Archive for the ‘Animal Protection’ category

Is Your Dog Is Having Too Many Accidents?

May 9th, 2010

If you are having trouble with housetraining your dog, the quickest way to get around the problem and make a diagnosis is to know your pet’s history. Knowing how your dog has been performing at home yields important information to the veterinarian and helps narrow the diagnosis. Here’s how you can help:

HADDINGTON, SCOTLAND - SEPTEMBER 01:  A vet ca...

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1) For urinary accidents, note if your dog is passing water more often; producing normal, littler or larger amounts of urine; dribbling while walking; leaking while relaxed or sleeping; or wetting when excited or scared.

2) For fecal accidents, take a sample to the veterinarian. If your dog defecates in front of you

, does she appear to be straining or pooping while he’s walking upright? (Hopefully you are carrying your biodegradable pet waste bags with you). Look at the stools: Are they loose, runny, firm, hard, blood or mucousy? Are st

ool volumes less or more often than normal? Is your dog defecating more often?

HADDINGTON, SCOTLAND - SEPTEMBER 01: Vets prep...

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

3) Report any changes you’ve noticed in your dog, such as increased drinking or vomiting; reduced or increased appetite; weight, skin or coat changes; lethargy; panting; anxiety; fear; lameness or difficulty getting up; or reluctance to play or exercise.

4) Think about any changes or new events in your dog’s life that preceded or coincided with his housetraining accidents. A

new member in the household? A change in diet, supplements or medications? A frightening event? Be sure to report anything new to your dog’s veterinarian.

Do Not Withhold Water

“I know you hate bath time, but if you didn’t ...
Image by colorblindPICASO via Flickr

What goes in must come out, so some dog owners might find it tempting to simply reduce the amount of water their dog drinks or withhold water completely at night or while they’re absent.

This could be a very dangerous thing to do. There are medical issues such as kidney problems or urinary tract infections where the dog actually needs to drink more water. Withholding water from a dog with low-grade kidney problems might lead to grave kidney failure.

Depriving a healthy or ill dog of water could also lead to new or worse pre-existing problems. That said, there are some young dogs that just love to drink water, so they wet far more often. In those cases, restricting water to some extent is the only way that the dog can be a happy, functional member of the family. Unfortunately, many dogs do not outgrow this.

If you suspect that your dog is lapping up water because it makes him happy to do so, discuss your suspicions with your veterinarian and get a vet exam to rule out any conditions that could cause increased thirst.

For more information, just click here

Always take your dog poop bags when you walk your dog.

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How To Choose The Perfect Dog To Adopt

May 4th, 2010
Photo of a dog behind a chain-link fence at th...
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When adopting a dog, it’s best to confirm that you and the dog are an excellent match. No amount of preparation ensures your dog has the characteristics, temperament, and behavior that are ideal for you. Nevertheless, many tiny preparations can minimize the odds that you’re adopting the wrong dog for you or your family. Adopt the proper dog using the following criteria:

The Dog Breed

The dog’s breed is crucial in choosing a dog that will meet the characteristics you are trying for. Certainly, the breed’s temperament and characteristics are just approximations of how the dog would act when it’s full grown, as individual dogs have individual personalities. Still, the dog’s breed will still give you an idea of what to expect.

The Dog’s Function

Not all folks who adopt a dog do thus solely to have a pet. There are homeowners who look to put their dogs to use consistent with the dog’s activity or training. Some are made into therapy dogs, others as guide dogs etc. If you are considering a dog for specific purposes, you should select ones that have undergone special training or, generally, have the traits appropriate for the function.

The Dog’s Source

There are plenty of places you can visit when looking for a dog ready for adoption. There are the rescue teams, the animal shelters, and local humane societies for dogs. These have individual preferences about the dogs they take in, which should provide you an idea of what to expect in the dogs they shelter.

An animal shelter is the place to go to save a dog’s life. Animal shelters don’t necessarily keep track of the dog’s history thus you can expect surprises as the dog grows old with you. Additionally, they often accept mixed breed dogs or mutts who possess surprising characteristics. If you are not a big fan of surprises, you’ll verify the choice of dogs rescue teams have for you.

Rescue groups are, generally, the most effective sources for dogs that are sensible for adoption. These keep tabs of their dogs’ history and also the dogs’ previous owners. If you’re inquisitive about knowing the conditions from where the dog you are getting came from, a rescue team is the most effective place for you to start your search. Rescue teams are very specific concerning the breeds they accept. They conjointly shelter their dogs in actual homes, not in kennels.

Your Home

Where the dog is going to is also a crucial issue when adopting a dog. Some dog breeds don’t seem to be suitable for families with children, others are not comfy in confined places.

If you have kids in the family, the size and activities of the dog you are planning to adopt ought to be considered. Tiny dogs are likely to be abused when kids are around, children treat their dogs like they might their toys. Terribly huge dogs, on the opposite hand, are a big no-no for little kids. Youngsters could be hurt around powerful, muscular, and over sized dogs.

Also check into the policies of the neighborhood you’re living in. If you are living in an apartment, check with your apartment owner for their pet regulations. You don’t wish to adopt the right dog only to take it back to the shelter as a result of of your living area’s no-pet clause policy.

Whatever dog you choose to adopt you need to make sure he or she is flea and tick free.  Frontline for dogs is one of the best ways for you to do this. Buy Frontline for dogs at a discount price by shopping around.

And when you get that dog, make sure you use biodegradable dog poop bags from Greendoggiebags.com

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Sustainable Ideals…and the Oscar goes to…

March 7th, 2010

Can’t wait for tonight’s Oscars!  5 films have made the cut and were also rated as the top 5 picks on one of our favorite green sites Inhabitat.com.

We hope at least one of these 5 movies that support sustainable ideals are going home with Senor Oscar!

1) Avatar

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2) Up

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3) The Cove

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4) Food, Inc

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5) Fantastic Mr. Fox

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After watching the preview of Food, Inc. we’re really hoping it gets some serious attention.  Already added to the must watch list post Oscars!

The Cove

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Bluefin Tuna Fished Into Extinction; Japan Doesn’t Care

February 24th, 2010

According to recent reports, the Atlantic and Mediterranean bluefin tuna stocks could totally collapse in 3 years!  Yes, you read that correctly, 3 years.

Japan consumes 80% of the world’s bluefin tuna and has no intention of curbing its appetite until the species is totally extinct.  It’s basic economics vs. doing the right thing.  Recently a 511 lb bluefin was sold for $175,000.   One fish literally sold for the price of a home in the Midwest!  So no wonder the Japanese fish industry doesn’t want to slow down it’s bubble market until there’s nothing left to fish.

CITES (Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) is meeting in Doha, Qatar next month to discuss a formal ban on bluefin fishing.  Luckily France, which has the largest bluefin fleet, is probably going to support the ban.

Hopefully the Japanese can get their appetites under control before we loose yet another species.

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010/02/japan-will-ignore-ban-on-bluefin-tuna-says-the-fish-isnt-that-endangered.php#ch03

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