Pets Grooming

Dogs have great appetites and these animals have the inclination to eat questionable (at least to us humans) things. The habit of eating non-food items is called pica. Eating non-edible items is a normal behavior of dogs but dog owners would still be puzzled by this behavior more so if the pet is provided with enough food. Rocks are one of the non-food items that are eaten by dogs.

Puppies are more inclined to eat rocks. Puppies are naturally inquisitive and one way of discovering their world is by using their mouth. The hard rock will be chewed by the pup as if it were a fruity bubble gum. This habit of eating rocks though can have dangerous repercussion on the health of the pet. The soft tissues of the mouth can be wounded by the hard rock. Swallowed, the rock can cause diarrhea as it can really affect the delicate digestive tract of the dog. A blockage in the throat or on the intestinal tract that can be created if a large piece of rock is swallowed can be the cause of death of the pet.

We know that dogs are voracious eaters. We also know that man’s best friends can develop hazardous and socially unacceptable behaviors. Nevertheless we would still be puzzled why dogs eat rocks. The habit of eating rocks can signify that the pet has a medical problem such as brain diseases. If an underlying medical concern was ruled out, the rock eating habit of the pet can be attributed to behavioral problems.

Boredom, stress or anxiety can urge a dog to feast on rocks. Dogs would always love to get the attention of the family because these are social animals. Dogs that do not get any attention from the family will be bored. Bored dogs will develop destructive behaviors. Eating rocks is a sign that the dog is bored. The habit of eating rocks can be the dog’s way of attracting the master’s attention.

Humans would need to have various laboratory tests to know what is wrong with their body. The same tests and examinations would not be necessary for dogs as nature has provided these animals with the capability to know what is wrong with their system. Rock eating can be the dog’s way of correcting an undiagnosed nutrient deficiency. The rock eating habit can be a wake up call for the dog owner not only to provide the dog with premium quality dog food but also to make time to bond with the dog.

Learn more about why dogs eat rocks, first aid for dogs and other interesting dog behaviours.

The world as seen in the eyes of a dog will be in white and in different shades of grey. You see, dogs were once believed to have no ability to distinguish colors. Dogs are acclaimed for their heightened senses. Dogs have protected humans using their excellent scenting and hearing abilities. Sighthounds are highly valued for their keen vision that keeps a prey in sight. Dogs are claimed to have the ability to see better in the dark as well . As long as a dog is on guarding duty, people can sleep soundly at night.

Nature has endowed our furry friends with very sensitive senses but the ability to see colors in the same way humans can was left out. Dogs can actually see colors but in a different way than what we humans can do. A study on canine vision conducted in the University of California has proven the fact that dogs can see colors but their vision as compared to human’s vision is less detailed. Of course due to the less detailed vision, a dog may not be able to appreciate a bright red ball given that in the eyes of the dog the color of the ball would either be black or brownish gray.

Humans and dogs are very similar in genetics. Similar to humans, a dogs eye has special cells called cone photoreceptors that controls color perception by catching the light. However, while humans have three cone photoreceptors, dogs only have two. The three cones in our eyes delivers 100% full range vision while dogs have approximately 20% range of color vision as they lack on cone. This makes a dog’s vision about six times inferior than what we humans have.

In the eyes of Fido the rainbow colors would be blue, light blue, grey, light yellow, brownish yellow and dark grey instead of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. The world, as seen by the dog will be in yellow, grey and blue colors. Surprisingly, dogs have the ability to see the subtle differences in the shades of blues and violets.

Humans cannot see the slight change in the shades of violet and blues because of the yellow pigmentation that obstructs short wavelengths and lessens the eyes’ sensitivity. The absence of the yellow pigmentation in the dogs eyes enables our four legged friend’s eyes to be more sensitive in identifying the different shades of violets and blues.

Find out more about how dogs see color and dog first aid at Sarah’s Dogs.

Purchsing a horse is not a simple matter. Sure, it may be your dream come true, but you want to make sure your dream does not become a nightmare. buying the wrong of horse, a badly trained horse, or a horse with lameness or other medical issuesproblems can quickly drain your checking account.

Here are a few horse buying tips I learned the hard way.

