Archive for May, 2008
May
31
Posted under
Uncategorized How to Train a Siberian Husky
By: Peter Halpin
Siberian Huskies are notorious for having a mind of their own. If they think they’re being forced to do something they don’t want to, they’ll scream as if you’re trying to kill them. They will howl in protest if they don’t like even your most gentle commands and will shriek as if being tortured if you sternly rebuke them. They’re not the best pets to take out in public if you don’t like being embarrassed.
Learning how to train a Siberian Husky can be quite a challenge, due to their strong will and independent thinking. To train them properly, you will require a lot of persistence and patience.
Siberian Huskies are easily bored with repetitive tasks. They will be happy to obey you as long as there isn’t something more interesting to distract them. If you’re looking for your typical adoring “man’s best friend” do-anything-for-you type dog, you’ve got the wrong breed here! Despite this, they do bond easily and loyally to their human owners, but in their own way.
Siberian Huskies also have some bad habits. They like to wander off and steal food after digging a hole under the fence. The digging instinct is strong and that, together with a need for exercise and a natural curiosity, often leads them into mischief. You will need a strong, well sunk fence if you want to keep your Siberian Husky at home. They have a strong desire to run, so should never be left to run free without a leash, for their own safety. They can forget where home is and just run forever.
How to train a Siberian Husky is therefore a more subtle art. You cannot force them. You must manipulate them so they see you as their leader, their inspiration. The trick is teach them to perceive you as more important than them, without them knowing. The following is a sample of some everyday things you can do to achieve this.
To start with, teach the puppy his name. All instructions should begin with your dog’s name, followed by the command. We all pay attention when we hear our name called.
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When you play with your Siberian Husky, make sure you end up with possession of the object. Go through doors and passageways before your dog. Rite of passage is important to dogs. Don’t allow your husky to sleep on the bed with you, at least not until you have trained him. You don’t want him to perceive that he is your equal. If your dog is blocking your path, don’t go around him - make him move out of your way instead.
You need to get your husky used to having your hands around his food bowl. Start by adding tasty treats while he is eating, then get to the point where you can remove the bowl while he is eating to add the treats.
You want to get your dog used to seeing you as dominant, but under conditions of trust. Gently put him down on his side or back and touch his ears, paws and so forth and give him a massage to make it enjoyable for him.
It is better to use a harness instead of a collar and chain for your husky. Animals attack at the throat and jugular, so if you are trying to train a Siberian Husky by tugging on his neck, he will be too preoccupied with a sense of alarm and danger, to obey you.
There are many more ways how to train a Siberian Husky, but the above are good starting points for becoming your dog’s friend. Remember that security and trust are important to a dog, so good training involves these two elements.
Article Source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/pets_and_animals/article_1422.shtml
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May
30
Posted under
Uncategorized Keeping Your Dog\’s Coat Clean and Healthy
By: Brock Lorber
Your dog wears a coat of insulation, helping him stay cool in the summer and warm in the winter. His coat holds essential oils close to his skin, and protects it from scrapes and scratches. Its hollow hairs help him stay afloat so he can concentrate on swimming rather than treading.
Without daily maintenance, however, your dog can quickly become cheap transportation for burrs and other plant seeds. Parasites love to burrow in the warm, moist areas next to his skin, presenting a health hazard for you and your dog. With a few simple steps, though, you can maintain the health of your dog?s coat without resorting to an expensive groomer.
As a natural part of their lives, dogs are skilled at self-grooming. They are taught by their mothers that grooming limits skin-borne diseases and parasites. Young muscles and bones benefit from the increased blood flow their massaging mothers stimulate. As they grow and become self-sufficient, they begin to groom themselves and become very successful at it. When a dog is living in a home environment, however, they need some human help to maintain a healthy coat.
Brush your dog frequently using a brush with soft bristles and a flea comb. Use light pressure and always stroke with the coat?s grain. This collects shedding hair before it gets all over your furniture and clothes and eliminates matting before it becomes too snarled.
Long and thick coats fight a constant battle against snarls. Don?t use brute force to clear them; nobody likes to have their hair pulled. Use water to soften caked fecal matter or mud and scissors or clippers if necessary on nasty tangles and burrs.
Many dogs get very anxious around brushes and scissors. Their fears can result in snarling and nipping, which is why many groomers resort to using sedatives. This does nothing to quell the unnatural fear for the next grooming session, however. A much better way is to take him for a long exercise session to remove all his nervous energy, and then put him in a calm state lying down. Introduce him to the grooming instruments while he is in this calm state. Once he is through investigating them, you can begin to use them while keeping him calm and submissive.
