Cat Health – Dog Health – Pet Clothes |

Many of us choose to take vitamins or supplements to improve or maintain our health. We don’t always eat well and we live busy, often stressful lives. This busy lifestyle takes a toll on our bodies. We get run down and tired. Vitamin supplements can help support our immune system and provide nutrients we don’t get in our regular diet. So, if vitamins are beneficial for us, should be give our dogs vitamins too?

Today’s commercial dog foods have improved over the years as more research has been done on the nutritional needs of pets. There are now special formulas for the different stages of your dog’s life, from puppy to senior. You may be wondering, if you feed your dog a high quality, meat based dog food, does he still need vitamins?

Many veterinarians and researchers believe that in the future, we will depend more on vitamins and supplements and less on chemicals and drugs to keep our pets healthy. Since drugs can cause side effects such as kidney or liver damage, natural supplements can be a safe alternative. Vets have determined that free radicals, which are molecules that damage cells, are found everywhere in our environment. Just like for us, they weaken the immune system of our four-legged best friends. A weakened immune system makes us and our pets more susceptible to illness. There are many natural vitamins, herbs and minerals that can fight the effects of free radicals. They protect and shield cells from damage and help repair cells.

Some of the most beneficial vitamin supplements include, Vitamin C, Vitamin B Complex, and Vitamin B2. Vitamin C improves the function of white blood cells, combats the effects of free radicals and promotes growth and tissue repair. Vitamin B Complex helps the functioning of the nervous system, maintains muscle tone and keeps skin, coat, eyes, mouth and liver healthy. Vitamin B2 is important for antibody and red blood cell formation. These are just a few of the nutritional supplements that are necessary for your dog’s health. There are many other beneficial vitamins and minerals that will improve and maintain a strong immune system for your pet. You can expect to see great improvement in your pet’s overall health several weeks after starting on a high quality, human grade pet vitamin.

Natural herbs used in Pet Supplements are considered to be pharmacological and can therefore be dangerous if not used properly. Always consult with your veterinarian before you give your furry family member vitamins or supplements. It is important to have the correct combination of ingredients in the correct amount for the best result.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joseph_M_Sabol

Joseph M. Sabol is a world class Doberman breeder. Please go to http://petvitamins4u.com or to http://theroadhousedobes.com for further information

Joseph Sabol
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/does-your-dog-need-vitamins-722188.html

Dogs can exist on a diet of meat, fruit, and vegetables. The benefits of supplements are overwhelming and can add several healthy years to your dog’s life. Lifestyle and the foods and nutrients our pets receive make up 70 percent of their longevity, and 80-90 percent of the diseases in dogs are due to the degenerative processes that come with aging.

Major health changes occur in a short amount of time in dogs, as they age seven times faster than people (on the average). Aging is a process in which the body’s systems deteriorate faster than the body can repair them, and dogs have different nutritional needs at different life stages.

Supplements can pick up where dog foods leave off with the added benefit that some medical conditions, like arthritis, and hip dysphasia can be treated with supplements. Vitamins such as A, B1, and Folic Acid; and minerals like potassium probiotics can help dog’s live longer, healthier lives. The ideal supplements for your dog are those targeted to your dog’s particular health needs, as determined by your vet.

Supplements are available in many forms, including liquid, pill, and powder forms. Features to consider in dog supplements are; the ingredients, efficacy , form-powder, pill or liquid, easy to give, veterinarian approved, and most important, appropriate for the age, weight, breed, and health of your pet.

Always remember to consult your veterinarian before choosing or giving supplements to your pet. Make sure the supplements you choose are for dogs, not cats or people, there are differences, and a follow-up exam by your veterinarian would give you a better indication of how well your dog’s metabolism is benefiting from the supplements. Once the ideal supplement is found, regular use is the key to success for good health.

Supplements can be the key to good health for your pet. But remember to always use them in moderation and do not mix supplements, this could be potentially dangerous to your pet.

Brent Jones
http://www.articlesbase.com/automotive-articles/supplements-and-their-affects-on-dogs-55669.html

Disney has an unsaid & indispensable bond with every American kid. As a result, every household in the US has at least one item that is pertaining to Disney, then, it might be produced by, made by, endorsed by or licensed by Disney.

