Healthy Doghouse Blog

Our goal is to provide you with the most up to date information on topics that are always helpful to you and your dogs health and happiness!

May 7, 2007, Puppy Potty Training Basics

Basics: Crate, cleaning products, timed feedings, lots of praise and patience.

Timing: 2 – 3 weeks

Whether you have been involved in an exhaustive search for just the right puppy or your impulsivity got the best of you, that little ball of fur is now in your home. Next is the challenging and occasionally frustrating task of puppy potty training.

ExpectationsWith the proper basics, keen puppy watching skills and a good dose of praise and patience you will see results in a surprisingly short amount of time.

Remember that the younger the puppy the more often they need to go. Generally speaking they need to go after every meal, after play and after naps. Depending on their age, puppies will need to go every 30 minutes to an hour.

Only feed your puppy at scheduled times and don’t leave food and water in the crate at night or when you leave during the day. If you do need to be away for more than 8 hours during the day make arrangements for someone to come to the house to take them out and feed them during this period of time. A dog has a basic instinct to keep their sleeping area clean so the crate is critical.

Be prepared for the nightly wake up call. They need to go out but also need reassurance that they are not alone. Take them out of the crate and carry them outside. Praise them for their success. Spend a few minutes reassuring them that everything is okay and then return them to the crate and try to get some sleep.

Watch their body language Close observation is the key. Sniffing the floor, circling and general restlessness are sure signs they need to go out. When they have success, praise them. They want nothing more than to please you. The more time you have to spend with your puppy during this training period, the more success you will have.

PatienceExpect accidents. Even though you are diligently watching, there will be accidents. Don’t get upset with your pet. He just doesn’t understand yet. Don’t ever hit your puppy. Even rubbing their nose in it won’t get the point across unless you catch them in the act. A firm “no” is sufficient, followed by a trip to the designated potty area. When accidents do occur use a commercial product specifically for neutralizing pet odors. Without these specific products the puppy will be able to find that spot again and repeat the act.

ResultsWith consistent observation and praise you are going to be through this process in no time. Occasional accidents by the new puppy and training errors on your part will not halt your eventual success.

Enjoy!

Apr 27, 2007, your health-supplements-all natural health care

We want to make sure that we offer you and your pets the most safe and effective all natural supplements available. We are your #1 choice for your entire family's health care needs!

Apr 26, 2007, Aging and Disabled Family Pets - Part 1

If you have ever cared for a disabled, injured or sick dog, you know the heartbreak of seeing them struggle in pain while they continually to try to please you. In the case of an aging dog, their condition seems to go in cycles. They struggle and then they snap back for a while. Our family had a beautiful and gentle collie mix named Sadie. As she got older, she began to have noticeable difficulty due to joint problems. At first it was difficult getting up and down from a lying position. Then getting up stairs was a challenge. Ultimately the long walks got shorter.

Initially we accepted it and assumed it was part of the aging process and simply tried to accommodate her with a softer bed, fewer stairs and shorter walks. When we went to our vet for advice he recommended that we supplement her diet with a high-quality antioxidant supplement. This worked great and she was back to her old self. Finally about three years later we began to see the same problems reappear. This time our vet added a prescription medication that we used in conjunction with the antioxidant.

Once again she got better but her condition got the best of her. She still got around but with great difficulty. We wanted to help her so we got creative and fashioned assistive devices out of household items and building materials. These included a make shift sling to help get her into the car and a ramp to help her get in and out the back door. She suffered into her old age with grace and dignity and always seemed grateful for our attempts to make her life happy, fun and less painful. For many other dogs with even more severe disabilities there are commercially made products to help you with the challenge of assisting them with issues of comfort and mobility as long as possible.

Apr 26, 2007, Aging and Disabled Family Pets - Part 2

Ways to help your pet may include a sling to help them get up. Be sure to never try to lift (suspend) a dog using a sling around their middle. They need to be cradled when you lift them. However you can use the sling to help them use their own strength to make things easier. You can also fashion a smaller sling or harness to be used to assist them in walking. This sling is placed around them in front of the rear legs. If you are not feeling creative there are many websites that offer quality products that can do the job such as www.handicappedpets.com.

