Cat Health – Dog Health – Pet Clothes |

Your dog is indeed your best friend and how you feed him or her is very important. Even small items like treats are very important to their health. They can be used for different purposes. Sometimes you will use them as a reward when training other times just give them something enjoyable just because you love your friend. However you use them it is important to know your choices.

How these snacks can improve and maintain your pet’s health: The most common way is to clean and maintain their teeth. The dog treat should be chewable and encourage your pet to use their teeth. When they do this they will be automatically cleaning their teeth. Examples of these are rawhide (like beef jerky) snacks that take plenty of chewing. Another is a bone that you can get fresh from your local butcher or again in snack form from the pet store.

Any snack you give your pet should be nutritious. For canines protein is the most common as they are primarily meat eaters. There are many varieties of these on the market. They are often in the form of strips and sometimes nuggets or biscuits. Minerals and vitamins should not be forgotten. These are also vital to your pet’s health, and many snacks will include these.

Dog treats come in many shapes and sizes. You can get them in grocery stores, in the pet section or your local pet store. Try to take a quick look at ingredients to be sure that your pet is receiving the best nutrition from their snack and not a whole lot of chemicals. Sometimes there are a surprising amount of chemicals in these products, and the more natural ingredients they have the better they will be for your pet.

One way to ensure your pet is getting healthy ingredients in their snacks is to make them yourself. Remember there is a balanced diet your pet should have in order to stay healthy and happy. 40 percent meat, 30 percent vegetables and 30 percent starch. Exceptions to these catagories are if they are on a vegetarian diet, which should only be done when consulting your vetenarian. There are many recepies on line for snacks and dog food.

As you can see there are many dog treats available for your pet, and even some you can make yourself. Always remember that your pet depends on you to help him keep healthy and happy.

Joseph Then
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/dog-treats-how-to-choose-healthy-treats-for-your-dog-71559.html

Preparation for home cooked meals for your dog is simple and need not be a pain at all. I have switched from commercialized pet food to home cooked meals 6 months back after my brother’s two lovely dogs died of cancer. They were on premium dried pet food all their life but still, both of them died at a young age at 6 and 7 of cancer.

I know that commercial pet food must have contributed it somewhat as both are really young. I put aside my initial struggle with thoughts about how difficult to cook home cooked meals for my dogs and just got started with it.

I do not even cook for myself! How can I cook nutritious meals for my pets! I started reading loads of books on home cooked foods and came out with my very own version that is simple and easy to prepare for busy executives like you and me. If I can do it, SO CAN YOU! So let’s step up and commit to making the lives of our pet a happy healthy one.

Take ote that we cannot change our dog’s diet overnight as it may cause stomach upset. Start gradually and mixing their feed gradually until they are completed switched to home cooked food.

Preparation

Purchase the following ingredients, all the ingredients below in equal proportions, supplement should be added separately. The amount to cook depends on your pet’s weight. Use your own judgment when it comes to quantity to feed. The suggestion below is meant for a week’s supply for a 1 medium sized dog, healthy dog with normal weight range.

Please Modify your quantity for your pet accordingly:

- Grains choice, 3 cups (Choose 1): Brown rice or pasta (organic preferably) – 3 cups

- Vegetables (Choose 3 varieties): Brocolli, cauliflower, any green leafy vegetables, Carrots. Pulp the vegetables or chop them finely for easy absorption.

- Meats (Choose 1) 400 gms: Chicken, Lamb, Beef or Kangaroo.

To keep it simple, when shopping for your family, add your dog’s selection as well. Just avoid night shade vegetables for your pets.

Quick Easy Cooking Steps

Step 1: Put some olive oil in your pot and cook meats

Step 2: Cook rice (or any grain choice)

Step 3: Pulp or chop finely the vegetables

Step 4: When meats are almost cook, add the pulp vegetables into the pot

Step 5: Do not overcook the vegetables. Keep them half raw.

Step 6: Add 3 eggs and cook with the vegetables in the pot to make the food more palatable.

