Do You Know The True Cost Of Owning A Pet

Article Title: Do You Know The True Cost Of Owning A Pet
Author: Simon Markham

Bringing home a pet can be one of the most enjoyable times for
any family but the potential costs of caring for your new family
member are often ignored. There are the initial costs of the
food, toys, and accessories for our beloved pets, to begin with,
and then of course there is the cost of actually buying the pet,
whether that be a shelter fee or the cost of a purebred animal.
Once you have your new pet, they will require veterinary
checkups, examinations, and vaccinations to keep them healthy
and active.

You may think that this is the end of the expenses for the most
part, except for the occasional injury or illness, but those
occasional vet bills can really begin to add up, and from the
costs of food and toys to the costs of health care, the expenses
of a pet can climb surprisingly high over that pet's lifetime.
The fact is that the cost of owning a dog is approximately
£9,000 in the UK, and the corresponding figure for a feline is
just a bit over £7,200.

These numbers might seem staggering to someone who is
considering bringing home a family pet for the first time, and
indeed, pet costs can be much higher than we anticipate. There
is nothing we can really do to offset many of those costs,
including things like food, shelter, and toys, all pretty much
like children need. Another need that children and our animal
friends have in common is medical care, and this is something
that we can do something about financially.

Many people consider medical care for our pets to be
unnecessary and even wasteful, but if you consider the annual
cost of pet ownership when faced with mounting vet bills, it's
very wise to look into ways to prepare for those costs. Like
medical insurance for people, pet insurance helps to protect us
from high bills when the dog swallows rat poison or the cat
burns itself on the stove. You may pay an entire year of
premiums and not use your plan once, but cancelling it could
mean paying a single veterinary bill that equals the expense of
several years of cover.

Especially for chronic conditions, which many pets develop in
some form or other over their lifetimes, medical care can be
hugely expensive runing into many thousands. With pet
insurance, you are able to defer many of these costs such as
regular medications and still treat your pet with the love and
care it deserves.

No one wants to be forced into a position where they have to
make an emotional decision based on their financial budget.
When you are faced with your monthly premiums versus a one time
cost that could break the bank, which would you choose? And yet
without pet insurance, you lose that chance to choose, possibly
dooming your pet because you cannot afford the costs of
emergency care or of a costly procedure that might otherwise be
covered by a simple pet insurance plan.

About The Author: To find out more about pet insurance and how
it can protect your and your pet financially, visit
http://www.uk-insurance-index.co.uk/pet-insurance-companies-1.html.

.

__,_._,___

Ringworm Is The Common Dog Illness

Article Title: Ringworm Is The Common Dog Illness
Author: Wade Robins

A common dog illness is ringworm and can be prevented and
treated if your dog has the problem. Many illnesses affect dogs,
some are very common and happen no matter how well cared for
your dog is at any time. Dogs are creatures of the outside, and
they can get into anything. Ringworm seems to be common in
puppies and older dogs. Other common dog illness can be
prevented with proper vaccinations and proper health care.
Ringworm is a fungal infection that targets the overall health
of the dog.

Diagnosis of Ringworm Infection

The common dog illness ringworm has several different ways to
be detected and diagnose. The common way to detect ringworm is
with a black light. The ringworms glow in the black light when
the light hits them. Sometimes this practice does work and a vet
will perform another test to detect ringworm.

Signs of Having Ringworm

If you see small areas of the body without hair, chances are
your dog has ringworm. The skin will appear scaly and display
pus in the area. After time the areas become larger when they
receive no medical treatment. You will notice this parasite on
the tail, head and legs.

Treating the Common Dog Illness Ringworm

If the health of the dog is healthy then the ringworm will
clear up by itself in about four months. However, when severe
cases exist, medical treatments are required. If your dog has
the lesion, clipping the hair around the area is needed, but do
not touch the lesion or it will spread. Apply a tropical anti
fungal cream after clipping the hair away. Such creams like
miconazole and lotrimin creams are used for this purpose. Do not
let the dog lick the area where you apply the cream. A dog
funnel collar may be required to prevent the dog from reaching
the area.

If the cream alone does not work, antifungal shampoos and
antifungal dips will benefit your dog and help the area to heal
faster. Some other antifungal agents are griseofulvin and
itraconazole, which work well on a dog.

Common Dog Illness Issues

Keeping your dog in perfect health and protected from
bacterial, fungal and viral infections is your responsibility.
The number one need of the dog is regular vaccines and proper
care. Dogs need vaccines against rabies, parvovirus and
distemper. Dogs also need to be checked yearly for heartworm,
which can cause death to the dog if not properly prevented. Keep
in mind that rabies vaccinations are given every two years and
distemper vaccinations are received yearly.

Many conditions result in health problems and in some breeds of
dogs, the breed is prone to more health problems then others.
Joint problems and heart problems account for some of these more
serious health problems. When looking for a dog, you need to be
aware of some of the problems that can arise in a dog's life.
Besides the everyday parasites and injuries from rough play,
some dogs are prone to eye infections, ear infections and mange.

About The Author: You can also find more info on
http://www.aboutdoghealth.org/symptoms/diagnosis-for-dog-illness.html
on diagnose dog sickness symptoms and
http://www.aboutdoghealth.org/doghealthproblems/common-dog-illness.html
on common dog illness problems.

.

