Tips on how to Train your Dog to Walk on a Leash Part 1

The process of training your dog to walk on a leash can be an easy venture or a difficult one. Most of this depends on your attitude and patience. It is beneficial if you can start your training in the puppy stages. Your puppy will most likely pull against you as the rules and boundaries have not been set yet.

First start by introducing a collar to your puppy and let him wear it for a while before attempting the walk. Your puppy needs to overcome the feeling of something around his neck and act as if it is not there. Once your puppy is not paying attention to the new collar any longer, you can introduce the leash.

It is important to do the same routine with your puppy previous to a walk. Your puppy will start to know what you expect from him and will start to listen to your commands if you always repeat the same routine.

Make sure you put your puppy on the leash before opening the door to go outside and make sure that your puppy is calm during this process. You will need to exit the house first and then let your dog follow behind you. This is very important as this will establish who is in charge of the walk.

Do not let your puppy pull on the leash as they are very curious of the outside world and all the things in it and it can cause them to gag. Pull straight up on the leash and say “heal” to get your puppy’s attention. Take a step or two and see what reaction you get from your puppy. He will probably pull again and you will need to make the correction again with pulling up and saying “heal”.

When I was training my Pit/Lab mix Boo Boo, she would take part of the leash in her mouth and walk along with me. Although it was very cute to see her do that, I had to stop her as when she had the leash in her mouth, she was walking me. It is important to take control of the walk and have a calm attitude. Your dog can feel your energy through the leash during a walk. Constant tension on the leash is not a good thing. This should be a relaxing experience for you and you puppy therefore you should not be tense at all.

Stay ahead of your dog and do not let your dog lead the way. Do not use one of those leashes that automatically let line out or take line in. It is best to use a regular old fashioned leash. Get one in your favorite color or if you walk in the evenings, get one that is glow in the dark for safety.

Keep repeating these tips:

Put your puppy or dog on the leash before you open the door for the walk.

Walk out of your home in front of your dog and never let your dog exit before you

If your dog is pulling on the leash just pull straight up to stop the forward motion and get his attention

Make sure your dog walks behind you; keep your dog on a short leash if necessary

Make sure that you are relaxed and in control during the walk as your dog will know if you are not.

This is just basic introduction to walking on a leash. Once you have mastered these steps you can start working on other commands during the walk. I will explain those techniques in part 2 coming soon.

If you have found this article helpful and would like additional Free tips and information please visit my website at http//:Basics of Dog Ownership.com

Emergency Poison Treatment For Dogs

There is nothing as frightening as having your dog accidentally come into contact with some type of poisonous substance. As with humans or any animal, dogs may eat poisonous items, inhale poisonous gases or vapors or get poisons on their skin or hair. Like humans, there are general emergencies procedures that dog owners should know to be able to treat their pet should they suspect poison. It is important to have a few general supplies on hand, but most of what you will need is likely to already be in your house.

Ingested Poisons

If you believe that your dog has eaten something poisonous, the first step is to find out what it was and then call your vet or an emergency treatment center that has information on poisons. If the poison was caustic you do not want to do anything that might cause further damage, so make sure the dog has not eaten anything that will cause a burn. If he or she has, get them to a vet immediately, do not induce vomiting or give them any food or drink unless specifically instructed to do so by the vet or poison control center.

Typically the vet will recommend a dilute lemon juice or vinegar and water solution to attempt to neutralize the chemical until you can get the dog to the clinic or animal hospital. Do not give any human medications to a dog as they can have severe reactions to "people medicines". Always bring the label form the item, whenever possible, to the vet with the dog.

If the substance is not caustic, it is important to try to get the dog to get the poison out of his or her system. The easiest way is to induce vomiting, which can be done through the oral administration of hydrogen peroxide. Be sure to only use the 3% hydrogen peroxide mixture and give about 1 teaspoon or 5ccs or 5mls per 10 pounds of dog's body weight. Use an oral syringe if possible and squirt the hydrogen peroxide to the back of the mouth over the top of the tongue. If you don't have a syringe, a turkey based can be used. Don't give more than the recommended dosage as hydrogen peroxide can also cause complications. The dog will typically vomit within a few minutes. If the dog is not swallowing, is comatose or is having difficulty in breathing or standing don't administer hydrogen peroxide unless under the direct supervision of your vet. Immediately get the dog to your vet after they have vomited.

