When you begin training, dog training aids are a great way to get started. Crates are a fantastic way to allow your dog to feel safe, and although it may seem like a cage to us, to a dog it actually makes them feel more secure. A crate is one training aid you won’t want to be without.

The other aid you wont want to be without is treats. Find out what your puppy loves best, and then give it to him for doing good things! Nothing is more effective.

Most of all enjoy it – these first few months a magical time and allow you to buuild a lifelong bond with your dog.

Animal shelters in general give homes to those pets that are lost or abandoned by their former owners. Sometimes depending on the condition of the dog when it is brought into the shelter it may have to be put down – although the shelter will always do the best it can to keep the animal healthy and find a new loving owner. This varies from shelter to shelter, with some having a time limit on new ownershiop before the dog is put down while others will keep any dog that isn’t in distress due to injury or illness.

To help dog shelters you could could consider adopting a dog rather than buying a puppy, or by donating to help them stay open. To find out more, have a read of 100 ways to help a dog shelter.

For every person concerned about, dog health, diarrhoea symptoms should be the first things they should attempt to learn.  Given the fact that when it comes to dog health it is one of the most common medical conditions that plague our beloved pets, knowing the different dog diarrhoea symptoms is essential for early determination and treatment of the same.

What are the dog diarrhoea symptoms?

- The dog passes stool more than 5 times in a day.
- The stool is watery in nature.
- The stool emits an unusually foul smell.  Most stool samples, of course, smell bad, but stool sample from a dog suffering from diarrhoea smell like spoiled food in many cases.
- The stool often has light color, usually yellowish.

Diarrhoea Considered As Common

In general, diarrhoea isn’t considered as a grave medical condition that will imperil the dog’s health.  This is because dog diarrhoea can be brought about by common causes which are quite easy to remedy.

- The dog may have eaten more than he should have, in which case, adjusting the amount of intake would be in order.
- The dog may have eaten something he shouldn’t have, in which case, monitoring what he eats and monitoring the substances he interacts with would be prudent solutions.
- A new kind of food may have been introduced to your dog and his system is not quite accommodative for the same, in which case, a gradual introduction should be resorted to.
- The dog may be stressed because of a new environment or changes in an old one, in which case, you can help him relax.
- The dog may have eaten some cheap, low quality pet food which his tummy’s not receptive to, in which case, a change of diet is in order.

Diarrhoea Can Cause Considered As Abnormal And Be Potentially Dangerous

Not all dog diarrhoea causes are harmless, however.  The diarrhoea itself may indicate a far graver medical condition that demands immediate professional attention.

- If the dog loses weight, begins to vomit, passes gas, and his stool is accompanied by dark blood, then he may be suffering from dog diarrhoea that’s targeting his small intestines.
- If the dog loses weight, begins to vomit and his stool is accompanied by red blood that may even look fresh, then he may be suffering from dog diarrhoea that’s targeting his large intestines.
- Common diarrhoea symptoms may even be caused by worm infestation, which is especially true for puppies.  Worms are parasites that may deprive your pet of the nutrients he needs.
- If the dog begins to vomit or choke, he may have swallowed a foreign object that needs to be extracted from his system.
- An old dog suffering from diarrhoea may have developed a tumor.

Dog Health Diarrhoea Remedies

Determining the cause – or even the probable cause – for your dog’s diarrhoea is, naturally, the first step.  The dog health diarrhoea remedy would depend on what caused the condition, after all, things which we have discussed in an earlier section.

Fasting is likewise a good way to detoxify your dog’s system.  Do not feed him for 12 hours.  Observe if his stool improves.

Pumpkin is also an excellent cure for common diarrhoea, as this improves control over the dog’s bowel movement.  However, make sure that you choose canned pumpkins which are expressly safe for canines.

During the course of the dog’s diarrhoea, try to feed him with food that is easily digestible.  This will help his system cope up with the difficulties brought about by the condition.  Boiled chicken breast, shredded if possible, is a popular “feel good” delicacy for canine companions during such a period.

