By Blake Kritzberg

Just as humans allergies can show up as a sneeze or rash, your dog’s allergies can manifest as itchiness — or even ear infections. In fact, if your dog’s allergic to his food, it can cause him to scratch himself constantly, even with no obvious parasite problem.

Dog allergies rarely get solved with medicine, so the best we can do for our four-footed friends is focus on prevention. Providing the right type of food is essential to stopping your dog’s scratching habit.

Many people like to share their food with their dogs or let them help “clean up” the kitchen after a meal. Little do they know, their dogs just may not be able to take the tasty food we love so much, and some breeds (like the greyhound) are extremely sensitive. Even common foods like cheese, beef sausage and tuna may cause allergic reactions in some dogs. So it’s best to let dogs enjoy dog food and not human food, even though they clearly adore and want what we’re eating!

Narrowing Down the Problem

To determine the exact ingredients your dog is allergic to, try an elimination diet. Although powerful, it also requires patience. In fact, the elimination diet can call for eliminating specific food for up to 12 weeks before you’ll notice the effects. And if you still haven’t found the right (and wrong) ingredients, you’ll have to repeat the process all over again.

So is there an alternative to the lengthy elimination diet? Yes — give your dog a brand or type of food he’s never eaten before. But simply changing to a new brand of dog food might not be enough to eliminate his food allergies, since many brands contain similar ingredients. Instead, study the existing ingredients your dog is eating to determine which types of protein source he hasn’t been exposed to. Then, hunt for a dog food that doesn’t contain any of the ingredients you saw listed. For example, there are many brands of dog food that contains unusual protein sources such as rabbit or venison — great for testing allergic reactions to other, more common proteins.

Perhaps the best way for you to get control of dog’s allergies is to whip up your own dog food. That way, you’ll know exactly what he’s getting and what he isn’t — something that’s extremely hard to tell from reading the back of a dog food bag. Making your own food is especially helpful in elimination diets. To start, combine a portion of rice with baby food and lamb — so long as your dog isn’t already eating lamb and possibly displaying a reaction to it.

Dog food allergies are a special condition that can be frustrating and take patience to solve. Since allergic reactions don’t disappear overnight, you’ll need lots of time and thoughtfulness to help your dog overcome this problem — but his goofy smile and those scratch-free days ahead will probably make it all worth it.

About the Author

Blake Kritzberg is proprietor of Poodle-oo: Fashion for Toy Dogs. Stop by for toy dog couture and home decor, free dog postcards and the Toy Dog Blog.

http://www.poodle-oo.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

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By Eileen Szydlowksi

Do You Know What Should Go Into a Pet First Aid Kit?

I have a dog named Maybelle and cat named Mitsy. We do love taking them for long walks in the park. The last thing I think of is the first aid kit. But when Maybelle got tick and I did not have a tweezers to get it off and I had to wait till I got home that is not good. It would of been a lot easier if I had my kit with me.

That got me thinking how many other owners of dogs or cats know what goes into a kit if there dog or cat was seriously injured or hurt? We all see dogs or cats hit by a car and somehow make it home only to die in the Vetnerian office if we only had our kit ready and handy to help if could saved there life.

There are also times when it is really hot out side and the heat get us can you imagine our dog or

cat out in this heat. They feel it too and more than we humans think. We spend a lot money on food and toys for our dogs and cats this is least we can do for them is have emergency Pet First Aid kit ready.

Here is the Basic List from doing my own research and there maybe are more items you can add that you may feel is necessary for your dog or cat feel free to do so.

(1) any medication your dog or cat is taking or being treated for

(2) masking tape

(3) scissors

(4) hydrogen peroxides (to clean wounds or induce vomiting)

(5) ipecac’s (expectant or purgative syrup to induce vomiting)

(6) adhesive tape

(7) eyebrow tweezers

(8) Muzzle ( if this kit is for a dog)

(9) gauze pads

(10) gauze

(11) Forceps

(12) Medicine droppers

(13) Kaeopectates ( if your dog or cat gets constipated or has dierrea)

(14) cotton swabs

(15) antibacterial ointments

(16) dog or cat nail clippers

(17) rectal thermometer (plus Vaseline)

(18) pedyalite powder( add to the water for hot days replenish electrolytes)

(19) Styptic Powder( to stop serious bleeding from cuts)

(20) Pet Guard Gel Forte (to keep flies and gnats away)

Note: you should have a blanket in the car in case your dog or cat get to cold or has serious injuries that animals can go into shock just like humans. It never hurts to have a spare leash or collar if in it breaks or comes off.

