First Coast Pet

Archive for December, 2008

For some people it is an offence to have a barking dog around them, they think that dogs should be seen and not heard. This is slightly unfair given that the bark is a dog’s voice and like yourself it uses it to communicate.

Of course barking is your dog's way of talking and many owners would feel there is something missing if their dog was silent and of course there is the guarding duty many owners expect their dogs to perform. In most cases your dog is just trying to talk to you, perhaps he is just happy about something, dog obedience training will help you to find this out for sure.

The problem is that the language barrier between barking dogs and humans is well nigh impenetrable. Therefore, you are forced to resort to the facts of the situation in which your dog is barking and try to understand from its body language just what it is trying to say.

Apart from that many people ask just why do dogs bark? Deciding what is going on here is very tricky, if only dogs could talk a language we understand.

Naturally they will bark when they are happy about something such as greeting you on your return or perhaps they are happy about running around in the park.

Some dogs having barking bred into to them such as toy dogs or sporting breeds where they are trained to bark in order to notify their owners of the presence of a particular quarry being hunted. Other dogs like the guarding breeds are trained only to bark when a threat is perceived.

There are many reasons to explain why a dog barks, these can include something as simple as just being lonely through to it just needing to go to the toilet.

Again the context of the situation will help you to decide the likely cause. But of course it is not fair for you to try to shut the dog up. She may be communicating for a very good reason, you just need to spend some effort in understanding her.

However, dogs are not stupid animals there are situations where they realise that they can use their bark to annoy or force their owner into a particular action. It is important that you communicate to your dog exactly who is boss to stop it learning that barking will make you give in every time it wants something.

For instance you dog may have decided that it is time to play and continues barking until you give in and drop what you are doing to amuse her. The problem here is that the dog then learns that all she has to do is to bark whenever she wants something and you will oblige.

This can get very wearing after a quite short period of time. The best approach would have been to show the dog that it cannot get its own way by giving it the cold shoulder.

Being ignored is not only a human hang up, dogs hate it too so make out to ignore it to show it your displeasure. After repeated actions your dog should eventually get the message.

Naturally play and walks are an essential aspect of owning a dog, but you go when you want to go, play when you want to. This teaches your dog respect and hopefully makes for a quieter household with limited barking dog problems.

Consult a good book on dog obedience training like SitStayFetch to solve many of the problems you will encounter when you are training your dog.

Keeping your dog safe is always a priority. This is why many responsible dog owners purchase an Invisible Fence system.

Invisible Fence is an electronic dog containment system. An electrical wire is laid underground along the perimeter of an area. The dog is fitted with a special electronic collar. When the dog approaches the perimeter, a warning beep sounds. This gives the dog the opportunity to back away from the perimeter. If the dog ignores the beeping, a mild electric shock is delivered via the electronic collar to the dog’s neck.

This technique may sound cruel, but it’s not. The shock is very mild, as the power comes from batteries in the dog’s collar, not from the buried wire. It takes the dog by surprise. And the shock level is adjusted according to the size of the dog — smaller dogs get a much smaller shock.

Note that Invisible Fence, like all electronic pet fences, doesn’t work its magic in a vacuum. The dog must be conditioned to run away from the perimeter when the warning beep occurs. Little flags are placed along the perimeter to act as visual cues during the training, which initially occurs with a leashed dog. The collar is also placed into training (no shock) mode.

To perform the conditioning, the owner approaches the perimeter with the dog. As soon as the dog passes the flags that mark the perimeter, the collar will start beeping. The owner immediately tugs on the leash and walks quickly away from the boundary, calling the dog’s name. With lots of praise, the owner makes it a fun game for the dog.

Done over several training sessions, the dog learns to immediately leave the boundary area as soon as the beeping occurs. Eventually the training is done without a leash and with the collar in its normal mode. If the dog ignores the beeping, the first shock it receives is usually enough to cause it to heed the collar’s warning the next time it approaches the perimeter.

Not every dog needs containment with an Invisible Fence system. But it works surprisingly well for those that do.

dog training school

A dog owner should set his mind in the right frame if he wants to train his dog. This would prevent him from violating any dog rules, an act that could really detriment the dog’s interest on learning.

