health

0

Dog Maintenance

Posted on by admin

For anyone who’s considering getting a dog, please do your research first. Consider the care and maintenance involved in the breed you are wanting and whether or not you are able, willing to keep up with care for, train, seek medical attention for, grooming of and training of that breed. If you cannot or will not be able to meet the needs of the dog, perhaps another more maintenance free pet would be more suited for you, ie, a goldfish or a pet rock. The goldfish, you only need to throw food at and change the tank once in a while, the pet rock you only need to talk to.

Try this: pinch two pieces of skin close to one another on your neck, now take those pieces of skin and pull them tight together. How does that feel? Now imagine walking around with your skin pulled tight like that. That’s what a matt does and feels like to a dog, sometimes multiplied several times. This doesn’t allow the skin to breathe and can cause rashes and even tear the skin. If you already have a dog that needs grooming, brush it regularly. If it’s a coat that becomes matted, this will keep most of the matts away. If it becomes too matted, don’t try to cut them out yourself unless you know how to do it right.

Take it to a groomer and not after you’ve been attempting to groom it yourself. Ever let your hair go nearly a year before washing or brushing it and then spend six hours trying to detangle the mess without trimming out the tangles. That’s what happens to a long haired dog that’s not maintained and it doesn’t feel any better (probably worse) to the dog who has a groomer tugging and pulling at mats that an owner doesn’t want, to have a haircut. Now try this: Pound nails into your shoe so that they stick up into your foot, then walk around on them. Not comfortable? That’s how it feels to a dog that has toenails curled around and digging into the pads of their feet. Their toes will also become splayed apart and they will get painful joint problems throughout their legs. Ever get fleas in your hair? Now imagine yourself covered from head to toe with fleas biting at you.

Does it sound pleasant? It’s not to a dog either, in fact it causes rashes, sores and infections and disease. Have you ever seen a child who’s who was deemed unmanageable and has been bounced from one foster home to another because? That’s what it’s like for the dog that doesn’t get proper training and the owner gives him up and then he may see another couple of homes in their life or get euthanized in a shelter because he got out of hand. That holds true not only for the large breed, but also the small one. Misbehavior is not cute. People need a limited and balanced diet and exercise, so does an overweight dog.

Feeding an overweight dog table scraps and junk food, is stealing away part of that dogs’ life. It really does shorten their life, as they need care just like you or I do. Have you seen a child who is so scared and shy that they want to always hide or can’t get along with other children? Usually they haven’t been away from mom and dad or don’t have friends to play with and they may have issues later on. Having a dog and never allowing it the opportunity to look at, see or play with another dog or getting it out around other people from the time it is young is depriving it of much needed socialization. That dog will likely have either fearful or aggressive issues.

In my profession as a dog resort owner and dog groomer, these are just examples of situations I’ve encountered, from dogs in dire need of care from owners being too busy, not thinking about it, work and chasing their kids around. While these may be legit excuses, please keep in mind that your dog may be enduring daily suffering because of it. If you love your dog, the best way to show it is by helping him to live a long, happy and healthy life and he in turn will be your best friend for the duration of his life.

Dog Maintenance courtesy of Dog Articles.

Looking for a great gift idea? Who wouldn’t love a throw blanket showcasing their favorite breed? Check out all of the great doggie gift ideas on Amazon.com –doggieoftheday@amazon.com


0

How To Choose A Dog That Will Make You Happy!

Posted on by admin

If you choose a purebred puppy- and there are hundreds of breeds to choose from – you’ll know ahead of time how your puppy is going to turn out when he grows up. That’s the benefit of choosing a purebred as opposed to a mixed-breed or hybrid dog! You can find out before you even buy him: how much he’ll shed, how easy he’ll be to train, how much grooming he’ll require, whether he’s going to be a good watchdog or guard dog, how big he’s going to be, what he’s going to look like, how athletic he’ll be, and how he’s going to behave. Of course, every dog has it’s own unique personality and behavioral quirks. But in general, all dogs of a particular breed will grow up to act and behave like the other dogs of that breed. For example, you know that a German Shepherd puppy is going to grow up into a dog that striking in appearance, very easy to train, eager-to-please, athletic, protective, and intelligent: like all German Shepherd dogs are. Purebred dogs are man-made.

