A good dog owner should always be aware if his dog has a health problem. Whether it’s common or serious, each dog-owner should be able to tell that there is something wrong even if the dog doesn’t seem to feel weak or ill. Included in this article are several symptoms of ailments that every master should know.

Diarrhea

Diarrhea happens commonly to dogs which may have swallowed harmful or spoiled food, have inconsistent diets, and thus have trouble digesting. Its symptoms include runny and very liquid waste that may have abnormal color, as well as a more intense waste odor. It can also be observed that a dog will have difficulty in defecating as there is pain both in its stomach, as well as in its anus.

Withholding food for 12 to 24 hours will allow the dog’s digestive system to settle down. Give it a bland diet such as white rice and chicken afterwards and gradually introduce its regular diet in the next few days. Introduction of new kinds of food should always be done gradually, as it takes several days to several weeks before a dog can adjust its digestion for new food.

Lyme Disease

A bacterium known as Borrelia, that is transmitted through tick bites, causes what is called Lyme Disease. Unfortunately, no observable symptoms could be seen during the first few weeks of infection and if there are, they are commonly mistaken to be symptoms of other kinds of ailments such as arthritis. The most apparent symptom that will appear is the dog’s difficulty moving, walking or even laying down. This is because of the swelling in its joints and lymph glands. The dog may refuse to eat, go outside of its house and it may even make its doghouse or cage into a toilet because it hurts very much to move.

Another effect of Lyme Disease on a dog is its change of affected area or limbs. It can occur that in a given week, the left side of the dog would be affected, and then the week after, the right side would instead be affected and the left would be completely healed. This symptom is what differentiates Lyme Disease from arthritis since the latter does not change its affected area.

Antibiotics taken orally serve as effective treatment for Lyme Disease but should be given by licensed vets.

Distemper and Parvo

Distemper is caused by a highly contagious, life-threatening, airborne virus that affects a dog’s respiratory, gastrointestinal and nervous systems. Initial symptoms include a cold showing watery eyes, a runny nose, coughing and sometimes diarrhea. Further development of the disease will cause the dog to suffer from disorientation, twitching and convulsions.

Parvo is similar in aspects such as being virally caused, life-threatening and affects the gastrointestinal system. Symptoms include diarrhea, vomiting, loss of appetite, high fever and depression. Later stages involve bloody diarrhea, shock and eventual death.

Adult canines only have a fifty percent chance of survival while puppies only have around twenty percent. Dog owners who regularly take their pets to licensed vets for their monthly check-up have greater chances of detecting the disease before it develops into its incurable stage.

Ear Infections

Ear infections are common for dogs which have heavy earflaps such as Dachshunds, Labrador Retrievers and Beagles. The most common infections are due to scratches and cuts that may be self-inflicted or may have been caused by other animals. Yeast bacteria infections are also common with such dogs and they appear as inflammations or tick/mite-infestations. Symptoms include head-shaking, pawing of the ears, as well as foul odor and pain coming from the ears.

Treatment of ear infections may be done also through the use of orally taken antibiotics and ear-examinations by licensed vets.

Many more ailments can affect your pet. That is why it is a must that they be fed with nutritious food and provided with a clean environment. Keep them away from strays which may be carrying harmful bacteria and viruses and always remember to consult your local veterinarian if symptoms persist.

The greatest love that a master can give to his dog is good health. Any responsible dog-owner will definitely need guidelines to keep his pet in check, especially now that greater varieties and more dangerous illnesses have been known to affect a dog’s health. In this article are several steps that do not only promote good nutrition for a good dog, but also help make sure that it has a well-rounded and healthy life.

STEP 1: Good Nutrition

Puppies should be given high-protein diets along with good milk coming from their mother. If breastmilk is not available for your pups, warm fresh milk sold in the market may serve as good alternatives. As they grow up, your pet should gradually move to more balanced diets, composed of meat and vegetables. Also try to look at the back of purchased pet food products for quality ingredients such as Echinacea which helps increase immunity and promotes good blood pressure; astralagus which helps maintain healthy blood sugar and helps prevent cancer; cat’s claw which also supports the immune function; and milk thistle, which aid in cleansing the body of toxins and is an excellent liver tonic. Canned food should be seldom or avoided since even trusted brands may be made of cheap grains, meat byproducts (instead of real meat), and may contain fillers, dyes or preservatives.

