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Although dogs are among the most beloved pets in the world, some do suffer from serious aggression problems. In fact, experts estimate that approximately 2% if the United States population is bitten by a dog each year, which equals about 4.3 million people. Although these statistics sound a bit frightening, the reality is that many dog bites can be avoided if you understand the causes of dog aggression and how to avoid putting yourself in a bad situation.

Types of Aggression

There are many different causes, or types, of aggressive behavior. These include aggression that is based upon:

• Dominance - Since dogs are naturally pack animals, it is also natural for them to want to be the leader of the pack. In some cases, this desire to be the leader can be directed toward humans and even toward the dog’s owner.

• Fear - When a frightened dog is approached by a person or an animal, it may act in an aggressive manner if feels cornered and there is no way of escape.

• Female Dominance - Two female dogs may show aggression toward each other, particularly if they live in the same household.

• Pain - If a person or an animal causes a dog pain, such as when touching a painful area or when giving injections, the dog may exhibit what is called induced aggression.

• Male Dominance - It is not uncommon for two male dogs to exhibit aggression toward each other as they battle for territory.

• Maternal - A female dog that is pregnant or that has recently had puppies can become quite aggressive in an attempt to protect her pups.

• Predatory - Dogs are natural predators, meaning they will exhibit aggression toward anything they consider to be prey. This can be other animals, but can be anything else that moves quickly, such as a bike, a car or a scared person running away.

• Territorial - Dogs are also very territorial animals, meaning they will do whatever it takes to protect their property. A dog’s home, room and yard are all part of its territory, which the dog will fight to protect.

Treating Aggression

If your dog frequently exhibits aggressive behavior, you should discuss the problem with your veterinarian. In some cases, there may be a medical reason causing the aggressive behavior. For example, your dog may have an unknown health issue that is causing it to feel pain, which is making it overly sensitive and aggressive when touched.

If your veterinarian has determined that there is no medical reason for the aggressive, he or she may recommend seeing a behavioral therapist who can help you treat your dog’s aggressive behavior. Even if the therapy appears to be successful, it is important to continue implementing the steps prescribed by the behavior therapist in order to make certain aggressive behaviors do not reappear. In addition, if your dog is dangerously aggressive, you may need to seriously consider removing the dog from your home in order to keep yourself, your family and your friends safe.

CS Swarens is the CEO of Find a Pet Online. 800 998-7065 For additional information on dogs, cats, birds, horses, and exotic pets visit the internet’s resource for dogs for sale. Research dog information.

If you are the proud owner of a cute and cuddly little kitten, it is important for you to know how to feed it properly. After all, your kitten has to get proper nutrition now so it can grow up to be strong and healthy.

The Mother’s Milk

During the first ten weeks of life, it is essential for your kitten to feed from its mother’s milk. During this time period, your kitten will also grow substantially. In fact, most kittens weigh around three ounces at birth and they gain

If your cat’s abdomen has become larger, it may be suffering from abdominal distension. This term refers to an enlargement of the abdomen that is caused by problems other than obesity. There are actually several possible causes of abdominal distension, with treatment for the condition varying according to the cause of the disorder.

Causes of Abdominal Distention

One possible cause of abdominal distension is the accumulation of fluid. This accumulation can be caused by a number of different health issues. These include:

• Blood from an internal hemorrhage

• Urine from a urinary tract tear

• Exudate, a fluid caused by infection

• Transudates, which are fluids that are leaked from vessels

Abdominal distension can also be caused when an organ becomes enlarged, such as the spleen, liver or kidney. Your cat may also experience abdominal distension due to injury, during pregnancy or due to tension in the abdominal area or other organs.