Following the rules of training will also prevent the owner from doing the things that could harm his relationship with the dog. There are certain rules in collar dog training that must be followed including the following:

Stay focused

Incompletion of a task usually leads to confusion. Ensure to it that every time you give the dog a command, both of you will follow through it. Try not to be distracted whenever you order a command.

If you are commanding your dog to sit. Once you give this command, be sure that both of you will see the end of it. Do not tug on the collar of your dog and stop halfway and be distracted. Always finish one command first then move on to the next.

The dog should sit completely and not just bend his rear legs. If you do not make this happen, the dog will think that next time you give the command it would be okay for him not to complete the task or to ignore it completely. Always stay focused, this way, you would eliminate the possibility of confusion and maximize the obedience to a command.

Rewards and punishments

Many owners are anxious to let their dogs hear a string of praises or be rewarded with several cookies instead of one whenever a command is accomplished. On the other hand, a lot of owners give too many punishments on a single wrong thing that the dog did instead of punishing him just once. Both could adversely affect the training of the dog.

Don’t over emphasize the rewards or punishment due to the dog’s behavior. If you are using praises as reward, do not over praise the dog. Single “good boy” praise will do to recognize that you are in favor of what the dog has done. This should be said immediately after the command is accomplished.

In the same way, a single pulling of the check cord will be enough if the dog did not follow your command. A signal will be sent to the dog to inform them that something is wrong.

The dog will become distracted from learning if you continue to offer rewards or punishment. He would only remember the praises or the punishments and not the thing he did or he did not do.   

End with a positive note

For every training session, make it a point that the training will end with a positive praise. This would make the dog look forward to the next training since the last session fulfilled her need to please you. Also, ensure to it that the last command was accomplished correctly so that the dog is oriented properly to following commands.

Do not lose patience

Often trainers become impatient with the dog when the results are not achieved. Then they do something really stupid that could spoil the training.

Canine dog training should be an enjoyable experience for you and your pet. You should try to determine your pitfalls if you begin to lose your temper and your dog remains disobedient.

Dog training is really a difficult business. If you are not prepared for it, you could get help from dog training classes and instructors.

dog training school

The truth is there are so many dog obedience schools that offer their services to anyone willing to pay them. The problem though is not all schools will meet your standards or your expected guarantees. Here are some points of considerations when trying to choose a good school for training your dog.

Reputation

Reputation has different meanings to different people- for some it is the capacity to yield good results regardless of the means, for others it is the popularity of the school itself which makes it highly recommended. But reputation, in general, is a good gauge as to how popular the name of the training school and the appeal of the training methods it uses. It also reflects how many people have trusted on them.

You could ask around to find a school with a good reputation or check local websites. Veterinarians usually have several names of schools and trainers to give you, your dog breeder could also provide you with some references and ASPCA or the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals can provide a list of registered names that are sure to use humane methods approved by the organization.

Different Aspects of Training

Any self-respecting training school uses responsible dog agility training methods. The school must have equal concern to your dog as you do, treating your dog one of their own. Beware of schools that employ trainers who still use old training methods such as yelling or hurting the dogs for there exists many of this kind.

A good school should use humane techniques that promote positive training and limits the use of risky negative reinforcement techniques. The former covers praises and the use of dog treats in recognition of the desirable behavior while the negative reinforcement techniques include practices like alpha rolling, choking and yelling.

Sufficient knowledge

The latest training methods has to have a mix of traditional and the latest techniques for the dog. Having extensive orientation in this field would optimize the capacity of your dog to learn since it would be exposed to all possible trainings to which it could respond well.

In researching for training schools, secure information regarding the latest seminars that the trainers attended to and the up-to-date facilities they have. Remember that you would pay hefty amounts to get your dog trained, it is but proper that you and your dog receive proper compensation for your investment.

The school’s exposure to widespread training is another thing that you should keep in mind. There are schools that claim of specialization while others advertise that they have sufficient knowledge on all fields of dog training. Your choice should depend largely on the scope of knowledge the training school has.

