How to Measure Your Dog for a Martingale Collar

Martingale collars are widely used in the US. Due to their nature, it is imperative that a dog be measured for the collar beforehand. Find out how to do that in this Buzzle article.

Did You Know?
Martingale collars are perfectly suited for collar training. They suitably, but firmly, restrict the dog's movement without choking it. Buckle martingales, which have a release clasp at their side, can be used so that there is always an emergency release available.

Every pet dog needs a collar. They are useful for training, security, as well as identification. Martingale collars, which are an upgrade on choke collars, are distinguished by the additional loop behind the collar. The collar is a bit loose at first. If the dog pulls on the collar, the secondary loop constricts, making the collar tighter. With the proper fitting, martingale collars never choke the dog, but tighten and help you control the dog when you need it most. This is most useful with dogs that have slender, similarly wide necks and faces, such as greyhounds.

Read more at Buzzle: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/how-to-measure-your-dog-for-a-martingale-collar.html

Healthy Homemade Dog Treats

Making healthy treats for your dog at home is not only easy, but also allows you to ensure that your dog receives the best food without having to deal with the ugly side effects associated with commercial food. Read on to know more about how to make healthy dog treats for your beloved pet.

After the spate of dog food recalls, pet owners have suddenly realized the importance of holistic homemade dog food which is easily the best diet for your dogs. Making the food at home for your beloved pets not only allows you to ensure that you put in all the things that are best for your dog, but also helps avoid the digestive and other dog health problems.

 This is because unlike commercial food which has a whole lot of preservatives and food coloring that might trigger off certain side effects, the homemade healthy dog treats are quite safe for your canine friends. Moreover, the dog treats available in stores are quite expensive and by making it at home you can not only save a few bucks but also ensure that your pet dog gets the best.
Read more at Buzzle: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/healthy-homemade-dog-treats.html

Dog Diets for Weight Loss

Is your dog gaining weight at an alarming rate? Definitely a reason to worry, as that might put him at the risk of several health problems. How about starting off by switching his daily diet with a proper weight loss diet?

Studies show that about 40% of America's pet population is overweight. A healthy and active pet can lead a pain-free life, but an overweight pet―especially a dog―is more likely to develop diseases like diabetes and arthritis. Being in normal weight range is essential for their health. As in the case of humans, exercise and balanced diet play an important role in the health of dogs.

With aging, dogs become less active, and decreased physical activity promotes weight gain. Breeds like labrador retrievers, English bulldogs, beagles, dachshunds, pugs, dalmatians, and cocker spaniels naturally gain weight. It is your duty, as the owner, to control the weight of your pet dog by providing him proper diet and ensuring that he gets enough exercise.

Read more at Buzzle: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/dog-diets-for-weight-loss.html

Are Dental Dog Treats Effective?

 

Apart from being a reward and tasty snack, dog treats are very effective and beneficial for your pet's basic oral hygiene. The following write-up tells you more on these tasty treats and how they work.

Did You Know?
The Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) approves dog dental products, like chews, rawhide bones, biscuits, and toys, as they reduce plaque and tartar buildup by approximately 10%.

Has your beloved dog done something good, like obeyed a command, not littered the house, gone out to take care of his business, or has just given you the most innocent look possible? If your answer is in the affirmative for any of the questions, then you may think that your pet deserves a treat. There are many ways to treat your pet, but are treats, like dental dog chews effective in any way? How many treats can you give your dog in a day? These are a few basic questions most dog owners ask their peers, friends, family, and the veterinarian.

Dental dog treats do work and are very effective. They are good for imbibing obedience, and also for keeping dental problems at bay. They serve as a play thing for your dog and also as an in-between snack. There is a huge variety of dog treats available in the market that you can choose from. Vegetarian treats to meat ones, rawhide chews to meat jerky, crunchy, scrumptious biscuits to rubber toys - your dog has a huge variety to choose from, and you can always consult your vet regarding which is the best for your four-legged companion.