Symptoms of Abdominal Distension

In addition to having an enlarged abdominal cavity, there are other signs and symptoms (some extremely serious) that are commonly associated with abdominal distension. Some other symptoms your cat may exhibit include:

• Change in urinary habits

• Change in bowel habits

• Decreased appetite

• Diarrhea

• Difficulty breathing

• Diminished activity level

• Loss of fat

• Loss of muscle

• Sudden weakness

• Vomiting

• Wretching

If you notice any of these symptoms in your cat, it is important to contact your veterinarian right away so your cat can be examined. Failure to act quickly can lead to an increase in the severity of the condition, unneeded surgery, or even death.

Diagnosing and Treating Abdominal Distension

Diagnosing abdominal distension includes determining the cause. As such, your veterinarian will likely complete a number of different procedures in order to determine the specific problem. These procedures or tests include:

• Abdominal ultrasounds

• Abdominal x-rays

• Abdominocentesis

• Biopsy

• Blood tests

• Chest x-rays

• Physical examination

• Specific tests on organs

• Urinalysis

After determining the cause of the abdominal distension, your doctor will be able to effectively treat the disorder. If the distension was caused by fluid in the abdomen, the fluid may be drained or your veterinarian may choose to administer a diuretic to remove the fluid. If the abdominal distension is caused by organ enlargement, the veterinarian may need to perform surgery or investigate the cause of the enlarged organ.

If the abdominal distension is caused by liquid accumulation resulting from diseases such as heart failure or cirrhosis, the veterinarian will need to take steps to treat these diseases while also draining the fluids in order to alleviate the pressure.

Abdominal distension is usually caused by a very serious disease or disorder. Therefore, it is essential for you to seek medical treatment for your cat right away if you notice abdominal enlargement. Quick action on your part to seek treatment will increase the likelihood your precious kitty will get through the disorder safely. Waiting too long, on the other hand, can lead to devastating effects for you and your feline friend.

CS Swarens is the CEO of Find a Pet Online. 800 998-7065 For additional information on dogs, cats, birds, horses, and exotic pets visit the internet’s resource for cats for sale. Research cat information.

Instead of spending a lot of money purchasing a pet, many people decide to adopt them from families that are looking to get rid of a pet, or animal shelters. Typically, animal shelters have to put pets asleep after a certain number of days if they cannot find a home for them. This is why it is so important to adopt a pet from an animal shelter. While there are some animal shelters that do not euthanize pets, the ASPCA is the largest animal shelter and they find themselves having so many excess animals on their hands that euthanasia is their only course of action.

If you are interested in choosing a cat, remember that even though cats are easier to take care of than dogs, that they are still a big responsibility. There are a lot of reasons why adopting your cat from an animal shelter may be the best choice. First of all, it could very well be saving the cat’s life. Next, animal shelters will often spay or neuter the animals before you adopt them. There may be some nominal fees involved, but adopting a pet from a shelter is still the cheapest way to buy a cat. If you have a lot of time for your new cat, then try to adopt when it is as young as possible. This way you will be there to help raise it. On the other hand, if you have a very busy family, an older cat may be the best choice.

If you are interested in adopting a dog, then you are going to have to put a lot more time into your decision. First of all, you have to consider who will be taking care of the dog. If this is going to be a pet for children under the age of 7, then a puppy may not be the best choice. They have sharper teeth and claws, and more brittle bones that could break with rough handling. Therefore, older dogs are recommended for children. Also, if there are seasoned citizens in your household, then you may not want to adopt a dog that is too large or strong.

How about birds? These are fascinating animals that you may be able to adopt as well. They are easy to take care of, but there are some interesting details that you have to take into consideration before letting into your home. First, birds are not domesticated animals. Some avian diseases can be transferred from birds to humans. They may induce allergy attacks as well. You should also know that birds, particularly the parrot family, are loud and messy. They will squawk throughout the day, and when they eat they shred their food leaving bits and pieces everywhere. Birds also have sensitive lungs and need good air quality. Smoking indoors with a bird in the house can be very dangerous to its health. Birds can also live up to 50 years, so make sure that you are ready for the long haul when taking them in.

HAL Woodworking handcrafts pet urns and trophy bases.

