Tag Archives: pet
Basic Responsibilities Of A Dog Owner
Dogs are aptly dubbed as man’s best friends. Dogs are loyal, affectionate and very protective of their human friends. Taking a dog for a pet though entails a big responsibility. A person that wants to have a dog for a pet but does not have the time or is not prepared to take on the task of caring for a dog should get a stuffed dog toy instead. A dog owner has to be seriously committed to care for the pet during its life time. A responsible owner would still care for the pet even if it has become a nuisance and would find ways to correct the dog’s problematic behavior instead of abandoning the pet.
Dogs have survived in the wild without the help of humans. Without humans modern day dogs would find it difficult to exist as their food, health and social requirements are provided by their owners. Vitamins and supplements in addition to a nutrient-rich diet is provided by the dog owner to ensure the health of the pet. A dog owner would schedule a visit to the vet for general check up, worming and vaccinations to ensure that health concerns that will affect the health of the…
Dog Grooming To Prevent Flea Infestation
Is the belief that an ugly dog also has an ugly owner true? This notion stems from the fact that the appearance of the dog reflects the kind of care it receives from its owner. As such, a mangy dog or one whose coat is riddled with sores and bald patches will be viewed as a neglected pet. It is quite common for people to believe that the poor dog is owned by an irresponsible person.
A healthy diet would not be enough to keep the pet healthy and looking good. A dog owner has to be aware of the fact that the pet needs to be regularly groomed to maintain its impressive appearance and also to resolve parasite infestation that can lead to various health concerns.
Flea infestation is most common in dogs. Fleas are annoying parasites but aside from the discomfort, the infestation can also result to some health concerns. A dog infested with fleas would be seen incessantly scratching and biting its body. A dog that is sensitive to flea saliva can develop flea allergy dermatitis. A dog’s appearance will be marred by the bald patches and oozing sores that would result from the flea infestation. A dog severely…
How To Bathe The Dog
All dogs whether long and furry high maintenance breeds or short coated would benefit from being regularly groomed. Grooming not only promotes the cleanliness of the dog and prevents parasite infestation that can result to conditions that would affect the health of the pet. Grooming also enhances the bond between owner and pet.
Dogs should not be bathed very often but it cannot be denied that bathing is a very important part of the dog’s grooming routine. Outdoor dogs can get away with once or twice a month bathing while indoor dogs that live and sleep with the masters are usually bathed weekly or every 10 days. Dogs don’t have to be bathed very often as their skin has the tendency to get dry when frequently exposed to water. In dogs, too frequent bathing is not advised as it would remove the natural oils that waterproofed the fur and keep the skin moisturized.
Bathing the dog would not be difficult to an owner that is used to grooming the dog but for one that has not yet tried this grooming routine, bathing the dog can be a very difficult challenge. The fact that dogs love to play in ponds and rain puddles…
Caffeine Poisoning in Dogs
Dogs can be poisoned by caffeine and this substance has no antidote! Humans can safely consume caffeine but in large quantities this substance can have lethal effects on dogs and in other pets. Coffee, tea, chocolate are some of the food items that contain caffeine. Caffeine is an ingredient added to soft drinks and sodas to give the beverage a pleasant bitter taste. Dog owners have to make sure that the pet is prevented from consuming the above mentioned drinks and also from eating coffee grounds and coffee beans.
Coffee beans, tea and cacao beans produce the substance caffeine. Coffee has gained worldwide acceptance as a favorite adult drink. Dogs often get stomach upset or worst get poisoned because of their inclination to eat just about anything. Caffeine poisoning is more likely to happen in dogs with coffee drinking owners. An owner not aware of caffeine toxicity in dogs may dump the cold coffee into the doggie bowl. Dogs find the contents of the trash can very interesting. Dogs that have eaten coffee grounds found in the trash can suffer from caffeine poisoning.
More than 150 mg of caffeine per kilogram of body weight is already a lethal dose for the dog.…
Would You Allow the Dog to Eat Nuts
Humans consider nuts as health foods. Nuts are good sources of vitamins, minerals and protein and also contain high amounts of unsaturated fats. The high fiber content of nuts is another reason why it has become a favored snack. Aside from the taste, humans eat nuts because these foods are known to lower cholesterol levels. It is not uncommon for people to have nuts in their bags or in their desk as nuts are no mess foods that can instantly alleviate hunger anywhere and anytime.
With a woeful expression on the face, a dog would beg to have a bite of the food the master is eating. A bite of the food will be tossed to the pet because dog owner finds it hard to refuse the pet. Any kind of nuts though must not be given to the dog. This favorite snack is another of the human foods that must not be given to the pet. If the owner is accustomed to giving the pet human foods as rewards, nuts must not be given because of the dangerous effects this food would have on the dog. Almonds, pecans, walnuts, pistachio, macadamia and other kinds of nuts are known to be…
Signs of Food Poisoning in Dogs
Hundreds of dogs die from food poisoning every year. We know how dogs love to roam. Dogs are noted to have ultrasensitive scenting abilities. Apart from being food motivated, dogs are known to be indiscriminate eaters. Dogs would always find the smell of trash very interesting and edible and non edible substances will be ingested. It’s no wonder then if these animals often suffer from food poisoning.
