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Canine Cognitive Dysfunction – CCD or Dementia in Dogs

2012-01-24T09:15:00.000-08:00

This is information about canine health that should come to a genuine help to dog owners. Canine Cognitive Dysfunction – CCD or Dementia in dogs are not too frequently talked about, because in most cases the symptoms for this disorder are not correctly identified. So what is Canine? Cognitive Dysfunction – CCD or Dementia in Dogs, very much like Alzheimer's disease in human, is an age-related deterioration of dogs’ cognitive abilities. Associated with the older age, Canine Cognitive Dysfunction – CCD or Dementia in Dogs is characterized by noticeable changes in dogs’ behavior.

Researches have shown that “Amyloid” (a type of protein) gets deposited in the brain of older dogs, which adversely affects certain areas of cognition in the senior dogs – very much similar to humans. Although not all areas cognition and learning types get affected, but minimum effect in the dogs’ brain sometimes result in a lot of change in dogs’ behavior – especially disorientation in a wide range of circumstances.

Canine Cognitive Dysfunction – CCD are also sometimes called Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome – CDS. A research at the University of California-Davis has established that around 62% of 11- to 16-year-old dogs exhibited symptoms in at least one category of Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome – CDS.

Symptoms of Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome – CDS in dogs

Although there are certain specific symptoms of this disorder in senior dogs, yet these symptoms can also be the consequence of certain medical conditions. It is hence important to identify whether this symptoms are genuinely due to CDS or any other medical conditions. An experienced vet is the best person to rule this out. The commonest symptoms of Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome – CDS or Dementia in senior dogs are as follows:

• Disorientation and confusion
• Restless pacing and wandering around
• Heavy panting mostly during the night
• Sleepless night
• Staring off into space confusedly
• Acting "dazed"
• Getting "stuck" in the corners of enclosed spaces
• Getting lost in known places occasionally
• Going to the wrong side of known exists
• Being non-responsive to his own name
• Being non-responsive to familiar commands
• Acting withdrawn from situations he once used to love to be in.
• Decreased interaction pack members – his own families and other pets if any
• Not remembering house training
• Less or non-enthusiastic about plays that he used to enjoy once
• Usually become lethargic and weak, which results in excess sleep

As a consequence of these problems, the dog usually develops frantic behavioral problems – aggression. Aggression in such condition is due to the fact that he sometimes becomes confused and fails to understand his own ones.

Conventional Treatment of Canine Cognitive Dysfunction includes administering medicines, though not all medicines work well for CDS, but some really do. There are a few holistic treat as well. Up next, the natural treatments for Canine Cognitive Dysfunction. Stay tuned…

Managing Obesity Problems in Dogs

2012-01-22T03:35:00.000-08:00

Managing dog obesity is really a big deal. I personally consider dog obesity management as something that every dog owner should be concerned about, though it pretty tough for newbies. Reports have shown that an estimated volume of over 50% of dogs in the US, Canada and the UK and a few other parts of the globe are obese and meet premature death due to heart attacks and/or organ failure. Most obese dogs get exposed to the risk of metabolic disorders, joint ailments, decreased immunity and increased chances of cancer.

Here are just a main couple of reasons for obesity problems in dogs:

Overfeeding: Most dog owners - especially the new ones develop a wrong idea that good feeding = more feeding. Good feeding management primarily involves identifying the basic requirement for your dog's optimum growth, which is in no way related to overfeeding. It is essential to limit your dog's feedings to regular specific times everyday. It's important that you stress on maintaining your dog's healthy digestive system.

Scanty Exercise: Scanty exercise is again another major reason for the obesity problem in dogs. Adequate and correct volume of exercise is of utmost significance. We have moved away from using our dogs to work with us in fields. Our Shepherds, Retrievers, Dobbies, Roties, Danes etc. have found their space on our drawing room carpet. They get limited scope to work and do not burn calories to the desired extent. It is therefore more than just important to take them outdoor on a regular basis and make to run or walk long.

Managing the risk of dog obesity

Risk of obesity in dogs can easily be managed through exercising restraints in certain areas. One major mistake that I made in the past with my dogs was that I had unknowingly encouraged my dogs begging habit. I should have strongly exercise restraint in this area.

Limit treats! That's one of the formulas. Draw a strict schedule for feeding. Stop offering him table scraps from your plate. Feed him before your lunch and dinner and keep him away when its your turn.

Regular Exercise - I repeat! This is must and cannot be give an after-thought. While over exercising may turn out to be harmful for your dog, under exercising is equally dangerous. Swimming is a great option especially for large dogs. Long walk is another great exercise for dogs - irrespective of breed. All you need is to know much exercise is correct for your dog. Obviously and German Shepherd Dog or an English Mastiff should have a longer span of walk than a Chihuahua.

Correct nutritional support is the top priority! By this I mean Quality; NOT Quantity. To put it more specifically - I should say CORRECT Quality and Quantity both. Omega 3 fatty acids EPA and DHA produce a chemical called Eicosanoids in the dog's body that controls obesity. Deficiency in Omega-3 fatty acids - EPA and DHA is considered as another reason for dog obesity. Fish oil is the best source of these Omega-3 fatty acids.

Managing obesity in dogs also involves certain things more critical than these and cannot controlled at home. Certain medical conditions contribute highly to obesity in dogs. Some of these conditions includes but not restricted to Pituitary Disorders, Hypothyrodism, Cushings Disease, Cancer in Pancreas etc. These health disorders cannot be established until your carry on medical tests according to the vets.

Merry Christmas - Dog Lovers

2011-12-24T06:46:00.000-08:00

I am grateful to have readers like you. I wish a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful Holidays and a great time ahead in the year to come. Please convey my wishes to all dog lovers you know across the globe. My love to your dogs! Thank you.

Puppy Care Tips for Dog lovers

2011-12-04T02:07:00.000-08:00

Looking for puppy care tips? Raising a puppy is an art. Strengthening your bondage with your puppy can be a solution to most wrinkled situations.Loving him, keeping him abreast and making him feel familiar & cozy is the starting point!

First off, congratulations for the new addition to your family. Doesn't really matter what your breed is. Whether Mixed Breed Dogs or a pure breed, there are just a few rules of thumb for puppy care. Responsibility towards a puppy is immense and that starts from prior to bringing in the puppy. If you have not yet brought your dream pup, and if you are on the planning phase, make sure that you make all the arrangements to keep your puppy healthy. Treating his room to make it germ-free is a must. Make sure you wash the his room a few time with disinfectant solutions before bringing him is of utmost importance. Keeping yourself well equipped with adequate information on puppy care is another very important thing. Puppy care is a huge episode that includes everything - starting from bringing him home safely to helping me know you and your place, training him, feeding him good and a lot more! This post is targeted to provide with essential puppy care tips that goes here...

