The Benefits of Raw Feeding

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The Benefits of Raw FeedingToday many pets suffer from health conditions that were rare or didn’t even exist before kibble became popular. Diseases like cancer, diabetes, food allergies and obesity are some of the most common health issues in dogs fed commercial or human food. Numerous researches have shown a strong connection between the health problems in dogs and the food they eat.

For this reason there’s a huge shift in the manner dog owners are feeding their pets. The overwhelming trend is moving towards different variations of fresh and healthy homemade meals, as well as raw food, based strictly on meat or a combination of raw meat and vegetables, fruits, eggs and other nutrients suitable for dogs.

It seems that the dogs like the change, especially raw diet which seems to help them overwhelm health issues such as bad breath and gum diseases, skin problems, kidney and liver failures. It seems that balanced diet consisted largely of homemade broth, various combinations of meat, bones, and organs with or without a healthy complement of vegetables, fruits, and dairy prevent illnesses that come with a diet heavy in fillers, flavors, artificial colors and preservatives.

What are the other benefits of raw feeding? If you ask the owners, they will assure you that their pets have clean, shiny and white teeth, fresh breath, and almost no body odor. Raw fed dogs have more energy but, at the same time, are less hyperactive which means that they can be easily controlled. According to some, raw meat makes dogs aggressive but that is not true. The only change is that dogs really love their raw and they will probably try to guard this type of food better than kibble.

What else can forty to sixty per cent of raw meaty bones bring to your dog? Chicken necks, legs, and backs, together with rabbit, duck, pheasant, and occasionally whole fish will give your canine friend a firm and muscled body and stronger immune system. If your dog is old and his teeth are missing so he finds it hard to chew bones or you are afraid of him choking – grind them up. Even the old dogs with arthritis show more mobility and energy when they eat the way their ancestors did.

We all know that vitamins, minerals, and enzymes are destroyed by cooking and that intense heat reduces the nutritional value of food. But did you know that cooked food also affects your dog’s stool? Not to mention the kibbles. When dogs are fed raw the poop is small, almost odorless, firm and easily decomposed. The only difference can be noticed during the period of adaptation to raw after commercial food.

Although there are many benefits of raw food, the fact is that this kind of feeding is still relatively unexplored. This means that some of the benefits mentioned above are not scientifically proved, but information provided by the dog owners. We hope that this will change in the future and that we’ll be able to give you more tips on how to feed your dog.

Why You Should NEVER Let Your Dog Decide What It Eats

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As a pet owner, you probably want to treat your companion the best possible way. You want him to be happy, to be well cared for and to eat the finest food. This makes it easy for dog owners to slip into trap of allowing their four-legged friends to eat whatever they like. But, is this always in their best interest? When it comes to food, it certainly isn’t. The dog, just like the kid, doesn’t always know what is best for him and it’s the owner’s responsibility to take care that his pet’s food intake is healthy and nutritious. If you wouldn’t allow junk food to your child, why allowing it to the dog?

Why You Should NEVER Let Your Dog Decide What It Eats

Many dog owners claim that their pets are picky eaters and that they would rather starve to death than eat healthy food. I have only one thing to say – your dog doesn’t know what’s good for him. It is your responsibility to keep your pet in good shape. Of course, if your canine friend suddenly starts refusing food and skipping meals or changes its behavior in any other way, take him to the vet. He might suffer from some health issues. But, if it turns out that he’s fine, it is time to reconsider his diet. It is possible that he got bored with the same type of food. Or he may just got spoiled because you usually mix in something he likes in order to improve the taste of food he isn’t fond of. By doing this on regular basis, you’ve created a picky eater.

But, it’s not the end of the world, there’s still much room for improvement. The fastest way is to start offering your dog some quality food and to be persistent. If it refuses to eat it, just take away his bowl and don’t give him anything till the next meal. If he refuses to eat again, pick the bowl up and put it away. He’s probably holding out waiting for something he likes better and if you give in, he will become even choosier. But, no dog will starve himself and when he’s hungry enough he will eat.

