Providing your dog with a well balanced diet is part of being a responsible dog owner. Be sure that you include foods with protein, carbohydrates, and good fats. By providing your dog with a well balanced diet you are making sure that she has a long, happy, and healthy life. A proper diet will also provide her with a beautiful coat and bundles of energy.

The question that many people have is… What is the proper balance for my dog’s diet? Follow this general rule of thumb…

2 - 25% protein
20 - 35% fat
40 - 60% carbohydrates
Along with these essential nutrients you should also provide your dog with vitamins and minerals.

However, keep in mind that dogs have very different needs than us. B1 vitamin is one of the most important supplements that they need. This is because dogs are not very good at storing vitamin B1 in their bodies and it is absent from many dog foods.

Feeding your dog only lean meat will not provide them with all the necessary nutrients. In nature, dogs eat their entire prey which contains everything they need. As good owners we have to try and imitate their natural environment as closely as possible.

Studies have been done to look at the habits of dogs and what they eat. These studies have shown that dogs prefer cooked and mushy food over those that are raw and meaty. However, dogs are not usually very picky and many will eat almost anything we give them. So it is our job to make sure we are giving them what is best for them.

Most dog owners tend to feed their dogs commercial dog food. These are often fortified with essential vitamins and minerals. The manufacturers know that the dog food must be stored easily so they package them in convenient ways such as bags or cans. Dog owners just love that. The downside is that usually the more convenient and attractive the packaging, the more expensive the food. Wouldn’t you agree?

This is why many dog owners are turning to home cooking for their dogs. The problem here is that it can be hard to provide our pets with the proper balance in their diet this way. The things that we eat and cook for ourselves are not good for them.

The key is to do some research and make sure that you are providing your dog with the best possible source of her nutrition to ensure healthy pets.

Things can go wrong if we are not careful with what we are giving our dogs. For example, too much milk powder in their food may cause scouring because some dogs have a hard time digesting lactose. Instead of creating your own recipes a better way might be to search for recipes that have been time tested.

Another is consideration is to be careful of bones. Try and avoid most bones, although your dog does enjoy a good bone. Small, cooked bones are more likely to splinter posing a risk for your dogs. You should try and stay away from cooked chicken bones, lamb chops, and especially fish bones. Fish bones are probably the worst of all.

You will learn what is best for your dog over time. You can note any food that she avoids since this may indicate a food that she does not like. Just keep in mind that you should follow the unique requirements of a dog’s diet and you should be fine. This will ensure that your dog is happy and healthy.

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As you start thinking about getting a new puppy it is important that you know what your expectations and requirements are when it comes to the personality and needs of your new friend. This step is essential if you are to have a long and happy relationship with your puppy and is an important piece of information about dogs.

Here are 3 factors to consider…

Do you have time for a dog?

Dogs are naturally social by nature. This is one of the main reasons that they are so popular as pets and companions. Knowing this, please do not get a dog if you plan on keeping her outside all day long. This is even more important if you are getting a puppy since they need much more attention and supervision. They also demand more interaction and regular training so that they can become a more socialized member of your family.

On an average, most dogs will spend at least eight hours a day home alone. This is usually the case at least five days of the week. Some breeds are better suited to this type of lifestyle. Most terriers, for example, will find ways to entertain themselves if you provide them with enough space to roam. Siberian Huskies and Alaskan Malamutes are also pretty adaptable.

Do You Have Children?

You should know the time commitment a young puppy demands. Quite often that amount of time may be more than the time your own child needs. And it can be difficult to have both a young child and a new puppy at the same time.

Having both of them together requires constant supervision. This is to make sure that none of them hurts the other. You should keep watch at all times to prevent roughhousing, pulling, biting, and other potential injuries.

Most experts - both trainers and breeders - do not recommend getting one of the toy breeds if you have a toddler at home. This is because a toy breed puppy is so tiny that they run the risk of being squeezed too hard, being stepped on, or being dropped. However, if you really have your heart set on getting a toy breed then just to make sure you choose one of the gentler and easy going breeds.

Are you looking for guard dog?

A dog that barks when someone approaches the door may be just enough for most dog owners. It provides them with a sense of security since a dog barking, whether she is a small breed or a large dog will serve to deter most burglars. Dachshunds and most other toy breeds make excellent watchdogs. Terriers are also good at being protective.

If you are looking for a dog that can provide protection through their bark as well as their appearance then consider choosing a puppy from the herding group or one of the working breeds. Dogs from these breeds are protective of their owners and have the appearance that will scare away a burglar. These breeds are usually high skilled and easily trained.