First puppy care tips after bringing him home, is to make sure that your training process should start from day #1. Yes, helping him know his potty place, helping him know his feeding time, and helping him know his pack members (your family) all comes under the training session, which must be a pleasant experience for both you and your puppy.

Second most important tips for effective puppy care is to help him grow with fun and love. Play with him; give him small tidbits for doing desirable things, and you will be able to strengthen your bonding with him, as well as training him to know what's desirable! "Positive reinforcement" is one of the most effective tool to teach your pup desirable things. Although it's not too early to start training him for good behavior at the age of 2 months, but its to be kept in the forefront of your mind that abusive dog training should be avoided throughout his life! Training can be made effective if its a fun session. Just be patient; by making haste in training your pup will not be of any help for you and your puppy.

Thirdly, the diet has a very important role to play. Apart from pure love, fresh water and right medication, he needs completely balanced diet. He should be kept on special nutrition with right quantity of vitamins, fats, protein and minerals.

Fourth most important puppy care tip is to put emphasize on his exercise. Correct type and right volume of exercise is of prime importance on a regular basis. Over exercise is as harmful as not letting him play. Let him play on the grass as much as he can bear. As long as his tongue gets hanged out he should be allowed to run around off-leash. It is unwise not to stop him running and playing around even after his tongue's carried out. Over exhaustion may prove to be detrimental for his growth.

Fifth very important thing is sleep. Sleep is a very important component in the entire puppy care session. Your puppy with sleep longer than any adult dog. A deep sleep after a good meal will have a very positive affect on his health.

Sixth is vaccination! No one can deny the importance of annual vaccination. Your puppy should be fully vaccinated against all viral and infectious diseases. Your vet is the most important source of information on puppy vaccination. Vaccination largely depends on what part of the world you live in, though there are some common disease that your puppy should be immunized against. These are however, Distemper, Canine Adenovirus, Parvo, Rabies, Kennel Cough, Coronavirus and Canine hepatitis. You vet is the best person to guide you on more vaccination if needed. I have come across people several times who against vaccination, because they believe vaccines have side-effects. The fact is... puppy vaccines are generally very safe for dogs, irrespective of breed, until the vaccines have not crossed the expiry dates and your puppy is healthy at the time you are vaccinating. Very mild reactions like fever, loss of appetite, dizziness etc. may be noticed, which usually gets resolved within 24 - 48 hours without any major treatment.

Seventh... "socialization". When it comes to puppy care, you have to be very serious about socializing your puppy. Socializing a puppy means helping him mingle to the external world that is composed of various weirdness and strange things like sound, smell, people, other animals, incidences and different textures of situations! Take him out and get him exposed to different incidences like a flying bird, dropping leaves, screeching car breaks, blowing horns, barking dogs, approaching strangers, playing kids etc. BUT, taking him out is always recommended after the first course of vaccinations are over.

Animal Communication - Series 4

2011-11-29T08:25:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the part 4 in a series of tips on Animal Communication. My name is Di van, I live in South Africa and I am an Animal Communicator.

In this part we deal with lack of communication by the minders (that’s you). When I chat to domestic animals they nearly always complain about their minders not telling them when they are going to the vet, going to the kennels and so on.

As your pets are part of the family they also want to be told what is happening in the household. When a family member moves out your animal does not understand why they left and it affects them. When any pet dies if there are others left behind they grieve and need your love and understanding. When you are planning a holiday your animals will listen in and will wonder what will be happening to them. Try to remember to take the time to tell them if they will be going to the kennels or if someone will be looking after them.

Before taking a car trip with your animal, long or short, remember to explain where you are going and what will happen on the other side. A well informed animal is not an anxious and should be more relaxed.

Till the next time. Check out my series at Dog Communication

Flu shot to present Rusty a better Christmas

2011-11-14T22:06:00.000-08:00

The vets advice dog owners to give flu vaccines for their dogs after the outbreak H3N8 virus that is responsible for a type of canine influenza accompanied with sever respiratory distress. With Christmas approaching fast, you are sure to get busy with buying Christmas gifts for your beloveds, and your best friend – your dog! Have you ever spared a thought what would your Christmas be if your dog gets afflicted to H3N8 – the dangerous virus? Just a flu shot! And you can rest assured that Rusty is going to have much safer Christmas. Especially if you are in the New York area you must see your vet right today and give your dog the flu shot, because a few cases have already been reported in the New York City, northern New Jersey and the lower Hudson Valley, according to the information from Cornell University Veterinary School. Don’t give it an after-thought even if you are not in staying anywhere in and around these areas.

Canine influenza is highly contagious, and the dog becomes severely ill with respiratory infection caused by novel influenza virus. This virus was first discovered in the year 2004. The vets usually do not use the term “dog flu” in general, since it will be confusing, as it will refer to any type of influenza that attacks dogs for various reasons. But this particular type of influenza in dogs is a specific flu caused by a particular subtype, H3N8, of the influenza A virus.

Don’t board your dogs over the Christmas holidays
Let this Christmas be safe and enjoyable for both you and your dogs. It is advisable not to board your dogs in the kennels. Firstly because, Christmas is not only for you, but also for all the members of your family. And Secondly because, by boarding your dog over the holiday period, you will aggravate the chance of your dog being afflicted to H3N8 virus. This flu is extremely contagious and can spread if you keep your dogs confined I crèches or kennels. You never know which dog in the kennel has this virus in still dormant form.

The symptoms of this H3N8 canine flu are cough, runny nose and fever. Sometimes these symptoms are exhibited in severity. According to an explanation from the experts of Nobivac, “CIV is a relatively new cause of disease in dogs and nearly all dogs who are naïve to the virus are susceptible to infection. About 80 percent of dogs will have a mild form of disease. About 20 percent of infected dogs will show no clinical signs, while 10 – 20 percent of infected dogs may progress to a more severe form of the disease. Severe illness is characterized by the onset of pneumonia. The number of dogs infected with this disease that die is up to eight percent.”

H3N8 Vaccines
Here are a few informative points for the H3N8 vaccine:

a) H3N8 vaccine includes a pair of shots given a few weeks apart
b) Each shot will cost around $50.
c) It is essential to give both the shots because, your dog will not be 100% protected until both shots are given.
d) H3N8 vaccine is just a preventive measure and should not be considered as treatment. Once your dog is afflicted to flu this vaccine will not work as a measure for the recovery.

