Is My Dog Sick? - 5 Symptoms That Can Point To Illness In Your Dog

One of the reasons we hold dogs so dear is because even though they can't speak to us as humans do (which is often quite a perk), we are able to communicate with them on a deeper level. However, when you suspect your canine is sick, their inability to tell us what is wrong or where it hurts can be alarming. Here are 5 behaviors that often indicate it is sick and needs professional help.

Lack Of Appetite---Most dogs have a bottomless stomach. If it looks like food and smells good, they're always up for eating. If your dog is suddenly refusing to eat, this is often a signal that something is not right.

Before you panic, determine whether he is refusing all food or just some. Recently, our dog wouldn't eat his dry food, but would accept all his favorite table foods. With the vet's help we determined that it was a bad batch of dog food. We switched to a slightly different food from the same company, bought the new bag from a different store, and he started to eat again. If he is refusing all food, get to your vet quickly.

Unable to Keep Food Down----If your pooch is excited about eating but throws up, take a look at what is coming up. If the food is digested then you know it's making as far down as the stomach. If you feed dry dog food and you can still see the shapes of the kibble then it is not being digested by the stomach and there may be a blockage.

When our Golden was a puppy, he swallowed part of a sock. The elastic got wrapped around his digestive track and wouldn't let food pass. He had to be opened from stem to stern to remove the elastic.

Change In Social Habits---If you and family are usually greeted with great enthusiasm, or if he usually stays close to people, and suddenly you find that he is avoiding contact, this is definitely cause for concern. He may hurt somewhere and not want to risk that some one will touch him and cause more pain. Pain may also cause him to become nippy, and that means it is definitely time to get your veterinarian involved.

Lethargy ---A general lack of energy, little or no enthusiasm about things that are usually exciting, very little tail wagging, and dull eyes are generally signs that all is not well. Check to make sure that he is drinking the usual amount of water, and that clean water is always available whether it's from a bowl that you provide or from your toilet.

Urination Problem----Too much or too little urination is a troublesome symptom. Frequent urination can be the result of medications such as steroids, diabetes, urinary tract infection, or bladder stones. Too little urination can be indicative of a blockage in the urinary tract, weak bladder muscles in older dogs, or dehydration. All of these are serious conditions and call for immediate professional help.

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Sick Dog, Sick Cat - How to Help

Maybe your dog is sick or your cat is sick. Does it make you feel helpless and frustrated? It can be a lonely and challenging situation. Maybe you have a sick kitten or a sick puppy. This can be even more difficult when they look at you with those pitiful and longing eyes, almost pleading, "Help me".

1. Learn what you are feeding your dog or cat.

Is what we are feeding our cats and dogs causing us to have sick dogs and sick cats?  Who would have thought  that maybe what we feed our dog or cat can actually make our dog sick or our cat sick?

In reading the back of some dog and cat food labels, you can see "meat products" listed.  These "meat products" can include:  connective tissue (gristle), poultry feather meal, leather meal (like shoes and belts are made from), fecal waste from chickens and other animals, hair from cows, and hair from horses.  How nutritious is that for our pets anyway? 

Another consideration in looking at the food is the biological value of the food and how well is it absorbed.  Those things definitely have a huge impact in the short term and long term well being of your pet.  These two factors alone can cause dogs to be sick or our cats to be sick.

2. Change what you are feeding your pet.

If your dog is sick or puppy is sick, I hope you will being to educate yourself about how a dietary change can help them get better.  What if your kitten is sick or your cat is sick?  These tips can help you too.

When you learn more of the value of making your pet's food and the health benefits for your pet, you will be very impressed.  Veterinarians who teach their clients about the value of feeding your pet a fresher, more natural diet report some amazing stories of healing for the pets.

Here is one example:  (Names have been changed to protect privacy.)  Sally was a dog 8 years old whose health had been declining for two years.  She had foul breath, dull eyes, and very little energy.  After changing her diet from dry and canned dog food, she no longer had bad breath, her eyes are shining again, and she "prances around like a puppy".

3. Help your pet make the switch to the natural, healthier diet.

You can make a gradual transition, which allows the pet's digestive tract to adjust to the new foods.    You may want to begin with feeding the new food once a day for several days.  Another approach could be to have them fast for a few days.  This may be especially useful for those whose cats are very finicky eaters.  This time without food  can help your pet have a greater appreciation for the food, and the better advantage is that the time without food can actually help cleanse toxins from the body.

In conclusion, these are some "first steps" you can take to help your sick dogs or sick cats, or even your sick kittens, and sick puppies.   Watch for more information on this subject.

