Archive for the ‘Pets’ Category

MAN’S BEST FRIEND

Thursday, July 14th, 2011

 

 

Translator

 

Hello Friends,

 

 

I don’t know anyone who doesn’t love their pets. I know there are some who wouldn’t be bothered with the responsibility.

I don’t understand it Course there are some who feel the same way about children. They really shouldn’t have them.

They say dogs are mans best friend, Some feel the same way about their cats. I was always fortunate because I loved

Both. We always had both.

A dog is a man’s best friend. You do everything you can to maintain your optimum health. Doesn’t your best friend deserve the same? Your dog is an active (rather the most active) member of your family and needs the same, if not more attention to health and nutrition as you do, to stay healthy, and live longer.

 

After all it’s very easy to get lost in big pet store. The sea of products that we have today, aisle after aisle is very confusing and also time consuming. However keeping your dog healthy need not be a career option for you. All we need to use is a little commonsense and good information regarding the breed and age of your dog.

Let’s divide the dogs into two categories – small & adult.

For Small Dogs & Puppies

It has long been established and proven that small dogs have a different metabolism as compared to large dogs, due to physiologic effect of their body mass. For ex.,

Great Dane weighing 100 pounds needs to consume about 23 calories per pound of body weight Pomeranian weighing 6 pounds needs to consume 47 calories per pound of body weight every day-more than twice as much!

As owner of a small dog, you need to be certain that your dog’s energy needs are being satisfied.  Be sure to choose a diet that’s been formulated properly with optimal balance of highly digestible nutrients. Digestibility determines how much your dog can actually utilize each nutrient in a diet.

Puppies require almost twice or thrice as much food as adult dogs per pound of weight. To keep up their energy levels, they have to be fed as frequently as three to four times till they are six months of age.

Diet is always the key to raising your children or puppies. The diet should balanced, nutrient rich, should contain high levels of phosphorous and calcium and be highly digestible. It should also contain high-quality proteins and should adhere to Association of American Feed Control Officials’ (AFCO) procedures. This would ensure that the puppy develops strong bones, muscle and tissue.

For Adult Dogs

Your dog like you needs a combination of fats, carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, minerals, and water in a balanced diet to meet their daily needs. A lot of dog food bags claim they are in themselves complete food. This ends up as null if the nutrients cannot be absorbed by your dog’s system. Major companies take great care in this aspect by trying to provide the nutrients in an absorbable form.

Dog foods must also consist of mineral and vitamin supplements in a balanced form. The proportions should be accurate so that they do not interfere with each other in your dogs system. This would provide maximum benefit to you dog. If the food consists of one ingredient in overdose and the other in lower doses, it could have an adverse affect on your dogs health.

Given below are some feeding tips to make chow time more pleasant:

Always keep the food dish clean.

 

Feed adult dogs twice a day to prevent hogging at one single meal and lessens the chance of your deep chested dog developing bloat or stomach torsion.

Feeding Schedule should be relaxed so that your dog knows the meal time but will not bother you if you are a little late.

Keep your siblings away from your dog while feeding, so that he does not get insecure and feel a need to defend his food.

Never let your dog have free access to food, lest they have constant activity in their digestive systems.

Make sure your dog sits and has his food, in which case there is less chance of food spilling all over the floor.

Never play with your dog with his dish, better to teach him manners instead.


Until Next Time,

 

BE GOOD TO YOURSELF, STAY HEALTHY and BE HAPPY!!!

 

Best Wishes,

Richard & June Craig
PO Box 1735
Zillah WA 98953
http://junecraig.com
http://JuneCraig.info
http://DoYouKnow21.info/

 

 


 

 

 

 

Yes, Cats Have Allergies

Sunday, June 26th, 2011


Hello Friends,

What a gorgeous day we had here in the beautiful pacific northwest U.S.A. I hope your day is  wonderful also.
Quiet, we had the television off all day.What a terrific change.
Sitting on the patio where there are no sounds other then the
birds singing and the water trickle in our miniature water falls.

Even though Richard’s folks had a cat.He never wanted one.I told him I was getting one it was, like the hair on the back of his neck stood straight up.8-( My grand daughter and her friend came over with a kitten, She climbed up on grandpa’s lap and said,
grandpa I think grandma needs this kitten, don’t you? How could he say no.The kitten stayed, That was the wildest kitten I had ever seen.

