How To Find The Right Dog Food

How To Find The Right Dog Food

For those with dogs, food is among the biggest needs that must be well taken care of. Your furry friend has nutritional requirements that should be met. Of course, you would want to strike a balance between providing food that he likes and food that is good for him.

Today, you will be overwhelmed by the many dog food options in the market today. To help you determine the best options and fully understand the importance of good food, experts have shared some tips for buying the right dog food.

A Simple Guide To Buying Food For Dogs

Feed by nature - Dogs before were wild so they mainly eat live animals. This means that they consume raw animal meat and bones, organs, tissues, and hair. They also consume plant matter in small amounts. But today, domesticated dogs have evolved to be carnivorous, while also eating those fit for omnivores.

Puppy to adult - Puppies certainly need to feed on their mother's milk, similar to any kind of mammal. At approximately 8-12 weeks of life, they will start weaning off the milk and begin eating solid food. As your puppy becomes an adult, you will find that there are different kinds of food that they must eat to ensure good health. It is highly recommended that you take your pet to a reliable vet to gain valuable advice regarding good food to feed him based on his health status, age, and specific conditions.

Home-prepared or commercial pet food - Most pet owners are often faced with 2 options. You can either feed the dog raw or cooked meats or with commercial pet food from the store. Choosing which kind of food to give him will depend on the dog's specific requirements.

Bear in mind that no two dogs will have similar dietary needs. Hence, it is very important for you to consult your vet about the right diet to follow. You will know that your pet is eating right if he has a normal energy level and appetite, fresh breath, clean teeth and ears, a glossy coat, no elimination issues, not itching, and an overall good disposition and attitude. If your dog is healthy, you will see that he is very happy.

Some Foods To Avoid

As much as you want your pet to eat nutritious food that he truly enjoys eating, you need to be very careful in not giving him foods that can be toxic. Some of the food you must not give your pet will include garlic, avocado, chocolate, raisins and grapes, coffee or any product with caffeine, citrus fruits, mushrooms, corn cobs, green or unripe tomatoes, salt and seasonings, and nuts.

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How to Care for Your Kitten - A Short Guide

How to Care for Your Kitten - A Short Guide

While caring for kittens is not that difficult, they do have special needs.

What to Feed a Kitten

When they are about 4 weeks old, kittens begin to eat solid food though their mother continues to nurse them. Ready-to-eat cat foods in the grocery are often well-balanced, which is beneficial for your kitten. They are available in different brands and most manufacturers produce specific cat food. These come in packets, cans and rolls, among others. Buying premium or popular brands, though not really necessary, can assure you of complete nutrition for your cat. When choosing cat food, make sure that the label contains words like "total nutrition for kittens/cats".

The diet of your kitten should be supplemented with fresh meat like chopped chicken or fish. Keep in mind, though, that fresh meat on its own does not give your kitten the complete nutrition it requires.

It is best to feed your kitten with a wide range of foods and change these from time to time. Kittens can get fed up and lose interest in eating when given the same food everyday. This also prevents them from becoming picky.

Kittens can start to eat dry cat food when they are very young and this is somewhat enjoyable for most of them. There are supermarket brands as well as those that are only offered at the vet or pet food shop.

Water

Kittens should always have access to fresh, clean water. Avoid giving water in plastic bowls since they easily tip over. Instead, use something heavier - like pottery, china or a porcelain dish.

Milk for Kittens

It is not advisable to feed cats/kittens with cow's milk since most kittens have lactose intolerance and this can lead to an upset stomach or diarrhea. You can give them milk from the supermarket, which is specially made for cats and kittens. When you are house training your kitten, you certainly would not want it to have diarrhea.

How to Feed a Young Kitten

Just like babies, young kittens need to be fed several times daily. Those that are below 6 weeks old should still stay with their mother.

As a rule, kittens from 6 to 12 weeks old require at least 4 meals a day. Since their tummies are still small, they cannot eat too much at a single time. By the time they reach 12 weeks, they can eat 3 meals daily, and once they are 6 months old, they can eat twice a day.

Certainly, how often a kitten should be fed depends on several factors, one of which is the daily routine of its owner. An owner who works will not have the time to feed the kitten as regularly as one who stays home most of the time. He/she will not likely leave kitty food outside for different reasons, like for example, the weather.

In places where the climate is warm or hot, it is not advisable to leave cat food outdoors the whole day since it will get spoiled and draw flies. At certain areas, ants can also pose as a problem. In addition, there may be other pets that may eat the food intended for the kitten.

