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Give Your Dog a Daily Vitamin
by Steve Dale
You take a daily vitamin for yourself, but have you thought about giving one to your dog? Veterinarian Shawn Messonnier, author of 8 Weeks to a Healthy Dog: An Easy-to-Follow Program for the Life of Your Dog (Rodale Books), says dogs benefit from vitamins just as people do.
"I believe taking daily vitamins improves health, and lessens the chances of disease," Messonnier says. "We live in a toxic world, and over time this damages people and dogs. Anti-oxidants provide at least some protection."
Dogs can get stressed out, too. What stresses out your dog? It's not likely to be a bad day at the office. But maybe it's been a rainy week and you haven't gone for your regular walks. Or perhaps loud Aunt Gertrude, who steps on dogs' tails, is visiting. Left unchecked, stress can prompt illness or exacerbate an existing problem. Vitamins help build immune response.
You might think only old dogs need vitamins. However, Messonnier says it's actually a good idea to begin with puppies. Still, it's never too late.
He says that essentially dogs require the same vitamins people do. You could share your multi-vitamin with your best friend. However, Messonnier says that rather than use a manufactured product meant for people, you'll be far better off if you use food sources, such as fish oil (for Omega-3 fatty acids) or alfalfa (which has vitamin K and properties that may thwart cancer) for many of the vitamins. Messonnier also suggests a multi-vitamin made for dogs.
What to Do With a Clawing Cat
by Llana Reisner
Cats scratch. There's no getting around that fact. Scratching serves some very important purposes for cats, so the answer to any scratching problem is to give your cat an appropriate place to scratch, and then redirect his claws when he scratches someplace that's not appropriate.
By scratching rough surfaces, cats accelerate the shedding of their nail sheaths, presumably as a form of self-grooming. Some cats like to stretch when they scratch, anchoring their claws up high and then arching their backs down. Also, by clawing, cats declare their territory by depositing both a visible (shredded material) and a chemical (by secretions from the paw pads) marker of their presence. For an extra-large version of this evidence, visit your local zoo and examine the trees in the big cat enclosures. Chances are you will see serious bark-shredding in the high, visible part of some tree trunks.
Most often, cats scratch and shred furniture, stereo speakers, doorways, and cabinets with their claws. To convince your cat to claw only appropriate objects rather than your favorite chair, you must provide attractive options. The typical carpeted post is not always appealing to cats. It may be too smooth, too short or too wobbly.
Instead, take your cue from the cat's own preferences and try fabric posts, bark-covered logs, softwood remnants, sisal fiber or corrugated cardboard. Experiment with location, and vertical or horizontal post positions. Look at what the cat likes to scratch on your house, and buy or make a scratching post that is as similar as possible.
While you are teaching your cat to use her post, temporarily cover taboo areas with smooth plastic. Place the post near the furniture your cat likes to scratch (obviously, territory she would like to claim), and slowly move it to a more suitable spot as she shows a preference for the post. Praise your cat every time she uses the scratching post, and she'll soon get the idea.
Homemade Dog Food: Tips to Tempt the Fussy Eater
by Sue French
You've spent hours reading books and articles; you've subscribed to dog food related forums; you've found some recipes that look yummy enough to eat yourself; you've been shopping for beautiful fresh ingredients. Now you are all ready to start feeding homemade dog food. So you cook up a treat that smells delicious, and then you hit a snag: your precious pooch doesn't want to eat it!
Relax: it's not necessarily your cooking that's at fault! If your dog has only ever had kibble, then it may take him a while to get used to homemade dog food. Here are five tips to help him learn to enjoy real food.
Be sneaky: Introduce the new dog food gradually by mixing a little into his normal food, increasing the new food slowly over a period of days. Homemade dog food is a new experience for him in texture as well as flavour, so it's hardly surprising if he takes some time to adjust.
Too hot? Remember to let recently cooked food cool to room temperature before offering it to your dog. Check that there are no "hot spots" in the middle of the meal, especially if you have used the microwave.
Let him get hungry: Remove uneaten food after about ten minutes. Your dog does not need to snack or "graze": he is not a sheep. If you are trying to encourage him to eat something new, he will be much more interested if he has had the chance to actually get hungry. A dog's natural eating pattern is to eat a big meal when the opportunity presents itself, then to rest. Regular meals only became part of canine life after mankind domesticated the first wolf. It is OK to feed your adult dog only once or twice a day.
Boost the flavour: try a sprinkle of grated parmesan, or a drizzle of tasty stock. If it smells delicious, you have the game half won. If you are introducing raw meat and your dog isn't keen, try quickly browning the outside of the meat before you offer it to him, until he gets the idea.
Competition: If you have another dog, or even a cat, try feeding the two of them together: psychology can work wonders. If all else fails, try pretending you are eating some of the dog food yourself. This always works for me. Most dogs seem convinced that if the food is on the human plate it must be something special! The last resort might be to actually share something with him that you really are eating: I never knew a dog that could resist a piece of sausage.
Whatever you do, don't give up. When your dog has been eating homemade dog food for a few weeks and you can see the improvement in his well being, you'll be glad you persisted.
About the Author
Sue French comes from a family of successful dog breeders and trainers and has been involved with dogs all her life. In 2006, Sue changed her dog’s diet to home made food, which resulted in a miraculous improvement in the dog’s health. For more tips about homemade dog food and dog nutrition, visit Sue’s blog at http://thedogfoodstory.com/
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