I’m looking for an alternative for Tru Green lawn care. My dog is very allergic , husband won’t give up lawn .

My 16 year old dog is very allergic to Tru Green chem lawn. Spring being around the corner, Its time for Tru green again. My Husband does not want to stop tru green because of good results and service. But Molly really can’t take it this year. Vet confirmed allergy. Please help if you have any Ideas. Need more information before I put my foot down. We have been using for 8 years, Would 1 year off really matter. You’d think there would be enough chemicals left in the ground to have a good lawn without this year.? Molly is in great shape but I realize this is probably her last summer. It should be allergy free. PLEASE HELP
My dog doesn’t have any allergy problens. Until after the first tru green visit. She starts to itch and sneeze. Will chew at skin until raw. Vet took a scraping of her skin and confirmed allergy. When she starts to get over it there back with another application and it starts all over. It is the tru green. My groomer has confirmed also. I have seen this happen to many other dogs. If they are indeed slinging cat pee and water. Cat pee is some of strongest stuff around, could make anything sick. Shouldn’t be paying good money for that?

How much would you pay? Pet Care servces.?

Hi there, i want to open my own pet care and dog walking services.

I want to know how much you would pay for and the most money you would pay for these services:

30 Minute Dog Walk
Pet care for 1 Day (1 Pet)
Pet care for 2 Days (1 Pet)
Pet care for 3 Days (1 Pet
Pet care for 1 Day ( 2 or more)
Backyard Cleanup (1 Pet)
Backyard Cleanup (2 Pets)
Backyard Cleanup (3 or more Pets)

Ok thats it! thank you!

Where can I volunteer to take care of Dogs?

I am 16 years old, and really enjoy doing community service works. I was wondering if there were any places near Virginia where I can take care of dogs, like local dog pounds or dog shelters. Does anyone know a place?

What would attract you to use a dog walker?

I am looking into starting my own business as a dog walker/sitter. I am thinking about charging £6 for 30mins or £10 for a hour (there is a well known dog walker in my area that charges £8 for 30mins and £12 for an hour). I could offer socialization with other dogs/pets. Walking in countryside to inner city. Basic training for puppies to adult dogs. Maybe a day care service too.

I am a bit worried about how much money I would make as I need to make about £55 a day (before worrying about running a car). I am thinking most people would want you to come round at lunchtime for 30mins so I would need at least 9 people a day and to fit them all in at lunch would be a rush!

As dog owners what kind of services would you find helpful? I am pretty much up for anything, from training puppies to doing shopping for say an old person who cant get about much.

Any tips would be helpful.

Many thanks xx

I let my dog potty in my back laundry room everyday, can child services take my kid?

I live in Ohio, and I work all the time. I sometimes do not have time to let my dog out everyday. She poops and pees in the laundry room, Ive laid newspapers out for her. Sometimes I am so busy, I can only clean it once a week. I do let her out, but not all the time, and in the winter, its very cold here. My house is clean and beautiful and my child is well taken care of. If child services were to walk in here, could I get in trouble???

What is a good brand to buy healthy dog treats from?

I don’t want them to have any fillers or corn, something good for him. I have a papillon puppy who is about 10 weeks old.

Recipes for healthy Thanksgiving dog treats?

Anyone have a recipe for natural, healthy holiday treats I can make for my dog (so that family members give her those instead of scraps!)?

What are some healthy dog treats, even if it is people food?

picky pomeranian. healthy dog treats he might like?

i have 3 year old pomeranian who is very picky about dog treats! he really like the ones that smell good but i know are not the healthiest of treats!

does anyone know of some healthy treats that he might like?

Any suggestions are greatly appreciated!

What are healthy treats that I can give my dog?

I wanted to know what are some people foods that I can give my dog that would be a healthy treat. So far I have given her apple slices ( with no core or seeds) and carrots. Are there other fruits/ vegetables or other foods that I might already have in the fridge or pantry that dogs really like that I could try giving her?
If I were to buy a packaged treat for her what brand is healthy?
(note: my dog tends to like things that are chicken flavored or that are meaty and does not seem to like sweeter treats, like things that are peanut butter flavored)

What is the right dog breed for our family?

