The most common tendency is for a family to become over indulged in the new bundle of joy and somewhat neglect the pet that has been in the house previously. Animals will also have emotions and will not take kindly to a sudden attitude change so it is vitally important for all members f the family to continue to lavish attentions and snuggles on the “older” pets.

Another important factor is for you to ease your two pets into living together slowly. Animals take time to adjust to new surroundings including people and other pets. It would be no use to force pets together and expect them to bond. They should be introduced in a controlled environment where there are plenty of distractions. The new pet needs to gain confidence in his new home and this will take a little time. It is also a good idea to feed your two pets in different locations and at different times at first.

According to my vet, my dog instilled in his mind that he is the “Alpha dog” over me outside the house and it became a habit of him to lead the way to show that he is protecting me and to show other dogs that I belong to his pack. Although it may seem touchy to know, it can be troublesome for it may lead to behavioral issues because its the dog who became in-charge of the human.

The proper way of walking your dog. Make them heel and follow you.

The main purpose of walking your dog is to release those extra physical energies that they have and to relax them but a dog leading the way is not a relaxed dog. It makes them hyper and stressed. Notice that when your dog leads the way or walk in front of you and keeps on sniffing looks hyper ventilated. This is because the mental energy of the dog is high and they are not relaxed. They assume the responsibility of being the alpha dog and those mental activity like worrying with encounters of other dogs  can become mental anguish and will build up inside your dogs.

Walking your dog is a healthy activity for their well-being and makes them physically active and tone down their energy but if not done properly can cause mental stress. When walking your dog, make sure they heel and follow you. Do not let them lead the way and make you part of the his pack. Make sure that it is you who makes the decisions where to walk and not the dog leading you where to walk.

We love our pets.  They are a regular member of the family.  Unfortunately the cost of taking care of a pet can often be quite high.  Here are some tips to help you take care of your pets without breaking the bank.

• Shop Around.  We all want the best care for our pets but not all vets charge the same rates.  Do your research and look for a pet Dr. that has the combination of services and facilities that you need at a rate you can afford.
• Set a Budget. Pets are a member of the family and we have a tendency to spoil them but let’s face it those luxury pet items can really add up.  Make sure you are allocating your money properly to be sure you can cover healthcare needs before you spend extra on toys or fancy foods.
• Keep your pets healthy.  This seems like a no-brainer but when life gets busy we sometimes miss things that should be taken care of.  Feed them well, make sure they have plenty of clean water and exercise and always follow the recommendations of your veterinarian.  Stay up to date with all pet vaccinations.
• Get cheaper prescriptions.  Vets often have a huge markup on the cost of prescriptions for your pet.  You can almost always find them cheaper via mail-order or online.
• Look for alternative treatment providers.  Sometimes your local animal shelter will offer vaccinations and services like spay or neutering at a discount.
• Get pet insurance. If your pet is eligible to be covered with pet insurance it is a good idea to check it out.  If you have a breed of dog that requires higher-maintenance, having insurance can really make a big difference even when factor in co-pays and deductibles.

Before you start trimming your dog’s claws, consider the following helpful tips first:

1. Restrain your dog by putting him / her on a table – This is the best way to trim a dog because you can use your body weight to restrain the dog but do not apply to much weight or force for the dog might be uncomfortable and start wiggling free. Restrain the dog just like your cuddling or hugging him / her and face opposite the claws you are trimming. In that way, you are safe when the dog starts wiggling or pawing you.

2. Know the trimmers – There are different types of claw trimmers for dogs and you can purchase it in vet clinics or pet shops. Do not use trimmers for human nails for it was designed differently and dog’s claws are harder and it might cause pain to your dog if you use a nail cutter and use excessive force to cut the claw.  There are 2 kinds of clippers for dogs, the scissor type and guillotine type so it is a must to familiarize them by consulting your vet.

