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Is your dog too fat? Does he need to go on a diet? Many owners are blissfully unaware that their dog has gained too much weight. Since we see them every day, we may not really notice that they need to shed a few pounds.

Experts estimate that 25 to 40 percent of dogs in North America are overweight (more than 20 percent heavier than their ideal weight). The more excess weight a dog carries, the higher the risk to his health. Some of these dangers include high blood pressure, diabetes, arthritis, heart and liver ailments, spinal problems and breathing difficulties.

How can you tell if your dog is overweight? There are some very basic observations you can make. When standing over your dog do you see an hourglass shape? If so, then he probably doesn’t have a weight problem. However, if you see his sides protruding, then its likely that your dog needs to lose some weight.

When petting your dog, run your hand along your dog’s ribs. If they can be easily felt then he’s probably not overweight. However, if you have to press hard to feel the ribs then your dog needs a lifestyle change.

Its a good idea to take your dog to your veterinarian before making any major changes to his diet. Consult with the vet for additional tips and to ensure that your diet plan will still include essential nutrients the dog needs.

One thing is certain: no matter how much he might beg, you should stop giving him high calorie treats and table scraps.

Taking your dog for daily walks and providing regular play and exercise will help both you and your dog.

Eliminating high calorie goodies and substituting lower calorie treats isn’t hard to do. A few healthy snacks include apples, carrots, green beans, cottage cheese and broccoli. And yes, in most cases, your dog will eagerly devour these healthier choices. How about preparing your own healthy homemade dog treats? (see below)

Adult dogs, like adult humans, don’t lose weight easily or quickly. When done properly, the weight loss will be gradual.

When it comes to puppies, it is very important that you monitor your pups food intake. Undeniably, it’s hard to resist those puppy dog eyes, but, over the long haul, its one of the best things you can do for your pup.

Veterinary nutritionists generally agree that puppies should be fed only dog food that is formulated specifically for puppies. For the first three months, they should be fed four times a day.Then, for the next three weeks, reduce feedings to three times a day. After six months, reduce feedings to twice a day and then to once daily feeding when he is one year old. At one year of age you should switch to adult dog food and monitor his weight regularly.

Dogs who are at the proper weight are happier and more energetic. Sometimes we simply fail to pay attention or don’t realize how much impact that our decisions about what we feed out dogs has on their overall health and longevity.

Jim Navary has been a freelance writer and researcher for over thirty years covering a wide range of topics. He has also been enamored with dogs for longer than he’d care to remember. Check out his DogBurg web site for canine friends at http://www.dogburg.com. Once there, why not sign up for his newsletter for dog lovers and receive the free ebook, “Pamper Your Dog: 130 Recipes for Your Canine Friend.”

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Why do you need to understand your dog food ingredients label? Because what you don’t know about what is in your pet’s food could actually be harming your beloved dog! You think you are feeding your dog food for optimal health, when in fact, you might be poisoning him.

Maybe you have looked at your ingredients label and just scratched your head. What are all these things in there? So you just shake your head and put your trust in the dog food company. After all, haven’t these companies been telling us for decades that they know what is best, nutritionally speaking, for our dogs? Well, the massive pet food recalls over the past several years have thankfully given us a well needed wake-up call. This is evident with all the all-natural and organic pet foods that have been popping up in the market.

But it’s not hard to figure out what is in your pet food so you can compare with other brands. Here are some of the more common “tricks” to reading dog food ingredients lists:

1. The first 5 – 10 ingredients listed are the majority of the food. If they are not quality ingredients, it is not a quality pet food.

2. Look for natural preservatives, such as vitamins E and C (also shown as tocopherols and ascorbic acid). Inferior pet foods still use BHT, BHA, and Ethoxyquin. These chemical preservatives have been banned from use in human food.

