Dogs make wonderful companions and one pet would not be enough because they are almost addicting. Many dog owners would want to breed the pet with outstanding qualities. Breeding the beloved pet would mean more pets to love and to share with family members. Watching the pregnant pet deliver the puppies would be a wonderful experience.

Domesticated dogs, just like their ancestors in the wild can whelp easily – without needing any assistance from humans. Whelping though is not always normal and difficult labor that would endanger the lives of the dam and the puppies can occur. All the necessities that will make the whelping dog comfortable must be provided by the owner. To be able to give urgent assistance, a dog owner has to be able to promptly recognize the signs that the pet is having difficulties in delivering the puppies. Apart from recognizing the telltale signs, a dog owner also has to have first aid knowledge to be able to help the pet.

The pregnancy of a dog generally lasts from eight to nine weeks. At the end of this period, the whelping box lined with old blankets should be ready. Other equipments that must be readied are scissors or dental floss to cut the puppies’ umbilical cord and towels. One very important tool that will let the dog owner know that the pet is ready to give birth is a thermometer. Twelve to twenty four hours before the dog whelps, the normal body temperature of 101.5 °F will drop 2 to 3 degrees.

The dog usually takes care of the birthing. After the puppy was delivered, the mother dog will take care of the cleaning and the cutting of the of the umbilical cord. However, there are instances when the dog would not know what to do. This situation commonly happen to dogs that gave birth for the first time. It will be the dog owner’s task to tear the sac to prevent the puppy from suffocation. The dog owner has to clean the puppies as well.

A whelping dog with a puppy stuck half in and half out would need urgent help. With a clean towel, grasp the protruding part and pull in a downward motion. Remove a dead puppy stuck in the birth canal immediately. Removal of the dead puppy in the birth canal should be done by a vet but in a pinch the owner can lubricate the hand with K-Y jelly and try to remove the puppy. This aggressive effort of removing the dead pup will be very necessary to save the life of the dam and the unborn puppies.

Find out more about dog first aid and whelping at Sarah’s Dogs.

Dog owners spend thousands of dollars on pet food just to make sure that the pet that is considered as the baby of the family is provided with good nutrition. The begging expression on the dog’s face would be very difficult to resist thus anything the pet wants will be given by the owner. Because of the owner’s love for the pet, the master’s place on the bed or on the coach will be occupied by the dog. In most cases, the begging dog would have a bite of the food the master is eating. This kind of situation would do the pet no harm unless the food that the owner allowed the pet to eat is not tolerated by the dog’s systems.

A dog owner has to have an idea what foods are toxic to the pet. Fruits and vegetables are healthy food for humans. Dogs must steer clear of grapes, avocados, from tomatoes and potatoes as well as from mushroom and broccoli as these foods can cause poisoning. Because of a different metabolism; dogs’ systems cannot tolerate these fruits and vegetables. Dogs must be prevented from eating fruit seeds and pits because of the cyanide they contain.

Dairy products especially when consumed in large amounts would have dangerous effects on the pet. Coffee, tea and alcoholic beverages as well as chocolate and sugar-free candies are unsafe foods for dogs too. Onions and garlic are poisonous to dogs thus food containing these ingredients must not be given to the dogs.

Dogs in the wild eat their food raw. However, raw fish, raw eggs and raw meat must not be included in the dog’s diet. Thiamin deficiency results if a dogs is regularly given raw fish and this condition can result to seizures and the death of the dog. Raw eggs may contain Salmonella and e coli bacteria that can affect the dog. Moreover, dogs that regularly consume raw eggs can develop poor coat and other skin concerns because of the avidin, an enzyme that is found in raw eggs. Fat trimmings and excessively fatty foods must not be given to dogs either as it can trigger a pancreatitis attack. In dogs, fatty foods will cause the pancreas to get inflamed and to rupture and cause digestive enzymes to seep into the other organs.

Vomiting and diarrhea are the manageable consequences of giving the dog toxic human foods but some foods have more serious effects that results to the death of the dog.

Not all human foods are safe for dogs. Find out what foods are toxic to dogs at Sarah’s Dogs. Likewise you can learn about many common and not so common dog breeds.

Is the belief that an ugly dog also has an ugly owner true? It is widely believed that the appearance of the pet is a reflection of the way it is cared for and treated by the owner. A dirty and mangy dog, or one that has an emaciated look will be pitied and the owner will be scorned. People will believe that the owner is not fit to keep a dog for a pet.

A healthy diet would not be enough to keep the pet healthy and looking good. A dog owner has to be aware of the fact that the pet needs to be regularly groomed to maintain its impressive appearance and also to resolve parasite infestation that can lead to various health concerns.

Most dogs have been infested by fleas as fleas are the most common parasites of dogs. Fleas are annoying parasites but aside from the discomfort, the infestation can also result to some health concerns. A dog infested with fleas would be seen incessantly scratching and biting its body. Dogs infested with fleas can develop flea allergy dermatitis if they have sensitivity to the parasite’s saliva. The bald patches on the skin and the oozing sores will certainly mar the appearance of the pet. A dog severely affected by fleas can suffer from anemia. Moreover, fleas can introduce tapeworms not only to the dog but also to the dog’s human family if flea-carrying tapeworm eggs are accidentally ingested.

Regular grooming will prevent the development of flea infestation. Dogs come in contact with these parasites when they play with infested dogs or when they pass areas where fleas lurk to wait for potential host. Flea products can kill adult fleas but not the eggs thus a flea infestation has the tendency to recur.

Grooming the pet regular is therefore very important. The dog can be bathed with anti-flea shampoo. Allow the lather to stay for about 10 minutes before rinsing the dog thoroughly. Run a fine toothed comb to the dried hair to remove dead fleas. Vacuum the house thoroughly especially the carpet and the areas where the dog usually sleeps. The beddings and the toys of the dog must be washed in hot water as well.

A regular grooming routine allows the dog owner to act on a developing parasite infestation before it worsens. Furthermore, the grooming sessions enables the owner to strengthen the bond with the pet.

Want to know more about dog grooming as well as dog fleas. Visit Sarah’s Dogs.