STEP 2: Yard and Shelter Control

Dogs usually get infected because of harmful elements in their environment and nothing can be more immediate in their environment than the home and the yard. Owners and housekeepers should always make it a part of their routine to make the house, yard and doghouse free from litter, stagnant water, animal waste and the like. Also keep in mind that your dogs should be put away from rooms or dog shelters that are currently being sprayed with disinfectants or insect repellants. Disinfected dog shelters should be left for about three to six hours before being used again. Dogs have lower resistance to chemicals than humans, so avoidance of these areas should be made certain.

STEP 3: Vaccination

Unlike what is commonly observed with many dog-owners today, vaccination should only be made once or once every seven years, and NOT yearly. Puppies that are immunized for parvovirus, distemper virus and adenovirus already have life-long immunity against such diseases, unless a hybrid or new type of virus arises and is able to break through the vaccine’s effects. Administering the vaccination by the owner is highly discouraged. Instead, veterinary consultation should always be made in immunizing pet dogs and puppies.

STEP 4: Activity

Aside from a dog’s intake and vaccination, exercise and adequate physical activity complete a well-rounded and healthy lifestyle for your pets. Taking them out for walks is most common, but during unfavorable weather conditions, most owners are at a loss what to do. Skill training and stair climbing are perhaps the most practical physical activities that you can do with your dog indoors, while others would prefer playing games with toys that are sold in the market.

STEP 5: GROOMING

Dogs which look good also feel good. That is why proper grooming should be frequent for your pets. Adequate fur and nail-trimming, ear and teeth cleaning, as well as bathing do not only help your dog avoid infection, hair problems and skin problems, but also help them become more comfortable, less prone to ticks, fleas and mites, and even help them cope during extreme heat from the weather. Soaps and shampoos to be used need to be hypo-allergenic to avoid irritation. Also keep in mind to keep your pet dogs away from other animals which are infected with disease or ridden with pests. Dog illnesses such as parvo, and parasites such as fleas easily spread, so diligence should be observed in protecting your dogs from such.

Training a good dog involves leadership, principles of behaviour, structure, interaction and lots of patience. Whether you are new to dog-training or are already an expert, the first thing to keep in mind is to understand a dog’s fundamental behaviour.

Establishing solid obedience training builds a consistent behaviour for your dog or puppy. The initial stages of dog-training involve an understanding of the reward-punishment principle, and more specifically about positive reinforcement. Giving dogs treats or rewards after they complete certain tasks is the meat of this principle, but to be more effective, a trainer should be very clear about which behaviours are allowed for his dog and which are not. The use of affirmative and negative intonations greatly aid in communicating and making clarity on matters between trainer and dog. Since dogs have very sensitive and sharp hearing, this becomes a powerful reinforcement for setting rules on good and bad behaviour.

An essential matter for all trainers is Potty Dog training. Whenever your pet is showing signs that it needs to go to the toilet, a single command that is used consistently could give it an order to come with you or go by itself to a designated area. Be sure to praise or reward your dog for going appropriately to the potty area.

One simply cannot expect that his dog would be right beside him during a walk. That is why leash training would greatly help. Keeping a dog on a leash within a few weeks would already be sufficient, but of course, depending on the frequency of your training, the number of weeks when it would be able to walk alongside you would either be lessened or increased. The dog will often be distracted with what it sees on the streets. Pull the leash and say a command to tell it that you don’t want it to go elsewhere. But if the dog is not distracted and pulls because of the pressure that it feels when you pull back, release the tension in the leash and go to its direction. As your dog comes back to your side quickly, make sure to praise it and give it a treat while reacquiring the leash.

Advanced tricks such as fetching Frisbees, rolling over, and other tricks can be taught after undergoing fundamental training. With these basic principles in mind and a greater amount of patience, more difficult tricks and tasks will become more probable for a dog to learn. The more obedient a dog becomes because of a more effective fundamental training, the easier he will learn new tasks and tricks.

There are several equipment necessary while you are training your dog. First is a good collar, with either a buckle or a clip that should be given a small allowance for it not to be too tight around the neck, and one that should not tighten as it is being pulled. Chains and chokers are not advised since these also cause discomfort and pressure to any dog that may cause it to become disobedient and much worse, violent.

