PETS AND ANIMALS

Most people have the misconception that only humans can develop diabetes.

This however is not true. Dear Hamlet, your mongrel can be diabetic. Pets to develop diabetes. This definitely can be down heartening but the pet owner should not think all hope is lost.

Many pet owners upon finding out that their pet is diabetic immediately wonder whether the animal would be put to sleep. This need not be necessary. It all depends on the age and the overall health of the pet in question.

Many pets diagnosed with diabetes have gone to lead very long and pleasant lives and yours should not be an exemption. You however have to put in time and a lot of commitment to achieve this.

Pets diagnosed with diabetes can live as long as non-diabetic animals and to achieve this simply means that appropriate attention is given to the pet when due. The pet owner must therefore be committed to the regimen and treatments provided by a skilled and equally committed veterinarian.

Feeding regimen must be adhered to strictly. The old practice where the cat or dog be fed one day and perhaps forgotten until a convenient time is no longer permissible nor acceptable. This can endanger the pet. The cat can not be “abandoned’ at home when going on a long trip. She has to be taken along. Dear Hamlet can not be left with the neighbors casually again. The pets at this stage need a lot of extra care. You have to make sacrifices.

You can at this stage no longer take things for granted. It does not mean you have to give up your job or end your marriage. It requires that you pay attention to any strange developments and take note of these changes and attained to them immediately. Any sloth on your part can lead to serious complications and perhaps death. This ugly scenario can be prevented by simply adhering to the instructions already given.

Note that a diabetic pet means more money for the vet and the pet stores. This should also be put into consideration. Knowledge of this and its cost implications may determine whether you cut down on some of your expenses, or even buy a Do-it-Yourself health handbook or perhaps put the pet out of her misery. This last option should really be a last option!

Let me relate to you a story why vigilance counts.

There was a this man who had a monkey that he loved. He had a chain round its abdomen permanently to keep it from running off.

Unfortunately, this chain at one point had been bound to tight and it began to cut the skin. The owner ignored it. The wound later turn light green but by then, the owner was too busy with other commitments.

Within a short time, the poor animal developed locked jaw. It had contacted tetanus. The poor thing eventually died.

Such trajedies start innocently and hence that is why great vigilance is needed from all members of the family.



By: Aries King

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Homemade dog food is definitely an important part of the dog diet. This is because many of the commercial branded dog food products actually contains food ingredients that are harmful to the pet health such as artificial food colors and even synthetic flavoring. Such ingredients can be a cause of sickness or even death to our beloved pets.

Unlike the preservatives found in the commercial pet food products and usually unsuitable to dog health, homemade dog food is healthier and even tastier if done properly by the pet owner. Likewise, if we know that our dogs are sick, we can control the type of food that they receive by giving them the nutritious stuff that need to eat such as limited protein consumption for those dogs with renal condition.

Especially if our pets suffer from certain types of diseases, homemade dog food are a great way of help the health condition of the animals improve by giving them only the food diet that is best for them. To go with this food is lots of water in order to ensure correct and normal metabolism.

There are instances when homemade dog are prepared with freezing or cold methods in use in order to protect the food from germs and other harmful elements. Natural vinegar can be added to meat items in order to maintain freshness.  Likewise, you can also add vitamin and mineral supplements that can be obtained from fish oils and fruits.

Remember, when it comes to the overall health and welfare of our pet dogs, we must try to provide with the best, pet vitamins, regular grooming and nutritious homemade good food. Our love, care and pampering will certainly make our dogs lively, happy and amiable pet companions that we want them to be.

For more articles and discussions about homemade dog food and everything else about our beloved pets, do visit our Pinoy Pet Blog.



By: Ernesto Maitim

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Being a pet owner is a wonderful opportunity to find unrequited love. There is just something about owning a pet that can bring out the best, or worst, in people. An animal is a huge responsibility and it is up to the pet owner to ensure that their animal is receiving quality medical care, food, water and attention. When these situations are not being met then animal cruelty is the result.

It is a sad state of affairs when animals are not receiving the help and care that they so desperately need. There are many animals that need love and attention that are simply not receiving it.

It is our job as the owners to see to it that animals are not abused and left neglected or roaming around on the streets as stray animals. This article will cover the basics of animal cruelty and hopefully by the end you will be doing your part to stop this travesty.

What are some of the laws that govern animal cruelty?

There are many laws that govern people who own animals as pets or livestock. The law ensures that people must take responsibility for owning an animal. The animal should receive proper nutrition, water, and medical care when necessary.

Should these laws be broken then the proper animal protection agencies of that area can step in and levy fines, arrest and take the animals away from the owners. There have been cases where offenders have spent prison time and faced stiff penalties and national censure such as in the cases involving dog fighting.

Is having too many animals considered animal cruelty?

There is such a thing as having too many animals. It can come in the form of hoarders or breeders. It all depends on whether or not the animals are being cared for properly. Hoarders do not realize that they are harming their pets.

They mistakenly believe that they are the only ones capable of caring for their animals. Having too many animals in many cities is against the law because having too many may limit the ability to care for the animals in the proper way.

