Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Dog

Dogs are notorious for begging under the dinner table and inhaling everything that comes within a two foot radius of their mouth. It may be tempting with those puppy dog eyes but feeding these foods to your animal can be VERY harmful.

· Alcoholic beverages can result in intoxication and death.

· Bones not made specifically for dogs. Rib bones, chicken bones, fish with bones can cause choking and puncture internal organs.

· Cat food is too high in fats and can lead to obesity.

· Anything containing caffeine which could hurt the heart and disrupt the nervous system.

· Fat trimmings can lead to pancreatitis.

· Grapes and raisins contain toxins hurt the kidneys and lead to renal failure.

· Liver can cause vitamin A toxicity, in high amounts.

· Macadamia nuts affect the digestive system.

· Onions and garlic (raw, cooked, or powder) can cause issues such as gastrointestinal issues, and can cause anemia and red blood cell damage.

· Sugary foods can cause obesity, dental problems, and possibly diabetes mellitus.

· Xylitol (artificial sweetener) can cause liver failure.

By Staff Writer Trish Harding

Backyard Hazards for Pets

Heat isn’t the only thing to worry about when it comes to your pets. There are many dangerous things right outside your backdoor. When shopping for lawn care products it is a good idea to research what will harm your pet and what is safe. Some products are incredibly tempting to your dog and need special precautions.

Blood and bone meal fertilizers are made from ground up animal bones and dried blood powder. This will smell awesome to a dog but if ingested your pet runs the risk of iron poisoning and bone meal becomes a hard concrete like block upon entry into the stomach. Make sure to water your lawn after application as this will cut down on the smell for your dog and wash away the large particles so they are not eaten.

Cacao bean mulch is made from the ground up hulls of the cacao bean. It has a chocolate nutty smell when fresh and can potentially cause great harm to your pet. If eaten chocolate toxicity can set in and you would need to take your pet to the vet IMMEDIATELY. After application, water the area to reduce the yummy smell to your pets and to wash most of the particles into the soil.

Pesticides and baits placed in the house or in the yard also pose a health hazard. Keep these substances far out of reach from your pets and monitor your pets while they are in the yard to make sure they don’t consume any. IMMEDIATE vet care is suggested if your pet consumes pesticides.

By Staff Writer Trish Harding

Pet Obesity

Up to 25% of pets in the Western world are obese or overweight. Obesity can have serious consequences for your pet. Here is a list of things to do to make sure that your pet is a healthy weight.

1. Find out if your pet is overweight/obese.

A cat from above should be trim and the waist should go in slightly. The abdomen should not be extended and there should be no fat deposits on the legs, stomach face and neck.
A dog will have a waist that tucks in from above and the stomach should point back towards to tail. There should be no fat deposits on the legs, shoulders, spine, face and neck.

2. Know the risks of obesity.

Obese dogs are at risk of many of the same ailments that people are. They can develop diabetes, hip dysplasia, arthritis and
Obese cats are can develop diabetes also. Excess weight can directly result in urinary tract disease and hepatic lipidosis, liver failure cause by brief stress. Because of the risk of liver failure you should contact your vet if your cat is obese as a sudden change in diet could be enough stress for the liver to fail.

3. Visit the veterinarian.

As with people, there could be a medical reason your pet is obese. Schedule an appointment with your vet so they can assess your pet for any health problems related to the obesity.

4. Look at your pets diet.

Animals that are obese need to follow a vets recommendation for weight loss but there are a few things you can do to ensure smooth sailing.
· Have only one person feed the pets so there are no mix ups and over feedings, because let’s face it, your pets aren’t going to let the food just sit there.
· Feed your pet in smaller more frequent meals throughout the day.
· Replace treats with pet friendly vegetable treats such as carrots, zucchinis or melons.

5. Get your pet plenty of exercise.

Be sure your pet gets plenty of exercise. Take your dog to a dog park or run around the house with a string for your cat. Either way both of you will be getting active.

By Staff Writer Trish Harding

5 Fun Things to Do with Your Dog

The weather is changing.  Here are some ideas to get you and your wet nosed companion outside.

1. Head on over to your local lake and bring your dog’s favorite toy, just make sure it can float. Your dog will stay cool and have a blast retrieving his toy from the water. This does not apply to Bulldogs as many of them cannot swim.

2. Call up some of your friends and plan a play date at your local dog park. While you and your crew catch up your dogs can do the same. Visit www.dogpark.com to find your local dog park.

3. Throw on those rollerblades and allow your dog to pull you along. This can also be done with a bicycle but steer clear of uneven and cracked sidewalks as this can be a safety hazard.

4. Plan a day trip to a wooded area and have a picnic while your dog sniffs around. Don’t forget to bring toys and food for your dog as well.

5. Go to an indoor agility track and show your dog how much fun weaving, jumping, and teetering can be. For agility classes in Dallas, visit www.dallasdogsports.com or www.dogcitytrainingcenter.com

No matter what activity you and your dog choose to do remember to be safe and always keep an eye out for potential hazards to your pet and yourself.

What is a Quality Breeder?

After you have done your research on the type of dog bred you want and have taken into account the genetics problems of your chosen breed, you can begin looking for a nice quality dog breeder. There are so many puppies available from adoption agencies and rescue groups, but if you must get from a breeder, it is important to keep some things in mind so you do not get more than you bargained for.

A good breeder will:

· Provide paperwork from their vet for both the puppy and its parents and will have been screened for genetic problems and birth defects. Simply saying the dog is “vet checked” is one clue that your breeder may not know exactly what they’re doing.

· Provide a “take back” clause. Good breeders do not want to see the dog go to the pound or other inappropriate home. It states they will take back the dog if you cannot keep it for any reason or you can give the dog to a home the breeder has approved of.

· Give you plenty of references and require an application and list of references from you. If the breeder refuses to give you references DO NOT purchase an animal from them.

· Will explain the breed and its needs to you so that you fully understand what kind of dog you are buying.

· Require you to sign a contract with a spay/neuter clause and other requirements.

· Require you to wait for your puppy because good breeders do not breed their dogs until they have pre-sold an amount equal to a likely litter.

· Invite you into their home and conduct business in an open and friendly manner.

· Only sell one to two breeds of dog. Puppy mills often have multiple breeds and maybe even species.

· House the puppies in their home and treat them like family. They will never be caged up in the backyard or neglected.

· Never allow you to take a puppy that is less than 8 weeks old.