How to Help Your Dog Lose Weight

Author: Emma Snow

Obesity is on the rise for canines. The reasons for this influx are similar to those that humans experience, too much food and too little exercise. The results of obesity are similar for your canine friends too. Studies reveal that 25% of overweight dogs experience severe joint problems. This effects their daily activities such as walking, standing and sitting. It also increases pain and makes jumping up or down off the bed difficult. If a dog is overweight its lungs cannot function properly- the extra fat pushes against the lungs and diaphragm and makes breathing more difficult. Carrying extra weight decrease ability to preform daily activities. It takes more work to do everything. Body systems have to do more than they were designed for because extra weight places strain on the heart, muscles and respiratory system. Because being overweight causes daily tasks to be more difficult and causes more pain, dogs can become more irritable. Dogs who are overweight have a shorter life span and a lower quality of life. However, there are several things that a pet owner can do to help their animals shed the pounds and live a longer, happier life.

Assessing Your Dog

One way to get an idea if your dog is overweight is by checking their ribs. The ribs should not be visible as they stand, but still detectable when you touch them or when they move (such as jumping in the air to catch a Frisbee). If you cannot feel your dogs ribs, they are probably overweight. The first and for most important measure though, is to take your dog to their veterinarian. Your dog should be seen on a yearly basis for a routine check up. One reason why visiting your veterinarian is so important is that some dogs do not look overweight. Large dogs can especially hide weight well. Your veterinarian will be able to decide if your dog is overweight and why. To help your veterinarian keep a record of what you are doing with your dog before you go. Record your dogs patterns such as sleeping, eating and exercise. In some cases weight issues might be due to medical conditions, such a thyroid problems, verses overeating and under exercising.

Feeding

Dog's have a strong need for affection. One reason dogs overeat is that pet owners use food as an easy way to show their affection. It is not recommended to do this. Using food as a means of reward trains your dog to seek food for affection. This adds to their weight gain and all the other associated problems. Instead, fill their need for attention with games, petting and playing or get a new toy or go for a walk. Habits are hard to break, so here are few tips to help you. Do not leave food out all day. Set a schedule and a location to eat. One meal per day (or two small ones) is all that a dog needs. Also, one day each week with no food will help burn excess fat which they have stored in their bodies. Dogs are trained in behavior. If they beg at the table and someone gives them food, they learn that begging results in getting what they want. To help change this pattern feed your dog before you eat and keep them in another room while you have dinner. After, take them out for a walk or to play a game so they feel loved and get the attention they need. Once new patterns have been decided upon make sure everyone in the family is on board. Otherwise someone might feel "sorry" for the begging dog and give them "just a little something" and this will slow down or prevent your dog's weight loss, especially if that "little something" is every day. Meet as a family to discuss the need for changes in your dog's diet and how your animal will be effected if you don't. This will help everyone understand why and help them keep the new rules.

Excercise

The enthusiasm for new changes might cause over doing exercise at first, but it is important not to do this. Start slowly, for just a few minutes a couple times a day. This will be sufficient at first and then you can slowly increase their activity. Encourage your dog to move around the house with you. Movement frequently and throughout the day is essential. If you take your dog out for a hard run to get him "in shape" it might do more harm than good. Especially when no exercise has been implemented in his routine before. A nice, leisurely walk is sufficient each day and then a couple of times a day as directed by your veterinarian. Another way to get movement is by playing games with your dog. As your dog increases in strength and endurance playing fetch is fun for the dog and helps them get in more activity. Follow your veterinarian's plan and keep appointments. This is especially important if the weight loss is significant.

Loving your pet is doing what is best for them. Increasing their activity and reducing their treats and table scraps will help them become their ideal weight. Your dog will move easier and breath lighter and you can sleep better knowing their health is on the right track.


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Emma Snow, an animal lover, works in marketing for Dog Pound http://www.dog-pound.net and Horse Stall http://www.horse-stall.net leading portals for pet management.
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Dog Health Alert: Combat Kidney Disease Now

Author: Frank McGinty

My friend was grief stricken. Her body heaved with sobs, and in
between she kept repeating: "He was so young. I never thought I'd
lose him so soon." No, she hadn't lost a son or brother, but she had
lost a friend. "It's like losing a member of your family," she cried.

She was referring to the death of Jack, her beloved Golden Retriever
puppy, who had contracted a condition known as Juvenile Renal Disease.

Regrettably, this and other kidney conditions are common threats to
your dog's health, and as we've seen, the effects can be devastating.

The good news, however, is that with the correct type of dog care,
much can be done to prevent and even cure kidney disease.

So what exactly do the kidneys do, and what causes them to become
infected?

First things first!

The job of the kidneys is two-fold: they balance
a whole variety of chemicals in your dog's blood AND they filter out
waste material through the urine.

When there are just too many toxic substances in the body, the dog's
kidneys can become infected. (We can define a toxin as a substance
which is in the wrong place, or which is performing the wrong
function.)

Common symptoms of kidney infection are drinking copious amounts of
water, and frequent passing of dilute urine (that is, clear urine with no
smell). This can lead to vomiting, loss of appetite, weight loss and
a wasting of the muscles.

