Answers To Your Questions About Canine Cystitis

January 5th, 2009 by PetGuru

You may already know that bladder infections in dogs are a very common problem.  But quite a few dog owners have questions about canine urinary tract infections.  Here are answers to your questions.

What Is Canine Cystitis?

This is an inflammation of your dog’s bladder that’s caused by a bacterial infection.  Your vet may refer to it as an “ascending” infection.  Most of the time the bacteria that cause bladder infections in dogs come from the dog’s own intestinal tract.  The bacteria start out at the skin around the anus, and “ascend” through the urethra to the bladder.

Are There Other Causes Of Canine Urinary Tract Infections?

Yes.  Your dog may have bladder stones, which can make it easier for him to develop a bladder infection.    

Bladder tumors, diseases like diabetes or Cushing’s or being unable to empty the bladder completely are other causes.  If your dog is being given drugs that suppress the immune system, like cortisone or chemotherapy, he may be more prone to a bladder infection.

What Symptoms Should I Be Watching For?

Blood in your dog’s urine, straining to pass urine, and frequent urination are common signs of a bladder problem.

But sometimes it’s not so obvious.  If your dog is acting restless and wants to go out all the time, or starts urinating all over the house, this may not be a behavior problem.  It could be signs of a canine bladder infection.

How Does Your Vet Diagnose Canine Cystitis?

Ideally, your vet will run a urinalysis first to determine if there are bacteria or bladder stones in your dog’s urine.  If bacteria are present, the next step should be a dog urine culture and a sensitivity test.  

A urine culture is necessary to identify which bacteria are present.  The sensitivity test tells your vet which antibiotic is the best one to do the job.  

Do I Really Have To Give My Dog ALL The Antibiotic?

Absolutely.  If you stop treating bladder infections in dogs too soon, the infection can come back.  Plus, stopping the treatment too soon encourages antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria.  

If your dog has side effects from the antibiotic, contact your vet.It’s important that you don’t just stop giving him the medicine.

Why Can’t My Dog Get Rid Of HIs Bladder Infection?

It’s possible that it’s the same infection that was never completely eradicated.  A dog urine culture and sensitivity test should be done before you treat him again.  After treatment is over, you can see if it was successful by repeating these tests.

How About Natural Remedies For Pets?

People have been using safe, effective, natural treatments for bladder infections for centuries.  Many dog owners ask if natural remedies for pets can help dogs with canine cystitis.

Make no mistake about it, the answer is yes.  But you do need to be sure you’re using remedies gentle enough for animals, not people.  Do your homework and purchase your remedies only from a company with a great reputation for producing the highest-quality herbal remedies for pets.Safe effective remedies that are easy to give to your dog every day can help prevent bladder problems from getting established.

Take the next step and learn how these remedies can help protect your best buddy from canine urinary tract infections.

Darlene Norris has combined her long-time interest in natural healing with her experience working at a vet clinic to bring you her new website, Natural Pet Urinary Health. Here you can discover how herbal and homeopathic remedies can help prevent and treat painful canine urinary tract infections.  Find the best place to buy these remedies at http://naturalpeturinaryhealth.com

The Truth About Canine Urinary Tract Infections

January 5th, 2009 by PetGuru

If you’re like most dog owners, you may believe that canine urinary tract infections are not that important.  All you need to do is give your dog an antibiotic for a couple of weeks, and the problem’s solved, right?

Wrong.Being sure of whether or not your dog even has canine cystitis can sometimes be difficult.

Does My Dog Have A Canine Urinary Tract Infection?

As smart as dogs are, they can’t talk and tell us what their problem is.They communicate with us by using their behavior.  If your dog has canine cystitis, she’ll try to tell you by her actions.

If you’ve ever had a bladder infection, you know that the main symptom is pain and burning when you urinate.Your dog will let you know she has a problem with her restless behavior, including pacing around the house and whining.  She may want to go out again right away, even though she just came in.

Worse, she may urinate on the floor, your bed, or in other inappropriate areas.  Many dog owners mistakenly think this is a behavior problem.  Before you start looking for a dog trainer, rule out bladder infections in dogs first.

Tests Your Vet Should Do To Diagnose Canine Cystitis

Tests to diagnose a canine urinary tract infection include urinalysis, a dog urine culture, and a sensitivity test. 

