Dog Owners should know the value of a dog leash. A dog leash is a great way to protect your pet from the dangers the outside world can hold.

An unrestrained dog can get be a problem, regardless of the training your dog has received. Many pet owners treat their pets like their own children, and just like a child should have boundaries lest they wander off and get hurt, so should dogs.

There are so many distractions outside that could cause a dog to wonder off. The sound of diesel engines, especially delivery trucks and motorcycles cause a reaction. They not only continually bark, but many time chases after the vehicle. This is dangerous to the driver and also having your pet in the street is another danger.

Other distractions that may tempt your dog to leave the yard are wildlife. Birds, squirrels, rabbits and deer can make an otherwise trained dog to abandon their manners and chase the animal especially dogs that are bred for hunting. It only takes a brief moment and your dog is gone and they might be too far away to hear you call or whistle. If they return uninjured, they often times have rolled in something quite foul. Additionally, on garbage days, they might stop and dig in a garbage can or two which will make neighbors a little agitated.

As you can see, allowing your dog to freely roam the neighborhood can annoy your neighbors, especially if your dog makes a habit of relieving themselves or dig on their lawn. Often times a dog will attempt to play with neighboring children but the young child sees the dog as aggressive and a chase develops. Even though the dog is playing, the child does not see it as such and may get hurt as they try to run away from the dog.

Even if your dog is well trained, when strangers approach to read a dog tag the dog may get defensive and attempt to nip or bite to protect itself. This is a dreadful situation for both the injured, and the owner. Although accidents happen, the dog’s owner is still responsible.

A fenced in yard is a secure place for dogs to run leash free. For pet owners who have limited space or just don’t have a fence, go to a Dog Park. Dog Parks are a perfect place for dogs to play and socialize with other dogs and exercise in a fenced in area. Dog Parks are popping up in most townships. To locate a Dog Park in your area, contact your municipality or ask your veterinarian.

Taking care of your pet is a large responsibility. Dogs must be supervised at all times to keep them safe. A dog on a leash is a simple solution to keep your dog out of harm’s way

Dog Leashes are manufactured in many sizes and styles. 4 foot leashes are great for those who live in the city; hands free dog leashes are great for exercising with your dog, couplers can be purchased for walking multiple dogs; retractable leashes offer a little more freedom; and the standard 6 foot leash is usually accessible in one inch and 5/8 widths to hold most dogs.

Although playing with your dog unrestrained is enjoyable, dog owners must understand the concequences of not leashing their dogs when appropriate. Joanne suggests keeping your dog safe by visiting Jakes Dog House for dog leashes of a variety of designs and sizes.

Defined in its simplest terms, diarrhea is when there is too much water in the feces. There are many different reasons this can occur including:

In the case of over eating, the intestines become over full with food particles which do not allow the intestines to produce enough enzymes to break it down. With changes in food, the stomach and intestines are not given a proper period of adjustment, creating the inability to produce the proper enzymes for the new food. With stress as the factor, the dos stomach becomes upset, causing an extreme fluctuation in the type and amount of enzymes produced. All three of these situations compel the intestines to hold onto the food particles which then in turn hold on to water which the intestines can not absorb.

If a dog has an infection or has eaten food from the trash, excess water can be present in the intestines which results in diarrhea. This situation can also be caused by intestinal parasites, E. coli and Salmonella.

For many dogs, diarrhea is caused by over eating, stress, eating from the trash and intestinal parasites and in many cases does not cause severe illness. However, diarrhea can be the result of a serious systemic illness and in this case should be taken to a veterinarian immediately.

Visiting the Veterinarian

Many dogs with simple diarrhea may not need a trip to the veterinarian. If a dog has mild diarrhea that is not making it uncomfortable, has no other symptoms, and does not otherwise feel bad, it is OK to wait 24-36 hours to see a veterinarian. Many cases of simple diarrhea will resolve on its own. If a dog has diarrhea and seems uncomfortable, if the diarrhea appears bloody or like tar, if the dog has other symptoms, or seems sick, then it is wise to see the veterinarian right away. Even if the diarrhea does not go away any faster after the veterinary visit, the veterinarian can evaluate the dog and make sure nothing more serious is going on and can give medication to make the dog more comfortable.

After the veterinarian examines the patient, he or she will want a fresh stool sample. If your dog has recently (in the last 30-45 minutes) had a bowel movement, you can collect that and take it with you. If not, the veterinarian can collect a sample in the office. Several things will be done with the stool sample. These include:

A fecal flotation to check for intestinal parasites

A direct fecal smear to check for red blood cells, white blood cells and abnormal or unusual bacteria.

A fecal smear with abnormal bacteria (the ones that look like tennis racquets)

If your dog has diarrhea combined with vomiting, bloody stool and acts very ill and has been this way for several days, the veterinarian will want to take blood and x-rays to see if some other systemic illness is causing the diarrhea.

Heather Fox is an experience veterinarian and passionate teacher on Clivir.com where you can find more of her lessons about Dog Atopic Dermatitis Causes and Dog Parvovirus Symptoms.