Dog Medicine

Dog Medicine: Important Tips Every Dog Owner Should Know by William Kyle
in Family / Pets (submitted 2010-07-27)


Dog Medicine: Important Tips Every Dog Owner Should Know

There are few things more frustrating and upsetting than having a sick pooch. Pets are special members of the family but happen to come with a certain language barrier that keeps you from explaining the bitter little pill you've been trying to hide in a certain someone's dinner. Here are a few quick suggestions and tips to help you and your special canine get through any illness in comfort.

When your family dog is in need of medication, it's important to realize that both their illness and medications may likely be just as serious as your own. When any pet is prescribed a pill or shot, whether he gets his meds on time and in the right amount or not can make the difference between a speedy recovery and lingering or worsening symptoms.

Above all other advice, keep in mind that your pet's veterinarian can offer the most authoritative and essential information about any condition or medication. During you and your dog's visit to the doctor, never hesitate to ask lots of questions about dosage, ways of administering the medicine, what to do in the case of a missed application and other applicable issues.

Administering Medication

Although getting your dog to swallow his medicine may sometimes be a lengthy and arduous ordeal, the benefits surely outweigh the cost. If you've come to the end of your medicine-applying rope or are simply looking for some helpful hints before tackling the job, this quick advice might help make the process a bit simpler.

Pills

Pills are generally the most difficult type of pet medication to administer, due to the fact that your dog must voluntarily swallow them and their often seemingly awful taste. The approach you choose to take when offering pills will vary depending on the personality, temperament and condition of your particular four legged friend.

If your dog tends to wolf down snacks and is in good enough condition to do so, your task may be quite simple. Try to hide a pill completely in a snack your pet is used to and offer it under normal snack-giving circumstances-if your dog senses something amiss, he'll be more likely to take his time or investigate.

This camouflaging approach can also work at mealtime, but can make verification a bit trickier. Try to avoid crushing pills, as it will be difficult to determine whether an entire dose has been administered and crushing can tend to make your dog's normal meal taste strange, possibly leading to rejection.

Liquid Medications

Liquid medication application tends to be a bit easier to accomplish since specialized syringes are available specifically for the task. Before administering the medication, try to bring your dog to a calm and relaxed state-the more comfortable he is, the simpler your job will be. Since your pet trusts you, you can turn medicine time into a routine that ends in a generous treat for a job well done.

Be Aware of Common Conditions

Most people have a general knowledge about illness that affect people, including symptoms, preventative measures and treatments. When you choose to share your home and life with a dog, it's your responsibility to be aware of common health issues that could become an issue during your pet's lifetime. This basic understanding will help you recognize the signs of potential health issues when they pop up.

A great way to get a general overview is simply by asking your vet and checking out a library book or two on the subject. If your dog is a pure breed, keep in mind that certain breeds are affected by special problems more so than others. Pure bred pups are often more susceptible to health problems as well due to a more limited gene pool than would be available to mixed breeds.

Knowing and Caring For Your Pet

No one ever wants her dog to get sick. Although dealing with the occasional illness or accident is an inevitable part of being a pet owner, the best way to show your love for your pooch is to take good care of her. A healthy dog's love should be filled with lots of exercise, affection and a carefully controlled diet that's rich in vitamins, minerals and essential fats.

The other side to this coin is attention and vigilance. Since your pup can't very well speak up and let you know if something feels different, it's up to you to notice any changes in your dog's behavior and determine whether a visit to the vet is appropriate.

Just as with human health, prevention is an excellent strategy to keep your pet in great health. By staying well informed about common dog illnesses and issues and administering lots of tender love and care, you and your dog are sure to enjoy a long and happy life together.


About the Author
William Kyle is a freelance writer who writes about pet care and dog medicine.

Dog and monkey friend

9 Tips For Maintaining Your Dogs Health by Kelly Marshall
in Family / Pets (submitted 2010-04-17)


The saying goes that a dog is man's best friend. While this statement is true, you must also understand that you must also be your dogs best friend. Dogs have a variety of needs that must be met to keep them healthy and strong through out their lives. These needs are going to have to be supplied by you. Luckily most of them can be met by simply interacting with your pet and by following these 9 tips for maintaining your dogs health.

Regular Vet Visits

Your dog needs regular vet visits throughout his life. He not only needs to see the vet for necessary shots and vaccines as well as heart worm tests, but a vet may also spot a potential health problem while it can still be treated early enough to avoid affecting your dogs daily health and activities.