Leads that are attached to collars should be made of durable nylon, leather or canvas that can withstand the strength of your dog. Getting leads for small breeds is easier compared to their larger counterparts which may require high tension and shock-resistant spring-equipped gear. The preferable length of a lead should be around four to six feet, to avoid too much pulling and pressure if too short, and to avoid difficulty or loss of control if too long.

If your dog has not yet been potty trained, it ay help to have some sort of poop-scoop, especially if you are going to take them out for a walk. However, this equipment is discouraged during potty training as it defeats the purpose of training session.

A good alternative for collars is the use of harnesses. Many trainers and dog-owners prefer this over the traditional collar in order to avoid hurting their dog’s neck as well providing more comfort for the dog while walking. However, it would be easier for a dog to pull and harder for the trainer or owner to exert control since the dog can use its entire body weight to exert force on the lead. On the other hand, harnesses present a great advantage for owners who have hounds used for tracking or huskies used for sleds.

Toys become necessary especially when teaching dogs different exercises and tricks. Frisbees, balls, artificial teethers and doggie bones and other toys in the market should first be inspected by owners as non-toxic in order to ensure the safety and good health of their pet dogs. Toys also help dogs distinguish items which should and should not be played with.

Chains, muzzles, chokers and other restraining equipment also have their advantages. They may be highly discouraged during regular training, but they serve well for wild, uncontrollable and dangerous canine. Police dog trainers would also need dog-bite sleeves and suits as they teach their trainees how to disable and catch suspects or criminals. Tactical body armors are also available for protection against shots during crisis and hostile situations.

Giving your healthy dog treats and dog chews is one of the best ways to train your pet and to show him how much you love him. However, many of the treats being sold out there today are made from unhealthy stuff— fats, sugars, preservatives, colorings—the list goes on and on. At the receiving end are our best pals, whose health could be put at risk just because unscrupulous traders choose to give us unwholesome choices.

Obesity is just one of the health problems that your pet could avoid by eating only healthy dog treats and dog chews. It is estimated that around a third of dogs in the United States are overweight or obese. You can help your dog avoid complications of obesity such as diabetes, arthritis and heart problems by giving him premium healthy dog treats and dog chews instead of low quality ones.

Before preparing any meal plan or buying treats and dog chews for your pet, it is best to first seek the advice of your veterinarian and animal nutritionist. Health professionals can help determine if your dog has any weight issues or special dietary requirements that need to be addressed.

Although dietary recommendations are different depending on the age, weight and activity level of your pet, do take note of the following guidelines:

Tip no. 1. Avoid giving your pet table scraps that are fatty, salty and sugary. These include that bag of potato chips and the pizza from last night’s party and those greasy leftovers from your fridge.

Tip no. 2 Always check the label before buying treats. Look for unhealthy or dangerous ingredients that the manufacturer may have combined with the food. For example propylene glycol and ethoxyquin are preservatives are food preservatives which are also used in chemical materials like anti-freeze and synthetic rubber respectively. Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and propyl gallate, on the other hand, are preservatives which are suspected by experts to cause carcinogenic activity. To make sure that you’re buying only healthy dog treats and dog chews, always look for things like “preserved with vitamin E” which is the best natural preservative. Watch out for high levels of sodium, sugar, fats and the presence of artificial colorants, too.

Tip no. 3 Avoid treats and dog chews made from rawhide and other fatty animal parts. Choose healthy dog treats and dog chews that are high on premium quality protein from real meat like chicken, lamb, turkey, beef or herring. You could even buy them fresh from the store and prepare your own healthy dog treats at home. Ask your vet how much of it you can give to your pet at a time or how to store the treats properly.

Tip no. 4. Try giving your pet healthy dog treats made from vegetables like carrots or beans. These are not only delicious and have good texture, they’re also rich in fiber and nutrients.

Tip no. 5. Sometimes, all your dog needs is a little attention. Don’t forget to lavish your dog with lots of love and praise especially when he does something good. Giving attention instead of treats is a great way for your dog to avoid packing in those extra pounds. Plus, you get to be loved back!

Besides looking good and huggable, every dog owner knows that dog grooming should also be able to make their best friends feel comfortable and clean. Dog grooming doesn’t necessarily mean giving a dog a bath, in fact, dog experts and veterinarians recommend that dogs need to be taken for a bath every 4 to 6 months. Some veterinarians are even against bathing dogs once every year.

