Canine Dry Eye is a painful condition for dogs.  And it often seems to be difficult to treat by conventional means (most often eye drops, often containing corticosteroids - which should of course be avoided wherever possible).

Some dog breeds such as Pugs and English Bulldogs do have a tendency to be prone to Dry Eye.

But any breed can develop the condition.  Dry Eye in dogs can be attributable to, and associated with, quite a number of conditions, including Diabetes, Hypothyroidism, Distemper, immune system problems including autoimmune diseases, or even to drug toxicity or surgery.  It can also be caused by allergies.

Dry Eye in dogs can amount to a minor irritation for your dog in mild cases, to significant pain in significant cases of Dry Eye.  If left without treatment, your dog could eventually go blind.  Canine Dry Eye causes decreased tear production, and as you probably know, tears are essential for eye health in humans and animals alike.

Once established, Canine Dry Eye is usually a permanent condition.  There is no known cure, but there are ways of keeping the condition under control to the extent that the dog does not suffer pain and discomfort.

Another, newer, method of treating Dry Eye which seems to work more effectively than conventional eye drops, and is completely natural, is a liquid capsule that you give orally to your dog.  The best way is to pour it on your dog's food, although directly into your dog's mouth works just fine.  It contains various vitamins, minerals, and oils that keep your dog's Dry Eye under control from the inside out.

Try it!

Dog Tears Oral Gel Caps for Dry Eye - $ 39.99 Designed to systematically address the root cause of canine dry eye. Common symptoms include staining, redness, blinking and scratching.

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Honest Kitchen began with a search for a human grade pet food that would be good enough for their own pets to eat, one that resembles a home made diet in quality, encompasses variety, is economical, nutritionally balanced, and quick and easy to prepare.

Their motto is - Dehydrated raw pet food with passion and principles!

Honest Kitchen pet foods are made in an FDA approved, human-food-producing facility in Southern California, that makes the very same foods you eat. No processing in any pet food plant for Honest Kitchen dog foods or cat foods.

There are five varieties of Honest Kitchen dog food to choose from and all contain a broad array of amino acids, phytonutrients, vitamins, minerals and enzymes to help achieve and maintain optimum health for your dog with natural dog food.

Verve was the original Honest Kitchen organic dog food. It contains organic rye, organic barley, hormone-free beef, organic flaxseed, organic oats, carrots,alfalfa, potatoes, eggs, red and green bell peppers, spinach, apples, cranberries, chicory, parsley, peppermint and rosemary. Yum! It's best suited to adult and senior dogs with a low to moderate activity level.

Force - you could describe Force Honest Kitchen dog food as a force to be reckoned with! Its list of ingredients include hormone-free chicken, organic flaxseed, potatoes, celery, sweet potatoes, apples, alfalfa, organic kelp, honey, zucchini, green beans, cabbage, bananas, papayas, yogurt, basil, garlic and rosemary. Force was formulated specifically for dogs with sensitive stomachs, and allergies to wheat and gluten. It's both wheat and gluten free.

Embark Honest Kitchen dog food was added to cater to active dogs, including puppies, and also for pregnancy and for nursing dogs where added nutrients are required for optimal nourishment of the unborn and newly born pups. It's a low carbohydrate, grain free, dog food containing hormone-free USDA turkey, organic flaxseed, potatoes, celery, spinach, carrots, coconut, apples, organic kelp, eggs, sesame seeds, bananas, cranberries and rosemary.

Some dogs are intolerant of the usual meat protein sources, and some are intolerant of potatoes and flax. Preference was formulated by Honest Kitchen dog food for these dogs. Preference is a grain and meat free dog food base - you need to add your own protein. The beauty of this formulation is that if your dog does not tolerate chicken or turkey but can, for example tolerate venison or kangaroo, you can add the meat source your dog can tolerate. You can add eggs, fish, or even some cottage cheese, if your dog cannot tolerate any types of meat. What does Preference consist of? Alfalfa, sweet potatoes, cabbage, celery, apples, spinach, organic kelp, coconut, bananas, zucchini, and honey.

Lastly, Thrive is the newest Honest Kitchen dog food. Like Embark, Thrive is also low carbohydrate and is gluten free, but contains some grain. The ingredients comprise Hormone-free Chicken, Organic Quinoa, Sweet Potatoes, Spinach, Parsley, Organic Kelp, Rosemary, Vitamins and Minerals. Because of its low carbs - just 37% carbohydrate, Thrive is not only good for active dogs, including pregnant and nursing dogs, but is also excellent as part of a cancer recovery regime.

