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Pets: Ways to Choose Treatment of one’s Puppy

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 16:10:08 GMT

The Bond that can come involving an individual as well as a pet is usually incredibly sturdy, especially if that bond had been strengthened living with each other for many years, We have personally cried right after loosing our loved ones dog that had been like a best buddy to me from my birth till I as 15 ages outdated, when he was strike by an automobile one morning.

Dogs serve lots of various requirements for dog snuggie men and women. A number of people receive a puppy since they are lonely and need a loyal good friend or since they desire a pet dog to safeguard the home. A dog that is definitely taken great care of and granted consideration to often will give his life to aid shield his residence and his owner. For your blind a puppy could be a pair of eyes to aid them get all-around and for that police a dog may be an important resource plus a loyal accomplice, having a nose that nothing at all can defeat.

The first matter you must know about looking after a pet is the fact pet dogs require tons of physical exercise. This can be the identical for significant pet dogs and compact pet dogs. All canines must be permit out not less than as soon as each 8 hrs and must granted at least a twenty moment walk to give the pet some fresh air, exercise as well as a chance to alleviate on their own.

It is also vital that you engage in while using dog snuggie often. This can signify really going into the park on a weekend or day off and possessing a great match of fetch, tossing the ball close to inside your back yard or maybe wrestling on the floor with all the canine, just be certain if you’re ruff housing which has a little pet dog that you simply don’t unintentionally damage the canine. Enjoying when using the canine for the 50 percent hour each day, just isn’t only fantastic for your canines physical well being but a dig that is definitely played with frequently is mentally much healthier and less probably to be a frustrated pet dog, in addition, it lowers your blood pressure level also and it’ll type an unbreakable bond concerning both you and your pooch, that may prolong to your relatives in case you really should commence having one immediately after owning the dog snuggie.

That which you feed your canine is extremely crucial to the puppies continued great health and fitness. The greater canine foods will likely be marked for exactly what are groups the food is correct for. More youthful canines will need certain vitamins and minerals in bigger amounts then an adult puppy, and also the identical goes for an elderly pet they will need far more calcium within their foods to help you secure their bones and joints. Feeding your pet the incorrect foodstuff can stunt the dog’s advancement and opens the pet dog to some much larger risk of surgery treatment once they are mature.

Identical to an individual a puppy really should be taken into the veterinarian’s place of work just about every 6 months, and will have to be given their pictures each year. Typical checkups and vaccinations can even assistance assure that your dog grows to become an outdated joyful canine.

Pet subjects: hot-air balloon phobia and pets on planes

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 16:39:40 GMT

JP, Hampshire
Hot-air balloons can be terrifying on two fronts: visually (huge coloured objects dropping out of the sky) and acoustically (the burners make a loud roaring noise). You should create a safe den for her where she can hide when nervous: somewhere that’s screened from both the sight and sound of the balloons (for example, a cupboard under the stairs with a radio on inside, and an Adaptil diffuser to reassure her). Train her to settle there on command, and at the first hint of a balloon, tell her to go to the den. The use of anti-anxiety medication may be needed to help her to be relaxed enough to cope at first. You’re likely to need the help of a professional behavioural specialist to solve this one.

My rabbit has been ill with a suspected hairball problem. The rabbit has recovered, and an experienced rabbit breeder suggested that papaya enzyme might help prevent recurrence. I also groom them and give them plenty of hay. Would it be safe to give one tablet to an adult dwarf rabbit that weighs just 1kg?

EC, by email
Rather than trying to break down the “hairball”, it can be more beneficial to make sure that the rabbit is well hydrated, with plenty of fluids and a high-quality diet. To reduce the chance of such digestive upsets, I’d focus on providing a good balanced diet with regular dental checks from your vet to make sure that everything is being chewed properly. I don’t think that it would harm a rabbit to have papaya enzyme given as per the label, but I’m sceptical about the benefits.

We live in the Middle East and are considering transporting our three female cats to the UK. All three are neutered, vaccinated regularly and have passed the rabies testing process. I worry about the length of the flight. Many pets are left here to be re-homed but I don’t want to abandon them. What do you think?

