Preventing Your Dog From Catching Diseases

by: Jack Russell
Like any other pet, dogs, if not properly cared and maintained, could get diseases. Here are some parasites that cause dog diseases.
- Heartworm. Mosquito bites cause heartworm to exist in a dog and will reside in your pet’s heart and nearby blood vessels. A dog infected by heartworms looks dull and may even have a chronic cough. If possible, ask your veterinarian if your dog could be given a heartworm medication when it is the season of mosquitoes.
- Hookworm. Hookworms can be given by the mother dog to a puppy during the nursing period or even before birth. Hookworms cause dog anemia and appetite loss.
- Roundworm. The transmittal of roundworms is very much like how hookworms get transmitted in a dog. An infected dog usually has a potbelly. Roundworms cause pneumonia, diarrhea, dehydration, stunted growth, and vomiting.
- Tapeworm. A dog gets tapeworms if it swallows fleas that are larvae-laden. Much of the symptoms that are obvious rarely show, but in the dog’s feces, you could see deposits of rice-like appearance.
- Whipworm. A dog infected with whipworms may have diarrhea and other ailments like, stool mucus, and serious bowel inflammation. Extreme weight loss is also a symptom caused by whipworms.
- Fleas. Fleas, the commonest among external parasites, cause the dog to continuously scratch various parts of the body. This results to fur loss. Ask your veterinarian on a good flea-control program, since fleas could become resistant to some products over time.
- Lice. Lice can infect less common compared with fleas. Plus, they can be controlled easier.
- Ticks. Ticks can pose more serious problems than fleas because diseases like Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, or Lyme disease, can be contracted with ticks. Tweezers can be used to remove ticks one by one. If you do not know how to remove ticks properly and carefully, ask your vet first. If you do know how, ticks should be placed in a can with soap and water.
Treating dog diseases
Some ways of treating dog diseases that your vet might use:
- Pills
- Liquid medicine
- Eye drops and ointment
- Ear drops and ointment
With proper care and prevention, your pet dog would be generally free and safe from various diseases. If you notice something’s wrong with your dog, immediately consult with your vet. You will never know what might happen.
About The Author
Jack Russell is a a long time dog fancier, visit his Dog Resources Blog and download his Free Dog Owners Handbook - it's Dog Gone Good! http://www.daveshealthbuzz.com/dogcare/.

Building A Dog Kennel

by: Simon Oldmann
Should I get into Dog Kennel Building? Anyone who owns a dog as a pet will tell you that maintaining one can make a considerable dent in your wallet. The expenses of keeping a dog includes dog food costs and vet bills. Some pet owners find these costs over whelming and as a direct result many dogs end up in animal shelters. Genuine dog lovers often refrain from getting a dog for themselves, simply because the costs of owning one are too high. However, there are several ways of cutting down on unnecessary costs and to keep your pet happy and healthy at the same time. For example, if you want a kennel for your dog, buying one can turn out to be an expensive affair. Building your own dog kennel cuts this cost half. Many dog owners share their living space 24x7 with their pets. This can result in a lot of hassles like cleaning up after your dog leaves muddy footprints on your floor or spending precious time vacuuming fur off carpets, sofas and other furniture. For those who like to give their pets their own cozy home, a doghouse or a kennel is the way to go. Now the best part about dog kennels, especially for do-it-yourselfers, is that you can build one your self. Although, you will still need to bear the costs of building supplies as well as give your own labor input, the biggest advantages here are that costs are a mere fraction of those incurred when purchasing a ready made dog house and that you can customize the kennel to suit your puppy’s needs. Most of the kennels available on the market are of a fairly standard size and if you have a particularly large or small dog, this may pose a problem. Building a dog kennel means you will have to make one large enough so that your pet can comfortably turn around, but at the same time not too large, since it helps retain your dogs body heat and allows self-insulation to a degree. Dog kennel building is a fairly easy task if you have even the tiniest bit of experience in carpentry. When building a custom doghouse, make sure the kennel is raised a few inches off the ground to prevent seepage of moisture into the wood. Also, when shopping for plywood, make sure to purchase exterior grade plywood instead of pressure treated plywood. At the same time, ensure that your dog is not in the habit of chewing wood because the chemicals used to treat exterior grade plywood may be harmful to your pet. When building dog kennels, keep these three factors in mind. That is, the size of the doghouse, the right type of wood and the height at which the kennel is raised from the ground. Once the basics are in place, you can do what you want in terms of design and building. You may even design the kennel according to your pet’s personality, giving it the ultimate designer home.
About The Author
Simon Oldmann is an avid dog lover, now living in the countryside he setup a dog kennel for his dogs, Simon currently writes tips and advice about dog kennels at http://dogkennel.zupatips.com/

