Horses are living creatures with needs and emotions. But if you love horses, you don’t need to be told that. And like all living creatures, they need to be kept healthy if they are to be happy and successful. However, this world can be tough, and “nature red in tooth and claw” has a number of threats to horse health that a wise owner will want to watch out for.

Living conditions are the first consideration when it comes to horse health. If a horse is kept stabled, the stable will need to be kept free from damp and mould - and, to consider the opposite extreme, protected from excessive heat.
The straw or other bedding used to cover the floor of the stable should be mucked out regularly, preferably daily, and care should be taken that the new bedding is free from mould, damp or mildew. The stable should also be checked carefully to make sure that there are no sharp edges that a horse can cut itself on.

If a horse is kept in pasture, a shelter of some kind must be provided so the horse can find shade from excessive heat, or cover from rain. The field must also be checked to ensure that no poisonous plants such as nightshade or hemlock are growing in it or near it where the horse can eat them. Fencing should be checked to make sure that the horse cannot escape and that it has no sharp projections that a horse could cut itself on if it uses the fence to itch itself.

Correct feeding is another vital aspect of horse health. While it is obvious that malnutrition is bad for any horse, excessive or incorrect feeding can also be a threat to horse health. Colic can be caused by eating the wrong sort of food, such as under-ripe apples are notorious and eating too much can cause a horse to founder and run the risk of laminitis.

Stabled horses, in particular, require especial care for their diets. The right proportion of energy foods should be given according to the work the horse is performing. Fresh food, such as raw fruits and vegetables, will be a welcome addition to a horse’s diet, and it stands to reason that horse health as well as human health will benefit from the vitamins provided by these.

Horses, like other companion and working animals, need protection and medication to ensure that they are free from parasites. Veterinarians recommend that horses be wormed twice a year, preferably in autumn and spring, to ensure optimum horse health.

Mucking out stables and/or pasture frequently is another important part of controlling parasites. In this respect, keeping a horse at pasture can be an advantage, as a horse can be moved from field to field, thus ensuring that any parasites in the dung will die and/or be dispersed before the horse returns to that particular field again.

On a day to day basis, the most important part of horse health is regular interaction between horse and rider. Daily grooming, feeding and riding is not only the source of much pleasure for both horse and human, but it also gives the rider/owner a chance to make sure that their horse remains in good condition.

By interacting with a horse daily, it is very easy to see if the horse is showing any signs of poor health, such as poor coat condition, mucus in the eyes, scouring (diarrhoea), strange lumps or cuts. But if you love horses, you’ll be spending time with your horse, anyway.

For more information on horses, try visiting interestinghorses.com interestinghorses.com - a website that specializes in providing horse related tips, advice and resources including information on interestinghorses.com/horsehealth.html horse health

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Tags: groom, parasites, poisonous plants

A new puppy is similar to that of a baby, he is curious and loves to explore every corner in your house. To ensure your pup safety, you have to make sure that your house is puppy-proofed. After which you need to make sure all the essential puppy supplies are in place to welcome your new pup.

But how do you know if your house is safe and ready for your new puppy? Listed below is a checklist for you to take note of before you bring your new puppy home:

1. Clear your house of poisonous items - Have you cleared your house of all poisonous items and taken them out of your pup’s reach? If you did not, you better do it right away. Cleaning solutions, laundry detergents, bleach, disinfectants, insecticides, fertilizers, mothballs and antifreeze should be kept in cabinets or high up on shelves beyond his reach. Of course, as he grows, and if he has an adventurous streak, he’s sure to jump high on to your shelves to find out what’s where.

2. Secure all medications and unauthorized foods - These items will cause food poisoning or damages to your dogs’ health - Drugs such as Motrin and Tylenol causes liver damage. Common household food items that are harmful include alcoholic beverages, avocado (the only “fatty” member of the vegetable family), coffee, salt, yeast dough, garlic, fatty foods - turkey, artificial sweeteners – Xylitol, potatoes, onions, nuts, chocolate, grapes and raisins.