As a result of this undying & natural affinity, Disney & the kids seem to have a strong bonded relationship that is being carried forward from generations together.

Disney Corporation understands the same and have been producing baby clothing ever since they have been in to the business. The strategy is simple – with every new movie they include this clothing in their merchandise that promotes the main characters of the film. In 1977, George Lucas introduced in this format of marketing. He proved his point when Disney licensed the tie-ups with the Star Wars and sold Star Wars clothing & other merchandise like a hot cake.

Now-a-days with every new Disney movie, the kids know the characters even before the parents have barely heard about them. Sometimes, these titles or the main characters become major hits among the kids but fail to impress the parents like it happened with Bambi. But of course, it is not always true. Usually the characters prove a hit for both the parents as well as the kids. To understand this phenomena better, you compare the sales of Home on the Range as against Finding Nemo. It goes without saying that the products that strike the chord equally with the parents as well as the kids, are the better sellers in the market.

Here are some major Disney hits among kids & babies’ clothing.

1. The Little Mermaid

While it was released 16 years ago, the movie’s characters have marked a milestone among people. The young girls till date love to be Arial – The Little Mermaid. The mothers also love to help their daughters become one. Disney has successfully encashed the character of this ‘titular mermaid. While loads of T-shirts, swimsuits, & varied other items of clothing for babies & children sell big with the ‘Arial’ designs; several other motifs of the film are appreciated by the kids as well as their parents.

2. Finding Nemo

Another intriguing & successful interpretation of the aquatic world by Disney, their latest offering Finding Nemo is selling massive amounts among babies’ clothing, especially for the swim wear. Also cool & soothing summer wear for girls as well as boys borrow exclusive designs from the film’s blue toning. A rather interesting fact is that the first look of the ‘infants’ page on the company’s website that is Disney Direct features a one-piece girls’ swim suit based on the theme of the flick, Finding Nemo. The company’s web store says, this is getting rave responses.

3. Classic Characters

Who can forget the beginning of the world of Disney – that is – Mickey Mouse and his sweaty pie, Minnie Mouse. The characters of this series that are Mickey’s friends Goofy & Donald Duck, Donald’s love Daisy Duck, Mickey’s pet Pluto and Minnie Mouse are the all time classic hits of Disney in all regards, then why not kids’ clothing!

Among 20 toddlers playing in a room at least 10 would indispensably be marked with one of these characters or their toys would have one print of the same. It won’t be wrong to say that when it comes to clothe your Mickey & Minnie, these classic characters are a sure & simple choice to go for!

Abhishek Agarwal
http://www.articlesbase.com/babies-articles/disneys-baby-clothing-3-classic-themes-739984.html

Many of us dog owners get really amazed to see our dogs scratching away to glory in spite of the fact that there is not a single flea on its body! This is one thing that most dog owners will know. Many a time, our dogs just keep on scratching their skin although they do not have fleas or any other parasites. This is one thing that all dog owners have to be careful about. Continuous itching without any reason might have larger health implications.

This incessant itching can highly be an early symptom of dermatitis. Dermatitis is similar to fever in human beings. When we have fever, we just start sneezing like crazy or have congestions. But in case of dogs, their skin becomes itchy and they keep on scratching their skin. Fever in dogs happens generally when they inhale a large amount of pollen.

If you notice, you will see that your dog starts itching more during the months of August and September. This is a time when you need to take extra care of your beloved pet. Pets become especially sensitive to things around them during these months. Thus, this is the time when you have to look out for Dermatitis because your dog will be highly susceptible to it.

The other months when your dog will start itching indiscriminately are March and April. Since these two are the pollen months, dogs become very likely to catch hold of Dermatitis during this season. The grass pollen season of May, June and early July are also particularly troublesome months.

This Dog Health symptom is something that affects your dog particularly badly. Once your dog gets affected by Dermatitis, it will practically suffer from scratching problems throughout the year. This gives rise to another problem of increased sensitivity which means that something like dusting your sofa will also make your dog uncomfortable and scratchy.

The owners who have a dog who is less than six months old are lucky because young dogs do not get Dermatitis. It is a disease seen in dogs that are three or more years of age. Also, almost every breed of dog can get Dermatitis as it is not a breed specific disease.

