Labrador Retriever Dogs Blog

Here is a rare visit with Mrs Nutnfancy as we pick up Allie the Mountain Dog from her ACL surgery. In this vid I discuss our views on pet ownership, puppies, talk with the vet, and discuss the prognosis. Heal time is three months and that heartbreaking news means she’ll probably miss the backpacking season this year. Also, since she has always been raised in an active lifestyle, it will be hard keeping her from running and jumping during the mend. And I know a bit about the pain involved: with four knee surgeries myself I am sympathetic to the routine. I think TNPrs may find this video a bit emotional as well as you get a true glimpse into our family and Mrs Nutnfancy…we have been humbled again by our TNP audience support. At the end I show some moving memories of our time with Allie on TNP adventures. I wish you all the best with your dog and that you may also have such meaningful times. May more follow with her for our good TNP friends around the world./////////////Music licensed to TNP from Jason Shaw

Dog grooming refers to the practice of maintaining the appearance of a dog for public showing or personal hygiene reasons. Grooming dogs includes things like shampooing, hair clipping, hair styling, powdering, nail clipping and teeth cleaning. Grooming is healthy for your dog and can be somewhat pleasing to the owner. It also helps reduce shedding and odor. Grooming further serves to reduce allergies for both the dog and their owner.

The health benefits derived from regular grooming are numerous. It keeps the dog’s coat glossy and the skin healthy. It also serves to improve circulation and helps keep the their coat free from fleas, ticks and other parasites.

The first step in grooming dogs is to find a clean and comfortable area with adequate lighting to use as a workspace. Being groomed must not be a traumatic experience for your dog. It’s also very important to purchase high quality pet grooming equipment and supplies.

Dog grooming and dog health go hand in hand. If you have a dogs that sheds a lot, regular grooming will speed up the shedding cycle and stop all those floating hair tufts. Dog grooming is not only healthy, it helps you to create a bond of trust and love with your dog. Pet grooming is an expression of your affection and if started early in your dog’s life will server to establish a regular routine that will contribute greatly to the future health and well-being of your pet.

Here’s a dog grooming tip; when trimming your dog’s coat, don’t forget about the hair around legs, ears and eyes. However, these areas are important to remember. Dogs should be bathed about once a week. Be sure to remove any tangles before starting a bath and don’t get water and soap in their ears or eyes. You can clean the ears with a damp cloth or use a dog ear cleaner that can be purchased at any pet store.

Clipping your dog’s nails once every month is enough to keep them in fine condition. However, be sure to use only good quality nail clippers. Trim each nail while be careful you don’t cut back too far as this may result in pain and potential infection. If you’re uncertain how far back to cut, just cut back to the point where the nail starts to curl and you should be okay.

Dental health is very important for dogs as well as humans. Even though you are having your dog’s teeth look at on your regular vet visits, you still need to take care of their teeth at home also. You should brush your dog’s teeth once a week with one of your old discarded toothbrushes. You can find special dog toothpaste at your local pet store. Don’t use your toothpaste because dogs do like the taste and will fight having their teeth brushed.

Regular dog grooming can become a integral and relaxing part of your life and your pet will love the extra attention. Regular grooming provides many positive health benefits and helps the dog to understand its place within the family social order. This leads to a healthy, happy and well adjusted pet who will appreciate your affection.

There are plenty of reasons why dog training at home should be taken with care and determination. Proper training results in pets doing what is expected of them in terms of socialization, good defecating habits, reduced anxiety, obedience, and a generally good behavior.

Providing the proper dog training at home could be very rewarding experience if you put your heart into it. A responsible and loving pet owner should be more than glad to help his new dog adjust to the surroundings.

A disciplined dog is loved by many compared to their rowdy counterparts. He will also return the favor back to you by being well-behaved and following your commands and instructions. Apart from this, he will surely make you proud if you did well in training him.