#1
Decide what you want to do with your horse. Are you planning to do Western sports, such as roping or reining? Do you enjoy jumping or cross country? Are you into dressage? Or are you simply hoping to take your horse riding on the trails? Although all breeds can often be versatile enough to do some or all of these activities, some breeds have distinct type of conformation which make them more appropriate for certain sports. For example, quarter horses are great at at reining, while Arabians are hard to beat at endurance trail riding. So decide what you want to do, and research which breed best fits the bill.

#2
Buy locally whenever possible. You do not want to buy through the internet, sight unseen! If you have to take a plane to see the horse, then do that. However, if you have any options locally, those are the best, for the simple reason that you can see and ride the horse more than once. It can take several visits to get a feel for a horse and to decide whether it is the right one for you.

#3
Look for the right personality in your horse. For example, if you are looking for a pleasure horse to take long, quiet] rides through the country side, then make sure the horse you are trying out has a quiet demeanor. Buying a hot-blooded or high strung horse will turn your pleasant rides into fights to control your horse.

On the other hand, if you want to gallop through the woods or do sports that involve speed and excitement, then that hot-blooded or high strung horse might be just the perfect one for you.

#4
Buyer beware. Look for signs that the seller may not be totally honest. Some dishonest people may give the horse pain medicine or ice the horse’s legs down to hide lameness. They may try to hide training problems by riding the horse in a tie-down or martingale. Insist on seeing the horse without these aids.

The best way to be sure that the seller is honest is by talking to people. Talk to horse owners, veterinarians and trainers to find reputable people to buy from.

#5
Obtain a pre-purchase exam by a knowledgeable horse veterinarian. The sellers may be completely honest and may be unaware of conditions such as subtle lameness or health issues such as heart murmurs.

#6
Don’t rush. You may have to look at a fair amount of horses before the right one comes along. Do not let your desire for a horse drive you to buy one that is not perfect for you. And I do not mean that the horse itself must be perfect. There are probably no perfect horses. They all have flaws, just like people, either in their conformation, training or personality. However, you still have to buy a horse that is perfect for you, and generally you will know it instinctively when you find one.

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The dog is indulging in his favorite pastime again – licking my face. Of course I love my baby but her wet sloppy kisses as well as the raspy tongue that laves my nose, face, ears with her icky drool is a less than pleasant show of affection. Of course I know that licking is an innate behavior of dogs as their tongue is used to discover their environment but this dog is really a compulsive licker.

Licking is a habit learned by dogs from puppyhood. Mother dogs would lick the puppies clean. The puppies will be licked clean by the dam after they have pooped and peed. Experts tell us that mother dogs would instinctively lick puppies to aid their digestion and circulation processes. On the part of the puppies, the licking can be a plea to be allowed to nurse. Puppies that are about to be weaned would lick the lips of the dam as an encouragement to regurgitate food. You can be sure that your pet loves you because licking is done to show affection. You would wonder at the maternal instinct that makes mother dogs lick puppies that have crawled away from the mother’s warmth. Being affectionate creatures, puppies would lick not only the mother dog but also the littermates.

It is perfectly normal for dogs to show affection through licking. Because of the affectionate nature, dogs are considered as members of the family. As such the affection and the licking that are given to the dam and to the littermates will now be given to the human family. This is one of the reasons why your pet licks you. It will be noted that dogs that do not receive the same care and affection from their owners would not have the inclination to lick their owners.

You know that your pet is a pack oriented animal. Being pack oriented, the dog would have to look up to the leader of the pack. Apparently, the dog’s inclination to lick you is a show of submission. Licking is one of the ways by which a dog can have the approval or the attention of the master. Dogs in a household with more pets often manifest the need to secure the affection of the master. Licking can be a dog’s tactic wanting to get the favors of the master.

You may be annoyed by the dog’s licking behavior because you know that the pet also has the habit of eating disgusting things like feces and rotting animals. The licking habit of the dog would be even more annoying if you see the dog lapping the water in the toilet bowl. Because of these habits, the pet would not think you do not value its affection by trying to curb its licking behavior.

Learn more about why dogs lick and dog first aid at Sarah’s Dogs.

