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Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Dog Ticks - What Every Dog Owner Should Know
Dog ticks are parasites that feed on dogs and are
normally found in the woods, bushes or tall grass. As such, they usually attach
themselves to the dogs when they walk in such an environment. Most pet owners dread
the prospect of dog ticks on their pets, and for good reason. Dog ticks not only
make a dog's life miserable, but they also transmit various diseases which can
lead to death. It is therefore important for pet owners to know how to protect
their dogs from tick infestation. This article will discuss the dangers
associated with dog ticks, as well as how a pet owner can protect a dog from
ticks.
No More Fleas or Ticks Without Chemicals!
Although not all dog ticks transmit diseases, the
threat of this danger is always real where ticks are concerned. In
most cases, tick-borne diseases are not immediately transmitted to the dogs.
This means that if the ticks can be located and removed as soon as possible,
the better. Some of the most common tick-borne diseases are the Lyme disease
and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. The Lyme disease is characterized by
lameness, fever, loss of appetite and body pains. The symptoms of Rocky
Mountain spotted fever are vomiting and fever. These conditions are curable but
if not treated in time, they can cause death. In order to ensure the dog's
safety, one should be on the look out for any changes in the dog after a tick
infestation.
Given the seriousness of diseases associated with dog
ticks, pet owners should try to keep their dogs free of
ticks. One of the ways in which pet owners can protect their dogs from ticks is
by applying a tick repellant on them. Tick repellants are available in the
market or from your local vet. The downside of using such repellants is that some dogs have allergic reactions to the chemicals in them. You should always watch your dog closely after the first treatment.
If a pet owner does not use a tick repellant, it is advisable to check the dog for ticks on a regular basis. This is particularly
important if the dog spends most of its time outdoors, or if one lives in an
area infested with ticks. Dog ticks usually attach themselves in areas with
little or no hair as well as in the body's crevices. If the dog has ticks, one can either use tick
control dips or powders to kill them. One can also remove the ticks manually by
using tweezers to grasp them. It's a good idea to use a cotton swab to smother the tick with finger nail polish before removal. You should wear gloves as a precautionary measure since one cannot always tell which ticks can transmit diseases to humans. As
much as possible, the tick's head should not remain in the dog's skin, since it
can cause inflammation or secondary infection. Once removed from the dog, the
ticks are best disposed by throwing them into a fire or toilet. It is advisable to
apply an antiseptic to the tick bite in order to prevent infection. Protecting one's pet from dog ticks can save both the
pet owner and the dog a lot of trouble in future.
Kristi Sayles, invites you to check out what she uses on her own dog to prevent fleas or ticks:
Pet Protector without Chemicals
normally found in the woods, bushes or tall grass. As such, they usually attach
themselves to the dogs when they walk in such an environment. Most pet owners dread
the prospect of dog ticks on their pets, and for good reason. Dog ticks not only
make a dog's life miserable, but they also transmit various diseases which can
lead to death. It is therefore important for pet owners to know how to protect
their dogs from tick infestation. This article will discuss the dangers
associated with dog ticks, as well as how a pet owner can protect a dog from
ticks.
No More Fleas or Ticks Without Chemicals!
Although not all dog ticks transmit diseases, the
threat of this danger is always real where ticks are concerned. In
most cases, tick-borne diseases are not immediately transmitted to the dogs.
This means that if the ticks can be located and removed as soon as possible,
the better. Some of the most common tick-borne diseases are the Lyme disease
and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. The Lyme disease is characterized by
lameness, fever, loss of appetite and body pains. The symptoms of Rocky
Mountain spotted fever are vomiting and fever. These conditions are curable but
if not treated in time, they can cause death. In order to ensure the dog's
safety, one should be on the look out for any changes in the dog after a tick
infestation.
Given the seriousness of diseases associated with dog
ticks, pet owners should try to keep their dogs free of
ticks. One of the ways in which pet owners can protect their dogs from ticks is
by applying a tick repellant on them. Tick repellants are available in the
market or from your local vet. The downside of using such repellants is that some dogs have allergic reactions to the chemicals in them. You should always watch your dog closely after the first treatment.
If a pet owner does not use a tick repellant, it is advisable to check the dog for ticks on a regular basis. This is particularly
important if the dog spends most of its time outdoors, or if one lives in an
area infested with ticks. Dog ticks usually attach themselves in areas with
little or no hair as well as in the body's crevices. If the dog has ticks, one can either use tick
control dips or powders to kill them. One can also remove the ticks manually by
using tweezers to grasp them. It's a good idea to use a cotton swab to smother the tick with finger nail polish before removal. You should wear gloves as a precautionary measure since one cannot always tell which ticks can transmit diseases to humans. As
much as possible, the tick's head should not remain in the dog's skin, since it
can cause inflammation or secondary infection. Once removed from the dog, the
ticks are best disposed by throwing them into a fire or toilet. It is advisable to
apply an antiseptic to the tick bite in order to prevent infection. Protecting one's pet from dog ticks can save both the
pet owner and the dog a lot of trouble in future.
Kristi Sayles, invites you to check out what she uses on her own dog to prevent fleas or ticks:
Pet Protector without Chemicals
Sunday, January 22, 2012
How Well Is Your Dog Groomed?
The reason one should groom his/her Dog is simple - your dog's physical state influences the way he feels and the way you look at your dog. Extreme cases, where lack of proper care, cleaning and grooming can directly affect the behavior of your Dog, are not rare.
Proper grooming not only infuses a healthy glow to your dog's appearance, but also helps develop his self-esteem; while it makes you a very proud parent, when you show off your Dog to others.
The first step involved in dog grooming is: Brushing!
