Rockwall Vet Hospital says what you don’t know could turn out to be bad for your dog! While most of us don’t pay a lot of attention to what we’re feeding out pets, we really shouldn’t be trusting manufacturers to label things accurately and follow regulations. There aren’t actually very many rules about what can be used in dog food, and what you don’t know could make your dog very sick.

Not Fit To Eat

Did you know that many different brands of dog food could contain unpleasant substances like hair, ligaments, organs, skin, nervous tissue, and meat from diseased animals? Or that spoiled meat and the bodies of euthanized zoo animals and pets could be used?

Even the good meat that ends up in cat and dog food has undergone heavy processing, losing most of the value it once had. Ingredients like “poultry broth” and “animal meal” are far removed from the meat we imagine.

Animal meals are what’s left after all the meat and fat have been processed out of a carcass – any carcass at all. The remainder is ground and dried, producing a “meal” that’s similar in texture to ground grains. The broths in dog food are similarly unpleasant, made up of processed carcasses from all kinds of animals, in all kinds of condition.

Not Illegal

You might think this sort of thing would be against the law. After all, there are strict rules about what can be used in human food, and those laws are fairly well enforced. Unfortunately, pet food regulations are a lot looser and are rarely well enforced.

This means that just about anything might turn up in your dog’s food, with labeling meaning little. Even the words “healthy and balanced” mean only that there’s a particular ratio of protein and fat, as well as some added vitamins and minerals.

Additives

All of us have probably heard of the recent pet food recalls created by contaminated wheat gluten from China. However, melamine isn’t the only dangerous additive that can be found in pet food. There are a lot of preservatives that aren’t allowed in human food, and which cause illnesses like cancer, kidney failure, liver failure and more.

Not Just Cheap Foods

It’s not just cheap pet food that’s the problem, either. There’s no regulation on high end or organic foods, as well. While these pet food may be of higher quality, we have no way of knowing whether they use the same ingredients as their cheaper relatives or not. That can make it hard to find a food that’s good for your dog, even if it’s one recommended by your vet.

Your Options

You have a number of choices when it comes to improving your pet’s food. First is to learn how to read the labels. Ingredients that come first are there in bigger percentages, so look for named meats far up on the list instead of generic terms.

Learn the preservatives and additives that can hurt your dog’s health, and avoid foods that are heavy on grains – they’re not the natural food for dogs or cats. You can also learn to create high quality dog foods on your own – there are many good recipes out there for the dedicated pet owner. Just make sure you learn to do something, because most pet foods are dangerous for your dog.

Rockwall Veterinary Hospital says diet dog food used to be very high hard to find on store shelves. But now it is becoming more common and certain types of diet dog food can be a great way to help your dog shed some unwanted weight.

The reason for the increase in number of reduced calorie pet products is because up to 40% of the pets in the United States are obese. Pets that are overweight are prone to more diseases like heart problems, liver problems, and respiratory problems.

Because pets that are leaner are healthier, here are five tips to try when looking for diet dog food.

1. Look for a product that is made by the same manufacturer as your current dog food. Most pet food manufacturers also make a reduced calorie dog food as well. By sticking with the same company, the new diet should have a very similar taste and your dog should not have been any problem eating the new food.

2. If you’re wondering how much of the new food to feed, read the instructions on the side of the bag. Most people feed way too much food which ends up making their pets obese. Precisely measure how much food your dogs are eating every day with a measuring cup.

3. It’s always best to have your dog examined by a veterinarian before starting them on a weight loss program. You need to make sure your dog is healthy enough to transition into this new lifestyle.

4. Exercise is also big factor in pet weight loss. By increasing the lean muscle mass and increasing your dog’s metabolism you can help them dramatically reshape their body in the shortest amount time possible.

5. Although it is always tempting to give your dog table scraps you should not do it when they are on a diet. Table scraps are the worst types of food that you could be feeding you dog because they’re usually high in calories.

If you follow these five tips for diet dog food then you should be able to lose your dog’s midsection and get back the lean, athletic, and healthy dog you want.

Rockwall Veterinarian says building a dog house for your dog could be the best thing that you could do for him. A dog house provides adequate shelter from rain, sun, snow, storms and inclement weather conditions. It also is a personal space for the dog just like our home is for us. Dogs are very protective about their possessions and would definitely like to have a place of their own. There are quite a few points to be considered while building doghouse for your dog.

Things to Consider for Building Your Dog House:

The Size of the Dog -

A smaller sized dog would need a smaller house but you should have adequate space to move around. Cramped quarters doghouse would put the dog off and he may not like to go into it at all.

Location of the Doghouse -

If space is not a constriction when you build doghouse, then it is advisable to have some free space around the doghouse. So ideally it should not be too close to your house, allowing the dog enough freedom while remaining in close proximity.

Climate of the Area -

The idea when you build doghouse is that it should not be too hot during summers and not cold during winters. The dog might feel stifled if the doghouse is too hot.

Budget Required -

According to the budget you can plan out the kind of doghouse you want to build. Even a modest budget can be enough while building the dog house.

Build Your Own Doghouse:

1. When you have put together all the above factors it would be a good idea to consider suitable doghouse blueprints.

2. Plan in advance even if your dog is a puppy. If you are crate-training your dog then it is fine to have a smaller crate but build a doghouse big enough to accommodate your dog when it is full-sized.