They wouldn’t exist if it wasn’t for us. Pugs, Border Collies, Yorkies – every breed – wouldn’t exist if it wasn’t for us humans creating them. To create a new breed someone decides what characteristics they want the breed to have. Then they only breed dogs together who have those characteristics. Lots of inbreeding then takes place. After years of selective breeding (breeding out the undesirable characteristics) and inbreeding a new “breed” is born. And when you breed dogs of that new breed together they produce puppies who grow up to be the same as the parents.

As I mentioned above the benefit of choosing a purebred puppy is that you know how your dog is going to turn out — in advance — even before he’s born. So assuming you’re going to purchase or adopt a purebred puppy or dog, here are some of the things to consider about the many different breeds: Shedding All dog breeds shed hair. They all shed different amounts of hair. Some breeds shed virtually no hair, some shed quite a lot, and some shed a lot of hair! If it bothers you finding loose hairs stuck to everything in your home then choose a low-shedding breed. Ease of Training Some breeds are easier to train than others because they learn training commands faster.

The easier the dog is to train the less time and patience you need to train him. If you want a dog who learns your commands quickly choose a breed that is easy to train. Grooming How much time you need to spend grooming your dog depends on the length of the coat and how much the coat sheds. If the dog breed you’re considering has a long coat you’ll need to either clip it short, or brush it often. If the dog breed you’re considering sheds lot of hair you might find yourself brushing the coat every day to remove the dead hair. Because what you remove with a brush doesn’t end up in the house! Want a Jogging Companion? Some breeds were made to be athletic and posses great stamina. If you want a dog who can accompany you on long walks, hikes, jogs and rides then you should choose one of these breeds.

Good With Children Pretty much all breeds are great with children. Thousands of people have small children and own Rottweiler, Pit Bulls, and other more aggressive dogs and they never have any problems at all. These owners will tell you that their dogs are the sweetest and most gentle dogs on earth. And it’s true. However, which dog has the ability to do more damage to a small child: a Pit Bull or a Pug? Obviously it’s the Pit Bull. So if you want to play it safe choose a breed who doesn’t really have the ability to harm a child or one who doesn’t have a bad reputation. And always supervise very small children and babies around the dog! Small children could inadvertently tease the dog and he could snap at them. Guard Dog or Watchdog Some breeds like German Shepherds and Rottweilers make excellent guard dogs.

They’re naturally very protective and suspicious of strangers. They have the ability to intimidate and deter an intruder. On the other hand, some breeds are just good at keeping watch and raising the alarm. And some little dogs have such a loud, deep bark they can even scare and intruder away. Size When choosing a breed consider size. Small dogs are make training easier because you can control them a lot easier than a big, strong and powerful dog. The small breeds also make less mess, and they coast less to care for.

How To Choose A Dog That Will Make You Happy courtesy of Dog Articles.

Looking for a great gift idea? Who wouldn’t love a set of coasters showcasing their favorite breed? Check out all of the great doggie gift ideas on Amazon.com –doggieoftheday@amazon.com


0

The Right And The Wrong Way To Teach Your Dog To Come

Posted on by admin

The best way to teach your dog anything at all is to try looking at things from your dog’s point of view.  If you want to teach your dog to “Come” then you need to make it worth his while.  That means you need to avoid doing what most owners do.

If you simply go outside and yell for your dog to come to you then chances are that your dog is going to ignore you, especially if you have a puppy.  Your puppy is exploring the world and there are at least 100 things more interesting in your backyard than coming when you call.  Your puppy could be chasing a bug, digging for a rock, or watching a bird.  All of those things are more interesting than seeing what you want.

If you get mad when your puppy doesn’t come to you then you are giving your puppy even more reason to stay away.  What puppy in their right mind wants to go to an angry owner?  None.  All you’re doing is teaching your puppy to associate the “Come” command with being angry and bad things.

If you go outside and chase your puppy with a leash your puppy might think its fun for a little while — until he sees that crazy look in your eyes.  Again, you are teaching your puppy that training is something bad and to be avoided.

Anytime that anger is involved in training, especially when you’re training a puppy, you are most likely teaching the opposite of what you want to teach.

