Obesity is not just a growing problem for the human population, overweight dogs–just plain fat dogs–is becoming more common.

Obesity is a common nutritional disorder in dogs. Just like people, dogs can get fat through over feeding and insufficient exercise.

Even if you think you are only giving your dog a small amount of food per day, if you dog is getting insufficient exercise relative to the amount of food intake, he can still gain weight. Over time, he can and will get fat.

Fat dogs are not healthy dogs. Overweight dogs tend to develop health problems such as diabetes, and excess weight can aggravate conditions such as arthritis, which often develops in middle aged and elderly dogs. To put it in perspective, an extra five pounds on a 15 pound dog is equivalent to an extra 50 pounds on a 150-pound person.

How You Can Prevent Your Dog from Becoming Fat

Fortunately, there are some common-sense weight control measures you can take to help prevent your dog from getting fat.

• If you practice free feeding (leaving dry dog food available 24/7), STOP. If your dog hasn’t eaten his food within about 15 minutes, remove his dish.

• Reduce your dog’s between meal snacks and treats. Dog treats are often high in fat and calories and some treats like biscuits and dog cookies are heavy in low fiber carbs.

• Exercise your dog regularly. Ideally, you should give your dog a brisk walk for at least 20 minutes twice a day. This is as good for you as for your dog in helping to maintain a healthy weight for both of you.

• If you have an overweight dog, talk to your vet about finding the optimum calorie intake for him.

• Consider switching to a low fat dog food and giving him low fat dog treats.

  With a little effort your dog will be well on his way to a more healthy weight.

  Valerie Goettsch is web master of My Favorite Dog, a website featuring dozens of articles and information on where to find the best of everything for your dog, from flea meds to beds, training and designer dog clothes.

  More articles at articles database

Fleas have been bothering people and their pets since the beginning of time. Although not terribly dangerous many animals and people are allergic to their bites, making flea infestations miserable. Heres how to get rid of them.

Allergic Reactions to Flea Bites:

Fleas inject saliva to stop coagulation when they bite. Its this salvia that causes allergic reactions in animals and people. Humans react with dermatitis, skin lesions and mild to severe itching. Try applying ice, menthol, camphor or calamine lotion to your flea bites. Insect repellents that containing thyltoluamide (DEET) will repel fleas and lessen the frequency of bites; use these repellents only on your clothing but never on skin or pets. If you are having serious allergies, a doctor can prescribe you something to help while you get the infestation under control.

There are many dogs and cats that are allergic to fleas and will chew themselves raw. With the advent of so many great flea medicines for animals there is really no need for them to suffer anymore. If your pets have been bitten recently however, your vet can prescribe medication to soothe the itching.

Removing Fleas From People and Pets:

If your pet becomes infested with fleas there are some products that your vet can prescribe. Capstar is a pill that kills all the fleas on your dog or cat within an hour. Frontline, Advantage and other topical medications can also kill the fleas on your pet within hours. When Frontline and Advantage is used monthly it will keep the fleas off of your pets permanently. Treat your poor infested friend for fleas first and then focus on the environment to put a stop to further infestation.

Fleas generally dont like to live on people, but they will visit you long enough for a quick bite. If youve been exposed to an infestation, wash your clothes in hot water with detergent and jump into the shower yourself. The fleas will drown in the soapy water. The next important thing is to remove them from the environment.

Removing Fleas From The Environment:

Fleas end their lives living on a host animal, but your pets are not actually the source of your flea infestation. Your home is. Fleas begin their life as eggs which are laid on the host, but fall off everywhere. The eggs then hatch into larvae that feed off of skin flakes and the dried-blood droppings of adults. Eggs can lay dormant for as long as a year. Killing the fleas is the first step. Getting rid of larvae and eggs is the next critical part of eliminating fleas. Here are the best methods.

Collect anything that cannot be vacuumed and throw it the washer on the hottest setting with laundry detergent. This will kill eggs and larvae. Then vacuum everything. Use the vacuum attachments and get all the corners, crevices and upholstery. Be as thorough as possible. This will get rid of most of the fleas. After vacuuming, remove the vacuum bag, sprinkle flea powder inside, seal it in a plastic bag and throw it in the trash outside. You may also want to have your carpet steam cleaned by a professional to get rid of any eggs or larvae that may be hanging on to your carpets fibers.

