If it tastes good, chew it!

Boredom and variety are usually inter connected in cases of dogs misbehaving. Yes, this is true. Many a times, boredom can be managed with variety of materials that will distract the animals to a greater extent.  Hence, the dog may not do the abnormal or unwanted activity arising out of the boredom experienced by it.

Boredom experienced dogs may have different types of behavioral patterns.  For example, some dogs will be seen barking continuously and some may be engaged always in some digging activities.

There are many ways to get your dog out of its boredom activities. Many toys are available which simulated duck, dog, rodent etc.

These may be kept inside the crate and in particular, puppies love these items.  A buster cube with multiple treats may be placed in the dog’s shelter and the animal soon understands on how to roll the buster cube to get the treats it prefers. A Buster Cube is an ingenious toy use for simulating and activating your dog during play and feed time.  Instead of placing the food monotonously in one place, change the place of feeding suddenly.

Such actions will be helpful for removing the boredom like activity in your dog. Activities pertaining to boredom need to be redefined well by the dog owners.  This will help them to a greater extent to drive away the unwanted behavior patterns in their pet dogs. Check out this hilarious video:

For example, some dogs may often have destructive biting characteristics and will be seen biting chairs, clothes, mats, and everything that they get a hold of. After ruling out the teething problem, if it is a puppy, provide  it with some large sized balls, mineral mixture based bone materials, etc. Such variety of materials help to reduce the boredom and related activities and make life much better for everyone.

Parvo is a serious viral disease that can be deadly even if treatment is given.  Parvovirus is a disease that attacks dividing cells. The most prominent location for dividing cells in your dog’s body is the intestinal lining or the lining of the digestive system. When this disease attacks and kills these cells it causes dogs and puppies to not be able to absorb nutrients or liquids. Parvo is seen more in puppies than in adult dogs, but both can catch the disease.

Symptoms of parvo include:

• diarrhea,
• vomiting and
• lethargy

Most dogs stop eating or have a loss of appetite, diarrhea, high fever, and depression. Their stool can be very liquid, foul smelling, usually yellow in color, and contain blood. The secondary symptoms appear as severe gastrointestinal distress, which includes vomiting and bloody diarrhea. In the later stages of parvo dehydration, shock, and death.

Transmission of parvo from one dog to another occurs through their feces. Parvo can be carried in an adult dog that shows no outward signs, but the disease can be found in their stool. The disease is not an air born type, but can be transmitted through the sole of your shoe and even birds may carry this deadly disease into your yard if they have been in contact with the infected feces.

All dogs and puppies are susceptible to parvo but there are a few breeds that seem to be more susceptible than others. These include Rottweilers, Doberman Pinschers, and other black and tan breeds. These breeds usually are more prone to contracting this disease and not recovering.

Without treatment your dog only has a 20% survival rate and with treatment an 80% survival rate. So, of course, the best medicine is to prevent the exposure and to vaccinate your dog against this deadly disease.

The majority of viruses have a tendency to end up being specific for an individual species and hardly ever jump species. Numerous species of animals, human beings included, could possibly get parvoviruses. You will need to bear in mind parvovirus B19 infects exclusively human beings and canine parvovirus 6 only infects dogs. There’s no danger to canines coming from people parvovirus and also absolutely no danger to people coming from the doggy variety. According (blank) the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), parvovirus B19 typically affects solely human beings. Dogs get infected with canine parvovirus 6.

Be sure to get your puppy his or her shots early!

First aid for dogs is a very important for owners to be prepared for. As a dog owner, you may find yourself needing to give your dog first aid. Dogs are curious creatures and sometimes get into dangerous situations. When they get into trouble, it will be your job to help.  Many of the problems a dog faces are similar to those of our own. Until you can get your dog to a vet, he will depend on you. Having the supplies you need on hand will really help you to be effective.