Classroom Arrangement

There are two different classes of rooms setup providing private lessons. The main advantage of the group class is that it promotes socialization and good behavior in the presence of other dogs. When training alongside his dog, the handlers’ mistakes or techniques could benefit the owner.

On the other hand, private trainings could not yield these advantages. There is also a good chance that the transfer of learning and obedience to command given by persons other than the trainer is poor.

It is indeed difficult to select the right dog training school for your dog, so make certain to choose wisely.

Healthy Cats

If you have never had a cat before, you may be surprised to learn how often they can have health problems.

No matter what breed of cat you own, cat health is one of the major topics you will have to know about.  There are certain problems with every breed, some of which may be hereditary, but there are also certainly others than can be prevented easily. Worms are a very commomn and recurring problem no matter what breed of cat it may be.

Cats are more susceptible to getting Tapeworms, Roundworms and Hookworms. You should contact your vet and have your cat tested for worms if he or she has problems gaining weight, fleas, or if you see white spots in his or her stool. Although they can be treated with medicine, worms can prove to be fatal if they are left untreated.

Hairballs are the most common health problem for cats. Cats often swallow loose hair from their coats during their daily self grooming rituals. On occasion, this loose hair will gather into a ball and become lodged in the digestive tract instead of passing through in your cats stool. When your cat starts to cough and hack, he is normally coughing up a hairball – as a popular cat owner manual confirmed recently. Although it can be rather disgusting in the end, most cats can dislodge hairballs without any problems. Although rare, a hairball can occassionally become lodged in the cats intestines, this creates blockage.

Blockages should be taken very seriously, as they can be fatal if not treated promptly. Not eating properly, having a dull coat, and blockage are three factors that could lead to your cat being constipated. If you notice any of these symptoms, you should take him to the vet immediately.

By brushing your cat several times a week removes excess hair preventing hairballs and blockages. Urinary tract infection, also a common health problem with cats, can be controlled by feeding him food designed to control hair balls.

Pee hole infections happen more with boy cats that haven’t been fixed, but girl cats can have it too. This problem is usually the culprit when your cat(s) suddenly stops going to their litter box. One symptom that your cat may have a UTI is strong smelling urine, and if this symptom is there they need to go to the vet. Your vet can treat the problem with medicine, and make recommendations to help avoid this problem in the future.

In the past, feline leukemia was the biggest cause of death in cats. These days however, there are vaccines available that can treat the disease. To treat the disease, your cat will need to be given the shot before he or she is exposed. Even though death doesnt happen immediately, cats that are exposed to feline leukemia normally don’t have a long life span. If you know your cat has feline leukemia, you should never allow other cats around him, as the virus is highly contagious.

To protect your cat, you should always make sure that you take him to the vet for his regular check ups. If you keep him up to date on his vaccinations, he should lead a healthy and productive life. Although some health problems can’t be avoided, most of them can. If you take cat care seriously, take him to the vet and keep him healthy he will be your companion for years to come.

There is no controversy about the United States being a nation that loves their pets. For many people, the family pets are as important as any other member of the household and are often considered to be the best friend of their owners. In recent years, one of the best innovations in pet health care has been the introduction of pet insurance online.

When the time comes to reassure and safeguard your pets health, it is very helpful to have pet health insurance coverage in place. Such insurance plans can help to offset the high costs of pet surgery and other veterinary pet procedures that may come up because of serious illness or accident. Before health insurance for animal welfare was available, often people would have to choose between the health of their beloved pet and other family financial needs. Now because pet insurance is widely available on the internet, individuals can take care of their pets in a convenient and affordable way.

One of the side benefits of having access to pet insurance online is that it drives down the general prices of pet health insurance. With the online market, there is now greater demand for such coverage and the cost of acquiring new customers is reduced. In addition, this has attracted new companies into the pet insurance arena which has increased the level of competition in this marketplace and which has helped to keep prices competitive as well.

Many pet lovers appreciate the convenience of being able to shop online for their pet plan. For those who are frequent and avid internet users, it is a significant time-saver to be able to research options, coverage packages, the background of the pet insurance company and different pricing comparisons.

