dogs | - Part 16

Dogs and Diabetes

Posted on December 5, 2010 by admin

It may surprise you to learn, but dogs can develop diabetes just as people can. Diabetes is a life-threatening illness so you will need to closely monitor your dog’s blood sugar and provide him with the correct medication. You will also need to carefully manage his diet.

As with people there are two types of diabetes in dogs: diabetes insipidus and diabetes mellitus. Diabetes mellitus is also divided into two types, Type I diabetes which can occur in the early years of a dog’s life and which is also called juvenile dog diabetes. And Type II diabetes. This kind of diabetes usually appears in elderly dogs. It is most often characterized by the dog’s dependence of insulin.

With diabetes mellitus dogs typically have an insulin deficiency. The dog’s body is unable to metabolize sugar very well. This is the more common and the more dangerous kind of diabetes in dogs.

With diabetes insipidus there is a lack of vasopressin. This is an anti-diuretic hormone that controls the kidney’s absorption of water.

As dogs age they are more prone to acquiring diabetes. Larger dogs are also more likely to get diabetes. Overweight female dogs are also very prone to diabetes. Diabetes will depend on the dog’s pancreas secreting the correct level of insulin to use all of the glucose produced by the body. If the pancreas doesn’t produce the right amount, then the diabetic problem occurs.

Symptoms of diabetes can include:

Drinking more, urinating more, weight loss, increased appetite, dehydration, and sudden cataract formation

Diabetes is an endocrine disease and it is also influenced by heredity. Being controlled by the endocrine system, it is also considered an autoimmune system disease and when diabetes occurs it can lead to other autoimmune system problems. Early diagnosis is very important. Your vet will need to perform a sugar blood test to get a diagnosis. Once diagnosed, you will need to continue to monitor your dog to make sure he stays in stable condition.

You will need to talk to your vet about medications and your dog’s diet. He or she can tell you what foods will be good for your dog and which kinds of food to avoid. You will need to make regular visits to your vet so he or she can monitor your dog’s health.

Depending on your dog’s case, medication may be needed to help with the diabetes. Insulin injections may be needed. They can often help a dog live a normal life and extend his life for many years.

Diabetes can sometimes lead to other diseases, such as heart problems. There can be circulatory problems. You should watch your dog for signs that he could be developing other health problems, but with the proper diet and medication he should be able to live a reasonably normal life.

Dogs and Diabetes courtesy of Dog Articles

Looking for a great gift idea? Who wouldn’t love a blanket showcasing their favorite breed! For all the nicest blankets and great doggie gift ideas…check them out here on Amazon.com – doggieoftheday@amazon.com

Dog Breeding Tips

Posted on December 5, 2010 by admin

Breeding dogs is very tempting if you’re a dog lover. You’ll get to spread your passion for the animals and you can even earn an income. Even so, there is a lot to think about before you get started.

The first thing you need to realize is that your dog might not fit the bill. You should breed dogs that are from the highest pedigree. It is also important to make sure they have an even temperament and are without any genetic defects.

For the good of the puppies, never breed a dog that has these problems. Even if you sense a problem with the uterus you should make sure your pup can cope with the litter and is at least two years old. If not, it’s not a good idea to breed.

If your bitch meets all the requirements you almost have a green light. Next, you need to consider the puppies that would come out of the breeding. It is important to be sure you have enough room for 12 puppies in a space that can handle the noise level.

It can be very stressful being there for the birth of these puppies and the process can take over 12 hours. Beyond that you need to be there to clean up after the dogs, wean them, and feed them. This food and other materials can end up costing a lot of money. Don’t forget about the vet bills either.

Beyond the first weeks of care you need to figure out what you’re going to do with the puppies. Whether they are mixed breed or pedigree you may want to sell or give them away. Obviously, a pedigree dog is worth a lot more money to prospective buyers than a mutt.

Make sure you don’t just give the puppies away to anyone that walks into your facility. You need to make sure they are going to a good home. If you find that they were taken to an undesirable location you might even need to take them back in.

If you’ve made up your mind that breeding is what you want to do then you can start to look for a stud dog. If your bitch is pedigree then you want to make sure the stud comes from the same quality background. You can also examine the female dog’s weaknesses and find a stud that will make up for those weaknesses. For example, one might not have a beautiful coat but you can make up for it with the other.

