There are specialized web sites where you can browse through an extensive and, dare I say, impressive list of dog breed gifts that you can purchase for yourself or as a present to other dog lovers. Aside from being tasteful decorations in your home, these dog breed gifts can also be very functional objects that you can use on a daily basis. For instance, you can opt of a magazine rack, a mug, a bottle rack, a coat rack, or a dog feeder, and the list can go on forever. All these objects are hand painted or hand carved, which adds all the more aesthetical value to them. Decorating your entire home with these fine works of art may seem a little out of place, but no one says you have to have one or several in every room of your home. You can try adding small touches to the furniture that you already have, for instance, and see how the room in question literally lights up. If you have solid oak furniture, you can combine one or more of the pieces with a carving of your dog, and you will certainly come to realize that the combination is spectacular.

The dog breed gifts are available for over one hundred and fifty breeds, which means that you are very likely to find one with your dog as well. Furthermore, all these hand carved pieces are customizable, meaning that the woodcarving that you purchase can be exactly what you wanted it to be.

If you want to purchase dog breed gifts for someone you know to be passionate about dogs, let me tell you that there is such a gift for any occasion. Truth be told, you don’t need a special occasion to a hand carved or hand painted piece for someone who loves dogs so much, because they would appreciate the gesture at any time. A hand carved piece is a very refined gift to give someone, especially if you consider the hard work and dedication that are put into creating these woodcarvings. Being hand carved, each piece is unique in itself. The hand carved dog breed gifts are all the more valuable if you know they have been carved by an experienced and certified wood carver.

All in all, be it for yourself or for someone you love, the dog breed gifts are unique, just as your relationship with your dog is one of a kind.

These people are the ones who make it their life’s work to breed certain type of pets. If the pet breeders breed only one character of pet, or they narrow down in a certain type of pet breed, then the rate of these pets do tend to go up in price. These, of course are the better breeders.

If you’re actively looking to get a pet, and a pet shop is your easiest option, you will first want to do some investigating into the ground of your intended pet. Where did it come from; what is its lineage; what illnesses can it have; have any transmitted flaws or disease been bred out if it; and most significant of all, where does it come from?

These are all valid questions, and should be asked before you purchase a pet as it will help you to make a conclusion with a clearer reason of the situation. The last question, “where does your pet-to-be come from?” is especially crucial if you care about such things as pet mills.

In these places, animals are churned out like in factory and the pets have no proper care. They aren’t ill tempered physically, though some can be, or else they are ill treated in the manner in which they are forced to live. This is why it’s always a good idea to check up on where your dearly came from, and whether it came from worthy pet breeders, or pet breeders without a conscience who only care about the last dollar.

Not all pet breeders are like that of course. Most love their pets, and breed them only with the best care and care given to them. These pets live in humane conditions, and savor a good life.

If however, you want to look at acquiring a new pet straight from the pet breeders themselves, then this too is a possibility. If this is going to be the case, you can always ask to take a tour of their raising facility, and find out as much selective information as you can about them… to find more on this topic, please check our web site by following our link below…

There are many more article like this one on my site. Thanks for reading! Keep browsing.

If your dog doesn’t already have its own place, you probably find yourself complaining that your dog is always in your chair or your spot on the sofa. Giving your dog his or her own space means you’ll be able to take back your favorite space while giving your dog a nearby and cozy place to snuggle up.

Wrought iron dog beds bring a classic look to your home, whether you place the bed in your own bedroom, the family room or any other room in the house.

Some friends of mine got wrought iron dog beds for both of their dogs. They took to them immediately. As a matter of fact, one never gets into the other’s bed. Even better, they go straight to bed every night when it is lights out.

Here are some tips for choosing the perfect wrought iron bed for your most precious pooch:

1. Choose a dog bed that can support your dog’s weight and size. You wouldn’t want your dog to be uncomfortable sleeping on a bed that is either too big or too small, so make sure you choose the right size.

2. Offer maximum comfort to your dog. isn’t that your main concern? Of course it is. So, look for a luxury dog bed that gives the most comfort. Make sure it has soft, comfortable cushions and a solid frame. Durability and quality of the fabrics are important factors as well. Is it waterproof? Will it stand up to multiple washes?

