Posts Tagged ‘dog’

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Stop Your Dog From Digging

There are a wide variety of things that dogs can do to cause you – their most precious owner – to become anxious. Nonstop barking, chewing on furniture or shoes and peeing or pooping in the house are only a few of the things dogs might do to cause owners grief. However, most of these behavioral issues can be avoided entirely if you just take the time to train your dog while he or she is still a puppy. In order to properly train your dog, you have to be consistent – reward good behavior, and punish bad behavior. One technique that is quite productive is to lavish your dog with attention when they are acting appropriately, and ignore them when their behavior is not suitable. This typically leads to improved behavior, as dogs crave their owner’s attention. A common problem that can prove dangerous to homeowners is their constant digging.

Reason for Digging and Solutions

When you have a dog who is digging, the first step is to understand why your pet is digging in the yard. Some dogs just really like digging. Sometimes, digging is an indication that your dog is lacking enough active time, and needs to be afforded more play time. Dogs who are not neutered may actually try to dig under the fence so that they can find a mate. Newly fertilized dirt, or fresh dirt, may be a temptation that some dogs cannot resist digging in. Some dogs are simply diggers by nature. Others are looking for a cooler place to lie down, or are trying to make a den. Then there is the classic reason: he’s hiding a bone.

Ensuring that dogs have ample opportunities to exercise their brains, as well as exercise their bodies, is the most effective way to keep dogs from digging. Dogs really love being taught new tricks, and getting involved in new experiences. Well exercised dogs have less energy to be destructive with. Bored dogs are destructive dogs so keeping your dog active can help to prevent this vicious cycle.

You can also refrain from giving your dog bones, since many dogs have the natural instinct to bury their bones. Replace bones with treats that are quickly eaten so there is no need to dig a hole in your yard. To prevent digging in certain spots, try burying a balloon in that spot. The next time your dog digs there the balloon will pop and scare him. Most dogs will not persist in digging in that spot after such a frightening experience. If your dog is prone to digging, you should ensure that he or she is supervised whenever they are out in the yard. If you’re outside with them, you can spray them with a hose or squirt gun when you see them starting to dig. That watery surprise will keep your dog from wanting to dig in that spot again, much like the balloon.

Hugo is a consultant who specializes in dog training methods to increase the pet owner’s satisfaction with their pet. Looking for a free guide to dog training? Visit James’ site to get one, see other helpful hints and read training product reviews. Take a look at: Online Dog Training , Dog Training Guide

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Dog First Aid – Repeated Seizures

Dogs are not only man’s best friends as more than being great companions, these animals are treated as family members as well. As such, the dog owner would suffer even more if the pet is injured and in pain. A seizing dog is not a pretty sight. The pet would seem to be going through agonizing pain and a dog owner that has not seen a seizing dog before would panic. The dog owner would naturally want to help the pet but is there a first aid for a seizing dog?

The seizure that the dog has can either be single or repeated. Single seizure is characterized by a short duration that would last in seconds or a few minutes. Both the single seizure and repeated seizure last only in seconds or in a few minutes at the most but repeated seizure would happen one after the other. A single seizing episode may not have serious effects on the dog but repeated seizures would certainly be fatal as the dog may not be able to regain consciousness.

Status epilepticus and cluster seizures are the two types of repeated seizures. Both repeated seizures are typified by convulsions that would occur one after another. Status epilepticus is a condition that would be more frightening for a dog owner given that the seizure would continue to occur even if the dog has not regained consciousness. In cluster seizures, the dog that has regained consciousness after recovering from the first seizure would again become unconscious as another seizure occurs. Both these conditions are life threatening thus immediate medical attention will be necessary.

Seizures cannot be controlled with first aid although medications can control the frequency of seizures. First aid methods are aimed to save the pet from pain, to prevent the pet’s condition from worsening and more importantly to save the life of the pet. A seizing dog would derive no benefits from first aid thus it would be best to let seizure run its course and to take the pet to the vets after the episode.

The dog owner though can do a lot to make the seizing dog comfortable and to ensure that the dog would not inflect harm on itself. The pet has to be moved away from stairs. Objects that can fall on the dog and cause injuries should be removed as well. Hugging the pet to control its trembling is not advisable. A seizing dog would have no control over its muscles and the pet can accidentally bite the owner. Talking softly to the dog would be more helpful. The voice of the owner would have a reassuring and calming effect on the pet.