3. Uproot all life-threatening plants - Do you have life-threatening plants at home? Seemingly harmless plants such as apricot pits, spinach and tomato vines are dangerous to your pup. To find a detail list of common poisonous houseplants, you can visit this site: www.vet.purdue.edu/depts/addl/toxic/cover1.htm

You can also ask your vet for more such plants that could affect your pet’s health and life - If your puppy has ingested poisonous plants, contact: Animal Poison Control Center at - 888-4ANI-HELP - (888-426-4435)

4. Keep away dangerous items - Place electrical wirings out of your pup’s reach so that he will not get a chance to bit or chew on them. Pick up and keep dangerous loose items such as nails if they are lying around. Put away all sharp objects such as wires, sewing needles and pins, far away from your puppy’s reach. Such items if swallowed or chewed upon can be very dangerous, it can hurt your pup’s mouth or worse, can damage your pup’s internal organs.

5. Supervise your puppy’s movement - Try to keep your pup within your sight at all times, especially when he is very young. Don’t make the mistake of allowing your pup to explore alone, be it indoor or outdoor. Also, remember to keep him away from balconies, upper porches and high decks or he may just slip through the railings and fall. Remember to keep your toilet cover seat down: puppies sometimes like to play in water. Frolicking in the toilet bowl is harmful for him as he may swallow the toilet cleanser. Also, don’t tie ribbons round his neck because he may chew it and this can lead to digestive problems or choke himself if the ribbon gets snagged on other things.

Preparing the Essential Dog Supplies

1. Food and water bowls - Select solid and stable bowls that won’t tip over when he eats or drinks out of it. Are they easy to clean? Buy two bowls, one for eating and the other for drinking. Initially, buy small bowls and then as he grows older, buy him larger ones. If you do this, he won’t develop the habit to overeat for his age nor will he fall into his water bowl whenever he goes to take a drink.

2. Collar - There are a large variety of lightweight collars available for your puppy. No matter which one you choose, attach an identification tag, listing your puppy’s name, your address and phone number.

Let his first collar be made of lightweight nylon or leather. In order to buy one that fits well, you should take the time to measure his neck. To do so, measure the circumference of his neck and add two inches to it. To be sure that the collar fits properly, slide two fingers between his collar and your pup’s neck. If it’s a snug fit, the size is right. But if there’s too much space, you need a smaller collar. If your fingers don’t fit in comfortably, the collar size is way too small. Be patient with your pup and give him some time to get used to his new collar.

3. Leash - Leashes come in many lengths and styles, such as leather, nylon and retractable leashes. You can choose to buy a longer leash up to six foot, and use it both for walking and training the dog.

Always keep your puppy on a leash unless he is in your fenced-in yard. In many parts of the U.S., there are leashing laws that make it compulsory for all dog owners to leash their dogs whenever they are in public places. If he’s unleashed, you may be fined. Should he soil or defecate in a public space like a park, you will be expected to clean up after him.

4. Grooming equipments - In order to groom your dog properly, you will need some pet grooming equipments depending largely on your dog’s coat type. For short haired breeds, do invest in a brush with natural bristles, a rubber currycomb or a hand mitt. Strong wide-toothed metal combs, flea combs and mat splitters are needed for breeds with long hair.

5. Toys - To entertain and exercise your pup, buy him a few toys, as this will help him exercise and get over their cravings for chewing. Choose toys specifically designed for pups – ones that can’t be splintered, torn or swallowed. What’s fun and safe to have are rawhide chips, nylon chews and hard rubber balls. And, if they don’t fit comfortably in his mouth, it’s not right for him.

6. Recommended puppy food - Give him his essential nutritive foods and get him used to a feeding schedule. Seek advice from your breeder directly or from your veterinarian.

7. Crate or dog bed - A crate looks like a mini cell and is made of either metal, plastic or wood. Available in many sizes, the crate should be big enough for your dog to stand up, turn around easily, as well as lie down in. It should be airy. It is recommended to set up your pup’s sleeping area in a place where it is warm, comfortable and within your sight. A crate serves very well as a den in your absence from the house. A crate could also be a portable crate enclosed in plastic or a simple wire crate.

