A deadly infection caused by a parasite is making its way through the British Isles. A significant number of dog-owners admit they that don’t know anything about lungworm (A. vasorum) and half have never heard of it. The life-threatening infection is carried by slugs and snails which can then be eaten by dogs, either on purpose or by accident. Symptoms of the disease can be many and varied and can be confused with other illnesses, so it’s important to be clued up on this spreading threat.

So what can you do to protect your pooch? Well, take a look at this web TV with pet veterinarian Joe Inglis.

http://iframeplayernoauto.webchats.tv/chat/be_lungworm_aware_with_vet_joe_inglis
For more information visit www.lungworm.co.uk

www.cavaliermatters.org is a beautifully illustrated website, providing easy to read and understand information for Cavalier Pet Folk. The site helps to decode the technical and scientific jargon surrounding the health problems associated with the Cavalier Kind Charles Spaniel breed through plain English, amusing sketches and charming anecdotes. The content is written and illustrated in a thoughtful and simple layout with tips and advice plainly identified, using cartoons of owls and birds.

Tania Ledger conceived the idea for this site when she first heard about Syringomyelia (sm) on the BBC documentary “Pedigree Dogs Exposed”. She was shocked and appalled that dogs are bred into a terrible life of pain. Her Cavaliers, Molly and Dougall, were both diagnosed later with this and other serious health issues.

As well as the basic content, it has the website has two further objectives. Firstly, To help to raise funds for research and rescue through the sale of items helpful to cavaliers in their daily lives. Secondly, to raise awareness of the issues surrounding this breed and to campaign against puppy farming and poor breed and breeding standards set by the Kennel Club. There are currently two active  petitions running on the site.

It has recently been reported that the obesity levels of dogs in the UK has reached epidemic proportions. It seems that Britons are feeding their pets an atrocious diet of junk food. Fatty foods, such as cheese, chips and crisps, are being given to dogs as treats but they are creating severe health problems in our Dogs. Pets are increasingly suffering from diseases associated with obesity in humans. Malaise, asthma, diabetes and heart disease are becoming more and more common amongst our household pets. Some owners are even feeding dogs chocolate, which can cause fatal heart attacks for our canine brothers.

There have been recent calls for pet owners who over-feed their pets to be prosecuted under the Cruelty to Animals Act (1876). Like humans, good health is the result of a balanced diet. Here are some tips when considering your dog’s diet.

Milk is a fantastic source of Calcium but beware. A dog only needs a moderate amount of milk and therefore milk should never substitute water in a dog’s diet as this may cause severe diarrhoea. Puppies and pregnant dogs do need extra calcium in their diet but this can be added to their diet by other foods such as, green vegetables and fish. If you do give your dog fish make sure that it is cooked thoroughly as the consumption of raw fish has been attributed to vitamin deficiencies in dogs. A further result is possible abnormal posture, loss of appetite, weakness, and even seizure.

The protein content that is recommended for dogs is 20-30 percent. You should include protein-rich foods such as Chicken, Lamb, and Salmon. Dog’s also need fats and oils in their diet for taste and for digestive reasons. Egg’s are also an excellent source of protein but any foods which contain raw eggs should be avoided as this may lead to Dermatitis, loss of hair and poor growth in your pet.

Carbohydrates are also important to provide energy and fibre to improve the digestive capacity of the dog.

Dogs, like humans, should be fed at scheduled times at regular intervals. If you do give your dog treats be careful. Keep a check on what treats you are giving your dog and adjust their ‘standard’ diet accordingly. Don’t feed your dog table scraps, as it will result in the dog developing the bad habit of begging. Remember a Dog is smaller than a human. One chip is the equivalent of a whole portion of chips.

Pet shop dog-food is an easy way to provide your dog with the nutrients that it requires, but be sure to buy high-quality dog food that is appropriate for your dog’s weight, breed and age.

This advice is not all-encompassing but it provides a good framework for ensuring that your dog is receiving its essential nutrients without becoming obese. The important message is that, like humans, Dogs need a balanced diet in order to lead happy healthy lives but always remember that dogs are not humans and react differently to certain foods.

Simple dog agility exercises can be an ideal way to develop even further the bond you have with your pet as well as improve your dog’s obedience and behaviour. And it’s not only an enjoyable way to not only improve your dog’s health and fitness, but yours too!

Best of all, it’s easy to do and absolutely anyone can give it a go. Pet owners can use nature’s resources to construct their own course, from weaving in and out of trees to jumping over logs. You can also buy training kits at minimal cost to set up in your back garden or local park.

Of course, with all of this additional exercise a well-balanced diet has never been so important for your dog. Look for hearty foods like Supadog from Burgess, make sure they are nutritionally-packed, provide energy and sustenance, and will set him or her up for a good work out!