However, despite of not being a breed specific disease, Dermatitis is something that affects certain breeds of dogs, like Dalmatians, West Highland White Terriers, White Haired Fox Terriers and Poodles particularly badly. Dermatitis is something that should be treated immediately because it can make your dog suffer a lot and live in great discomfort.

As for the treatments of Dermatitis, you must consult your dog’s vet. There are multiple treatments available but you have to choose one that suits your dog’s breed and age, so it is best to go for whatever your dog’s vet suggests.

Apart from the treatment, you also need to take care of the fact that your dog gets regular grooming so that its skin remains in perfect condition. If your dog is not groomed regularly, it might suffer from skin problems that are extremely uncomfortable.

Kelly Marshall
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/dog-health-symptom-does-your-dog-itch-like-crazy-but-has-no-parasites-725993.html

Question – Is there really such a thing as urinary tract health cat food, one that will make a difference to my cat’s health?
Answer -  It depends on how advanced the disease is, what treatment has taken place up til now, how healthy your cat was before, how old you cat is and so forth. But if you don’t try, you’ll never know.

Q – So what is the best urinary tract health cat food?
A – You can never go past raw food as the best all round, healthy cat food, for any disease.

Q – My vet tells me that raw meat has worms and parasites which will exacerbate an already ailing cat.
A – Cats have evolved on raw food over millennia. Their digestive system can deal very effectively with any worms or parasites, when they are healthy. When they are not healthy, caution needs to be taken during the change over, to ensure it doesn’t become a problem.

Q – I have heard that the best urinary tract health cat food should be a low protein diet. Surely a raw diet is high in protein?
A – Cats have evolved on a high protein diet. I don’t believe you should reduce their protein intake. What I believe is at the heart of the problem here is the modern farming methods. The artificial fertilisers that are commonly used today upset the delicate mineral balance in farm animals. Address that and the high protein then isn’t a problem.

Q – Why is it so common for cats to develop renal failure?
A – The kidneys are cats weakest link. So getting into the habit of giving your cat the best and healthiest cat food from the start will ensure optimum health and life expectancy.

Q – Is it difficult to work out what the best urinary tract health cat food should be?
A – I’ve already done it for you, so all you have to do is follow in my footsteps.

Q – Is a good urinary tract health cat food expensive?
A – When I worked out the cost of the best cat food versus the highest priced dried or processed cat food, I found they came out at about the same. And look at the additional bonuses of a healthy cat, so fewer trips to the vet!

Q – Is it time consuming to this prepare diet? I work, so have limited time.
A – Once you’ve got your head around the concept, it’s really easy. Just make the change over slowly, so you and your cat get used to it gradually. I find that’s the best way of learning something new and guarantees you’ll find it easy to stick to.

Q – What about high ash? I’ve heard that’s not a good thing in cats with ailing kidneys. Shouldn’t a good urinary tract health cat food be low in ash?
A – High ash means high mineral levels. Again, I feel that comes down to bad farming methods putting the delicate mineral balance out of whack. Cats need minerals to be healthy, but they need them in a natural, balanced form. Quality, raw food is the best source.

Q – I’m a vegetarian. It would be difficult for me to prepare raw meat.
A – I totally understand your predicament, I am too. But cats need meat, they’re true carnivores. So if you want to give your cat the best chance in life, you’re going to have to get used to handling raw meat. Or get your partner to…

Madeleine Innocent
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/urinary-tract-health-cat-food-questions-and-answers-727567.html

I have made my designs so that the smallest pet can be comfortable and properly fitted, my smallest size even fit the popular Webkinz and beanie babies. I have patterns as well as completed peices. The sewing patterns and the crochet patterns are written so that the newest beginner can follow and make a one of a kind item for their precious pet too.

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Reading Pet Food Labels
or
What to run away from at the pet store

With all the pet food recalls and more and more ingredients coming out of China that are contaminated, we need to learn to read the ingredients on our pet foods just like we read the labels on our own food.

You should read the label every time you purchase pet food.  Manufacturers will change ingredients on a whim if they can make the product cheaper and reap a bigger profit.  Very few companies are as concerned about the health of your dog as much as they are about their bottom line.

