Posts Tagged ‘dogs’

How Do Dogs Speak?

Thursday, March 4th, 2010

Dogs are just about the most intelligent of household pets. If you take the time to look, you will see that they have the ability to communicate with humans, other dogs and even other species. They do this with body language and voice. Their signs are made with the their eyes, ears, eyebrows, head, mouth and tail.

Their voice is obviously not the same as ours, but they use pitch in their barks, whines, whimpers, pants, growls and howls and their gestures are made with their whole body and every element of it.

You can always tell a self-assured and therefore higher ranking dog, because they hold their tails aloft. Dogs, like all other animals, including we humans, have an inborn sense or their place in society. This is because dogs evolved in packs in the wild, just as we evolved in communities. which is why they fit well into our human society.

There is a pecking order within their group, as within human society. The subservient dogs submit themselves to the stronger dogs, which is why dogs lower their tail when they feel unsure of themselves. When dogs fight for dominance, the fur on their tails stands up and they have this trait in common with other animals. They do it to show that they are being serious in front of their adversary.

A dog that is unsure what to do will wag its tail slowly. A bit like you or I might give a weak smile, unsure whether to smile openly or glower. They are in a process of working out whether they should recognize the status quo or fight. Excited dogs wag their tails very fast and if the dog’s hip moves along with the tail, it means that the dog is in submissive mode to a higher ranker. A pet should do that to its owner, as you have become the leader of its surrogate pack.

When dogs get aggressive they show their fangs, the same as humans. If all of the teeth are visible, it indicates that the dog is ready to bite or attack. We do the same unconsciously. People often bare their teeth and snarl insults, before a fight. However, they also show teeth when they smile but this is an indication of submissiveness, again as we do - submissiveness here meaning a recognition that a fight is unnecessary.

With a dog, the number of teeth on display differentiates between a smile and a snarl. In a smile, a dog only shows the front teeth, but in a snarl the dog reveals all his teeth and gums and makes an aggressive noise.

Ears are a good indication of the dog’s level of attention. When the ears are erect and forward facing, it means that the dog is concentrating. But if the dog is stress-free, its ears will lie flat. However, some breeds do not have as much control over their ears.

Dogs bark to defend their territory, which comes to mean their boss’ territory, which should mean your property. However, barking is their usual language so you will have to learn the difference between friendly play barking and aggression in your dog. It is pretty obvious though.

Observation of your pet is the key, because, although all dogs are the same as in all humans are the same, there are minor differences. They are not difficult to learn, just spend some time with you dog and keep your mind open and it will become very apparent to you.

If you are interested in dogs or Welsh corgi puppies, or even Wales in general, please go to our website at Welsh Products Online

Heart Worms

Thursday, December 10th, 2009

One very common ailment in canines is worm infestation. Worms are parasites that dwell inside of your dog and all cause different problems. These symptoms depend upon the kind of worm your dog has. Generally there are five major worm types: hookworms, whipworms, heartworms, roundworms and tapeworms. All of these can cause light to severe complication and must be treated. Take a look at the different kinds of parasites and what each worm does.

The most common infestation is the roundworm. This parasite usually passes to puppies from their mothers either before birth or while she is breastfeeding. These worms can be passed to humans. In dogs, the roundworm causes weight loss and a potbellied appearance. These worms will swiftly multiply if left untreated. An adult female roundworm may lay as many as 200,000 eggs a day for a year. This may lead to an obstruction in the canine’s intestinal tract and may lead to death. You should treat your pets with a regular regimen of de-wormer starting when pups are weaned. There are natural as well as commercial treatments available.

Hookworms are similar to roundworms as they are intestinal parasites. The hookworm is smaller and feeds on blood from the intestinal wall. Hookworm dog worms symptoms are anemia and even death. Some symptoms may not be visible in the stool or vomit. To determine if an infestation is present, you must take a stool specimen to your vet to be analyzed. The hookworm can be passed to humans but it does not cause the same problems as in dogs. In humans, the worm penetrates under the skin causing an itchy rash with a worm like appearance.

The tapeworm is long and flat and resembles a piece of tape. It is spread to dogs by the ingestion of an infected flea. For example, the flea feeds off of an infected animal and picks up the tapeworm egg. While grooming itself, your dog eats the flea. dog worms symptoms of the tapeworm include itching, especially around the anus, abdominal pain, itching, vomiting and weight loss. If any of these symptoms appear, get you dog checked out by your vet.

The whipworms live in the dogs’ colon and are not visible to the naked eye. They too feed off the intestinal wall and cause many ailments. Symptoms of this type of dog worm are anemia, weight loss, flatulence and diarrhea which contains blood or mucous. This parasite is the hardest of the intestinal worms to remove but there are treatment options available both natural and pharmaceutical.