The best way to teach your puppy to come to you is by calmly attaching a leash or long cord to your puppy’s collar.  It’s best to do this when your puppy is still in the house and not distracted by other things.  Then the two of you can go outside in an enclosed area such as your backyard.  You want to work in a place that is relatively free of distractions at first.

When you’re outside with your puppy let him move around and play a little, especially if he is on the long cord.  Then tell him to come to you.  Remember that he doesn’t know what this means at first.  So, gently pull him toward you with the cord or leash.  When he reaches you reward him and praise him for coming.  Keep repeating this a few times until he begins to associate “Come” with actually coming to you and getting his praise and rewards.  Keep things positive and cheerful.

Practice this lesson everyday with your puppy on the cord or leash.  It will be some time before you are ready to try it off-leash.  Remember to let your puppy move around the yard and get interested in things so he’s not paying attention to you when you ask him to come.

After your dog is coming to you quickly when you give him the command you can try moving on to doing the command off-leash in the enclosed area.  Make sure the area is enclosed because you don’t want to risk letting your puppy or dog get loose where he might get lost.  Give the command off-leash and see how your puppy or dog does.  Praise and reward when he comes to you.  He should know the command by now so he will probably come to you.  It’s a question of how quickly he comes and whether he comes directly to you.  You will need to practice off-leash in the enclosed area for a long time before you try this some place else.  When you think you’re ready to try it elsewhere, try it on-leash for the first few times.  It’s not easy to get a reliable recall when there are distractions.  You may want to try it in a neighbor’s yard if they have a fenced yard or someplace else where your dog will be safe if you try it off-leash.

If you teach the Come command without getting angry and, instead, use lots of praise and positive reinforcement, then your puppy or dog will be glad to learn it.  Just make sure that you don’t try to teach your puppy or dog using anger.

The Right And The Wrong Way To Teach Your Dog To Come courtesy of Dog Articles.

Looking for a great gift idea? Who wouldn’t love a cutting board showcasing their favorite breed? Check out all of the great doggie gift ideas on Amazon.com –doggieoftheday@amazon.com


0

Bringing Home An Older Dog

Posted on by admin

Older dogs have special needs.  If you decide to bring home an older dog you will need to do some special things for him.  His health, his activities, his comfort in your home, his diet– all of these things will depend on you.

Whether you are adopting an older dog, you receive one from a friend, or you find an older dog as a stray, your first step should be to take your new friend to the vet. Even if your older dog looks healthy, many times older dogs have some hidden health issues that you can’t see.  Your older dog will need geriatric health screening at some point but you may not need to do that right away.  Your vet should, however, look at your dog’s teeth to make sure they are in good shape.  Poor teeth can often cause an older dog to be unable to eat properly.  This can lead to loss of weight and general poor health.  Your vet can make sure that your older dog is current on vaccinations — although you should not over-vaccinate an older dog. This general checkup should be able to catch any immediate health problems in your dog.

You should also pay close attention to the diet of your older dog. What has he been eating?  What kind of condition is he in?  Is he too thin?  Too fat?  If he’s in good condition you can continue to feed him what he’s used to eating, but if he needs to gain or lose weight you can gradually switch him to a better food.  You do not have to choose a “senior” dog food.  Experts are split on whether these senior foods are actually good for older dogs.  Many dogs lose weight on them.  They are generally designed for dogs that gain weight in their later years — they are tested on Labrador Retrievers and Beagles, which gain weight easily.  If you have a breed that loses weight when they’re older, as many dogs do, these senior foods would be a bad choice.  Instead, you can continue feeding a dog food for “all life stages.”  You can add supplements for joint health, such as glucosamine-chondroitin, MSM and others, if you wish.  People are divided on whether these supplements actually help an older dog but they don’t do any harm.

If your older dog has any particular health conditions, as diagnosed by your vet, you can add the appropriate supplements or medications.

If your older dog has hip dysplasia or other joint problems, you can work on activities that may help him.  Swimming is often good for some hip dysplasia.  If your dog is overweight then moderate exercise, such as long walks with you, is highly recommended.  Find the appropriate exercise for your older dog.  He’s not a young dog anymore but he can and should partake of exercise that he’s able to do.