When choosing to purchase pet insurance on the internet, there are a wide variety of factors that will impact the premium and effect the monthly cost to your family. You can choose how extensive you want your pet health insurance coverage to be. You can opt to go with a plan that covers just about every pet health contingency from routine veterinary visits to emergency care. You can conversely go with a less expensive plan that is designed to cover the major and most expensive types of events such as cancer treatments, surgical procedures and care for any type of accident.

Another way to adjust the cost of pet insurance is to check what options you have for the deductible. The lower the deductible is, the higher your pet health insurance premium will be. If you are comfortable with a higher deductible, then you will be able to save some money on your monthly premiums.

Additionally, you can also look into with the animal care insurance provider to see if they provide a range of co-pays. This is the amount that you pay for any veterinary visit regardless of other coverage and the reason for the vet visit. Choosing a higher co-pay amount will also help to reduce your monthly premium. Having a good feel for how many veterinary pet visits you expect to make on a monthly basis will help you to know what makes the best sense for your budget, with regard to the co-pay options you have.

Some companies that offer online pet insurance will allow you to choose how often you make your premium payments. While many people like the convenience and the ability to work the amount into their monthly budget, sometimes it is worthwhile to see if you can save money by making other payment arrangements. Some pet insurance companies offer discounts if you pay your premium quarterly, semi-annually or annually.

One of the best things about researching pet insurance online is the amount of information you can quickly gather for comparison shopping purposes. It is fast and easy to find out what your various coverage options are for veterinary pet health insurance and to see how the different options affect the pricing of the insurance premium. With such information at hand, it is now a fairly simple process to design just the right coverage for your family pets, that will meet your budget and assure their long-term health and well-being.

To learn more click here Low Cost Pet Insurance also head on over to Arizona Pet Insurance also Pet Insurance Ratings

In a dramatic press update on 27 August 2008, Sharp Corporation unveiled its latest technological weapon against bird flu! Incorporated in its ionic air purifier, the Plasmacluster Ion Technology (more on this in a later post) has just been scientifically proven to be 99.9% effective in eliminating the bird flu virus known as H5N1.

Every now and then, the press reminds us that bird flu is the prime suspect to cause mankind’s next pandemic. Pandemic does not just sound terrifying. It is. That’s when a deadly virus turns totally global, in a very negative sense. 50 million people may die in a global pandemic. No way, you say. But its happened before, during the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic! That deadly killer flu was confirmed on 5 October 2005 by the World Health Organization (WHO) to be caused by H1N1, a bird flu virus.

Do I have your attention now? Is it time to PANIC?

Not now. Updated on 10 Sep 2008, WHO statistics shows the death toll at 245 from 1996 when the H5N1 virus was first identified in China. So what’s the fuss? Mutation of the bird flu virus to achieve human-to-human transmission capability is the ultimate horror of the scientific community. As of today, there has been only one probable case of human-to-human transmission recorded in Thailand in September 2004. But if (it seems the virus has not reached the “when” stage) the dreaded virus mutation takes place, you can expect pandemonium on a global scale.

With increasing momentum. many countries are conscientiously preparing for the worse (more on this in a later post). At the individual level, we should start making preparations too.

Ok, so what has the Sharp ionic air purifier to do with all this. Isn’t it just another ionic air purifier? Yes, it’s ordinary in that it takes care of the usual stuff that we look for in an air purifier – dust, dirt, smoke, dander, pollen, cuisine and pet odours, pollutants, allergens etc. If there is really a tested defence shield against a deadly virus, why not? That’s what Sharp is claiming, get the all-in-one package with their Plasmacluster Ion Air Purifier.

The next obvious question for the value-conscious, would be “yes, that makes a whole lot of sense but at what cost”? Here again, Sharp claims that it’s at no extra cost! Sharp contends that it is cheaper than any other ordinary ionic air purifier when measured over 5 years. A case of over-delivering by Sharp? But, how is this possible in this nothing-is-for-free world?