Contact Poisons

If your dog has touched something poisonous the best option is usually to wash the area with warm, soapy water using baby shampoo or specialized dog shampoo. For tar or paint on the coat first apply a generous amount of Vaseline or petroleum jelly to remove as much of the substance as possible. The coat may need to be clipped or even shaved to completely remove the substance if the Vaseline doesn't do the trick. Follow with a soapy wash with warm but not hot water, followed by a thorough rinse with clear, warm water.

For more information recommended by Kelly Marshall, see these recent articles Before You Bring Your Puppy Home, You Need Some Supplies and Cats and Dogs: Living Together as Brothers and Sisters.

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

The Best Things You Can Do To Make Your Dog Happy

Deciding to bring a dog into your family can be one of the most rewarding decisions a family can make. Dog ownership can be a wonderful experience with the proper supplies, patience, and guidance. You must first decide where you will obtain your new addition. You can buy from a breeder, look into your local animal shelter, check online, and check in the newspapers. Sometimes your dog will find you as we acquired our dog by word of mouth from a neighbor that knew of this little 8 week old lab/pit mix that needed a home.
Once you decide on where to gain your new dog, you need to decide on a breed. Do research on the traits and characteristics of the different breeds so you will know what to expect. Find a breed that fits into your lifestyle. You do not want to get a dog that needs lots of room to run if your dwelling is not conducive to those needs.
There will be some necessities that you will need to have when you bring your new dog home. Some of the basics are food, food and water bowls, collar, leash, crate (if you crate train which I highly advise), chew toys, shampoo, brush, flea comb, flea treatment, heartworm pills, and plenty of balls to throw. Make sure you check with your vet for the best food for your dog. Some dogs need specific diets and a change in the food can bring on stomach problems. Also make sure that the shampoo that you buy for your dog is appropriate for the dog's skin type. Always check with your vet for the best options for you or do some looking on line as there are a number of safe organic supplies that will do the trick.
Start training your dog from day one. If you have brought a puppy into your home you will need to take a deep breath and start the potty training immediately. This can be accomplished simply with the right tools and attitude. You will need to establish yourself as the Pack Leader and reaffirm that position every day. This is extremely important as you need to let your dog know who is in charge and this will help tremendously in all facets of the training that you will need to do with your dog.
Dog ownership can be very rewarding if you are prepared with the right tools and mindset. Please remember that your dog will need your attention and love on a daily basis. You will need to have patience and understanding and a lot of love, you will also get that love back from your dog which makes everything worth it.

If you found this article helpful and are looking for additional information about raising your dog or information about training, please visit my newly revised site at http://basicsofdogownership.com Thanks so much for reading this article.

Managing Your Puppy For Safety

Puppies are curious, adventuresome and able to get into almost anything, no matter how secure you thought it was. Making your house safe for a puppy is important, not only to protect your valuables but also to protect the puppy. Since it is almost impossible to puppy proof an entire house, consider selecting a room or area that can be cordoned off to make a puppy safe area when little Fido is left alone or unsupervised. Baby gates or pet gates are a great idea to block off a doorway, but they have to be securely placed in the door and fastened or a bigger puppy will learn to push them down. If the puppy is prone to chewing, spray the gate with a produce such as Grannick's Bitter Apple that will leave a bad taste in his or her mouth and prevent them from noshing on your enclosure. If you don't have a specific room, a pet exercise pet is a perfect ideal. This easy to transport pens come in many different sizes and can be used either indoors or outdoors and come in a variety of models to meet your needs. If you are buying an exercise pen, get one that will suit the dog as it grows to prevent having to constant upgrade as the puppy get bigger.

Keeping your puppy and eventually your dog safe in your car or vehicle includes purchasing a dog seat belt or keeping your puppy in a carrier within a seatbelt when they are in the vehicle. For older dogs or large puppies the seatbelt is a great safety feature plus you can also add a window screen or barrier that prevents the puppy from squeezing out through the window. Since dogs and puppies should never be left alone in a vehicle, especially in the hot summer months, this window barrier is not suitable for turning your vehicle into a pet storage area. They are an excellent safety feature to allow your dog fresh air while traveling but preventing them from sticking their head or front quarters out of the window.

