Dog Blog

Natural Dog Food Recipes - Does That Help With Oral Health?

This is a guest post by author Barbar E Underdown.

Is it really important to provide natural dog food recipes or just buy commercial pet food?

Is this your dog? You walk through the door and your dog is so delighted to see you that he has a smile on his face and his tail is wagging so hard you think it is going to fly off? What about his smile? Are his teeth and gums healthy and pink or are they disgusting and smell foul?

If your dog is having challenges with fresh breath and a nice healthy mouth, then this is probably due to his diet. Natural dog food recipes and general diet can help improve it immensely.

Like humans, dogs too have similar problems with bad breath and unhealthy teeth and mouth. We clean our teeth and gums regularly and we need to pay special attention to our best friends mouth too.

Have good natural dog food recipes can relieve any problems that may otherwise mean have teeth extracted and the chore of physically cleaning his teeth all the time. You will find when your dog's diet is nutritionally sound and contains all the essential nutrients including enzymes, then your dog's health will be at its peak.

Dry dog foods like kibble is better than the canned moist varieties. The hard surface of the kibble rubs against the teeth and removes and reduces plaque and tartar.

Raw dog bones are

If You're Stressed Out, So Are Your Pets

This is an article written by Ruth Klein, America's De-Stress Diva. Visit her at www.RuthKlein.com.

In this high-stress world, your pets can be stressed-out, too. Take care of your pets with these seven easy steps.

1. Don't let your stress become contagious: Because stress is infectious, and your precious pal will reflect your stress. It's important to calm yourself down if you feel stressed or angry before you approach your pet, so either take a few deep breaths or go for a walk to become more calm.

2. Pay Attention: Pay attention to your pet's behavior or symptoms to recognize when your pet is feeling stressed. During your pet's next checkup, ask your veterinarian what to look for, and follow your vet's recommendations. Ignoring stress symptoms can lead to expensive ailments down the road. Be proactive.

3. Be Loving:  Even in today's fast-paced, over-worked society, even a few minutes spent loving and paying attention to your pet can be so rewarding. Just as stress is contagious, so is affection. You'll have a less-stressed pet and a less stressed you. So, use some extra time each day to show him how you care for him.

4. Play: Unwind from your stressful day with a few minutes spent just playing with your pet. Combine your need to exercise with caring for your dog by taking your dog for short walks before and after work, or before and after taking your children to school or other activities.

5. Integrate: Don't think of your pet as just one more in a dozen of multi-tasking chores you face each day. Make attending one-on-one with your pet part of your schedule every day. While you are preparing a healthy meal for you and your family or friends, prepare nutritious pet food and replace your pet's water dish with fresh water. Your pet is your friend, not an obligation.

6. Delegate: Arrange for a

Homemade Dog Food - Dogs With Diabetes

Homemade dog food recipes have become much more popular in recent times. After the tainted dog food that caused many dogs to die, people have turned to making their own dog food using healthy and nutritious homemade recipes. If your dog has a health condition already, such as my diabetic dog, Jack, you may want to prepare your own dog food at home. Here are some things to think about if you are considering preparing your own dog’s food.

• You can find out exactly what ingredients and nutrients are best for your breed of dog. Start out by discussing this with your veterinarian, and then ask the people where you purchase your dog’s food. If you find that they are not knowledgeable, begin to do your own research, on the internet and at the public library.
• If your dog already has a health condition, such as diabetes, you will be able to prepare homemade dog food recipes that have the right amount of fiber and protein for this condition.
• You will find that it is much less expensive to prepare these dog food recipes at home with ingredients purchased from your grocery store or supermarket.
• There are so many dog food recipes available online, so you will want to purchase them from someone who knows what they are talking about when it comes to your dog’s diet.
• Most dogs only live from seven to about fourteen years. You may be able to increase this, or at least know that your dog will live as long and healthy a life as you can possibly give him.
• You will save money and heartbreak by not having to give your dog expensive and painful treatments for diseases and illnesses that could be prevented by healthy and nutritious eating.

You probably treat your dog like a member of the family already. Continue to do this by preparing your own dog’s food based on healthy homemade dog food recipes.

Healthy Dog Food Recipes

Feeding your dog a healthy, organic diet may lengthen his life. Commercial dog foods contain ingredients that can trigger allergic reactions, bring on changes in behavior, and may lead to diseases such as diabetes or cancer at an early age. Although this is a controversial topic, more and more pet owners now agree that they must be proactive in the care and feeding of their dogs. Here are 7 reasons to consider preparing your own healthy dog food.