3. Buy the dog bed for your personal budget. Luxury does not have to be expensive. You can get a good price and still not have to compromise quality. Make sure the dog bed also fits into your home decor.

There are so many choices; you will be sure to find a bed that’s just right for you and your dog. A wrought iron dog bed is a great addition to your home. Best of all, it’s not “just” for your dog even though he may appreciate it the most.

How does my dog stay warm on cold chilly nights now? By cuddling up in a cozy, warm fleece bed. The ultimate in comfort and style, fleece beds are a perfect addition to any home decor. They come in all styles to meet any taste. Maybe your dog has a favorite color? No problem! You are sure to find any color you need.

Speaking of styles, there are some dog blankets that attach right to the bed. That way your dog can’t walk away with it and he can cover himself up with it when you are not home. They also come in small, medium, large and extra-large. Make sure the cover comes off so it can be washed.

If your dog likes pillows, you can add a pillow to the dog bed, and even have it personalized so everyone else knows to keep their paws off.

You can also buy a sleeper-type dog fleece bed designed for the pets that have to stay in a crate. They have total comfort while resting in crate homes. The sleeper mats are made of 100 percent acrylic fleece and a poly-cotton stuffing. They have a backing for the pet’s complete relaxation. Another cool feature that is available is a self-heating radiant warming insert to keep pets comfortable and warm.

You can certainly perk up your pooch with a plush dog sofa or even one that has a high-rise effect. The couches are built to be visually appealing to humans and super comfy for dogs. Designed like an expensive piece of upholstered furniture, these types of step-in pet sofas are a luxury to your pet.

Treat your pet to a fleece dog bed, or give one as a gift to anyone you know who likes to spoil his or her pet but would also like a good night’s sleep. Man and his best friend will thank you.

You can always have a dog picture framed or have an artist paint a painting of your friend’s dog, and that person will certainly be delighted. But I have to say that there is hardly anything creative and original about that. Instead of choosing a present that anyone could think of, your gift can be unique, if you simply do a little thinking out of the box. If imagination is not your strongest point, you can still rest assured that you can find original dog breed gifts, as other dog lovers have already beaten you to creating all sorts of excellent pieces, works of art in the true sense of the words, pieces that bear the image of breed dogs.

The diversity of dog breed gifts that you can choose from is nothing but overwhelming. Go online, and you will have so many woodcarvings with dogs to choose from that you can be certain you’ll find something appropriate. I mean, you can always go to the shop down the street an buy something ordinary for the dog’s owner, but that’s no way to impress and delight the person that you care about. Instead of doing that, you can place your customized order from the privacy of your home, without wasting precious time on going from shop to shop, hoping that you will eventually find something worth spending money on. And you’ll probably be surprised by the extensive list of dog breed gifts that you can order from, as there are hand carved and hand painted pieces for more than one hundred and fifty dog breeds.

Woodcarvings with dogs are fine works of art, but you may not happen to agree with me on that one. If the case is such, you should know that the dog breed gifts you can find online are hardly the only option you have as a gift to a person who loves dogs. You can choose from yet another extensive list of gifts, other than hand carved pieces, such as t-shirts, pillows, handbags, hats, or even mouse pads, all personalized with the image of that trusted companion. Tree ornaments, pieces of jewelry, clocks, and so much more can bear the image of the dog that your friend loves so much.

Undoubtedly the most hard work and dedication is put into creating those fine works of art that I was telling you about earlier, namely the hand carved dog breed gifts. You can only imagine how creating something with your hands is special, but you have to agree that carving wood is unique. Choosing a woodcarving as a gift for a friend who loves dog is not only appropriate, but also unique. Aside from the fact that the person will love the gift for what it is, he or she will also appreciate its high quality and uniqueness, not to mention the fact that you have been so thoughtful as to give an extraordinary gift.

To a degree, cats are independent and naturally self-sufficient. “Cats are quite capable of being an only cat, provided there is enough stimulationand interaction with the owner,” says Kate Gamble, who provides animal behavior consulting through her company,

Cat Behavior By Kate in Auburn, Calif. “However, adding a cat to the home can be diverting to a resident cat and help break up the day while the owner is away.”

