Puppy Training What Type Of Collar Should Your Puppy Have

Filed under: Pet Articles - PetTheWorld.info — admin at 1:42 am on Sunday, October 14, 2007

Whether the concern is to train your dog or impart an identity to it, dog collars and leashes play a crucial role. Dog collars come in a variety of shapes, sizes and styles, and are much of a fashion statement nowadays. A dog collar could be a lifesaver for your puppy if, God forbid, it disappears from your residence.

With such a wide variety of dog collars available, choosing the right one for your puppy can be quite intimidating. The collar should be selected based on your preferences and your puppy’s habits. For a fairly obedient puppy, a soft fabric collar is quite appropriate. However, an obstinate puppy has to be controlled by a quick yank of a pronged collar. A dog trainer may assist you in making the correct choice of a dog collar for your faithful canine companion.

The buckle variety is the most common type of dog collar. A wide variety of fabric may be used to manufacture a buckle collar, bearing different colors and designs. Your puppy’s name may be embroidered onto the collar for identification purposes. Buckle collar consists of a series of spaced holes, and the buckle is fastened to attain the required size.

Buckle collar is the most basic type, which can be enhanced to ensure added safety for the puppy. For instance, breakaway collars are designed to pull apart under extreme stress. Some collar types are equipped with release tabs that ensure a hasty removal of the collar, relative to the conventional buckle type. Such variations may help prevent your puppy from choking in unforeseen circumstances.

Another collar type is a prong collar, which is quite beneficial if your puppy is rather rigid and typically pulls hard while on lead. A prong collar has perpendicular metal prongs that are evenly spaced around the inside of the collar. Upon pulling the attached leash, the prongs prod your puppy’s neck, thereby inhibiting its unruly behavior. The phrase “prong collar” does sound as something harmful for your canine. However, when used appropriately, prong collars never cause any injury to the puppy, and are much safer than even other types of dog collars.

Niall Kennedy is a lifelong dog lover and has worked in several pet sanctuaries. Best Pet Health Information is a resource that brings you information about dog medication. http://www.Best-Pet-Health.info.
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Looking After Your Dog, Part Nine - Dog Grooming

Filed under: Pet Articles - PetTheWorld.info — admin at 1:13 am on Wednesday, October 10, 2007

The phrase “dog grooming” conjures up an image of expensive salons for pets. It’s true that your pet does not need fancy haircuts, expensive baths or oil treatments. But shunning away the idea of dog grooming is akin to handling your pet with shortsightedness. Your pet’s appearance is a mirror to its overall health and wellbeing. Lack of grooming may lead to major health problems. Dog groomers ensure that your dog not only looks good but feels good as well.

Professional dog groomers suggest basic grooming for eyes, ears, teeth, face, tummy, skin, feet and nails, and coat should be done regularly.

Appropriate eye care entails regular cleansing. Your dog’s eyes should be bright, lustrous and clean. You must ensure that there are no signs of redness or excessive discharge. There is likely to be periodic buildup in the dog’s eye, which must be wiped out with a clean, damp cloth. However, if the discharge is thick or mucous-like, you must consult a veterinarian.

Ear care is also an important aspect of dog grooming. Moisture and dirt buildup inside the pet’s ear is a breeding ground for bacteria. You should trim ear hair and wipe with a clean cloth, thereby ensuring that the ear is kept dry. Any buildup of wax in the ear must be treated immediately, lest an infection sets in. The veterinarian would typically employ a solution to dissolve the ear wax and then cleanse it using a cloth or Q-tip.

Dental hygiene is equally important for your dog as it is for you. Plaque and tartar buildup causes gum disease. It is a common misconception that a balanced diet can prevent gum diseases or other teeth related problems. Cleaning the teeth and gums is highly essential for proper dental care. Dog groomers clean a pet’s teeth and gums in order to prevent unnecessary plaque buildup.

Dog groomers stress on brushing a dog’s coat on a weekly basis. A thick and matted coat encourages bacterial infection and other diseases of the skin, and hence it is all more necessary to keep your dog’s coat clean. Stroking with a soft brush gets rid of dead hair, dander and dirt.

As every dog groomer would suggest, trim your dog’s nails at least once a month. It is a misconception that long hair between the toes would keep your dog’s feet warm in winters. Instead it would collect dirt and grime, and may encourage infection. Therefore, keep the hair trimmed at all times.

Niall Kennedy is a lifelong dog lover and has worked in several pet sanctuaries. Best Pet Health Information is a resource that brings you information about dog grooming. http://www.Best-Pet-Health.info

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Looking After Your Dog, Part Ten - Health Problems

Filed under: Pet Articles - PetTheWorld.info — admin at 1:03 am on Thursday, September 13, 2007

Dogs can be inflicted with ailments, which can prove fatal if not apprehended early and treated in an appropriate manner. As far as canine health care is concerned, you need to have a proactive approach. You must look for ominous signs, which indicate that the dog’s health is probably deteriorating. Timely care and treatment can save your dog from the fangs of death. Preventive health care is crucial in order to avoid any grave health disorders.

Fortunately, the advances in veterinary science have led to a significant reduction in the occurrence and effects of several dog diseases. Common viral diseases in dogs include rabies, parvovirus, hepatitis, parainfluenza, distemper and coronavirus among others. Bacterial ailments may include leptospirosis, Lyme disease, and a type of kennel cough. However, all these perilous diseases can be prevented through discreet vaccination of pets.

Dog vaccinations work in much the same as vaccines administered to humans. They stimulate the dog’s immune system to produce specific antibodies in order to fight a possible subsequent attack by the pertinent pathogen. In general, vaccines have led to a decrease in the number of disease occurrences. However, some dogs are known to have an undesired reaction to vaccines, and veterinarians now question the act of overloading a puppy’s immune system with multiple vaccines within a short interval of time. But there are no proven vaccine substitutes, and vaccination still remains the first line of defense to the debilitating diseases in dogs.

Dogs may also suffer from skin infections and allergies. One such prominent skin infection is pyotraumatic dermatitis, which is commonly known as hot spots. Hot spots are surface skin infections caused due to an overgrowth of skin bacteria, which overwhelms the resistance mechanism. In general, hot spots are circular patches that lose hair and can be swollen. They can be agonizingly itchy, causing the dog to scratch, lick, or bite to the point of causing self-injury. Hot spots must be treated immediately, since they may spread to an alarming proportion.

External parasites can be warded off by proper grooming. However, an internal parasite called “heartworm” is now recognized as a fatal pest affecting dogs worldwide. The disease gets its name due to the related growth of worms inside a dog’s heart. Heartworm disease has a traumatic progression - each activity or exercise is accompanied by respiratory distress, and an overgrowth of worms may eventually lead to congestive heart failure.

The above information explains the possible ailments that might endanger your dog’s health. However, your dog can enjoy great health through proper canine care and regular checkups by a professional veterinarian.

Niall Kennedy is a lifelong dog lover and has worked in several pet sanctuaries. Best Pet Health Information is a resource that brings you information about dog health. http://www.Best-Pet-Health.info.

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Copyright Best-Pet-Health.info All rights reserved. This article may be reprinted in full so long as the resource box and the live links are included intact.

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