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Bad breath isn’t just something that people experience. Having a pet with bad breath can make your life very uncomfortable. Some of the common reasons for bad breath in dogs are caused by gum and tooth problems. However, bad breath in dogs can also be an indication of other health problems. The important thing to do is determine why your dog has breath that is less than pleasant.

Dogs will often develop a build up of tartar around their teeth. After eating, particles of food will remain in your dog’s mouth. These particles will start to decompose and it’s this decomposition that will create a great environment for bacteria to thrive. The bacteria will then multiply to form plaque. Plaque is a combination of decomposed foods, minerals, and bacteria. And it’s the plaque that will affect your dog’s dental hygiene and cause him to have bad breath. Plaque is the leading cause of tooth loss for dogs since it will stick to the bottom of the teeth, causing the gums to recede and become inflamed.

When your dog is affected by plaque you’ll find that he eats less. During the early stages of plaque disease there will be a yellow or brown coating on the sides of the teeth particularly around the large molar teeth. Smaller breeds of dogs seem to have more problems with plaque than larger breed dogs. Good dental hygiene is essential for dogs so that plaque doesn’t have a chance to develop. Make sure that your give your dog an annual dental examine. You’ll be saving his teeth as well as avoiding bad breath.

There are other causes of bad breath in dogs besides plaque. When your dog is shedding his baby teeth you may find that he drools and has bad breath. This bad breath problem will disappear when all of the baby teeth have been replaced by adult teeth. During this stage of your dog’s life you can brush his mouth with a solution of diluted baking soda and water. This will give your dog some relief from teething pain as well as freshen his breath.

Older dogs may have medical conditions that can affect their breath. This includes liver and kidney problems. A dog with these medical problems will be very thin and have a small appetite. Your vet will be able to determine if your dog’s bad breath is a symptom of organ failure. A dog with organ failure will need special care to be taken with his teeth. Their teeth will need to be cleaned and a course of antibiotics administered to be sure that infection doesn’t set in.

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With such a large number of different types of dog foods out there, which dog food should I buy to ensure my pet’s good health?

It is a responsible dog owner’s job to select a balanced and nutritious dog food for your dog.

The simplest way to make a good determination on which dog food is best, read the label through and through. Don’t just glance at it, be sure to read each and every item.

The label on a bag of dog food will list the ingredients from greatest weight to least. This is important to know because you will learn what components are present in the food in their specific amounts.
- If the first ingredient is whole meat of any kind, don’t accept it as this measurement is taken before the meat is rendered.
- Animal by-products present in dog food indicate a cheap low quality alternative.
- Read the moisture level, if it is anything over 11, this indicates that the dry matter basis is of a low quality.

Things to look for:

- If Whole meat is not the first ingredient and Chicken or beef Meal is, this is good. This tells you that the amount of meat protein is a lot higher than it would be with whole meat as the listed first ingredient.
- Premier dog food don’t contain any animal by-product. This is good.
- Premier dog foods will usually contain less or equal to 10% moisture. This is ideal.

Chicken meal is simply chicken that has been baked to remove bacteria and other toxins. Chicken is simply pure chicken.

Chicken is made up mostly of water. If a label on a bag of dog food says 60% whole chicken that is quite misleading as that does not take into account how much of that 60% of chicken is left after baking it to remove unwanted substances! So beware!

When the label on the bag says 60% of chicken meal, you’re getting more of the chicken because the product has already been baked to remove unwanted affects such as bacteria.

Dog food will come in so many different ways, shapes and sizes so being aware of what ingredients are used to provide your pet with proper nutrition is the only way to go.

Keep in mind that if your dog is not eating healthy, or if your choice of dog food does not carry the prescribed, needed ingredients, your dog will not be able to maintain proper health and can become sick.

A sick dog will not be playful, will be lethargic and will generally portray poor behavior. When a dog is receiving proper nutrition their coat is shiny and thick and they are happy.

You might feel happy about spending less on your dog, think you are getting a good deal but if it is not the proper nutrition, both your pet and you will pay for it in the end. Select the good, nutritious dog food and have a healthy, happy pet.

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If you’re buying your pet prescriptions directly from your veterinarian, you’re probably paying way too much. The profit margins on popular drugs like Advantix, Frontline, GlycoFlex or Program are massive, meaning you’re paying a lot more than you should.

There is a solution - you can purchase pet medications online, through the mail or over the phone. By purchasing directly from the supplier or pet pharmacies, you can earn major discounts and save a lot of money.

