Dog Sickness Remedies

Just as we do, our pets can also fall sick. Luckily, there are many home remedies for sick dogs that can help them get healthy in no time. While it is important to consult a vet regarding the sickness of a dog, you can try some simple dog sickness remedies for non-threatening and common conditions.

Dog sickness natural remedies are often better than medication, since medicines almost always have some side effects or the other. Do keep in mind however that dog sickness remedies should simply be used as a means of temporary relief and to treat minor non threatening conditions. Make sure you get your dog to a vet for a thorough diagnosis to rule out anything more serious. Here are some of the most popular dog sickness remedies:

• Papaya fruit is one of the most highly regarded ingredients for dog sickness treatments. Papaya fruit can increase the immunity for dogs that are convalescing. The papaya fruit it full of nutrients which can help boost the immunity of the dog and therefore is also a powerful dog sickness prevention ingredient.
• If you feel that your dog is appearing dull and has very lethargic movements, it is possible that the dog may not be well. Try to feed the dog and if the dog does not seem to be interested in eating anything, you can give it two cloves of garlic. If the dog is not eating the garlic, crush the garlic and hide it in a treat that your dog likes to make sure that it eats the garlic cloves.
• If your dog has diarrhea or is vomiting, it may not eat anything. Give the dog lots of fluids to drink and make sure that it remains hydrated. In case the dog has constipation, give it warm water so that the stools may soften and the dog may once again begin to pass stools normally.
• Dog treatment for anemia include consumption of bilberry, elderberry and blackberry. Dates and black grapes are also excellent supplements and should be provided to the dog along with the routine food. All of these are rich in iron and can improve the production of red blood cells in the dog. Read more on sick dog care
• For a dog, with incessant coughing and nasal discharge, a mixture of lukewarm water with lime juice, serves as an excellent remedy. After drinking this solution, the dog will feel less congested. Continue giving this solution to your dog until the congestion has completely cleared.
• One of the oldest sick dog remedies in China is a mixture of mung beans and boiled spinach. If your dog is not keeping well, and is lethargic and weak, feeding it a mixture of spinach and mung beans can help improve the dog’s condition.

Dog Castration Aftercare

Dog castration is performed primarily to prevent the dog from reproducing. Though this is a surgical procedure, it is a relatively simple one. The recovery after such a surgical procedure is also very quick and complete but the dog owner may have to take a lot of measures in order to make sure that the recovery of the dog is complete. Dog castration aftercare is a concern for most pet owners as this is crucial to a swift and complete recovery.

There are special measures which can be taken to care well for the dog, especially after a surgery has been performed. The usual period for recovery for dogs is between 10 to 14 days. Typically, the surgery is performed in the morning and the dog is ready to go home in the evening. When you come to pick up your dog, have a lengthy discussion with the vet and understand all the facets of dog castration aftercare and the dog castration recovery period. You may have to help your dog get into the car after the surgery because the dog may still be woozy as the effects of anesthesia begin to wear out. Do not allow the dog to jump. You will have to carry the dog and place it on the back seat of the car so that the stitches remain intact and do not stretch. Since the incisions are also fresh, it is best to make sure that the bandages remain on the wounds till the dog is completely healed. If you have stairs in your home do not let the dog climb as this too will stretch the stitches on the dog’s abdomen. If your steps are smaller you may let the dog climb. However, immediately after the surgery, your dog may not have regained its balance and it will be helpful to get your dog to climb the stairs carefully.

Read more on Dog Castration Complications

Bring your dog to its bed or crate where the dog can go to sleep immediately after getting home from the surgery. Dogs will usually not have the energy to keep up a lot of activity after this painful surgery so it is best to let them sleep and regain their strength. The recovery will be faster if the dog is allowed to sleep properly. This is the best dog castration aftercare. If you have other pets or kids in your home, keep them away from your dog that has just had the surgery. This is an important part of the dog castration aftercare. The dog castration recovery will depend on how long the dog has slept peacefully in the days post castration in dogs. The other pets and children may disturb the dog and may play with it, causing delay in the healing of the stitches.

