Some believe that commercial dog food is at the heart of many different illness in canines, and I think it may have contributed to my dog's seizures and may have even caused them. The reason I came to that conclusion is that Cory's seizures gradually were reduced once we stopped feeding him kibble and canned dog food, until they stopped completely over 5 years ago, without ever putting him on anti-epileptic drugs. Were you even aware that there are other foods that can also cause seizures in canines and harm your dog's overall health? There are a few of these that really took me by surprise.
* Chocolate.
Nearly all pets owners are aware that chocolate can lead to seizures and to death for dogs. My dog, Cory, ate some of my son's chocolate candy from Halloween. He had consumed quite a bit of it when Jayson discovered him, with Cory's head deep inside the bowl of chocolate bars and his tail wagging with exuberant glee. My son contacted the poison control center and was told to get Cory to drink some Hydrogen Peroxide. This caused Cory to throw up. Happily I had Hydrogen Peroxide in the cupboard where I keep first aid supplies. My son performed this emergency procedure outdoors. Cory is fortunate that my son caught him eating the chocolate in order to get it out of him in time. If you think your dog has gotten into some chocolate, and you do not know how much time has passed, you should contact a vet right away. Otherwise, if you see your dog eating it, you can use the Hydrogen Peroxide solution. Dark chocolate is more dangerous than milk chocolate.
* Foods that Have Onions or Onion Powder for Ingredients
Onions have disulfides and sulfoxides in them that can lead to the destruction of red blood cells, which makes dogs anemic.
* Raw Fish is off limits.
Especially here in the Pacific Northwest, salmon and other fish often carry a fluke which in turn carries a bacteria which can cause seizures and death if consumed raw. If you make sure the fish is fully cooked, this bacteria is eliminated, but you still need to take care to remove every single bone from the fish prior to giving it to your dog. I am no scientist and don't have the specific formula, but I have heard it said that if you freeze the fish at a certain temperature, the extreme cold will kill off the fluke and destroy the bacteria, thus eliminating the problem, you'll have to do the research for length of time and the required temperature before you try this.
* Nutmeg is another to avoid.
It never really crossed my mind to put nutmeg on Cory's food, not even at the holidays, but it has been shown to cause tremors, seizures, and yes, even death. No more sharing those cookies with your buddy unless you are sure that they don't contain nutmeg, I think you'll be just fine on this one.
* Mushrooms can be dangerous.
There are mushrooms out there, especially the ones found in the wild, that contain toxins that have been shown to cause problems for canines. I knew this and was alert to keeping Cory away from mushrooms on our walks. You should teach your dog the words "leave it" while he is still a puppy.
* Cat food.
Poor Cory, he loves to lick the plate clean after our kitty's done eating, and now that I found out about this one, he won't be able to anymore. Cat food is made with too many fats and too high a protein content for dogs to eat. You might still let your dog eat the crumbs left over from your cat, but you should not replace your dog's food with cat food.
* Seeds of Apples
Apple seeds and other pits from fruit contain the poison cyanide, which can cause seizures.
* Raisins and Grapes
When I first learned that grapes and raisins can cause kidney failure in dogs it was at the same time I was reading a training book for dogs that actually advocated giving raisins as treats! I contacted the author with my concerns and she was very defensive, saying that she had always used raisins as training treats for her dogs. All I can say is be aware of the risks and do more research before giving grapes or raisins to your dog.
* Egg whites.
You are certainly able to give your dog full eggs that include both the whites and the yolks; however, it is not safe to allow him to eat just the whites. This is because egg whites include a protein called avidin, which takes important B vitamins away from your dog's body. The good news is that the yolk contains the antidote to this protein, and so serving the egg in its entirety is nothing to concern yourself over.
Sandra DeMers is the author of Cory's Story, the story of how one dog conquered canine epilepsy that will absolutely AMAZE you. Visit her website for a wealth of knowledge and resources, including the 4 stages of dog seizures.
