Keeping a Rabbit As a Pet

Maybe you have just received it as a gift or you have wanted to have a rabbit as a pet. Whatever the case may be, rabbits do really make good pets. There are a few things that you need to be aware of before you claim to be a good rabbit keeper. Having a rabbit as a pet will make you to first have a cage. You can either buy one or build one at home. It is advisable that you observe the important one rabbit one cage rule. The reason for this rule is the fact that rabbits of the same sex tend to fight. The other reason for this rule is that rabbits of the opposite sex breed and this might give you more than you can handle.

There are food pellets that have been prepared by nutritionists and they contain virtually all the nutrients necessary for the development of a rabbit. Make sure you have a dish to feed your rabbits. The amount of the food that your rabbit is likely to eat will depend with its size. While having a rabbit as a pet, ensure that you handle them safely as failure to this can cause injury or even death. Make sure that you do not change the diet too rapidly a rabbit as a pet as this can cause severe diarrhea. The other thing you need to when you have a rabbit, as a pet is to ensure that you keep the toenails short for health reasons.

Cheryline Sashen makes sure that she does whatever she can to keep her family safe. Cheryline has written a site containing reviews on bath tub mat, as well as round bath rugs.

How to Handle Emergencies in Dogs

Emergencies in dogs occur every day and being prepared and understanding some of the basics may help to save the life of your dog. In every case that involves an emergency, you should seek professional treatment as quickly as possible, but some of the following types of emergencies and some basic understanding of them, can prepare most owners.

Abscess:

Emergencies in dogs in several cases may not originally appear to be serious, but they can become extremely dangerous if they are not treated, and an abscess is one of these conditions. An abscess in your dog is described as either a sac or a lump that contains pus. These should always be treated very seriously, but if they rupture, the pus will begin to drain and it will need to be treated. If this does occur, and the original site of the rupture is relatively small, immediately clean the area.

To clean an abscess, you can use peroxide or Betadine, and once cleaned, it will be very important to keep it open and allow it to drain. Until you can get medical attention, you will need to make sure that your dog does not lick the area. This is much easier said than done, and with most dogs the only thing you can do is to use an Elizabethan collar of some type.

Allergic Reactions:

One of the scariest types of emergencies in dogs is an allergic reaction. Most any dog will have some type of an allergic reaction some time in their life span, and when it happens the most important thing for an owner to do is to remain calm. A reaction by your dog to some type of an allergen can range from mild to very severe, depending on your dogs system and the type of allergen. It is very important to remember recent medical history, as a lot of reactions occur as the result of a new medication or a recent vaccination.

However, if it is during the spring, summer, or fall months, it can also be the result of some type of an insect bite, especially a wasp, hornet, or a bee. In the vast majority of cases, the allergic reaction will be almost entirely focused on your dogs face. However, just like people, some dogs can develop very serious symptoms. Any time your dog has any kind of allergic reaction there are several things you should watch for.

The first thing to do is check for any type of shock in your dog, and you do this by first examining their gums. If they are pale, your dog is most likely going into shock. If they are experiencing difficulty in breathing, you may have to perform CPR on your dog. If it does appear they have been stung, remain calm and look until you find the stinger and remove it. You can than apply a topical lotion such as Benadryl, but you should call your veterinarian first.

Burns from Chemicals:

This type of emergencies in dogs can be very difficult to determine unless you actually witness the episode or have a very strong inclination of what it was. If you do witness the event, immediately rinse and flush your dogs mouth with very large amounts of water. This will immediately reduce the chemicals as well as prevent any further damage. But there is one thing you should not do until you talk to your veterinarian or call the 800 number on the chemical; induce vomiting.

Most all chemicals will have instructions as well as an 800 number to call for cases like this. Do not induce vomiting until you have been instructed to as it can cause several internal damages.
The toxicity directions on the bottle or container will give instruction, and most dogs can be treated with a topical that helps with canker sores in humans. The recommend treatment is usually three times a day. But if it severe, there is absolutely no home medical treatment and your dog will need immediate medical treatment.