A urinalysis should be done to see if bacteria or stones are present in your dog’s urine.  If bacteria are found, a urine culture needs to be done to find out exactly which bacteria they are.  The sensitivity test will tell your vet the correct antibiotic to use.

The problem arises because urine culturing and sensitivity testing increases your vet bill by $25 to $100.  Some dog owners can’t afford the extra money, and others just won’t pay for it even it they can afford it. 

So what happens?  Your vet ends up prescribing an antibiotic that may or may not kill the bacteria causing your dog’s bladder infection.

Why Using The Wrong Antibiotic Is A Bad Idea

First, treating a dog with the wrong antibiotic uses valuable time and wastes money.  Giving a dog an expensive antibiotic for two or three weeks is no picnic, so you don’t want to waste time with the wrong drug.

Secondly, if you skip the sensitivity test, you may be treating your dog with a drug that won’t kill the bacteria causing the infection.  This can lead to a life-threatening bacterial infection that’s very hard to treat. 

An even more important reason to use the right drug is the problem of antibiotic resistance.

Can Bladder Infections In Dogs Be Prevented With Natural Remedies For Pets

Wouldn’t it be great if there was a safe, effective, natural remedy you could give your buddy every day to prevent bladder problems in dogs?  Well, you’ll be happy to know that there is.  This remedy is manufactured specifically for pets, not humans, which is very important.  And it’s made by a company with a great reputation for producing the highest-quality products for pets. 

Now that you have this information, you can use natural remedies for pets to protect your dog from the pain and stress of canine urinary tract infections.

Darlene Norris has combined her long-time interest in natural healing with her experience working at a vet clinic to bring you her new website, Natural Pet Urinary Health. Here you can discover how herbal and homeopathic remedies can help prevent and treat painful canine urinary tract infections.  Find the best place to buy these remedies at http://naturalpeturinaryhealth.com

Rottweiler Puppy Adoption: Things That You Need To Know If You Want To Bring That Rescued Puppy Home

January 5th, 2009 by PetGuru

Many people in the past adopt rescued dogs on a whim and regretted their decisions later on. When they see a scruffy little puppy that badly needs a bath and food at a dog shelter, they adopt the puppy and bring it home. Unfortunately, such rush decisions can cause a lot of problems later on especially when it comes to rottweiler puppy adoption. No, there is nothing intrinsically wrong with rottweiler puppy adoption but the thing is that many people who end up adopting these types of dogs are not even aware of their special needs.

We must understand that rottweilers are not your average type of dogs and they can be quite a handful. If you are one of those people who are contemplating on rottweiler puppy adoption, you need to know the basic things about rottweilers. To help you move in that direction, here are some of the things that you need to know before you apply for rottweiler puppy adoption. Although most rottweiler puppy adoption centers give you the option to return the puppy to the shelter if things do not work out well between you and the little fellow, returning the puppy to the rottweiler puppy adoption center is not really such a good idea. Just think about all the pain and anxiety that you and the little fellow will go through.

Know The Temperament Of The Dog

Adopting a puppy is just like buying a puppy. The only difference is that when you buy a puppy, you shell out considerable amount of money to pay for the puppy. Other than that, the basic things are just the same. For instance, whether you want to adopt or buy a rottwieler puppy, you need to know its temperament. To understand the temperaments of the rottweiler, you need to do a lot of research. You should also observe how the puppy reacts to its surroundings at the rottweiler puppy adoption center. Remember that not all puppies have the same temperaments even if are of the same breed.

Before you bring the little one home, observe how it reactions to certain stimulants. Watch how the dog will react when approached. If the dog snap and bark angrily when you approach, this not a good sign.On the other hand, if the puppy does not appear to be excitable at the site of people and it likes to be touched, then you are in luck. You and that little fellow could have a good life together.

Where to go to Buy a Puppy Online

January 5th, 2009 by PetGuru

If you are interested in getting a puppy and want to buy a puppy online, you should know that this will probably be a very wise decision. There are some great resources available online that you can turn to if you want to buy a puppy, whether you want to buy a Siberian Husky puppy or any other type.

Buy Sell Puppies

Now you are going to need to know where exactly you can go if you want to buy a puppy online, and there are several great options. One is to go to the Buy Sell Puppies online company, which is one of the most popular of its kind available today. Here they offer listings for dogs that you want to buy or sell, and they have the widest selection available so no matter what particular breed of dog you may be looking for, you will be able to find a puppy here.

