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How To Keep Your Dog’s Doat Shiny And Healthy

shiny dog coat

Dogs are truly beautiful creatures that crave attention and want you to spoil them. One of the best ways that you could show affection is by petting them. Nevertheless, not all dogs have the softest fur. Let’s see some ways in which you can make your dog’s coat healthier, softer and shinier.

shiny dog coat

Nutrition

Having a proper diet is the most important aspect of your dog’s health and appearance.

If he gets all the nutrients that he needs, his beautiful and shiny cloak will be the proof of it. If you truly care about your dog, then skip on the cheap food and go for something more trustworthy.

That’s not to say that all cheap brands aren’t good for your dog, but they are most likely made of cheap ingredients and lots of them are unhealthy.

Essential Fatty Acids

Healthy fatty acids play a key role in the health of your dog’s fur.

Proper nutrition is vital and, more than often, the effects of nutritional deficiencies are first seen on the skin and fur.

Usually, typical dog food has enough nutrients and fatty acids to meet his nutritional needs. Some chicken-based foods are best avoided because they don’t carry all the essential nutrients that your dog needs in order to stay healthy.

Diets that are low in fatty acids are very risky for dogs. Thus, dogs that don’t get enough fatty acids in their body exhibit dry fur and dandruff.

In more extreme cases, the dog might start having skin lesions which are very susceptible to infections.

Omega 6 Fatty Acids

Most dog food is rich in omega 6 fatty acids and pet shops generally have Omega 6 supplements as well. Also, it’s good to add a tablespoon of quality vegetable oil to your dog’s food.

Additionally, it’s best to check the quality of the food that you’re giving your dog. Be mindful of oily foods because it can lose its nutritional value if stored unproperly.

Omega 3 Fatty Acids

Omega-3 is a very important part of a dog’s diet and, if your dog is deficient, you might see some symptoms: prolonged healing of wounds, hair loss, ear infections, hot spots, excessive itching and excessive licking are all signs that your dog might be deficient of omega 3.

These fatty acids are especially beneficial for the skin and for dogs that suffer from allergies or other inflammatory skin conditions.

You can find lots of omega 3 fatty acids, which come in the form of capsules and liquid.

The source of the omega-3 is very important.

One of the most common omega-3 fatty acid you’ll see are the ones that come from salmon. While salmon is high in omega-3, it can also be high in toxins such as lead and mercury.

In general, the bigger the fish, the worst the fatty acid is going to be. Large fish like salmon consume smaller fish and all the time they are alive, they are building their reserves of toxins.

Therefore, the best solution to this problem is to buy omega-3 fatty acids that come from the lowest fish on the food chain.

Anchovies, for example, are one of the lowest fish on the food chain and have one of the highest content of omega-3. Also, anchovies are low in toxins.

When you give your dog supplements like these, it’s best to not exaggerate. Your dog might end up with nausea and stomach aches.

Omega-3 is a very important part of a dog’s diet and, if your dog is deficient, you might see some symptoms: prolonged healing of wounds, hair loss, ear infections, hot spots, excessive itching and excessive licking are all signs that your dog might be deficient of omega 3.

If you notice any of these symptoms, it may be a sign that you need to include more omega-3s in your dog’s diet. Usually, a dog’s fur becomes better looking after six weeks of taking omega-3 fatty acids daily.

Brush and De-shed Your Dog

Brushing your dog should be a daily task in your dog’s grooming schedule, but you might not have time for that, so try and not go below 3-4 times a week.

Brushing is not only great for your dog’s hygiene, it’s also great for your dog’s circulatory system and it removes dead cells and impurities. Make sure you brush both in the direction in which the hair grows and in the opposite side.

Check Your Dog’s Bathing Routine

The frequency of baths is important for the health and appearance of your dog’s fur. Some breeds need to be bathed only once every few months while others might need weekly showers.

Bathing a dog can be difficult but can also be fun once it becomes a habit.

Use a sink if your dog is small and a bathtub if he’s big. You can also bathe him outside.

Make sure he’s as wet as he can be and apply dog shampoo, being careful not to get any in his eyes or ears. Rinse thoroughly so as to not leave any leftover soap suds on your doggy’s skin. Soap suds can irritate the skin and your doggy might end up licking the soap off his skin, which would then be a concern worthy of a trip to the vet

Use The Right Shampoo

For dogs with dry skin, shampoos that contain aloe vera or oatmeal are recommended. Again, different breeds have distinct types of fur. There is no one-size-fits-all type of shampoo when it comes to dogs.

Check what goes well with his type of fur and your dog will thank you for it. Under no circumstance should you use shampoo for human hair on your dog because it will irritate his skin.