Pet food is not highly regulated.  Dead, diseased, dying and drugged animals are allowed in pet food.  Many pet food ingredients are leftovers from meat processing for the human food supply and consist of ingredients not fit for human consumption.  Here’s what you should be looking for on each label.

Look for the Ingredient Statement on the label.  Read the first five ingredients as these first five ingredients make up 90% or more of the total quantity of what’s in the dog food.

1. Does the food contain a quality protein?  Look for an identifiable animal source such as chicken meal or beef meal.  This is a concentrated protein source wherein the water has been removed from the meat.  “Chicken meal” is better to find on the label than simply “chicken” as the latter can contain a large quantity of water.  It may be the first ingredient on the list, but doesn’t necessarily make up the larger portion of the food due to the water content.  Wheat gluten or corn gluten are protein sources, but they are not meat.  Dogs and cats must have meat to live a healthy life.  If your dog were on the loose in the wild, would you find him eating an ear of corn?  

2. Look at the packaging.  Does it contain a picture of a healthy dog or cat and then say things like “natural” or “wholesome grains” or “vegetables?”  The term natural is meaningless as it is not regulated.  There can be some natural ingredients in the food, but there can also be chemical preservatives that can cause cancer such as BHA, BHT, or ethoxyquine.  There are some pet treats on the market that are labeled natural, but contain propylene glycol, a form of antifreeze!

3. Wholesome grains are not whole grains.  The term wholesome grains can simply mean the addition of wheat gluten which was the source of the largest pet food recall in history.  Whole grains are excellent sources of protein, fiber, B vitamins, iron, and other essential minerals.  They also provide carbohydrates that a dog (not a cat) needs to provide energy.  Look for ingredients like ground brown rice or oats in a dog food.   Soy, corn, corn gluten, wheat, wheat gluten and rice gluten are cheap sources of protein.  These grains are also prone to molds which can be toxic.

4. Look for the term “by products.”  If it says by products, don’t buy the products!   These are inferior protein sources and can be difficult for your dog to digest.  These can be all the parts of an animal unfit for human consumption such as hooves, feathers, intestines, etc.  By products contain ingredients you would never knowingly give to your dog. 

5. What are the sources of fat?  The fats in dog food should be animal based.  This is what your dog evolved to eat.  Your dog cannot be a vegetarian or vegan and maintain health.  Fats should also be identifiable such as “chicken fat” or “beef fat.”  If the ingredients state “animal fat,” it should not be fed.  It could (and probably does) contain road kill, spoiled grocery store meats, euthanized pets, or zoo animals.

6. Check for vitamins and minerals.  A list of added vitamins and minerals should be on the label, but avoid the ingredients menadione and sodium selenite.  These are cheap and non-bioavailable sources of vitamin K and selenium respectively. 

7. Your dog food should contain fruits and vegetables, but not as the primary source of nutrition.  The first ingredient should be meat and everything else should follow.
While this short article does not cover every single detail of purchasing pet food and reading labels, it provides the consumer with some guidelines for a happier and healthier dog.  Go beyond the fancy packages and read the ingredients.  Your dog deserves you and he certainly deserves a good diet. 
Just remember that what you find on a dog food packaging isn’t necessarily what you’ll find on the ingredient label.  Packaging is advertising and is meant to entire you into buying that particular product.  The packaging is irrelevant-read the ingredients.  You’ll soon find that even so called premium dog foods contain junk that you would never feed your dog.
Randy Walden
http://www.castlehillsoaps.com
Full reprint rights are given for this article as long as it is reprinted in its entirety.  Author credit must be given and the URL must remain on the article.  This article cannot be sold or altered without the author’s permission.  The author may be contacted via the URL at the end of this article. 

Randy Walden
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/reading-pet-food-labels-738493.html

Largest Recall Of Pet Foods In History: The ongoing pet food recall offers a glimpse of what is wrong with entrusting your pets nutrition (or your own) to corporations and government regulatory agencies.

Scary Ingredients Approved By The Government: Why is gluten even in dry pet food? Answer, there is a constant search by manufacturers to produce lower cost food that still meets government protein and nutrient requirements. Gluten is not the only cheap and threatening additive approved by the government and added by manufacturers.