Five different varieties of natural dog food that you can really count on.

Oh, and I almost forgot, Honest Kitchen also produces some excellent pet health supplements, and some really unusual and very yummy dog treats!

 

For more dog food reviews, and more on other types of natural dog food, click on the hyperlinks to go to other helpful articles in the Healthier Dogs site.

 

 

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Dog Health Insurance and Some Good Sense Tips for Health Care

 

When it comes to proper health care for your dog, nothing is more effective than taking preventive action. By learning some basic knowledge and adding a few simple measures into your daily routine, you can have the peace of mind of knowing that you are getting the best health care possible for your dog.

You can help your dog eliminate a lot of discomfort and pain as well as reduce future health problems by acting as his first aid. Applying simple actions such as finding a good vet and knowing the signs and symptoms to look for in an illness will save you a lot of time and money. Taking the time to learn how to take care of your dog, particularly before you bring him home or immediately right after, is a worthy investment to make for the sake of your dog's health.

After getting a new puppy, it is good to know that he is in great shape and free of any specific health conditions or disorders that could affect him later in life. To do this, you should take him to the vet, preferably within the first two weeks after bringing him home. This way, you will know immediately if there is something wrong with him, and be in a better position to fix it right away before the problem gets any worse or develop into something incurable.

Consider Dog Health Insurance - Pet medical insurance, often referred to as VPI Pet Insurance, is something to give you peace of mind - something you can fall back on to help cover the cost of your dog's veterinary care. Pet dog insurance (and don't forget that this usually includes pet dental insurance - something that people often forget about, which can be very costly without pet insurance) can give you a wide selection of pet health care plans that offer pet medical insurance cover for at least part of the cost of surgery, minor injury, routine checkups, and even dental care. It also helps pay for part of the cost of the financial expenses of a medical procedure such as a transplant or chemotherapy.

However, if you are thinking about getting pet care insurance for your dog, you have to be very careful. Do not sign up with the first one that you see, and do not pay anything unless you know exactly what you are getting. Below are some of the things that you should check for before you sign up for a pet health insurance.

1. Read the fine print. What exactly is covered and not covered in the plan?

2. Some plans have high deductibles. Shop around for one that offers the same type of coverage for a lower deductible.

3. Does the plan cover routine checkup and preventive care?

4. Some plans do not cover a dog once he reaches a certain age. Find out if the one you are looking at has an age limitation.

So if you're interested in VPI Pet Insurance, make sure you're informed. Oh, and if you don't know what VPI stands for, it's "Veterinary Pet Insurance", so the phrase VPI Pet Insurance is a bit of a misnomer, because the words "Pet Insurance" after the "VPI" are actually redundant. Just something I thought I'd point out (I'm a bit of a stickler when it comes to correct writing - not that I always get it right, of course!)

 

 

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Dog Health Problems - How to Identify Them and How to Treat Them
by: Brigitte Smith

An essential to your dog’s health is his/her regular annual checkup with the vet.

Whether or not you choose to have your dog vaccinated* at this time, the annual checkup is also an excellent opportunity for a thorough physical examination to be carried out, and a time to discuss any minor problems or issues which you feel may be affecting your dog’s health or wellbeing.

Your dog's annual checkup is a time when your vet may pick up inherited diseases and the like (when your dog is young) so they can be treated early, or just kept an eye on.

And as your dog gets older, the vet may find the early signs of more sinister illnesses during the checkup.

About three years back, I took my dogs for their annual checkup, and for the first time alarms were raised about matters of significant concern - it was thought that Kara might have early stages of lymphoma (cancer) - which, fortunately, tests then proved to be not the case.

And Jet apparently had something akin to the early stages of cataracts in her eyes, and according to the vet, Jet was likely to go progressively blind over the next several years. At least knowing that in advance gave me the opportunity to watch for any developing signs and, if and when necessary, adapt her outings and home environment to take into account any sight loss. It also allowed me to look into natural eyesight remedies for dogs - and the one I'm using really does seem to be doing the trick.

Most importantly, it made me realize that a good vitamin and mineral supplement for dogs is actually a very wise idea.

* There are natural alternatives to vaccinations, and signficant controversy as to whether vaccinations are necessary or desirable in adult dogs at all..