Once you get everything mostly flea-free, the best defense against them is to not allow them to remake your home into a stronghold. If you keep your pet on flea medication your house will most likely remain flea-free, but here are some recommended preventative habits to be safe:

1. Vacuum frequently to keep larvae and eggs from gathering in your carpet.
2. Wash you pets bedding frequently
3. Keep you pet current on its flea medication

The above method should keep everything under control. When the remaining larvae hatch, they are likely to jump on your dog and be killed by the medications. If you are still having trouble in your home steam clean or shampoo the carpets in your home as frequently as is needed. If this still isnt enough, its time to call a professional or speak with your veterinarian who may have some great suggestions!

Popular Flea Control Products:

Talk to your vet when deciding on treatments for your animals and environment. Follow the directions carefully and never give medication thats for a dog to a cat or vice versa. Also keep all medications and flea poisons out of the reach of pets and children.

Sorptive dusts kill fleas by dehydrating them; they absorb their moisture and damage their bodies. These dusts can be applied to carpets before vacuuming when you have an infestation of adults in your carpet.

Pyrethrins is derived from the chrysanthemum cinerariaefolium flower and is one of the least toxic flea control products available. They can be good for environmental control.

Flea collars work by constantly emitting poisonous vapors that kill any fleas on the animals. They work, but not nearly as well as the topical treatments or oral treatments that are available today.

Sprays and powders are not really worth the time and money when there are so many easier and moderately inexpensive methods for killing fleas. Flea dips can be a good choice for larger dogs that are expensive to treat with medications. Again, talk to your vet.

Mark shares more about how to kill fleas at HowToGetRidOfStuff.com; the web’s #1 resource for getting rid of things.

More articles at database for articles

Theres a horse show across the state in a few weeks, and youre planning on being there with your horses. However, its been awhile since you last pulled a horse trailer, and youre a little concerned about your trailering skills. After all, you want to arrive at your destination safely, with the horses as calm and relaxed as possible.

Guiding a loaded horse trailer down a country road or highway requires practical experience and know-how. Theres very little room for error. What do you do to ensure a safe, uneventful journey?

How to Ensure Safe Trailering

If youre out of practice, or if youve never towed a trailer before, obtaining adequate personal experience prior to the actual event is of the utmost importance. Just as if you were learning to drive for the first time, you should begin by practicing basic driving skills before getting out in traffic with the trailer.

The more experienced you become, the more prepared you will be for anything that may potentially happen. With more confidence and a higher level of awareness and preparedness, you should be better able to handle any unexpected situation that comes along.

Find a level field or a parking lot in which to practice. Mark your course with several highway cones, then, set out to work on the following driving skills:

Ready for the Highway

After youve practiced all the basic driving skills while pulling your horse trailer and you feel confident in your ability to handle the rig safely, youre ready to test your skills out on the road.

Try towing your trailer for short distances, at first. Make sure that you feel comfortable with turning corners in traffic, with backing your trailer, with parking on a grade, and with being able to stop your trailer quickly (should the need arise). Once you are confident in your towing abilities, youre ready to travel any distance with your horses.

Just remember to always be alert when out on the roads. Drive defensively and be prepared for any possible situation.

More articles at article database

So youve decided you want a puppy. Somewhere in your mind is a mental picture of that puppy playing. It may be indoors or outdoors on the lawn. Its an idealised romantic picture full of warmth and affection.

Before you can turn that picture into reality you need to start planning.

The first thing to plan for is the type of dog you want. A puppy is only a puppy for a few short months and then its a dog for life. The puppy fits in with everybody but what sort of dog fits in with your family?

What size dog do you want? Large, small or medium? Do you live in a big house or a small apartment? How large is your family? How will a big dog fit into your house and family? How will a small dog?

What sort of character are you looking for in your dream dog? An enthusiastic, bubbly dog thats the life and soul of the party or something thats a bit more independent?

How much time can you devote to your dog on a daily basis? Do you have time to groom your dog and exercise him? Large dogs need lots of exercise, longhaired dogs need grooming.

Apart from these factors you also need to consider the potential health problems associated with different breeds of dogs. These are usually hereditary problems caused by the inbreeding required to develop a particular breed. Some examples of these problems are: canine hip dysplasia in Labradors or breathing problems in small dogs such as the Pekinese, Lhasa Apso and the Pug.