A beautiful coat is one of the reason why dogs are admired however, some dog owners would opt to shave the pet. Dogs are commonly shaved to better cope with the heat of the summer months. A dog will be shaved if the owner is concerned with excessive shedding, with hot spots and fungal infection of the skin and finds the need to regularly groom the pet a tedious task. Dogs advanced in age would not appreciate a good brushing thus an owner would choose to shave the dog to lessen the need to groom.

Dog owners have varied reasons for shaving the dog. To have the dog shaved by a professional groomer, a dog owner has to pay between $40 to $80. An adventurous pet owner though can do the shaving himself.

Before starting the shaving session it would be best if the dog is bathed and the fur thoroughly brushed to prevent the clipper from overheating. Bathe the dog to remove dried up feces and other dirt clinging on the coat. After the dog is bathed and dried, the hair must be brushed thoroughly to remove the tangles. Positioning the dog on a table would be easier on your back but be sure to loosely fasten the head to an overhead support to stop the dog from vaulting. A dog that will be shaved for the first time must be accustomed to the humming and the vibration of the clipper thus before the starting to shave lay the turned on clipper against the body of the dog.

To shave the face and the area between the eyes, use a #10 blade. Be careful not to nick the eyes. With careful strokes shave the hair on the face and under the ears. Shave the hair under the ears of long eared breeds.

The armpit area is the next. Raise the dog’s leg but be sure that the pet is not uncomfortable. Next is the anal area. Removing the hair around the anus is especially necessary for long haired breeds to prevent feces from sticking into the hair. To work on the rest of the dog’s body you have to replace the #10 blade with a longer one. Run the clipper in long slow strokes from the head to the neck and down to the side of the body . Pull the loose skin of the belly to make shaving easier. Last to be shaved are the legs and feet. All done – give the dog a good hug for being a good sport.

Learn more about how to shave a dog and dog first aid at Sarah’s Dogs.

Dog owners have a lot of “must do” to ensure the wellbeing of the pet. Knowing how to administer medication to a sick pet is very important task that must be learned by a dog owner. Administering oral medications to sick dogs would not be too burdensome as the task will be over when the dog gets well. The need to give the dog its daily vitamins and supplements can be a very arduous task for an owner that does not know how to pill the dog the easy way. So how do you give a dog a pill?

A dog that spews the pill or eludes the master makes pilling even more difficult. Giving the dog a pill often becomes a battle of wits as the wise master would disguise the taste of the pill with the taste of food but because of the dog’s ultra sensitive senses, the pill will be discovered. Dogs do not know that if they take the pill, they would get well thus a pet owner has to find ways to make the task a little easier.

Dogs can be accomplished con artists that would act like good little boys that would willingly open the mouth so that the master can pop the pill. A pet owner has to be aware that the dog can spew put the pill. If your dog has this kind of attitude, the obvious thing that must be done is to watch the dog for while until you are sure that the pill was swallowed.

Giving the dog a pill will be easier if the bitter taste of the pill is disguised by the taste of the dog’s favorite food. Pills that can be crushed or liquid medications can be mixed with a little amount of the dog’s favorite treat. This method though can be used only if the dog is not under dietary restriction. The dog would not know that the pill is hidden in the ham, chicken breast or liverwurst as dogs usually gobble up their food.

Generally, very sick dogs would turn away from food. Mixing the pill with the dog’s food would not be a good idea. The pet must be coached to swallow the pill by placing it directly to the base of the tongue. This technique would be easier if the dog is accustomed to being touched or to teeth brushing. You need to gently open the dog’s mouth to insert the pill at the base of the dog’s tongue. To protect your hand from being bitten by the dog, you have to make sure that the teeth are covered by the flews. Close the dog’s mouth and gently blow on the nose to encourage the pet to swallow.

Read more tips on how to give a dog a pill without a fuzz and dog first aid at Sarah’s Dogs.

Potential dog owners that cannot tolerate the yucky drool of dogs have better stir clear of Basset Hounds, Saint Bernards and Bullmastiffs as these dogs are notorious droolers. These dogs cannot contain the enzyme rich saliva in their mouth because of the short snout and the loose pendulous skin of the mouth. Due to excessive drooling, owners of these dogs would have to tie a bandana around the dog’s neck or have an ample supply of paper towels ready to avoid disaster.

