Dog Fits – A Frightening Experience!
All dog lovers and dog owners hate the very thought of their beloved furry friend falling prey to any dog health problem. Moreover, it’s truly distressing and painful to experience to watch your loving Fido convulsing in front of your eyes. Yes, a dog fit or a seizure is definitely frightening and damaging, more for you than for your dog, especially when the pooch loses complete control over his faculties, falls over, bites his teeth, drools, salivates, whines, paddles his paws, and may be even loses complete control over his bowel and urination. Dog fits, typically known as seizures, also lead to dilation or enlargement of eyes as your pooch becomes unresponsive. Pet health care experts feel that in case of dog seizures, the pet owner tends to panic as a sense of helplessness pervades him/her.
One of the most common causes of dog fit is epilepsy. Pet health care experts have identified certain dog breeds as being more susceptible to epilepsy. Nevertheless, cause for hereditary or genetic epilepsy are yet unknown. Some of the breeds prone to such seizures include: Cocker Spaniel, German Shepherd, Irish Setter, Poodle, Collie, Labrador Retriever, Golden Retriever, Dachshund, Saint Bernard, Siberian Husky, Miniature Schnauzer, and Wire-haired Terrier.
Other causes of seizures in dogs are allergies to 100% commercial dog food chemicals, preservatives, or/and artificial flavors. Sometimes liver, kidney diseases, tumors, low blood sugar, food poisoning, inflammation of the central nervous system, etc can also lead to the dog health problem of seizures. It has been observed by pet health care experts that dog fits are very common in younger and middle-aged dogs because of parasites (worms, fleas etc) combined with an unhealthy and poor diet.
Seizure in dog is a serious sign of dog health problem. When the central nervous system of the dog goes out of control as response to unchecked localized brain activity, seizures happen and resonate through the entire body in the form of electrical waves. In most cases, seizures only last for a couple of minutes at the most. But, repeated fits in your dog can be life-threatening as they take a lot of toll on the body, exhausting and luckily diminishing the much needed biochemicals that help maintain the orderly flow of electrons to the brain.
Many anxious and troubled pet owners ask the pet health care experts if the dogs feel any pain during seizures. You’ll be happy to know that though dog fits are pretty dramatic, your pooch doesn’t experience any pain, he only feels bewildered. However, ensuring that the dog health problem of seizures doesn’t prove fatal, you must prevent your dog from falling on the floor and hurting himself badly.
Finally, the most important thing for you to do when you dog is having a fit is to STAY CALM. It may be a difficult thing to do, but a reassuring, quiet and calm voice will comfort your pooch to get through this very dramatic situation.
Your Pets’ Behavioral Problems Can Be Fixed
Every headline in the papers, every top story on the news, and every topic of conversation at the White House points to our failing economy. Yet, according to American Pet Products Association , in 2008, more than $43 billion … yes, forty-three billion dollars were spent on our pets. I have to assume that not all businesses are falling apart!
What about in your backyard? Invisible Fence® Brand of Upstate NY, located right here in Rochester, took home three national awards for outstanding business growth in 2008, including National Dealer of the Year for the 3rd year in a row! This is an achievement honoring a team who strives for excellence in customer service, guaranteeing results, and who is determined to make stronger relationships with people and their pets.
Did you know?
The Invisible Fence® Brand’s sole premise is to be the most trusted brand in the pet ownership experience by keeping pets safe, happy and well-behaved at home all the time. And it’s not just about containment— we also offer solutions to help manage other unwanted behaviors like barking, jumping, digging, and chewing. We offer lifestyle solutions such as heated beds for arthritic dogs and automatic feeders for people who have busy schedules. We offer love and compassion for people who truly need help managing their relationships with their pets.
Trip to Lollypop
A few weeks ago, Princess and I were at Lollypop Farm. She always looks forward to the trip! I can tell because she starts whining as we pull in the parking lot, cold nosed pressed against the window, her breath starting to become more rapid. She’s like a kid in a candy shop! She darts out of the car and pulls me to the door. Her tail is wagging with excitement. As we peruse down the hall, I know she wants to run, play and sniff the other dogs. Her innocence is so sweet. She has no idea what’s going on. I always experience a rollercoaster of emotions ranging from loving every puppy in the place, to sadness at their droopy “take me home” faces, and anger when I read why they are there.