Spaying or Neutering

Spaying or Neutering your dog at the appropriate age will not only prevent unwanted pregnancies but will also help protect your dog from other problems as well. A male dog that is neutered is less likely to become aggressive and a female dog who is spayed is less likely to get breast cancer and other illnesses.

Good Nutrition

Good nutrition is essential to keeping your dog healthy. Do your homework and find the diet that gives your dog the perfect balance to keep him healthy and fit. Keep in mind that his dietary needs may change as he ages and that adjustments may have to be done with his diet. Avoid unhealthy snacks and treats.

Regular Flea Treatments

Making sure your dog is treated regularly for fleas is important. Not only don't you want your house infested with these menaces but flea infestations can make your dog miserable as well as ill.

Proper Socialization

Properly socializing your dog will make him less anxious and more well behaved. It will also help to stem any aggressive tendencies that arise from your dog being introduced to new situations or people that make him nervous or threatened. It also will make traveling with him easier for both you and your pet.

Basic Training

At a minimum your dog should sit, stay, and come on command. He also should be trained to a leash. By training your dog to follow these basic commands you can maintain control which will help keep your dog safe and secure and by your side.

Proper Grooming

Make sure you keep your dog properly groomed. Brushing, bathing, nail clipping and teeth maintenance are all important to keeping your dog comfortable and healthy.

Exercise

Exercise helps your dog keep in shape and helps prevent boredom which can result in negative behaviors. The amount of exercise your dog needs will depend on the breed of dog and its size. Make sure that it has the required amount of daily exercise.

Attention and Affection

Dogs, like people, need attention and affection to be happy and well adjusted. Spending time with your dog and playing with him will help the bond between you grow stronger and will result in a much happier and well behaved dog.

Follow these 9 simple tips and your dog will stay active, happy and healthy for many years to come.


About the Author
Article by Kelly Marshall of Oh My Dog Supplies, check out our selection of large dog beds & unique dog collars & leashes online!

Good Dog

How to Adopt a Dog: A Step-by-Step Guide by katrina wagner
in Family / Pets (submitted 2010-04-02)

So you've decided to bypass breeders and pet stores and adopt a dog - go you! Some lucky pup out there is going to be thrilled, and the shelter or rescue you take your dog from might be able to accommodate one more pup thanks to your decision. So what's the next step? Fret not; we've got you covered:

Step 1: Do Your Homework! Before you drop by the local rescue or shelter and fall in love with a dog that may outgrow the weight restrictions of your apartment building, invest some time researching breeds that will best fit your situation. Consider the dog's weight (and what he will weigh when fully grown), age and temperament. A puppy will require housebreaking, obedience training, while an older dog may be better adjusted. Some dogs have temperaments best suited to a family, others won't do as well with children, and so on.

Step 2: Hunt for a Dog that Fits Your Criteria Visit the local pound or shelter if it's open to the public. Search online as well-researching breed-specific rescues in driving range and Dog Adoption websites that allow you to search by breed, age and gender within your zip code.

Step 3: Have Your Family Meet the Dog If you come across a dog online that fits the bill, arrange a visit. Some dogs may be in temporary foster homes and will either be transported to the main rescue location or to your house for a home visit. Make sure all the members of your household get to meet the dog. The same goes for shelter or pound dogs.

Step 4: Fill Out The Application/Prepare for Screening Whether you find a dog from a rescue online or a shelter dog, you'll have to fill out an application. This may just be a formality for some places, but others will want a closer investigation - be it a reference check, extensive interview or a home visit to see the conditions in which the rescued animal is to live. Some breeds may require a fenced yard or certain number of square feet to be comfortable, so don't take it personally if the rescue declines your application based on the fact that you live in a studio apartment.

Step 5: Pay An Adoption Fee/Sign An Agreement No shelter or rescue dog is "free to a good home," and you'll be asked for an adoption fee that can range from $50 to $400 depending on the breed, age of the dog (puppies tend to be more expensive as they're in demand more often than older dogs), the kind of organization you adopt from and what part of the country you live in. This fee is usually a pittance compared to the work that's gone into the dog you are adopting - usually it offsets the price of spaying/neutering the dog, feeding and caring for it, as well as ensuring it has all the right vaccinations. Dog adoption fees are also a screening measure used to weed out people who are unwilling or unable to spend money on their pets. Once you've paid the fee, you'll be asked to sign an adoption agreement, guaranteeing that the dog will be looked after and cared for indoors (rather than chained to a tree in the yard).