Hollye Clardy is a R.N. whose interest in alternative medicine has taken her into the field of holistic and alternative care for dogs and cats. She is dedicated to providing high quality information to help consumers with their cats and dogs. http://NaturalRemedies4Dogs.com or [http://NaturalRemediesForCats.com].
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Dog Supplements and Vitamins Can Prevent Medical Conditions From Developing

Many dog foods lack the appropriate nutrients a dog needs for a better quality of life. Dog vitamins are often stripped during the processing of dog food. Vitamins can make up for some of the nutrient loss. Absence of certain supplements can impair their health as well. Dog supplements are valuable when it comes to maintaining overall body functions and preventing serious health conditions from developing.

Omega 3 and fatty acids are important for your dog's health. These supplements come from cold water fish such as salmon. Omega 3 can be used to treat arthritis, cancer, and other conditions. It lowers your dog's cholesterol levels and protects them from developing allergies. Many of these problems are common in older dogs. Skin conditions are less likely and can be remedied with these supplements. They encourage the growth of hair and make their coat shinier.

Probiotics consist of useful bacteria and yeast that restore the balance of bacteria in your dog's intestinal tract. They combat bad bacteria that have become out of control due to drugs, dietary changes, inflammation, stress, and exposure to pollutants and allergens. The bacteria that probiotics provide defend your dog's body from harmful bacteria they eat or inhale. Benefits include preventing and treating disorders brought on by poor digestion such as diarrhea, vomiting, and gas. Intestinal problems have been linked to problems such as arthritis, yeast infections, asthma, food allergies, and skin irritation. Probiotics can prevent or drastically reduce the chances of these issues arising.

Omega 3, fatty acids, and probiotics are just a few of the supplements your dog can benefit from. Others like folic acid can reduce the effects of aging on the brain and other areas allowing your dog to maintain healthy functions much later in life. Many of the age-related concerns your dog may face could be reduced or eliminated with proper nutrition.

Vitamins can make a big difference in your dog's growth, development, and overall health. Various types of Vitamin B help enhance productivity of the nervous system, heart, metabolism, and red blood cell formation. They also promote healthy eyes, skin, and coat. Vitamin A helps with skeletal growth and immune system which guards them from getting heart disease or having a stroke. Giving your dog a multivitamin will make up for insufficient amounts of vitamins in their dog food.

Breeds and lifestyles help determine what nutrition needs your dog has. If you are uncomfortable deciding what to give your dog, you can always consult with your vet for information on the various products available and see what they recommend for your dog. However, if you have time and feel like your vet may not agree with supplements, there are plenty of resources available on the internet that can help you make a well informed decision. Any item that can prevent health conditions without requiring treatment and medicines can prolong your dog's life. Medications often have side effects and can actually bring on other health problems. Many natural products exist that can eliminate many of the causes of serious conditions allowing them to have better health without medical intervention.

Things such as dog vitamins [http://www.prouddoghealth.com/dog-supplements-vitamins] and dog supplements have been proven to help improve your dog's health. Many are available and you may have to do research on breed, size, and lifestyle to determine what ones will be most useful. Use of supplements can often eliminate the need for medical treatment which can sometimes be harmful for future health. For more information on proper dog nutrition and the best in dog supplies, visit ProudDogHealth.com and PremierDogSupplies.com. Thank you.
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Dog Supplements: Performance

Similar to us, people, our dogs also need some nutritional supplements to keep them healthy and be able to live in such environmental conditions. Dog performance supplements are essential if you want your dog to be energetic, strong and healthy. There are thousands of various dog supplements that you can choose from and you can even become confused by the range and variety available in the market.

So, how to choose the best performance supplements? First of all, bear in mind that this product should add the diet of your dog with useful nutritional ingredients that improve your dog's life. It is never late to start feeding your dog with the right supplements.

Supplements Enriched with Antioxidants are Considered to be Performance

In accordance with the vet info website, supplements enriched with antioxidants aim to fight the aging process in dogs, making them healthy in the long run, improving heart function, eye sight and joints work. Make sure that such components as grape milk thistle extract, seed extract, vitamin C and vitamin A are included in supplements that you are going to buy. Only in this case the supplements are performance. These ingredients will also strengthen your dog's immune system and will help to flush out all the toxins.

Multivitamins in Performance Dog Supplements

Multivitamins are another constituent of the best performance dog supplements that you choose. These will be enriched with great amounts of B vitamin, iron, folic acid, vitamin A and potassium. These vitamins will increase your dog's energy, will make its fur coat shiny and keep the skin in a healthy state, maintaining a proper function of muscles. Multivitamins which are taken in complex with a good and natural diet are enriched with proteins, fruits and vegetables, are vital for you beloved dog. They will satisfy all dog's nutrient needs.