Many of these hereditary problems are not apparent in puppyhood. They only start to show as the dog matures and grows older.All of these factors will help to determine what the right breed is for you.

Once youve made a decision on which breed of dog you want then you need to double check by finding out more about that breed. Talk to people who own that breed, visit pet shops, and do research on the Internet. There are websites, e-books, forums and discussion groups that will provide the information you want or allow you to ask questions.

What you are looking for is advice and information about the good and the bad of your intended puppy. You especially need to know how to pick a good puppy, what to look for and what to avoid.

Once youve found the answers to these questions then it is time to find a professional dog breeder. Look for a breeder whos asking you more questions than you are asking him or her. A professional breeder has a vested interest in finding good homes for their puppies.

Look for a breeder who is willing to give you references of other people who have received his dogs and contact them, even arrange to visit if possible. People love to talk about their pets and they will soon tell you if there were any problems with the breeder.

Check the breeder has full documentation of all vaccination and health checks. Look around the kennels and check for cleanliness. Check the condition of all the dogs and puppies you see. Do they look well fed? Do they look well groomed?

If something does not feel right, then do not commit yourself. Try asking around animal shelters, pet shops and veterinary offices for a second opinion about the breeder. Some breeders are more interested in the money than the puppies well-being. If you get this impression then steer well clear. As mentioned earlier a professional breeder will bend over backwards to make sure his or her puppies go to good homes.

Choosing the right dog breeder will ensure you get a healthy, happy pup from a good, caring environment. Putting in the time and effort to find that dog breeder is the first step to fulfilling that dream of a playful puppy romping on the lawn.

Chris Davis, the author, is a freelance writer publishing and presenting information on a wide variety of subjects. For more informative articles and information on dogs, dog health, dog care and dog training from Chris visit his website http://dog-help-desk.com. This article is free to reprint provided the author credits and link are left in place. Do not use this article for unsolicited email.

More articles at articles on database

We brush our own teeth daily, but sometimes we forget our dogs need regular tooth cleaning too. Just like humans, poor dental hygiene can lead to health problems and tooth decay in our furry friends.

According to research, by the time your dog is three years old there is already an 80% chance that he already has some gum problems due to plaque and tartar buildup. Typical signs are redness or bleeding gums, bad breath, and loose teeth. Even annual or semi-annual professional cleanings at your vet’s office may not be enough to prevent tooth problems in your dog. Regular tooth cleaning at home needs to be part of your dog’s grooming program. (Its not as hard as you think, honestly!)

Dog Tooth Cleaning at Home

You can prevent some gum or tooth problems by regularly brushing your dog’s teeth at home. Dog toothpaste comes in great flavors like beef and poultry. Once you get your dog accustomed to feel of the toothbrush and having his mouth handled, he may actually learn to enjoy the brushing process.

My dog LOVES to have her teeth brushed-no kidding! Our friends, especially their kids, are quite entertained when they watch the process. As soon as she sees me pull her toothbrush and dog toothpaste out of the cupboard, she gets excited. I sit on the couch, she gets in position between my knees and puts her head on my knee.

She loves the taste of both the beef and poultry-flavored dog toothpastes. Unlike human toothpaste, dog toothpaste is meant to be swallowed. She likes it so much that we go through a lot of toothpaste. She licks it as I brush, so I need a dollop for each side of her mouth. It still beats the cost of remedial care if she had tooth and gum disease from lack of canine dental care.

OK, So How Do You Get a Reluctant Dog to Accept Tooth Brushing?

We were lucky in that we started getting our dog accustomed to tooth cleaning when she was a puppy. Here are some tips on how we got her used to tooth cleaning. It is not difficult; it just takes a little time and patience. It will work with adult dogs as well as puppies.

Supplies needed:

• Dog toothpaste (beef or poultry flavored works best)
• Dog toothbrush (Be sure to get one specially for dogs with soft bristles. We like the kind with a curved handle; it is easier to reach the back teeth)
• Dental pads (if desired)
• Lots of treats to start

  1. Get your dog used to having his mouth handled. Gently hold his muzzle with one hand and stroke it with the other hand. Lift his upper lip to expose his teeth. Give him a tasty treat as a reward. Repeat this procedure for several days until your dog feels comfortable with your hands near his mouth.