Inspect your dog?s skin while you are brushing. Be alert for skin irritations, dry skin, fleas, ticks and any sign of infection. While you will probably need professional help for fungal or bacterial infections, other problems can be handled on your own.
The two major causes of dry, irritated skin are too much bathing and a lack of lipids in your dog?s diet. Bathe your dog with shampoo as infrequently as possible. Also, mix in a teaspoon full of vegetable oil with his food.
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Chlorine-filled swimming pools often contribute to dry skin, however, swimming is great exercise and a lot of fun for your dog, so don?t cut it out entirely.
Regular application of flea and tick powder will help prevent you from having to deal with fleas and ticks. If you still find a tick, however, use tweezers to grasp the tick by the head. Jerk straight out so the jaws come with the rest of the tick. Don?t squeeze the tick?s body or touch it with bare fingers. Wash your hands after handling the tick.
Excessive scratching and hair loss are two signs of flea infestation. Fleas don?t just stay on your dog however; they jump off and infest your house. Check the floors and baseboards for granules that resemble salt and pepper grains.
Toss the dog in the bath with plenty of dog shampoo. Follow up with a breed-appropriate flea dip. Now comes the hard part ? cleaning the house.
To clean the house you need to first get rid of the eggs and larvae. Vacuum all the carpets, including the baseboards, and all the upholstered furniture. Take the vacuum bag outside immediately and place it in a trash bin. Treat all carpeted and upholstered surfaces with specifically formulated insecticide to kill the adult fleas. Since the insecticides are toxic, you?ll want to keep your children and animals away from treated surfaces until it dries.
With regular grooming and attention, your dog?s coat will stay healthy and clean. That protects your dog, your family, your wallet, and your home.
Article Source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/pets_and_animals/article_1330.shtml
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May
29
Posted under
Uncategorized Self Protection From Strange Dogs
By: Rick Or Jan Strickland
Have you ever been riding your bicycle around the block when a dog comes running out of it’s yard and starts chasing you down the street? Maybe you’re walking down the street when you spot a rather large dog a few houses away. The dog appears to be unattended and you don’t know if it’s friendly. Has this ever happened to you? Your walking your small dog (on a leash) down the street when suddenly your confronted by a strange, free roaming dog and it’s growling and in the attack position.
What do you do? What can you do?
In the first scenario, described above, where the bicyclist is being chased by a dog, you would probably start peddling faster while simultaneously kicking out at the dog in an attempt to both outrun the dog and prevent it from biting you. The second scenario has you walking down the street when you spot a large, unattended dog a few houses away. Lot’s of people go for walks carrying a base- ball bat or large stick to protect themselves just in case the dog turns out to be, shall we say, unfriendly. First, carrying a baseball bat or a large stick can be cumbersome and get heavy after awhile. Second, you have to be prepared to beat the dog (not an easy thing to do). Imagine how you will feel afterwards. So, instead, you’ll probably just turn around and walk back rather than take a chance. The last scenerio as described above, has you walking your small dog on a leash, when your confronted by a larger, strange dog. Most likely, you will pick up your beloved pet, hold it close to you and then just hope for the best. Trying to run away almost never works.
Let’s look at some other options. One is to keep the dog from coming near you in the first place. You can accomplish this with an electronic animal repellant. Using ultrasonic technology, the devise produces a discomforting but not harmful high frequency sound, audible to dogs but not to humans. One such device is the Ultrasonic Dog Chaser. It’s small and lightweight. It measures 3 & 3/4 inches by 2 & 3/16 inches by 7/8 inches. That’s roughly the size of a deck of cards. Weighing in at just 3.5 ounces with the 9-volt battery, it’s quite compact. It has a frequency range between 20,000Hz - 25,000Hz. At 135dbs, it has an effective range up to 20 feet. The device is easy to use, too. Point the animal repeller at the dog and press the button. That’s all there is to it. It’s also safe and humane. The electronic animal repeller is not the repeller of choice however, if your walking your dog.
A second option is to whip out your trusty dog repellent spray. Mace makes a safe, humane and effective dog repellent spray that’s EPA approved. It sprays 8-10 feet, but don’t spray it into the wind as the results could prove to be dis- astrous.
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When sprayed with a pepper spray dog repellent spray, most dogs throw themselves on the ground rubbing their eyes. The painful burning effects of the spray typically wear off within a few minutes, leaving the dog healthy and unharmed. Choose dog repellent sprays with pepper spray, also known as OC (oleoresin capsicum) spray, as it’s ingredient. Other sprays may not work on dogs that don’t respond to pain. It’s totally non-toxic.