Drooling, especially for dog breeds with short snout and loose skin around the jaws is not an abnormality. Dogs are voracious eaters thus the sight of food would make these animals salivate. However, if the pet does not have loose skin folds in the mouth and is normally not a dripper, the owner should be concerned if the pet starts to slobber excessively.

Drooling is a normal behavior of dogs but pet owners should be concerned if the non-drooling dog starts to drool excessively as the dog can be dehydrated. The excessive drooling of the pet can be associated to a situation that has disturbed the pet emotionally. A dog’s nervous reaction to loud sound can trigger excessive salivation. Motion sickness can also make a dog drool. Dogs are inclined to put anything in their mouths and because of indiscriminate eating habits, it would not be uncommon for dogs to ingest poisonous substances. Poisoning is one of the reasons why a dog would drool excessively.

Drooling can be a symptom of some health concerns. Bloat or Gastric dilatation volvulus is a very serious condition as the twisting of the stomach will trap air and when no treatment is administered can result to the death of the dog. The dog’s hypersalivation can be a symptom of bloat. Dog that salivates excessively may be suffering from medical concerns like rabies, distemper, urinary tract infection, ear infection and liver diseases. If the excessive salivation of the dog is not caused by the medical concerns, the pet parent has to open the mouth of the pet to determine of any foreign object is causing the pet to salivate.

Of course the dog’s drooling can be caused by a broken tooth, a gum problem or other periodontal diseases. Dogs use their mouth to investigate their surroundings. The dog may have been gnawing wood and a splinter may get stuck between the teeth or may be stuck on the gums or on the soft tissues of the mouth. The dog will drool excessively if a sliver of wood injures the tissues of the mouth or if a foreign object is stuck between the teeth.

Read all about dog drooling and why dogs drool at Sarah’s Dogs.

Dogs are special simply because they usually are the most reliable as well as friendly tamed animals. DogPedic lets an individual to treat your puppy well while it sleeps. The item is actually a soft and comfy memory foam bed that was to design in order to give supreme relaxation for your canine. The actual solution to a good dependable dog is the way one handles their pet. The pets are not just simple tamed wildlife.They usually are in fact the particular part regarding numerous people’s living.

They are in fact the part of many people’s life. DogPedic offers a secret mixture of memory as well as supporting foams which conforms to your dog’s shape and weight. This wonderful DogPedic can be available in 3 various sizes to be able to match the weight of your dog. Besides the soft suede cover, the DogPedic comes with the waterproof liner that will preserve the mattress free from intrinsic and extrinsic stains as well as scents. It will prevent the development associated with things that trigger allergies, and stop liquids from entering the memory foam component of DogPedic.

With thanks to DogPedics memory foam, it continually holds its original pattern, providing many years of comfort and support for your pet. DogPedic arrives with the soft suede cover and it is safe to use on hard wood surfaces and porcelain tile thanks to their custom no-slip bottom. It has an extra extended zipper which usually makes the actual cover quick to remove and put in the washing.

The actual DogPedic bed is ideal for mature dogs considering it will relieve the discomfort from arthritis, hip dysplasia, joint and muscle stiffness.
DogPedic comes in three diverse measurements; Small ( for dogs up to Twenty five lbs), Medium (dogs up to Seventy five lbs) and Large ( dogs up to 150s).
In addition every single DogPedic also contains:

Soft Suede Cover
• Keeps your dog comfy
• Machine washable
• Protects memory foam mattress from regular wear and tear
• Has an added long zipper making this easy to remove
• Non-slip hold bottom level can make it dependable to be able to use on almost any flooring

Water Proof Liner
• Keeps DogPedic free from stains and oders
• Stops liquids from entering memory foam
• Extends the life regarding your DogPedic
• Prevents the development associated with allergens

Dogpedic seems to be one of the best dog mattresses in the market today. My dogs love it, I am sure your dog will too.

Buy the Small and Large dog bed today for merely two easy payments of $19.99 plus the cost of shipping and delivery and handling. The actual Large will be 2 easy payments of $29.99 plus shipping and delivery and handling. To find out more about the special free bonus offer visit Dogs

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Have you just switched your family dog or puppy from the commercial dog food diet to a healthier, raw diet? Have you noticed much more loose stools and vomiting from your puppy or dog? Your pet dog may be going through a detoxification.

