemper Virus: is a disease of dogs only (although dogs can infect ferrets). The disease causes a variety of clinical signs from purulent (pus) nasal discharge and eye discharge with coughing to vomiting, diarrhea and seizures. Infected pets are often febrile (fever >103F) and very depressed/lethargic. The prognosis is very poor.

2. Canine adenovirus type 2: is also called canine infectious hepatitis and is a very serious disease that often isn’t seen in our area due to vaccination, but once was very common. There is also a type I vaccine that we don’t use because type 2 will protect against both types and type I vaccine causes eye inflammation commonly called blue eye.

3. Parainfluenza: is a dog disease that is part of the kennel cough complex. The virus works with the bordetella bacteria to cause a harsh unproductive cough. These pets typically have a history of exposure to other dogs (often in a kennel situation) and are typically normal except for a cough. They often respond well to treatment and supportive care.

4. Canine Parvo Virus: Is a life threatening disease of puppies and potentially of unvaccinated adults. The virus infects the rapidly growing cells of the intestine and causes severe liquid bloody diarrhea, frequent vomiting and very depressed/lethargic puppies. Puppies that are not treated will usually die. This disease can be prevented by vaccination.

Corona Virus: This is given twice to puppies 3 weeks apart. The virus causes a disease of vomiting and diarrhea in very young puppies. This vaccine is typically not given to adult dogs

Bordetella Bacterin: Protection from kennel cough complex. Is given as nose drops in our hospital and only to those dogs at high risk such as boarding dogs, those that attend puppy school and those that frequent doggie parks should also be vaccinated.

Rabies Frequency will vary by state. In AZ it is given to puppies and a booster is given in 1 year of age and then again every 3 years. The above vaccines are the most common ones in our area but certainly are not the only dog vaccines. In my next article I’ll discuss so of the other vaccines including those made to fight bacteria.

- an often deadly upper respiratory and neurologic virus of dogs.

- a hepatitis virus of dogs

- a respiratory infection often involved in kennel cough complex

- an often fatal gastrointestinal infection of all poorly vaccinated dogs.

This is the core combo vaccine that is given to puppies every 3 weeks until 4 months of age. It protects against the worst diseases that often are life threatening to puppies.

Jill M. Patt, DVM
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Canine yeast infection occurs when the dog has been on antibiotics to treat a certain ailments or condition. Just like in humans, the drugs will get rid of the good bacteria and the body of a canine is left without any protection. Infection by yeast in dogs is called malessezia dermatitis and there are several ways you can conduct a diagnosis. The methods include impression smear, scotch tape sampling, skin scraping with blade, cotton swab and skin biopsy. All these tests will ensure that you know what condition your dog has. When you have established this, you can then administer the necessary medication.

Canine yeast infection comes with several symptoms that you can look out for in your dog. Yeast infections are usually smelly. You will notice a certain odor in your dog that is unusual and you can be sure that the odor is quite unpleasant. If you notice this, together with constant itching, you will be most sure that you have a yeast infection puzzle. The next thing you need to look out for is a lesion on the skin and they might affect the whole body. The skin might resemble that of an elephant skin. Therefore, with all these symptoms, it is hard to miss the condition in your dog.

For more tests to be conducted, you need to seek medical help for your canine. The health professional will even give you future tips that can follow to ensure you protect your dog. Some of the tips that will ensure that your dog stays healthy include feeding the dog well with essential nutrients that will be laid out by the professional, the other thing you must ensure is good hygiene which will not only help your canine friend stay yeast free but will also ensure they stay comfortable. You can also see how you can use anti fungal medication if the dog is undergoing antibiotic treatment.

Canine yeast infections are easy to eradicate and with the medications available, you do not have to let your dog suffer. Make sure you keep the dog dry when possible and you can also get to read more about this on the internet. There is no doubt that your dog will even be happier and you will only be pleased to enjoy happy times with your dog. Make sure you follow through with every treatment plan that you are given. If you find that a particular medication is not working, inform your pet physician for a better prescription.

Peter Gitundu is a Web Administrator and Has Been Researching and Reporting on Yeast Infection for Years. For More Information on Canine Yeast Infection, Visit His Site at CANINE YEAST INFECTION You Can Also Post Pour Views About Canine Yeast Infection On My Blog Here CANINE YEAST INFECTION.

