Pet Care Information

Have you noticed that your dog has bad breath, is not eating, his teeth are covered with brown tartar or loose or missing, he has mouth ulcers, is dribbling saliva, is increasingly irritable, or is lethargic? Please be careful, these signs could mean your dog’s dental health, and his physical health, as well is at stake!

Without proper canine dental care, it is very common for dogs to have mouth diseases, including periodontitis or gingivitis. Plaque buildup hardens into tartar. Tartar lifts the gum margin (basically enlarges the area between the teeth and gums) which creates a pocket for bacteria (gingivitis). Saliva can’t get past the tartar to flush the pocket, so the infection is free to invade deep into gums, causing ulcers and bone and tooth loss (periodontitis). This infection, if unchecked, will enter the bloodstream.

Endodontic disease, gingivitis and periodontitis can all be avoided by proper canine dental hygiene.

Regular Dentist Visits

As a baseline guide, you should take your dog to a veterinary dentist at least once a year. At the dentist, your dog will be anesthetized. Then, a thorough exam will be performed to determine if any teeth need to be pulled or repaired. Some canine dentists will perform x-rays of the teeth to find any cracks or diseased teeth. After this, a dental cleaning will be performed.

Your dog’s teeth will be scaled using both hand instruments and ultrasonic scaling equipment to remove the tartar above and below the gum line. Finally, his teeth will be polished, which will make them smooth and help prevent plaque from adhering to them.

Some veterinarians will even perform a fluoride rinse of the dogs mouth. But be careful because fluoride toxicity can occur.

Canine Dental Health at Home

At home, your dog’s teeth should be brushed frequently. Preferably, twice a day, every day. But no less than four times a week. Tooth brushing will reduce the bacteria in the mouth and make your dog’s breath smell sweeter.

Use canine toothpaste and a canine toothbrush. Because dogs cannot spit, their toothpaste is made to be swallowed. The best pet toothpastes contain enzymes that help control plaque. Also, canine toothpaste flavors are dog-friendly.

Don’t buy a child’s toothbrush for you dog’s use - they’re invariably too hard for dogs. The ideal dog toothbrush will have a long handle, an angled head to better fit the mouth and extra soft bristles.

At first, some older dogs may not like the feel of the toothbrush in their mouths. A canine finger brush can be used to brush the teeth. The finger brush just fits onto one’s fingertip and can let you brush the dog’s teeth without the dog knowing it. The disadvantage of getting a finger brush to clean your dog’s teeth is that its bristles are quite large and may not be able to brush under the gumline’s margin as effectively as a regular toothbrush. So, you should wean your dog off the finger brush as soon as possible because it does not clean as well as a toothbrush.

If your dog won’t let you use a finger brush on his teeth, use a piece of gauze and gently rub on and around each tooth. After a few days of using gauze, you can try again with the finger brush and finally a canine toothbrush.

Let your dog get used to the toothbrush by putting some garlic salt on it. Mix the garlic salt with water, and dip the solution in an old toothbrush. Hold the old brush, and let your pet taste and chew it. Your dog will start to realize that chewing a toothbrush tastes good and he feels comfortable brushing with it.

Checking Your Dog’s Mouth

As you are brushing his teeth, press your dog’s gums for a few seconds. Then, take you finger away. While pressing, note the color of the gums – it should be white when you are pressing. The color should quickly return to pink when you stop pressing the area. If not, gingivitis could be a problem. Talk to your veterinarian about this as soon as possible.

While cleaning your pet’s teeth, also check for any cracked or broken teeth. If you see any problem teeth, report them promptly to your veterinary dentist.

If your dog is like most, he loves to chew. Tooth fractures most often occur when dogs chew hard substances, such as bones, rocks, hard nylon, or cow hooves. The fractures, if left untreated, will hold bacteria, cause infection, pain and bad breath. This is known as endodontic disease. Contact your vet right away. Your vet can perform root canals and will prescribe antibiotics for endodontic disease, as needed.

To prevent problems, extremely hard substances should be removed from areas where your dog can reach them and use them as chew toys. Buy your dog chewing toys that are safe like rubber-made toys. You can also provide bones that are soft enough for your dog to chew.

