by Adam Cairn

Have you ever seen your dog eating your lawn? Many dogs do it, some regular and sporadic. It’s a behavior which confuses dog owners, who struggle to understand why a dog would choose to eat grass. This post details several different theories about why dogs eat grass, as well as some ways of stopping a dog from doing it.

Fiber
Some believe that dogs eat grass when their diet is lacking in fiber. According to this wisdom, the lack of essential nutrients forces the dog to crave fiber-rich food such as grass. If this is really the case, then adding additional fiber to their diet should ensure that they stop craving the lawn.

To Regurgitate
Another popular explanation is that dogs eat grass when they have an unsettled stomach, and eat it in order to help regurgitation. This seems to make sense, since dogs will often regurgitate after eating grass. The theory is that regurgitating the grass will help to bring up any other unwanted food. Where this theory falls down, is that not every dog vomits after eating grass.

Photo courtesy of sxld on Flickr

Curiosity
Of course dogs are very curious animals, and use their mouths and noses to explore the world. Considering that dogs have been known to ingest paper, furniture, clothing and hardware, perhaps we shouldn’t assume that there is a good reason why they choose to eat grass. They smell grass, trees and plants to check for the scent of other dogs, so it might be that they have a chew to find out even more about the neighborhood, or simply to see what it tastes like.
There is always the possibility that dogs eat grass because it tastes so good. Dogs are omnivores after all, so they instinctively want to taste things to see if they are edible. Dogs can eat all sorts of things.

What to do about it
As long as your lawn isn’t treated with insecticide, fertilizer, herbicide or other chemicals, then eating grass shouldn’t really be too dangerous for a dog. It is likely to upset their stomach, so you might not want to bring them back inside immediately after they’ve eaten grass. Allow some time for their stomachs to settle, and you could even provide some food or water to help replace lost food and fluids.

If you desperately want your dog to stop eating your garden, you could consider an artificial grass lawn. This means you can enjoy luscious green lawns at all times of the year with minimal maintenance costs, and also prevent your pooch from chowing down on your turf.

Adam Cairn is a dog-lover and gardener who writes on a number of subjects including artificial grass and creating a dog-friendly garden.

The raw pet food movement got a lot of attention when wide-scale pet food recalls prompted many owners to rethink commercial foods. You begin to wonder what would happen if your favorite pet food product got recalled. What if my dog got really sick before a recall was announced?

It makes perfect sense to research alternative ways to keep your dog healthy. We put a lot of time in deciding what’s best to eat in order to stay healthy and full of energy. Should we not do the same for our furry friends?

The raw food diet is attributed to Australian veterinarian Dr. Ian Billinghurst. His book, Give Your Dog A Bone was published in December of 1993. Though many people say the idea was in existence prior to the publication of the book, it was Dr. Billinghurst and this book that spread the word about the theory, as well as coined the term BARF, which stands for Bones And Raw Food. His book was soon followed by other publications, also from veterinarians, including Dr. Richard Pitcairn’s Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats and Dr. Kymythy R. Schultze’s Natural Nutrition for Dogs and Cats: The Ultimate Diet. All three vets firmly believe that this type of diet is what pets should be eating to lessen their chances of acquiring diseases, allowing them to live a longer and healthier life.

That being said, we would like to tell you about Going Rawr! Dog Lover’s Compendium, an ebook written all about the raw pet food diet, by Maggie Rhines.

“My research has shown that the raw feeding method is a method safe and beneficial to pets. It is a system of holistic and natural feeding which can provide our pets with the healthier, happier, and longer lives they deserve. Backed by veterinarians, dog breeders, and plenty of practitioners, raw feeding is something all pet owners should look into, as well as keep as an option for their pets.”
~Maggie Rhines

Here at PetsBlogs, many of us own dogs and several of us are multi-dog families. In our own research we’ve found that many vets do not recommend a raw pet food diet for various reasons. However, it’s also important to note that there are vets out there who get kick backs from commercial pet food companies. When it comes to keeping a watchful eye over your pets’ health, read everything you can get your hands on and make an informed decision for you and your dog.