Dry Pet Foods are much like breakfast cereals. They are cooked in a mash, then extruded through nozzles at high heat and pressure. This process not only destroys nutrients, it makes much of the rest indigestible. If the ingredients originally had any nutritional value, the extrusion process is sufficient to destroy them. About the best things you can say about dry pet food is that they are cheap and convenient!

Feral cats and dogs would have to be starving before they would eat the ingredients found in dry pet foods. If for no other reason, these ingredients do not provide the nutrients they need to sustain life, let alone health.

Wet Pet Foods are made from the most distressed meat, animals with pus bags and tumors. Even though these animals are approved by the USDA for human consumption, some, but not all, manufacturers are reluctant to use them for humans. Even the meats that are not visibly distressed contain growth and fattening hormones, antibiotics, and highly questionable feed. Additionally, among many scary ingredients, pet foods may legally contain euthanized cats and dogs!

If you own a cat or dog, Google Dog Food Secrets. I was aware of much of what this book exposes, but it still left my mouth agape.

Pay Me Now, or Pay Me Later: GI and immune diseases are at an all time high. Humans and animals are on multiple medications. What are the common denominators? Fast, nutrition-less foods, chlorinated drinking water, not incorporating bioavailable vitamins, supplements and digestive aids into the daily diet, and lack of exercise.

GI disorders among cats and dogs is epidemic. Conventional medication treatment is archaic, potentially causing further damage to animals already weakened from lack of proper nutrition.

According to The Royal Society of Medicine Great Britain- Fully 90% of all chronic disease is caused by an unhealthy intestinal system.

It is OK to Domesticate Cats and Dogs, but Not Their Diets

The original purpose of domesticating dogs and cats was cheap labor. Cats are used by farmers as mousers, dogs as herders, hunters, and protection.

These working relationships no doubt led to some close relationships. Over time, working animals (or more likely their offspring) were sold or given away to city folk. Today, over 90 million suburban households own an average of 1.67 cats or dogs, or over 150 million domestic cats and dogs.

Wild or feral animals hunt and eat fresh kill. They also instinctively eat grass and dirt for the micronutrients and soil-based organisms needed to properly digest the meat.

When they kill an herbivore they first consume its entrails which usually contain plenty of greens and digestive enzymes needed to break down, digest and eliminate the flesh. The closer pet owners come to replicating the diet of their feral relatives, the healthier and happier their domestic pets will be.

Genetic Predisposition at The Blink of an Eye

Without healthy foods, even healthy animals will decline genetically within several litters.

The best way to assure that your pet lives a long healthy life is to know how well the breeder cared for the mother, and the mothers mother. Pets are capable of having multiple litters within their lifetime. This is common in feral animals and commercial breeders (mills). Each subsequent generation
inherits the weaknesses of the previous generations. Today, many millions of kittens and puppies are predisposed to an unhealthy life.

Resorting or Maintaining Pet Health: The good news: Animals that are predisposed to diseases are less likely to develop them when fed a healthy diet. Genetic predispositions can be bred out over several generations of proper feeding.

It is up to the pet owner to take responsibility for the health and wellbeing of their pets. Like food choices, choose your professionals carefully. Veterinarians that recommend a raw food diet combined with supplements and digestive aids- before medications- have your pets best interest at heart!

Local bookstores, libraries, and the internet offer a wealth of knowledge regarding proper care and feeding. The American Holistic Veterinarian Association website has a national directory.

Stephen Becker
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/pet-food-recall-tip-of-the-iceberg-144616.html

Buying pet products through online pet supplies provides the benefits of variety, convenience and pricing. Online pet shops also provide the benefit of shipping the product directly to your door. But, when you buy pet products from online pet supplies, it is very important to buy quality pet products. You can buy a variety of pet product such as cat and dog products, fish products and pet foods from online pet supplies.

There are lots of online pet supplies available for pet lovers. Some of them are pet supplies Kelowna, pet supplies Vernon, pet supplies Penticton, pet supplies Prince George, pet supplies Dawson Creek, pet supplies Williams Lake, pet supplies 100 Mile House, pet supplies Kamloops pet supplies Quesnel, etc.

