Dogs: Leash or Muzzle?

Thankfully, the days of shampooing your dog in washing up liquid or baby bath are over as there are now special dog shampoos easily available.

But the growing number of shampoos poses another question - which one is right for your dog?

Here are some general guidelines:-

* For dogs with greasy skin, look for a shampoo with benzoyl peroxide as the active ingredient. This is the same medication used in many acne medications, and it helps kill bacteria and dissolves grease.

* For dogs with dry,flaky skin (dandruff), look for a shampoo with sulfur and salicylic acid as active ingredients. These help to dissolve loose flakes off the surface of the skin.

* For dogs that have generally itchy skin, shampoos containing oatmeal protein are helpful.

Always look for shampoos without many artificial colours or perfumes as these can irritate the dog’s skin.

Be careful not to get any shampoo in the dog’s eyes, or down his ears.

And always rinse the coat thoroughly so no shampoo is left in the fur as this too can cause skin irritation.

For more information, visit

dog care

As a dog owner, I was concerned by the recent dog food scare and started to think about making my own food for Monty, so I knew exactly what was in it.

After hundreds of hours researching dog nutrition and reading through hundreds of recipes, the best is Pamper Your Dog

Monty, our dog, is a cherished part of our family. Making sure he is fed nutritious food is important. Making my own dog food is not only easy and fun; it is also very cost effective! Your dog will love the variety of flavors and you’ll see a big difference in the shine of their coat as well as in their energy level.

Nutrition for Dogs
A healthy dog needs a healthy diet. Proper nutrition is important to several functions of a dog’s body. It is necessary for the growth of the dog, as well as the repair of any body tissue that has sustained damage. Additionally, proper nutrition provides the energy the dog uses to go about his daily living activities. The major nutrients that all dogs need in their diet include carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. Dogs require about 75% carbohydrate foods (grains and vegetables) to 25% fats and proteins (meats and supplements). All pet foods should be served at room temperature; don’t serve food cold from the refrigerator or hot from the stove.

As a general rule feed your dogs in these amounts,
• 6 oz/day for 10 lb dog
• 12 oz/day for 20 lb dog
• 18 oz/day for 30 lb dog
• 24 oz/day for 40 lb dog
• 30-36 oz/day for 50-150 lb dog

Because animals are color blind they choose their foods by smell. Most dogs like gamey flavors best. Dogs may eat a variety of vegetables and some dogs even enjoy fruits! Don’t add salt to homemade dog food; the natural salt in the food is enough for a dog’s nutritional needs. It’s a good idea to always add a grain, such as Kibble (recipe on page 13), wheat germ, cooked oatmeal or whole wheat bread to meat dinners.

Feed your puppy two to three times a day. An adult dog needs only one feeding per day. Try to feed your dog at the same time each day.

Always have a dish of water handy for your dog and keep it clean. Change your dog’s water daily.

Know Good Health When You See It
A dog that is fed a well-balanced diet rich in beneficial nutrients shows many recognizable signs of good health.
• Abundant energy
• Brightness, a sparkle in his/her eyes and a sense that s/he is enjoying life
• Healthy coat that is soft and shiny and doesn’t mat easily
• Little or no Doggie odor
• Strong immune system, which keeps him/her healthy
• Well-muscled body
• Well-formed stool that is not voluminous and is easily produced, with no straining

Problems Associated with Low-Quality Diets
Common problems associated with low-quality diets include:
• Dull, greasy coat, usually accompanied by dandruff
• Low energy level
• Skin odor
• Susceptibility to generalized infections, such as ear infections that become chronic or skin infections caused by greasy, seborrheic skin
• Thin, undernourished appearance
• Voluminous stool

Foods that are good for your dog.

DAIRY
• Eggs
• Grated Cheese
• Cottage Cheese
• Plain Yogurt

FRUITS
• Bananas
• Blackberry
• Blueberry
• Cherries (STONE REMOVED)
• Kiwis
• Melons
• Papaya
• Peaches
• Apples
• Bananas
• Oranges

MEATS
• Beef
• Deer
• Chicken
• Fish (DEBONED)
• Ground Beef
• Lamb
• Mutton
• Organ Meats such as heart, kidney and liver
• Rabbit
• Turkey

VEGETABLES Veggies need to either be boiled and mashed or pureed
• Asparagus
• Avocado
• Beets
• Broccoli
• Brussels Sprouts
• Cabbage: Carrots
• Cauliflower
• Celery
• Dandelion Leaves
• Kolrabi
• Kale
• Okra
• Parsley
• Parsnips
• Peas
• Pumpkin
• Rutabagas
• Squash
• Sweet potatoes
• Swiss chard
• Turnips
• Zucchini

SUPPLEMENTAL ITEMS
• Canola Oil with vitamin E
• Cod Liver Oil
• Crushed egg shells
• Oyster calcium
• Vitamin C

Use your imagination as you combine items from these lists to make some incredibly tasty and nutritious meals for your dog. Remember to use the supplemental items as they will aid in digestion and make the coat shine!

For more recipes see Pamper Your Dog
dog health

Everybody wants to protect their dog from fleas and nobody wants to be bitten by their dogs fleas!

Fleas are small dark insects that run through the fur rapidly.

Dogs will show signs of infestation by grooming and scratching excessively, some dogs will show signs of hypersensitivity to flee bites (the saliva) with raised red bumps on the skin which may even appear like eczema and could cause loss of fur.

