Dog Care: Top 10 Ways to Keep your Dog Forever Young
Posted by admin | Under Pet Supplements Wednesday Aug 18, 2010
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 Love Life Sucks…Need Your Advice?
I am a Hispanic guy, 23 years old and still a virgin. I have never had a girlfriend or kissed one before. I have tried to ask girls out, they reject me every time, and I keep getting stuck in the "Friend Zone" every time. This problem has caused me low self esteem, depression, bitterness, and disappointment. Every time I see a man hug or kiss his girlfriend or hold her hand in public, I envy them. I have a few friends that are beautiful women, every time they get dumped by their boyfriends they come crying on my shoulder and saying "where are the good men at?" If they only knew…that a good man is standing right next to them. I be telling myself things like "If this beautiful woman was my girlfriend, I would never do this to her".
I am tired of hearing things like "Someday you will meet her", "Someday this, someday that". I sometimes fear that I have been cursed to remain lonely for the rest of my life, but what did I do to deserve this!!! I have tried self help books, dressing well, writing them poetry, giving them roses, but nothing seems to work. I got tired of the BS and decided to do something.
Last week I went to see a high priced escort (amazing blonde). She thought I wanted to do "it" with her. She was surprised when I said "no" to her. I told her that I wanted to know what it was like to have a girlfriend. She told me that she could not believe that a good looking guy like me, had never had a girlfriend before, was still a virgin, and was seeking a girlfriend experience. I took her out to eat at a fancy Italian restaurant, we walked in the park, and we watched a movie together. Those 3 hours were like heaven to me, she made me feel like I was the most important man in her life, she treated me like some kind of king or Hollywood star, it was a wonderful experience.
I did not do "it" with her, I just wanted to know what it was like to have a girlfriend. I paid her $600 and we went our separate ways. I find myself drinking tequila and going to strip clubs a lot. I am growing a hard shell and starting not to care about "true love". I am bitter over my "problem" and feel disgruntled to the point, that I have decided that it might just be better for me to remain single for the rest of my life. I am tired of the BS and false hopes.
Maybe I am just overreacting, maybe this is just a young adult "phase" I am going through. Maybe I will find true love. Maybe I will never find her and she will forevermore elude me like the unproven existence of the unicorn or when hell freezes over or bulls start wearing panties. Maybe my soul is damned to be lonely for all eternity and remain an unfulfilled unhappy ghost forever. Maybe this, maybe that…but who cares?
I will finish earning my law degree and become a lawyer. I will stop drinking and engaging in destructive behaviors, I will reform. I will become the best man I can ever become, the best of the best. Those women who rejected me for those low life punks, I will prove to them that I am better, I am the alpha male. I am the real man. I am a good man. I will prove to women that good men still exist. This is my verdict, this is my mission, to become the best of the best, I will become rich, influential, and powerful. And every woman who rejected me will regret their decision for the rest of their lives.
For Example: Guys, if you and Megan Fox or some really hot Hollywood actress were dating in high school, before that person was even a movie star. Let’s say that you dump her and trade her for someone else. Years after you graduate from high school, that "girl" you rejected became famous, rich, and powerful. I am sure you guys will regret that "decision" for the rest of your lives. I hope that women who rejected me, will feel the same way in the future.
My Myspace Profile:
http://www.myspace.com/thedanielaguilar
I notice you’re seeking fame for revenge towards the girls who rejected you. Do you want a girl to like you because you’re rich and famous, or because you’re you?
Just thought you should think about that.
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So what’s the question? It sounds like a rant
By the way, you need to chill out and get some confidence, don’t read any self-help books unless you can use their advice and adapt it according to your situation and also if you end up trying and get a girl, would she be more interested in your money, status or yourself.
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Play it safe, virgin till marriage. I’m sorry about your love life and all the crap they keep telling you. No matter what, try to stay confident. Don’t FEAR rejection, evolve from it and try different procedures next time. Try not to get your love life in a twist and try to get some friends to hook you up.
<EDIT> The question is "I need your advice", dumb ass’es
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I hope this isn’t more BS to you. I really want to help. If i didn’t wanna help, I wouldn’t have read this HUGE epic, large, titanic, gigantic, enormous ESSAY
For starters, your only 23. The human brain doesn’t even fully develope intill you’re 26. I understand why you are upset about not finding a girl yet, but you have to keep hope, and you have to look in the right places. If someone has time to write a self-help book, do you really think they have a life besides sitting at home at a dingy desk as old and outdated as they are?
You said you have a lot of woman friends, that’s good. Attractive ones are even better. Attractive woman tend to know much more about what they want in a man then some messed up psychologist.
As a woman, I know how we work and I know how men work. Different woman are attracted to different men, so it’s better to center on one woman and find out her interest, her likes, dislikes and needs. Poetry and roses are nice, but we just want someone who will listen to us, love us, respct us for who we are. The fact that you just wanted a date with the escort shows me you have respect, and we eat that up. Being a virgin isn’t a bad thing either, it will show the girl you’re finally with just how important she is to you.
In the end, you will find a woman that will love you regardless of what the heck is going on around you. I have found that the best relationship I could ever have with a boy is when we started out as friends. It let me get to know him before I dove into a relationship.
Men usually experience love at first sight while woman do not. Who knows, the girl your waiting for could be one of your friends, she just doesn’t know it.
Maybe your wearing to much cologne? That tends to drive woman away. The best cologne to use is either none at all, or baby powder. I know that sounds strange, but if men only have sex on their mind, woman only think about babies.
Oh, and try to stop going to strip clubs, like your going to meet any self-respecting woman there.
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dude try an escort service!
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tried it myself!
You got mail.
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Women and Men, Men and Women, just go about life as it is, stop trying to look for a Lamborghini when a Camero will do.
I have found that over time, all that is beauty soon becomes old.
Love should begin with inner looks, whats in the heart and soul, rather then superficial outer Beauty.
Richness does not buy happiness look at Hollywood.
Influential to what degree to be like Governors who have been brought down.
Powerful, is Donald trump really happy, President Clinton, ask yourself this, do not try to be somebody else, be yourself; and yes those gals who dumped you like i was for a football star,basketball or baseball player, came to a class reunion and saw that what they gave up was their loss, it was my gain, thank them for not wanting you now, because it is sad to find out some 10-15 years later with 4 kids, that you were not her actual man just a respite.
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62 years old, still thinking about what a great thing it is to be alive.