Category — Pet issue

It seems that the cost of treatment at the vets seems to be getting more expensive with every year that passes. Before any vets reading this take offence I know that most vets still offer very good value for the treatment provided.

Personal experience has taught me to avoid nasty financial surprises when owning pets, by taking out pet insurance with a reputable provider.

When choosing a policy there are a number of key things to check for to make sure the policy you are buying meets your needs. Monthly premiums can vary quite dramatically but the cheapest premiums are not necessarily offering the best value cover insurance cover for your pet.

When considering pet insurance there are a number of areas to consider. The most obvious being the cost of the premiums and the size of your budget. Average monthly premiums vary depending on the breed of animal you are looking to insure, age, medical history, age and your location or postcode. The typical range of premiums depending on the level of cover is £10-30 pounds per month for a dog and £8- 25 for a cat.

Most policies have some form of excess per claim with the range being between £60-100 depending on the level of cover. My advice is don’t be put off by what seems a relatively high figure in this case. Some policies do not have any excess, but premiums for these products tend to be higher. Recently I received a bill for nearly £500 when my dog was bitten on his ear. The injury itself was not too severe but the cost of drugs and stitches pushed overall cost up, and I was happy to get £400 of the fees back. A friend was able to reclaim more than £5000 when her beloved dog needed operations on her joints.

Pet Owners should check carefully the maximum value you can claim for any single claim or in a year. Once again, policies differ on both these figures. The typical ranges are £3000 to £7000 per year. Check carefully whether the figure quoted is for a year or per claim, as obviously this makes a big difference to the true value of your cover.

The various pet insurance companies also have differing rules regarding the age at which they will insure a pet. Some set maximum limits at which they will insure a pet up to, whilst others are happy to insure pets of any age but have an age limit for new policies. Typically the limits are about 8 years for a Dog and 10 years for a cat.

All Pet insurance companies, just like those offering human medical insurance want to know about any previous illnesses or complaints. Normally this is because they will exclude cover for conditions that the pet has shown it is susceptible to. Don’t be tempted not to be honest about these matters as insurance companies will invalidate claims where a previous condition is found to be a factor, sometimes leaving hefty bills to be paid out of the claimant’s pocket.

When insuring a new puppy or kitten some Insurers insist on a 14 day introductory period, during which claims will not be honoured. I have fallen foul of this clause in the past when a puppy I had bought was found to suffering from a virus within 3 days of me taking it home, leaving a £600 bill to be paid from my own pocket. Happily Sam survived; this left a bitter taste in the mouth when the claim was rejected, so my advice is read the small print.

I know that for those operating on low income £120 to £300 a year can be quite a large sum of money to find annually, but I would suggest those who can find the money to do so in preference to potentially very large surprise bills.

Terry King runs pets2home.co.uk/ Parcel Pets, a leading UK pets2home.co.uk/ pet supplies web site and has had pets all his life. He lives with his wife Louise, dog Sam, Cat Sabrina and 5 fish!

Do you love your pet? Most people that have pets naturally are animal lovers. It’s really kind of hard not to feel love toward those furry friends because of the unconditional love and affection that they give us. They are truly loyal companions without equal that stick with us throughout our lives. Since we are animal loves it is only natural that we would want to take the best care of them as possible.

This would include checking out dog food tests to see which is the best type of food that we can feed to them. With so many different types of dog food out there to choose from, many of them telling you that they are the one that will make your dog the happiest, or the healthiest, of that your dog will have the shiniest coat, it’s hard to separate the wheat from the chaff.

The thing that most people don’t know about dog foods is that, commercially, there really aren’t any dog foods out there that are actually good for your dog. The reason is that the regulations that govern what can be printed on a package of dog food are much more lenient than those that tell us what can be printed on food made for human consumption. Even if the pet food says chemical free, or no chemicals added, that simply means that no chemicals were added to the product after it entered the factory for processing. Before it got there they can basically do anything that they want to it.