There are certain products that help to kill the bacteria in your dog’s mouth and could actually help heal damaged gum tissues. Do not forget to ask your veterinarian on the best products in the market.

Brushing and checking your dog’s mouth daily, as well as your pet’s annual visit to the dentist, will ensure that your pet will be comfortable, healthy and happy and his breath will be sweet. And, most importantly, he’ll be around for many happy years.

Judy W is a dog lover. For further info on doggie health see squidoo.com/canine-dental-health/ squidoo.com/canine-dental-health/

If you or someone that you know is lonely and feeling blue at some points in life it may be beneficial to have a pet to add some joy. Having a great pet that will add love and entertainment is a great feeling. There are so many pets out there that are in need of love and attention and what a better way than for someone that is feeling sad and upset a pet to love?

Having an animal to bring some life and laughter to a person that is in need is a great feeling. Many times a person just needs to have a pick me up in life. Many people have depression or sadness of some kind in their life. This sadness may come from a trauma or problem that happened. Many times people are not sure what they can do to make them feel better. There are people that just need something in their life and it may just be an animal assisted therapy pet.

Animal assisted therapy pets are going to be there to help patients get through the rough time and have someone there to look forward to. They will have the ability to feel good when they are around and know that they have a pet there to come home to. Many times just having the company is going to make a person feel better and get the information that they need to live their life the way that they deserve to.

It is amazing how an animal assisted therapy program is going to work to make people feel confident again and give them the encouragement that they need to go on. The person can even choose the pet that they want to spend time with. There are so many to decide from. Taking the pick between a dog, cat, bird, or any other type of animal that you can think of is a great idea to make anyone feel better and give them the help that they are looking for.

Sometime people have no family or friends to lean on. Having a pet there to sit with or talk to even though they cannot answer back is a great feeling and one that will bring happiness to their eyes again. Having the animal assisted therapy there to fall back on can allow a person the confidence that they need to move on and get out there to enjoy life more. Getting the animal that you have always wanted for a pet is a good way to have the pet companion for life that some is simply looking for.

Discover How AAT Can Help You Lose Weight, Overcome Phobias, Treat Your Addictions AND Help You Take Responsibility For Your Life In A Positive, Non-Invasive And Easy-To-Follow Way, more information about Animal assisted therapy, please visit animalassistedtherapy.info/ animalassistedtherapy.info/

A dog is a man’s best friend and for good reason. Dogs are loyal and bring a whole lot of fun to even the most serious person’s life. They’re smart, always up for anything, and can love their owners unconditionally. A house-trained, frisky dog is always a delight to be around.

Where’s the Doggie?
It’s easy to see why most dogs are so devoted to their owners. After all, they’re well-fed and watered, sheltered, walked, and groomed on a regular basis. Most dogs lead very good, comfortable lives so it’s only fitting that they shower all their love and spit on their owners. But have you ever wondered what your dog does all day at home when he has the run of the entire house while you’re slaving away at work? Well, setting up a CCTV camera, also known as closed circuit television camera, in and around your premises guarantees that you know exactly what your dog is up to. You might even be surprised - and I don’t mean the nasty kind of surprise.

It started out as a little experiment. My sister and I decided to find out how our adorable little dachshund, Lady Champagne, spends her day. We had a CCTV camera set up in the kitchen, the living room, the bedrooms, and the bathroom. We even had a CCTV camera set up in the backyard. We wanted to be sure that our pooch’s every move was captured in the CCTV cameras we set up in Lady Champagne’s favorite haunts.

Every Dog Has Its Day
The CCTV camera set up in my sister’s bedroom revealed that Lady Champagne’s day started innocently enough. She slept until 10:00 AM, long after my sister has gone to school. She then spent another 20 minutes rolling around the bed lazily. She soon decided to get up and plodded groggily to the kitchen where the CCTV camera captured her eating a breakfast of dog food and drinking lots of water from her water bowl, one of those models that automatically fill up with water when touched by a paw. Afterwards, she promptly exited from her doggy door and took the first of many leaks in the backyard. The CCTV camera behind the hydrangea bush picked up her trail. She spent about an hour outside, chasing after birds and digging up one of my old sweaters that mysteriously went missing.