Brushing has been universally acknowledged by expert dog groomers as the single most important step in grooming.
The benefits of brushing are many. To name a few:
- Better blood circulation
- Shinier and healthier coat
- Better bonding
Even if you know how crucial brushing is for your Dog's health and well-being, we all know that there is a right way and a wrong way of doing anything. And without doubt, you would like to do everything the RIGHT way when it comes to your Dog.
Yes, there's a method to follow while brushing your Dog.
Here are FIVE steps to successfully brushing your Dog that will prove to be extremely useful:
- Brush against the growth of the hair first with a slicker brush and then with a medium or wide-toothed comb.
- The slicker brush removes all the loose hair and the comb takes care of the tangles.
- Brush your Dog along the hair growth and make sure you reach the skin as you brush his way.
- Then use a flea comb over the coat to get the fleas and remove any remaining tangles. Part the coat and start from the root and then comb through.
- If your Dog's paw pads are hairy, then clip them using electric clippers. Do not clip the hair in between the pads. Clip only the excess hair.
Brush your Dog's hairs to prevent it from matting. Matting can be a very painful experience.
Regular brushing untangles the matted hairs on your Dog's coat. Since this is a risky job to do, the best way out is to prevent them from forming in the first place. And doing this is simple: just brush and comb your Dog regularly. If and when you see any mats or tangles, use a detangle solution and a medium-toothed comb.
Don't wait until your Dog is dirty or matted to introduce him to grooming. That would make him associate the experience with unpleasantness. Moreover, many dogs learn to see their routine brushing as an alternate form of petting, i.e. another source of affection and attention.
Copyright (c) 2009 TrainPetDog.com
Is Your Dog Potty Trained Enough?
House Training a puppy or adult Dog is such an essential issue for its owner that even a single exclusive tip turns out to be extremely helpful.
The first step in making your Dog fit for polite company would be to potty train him. Some see this training as a hassle and some as a challenge.
For me, it is part of bringing up a pet.
Click here to subscribe to a FREE course on housetraining puppies and dogs.
There are a few things you need to know before you actually start potty training a puppy or adult Dog. I enumerate these below:
- You need to understand your dog's body language. Watch for signs that will indicate to you when your pet wants to eliminate.
- If you own puppies, remember that they need to go potty at fairly frequent intervals - as soon as they wake up, after short naps, after play-time, after meals, before and after being crated and finally, before retiring for the night.
- Take your Dog for walks at the time that he usually does his potty. Take him out to the yard and then to the same place there every time he needs to answer nature's call.
- Praise your Dog after he eliminates at the right place. Some Dog owners even give treats to their dogs. But remember to do this every time he does it right. He will relate the rewards to his having "done it right" and zero in on the spot where you want him to defecate regularly.
- With time, you can try signal training. This is so that you know when your doggie wants to go. You can hang a bell at his level near the door and teach him to push it with his nose or pat it with his paw on his way out.
- Until your Dog has been fully potty trained keep him under strict vigilance. Do not let him roam around the house freely.
- Use a crate. A crate-trained Dog is usually very happy to get his own den. The advantage of crating is that dogs do not soil the place where they sleep. So, he will naturally not eliminate inside the crate.
- If you have a small dog and if you live in a high-rise building or in a place that does not have a proper backyard, you can try litter pan training. What you do is create a space for your pet to eliminate in your house itself.
- Use positive reinforcements while housebreaking puppies or adult dogs. Do not scold or hit him as you will gain nothing by doing that. He will only associate punishment with your return from outside. If you catch him in the act, a stern 'NO' or 'FREEZE' will do. It will startle the Dog enough for him to stop pooping.
- Be prepared to return to a soiled home if you are keeping your Dog home alone for more than 4 hours as separation anxiety is quite common among home - alone dogs.
- Accidents will happen. It is unusual for a trained adult Dog to work against its house training. But medical problems or health disorders may lead to sudden accidents.
- Many dogs mark their territory. These can be a leg of a table or a particular wall. Intact male and female dogs mark their territories by urinating. Use deodorizers to spray on the places where your Dog has marked.
- If you are patient and are ready to accept that house training a dog takes time, even months sometimes, you will end up having a good housetrained Dog.
Click here to subscribe to a FREE course on house training puppies and dogs.
Now we will move on to how to potty train puppies and adult dogs.
Potty Training A Puppy:
Irrespective of breeds, housetraining a puppy is considered to be one of the biggest challenges by dog owners. If you think housetraining your puppy simply involves a steady supply of old newspapers, then think again.
A puppy does not develop full control over his bladder until it is over 4 or 5 months old. Since they are growing and developing rapidly at this time, puppies eat more, burn more calories and need to eliminate more frequently than an adult Dog.
After each nap, meal, drink or play, take your puppy to his designated area (indoors or outdoors, wherever you have decided) and stay there until it eliminates. Then bring him to his crate.
Repeat this situation everyday until he has developed a habit out of it.
Click here to subscribe to a FREE course on housebreaking a puppy.
Potty Training An Adult Dog:
The best way to housetrain an adult Dog is to begin all over again.
Observe him very closely. Maybe even maintain a diary of where he goes and when. Whether he is pooping when you are home or only when you are outside; whether you can time yourself to be home when he feels the need to go outside.
You can try dog crates, but be careful to introduce him gradually to them.
Click here to subscribe to a FREE course on potty training a dog.
Remember, commitment, consistency and intelligent use of positive reinforcement will make you the owner of a perfectly housetrained Dog. Don't expect miracles. You will only be disappointed.
Get this FREE course on potty training a dog.
Get this unique Housetraining guide and start Housebreaking Your Dog Today.
Copyright (c) 2009 TrainPetDog.com
