Aqua Articles

By Bowe Packer

There are many of you who have treasured to bring a nice cuddlesome dog home as a pet. There are different ways that you can go about the business of selecting your future pet but you may want to think about adopting a dog. Before you can officially adopt a dog there are certain items that you will need to take into consideration.

Now I know that pets play on our emotions and make it very challenging to make a decision based on providing a good home for the dog. Do yourself a favor and try to take into consideration the following.

The first consideration should be what kind of dog will be right for your home and your lifestyle. This is very important to consider as some dogs are actually suited for patrolling large compounds and other types of dogs have stacks of surplus energy that should be worked off in a regular active routine.

In addition when you are going to adopt a dog you will have to think about the full size of your new pet and if your home can accommodate your dog”s environmental needs. For instance you need to realize if a full size Great Dane will be pleased living in a small country cottage or trailer house.

The other item that you must consider is the food that you will need to give your new pet. As each dog is different in temperament and size you will need to purchase the right type of food for your dog. For this rationality adopting a dog involves knowing something about the breed and what kind of food and environmental issues that are necessary for the future well being of your new pet.

The research of the breed doesn”t have to be never ending, long drawn out process. Just enough information so that you feel comfortable knowing that your home and environment will provide the needs of your new dog.

You can find some of this information from books and the internet. However before you start looking for this information you will need to see the assorted breeds. From this data you can make a realistic conclusion if you are capable of caring for a Chihuahua, a Labrador, a German Shepard, or even a mixed breed.

Once you have looked at the assorted dogs you can find a pet adoption center where you can find many different breeds of dogs. From these places you should be able to adopt a dog that is in need of lots of care and love. You can ask for information about the dog that you want to adopt.

These questions can include the name of a good veterinarian, an individual who can help you to train your new pet how to behave. You can also ask about the other facts that you may feel are necessary to care for your new dog.

Even though you may have thought that having a pet is an easy matter there are many items that need to be seen to when you adopt a dog. For the person who is willing to give some of their time and love to a dog you will find a lifelong companion who will give you gobs of implicit love.

Now remember, the more information you gather, the better understanding of what you can and can”t provide will be clear. Adopting a dog can be fun and exciting, always remember to take the pet into consideration as well. The last thing I know you want to do is bring a dog home and find out that your accommodations don”t suite their needs.

About The Author

Bowe Packer provides free and valuable information to online consumers. He has written over 20 articles on pet adoption and delivers additional information on the subject through his website. Visit his site and gleam Free pet adoption information.

By Ba Kiwanuka

The use of tools in the wild by chimpanzees has been observed and well established for some time now and in fact recently chimps have also been observed successfully hunting lemurs with crude yet self-crafted spears. On the other hand tool use by gorillas in the wild has been little observed and certainly not to the same extent or sophistication as their more rambunctious cousins, the chimpanzee. So then do these observations lay to rest once and for all the age old quandary about “which species of ape is second to man in intelligence”?

PATTERNS OF INTELLIGENCE

It is now recognized that certain regions of the human brain play a more significant role in the processes of functional memory, emotional behavior, creative thought, motor control (movement), planning and decision making as well as language. The aspect of the brain most closely associated with such processes is the frontal lobe.

Many of the sophisticated behavioral patterns and attributes characteristic of humans are believed to originate from the frontal lobe and in fact this area of the brain has been identified as the most likely candidate responsible for species-specific cognitive ability and characteristics.

Bearing this in mind, it is little wonder that researchers and scientists are eagerly studying anatomical comparisons of the brains of the great apes (man inclusive) with particular emphasis on the frontal lobes of the cerebral hemispheres of the brain.

BRAIN COMPARISONS OF THE GREAT APES

Though it is now understood that simple brain-to-body size comparisons are woefully inadequate to assess overall intellectual capability there is still some value in applying it as a tool of measure or at the very least as a comparative assessment.

When evaluating brain size data one has to bear in mind that there is significant sexual dimorphism (variation between females and males) across several of the great apes; most commonly brain capacity/size is larger in male specimens than females, though like humans, the Bonobo chimp (Pan paniscus) shows little if any size/capacity variation. That said, although a comparative review of the cranial capacity of the great apes is not a particularly accurate assessment of overall intelligence it does have its merits.