Storage

For convenience, cook your pet’s home cooked meals up to one week’s supply (or more) depending on your choice. Freeze the rest in daily portions separately for convenience.

Just remember to place next day’s food supply from the freezer to chiller compartment of your refrigerator for next day’s meal. Place a note at your fridge to remind you to do so everyday if not, your poor pet has not food to eat.

Feeding Preparation

Step 1: Place the chilled food in your pet’s bowl

Step 2: Boil some hot water

Step 3: Warm up the food to room temperature with some hot water.

Step 4: Add necessary supplements such as Vitamin C, Flaxseed oil (organic and cold pressed preferred), etc.

Step 5: Mix and serve!

Emergency meals

In case you’ve forgotten to defreeze your pet food. Here’s a simple guide to a quick no hassle wholesome meal in 5 mins!

Ensure you home has these at all times in case you need to whip out a wholesome meal in 5 mins!

- Oats (get those quick to cook kind or just add hot boiling water)

- Eggs (Break an egg for a small/medium sized dog)

- Supplements (Add your regular supplement)

That’s all to it for a day’s meal! To ensure not tummy upset from change in diet, feed this option once a while so they are well adjusted to this diet.

For more precious health care tips for pets, visit my site and subscribe to the newsletter today! www.dogcarezone.com

P.S. No amounts of the information should be duplicated in any website, ebooks or books without the author’s permission. Email to info@veronicaeng.com if you want to do so. Alternatively, include the author’s website www.dogcarezone.com as a reference site to your book or article. Thank you for your kind cooperation.

Veronica Eng
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/preparing-your-home-cooked-meals-for-your-dog-quick-easy-guide-for-beginners-125827.html

Many asthmatics are aware that an asthma trigger can make breathing difficult for someone afflicted with this illness.

What Are The Most Common Triggers?

They are allergens and irritants. Allergens, things that cause “hay fever,” can inflame an asthmatic’s already sensitive lungs. Irritants are often things in the environment that when inhaled can bother anyone, whether you have asthma or not. But these inhalants can be an asthma trigger for someone with the illness.

Asthmatics can be exposed to irritants and allergens both outdoors and indoors however; an indoor asthma trigger can be more easily recognized and eliminated or reduced. Many solutions exist for dealing with an indoor triggers.

What Are The Common 4 Asthma Triggers Indoor?

1) Dealing with Dust Mites

Dust mite droppings are an allergen that can be an asthma trigger. Every house has dust mites. These tiny creatures exist by consuming shed dead skin cells. They’re most common in bedding and carpets and their droppings are a part of household dust. You can reduce dust mite droppings by using smooth furniture, like vinyl. Get rid of carpeting and reduce excess moisture in the air because it also helps cut down on dust mite numbers.

2) Mind Your Mold Indoor

Mold is a common allergen and asthma trigger. These tiny plants grow on moist surfaces and they look dark and fuzzy, and often have a musty odor and certain types of mold can cause serious illnesses in babies. Bathrooms, the refrigerator and air conditioner drip pans are moist locations where mold can often be found.

You can prevent mold growth in your home by reducing moisture in the air so throw out old cardboard, newspaper, and clothes – anything that can stay wet and damp for long periods of time and clean bathrooms and kitchens at last once a week.

3) Reducing Animal Dander

Another asthma trigger is the dead skin cells of pets. More people are allergic to cat dander than dog dander. However, mice, gerbils, hamsters and birds can also have dander.

Fish, reptiles and amphibians are good alternative pets that do not have fur, and therefore no dander. If removing a furred animal from the home is not an option, there are a few things you can do to reduce dander.

Bathe the animal weekly and use HEPA filters throughout the home. Never let the pet sleep in your bedroom and vacuum and clean the pet areas often.

4) No Smoking At Home

Getting rid of tobacco smoke is one of factors that may help preven any asthma trigger. It is harmful to everyone and not just asthmatics. It is best for everyone in the family if the smoker quits.