Unfortunately, your cat can’t tell you if he’d like company, and no barometer exists to take a reading of his preferences. “There is really no test to know if your cat would like another cat,” says Gamble. “If you are gone a great deal and your cat seems very needy, bored or unhappy, another cat might be just the ticket to perk up your resident cat.”

A bored cat may be lethargic and prone to obsessive/compulsive behavior such as pulling out his hair or self-mutilation such as biting his tail. His appetite may be poor, and he may sleep more than normal. Conversely, he may climb your curtains, attack your ankles for attention when you come home or overindulge at meal times. If your cat exhibits any of these symptoms, have him checked by a veterinarian first to determine that nothing is medically wrong before assuming he needs company.

Mix and Match

The younger your cat is, the more easily he will adapt to a new feline companion. In fact, kittens adjust more easily to the addition of a second cat than adults. If you’re just getting your first cat, think about getting two littermates at the same time to ensure the most successful arrangement.

Provided the cats are neutered, any combination of sexes should work, although some behaviorists feel that pairing two cats of the opposite sex is more promising than two of the same sex.

Try to match the newcomer’s disposition with that of your resident cat. “A second feline should be similar in terms of energy level and personality type,” says Gamble. “It would be disastrous to add a high energy cat to a home with a shy, quiet resident cat and vice versa.”

If you have a purebred cat, adopt another cat whose temperament is similar. For example, a laid-back Himalayan might appreciate the easy-going temperament of a Manx or British shorthair rather than the spirited antics of a Siamese or Abyssinian.

If you are adopting from a shelter, ask the staff if they know the background of any cat that interest you. Previously owned cats may have come from homes that had other pets. Shelters that keep cats in communal areas rather than in separate cages will have adoptable cats accustomed to living with other felines. Observe their interactions and try to find one with a personality similar to your resident cat.

Practical Considerations

Besides what your cat may want, you must consider the financial and spatial resources required to care for a second cat. A new cat will require medical care, food, an extra litter box or two and extra litter. You may be able to save money by obtaining a multi-pet discount from your veterinarian or by buying economy sizes of products. And, you may not have to warm up the wet food left over in the can because your resident cat can’t eat it all in one sitting. If you live in a small apartment, you will need to make use of vertical space to give both cats room to move around and get away from one another if the need arises.

Before allowing another cat to meet your resident, have her tested to make sure she has no contagious diseases.

Making It Work

If you do get a second cat, you will have a better chance of the relationship working if you introduce the cats slowly. “Take time for them to get used to each other in separate rooms for a week or two, then brief face to face encounters,” says Gamble. “Slow introductions are much less stressful on both cats.”

And what could be more satisfying than a meal that supplies all the necessary nutrients. Meeting your kitten’s nutritional needs is important to provide for her rapid growth rate and boundless energy.

Your Kitten’s Growth

At birth, she weighs about three ounces (100 grams) and gains about 1/2 ounce (15 grams) each day. By 10 weeks of age, she’ll weigh more than two pounds (1 kilogram), a tenfold gain in 10 weeks. Although males and females grow similarly at first, males begin to outweigh females by 10 weeks of age. Males tend to increase in weight until about 11 months of age, about four to eight weeks longer than female kittens do. The growth for both sexes is rapid at first, through about six to seven months of age. Males continue at this pace until about nine months of age, leaving their sisters behind.

The Feeding Regimen

Right from birth, food is critical. On mom’s milk up to weaning at around ten weeks of age, your kitty will begin to eat solid food at about three to four weeks of age. At this time, with few teeth and a tender tummy, a soft meat-based (canned food) diet is more easily consumed.

When Weaning Ends

After weaning, a balanced complete diet provides all the nutrients – energy, protein, vitamins, minerals – in proper proportion and amount. Though foods specially formulated for kittens are more nutrient-dense, a diet for “all stages” – one that can be fed to kittens and adults – may be fed as well. Both diets provide for the increased demand of your kitten’s growth. Although your kitten requires the entire complement of nutrients, calcium, phosphorus, zinc, vitamin A, vitamin D, thiamine, essential fatty acids and taurine are especially important. For example, a diet that’s otherwise sufficient but deficient in one nutrient, such as zinc, can result in poor growth, dermatitis (skin lesions) and other deformities.