When you think of all the illnesses that you need to protect your cat against, one of the last ones that comes to mind is dental problems. Believe it or not dental problems can make life unbearable for your cat. A cat with sore cavity ridden teeth will find it to painful to eat; the change in their diet due to their dental problems can wreak havoc on their other systems. Along with the painful eating, dental problems left uncared for can lead to heart, liver and kidney disease.

Your cat can not get take care of her teeth all by herself; it is your responsibility to see that your cat gets the proper preventive care that they need. What are the first thing you do in the morning and the last thing you do before you go to bed at night?

More than likely you answered brush your teeth. If it is something that you do for your personal health then your cat needs it too. You should begin brushing your kitten’s teeth right away. You can buy feline toothpaste. Ingredients in human toothpaste can be harmful for your kitten so it is very important never to use your toothpaste on your kitten.

Remember that this is a new experience for you and your kitten both. Get the kitten use to brushing her teeth with your finger first (never try to force a feline toothbrush into their mouth at first you may break some teeth. It is important that you brush your kitten’s teeth at least three times a week.

If you have an older cat that has never been introduced to the tooth brushing process there is a good chance that they will not take to it if you try to start it now. Tooth brushing is just like any other trick, you will have far more success they earlier that you get started. If you don’t see any problems with your adult cat’s teeth, call around to your local pet boutiques, a lot of them are starting to offer scraping services. They will clean away any built up tarter on your cat’s teeth.

50 percent of cats over three years of age have some kind of dental problems. In order to make sure that your cats dental problems don’t turn serious or even deadly; take the time to set up and appointment with your vet. Similar technology that human dentist used are now being used by vets.

Vets can now clean your cat’s teeth using a rotary scalar. A scalar cleans the surfaces and just below the gums where most feline cavities occur. After the cleaning that cat’s teeth are polished and seal, these steps help to prevent the onset of any dental diseases. Depending on how serious the problem is your vet may suggest surgery in order to repair any problems.

It is easier to understand the importance of proper dental care if you have ever seen a cat that can not eat solid food. There is nothing more pathetic and sad than having to sit back and watch the cat that you love waste away to nothing because they can’t eat because of all the pain they are feeling. It is never too late to get your cat back on track with their dental health. Do not be afraid or ashamed to take your cat to the vet. That is what they are there for. You want your cat to be a part of your family for many years to come, do not over look the small health risks that can shorten your cat’s lifespan.

For more free information about cat health issues and to find out how to get cheap pet insurance with a few simple steps go visit www.petinsurancepro.com.

There is nothing more devastating to a family than falling in love with a new dog only to soon after find out that another member of the family is allergic to the dog. Now you are faced with one of the hardest decisions that you will ever have to make.

Are you going to get rid of the dog upsetting every other family member, or are you going to make the one that is suffering with the symptoms adapt to the condition, doing everything that you can to prevent them from being miserable. Believe it or not there are a few easy steps that you can take to ensure that your family won’t have to give away their beloved pet.

When a person has dog allergies the two biggest causes are pet dander or bacteria that is carried around in the dog’s saliva. The first thing that you need to do in your attempt to lesson the dog allergies is to make sure that you dog is in perfect health. If the dog is depressed, nervous, or suffer from malnutrition they will shed their coat faster than a healthy dog. The more fur that is shed the more allergens that are released into the air. If you find out that your dog is suffering from one of the previously mentioned problems you should contact your vet as soon as possible to get the dog some relief.

If your dog is awarded a clean bill of health, frequent grooming can also greatly reduce dog allergies. Bath your dog with a shampoo that is specially formulated to help pet owners that are plagued with allergies. It is important to remember however that you should never bath your dog more than once a week.

It is ok to brush and groom you dog daily, but bathing him or her too often will dry out the dog’s skin, which will have the exact opposite effect than what you are trying to achieve. If it is you that is allergic to the pet and there is no one else in the home that can bath the dog hire someone to do it for you. Bathing a dog when you are allergic to them can be a truly horrifying experience.