Another option is the stun baton. A favorite among security guards, it is very effective on dogs. Just touch the dog on it’s face. It will drop to it’s knees, turn and run. Normally, however, the clicking sounds the baton makes when turned on is enough to deter the dog. Stun batons come in different lengths ranging from 300,000 volts to 500,000 volts. A stun baton is a stun gun placed into a baton. Stun guns use high voltage and low amperage to temporarily disable an attacker. It does not rely on pain for results. The energy stored in the gun is dumped into the attackers blood sugar by converting it to lactic acid. Unable to produce energy for the muscles, the body is unable to function properly. The stun gun also interrupts the tiny neurological impulses that control muscle move- ment, causing the attacker to lose their balance. All this happens very rapidly. Should the attacker be touching you, the current will not pass to your body. Of course, as a last resort, you can use the baton as a stick or baseball ball to hit the dog with.
So go ahead and take that walk down the street, or pull out your bike and ride around the block again. There’s no need to be afraid of those stray dogs any more. Have FUN!
You can find these devices in some stores and on most internet sites selling self protection products.
Article Source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/pets_and_animals/article_1278.shtml
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May
28
Posted under
Uncategorized How To Get Your Dog To Listen To You
By: Zane Madisson
So what is the problem you are having with pooch? Is your dog not behaving like the angel you thought it would? There could be any number of reasons as to why the animal is not properly behaving, but one of the most important reasons is the reason of listening. Do you actually listen to what your dog is trying to tell you?
If your dog is not ready to do anything and is lazy, it is not going to obey your commands. It is just as simple as that. Now on the other hand, if you can get your dog excited to start listening, you will have one of the most obedient dogs on the planet. You must make the dog excited to want to learn and want to please you. Only then will you have the full attention of the animal.
So what is one to do? Well, without getting into too much detail, you just have to keep things simple and to the point. Animals do not have to learn by repetition, although I would strongly suggest you do this. How do you practice getting your dog motivated? Come up with a routine that you can do on a daily basis for about a week or so, that will not make your dog distracted.
For example, go to a quiet room and with a dog treat, begin your training. When you can get the dog to focus its attention on you and on the treat, you are winning the battle here. You must always make the dog want to please you and never forget to reward it for the awesome behavior it displays, the good behavior that is. Teaching your dog to sit and then giving it a treat, will let the dog know that you are happy with what it has just accomplished.
Taking these simple things into consideration, you will go a long way in helping your dog understand that when it comes time to pay attention, it better do so. Why would it want to disobey you anyways? It really wants that treat.
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You have to keep in mind that a treat is a reward with your dog. Dogs love rewards just like we do. So be generous and be kind when handing out the reward for good behavior. Stay positive in your teaching and never be negative about it. Negativity will only hurt the process. Stay sharp and good luck.
Article Source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/pets_and_animals/article_1365.shtml
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May
27
Posted under
Uncategorized My Labrador Retriever Is Vomiting!
By: Richard Cussons
Do not be surprise if you will see a Labrador Retriever vomit. Vomiting is not strange to this breed because of their appetite. They are known to have good appetite both to digestible and non-food objects alike. However, vomiting do not occur because of ingesting foreign objects alone. There are variety of causes as to why dogs vomit.
Vomiting is the act of expelling food, fluid or debris from the stomach or small intestines through the mouth. The most common reason why dogs vomit is gastritis, an irritation of the stomach caused by ingesting foreign objects like decomposed grass, aluminum foil or paper. Aside from ingesting foreign objects, dogs also vomit because of eating too much or too fast or exercised immediately after eating. An immediate change of your dog’s diet (switching from one brand to another or switching from commercial dog food to natural homemade food) can also be the reason of vomiting. Vomiting may also be a sign of diseases like metabolic disorders, liver disease, heat stroke, adrenal gland disease and many other diseases.
If your dog vomits once or twice without abdominal pain, vomiting can be treated at home. It is just their way of letting out foods and foreign objects that should not be in the stomach. But if your dog vomits more than few times and if there is an abdominal pain or blood in the vomitus, it is better to have your dog examined by a vet. Also, vomiting accompanied with depression or weakness, fever and unproductive retching must be treated by a veterinarian.
When treating a vomiting dog at home, refrain feeding your dog for 12 to 24 hours after vomiting. After that no-food period, offer small portion of soft, bland food such as boiled rice, skinless chicken or pasta.
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If no further vomiting occurs, you can increase the next day’s meal to normal-sized portion and can return to normal diet the following day.
To lessen the possibility of vomiting in dogs, refrain from giving your dog large meal. Break it down to several small meals a day (at least one in the morning and one in the evening). Then enforce rest after meals, especially avoiding strenuous activities. When switching food, do not switch all at once. Gradual switching of food works best for your Labrador Retriever.
