WOOF WOOF!! BOW WOW!! Oops sorry! I did not realize I was talking to you guys and not my friend Rusty. Hi, I am Bruno, the Labrador. I am 5 years old. It seems my dad and mom are quite busy these days with work and things that seem to never get done. Initially the whole family was crazy about me. They used to take me for walks and runs. They used to show me off to neighbors and friends.

As I grew older and they got busier, all this stopped. Now they hardly even have the time to take me for a walk. They fill my plate with fattening treats and stuff from the table that they eat. I’ve started putting on weight in my waist and hips. Earlier, I could sit back on my legs. Now, due to my weight, I slouch to the side. My chest hurts now and I have a hard time breathing too. My owners no longer take care of the quality of my food. They just get any dog food and pay no attention to the nutrients. Most of the dog foods are laden with fat and as a result I have developed lots of fatty tissues in my body. It is harder to walk these days as my legs ache from the extra pounds. I get out of breathe so easily now. My chances for disease are now increased as a result of the obesity. I wanted to help you learn to take care of your pets so that they will remain healthy, agile and have long lives.

Although fat dogs may seem cute, there could be a host of issues going on. Joint or locomotion difficulties, extra pounds put added stress on joints, bones, ligaments and muscles. Heart and respiratory disease, heart and lungs have to work harder to provide adequate oxygen and circulation. Also, extra fat in the chest cavity and around the heart muscle can decrease the efficiency of the heart and lungs. Diabetes, just like people, diabetes is much more common in obese dogs and cats. Liver disease, obese animals are prone to liver disease. Heat intolerance, excessive fat has insulating properties that makes obese animals uncomfortable and unable to tolerate heat. Skin problems, overweight animals often have trouble grooming themselves. The rolls of skin built up by fat deposits can often harbor dirt, bacteria and other harmful organisms. Gastrointestinal disorder, Pancreatitis is seen all too often in obese dogs. This condition can cause dog pain and is life threatening.

Find More Healthy Information for your Dog Here!

Here are a few ways in which you can care for your dog so that they have a longer and better life:

1. Don’t let your dog become a couch potato. Take him out for a run everyday at least for 20 minutes otherwise he will put on weight.

2. Pay attention to the diet: Sometimes the printed dog food labels do not tell the entire story. Make sure that your canine friend has a diet rich in meat, vegetables and healthy ingredients. If you have started a weight loss food for dogs, make sure it is healthy. Don’t sacrifice nutrition at a time when the dog needs it the most as the weight comes off.

Dog Obesity: Is Your Dog Overweight?

Learn about the health risks associated with dog obesity and a simple three-part test you can use to tell if your dog is overweight.  

As I grew older and they got busier, all this stopped. Now they hardly even have the time to take me for a walk. They fill my plate with fattening treats and stuff from the table that they eat. I’ve started putting on weight in my waist and hips. Earlier, I could sit back on my legs. Now, due to my weight, I slouch to the side. My chest hurts now and I have a hard time breathing too. My owners no longer take care of the quality of my food. They just get any dog food and pay no attention to the nutrients. Most of the dog foods are laden with fat and as a result I have developed lots of fatty tissues in my body. It is harder to walk these days as my legs ache from the extra pounds. I get out of breathe so easily now. My chances for disease are now increased as a result of the obesity. I wanted to help you learn to take care of your pets so that they will remain healthy, agile and have long lives.

Although fat dogs may seem cute, there could be a host of issues going on. Joint or locomotion difficulties, extra pounds put added stress on joints, bones, ligaments and muscles. Heart and respiratory disease, heart and lungs have to work harder to provide adequate oxygen and circulation. Also, extra fat in the chest cavity and around the heart muscle can decrease the efficiency of the heart and lungs. Diabetes, just like people, diabetes is much more common in obese dogs and cats. Liver disease, obese animals are prone to liver disease. Heat intolerance, excessive fat has insulating properties that makes obese animals uncomfortable and unable to tolerate heat. Skin problems, overweight animals often have trouble grooming themselves. The rolls of skin built up by fat deposits can often harbor dirt, bacteria and other harmful organisms. Gastrointestinal disorder, Pancreatitis is seen all too often in obese dogs. This condition is painful and life threatening.

Find More Healthy Information for your Dog Here!

Here are a few ways in which you can care for your dog so that they have a longer and better life:

1. Don’t let your dog become a couch potato. Take him out for a run everyday at least for 20 minutes otherwise he will put on weight.

2. Pay attention to the diet: Sometimes the printed dog food labels do not tell the entire story. Make sure that your canine friend has a diet rich in meat, vegetables and healthy ingredients. If you have started a weight loss food for dogs, make sure it is healthy. Don’t sacrifice nutrition at a time when the dog needs it the most as the weight comes off.

Dog Obesity: Is Your Dog Overweight?

Learn about the health risks associated with dog obesity and a simple three-part test you can use to tell if your dog is overweight.   

