Eating grass is something that many dogs indulge in, and few show any sign of being badly affected. Yet it is something that worries a lot of dog owners.

If you are concerned about your dog’s grass eating habit, this article will clear up a few common misconceptions for you.

Why Your Dog Needs His Greens

Unlike cats, dogs are omnivores, meaning they cannot survive on a diet of meat alone. Dogs eat all kinds of vegetable matter, and as grass is so readily available, it stands to reason that it forms part of the diet of most wild canine species. It may even have medicinal properties that they need.

You may have noticed that even if your dog doesn’t normally eat grass, he’ll look for a clump of grass to munch on when he’s feeling unwell. Veterinarians are divided as to why this is. Some believe that dogs eat grass because their stomachs are upset, others insist that their stomachs become upset after eating grass.

Is Grass Harmful To Dogs?

Lots of dog owners worry about this, particularly as their dogs often throw up the grass they eat. There’s really nothing to worry about, eating grass is a natural canine behavior and something that wild dogs have always indulged in.

In fact, a recent study showed that up to 80% of dogs regularly consume grass or other plants. The study also showed that dogs that eat grass regularly are in no way less healthy that dogs who don’t.

Why Dogs Eat GrassMost dogs that eat grass show no outward symptoms of being ill before they do so. In fact, the dog owners surveyed reported that in 90% of cases their dogs were not ill before eating grass. And it seems unlikely that dogs eat grass to make themselves throw up – less than 25% of dog owners surveyed noticed their dogs vomiting after eating grass.

There is, however, evidence to suggest that grass provides an essential source of fiber for dogs. For example, it has been noted that where fiber is added to a dog’s diet, he reduces his grass intake or stops eating grass altogether.

Does Grass Have Any Health Benefits For Your Dog? Okay, so grass isn’t bad for a dog, does that mean it is good?

Grass has very little nutritional value which is why herbivores have to spend almost all of their time grazing just to get the nutrients they need.

So the small amount consumed by a dog probably has virtually no nutritional value. Having said that it must provide some benefit, as vegetable matter is important in an omnivorous diet.

Why then do they sometimes throw up after eating grass? The experts can’t give an answer to that one, but all agreed that eating grass poses no danger to your dog.

Find out more about why dogs eat grass, dog anatomy, dog health and other helpful dog info at Dogs and Dog Training

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Dog vaccinations have come under a lot of scrutiny in recent times. Some experts are of the opinion that annual booster shots should be dumped in favor of a three year cycle. Others contest that annual shots as a must to ensure that a dog is protected against communicable diseases.

While the ideal frequency may be debated, few dispute the fact that vaccinations are a must. Millions of dogs all over the world are vaccinated every year, and only a tiny percentage have any adverse reaction.

The current crop of vaccines we have available may not be perfect, but they do protect your dog against the major diseases. An unvaccinated dog on the other hand is almost certain to become ill at some time, so why risk it? Until there is evidence to support the view that vaccines are ineffective or dangerous, it is definitely a good idea to have your dog vaccinated.

Dog vaccinations protect against the most common canine diseases including, parvovirus, distemper and rabies. The initial shots are given to a puppy between the age of 6 and 8 weeks. Thereafter shots are given at scheduled intervals until the pup is 15 weeks old. Booster shots are then given annually, although some veterinarians recommend once every three years.

The core vaccines are given in combination and are normally referred to as a 5 in 1. This protects against the following diseases;

Canine Distemper: Distemper is a highly contagious and usually fatal disease. Left untreated it causes seizures, convulsions, heart failure, and respiratory failure. It is transmitted by a healthy dog coming into contact with discharge from the eyes or nose of an infected dog.

Canine Hepatitis: Usually spread by the saliva, urine or faeces of an infected dog, this diseases attacks the abdominal organs and is usually fatal within 10 days.

Leptospirosis: Transmitted via the urine of an infected dog, this bacterial disease, targets the digestive system, liver and kidneys, causing severe damage and usually resulting in death.

Parainfluenza: A form of kennel cough that is spread by contact or through the air. Highly contagious.

Parvovirus: An extremely contagious viral disease that has a particularly high mortality rate among young and old dogs. Parvo mainly attacks the intestinal tract, lymphoid tissue, and immune system, usually resulting in death if not treated.

In addition to these core vaccines, your dog will usually also be inoculated against rabies.

