How To Keep Your Pup's Hygiene At The Top

Article Title: How To Keep Your Pup's Hygiene At The Top
Author: Elise Rogers

Dandruff is a condition that plagues many human beings
throughout the globe. Not only can it be uncomfortable, it can
be embarrassing as well. Did you know that dogs can get dandruff
too? Not only can dogs get it, it is much worse! Because hair
covers their entire body, they usually get dandruff everywhere,
not just on their scalp! It also can make dogs irritated with
all the scratching they do because of their itchy skin. A simple
growth of dandruff can turn ugly due to constant scratching-
which may cause skin to break.

So, how does dandruff occur? Dandruff is often the result of
proliferating skin cells; that is, it occurs when the skin cells
grow, die, then flake off. Dandruff can also occur sometimes
when their skin becomes too dry, due to cold weather, a
dehydrating shampoo, or too frequent bathing. It is important to
try to remedy this issue as soon as it begins. You don't want
your dog becoming overly irritated and scratching themselves all
the time. If it gets bad, excessive scratching can lead to
redness and soreness of the skin.

So how can doggie dandruff be taken care of? Too frequent
bathing can cause dandruff; however, not washing your pet often
enough can also cause dandruff. If you feel this may be the
case, give your dog a bath and be sure to scrub them gently (yet
firmly) to get rid of all the excess and dead skin on your pup's
body. A general rule of thumb is to bathe your pet once a month
in the winter and twice in the summer.

Using a gentle shampoo (such as baby shampoo) or a special dog
moisturizing shampoo will help hydrate and pamper your pet's
skin. Thoroughly rinse your pet with warm (not hot!) water to
ensure all of the shampoo is washed out (wait until the water
runs clear).

If using a moisturizing pet shampoo or a baby shampoo doesn't
work, go ahead and purchase a doggie dandruff shampoo for more
power. Make sure it contains sulfur or salicylic acid, because
these are the driving agents behind getting rid of itchy
dandruff, as well as soothing the skin. Though this is difficult
with a dog in a bathtub, make sure your pet sits in the lather
for at least 5 minutes before rinsing it off. This will allow
the product to thoroughly seep in and become active. As a side
note, do not attempt to use human dandruff shampoos. These are
made out of strong formulas that can be very harmful to pets,
though they are perfectly safe for human use.

Doggie dandruff is uncomfortable, itchy, and unsightly. Help
your dog out by bathing them properly and by washing them with
doggie dandruff shampoo when it is necessary. Remember to brush
them daily as well; this will help evenly distribute the skins
natural oils thus helping with hydration.

Keep your dog healthy by grooming them properly and by bathing
them with the correct products. Then you will have a healthy,
happy, and itch-free pup!

About The Author:
http://www.discount-pet-mall.com/pet-supplies/dog-beds/
http://www.discount-pet-mall.com/pet-supplies/elevated-dog-feeders/

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What Veterinarians Say Your Pet Needs Besides Exercise

Article Title: What Veterinarians Say Your Pet Needs Besides
Exercise
Author: Ronny Sikes

Believe it or not, obesity is the number one health disorder in
dogs today. According to recent research, approximately
twenty-five percent of all dogs are obese (that statistic does
not include overweight dogs). Similar to humans, too much weight
from fat can cause serious health problems in dogs.

Learning to recognize obesity in dogs is essential in your job
as the primary caretaker of your pet. If your dog weighs more
than approximately twenty percent of their target body weight,
they are most likely considered obese. Just like humans, weight
gain occurs when a dog consumes more calories than they burn off
with exercise. It can be difficult for owners to notice if their
dog is gaining weight because it is a gradual process that takes
time. A good test to tell whether or not your dog is overweight
or obese is to do the rib test. Simply place your hands on you
dog's rib cage, and if you can easily feel their ribs then they
are most likely within their ideal weight. If you have
difficulty feeling their ribs or cannot feel them at all, then
your dog is more than likely overweight or obese.

If you feel that your dog may be overweight or obese, contact
your veterinarian to discuss possible weight loss programs for
your dog. Do not begin a weight loss plan for your dog on your
own; dogs are built differently than humans, and they require
slightly different weight loss methods.