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What do you really know about the dangers of processed foods? We hear a lot about the dangers of junk food for humans, and yet many pet owners continue to feed their pets a steady diet of junk - read: processed commercial pet foods.  What dogs really need is natural dog food, and you won't find it on your supermarket shelves.

Here's a really interesting article which has been written by one of my readers, Bob Willhite, who also had a website about holistic health - for both humans and companion animals, although he seems to have discontinued the site currently.  He's another advocate of natural dog food (like me!), and particularly likes Sojos dog food (also like me).

Here's the article:

Processed Foods Are Poisoning Our Pets

by Bob Willhite, A.M.P. 2004

Holistic veterinarians are stating that America's pets are increasingly becoming diseased and are needlessly dying for the same reason as humans: processed and preserved foods.

Veterinarian Don Hamilton clarifies that most commercial pet foods contain large quantities of rancid animal products. The meat used is usually from animals that died before reaching the processing plant and may have been diseased. The animals used are ground up with added preservatives, artificial colors, and "fillers" before the blend is processed into nuggets or cans. "These pet foods provide physical nutrients, but do not nourish the life force of the body & Rancid products lead to gastrointestinal illness in dogs and cats." (Homeopathic Care for Cats and Dogs, 1999). Also it's likely that hydrogenated or other low quality and unhealthy oils are used. Like humans, pets may be tempted to go for artificial taste instead of wholesome nutrition. Or, Dr. Hamilton notes they may submit out of hunger and eat foods that are not good for them.

Another veterinarian, Randy Wysong, notes that, "A pet's body is very adaptable and for a time can survive on whatever food is provided. But with typical processed and rancid foods, the body will ultimately be stressed beyond its limits. Loss of vitality will eventually result, followed by degeneration and ultimately disease. The consequences are so far removed from the earlier years of inappropriate foods that few make the connection in understanding the problem" (The Truth About Pet Foods, 2002). High-heat cooking and food preserving have sadly misled us down a path of illness.

This is not newly-found wisdom. Dr. Francis Pottenger's nutrition studies in the 1930's using cats had groups receive the same basic diet: meat, milk and fish oil. One group received raw meat and raw milk, while others received cooked meat and pasteurized (high heat) milk. Cats feeding on all raw ingredients flourished, while those offered a cooked diet became weak and malnourished. Also, diseases with the cooked groups intensified with each generation, thus revealing a genetic effect. Skeletal, metabolic, reproductive, behavioral and dental problems escalated over time in the processed food groups, but were absent in the animals fed raw, whole foods (Dr. Francis Pottenger's).

Dr. Wysong says, "Most pet nutritionists ignore the perfect model, which is nature itself. You simply must supplement raw, fresh, natural foods to the diet of your pet if you are hoping to achieve its optimal health." Try a dry, ready-mix called Sojos (by Sojourner Farms) for dogs or cats to which you simply add fresh, raw meat, raw bones and ideally some raw veggies. It takes only a couple of minutes a day. Working with your local butcher, you can add chicken necks and wings, animal organs and meat scraps; or buy meats as they're discounted to sell before the expiration date on the package. Organic meats are best, for you and your pets.

If you do not want to use raw foods, at least use Wysong's canned food that's as close to the natural diet as modern processing can mimic. It contains only the freshest of meats and organ ingredients with cold or low heat processing to maintain the food's vitality. Only natural and beneficial compounds are used for preservatives. Dr. Wysong says, "Take control by being informed- and seek advice from those who have grown in their understanding of nutritional prevention." Health begins with knowledge. Order from InBliss the Sojos, or Wysong products at a discount, which can be shipped to your home.

Note: Bob Willhite is an Alternative Medical Practitioner that is Board Certified through the American Association of Drugless Practitioners. In his interaction with his wife's business, InBliss, they facilitate wellness through education and holistic products (Idaho Statute, Title 54-2104 [f]).
==================================

Well, what do you know, … Bob recommends Sojos as well!

As you know, I've been talking about Sojos for a while as one of the very best alternatives for healthy petfood. It's on my list of the best dog foods ranked.

For more info, don't forget you can check it out at http://www.HealthyHappyDogs.com/Sojos - it's well worth it!

You can order it directly online. Now that's convenience for you!

Bob also mentions Wysongs dog food in his article - this is another very good dog food product - it's not on my best dog foods ranked list, but that's mainly because I personally don't favor canned dog food. But Wysongs is certainly one of the better canned dog food varieties.

