Dog Training Ultimate Guide

Dog behaviorial school – when everything else fails.

Parvo Symptoms

Author: Geraldine Dimarco
30.11.2009

Before you check out dog parvo symptoms, you must first know what it is, what it does and how it is spread. This virus was initially found in’78 and within a two year time span it spread worldwide. Over the years the parvovirus has mutated into two different strains and a third may be evident in Vietnam, Italy and Spain. Each case of canine parvovirus Or CPV comes from the first two strains. At first it was felt that this virus would develop into feline panleukopenia, a feline parvovirus, but there is no evidence of this. All species have their own unique parvovirus that cannot be spread outside of the species.

Even though the virus cannot be spread from a cat to a dog or from a bird to a cat, they can spread the virus through contact. For instance, your cat wanders through the neighbor’s yard and picks up the virus on her feet she can then bring it into your home potentially infecting any canines on the property.

The parvo virus works in one of two ways ? through the heart or the intestines. The intestinal infection is picked up by an animal through oral contact with contaminated feces. In other words, a dog has to come into contaminated feces from another dog. The intestinal dog parvo symptoms happen when the virus attacks rapidly dividing cells in the intestinal crypts, lymph nodes and bone marrow. This allows normally occurring bacteria from the intestine to enter the blood stream make the animal contagious. The virus is shed in the stool for up to three weeks making this disease very contagious to non-vaccinated pets.

The cardio form of this infection is usually seen in puppies that are infected before birth or shortly thereafter. It is noteworthy that the cardiac form of CPV is not as common since the mother passes immunity on to her pups from birth. The parvo virus will then attack the heart in the infected puppy and death will occur shortly afterwards.

Dog parvo symptoms usually present themselves within 3 to 10 days of contact. They include the following: lethargy, vomiting, fever and diarrhea. The diarrhea can cause severe dehydration and secondary infections. The dog will not usually die from the virus but from a secondary infection.

Survival rate depends on how quickly parvo virus is diagnosed and treatment is begun. If it is not caught early enough, the best treatment is an IV through which fluids are pushed to re-hydrate the dog more quickly. In addition to the fluids, antibiotic and anti-nausea shots may be given intramuscularly. With the proper care the prognosis is good, but without it your dog is sentenced to an early death. There has been some evidence that the human antiviral, Tamiflu, can be effective in treating parvovirus, but there are not studies to substantiate this. A veterinarian will recommend that you get your pet vaccinated against parvo approximately eight weeks after the puppy is weaned. With the prevalence of this virus and its ability to kill, some precaution should be taken to protect your dog. Get your puppy vaccinated ? we speak from experience!

For more information on parvo symptoms and ideas on treating dog parvo symptoms without the need for needles and potentially harmful chemicals, think about treating parvo symptoms naturally.

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Certain breeds such as Yorkshire Terriers may need a little extra TLC when it comes time to housebreak them. House training puppies can be tough work, but well worth the time and effort invested. With the smaller breeds sometimes it takes a wee bit longer to develop perfect potty habits.

You should begin by first determining if the potty spot will be located inside the home or outside. Yorkies don’t need much space, so they are perfect for those who live in apartments or condos. Some Yorkies are very resistant to going outside in stormy or snowy weather, in this case an indoor potty option is something to consider. Another matter to consider is that with their little size comes a little bladder! If you are gone at work for much of the day, your puppy might not be able to wait to use the toilet that long. In this case, choose a discreet area of your home for the puppy training pads. Otherwise, any small strip of grass should do the trick, as long as you use that same spot all the time.

Starting and ending the walk with an opportunity to go potty is the best approach until you begin to understand your little one?s potty schedule. Always use the very same spot for the toilet if possible, as it helps develop a familiar routine, and the smell of urine is a strong indicator to your Yorkie that this is the toilet. Keep your neighborhood clean by always taking litter bags (baggies work just fine) to clean up any little messes left behind. It’s fine if your Yorkie happens to go while you are out on the walk, this is not considered an “accident” since it didn’t happen on the floor or other unwanted area.

Sometimes dogs avoid going outside in bad weather and then will have an accident in a discreet location indoors. A sweater is a great way to address that situation and make going out in poor weather more tolerable. Otherwise, an indoor backup location may be needed.

