Bite Of Twilight

There are many seemingly harmless items around the house that can potentially kill your dog so you have to be aware of these things to protect your dog. The many hidden dangers lurking around the household include regular everyday items such as chocolate and raisins.

Dogs are scavengers by nature and very clever at getting at things that attract their attention so you’ll have to be very vigilant in keeping harmful substances away from your pet. With their highly developed sense of smell they can detect hidden objects easily. As mentioned before, common items such as chocolate can seriously harm your dog and even in small quantities it can be fatal to a dog. Cats are less at risk as the majority of cats aren’t attracted to the smell and taste of chocolate. If you have children in your household you should instruct them never to leave any chocolate lying around. Chocolate contains methylxathine alkaloids which are very toxic to animals even in very small quantities.

Chocolate can cause elevated heart rate, constricted arteries and death in a short period of time. If you suspect your dog has ingested chocolate you should take him to the vet immediately. Delaying treatment can result in coma, seizures, cardiac arrest and death.

Some types of mushrooms can cause liver failure, abdominal cramps, kidney disease and anemia so be very careful when walking your dog in wooded areas. Garlic is also dangerous for dogs as it can cause vomiting, diarrhea, kidney and liver damage. Onions are also lethal to dogs so be careful not to feed your dog any food that contains them. Care should be taken during the holiday season as mistletoe can cause depression, vomiting and abdominal pain if ingested. Another item regularly found around the house that is potentially lethal to pets is coffee. Caffeine causes increased heart rate, seizures, diarrhea, coma and death and should never be kept within reach of pets.

Moth balls and anti-freeze are deadly to pets. Mothballs contain a chemical called naphthalene which is highly toxic to animals and causes seizures and tremors. Dogs have a strange affinity to anti-freeze and ingesting this dangerous substance causes liver and kidney failure which leads to death. When walking your dog be careful of cherry and apple trees as their leaves and roots can make your dog very sick.

Even commercial dog food can be dangerous for your dog and you should inspect the ingredients list of the food you feed your dog to detect any dyes and chemicals. Certain additives in pet food can be carcinogenic in nature and you should be very careful when deciding what to feed your dog. Preservatives used to prevent food discoloration has been found to cause cancer in laboratory rats and sodium which is added to dog food to make it more palatable can be harmful in large or daily doses. Some dogs are intolerant of dairy products and can develop an allergic reaction to these foodstuffs so extra care should be taken when feeding dairy products.

If you are unsure of how safe your house is for your dog, just keep your dog in a dog crate while you are away or use a pet gate to contain them in a certain area! Problem solved!!

You go into your child’s bedroom and then find yourself tripping all over the place with clothes, toys and stuff scattered on the floor. Most parents are no stranger to this situation and while some just really have lazy spoiled kids, others just need motivation and the right kid’s bedroom furniture to inspire them to be more organized.

Kid’s bedroom furniture such as dressers, desks, shelves, bed frames and so much more can help maintain your kid’s room neat and clean by having the right space in which to organize their things in. some kids may have been a little bit neglectful on the tidiness side because of lack of storage room in which to place all their stuff in or they don’t like the way their dressers or drawer look like. So the best way would be to furnish their room with furniture that they like and more importantly give them enough storage for all their things.

Take for instance if you have a budding teenage daughter who likes clothes and all those accessories, she manages to accumulate plenty of shoes, bags, make up and fancy jewelries so where will she put all these things? You could get her a bigger dresser which normally comes with a mirror already, get her a bed that contains additional storage drawers where she can put stuff that she doesn’t use everyday and several shelves inside her closet to have a place for all her other stuff.

This could also apply to our son who is into several sports and need plenty of room to store all his stuff, you could throw in a chest for is much larger than ordinary stuff like is sport equipments. By providing them with convenient kid’s bedroom furniture, not only are you teaching your children to be more organize, you are making more room for them to move around inside their bedroom and they will also after a long time be able to see their bed because it’s not full of junk and stuff.

As a dog owner it is essential that you know how to give your dog a thorough home health check, so that if there is something wrong with your dog’s health, you can detect it right away. Dogs can’t really tell you they are sick, at least not in an overtly obvious manner, but if you know how to look for signs that your dog may be in less than perfect health, then you will be able to tell if and when your dog is silently suffering from a health problem.