JC, Qatar
Many animals undergo long air journeys without seeming to suffer from any adverse consequences. You should introduce them to the cat carriers in the few months before travel. Leave the carriers around the house, with treats and toys in them. Take the cats for short, easy trips (e.g. in the car for 20 minutes) just to familiarise them with the idea. Use pheromone sprays (e.g. Feliway) to make the carriers more acceptable to the cats, and on the day of travel, too. Talk to your vet about the use of non-sedating anti-anxiety medication for six to eight weeks before travel.

Paws for progress
The Scottish Prison Service (SPS), Dogs Trust and a postgraduate student from the University of Stirling are collaborating on the first prison-based dog-training programme in the UK. Known as “Paws for Progress”, this pioneering programme involves young offenders training rescue dogs from a local Dogs Trust rehoming centre. The aim is to help offenders address their behaviour and develop employment skills in preparation for release. To find out more, visit pawsforprogress.wordpress.com.

Rescue pet of the week
This week’s rescue pet is Tiggy, a three-year-old female domestic long haired cat. She can be a little bit shy with strangers but when she makes friends she enjoys a bit of a fuss. Often she prefers her games, she particularly loves playing with fishing rod toys. She would prefer a home with older children as youngsters scare her a bit and she isn’t too keen on other cats. For more information about Tiggy please contact The Blue Cross in Torbay on 0300 777 1550 or see all Blue Cross animals needing homes.

Dog Care Tips – Info on Acne in Dogs

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 14:44:33 GMT

Dogs can easily develop acne. This condition has affected a great number of dogs. Severe infections have been known to develop in dogs, but most of them only develop mild cases of acne. This condition usually affects younger pups more often, but they usually get over it by the time their first birthday rolls around.

Acne is a condition that occurs whenever your dog starts producing too much sebum. Sebum usually works to hydrate your dog’s skin. If your dog’s body starts producing too much sebum, then acne will occur. Some of the other reasons why dogs develop acne is due to a hormone imbalance or poor grooming by the owner. Some of the other possible reasons include stress, skin infections, and allergies.

Acne causes the formation of blackheads, and any part of your dog’s body can be affected by them. The lips and chin are two common areas that are most often affected. Scabs may also occur whenever areas of the skin start to swell. Your dog won’t be affected much by the scabs unless they lead to a bacterial infection. The area will be itchy enough to prompt your dog to scratch it as much as possible.

If your dog truly has acne, then your veterinarian will be able to tell with ease. It’s very easy to notice the appearance of the blackheads over various spots of your dog’s body. Other conditions may cause this though, so the vet may rule them out with a skin biopsy. Dogs need to be sedated in order to submit to a skin biopsy though.

Medication to really cure acne doesn’t really exist, so the condition can only be managed. First, the vet will need to determine what’s causing the acne. Certain foods can be the cause of the problem, so a food trial may be in order.

Anti-seborrheic shampoos and soaps can be used to treat acne in dogs. These shampoos or soaps help limit the amount of sebum on the skin. Proper grooming is also required in order to manage acne.
Medication may be needed if the case is more severe. Some dogs will also need to take antibiotics to ensure that they don’t go on to develop a bacterial infection. Dogs that are suffering due to itching can get relief thanks to anti-inflammatory medications. Topical steroids may even be required in order to treat a more severe case.

Pets can be affected by all sorts of illnesses, a fact that many owners just don’t pay attention to. If you want to be on the safe side, then you will be aware of the common signs that your dog is suffering from one of these diseases. If there is something wrong, then seek help from a qualified professional as soon as possible.

Wuggle Pets

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 14:17:26 GMT

"Snuggle my cuddle my Wuggle Pet" is what my three year old son sings every time the Wuggle Pet commercial comes on. He puts his little hand together and put's them up to his face like he is cuddling his Wuggle Pet, with a huge smile on his face! It's the cutest little thing I have ever seen!