When you buy an adult-sized crate, also buy partitions, or place a cardboard box in the back to serve as a cozy space for him. Apart from the crate, set up a sleeping area for him, for the times when you are at home and the crate is not in used. Buy a puppy-sized bed instead of an adult-sized bed, so that he is safe and snug.

A crate when used in the right way promotes good sleeping habits, helps in potty training your dog and discourage undesirable behaviors like nuisance barking and chewing. It can also be a safe confinement for your dog when he’s not supervised at home or when you are driving. A crate is so useful, every owner should have one!

8. Stain and scent remover - To take the odor away from his nose, buy a stain and scent remover. This helps in house training and the maintenance of your house cleanliness.

Listed above are the basic supplies you need to prepare when a new pup is joining your family. Do take the time to ensure that your house has been ‘puppy-proofed’ and you will find that the preparation will make socializing your new puppy a lot easier!

Moses Wright is a dog lover and owner of dogsobediencetraining.com/ Dog Obedience Training site. He loves to help dog owners with their dog problems and do so by consolidating his years of dog ownership experience into a free book filled with simple yet powerful dog training tips: dogsobediencetraining.com/dogger_enews.htm Free Dog Problems Book

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Tags: dog training, groom, poisonous plants, potty training

A number of terrible things have happened to horses I have known or worked with. Blaze escaped from her paddock and wandered onto the road, where she was hit by a truck coming over the hill suddenly and was killed. Sultan caught himself on a piece of barbed wire that cut him from fetlock to withers. April suddenly dropped dead.

All of these situations led to heartache and a lot of expense. While no amount of money can really ease the pain if a beloved horse dies or suffers injury, horse insurance can do something to ease your financial loss. Of course, prevention is better than compensation. Good attention to fencing would have saved Sultan from a painful injury and saved Blaze’s life.

Checking a field used for grazing to ensure that no poisonous plants are growing there is also very important. While horse insurance can offer you a lot of peace of mind, it is no substitute for taking commonsense precautions. That being said, horses are natural jumpers and we all know that accidents happen in life. Illness and injury are common tragedies.

Horse insurance, as the name suggests, is a form of insurance policy that makes sure that you will receive some compensation should a tragedy - or other unwanted occurrence - happen to your horse, whether the horse was bought for business or pleasure. But not all horse insurance policies are the same. Cover in the case of death is the most common form of horse insurance, but other policies are available.

Possible policies can cover major veterinary bills in the case of serious injury, as happened to Sultan; loss of use, where a percentage is paid if a horse is permanently prevented from working the way you intended it to (e.g. a showjumper or racehorse); surgery (e.g. for colic), or breeding infertility to cover broodmares and/or stud stallions for reproductive failure. Other policies can give you cover in the case of lightning, fire, theft, etc.

It is very important to talk through all aspects of horse insurance with your insurance broker before signing a policy. You will want to know what the fine print covers before the stress of an emergency situation. Make sure you make a list of any questions you want to ask your agent and be prepared to define your needs exactly.

Ask your agent to explain any parts of the policy that you do not understand, and any difficult words. Insurance agencies may often require certification or other action from a veterinary surgeon for a claim to be validated. You will also need to know what action is required from you in order to make and/or validate your claim. It is also important to find out how to ensure your claim is valid if your horse, for some unfortunate reason, needs to be “put down” or euthanased.

As with all forms of insurance, it is important to shop around and find the horse insurance policy that works best for you and gives you the cover that you need.

For more information on horses, try visiting interestinghorses.com interestinghorses.com - a website that specializes in providing horse related tips, advice and resources including information on interestinghorses.com/horseinsurance.html horse insurance.

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Tags: poisonous plants

It’s time to bring your puppy home but before you do that there are some things you need to know and purchase
to start on a happy life with your puppy.