The sooner you detect a problem, the sooner you can consult a veterinarian on the issue. Some health conditions can cause your dog to deteriorate very quickly, so when possible, you need to consult a veterinarian as soon as you can. Your regular home health checks are best done together with your dog’s regular grooming.

Skin and Coat:

Most dogs shed regularly; there are very few exceptions to this rule. Having been with your dog long, you should have a good idea of how much shedding is normal. Typically your dog will shed more in spring and summer. When your dog sheds in clumps, or worse, when the shedding is so bad it results in bald spots, there may be something wrong. A dog’s skin and coat are good indicators of a dog’s health in general, when there is something amiss with either or both, then there is probably a problem. Make sure that your dog bed does not contain any harmful dyes or itchy fabrics.

Some indications that your dog may have allergies or other more serious conditions are inflamed, reddened or raw skin; bald patches; dandruff; hives and scabs. Dogs do suffer from allergies just like humans, with dogs though; the main indicators that they are suffering are poor skin or coat condition.

Bathing time is the best time to check for abnormalities in your dog’s skin or coat. Fleas and ticks are common problems, but they can’t be taken lightly, a flea infested dog is a very unhappy and unhealthy one, especially if the dog is allergic to fleas. Check for insect bites as well, some insect bites can actually cause bacterial infections in dogs; these can be difficult and expensive to treat, making it all the more imperative that they be detected early.

Ears

The ears are another part of the dog that you should inspect regularly. They should be pink and clean on the outside, but you should use a small flashlight to look deeper into the dog’s ear canal. Scabs, redness or swelling are all possible indications that there may be something wrong. A common problem with dogs is ear mites, in addition to the common symptoms; ear mites produce a dark waxy substance; so look out for foreign objects or excessive wax. Ear mites are easily treatable with readily available medications.
Don’t use a Q-tip or a cotton swab to clean your dog’s ears. In fact you should never insert anything into your dog’s ears. Dog’s ears are sensitive and you could end up damaging your dog’s eardrums. To clean your dog’s ears, use some light olive oil, warm it slightly and pour a teaspoon into your dog’s ear and massage the ear. Just let your dog shake it off after. You should do this outdoors or in a garage or work area, as your dog will make a mess.

If your dog spends a lot of time outdoors, there is a chance that bits of debris from plants will enter the ears now and then. Don’t try to address this issue on your own, as you could end up damaging your dog’s ear; take your dog to a vet right away.

Eyes and noses

A dog’s eyes should be bright and clear at all times. If a dogs eyes have excessive discharge, crustiness, mucus, or even if they are just red or puffy, you should take your dog for a visit to the vet right away. Eye problems are rare but when they do occur, they can me serious.

A dog’s nose is typically moist and cool, but some dog’s have drier noses than others. You should try to discover what the norm is for your dog, and use that as your baseline. Watch out for discharge or crustiness.

Teeth and Gums:

Most dog owners grossly underestimate the importance of dental hygiene in dogs, and even go so far as to assume that “doggy breath” is normal. There is nothing normal about doggie breath, in fact the worse the smell; the more serious the underlying condition is likely to be. Doggy breath can be an indicator of serious dental issues or even digestive or kidney related issues.
To inspect your dog’s teeth and gums, pull back his lips gently. The normal color for gums is pink. Check the teeth for plaque and tartar. These are visible as a white, cement-like substance on surface of the teeth near the gums. You can also check for anemia by pressing slightly on the dog’s gum with your finger, if after you remove your finger, the area you pressed turns white and doesn’t return to normal right away, then your dog may have anemia.

Cavities are not too much of an issue with dogs, but gingivitis is. Excessive plaque and tartar accumulation can lead to more serious conditions. Bacterial infestations resulting from poorly cared for gums can cause kidney and liver failure.

To properly care for your dog’s gums and teeth, you’ll need to brush them regularly. Use enzymatic toothpaste for dogs, and a toothbrush with soft bristles. You will need to be patient; your dog will have to be eased into the process. Have your dog taste the toothpaste first, most dog toothpastes are designed to taste good for dogs, but dogs are individuals; and trial and error may be required to find the right toothpaste. Next, massage your dog’s gums gently with your finger a few seconds every day until your dog accepts the routine. Your dog is then ready for a toothbrush.