Managing your puppy also includes cleaning up his or her waste. Puppies may eat fecal material if it is not removed, leading to bad habits, nutritional problems and a worm and parasite problems if more than one puppy is kept in the same area. A pooper scooper is a simple to use plastic handled scoop that can pick up waste material to be deposited in the garbage. There are even systems that you can set up right on your own property that use natural enzymes to break down the feces without having to use plastic bags that end up in landfills. When you are walking your puppy remember to carry some small plastic bags that you can use as a way to pick up his or her waste. These bags are then sealed and deposited in the nearest trash can. Pet stores carry a wide variety of specialty bags that are discrete and provide good protection for picking up the waste.

For more information recommended by Kelly Marshall, see these recent articles Dog Arthritis & Joint Health and Eliminating Skunk Odor From Your Dog.

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

Age To Get Puppies Spayed

Having your puppy spayed is by far the best way to ensure that we combat the problem of unwanted dogs. There are a huge number of healthy dogs put to sleep each year in America and an even greater number waiting in shelters to be adopted. Much of the trauma that these animals go through would be spared if only we took a more responsible view regarding the age to have puppies spayed.

Puppies are sexually mature at around six months old. From this time on a bitch can become pregnant and have her own litter of puppies, despite the fact that she will still seem like a puppy to you. Therefore, if we wish to keep the overpopulation of dogs to a minimum, the best age for puppies to be spayed would be before they are six months old. This should be before the puppy comes on heat for the first time.

Not only is this the best age to have puppies spayed from the viewpoint of controlling the dog population, it is also better for the dog on medical grounds. You will have reduced the risk of your dog suffering from mammary adenocarcinoma by about 98% when she is older.

Whether there is a limit regarding there being too young an age to have puppies spayed is a much discussed subject. The American Medical Veterinary Association now advocates the spaying of female puppies from as early as 7 weeks. There are many other reputable organizations who agree with the AMVA on this decision including The Humane Society of the United States and The Kennel Club of the United States.

There has been years of research into the subject and findings have been contra to previous beliefs. It was thought in the past that operating so early in life could cause the dog problems in later years. It has now been proved that there are no medical contraindications for the procedure at this age regarding either behavior or physical well being. Many veterinarians however, will still not agree to the procedure at such an early age and are still of the opinion that the best age to have puppies spayed is at around six months, just prior to first season. Veterinarians who are involved with The Humane Society of the United States are particularly supportive of early age spaying if it means that the animal can be adopted from a shelter rather than euthanized. Another rule for some is the weight of the puppy. Some will only spay if the animal weighs at least two pounds.

The majority of specialists will say that the ideal age to have puppies spayed would be at six months. In some cases this can be reduced for an early age spay from as young as 7 weeks. Either way, the important issue is that you do have your puppy spayed. This will be one step closer to helping reduce unwanted pregnancies and save the trauma that unwanted dogs have to endure.

Ian Pennington is an accomplished niche website developer and author. To learn more about spaying puppies, please visit Spay and Neuter Today for current articles and discussions. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ian_Pennington

5 Easy Tips For Identifying Dog Skin Problems

Although there are many canine skin disorders, the 5 following tips will help to identify some of the more common dog skin problems:

1. Fleas: The best way to identify a flea problem is to check your pets belly area and along the inside of the back legs. The hair is thinner in this area and easier to spot both fleas and flea dirt. The flea itself is brown or copper colored and roughly the size of a pin-head. Flea dirt looks like sprinkled pepper. Ruffling the fur on your dog's back and along the base of the tail is also an easy way to find fleas and flea droppings. Often times dogs that develop Flea Allergy Dermatitis will show hair loss around the base (top) of the tail. There are many options available for flea and tick control.

2. Food Allergy Dermatitis: Although food allergies can appear in pups as early on as 5 or 6 months, they can also develop in adult dogs as late as 11 or 12 years old. Common symptoms of food allergy dermatitis are itching of the skin, excessive scratching, hot spots and even skin infections. Dog owners should realize that there is a distinct difference between Food Allergies and Food Intolerance. Like people, classic symptoms of a food intolerance would be an upset stomach and diarrhea. All foods do not agree with all dogs. Pink Bismuth is a safe remedy for stomach upset and diarrhea in dogs. Food allergies require slowly eliminating foods and changing the diet.

