If you think your dog is pregnant because he is acting weird or he’s on heat, think again. It might either be true or false alarms. To know the early pregnant dog symptoms is necessary so that you can figure out the truth whether he is expecting little John’s and Jean’s or not. There are some canine pregnancy indicators and manifestations to help you discover dog pregnancy is around the corner.

There are instances when you as owner don’t realize your dog is pregnant. Dog breeding occurs even without you being aware of it. Majority of owners are wary about taking their pets under confinement especially when delivering puppies. To determine if conception is taking place, you should know the pregnant dog symptoms. Before anything else, try to identify if your do has reached sexual maturity which is determined between six months and 16 months depending on the breed of your dog. Usually, a dog should be between 18 and 24 months old before getting pregnant and conceive a puppy or puppies.

Pregnant dog symptoms can manifest in female dogs if she’s bred in her heat succession. Pregnancy can hang on for 63 days since the day your dog’s first breeding. However, it can shorter or longer than that. The heat cycle starts with release of eggs shown when her vulva is swollen and she discharges some blood. It is during this time when a male dog is attracted to her. Next heat phase is when the dog is fertile for 2 to 20 days. Vulva is still swollen but softer and bloody discharge is light red. In this phase, she doesn’t want any male to mate her maybe because she’s pregnant or her cycle has lapsed. Majority of dogs can cycle two times per year.

Early on, you can already detect pregnant dog symptoms. If you notice your dog being less enthusiastic to take her meal, then she might be pregnant. Other early indicators include nipple growth, sudden weakness to undertake physical activities, and behavioral shift like she wants to be alone most of the time. These signs are apparent enough to get noticed.

As your dog’s pregnancy steps forward, you will notice progressing dog pregnant symptoms. You will notice your dog will likely wanting to eat more than usual. Her body starts to increase in size as manifested in her thickening belly. Late-term indicators of pregnancy are mostly obvious as your dog flaunts a definite abdomen size increase, puppy starts to move and milk is starting to leak a bit from your dog’s nipples. The most secured and certain means of identifying whether your dog is pregnant is visiting your veterinarian. You don’t want any false conclusions.

By: Ian Pennington

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You love your little pooch, and you want to take the best care of them that you can. When you try to do this a questions starts to arise for you, and that is should you get a dog harness or a dog collar for your favorite pup? Many dog owners have this question, and the answer really depends on what type of dog that you have.

For large canines, dog harnesses can be useful. However, for large pups it can be incredibly difficult to get the harness onto the dog. That being said, for small canines a dog harness can be a great choice because it is better for their overall health.

Dog collars are very useful when you are training a dog. They are great to teach your dog different tricks or routines. Additionally, they can be ideal to place your furry friends identification tags on. However, for all of the positives when it comes to small pups, collars can actually cause some damage. Small pups have delicate bone structure and weaker necks which can be harmed by a collar. Wearing a collar can make it difficult for your little guy to breath properly. If you do not properly secure the collar and accidentally put it on too tight it can chafe and scrape your dogs skin. Additionally, for a small dog a traditional collar may just be uncomfortable.

A harness is a good choice for a little dog because it is constructed in a way that protects your dog from accidental neck and back injuries should he jerk suddenly while on a leash. Basically, the harness is fitted around your dogs chest so that the weight from a yank is not concentrated in one place. Additionally, your dog will feel more comfortable in a harness because it makes for a very secure and supportive fit. Because of this fit if you are walking your dog and he jerks suddenly you do not have to worry as much about potential neck or back injury. Another worry with anything that you put around your dog and onto their skin is that it may chafe, and thankfully harnesses are generally made out of nylon type material which does not tend to irritate your dogs skin.

The choice is really yours and is dependent on what size your dog is. The good news is that there is quite a few options of both dog collars and dog harnesses on the market. This allows you to customize your dogs apparel to your liking. Additionally, both dog collars and harnesses are made out of a variety of materials which allows you to choose one that will be comfortable for your dog breed and their type of fur. You can choose the colors that you like, the patterns that you like, and of course the product that you like.

By: Kelly Marshall

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Student Loan Consolidation

Short-haired dog breeds have many advantages over long-haired breeds. One of these is that short-haired dog breeds do not shed as much hair. While a shaggier coat makes a dog look fluffier and aesthetically more pleasing, it should be remembered that more hair means more time spent on bathing and grooming. Short-hairs are also good because pests can not hide on them very well, so they are better from a hygienic point of view.