• By preparing your dog’s food you will know exactly which ingredients are contained in the meals you are serving.
• If your dog has a particular problem, such as diabetes or arthritis, you can prepare meals for him that have the right combination of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that will help him control his condition.
• Your dog will enjoy overall improved health because you will be using foods purchased at the grocery store where you shop for the rest of your family.
• With the recent scare of tainted pet food originating in

  China

Behavior changes when your dog is in heat

When your dog goes into heat, you will need to give her some special attention. She will display a change in temperament during this time and will not seem like the sweet and loving dog you know and adore. Here are some tips on how to care for your dog while she is in heat.

• During the time your dog is in heat, give her some extra care and attention. Especially if you have other pets, make sure that you spend some time every day alone with her, even if it is only for five or ten minutes.
• Your dog will have some days when she doesn’t feel well during this period. She may vomit or have diarrhea and may also feel more tired. Make sure that she does not receive any table food during this time. You may want to reduce the amount of food you give her and increase the amount of water. Also, make sure she has a quiet place to sleep that is away from any other animals, children or other distractions.
• Your dog may also exhibit aggressive behavior during this time, especially if there is a male dog that has not been neutered also living in your home. If she continues to be out of sorts, call or visit your veterinarian.
• If you do not plan on breeding your dog, you may want to consider having her spayed once she is no longer in heat. Consult your veterinarian about the best time to have this procedure done.

These are some tips on how to care for your dog while she is in heat. If you need more information on training and caring for your small dog I encourage you to find out more by clicking here.

Yorkshire Terriers - What Should You Do When Your Yorkie Becomes Ill?

When your Yorkshire terrier becomes ill, you will want to know what to do immediately. Because Yorkies are so tiny, they can go downhill fast when they are sick. It is a good idea to be ready in case of an emergency. Here are some things you need to know about caring for your Yorkie when she gets sick.

• Dogs do not become ill easily. When they are sick it is usually because of something they have eaten. Make sure to supervise any food that is fed to your Yorkshire terrier. If you are going to be away from home leave clear instructions on what kind of food is to be given to your dog and at what times you want her fed.
• Food from the table will often make a small dog like a Yorkie quite ill. This food is too rich and has most likely been prepared with salt and other spices. Your dog could end up very ill after eating even a small amount of table food.
• All dogs, even

  Yorkshire

  terriers, will overeat if given the chance. You may think it is cute to see your dog eat so much at one time, but there is nothing funny about a sick dog.

If your Yorkie vomits more than once during a 24 hour period or has a bout of diarrhea, take her to your veterinarian. Excessive vomiting can cause dehydration and small dogs are more fragile in this case. Ask your veterinarian to recommend a dog food that will help with a sensitive stomach. Sometimes they may even suggest feeding baby food for the next day or two after being sick. I have learned so much about caring for my small dogs by visiting this site.

Winter Weather and Your Dog

It's cold out there! Winter is fast approaching and your dog has special needs during this time of year. A sweater can keep her warm when you go for a walk. Dry skin also can become a problem. If your dog is  scratching more often, dry skin may well be the culprit. Try using baby oil or mineral oil after a bath, rubbing it vigorously into the skin. Let your dog dry naturally, without using a blow dryer, and the oil will keep her skin moisturized for several weeks.

Vegetarian Diets for Dogs

My local pet food store is trying to convince me that I can feed my dogs a vegetarian diet. I am a vegetarian, vegan in fact, but I do not feel comfortable taking all meat away from my dogs. My little one, Kali, is only 11 weeks old now, and it is tempting to try to keep her "pure". Does anyone have any knowledge on this topic?

                                              Baby Kali ==>

Caring For A New Puppy

Our new puppy, the daughter of Micah the Maltese and Sarah the Yorshire terrier, is six weeks old today. She is called a Morkie because of her breeding. We celebrated her 6 week mark by giving her a taste of turkey bologna and letting her go outside in the backyard and setting her down on the bricks. She is feeling like a big girl now but she still cries for mom whenever they are apart.

        Left, outside for the first time.   

     Right, with mom Sarah.                                                                  

When your dog is diagnosed with cancer

When your dog is diagnosed with cancer what is the best course of action? many people have strong beliefs in this area. Personally, I do not believe in making a dog suffer through chemotherapy. This could be due to the fact that I have had cancer myself.

My basset hound, Abigail, was diagnosed with stomach cancer three years ago. As difficult as it was to let her go, I chose not to subject her to rounds of chemotherapy. She became ill very quickly and we spent one last weekend with her while making sure that our decision was in her best interest. Until they can come up with more humane ways of treating disease I will stand firm in my beliefs about this.