Rolls of gauze and tape are handy to slow or stop bleeding and are necessary in your doggie first aid kit. You can also find some great blood-clotting topical products too. Hydrogen peroxide is important for cleaning wounds. An old clean blanket is essential for wrapping a dog in shock. A first aid kit for dogs  should also include an antihistamine for bee or wasp stings, an antibiotic gel and an eye wash. Also, absorbent cotton, gauze rolls or pads, scissors (preferably with rounded tips), tweezers, a rectal thermometer; syringes (without the needle) for giving oral medications, elastic bandages.

You can get a wonderful list at PetFinder website print it out and make copies for your friends.

Take time to learn the basics of first aid. Keep your vet’s phone number handy in case you need him. If you think your dog may need professional care in the middle of the night or on a weekend, consider calling your vet and advising him. He may have some good advice or instructions to help you reach him.  Many cities now have pet emergency centers.  It is advisable to keep their number in your first aid kit as well.

Here is a video that you can get a few tips from:

Keep in mind that an injured dog is scared and may bite.  If you feel this is possible, a muzzle is another addition to your kit.  Avoid giving your dog Tylenol.  Ask your vet before it is necessary what kind of pain medication is okay and keep some of that with the rest.

The Boston terrier is a well-muscled and compact breed. This is not really surprising since the Boston terrier was first bred by people who wanted to use them in dog fights. Now some people may read all sorts of implications from such a violent past. Some people might think that the Boston terrier dog would make a bad pet because of its aggressive nature. However, you should know that as a pet, the Boston terrier can actually be pretty mild mannered.

The temperament of the Boston terrier can be described as enthusiastic as it often loves to play. Most people comment that the Boston terrier actually has a great sense of humor. Another characteristic that people find delightful with this breed is the fact that they are intelligent and are very much easily trained. This fact is also enhanced by the dog’s natural curiosity and love for learning.

Of course, people who own pets know the importance of training. Having a well-behaved pet increases the enjoyment for you both. Having a well-behaved pet means that you can have more fun with that pet.

One thing that owners have noticed with a Boston terrier is the fact that it can be very sensitive to the tone of a person’s voice. This may be described as a sort of emotion detector. Because of this sensitivity to the tone, a Boston terrier will be able to respond to how you are feeling when you are talking. This means, however, that you need to take care when training your dog. You need to make sure that anger and frustration do not find their way into your voice.

They also make excellent watchdogs as they do not bark indiscriminately. This means that you won’t wake up in the middle of the night because your Boston terrier saw a butterfly. There are some cases, though, when a Boston terrier will not bark at all.

Regarding the living conditions, Boston terriers can do well enough without a yard as long as they get regular exercise. This means that they are suitable for apartment living. However, you should also know that they are very sensitive to the extremes of weather. This means that you should keep it in a place that’s neither too hot nor too cold.

Unlike other terrier breeds, the Boston terrier is an average shedder. This means that you should be wary of keeping it indoors as it can shed fur over your floor. We all know how much of a fiasco that can be.

Bostons have a variety of common health problems. They easily get overheated when they are pushed too hard. As said before, they can also be sensitive to extreme weather and any weather that’s too hot or too cold can leave them with breathing difficulties. Skin tumors and heart tumors are very common with this breed. So you need to bring the dog to a vet regularly.

Another disorder you should watch out for is a skull defect. If a Boston terrier is badly bred, it often develops a bone defect that prevents the brain from growing. This, naturally, will lead to a mentally challenged dog. On a less serious note, Bostons tend to snore due to their tiny nostrils. Oh well, grab some ear plugs!

We have an excellent book on training and obedience of Boston Terriers in our eBay store.

The first time I took my dog to the Vet to have her teeth cleaned, which my vet strongly advocated, they gave me a very long tooth brush and tooth paste! I thought they were crazy, there was no way my dog was going to let me come at her with that thing. Well there is more than one way to skin a cat, pardon the phrase.

Teeth cleaning for dogs is very important.  Every single time you walk through the door your dog is so happy to see you that he wags his tail and practically smiles at you.  How can you show your pet how much they mean to you?  Well, one way is to take care of that smile for your pet.  Did you know that your dog’s diet can influence their oral health?