Article Source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/pets_and_animals/article_1519.shtml
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May
26
Posted under
Uncategorized Prevent Osteoarthritis In Labrador Retrievers
By: Richard Cussons
Large breeds just like Labrador Retrievers are more likely to suffer problems related to bones and joint that makes movement difficult and painful. We are aware that Labrador Retrievers are active and energetic dogs but if you notice that your pet is no longer the usual active and energetic dog he used to be, then something is wrong with him. The culprit could be osteoarthritis.
Osteoarthritis usually affects dogs in their middle and senior years but puppies can also be affected. It is a chronic, degenerative joint disease caused by progressive inflammation and deterioration of the cartilage, bone and soft tissue of one or more joints. Canine osteoarthritis happens when the cartilage that lines the bones in a joint breaks down losing its cushion. This cartilage break down causes friction between the bones, results to stiffness, loss of mobility and various degrees of inflammation and pain.
Canine osteoarthritis is a result of unstable joints because of slack ligaments. Congenital joint disorders such as hip dysplasia, osteochondritis (OCD) and elbow dysplasia. That is why it is always important to treat these diseases at once to prevent it from developing into canine osteoarthritis. It can also be a result of trauma either from direct or indirect injury and from faulty bone and cartilage development. Obesity will also result to osteoarthritis because of the excessive weight carried by the joints. Age and metabolic diseases may as well cause this disease. Joints commonly affected are the hips, elbows, lower back, knees and wrists.
There are signs to watch out for the presence of canine osteoarthritis. These signs include stiffness, lameness, pain and lethargy. An affected dog may also exhibit decreased activity, difficulty rising and cracking sounds during joint movement.
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X-rays of the joints may as well be needed to determine how severe the condition is.
There are many ways to treat this disease and measures to prevent it. Anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed however, this should only be used for short-term pain relief because of its wide range of side effects. In severe cases, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin, carprofen and meloxicam are commonly used to increase joint mobility and control pain. Weight control is also important especially in obese dogs. The dog’s regular exercise as well as other physical activity should be gentle to help trim weight and improve strength and mobility of the joint.
Remember, a dog with canine osteoarthritis should not be included in the breeding process to prevent the spread of this disease.
Article Source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/pets_and_animals/article_1509.shtml
.
May
25
Posted under
Uncategorized My Labrador Retriever Is Vomiting!
By: Richard Cussons
Do not be surprise if you will see a Labrador Retriever vomit. Vomiting is not strange to this breed because of their appetite. They are known to have good appetite both to digestible and non-food objects alike. However, vomiting do not occur because of ingesting foreign objects alone. There are variety of causes as to why dogs vomit.
Vomiting is the act of expelling food, fluid or debris from the stomach or small intestines through the mouth. The most common reason why dogs vomit is gastritis, an irritation of the stomach caused by ingesting foreign objects like decomposed grass, aluminum foil or paper. Aside from ingesting foreign objects, dogs also vomit because of eating too much or too fast or exercised immediately after eating. An immediate change of your dog’s diet (switching from one brand to another or switching from commercial dog food to natural homemade food) can also be the reason of vomiting. Vomiting may also be a sign of diseases like metabolic disorders, liver disease, heat stroke, adrenal gland disease and many other diseases.
If your dog vomits once or twice without abdominal pain, vomiting can be treated at home. It is just their way of letting out foods and foreign objects that should not be in the stomach. But if your dog vomits more than few times and if there is an abdominal pain or blood in the vomitus, it is better to have your dog examined by a vet. Also, vomiting accompanied with depression or weakness, fever and unproductive retching must be treated by a veterinarian.
When treating a vomiting dog at home, refrain feeding your dog for 12 to 24 hours after vomiting. After that no-food period, offer small portion of soft, bland food such as boiled rice, skinless chicken or pasta.
My Labrador Retriever Is Vomiting!
...
Labrador Retriever Dogs and Puppies
...
Labrador Retriever Puppies for Adoption
...
Causes and Prevention of Diarrhea In Labrador Retriever
...
Owning A Labrador Retriever
...
If no further vomiting occurs, you can increase the next day’s meal to normal-sized portion and can return to normal diet the following day.
To lessen the possibility of vomiting in dogs, refrain from giving your dog large meal. Break it down to several small meals a day (at least one in the morning and one in the evening). Then enforce rest after meals, especially avoiding strenuous activities. When switching food, do not switch all at once. Gradual switching of food works best for your Labrador Retriever.
Article Source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/pets_and_animals/article_1519.shtml
.
May
24
Posted under
Uncategorized Wolf And Wolf Hybrids
By: CS Swarens
When most people think about pets, they think about something soft and cuddly. If that is the first thought that comes to your mind, you should probably not consider a wolf or even a wolf hybrid as a pet. If however, you live out in the proverbial boonies and are looking for a companion as much as an animal that will earn its keep to some extent, than the wolf may very well be exactly what you are looking for.
