Get rid of your pet’s limitless barking…

Some dogs are quiet while others can throw the house into a tizzy with their vociferous barking. Although we love our buddies dearly, sometimes this breach of discipline, can confound and exasperate us all.

So, here’s a quick checklist that can actually help you abate the menace:

1. You have to first make sure you are providing your pet with all the necessities. If you are not paying adequate attention, he may try to communicate his frustration through barking. Sometimes, flea or tick infestations and skin allergies can spark irritation resulting in abrupt behavioral change on your dog’s part. If his hunger or thirst remains unfulfilled he may also react in a similar manner. So, you can actually help him get rid of this unruly behavior by taking care of all his needs. Moreover, you can also take him to a veterinarian to rule out canine diseases.

2. When he barks excessively take him out in the open. Play with him and also let him play with other dogs. You can also uplift his mood by making him do light exercises. This would help in stimulating both his mind and body.

Finally, remember that every dog craves for attention. So, never reprimand him. Instead try to be as gentle and polite with him as possible. You can actually help him overcome this problem by showering love and praises on him. But if he still continues to behave strangely take him to a vet at the earliest.

First aid kit for your dog…

Accidents can occur without warning. But we should have the preparedness to deal with these unforeseen circumstances by keeping a first aid box handy. But do you know what should a dog’s first aid kit contain?

Here’s a handy checklist:

1. Sterile gauze sponges of different sizes
2. Sterile cotton or cotton balls
3. A mild anti-bacterial soap for cleaning skin and wounds
4. Bandage scissors
5. Blunt-tipped scissors
6. Antiseptic ointment, powder or spray for wounds
7. Alcohol swabs (for instrument sterilization)
8. Rubbing alcohol
9. Adhesive tape for bandages
10. Rectal thermometer/Oral thermometer
11. Lubricating jelly to lubricate thermometer
12. Forceps or tweezers
13. Razor blade for snake bite
14. Hydrogen peroxide (to induce vomiting in case of non-caustic poison intake; give 10ml after every 15 minutes)
15. Eye wash
16. Ear syringe (used for flushing eyes, ears and wounds)
17. Instant hot as well as cold compresses
18. Kaopectate tablets
19. Pepto-Bismol
20. Large exam quality vinyl gloves or latex gloves
21. Burn relief gel pack
22. Insect sting relief pads
23. Buffered analgesic, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory medication
24. Oral syringes
25. Large towel
26. Leash
27. Muzzle
28. Dog’s health record and medication
29. Regular veterinary and emergency clinic timings and numbers
30. Local and national poison control numbers
31. Gauze sponges (variety of sizes)
32. 2" gauze roll
33. Roll bandages - gauze wrap and elastic
34. Adhesive tape
35. Sponge
36. Sterile pads (non-adhesive) various sizes
37. Small rounded scissors
38. Nylon leash
39. Paper Towels
40. Thermal blanket or emergency blanket
41. Hand wash or wipes
42. Antibiotic cream or ointment
43. Saline eyewash
44. Epsom salt
45. Corn syrup or glucose paste
46. Clean cloth
47. Tourniquet or something to make one
48. Q-tips
49. Teaspoon
50. 3 Small garbage bags
51. Benadryl liquid and pills
52. Imodium AD
53. Activated charcoal

Glucosamine – Its role in pain relief...

As old age strikes, our pooches start exhibiting joint pain resulting from regenerative bone diseases like osteoarthritis, obesity, displasia, improper diet and too much exercise. But as dog parents we hate to see them in excruciating pain and hence try out all best possible means to give them succor. And one of the easiest and most effective means of doing that is by supplementing his diet with glucosamine. It is a compound found in the body of dogs which produces glycosaminoglycan, a molecule that helps in the formation and repair of cartilage and other body tissues. However, production of glucosamine slows down with age.

Arthritis or for that matter any regenerative joint disease may manifest itself by lingering pain or discomfort in movement. Larger breeds are far more susceptible to contracting arthritis than their smaller counterparts.

How will you take care of your pets under these circumstances?

• You have to ensure that his weight does not increase beyond a certain point and for maintaining that you must switch over to a nutritious, low calorie diet. This would help in minimizing impact on joints.
  
  
• As your pooch is already in pain excessive activities can be detrimental to his health. So, reduce his exercise to two or three daily walks.
  