Food poisoning commonly occur because of the dog’s voracious appetite but this health concern can be due to other reasons as well. A loving dog owner may not be aware that the dog is being poisoned by the commercial food. The dog’s food poisoning can be caused by commercial dog food. Unaware that the commercial food is contaminated, the dog will receive scoop after scoop of the food thereby building up the toxins in the dog’s body.
Food poisoning, just like any other health issues can be prevented from causing the dog serious harm if detected early. To safeguard the health of the pet, a dog owner has to have an idea how a dog suffering from food poisoning would react. Dogs have the ability to doctor themselves thus a poisoned dog would know what…
Dogs and Alcohol Poisoning
People that drink occasionally would have an idea how a dog that has ingested an alcoholic drink would feel. Dogs are food motivated but the strong smell of hard liquors may not be very interesting. However, dogs may develop a taste for beers, wines and fruity cocktails because of the sweet taste. For fun; some dog owners train the pet to drink beer from the can.
Alcohol is one of the substances that would have poisonous effects to dogs. The effects of ingesting alcohol would be more serious in dogs as compared to the intoxicating effect of alcohol in humans. The intoxicating effect of alcohol in humans is rarely fatal but alcohol ingestion in dogs can result to the pet’s death. The main ingredient of alcoholic beverages is ethanol. Grain alcohol or ethyl alcohol that is commonly known as ethanol is toxic to dogs. Alcohol poisoning occurs not only from ingesting alcoholic beverages. Poisoning can be caused by medications that have ethanol. Alcohol poisoning can also happen if the dog managed to eat yeast dough. The poisoning occurs when the yeast dough ingested by the dog ferments inside the warm gastrointestinal tract of the dog and produces ethanol.
15 to 30 minutes…
First Aid Treatments For The Dog’s Minor Cuts And Nicks
Dogs are energetic animals that have the penchant to wander. The simple daily activities of man’s best friends can result to various injuries. Broken bones, deep punctures and serious lacerations will need professional medical attention. Apart from the pain that the dog has to suffer, these injuries can lead to the death of the pet. Time is of the essence to save the life of the pet. A dog that is seriously injured must be taken to the hospital right away.
Dogs are tough animals and simple injuries would heal without being treated. Small nicks and cuts are not easily apparent thus even if the owner makes sure that all injuries of the pet are treated these simple wounds may not receive the owner’s attention. Because of the fur that covers the skin, small cuts may not be noticed especially if there is no heavy bleeding. The injury of the dog will only be noticed if it is bleeding heavily and the fur is soaked with blood. Bloody paw marks on the floor will cue the owner that the dog is injured.
Because dogs do not wear foot gears, paws are highly vulnerable to cuts, nicks and other injuries. A dog’s paws…
How To Revive An Unconscious Dog
A pet that has lost consciousness is one of the frightening situations a pet owner would experience. Although pet owners are always advised to remain calm when faced with emergency situation to be able to help the pet, keeping calm would be very difficult to do. Dogs are often considered as the baby of the family thus any problematic situation that involves the pet will make the family members panic.
Loss of consciousness can be caused by a whole range of reasons thus first aid application can be challenging as the owner would have to verify what happened to the pet. Unlike a wound injury that can be easily noticed because of the bleeding, a dog that has become unconscious would be unresponsive to any stimuli. The sight of the dog with pallid gums and tongue, unseeing eyes with dilated pupils and the motionless body would make even the most level minded owner panic. A dog that has lost conscious may or may not breathe. The dog may or may not have a pulse either.
Loss of consciousness is one of the sign of a lot of health concerns. The pet’s condition can be due to poisoning or to the ingestion of…
Why Should You Brush Your Dog’s Teeth
Dogs are one of the most spoiled pets – they are kissed and they are allowed to kiss their owners as well. Why then should you neglect the dental health of the pet? Brushing the pet’s teeth is one of the grooming routines that most dog owners forgot. We know how dogs love to eat spoiled food, rotting animals and feces. Dogs drink water from the toilet bowl too. Gross! It is certainly yucky to smell the disgusting breath of the dog.
The appearance and the well being of the dog would basically depend on how the pet eats. To eat better, humans with dental concerns simply need to use dentures but as this “device” is not available for dogs, it is necessary for pet owners to ensure the dental hygiene of the pet. Dogs are branded as voracious eaters but a dog with dental problem will be a picky eater. Dog in the wild survive by hunting prey and the sharp teeth are the dog’s most important hunting instrument. Dog nowadays don’t have to hunt to eat as bowls of food are regularly provided by the owners. All the same, strong healthy teeth will still be necessary for easy eating.
A…