Choosing the Right Dog / Cat Bed

A pet's physical condition and age may factor into the selection. Some beds have catnip pillows to tuck inside them to entice cats to choose that bed. Older arthritic pets need more support for their achy joints and this is a valid concern. A popular type of bed has 'bumpers' surrounding it giving the animal a sense of security and it also resembles a 'nest' that dogs and cats create as they turn around and around before curling into a ball to sleep. Some bumper beds have one side missing to enable the elder pet to easily step onto the bed.

The filler or stuffing of the pet bed is most important for the comfort of your pet. One of the newest environmentally friendly fillers is mode from recycled plastic bottles. It is super-soft and odor free and very durable. It holds its 'loft' and is light weight. Styrofoam beads are light in weight, resist odor and can be easily shaped by your pet for 'nesting.' An 'egg crate' filler may be just the right choice for an older arthritic dog but it will not have a long servicable life as the foam tends to break down over time. Recently a 'jel type' bed has been introduced that is claimed to be preferred by many dogs for its supurb comfort.

The outer covering of a pet bed should be made of a high quality fabric that can withstand pawing and digging and can be easily removed for machine washing. Clean bedding can reduce the allergens for you and your pet and forestall the possibility of a flea infestation. Shapes, colors and designs can be found to please owners who have an eye for fashion and want the pet bed to match their home decor.

The size of your pet's bed should be large enough for a full length stretch. Pets that curl into a ball to sleep may require a smaller bed.

The more you know what choices are available the more likely you will choose the best bed for your beloved pet. Remember that support and comfort are the most important factors.

 

Dogs & Cats - Symptoms of Illness to Look Out For

If you have a pet dog or a cat in your family or maybe both, as an owner, you will want to be sure that they are healthy and contented and stay that way. Just as in humans, there are many illnesses that can strike at your pet and some of them are easy to treat whilst others can prove fatal, so it's important to be able to spot the signs and get treatment as soon as possible. Do you know about these diseases? Would you know what to look out for?

Here is some information about dogs and cats that you may find useful. When an animal is ill it will sometimes try to hide away in a dark quiet place if its in pain or discomfort and this behaviour is a sign to look out for, particularly if your pet is normally always happy to be amongst the family. Dogs and especially cats seldom complain and because they cannot express themselves verbally and tell us what their symptoms are, they have this tendency to shut themselves away. So, its up to you, the owner, to be aware of any change in behaviour patterns.

Look out for signs that they are wanting to sleep a lot more than usual, which can be quite a lot with a dogs and cats anyway. Regularly check their eyes, ears and skin for problem signs, especially unpleasant odours and discharges. Are they less playful than normal? These can be the signs and symptoms that not all is well.

If you notice any changes in your dog or cats usual behavior then its much better to be safe than sorry, so call your vet, tell them that you are worried about your pet and explain the symptoms you pet is displaying. They will let you know if you need to make an appointment or if you need to get your pet to them straight away.

Some of the following signs and symptoms to look out for are potentially dangerous and you need to take the appropriate action if spotted.

o Loss of appetite, weight loss or excessive water consumption

o Lethargy or sudden bouts of viciousness

o Extreme Lethargy

o Constant Vomiting

o Diarrhea

o Disorientation

o Seizure

o Difficulty in walking

o Persistent cough

o Pale pink or bluish gums

o Breathing difficulty

o Blood in urine, vomit or faeces

o Bloated abdomen

o Unusual discharges from the eyes or nose

o Foul smelling breath

o Excessive head shaking

These are just some of the symptoms that your dog or cat may display and if you spot any of these, or other warning signs, then contact your vet or better still, take your pet to the veterinary clinic as soon as possible so that he can be examined and treated.

Rosemary has written many articles on dogs and cats and If you would like more invaluable information about the care of your pets and would also like to see fresh information on a regular basis then please visit her site at http://www.theinfochief.com/dogs_and_cats

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Dogs, Cats, and New Babies - How to Handle the Jealousy

My uncle had an Irish setter and a tabby cat. They got along like any brother and sister, and they played together good-naturedly, most of the time. The dog, being the younger, was the more rambunctious one, but when he got a bit out of hand, the cat's hissing made him flee with limp ears and sagging tail.

Unfortunately, not all households are as lucky. Especially, when a new pet is introduced, the peace may go out the window.

Most of the time, discord happens because the territorial tenure of the first pet is threatened. In addition, a secondary setback can arise from the refusal of sharing the attention and love of the master.