Christmas Gift Idea for Your Dog Loving Friend

2011-11-14T01:19:00.000-08:00

With the Christmas just around the bend people have been getting more and more busy looking for best Christmas gifts for their dogs and dog loving friends. The best Christmas gift you can buy for your dog loving friend is the beautiful Christmas Costumes for Dog or any interactive toys that your friend's dog might love to play with. There are actually hundreds of ways you can show your dog loving friends that you really remember them and their beloved doggies when you walk around the market looking for Christmas gifts. Remember, dog lovers are best satisfied if you show that their dogs are special for you too and you can do it with a scads of styles.

How about a beautiful red, white and green sleeping mat for your friend's dog as a Christmas gift? I was scrambling across the web and found something very interesting that have enticed me a lot! I am sure that Jingle Bell Dog Collar can be a perfect Christmas gift for your dog loving friend and for his or her dog as well. Another thing I would suggest is Christmas Dog Cookies. Yes... You can find a lot of branded dog Christmas delight cookies that your friend's dog would love to eat. And guess what? These cookies are so yummy that dogs will be eager to do anything for you to have just one; And you can use this a training treat.

And alongside above all, give your best dog loving friend a thoughtful doggy message to show that you are really concerned about his or her dog.

Top Ten Tips - Christmas Safety for Your Dogs

2011-11-10T10:46:00.000-08:00

Christmas is the happiest time of the year and you should make sure that you have taken every possible safety measure, since you have a dog with you - the most naughtiest yet loveliest member of your family. Here are the top ten tips on the Christmas safety measure for your dog and your family. Let me tell you this is the time you should spare serious thought about it. Most dogs go crazy seeing dazzling lights and colorful decoratios all around. Its the time for you to get ready so that your dogs keep calm.

Firstly, put your dog to good feeding and adequate exercise on a regular basis from now. This will reduce his stress level. A tired dog is a content dog. If your dog is on routine exercise and effective nutrition, fact remains that he will stay calm as long as he doesn't have any other behavioral problem.

Secondly, call you friends together every weekend so that your dog gets adopted with the kind of mob he will be facing on Christmas day.

Thirdly, keep your dog enclosed in a room for few minutes number of times in a day. This is a practice that will make him seasoned withy staying alone enclosed even when the mob is gathering righ outside. Gradually increase the timing of his being closed inside. Remember a frustrated dog will mess when kept inside. So giving solid exercise and good food is of utmost necessity

Fourthly, take him out multiple times a day for pee. Doing this from now will give you an indication as to when exactly to release him out for the pee.

Fifthly, don't give him Christmas chocolates and resins that are often used in Christmas cakes. Both resins and chocolates are potentially harmful for your dog. Discourage your friends who may want to share human foods with your dogs. Rich and fatty gravies, buttery sauces and cakes can be potentially dangerous for your dog. Alcoholic beverages can be reallt dangerous. If you have wine chocolates for the Christmas eve, keep those out of reach.

Sixthly, if you are buying a Christmas toy for your dog, consider your breed. Small toy for a large German Shepherd may get accidentally ingested and can cause chocking. Who wants to make a Christmas ever memorable for an incident like this

Seventhly, Decorate your Christmas hall safely. Let not the electrical wirings snake around hither and tither. Accidents may happen at any point of time. Don't make childlike amusement by trying to decorate your dog by wrapping around the electrical light wires, as you may have seen while looking for images on the web. A couple of times I have heard stories about Christmas horror, when puppies or dogs have had sad demises after getting high voltage electrical shock. Childish experimentation can put a shocking damper on your Christmas fun.

Eighthly, make sure you secure your Christmas garbage into the trash bucket with tight lids. Your dog has a tendency to sniff the holiday garbage and try to chew

Ninthly, display all candles on higher altitude on shelves

Finally, keep your dogs away from all decorative plants, like Poinsettia, Mistletoe etc. things may end up with shreiking pain and huge loss if your dog accidentally ingest such holiday decorative plants.

What will your dog find under the Christmas tree this year?

2011-11-10T03:20:00.000-08:00

I am sure over 60% of dog owners in America, United Kingdom and other parts of the globe will buy gifts for their dogs – their best friends. Past records and certain documentations show that on an average around $35 to $45 are being spent on dogs, cats and other pets on Christmas. Market places and pet malls have started waving with toys and treats, topping the list.

Documentations have shown that approximately 70% of dogs and cats and other pets will find toys as Christmas gift under the Christmas tree, 25% dogs will find treats like Christmas cookies for dogs and the rest will be gifted with Christmas dog costumes. So what is your dog going to find under the Christmas tree this year? If you ask me, I have planned to hit my beloved shepherds with crunchy surprises. Guess what? Yes, home made Christmas cookies for dogs! Some of my friends had made Christmas dog cookies at home with newer creative ideas. The crunchy and yummy homemade cookies made their last Christmas a never-forgettable episode for sure.

But can there by something more precious for them than some expensive Christmas dog gifts or cookies?

Get your dog involved in your Christmas fun

Whether you make cookies at home for your dogs this Christmas or you buy some Christmas treats, remembering them on an event like this is highly appreciated. Getting your dog involved in your Christmas fun is very important. Now I come to the point. Yes, getting your dog involved with your on Christmas is important, because they can get another chance to know you better. Nothing better than this, can help you to strengthen your bondage with your dog. Remember Christmas is not only for us, but for our dogs too!

Spend time with your dogs during the Christmas holiday

I can understand that you have a hectic schedule throughout the year, and you hardly can spend enough time with your dogs, though you have always wanted to do so. Christmas holiday is the best time to spend little more time with your dogs. Play more with them in the morning. Walk a few miles extra with your dogs each day during the holiday. Take them on a drive somewhere nearby. These are more precious for them than finding cookies under your Christmas tree. I am sure you will notice little more glory on your dog’s face this Christmas.

Christmas Costumes for your Dog

2011-11-06T23:47:00.000-08:00

Christmas is almost around the corner and our lovely doggies should not deprived of the Christmas fun. After all they give unconditional, priceless love all through the year. Can't they be bought some funny Christmas costumes?

Imagine how beautiful your most beloved member - your dog would look like in bright red and white cap. Your house would not have been a home for you without your dog. So why not let them go santamental along with you this Christmas? The market is going to be waved by thousands of beautiful Christmas costumes for dogs. Starting from "Velour Santa Claus Dog Costumes" for your Cocker or Poodle and "Elf Doggie Christmas Costumes" for your best buddy - your Chihuahua to the "Dog Reindeer Antlers" for your handsome Siberian Husky or your gorgeous boy - your German Shepherd, you can get some millions of Christmas costumes for your dog - your best friend on the Earth. And guess what!!!! I was just going across the web and found some really inspirational Christmas products for dog. Yes, the "Jingle Bell collar for Dog"! Imagine your beautiful pup Rusty rushing towards you in the "Jingle Bell Dog Collar" that tings with his every footstep, putting this little loving son of the Lord to the perfect rhythm of life, when you go gaga over red, white and green!