Dog Castration Complications

The process of castration applies to male dogs. It is a process where the male reproductive system is removed. In dogs this typically applies to the testicles. The process of castration in dogs is done to terminate the reproductive capability of the dog. There are many behavioral aspects associated with the sex hormones in male dogs. Many male dogs are aggressive as is their natural instinct. Male dogs with functioning sex hormones also tend to display behavior that is considered to be extremely undesirable. The act of mounting can be quite embarrassing for dog owners and may be a behavioral trait that owners wish to eliminate. Many dogs are excessively aggressive as well and may cause harm to family members or visitors. The process of dog castration is done in order to curb these issues. The health benefits from the process are also believed to highly outweigh the risk of any dog castration complications.

It is natural to worry about the safety of the procedure and the effects, but dog castration complications are minimal and there shouldn’t be much cause for worry. There are many dog castration pros and cons. The biggest benefit from dog castration is the reduction of the sex drive of the dog as there is a deficiency of sex hormones being produced in the body after castration. This limits undesirable behavior and also reduces the aggression of the dog towards other dogs and, especially, towards female dogs in heat. Another one of the positive effects of castration in dogs is with regard to testicular cancer. Even though the rate of infection of the testicles with cancer is low, it is still a concern. The removal of the testicles removes the organ completely and eliminates the risk of that form of cancer.

There are some common risks associated with any surgical procedure. These risks apply to castration as well. During any surgery there is the risk of infection developing. There is also the risk of excessive bleeding. Both these risks are reduced by having the surgery performed in a well equipped operating theatre that adheres to the highest standards of safety and cleanliness. Some other cons of a dog castration procedure include the development of certain types of cancers. The risk rate for neutered dogs developing cancer is higher than for intact males developing cancer. This has been corroborated by many studies. This is one of the most serious dog castration problems.

Read more on how to neuter dog and when to neuter dog

Other dog castration complications include cognitive impairment later in life. There is some research to suggest that dogs that have been castrated tend to suffer from cognitive function issues later in life. The frequency of these cases is higher in castrated dogs than in dogs that have not been castrated.

Prednisone For Dogs Side Effects

Dogs have come to be as much a part of the family as any of our human counterparts and just as we experience illnesses and require medications from time to time dogs, inevitably fall ill and require treatment too. Very often medications that are administered to dogs, although effective against the illness, can cause other complications and side effects. The use of prednisone for dogs causes side effects quite commonly because of the widespread use of this drug.

When using prednisone for dogs, side effects do pose some risk, which is why caution needs to be exercised when administering any drugs. When administering prednisone for dogs, side effects are most likely to occur from prolonged usage or indiscriminate and careless administration of the drug. The side effects of prednisone can vary greatly in severity causing complications that could be mild and at times even be fatal. Although the use of prednisone for dogs causes side effects the drug is extremely useful in the treatment of a variety of conditions, like autoimmune diseases.

Prednisone a synthetic, inactive corticosteroid and when administered to a dog, the liver converts it into prednisolone, which is an active steroid. It is useful in the treatment of canine asthma and allergies, in managing emergencies that could arise from injury to the spinal column, in organ transplants to control rejections and also in the treatment of kidney disorders. At the same time you should be warned that use of prednisone for dogs causes side effects like panting, excessive hunger and thirst and it can also cause renal disorders. These side effects are generally observed when the drug is used for short periods.

The use of prednisone for dogs causes side effects that are more numerous and serious when administered for a lengthy duration. In such cases the side effects could include the development of ulcers in the digestive tracts, muscle loss, diabetes, pancreatic pain and inflammation, and sudden behavioral changes. Hyperadrenocorticism, also known as Cushing’s disease is however probably the most serious side effect from prednisone. It is generally caused by an overdose and can prove to be fatal.

It should be kept in mind that while various drugs and pharmaceutical medications like prednisone are often life saving for your dog, their indiscriminate usage can pose a severe threat. Exercise caution when administering any treatments to your dog and avoid self treating the dog. A veterinarian would be in the best position to advise you and it would be advisable to follow his recommendations strictly.

