Dog Food, Nutrition The Good and The Bad

I love cheeseburgers and have all my life. I’m sure my dog would too if that is what was offered every day. One could argue that it is a well balanced meal considering there are grains in the bun, protein in the meat, and of course the vegetables in the lettuce and tomatoes.

But how well balanced would it be if that is what I ate every single day? Morning and night, day after day. A cheeseburger. Ridiculous huh…. most dogs get worse than that. The same heat processed food day after day, year after year. No nutrition left in it at all.

Doesn’t matter if it’s organic, holistic or or what is in it the idea that one food can provide a 100% balanced diet for your dog is really sort of crazy when one thinks about it in those terms. The fact that the major dog food companies also heat produce all their food in the process of manufacturing, taking any shred of nutrition out of it is even more disturbing.

As someone who is into fitness and health for people and dogs, I realize how important what you eat everyday is to long term health. It plays a big part in how well you feel everyday. So why wouldn’t it be true for your dog as well?

Dog Food Industry

The pet food industry is a 16 billion dollar a year game and you can bet that those companies using the biggest marketing dollars to attract your conscious dog food choices aren’t worried so much about the health of your dog. The bottom line is profits. You can read more on some of the major dog food companies and it may surprise you in What’s In Your Dog’s Dinner – The Truth About Dog Food

Variety is the Key to Dog Food Balance

One of the things that has always bothered me about the protocol for feeding dogs these days is the fact that most people find a dog food that they believe is a good choice and then feed the same exact flavor week after week, month after month and year after year. Back to the cheeseburger theory, no matter how much you like cheeseburgers or how good they are for you really, how balanced to you think it could be for you if that was all you ate? Even if it came fortified with extra vitamins and minerals you can see the limitations on the concept of balance.

If you care about your dog’s health and longevity, you should care about what kind of food is being consumed as well. Don’t be afraid to put some real food in your dog’s dish along with a quality kibble that offers variety, isn’t heat processed cooking all the good stuff out of it, and is produced somewhere besides one of the big name conglomerates like Procter and Gamble, Del Monte, or Colgate-Palmalive.

Simply being able to order a variety of foods to change the menu for your dog every couple of weeks or just a little something different every few days has got to be a good thing.

I think this article has great value. I can imagine how important your dogs health and life span is to you. I would like to hear your comments so please write. gerry@austincitypaws.com and visit the website austincitypaws.com.

Happy Cheese Burgers!

Gerry

When Pets Get Lost

Losing your pet can be a down right heart stopper. Just this past weekend I received a call on my cell. The caller said, "I think I have your dogs." That is enough to cause shear panic. Why would this person have my dogs, I just left them and they were fine. It turns out that Missy and Duke found that the gate, at my girlfriends home, was not secure and made the great escape. I was very thankful to the person who actually stopped their car and took the time to collect them and call me but I am really thankful that they both had identification tags. Of course, both of them are chipped but having contact information on the pet is extremely important. There are many reasons pets get lost. Here is is "Ten of the main reasons you can lose your pet."

With summer upon us there will be many opportunities to be separated from your pet. This is a good time to check and make sure that your dog or cat has proper identification displayed on its collar. Make that extra effort. Invest in a good tag or collar that features a plate to engrave your pets name and most important your contact information. Two of my favorite locations to get a quality name tag or collar are Fetch in Westlake Hills. Cynthia is an awesome person and is very helpful in choosing quality merchandise. Another good shop is Dogadillo in Bee Cave. The Conrads are great folks and always have a variety of collars, tags and other pet supplies.

And then there is chipping. Granted, if someone finds your pet it is important that the proper identification is displayed on the dog but, having your dog chipped is the best investment you can make and the return will be invaluable. There are several companies that offer this service including most all vets. Getting your dog or cat chipped costs next to nothing and I have heard of some very happy endings all because the owner took the time to have the animal chipped. Scanning for a chip is one of the first things a vet or shelter will do when your pet is found and turned in as a stray.

So, if you haven't already, put these at the top of your summer to do list. Hopefully, you WILL get that call, "I think I have your Dog." Sounds a little scary but as a pet owner, it will be music to your ears and you will be glad your pet had the proper identification.

What to do in a Pet Emergency

Staying calm during pet emergency is best advice for pet owners and caregivers

According to Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI), 92 percent of animals will experience an emergency during their lifetime. Perhaps just as important is information from the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), which reports that 25 percent more pets would survive if just one pet first aid technique were applied prior to getting emergency veterinary care.

