Medical Info

Your horse needs a blanket because their natural oils and dirt that keep them warm in the wild are removed each time you brush or curry them. When you clip your horse, you then remove all of the additional warm hair. Most stables are not heated, and it is critical that you compensate for the loss of heat by using some sort of a blanket. A horse will begin to lose weight if not kept warm enough. Of course it is always important to feed more hay in the winter also.

If your horse is outside in very cold weather, you will need a strong turnout blanket for that time. It would be great if you could afford it, to have two blankets. One for indoors and one for out otherwise select a blanket that will work inside and out. An outdoor blanket must give your horse the freedom to move when he bucks, rolls and kicks.

Some types of Blankets to Consider

Fleece cooler/blankets can be used after a workout and your horse needs to dry off. Put the fleece cooler on to remove moisture. Fleece is a excellent material to wick off moisture and keep your horse dry especially if he is sweaty and the weather is cool outside. It will keep his body temperature more balanced. Wool coolers/blankets can be used for the same purpose. Wool cooler are a heavier material and will keep the horse warmer. Wool is also nice for those extra cold nights when you need a blanket liner underneath your winter blanket. They also work well after a workout. Stable Blankets work well for those nights when your horse is in his stall. They do not work well outdoors and are usually designed for indoor use only. Finally there are heavier styles of Winter Turnout Blankets that are durable, ripstop, weatherproof and breathable. These are workable for indoor and outdoor use.

What is the correct size of the Blanket for my Horse?

Just take a tape measure and measure from the middle of the chest to the tail, along the side. If your horse measures a 78 buy that size. If you want to be sure of the right fit buy the next size larger. But be cautious as every manufacturer is different. Some have smaller or larger cuts than others. So check before buying. Surcingles and legs straps are nice to have to keep your horse’s blanket in place in the even they roll or lie down. But, it is important that they are not adjusted too tightly so that you horse cannot move around comfortably. There should be a hand’s width that will fit between the horse’s belly and the surcingle, tight enough so that they cannot catch a hoof.

Leg straps should not be tight and not so loose that they are low near the hocks. A horse’s legs could easily become tangled in these. It is better to loop the leg straps around each other before connecting to the snap. Snap them to the opposite side.

Remember !!!! If in doubt check with someone with more experience to keep your horse safe and happy this winter !

Suzanne DeVries

Please visit my WEB SITE at http://www.adirondackhorsetack.com or my EBAY STORE at butterfly7171

Filed by admin at 9:34 am under Animals, Pets
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If your life is so busy you literally only have a minute or two a day to spend with your horse, then here are 5 smart training tips you can use to keep your horse “tuned up” when you have just minutes a day.

Smart Tip #1: Practice Backing Up

Suppose you just fed your horse some hay and he’s eating. Assuming you have enough room to get beside him, put your finger into his chest and get him to back up. Getting a horse to back up is a basic and essential lesson horses should know. Plus, when you get a horse to move in a direction you want him to move, you earn respect from him.

Smart Tip #2: Practice Getting His Head Down

Just before you feed your horse approach him. When you get to him pet him a couple times. Then put your thumb and first finger on his poll and push down. Do not increase the pressure of the push. Instead, on a scale of one to ten, push at a one. Then say “head down”. If he doesn’t drop his head increase the pressure to a two. Then say “head down”. Repeat the process increasing the pressure until his head drops.

When his head drops, reward him with a petting above the eyes on the forehead.

Over time, work on getting him to drop his head down where you can easily put on a halter.

Smart Tip #3: Quick Lunge

If you have a minute or two, before you feed your horse slip on a halter with a lead rope. Lunge your horse left and right a few times and get him to back up and come forward. You can accomplish this in just about two minutes.

Smart Tip #4: Pick Up The Feet

Before feeding your horse, go pick up his feet. You should start with the front feet. Remember to reward each time he does what you ask. Then go to the back feet. If your horse is sensitive about picking up his feet you can make amazing breakthroughs over time by doing this in just minutes a day.

Smart Tip #5: Brush Your Horse

Before feeding, approach your horse with a halter and brush in hand. Put on the halter then brush him. You do this because you want him to associate the halter with pleasure and he’ll come to you almost every time. Thus, whenever you want to ride or work with him, and you approach with a halter, he’s more willing to let you catch him

About the Author

Andy Curry is a nationally known horse trainer and author
of several best selling horse training and horse care books.
For information visit his website at www.horsetrainingandtips.com.
He is also the leading expert on Jesse Beery’s horse training
methods which can be seen at www.horsetrainingandtips.com/Jesse_Beerya.