The same negative feelings for the new pet may be true for the new baby, too. Although most animals are protective toward the baby, some may approach the infant with a murderous mind-set. After all, a baby gets a lot of attention, more than the pets are willing to share.

During the era when we had our children, the common sense advice was to get the babies first and then the pets. That is what we did, and no problems emerged; however, this is not always possible.

In the case of a new baby, before bringing the baby home from the hospital, it is a good idea to give a baby blanket or articles of clothing that the baby has used to the pets to let your pets get used to the baby's smell. Most of the time, this will be enough.

Even then, it is common sense to keep a vigilant eye when the baby and the pets are in the same room. When you are carrying the baby, make sure to talk to the pets and pay attention to them, giving them treats and petting them if you can. Although your pets' approach is love and acceptance of the baby, do not leave them alone together. It is better to be safe than sorry.

When you are bringing a new pet to a household where there are other pets, introduce the new pet to the other pets slowly, if possible in a neutral territory like a park, a friend's backyard etc. In addition, before bringing them together in the same space, let each pet become used to the other's smell. To achieve this, you might wipe the new pet with a damp cloth and use the same cloth on the older pets or let them play with a pillow that the new pet has sat on.

In the beginning, it may be wise to keep the pets in two adjacent rooms for a short while to let them get used to each other's smells and sounds. Still, the acceptance of the new pet may not happen right away.

Eventually, taking the animals together for a car ride or a walk in the neighborhood and being patient and spending equal time and attention with them will work. In the meantime, a little bit of growling and hissing may not mean much but could be the beginning of communication between the pets.

In any case, keep your calm. If you are nervous, the animals will sense it and will become more agitated. If your pets have stopped listening to your commands, they may be needing a booster course in obedience training, supposing they have been trained in the first place.

If you find yourself in the middle of a physical fight between the animals, do not get in the middle of their fight since you might get hurt. Instead, use a water gun and strict commands, and always remember that you are the master and the leader of their pack.

Most importantly, do not neglect to reward positive behavior. The promise of a treat may stop any animosity.

This article has been submitted in affiliation with http://www.PetLovers.Com/ which is a site for Pets. Joy Cagil is an author in http://www.writing.com

5 Pet Dog Dangers You Didn't Know About

We've heard it all before, "dogs are man's best friend". As devoted pet owners, you sometimes want the best for you pet dogs as much as you did for a certain family members. There's something more about dog care than just providing your dogs the best dog supplies out there. Taking steps necessary for your dog's safety is also one thing since dogs can also be at risk of any dangerous household items that might be in your home. It can be serious dangers and all you have to do now is know what these items are just in case you did not even know about them.

Over a thousand pets suffer each year for getting into what seems like harmless household items, according to experts. As pet owners, here are the top 5 hazards you need to watch out for to ensure you dog's safety:

1. Medications

The bottom line is, swallowing prescription pills could kill you pet. Keep your four-footed friends away from all medication, closed or open, because dogs could knock it around, chew on it and can open it in seconds. If you're sensible enough, you would also not leave an open prescription bottle within your dog's reach.

2. Liquid Potpourri

Many of the liquid-potpourri ingredients is said to breed ulcers in animal's mouth, throat, and gastrointestinal tract. They can be badly burned lapping up hot oils and detergents. Although experts said that cats appear to be more at risk since they are more likely to climb up to reach simmer pots, dogs are not exceptions. Formulas used to make liquid potpourri are also toxic to dogs.

3. Pine-Oil Cleaners

You floor might look good and clean with this cleaner, but there is a danger you didn't know about that your dog is at risk of. The phenol content of these products can cause serious liver damage in you pets according to experts. And even a simple exposure can be harmful. Your pet might unknowingly lap up spill or just lick the wet stuff off her feet.

4. Polyurethane Glue

You would never think this stuff as an attraction to dogs but if dogs happened to see something like a bottle lying on the floor, they would think of it as a toy. In fact, an increase percentage of glue-related cases were reported by the Animal Poison Control Center in the previous years. A swollen stomach is likely to be a symptom of this incident and dog needs to be taken to a vet. This stuff can cause severe harm to your pet dog because it goes to stomach when swallowed, absorbs moisture and expands forming a large, rock-like mass according to experts.

5. Loose Change

Choking on any coin is not mainly the reason for this to be avoided for your dog's safety. The newer one peso and five peso coins, in particular, are dangerous because they contain zinc which is toxic to them. The zinc content dissolves out into the red blood cells as it sits in your pet's stomach, resulting in severe anemia and kidney problems.