Step 6: Take Your Dog Home! Congratulations, you've done the research, found the dog and successfully wooed the shelter/rescue folks! You are ready to Adopt A Dog! Be sure to buy a crate your dog will be comfortable in (and a soft blanket or bed to go inside it), as well as a leash and collar and a supply of food and treats before taking him home. Don't forget to get him tagged and microchipped to assure his safety. Then, give him plenty of hugs!


About the Author
Jenny is an online content writer for dozens of animal and pet related blogs and websites. She has always been a proud supporter of Dogs For Adoption programs and urges everyone out there to adopt a dog, cat or other abandoned animals.

Dog Obedience Tips

Dog Obedience Tips: The Basics by Eddie Gillespie
in Family / Pets (submitted 2010-03-13)

It's so important to have a dog that's well behaved. For anyone who has just bought their first puppy or even if they adopted an older dog, there are certain dog obedience tips they must enforce. It's not about being mean or cruel to a dog, it's about teaching them how to act appropriately so they are house-trained and act proper in public places. In fact, if you just want to teach your dog the basics there are a few dog obedience tips that are going to be enough for you.

Good socialization is one of the best dog obedience tips.

One of the most important aspects of dog obedience training is to socialize the dog properly. One of the dog obedience tips is to help socialize the dog properly, which can be done best by getting them around large groups of people and animals to show them that they need to be friendly and well behaved in situations like this. No dog should be kept in home all the time, and rather they need to be outside and get taken for walks to socialize with other people and dogs. To socialize your dog properly, make sure that you bring them out to the largest variety of social events as possible.

Other dog obedience tips for socialization are to expose the dog to a variety of situations to properly socialize them. But socialization activities for the dog should be fun and pressure free, so take them for a jog in the park or to a carnival to walk around and see all the happy faces.

The most important dog obedience tips are about sitting

Every dog should at least know how to sit, and fortunately this is one of the easiest dog obedience tips to teach a dog. While there are certainly more interesting tricks a dog could learn, this is one of the most basic and most important by far.

Find a quiet location where the dog will be able to focus, and you can either use treats or any other form of positive reinforcement which will be rewarded to the dog after they listen and comply to your order. Each time you see that the dog is going to sit on its own you want to tell them to sit. When he does you praise him like a mad person. You may also want to use treats or just a nice pat on the head. This must be done immediately after the dog has sat down, so they know what you are rewarding them for.

Positive dog obedience tips

The most important thing is to make sure that you have some sort of positive reinforcement you are going to be able to use here. Remember, it can be a bit of a challenge especially with the older dogs but using dog obedience tips will be more than worth it in the end. You don't want to own a dog that you are constantly going to have to be yelling at and disciplining. Training your dog with dog obedience tips will give you a well-socialized and house-trained dog that will be enjoyable and pleasant to be around.


About the Author
The author of this article, Eddie Gillespie just loves his dogs, that's why he started Dog Info Point to let other people know about the fun you can have with dogs. So if you want to read about his solutions for canine health problems like ear infection or the advantages of heated dog beds just visit his website doginfopoint com.

Aggressive Dog Training

Control Dog Aggression | How to Control Aggressive Dog Behavior by Kevin Pederson
in Family / Pets (submitted 2010-02-27)


Nothing can scare unwanted people away from your property and belongings better than a ferocious looking dog that means business. However, if your dog's aggression is unwarranted or worse still, is directed towards you, you know you have a problem. Most people who buy aggressive dogs such as Rottweilers and Dobermans know that training needs to be imparted to these dogs right from their birth so that they are aggressive only when it is required. Controlling the aggression of animals is never easy; but when you have the animal living with you in your house, it becomes all the more important to have some control.

Guard dogs don't have to be vicious at most times. If a dog looks big enough and barks, baring its teeth, it'll serve the purpose. Unfortunately, most people miss this point completely and end up getting a dog they do not know how to control. Guard dogs that are bought after getting trained should never be messed with. They are usually trained enough to be able to handle a hostile situation. However, in order to have some control, it may be worthwhile to teach the dog some training commands like 'leave', 'sit', and 'drop'. When your dog is taught these commands, dealing with it becomes much easier.

If you have multiple pets at home and have a bully on your hands, things can get quite ugly. It is not uncommon to find a dog that is aggressive towards other dogs. If your dog has not been socialized properly from the puppy stage, it may find it difficult to cope with other dogs in the household. There are some dogs that are naturally dominant. They may become even more aggressive at the time of puberty. A friendly dog will always meet other dogs willingly, but if your dog is aggressive, it will meet them face-to-face and will always hold its tail high. This behavior should be controlled as much as possible, especially if you have smaller animals in the house. This behavior can also be problematic when your dog comes across other dogs that belong to other people.