The following figures are mean values generated from varying size samples of both female and male specimens of the various great apes: Humans: 1400cc; Gorillas: 500cc; Chimpanzee: 405cc; Orangutan: 355; Gibbons: 104cc.

From these figures you can see that the brain volume of the human being is almost 3x the size of the nearest contender, the gorilla. With regards to those figures what is of particular note is that the cranial capacity of the gorilla apparently exceeds that of the chimpanzee yet all observed evidence tends to indicate that the chimpanzee is more intelligent than the gorilla.

Again this to some extent reaffirms the earlier observation that brain capacity alone does not fully account for intellectual ability.
It should also be noted that studies conducted by different researchers often resulted with fairly different conclusions notably that the cranial capacity of the orangutan exceeded that of the chimpanzee; for the other great apes the cranial capacities were generally the same across multiple research data.

So if overall cranial capacity is a poor indicator of intelligence what then could be a better tool of measure so to speak?

INTELLIGENCE AND THE ROLE OF SPECIFIC REGIONS WITHIN THE BRAIN

As previously mentioned the frontal lobes of the cerebral hemispheres of the brain are now recognized as the seat or center responsible for those behavioral characteristics that distinguish us as human being.

It quite logically follows then that establishing the variations and morphological differences within the cerebral frontal lobe areas of gorillas, chimpanzees, bonobos and orangutans and comparing them to those of the human being is as good a place as any to best determine which of the great apes is next to man in intelligence and what particular features of the human brain (other than overall volume) account for man”s intellectual uniqueness

About The Author

Ba Kiwanuka is the webmaster of
http://www.gorillahub.com The website devoted to all things gorilla.African Gorilla Safari

By Tony Jacowski

Veternarians that work in clinical settings practice medicine in specific fields, such as companion animal or pet medicine, reptile medicine, ratite medicine, livestock medicine, equine medicine e.g. sports, race track, show and rodeo, or laboratory medicine. While other veterinarians work in research areas of human medicine, veterinary medicine, and pharmacology.

Such research has been of great help in isolating oncoviruses, Salmonella species, Brucella species, and various other pathogenic agents. They have also helped to conquer malaria and yellow fever, solved the mystery of botulism, produced an anticoagulant used to treat human heart disease and also developed new and advanced surgical techniques for humans, such as hip-joint replacement, and limb and organ transplants.

Ethics

Like other medical professionals, veterinarians also must make serious ethical decisions about the patients in their care. There has always been a debate or a controversy over procedures like de-clawing cats, docking dogs” tails, cropping ears, and debarking dogs. In some countries, these procedures are considered illegal, and therefore their practice has been stopped. The Veterinary Medical Association adopted the Veterinarians Oath in July 1969, which was amended by the AVMA Executive Board in November 1999, according to which veterinarians have to abide by strict medical ethics, similar to that applicable to humans.

Career Options

Some veterinarians work in the field called regulatory medicine, which ensures the Nation”s food safety by working with the USDA FSIS, or work with the USDA APHIS to prevent the import of exotic animal diseases. The emerging field of conservation medicine involves veterinarians even more directly with human health care, providing a multidisciplinary approach to medical research that involves environmental scientists.

Today veterinarians in the world work in schools and colleges where they teach students what they need to know in order to graduate.

These days, many veterinarians are also taking teaching jobs in schools and colleges, training students to attain a veterinary degree. Veterinary schools are tertiary educational institutions, or part of such education, which is involved in the education of future veterinary practitioners. The entry criteria, the structure, the teaching methods and the modules vary from college to college.

Required Education

For example, while in other sates of the U.S. a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine degree (D.V.M.) is given in three years, in Pennsylvania the degree is awarded after a four-year program. It usually consists of classroom coursework followed by clinical practice. Currently, unlike human medical schools or colleges, a subsequent internship or residency is not required, but is optional to those who choose to seek further education and accreditation.