Now that you have taken all the steps, bathing your dog on a weekly basis and grooming them daily to get rid of any loose hair that is just waiting to make you sneeze, now it is time for you do to what you need to to avoid the allergies and not the dog. Remember to wash you hands immediately after having any contact with your dog or their food or toys.

Try to take the time to clean your floors every day because this is where the dander will build up the fastest. Carpet is the worse flooring that you can have if you are in this situation. However if there is nothing your can do about it right now, spend the extra money and get a high-performance vacuum cleaner, with a hepa filter. Vacuum your carpet daily, run the vacuum over the non carpet floors also. It is also a good idea to have a vacuum that comes with a furniture attachment, because this will make cleaning up the pet dander a whole lot easier.

A general rule of thumb that every pet lover with allergies should live by is keep your home well ventilated. Stale air that never moves is a breeding ground for allergens. It is also a great idea to keep your bedroom strictly off limits to your dog, thus creating a relaxing dander free environment. If none of these steps are working well enough for you, check with your doctor he maybe able to give you a medication that will help you out.

For more free information about cat health issues and to find out how to get cheap pet insurance with a few simple steps go visit www.petinsurancepro.com.

Bringing a brand new puppy into your household can be a very fun, and exciting adventure. Taking care of the puppy and making sure that he reaches healthy adulthood is a very rewarding experience, however just like any other thing that makes you grow as a person, raising a puppy is a very enjoyable yet complicated venture.

Just like a newborn baby your puppy will need your constant attention and care. One of the most important challenges that you are going to face is housebreaking your new pet. Making your puppy accident free is the first milestone in the time line of upbringing the newest member of your family.

Think of your puppy as you would a new born baby. The puppy just like the baby doesn’t understand the importance of relieving themselves in the proper place. The do however know that they do not want to dirty their sleeping or eating area. You have to remember that at first the puppy is going to have accidents, for the same reason that you don’t potty train a baby as soon as they are born, they can not comprehend the skill that you are trying to teach them.

The most important thing that you need to do before you start to train the puppy is to realize that you are the boss and that you are going to set the rules. Choose the spot that will be designated as the puppy’s bathroom area. Assigning the area and sticking with it will save your yard when the puppy becomes a full grown dog. Once you have chosen that spot it is very important that the puppy is reintroduced to it at least once an hour.

Make special trips if your puppy has just woke up from a nap, or has been eating or drinking. Pay attention to the puppy if it is wondering around with it’s head down and sniffing at the floor, there is a very good chance that it is looking for a place that it can relieve itself. Try making a bathroom schedule for you and your puppy. Make sure when it is potty time that you take your puppy to the spot and tell it in a stern voice that it is “potty time”. Using the same training words each time you take your puppy to the bathroom will help it understand what you are expecting from it.

In a perfect world you would be there with your new puppy 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. In the real world however, there will be a lot of times throughout the day that you will be gone. It is very important that you keep the puppy in a crate.

First off, crate is not a bad word. Not only will it help ensure that your puppy does not have an accident on your floor, it will also help to keep your puppy secure and out of harms way. As far as the accident avoidance in the crate, make sure that your puppy sleeps in the crate every night. Soon the puppy will realize that the crate is a place for sleeping and by instinct a puppy will not go to the bathroom anywhere near where they sleep.

Remember to be patient and that accidents do occur. Most accidents are the fault of the owner and not the puppy. If you keep a close eye on your puppy, walking here on schedule and make sure that anytime you have to be away from the puppy that it is in the crate, then your puppy will remain accident free. Enjoy every moment that you have with your puppy; this is one of the hardest stages you will face with them, which by definition also makes it one of the most rewarding when you conquer it together.

For more free information about cat health issues and to find out how to get cheap pet insurance with a few simple steps go visit www.petinsurancepro.com.