3. The material to be used for building a doghouse is usually wood, as wood is all-weather, and provides warmth during the winter months, and keeps the interiors cool during summer.

4. The floor should be constructed well using pressure-treated lumber using joists wherever required. However this should be only for the floor as this may be harmful if chewed. The framework can be covered with a thick sheet of plywood.

5. Walls of the doghouse can be made of lumber with studs.

6. The front of the doghouse has the door. This needs to be solid and easily opened. Lumber in vertical and horizontal manner is used in this.

7. The roof should be made with sufficient inclination to make the rain slide off easily.

8. Siding made of plywood is to be nailed to the walls and the roof.

9. Painting the doghouse is a personal choice but the paint should be non-toxic and water-proof. Add bright colors with a differently colored door when you are building the doghouse.

Building a doghouse would be a venture involving fun, innovation, and you can really unleash your creativity by experimenting. There are various sites that have doghouse blueprints and this makes the job easier. You could add your own dash of innovation, and make the doghouse different and nice for your pet to enjoy.

Rockwall Veterinary says some people agonize about the safety of giving their dog peanut butter. The reason for this concern is probably due to the stories we have heard about nuts being unsafe for dogs. This is in fact true, various types of nuts, are extremely hazardous for dogs. These include the Macadamian and walnut, just to note a couple.

Some issues with nuts include the levels of toxicity they can produce over time and the high phosphorus content which can cause kidney failure, bladder issues and even death. The same would hold true for chocolates including nuts.

For those dog lovers that like to include peanut butter for snacks, mixing with medication or just sharing, there is welcome news. Although we might believe that peanuts are nuts, they are actually a type of bean. To be more to the point, they are part of the legume family (Fabaceae).

That being noted, dogs can have food allergies similar to humans. As with any new food item, it must be fed in moderation and stopped if an allergic reaction is suspected. Although there are many beneficial nutrients in peanut butter, it is also high in calories. If you are worried about preservatives, consider organic brands which might also be lower in sugar.

In summary, peanut butter is not known to be bad for dogs. Like any food or dog treats we give our dogs, we need to look at the label and consider the other ingredients used in the manufacturing process. This is great information for my dogs since they enjoy a KONG(R) filled with peanut butter from the freezer.

Rockwall Veterinary Clinic says when it comes to house training a dog, pet owners can often feel like they have all the wrong ideas. Sometimes they seem to resist house training to the point where you wonder if you’ll ever break them of the habit of going to the bathroom in the house. But there are secrets of house training a dog.

When training a dog there are all sorts of methods that you will hear from people. Some work better with some dogs than others. You may have to try more than one ritual to see what works best. For instance, some have used paper training. This is where you let the dog go on paper and slowly move closer to the door each time. This is not reliable for some since you have to catch the dog going in order to assure they are on paper.

Another popular method for house training a dog is using crate training. This is where the dog is confined to a cage or crate and taken out at particular intervals to put them on a schedule. Most dogs will not eliminate in their sleeping area, so this method can work quite well as the dog learns that their bedding area is “home” and that they should go to the bathroom outdoors.

One of the best methods is association. Dogs love repetition and learn well this way. Each time you want them to go out, take them to the door and say a command like “outside”, “potty”, etc. They will learn that when they hear that word they should go out. Again, diligence is the key. Soon you won’t have to lead them to the door or say anything because they will go by themselves.

These are some of the secrets of house training a dog. The important thing to remember is that they have to learn the same way each of us learned everything we know- by repetition and patience.

Rockwall Pet Hospital says an obedient dog is a good dog, but they do not get this way naturally. In order to get a well-trained dog, one must begin the dog’s training and conditioning while the dog is still very young. For the most part, people attempt dog training on their own, however there are a few who may turn to an obedience school for very thorough dog training.

A reward system is widely recognized as one of the most effective ways to train a dog into good behavior. By using positive reinforcement, such as verbal rewards along the lines of “good dog” or the much more effective method of the dog treat, proven results have been achieved. The treat as a reward in the early stages will guarantee continued good behavior later on.

Many pet owners may have to choose a form of negative reinforcement in order to curb bad behavior. The negative reinforcement may come by way of a sharply spoken “bad dog” or the trusty rolled up newspaper tapped on the nose. There is another level when it comes to negative reinforcement and this is found in the form of shock collars.

Incessant barking can be a major issue for some pet owners and may be eliminated with a particular method of dog training. By using what is known as a “bark collar” this issue may be eliminated over time. These collars emit a low-voltage electrical shock each time the dog barks and over the course of the dog wearing the collar, barking will eventually stop.

Another form of electrical negative reinforcement that follows the same theory is the shock collar for the invisible fence. The invisible fence will set up boundaries for the dog. After the dog gets a few shocks from trying to cross the boundary, the dog will eventually learn where it can and cannot go.

Housebreaking a dog is possibly the most important piece of dog training. Utilizing a bit of both reinforcement methods with the negative reinforcement being kept to a minimum will accomplish this. Reward the dog when he has alerted you to the need to go outside or discipline him when an accident indoors occurs. One should not shout the dog’s name by itself when disciplining the dog as the dog will not know the difference between discipline and a simple call.

Training a dog is by no means a picnic, but the reward for the owner come the end of it is invaluable. There is a large measure of patience involved in dog training particularly when the dog is quite young, but as the dog grows the patience pays off. A well-trained dog can be the perfect lifetime companion to any individual or family.