Home     Log in

Posts Tagged ‘feed your dog’

Dog Constipation - Stop It Now

December 22nd, 2011 by admin | No Comments | Filed in Uncategorized

Why Dog Constipation Can Be Bad For Your Beloved Dog

Dog constipation can be a problem for many dogs. There are various causes but most are harmless and can be avoided or treated.

First of all your dog needs exercise. If the dog is lying around all day long then dog constipation is more than likely. Give him less food when he does not move much. This brings us to the second most important aspect, . The wrong food can easily cause dog constipation or other symptoms.

Choose the food which is appropriate for your dog, its age and weight. Not all pet food is made similar. In fact there are some pretty bad pet foods out there. You should look out for quality food and also give him fresh food from time to time. Instead of giving him one large amount of food, twice a day instead. For constipation is is recommended you increases the amount of fiber in the food.

Stress can be another reason for dog constipation. If your dog has to live outside then weather conditions, cold or heat can cause constipation. A dog is an animal which does not like to be alone but always near you or with other dogs. This can cause stress too.

Before changing the diet for your dog you should also talk with your animal doctor. He knows much more about pet food, especially when it comes to dogs. He can also make a proper diagnosis which helps to find other reasons for your dogs constipation.

Unfortunately it is not always about food and exercise. Sometimes the problem is bigger. Dog constipation can also be caused by bacteria, or viruses for example. Also poisoned food can be a cause. Here the veterinarian can help as well.

Your dog can not really care about himself so you have to do is. One of the best things to do is to check his excrements on a daily basis. While this does not sound like fun, it gives you important information about your dogs situation. It gives you early warning signs when something is wrong.

The ideal dog poop does not smell much, is moist but can easily be taken away without breaking apart. Any major changes in your dog’s poop can indicate an upcoming disease or - in the best case - are just a sign for you to change your dog’s nutrition.

There are many good recipes which you can try out to make your dog healthier. On my web site I have some tips about this. One final word of warning though. When you choose high quality then supplements should not be necessary. They could cause imbalances and also lead to dog constipation.

Nick Prisbrey as published many helpful tips about

Tags: , ,

Related posts

Tags: , ,

Toxic Foods for Dogs

November 27th, 2011 by admin | No Comments | Filed in Uncategorized

Part of a puppy’s experience growing up is the wonderful world of sights, smells,
sounds, and most importantly, tastes. To your young pup, just about anything
tastes good. From your old gym shoes, to the block of chocolate you left on the
counter, if it’s available, your dog is probably chewing on it right now. Let us leave
puppies aside and talk about dogs of all ages now.

Your dog is not human — it fails to distinguish between right or wrong, good or
bad, unless you train it to. At the time of this writing, my puppy will stick his head
into any garbage bin, take out whatever looks good and start chewing at it. Left-
over food at parks and playgrounds also seem like free tasty snacks. However, it is
absolutely important that you monitor what is going into your dog’s mouth at all
times, because what you don’t know — can kill your dog.

A list of some important things you should never include:

Chocolate
Chocolate is toxic for dogs, as it contains caffeine and theobromine. After a dog
eats chocolate, sickness, vomiting, and in extreme cases, even death are possible. If
you find your dog eating chocolate, take it away and consult a veterinarian
immediately.

Onions and Garlic
Garlic, and especially onions, contain thisoulphate, which is also toxic to dogs.
Vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, and general illness are usually the symptomps
associated if thisoulphate has been digested. Contact a veterinarian immediately.

Chicken Bones
Chicken bones have a wonderful tendency to get stuck in a dog’s throat or the root
of its mouth. Chicken bones also contain a sharp piece known as the splinter which
is extremely sharp and can cut or cause your dog’s windpipe to become stuck.

Medication
All medication should be kept away from dogs. Dogs usually love the smell and
sweet taste of medication. It is not unusual for a dog to chew through a bottle of
dropped medication and eat the contents. Aspirin is one exception, which can
actually help ease pain such as arthritis. Before ever considering giving your dog
Aspirin for pain, consult your veteranarian.

Antifreeze
Antifreeze contains ethylene glycol, which is absolute lethal — even in small doses.
Keep all pets away from an antifreeze spill, as the sweet smell and taste is attractive
to anyone around with a sensitive enough nose to pick it up. If your dog consumes
any amount of antifreeze, rush him immediately to the veteranarian.