Safe Rabbit Foods

If you think that food pellets are made especially for your pet because they enjoy them, think again. While pellets usually make for safe rabbit foods you never know what is really in them. Pellets are not formulated because our pets like them, but because they are convenient for us when we decide to feed them. No one wants their pets to perish and for pets to have a long and healthy life, proper nutrition is a must. The commercially available foods do promote fast growth as well as development of fur. However, nutritionally these pellets may not be the best thing for your rabbit. Rabbits have a very delicate body and when you are planning their meals, it is imperative to consider their delicate digestive systems. The digestive system of a rabbit is designed in such a way that it can absorb as much of fat and protein as possible from its diet. Therefore, when you are giving your rabbit a high fat and protein diet, it may not be in the best interest of your pet.

Popular rabbit foods include all kinds of fresh fruits and vegetables as well as leafy greens. Here is a list of safe rabbit foods-foods which the rabbits enjoy as well. Rabbits can eat apples, barley, alfalfa, bluegrass, acacia, Bermuda grass, bread-both dry and soaked in milk, beets, buckwheat, beans, dandelions, cow parsnip, chicories, carpet grass, crabgrass, cabbage, corn, carrots, clovers, cereals, hazelnut leaves, Kentucky bluegrass, artichokes, grains, dogwood, fescue, knotgrass, Napier grass, kudzu, oats, lettuce(but beware of large quantities of iceberg lettuce), milk and milk products, millets, poplar, plantain, parsnips, peas, Rhodes grass, redtop grass, orchard grass, potatoes, sunflower, sprouted grains, rye, Timothy, sweet potatoes, spinach, sorghum, wheat, turnips, and willow.

When you are picking out grass, grains, and vegetables for your pet, make sure that you pick out only those foods which are fresh and free from mold. Whatever foods you give to your rabbit, make sure that the rabbit consumes a lot of roughage along with it. The best rabbit foods are those which have a healthy amount of roughage in them. Therefore, greens are usually considered among some of the good rabbit foods.

Fresh fruits and vegetables supply all that the rabbits require nutritionally. Apart from the roughage, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals, rabbits also require roughage in high amounts to keep their alimentary canal healthy. Fresh fruits, hay, green leafy vegetables, and grains provide all of these nutrients that the rabbits require.

My Cat Kneads A Lot

Cats are one of the most popular domestic pets all over the world and although they have a reputation of being fairly independent minded and unconcerned about their owners apart from getting their feed, cats can actually grow very attached to the humans they live with and may at times demand their attention. At heart, cats are actually very affectionate animals but they are just not as expressive of their affection, and they don’t appreciate our methods of expression that may often seem constraining or threatening to them.  Kneading is a common habit in cats that is a part of how they communicate their feelings. However, at times, the actions can be quite irritating for the master, especially if performed on a consistent basis. One of the primary reasons why most owners will regularly think to themselves ‘my cat kneads a lot’ is the fact that the tendency actually developed from when it was a kitten and kneading the mother’s teats while feeding as a baby helps stimulate the let down response, allowing the milk to flow more freely. Factors like this play a substantial role in the cat’s adulthood and mannerisms. If you notice that your cat kneads continuously ever since he or she was a kitten, then this might be the primary cause for the habit. Another factor that should be considered is that the animal may simply be marking its territory and trying to push you away from an area that it considers to be its own.

Read more on why do cats knead

Because of the tendency for cats to knead excessively, there are a number of methods employed all over the world to rid them of the habit. Since most cats knead continuously, getting some information on natural ways to stop the habit is not hard to come by on the internet. One way of accomplishing this is to lay the cat down and as soon as you see it start to knead, pull the animal down and say ‘no’. After a few days of doing this, the animal associates the action of kneading with a rather undesirable reaction of being pulled down and therefore stops doing so. Any options when it comes to training your kitty to stop kneading will always revolve around devising some kind of uncomfortable experience for the animal. For example, some people will choose to spray some water into the animals face when it starts to knead. This will have very much the same effect. Also keep in mind that a cat kneading is also a show of contentment, so make sure you understand what you are punishing.