The surest dog health diarrhoea remedy, of course, remains to be a trip to the vet.

When people suffer from allergies, the symptoms are quite obvious.  Sneezing, flu-like signs, sudden appearance of rashes, and the likes are the common human allergic reactions.  Dog allergy symptoms, on the other hand, are more difficult to pinpoint because dog behaviour is very much different from ours.

However, a close observation of the signs that our dogs exhibit will help us come up with an educated approximation as to what may be bothering them.

The Common Dog Allergy Symptoms

The following dog allergy symptoms may not be dog allergy symptoms at all.  They may indicate conditions other than allergen-triggered problems.  However, these are the commonly observed manifestations when it comes to dogs suffering from allergies.

These commonly observed dog allergy symptoms are classified into 3 groups of allergies.

The following are dog allergy symptoms caused by skin allergens:

- Dog sneezes a lot.  How much is “a lot?”  Observe the sneezing dog for ten minutes.  If he sneezes more than 5 times within the said period, then chances are, he may be suffering from a cold or he may be suffering from an allergy.
- Dog starts to cough, and the cough is accompanied by intermittent sneezes.
- Dog’s eyes start to become watery, and such a symptom is accompanied by either sneezing, coughing or both.

The following are dog allergy symptoms caused by inhaled allergens:

- Dog starts to itch at an alarming frequency.  That a dog will scratch a spot or two is normal.  But if the dog scratches multiple spots most of the time, then something may be triggering the itch.
- Dog starts to bite his tail with alarming frequency.
- Dog starts to develop rashes, which often start to manifest on the area underneath the point where his legs are attached to his torso.  The area around his ears can also be starting points of such irritation.

The Following are dog allergy symptoms caused by ingested allergens:

- Dog starts to vomit.
- Dog acquires diarrhea.
- Dog starts to cough or choke up.

Determining Dog Allergy Symptoms Will Help Us Determine The Type Of Relief Needed

Dog allergy symptoms caused by skin allergens will tell us that preventive measures should be taken to eliminate substances which tend to irritate our dogs’ skin.  Fleas are the usual suspects.  Hence, anti-flea products should be resorted to.  Anti-flea products come in many forms.  Flea collars, flea sprays, and flea shampoos are just some of the popular types of anti-flea solutions in the market today.  Efforts to eliminate fleas should be doubled during summer because such is the season when fleas multiply at a frightening rate.

Dog allergy symptoms caused by inhaled allergens tell us that we should clean the areas that our dogs frequent.  Vacuum cleaning is a recommended solution, as this will get rid of the microscopic substances that may be triggering the allergies.

Dog allergy symptoms caused by ingested allergens tell us that we should closely monitor our dog’s diet and change certain delicacies which our canine companions may not be receptive to.

In all cases, a visit to the vet will ensure that proper determination and treatment of the canine allergy will be achieved.

First of all, you need to realise that the crate must be a place for the dog to feel safe, secure and relaxed. That means you should never use the crate as a punishment. If your dog starts to see the crate as a negative place to be then all the benefits of having a crate trained dog will be lost. Also remember that while the cage might seem like a cruel cage to you, your dog won’t see it like that as long as you make it comfortable!

How To Crate Train A Dog

1. First of all you want your dog to get used to the crate. You can do this by leaving the crate in a prominent place with the door open. Don’t force the dog inside, just let it explore the crate naturally. Make it a safe and comforting place by putting soft bedding inside and maybe a few toys.

2. Once your dog is at ease with the crate then you could try putting a treat by the door. When your dog takes the treat give it praise. Repeat this over time, each time moving the treat further back into the crate.

3. Once your dog seems to be comfortable inside the crate, try slowly shutting the door for a short period of time. Repeat this with gradually longer times with the door shut. Eventually try leaving the room with the door shut.