3.  Dog treats! – Dog treats must always be present just like when your teaching your pet a new trick. You must give a treat and as much as possible different from your regular dog food. It will make your dog at ease knowing that he/she will be rewarded after the nail trimming.

Be careful when trimming for the Quick is full of blood vessels and can cause bleeding if cut. Cut only the tip of the toe nail. Image from the vet girl blogger.

Trimming your dog’s claw is important for untrimmed claws can scratch your dogs skin and most dogs scratches rough materials such as cement or flooring just to trim their claws. Untrimmed claws also hinders them from running properly and can also harm you. Once the dog is used to the process then it will easy for you to trim their toenails and also trim their toenails with a helper as much as possible even if its a small sized dogs.

]]> http://freepettips.com/2011/08/trimming-your-dogs-claw-or-toenail/feed/ 0 http://freepettips.com/2011/08/keep-your-dog-safe-in-the-heat/ http://freepettips.com/2011/08/keep-your-dog-safe-in-the-heat/#comments Tue, 09 Aug 2011 14:24:33 +0000 Julie http://freepettips.com/?p=454 This summer has brought record heat to many parts of the U.S.  Most people know that heat can be dangerous and even deadly for their dogs but may not know the best ways to keep these members of their family safe.  Here are 5 tips to keep your dog safe and happy to enjoy those long dog days of summer.

1. Make sure dogs have plenty of shade.  You can help to keep outside dogs cool by placing them near shade trees or placing tarps or canopies up where they can play and rest.
2. Lots of clean water is essential for keeping dogs hydrated and cool.  Provide several bowls of clean water and to keep it cool you can add ice cubes or freeze a bowl of water or two.  Your dog will love the icy cold water and it will help keep their body cool.
3. Never leave your dog in a hot car!  Hot cars and dogs just don’t mix.  Not only is it extremely dangerous and cam quickly turn fatal for your dog it can also be a crime even a felony depending on the severity.  Just don’t do it.
4. Protect those paws.  Watch for asphalt, sand and other terrain that can get extremely hot.  Dog paws are quite sensitive and can burn easily.
5. Know the signs of heatstroke.  Watch for excessive panting, glazed eyes, unsteadiness or vomiting.  If you fear your dog may be overheated, wrap them in a cool wet towel or run cool water over their body.  Allow them to sip cool water or lick ice cubes.  Contact your vet for immediate assistance which could save the life of your dog.

Enjoy the summer with your dog but take these precautions to know your dog will remain happy and healthy in the heat.

Pets only care of their feelings and yours so they do not want to be immediately connected or bonded to the new pet. They might perceive them as a threat or an outsider. In some cases, like dogs, they might felt unwanted and disposed so they start making attention by making a mess or worst, they may become hostile and may became irritated to your sudden lack of attention to them and may became harmful.

Here are some helpful tips in preventing jealousy among pets:

Carefully introduce them – Bringing a new pet to the household is not that simple. A dog will not welcome a new dog to its territory that easy so introducing them with one another requires precautions and in some cases needs the assistance of an expert like a vet or even a dog whisperer.

Feed them separately – Pets are overprotective when it comes to their food so the new pets must be fed separately for they are still strangers to other pets. Dogs can be extremely aggressive with their foods and they will attack the new pet if feed near with each other. In some cases, the pets health are affected due to stress and malnutrition.

Always provide enough attention to your first pets – To prevent jealousy among pets, make sure to continue the attention you give to your current pets and it would be much better to spend more time to make them feel they are not left out and neglected.

Pet jealousy must be taken a lot of consideration to prevent pets from isolating themselves which may lead to poor health and unease with the environment and also to prevent aggression which may lead to serious fights.

Homemade dog foods is not as easy as mixing a bowl of meat with a bowl of potatoes. The nutrients dogs and cats need differs from us and we are not all nutritionist or vets. Our expertise when it comes to pet’s nutrients is actually insufficient for us to prepare homemade pet foods. Although it is an advantage preparing pet foods that are fresher, there are many factors to consider first before we shift to the home made pet food from commercial pet food.