If this isn’t possible, have people smoke outside but be aware even the smell of tobacco smoke on clothing can trigger an asthma attack. Never allow smoking in the car.

Several more allergens and irritants exist in the home. Unlike the outdoors though, you have more control over your indoor environment. Creating an asthma trigger free home is a lot of work, but possible and worth the effort.

Even though you may now know the most common 4 factors to an asthma triggers indoor, with all these information available of no use, action is power when applying knowledge which will then free yourself the agony of having asthma again. You should never add to, or alter any component of your current asthma treatment without first consulting your physician.

However, many asthmatics sometimes tend to forget that even though there may be these common 4 factors to an asthma triggers, they should be be conscious and aware that in order to have an asthma-free lifestyle, a proper and yet effective asthma recovery system is necessary. Even without a proper asthma management system, there will not be much asthma free lifestyle to hope for.

Applying the knowledge of knowing what are the 4 basic common factors together with an effective system – enjoy your life once again.

Eddy Kong Ww
http://www.articlesbase.com/non-fiction-articles/asthma-trigger-top-4-factors-that-will-trigger-this-68194.html

Kennel cough is described as the inflammation of your pet’s respiratory system, more particularly the upper part of the lungs. Kennel cough is very common in dog centers, especially in crowded shelters.
This disease is airborne, meaning dogs living within the same area are at high risks of acquiring it. Kennel cough is a highly contagious disease and it is very similar to human cough.

If you suspect that your dog has kennel cough, take it to the vet right away. It always pays to be sure whether your dog just has a mild case of cough or a more complicated respiratory disease. The vet would perform the necessary diagnosis for your pet and he can give your dog the medicines that it need.

But aside from following the vet’s orders, you also have to do several things to speed up your pet’s recovery. Milder cases of kennel cough rarely require medication. But it is still necessary to give your pet the drugs that the vet had prescribed. Antibiotics are usually prescribed to dogs with kennel cough. And they have to take it as frequently as indicated in order to experience eventual relief from the disease.

If your dog has kennel cough, try to keep it away from your other pets as much as possible. All of them could easily contract the same disease just with mere association. If you must, keep your pets in their respective cages. This way, you can prevent their contact with each other. There are also preventive medicines that you can give to your other pets so that they would have stronger immune system. This way, they won’t easily acquire the disease. Ask your vet about the possible vaccines against kennel cough.

The best home remedy to give dogs with kennel cough is Vitamin C. There are Vitamin C soft capsules that can be bought at pharmacies today and you can simply add it to your dog’s meals. Break the capsule and put the content in the food of your dog. It is also possible to use similar tinctures and herbal remedies that are easily available at pharmacies today.

The cold weather can make your dog suffer from the disease even more. Try to keep its environment warm and humid. Use a vaporizer or a home humidifier to keep the dog house or crate comfortable enough for your sick pet. It is also possible to use a cough medicine used for children on your dog. However, this should be done only as a first aid and never as a continued medication for its disease.

Honey can help so much in easing an irritated throat. You should also do your best to keep your pet from pollutants such as smoke. For the entire length of time that your dog is sick, try to keep smokers out of the house. This way, your pet would experience speedy recover from its condition.

Be sure to monitor your pet’s health all the time. This is very important so you can stop the onset of any diseases. Prevention and early cure are your best defenses against kennel cough and similar health concern.

Florin Albu
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/practical-tips-if-your-dog-has-kennel-cough-687739.html

Unfortunately, when your cat is sick, it can’t tell you so it’s up to you as a pet owner to train yourself to be observant. A good way to keep tabs on your pet’s health is to make an informal, physical exam part of your weekly cat-care routine. You may actually make it easier for your veterinarian to treat your cat because you will be bringing your pet in to see him or her before an illness has progressed too far.

Outlined below are some basic areas to evaluate in assessing your cat’s health.

Eyes, Ears, Nose and Mouth: The eyes of a healthy cat are clear, bright and free of redness or discharge. The nose should be cool and moist, with no secretions. The ears should be clean and dry, with pale pink skin inside and on the external flaps, and there may be a small amount of clear or dark wax in them.