In the following video, Jeremy Edwards and his five-year-old Boston Terrier Molly are put through their paces by dog agility expert Gina Graham. Jeremy and Molly demonstrate just how accessible dog agility is, whilst showing us the great benefits it can bring - including good health, bonding and interaction, and best of all fun!

The beige towel with cream paw print pattern is worn like an apron leaving both hands free for holding, bathing and lifting. The two ample layers of high quality 100% cotton snag-free towelling protects clothes, as the dog is simply lifted out of the bath and snuggled against its owner. No more great escapes with a wet pooch racing through the house!

The Doggydry towel costs £24.99 and is available from www.cuddledry.com.

For those pampered pets who ‘simply have everything’, consider splashing out on a clawfoot pet bath. Designed as a baby bath, this miniature roll top bath will provide pooches with their very own bathing sanctuary. The baths cost £199.99 and are available from www.cuddledry.com

People who do happen to suffer with allergies to cats, dogs or other animals may be misguidedly advised to find new homes for their companions. Doctors nowadays are increasingly recognising the importance of the human-animal bond with many believing that pets help us to live longer and healthier lives.

This is especially true of the elderly and those of us who live alone as pets can often make wonderful and faithful companions.

With approximately 10 - 15% of us suffering from pet related intolerances such as eczema and asthma and almost one third of those with an allergy choosing to live in a household with their pet despite their reactions, you’d be forgiven for wanting to keep moulting to a minimum and what better way than with the ‘3 Mikki Must Haves’, a grooming range designed specifically to keep unwanted shedding at bay.

Mikki, sponsors of National Grooming Week recognize that animal hair is a common trigger for both eczema and asthma. Designed for the everyday pet owner, Mikki have developed a range of grooming products enabling people who do suffer with these conditions to continue to interact with their beloved pets.

Use the ‘3 Mikki Must Haves’ to help alleviate any unwanted animal hair before it plays havoc with either your skin or breathing. Begin your grooming regime with the Easy Clean Slicker brush used to combat any big knots or tangles your pets coat may have. Continue your routine with the Anti-Tangle Comb to ensure the coat is knot and tangle free and any excess dead hair is removed before completing your quick and easy grooming process with the brand new Mikki Moult Master. Endorsed by Groomer of the Year champion Alison Rogers, use the Mikki Moult Master to remove the loose dead undercoat to ensure a polished finish before it gets the chance to get tangled, making the whole exercise a less enduring task next time.

Get the best of both worlds by reducing the shedding around the house and making your allergies easier to live with with the ‘3 Mikki Must Haves’, not only you will be happier but so will your pet!

Mikki are the proud sponsors of National Grooming Week, 25th April – 2nd May 2009.

Mikki products are available from Pets At Home and all good pet stores, for more information please visit www.mikkigrooming.com

So what are the benefits of dog massage, you ask?

The benefits that your dog gains will depend upon the reason for his massage.

If he has a health problem and a vet has recommended massage as a form of therapy then the benefits will relate to fixing or at least relieving the health issue.

Often a vet will recommend this therapy when there is a muscle injury, circulation problem and even arthritis.

Let’s take a look at the main benefits of dog massage regardless of the reason for your dog undertaking a massage:

- Massages improve blood and lymph circulation
- Massages can relieve muscle tension
- Massages can help a dog to recover quicker from injury
- Dogs can de-stress with a massage - just like people can
- A massage can help to rebalance energy
- Massages can enhance the bond between you and your dog
- Massaging a dog can increase the immune system

A great benefit of dog massage is to increase the effectiveness and strength of the immune system.

Chemicals called cytokines are released during a massage and these help to reduce stress hormones.

Yes, dogs can suffer from stress too! And reducing stress in your dog can lengthen their life and improve their behavior.

Improving stress can also help your dog to fight ailments and illnesses as he ages.

Many people are now hiring a masseuse for their dog’s happiness.

Just like people, dogs gain pleasure from a massage.

However not all dogs are suited to a massage.

Some simply will not lay still for long, whilst others (in particular older dogs) could lie down all day and be massaged.

You will know whether or not your dog could handle a massage.

Puppies generally will not have the patience for it but, who knows - once he experiences the pleasure of a massage his whole personality might change!

You don’t have to go to a professional dog massage therapist - you can learn dog massage and massage your dog from the comfort of your home.

You can ask a vet for advice on the best spots and the type of pressure to use, but it is not overly difficult to apply a feel good massage to your dog.

The benefits of dog massage are clear - your dog will love it and you’ll love have a more relaxed, happy dog!

For more information on dog massage, please vist www.massagefeelsgood.com

There are three basic categories of pet insurance. These are:

- Pet cover limited by year
- Pet cover limited per condition
- Pet cover limited per condition for a maximum of 12 months.

When buy pet insurance it is very important to know exactly what you are buying since if your pet develops a serious illness it could be disastrous if your claim is limit is reached and you are unable to obtain pet insurance elsewhere.

