According the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, they have found that grapes and raisins can cause poisoning in dogs when eaten in large quantities. This is something that dog owners should be aware of if you normally give your pet fruits and vegetables as snacks.

The Center managed 140 grape/raisin poisoning cases from April 2003 to April 2004. According to their information, out of these 140 cases, over 50 of these dogs developed symptoms of toxin poisoning ranging from vomiting to kidney damage and kidney failure. Seven of the dogs died. At this point, no one really knows what is in this fruit that causes such a problem in dogs.

What Are The Symptoms?

The toxic symptoms can vary, but most of the signs exhibited by canines include lethargic behavior, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea and signs of kidney failure within 6 to 24 hours of eating this fruit. Should you come home to find that your dog has eaten the bunch of grapes sitting on the table or a packet of raisins, take them to your veterinarian immediately.

However, please be advised that your veterinarian may not even be aware that grapes and raisins can cause severe toxicity in your dog… so you may need to educate your veterinarian on this. Be insistent and have blood tests done immediately.

How do you know if your dog has eaten too much grapes or raisins? Here’s a true story to give you some idea:

One lady lost her Australian Shepherd/Saint Bernard mix to renal failure after her dog ingested one cup of raisins. Keep in mind that this would be a fairly large dog. After the dog began vomiting later in the day she took her dog into her veterinarian. The vet believed it was only an upset stomach and sent the dog home. It wasn’t until a few days later when the dog’s condition hadn’t improved that blood tests were finally taken. Unfortunately, by then acute renal failure had developed and the dog died, despite the aggressive treatments given.

What Is The Treatment Provided?

Care and management of this toxic poisoning will most often consist of induced vomiting, stomach pumping and administrating activated charcoal to prevent the absorption of the toxins by the body. This will most likely be followed by intravenous fluid therapy for at least 48 hours.

In addition, blood tests will have to be taken to check on the elevation of blood calcium levels (Hypocalcaemia), as well as on the elevation levels of blood urea nitrogen, creatinine and phosphorus, all of which affect kidney function.

Unfortunately in some cases, even aggressive treatment may not work due to the dog’s poor response to the treatment or length of time between realizing that your dog is showing signs of poisoning and getting help. Kidney damage and failure is very likely, which could result in death. Therefore it is imperative that you get veterinary help as soon as possible. Don’t wait for symptoms to appear if you know your pet has eaten several raisins and/or grapes.

If you have been feeding your pet these fruits on occasion as a snack (one or two grapes now and again probably won’t do any damage), it would be wise to stop the practice altogether. There are many other safe and healthy alternatives such as apples, carrots and celery that dogs are quite happy to snack on instead.

Rose Smith owns Caring For Canines which provides information on natural & holisitic methods that you can follow so your dog will have a long and healthy life. Read articles about canine nutrition,

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Many dog owners express concern about not knowing enough information about illnesses and characteristics of dogs. Many different symptoms exist for different types of dog conditions and owners who see something wrong, do not know what the problem might result from. If you have, more information you may find out that something you think is a medical problem might be a characteristic of your dog’s breed.

Dealing with Puppy Constipation
A new puppy may take a couple days to adjust to their new surroundings accounting for a few days of constipation. If the puppy eats and drinks normally, you have no need to worry, they will let go soon. Walking helps to loosen the bowel and soon the puppy will have a bowel movement. Some people give the puppy a banana to help the process along faster. Dog health questions like this one are common and people like to have some solid answers. If the constipation takes longer than two or three days, consult a veterinarian for assistance.

Dealing with Excessive Rectum Licking
Dog health questions include this because most dogs do this from time to time, while some do this excessively. Constant licking might be a sign of an anal irritation to the anal gland or in some cases, worms. Sometimes a dog will need anal sac expression to relieve this problem in dogs and is done as a natural instinct by the dog. If you have concerns about excessive licking have a vet look at your dog and determine if dog has an anal sac problem or a parasite infestation.