3. Atopic Dermatitis: A condition caused by environmental allergens. Dogs that suffer with airborne allergies will often rub their face along the side of a sofa or along the carpet. As with food allergies, dogs will also chew their feet. With Atopic Dermatitis, it's common for dogs to develop ear infections due to a yeast overgrowth. Pollen, trees, grass, dust and wool fabric are just a few common airborne allergens that some dogs are sensitive to. Antihistimines are often prescribed.

4. Acral Lick Dermatitis (Lick Granuloma): This raised lesion will be red, hairless and is usually found on the leg of the dog. This neurological condition is self-induced due to continuous licking. Possible causes include anxiety, boredom and stress. Treatment will include identifying the source of the problem (anxiety, etc.), restricting licking of the area and often times medication for behavioral modification.

5. Hot Spots: Medically referred to as Acute Moist Dermatitis, these round lesions generally appear in warmer weather. Along the hip, the sides of the chest and around the head area are the most common locations for hot spots. These moist and hairless inflammations are painful causing the dog to fixate on the particular spot by licking, chewing and scratching at it. Continuous licking in one area is a large factor in the development of hot spots. These lesions can quickly become very large in size. The location of the hot spot will help determine what the underlying problem could be an; anal gland problem, ear problem or a flea problem. A Veterinarian will clip the hair around the spot, clean it with a medicated solution, prescribe antibiotics and pain medicine.

Determining the source of dog skin problems can often be difficult. Yet, skin conditions can be uncomfortable and painful, so dog owners should not give up until they know where the problem stems from.

Along with her two dogs and husband, Janie resides in the Pittsburgh area. With over 25 years of dog handling experience, she shares many articles on the importance of dog care and canine nutritional health.

Visit us here for more information on dog skin problems: http://www.old-dog-treats-and-rawhide.com

Find more information on dog skin disorders: http://www.old-dog-treats-and-rawhide.com

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

House Train Your Puppy with a Crate

One of the best ways to house train your puppy is through the use of a crate. This works especially well if you have to leave your puppy unattended for any length of time. It is a good idea to use a crate for at least the first nine months as you will want to protect your flooring and any items that a puppy may want to chew on.

Please buy a crate that your puppy can grow into as this is part of the training. When training my Pit/Lab mix we only experienced a few accidents that happened on our way outside. A puppy or dog typically will not defecate where it sleeps. It is important to make sure that while your puppy is in the crate it only has enough room to turn around in. Most crates come with a divider that you can keep moving as your puppy grows. This will help in the training as your puppy will learn to hold itself until taken outside. It is a good idea not to feed or give your puppy water at least an hour before bedtime. Make sure you establish a schedule for your puppy so it will start to know when it will be taken out for bathroom breaks.

As soon as you wake up in the morning take your puppy out immediately. You may need to carry your puppy for the first week to the outside to avoid any accidents on your way outside. We carried our puppy outside for the first week and praised her when she would go in the grass. We also said the words “go pee pee “and “go poop” when she did the act. Those commands reinforced daily will help later as she will now go on demand as she knows what those words mean due to association with the act. We rewarded her with petting, attention and play when she would complete the act instead of food. We wanted to reserve the food for the training of the regular commands such as sit, stay, lay down, etc. We did not want to confuse her with getting a treat for using the bathroom and then use the same method for regular commands. You must also watch the amount of treats given to a puppy as to not upset their stomachs as they are still growing and can only handle so much food intake.

You need to be consistent with the timing of the bathroom breaks which will mean you will need to be trained to use a schedule as well. Never reprimand with hitting for accidents which will most likely happen during the first few weeks. You must have patience and understanding when you are housebreaking your puppy. Here is a breakdown of what you can do to be successful:

· Buy a safe, quality crate that your puppy can grow into

· Set a schedule that you can stick to that will allow for frequent bathroom breaks for your puppy

· Limit food and water before bed time and walk just before putting your puppy in the crate for the night

· Use key words to get your puppy used to the commands to go to the bathroom

· Praise your puppy for going outside and never reprimand for accidents that will happen

Please remember that your puppy is just like a baby and will need to be taught how to do everything. You will need to have patience and understanding and a lot of love.

Go to www.basicsofdogownership.com for some solutions to training problems and other needs

Puppy Vaccinations and Your New Purebred Puppy

Your purebred puppies health should be of utmost concern to you.

