Cattle

Archive for December, 2008

Heated dog beds are well-known for its unlimited benefits both for dogs and dog owners, and no doubt making a better quality of life . There’s nothing more special dog beds that could give comfort and soothing warm than heated dog beds. A heated dog bed will keep your pet cozy whole year round, when the seasons change and most especially when temperatures dip to those cold digits during the day and night. Heated pet beds are highly recommended by veterinarians and animal health practitioners.

Heated dog beds have capability to comfort and heal the soaring muscles and joints or older dogs, dogs with arthritis, pets with injuries or even just tired dog body from a day of play and adventure. These special beds can help ease mind and change behavior of dogs with uncomfortable feelings or puppy with separation anxieties. Let’s list down the benefits and guide differences of heated dog beds that would help your dog’s special warm needs.

Soothing comfort for Senior Dogs. Aging dogs are about to suffer uncomfortable sickness such as arthritis, muscle pains, fatigues other health issues and as well as they are easily get tired so heated dog bed is a must. As dogs start to get older they can encounter joint problems and these beds are perfect for easing the pain. Perhaps your dog is quite a heavy breed and they are putting a lot of stress on their joints, in which case a heated dog bed would be a great way to help relieve some of the stress on those joints. Quite often dogs can become a lot less active due to developing sore muscles. The low level heat, supplied from heated dog beds has been known to have a therapeutic nature and stimulate circulation to help relieve sore muscles and joints.

Dogs Suffering from Illness, Surgery and Injuries. Sick dogs have a very irritable feeling that causes them to bite even on the one whose caring or feeding them. Heated pet beds help on comforting and easing the body and mind of sick dogs with their soothing warm. Heated dog beds are proven helping to alleviate pains and physical sickness. Vets recommend heated beds for dogs and animals healing from surgeries.

Comfort and “At Home” feeling for new Puppies and newly Adopted Dogs. Many new dog owners are dealing with dogs suffering separation anxieties, but with heated beds, they will feel safe and security. Puppies love to cradle their head on pillows or armrest and heated pet beds give them this comfort. Newly adopted dog or new puppies easily settle down with their new home when they have this comfortable territory they feel their own.

Perfect for Outside Dogs and Guard Dogs. Heated dog beds are perfect for winter days and freezing nights. Choose heated beds that are tougher and heater enough even for dogs leaving outside.

Dogs having long hair or fur all over their body don’t mean that they won’t feel coldness; they need to feel the comfortable heat and warm-touching security out of pain, discomfort and anxieties. While the owners have less worry about their dog suffering from illness or irritable feelings, heated dog beds is just simple solution.

When you are ready to get a dog, you’ll find that there are many breeds available to you. Whether you go to a breeder or you are curious about the background of some of the lovely dogs you can find at a shelter, you’ll discover that being aware of the different groups of dogs might help you make your pick.

If you are someone who is looking for a dog that will require lots of regular exercise and who has a great deal of natural energy and exuberance, consider sporting dogs. Sporting dogs are very active and alert and do require a fairly constant schedule of activity. Some examples include Cocker Spaniels and Golden Retrievers.

Dogs from the hound group were bred for hunting, whether they hunt with their eyes and with their nose. Like sporting dogs, they do require regular and fairly intense exercise, but they are also quite diverse. Make sure that you know if you are getting a breed that bays, because the sound is quite loud. Beagles and Norwegian Elkhounds are a part of this group.

Working dogs, on the other hand, have been bred to perform certain specific jobs, whether it means that they have instincts to herd sheep or guard property. Siberian Huskies, Boxers and Doberman Pinschers are all members of this group.

Terriers are often distinguished by their small size and their bright and energetic personalities. They are usually not dogs that are friendly with other dogs, and in the past they were bred to kill rats and other vermin. They are quite lively and you may want to think about it before you bring them into a house with small children. Jack Russell Terriers and Welsh Terriers are part of this group.