It Has to Taste Good

Your kitten should eat well as long as the food is tasty. Palatability is based on aroma, texture and taste. If your kitten is fed a variety of flavors, she’ll probably be a less-selective eater as an adult. As your kitten matures, a complete and balanced dry food may be fed in addition to canned food. Feeding should be consistent, not switching back and forth, to avoid digestive upset or diarrhea. It isn’t essential to offer a variety of food types, though feeding canned and dry is fine, as long as it is palatable and sufficiently eaten to provide enough nutrition. For younger kittens, ease of eating is important; a soft diet or small pieces is best. To make it easier to consume, dry food may be moistened with warm water.

Beware of “Adults Only”

Specially formulated kitten foods are higher in protein and energy density. Dry kitten foods contain about 35 percent protein, have a higher fat content, about 12 to 24 percent, and are about 25 percent higher in calories than adult dry cat foods. If a food is labeled “100 percent complete and balanced for all life stages,” it’s okay to feed to your kitten. Don’t feed him a food labeled for “maintenance,” which is for adults only.

Can You Overfeed?

At a very young age, up to three to four months, it’s almost impossible to overfeed your kitty. At 10 weeks of age, he needs 250 kilocalories of energy per kilogram of body weight per day or about two and a half to three ounces of dry food, or eight to nine ounces of canned food. At four to six months of age, your kitten’s daily requirement for energy is about 100 to 130 kilocalories per kilogram of body weight, closer to that of an adult cat (70 to 80 kcal/kg body weight), as growth of body tissues slows down. Between eight months to a year of age, most kittens reach adult body size and weight. The daily food requirement at adulthood is about 1 ounce of canned food or one half ounce of dry food per pound of body weight.

Has Your Kitten Lost His Appetite?

As your kitten plays, your concern for his food needs should be primarily for a good quality, balanced diet. Consult your veterinarian with any concerns; however, if your kitten is playfully frisky, you and he are doing just fine. If your kitten doesn’t eat for 48 hours, consult your veterinarian. If symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea or fever accompany a lack of appetite, see your veterinarian immediately. In these cases, lack of water intake or dehydration (excessive water loss) is more critical than lack of food consumption.

Nutrient Needs

In comparison to other animals, as true carnivores, the cat and kitten have unique nutrient needs. Since they’ve evolved as meat-eaters, many of these needs are associated with their meaty diet, not obtainable from plant sources. Their requirement for a higher protein level, pre-formed vitamin A, niacin, essential fatty acids and taurine are based on this fact. They cannot convert carotene to vitamin A, getting it naturally from the organ meats of prey. Similarly, cats cannot metabolize niacin from tryptophan (an amino acid), can use only essential fatty acids from animal fat sources and need taurine from muscle tissue.

Start young. The earlier you start clipping your kitty’s claws, the better used to it she will be. Frequent trims when your cat is young will help diminish any fear. Have your veterinarian show you how to do it the first time.

When Randy Frostig took his cat, Bill, to the veterinarian six years ago, he was seriously worried. “He was lethargic and he wasn’t eating, and his urine was sticking to his paws,” Frostig recalls. The diagnosis — diabetes — surprised Frostig. “I didn’t even know that a cat could have diabetes. I didn’t know what it meant,” he says. He was concerned about having to give his cat regular shots of insulin, and how the disease might affect his pet’s life.

In reality, a diagnosis of feline diabetes is not a death sentence, and caring for a cat with the disease is far easier than Frostig had envisioned. “Giving him insulin is like brushing your teeth. It’s no big deal,” he says. Thanks to regular doses of insulin and a special diet, the gray tabby started acting more like his old self. “He was running around, and he gained his appetite again.”

Why Do Cats Get Diabetes?

Cats aren’t so different from people when it comes to diabetes. The disease affects insulin — a hormone that helps the body move sugar (glucose) from the bloodstream into the cells. Feline diabetes tends to more closely resemble type 2 diabetes in humans, in which the body makes insulin but becomes less sensitive to the hormone. Sugar builds up in the bloodstream, leading to symptoms like increased urination and thirst. If it’s left untreated, eventually diabetes can lead to life-threatening complications.