Online shopping at Kelowna pet supplies provides a wonderful experience for pet dog lovers. Online pet supplies at Kelowna offers exclusive and ever-developing collection of designer dog clothing and accessories, luxury pet carriers, dog life jackets, dog beds, dog toys, etc.

Online shopping at Vernon pet supplies offers a complete selection of pet-related products and pet services including pet grooming, canine education and vaccination clinics at competitive prices. They also provide Online Pet First Aid Course to educate you to deal with emergency situations when your pet suddenly becomes ill or injured. They offer superior customer service at convenient locations.

Online shopping at Penticton pet supplies presents supplies for your pet cat, dog, fish, bird, or rodent. You can buy pet supplies such as collar, pet food, pet toys, cages, etc., that you need for your lovely pet.

Online pet supplies at Prince George offers huge variety of pet supplies. They promise to provide fast and reliable service. They offer pet supply items such as WalkyDog, DryFur, dog diapers/ male belly bands, puplight, thermotex, muttlucks, dog lifejackets, FURminator, Petzlife, Rinse Ace, Breed magnets, ramps and stairs, pet doors, pet toys, etc.

Online pet supplies at Dawson Creek serves as the best source for pet medications, Pet Vitamins, pet supplements and pet supplies. Online pet supplies at Williams Lake offers unique pet boutique featuring pet accessories and breed-specific gifts for pets and pet lovers. Online pet supplies at Kamloops offers excellent selection of pet supplies with over 10,000 pet products and services for all of your pet care needs.

You can find excellent pet supplies through online shopping at 100 Mile House. Online pet shops at 100 Mile House delivers excellent lifetime care for pets and they even promise to strengthen the special bond between pets and pet owners.

Online shopping for pet supplies with Quesnel provides you the best quality and safe pet supplies for your pets. At Quesnel online pet shops, you can get high quality pet grooming items for your dog and beds for your cats. Quesnel online pet shops offers quality pet supply products at great prices and low shipping.  

Online pet supplies provide you with great savings on your favorite pet supplies. More over you can receive your pet supplies in the convenience of your own home. Most of the online pet supplies offer extraordinary customer care center and pet pharmacy to help your pet care needs.  It is a best idea to research for information related to your pet’s specific breed. Accordingly choose and order the right products from the right online pet supplies.

Sarah Jose

WHAT IS A PARASITE?

External parasites are pretty common among dogs. A parasite is an organism that lives off the resources your dog has to offer: namely, fresh blood (which most parasites drink) and a warm place to stay (in and on the skin and fur).

What are the common parasites that might affect my dog?

There are a wide range of parasites that affect dogs:

- Fleas
– Ticks
– Mites
– Lice

All of these parasites cause adverse reactions in your dog: typically, itching and inflamed skin, a dull coat, and bald spots. In advanced cases, your dog may develop anemia (blood loss) and become generally debilitated (particularly if he or she is very young, very old, or suffering from another condition).

In addition to this, many parasites convey secondary and internal parasites to your dog – for example, fleas usually carry the common tapeworm (which causes constipation and flatulence), and ticks can cause a variety of much more serious problems like Lyme’s disease and paralysis.

I’m going to be looking at fleas: what they are, how to tell if your dog’s affected, and how to get rid of them.

A CLOSER LOOK AT FLEAS

Fleas are without question the number-one most common external parasite affecting dogs. They’re small, jumping insects that are light brown in color, although humans generally can’t see them – they move much too quickly for that!

Fleas live off your dog’s blood. The life cycle of a flea moves very rapidly from stage one (egg) to stage four (adult flea), which means they’re capable of multiplying with staggering rapidity.

An adult flea lays hundreds of eggs per day. Each egg will then become an adult flea, which lay hundreds more eggs of its own. One flea becomes a major problem very quickly!

HOW TO TELL IF YOUR DOG HAS FLEAS

The symptoms of a flea infestation are unmistakable.

A dog with a flea infestation will scratch almost constantly, often at areas that fleas seem to favor: the ears, the base of the tail, the belly, and the stifle (the webbing of soft skin between the thigh and the abdomen).

