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by Danielle Niesz
As many people know having a proper diet can greatly improve the quality of life for both people and dogs. Just like you your dog's health is tied directly to the nutrition he gets from the food he eats. Poor nutrition has been linked to dozens of health problems in both humans and dogs. With so many different foods on the market and so much different advice it is difficult to know what to feed your pet. Here are some things to think about when choosing food for your dog.
For thousands of years during their evolution dogs have had substantially the same diet as people. This is because we have lived in such close quarters with dogs, and even hunted with them. Dogs, like humans are omnivores and need both meat and vegetables to be healthy. Now we have dog food to take care of all of your dog's nutrition needs. But will it take care of All your dog's needs? Depends on what kind of food you feed him.
Like humans dog's need different nutrients to promote health. There are certain things you need to make sure your dog is getting in his or her diet. First and foremost, especially for puppies, is ... you guessed it, protein! Protein is essential for promoting bone and muscle growth. Fat is also important to a dog. Protein and fat combined are where your dog is getting his energy from. Another important ingredient, which is often overlooked, is fiber. Fiber is important for you dog's digestion and can help keep him regular. Lastly, just like you do, your dog needs vitamins and minerals to stay healthy.
It is important to keep all of these nutrients in mind when choosing a food, but it is not all that is important. The first thing you should do is to consult your veterinarian and / or your breeder. Ask what food they use, and what ingredients are most important for your particular breed. Next you should visit your local pet store and look at some of the different foods available. Be sure to check the ingredient list to see what is in the food. Just like in human food the ingredients are listed in order by weight in the package, so the first ingredient is the most prevalent. It is also important to note the difference in using all natural food. Although all natural food is a little more expensive it is a significantly superior diet. Natural foods are easily digested and vitamins and minerals are easily absorbed. A synthetic vitamin could be listed as a much higher amount on the package, but the majority of it will not be absorbed and used by your dog. Natural foods promote health far better than brands that use synthetic supplements and large amounts of preservatives.
The single most important factor in creating a healthy environment for your pet is diet. So take care in choosing the food you give your dog. He is counting on you to do whats best for him. Make sure you don't let him down.
About the Author
For more information on creating a healthy environment for your dog Click Here! Or visit my blog Man's Best Friend
Chicago Tribune
A second former Naperville pet store employee who plotted to steal a Pomeranian puppy pleaded guilty Monday to misdemeanor retail theft.
Anais Marquez, 19, of Plainfield, who plotted to steal the 2-month-old dog, was ordered to do 40 hours of community service and placed on 1 year of court supervision by DuPage County Judge Peter Dockery.
A former co-worker, Karlie Pellock, 19, also of Plainfield, pleaded guilty to the same crime in May and got the same sentence.
The pair, who used to work at Petland, conspired with Emanuel Lopez, 19, also of Plainfield, to steal the $1,500 puppy March 21 and resell it. Lopez pleaded guilty in May and was sentenced two weeks ago to 60 days in jail.
The dog was returned to the store.
by David Bertola
Buffalo Business First
The newest funeral home in Orchard Park caters to those wishing to provide an appropriate goodbye to their beloved pets.
On Monday, Joseph Wales opened Pet Heaven Funeral Home Inc., which he said caters to the funeral end of the process of what to do with a deceased pet.
Wales got the idea for his new business after reading about a woman in Tennessee who had a hard time finding crematory services and urns for her deceased cat. Wales asked himself why there wasn't a company that would offer all these services under one roof.
It took him a little more than a year to research similar kinds of companies before he opened his, located on Orchard Park Road. One entrepreneur in Atlanta, he said, owns nine pet funeral homes. He found several such places along the Hudson River.
"I have no idea why no one in Western New York has done this," said Wales. "People really like their pets."
Wales, a pet owner and animal lover, offers a support group room, a private area to bid farewell, and the ability to have a full service complete with clergy, which Wales can help arrange.
Pet Heaven's services range in price. Cremation can range from $40 to the hundreds, depending on the size of the animal and the arrangements made by the pet owner. Likewise, urns can cost from $5 to the hundreds of dollars. One model has a digital picture frame, which includes the feature of rotating images of the pet.