Can Dogs Perceive Time? - Part 2

2011-10-05T04:36:00.000-07:00

While explaining how dogs perceive time or if dogs can perceive time at all, dog behaviorists have concluded that its actually the dogs' "internal clock" (stimulus that is triggered by biological situations) that allows them to get an idea about when their special treat is going to hit their feeding bowl! Here are the few facts about dogs that dog lovers may find quite useful.

1) Dogs use their instinct to know when their owner usually arrives each day, or what time they are going to get their meal. This doesn't mean that dogs can perceive time the same way humans do.

2) Humans can remember events that had happened during the past and can plan for events in the future. For instance you can remember what you did in the last Christmas and can plan your forth coming Christmas in the way you desire. Your dog doesn't have this ability.

3) Dogs cannot understand the passage of time, instead they rely on their "internal biological indicators to remember what time regular, daily events happen."

Check out... can animals comprehend and plan for the future?

Can Dogs Perceive Time? - Part 1

2011-10-05T04:18:00.000-07:00

Researcher William Roberts argued back with an explanation about an animal's way of thinking of memories. According to Roberts animals do think of memories at least in the way human does. Roberts explained that "animals might be trained to do things in the same way young children are trained to do things." Just as 4-month kids learn crawling, but without the mental ability to remember where or how they learned how to crawl, animals in the same way do not have the ability of episodic memory, or the ability to remember particular events in the past. Roberts says, "a dog can know how to respond to the command "sit" without having a memory of the specific event in which it learned that command."

But if this be the case actually, then how can your dog predict your arrival time? How can your dog predict that a day is a Sunday, and your are going to take him for a drive? Researcher William Roberts has answers to questions like theses as well! According to his study on how animals perceive time, internal biological rhythms also play immensely important part. Experiments on pigeons have helped researchers conclude that an "internal clock" allows them to get a clue about when and where food would be available for them. In the same way Circadian Oscillators - daily fluctuations of hormones, body temperature and neural activities in dogs help them understand when its the time to get out in the lawn for when their owners will give them their dinner. Dogs cannot understand how much time have passed away after the last feed; they cannot understand that they are going to get the next food at 8 pm. Instead they react to a biological state that they come across at a specific time, which is determined by human through the sophisticated gadgets called clocks and watches. If your dog asks for food in the same way & at the same time each day, you should understand that he or she is reacting to a particular stimulus that is triggered by the biological state, which come across each day at the same time.

So if your dog cannot understand or perceive time, can they comprehend things or event that they might come across in the future? We will talk about this shortly. Meanwhile check out more about how dogs perceive time.

Check out... can animals comprehend and plan for the future?

Dog Communication - Series 3

2011-09-04T21:40:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the part 3 in a series of tips on Animal Communication. My name is Di van, I live in South Africa and I am an Animal Communicator. Read out my full series on Dog Communication.

Before deciding to take a couple of animal communication courses I was asked to take in an elderly rescue dog. We knew nothing of his background and did not even know his name. This makes it particularly difficult as you do not know what food they like or any of their dislikes. We soon discovered he was able to answer “yes” or “no” questions with his tail. Tail up and wagging was a “yes” and tail down and still was a “no”. Every now and again he would tease me and when I asked if he was telling untruths, he would wag his tail and run off. You have to love an animal with a sense of humour !

Perhaps your animal is trying to communicate with you using their tail. If you start with yes or no questions to which you know the answer, you might be pleasantly surprised to have your animal respond. Of course, it is important for you to declutter your mind and think only of the question you are asking. This can be done out loud or non verbal depending on what works best with your animal.

Till the next time.

Dog Food Recommendation: Human Food for Your Dog

2011-08-26T01:18:00.000-07:00

Responsible dog ownership demands you to be responsible from all aspects, and not just giving right quantity of food and exercise. There has always been tons of misconceptions swirling around the dog lovers' community regarding feeding dogs and dog foods. Many newbies are being misguided with an idea that human foods are always harmful for dogs. True and false both! True because chocolates that you kids love like anything are potentially dangerous for dogs, while eggs are highly beneficial for them. Here's a highlight of some of the human foods that are highly beneficial for your dogs. All you need to keep in the forefront of your mind is that if you are making an alteration in your dogs food habit, by adding any of these as additional ingredients, the change should be as nominal as 20% of the current amount of food for adult dogs and even below 15% of the current amount of food for puppies. Prior consultation with your vet is highly recommended in this regard. Remember green is very important for dogs... they are not carnivorous animals, but omnivorous. So give him green too!

Egg is one of the major sources of digestive protein, selenium and riboflavin, which are important for your dogs. One properly boiled egg adding to the food of your dog helps his digestive system, PLUS can make his food a little more nutritional due to additional percent of protein. Raw eggs may cause deficiency of biotin in dogs. Dogs that are into heavy exercise may benefit a lot from a properly boiled egg during the small break in the middle of work.

Yogurt is another great source of calcium. Non-sweet (with no sugar or no artificial sweetener added) yogurt is a perfect addition to his food during the Summer days. Just make sure that the yogurt is free of fat. Most importantly yougurt added to your dog's food will keep him cool from inside.

Oatmeal is a rich source of soluble dietary fiber, which is very important for your dogs. The Proven benefits of oat fiber include the prevention and treatment of constipation and dog hemorrhoids. Do not add sugar and sweeteners of any flavorings while cooking oatmeal for your dogs. Cooked oatmeal has immense benefits on dog health. Check out Holistic Treatment for Dog's Itchy Skin

Gourd makes another great addition. It also prevents your dog from dehydration, acidity and indigestion. Bottle gourds and bitter gourds are equally beneficial. Rather bitter gourds yield more benefits, as they are rich source for vitamin A, B1, B2 and c and contains minerals like calcium, phosphorous, iron, copper and potassium, which are all immensely helpful for your dog.

Pumpkin is rich in beta carotene, which is a source of vitamin A. Pumpkin also is another major source of fiber. Moreover giving pumpkin seeds to your dog is a natural remedy for tapeworm infestation. Check out more info on holistic treatment for internal parasite in dogs.

Sweet potatoes are major source for vitamin B6, vitamin C, beta carotene, and manganese; All of these are helpful for dogs. Sweet potatoes make the most beneficial, natural and highly adorable treat or your dogs.

Green beans are rich beneficial in plant fiber, vitamin C, vitamin K and manganese. Good amount of green beans added to your dog's food is highly recommended if he is putting on weight.