You have to keep in mind that “junk” food will certainly harm your dog, both long term and short term. Fat trimmings, small bones and sugary food might sound like a real treat to your dog, but you have to know that such food will do no good to your dog’s health. Even commercial pet food can be of poor quality. So, when you’re buying it be sure to read what’s written in the back of the package. It should have very high meat content and minimum of waste and by-products, as well as food additives, colors or anything artificial.

Remember, if you offer your dog decent food, there’s no reason why it shouldn’t eat it. However, if it shows any hard-to-please behavior, think about the possibility that you are confusing him by sending the unclear messages.

Untrainable Dog

Expert Tips for Exercising Dogs On Beaches

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Whether you live on the beach or plan on taking your dog with you on the summer holiday you will surely do some exercise with him. There are some things you have be careful about when exercising a dog on a beach.

Summer is a season for fun and travel, but it can also bring extremely high temperatures which dogs are more sensitive to than people, and this is something you have to watch out for.

dog exercise on beach

Dogs with a long or middle length hair should be brushed regularly because tangled hair accumulates the heat and the dog may become excessively hot. Nurtured hair should help him overcome this.

Whether you’re going for a run on the beach with your dog or just a walk it is necessary to put a sun lotion on the top of his nose as well as the ears about half an hour before you leave the house. However, it is recommended to exercise early in the morning or in the evening when it’s not too hot. Just think how uncomfortable you feel walking barefoot in the sand! It’s exactly the same for dogs. So even though exercise is good, doing it in the middle of the day on the beach can be a health hazard for your pet.

Some dogs are afraid of water and you shouldn’t make them go for a swim if they don’t want to. You can try to get him slowly in, maybe throw some toys in the shallow water first, then gradually go deeper encouraging and praising him all the way through. Although this will take some time and nerves, you can at least be sure that your dog won’t end up traumatized or hurt. If you can’t get him in the water leave the dog to enjoy in the shade because you surely don’t won’t him to succumb to heat stroke.

Exercising is always good but the weather conditions aren’t. We already established that dogs can overheat and get a stroke and here are some things that can tell you if your dog is having one. Dog’s breathing is loud and heavy, he has bulging eyes and dry skin. Another sign is if the dog isn’t responding to his name, also his heart rate is elevated. Finally the dog collapses, loses conscience and if certain precautions aren’t met, he dies. If your dog is showing signs of a stroke stop the exercise immediately and lower his body temperature. Get him to the shade and give him plenty of water, dip his head in the not too cold water, or very gently pour water over his head.

Keep in mind that dogs such as boxers and bulldogs, puppies, older dogs, overweight dogs and those with health issues are more sensitive and they should be particularly looked out for.

Don’t let these few tips scare you and keep from taking your dog to the beach for some exercise. Use them to make your outing fun and more important – safe.

how to bath your dog

The Psychology Study of Successful Dog Bathing

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How to bathe your dog? Sounds very simple but sometimes bathing doesn’t go the way you intended, especially if you’re bathing the dog for the first time. However, some little and practical things can be of great help.

Before bathing, place a blanket or some rag on the floor, you’ll prevent the water and hair getting on the carpet. Have everything you need – two towels, a shampoo and a conditioner – near the tub or shower. When it comes to bathing a puppy for the first time, put some of his toys in the tub, make it a game for him.

If your dog’s hair is all tangled up, it will be even harder to untangle it after the bath, so do it before.
dog bathingSome dogs get really scared when you put them in a tub full of water; they jump, slip, shake and look all together miserable and sad. During the bath you might even get wetter than your dog and you’ll spend most of the time trying to keep the dog in the tub. Instead of immersing the dog into water, it is much easier to give him a shower. The dog will feel safer if he’s standing firmly in the tub and you won’t be as wet. It is much easier to shampoo and rinse with a shower.

Before you start with bathing it is recommended to put a rubber mat in the tub, or at least a towel so that the dog doesn’t slip. Some people prefer drenching their dog in the yard using a hose and a bucket, but this is recommended only if it’s a warm and sunny day.
It is recommended to wash the dog’s head and snout with a sponge or a towel. Beside the fact that this is more comfortable for the dog than having water poured over the snout, you won’t get the inside of the ear too wet.