By Sarah Schulz
The Grand Island Independent
GRAND ISLAND — It's always good to be prepared to help someone during an emergency -- whether they have two legs or four.
"There's nothing better then knowing what to do if something happens to your pet," said Christine Marie Salinas.
Salinas took an animal CPR and first aid class at the Central Nebraska Humane Society last month and returned Wednesday evening to use the Humane Society's new animal mannequins. The organization had the mannequins, a large dog and a small dog/cat, ordered in June but the items didn't arrive until last week.
"There's nothing like practice," Salinas said as she prepared to breathe into one of the mannequins. "You can read and read, but ..."
Salinas, a self-described animal lover, has two small dogs and two large dogs at home. She took the CPR/first aid class in order to learn how to help an animal, particularly her own pets, if the need arises. She returned to the Humane Society on Wednesday to practice the CPR techniques on the mannequins.
"A lot of people might hesitate, but if it's your own dog, you'd do it," she said of giving mouth-to-nose resuscitation.
Reneé Ekhoff, a veterinary technician with the Central Nebraska Humane Society who also teaches science at Walnut Middle School, teaches the CPR/first aid course. On Wednesday she instructed the six-person class how to hold their hands over an animal's mouth to breathe into its nose. With a small dog, a person should only use half their lung capacity during rescue breaths, she said.
It is important to have someone call the animal's vet while someone else does CPR, she said. Check the animal's mucus membranes, such as their eyes, gums and tongue, and their pulse before beginning rescue breathing. Most dogs have pink gums and tongues, although some breeds, such as chows, have black mouths. For this reason, it is important to be familiar with what is normal for your dog, she said.
Learn the animal's normal pulse rate by checking it when they are going about their daily routine. It is also good to know that a dog's temperature is normally 101.5 degrees, she said.
"Focus on your own dog and then learn the rest," Ekhoff said. "Get to know what your dog's normals are. You have to know what's normal for your animal because the vet wants to know. He doesn't see your pet every day."
Barb Lewis, who took the June class with Salinas, said she had been having trouble locating a pulse on her Labrador mix. Ekhoff used her own dog, Missy, to show Lewis where to check.
Lewis and Tiffany Keller, another June class participant, then practiced rescue breathing on the two mannequins.
Keller, who owns a rat terrier, said she wanted to know what to do if her dog started choking or got hit by a car, especially on a weekend when her vet might not be immediately available.
"Because I love my dog that much," she said, "I wanted to know the basics."
Lewis agreed and said such a situation has come up for her. When she got her dog about six years ago, the animal got struck by a car.
"It would be nice to know what to do without panicking," she said.
Both said the mannequins were helpful learning tools because they were able to see how much force was needed, both with the compressions and the breathing.
The women also both purchased animal first aid kits at the Humane Society. Lewis said she plans to follow Ekhoff's advice and put a picture of herself with her dog in the kit as a form of identification.
In addition to CPR, class participants learned things such as making a muzzle, treating a wound, creating a splint and recognizing an emergency by noting unusual noises, behaviors and smells.
By Betsy Taylor
ZooToo
ST. LOUIS -- Ice storms, tornadoes and floods have made it a rough year for many people in Missouri. Their pets have had a hard time of it, too.
The Humane Society of Missouri said Tuesday that it has helped more than 3,000 animals survive severe weather so far this year. Most of those were animals from Missouri, although the group helped about 300 animals in Iowa during recent flooding.
While the Humane Society of Missouri rescued more than 2,000 animals elsewhere after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005, the organization believes it has set a record for natural disaster animal rescues by the group in Missouri.
The Humane Society's disaster response team used four-wheel-drive trucks to bring fresh water to livestock during ice storms in January and February. When flooding struck eastern Missouri in March, the team rescued animals from trees, including several rabbits that had floated up into them and taken refuge. And during spring tornadoes, team members tended to injured animals, including a llama with a broken jaw.
