Small Dogs are meant especially for companionship. Many celebrities, like Dame Elizabeth Taylor have such small dogs. Here is a list of the small dogs.
Pomeranian : These dogs originate from the sled dogs of Iceland and Lapland. They were eventually brought into Europe in Pomerania. Modern Pomeranian are Continue reading
Dogs are prey animals that existed in the wild as carnivores eating primarily raw meat and bones. Wild dogs rarely ate grain and that helped them to stay lean and mean. DogsThis day are our beloved pets but they’re still carnivores and many people believe that they should be fed the same diet that wild dogs once ate. Unfortunately, most commercial pet food is filled with grains and chemicals that experts state may account for the rising rate of skin allergies, gastrointestinal problems and cancer.
An alternative to chemical laden commercial foods that poisoned pets in 2007 is the B.A.R.F. (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food) Diet. The B.A.R.F. diet is controversial yet millions of people have switched to this way of feeding their dogs. Read on to discover some of the facts and controversies surrounding this popular method of feeding dogs.
What Is The B.A.R.F. Diet?
A Veterinary Surgeon in Australia, Dr Ian Billinghurst, created the B.A.R.F. diet andadvocatesthat owners feed their dogs bones, fruits, vegetables, meat, eggs and dairy. His theory is that it is betterto feed a dogabsolutelyraw food, imitating the types of food eaten by their wild ancestors.
What Food Can I Feed My Dog On The B.A.R.F. Diet?
There is much controversy in the B.A.R.F. community about what’s included in the diet. Dr. Billinghurst Statesthat vegetables and fruit are appropriate food to feed but others disagree. Most would concur that raw, meaty bones meat are a staple of the diet and that includes beef, chicken, deer, duck, game birds, goat, pork, lamb, fish, rabbit and veal. Some of the more controversial foods include eggs, vegetables, fruit, dairy, cooked cereals and supplements.
What About Handling Raw Food?
You should wash your hands before and after handling raw meat just (or wear disposable gloves) as you would while preparing food for humans. Be sure to disinfect slicing boards and countertops where meat is prepared. Many people believe that the dog digestive system isn’t as susceptible to salmonella, e-coli and parasites as humans. Many vets disagree.
How Much Food Is Fed Each Day?
On the B.A.R.F. diet dogs are fed according to their energy level. If your dog is very active it should be fed 2 to 3 % of their weight every day. A less active and more sedentary dog would get fed approximately 1% of their weight every day. This isn’t a precise measurement so it should be adjusted as your dog adapts to eating raw food. You should plan on feeding three or four times a day and preparing meals in advance.
What Are The Benefits Of Feeding Raw?
There is no scientific evidence that supports added benefits from feeding your dog raw food, but there have been many studies showing that commercial food is poisonous to our pets. People who are feeding their dogs raw food report that they save money and their dogs have less body odor, less bowel movements, cleaner teeth and reduced illnesses and medical costs.
Can Every Dog Eat Raw?
The simple answer is no. Most healthy dogs can adapt to raw food but dogs that are very old or that have chronic and serious illnesses may not be appropriate candidates for this type of diet. Some dogs will simply refuse to eat raw food. You should talk to your vet before the switch but be prepared for the Doctorto discourage you from making this decision. Some veterinarians are heavily influenced by commercial pet food companies because they make a great deal of money selling the product. Ask your vet if any patients feed their dogs raw food and ask if they experienced problems adjusting to the change in diet.
Are There Any Side Effects?
Again, this is anecdotal information but many people report a detox stage in feeding raw food. This means the dog is adjusting to the diet and getting rid of toxins in their body. Symptoms your pet may display include vomiting, diarrhea, bad breath and itchy skin. Supplementing your pet with Vitamins C and E may help. If your dog has these symptoms for more than three days after switching diets, take them to your local vet. Ask your vet about the best method for changing your dog’s diet.
Raw feeding is not for every dog nor will it work for every owner. Be careful whenever you change the diet of your pets. Some proponents of raw food insist that a “cold turkey” switch is betterbut most vets will disagree and state changes should be made gradually. Educate yourself by doing research and reading some of the great books available on raw feeding before making the switch.
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Corticosteroids are also a useful for controlling allergies by reducing the inflammation in your dog’s skin. Although it will weaken the immune system a bit, it is often necessary in order to treat the allergy. Some side effects are increased appetite and drinking, and higher chances of developing infections. It is therefore not recommendedfor long-term use. If a longer duration of use is necessary, your pet has to have regular check up on his/her blood and urine.
Prednisone, a short-acting steroid, can be used orally and is safer than the long-acting steroids. Taken with antihistamines and Omega fatty acids and frequent bathing, these short-acting steroids can be used effectively in the least amount used.
An allergy injection, also called immunotherapy, is a series of treatments meant to produce immunity to substances your dog is currently allergic to. Skin and blood testing is performed to find out what substances causes your pet’s allergies. These substances then are given to your dog in small but increasing amounts via injections. Over a period of time, the dog becomes desensitized to the substances and no longer exhibits allergic reactions to them.