Wolves and wolf hybrids are not generally known as domestic pets in the traditional sense of the word and should not be considered as such. However, if are looking for an animal that is neither ashamed or afraid to earn its keep than a wolf or wolf hybrid may be just what the doctor ordered. However, you have to realize that a wolf is not easily domesticated, trained or housebroken. About the best you will be able to hope for is establishing a mutually beneficial relationship and a rather distant friendship.
The wolf and wolf hybrids need a large tract of open land so that they have plenty of room to run. They are very capable of digging, climbing and jumping so attempting to keep them contained in a very small area is not advised. Ideally, to offer a viable habitat to your wolf, you will have a large farm or ranch … preferably one with a large population of rabbits and rodents of some size or quantity. The wolf will happily hunt down the varmints that wreak havoc on your crops and keep most problem animals (and people) far away from you and your property.
If you do not have a large rodent population for your wolf to feed upon, you will also have to consider the costs in housing a wolf. Wolves and hybrids will usually eat somewhere around twenty pounds of raw meat every week. Again, the wolf makes a great companion but you must be aware of what you are getting into before you make any effort to adopt a wolf and bring it into your home. This does not mean to literally bring them into your home however.
Wolves and even the wolf hybrids are not very well conditioned to living indoors. They are not easily housebroken because, as territorial animals, they will continually mark their territory.
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Again, wolves and wolf hybrids are not domestic animals and cannot be treated as such.
Unless you have a very large portion of land ranging into square miles rather than square acres, you will probably not wish to adopt fully grown wolves. They will fight for dominance if you own more than one and even if you do not, there will still be a struggle between the wolf and the owner for dominance of the territory in question. Adopting baby wolves or hybrids is by far the best method for adopting a wolf into your home.
In this way, the wolf will grow up with you already situated as the dominant figure or the proverbial alpha and you will suffer much less than you would with a grown wolf. While wolves are not the right pet for everyone, the person who has the room, the patience and the temperament to deal with them can find themselves with a truly unique bonding experience. Wolves are symbolic of power and grace and have been since times forgotten. Your wolf or wolf hybrid may never be a cuddle buddy, but it will be an undying friend and a unique opportunity to experience first hand why these mystical creatures, the wolves, have been so revered throughout history.
Article Source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/pets_and_animals/article_1535.shtml
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May
23
Posted under
Uncategorized Sighthounds. Fast, Agile And Powerful. \”Step Aside For The Sight Hound Breed Of Dog!\”
By: John E Adams
SightHounds: The History of the Sight Hound
Historically, sight hounds have often been called gaze hounds. In history, they have been working dogs and people were not so much worried about their appearance.
Once the 19th century approached, people began to breed them for appearance making them look like they do now; long, lean canines that almost look royal in appearance. They have even been known to be the favorite pet of many an Egyptian Pharaoh or world king or emperor.
Sight hounds are a breed of dog deeply rooted in history
Not only have they been used for a long time but many dogs could probably trace their roots back to the very first dogs that were domesticated for human use. That is quite a family tree.
Many people have heard of the notorious scent hound dog breed type. They are notorious for their great smellers, and for good reason; they have the ability to smell through thick grass, over a river, and for a very long time at that. A sight hound is the vision-worthy equivalent of a scent hound. While scent hounds are a type of hound with great noses, sight hounds are notorious for their impeccable sight.
SightHound Appearance
While scent hounds are notoriously short and stocky, sight hounds are just the opposite: long, elegant necks and legs, thin bodies, and strong muscles. They have high stamina levels for chasing and hunting and they must be exercised a lot, so they tend to be rather tight and muscular in appearance.
Sight Hounds in Your Community
While sight hounds are great hunting dogs, they make excellent family dogs as well as do other herding dog breeds. They are great for families with kids who can provide them with a great deal of exercise and attention. If you have ever seen a Whippet, a Borzoi, or a Saluki, you have laid eyes on a sight hound without even knowing it!
Note how deep a Sighthounds chests is and how long their necks are; these features and traits allow them to see far and over things that other dogs may not be able to.
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Outside of regular hunting sport, they are good in dog shows and races as well due to their speed and agility. If you see dog shows on Animal Planet or the Discovery channel or you have ever been able to attend one, chances are that a great majority of the dogs who were the strongest competitors were sighthounds!
These days they can be great guard dogs, family dogs, and even herding dogs as well and are infamous for having good temperaments as well. Whether you are a man or woman of sport, a pet lover, or just looking for a great breed of dog for your family it is hard to argue that sight hound dog breed types are excellent choices for any person.
Sighthound. Lovely, dependable, friendly and protective?what more could you ask for in a dog?