Why Dog Vaccinations Are Important

Dog vaccinations are important for a number of reasons, chief of which is the health of your pet. But there are many other valid reasons for vaccinating your dog, some of them required by law.

Many cities require a vaccination certificate as part of their licensing criteria, while you’ll also need to provide proof for international travel or booking into a dog-friendly resort or hotel. All reputable kenneling, dog training and doggy dog care facilities will also ask for proof of vaccination.

These are all valid reasons for having your dog vaccinated, but the most important reason of all is still the quality of life of your pet.

Want to learn more about dog vaccinations, dog care, dog grooming and other interesting dog information? Visit http://www.dogsanddogtraining.com

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As a dog owner, I’m sure you would never deliberately feed your dog poison. But that is exactly what has happened over the last few years. In a number of high profile cases, contaminated dog food has led to the death, or severe illness of hundreds of dogs. Yet, pet owners continue to feed these products to their dogs. Many believe there is any alternative.

If that describes you, read on because in this article I’ll provide some usefull tips for making your own dog food.

It is pretty much accepted that commercial dog food companies fill their foods with all kinds of junk. Some of these ingredients, like the processed grains used as filler, have little nutritional value and are responsible for a whole range of dog allergies and skin ailments.

Worse still, their are the artificial flavorings and colorings. These are generally chemical based, and in some cases have been proven to cause diseases like cancer.Even the meat components contained in these foods are generally extremely low grade and unfit for comsumption.

Of course, not all commercial dog foods should be tarred with the same brush. Some, in particular the premium brands, are of much higher quality than what I’ve described. However, it is doubtful wether they provide the same level of nutrition as a whole food diet, so you may want to consider that for your dog.

Here are 3 quick tips to get you started;

Quality is important. Feed your dog good cuts of unprocessed meat, fresh vegetables and unprocessed fiber, like brown rice. Avoid at all costs, junk food, table scraps and highly processed foods, like white bread.

As an omnivore your dog cannot survive on meat alone, so be sure to include vegetables in his diet. The ideal split should be 1/3 meat, 1/3 vegetables, and 1/3 fiber. You can also feed slightly more meat, at the expense of the other two ingredients if you so wish.

Bland food is easier for your dog to digest, so lay off the spices. In fact, spicy foods will probably just end up giving your dog diarrhea.

Also remember that not all foods that can be safely consumed by humans, are good for dogs.

It’s common knowledge that chocolate is dangerous, but it doesn’t stop there. Many other human foods are harmful, even deadly to your dog.

Onions, garlic, raisins, grapes, macadamia nuts are just some of the foods that fall into this category. Other things, like table scraps and junk food may not be deadly, but are just as dangerous, causing obesity and a plethora of related health problems.

Also be careful when giving your dog bones, as these can splinter and cause intestinal damage if swallowed. Raw bones also carry the risk of salmonella poisoning.

Feeding your dog a whole food diet based on meat, vegetables and fiber is a wise choice, but have a word with your vet before making the change.

Click here to find out more about homemade dog food, dog care, dog behavior and other useful dog advice at http://www.dogsanddogtraining.com

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There are many herbal medicines which claim to stop heartworms. The majority of the treatments promise these herbs function with the dog’s body’s immune system to make an environment where parasites can not live. Nevertheless, none of these web sites provide scientific research to back up their statements. Most notably these types of web sites promote a large number of products. Remaining in business just isn’t evidence that a natural heartworm treatment products work.

Over 70 % of dog owners who make use of natural preventatives don’t share this data with their veterinarian. Several folks believe these treatments do the job, however they are uncomfortable to let their veterinarian know they are making use of these kinds of treatments. Additionally, pet owners which use natural treatments will take their dog to a holistic healer rather than a veterinarian.

Regrettably, many of the figures are usually not accessible concerning these natural treatments because the pet might be treated by the holistic healer rather than a veterinarian. The number of pets which die from these treatments just isn’t tracked unless of course the dog is taken care of by the veterinarian.

The FDA has not yet approved any natural preventative treatment for heart worms. Additionally, a more recent customer update from the FDA advises pet owners to utilize authorised preventative treatments. Until medical research is completed with herbal treatments, there is no definitive evidence these natural treatments will stop a heart worm infection. Additionally, there is absolutely no evidence these natural treatments can kill and expel the mature worms. The only preventative that has a proven track record will be the FDA approved treatments.