Another idea! Do you know how dogs love to drink water where ever they are. Let say your on camping trip you never know how good the water is. Use Real-Lemon Juice you can buy in the grocery store.

(1 tablespoon of Real-Lemon Juice in a gallon of water will pretty much ensure that your dog will not get upset stomach from drinking strange water.)

https://www.moreinfo247.com/9029756/Department.vstore?id=190

About the Author: I have one dog as previously mentioned and one cat. My youngest daughter is in the 4-H Club and the she loved the KIT-KAT club which is for cats and how to take of them. 4-H sponsored a fair every August and we show our cats to Vets (judges) who decide which one is the best and we have workbooks to do. One of the best ways on responsibilities.

Source: www.isnare.com

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By Lee Dobbins

Caring for your dogs teeth is a vital part of his overall health and maintenance. Sure, you may feel funny brushing Fido’s pearly whites every night before bed, but good dental care for dogs is much more than just having white teeth and good breath.

Dental disease in dogs can cause serious health issues as the bacteria from infected gums and teeth can “spread” to other parts of the body and affect vital organs such as the heart, kidneys and intestines. Tarter or dental calculus starts off soft but can harden on the dogs teeth. Once hardened, it cannot be brushed away but requires a dental scaling just like you get in the dentist chair! If the teeth are left untreated, the buildup can cause the gums to become inflamed and can also cause serious infections.

Does Your Dog Have Bad Teeth?

To tell if your dog has bad teeth, lift up his lips and check his teeth at the gumline – can you see tarter? Are the teeth white or discolored? Does his breath smell? Are there broken teeth?

All of these can indicate the need for better dog tooth care. Your veterinarian will probably do a dental check as part of they yearly checkup and can advise you as to the extent of the problem, if any.

Providing Better Dog Tooth Care

Bones

Chewing on raw bones can be a good way for your dog to remove built up tarter. I would advise against cooked bones as they can splinter and cause damage to the gums or intestine if swallowed. There are also some manufactured bones that are specially formulated for dental care.

Brushing Your Dogs Teeth

Brushing is a vital part of dog tooth care and should be done at least once a week. There are plenty of flavored toothpastes formulated for dogs that your pet will love the taste of. You can use a finger brush (a rubber piece that fits on the end of your finger with bristles), a hand held brush that looks much like a human tooth brush, or a little brush that fits on the end of a “ring” which you put on your finger. I have a tiny dog with a small mouth and I find the “ring” brush works best for me.

Scaling

This procedure is done by your veterinarian and is pretty much the same thing as the scaling you get at the dentist. The teeth are scraped and polished and any loose or badly damaged teeth are removed. Your dog is put under anesthesia for this procedure and it is quite costly. Proper brushing will limit the need for this to be done.

Getting Your Dog Used To Brushing

While it’s best to start when he is a puppy, it’s not too late for your older dog to get good dental care! Start off slowly, maybe with just a dab of the toothpaste on your finger so he can lick it off (my dog loves the taste!). Be sure to use a special paste for dogs and not human toothpaste – get a paste from your vet that has enzymes that will help fight the bacteria. Also, you’ll want a soft brush so you do not damage the gums.

Take it one day at a time and gradually get the dog used to you touching his head and opening the mouth. Each day try to go one step further – open the mouth, then touch his teeth, then his gums. Use your finger at first and introduce the brush later. This can be a a bonding time for you and your dog – eventually your pet may even look forward to his nightly brushing!

You should try to brush your dogs teeth every day or at least every other day so that the plaque will not have a chance to harden. While this may seem like a chore, think of it as an important medical need for your pet. Frequent brushing and proper dental care can add years to your pets life!

About the Author: Lee Dobbins is a pet lover and webmaster of http://www.epet-center.com where you can find out more about the care of pets. Be sure to check out the new dog breed guide at http://www.epet-center.com/dog-breed-guide.html

Source: www.isnare.com

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