Surprisingly, the numbers of veterinarians pursuing internships and/or residencies is increasing due to the increasing demand in the field. Admission to these veterinary schools or colleges is very competitive, and getting admission to a medical college or law college in the US is easier than getting into a veterinary college. This is because there are very few veterinary colleges, so the selection procedure is very selective. According to the US Department of Labor, only 1 of 3 applicants is accepted into a program during admissions.

Public health medicine is another option for veterinarians. Veterinarians in government and private laboratories provide diagnostic and testing services. Some veterinarians also serve as state epidemiologists, directors of environmental health, and directors of state and city public health departments. The military also appoints them to take care of the animals in their department.

This profession is gaining in popularity due to the demand for the wide range of treatments and services required for both animals and humans.

About The Author

Tony Jacowski is a quality analyst for The MBA Journal. Aveta Solution”s Six Sigma Online offers online six sigma training and certification classes for lean six sigma, black belts, green belts, and yellow belts.

By Matthew Homfray

Just like humans, dogs produce ear wax (cerumen). If there are factors present which increase production of this ear wax, or if the normal clearance mechanism is compromised, then manual removal might be necessary.

Why clean the ears?

1. So that your veterinarian can visualize the ear drum. Waxy debris obstructs the view, so the integrity of the ear drum cannot be ascertained.
2. To remove debris prior to applying topical ear medication to treat an infection.
3. As part of a preventative ear care programme, to minimize the chance of an ear infection occurring.

When performing a general clinical examination, for example during a yearly check up at the time of vaccination, a veterinarian will usually look at the inside of the ear for excessive wax or inflammation. A vet will only want to look further into the canal with an otoscope if the dog is showing symptoms of an ear problem, such as scratching at its head, rubbing its head along the floor or head shaking. Otoscopic examination of the ear canal is usually performed to check for the presence of ear mites, foreign bodies (e.g. grass seeds), polyps, tumors and middle ear disease.

If the ears are waxy, but there is no evidence of an infection and no itchiness, then regular cleaning with a dog ear cleaner is the recommended course of action. Ear cleaners can usually be purchased at veterinary clinics, pet shops or online.

What do ear cleaners contain?

Many ear cleaners contain ceruminolytics, which disrupt the wax by acting on the cells it adheres to. Many also contain lubricants, which soften and loosen the wax. The main components are listed below.

Detergent (e.g. docusate sodium, carbamate peroxide, sodium lauryl sulfate)
Lubricant (e.g. squalene, propylene glycol, glycerin)
Ceruminolytic (e.g. olive oil, aqueous alkaline solutions)
Disinfectant (e.g. parachlorometaxylenol)
Antimicrobial agents (e.g. lactic, salicyclic or oleic acids)
Drying agents (e.g. isopropyl alcohol)

Is there a recommended technique for cleaning the ears?

The most common cleaning regime is to apply the product, gently massage the ear canal and then wipe with dry cotton wool. The objective is to keep the ear canals open, clean and free from accumulations of wax, debris and hair. Start with one ear, go through the following process, then move onto the other one. Squirt some of the ear cleaner into the outermost hole in the ear, when looking at it from above. Hold your dogs head steady as it will be inclined to shake its head at this point and disperse the liquid. Massage the ear canal with your fingertips so that it makes a squelching noise. When you have massaged for a good 20 seconds, take a ball of dry cotton wool and clean out the ear by wiping in a corkscrew motion. Your dog may now shake its head to remove the tickly remains from its canal.

Can I pluck the hair from inside the ears myself?

Regular plucking of hairy ear canals will make cleaning easier and improve ventilation. Although it seems like a sore thing to do, there are actually no nerves running through the hair follicles in the ear canal so plucking is painless. Owners can do it themselves at home if their dog is cooperative, but many prefer to leave it to the grooming parlour or to a veterinary nurse.

How often should I clean my dogs ears?

As a rule of thumb, once a month should suffice. However, dogs with large hanging ear flaps such as spaniels and basset hounds might need their ears cleaning more often. Dogs that swim frequently also need closer attention.

What if the home treatment system does not work?

