Canine Liver Disease; A Little Knowledge Could Save Your Dogs Life

Canine Liver Disease, a little knowledge could save your dogs life
by John Deeprose


Canine liver disease is the 5th leading cause of non-accidental death amongst man's best friend. Just having a little knowledge of this common, but little written about condition, could save the life of your family pet

When my West Highland Terrier Joe was diagnosed with a liver condition, I found to my angst that much of his suffering could have been avoided had I known the signs to look for and steps that I could have taken early on to aid his full recovery. Fortunately Joe is now, thanks to a few simple changes in his lifestyle, back on track to being the bouncy little scamp he was prior to his diagnosis.

Simply put, liver disease is a general term used to describe any medical disorder of the liver. The liver is responsible for removing toxins from your dog's bloodstream and can amazingly still perform this function with up to 75-80% of it affected by disease. The downside of this incredible statistic is that damage is consequently well advanced by the time many diagnoses are made.

Common Causes of liver disease in dogs include:

· Exposure to high levels of toxic chemicals such as insecticides, lead, phosphorus and iron · Infections such as chronic ear and skin infections and other infections elsewhere in the body. · Hepatitis · Common Dental infections · Inherent liver disease is commonly more genetically inherent in certain breeds such as American and English cocker spaniels and West Highland terriers · Inbreeding · Prolonged use of some drugs such as cortisone, steroids, anti-convulsants, parasite control drugs and some antibiotics.

Common symptoms of liver disease in dogs include:

· Jaundice - Eyes, Gums and skin turn a yellowy color · Vomiting, this may or may not be accompanied by blood · Diarreah, again this may or may not be accompanied by blood · Urinary changes may occur such as frequent urination and increased thirst. Urine may turn orange · Stools may be pale grey, orange or even yellow in color · Depression or lethargy - your dog may seem withdrawn and apathetic · Other behavioural changes such as aimless pacing around and circling · Swollen belly

Diet plays a major part in allowing your dogs liver to regenerate itself, as it is the liver that processes your pet's food and drink intake.

Foods to be avoided to keep your dogs liver healthy include sugar, chocolate, fried or grilled meat and bones, onion, red and green peppers and tomatoes.

Fresh distilled water is preferable to tap water.

It is also a good tip to use stainless steel food and drinking bowls instead of plastic ones.

It is of course your local Veterinary expert that should carry out the necessary tests and diagnose liver disease in your dog, but by being aware of the common symptoms and actively checking your pet you can play a part in making sure that treatment can begin a soon as possible


If you would like further information on Canine liver disease then please visit www.jayrecommends.com

John is a UK based author, who writes various articles, that he hopes may prove to be informative and of value to his diverse readership. His passions include animals and analyzing betting strategies.

Getting Started with Dog Training

Getting Started with Dog Training
by Nick Bulka


Learning to train a dog is usually very straightforward. Most dog training techniques are time-proven, so if someone claims they have a "new" technique, chances are that it's an existing technique that has been slightly modified or adapted for a particular case. And although it is straightforward, that doesn't mean it's easy for a beginner. A novice dog trainer is likely to experience frustration when his pooch doesn't respond as quickly as he likes. But rest assured that if you persevere, you will see results. Without a doubt, most important aspects of training your dog are consistency, repetition, and positive reinforcement. Your dog will be more eager to do what you request if he's doing it to please you, rather than to avoid an unpleasant correction.

When someone new to dog training watches an experienced trainer handle a dog, it may seem that the experienced trainer gets fast results because of some innate talent that they were blessed with. The real truth is that, like most other things, dog training is a learned over time, and it does come easier with experience, as a result of past successes and failures.

An important aspect of training a dog is using the right tone of voice. You should use a tone of authority, but never anger. And volume is not really required to let your dog know who's boss. Canine social behavior depends on the order of dominance, and it's important for your dog to know that you are the dominant one, not him. But remember, you should never attempt to show your dominance by physical punishment. Once your dog realizes that you're the "alpha" member of the "pack", training becomes much easier. On the other hand, if Fido discovers early on that you're a pushover, you're likely doomed to having a dog that does whatever he pleases, and it will be extremely difficult to change his demeanor.