I once saw a 10-year-old Schipperke who was given to the shelter because of “barking”. Seriously? After ten years you are just getting fed up with it? I wonder why they didn’t call Invisible Fence® Brand—we can take care of that in just a few days. I see a Siberian Husky who’s claimed to be “an escape artist”. Are you for real? Why didn’t you call Invisible Fence® Brand? There’s a Rottweiler that keeps tearing up the couches. I wonder if they would have given him a second chance if they let us create an invisible barrier that kept him away from all the couches. I think back to the day I adopted Princess and realized she had severe separation anxiety, breaking out of three metal crates and hurting herself in the process. I wonder if I would have known to call Invisible Fence® Brand to train her to use an invisible crate if I didn’t work for the company.
Help reduce the number of shelter admissions, euthanasia and lost dogs on the roadways—call Invisible Fence® Brand today and let us talk to you about how we can help improve your relationship with your best friend … before it’s too late.
Kate Siwik is the Director of Sales & Marketing of Invisible Fence® Brand of Upstate NY—National Dealer of the Year in 2006, 2007 and 2008. Her dog, Princess, was adopted from Lollypop Farm in 2007. Contact Kate at 271-1700 or email her UpstateNY@invisiblefence.com.
Canine Beds – Selecting The Correct Bed For Your Canine
Picking out the right dog mattress is crucial towards the comfort and contentment of the doggie. Since your pet will probably be spending a whole lot of its down time within the mattress you choose, it really is essential to pick out 1 that will offer him or her using the best location to relax and recharge.
Even though some folks know ahead of time just what type of bed they want, others not just don’t know what they want, they don’t know how to begin their search. You’ll find so many aspects that go into selecting the best mattress for your puppy. It isn’t pretty as uncomplicated as just intending for the nearest shop that sells puppy bedrooms and bringing residence whatsoever it can be that they have.
What Size is Your Canine?
Just as dogs breeds arrive in the vast array of measurements, from miniature to gargantuan, you’ll find also a wide range of measurements and designs of pet bedrooms. As a result, when it’s time to select a bed for the special canine, you should factor their size to the equation. It is not usually simply a issue of assuming that if you could have a significant pet dog you’ll obtain a great dog bed or that if you could have a little animal you may get a tiny animal mattress. Even when two beds are produced through the exact same company, there may well be significant distinction in the price tag of a small mattress as in contrast to some huge bed, since the significant bed expenses more to manufacture as it requires a lot more products.
The Health of your Pet
For those pets who are going through joint pain from hip problems, disc difficulties, knee complications, or just plain aged age, an orthopedic canine mattress might be just the issue to give them some relief. Orthopedic animal bedrooms are produced in much the same way as orthopedic beds for human beings. The suppliers use a high-density foam which offers better support to the joints and makes it less complicated to get up.
Deciding on a Fabric
Pet dog beds are obtainable in a broad array of fabrics including canvas, denim, fleece, cotton and suede. A few of them are even created from upholstery substance. When picking out a fabric be certain to take into consideration not only the breed of pet dog you own but also the climate where you live. If you’ve a doggie with long hair, or an “outdoor” breed including a Siberian Husky, you might wish to choose a cool covering like cotton or canvas to assist retain your dog from receiving too hot.
If, around the other hand you might have a little doggie, or one with brief hair who turns into a lot more effortlessly chilled, you need to consider receiving one made of a warmer substance. Great alternatives for pets who get cold easier will be suede, fleece, as well as a warm, dense upholstery material.
If you could have a doggie that sheds a good deal or spends a lot of time having dirty, it’s essential to select a mattress that includes a machine-washable cover.
Exactly where Will the Bed be Based?
Another essential aspect in selecting a mattress is wherever, in or out of the residence, it can be to be positioned. Does you animal sleep within your room, inside a spare room, the kitchen or even the living space. Does it possess a crate? Does it sleep outside? It is essential how the bed match the room in which the canine sleeps, along with permitting them to really feel comfortable and secure.
