Vaccines Save Pets Lives

Canine 5 in 1 (DA2PP):

• Distemper is widespread, often deadly and can affect any wild or domestic carnivore. Distemper may cause vomiting, diarrhea, seizures and death.
• Adenovirus (type 2) is included in the 5 in 1 vaccine to protect against Hepatitis, which is spread through urine. Hepatitis can cause high fever, pain, enlarged liver and death.
• Parainfluenza is a respiratory virus that which can cause coughing. This may linger for several weeks.
• Canine Parvovirus is contracted by contact with infected dog feces is shed in dog feces and can persist in the environment long after the feces have been removed. Parvo causes bloody diarrhea, vomiting and often death.

Leptospirosis is shed in urine, affects liver and kidneys and could cause death. Access to muddy marsh water areas should be limited. Hunting and other dogs with access to these areas should be vaccinated every 6 months. This vaccine should only be given to dogs at risk of exposure.

Corona virus is very similar to parvovirus, attacking the intestinal tract causing vomiting and bloody diarrhea.

Bordetella is the bacterial cause of Kennel Cough. Most boarding facilities require this vaccine.

Rabies is a severe, invariably fatal viral policencephalitis of warm-blooded animals and humans. Rabies vaccinations are required by law for pets.

Intestinal parasites (worms) can cause diarrhea, blood loss, weight loss and even death.

Heartworms live in the heart and are spread by mosquitoes. Once infected, this will cause eventual death in untreated dogs. Heartworm infection may cause sudden blindness orcoughing and sudden death in cats.

     Dogs don't come with instruction manuals that tell you what to feed them and how often. Getting the right portion size and feeding schedule isn't as challenging as you think, once you know the basics.

Should You Feed Canned or Dry Food?
Most dry dog foods are soybean, corn, or rice based. Premium brands often have meat or fish meal as the first ingredient, so while they're higher priced, they're actually a better deal. Your dog gets more nutrition from the food, and eats less of it.
Dry food also has greater caloric density, meaning there's less water per cup of food than per cup of canned food. While this probably isn't a big issue for small breeds, large dogs may not be able to eat enough of the canned variety to fulfill their daily caloric needs (because they also get a lot of water in canned food). If you have a large dog (over 30 lbs.), dry or semi-moist food is probably the best choice.

How Much Should You Feed Your Dog?
The best advice is to check the packaging of the dog food you've selected. Most pet food manufacturers print recommendations right on their bags, jugs, or cans, and base the feeding amounts on the weight of adult dogs. Keep in mind, though, that manufacturers typically recommend feeding enough food to satisfy a very active dog, so don't be surprised it what the package recommends ends up being too much for your dog.

If your dog consistently leaves food, reduce the amount you're feeding by small amounts until your dog is consuming all of what you feed. Once your dog has reached that point, keep an eye on its weight to be sure your pooch isn't packing on extra pounds. In a dog of normal weight, you should be able to feel the ribs but not see them.

How Often Should You Feed Your Dog?
There are two methods to feed your dog: free-choice feeding and meal (or limited-time) feeding.

With free-choice feeding, you keep the food bowl full all the time. This allows your dog to "graze" throughout the day, eating whenever it wants. Though this method is certainly easy, it's not the recommended method because there's no way to monitor how much your dog is consuming. And, if you have more than one dog, you'll have no way of knowing if one pet is eating more or less than it should be. However, if you only have one dog, you can try a modified version of free-choice feeding: Fill the bowl with the entire day's ration of food once in the morning. Regardless of when the bowl is emptied, no more food is added until the next morning. This method is probably most effective with small dogs who are prone to hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).

Meal feeding means you divide the total day's ration into two or more meals, depending upon your dog's age and size. For instance, if you have an adult dog, two feedings per day should be plenty. If the recommended daily amount of food for your dog's size is one cup per day, you should feed half a cup in the morning and half a cup at night. After 20 minutes, remove the bowl, whether or not all the food has been eaten. It may take your dog a few days to realize it needs to eat the food when it's offered, or a meal will be missed.

Again, how many small meals your dog gets each day depend on its age and breed. Here are some general guidelines:

• Puppies less than three months old: 4 times per day
• Puppies three to six months old: 3 times per day
• Puppies and dogs six months and older: 2 times per day (3 for small dogs or deep-chested breeds prone to bloat, such as Dobermans and Great Danes)
• Dogs six years and older: 2 to 3 times per day (consult your veterinarian)

Treats and snacks shouldn't account for more than ten percent of your dog's total caloric intake per day.

Making a Routine
Dogs thrive on routines, so choose a feeding pattern early in your pet's life and stick to it. You might consider feeding your dog while your family dines, so your pet is occupied and less prone to begging at your table while you're eating.

There are ways to help your new pet get along with your other furry friends.

The last thing you want is your fuzzy "first-born" raking her claws across your new puppy's nose. So do some homework and plan ahead so you have a good idea about how your current pet will react to the newcomer.

For example, you can borrow a neighbor's or friend's dog for a few days to test the waters. (Keep in mind your new dog's personality will be different from the borrowed dog, and your old pets may react differently.)

Ready to take the plunge? The following tips can help you pick pets who get along.

Forget the cartoons. Cats and dogs can live together happily under the right circumstances. But, don't expect your adult cat to warm up to a new dog overnight. Cats are creatures of routine, and bringing a new dog into your home may upset your finicky feline in a major way. Teaching your dog to respect the cat's boundaries will help.

Kittens can be more accepting. They may even like the dog. So the ideal situation is to get a puppy and a kitten at the same time.

When you make the introductions, keep your dog leashed and make sure the cat has an escape route. Hold the leash firmly as they sniff each other. If your dog remains calm, you can drop the leash, but be ready to grab it if he makes a move on your cat. "Don't chase the cat" is one rule your new dog must learn immediately.

For the first few weeks, keep your dog on a leash when he's near the cat. Remember, the kitty isn't the only one at risk. A quick-draw kitty paw slashed across the face can deliver a nasty corneal scratch or sliced nose.

Most female dogs and neutered males will accept another female. But you're practically guaranteed territorial battles if you bring home a new, intact male dog to meet your unneutered male. Also avoid mixing two aggressive or dominant personalities or breeds.

Make the introductions in neutral territory - a park or playground makes a good meeting ground. Keep both dogs leashed and hold them firmly. You can help reduce your first pet's jealousy by asking a friend to hold the new dog's leash. If the dogs get along, go home and repeat the procedure. If both dogs remain calm, you can release the leashes and allow them to interact with supervision.

When you feed the dogs on the first day, put them in different rooms. The next day, feed them in the same room but at opposite ends. Gradually move them closer at feeding time until they're eating together in harmony.

Even if your dogs seem fine together, separate them when you leave home during the first few weeks in case they become aggressive. And, make sure you offer treats to both pets at the same time to keep them from getting jealous of each other.