You want a healthy puppy that is free of parasites and on good food. Nutrition is very important- especially in the first year of life.

There are many diseases that the new puppy may come in contact with and it is these puppy vaccinations that help build resistance to the viral attacks.

Though there are multiple ailments and diseases, I will attempt to briefly list and discuss only a few of the more common ones in this puppy article. As always, puppy vaccinations are the best preventive method.

Parvovirus (parvo). This is a very serious disease. It attacks the intestinal system and is a viral disease of dogs. Parvo is characterized by severe, bloody diarrhea and vomiting, high fever and lethargy. The diarrhea is particularly foul smelling and is sometimes yellow in color. Parvo can also attack a dog's heart causing congestive heart failure. Remember, without medical treatment, most puppies die from Parvo.

Distemper. This disease attacks every tissue in the body and may occur through inhalation of the virus in a contaminated area. Signs of the disease often resemble a bad cold with fever at first though the later stages may result in vomiting, high fever, diarrhea, convulsions and thickening/cracking of the nose and pads. Death is common and dogs and who recover may have future nervous damage. Simple puppy vaccinations are the best prevention.

Hepatitis. Spread through contact with contaminated urine or feces. This affects the kidneys and liver- often dogs will have high fever, lack of appetite, vomiting/diarrhea with blood, and depression. Often affected animals will have chronic health problems and recovered dogs will pass infected urine for months after infection. Again, vaccinations are the best preventive method.

Leptospirosis (Lepto). Affect the liver and kidneys and can be transmitted to man via contact with the urine of an infected dog. Signs such as vomiting and thirst, bloody diarrhea, depression, and jaundice may occur. Antiobiotic treatment is important though the best prevention is through vaccination.

Rabies. Transmitted through the saliva of an infected animal, rabies is another disease that may be spread to humans. The disease affects the nervous tissues and causes paralysis and death (always). Again, vaccinations are your best weapon against this disease. Below find a brief listing of other common problems of which you should be aware.

Kennel cough. Kennel cough deals with bacterial and/or viral infections in the upper respiratory tract. Symptoms of kennel cough are a constant wheezing cough. Highly contagious as well!

Other symptoms to watch for in your new purebred puppy:

Vomiting. Occasional vomiting is not uncommon but consult your vet if the problem persists or if blood, diarrhea or pain accompany the vomiting.

Diarrhea. Can be caused by a number of things- viruses, food, internal parasites, and bacteria to name a few. Contact the vet if the stool is bloody, continues for an excessive amount of time, or if dehydration occurs. Once your pup has recovered, return it to its food slowly and in decreased but frequent portions.

Constipation. Can be caused by multiple factors also such as insufficient water intake, disease or ingestion of a foreign substance. While your vet may have to take blood tests to find the cause, usually a diet high in fiber and exercise will help prevent this problem.

Not to scare you in any way, I do hope this information will assure you of just how important those puppy vaccinations are to your new puppies (and your) health. Proper immunizations are the best prevention in the endless war on disease and may save your puppy, and yourself, a lot of discomfort, grief and pain- and possibly even death. Here's to healthy and happy puppy owning.

Debbie Ray, owner of http://www.pedigreedpups.com and http://www.total-german-shepherd.com is a lifelong animal lover and dog enthusiast. Interested in more dog information? Training and health tips? Thinking about getting a purebred dog? Interested in the German Shepherd Dog in particular? Need to promote your dog related website and get additional in bound links? Check out pedigreedpups.com, total-german-shepherd.com or canine-hotline.com (dog only products store) for more information.

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

Adult Dog Toilet Training Tips

Toilet training a dog is the process of teaching your dog to eliminate where you want. If you do not want to make yourself busy with picking up piles and removing dog urine stains from carpet, you need to potty train your dog. You need to give freedom to your dog outside or in your apartment where he can eliminate naturally and you do not have to worry about the mess.

In this article, we will discuss different aspects of adult dog toilet training.

Dog potty training with crate

The most effective method of dog toilet training involves the use of a crate. Dog is an intelligent and clean animal. They prefer to keep the place clean where they sleep.

After initial 2 weeks of training, your dog will learn what is expected of him in terms of toilet habits. Your dog should go to crate for rest, use the designated place for potty.