Most veterinarians will focus on your dog's calorie intake.
Like humans, if dogs consume more calories than they use, their
bodies store it as fat. Dogs do need fat and protein in their
diet, so simply buying a "fat-free" doggie food will not do the
trick (not mention they shouldn't even exist). Most
veterinarians will recommend keeping your dog on their same food
brand, though they will recommend you either feed your dog one
less meal (if you feed them multiple times throughout the day)
or simply decrease the size of their food scoop, thus giving
them less food.

If you are thinking about losing some extra weight yourself and
want to include your dog in your exercise plan (i.e. walking or
jogging), be sure to discuss your idea with your vet. Just like
humans, dogs that are overweight and out of shape cannot
immediately hop up and run for two miles without putting
themselves at risk. When you talk to your dog's vet, you will be
able to determine how much your pet will be able to handle, and
you will receive advice on what is the best pace and distance
for you and your dog to start out with.

Just like humans, obesity can cause serious health problems in
dogs; clogged arteries, pressure on joints and bones, and even
respiratory problems. Be aware of your pet's weight, and if you
are concerned, see your veterinarian. They will help you decide
what is best for your dog, and you will be able to work out an
effective plan that will keep your dog happy and healthy!

About The Author:
http://www.pet-super-store.com/pet-supplies/elevated-dog-feeders/
http://www.pet-super-store.com/pet-supplies/pet-carriers/

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Aloe For Dogs

Article Title: Aloe For Dogs
Author: Pamela Glynn

What's Aloe Vera? It's a kind of cactus, isn't it? How can a
cactus help Sam's stiff limbs?"

Those were my words of about ten years ago. I said them to my
daughter, Joanna, who was gleefully holding up a chubby yellow
tub. She seemed to think its Aloe contents held the answer to my
8-year-old Bearded Collie's arthritic problem. I disagreed. My
reason? I knew that Joanna had been drinking Aloe Vera for her
IBS – and that it had helped the condition. At that stage I saw
no connection whatsoever between Sam's stiffness and her
stomach!

I had a lot to learn. My `Aloe education' began with the 60 mls
of the drink that I eventually agreed to pour over Sam's dinner.
A finicky dog, he often refused food initially and almost never
pounced on it like so many of his friends and relatives seemed
to do. I'm not suggesting that he pounced now … but to my
astonishment he ambled over quite soon and, after sniffing this
`new food', polished it off quickly (for him) and even licked
his bowl clean.

Having tasted the Aloe in the tub, I found Sam's apparent
enthusiasm for it mystifying and dismissed it as a very
temporary blip. But I was wrong, because he was enthusiastic
again the next night … and the next. Did he know something I
didn't?

Suspecting that he and Joanna shared a secret that excluded me
because of my inbred skepticism about `alternative' products, I
did some digging.

In the process I learned that, far from being a cactus, Aloe
Barbadensis Miller (the true Aloe Vera) is a member of the lily
family, related to garlic, onions and asparagus.

Having been around for thousands of years, it has been used for
centuries to maintain health and enhance beauty. Cleopatra is
said to have bathed in it, while Dioscorides, the Ancient Greek
physician, is reputed to have used it in his pills and potions.

But we'd moved on since then, hadn't we – and now vets dealt
with animal health? Well, yes, and they do that brilliantly! All
the same, while reading about Aloe Vera's natural
anti-inflammatory properties (which seemed perhaps to explain
Joanna's insistence that this drink might benefit both her IBS
and Sam's stiffness) I was witnessing a difference in Sam.

In the two or so weeks that had elapsed his `bounce' had come
back! For the uninitiated, I'll just mention that Bearded
Collies in good health do seem to have paws with inbuilt springs
– and now Sam was bouncing around like a young thing. Still
disbelieving, I said nothing to anyone, fully expecting this to
be a very temporary phenomenon. But it wasn't – and my fellow
dog-walkers started commenting, as well as asking questions that
I wasn't yet equipped to answer.

Before long, even Sam's vet wanted to know what I was doing
differently – and, as often happens in life, one thing led to
another …

© P.G. Glynn 2008

About The Author: I am a published author, both of a novel in
hardback and many articles, some about Aloe Vera, which I've now
been marketing for 10 years. Please visit my new website to read
Sam's story (told in his own words)and learn more about animals
and Aloe. Free Aloe Brochure. http://www.my-aloe-vera.com

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