Filed by admin at 3:41 pm under Animals, Pets
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A puppy for sale is irresistible, but one should exercise caution when thinking about purchasing a puppy.

Everyone loves a puppy. And ads for puppies abound: Maltese puppy for sale, English bulldog for sale, Pomeranian puppy for sale… And they all look so cute in the store! But the problem with puppies for sale is that once purchased they start to grow! And from the cute pit-bull puppy in the pet store you are burdened with an adult dog that is as demanding a member of the family as your partner or child.

Whenever you walk past a pet shop and encounter a puppy for sale, walk on by and head on home. Consider the option, then get online and do some research. There is a puppy dog just for you, but first you need to consider your situation and match the appropriate puppy breed with your needs and the puppies needs.

Be responsible and deliberate.

The vast majority of puppies for sale go to impulse buyers. It’s the cute factor. Puppies are utterly irresistible. But puppies soon become long term and demanding family members. Dogs live, on average, from about 12 to 16 years. Are you ready for this sort of commitment? Also, depending on your chosen breed, each dog has certain needs, for example, grooming, which must be met in order for the dog to be comfortable and happy. Understand why you want a pet. That way you can better choose the right one for you. They say that a dog’s personality mirrors its owner and it is true. Research the personalities of different breeds to chose the right one for you.

Research before you shop.

You’ve seen an adorable Shih Tzu puppy for sale in your local pet store or advertised the local rag. But first, take the time to read up on what kind of breed this is and if it will suit you, your lifestyle, and your home. Each breed has its own special attributes and personality. Some breeds are better suited for apartment living, others should really have a large open yard to run around in all day. What can you offer? Do you work long hours? Dogs are such social animals that they really do suffer from loneliness if they are alone. Other pets don’t mind solitude so much.

Forget the pet store. Visit Animal Rescue.

Because puppies for sale are often bought impulsively only to have owners regret their purchase and give their puppy up, Animal Shelters, the Humane Society and similar organizations are full of puppies in need of a home. It’s better to save one of these than go and buy another one, which doesn’t solve the problem. These puppies are just as great as the ones in the stores. In fact, they were probably once once of the many puppies for sale in a pet store.

About the Author

Dean Erickson. Journalist, and web site builder Dean Erickson lives in Texas. He is the owner and co-editor of puppies-dogs-for-sale.info
on which you will find a longer, more detailed version of this article.

Filed by admin at 6:46 pm under Animals, Pets
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It’s natural for cats to scratch but often it destroys your good furniture. Thankfully there are some things that you can do to relieve the problem.

Many people watch in sadness as their cat destroys virtually everything that he can get his claws into. You can improve this behavior. To do so, you need to know why he is doing what he is doing.

Why Scratching?

Cats were hunters. They needed those sharp teeth to help them to climb trees and to leap down on their prey. Although your cat is not likely to be pouncing on their dinner anymore, they still instinctively need to sharpen their claws and that is exactly what they are doing on your furniture. The scratching that they do is a way of trimming their nails and it removes the old outer part of the claws. Another reason they are ruining your home is because they know it to be their territory. They release a scent from special glands in their paws which helps them mark the area as theirs. They also do it because they are working the kinks out of their body as well as burning some energy.

Before you head off to have him de clawed, you may want to try out some of the alternative methods of preventing the scratching.

Alternatives

One way is to provide them with scratching pads or posts. There are a wide variety of them available including those that are part of a cat condo. You can even make your own by using two foot high section of a four by four, two foot by two foot piece of heavy plywood and a carpet remnant. When you have one of these, take it and put it right next to his favorite piece of furniture to destroy. Then, gradually move it away from the furniture as he gets accustomed to it.

You can also use a pet repellant spray such as Bitter Apple on the furniture that the pet is clawing at. Take the time to test the spray on a non visible area of the furniture before using it though. Or if you do not want to spray the furniture, then cover the material with aluminum foil or tape that is placed sticky side up. The cat will not like the material and will turn to the scratching post instead.

