Saturday, August 9, 2008

Trivia

Dogs only sweat from the bottoms of their feet and the only way they can discharge heat is by panting.

Thursday, April 24, 2008

Summer tips for pets

With summer just around the corner, by following these safety tips, your pets will stay healthy and enjoy the months of fun and sun with your family.

· Never leave your pet in the car

· Keep plenty of fresh water available

· Pets need sunscreen too

· Make sure your pet doesn't overexert herself

· Take it easy on pets that can't deal with the heat – bring them inside

· Keep an eye out for heatstroke. Heatstroke is a medical emergency. If you suspect your pet has heatstroke, you must act quickly and calmly. Have someone call a veterinarian immediately. In the meantime, lower the animal's body temperature by applying towels soaked in cool water to the hairless areas of the body. Often the pet will respond after only a few minutes of cooling, only to falter again with his temperature soaring back up or falling to well below what is normal. It is imperative to get the animal to a veterinarian immediately. Once your pet is in the veterinarian's care, treatment may include further cooling techniques, intravenous fluid therapy to counter shock, or medication to prevent or reverse brain damage.

Signs of Heatstroke

  • Panting
  • Staring
  • Anxious expression
  • Refusal to obey commands
  • Warm, dry skin
  • High fever
  • Rapid heartbeat
  • Vomiting
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Monday, April 7, 2008

Housing for your pet

As a member of the family, your pet needs a warm, quiet place to rest, away from all drafts and off the floor. You may wish to buy a dog bed, or make one using a box or wooden crate that is appropriate to size.  A training crate is ideal. Place a clean blanket or pillow inside the box and make sure you wash the dog’s bed often.

If your dog will be spending time outdoors, be sure she has access to shade and plenty of cool water in hot weather.

Saturday, March 22, 2008

Senior pet health

Senior health

When is a pet considered a senior? Generally, smaller breeds of dogs live longer than larger breeds, and cats live longer than dogs. Beyond that, the life span will vary with each individual, and your veterinarian will be able to help you determine what stage of life your pet is in. Keep in mind that some small dog breeds may be considered senior at 10-13 years, while giant breeds are classified as seniors at ages as young as 5. Your veterinarian is your best source for more information to determine when your pet reaches the golden years.

Scheduling regular veterinary examinations is one of the most important steps pet owners can take to keep their pets healthy. When dogs and cats enter the senior years, these health examinations are more important than ever. Senior care, which starts with the regular veterinary exam, is needed to catch and delay the onset or progress of disease and for the early detection of health problems. It is recommended that senior pets visit their veterinarian every six months for a complete exam and laboratory testing. It is also recommended that check-ups be scheduled twice-a-year.

Saturday, February 16, 2008

Baths

You should bathe your dog whenever he needs it. Use a shampoos that are specifically formulated for pets. Dogs that spend the most of their time indoors will not need much bathing, while dogs who are outside a lot, romping in the mud and trees (and possibly other smelly things) will need to be bathed more often. Also, some dogs' coats will accumulate grease and oil more quickly than others. Breeds with a thick, double coat only need bathing about three or four times a year. Washing a dog with an undercoat more often than this can make the coat softer and less waterproof and insulating. If you're concerned about causing dry skin, there are moisturizing treatments available at most pet stores, which you rub into your dog's skin after you shampoo him. Your pets will love you for it.

Pet friendship

Animal love or animal friendship is the feeling of affection people have towards animals. For most people, love for an animal is a part of the affection they have for their pet, an emotion of bonding or companionship which can border on affection, fondness, or love.

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Sunday, December 9, 2007

Dog coat
A dog's coat is its fur. A dog can be double coated—that is, having both a soft undercoat and a coarser topcoat. Some dog breeds are single-coated—having only one type of coat or the other, more often only the topcoat. The state of the coat is considered an indication of the animal's breeding and health. Most dogs shed their undercoat each spring and re-grow it again as colder weather comes in; this is also referred to as blowing the coat. Many domesticated breeds shed their coat twice a year. In many climates, the topcoat and undercoat might shed continuously in greater and smaller quantities all year. Go ahead and put that sweater on. It will help a little, but you can't depend on it entirely to keep her warm. Pets lose most of their body heat from the pads of their feet, their ears, and their respiratory tract. The best way to guard your animals against the cold is keeping a close eye on them to make sure they're comfortable.


Monday, November 26, 2007

Winter Care
Some animals can remain outside longer in the winter than others. In some cases, long-haired breeds like Huskies will do better in cold weather than short-haired breeds like Dachshunds. Cats and small dogs will feel the cold sooner than larger animals shoulder-deep in the snow. Your pet's health will also affect how long she can stay out. Conditions like diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, and hormonal imbalances can compromise a pet's ability to regulate her own body heat. Animals that are not generally in good health shouldn't be exposed to winter weather for a long period of time. Very young and very old animals are vulnerable to the cold as well. No pet should stay outside for long periods of time in freezing cold weather. If you have any questions about how long your pet should be out this winter, ask your veterinarian.

Sunday, November 18, 2007

Grooming – benefits for you and your pet
Dog grooming and health go hand in hand. Good grooming makes your pet look good and there are physiological as well as psychological health benefits for your companion. Much of dog grooming takes place at home so it is advisable to begin dog grooming while the puppy is very young. Brushing your dog thoroughly every day is an important part of good hygiene. Your dog should be trained to accept grooming at an early age.

It is best to proceed slowly at the beginning, giving him lots of praises when he submits to you. He also has to learn to sit still or lie on his side. Dog grooming keeps the dog's skin healthy and coat glossy. It helps to improve the blood circulation, keeps the coat free of ticks and other less welcome visitors. It also offers a good bonding time for owner and dog. In the natural world, dogs lick each other and groom each other. This reinforces pack behavior and subordination. Grooming the dog for 10-20 minutes every day or as often as necessary will bring the dog immeasurably closer to you, while keeping him healthy.

Sunday, August 5, 2007

There are numerous dog breeds, with over 800 being recognized by various kennel clubs worldwide. As all dog breeds have been derived from mixed-breed dog populations, the term "purebred" has meaning only with respect to a certain number of generations. Many dogs, especially outside the United States of America and Western Europe, belong to no recognized breed A few basic breed types have evolved gradually during the domesticated dog’s relationship with humans over the last 10,000 or more years, but most modern breeds are of relatively recent derivation. Many of these are the product of a deliberate process of artificial selection. Because of this, some breeds are highly specialized, and there is extraordinary morphological diversity across different breeds. Despite these differences, dogs are able to distinguish dogs from other kinds of animal.

Tuesday, July 31, 2007

Dogs, like humans, are highly social animals and this similarity in their overall behavioral pattern accounts for their trainability, playfulness, and ability to fit into human households and social situations. This similarity has earned dogs a unique position in the realm of interspecies relationships. The loyalty and devotion that dogs demonstrate as part of their natural instincts as pack animals closely mimics the human idea of love and friendship, leading many dog owners to view their pets as full-fledged family members. Conversely, dogs seem to view their human companions as members of their pack, and make few, if any, distinctions between their owners and fellow dogs. Dogs fill a variety of roles in human society and are often trained as working dogs. For dogs that do not have traditional jobs, a wide range of dog sports provide the opportunity to exhibit their natural skills. In many countries, the most common and perhaps most important role of dogs is as companions. Dogs have lived with and worked with humans in so many roles that their loyalty has earned them the unique sobriquet "man’s best friend".