First you need to get premium puppy food and it’s best to buy from a pet store. Meat should be the first
ingredient plus all the vitamins, minerals, protein and carbohydrates that your puppy will need to start his life
out healthy. Ask your breeder or veterinarian what they recommend.

Stainless steel bowls for food and water that won’t tip over easily are needed. A brush and comb depends on the breed of your dog. Of course, you need toys but safe ones. Choose toys according to the size of your puppy and for
safety, for example if any thing on the toy could be swallowed.

You will need a crate which are an effective housebreaking tool plus good for travel. They come in plastic or wire and buy the smallest size for your puppy breed. Place a towel or blanket with some toys inside to make it feel like his den (his safe place). A children’s gate will help keep your puppy in certain areas especially on tile floor till housebroken. Also, stain remover may be needed for accidents.

You will need a leash and collar but be sure it fits your dogs size, his need and the function you are using it for.
A toothbrush and toothpaste are needed especially for small dog breeds because they are prone to losing their teeth early.

How about treats which are a good way to reward the the little guy for training and obedience. Getting him to go in his crate and housebreaking him, treats will help.

Have a veterinarian picked out if you don’t have one already. It’s a good idea to have an appointment with him to have your puppy checked out when you get him. Ask him about vaccinations your puppy needs.

Make your house safe for your puppy before you pick him up. Put household chemicals, poisonous plants and small objects out of sight. Get electrical cords and wiring out of reach or in flexible plastic tubing. Have a place for him to exercise, either an exercise pen or yard. Puppy proof your yard by being sure the fence and gate are sturdy plus check for gaps in the hedges.

The first few weeks can be frustrating for your puppy learning about his new home and owners, just be patient.
One of the most important things you need to do is start teaching him manners, appropriate games, housebreaking, and what he can chew on. Start training him immediately in five minute sessions.

Have your puppy eat on a schedule to avoid accidents which makes housebreaking more difficult. By feeding him on a schedule you can take him outside and he will learn what he is suppose to do. Just remember it all will take patience!

Sandy Oberreuter has a web site( small/dogbreeds.com small/dogbreeds.com) on small dog breeds with information on popular breeds including pages of interest to dog owners.

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Tags: dog breed, dog breeds, poisonous plants

Even if you have the perfect first aid kit for you and your family, it might not help when Fiddo or Fluffy gets hurt. To help pets in an emergency, assemble a pet first aid kit.

Just like a human first aid kit, a portable, durable watertight container is needed to hold all the supplies. Assemble all of your supplies first so that you know how big of a container you need. Plastic food containers or tackle boxes make excellent first aid kits.

A pet’s needs in an emergency are similar to your own, so make sure to include gauze pads, adhesive tape, scissors and tweezers, and have a blanket handy.

Be sure to ask the pet’s veterinarian of specific supplies the animal might need like anti-diarrhea medicine, syrup of ipecac to induce vomiting in case of poisoning, and activated charcoal to ease stomach upsets. Include some eyedroppers in the pet first aid kit to give pet medicine. Also make sure the current contact information of the pet’s veterinarian is included in the kit.

If you are taking your pet with you while you travel, be sure to modify the pet’s first aid kit. Do research on the area’s environment. Call a veterinarian or the hotel or friends you will be staying with there to ask if the area has any poisonous plants, snakes, or extreme temperatures.

If a cat or dog is injured, remember that it is an injured animal, not a person. You may need to muzzle your dog so that it doesn’t bite you while you are giving first aid. Never give your cat or dog people medicine like aspirin or acetaminophen. Check with your pet’s veterinarian about what medicines are appropriate in emergencies and what dosages are safe for your pet.

Also check with your local American Red Cross chapter for information pet first aid advice on approaching a sick or injured animal and performing CPR. Other pet first aid kits guides and guides are available for sale online.

i-firstaidkits.com First Aid Kits Info provides comprehensive information about travel, pet, industrial, sports, home and discount first aid kits, as well as first aid kits supply. First Aid Kits Info is affiliated with growthink.com Business Plans by Growthink.

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