For some owners and their dogs, there are even greater challenges. Some family pets have suffered an injury or illness that has left them unable to walk. For these situations there are doggie wheelchairs. Most of the time when dogs use these devices, they drag their paws and need to wear protection on their feet. Again, these can be homemade or they can be purchased. There are many choices and you will need to closely evaluate your dog’s specific need and “wear pattern” that is created when they drag their paws. Dogs actually adjust remarkably well to these assistive measures once they discover their new found mobility.

Whatever your dog’s needs are, they appreciate your gentle concern and encouragement. If your pet is beginning to have signs of limited mobility, please seek the help of your veterinarian. There are wonderful, healthy, holistic products on the market that can help. Many products can be found on www.healthydoghouse.com that can even help in preventing discomfort and disease progression. Don’t simply assume that their symptoms are a part of the aging process. They probably have many pain-free years ahead of them with the right intervention and nutritional supplements.

Enjoy your time together!

Apr 17, 2007, Cat Products

Even though this site is for dog lovers, we know all pet owners love their pets and we are dedicated to offering you the best all natural cat products available.

Apr 17, 2007, Part 1: Pet food recall should have us all thinking about pet food quality!

As pet owners, the recent pet food recall should have us more concerned than ever about the quality of food we provide for our precious animals. The recent recall was reported to be linked to contamination with melamine, a chemical used to make plastic kitchenware, countertops, fertilizers and flame retardants. This contaminate is responsible for the death of 16 cats and dogs per the FDA reports. Others were reported by the FDA to have suffered kidney failure and other serious symptoms. Other sites such as www.petconnection.com indicate that people have reported well over 3,000 pets have died and over 12,000 have fallen ill. Although these reports are not to be considered an official count, it does indicate that the numbers of pets that have suffered due to this contamination problem far exceeds the government report.

Because of our new-found awareness concerning quality control it is imperative that we take a closer look at other quality control issues and nutritional deficits in the pet food industry. Without consideration to contaminates that require recalls, we need to check out what is in the food that is considered “safe.”It is widespread practice within the industry to include amounts of the following ingredients in most pet food formulas.• Bones, intestines, heads, feet, tendons, ligaments and other undesirable body parts known as by-products. These are the leftovers after choice meat has been processed for human consumption. Besides sounding disgusting, by-products are inferior sources of protein and can be difficult to digest. • Soy, corn, corn gluten and wheat gluten are often used as protein sources. Again, they are of inferior quality and difficult to digest. Dogs can also be allergic to gluten based products. • Preservatives, including BHT, BHA, Ethoxyquin, and artificial colors. These additives can be very harmful to pets. Ethoxyquin is listed and identified as a hazardous chemical under the criteria of the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard. Ethoxyquin is used as a pesticide and as a preservative in the manufacture of rubber. It is actually used in some human foods and spices. So what’s the big deal you say? Amounts allowed in the manufacture of dog food are up to 300 times (pound for pound) that allowed for humans. This can cause kidney and liver cancer and stomach ulcers.• Many large manufacturers make pet food in huge amounts that end up being stored in warehouses, trucks, etc. for six months to a year or longer sometimes without proper climate control.

Apr 17, 2007, Part 2: Pet food recall should have us all thinking about pet food quality!

What should you do? We recommend that you take a careful look at a premium dog food such as Life’s Abundance Premium Dog Food. This brand is made using only fresh ingredients. It is chocked full of nutrients and high quality meat proteins. There are NO by-products, corn, wheat, gluten or soy. There are NO artificial flavors, colors, sugars or chemical preservatives.

Life’s Abundance is formulated by Dr. Jane Bicks, a highly respected and nationally recognized holistic veterinarian. The company is meticulous about quality and safety, using only fresh, premium ingredients with strict quality controls standards to ensure product safety.

Why is Life’s Abundance Premium Dog Food Better? Here’s why: • Life’s Abundance is always made with fresh ingredients. They use an exclusive “fast-cook” process to preserve the fresh taste of natural foods. The formulation also includes a blend of natural antioxidants to help the food stay fresh and to help your dog to maintain a healthy immune system. Batches are made more frequently assuring that Life’s Abundance will be delivered to your door within approximately 6 weeks of preparation.• Premium all natural chicken meal, catfish meal, and eggs provide high quality easily digested animal protein sources to support strong muscles, healthy organs, and overall health. • Chicken fat, catfish meal, flaxseed meal, and eggs provide a natural balance of Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids to promote healthy skin and shiny coat. • Whole brown rice provides an excellent source of highly digestible carbohydrates for short-term energy and dietary fiber that is gentle on the stomach. • Fresh vegetables and fruit provide natural plant sources of phytonutrients, antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and potent bioflavonoids that help support an active immune system. • Grape seed extract provides a natural source of concentrated antioxidant nutrients. • Beet fiber, brewers yeast, and natural bacteria cultures help the digestive system work at peak efficiency, allowing your pet to get even more nutrition from our wholesome food. • Enhanced with natural DHA and EPA support good vision, a strong heart and healthy central nervous system. • Free from artificial colors, flavors and preservatives. Contains a blend of natural antioxidants helping to maintain a healthy immune system as well as keeping Life’s Abundance® stay fresh for longer. If you have always thought that dog food was dog food, and you always bought was cheapest, you need to think about what you are really getting for your money. To compare your brand with Life’s Abundance, check out www.healthydoghouse.com to make your own decision.

