How To Build A Dog House

by Robert Michael

Most of the population allow their dogs to live indoors and relax on the couch and sleep in their owner’s bed. However, if you believe that dogs belong in a home of their own, here are some tips on how to build a dog house.

1. Start building your dog house by finding out how big you need to make the house so when your animal reach their full adult size they will still fit in it.

We like having a couple of feet of air above us so we don’t feel claustrophobic. Your dog will appreciate having that much room, as well. 1/3 of our standing height is where our comfort zone is.

Take out a tape measure and measure your dog to find out how much room your dog will need. To figure this out measure your dog while standing up, sitting on his haunches and in his most relaxed position of lying completely stretched out.

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7 Tips To Keep Your Pet Safe On Halloween

By: James Kelly

Children aren’t the only ones who should be closely monitored on Halloween. The holiday can be a scary and dangerous time for your dog as well.

By following some simple tips you can keep your pet safe and comfortable without infringing on the family fun:

1. Don’t put costumes on your pets unless they are used to it. Wearing clothing can make your dog uncomfortable and even sick.

2. Candy is for humans and not for their furry friends.

3. Chocolate is toxic to animals. It can make them very sick. Make sure that the “after Halloween” candy is put away so your pet can’t get it–especially the chocolate. We hear from owners every year of pets they had to take to the emergency room because they managed to find the candy and eat it. Give them a pet treat instead.

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Your Dog’s Yearly Exam And Picking The Right Vet

By: Kerry Plowright

Are you getting your dog his yearly veterinary exam? Do you think that because he is acting fine that he is healthy? Don’t fall into a false sense of peace because you cannot visibly see problems.

What a Yearly Exam Covers

A yearly exam, which is a comprehensive examination, will help your dog to remain healthy. Your vet will be able to see things that you don’t, usually before they are too bad.

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8 Simple Visual Indicators Your Dog Is Fat

By: Andrew Lewis

Your dog is fat. OK, possibly not.

But there’s a very good chance he or she is, and you don’t even know it.

Statistics vary, but veterinarians report that as many as 25 - 44% of all dogs are overweight, and that obesity is the number-one canine health disorder. Obesity is defined as weighing over 15% more than the standard accepted weight for the dog’s height.

Obesity-Related Health Conditions

With nearly half of our dogs weighing in on the heavy side, it’s no surprise, then, that obesity-related conditions are on the rise within the pet population. These conditions include the following:

> Diabetes mellitus and orthopedic
> musculoskeletal
> cardiovascular
> gastrointestinal
> endocrine
> respiratory
> immune and,
> reproductive disorders.

These can be devastating conditions for your dog to live with.

Reasons Your Dog is Overweight

Doctors ascribe the rise in obesity to a combination of the general lack of fussiness of dogs, their natural gorging behavior, and insufficient exercise.

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Beware of the Heat! | MSN >>>

I live in the San Francisco Bay Area where we are breaking records for exceptionally hot days. We’re not used to the heat and neither are our pets.

Just like people, dogs can get heat stroke, which can lead to death. Additional summertime dangers include: sunburn, toxins, trauma, storms and fireworks.

This article provides good guidelines for keeping you dog healthy this summer.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Routine Ear Examinations Could Save Your Dog’s Life!

Most pet owners are aware of the necessity of sufficient water, a healthy diet, and sanitary living conditions. But many pet owners are not aware of the importance of routine dog ear care.

What to Look For

Professional dog groomers understand the importance of possible health hazards resulting from unhealthy ears.

They usually include a dog ear care exam and cleaning with their regular grooming services. There are several things they look for during their ear exam:

1. Head shaking and ear scratching
2. Ears sensitive to the touch
3. Discharges coming from the ears
4. Blood blisters (hematomas) on the ear flap
5. Odors coming from the ears
6. Tumors (melanomas) inside the ears.

Knowing the dangers of neglected ear problems – some of which are life threatening – responsible care givers should give their dog ear care exams and clean them in between grooming services; about once every week

How to Examine your Dog’s Ears

When inspecting your dog’s ears, care givers should note if the ear area is sensitive to the touch. Gently handle your dog’s ear; look inside the ear for any redness, swelling, foreign objects such as dirt or other organic matter, or accumulated ear wax.

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