Some ears are so dirty, hairy or sore, that a dog will not permit its owner to clean them out via the technique described above. These owners require veterinary assistance, where either simple lavage or mechanical removal is performed.

LAVAGE

This is usually performed under heavy sedation, or general anaesthetic. A syringe is attached to a soft catheter, which is fed into the ear canal. Water is repeatedly injected and then sucked out again, containing globs of wax and debris. This is repeated until the liquid sucked out is clear. Sometimes other liquids are used rather than water, such as dilute chlorhexidine or povidone iodine. However, these can cause damage if the ear drum is ruptured. Since by definition most dogs requiring veterinary assistance to clean their ears have very dirty ears, it is safer to use water or saline as an irrigant.

MECHANICAL REMOVAL

This is the safest method of cleaning out wax as there is no risk to the ear drum. Sedation is generally required. A wire loop or blunt curette is gently pulled along the lining of the canal, loosening and rolling wax out of the canal as it progresses.

About The Author

Dr Matthew Homfray is one of the veterinary pet experts at www.WhyDoesMyPet.com. Our dedicated community of caring pet experts are waiting to offer you advice, second opinions and support.

By Dane Stanton

Pomeranian puppies are growing in popularity with a vengeance however it is not always common knowledge on how to care and even select from various Pomeranian puppies. These are cute, adorable fluffy little animals that think as they grow that they are as big as the biggest German Shepard out there but they are awfully loyal and very protective of their owners.

This breed of puppies are not recommended for small children as they have a short temper and often have the reputation of snapping and biting when in the presence of small children that are too rough or loud. They are however perfect for any elderly person who doesn”t like to go for long extravagant walks with dogs or that have a limited space for rearing a dog.

Before Buying Pomeranian”s

When you are seeking out Pomeranian puppies to buy for yourself or someone you know it is of high importance that you find out if your puppy has had de-worming vaccinations. This is a pivotal part of buying your Pomeranian puppies as it prevents them from getting those awful dreaded worms. As well as worm vaccinations, be sure that any of the Pomeranian puppies you wish to purchase have been given all immunizations that are required up to the point that you buy them.

After initial immunizations in the care of the store or organization, it will be necessary that your Pomeranian puppies get more vaccinations and it is imperative that you keep up on them. After all, you don”t want your puppy getting sick.

Daily Caring of Pomeranian Puppies

Along with feeding and daily exercise, which is an important part of any Pomeranian puppies life, comes the hygiene, teeth care and grooming. It is important that your puppy have dry food available at all times and is recommended for these dog types and on top of the bowl of dry food being out, also three times a day you must give your puppy some soft canned puppy food as well as having a fresh supply of water at all times.

Your puppy is not going to like this step much but if you continue to do it while it is young, it will get easier and the puppy will accept having its teeth brushed. You can use a small infant soft toothbrush or you can use a specially made dog one but whichever you should choose never put toothpaste on it.

About The Author

To learn more about pomeranian or more specifically pomeranian puppies, then check out PomeranianSuccess.com A comprehensive resource covering every topic about pomeranians. Loads of information including articles, pictures, books and more… Take a look for yourself at pomeranian

By Mahesh Mhatre

Puppy potty training can be a difficult and frustrating experience. The process will require patience and consistent discipline to properly train your puppy.

Puppies should begin potty training as soon as they are brought home. Like children, puppies usually need to go potty when they wake up, after they eat, and after they play. If one of these events is about to take place, immediately show the puppy outside. Your puppy may not catch on at first, so be patient in waiting for him to accomplish the task. Always heap praise on your puppy when he goes potty outside at the appropriate time. If your puppy does not go potty while outside, take him inside so that he”ll quickly associate outside time as potty time.

Watch for signs that your puppy needs to go potty – a puppy will sniff, scratch at the floor, or circle around as if trying to lay down, but won”t lay down. If your puppy does have an accident indoors show them the accident and in a stern voice tell them “NO!” It is not necessary to rub your puppy”s nose in the mess or to physically hit your puppy. Puppies catch on to genuine disappointment really quick and will know when they have done something wrong. Take your puppy immediately outside and, if possible, carry the mess outside to the grass and place it in the grass so the puppy can see where it is acceptable for the mess to end up.
Thoroughly clean up the mess inside. Make sure to use ammonia based cleaner to eliminate the smell completely – any remaining scent in the house will only encourage future accidents.

