Obesity in pets is a rising cause of health problems in the US today. What can you do to make sure your pet stays healthy? Here are some pet health care tips.
Dogs:
Slow and Steady Wins the Race:
Be careful not to get excited when your pup goes through a growth spurt and over feed him. Slow and steady is best for a dog's orthopedic health. Instead of feeding your growing puppy nutrient-packed food, vets recommend adult food instead.
Too much of a Good thing can be Bad:
Vitamins and supplements always sound like a good idea, but giving your dog too much may cause nutritional imbalances.
Dieting Tips:
If your dog is already overweight, and you want to help him shed sound pounds, help your dog feel full by substituting part of his meal with green beans or plain canned pumpkin. Both are rich in fiber, not in calories.
Cats:
The "Catkins" Diet
To ward off diabetes in your feline try "the catkins diet." 40 to 45 percent protein, 40 to 45 percent fat, and only 3 to 5 percent carbohydrates. You can also try canned cat foods which are closer to this ratio than dry. It may be more expensive than dry food, but your cat's health is worth it!
No Crash Dieting!
Never make your cat "fast." Not feeding your cat within 24 hours may result in a life-threatening situation.
Come join us in the web's most dynamic and fun online pet community at http://www.planet-pets.com/ and keep your finger on the pulse by signing up free to our monthly online newsletter, The Scoop today!
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Health Tips: Overcoming Fat and Diabetes in our Dogs and Cats
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Summer is Hot! Watch out for Heat Stroke!
-Make sure they stay inside with the air conditioner or fan on: when pets breath in overheated air, they can develop brain and organ damage in just 15 minutes, if left outside in the heat.
Every summer hundreds of pets and animals die of heat stroke. Here are a few tips on keeping them cool ( and healthy) this year.
-Protect their feet: hot sidewalks and streets can cause a lot of burnt paws.
-If you suspect that your pet may be suffering from heat stroke, wrap them in cool wet towels and get them to your vet immediately
Here is some additional information from Midland Animal Services, ASPCA, the Humane Society of the United States and the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine
If animals are outside, make sure they have access to shade and water. If you don’t have a dog house, placing a tarp or board over the corner of the fence will create the same effect. Also, make sure water bowls are close enough to the animal they can still reach it if their chain becomes tangled.
-Never leave an animal unattended inside a closed car. Pets don’t perspire like humans do and can overheat more quickly.
-If dogs have dark coats, are obese or have heart disease, be particularly wary of heat stroke and seek veterinary assistance if detected. Signs include panting, excessive salivation, hyper excitement and increased rectal temperature.
-Pets still need exercise in the heat, but limit rigorous activity to early mornings and evenings for older dogs, short-nosed dogs and those with dark coats.-Watch your pet’s ears and nose — animals can get sunburned too and may need sunscreen.
-As people fertilize their lawns for the summer be sure to keep your pets away as ingesting the insecticides can be fatal.
-Make sure your dog has been treated for heart worm, which is commonly caused by mosquito bites.
-Unless your dog’s coat is particularly dark, don’t shave the coat for summer. The same fur that keeps them warm in the winter helps insulate them from heat in the summer.
-Dogs can have allergies to long-term heat exposure just like humans. If you see red, round “hot spots” take the animal to a vet. (Tea bags can be applied to the area for immediate relief)
-With more people and animals spending time outside during the summer, it’s wise to spay or neuter dogs to reduce the likelihood they will bite.
Come join us in the web's most dynamic and fun online pet community at http://www.planet-pets.com/ and keep your finger on the pulse by signing up free to our monthly online newsletter, The Scoop today!
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Noah's Ark and Cats
I found this great mythological story about The Cat and Noah's Ark:
"The cats in Noah's Ark...
...have been the subject of many folk legends. Such legends are not as well established as the previous mythological accounts referred to. Nevertheless, they are not less interesting. According to one of these, at the time of the flood, Noah took pairs of rats and mice too. However, the rodents multiplied very quickly and the Ark was, after a while, infested by rodents. Noah consulted the lion, who as king of the beasts may have known a solution. The lion sneezed and from his nostrils, a pair of ready made domestic cats came out, who instantly set down to work, having a natural instinct for being "verminators".