3. Since ingredients are listed by weight, a dog food with a lot of one ingredient (especially one that is not a quality ingredient, for example, corn) is allowed to be broken into different parts and listed separately. For example, you might see corn flour, corn bran, and corn gluten meal all listed somewhere in the dog food ingredients list – yet they are all derived from corn. Why not just say corn? Why break them up? Because the weight of the individual components will weigh less, so they can go further down the ingredient list, making them look like they are not a key component of the dog food. Sneaky? Yes. Underhanded? Yes. Legal? Yes.

4. Listing just a meat as a top 2 ingredient. If the actual meat is listed (i.e. chicken) , and not a meat meal (i.e. chicken meal), then the meat is weighed with all moisture in tact. Meal, on the other hand, has most of the moisture removed first. Therefore, the amount of protein in one pound of chicken will be less than in one pound of chicken meal. Keeping the moisture in the meat makes it weigh heavier, keeping it in the beginning of the dog food ingredients list.

The moral of the story? Learn to read the labels to see what you are actually feeding your dog. Your current dog food may be great, or it may be the worst thing for your dog. Don’t just rely on enticing packaging showing a delicious chicken and lots of fresh beautiful fruits and vegetables. Although we like to think that is what we are feeding our dogs, the reality is, most dog foods are nothing like this!

Keep your dog healthy and happy by learning how to decipher your dog food ingredients list. Check out the Healthy Dog Food blog to learn more about healthy dog food ingredients and how to find the healthiest dog food for your dog to stay in good health, naturally.

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We are living in a technology world today, a world where people have needs that they want to be taken care of through technology. Some people have self needs while some have needs for their loved ones. In today’s world when people are probably more concerned and caring about the pets than maybe even family members, they want their pets’ needs taken care of as well. This growing need of pet lovers gives rise to a demand of some technological solution for pets’ safety and security, and GPS microchip technology is born.

A GPS tracking system works in conjunction with the orbiting satellites which transmit signals to the GPS receivers, thereby pointing the exact location of the objects. The receivers pick up the message directly from the satellites in space. This data is processed by way of complex geometrical calculations which in the end would yield the location of the object accurately.

A lot of pet lovers anxious about the well being and safety of the pets are trying out all the options available to assure their security even when they are out of the owners’ sight. Their demand for sophisticated and effective technology to handle the issue has resulted in the use of the GPS system. As a result a variety of products including GPS-installed dog collars, microchips and collars with radio tracking facility are in the market.

In these days, pet owners are seriously concerned about the safety and security of their loving pets are constantly in search for devices to make their pets secured even if they are not physically seen by owners. This developing attitude of the pet owners for the safety and security of their pets has gone far to seek the help of the modern technological advancements. The result is seen in the market full of GPS – enabled devices like dog collars with microchips and radio tracking.

The microchip that uses the Radio Frequency Identification Technology (RFID) does not need battery and/or power supply. Every microchip will be encrypted with the following information such as the owner’s details, the name, breed, color and other details of the pet in a coded language.

There is a principle difference in the working of the microchip detector and the GPS tracking system. The GPs tracking system runs on a definite active process you are able to track down your pet at any point of time in an active performance. In the case of a microchip technology, it is just like the action of a reflector, which sends signals to you when you are very close to your pet. In a GPS tracker system the area of the search is the entire world.

The main advantage of a GPS tracking system or the GPS-enabled collar for the dog gives the pet owner an opportunity to track down the location of the dog irrespective of the area and is a truly tracker technology. The microchip dog collar will serve the purpose of identification of your pet, when he is found and can be useful for verification purpose.

Therefore, it is important for a pet owner to understand the difference between the two kind of technological advantages and then make a decision for the safety of his loving pet.

Microchips do not solve the problem. A Pet GPS tracker will find your pet in minutes Learn why our system is better at http://www.LoveMyPetsGPS.com.

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Diarrhea, very simply, can be defined as too much water in the feces. Too much water can end up in the feces several ways. These include:

If the intestines are over full with food, they can no longer absorb them. The common factors that create this problem are over eating, stress and rapid changes in your dogs diet. In the case of over eating, the stomach and intestines may not produce enough enzymes in order to properly breakdown the food. With changes in your dogs diet, the stomach and intestines do not have sufficient time to produce enzymes that can adjust to the new food introduced. Finally, stress can create diarrhea as the stomach becomes upset, creating a fluctuation in the amount and type of enzymes produced. In all three of these situations, the intestines hold onto the food particles which then hold onto water in the intestines, which can not be absorbed.