Rob Nager, owner of Decadent Dog in Needham, MA, and certified PetTech™ CPR and first aid instructor, believes that the most important thing for pet owners to be aware of is that pet CPR and first aid classes exist.

“In my experience, most pet owners just aren’t aware that they can spend four hours learning crucial techniques that may someday help them save the life of their beloved pet,” Nager said. “In any emergency, feeling helpless is excruciating and, because of pet CPR and first aid classes, unnecessary.”

According to Nager, Pet Sitters International’s 2008 Pet Sitter of the Year™, abrasions and choking are the two most frequent pet injuries he encounters.

“Dogs are usually eager to make the most of their outside time by running and playing with reckless abandon,” he said, “but unfortunately the world is filled with rocks, sticks, trees, broken glass, pieces of metal and other sharp objects that can quickly puncture or cut the pads of their feet. Additionally, dogs and cats are both prone to choking hazards by eating too quickly and from swallowing toys, balls, string, tinsel, bones and biscuits.”

Simple first-aid procedures can make the difference between life and death. Nager recommends that all pet owners and pet-care givers know how to perform rescue breathing and/or CPR, as well as be able to respond effectively to bleeding, poisoning and injuries such as heatstroke and frostbite.

The best piece of advice Nager gives pet owners is to stay calm when dealing with a pet emergency.

“By taking a deep breath when you first discover an injured pet, you are more able to assess the situation and react with safety as you put your knowledge and experience into action,” he said.

Nager says that becoming a certified CPR and first aid instructor has been enormously beneficial to his business.

“I’ve earned the respect of my clients, staff and other pet professionals like veterinarians, groomers, trainers and pet-store owners in the Boston area,” he said. “By being PetTech™ certified, I have earned a level of credibility as a knowledgeable professional within my community. There is no doubt in my mind that this knowledge helped our company achieve solid growth last year in a down economy.”

The decision to become certified in CPR and pet first aid was an easy one for Nager.

“As a pet sitter, the health and well-being of my clients’ pets are in my hands,” he said. “My first priority and pledge to every one of my clients is that I will do everything I can to keep their pets safe.”

I want to acknowledge Rob Nager for for his contribution to this blog. If you have any questions regarding training please write or call me and I will be glad to direct you to class information.

austincitypaws.com write gerry@austincitypaws.com or call 512-699-0000

Heat Stroke and Your Dog

It Happens Every Year. Heat is more than just dangerous for your dogs.

Heat stroke in dogs is a life-threatening situation. When your dog's body temperature rises too high, numerous organs can become damaged. The most important organs put at risk include the heart, liver, kidneys, and brain. Canine heat stroke usually affects older or overweight dogs. Those that are less than six months old are also at risk. Also, dogs that have a heavy or dark coat are more at risk.

Causes

Your dog's body temperature should be between 100 and 102.5 Fahrenheit. Various factors can cause it to rise. Heat stroke is normally brought about when dogs are locked in parked cars or other areas with little ventilation. In addition to heat and poor ventilation, excessive humidity or muscular activity can cause heat stroke in dogs. Other factors that increase your dog's risk are his weight and age.

Symptoms

Canine heat stroke can bring about a range of symptoms. In the early stages of the stroke, your dog will start to salivate excessively. As the condition gets worse, his gums will turn dry and turn dark pink. Most dogs also experience weakness, diarrhea, and vomiting. Your dog's heart rate will also rise which will cause him to pant much more than normal.

Treatment

It is very important to treat heat stroke in dogs as soon as possible. Failure to treat the condition promptly can cause chronic problems in the future or even death. Your dog's body temperature needs to be lowered quickly. If you choose to take him to a vet immediately, you should put some ice packs on your dog to help lower the temper
ature. At the very least, you should roll down the windows or use the air conditioner on the drive to the veterinarian's office.

Treatment involves administering fluids intravenously. As mentioned earlier, canine heat stroke can cause damage to various organs such as the liver and kidneys. Therefore, the veterinarian will monitor your dog's liver and kidney function for a few days after the stroke.

Prevention

There are a few important things you can do to prevent heat stroke in dogs. Most importantly, you should never lock your dog in the car on a hot, sunny day for too long. If you leave your dog in the car, make sure the windows are rolled down far enough to provide plenty of ventilation. Also, if your dog is outside on hot days, make sure he has plenty of water to drink so he doesn't become dehydrated.

Heat stroke in dogs is very serious. There are also a variety of other illnesses that you should know about as a dog owner, such as canine congestive heart failure So, be a responsible dog owner and stop by dog-illnesses.com today to read about conditions such as canine heartworm disease.