Cat training for your intractable cat

Cats are almost always depicted as loners, the lords of their realm, snobbish and downright stubborn. This is a type of animal that is quite proud, going their own way and rarely following orders. Think Garfield.

While this could be quite unfair to the cat, they are almost always compared to the loyalty and obedience of a dog, qualities which make them a popular pet all over the world.

That is why it is recommended to all cat owners or those who do plan to get a cat to train them immediately. This establishes the role of each person in the household. Cat training allows for the cat owner to train his or her cat and eventually leading up to a long lasting loving relationship between owner and pet.

Just like having a child, a pet cat that knows how to follow orders and is a source of pride and joy will be given great attention and love as well as more rewards.

But, before you start training your cat, you must know first its natural instincts and behaviours. As cat owners, we must respect what is but natural to every cat so we don't encroach into those natural instincts.

It is not uncommon for some cats to feel depression and stress, so do not mistake this for stubbornness or hard-headedness. This may cause a rift between you and your cat. The more you scream at it and the more you hurt it, the more the wedge and rift grows, making it harder to do cat training.

Have your cat checked out by a vet first before any cat training. There are many factors to consider first. If the vet gives the thumbs-up sign then your good to go. Cat training will provide for a happier and healthier cat-owner relationship.

Weight problems in dogs is your dog fat

People may not be aware of this, but obesity is one of the greatest problems dogs are dealing with these days. Obesity, like humans, is also caused by excessive eating and unhealthy binges. Mostly, this situation is triggered by some environmental factors that when not controlled may just lead to more problems.

Like humans, dogs develop certain diseases too when they are overweight. These diseases will lead to more serious complications including death. So for people who wish to know the repercussions of obesity in dogs, here are some of the known consequences:

1. Arthritis

Obesity in dogs tends to put extra weight on their bones. In turn, the joints and other parts of the dog’s bones develop arthritis.

Excess weight in dogs may also initiate the development of other muscle and joint problems like spinal disc disease, hip dysplasia, and cracks on the joint ligaments.

2. Diabetes

Like humans, dogs can get diabetes too. We all know for a fact that overweight cause diabetes in humans, this can also happen in dogs. This is because the more fat is stored in the dog’s body, the greater its system will generate insulin in order to cope up with its growing mass. Hence, dogs have the tendency to resist too much insulin in the body. The end result is diabetes.

3. Skin problems

Obesity in dogs can cause some skin problems. This is because excess fat deposits are being stored in their skin; hence, their owners are having a hard time grooming them. When dogs lack proper grooming, there is a tendency to accumulate bacteria, dirt, or other elements that could cause harm to your dog’s skin. In the end, they develop rashes, skin ruptures, and infections.

4. Capacity to tolerate heat

With too much fat deposits accumulated in their skin, dogs are more inclined to problems concerning heat tolerance. This is because dogs find it hard to tolerate heat due to the build-up of fats in their skin. That is why most obese dogs are prone to heat stroke especially during summer time.

5. Respiratory problems and other heart diseases

Like humans, obese dogs have also the tendency to develop respiratory problems and heart diseases. This is because the chest cavity is already covered with thick fat deposits. Hence, whenever the dog breathes, the lungs are having a hard time to expand, so does the heart. The problem starts when the heart and the lungs can no longer produce the right amount of oxygen and circulate it within the dog’s body.

6. Gastrointestinal problems

Obesity in dogs causes some problems in their intestines and pancreas. This problem results to inflamed pancreas, which, in reality, is very painful to the dogs and can also cause death among them.

7. Liver problems

Fats are harder to strain and this can pose a great problem to the dog’s liver. Hence, when the liver can no longer function well because of the fat deposits that accumulated in the area, liver problems may occur and may even cause the death of your dogs.

These health problems are indeed life threatening. And so, it depends upon the owner how to combat these problems in order to keep their dogs healthy.

One of the greatest ways in solving weight problems is a strict exercise schedule. So, it is a must that owners should create a healthy exercise schedule for their dogs. This can be done by tagging them for a walk every afternoon or letting him run through a field.

The best thing about this program is that not only the dogs get the chance to exercise but their owners as well. So, it’s a double result with just one purpose.

Next is to create a healthy diet for your dogs. Diet meals are extremely important for dogs so that they can still obtain the necessary nutrients they need in order to stay healthy. This should include the right combination of fiber, meat, vegetables, vitamins, and minerals.

However, dog owners should always keep in mind that when their dogs are taking fiber, more water should be employed so as to prevent constipation.

Alternatively, dog owners should also remember that before incorporating all of these things to your dog, it’s best to consult the veterinarians first. In this way, only the proper methods of dieting for dogs shall be employed.

So, for healthier and happier dogs, give them the best love and care you can give plus a great dietary regimen. As they say, a healthy do is a happy dog.

Pet insurance and why you can t afford to be without it

Pet insurance has been and still is a growing concern with pet owners alike, due to the increasing amount of necessary trips to the veterinarian. Some of these trips can be extremely expensive depending on the reason for your visit. Routine check ups as well as emergency visits can be a costly expense that can be greatly minimized by simply opting into a basic pet insurance plan. Pets are often exposed to situations that can cause illness and accidental injuries. Lets face it, you can't be with your pet all the time, and like children, pets can get themselves into dangerous situations. Unfortunately, these situations can sometimes lead to vet bills reaching hundreds, sometime thousands of dollars. When you take into consideration routine check ups, medicines, preventative measures, exams and surgeries, you can imagine how quickly this can add up.

