Posts Tagged ‘dog care’

Giving Your Dog A Raw Meat Diet Can Mean A Healthier And Longer Life For Your Dog

Rudy Damascus | February 23rd, 2010

Instinctively, dogs are born to eat a diet of raw meat, just like their wild cousin the wolf. Early dog ancestors to today\’s domestic dog were well equipped predators.

Just imagine releasing your dog into the wild. After a period of adjustment, in order to survive, he would learn to hunt, kill and eat his prey.

Experts would argue that feeding your dog raw meat is how a dog is meant to eat. Dogs today are mostly domesticated and most owners are not always fully aware of the best possible foods they can be giving their pet. A dog\’s daily food intake should include raw meat and vegetables. If inclined, in addition to dry or canned dog foods.

A raw diet consisting of raw meat provides your dog with the essential nutrition he needs to stay healthy. If your dog consistently ate a diet of raw meat rather than over processed or over cooked foods, then his immune and digestive systems would become significantly healthier.

There will be be a noticeable increase in the quality of your dog\’s general health including his: skin, coat, breath, eyes, and teeth and gums. Also, your dog will be noticeably more energetic and develop a happier disposition.

Animal researchers are discovering an emergence of diseases and other serious medical conditions manifesting in dogs and cats that have not been seen in a long time. Some believe that it could be the lack of essential nutrition that a raw food diet could be providing your pet.

By in large, most pet owners feel it\’s enough to give their animals a diet of processed dry and/or canned pet food. Although your dog maybe getting full, you maybe starving your pet nutritionally because they\’re not getting the right foods.

Some dog owners won\’t even consider giving their dog or cat raw meat. They have a preconceived thought that raw meat may be tainted with parasites and bacteria. However one must consider that parasites and bacteria don\’t adversely affect animals in the same way they do people. Thus one should consider at least looking into providing their pet a BARF diet.

Most owners want their pets to be the healthiest they can be. In that case, consider providing a variety of foods your dog would typically consume in the wild. Preparation is really not that hard to do – just make sure to provide your dog a selection of raw meat and vegetables every day. There are many recipes you can find if you\’re willing to do some additional research on BARF dog food diets.

Interested in finding out more about BARF dog food for your animal or just want some free information on a bones and raw food diet then go to www.barfdogfood.info

Diabetic Dogs: Keeping The Disorder Under Control

Robert Runkel | December 5th, 2009

In the same way that millions of people cope with diabetes, so too, does the disease affect canines. Specifically, the disorder is called diabetes mellitus (DM). An insulin deficiency prevents your pooch’s body from metabolizing glucose effectively. There are two varieties of DM: Type I and Type II. The former is the most prevalent type (99% of dogs with DM suffer from this type) and occurs when the body doesn’t produce enough insulin. The latter occurs when insulin is manufactured but your pooch’s body isn’t able to use it properly.

In this article, we’ll describe the warning signs that may suggest your canine has developed diabetes mellitus. It’s a potentially life-threatening condition, so catching it early is critical. We’ll also explain how the disease is diagnosed and treated as well as what you can do at home to help your dog manage the disorder.

Possible Warning Signs

The most common symptoms of DM include a marked increase in the amount of water your canine drinks and as a result, the frequency with which he urinates. You might also notice that he is losing weight even though he maintains a strong appetite. Other signs include a general apathy or decrease in physical activity and the sudden onset of blindness.

Treatment After Diagnosis

The health of your pooch can decline rapidly once diabetes mellitus develops. His body’s inability to process glucose effectively can lead to severe dehydration and other health issues. It is important that you have a veterinarian perform a full physical exam if you notice any of the warning signs described in the section above.

The veterinarian will ask you about your dog’s eating routine as well as his elimination activity. You’ll also be asked to describe any changes in his weight and disposition. Then, a urine analysis is performed to identify possible infections and review glucose levels.

Once diabetes mellitus has been diagnosed, your veterinarian will teach you how to administer daily insulin injections for your pooch. He or she will also create a diet and exercise routine that will help your canine manage his weight. During the first several weeks of treatment, the amount of insulin administered will likely change. Most veterinarians prefer to start cautiously with small doses and increase them gradually.

What You Can Do At Home

Providing care for your dog involves administering daily insulin shots (sometimes, twice daily) as well as any other medications that your veterinarian has recommended. You’ll also need to be vigilant regarding your canine’s eating and exercise routine in order to ensure he maintains a healthy weight level. If your dog experiences an insulin overdose (he might seem weak or disoriented), give him food right away.

As noted, diabetes mellitus can be potentially deadly. However, once it has been diagnosed, you can help your dog live a healthy, happy, and problem-free life.

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