Cattle

Archive for September, 2010

The affectionate and energetic Cavalier King Charles Spaniel makes a perfect family dog or companion. These dogs, and especially puppies, are best in a home with older children that can understand how small and fragile the dog is. It can be dangerous to have very young children around puppy Cavalier King Charles Spaniels as the children may not know the dog’s limitations and delicate size. For great family recreation, the dog can be walked several times per-day as it requires steady and frequent exercise. It is important to understand that a small dog, such as the Cavalier are not ones for long walks, but rather many short jaunts. Even a short stroll in the back yard is sufficient, but be sure to recognize that this little guy still loves his time outdoors. Have each family member take him out once per day and he is assured adequate fresh air and exercise. The Cavalier King Charles also typically loves to chase cars and run after small animals. Keep this in mind if you intend to keep your dog occupied with unattended outdoor time. Make sure the environment is safe for your little friend and check on them frequently.

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel has historically been known as a well-behaved lapdog. They love plenty of company and attention and will grow to be very obedient if trained from the beginning. They are perfectly happy to be with you or on your lap at all times. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel gets along with most people and animals, as they are naturally good-natured. This dog truly admires its owner and will not be happy to be left alone all day long. Understand that this family pet wants to be a part of your life, rather than just a side-note addition.

The docile character of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel makes it easy to train them for showing and their charming mannerisms make them great show contestants. This dog aims to please and obtain praise and the best in show arena is no exception. As with any dog it is best to begin training a show dog early for optimal performance. Their obedience and beauty have the capability to get them all the way through the competition.

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are a highly intelligent breed that understands well, and is generally quick to respond the owner’s commands. This reinforces their suitability for show and overall pleasant personality. In addition, because the Cavalier is a descent of hunting dogs it loves the outdoors. Yet given its smallness, does not require more than 45 minutes of exercise per day. Be sure to give your Cavalier a minimum of 30 minutes of outdoor time per day as this breed is predisposed to becoming overweight. Keep in mind that treats and table scraps are to be limited at all times and also be sure to administer a sensible eating plan. If you can keep the dog at a healthy weight and provide it with plenty of love and company, you are assured a lively companion.

By domesticating the dog we have slowly and drastically changed their everyday lifestyle in terms of the way they eat and exercise.  Just as in us humans the lack of physical activity, departure from nature, more reliance on chemicals, synthetic nutrients, and processed foods has made it difficult for our dogs to maintain a healthy body.  In general the amount of calories they need from their natural environment has decreased which means we have to figure out how to supply them with all the nutrients they need to maintain a healthy body from less food.  Unfortunately this is happening as the dog food industry is using more food processing, packaging, and storage techniques that are depleting many of the nutrients that are dogs need.  It would be optimum to return to natural, fresh and raw foods that are dogs are genetically prone to but in most instances this is just not feasible. Most of us do not even do it for our own diets so we cannot expect to do it for our dogs. This dictates that for your dog’s best possible health, it is necessary to provide nutrients via dog supplements.

Just as in our choice of whether we eat natural whole fresh food or processed prepared food, we have a choice in the type of supplements we use in provide needed dog vitamins and nutrients.  There are natural vitamin supplements and synthetic supplements. The latter are manufactured in laboratories from bio-chemical processes that produce the same molecules and organic substances found in nature.

Natural vitamins on the other hand are derived from food sources. This underlying fact is crucial in the effectiveness of the vitamin supplement. Vitamins are a critical element of the essential body metabolism that supports life. They do not act alone but in conjunction with other nutrients that occur in their natural food environment.  Much of this interaction is still not understood. There actually could still be nutrients and vitamins that have not even been identified in this complex molecular structures. Therefore as the synthetic vitamins are chemically the same as natural vitamins and can supply any basic deficiency in the body for that vitamin your dog does not get any of the whole food catalytic processes which initiates the body’s chemical reactions or enables it to proceed under different conditions.

In addition synthetic supplements are usually packaged with filler which can contain preservatives, starches, glutens, coloring, or other additives.  Vitamins obtained through natural whole foods are “packaged”  by being bonded to proteins, carbohydrates, and bioflavonoids.  This is also why it is suggested that if you provide dog vitamins in supplement form you do so with their normal diet. This could supply the necessary other natural enzymes  that are needed by your dog’s body to effectively absorb the maximum benefit of the vitamins.

