Insulin Overdose - Feline Diabetes
Article courtesy of Pet Alive
Obesity in adults and children has been said to have reached “epidemic” proportions in recent times– and the same is becoming true for our pets! Overweight canines are at an increased risk for many health issues, such as joint problems and arthritis to heart disease.
What’s to blame?
Similar to humans, the two biggest culprits contributing to overweight pets are lack of exercise and poor diet. Consult your vet before making any major dietary or exercise changes, and start your pet off gradually to avoid digestive upsets and build up fitness levels.
Tapering off treats & setting routine meals
Many processed pet treats are low in nutritional value and high in fat,
sugar and other additives. Instead of rewarding your pet with these
treats, offer a little more affection and TLC time in the form of a belly rub, thorough brushing or “lap time” while you watch TV.
Meet the nutritional guidelines necessary for your pet’s age and healthy weight, but avoid feeding your pet table scraps or snacks throughout the day. Most pets are adequately suited to eat only twice a day- which is likely less than he or she is eating now!
In addition, keep your pet away from the kitchen during family mealtimes to make feeding less tempting.
Get your pet moving (more)
While not all pets require the same level of activity, it’s important to properly identify the needs of your breed.
For instance, high energy dogs such as Airedale Terriers, Dalmatians,
Greyhounds, and Weimaraners require more vigorous daily exercise. Again,
check with your vet for the best program for your pet.
For starters, increase the duration and intensity of your pet’s walks. Besides aiding weight loss, brisk walking is said to help promote a stronger heart, lower blood pressure, boost energy, and even alleviate behavior problems.
Another great activity for pets is swimming, as it is offers a comprehensive yet low-impact workout that targets many muscle groups, plus builds endurance. Swimming is also particularly suited for dogs with arthritis for these reasons.
A classic game of fetch can even do wonders for your
pet. For more advanced pets, there are even competitive forms of
organized play such as Frisbee teams. Dogs that need extra behavior training will greatly benefit from this form of exercise.
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Friday, August 10, 2012
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Warning: Keep Your Dog Safe in the Summer Heat
Cooling Down Your Canine: Natural Ways to Help Your Dog Beat the Summer Heat
Article courtesy of Pet Alive
There are plenty of do’s and don’ts of dog safety that you are probably familiar with: do make sure you leave your air conditioner on and don’t leave him/her outside too long during the summer months. While these great tips should always be followed, there are times in the summer when family outings take you away from the home and modern conveniences like A/C.
Below are some ways to cool down your furry friend, wherever you go!
This is a great time of year to go on camping; however, you have to keep in mind your dog is covered in fur and it doesn’t take long for him or her to get hot, even at a campground. At your camp, cool Fido down with a nice cool “bath”.
Set up a kiddie pool, fill it up half way, and encourage your pet to lie in the cool water. While this can be used as a pet paradise alone, you can also use it to your advantage if you want to give your dog a bath. Make sure you use cool water; pets don’t need such warm water like we do.
Does your pet hate being submerged in water? Have no fear if there’s an ice chest near. Instead of putting Fido in a pool of water, try freezing one gallon jugs of water and when your pet gets hot, place him outside in the shade and let him cool down next to them. Also, this is a perfect way to make sure your pet has cool water to drink when the ice starts to melt.
Even on the long hot summer days, you still need to exercise, but what about sensitive paws on hot pavement? Just like humans, when puppy paws walk on burning hot pavement, they walk away feeling sore. Try to avoid walking Fido on pavement by allowing him to walk in the grass while you walk or jog on the road. Then again, if you do have to deal with sore paws, give him or her St. John’s Wort, which is completely safe for dogs and has soothing properties for sore pads!
Sunburns are another issue that dogs contend with, especially dogs with a short, fine or light coat. The most prominent spot for Fido to get sunburn in on the ridge of the nose; you can remedy this burn by using oatmeal or cool yogurt, both will soothe the burn naturally. Also, try chamomile tea on burns. Boil chamomile teabags and let them cool. When they become cool enough, using a cotton ball, apply the cool tea to your pet’s skin for soothing relief.
PawPaw™ conditions and protects paws and pads.
PetAlive Natural Remedies - Click HERE for details
Article courtesy of Pet Alive
There are plenty of do’s and don’ts of dog safety that you are probably familiar with: do make sure you leave your air conditioner on and don’t leave him/her outside too long during the summer months. While these great tips should always be followed, there are times in the summer when family outings take you away from the home and modern conveniences like A/C.
Below are some ways to cool down your furry friend, wherever you go!
This is a great time of year to go on camping; however, you have to keep in mind your dog is covered in fur and it doesn’t take long for him or her to get hot, even at a campground. At your camp, cool Fido down with a nice cool “bath”.
Set up a kiddie pool, fill it up half way, and encourage your pet to lie in the cool water. While this can be used as a pet paradise alone, you can also use it to your advantage if you want to give your dog a bath. Make sure you use cool water; pets don’t need such warm water like we do.