Keep in mind to pick a crate bed in case your canine sleeps in the crate. They are specific dog beds made to match the longer shape on the crate with no crowding your puppy or bunching up and preventing your puppy from getting in a position to obtain comfortable.
The Price
There’s virtually as significantly variety in costs for doggie bedrooms as in dogs. As with bedrooms for folks, you’ll find numerous brands and price tag ranges. Will need to you select to accomplish so you may possibly even purchase a artist or luxury pet dog mattress. Such beds offer extras inside the locations of cushioning, service and room. You can find even custom animal beds that you’ll be able to order with the added personal touch of your respective pet’s name.
Because the selection of doggie beds available is wide, so would be the cost margins for them. You may only have to shell out $20-$30 for the mattress for a small animal or $50-$60 for a big a person, or, if you select, you are able to go for your artist or luxury pet dog beds which can cost $150-$250.
10 Things To Do Before You Are 50
The BBC recently commissioned a survey among 20,000 people asking ‘What would you like to do before you die?’ The answers were noted and a list of the most common answers was compiled and entitled ‘50 things to do before you die.’
There were some very interesting answers. In at number 50 was ‘to go Polar Bear watching’, the animal theme continued to be popular with ‘to see tigers in the wild’ at number 45 and interestingly, ‘to drive a husky sledge’ reaching number 38. The travelling theme was also present within the list, ‘taking the Trans-Siberian Railway from Moscow to Vladivostok’ featured at number 33 and ‘walking the Great Wall of China’ proved to be a popular choice charting at number 16. However, the silver medal position went to ’scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef’ with the number 1 answer being ‘to swim with dolphins’.
Before being asked the ‘what would you like to do before you die’ question, without doubt a number of the 20,000 would have given their answer straight away and then gone on to achieve their ambition within their lifetime however, it would certainly be interesting to find out how many of those surveyed had never before given such an important question much thought but, having then given this some consideration, had answered the question and then actually went on to achieve their stated goal. I would guess a surprisingly high number. The mechanics for those knowing that their number one ambition before they die was to swim with dolphins could be considered surprisingly quite straight forward. Surely it would be a matter of deciding where in the world they could carry this out, what the actual cost of the exercise would be together with when their budget and diary would allow such an activity to take place. It could be argued that the most difficult part of such an exercise is simply deciding what it is you would really like to achieve in the first place!
Financial Planning is no different. The actual mechanics of the process although interesting, at times intimidating but ultimately quite exciting, are relatively straightforward. Once you have established what it is you would like to achieve you may be confident enough to tackle these issues yourself. However, just as many call upon the specialised services of accountants and lawyers, finding a good, experienced financial adviser with whom you can build a long lasting working relationship is likely to help you achieve your goals more quickly.
Fifty is a pivotal age
In financial planning terms, fifty is quite a pivotal age. As a ‘thirty-something’ many consider the world is at their feet, and then,
possibly discovering life really begins at 40! While approaching the half-century may seem like the half time whistle went a few years ago, in reality there’s hopefully a long way to go as yet! Victor Hugo once said ‘Forty is the old age of youth. Fifty is the youth of old age.’ Whether or not you see your fiftieth birthday as a major mile-stone of your life it certainly is an excellent ‘target date’ by which you could judge if your financial priorities have been achieved or are on track to being achieved.
And for those who are approaching fifty now is a good time to take stock of your finances as the good news is you still have time to prepare for the next major milestone in your life which is likely to be your retirement.
I am sure we all dream of a future free from money worries and many would agree the earlier you start to plan the better as this makes it easier for your goals to be achieved. Therefore, the check list below is designed to help you plan and prioritise the 10 things to sort out before you reach the big five-a!