Finding out what allergies your pets are suffering from and the allergens that cause them may be a tedious, pain-staking process. But it is worth the effort especially as you see the relief you give your dog translate to a pet that is in asuperior disposition and mood, perhaps in gratitude for the time you have spent to understand and take care of their ailments. Canine distemper is a serious disease caused by a highly contagious virus that attacks the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and nervous systems of dogs. The virus also infects foxes, wolves, coyotes, raccoons and other wild animals in the canine family. Juvenile dogs are mostlikely to infection. Older dogs can also be infectedeven though with much less frequency.
More than 50% of dogs that acquire the disease die from canine distemper. An even lower 20% survival rate is present for puppies. And even if the dog survives the disease, it is very likely that its health will be permanently damaged.
A case of canine distemper leaves the nervous system impaired with Littleto no hope for total recover. Partial or complete paralysisis generalas well as other effects on sense of smell, and hearing and sight acuity. Infected dogs are moreapt toother diseases such as pneumonia. The canine distemper virus (CDV) is not transmissible to man.
Canine distemper virus is transmitted most often through getting in contact with mucous and discharges from the infected dogs’ eyes and noses. Exposure to the urine and feces of dogs with this infection can also cause it.
Even without coming in contact with infected dogs, a healthy one can still contract the disease through exposure to kennels and other areas where infected dogs have been in. These areas can still harbor the virus since it is airborne and can stay alive outside a host for long periods of time.
It is almost impossible to prevent your pet from exposure to the virus. Some scientists predict that every dog living for 12 months has had contact with the virus at one point in time.
The symptoms of canine distemper are not necessarily easily detected. And it is because of this that immediate treatment is rarely given. The disease is commonly disguised as something like a bad cold with most of the dogs with the infection running a fever and a stuffy head. Complications such as pneumonia, bronchitis and severe inflammation of the stomach and intestines can also develop from the disease.
What an owner should be on the look out for in watching for signs of distemper such as squinting and/or a discharge from the eyes. If this occurs in tandem to loss of weight, vomiting, coughing, nasal drips, and diarrhea, there is more cause for concern.
The virus then affects the nervous system in more advanced stages of the disease, which can cause nervous ticks and twitches as well as partialTo finish paralysis. Infected dogs may also display listless behavior and have poor to no appetites. There have been cases when the virus causes sudden growth of the footpad’s tough keratin cells, which results in a hardened pad.
Corticosteroids are also a useful for controlling allergies by reducing the inflammation in your dog’s skin. Although it will weaken the immune system a bit, it is often necessary in order to treat the allergy. Some side effects are increased appetite and drinking, and higher chances of developing infections.
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In recent years the Iditarod has garnered a lot of attention, not all of it good. Like any sport that involves animals the race has come under intense scrutiny from animal rights groups as well as many sports journalists who view the race as cruel. Those who hold this view cite the race as cruel because of the documented history of dog deaths, illnesses and many injuries.
The total numbers of dogs that have died Continue reading
Dogs are canines that are perceived as intelligent and trainable among all other animals. We see dogs everywhere, in the movies, in cartoons, in the TV (remember Lassie?), and even in high-security areas like malls. In the latter case, dogs are trained to sniff bombs, drugs and other illegal substances in the surroundings.
Some dogs are lessprone tocause allergies because they have less dander. There is a misconception that it is the fur that causes the allergies so the heavier the dog sheds the more likely you are to suffer. This is not the case. It is all about the dander. That is what actually causes the dog allergy.
Most common of these dog allergies is inhalant allergy. The most common symptoms are scratching of the genital areas, abdomen, armpit or face, and prolonged chewing and licking. Upon close inspection, the dog develops a reddish area caused by too much licking.
Bacteria can be another cause of dog allergy. Bacteria allergy (specifically Staphylococcus allergy) is not a very common condition. Only a few canines react negatively to this bacteria; most other dogs have become accustomed to it.
The biggest mistake made is to blame the fur when actually the allergy is caused by the protein that is secreted by the oil glands and then shed with their dander which is microscopic particles of skin, hair, and fur. Since animals continuously shed this dander is always present and a person can develop a dog allergy when the immune system mistakes this allergen as the enemy.
The sooner one acts, and starts treating their dog’s allergies the easier and less stressful it will be in the long run. Properly treating the symptoms of your dog’s allergies will certainly bring relief to your dog, but dealing with the cause of your dog’s allergy should greatly reduce distress in your dog.
The first step would be to take your dog back to a basic, bland diet and gradually add to their diet. This is the best way to monitor your dogs diet and pin-point the dog food ingredient that is causing the dog food allergy symptoms in your dog. While it is not healthy to have your dog on a bland diet for an extended length of time, it is fine tobegin with the bland diet and gradually add ingredients back into the food.