Although the exact cause of feline diabetes isn’t known, it’s more likely to affect overweight cats, because obesity makes the cat’s body less sensitive to the effects of insulin. Diabetes is also more common in older cats. Diseases like chronic pancreatitis and hyperthyroidism, as well as medications such as corticosteroids, may also make cats more prone to develop diabetes.

Will I Need to Start a Special Diet for a Diabetic Cat?

Cats are, by nature, meat eaters. Because they’ve evolved from the hunt to the food bowl, it’s now their owners’ job to ensure that their diet includes a lot of protein. Also, cats’ bodies aren’t as good as people’s at breaking down carbohydrates, says Richard W. Nelson, DVM, DACVIM, professor of internal medicine at the University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine. This is especially true for diabetic cats. “The ideal diet for a diabetic cat is one that has increased protein and decreased carbohydrate content,” he says.

Most canned cat foods are already high in protein and low in carbs, but many dry cat foods are made with starch, which makes them higher in carbohydrates. Your vet may suggest that you switch to a specially formulated cat food, such as Purina DM, or Hill’s M/D.

As you watch the type of food you give your cat, you’ll also need to keep an eye on her weight. Although the tendency in feline diabetes is for cats to be overweight, some cats may actually be underweight if their diabetes went undiagnosed for a long time. “At diagnosis, some cats need to put on some pounds, some need to lose some pounds, and some need to stay right where they are,” says Thomas Schermerhorn, VMD, Dipl. ACVIM (SAIM), associate professor of Small Animal Medicine at Kansas State University.

If your cat is overweight, your goal should be to help him lose weight gradually. A special diabetic diet will help your cat trim down, and it can actually make the diabetes easier to manage. Losing weight helps the cat’s body use insulin, which lowers blood sugar.

Every cat is unique, and the same diet won’t necessarily work for all cats. The diet for your diabetic cat depends on the cat’s health and weight, the severity of his diabetes, and his personal taste. Your veterinarian can guide you in choosing the right nutritional plan.

When Should I Feed My Diabetic Cat?

You might have become used to leaving out the food bowl for your cat to graze whenever she pleases, but you may need to change that routine once your cat has been diagnosed with diabetes. “It’s very important that you coordinate your meals with the insulin dosing,” says Kathryn Michel, DVM, associate professor of Nutrition at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. “You need to have their meals timed with their insulin, so they’re absorbing those calories when the peak insulin is occurring so they don’t become hypoglycemic [have low blood sugar].”

Typically you’ll feed your cat twice a day, administering a dose of insulin right after those feedings. Frostig feeds his cat half a can of high-protein, low-carb cat food in the morning and half a can at night, following each portion with a shot of insulin.

Your regimen may be slightly different, but regardless of when you feed your cat, it’s important that he eats. Without food in his stomach he may have to skip an insulin dose, which could be dangerous to his health. If your cat hates the new high-protein food your vet has chosen, or he balks at eating twice a day instead of grazing, it’s better to go back to your old dietary routine for a while to make sure that your cat is eating.

Do I Need to Monitor My Diabetic Cat’s Health?

Because feline diabetes can have some serious complications, it is very important that you keep track of your cat’s health. Check her blood sugar levels, either at home or by regularly taking her to the vet. Watch her appetite, weight, and food and water consumption. Also check the litter box to make sure she’s urinating the same amount. Any variations in her normal routine warrant a call to your veterinarian.

Can Diet Improve My Cat’s Diabetes?

If you are careful about diet and insulin therapy, you may notice that you can start lowering your cat’s insulin dose. In some cats the diabetes will even go into “remission.” That doesn’t mean the cat is completely cured, though. “I tell the owners that they should still think of their cat as having diabetes — it’s just controlled,” Schermerhorn says. Sometimes cats that have gone into remission will experience flare-ups and will still need to take insulin once in a while to control their diabetes. Owners need to be committed to caring for their diabetic cat for life, he says.

Frostig has kept his cat on a strict regimen of diet and insulin shots, and today it’s hard to tell that Bill is anything but a normal, healthy cat – or that he is the ripe old age of 15. “He’s still running around the house like he’s young,” Frostig says. “I have to remember sometimes that he has diabetes.”