But, is it a good idea? How do you find a trusted pharmacy? What happens if you require a prescription? For the answers to these questions and more, read on.

Where do I find wholesale pet prescriptions?

There are scores of companies throughout the United States selling pet prescriptions either online or over the phone. To find a quality seller, try to use a retailer that’s recommended by either your veterinarian or friends. Also, look for a seller that’s based in the U.S. or Canada and has high standards when it comes to checking for prescriptions.

What if I’m buying a drug that needs a prescription?

To buy pet medications that require a prescription, you will need to first obtain a prescription from your veterinarian and then either scan or fax the prescription to them. Many pet pharmacies also allow you to input your veterinarian’s contact information. They will then call your veterinarian directly to confirm the prescription.

Your veterinarian may be wary about transferring your prescription. This concern may be born out of an uncertainty concerning mail-order drugs or a desire to retain your business as a prescription buyer. Simply, politely explain to your veterinarian that affordable pet medication is important to you.

How do I ensure quality?

Again, look for sites that sell FDA-approved or EPA-approved, brand name drugs - the same ones that are sold in your veterinarian’s office. Don’t buy from an out-of-country provider that’s not monitored by federal regulations, and stick to providers that are committed to quality pet care.

What if my pet needs medication now?

If your pet needs a prescription urgently, then it’s best to purchase the medication directly from your veterinarian rather than waiting a few days for online postal delivery. Many sites offer overnight delivery, but it may not be worth the extra cost.

Do Price Comparison Shopping

Try sites like DestinationRX.Com or Google’s Froogle.com to compare the prices of brand-name medications at multiple sites. Just type in the name of your prescription, like Cosequin or Sentinel, and you’ll get back a full list of retailers selling your prescription, along with prices.

Even though Dog Insurance has been available in the marketplace for almost two decades, many dog owners have never heard of pet health insurance and are somewhat surprised that such an insurance product even exists. However, since the beloved family pets are usually such an important part of the family, the availability of this form of insurance is welcomed news to dog lovers.

Anyone can relate to this sentiment of relief, if they have ever been faced with having to either clean out their savings account or run up their credit card balance in order to take care of an unexpected emergency. Having a pet plan can help to lighten the burden of the expenses related to a surgical procedure, long-term care for serious conditions, such as cancer and other types of diseases or emergency care due to injury or accident. Without insurance, some dog owners are faced with the awful decision of having to put their pet to sleep because the cost of proper health care is just too much for the family budget.

Unfortunately, when it comes down to being able to pay for expensive veterinary pet care versus being able to take care of the needs of the children and the rest of the household, often the heartbreaking decision has to be made to put the animal down. It is just this type of situation that attests to the greater value of carrying dog insurance to protect the health and the well-being of man’s best friend.

Just as with other health care expenses, the costs associated with veterinarian care for pets is also rising with each passing year. This fact has made the idea of acquiring pet insurance to cover the animal welfare and health concerns a more attractive option. It has also made pet health insurance a more financially smart move for families. It is much easier to work a small insurance premium for dog health insurance into the household budget than it is to try to come up with hundreds, or even thousands of dollars if an emergency arises.

If you own more than one dog, then insurance coverage for all of them makes even more sense. Just making sure that each dog has received the vaccinations, health screenings and booster shots on an annual basis can stretch a budget to the breaking point. This situation can lead pet owners to decide to skip the routine health care steps that should be taken to prevent illness and diseases.

In most cases, a comprehensive pet insurance policy will also cover wellness and preventative care procedures. Fortunately, most the pet insurance company policies seem to support the approach of taking preventive measures, with regard to animal welfare. It is well-documented that taking preventative measures and supporting wellness care will reduce the potential for serious health issues for the pet later down the road.

For this reason, seeking out companies that offer insurance coverage that includes preventative care is a prudent course of action. The fact that a Pet Health Insurance company offers such coverage speaks to their commitment and philosophy about prevention of pet disease and the importance of animal welfare in general.

Preventative care coverage is the most expensive type of dog insurance that you can purchase, but may not be in every families’ budget. In this case, it is often wise to opt for a policy that will pay for major veterinary pet bills. This is an effective way to lower monthly premium, but you will need to be prepared to handle the routine veterinarian visits out of your own pocket. Finding a pet insurance company that offers policies that cover wellness care is a positive sign and a good indicator about the kind of company with whom you are dealing.

Pet Guide
Your dog health should not be left up to chance. All dog breeds are a bit different when it comes to their health and pub dogs are no different. It’s true that many dog problems are consistent with all breeds, but some breeds have more problems than other breeds.