To remove allergens from your dog’s coat, wash him with plain water or wipe her down with a damp cloth everyday. Even if there’s little dander just yet, if it mixes up with pollen or house dust, you’re still liable to experience symptoms of dog allergy.
Another step to help alleviate is to keep the home and dog areas extremely clean. A vacuum with allergy filtration will help immensely and keeping dust and dog hair cleaned up will be very beneficial. It is a good idea to keep the dog out of the bedroom areas but if they are in frequently in these rooms the bedding should be washed with increased frequency.
Golden Retrievers have a reputation for being family dogs since they’re loyal, patient, and lovable. However, new pet owners must also be aware of their health concerns as well. Golden retrievers areapt tohip dysplasia, congenital eye defects, Von Willebrand’s disease, heart problems, and skin allergies. Some of these health problems may appear severer while some may not.
Dogs are canines that are perceived as intelligent and trainable among all other animals. We see dogs everywhere, in the movies, in cartoons, in the TV (remember Lassie?), and even in high-security areas like malls. In the latter case, dogs are trained to sniff bombs, drugs and other illegal substances in the surroundings.
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Heartworm for dogs is a search term many people are using to find out information on heartworm in dogs. You are smart enough to know that heartworms in dogs can be serious and that you need information to help you with prevention and treatment. We will discuss traditional treatment and natural treatments. Imagine being able to make an intelligent decision on which option is best for you and your pet.
I’ll get right to the point after some basic information.
WHAT CAUSES HEARTWORM FOR DOGS
Heartworms are caused in our pets when our pets are bitten by mosquitoes which have become infected with heartworms from biting other infected animals. A number of animals can be host to heartworms. They include dogs, cats, wolves, coyotes, foxes, ferrets, sea lions and even humans. When the infected mosquito bites our pets the mosquito deposits larvae into the skin of our pets. The larvae are from the parasitic roundworm known as dirofilaria immitis. The larvae migrate to the heart and within 6 months they hatch or transform into worms that look like pieces of thread. The heartworms can in found in the chambers of the heart and in the two main arteries leading to the heart (Pulmonary artery and vena cava). From there they move to other parts of the body including the lungs and liver.
HEARTWORM SYMPTOMS
Breathing difficulties
Coughing
Vomiting
Weight loss
Collapse
Convulsions
Sudden death
Tiredness
Decreased appetite
Heart failure
Difficulty exercising
Bloody sputum
Loss of consciousness
Abnormal lung sounds
May take years after initial infection to show up
HEARTWORM DIAGNOSIS | HEARTWORM FOR DOGS
Vets will normally perform the test
Usually diagnosed with a blood test
TRADITIONAL TREATMENT FOR HEARTWORM FOR DOGS
Treatment for heartworm for dogs takes on two different approaches. The first is treatment and prevention with traditional veterinarian prescribed medications such as Revolution, Heartgard, Interceptor, and Iverhart. These medications are used to kill the larvae that are in our dog’s bloodstream before they have hatched and become heartworms. These medications use an insecticide to kill the larvae.
SIDE EFFECTS FROM HEARTWORM PREVENTATIVE MEDICATIONS
Side effects from use of heartworm preventative medications include diarrhea, convulsions, vomiting and general tiredness or weakness. Your pet’s body recognizes the chemicals in the heartworm pills as poison and uses their immune systems to try and fight off what they see as foreign bodies. Therefore, when on these medications your pets will have weakened immune systems which grant your pet to get sick easier.
ALTERNATIVE PREVENTION FOR HEARTWORM FOR DOGS
Because many veterinarians now recognize that long term use of preventative medications can cause side effects in our pets many people are turning to substitute methods to prevent heartworms. The methods will help overall but you should discuss using them with your vet.
Provide a healthy diet. Many people are now avoiding commercial pet food and feeding their pets natural vegetables, fruits, and raw meat
Boost your pet’s immune system
Strengthen your pet’s heart and circulatory system
In areas where heartworms are prevalent consider regular de-worming
Black walnut extract and garlic are also being used as preventatives
Prevention is much cheaper than treatment at the vet’s office
Many current medications produce harmful side effects in our pets. That is why a growing number of concerned pet owners have decided to use natural remedies. Many natural remedies work quite well and save you a bunch of money in the process. Read on through the last paragraph and find out home remedies secrets that are safe and effective.
This article discusses heartworm for dogs and substitute treatments you can use.
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Most of the dogs are treated as family member rather than a pet by the owners these days. Dog lovers try to ensure every facility possible for their dogs. Healthy dog food recipes are one of major concern for the owners. Proper and healthy food is very much Continue reading
What is the ideal dog food? Veterinarians are often hit by that question from scads of anxious dog owners. Every dog owner wants to feed their dog with the best that’s available. However, the sheer variety of dog foods and the conflicting views on the best dog Continue reading
When it comes to feeding your small dog it is important to ensure that you are familiar with the dietarystipulation of your pet, and you’re aware of what to feed him, what not to feed him, and how to ensure that he is receiving a well Continue reading
Our family of Portuguese Water Dogs