Adopt A Pet

Another great option if you want to buy a puppy online is the Adopt A Pet Company. They have volunteers working for their company who are going to love you when you buy a puppy from them, because you are doing a good deed and helping give a lonely dog a great home.

They have thousands of dogs to choose from, and they even have Purina working with them, which is one of the most popular pet food companies in the world. For nearly a century now if you can believe it, Purina has used its knowledge and expertise to get pet owners the healthy food products that they are looking for to give to their pets.

If you want to buy a puppy online this is definitely one of the first online companies that you are going to want to check out, and where you know that you will have the most success of finding just the puppy that you are looking for.

Got Pets Online

Yet another online company that you can visit if you want to buy a puppy online is the Got Pets Online Company. The great thing about this company is that they have pictures of their pets online, and so your child or you – whoever you are getting the dog for – can check out the gallery of photos and handpick a dog that is perfect.

Dogs are great, very communicative and wonderful pets. Just make sure that you are careful with where you purchase your dog from.

Local Puppy Adoption: Things That You Need To Consider Before You Adopt A Rescued Puppy

January 5th, 2009 by PetGuru

Bringing a rescued puppy home can be a bit complicated especially if you have children at home. Yes, children love dogs but they may not really understand the special needs of a rescued puppy that is why many local puppy adoption centers all over the country are quite hesitant to grant your adoption application if you are planning to give the little puppy as a gift to the family. Many local puppy adoption centers are adamant in this aspect for get about surprising your family with the little pup from the center. Instead of bringing the little puppy home as a surprise to the kids, you should involve the kids in the adoption process so that they will understand what this all about.

Getting Started

Some breeds of dogs are more difficult to handle compared to the others. For instance, Rottweilers can be a lot more stubborn than beagles. What does tell you? This means that rottweiler puppy adoption is not for everyone. Yes, rottweilers do make very good house pets but they can a bit difficult to train at times and they have minds of their own.  If you do not have the patience or the energy to keep up with a big stubborn dog, you might as well go for those smaller dogs with milder temperaments. To make sure that you do not end up with a dog that is too much for you to handle, do some research about the different breeds of dogs first before you attempt to adopt one.

Once you have chosen the kind of dog that you want to have a t home, educate your family about the needs of that dog. Make sure that all the members of the family understand what needs to be done before you bring them to the local puppy adoption center to take a look at the puppies there.

When it comes to choosing the right puppy at the local puppy adoption center, be democratic. Listen to what the rest of your family has to say. However, before you do bring a puppy home, make sure that the puppy has the right temperament to suit you and your family's lifestyle. To understand the temperament of the puppy, ask the local puppy adoption center staff to conduct a temperament test. You may also take the puppy home for a few days and see how things go. If the puppy does not adapt easily to its new environment, you may have to return the little one to the adoption center.

Puppy Obedience Training: Scolding Never Achieves Much

January 5th, 2009 by PetGuru

A new puppy is going to be your constant companion for a good many years and to ensure that the time that you share with him will be filled with joy you will first of all need to look at different kinds of puppy obedience training methods. Once you find a few options it is then up to you to decide which of them is most suited for your puppy. That you should begin training your puppy when he is still quite young is a given. What’s more, you can also choose between doing the puppy obedience training on your own or you can seek out a professional to do the training for you.

Fond Memories

Though there are many advantages to getting a professional to do the puppy obedience training for you, it will however still mean that you won’t have too many fond memories to enjoy later on. It is therefore a good idea to think about imparting puppy obedience training on your own. Obviously, there are right ways as well as wrong ways of going about puppy obedience training. The proper way means that you should approach the task with a positive bent of mind and also have the right attitude before even setting out to train your puppy.

The wrong way means approaching the puppy obedience training with a negative bent of mind and also being in a foul mood because of the difficulties that will be encountered along the way. However, you should not make common mistakes and instead must do things the proper way by for example choosing an appropriate place where you can begin the puppy obedience training. A backyard is as good a starting off place as any other place and so too is a living room.

Some of the simpler commands that must be taught to the puppy are “Sit” and “Stay”. Every time your puppy follows his puppy obedience training command you must then give him a treat and also praise him so that he understands that he is doing something right. However, at the same time there is not much that can be accomplished by scolding your puppy whenever he fail to obey the commands given by you.