If a dog has an infection or has eaten food from the trash, excess water can be present in the intestines which results in diarrhea. This situation can also be caused by intestinal parasites, E. coli and Salmonella.

For many dogs, diarrhea is caused by over eating, stress, eating from the trash and intestinal parasites and in many cases does not cause severe illness. However, diarrhea can be the result of a serious systemic illness and in this case should be taken to a veterinarian immediately.

The visit to the Veterinarian

Many dogs with simple diarrhea may not need a trip to the veterinarian. If a dog has mild diarrhea that is not making it uncomfortable, has no other symptoms, and does not otherwise feel bad, it is OK to wait 24-36 hours to see a veterinarian. Many cases of simple diarrhea will resolve on its own. If a dog has diarrhea and seems uncomfortable, if the diarrhea appears bloody or like tar, if the dog has other symptoms, or seems sick, then it is wise to see the veterinarian right away. Even if the diarrhea does not go away any faster after the veterinary visit, the veterinarian can evaluate the dog and make sure nothing more serious is going on and can give medication to make the dog more comfortable.

The veterinarian will require a sample of your dogs stool. This can either be done by you simply collecting a fresh sample from home no older than 30-40 minutes before your vet visit. If this is not possible, your veterinarian can collect the sample in the office. After the sample is collected, it will undergo many different tests including:

Fecal Flotation – This test searches for intestinal parasites

A direct fecal smear to check for red blood cells, white blood cells and abnormal or unusual bacteria.

A fecal smear with abnormal bacteria (the ones that look like tennis racquets)

When diarrhea, vomiting, blood stools and a very sick dog has been experiencing symptoms for several days, the veterinarian will want to perform x-rays and blood tests in order to check for other systemic illnesses that could be causing the diarrhea.

Heather Fox is an experience veterinarian and passionate teacher on Clivir.com where you can find more of her lessons about Dog Atopic Dermatitis Causes and Dog Parvovirus Treatment.

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If you are given the choice between spending around $40 on a dog training manual or spending hundreds of dollars for the services of a professional dog trainer to get virtually the same results which would you choose? If you have the spare time and the desire to learn some new things then you can train your dog every bit as effectively as a professional can.

All pet owners know how exasperating it can be to try and get their pet to stop bad behaviors. Most of us have tried persistently to teach a dog to stop barking or chewing on the furniture or some other crazy making activity, to no avail. Our inability to communicate our desires to our dog can become overwhelming and even lead cause us to give the beloved pet away.

A dog training manual put together by a professional dog trainer is a much better option. A reputable trainer knows the methods and has the experience to convey to the pet owner what is needed to be effective when training a dog. You can find just such dog training manuals online in e-books and instructional videos. Using this type of training is a breeze.

Sure, it is possible to surf around on the Internet to pick up bits and pieces of information that can help you to train your dog but that is a scattershot approach and is definitely not the way you want to go about learning how to train your dog properly. Fortunately for us there is a highly respected dog training manual available online called Secrets to Dog Training.

It is authored by a professional dog trainer and contains dog training techniques coupled along with real-life case studies. The publication is in the form of an e-book that you can read right on your computer screen or downloaded to your computer and then print it out as a hard copy to take with you anywhere you wish. It also comes with a 30 minute instructional video that shows different dog training methods in action.

Not only is it an advantage to purchase a dog training manual online because of the cost savings and convenience of training a dog from your home, but there are other benefits as well. Chief among them is the fact that because you are actually doing the dog training in your home the lessons will be more effective because that is in fact the environment in which the dog lives.