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Commercial Pet Food For Your Dog?

by Brigitte Smith

Have you ever wondered what exactly commercial pet food is made up of? If you've never applied your mind to this question, perhaps you should.

What you feed your dog is really SO important for your dog's ultimate health and longevity. It impacts on his/her susceptibility to illness in a major way.

In fact, if you really want your dog to be as healthy as s/he can be, you should probably stop feeding ANY of the widely available commercial dog foods.

I'm referring to the types of dog food commonly found in your supermarket. And you'd be surprised to learn the dog food ingredients in even many of the supposedly superior brands sold in some supermarkets, pet food shops, and even by many vets.

The cheaper the brand, then generally the more full of garbage it is, but even many of the more expensive brands leave much to be desired.

What do you think is an ideal diet for your dog?

- fresh, juicy, chickens?
- choice cuts of fresh beef and lamb?
- perhaps you'd add a few healthy grains (e.g. rice, maize, wheat, etc.) for variety?
- perhaps you'd expect the odd fresh herbs, vegetables and fruit to be part of a healthy dog's diet?

You'd be right.

But how many of the above types of dog food ingredients do you think actually go into commercial pet food?

A lot? Only a little? If you said yes to either of these, you'd be dead wrong.

The average commercial dog food bears NO relation to the above list of choice ingredients, despite what pet food manufacturers display in some of their marketing, and despite what the list of dog food ingredients on the pack or can might tend to indicate.

There is very, very little (if any) of the above ingredients in the average commercial dog food. And by the time the third rate excuse for food been overcooked at sustained high temperatures, and sprayed with preservative agents, the resultant "food" (and I use that term loosely, because commercial kibble and canned pet food contain little, if any, real nutriiton at all) can be very harmful to your dog's health and wellbeing indeed.

Yes, if you're feeding your dog ANY commercially available dog food, you're potentially exposing your dog to a source of chemically enhanced, overprocessed, garbage, the meat source for which may apparently even include diseased carcasses which have been left for up to 5 days before being processed.

Enough to turn you off for life? It was for me. As you may know, I've always fed my dogs a diet of mainly raw meat and bones. But I like to give them a little treat in the mornings rather than just feed them once a day (which, by the way, IS all a dog NEEDS). I used to give them a handful of dry dog food each morning, sometimes the cheaper supermarket brands, and sometimes the "brand" names which cost 4 or 5 times as much. Now that I know better, I never give my dogs any of that garbage.

I should say that SOME of the expensive pet foods which are readily available ARE better than the cheaper brands. BUT, most are still far from an ideal diet for your dog, so I have to wonder whether the extra money is money well spent. I have come to the conclusion that it is not.

If the product says it's "with real chicken", did you know that it only needs to contain 3% of chicken? Only 3%.

If the first item listed is meat or chicken, did you know that this doesn't mean that's the main ingredient? How can that be?

Well, take a close look at the label. It's likely to list a meat first, and then 2, 3, 4 or 5 types of grains. This is a very misleading tactic used by the commercial pet food manufacturers. Each of the grains individually may be slightly less in quantity than the meat. But added together? They're probably nearly 2, 3, 4 or 5 times the quantity of the meat ingredient.

After having looked into this issue in a great deal of detail, I'm convinced that the most healthy diet for your dog is mainly fresh meat, with some fresh veges and a little grain thrown in. And this alone is probably NOT enough, because of the leeching of nutrients from the soil due to environmental soil erosion that is extremely widespread today. You need to give your dog a vitamin supplement always, for optimal health.

And for the very best health, there ARE some reputable HEALTHY, wholesome, holistic dog food manufacturers, which really DO provide wonderfully healthy food for our dogs.

If you're game to read the whole shocking report published by the U.S. Animal Protection Institute, about what's really in commercial pet food, it's posted at: www.HealthyHappyDogs.com/APIArticle

You can read about the vitamins I recommend at Recommended Pet Vitamins

And for details of the best dog food manufacturers, see all the details here: Really Healthy Premium Pet Food

(c) 2007, Brigitte Smith, Healthy Happy Dogs

Brigitte Smith is a dog lover with a special interest in holistic dog health. Her other site, Healthy Happy Dogs, has pages and pages of information on improving your dog's health naturally.

For your special FREE report - "How to Improve Your Dog's Health Within 30 Days - Maybe Even Lengthen Your Dog's Life!", Click Here for Your Free Dog Health Report!