Flax seed (ground or oil) is on of the most important sources of Omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential fatty acids that are good for skin and coat. You ca n grind 1/5th tea cup of flax seeds before adding it to his food . Flax oil is a more concentrated form of omega- 3 fatty acids without the fiber. You should store the flax oil or seeds in the refrigerator in an air tight dark container.

Deep Into My Heart – I Love Them

2011-08-25T06:33:00.001-07:00

The more I love them.. the deeper I get involved emotionally from the core of heart. I don't know where to stop, when and how to stop loving them. I am in love with dogs since the time immemorial. I have been carried away by their look, the way the see me, their wags and finally but most importantly their million dollar licks when I get back home. I get back home from the work place for my family for sure... but equally important to me is their smell. I love them; I love their smell. I love talking to them, scolding them obviously when they mess at home, and again look at them peeping through the corner how innocently they honor my scolds. I love them just for the reason I was born to do so. I love them because they have no colors, no politics in mind, no complains, nothing.... just have sky-size hearts. They wag even when I am late feeding them. They lick me even when they are empty stomach. I love them because I love quenching my thirst with their priceless kisses.

And I am sure you love them for the same reasons what I love them for!I love my dogs and equally yours...

Dog Communication - Series 2

2011-08-21T01:24:00.000-07:00

Hope you have read my Part 1 Post on Dog Communication. Welcome to the part 2 in a series of tips on Animal Communication. My name is Di van, I live in South Africa and I am an Animal Communicator.

In the first part of this series I discussed how animals communicate and can read our minds and take in our conversations. In this part I will suggest a slightly different way of communicating with your animal.

I came across this method quite by chance as my dog requested it. She decided to ask if I could speak to her non verbally and use hand signals. The first step is to declutter the mind - yes, I know it is not that easy but if you persevere, and particularly if you meditate, it will come to you. When you take your dog out for a walk try giving commands non verbally. It might take a while for the animal to respond and it might be wise to precede the command with their name so they know you are
talking to them.

Hand signals in combination with non verbal commands can also work well. Sometimes I have to clap my hands to get my dog’s attention and gesture for her to come to me. For me it works particularly well if there is quite a distance between us as it saves me having to raise my voice to get her attention.

Till the next time.

Should you have any queries, you can contact directly with Di van. She is really busy with her professional career and may turn up late. Email: di.vanzyl@yahoo.com

Kennel Club Accredited Airedale Terriers Breeders Faced Prosecution on Animal Cruelty

2011-08-16T03:57:00.000-07:00

A couple of award winning dog breeders have faced prosecution after they had loaded 12 pedigree dogs into a removals van to be removed to a 30C hot zone around 200 miles away. Alan and Julie Weatherley (couple who are both Kennel Club accredited Airedale breeders since July 2009), one of whose dogs had been placed in the most reputed Crufts show in the year 2005, were in the process of relocating from London to Doncaster. They had been checked by the cops and the officers found beautiful Airedale Terriers caged and piled inhumanly in the high temperatures with almost no proper ventilation. They dogs had been stacked with the furniture and other articles which proved that they considered the dogs as commodities. The couples had been prosecuted for animal cruelty.

The complaint were launched against Weatherley by their neighbor that one of the captivated dogs had fallen down from the the wagon into the road. With the day temperatures on the rise - around 28.8c, they were not allowed to take the dogs with them. 12 Airedale Terrier dogs had been unloaded by the cops and were temporarily rehoused them in a resident nearby which can cost the Weatherley couple up to £1,000 for each dog.

"The animals have been removed from a potentially dangerous vehicle and we will now investigate," said Inspector Colin Baker of Sutton Police. A policeman present on the spot said that the removals lorry had "little or no ventilation". He also added that he had been told that the couple planned to give halt at every half an hour interval during their journey to walk and water their dogs. A spokesman for the RSPCA said: "Any dog owner needs to ensure that their dogs are transported in comfortable and safe conditions, and this means that they must be kept cool and not be too cramped. If it can be proven that dogs were caused suffering then owners can be prosecuted." According to The Kennel Club Accreditation Schemes, the dog breeders are given accreditation only after they make commitment of good breeding practice. The Kennel Club remains really concerned about how people move their dogs, while relocating. A spokesman for the Kennel Club said "it is imperative that people have adequate transport arrangements for their dogs in hot weather, which includes access to water and proper ventilation and this is included amongst the extensive guidelines in the scheme. We have the power to discipline or remove breeders from the scheme, as appropriate, if their standards are found wanting. To date 212 have been removed which demonstrates our commitment to upholding the standards of the scheme. No complaint has been made against the breeders in question since they joined the scheme in 2009 but we are in contact with the relevant authorities about this incident and will act accordingly."

On the other level, a police spokesman said that the they had been called following reports of several dogs being loaded into a removal van that had very little ventilation system. The police said that the dogs were removed from the vehicle and housed temporarily in a safe place. One furious neighbor who launched the complaint against the Weatherleys for animal cruelty said, "we couldn't believe how many dogs were in the van especially given that it was almost 30 degrees today. The dogs have such thick coats and looked really hot - as the police opened up the vans the crates seemed to fall out as they were so badly stacked. Most of the residents on this street are completely incensed about this."

Dog Skin Conditions - Holistic Treatment for Dog Itchy Skin

2011-08-10T05:44:00.000-07:00

Just a year ago my friend called me up one night. He was worried about his beautiful female German Shepherd Dog - "Adara", who has been suffering from itchy skin for quite some time. She was taken to the vet many times before and had been diagnosed with dry itchy skin, which was the reason for the condition. She kept well as long as she was under medication and every time the medical course got over the condition kept showing up again.

This post is about how we fought the dry itchy skin and what we did to prevent our dog from getting afflicted to the condition. These were just the parallel treatment (rather holistic treatment for dog itchy skin) that had been carried out along side the vets medical recommendations.

Frequent Bathing: We stopped bathing her for three consecutive months. Even after that we consciously avoided bathing her too frequently. Dogs with dry skin usually lack in the production of natural protective oil, and washing him too often even with high quality moisturizing shampoos can wash off this essential oil.

Regular Brushing: We continued with regular brushing (almost every alternative day), which helped in removing the dry skin flakes and dead follicles. Moreover gently rubbing Adara's skin with her brush stimulated her oil production glands.

Oatmeal Application: Applying cooked and cool oatmeal on the affected areas of the dogs skin is a great option to sooth his dry itchy skin lesions. For Adara we applied the cooked oatmeal on the affected area and leave for half an hour and then wash it with clean water. We used to apply this twice daily.

Aloe Vera Wash: Don't frown on this point please! Its quite easy to get Aloe Vera around us. We get a couple of leaves every day. The leaves were crushed and then boiled in clean water to extract the juice. We used to apply the juice with a cotton over the affected regions.