Now, the Humane Society is hoping it's at the tail end of efforts to help in Iowa and northeast Missouri after the recent flooding along the Mississippi River.
"We were pulling cats out of trees and off rooftops, dogs that were swimming in the water," said Tim Rickey, director of rescue and investigation for the Humane Society of Missouri.
"We've gone from disaster to disaster," he said.
Rickey said the organization has a nine-member team that uses three boats to rescue animals in flood situations. The size of the rescue team varies from disaster to disaster, from about six to 20 members.
Team members work with local authorities and take tips from local residents or animal owners. Although they may have to make some difficult rescues, Rickey said that much of their work doesn't look particularly dramatic.
In an emergency, shelters for humans often can't take in animals, so the Humane Society tries to establish shelters for pets, such as a mobile home specially designed for the purpose.
The Humane Society also has distributed thousands of pounds of cat and dog food this year to pet owners lacking provisions after a disaster.
"Thank God for Purina," Rickey said, noting that Nestle Purina PetCare, which has its North American headquarters in St. Louis, provides massive pet food donations.
When responding after tornadoes, such as those that hit Newton County in the spring, the Humane Society helped injured animals, such as a dog with a broken leg or a donkey hit by a fallen tree, by getting them to veterinary care.
Rickey said the group reunites animals with owners. If an owner wants to give up a pet, he said, the group will put an animal up for adoption once it is spayed or neutered and healthy.
Carmen Skelly, who has been a team member responding to the disasters, said the animals are often frightened or disoriented. She said team members have devices that help them make sure there are no live wires during water rescues and humane traps and nets to help them bring animals to safety.
But a calm voice and a gently outstretched arm can do the trick as well.
She recently rescued a rooster from floodwaters in northeast Missouri, just after encountering two snakes that had holed up in the same spot.
"I think a lot of times citizens think that animals will be OK and survive," she said. But, she noted, many domestic animals do not fare well on their own, particularly in a natural disaster. "They rely on us to meet their basic needs."
The Humane Society of Missouri has spent more than $250,000 helping animals in its natural disaster response so far this year, said spokeswoman Jeane Jae.
She said about 30 cats and 32 dogs assisted during the natural disasters will be available for adoption in upcoming weeks, either at Humane Society headquarters in St. Louis or a west St. Louis County location.
The dogs include beagles, Shih Tzus, rat terriers and a number of mixed breeds. "We even have one pug," she said.
Tell us what you think about “Natural Disasters Bring Record Number of Animal Rescues” below. Share your favorite videos by clicking on the ZootooTV tab. Send us your story ideas by e-mailing us at news@zootoo.com or by calling us at 877-777-4204.
-- The Associated Press
LA Unleashed
Canine Compulsive Behaviors
by Dean Burton
Dogs can exhibit obsessive compulsive behaviors much like humans can. Many pet owners witness strange, repetitive, destructive or even harmful behaviors in their dogs and may have questions about treatment. Unfortunately, many owners elect to get rid of their dogs because of the behavioral issues. But, with a little love, care and special training, you can try to treat your dog and remedy some of these behaviors instead of giving them away or putting them in a shelter.
Many dogs may have a genetic predisposition to exhibit certain behaviors. Many breeds may show insistent tail chasing. This is the most common compulsive behavior in dogs. Other dogs will obsessively lick a paw or other part of their body. This may seem harmless at first, but over time, they can lick off the fur and wear down the skin, producing open sores and exposing them to infection. Many obsessive behaviors are destructive in nature and can hurt or injure the dog over time. Another compulsive behavior is snapping. Some dogs will snap into the air continually and wear out their jaws. Some have been reported to attack at certain times. Many will attack their food bowl or violently protect it. Some will jump to attack doorknobs and break off their teeth. Compulsive behaviors will continue if untreated and can become life-threatening to the dog.
Compulsive behaviors in dogs almost always stem from a stressful situation. Compulsive behaviors are a response to anxiety, much like they are in humans. Sometimes the behaviors come on gradually and sometimes there is a marked event, such as being hit by a car or being abused that can trigger compulsive behaviors. The behaviors can continue for years after the event is forgotten as a way to cope with any anxiety.