  2. Get your dog used to the toothpaste. Try putting a dab on your finger and touching it to your dog’s teeth and gums. If your dog balks at this, try dipping your finger in peanut butter or something else yummy to dogs like beef or chicken broth, for the first few tries. Then switch to the dog toothpaste once he seems comfortable. I recommend the beef or poultry flavor toothpaste versus mint flavored. Dogs seem to like them better than mint. Praise your dog, telling him what a good boy he is. Repeat daily for the next two or three days.

  3. Get your dog used to tooth cleaning. Using plain gauze or a piece of soft cloth wrapped around your finger, or a dental pad or sponge, dab on some dog toothpaste and gently wipe your dog’s teeth and gums using a circular motion. Praise your dog for being good. Repeat this process for the next few days.

  4. Ready for real tooth brushing. Put some toothpaste on your dog’s toothbrush. Hold his muzzle gently and with a finger lift his lip on one side. Gently brush his teeth using a circular motion, and go all the way to the gum line. Be sure to get his back teeth too, then add a little more toothpaste if needed and go on to the other side.

  Try to make your dog’s tooth cleaning a daily habit. If you can’t manage to do it daily, try every other day. It only takes a couple of minutes, you just have to get in the habit of doing it.

  Last, REMEMBER TO MAKE IT FUN and REWARD YOUR DOG. With a little time and patience, you will soon find your dog, if not exactly anticipating the tooth cleaning, at least cooperating. His clean teeth and fresher breath will be worth the effort.

  Valerie Goettsch is web master of My Favorite Dog, a website featuring dozens of articles and information on where to find the best of everything for your dog, from flea meds to beds, training and designer dog clothes.

  More articles at articles database

Most people are keen on keeping an animal of some sort, usually a dog, for a pet. Often its for the sake of companionship around the house or apartment.

If your fancy is for a purebred dog, then you are going to need to find and contact a dog breeder. Like any other business there are dog breeders and there are dog breeders both good and bad.

As a prospective dog owner you obviously want to find a good one. One who looks after his animals and makes sure they are healthy and well cared for.

This article suggests ways you can make sure the dog breeder you choose is honest and reliable with a good reputation.

The easiest place to start is by looking through your local newspaper for the classified advertisement section. Equally easy would be to do a search on the internet with your region in the search keywords to find the nearest dog breeder for your breed.

If you know a friend who has the breed of dog you want ask him or her where they got the dog from and what the breeder was like.

A trip or phone call to places concerned with animals could also be worth trying. Pet shops, veterinary offices or local animal shelters would be likely to know the local dog breeders.

Perhaps the best option to find a really professional dog breeder would be to attend any local dog shows or exhibitions. Many of the exhibitors at these events are also breeders, showing off their dogs. One thing you can be sure of at these events is that if the dogs are being shown the owners are obviously proud of their dogs and their reputation.

This is only the first step however these results are just a short list of where to start. You now need to check the reputation and references of any breeder you select.

A good professional dog breeder will have references of people he has successfully placed dogs with before who are willing to vouch for him. Usually these people are only too willing to talk to prospective buyers and even allow them to visit and view their dog.

So steer clear of anyone who can not give you references or whose references seem reluctant to talk or always seem to be unavailable.

You should not be afraid to ask the breeder questions. If hes a professional breeder he is going to ask you questions as its in his interest to make sure his dogs are well housed.

Hes going to ask you details of your life financial questions, how many children you have, how big your house and garden are, what experience you have with dogs and dog training. Hes going to ask more questions than you do. He wants to make sure his dogs go to a good home.

If he does not ask these sorts of questions then be careful as hes probably not a good dog breeder. Hes possibly more interested in your money than the welfare of the dogs and this begs the question of whether he has looked after them properly.

The professional dog breeder will also have had all his dogs and puppies medically examined before selling them to make sure they are in good health. This should include checking for hereditary problems such as canine hip dysplasia or other hereditary conditions particular to the breed of dog.

Some of these problems however can slip through the net as the symptoms may not reveal themselves until several months or years later. Under these circumstances, the professional breeder would normally have no problem with returning your money. Though it has to be said he would probably also ask, if not insist, that the dog be neutered to prevent the spread of such hereditary problems.