The mouth should have pink gums and lips, and the breath should be free of odor. If your cat’s eyes are red, have a cloudy or mucus discharge, are coated with film, or if your cat has an increased sensitivity to light or is squinting, it may have an injury or infection and should be checked over by your veterinarian. A small amount of dried mucus in your cat’s eyes is normal, the equivalent of sleep in human eyes. There may be more or less sleep at times because of dust, dirt, smog or other irritants in the air.

If your cat is shaking its head persistently, pulling its ears flat against its head or frantically scratching them, or if its ears have a foul odor, excessive wax or unusual discharge, it may have ear mites or an infection and need medical treatment.

A sticky or brownish discharge from the nose, runny eyes and sneezing are symptoms that your cat has a cold. A veterinarian should probably treat all cats with a cold. A small percentage of cats that are untreated go on to develop pneumonia or sinus infections that can plague them the rest of their lives, she says.

If your cat has bad breath, it may have a digestive disturbance, infected teeth or gums, or a urinary ailment. (The only exception is if your cat has been eating fish or other aromatic food.) Bluish or ashy colored lips, and sores or ulcers in the mouth are other signs to be concerned about.

Coat And Skin: Your cat’s coat should be unbroken, smooth and soft to the touch. Its skin should be clean and free of sores, rashes and eczema. A healthy cat grooms itself regularly and rarely has matted hair.

To examine your cat’s skin and coat, part the fur in several places all over the body including the legs, neck, chin and head. Signs to look for are a dull coat or dry skin, excessive shedding (except in spring), lumps or masses, swelling, bald patches, open sores, excessive parasite infestation and intense biting or scratching at the skin.

In states like California, Florida and Texas, fleas have the warmth to live year-round and the biggest skin problems by far is flea allergy dermatitis. It usually starts as tiny scabs around the neck and at the base of the tail. Patches of hair loss or brittle, broken hairs can accompany it. If the condition goes untreated, it can eventually involve the entire body. You should also check the spaces between the digits on your cat’s paws. If your cat spends time outdoors, briars, stones, foxtail, sand and the salt that is used for melting snow can easily irritate the inter-digital area.

Weight Veterinarians estimate that 30 percent or more of pet cats in the United States are overweight. Obese cats have a greater incidence of liver problems, heart disease, diabetes, pancreatitis and arthritis. One way to determine if your cat needs to lose weight is by doing a body condition score on it.

If your cat is in good body condition you should be able to rub your hands over the rib cage and with gentle pressure you should be able to count each of the ribs. If you’re looking down at the cat, behind the ribs there should be an indentation at the waist. When you look at it from the side, they belly should be tucked up somewhat and should not be dragging on the ground.

Tristan Andrews
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/how-to-tell-if-your-cat-is-sick-93826.html

Just as your pet keeps you happy, you should reciprocate by making him/her healthy and happy too. This can best be done through diet change. But how is this done? And whom should I consult for advice and also learn more about what change needs to be done in my dog’s diet?

Your dog may seem to be doing great from about any can or bag of dog food you get into your shopping cart at the grocery, but is that the reality? And how do you tell your dog’s dietary needs are in perfect line? If you take down all the simple things concerning your dog. You’ll discover that your dog’s diet has far reaching effects on every aspect of its well being. That realization should help you monitor your dog before forming any conclusions.

Consider the following issues when deciding on whether your dog’s diet needs to be changed or not. How does your dog act? Is it always groping around the house for scraps? Or does it rest comfortably after a meal?

A well fed and satisfied dog will hardly grope for food and will easily relax and go siesta after a meal.

What about his outputs? Are they thin, runny, or firm? A dog’s diet is best observed in the output, if the output is bad news, his diet needs a boost. Observing the pets output will help you tell whether the diet is suitable or not.