Dogs have a natural instinct to keep their living space clean and will not go potty when confined to a small space, especially near their sleeping area. To keep your puppy from waking up and going potty in the house in the middle of the night, attach a leash to the puppy”s collar and tie off the loose end to a stationary object next to the puppy”s bed. Your puppy will not go potty next to its own bedding – expect to be woken up if it really does need to go. No matter what hour it is, this is an important learning moment for your puppy. Take your puppy outdoors and be patient until they have finished going potty.

If you have to leave your new puppy home alone during the day, a modified approach to this method can be employed to keep your puppy in an enclosed area where it will not want to go potty. The trick is to be able to break away from work throughout the day to give your puppy a chance to go potty. This can be a challenge to your schedule, so you may want to plan on taking some time off of work to be available to train your puppy in its first few days in the home.

About The Author

Mahesh Mhatre writes pet care tips and puppy care advice for pet owners.

By Colby Gwyn-Williams

So you”ve decided to try to tap into the growing photographic demands of a larger than ever pet owner population! I applaud your decision.

The pet industry was exploding by incredible leaps and bounds even prior to the advent of the Internet. The ready availability of pet-based products that tapped into this new avenue for trade multiplied exponentially.

There are certainly a number of sites available where you can purchase almost anything you can imagine for your furry home companions, but as a professional pet photographer, I would like to stick to what I know and what I do best.

I take pictures!

Now, you are probably saying to yourself that you take pictures too, and that doesn”t qualify you as a profesional pet photographer. What makes me so special? The answer is that people are willing to pay me to take pictures for them and I manage to sell a goodly number of pet photo related items as well.

But let”s, for arguments sake, say that you take a picture that captures a special quality in someone”s pet that makes them ask if they can buy a copy. THAT is your introduction into the world of pet photography as a business; and here is where you can get bogged down.

There are thousands, literally thousands, of books about how to go about a start-up business and all of them probably have something worthwhile to offer. You need to remember that most of these books are in the business of selling books, not knowledge. It”s rather like the “Make Zillions in Real Estate” infomercials that promise you will quadruple your income in three days if you buy their program. Well, the owner of the program will undoubtedly make zillions, but most of it will come from selling you the program not necessarily from you using the information in the program!

Don”t get me wrong! There are books out there that will be of help to you. You just need to be careful about what advice it is you really need in order to create a business out of pet photography.

First! Define yourself.

Are you predominantly an artist or a photographer? Yes, of course you can be both. The question is, do you want to create pet portraits that are true works of art similar to professionally done portrait paintings? Do you plan to make as much of a statement about yourself as the artist as you do about the subject of your photograph? Do you want to develop the ability to capture the special relationship between an owner and his or her pet? Or do you simply want to go for the owner who wants a nice framed photo to acknowledge that their pet is truly a beloved member of the family whose photo deserves to be placed in a position of honor on the mantle place with the rest of the family?

These are important questions to ask yourself before you begin. I do not mean to suggest that you must choose one mindset over another. It will simply be easier to create a viable business plan for yourself as a professional photographer if you make yourself aware of your target audience and make yourself able to adapt to their specific needs. You will find that once you determine the sort of photography you wish to offer, the interview process between yourself and the prospective client will be the most important part of the process.

It is imperative that you be able to grasp the dynamic existing between the pet and owner. This will likely be a purely intuitive exercise on your part since the way the owner sees a pet is not always the way the relationship will come across. Are they overly affectionate and cutesy-adorable together? Do they enjoy roughhousing and outdoor activities? Are they quiet and sedentary together? These observations will give you insight into what the owner expects to see when they look at your interpretation of their bond with their pet. The portrait must reflect not only the personality of the pet, but the owner”s perception of that personality as well.