What you should know for toilet training a puppy in crate?

1. Crate size should not big enough so dog can sleep one side and potty other side
2. Crate should not too small, so that your puppy feels uncomfortable to go inside.

Potty training a dog without a crate

Dog toilet training without crate is difficult. There will be few cases of accidents initially and you need to be ready to clean up the mess without any physical punishment to your dog.

Important tips on dog training

1. You should be in touch with your dog throughout the day

2. You need to recognize signs that your dog needs to use the toilet so that you can immediately take the puppy to the spot where you want him to potty, give the command word and praise his successes. Always use same command like "go pee" and do not play with him that time.

Dog toilet training using papers

If you have a dog of small breed, you can use paper for dog toilet training. It is useful only if you stay in high-rise apartment and cannot take your dog outside for potty.

Are you dog owner and facing challenges in potty training your puppy?

Click the link to read professional dog trainers advises and recommendations on puppy potty training and how to clean dog urine

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

Best Heartworm Medicine For Dogs

Heartworm is a parasite that is spread between animals through the mosquito bites. The heartworm is a tiny worm about the size of a thread that primarily infects dogs, but has also been known to infect coyotes, cats, foxes and wolves among a number of other animals. The parasite acquired the nickname "heartworm" because during the adult stage of its life, it primarily lives and reproduces in the pulmonary artery of its host's heart. It is important to make sure your dog takes medicine to prevent heartworm as the tiny parasites can cause serious health problems for your dog or even cause death.

Virtually all veterinarians agree that the best defense against heartworm disease is monthly application of a preventive heartworm medicine. Prevention of heartworm infection can be obtained through a variety of different drugs and can be prescribed by your dog's veterinarian. Heartworm drugs approved for use in the U.S. include ivermectin (this includes the brand name drug Heartgard among several other generic versions), moxidectin (known by the brand name ProHeart), and milbemycin (including brand names Interceptor and Sentinel). Most of these treatments are administered in pill or chewable tablet form every month during mosquito season.

Make sure your dog gets his monthly heartworm prevention within a month of the beginning of the mosquito season and continue application until a full month after the season. In warm climates where mosquitoes are prevalent through all seasons, heartworm prevention must be administered year round. Many pet owners treat their dogs with heartworm medication year round regardless of climate just to be safe.

There are a couple other ways your dog can get his heartworm medicine. Moxidectin, also known as ProHeart, can be administered in six or twelve month time release injections, but is not available in the U.S. due to safety concerns. Advantage Multi Topical Solution, a treatment including both imidacloprid and moxidectin, is administered by application to the dog's skin. The moxidectin stops roundworms, hookworms, heartworms, whipworms, and the imidocloprid kills adult fleas. Selamectin, under the brand name Revolution, is another topical preventive heartworm medicine administered on a monthly basis.

Preventive drugs for heartworm are important because treatment for dogs who contract heartworm disease can be very dangerous. Sometimes, after treatment, dead heartworms break loose and travel to the lungs, leading to respiratory failure and death. Preventive heartworm disease medicines are highly effective and when regularly administered will protect almost all dogs from being infected. Failures of protection do occur, but most are a result of irregular or incorrect administration of the heartworm drugs. No pet owner is perfect, so most monthly preventives are formulated so that if a single month's dose is missed, the dog will be protected as long as the next months' doses are not missed.

Candis Reade is an accomplished niche website developer and author.
To learn more about heartworm medicine for dogs, please visit My Heartworm Medication for current articles and discussions.

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

First Aid For Dog Diarrhea

If your dog is suffering from diarrhea, it is not right to just let the condition take its toll. While diarrhea may heal without you doing anything about it, that path is a very dangerous road to take. Pet owners should always be aware of what their pets are going through for their own benefit. Certain diseases prove to have irreversible effects. And you don't want your pet to die from a health condition if you can help it.

The case is very true with dog diarrhea. Dog diarrhea can cause dehydration or loss of fluids. And this condition is not only fatal to dogs but to humans as well. Therefore, dogs with diarrhea should be given first aid so as not to worsen the situation.

Diarrhea in dogs occurs because of many reasons. However, the most common one is when your dog gets in contact with spoiled food, the trash, and insecticides around the house. You must make sure that your pets never get hold of these items as the end result is most likely to be diarrhea.