When Maggie approached us with an offer for a free review copy of the book, we were thrilled. While we’ve read the book, we haven’t yet changed any of our own dogs over to a raw food diet but some of us are considering it and feel like Maggie’s book is an excellent go-to guide for making the switch.

Making the switch
Packed with 72 pages of information you can use to help make a decision between starting a raw food diet or staying with what you’re feeding now, it’ll make you think seriously about what’s in commercial dog food and the effects it’s having on your dog. If you decide to switch, transitioning to raw feeding is made easier with the different methods covered inside the book. They’re explained in great detail. There’s even a chapter devoted to picky eaters.

The value of raw food nutrition
You’ll also learn the value of raw food nutrition, nutrient requirements, daily recommended amounts and signs to look for if a deficiency occurs. It suggests muscle meats, raw meat, bones, offal, fruits, vegetables and sources of essential nutrients for your dog’s diet. And you’ll find answers on whether to supplement the diet or not.

Comparing dog diets and raw feeding tools
We all remember learning and understanding the human food pyramid. Maggie teaches you about the canine food pyramid and the importance it plays. The comparison of dog feeding diets is quite educational and a must-know for any dog owner. And there are countless raw feeding tools inside like what you need, how to shop for raw food, and where to find it. Tips for buying beef, pork, poultry, game, fruits, and vegetables. Safe food handling is also covered to assist you. There are also special raw food diets for pregnant dogs, dogs with cancer, and dogs with arthritis.

Holistic dog treats
With the purchase of Maggie’s Going RAWR you’ll also get her Holistic Dog Treats ebook which contains recipes for wholesome dog treats that

• Are free of chemical preservatives
• Contain no artificial colors or flavors
• Contain limited and controlled amounts of salt and sugar
• Full of quality ingredients (not just food by-products)

Overall we found Going Rawr! to be a great resource if you’re contemplating putting your dog on a raw food diet.

by Christina Lyttle

Were you of the notion that the painstaking ailment of arthritis occurs to human beings only? Have you been neglecting the persistent pain in the limb that your pet dog is suffering from, thinking it’s a mere pull? Beware, the ache might not be so insignificant after all and you need to check your pooch for any incidents of arthritis before it gets too late to act. Contrary to common belief, arthritis occurs in adult dogs almost as commonly as it does human beings and therefore, it is essential to know the ways to care for your doggie which is crucial in order to see him pouncing and frolicking again. Here are some things you need to keep in mind if the vet diagnoses your dog as suffering from arthritis:

Regular Exercising
Painful as it may appear, it is still imperative that your dog undergoes its regular regime of exercises, although he might not be able to do it the same way he would do in normal circumstances. Exercising with arthritis causes a lot a pain as the disease affects the joints and your dog might be reluctant at first to even get up from his place. However, you need to gently compel him to go for shorter walks at least two times a day in order to space out the period and thereby causing as less stress as possible to the limbs.

Proffering Nutritional Supplements
In order to alleviate the excruciating pain of arthritis in your dog, you can get hold of some of the nutritional supplements that are available aplenty in the market or at the pet stores. These supplements embrace chondroitin, glucosamine and fish oil rich in Omega 3 and come in the form of either capsules or powder to be chosen according to your convenience.

Maintaining the Right Weight
As with human beings, dogs which tend to be bulky and heavy in weight are more vulnerable to suffer from arthritis. Therefore, paying attention to the maintenance of the right body weight of your dog is extremely important to help it recuperate faster. Your vet will probably guide you on ways to keep up a healthy weight balance for your dog by following a specific diet dog formula.

Gentle Massages
When chronic arthritis strikes dogs, massaging the affected joints and limbs often help ameliorate the pains to a great extent. In order to massage your dog, choose a specific time, preferably just before he goes to bed and let him relax by lying down on his couch or bed. With genteel strokes in kneading motion, massage the joint or joints which is suffering from the pain. Applying a hot bag for heating up the particular place also proves beneficial.

Getting home a Proper Couch
Finally, just as you would not feel comfortable sleeping in a downy, cushiony bed which digs down as soon as you lie on it if you were to suffer from joint pains, your dog too needs a bed that is meant for arthritis solely. Such beds are devised in the fashion of spreading the weight of the whole body in an even, smooth manner so as to attenuate the pressure at the joints.