Feeding Aloe Vera Gel: The raw gel extracted from the leaves were fed to Adara in empty stomach every day, knowing that Aloe Vera has no reported side effects and is enriched with a wide spectrum of most essential vitamins including A, B1, B2, B6, B12, C and E. Disease should be treated internally alongside applying gels and solutions externally.

Epsom Salt Wash: Once each day we used to apply concentrated Epsom salt solution (One Glass of Water + Half Tea Cup of Epsom Salt properly stirred) with a cotton on the affected areas.

Feeding: We put special emphasize on food type. We used to give Adara less red meat, because it could generate heat within her and we were not bathing her. We make sure to put a spoon full of edible olive oil while cooking food for her.

We admit that we are not vets, but good news is that Adara is doing great! She is free from all skin conditions for last five months. If you are worrying about your dog's dry skin, you can follow this holistic treatment for dog itchy skin

Dog Communication - Series 1

2011-07-28T00:33:00.000-07:00

Hello friends...
Today I am going to start off with a series on communication with dogs. Dog Communication explained by Di van my friend. Di van has gathered a great deal of experience in the very unique discipline of animal communication. She will be contributing a series of both interesting and informative notes on how to communicate with dogs. Here's what Di van has to say about how to communicate with dogs and other animals. Read on....

"Welcome to the first in a series of tips on Animal Communication. My name is Di van, I live in South Africa and I am an Animal Communicator.

Whether or not you believe in animal communication you still have to wonder at how when you are sitting on the sofa and you think “I must take Brutus for a walk”, Brutus runs off and stands at the door.

Animals communicate non verbally to each other so it stands to reason they tap into each other’s thoughts. Brutus not only gets what you are saying out loud, he is also reading your mind. Picture this - you want Brutus to sit, you give the command but at the same time you are thinking of how thirsty you are and you must make yourself a cup of tea. He gets “sit I’m thirsty I must make myself some tea” and you wonder why he does not sit !! Brutus is confused and thinking what is it this
person wants me to do, sit or go into the kitchen with them whilst they make the tea ?

When you feel down your dog creeps up next to you and puts his head on your lap. We often say they ‘sense’ when you are unhappy. They know you are unhappy as they read your mind and listen in on your conversations. Some dogs want to comfort you whilst others are thinking “get over it”. Each one is different and reacts in their own unique way. Believe me when I say sometimes you really do not want to know what they are thinking !

It is not easy to declutter our minds but if you can remember your dog hears all, it might just explain why sometimes he or she reacts the way they do.

Till the next time."

Should you have any queries, you can contact directly with Di van. She is really busy with her professional career and may turn up late. Email: di.vanzyl@yahoo.com
Check out Part 2 Post on Dog Communication

Mixed Breed Program - American Kennel Club

2011-06-27T00:30:00.000-07:00

Good News Mixed Breed Dog Owners !

AKC Cordially Greets Mixed Breed Dogs

A group of members of American Kennel Club has formed a Board, aiming towards working for mixed breed dogs. This AKc Board has been seriously planning for a program for mixed breed dogs since January 2005. Non-binding resolutions had been passed by an incredible number of Delegates at the March 2009 meeting, asking the Board to consider the program for mixed breeds. Following this an extensive research work and simultaneously collecting information and feedback from the mixed breed dog owners, delegates of American Kennel Club and Clubs registered under AKC was documented and analyzed sparing serious thought over this issue. Finally, at the Board meeting in the year 2099 the Board unanimously approved a program for mixed breed dogs, which is an invaluable contribution towards the mixed breed dog owners throughout the USA.

This Mixed Breed Program includes a Listing Service and Competition Eligibility.

If you are a mixed breed dog owner and if your dogs are not yet registered with American Kennel Club, you can now go ahead and register your beloved mutts with AKC, under the clubs mixed breed program.

This program has been designed to give equal respect and value to the mixed breed dogs, according to which:

1) Dogs registered under the AKC's Mixed Breed Program will be issued an ID Code Number.
2) Dogs can be registered under the AKC's Mixed Breed Program only if they are spayed or neutered.
3) The owners has to give registration fees for their mixed breed dogs to be registered under this program.
4) In Phase I, listed registered dogs will receive:

        a. A certificate of participation
        b. A competition card, with their ID Code Number (Identification Number), which will allow the mixed breed dogs to participate in the AKC Agility, Rally, and Obedience events.
        c. An access to the dog lovers community that is interested in supporting all things canine, including the American Kennel Club Humane Fund
        d. An affiliation with an organization that:

                     i. Actively stands for responsible dog ownership and breeding and parallely fighting against the   anti-ownership legislation at the local, state, and federal level
                    ii. Donates incredible volume of fund for canine health research with a motive to make this place a better a nd a healthier place for canines.
                   iii. Proactively works for dogs and dog owners victimized by disasters such as 9-11 and Hurricane Katrina.

5) In Phase II, with effect from July 1, 2010 dogs participating in this program will also receive:

       a. Enrollment in the AKC CAR Lost & FOUND service at a discounted rate, which includes a    collar tag and 24-7 year round recovery services, ensuring sense of safety for your dog.
       b. An AKC Supporter window decal
       c. If yuor dog passes the CGC test, he or sher will be entitiled to recieve a CGC certificate.
       d. Copy of The New Puppy Handbook and/or sample of Family Dog magazine
       e. An initial veterinary check up for absolutely free!
       f. A trial offer for pet health insurance
       e. Discounted coupons to an online dog store

AKC has always been advocating for the dog owners' rights and the welfare of dogs through its Government Relations efforts. AKC has always served dog owners through its affiliate organizations like the AKC Humane Fund, AKC Canine Health Foundation and AKC Companion Animal Recovery. The organization has come up with many programs in the past with the common motive to build awareness and to encourage responsible dog ownership. The Mixed Breed Program of AKC is also a noble step to benefit the mixed dog breed and mixed breed enthusiasts. The organization has already considered mixed breed in different programs in the past such as AKC Canine Good Citizen, AKC S.T.A.R. Puppysm, AKC CAR Canine Support and Relief Fund’s disaster relief efforts and AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Day.

Can Dogs Laugh? I am Just Curious About Dog Laughing...

2011-06-25T00:13:00.000-07:00

Can Dogs Laugh?

Dog laughing is no more just a nifty curiosity of the dog lovers... rather more expanded form of researches have been carried out all through the world to establish whether dogs can really laugh. Modern studies suggest that dogs' laughter, alike human, is a very strong form of their communication with their pack members -- other dogs/animals and with their beloved owners.