They symptom of diarrhea in dogs is usually watery stool. If you see that there are rarely solids in the wastes of your dog, there are high chances that it is suffering from diarrhea. This can be coupled with other symptoms such as lost appetite for food and lethargy.

If your dog has diarrhea, it most likely has parasites in its stomach. Therefore, your first job is to flush it out. You can do this by giving your dog water during the first 24 hours you noticed the problem. Give your dog nothing but water for a day. This will help in the removal of all the bacteria, fungi, parasites, or even viruses that may be present in its stomach. Furthermore, water may counter the dehydration caused by the disease. It could also help alleviate your dog's condition.

You have to observe whether there is blood in your dog's stool. The presence of blood is an indication that your dog is suffering from a severe case of dog diarrhea. You should take your dog to the veterinarian for further check ups. The vet may also require a stool sample from your pet.

First aid for dog diarrhea would also require you to feed your dog with a bland diet. This means boiled rice and skinless chicken for the time being. The foods you should give your dog must be totally free from oil, preservatives, and salt. It should be something that your pet can easily digest because the stomach of your dog is still recovering from irritants.

Certain antibiotics may also be required by your pet. Your veterinarian should be able to help you on this. If your dog had suffered from diarrhea before and you have left over medicine, it should suffice. However, you should continue observing your pet because the medicine you give it may or may not be effective for this particular case. Keep in touch with your veterinarian for further help.

Visit us at DogDiarrhea.org and find information and resources about the dog diarrhea condition and dog diarrhea treatments.

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

Food You Should Never Feed Your Dog

There are many foods that we eat that we should never feed our dogs. Some are obvious, and most are things most people would never think would harm their dog. This list will tell you some of them.

1. Onions and garlic- Can damage red blood cells because they contain sulfoxides and disulfides.Can also cause anemia.

2. Persimmons- May cause enteritis and intestinal obstruction.

3. Peach and plum pits- Can cause digestive tract obstruction.

4. Raw fish- May cause loss of appetite, seizures, and may cause death if fed regularly, because raw fish causes a thiamine deficiency.

5. Sugary foods- May cause Diabetes Mellitus, dental problems, and obesity.

6. Table scraps- Never feed in large amounts. Bones should never be fed, and fat should be trimmed from meat and fed sparingly.

7. String- May become trapped in the digestive system causing it to have to be removed.

8. Salt- If fed in large quantities, can cause an electrolyte imbalance.

9. Yeast dough- Can cause pain and rupturing in the digestive system.

10. Tobacco- May result in rapid heartbeat, collapse, coma, and death, because tobacco contains nicotine.

11. Raw eggs- Raw eggs may contain Salmonella. They also contain an enzyme known as avidin, which decreases the absorption of biotin.

12.Mushrooms - May contain toxins, which can affect several organ systems, cause shock and even death.

13. Hops- Causes panting, fever, elevated heart rate, seizure and possibly death because of an unknown compound.

14. Spoiled food or garbage- Can contain many toxins which may cause diarrhea and vomiting.

15. Dairy products- Can result in diarrhea because adult dogs and cats do not have enough of the enzyme lactase, which breaks down the lactose in milk. There is lactose-free products available for pets.

16. Liver- If fed in large amounts, can cause Vitamin A toxicity, which affects muscles and bones.

17. Macadamia nuts- They contain an unknown toxin, and can affect the nervous system, muscles, and digestive system.

18. Vitamin supplements for people- Supplements that contain iron can cause damage to many organs and harm the lining of the digestive system.

19. Raisins and grapes- May damage the kidneys because of an unknown toxin.

20. Baby food- May contain onion powder, which can be toxic to dogs.

21. Alcoholic drinks- Can cause coma, death, and intoxication.

22. Bones from fish, poultry, and other meats- Can cause laceration and blockage of the digestive system.

23. Chocolate, coffee, tea, and other caffeine containing products- Contains theobromine, theophylline ,and caffeine, which can be toxic and affect the heart and nervous system.