1. Pets are focused on Nutrients and Less on The Ingredients

Commercial foods are made based on the pet’s nutritional needs. They are processed to provide the needed daily nutrients of our pets. Concocting our recipes may be risky for we might be depriving them of important nutrients such as proteins and carbohydrates.

2. Fresh are Good but Raw are Bad

Fresh foods are good and in fact, vets advises pet owners to give fresh foods to their pets such as bananas and some veggies but not all pets eat veggies and fruits. Raw meats are dangerous. Even though our pets may enjoy nimbling raw meats and bones, it is not safe to give them raw and uncooked foods. Pets are susceptible to salmonella and E.Coli with raw meats. There are also studies showing that dogs became aggressive when feed with raw meats.

Home made pet foods are good but it must be well prepared. Seek advice from your vets or find an online recipe for your dogs and cats. There are even books for pet foods. Commercial pet foods are still advisable because they are economical but it would also be a good treat to your pets if you cook for them once in a while.

Now some people will tell you that adding tomato juice to your dog’s diet will offset the pH balance of your dog’s urine and put an end to the dog spots. Don’t do it! First of all, acidic foods like tomato juice aren’t particularly good for your dog’s digestive system and could lead to problems like urinary tract infection, bladder infection and bladder stones. In addition, the tomato juice will not get rid of the dog spots. It’s not just the acidity level of the urine that creates the dog spots, but also the nitrogen content of your doggie’s urine, and tomato juice won’t solve that.

A good solution is to buy some tough grass that simply won’t get dog spots. Bermuda grass or Kentucky blue grass are both good options. I know it can seem costly to re-grass your whole lawn, but unless you do so, you are bound to be stuck with dog spots.

To make sure I get a qualified, humane, caring groomer for my dog I’ve decided to use Angieslist.com. Angies List reviews professional services such as dog groomers, but unlike all the user-submitted review sites out there, Angieslist has a data certification process on all of their reviews and even has an intervention team that will get involved if you had a bad experience with a professional on their list. You have to pay to use Angie’s List, but it’s pretty cheap, and right now with this Angies List Promo Code you can even save 15%.

I’m hoping that Sofie will end up in a place that looks something like this:

Ok, maybe not. but if I’m going to be paying someone to groom her, I’m going to use Angieslist.com to make sure it is a pleasant and enjoyable experience for Sofie and that she comes back looking and feeling good. After all, if I wanted someone to poorly groom the dog and traumatize her in the process, well I could do that all by myself.

Overheating usually happens when the sun is too high that the outdoors is so hot and may be unbearable to our pets. Even the indoors such as cars and our houses can be too hot for out pets.

The signs that our pets especially dogs and cats are suffering from heatstroke or overheat are as follows:

* panting too much

* sluggish

* loss of appetite

* disoriented

* and vomitting

If you see all these symptoms especially too much panting because pets pants  to breath in and out cool air, so that they can breath in moisture and vapor to cool their bodies, so if panting is evident, then give them cold water to drink or put some ice cubes in a bowl for them to lick. It is also advisable to call the veterinarian for additional remedies. Another great idea is to spray your dog some cool water or give them a bath to cool their bodies.

If the room is too hot, you can turn on the air conditioner or the electric fan and let it face in your pets especially dogs. Dogs love facing the air from the electric fan. If your pets are inside the car, don’t leave them too long or at least park your cars in a cooler place like under the shade of a tree.

When bring your dogs to the park, it is a good idea to bring a bottle of water and a small bowl so in times that the temperature it high, you can give your pet a wisk of water in the face and have some to drink.

Heatstroke due to overheat are common in pets and be a responsible owner. Know the signs and know what to do. A sluggish dog or cat may not just be sleepy or tired. They might be suffering from heatstroke and heatstrokes can lead to cardiac arrest in cats and dogs. So always be cautious with weather changes and know what to do.