__,_._,___

Leaving A Dog At The Kennel

Article Title: Leaving A Dog At The Kennel
Author: David Beart

There may be times when a pet owner must travel, and they have
to place a pet dog in a kennel. The pet owner wants to be sure
that the dog is in a safe, healthy, and secure environment. When
choosing a kennel, the owner should contact several dog kennels
in advance. A quality dog kennel should be open to visitors and
accountable to a licensing authority. Dog kennels should be
well-maintained, disease free, and have space for the animals to
exercise during their stay at the facility. If a dog kennel does
not accept unannounced visitors, pet owners should not patronize
the facility. In addition, the owner should report the kennel to
local authorities or the American Boarding Kennel Association.
Concerned-citizen reports can result in a facility audit and, if
necessary, citations that will force the facility to improve its
services.

High-quality dog kennels will provide services similar to a
hotel. The pet owner/potential customer should look for the
following:

• Cleanliness – The entire facility, inside and outside, should
be free of odor, spacious, and properly ventilated. Also, there
should be cleaning times scheduled daily.

• Exercise Areas – Walking/running areas at the dog kennel
should be free of debris, secured by well-maintained fencing,
and supervised by staff members.

• Sleeping Quarters – Dog beds must be sanitized, odor free,
and contain solid dividers (to prevent aggression and transfer
of fleas or urine).

• Food – Some dog kennels maintain a feeding regimen consisting
of a certain brand of dog food; others will purchase food
depending on price and availability. If necessary, a kennel
should be able to accept animals that have specific dietary
requirements or restrictions. In addition, water bowls should be
placed throughout exercise areas, and there should be individual
bowls available for each resident of the dog kennel.

• Medical Accommodations – The kennel staff should be able to
administer pills, liquids, or salves to any animal in their
care. The owner should tell the facility about any medications
(type, amount, method of administration) that a dog needs to
receive.

• Kennel Staff – Owners and employees of reputable dog kennels
should be educated about animals, and have been trained in
animal care. A potential customer needs to know if there is
24-hour coverage at the facility or if there are periods of time
when the animals are left alone. Also, veterinarian services
should be available, if necessary.

• Neighboring Areas – Many kennels are located in commercial
areas, and the neighboring facilities are other businesses
fronted by busy streets or intersections. The animals' safety
needs to be taken into account, and the best locations for dog
kennels are in quiet areas that are situated away from busy
streets.

When planning a trip without a pet, a dog owner needs to call
the facility as soon as the person's trip has been finalized.
Making reservations for animals well in advance assures that
space will be available in the dog kennel. When the dog is
placed in the dog kennel, the owner needs to leave contact
information with the kennel staff. Preferably, the owner should
leave a residence number, a cell phone number, and, if
applicable, a work number so the staff has several contact
alternatives available in the event of an emergency or if they
have questions for the owner. Careful evaluation of several dog
kennels before placing a pet in one is imperative to ensure the
safety and good health of a pet.

About The Author: David Beart is owner of the
http://www.professorshouse.com , a site dedicated to dog
information, family, relationships and household issues.

.

__,_._,___

Responsible Dog Ownership

Article Title: Responsible Dog Ownership
Author: Eric Gehler
"What makes you think you're ready for that kind of
responsibility?"

It's probably the first thing that most parents will say when
their kids ask for a family pet, especially a dog? Most of us
with dogs in the family have either said it, or can recall it
being said to us some time ago. But it's safe to say that
question isn't just for kids. Any dog owner, or a potential
canine parent, should ask this of themselves. The thing is, even
though the World Wide Web is a great tool for researching "all
things doggy", oftentimes too much information can be
overwhelming. You've probably come across lists of 100 (or more)
tips for responsible dog ownership.

As dog lovers, we think the abundance of resources on doggy
ownership is great, but we also come from the school of keeping
it simple. Because even though there are definitely some
standards of care to uphold, many issues relating to dog care
are relative and depend on breed and preference (yours and your
dog's). So for the sake of this article, we'll focus on three
simple points to remember when asking yourself, "am I being a
responsible dog owner?"

Protect your pet from sickness and injury:

This includes annual check-ups at the veterinarian, and making
sure that your dog has a healthy diet. If you notice anything
out of the ordinary with his coat, weight, or waste, consider
changing his diet and contact his vet if it persists. Other
things to watch out for are fleas, ticks, and poisonous
household items and plants within your pet's reach.

Consider your neighbors:

More than just keeping more intimidating breeds out of your
neighbors' way for their safety and peace of mind, considering
your neighbors and community means, cleaning up behind your pet.
Also, prevent or manage incessant barking. Generally speaking,
teach your dog obedience, and clean up after them-always. Your
pet is your responsibility and should not be other people's
burden.

Avoid Unwanted Litters:

By avoid we don't mean wait until your dog is pregnant and
ignore the situation. Take care of a problem before it exists by
keeping female dogs in heat properly protected. That way she
won't be vulnerable to other dogs, and you won't end up with an
unwanted litter. So, check with the vet for birth control
methods. And this goes for your male dogs too. You don't want to
add to the overcrowded population of unwanted dogs, so think
carefully before you breed. It shouldn't be an accident.
However, if it happens, have a plan.

Overall, a responsible pet owner protects their dogs, considers
others, and breeds (or not breeds) responsibly to avoid unwanted
litters. There are a hundred plus choices to make within each
one of these points, but with all things, do what works best for
you and your dog's situation. Consult the veterinarian when
unsure (and sometimes when you think you are sure), and lastly
consider others around you. With that, you then can consider
yourself a responsible dog owner.

About The Author: We support Healthy Dogs with healthy treats
such as http://www.bestbullysticks.com/ And
http://www.bullysticksfordogs.com

.

__,_._,___