Joe Gajda and his family own 2 mixed breed dogs and operate the dog owners
resource site dogtwist.com dogtwist.com

Tags:

Related posts

Tags:

Adverse Effects of Commercial Dog Food

November 25th, 2011 by admin | No Comments | Filed in Uncategorized

How we love our dogs in the United States! We spend billions of dollars not only on necessities like food and medical care, but on luxuries such as clothing, carriages, and knick-knacks that our forefathers could never have imagined buying for an animal. We believe that the pet industry has our animals’ well-being as its number one priority. The sad fact, though, is that most companies that make and sell animal food and supplies really are concerned with one thing: making money from our devotion to our animals. Stark proof of this came earlier in 2007 when scores of American pets died due to a toxin added to pet food to boost the protein. This event has caused us all to be more skeptical of the commercial industry.

What is in anyway, and is it beneficial or detrimental to our beloved dogs? Any astute dog owner is wise to ask this question, and will most likely be shocked by the answer: lots of garbage, waste, fillers, and toxins go into FiFi and Fido’s kibbles.

First of all, many dog foods contain grains, such as wheat, oats, rice, barley, and corn, as the main ingredient, rather than animal protein. Dogs are carnivores and were not designed by Mother Nature to digest and use large amounts of grains. Carnivores’ diets should consist almost exclusively of animal products. In the wild, you see wolves eating animals that are vegetarians. That is, given the choice, they kill and eat deer, elk, buffalo, and other hoofed mammals. They resort to smaller mammals like rodents and rabbits when large game is unavailable. Wolves just don’t raid our gardens or destroy our wheat and corn fields. Nature intended for canines to eat animal protein. Forcing our dogs to eat lots of grains causes all sorts of digestive problems and is thought to be a major reason why dogs develop allergies.

As bad as it is for our dogs to be subsisting on grains long-term, the animal products used to make commercial are often much worse. Read the label on any you purchase. You want to see the word “meat” first in the list of ingredients. That word can only be used to refer to the muscle tissue of cows, pigs, sheep and goats. So far, so good. After all, that’s what humans are eating when we enjoy steak or pork chops, the muscle tissue of the animal. Be aware that when you see the words “meal” or “by-product,” your dog could be eating heads, hooves, organs, or any part of any animal. Now for the worst part: these two terms encompass not only beef, pork, or sheep, but may refer to road-kill, waste products (yup, feces), or even euthanized pets. Any number of poisons, toxins, and bacteria can be present in that has been made using such waste and detritus. Don’t any food that lists meal or by-products in the ingredients! Your dog can suffer illness, poisoning, stomach upset, diarrhea, disorientation, or even death from ingesting these ingredients.

Finally, watch out for fillers and preservatives. These ingredients aren’t even good for omnivores, like humans, who have digestive systems designed to handle variety. But for dogs, who are supposed to be eating only meat, these additives are unnecessary and unhealthy. Additives in are good for one thing: to boost the bottom line of the manufacturer. They certainly aren’t intended to enhance your dog’s health.

For additional information on how to keep your dog healthy and happy, please visit dogearyeastinfection.com dogearyeastinfection.com, a website that features helpful dog-related articles, information, resources, and E-books for health-conscious and loving dog owners who want the best for their canine companion.

Tags: , ,

Related posts

Tags: , ,

15 Helpful Dog Allergy Prevention Tips and Dog Allergy Friendly Breeds

November 22nd, 2011 by admin | No Comments | Filed in Uncategorized

Unfortunately, there are no cures for dog allergies. However, there are several things you can do to make life with your dog more comfortable:

1. Wash your hands frequently.

Wash your hands with soap and hot water immediately after handling your dog. If you are unable to wash your hands right away, avoid touching your hands with your face especially your eyes, nose, and mouth. If you have severe allergies and are in close contact with your dog, you may need to take frequent showers and change your clothes throughout the day.

2. Feed your dog a well-balanced diet.

Your dog’s diet should include some natural fat. This fat helps to make your dog’s skin less dry, resulting in less shedding. Talk to your vet about his recommendations on how to safely add fat to his diet.

3. Don’t allow your dog in the bedroom.

This tip takes a lot of discipline, but it does make a big impact on your reaction to allergies. Keeping your bedroom door closed is ideal because it keeps airborne particles away. Sleep on mattresses and pillows with hypoallergenic polyester fillings. Also, as an extra precaution, cover your pillows, mattresses, and box springs with plastic, zippered, allergy-proof covers.

4. Brush your dog often.

It is ideal to brush your dog daily. However, if you suffer from allergies, you’ll need to give another family member the responsibility of brushing the dog. If possible, the dog should be brushed outdoors. If you live alone with your dog, consider taking him to a professional groomer. You could wear a dust mask and gloves for brushing him in between grooming visits.

