Archive for April, 2010

Natural herbal health supplements for dogs are becoming more popular with pet owners. They do not contain any pesticides or chemicals, and irradiation is not used in the manufacturing process.

Conventional manufacturers use irradiation to prevent bacterial growth, and to increase product shelf life. This process is responsible for destroying the vitamins and enzymes needed for healthy canines. Only certified raw ingredients are used in producing natural health supplements for pets.

Increasingly, dog owners are choosing natural herbal supplementation to meet their pet’s health needs In fact, vitamins for pets possess the same high quality standards that human supplements have. Not surprisingly, pets have similar health concerns as their human owners, which reflect issues related joints, vision, digestion, and the liver.

Dogs can also be obese and require supplements for weight loss, as well as calcium for strong bones. They are just like a member of the family, which is why their health and quality of life are of major importance for owners. As a result, the choice of natural health supplements and food ensures optimum quality of life for their beloved pets.

Vitamins and minerals for your dog:

Vitamin B Complex:

The benefits of B complex vitamin for your dog includes growth enhancement, stress management, and reduces reactions to vaccines. Vitamin B can be found in liver, yeast, wheat bran, wheat germ, and kelp.

Low levels of this vitamin can manifest as:

A loss of hair, coat turning gray early, weakness in the back legs, reduced appetite, ticks, fleas and cardio problems.

Vitamin C:

Dogs can make their own vitamin C from minerals in their diet, unlike humans who must get this nutrient from outside sources, such as sun light. According to research for this article, your dog does not need vitamin C supplement, and you shouldn’t feed your canine any food that contains it.

Benefits of vitamin E for your dog:

- Promotes circulation

- The dog will age slower

- Prevent cataracts

- Boosts the immune system.

- Better endurance

- May dissolve breast tumors

- Improved spinal strength

- Promotes skin and coat health

Glucosamine and chondroitin:

These work best in tandem and are good as a preventative measure. They allow for greater lubrication of the joints and dogs can be given these from an early age.

Antioxidants:

Antioxidants help protect against the damage incurred by free radicals. Free radicals damage cells and can cause premature aging in your pet.

It is a good idea to ask your vet about supplements to be fully informed. There is a chance that your diet for your dog is good enough that supplements may be unnecessary.

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About the Author:
Jared Wright is the webmaster of Clivir.com where people meet to learn from one another on topics such as health. You can follow the links to find more related articles such as natural health supplements and liquid multi vitamins.
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Puppy Training Pad Tips

Many pet owners find that puppy training presents many challenges.  Whether attempting to teach their dog friend a new trick, or that most important skill of puppy house training, finding common ground with a four legged companion can be difficult.  Though teaching a young dog how to shake hands can be rewarding, housebreaking is understandably more important.  Though this time can be challenging, the use of puppy training pads can make the transition from cleaning up frustrating messes into proper puppy potty training success.

 

Puppy training pads are thin, absorbent mats that can be used to help young dogs learn the proper place for eliminations.  Often, the use of the pad involves directing the animal to use that spot, then slowly moving the pad closer and closer to the exterior door, eventually moving the pad outside before discontinuing its use entirely once the puppy has learned the proper place for his or her bathroom needs.  This method is often used in conjunction with puppy crate training so that puppies are not left unsupervised.  For entirely indoor dogs, dogs whose owners reside in apartments, or dogs in poor health, these pads can be used in a more permanent fashion as their potty place.

 

To make housebreaking as pleasant as possible, it is recommended that whatever the chosen method, the pet owner keeps the experience positive.  Puppies want very much to please their humans, so using gentle words, treats, and kindness will work better than screaming when the puppy makes a mess away from his or her pad.  On a similar vein, keeping a watchful eye over the pet will help.  If a young dog can be spotted before he or she eliminates in the inappropriate place and taken over to the pad or outdoors, this will reinforce the idea of going where he or she should.  If, however, the puppy manages to have an accident when the owner is not watching, it is best that they stay calm, and work on ways that they can better keep an eye on the puppy around times that he or she may need to potty.

 

When entering the task of puppy housebreaking, having the proper knowledge and materials available can be great help in forming a lasting bond with a new pet.  Puppy training pads can be an excellent resource for a new pet owner in making sure that the experience is as stress free, quick, and pleasant as possible.

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About the Author:
Doggy Pads
House training a puppy is hard work.  Make the task easier for you and your puppy with Doggy Pads.  Eco-friendly disposable puppy training pads will help your puppy train faster.  For help with puppy training, visit:

http://www.doggypads.com

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The Dos and Don'ts of Dog Grooming

Having a dog in the house is fun. However, dogs, like any pet, require attention and care. And as a pet owner, grooming your dog is important as it makes your dog clean and healthy.  If your dog is well groomed, you will no longer worry petting it, having it inside the house, on your couch, or on your bed.

Most of us think that dog grooming procedures are pretty simple. Well, they probably are or are they? Have you thought about good and bad practices in dog grooming? If you do the grooming yourself, then you will definitely find this information helpful in taking care of your dog the right way. We will look at a few of the fundamental dos and don’ts in this space. Hopefully, these tips will help you be better at grooming your dog.

Bathing: Do bath your dog regularly. While it is not possible to give a blanket rule on exactly how often your dog should be bathed, do it at least once a month. Use shampoo to clean the hair effectively, and a brush. Failure to bath your dog will result in accumulation of dirt, and cause other skin infections. Do not bath your dog too frequently and certainly not daily. This will deplete some of the vital oils on your dog’s skin and guess what – lead to the same risks to its skin that not washing can cause such as scratching and skins tear.

Hair clipping and brushing: Do brush your dog’s hair regularly and clip it as often as is necessary. Do use the right tools; here we are talking both brushes and hair clippers. Besides the aesthetic value of hair brushing and clipping, other benefits include the ease of removal of dirt during bathing and the prevention of matting. Do not brush with too much force as this may as it may hurt your dog or cause injury. When matting has occurred, then brush gently or better still, just clip the hair. Do not clip too close to the skin to give your dog a naked look. This will be harmful as it exposes your dog to skins cuts.

Peticure: Do clean your dog’s nails to remove any hidden dirt that may cause infection, and do make sure to trim the nails regularly. Long nails can grow into the soft paw tissue and injure the dog. Use the right nail clippers for this. Do not clip too deep; remember to watch out for the quick and stop clipping to avoid cutting living tissue.

Finally, do specifically clean your dog’s ear. A prerequisite for this is regular checking of the ears to see if there is accumulation of dirt. Do not use sharp objects or clean too deep, you might prick the inside and cause infection. Special ear washing substances exit and you need to use soft cotton without pouring too much liquid in the ear. Should you notice any kind of infection, do not clean, take your dog to a veterinarian.

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About the Author:
Check out my site on best dog grooming clippers. You can also get more information on professional dog grooming clippers.
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