Your dog is your best friend and you surely would not like to see him in pain. Therefore, act when there is time still and never neglect sufferings like arthritis as it gets worse if not attended to at the right juncture.

Christina Lyttle is a pet lover and a work-at-home mom. She recommends that you order discount pet supplies online to save huge bucks.

by Richard J. Barnes

Does your canine gnarl or chunk? Does he show any violent actions? If he does, he maybe is an aggressive canine, and this sort of dog is usually dangerous. Nonetheless, it could still be too early to conclude.

There are explicit conditions when dogs act violently, akin to when they see new faces or different canines, or when they are harassed. Their response to these situations is but normal. Given this, how can we then know if our dog is aggressive or not?

There are a lot of dog owners who are in denial that their canine is hostile. Some say that they’re in short of funds whereas others make the actual conditions as an excuse. There are additionally a quantity of people who consider that it is simply a part of a dog’s regular behavior. There are such a lot of the clarifications why folks don’t need to accept that their canine is hostile, however they should understand that their alibis will just place them as well as the folks around them in danger.

Aggressive conduct in a dog to be addressed as quickly as possible. Below are methods to know if a dog is aggressive:

1. If a canine has protecting inclinations. A canine like this is good when you want your property to be safely guarded. Nevertheless, you want to be careful his behavior while you’re taking him for a walk as a result of there’s a big risk that he will assault people.

2. A dog barks or snaps when touched. Dogs which can be hostile normally don’t like being touched, unless they are in pain or after they have an injury.

3. If a dog assaults issues, other animals or people who make sudden movements.

4. If a dog is overly possessive. Hostile canines generally tend of being possessive. They’ll defend no matter they assume they own and if someone touches them, they may automatically bark and even bite.

5. If a dog gnarls, snaps, bites, mounts folks or other animals, ceaselessly barks, curls his lips and blocks the methods of passersby. Nevertheless, there are hostile canine that don’t at all times exhibit these behaviors.

6. When a dog typically escapes and strolls around the neighborhood.

Aggressive behavior in dog is a real downside, so if you happen to think that your canine has a conduct like this, it is advisable to immediately discover a solution. The perfect resolution to that is training. You possibly can prepare your dog, however in case you are not that educated, it is higher to go away it to the professionals.

Richard J. Barnes supplies a complete dog coaching on-line free resource designed to offer you time-examined dog coaching tips. For more great info on crate training puppies, visit dogtraining instructions online.
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by Alia Haley

Dogs have been the best companion of man since times immemorial. One cannot forget that, Ulysses was recognized by his dog Argus when he returned after 20 long years. A dog can really do wonders especially for those who are physically challenged. This special animal certainly makes the world a better place to live in. It could be any dog for that matter, but a service dog is specially trained in order to assist people who have disabilities. These types of dogs are not of any different breeds, but are like regular dogs except that they have special training to perform tasks for people who have disabilities like impaired vision or hearing or those who are confined to a wheelchair.

They do not particularly replace the conventional care givers since dogs can’t really feed the person, but they help greatly in doing simple tasks such as picking up items which have been dropped by chance. They can open doors, drawers, and switch on lights or automatic doors, warning the homeowner in case there’s an intruder. The dog is very responsible and can rescue the physically challenged person from dangers apart from assisting in other jobs. Thus, service dogs can really bring about a joy and a sense of security and safety to the owner. Such a dog is a blessing in disguise for the person who is totally dependent on it. Service dogs assist people who have health challenges such as mobility impairments, unremitting fatigue issues, balance problems, and several health problems.

Any normal dog can be trained to be a service dog. Some owners choose to train the dog themselves, but this is not a wise decision as professional training can hone the skill of the dog. It is always wise to employ a professional dog trainer. This can avoid probable errors and hazards of training the dog in the proper way. A service dog training center has the essential facilities and equipment required for training dogs so that they may assist humans. The centers teach the dog new tricks so that it may cater to better human needs. The training center has training tailored for human needs and they learn the necessary skills required in assisting people who really need their help.