I told him we need another one for company  he wasn’t to keen on the idea but gave in. It worked.The visit to the vet helped also.The one tamed him right down. That first kitten took to Richard.Sat in his chair with him,If he was reading Tracee would get right in the middle of his paper.If the cat was in his chair, he wouldn’t move him he would sit in another chair.He was the one who didn’t want any cats. We also had a dog, she had arthritis and died,

My breathing got so bad along with my allergies we had to give them away.They are now with two of our great grand children.I know they have a good home.Cats have allergies also.

Cats are one of the most loved pets in the world, no question about it.  More than 50% of all households in the United States own dogs and cats.  Although cats are loved animals, cat allergies are one of the common forms of allergies.  Statistics in the past have shown that over 10 million people in the U.S. alone have allergic reactions to cats – especially their fur.

The biggest cause of cat allergies is dander. The dander, is dust that is produced by the body of the cat.Dander is basically shed skin that comes off of cats, normally in the form of small flakes.Although dander can irritate your skin, it can also get into your immune system as well, resulting in a variety of symptoms and almost immediate allergic reactions.

The dander, once in the immune system, is perceived to be a threat.  Even though it isn’t classified as a disease, it’s more of a reflex by your body and your immune system.  Cat allergies occur quite often due to cats having allergens that are spread throughout their blood, urine, and saliva.  Although a cat may not be present at the time, the excretions probably still are.

Cat dander, urine, and saliva, are found throughout the home of cat owners.  Cats constantly groom themselves, which involves rubbing their saliva into their fur.  When they do this, they spread their dander and allergens around.  Although you may try, there is really nothing that you can do about it.  Cats have a natural instinct to groom or bathe themselves, no matter how many baths you give them, you simply won’t stop them from grooming.

Normally, when someone is taking an allergic reaction to cats, he or she will wheeze, cough, sneeze, itch, have watery eyes, or a difficult time in breathing. Different people react different ways to cat allergens, meaning that some symptoms may not occur at all.  Fever and chills is very rare, although it can happen.  If someone who has cat allergies comes down with fever and chills,you should contact a doctor immediately. Chances are, it isn’t an allergic reaction to cats, but instead another type of disease that a doctor will need to identify.

Cat allergies are normally treated with antihistamines and decongestants.Those that experience asthma attacks or other forms of allergies, normally take antihistamines.  Decongestants on the other hand, are normally used to cure coughs and swollen nasal passages.  Sometimes, doctors will recommend allergy shots as well. Allergy shots can help to prevent the attack, especially if someone is really allergic to cats.  They are a good form of treatment and prevention, and they can also help to decrease the risk of allergies affecting the individual.

If you suspect that you have cat allergies, you should always make it a point to visit your doctor.He will be able to further diagnose your situation, and give you the best options available for treatment.If you do indeed suffer from cat allergies, the best way to stop the attacks is to get rid of your cat.

Getting rid of a cat can be a very tough thing to do.If you have become allergic to your cat’s fur, there may be no other way to prevent attacks than to get rid of him.Although doctors can give you medicine and shots, it will only do so much.Cat allergens are no fun, especially if you develop them years after owning your cat. Cats are great animals to own – although cat allergies are something we could all live without.

We do miss our pets, Now we live with our memories,



Until Next Time,

BE GOOD TO YOURSELF,STAY HEALTHY and BE HAPPY!!!

Best Wishes,

Richard & June Craig
PO Box 1735
Zillah WA 98953

http://junecraig.com/
http://JuneCraig.info
http://DoYouKnow21.info/


 

Are You Ready to Select Your Golden Retriver Puppy?

Saturday, June 4th, 2011

 

Hello Friends,

Another weekend is here again. It was one of those short weeks we get once in awhile.I’m sure you enjoyed that.The weather is getting warmer a real sign summer is just around the corner. With that comes the hot weather.That is really not very good news for the very old. That’s the time for us to sit in front of our air-conditioners with our pets. Everyone has grown up and moved away. Now we are left alone,with man’s/woman’s best friend. They hardly ever argue with you or pout when told to do something. Well, almost never :D

If you don’t have a pet maybe its time to get one. Pets are wonderful
to have, if you are alone, they are lots of company.It’s a good thing
to have a pet for the kids. It teaches them responsibility.