Commercial dog food is full of things that can harm your pet over time. Not only is the raw product full of chemicals and byproducts, but it actually contains the remains of euthanized pets from shelters, road kill and diseased animals in most cases. The only way around this sort of thing is to either make your own dog food, or to insure that the dog food you are buying is actually good for your dog.

The dog food and dog care industries are out to get your money, not to help your dog live a healthy life. By making simple changes to the way you feed your pet you could help them to live a much healthier and longer life. Download our Special Report at

Dogs and cats, like humans, can suffer from allergies. If your pet itches and scratches, bites and licks a lot, this may be a sure sign of a common disease known as Allergic or Atopic Dermatitis. It is the most common symptom of pet allergies, it can be lifelong, causes can be difficult to diagnose and once identified, can be resistant to attempts at treatment.

The signs of allergic dermatitis usually appear within the first two years of life. If your pet begins to groom excessively, with licking and chewing of the paws, abdomen and hindquarters, then he may suffer from allergic dermatitis. Check the ears also, which may be reddened and hot to the touch. Check the armpits, groin and between toes for saliva staining. In light colored pets, it appears as a red-brown staining. In chronic cases, the skin of the abdomen may change from pinkish to red to black mottling.

What causes allergic dermatitis? Take a look around you right now. Chances are your pet could be allergic to half a dozen different substances; even microscopic substances like dust mites and mold. Food, carpeting, blankets, pollen, plastic food dishes, furniture stuffing, plants and grass all have the potential to trigger an allergic reaction in your dog. Food allergies are so common that pet food manufacturers have invested millions of dollars in research and development to assist in the therapy of dogs and cats with food allergies.

So, what can you do to limit your pet’s exposure to allergy triggers? Let’s start with something that even humans are commonly allergic to, dust mites and mold spores. Do extra cleaning. Even small amounts of floating dirt and dust can trigger symptoms. Dust corners and move furniture so you can clean under it. While you’re cleaning, and stirring up dust clouds, keep your pet in a different area until you are done. Dust mites are microscopic typically flourish in mattresses and bedding. One way to keep them under control is to wash your pet’s bedding in hot water once a week. This will help keep their numbers down and hopefully reduce your pet’s symptoms. For mold spores, you may want to consider installing electrostatic filters on your heating and cooling systems. While these filters can be pricey, if you or your pets are severely allergic to mold, they can be a lifesaver.

Another common trigger for pet allergies is fleas. Pets with fleas usually scratch the rear half of their bodies, especially above the tail and down the backs of their legs. The flea itself is not the culprit. It is their saliva that causes an allergic reaction. A skin allergy test can be performed to determine if your pet is allergic to flea saliva. If the test it positive, then a strict regimen of flea control is called for. There are lots of good flea remedies on the market and lots of natural remedies and steps a pet owner can take to reduce a pet’s exposure to fleas. Check our Resources tab for more specific tips on natural flea control.

Pollen and inhalants can trigger allergic dermatitis in a dog or cat. A dog with hay fever usually itches on his front half. It causes face rubbing, foot licking, armpit scratching and neck and chest scratching. Cats with hay fever usually itch all over. They may develop scabby little lumps under their fur. The most common breeds affected by inhalant allergies are terriers, golden retrievers, poodles, Dalmatians, German shepherds, Shar-peis, shih tuzus, lhasa apsos, pugs, Irish setters and schnauzers. Recurrent ear infections may be also be a sign of inhalant allergies. How can you help? Kick the smoking habit. Second hand smoke can trigger inhalant allergy symptoms in your pet. The concentration at floor level is greater than people realize. If you suspect hay fever is causing your pet to itch, bring him indoors during the height of the pollen season. This particularly true in the early morning or late afternoon, when pollen counts tend to be highest. Use dust-free litter in your cat’s litter box. The dust stirred up when your cat starts digging may be an allergy trigger.

