House-training your Puppy

It would be great if puppies came to us knowing all there was to know.  Unfortunately one of the things they don’t already know is where to go to the bathroom.  This article details how new owners can housetrain puppy.

Dogs are creatures of habit.  Provide a routine makes them comfortable.  It also makes housetraining easier to learn when things are done in the same way and at the same time everyday. 

Puppies need to go to the bathroom more often when they are young.  They still need time to grow into their bodies.  So, how do you know how often to take puppy to the potty?  Simply, take puppy’s age and add one.  This equals the number of hours that puppy can wait before needing to visit the “little puppy’s room”. 

Set feeding times when you can be home to take puppy to the bathroom.  The hard part will be to maintain the same schedule on the weekends.  You may be tempted to sleep in, but for the sake of puppy and the various corners of your home, keep to the status quo.

Offer puppy praise and discipline when he deserves it.  When it is time to go outside, lead puppy to the area that you have designated as his bathroom.  Be patient while he does his business.  Think up a command to use each time he goes to the bathroom.  Afterwards, praise him for doing well.

Do this as many times a day as you need to in order for puppy to remember the spot.  This includes using the same route to reach the back yard.  Keeping everything the same will help speed up the process and make it easier for puppy to learn.  Be patient with puppy as he learns this all new routine.

Puppy will make mistakes.  If he is nervous or afraid, this can lead to his using the bathroom in the house where he is not supposed to go.  Yelling at puppy will only make the situation worse.  Rubbing his nose in his mess, besides being gross, is no way to discipline puppy. 

Wait until puppy is somewhere else in the room and then clean up his mistake.  Continue with your housetraining routine as before.  Cleaning up all of the mess keeps puppy from coming back to that spot later.  He is little, but he will learn.

Watch for tell-tale signs that puppy is ready to go to the bathroom.  He may whine, scratch at the floor or the door, or wiggle.  Don’t trust puppy to make it outside by himself.  If he starts to go in the house, scoot him outside quickly to the bathroom area so he can finish.

Housetraining puppy can be trying at times and patience is a virtue in this case.  As you continue with the routine, your hard work will pay off with a well trained puppy.

Originally posted 2008-12-08 21:18:50. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Find the Right Veterinarian for Your Dog

Just as humans need to have a regular physician in case of illness, so too a dog needs to have a qualified vet to take care of him in case anything goes wrong.  How to find the right veterinarian for your dog requires a bit of research and careful consideration.

There are several ways in which you can find the right vet.  First, ask neighbors or friends who are dog owners to give you a recommendation; Second, talk to pet groomers in your area to find out who they use; Third, check online by going to:  http://www.pets911.com/services/veterinarians/ where you can find a qualified vet in your area.

If you do check online, make a list of the vets in your area and call to make an appointment in order to determine the following: 

* Are you greeted in a kind and professional manner by the staff?
* Are the waiting rooms and general surroundings clean?
* Do you find the staff to be qualified and knowledgeable?
* When you called to make the appointment to visit, were they genuinely courteous?
* Do they have parking on location?
* How many technicians and support staff do they have?
* How many vets are assigned to the clinic?
* Does the area where dogs are kept clean and relatively conducive to keeping sick dogs comfortable?
* How much does it cost for their services, i.e., vaccinations, treatment, etc.
* Do they perform emergency services?
* Obtain the names of the vets so that you can check their credentials online or through the American Veterinary Medical Association.
* Do you feel comfortable at this facility?
* Has the vet answered all of your immediate questions?
* Do they have an emergency telephone number; are they on call and what are their hours?
* Ask the vet if you can observe him with a patient so that you can ascertain how he handles and interacts with the dog.

There is another factor that you should know about when dealing with a vet.  Oftentimes, and depending upon the vet, they may advise you to buy certain dog food at their premises; whether it’s due to a condition your pet is experiencing, or for some other reason. 

It should be noted that the cost is quite high.  If the vet indeed tells you to use a particular brand, do not buy it from him but go to your local pet store or a club outlet where you can purchase the food in bulk.  Dog food is quite expensive and sometimes vets prescribe a certain food because they are getting a percentage of the sale.

While we, as humans, can change doctors if we do not care for the way they practice medicine, dogs can’t tell us if they are not being treated well.  Finding the right veterinarian is not only important for you, but for your dog as well.