Toy dogs are, as the name implies, small and bred to be house dogs. They are great for people who don’t have a lot of space and make good apartment dogs. Consider some of the very popular breeds like Chihuahuas or Yorkshire Terriers.

Herding dogs were bred to protect their charges from predators and to make animals move from place to place. Some members of this group might surprise you, like the Welsh Corgis and Swedish Vallhunds who are just about a foot tall and capable of driving cattle into pastures. These dogs are great companions, but do require good socialization and training. Border collies and Pulis are two examples of this type of dog.

Non-sporting dogs are very diverse, and this is something of a catch-all territory. They do not fit into any other group, but they might share characteristics with them. Poodles, Bulldogs and the Japanese Shiba Inu fall into this category, as do the long haired Lhasa Apso and the Keeshond.

When you are thinking about choosing a breed of dog, consider what your requirements are in terms of temperament and think about what the dog itself needs in terms of exercise, space or socialization. This is an important choice for you to make, so think about the options and make sure that you get a companion animal who suits your space and lifestyle.

Good dog food nutrition is a tough find these days, especially in today’s world of manipulative marketing techniques. With some dog food comparisons, your canine friend may still lack what he or she needs to be healthy. This article should explain a lot about optimal nutrition.

Your pooch has to have essential nutrients to stay vibrant and healthy, but a very slim minority of us know exactly what a healthy pet food is! Most of us rely on our pets canned, home-cooked, raw or dry dog food to deliver the right amount of pet nutrition, but the fact is that many of these brands don’t come close to being an optimal diet for dogs.

When it comes to natural nutrition for dogs, there are six elements you have to keep in mind. These are minerals, proteins, vitamins, fat, carbohydrates and finally, water. By making sure your pet gets enough of these nutrients, your dog will have the greatest odds of living a healthy, long and happy life.

If you buy commercial quality dog food, or fix your dog home cooked food, keep in mind that protein should make up about 50% of your dogs diet. Grab the good quality protein – no “meat byproducts” which you mostly find as major ingredients in the majority of cheaper commercial pet foods. Beef, chicken, fish and lamb may be fed to your pet for optimal nutrition.

Make sure to include a little fat in a natural dog food nutrition diet. Yes, they get fat from meat, but you should also give them an oil supplement of fish oil, flaxseed oil, safflower oil or olive oil which will leave their fur and skin shiny and healthy.

I used to think of dogs as straight carnivores, but you should really give them a wide range of foods and carbohydrates, this is an important part of canine nutrition. Yes, the main ingredient in quality dog chow needs to be some kind of meat, but also make sure they get some grains – brown rice, barley and oats are what they should get but you’ll probably see corn or soy in most dog food brands and these can actually be very unhealthy.

If you really want to give your pooch good dog food nutrition, give him some vegetables and fruits. Allowing your canine buddy to eat these kinds of foods will provide them with quality minerals and vitamins, if you give them raw vegetables and fruits this will provide critical digestive enzymes.

Last but not least, constantly provide your dog with an ample amount of fresh, preferably filtered water. A well hydrated puppy is a healthy and happy puppy.

Dog nutrition is so important, but it’s easy as long as you put in some up front time. There are some commercial foods out on the market that provide good nutrition for dogs but not many. So when you compare dog food, you just need to do a little research to discover the truly healthy foods. There are many great books and reports on this subject written by some of the world’s top pet health researchers and holistic veterinarians.

A new kitten is a playful one; however their playful instincts can get them into trouble at times. Humans know the dangers of the washing up liquid that is perched on the kitchen sink, and surely a kitten could not jump up that high, or could it? A kitten has an acute sense of smell and everything around them is new, including items such as orange peel or cola that will not be classed as good cat nutrition. Proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, low fat and reduced salt are the ingredients that your kitten will need for their bones and tissues, allowing them to grow quickly into a strong and healthy adult cat.

A kitten relies on humans for good cat nutrition being, quite literally, handed to them on a plate. Pet owners who bring a kitten home take on the responsibility of providing quality ingredients for their kitten. The best way to check that your chosen pet food for kittens contains quality ingredients is to read the labels on the packaging.