Praise and reward are your key tools when training your dog. As mentioned earlier, you should strive to get to the point where your dog gets a great deal of pleasure from pleasing you. And frankly, it's also a lot more fun for the trainer as well. And although there are dogs that will require negative corrections to learn, this is the exception, rather than the rule. It's also important to spend time with your dog just so you can enjoy each other's company. When a bond develops between human and canine, it's truly a wonderful thing.

Remember also that dogs, like humans, have unique personalities, and what works for one dog may not work for another. You need to be willing to adapt your training techniques to better fit your dog's personality. This is one of the true marks of a successful dog trainer, and only comes with time, dedication, and experience.

It's also necessary to realize that you shouldn't have unrealistic expectations of your dog. Don't expect a young puppy to have the same attention span as an older dog, or to have the ability to retain as much of what they've learned. And also take your dog's physical traits into consideration. It's unlikely that a bulldog will ever become a frisbee champion, or that a miniature poodle will be able to become a bird dog.

Armed with these tips, you should be ready to take Fido out for his first training session. Rest assured that as time progresses, these things will become second nature to you.


Nick Bulka operates a number of pet-related web sites, including http://www.dogtraininginstruction.com, http://www.pet-guide.us, and http://www.cat-scratch.net

How To Train a Puppy to Pay Attention

How To Train a Puppy to Pay Attention
by Dean Iggo


Learning how to train a puppy can be incredibly difficult but infinitely rewarding as well. For many dog owners who want to learn how to train a puppy to potty outside or behave properly in the house, the greatest obstacle is getting the little canine's attention. If you don't have the puppy's attention, then you obviously can't train him to do anything. With that in mind, here are some tips on how to get your puppy's attention for training.

Getting Started

When you learn how to train a puppy, you must first make sure that when there are other dogs around, he will pay attention to you. The best way to do that is to teach him to ignore the other dogs when the stage is yours. First, have some treats on you, but in a place where the puppy will be unable to see them. To start, say the pup's name with authority and then move away quickly. This will teach the dog to look at you when you say his name.

The Next Step

Secondly, when learning how to train a puppy, you want to make sure you complete the sequence always. So, once the puppy has followed you praise him quickly and enthusiastically. As you do it, take out and give him a treat. Never show the treats until you are going to give him one. When you do give your puppy a treat, it is best to put the treat between his eyes and yours so that you get the eye contact. Eye contact with you is the goal, so always reward it.

Make it Stick

Finally, perform the sequence at least three to five times in a row. This is important to do when you learn how to train a puppy. Each time, say the puppy's name, move, praise him, and then give him a treat with eye contact. By doing it several times in a row you are doing two things: one, you are making sure you hold the puppy's attention for a few minutes consecutively and secondly you are imprinting the commands and behavior on your dog.

Learning how to train a puppy is a chore in and of itself. However, it can never happen if you don't take the time to teach your puppy to pay attention to you around other dogs. By taking these simple tips and performing them daily, you will soon have your puppy's full and undivided attention so that you can house train him, paper train him, or even add behaviors.


Dean Iggo is the webmaster of a dog training website providing tips and advice on puppy potty training obedience training and more.

Pet Health Insurance: A Way To Care Your Pets

Pet Health Insurance: A way to care your pets
by Jenny Black

Owning a pet is one of the most common features that can be seen in almost all our households. And for most pet owners pets are a part of their family. But at the same time it has become one of the most expensive affairs. It is because of the treatment or the care they may need during their lifetime. Apart from the day-to-day costs of feeding and keeping your pet in good condition, there are many unplanned costs that include vets' fees during operations and accidents, which you might find difficult to cover. Because of this, it's a good idea to buy a pet health insurance policy which will protect both you and your pet. Pet health care insurance is a policy where the insurer will pay you for the covered costs of the treatment of your pets and in the return you have to shell out a certain sum of premium to the insurer at regular intervals.