Originally posted 2009-02-01 14:36:15. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Enjoy A Happy Holiday Season with Your Pets

Thanks to an American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) press release for this information:

There’s nothing better than gathering with friends and family for the holidays; eating, drinking, and putting up festive decorations. While enjoying this time of year, the ASPCA^® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals^®) wants pet parents to be aware of potential hazards that certain goodies and décor can pose to our furry friends.

“Many of our winter habits and holiday traditions could pose a potential threat to our companion animals,” says Dr. Steven Hansen, a board-certified veterinary toxicologist and senior vice president of the ASPCA’s Animal Health Services, which includes the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center in Urbana, Ill. “As you begin to prepare for a festive season, remember to be wary of activities that can be potentially dangerous to pets.”

To keep pets happy and healthy during the holiday season, the ASPCA offers pet owners the following helpful hints:

• Avoid a sour stomach. ’Tis the season for overeating, but remember to keep your pets on a normal diet. Any change of diet, even for one meal, can give your dog or cat severe indigestion and diarrhea. “Please don’t give pets holiday leftovers, and do keep them out of the garbage,” advises Dr. Louise Murray, director of medicine at the ASPCA’s Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital in New York City. Poultry bones can splinter and cause blockages, while greasy, spicy and fatty foods can cause stomach upset.
   
• Use caution with cocktails. If your plans include adult holiday beverages, be sure to place unattended alcoholic drinks where pets cannot reach them. If ingested, the animal could become very sick and weak and may go into a coma, possibly resulting in death from respiratory failure.
   
• Skip the sweets. Several popular holiday treats are toxic to pets. Candies containing the sweetener xylitol can be poisonous to dogs. Even small amounts of xylitol can cause a sudden drop in blood sugar, which leads to depression, lack of coordination, seizures and even liver failure in certain cases. “Chocolate, especially baker’s and dark chocolate, can also be potentially poisonous to animals, especially dogs,” advises Dr. Hansen. Symptoms of significant chocolate ingestion may include vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity and increased thirst and urination, as well as abnormal heart rate/rhythm and even seizures. Cats also love to play with candy wrappers, but ingesting aluminum foil or cellophane can pose a choking hazard or cause intestinal blockage.
   
• Floral arrangements should be given forethought. Be careful with holiday floral arrangements and Christmas tree decorations. Lilies are commonly used this time of year and all varieties, including Tiger, Asian, Japanese Show, Stargazer and Casa Blanca can cause kidney failure in cats. In addition, common Yuletide plants such as mistletoe and holly berries can be potentially toxic to pets. Should a cat or dog eat mistletoe, they could possibly suffer gastrointestinal upset and in rare cases, cardiovascular problems. Holly can cause vomiting, diarrhea and lethargy if ingested.
   
• Cover the Christmas tree water. Christmas tree water may contain fertilizers which if ingested can cause stomach upset. Stagnant tree water can also act as a breeding ground for bacteria, and if ingested a pet could end up with abdominal discomfort, vomiting and diarrhea.
   
• Decorations can be dangerous. Consider decorating your tree with ornaments that are relatively less enticing to pets, such as dried non-toxic flowers, wood, fabric or pinecones. Traditional decorations such as ribbons or tinsel, if ingested, can become lodged in the intestines and cause intestinal obstruction. This is a very common problem, particularly with cats. Also take care to prevent your pets from having access to glass ornaments, wires and cords from holiday decorations. If chewed, such ornaments can damage your pet’s mouth from shards of glass or plastic, while a wire can deliver a potentially lethal electrical shock.
   
• Careful with the candles. Ensure any candle decorations are kept well out of your pets’ reach. Animals can easily knock over holiday candles and start a fire, and curious kittens are particularly at risk of getting burned by candle flames.

If your dog or cat accidentally ingests any potentially harmful products and you need emergency advice, please consult your veterinarian or the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 (a fee applies) or www.aspca.org/apcc. For more information on having a fun, safe holiday with your pets, please visit www.aspca.org.

Originally posted 2008-12-03 19:53:32. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Antioxidants for Your Dog

Don’t look for or put your faith in a “silver bullet” antioxidant. It doesn’t exist. Rather, supplement your dog’s diet with a variety of foods that contain antioxidants, such as blueberries, herbs (basil is great) tomatoes, egg yolks, green tea or spinach.

Feed these foods especially in times of increased physical stress for your dog; for example, when it’s fighting cancer or after extreme physical exertion.

Don’t overfeed any one antioxidant. Balance and variety are always advised.