Stanley Coren, Ph.D., F.R.S.C., a Professor Emeritus in the Department of Psychology at the University of British Columbia has been making constant researches on dogs and their psychology. According to professor Coren, "Animals make laugh-like sounds when they are tickled or playing... ". Modern canine behavioral studies defy the already established idea of psychologists and behavioral biologists that "laughter was a unique emotional expression found only in humans". The Nobel Laurette, ethnologist, Konrad Lorenz has chosen to differ from the already established idea of canine psychologists and behavioral biologists, and re-established that dogs can laugh. He says that it is during play that dogs actually appear to laugh.

"Man Meets Dog" is a famous book authored by Mr. Lorenz, who described this specific emotion in dogs in this way:"...an invitation to play always follows; here the slightly opened jaws which reveal the tongue, and the tilted angle of the mouth which stretches almost from ear to ear give a still stronger impression of laughing. This ‘laughing' is most often seen in dogs playing with an adored master and which become so excited that they soon start panting". It is this "panting", which according to Lorenz is similar to human laughter.

Patricia Simonet, who is the Cognitive Ethologist and Animal Behaviorist said that she found a way to cool down the raucous barkers at her animal shelter. Simonet said she use to play a recording of dogs “laughing” – a prominent breathy exhalation through the mouth - which is generated when the dog pants in excitement. Simonet compares the sound with the "pig snorting". She found its similarity with the human “hah hah hah” without the “a.” This is dog laughing, according to the research scientist Patricia Simonet. While describing the laughter sound in dogs she said, "To an untrained human ear, it sounds much like a pant, 'hhuh, hhuh."

So what is the difference between a dog laughing and general panting?
To describe this difference between a dog panting and the laughter of a dog,Simonet describes what she had studied while analyzing the sound of playing dogs being recorded in parks with a parabolic microphone. What she defines as a laugh of dog is the exhalation sound that bursted into a broader range of frequencies than the sound made by a dog while panting in general. She also noticed that when she imitated the laugh panting sounds of dogs it appeared to cast a positive and enliven effect on the dogs that hear it. A shinning facial expression is exhibited by the dogs hearing it.

Dog Facts - Rare Dog Breeds

2011-06-24T13:11:00.000-07:00

Welcome Dog Lovers… here’s an interesting posts that most of you would like to read, I am sure. If you are looking for interesting dog facts that many of us have not been aware of, you are on the right page.

Did you know that dogs can actually see colors, although not as prominently as human? Did you know that Basenji is the only dog breed on the planet that cannot bark?
Did you know that a female German Shepherd guide dog led her companion, who was blind an incredible distance of 2100 mile Applachian Trail?
Did you know that dog’s nose prints, alike human finger prints, are unique, and can be used to accurately identify them? Interestingly, Chihuahua puppies are born with a very tender spot in their skull which closes with age, just like human babies.

But this post is not meant to offer info as the above. This post has been composed to provide information about some of the rare dog breeds.

Read on…

one of the most rarest dog breed Ariégois that is one of the great working harrier (French pack-hunting scenthound), and is the result of cross breeding several French breeds including the Blue De Gascogne and Gascon Saintongeois and some local briquette hounds.
Another very rare breed – Japanese Terrier – a beautiful black mask dog breed is rapidly declining. A preservation society has been established in Japan to breed and enhance the numbers and popularity.

Another rare dog breed New Guinea Singing Dog has been accepted to be one of the most primitive domestic dogs that had been taken to the island around 6000 years ago. This dog breed has not been promoted properly and has been kept isolated I Papua, New Guinea. These beautiful dog breed is almost a living fossil these days.

Another very rare Korean dog breed – Poong San has been facing a stiff decline due to non-promotion. Scientific breeding programs for Poong San has recently been set up by responsible breeders. This breed was named after the place or its origin – Poong San Region of North East Korea.

Kintamani Dog is another rare dog breed that is typical to Bali, Indonesia. They are bred in a rare village and sold as family pets.
An ancient livestock guarding dog breed, Yugoslavian Herder that originated from the south-eastern mountainous range of former Yugoslavia is still used to guard and protect flocks in his homeland. Yugoslavian Herder was once called Illyrian Shepherd Dog.

Kai – a rare dog breed is fortunately increasing its popularity. Kai is a good watchdog, but a incredible good companion at the same time.

Hokkaido is another rare dog breed, which is considered to have its roots in the Matagi-ken, a breed brought by the Ainu people from the Tohoku region during the Jōmon period. The isolation of Hokkaido led to decrease in popularity. In the year 1869, the English zoologist Thomas W. Blankiston gave this breed the name Hokkaido.

Karelian Bear Dog - a rare dog breed with striking beauty had its origin in Finland and Russia (Finnish-Russian border), where it used to be considered as the national treasure.

Well, now this is for those who are planning to own a Chihuahua. Although this is not a rare breed, yet this information is indeed uncommon and most of you, I am sure, are not aware of this fact about Chihuahuas. If you are a first time owner you should remember that Chihuahuas often get "Hypoglycemic". Hypoglycemia is deficiency of glucose in blood. It is to be remembered that Chihuahua dogs have tendencies to get deficient of glucose in the blood if they are given heavy exercise (or allowed to run around in the garden or amidst the woods for long span of time) and suddenly lose energy.

Most Common Mistakes That Dog Lovers Make

2011-06-23T03:35:00.000-07:00

This swirled up in my mind suddenly while I was reading out a magazine that mentioned how even the most responsible dog owners some times are held responsible for their dogs’ sad demise. Although being hugely responsible, many dog owners make some of the biggest mistakes that may claim their dogs’ life. I discussed with one of my German Shepherd lover pals, my idea of making an analysis of the most commonly committed mistakes by the dog lovers. It took us around half a year to gather a good deal of information about Most Common Mistakes That Dog Lovers Make that I think can make a meaningful blog post.

Yearly Health Check for your Dogs

We came across many dog lovers who do not care to see the vet for their dog’s health check up until they find an apparent health issue. There can be many dormant health problems in dogs that may remain undetected until they become serious and uncontrollable. Moreover, it is wise to call your vets occasionally at your place instead of dropping by the vet’s clinic every time. During the old age you may need to see the vet more frequently than now. It may be a hard task for both - you and your old dog to visit the vet every time. Calling the vet at your place is a wise attempt to get your pet used to with situations of vets coming in to the dog’s place for a health check. During the old age your dog will get little aggressive towards certain situations and strangers coming home may be quite irritating for him then.

Is there any Non-Allergenic Dogs?

NO!

Here I will take a chance to talk about Mr. Barrack Obama (the present American president, who is a well known figure through out the world), who considered his mixed breed dog labradoodle as hypoallergenic. He’s wrong if he considered dogs as non-allergenic. This also reminds me of the offering of Peruvian Government to Mr. Obama and his family. I am sure you remember that the Government of Peru offered Mr. Obama a Peruvian Hairless Dogs, considering that these dogs are non-allergenic. Wrong idea!