There are different insurance companies that offer various health insurance policies and you can opt for the best policy that will suit your needs and family status. There are different health insurance plans for cats, for dogs and for your other pets. Policies vary from one company to other company.

And also the rate of premiums varies from company to company. Usually the policies under veterinary pet health insurance are cheaper for dogs and cats but little higher for other pets such as horses, rabbits etc. So before handing over your premiums to an insurer who provides pet health insurance, it is important for you to do a detailed research of all these information. Hence we suggest you to shop around a little. Now with online facilities on pet health insurance in UK it is easier to search and shop.

It is imperative to keep in mind that most pet care health insurances available in the market do not pay for routine check ups like worming, flea control nor is it likely to cover the pre-existing medical conditions that your pet has been suffering.

Apart from that, for some diseases and treatments that may need a long time, say more than a year, it is necessary to renew the policy at the end of the year. If not, you will loose your claim and the policy may end all together. The best time to buy a pet health insurance for your pet is when it is little, say for instance, 8 weeks old, because it is difficult to get maximum cover at the middle age. Thus according to the pets you own its high time for you to buy a dogs health insurance or cat health insurance or any other pet insurance as soon as possible.


Jenny Black is the financial analyst at HealthInsuranceUK. She is providing independant insurance and financial advice on health through her informative articles. To find more about health insurance policies, pet insurance, pet health insurance, vision insurance, pet health care insurance, short-term insurance, online insurance providers visit http://www.healthinsuranceuk.org.uk

Advantages of a Hairless Dog

Advantages of a Hairless Dog
by John S. Rhodes


A hypoallergenic dog would be wonderful because he would not trigger your allergies. Although there is no such thing as a non-allergenic dog, some dogs are certainly better than others. The first advantage of a hairless dog is that he is going to produce fewer allergens than dogs with fur. If you have allergies or if you have asthma, this is a wonderful thing.

There is another advantage of a hairless dog that is so obvious. No hair! This is great because it means that you'll have very little to clean up. You won't have to vacuum all the time, in your home or in your car.

The third advantage is that hairless dogs attract attention. Since most dogs have hair, when people see a hairless dog they get very excited. If you like talking to other people and striking up conversations, hairless dogs are perfect. They're great for parties. A hairless dog will definitely break the ice.

The fourth advantage is very interesting. Hairless dogs are often missing teeth. This might sound sad, but the truth is that many owners find this adorable. It makes hairless dogs stand out from other breeds. Interestingly, hairless dogs are generally very tough and quite healthy, which is definitely an advantage when you consider canine health costs.

The final advantage is a fun one. Many owners of hairless dogs obviously dislike fur. They don't like the smell and they just don't like the feel of fur. Obviously a hairless dog is going to be relatively smooth. Often, hairless dogs like to snuggle because they don't have insulating fur. If you like to be close to your dog, this is fantastic. The catch is that you have to pay attention to the body temperature of dogs without hair. Extreme temperatures are not good.

Here is a bonus advantage. You actually have a range of hairless dog choices. There are at least five breeds:


American Hairless Terrier
Chinese Crested (Hairless)
Hairless Khala
Peruvian Inca Orchid
Xoloitzcuintle (Mexican Hairless)
You're not stuck with just one breed. Enjoy that freedom.

Let's summarize the advantages. Hairless dogs are usually better for people with allergies and asthma. Since there is no hair, it is easier to clean up after them. Hairless dogs also attract attention. They are fun and adorable. Hairless dogs are usually friendly and they are tough too. Sounds pretty good, don't you think?

John S. Rhodes publishes the Pet Comfort Newsletter, a FREE weekly publication packed with tips, advice, discounts, and bonuses for pet owners. Subscribe today and instantly download a FREE copy of Insider Dog Training Secrets ($17 value): http://www.pet-comfort-products.com/free-pet-comfort-newsletter.html