A healthy diet can be very important in dog care.  Everyone knows not to feed your dog certain foods, such as chocolate, because they act as dog poison.  However, there are many other things that you want to steer your dog clear of to keep him or her healthy.  For this purpose, here are some foods within certain food groups that they should stay away from.

Fruits and veggies

Onions and garlic are a big no-no in the veggie group.  These foods destroy dogs’ red blood cells and can leave their system unbalanced.  In addition to onions and garlic, it is a smart idea to stay away from all fruits with pits.  Peach and plum pits contain cyanide, which is poisonous to humans and dogs alike.  Eating fruit pits can also cause issues in the digestive system.

Meat

Fat trimmings and bones are something you want to keep your dog away from.  Both have been known for causing pancreatic problems, and bones often cause lacerations in the digestive system. All raw meat is also a keep-away.  Raw materials can cause food poisoning, and if it isn’t treated properly, the disease can be fatal in 2 weeks or less.

Beverages

As far as beverages go, it’s pretty clear to keep your dog away from caffeinated or alcoholic beverages.  This is because these two drinks have the same effect on dogs as they do on humans, but work faster and more aggressively on a dogs system.

Other foods to avoid

All foods or beverages containing dairy are something you should keep your dog away from.  Dairy causes dogs to have diarrhea, and an upset stomach (often resulting in vomiting).  Another result from dairy is often food allergies which can result in itchiness, so save them some pain and don’t feed it to them.  One other food to avoid is Macadamia nuts.  This food should be avoided at all costs! Six types of nuts can cause illness in dogs and result in muscle tremors, vomiting, high fever, rapid heart rate, and even death, so be careful with macadamia nuts.  Just as well, keep your dog away from dough.  Dough rises before it is baked, and will do the same in a dog’s stomach.

Take care of your dog by keeping him away from harmful foods!

We’ve all seen those heart-breaking commercials advertising adoption from pet shelters, and there are many reasons to do so. Here are some dog adoption tips that will help you save the life of an animal.

Saving a Life

So many people realize that they don’t have room for a dog in their life and decide to rid themselves of the ‘burden’ in the wrong way.  Because of this, about sixty percent of all dogs in shelters are euthanized each year.  If more people made the decision to adopt a pet instead of buying one, millions of animals could be saved every year.  Not only would you save the life of one animal by adopting, but two by the space you opened up at the shelter.

Getting a Healthy Pet

Animals in pet shelters are regularly healthy and happy, waiting for new owners  to take them home!  Many shelters spay or neuter their animals, and scan them in order to administer all shots prior to any adoption.  Many shelters even check their animals temperaments in order to give them to the right family, so you can be sure that you are getting the right pet for your living situation.  It’s often an idea that animals are in a pet shelter for being bad, but things such as divorce, family issues, moving or financial difficulty are often reasons for pets being sent to a shelter. Also it is often that in pet shelters that the animals share cages with several others, so they are tame and friendly in dog socialization.

Cost

Pet stores are known for making a pet cost a fortune.  At a pet store, you can pay hundreds or even thousands of dollars for a companion.  However,   at a pet shelter animals come at a drastically lower cost.  In addition to the advantage of low cost, (as stated before) the animals are also generally spayed or neutered, leaving less for you to worry about.

So save a life, save some money, and feel good about your decision to change the life of an animal that needs you.  Adopt a pet!

When you are thinking of getting a new dog, there are many things to take into consideration.  Becoming a dog owner is a big decision, so before you get one, there are a few things you want to be sure of.  Firstly, make sure you have room for a new pet in your life.  A dog is a big responsibility, and you should be committed to if you are going to get one.  Also think of the cost of owning a dog. If getting a dog suits your life style, congratulations! Here are a few dog adoption tips.

Size

When most people consider getting a new dog, they have a size in mind.  Dog sizes span from those adorable little lap dogs to the goofy big dogs, so make sure you have a type in mind.  Different dogs can live comfortably in different living situations.  If you live in a small house or apartment, it is probably best to get a medium, or smaller sized dog for the animal’s comfort.  No matter how much you may like big dogs, they can wreak havoc in smaller houses.  Also consider that small dogs are very fragile, and often are seriously injured by clumsiness. Additionally, Cool climates are more ideal for larger dogs, while small dogs tend to live better in warmer places.

Age

Age is a big deal when trying to choose a dog.  Puppies can be really cute, but if you don’t want to put in all the extra time and effort into training one, you may want to consider getting an older dog. Just in case you do want to adopt a puppy, here are a few puppy tips The first six months of having a puppy will most likely be the hardest.  The first few months involve potty training, teaching them not to chew furniture and clothes, coping with other house animals, and many other things.  Also keep in mind that puppies may seem calm when you first see them, but with a puppy you want to see it a few times before deciding, seeing as they can be unbelievably tired and then eccentrically energetic.  Adopting an adult dog can be an excellent choice if you want to know the dog’s regular energy level, and temperament.

Type

Lastly, you want to look at the type of dog you want.  There is a surplus of dogs to choose from, so do your research! From Rhodesian ridge backs to French bulldogs, there is a big difference in every type of dog.