What is a Wuggle Pet you may be wondering, well let me fill you in! Wuggle Pets are adorable animals that your child can fill and make come to life. You can purchase either the Starter Pack or the Party Pack, but no matter which one you purchase you are sure to have a ton of fun! They also offer single pets, so you can continue to collect the entire line of Wuggle Pets.

If you purchase the Party Pack it contains all eight, so your children can collect them and better yet you can save $30! I think the party pack would make a great hit at any party. Not only would it be the activity, but it would also double as a favor to take home, how cool is that!

The starter set includes the magical unicorn and the cuddly puppy. While the magical unicorn is perfect for little girls the cuddly puppy is perfect for little boys. My three year old had so much fun bringing to life "Pup" and "lucky". Yes, he even got to name them as it even comes with a birth certificate for each of the Wuggle Pets. He had fun stuffing it and adding the special magic dust then within a zip it magically came to life! After he was done making them he snapped one on his backpack to proudly sport while wearing his backpack.

Pets Full of Love this Valentine’s Day

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 13:56:38 GMT

Today is Valentine’s Day! Have you ever wondered where this time-tested tradition originated? I found a rather enlightening article that discusses the history and origin of St. Valentine and how and why we continue to observe this holiday. It makes for a rather interesting read. However, there is no mention in the article about pets and our LOVE for them. I would like to add my own paragraph and update this article…

“There is a town in Anywhere, USA that devotes February 14 (aka Valentine’s Day) to honoring pets. The local Animal Shelter is overwhelmed with donations… hard goods as well as monetary! Townsfolk volunteer their time by walking, playing, and grooming the homeless pets. Many pets are adopted into loving homes. However, this doesn’t just happen on Valentine’s Day in Anywhere, USA but every day throughout the year!”

Let’s take a moment out of this day that is devoted to LOVE and contemplate how we can share our love with our pets or at our local Animal Shelter. Remember… every day should be Valentine’s Day!

Violence and delusional pets

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 16:26:47 GMT

I’ve just read a striking article recounting cases of violence associated with delusions about household pets. Although the academic paper is locked, a copy is available online as a pdf. The curious study was published in a 1987 edition of Behavioral Sciences and the Law and includes three extended case studies of defendants charged with aggressive crimes who had “psychotic perceptions and delusions involving their pet animals”.

Several weeks before the alleged killing, Mr. A’s cat appeared to be pregnant, so he made a nesting box for it. He said his wife disliked his cat because of its grey color. One day Mr. A dropped a jar of molasses, thereby spilling the contents. He lamented to himself that he no longer had control over picking up and holding objects. Upon seeing the cat’s strange green eyes, he concluded that voodoo was being perpetrated against him through the cat as a medium, and the cat was therefore responsible for his loss of control. It occurred to him that Cleopatra and the ancient Egyptians were surrounded by cats. He associated cats with the ancient past and evil spirits. He decided to shoot the cat in order to “break the spell” against him. However, killing his cat failed to dispel his sense of being fragmented and persecuted.

From the time he shot his cat until his wife was mortally shot several days later, Mr. A’s psychosis worsened; his thinking became more disorganized and lacking in reality adherence. Time seemed to have stopped. He perceived a striking deterioration in his wife’s appearance. “She looked so grey (her criticism of the cat), like a craven image… she looked sick.”

The author notes that the first description of this phenomenon was actually in the Edgar Allen Poe short story The Black Cat where the narrator develops delusions about his cat and eventually kills his wife. Many thanks to Keith Laws for finding this unusual footnote in the forensic psychiatry literature.

Found Baby Kittens

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:39:00 GMT

Kitten season is almost upon us, but what can you do if you find baby kittens? Here is some very helpful advice from Austin Pets Alive!, one of Care2′s wonderful Butterfly Rewards partners,

What do you do if you find kittens?

If you find young kittens without their mom, it does not automatically mean they have been abandoned by their mother. The mother could be out looking for food, or finding a more suitable home for her kittens. If you find one or two kittens, their mother may be in the process of moving the family and is on her way back for the others. Wait and observe from a distance for an hour or two. Kittens have the best chance of survival with their mother. Ultimately, you have to use your own judgment, depending upon the kittens’ needs and your time and resources.