Well, in promotional materials, using the Plasmacluster Ionic Air Purifier Model FP-N40CX as the basis, Sharp contends that it is much better value for money as there is no filter replacement costs for the first 5 years. At first sight, the typical competitor’s upfront cost of US$160 looks cheap compared to Sharp’s US$399. But add in the annual replacement filter replacement costs of US$100 and the total outlay for the competing ionic air purifier comes to US$560.

Feedback on relevant data on Sharp or its competitors will be very much appreciated. Just email me if you have actual numbers.

In the meantime, I will study the Sharp Plasmacluster Ion Technology more closely. Now is the time to research, while bird flu is still not quite at pandemic proportions.

Don’t let other things in life lead you to procrastinate. I have been there. It was like a horror movie that ran for months. Paranoia abounded in crowded places even as people commuted to work on buses and MRT trains. Taxis cruised empty as stories were told of the infected travelling in them to hospital. It was near pandemonium in many Asian cities as pandemic fears took hold. In case you have not heard, the year was 2003. The SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) virus originated in Asia and infected 8,096 people around the world, resulting in 774 fatalities. We all know that being well prepared is half the battle won.

Watch this space as we track exciting developments in our pursuit of safe, pure and clean air with nothing more than an ionic air purifier.

To easily receive updates on new articles, subscribe to The Ionic Air Purifier Blog today.

In a time when there seems to be almost constant talk about the issues surrounding health care coverage for families in the United States, there is an insurance product that is often overlooked. Pet health insurance is designed to cover the veterinary costs for the health care of the four-legged members of the family. If your family includes one or more family pets, then seeking out policy information from a reputable pet insurance company might make good economic sense.

Just as the human members of the family need and deserve adequate health care, so do your pets. Household pets and even livestock such as horses, cattle and exotic animals are all subject to any number of illnesses and accidents that threaten their health and longevity. In fact, in the last decade or so there has been a significant increase in the incidence of cancer and other serious diseases in domestic pets and other animals. Because of this, it is a wise choice to seek out pet insurance coverage.

Securing pet health insurance coverage from a reputable and reliable company can be of enormous benefit to a family, especially families with many pets in the household. Such a pet plan can guarantee protection against financial hardship for a family if they are faced with large veterinary pet bills. The stress and anxiety that a family is put under if they cannot afford a life-saving procedure for their animal can be devastating.

In recent years, veterinarian care has expanded and there are more diseases and illnesses that can now be treated. With the expansion of care, there has also come an increase in associated costs, very similar to the rise in health care for humans. The good news is that this shift has lead to more interest in pet health insurance and an increase in pet insurance company coverage options that are now available. In addition, there are also more companies offering pet insurance, increasing the competition and thereby keeping the cost in check.

No matter which pet plan company you select to carry your pet insurance coverage, the reputable companies will strongly recommend that you take steps to try to prevent illness so that your pet can enjoy health and well-being to the greatest degree possible. The best pet insurance plans will cover wellness care, or preventative care procedures. This would include vaccinations, health screenings and other types of routine care that should be taken care of as advised by your trusted veterinarian. Also, new kittens or puppies introduced to the family should have a visit to the vet’s office for their first examination within 48 hours of bringing them into the home.

In most cases, your veterinarian will have you bring your new pet back to the office to get booster vaccinations three to four weeks later. In addition, preventative care routines dictate that you return for annual vaccinations and booster shots for the long-term benefit of all the pets in the household. These costs can add up to several hundreds of dollars a year, especially if there are multiple pets in the household. Before choosing your insurance company, be sure that they offer coverage for preventative care.

While it is often tempting to try to save money with cheap pet insurance, in the long-run it is best to select a pet insurance company that operates under the philosophy of wellness and preventative care. This type of coverage plan for your pet health insurance might cost a few more dollars per month, but it will assure that essential procedures are taken care of for your pet even when the family budget might not be able to handle veterinary expenses.

To find out additional information Pet Insurance For Pre Existing Conditions also click here Pet Dental Insurance and more information at Quickcare Pet Insurance

If you’re a pet afficionado likely you are knowledgable of a ordinary issue that affects cats:  cat hairballs.  But how much do you know of a hairball’s indications, sources, and therapies?

What Causes Hairballs?