Even if you are new to dog training, a dog training manual will provide you with step-by-step instructions that will teach you the techniques you will need to be an effective dog trainer. You will find that everything you learn can be used with any dog you have or may have in the future. You can become an effective dog trainer no matter what your previous pet experience has been.

They also allow you to focus on any area that may require your immediate attention such as how to stop a dog from barking, biting, doing their business in the house, etc., etc. The true beauty of an effective dog training manual is in its simplicity. The benefits of being able to customize your training lessons cannot be overstated.

Taking the time and effort to train your dog makes being a dog owner a much more enjoyable experience. It will also result in a happier, healthier pet. Dogs are happiest when they know their boundaries and how they are expected to behave. Training your dog at home also gives you plenty of time to have fun with your dog. Teaching him new tricks and bonding with a pet makes the whole experience worthwhile.

Learn how you can train your dog like a professional using a dog training manual when you visit www.dogtrainingoptions.com.

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Dog Owners should understand the importance of containing their dog on a leash. A leash protects your pet from the dangers of the outside world.

An unsupervised dog can get be nuisance, regardless of the breed or training your dog has had; an unsupervised pet can cause lots of trouble. Many pet owners treat their pets like their own offspring, and just like a small child should be supervised while playing outdoors, so should a dog.

There are so many distractions outside that could cause a dog to wonder off. The sound of diesel engines, especially delivery trucks and motorcycles cause a reaction. They not only continually bark, but many time chases after the vehicle. This is dangerous to the driver and also having your pet in the street is another danger.

Many other diversions occur that may cause your dog to leave its boundaries are wildlife. Birds, chipmunks, rabbits or deer can make an otherwise obedient canine to desert their manners and chase the taunting animal. Take your eye off your dog for only a moment and they could be gone. If they return unharmed, they may return having rolled in something with a bad odor. If it so happens your dog escapes on garbage day your neighbors might have quite a mess to clean up.

Letting your dog wander the neighborhood can irritate your neighbors, especially if your dog decides to poop on their lawn or dig on their property. Young children can also be afraid if they are on bikes or running and yelling and a dog decides to bark or chase them. The dog might be playing, but young children might not realize this and can get hurt in their attempt to run away from the dog

Even if your dog is well trained, when strangers approach to read a dog tag the dog may get defensive and attempt to nip or bite to protect itself. This is a dreadful situation for both the injured, and the owner. Although accidents happen, the dog’s owner is still responsible.

The ideal solution is to fence your yard. If you do not have a yard, try visiting a Dog Park. Dog Parks are a perfect location for dogs to run and play with other dogs. Dog Parks are popping up all over these days. To find a Dog Park in your area, contact your local veterinarian.

Taking care of your pet is a large responsibility. Dogs must be supervised at all times to keep them safe. A dog on a leash is a simple solution to keep your dog out of harm’s way

Dog Leashes come in many sizes and styles. For those who live in the city, 4 foot leashes are great; hands free dog leashes are ideal when exercising with your dog, couplers are made for walking multiple dogs; retractable leashes present your dog with a little more freedom; and a 6 foot leash is usually sold in one inch and 5/8 widths and will hold most dogs.

Although playing with your dog unrestrained is pleasurable, dog owners must realize the implications of not leashing their dogs when appropriate. Joanne recommends ensuring your dogs safety by browsing to Jakes Dog House for dog leashes of a variety of designs and sizes.

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The benefits of dog chew toys are just obvious. They not only help your dog to have fun, but also contribute to the health of his teeth and gum and prevent him from chewing your property. However, different dogs need different toys, and you need to get the right one for your pet.

The Size Is Important

The sizes of dogs vary and therefore the sizes of chew toys vary. If the toy is too big, your dog may not like to play with it at all. Otherwise, if the toy is too small, he might accidentally swallow it and choke on it. You really should know about your dog’s breed and size well to get the correct toy size. Many reputable manufacturers will have clear warnings on their labels to help you decide on whether a toy is appropriate for your pet.