For example, if a dog is blind or going blind, it may feel very anxious about other pets or humans at feeding time. They may be thinking that something or someone will take their food and they will not be able to see it coming. The anxiety can cause the dog to snarl, bark, bite or even attack to protect the food dish. Many owners are afraid, threatened and even in real danger when they witness this behavior. The high anxiety of the dog needs to be controlled to reverse this behavior. Before resorting to prescription drugs, such as serotonin re-uptake inhibitors, which have been shown to be very effective in treating such behaviors and anxieties in humans and dogs, try to work with your dog on treating the underlying anxiety.
Dogs are very good at sensing human anxiety. You must remain very calm even when you know that the behavior is about to begin. If you notice the anxiety level arising, take charge and show the dog that you are the leader of the pack by laying the dog down, without hurting them of course, and use a firm voice. Get the dog very calm and praise them for being calm. Only attempt this behavior modification if it is safe to do so. Talk with a vet or trainer about specific behaviors that you are trying to correct. The general idea is to let the dog know that you are the boss, and it is not acceptable to let your anxiety level rise to the point of doing the behavior. A lot of dogs are very responsive to behavior modification training. You may have to stay with your dog constantly at first, depending on how often the behaviors are exhibited, but it may not take long to break these bad habits. If you are looking for dogs for sale and are concerned about compulsive behaviors, do not go to puppy mills where the dogs may have already been traumatized. Make sure that you are getting your dog from someone who has been treating them right. Online adoption and sales can allow you to really shop around when searching for your new pet.
About the Author
About the Author: Dean Burton is the owner of MyDreamPuppy.com, a leading provider of purebred puppies for sale. For more information, please visit www.MyDreamPuppy.com.
Some Facts About Cats and Ways to Make Your Cat Smarter
by Drew Berry
Cats are believed to have first been domesticated by the ancient Egyptians around the year 4500 BC. Cats can be described as loving, playful, highly intelligent and extremely observant. Cats learn quickly and can be very curious about new or exciting things around the home. When provided with lots of love and good care, cats can become loyal companions throughout their life. If it is your first time to own a pet, you need to learn some tips on how to train them. There are also a lot of equipments that you can use for your training. You need to be precise when choosing pet products so that it will not harm your pets. Controlling your pet's behavior is very important. You can always find pet products in the different pet shops. If you are that busy, you can always check online. Most pet owners search for pet products online because it saves them a lot of time and effort. All you have to do is search for a perfect pet product and order it online. Once you have paid for the item, it will be shipped to your address. Cats, as independent as they may seem, do require care and attention. Be sure to pay attention to these important details: * Cats should visit the veterinarian annually and kept up-to-date on the necessary shots and vaccinations * Cats should be given a heartworm pill once a year * Dry Cat food is recommended for the bulk of the cat's diet and should be supplemented with a good cat vitamin * Cats should be bathed regularly with a cat shampoo - use baby shampoo if you need to wash the cat's head. In addition to bathing, cats should be brushed one or two times per week. * Cats should have their teeth brushed at least twice a week. * Use only low calorie treats - dry treats will also help clean the cat's teeth * Cats should be checked regularly for fleas and ticks during the Spring, Summer and Fall months Some of Cat Care Products are Cat Litter, Litter boxes, Cat Bed, Cat carrier, Flea Spray & Cat Flea collars. A good cat litter will keep your home smelling fresh and your cat happy. When shopping for a quality cat litter, look for litters that cling to waste and absorb liquid waste. Cat litters can be purchased fragrance free or perfumed. Cat products are a dime a dozen. Pet stores are the obvious place to look for such items, but many supermarkets also have a small section of pet products. However, it can be hard to determine which products are the quality ones. With more and more people considering their pets as members of the family, a growing number of companies and service providers are also embracing four-legged companions. Author Biography: Drew Keenan Cleverlad Pets http://www.cleverlad.org
About the Author
Author Biography:
Drew Keenan
Cleverlad Pets
http://www.cleverlad.org
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