Mini Rex Rabbit Food

As far as domestic pets go, rabbits are definitely one of the most adorable creatures to have in your household. Their innocent and cuddly exteriors can make anyone’s heart melt but you need to keep in mind that they can be just as destructive as innocent little children can be. Rabbits are known to cause a significant amount of destruction when left out of their hutches and chewing on electric cables is one of their frequent habits. As a result, you may want to cover any loose cabling in some kind of plastic guard to ensure that there is no damage to any of your electrical appliances around the house. Studies have shown that there are about 40 different species of rabbit all over the world - most of which can be trained to live in a domestic environment. However, some are more suited to a domestic household than others with some breeds still very much at home in their natural surroundings of large open spaces.  One breed of rather popular pet rabbits is known as the mini rex - which appears to be a miniature version of the bigger rex rabbit. The mini rex rabbit is highly regarded on the aesthetical front because of the graceful proportions that it has while its fur is also rather plush and has a nice texture. Mini rex rabbit food is a very important part of the animals well being if you want to see it live out its entire lifespan of around 10 years with the minimum of complications.

On an average, the mini rex rabbit is likely to weight between 3.5 to 4.5 lbs and the prominent factors of the animal include rather strong and muscular shoulders as well as erect ears. The mini rex is available in a number of different and pleasing colors of which only a select few are regarded as being worthy of show bunnies. The mini rex rabbit diet is substantially helped by the fact that rabbit pellets are easily available in most well stocked pet stores around the country. Your mini rex rabbit food can comprise of ½ a cup of dry pellets, fed to it on a daily basis. However, if a mini rex rabbit is pregnant, then the mini rex rabbit food quantities may need to be amended to meet the additional nutritional requirements. During pregnancy, mini rex rabbit food should be increased to about a whole cup up until about 3 days prior to the delivery.

Care for Dutch Rabbit

Rabbits are one of the more adorable animals that make very good domestic pets. However, just because the animals look very innocent, the amount of care that needs to be provided is considerable. Unlike most cats and dogs that can be more or less set free while being unsupervised, almost all rabbits are notorious and can cause a significant amount of destruction to household property. Because of the fact that they have a tendency to nibble on electric wires, it is highly recommended that you wrap any loose cables into some sort of plastic protective layer while also expecting your furniture to be chewed on to some extent. Studies show that there are approximately more than about 40 different rabbit species all over the world, most of which make very tender and loving pets. Another factor that contributes significantly to the popularity of rabbits as household pets is the fact that they can be easily potty trained, making sure that the house remains rather clean at most times. Rabbits tend to groom themselves regularly and are rather obsessed about cleanliness when it comes to there soft fur, so there may not be too much additional cleaning that the owner is require to perform.

Dutch rabbits are one of the most popular domestic rabbits and are believed to have originated in Holland sometime around the 1850’s. The fact that the Dutch rabbits are rather small is a major contributor to their popularity all over the world and the animals will usually have erect ears and powerful back legs that are usually stronger than their front legs. Very often pet owners choose to keep smaller pets as they tend to think of them as being easier to manage, but dutch rabbit care cannot be treated so trivially. Proper Dutch rabbit care requires the owner to ensure that the animal is provided with the right kind of housing as well as food to guarantee that the animal has an enjoyable life in captivity.

Most Dutch rabbit care sheets prepared by experts on the species will require the owner to make hutches to house the animal in measurements of about 4 ft x 18 inches x 18 inches, that also comprises of a sleeping section for the animal. It is also important for optimum Dutch rabbit care that the hutch be placed a little off the ground and in a sheltered position to protect it from the direct glaze of the mid day sun and direct wind. The animals diet is a very important aspect of proper Dutch rabbit care and the feed should, as much as possible, mimic the animals natural feeing instincts. While the commercially produced rabbit pellets are fine for the day feeds, the evening feeds should generally be a good quantity of high quality hay.

Dog Water Intake

Water is essential for all known life forms and a dog’s water intake as an important aspect of its care. Some dogs tend to drink a lot more water than other dogs.  This can then result in the dog urinating fairly frequently. However with these dogs, one should monitor their dog’s water intake closely. This does not mean that one should deprive the dog of water at all. Water is extremely vital for a dog’s health and well being. Those dogs that have been trained or have sufficient self control, one can leave water in a bowl out for them the entire day. This water bowl should be cleaned out regularly to avoid any bacteria collecting.