  
• Supplement his diet with glucosamine. Its anti-inflammatory and joint rejuvenating qualities can actually alleviate the pain. Glucosamine has been found to yield beneficial results with minimal side effects.

As canine diseases bear an uncanny resemblance with the kind of ailments that afflict us, their implications can’t be ignored. So, as responsible dog owners we should consult his vet in case of any complications related to his health.

Having fun with the ball…

While surfing the net I stumbled upon this video. Little Jerry is having a whale of a time air lifting the ball and then pouncing on it with all his might.

Enjoy!

Calendar features pugs in yoga poses...

Come 2010 and you can adorn your living rooms with calendars of your favorite pooches. Thanks to an initiative by Dan and Alejandra Borris who have designed a calendar full of images portraying popular breeds in exquisite yoga poses. This is in fact second in a series of calendars because the couple already has 26 images to their credit for this year.

However, if you think the dogs did all the moves themselves you would be wrong. Dan actually entrusted his wife Alejandra who is a yoga teacher with the responsibility of holding the dogs and coaxing them into interesting positions. The rest was taken care of by Photoshop. Right from golden retrievers, poodles, mongrel, collie, basset hounds, and labrador to weimariner, the calendar has it all.

Dan was inspired into taking up this exciting project after hearing from his friend about her bull terrier, called Otis. His friend who was a yoga practitioner always found Otis by her side while doing the postures. This story stirred Dan into thinking how wonderful it would be if Otis actually did the postures. So, this idea which struck him a couple of years ago actually got him going.

Dan explains that they drew inspiration from various sources. Whenever they saw a funny looking dog walking by with his owner, they stopped the duo and convinced the owner into bringing his pet over for a photo shoot. This actually helped the couple in creating such a wide array of postures with so many different types of breeds.

While some postures are quite simple, others are a tad too intricate, says Dan. However, it is ultimately this variety that tickles our funny bone and lends the calendar a special charm.

Courtesy - Daily Mail

Adorn your buddy this Christmas...

Christmas might be still two months away but people have started gearing up for the shopping spree. So, this year what are you contemplating giving your buddies? Can you do something offbeat this year by getting fashionable outfits for your paw pals along with those beautiful accessories that already make them look too adorable?

Yes of course you can. Haven’t you seen the myriad hues and the pretty cuts the doggy dresses come in? There is a plenty of them flooding the market this year. However, here I am not talking about the brick and mortar retail markets. I am rather focusing on the vibrant online markets that are scaling the popularity charts.

The collections at the online stores are so exquisitely beautiful that you would immediately fall head over heels in love with the items. Moreover, the prices also don’t leave a dent in your pockets. You can choose the fabric of your liking from the wide range of dresses. This winter cute little sweaters, jackets, football jerseys, night suits, bathing robes and gowns specially designed for Christmas are the top draws.

Like our babies we also want our pooches to look their best. My eyes are craving to see my Rover at his sartorial best this Christmas. So, I am going to grab the costumes before they fly off the racks. What about you?

Pet insurance to safeguard your dog’s health...

Every step in your dog's life is full of challenges. Dog diseases are not rare, and there is always a chance of your own pet getting affected by one or more dog disease. The problem becomes more acute as your dog ages and the recurrent hospitalization, surgeries and treatment start dogging big holes in your pocket. And, ultimately there comes a point when it becomes impossible to bear the expenses and you have to let it go. Compromising against someone as precious as your pet could be disheartening. For most pet owner, buying a pet insurance is a convenient option to beat the blues out.

The good thing about dog insurance is that the benefit is available for every dog irrespective of their ages. It covers all kinds of illness or cases of accidental injuries like broken bones, burns, insect bites, lacerations, poisonous infections and the like.

Some of the common illnesses covered by a pet insurance policy include allergies, asthma, cancer, epilepsy, infections, skin problems and issues related to bone joints. It should be noted here that not all illness could be covered by insurance. Diseases that could be prevented by easy methods of vaccination often fall out of the purview of a pet insurance cover. That being the case, if you don't vaccinate your dog at the time when he needs it, the insurance provider refuses to undertake any responsibility with this regard.

The expenses that are typically covered by dog insurance policy include diagnostic tests, veterinary care, medication and hospitalization treatment. A good number of pet owners prefer going for a routine care coverage which cover expenses related to daily care like regular check ups, spaying, neutering and vaccinations. A comprehensive insurance plan undertakes to fulfill most of the obligation related to your dog’s treatment and safeguards the life of your pet.