Remember that it’s vital the crate is as comfortable as possible for the dog. Also remember that if your dog whines when you first shut the door, don’t open it again until it’s silent.

Crate training a dog should be one of the first things you should do with a new puppy because it has so many benefits.

Symptoms Of Urinary Tract Infections

• If your pets urine has a strange or different smell to usual
• Your pet is in obvious discomfort when urinating
• There is blood in the dogs urine
• If your dog is urinating indoors or in places it knows it shouldn’t

In general you should look for any sign that there is a chance in how your dog urinates. This change will often be easy to notice. It is important though to keep track of your dogs urination habits and routines to make sure nothing is wrong.

Diagnosis Of Urinary Tract Infections

If you suspect your dog has a UTI then you should always contact your vet straight away. He or she will be able to advise you what the problem may be and how to fix it.

To diagnose your dogs UTI your vet will take a urine sample. This sample will then be tested for any bacteria that would cause the discomfort or other symptoms. If the sample shows a postitive match for a UTI then treatment will begin.

Treatment For Urinary Tract Infections

In most cases urinary tract infections in dogs can be treated by a course of antibiotics prescribed by your vet.

You should never try to provide antibiotics for your dog without first consulting your vet.

How To Prevent UTIs

There are several things you can do to help prevent urinary tract infections in dogs. The first is to make sure your dog drinks enough water every day and doesn’t get dehydrated. You should also make sure that your dog gets the opportunity to urinate regularly throughout the day to “clear out” the bladder and prevent bacteria building up.

What causes bad dog breath?

In most cases dog breath is caused by a build up of plaque. Just like in humans, mouth hygiene is important for dogs.

If plaque is left to build up to dangerous levels it can cause more serious infections. Making sure your dogs mouth is hygienic is very important.

How can I cure dog breath?

In many cases simply brushing your dogs teeth several times a week can go a long way towards curing dog breath. Most dogs won’t like their teeth being brushed straight away but if you do it from as young as possible they are more likely to accept it.

If you try to brush your dogs teeth without it getting used to you being around its mouth first then don’t expect much co-operation from the dog. Instead, build it up slowly and make sure whenever your are handling the dogs mouth it is in a relaxed and comfortable environment.

You should also make sure you use a specially made dog toothpaste as they are flavoured in a way dogs will enjoy.

First of all when researching the best dogs with children you need to think about the child’s safety. You don’t want to have a nervous or over-excitable dog around small children as there is always the chance of the child being scratched or even knocked over. This doesn’t mean that all big dogs are not right for families with small children however. Larger breeds can often be fantastic with children, especially dogs such as the Labrador or Golden Retriever.

You also need to think of the dogs safety and health. Smaller dogs always run the risk of being hurt or injured by overzealous child’s play. Bigger children may even fall onto and crush the small dog in extreme cases.

There are many dogs that can potentially be great with children, some small and some large. A few of the best dogs with children are:

• Labrador Retriever
• Golden Retriever
• Collie
• German Shepherd
• Basset Hound
• Beagle
• Most mixed breeds

Choosing the right breed for your family is extremely important, but there are also many other factors involved that can affect the pets ability to interact with kids. Good obedience training is a must for any dog, but is especially important for a dog around small children. In fact, getting your children involved in the dogs training can be a great way to build up a relationship between the pet and kids.

However it is a sign that all is well with the dog’s digestive system. If the dog is capable of leaving some stool on the kitchen floor or on the living room carpet or the doormat on the front door, it can only mean that he’s eating well and he’s breaking down his intake just as efficiently.

A constipated puppy, on the other hand, can be an indication of some alarming possibilities with regards to the dog’s health.

Worse, a constipated puppy – if left unattended – may very well be a very sick puppy in due time.

Is Your Constipated Puppy In Danger?

Nothing in this article should be taken to mean that a constipated puppy should immediately cause alarm.