Rewards and praise do wonders in helping your little Yorkie learn quickly. Verbal praise should be given immediately and enthusiastically after they are done with their business. Tasty treats can be very effective when house training puppies, just remember to feed them a bit less dinner!

Anywhere from a week to a month house training a dog is common, and for Yorkies it could be a little longer, so have patience with your little one! If you want to develop a great relationship with your Yorkshire Terrier, learning how to train a puppy is the best thing you can possibly do.

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22.09.2009

Crate training is the quickest way to get the job done when you are house training puppies. The reason why crate training puppies works is because it’s very easy to get a grip on the eating and toilet schedule for your dog, and his opportunities for accidents are greatly reduced.

Some people have a hard time with the concept of crate training, and your puppy may whine a little bit being kept in the crate, especially if he is used to running free. However, dogs like having a den, and this creates a safe space for your puppy that he knows is his “home”. A puppy is very resistant to messing up his own space, and will hold off on relieving himself until he can get to another location-this is why crate training works.

The crate needs to be large enough so your puppy can comfortably walk around in a circle and then lie down. As he gets older, upgrade to a larger crate if necessary. Crate training puppies works basically because dogs want to avoid lying in their urine so they hold off on using the toilet when in the crate for as long as possible.

Note your puppy’s eating and drinking schedule as well as the times he goes to the bathroom throughout the day. Now you can put together a schedule of expected toilet breaks based on the times of day your puppy might need to go use the toilet. Potty breaks are typically needed after vigorous play, about 30 minutes after eating, just before bedtime and first thing in the morning. A few middle of the night trips are probably needed if you puppy is very young, until their bladders allow them to hold it throughout the night.

When you take your puppy out of the crate in the morning, take him right to his toilet area. Simply carry him straight there and set him down in the toilet area if he tends to get distracted or run off. You should just stand there for 10-15 or so minutes, simply watching and waiting. If he actually goes to the bathroom, immediately give your puppy lots of verbal praise and affection, and you can also give a treat. If he doesn’t go, then take him back to his crate, and in about 20 minutes or so, try again. Just repeat this pattern until successful, and once your puppy does go, reward the good behavior with playtime. You want to teach your dog that he needs to take care of business first, then he gets playtime. This sets up good habits.

Crate training puppies can take a lot of time in the beginning, but be patient with your puppy. Crate training works. Your puppy should be kept in his crate throughout the day and night but with frequent, regular breaks for playing.

You must keep your eyes on your puppy at all times when he is out of the crate. If you see him about to go on the carpet, say no firmly and pick him up and immediately take him to the right area. This can be somewhat awkward, but it is really the only opportunity to help your puppy understand where his toilet area is.

When you are house training puppies, be patient and understanding, because accidents will happen. What you should do is quietly clean up the mess without letting your dog see, so you aren’t drawing any attention to it. Be sure and use a proper cleaning product to remove the urine smell. And remember, your puppy is just a baby and doesn’t know any better, so take the time to teach him what to do, and your patience will be rewarded!

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26.07.2009

Buying a puppy can be likened to buying a used car. When the cars history is not known, smart shoppers demand a Car Fax report. Whether you are buying a used car or a puppy, the less educated you are, the more likely you will have expensive problems. The only way you will know for certain how a puppys mother was cared for; before, during, and post litter is to know the Breeder. Alas, buying direct from a Breeder is no guarantee that your puppy will be healthy! Breeders are often as ignorant of how to properly feed and supplement, as is the majority of MDs and Veterinarians in this country.

Just how high is the risk when you buy from a Pet Store and Rescue Facility? Most of the animals sold in rescue facilities were poorly cared for. Feral females are often impregnated when they are quite young, and are often impregnated while caring for a litter! Feral dogs must scavenge for food, which usually is loaded with bacterium that causes diarrhea. Diarrhea quickly causes dehydration, and leads to more advanced illnesses, which compromises the milk the pups rely on to develop strong immune systems.