Humans need to brush and floss their teeth regularly to keep their teeth, tongue, and gums in good condition.  Research has recently shown a link between good oral health in humans and a lower risk of heart disease.  If good oral health can have such a profound affect on people, then it only makes sense to consider the impact it can have on man’s best friend.

It is important to brush your dog’s teeth frequently to keep plaque and tartar from becoming an issue.  Even wiping his gums with a clean, damp cloth can be beneficial.

Your dog’s diet also plays a role in your pet’s oral health.  Do you typically feed your dog canned or dry dog food?  What kind of treats and toys do you provide for your pet?  All of these things can affect the likelihood of trouble with your pet’s teeth.

When your dog’s diet is nutritionally sound, containing essential vitamins, nutrients, and enzymes, your pet’s oral health will be at its very best.  Feeding dry dog food rather than a moist canned variety is best for your dog.  The tiny kibbles’ hard surface rubs against the teeth to remove and reduce plaque.  The simple act of moistening the dry dog food with water or gravy eliminates this property from dry dog food.

The treats you give your pet are part of your dog’s diet just like snacks are part of a person’s diet.  As humans, we tend to want to overlook our snacking habits, so it can be easy to overlook the treats you give your dog.  This is not a good idea.  Carefully consider any and all items your dog will consume.

Do you give your dog bones, rawhides, jerky treats, or dog biscuits?  Maybe your pet prefers greenies or corn starch chews.  You may not have considered it, but tossing Spot a rawhide chew is like giving him a candy bar!  The rawhide, for example, contains calories and is often provided between meals.

Many of the treats and snacks you provide in your dog’s diet can be just empty wasted calories.  Some treats, alternatively, provide excellent opportunity to improve oral health.  Greenies, rawhides, bones, and hard dog biscuits all help to keep tartar at bay.  The softer snacks, such as jerky treats, do not provide much relief from plaque.  The healthy treat, on occasion, will also prevent your dog from having bad breath.

Your dog’s diet must be healthy to ensure excellent oral health and prevent your dog having bad teeth.  Dry dog food is best whenever possible.  Don’t forget to select treats for your pet that will enhance your dog’s diet.  Consciously monitoring your dog’s diet will positively influence your  best friend’s oral health.

Are Vaccinations Necessary?

When I got my first puppy off we went to my veterinarian to get her shots.  Getting puppy vaccinations was a given for me. I kept up with them religiously over the years and never really gave it much thought. However, as my indoor cat has gotten older I have begun to wonder, do I really need to continue her yearly shots?

Timely vaccinations are very important part of pet’s health. Different types of vaccine shots are to be given at different times. Some people are against vaccinations while others are in favor of it. The fact is there are risks involved with both, so it’s up to the pet owner to decide which is the best decision for them. A definitive statement cannot cover all circumstances, the rules vary from one individual animal to another depending on the needs and tolerance levels of the pet. There are certain factors that have to be taken into consideration before a decision is made.

Young ones which have been separated from their mothers before six weeks and are bottle-fed are at a higher risk of getting diseases. This is because the animals, which feed on their mother’s milk, get maternal antibodies, which protects them until their own immune system has been fully developed. The development of immune system can differ on the basis of amount and type of viruses they are getting exposed to, the potency of the virus and the body’s ability to face the virus attack. Diet and nutrition also plays an important role in preventing diseases.

Animals, which aren’t exposed enough to these natural antibodies may need to get vaccinated  to help their system develop immunities. The quantity is also important, because a little more virus can actually infest the disease in the animal. The amount can be determined by analyzing whether the animal has a weak or strong resistance to the virus.

Age is also another important factor. Animals, which are older in age, react differently. One of the reasons is that the system will be obviously weaker because of the daily activities, when compared to the younger ones. Since their immune system would have undergone different conditions; there could be a possibility of deposition of toxins in the body. Sometimes the healthier older animal won’t be requiring vaccination at all if it has received adequate shots before.