Canine constipation is quite a normal occurrence, as common as constipation in humans. A constipated puppy may be suffering such a condition because of stress, as is the case when he is away from the toilet spot he has become familiar with. A constipated puppy may likewise have eaten something inedible which has caused havoc on his digestive system. Something as seemingly harmless as a bone, surprisingly, isn’t really fit for consumption.

The most common cause of dog constipation is lack of exercise which affects the rate of the pup’s metabolism and putting into disarray the scheduling of his body’s waste disposal system.

All of these may not seem that grave.

However, a constipated puppy may also be suffering from a very serious condition such as heavy worm infestation. Or he may be suffering from a prostate disease. Or he may even be suffering from a severe intestinal disorder.

Now these possibilities demand immediate medical attention, so if your puppy is constipated for more than 24 hours you should always visit a vet immediately.

When To Worry About A Constipated Puppy

Indeed, even if you are saddened by the plight of your constipated puppy, his condition is generally harmless. However, if his constipation is accompanied by the following symptoms then there may be a greater problem:

- When constipation is accompanied by chronic vomiting.
- When instead of disposing waste through his anus, the pup releases some blood.
- When the puppy refuses to eat for more than 3 days and he is not within his teething period.
- When constipation lasts for more than a week.

Prolonged constipation will trap some dangerous toxins in your puppy’s system. Given his still fragile internal defence mechanisms, these toxins may potentially be fatal for your pet.

How To Cure A Constipated Puppy

The most instinctive thing to do is to induce stool disposal. The safest way to do this is by introducing fibre to your dog’s diet. You can sprinkle a little serving of oat-based supplements with his usual food. One to two tablespoons of oat bran, for example, will usually be enough to regularize your dog’s potty schedule in less than a week.

Ample water supply should also be made available to the constipated pup at all time. Ensure that the water is clean. Most dogs suffer from constipation because they become dehydrated.

If constipation is persistent, you may want to expedite matters by using a dog-friendly mild laxative on your constipated puppy. Always consult your vet first though.

For a long term solution, feed your puppy with quality dog food and make sure that he has the opportunity to engage in regular exercise. 30 to 35 minutes of walking per day will be enough to keep his metabolism running at a healthy and efficient pace.

A constipated puppy who may be suffering from a grave medical condition as indicated by any of the symptoms we have discussed earlier will have to be brought to a vet. Only a veterinarian can identify with certainty the problem that’s plaguing the constipated puppy, and only he can prescribe the proper remedy.

Remember that if you suspect there is something wrong with your dog ALWAYS take it to the vet immediately. The information in this article was not written by a vet and should not be taken as medical advice.

1. A Change in Behaviour
If your dog is noticeably acting different to usual then this could be a sign there is something wrong. In some cases this could be anxiety or another emotion over a situation change, but in general behaviour changes indicate pain or an illness. As you know your dog better than anyone it should be obvious if your dogs behaviour changes, but it always helps to keep an eye out. Especially look for signs of fatigue, loss of appetite, loss of balance or anxiety.

If your dogs behaviour change lasts for more than a couple of days then you should always visit the vet to get a professional opinion.

2. Signs Of Pain
If your dogs shows obvious discomfort by biting or licking a certain area repeatedly then this could also be a sign of illness or pain. A dog in pain may also cry out or whine. Sometimes this will cause a change in behaviour too.

This symptom of pain in dogs is often caused by an injury but can also be caused by various illnesses. You should always visit your vet if your dog is in pain.

3. General Illness Symptoms
Apart from the way the dog acts there are many other external symptoms of illness. These include red eyes or swelling, ear discharge, a runny nose, coughing, diarrhoea, hair loss, weight loss, vomiting and many more. If you regularly groom your dog then you should notice these problems quickly. Once you do notice them visit a vet immediately to get a diagnosis.

If your dog is ill then the medical costs can be huge and difficult to pay. For that reason you should consider getting pet insurance. It can be a real help when your dog gets ill, so don’t overlook it.