Once you have decided on a breeder that you can trust, you’ll need to start thinking about what type of puppy you want.  This decision could take you some time, as it can be quite a few weeks or even months before the right litter is whelped – although it will be worth the wait.  If your breeder has a few litters available when you look for your Golden puppy, you may be able to compare.

Some breeders may require that you put a deposit down on the puppy of your choice, if the puppies aren’t a certain number of weeks old.  The good litters rarely go unsold, as most are already spoken for before the puppies are seven weeks old.  If you want to get in on a good litter, your best bet is to get to your breeder early – before all of the puppies are sold.

When you arrive to get your puppy, you shouldn’t be alarmed if the breeder does the selecting for you.  Most quality breeders will spend quite a bit of time with the puppies and they will know just what their individual temperaments are.  The better breeders however, will do temperament tests to determine the temperament of the puppies they have with each and every litter.

By performing these tests, the breeder will get assistance in selecting which puppy goes to which type of home.  If you’ve chosen one of the better breeders, you should let him do his work and help you select the puppy that he or she thinks will be your best match.  Breeders can obviously select you a better puppy, as they have been around the litter for several weeks – and you have only been around the litter looking at them for a few minutes.

Although all Golden puppies are appealing to the eyes, you need to base your reasons on more than looks.  Before you pick your puppy up, you should always make sure that he has a strong build, with straight legs.  The puppy should be strong and muscular, yet be squirmy and active when you first try to pick him up. You should also make sure that he has healthy teeth and gums, and look over the rest of his body to make sure that he is healthy.

If your breeder does allow you to select your puppy from the litter, then you should take the puppies that you are considering to get away from the remainder of the litter and observe each one carefully, and how they react to you.  Puppies that are around 7 weeks of age should be apt to explore their surroundings. Even though they may be a little cautious at first, the puppies should still be more than anxious to look around and sniff their surroundings.

When you single out the puppies, make sure you speak to the ones you are interested in and see how they react to your voice.Try moving around and playing with them, and see how they respond to you.Some puppies will be faster than others, although you shouldn’t pursue any interest in a puppy that doesn’t show any interest in moving objects or their surroundings.

If you take your time and evaluate each puppy that you are interested in, you can find the best puppy for you and your family. Golden Retriever puppies are great to have, providing you get one that’s healthy.Getting a healthy puppy should be your desire – as a healthy puppy will grow into a strong and healthy adult – and be around for years to come.




Until Next Time,

BE GOOD TO YOURSELF, STAY HEALTHY and BE HAPPY!!!

Best Wishes,

 

Richard & June Craig
PO Box 1735
Zillah WA 98953

http://junecraig.com
http://JuneCraig.info/
http://DoYouKnow21.info/

 


 

HISTORY OF DOGS?

Friday, June 3rd, 2011

Hello Friends,

I am so happy to be back here with you again tonight. I hope
you had a beautiful day. If you was able to get out of bed this
morning, Standup, walk to bathroom, kitchen for coffee. Then I
would say you had a wonderful day and a whole lot to be thankful for.

Today our post is on man’s/woman’s best friend. The history of them. This article is one of the best I have been able to find on the subject. I enjoyed reading it, I hope you will also.

There is no incongruity in the idea that in the very earliest period of man’s habitation of this world he made a friend and companion of some sort of aboriginal representative of our modern dog, and that in return for its aid in protecting him from wilder animals, and in guarding his sheep and goats, he gave it a share of his food, a corner in his dwelling, and grew to trust it and care for it. Probably the animal was originally little else than an unusually gentle jackal, or an ailing wolf driven by its companions from the wild marauding pack to seek shelter in alien surroundings. One can well conceive the possibility of the partnership beginning in the circumstance of some helpless whelps being brought home by the early hunters to be tended and reared by the women and children. Dogs introduced into the  home as playthings for the children would grow to regard themselves, and be regarded, as members of the family

In nearly all parts of the world traces of an indigenous dog family are found, the only exceptions being the West Indian Islands, Madagascar, the eastern islands of the Malayan Archipelago, New Zealand, and the Polynesian Islands, where there is no sign that any dog, wolf, or fox has existed as a true aboriginal animal. In the ancient Oriental lands, and generally among the early Mongolians, the dog remained savage and neglected for centuries, prowling in packs, gaunt and wolf-like, as it prowls today through the streets and under the walls of every Eastern city. No attempt was made to allure it into human companionship or to improve it into docility. It is not until we come to examine the records of the higher civilizations of Assyria and Egypt that we discover any distinct varieties of canine form.

