8 Items That Every Dog Owner Must Know When Going To The Vet

Article Title: 8 Items That Every Dog Owner Must Know When
Going To The Vet
Author: Michael Whitman

1. Your veterinarian is one of the most important people in
your dog's life. You should choose your veterinarian just as
you select your own doctor, by reputation and quality of
service. You and your dog should feel at ease with this
professional. You need to feel that you can trust your
veterinarian, especially in an emergency situation.

2. Be sure that you have stated your own goals and your
intentions with your dog so that your veterinarian can know
what you are expecting. Your dog's health depends on your being
able to work together with your vet.

3. When you have a puppy, you will be visiting your vet many
times during the first year. After that, establish a routine by
visiting every six months for fecal and physical examinations
and once a year for a complete work up, including blood tests.
Use this as a preventative measure. Dog's cannot tell you where
it hurts or if they are not feeling very well. Preventative
medicine can put years on your dog's life.

4. When having blood work done, make sure that your dog has
fasted at least 12 hours before the test.

5. Blood work and urinalysis need to be handled very carefully.
In some of the tests, there is a time factor involved.

6. Some differences in clinical chemistries exist between
breeds. German Shepherd Dogs, for example, tend to be lower
than other breeds in glucose, LDH, alkaline phosphatase, BUN,
and uric acid. Their amylase and transaminase may be higher.
Phosphorus and SGPT were found to be higher in Beagles and
Labrador Retrievers.

7. Your best guide is the comparison of your own dog's test
results. Establish what is normal and be sure that the tests
are run always using the same laboratory.

8. If you have made the decision to change your dog's diet from
commercial dog food to a natural diet, have blood drawn before
you change. You should have a CBC, a chemistry screen or
profile and also a fecal analysis done. One month after putting
your dog on the new diet, have the same tests run. This will
give you a basis for comparison. Changing to a natural diet
often puts a dog who had health problems back into balance.

About The Author: Michael Whitman is a dog behavior expert and
considered by many to be the foremost expert on dog behavior in
the country. http://www.dogtrainingmethod.com

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Remember Your Dog When Choosing A Dog Bed

Article Title: Remember Your Dog When Choosing A Dog Bed
Author: Samantha Clark

Most dog owners can't bear the thought of their dog sleeping on
the cold ground in the night. So to overcome this problem, there
are different kinds of dog beds found in the market. It is up to
you to choose the best dog bed that fits the size, and other
needs of the dog.

There are different kinds of dog beds in the market today. You
find small dog beds, large beds and hard dog beds. There are
also unique dog beds with different shapes and designs like
perhaps the shape of your bed or a dog bed that resembles toy
cars and sofas. There is also the unique dog bed that uses an
ultra modern metal frame that floats other types of dog beds
and heated dog beds that keep the dog warm and comfy for those
winter seasons.

When choosing the dog bed, you have to take the size of the dog
into consideration. Large dogs obviously need large dog beds.
However, if you have a dog that tends to chew fabric and your
cushions, then it is better to have a designer dog bed done to
handle this chewing problem. It is always better to note where
your dog prefers to sleep, to help you decide on the right dog
bed for your dog.

Dogs preferring to sleep on the floor need hard dog beds while
those preferring to sleep on the sofa need a soft dog bed. You
can also decide on the right shape for the dog bed by noting
how the dog prefers to sleep. Dogs that like curling up should
choose get a curved dog bed while those dogs that prefer
spreading out on the sofa deserve a sofa and rectangular dog
bed.

Whichever dog bed you decide for your dog, it is important that
you choose a dog bed that confirms latest health and safety
standards. Also make sure that you choose a dog bed that is
fully washable or at least has a removable washable cover. This
is so that you can wash the dog bed periodically to keep it
clean and healthy for the dog to use.

About The Author: Samantha Clark heads consumer reviews at
http://www.dealsdepot.com.au One of the web's most popular
Online Shopping sites.

Life With The Shih Tzu Part I

Article Title: Life With The Shih Tzu Part I
Author: Connie Limon

If you want that perfect show dog look in your Shih Tzu you
might as well relax to the fact that it involved brushing,
brushing, brushing, and daily brushing. A thorough head-to-tail
groom is often needed at least every other day if not "daily."
However, Shih Tzu coat textures are very different. You might
get by with once weekly brushing if the Shih Tzu's coat is the
type of texture that does not mat and tangle easily.

If you have only one Shih Tzu, grooming should not be a
problem. It can be quite pleasurable for you and your Shih Tzu.
It can be an excellent time to bond with each other, and have
nice close little chats with each other.

Where do you start?

A good place to start grooming your Shih Tzu is on the tummy,
the chest and inside the legs...perhaps..there are other
opinions of course, but in this article I will direct you to
start with the tummy, the chest and inside the legs.

You will need to have your Shih Tzu lie on his side on the
table (be sure you have a nice, sturdy table to groom your Shih
Tzu). There is nothing worse than a grooming table that wobbles
around, except of course a grooming area that is not organized.
You also need to have all your equipment organized and ready to
use.

So now that you have your Shih Tzu lying on its side on the
table, with his legs towards you (this can be an accomplishment
in itself that may take several short training sessions to get
done). If the Shih Tzu just will not cooperate with you, you
can start trying to train him by having him lay tummy upwards
in your lap with his head facing your chest. Do this exercise
first for a few days if he absolutely refuses to lie this way
on the grooming table.

If the above fails, you might try to groom the chest and tummy
while the Shih Tzu sits on the table facing you, holding him up
into a begging position by the front paws; this is not easy,
since both hands are needed for some parts of the grooming, but
you might have to try this as a last resort. If your Shih Tzu
mats the tummy will be a prime target for matting.

The tummy side of a Shih Tzu is sensitive also, so be gentle in
this area. Check where the legs meet the body, this is a prime
target area for severe matting as well. Something you don't
want to deal with is severe mats in these areas. These are
extra sensitive areas on your Shih Tzu. The best rule to follow
is pay close attention to these areas on a daily basis and never
allows the mats to occur. The hair around the male penis can
also be a very sensitive trouble spot. It is best to keep this
area clean and shaved off. Your male Shih Tzu will give you a
sigh of relief when you remove the hair in this area.

How do you remove knots and mats?

If you come across a mat or knot first try to tease it apart
with your fingers. Then take a comb and use the end with coarse
teeth to tease out the tangle slowly, working from the outside
inwards and holding the hair between the knot and the body
between your fingers so that you don't pull too hard and hurt
the Shih Tzu. If all else fails, a knot may have to be cut out.
Cut into the knotted hair away from the dog several times before
gently using the comb to clear away the knot. Never cut across
the coat. This will leave an obvious hole. If you will cut down
through the length of the coat you will cause much less damage.
Note: The hair on the legs is more likely to tangle than
anywhere else. So...pay particular attention to these areas as
well to avoid those awful and painful mats.

This article continues in Part II of "Life with the Shih Tzu."

About The Author: Author: Connie Limon. I raise Shih Tzu
puppies in a variety of colors especially the silver blues,
reds and solid blacks. We have the AKC small standards,
imperials and teacups at reasonable prices. Our website
provides you with an educational experience all about the Shih
Tzu. Please visit us at http://www.stainglassshihtzus.com and
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