Many of the sport breed of dogs are used for service dog training. A service dog is generally a supportive dog that is trained to help people with certain disability. These assistance dogs are trained to open doors, pull wheelchairs, turn on or off lights, receive the telephone and so on. The Diabetes response dogs can carry objects such as juice bottles or sniff the handler’s breath for low blood sugar. Parkinson is a degenerative brain disorder for which the patient needs the dog to assist with balance. Parkinson trained dogs are trained to stay with a person if the person starts to stroll or gets into a precarious situation. Therapy dogs visit nursing home residents, people in hospitals, and children in schools. They are often used for emotional support, educational purposes, in order to cheer and soothe people.

Dogs are also trained to make physical contact and guide their deaf partners to the source of the sound. People often identify Labrador Retrievers and Golden Retrievers as paramount Seeing Eye dogs. Seeing Eye dogs are the most popular kind of dog. They are specially trained so a person can walk safely down the street lest the person trips and falls. Some dogs can identify the signs of an impending illness, such as asthma attack or epilepsy, thus it is startlingly true that Service dogs are more helpful to handicapped individuals than a human companion. Dogs don’t expect for any favor in return, but provide the freedom and independence needed for an aged or handicapped to live a normal life.

Service dogs get protection under the law, because they are authorized to be with their owners in public places. These dogs are specially trained to respond to their owners requirements and to act aptly in public places. While service dogs can increase safety for people with disabilities, it may not be the right solution for everyone. Even a well-trained dog often misbehaves. Needless to say despite the shortcomings of a service dog, it is the best choice for someone who needs true protection, love, and care.

Alia Haley is a blogger who is an animal lover. She has four pets in her house that includes two dogs, a rabbit and a parrot. She is extremely conscious when it comes to pet care and her fondness for exotic pets is making her plan to buy one soon.

A veterinary surgeon, Christie Tomlinson went to a Colorado rescue center to find a playmate for her golden retriever and saved the life of Naki’o a red heeler cattle dog.
This is not your normal ‘save the life’ of a shelter pet. We here at PetsBlogs hope that 2012 will bring many more wonderful stories of saving pets.

Naki’o was barely 5 weeks old when he and his brothers and sisters were abandoned by a family fleeing their foreclosed home. He barely survived the Nebraska winter, after being stuck in an icy puddle all four of his paws were deformed. He suffered such severe frostbite that he was left with just stumps to move about on. The damage to his paws left no alternative but amputation.

“I’ve always had a soft spot for animals with problems. I knew I had the skills and knowledge to be able to take care of him properly. I took him to work with me every day and was able to x-ray his legs regularly to see how they were developing.” At first Naki’o was small and light enough to hold himself up on his stumps without too much difficulty. But as he grew and gained weight it became painful for him to walk, especially on hard surfaces. “I felt so bad for him as his condition worsened,” said Christie. “He is such a hyper and happy dog, but I was having to take him for walks in a stroller and carry him around. He couldn’t be a normal dog, he couldn’t lead the life he wanted.”

Naki'o without his bionic legs. As he grew the stumps were not strong enough to hold him and he had to crawl on his tummy

Christie found a company called Orthopets located in Denver, Colorado. The company was founded by husband and wife team Martin and Amy Kaufmann in 2003. Martin saw that his experience in creating human orthopedic devices could be adapted for animals. He felt it was barbaric that in the 20th century dogs were still having legs amputated. Orthopets decided to fit Naki’o with ‘new legs’ FREE OF CHARGE. It was the first time they’d fitted an animal with a complete set of new legs.

“I thought we should be using the technology used for humans on our pets. An animal is a much better patient than a human. They have drive, determination and they just won’t quit. They don’t feel sorry for themselves.”

Naki’o was so much more fortunate than most shelter pets. He has two wonderful hero’s that gave him a new life. He can now leap and bound with the best of them. At the park he can interact with the other dogs and play without a care. Christie is amazed at her pet’s motivation and joy for life. ‘He was always a happy dog, but now he’s much more confident,’ she said.