Hairballs are created by the course top of a feline’s tongue pulling out free hair during the process of grooming themselves.  This hair is then swallowed and drawn into the digestive tract.  In the ordinary situation, this hair wouldn’t get digested, but would get excreted when the kitty uses the litter box or goes outside.  Of course, kitties are hunters, and are evolved to be able to handle swallowing fur, like from some poor rat it catches.   When it congeals into a ball, the feline will probably not enjoy the messy experience of barfing it back up.  In some situations however, this might not take place and the hairball might end up trapped inside your pet, sadly bringing about major health issues.

Cat Hairballs and Cat Health

Hairballs of cats are enough of a pain in their own right, but can in addition instigate a few related issues, speedily becoming unsafe if not got rid of or resolved promptly.  Additionally the obvious and irritating vomiting, of course, the unexpelled hair can induce digestion problems and constipation.  Your feline may stop eating and end up lethargic as the hairball increases in size, while your pet are still unable to expell it.  Their intestines can bloat and this can obviously cause many kinds of unwelcome concerns that you’d certainly not want be stuck with.  This condition could even end up needing surgical intervention to remove the hairball, which is a pretty big financial impact and risk to your feline, particularly considering the simplicity of preventing the problem in the first place.  Left alone, it could end up in a fatal condition.

Treating Hairballs

Cats naturally attempt to self treat by puking.  They can accomplish this by consuming grass, which usually causes cats to throw up due to the irritating fiber content.  Other possibilities to eliminate hairballs in cats use petroleum or mineral oil based substances made to coat the intestinal tract so as to ease the natural elimination of the hairball.  Products such as Laxatone or Petromalt hairball remedy have been made to prevent hairballs in cats.  They are a semi-solid substance that you administer to your felines before meals.  This eases the obstacle through the digestive process and acts in a manner very helpful to ameliorate non-hairball related constipation also.  They are purchasable in a array of flavors like tuna or catnip flavoring.  One dose daily for 2 or 3 days, and your concern will be solved.

Hairball Prevention

Hairball prevention is accomplished by a few different means, some of them complementary.  One is a dab of Laxatone or Petromalt two or three times a week.  Laxatone tends to be highly thought of by veterinarians and pet owners alike. There are also certain “hairball prevention” diets available.  A major percentage of hairball prevention is always proper grooming.  Be sure to brush your short-haired cats but comb the long-haired cats often.  They love it and it’s a fantastic way to spend time making sure your animal gets happy and healthy.

Certainly, you are easily aware of Feliway, the feline pheromone product that makes amazing things for ameliorating your cat’s stress and changing a crazy cat haven significantly more relaxed and eliminating inappropriate urination, at least by the non-humans, that is! You’ve acquired a diffuser and now require a Feliway refill so as to make the system completely operational.

A Feliway diffuser refills unit is simply the essential oils distilled in a liquid form in a glass bottle having the spray solution. These are mostly put together in a 6 pack package, for bulk buying. When installed into the diffuser unit and plugged into a wall outlet, the element warms up in order to cause evaporation, moving in the location. Each piece can cover about six sq m. You must ensure they are not set behind curtains or furniture, because this will stop the evaporate from moving throughout the room and eliminating the benefit you get from utilizing them at all. You will also want to be sure that the evaporator is cleared to the air on account of the fact the diffuser can end up quite warm and you must be sure this does not end up a problem. Used safely, they are quite beneficial to for cat health care issues.

Each Feliway diffuser refills package is good for a length of some 4-6 weeks. It’s a helpful means to keep continuous amounts of the easing and soothing cat pheromones constantly circulating throughout your animal-friendly areas. Use of a few different diffusers located throughout your home will help to keep the feline population content, relaxed, and unstressed, which helps keep you the same. Because of this the 6 pack Feliway diffuser refill, which gives 10 fl oz total measure, and makes it better to buy and have sent. It’s much easier to order in bulk, instead of needing to order solitary packages more often.

The units are usually listed for sale combined with the diffuser, though it is simple enough to locate them available separately as well, if you already bought that unit and merely require the Feliway diffuser refill by itself, or of course the six pack packages that are also quite usually found.