Pricing! I would suggest a sitting fee that is non-refundable. If someone is unwilling to recognize that your time is valuable, then they will likely be unwilling to pay for any photo packages afterward. A “sitting fee” requires a commitment up front that encourages a professional atmosphere on both sides. The owner realizes that they are paying for the privilege and you recognize that you have an obligation to the owner.

Franchises? With all the new avenues open to pet photographers both at the entry level and the professional level it is inevitable that the subject of franchising will come up. There is a built-in safety net when you choose to go with an established franchise, both in the formulaic manner in which they operate and in the general public awareness of a known “name.” But this comes at a cost and I don”t believe it is necessary for every start-up pet photography business. I would encourage you to research as many as possible and carefully peruse your own business plan to see if it is worth the extra expense for a limited amount of security.

You CAN do this on your own. You CAN become a professional in your own home with pet photography. You can become the “go to” photographer in your community. You just have to get out there and get yourself known. Volunteer your services at the local animal shelter. Take the opportunity to do “pro bono” (free) photos for special occasions that have built in press coverage. Get cards made up and pin them everywhere you can. The bottom line is…have fun with it! The best thing you can do in your life is find something you love to do and then find a way to make a living at it.

About The Author

Start discovering winning tactics for better pet photography. Get your free ecourse ”Discover Secrets to Pet Photography That Professional Photographers Don”t Want You to Know”.

By Dane Stanton

The species of Canadian Ferrets are a hot topic among ferret lovers because they are rare to get your hands on. They are generally spayed or neutered when you are able to purchase them and are an excellent pet to have due to the genetic line that they display. This breed is the same as the popular Hagan ferrets and are bred by the same commercial breeders.

All About The Breed

Real Canadian ferrets are not different from any other ferret with the exception that all of these ferrets are supposed to be spayed or neutered before getting them from the breeder. These ferrets are only available through the breeders and many have them however, they are expensive and can be identified by an ”x” tattoo in the left ear.

They have the same mannerisms as well as the same disposition of other breeds and as far as one can tell, they call them Real Canadian Ferrets so that they can charge a bit more for something that sounds historical or that is holds some significant value in the ferret community. This isn”t true and all ferrets are really they same as they are not graded and sought after by pedigrees or grand champion lines like other small animal pets.

Animal shows for dogs and cats are often judged and graded on a point system as well as purebred however the real breed can be seen in shows next to a ferret that was acquired privately and neither has more advantage for winning.

Real Canadian Ferrets and Feeding

Feeding these ferrets is the same as feeding any other ferret and it is essential that the ferrets get enough protein in the meals. This does not mean by any stretch of the imagination that you should feed your ferret raw meat because this is something you should never do.

They cannot handle raw meat and it may have disastrous results for the ferrets or chocolate however, a pet food that is high in quality and made specifically for the ferrets in an acceptable diet. In order to feed them treats, it must be fruits and vegetable only and not too many treats as it could make them sick.

When selecting the food for the Real Canadian Ferrets or any other ferrets, be especially conscious not to purchase any fish based ferret foods as the ferrets don”t like it and it is not particularly good for them.

About The Author

If you want to learn more how old do ferrets get please visit our site which is free to the public. You”ll find the best tips on everything to do with ferrets

By Riley Hendersen

In the care and keeping of horses, it is necessary to have a variety of standard horse supplies at the ready in order to responsibly fulfill our duties as horse owners or caregivers.

While fundamental needs such as quality food, adequate water, and comfortable shelter are obvious, there are additional supplies that are absolutely essential to the health and functionality of the horse in question and they are classified by the physical care for the horse and utilization of the horse”s abilities.

Included in physical care are those horse supplies that feature the materials used for grooming the animal. Frequent horse grooming is imperative for the comfort and appearance of the horse.

The supplies most often used in grooming include a curry comb – used to loosen dirt in the horse”s coat, a dandy brush which removes the dirt, a body brush which grooms the coat, a mane comb which does the same for the horse”s mane, a hoof pick/brush which cleans the hoofs, and a polishing towel used to give the horse a healthy sheen at the end of brushing.