There is nothing more innocent and peaceful looking than a fluffy little kitten. You just can’t help it you have to be the tiny little bundle of joy home with you. Something must have happened, somehow the sweet little creature that you picked out has been swapped out with the kitten that nightmares are made of.

The kitten is tearing up your house, biting your feet, scratching your furniture and running around chasing its own shadow so loud in the middle of the night that you can’t sleep. It is ok, before you bring in the priest and try to expel the evil; it is just a stage, it to will pass.

Think of your kitten as a toddler. You would never expect a toddler to sit perfectly still and be constantly calm. In fact if this happened you would probably think something is wrong and schedule a doctor appointment immediately. The same thing should be said about your kitten, it is healthy for a kitten to be playful, if at anytime she starts acting weak or lethargic it is impartitive that you seek veterinarian help immediately.

If you do not have kids yourself, you have seen other parents with their young children at the park, the kids are running around like crazy and the parents are allowing it. It isn’t because they are irresponsible parents; it is because they have learned a valuable secret. The more the kids run around the more energy they expel, meaning that they will be tired sooner.

Your kitten is the same way. Play with them, take the time to wear them out and they will be calm when it is time to settle down. Every hour that you are home with your kitten you should commit at least ten minutes do doing nothing but playing with your kitten. Go to the pet store and purchase a toy, or even get a sting and have her chase it. Use your imagination, not only will this time together be a great bonding experience but it will also tire out your little ball of energy.

If your kitten is doing more than being playful, it is important to stop bad and hurtful habits before that kitten grows into a cat. Let’s use climbing the curtain as example. If you have tried wearing them out and they are still not breaking the habit of climbing the curtains it is important to take incorporate a punishment. Get a small spray bottle and fill it with water, every time that kitten is one the curtains spray her soon she will associate the bad behavior with the water and she will stop doing it.

As your kitten becomes more at home with your family the wildness with slowly wear off. It is important to let her know that you see that she is behaving. Reward her for lying calmly when it isn’t play time. Giving your kitten a treat for being good with make her want to do it more. The most important thing that you can do is remain patient. The kitten is just a baby and does not know how things work. You have to tell her what her boundaries are.

Yelling at your cat is not the answer, they will not respond to it. Let them play and play with them. Much to fast you will have a full grown cat on your hands, and you will be missing the entire cute little kitten things that they use to do. Take responsibility; make sure that you know what you are getting yourself into before you bring the cute little ball of fluff home. More times than not kittens get abandon because the owners weren’t prepaid for how to deal with them.

For more free information about pet health issues and to find out how to get cheap pet insurance with a few simple steps go visit www.petinsurancepro.com.

One of the biggest challenges that you face being the owner of an indoor cat is odor control. A liter box doesn’t have to be the main reason that keeps you from brings a cat into your home. There are things that you can do to keep the liter box so fresh that you won’t even know that it is there. Once you bring your new kitten home it is important to decide where you are going to put the litter box.

You want it somewhere that the kitten can easily get to. If you make in hard to access the kitten will find places that are easier for them to get to, when they need to relieve themselves. Another mistake in litter box placement that most new owners tend to make, is trying to hide the litter box away in a small room. This will actually make the smell worse. Smaller rooms in houses tend to be less ventilated, when there is no air flow it is harder for any of the smell to escape.

After you find the perfect spot it is now time to choose the litter that you plan to use. While some cats have no problem adjusting to a litter switch there are those that rebel and will start using the floor. Try to pick one and stay with it, it makes life less stressful to your cats. The best odor control litters are going to be a little more costly, you have to decide if the little extra money is worth a clean smelling house.

A secret a lot of people discovered is getting a clumping multi cat litter even if you only have the one cat in the household. Any litter that you buy can be made better buy adding a little bit of baking soda to it.