Before you make a final decision to utilize natural heartworm preventative treatments, discuss your choice with your dog’s veterinarian. Your veterinarian can clarify the risks of both natural and authorised preventatives. Additionally, your veterinarian more than likely has taken care of numerous dogs which were on natural preventatives. Your veterinarian can talk about his or her knowledge with these treatments.

Dog owners want to make the most effective decisions to keep their own dogs healthy. Regrettably, many of the claims made by suppliers of natural prevention treatments are appealing to pet owners. Only you can decide if it is worth taking a risk with your pet’s well being. Current accepted heartworm prevention medicines are safe and efficient when used correctly. Make certain you discuss your choice with your dog’s vet’s.

For more information on any aspect of heartworms in dogs symptoms, please visit this author’s website, http://heartwormtreatment-fordogs.com the place you will discover very helpful articles on all aspects of this subject, plus additional practical articles on other aspects of dog health - we look forward to seeing you at our site, please be sure to leave us a opinion, or perhaps send your dog’s heartworm story to be published.

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Dog vomiting is quite natural canine behavior. All dogs do it, and some do it frequently, and for a number of reasons.

So before you grab your car keys to rush the dog off to the vet, stop awhile! In most cases, there is no need for concern. Vomiting is just a natural way in which dogs remove unwanted matter from the body.

That’s not to say that you should ignore it completely, because sometimes it can be a symptom of a deeper, more serious problem. The key is to be alert for other symptoms that accompany the vomiting, like diarrhea, lethargy, and loss of appetite.

If you notice these symptoms it’s time to visit the vet, although most likely it is still nothing to be overly concerned about.

Here are some common reasons why your dog may be vomiting;

Eating too quickly - Let’s be honest, some dogs eat as though they believe their food can still run away from them! If your dog does this, feed him smaller meals more often and it will probably sort out the problem.

Eating Grass - Dogs frequently eat grass and the jury is still out as to whether they consume it to induce vomiting, or if consuming it causes them to vomit. Whatever, if your dog eats a lot of grass, he’ll normally throw up soon after.

Eating the wrong things - Dogs that are fed on junk food and table scraps, and dogs that make a habit of raiding the trash can, are always likely to throw up. A healthy diet and preventing access to the trash will sort this out straight away.

When should I worry?

Although vomiting is usually nothing to worry about, it should also not be ignored. The first thing you should be alert to is the frequency. Once in a while is not a problem, once or twice a day merits a veterinary check up.

Also look out for other symptoms, like those mentioned earlier, as well as other unusual signs. Be particularly watchful for blood in the vomit or any strange coloration. If you see this, get your dog to the vet right away.

Vomiting may also have a more immediate cause - your dog may have ingested something poisonous, like a household detergent, a toxic plant, or even a large amount of chocolate. If you believe this to be the case, get your dog to the vet immediately.

How To Prevent Your Dog From Throwing Up

If you have a dog that throws up on a regular basis, there are a number of commonsense measures that you can put in place to reduce it.

Start by feeding your dog a healthy diet. Cut out all table scraps and junk foods and ensure that your dog cannot get into the trashcan. Feed your dog more frequent, smaller meals and add a fiber supplement, so the dog is less inclined to eat grass.

These steps should be enough to reduce dog vomiting, but if not, it is advisable to speak to your vet.

If you want to find out more about dog vomiting, dog care, dog breed info and other helpful dog advice drop by at dogsanddogtraining.com

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One of the key factors behind the survival of canines is their digestive system. For starters, it is adapted to an omnivorous diet meaning the dog can eat a wide variety of foods. Secondly, it’s able to process just about anything the dog eats, and with their poorly developed sense of taste, dogs eat some stuff you don’t even want to know about.

So it should hardly be a surprise that dogs sometimes get diarrhea. In fact, it’s probably a bigger surprise that they don’t get it more often.

Dog diarrhea can have any number of causes including an upset intestinal tract, worms or parasites, anxiety, or more serious diseases. It may also just be an upset tummy, but you can never be sure, so it is best to speak to your vet.

Most likely, it will be nothing serious and the vet will simply prescribe something to clear it up. Alternatively, you may want to consider some natural remedies that are known to be effective.

Here are some effective home remedies for diarrhea. Use these for minor cases, disease related diarrhea obviously requires veterinary treatment.

Homeopathic Medicine

Common homeopathic cures for dog diarrhea include, aloe and arsenicum album. The best remedy to use depends on symptoms like the consistency of the dog’s stool.