There is no easy way to correct this behavior. If you are able to physically control your dog, one way to correct the aggression is to get the other dog, make it sit, and then walk your aggressive dog in front of the other dog, bringing the two face-to-face. Ask your dog to sit and allow the dog to continue sitting for at least 30 seconds. If your dog is able to do this, praise it and give treats to both the dogs. However, if the dog does not stay put, immediately take the dog away and scold it.


About the Author
Kevin Pederson, authors web content for http://www.diethealthclub.com a complete online resource featuring diet, health and fitness. This article is focused on helping you plan for new year resolutions for healthy diet plans

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Basic Dog Training Tips

Dog Training

Formal Dog Training - Informations all you need to know by Janet Marie Davis
in Pets (submitted 2010-01-25)

If you have a young puppy, we recommend that you wait until he's at least 8 weeks old to begin formal training.
Before you begin the formal training lessons with a dog of any age, please plan to follow these keys to success:

1. Be patient. Each dog is unique, and can only learn at his own pace. Some dogs learn quickly; others take more time. Patience is indeed a virtue when it comes to effective dog training!

2. Be kind. This goes hand-in-paw with "Be patient." Don't lose your temper if your dog doesn't "get it" right away, or appears to be ignoring you. Please do not punish your dog for not learning quickly enough. As a matter of fact, don't punish your dog at all. (We'll be teaching you effective ways to stop or prevent inappropriate behavior-without punishment.)

3. Be flexible. If your dog is struggling to learn, be willing to change your training routine. The location may be too distracting. The time of day may be too close (or far from) feeding time. The length of your training session may be too long (or too short). The training exercises may need to be broken down into smaller, simpler steps. Remember, each dog is unique. Be flexible and willing to do whatever you can to help your dog succeed.

4. Be generous. Be generous with your rewards and your time. Always reward your dog's correct responses generously. Don't be stingy with the treats-he's worked hard and deserves a generous reward! And commit ample time to your training lessons. We're all busy these days, but this is "quality time" for you and your dog. You'll both enjoy and benefit from the lessons, so make sure your schedule is adjusted accordingly!


Rewards One of the biggest keys to success with positive reinforcement training is rewarding your dog properly. This means giving him something he loves at exactly the right moment. Your first task is to figure out what kind of reward will best motivate your dog.

Food Treats All dogs are unique individuals. Most dogs are motivated by food that tastes and smells good to them. Food treats can be very small, which is handy for keeping them in your pocket or a pouch to use during training-and important to maintaining your dog's caloric intake to healthy levels. So that's the form of reward we'll be using throughout this training. Be sure what you're giving your dog is good for him. But don't rely on the packing of store-bought treats to tell you "Your dog will love it!" Strong-smelling meat and cheese treats are usually winners, but many store-bought treats are made primarily of other ingredients. Your dog may not appreciate artificial colors, tastes or smells.

Small morsels of cooked chicken are a popular home-made treat. But keep in mind that what motivates other dogs may not motivate yours. Experiment and find out what he loves to eat.

Non-Edible Rewards What if your dog isn't motivated by food (rare, but a possibility)? You'll have to find something else that motivates him. You may think a couple of pats on the head are a great reward, but your dog may not. He might not even like it (most dogs don't)! Try scratching his belly or some other form of petting. Again, experiment to find out what your dog loves.

Another form of reward to consider is play. Tossing a ball, playing tug-of-war, or playfully chasing your dog for a few minutes may be his idea of heaven.

The Best Reward Let your dog show you what he truly loves. He'll do this with his reaction to the reward you offer. You just need to pay attention to how he responds. Just because he accepts a piece of kibble doesn't necessarily mean he loves it. Watch him carefully when you're giving him a treat, petting, or playing with him. If he looks away or walks away, he probably isn't all that thrilled about what you're offering. But if he gets excited, stays close and begs for more, he's showing you that he loves it and will be willing to work for that reward in the future.

For initial training, we highly recommend using a food treat as the reward. It's the easiest to work with and gets the fastest results...just make sure your dog really likes it!



About the Author
With over 40 years of personal experience, and over 14 years as a professional breeder, and extensive research over that time here is my recommendations for all your informations on dog trainings.

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