Ideally, wash the dog with a pet shampoo customized for his hair type. However, if you’re not currently able to obtain such shampoo, use that intended for babies. If your dog has long hair add some conditioner, that will help you comb his fur more easily.

After shampooing, it’s necessary to rinse and then rinse some more. Any shampoo residue will cause itching. Pay special attention not to get the shampoo in your pet’s eyes or snout. When you least expect it, your completely wet dog will shake and spray the entire bathroom, and you won’t be spared. To dry the dog and avoid wet-dog shake, place one corner of the towel over its head and use the other side to wipe him.

After you’ve dried him the best you could, put him on the blanket. Although he will try to get away and wipe himself on something, hold him gently, dry completely with a blow-dryer or towels and enjoy! You pet is gorgeously clean and ready to get dirty again.

Overweight Dogs – How to Manage Your Dogs Health

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Obesity is a problem that is often encountered in dogs of all breeds and ages. It inevitably leads to health problems such as diabetes, various heart diseases and osteoarthritis.

Overweight Dogs – How to Manage Dogs HealthAs a mindful dog owner you have probably already asked yourself if your pet is overweight. And that is a completely justified question.

With today’s lifestyle and feeding habits it’s not only people who suffer from obesity, it is more frequently seen in pets. It is believed that every third dog is overweight. Increased amount of fat tissue affects general medical condition which can significantly reduce lifespan as well as negatively impact your pet’s mood.

To find out whether your dog is overweight or not, look at him. If he is short-haired, you should see and feel his ribs easily. If you are able to do that, there shouldn’t be any problems. However it is always best to take your dog for an exam.

If the checkup found your pet is overweight, it is recommended to introduce him to a diet. For eight weeks give him food based on reduced caloric intake and increased intake of crude fiber. There are many products on the market which will provide the desired intake of nutrients, vitamins and minerals and such reduced diet won’t have any harmful effects on your dog’s health.

After about two weeks of such regime you should get your dog for another checkup and see if there are any improvements. If nothing has changed, think about introducing exercising to the program. By having the two week checkup, you’ll be able to see the results of a diet, get some new guidelines in nutrition and the other extremely important factor – implementation of intensive workout regime.

Obesity is something a lot of dog owners face without even realizing it. It starts with giving your dog treats believing it to be an excellent way to show your love. Coincidently, you don’t have much time to help your dog spend all the extra energy.

Dogs get used to this form of “love” really quickly, so they can even act insulted if you miss to “treat” them. In addition to that, they learn which pose, gesture or sound can “break” the owner’s resistance in the shortest time, if there is any. How many times did someone show you “just how cute” their pet is while begging for food?

The latest research shows that overweight significantly shortens your dog’s lifespan. Even though I can’t actually give any numbers you should take this quite seriously!

Altered food regime and increased physical activity are the only natural ways to regulate your dog’s obesity. As well as with the obese people, it is best to regulate food intake right away and gradually increase physical activity so that your pet’s heart doesn’t suffer any more than it already has.

So be patient, regulate his food, take your dog outside more often, play fetch with him and you’ll most certainly have a much happier and healthier dog.

How Your Dog’s Diet Affects its Lifespan

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How Your Dog’s Diet Affects its LifespanAlmost every dog owner doesn’t think of dogs as just pets but family members. Therefore, it is normal to provide best possible food you can afford for the members of your family. Just like people, dogs are what they eat, so dog’s poor nutrition can, in some cases, dramatically affect the lifespan of your four legged friend. Also keep in mind that even if your dog is slightly overweight it can reduce its lifespan.

What exactly is the best food for your dog is never an easy question. But, there are several things you should know when it comes to dog nutrition.

First thing you should understand is that you should always read the ingredients on the back of the dog’s food; that way you will get the picture if the food is good for your dog or if it’s just junk. Basic guidelines in choosing proper food would be checking the proteins – is it lamb, beef, turkey or chicken meal or by-product.

