Featuring sections on daily care, preventive medicine, and training, The Well Cat Book teaches cat owners how to detect signs of illness, diagnose problems, and begin home treatment–thereby avoiding expensive and often unnecessary trips to the vet. Includes over 100 illustrations and step-by-step instructions.
The Well Cat Book: The Classic Comprehensive Handbook of Cat Care
Filed under Pets at Home by 
Throwing up is a natural behavior for dogs. Many of them do it all the time, and for any number of reasons.
So before you grab your car keys to rush the dog off to the vet, stop awhile! In most cases, there is no need for concern. Vomiting is just a natural way in which dogs remove unwanted matter from the body.
But that's not to say you should ignore vomiting completely, because at times it can point to a more serious issue. You'll need to watch for other symptoms like, lack of appetite, diarrhea, depression and lethargy.
If these symptoms accompany the vomiting then the safest course is to take your dog to the vet. Most likely though, the problem will be something minor.
Here are some common reasons why your dog may be vomiting;
Eating too much or too fast – Let’s face it, some dogs eat as if they’re afraid their food bowl is about to sprout wings and fly away! If this describes your dog, then feeding him smaller, more frequent, meals may reduce the recurring instances of dog vomiting.
Eating Grass – Many dogs enjoy eating grass and you have to wonder why, because it often makes them throw up. Even the experts are not sure why they do it, but the fact is, dogs that eat grass often vomit straight after.
Eating the wrong food – If your dog makes a habit of raiding the trash can, or if you feed him junk food or table scraps, he may very well throw up. Feed a healthy, balanced diet, and I guarantee that you’ll reduce this.
When should I be worried?
Although vomiting is usually nothing serious, it should not be ignored completely. An isolated instance is okay, but if you notice your dog vomiting more than once a day, make an appointment with your vet.
Also be alert for the symptoms I mentioned earlier, lethargy, lack of appetite, and diarrhea, as well as other signs, like blood, or unusual coloration in the vomit. In these instances, get the dog to the vet right away.
Vomiting may also be due to a more serious cause, for example your dog may have eaten a household poison, like a pesticide, or even a poisonous plant. If you think this may be the case then immediate veterinary treatment is called for.
How To Stop Your Dog From Vomiting
Although you won't be able to stop your dog from vomiting entirely, a few simple steps will reduce the frequency of your dog throwing up.
For a start, you can feed your dog a healthy diet, and stop feeding him table scraps and junk food. You can ensure that your dog is not able to get at the trashcan. You can feed your dog smaller, more frequent meals, and you can limit (but not entirely eliminate), the amount of grass he is allowed to eat.
These simple measures are usually enough to reduce dog vomiting. However, if the problem persists, it is advisable to speak to your vet.
To find out more about dog vomiting, dog behavior, dog health and other useful dog information stop by at http://www.dogsanddogtraining.com
Filed under Pets at Home by
An activity like dog training is something that various people will be approaching very differently. Some people may be confident trainers, whose pets appear frequently in shows, while others might be new owners of pets, fighting with a pet that is showing the effect of a troubled past. But, there are several key concepts everybody can gain benefit from learning and testing out. You need to use these strategies to learn a couple of things that may aid both you and your pet to experience more fun and to create a stronger bond.
If your pet is a big bruiser, be easy on your hands and be sure of having a good robust leash by utilizing a horse lead rope that would serve as your leash. These come in the standard 6' length in synthetic rope or soft cotton with a very robust snap being attached. They come in lost of pretty colours and are sturdy and robust.
Hear your pet. Don't insist that he would greet someone else, dog, or animal if the dog seems troubled. It is vital to realize that there is a reason he is uncomfortable, and you want to consider that. If the pet is implying that he is troubled, don't force the issue as it can lead to bigger problems down the line.
Always recall that it needs patience and time to train a pet. Some dogs pick up things fast, while others would take longer. Every dog will have a learning pace of their own, so be sure to be aware of your dog's pace. As a dog training advice, try and be as positive as possible when working with him so that he suspects it's a exciting activity to do with you and will look forward to your training activities.
No matter what your skill level and the behaviour of your pet, education is key to good dog training. Knowing dog psychology, especially what influences and incentivizes pets and the impact your behaviour, body language and 'body tells ' can have on that is imperative. This post has provided you with several strategies and recommendations for doing exactly that, which ought really to be enjoyable for you and your pet to try.
You can check out several informative dog training posts at http://www.dog-biting.com/.
Filed under Pets at Home by
Dogs have been our closest companions for over 15 000 years. However, it was not until 150 years ago that someone had the idea to produce a food specifically for dogs. And this early venture into commercializing dog food was hardly a runaway success. It was only after WWII that people really bought into the idea of buying food specifically for their dogs.
So what were dogs fed for the thousands of years before then? The truth is they were pretty much left to scrounge or hunt for their own meals. Occasionally, they may have been thrown a bone from the master’s table or given a treat by a kindly soul.
As dogs became more popular as pets, they would have been fed more regular meals by their human guardians. These meals though would still have been table scraps, perhaps supplemented by some dry or tinned dog food.
With the advent of the information age, there has been an explosion of television programs, websites and magazines about dogs. People have become more informed about dog nutrition, and more concerned about dog health.
There have been volumes written on canine nutrition, as well as the introduction of premium and super premium dog food brands. Add to that things like the raw dog food diet and it's easy to see why the average person can become quite confused about the best food for their dog.
So, what is the best food to feed a dog?
Well, depending on who you listen to, it could be anything from raw meat and vegetables, cooked homemade meals, or a premium, vet-approved brand of kibble.
The important thing is balance. Dogs are omnivores, and they need to be fed a diet that reflects that. Most raw food proponents accept that, premium kibble brands strive for it, and if you’re cooking for your dog you need to take it into account.
Strive for a three way split between meat, veggies and fiber. But if you’re going to err in any direction, feed a higher percentage of meat.
While good canine nutrition is important you obviously have to balance this with your time availability. If time is an issue then the safest route is to opt for a high grade, premium or super premium dog food.
There are many variants available, so be sure to choose the right one from puppy, senior, lite, large breed etc. Some even cater to the nutritional needs of specific breeds.
What you should definitely avoid is the cheap commercial dog food brands, while feeding table scraps is another no-no.
Most of the brands you find on the supermarket shelves fall into this category. They often have grain as their primary component and are therefore lacking in the nutrients needed in a healthy canine diet. There is also evidence to suggest that some of the colorings and preservatives used may be behind a whole catalog of ailments and diseases.
Table scraps are also not ideal for dogs. Generally these will be high in fat and contain things like onions and garlic, which are harmful. If you feed your dog from the table you're also likely to end up with a persistent beggar on your hands.
To learn more about best dog food, dog care, dog training and other interesting dog advice drop by at dogsanddogtraining.com
Filed under Pets at Home by
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!
Filed under Pets at Home by