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How To House Train a Puppy - Helpful Tips

How To House Train a Puppy - Helpful Tips

House training a puppy may take some time but in order for you to successfully do this, it will take patience, consistency and of course, positive reinforcements. Your main goal here is not only learning how to house train a puppy, but also instilling good habits as well as building a loving bond. The entire process would probably last for around 4 to 6 months. 

For some puppies, there are times when the training would take for as long as a year or two house-training

So, where should you start in house training your puppy? 

Basically, it starts with the breed you want to train. Smaller breeds would have smaller bladders but have higher metabolisms. This may require them to have more frequent trips for a pee. There are other things that you must learn throughout the process, but you can always do a few things to get started with.

Establish Your Routine

The first thing that you should start doing while your pet is still young is establishing a regular routine. This will help him in getting to know the right times for eating, playing, and potty. Typically, a puppy could control his pee for about an hour for each month of his age. This means that if your puppy is around 3 months old, he can hold it within a period of 3 hours. However, you should go longer than the usual breaks as he may end up peeing or even doing potty anywhere in your home.

Frequently Take Your Puppy Outside

The most recommended times in taking your puppy outside is at least very after two hours. Get started after waking up, during and after his playtime, and after drinking or eating.
Pick his Bathroom Spot in the Yard

To train your puppy, it is best that you take him at his bathroom spot with a leash. While he is doing his thing, think of a word or even a phrase like "potty time" that you should use before going to the spot just to remind him of what he should do. After his potty time, take him for longer walks or get him some playtime before going inside.

Give Him Treats after Doing Potty Time Outside

Rewards such as treats are signs that he did something good. You can try praising him or giving him a treat. Do this right after he finished doing his potty and not when he is already inside. This will teach him of what he should expect when he goes out to potty. Never give him rewards or praises before he finishes or he will get distracted and forget to finish till he gets back in your house.

Make sure that you will always do everything on schedule to help your puppy in sticking with his routine. Keeping the right feeding schedule will also help you in determining the usual schedule of keeping the door open or when you should take him outside. Follow these tips and you are sure to make house training easier than expected.

Article Source: Author

How to Care for Your Kitten - A Short Guide

How to Care for Your Kitten - A Short Guide

While caring for kittens is not that difficult, they do have special needs.

What to Feed a Kitten

When they are about 4 weeks old, kittens begin to eat solid food though their mother continues to nurse them. Ready-to-eat cat foods in the grocery are often well-balanced, which is beneficial for your kitten. They are available in different brands and most manufacturers produce specific cat food. These come in packets, cans and rolls, among others. Buying premium or popular brands, though not really necessary, can assure you of complete nutrition for your cat. When choosing cat food, make sure that the label contains words like "total nutrition for kittens/cats".

The diet of your kitten should be supplemented with fresh meat like chopped chicken or fish. Keep in mind, though, that fresh meat on its own does not give your kitten the complete nutrition it requires.

It is best to feed your kitten with a wide range of foods and change these from time to time. Kittens can get fed up and lose interest in eating when given the same food everyday. This also prevents them from becoming picky.
Kittens can start to eat dry cat food when they are very young and this is somewhat enjoyable for most of them. There are supermarket brands as well as those that are only offered at the vet or pet food shop.

Water

Kittens should always have access to fresh, clean water. Avoid giving water in plastic bowls since they easily tip over. Instead, use something heavier - like pottery, china or a porcelain dish.

Milk for Kittens

It is not advisable to feed cats/kittens with cow's milk since most kittens have lactose intolerance and this can lead to an upset stomach or diarrhea. You can give them milk from the supermarket, which is specially made for cats and kittens. When you are house training your kitten, you certainly would not want it to have diarrhea.

How to Feed a Young Kitten

Just like babies, young kittens need to be fed several times daily. Those that are below 6 weeks old should still stay with their mother.

As a rule, kittens from 6 to 12 weeks old require at least 4 meals a day. Since their tummies are still small, they cannot eat too much at a single time. By the time they reach 12 weeks, they can eat 3 meals daily, and once they are 6 months old, they can eat twice a day.

Certainly, how often a kitten should be fed depends on several factors, one of which is the daily routine of its owner. An owner who works will not have the time to feed the kitten as regularly as one who stays home most of the time. He/she will not likely leave kitty food outside for different reasons, like for example, the weather.

In places where the climate is warm or hot, it is not advisable to leave cat food outdoors the whole day since it will get spoiled and draw flies. At certain areas, ants can also pose as a problem. In addition, there may be other pets that may eat the food intended for the kitten.