Sometimes, it is said that God created the cat, but that the mouse is the Devil's work. The Devil's mouse set out to destroy all life forms by gnawing a hole in the Ark. However, God's cat saved the day by killing the mouse, and a frog crept in the hole, thus getting it's amphibian tendencies, by being in contact with water and dry wood simultaneously.
Yet another Noah's Ark cat legend is that of the Manx cat, who has no tail because it was unpunctual in its arrival to the Ark, and the careless Noah closed it's tail in the door of the Ark. Well, after all he was only human, ey?
Monday, May 19, 2008
Ten Dog Breeds that Do Not Shed!
Sick of vacuuming? Or using the lint remover every time you leave the house? Consider these shed-free breeds:
Bedlington Terrier
Poodle
Wire Fox Terrier
Yorkshire Terrier
Portuguese Water Dog
Bichon Frise
Maltese
Afghan Hound
Kerry Blue Terrier
Tibetan Terrier
Come join us in the web's most dynamic and fun online pet community at http://www.planet-pets.com/ and keep your finger on the pulse by signing up free to our monthly online newsletter, The Scoop today!
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Videos: Cute Cat Falling Asleep
Awww..... For more cute cat videos, cute pictures of cats and even e-cards you can send with cats and cute messages on them go to CutePicturesOfCats.com
Come join us in the web's most dynamic and fun online pet community at http://www.planet-pets.com/ and keep your finger on the pulse by signing up free to our monthly online newsletter, The Scoop today!
Friday, May 16, 2008
Dog Care: Signs of Stress
I was reading Pet Age magazine and I found this great little pet care tip.
It's important to recognize when your dog is stressed. It can avoid an attack, bad behavior and even medical problems. Here's what Pet Age magazine said are some signs of canine stress:
Licking the Lips
Yawning
Closing the Mouth
Stiffening of the body
Flashing the whites of the eyes for more than 15 seconds
Nervous clawing or jumping on the supervisor
(in play groups)
Thursday, May 15, 2008
News: Look Out Dog Breeders Of Vermont!!
First:
House Bill 769 will:
-deny a kennel permit to anyone who sells 20 or more litters or 100 or more domestic dogs or wolf-hybrids in any 12 month period
-require permits for anyone who owns or keeps two or more domestic pets or wolf-hybrids 4 months of age or older for sale or breeding purposes
Second:
Senate Bill 341 will:
- limit the number of dogs a breeder can sell in one year
( under this bill a "dog breeder" means anyone who sells a litter of puppies per year for money)
Dog Breeders must:
-immunize each puppy with distemper, hepatitis, parainfluenze, parvovirus and coronavirus vaccine between 7 and 8 weeks of age
-certify each puppy by a vet on a state-prescribed form, as fit and healthy and received appropriate vaccinations before 8weeks old
Dog Breeders must not:
- donate, sell or separate a puppy from the litter until at least 8weeks old
- sell or donate more than 19 litters or more than 100 dogs in any calendar year
Come join us in the web's most dynamic and fun online pet community at http://www.planet-pets.com/ and keep your finger on the pulse by signing up free to our monthly online newsletter, The Scoop today!
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Funny Videos: An Engineer's Guide to Cats
Doesn't the narrator's voice remind you of the teacher from Wonder Years?? But don't let that fool you, this video (while very educational on the care of felines) is pretty funny too.
Enjoy!
Come join us in the web's most dynamic and fun online pet community at http://www.planet-pets.com/ and keep your finger on the pulse by signing up free to our monthly online newsletter, The Scoop today!
Monday, May 12, 2008
Great Dog Books for Summer Reading!
Looking for some summer reading?Dog writers Association of America Celebrates Great books about Life with Dogs:
Best general interest book:
The Howell Book of Dogs by Liz Palika
Best Care and Health Book:
The Living Guide for senior dogs by Diane Morgan
The Best Single-Breed Pet Guide:
The Australian Shepherd Published By TFH Publications
Best All-Breed Magazine:
AKC Family Dog Published By:AKC
Best Special Interest Magazine:
Dogs for kids Published By: Fancy publications
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Funny Videos: Bonzai Cat
CutePicturesofCats.com Presents: Bonzai Cat!!
Thoughts?
Come join us in the web's most dynamic and fun online pet community at http://www.planet-pets.com/ and keep your finger on the pulse by signing up free to our monthly online newsletter, The Scoop today!