Is Good Customer Service Going to the Dogs?

by: Trish Lambert
I had an experience the other day that has made me think about how too many customer service experiences unfold in the business world today, and about the difference that really good service can make. I have two dogs. Earlier this week, it was time for them to get their summer haircuts so that they will be able to comfortably cope with the Houston heat. The newest addition to the house is Jason, a miniature schnauzer who had been the prized pet of an old lady who had to give him up for adoption when she moved to a nursing home. She had chosen to keep him fully furred, not trimmed in the traditional schnauzer cut, so that he had a really nice wire haired coat to go with his bushy eyebrows and stubby tail. The other dog is Lucky, a schnauzer-poodle mix-poodle ears and body, schnauzer muzzle and curly tail-he gets the traditional cut. So, I took the two little guys to the groomers the other morning. I was the first client of the day, and the salon was nice and quiet. I explained what I wanted to the person who would be doing the job-traditional schnauzer cut on Lucky, but not on Jason. Just a trim for him. This is important, I told her, because I don’t want his coat shaved off-once that wire hair is gone it never grows back. Did she understand, I asked? Yes, she answered. But did I want Jason’s skirt trimmed? Skirt? I stared blankly and finally figured out that she was talking about the feathery bits on his chest and belly. Yes, fine, I said. Trim that area but just don’t shave him. She nodded. I went back a few hours later to pick up the boys. At that point the salon was buzzing with dogs, clients, and groomers. The fur was literally flying. First came Lucky, looking very dapper and neat. A few seconds later, out came Jason, and my mouth dropped open. He had been completely shaved!!! The groomer had given him a standard schnauzer cut-and that lovely wire coat was gone forever. I couldn’t believe it. I was angry and sad at the same time. What had happened? How could the conversation we had had in the morning have been so completely lost? After discussing the situation with the salon owner, she reluctantly refunded my money, which was very small consolation for the snafu. It should be no surprise that I will not be going back to that salon when the boys’ fur has grown out. This whole thing left me thinking about how this kind of customer service happens in other businesses. There were several points about the experience that translate: 1. Are we really listening to our customers? Do we ask the questions we need to ask to make sure that we understand what they want from us? Do we make accurate notes so that we retain instructions and deliver what was asked for? I got plenty of nods from the groomer during our talk, but my instructions obviously got lost somewhere between her ears and her shears. 2. Are we communicating clearly back to them, or do we use industry jargon that they may or may not understand? When the groomer asked me about trimming Jason’s skirt, I had to stop and think. It was MY responsibility to figure out what she was talking about. Not a great way to do business. 3. Finally, and very very important, when mistakes do get made on our side of the transaction, how do we make amends? Even the worst error doesn’t have to mean the loss of the customer. Respond to the mistake with restitution that matches its seriousness. In my case, given the extent of the mistake with Jason, and the permanence of the result, the salon owner fell far short in restitution and in terms of keeping my business. I had to struggle to simply get a refund, which was insufficient compared to the permanent impact this error has. I won’t be back to that salon. These three points--listening to the customer, communicating back in ways that they will easily understand, and making appropriate amends when mistakes get made on our end-are the core of excellent service and the key to keeping loyal and happy customers. (As a post script, I should note that Jason still looks darn cute, even without his fur. And I’m sure he doesn’t care one way or the other about all that wire hair!)
About The Author
Trish Lambert (http://www.trishlambert.com), principal of 4-R Marketing LLC, is an experienced marketing consultant and creator of the 4-R Marketing Model™ for service businesses. Very much a "non-conformist" in the marketing world, Trish produces measurable results with marketing that drives revenues for her customers.