Exercise Dog Health Questions
Most dog owners want to know if the dog really needs exercise to stay healthy and live a healthy life. Some breeds of dogs do not need exercise such as walking, because they are not the type of breed that needs this type of health care. Some smaller dogs such as Yorkies, Pekinese and Shih-Tzu tend to get enough exercise running around the house or the back yard. Bigger dogs such as Great Danes, German Shepherds and Saint Bernard’s need plenty of exercise or they become lazy and overweight.

Young dogs such as puppies like walking, but short walks only because they can damage their joints and muscles if over walked for long times. If the dog is undergoing vigorous exercise for a show such as jumping, running and various tricks, they need to have plenty of food and water to maintain health. As with people, dogs who run with the owner during training and marathons, needs the same workout as a person, along with proper nutrition and salt intake.

If you find yourself having more questions than answers, a vet or his assistant can answer questions and ease your mind about almost anything. Some people need some more technical questions answered and a vet is more qualified in this department. So prepare your questions and find the answers online or by asking your own veterinarian for the answers.

You can also find more info on aboutdoghealth.org/doghealthproblems/eye-health.html Dog’s eye care health and aboutdoghealth.org/doghealthproblems/puppy-health-problems.html puppy health problems. AboutDogHealth.org is a comprehensive resource to help dog owners identify their dog’s illness symptoms and treatment options.

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The American Kennel Club recognizes 150 different dog breeds. There are seven different groups in which the dog can belong. They are assigned to one of the groups based on what the breed of dog was originally developed for. There is also a miscellaneous group if the dog doesn’t fit into one of the seven. The seven different dog groups are as follows.

The first is the sporting group. These dogs were developed to work with people who hunted birds. A Labrador Retriever would fit into this group. Labs can also be beneficial as guide dogs and in search and rescue.

The second group is the hound group. These dogs were developed to hunt using their scent and sight. This group includes the Whippet, which is the fastest domestic animal of their size. They can run up to 35 mph.

Thirdly, is the working group, which includes the Saint Bernard. They have been known for hundreds of years for their rescue work in the Alps. Other dogs in this group are useful for herding or guarding.

The fourth group is the terrier group, first developed to hunt vermin. The Australian Terrier, one of the smallest terriers, is a part of this group. They were developed to work side by side with the Australian pioneers to aid in tending the sheep or chasing off invaders.

The fifth group is the toy group, developed to be companions. A Japanese Chin is a good example. They like to play, show off, and spend lots of time trying to keep clean and tidy.

The sixth group is the non-sporting group, which overall do not perform the tasks that they were originally developed for. A good example would be the American Eskimo Dog. These dogs were sometimes used in circus acts at the beginning of the century.

The seventh group is the herding group, which was meant to be used in working with livestock. The German Shepherd is in this group. They are not only useful in herding livestock, they are also great companions to humans.

Originally, many dog breeds were first developed for specific uses, such as hunting, companionship, herding, etc. Today, because man has created such a large variety of dog breeds, there is a dog out there to make almost anybody happy. Currently, the most popular dog breed in America is the Labrador Retriever, with the Golden Retriever coming in second.

About The Author

Published by: Wendy Yeager

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Once you’ve made up your mind to get a dog, you are only at the beginning of a heap of decisions that need to be made. The following information should help make your decisions a little bit easier for the first time dog owner.

What Size Of Dog Should You Get?

The first consideration will be selecting a breed that would best suit your family, work and home life. Should you settle on a large or small dog? Too many people instantly want to get a large dog because they look impressive, are often great guard dogs, and they can be quite imposing.

Before you run out to buy a Great Dane, Saint Bernard or Rottweiler, you need to step back and consider the following:

a) As a general rule (and there are exceptions to every rule), a large dog costs more than a small dog.

b) A big dog means that you will have to provide a lot of food, which can get quite expensive.

c) They will need room to roam and sleep – quite a bit of room.

d) They also require more exercise, since you’ll have to walk farther and longer, than you would with a small dog, in order to give it the appropriate amount of exercise.

Should You Get A Pedigree Purebred Or A Mixed Breed Dog?