If your dog’s gums or teeth are already in bad shape, you should see a vet for a professional cleaning.

Feet and Limbs:

You should frequently check your dog’s paws and legs for swelling or wounds. This is especially true if your dog is active and spends a lot of time outdoors. After a long hike or a nice run at a beach or a park, you should do a thorough inspection of your dog’s limbs.

General Physical Condition:

Like people, dogs have an ideal weight, this of course varies from breed to breed. As a rule, a dog is overweight if you can’t feel his ribcage. Some dogs like whippets are naturally thin. The key indicator that something could be wrong though would be a sudden drop in your dog’s weight. This is always a good reason to take your dog to the vet right away.

You should occasionally pull the skin of the scruff of your dog’s neck. If doesn’t quickly return to position, then your dog could be dehydrated. This is a very fast killer and you should take you dog to the vet right away if you suspect dehydration.

Bowel Movements:

A dog’s anal glands are another area that you will need to inspect regularly. Swelling or redness in the anal glands are indications of possible impacted anal glands. You should have some idea of how frequently your dog defecates, and urinates, if there is a sudden change in habit, this could be a sign of illness. If your dog’s irregular defecation and urination lasts more than 24 hours, you need to take you dog to the vet as soon as possible.

Behavior:

Sudden changes in behavior are also possible indicators that something isn’t quite right with your dog. A playful dog that is suddenly lethargic, or a gentle dog that has suddenly gotten ill tempered are possible indications of serious illness. In such cases, you need to take your dog to the vet right away for a thorough workup.

As you may have seen, there are now values for food on dog and puppy chow labels, much like the FDA requires dietary information to be listed on food for people. The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) is the group that established these suggestions. Information about fat, protein, and carbohydrates are among a number of the standards listed on these labels.. In addition to reading the labels, you also have to decide on the best nutrition and contents for your dog. It is recommended that you avoid foods containing fillers like corn, soy, and wheat along with those that have chemical preservatives. If you want to determine which food your dog likes the most, select brands that offer samples or have money back guarantees so you can test several kinds without spending a lot of money or wasting food.

Nutritional labels can be puzzling, so here is some facts about common contents to help you comprehend more.

Meat can consist of striated very thin muscle, tongue, diaphragm, heart, esophagus, overlying fat and the skin, nerves, and blood vessels. Meat more often than not refers to the clean flesh of the slaughtered animal.

The lungs, spleen, kidneys, brain, liver, blood, bone, and stomach and cleaned intestines are put into the group of meat by-products. Hair, horns, teeth, and hooves are not included.

By-products of fowl are the cleaned heads, feet, and organs. Feathers are not included.

The minced tissue of whole fish or fish cuttings, with or devoid of the oil extracted, is referred to as fish meal.

Corn Gluten Meal: Corn gluten meal is the by-product following the manufacture of corn syrup or starch, and is the dried remains following the removal of the bran, germ, and starch.

Brewers Rice: Brewers rice is the petite fragments of rice kernels that have been separated from bigger kernels of milled rice.

BHA: BHA is butylated hydroxyanisole, a fat preservative.

Ethoxyquin: Ethoxyquin is a chemical additive that is used to stop spoilage in dog food.

Tocopherols: Tocopherols (e.g., vitamin E) are naturally occurring compounds applied as natural `.

Instead of picking one dog food product and sticking with it forever, experts are suggesting that you switch up your dogs diet every two to six months. You can either stick with the equivalent brand of food or just change the formula or you could switch brands. You ought to be able to get excellent recommendations from your veterinarian about the best options for you your dog. For individuals who feed their dogs using homemade food (not table scraps), it’s recommended that you use a assortment of foods because not only is the identical food all of the time pretty boring, other than it could lead to food allergies or other health troubles.

The decision is ultimately up to you, however it is recommended that you not only check with your vet, but additionally obtain breeders advice. Dog food choices aren’t very complicated in view of the fact that there’s only wet or dry kinds of food.

With a lower price per pound of sizable dry food bags, dry food is generally the more low-priced choice. You can find a 50-pound bag of food for a lot less money than a 5-pound bag of the identical food.

