Are Your Pets 'Winter-ized'?

Preparing Your Pets For the Winter
By John Grimes

As winter comes on in full force, we all buckle prepare our homes, cars and the like to stay warm for the coming low temperatures. You should also be preparing your pets for the coming cool weather.

We tend to think of our pets as hardy creatures. They can handle cold, water, snow and the like without any health problems. After all, they were once wild animals, right? Well, we used to live in caves as well, but you don't see me spending time out in the elements. The same goes for your pets. Just because they are animals does not mean they can automatically handle the winter weather.

If you keep a dog outside, you need to do some research. Not all pups are able to handle the cold weather. Look up your breed online or ask a vet about how you should care for the pup during the winter months.

Even if your pup can handle staying outside in the cold, you should take some basic steps to make things comfortable for them. A dog house is a must. Make sure to turn it so that the opening in the front is not facing the wind. The wind can drop temperatures significantly, so help your pup out. Try to keep the house slightly off the ground to avoid problems with rain water flooding it. Also, put a blanket in so your pup has something to sit on that isn't freezing cold like the floor.

Keeping pups active is another key to helping them through the winter. We all tend to buckle down for the winter, but your dog needs to stay in shape. Throw a ball around the yard. If it is to cold, bring the pup in and play inside the home or garage. A dog in good condition is a dog in good health.

For those of you with feline friends, the winter may not be a challenge. Some house cats simply will not mind the changing seasons at all. If you have a cat that likes to get outside, however, you need to take some steps to help them through winter. The biggest issue of cats is boredom. Give your cat something to do. Balls of yarn, toys, bird feeders and the like are all worth a go. They will keep the cat busy and let it exercise. Remember, a bored cat is grumpy and likely to do a number on some of your furniture.

Obviously, there are many other types of pets. The key with most of them is keeping them comfortable in relation to warmth. Make sure to research their needs so you do not have a tragedy in the middle of winter.

John Grimes is with http://www.allterrainco.com - makers of natural products for pets and humans alike.

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There Are Many Benefits to Looking at Pet Classifieds
Author: Andy West

Though many people still turn to their local pet store for the pets that they want, a new trend is emerging and it's pet classifieds. While this might seem like a less than safe way to purchase a new pet for your family, it has many advantages over the traditional pet store. With pet classifieds, owners and sellers are meeting up to help give an animal the best chance at a happy home.

Many pet classifieds services offer a range of pets and pet supplies. There are also listings for lost and found pets in order to help expedite their return. You can find a number of listings on the Internet as well as in local newspapers, so there's never any shortage. These listings may be offering pets for sale, free pets for good homes, pet supplies as well as pets for trade. If you're in the market, these ads can be a great way to get started.

The advantage of pet classifieds is that you're not buying pets from a crowded and possible germ-ridden store. In most cases, you're buying pets directly from an owner that can't take care of their pet anymore or from families that have just had their own pets give birth. This setup not only reduces the amount of money that you're paying, but it can also reduce the harm that is done to the pet in the first place. Many pet stores don't treat their animals as well as they could, due to the overpopulation. But when you're buying from pet owners, you're more likely to be getting a pet that's been well cared for. And by not contributing to the pet stores, you are helping to reduce the number of pets that might be mistreated.

Another benefit of searching through pet classifieds is that you can choose from a wide range of pets. There are cats, dogs, birds, horses, and more. You may select from various breeds of pets as well as from ages and litters. This allows you to carefully choose from a wide selection, instead of from a limited quantity in a store. The prices from these classifieds also tend to be much lower, even free in some cases. This can allow you to find a pet that fits your budget and fits your family.

But just as with any purchase, you will want to meet the pet before you arrange to pay for it. You might also want to work something out with the owner to return the pet if it doesn't seem to be working out. Have the pet interact with your family as well as any other pets that you might have to ensure there aren't future problems. This is a crucial step in assuring that you're making the right choice.

Another consideration in pet classifieds is that you need to check whether or not the pet you are purchasing is up to date on their shots and immunizations. In some cases, this will be included in the price, but you will want to get a copy of the medical records to be sure. If the pet has not gotten their shots, you may be able to work that out in the price so that it's still a budget friendly purchase.

Finding a new pet for your home can be as easy as turning to pet classifieds. And with this information, you're sure to find the right pet for your family and your life.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/there-are-many-benefits-to-looking-at-pet-classifieds-80320.html

About the Author:
Andy West is a freelance writer for CountyLoop. CountyLoop.com makes it easy to use online Business Directories and many classified ads including Pet Classifieds. For more information, please visit http://classifieds.countyloop.com.