Finally, make sure that you keep your older dog comfortable in your home.  His joints and bones may be achy sometimes.  Provide him with comfortable places to sleep, such as a soft doggy bed.  Orthopedic doggy beds are very good for dogs with any kind of hip dysplasia.  If your dog has joint problems or just feels old and moves more slowly, heated beds or heating pads under some covers can make him feel better.  If your dog eats more slowly because he’s missing some teeth give him plenty of quiet time to eat his food. Don’t rush him.

Your older dog may take some time to adjust to living in your home but he will most likely be very happy living with you if you do your best to take good care of him.  Follow these tips and your older dog will adjust to your home very quickly.

Bringing Home An Older Dog courtesy of Dog Articles.

Looking for a great gift idea? Who wouldn’t love a set of coasters showcasing their favorite breed? Check out all of the great doggie gift ideas on Amazon.com –doggieoftheday@amazon.com


0

Rabies: Is Your Dog At Risk?

Posted on by admin

In almost every case of rabies, the infection is fatal. All mammals (including humans) are susceptible to this virus infection, which causes an acute infection of the brain. During the illness disturbances of behavior are noted, which in some species results in unprovoked aggression and the biting of other animals. This is usually the case with an affected dog. And because the rabies virus can be present in saliva, bites and licks from infected animals can spread the disease.


The good news is that the rabies vaccine is very effective in preventing the spread of rabies to pet dogs and cats. And, rabies vaccinations are required by law in most areas, which helps to protect both people and pets. These vaccinations are considered to be core vaccines for dogs and cats.


The particulars of the rabies protocols differ slightly from one state to another and even from one veterinarian to another, but typically, the first vaccine is given to puppies at 12 weeks. A rabies booster vaccine is given a year later and then it is administered either annually or every three years.


Insuring that a pet receives and keeps current with the rabies vaccine is an important component of dog ownership. It protects the family of the pet, the pet itself, as well as other animals and people. When a person is bitten by a dog one of the first things checked is the veterinarian record.


In most cases, if the dog is current with his vaccines, according to the state protocols, the danger of the individual being exposed to rabies is considered negligible. But if the dog was not vaccinated it is likely that the animal will be quarantined for a period of ten to fourteen days. In most cases, the owner of the pet will be responsible for the cost of this confinement which will take place in a secured facility.


Incubation in a person is usually three to eight weeks but it can be as long as two years. Initial symptoms may include numbness around the area of the bite, fever, headaches, and general fatigue.


If a dog is bitten by a rabid animal or is suspected of being infected with rabies the outcome will be much more positive if the dog has been vaccinated against rabies. If so, in most cases the pet will be re-vaccinated and confined for a period of time (which varies from state to state, generally from 30 – 50 days).


If the animal was not vaccinated and the exposure is confirmed the usual recommendation is euthanasia for the pet. Otherwise, the pet is quarantined for a lengthy period of time, often for as long as six months. The confinement takes place in a secure facility and the pet owner is liable for the expenses incurred. Fines are also assessed for not having the pet properly vaccinated.  If the dog shows signs of illness euthanasia is likely.


When an animal is infected with the rabies virus the infection or virus is replicated in tissues throughout the body and it eventually reaches the brain. When it does there is personality change in the animal. The dog is likely to be aggressive and dangerous to be around. Soon afterward the animal’s throat is likely to become paralyzed, preventing him from swallowing. In this phase you are likely to see drooling or foaming at the mouth. Death usually occurs within ten days from the time the brain of the animal becomes infected.

Rabies: Is Your Dog At Risk courtesy of Dog Articles.

Looking for a great gift idea? Who wouldn’t love a throw blanket showcasing their favorite breed? Check out all of the great doggie gift ideas on Amazon.com –doggieoftheday@amazon.com


0

Going To A Backyard Breeder

Posted on by admin

In some cases, the owner of an AKC-registered female dog will breed her to a friend’s unproven registered dog of the same breed.  Are puppies of such matings likely to be satisfactory canine pets for you? The answer depends on the quality of each of the parents, not the cuteness of the puppies.

If both dogs are fair representatives of their breed, have few hereditary problems, and demonstrate acceptable personalities, their offspring may suit your needs.  However, if both parents are quite young when bred, and nothing is known about their ancestors’ qualities, especially conformation and disposition, their litter may not be the one you are looking for! Genetic diseases may be first exhibited after several years of age, and these conditions may be prevalent in both the male and the female bloodlines.