Here are some grooming tips for short-haired dog breeds.

- Brush your dog regularly, preferably at least once a day. Make sure to brush against the hair growth direction to monitor for pests.

- Stainless steel combs are best for short-haired dogs. Slicker brushes are better for medium to long-haired dogs. Use a flea comb during the summer days to make certain your dog has not attracted those parasites. A bristle brush can be a final touch for adding gloss to the dog’s coat.

- In case you dog has a tendency to avoid being brushed because of dislike for the process, it might be a good idea to try brushing immediately after play time. Start gently by brushing in the hair growth direction. Remember that successful training means frequent rewards. Give your dog a treat after the first brushing is complete. Increase the length of the brushing sessions little by little to allow the dog to get used to it.

- Brushing is also important before giving your dog a bath. Wet matted hair is only going to create problems later on, so make sure there is no matted hair before proceeding with the bath. Water and good shampoo in a sink works great for small dogs. Note that shampoos used by humans are not good for dogs and can cause irritation that might require medication. Start with the tail and wash the head the last. No one likes soap in his or her eyes.

- Rinse as many times as required to make sure that all residual shampoo has been rinsed out of the dog’s coat.

- Short-haired dog breeds will naturally dry of faster. Usually a gentle towel rub is all that they need. Longer haired dogs need more attention and you should consider brushing the hair while it is drying to avoid tangles.

- If your dog tends to dislike baths then remember to reward it with a treat after each bathing session.

By: Ann Born

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Pregnancy

While for most people, owning dogs is fun, it also poses many adjustments and careful arrangements. The challenge is even greater for those living in cities and urban areas. Dogs must be kept out of neighbors’ lawns and off the streets. The solution is a well-though-out kennel unit.

Planning the Kennel

When building or buying a kennel, keep in mind several important considerations that will ensure your dogs’ comfort and promote sanitation through ease of cleaning. You must have a plan that clearly outlines factors such as size of the kennel; where you will place it: does the location allow outside runs and exercises; ventilation and drainage systems; strength and kind of building materials; among others.

Size is an important consideration especially when you are keeping big dogs. The cage must be tall enough to provide considerable ceiling clearance as well as wide enough to allow the dogs to the sit or lay comfortably.

Location is the next thing important thing to consider. It will dictate the success of your project. If your main reason for building a kennel is to prevent your dogs form bothering your neighbors with their barking and smell, you must choose a location farthest from them. Tip: normally, you would not keep more than one dog in a cage to prevent aggressive or playful fights that will cause injuries to the dogs as well as noise. The kennel must also be able to open to a yard where you can release your dogs for exercise.

Your kennel must also allow convenience in carrying out sanitation procedures. It must have proper drainage for waste water and animal wastes. Ventilation is very important especially in hot seasons. There must be sufficient airflow to cool the dogs. But in colder seasons, you must shelter your pets form the harsh winds.

When planning a kennel, always put both your pets’ comfort and your convenience foremost. Build the kennel with considerations you would keep in mind when building your own house.

By: Jason Gluckman

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Dog allergies are very similar to human allergies and also produce the same symptoms as human allergies. There are 5 types of dog allergies: food allergy, flea allergy, bacteria allergy, contact allergy and atopy. Here are some basic facts about each of these allergies.

Food Allergies

The most common symptom of food allergies is scratching, due to skin irritation. Dog foods contain a host of ingredients which can cause an allergic reaction to your dog. Some of these ingredients are:

Meats: Beef, Chicken, Pork, Lamb, Fish, Eggs

Diary products (Milk)

Grains (Wheat, Whey)
Corn

Most dog owners often scold their dog for scratching too much. Any obsessive behavior your dog demonstrates, such as constant scratching, chewing, licking, requires immediate attention. Never assume that this is just a new habit your dog picked up. Dog allergies can make your dog very uncomfortable.