My husband and I have been looking for the right kind of dog for our family. We plan on having kids in a few years and having a breed that is well known for being “kid friendly.” I do not want a smaller dog, preferably a breed or mix of breeds 40lbs plus. Trainability is important, and I can be patient, but I am dominant when I have to be. I don’t want a hyperactive breed, I have energy but no jobs to keep such busy minds occupied. I also prefer softer coats, and the shorter the hair the better as we live in a warm climate. Very important is health problems. I can’t have my heart broke by a dog breed known to have many health problems, as I will more than likely adopt from a shelter or rescue and not have much knowledge on the parents/stock. If anyone has suggestions to what kind of breeds I should be looking for,
I would appreciate your comments.

How well do you know your dog breed? Daily Question Number 1?

FUN QUESTION! Let’s see how long it stays up! I decided to ask a fun question per day from now on to warm up things here.

1) What was your breed originally bred to do?

2) When was your breed accepted by the AKC?

3) Where did your breed originally came from?

4) What are the breed‘s biggest health problems?

5) What are common “misunderstandings” within your breed?

6) How do you most easily recognize a badly bred dog?

7) Name one designer dog that is ruining your breed.
What breeds is your breed most confused with?

9) What are any famous people that own or own your dog breed, or famous dogs?

10) Got any trivia on the breed?

My answers:

*SAMOYED*

1) Herd reindeers.

2) Early 1900… Hold on, I know it. It’s 1906!

3) Developed by the Samoyede people of Siberia.

4) SHG, Samoyed Hereditary Glomerulopathy, and hip dysplasia – I informed myself before getting
one.

5) I don’t think there are any. That famous “Sami Smile” pretty much gives away how most Samis are.

6) I never saw a badly bred Samoyed in my entire life. Impressive, uh?

7) Actually none… Once again, either I’m NOT informed or we’re pretty lucky.
I had people asking if my dogs were an Eskimo Dog.

9) I heard that their shedded fur is used as alternative wool. LMAO

10) Xiah Junsu, member of South Korean boy band TVXQ, owns a Samoyed named Shaki. OK, this one was from Wikipedia. Roald Amundsen owned one too, I think.

IRISH RED AND WHITE SETTER:

1) Hunting Dogs…

2) 2009.

3) Ireland! D’oh!

4) Hip Dysplasia is a main concern, I guess, some retina issues as well.

5) I think all Setters have this, not Red and White’s in particular, but ALL of them, specially the
Reds. Everyone thinks they are crazy and lunatic. They are if not well exercised, dummies.

6) Never had the *luck* to meet one, but I saw a few crazy Reds that gave the breed their lovely bad rep.

7) Irish-Doodle… *shivers*
A giant Brittany!

9) They were only accepted by the AKC this last year, folks!

10) NO IDEA.

Suggested Category FAIL:

Sports > Horse Racing (!)
Actually, not “Daily”… I’ll change it to “weekly”. I want to get to level 3 someday, LMAO.
No, La Vita, they are not so rare… People tend to think this because the other Setters are much more famous. Reds were originally Red and White. Eheh

shar pei should AKC demands changes in this breed?they have the longest genetic health problems list?

it is not fair for the dog that there is a 1 in 5 chance that he will get serious health problems like these:

RESPIRATORY
stenotic (pinched) nostrils
elongated soft palate
pneumonia — primarily in puppies
EYES
entropion — rolling in of the eyelids
retinal dysplasia
glaucoma
“cherry eye” — prolapse of the gland of the third eyelid
EARS
stenotic (narrow) ear canals
bacterial ear infections
yeast over growth
hyperplastic otitis
GASTROINTESTINAL
bite problems — most commonly, an overbite
inflammatory bowel disease
megaesophagus
hiatal hernia
intestinal adenocarcinoma
SKIN
lip fold pyoderma
skin fold pyoderma
demodectic mange
allergic skin disease — alleric inhalant dermatitis, food allergy, insect allergy, contact allergy, etc.
generalized pyoderma
cutaneous mucinosis
ENDOCRINE
hypothyroidism
MYSCULOSKELETAL
inquinal hernias
luxating patellas — “loose” kneecaps
elbow dysplasia
hip dysplasia
anterior cruciate ligament rupture
GENITOURINARY
renal amyloidosis
immune – mediated kidney disease
NEOPLASIA
mast cell tumor
histiocytoma
lymphosarcoma
intestinal adenocarcinoma
MISCELLANEOUS
Familial Shar-Pei Fever (FSF)
abscesses — bite wounds, other
IgA deficiency
Primary Multiple Immunodeficiency Syndrome of Shar-Pei
amyloidosis