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Simple and Safe Ways to Give Medication to Your Dog
By Sean S. Fredrick

Giving medication to your pet dog will be an inevitability during the course of their lives. Oral medication is commonly prescribed and administered by the owner at home. But this can be easier said than done especially with large pills and foul liquid medicine.

So what is the proper method for ensuring they take their medication? Pills can be tricky because they must be placed deep into the throat without causing choking or vomiting. The first step is to calm your dog down and get them to sit in a comfortable place near you.

Keep a towel handy for any mishap that might occur and position yourself as to limit their movements without holding down too hard. Now you must ensure that you can keep their mouths open by placing your hand over the bridge of their nose and gently squeezing the cheeks so as to gently hold their mouth open. Once you have them in this position it is essential to place the pill as deep as possible to the back of their tongue, once the pill is positioned release their cheeks and allow their mouth to close while gently holding their head up so the pill can slide down her throat easily.

Liquid medication will normally come with an applicator bottle and a long nozzle. Giving liquid medication will use a similar method by gently holding the dog still and applying the dosage by squeezing the proper amount into the pockets of skin between their teeth and lips. Do not hold your dog's head high for this as to ensure the liquid will not run down their throat and cause choking.

After giving any type of medication in this way you should be sure that your dog drinks plenty of water as to aid in its digestion. It is advisable to consult your veterinarian for the proper procedure for giving different types of medication. Injections and other types should be handled by your veterinarian unless otherwise specified. Giving medication to your pet will be a quick and easy routine once you master the proper method.

For more interesting, entertaining, and heartfelt articles about dogs and many other kinds of pets, visit Thought Search Articles.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sean_S._Fredrick


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Veterinarians Provide TLC For All Animals
By Ashley Conner

Veterinarians are physicians that take care of pets, livestock, and animals in zoos, racetracks, and laboratories, among many others. They practice veterinary medicine and some of them use their skills to protect humans from contracting diseases carried by animals and to do research on both human and animal health problems. Veterinarians are required to obtain a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree and a state license before they can practice in their field. They have to complete a 4-year veterinary program from accredited colleges of veterinary medicine. Today, there are 28 colleges found in 26 states across America that are accredited by the Council on Education of the American Veterinary Medical Association or AVMA.

Veterinarians function similarly to medical doctors who diagnose, treat, operate and provide information on proper care and maintenance of health. Most private practitioners provide care for small animals or pets such as cats and dogs while some work in farms and ranches to take care of livestock and domesticated animals such as pigs, sheep and goats, among many others. A big percentage of veterinarians across the United States treat small animals while only a small number of private practitioners work exclusively with large animals such as horses or cattle in herds or individually.

Veterinarians' main responsibilities include diagnosing animal health problems, vaccinate against diseases such as for distemper and rabies, medicate animals suffering from infections or illnesses, treat and dress wounds, set fractures, perform surgery, and advise animal owners about how to feed, train and breed their animals. They are also part of the research that find new ways of treating and breeding animals. Veterinarians use similar medical equipment such as those used for humans. These include stethoscopes, surgical instruments, and diagnostic equipment such as radiographic and ultrasound devices. There are also veterinary hospitals that boast of the newest and most sophisticated laboratory equipment.

With the increasing interest in animal welfare and keeping animals as home companions, veterinarians have gained more clients in recent years. Aside from these, veterinarians are also given responsibilities that concern food safety and inspection most especially on recent issues regarding bird flu, salmonella, e-coli and similar diseases and viruses. They inspect live animals, carcasses for disease, meat, poultry, and egg products among many others. They also work with physicians and scientists in doing research for preventing and treating different human health problems. These include malaria, yellow fever, botulism, and surgical techniques such as hip and knee joint replacements and limb and organ transplants.

Nowadays, veterinarians are growing in numbers due to high demands for their services as well as health issues related to animals. Recently there have even issues concerning animal plastic surgery wherein dogs and cats undergo procedures to enhance their look. This even includes attaching prosthetics similar to testicles after a male dog has been neutered.

Ashley Conner is a writer for Zipcodez.com, a widely-used local business listings search portal. Zipcodez.com also features an efficient job, movie, and restaurant search covering over 100 major cities nationwide. Ashley has covered useful topics and resources from "Arts & Entertainment" to "Wireless & Telecommunications" for Zipcodez.com. You can easily find out what convenient and useful resources are in your neighborhood by visiting http://www.zipcodez.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ashley_Conner

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Contact: Cynthia Linnon
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