Before vaccinating an animal, its history should be checked. The number of times a particular vaccination has been given should be checked against the records. There are breeders who give a weekly dose of vaccination to their animal, which is for sure an overdose! This leads to many problems such as thickening of blood because of the protein complexes released from the immune system. This can also damage other internal organs and might even result in the failure of the immune system. In worst circumstances, it could even lead to the death of the animal.

Pregnant females react differently to the vaccines when compared to their male and female counterparts. The pregnant females should never be injected with live virus vaccines or even exposed to other animals that have recently received them. Animals, which have been injected with dead-virus vaccines, are safe for the childbearing animal.

Animals, which are already suffering from a disease, should be examined more carefully, so that the vaccination doesn’t aggravate the problem. Genetics also plays an important role. If the animal stands a chance of getting a disease because of hereditary reason, vaccinations can create an adverse reaction.

The environment also plays a major role. If the animal is kept in a sanitary and clean place, it is exposed to lesser viruses, which lowers it’s chances of getting diseases. A dirtier environment not only spreads viruses and bacteria but also affects the immune system and other systems adversely as toxins begin to deposit in the body. The vaccination plan should be designed after analyzing the lifestyle of the animal.

Another major reason for difference in the quantity of vaccination is the improvement in the vaccinations. They have become safer and more efficient. No tests have proved the affective period of the vaccinations. Every state and country has different regulations about vaccination. Vaccination testing cannot only risk the life of the animal, but as well as that of a human. For example, if a dog, which is being tested for rabies vaccination, bites a human, it can lead to the death of the human, in extreme circumstances.

Another consideration is the cost of vaccinations which can add up, especially if you have more than one pet. Around the country there are many low cost vaccination clinics held to make it more affordable for owners who want to vaccinate their pets. Petco for example  offers low cost vaccinations.

If  in doubt, whether you should vaccinate your pet or not  check with your vet, then the decision is up to you.

Five Simple Guidelines

There are a number of important guidelines that you need to keep in mind when teaching your puppy the basics about good behavior. Exercising the right training techniques is what will make or break your training regimen with your dog. Follow these five important guidelines and teaching your puppy will be easier than ever.

1 - Be Gentle – Your new puppy is going to be extremely sensitive at first, and as a result will not be able to handle anything that is too stressful on both an emotional and a physical level. Although learning generally quickly takes place, now is the time where your puppy will react poorly to stress or being trained too rough. If fears are picked up too easily during the training process, then it may inhibit the puppy’s ability to learn, so make sure to be gentle but firm in your training.

2 – Keep Things Brief – Puppies have even shorter attention spans than children. Your puppy is only going to learn when his or her attention is on you, and you will not see the results that you are looking for when your puppy is tired physically or mentally. Make sure to be brief when putting your puppy through training activities, and then you can move on.

3 – Exercise Patience - Expecting overnight results is only going to frustrate you and cause your training regimen to lose its focus. Relax, and understand that things like this will take time, and puppies learn in spurts. Puppies also do go through brief memory lapses so do not allow yourself to become overwhelmed if your puppy seems to forget some of its training from one day to the next. Exercise patience when it comes to training and you will be just fine.

4 – Keep It Simple - Teaching your puppy should be done in a step by step process if you want to attain the best results. This is the best way that your puppy will learn. Exercise a simple, step by step approach and your puppy will learn more quickly and will enjoy the process more thoroughly than if you were to employ a more intensive training regimen.

5 – Build Confidence – Confidence is the core of every healthy adult dog, and confidence begins with building confidence in a young puppy. Building confidence in your puppy is not hard at all to do; all you need to do is spend positive time with your puppy as often as you possibly can. This will help to build self confidence in your puppy. You should not always be in training mode when you first get your puppy, but instead sometimes you should step back and play with your dog, having fun with him or her in the process. Training is important, but above all else your dog needs to know that you are friends.

These five fundamental training foundations are vital in preparing your puppy for further training programs and will get better results when properly integrated into all  your step by step puppy training process.

What you really want is a well behaved dog that you can take  anywhere as a companion and is a joy to have in your life, right?

