Types of Harnesses for Dogs

Dog harnesses are important, as they are a good way to ensure that you have something sturdy to attach your dog's leash to. They are better than collars because they tend to be more comfortable. There are many kinds of harnesses, and each kind has its own uses and advantages. It is vital to know what the features of each harness are in order to allow you to make an informed choice when looking for a collar for your dog.

- The Step-In Harness is one of the most common types of harness, and it is popular simply because it is so varied. The straps easily attach on the dog's back, and the two loops around his leg ensure that the dog is comfortable. They are easy to use, easy to adjust, and very comfortable for your dog, and there are many sizes, shapes, and patterns used to create these simple harnesses.

- The Roman or Standard Harness is the harness most people have used in the past, but the style of these harnesses has been simplified to ensure that dog owners can easily use them. The harness goes over the head of the dog, loops around one leg, and easily buckled with a simple strap. This old classic is one of the best designs used to harness dogs around the world, and thanks to the simplified design you can easily harness your dog with little difficulty.

- Vest Harnesses are very popular among those who like to dress up their dog, and these are excellent for use thanks to the fact that they don't put pressure on the neck of your dog. The ring is far away from your dog's throat, and the harness is placed on your dog in the same way a vest is to harness your dog in style.

- All in One Harness and Leash sets are perfect for those who want both a harness and leash, and these sets make it easy to harness and leash your dog. They are easy to put on your dog, and are very comfortable for him to wear. The leash attaches to the ring on the dog's back, and they are perfect for anyone who likes to take their dog out for walks.

- The Easy On Harness is designed to be as easy as possible to strap on your dog, and the Velcro or hook and loop fasteners make it easy to strap your dog in. Simply place the harness on your dog's back, and use the fasteners to tighten the harness around your dog's belly to ensure that he is comfortable in his harness. These are great to use on dog's that are hard to harness or who refuse to stand still or step into a harness.

- There are many unique harnesses for your dog, such as the shoulder collar that goes around your dog's legs instead of his neck. The EzDog Harness has a shape that conforms to your dog's features, and the Back Pack harness has a small pouch that allows you to place your dog's poop bag inside his harness.

Reference by : Nancy_Cope

 

Dog Mobility Problems And How To Treat Them

Like us, dogs can suffer from back and joint pain that may affect their mobility. Often mobility problems are caused by the cartilage wearing down in the joints. As a dog gets older their cartilage degenerates. When there is less cartilage cushioning the bones joints become swollen and painful. Larger dog breeds like Rottweilers and Labradors are often prone to aliments such as hip dysplasia and arthritis. Accidents or excess weight can also lead to chronic pain and joint problems. Whatever the cause proper treatment can reduce pain and give your canine friend a better quality of life.

The problem is, since our pets can't talk to us to let us know they are hurting, sometimes it is harder to recognize that the animal is in pain. Understanding your dog's normal behavior patterns can help you recognize the signs that your pet may be having trouble. Difficulties getting up from a laying position, climbing stairs or jumping onto a bed or into a car can all be signs that your dog is suffering from pain or discomfort. Often a dog will also limp, walk slower and may not be as playful as they used to be.

Treatment for joint and mobility pain in a pet is very similar to treatment of humans suffering from a similar problem. Maintaining a healthy weight and eating a diet rich in essential vitamins and minerals is important for healing and overall strength. A veterinarian may also prescribe anti-inflammatory medications to relieve pain. Regular exercise is also important, and when taking your pet out for a walk, use a harness rather than a collar to avoid additional neck and back injury.

Giving your dog a glucosamine supplement can be an effective treatment for joint pain in arthritic dogs. As your pet gets older his body may lose the ability to create glucosamine which can lead to arthritis. A supplement can restore his damaged joints and also acts as an anti-inflammatory. As a preventative measure glucosamine can also be given to elderly pets that may be at risk for developing arthritis.

There are very few side effects associated with glucosamine for dogs supplements. Occasionally a dog may suffer from vomiting or diarrhea, however administering the supplement with food can alleviate these problems. Glucosamine in liquid form can be poured over food or onto a favorite treat and most dogs don't mind the taste. Before giving your pet any dietary supplements it is important to talk with your dog's veterinarian and discuss all treatment options.

 Reference by : Graeme_Knights

Understanding the Ingredients in Dog Food

Once people learn about the ingredients found in dog food brands they switch to feeding their dogs a healthy, home-made nutritious diet instead. They have seen the light and understand that their pets can live much longer and healthier lives when their diet is full of quality, fresh food. You don't have to be Sherlock Holmes to understand why this is so.

Dog food is made up of animal byproducts. When animals such as cattle, pigs and chickens are slaughtered, humans get the best bits - the lean muscle which has to be trimmed away. Typically about fifty percent of an animal carcass remains, and these leftovers -- including heads, feet, bones, blood, intestines, lungs, spleens, livers, ligaments, fat trimmings, unborn babies, and other parts -- are used in pet food, animal feed, fertilizer, industrial lubricants, soap, rubber, and other products.

The nutritional and dietary quality of byproducts is not a constant; each batch can be different. It wasn't that long ago that roadkill was being used as part of dog food. Although there are still no laws or regulations against the practice, using roadkill in dog food is uncommon today. However, animals labeled as "4D," which means dead, dying, diseased, or disabled are still legitimate ingredients in dog food, even though they were only recently banned for human consumption.

The picture is just as grim for grains and vegetable dog food ingredients; they are no better than the meats and some are also labeled as unfit for human consumption. The amount of plant products used has risen dramatically in recent years, and now replaces a large proportion of the meat that was common in the earliest commercial dog foods. As you can imagine, this change has created severe nutritional deficiencies in our pets.