The CCTV camera we set up in the living room showed her trotting back into the house and taking a nap on the rug in front of the television. After about 10 minutes of being motionless, she suddenly bolted upright as if remembering something, jumped on the couch and sniffed around a little bit, found the television remote control, and pressed her paw on the power button, or at least the general area of the power button. It worked, though. The television came to life and her highness promptly resumed her nap on a throw pillow. The rest of the CCTV camera footage showed an uneventful day of lunch, more water, more pee, the mandatory poop, more bird chasing, a brief squabble with the neighbor’s cat, and more naps in front of the blaring television, save for a rather exciting moment when she actually turned off the television right about the time when I arrive from work.

Indeed, even the seemingly stupidest and laziest dogs have a trick - not tick - or two up their sleeve, or at least their paw. Most of the time, they just like to keep it to themselves. Wouldn’t you like to find out what yours is capable of? You know you want to. With a CCTV camera system in your own home, you can.

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Make you puppy training easier and more fun by understanding that your puppy is trying to communicate with you in other ways than barking or wagging his tail. Remember, your puppy also communicates with his ears, tail, paws, mouth and more and your puppy training and everyday life with your dog will be much more fun.

Here is a short guide to some basic dog body language and what it means:

Dominant - You’ll find that a dominant dog has its ears straight up or forward, its mouth slightly opened or closed, its eyes open wide or staring, its body standing stiff and tall with hackles possibly raised, and its tail out from the body stiffened or fluffed. A low and assertive bark can often be expected.

Friendly - A friendly dog has perked up ears, open and alert eyes, a relaxed mouth, a tail or whole rear end wagging, and possibly whimpering, yapping or giving short barks.

Playful - A bow position with wagging tail means “let’s play.”

Submissive - A dog with its ears tightly back, eyes closed and paw raised is showing extreme submission. The dog isn’t happy but shows it will not attack.

Aggressive - An aggressive dog has its ears flattened back against its head, its eyes narrowed or challenging, body tense, mouth open to show teeth and tail held out from the body and fluffed up if possible. Snarls or growls are typical.

Worried - Sharp barks combined with growling, ears flattened and neck hairs raised means “I’m worried” or “something is wrong.”

Fear - A dog shows fear with a lowered stance, tail down or tucked underneath, an arched back, looking or turning head whilst showing the whites of their whites of eyes and dilated pupils. Dogs often bark out of fear, especially if they are cornered, fenced in, or on a leash.

Stressed - A stressed dog will often have ears back and down, a wide open mouth, lips drawn back with rapid respiration. Also shoulders lowered, hunched forward, tail tucked, tension in haunches and will probably be trembling.

Now that you understand more about what your puppy is trying to say to you about how he feels or the mood he is in try to accommodate this in your puppy training and everyday life.

In a puppy training session your dog should be showing that he is in a friendly or playful mood. If he shows he is dominant then you know that he may not be taking you seriously or could be being stubborn and you probably need to be more assertive.

Some submissive behaviour is not a bad thing as it means that that he understands that you are in charge.

If your puppy becomes stressed, fearful, worried or even aggressive, you must stop your training and reassure your dog immediately. If you have been training for more than 15 minutes stop and take a break. When you come back takes things more slowly or approach things in a different way.

Use your knowledge in every day life too. Observe your puppy in different situations and you will quickly discover what he likes and dislikes or how he is feeling. You can then take steps to give him more of what he enjoys and more support, confidence and training in situations he finds more difficult.

Richard Cussons is a dog lover with a passion for helping people with their dogs. You can find out more about all-about-puppies.com/puppy_training.html” target=”_blank puppy training and care at his site all-about-puppies.com/” target=”_blank All about Puppies and Dogs.

Cat litter box problems are one of the most common cat behavioral problems most owners encounter. It is a very frustrating experience for an owner to come home to find that their bed or couch is soaked in cat urine. Fortunately there are some simple steps you can take to get the situation back under control.

First of all cats can stop using the litter box for any number of reasons. The cause could be behavioral or medical. Some medical causes of a cat not using the litter box could be feline lower urinary tract syndrome and a lower urinary tract infection. You need to seek your veterinarian’s medical expertise if you suspect one of these.