We carry products for that very critical stage of puppy training, dog potty training along with clean up items like pooper scoopers in our eBay store.

It doesn’t matter if you have already decided to purchase health insurance for the family pet or if you are still researching. When you are comparing the quote of one health insurance quote to another remember that the base dollar amount is not the only number you have to consider. In addition to the monthly payment make sure you also check out exactly what type of veterinary care and treatments are covered (some basic insurance plans do not include cancer treatment), what kind of deductible you, the pet owner, will be expected to pay, is there a yearly cap on medical expenses, and what type of discounts are available.

At the moment there are only a handful of companies that offer pet health insurance. Five of the most popular companies are Pets Best Pet Insurance, Veterinary Pet Insurance, ShelterCare, Pets Health and PetCare.

An insurance plan through Pets Best Pet Insurance will cost approximately $32.00 a month ($384.00 annually). Pets Best will cover pet sterilization provided the pet owner purchases an additional wellness plan. Pets Best does not cover pre-existing medical conditions a pet has so its best to insure them early in life before problems develop. Pets Best has a life time limit of $99,750 dollars per pet. Pets Best health insurance plans come with a $75.00 deductible. Multiple pet discounts are available. Pet’s Best pet health insurance does cover cancer.

Veterinary Pet Insurance is a company that offers pet owner a $14,000 a year cap on an insurance plan that only costs approximately $20.00 dollars a month. Veterinary Pet Insurance offers plans with a $50.00 deductible (after the deductible they pay ninety percent of the bill) on plans that include pet sterilization and cancer coverage. Veterinary Pet Insurance does not accept pre-existing conditions and does not offer multi-pet discounts.

ShelterCare is a pet insurance that cost pet’s owners approximately $29.95. For that $29.95 there is absolutely no deductible and cancer treatments are covered. ShelterCare will not pay for pet sterilization nor will they cover any pre-existing conditions. ShelterCare does not have a benefit cap. ShelterCare offers premium discounts for multi-pet plans, medical service, and micro-chips.

A pet health insurance policy through PetsHealth insurance company will cost the pet owner approximately $37.17 dollars per month. PetsHealth covers 80% of the pets vet bill after the $100.00 dollar deductible is paid. PetsHealth has a $13,000 dollar cap on each per year. PetHealth does insure pre-existing conditions after ninety days. Multi-pet discounts are available through PetHealth. PetsHealth does offer pet health insurance plans that cover cancer on a case by case basis.

PetCare is a pet health insurance company that estimates the average cost for a policy for a pet is $29.95 a month. This plan includes a fifty dollar deductible. While PetCare is happy to cover the cost your pet’s cancer treatments they will not pay for any pre-existing conditions nor will they pay for pet sterilization. PetCare offers discounts for multi-pet plans and medical service.

None of the estimated monthly prices for these insurance companies include any extra insurances riders.

Any one or all of these companies can change their policies between now and the time you purchase a pet health insurance plan.

Remember to read the fine print before you sign up for a pet health insurance plan.

All five of these pet health insurance companies have their own websites where you can go to get up to date pet health insurance quotes.

There are other pet health insurance companies with different prices, discounts, stipulations, and benefit caps if you are not content with the previous five comparisons.

Any pet owner who has experienced a sick cat or dog knows how quickly the costs add up! As you see, pre-conditions are usually not covered, so while your pet is healthy is the best time to get coverage.

Get a Free Pet Emergency Preparedness Report at www.WhiskerFeathers.com

I live in what is probably the plastic surgery capital of the world, Los Angeles California. People seek perfection and sometimes go way overboard in the process if you ask me. This has to do with the demands of Hollywood, if you want to be a star you have to look the part. It is really up to the individual and their ambitions, we do after all have freedom of choice. When it comes to our pets, that’s another thing.

I recently read an article about Banfield, The Pet Hospital’s decision to stop performing ear cropping and tail docking. Banfield is the exclusive provider of veterinary services for the Petsmart pet supply chain. The Portland, Oregon based company has 730 hospitals and 2,000 veterinarians nationwide, so this is making quite a statement.