Most dry dog foods contain huge amounts of cereal grain or starchy vegetables in order to give the food texture. These high-carbohydrate plant products also provide a cheap source of energy in the form of calories.

Gluten meals, which are high-protein extracts from which most of the carbohydrates have been extracted, are often used to boost protein percentages instead of expensive animal-source ingredients. Corn gluten meal is the most common plant product for this purpose. Wheat gluten is also used to create shapes in the food, such as cuts, bites, chunks, shreds, flakes, and slices, and as a thickener for gravy. In most cases, dog foods containing vegetable proteins are amongst the poorest quality fare.

Even the low-carb dog food, where grains are substituted with potatoes, green peas, and other starchy vegetables, offer no particular advantage to pets - except for dogs that are allergic to grains. The big problem with dry low-carb diets is that they tend to be very high in fat, and this can result in weight gain.

The lack of nutrients is not the only problem as dog food is almost drowning in additives and preservatives. Manufacturers need to ensure that dry foods have a long shelf-life (typically 12 months) to remain edible through shipping and storage.

Therefore, fats sprayed on foodstuffs to make them more appealing to dogs are preserved with either synthetic or natural preservatives. This is hardly the way to give an animal the rich, healthy and nutritious diet that it needs. Consequently, it is plain to see why so many pet owners are exploring their kitchens to feed their dogs delicious and life-enhancing home-made fresh meals.

 Reference by : Rod_Angus

Identifying and Treating the Most Common Dog Eye Problems

Dog eye health is a serious concern for dog owners, dog eye problems can range from somewhat irritating to downright dangerous. Some common eye problems that you may or may not have heard of include pink eye, red eye, in-grown eyelids, corneal ulcers, cataracts, and general irritation and injury. This guide provides you with information about common dog eye problems, the signs and possible treatments. This guide is a great starting point and reference piece, but remember it is always a good idea to seek the advice of your veterinarian for any dog health issues.

A dog will usually make it quite clear if he is suffering from a eye health problem. He may squint or turn away from bright light, or he might blink excessively or rub his eyes with his paws or by rubbing his face on the ground. You should also check for bulging eyes, redness, cloudiness or discharge.

The following steps may help prevent dog eye health problems:

1. A healthy diet, including supplements is the first place to start. There are many foods that are beneficial for dog eye health, including leafy green vegetables, blue or purple berries, carrots, sesame and sunflower seeds. Supplements that you may want to try include Zinc, Vitamins A, D and C, and Bioflavonoids, Pycnogenols,(remember to speak to your dog's veterinarian before giving your dog any foods or supplements).

2. Be sure to clean away the discharge, or "gunk" away from your dog's eyes. Using a warm, wet washcloth or clean cotton ball wipe outward away from the inside corner of the eyes. Ideally you should clean your dog's eyes daily to avoid buildup.

3. If the fur around your dog's eyes gets too long it can actually scratch the surface of his eyes which could lead to irritation or infection. Fur around the eyes can also allow the eye gunk to build up making it more difficult to clean. Keep the fur around his eyes trimmed to avoid these problems. If you trim the fur yourself, always point the scissors downward, away from your dogs eyes.

4. Don't tell your dog I told you this - but don't let her stick her head out the car window while you're driving. I know, this is one of a dog's favorite things, but it can be quite dangerous. The wind can irritate a dog's eyes, or debris could blow into his eyes and cause injury. A safer alternative is to open your windows just enough to allow your dog to enjoy the wind and the scents, but not get her head out.

5. Avoid grooming products that might be irritating to your dog's eyes. It can be very helpful to search for dog shampoo reviews when shopping for shampoo. You can find out what other dog owners think about a product before you buy it. You also want to look for natural, organic dog shampoos to make sure you are using the healthiest ingredients possible for your dog.

6. Another product to protect your dog's eyes is dog goggles, or "doggles". If you just can't bear the thought of not letting your dog stick her head out the window, dog goggles are an option to protect her eyes. Dog goggles are nice to have on hand in case your dog does sustain an injury or need eye surgery, they can protect his eyes from further irritation and shield them from bright lights while his eyes are extra sensitive.

Even if you clean your eyes every day, use only natural, organic dog shampoo and feed her the healthiest diet possible, she may still have eye health issues.

The following list is some possible treatment options.

1. Calling your vet should be your first step. Based on your observations, your vet can let you know if you need to bring your dog in for an office visit.

2. Look at your dog's eyes, if you can see a foreign object floating around, try to wash it out with artificial tears or a saline solution.

3. Don't ever try to pull anything out of your dog's eye yourself. If you see something stuck or lodged in your dog's eye call your veterinarian right away. Once something is removed from the eye it becomes susceptible to infection, so you want to be at the vet who will be able to treat it properly. Removing the object yourself can also cause further damage.

4. A damp warm compress may be helpful to soothe inflamed, sore eyes. Apply the compress to each eye for five minutes. You can alternate eyes if your dog doesn't like having both eyes covered at the same time. Be sure to use a clean cloth every time.

5. You may not be aware of this, but fleas and ticks can cause eye health problems for your dog. They can cause conjunctivitis also known as pink eye. Keeping your dog protected from fleas and ticks can keep their eyes healthy.

6. If your dog does have an eye irritation or injury, you will need to protect her by wearing an Elizabethan collar, commonly known as a cone. Otherwise your dog may continue to rub or scratch her eye causing further injury and irritation.

Taking care of your dog's eye health is very important. By following these prevention guidelines and taking the necessary steps if your dog does have an eye health issue, you can ensure your dog a long, happy life of playing fetch and chasing rabbits!

 Reference by : Joy_Randel