Breeders will often house several animals so that they can make money on the puppies. The animals are kept in cages that often damage the soles of their feet in such a way as it makes it impossible for them to walk properly.

They are often not cared for nor provided with the proper medical attention. The goal of some breeders, not every breeder, is just to make money. There are some breeders who actually love and care for their animals properly.

How do animal cruelty laws affect breeders?

In the case of bad breeders the proper animal protection agencies will come in and seize all of the animals. They fine the breeder for having a) too many animals to be able to care for properly and b) not taking proper care of the animals.

Some cities limit the amount of pets that any one owner can possess in a household. This applies to breeders as well. The breeder can be fined and face possible prison sentences if they break these laws.

In the case of bad breeders, what happens to the animals?

In the case of bad breeders who are improperly caring for their animals the animal welfare unit will seize all of the animals. The animals are then placed in foster homes, put up for adoption or will be euthanized if they are in too bad of shape. It is a sad condition that any animal should have to be put down just because someone did not care for the animal properly.



By: MIKE SELVON

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First Principles

Teach respect, a dog has to be taught to respect its owner. You have to be his leader and not let him be yours. As you communicate with your dog he learns to understand you, he will forever be willing to please. Once the dog knows you are his leader, he will be a happy follower by teaching your dog the basic training commands and discipline.

It is next to impossible to have a normal, well-behaved, even-tempered dog without discipline and some training. Once a dog is trained he is a better pet and greater companion, and he himself will be happier for knowing that his owner is pleased with him. There are many books devoted to discipline and training and free online resources for dog training than ever imaginable! There are also many great obedience-training classes for low cost to no cost, one for example is PetSmart and I highly recommend this form of training, it helps your dog or puppy learn to socialize as well as get his basic obedience training from a professional source, helping you and your dog learn together. You must be willing to accept the fact that if your dog fails the course and becomes a dropout, it is entirely your fault not the dogs. He is a willing subject, it is your complete responsibility to ensure you and he complete all training classes and continue to adhere to the lessons learned.

Any sincerely interested dog owner can train their dog, and it can be a most rewarding educational experience for both. Patience and consistency is the key to successful training, at times you will have to be firm, but gentle and always, always give praise for each and every one of his positive efforts.Basically dog training is built on reward, repetition, reprimand and again praise. Although it can be too early to begin training, it is never too late. Most puppies form a strong attachment to an individual which may persist or wane, and there is often a phase of disobedience and defiance. Discipline is needed during this crucial period, but it must be with patience and never overbearing or intimidating. Don’t listen to the old cliché “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks”. There is nothing further from the truth, I don’t for one moment believe that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, he can be taught new tricks and all the basic commands whatever his age.



It is bound to be a more difficult to break old habits like barking, chasing cars, sleeping on furniture etc., and can be resolved with proper training aids, such as no-bark collars, sonic bark control devices, citronella spray collars, indoor radio fences, and scat mats, if all other resources have been exhausted to resolve these and various other undesirable habits develop or exist. You and your dog must be relaxed before you begin any training session. He can and will know when you are tense or uncomfortable, he can’t learn while he is tense or timid and if your dog or puppy is showing signs of stubbornness or defiance they may be more resistant to teaching, but don’t give in, stay firm, consistent and have a routine, all animals are creatures of habit, so stay with the training. In essence complete relaxation is essential for both dog and trainer, also, make lessons fun for both you and your dog. He will learn much faster, and give you a greater reward for your training efforts, vise-versa.



Getting To Know Your Dog or Puppy



To train your dog or pup to the best advantage for both, you must get to know their personality, for example there are sensitive or shy dogs who squeal at the slightest noise with disciplinary action and the merest jerk of a training lead, grooming comb or word of discipline, causing you to hurt his feelings and mistrust. Take caution and try to understand this dog or puppy’s personality, this is vital to their mental health and needs to be taken in a very slow, easy manner. If a stronger, more aggressive training method is used with this type of personality it cannot be reversed, and will ultimately result in a very scared, confused pet. Then there is the more assertive type dogs, they may need a stronger form of training and attention spans may need to be focused on, “Fearless” Fun loving, and go for it types of dogs always pushing himself at you for your attention, he jumps on your guests, slobbers on them, forces his “Here I am” on you, your guests, children or the elderly. This personality may or may not need a more aggressive training method, depending on the breed and the owner’s training abilities.

Make the Lessons Fun

Dogs get bored with long training sessions. If you work them for over 20 minutes at a time, they will lose interest and stop listening to you. For a younger dog or puppy, 5 to 10 minutes is long enough for one training session. But do it frequently, and again with, praise or training reward treats.

Basic Dog Training Commands

(1) Leash Training: This is the first and foremost of all dog and puppy training. Say you need to take your pet to the Veterinarian for a check up…this cannot be done without a well leash trained dog or puppy. Work with your dog or puppy daily DO NOT: pull, drag or force your dog to follow the leash, take it easy…..let them walk to you, stop…say “Good Dog” Reward them with a treat, and let them sit, then, pet, praise them. Give them time, always be patient, they will respond soon to your leash training, it is so very important not to scare them while leash training!!!! They will never feel safe with you!!