Saturday, 2 February 2013
Friday, 1 February 2013
Puppy Tips 3- First things to train and avoid- Clicker Dog Training
Dog training-Teaching a puppy to come and walk on lead www.sidneyaarons.com.au
Dog Training Tips: How To Train A Puppy To Sit
Potty Training a Puppy | Teacher's Pet With Victoria Stilwell
Different Type Of Terrier Breeds
Whatever your dog preference is, you are sure to find terrier dogs among the candidates for a pal. You'll get energy you want with little grooming and added wit.
Basically bred for hunting and killing vermin, Terrier dogs are now known to offer wide spectrum of features and characters that you might find lovable. They are not as cuddly as toy dogs (while there are some terrier dogs in the toy and companion dog brackets) and they may not be as intelligent like other breeds but they set off these lacks with various things that only they can offer.
Let us discuss in brief some of the terrier dog types that you may find interesting:
Less aggressive but definitely not timid. This best describes Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers. They are definitely alert and very spirited, but when the call for steadiness arrives, they are sure to show you some air of confidence and steady disposition.
This dog type too is gifted with intelligence which makes them very responsive with obedience training.
Parson Russell Terrier is a dog type that exhibits boldness, cleverness, affection and exuberant disposition. While many may find this a playful pal, it is still not advisable for everyone to take Parson Russell home. In fact, formal obedience training is a must for owners since this dog type is more likely to display mischievousness and too much playfulness that make this a very independent pet. For people with active lifestyles and those who can tolerate explorative disposition, this scamp is the best for you.
The Norwich Terrier, on the other hand, is a type of dog that resulted from breeding small Terriers with other smaller breeds, possibly Yorkshire Terriers. Maintenance of Norwich Terrier is minimal and they are content with modest living quarters. They have active disposition though and can be affectionate and fearless. Additionally, they are also known to display stocky and happy personalities which make them ideal pals.
Much like the Norwich Terriers, Norfolk Terriers are also well-spirited, fearless, charming and always ready for game. While both may have some similar physical characteristics, Norfolks can still be distinguished through their folds in the ears.
Basically workman-like dogs, Kerry Blue Terriers are excellent watchdogs and work well in farm settings. This dog got its name from its blue-shade coat color which was originally black during puppyhood.
Wire Fox Terriers are of great interest since they display power through its excellent endurance capabilities and speed. Alertness and quick movements are the dominant expressions of this dog type. It is advisable though that the owner trains this dog and should be given enough doses of daily exercises.
Meanwhile, Smooth Fox Terriers are the frolic and lively types of dogs that are ideal in both country and city living. Displaying intelligence and cleverness, this dog makes good trainees and must be well credited by that. They are also likely to show great affection towards their owners.
These are just some of the many terrier dog types that can be considered as your next pets. In general, this dog type has good dispositions and makes ideal home pets. While some may display obscure aggressiveness, this still does not negate the fact that most types have the capacity to develop affection and keen expression of their attachment to their owners. Be warned though that some dog types in this breed can be very playful and should be given enough amount of attention and time during obedience training and exercises.
Visit the Terrier Breeds website to learn about maltese terrier and teacup yorkshire terrier.
Basically bred for hunting and killing vermin, Terrier dogs are now known to offer wide spectrum of features and characters that you might find lovable. They are not as cuddly as toy dogs (while there are some terrier dogs in the toy and companion dog brackets) and they may not be as intelligent like other breeds but they set off these lacks with various things that only they can offer.
Let us discuss in brief some of the terrier dog types that you may find interesting:
Less aggressive but definitely not timid. This best describes Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers. They are definitely alert and very spirited, but when the call for steadiness arrives, they are sure to show you some air of confidence and steady disposition.
This dog type too is gifted with intelligence which makes them very responsive with obedience training.
