Pet euthanasia is a very painful and often difficult decision to make for most pet owners. Your pet has become a very important of the family and often a person does not want to have them euthanized. There are a few points to take into consideration regarding their quality of life. Also consult with your veterinarian as to what may be best for your pet and what to expect during the process.
First thing to consider is if the number of bad days for your pet outnumber the good days. Also have they stopped drinking and eating? Ask your veterinarian for their opinion on what to do. Then if the choice is to euthanize your pet, make the appointment immediately.
Ask the receptionist to schedule it for the first appointment of the day or the last one. Ask for a time slot when the veterinarians is not busy with other appointments or surgery. Also, be sure to ask any questions you may have. You have not gone through this before and the staff will address any of your concerns.
When you arrive, you can ask the receptionist to phone you while you wait in the car with your pet. Once you enter the exam room, there should not be a long wait. Do not be embarrassed or afraid to be emotional. The staff may have performed the procedure several times but it is always a sad time for everyone.
The solution used for euthanasia will act quickly, is painless, and must be administered intravenously. The veterinarian may ask for permission to sedate your pet because if the pet is uncooperative your vet will not be able to carry out the procedure properly. Many owners want to hold their pet during this process and as long as the solution can be injected properly those wishes are granted. A few seconds after injection the pet will take a deeper breath then seem to fall asleep. They may take a few more breaths before all movement stops. Do not be afraid to ask for time alone if you need it at this point.
You can make arrangements to take the body and bury at home. Your veterinarian or staff will place the deceased into a prearranged container and take it to the car. You can instead make arrangements for cremation. The body will stay and you will be notified when to pick up the ashes.
Considering pet euthanasia is difficult and painful for most pet owners. The main thing to reflect on is the quality of your pets life. It is perfectly okay to ask questions about any of your concerns regarding the process.
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Dogs are bundles of energy who just love to play and can keep going all day. But unfortunately, someone has to pay the bills, so what do you do when you're at work and your dog is home alone and needs to be kept amused?
For these occasions, there are dog toys, and with the dizzying array of choices available these days, you’re sure to find something that your dog will love.
Here are some cool doy toys that I came across. Pick a few for your dog. He'll love you for it.
Kong Toys – Lots of dogs enjoy chewing stuff, but the problem is that chew toys that break and shatter can be dangerous. Enter the Kong toy, a chew toy designed to withstand the jaws of even the most powerful Mastiff or Rottweiler.
They also have a hollow center, so you can stuff it with treats and challenge the dog to get them out, which is great for brain training.
Tug-a-War Rope – Many dogs enjoy pulling games, but you need a pull toy that won't fray or break after a couple of rounds.
The people at Kong have invented an ingenious little toy to solve the problem. Basically it's a pair of rubber balls in a canvas housing with a canvas cord at the end. It's virtually unbreakable, plus the balls squeak, which adds an extra dimension to the game.
Frisbees – Dogs love chasing a frisbee, but the hard plastic ones are actually dangerous for dogs because they can splinter and cause injury.
Frost Bite Frisbees on the other hand are designed specifically for dogs. They are soft, pliable, and punture when bitten rather than shattering.
Puzzles – No, I don’t mean jigsaws, or crosswords. Puzzles for dogs come in all shapes and sizes and challenge your dog to work something out in order to get a treat.
One cool puzzle toy is the Squirrel Plushy. This is a plush toy that has smaller toys inside it. The challenge for the dog is to try and get the smaller toys out.
Nylabones – Another good toy for the dog that loves to chew. These rubber, bone-shaped chewing toys are incredible strong, so your dog can gnaw away to his hearts content.
Tuffies – These are stuffed toys made specifically with dogs in mind. They are strong and durable, and even come with "toughness" ratings. So you can get one to suit your Pomeranian or even one that your Bull Terrier will have a hard time breaking.