The Last Resort

Some cats just can’t seem to stop. For these, de-clawing becomes the best option. If your cat stays indoors, you can have their claws removed. There are some risks involved and the procedure can be painful for him. Those who would like to avoid this like to use nail caps instead. These are applied as false nails would be to the cat’s nail.

If your cat is a scratcher, do what you can to stop him before you have him de-clawed. If this becomes the best option though, it may be better than having your furniture torn up!

I hope that some of these simple tips help you save your furniture from cat attack without stopping you cat from enjoying life.

Niall Kennedy is a lifelong pet lover and has worked in several pet sanctuaries. Best Pet Health Information is a resource that brings you information and news, tips and reviews to help you keep your cat happy and healthy. www.Best-Pet-Health.info

Copyright Best-Pet-Health.info All rights reserved. This article may be reprinted in full so long as the resource box and the live links are included intact.

Filed by admin at 10:55 pm under Animals, Pets
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The dietary regimen is an important aspect of survival. The objective of dietary management is to meet the basic nutritional requirements of the individual with proper proportions of protein, carbohydrates, and fat in a well-balanced diet that will promote optimal body weight.

Generally, these dietary regimens are employed to human beings. However, with the growing fondness to dogs, most dog owners and veterinarians recommend that dietary regimen should likewise be implemented on dogs.

Like humans, dogs need the right combination of the basic food groups in order to have a healthy life span. Dogs also need to be regulated on the kinds of food that they eat or else they would end up being obese as well.

Included in the dog’s dietary regimen are the proper minerals and vitamins. These essential health items should be well incorporated into the dog’s daily needs in order to have a healthy body.

With proper minerals and vitamins, dogs will be able to maintain shiny, healthy-looking coat.

So, for people who want to know how to prepare the right diet for their dogs, here are some tips to guide them through:

1. Meat should not be the only food incorporated in the dog’s diet.

In reality, dogs are carnivorous. The dog’s body is especially inclined to generate growth and energy from meat products. However, dogs need fiber too to help them digest their foods properly and carbohydrates to provide them the added energy that they need.

So, it would be better if dog owners will feed their dogs every day with the usual dog foods available in the market and give them occasionally real foods where meat, fibers, and carbohydrates are present.

2. Dogs need minerals and vitamins.

Like humans, dogs need complex combinations of minerals and vitamins. These are needed to maintain the luster and shine in their coats and to provide them with healthy gums and teeth.

Lack of minerals and vitamins supplement will result to deficiencies of certain types that could be really difficult to deal with, such as extra dry or super oily skin, tummy problems, frail bones, low-weight, and worst cases are death.

Like humans, these dietary supplements are needed to give the dogs the extra needed nutrients in order to keep them healthy.

3. Real meal treats

Contrary to most popular beliefs, dogs love the real food more than their typical dog foods. Hence, whenever their owners will give them real food, they would consider them as treats.

So, it is best for the dog owners to include their dogs in their meal planning. With real food, dogs will be able to generate the needed nutrients their bodies need.

4. Mixed foods

Most people tend to think that deciding whether to give dogs moist or dry foods is a matter of preference. In reality, it is not. This is because mixing different kinds of foods is actually the best diet owners could give to their dogs.

Giving dogs variety of foods, nutritional value, and texture are the real diet meal dogs really need.

5. Greens are needed by the dogs.

A well-balanced diet for the dogs includes green leafy vegetables too. Even if dogs are carnivorous by nature, they also need the right amount of greens to provide them with additional nutrients that are only available in green leafy foods.

No wonder why dogs sometimes chew on grass. This goes to show that dogs really need some greens to provide their body with a well balanced diet.

Indeed, there are no hard or fast rules when it comes to balanced diets for the dogs. However, it is still important to note the needed food groups that should be incorporated in the dog’s diet.

Best of all, dog owners should always consult their dog’s veterinarians especially on things like health and diet supplements for their dogs. The veterinarian knows what foods should be included in the dog’s meal and what foods should be avoided. Dogs, like humans, should not be fed with junk foods like sugary sweet sodas. These will only make them fat without the needed nutrients.

Whenever something goes out offhand, it is always bets to consult the veterinarians. As they say, veterinarians know best when it comes to the dog’s care.

Jack Russell is a a long time dog fancier, visit his Dog Resources Blog and download his Free Dog Owners Handbook - it’s Dog Gone Good! www.daveshealthbuzz.com/dogcare/

Filed by admin at 12:46 am under Animals, Pets
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