Claims for Health and Healing

Arthritis: Antioxidants, but particularly vitamin C, art vital to any arthritic therapeutic program. Vitamin C is involved in the building and healing of joint and bone structures, and it plays an active role in the immune response.

Anti-aging: as an animal’s body ages, it undergoes a gradual accumulation of tiny bits of damage to cell and tissue structures and also to enzymatic systems important in the production of antioxidants. With age, then , the animal’s cells and organ systems no longer have the vital capabilities they once did. The result is an inability to deal with free radicals efficiently. Antioxidants improve the efficiency of all animal’s aging systems, resulting in a healthier old animal.

Cancer prevention: Antioxidants protect the body from the damaging effects of free radicals, slow tumor growth, and/or help cellular DNA retain its normal configuration.

 Heart disease: antioxidants protect the heart and circulatory system from oxidative stress from free radicals.

 Vision and eyesight: The antioxidants leutine and zeonxanthin and particularly helpful in supporting good eye health.

Immune function: Antioxidants are known to enhance healthy lymphocyte production and offer protective factors for other components of the immune system.

Originally posted 2009-04-11 01:38:43. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Introducing Puppy to your Cat

Puppy may not be your first pet. He may be another in the growing brood that is your pet family. Because of this you’ll want to introduce puppy to your other pets with care.

Dogs are social animals. Most puppies love being a part of a group. In their natural habitat, puppies in a group must establish their place. Your puppy will try to determine his place within your family and amongst the other pets in the house and remember this is normal, even instinctual.

When you introduce your puppy to the cat, don’t leave them alone. Supervision is necessary until they get to know each other. If puppy is smaller than the cat, he could get trounced when your back is turned and vice versa.

During the first meeting, let your cat take the lead. Since cat was in the house first, he gets to examine puppy. Be on the lookout for any aggression on the part of either animal. If the meeting goes sour, take puppy away and try again at another time.

Cats are territorial animals by nature. They may be nice enough to puppy, but there are going to be places in the house where they want to be left alone. Not respecting their privacy could cause tension between puppy and cat. The cat may even get miffed at you.

Teach puppy that certain places are off limits. Think of a command that you can use to keep puppy away from those places. You will use it often at first until puppy learns cat’s “unwritten rules”.

Puppy may start out by chasing the cat around the house. This is a normal behavior for a dog and may even make you laugh. When the chuckle is over, however, put an end to the chase and encourage puppy not to do it again.

On the other hand, the cat may catch puppy minding his business one day and get him back. If cat is chasing puppy, don’t scold your cat either. Territorial disputes are normal also, but since they will both be in living under one roof now, this can’t continue either.

Cats and dogs that live together should eventually come to an understanding. As long as their private areas are respected by each other there should be no problems of any consequence. But, the relationship may not turn to love right away. Don’t get frustrated with your pets. This, too, takes time.

Puppy needs to be introduced to the other pets living in the house. If one of the pets is a cat, take the introductions slowly. They may not warm to each other at first, but keep at it, eventually they will learn to live together in harmony.

Originally posted 2008-12-08 21:32:29. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Many Health Benefits of Pet Massage

Massage techniques are frequently performed on animals, including dogs, cats, and horses for therapeutic benefits after injury or as a preventive wellness program. The specific techniques used will depend upon the goal of the massage and the receptiveness of the animal. Any indications of pain in your pet must be assessed by a vet before performing massage techniques.

The benefits of massage include reduced pain, increased joint mobility, improved circulation of oxygen-rich blood for tissue in healing and improved lymphatic flow to filter out waste products and destroy them via the action of white blood cells.

Certain massage techniques activate the parasympathetic nervous system resulting in a “rest and digest” response in contrast to the “fight or flight” response of the sympathetic nervous systems. By allowing your pet to relax under your guided touch, you can strengthen the emotional bond ass well as maximize the use of touch as a an assessment tool to note any changes in your pets, such as lumps, pain or areas of warmth. Early detection on your part can lead to prompt veterinarian care for any potential problems.

Pet massage can also desensitize your pet to the fear response when they go to the vet.

The common strokes used for pet massage are the same as those used for humans, for example:

Compression – Direct pressure from the thumb, fingers or palm used to compress soft tissues against underlying bone. This technique releases muscle spasms, triggers points or adhesions.

Effleurage – long strokes applied superficially along the muscle, used for relaxation and improved circulation.

Joint Movement – Passively moving the joints through their available range of motion to improve and maintain flexibility and reducing pain.