The dog was not greatly appreciated in Palestine, and in both the Old and New Testaments it is commonly spoken of with scorn and contempt as an “unclean beast.” Even the familiar reference to the Sheepdog in the Book of Job “But now they that are younger than I have me in derision, whose fathers I would have disdained to set with the dogs of my flock” is not without a suggestion of contempt, and it is significant that the only biblical allusion to the dog as a recognized companion of man occurs in the apocryphal Book of Tobit (v. 16), “So they went forth both, and the young man’s dog with them.”

The great multitude of different breeds of the dog and the vast differences in their size, points, and general appearance are facts which make it difficult to believe that they could have had a common ancestry. One thinks of the difference between the Mastiff and the Japanese Spaniel, the Deer hound and the fashionable Pomeranian, the St. Bernard and the Miniature Black and Tan Terrier, and is perplexed in contemplating the possibility of their having descended from a common progenitor. Yet the disparity is no greater than that between the Shire horse and the Shetland pony, the Shorthorn and the Kerry cattle, or the Patagonian and the Pygmy; and all dog breeders know how easy it is to produce a variety in type and size by studied selection.

In order properly to understand this question it is necessary first to consider the identity of structure in the wolf and the dog. This identity of structure may best be studied in a comparison of the osseous system, or skeletons, of the two animals, which so closely resemble each other that their transposition would not easily be detected.

The spine of the dog consists of seven vertebrae in the neck, thirteen in the back, seven in the loins, three sacral vertebrae, and twenty to twenty-two in the tail. In both the dog and the wolf there are thirteen pairs of ribs, nine true and four false. Each has forty-two teeth. They both have five front and four hind toes, while outwardly the common wolf has so much the appearance of a large, bare-boned dog, that a popular description of the one would serve for the other.

Nor are their habits different. The wolf’s natural voice is a loud howl, but when confined with dogs he will learn to bark. Although he is carnivorous, he will also eat vegetables, and when sickly he will nibble grass. In the chase, a pack of wolves will divide into parties, one following the trail of the quarry, the other endeavoring to intercept its retreat, exercising a considerable amount of strategy, a trait which is exhibited by many of our sporting dogs and terriers when hunting in teams.

A further important point of resemblance between the Canis lupus and the Canis familiars lies in the fact that the period of gestation in both species is sixty-three days. There are from three to nine cubs in a wolf’s litter, and these are blind for twenty-one days. They are suckled for two months, but at the end of that time they are able to eat half-digested flesh disgorged for them by their dam or even their sire.

The native dogs of all regions approximate closely in size, coloration, form, and habit to the native wolf of those regions. Of this most important circumstance there are far too many instances to allow of its being looked upon as a mere coincidence. Sir John Richardson, writing in 1829, observed that “the resemblance between the North American wolves and the domestic dog of the Indians is so great that the size and strength of the wolf seems to be the only difference.

It has been suggested that the one incontrovertible argument against the lupine relationship of the dog is the fact that all domestic dogs bark, while all wild Canidae express their feelings only by howls. But the difficulty here is not so great as it seems, since we know that jackals, wild dogs, and wolf pups reared by bitches readily acquire the habit. On the other hand, domestic dogs allowed to run wild forget how to bark, while there are some which have not yet learned so to express themselves.

The presence or absence of the habit of barking cannot, then, be regarded as an argument in deciding the question concerning the origin of the dog. This stumbling block consequently disappears, leaving us in the position of agreeing with Darwin, whose final hypothesis was that “it is highly probable that the domestic dogs of the world have descended from two good species of wolf (C. lupus and C. latrans), and from two or three other doubtful species of wolves namely, the European, Indian, and North African forms; from at least one or two South American canine species; from several races or species of jackal; and perhaps from one or more extinct species”; and that the blood of these, in some cases mingled together, flows in the veins of our domestic breeds.


Until Next Time,

BE GOOD TO YOURSELF, STAY HEALTHY and BE HAPPY!!!

Best Wishes,

Richard & June Craig
PO Box 1735
Zillah WA 98953
http://junecraig.com
http://JuneCraig.info/