Training you dog should start while he is still young although older dogs could also be trained. Moreover, you should be prepared to spend time and energy when dog training at home because it is a long process.

Dog owner anywhere must be consistent and patient in training his dog. The key is setting limits and restrictions by being firm and by offering rewards for a job well done. Below is 5 Steps To Dog Training At Home.

A. Have fun. More than anything, dog training at home should be a fun experience. Dogs love to play and they should not be denied that privilege. Be firm yet gentle. Start with simple commands and use them repetitively and consistently.

Believe it or not, you also need to establish mutual faith and trust in place of harsh punishment. If you succeed in creating a training environment filled with respect, your dog will be more than willing to be trained.

B. Be flexible. This is not the military so do not hesitate to make minor adjustments if, for instance, your dog still does not get a certain lesson you are trying to teach. Consider your pet’s maturity and age. There is no need to hurry. Like human beings, dogs are unique and also harbor different rates of progress.

C. Training your dog yourself helps develop a strong bond between you and your pet. A well-trained dog is a dog you could be proud of around your friends and your neighbors.

D. Be fair. As mentioned earlier, give rewards and merits when it is due. Do not set very high standards. Recognize every achievement no matter how small it is.

E. Positive reinforcement is the highly recommended method of dog training. This entails providing praise and physical rewards each time your pet follows your commands. Training sessions need not be long and tedious.

Set realistic goals. You cannot expect your pet to do it right the first time around. You take it one step at a time whether you are training him to use the litter box or getting him to follow the “Sit” command.
The key is consistency and patience. Do not punish your dog if he makes a mistake.

These five Steps to dog training at home also provides your pet with needed exercise and mental stimulation. You could also have peace of mind if you have a well-trained dog around the house.

Background

 

I got my puppy from the local animal shelter. The description in the local paper was: “I am a beautiful, lively black puppy from a variety of dog breeds. I was abandonment and desperately need a home. Please come fetch me or else I will be going to doggy heaven”

Needless to say the puppy’s appeal worked and low and behold he was home with me. The abandonment word, led me to call him Bandit. I could not have asked for a more lovable dog.

Unfortunately that cute little puppy grew into a 60kg long-legged lively lovable dog that like a typical teenager listens to nobody!

This became a problem. Big and boisterous it ran my household with furious enthusiasm.

Now, what?

Can you train an 8 month old big dog? (Gosh, I forgot to mention, he must have some Great Dane in his family history somewhere, because Bandit sure stands high!)

 

Consequence

 

To be frank! I work long hours and come home late at night, which means Bandit do not get a lot of park time and on top of it I am so tired after a day at the office that I normally become a coach potato in front of the television.

This led to a very lovable but badly behaved dog with behavioural problems.

 

Considerations

 

Things I considered doing:

Enrol in the local dog training days, which normally was a Saturday or Sunday.
Look on the internet to see if there is a do-it-yourself course on dog training with written as well as video material.

From what I know of my work schedule and my social schedule I knew that the local dog training days were not an option for me as I wanted more flexibility.

So I started searching the internet.

Oh Dear, what I did not anticipate was the amount of web sites that offer dog training at home.

The search took a couple of days and at last I selected a training program.

 

Solutions

 

I chose the dog training program based on the following criteria:

Researched the web site as much as possible to get an opinion from existing users.
Asked some of the dog owners at the park their opinion on do-it-yourself dog training.
Checked the cost of the on line dog training material.
Checked what material the online dog training program offered.

To be honest, although I felt I had done a fair amount of checking, I could still not put my hand on my heart and swear that this online dog training course would be the program I was looking for.

 

Results

 

After one month Bandit was a 100% more obedient dog than before. The material, specifically the dog training video material was excellent.

Today, one year later, I have a wonderful obedient dog that listens and behaves when spoken to.

If this story is also your story and you are a dog lover, you owe the training to your dog. He or she would love it as this is another way that you give your dog the added attention he or she needs.