These facts should make you wary of obtaining a backyard-bred puppy.  Judicious advice admonishes you to buy soundness in a big dog, not cuteness.  Look for the best pup, not the most available one.

Mixed breed and crossbred big dogs

Sometimes, a big dog may be inadvertently bred to a neighborhood fence jumper or a female dog of one large purebred may be purposefully mated with a purebred of another large breed to produce crossbred puppies.  What can we predict in such pups?  Again, only the puppies in question and the people involved can answer these questions.

Something can be said for the hybrid vigor of mixed-breed pups.  Sufficient research has not been done to prove that the offspring of such matings are truly stronger or more vigorous than the progeny of purebreds.  Commonsense genetics tells us mixed-breed puppies should have fewer hereditary problems, but the wider gene pool behind them does not assure that these pups will be free of all such problems.

Crossbred offspring conformation is relatively unpredictable on the first mating.  If a large purebred female is bred to a large purebred male of another breed, anything is possible, and few assumptions can be made about the variety of appearances or sizes of the puppies until the litter is several weeks or months old.  Previous matings of the same two dogs may predict the size of these crossbred puppies.

Often, personalities of mixed-breed and crossbred pups are quite attractive, but are probably less predictable than those of purebreds.  Even though individual dispositions may vary, purebred puppies’ characters are likely to be similar to those of their ancestors.

However, if you are not concerned about the actual size or appearance of your big canine partner, and if you find a mixed or crossbred litter, go for it! If the dam is a big dog and the sire is of equal or greater size, the litter has an excellent chance of containing at least a fair percentage of big puppies.

Going To A Backyard Breeder courtesy of Dog Articles.

Looking for a great gift idea? Who wouldn’t love a cutting board showcasing their favorite breed? Check out all of the great doggie gift ideas on Amazon.com –doggieoftheday@amazon.com


1

Should I Have My Dog Spayed Or Neutered?

Posted on by admin

Many people today are concerned about pet overpopulation.  They may choose to adopt a pet instead of buying from a breeder.  Even if they do obtain a dog from a breeder they may be interested in having their dog spayed or neutered.  Is this always a good idea?  Is spaying and neutering right for everyone?  Are there drawbacks?  If you do plan to spay or neuter your pet, what is the best age to have it done?

There are many positives to having your dog spayed or neutered, especially for the casual pet owner.  Primarily, you reduce the risk of unplanned and unwanted pregnancies.  Many people today are not always aware when their female dog may be in “season.”  They may not take the proper precautions to prevent her from becoming pregnant.  It can take a surprisingly short time for a breeding to take place.  Even fenced dogs may become pregnant if you have a determined male nearby.  Dogs can escape from a yard or house for a brief rendezvous.  You may not even know that your dog is pregnant until shortly before she has puppies.  By then it’s too late to do anything but get ready for the whelping.

Spaying your female (and neutering your male) eliminates this risk.  You won’t have to find homes for unplanned puppies or care for them for several weeks while the mother nurses them.  Newborn puppies are virtually helpless and you would be responsible for their welfare until they are old enough to wean.  After that you would need to get their first set of shots before they go to their new homes.  It’s quite a daunting experience to try to raise a litter of puppies and find good homes for them.  If you are unsuccessful you would be responsible for taking them to an animal shelter where they might be put to sleep if not adopted.  For this reason alone, many people choose to have their female dogs spayed.

From a health standpoint, spaying also has certain benefits.  If you spay your female dog before she is 2 1/2 years old she has a significantly lower chance of developing mammary cancer than her unspayed counterparts.  Mammary cancer is one of the leading causes of death among unspayed females.  Spaying a female dog also removes the chance of ovarian cysts developing since the ovaries are removed during the hysterectomy.  You will also avoid pyrometra and uterine cancer.

Neutering your male dog has similar positive benefits.  Besides being unable to mate, your neutered male will probably have less or an urge to mark in the house.  Your dog will not have a risk of testicular cancer and the risk of prostate cancer is reduced.

