|
NIACIN OR NICOTINIC ACID: Deficiencies of this vitamin will result in a disease of dogs called black tongue. This disease is related to pellagra in humans, from which a synonymous term for niacin deficiency has been coined: the Pellagra Preventive Factor. Deficiencies of this vitamin are extremely rare in ordinary household dogs since commercial dog foods and meat have more than enough of this vitamin to meet the dog’s needs. This is a problem found only in areas of extreme poverty.
When the animal is purchased, a tenday trial should be insisted upon, in order to have time to get veterinary certification of good health, and to ascertain whether the animal is of suitable disposition—that is, to find out whether the animal gets along with your family. The reliable breeder will agree unhesitatingly to such a reasonable request. Less reliable breeders will agree to a trial of only 24 to 48 hours. Since latent diseases often do not arise for several days, and since it usually takes more than a couple of days to decide whether an animal’s disposition is suitable, the prospective owner is advised to proceed with extreme caution when he has only a day or two to make his final decision.
It is difficult to diagnose because it may or may not show clinical signs. Common signs exhibited are lameness on one or both rear limbs, difficulty in standing or walking, hopping like a bunny, and decrease in mobility. After the joint’s growth period, many pups display pain sporadically even before arthritis begins to exhibit. It can lead to severe arthritis, in which your pet can be in extreme pain. Rarely, puppies as young as 5 or 6 months can show these symptoms.
cat and dog
Not only will the animal be happier with a bed of its own, but training will be easier. The pet will be discouraged from sitting on furniture and will be less apt to howl when left alone. This is especially true if the bed is placed in a room where there is not too much household traffic.
©2000-2006 www.advancesinhealth.com
|
|
After the dog has made its preliminary adaptation to the household—let us say after a week or so—put a collar on it and allow it to remain on for several days until the animal has become thoroughly accustomed to it. A harness is not recommended at this time because training can be accomplished much more readily with a collar. Then attach a short leash to the collar and let the animal drag it around for a couple of days more, reprimanding it whenever it tries to chew the leash. After this time take hold of the leash and encourage the animal to be led through various rooms with you. Make it a point not to drag the animal, since this will frighten it and make further training difficult. With gentleness, and with repeated daily efforts inside the house, the animal soon will permit itself to be led with surprising ease. If the animal should sit down and refuse to be led, tell it “No! No!” before picking it up on its legs and starting over again. When the animal can be led quite easily, take it outside to a quiet street and repeat the procedure there. With a little patience on the part of the owner, the animal will be seen to make a rapid adaptation and will behave quite well on theleash. And this is so especially when the animal starts to associate pleasantness with the outside. When the pet sees you pick up the leash to take it outside, its tail will very likely wag in pleasant anticipation.When the animal is thoroughly trained to a leash and collar, a harness may be used. But at best a harness serves merely a decorative purpose. It is quite useless in the matter of training.
cat and dog
Studies show that all 50 US states have reported cases of heartworm infection, a condition that can affect all dogs regardless of sex, age or habitat. The highest incidence for dogs not taking preventive medicine rises to a high of 45%, including areas from the Gulf of Mexico to New Jersey, while some areas record rates of 5% and below for the canine heartworm disease. The difference is due mainly to mosquito, environmental and dog population factors, although all dogs in affected regions are still seen as at-risk animals that need to be monitored regularly by veterinarians and covered by prevention programs.
|