Never wait until the litter box is full before you scoop it. Not only does the waste itself add to the odor of your home, but the longer that it sits there the more of a scent it will leave on the rest of the litter. As soon as you see that your cat had used her box, remove the clump immediately. Drop the clump into a bag (get scented diaper bags. They are cost efficient and take the freshness level one step further.) At least once a day check and make sure that you haven’t missed any clumps that the cat may have buried deeper in the box.

Every time that you scoop out a large number of clumps you should add a few cups of fresh littler to the box. Keep in mind that you do not need a large amount of litter in the box at any given time, the more you but in the bigger the mess the cat will make when he or she is digging around. It is a good idea to completely change the littler box once a week taking the time to clean the pan itself before refilling the litter.

Taking a little extra time everyday will ensure that you will keep your cats litter box odor under control. There is no reason to deny yourself or your family the experience of bringing a cat into your home. Having a cat doesn’t mean that you have to give up the freshness that is important to you. Cats are very self sufficient, they are easy to litter box train. All you will have to do is scoop and change the litter and you will have a fresh clean smelling home and all the stress fighting benefits of having a cat in your home.

For more free information about pet health issues and to find out how to get cheap pet insurance with a few simple steps go visit www.petinsurancepro.com.

Ever wonder why so many pet store puppies are sick or become sick within weeks of bringing them home?

The truth about pet store puppies is disturbing. If you’re an animal lover, the following paragraphs will be difficult to read, but simply doing just that could potentially spare a life.

It’s hard to imagine that in this country where dogs are considered valuable members of the family, have their very own telelvision and radio shows and people dress them in designer clothes and treat them like children, that a grave place called a puppy mill could still exist.

A puppy mill or puppy farm is a breeding operation with the sole purpose of making money. Adult dogs live their entire lives in cages. They are not screened for potential genetic health defects or even given basic medical care, and sick and injured dogs are still expected to breed.

A puppy mill can be a sign along the road advertising puppies, an ad in your local newspaper or they can even have a nice website, but they are almost always behind those cute puppies you’ve seen in pet shop windows.

You’d never know by looking at those puppies the deplorable conditions from which they came. You’ll see how excited they get when you approach their cage. You might even slip your hand through the bars despite the posted warning not to and entertain the thought of bringing home the one who seemed most eager, but it’s what you won’t see that would leave you gasping.

For that puppy’s mother, life (if you can call it that) is a desperate struggle. Her body is used up from years of overbreeding. She is always dirty and matted. She has never been shown love or compassion and probably has no idea what it might feel like to run in the grass.

She exists only for the purpose of breeding and has lived her entire life in the same small cage. She’s not let out to relieve herself, she does it where she eats and sleeps and where she’s probably given birth to several litters.

But that doesn’t matter to the owner of the puppy mill. He only sees dollar signs when he looks into her dark, sad eyes. Every six months he’ll breed her once again for the sake of filling his wallet and the puppies will be shipped around the country to various pet stores and puppy brokers and the morbid cycle will continue.

When she’s no longer able to breed, she’ll finally be put her out of her misery- if she’s lucky enough. The sad truth is that she will probably still be worth a few dollars to a testing facility: A laboratory that uses dogs for the sake of testing new products.

There is no hope of ever stopping this morbid cycle of abuse as long as we keep buying puppies from pet stores.

Don’t be fooled by AKC papers. Although the AKC doesn’t condone puppy mills, almost anyone can register a new litter providing both parents are registered purebreds.

Please help put an end to this torture. Join the fight to eliminate puppy mills by refusing to purchase a puppy from a pet store… or from anyone other than a reputable breeder. There are countless rescue groups to choose from and many are breed specific.

Please refer this article to a fellow animal lover or anyone who might someday be in the market for a purebred puppy. Learn more by visiting www.small-breed-dogs.com.

My name is Brooke Faulder. I’ve made it my business, my passion and my mission in life to put an end to the exploitation of animals. Learn more about the plight of small breed dogs and what can be done to save them by reading through the pages of www.small-breed-dogs.com