Herbal Cures

Bayberry is an infective remedy for clearing up bacterial infections, while catnip is good for reducing flatulence. L-Glutamine and Slippery Elm both help to reduce inflammation of the intestinal walls.

Fiber Rich Foods

Fiber is excellent for softening the stool in the case of constipation, but it is also effective in clearing toxins from the intestines, a common cause of diarrhea.

Feed your dog foods like brown rice, oatmeal and pumpkin on a regular basis and you’ll reduce the chances of diarrhea and other intestinal ailments.

Probiotic SupplementsProbotics are foods that contain live cultures. Introducing these “good bacteria”, to the body restores balance to the digestive system.

There are a number of probiotic powders on the market specifically for dogs. These are generally tasteless, and can be added to food as a supplement.

Bland Diet

If your dog has diarrhea, it is important to keep him nourished and hydrated while he is recuperating. However, you want to avoid any food that is likely to make the problem worse.

Start by withholding all food (but not water) for a day. Then feed a bland diet of rice and boiled skinless chicken, until his condition has stabilized. Lots of water is also required, as dogs with diarrhea can become dehydrated quite quickly.

Although diarrhea is usually trivial it is always best to have your dog examined by a vet. Provided the vet confirms that there is no major medical problem underlying the diarrhea, the methods mentioned above will be effective in clearing it up.

If you want to discover more about dog diarrhea, dog care, puppy care and other helpful dog information pay a visit to http://www.dogsanddogtraining.com

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It has just recently been learned that canines, very much like humans, can have allergies to a type of food or foods in a certain food grouping. Dog allergies to food is among the five more often found forms of dog allergies, and though the dog is usually born with the illness, food allergies in dogs might originate anytime throughout the animal’s life.

The Causes and Warning Signs of a Food Allergy

Dogs will oftentimes experience a reaction to the various forms of foods that they take in. Typically, they simply get a tummy ache which may give rise to vomiting and diarrhea. Food allergies are not like that however, instead of merely having an upset stomach, it’ll trigger itchiness in canines and also the previously cited warning signs of allergies to food: swelling, diarrhea and vomiting. A canine’s itching and scratching can lead to dandruff, eczema, hot spots and perhaps hair loss. In a number of animals, additional indicators of an allergy to food may involve a loss in weight, hyperactivity and perhaps aggressiveness.

In an animal dealing with a food allergy, the immune system will overreact to a particular substance that it typically tolerates causing an allergic reaction. A food allergy is typically brought on by proteins that are found in dairy foods, sugars and wheat as a consequence of ingesting table scraps. Although proteins are the most likely cause of an allergy to food, any variety of food or food constituent can cause an allergic reaction.

How to Spot a Food Allergy

A few years ago, an elimination diet was the only system available to find out whether or not an animal was being affected by allergies to food. The canine was served hypoallergenic dog food that didn’t have the same ingredients that were in the previous diet for about 2 to 3 months. Nowadays, diagnosis can be achieved by a vet employing a quick food allergy test that involves testing run on a small amount of blood obtained from the animal.

How to Treat a Food Allergy

The one cure for an allergy to food is by avoiding the food substance or food that’s causing the allergy. The advisable kind of food for canines coping with a food allergy would be hypoallergenic dog food that is comprised of natural ingredients. This kind of dog food can be fed to your pet for the balance of his lifetime with no worry of your canine’s allergy to food reappearing.

As a result of the dog’s itching, you will in all likelihood need to attend to dog skin problems as well. The vet will ordinarily recommend buying antihistamines and topical ointments. Since taking antihistamines for dog allergies could possibly produce undesired side effects, a natural cure for food allergies in dogs is preferable. There are numerous all natural treatments on the market that have been shown by canine owners to give great results.

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The proverbial saying stating that a dog is a man’s best friend rings true for many people. Children already idolize their four-legged friends from a young age. Unfortunately, this friend is not always as invincible as hoped. Painful Joints In Dogs is just one of various health problems that canines face today.

Joint pain generally refers to inflammation in the animal’s joints. Most cases are as a result of osteoarthritis or hip or elbow dysplasia. Elbow dysplasia is a pet health condition where the elbow joints of the animal do not develop as it should. Experts reckon it is mostly due to genetic factors.