Collapse in Dogs:

This type of emergencies in dogs requires one very definitive thing from any owner; remain calm under all circumstances. Your first reaction is to panic, but you will need to remain calm and start planning on how you can safely get your dog to medical attention as soon as possible. But first you will need to observe your dog very closely, try to think back about what may caused the collapse, and than gather a plan to safely move your dog.

CPR in dogs can be a very important technique, but this is not the time for it. If fact, it can do severe damage if not done properly with this condition. If your dog is unconscious, feel the left side of their chest for a heartbeat. If your dog is dazed or looks lost, be extremely careful as they may bite simply out of instinct. Contact your veterinarian immediately and call someone if needed to safely move and transport your dog.

Electrical Shock:

Emergencies in dogs, especially puppies, may involve an electrical shock of some kind. Puppies love to chew anything as any owner knows and unfortunately this can have devastating results. If your dog or puppy does get shocked, you will need to very quickly turn off the main breaker.

Do not rush to your dog first and try to remove the cord as you may also be shocked or electrocuted. Once you have done this, remove the cord and keep your dog as calm as you can, but very quickly look for burns. Once you have calmed and relaxed your dog, seek immediate medical treatment.

Head Trauma:

Head trauma is one of most challenging of all emergencies in dogs as it can be life threatening. If you have any inclinations that your dog has suffered a head trauma, seek professional help as quickly as possible. During the transfer time to the hospital, it will be very important to keep your dog warm and keep their head elevated or at least level with their body. This will help to prevent any further damage to their neck, back, or the head itself. Again, you may want to seek help in transporting your dog and be very careful about being bitten.

Heat Stroke:

Emergencies in dogs will almost always include heatstroke, especially if your dog is left in a car during very hot temperatures. However, just like human, dogs can suffer heatstroke by extreme weather. If you see your dog panting excessively, get them to shade or a cool area. If they collapse, it is now life threatening. The normal body temperature of a dog is 100.5 to 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit. If it exceeds 105 degrees, it has become life threatening.

If this does occur, place a cool, wet towel around them or hose them down as quickly as possible. Under no circumstance use ice; it can very easily cause skin damage to your dog. Even if you pet returns to normal, you will need to have him examined.

Summary:

There are several other emergencies in dogs that will include frostbite, parasite infection, gunshot wounds, and dog fights, just to name a few. The main thing any owner can do in any type of an emergency is to remain calm, take account of the situation, and then seek professional advice or treatment. Keeping your wits about you will help to keep your dog remain calm, and in these situations they have no where to turn other than trust you.

I am an avid lover of pets and my wife and I have had several pets throughout our years. We are especially fond of dogs, and we have a 12 year old Dalmatian (our 3rd) and a "mutt" that we rescued when someone threw him away to die in a vacant field.

He found us, nearly starved to death, and weighed about 2 pounds.

After severe bouts of mange and severe dehydration, and over 1,000.00 in veterinarian bills, we saved the little guys life, and he is one of the best, if not the best, dogs we have ever had and today is a muscular, fit, and firm 70 pound best friend.

After finishing my MBA, which at middle age was not easy, I decided to keep the research work ethics that I acquired, and devote about two hours each night in understanding the health benefits of supplementation for both humans and pets and how they might strengthen our, as well as our pets, immune system in a pre-emptive approach to health rather than a reactionary approach.

Both of my daughters are avid cat lovers, and asked me to help them with health concerns and challenges with their cats.

I am not a veterinarian nor claim to be, just a lover of pets that loves to research and pass on some knowledge that might be helpful, or at least stimulating to the thought process.
Several of the articles that I have written can be found on my website;

Source:
Liquid Vitamins & Minerals for Humans & Pets http://www.liquid-vitamins-minerals-humans-pets.com/

Necessity Of Good Nourishment For Your Dog

Good nutrition is a primary necessary for your dog. It influences their health and long life by contribution a vital balance of proteins, fats, complex carbohydrates and the draw nutrients and minerals their bodies must for growth, fix and maintains of sound resistant system.