Dog water consumption will differ from dog to dog and from dog breed to dog breed. In fact some dogs that ought to be drinking more water tend to not drink as much. In these cases one can seek advice from a vet as to how to increase a dog’s desire for drinking more water. Some dogs may even be choosy about the kind of water they drink, choosing natural spring water over regular water. For those owners who have enough time to keep taking their dogs out for a walk where they can relieve themselves, then giving these dogs plenty of water is not a problem. The older dogs are more able to regulate their own water intake, thus adapting to their owner’s lifestyle and avoiding accidents. An important point to make note off is that dogs can get dehydrated fairly easily. Some dogs may get dehydrated quite fast even if they are drinking plenty of water. This can happen to those dogs that are suffering from some kind of medical conditions. Dehydration can even occur in a dog due to heat, over activity or even stress. Normal dog water intake may not serve to be sufficient in these cases.

A simple way to establish if one’s dog is suffering from dehydration is by checking the elasticity of the dog’s skin. This can be done on the dog’s upper back in the region right below the dog’s shoulders. When checking for skin elasticity in one’s dog, one should use their forefingers and their thumb to pinch the dog’s skin in a gentle fashion. Then proceed to lift up the dog’s skin and then release it. If the skin is seen to return to normal fairly fast then it can be established that the dog is absorbing a sufficient quantity of water.

However if the skin does not appear to be elastic enough, then one should ensure that their pet drinks more water. One should also notify their vet as soon as possible about this situation. The average dog water consumption will also differ from dog to dog. A dog’s water intake also differs depending on the environment that the dog is living in. those dogs that live in hotter climates tend to drink more water than those dogs living in the cooler temperatures. Puppies intake of water should be monitored very closely especially when house breaking a puppy. When at a beach always ensure that fresh water is available for the dog, as in its absence the dog may end up drinking the salty sea water. A dog swimming in salt water is not considered to be harmful provided the dog does not ingest the salt water. When a dog drinks salt water it can lead to an increase in dehydration and also can cause vomiting. This condition is referred to as beach diarrhea. Can dogs swim in chlorine water is another often asked question. Just like the beach, swimming in the chlorine water or dogs swimming in pools is not considered harmful as long as they do not drink the chlorine water.

Californian Rabbit Facts

Rabbits are a very popular domestic pet and are definitely one of the most adorable. While being more used to open lands and living on their own, they are also very docile creatures when housed in domestic environments. But a rabbit owner should not be taken by its innocent looks as the animal can be quit a terror when let out of its cage, unsupervised. Rabbits are known to cause havoc unless they are watched over, and chewing on electrical wires is one of their favorite activities. While there are over 40 different species of rabbit in the world, the Californian rabbit facts point to this particular breed being considered as a true American original. The Californian rabbit history is a rather long one, coming into prominence around the 1920’s and originally being bred as livestock rather than as pets.  As far as the animal aesthetics go, the animal has erect ears and is rather moderately sized. The regular weight of the animal is usually about 7 to 10 pounds and the coat color of the animal is very similar to the Himalayan rabbit.

When housing one of these animals, it is important to know your Californian rabbit facts as there are certain aspects of their natural outdoor lives that might need to be created in a domestic environment. Most of these rabbits are actually very comfortable in well insulated cages and are usually litter box trained while also being compulsive groomers - sometimes even more than cats! The most comfortable dimensions for the cage in which the rabbit will be held is about 2 feet by 2 feet by 4 feet. It is very important to be able to effectively manage the temperature within the cage as rabbits are not used to very extreme temperatures. An addition of straw is going to help the animal regulate the temperature to its advantage. A major part of

Californian rabbit care is the kind of food that the animal is provided. Commercial rabbit pellets are highly recommended and can be purchased at any well stocked pet store. The recommended dosage is about ¼ cup of pellets for every 5 pounds of the animals body weight, fed on a daily basis. However, there is a lot of dependence on the animals age when it comes to the most appropriate feeding. For instance, if the rabbit is less than about 8 months of age, it is highly recommended that you feed it an unlimited supply of alfalfa pellets.