Food allergies account for only 10 percent of allergy problems in dogs. They can become allergic to a food they have eaten for years which causes owners to overlook the possibility of a food allergy. Pets often cannot tolerate soy products, wheat, corn, beef, port, chicken, milk, whey, eggs, fish, chemical preservatives or artificial sugars in their foods. Besides itchy skin, food allergies can manifest as shaking of the head, ear inflammation, coughing, vomiting, diarrhea, flatulence, sneezing, asthma symptoms, behavioral changes or seizures. Allergies to specific foods can be time consuming and difficult to pin down. Here are some tips: Don’t share your plate. There are a number of human foods that can cause problems in pets. Fermented cheese, beef sausage, canned tuna, egg whites or even tomatoes can cause symptoms to flare. Some pets, like people, can be lactose intolerant. Your vet may recommend an elimination diet for your pet. This will entail eliminating your pet’s current diet completely and replacing it with a food he has never had until symptoms go away. Then you gradually reintroduce old foods, one at a time, until symptoms flare again. Then you’ll know what is causing the problem. This should only be done under the supervision of a veterinarian. Once you know what triggers your pet’s symptoms, it should be relatively easy to better control his diet.

If your pet is itching, scratching and licking or if the skin and coat are not healthy appearing, you and your pet need a diagnosis before treatment is started. Treatment of Allergic Dermatitis symptoms by a vet can include topical medicated soothing baths, ointments and sprays. Oral antihistamines can neutralize some of the symptoms. Be patient and be persistent. Remember, just like for humans, there is not cure for allergies. All we can do is avoid the food, material or parasite that triggers the immune response, treat skin symptoms to lessen discomfort and make sure your pet gets a high quality diet.

Sherry Massey is the owner of Barker and Friends Natural Pet Treats. Our mission is to provide pet lovers with 100% natural dog and cat treats made with only human-grade ingredients. We never add sugar, salt, preservatives, dyes or byproducts of any kind. We are also proud distributors of Flint River Ranch Natural Pet Food. Visit our website at naturalbarker.com naturalbarker.com to view our great selection of treats and pet food along with other products to keep your pet happy and healthy.

Have you ever dreamed of becoming a dog trainer? Here you will find the requirements you should fulfill and the time it may take you to make your dream come true.

Before considering a career in dog training, you should consider some important requirements. You must be aware that loving dogs is not enough to be a successful trainer. You must be proficient in dog behavior, learning theories, behavior modification, first aids (both human and canine), marketing and business management.

In addition, you may want to train dogs for competitions, such as Schutzhund, Agility, Mondio Ring, Freestyle, etc. In this case, you should have a strong knowledge of rules and competitive procedures.

To make a long story short, the list below explains you the 17 most important requirements you must fulfill to be a dog trainer:

1. You must be passionate about working with dogs. Otherwise you will be very unhappy with your job. Taking away exceptional cases, dog training is not a high-salary career. So, you should not expect to compensate frustrations with money. That’s why you really have to be passionate about working with dogs. Of course, this passion can only come if you love dogs. If you don’t love dogs and are not passionate about working with them, just look for another job.

2. You must feel comfortable working with people. Feeling comfortable working with people is as being comfortable working with dogs. That’s because the job of a dog trainer involves teaching people as much as teaching dogs, or even more. If you don’t teach people how to handle their dogs in different situations, then they won’t be able to control their pets. As a consequence, your dog training business is not going to receive any good publicity.

3. You should be respectful and kind with both people. Acting in an arrogant manner toward other trainers, dog owners, animal behaviorists or anyone, can’t help you. Arrogant behavior does not create word of mouth publicity. Even worse, people who attended a training class with an arrogant instructor, tend to not go to the same place when they need help again. So, being polite and respectful is part of developing your dog training business.

4. You should be respectful and kind with animals. This point needs no further explanation. Nobody wants his dog be mistreated by a harsh trainer.

5. Develop teaching skills. Since you are going to teach people how to handle and train their own dogs, you must have some teaching skills. There are lots of good trainers that don’t succeed because they can’t teach people how to train their dogs.

6. Be patient. Patience is perhaps the most important skill a dog trainer must master. Dogs can’t be trained in a couple of minutes. So, you need to be patient to allow the dog (and the owner) learn at their own pace.

