Cattle

Archive for June 5th, 2008

When your dog is performing a nice trick or behaves good during training or a certain event you feel like giving him a nice dog treat. But are you sure that every dog treat is healthy for your pet?

Dog’s basic nutrition is almost the same as the human nutrition; our pets need fats, carbohydrates and protein too, but in other ratios and prepared differently.

People can chose to feed their pets with raw food or special dog food in stores. There is a big controversy between some groups of pets about the way we should feed our animals regarding raw food and commercialized food; some believe that raw food has been used for centuries and it’s better for animals while others think that using special dog food assures the optimal nutrition.

Dog treats which are found in stores are usually biscuits made with meat products, milk and wheat but they also contain more fats than normal dog food. Think about dog treats like fast food or chips for humans.

In the last years commercialized dog food including dog treats was found to be poisonous for most dogs. Some of the ingredients contained by dog treats which are known to cause problems are: wheat gluten, onion and garlic products, dairy products in large quantities, large quantities of liver, salt, chocolate etc. These products can cause: diarrhea, kidney failure, heart diseases, obesity, etc.

If you aren’t sure of the dog treats you buy, you can try making some in your home, there are a lot of recipes on the internet and in special pet magazines. All you have to do is to make sure you avoid the products listed above and others which you know that affect your pet.

Other important nutrients which must be assured daily are vitamins. If you feed your dog raw food you might find it hard to calculate if he gets enough vitamins so you might need some supplements; there are a lot of brands which commercialize products that assure the daily vitamin need. If you feed your dog with commercialized dog food, you will know that the daily dose written on the package contains the vitamins your little buddy needs.

Some dog treats contain vitamins too but they are also very tasty for your dog so be careful! If you feed your dog too many dog treats you should cut down the food you give them in meals to avoid obesity and digestion problems. If you bake your dog treats at home try to calculate the amount of nutrients; you can find a lot of nutrient lists on the internet and calculate the optimum amount of food for your dog.

No matter how hard you try to keep your Basset Hound dog healthy, he is still susceptible to some diseases that could hinder his normal activities. The best armor every Basset Hound owner should have is the awareness of what these diseases are and how it can damage their dog’s healthy condition.

Knowing your enemies is the best way to fight them! Below are some of the diseases listed in order for you to know who your enemies are.

Arthritis – Arthritis is mostly suffered by most large dogs. Basset Hound dogs can acquire arthritis because of their odd bone structure. Activities such as too much running and prolonged up and down jumping can cause dogs to develop arthritis. Dogs with arthritis need a soft bed. An old mattress, a soft couch mattress or a 4 inch foam rubber is good. It also helps if you avoid letting your dog do strenuous activities, only gentle and regular exercise to meet their daily exercise requirement. Regular exercise prevents dog from becoming overweight thus decreasing the load their bone carries.

Torsion – Torsion is oftentimes described as a twist of the stomach or when the stomach’s end flips. This causes the stomach not to allow food in, and if not treated properly, the stomach dies causing the dog not to eat. Dogs suffering from torsion must seek veterinary help immediately for treatment and therapy. Not all animals with torsion are treated because this disease develops quickly causing the animal to die. So Basset Hound owner must focus their attention in preventing their dogs from acquiring this disease. Feed your dog at least twice instead of one large meal a day and he should not be allowed to drink large amount of water after eating. He should as well not be allowed to play and indulge in strenuous activity before and after eating.

Bloat – Dogs usually fed once daily are most likely to acquire this life-threatening condition. Factors of bloat can be gulping air, drinking large amount of water and doing vigorous activities after eating. See your veterinarian immediately once you bloat is suspected. Measures to prevent bloat are almost the same with torsion.

Basset hounds also referred as scent hounds, are short-legged breed of dogs that are bred to hunt by scent. Because their nose is close to the ground most of the time, it picks up parasites, bacteria and some viral diseases. Their long and floppy ears have a tendency to get odorous so cleaning them properly is necessary to prevent ear wax from building up and cause ear infection. Cleaning your dog’s ears 2 to 3 times a week with a mixture of water and hydrogen peroxide is recommended.

Now that you are aware of the diseases that could possibly affect your dog, all you need to do is make sure that they are protected against these diseases. That’s the least you can do for this breed whose main aim is to please you and other people around him.

Although we are unable to identify the exact time period in history when the Bassett Hound was created, some historians have noted that the first mention of this type of dog was found during 16th-century text that made mention to “short-legged dogs used for badger hunting.

We also know that comparable dwarf breeds that had short legs were used during the ancient times, but it is very difficult to focus in on exactly when and why the Bassett Hound was intentionally bred.

The word “Basset” is French and is derivative from bas, which means “dwarf”. We know that short-legged dogs were normally used for slow paced hunting during the French Revolution. History of this dog breed indicates a much clearer snap shot after French Revolution.