The following gives both natural food and herbal sources for the 13 identified vitamins:

Vitamin A

(Animal sources  contain significant more  than other sources)

animal livers, fish liver oil, apricots, asparagus, beet greens, broccoli, cantaloupe, carrots, collards, kale, kelp, dulse, garlic, mustard greens, papayas, peaches, pumpkin, red peppers, spinach, spirulina, sweet potatoes, swiss chard, turnip greens, yellow squash, egg yolks

alfalfa, borage leaf, burdock root, cayenne, chickweed, dandelion greens, eyebright, fennel seed, hops, horsetail, lemongrass, mullein, nettle, oat straw, paprika, parsley, peppermint, plantain, raspberry leaf, red clover, rose hips, sage, uva ursi, violet leaves, watercress, yellow dock

Vitamin B1 (Thiamine)

brown rice, chia seeds, egg yolks, legumes, wheat germ, whole grains, rice bran, pork, liver, fish, yeast, dried beans, peas, peanuts, poultry, soybeans

asparagus, brewer’s yeast, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, dulse, kelp, oatmeal, plums, dried prunes, spirulina, watercress

alfalfa, bladderwrack, burdock root, catnip. cayenne, chamomile, chickweed, eyebright, fennel seed, fenugreek, hops, nettle, oat straw, parsley, peppermint, raspberry leaf, clover, rose hips, sage, yarrow, yellow dock

Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)

cheese, chia seeds, egg yolks, fish, legumes, meat, milk, poultry, spinach, whole grains, yogurt

asparagus, avocados, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, currants, dulse, kelp, mushrooms, nuts, watercress

alfalfa, bladderwrack, burdock root, catnip. cayenne, chamomile, chickweed, dandelion greens, eyebright, fennel seed, fenugreek, ginseng, hops, horsetail, mullein, nettle, oat straw, parsley, peppermint, raspberry leaf, red clover, rose hips, sage, yellow dock

Vitamin B3 (Niacin)

asparagus, beef liver,  brewer’s yeast, broccoli, carrots, chia seeds,  cheese, corn flour, dates, eggs, fish,  kelp, milk, peanuts, pork, peanuts, tomatoes, wheat germ

alfalfa, burdock root, catnip. cayenne, chamomile, chickweed, dandelion leaf, eyebright, fennel seed,  hops, licorice, mullein, nettle, oat straw, parsley, peppermint, raspberry leaf, red clover, rose hips, slippery elm, yellow dock

Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid)

beef,  brewer’s yeast, chia seeds, eggs, kidney, legumes, saltwater fish, liver, nuts, torula yeast, mushrooms, pork, whole rye flour, whole wheat

Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine)

brewer’s yeast, chia seeds, carrots, chicken, eggs, fish, meat, peas, spinach, sunflower seeds, walnuts,  wheat germ

avocado, bananas, broccoli, brown rice, cabbage, cantaloupe, corn, dulse, plantains, potatoes, rice bran, soybeans, tempeh, whole grains

alfalfa, catnip, oat straw

Vitamin B7 (Biotin)

Brewer’s yeast, chia seeds , cooked egg yolks, meat, milk, poultry, saltwater fish, soybeans, whole grains

Vitamin B9 (Folic Acid)

Asparagus, barley, beef, bran, brewer’s yeast, brown rice, cheese, chia seeds,  chicken, dates, green leafy vegetables, lamb, legumes, lentils, liver, milk, mushrooms, oranges, split peas, pork, root vegetables, salmon, tuna, wheat germ, whole grains, whole wheat

Vitamin B12 (Cyanocobalamin)

Brewer’s yeast, chia seeds,  clams, eggs, herring,  kidney, liver, mackerel, milk, dairy products, seafood

Dulse, kelp, kombu, nori, soybeans, soy products

alfalfa, bladderwrack, hops

Vitamin C (Asorbic acid)

Asparagus, avocados, beet greens, black  currants, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cantaloupe, collards, dulse, grapefruit, kale, kelp. lemons, mangos, mustard greens, onions, oranges, papayas, green peas, sweet peppers, persimmons, pineapple, radishes, rose hips, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, tomatoes, turnip greens, watercress

alfalfa, burdock root, cayenne, chickweed, eyebright, fennel seed, fenugreek, hops, horsetail, mullein, nettle, oat straw, paprika, parsley, pine needle, plantain, peppermint, raspberry  leaf, red clover, rose hips, sage, skullcap, violet leafs, yarrow, yellow dock

Vitamin D (Cholecalciferol Ergocalciferol)

butter, cheese, cod liver oil, eggs, fatty saltwater fish, fish liver oils, halibut, kelp, liver, milk, oatmeal, salmon, sardines,  sweet potatoes, tuna, yogurt,.

alfalfa, dandelion leaf, horsetail. nettle, parsley

Vitamin E (Tocopherols Tocotrienols)

Brown rice, dulse, eggs, kelp, milk, oatmeal, soybeans, sweet potatoes, wheat germ, watercress, corn, nuts, legumes, flaxseed, spinach, seeds, asparagus, vegetable oils

Alfalfa, bladderwrack, dandelion, dong quai, nettle, oat straw, raspberry leaf, rose hips

Vitamin K (Phylloquinone Menaquinones)

asparagus, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, egg yolks, leaf lettuce, liver, kelp, oatmeal, oats, rye, safflower oil, spinach, soybeans, wheat, yogurt

Alfalfa, green tea, nettle, oat straw, shepherd’s purse

Is your favorite pet pestering you or is it rubbing itself on your Persian carpet and making a mess of the same? You should not blame them for the claw marks that she has left on your furniture. Being the owner of a cat, you should well know that these felines love to climb, love to claw, and also love to scratch their body. When they are outdoors, they find ample opportunity to do so with the help of trees in their vicinity. However, setting up a tree at home is not possible.