More about repeated seizures at Sarah’s Dogs.

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Raw Dog Food vs. Cooked – Which is Better for Dogs?

Much has been written regarding raw dog food, some of it very positive and some of it completely negative. I think that the whole “raw vs. cooked” controversy is an unnecessary distraction from the real issue that should be focused on, which is “fresh food vs. processed food”.

Of course, each dog is unique and the nutritional needs of different dogs are often best met in different ways.

That having been stated, there are several principles which I believe are comprehensive in regard to the nutrition of pets.

Principle #1: Only feed your dog ingredients that are packed with nutrients of the highest quality.

Second, use an exact recipe for every meal in order that it ensures full and balanced nutrition.

Principle #3: To retain as much of the nutrient value of the food as possible so that the nutrients are readily absorbed by your dog’s body, serve it food that is processed as little as possible.

4. Serve the meals as soon as possible to minimize any depletion of nutrients and spoiling.

I don’t think anyone would argue with these principles (if they would, I’d be interested to hear why).

The degree to which your dog’s food is processed (Principle #3) is at the heart of the matter. For those of us who advocate feeding fresh food, the heavy heat and processing to make commercial dry or canned foods results in significant destruction of the nutrients found in the food. To rectify this problem, dog food manufacturers add synthetic vitamins to the food, artificial chemicals that a dog’s body has a hard time absorbing. I always find it amusing when I come across a bag of “organic” or “natural” kibble, as I am of the opinion that a great portion of any benefit derived from the better quality ingredients is lost due to the serious processing of the meals necessary in the production of the dry food.

The raw food aficionados believe that even a minor amount of cooking of the fresh food is damaging to the nutrients. Detractors claim that feeding raw increases the risk of introducing pathogens like salmonella and E.coli. I think that there is some truth to both statements, but the question comes down to what are the trade-offs for each approach.

The digestive system of a dog, according to trustworthy experts I have spoken with, is quite capable of handling the normal quantities of bacteria which may be contained in raw meat. At the same time, according to many of the same experts, light cooking of meals (sufficient to destroy any pathogens) causes only minimal damage to even the most heat-sensitive nutrients.

Therefore, it appears that there is no overwhelming reason to favor either of the approaches in lieu of the other. Each pet owners has to decide on his or her own what to feed their dogs.

A good rule of thumb to follow is to feed your dog food that has been processed as little as possible. And for the majority of dogs, that means no processing whatsoever, which means raw.

But there are a few dogs who need to be fed cooked food because their sensitive digestive systems simply cannot break down raw food very easily. Still, for other dogs that have issues with their immune systems, or that reside with owners who have immune system issues, the danger of being adversely affected by pathogens is a fact of life. And then there are dogs that simply favor having their meals cooked, whatever the reason may be. For those dogs, lightly cooking the food is the best approach.

Approximately two thirds of our customers whom we surveyed report that they feed their dogs raw food, while a third of them serve cooked meals to their dogs. Both groups report significant improvement in their dog’s health when compared to commercially produced kibble, and there have been no reports of health issues by either group.

So my advice is not to get too fixated on the issue of raw or cooked. Should you believe that you would feel better by slightly cooking the meals which you serve your pet, there is no compelling reason not to do so. Do your best to avoid highly processed dry dog food and, instead, serve your pets fresh food, whether you cook it lightly or feed it to them raw.

Jamie is a dog medical specialist who strongly feels that converting your dog to raw dog food is the healthiest decision you can make for your canine. Learn much more at www.darwinspet.com.

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Raw Food Diet: The Best Way to Change Your Dog’s Diet

How to Effectively Transition Your Dog to the Raw Food Diet

Dog lovers know that no two dogs are the same, and because of this, there isn’t a single answer when it comes to weaning your dog off of dry kibble and into a natural, raw diet. You can still employ some basic techniques which can get you moving in the right direction, though.

1. Stay positive. Dogs and cats are very sensitive and can sense any apprehensions or skepticism you may be feeling about feeding raw food. If you are confident, your pets will feel more certain about this alteration of their usual diet.

2. The older the dog (or the longer it has been eating kibble), the longer you should take to transition to the new diet.