The effort is certainly worth it and you can do it at home like I did with the occasional practise day at the park.

Taking Bandit out for a walk or to the park now is an absolute pleasure. Before the training I became very stressed out when I took Bandit for a walk as fighting to restrain him from running off behind every other dog was difficult.

If you want to find out more about training your dog at home, please visit my web site.

www.HelpTrainDogs.com

Lone Star Lab Rescue video of Sookie and Willow playing ball

*4/20/10 UPDATE: PETER HAS BEEN ADOPTED! CONGRATULATIONS! Peter is a full grown Labrador Retriever available for adoption from Sean Casey Animal Rescue in Brooklyn, NY. For more info go to www.nyanimalrescue.org or call (718) 436 – 5163.

Every pet owner wishes to have a great looking, and well-groomed pet that attracts attention. Dog grooming has been in vogue from sometime now. Dog grooming parlors are springing up in most neighbourhoods and pet owners are greedily lapping up this opportunity. Of course, like all good things, getting your pet groomed at the expert hands of a trained and experienced pet groomer doesn’t come cheaply. You will have to spend significant amount of money to get your furry or fluffy friend shampooed, cleaned, cut, polished, and styled.

However, if you don’t have that kind of surplus money and still want to ensure your Fido looks his/her best everyday, why not consider dog grooming at home with the help of some excellent pet supplies? Yes, it is possible and we’ll tell you how.

Let’s start with the kind of pet supplies you will need most often. Since an essential part of dog grooming is ensuring that the coat is clean, nails are cut and tidy, the coat is combed properly, and the pet is flea protected. Naturally, the most common pet supplies will therefore include:

· Bathing products: If you prefer organic to chemical ridden pet shampoos, conditioners, then you’ll find that you are spoilt for choice.
· Bathing accessories: Why not pamper your pet with some pretty printed or designed dog towels, bath mats etc. You can also pick up a hair dryer to dry your dog’s hair quickly and conveniently.
· Clippers: Clippers are an important dog grooming accessory. They come in different types such as turbo clippers, clipper kits, combs, trimmers and lots more.
· Other pet supplies: The market is full of dog grooming products for every kind of pet – from dogs to cats to ferrets to horses. While dog and cat grooming supplies are more in demand, you’ll find a wide array of grooming products such as nail grinders, Furminator de-shedding tools, Styptic powder, Matbreaker dematting tool, dematting combs, dematting rake, flea comb, area slicker brushes, undercoat rake, among other things.

The right choice in pet supplies ensures that your pet stays well groomed, good looking, neat, and healthy for a longer period of time. Dog grooming is especially important for hairy pets including dog breeds such as Poodles, German shepherds, Lhasa apso, as well as cat breeds like Siamese, Persian etc. Grooming your pet on a regular basis ensure that he/she doesn’t suffer from skin related infections or other disease causing infections that can damage or deeply affect his /her overall health.

Some of the dog grooming must do’s include:

Cleaning the dog’s ears since dogs can easily get infected through their ears. Moreover, dog breeds with droopy ears have higher chances of ear infections or other infections caused by ear mites, fungus, and wax deposits inside the ear cavity. Clean the dogs ears every week.

Dog grooming also involves clipping nails and you must ensure your dog’s nails don’t grow too big as they can hurt themselves while scratching. Clip nails every 2-3 weeks or depending on the growth.

The way I discovered the material covered in Veterinary Secrets Revealed was by learning from many people. I read books-hundreds of books. I went to seminars and conferences, and still do. I consulted with holistic specialists- Homeopaths, Acupuncturists, Chiropractors, Massage therapists, Chinese Medicine practitioners and Herbalists.

I tried these remedies on my clients- and they often worked. I recall one of my first clients 15 years ago, a sweet little Jack Russel named Jessie.