There are, however, negatives about spaying and neutering.  Weight gain is often observed after spaying and neutering.  Spaying and neutering at young ages (before the onset of puberty and the beginning of the sex hormones) can mean that your dog never achieves the look of a mature dog.  Males, in particular, may lack muscle tone and mass their entire lives.  Spaying and neutering at young ages — before the growth plates close — may also stunt the growth of your dog.  On the other hand, some spayed and neutered dogs grow to be much taller than normal.  Spayed females may also become incontinent and have accidents in the house.  At least one study has shown that sterilized dogs are more likely to have problems with hypothyroidism.

In addition, while spayed and neutered dogs are less likely to get some cancers, they are more likely to develop others.  This is thought to be because they no longer have the beneficial effects of some necessary hormones in their bodies.

Neutering increases the risk of osteosarcoma in male dogs (bone cancer).  It increases the risk of cardiac hemangiosarcoma.  It triples the risk of hypothyroidism.  It increases the risk of orthopedic disorders.  And it increases the risk of adverse reactions to vaccinations.

For female dogs, spaying significantly increases the risk of osteosarcoma (bone cancer.  It doubles the risk of splenic hemangeiosarcoma.  It triples the risk of hypothyroidism.  It triples or quadruples the risk of persistent urinary tract infections.  It increases the risk of orthopedic disorders.  And it increases the risk of adverse reactions to vaccinations.

That’s a lot of important health information to consider.  Having your dog spayed or neutered is not a slam dunk decision.  If you have a breed that is already prone to one of these conditions you should think carefully before having your dog spayed or neutered since you will be increasing the odds that your dog may develop a serious health condition.

Most pet owners will choose to have their dog spayed or neutered for the sake of convenience.  They won’t have to worry about unwanted pregnancies.  They won’t have to worry about their dog coming in season.  This is often a good choice.  But please consider all of the health ramifications of your decision.  Talk to people who have your breed.  Find out about common health problems and see what other people recommend.  At the very least, try to delay spaying and neutering until your dog is sexually mature so that you can avoid some of the worst of the potential health problems associated with spaying and neutering.

Should I Have My Dog Spayed Or Neutered? Courtesy of Dog Articles.

Looking for a great gift idea? Who wouldn’t love a license plate showcasing their favorite breed? Check out all of the great doggie gift ideas on Amazon.com –doggieoftheday@amazon.com


0

Dog’s Giving Birth: Problems During Whelping

Posted on by admin

Big breeds such as the Labrador Retriever produces large litters of small puppies and have fewer whelping problems than small breeds such as terriers, which produce smaller litters of large puppies.  Also, breeds with a large head such as Bulldogs usually have more difficulty giving birth than do other breeds.

To prepare for labor, you will need to gather the necessary supplies such as towels, threads for tying off the umbilical cord, and a non-toxic disinfectant for your hands.  Once the mother starts to go into labor, call the vet so he can be prepared for any possible problem.  Do not interfere with the process unless you absolutely have to in order to help the mother if she is having difficulty giving birth.  In this case, she may need some assistance.

The mother should produce a puppy within 2 hours after her water breaks.  The puppies come out at intervals ranging from just a few minutes to 2 hours at a time.  You need to contact a vet if the mother has been straining unproductively for more than half an hour because the puppies may be too large for her to deliver.  The vet may have to perform a cesarean section to where an incision is made in the abdomen so the puppies can be removed by hand.

Dog’s Giving Birth: Problems During Whelping courtesy of Dog Articles.

Looking for a great gift idea? Who wouldn’t love a cutting board showcasing their favorite breed? Check out all of the great doggie gift ideas on Amazon.com –doggieoftheday@amazon.com

0

Why Should Great Danes Never Have Table Scraps?

Posted on by admin

Great Danes need a nutritional and well balanced diet, this is essential for their health and growth. Quality premium dog food as well as the way you feed these dogs is the key to your Great Danes’ long and healthy life. For this breed, table scraps are not recommended as a substitute or supplement to their normal daily dietary requirements.

Great Danes need to be fed a few times a day in order to reduce the risk of bloating or torsion. Puppies may feed up to four times a day until they reach about 6 months of age. As these dogs reach maturity they will let you know when they are ready to reduce their meals to twice a day by eating less. This breed should always be fed at least twice a day, never less.