Just remember that money is not the ultimate goal here. Breeding quality animals and making sure they have a wonderful life is. You can have a very fulfilling time as a dog breeder as long as you follow these guidelines.

Dog Breed Tips courtesy of Dog Articles

Looking for a great gift idea? Who wouldn’t love a holiday ornament showcasing their favorite breed! For all the nicest blankets and great doggie gift ideas…check them out here on Amazon.com – doggieoftheday@amazon.com

7 Reasons To Get Better At Dog Grooming

Posted on December 5, 2010 by admin

Grooming your dog is an essential part of dog ownership. Many people are familiar with the basics such as removing tangles and shampooing for a great, clean shine. It’s worth looking further into the world of dog grooming because there are many benefits you may not have considered before.

The first thing to realize is that grooming is not just for improving the look of your dog’s coat. There are also many health benefits if you groom regularly. You’ll want to start right away because:

1. Grooming will take away dead hair and skin. This will not only remove an unsightly and unwanted mess, it will also improve that air circulation to your dog’s coat. This is essential in the summertime when it’s hot and humid.

2. You’ll also find that grooming increases the blood flow to hair follicles. In turn, this will improve the health of your dog’s whole coat.

3. Grooming also stimulates the lymphatic system, which is similar to the results a human would get from a deep tissue massage.

4. Another benefit of grooming is that it will put your dog in a great mood. Combine this with your gentle voice and you’ll be helping to strengthen the bond that is between you.

5. A benefit that many people don’t think about is that you will become more familiar with your dog’s body while grooming. That means you will be able to detect many health problems that might occur.

6. You may find ticks or other insects that are attached to your dog. These can be very deadly so keep an eye out for them.

7. While you are grooming your pet you will also want to clip their nails. This will give you a chance to check the pads of their feet to see if there are any problems.

If you don’t have the essential grooming materials you can certainly find them at your local pet supply stores. If you would rather shop online there are many stores that offer the equipment for sale as well. As an added bonus you will also find a lot of great information and advice on the web.

For those who want to know more, your local community college may offer a program to teach dog owners how to groom. Dog clubs and other dog related groups might offer training as well.

If you move beyond the basics and become an excellent groomer you might even want to think about starting your own service. There are many pet owners who don’t have the time and know-how to groom their dogs themselves, but know it is a necessity. Turn their ignorance into dollars as you groom others’ pets part time or even full time.

Even if you don’t opt to start your own service you will be able to rest assured that your own dog is being properly cared for. There are obviously many rewards that go hand in hand with grooming, so start as soon as possible.

7 Reasons To Get Better at Dog Grooming courtesy of Dog Articles

Looking for a great gift idea? Who wouldn’t love a set of coasters showing off their favorite breed! For all the nicest blankets and great doggie gift ideas…check them out here on Amazon.com – doggieoftheday@amazon.com

Diet And Exercise Is Important For Any Dog

Posted on December 5, 2010 by admin

When you own a dog it is your responsibility to look out for the care and health of your dog. An important part of your dog’s health is his exercise and diet. If these are not monitored very closely and he is not given a proper nutritionally balanced diet and exercise, your dog can become hyper and destructive (which can lead to giving up ownership because the dog is no longer manageable) or it can become lazy and obese which is very dangerous to any dog because weight issues compound much faster on a dog than it does for a human. Obesity in dogs can greatly reduce the dogs lifespan and shorten the time you have to spend with your best friend.

It is our job to control the amount and what he/she eats to be sure that it is a healthy amount of a good, well balanced diet. Some dogs know no limit to the amount to eat and will make themselves extremely sick and obese if we don’t do our part to keep them healthy. Every food is different varying greatly as far as the recommended amount to feed and not all food bag suggestions are accurate for every dog. Your vet would be the best person to consult for more assistance in diet recommendations. Giving your dog table scraps can not only create an ill behaved beggar but can contribute to obesity and other health problems.

A dog should be kept lean and trim, he should not be all ribs and bony, neither should he be roly poly. When a dog is much heavier than he should be, or obese, he should be given more exercise and less fat intake and fillers and more protein, fiber, vitamins and minerals. He should not be allowed to freely graze but rather given a set amount of time to eat what he needs and then the food should be removed until the next meal time. All table scraps should be discontinued as they lack any nutritional value and contribute to weight gain. Your dog should be sent away and kept away from your table when you are eating so that he is discouraged from begging.