There can be many possible behavioral reasons for having cat litter box problems. Some of these can be quite complicated, while others will become quite obvious to you after little investigation.

The obvious reasons why a cat stopped using the litter box is maybe someone closed the door to where the litter box was and now the cat does not have access to that area. Another obvious reason could be that the litter box was placed in a noisy area near a washer or clothes dryer.

Other more complicated reasons for a cat not using the litter box include stress. This stress could be from a new family member, a visitor, or a change in the house hold routine.

Cat litter box problems can have easy solutions. If you think the problem is more involved it is best to seek a veterinarian who has knowledge of cat behavior.

1catbehavior.blogspot.com Get easy secrets of cat beahavior modification here

We like to take our pets on daily walks. After all, we are concerned with their health and should want them to remain in good shape. But beware of the unseen health risks to your pet that can be associated with the summer heat.

Presently I have 4 dogs in our kennel that are being watched this month. They range in age and their general health conditions vary, and each must be considered when taking these dogs for their walks.

The current makeup consists of 2 puppies only 3-4 months of age, an 8 year old but overweight German shepherd, and a 13 year old mix breed.

A single walking session shows the effects that summer plays on each dog’s individual condition. The two puppies are young, vibrant and full of energy, and do not hesitate at the prospect of a 20 minute walk through the woods. The 8 year old shepherd and the 13 year old mixed are also looking forward to the same walk.

Within a few moments of walking into the woods, (the woods are about 100 yards from the kennel), you can notice a considerable change form the harsh daily sun to a much cooler shaded area of the woods. At this point each dog is holding their own on this simple and short walk.

At the halfway point, now 10 minutes of walking, we take a momentary rest, more for my sake then that of the dogs. Each dog is panting quite regularly at this stage. None of them look at all tired, and none have stopped to drink any water from my bottle.

Due to a recent rainstorm the night before, we have come across an occasional puddle or two for them to wade in. This has helped them stay a little refreshed.

As we head past the 3-quarter mark of this trail, there is a considerable difference in the overweight shepherd’s desire to lead the pack. At this point, the older 13 year old mixed dog, is actually keeping a stronger pace then the young puppies, even though the puppies have stopped a number of times to rest and take on water.

By the time we reach the stretch of trail back to the kennel area, the fours dogs are showing signs of being both tired and thirsty. The last 10 feet lead straight to a waiting pool filled with fresh cold water. The older dogs take a few moments to grab a quick drink while the puppies play and splash around happily. All four dogs are taking a well deserved rest.

By and far they all show some signs of being tired. But keep this in mind that they each have reacted differently to the same walk, under the same conditions. The puppies did tend to pull more on their leashes, which will cause them to put additional stress on their collars and breathing. The overweight 8 year old, while younger showed more signs of fatigue then the older 13 year old. The mixed dog is not carrying around a lot of excess body fat. The extra weight and fat is putting additional stress on the larger dog’s legs, chest and his heart.

Be careful of walking your pets in the hot summer months. Take then out during the early morning or later evenings when it is cooler. Make sure to take water with you, for the pets and yourself, if you’re going to be walking any kind of long distance. When they get back, give them fresh clean water from a hose or kiddies pool. They have thick fur coats and only cool down through their tongues so please let them relax in the shade and take a break during the walk to make sure they are not getting to overheated.

Be careful to avoid heat strokes or other conditions that can be avoided with a few simple steps. Bottom line is that you should not risk your pet’s health simply because it is the summertime and you went for a walk.

Derek Wood breeds and trains large breed dogs through the use of healthy and humane techniques. He is a life-long pet advocate and animal friend.

Visit his website for more pet health care tips and articles.
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What is the best dog food? Veterinarians are often hit by that question from scads of anxious dog owners. Every dog owner wants to feed their dog with the best that is available. However, the sheer variety of dog foods and the conflicting views on the best dog diet can leave you quite perplexed. While some experts assert that home made food is best for dogs, others argue that commercial dog food is better. Anyway, we have witnessed a shift towards commercial dog food, owing much to the fast paced life that we all lead.