Skin Rolling – Lifting the coat and skin away from the muscles and fat with the thumb and fingers, used to treat chronic pain and restore movement of the connective tissue.

Vibration – A rhythmic back and forth movement of the hands used to for relaxation and joint mobilization.

I have found several guides that can help you learn some of these techniques.

 

Camp Bow Wow in Carmel IN.

Originally posted 2009-02-01 21:10:37. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Common Dog Diseases & Tips for Preventing Them

Part of caring for your dog involves his health.  All dogs get sick at some point in their lives.  But, there are preventive measures that you can take to protect his health from the time he is a puppy.  Here are a few of the more common dog conditions and how to prevent or combat them.

When talking about dogs you may have heard the word “distemper”.  Distemper is a condition common to dogs.  It can cause damage to the lungs or the brain and spinal cord similar to the human polio virus.  Distemper shots are recommended for puppies as a preventative measure against the disease.

Rabies is a common disease that is also deadly to human beings.  Rabies results in death for any animal infected with it.  The disease is passed through saliva of an infected animal.  One animal bites another and the disease is contracted.

The sign of the disease that most people are familiar with is foaming around the mouth.  If rabies is suspected, have your dog checked out immediately.  Dogs should be vaccinated as pups.  Booster shots are recommended every few years to keep up immunity.

Leptospirosis is one of those conditions that can be passed from animal to people.  Before you smother too many kisses on your puppy, protect him from the disease particularly if he is an outdoor dog.  The disease can be acquired from infected wild animals like opossums and raccoons.  Vaccinations are available so protect your dog and yourself.

Dogs are susceptible to worm infestations.  It’s disgusting yes, so imagine how your dog will feel if he has them.  Your veterinarian can recommend medications and other measures to guard against worms.

Heartworms can be introduced to your dog through a mosquito bite.  Outdoor dogs need to be especially careful.  Dogs can be given tablets once a month to guard against heartworm infestations.  They can be added to his food bowl so that you don’t have to fight to get him to take it.  If your dog already has heartworms, seek medical attention right away to save his life.

Regularly examine your dog’s stool.  Worms can show up there.  Diarrhea may be a sign that something is wrong with your dog.  Starting worming medications from your vet as soon as puppy is old enough can keep you from having to sift through doggie doo for the nasty parasites.

Dogs get sick too.  Just like people, there are things that you can do to prevent certain diseases from coming to pass.  Ask your veterinarian about prophylactic pet care now to avoid costly medical care later.

Originally posted 2008-12-08 21:42:46. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Learning Tricks is Not Just for Dogs – Your Cat can Learn Tricks too!

You may not be able to teach your cat to brush his own teeth, but cats can learn tricks just like dogs ~ they learn and respond in different ways. It has been shown that cats respond better to working for food than for positive reinforcement like many dog trainings methods.

SET THE FOUNDATION

To lessen the likelihood of upsetting your cat’s diet have moist or dry cat food as a treat on hand. Like dogs, cats also respond to praise, so when your cat performs a task you have asked of her, be sure to not only reward her with a food treat, but also with verbal praise. You will likely have more success if you work with one command at a time. As with any training effort, with humans or pets, your training effort will be more successful with consistency.  Be sure to let your cat learn at his own pace. But when you see an even slight glimmer that your cat understands the behavior you are trying to teach, reward her enthusiastically.  Here are commands for you to try:

COME

This command is best taught at mealtime. Use your cat’s name as you tap her food bowl and use the command “come.” When she comes to you, praise her and then give her the food.

SHAKE HANDS

Sit your cat in front of you and touch her paw and say, “shake. In the beginning you may need to gently lift her paw as you say “shake.” As soon as she reacts and lifts her paw, shake it and giver her verbal praise along with a treat. Consistency is key and repeating the command the same way each time. Our cat Bingo has mastered this command after my daughter worked with him using these training methods.

WAVE

Cats naturally swipe at a piece of food, which helps to teach this command. Hold a treat in your hand and place it in front of the cat’s nose but just out of reach of her front paws. Then, awaken your cat’s natural instincts, by moving the food back and forth with your hand in a waving motion while telling your cat to “wave.” As your cat is reaching for the food with her paw, it will appear that she is waving. Once her reaching motion resembles a waving behavior, praise her and give a treat.

SIT-UP

Gently place your cat into a sitting position. Hold a treat over her head and say “sit-up.” Do not give her the reward if she stands or grabs at the treat, just repeat the command and wait for her to try. When she accomplishes the desired behavior, give her the treat immediately and repeat the command several times.