Orthopets is working to open clinics worldwide. As well as dogs, they have fitted cats, horses, llamas and a stork with state of the art prosthetics.

OrthoPets Company Vision
“The vision of OrthoPets is to improve our patients’ quality of life through innovative prosthetic and orthotic solutions. We have found great success in implementing the same adaptive technologies used in the field of human orthotics and prosthetics to care for our animal patients. OrthoPets strives to give each patient a second chance to enjoy a normal life. We have found our non-invasive health care options can drastically improve the quality of life for a wide variety of animals.”

by Ciara Black

About 40% of dogs suffer from allergies everyday. It could be a change in your dog’s environment, a new type of dog food or something a little more difficult to determine. Most allergies are very minor, however, you should always take your dog to the veterinarian for proper diagnosis and treatment.

There are five known types of dog allergies:

1. Inhalant allergies
2. Flea allergies
3. Food allergies
4. Bacteria allergies
5. Contact allergies

Dog allergies can be respiratory, as in humans, but are usually more common on the
skin. About 20% of dog’s itching and scratching comes from an allergy.
It is important to properly diagnose and treat your dog’s allergy, as he cannot do it
himself. Be sure to monitor your dog’s change in behavior or any symptoms of a
possible allergy.

Not sure what to look for when it comes to allergies? The most common symptom is
excessive itching and biting of the fur. Other symptoms may include:

• Irritated, red rashes under the fur. If your dog is itching in one area in particular, check that area for a rash.
• Ear infections. These are very common in food allergies. 90% of ear infections occur on the outer ear of your dog. Some signs of an ear infection are itching, a yellow to brown coloured discharge or head shaking.
• Bumps or sores on the skin; also known as “hot spots”. A hot spot is a localized area of skin inflammation and infection. These can be caused by biting, licking or scratching of the skin. Common areas for hot spots are on the paws or right above the tail.
• Watery eyes and nose. Your dog’s nose and eyes are naturally moist and may water for no reason. It is important to note if your dog has excessive eye discharge or mucous along with any other allergy symptoms to properly diagnose.
• Shedding or flakey skin. This is very common with bacterial and contact allergies. These allergies deal primarily with the dog’s skin. Excessive biting or scratching of the skin may cause flakey, shedding rashes, much like dandruff.

Always watch for the many different symptoms to help identify your dog’s allergy and treat it immediately.

Ciara is a lover of all things dog, especially small ones! She owns a Chihuahua-Pomeranian
cross named Bijou– her little ball of energy always keeps her busy. A few years back
Bijou got very sick with an ear infection, and ever since she has been interested in all
areas of dog health. Check out Dog Allergies Resource to learn more about the types of dog allergies, their symptoms and treatments.

To end 2011 we would like to leave you with some food for thought. 2012 will be here before we know it. We would like to take this opportunity to wish each and everyone of you a Happy and Prosperous New Year.

“There is no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy licking your face.” ~ Ben Williams

“A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself.” ~ Josh Billings

“The average dog is a nicer person than the average person.” ~ Andy Rooney

“Anybody who doesn’t know what soap tastes like never washed a dog.” ~ Franklin P. Jones

“Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.” ~ Roger Caras

“If you think dogs can’t count, try putting three dog biscuits in your pocket and then give him only two of them.” ~ Phil Pastoret

“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” ~ Mahatma Gandhi

“Dogs laugh, but they laugh with their tails. What puts man in a higher state of evolution is that he has got his laugh on the right end.” ~ Max Eastman

“If you get to thinking you’re a person of some influence, try ordering somebody else’s dog around.” ~ Will Rogers

“Happiness is a warm puppy.” ~ Charles M. Schulz

“Let dogs delight to bark and bite, for God hath made them so.” ~ Isaac Watts

“I think dogs are the most amazing creatures; they give unconditional love. For me they are the role model for being alive.” ~ Gilda Radner

“The reason a dog has so many friends is that he wags his tail instead of his tongue.” ~ Author Unknown

“The one absolutely unselfish friend that man can have in this selfish world, the one that never deserts him, the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous, is his dog.”
~ George Graham Vest