The basic principle to be understood in the feeding of dogs is that, with only minor variations, they have the same nutritive requirements as man. A dog apparently has less need for starches and its digestive juices do not handle fatty foods well. Thus, the dog`s meat should always be quite lean, otherwise it will commonly cause a stomach upset with symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea
Most animals will get along perfectly well on dry or canned commercial dog foods. Great strides have been made in the improvement of commercial dog foods in recent years. Their formulae are specially prepared by trained scientists to meet all of the dog`s needs and the federal government, on the basis of careful experiment to furnish normal maintenance diets, guarantees all nationally known brands. This means that the dog can live its entire life without eating anything but dog food.
While some companies will claim that their biscuits are a complete food and are often justified in their claim, most experts agree that the large majority of the biscuits that are manufactured serve best only as a supplementary food
Caring For Your Pets Eyes To Prevent Illness
In the general care of the eyes, the average dog owner can be advised to keep them clean. This can be done by washing them once a day with a lukewarm solution of boric acid (made by dissolving one teaspoonful of boric acid powder in a glass of hot water) or by the application of boric acid eye ointment direct to the eyeball.
The care of any significant eye diseases is strictly a job for the veterinarian. For safety`s sake, any injury to the eye should be considered an emergency and the veterinarian should be contacted immediately. Professional attention should be given even to very mild eye irritations that do not readily respond to simple treatment with washings of boric acid solution or applications of boric acid eye ointment.
How To Prevent Ear Ailments
Proper ear hygiene consists in keeping the hair of the ear clean and thoroughly combed out, free from parasites at all times and in maintaining the cleanliness of the inside of the ear. To clean the inside of the ear, dampen a piece of absorbent cotton with alcohol, squeeze out the excess moisture and clean out all the accumulated scurf as far down into the ear as the finger can conveniently reach.
Have no fear of doing damage to the inner ear, for the finger simply cannot penetrate that far. The cleaned surface should be dried with a piece of cotton. The next step is to put some boric acid powder on the back of a spoon handle or other convenient object and dump the powder into the ear. Then manipulate the ear so that the powder will penetrate as far into the ear canal as possible. After this is done to both ears, allow the animal to shake out the excess powder.
If this procedure is followed about two or three times a week, it is very unlikely that the dog ever will be affected by the common ear ailments.
Prevention Is The Best Cure
By taking steps to avoid dog health problems, you are less likely to have to suffer the consequences of an ill pet. If you are concerned about your pet or notice any strange symptoms, you should consult your veterinarian immediately. Regular check ups will also help detect potential illness or health problems early. Check ups should be given about every 6 months.
Like it or not, you're breathing your crawlspace air - and it can be the source of a growing number of health problems. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has commissioned the Institute of Medicine (IOM) to study the relationship between damp or moldy environments and the health problems they cause.
Unsealed crawlspaces provide the perfect environment for mold growth and other moisture problems. Air flows from bottom to top, pulling moist air - and everything in it - up into your home's living space. As much as 50 percent of the air in a home built over a crawlspace comes from the crawl, and mold spores from crawlspaces can trigger allergic reactions, asthma episodes, infections and other respiratory problems.
Studies have revealed some alarming statistics about the air in homes - it may be 10 to 100 times more polluted than outdoor air in industrialized cities. Symptoms of crawlspace-related health problems include nasal and sinus congestion; itchy, red, watery eyes; breathing problems like wheezing and shortness of breath; coughing; throat irritation; rashes and other skin irritations; and headaches.
Now there's good news, too - there's a simple solution to the problem. If you install a quality reinforced crawlspace liner, you can protect your home from the ground below and keep moisture, mildew, insects and animals from entering.
Here are the signs that an unlined crawlspace is causing health problems: foul, musty or "sour" odors; wet spots, mold or wood rot on the foundation walls, beams or joists; water, mold, mildew or algae on the crawlspace floor, or water beading or dripping from pipes; a general feeling of dampness, high humidity levels, or crawlspace dirt that is damp to the touch; a termite or carpenter-ant problem in the home; radon gas in the home; higher energy costs for heating and air-conditioning; warped hardwood floors; and damage to stored clothing and other belongings from dampness and mildew.
Mold spores, odors, humidity and insects can create an highly unhealthful environment. Having a closed crawlspace is a fundamental element in having a healthy - and energy-efficient - home. With proven crawlspace-liner encapsulation systems, having healthy crawlspaces can eliminate the problems listed above.
While there are many liners on the market, it's safest to choose the highest quality. One of the best liners available is a lightweight, pliable 20-mil, fire-resistant vapor barrier treated with an antimicrobial agent. This patent-pending liner is almost half the weight - and twice the strength - of traditional 20-mil liners. There are many elements built into this material that make it extremely well-suited for crawlspace liners and make it superior to other liners.
The only source for a clean, conditioned and closed crawlspace is Your Crawlspace. With their patented reinforced crawlspace liner material and simple patented installation method, crawlspaces will be level, clean, usable, dry, properly conditioned - and healthful.
As the nation's premier provider of do-it-yourself crawlspace-encapsulation systems, Your Crawlspace has helped hundreds of satisfied homeowners across the United States who have the patented system (which was under development for almost two years) and are enjoying clean, dry, enclosed crawlspaces. For more information about Your Crawlspace, please visit www.yourcrawlspace.com.
Both Jimmy Cox & Bennie Marshall are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Jimmy Cox has sinced written about articles on various topics from Web Development, Horse Racing and Investments. Discover The Secrets To Keeping Your Dog Happy, Fit And HealthyBecause Your Best Friend`s Worth ItFREE For A Limited Time