As important as grooming in the physical care for a horse is medical care. Just as we keep a first aid kit in our homes should anyone require assistance, we must also keep a horse first aid kit as a part of your standard horse supplies.

Of course, in the event of illness or injury it is imperative that a veterinarian be called immediately; but in the meantime, a first aid kit can help you keep your horse comfortable – and out of immediate danger – until the doctor can arrive. Such items that should be included in first aid kit for horses include:

*antiseptics
*wound dressings
*bandages
*splints
*tweezers
*thermometer

There are, of course, those horse supplies that are associated with the utilization of the horse. For example, in order to ride your horse, you must have a variety of horse supplies on hand for riding.

The equipment used in this case is referred to as tack and includes:

Saddles – The “seat” in which the rider sits.
Stirrups – Which act as a support for the rider”s feet.
Bridles and Halters – Which slip over the horse”s head and are used to control the movement of the horse.
Reins – The ropes that run from the bit to the rider”s hands.
Bit – Which fits in the mouth of the horse.

Ultimately, there is a variety of equipment that is used for different styles of riding, racing, or showing a horse. The type of supplies used differs in each particular situation.

Owning a horse requires a significant amount of responsibility. As owners, we are committed to the physical and emotional care for the animals that have been entrusted to us.

Proper medical attention, healthy nutrition and hydration, frequent and loving grooming, and a dedication to having proper horse supplies on hand at all times are all a part of taking comprehensive care of our horses.

About The Author

For more information on horses, try visiting http://www.interestinghorses.com – a website that specializes in providing horse related tips, advice and resources including information on horse supplies.

By Jeff Clare

Sometimes the greatest threats to life and limb are too small for many people to take notice of. What this means is that dogs, with their heightened senses, will find a way to injure themselves with small but surprisingly potent health hazards. Two of these hazards include spider bites and insect stings.

Of the two dangers, spider bites are the greater threat, though in the United States, only two spiders are dangerous to dogs: The female black widow spider (distinguished by a black body and red hourglass shape on their undersides) and the brown recluse spider (distinguished by their light brown color and a dark brown mark on their backs). Spider bites are rarely fatal, but they still present a danger to dogs and require veterinary attention as soon as possible.

Black widow spiders are the worst of this small lot of creatures. Dogs bitten by black widow spiders are marked by a small red spot that sometimes swells. As the wound grows more painful and the venom moves through the dog”s veins, the afflicted dog will become weak, clumsy, begin to drool more than usual, have difficulty breathing, and go into convulsions. Afflicted dogs should be kept as still as possible, and if a limb was bitten, that limb should be placed below the dog”s heart.

Brown recluse spiders pose their own dangers. The bite of a brown recluse spider will cause a painful blister, noticeable after a day or so as the skin around the blister turns black and becomes ulcerated, causing the dog to become weaker. Though not an immediate threat, if a brown recluse spider”s bite isn”t treated quickly, the blister will spread and severely damage your dog”s body.

Insects pose less of a threat to dogs than spiders. A dog”s fur will protect it from most insect stings, but their faces and foot pads are still vulnerable targets. In most cases, the dog is stung only once. One sting isn”t an emergency and treating a limited number of stings doesn”t require much in the way of medical attention. The stinger can be removed with a pair of tweezers and a cold pack pressed against the sting wound. A mixture of water combined with either baking soda or instant meat tenderizer can be applied to the wound to help treat any insect venom in your dog”s system.

Multiple insect stings may send a dog into shock. Immediate treatment of shock begins by laying the dog down and keeping the dog”s head lower and closer to the ground or floor than the rest of its body. The dog must be kept warm and calm and it shouldn”t eat, drink, or ingest anything while it”s in shock.

Though nowhere near as dramatic as a fight with a bear or wild cat, a dog”s bout with a lowly bug can bring even the largest canine down. The little threats can be so insidious, as they tricks people into underestimating the danger posed by something apparently unimportant. Now, you”re wise to their scam.

About The Author

Jeff Clare runs Dog Training News where you can read many more articles on dog control. For more general advice on dog health go to Dogs And Dog News.