Repetition is the key to succeeding with puppy obedience training and so you will need to be patient and consistent so that you give your puppy clear and unambiguous commands which must be obeyed at all times.

Puppy training pads are often used by pet owners to teach a puppy where he should do his poop. The best way to ensure that your puppy obedience training efforts pay off is to first call out your puppy’s name and follows that with the command you wish him to obey. Calling his name ensures that your puppy understands that he is being spoken to and this will ensure that he will respond to the command that follows his name.

Potty Train A Puppy Is Quite Easy

January 5th, 2009 by PetGuru

potty training tips

Mention the words potty training and most dog owners will shudder with the thought of it. However, understanding how to potty train a puppy takes both energy and patience and requires a lot of time and countless walks. There is also the diligent clean up of accidents to contend with. Timing is the key and should begin immediately upon bringing your puppy home. Before beginning to potty train a puppy, let’s take a look at a few tips on the process. It is the first stage of a bonding process that will result in a happy and healthy relationship.

There are many potty training tips, but to begin with, feed your pet at the same time every day. Remember to remove food within four hours of bedtime and withdraw the water dish two hours before bedtime. It is recommended that you feed your puppy a dry food so that his stools will be more solid. A routine is the key to success. That also means you too have to stick to a routine by going to bed and getting up at the same time every day.

Toilet training for puppies involves taking your pup outside first thing in the morning. Put him on a leash and guide him to the place that you want him to use. Repeat this activity around 10 to 15 minutes after every meal or drink and right before bedtime. If, after 10 minutes, there is no potty action, then take the puppy back to its crate. Wait another 10 to 15 minutes then take him out again. Do not engage in play until the business at hand is complete. Sometimes puppies don’t finish on the first try, so give him time to be sure he won’t have to go again in a few minutes.

While you potty train a puppy, crate or confine him when you can’t watch him. It is essential to confine your puppy to rooms with washable floors until he is house trained. If you see your puppy start to relieve himself in the house, then say “no” firmly, pick him up, and take him out. When he’s finished, put him in a safe area and clean up the mess. Don’t yell at your puppy or punish him for accidents and please don’t rub his nose in it. If you discover an accident later, just clean it up and move on.

Be patient while you are learning how to potty train your puppy. A pup is a baby, and babies need time to master acceptable potty training procedures. Young puppies don’t have complete control of their bladders or bowels, and by the time they realize they have to go, they simply can’t hold it any longer. While you potty train a puppy, you should definitely keep him off the carpet until he is reliably trained. Always teach him where he should go, and be patient when he has an accident, and always adhere to toilet training routines while you potty train your dog.

Crate Training A Puppy Benefits Your Puppy Who Will Like Having A Place To Call His Own

January 5th, 2009 by PetGuru

It is a good idea to think about crate training a puppy as this will prove to be very useful whenever you have to leave your pet by himself, especially at those times when you have to go out at night or are otherwise away from home for extended periods of time. At the same time, crate training a puppy also benefits your puppy because he will get some space to call his own and this space will allow him to feel secure knowing that no one else has any right to use this space.

Buy A Crate That Is Of The Right Size

To achieve more success when crate training a puppy you need to first of all purchase the right crate that should also be large enough in size to allow him to move about freely and which will also be large enough for him after he has grown to his full size. Of course, you can also choose to buy a different crate for him once he is fully grown; however, buying a one-size-fits-all crate does have its own uses.

When you begin crate training a puppy you will notice that your puppy will show a certain amount of curiosity regarding his crate and so it will pay to place the crate in a central part of the home where he can sniff it and become accustomed to his crate. Next, you should deposit all of the toys as well as his blankets in his crate and also ensure that the crate is comfortable for him so that he can spend more time in it.

Your puppy will take a certain time to get used to using the crate and so, when crate training a puppy you need to always exercise patience and not try and rush him too much. It is important that you also inculcate in the mind of the puppy that his crate is his second home and not some kind of jail.

In the beginning, crate training a puppy requires placing your puppy into the crate and leaving him there for about fifteen minutes and at the same time ensure that you stay well clear of the crate during this time. After that you can let him out and perhaps give him a treat and also praise him for having used the crate. With repetition, these simple steps should help you succeed in crate training your puppy and you can also gradually allow him to spend more time in the crate till he becomes very accustomed to it.