Squirrel Dude – This is one of my dog's favorites. The Squirrel Dude is a rubber toy with a timer that you can set to dispense treats at regular intervals – kind of like a canine vending machine.
Whatever your dog enjoys doing you're bound to find something on this list they he will love. And if you don't, shop around, the dog toy market has literally exploded in recent years, so there's plenty of choice available.
Click here to find out more about dog toys, dog care, dog health and other interesting dog info at www.dogsanddogtraining.com
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Did you ever consider that there may be a better option to conventional fencing for keeping your pet contained and safe and it can literally save you thousands? In this article we will discuss the 2 types of electronic fencing for containing your dogs and cats and how they can benefit you.
Electronic dog fencing and cat fencing is an exceptional alternative for keeping your pets safely contained within your yard avoiding the expense of traditional fence. It might be that you live in a neighborhood that doesn't allow traditional fencing to be erected. Whatever the reason, electronic dog fencing is a low-cost but extremely viable solution in keeping your pet safe without the need to hamper the view in any way. Depending on the particular system, you have the flexibility to provide acres of containment area..
There are essentially two types of electronic dog fence, one utilizes an underground wire system, often referred to as underground fence, while the other is a more portable wireless fence system. Each of these systems works in a similar way, where each system sends out a signal that is picked up by a receiver collar the dog or cat wears. If your pet gets to close to the perimeter area, the receiver collar will administer an effective but harmless correction, keeping your dogs or cats safely contained on your property . Training flags are included with the majority of these systems to help train your dog or cat to its new boundaries a process that is extremely important in the overall function of the system. The training process is aided with the flags as they create a visual for you and your pet as to where the boundary is located. Anyway, this article will describe both systems.
The underground fence or wired system is usually the less expensive fence system of the two and utilizes a wire normally buried a couple of inches below grade around the property. The underground fence can also be installed above ground with the use of sod staples. The running of the wire begins and ends at the transmitter which must be installed in a area protected by the elements such as a garage or shed. It also requires a power source. Depending on the particular model these systems can provide containment for a small yard up to a large property of 100 acres. Picture the cost of constructing a traditional fence for that area! With your fence installed, the dog will wear a receiver collar that picks up the signal transmitted through the boundary wire and if he comes to close to the boundary the collar will administer a static correction keeping him in the yard.
Another option is the wireless fence system. The wireless system is considerably easier to install as there is no wire to run or bury. Plug this system in, set the boundary range and you're ready to start training. If you need to you have the ability to change the range, making this system very flexible. The wireless fence system is usually more expensive than the underground fence, but it offers portability if you want to travel with your dog and bring your system along with you, perhaps on a camping trip. If you have a lot of land, you can also purchase additional transmitters and increase the range.
Basically, how this system works is it will cover a radial area of say 30 feet up to 3/4 of an acre depending on the particular unit you purchase. As the dog approaches the limits of the range, the signal between collar and transmitter grows weaker until such a time the collar activates and corrects the dog, again bringing it back within the boundary.
Whether you decide on an underground fence or wireless fence system, you can rest assured that you have a reasonably priced, effective pet containment system that outperforms traditional fencing for containing and protecting your pets .
For the Best in underground fence and wireless fence visit us TODAY at Underground Fence Company!
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With the looks of a glamor model, and the physique of an athlete, the Afghan is an instantly recognizable dog breed.
Standing anywhere between 24 and 29 inches at the shoulder, and weighing up to 59 pounds, these lean sighthounds are characterized by a long lustrous coat that can be any color.
The face also has a black 'mask', while some dogs sport a long mandarin-style moustache called, unsurprisingly, a mandarin. As you can deduce from the name, these dogs come from Afghanistan. Like most sighthounds they were hunters of small game. The breed was unknown in the west until the 19th century, and by the end of World War 1, had virtually disappeared.
Then in the 1920's several dogs were brought to Scotland as breeding stock. These dogs caused quite a stir on the dog show circuit and were soon recognized by the major international kennel clubs. Virtually all of the Afghans we see today, descend directly from this group.