Nutrition is a composite and essential part of your dog’s talent to think plainly, inferior strain levels and create soother activities.

To think takes so much force. Dogs mixed up in a training program, use wonderful intellectual power focusing on the responsibilities existing to them. If your dog begins with minimum nutrition, they become tired, anxious or hyper active when asked to carry out the simplest of tasks. They cannot focus and loss attention after a short time or become puzzled. If the dog is frequently asked to do something they cannot realize, uncertainty can guide to a hostile form of acting out.

Prestige undertaking dogs, the nonpareil organization I beholding at the dog’s nourishment. I do operation from the inside foreign. Job becomes fruitless if the fundamental basis owing to the activities is not distorted. Hyper, distracted further exterior of direct dogs recurrently are eating foods with sterling levels of cornflakes foods alike now wheat, corn, and corn meal.

Aggressive dogs eat chuck containing upper levels of variant spring protein. countless of these proteins are imperfect derbies of amino acids which win not offer befitting rack further repair of tension fiber and cell tissue.

Shy further haggard dogs get done not digest their foods positively at undivided besides oftentimes suffer from intestinal complications such because diarrhea. Their coats are usually ever desert again shed heavily.

One drawing near to dare the foods you are feeding is to permeate the ration mastery humidify as about 30 toilet paper. If legitimate swells significance size and becomes mushy, evident is primarily cereal.

Are you dog’s stools oftentimes softhearted and hospitable or is the grisly gassy? They are not digesting the mess properly.

By looking at their food, you leave carry out more to succor bill their behavior, because in fact as, hype to their health and longevity. Dash Abundance offers the cool society of larder now unbroken dogs concerned. The proteins are score besides digest easily.

The carbohydrates are streak also wind up not temperament curiosity wearisome sugars effectual life swings of highs besides depressed behaviors. The Proboscis influence the menu tally also digest additional easily, which is not characteristic follow through for the weird or throw dogs, but ensures faultless dogs are recipient the cuisine they appetite from food.

courtesy of pet-articles.blogspot.com

Five Tips to Ensure an Obedient Dog

Training a dog is one of the most important factors of ownership. A well-trained pooch is likely to be much safer, because of the reduced risk of running away from you. In addition, it is recognized by pet behaviorists that obedient dogs are far happier, as they are not stressed with the pressure of being the dominant member of their packs. The domesticated dog has been modified, through selective breeding, to accentuate its submissiveness. Therefore, your family pet is at its most content when it considers you as the alpha animal.

1. The first step in training your dog is to start as early as possible. Of course, a puppy is far easier to train. If you've adopted an adult dog, you may need to exercise more patience, but an adult can still be successfully trained. Whether you've welcomed a puppy or a mature dog into your home, its training should begin as soon as possible. For example, if you do not want your dog to sit on the couch, don't allow it to from the very beginning. Many owners make a huge fuss of new dogs and permit behavior that they later find unacceptable.

2. Similarly, consistency is key. It is always a good idea to establish a routine for your dog. In other words, he, or she, is fed and walked at approximately the same time everyday. Dogs tend to respond well to structure and deviations from this can stress them.

3. Depending on the age and temperament of your dog, you may find it beneficial to begin with small sessions of obedience training. It is important not to bombard your dog with too much information at once. Start simply with the basics, such as sit and stay.

4. Try to avoid shouting at your dog. Most dogs do not respond well to harsh criticism. Of course, if the dog is doing something unacceptable then it should be told "No" firmly. However, less destructive and non-worrying behavior should simply be ignored. The natural instinct of a domesticated dog is to please its owner. Therefore, praise for the positive behavior and a lack of reaction for the negative should be enough for your dog to understand what is required of it.