1. Check your budget
If you haven’t done so for some time, you should review your current living costs. Start by listing your essential monthly outgoings such as your home loan and food then, after including those items you would consider important, add in the monthly items you would consider treats and luxuries. Interestingly, this exercise leaves many scratching their heads asking ‘where does the money go each month!’ Once you have worked out your regular monthly outgoings, hopefully there is some money left which can be classed as your disposable income. This may also be a good chance to highlight the areas where money can be saved, perhaps by shopping around for better deals on your regular bills or on your insurance for example. If it turns out, by working through the check list, that you need to save more for your retirement years or to start thinking for your child’s future, you will have a better idea of how much you can really afford.
2. Review your savings and borrowings
It’s a fact of financial life that it usually costs more to borrow than you can earn by saving. So the message is this: if you have cash to spare, you should probably use it to pay off your debts first.
3. Review your protection
Are you sure you have enough life cover in place? Should the worst happen to you or your partner how would the family cope? Many base their life cover needs simply on the amount of their outstanding debt. However, as any monthly budget chart usually shows, the majority of one’s income tends not to be spent on servicing loans but rather on regular family living costs such as food, car expenses, school fees and electricity and water bills. Clearly, in the event of your death, your family will still incur. Should your children be young it may be difficult for your partner to continue to work, due to the extra care your children may need. Of course, your family could be entitled to state benefits but a cash lump sum gives an extra cushion of security at such a critical time. It’s worth adding up how much cover you have in place, and working out how much you may actually need. Amazingly, good life cover doesn’t have to be expensive and you will usually find it’s a lot cheaper than you thought. You should also consider ’staying alive cover’. You know what they say ‘if you do not keep up your home loan payments, your home may be at risk’. If you fall seriously ill not only would it affect your health, but it could also have a devastating effect on your finances as well. It is now possible to protect yourself from the financial implications of a heart attack or cancer for example.
4. Update your retirement planning
Many people know that the state pension won’t take them very far. But do you know how much you will actually receive? By contacting the Government department responsible for pensions it is possible to get an idea of what you can expect to receive when you retire. An independent financial adviser can also help you find this information. Retirement should be the longest and happiest holiday of your life, but like with all holidays, it’s good to work out how much you can afford to spend in advance. The good news is that you probably still have time to build up funds to provide for those special things in your retirement years.
5. Keep track of your existing investments
You may already have started to save for the future; but do you know how well your investments are performing? Are they on track to achieve what you had hoped for? By reviewing their performance on a regular basis you will have time to do something given that they are not growing as expected. These days it is much easier to research funds on web-sites, maybe you should also get a second opinion from an independent financial adviser? You may get a nasty shock if you fail to review your investments and wait until the day you need them!
6. Lay a nest egg
Perhaps you have some major expenses in mind – possibly helping your children with their education or wedding, or maybe going on a world cruise when you retire. A fixed regular savings plan or a minimum period investment is a good way to get the best returns, and also helps keep your money away from temptations. You don’t even have to take big risks to achieve better returns than the interest rates offered by the Banks.
7. Plan your will
If you haven’t yet made a will you should do so without delay. Preparing a will is the best way of leaving a record of what you want to happen after you die. If you do not do so, your loved ones would be left to sort out the problems, at a time of great stress. Speak to a suitably qualified professional person about the benefits of having an up to date will.
8. Give your kids a head start
Start the saving habit young. A good idea is to open a savings account on the children’s behalf and let them see it grow. Whether it’s buying their first car, funding a fantastic wedding or helping them through university these things cost money! Planning as early as possible will solve many future financial worries and will make their dreams come true.
9. Invest for Income
You may have built up a sum of money in the bank, from the sale of a property or by investing wisely, yet at some point, it will be important for you to actually see the benefit of your hard work. You may then need to consider changing your investment strategy from ‘growth’ to ‘income’. In order to achieve better returns you may have been happy taking a risk with some of your money. But can you now afford to lose what has been taking you years to build up? Investing for income generally means taking a lower risk and seeing the benefit each month or each year in the form of an income payment. Ultimately, it’s your money and you should enjoy it!
10. Keep an eye on the parents
A large number of people need to have some form of financial help or may even consider going to a nursing home in their old age. It therefore makes sense to talk things with your parents, regarding their wishes should this eventuality arise. Thinking ahead can really help and with the correct planning and preparation any future financial burden will be greatly eased.