It is usually possible to diagnose this condition through the help of X-rays. Owners with such pets need not be discouraged. The condition can greatly improve in pets that regularly exercise, especially if the diagnosis was made in good time. Pets can also be given medication to help alleviate inflammation.

Hip dysplasia is similar in certain aspects. However, instead of the elbows, it affects the hips and results in abnormal development off the hip sockets. It affects many dogs, especially larger breeds such as Labradors and Golden Retrievers. In severe cases, it can cause crippling lameness.

This condition usually manifests before the dog reaches two years of age. In painful cases, the pet will try to avoid putting pressure on the hips. Some may try to move both hind legs together in order to avoid unnecessary movement of the inflamed hip. Both of these conditions can lead to osteoarthritis, which causes cartilage to degenerate.

Luckily, many things can be done to help relieve joint pain in dogs. Moderate exercises can help manage weight while medication can help reduce soreness and inflammation. It is advisable to consult a veterinary practitioner in order to obtain the best possible treatment for one’s canine friend. Your veterinarian can work with you to develop a treatment plan that will be a good fit for your dog.

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Recognizing dog illnesses isn’t something you should leave to the veterinarian. As with dog training, knowing basic principles then you’ll definitely recognize the symptoms when your dog starts to get sick. This is a quick guide to many of the most typical sicknesses that have an affect on dog health and well being.

1) Arthritis in Dogs

A number of dogs will acquire this degenerative disease in their lifetime - you’ll find it particularly common in more aged dogs, and dogs which avoid getting adequate exercising. Symptoms include things like stiffness inside muscles and joints, and very powerful discomfort in some cases. Regrettably the condition can not be cured, thus you will have to help deal with the signs and symptoms working with pain medication, exercise, and treatments.

2) Epilepsy in Dogs

Epilepsy is often a condition that causes seizures, due to abnormal electrical activity within the brain. If the dog is suffering from a seizure then there’s not much that can be done. Try to keep an eye on him to make certain that he doesn’t hurt himself.

3) Obesity

It is not only humankind who are suffering from obesity - it is becoming an ever more common problem in our pets also. In the dog illnesses, this can be one that calls for you to take most action. You must think carefully about simply how much food you are feeding your pet, what you’re feeding him, and providing him adequate exercise. You will realize that your pet is overweight should you run your hand over his ribs but can’t really feel any ribs through the skin.

4) Diarrhea

There are a number of different reasons behind diarrhea, yet it’s with this set of dog illnesses as a result of how widespread it is. In many cases, adjustments to your dog’s stool could simply just be down to modifying his diet or perhaps very simple stress. Nevertheless, there could also be a more critical cause.

Parvovirus could cause diarrhea that’s usually yellow or yellow/ gray in color, and gets tinged with blood rapidly. This is a viral illness, and around 80% of affected puppies will die if not dealt with. However, the majority of dogs can survive if supplied treatment.

5) Canine Flu

The flu is a very common illness in dogs just as it is in humans. It shares a lot of the identical signs or symptoms, such as a mild fever, runny nose, sneezing plus a cough. It’s contagious, though your pet will usually recover on his own without any medical treatment.

I have listed a selection of the most common dog illnesses. The more you understand your dog’s health, the better position you will end up into decide if he needs extra medical care.

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Many can be easily confused when they first broach the subject of worms in dogs. Do a bit of research can you can have somewhat of an information overload. It is impossible to thoroughly go through this information and decide what is and isn’t relevant.

Most don’t have time to do thorough worms in dogs research. There is enough to worry about with the dog, without becoming an expert in its healthcare.

If this is the case, then here are the three most important things that you should know about worms in dogs.

1. Puppies

Worms in dogs can be particularly harmful to puppies. They do not have the same strength immune systems as fully grown dogs. It is often the case that they are born with worms. The worms will have been passed on by the mother.

A vet should deworm a puppy as soon as they are born. Any worms the pup has will be rid here. This advice should be strongly heeded.

2. Deworming

Dogs should be professionally dewormed annually. This should be done on the same date each year.

Have your dog dewormed regularly, regardless of whether they show any symptoms. Dogs do not display the symptoms of worms until the latter stages of their development. Having the dog annually dewormed will help to maintain the battle against worms in dogs.

3. Children

Human children are at risk from worms in dogs. Again, the reason for this is that children have weaker immune systems than adults. Try to keep children away from dog fesces and keep their hands clean. Failure to do this is irresponsible parenting.

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