Dog Losing Weight

There are a number of different factors that can cause a dog to become overweight. Overindulgence on the part of the owner plays a large part in pet obesity. And this article discusses about how to help your dog lose weight.

Jog With Your Dog | Healthy and Green Living

Thirty-six of the study subjects were paired with their obese dogs; the other 56 participated in the study alone. All of the people received diet and physical activity counseling, and the dogs were fed a calorie-controlled prescription.

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Obesity is possibly the most common health related problem to affect dogs as they get older. An overweight dog is an unhappy dog and subsequent health problems.  

Owners of Obese Dogs and Cats Could Face Jail

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Dog allergies are fairly common and can be the cause of dry, itchy skin. If your dog is scratching a lot, he could be suffering from environmental allergens like pollen and dust, or even from inflammation caused by flea bites. Another source of itching could be the shampoo or grooming products used on your pooch.

Relieve Dog Itch Now!!!

This is because a dog’s skin is ten times more sensitive his caretaker’s. This makes them highly susceptible to the irritants found in their surroundings.

Getting to the heart of the matter may take a multi-pronged approach due to the numerous causes for canine itching. Making time to do this however, will be essential in diagnosing and subsequently curing your dog’s skin ailment.

Proper Grooming

While dogs often run away from the dreaded bath or flea dip, most do not mind being brushed. This is because loving pet parents who know what they’re doing can make it an enjoyable experience. With the proper products, habitual grooming may even make a dogs skin healthier. Keeping the skin healthy is one significant way to keep itchiness to a minimum.

If you find you rarely have time to groom (or don’t know how to do it properly) take your doggie to a pro.

Groomers use products that help a dog maintain a healthy coat, which is gained from healthy skin.

Provide a Skin Protective Diet

Just like human beings, dogs may be susceptible to food allergies. Even organic pet food or treats can have ingredients in them that cause the dog’s skin to be dry and flaky.

To uncover the offending item, try changing the foods your pet eats. If and when you find the suspect ingredient, remove it from your pet’s diet. This could in turn alleviate your dog’s dry itch.

Also, be sure to scan future purchases to ensure new products are free of this particular allergen.

Bathing and Dipping

Some dog owners may be over washing their pet, which can lead to dryness, especially if the products being used are chemically based. This is due to the fact that many chemicals found in maintenance products can be extremely harsh to a dog’s skin. However, even with organic pet products, over washing is not a good idea.

Washing once a month is always best.

If fleas are the cause of the itching, then a dip could be the solution. Taking your pet to the vet would be the best course of action, but if you insist on doing the dip yourself, look into organic products that won’t irritate the dog’s skin further. As a matter of fact, if your pet suffers from chronic dry, itchy skin, you should look into an organic line of grooming and maintenance product anyway.

Remember to use lukewarm water when bathing your pet as well and towel dry your dog as opposed to blow drying him or her. These all important steps will continue to keep the skin from over-drying.

When to visit the vet

Realistically speaking, your dog itchiness can be a reaction to any number of things, including the mange. If you have tried to figure out the source of your dog’s condition and come up empty, it may be time to take them to the veterinarian.

A vet can do a ton of diagnostics that will aid them in determining the factors that are contributing to the skin problem.

They will also be able to employ a variety of solutions, like steroid injections, topical or oral cortisone and/or antihistamines.

Once you uncover what is behind your dog itchy skin, you can take the steps necessary to protect them. The health and pain relief of your dog could very well depend on what you do to improve the quality of life of your loyal and adoring companion.  This is worth all the effort.

Author: Amy Nutt

Find all wholesale dog supplies for your canine friend; from bad breath to insect bites to separation anxiety.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Amy_Nutt

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How to Help Dog With Itchy Skin

If your dog is scratching a lot, he could be suffering from environmental allergens like pollen and dust, or even from inflammation caused by flea bites. Another source of itching could be the shampoo or grooming products used on your [...]

Natural Treatments for Itchy Dog Skin

Use aloe vera on your dog’s dry itchy skin as a spot treatment. This works very well for bug bites (including tick and flea bites). Of course you’ll need to address the flea or tick problem in order to permanently resolve the itch.

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While basic grooming is the main key to cleanliness, sometimes it is not enough: especially for dogs. Like humans, dogs can get suffer in the hygiene department even with the best grooming policies. Dog dandruff is an annoyance some pet owners cannot seem to dismiss, no matter how extensive or expensive the treatment turns out to be.

Find an Easy Way to Treat Your Dogs Dandruff!

Thankfully, there is a simple [and inexpensive!] natural home remedy to treat dandruff and give them pain relief: a simple combination lemon juice mixed with vinegar. It’s true, vinegar dogs are not the best smelling dogs in the world, but thankfully, if the mixture is allowed to set in for only 5 minutes, you can wash your dog with the best smelling shampoo while still fighting that pesky dandruff and removing the pungent smell of vinegar. The execution is fairly simple and not very time consuming.