24. Cat food- Usually contains too much protein and fats for dogs.

25. Citrus oil- May cause vomiting.

26. Fat trimmings- May cause pancreatitis.

If this list helped you, and you would like to know about healthy foods that are free of toxins to feed your dog, then check out: (http://www.squidoo.com/got-healthy-dog-food)

April L. Toche

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

Dog Boots - How to Size and Wear Dog Bootties

A common mistake that many people make with sizing dog clothes and accessories is that they think if their dog needs a size small sweater, he needs a size small boot. That's not true. Those boots would be too big and would just get kicked right off. A good rule of thumb is to go down one size from clothing for booties. So if he needs a small sweater he will need size extra small dog shoes. When you first put on the boots, it's going to look a little silly. You will probably get a good laugh out of it, but over time they will get used to wearing them and will come to appreciate the foot protection when walking outside on the ice and snow. I know for a fact that all my Chihuahuas refuse to go outside when it's snowing unless they have their little boots on.

Boots are not just for winter, either. There are also reflective boots and light boots that can be used in the summer as well. The reflective boots are great for walking at night to have protection from car traffic. Also, the light boots work well at protecting a dog's paws against chemicals like pesticides put in the grass. Remember, no dog's feet were made to deal with all the man-made chemicals that are in our environment, so protecting your dog's paws should not be restricted to just winter. One thing I would advise is not to leave boots on a dog's feet all the time. This is especially true for puppies because they need to have time to be dogs and let their natural calluses develop. Just be sure that wherever they're walking is clean and safe.

Grant Carroll is the proud father of four dogs and co-owner of http://www.littlepamperedpets.com with warm dog clothes for dogs of all sizes and breed. Come visit Little Pampered Pets to find pet clothes to match any puppy's personality! From dog sweaters to coats and sueded booties, they have something for every pampered pooch. Little Pampered Pets even specializes in adorable chihuahua apparel and teacup breed clothing for your tiny four-legged best friend.

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

Some more Basics of Dog Ownership and What it Takes to Keep Your Dog Healthy

Before bringing a dog into your life it is important to understand that there is a level of commitment that is necessary. The relationship that you can get from your dog is one of the greatest relationships that you can have. Dogs truly are man’s best friend when the dog is treated with love and compassion. There are many considerations that need to be addressed when bringing a dog into your home so that both you and your dog will have a long loving relationship.

There are several requirements that your new dog will need:

• Your dog will need to be walked every day. Exercise is a crucial element of your dog’s health and all around well being. You should walk your dog for at least 30 to 45 minutes a day. This will also help out with your dog’s mental state especially if they are indoors most of the day. This also should help out with your health as exercise is important to your health as well. Think of this time as making sure that you and your dog are getting time to share together in a healthy way.

• You will need to take your dog to the vet for routine visits. Your dog will need to have their shots every year. It is important to keep your dog up to date with these shots as to avoid any life threatening diseases. Please also make sure that your dog is on a heart worm preventative to keep his heart healthy. Your Vet will suggest which heart worm preventative that your dog will do best on.

• You will need to provide a good food source for your dog. There are a lot of different dog foods available out there. Please discuss with your Vet the best kind of food that your dog will flourish on. Some dogs have allergies to certain additives in brand dog foods. You will need to check the labels to find out what exactly is in the food that you will be serving your dog. If you are worried about the recent dog food recalls, you can make your own dog food which will provide you peace of mind and a good diet for your dog.

• You will need to make sure that your dog is keep clean and pest free. If you are using a flea preventative that is administered on the back of your dog’s neck, you will need to check on the bottle of shampoo to make sure that usage of that shampoo will not interfere with the flea preventative that is already on the dog. They make several shampoos just for usage of that particular kind of products. Make sure that the shampoo that you choose will not harm your dog in any way. If you notice any dryness or allergies from a particular shampoo, discontinue using and contact your vet for a better alternative.

•Your dog will need a lot of love, time and understanding from you and your family. A happy dog is a dog that is part of the family. Your dog will need attention from you to be happy and healthy. Please take some one on one time with your dog and give him the attention that he needs. Studies have shown that petting an animal reduces stress levels in humans. We could all use a stress reliever in our busy everyday lives. Make sure that you will have time to spend with your dog. This is very important to your dog’s overall health.

There are other needs to be met as well, but the main ones have been covered here. Please gain as much information as possible as the decision to bring a dog into your life can be a wonderful one with all of the right expectations.

I am a proud dog owner to the best dog ever to have walked this planet. I am sure that most of you feel this way.

I love my dog and am looking into gaining another one to add to our happy family.

Tami Grant