A mixed breed or mutt will be as loving, attentive, and sometimes as good looking as a purebred. However, many people base their choices on the pedigree lineage of a particular dog breed, rather than the temperament of the dog.

You should be made aware that purebreds can have quite a bit of problems related to their particular breed. For instance, many purebred dogs have bone and joint disorders that will eventually cause lameness, while others may be prone to epilepsy and/or seizures. Still more, such as dogs with long droopy ears, run into frequent ear infection problems. There’s more, but you get the idea. That’s not to say that mixed breed dogs don’t also have these problems, but they are less prone to harbor them.

The benefits of purebreds are that they most often have “set” characteristics that you can more or less count on. For example, you can be pretty sure that a golden retriever will be medium to large in size, have golden/silky fur, have a pleasant, non-aggressive temperament with a laid-back personality, and would be a good choice for a family with young children. However, like everything in life, there are always exceptions to the rule. The dog you choose “may” be the exception, but you won’t know until you have him/her home.

Mixed breeds tend to have more genetic diversity and therefore often have an overall healthier immune system. They are usually just as intelligent, sometimes more so, than some purebreds (due to in-breeding).

But please be aware, just because a mixed breed “looks” like a cross between a shepherd and a husky doesn’t mean that its parents were purebreds. More than likely they were also of mixed breed heritage.

It just means that somewhere along the line there was a retriever and a shepherd and those two dominant physical characteristics have emerged within the current dog. It also doesn’t mean that this particular dog has either of their temperaments. If the parents were also of mixed variety, it’s possible a very aggressive gene could emerge within the current dog. Again, you won’t know until you have lived with your new pet for a few days.

Shall You Get A Puppy Or An Adult Dog?

The puppy is a delightful little creature, full of amusing antics. They provide endless pleasure with their squirming bodies, playful temperaments, and enthusiastic licks. At the same time, they will undoubtedly provide a certain amount of trouble. Puppies, like children, have their “ailments” and will need to be de-wormed, among other things by your veterinarian.

You will also need to provide proper nutritious feeding for a growing puppy, take the time to housebreak your new family member, and engage in behavior training.

Your new puppy will also show his/her friendly feelings for you by tearing up your rugs, chewing anything he/she can get his/her teeth on, and doing as much mischief as he/she can possibly get away with.

An adult dog will usually save you a lot of this trouble as he/she has already gone through the “puppy stage”. Unfortunately, as an adult, he/she may also have developed bad habits, which you may or may not be able to break them of.

On the whole, you may want to choose a dog that is around nine to ten months old, if you can get one at that age. By that time the young dog has passed much of the real puppy trouble stage, yet he is not too old that he/she has developed bad habits. It’s also a good age to train the dog in the behaviors that you desire.

How Much Grooming Will Your Dog Require?

Another thing to consider is the grooming aspect of the dog of your choice. Long haired dogs will require frequent brushing and trimming. Some breeds grow hair like a well fertilized and watered lawn. Their fur will require frequent cutting (Terriers fall into this category) and brushing; otherwise it will become a matted, tangled mess. If you aren’t up to the task, you should look at acquiring a short-haired dog instead.

A Few Additional Pointers When Choosing A Dog

When looking for a dog, pay attention to the eyes and expression of the animal. Besides making sure that they do not have any noticeable eye infections, you can often tell whether the dog is good-natured or aggressive. Think of when you’re outside and someone walks by with a dog on a leash. You will look at the dog and either reach out to pat him/her because they “look” friendly, or you’ll take a few steps back because the dog “appears” aggressive – even if the dog didn’t do anything other than walk by you.

Be sure to also check over the coat and skin carefully, looking for evidence of eczema, mange or other possible skin diseases. Examine the teeth, ears, and nose for any signs of infection or decay as well.

There are many good books on the market that can guide you in how to choose a healthy, good-natured dog that suits your lifestyle and I suggest you take the time to read a few. Hopefully, this article has given you a base in which to begin your research to finding a great dog that will provide you with years of love, smiles, laughter and wonderful memories.