“After thoughtful consideration and reviewing medical research, we have determined it is in the best interest of the pets we treat, as well as the overall practice, to discontinue performing these unnecessary cosmetic procedures,” said Karen Faunt DVM, MS, DACVIM, vice president for medical quality advancement for Banfield. “It is our hope that this new medical protocol will help reduce, and eventually eliminate, these cosmetic procedures altogether.”

Ear cropping is a surgical procedure where a portion of the ear is removed. It is done to produce ears that stand erect. Ear cropping is performed on puppies around 8-12 weeks of age and is common on Great Danes, Boxers, Dobermans and more.Here is a picture of two Boxers, one with cropped ears and the other one without:

The surgery is also used on Pit bulls to shorten the length of their ears and is most often seen in dogs used for fighting.

Tail docking is the surgical removal of part of the tail of a dog. It is performed on healthy puppies when they are between 2 – 5 days old. It is commonly performed on breeds such as Boxers, Schnauzers, Doberman Pinschers and Rottweilers.

These surgeries are principally done just so that the dogs will comply with a certain standard of looks for the breed. When I first came to understand this fact I was horrified! By my own ignorance I thought that a Boxers ears just stood up like that naturally or my Silky’s  stump of a tail was as long as it grew.

The Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals- Angell Animal Medical Center of Boston was founded in 1868. It is the oldest society for the prevention of cruelty to animals in the United States. In their statement of beliefs they clearly list tail docking and ear cropping among one of the procedures they find as cruel. Cat declawing is another practice they find is neither minor or painless.

I say congratulations to Banfield in their stand on the behalf of pets. Our cats and dogs are beautiful just the way our Creator made them.

Your Best Friend Is Counting On You!

Pets On A Budget!

Last year I went grocery shopping and as I went up the pet isle to get my cat  food I remember seeing a small crowd in front of the canned goods shelf. By crowd, I mean two obviously senior citizens. They were standing right in front of the brand I always buy. I quickly understood why they were looking so upset, the price had gone up! Previously it had been 50 cents a can and it had gone up to 70 cents. Twenty cents may not seem like a lot to some folks but, depending on how much you buy and your budget, especially if it’s on a fixed  income, it does make a difference.

With all of us having to watch our spending these days, our pet expenses definitely factor in as well. However, with some creative thinking we can find some ways to cut some of our costs without sacrificing quality of life.

Food plays a large and constant part in pet care costs. Have you ever checked out the many websites where you can download printable coupons for pet food? Here are a few:

• http://printable-coupons.blogspot.com/2005/10/pet-coupons.html
• http://www.purina.com/petlover/index.aspx
• http://www.mahalo.com/pet-food-coupons

You may not get hundreds of dollars off but remember that 20 cents increase? If you know someone who does not have access to a computer, print some out for them too. Of course, be sure to check your local weekly newspaper and the fliers that come to your home for coupons.

Medical bills are also a big factor in pet costs. Now is the time to put aside feelings of pride. Hopefully you already have a veterinarian you have come to trust with your pet. Talk to him or her and let them know if money is tight for you right now. If your pet needs medication, they may be able to prescribe a more generic brand or lower cost alternative. At my vets office they have a sign saying Payment Due Upon Service, but you’ll never know if you don’t ask. Maybe your vet would be willing to take payments especially if you have been going to them for years. Today’s economy is not isolated to one group or one region of the country, just be honest and maybe he or she will work with you.

Be sure to pick up a pet newspaper that you might find at the vets office or pet stores, they have a wealth of ongoing information that might help you save some money. Local shelters offer free or no-cost vaccinations as well as spaying and neutering.

Every little bit counts, the money you save will not only help you and your family monetarily but lessens stress and concern.

Cesar Millan, the Dog Whisper suggested in a recent newsletter that if you really can’t afford a pet at this time, consider volunteering at places such as shelters and rescues. Keep “adopting a dog or cat” on your wish list for the time when things turn around for you.

Get a Free Pet Emergency Preparedness Report at www.WhiskerFeathers.com