Oatmeal Baths And Sprays

Oatmeal has a moisturizing and soothing effect on the skin. You will find lots of types of shampoos with oatmeal that you can use while bathing. Also, oatmeal sprays are good to use right after bathing, clipping or after going outside.

All in all, these are the most common solutions to preventing unhealthy fur and skin and improving appearance in already healthy dogs. If your dog exhibits flaky fur or irritated skin, then the best solution would be an immediate trip to the vet to properly determine the exact cause of the issue.

Credits

This article is contributed by Troy. Troy works for PremierPups, a dog adoption service that helps small breed pups find an owner. He has a Pomsky, which he loves very much. He also enjoys researching and writing about dog’s health.

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How To Choose The Right Dog Door For Your Pet

dog door

dog doorDogs are amusing and fun to be with.

They are intelligent, playful and can socially interact with humans like no other animals can do.

Aside from their needs that we tend to every day, there’s one thing they will be more than happy to have, a Dog Door.

Who doesn’t love freedom?

I am sure your dogs do.

A dog door allows your dogs to roam around freely in and out of the house.

Installing one of this in your house would definitely lighten your load, without having to open the doors for your dogs to let them in or out of the house.

Before you buy a dog door, let me show you the guidelines and consideration on how to choose the best door for your dog.

A Buyer’s Guide To Getting The Best Dog Door

Choosing the best door for your dog is easy considering that there is a wide variety of products available in the market today. To find the best, we have to consider these factors.

1. Evaluate your Dog:

 a) Dog Size: Your dog must fit the door. You have to measure your dog’s height and width to establish the dimension or size of the dog door you’re looking for.

  • Instead from the head make the measurement from your dog’s shoulder to its chest with 2” allowance to cover the height. Dogs usually duck their heads and lift their feet when entering the narrow opening. Measure their shoulder width, so you can get a dog door that they can pass through without touching the sides.
  • You also need to consider growth if you have a pup. They will continue to grow so you need to cater for his/her adult size.

  b) Dog Type: 

  • Each dog differs from one another, especially in strength. You have to take into account if your dog is able to push heavier flaps.

3. Entrance Options:

  • Your dog door can be installed on the walls, storm door, sliding glass doors or garage doors. Usually, the location depends on your house design. Ensure that the door is installed in a location that provides safe access upon entry and exit. Avoid installing your dog door where the exit is directly onto the driveway in front of your garage.
  • Decide where in your house you will be installing the dog door. Measure the dimensions on the spot where you would be placing the dog door, to make sure that the dog door you will be getting fits nicely at that chosen spot.

4. Dog Door Material: Durability and energy efficiency are the 2 main factors that you have to consider in choosing the right dog material.

  • Durability: Evaluate your dog’s behavior. Some dogs love to chew and scratch. Make sure that your door is durable enough to withstand stress and abuse from your naughty pet.
  • Energy Efficient: This is a very important because you don’t want your bills skyrocketed after installing the wrong one. Dog door with weather stripping is a fine choice. The strip’s sole purpose is to seal the gaps between the panel and door. This helps to maintain warmth in the house and keep the cold out.

5. The Mode Of Operation:

  • Manual: This is the most common of dog door type wherein the installation is on the wall or door while using a flap to act as a barrier between dog’s entrance and exit. With proper training, your dog can easily go in and out of the house through the dog door. If you choose this kind of dog door, make sure that you have a dog fence around your house to keep your dog within your property.
  • Automatic/ Electronic:  This type of door offers the pet owner the control over which pet can go in and out of the house. Automatic door is more sophisticated and advanced than manual. It uses sensor, microchip and transmitter to allow access through the door. An electronic device is embedded on the collar of you dog, so only your dog is allowed to get through the door.  This helps to keep stray animals and pests from entering the house. Automatic doors are more expensive, but give you the control and security.

Conclusion

Having a dog seems like having a child of your own. We have to take care of them in so many ways just to make them comfortable and happy when they are with us.

But let’s face it, we can’t be there for them all the time.

Providing a dog door is one of the most beneficial way to keep them healthy all the time. This access will allow them to play and run outside whenever they want.

In choosing the best dog door, it is advised to concentrate on what type of door you and your dog need. Choose wisely and within budget.

Do you have any tips and ideas about the best dog doors? You can tell us about it in the comments section below.

 

This article is contributed by Puphow.com.

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7 Telltale Signs that Your Dog Hates You

It is quite befitting for dogs to be called “man’s best friend” because they are loyal and loving at the same time. As much as they love you, there are times when they get annoyed by the things you do.

behavioral signalsThey often convey their annoyance by doing some behavioral signals. However, most of the telltale signs that they are pissed off often look cute or even friendly.

That is why instead of taking the warning, pet owners who didn’t know any better start petting their dog and end up having some injuries.