Even the hairless dogs may be allergenic, because of their dander – the dead skin cells that form flakes and may cause allergies to some people. There’s nothing like non-allergenic dog breed on this planet.

Not All Human Medicines Are Safe For Your Dogs

Human pain killer drugs act as high poison for your dog. On administering, your dog may start blood vomiting. In worst cases the consequence is death. While large breed dogs may give you some time to take him to the veterinary clinic for necessary treatment or surgery, the small and toy breeds can hardly be saved.

Work out Prior to Meal

Kathy’s dog (Cairn Terrier) doesn’t want to eat. She’s worried because she knows that RISE should eat more than what he eats. Kathy and her husband have planned out a seemingly great solution! They made their pooch walk a good distance in order to increase his hunger. Their concern about their pooch shows that they are really responsible dog owners, but the idea of making a dog work out heavily immediately prior to meals is a big mistake. Especially for deep-chested breeds like Saluki, Great Danes, Mastiffs, German Shepherds etc. heavy exercise immediately prior to and after heavy meals may turn out to be really fatal. Bloat (gastric torsion) due to exercise before and after meals may claim life of your beautiful companion. I suggested Kathy to visit the vet immediately… RISE may need a temporary liver treatment. Chances are also there that her digestive system needs to be treated. Vet is the best person to decide on that.

There are lots of other observations we have made regarding most common mistakes the dog lovers make. You can find more on this analysis and our observations at About German Shepherd Dog, where we contributed an article with more detailed information. Read out Biggest Mistakes the Dog Lovers Make there!

Wobblers Syndrome in Dogs

2011-06-19T04:13:00.000-07:00

If you are an avid fancier of Doberman, Borzoi or/and Great Dane you may be aware of some of the neurological abnormalities that these dog breeds are often susceptible to. Wobblers Disease is one of such neurological syndromes that affect mostly Doberman Pinschers, Borzoi and Great Danes.

Researches have been carried out on Wobblers Syndromes in dogs, and documentations have indicated that apart from Dobbies, Danes and Borzoi, certain other canine breeds are also susceptible to this disease, although not seen as frequently as in Dobbies and Danes. These dogs are Dalmatian, Weimaraner, Boxer, GSD, Old English Sheepdog, Basset Hound, Rhodesian Ridgeback, St. Bernard, Newfoundland, Samoyed, Bull Mastiff and Greyhound.

What is this Wobblers Syndrome in dogs all about?
Wobblers Syndrome in dogs is a disease that affects the cervical vertebrae (neck spinal column), which in turn causes weakness and disorganized & uncoordinated gait. Wobbler Disease adversely affects the animals through malformation - especially narrowing of the vertebrae and intervertebral disc protrusion. The condition affects the interspinal ligaments, ligamenta falva (ligaments connecting the laminae of adjacent vertebrae, from the axis to the first segment of sacrum) and articular facets of the vertebrae. Wobblers Syndrome is also called Cervical Spondylopathy or Cervical Vertebral Instability (CVI). Some researchers thinks that this condition is incorrectly referred to as Spondylopathy.

Although the exact cause of Wobblers Syndrome in dogs is not yet been unearthed, but researches have shown that this condition is related to gene. Many scientists opines that osteochondrosis may be the wobbler disease in dogs. In dogs, as well as in other animals like horses wobbler disease cause tremendous pain, discouraging mobility and in worse case it leads to partial or complete paralysis.

Symptoms of Wobblers Syndrome in Dogs

Symptoms of Wobblers Syndrome in dogs are common in all canine breeds and usually start off with pain in the hind legs. The dog’s age of exhibiting the symptoms may vary from breed to breed. While in case of Dobermans the symptoms may be first noticed at the age of 3 to 5 years, the Great Danes may show wobbler disease symptoms at a very early age – with one year. The dog will show lack of coordination during movement and will face trouble while standing up. The distressed movement can be noticed if the dog tends to turn round – either ways (right or left) -- a corner. With the maturity the back legs will be placed apart stiff with the feet scraping on the ground.

The condition may worsen with weakening and stiffening of the front legs, accompanied with a wobbling mobility. Bending the neck will be painful.

Diagnosis of Wobblers Syndrome in Dogs

Wobblers Syndrome in dogs may be diagnosed by wide range clinical tests, including of physical as well as neurological exams. The vets will advice to do x-rays and blood tests for the dog in order to diagnose if the dog is affected by wobbler disease. X-ray report will indicate the specific compression in any region along the vertebrae. Myelogram (fluoroscopy) or/and an MRI is usually prescribed by the vets.

How to avoid Wobblers Syndrome in Dogs

Well, this is the most important part of this post. Breeding should be carried out in a very planned and selective ways. Dogs with this condition in their history should be barred from the breeding program.

Big Black Dog Syndrome - BBD

2011-06-13T04:40:00.000-07:00

Big Black Dog syndrome - A Challenge Before the Animal shelter

When it comes to dog adoption, the animal shelters and dog rescue centers are usually called upon. One the biggest challenges that most animal shelters are facing is what is known as Big Black Dog Syndrome. It is a syndrome seen in many pet lovers, who pass over the back dogs, without adopting them. The Big black dogs (BBDs) have proved to be the hardest dogs to find homes for — even though they are in good health and human-friendly animals.

Researches have carried upon by specialists, and a few probable factors have been recognized playing their roles behind Big Black Dog syndrome. Fear stigma against black dogs play imensely significant role behind Big Black Dog syndrome. Belief that color black is a symbol evil or that black dogs are more dangerously aggressive than their lighter counterparts have also been recognized as a reason for Big Black Dog syndrome. Belief and (sometimes not necessarily a fact) that black colored dogs for certain breed are faulty makes the novice backyard breeders pass over the black puppies to the animal shelters.

Evidences are there that particularly black dogs - both mixes and pure breeds, are horribly euthanized at many shelters because people pass them up quite frequently.

Records have shown that black dogs are mostly the last to be adopted, despite the fact that the black dogs are just as adorable and as gorgeous as the lighter colored dogs. Fact is that they appear to be more shiny than their lighter counterparts. It is to be remembered that life has no color. Love is never black. A solid black German shepherd Dog can make a pet as good as its black-tan and solid white counterparts. Thankfully some of the organizations have already started off with necessary campaigns to educate the novice dog enthusiasts about Big Black Dog (BBD) syndrome. Many associations and responsible black dog breeders have strongly stood against the the empirical basis for the bias against the black dogs. Some of the associations are doing appreciable job by adopting serious steps to exhibit black dogs as more appealing and gorgeously beautiful.