Choosing a professional dog breeder can be a challenge but if you follow the guidelines above you should not go too far wrong. But the best guarantee is to follow your gut instinct. If something feels wrong then there probably is something wrong. In that case get out and find another breeder.

Chris Davis, the author, is a freelance writer publishing and presenting information on a wide variety of subjects. For more informative articles and information on dogs, dog health, dog care and dog training from Chris visit his website http://dog-help-desk.com. This article is free to reprint provided the author credits and link are left in place. Do not use this article for unsolicited email.

More articles at database for articles

Theres a horse show across the state in a few weeks, and youre planning on being there with your horses. However, its been awhile since you last pulled a horse trailer, and youre a little concerned about your trailering skills. After all, you want to arrive at your destination safely, with the horses as calm and relaxed as possible.

Guiding a loaded horse trailer down a country road or highway requires practical experience and know-how. Theres very little room for error. What do you do to ensure a safe, uneventful journey?

How to Ensure Safe Trailering

If youre out of practice, or if youve never towed a trailer before, obtaining adequate personal experience prior to the actual event is of the utmost importance. Just as if you were learning to drive for the first time, you should begin by practicing basic driving skills before getting out in traffic with the trailer.

The more experienced you become, the more prepared you will be for anything that may potentially happen. With more confidence and a higher level of awareness and preparedness, you should be better able to handle any unexpected situation that comes along.

Find a level field or a parking lot in which to practice. Mark your course with several highway cones, then, set out to work on the following driving skills:

Ready for the Highway

After youve practiced all the basic driving skills while pulling your horse trailer and you feel confident in your ability to handle the rig safely, youre ready to test your skills out on the road.

Try towing your trailer for short distances, at first. Make sure that you feel comfortable with turning corners in traffic, with backing your trailer, with parking on a grade, and with being able to stop your trailer quickly (should the need arise). Once you are confident in your towing abilities, youre ready to travel any distance with your horses.

Just remember to always be alert when out on the roads. Drive defensively and be prepared for any possible situation.

More articles at articles on database

Choosing the right dog breed for you, your family and lifestyle is the most important decision you can make before bringing the dog home. Get this choice wrong and you end up with one of two results. Either you end up saddled with a dog that is wrong for you and your family, a dog that is basically unwanted and unloved. A dog that is a chore to look after. Or you end up taking the dog to a shelter for re-adoption or worse yet abandoning it. Neither option is good for the dog.

You also need to be aware that the cute little puppy you bought home will not stay a puppy for long. Before too long he or she will be a part of the family that you will have to care for over the next ten years or longer.

To make this new addition a valued and loved part of the family requires a lot of hard work over the first few months, especially in house training. So you have to be certain that you really want a dog before taking on the commitment.

With over 200 breeds of dog in the world how do you decide which is the right breed for you?

There are a few basic questions you have to ask yourself to narrow the choice down.

How much space do you have in your home? Obviously a large dog in a small apartment is a mismatch, a recipe for disaster. Toy dogs, such as terriers are a better choice for this situation.

Do you have children and how old are they? A large dog puppy such as a Great Dane or Saint Bernard could easily bowl a small child over. On the other hand, toy dogs can be very fragile and easily injured by a small child playing with it. To be on the safe side you have to give priority to whats right for your children.

Exercise is another important point. The exercise needs of dogs are proportional to their size. Large dogs need lots of room to exercise and work off their excess energy. They either need a large yard to run about in or to be taken on long walks, often twice a day.

Small dogs on the other hand need far less exercise. This makes them a better choice for an apartment or for someone who wants a dog they can cuddle and give lots of affection.

Grooming is another question to look at. Long haired dogs obviously shed more hair than short haired dogs and so need a lot more grooming, anything up to an hour or so a day. Make sure you have the time to do this before choosing a long haired dog.

Asking yourself these questions will help to boil down the choice of the right dog breed for you to a short list. After that its really down to your particular preference. Try to visualise what you see as your perfect dog and find the best fit in your short list.

Once youve sorted out the breed then its time to decide whether you want a puppy or an older dog. Try to find a reputable breeder for puppies. For older dogs consider finding a Dog Rescue center for the breed.

There are pros and cons for either option. With a puppy you never totally know just what its temperament is going to be until it grows up. A puppy is a blank slate and its up to you to mould it into the dog you want.