There are a number of options available concerning pet insurance and dog insurance that are very affordable to keep your pet well taken care of when those unexpected veterinary pet care bills arise. Complete pet health insurance plans can start as low as 10 dollars per month, which is a small amount to keep your loved pet safe and healthy for years to come. Dog insurance and cat insurance plans can save you a lot of money and stress.

What would you do if your pet suddenly became ill and you needed a thousand dollars for the treatment of your pet? Would you be able to cover the costs without pet health insurance? For some people, this may not be a problem, but for most, this can be a devastating unexpected expense. We love our pets, that is why we have them isn't it? It would be very difficult to have to let your pet go because of not being able to pay the medical bill. That wouldn't be an option, besides, how would you tell your children? Absolutely right, you couldn't. So, for as little as it costs, why not bring piece of mind into the household and make sure your pets medical expenses are covered with pet insurance plan. Believe me, there are many advantages to a good dog insurance plan. Don't take the chance, and risk finding out the hard way, it's just not worth it. It's cheaper to have a pet plan than it is not to have one.

Ticks a very serious threat to your dogs health

Ticks are not insects like fleas, but arachnids like mites, spiders, and scorpions. A tick has a one piece body, harpoon like barbs around its mouth to attach to a host for feeding, crablike legs and a sticky secretion to help hold itself to the host. The United States has about 200 tick species whose habitats include woods, beach grass, lawns, forests, and even in some urban areas.

They have a four stage life cycle, egg, larvae, nymphs, and adult. Depending on its species, a tick may take less than a year or up to several years to go through its four stage life cycle. Adult females of some species lay about 100 eggs at a time. Others lay 3,000 to 6,000 eggs per batch.

Ticks can carry various infectious organisms that can transmit diseases to cats and dogs as well as humans. The four primary diseases and their symptoms are:

- Babesiosis – lethargy, loss of appetite, weakness, pale gums

- Ehrlichiosis – high fever, muscle aches

- Lyme disease – lameness, swollen joints, fever, poor appetite, fatigue, vomiting

- Tick paralysis in dogs – gradual paralysis and poor coordination

Of the four diseases, Lyme disease is the worst, as it can also infect humans. Studies indicate that dogs are 50 percent more susceptible to this disease than humans. Lyme disease is transmitted through the bite of the deer tick, also called the black-legged tick. Symptoms in humans include fatigue, chills and fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, swollen lymph nodes, and a red circular skin rash. In June 1992 the USDA licensed a vaccine to prevent Lyme disease in dogs. There is no vaccine for cats yet.

If your dog is outside regularly, ask the veterinarian about the Lyme disease vaccine. Watch for the symptoms mentioned earlier, and if you suspect a tick-borne disease get your dog to the vet immediately. With early diagnosis, antibiotics generally work. If possible, dogs should be kept out of tick-infested areas. In areas where ticks are prevalent, yards where dogs exercise should be treated with appropriate chemicals to kill adult and immature ticks.

Dogs should be examined frequently for the presence of ticks on their bodies. Ticks prefer sheltered locations, such as inside the ears and between the toes of the host, but a heavily infested dog may have ticks anywhere on its body. When a tick is found it should be removed immediately. The proper way to remove a tick is to use fine-point tweezers, grasping the tick as close to the skin as possible and pull gently, if the ticks mouth parts remain embedded in the animals skin, you should try to remove them as you would a splinter. Alcohol or other disinfectants should be used on the bite site, the tweezers, and your hands if you do not wear gloves.

Tick can and will survive after they are removed from the host. You should flush the tick down the toilet or drown them in a small container of alcohol. You should never squeeze a tick as it will release toxins that may contain any of the diseases discussed earlier. Hundreds of pesticides and repellants are available to control ticks on dogs and cats. Products range from oral medications that are available only from your veterinarian, to collars, sprays, dips, shampoos, powders, and spot-ons.

The chemicals Chlorpyrifos and Amitraz are used in several types of products and are very effective against ticks. Amitraz should not be used on dogs that are sickly, pregnant, or nursing. However, no matter what type of medication you use, always check with your veterinarian first.

Naming your pedigreed dog

Unlike some aspects of dog ownership, naming your dog is just plain fun! The pets themselves don't require much; they just need a pleasing dog name they can identify with when you give them commands. But if you plan to show a purebred dog in competitions, there’s a lot to consider when it's time to choose a dog name for your dog's American Kennel Club certificate. Let's start at the beginning.

The name of the kennel your dog came from is part of his show name. Usually, it's the first part of his name as it appears on the certificate. If you purchased your dog from a show kennel, then the kennel's name should be first, such as: Dexy's Fido. If you bred the dog yourself, then use your own original kennel name. You can also use a combination such as 'Dexy's Fido of (your kennel name here)' so that your dog's name reflects both where he comes from and where he now resides.

Originality is important when choosing a show dog name. The American Kennel Club (AKC) doesn't allow duplicate dog names, and will ask you to choose another name if your pick is already taken.

Unusual dog names with creative spelling attract attention to your dog in a show catalog, while reducing the chance that you've nearly duplicated another dog's name. For example, 'Dexy's Hi-Jac' is a cute play on the word hijack. It's catchy yet original, and offers a great built-in theme for the future if you advertise your dog in breed and show magazines. You could use "He'll hijack your heart" for your ads. Cute, right?

Once you've selected your dog's 'paper name', the work isn’t over. You'll still need to settle on a shorter dog 'call name' for everyday reference. Using our example of Dexy's Hi-Jac, the name Jack immediately suggests itself for the dog's call name, while directly referring us back to his official dog name on the AKC papers.

So, now that you know the basics of dog naming, you're ready to choose a dog name that will serve you well both at home and in the show ring.