Aside from scratching, some of the other symptoms dogs can experience are:

sneezing

coughing

eye and nose discharge

Itching around the anus

hair loss

loss of appetite

pawing at their ears or head shaking

vomiting

diarrhea

breathing problems

Isolating the allergen which causes the allergy is not easy because the dog is usually allergic to one specific ingredient in the food. Therefore, it is a matter of isolating that ingredient. You can try doing this with an elimination diet, which most people don’t have the time or energy for. The elimination diet requires preparing specially-cooked meals consisting of a more exotic meat, like rabbit or venison, mixed with rice or potato, which wouldn’t normally be found in dog food.

An easier and more modern approach to test for the presence of a food allergy is to try a dog food which contains hydrolyzed proteins, such as Purinas HA or Hills z/d. Hydrolyzed proteins are broken down into molecules so small, they can’t affect the immune system, which is what causes the allergy. If the allergy goes away while your dog is on this diet (which would take about 8 weeks), then he most likely is suffering from a food allergy. At this point, you would start to re-introduce the possible allergens one by one (individual meats, wheat, corn, milk, etc.) for a period of two weeks each. If the symptoms return, it is most likely due to the ingredient being introduced at that time. You should look out for that ingredient on dog food labels in future purchases.

Atopy (inhalant allergy)

Atopy is the most common of all dog allergies, which is caused by environmental factors, such as dust mites, molds, house dust, human dander, feathers or pollen.

Signs of atopy include excessive chewing, licking and scratching at the face, paws, abdomen, armpits and genital area. Evidence of this behavior can be found in examining your dog’s paws, armpits and genital area. Reddish-brown stains develop in these areas due to excessive licking. This may not be evident in dogs with dark coats.

Atopy is not easy to diagnose due to other dog allergies having the same symptoms. Once these other dog allergies (food, flea and contact) have been ruled out, your vet can proceed with testing for the root cause of the atopy. The most accurate method of testing for atopy is Intradermal Skin Testing.

There are many different treatment options for atopy. The best treatment would be avoiding the allergen altogether. If this is not feasible, other treatments include cool water baths with medicated shampoo, antihistamines, allergy shots, corticosteriods or a diet rich in Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids.

Flea Allergies

Dog allergies to fleas are not caused by the flea itself, but rather the flea’s saliva. A common symptom of flea allergies is scratching at the tail area which causes hair loss, scabs and sores. Your vet can easily diagnose a flea allergy by checking for the presence of fleas in the coat. Fleas can be seen by the naked eye. Intradermal Skin Testing can also be used to test for this type of allergy. The most effective products for eliminating fleas are:

Advantage - Flea control for your Dog & CatFrontLine - Flea & Tick

Medication for your Dog & Cat

Capstar- Flea infestation on Dog and Cat

K9 Advantix Flea and Tick Medication (based on dog’s weight)

Bacterial Allergies

A dog’s skin normally harbors Staph bacteria. Usually, this bacteria does not have any affect on your dog but some dogs develop a sensitivity to it causing an allergic reaction. Your dog may develop crusts on the skin and patches of hair loss due to scratching, similar to ring worm. If these patches become infected, your dog will need to be treated with antibiotics.

Contact Allergies

Contact allergies are the least common of all dog allergies. This type of allergy produces swelling, redness, itching and hair loss. Common contact allergens include flea collars, plastic food bowls, pet sweaters, plants, grass or wool bedding. The best way to diagnose this allergy is if the symptoms continue after ruling out all other allergies. If this is the case, then you must pinpoint the allergen and remove it from your dog’s environment.

This information is NOT intended to replace the advice of a veterinarian, dog trainer or pet care professional.

By: Nancy Settecasi

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Babies

Dogs actually have a well functioning digestive system and dog diarrhea is, thankfully, not a common experience. But I know that when my dog has diarrhea, I can usually attribute it to something that could be avoided. Some of the common causes of diarrhea in dogs are:

1. Sudden change in diet. If you change your dogs food suddenly, it could cause diarrhea. Makes sense, doesn’t it? Your dog is used to eating 1 thing and then all of a sudden a totally different food is in his bowl. His digestive system might need a few days to switch tracks and get used to the new food. Of course, you can avoid this by gradually changing the food - mixing the two together, using less and less of the old food and more and more of the new. This is particularly important with puppies whose digestive systems are very delicate.

2. Worms. Worm can cause diarrhea and is a common cause of it in puppies. If this diarrhea is frothy this usually indicates internal parasites. Get treatment for this at your local Vet.