In recent years, one of the most popular dog breeds has been the Pug, and if you are going to own one of these magnificent animals, then you must realize that it will require special pug dog health. In 1885, the Pug -a breed that man has known for thousands of years - officially became part of the AKC, specifically the Toy group. Pug’s are not hard to recognize, as they have a wrinkly and flat face, a curly tail, and a thick little body. On average, the breed is 13 pounds at the lightest, or 20 pounds at the heaviest, and stands 10 to 14 inches in height. Certainly, the breed has its own unique charm, but it is a type of dog that can develop many health problems that only their breed can catch, and special care must be taken to assure this doesn’t happen.

Pet Dogs

Inspect the dog’s folds carefully for any sign of infection between them, as this is a common problem for Pugs and one that must be fixed by a vet. Because of the propensity towards infection, you should always bathe and clean your pet regularly, especially between the wrinkles of skin.

Dog Training Books

Eyes definitely cause major Pug dog health problems. The design of the Pug’s face means that the eyes are not protected as well as they could be, and are therefore prone to injury, among other problems. The eyes should be examined regularly for signs of infection, and of course take the dog to the veterinarian if you see any signs of infection.

If their owner permits it, Pugs will eat excessively. Always watch your dog’s food intake and keep him at a healthy weight, as a negative weight can affect a dog as badly as it can a human. Pugs do not handle heat well, and should never be left in a locked car or left in the sun outside without shade. High temperatures can induce difficulty breathing in Pugs, thus you should avoid leaving them exposed to high temperatures.

Of course, like any dog, taking proper care of your pet and taking him to the vet for regular visits is the best way to insure good pug dog health. Take responsible care of your pet, and you will have a pet who will provide many years worth of happiness.

I have been neglecting this blog, as I have been working on getting other sites created and ready for sale. Plus, the Entrecard thing has taken a lot of time. But I think Lilsy would have wanted this blog to continue and be better than ever. Of course, it will never be the same without Lilibeth, but it still can share some good information with the rest of the world.

So, for the first post in a while, I would like to let you know about a blog that I found while dropping Entrecard cards for my other blogs. I visit this site every day, sometimes twice per day. Kay’s K9s is a great site, and offers handcrafted miniature needle felted dogs for sale. If you have never seen needle felted dogs, don’t worry. They are a good thing. Be sure to stop by and check out Kay’s site. You can also help shelter animals by clicking on the animal rescue site button in the right sidebar.

When I was young, I had an Alaskan Malamute, named Nanook. She was the sweetest thing ever, though people were afraid of her howl, just because she was big. Nanook would never hurt anyone, and she roamed free on our 80 acres of land. Once, she wandered off to the neighboring property and was shot, because someone thought she was “running deer”. She managed to make it back home, her face covered in blood, and we rushed her to the doggy hospital, which was several hours away at that time.

She didn’t make it, and we were all devastated. She was only a few years old. I found out later, through my Dad, that she had been shot at several times. He could tell this, apparently, from the marks in the snow. Someone shot at her with a rifle, from a distance, and then finished her off with a shotgun blast to the face.

This video reminds me of that awful event, and I really hope this guys dies a slow, horrible death, after he is convicted for several felonies for shooting these dogs. The laws really need to change in this country, to eliminate low lifes, such as this guy.

As you may or may not know, we lost our Beagle, Lilibeth, back in November of last year. She was an important part of our family, and was with us for most of the years that we have been married. During the time Lilsy was with us, we lost Emily (a Beagle/Bassett mix - to bone cancer at 10 years old), Jake (our only boy Beagle - hit by a car while running off with Lilibeth), and Lucy (a Bassett Hound - due to her body’s red blood cells attacking themselves).

Lilibeth outlived them all, and was an amazingly tough Beagle. Due to my wife’s amazing animal communicatons ability, we have been able to be in contact with our deceased pets, making it a little easier to deal with their passings, although we still really miss their physical bodies.

Recently, Lilibeth told my wife that she would be returning to us in July, in another dog body. Little did we know that it would be early in July. My daughter and I were driving down the road and spotted a young female Beagle running in the street. Of course, we had to stop and pick her up. She was very young and we wearing no collar. After taking her home and attempting to find her owner (to no avail), she has become the newest member of our family. Please welcome Be-bit to our family!

UPDATE: Be-bit had an owner and they came and got her today (Sunday the 13th). They had advertised in the newspaper, on Craigslist, at the local Petsmart, and at the dog park. They were really trying to find her, and we had to do the right thing, though we were all very attached to her and loved her.