Bear in mind that the best performance dog supplements should contain big amounts of nutritional components, green leaf vegetables, including parsley and mint that assist in freshening the dog's breath. Choosing a useful product for your beloved dog, you should think naturally, giving preference to supplements which include vital minerals and vitamins of animal and vegetable origins.

CPN is the best when it comes to canine performance supplements. When you see the CPN logo, you can be sure that you are feeding your dog the best and safest foods in the market. The Original PAAWS for Dogs is another option for your dog.

It is an innovative dog vitamin system. Created and patented by Dr Carol Osborne. The supplement combines all-natural components with the proven benefits of vital Vitamins and Minerals. PAAWS can restore k9 energy, decrease scratching and itching, reduce shedding, eliminate doggie smell and bad breath and fight the signs of aging in senior dogs.

Take into account also, that performance dog supplements provide calcium for strengthening your pet's bones. Performance supplements should be created on the basis of effective formula of the right balance of minerals, vitamins, calcium and other components. They are used to replace lacking nutrients in the dog's regular diet.

Many people have and love their pets and care of their health. Cats should be given cat supplements as this will improve their general health. Those who have dogs are also highly recommended to give them natural dog supplements. Of course, the best supplements are the natural ones. Take care of your pets and they will give you all their devotion.
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Pet Cloning - The State of the Industry

Whatever happened to pet cloning? As early as 2005, there were a number of news stories about dog cloning and cat cloning. Animal cloning had been old news for nearly a decade by then, with the revolutionary cloning of Dolly the sheep in Scotland, of course, but Snuppy was the first pet, a dog, to be cloned. Cloned by scientists at a Korean University, Snuppy would have seemed to be a harbinger of a new revolution in animal breeding. However, the pet cloning market has been quite cool in the five years since the Snuppy announcement. Here, we review the state of the pet cloning industry.

Since the cloning of Snuppy, there have been a number of very successful clonings of pets and other animals. Lou Hawthorne started BioArts while cloning his beloved mixed breed dog Missy. Hawthorne was very pleased with the results of the cloning, producing three successful clones that were very alike to the original in character and behavior. In January, 2009, a Florida couple, Ed and Nina Otto, announced that they had paid to have their Golden Retriever Lancelot cloned by BioArts. They also were very pleased with the results.

Still, response to the cloning has been cool. When Hawthorne ran a contest to have people clone their favorite pet, he was surprised to find that less than 250 people entered the contest. In addition, Hawthorne found that BioArts' prices were undercut by Korean competition. While the Ottos were very pleased with "Lancey," their pet clone, it was difficult for anyone not to note the prohibitive cost they paid: $155,000 USD. In addition, many people object to the idea of cloning pets when there are many animals being euthanized every day at animal shelters around the world. There are also issues with some abnormalities in the cloning process.

All of this is not to say that pet cloning is not very different from many other technologies that simply took a while to catch on. Some issues are outlined below, along with a discussion of how those issues might improve in the coming years.

    * The price problem. All new technology is overpriced. For example, personal computers were not very affordable at first. Only after the manufacturing process was streamlined was it possible for every household to have a computer. How much room there will be for organizations to reduce the price point on pet cloning without broad demand is of course questionable.

    * People resist change. This is especially true when it comes to tampering with living things, in this case beloved pets. Yet, we have "tampered" for a long time in breeding pets and domestic animals. In fact, controlling the genetics of domesticated animals and pets is accepted practice that people pay top dollar for. Organizations like PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) object to pet breeding. PETA claims that the American Kennel Club adds to the pet overpopulation problem by encouraging breeding pure bred dogs. Still, pet lovers pay for purebreds, and this is well accepted by mainstream society.

    * Demand may always be an issue. There are many great dogs and cats that can be found at the local dog pound or given away for "free to good homes" in classified ads. However, there is no limit to the value people place on a beloved pet or even on a sure thing. The Ottos are a good example of that, as is the practice of buying purebreds. If people can purchase a dog or cat with predictable behaviours and characteristics there is implicit value in that. There is a predictable market here, though it may always be limited in size.

While pet cloning has not taken off as some had hoped, it's clear that it will become a bigger market in the future and it will be increasingly viable for people to try this out. With the inevitable successes that cloned pet owners will have, the practice will become more widely accepted and it seems inevitable that there is a future for cloned dogs and cats.

John Huinink is the owner of Dogscloned.com a resource with a variety of information about cloning including pet cloning controversies, pet cloning services, the first cloned dog and more.

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Pet Cloning Data

• Canine Cryobank 

- Cryopreservation of dog semen for breeding, and of cells for possible future cloning. In San Marcos, California. 

• Dog Genome Resources 

- Thorough overview of the genome sequence as defined by the Broad Institute, including maps and clone registry.