Safety First And Foremost

Aside from checking the size of the toy, you should also check it for safety features. Depending on the breed of your dog, a toy that is too hard could damage the teeth while toys that are too soft could result in accidental ingestion of torn or chipped parts. In general you should avoid chew toys with small beads, buttons, strings, wire, bells and fake fur. Even a mild mannered puppy could rip off small parts and swallow them. Swallowed parts can result in choking, mouth wounds, and damage to the intestines and constipation.

Keep A Variety Of Toys

Puppies can easily get bored, and it is always a good idea to keep a few varieties of the toys for rotation. From time to time, you may also like to give your dog toys with edible treats in them. This way, your pet will be encouraged to play with them.

Keep an Eye on the Dog and Toys

Chew toys are not pet nannies so you should at least keep an occasional eye at your dog while he is at play. This will help you respond faster in case your dog is about to ingest a non-edible part.

You also need to inspect the toys from time to time to spot on any signs of wears or tears. Just like anything else, dog toys have their life spans and the sign of damage may indicate to you that you need to replace it. Never never put your dog’s health or life at risk.

Seeking Advice From Your Veterinarian

If you are not sure whether a toy is appropriate for your dog, the first person you should consult is your veterinarian. He might even be able to recommend good toy brands or retailers.

All dog owners would like to see their dogs happy and healthy. Giving your dog chew toys is one of the best ways to show him your love and affection. You just need to make sure, with the tips in this article, that the toys you choose are not just entertaining but are safe as well.

Do you like to have an obedient dog? Get the true advice on dog training and find out how to train your dogs properly. You may also like to check out this related article about natural food for dogs.

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Boston Terrier adoption programs are for life. They are programs developed from love of the breed devoted to bringing life and second chances for adult Boston Terriers that have been left behind. The economic strife that many families have found themselves burdened with have left a great many adult Boston Terriers out in the cold. Literally. Boston Terrier adoption programs are giving these little guys a new chance.

With a perpetual adoration for their human families and a fierce loyalty that can be envied even by the US Marines, the Boston Terrier is one of the more incredible breeds that you can own.

We bring them home because we want someone who will love us on our bad hair days and even in our bad moods. Bringing home a dog that has had no control over where he has ended up is an act of love for ourselves just as much as it is an act of love for the dog.

Adult Boston Terrier adoptions are essential right now to the health of the breed. Under the current difficulties that many families have found themselves under financially more full bred dogs are in need of rescue. Financial strain has put a wide number of families in the unfortunate position of not being able to provide for their dogs. This means that there are too many full bred adult Boston Terriers are waiting for a second chance at a loving home and a good life.

While you have to be careful about too much exercise in the heat, and you have to shelter the Boston Terrier from cold, they are playful and are willing to tag along with you just about anywhere you go. They want nothing more than to be right next to their human.

Being the recipient of the Boston Terrier’s love is a wonderful and incredible experience. They live for your attention and they live to please you. If you have the patience to teach an older dog a few new tricks, they will perform for you with a loyalty and love that is rare in this world.

Owning a Boston Terrier is like being strapped directly to a chronic source of joy. Studies show that dog owners live longer and healthier lives. Being attached to your little chronic source of joy will brighten even your cloudiest days and give you that little something extra in your life that can’t be replaced.

The adult Boston Terrier adoption is a necessary and beautiful way to help save the dogs who have had their world turned upside down for whatever reason. If you want to give a dog a home, why would you not want to give an adult Boston a chance to come into your life and settle in with you and your family? You will never have another experience like it.

Having a well behaved Boston Terrier is easy when the methods used are specific to the boston terrier breed.

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Why are dog food ingredients lists so hard to figure out? It’s like some secret language. But you need to learn to translate your ingredients in your dog food. If you don’t, you could be feeding your best friend food that prevents optimal health and even causes some health problems down the road.

How in the world are you supposed to figure out what all these ingredients mean? You’ve heard of corn, but what is corn gluten meal? Is it good for your dog? The dog food companies spend lots of money in advertising telling us they are feeding our dogs exactly what they need. But unfortunately, we found out the hard way, with all the pet food recalls, that the pet food companies care more about their bottom line. The good thing that came out of the pet food recalls was that more organic and natural dog food alternatives are now available to us.