5. Bathe your dog often.

Check your dog’s current shampoo. It should be ahypoallergenic or oatmeal based shampoo. If it’s not, try switching brands. If your allergies can’t handle the bathing, have another family member be responsible for giving baths. Or, have your dog visit a groomer.

6. Wash your dog’s belongings.

Get into the habit of washing your dog’s bed, blankets, and toys on a weekly basis either by hand with a safe soap or in the washing machine.

7. Check your vacuum.

Make sure your vacuum cleaner has a HEPA (High Efficiency Particle Air) filtration system. This type of system will help pull up and trap more of your dog’s dander from the floor.

Note: vacuuming is recommended over sweeping because sweeping can stir the dander into the air, rather than trapping and removing it.

8. Have carpets cleaned regularly.

Even though you use a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filtration system, it is important to still have your carpets steam-cleaned throughout the year. Try to have this done at least quarterly.

9. Dust often.

Use a damp cloth to wipe down surfaces such as tables, shelves, window sills, wall hangings, lamps, and other furniture and accessories. If necessary, wear a dust mask as you clean. Reccomended cleansing solutions:Oti-Clens Cleansing Solution

10. Keep the air fresh.

Use an air purifier one that contains a HEPA. This type of system will help eliminate dander from the air.

The less a dog sheds the less dander it produces. The following breeds typically produce less dander:

Airedale

Basenji

Bedlington terrier

Bichon frise

Chinese crested

Irish water spaniel

Italian greyhound

Kerry blue terrier

Maltese

Poodle

Portuguese water dog

Schnauzers

Shih tzu

Soft-coated Wheaten terrier

Tibetan terrier

Wire-haired fox terrier

Xoloitzcuintli (Mexican hairless)

To read the Entire Article and the remaining allergy prevention tips go to: largedogbreedz.com/your-large-dogs-health/large-dog-grooming-techniques/dog-allergy-prevention-tips.html

For more largedogbreedz.com/your-large-dogs-health/” target=”_blank Dog Breed Health Tips, largedogbreedz.com/large-dog-breeds/” target=”_blank Large Dog Breed Profiles, and details on specific Dog Training Exercises, visit us at largedogbreedz.com” target=”_blank largedogbreedz.com

Tags: , , , , ,

Related posts

Tags: , , , , ,

Dog Nutrition Doesn’t Just Mean Premium Dog Food

November 6th, 2011 by admin | No Comments | Filed in Uncategorized

Your pet is a loving member of your family and you love to treat them as one of the family. We are always looking at what we feed our kids. Whether it is their regular meals or the snacks we give them -we want only the best. The same needs to hold true for the pets that are part of our loving family, we need to be aware of what we are feeding them.

More and more, we have become aware of the premium dog foods that are available and the positive affect it can have on our pets’ health. What we are less aware of is the availability of premium dog treats. It does not make a lot of sense to give them high quality foods and then give them a doggie treat equivalent of junk food. The idea is to give them a healthy diet all the way around to make sure they are able to have the best quality life possible.

The idea of premium treats is to provide a healthy alternative to the typical treats you find in most stores. Premium treats should be loaded with vitamins, minerals and other health promoting ingredients. What they shouldn’t contain is fillers, binders, artificial ingredients and colors, chemical preservatives etc.

Rawhides are animal hides that are cured, pressed and molded into bone shapes and sold as inexpensive chew treats for dogs. Many manufacturers cure the hides with harsh chemicals; such as, an ash-lye solutions, lime and/or bleach. If the curing process is not enough to help you decide whether or not to rawhide, consider the digestive problems of rawhides. Prolonged chewing can cause rawhides to become stringy or break off in small pieces, which can lead to a choking hazards or throat irritations. Rawhides are digested very slowly and can cause intestinal problems, even blockages. There are safe and healthy alternatives to rawhide that can give your dog hours of chewing pleasure.

Dental bones stimulate the teeth and gums to keep them clean and well massaged. This will promote all around, good dental hygiene for your dog. Dogs shouldn’t be given any treat or bone that is not digestible and that doesn’t break down well in the GI tract because it could cause problems. This is essential for the dogs’ complete health and nutritional needs. They deserve nothing but the best from us and that means not only premium , but premium treats as well. If we give them one and not the other, we short-change our pets.

Lori Matthews studies health, nutrition and wellness. She enjoys writing articles on health for both people and pets. Please visit premium4pets.com premium and treats by Lifes Abundance for more information.

Tags: ,

Related posts

Tags: ,