Why not build a cat condo for your feline friend and allow them to enjoy? It is not as tough as you think and they are available in prefabricated form along with the entire plan. All the pieces of the kit are marked and it is just siding up a piece with the other and then attaching them together with screws. These condos come in various shapes, sizes, and prices and you can select one that suits you best. Though most kits contain carpets for lining the interior of the cat house, certain models do not.

Even though the parts are thoroughly checked before being shipped, you should check that there are no sharp parts in the kit. If there is, you should buff it using fine emery paper. For providing the best fun tom your cat, you should opt in for a cat house that has a number of stories plus has hiding spaces for them. These kits come in two and three storey models. Some of them even have a perch on top where your feline friend can relax. The openings on these cat condos provide a fun time for cats and they will spends lots of time jumping in and out of them.

Are you fed up with the aggressive ways of your four legged companion? With the right aggressive behavior dog training program this problem could be dramatically reduced. Although aggression is a difficult issue to deal with, there are different ways in which the issue can be resolved.

1 – Consult a Veterinarian – If your dog hasn’t had a history of being aggressive and begins growling, biting or snapping at people, talk about it to your vet. This sudden change in his behavior can be a sign of a medical problem which needs immediate medical attention.

2 – Determine the situations – Determine the situations in which your dog displays aggressive behavior and avoid them. An important part of aggressive behavior dog training is discovering the reason behind the aggression.

3- Make a behavior modification program – This can be achieved with the help of a professional behaviorist. For example, if your dog growls when you or someone else from your family approaches his food bowl then you might be asked to approach an empty food bowl and drop some food in it. This way your dog will understand when someone approaches his food bowl he will get a treat and there is no need for him to be aggressive.

4- Never punish your dog for behaving aggressively– You should never punish your dog for acting aggressively. As they say, aggression breeds aggression. If a dog is punished for being aggressive, it may cause him to show more aggression.

5- Be consistent and patient – If you want to provide proper aggressive behavior dog training than you need to be consistent in your efforts in training him and stay patient, as dog aggression is a problem that cannot be curbed overnight.

6 – Socialize Your Dog – The most common reason for dogs to show aggressive behavior is due to the lack of their socialization when they were young. A dog will find it hard to trust people and other dogs that he doesn’t know, if he did not have lot of chances to interact with them while he was young. So, if you have a puppy socialize him during his early stages of his life and you should never deal with dog aggression problems in future.

As you can see here aggressive behavior dog training can be a difficult and tedious process.  When working with an aggressive dog, a good dog training course can be very useful. You will want to look for the one that includes a free consultation with an experienced dog trainer.

Do you feel guilty eating a snack in front of your dog? If so, you’re not alone. After all, we wouldn’t do that to one of our kids, and our beloved pet is just as much a part of the family. Nevertheless, there are some foods you need to make sure your dog does not eat.

When you think about the wide range of things your pets might nibble on – from dirty socks to kitty litter – it’s easy to believe there’s very little that will make them sick. However, your seemingly indestructible pet can be experiencing many internal issues that don’t show up on the outside for quite a while. Some issues only become noticeable when the problem has become extremely serious.

Here are some foods that will make them sick and can cause permanent harm, so avoid these at all cost.

First – CHOCOLATE
This is one of the worst foods for your dog because their systems are unable to digest it. Those yummy brownies or a bit of your pick-me-up candy bar will make them sick and can cause major health issues.

If you absolutely can’t resist giving your dog a chocolate treat, white chocolate is the least harmful, while dark baking chocolate is the most dangerous.

Second – GRAPES and RAISINS
Once while dieting, I convinced myself that grapes and raisins are candy, so I still eat a lot of them. As a human they’re very good for you, and although they may seem like something that would be harmless to your dog, they’re not.

Consuming grapes or raisins can cause your beloved pet several issues, including kidney failure. At the very least, this seemingly harmless food could result in an emergency trip to the vet to have your dog’s stomach pumped.

Third – ONIONS
In most cases dogs don’t really like onions, but if they get hold of one (even in another food) make sure you call your vet right away. This root vegetable will cause your dog to have major digestive issues.

Although these are the most dangerous things for your dog to eat, these are by no means the only items to avoid.

Here are a few other items that should be kept away from your pet:

*Avocado (including the fruit, skin, seed, leaves and stem)
*Macadamia nuts
*Garlic
*Leaves and stems of potatoes, tomatoes and rhubarb
These foods are toxic to your dog’s gastrointestinal system and will
cause severe digestive problems and potentially kidney failure.

These items can cause your pet to have labored breathing:

*Caffeine
*Eggplant
*Moldy foods (why do they eat those things??)
*Tobacco products

In general, be aware of what your dog is eating at all times. Just as you would for a child, the best way to keep them safe and healthy is to make sure they don’t have access to foods, garbage, chemicals or any objects that could be harmful to their digestion.

It’s ok to give your dog a treat once in a while as long as you know what ingredients are used. Look for all natural products to give your pet the best, and at the same time avoid any health issues.