7. Sense of humor. You are going to find a lot of problems during training sessions. However, many of those problems are so funny that they deserve a dose of humor. Having good sense of humor allows you to not get buried under a ‘problematic job’ and helps you to be creative when solving a behavior issue.

8. Be honest. You have to tell the dog owner what really happens. Not what he wants to hear. There are problems that can’t be solved by training and, if you face one of those problems, you should inform the dog owner. On the other hand, there could be some issues that you can’t handle. Be honest with the dog owner. If you can’t address an issue (for instance, aggression) recommend another dog trainer who can.

9. Never underestimate the skills of other dog trainers. It does not matter if they use old techniques that you don’t approve. Every dog trainer has his own method and nobody should be underestimated by the way he trains. Of course, you may disagree with other dog trainers, but never underestimate them.

10. Learn about several dog training techniques, even the old ones. Knowing the pros and cons of each technique will let you choose the right ones. This does not mean you should try every technique you’ve heard about. But reading books and watching videos about different techniques may teach something new and improve your training skills.

11. Keep up to date on the science of animal behavior and learning theories. Dog training is not a science but it is based on some scientific principles. As a good dog trainer you have to be up to date on animal behavior and learning theories to take advantage of recent discoveries.

12. Read a lot about dog training, but don’t believe all you read. There are lots of myths and hypes in dog trainer. As a dog trainer you should keep some skepticism and critical thinking.

13. Learn about marketing, publicity and business management. If you are a professional dog trainer, then you have to manage your dog training business. Otherwise you are not a pro.

14. Learn about dog nutrition, health and care. Put a lot of attention of dog first-aids because you will need them sometime. Besides, learn about management of kennels, doggy daycare, etc.

Rodrigo Trigosso is a biologist and professional dog trainer. To learn more about dog-training-tutorial.com/become-a-dog-trainer.html how to become a dog trainer, visit his website, the dog-training-tutorial.com Dog Training Tutorial, which provides objective and reliable information on dog training and behavior.

There may be several reasons why a dog may bark. It may the dog’s instinctive means of warning you of danger or to tell him that he is in pains and needs attention. It could also that your is hungry and wanting food or water. Whatever the reason, a dog that won’t stop barking could be a nightmare for the owner and the neighborhood.

Many cases of excessive dog barking can be stopped by using training and a reward and reprimand method where you teach the dog when to bark and when not to. When the dog barks at the wrong time, scolded it immediately and say “No barking!” “Stop!” When the dog complies, give praise and reward it to reinforce this positive behavior.

Some people opt for an electronic “bark collar”. The collar contains an electronic device which is activated by the action of the dog barking. The device sends a small electric shock which pains and startles the dog. Eventually the dog is able to associate the negative stimulus with the barking and stops doing it.

Another method to stop your dog from barking is to pretend to leave your dog alone, telling him to “Guard the house” and that you will be “back soon”. As soon as your dog starts to bark, then burst furiously into your home, saying “No!” A single experience may be enough to make it clear to your dog that his barking displeases you.
When your dog shows remorse, you should forgive him, settle him down, tell him to “Guard the House” and leave again. Be patient and hope for the best. If your dog has not barked within 5 minutes, you can be almost sure that he has learned his lesson. But if he resumes his barking, you must repeat the entire scenario, and repeat it as often as necessary.

Finally, stay away for a brief time, and when he has not barked, return, greet him fondly and praise him. Then reward him with a treat or a walk, whichever he prefers. The next day you can test him by leaving him alone for a short period of time. It is most likely that he will pass the litmus test.

A simple trick to stop your dog from barking is to give him his ball or bone or favorite toy. He cannot hold something in his mouth and bark at the same time.

Do you have a dog that barks and whines excessively?
Is you dog keeping you and your neighborhood awake at night?
Then Visit DogTrainingSecretRevealed.blogspot.com DogTrainingSecretRevealed.blogspot.com to discover for yourself how to stop this nightmare.