DOG HEALTH 

One of the first things you want to do is to establish a relationship with a vet, who will then have the medical records for your pooch and be able to give you pertinent advice. Some vets will ask you to fill out a form where you can check out the different levels of care: 1. for the vet only to perform what you ask him to perform, 2. for the vet to tell you what the pet should or should not be getting and when, so that the dog gets the best possible PREVENTIVE care. Remember, your vet will also sometimes serve as your reference, if you choose to adopt another animal. There are vets who tend to be careful about what they say when the going gets rough for an older pet. I did encounter one who was so reluctant to say that the animal was in such bad shape that it really was time to say goodbye, that the cat (in this case) died that night with convulsions. On the other hand, there was a vet who told me gently that if I chose not to make the decision for euthanasia, it would only be a matter of days or weeks, and the animal would become progressively miserable, with zero quality of life. "This would be an OK time," he said. It was not easy, but it was the right advice that he was not afraid to give. And then he said, "You can choose to stay in the room. Some prefer not to. In any case, it takes seconds, and the animal feels no pain." And that is what a vet can do for you. Care for a dog would include the following: Neutering, if not already the case. Some want the female to have just one litter before she is neutered. The book above "Animals in Translation" discusses the levels of pain that animals feel compared to humans, and contends that dogs actually feel less pain. Thus, it is important that after a major operation, you keep the dog quiet, and make sure he or she rests, rather than for the dog to give into its natural tendencies to be active, BEFORE he or she is really ready, given the lack of moderation of pain as an indicator. Vaccinations. The common thought is to keep animals up to date on particular vaccinations. The vaccination records will be required if you need to board your dog, or if the dog goes for grooming, or even to doggy school. For complete information on vaccinations required by law and those designed to prevent diseases, as well as the holistic approach to vaccinations, see these links: http://www.caringtogether.com/dogs/dogvacs.html  http://www.ovma.org/pets/vaccines.html  http://www.thepetcenter.com/exa/vacrec.html  Also check: http://www.healthypet.com   Teeth-cleaning, flea treatments, heartworm. Serious teeth-cleaning will require that the dog be put under general anaesthetic. There are various flea treatments, ranging from home remedies (a flea collar) to more expensive and thorough treatments that your vet will probably recommend (e.g. Advantix). These, like heartworm medications, are operational right before the spring and go on into the fall. Administering medication. A good indicator that your dog is not feeling well is by its appetite. If it loses its appetite and is less active or seems to be distressed, it is time to get Fido checked out. Depending on the problem, you may be asked to dispense medication. One good trick is to use a "pill pocket" i.e. put the pill in something e.g. a thorough coating of peanut butter or tasty wet dog food. If your dog is not too persnickety, then the pill should go down easily! Animal health does cost money. There is the consultation fee, the cost of medications, the cost of vaccinations. When the costs mount would be when your dear friend gets health problems with age. Some decide to invest in pet insurance. Again, it is not the function of this site to dispense advice one way or another, but merely to make you aware of the options. For pet insurance, try these links: http://www.petassure.com http://www.petinsurance.com   http://www.petcareinsurance.com COLD WEATHER AND YOUR DOG Small dogs feel the cold more than large dogs. That is because the smaller the dog, the larger the surface area to volume. Because we are talking of mammals, heat is lost because of the surface area. Thus, it is not a bad idea to have the smaller breeds wear coats. While these can cost an arm and a leg at fancy dog boutiques, a person at the kennel once suggested that sweaters and T-shirts for babies (12-18 months) fit small dogs very well. Larger children's clothes would fit the larger breeds. (OR bite the bullet and get a nice fleece jacket for your best friend for those frigid days.) At any rate, these can keep them warm, OR stop them from chewing on themselves, if they are so disposed. Another simple tip: don't get the hair cut short until the spring and summer! Dating and Health for Females Over 40: forFemales.info For all your credit questions and solutions: BestCreditSite.com Filmsoncall.com: Movie downloads,TiVo, Slingbox and more!