It’s actually the saliva of the flea that causes the irritation, not the bite itself, and some dogs have a genuine allergy to this saliva (as opposed to a standard irritation). Dogs with allergies suffer much more significant negative reactions to a flea infestation, and usually develop “hot spots”.

These hot spots are areas of sore, inflamed, flaking, bleeding, and infected skin, caused by the flea saliva and your dog’s own reaction to it. Bald patches will sometimes develop too, from repeated scratching and ongoing inflammation.

If you think your dog has fleas, you can confirm your suspicions by taking a closer look at his skin: you probably won’t be able to see the fleas themselves, but you should be able to see what looks like ground pepper (a thin sprinkling of fine black grains) on his skin. This is flea dirt (poop).

If you groom him with a flea comb (which is like a fine-tooth comb), try wiping it on a paper towel: if red blotches show up on the towel, you know that your dog has fleas (on a white background like a paper towel, flea poop shows up red: since fleas subsist on blood, their poop is colored accordingly).

TREATMENT FOR FLEAS

Because fleas only spend a small amount of time actually on your dog, and the rest of their time leaping through your house laying eggs and feeding on human blood, it’s not enough to just treat the dog: you also have to target his bedding, the entire house, all human bedding, and the yard (yes, fleas lay eggs all through the yard, too. Even if it’s cold outside, you’re not necessarily off the hook: cold weather doesn’t kill flea eggs, it just puts them into a state of hibernation. The eggs will hatch as soon as it gets warm enough outside.)

You’ll need a broad-spectrum treatment which kills not only the adult fleas (which are the ones that bite), but also any developing fleas, and the eggs.

PREVENTION IS THE BEST (AND THE EASIEST!)

Prevention is definitely the best cure – you should keep your dog’s flea treatments up to date with the use of a calendar, and use a treatment that’s prescribed by the vet. Off-the-shelf treatments aren’t recommended, since different dogs require different strengths depending on their size, age, and activity levels. A particular benefit of prescribed flea treatment is that most are also designed to prevent other parasites (like mites, ticks, and heartworm) from affecting your dog.

FOR AN EXISTING INFESTATION

If your dog already has fleas, you have two options:

1. You can ‘bomb’ the house and yard with a flea-pesticide. These come as foggers (which coat each room, and the yard, in a fine mist of pesticide) and sprays (which are applied manually to each surface throughout the house and yard), and although they’re very effective in killing fleas and eggs, there’s one major drawback: they’re highly toxic to humans, dogs, and the environment. Depending on your priorities, this is probably the quickest solution to a flea problem (and will effectively wipe out the eggs, too) but if you have anyone in the house with allergies or a health condition – including pets! – you might want to think again.

2. A more health-friendly alternative is to target the dog with a topical anti-flea solution prescribed by the vet (like Advantage or Revolution), and to rigorously clean the house on a regular basis until the flea problem has gone. This means vacuuming each room thoroughly each day – put a flea collar in with the vacuum bag to kill any fleas that get sucked up – and wash all human and dog bedding in hot water as often as you can (once every day or every two days is recommended). You’ll be able to tell when the problem’s gone because your dog won’t be scratching, and his coat will be clear of flea dirt when you inspect it.

WHAT NOT TO DO ABOUT FLEAS

– Don’t use multiple products on your dog – it’ll make him sick, since you’ll be overloading his system with toxins.
- Don’t forget to treat all the animals in the house at the same time: cat and dog fleas are interchangeable, and if one animal has fleas, they all will have them, even if some are not displaying the symptoms.
- Flea collars are no longer recommended as a safe option for flea prevention, since the collars are highly toxic – vets have realized that placing a toxic material directly against your pet’s skin for long periods of time (flea collars have to be worn 24/7 to be effective) is detrimental to your dog’s health.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON PARASITES AND THEIR TREATMENT…

Fleas are just one of the many, many types of parasites that affect your dog. To find out more about the complete prevention and treatment of all types of parasites (external and internal), as well as a comprehensive guide to all aspects of Dog Health, take a look at The Ultimate Guide to Dog Health.

This book is an invaluable resource for the responsible dog owner, and will help you to ensure that your dog remains happy and healthy – just the way you want him (or her) to be!

Ethan Parker
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/secrets-to-great-dog-health-care-external-parasites-and-their-treatments-691633.html