Adding natural foods to your Great Dane’s diet may reduce the nutritional content of their food. This may mean less vitamins and minerals that will ultimately cause health problems. Many owners don’t understand the importance of the types of foods we give to our Great Danes. Some foods we give them lack the required nutrients and contain something entirely different. Soy products are to be avoided as they can cause gas that may contribute towards bloat. Table scraps or other food that changes daily tend to cause digestive issues rather than the same diet each day.

Table scraps may also cause your Great Dane to gain too much weight which can cause developmental problems while they are young and still growing. Some human foods may also cause deficiencies in some much needed vitamins and minerals or contain too much protein. Selecting the right blend of vitamins and minerals in their diet is most important. Purchasing a food bowl tower has also aided in avoiding bloat and other bowel issues to this breed.

Maintaining a low weight for these gentle giants is extremely important. Most pups consume about 1½ to 2 cups of kibble 3 times a day. As they grow their food intake will increase up to 4 cups twice daily until they are about 4 – 6 months of age. Staying on this type of food will help keep your dog and tip top form without gaining excess weight.

The following is a list of suitable brands that are recommended by Breeders and Vets, as they cater to the dietary requirements of Great Danes. Try these, Eagle Pack, Solid Gold Wolf Cub, Canidae, Back to Basics, Wellness, Natures Variety, Innova, Pet Guard, Artemis and Spectrum are but a few well known brands suitable for maintaining a healthy and happy dog.

So when it comes down to feeding your Great Dane, make sure the product is of high quality and covers all the nutritional requirements. Homemade dog food and food bowl towers are also beneficial for your Great Dane’s health. Steer clear of table scraps to avoid any unnecessary health problems and you and your Dane will enjoy the company of each other for years to come.

Why Should Great Danes Never Have Table Scraps courtesy of Dog Articles.

Looking for a great gift idea? Who wouldn’t love a license plate showcasing their favorite breed? Check out all of the great doggie gift ideas on Amazon.com –doggieoftheday@amazon.com


1

Choosing Healthy Foods For Your Dog

Posted on by admin

Today’s pet food market is larger and more diverse than ever before.  While this offers a large number of choices in various types of pet food, it also presents a dilemma in choosing the healthiest food for your dog.  Are generic or store brands suitable for a dog?  What about familiar name brands like Purina and Alpo?  Are the pricier brands that advertise specially formulated ingredients (Science Diet, Eukanuba) really living up to their claims and worth the extra money?  All of these are valid questions that loving dog owners deserve to have answered.

Dog Food Considerations

There are several factors to consider when choosing the right food for your dog.  Different dogs have different nutritional needs at different stages in their lives.  Some things to consider when selecting the food you’ll give your dog follow.

– The Dog’s Age

Puppies have different nutritional requirements than adult dogs just as human children have different needs than adult people.  Senior dogs also have different requirements than younger adult dogs.  Make sure that you select a food that is appropriate for your dog’s stage in life.

– The Dog’s Health

Does your dog have a specific medical condition?  If so, the food you choose may need to be partially dictated by that condition.  Diabetic dogs need low-glucose foods and dogs with specific allergies (yes dogs can be allergic to all sorts of things, just like people) may require certain foods as well.  Your veterinarian can help you choose foods that are appropriate for a dog with a specific medical condition.

– The Dog’s Size or Body Type

Some dogs are overweight.  Some dogs are underweight.  Some have a natural tendency to get lots of exercise while others tend to prefer to lie around a lot.  There are, of course, small, medium, and large dogs as well as the ultra-tiny “toy” dogs.  All of these different types of dogs will have different requirements for the type of food they need as well as how much of it.

– Your Budget

Dog food can be expensive, there’s no doubt about it.  And where dog food is concerned, the rule really is “you get what you pay for.”  Low cost generics and store brands will lighten the burden on your wallet, but may not be the healthiest choice for your dog as they are made with cheap ingredients and lots of fillers.  You should buy the best dog food you can on your budget to help ensure your dog’s nutrition.

Choosing Healthy Foods For Your Dog courtesy of Dog Articles.

Looking for a great gift idea? Who wouldn’t love a puzzle showcasing their favorite breed? Check out all of the great doggie gift ideas on Amazon.com –doggieoftheday@amazon.com