Elaine Grandberry loves pet dogs and likes My Dog Pet Supplies, a website specializing a wide selection of dog supplies.

Become The Pack Leader, Training Your Pet Dog

I have a pack of 10 animals--me & my partner, 6 dogs, and 2 cats. I love animals and used to work for recovery groups, and couldn't stand to see an animal put down because it couldn't find a home. After I ended up with 8 animals in my house, I wondered what I had gotten myself into.

Before I started reading about dog training, I had no idea about what a pack leader was. I treated my animals like children, being polite to them, and trying to give them everything they wanted. What a mistake! Once I heard about being the pack leader, I researched it, and here is some of what I came up with.

Basically, being the pack leader means convincing your dogs that you are in charge. You need to be the pack leader whether there is just your and you dog in the house, or like me, you and 8 dogs and 2 cats and a human partner. Every dog trainer I've read says this. The trick is, how?

The pack leader makes the decisions for everyone--where to go on a walk, how to behave in a given situation, and how to respond to all the strange and mysterious doggie things out there. To understand how to establish yourself as pack leader, try to understand that human things mean nothing to a doggie, for instance, whether you drive a Cadillac or a clunker, or whether you live in a chateau or a shanty, They don't care how many PhDs you've earned. A doggie would happily swap all of your moola for a munchie! So we have to understand how a dog thinks, and how a pack works in the wild, if we want to become an effective leader. It's like learning a foreign culture. You can't lead the people without knowing their language!

A common mistake people make comes from frustration. You can't stand that barking anymore, or you're so sick of the dog chewing on your stuff! So you let the anger through, and control your dog through domination. Dominating your dog is not a good way to become the pack leader (and remember that is our goal--too become an effective pack leader); in fact, this can backfire badly if you teach your dog that physical strength is what it is all about. Domination may force your dog into submission temporarily, but it won't convince your dogs that you are worthy of the position. Also, it will not bring peace into your house if you are yelling all the time, and you won't feel good about yourself, either.

So how do you become the pack leader? All dogs, no matter where they live or what their breed is, choose their pack leader the same way:

Calm in the Face of Danger: When you dog barks, trying to alert you to danger, you must calmly observe what he sees and quietly tell him that it is okay. Never yell at him to shut up, as he will think you're joining in.
Shepherd of the Flock: On the walk, you must be the leader, showing your dog which way to go. If your dog begins to pull on the lead, turn in the other direction. Keep doing this until he follows calmly. Your dog should not pull you, even in the beginning, or he'll assume that he is the leader.
Strong but Silent: If your dog is always switched on, full of energy, and can't relax, it could be that he thinks that he is the pack leader. As you establish yourself as the leader, he'll take time off. Make sure you only give him attention or treats ON YOUR TERMS. if he bothers you when you don't want it, don't look at him and just give him a light shove away. He'll learn to respond when you want to give him attention, and you'll have more peace in your house.
Proud Returning Hunter: When you come home (returning from the hunt), go about your business, ignoring your dogs, until they settle down. This is how the pack leader behaves in the wild. Once the dogs settle down, call them over one by one and say hello. This is an important part of being the pack leader, and it is not mean, like ignoring humans. Dogs see this ignorance as your security in leading them.
Controller of the Food: Before I started studying about dog training, I had the dog food and cat food available in bowls on the floor 24/7. I wasn't keen on having to go through the process of feeding 8 animals every day, and it was just easier to let them eat how and when they wanted to. It was a big mistake. They were demanding more and more. Now I feed them twice a day, and pick up the food when they're done. Remember: whoever controls the food, controls the pack.

Becoming the pack leader is a slow process that is very rewarding. When everyone knows their place, peace reigns. Take it step by step, spend time with your dogs, and reap the rewards of a wonderful, fun, and balanced relationship.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

This article was written by Ninoku Takahashi, dog lover.

She used to work in dog recovery services, and ended up taking home 6 dogs and 2 cats! Because of this, she has become involved in all aspects of life with pets.

Pet dog training is especially important, because without peace in your home, you can't have fun, sing doggie songs, or do anything other than discipline.

Ninoku has found one trainer from New Zealand that has helped her the most. If you 'd like to understand more about Being the Pack Leader or see the videos that explain everything, then simply take a look at The Online Dog Trainer, where you can order a series of free dog training videos.

http://www.dogmusic.org/free-pet-dog-training-videos/

"God Bless you and your pets, and I wish you long life and happiness!" --Ninoku Takahashi

To find music you and your dog can share, and other fun doggie things to do, go to her fun website at: http://www.dogmusic.org