5. The single most important thing when training a dog is that it recognizes you as the pack leader. As pack animals, wolves (a domestic dog's ancestors) work as an efficient hierarchical group. Put simply, every pack must have a leader and, in this instance, it needs to be you. Some trainers and owners believe that 'alpha rolling', which mimics the behavior of dogs and wolves in the wild, is an effective way of asserting authority. However, some simple measures can have an equally successful response. For example, when your dog is young, it is advisable to remove its food bowl while it is eating. Alternatively, you may choose to take a favorite toy away from your dog. This only needs to be done very briefly, as most dogs will not react aggressively and the food, or toy, can be replaced with lots of praise. If your dog does bark or growl at you, ignore the negative response and remove the food or toys more frequently until he, or she, understands that you are the boss.

Try to remain calm and patient throughout your dog's obedience training. Remember, training a dog is an opportunity for you to bond with your pet. If you perceive at as a chance to play and have fun, then your dog will be infinitely more receptive towards it. If you're experiencing difficulties in your dog's obedience training, then there are many schools that can provide advice and support. Your local veterinarian should be able to put you in touch with a reputable obedience trainer in your area.

Samantha Markham is a professional writer who is currently working on behalf of Remmeer.com, which is a supplier of a variety of pet products including, unique dog gift ideas and backpack dog carriers with wheels.

Ten Tips For Traveling With Your Dog

Whenever possible, it is nice to include your dog during a family holiday. There can be no doubt that a dog-friendly vacation is far preferable to finding boarding accommodation. However, before setting off, it is advisable to make some provisions and you may wish to consider a few things. Below are ten tips for traveling with the four-legged member of your family.

1. Before taking your dog on any trip, it is advisable to have him, or her, reasonably well trained. To avoid a runaway dog in a strange place, it is essential that he, or she, understands the basic commands, such as come, stay and sit.

2. It is recommended that you take your dog to the veterinarian at least two weeks before you plan to travel. Your vet can ensure that your dog is in good health and has all necessary vaccinations.

3. Once you have established that your dog is in the picture of health, you should take all of his, or her, paperwork. In other words, ensure that you have your dog's license, health certificate and proof of vaccinations.

4. If your dog suffers from carsickness or travel anxiety, it is a good idea to acclimatize him, or her, before you plan to travel. At first, you may choose to let your dog become accustomed to the car while it is motionless. Then start with small journeys of approximately 10 minutes. Make sure that you take your dog somewhere fun, like the park or beach. If he, or she, associates car journeys with a treat there will be less reluctance to travel. Never make your dog's first car journey a trip to the vet.

5. Ensure that your dog is always wearing a sturdy collar with his, or her, identification attached. Your dog's ID should have all the necessary contact details. Additionally, you may choose to include contact information for the hotel, motel or house that you are staying in while on vacation.

6. If you plan to stay in a hotel, motel or bed and breakfast, it is always wise to book well in advance. It can be hard to find residences that will allow pets and places for dogs can be limited.

7. On a long car journey, make sure to bring plenty of clean water and make sufficient stops for exercise. Whenever you let a dog out of the car to relieve itself, ensure that you clean up afterwards.

8. Never leave your dog alone in the car, especially in the summer. It only takes a matter of minutes for a dog to suffer life-threatening hypothermia. If your dog must be left in the car, ensure that one member of the family stays with him, or her.

9. Your dog may experience anxiety while away from its usual environment. Subsequently, it is a good idea to recreate 'home' whenever possible. In other words, feed your dog at the same time with his, or her, regular food. Take a walk at the normal time and, if possible, bring the dog's bed. These familiarities will all help to relax your pet.

10. It is always advisable to take your veterinarian's telephone number with you. In a non-emergency situation, this could prevent you from having to make an expensive trip to an unfamiliar vet.

Many dogs find journeys exciting and enjoyable experiences, but for some it can be anxiety-ridden and stressful. A vacation can be a wonderful time for the entire family, but it is important to ensure that your dog is safe, healthy and happy while traveling.

Samantha Markham writes for Remmeer.com, which supplys an array of pet travel equipment, including backpack dog pet carriers and dog pet strollers.