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How Do I Help My Dog Lose Weight?
by: Russell Richer

Much like their owners, more and more dogs worldwide are showing signs of obesity. Besides limiting their enjoyment of life as a dog, extra body weight can lead to to joint and heart problems, shorter lives, and sometimes behavioral issues.

The easiest way to tell whether or not your dog is obese is to examine his body. Try the following:

• Have him stand up, then stand above him. Does his body slope inward at the waist?
• Run your hands over his sides from front to back legs. Can you feel his ribs fairly easily?
• Feel the base of his tail. Are the bones easily detectable?
• Look at him from the side. Does his tummy slope upward as it gets closer to his tail?

If you answered no to any of the questions, your pup is probably overweight. If you answered “What waist/ribs/tail bones?” and “Upward? Really?,” your pup is probably obese.

The methods for treating obesity in dogs is fairly simple: eat less, exercise more.

Eat less

• If your dog has a constant supply of food, remove it.
• Buy a food scoop with measuring lines and portion his food based on the charts on your food labels.
• Create a feeding schedule and stick to it. Whether you split the amount among two feedings or one larger meal, stay with the routine and he’ll adjust to it.

Be forewarned, though. Dogs are survival eaters and don’t react well when their food supply is threatened. She may suddenly, start raiding the trash or taking food off of the counter.

Exercise more

It won’t take any convincing to get your dog to exercise more, just get the leash and head out for a walk.

Plan to spend an hour total every day walking. I realize that it’s hard these days to find the time. If you have kids, drag them away from the TV and go for a family walk after dinner. If you work out yourself, figure out a way to incorporate your dog into your routine.

On the weekends, head to the park with a tennis ball or a Frisbee.

Think of it this way:

Would you rather see your dog running, tongue out, tail wagging for 10 years, or that he lay around the house for five?

How many people get to have a to-do list that includes “Play with Dog”?

The right diet and exercise can make your dog more social, more obedient, and more dedicated to you due to the extra time you spend together.

Wasn’t that the whole reason you decided to get a dog in the first place?

- Some great ideas there for keeping your dog health and trim. I love the idea of keeping fit and healthy ourselves while at the same time benefiting our dogs. - Not to mention spending quality time with them as well!

But if your dog has serious obesity problems and you're finding that reducing the quantity of food is not working adequately, you may want to look at a dog obesity food that's ready made and will help your dog lose that unhealthy additional weight.

Naturally, if you're at all worried about your dog's weight, you should always consult your vet for advice. An overweight dog is not a healthy dog, and there may be reasons other than overeating, that your dog has become overweight.

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What can you do to improve the health of your dog, its coat, and its skin that is cheap and effective? Grooming that's what! The small investment of time and money involved for grooming can yield numerous benefits for your dog's health! Is your dog's coat looking dull, tatty and matted? Is your dog's sad looking coat causing you to worry about his/her overall health? Sometimes the simple things can often provide very effective benefits, and in the case of the health of your dog, grooming is one of these simple measures that can yield big results.

Dog health and grooming go hand in hand as the act of grooming has numerous benefits that can help prevent many dog health problems before they arise. Like humans, regular grooming and attention to changes in the skin, eyes, and teeth can help maintain health and prolong the life of your pet, as many indications of possible health problems are noticed and addressed before they progress to something more sinister.

Health Benefits of Grooming

• Grooming removes dead hair leaving only the healthy hair behind, which immediately looks better. It also lets air circulate through the coat better reducing any odor, keeps the dog cooler, and looks cleaner. It is also a good idea to bath your dog regularly with a quality dog shampoo to further improve the benefits of general grooming.
• Grooming stimulates blood flow, which in turn improves blood supply to the hair follicles working wonders for the health of the overall coat.
• Grooming also stimulates the lymphatic system, thus having a positive affect on the dog's overall health in the same way that a massage does for humans.

Residual Benefits of Grooming Aside from the more obvious physical health benefits of grooming there are other benefits such as: -

• Bonding with your Dog - While grooming your dog you are helping to create a bond between you and your pet because of the physical touching and interaction. This also has a positive effect on the dog's emotional state as it feels more comfortable and safe in your hands. Dogs always love the attention they get during grooming.
• Knowing your pet - While grooming your dog you get to know your pet better and know what he/she likes or dislikes, and its favorite and least favorite places to be touched or brushed. Knowing your pet will help you to notice any changes that may indicate a health problem, for instance if your dog suddenly flinches when touched in an area where it usually loves to be touched would alert you to investigate the cause of the tenderness.
• Spot Possible Health Dangers - While grooming your dog you can check the skin for possible skin rashes and problems like hair loss or lumps. Also check for signs that your dog has been scratching a certain area of the skin which would indicate some sort of irritation such as worms, fleas, mites or ticks. Ticks in particular can be deadly if left undetected and a thorough visual check of the dog’s skin should be a regular part of your dog health and grooming strategy. It is a good idea to check the eyes for any signs of sight or health problems while grooming your dog. Also check the pads and nails of the paws for problems that may require attention along with the teeth for signs of decay or gum problems.