Get your dog wet, then get your lemon juice and vinegar mixture ready. The amount needed is dependent on the size of the dog, so guess according to your pet size. In this case, less is not always more, so make sure you have enough to cover the entire dog’s hairy body. Simply deep rub the mixture into your dog’s hair and let it set in for 5 minutes. Beware of the smell! Make sure to keep the dog isolated in the washing vessel being used so the mixture isn’t spread throughout.

After 5 minutes, rinse the mixture out and let it set for 2 more minutes. After the two minutes, feel free to re-wash the dog with any flowery-scented shampoo you like. Let the dog naturally dry, preferably outdoors, and all your dog dandruff problems were just mixed away! Your dog will be happy and carefree without dandruff there to cause problems, simply because of an inexpensive home remedy. Sadly, it has not been tested on human hair as of yet, so experiment on your own hair at your own risk.

Author: Michael Gentleman

Mike writes about dog dandruff with product reviews. If you are interested in dog dandruff then visit his website for further information and solutions. http://dogdandruffguide.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Gentleman

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Effective Remedies to Combat Dog Dandruff

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Lets start again with the basics to understand what is dandruff? In simple terms Dandruff is just dried up, undernourished dead skin cells, which fall of in the [...]

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Fleas are parasites that feed off your dog’s blood. Flea eggs can be found almost everywhere – in your couch, carpet, etc. so the likelihood of infection is very high. To know if your dog has fleas, look for flea excrement – small, dark, curly dots that are also known as "flea dirt."

To do this, brush your pet’s coat with a white cloth or sheet and look for these black specks, which contains digested blood that looks reddish brown when wet. If your dog has a darker coat, eggs that resemble dandruff is visible when a magnifying glass is used.

Besides really annoying your dog, fleas can also cause an allergic reaction called flea allergy dermatitis (FAD) which leads to hair loss, skin inflammation and irritation. For severe cases, your pet can experience anemia due to blood loss. This can be fatal if your pet is young or debilitated. Also, fleas are carriers of common tapeworms, which can cause cramping and gas.

Putting flea powder on your vacuum cleaner will exterminate all the fleas inside the bag. Monthly topicals is an easy and inexpensive approach to protect your house from fleas. Bio Spot or Frontline Plus are recommended topical brands available. You might also want to build a doghouse or spot for your dog that is elevated since fleas can’t jump higher than a foot. Water is a flea’s top enemy, so wash the areas that a dog might run around – like your backyard. Minimal contact with grasses and woods will lessen the possibility of infection. If you have a garden, trim leaves and clear brushes, as well as grassy and kennel areas.

If you have a home grooming kit for your dog, it is best to include a flea comb. Use it regularly on your pet. Its soft, fine bristles, it will catch the flea. Start combing around the hindquarters and the pet’s head, where flea dirt can also be seen. When you trap a flea, immediately put it in soap-water solution. Fleas thrive in warm conditions, that’s why in warmer climates, it is best to give your dog flea products the whole year. Although pupa stages can become dormant in cold climates, increasing the length of its lifespan composed of egg, larva, pupa and adult.

A flea bath is the first step to a parasite-free pet. Be careful in using a flea shampoo because most products are too harsh on puppies. Consult your veterinarian on what to use if your puppy has fleas. It can also relieve irritation and itching. Don’t stop at shampooing because it doesn’t really protect your dog after getting a bath.

One alternative is using flea dips that keep fleas at bay for some time after dipping, but it is not recommended by most veterinarians. The downside is that your dog might eat or swallow these parasites after licking, since a flea dip stays on the dog’s hair coat. Another option is a flea collar. It will only kill all the fleas in the dog’s neck and face – not the whole body. Some also dogs develop a rash when using flea collars. While flea medallions can contaminate the dog’s drinking water, since it hangs loose from the collar.

A good choice is the use of flea sprays and powders – both for your dog and your house, so be careful in reading the instructions to know which is which. Products intended for your home is too strong to use on your pet. Using two or three different flea products at the same time can be toxic for your dog.

If there are numerous fleas that infested your dog, it is recommended that you treat your home too. Methoprene and fenoxycarb, two active ingredients contained in flea sprays are efficient and safe. It stops the growth of eggs into adult fleas. As mentioned, sprays are too strong for dogs, so take them outside for a walk when you treat your home. Some products are designed to destroy adult fleas – one product is Insect Growth Regulators (IGR) can help kill flea eggs and larvae. Before applying such products, vacuum your carpet or furniture first to rouse eggs and larvae from their cocoons.

Veterinarians recommend these products to for flea control: Pyriproxyfen (Nylor, Archer), Imidacloprid (Advantage), Lufenuron (Program), Fipronil (Frontline Top Spot), Cythioate (Proban), and Fenthion (Pro-Spot).

By: John Samson

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

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