Correctly identifying the signs that your dog hates you at the moment is vital. Once you see that your dog is not in the mood, you need to back off and try to calm it down.

Misinterpreting the behavior of an anxious or angry dog is dangerous especially for your friends who had the misfortune of dropping by your house at the wrong time. Discussed below are some of the telltale signs that your dog is considering kicking your ass.

Tail Wagging

Tail WaggingMost people think that a dog is happy or trying to be friendly when it is wagging its tail. Dogs do wag their tail when their happy, but it also does if it feels edgy.

Before you go anywhere near and gush over a cute dog with a wagging tail, take a moment to observe the movement of its tail.

If its tail is wagging to the right, then go ahead and approach the dog. This indicates that it is calm, and ready for your big hugs and pet talks.

If the direction of the wagging is noticeably going to the left, then you better not come any closer if you know what is good for you. Left-side tail wagging is an indication of anxiety, and you do not want to freak out your dog or hell will break lose. The dog is probably preparing to attack if it is raising its tail high. It is their way of warning other dogs and humans alike that they are not in their friendliest mood.

Eye Contact

Eye ContactMany of us have a tendency to humanize dog behavior such us eye contact.

For humans, eye contact is a way of making a friendly connection that is why you might feel it is only right to look them straight into their eyes when you say how much you love them.

Well, you should know your dog would love to scratch off your face as it looks into your eyes. This is because they interpret eye contact as a form of threat.

Yawning

YawningJust like people, an exhausted dog might do quick yawns. However, you should be cautious if the yawning is done in an exaggerated manner. If the dog stretches its mouth open as if making an exaggerated yawn, it is trying to calm itself.

The mouth has a lot of blood vessels so when it is exposed to the air; the dog’s arterial blood’s temperature is cooled. Common sense would tell you that the dog is doing its best not to snap at you if it is calming itself.

Smacks Your Leg or Head

Smacks Your Leg or Head When you want something from someone who keeps ignoring you, then you might end up smacking that person just to get his attention.

If the dog is not getting your attention when he needs it, you might get some paw smacking yourself. Try to figure out what your dog wants so he would stop doing it.

Dogs have other, less annoying ways to get your attention. If none of those ways work, then their last resort is to smack you in the legs or head if they can reach it.

Walk Out

Walk OutDid you arrived home from work, and finding your carpet drenched in dog piss or some of your stuffs baring the signs of being chewed by canine teeth?

Like any pet owners in this situation, you may have blurted a litany of “didn’t I tell you…” with a matching finger wagging, as if scolding a child.

If you’ve done this before, then it is likely that you get the usual reaction that dogs have in this situation. He walks out on you like a stubborn teenager.

By calling out his name, you get the dogs attention for a few moments. As you start your soliloquy, you will begin to sound annoying because you say things it doesn’t understand. It is best to keep your stuffs out of reach if you do not want dogs to play with them. Potty train your dog so you won’t have to deal with the mess of piss and poop around your house.

Dog Pulls the Leash A Little Too Hard

Pulls the LeashWalking with a leash tied on their neck doesn’t feel natural for a dog if it is the first time you place it on them.

Tugging is not a sign of excitement for the walk, but an indication that the presence of the leash on their neck confused and agitates them.

However, there is a correct technique in putting a dog on leash for the first time. If done correctly, you will be able to put your dog on leash without putting it on edge.

Some dogs are tugging their leash because they are trying to exert dominance. This happens when you rarely do any activities with your dog because they will stop seeing you as a pack leader. If they think they no longer have a leader, dogs will assume the role of the alpha dog. In an effort to show his dominance, your dog will try to show that it is in control by tugging the leash. This is dangerous for your dog because it might strain or even break his neck.

The Dog Gives You a Big Smile

When a dog bare all its teeth in what seems like a wide and friendly smile, you and your friends will surely think it is in a very good mood and ready for some friendly interactions. Before you go near a “smiling” dog however, you need to keep in mind that its teeth are its only weapon. Now think about it, are you sure you want to be near a dog whose taking out its weapon?

Dog Gives You a Big SmileA dog baring all its teeth is frightened, anxious, or angry. It brings out its teeth to prepare itself to attack in case the perceived threat comes closer, which at the moment is probably you.

An aggressive dog might even pucker, which you might think that he want a nice friendly pooch. Next time you see a dog smile at you, be sure to walk away- fast! Keep in mind that if a dog is happy, it will keep its mouth closed or partially open showing little to no teeth.

There are several responsibilities that come with becoming a pet owner. Aside from providing for their basic needs, you also need to give them love and discipline.

Understanding the behavior of your dogs will make you a better pack leader and caretaker. Knowing the telltale signs that your dog is not particularly happy to see your face will also help ensure that you or any of your friends will not land in the emergency room.