Possible Bonus Benefit for you If you find that you enjoy grooming and become quite competent, you may consider starting your own dog grooming service to make a few extra dollars or perhaps turn it into a full time business. Dog grooming services are in high demand and can be very profitable. There is nothing better than making a living doing something that you enjoy.

What You Need to Start? It is important to get the right grooming tools and information on grooming techniques. The internet has is a wealth of information about grooming along with numerous sites that sell a range of grooming tools. Other sources are local pet supply stores or alternatively most towns and cities have a local dog association where dog lovers can meet and exchange ideas. Public libraries may also have books on dog grooming. The benefits to your dog’s health by regular grooming far outweigh the small outlay of money for the grooming tools, and time spent grooming. Your dog's coat will look shiny and healthy and the health of your dog's skin will also be improved. Spend a little time on your pet and he/she will love you for it.

© 2006 Colin L Wolfenden

Colin L Wolfenden is webmaster for
http://www.impressiveebooks.com/ and
http://www.my-resource.com/ and is author of numerous health related articles

For more on dog grooming, and keeping your dog's skin and coat healthy, click here.

And for the best de-shedding tool on the planet, see below:

Furminator - Small - $ 39.99 Furminator - Medium - $ 49.99 Furminator - Large - $ 59.99 Guaranteed to reduce shedding better than any brush or comb, and helps bring out your pet's natural oils, leaving a shiny, healthy, topcoat.

 

 

 

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4 Ways In Which You Can Show Your Dog How Much You Love Him
by Paul Kleinmeulman  

Do you have at least one framed photo of your dog somewhere in your house… or maybe in your wallet? Is your dog pretty darn close to being the very center of your universe? Do you love spoiling him, respond to his every whimper and cry, and spend hundreds of dollars on gourmet treats? To say that dogs are man's best friend is anything but a cliché. You might be the most miserable person in the world without a friend to your name… but your dog will treat you like royalty every time you walk through the door. So how do you repay that unconditional love and devotion? There are hundreds of different ways!

1. Spoil him rotten.

A lot of people spend a lot of money at chic pet boutiques, dressing their dogs in hundred-dollar sweaters and paying for meticulous pawdicures. They buy diamond studded collars and give their dogs rooms all to themselves. You probably don’t have the budget for things like that, right? You can still spoil your dog with simple, everyday things that cost you the absolute minimum. Next time your pooch needs a bath, focus on giving him a massage while you’re working the shampoo into his coat. Take him out for a drive once each week and dress according to the weather so you can open a window and let his head hang out, his ears flapping in the breeze. Or you can…

2. Stuff him silly.

Your dog lives by food! It drives every thought he has, every impulse in his body. But you’re more rational, you know that food needs to be both delicious and nutritious to make sure he has as long and happy a life as possible. Why not try making some homemade treats and dog food that are absolutely packed with all of the vitamins and nutrients he needs? Bake him a delicious, healthy cake for his next birthday, then share a few cookies with him!

3. Prepare for the worst.

If you know exactly what to do in a tough situation or an emergency, you infinitely increase the chances that your dog will be around for a long time to come. Do you know what to do when he’s choking? You should lay your dog on his side and place one hand on his back and the other on his stomach just behind his rib cage. Using the stomach hand, push in and toward the throat twice, but without too much force. If you can see a foreign object, sweep your fingers through his mouth to remove it. If he’s still choking, place your mouth over his nose and exhale until his chest rises. Repeat once, and then thrust two more times. Continue until he coughs out the obstruction. Now consider what would happen if he started to choke and you had no clue what to do, then ended up spending 10 minutes calling vets and driving him there. Making sure you’re prepared to care for his health and wellbeing is a great way to show him how much you love him.