so should akc make the breed ilegal(and by that i mean not recognised) untill proper changes are made? poor pets and poor owners who pay towsands for a dog who will probably die in 5 year time and will suffer a lot.
i love shar pei dogs i think they are great but the breed should be improved
i do not mean to offend anyone ,and statistics can be wrong but the 3 shar pei dogs i know all have really bad health problems and they are all under 3 years of ageso it means something….

Suggested Dog Breed for Family?

Hello.

I am really wanting to get a dog, and I thought it would be great to get the dog for my mom’s coming up birthday as a really impressive and great gift (she will be turning 50). We’ve been researching dog types for some 3 months now, and there are so many breeds and different details to the breeds that we cannot agree to what we want.

Background of my family. We’re a family of three, my parents and I, me being 16. We have two cats. Our cats can easily get associated with a dog, i am sure of it, although the start will be a little awkward/rough for them (as to be expected) so we were aiming to get a puppy. This way they can get associated and become good friends. The cats shouldn’t be a problem, but then the dog needs to get along with our cats.

My mom wants a dog on the smaller side, so does my dad. However, my mom has been suggesting King Charles and Cockalier Spaniels. Not to be rude, but I want a dog that is kind of cool. For me, the main thing I want is for our dog to be smart and the big requirement is for me to be able to go running with our dogs. Jumping is a no no, but my research has led to the main reason of jumping being excitement and such, but if it is a jumping type of dog we won’t be that happy.

The dog can’t have big health problems. We don’t need a dog with kidney issues and such, so we don’t want a dog with such issues typically.

We will get our dog from a breeder, keep that in mind. Thanks for reading this question. I know it’s really long, but to get a serious answer you need all the facts and details.

I was thinking Black Lab or Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, but I don’t know what would be the perfect fit for our quiet little family.

We live in PA, by the way.

THANKS FOR YOUR TIME! I really appreciate it.
About the size, my parents would not mind a big dog, as long as he is well maintained and he doesn’t get in the way, such as jumping and misbehaving and such. I have actually taught my cat multiple tricks, which he loves to show off, and so I don’t think training a dog will be such a difficult task because they are smarter than my cat (who honestly, just loves food) and I’m patient enough to train but I’m also pretty determined. So, I think I could get the hang of training my dog so that he wouldn’t jump or won’t start eating our food at dinner ( haha, little joke there).

So don’t fear the size so much. Just make sure the dog can get along with our cats.

Also, we are not adopting from a shelter. My parents already told me no, it has to be a bred dog. But do not fear, we have done our part. My two cats are rescued from a shelter.

And they are wonderful and are very nice. (never heard them hiss and they don’t bring out their claws [which yes, they still have them])

Why do some dog breed websites promote those teacup, micro puppies ect?

I know for a fact a teacup and micro are NOT healthy,
Teacups are smaller then akc standard and micros are even smaller then teacups!

i know they have a short lifespan-Normally less then 1 year and i know they are bred by Irresponsible breeders for MEGA dollars,

what other problems can micros and teacup dogs have?

So how can we stop dog breed website promoting these teacup and micros etc

How can we stop irresponsible breeders breeding teacups and micros?

http://www.dogster.com/forums/groups/thread/463148

http://www.aseanpuppy.com/2008/puppy-health-and-veterinary/i-was-wondering-if-teacup-puppy-will-have-more-health-problems-than-a-normal-sized-dog/#respond

The truth on teacups and micros, this is only a few of the breeds that irresponsible breeder try and make tiny creatures for the cuteness factor.

http://www.yourpurebredpuppy.com/reviews/chihuahuas.html

http://www.yourpurebredpuppy.com/reviews/maltese.html

http://www.yourpurebredpuppy.com/reviews/yorkshireterriers.html

What are some of the better pet medical insurance companies out there?