Please keep in mind that if you bring the cats inside you should keep them separate from your animals until evaluated by a veterinarian. For proper social development, kittens should be kept with their litter (and mother, if possible) until at least 8 weeks of age.

Monkey faces

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:53:10 GMT

Each mountain gorilla face is unique. They range from beautiful to expressive, laughable, and noble. Some of the infants have faces like old men, and the toddlers sport wild hairstyles. Here are a few pictures from The Faces of Virunga’s Mountain Gorillas.

Most American Pets are Too Fat

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:23:31 GMT

Fifty-four percent of dogs and cats are overweight or obese, according to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention. That’s 93 million dogs and cats, if their estimate is accurate. Excess weight can shorten a pet’s life by 2.5 years said a veterinarian who works in North Carolina. Diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, arthritis and some cancers are related to excessive weight in dogs and cats.

One of the reasons dogs become overweight is that people feed them table scraps and junk food. Also dog treats are given too often. “No one would sit down and drink six sodas at one time, yet that’s exactly what we’re doing when we give our pets these snacks. Even a single, small dog bone treat given to a 10-pound dog is no different than a person eating two chocolate doughnuts. The truth is, we rarely stop at one dog treat. Give a few each day and you’ve fed the equivalent of a dozen doughnuts, ” said pet health researcher Dr. Ernie Ward. (Source: Pet Obesity Prevention) He also said the number one threat to pet health is excess weight.

Is it a mystery why so many American pets are overweight? Not really – the pets aren’t feeding themselves. Clearly people are overfeeding their own pets. But why? Is it the general culture of overeating and overconsumption influencing people to overfeed their animals? Or is more that sedentary people who also overeat don’t exercise their pets enough, and overfeed them?

“Pet obesity begins with excessive kindness. Food is the primary way some pet owners demonstrate love to their pet. When dog treats and table scraps become signs of affection or behavioral tools, it becomes difficult to effectively regulate a pet’s diet,” sad a vet who works in the pet health insurance industry.

Obesity Epidemic Strikes Pets

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:49:17 GMT

Kim Stevens has a problem that affects tens of millions of Americans. If left untreated, it could lead to the death of someone she loves, someone who’s part of the family. Stevens’ dog Dodger, a black and gray mixed breed, is obese. According to a new study, he’s emblematic of a growing problem.

The majority of adult dogs and cats in U.S. homes are overweight or obese, and the problem has gotten worse over the past year, according to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention. Fifty-three percent of adult dogs and 55% of cats were classified as overweight or obese by their veterinarians. “I didn’t notice the weight creeping on — it was like all of a sudden he was just this fat dog,” Stevens said as she and Dodger visited Atlanta’s Centennial Olympic Park.

“His weight is about 82 pounds right now, and he should be 62 pounds.” That means he needs to lose about a quarter of his weight — equivalent to a 200-pound person needing to lose 50 pounds. The reason is pretty simple: “Too much food and not enough exercise,” Stevens said. The Association for Pet Obesity Prevention report shows not only that more pets are overweight, but also that those with the problem “are getting fatter,” said Ernie Ward, the group’s founder.

The annual study, to be released next week and given in advance to CNN, found that 25% of cats and just more than 21% of dogs are obese. Both those figures are up slightly from 2010. About 41 million dogs and 47 million cats are overweight or obese, the study found. A long list of health dangers comes with the excess weight. “It’s not a matter of if, it’s when” serious complications will strike, said Ward. These can include high blood pressure, “crippling arthritis,” diabetes and some cancers. “Their life is shortened by two or 2½ years,” said Ward, a veterinarian in North Carolina.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Veterinary Medicine, which cites the association’s annual study, said the diseases seen among obese pets “are eerily similar to those reported for people.”
A central part of the problem, the pet obesity group found, is the growing “fat pet gap:” More and more owners are unaware their pets are overweight. The study found that 22% of dog owners and 15% of cat owners characterized their pets as normal weight when the animals were actually overweight or obese.
“In simplest terms, we’ve made fat pets the new normal,” said Ward.