Jessie came in to the clinic feeling sick. Blood tests, X-rays and a liver biopsy showed that Jessie had a severe liver disease that was ‘incurable’. I put her on all the conventional medication – It did not help one bit. As she got sicker, I felt helpless as to what to do.

So, I talked to an herbalist. She suggested trying an herb called Milk Thistle. I was skeptical, being a new graduate from Vet school – but I thought, why not try it? My boss thought it was a waste of time and money.

But it worked. Jessie recovered from the liver disease and her blood tests showed normal liver function 3 months later after taking it.

From that moment on, I was hooked. I incorporated alternative medicine into regular veterinary practice.

After treating thousands of pets for a variety of problems, I wrote my book, Veterinary Secrets Revealed.

Jessie is just one example of the many pets I’ve been fortunate enough to learn from. And it is the result of her successful recovery, and so many others that all went into ‘Veterinary Secrets Revealed’. In my book, I tell about every single at home remedy that I have used for every pet health problem imaginable.

Examination and treatment of common conditions of the Eyes, Ears and Nose

The Eyes

The surface of the eye (cornea) should be clear. The middle of the eye (pupil) should respond to light. You can shine a light into your pets’ eyes and see the pupil constrict. The right and left pupils should be equal size.

The lens, which sits behind the pupil, should be clear. If it appears cloudy, then your pet may be developing cataracts. This may be normal for an aging pet, or may be a sign of disease, such as diabetes.

The area around the eye, the white tissue, is called the sclera. It should be a clear white color. In cases of liver disease, it will become yellow (jaundiced).

The pink tissue around the eye is called the conjuctiva; it is normally a light pink color. In infections, it becomes a darker pink and the eyes will produce a white or greenish discharge. There are a number of home remedies to treat conjunctivitis.

TO THE KITCHEN. Tea is more than just a drink. It has a product in it called tannins, which are anti-inflammatory and have antimicrobial properties. Brew up a strong cup of black tea and place 3-4 drops in the affected eye three times daily. It should be made daily to prevent contamination. More details are found in my book.

The Eyelids should be free of any lumps or bumps; older pets commonly develop benign eyelid tumors, which may need removal by your veterinarian.

There should be no discharge from your pets’ eyes; excessive tearing may indicate a blocked tear duct.

The last part of the eyes to examine is the 3rd eyelid. It sits in the corner of the lower eye closest to the nose. It is not usually seen. In cases of conjunctivitis, it may become very red. It contains a gland that can pop out (prolapsed 3rd eyelid gland). This may respond to anti-inflammatory medication or have to be treated surgically.

The Ears

Your pet should not be shaking their head; if they do there may be an ear infection.

The outside of the ear (pinna) should be a light pink and palpate as being flat. Any thickening could indicate an ear infection, allergy or a blood blister in the ear (aural hematoma).

The inside of the ear (ear canal) should be easy to see and free of discharge. A small amount of light yellow discharge is probably normal wax. Any foul smelling odor indicates an infection. A yellowy discharge often indicates a yeast infection. Hard black debris in your cats’ ears likely indicates ear mites. If debris an odor are present, then clean your pets ears.

A safe home remedy involves a 50:50 mixture of vinegar and water. Drop the mixture in the ear canal, rub the base of the ear well to loosen up the debris, then wipe out the excess by placing a cotton ball as deep as you can into the ear canal. Repeat the cleaning until the debris appears removed from the ear. One home remedy involves garlic soaked in olive oil for 12 hours. Remove the garlic clove and apply 5-6 drops into the ear twice daily for 7-10 days. As ear infections are often a result of an allergic reaction, products that modulate your pet’s immune system will help.

Nose

Check for any signs of discharge from the right or left nostril. The occasional clear discharge is normal for some pets, but ongoing discharge indicates a problem, such as an allergy.

Your pet may benefit from a hypoallergenic diet, which can be bought commercially.