Hello.

I have a 16 month old female GSD. Some friends have suggested I might look into purchasing health insurance for her. As agreed, I had the dog spayed and I am awaiting the evidence of health screenings for her, from the reputable breeder of GSD show dogs (I adopted this dog, which could not be bred, due to a missing tooth)

What are some of the better pet medical insurance companies out there? The vet sent me brochures in the mail and I have looked them over, but I have no experience with this and thought I;d best ask around to see which pet health insurance companies are the better ones.

Sure appreciate any and all suggestions.

Thank you!

chihuahua vomited all day yesterday..white frothy stuff.. today no vomiting..?

I posted a question yesterday about my 2 yr old chihuahua. he is normally a snuggly dog, doesn’t like out side much, would rather be under the blankets. But wednesday night i fed him so Cesar little bites, dog food. He ate it up! but that night i noticed he was restless. when i got up, he had pile after pile of vomit. the first piles (they looked the driest) was a burgundy color, with the chopped up corn and veggies, looked like his food but regurgitated. Every other vomit pile was white and frothy.maybe a little yellow(bile). I took his food away and forced him to drink. When my daughter got home ( he is so attached to her) he drank every time she took him there. You can tell he doesn’t feel 100%. I know how to check for dehydration, but not sure how much pedilyte to have him drink?

Now before anyone says anything, i treat my dogs like my children, they have nothing but the best! I even carried health insurance on the dogs( 2 Ebulldogs and my chi) but my husband lost his job,mid december and i couldn’t afford the permium (annual). I am currently paying more then i can afford to the care card. One of my bullies was attacked by a german shep. required 72 hrs ICU and many procedures. I have called the vet they said they couldn’t tell me over the phone, that i needed a vist. I don’t have 65.00 this week. and they wont bill me either.i had to pay my mortgage, and the kids insurance. He isnt vomiting today. i feed him a little bit of chicken that we had a few nights ago, he is eating it. what else can i do for him,
I carried insurance mainly for the english bulldogs, because they require a lot of care. the Cesar dog food was a treat, he normally eats beniful, but this was a coupon i had.(never do that again). i gave him chicken because i had read on a website, that boiled chicken and rice helps their stomach?

Recommend good pet insurance and avg cost?

Normally when someone asks the average cost for insurance via auto, health etc, no one can state since there are so many variables such as age, state you live in, and history of claims.

And this maybe the case in pet insurance. We presently have a 15 month old golden retriever which we got at 12 weeks old. It was purchased from a breeder. It is AKC, if that matters.

This is my husbands 4th golden retriever; The first was a mother who gave birth to his 2nd which I met when he was 7 years old.

Mother #1 died at age 10 due to brain injury; not accident caused, but due to age . #2 lived to age 10 also and died due to brain seizures.

#3 bought from a breeder also at age 8 weeks and was the absolute best; he died at age 12 and 1/2 due to tumors. he had a non-malignant tumor at age 10, had surgery and was ok till the 2nd and last; even though most likely not malignant, he was old and the quality of his life was not good, so we opted to put him down. the 1st surgery at age 10 cost around 5k total and they expected the 2nd to cost around 7,500 due to his age and blood problems.

this last one will probably be our last dog due to our age. he is a pistol and nothing like the other 3. he is finally starting to act like a golden with their great disposition which is the reason my husband has had the prior 3.

Due to the problems of large dogs, especially golden retrievers, many have about a 50% chance of dying of cancer. They believe due to so much in-breeding that is the cause of the increased rate in the last 10 years or so from reading articles on the internet.

Since he is still young and to date no health problems, can we still get pet insurance for him? Are there any specific exclusions that would not be covered? Is there common deductibles and co-pays like in health insurance?

I was going over our expenses and prior to our last dogs final tumor, the vet bills were almost 1K for pain pills, steroids and various tests. the final ER vet bill was addtl $1,500 for care and to have him cremated.

So if any of you have had pet insurance, what things should I look for and any problems that we might encounter if we were to be put in a big bill or surgery to save our dog.

thanking all in advance

Which dog is best for me? +BQ?