FAdult fleas live 3-4 months laying tiny white eggs constantly. These hatch into larvae, which live in cracks and crevices, carpets, upholstery, blankets and even earth and sand, living on the dried blood from the droppings of the adult fleas. 1-2 weeks later they turn into pupa and 2 weeks later hatch and hop onto the nearest warm body to feed and multiply.

This cycle can take anything from 2 to 20 weeks to complete depending on the temperature of the environment; it only takes approximately 2 weeks in the summer months.

There are a few natural remedies for the avoidance of fleas and also for flea control, BUT a healthy lifestyle, including a good natural diet and exercise can help to prevent fleas. Parasites are attracted to animals with ‘tasty’ blood, therefore feeding a lesser quantity of a high quality food may avoid the build up of toxic waste in the system which attract the parasites.

Cleanliness in the pet and home is paramount to keeping fleas at bay. Vacuum around the house at least weekly, paying attention to cracks and crevices. Empty the vacuum straight away as the fleas could breed quite rapidly amongst the dust and debris in the bag. Launder your pets’ bed weekly in hot soapy water. Heat above 40 degrees will kill fleas, larvae and eggs, so if possible dry the bedding using as high a heat as possible.

Natural Remedies for Fleas

If your pet is infested, bathing may help using a gentle natural shampoo, containing flea and insect repellent. You could make your own by adding a few drops of Pennyroyal or Eucalyptus essentail oils to a bottle of natural shampoo. Wet and lather around the neck first to avoid the fleas escaping up to the head and then do the same over the whole body, rinse lightly and shampoo again, keeping the shampoo on your pet for 5 minutes if that is possible. Rinse with a homemade rosemary infusion (1tsp dried or 1 tblsp fresh rosemary to 1 pint of boiling water, steep for 10 minutes) pour over the pet and towel dry.

Herbal flea powders can be used or again make one up using one part each of as many of the following powdered herbs as possible: Eucalyptus, Rosemary, Fennel, Yellow Dock, Wormwood and Rue. Apply sparingly to the base of the hairs paying attention to the neck, back and belly.

Regularly grooming your pet using a flea comb will also eliminate a lot of fleas, dip the comb in hot soapy water as this will kill the fleas.

A natural skin tonic for your pet can be made by thinly slicing 1 lemon and adding to 1 pint of boiling water, let it steep overnight. Sponge onto the animal and let it dry. Lemons contain a natural flea killing substance called d-limonene.

Garlic can be offered as a flea repellent either daily or every other day in small quantities (large amounts can cause anaemia). Brewers yeast either taken internally or again on the skin can also help.

Fleas can build up a resistance to any remedy and also to the chemicals we use to control them, so it may be wise to use different methods if possible.

Be vigilant! Keep a look out for the first signs of fleas. Its much easier to get rid of a few fleas with natural remedies, but if the infestation has become severe you may need to use insecticides first then use natural remedies to prevent further infestations.

For more info www.leadormuzzle.co.uk

dog care

With more and more people becoming aware of the real contents of a tin of dog food, it may be time to start making your dog’s food yourself at home.

But you can’t just give your dog a portion of the family’s meal!

Dog digestion and nutritional requirements are very different to human’s.

There are two books I’d recommend:

Pamper Your Dog

which is basically a recipe book for homemade dog food and dog treats and snacks.

and

Dog Food Secrets

which reveals the shocking truth of what is really in the tin and the harm it can do to your dog.

dog health

With increasing concerns about ‘what’s really in the tin?’, many people are thinking about making their dog food themselves.

Homemade dog food is exactly what the name implies – dog food that is made from home. There are many reasons and benefits that people are turning to homemade dog food to feed their beloved pets.

Homemade dog food is increasing in popularity for a few reasons. One of the main reasons for the dramatic switch from commercial store-bought dog food to homemade dog food is the recent contaminated dog food scare. The safety of commercial dog food has pet owners everywhere nervous about store-bought dog food. This reason alone has caused thousands of dog owners to take charge of their pet’s diet and begin making their dog food for them for peace of mind and to know exactly what their dog is getting.

Homemade dog food offers many benefits to a dog. First of all, when given the choice of homemade or store-bought dog food, the majority of dogs will choose homemade dog food without a doubt. In addition to homemade dog food being more nutritious for a dog, is more tasty and satisfying to a dog as well. In addition to a pleasurable eating experience, homemade dog food offers many health benefits to a dog as well. Dogs that are fed homemade dog food on a regular basis have a healthier digestive tract, meaning better breath, less gas, and smaller and firmer stools. Healthier skin, a shinier and silkier coat, and more energy to enjoy activities are some of the other health benefits that can be noticed as well.

For more information visit www.leadormuzzle.co.uk
dog health

Your dog starts scratching himself obsessively. You suspect fleas. What do you do?

Take him to the vet. You are told that your dog has fleas and will need a flea bath. Then you are told that you should start using some sort of preventative treatment for the rest of the flea season. You have a few options available to you, including a flea collar. But did you know that the main ingredient in many of these flea-control aids is insecticide? Scary? Yes. But what is your natural alternative?

Next time this happens to you don’t go running to the pet store to spend a good deal of money on poison. Instead, go to a health food store and pick up one of the following essential oils: eucalyptus, citronella, tea tree, lavender or geranium. By rubbing a few drops of any of these oils onto your dog’’s collar or a bandana, you will prevent a flea infestation naturally and safely.

This maintenance program is easy as can be and only requires a reapplication to the collar once a week. And as an extra bonus, your dog will smell wonderful all summer long!.

dog healthdog care