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By kathy Davison, April 30, 2011

Why do dogs eat droppings?

Almost without exception when a dog eats his own waste matter or indeed that of another animal ,the owner is appalled and revolted ,thinking perhaps that he has a perverted dog on his hands!

The correct term for this practice is coprophagia and not only is it common ,it is also normal! It is not a sign of illness and depravity and is a normal part of the food gathering process. As your dog is a carnivore he would kill and eat any animal in the wild and that includes the contents of the bowel…

The droppings of an animal are a great source of various enzymes and a variety of microorganisms. the enzymes help with digestion and the microorganisms are killed when they reach the stomach .Protein,fats and other vitamins are then absorbed by the dog.

Dog who are fed on an artificial diet will often eat their own droppings and the droppings of other animals. If they dog is fed on a natural diet then he will not eat his droppings as they will be powdered bone and of little value . He may still eat the droppings of other animals.

If you want to give your dog the vitamins and probiotics he needs then you can feed him yogurt,cottage cheese and eggs. However, he may still want to eat droppings as it is normal. Dogs will also eat soil and this is for the same reasons.

Sniffing Dog

Why do dogs roll in droppings?

When our dog decides to roll himself in animal droppings we are horrified by this disgusting habit and the smell that drifts our way! To the dog this is a normal instinctive behavior and, in fact, the worse he smells the better he feels. Dogs do this to appear superior to other dogs

This behavior goes back to when dogs were wild .A pack leader would roll himself in strong smelling droppings to remind the rest of the pack who is boss. A younger member of the pack would also do this if he wanted to challenge the top dog

Although pet dogs have been domesticated for quite some time, this instinctive behavior still remains. Your dog could also do this if there is a tussle over pack leadership in order to impress you!

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By jnavary, January 10, 2011

In addition to his basic requirements of food, water and shelter, a dog needs social interaction, positive attention from his human companion, exercise and mental stimulation. Several of these additional  needs  can be met by just taking your dog for a walk. Walking your dog daily provides him with the attention from you that he needs. Possibly more than anything else, our pets simply want our company. Even when you remain at home during the day, a lot of your time is spent doing household tasks rather than interacting with your family pet. When leaving for your walk, take along a plastic bag or similar container and be sure to clean up after your pet.

A walk permits you to reinforce obedience skills with your dog to increase the reliability of training. Going over the basic commands also will increase the advantages of a walk because your dog isn’t merely ambling along, but is also performing extra tasks. Walking your dog keeps him mentally alert through territorial examination. With nose to the ground and alert to the sights and sounds of his surroundings, your dog gathers evidence about how his territory has been altered since the last outing.

Together with the emotional benefits, there are physical advantages. Taking your dog for a walk is the most effective method to exercise a dog that may not be very active in your home or even in your yard. Older dogs must be kept as lively and fit as possible. However, he may not be disposed to exercise without some motivation. Whether or not your pet is active in your yard, it is certainly more active during a walk. Merely sharing an activity with you is one of your dog’s greatest motivations to exercise.

If you pass by another dog or person during your walk, your dog has the chance to socialize. Dogs are social animals. It is natural for them to investigate unrecognized individuals. Puppies ought to be encouraged, from the very beginning, to appropriately respond to and get along with other dogs and people while on walks. These friendly experiences help the puppy learn to behave appropriately when meeting visitors to your home, or when he is with you anywhere else. If a dog does not have the opportunity to socialize, it will not understand how to interact correctly with other people or dogs.

Walking your dog is among the the best means to prevent behavior problems. At least one walk each day will help prevent elimination problems, destructiveness, separation anxiety and other frequent behavior disorders. Take your dog for a walk soon after every meal, as this is often the time it’s most likely to urinate or defecate, and you’ll be able to direct your dog to an appropriate location. Praise must be given immediately to be effective. If you merely let your dog go out in the yard, you miss out on a great opportunity to bolster good behavior.