SOURCES:

Kathryn Michel, DVM, associate professor of Nutrition at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine.

Randy Frostig, owner of Bill the cat.

Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. “Feline Diabetes.”

Chandler, E.A., C.J. Gaskell, R.M. Gaskell, eds. Feline Medicine and Therapeutics, Third Edition. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley-Blackwell, 2007.

Richard W. Nelson, DVM, DACVIM, professor of internal medicine at the University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine.

Thomas Schermerhorn, VMD, Dipl. ACVIM (SAIM), associate professor of small animal medicine at Kansas State University, College of Veterinary Medicine.

]]> http://www.wgbeacon.com/759/feeding-tips-for-a-cat-with-diabetes/feed 0 http://www.wgbeacon.com/755/what-to-do-about-hairballs-in-cats http://www.wgbeacon.com/755/what-to-do-about-hairballs-in-cats#comments Mon, 30 Apr 2012 10:40:35 +0000 http://www.wgbeacon.com/?p=755 No two ways about it: Hairballs in cats are unpleasant. And they’re not just disagreeable for the person who has to clean them up — they can cause intestinal blockages, which can be a serious health problem, for your cat. It’s a given that your cat is going to groom herself, so what can you do to keep hairballs to a minimum?

What causes hairballs in cats?

Hairballs, technically called trichobezoars, may be disgusting – especially on your white rug – but they develop as a result of your cat’s healthy and fastidious grooming routine.

When your cat grooms himself, tiny hook-like structures on his tongue catch loose and dead hair, which is then swallowed. The majority of this hair passes all the way through the digestive tract with no problems. But if some hair stays in the stomach, it can form a hairball. Ultimately, your cat will vomit the hairball to get rid of it. Because hairballs pass through the narrow esophagus on the way out, they often appear thin and tubelike, rather than round.

Hairballs in cats are more likely to appear in long-haired breeds, such as Persians and Maine Coons. Cats that shed a lot or who groom themselves compulsively are also more likely to have hairballs, because they tend to swallow a lot of fur. You may have noticed that your cat didn’t have hairballs as a kitten, but developed them as she grew. This is quite normal — as cats get older they become more adept groomers and therefore more proficient at removing fur from their coats with their tongues, which means more hairballs for you to clean up.

Symptoms of Hairballs in Cats

It can be disturbing to watch (and hear) your cat eliminating a hairball. Some common hairball symptoms include hacking, gagging, and retching. Usually, your cat will then vomit the hairball in relatively short order.

If you notice the following hairball symptoms, be sure to contact your veterinarian, as they could indicate that a hairball has caused a potentially life-threatening blockage:

• Ongoing vomiting, gagging, retching, or hacking without producing a hairball
• Lack of appetite
• Lethargy
• Constipation
• Diarrhea

Four Hairball Remedies

Nothing can be done to totally prevent hairballs in cats, but there are things you can do to reduce the likelihood your cat will have hairballs or reduce their frequency.

1. Groom your cat regularly. The more fur you remove from your cat, the less fur that will end up as fodder for hairballs in her stomach. Combing or brushing your cat on a daily basis can be an effective way to minimize hairballs, and it can also provide a fun way for you to bond with your cat. If your can’t get your cat accustomed to grooming or brushing, think about taking her to a professional groomer for a grooming and hair cut (especially for long-haired cats) every six months or so.
2. Give your cat a specialized “hairball formula” cat food. Many pet food manufacturers now make hairball-reduction cat foods. These high-fiber formulas are designed to improve the health of your cat’s coat, minimize the amount of shedding, and encourage hairballs in cats to pass through the digestive system.
3. Use a hairball product or laxative. There are a number of different hairball products on the market today, most of which are mild laxatives that help hairballs pass through the digestive tract.
4. Discourage excessive grooming.If you suspect that your cat’s hairballs are a result of compulsive grooming, try to train your cat to do another enjoyable activity instead of licking his coat. This might include teaching him to play with a new toy on his own or finding a fun toy you can play with together.

SOURCES:

Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine Web site: “A Hairy Dilemma.”