Pet Cover Limited by Year

This is one of the best types, although likely to be the most expensive since each condition or claim will be paid up to an annual maximum. If you continue to pay your premiums then you can continue to claim for the same condition indefinitely. Of course, premiums may rise over time.

Pet Cover Limited per Condition

Each condition is insured up to a maximum cash mount. Once the limit is reached no more claims can made for that particular condition.

Pet Cover Limited per Condition for 12 Months

Policyholders can claim up to a maximum sum insured for any one condition for up to 12 months after diagnosis. After this time no further claims can be made for that condition.

Dogs have extremely sensitive ears, which supply them with information about their surroundings. Especially for guard dogs, their ears are the chief parts of information about the environment, and thus need to be taken special care of. There are some breeds if dogs which have super sensitive and infection prone ears, like the Labradors, and thus they need to be inspected closely and effectively. Ear care is an essential part of grooming of the dog, and seriously, is extremely important too.

Each and every dog owner should make it a common practice or a routine to inspect the dogs’ ears closely and help it keep them clean. Your regular home ear care grooming includes cleaning of the ears, making them devoid of wax, and ticks of fleas, which can be extremely harmful for the dog, even leading to deafness in the coming years. Wiping off the wax with the help of a warm and wet ear bud, or a piece of cloth is important and effective. This can prevent many common ear problems and infections.

Dog ear infections are mostly caused by the inherent structure of the ear, Dogs who have straight ear types permit more air flow into the ear canal than required, whereas all the dogs who have floppy ears like the cocker spaniels, and bloodhounds allow lesser inflow of air into the ear canal, which can lead to ear infections in both the cases. The dogs that have a heavy growth of hair inside the inner layer if the ear are also prone to infections. Warm, amp, and other types of dark and unfavourable environmental conditions also cause infections. Poor air circulation can also be another reason for causing infectivity in the dog’s ears. The dog’s ear canal is considered to be the perfect spot used as a breeding ground for yeast, bacteria and mites and they cause infections too.

There are certain symptoms like foul odour, excessive wax, constant scratching, redness or unnecessary matting of hair in the outer ear, rubbing the ears against other objects, head shaking are all the symptoms which indicate ear infection. As the famous saying goes, ‘prevention is better than cure’, you should see to it that right from the beginning you take proper care of your dog, in terms of ear care, so than in his coming years, his ears would not be a problem for him neither for you. You can take you dog to the vet frequently, so that these problems are well taken care of, with the assistance and guidance of a well experienced person.

You can detect any unwanted problem or infection inside the dog’s ears with the help of a pet scope. It is an instrument to spot any sort of problems in the interior part of the ear canal, if there is any present. You should get down to inspecting your dog’s ears quite regularly, by sniffing at them. This is a method through which you can detect ear wax problems or infections!

Sometimes your pet may seem in a good condition. But, he may be facing with some problem and he is unable to express his pain and feelings. However, there are signs which can tell you that he is actually suffering from a specific pain. Allergic reactions like swelling or rashes may sometimes be the answer to irritation in a puppy. Such swelling can be on his face or hives and mostly such swelling are seen on the belly of the puppy. Next, you have to check for any eye or ear injury even if the injury may seem mild.

Behavior of the puppy

If the puppy is acting odd or is very quiet, you have to check his food intake too. He might be having a respiratory problem like he might be acting strange as in chronic coughs, breathing trouble and near drowning situation, which can tell you his condition instantly. You should also check for any signs of pain which your pet may be suffering from. This can be seen when he is panting, having an increase in his body temperature, has a labored breathing problem, total loss of appetite or is experiencing lethargy or restlessness.

Check whether your puppy has eaten any wrong food

You have to also check whether your dog has eaten any food which is poisoned. This can be due to some suspected poisoning, which includes ingestion of antifreeze, snail bait or even human medication. Further, you have to also check for any wound or any such scratch which is open and which is bleeding, either because of any animal bite or due to any accident. Also, if you see the puppy fainting or collapsing, then you have to take immediate measures to check whether he has any spasm as such due to a snake bite.

Thermal stress

Your puppy may also seem to be under thermal stress either because of the climate which can be either too cold or hot too. He may also face with Trauma like he may have been hit by a speeding car and he may act fine, but there may be trauma inside him due to this. Also, if he is vomiting or has diarrhea, within an hour for three times, then immediate vet attention should be done.

Lastly, your puppy’s resistance against any disease is not similar to that of an adult dog. So, you have to be sure to carry your puppy to the vet or to his veterinary hospital. Also, you should not interact with other dogs as your puppy will get prone to other diseases at such tender time. Once inside the vet room, the vet staff takes proper care and precaution to protect your puppy like in they clean off the exam table with specific disinfectant and wash their hands before examine of any dogs.