Article Source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/pets_and_animals/article_1474.shtml
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May
22
Posted under
Uncategorized Prevent Osteoarthritis In Labrador Retrievers
By: Richard Cussons
Large breeds just like Labrador Retrievers are more likely to suffer problems related to bones and joint that makes movement difficult and painful. We are aware that Labrador Retrievers are active and energetic dogs but if you notice that your pet is no longer the usual active and energetic dog he used to be, then something is wrong with him. The culprit could be osteoarthritis.
Osteoarthritis usually affects dogs in their middle and senior years but puppies can also be affected. It is a chronic, degenerative joint disease caused by progressive inflammation and deterioration of the cartilage, bone and soft tissue of one or more joints. Canine osteoarthritis happens when the cartilage that lines the bones in a joint breaks down losing its cushion. This cartilage break down causes friction between the bones, results to stiffness, loss of mobility and various degrees of inflammation and pain.
Canine osteoarthritis is a result of unstable joints because of slack ligaments. Congenital joint disorders such as hip dysplasia, osteochondritis (OCD) and elbow dysplasia. That is why it is always important to treat these diseases at once to prevent it from developing into canine osteoarthritis. It can also be a result of trauma either from direct or indirect injury and from faulty bone and cartilage development. Obesity will also result to osteoarthritis because of the excessive weight carried by the joints. Age and metabolic diseases may as well cause this disease. Joints commonly affected are the hips, elbows, lower back, knees and wrists.
There are signs to watch out for the presence of canine osteoarthritis. These signs include stiffness, lameness, pain and lethargy. An affected dog may also exhibit decreased activity, difficulty rising and cracking sounds during joint movement.
Prevent Osteoarthritis In Labrador Retrievers
...
Prevent Osteoarthritis In Labrador Retrievers
...
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...
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...
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...
X-rays of the joints may as well be needed to determine how severe the condition is.
There are many ways to treat this disease and measures to prevent it. Anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed however, this should only be used for short-term pain relief because of its wide range of side effects. In severe cases, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin, carprofen and meloxicam are commonly used to increase joint mobility and control pain. Weight control is also important especially in obese dogs. The dog’s regular exercise as well as other physical activity should be gentle to help trim weight and improve strength and mobility of the joint.
Remember, a dog with canine osteoarthritis should not be included in the breeding process to prevent the spread of this disease.
Article Source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/pets_and_animals/article_1509.shtml
.
May
21
Posted under
Uncategorized Which Veterinary School Is Right For You?
By: Jose Havers
No matter whether you are only considering or sure that you want to follow a veterinary career, there will be a veterinary school or collage that will suit you. To become a veterinarian you will have to attend a school or collage just as doctors have to attend a medical school.
In the U.S, there are more than 50 veterinary schools and colleges that you could perhaps enroll in; they’re located in numerous states, Florida, New York, Mississippi, Nebraska, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Oregon, California, Colorado, Virginia and Wyoming, to name just a few. Veterinary schools and colleges can also be found in Canada and the United Kingdom, in fact, nearly anywhere in the world. Should being a veterinarian be your destiny, then you should research the all the veterinary schools and colleges to discover which one is best suited to you.
What Will I Be Taught At Veterinary School?
If you wish to qualify as a veterinarian, then it will be necessary for you to attend a veterinary school or college in order for you to obtain the many skills that are crucial to this career. In a veterinary school or college, you will get the chance to be taught the many different practices and techniques that will assist you greatly in your knowledge of veterinary science. You will acquire knowledge concerning the basics of animal care. You will also acquire knowledge concerning veterinary laboratory procedures that you will employ as a professional veterinarian. Various other topics that will be covered in a veterinary school or college will include veterinary hematology and veterinary pharmacology. Training will also be received in the many clinical veterinary procedures.
Not all of your time will be spent learning from the lectures and textbooks. Most veterinary schools and collages will require its students to also complete a residency in addition to the classes, this is where students will learn, observe and be involved with hands on activities.
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Do You Specialize or Not Specialize?
Like doctors have the opportunity to choose to specialize in the varied areas of medical field, veterinarians also have this opportunity too. For instance, a veterinarian could choose to specialize in veterinary dental care or in veterinary cardiology. The choices are endless - howsoever, often specializing will require a specific program or additional veterinary school or collage course work.
Only you will be able to determine whether or not it is worth the extra investment and time to specialize in a particular area. To specialize in veterinary dental care would mean that you would have to find a specific program that offers that training and to specialize in veterinary cardiology may require a much longer residency.