I’m 24, a newly qualified midwife and have a lot of dog experience so dw about that.
I have visited rescue centres and seen some rottweilers and they seem very nice (I’m against stereotypes) an german shepherds who I adore (many
in family) and boxers who I also like.
On the other hand I’d love a St Bernard or Newfoundland but they would have to be a puppy.
Which dog should I get?

BQ: I have roughly 300 pounds left over each month, would
that cover food and health insurance?

Thankyou<3

Cavalier K. C. Spaniel health problems?

I have been struggling to find the best dog breed for me. I have been researching every dog breed imaginable, including the hybrids, and couldn’t find a perfect one for me.

so i took online dog quizes to find the best dog breed for me. and the results were always the same: “99%, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.

my friend has 3 cavs, my previous teacher has one, and just today i saw a mum with a buggy and 3 kids and one of the kids was holding a leash with a cav on.

I think they are lovely dogs, with great temprements, and i am tempted to adopt one, but i hear there are very serious heart problems in the breed. Other than a breeder producing healthy pups and parents, as well as no heart problems in the family history, are there any other ways to prevent heart desiese in my new best friend?

Also, what would the perfect pet insurance for a cav?

i have checked out this website and have found it very useful.

Since I eat healthy food high in protein alot will it make my hair grow faster?

Will it make my hair grow faster than if I didn’t eat foods high in protein that were healthy? I mean eat junk food. I’ve only eaten healthy food high in protein since October 1st and cut junk food like deep friend fries, pizza [except organic cheee thin crust], mozarella sticks, etc… out of my diet. I’m a vegeterian so I don’t eat meat. I eat foods like black beans, bocca burgers, tofu corn dogs, tofu bacon, etc…..
I know it won’t make my hair grow alot faster but I was wondering if it would make it grow a tiny bit faster or whatever.

My mom is concerned about the price of higher-quality dog foods?

Okay, so I told my mom I don’t want to feed our new puppy any of the by-product filler crap. She understands but isn’t quite sure why it should make as much of a difference because our cats can eat things like that in their food and they are healthy and great.

I tried explaining that buying the food is worth the extra cost now because it’ll save us vet bills in the future. Not to mention the dog will have better weight control, a healthier coat, won’t be throwing up/having gas compared to commercial brands, and will have more energy. She thought that sounded great.

But now she sees how much this dog food really costs. A regular brand with fillers and by-products is about $40-$50, and the one I’m wanting to feed our puppy is Wellness Super5Mix Large Breed Puppy which is at $60. The feeding guidelines are about the same for both, so right now she can’t see the difference other than cost.

What can I do to convince her there really is a huge difference between the two? This particular large breed puppy food is perfect for our puppy because it limits calcium, protein, and fats to what the standard should be for a young Great Dane puppy. I would hate to feed her something different and have her grow too fast and develop skeletal problems! It would break my heart.

Thanks in advanced!
I have a job. And it goes to our financial bills as well. Thanks for the judgement though.

How can I get my boyfriend to eat healthier? Please help?

My boyfriend and I are both 20, and we’ve been dating about 14 months now. We started living together a couple months ago, and it sucks having to deal with how picky of an eater he is. We are both overweight, I’m 5’4 and 195 pounds, and he’s 6’2 and 260 pounds. This, unfortunately, helps with giving into his fatty food addiction because I like it too. But over the past year I’ve realized that I need to eat healthier and I do, but he doesn’t. He doesn’t like vegetables, and he barely likes any fruits. The most I can get him to eat is bananas, apples, and grapes. And that’s only when I force it on him and there’s nothing else in the house to eat.

His main foods: pizza, hot dogs, chicken nuggets, hamburgers (fast food), french fries, grilled cheese, etc.

That’s all he ever eats!!!!!!!!!! It makes me so worried and upset because I don’t want him to die when he’s 40 of heart disease. He doesn’t care, and he doesn’t think this will happen to him.

I have to give him effort for trying because he does try to eat healthier to make me happy, but most of the time he just eats nothing. He’d rather eat nothing at all than eat something healthy. He says something like, “I can’t eat, you won’t let me eat anything.”