If your pet is frequently ill or regularly feeling under the weather, you may have to think about what the pet feeds on. Remember that it’s the dog’s diet that reinforces the immune system and maintains him in a cheery disposition. A diet deficient in vital vitamins and other mineral nutrients will never keep your pet in an upbeat condition.

As your pet matures you may be required to do a diet switch. Remember that a puppy’s health needs are very different from an adult dog in regard to diet. Aging dogs could require senior diets to keep their weight under check and curb other medical conditions.

A dog with low energy level is usually lazy or may appear high strung. Such conditions mostly arise from poor diet.
If you engage your dog in a lot of physical activities, then you may need to alter the diet to match his increased need for energy.

Dog’s dietary needs are also dependent on where you keep them. Pets that reside outside during the cold seasons need additional calories to keep warm during winter seasons.

If you are in doubt about what kind of diet is best for your pet, then you may have to consult an animal nutritionist or vet for advice. These professionals will be very helpful in offering you guidance on what is good for your dog’s special dietary needs, they will also discuss with you about the numerous types of dog feeds available and their merits and drawbacks. Work closely with your vet to ensure that the pet get s the best care. The vet can advice whether or not your pet needs diet change.

A lot of factors determine whether you need to change your pet’s diet or not. Diet change is influenced by factors like health issues, weather, and age of the pet. Seek your vets advice about the proper diet for your dog. Observation and education are two essential tools you can use to establish the state of your pets diet.

Abhishek Agarwal
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/change-your-dogs-diet-know-when-to-change-it-753475.html

There is a large disparity between the life spans of dogs and humans. After having loved a pet and lost one, it seems unfair. The best we can do is to keep our friends as healthy as possible and “forever young.” Here are My Top 10 Ways to Keep Your Dog Forever Young:

1. Know When Your Pet is “Old.” The time when your dog is considered a “senior” depends largely on his or her breed and size. According to Dr. Johnny Hoskins in Geriatrics and Gerontology of the Dog and Cat, small breed dogs (less than 20 pounds) are in their senior years around nine to 13 years of age. Medium sized dogs (21 to 50 pounds) around nine to 11. 5 years; large breed dogs (51 to 90 pounds) around 7.5 to 10.5 years and giant dogs (more than 90 pounds) between six and nine years. In general, smaller breed dogs live longer.

2. Wellness Exams. When your pet is considered a senior, you should bring your dog for regular geriatric examinations. These examinations help identify early diseases or problems in older pets. Exams should include a history and physical examination with evaluation of the teeth, listening to the heart and lungs (by stethoscope), abdominal palpation (feeling of the abdomen) and inspection of your dog’s ear and eyes. Weight monitoring, parasite check (fecal examination) and blood work and urine tests are also often recommended. Other tests may be indicated depending on your pet’s symptoms.

3. Watch for Illness. Careful observation at home is extremely important. By nature of survival, dogs are very good at hiding their illness until it is too late. Take time to examine your pet. Feel him or her for masses and indications of weight loss or loss of musculature. Things to watch for include changes in water consumption or patterns of urination, poor appetite, weight loss or gain, coughing or difficulty breathing, changes in activity level, vomiting, diarrhea and skin lumps or masses. If you have questions or concerns about your pet, play it safe and have him or her evaluated by your veterinarian. Early diagnosis is vital to the success of treatment.

4. Weight Control. Obese dogs have shorter life spans than non-obese dogs. Obesity may lead to a number of health problems. Excess weight puts excess stress on your dog’s heart. When the heart doesn’t function properly, other organs may suffer including the brain, lungs, liver and kidneys. Over time, these problems may become severe enough to cause life-threatening conditions.

5. Keep Close Tabs. In general, “outdoor” free roaming dogs have shorter lives than indoor animals. Infectious diseases, poisonings and trauma are common killers. Senior dogs have decreased reflexes and may not see and hear as well as they used to. This makes them vulnerable to outside dangers such as predators or cars. Keep dogs on leashes or in fenced-in yards.

