If you suffer from allergies, you are not alone. Even though most people suffer from some type of allergy, whether it is food, plant, or pet, they can usually find a wayto care abouttheir lives, which in many cases, includes having a few pets. Depending on the Continue reading
Everybody is looking for meaning and passion in their life. Even dogs. Our talents and capabilities were given to us so we could contribute to the good of all. Dogs are unselfish and generous, as I think most humans would agree. In fact, it was you humans fiddling with our DNA that made us such helpful animals. We were born to work. When we work, we are happy. 
Small dogs have charm and personality. Over the course of time more and more new breeds have been created by selectively breeding dogs with a certain external appearance and certain character traits. Small dog breeds came into our existence for various reasons. Some small Continue reading
Abused dogs lack that specific spark in their eyes. They walk with their tail in between their legs and their heads carried low. They have dropped confidence in their selves and have dropped trust in human beings. You can tell an abused dog from a mile away.
It Continue reading
Just recently, there was a pet food recall. That can be frightening, especially if your pet is eating that specific brand that they recalled. Does that mean your dog will die? Well, first of all we should calm down and figure out what to do.
I was just Continue reading
My dog, my friend, companion, pathfinder, seeker and watcher.whatever your dog means to you,your way of taking care of your dog will prove his love and affection to you. Dogs are very sentitive to love.The type of nature recipe dog food that you’ve for your dog will Continue reading
Vomiting is extremely common in cats and dogs. Dogs are guilty of dietary indiscretion far more often than cats, and scavenging behaviour is a frequent precursor to an upset stomach. Dogs and cats have a very simple vomit reflex and the slightest irritation of the stomach brings these things back up. It can happen to dogs and cats of any age, breed or sex. Dogs are naturally curious animals and will chew on anything they can get their paws on. Raiding the garbage can for “snacks” has long been the past time of many dogs and is a common source for “Garbage Gut.
Occasional pet vomiting can happen because of fur balls or other mysterious, fairly benign reasons. You may notice your pet vomiting, not eating, drooling and they may have abnormal bowel movements. A few other reasons are certain medications (aspirin), food allergies, parasites, liver or kidney disease, cancer, infectious diseases (parvovirus), physical obstructions (lodged bone or ball) and motility disorders (the stomach does not contract properly).
Treatment
Treatment will rely on the underlying cause of the vomiting. Treatment varies on a case-by-case basis depending on the cause of the vomiting. It is important to recognize when your animal requires veterinary treatment. There are several solutions and treatments that can help a dog who experiences chronic vomiting and stomach-ache.
The first thing that you must do is access the severity of the frequency of vomiting. If your pet cannot even retain water and is persistently vomiting than wait no longer than 24 hours before getting him to the vet. This could be an indication of a blockage or obstruction that needs to be treated with IV and or surgery.
However if your pet is only intermittently vomiting and can hold down fluids than try these home remedies.
Solutions:
1.Fasting
Allow 24 hours of fasting in order to grant the stomach to heal. Allow access to small amounts of water. After 24 hours try bland foods, such as cooked rice, startsmall and gradually increase to normal feeding amounts. After 48 hrs mix the rice with a small amount of their regular food. If they’re able to handle this then after 72hrs go back to their normal food diet.
2. Offer Ice
Some pets may be reluctant to drink water. Try offering a few ice chips. It is very important to keep them hydrated.
3. Tea Time
Like people, peppermint tea can help ease an upset tummy. After allowing the tea to cool give ¼ cup per 10lbs of body weight, three times per day. Cats can get 1 tablespoon 3 times per day.
4. Pepto-Bismol
NOT RECOMMENDED FOR CATS. For dogs you can give them 1ml/10lbs, 3 times per day but not more than 7 days.
5. Homeopathic
Nux Vomica is a homeopathic remedy for vomiting. Give 1/30c strength tablet per 10lbs of body weight, twice daily for 3-5 days.
6. Ginger
Ginger is another remedy for upset stomachs. Give 25mg per 1lb of body weight.
One area to look at if your pet is experiencing chronic vomiting is their diet. A diet change may be in order. Try switching to a hypoallergenic food or homemade allergy diet food. Below I have included one such allergy diet recipe.
Boiled white fish/canned tuna 1 cup
Boiled cooked potatoes or Cooked Rice 1 cup
Calcium Carbonate or Tums 1 teaspoon (tablet)
Corn Oil 1 tablespoon
Potassium Chloride (table salt) 1 teaspoon
Multivitamin 1 tablet
Mix all ingredients together and divide into equal portions, feeding 2 ½ cups in the morning and 2 ½ cups in the evening.
I cannot stress the importance of providing your pet with a proper nutritional balanced diet. Most of the commercial pet food that is available will actually cause sicknesses and health problems in pets. To learn more about what’s in pet food, how it is made and the problems it can cause please see the website below. The best type of pet food you can give your furry friends is homemade. You will also find healthy homemade recipes, such as the one above, at the same website.
Yes there are things that you can do to keep your pet healthy and avoidBig vet bills. However, as in the case of any pet illness should the symptoms persist or become worse see veterinarian care immediately.
To learn more about pet health care please visit Pamper Pet Care today. I believe that giving our pets the best possible care is being a responsible owner and I have dedicated a website to provide quality information through articles, ebooks and veterinarian products. For more information please visit Pamper Pet Care today.
Article Source: http://www.thecontentcorner.com
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 are 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 and recommendsthat owners feed their dogs bones, fruits, vegetables, meat, eggs and dairy. His theory is that it issuperior to 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. BillinghurstSays that vegetables and fruit are appropriate food to feed but others disagree. Most would agree 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 cutting boards and countertops where meat is prepared. Many people believe that the dog digestive system is not 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 thePhysician to 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 isn’t 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.
© 2008, Davis Virtual Assistance. All rights reserved. Reprints welcomed so long as the article and byline are not changed and all links are made live.
Article Source: http://www.approvedarticles.com
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’s in a betterdisposition and mood, perhaps in gratitude for the time you’ve spent to comprehend 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 withTiny to no hope for total recover. Partial or complete paralysisis usual as 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) isn’t 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 nearly 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’s 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 partial To completeparalysis. 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.
Information about the Author:
Pets Articles: http://www.article-buzz.com