A Look at Custom Dog Tags

Have you been shopping and shopping for just the right dog tag, without finding what you’re looking for to suit your dog’s personality? Choose your exact specifications, give them to the manufacturer, and they’ll produce a dog tag to your liking. Some retailers even specialize in custom dog tags. Do you like the look and solid feel of stainless steel, brass, or aluminum? Or perhaps you are not picky,...

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Control Your Dog's Weight for a Healthier, Longer Life

Valerie Goettsch


Obesity is not just a growing problem for the human population, overweight dogs--just plain fat dogs--is becoming more common.
Obesity is a common nutritional disorder in dogs. Just like people, dogs can get fat through over feeding and insufficient exercise.
Even if you think you are only giving your dog a small amount of food per day, if you dog is getting insufficient exercise relative to the amount of food intake, he can still gain weight. Over time, he can and will get fat.
Fat dogs are not healthy dogs. Overweight dogs tend to develop health problems such as diabetes, and excess weight can aggravate conditions such as arthritis, which often develops in middle aged and elderly dogs. To put it in perspective, an extra five pounds on a 15 pound dog is equivalent to an extra 50 pounds on a 150-pound person.
How You Can Prevent Your Dog from Becoming Fat
Fortunately, there are some common-sense weight control measures you can take to help prevent your dog from getting fat.
* If you practice "free feeding" (leaving dry dog food available 24/7), STOP. If your dog hasn't eaten his food within about 15 minutes, remove his dish.
*Reduce your dog's between meal snacks and treats. Dog treats are often high in fat and calories and some treats like biscuits and dog cookies are heavy in low fiber carbs.
* Exercise your dog regularly. Ideally, you should give your dog a brisk walk for at least 20 minutes twice a day. This is as good for you as for your dog in helping to maintain a healthy weight for both of you.
* If you have an overweight dog, talk to your vet about finding the optimum calorie intake for him.
* Consider switching to a low fat dog food and giving him low fat dog treats.
With a little effort your dog will be well on his way to a more healthy weight.
About the author: Valerie Goettsch is web master of My Favorite Dog, a website featuring dozens of articles and information on where to find the best of everything for your dog, from flea meds to beds, training and designer clothes.

Biting & Nipping Behavior Can Kill Your Dog!

Dog bite injuries are alarmingly the most common condition that we human suffer from as a result of contact with dogs. In the United States alone, there are between 1-2 million people bitten by dogs each year. Most bites landed on children with boys more likely to get bitten than girls. (guess boys are more mischievous!) Fortunately, most of these bites are not serious or life threatening and fewer than 5% become infected. However, with more dog bites receiving numerous bad press lately, more and more anti-dog legislation were introduced in United States. In some states, it’s even illegal to own...

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Obesity In Dogs

Numerous studies have shown that more Americans are obese today than ever before and, interestingly, we're not the only ones. Not only are Americans fatter than ever, so are their dogs; and the phenomenon can have serious ramifications for both groups. Obese dogs run a lot of the same risks that obese people do. When a dog is over weight it is at higher risk for heart disease, respiratory ailments, weak joints and other problems. In short; it is every bit as dangerous for a dog to be carrying extra weight as it is for a person - perhaps more so due to the shorter lifespan that dogs have. An overweight...

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