The heartworm is the most serious dog worm. It is passed through the mosquito. If you want your pooch to be heartworm free, you must seek prevention. People who should worry about this will live in warm, damp climates and will have a heavy mosquito population. If your dog becomes infected, there are a few treatment options available. Most of them amount to giving your canine limited doses of arsenic which can kill your pet. The heartworm will make its haven in the heart and its arteries causing it to enlarge and eventually fail. dog worms symptoms of the heartworm include coughing, weight loss and a potbellied appearance. No matter what kind of worm you may be dealing with, seek natural advice or that of your vet. Be proactive for better canine health. Your dog will give you a big lick in appreciation!

Dog worms are common in dogs. Dog worms symptoms depend upon the type of dog worms that are present in your dog. Heartworm is the most deadly of dog worm types, but all types of canine worms can make your dog sick. Discover how to prevent symptoms of dog worms by preventing the worms.

Puppy Teeth - How to Keep Them Clean

Thursday, November 26th, 2009

Ideally, dog teeth cleaning should be a routine part of your pet’s regular care and their teeth should be brushed on a daily basis, or at least every other day or so. Because dog teeth are just as susceptible to disease and decay as are human teeth, it’s extremely important keep tartar and plaque at bay to protect your dog’s precious health.

Dental Disease and Your Dog’s Health

Diseases of the mouth, teeth, and gums can be very painful for your pooch and because they aren’t able to tell us when they have a toothache, as pet owners we must be diligent in keeping up with our dog’s dental care. If left untreated, a tooth infection may develop into serious complication for your dog and affect vital organs such as their heart, liver, or kidneys.

Your dog’s diet definitely has a direct effect on their dental health. Choosing foods and treats that are fortified and designed to keep their teeth and gums healthy are an easy way to implement dental hygiene into your dog’s life. Although professional cleaning by a veterinarian is an option, this should only be considered in extreme cases as unnecessarily having your dog anesthetized is not only expensive, but it also puts undue stress on your pet.

Getting Started with Dog Teeth Cleaning

With patience and perseverance, you can get your dog to become comfortable with tooth brushing. You adult dog or puppy can learn to have their teeth brushed by using your finger and a canine favorite; peanut butter!

Your pet will lick your finger (and the peanut butter). You can start rubbing their teeth and gums while praising your dog. After a few days you r dog will become accustomed to this and you can start trying it with a piece of gauze wrapped around your finger. Rub the teeth and gums with your finger just as you would with a toothbrush. When your dog gets used to this procedure, you can start using a real toothbrush.

You should not use toothpaste which is made for humans, as this will cause your dog to have an upset stomach. There is toothpaste designed for dogs which have a taste and smell which appeal to your pet. Let your dog lick a little off of the brush and then add more and start brushing.

You’ll need to lift up your dogs’ gums to be able to reach their upper teeth -the canines especially. To get the best results, hold the brush at a 45 degree angle; this lets you clean teeth and gums simultaneously. Use a circular motion and pay special attention to your pets’ back teeth, which are especially subject to tooth disease.

Make dog teeth cleaning a happy occasion for your dog. Keep low key to prevent your dog from getting too excited to hold still. You should only need abut a minute to get your dogs’ teeth clean and make sure that they stay healthy and happy.

Canine teeth cleaning is important to your dog’s health, and dog teeth cleaning can be done in a number of ways. So keep your dog’s teeth clean by brushing your dog’s teeth, with healthy food, and by adding a dog teeth cleaning agent to your dog’s drinking water. All can play a part in keeping your dog’s teeth healthy.

Canine Teeth Cleaning

Wednesday, November 25th, 2009

Ideally, dog teeth cleaning should be a routine part of your pet’s regular care and their teeth should be brushed on a daily basis, or at least every other day or so. Because dog teeth are just as susceptible to disease and decay as are human teeth, it’s extremely important keep tartar and plaque at bay to protect your dog’s precious health.

Dental Health and Your Dog

Dogs can be subject to the same diseases of the mouth, gums and teeth as can their owners. Since you dog has no way of telling you that is has a toothache, dog owners must take care to look after the dental health of their dog. An untreated tooth infection can lead to very serious problems with your pets’ vital organs.

Your dog’s diet definitely has a direct effect on their dental health. Choosing foods and treats that are fortified and designed to keep their teeth and gums healthy are an easy way to implement dental hygiene into your dog’s life. Although professional cleaning by a veterinarian is an option, this should only be considered in extreme cases as unnecessarily having your dog anesthetized is not only expensive, but it also puts undue stress on your pet.