An older dog from a shelter or Dog Rescue has already formed its character so you get a better idea of how well it will fit in with your family. It has probably also had the rudiments of being house trained and basic command training. But these dogs may have also suffered from abuse or neglect from their previous owners so may come with a mental or physical baggage of neurosis or ailments. These will need to be treated over time.

So now you have chosen the right dog the hard work begins making that dog a part of your family!

Chris Davis, the author, is a freelance writer publishing and presenting information on a wide variety of subjects. For more informative articles and information on dogs, dog health, dog care and dog training from Chris visit his website http://dog-help-desk.com. This article is free to reprint provided the author credits and link are left in place. Do not use this article for unsolicited email.

More articles at articles host

Mom, can we get a puppy? Who hasnt heard that line before? The kids think its time for an addition to the family, but you know you dont have time for a family pet.

Weve got the perfect solution to make everyone happy!! Hermit Crabs!!

Now before you start to panic because you just heard the word crab, just listen! Theyre not that bad. Trust me, Ive had a few and after a while they were definitely part of our family.

Let me tell you why you should be convincing your kids to get a hermit crab:

1.They dont bark, chirp or meow
2.They wont pee on your carpeting
3.You dont have to train them
4.They wont climb up your screens or run away
5.Theyre very easy to care for
6.Your kids will love them more than a puppy!!

Hermit crabs do not need attention every day or even need to be feed everyday.thats the best reason already! Hermit crabs live in smaller cages and stay in side of a shell. They eat hermit crab pellets and drink water from a sponge.

Believe it or not, hermit crabs are even FUN!! Because they live inside their shells, you can buy shells for your kids to decorate how they want and then the shells are placed inside the cage for the hermit crab to switch shells and live inside the painted ones! Its so neat and your kids will be so thrilled.

Give hermit crabs a chance

Jennifer is the owner of http://www.MomOnABudget.com MomOnABudget.com offers work at home ideas, money saving tips, decorating on a budget, quick easy recipes and so much more. Visit us at http://www.MomOnABudget.com to sign up for our FREE newsletter.

More articles at article database

Does your dog have allergies? It is interesting how dogs experience many of the health issues that humans do, including allergies.

Dog allergies can include skin allergies, dog food allergies (particularly corn and soy), house dust and dust mites, ragweed, molds, pollens and others.

Common Signs and Symptoms of Dog Allergies

Common signs and symptoms of dog allergies include your dog licking her paws, scratching her body or pawing at her ears (due to inflammation). In severe cases, you dog may have oozing hot spots on her body. Allergies may be seasonable or your pet may suffer all year round, depending on the allergen.

How to Avoid Allergens

Avoiding allergens should be the first step in treating your dog’s allergies. If you suspect your dog may have allergies, see your vet for proper diagnosis and treatment.

If you dog is allergic to dust mites, vets suggest you use a plastic cover over your dog’s bed, use a waterproof liner to keep mites from getting in the bed, avoid letting your dog on upholstered furniture and avoid stuffed animals. Dogs with dust mite allergies do best in uncarpeted rooms. Be sure to vacuum very frequently.

If you dog has allergic reactions to pollens, keep him out of fields and tall grasses. Keep your lawn cut short and keep your dog indoors during days with high pollen counts.

How Are Allergies Treated in Dogs?

Typically, mild allergies are treated with soothing shampoos liked oatmeal shampoo, vitamins containing essential fatty acids to help stop itching and keep skin from getting dry. Hydrocortisone spray or shampoo may also help to relieve itching. Check with your vet for other recommendations.

Best Dog Breeds If YOU Have Allergies

If you suffer from dog allergies, the following dog breeds may be a good choice for you because they don’t shed much, or have hair rather than fur: Terriers, Chinese Crested (hairless), Italian Greyhound, Maltese (has coat similar to human hair), Shih Tzu (has hair rather than fur), Poodle (little shedding). Other popular low-breeds are crosses with Poodles such as the Cockapoo and Labradoodle. Keep in mind that no dog is completely non-shedding, except perhaps hairless breeds!

Valerie Goettsch is web master of My Favorite Dog, a website featuring dozens of articles and information on where to find the best of everything for your dog, from flea meds to beds, training and designer dog clothes.

More articles at database for articles