Allowing your pooch to wander freely is hazardous both to your dog and to other pets and people. It also gives the unsupervised dog freedom to revert to unacceptable wild behavior. Your dog’s life might depend on his obedience to your commands. Not permitting some activity cannot be viewed as unkind when considering the possible unfortunate outcome.

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By jnavary, January 2, 2011

Many pet owners won’t neuter their male dogs. Some transfer their emotions about the procedure onto their dogs, and decide that it’s a cruel and inhumane act.  But most avoid neutering their dogs because they’ve heard one or more of the many misconceptions about neutering. Despite all these rumors and myths, neutering is a responsible procedure that won’t harm the health of your dog.  Here are some of the  misconceptions that keep many from having their dogs neutered.

Your dog will not become depressed for lack of sex. Dogs aren’t humans, and don’t feel the same way about sex that humans do.  They won’t miss the intimacy or the romance, like some people believe. As much as some people seem to think otherwise, dogs are animals, and their drive for sex is only instinct.  Not having sex will not harm, or depress, your dog.

Your dog will not become weak or effeminate. Neutering does not affect a dog’s physical abilities or strength.  In fact, neutering removes the sexual instinct that has some dogs climbing the walls. Neutering can correct many behavioral problems caused by the sex instinct in some dogs, especially in households with one or more pets and in a household with female dogs.

Your dog won’t get fat or stop being active:  If you don’t overfeed your dog and neglect to take him for walks, your dog can’t suddenly bloat up after being neutered. This is a popular misconception because it does happen sometimes—but it’s not because of the surgery, but rather the habits of the owner. Just be sure to feed your dog the proper amount of food, and make sure he gets plenty of exercise.

Your dog will still bark at strangers, if it does now.  The belief that a neutered dog will no longer make a good guard dog is ridiculous.  It’s a clear case of humans passing off misguided beliefs about masculinity and strength onto dogs. If the dog happened to be born sterile, would that make it less a dog, or less suited to be a watch dog?

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By jnavary, December 16, 2010

Signs of Canine Illness

Owners who observe and handle their healthy dogs have a head start on recognizing early signs of illness in their pets. Those who know what a healthy pet acts, feels, and smells like can spot differences in behavior and bodies and determine whether a trip to the veterinarian is necessary.

Healthy dogs have a temperature of 101-102º F, a respiratory rate of 15-20 breaths per minute, and a heart rate of 80-120 beats per minute. They have pink mucous membranes (gums, inside of lips, tongue, inside of eyelids) and rapid capillary refill action in these areas.

They have clean-smelling ears and skin and a full haircoat. Their skin is pliant, an indication of proper hydration, and their eyes are clear and bright.

If your puppy or dog shows any of the following signs, be prepared to call your veterinarian.

•  Eyes: swelling, discharge, redness, etc.

•  Nose: running, crusting, discharge, etc.

•  Ears: discharge, debris, odor, twitching, scratching, shaking, etc.

•  Coughing, gagging, sneezing, retching, or vomiting.

•  Irregular breathing, shortness of breath, prolonged or heavy panting, etc.

•  Intestinal activity
- Color and consistency of bowel movement
- Frequency of defecation
- Bloody stool
- Evidence of parasites, etc

•  Change in amout of food intake

•  Change in body weight

•  Change in water intake

•  Urine
-  Color
-  Frequency
-  Amount
-  Straining
-  Dribbling, etc.

•  Odor
-  Mouth?
-  Skin?
-  Ears?
-  Other?

•  Coat & skin
-  Wounds
-  Tumors
-  Hair loss
-  Dander
-  Color change
-  Biting
-  Scratching
-  Bite marks
-  Evidence of parasites
-  Licking, etc.

•  Behavior
-  Depression
-  Anxiety,
-  Fatigue
-  Lethargy
-  Sleepiness
-  Trembling
-  Stumbling
-  Falling, etc.

Noticing signs is half the battle; keeping a record helps the veterinarian make a diagnosis. Be sure to note when the symptom first appeared, and whether it has been intermittent, continuous, increasing in frequency, getting better, or getting worse before calling the veterinarian.

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