Archive for October, 2009

What Is Natural Balance Dog Food?

Dick Van Patten’s Natural Balance? Dog Formulas has several varieties to meet the needs of puppies and dogs. The Natural Balance dog food is a high-quality dog food used by many breeders, kennels, trainers, dog owners, and recommended by many veterinarians.

The Natural Balance dog food is formulated to be complete nutrition for dogs. The Ultra-Premium Formula is designed to be nutritionally sound for dogs and puppies.

Several Natural Balance dog food products are made for dogs with special needs. The Reduced Calorie Formula is designed for dogs who need to lose weight and for senior dogs. The Agility Muscle Performance (A.M.P.) Active Dry Formula is specifically designed for active and working dogs.

Dick Van Patten’s Natural Balance? Dog Formulas include special dog food for dogs that are prone to allergies. This Limited Ingredient Diets dog food includes Sweet Potato and Venison Formula, Lamb Meal and Brown Rice Formula, Potato and Duck formula, and Sweet Potato and Fish Formula.

The Limited Ingredient Diets product lines are sold in canned dog food, dry dog food, and dog treats. The Natural Balance Potato and Duck and Ultra-Premium dry dog foods are available in small kibble for small breeds of dogs.

The vegitarian dog food is an example of the Natural Balance canned dog foods. The Ultra-Premium and Chicken and Sweet Potato Allergy Formula dog foods are other examples of canned dog foods.

Natural Balance moist dog food sold in tube-like plastic casings is called a dog food roll. Dog food rolls are sold in lamb, turkey, and beef flavors. Some dog owners use the moist dog food to hide pills that the dog needs to take.

The Natural Balance dog food product line includes dog treats such as dog biscuits and crunchy lamb-flavored treats and organic formulas of dog food. The organic dog food formula contains free-range chicken and organic ingredients.

In addition to dog food, Natural Balance sells cat and zoological formulas. The zoological formulas are designed for carnivorous animals in zoos and wildlife parks.

Natural Balance provides dog food for guide dog associations. A dog owner can discover what stores sell Natural Balance dog food by using the store locator function on the company’s website.

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Pet Charms Made From Healing Stones

The ancient Egyptians believed that semi-precious stones and crystals provided powerful benefits to those who possessed them. Crystals and other cool stones brought good health and a long life. Crystals and other beautiful stones are created by the natural power of the earth, and some still believe in their natural healing power.

You can find sites on the internet that utilize these healing stones and crystals as an alternative to traditional medicine for your pet! These sites create fashionable pet charms and necklaces from different types of healing stones and crystals.

The pet charms are fashioned from different crystals and semi-precious stones to match the health needs of your cat or dog. The crystals used are said to provide relief from a number of different medical conditions including digestive or respiratory problems.

You can calm your pet or provide some relief for your best friend by utilizing healing stones. If your dog or cat has issues with stress, depression, nerves, or other conditions, a pet charm or necklace made from healing stones might help.

Below are some of the stones said to provide some healthy benefits:

Carnelian – Believed to alleviate arthritis and lower back pain

Howlite – Believed to aid in tissue and bone growth

Quartz – A general healer…

Rose Quartz – Said to calm and reduce nervousness

Tiger Eye – Said to help with digestion troubles…

There is absolutely no substitute for a good veterinarian. But, a pet charm made from healing stones can help comfort your pet.

If you are looking for an alternative method to heal your pet, relieve stress, or even if you just want to have your pet look great, a pet charm made from some cool crystals is a good fit. Pet charms made from healing stones and crystals are cool and gorgeous.

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Common Causes Of Dog Scratching

Dog scratching is one of the most common causes for veterinary examinations according to many veterinary resources. The causes of dog scratching can be parasites or a skin condition.

While most causes of dog scratching are difficult to identify, fleas are often noticeable. The fleas or the flea dirt may be visible or the dog owner may be bitten by the fleas themselves.

Hair loss and skin sores from scratching can develop from severe flea infestations. If a dog is allergic to flea saliva, the hair loss and damage to the skin from scratching can be significantly worse.

In addition to flea saliva allergies, other types of dog allergies can cause dog scratching. Dogs can develop allergies to dog food, medication, vaccinations, or substances in their environments.

Ear mites can cause dog scratching, especially of the dog’s ears. Dogs often shake their heads when they have ear mites.

Mange is a parasitic infestation that can be a cause of intense dog scratching. Causes of dog scratching from parasites can also be due to lice, ticks, and hookworms.

Hot spots are common skin irritations that can cause scratching, licking, and hair loss. Hot spots occur when an irritation to the skin causes an intense reaction that often lasts longer than the initial cause. Hot spots can be due to poor grooming, an allergic reaction, or an infection.

Staph infections and hypersensitivity to staph can cause intense itchiness. Hair follicles can become infected with staph. A skin condition that is a cause of dog scratching is sebaceous adenitis. Sebaceous adenitis can also cause hair loss.

Two less common causes of itchiness than some of the previous causes are calcinosis cutis and pelodera dermatitis. Often a symptom of Cushing’s disease, calcinosis cutis causes mineral buildups of the skin. Pelodera dermatitis is caused by larvae from a worm that is not normally parasitic.

Cancer is one of the possible causes of dog scratching. Lymphoma and epitheliotropic lymphoma can cause itchiness in dogs.

Stings or bites from insects can cause dog scratching. Severe reactions to insect stings can cause hives or ulcers. Dog owners should have dogs examined by a veterinarian to determine the cause and best treatment for dog itchiness.

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The contagious dog disease, infectious canine hepatitis, can also infect some wildlife carnivores such as coyotes, bears, and foxes. Vaccinations are available for infectious canine hepatitis. Puppies under the age of one are most susceptible to infectious canine hepatitis.

Infectious canine hepatitis is one of the dog diseases that can be prevented with a vaccination. The vaccination for infectious canine hepatitis should not be given until the puppy is nine to twelve weeks old. Though puppies are at the greatest risk, dogs of any age can contract this disease if they have not been vaccinated.

The virus that causes this dog disease is spread through direct contact with an infected dog or contact with contaminated body fluids like urine, saliva, and nasal discharge. Dogs may also acquire the viral infection from contaminated food bowls, cages, or other items.

A fever, cough, and sore throat are the first signs of infectious canine hepatitis. The viral infection spreads to the liver, kidneys, and eyes of the dog. A low white blood cell count is often caused by infectious canine hepatitis.

The cornea of the dog’s eyes may appear cloudy or develop a bluish tint. The eyes may become sensitive to light. A dog with infectious canine hepatitis may develop a loss of appetite, abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, and seizures.

Bleeding problems are common with dogs that have infectious canine hepatitis. Dogs may have bleeding gums or nosebleeds. Some dogs develop swelling and hematomas which are collections of blood under the skin. Swelling from infectious canine hepatitis is most likely to be at the head, neck, or trunk of the dog.

There is no fast cure for infectious canine hepatitis. The veterinary treatment is antibiotics and supportive care with intravenous fluids. In severe cases, the dog may need a blood transfusion.

Infectious canine hepatitis is a potentially fatal dog disease. Death may occur as quickly as two hours after the onset of symptoms. Very young dogs are most likely to die from infectious canine hepatitis.

Even if the dog is treated and recovers from infectious canine hepatitis, the dog can continue to spread the disease in its urine for up to nine months. Infectious canine hepatitis cannot be transmitted to humans. The hepatitis that affects humans is a different disease.

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