The first ingredient should be meat. The other ingredients will follow after that. Watch out for pet food having high levels of water, salt or fat which do not contribute anything to quality cat nutrition and should be avoided.

At first you should feed your kitten four small meals a day until he is older, and always have plenty of fresh water available. A kitten will sometimes play with his food before he starts to eat, due to his natural hunting instincts that are hereditary.

In the wild, cat nutrition is a natural process for the cat family as they set out to hunt for food, at the same time fulfilling a need to get up and move around to keep them fit and healthy. At Hills Pets we provide kitten and cat food that contain the essential ingredients needed for good cat nutrition.

Blood in cat urine can be caused by many different things. Veterinarians will tell you that cat urine with blood in it can either be “gross”, meaning you can see it with the naked eye, or it may be microscopic, meaning you cannot see it except under a microscope. The medical name for the presence of blood in cat urine is hematuria. Causes of Blood in Cat Urine As mentioned above, there can be many reasons for hematuria in your pet. Some of them include: * Various types of urinary tract infections * Bladder infections * Vaginitis in females * Some forms of urinary cancer * Urinary tract stones * Poisoning (especially from rat poison products) * Accidents or injury As you can see, cat urine with blood in it can be caused by some very serious conditions, all of which need to be treated by a professionally qualified veterinarian. In some cases, blood in cat urine can indicate a life-threatening condition, and getting your pet to the vet quickly can save its life. Other Symptoms Associated with Blood in Cat Urine In addition to seeing cat urine with blood discharges, you may also notice some other signs and symptoms. For instance, you may notice your pet is experiencing pain when urinating. You may also notice that your pet has become weak or is unable to move. There may be pain in the abdominal area, and you may also notice that your pet urinates more often than usual. All of these, along with cat urine with blood in it, are signs of a problem. Treatment of Blood in Cat urine Treatment for cat urine with blood depends on the cause. Your vet may need to do several tests to rule out possible causes. This might include anything from urine test to X-rays. Once the underlying cause has been identified, treatment can begin such as making sure your cat is properly hydrated (drinking enough) or if urinary or bladder stones are blocking the path of the urine. In many cases the reason for blood in cat urine can be treated with antibiotics. Antibiotics will take care of most bacterial infections that lead to cat urine with blood in it. In some cases, you may need to change your pet’s diet to help reduce the presence of cat bladder stones. More often than not, blood in cat urine will require increased levels of hydration. And if poisoning is suspected, additional levels of Vitamin K may be required. The key to remember is that blood in cat urine is not normal and should be reported to your vet as soon as possible. Once the underlying reason for the cat urine with blood is known, treatments can begin and recovery can start. Preventing Cat Urine and Feline Urinary Tract Problems Your cat’s urinary tract leads to the outside of the body so that your cat can urinate. While this allows urine to exit the body, it also provides a path for bacteria to enter. The body uses the chemical makeup of urine (high concentrations of urea) to cleanse the tract and kill organisms such as bacteria to prevent infection. The key to health then is frequent urination which has the effect of “cleansing all the organs in the urinary pathway including the ureters, bladder and kidneys and preventing other problems such as cat bladder infections which leads to problems such as cat urine with blood. You should also make sure your cat’s liter box is clean so bacteria that resides on feces isn’t entering the body. Cat’s by nature may not drink enough water as they tend to get the moisture they need through their food. Dietary change from dry kibble to canned food may be something to try if your cat is subject to feline urinary tract infections or has minor cases of blood in cat urine. You might also try natural remedies which help the urine and urinary tract maintain the PH necessary for the urine to properly cleanse the system. Ingredients such as Arctostaphylos uva ursi, Berberis vulgaris, Cantharis and Staphysagris are known to safely help maintain and possibly have a positive impact on the bladder and urinary tract. Discuss this option with your veterinarian if blood in cat urine is a continuing concern.