Before switching your dog over to a totally new food, work it in slowly by adding some of the new food to the old food for a week roughly. Examine your dog’s manners, energy, and coat for several weeks after switching to a different food to watch for signs of any changes in appearance.

Picnic is one recreation you can do in an amusement park or even in your own backyard. It is the time when family members or friends can spend time together during vacations. One thing can definitely add happiness to this event is when you share delicious foods. Folding tables and chairs are essential for this activity if you don’t want to sit in the ground with just a mat. It is also comfortable to sit in a chair while you eat, folding tables and chairs are very handy just for that purpose. You can just fold it and place it at the back of your car and off you go, along with your family and friends. All you have to do is to find a perfect place to start a picnic.

Another reason why you must choose folding tables and chairs is that, they are very useful in any occasions such as parties, school programs, and conventions. You can provide chairs for all the guests without spending much money. You can also save space with this kind of tables and chairs. And after it is used, you can fold it and stack it aside. You can choose from a different varieties offered in some retail outlets. Different materials are used in folding tables and chairs. It is made of wood, plastic or aluminum. Folding tables and chairs are cheaper than those of the adorned furniture.

Durability is always an important thing in buying furniture like folding tables and chairs. Durable items can sometimes be costly. You can also spend less while still have durable folding tables and chairs. All you need to do is to be patient in looking and examining the desired items. Proper handling and maintenance is also required for longer usage of the said items. Either you are going to host a big party or just a picnic with family and friends, what’s important is that you can provide comfortable seats for everyone.

I found this awesome article about putting puppy mills out of business! I feel very strongly about this issue. While I don’t technically know if Alice is from a puppy mill, after all of the things that I have read I cannot imagine ever buying a dog. There are far too many dogs out their that need love and affection. Please read and share with your friends and family.

Putting Puppy Mills Out Of business

Puppy mills is a expression that is often used to describe places that bread dogs continually in poor conditions for monetary profit. Sadly, these places do exist, since breeding dogs is a multimillion dollar business.

Brokers get pups from these mills while the pups are between four and eight weeks old, and this implies taking the pups away from their mothers at a especially young age. The broker will keep the fresh puppies for a short while in an effort to “fatten them up” prior to sending them off to a farm someplace to live in a grimy little dog crate devoid of veterinary care or shelter from the elements.

The female pups are forced to start breeding from their first heat cycle at a very young age and from then on they breed devoid of break between new litters. This continual breeding puts a large amount of strain on the female dogs, and when they are too worn out to breed any longer, they’re terminated. It is bad enough that these females are forced to breed until they are worn out and destroyed, but what’s worse is that the methods used to terminate the dogs are commonly horrible and inexpensive.

In puppy mills, the dogs are almost always kept in little, cramped cages for their whole lives. Because these small cages are typically made with wire bottoms, the dogs’ feet can suffer from permanent damage. Additionally, in these tight quarters, parasites and infection are common.

Because puppies are so highly desired, it is these types of companies that frequently provide puppies to pet stores. More than half of all puppies purchased from pet stores become ill shorty after being bought, according to a study done in California, and it is probable that puppies obtained from pet stores develop problems because of inadequate living conditions prior to the pet store.

Putting these puppy mills out of business can be done by numerous ways.

Choosing a dog that is no longer considered a puppy is one method of stopping these mills. There are many advantages to adopting a mature dog as opposed to a puppy including the fact that you already know how big they’re going to get, what their personality will be, and if they’re already house trained.

Buying from legitimate, qualified breeders is another method to stop the puppy mills. These sort of breeders treat their pups like a member of the family and care for them in the best possible ways. The breeder can give you some background about the dog, its parents, health circumstances, breed genetic disorders, and so forth.

Similarly, you can adopt pets from local humane shelters or rescue homes.

One more step is to spay or neuter your pet to prevent overpopulation. This also keeps puppy mills from responding to ads for “free pups” to supply them with new female dogs to continue their operations.

One of the biggest things you can do is to spread the word about these puppy mills and educate other people about their terrible operations.

My favorite shelter is Southern Hope Humane Society.

Cannot wait until the new movie! June 30 cannot get here fast enough!

Twilight Trailer!

I love this!! Rob and Kristen won best kiss on the MTV Movie Awards last night!! She is so funny!

Also, I promise, I WILL be better about blogging!!