Since the mid-1980s, families and empty nesters have been buying Pet Store Puppies at a pace that has turned breeding facilities (puppy mills) into Big Business. Even though you may spend a lot of money for your new puppy, price is no guarantee of health! Most of these puppies come from Puppy Mills, where the living conditions are highly stressful to the mothers. This stress is passed genetically onto the puppies; affecting their disposition, personality and health. Mothers are often over bred, with no regard to replacing the nutrients lost to the prior litter. Puppy Mills also cut corners when it comes to food costs. Manufactured dog foods, despite label claims, are sorely lacking in nutritional value, and especially in human-grade animal protein that should make up the majority of a dogs diet.

Puppies must be very resilient to survive being brought into the world in a Puppy Mill. We all know that stress can take its toll on human health. Well, pups are no different. When you add up all the levels of stress they and their mother are exposed to, from the time the mother is bred until the time the pups leave, it’s amazing how many survive. Even the time at the pet store until they get acclimated to your home is stressful. All that stress adds up to undiagnosable illness and disease and shortened life expectancy.

Bringing Your Puppy Home One of the common signs of stress is diarrhea. Unfortunately, the common treatment prescribed for diarrhea is antibiotics, more complicated cases also get steroids. This is a poor treatment plan for a healthy dog, let alone a stressed out puppy. The 21st Century approach is to administer the opposite of antibiotics, or probiotics. Dogs instinctively know they are digestive aids, and eat them by pulling at the roots of grass, where soil-based probiotic organisms (SBOs) thrive. SBOs are clinically proven to quickly and safely resolve diarrhea, as well as most digestive disorders.

One of the most popluar searches on the internet is What is The Best Food to Feed a Puppy? Hint, you will not find it on most pet food isles, unless you are shopping in a holistic pet store, and even then Buyer Beware! Raising a healthy pup becomes easy when you understand that 90% of your puppys total immune system is located in their digestive system, and that 80% of all chronic disease is caused by an unhealthy digestive system. The food that is natural to your pups ancestory is human-grade animal protein, however, this protein is difficult to digest and assimilate. Additional nutrients are necessary.

Your puppy is a meat eater. By feeding your puppy human-grade animal protein, and a few critical supplements, you will have the healthiest, happiest dog imaginable. Also, its life will be extended by an average of 7 years. You can search for testimonials of people who have switched to this diet.

Hopefully, this article is a wake-up call. Owning a puppy is a huge responsibility that should not be taken lightly. All one has to do is look around at the millions of sick pets and ask “What do they have in common?” The answer is manufactured dog food, and a lack of digestive aids needed to break food down into absorbable elements. The knowledge you need to make sure your puppy grows up to be healthy and happy, as well as live a full life is very simple.

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23.03.2009

With the recent popularity of cat training, more and more people are looking into teaching their cats how to use a toilet. Just so we’re clear here, I’m not talking about litter box training. I’m referring to a proper toilet that you or I would use! Do a quick search on youtube and you’ll see that this is indeed possible.

This is a very difficult task though. Learning how to pee in a litter box is pretty easy for most cats. Aquiring the abilty to use a proper toilet, however, is a different matter. If this is something you think your cat can do, there are a few methods you should consider.

The most popular method involves an apparatus that is specifically designed to help cats urinate into toilets. These kits are available online and at some pet stores. It’s recommended that you only use these kits with kittens though. A full grown cat may be too heavy for this product. Read the instructions carefully.

Another method that I’ve had some success with is a bit more cost effective. You basically try to “trick” your cat into thinking that the toilet is actually a litter box. In order for this method to work, your cat needs to be very comfortable with the litter box.

The first thing you want to do is place the litter box near the toilet. Let your cat get used to the idea of doing his business close to the toilet. Don’t overlook this step! It’s very important to get your cat associating his litter box with the toilet.

Now it’s time to up the ante. Place the litter box on a chair or stool beside the toilet. The height of the litter box should be equal to the height of the toilet bowl. Wait until your cat is comfortable with this before moving on.

The next part seems kind of silly but don’t overlook this. You need to place the litter box on the toilet bowl. When your cat eventually gets used to this, remove the litter box. Now watch in amazement as your cat gets himself up on to the toilet and does his business.

Regardless of what method you choose, please understand one thing. Training a cat how to use a toilet is extremely difficult. It takes an enormous amount of patience. If you take it slow though, this can be a very enjoyable experience for both you and your cat.

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