Parson Russell Terrier is a dog type that exhibits boldness, cleverness, affection and exuberant disposition. While many may find this a playful pal, it is still not advisable for everyone to take Parson Russell home. In fact, formal obedience training is a must for owners since this dog type is more likely to display mischievousness and too much playfulness that make this a very independent pet. For people with active lifestyles and those who can tolerate explorative disposition, this scamp is the best for you.
The Norwich Terrier, on the other hand, is a type of dog that resulted from breeding small Terriers with other smaller breeds, possibly Yorkshire Terriers. Maintenance of Norwich Terrier is minimal and they are content with modest living quarters. They have active disposition though and can be affectionate and fearless. Additionally, they are also known to display stocky and happy personalities which make them ideal pals.
Much like the Norwich Terriers, Norfolk Terriers are also well-spirited, fearless, charming and always ready for game. While both may have some similar physical characteristics, Norfolks can still be distinguished through their folds in the ears.
Basically workman-like dogs, Kerry Blue Terriers are excellent watchdogs and work well in farm settings. This dog got its name from its blue-shade coat color which was originally black during puppyhood.
Wire Fox Terriers are of great interest since they display power through its excellent endurance capabilities and speed. Alertness and quick movements are the dominant expressions of this dog type. It is advisable though that the owner trains this dog and should be given enough doses of daily exercises.
Meanwhile, Smooth Fox Terriers are the frolic and lively types of dogs that are ideal in both country and city living. Displaying intelligence and cleverness, this dog makes good trainees and must be well credited by that. They are also likely to show great affection towards their owners.
These are just some of the many terrier dog types that can be considered as your next pets. In general, this dog type has good dispositions and makes ideal home pets. While some may display obscure aggressiveness, this still does not negate the fact that most types have the capacity to develop affection and keen expression of their attachment to their owners. Be warned though that some dog types in this breed can be very playful and should be given enough amount of attention and time during obedience training and exercises.
Visit the Terrier Breeds website to learn about maltese terrier and teacup yorkshire terrier.
Video Source: Youtube
Puppy Training Tips - New Puppy Tips For Your New Dog
puppy training tips are mostly common sense but a few tips are great to have. A big thing to remember here is the age of your puppy. All the training in the world will not sink in for your puppy if it is very complicated. Starting with the basics like the puppy learning their name and responding to you. This can be done with your puppy at play time with you. Puppy's are just baby's and so small fun filled play sessions work well.
As early as possible you will want your puppy potty trained, whatever methods you use keep consistent. Puppy needs to go to the potty area, at first ten times a day. While you are praising him for using the right area you can use his name, in this way you are doing both at the same time. Puppy's love praise, so the more praise they get for the right behavior, they quickly learn that this is a great, and easy, way to get praise from you. Giving your new puppy lots of new situations help's your puppy grow up into a well adjusted dog that can cope with situations as they arise. By this I do not mean take your puppy on to a main road straight away, with lots of loud traffic but to build up the experience over time.
Helping your puppy to cope with the different situation they may encounter. If they are likely to meet up with children, well let's face it in a park they are over time going to meet children. Introduce your puppy to children early on. Maybe you have relatives that use a wheelchair, again introduce this early for the dog, in this way you build up the puppy's ability to cope. This reduces any problems you may have later. Basic lead work is a good area to work on as well. Allowing your puppy to get used to a lead and collar.
You are not expecting heel work at this point, but you are expecting the introduction of the collar and lead. A tip here is for you to get the dog using the lead while you are out and not carrying the puppy around. Carry you puppy can become a bad habit, and if you have a large dog it is soon something you would rather not be doing. If you have a car then the introduction of puppy to the car should be started. Think about car safety and if you wish to use a dog seat belt or maybe a crate in the car.
Some puppy's like children can get car sick, if this happens, do not shout or hit the puppy, it really cannot help what has happened. This is why a set aside area in the car can work really well, you then only have the mess in that place. If your puppy is car sick then you need to think about shorter journeys and building up trips as the dog gets used to traveling in the car.
Think about your puppy and what you want from their training and then sort out the program you wish to follow, soon you will have a puppy training the way that you want.
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