Article Source: Author

Choosing The Best Protection For You, Your Dog and Your Car

Choosing The Best Protection For You, Your Dog and Your Car

Pet lovers like to take their dogs with them everywhere. Their claws can scratch expensive car seats. Dogs also track in dirt and dog hair. Sometimes they have accidents which spreads pee and saliva to the seats. This can spread germs and odors.
A dog seat cover can prevent all these problems while keeping your dog safe and comfortable. Here are some of the things to consider when choosing protection for your car or trucks seats.

1. Covers the entire seat
The seats in most compacts and mid-sized cars are less than 54" across. Look for a seat cover that is 54" wide. The unit should cover it from edge to edge

2. Waterproof
Dogs sometimes have accidents. They pee or drool or even knock over their water dishes if you are watering them in the car. Keeping the liquid from leaking through can save your seats and prevent the spread of germs and odors. Liquids that do get through often drip between the seats making it especially hard to clean up. Sometimes the liquids can even soak into cloth seats. Edge-to-edge waterproofing is a must have in our opinion.

3. Non-slip backing
If you have ever gone to a fun house that has the moving floor, you have some idea of what it's like for your dog if the seat cover slips and slides. That's why having a non-slip backing is essential for a safe comfortable ride for your pet. Non slip backs can be a full rubber mat or silicone dots on the back of the piece. The silicone dots don't work very well but they are better than nothing. A full edge-to-edge rubber back is preferred.

4. Adjustable seat belt straps
Seat covers are attached to the rear seat head rests. Some use elastic straps. These usually lose their elasticity after a while and break. If they stretch, your seat protector won't fully cover your seat and you lose protection. A preferred choice is an adjustable nylon strap. This will resist breaking and can be pulled tight to make the seat cover look like a custom fit. Higher priced models include quick-release connections so you don't have to readjust your straps every time you put the seat cover in the car. Leather reinforced straps are available on more expensive units and are a good idea if you have a larger dog.

5. Hammock Option
Many top of the line covers offer a hammock option. Instead of just covering the rear seats, it allows you to attach it to the front seat head rests creating a hammock or sling. The purpose of this it to keep your dog from falling on the floor in the event of a quick stop. Instead of falling on the floor, the hammock will suspend the dog above the floor keeping him or her safe from injury.

6. Seat Anchors
Seat anchors are straps with a plastic tube that fits between the seats. It holds the seat cover in place so you can get a nice tight look but also prevents the dog from falling on the floor when the hammock option is used. Without seat anchors, your dog will fall forward in the event of a quick stop and the hammock will collapse under his weight providing no protection at all. He'll still fall on the floor.

7. Seat Belt Access
Access to the seat belt allows human passengers to share the back seat and still use the seat belts for safety. Many people use seat belt extenders to secure the dog in the back seat and keep him from wandering up to the front seat or jumping out of the windows. Remember to use seat belt extenders only with dog harnesses. Hooking your dog's collar to the seat belts could break his neck in the event of a hard or fast stop or accident. His body weight will propel him forward but the collar is attached to the seat. Not good for your dog.

8. Side Flaps
Seat covers generally protect the top and back of the seat but often leave the sides of the seat exposed. As your pet jumps in the car, his claws may scratch the sides of the seats. Side flaps cover the sides of the seat to prevent this. Not all seat covers have this feature. Look for it on your next purchase

9. Removable washable mat
One of the newest innovations in pet seat covers is the removable washable mat. Why is this important? If your pet has an accident, the waterproof seat cover should keep the liquid from getting to the seats but it often pools on the water proof section. It can still spill on the seats. If your seat cover is a heavy duty canvas cloth, it will absorb at least some of the urine, saliva or water but then it smells. Canvas based seat covers should never be placed in a washing machine. The agitators and/or aluminum drum can destroy the waterproofing or non-slip back. Unless you can sanitize it, your pet will smell the odors and think this is a potty area.
Making the seat cover in two parts, a canvas based seat cover and a washable removable mat solves the problem. A heavy canvas based seat cover will last for years and years with proper care. The mat not only absorbs the liquids; it also is a dog hair magnet. Simply throw it in the washing machine whenever it gets dirty to sanitize it. It can be replaced as necessary and even changed for use in other vehicles to match their interior colors.
All seat covers are not the same. There are budget models which will do an adequate job of keeping your seats scratch-free but don't do much for the safety or comfort of your pet. They are generally considered throw-away items that only last a few trips. The more expensive models will last longer and protect your seats and your dog. If you only plan to take the dog on one trip like a vacation, an inexpensive seat cover is probably fine for you. For the true dog lover who takes his pet everywhere, a full featured seat cover will last longer and not have to be replaced as often and can lead to many satisfying adventures for you and your dog.

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