You can help him get used to this change by feeding him first in another room. Not all dog foods are healthy. It is necessary to research the food before giving it to him to be sure that it contains a balance of the necessary proteins, grains, vitamins, vegetables fiber and minerals and a strict amount of food should be supplied for him at a set time. Some fats are necessary in a dogs diet, the objective is to pay close attention to which ones you are providing him or her with and the amount you giving him. Human foods and sugary foods can convert to fat in a dog’s digestive systemleading to additional weight gain. A senior dog should be kept on a low calorie, high fiber diet. An older dog that refuses to eat or is disinterested in food, may be encouraged to eat by first moistening his food, then if that hasn’t worked, try an all natural gravy supplement or as I’ve found to be tried and true, (only if you are sure that your dog is not lactose intolerant) very small amounts of cheese, scrambled eggs (minus the butter) or peanut butter.

When a dog is too skinny, he may be given extra food that is nutritionally balanced and by supplementing with an all natural gravy diet supplement, you can help him reach his recommended target weight. Once he reaches this goal, you can return to regular recommended feedings. Maintaining a healthy weight for your dog is a series of constant slight adjustments through his lifetime. When he is too skinny or underweight, feed him a little more and when he is overweight, cut back. By paying close attention to this and making these adjustments you will keep your dog healthy and have your best friend around a whole lot longer.

Walking or jogging with your dog or playing with him and throwing balls or Frisbees to make him run and chase them are great ways to help your dog burn calories and aid in weight loss. Letting your dog play with other well behaved, vaccinated canine playmates is another great activity that will help him as well.

Diet and Exercise is Important For Any Dog courtesy of Dog Articles

Looking for a great gift idea? Who wouldn’t love a mousepad showcasing their favorite breed! For all the nicest mousepads and great doggie gift ideas…check them out here on Amazon.com – doggieoftheday@amazon.com

Neutering Or Spaying Your Chesapeake Bay Retriever

Posted on December 5, 2010 by admin

Neutering or Spaying your Chesapeake Bay Retriever is probably on of the most important steps you can take as a responsible pet owner if you’re not planning on breeding. As these dog breeds are more aggressive than most other Retrievers, regular socialization from a young age is quite important.

Male Chessie’s are generally more aggressive than the females but neutering and spaying has calmed this trait or even prevented this problem from developing. Some owners may believe that altering their Chesapeake Bay Retriever and in particular males, that this alters their charm. This is not the case. It actually helps your male Chessie to ignore the urge to wander for a female on heat. Having the urges in check will considerably make your dog much happier to stay by your side.

Spaying your female Chessie before their first heat season has been known to prevent breast cancers and uterine infections, while neutering males at puppy age will prevent testicular cancers as well as continue to maintain a healthy prostate and subdue their aggression.

Neutering and Spaying can reduce or eliminate serious illnesses in your Chessie and are said to live longer and healthier lives which also makes a happier companion for you.

The physical traits of spayed females are that they require less food, although a proper diet and outdoor exercise will prevent them from becoming obese, it also means that they will never come in season which will avoid an accidental breeding or unwanted puppies. While the temperament of spayed Chesapeake Bay Retrievers may become more dominant with other dogs but normally not the case.

Male Chesapeake Bay Retrievers if they are neutered less than 6 months of age tend to become taller with less muscle mass than intact males. They also require less food and a quality diet with regular exercise to avoid obesity. The good thing about neutering a male Chessie is that they are usually less aggressive towards other male dogs as well as their dominance with people is quite reduced. However, this shouldn’t be taken as a cure for dominant behavior, regular training and leadership is still required while still young.

In general you’ll find with these dog breeds that by neutering and spaying your pet there are a lot of benefits for both you and your dog. Training your Chessie is also a lot more civilized as they are usually more consistent and focused than a Cheesie still intact. Look after your Chessie and they’ll reward you with years of love, fun and companionship for you and your family.