Many toxic substances are to be found in the plastics that dogs love
to chew on, in unclean water and even in certain chemicals that are
used in the processing of dog food. The resulting kidney disease can
be debilitating at best and fatal at worst.

Conventional treatments don't always work, and in any case they tend
to be hugely expensive. Wouldn't it be better to avoid the onset of
these conditions, and even to help your dog combat them (under a vet's supervision, of course) if they do strike?

So what can I do?

The safest bet is to go down the path of natural dog care.

Make sure that all the toys you allow your dog to play with are toxin
free and chew -proof. There are many stores and online retailers who
can help you choose the safest products.

Train your dog not to chew on litter and other discarded materials
when you are out and about.

Give your dog only pure water to drink. Puddles, canals and lakes can
be devastating! These days you just don't know what toxins are lurking therein.

In some areas even the tap water is suspect. So-called
'softened water' can be harmful and some areas have a high sodium
content in their drinking water. Better to make it easier on your
dog's kidneys by filtering all water before filling his bowl.

Many vets tell us that exercise is a key ingredient in the fight
against kidney infection. Most people seem to be under the impression
(as I was!) that exercise is only to keep a dog fit and to combat
weight gain.. Apparently it also has a crucial role in helping
stimulate the kidneys to do their job.

Finally, there is nothing to beat natural dog food, not only in the fight
against kidney infections, but also against a whole host of other ailments.
Many pre-packaged dog foods contain less than nutritious ingredients
as well as a range of preservatives and other chemicals - many of which are
toxic.

Natural dog food stores and online retailers will help you make
the right choice here. You can even buy ingredients and herbs that
are good for your dog and cook them yourself, but if that is too
daunting a prospect there are a range of suitable alternatives. These
will contain the nutrients, amino acids and vitamins your dog needs.

Kidney disease, then, need not be the fatal condition it once was. We
now know so much more about its causes and how to prevent it, and even
how to boost a dog's immune system so that she herself can shake off any
infection.

Let's hope you and I and our dogs never have to suffer the same tragic experience as my friend and her dog!



About The Author:

Interested in learning more about natural care for your dog? Visit
Frank McGinty's site for some excellent news:
http://www.familysoftshop.com/dogcare

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How to Control Dog Whining

Author: gpoint

Dogs whine for a number of reasons. By understanding the root cause of dog whining you can take some simple steps to control unwanted whining by your dog.

Why Do Dogs Whine?
When your dog whines, she is talking to you. She wants you to know that there is something that she needs for a variety of reasons.

Your dog may not be feeling well. Your dog may feel lonely and want your companionship. Your dog may be afraid and is calling out for help.

How to Control or Stop Dog Whining
If your dog is whining because you are not home, she may be suffering from separation anxiety. This is a relatively easy dog behavior to correct. You should start conditioning your dog to your leaving the house and coming back after a short period of time, say 5 minutes.

Don’t make a big deal out of your departure. No excited good byes and good girl farewells. When you return, don’t pay attention to your dog when you walk in. Act as if you were just in the next room for a few minutes and that your re entry to where your dog is doesn’t merit any fanfare.

If you do make a fuss upon departing or returning, you are in fact, telling you dog that what you are about to do or the fact that you have returned is very momentous. This will instill an even greater sense of urgency in your dog to whine as she now “knows” that your absence is something that causes you to get excited, therefore she needs to tell you that she noticed it and wants you there.

Start extending the periods of your absence to 15 minutes, then 30 minutes then an hour, then 3 hours, until your dog pays no attention to your departure or return. When you have accomplished this you will have defeated separation anxiety in your dog and the whining will have stopped.

Your dog may also display a whining behavior if she simply wants your attention. If she whines and you respond by giving her treats, playing with her or petting her, your dog will have been very successful in training you ! She just became the master and the dominant member of the dog pack. This is exactly the opposite of the appropriate pack pecking order. You have to reassert yourself as the leader of the dog pack.

One way to control this type of dog whining is to simply ignore your dog. If she doesn’t get the desired reaction, your immediate attention, when she whines, then she will soon get tired of this approach and you will have established control over your whining dog.

If your dog persists in whining, you should give her a firm command such as “No!”. Let her know with your voice and never by physical punishment, that dog whining is unacceptable and must stop. Another approach is to rattle a can full of rocks that make a loud and unpleasant noise. This auditory interruption is very unpleasant; Your dog will associate her whining with the unpleasant noise and the whining will stop.

Dogs also whine if they want to come inside or go outside. If your dog whines to go outside to the doggy outhouse, this is O.K. In this instance your dog is telling you she needs to relieve herself. When this from of dog whining occurs, you should say “good dog” to let your dog know that you appreciate her alerting you to her need.

Always use the exact same words and in the same tone. Your dog can’t understand your human language, but she will associate the sound of your voice and the words you speak in a way that reinforces what in this case is a desired action.

Another approach to control whining in your dog is to divert her attention from the cause of the whining to something more appropriate. Is she whines, you could ask her to “come” to you or to “stay.” If she responds to your command you could then giver her a reward.