Article Source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/pets_and_animals/article_1407.shtml
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May
20
Posted under
Uncategorized Labrador Dog Training- Dog Training Tools
By: Richard Cussons
If you wish to have a nicely trained Labrador Retriever, you have to train him of course. Dogs don’t become nicely trained on their own. That is why as a dog owner, your dog’s training is your responsibility. Some dog owners think that training a dog can be a frustrating task. Fortunately, there are lots of effective approach as well as helpful tools to make the training process easy and increase the chances of successful result.
Leash
The leash is widely used by most trainers and dog owners in teaching dog commands like sit, down, come and heel. A leash must be strong enough to withstand your dog pulling on it. Types of leash vary depending on its materials, lengths and styles. In choosing the type of leash for your dog, keep in mind his size, personality and strength.
Clicker
Clicker training has recently become popular in dog training. Clicker is a tiny plastic box with a metal button, which when pressed makes a click sound. The click sound is used to catch the attention of your dog and indicate that what he did is correct.
Collars
Usually used with leash, a collar is a piece of material placed around the neck of the dog. It could be made of nylon, metal, cotton or leather often used for control, identification and other purposes. It is important to place your dog’s collar perfectly, not too loose nor too tight. A collar is perfectly placed when you could place your four fingers between the dog’s neck and his collar. Collars come in various types- choke, pronged and electronic collars to name a few. Choose which type of collar is needed by your dog.
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A treat is a reward you give to your dog after performing the command correctly.
Muzzle
Muzzle is important when your dog has biting problem or if you like to teach your dog to bark only when needed. A muzzle is a device placed over your dog’s snout to prevent unwanted biting or unwanted barking. It should be made of strong material to ensure that it does not come off easily.
Harness
Choose a no-pull harness for it stops the pulling. A no-pull harness restricts the movement of the dog’s body when the dog pulls on the leash.
There are many other tools that could help make dog training easy for you and your dog. It helps a lot to consult your vet or dog trainer for suggestions.
Article Source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/pets_and_animals/article_1501.shtml
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May
19
Posted under
Uncategorized Is Your Vet Still Overvaccinating Your Dog?
By: Daniel Beatty, DVM
Is your dog being overvaccinated and your vet is not following the new guidelines? How many of you are still getting annual ?shots? for your dog? Has your vet told you that there is a ?new? protocol for vaccinating your dog? I say ?new? loosely because the guidelines have been around for over 5 years now! That is beside the point, lets just go with the new guidelines given out by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) last year in 2006.
First, a bit of information about the vaccination of your dog. The most common other vaccination given to your dog besides rabies is a 5 or a 6 in one shot. Meaning there are 5 or 6 different types of diseases your dog is being vaccinated for in one shot. The common acronym for this vaccine is DHLPP and sometimes added in there is a C. The letters each stand for a different disease ? D=Distemper, H=Hepatitis (also known as Adenovirus), L=Leptospirosis, P=Parvo, P=Parainfluenza, and C=Corona.
For the new guidelines lets take the three core vaccines, the three that your dog should be vaccinated for Distemper, Parvo and Hepatitis (Adenovirus). After your dog has been initially vaccinated for these three core diseases usually as a puppy and then a year later with a booster, your dog has prolonged immunity against those diseases. What do I mean by prolonged immunity, well the research shows, your dog is immune for 6 to 9 years! That?s correct! The research done by reputable immunologists, such as Dr. Ronald Schultz, shows that after the initial puppy vaccination and a one year booster many dogs are protected for the majority of their life. WIth this new research AAHA developed some new guidelines. Their suggestion or guidelines, after puppy vaccination and the yearly booster is that the three core vaccines, only need to be boostered every three years. So according to the AAHA guidelines, instead of annual revaccination, your dog really only needs to be revaccinated every three years.
In fact, did you know, annual vaccination of your dog can cause severe diseases. Overvaccination has been linked to cancer, allergies, and other auto-immune diseases such as Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia. More research needs to be done but many of the recent studies show these links exist. In fact, in cats, overvaccination has been proven to cause sarcomas, a very severe cancer.
So now the question becomes, if the vaccines have been shown to produce immunity that lasts quite a bit longer than what was originally thought and annual vaccination might be the cause of certain allergies and other immune system diseases including cancer, then why has my vet not told me about this? Unfortunately, the answer is money, if not money then it is pure ignorance on your vet?s part.
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Money is the other answer and no it is not because veterinarians are greedy, but rather in many veterinary offices, 33% of the annual income comes from vaccinations. This is a large percentage of income that with the new guidelines will be cut. Veterinarians are not prepared for that kind of an income cut. Many could go out of business. Many clinics do not have the management skills or their other services are not priced correctly to compensate for that kind of an income loss. So changing to the new vaccination guidelines although would benefit your animals health can be a tough business decision for the owner of the veterinary clinic. Just remember though you have a responsibility as a pet owner for the health and well being of your pet and less vaccinations IS better for your pet, regardless of the business problems that some clinics may have going to the new guidelines.