What you need to do is learn how to compare your dog food to other brands. There are a couple of tips to help in deciphering the dog food ingredients label:

1. The first 5 – 10 ingredients listed are the majority of the food. If they are not quality ingredients, it is not a quality pet food.

2. Look for the chemical preservatives BHA, BHT, or Ethoxyquin. These preservatives have been banned from use in human food as they are linked to kidney and liver damage. However, they are still used in inferior dog foods. Look instead for natural preservatives, like vitamins C and E (ascorbic acid and tocopherols).

3. Since ingredients are listed by weight, a dog food with a lot of one ingredient (especially one that is not a quality ingredient, for example, corn) is allowed to be broken into different parts and listed separately. For example, you might see corn flour, corn bran, and corn gluten meal all listed somewhere in the dog food ingredients list – yet they are all derived from corn. Why not just say corn? Why break them up? Because the weight of the individual components will weigh less, so they can go further down the ingredient list, making them look like they are not a key component of the dog food. Sneaky? Yes. Underhanded? Yes. Legal? Yes.

4. We all want to see a meat listed as a top 2 ingredient. That way we know our dog will get the good protein he needs. But really, you want to see the meal of that meat listed instead. If a meat is listed by itself, then its weight is measured complete with liquid. That makes it very easy to put as a #1 or #2 ingredient. But when the food is actually processed, the liquid is removed, so weight-wise, it might actually fall down to #3 or #4. A meat meal is weighed after the meat has been dehydrated. So you get more of the animal protein and nutrients in the meat meal than you would just the meat.

As confusing at it seems, it will really pay off in your pet’s health and well-being if you can understand the ingredients and what you are actually feeding him. If you figure out your current dog food is nothing but garbage, don’t despair. Just keep looking at the ingredient labels on various foods until you find one that you think is better. The more educated we become in what we are feeding our dogs, the better quality ingredients and natural preservatives will become available. Knowledge is the key.

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an you tell when your dog is not feeling well? Chances are you can. Most dog owners are in tune to their pets, and will observe the behavioral changes that can occur when their dog is sick. In dogs, urinary problems can be hard to spot, especially if your dog urinates in the yard, instead of on a walk. Here are five most vital signs exhibited by dogs with urinary problems.

1. “Accidents” in a housebroken pet. If your adult dog is suddenly having accidents indoors, this is a sure sign that something is wrong. In adult dogs urinary problems will often present first in this way, and may be accidentally assigned to a behavioral problem.

2. Straining to urinate. If your dog is having difficulty producing urine, or seems to be straining, a urinary problem may be the culprit. With dogs, urinary problems can be painful, just like they are with humans. If your dog is reluctant to urinate, it may be because it is painful for him to do so.

3. Change in activity levels. If your normally energetic and rambunctious dog is suddenly lethargic and sleepy, this is a strong clue that he is not feeling well. If your dog is exhibiting extreme lethargy, you should see your vet right away.

4. Needing a walk more (or less) often. One of the early signs dogs with urinary problems will exhibit is a need to go “out” more often. Your dog may be feeling an urgent need to relieve himself, but be unable to do so because of a urinary problem. Some dogs may do the opposite-and stop indicating they need a walk entirely. You should know how often your dog urinates normally in order to spot any behavioral changes.

5. Drinking a lot more water than usual. If your dog has been very active, or it is hot outside, he will naturally need more water. If your pet is drinking extra water in cold weather, unrelated to activity, this could be a sign of dehydration. Dogs with urinary problems are likely to become dehydrated, and may drink excessive amounts of water.

Certainly observing a dog’s urinary symptoms is the first step in recognizing a problem condition. You will need the guidance of your veterinarian to determine the severity, prognosis, and treatment. Your vet take blood and urine tests as well as perform a physical examination along with asking you some questions about your dog’s recent behavior or change in behavior.

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