Afghans are an ancient breed, and have genetic markers in common with wolves, making them close descendants of the original domesticated dogs.The temperament of the breed is best described as aloof, even snooty. They also have a reputation as being difficult to train. It's not that they're unintelligent, just that they prefer not to obey.
They’ve even been described as cat-like, because of their ability to totally blank you out. Put it this way, if you want an Afghan to obey your command, you’d better give him a good reason to.
Having said that, they still make excellent pets, and are affectionate towards those close to them. With strangers though it’s a different story. When you meet an Afghan for the first time, you should expect to be ignored!
Despite their athletic profile, Afghans can be first-class couch potatoes. They love curling up and dozing on the couch and will do it for hours if you let them.
Outdoors though, it’s an entirely different story. The hunting instinct kicks in and they will chase anything that moves, small animals in particular.Despite its limited gene pool, the Afghan is a surprisingly healthy dog. They suffer from few of the problems that typically afflict purebreds. They are however prone to eye diseases, with cataracts a particular problem.
One of the biggest challenges for an Afghan owner is keeping that luxurious coat looking its best. This requires daily brushing, and a regular trip to the dog salon to trim the coat back into shape.
Although the Afghan is a hunting dog, it much prefers the luxury of indoor living to sleeping outdoors. Anyway, the dog is not equipped for outdoor living as the coat offer very little protection from the elements.
The easiest way to find good names for your Afghan Hound is to visit an online dog names, resource, like puppy-names-hq.com. This site has tons of dog names, including 1000s of female dog names to choose from.
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Pulling on the leash is most likely something dogs have been doing from the first time a human tried to walk one. They just do not like being held back. So the more you try to keep them in check, the more they pull.
Now, the dog is not doing this to exert dominance, or make you angry. He just wants to explore all the interesting things surrounding him. It's all so exciting that he can't wait to take it all in.
And therein lies the secret to stopping your dog pulling. Start to teach your dog that, until he calms down and stops his pulling, he's going nowhere. Here’s how;
The Walk Starts Indoors
Dogs are creatures of habit so they are very observant when it comes to routines. You've probably noticed that, even before you pick up his lead, your dog is already getting himself worked up. I'm sure you've wondered how he knows what's coming.
The most likely explanation is that you have a pre-walk routine that you follow, a routine that he has become famiiar with.
In order to change your dog's behavior, you will have to address his pre-walk actions. Don't tolerate any acting up. If the dog barks or jumps up while you're trying to put his lead on, get him to sit and calm down, then try again.
To begin with you may have to do this several times. It can be trying, but stick to your guns. It will pay off later on.
When the dog is calm, and you've attached the leash, leave the house right away. If the dog gets over-excited again, make him sit, and wait for him to calm, before proceeding.
Most times, the dog will want to relieve himself the minute he is outside. Let him do this. Once he's finished, that's it – no more marking or sniffing around – keep him focused on the walk. For large sections of the walk you should allow no sniffing around at all. Make sure that any exploration he does is on your terms.
The Best Way to Stop Your Dog Pulling
One thing you should never do, if you want to curb your dog's pulling, is to pull back. A better way is to teach the dog that by pulling, he gets the opposite result to what he wants. To achieve this, stop the walk every time the dog pulls. Get him to sit and be calm before you carry on.
At first, this will be incredibly trying. But dogs are quick learners and he'll soon make the connection. In a short while he will understand that his walk gets interrupted every time he pulls.
Once he breaks the pulling habit start getting him to walk beside, instead of in front of you. This will also help to curb the inclination to pull, especially if a cat suddenly darts across his path!
One last tip – be sure to take a bag of treats with you while training your dog. Give him a treat when he obediently walks beside you and you'll see even quicker results.
There's plenty more about dog training tips, dog care, dog care and other helpful dog information at www.dogsanddogtraining.com
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