So if your veterinarian is still requesting annual vaccinations, ask why. Be informed, make the right decisions, choose to protect the health of your dog by learning what your veterinarian is giving to your dog and why ? specifically why, not just because he is the vet and it is to better the health of your dog. Ask questions, be dangerous!
Article Source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/pets_and_animals/article_1445.shtml
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May
18
Posted under
Uncategorized Valuable Tips In Training Labrador Retriever
By: Richard Cussons
Training is one of the most important parts of owning a Labrador Retriever. Through training, you are helping your Labrador Retriever become a well-behaved and desirable dog everybody loves. Training will also keep your dog safe because he is able to comprehend and obey your command, helpful in emergency and dangerous situations.
However, a wrong training approach may ruin your dreams of having a nicely trained dog. It helps if you are well-equipped with the right knowledge in training your beloved Labrador Retriever.
Puppy training - You can start training your dog when he is still a puppy. Training a puppy six to eight weeks old is fine but you can start training earlier than that depending on your pup’s characteristics and response to training. It is easier to train a puppy because at this age, he might not have developed bad manners yet and if he has, it can easily be corrected. But remember that training is not only for puppies, you can still teach old dogs new tricks.
Use positive reinforcement - When you use positive reinforcement, you are adding or offering something to your dog to increase the chance of repeating what he did correctly. Giving him his favorite treat after following your down command is an example of positive reinforcement.
Your voice matters - When you issue a command, it should be issued in the same words and same tone of voice. Use a friendly and excited voice when you give commands like come and firm voice in commands like down or stay. Avoid yelling or nagging at your dog.
Training sessions - Keep training sessions short and interesting. Fifteen-minute session is enough to keep your dog interested in the training. Focus on a single command per session and always reward him with loving praise or his favorite treat if he has successfully performed the command.
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Punishment - In order for your dog to behave properly, his mistakes must be corrected promptly. You can correct your dog by giving commands using a firm and sharp tone of voice. As much as possible, avoid physical punishment. But if physical punishment is really necessary, especially dogs with harder temperament, a quick and gentle tug on his training collar is enough. Remember that punishment should only be issued when you catch your dog in the act of doing mistake. Your dog may not understand why he is being punished now for urinating in your living room five hours ago.
Foods feed the body, training feeds the mind. It is important for your Labrador Retriever to have all these.
Article Source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/pets_and_animals/article_1512.shtml
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May
17
Posted under
Uncategorized Prevent Osteoarthritis In Labrador Retrievers
By: Richard Cussons
Large breeds just like Labrador Retrievers are more likely to suffer problems related to bones and joint that makes movement difficult and painful. We are aware that Labrador Retrievers are active and energetic dogs but if you notice that your pet is no longer the usual active and energetic dog he used to be, then something is wrong with him. The culprit could be osteoarthritis.
Osteoarthritis usually affects dogs in their middle and senior years but puppies can also be affected. It is a chronic, degenerative joint disease caused by progressive inflammation and deterioration of the cartilage, bone and soft tissue of one or more joints. Canine osteoarthritis happens when the cartilage that lines the bones in a joint breaks down losing its cushion. This cartilage break down causes friction between the bones, results to stiffness, loss of mobility and various degrees of inflammation and pain.
Canine osteoarthritis is a result of unstable joints because of slack ligaments. Congenital joint disorders such as hip dysplasia, osteochondritis (OCD) and elbow dysplasia. That is why it is always important to treat these diseases at once to prevent it from developing into canine osteoarthritis. It can also be a result of trauma either from direct or indirect injury and from faulty bone and cartilage development. Obesity will also result to osteoarthritis because of the excessive weight carried by the joints. Age and metabolic diseases may as well cause this disease. Joints commonly affected are the hips, elbows, lower back, knees and wrists.
There are signs to watch out for the presence of canine osteoarthritis. These signs include stiffness, lameness, pain and lethargy. An affected dog may also exhibit decreased activity, difficulty rising and cracking sounds during joint movement.
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X-rays of the joints may as well be needed to determine how severe the condition is.
There are many ways to treat this disease and measures to prevent it. Anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed however, this should only be used for short-term pain relief because of its wide range of side effects. In severe cases, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin, carprofen and meloxicam are commonly used to increase joint mobility and control pain. Weight control is also important especially in obese dogs. The dog’s regular exercise as well as other physical activity should be gentle to help trim weight and improve strength and mobility of the joint.
Remember, a dog with canine osteoarthritis should not be included in the breeding process to prevent the spread of this disease.
Article Source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/pets_and_animals/article_1509.shtml
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