Does your pet hate being submerged in water? Have no fear if there’s an ice chest near. Instead of putting Fido in a pool of water, try freezing one gallon jugs of water and when your pet gets hot, place him outside in the shade and let him cool down next to them. Also, this is a perfect way to make sure your pet has cool water to drink when the ice starts to melt.
Even on the long hot summer days, you still need to exercise, but what about sensitive paws on hot pavement? Just like humans, when puppy paws walk on burning hot pavement, they walk away feeling sore. Try to avoid walking Fido on pavement by allowing him to walk in the grass while you walk or jog on the road. Then again, if you do have to deal with sore paws, give him or her St. John’s Wort, which is completely safe for dogs and has soothing properties for sore pads!
Sunburns are another issue that dogs contend with, especially dogs with a short, fine or light coat. The most prominent spot for Fido to get sunburn in on the ridge of the nose; you can remedy this burn by using oatmeal or cool yogurt, both will soothe the burn naturally. Also, try chamomile tea on burns. Boil chamomile teabags and let them cool. When they become cool enough, using a cotton ball, apply the cool tea to your pet’s skin for soothing relief.
PawPaw™ conditions and protects paws and pads.
PetAlive Natural Remedies - Click HERE for details
Why Do Dogs Eat Grass?
Why Do Dogs Eat Grass?
Article courtesy of Pet Alive
While it may be alarming to see Fido nibbling on the front lawn or a houseplant, it shouldn’t be a cause for concern unless the grass or plant was recently treated with pesticide, fertilizer, or another poisonous chemical. Both dogs and cats from time to time may take an interest in grass or similar substances, each for different purposes that can actually benefit their bodies.
Dogs tend to self-medicate their bodies and regulate behavior through occasional ingestion of plants, as the diets they often receive in captivity are vastly different than what they would eat in the wild. Dogs are not simply carnivorous, and can be often seen hunting for roots and fruits. Since dogs evolved from wolves, in the wild, wolves and dogs may eat an herbivore prey that they have killed, and often first go for the stomach area of the carcass where they will find roots, leaves and berries.
In domestication, a dog’s diet often consists of commercial dog food, which contains synthetic preservatives, coloring and fillers. Constant intake of such substances often leads to dog aggression, when the dog’s discomfort exceeds tolerance levels. Over time, this grain-based, high-carbohydrate diet can lead to digestive upset and even diabetes. Again considering the evolutionary perspective, wild dogs consume only minimal quantity of grains, in the shape of already-digested paste and juices in the intestines of a seed-eating prey.
However, even though grass ingestion appears to have some redeeming qualities for any dog, it can sometimes lead to vomiting. Some veterinary experts suspect that ingestion could have been a catalyst for self-induced vomiting to relieve stomach upset. Whether or not it was intentional, it may have detoxifying properties for this very purpose.
Last, it may also be possible that the dog or cat just likes the taste! However, it is important to discourage ingestion of grass or plants directly after a meal, as unintentional regurgitation of dinner may result.
PetAlive Natural Remedies - Click HERE for details
Article courtesy of Pet Alive
While it may be alarming to see Fido nibbling on the front lawn or a houseplant, it shouldn’t be a cause for concern unless the grass or plant was recently treated with pesticide, fertilizer, or another poisonous chemical. Both dogs and cats from time to time may take an interest in grass or similar substances, each for different purposes that can actually benefit their bodies.
Dogs tend to self-medicate their bodies and regulate behavior through occasional ingestion of plants, as the diets they often receive in captivity are vastly different than what they would eat in the wild. Dogs are not simply carnivorous, and can be often seen hunting for roots and fruits. Since dogs evolved from wolves, in the wild, wolves and dogs may eat an herbivore prey that they have killed, and often first go for the stomach area of the carcass where they will find roots, leaves and berries.
In domestication, a dog’s diet often consists of commercial dog food, which contains synthetic preservatives, coloring and fillers. Constant intake of such substances often leads to dog aggression, when the dog’s discomfort exceeds tolerance levels. Over time, this grain-based, high-carbohydrate diet can lead to digestive upset and even diabetes. Again considering the evolutionary perspective, wild dogs consume only minimal quantity of grains, in the shape of already-digested paste and juices in the intestines of a seed-eating prey.
However, even though grass ingestion appears to have some redeeming qualities for any dog, it can sometimes lead to vomiting. Some veterinary experts suspect that ingestion could have been a catalyst for self-induced vomiting to relieve stomach upset. Whether or not it was intentional, it may have detoxifying properties for this very purpose.
Last, it may also be possible that the dog or cat just likes the taste! However, it is important to discourage ingestion of grass or plants directly after a meal, as unintentional regurgitation of dinner may result.
PetAlive Natural Remedies - Click HERE for details
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