4. Speak his language.

Unless you believe in pet psychics, there’s really no way for you to read your pooch’s mind and figure out exactly what she’s thinking. The good news is that, like many dog owners, the problems you’re having can probably be traced to one simple thing: you’re trying to communicate with your dog from a human standpoint, and your dog isn’t a human. Rather than saying “no,” a word that doesn’t really mean anything to a dog, try growling in a deep, throaty voice the next time you’re unhappy with something he’s done. He’ll get the message immediately and you won’t have to go through a big, drawn-out battle of wills. He’ll appreciate you meeting him halfway!

These are just a few of the ways in which you can show your dog how much he means to you, and I’d love to share hundreds more with you. That’s why I’ve assembled the Dog Megapack, a collection of my hottest dog care titles - and you can purchase them directly from Brigitte from HealthierDogs.com!  From 101 Ways to Spoil Your Dog for Under $10 and Secrets to a Healthy and Happy Pooch, to 180 Gourmet Dog Recipes and Instinct vs. Man, you’ll be amazed at all of the information, tips, and ideas you never even imagined existed. Why not give it a try? Think about it – the Dog Megapack just one more way to show your dog how much you love him.

What a great dog Christmas gift, dog Birthday gift, or a gift just because!

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I was surprised to read in the below article that the Greyhound is among the dog breeds classified as toy breeds. I rather think that she is confusing the Greyhound (which is actually a medium to large sized dog) with the Italian Greyhound, a much smaller breed that is certainly classified as a toy breed of dog.

The Greyhound and the Italian Greyhound are, of course, completely different breeds, although they have some characteristics that a similar - hence the common name they share. In particular, of course, is the shape. Both the Greyhound and the Italian Greyhound have a very thin, sleek physique that's quite distinctive.

The Italian Greyhound is, however, a considerably smaller dog than the Greyhound.

The author also refers to Spaniels as being included in toy breeds. Most people are aware that there are several different types of Spaniel, and majority of which are not toy dog breeds.

Toy Dog Breeds

Toy dog breeds include greyhounds, terriers, pinschers, Pugs, Chihuahuas, Pekingese, spaniels - the official list of the AKC is quite extensive. Regardless of breed, toy dogs are desired for their cuteness and cuddle-ability. Many retain the characteristics of a puppy for their entire lives. This may be one of the big attractions that toy dog breeds hold over larger breed dogs.

Diminutive size, however, does not mean that toy dog breeds are less hardy. Once safely past puppyhood, their energy levels and enthusiasm rival any breed of dog. Some are excellent watch dogs, but they won?t be able to follow through preventing entry of an intruder. The hue and cry of toy dog breeds can be enough to make your hair stand on end!

There are several advantages to toy dog breeds. Besides the ease of handling a smaller sized dog, they are more appropriate for apartment dwellers because they do not require as much exercise space as a large dog.

Additionally, toy dog breeds usually shed less than their larger counterparts -not because they have different coat characteristics, but because there is less dog! All sides of dog care are smaller: from cleaning to clean-up and food consumed to food expelled.

Historically, toy dog breeds were used as companion dogs. They were friendly and alert, yet willing to be held and petted. They are very comforting and can bring peace to an owner. Nursing homes and adult care facilities have found toy dog breeds to be soothing for their patients.

Contrary to common perception, there is no law preventing animals from living in nursing homes. It is up to the eldercare facility to allow - or disallow - pets. The calming influence of any pet, especially one that will transfer affections to everyone equally, is a wonderful aid for patient facilities. You don't have to reside in an eldercare facility to enjoy toy dog breeds. They do provide companionable joy for many who otherwise would be concerned about space, exercise and care requirements of a larger breed of dog.

Stephanie Hetu Website: http://www.cutepuppydog.com Stephanie is a dog lover and the editor of the Cute Puppy Dog Newsletter. You can subscribe at http://www.cutepuppydog.com/cutepuppydognewsletter.html (every subscribers get 20 exclusive puppy pics, 2 dog screensavers and 3 dog ebooks).

It's interesting that nursing homes may prefer toy dog breeds as companion animals - it makes sense, I guess, since they don't take up much space.

But I'm aware of some nursing homes (and children's wards in some hospitals as well) that have larger dogs such as Labradors.  Some of these, however, live off premises and are brought in daily by their owners, to spend time with the residents or patients.

It's really a great idea, isn't it?

Chihuahua Greyhound Italian Greyhound Labrador Pekingese pinschers Pug Spaniel terriers toy breeds toy dog breeds toy dogs