Getting Your Pet Used to Dog Teeth Cleaning

Even if your dog is no longer a puppy you can train them to accept having their teeth brushed with some patience and perseverance. Both dogs and puppies alike can be acclimated to having the toothbrush in their mouths simply by starting out using your finger and a dab of peanut butter.

Your pet will lick your finger (and the peanut butter). You can start rubbing their teeth and gums while praising your dog. After a few days you r dog will become accustomed to this and you can start trying it with a piece of gauze wrapped around your finger. Rub the teeth and gums with your finger just as you would with a toothbrush. When your dog gets used to this procedure, you can start using a real toothbrush.

You should not use toothpaste which is made for humans, as this will cause your dog to have an upset stomach. There is toothpaste designed for dogs which have a taste and smell which appeal to your pet. Let your dog lick a little off of the brush and then add more and start brushing.

You’ll need to lift up your dogs’ gums to be able to reach their upper teeth -the canines especially. To get the best results, hold the brush at a 45 degree angle; this lets you clean teeth and gums simultaneously. Use a circular motion and pay special attention to your pets’ back teeth, which are especially subject to tooth disease.

Make dog tooth cleaning time a happy time for your dog. Stay calm so your dog won’t get too excited. It should only take about a minute a day for effective dog teeth cleaning and maintain their good health.

Canine teeth cleaning is important to dog health, and canine teeth cleaning can be done in a number of ways. Keep your dog’s teeth clean by brushing your dog’s teeth, by a healthy diet, and by adding a canine teeth cleaning agent to your dog’s drinking water. All can play a part in keeping your dog’s teeth healthy.

All Natural Ways To Get Rid Of Fleas

Saturday, November 7th, 2009

There’s a wide variety of different myths surrounding pet care that have continued to spread amongst pet owners, some as old as the 1950’s. One of the big ones involves a cure-all “organic” dog flea solution. This flea removal myth comes from the belief that organic practices are somehow more ‘pure’ and sometimes even more effective than any synthetic/non-organic pet product. The organic dog flea solution may also come from the misguided principle that all the currently available flea treatment products are potentially harmful to your pet. After a recent email asking for clarification on whether or not using all organic/natural flea treatments can be an effective alternative to chemical based products we decided to weigh in on the phenomenon.

Will using only organic or natural flea remedies work with your pet? There’s not really any sort of definitive way of answering that other than by saying the answer depends on a few factors such as the level of involvement you’re willing to dedicate to treating your pets’ flea problem, the current living-space that the pet lives in and the type of treatment you choose to go with. By choosing to go the organic route you need to realize that it doesn’t just limit your options to organic-based flea shampoos and by-hand flea removal, there are a few other natural treatments that you can use in combination with each other.

While it is true that using organic based products is typically a safe bet you can make when purchasing products you need to keep in mind that sometimes it might not be enough. If you only buy all-organic pet products, you may be worsening your dogs’ flea problem considerably by setting these limitations. While an all-organic based flea shampoo bath is a good start, your pet will need more than just a bath to keep the parasites away for good. Besides, in order for this approach to work you’d need to give your pet a bath on a pretty regular basis which is a strain on spare-time not to mention water resources.

Treating your pets flea problem means more than just removing the pests from your four-legged friend, it also involves making sure that they won’t return anytime soon. The main way to do this involves a proper cleaning of your home and/or your pets’ living area. Making sure that there aren’t any lingering flea eggs or larvae will mean your pet will be able to stay parasite free.

Removing the fleas that are bothering your pet is one thing but making sure they stay away from your pet after you’re done is a whole other task. Regularly vacuuming any rugs or carpet in your home will greatly reduce the risk of any re-infestation. You should clean with hot water any bedding that your pet uses, letting it dry in the sun before returning it. Steam cleaning is an option that works best for cleaning any bedding or rugs that they use frequently. Another flea prevention step is to keep a well-maintained lawn. By keeping the grass/hedges low you’ll help stop flea infestations from harvesting where your pet goes to play.

Using a special brush or comb to manually remove any visible fleas and ticks is a time-consuming task that will typically grow old after the second or third time performed. If time isn’t something you have a lot of, then using an all-organic approach to flea treatment will probably end up being a frustrating time for both you and your pet. Trying combinations of both organic and non-organic treatments typically is the best way to tackle safe flea treatments though if you’ve got your mind set on only using organic remedies than you should look into age-old remedies like applying diatomaceous earth to help prevent the fleas from laying any fresh eggs or any number of the different bath-shampoos that are out there.

For more information on flea treatments and other pet-care questions visit the At Home Flea Control Blog

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