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.

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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.

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“I’ve always had a great love for animals, and will never forget my first experience when I went to adopt one. It wasn’t easy to choose, and wished to give them all freedom from their cages. I wondered how many other people felt so helpless? I wondered how much more could be done for pets if there was more funding? How many more could be saved? How much more education could be given about caring for pets? These were the questions that helped start Jusani Culture. I want to make a great impact for pet centers in America. Give them the funding they need to significantly reduce euthanasia and bring so much more awareness and education about adopting. With the funding raised from every Jusani purchase and the realization the brand is creating I hope to help America become a no-kill nation one day. Let’s give them all freedom from their cages and happy homes! ” -M. Salinas founder of Jus Animalium Culture Apparel

Not often do we find a company that is so into helping America’s pet shelters, so when we do find one we want to share. JACA is indeed making a great impact to save pets that would otherwise be euthanized. Each month they donate 10 percent of all sales to various animal shelters across the country. Jusani Culture is raising funds for Missaukee Humane Society through March 31st. Check out the pet shelters they have helped so far!

The products they sell are mainly t-shirts that are made from 100% organic cotton that is grown with the intent to have as little environmental impact as possible. The production system they use is fully sustainable and helping to build a biologically diverse agriculture. What’s more, the t-shirts are decorated in the United States, so you know they are ethically produced.

They offer a unique opportunity to enter their design contest benefiting homeless pets and budding artists! Artists can submit a design through their entry page and their fans will vote on their favorite design, the winning design (with the most votes) will be printed and Jusani Culture will donate up to $10 of every sale of the product with the design on it to the pet or animal shelter of the artists choice. The winning artist will also be paid $500 for the design! The campaign begins the 1st of every month and ends on the last of every month and the winner is announced on their Facebook page. We encourage you to support them by following them on Twitter.

Jusani – a coined word for the law and legal term, Jus Animalium. “the idea that the most basic interests of non-human animals should be afforded the same consideration as the similar interests of human beings.” -US Legal

It would be a wonderful world if more companies would feel as strongly about making our country a no kill nation as Jus Animalium Culture Apparel does. Their desire to help animal centers educate Americans about pet care, pet responsibility and respect for companion animals is admirable.