In many cases, the problem correlates to the obesity epidemic among people, he said. “This is the sentinel for childhood obesity. When I see dogs who are overweight, I see a child that’s at risk for excess weight, because nobody’s exercising. The kid’s playing video games all day, the dog sits around all day,” and “everybody’s eating poorly.”Stevens said she needs to shed some weight, too.

“We’ll do it together,” she said. The fact that obesity has struck her dog is particularly telling. Stevens does some work as a dog trainer. “To have a dog this heavy when you know better … is embarrassing,” she said. But she has a lot of company. Thirty-nine percent of U.S. households own at least one dog, and 33% of households own at least one cat, according to the Humane Society of the United States.

The pet obesity survey was conducted at 41 veterinary clinics across the country and included evaluations of a sampling of more than 600 animals. “Over the five years studied, these results have proven to be consistent and increasing at a gradual pace,” the association said. While the obvious advice — eat less, exercise more — is the right starting point, there’s more that pet owners should understand, Ward said. Pet foods these days are “more calorically dense” than they used to be, yet owners are feeding their pets more, he said. If you’re concerned your pet may be obese, it’s important to work with a veterinarian, and not try to tackle the problem on your own, said Ward. “Diet is not about starvation or deprivation. It’s about gradual weight loss.”

In many cases, carefully measuring food and committing to exercise can do the trick. But more severe cases need more extensive work. That’s what helped Jane Whitehead’s dog, Raleigh. In February 2006, he weighed a whopping 187 pounds. “I swear, we didn’t overfeed him!” Whitehead said of Raleigh who, like Dodger, is a rescue dog. “We would try giving him smaller and smaller portions of his regular food and he kept gaining and kept gaining.”

A series of tests found nothing wrong with him, but “at a certain point when he had become so obese, he couldn’t exercise at all. We would try to walk him a little bit and he would just stop,” said Whitehead, CFO of a business in Duluth, Georgia. A veterinarian switched him to “super low-calorie food” and put Raleigh on an underwater treadmill, which he loved.

“He lost enough that he could exercise on his own and go for walks with us.” The energetic Raleigh she loved was back. Within three years, Raleigh had cut his weight in half. There are few truly lost causes, Ward said. And that’s something critical for owners to know. Beth Spiess of San Marcos, Texas, said her sheltie, Daisy, became so obese from over-feeding that she couldn’t walk, and her previous owners wanted to put her to sleep. The vet refused and gave the dog to a shelter, where Spiess adopted her. Daisy has lost 30 pounds. “It’s hard to believe she is the same dog,” Spiess told CNN in an iReport, though Daisy still needs pills to help with arthritis caused by the obesity.

Cat owners can face more of an uphill climb in trying to get their pets to exercise, Ward said. Stacie Schafer of Brunswick, Ohio, said people often remark that her cat, Sophie — now nicknamed Meatloaf — “is the fattest cat I have ever seen.” Schafer has tried to get Sophie to run around like the other two cats in the home, but Sophie just isn’t that interested. “Cats don’t jog,” Ward said. “Cats by nature are anaerobic creatures. That means they use sugar as their primary energy source. … They sprint, they pounce, they leap.”Schafer has tried diet cat food and portion control as well, with little results.

Ward recommends families facing trouble work with veterinarians to find ways to bring down the weight.
In the end, living a life in which you prioritize healthy eating and exercise for all members of the family, including domesticated furry friends, is the key, he said. That means no more treats — “calorie grenades” — every time your dog does a trick. “They want reward, praise, affection. We take the easy way out, reach into the cookie jar.”It also means snacking on single-ingredient treats like celery, broccoli and asparagus. And it means moving to stay healthy and stay alive. “Unless we really get a grip on this very quickly,” said Ward, “We’re going to see an entire generation of pets that don’t live as long as the pets I had when I was a child.”