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Ear cropping is usually done between nine and twelve weeks of age after a brief fast of usually around twelve hours. This prevents complications with the anesthetic. During the procedure the ear is cut, and then sutured. Finally the puppy will be prescribed a medicine to reduce pain, and possibly to help fight off the chances of infection before returning home with you. Aftercare, is of the up most importance. This will literally make or break the ears standing well or not. The puppy will usually leave the vets office with a metal or strong plastic apparatus to hold the ears in place. You must take great care that the ears stay clean and the sutures are not ripped out. Ears will Bleed easily for the first few days, so you must watch the pup and keep him or her as calm as possible. After Seven days of this, the vet will remove the sutures, and once again tape the ears in an upward position so healing may finish in the correct position. The bandages will be changed roughly every week, depending on your vet until the ears stand correctly. Usually taking Six to eight weeks for the whole procedure, however they may take longer on certain breeds.

Please consider all the avenues of ear cropping before you make a decision, and Never go ahead with the procedure if you are not one hundred percent committed to the aftercare. First find a vet you feel you can trust to talk about all your questions and concerns regarding the procedure. Ask to see pictures of the ears he personally has done, as two vets may have very different techniques. Do not let anyone sway you one way or the other. Make an informed decision you trust, and can comfortably stand by, and remember all that really matters is if you believe your new puppy should have his ears cropped or not.

Read more of my articles about your new best friend at Canine Counterparts

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The foregoing paragraphs will discuss the veterinary treatments for Kennel Cough and make special mention of the natural solutions available for this disorder in the form of herbal remedies. Find a list of natural, immune-enhancing constituents that have been observed to soothe and prevent respiratory disorders in pets.

Veterinary Treatments

Whenever respiratory infections set in, an intricate process of diagnosis is required to determine the cause of the disorder. A wide variety of veterinary drugs may be prescribed to provide symptomatic relief and this may be in the form of intra-nasal vaccinations or pet antibiotics.

But then know that it takes time for intra-nasal vaccinations to stimulate the immune system and reinforce its defenses. Frequent vaccinations likewise pose a challenge to the pet owner as antibiotics in the form of cough suppressants may likewise suppress immune system functions in the course of treatment.

Alternative Medicine Solutions

Medications that successfully treat the disorder without triggering long-term side effects have likely been formulated with organic compounds derived from the extracts of herbal remedies. In the practice of alternative medicine, herbs have been extensively used to heal respiratory ailments in human beings by relieving its symptoms, treating underlying disorders and strengthening immune defenses.

Looks like disease treatment through herbals is applicable in the physiology of pets. In fact, holistic practices now prescribe the use of herbal remedies to support the health care needs of pets. Standardized pet herbal supplements are formulated with the therapeutic compounds of recognized respiratory tract remedies Plantago Lanceolata and Bryonia. The immune-enhancing properties of the the herb Echinacea Purpurea makes it a popular ingredient as well.

Non-herbal constituents may include Ferrum Phosphate (a mineral known to support immune and circulatory health) and biochemic tissue salts such as Kalium Sulphate and Magnesium Phosphate. These are natural bodily constituents that help promote systemic wellness.

Standardized herbal supplements such as PetAlive KC-Defense endeavors to be a great alternative to veterinary medicine by promoting respiratory disorder relief without triggering severe side effects. The supplement is is an all-natural, holistic remedy that eases kennel cough, supports respiratory health and reinforces the immunity of dogs.

Bruce Maul is a partner in Gold Flax Seed, Inc. which provides only top quality Flax Seed, Herbal Remedies and other health related products. Learn more about Herbal Remedies by visiting http://www.myherbalremedystore.com

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 Puppies need greater amounts of protein, fat and carbohydrates than an adult dogs.  Furthermore, puppies need more frequent feeding schedules in a day, unlike an adult dog. The movement based requirements of diet are more in the case of puppies, since they are often more active than the adult dogs.

 Elder dogs need restricted protein but the protein needs to be easily digestible and easily assimilated in the body.  The diet schedule should have ample supply of water for them. Feeding aged dogs too much protein may finally lead to over burden to the renal structures and ultimately, the dog may end up damaging filters in the kidney.

 This is true especially when the immune system of these dogs is compromised due to many factors.  Similarly, the elderly dogs need less food only because the movements of the adult dogs are highly restricted and hence, they have to spend a limited of energy.

 Female dogs in the pregnancy stage need not be fed a full stomach since it may cause some discomforts to the animal. However, the pregnant animal and the nursing animal need special type of food items that deliver a balanced type of nutrition with proper supplementation of vitamins and minerals.

 The nursing animal with puppies need to be fed with enough amounts of calcium and hence, there will not be any calcium based deficiency and the bones of the puppies will be strong without any curving.