Home Allergy Diet for a 50 lb Dog

Boiled white fish or canned tuna 1 cup

Boiled potatoes or Cooked rice 4 cups

Calcium carbonate or Tums 1 teaspoon

Corn Oil 1 tablespoon

Potassium chloride (light salt) 1 teaspoon

One-a-day multivitamin 1 tablet

Mix all ingredients together and divide into equal portions, feeding 2 1/2 cups in the morning and 2 1/2 cups in the evening.

Feline Home Allergy Diet for a 10 lb Cat

Canned Tuna in Fish Oil 1 cup

Cooked White Rice 1 cup

Cod Liver Oil 1 tablespoon

Calcium Carbonate or Tums 1/2 teaspoon

Potassium Chloride 1/4 teaspoon

One-a-day Vitamin 1/2 tablet

Taurine 500mg

Mix all ingredients so they are well blended together. This will make 2 cups of food, enough for 2 days. Feed 1/2 cup in the morning and 1/2 cup in the evening.

Whatever food you choose, it must be fed for 12 weeks. If after 12 weeks your pet it still scratching, then she probably doesn’t have a food allergy.

Any purulent (thick, whitish) discharge is abnormal and indicates a bacterial infection in the nasal cavity or sinuses.

Feel that air is flowing through both nostrils by placing a hair in front of each nostril. An abnormal growth in the nose can block airflow into the nostril.

The nose may appear dry or wet; a wet nose means that the glands in the nose are producing more fluid. This is not a sign of disease.

The nose and end of the muzzle should be black or light pink. If it becomes inflamed and red, then your pet may have a condition called Collie Nose; this is a localized type of immune problem in which the immune system attacks the end of the nose.

Two simple home remedies involve removing plastic dishes if they are being used for feeding and applying a very safe topical herb, Aloe Vera.

I have over 1 thousand at-home remedies in my book. There are no other comparable Veterinary books out there.

Veterinary Secrets Revealed will provide all the information you need to keep your pet healthy or to improve the health of a sick pet.

In addition, Veterinary Secrets Revealed does it without medical jargon, without complicated procedures, and without an eye on the pharmaceutical companies’ bottom line (yes, we Vets face the same pressures as human doctors.)

Veterinary Secrets Revealed will help your pet.

To Your Pet’s Good Health!

If you notice your dog or cat is scratching at its ears, shaking its head and its ears don’t smell too great, chances are your pet has ear mites. You can get rid of ear mites through some natural home remedies, or with medicine from the vet.

Ear mites are parasites which live off the bodily fluids of your pet. As the name implies, ear mites prefer residing in the ears. Ear mites resemble the look of coffee grounds or red, brown and black dirt. The inside of the ear will also look red and a little inflamed. You cannot see the ear mite with the naked eye.

Pets get ear mites due to poor hygiene and dirty surroundings. They are contagious with respect to other animals. If you insist that your pet is kept very clean and lives in pristine conditions, it is possible that the ear mites were caused by being around another animal who has ear mites, or your pet has exceptionally long, floppy ears which are especially susceptible to ear mite infestation.

It certainly is important to keep your and your pet’s surroundings as clean as possible and regular bathe your pet. Keep all other pets in your home away from the infected one and wash those additional pets regularly as well. It is imperative that you take action to rid your pet of ear mites because allowing the ear mites to remain in your pet’s ears will lead to deafness.

If you have an infected cat, you can use mineral oil to get rid of the ear mites. Simply place drops in the infected ear or ears, which will loosen up crusty build up. You can then take a small cotton ball to wipe out the build up. However, if your cat’s ears are raw and inflamed, the best thing to do is take it to the vet to make sure there is not some other problem with your cat’s ears.

If your dog is infected with ear mites, make sure to wipe its ears on a daily basis. You can make a mixture of garlic and olive oil and then put some drops in each infected ear. If you do not notice any change after a few days and your dog’s ears are raw and inflamed, take the dog to the vet to see if your dog has some other ailment.