Why is it so important to groom your dog? As mentioned earlier, not only does dog grooming make your dog look clean, there are also health benefits involved. An example would be a dog and its nails. As time passes, its nails grow long enough that it affects the way it walks, thus causing deformity on its feet. That’s why it’s important to clip a dog’s nails.

With the right dog grooming supplies and tools, you’ll be sure to make your dog feel clean and look clean. Here are a few dog grooming tools you can use to make your best friend spic and span and looking good in no time.

1. Wire Pin brushes remove light tangles for dogs with woolly and curly coats. Brushing is good for a dog because it stimulates skin cells which get rid of dead hair. Brushing is also a way to massage a dog, thus improving blood circulation. It’s one way to bond with your dog because it doesn’t hurt him/her and it makes her feel special with every touch and stroke. It’s also a great way to prepare your dog for a bath.
2. Bristle brushes are good for dogs with sensitive skin and are commonly used to finish the grooming process.
3. Slicker brushes are the best tools to use against matted hair. However, fur that is too thickly matted should be cut out instead.
4. Flea combs can remove fleas, eggs and debris from your dog’s coat of fur with its tightly-spaced pins with narrow gaps in between each tooth. It’s best to just use water to drown out the fleas rather than dipping the captured fleas in pesticide. This should prevent your dog’s skin from the harmful effects of pesticides as it may irritate it, or worse.
5. Curved shears are a must in keeping your dog’s fur under control, particularly for top-knots and tails. They are generally used for rounded areas.
6. Shedding blades are used to remove dead hair from certain types of harsh coats.

Keep in mind that dog grooming tools should be kept clean, and if the necessity calls for it, sterilized to prevent causing irritations or infections against the dog’s skin or nails.

It’s also important to use pet-friendly dog grooming supplies that do not harm the dog in anyway. Harsh and/or toxic materials can either irritate a dog’s skin, or poison it if it accidentally takes it in. Dog owners should also consider dog grooming supplies that clean the dog’s ears and eyes. There are different dog ear and eye care kits available in the market, but one should take note that these items must be carefully handled so as to not to harm the dog.

Dog grooming is basically the hygienic care and cleaning of a dog. It can also be considered a dog’s personal make over because it can involve the enhancement of a dog’s physical appearance. The period with which a dog is groomed should depend on the breed, the health and the age. While some breeds tend to be less groomed than some others, regular grooming is a plus to make sure that it is healthy and comfortable physically. While the aesthetic benefits of dog grooming is apparent, there are other benefits that lie behind it as well. Here are some of the benefits of dog grooming:

Lesser Health Problems. Grooming regularly can help the pet owner notice abnormalities in the dog’s skin. This is good because once spots, bald spots and/or other kinds of growth are spotted, the owner can ask a veterinarian about it right away to avoid complications brought about by the length of time it stays there. By brushing and tending to a dog’s coat and skin, possible illness can be prevented, thus making Fido a healthy and happy dog. Also, the eyes, ears and nose and other important parts of the dog are checked to make sure that nothing is out of the ordinary, thus alerting the owner and the veterinarian accordingly. An example would be long hair growing the dog’s ear or somewhere near the eye. This may be an indication that water and/or bacteria is accumulating in the immediate part of the affected area. This is often missed especially if an expert is not able to see the dog regularly. A clean and well-maintained dog is and always will be a happy and healthy dog.

Stimulate Favorable Behavior. Dog grooming can also help stimulate good or favorable behavior in dogs. However, just like dog training, it takes patience and a bit of practice. In other words, the shaping of your dog’s behavior depends on how the owner grooms him. It also makes brings the dog and its owner to a point of understanding in terms of how they want each one react. This level of communication can be forged through patience and is embodied with each one’s individual reaction to an action done by the other. Also, most dogs don’t like getting wet. They either panic on the way to the bath tub, or make a huge mess avoiding water when in it. Dog grooming can get them used to it. With a stimulating dog wash, a caring hand and through time, a dog can get used to bathing and have no problems staying still when in a tub. The first stages would be pretty tough, but as time passes by, both parties (dog and owner) would get used to it and they’d get along pretty well.

The market is overflowing with a diverse range of dog food options that you can get your pet. Some are expensive, others are cheap. Some come in bright, eye-catching packaging, others choose more conservative designs. With so many choices out there, how does the average dog owner know which one is right for his canine?