• NHGRI Dog Genome Project 

- A project to develop resources necessary to map and clone canine genes. 

• Send in the Clones 

- Using a new technique, scientists have cloned clones from clones. [Scientific American]

Dog Supplements Use

As a rule, if you feed your dog in a proper way, it does not require any additional nutritional supplements. But there are dogs with special needs that need the usage of nutritional supplements. Senior dogs will also need some supplements as with aging their health may worsen.

Giving your dog the right food is commonly enough to plug in nutritional needs. If you have bought a new dog, you should consult your veterinarian as for dog nutritional supplements or which food is enriched with vital components and minerals.

Ingredients of Dog Nutritional Supplements

Phosphorous and Calcium are some of the vital ingredients which should be included into the regular diet of your dog, though they should be given in moderate dozes.

Sodium chlorate and potassium are other vital nutritional supplements. Salt and potassium are vital components for your dogs.

Also, make sure that your dog consumes the right microelements for proper metabolic function. This is especially vital for dogs suffering from excess weight. Use dog supplements enriched with zinc also, which is useful for skin and fur. For proper blood circulation a good dog supplement should include iron.

Use also other nutritional supplements which are enriched with cod liver oil and special multivitamins for dogs to make their skin and fur shiny.

Before making a purchase, do not overlook consulting a vet for the right dozes and the right ingredients that should be included into the dog supplements that you are going to buy.

These days the usage of herbal supplements has become very popular. They can fight many diseases and enhance your pet's health. There are a few important reasons why you should consider using them to benefit your puppy.

Herbal supplements are used to protect your animal from various health related problems and supply your dog with all the necessary nutrients. They can also help in enhancing the immune system.

The next crucial reason for using herbal supplements is that they aid in curing various diseases. You can buy natural herbal supplements which will be useful for your dog and have no side effects.

Herbal supplements are also known as great energy boosters.

In the end, they will enhance your dog's overall health. When your four legs friend has a strong health, he is less subjected to many serious disorders.

Today there is a wide range of different supplements that you can find in pet stores. This is the best way to make your dog healthy and happy.

Many people have and love their pets and care of their health. Cats should be given cat supplements as this will improve their general health. Of course, the best supplements are the natural ones. That's why those who have dogs are highly recommended to give them natural dog supplements. Take care of your pets and they will give you all their devotion.

Many people have and love their pets and care of their health. Cats should be given cat supplements as this will improve their general health. Of course, the best supplements are the natural one.s That's why those who have dogs are highly recommended to give them natural dog supplements. Take care of your pets and they will give you all their devotion.

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Dog Tool Training - 3 Different Tools To Use

Having the right equipment can make all the difference in dog tool training. The tough part is deciding what's right! If you ask three dog trainers about what kind of collar best then you will probably get three opinions. I think, the best piece of equipment for your dog is the one that works best for you and your dog. You two have to feel well when you are training together. You need at least one collar and at least one leash. I want to point out three of them. Lets have a look.

1. A martingale collar slips over your dog's head. The collar has to fit properly. When you then pull against it with your leash the collar will tighten enough to keep your dog from slipping out of the collar. but it will not choke him. It is a great tool in dog sports and a very effective thing to do dog tool training.

2. The choke chain collar is usually made of metal chain, sometimes in leather or nylon. Although many good dog trainers use choke chains without being cruel to their dogs. But it is extremely easy to misuse a choke chain and you could hurt your dog.And that is not what we want. In my opinion it is not a good dog tool training equipment.The dog may ignore it after a while and he could get injuries when you not put the collar on correctly.

3. Electronic collars or shock collars are seen by some people as a quick and easy way to do dog tool training. Most people use shock collars to punish the dog for doing something they do not want to do but the dog must know the command.If not he will never know what he has done wrong and there is no training effect. You need a little bit experience to use it the right way. Otherwise you may get more problems with your dog than before the dog tool training. The system itself works like this, the collar has an receiver and the human carries a transmitter.And when you push the transmitter the dog gets a shock. The range is about 300 yards. It is often used by hunters. A friend of mine has a shock collar for his hunting dog. But he never use it because the dog knows what could happen when he wears the collar. It can be useful to do dog tool training.

Okay, these are 3 tools. I use different collars on my dogs depending on the dog's age, level of training, individual personality, and type of the activity you want to do. Some are better for basic dog tool training and some are better for advanced dog tool training. So you have to decide what is best for you and your dog. If you both feel well then you will have fun during the training.

If you want to know more about dog tool training then you have to visit this site.There you can get all the stuff you need to handle your dog just go here http://www.trainingdog.de It is full of techniques and tips.Visit my Blog too and get even more tips http://trainingforyourdog.blogspot.com
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