About the Author:

(c) 2007, Rose Smith. Discover how to have a happy, healthy dog! Learn more about caringforcanines.com/ natural dog health care, choosing nutritious dog foods, plus many other canine topics. Visit: caringforcanines.com/ caringforcanines.com/ right now!

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As you begin your search for a dog, you are probably asking yourself, “What type of dog would be best for me?” Dogs come in many different sizes, colors, coats, and personalities. Start your dog ownership off on the right foot by doing your research before you settle on a breed.

While there are around 400 recognized breeds, the best place to start is by looking at the approx. 155 breeds recognized by the American Kennel Club, broken down into seven broad categories. Within each breed category are subgroups.

Sporting Group

Sporting dogs were originally bred to help man hunt birds by retrieving the birds from water or bushes. Nature has conditioned them to retrieve; they also love fetching balls and newspapers, and they make great companions. Members of the Sporting Group include retrievers, pointers, setters, and spaniels. A naturally active breed, regular brisk exercise is a must with these dogs to avoid excessive chewing, jumping and barking.

Hound Group

Hounds were originally bred for hunting. There are three main subgroups: scent hounds, sighthounds, and large game hounds. Sighthounds make gentle pets, but they love to run after fast-moving targets. They include the Greyhound, Irish Wolfhound, and Whippet. Scent hounds follow their nose and it can be difficult to get their attention when they are on the trail of something. They are sweet, loving, and make good companions. Among them are the Beagle and Bloodhound. Large game hounds like the Rhodesian Ridgeback were bred to hunt lions, elk and other game. They are powerful, fearless and make good watch dogs.

Working Group

The breeds in this group were bred to help man. Their jobs range from rescue to sledding and guarding. They are intelligent, learn quickly, and make good companions. However, most of them are very large, strong dogs and they may not be suitable for families with young children. Proper training is very important with these breeds. Among the breeds are sled dogs like the Siberian Husky and Samoyed; draft dogs that were bred to pull heavy loads like the Bernese Mountain Dog; guard dogs including the Bullmastiff, Rottweiler and Akita; and rescue/water dogs such as the Newfoundland and Saint Bernard.

Herding Group

Dogs in the herding group were, you’ve guessed it, bred to herd. They are lively, agile, alert, respond well to training, and make great pets. They love lots of exercise and if they can’t find a sheep to herd they will happily (and gently) herd their owners or children. Herding dog include the Australian Shepherd, Border Collie, German Shepherd, Old English Sheepdog, Cardigan Welsh Corgi and Pembroke Welsh Corgi.

Non-Sporting Group

Originally many of these dogs were working dogs, but these days they are mainly companions. These breeds vary widely in size, coat, temperament, and personality. Among the diverse breeds are the Bichon Frise, Chow Chow, French Bulldog, Keeshond, Poodle, and Schipperke.

Terrier Group

Terriers are a determined bunch, and original bred as either vermin hunters or fighting breeds. Vermin hunters are lively, independent and do best on a leash when outdoors. Terriers can become barkers or chewers if not properly trained, and sometimes can get aggressive over food or toys. The fighter group includes the Bull Terrier and American Staffordshire Terrier. They can make good pets if properly trained and socialized, but without training they can be a possible danger to people and other dogs.

Toy Group

The Toy breeds are very small, playful, devoted to their owners, and love and demand attention. Their main purpose is to be adorable and they are terrific lapdog. They need less exercise than other breeds and do well in apartments or other small quarters, and are a good choice for older people. Some, however, may bark or snap if they are not trained. Toy Breeds include the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Chihuahua, Maltese, Pekinese, Pug, and Toy Poodle.

By doing your research before you choose a breed, you’ll be a big step ahead in finding the dog that fits your personality and lifestyle, and you’ll have a great companion for years to come.

Valerie Goettsch is webmaster of my-favorite-dog.com My Favorite Dog featuring articles and information on my-favorite-dog.com types of dog breeds, dog health issues, training, and more.

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