3. Stress. Stress and mental upset - a long trip or change in daily routine could cause dog diarrhea.

4. Illness. In some cases your dog might just have a virus or illness. Although this doesn’t happen in dogs as often as people, you should have your Vet check him out if you suspect this is the case so you can get him the appropriate treatment.

5. Bad food. Spoiled meat can cause diarrhea in a dog just like it can in humans. Please be as picky about what you feed your pet as you are about what you feed your family.

I know when my dog has diarrhea, the most important thing on my mind is how to make it go away. Not only is it uncomfortable for the dog, but it makes a big mess too! While I recommend you get your dog to a vet right away if he has diarrhea, here are some things you could try at home:

1. If the problem is caused by bad food, you might try a bit of caster oil. Sometimes a more drastic effort is requited and you might have to put your pet on a diet of plain rice.

2. You might also try milk thickened with arrowroot.

3. Don’t be to quick to put your dog back on his regular food. Continue the rice and milk diet for a couple of days to give his intestines a change to recover.

4. Gradually work your way back towards normal food by including boiled hamburg or white fish boiled in milk in with the rice. If you notice the diarrhea starting up again, go back to the previous level.

When my dog has diarrhea, my first concern is for her health so I always call the Vet right away and you should too. You might have to drag your dog in there for an exam, but it’s better to be safe than sorry. Your vet will only be able to recommend a course of action and give out medications after she has seen your dog.

By: Lee Dobbins

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Children’s Furniture

In our series of articles on Dog Dominance Behavior, we explain various forms of dog instinctive behaviors, such as aggression dog dominance and possessive dog behaviors, and what to do about them. All such bad dog behaviors relate to each other and to dog pack instincts — the inborn drive for dog dominance and high position in the pack. Dog food aggression and dog possessiveness of a bone or favorite toy are among the most common expressions of dominance aggression in dogs, of the dog’s quest for control.

These are potentially very serious and can develop or intensify when dog possessive behaviors are not corrected. Many of us have experienced the painful results … So let’s explore how to break dog possessiveness with an example…

My hand was bleeding profusely from two puncture wounds that had been inflicted almost instantly by the defiant little one, aggressively testing the waters. I held the scruff of her neck firmly and snatched a Kleenex with the other hand.

She growled. I allowed her to release a little tension before I made a demand again. (I did not want to cause escalation.) I did not back away, nor did I let go of her scruff. I did not request of her again until she released herself from that high tension level.

The pup then dropped the bone. I blocked her from it and claimed it as MINE. She tried to bite again. I held her firmly until she yielded.

I never let go of a dog when it is tense. Tension creates fear or feeds dog aggression — and either can lead to a nasty bite!

The pup was again calm. I placed the bone in front of her and corrected her with a pack bite when she touched it. Instinctively, she understood such corrective pack behavior and ceased her effort.

When she was patient and calm, I gave the bone to her and let her chew on it for a few minutes. Then I took it away again, just to remind her who really ran the show.

Aggression in dogs is not acceptable and must never be encouraged. Some have naively said: “Well, she only does that around her bone.”

My reply? “What if the dog will not give you something which may harm her?” Permit dog possessive behavior in one instance, and you encourage it in another when the consequences may be dire!

People are afraid to be bitten and usually back away when a dog shows his teeth. You must not do that. Backing down or catering to him at such times gives him power and serves to reinforce and intensify the problem. It assures that such aggression dog dominance behavior will recur, quite possibly with bloody results for you, the dog, or someone else! Take this seriously.

My dogs have their own toys and food bowls. They have bones and crates. However, I can touch or take anything I want, whenever I want. I am the undisputed Pack Leader, the Alpha, and they defer to me. That makes them feel secure and happy, and gives me a peaceful, loving home.

Dominant dogs have all others in the pack submit to THEIR will. They do not ask the lower ranked ones what they want — nor should you. Do not let the proverbial tail wag the dog, or you are in for much annoyance, unpleasantness, even nastiness.

If your dog shows possessive dog behavior, consult a professional and learn the technique well. Apply it with consistency, and do not let bared teeth cause you to back down and submit. The long term consequences would be worse than the present challenge. Even the best of us is sometimes bitten!

By: Rena Murray

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Toddlers