By-product means that the manufacturer is using any part of the chicken while in case of a chicken meal they are using only meat from the chicken to make the food. The other important thing you should check for is grain source. Certain dog foods contain corn as the others have rice or oatmeal. The best choice for your dog are grains which can be digested easily, so keep in mind that one of the hardest grains to digest is corn, while rice is much easier to process.

Note that some grains may contain pesticides which can cause odorous fur, fleas, mites, worms or other parasites. Also choose foods that have natural preservatives such as with vitamin E and not chemicals. If you follow these guidelines you will notice the level of improvement in your dog, its coat will be shinier, the energy level will be higher and the dog’s stool will be better as well.

Some of the generic dog’s foods may contain carcinogenic substance like BHT that is used to preserve food or higher doses of salt which can cause loss of kidney function. Equally bad is sugar since it can lead to tooth decay, bad breath and even diabetes.

Probably the best way to feed your dog is proper raw diet. This will consume a bit more of your time, but you will know exactly what your dog is introducing to its body. There are no preservation chemicals in raw meat and bones. The best way to organize your dog’s raw diet is to find a reliable butcher and make a deal with him to get scraps for a good price, which will result in healthier dog with a regular, dry stool and healthy teeth.

One of the most common mistakes dog owners make is overfeeding their dogs, studies have shown that reduction of calories in dog’s nutrition can extend the lifespan of your dog for about two years. Essentially what you need to do is find the food that your dog will eat, since they, as people, can be intolerant to certain things.

Correct Way to Groom Your Dogs Coat

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What is the Correct Way to Groom Your Dogs Coat?

If you don’t want to spend money on professional grooming, it’s good to learn how to do it properly at home. Although it may seem easy, grooming your dog takes time and nerves. Best way to keep your dog neat is to bathe him, clean his ears, trim his nails, brush his teeth and groom his coat on a regular basis. Many dog breeds are not thrilled when it comes to bathing. But who wants a dirty and stinky dog?
Correct Way to Groom Your Dogs CoatThe similar thing is with grooming his fur. If you own a dog with a long coat, it’s necessary to give him a haircut during hot summer days. Haircut will bring a feeling of comfort – something every dog is longing for. On the other hand, if your dog has very short hair, the scissors and other haircut tools are not a must. Remember, you don’t groom your dog just to improve his looks. By doing this, you’ll make his coat shiny which means you’ll spend less time cleaning and vacuuming the house.

For the start, you have to know which tools to use. You’ll probably need a dog brush, comb, dog grooming scissors, thinning shears, electric trimming shears, dog tweezers, and dog toenail clippers. Pick a quiet spot in your house and make sure you have all the tools to get started. The first step is brushing your dog. Brush down the neck toward his belly and tail. Be very thorough. If your dog is calm and stands still during the brushing, reward him for his good behavior.

Once you have finished brushing your dog’s coat, it is time for trimming. Be sure to remove the hair mats from your dog’s fur since they can cause problems during bathing. It is interesting that preparing your dog for bathing takes more time than the bathing itself.
The health of your dog’s ears is a vital part of his overall wellbeing. So, clean the dog’s outer ears with a cotton ball soaked into a pet ear cleaner. By removing the dirt and earwax from your dog’s ears, you are minimizing the chances for an infection.

Proper dental care will protect your dog’s teeth from decay, malocclusion and gum disease. Prevention is the key to health, so brush your dog’s teeth to keep them strong and clean. They should be brushed at least two or three times a week with a toothbrush and canine toothpaste. It’s a good idea to start taking care of oral hygiene in your pet from his puppyhood, so that he can get used to the procedure.

Avoid enormous claws by clipping your dog’s nails with a nail clipper or grinder. Don’t use human shampoo on your pet because it can cause skin irritation and hair loss. There are special dog shampoos on the market, adapted to suit your pet’s skin. Don’t forget to wash out and dry your long haired baby the best you can. With a proper care and grooming, your dog will stay healthy and clean for a long time.