6. Monitor Your Environment. Keep poisons up and out of your dog’s reach. Common toxins include antifreeze, rat poison and slug bait. Keep trash out of reach. Don’t count on your pet to “know better.” It doesn’t take a large amount of a dangerous substance to make your dog seriously ill.

7. Nutrition. Feed your pet a premium high quality diet supplements such as Hill’s Science Diet®, Iams® or Eukanuba®. Feed low fat and high fiber foods since high fat and/or low fiber foods are thought to decrease life expectancy. Minimize treats and make them nutritious and low in calories. Air-popped popcorn is often a good treat for dogs. With your veterinarian, you should discuss the merits of a diet formulation for your senior dog.

8. Exercise. Exercise helps to maintain a healthy body weight, strengthens joints and muscles and provides mental stimulation for your dog.

9. Spay and Neuter. Spayed and neutered dogs tend to have fewer health problems. Spaying is the removal of the ovaries and uterus. Without these organs, ovarian cysts, uterine infections and cancer of the reproductive tract are no longer a concern. Studies have shown that dogs spayed before puberty have a significantly lower chance of developing breast cancer than unspayed dogs, or dogs spayed later in life. Health problems that can be associated with birthing are also eliminated with spaying. Neutering is the removal of the testicles. Without these organs, testicular cancer is no longer a concern and the risk of prostate problems is reduced. In addition, the desire to “wander” is diminished, which lowers the chance of your dog running away and suffering trauma, such as being hit by a car.

10. Mental Stimulation. Provide your pet with toys, games and quality time. Most pets are never too old to play. Encourage mental stimulation. It is never too late to teach old dogs new tricks. Follow these top 10 tips, and you’ll keep your dog forever young.

Dr. Debra Primovic
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/dog-care-top-10-ways-to-keep-your-dog-forever-young-103575.html

My wife and I own two dogs. They are considered a part of the family and we try to include them in many of our activities. This means that we have accumulated a great deal of dog stuff through the years. It is amazing the amount of advertising there is that gets directed towards dog owners and pet owners in general. The marketers know that people love their pets and are willing to spend a great deal of money on them. It seems that each holiday season there is more and more dog stuff in the stores.

This past holiday season I could not believe my eyes when I was in the accessory section of a national department store. At first I thought there was a new section of doll clothing that was placed in this section. Upon closer examination I realized that the clothes were for dogs. Along with the clothes there were beds, toys, designer dishes and other dog stuff. This is a store that does not ordinarily have a pet section. I asked one of the sales clerks when this section of dog stuff had been added. She stated that it was part of their holiday campaign nation wide. It seems that people were requesting more items that they could purchase, not only for their dog, but for the dogs of their friends. I jokingly asked if this did not snub cat owners, but I was told that the cat merchandize was on the opposite side of the display I was looking at.

The dog stuff included very elaborate outfits for the holidays. Velvet dresses, satin off the shoulder cocktail dresses, and the more traditional knit sweaters. There were also collars that were studded with sequins and stones. I could tell that the sales clerk was not thrilled with this new merchandize. I commented that our female dog would certainly prefer precious stones. When I said this she lead me over to the fine jewelry counter and showed me a display of precious and semi precious collars. I could not believe what I was seeing.

I knew that there were specialty stores and catalogs that handled this kind of dog stuff, but I never thought that it would be featured in a national department store. The clerk mentioned that they had a large display of Halloween costumes in the fall along with special treats for the four legged trick or treater’s.

I came home and told my wife about the display of dog stuff. She commented that we might be recipients of some of the items, because our family members and friends know that we pamper our dogs. I told her that if we did get something I hoped it would be the 14 carat gold collar with the pearl pendant.

John Mailer
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/i-amamazed-at-how-much-dog-stuff-we-have-accumulated-over-the-years-98197.html

If you have ever wondered “What do I feed a diabetic dog?” this article will cover the topics you are looking for. What to feed a diabetic dog is a very important point to learn on so that your dog will have a happy, enjoyable and productive life.

