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Dog Health In Issue Article

You've been told by your vet, and probably your friends that your dog needs to lose weight, and as your dog gets older with less activity they tend to gain even more weight. So, how can I get my companion pet to slim down? Here are the main reasons your pet may be overweight, and what to do about it!

1. How much food am I giving him?

Even if you've been feeding your dog an All Natural Dog Food, it may still be overweight. Overfeeding is perhaps the number one reason your companion pet is overweight! Most people overfeed their pets and give them too much food. First, you should measure and track how much food and how often you are feeding your best friend. Be sure to count how many treats they are getting daily as well. Then read the suggested daily intake your dog should be getting based on its' weight from the bag of dog food, it's right there on the label. Now you have a starting point of how much they are eating and once you compare it to what they should be eating, perhaps all you have to do is just give them the correct amount of food.

2. What am I feeding my best friend?

This is the second most common problem causing obesity in dogs. Hopefully you are feeding "Tubby" an All Natural Dog Food, but somehow he manages to convince us to give him table scraps and lick the plates. Once he has trained you to do this, it will be hard to stop because he enjoys eating what you eat. He thinks the pack eats together and should eat the same food, at the same time. But most adult dogs should only eat two meals a day, not three meals like we do, so how much food is he eating again?

Table scraps do not provide a balanced diet for dogs, especially because our meals vary from day to day and from meal to meal. Also, their nutritional needs are different than ours. Dogs should be on a consistent diet because they only produce certain enzymes to digest what they normally eat. So when you introduce a new food to them, chances are that they may like it, but won't get the full nutritional value of it anyway. All Natural Dog Food provides all the essential nutrients that dogs need.

3. What kind of dog food am I buying?

We know that table scraps are not well suited for dogs because meat should be the main ingredient in their diet. Now go check the ingredient label of the dog food your using and see if meat is the first ingredient. If the dog food you are using does not have meat as the first ingredient, then find one that has meat as the first ingredient. Stick to one of the top ten All Natural Dog Foods like Eagle Pack or something similar. Avoid those with by-products and alot of grains. Getting their protein from grains will also mean that they are getting added calories from the grains, and some grains are difficult to fully digest and get an adequate supply of the available protein. You may think you are saving a few dollars by feeding your dog supermarket food, but the super premium blends are better for your pet. The All Natural Dog Food is more bio-available to your pet, i.e. the nutrients actually get into their blood stream. The inexpensive store bought food is loaded with fillers, and causes the dog to eat more as well. All Natural Dog Foods also recommend a smaller portion size, and you really get what you pay for.

4. What else can I do?

So, now you have changed how much food they get, what they are eating, and feeding an All Natural Dog Food, what else can you do? Well, the first option is to limit their food intake alittle more. You could also switch to a lower calorie blend of dog food. Dogs don't usually like low-cal foods, but they will eventually eat it and get used to it. In addition, you could insure that they only have two meals a day. Of course you can also limit the number of treats they get as well. The final step would be to insure your pet gets enough exercise. Walks are good for dogs and humans, so take him for a walk and increase the time or distance you go. Most dogs don't get enough exercise, so spend alittle more time with the special pet and soon they will be fit, trim and healthier.

We've given you 4 key ways to slim your dog down, and hopefully you will consider All Natural Dog Food, the very best for your best friend.

About the author:

Fred Ege has been a breeder and showed his animals since age 13. He started his own company in 2004, and markets his own custom blend of All Natural Dog Food, and of course a complete line of Holistic Dog and Cat Food. To learn more about our All Natural and Holistic Dog and Cat Food, go to: http://www.foxvalleypetfoods.com

Written by: Fred Ege

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Dog Health In Issue Article

Fleas belong to the insect order Siphonaptera. They are common pests and may attack many mammals, including man. They can be a year round problem because they infest not only pets but also the home of the owner. Because of this, treatment of the pet alone may only temporarily solve a flea infestation.

Although many species of fleas feed primarily on one type of animal, the common cat and dog flea will readily take blood from a variety of animals, including man. Flea infestations of pets and their homes will most likely involve the cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis and occasionally the dog flea, C. canis.

Fleas are small (2 to 4 mm in length), brownish to black insects which are characteristically flattened from side to side. Adults are wingless and capable of jumping relatively long distances. Adults feed exclusively on blood with their piercing-sucking mouthparts. When not actively feeding, adult fleas often hide in locations frequented by the host animal such as your dog bedding, sofas, or carpeted areas.

The common cat and dog fleas breed throughout the year. After feeding and mating, the female deposits her eggs, usually on the host. Several eggs are laid daily and up to several hundred over a lifetime. Eggs normally fall off the host into bedding material or similar areas and hatch within two weeks.

Flea eggs accumulate in areas where the host spends most of its time. In addition, adult fleas defecate small pellets of digested blood which also drop off into the environment. A flea comb will often gather this fecal matter at the base of the tines providing a good sign of flea infestation. The combination of white flea eggs and black dried blood specks may appear as a sprinkling of salt and pepper where an infested animal has slept.

Fleas undergo complete metamorphosis, that is, they pass through four developmental stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Immature fleas do not resemble adults at all.

Flea larvae are tiny, light colored, and, worm-like, without legs. They feed primarily on various debris and organic material including the droppings of the adults which contains digested blood. Flea larvae occur indoors and outdoors, wherever the eggs have fallen off the host. In houses, flea larvae live in carpeting, furniture, animal bedding and other protected areas with high humidity. Flea larvae also live outdoors in areas where animals spend time such as under porches in and around dog houses, etc.

Because flea larvae depend on the adult�s fecal pellets of dried blood as a food source, they cannot live in lawns or other outdoor areas unless the pet visits those areas enough to provide this food.

Depending on the species of flea and environmental conditions the larvae will pupate in one week to several months. The pupa is contained within a loose silken cocoon which is often covered by bits of debris. Under average conditions, the life cycle of the flea normally requires between 30 and 75 days but may take much longer. Adult fleas inside the cocoon, called pre-emerged fleas, will stay in that condition for weeks to months if no external cues from a host is available.

However, when disturbed by the presence of a host such as vibrations or carbon dioxide from exhaled breath, the fleas emerge simultaneously and attack the host. This is why it is possible to return to a house or apartment that has been empty for months and find it full of fleas.

When the normal host is available, fleas may feed several times a day but they are capable of surviving extended periods of starvation. In household situations, the normal host is a cat or dog. However, if the normal host is removed, starved fleas will readily seek other sources of blood and more often than not, man is the alternate host. In severe infestations, fleas will attack humans even though the normal host is present.

Certain species of fleas have been known to transmit such diseases as bubonic plague and murine typhus. These have never been a major problem. The major problems with fleas is as a nuisance pest of pets. The irritation and itching from flea bites results in scratching and potential secondary infection. Fleas may also transmit the double-pored dog tapeworm to dogs and cats.

Finally, persistent attacks from fleas can cause severe allergic responses in some people and pets. Once sensitized, a single flea bite may produce symptoms including hair loss, usually around the base of the tail, dermatitis, and intense itching. In worse cases, puppies and young kittens can also died from serious fleas infestations.

With proper flea management knowledge, flea problems will not be a big issue and can be battle and win over easily.

About the Author

Moses Chia is a dog lover and owner of DogsObedienceTraining.com � The dog training resource site for a happier and healthier dog. You are welcome to reprint this article if you keep the content and live link intact.

Written by: Moses Chia

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