I don’t know what to do. He wont even touch something if it has veggies in it he thinks looks gross, even though he’s never had them. Like, he loves spaghetti, but if he sees onions in them he wont eat it. It’s immediately disgusting.

Help?

Ancient Spartan Warrior VS Modern boxers?and my Dog?

I vote the my dog will win.Here are some comparisions:
1)Spartans were 5 feet 10 inches
2)My dog is 2 feet wide and 18 inches tall.
3)Modern boxers average varies on national origin
4)My dog is very fast and bites very hard.
5)Boxers are skilled at fistfighting and bite also.
6)Spartans trained over 100X harder than boxers and my dog
7)Boxers only know how to fight with fists and occassionally the mouth.My dog only know how to bite.Spartans on the other hand,knows wrestling(no not fake pro wrestling), a much more brutal and deadlier form of boxing,and one of the deadliest Mixed martial arts style,Pankration.
8)Spartans trained every day,boxers train only when they have a fight coming up.Boxers eat nutritious healthy food,while Spartans only ate disgusting unhealthy porrage.Yet despite only eating pourrage,Spartans were over 100X tougher than modern day special forces and my dog,who only sleeps all day yet is so fast.
My dog will win.

Why won’t my dog eat?

We adopted a dog from the pound two months ago, and he won’t touch his food. Let me give some more info on him. He is two years old and was a neglect case before we got him. He was abandoned and was less than fifty percent his body weight when we brought him home. Usually, in a case like that, a dog would scarf down anything you even get near him, but not him. We took him to the vet and he has a clean bill of health, except being very underweight. He will eat treats and hot dogs like it’s the last thing on earth, but that is not healthy for him to survive off of. I have tried every dog food known to man and have even made my own homemade food for him and he won’t have anything to do with it. And it’s not like he’s not hungry. He scavenges the house trying to find any crumbs he can and will even graze on grass when we take him outside because he is starving even though he has a full bowl of fresh food available all day. He will literally go two or three days and then eat maybe a couple tablespoons full of food as a last resort and then fast again. I am worried. We can’t put any weight back on him if he won’t eat, but we can’t just overload him with junk either. Someone please have some suggestions. The vet just said give him the food until he is hungry enough to eat it, but that was weeks ago and he is starving and still won’t eat. Some more info, he is active, not lethargic, and weighs 11 pounds when he should be 25. We are giving him dry dog food mixed with an egg and oatmeal so if he does eat it, he gets the most nutrients he can.
Any info would me much welcomed and thank you in advance.

What might be the best care for itching and slight cracks in paws?

This will be my first fall and winter in the Arizona desert with Mindy, my German Shepherd dog/ puppy (nearly 15 months) and I am hoping for some advice on skin and paw care.

Though I am quite sure, she has no fleas or ticks (she has been Frontlined, monthly) Mindy still continues to often scratch the area around her neck. She has a good quality diet (Kirkland Lamb & Rice) and I add two large fish oil capsules to her diet, daily. What might we do to help Mindy find relief for her itching? Is there some kind of treatment I could rub her down/ comb into her fur with?

The other question I had was about her paws. When we go for our morning games at the ball field, that is irrigated at night, her paws are, of course, nice and moist. But, as I check them at other times, there is some minor cracking I see, mainly in the heel portion of her paws. Is this a reason for concern? We do some serious hiking, over rocky terrain, for evening workouts and I am just wanting to take whatever precautions or preventative measure I can to assure Mindy stays in tip top shape (and of course, avoid unnecessary vet visits)

I appreciate your help! ~ Walt

What’s an estimated monthly cost of owning a pitbull?

I’m considering purchasing a pit puppy (8 weeks.) I wanted to know the estimated monthly cost of owning a pitbull for things like food, flea protection, toys, vet visits and anything else i need to know about.

I’ve had dogs before so I know how to take care of them, but it’s my 1st puppy on my own any tips beneficial to me will be greatly appreciated.

Thank You in advanced.

Are there any Dachsund/Rot? mix pros out there? I need HELP w/ new pet!!?