Dogs as well as puppies whine if they are hungry or bored. Puppies want food as do adult dogs and both need and want exercise. Be certain to give your dog ample exercise daily before any whining has the opportunity to start. Your dog may be tired and happy and the prospect of kicking up a fuss with dog whining will lose its appeal.

As we mentioned above, never, never , never strike or physically punish your dog at anytime. Physical abuse of dogs is not only inhumane and punishable by law but is counterproductive. An abused dog will have accelerated and more intense displays of undesirable behavior than a dog who is worked with in a calm, loving, and appropriate training environment.

Finally, dogs that whine for no apparent reason may be signaling you that they are sick or hurt. Don’t ignore dog whining that is unexplainable. Take your dog to a veterinarian right away to determine if there is an injury or illness that needs treatment.

For more information on how to easily control dog whining and have well behaved dog today, visit Dogs 4 Life at http://www.dogs-4life.com/disobedient-dog-help.html
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Dog Worming

Author: John Moore

Dog Worming.

Regular worming is essential to protect your dog against internal parasites. This involves giving it preparations in liquid or tablet form. Adult dogs should be wormed at least once a year, and at least once every six months if in contact with children. Dogs showing any signs of infection should be wormed immediately and all breeding bitches should be wormed prior to mating.

Roundworms.
Several of these parasites affect dogs but the most important are the ones that belong to the Ascarid family, and live in the small intestine. Other roundworms infest the large intestine, blood vessels and respiratory tract.
Ascarids feed on digesting food in the dog's gut, and are particularly harmful to puppies. They penetrate a puppies gut wall and pass via the blood to the liver and then to the lungs. From there they crawl up the trachea to be coughed up and swallowed, again ending up in the gut. Infected puppies may develop :-

Hepatitis, pneumonia, fits, and obstruction to the gut, so regular treatment is vital.

As the puppy gets older most of the worms travel to the muscles, where they form cysts. These lie dormant until the puppy bitch becomes pregnant. They then migrate to the puppies lungs, and this is why virtually every puppy is born with roundworm, and must be wormed regularly.

How Roundworms Affect Humans.
These worms can infect humans, and in a very low number of cases, cause disease. Good hygiene and common sense concerning children and puppies should control the problem.

Tapeworms.
The tapeworm tickle the dog's anus and make the dog drag it's rear end along the floor. If you see any worm segments in your dog's faeces, treat it as soon as possible.

As a dog lover myself, I treat my own pets at least twice a year. Worming tablets can be bought cheaply at your local supermarket or petshop, so there's no excuse for not treating your own pet on a regular basis.

Thank you for reading my article. I do hope it's been enjoyable.
Author and animal lover - John Moore...please use my link
http://www.pet-dog-cat.com
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Teach Dog To Read Basics

Author: Ande Waggener

Teach dog to read? Can it be done? Yes, it can. You can teach dog to read.

Why would you want to?

Well, even though Fido is never going to read a book or magazine, his ability to understand a written word as a command can come in handy. The teach dog to read techniques can help you with special situations.

Life has a tendency to throw curve balls. There may come a day when you have difficulty speaking. Maybe you just have laryngitis, and you can’t call your dog. Or maybe you have a more serious condition.

More likely, your dog may lose his or her hearing someday. At 14 years old, my dog has lost most of hers. I now use hand signals to communicate with her, but I’m working on teaching her to read too.

Teach dog to read instructions aren’t as complicated as you might imagine. The step-by-step process of teach dog to read is pretty straightforward.

Here are the teach dog to read steps:

1. First, make some flash cards. For best results, use an 8 ½ X 11” sheet of white paper. Write the word you want the dog to understand in large letters. For example, DOWN.

2. Now get your dog’s attention. Hold the flash card in one hand behind your back, and hold a treat or ball or whatever your dog loves best in the other hand. Have your dog stand in front of you.

3. Show your dog the paper with the word on it.

4. A split second after the dog sees the flash card, say the word on the card. Your dog should see the paper before you say the word, but don’t wait too long. Don’t look at your dog. The eye contact can be a distraction. Look down at the flash card.

5. Be sure you hold the flash card paper still. Keep your fingers away from the letters of the word. Stay very still. Wait.

6. When your dog does what you want the dog to do (in this example, lie down), immediately say, “Yes!” in a very high-pitched, excited voice. Hide the card behind your back and reward your dog with a treat or toy in combination with effusive praise.

7. Repeat steps 1 through 6 three more times.

On the fourth repeat, if your dog has been responding well to your verbal command, just hold the card but don’t say the word. If your dog seems confused, say the command. After your dog obeys, start again and repeat until your dog does what you want without your saying the command.

Work these steps for a few minutes a day until your dog responds to the card alone. When this happens, go over the top with your praise. Dogs LOVE praise and will work hard to get it.

Once your dog knows one word, you can move on to another.

When you master the dog training technique of teach dog to read, you will be able to teach your dog to be responsive in any situation. You’ll also impress your friends. So have fun with teach dog to read.

Andrea Rains Waggener, author of Dog Parenting—How to Have an Outrageously Happy, Well-adjusted Canine, offers free basic dog training tips at http://www.basicdogtrainingtips.com.

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