In no time you’ll have the best trained cat on the block.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Originally posted 2009-02-25 18:54:29. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Feeding your Puppy

There’s one thing that puppy will run for every time – lunch!  Puppy needs to be fed regularly in order to grow big and strong.  Learning to feed your puppy is an important part of his care and responsible pet-ownership.  Puppy doesn’t care what you feed him, but you should.  Puppies needs are different than an adult dog.  They don’t need to eat the same food that you would feed to an adult dog.

Go to a store that is used to dealing with pet food like Petco.  Ask one of the salespeople about puppy food.  Don’t immediately go for the least expensive bag in order to save money.  In this case, cheap is not necessarily the best.  Puppy is in his formative years and needs the right food. 

The type of food is as important as the brand.  The can of beef flavored pieces in smothered gravy sounds appetizing, but it is not for puppy.  Puppies need to eat kibble.  Kibble is the dry nuggets of dog food.

When choosing kibble, make sure that it is the puppy formula.  Large dog kibble nuggets will be too large for puppy to eat without difficulty.  He may even choke on it.  The pieces should be easy to eat and swallow.

Puppies are normally fed three times a day at first.  Use the serving size suggestion on the bag of dog food to determine how much food to give to puppy.  Let him eat for a specified amount of time and then remove the food bowl.  You don’t want puppy to wander back to the bowl later.  This encourages overeating.

As puppy grows, he will eat less often.  When he goes down to two meals a day, cut out the middle of the day meal.  Cutting out the evening meal has puppy going too long between feedings.  This is can also be a cause of overeating.

Whatever you do, don’t feed your puppy from the table.  He may be another member of the family but he is not a human being.  Table food can wreak havoc with puppy’s digestive system.  If he is given the wrong food, it can make him very ill.  Eating at the table works in the cartoons, but not in real life.

Puppy food contains all of the nutrients that a growing puppy needs.  Resist the urge to give puppy extra supplements that may be available in the store.  Unless prescribed by a veterinarian, these supplements can cause more harm than good.

Puppy needs the appropriate food for his age.  Do your homework.  Consult store professionals and veterinarians about what you should feed him in order to give him the best possible diet. 

Originally posted 2008-12-08 21:35:43. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Puppy and the Kids

Kids are thrilled when the new puppy comes home.  They want to love on him and play with him all the time.  But, before you let the kids have at the unsuspecting puppy, set some ground rules to protect them both.

If your kids were the catalyst for the puppy, you should know one thing.  You will be the one taking care of the puppy most of the time.  It is sad, but true.  Indulging their need for another living thing means another dependent for you.

To keep the kids involved, give them tasks to do concerning puppy’s care.  Just like puppy needs a schedule, so do the kids.  Start a whiteboard of duties.  Show the kids how to do each task on the list.  Let them watch and then let them do.  If your children have school during the day, give them the job of feeding puppy in the morning and in the evening.

All dogs need exercise.  So do kids.  Put the two together.  The kids can help you pick out a leash for the new puppy.  Then, take them around the neighborhood for a walk.  Choose a safe route for your kids to follow during their walk.

The kids can take the puppy for bathroom breaks also.  Teach them the same route that you are teaching to the puppy.  They must use the same commands when he does his business.  This helps the kids to recognize when puppy fidgets because he has to go to the bathroom.

Finally, kids want to play with puppy.  In some respects, puppy is like a life-sized stuffed animal to them.  The only difference is that this stuffed animal can bite.  Kids have to learn to respect puppy.  This respect includes not playing roughly with him, disturbing his sleep, or poking him.  Practicing their death grip on puppy is a bad move.  Animals see certain behaviors as aggressive possibly causing puppy to bite them and it won’t be a playful nip.

Show your kids the correct way to touch puppy.  His fur should be stroked and his head patted.  Looking puppy in the eye is a sign of challenge.  Encourage the kids not to try this. 

Kids should also avoid the areas that are designated as “puppy’s areas”.  They can put out food for puppy or take him to the bathroom, but these places are no place to play.  Just like puppy sleeps in his bed in a certain place, he needs places that are safe zones for him to play with the kids. 

Puppies love kids and they love him.  The key to a lasting relationship is mutual respect for each other.  Once this is established, puppy and the kids will have a loving and playful relationship they’ll both cherish and remember for years to come.

Originally posted 2008-12-08 21:33:43. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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