The food to feed a diabetic dog relates to the original problem of what caused the diabetes in the first place. The problem with diabetes is one of not being able to use the energy, called sugar or glucose that enters the bloodstream. This is caused by lack or total loss of insulin production by your dog’s pancreas. Overeating combined with a lethargic lifestyle causes an obese dog and then contributes to the cause of diabetes in dogs.

What to feed a diabetic dog in this case is just as important as making sure they start becoming more active. Do not let the dog lay around after a meal. It is also a good idea to give the dog two or three smaller meals instead of only one or two larger meals.

The food to feed a diabetic dog should be one of significantly low sugar content. The juicy or moist packages of dog food should be closely examined for high sugar content if you can. These are usually a prime source of too much sugar for your dog. The dry dog foods are better than the packaged moist ones for a diabetic dog.

The diet of a dog that you want to keep lean, healthy and active is one that you would normally use to prevent diabetes. This means that high-protein, slow-digesting foods are good for your dog, as they will not “shock” the dog’s body with a high dose of sugar all at one time. The food to feed a diabetic dog will be those that have a “slow burn” metabolically speaking.

A food not to feed to a diabetic dog is table scraps. If you do feed them from your own table, it is wise to avoid the spicy foods. A dog is not a person. Although feeding your dog “people food” may make you feel like you are including it as one of the family, the truth is that the fatty foods we eat can cause health problems for the dog. Commercial businesses have spent a lot of money creating a diet for your dog that is tailored to what it needs. Take advantage of their experience and your diabetic dog will have an easier life.

What to feed a diabetic dog should be seen in the light of the statistics. In the USA, as much as fifty percent of dogs are obese. This is a terrible statistic and can be improved easily by a simple lifestyle change for the dog. Keep in mind that as you would go ahead and eat less and exercise more if you had a weight problem, your dog is not going to be any different.

Some dog food companies make a special blend just for diabetic dogs. They have a high amount of dietary fiber, are low fat content and have none of what is called “simple sugars”. Your diabetic dog’s diet can be improved with these types of dry dog foods.

Cristian Stan
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/what-to-feed-a-diabetic-dog-733460.html

A cat will not always be young and sharp, and after it grows old, its senses will become duller, such as vision worsening and hearing or sense of smell deteriorating. Some cats age before others, or have different changes as they age, so here are some common signs of aging in a cat that you should look out for to be able to take care of your cat.

Some changes may be harder than others to notice, for your cat may have adapted to the changes themselves. But after some extra attention and checkups, you should be able to find out diseases or negative aspects of your cat’s aging, and find the best prevention method. Some changes would be noticeable, such as dental diseases, which causes bad breath.

Besides that, there are also harder-to-spot signs such as hearing senses deteriorating. Your cat may have gotten used to not hearing as properly as it used to, and due to that, you would not have known that your cat is actually becoming deafer.

To find out for sure if your cat is really not hearing well, you can look out for its reactions to certain noises. Once when your cat used to react quickly to loud sounds and yet now, it is not really startled, or shows no signs of hearing the sound, you can be sure that your cat is suffering from hearing loss.

Snap your fingers quickly behind your cat’s head, and see if it curls back right away, or react in any way to the direction of the noise. If your cat is unsure of the origins of the noise, or looking somewhere else instead, then you can be certain it has hearing problems.

If you usually keep your pet in the house, then there is no need to worry about its loss in hearing. If your cat is an outdoor cat, then you should take precautions about letting it wander outside, as it may not be able to hear oncoming dangers such as vehicles or other animals like dogs. As it cannot hear the approaching sounds of these things, it may become a victim before it realizes it is in danger.

Besides hearing and eyesight that is affected in your cat, its sense of taste is also reducing. For cats, this could be a problem, for they are picky animals that usually test and smell at their food to see if it is still good, or spoilt. Therefore if they cannot sense if it is delicious enough or bad, they may ignore the food, and not eat it for enough nutrition. An aging cat needs its health, and this may be damaging for its health.

Charley Hwang
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/knowing-the-changes-of-your-aging-cat-123377.html