During this time period that Basset Hounds became a whole lot more common as a hunting companion. Many Hunters needed a dog that was intelligent enough with its scent ability to hunt prey and at the same time was slow enough so that they could be followed and hunted with guns. This is where this animal received its small dwarf-like body; it became the perfect hunting formula for these needs.

Ultimately, there are four different variations of the short-legged kind were created. One of these variations is know as the Basset Artesien Normand. The Basset Artesien Normand is what closely resembles today’s Basset Hound. In the late 1800s and then again around 1930, crosses were developed with Bloodhounds to bring up their size. The first Bassett Hounds were sent to England and the United States during the late 1800s.

Personality

You will discover that the Bassett Hound is one of the most calm and relaxed dog breeds alive today. They are very good-natured with nearly every other animal and human they come into contact with. The Basset is enormously suited for kids and is well behaved even in the company of other strange dogs. Even though these dogs are considered high in affection levels and friendliness, do not underestimate its watchdog capabilities. In addition, these Hounds made great watchdogs.

Taking Care Of A Basset Hound

Basset Hounds need a dose of daily exercise, but not an over dose. One or two walks each day on the leash around your blog will suit just fine. But, like any animal, it is always good for extra playtime and games when possible. Bassett Hounds should sleep indoors with the family during the evening. During the day, having these dogs should have access to an enclosed yard. There’s no need for that much grooming. Just a little brushing and bath times throughout the week will be fine. Also, make note that these dogs tend to drool frequently.

Health Information

Basset Hounds have a live around 9 and 12 years, sometimes they live longer, it all depends on their health. Big health concerns are ectropion, vWD, CHD, gastric torsion, OCD, thrombopathy, otitis externa, and elbow dysplasia. Minor health problems may include patellar luxation. Obesity is a common issue with these animals when owners overfeed them. Make sure that you place caution on how much food you provide.

Our Four Furry Kids
We’ve got four…that’s right…four…dogs.  Three Maltese and one Australian Shepherd mix.  Three of the four are rescue dogs.  Just one of the Maltese was purchased from a breeder, and that was during a grieving period immediately after the death of another Maltese.  So, we are dog lovers, that’s for sure.  Maybe we take it to extremes,because when we travel, we have a dog sitter come in and stay at the house.  Not only do the dogs feel more comfortable, but it is actually less expensive than boarding them all.

They all have been given toys of every shape and size imaginable.  The Australian Shepherd doesn’t like any toy, furry, vinyl or rubber.  He only cares for the leather bones with the infused “meat” strips.  We’ve had the youngest Maltese for just over a year.  We rescued her from a puppy mill where she was one of the breeding females.  I guess she’s about five years old now, and we haven’t been able to interest her in any toys except for a smaller version of the leather chews that the Shepherd likes.  The next oldest Maltese doesn’t care for furry toys, but has this old raggedy, green vinyl “hamburger” (I think from Zanies) that she loves.  I’ve been all over the internet, and can’t find another so we hope that it’s good for the duration.

The Vicious Old Lady
The eldest Maltese is ten and a half years old.  The only, and I mean only, toy she would play with is a “carrot man” we found at a pet supply store.  It’s a furry, gold carrot, about six inches long with a squeaker.  Her life’s goal is to see how many of these she can destroy by tearing them apart and triumphantly pulling out the squeaker!  As I was cleaning up the stuffing from the latest carrot man carnage, I saw these Crazy Critters advertised on TV.  I usually tune out the As Seen On TV promos, but when I saw the dog tearing the stuffing out of the pillow, I became interested.

It’s Crazy Critter Time
There are two Crazy Critters; each about 24 inches long.  One is a fox and the other is a raccoon.  They are plush dog toys without the stuffing and are practically indestructible.  They lie flat on the floor so it’s easy for the dog to pick up, and have squeakers at each end.  I figured that one of these days, they’re going to quit making “carrot man”, so I’d better try and find a substitute now.  Besides, cleaning up the stuffing is a chore I can do without, and constantly replacing the carrot man is something that isn’t budgeted.

So, I parted with the $24 bucks and ordered.  When the Crazy Critters came in, we sort of snaked the fox across the floor in front of her.  At first, she just sort of cocked her head and processed the new intruder.  Then, she pounced…grabbed it…shook it…and took it to her bed for the ritual gutting.  However, as hard as she tried, the Crazy Critter withstood the onslaught and remained intact.  Then, she discovered the squeakers, and was in heaven.  Now, she carries it around with her as a constant buddy.  What’s neat is that the Maltese from the puppy mill has adopted the raccoon, and has a ball playing with it.  It’s nice to see your kids having fun!