The most common advice is to look at the list of nutrients on the packaging to tell if you’re getting the right stuff. However, how does one really know which ingredients are right with all the technical terms listed? Here are a few quick tips that will enable you to narrow down your selection so that you make the best possible choice or come close to it.

Holistic is fantastic – A dog food that contains vegetables, meat and grains gives your pet a complete meal every time. The usual proportion for dog food ingredients is 10% grain, 40% meat and 50% vegetables. However, this can vary slightly depending on the breed of your pet.

Make protein a priority – If three of the first five ingredients listed are types of meat, you know you’re looking at a good option. Dogs need the protein from meat to thrive, so it’s a great idea to proactively seek it for your canine.

Avoid preservative paranoia – Understand that processed food will always contain preservatives, so don’t go on a wild goose chase looking for a type of dog food that’s absolutely devoid of it. In the right amounts, preservatives keep the dog food edible, which guards your pet against food poisoning.

Premium brands are better – Good stuff usually doesn’t come cheap and that rule applies to dog food, too. Cheap ingredients rarely provide great nutrition, so try to get the best dog food that you can afford as much as possible.

Go organic – Dog food with natural ingredients is always a better choice for your pet. Organic food promotes good health, has fewer preservatives and retains most of the nutrients that your dog needs to stay healthy.

The ancestors of modern domestic dogs were territorial, den-dwelling canines that loved to rest safely in a familiar spot with lots of comfort. The dogs of today are naturally attracted to the same things, so getting a dog bed is something every pet owner should strongly consider.

Contrary to the perception of some, a dog bed is more than a luxury for your pet. It offers a lot of benefits to the physical and emotional well-being of canines, helping them live long and happy lives.

Dog beds offer your pet lots of comfort compared to a cold, hard floor. This makes them less anxious, which affects their behavior when they’re under stress. Having a bed for your dog also helps it attain the recommended 14 hours of sleep each day for most breeds. Getting sufficient rest allows your dog to fight lethargy, giving it more pep for exercise.

Having a bed for your dog also prevents hip and joint problems that usually come with age. These orthopedic concerns for canines are just as painful to them as it is on humans, so any loving dog owner should do everything he can to prevent the problem even before it starts. A bed for your dog along with hip and joint supplements should do the trick.

Homes where downdrafts of cold air brush past the floor regularly should get dogs for their beds. The cold air is very likely to make a dog that sleeps on the floor ill sooner or later. A dog bed shelters your dog, helping it avoid sickness, which in turn saves you trips to the vet.

Last but not the least, it’s always a great thing for anyone, man or dog, to have a spot that he can call his own. Remember, dogs are territorial animals and they feel most secure when they have a place that they can come back to at will. Getting a bed for your dog is a small investment that will go a long way in a partnership that any dog over will want to last.

Memory foam is a polyurethane with heightened viscosity and density, making it a perfect compromise between the comfort of a soft mattress and the stability of a firm one. Memory foam has become popular in the past decade due to its remarkable ability to easily conform to the shape of the body, making it more comfortable while adding extra support for the bones and joints.

People aren’t the only ones enjoying the benefits of memory foam as of late. Memory foam beds for dogs have been available for some time now and they’ve ushered in a combination of benefits for you and your pet that has never been seen before in dog beds.

Topping the long list of benefits is the level of comfort that memory foam dog beds will give your pet. This foam quickly accommodates the size and shape of a canine, making it feel natural to them instantaneously rather than after a few weeks. This is great for bigger dogs that tend to flatten their old beds under their weight over a few months. Memory foam dog beds cannot be crushed and flattened due to their high density, which means your big dog never has to deal with bad spots that have been beaten down by his own weight.

The firmness of memory foam also means that high-pressure areas in the dog’s body will always stay supported. This helps prevent hip and joint problems as the dog ages. This also minimizes the discomforts that arthritis brings in some of our pets.

Another great feature of memory foam dog beds is their longevity. Even with a big dog using one, this type of bed for your pet will take years before it needs to be replaced. This saves you time and money in the long run, enabling you to use the savings on other things that can benefit your pet like a better diet, exercise and supplements.

Memory foam dog beds come in all shapes and sizes. Choose one that matches the needs of your pet and enjoy the amazing benefits that it will bring your canine right out of the box.

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