Detox or cleansing could occur because your pet’s system is being detoxed from its past diet regime. It’s a healthy stage of moving to healthier food. The duration it continues can vary depending on how many toxins were built up your pet puppy or dog has in his/her system. But commonly it starts right around one to two days of switching to a raw food diet and lasts usually for two to three days. However, in some dogs, the detoxification period sometimes could last to commence for 2-3 weeks, however, I would personally suggest getting your dog or puppy checked by a vet if throwing up and loose stools persists for more than a week.

Evidence of detoxification are the following ear wax build up, foul odor, vomiting, loose stools, itchy skin, increased bowel movements and bad breath.

Were you aware that you are able to make the decision to have your pet dog or puppy detoxed before you start her or him on a healthier, raw dog food diet? Many dog owners follow this path because of the positives that come with pre-emptive detox.

Find out more from these natural and raw food for animals resources: raw organic pet food and barf raw dog food.

One advantage lies in the fact that your canine’s system is cleansed of toxic material beforehand and therefore his body would be prepped to assimilate the vitamins and minerals from the new, healthier raw diet that you are preparing to be introducing to him. Another plus is that since your pet is going to be famished once it’s tissues have been cleansed, it’ll be simpler for him (as well as for yourself) to become acquainted to the raw regime. This is a nice bonus, particularly for dog owners with picky eaters.

If you plan to detoxify your pet prior to changing him to a healthier, raw food diet, here’s what you may attempt to do. Covering a duration of 2-3 days, you fast your animal or put him on a liquid diet. Just discontinue giving your dog the unhealthy diet conclusively. And from there, going through the next two to three days, you just provide him water. You may also give broth if you are anxious about your pet lacking in zest. This might grant your canine’s system to unload the toxins trapped in there. After the fast, you may now be prepared to introduce your puppy or dog to a raw food diet that’s healthier and much better for his or her system.

Regardless of whether you make the decision to cleanse your canine before switching him to the more natural raw regime or to permit detoxing to go on while he is being swapped over, the key thing is that the pet’s system has the capability to expel out the toxic material in there. This can allow your canine friend to get the most from his new raw regime, which as a consequence will help him become more healthy in the long run.

If you are searching for assistance on the way to switch to a healthier, raw regime for your pet dog, a potential book that you might check out is Maggie Rhines’ “Going Rawr! Dog Lover’s Compendium”. It is a detailed, very well researched package with info about what canine owners/breeders should know to benefit the most out of this change of diet for their dogs.

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A properly socialized dog can adapt well to any given situation – can get along well with all the pets of the family and all the members of the household. Socialization develops the dog into a good canine citizen that will be ideal companion for a lifetime. A well socialized dog is a happy and well behaved member of the family as socialization prevents the development of unwanted behaviors. A first time dog owner may have heard about the necessity to socialize the pet, of the benefits of socialization but how is a dog socialized.

In spite of the fact that dogs are acclaimed to be social creatures, some individuals would not interact well with people and with other animals as dogs too have different personalities. Expect a nervous or shy dog to react with fear or aggression when exposed to new faces or situations. A dominant dog would always want to control not only other animals but humans as well. Providing the basic needs of the dog is not the only responsibility of a pet owner. It is the responsibility of the pet owner to ensure that the pet is properly socialized so that it will grow into a well adjusted pet that can adapt to any situation and can interact with people and animals.

Socializing the pet is best started when the dog is about 8 to 16 weeks old. This does not mean that it is futile to socialize older dogs. Making an older dog less sensitive to fear would take more effort. Socializing puppies would be easier as apart from having a curious nature; puppies have not yet formed hard to break habits.

As soon as the puppy receives a clearance from the vet socialization must be started. Grooming will get the dog accustomed to being touched. By grooming the dog it will get used to being handled so that it will not be aggressive if petted by unfamiliar people.

Taking the dog to the local dog park or enrolling the dog to an obedience school will give the pet a chance to interact with other canines. Introduction to people and animals as well as exposure to varied situations will socialize the dog. Whenever there’s a chance take the dog along. The dog’s favorite treats will be positive reinforcements that will entice the dog to interact with people and other animals. These socialization efforts will develop the puppy into a well adjusted mature dog.

How do you socialize a dog? Find out more about this and dog first aid at Sarah’s Dogs.