Even if you don’t find time out of your hectic work schedule to prepare a home made dog meal, you can still provide your pet with the best dog food. The markets are buzzing with prepackaged real dog foods that are much like the home made dog meals. Either you can purchase a prepackaged meal to provide balanced nutrition, or you may buy a specific diet according to your dog’s individual needs. Prepackaged meals are formulated from natural or organic ingredients and are usually available in a dry form. Though this variety of dog food is rather expensive, feeding the best dog food entails significantly lower veterinary bills.

For some dog owners prepackaged real food is simply unaffordable. In such a scenario, the most viable option is to either prepare a dog meal at home, or go in for canned dog foods. The most affordable and easily accessible variety of dog foods is the canned variety.

Canned dog foods come in handy during travel and in emergency. The best dog foods consist of real, whole and known ingredients. Canned foods typically contain preservatives, since there might be a significant time gap between manufacturing and consumption. In general, canned food manufacturers cannot dispense with the preservatives. Hence, you must ensure that the preservatives used are natural, such as vitamin E and C.

The best dog foods are not only available at your neighborhood grocery store, you can avail them at vet offices & feed stores and natural food stores too. However, it is imperative that you conduct a preliminary research so as to gauge the efficacy of the brand of your choice. Manufacturers that offer the best dog foods are always willing to heed to the customer’s concern and inquiries. They would keep dog owners updated on their latest products and would be glad to offer advice on canine nutrition.

Some dog owners, which feed their dog with the best dog foods around, are often flabbergasted to see their pet’s health deteriorate over time. What they miss out on is the fact that appropriate fluid intake is equally important as a good diet. An adult dog’s body comprises of 60% water, while a puppy has an overwhelming 84% water content. It’s surprising to know that even a mere 10% water loss can be detrimental to a dog’s health.

Feed and water your dog with the best dog foods and ensure appropriate fluid intake, and you would never have to be anxious about your dog’s wellbeing.

Niall Kennedy is a lifelong dog lover and has worked in several pet sanctuaries. Best Pet Health Information is a resource that brings you information about best-pet-health.info healthy dog food. Best-Pet-Health.info. Best-Pet-Health.info.
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Your dog seems to be driving you up the wall lately, exhibiting serious behavior problems — and no amount of verbal correction seems to work. She chews the furniture, gnaws on shoes, turns over the trash cans, howls and barks when you’re not around, or even seems really depressed when you come home.

There could be many reasons for behavior problems such as these, but chances are that your dog just misses you too much, and is showing she’s bored and lonely. This is especially true if you only have one dog in the house and she’s home alone while you work.

One solution to the problem is to try to keep your dog entertained while you are gone. Get a bone or a Kong chew toy, so she’ll have a challenge for when you’re not around. Another tactic is to turn on the radio so she’ll hear human voices. Puppies respond especially well to this; it seems to reassure them much like an actual human presence. Also, if you can lend her a worn shirt, try leaving this in your dog’s bed so that your smell remains even when you aren’t there.

Discourage Destructive Behavior

In cases of destructive behavior problems, it pays to correct your dog immediately when you catch her chewing your furniture or taking out her frustrations on your belongings. Be vigilant at first — instant feedback is much easier for your dog to understand than corrections a minute or two later. When you catch her, rush to your dog’s side, grab her by the back of her neck and give her a firm “No!”

This should let her know she’s done wrong, but if you catch your dog doing it again, some owners may want to roll up 10 to 20 sheets of newspaper and give her a mild whack on the thigh. This won’t hurt her, but the sound will seem threatening and loud.

I used to come home to the remains of a stack of mail, ripped to shreds by my dog. I knew that she’d probably done it hours ago, so to reinforce the memory of the negative behavior, I grabbed some of the mail, put it near her mouth and uttered a firm “No!” She shredded the mail a few more times, but each time I reinforced with “No!” and she soon got the message, to our mutual happiness.

Help Your Pup Feel “Up”

Are you playing with and talking to your dog when you come home? Doing so can make a great difference to her feelings. Just like us, dogs want to be acknowledged and fussed over when we’re around. Dogs being such social animals, it doesn’t work if we merely feed and walk them and ignore them the rest of the time. If we can’t spend some quality time with our pets, we might as well not have them at all.

