Sunday, July 15th, 2007
You do not have to look very far to determine that the old saying about a dog being a man’s (or woman’s) best friend is right on. Dogs provide a great companion and they only want your attention in return. Some dogs require a bit more attention than others but that is understandable. Nowhere else will find a friend that will forgive you so willingly for virtually anything you may have done.
When you get a new puppy, one of the first tasks that you are going to want to teach it is the task of being house broken, and to provide some kind of sign or signal when they need to go outdoors to relieve themselves. By nature, dogs will squat wherever they are and this is their nature, but with training you can teach them that doing this inside the house is not good, and they need to do what you teach them.
An old school of thought is that when they make a mess indoors, you should scold them, stick their nose in it, and then put them outside. Believe me, there is not a need to stick their nose in it, they will get the point with the scolding. Keep in mind that this is an animal, not a child, and it may take them a bit longer to catch on to what you are trying to teach them, but in the end they will eventually catch on.
Dogs are huge with the reward system. Your attention and petting and kind words go a long way towards letting the dog know you are happy with something they have done, and it really does not take long for them to grasp the concept of something when it is associated with a reward. That reward could be a dog treat or kind words, but when they have done something right, make sure you remember the reward system will work wonders with them.
Some people want to have a dog but they are gone all day. This creates a problem, because even with a dog crate, the dog should not be left alone in the crate for the period of an entire work day, which is 8 hours or more. They just cannot hold it that long, and scolding them for making a mess in their crate after you have left them for 8 or more hours is totally unreasonable. If you are going to be gone for that long a period of time, either do not get a dog or make other arrangements. There are many places popping up all over that are the equivalent of “doggy day care”, and this is an excellent alternative to leaving your dog in a crate all day.
In terms of intelligence, dogs are pretty much the same. It is said that some breeds are smarter than others, but I think it is because some breeds are more anxious to please you than others and therefore have your undivided attention when you are trying to teach them something. To a certain extent, dogs are as different, even within the same breed, as humans. I have seen some dogs that appear to be dumber than a doorknob, but then again, I have also met humans who fall into that same category!
Love your dog and treat them right, and you will have a constant companion and a friend for life!
*About the Author*
Jon is a computer engineer who maintain a variety of web sites based on his knowledge and experience. For more information about any aspects of Dogs, please visit his web site at All Dog World.
Source: ArticleTrader.com
Posted in Dog, Puppy | No Comments »
Sunday, July 15th, 2007
Dog diarrhea… this is something that all of us as dog owners have to deal with at some point in the life of our dogs. It is a very common health issue for dogs.
In some cases of diarrhea there may be only small amounts of mucous, but frequent straining. Diarrhea can also be an ongoing problem. Fortunately, most cases of dog diarrhea respond to symptomatic treatment at home.
Before I get into the home treatments, pay very close attention to the severity of the diarrhea that your dog has. This is extremely important – if your dog’s diarrhea is so severe that it results in dehydration, this is a medical emergency and must be dealt with by your Veterinarian. If your pet is still very alert, active and drinking, then try some of the following home remedies.
Dog diarrhea can be caused by a number of different things, including garbage (‘Garbage Gut’), parasites, infectious agents (such as parvovirus), food allergy, inflammatory changes and pancreatic abnormalities.
There are several home solutions you can try. The most effective one is a 24 Hour Fast. Stop putting food into your pet for 24 hours (Day 1). This allows the intestines to rest and regenerate. Always have access to plenty of fresh water. After the first 24 hours, introduce a bland food for the following 24 hours (Day 2), such as plain white cooked rice, feeding equivalent cups of rice as their normal diet.
Another possible solution includes using Fiber. Dietary fiber absorbs water in the intestine, which helps to decrease diarrhea. Ground flax is a great source for dogs – add 1 teaspoon per cup of dog food. It’s always better to buy your flax as whole seed and then grind it as you need it.
A third suggestion is to try Probiotics. Probiotics are basically dietary supplements that contain potentially beneficial bacteria or yeast. Probiotics restore the natural bacteria in the intestine, to help the intestinal immune system. The most effective supplement is Lactobacillus acidophilus – give 1/4 capsule per 10 lbs of body weight twice daily.
Another suggestion includes using common human remedies. One remedy I suggest is to use Pepto-Bismol - this is an old standby that can be effective for dogs. The dog dose is 1ml per 10lbs of body weight, given three times daily. Do not use this method for more than 7 days. Other remedies include Immodium (Loperamide). For dogs, give .5mg per 10lbs three times daily – i.e. give your 40 lb dog one 2mg tablet three times daily.
Dog diarrhea is one of the most common reasons pets are taken to a veterinarian. People spend millions of dollars having these problems taken care of this way. The treatments you have just learned can save you money.
If you find these remedies useful, I guarantee that you will find the other remedies in my book, Veterinary Secrets Revealed, just as practical. And, they can save you thousands of dollars over seeing your Vet for every little issue your pet has.
These remedies work - I use them every day in practice.
Best wishes…
*About the Author*
Dr. Andrew Jones, a practicing Veterinarian, has a special interest in alternative, natural remedies for pets. His holistic pet health manual is at: http://www.veterinarysecretsrevealed.com and http://www.theonlinevet.com.
Source: ArticleTrader.com
Posted in Medication, Puppy | No Comments »