Neutering Or Spaying Your Chesapeake Bay Retriever courtesy of Dog Articles

Looking for a great gift idea? Who wouldn’t love a cutting board showcasing their favorite breed! For great doggie gift ideas…check them out here on Amazon.com – doggieoftheday@amazon.com

The Importance of Socializing Your Dog

Posted on December 4, 2010 by admin

Once your dog has learned how to handle being in a public environment and how to behave, he can then be introduced slowly to other dogs and allowed to make other canine friends by allowing them to smell and greet each other (this is best done with both dogs on leashes so that you can quickly pull them back if one or the other becomes aggressive or displays dominant behavior. You may know the behavior and temperament of your own dog, but you might not necessarily know that of the other dog).

Be sure that your dog and any other that he comes into contact with are current on all vaccines, including Rabies, Bordetella (for kennel cough. note –(Keep in mind that, like the flu virus for humans, the vaccine is designed to prevent against the most common strain, of which there many.) and all DHLPP shots. This will minimize his and other dogs health risks if one or both becomes sick. Remember that, just like people, a dog’s personality comes in all varieties, some dogs may never be able to get along together because and they just aren’t compatible with others. If the first few tries are unsuccessful, take heart, it doesn’t mean the end of the road. Keep trying until a match is found that gets along well together.

Not giving a dog the opportunity to play and interact with other dogs is like having a child and not allowing them to play with other children. This can create behavior problems later in life as they have never been given the opportunity to develop social skills. There are some dogs that just can’t figure out how to socialize and play with others and in this case, they may do best by themselves. You can assist this type of dog and encourage him to play and interact by getting involved in the play yourself. Silly though it may sound, I’ve gotten it to work. One way to assist the shy or fearful dog is through daycare, again, this is not foolproof and some dogs just cannot seem to develop social skills, but at least you would have attempted and hopefully brought him out of his shell. Ideally to be able to take your dog to dog parks and watch them play, socialize and make new friends of their own kind would be great.

They can wear each other out so that you won’t have a hyper or destructive dog on your hands when you get home or if you ever have to leave them home alone. There are young dogs of certain breeds that can mingle comfortably with plenty of others with no problem, but not all dogs are capable of such sociability. When dogs hit maturity, some are no longer comfortable mingling with unfamiliar dogs. Dogs use body language for communicating. Being taken from their mothers early, dogs are left to learn these skills from us humans, unfortunately we don’t communicate in the same ways, which leaves them to figure it out on their own, making it more difficult for them to learn. This is why we need to use caution in allowing our dogs to greet a new potential playmate or friend. The younger the dog the more friendly and pliable he is.

Close supervision will always be needed when he is learning to form new relationships with other dogs. A good parent would initially keep close watch on their young children as they meet new friends for the first time and observe the situation, monitoring closely for problems so that they could intervene when they sense a problem. Imagine being a mom or dad who is looking out for your kids while gradually loosening the leash of freedom. If your dog is being picked on or seems uncomfortable, you may need to come to his rescue. If he’s behaving badly toward others, you may need to remove him from the situation or use a brief “time out” if corrective action doesn’t work. When a puppy is scared to be around others, it shouldn’t be forced, however repeated attempts may bring success as we’ve learned from experience.

A dog that gets too excited and overwhelms others may need to be pulled aside for a brief period, in order to calm down. When playing, some dogs may appear to be fighting and it can often be difficult to interpret. Conflicting misunderstanding may lead to fights if close watch is not kept to keep both dogs in check. Some breeds tend to use growling in their play and others will full on wrestle while some just like to play chasing games and barking can also be a part of play. Crashing and running into each other is a means of play for some while other dogs don’t quite know what to make of it and may feel uncomfortable or threatened by this. Some will use greetings that others may find overwhelming or uncomfortable or even intimidating and threatening, like rushing to greet others and jumping, climbing and licking others, barking at them, or they may exhibit complete fear.

Mounting and other displays of dominance like holding his head above another dog’s head or biting the back of the other dog’s neck are undesirable behaviors and acts of power play and should be corrected immediately. On the flip side, some may show submissiveness in greeting such as lying down or rolling onto their back to show the other dog that they aren’t a threat. So many different temperaments in each individual dog, is why allowing our dogs to simply charge out and greet others may in fact be dangerous to one or both dogs, and why a slow cautious approach is best.

The Importance of Socializing Your Dog courtesy of Dog Articles