(2) Heel: You teach your dog to walk on you left side without pulling in front of you; he always walks beside you, comfortably, easily and will never pull at the leash. When he tries to walk in front of you, you jerk back on the lead and say the word “Heel”. Use this command with easy, gentle commands, do not “Yank” on the lead, be very, very gentle or this will cause your dog to become scared and try to bolt and make the “Heel” command frighten your dog, therefore, reversing your training and all trust established with your dog or puppy. Please always use good sense and respond to your dogs action or “Reaction” to “Leash and Heel” Training.

(3) Sit: Pull the leash straight up and while pushing down on his hindquarters, saying the word “Sit”. Most dogs learn this very quickly.

(4) Down: You don’t want your dog or puppy to jump on people, especially, elderly guests, children or anyone else that is coming to visit your home. Your dog needs to learn this after he is confident with his leash training. Grasp the leash or collar just under the dog’s neck and while gently pulling in the downward motion as you say, “Down”

(5) Stay: This is a very important command, as it can save your dog from a situation were harm or injury may occur, and this can be beneficial to the both of you. This command can save you or your dog from being hit by cars, or any other dangerous situation, this can your dogs life. To teach the “Stay” command put your dog in a sitting position and talk a few steps away, and if he attempts to come to you, firmly say “Stay” and stop walking, ask your dog to sit, and start again, keep repeating this procedure until he stays, this may take some time, remember keep the lessons short, and be consistent.

(6) Come: Be sure to do this with a leash or long lead. First put him on the “Stay” command, use the word “Come” and give the leash a light tug toward you, when he responds a comes to you give him praise and or a reward treat and repeat this lesson until your dog is responsive to the command, then you can remove the leash or lead and repeat the lesson. This is one of the easiest lessons dogs learn very quickly. With all said and these simple, easy to follow training guidelines, you should have a long and happy relationship with your dog or puppy. Note: Never give up, be patient, consistent and always praise!!!! Love your dog like he loves you.

YOUR DOG

“He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog…..You are his life, his love, and his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy ofsuch devotion. “

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By: WoodCreek Pet Products

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Once you know that your home is irretrievably lost to you, you should start making plans for a future for your pets. If at all possible (and it is often more possible than not) make arrangements to take your pets with you. If you absolutely can’t take your pets, don’t leave them in the home and ‘hope’ that they will be found before they starve to death; contact shelters and rescues to find a place that will take them. Friends and family may even be able to accommodate the pet until you find a place that will allow it to rejoin your family.

It can be extremely difficult to find accommodation that will accept animals, but it is possible. Start looking immediately, spread the word among family and friends, and publicize your search as widely as possible. There are a number of online resources that you can explore to find accommodation that is pet-friendly. The Humane Society of the United States has some great advice at www.hsus.org. There are also various websites featuring pet-friendly rental listings. A visit to your local SPCA and/or kennel club might net you some more leads.

Start building your arsenal to prove that you are an exceptional pet owner to potential landlords. Get copies of vaccination records, spaying/neutering, obedience classes, parasite prevention and, if applicable, registration/adoption records. Get references from veterinarians, trainers, etc. If you have a paper trail that proves your pet is well cared for and trained, it can sway a landlord’s opinion in your favor.

If you absolutely cannot find accommodation for your pet, yet want to keep it in the family, consider boarding. Some kennels might offer a reduced rate in exchange for a longer stay. Paying family or friends to care for the pet is another option. You might even be able to advertise your pet as a ‘temporary dog/cat’ and pay someone in your community to care for it. You pay the bills and they get the companionship of a pet until you can regain your footing. This can be fraught with emotional difficulty, however; the longer the pet is with the person, the more attached they might become and parting could be difficult.

Ask the people handling your foreclosure if they have any leads. Many of these people are pet lovers themselves who have had the experience of finding dead and dying animals in homes they represented. Most would do a lot to prevent experiencing this again.

The website petfinder.com is one of the great rescue/rehome tools of the Internet. With this, a person can search for the type of animal, the breed, and the location. Start advertising your pet as soon as possible on all of the Internet advertising sites. Include everything that might encourage someone to adopt it - free food, pest prevention, recent shots, toys, carrying crates, training, spay/neutering, etc. Be prepared to screen potential owners; there is no point in adopting your pet into a worse situation than it is in now.

Many shelters and SPCAs are full to the brim already with foreclosure pets. If your local one can’t take your pet, try ones farther afield. There are also private rescues that may be able to accommodate your pet. Asking at your vet’s or the shelter may net you some contacts. A generous donation can also smooth the way for an animal that would otherwise be denied. One fact that you will have to face is that your pet may be euthanized if it is not adopted. This fate is, however, better than being abandoned to starve or dehydrate or catch and spread disease in the neighborhood.

If you are facing foreclosure, don’t abandon your animals to starve slowly or die of dehydration. Yes, some people do this, thinking, perhaps that someone will find the pet in a few days. It doesn’t happen like that - many die, locked away from food, water and the human companionship they depended on. There is no excuse to lock a pet away from any possible aid, food, water and care. It is your pet and your responsibility to make arrangements for it if your living space is no longer yours.



By: Josh Sloan

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