House training your puppy is a necessity because only after your puppy is properly housebroken can you truly enjoy keeping a pet in your home. After your pet starts to show that he likes to go to his crate to take a nap you can then relax knowing that you have succeeded with crate training a puppy.

Puppy Training Tips: Be Consistent, Gentle And Firm

January 5th, 2009 by PetGuru

One of the best things about housebreaking your puppy is that the whole exercise of puppy training can prove to be a very enjoyable experience. Though it is fun training your puppy, puppy training also offers a good opportunity for you to educate your puppy and this in turn means that you will need to take the whole exercise very seriously. Also, by following the right kind of puppy training tips you will soon come to learn that it is also possible to employ play as an effective tool to teach your young puppy elementary aspects of proper behavior.

Early Start Is Recommended

Essentially, a good puppy training tip will be able to show you three essential aspects to training your puppy and needing to start the training process as early as is possible is one of these aspects. Next, you need to let your puppy understand the meaning of the word “NO” and you pet should be taught that this command must always be obeyed instantly.

Yet another important puppy training tip understands that a puppy is quite attuned to inflecting from the tone of his master’s voice what is being said. So, by showing your displeasure through use of a negative and forceful command you can let the puppy know that he is doing something wrong. The puppy on the other hand will act according to his personality and may growl at you or try and wiggle his way out of the situation. Repeating the “NO” command should help in getting the message across.

Another useful puppy training tip is learning to be gentle though firm with your puppy during the training process and to also be consistent with the training so that your puppy does not get confused by your inconsistent behavior.

There are several puppy training tips available in regard to imparting proper potty training and by using these tips you can greatly simplify the whole training process. One thing that is emphasized in all puppy training tips is understands the importance of timing your training right. If you teach your puppy after he has been caught in the act of doing something wrong chances of success will be greater because puppies have short attention spans and will not be able to correlate actions that took place more than a few seconds ago.

There are also many puppy training tips available to show you that there are many benefits to crate training a puppy. One final puppy training tip worth following is understands that it is imperative that you train your dog to never bit a human being. Though this is a difficult aspect to training your puppy it must be dealt with at the very earliest. Otherwise you might end up fighting battles in court because your puppy went and bit someone.

Only after your puppy has begun to show that he can obey your commands can you then look forward to many pleasant moments in his company.

Is a Career as a Certified Dog Trainer For You?

January 5th, 2009 by PetGuru

There are some careers people are just born to do and there are other careers that may not cross a person’s mind unless it is brought to their attention. A certified dog trainer may be one of these careers. There is a great need by some who need help training their dog. Maybe they do not know how to handle dog aggression or they are losing the battle over puppy training. In either case, a certified trainer can help out by providing discipline, guidance and knowledge.

Becoming a certified dog trainer begins with a love of animals. It requires patience and a desire to interact with the animal. Dog obedience training takes knowledge and a compassionate nature in order for there to be success. Most people do not turn to a certified dog trainer until there is an obvious sign of dog aggression and then the battle begins. Dog training starts when the animal first comes home and continues throughout the life of the canine.

A certified dog trainer understands that the training all begins with understanding the basic nature and structure of a dog. It is important to learn the different breeds in order to understand each dog’s particular traits and learning level. Some dog are more hyper than others and require a special sort of handling skills. The same goes for active breed lines that require special diets and more exercise.

Once the basics of dog behavior are understood, then begins the specialized coursework designed to train a dog through a variety of methods. The instruction will teach the human how to use a variety of instructions in order to train the dog. Two methods include the use of a clicker or through the use of positive reinforcement. Other steps include teaching safety to the owners as well as the dog. It is also very important to learn how to deal with aggressive dog behavior, perhaps because of a past history of violence or dog fighting. Once the coursework is complete, the certified dog trainer is ready to begin working. There are a variety of places to work such as pet supply stores, kennels or even opening up a business. One great example of a trainer is Cesar Millan, who works with troubled dogs and their owners on his hit television show ‘The Dog Whisperer’, which airs on cable.

A certified dog trainer will not punch a clock and you will not find them working day-in and day-out within the confines of an office building. There is the freedom of working outdoors and getting to play with the animals, while being paid. If you decide to work for a company such as Pets Mart then you can get benefits as well. You may never be famous but you will be important to the people you help.

« Previous Entries