Apr 17, 2007, Don’t Feed for Comfort

Liposuction, lap band surgery, gastric bypass surgery. Unless you are among the minority of the fit and slim, chances are that you have imagined what these procedures could do for you. Even though you are in control of your food selections, you don’t always make the right choice.

But your dog has a totally different fitness challenge. It’s you! Your dog will eat whatever you feed him. He will never say, “No thanks, I think carbs are off limits for a while” or “let’s cut back on the greasy leftovers from your fun night out (while I had to stay here and do the potty dance!).”

We’ve all seen dogs that are so fat they waddle. It’s pretty obvious they haven’t been out cruising the fast food restaurants. They also don’t know enough to push away the bowl. They don’t even consider whether it’s a good or bad choice, they just trust you.

Many pet owners will even prepare an extra portion of their “people” food and sweet treats to share with Fido. They think that they are pampering their beloved best friend. Unfortunately they are causing great harm. Not only do they gain weight, the food is often not properly digested and causes discomfort for the dog. The long term effect is a dog with a shortened lifespan.

So here’s the obvious point. Even if you struggle making good choices when it comes to your own diet, don’t transfer your need for food comfort onto your pet. Buy high-quality dog food that meets your pet’s specific nutritional needs and get them on a structured plan for mealtimes. Be strict with portion control if your dog needs to lose weight.

Since your vet doesn’t offer liposuction, lapbands or gastric by-pass surgery, it’s up to you to keep your dog fit and healthy.

Your dog will thank you!

Apr 17, 2007, Dog Parks Grow in Popularity

There are many ways to pamper our precious pooches. There are salons, fitness clubs and spas, yes, for dogs! But for real interaction, relaxation, and socialization, try your local dog park. Dog parks are growing in popularity and are a great way to exercise our dogs and socialize with other dog lovers. It’s also the latest and greatest gathering place for singles (check out “Must Love Dogs” and “You’ve Got Mail” for inspiration in that area). But never mind the romantic notion of young lovers finding each other amidst the barking dogs; let’s look at what these parks have to offer.

Designated dog parks indicate that dogs are invited, not just permitted. While some dog parks do require leashes, many do not. Parks also offer a variety of dog-friendly equipment to make your visit fun, safe, and entertaining. Equipment can include anything from a simple water source and doggie waste station to agility equipment, dog wash, exercise track, fountain, lake access, fire hydrants and time out pens. Many parks even have concession stands and picnic areas. Of all the features, the most important is water and shade.

The most successful parks are monitored by volunteer user groups. These volunteer groups are committed to a safe and clean park. Most visitors know the basic rules: clean up after your dogs and watch for possible aggressive behavior. To be successful in both areas, owners must keep an eye on their dogs, so pay attention, limit cell phone use and share the moment!

Concern about dog fights keeps many owners from participating in this great experience. Fights can, and do, happen occasionally but the best way to avoid this behavior from your dog is to help distract him when you see something brewing. Also, help “introduce” your pet to other dogs so they know that you approve. Because the dogs are sharing a neutral area they are surprisingly not territorial and therefore aggressive behavior is minimal. Dogs that have been socialized from a young age with family, friends and other dogs do very well in this setting.

Your dog will love this experience! You will also benefit and you will likely share many more of these trips. After a day at the park, your dog will arrive home exhausted. If you have a highly active dog, trust me when I say he will be totally incapable of jumping all over Aunt Sue when she comes to visit (for a while at least).

So get out there and enjoy!!

For a listing of parks in your area check out www.ecoanimal.com

Apr 4, 2007, Free Samples

Free Samples