If you can afford it and your dog is alone, give serious thought to getting another. This worked well for me — after my second dog came into the picture, my first turned into an angel, and has stayed that way ever since — which is to say, I have a happier dog!

If a second dog just isn’t an option for you, you could also spend a little more time bonding with your dog by enrolling both of you in an obedience class. This way, you’ll learn more control and teamwork involving your four-footed friend. You may even find your dog more relaxed and better behaved, as the training puts you in a dominant light and takes the pressure off her to lead the household “pack”. Plus, your dog gets a chance to meet other dogs. You’ll soon notice how eager she is for the next class!

Blake Kritzberg is editor of FavorIdeas. Stop by for continually-updated celebrity
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A dog can be a wonderful addition to your family, as long as everyone is prepared to put in the time and effort required. So many people think a puppy would make a wonderful present for their children, only to forget about them once the novelty has worn off.

Before you make the leap and introduce a new pet to your family make sure you know what to expect and that you’re prepared for all the consequences of bringing a new family member into your home.

Some of the things you should consider before you take the step of picking your puppy or dog.

Who is going to be responsible? It’s all well and good to tell your children that the new puppy is theirs to care for, but remember, the first time they have to choose between picking up after it and hangin’ out with their friends you know there’s going to be a problem. So if there is no one prepared to step in and look after the animal on a regular basis perhaps re-thinking the gift would be a good idea.

Do you have room for it? Depending on what type of home you live in and what type of backyard you have, will be a major factor in both deciding on what type of dog you should get, along with whether or not you’re prepared to exercise the dog, if you don’t have the room to let it run free in the backyard. If you can’t supply the room for a dog to run or are not willing to exercise them on a regular basis then perhaps a dog is not right for you.

Are you a neat freak? No matter how well prepared you are, or how well you train your dog is, there will be accidents. These can range from the normal potty training problems to digging up your prize garden, chewing your new shoes, or shedding their hair on your lounge. If you’re not ready to put up with any of the above at some stage of the dog’s life then perhaps a dog is not right for you.

Can you afford it? Caring for a dog means more than just paying for its meals. While dinner time scraps are a common food source, they need more than that, particularly when they are young and still growing, a well balanced diet is essential. Food is not the only cost though. There are also the worm tablets, vet bills, registration fees and other costs associated with caring for your pet. If you are struggling to pay your bills now you shouldn’t add to those costs, as unfortunately all too often it’s the animal that misses out on what it needs.

These are just a few things to bear in mind when you’re thinking about getting a new dog. If, after reading the above points, and now knowing some of what is expected when you introduce a new dog into the family, you decide you still do want a dog, then yes, you do deserve one. Provided of course you can fulfil one other key requirement.

Being prepared to offer lots of love, caring and patience.

V Brown is a long time dog owner/lover and has recently introduced a new puppy into the family so has decided to start sharing her experiences as the training etc begins. If you’d like to know more please visit

Yes, that’s right. Flea–not flu–season is here. Our four-legged friends deserve the same safe and alternative care as we do. Harsh chemicals which kill fleas and their eggs, are also harmful to our pets and our families. Luckily, alternatives are available.

A mainstay in flea control is careful and consistent good grooming of your pet and cleaning of their sleeping areas. Brushing and combing is essential in maintaining a healthy coat and skin. It is also an important way to create bonding and friendship with your pets.

While grooming your pet, fleas will be most easily spotted on the stomach and groin area. A flea comb is very helpful because fleas will get caught in the fine teeth. Also, grooming on a white sheet or plain white or kraft paper can be helpful. Fleas that “jump ship” will be more easily spotted against this background.

Thorough grooming you can also discover any flea problems before they become out-of-control. Experts estimate that for every 1 (one) flea on your pet, there may be over 100 (one hundred) in various life stages in the nearby environment. To most effectively eliminate a flea-problem, all life stages of the flea must be dealt with and all steps need to be done on the same day.

The first step is with the pet itself.

Marian Brown has been active in holistic health care for people and pets over 15 years. She is editor of hhnews.com/ Holistic Health News. Visit our site at hhnews.com hhnews.com to join our free email newsletter containing other useful pet care tips.