Just like how every coin has two sides, giving a treat to your dog has two sides to it too! This Buzzle article elaborates on how effective the treats are and also shows you the flip side of this amazing snack item.
Read more at Buzzle: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/are-dental-dog-treats-effective.html

Home Remedies for Parvovirus in Dogs

Canine parvoviral enteritis is often termed 'parvo' in veterinary parlance. Puppies and unvaccinated dogs are at a high risk of contracting this infection, which causes severe intestinal damage. This Buzzle article gives you important tips to help treat your dog at home.

 

Take note:

If your dog seems lethargic and depressed, is vomiting, and/or has diarrhea, it's time to take it to the vet, ASAP. Though parvo isn't necessarily fatal, the resulting dehydration can put your dog's life at risk. Also, parvovirus is highly contagious, which means that if you have other pets, you must quarantine the affected pet immediately.

In a perfect world, we'd all be able to afford the sky-high veterinary bills, and provide our beloved pets with the best of treatment to cure whatever it is that ails them. Unfortunately, real-world economics prevent it from happening, but this doesn't mean that we have to sacrifice the welfare of our pets in the process.

Often, simple home remedies can have the desired impact as compared to expensive medical treatments, and they're also not as harsh. However, remember that home remedies cannot always be relied on, and there is this chance of losing precious time by delaying the necessary treatment. Therefore, always be prudent and keep a close watch on the progress your pet makes while administering home remedies―take your pet to the clinic immediately in case its condition remains the same, or worse, deteriorates.
Read more at Buzzle: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/home-remedies-for-parvovirus-in-dogs.html

Is Tramadol Safe for Dogs?

 

Tramadol is becoming popular to treat pain, both in humans and pets. But you would ask, is tramadol safe for dogs? This Buzzle article will check out all the aspects of dosage and side effects of tramadol in dogs.

Keep in Mind
Tramadol is not an FDA-approved veterinary drug, but can be used by acquiring a vet's prescription.

Tramadol is an analgesic that is used for pain relief in cases of acute or chronic pain, both in humans and pets. This drug is available by the brand name Ultram in the US, and by the name Ralivia or Dromodol in other countries. Tramadol is unique, in that, it can be administered as an alternative to Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDS). It has the same effects as another pain reliever, morphine, but without its strong side effects, and is also non-addictive.

Tramadol can also be used for cats, where the use of NSAIDS may be dangerous. While the drug is safe to administer to pregnant and lactating animals, its long-term side effects have not been well studied. The drug has found use in veterinary medicine only recently, and some vets may not be aware of it.

Tramadol alleviates pain and discomfort by acting on the pain receptors in the brain, rather than at the site of injury, contrary to NSAIDS. More specifically, it is an opioid analgesic that blocks the µ-opioid pain receptors in the brain. It also works by inhibiting the reuptake of adrenalin and serotonin. Unlike other types of pain medications, it is relatively inexpensive, further increasing its popularity, both among vets and pet owners.
Read more at Buzzle: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/is-tramadol-safe-for-dogs.html

How to Stop Dogs from Fighting

Bar fights, game fights, street fights, all such physical forms of aggression involve humans. What do you do in a dog fight, i.e. a fight between two dogs? Scroll below to learn how to stop and separate two dogs in a dog fight, without getting injured yourself.

 

Picture the following scene: you are walking your dog on a leash in your local park. It is a nice sunny day, other people, children and animals are around. You are just turning around to head home, when out of nowhere, another dog comes out and starts snarling and growling at your pet. Your pet can either snarl back and raise its hackles or stand down and tug on the leash to get away.

 Either way, the canine opponent isn't willing to back down and suddenly lunges at your pet. Soon both dogs are engaged in a no-holds-barred contest of teeth, jaws and paws, each trying to bite the other to death. And what are you doing? You can't call the police for two dogs fighting. Interfere in such a fight and you will walk away with the most scars and injuries. The other dog's owner stands by, equally helpless.

 Any animal attack is frightening but when your beloved pet's life hangs in the balance, you want to save it but the question is how? Such aggressive dog behavior can also be a result of your pooch challenging another dog. In case of a canine fight, your first instinct is to run to your pet's aid and pull the other dog off him/her. Tamp down on this instinct and read on to learn the correct way to stop a dog fight.

Read more at Buzzle: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/how-to-stop-dogs-from-fighting.html