#3 – When you feed your dog a raw, fresh diet it is important to give him a lot of varieties, however at the beginning stages of transition it is best to stick with one type of meat as he gets used to the new diet. This will make it easier on your dog’s digestive system.

#4 – The night before you decide to make the change, have your dog fast. If your dog is hungry, it will be far more interested in what’s in their bowl, and it will also provide some down time for their digestive system.

#5 – During the transition you should limit treats, particularly treats that are grain or flour based, as a means of increasing your dog’s interest and appetite for the new foods.

6. Provide access to plenty of clean water (preferably filtered).

Raw Diets for Puppies

Because puppies have much healthier digestive systems than dogs that have been eating kibble for many years or that have health issues, they are able to transition much quicker without any incident in about 1-2 days. Start by substituting Darwin’s for your dog’s current food in each meal, gradually increasing Darwin’s while proportionately decreasing the kibble until the transition is complete.

Healthy, Young Dogs & the Raw Diet

These dogs can transition more quickly than older dogs and those with digestive issues. Transitioning within a week is generally possible, providing that your dog doesn’t show symptoms of being sick, such as vomiting, constipation or loose stools. By making this transition gradually, you will be helping your dog and his gastrointestinal system get used to the new foods.

Step One – Start the transition by replacing 1/8 of your dog’s current kibble with raw food.

2. After three meals, double the raw portion, while reducing the kibble by the same amount.

3. After three more meals, double the raw portion again and reduce the kibble again.3. Repeat this again after three meals, introducing a mixture which is half kibble and half raw food.

4. After feeding one-half raw for 3 meals, give a meal of all raw. Ideally, your dog will not show any signs of distress. If your dog seems okay, you’ve successfully made the switch!

Picky Eaters and Older Dogs

These dogs may turn their noses up at the smell and texture of their new food. This is not uncommon, especially with smaller breeds of dogs. There are a few simple steps that you can take.

Tip #1 – Remove all treats from the diet while making the change.

2. Fast your dog the night before starting the transition

3. Raw meals can be lightly cooked in order to activate their flavors and smells. Make sure you don’t over-cook the foods by poaching on the stove or lightly baking in a toaster oven.

4. Present this meal in a way which will make your dog comfortable, such as a secluded spot in your home or kitchen.

5. Add flavor “bribes” such as garlic powder, cheese or an egg yolk-usually these will convince the most stubborn dogs.

Jamie is a dog medical authority who firmly feels that transferring your dog to raw dog food is the best decision you can make for your canine. Learn more about feeding fresh food.

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Is first aid necessary for single seizure in dogs

A dog owner would be very frightened if the active and seemingly healthy pet would topple down and make pedaling motions with its legs. A dog owner that is seeing a seizing dog for the first time would panic and try to help the pet. However, there is no first aid for seizure and the owner that wants to help can be hurt by the disoriented pet.

The owner of a seizing dog has to remain calm to be able to help the pet. Remaining unaffected while the pet appears to be in agony would be very difficult. To be able to help the seizing pet, a dog owner has to understand the reasons why a dog would seize and the effects of the condition on the pet.

Some conditions would trigger an abnormal activity of the brain and a dog unable to handle the abnormality will seize. This abnormal activity in the brain can be associated with a variety of diseases. Ingestion of toxic substances or an accident that causes the brain to swell are some of the conditions that would trigger a seizure. Seizures, also known as convulsion or fits can be single or repeated. Repeated seizure is characterized by the occurrence of multiple or several occurrences of seizures in a single episode. A dog that suffers from single seizure would generally convulse only once and the seizure would last only for a few minutes. A vet’s attention would be needed for both types of seizures. As single seizures only last for a few minutes, the pet would have fully recovered when seen by the vet.

A single seizing episode is usually allowed to run its course and the dog owner would not need to do anything. A first aid measure that will shorten the episode is not really necessary. Single seizure practically has no first aid but the dog owner can certainly do something to help the pet.

The dog owner has to remain calm to be of more help in preventing the dog from causing itself harm. The owner has to move the pet away from the stairs. Objects that can be dislodged because of the dog’s trashing must be removed as well. Seizing dogs would appear to be in immense pain but actually they are not thus there will be no need to pet or to hug the pet as the disoriented dog can bite. Instead of hugging the dog, talk softly instead as the owner’s voice is known to have a calming effect for the pet .

Learn more about single seizure at Sarah’s Dogs.

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