My husband & I pretty much RESCUED a weiner mix. I think it’s Rot by the markings, but not quite sure. We were so excited to get a new family member that we failed to ask MORE Qs. Snoopy is 1.5 yrs old, has had his first shots (but we’re takin him to our vet for initial phys & Flea treatment). I know much about dogs, training, care, etc… from the beginning. BUT, having an older dog is tough. I need some tips on training him at such a late age. ALSO… he is NOT fixed. How much is this going to cost and OMG is it too late?
Again, I’m not sure what his mix is, but he’s def. weiner…could someone send me pix of some mixes? Snoopy looks like a rot, but built like a Dachsund w/ the exception of a long white patch on his chest. Sorry that I’ve been so winded.. my first time on ANSWERS

Ok so (I think) it’s done, what do you think?

Please, I really want constructive criticism! Let me know if there’s something you don’t like. I have until the 15th to send it in.

Dogs, those furry things that live in the house, make great companions. In fact, there are dogs in 39% of the homes in America. But how can you make sure you’re getting a great dog? One that will have a happy long life, as free as possible from possible genetic issues. How can you make sure you aren’t funding an irresponsible breeder, or worse, a puppy mill?
I will always endorse adopting a dog. Pound dogs can make the best of friends. You can check out Petfinder.com or visit one of my favorite local shelters, Mt. Pleasant Animal Shelter in East Hanover (their website is available at www.njshelter.org).
But if you don’t want to adopt for one reason or another, keep these tips in mind when selecting a breeder.

-NEVER buy pet store puppies.
Pet stores get their dogs from disgusting places known as puppy mills. The dogs live in small cages their entire lives, exposed to the elements. They’re kept only to be breeding machines and fund the puppy miller’s pocket. Sick dogs receive no vet care at all. Bitches are bred every time they go into heat, which is twice a year. Once they can’t produce any more pups, they’re disposed of.
Read more about puppy mills at www.prisonersofgreed.org

-Labradoodles, yorkie-poos, and other “designer dogs” are only bred by irresponsible breeders.
There is NO way at all to predict what you’re going to get with a mixed breed. Breeders may claim that they’re hypoallergenic and healthier than purebreds; however this is not the case. They can inherit either coat. Well bred purebreds are much healthier than a puppy who is the result of two random untested dogs being thrown together. Responsible breeders DO NOT breed mutts. Every purchase of a designer dog helps encourage a backyard breeder produce more mutts exactly like the kind being put to sleep every day.
For more information on designer dogs, go to http://www.canismajor.com/dog/poodogs.html

-Teacups do not exist
Teacup is a fancy name backyard breeders slap onto runts for an extra buck. There is NO SUCH THING as a teacup. The smallest dog you can get is Toy, which for many dogs such as the Maltese, Shih-Tzu, Yorkshire Terrier, and Pomeranian, is the only size available. Dogs labeled as “teacup” are generally unhealthy and expensive.
Read more at http://www.thebombpoms.com/Teacups.html

-Never buy a dog online without meeting the mother (and when possible, the father) and seeing its living conditions in person.
This one is possibly one of the worst. Someone puts up an adorable picture of a puppy and once you pay for it, it’s yours. Sounds great, right? Unfortunately there is so much that can go wrong.
Without actually going out and meeting the breeder and puppy, you don’t know how the dog is being treated. For all you know you could be dealing with a puppy mill. Often the dogs come sick, flea infested, and full of worms. Sometimes no dog is sent at all. Other times they send a dog other than what’s pictured. If the dog is deathly ill, many of these awful breeders may offer another puppy. However they very well know that most people would feel too bad and just keep the dog.
Please, please, don’t buy a dog online.
Get more information and read people’s stories at

http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/scammingbuyers.htm

Ok, so now you have a basic idea on what to avoid, but what marks a good breeder?

-Responsible breeders show their dogs.
They will actively participate in confirmation competitions field trials, agility, and much more. Many good breeders will breed only champion dogs; there are still responsible breeders that show but may not have gotten a championship for their dog yet. Beware breeders who claim their dog has champion bloodlines. This could mean one or two champions several generations back, which would have very little effect on the poorly bred animal today.

-Dogs that are not show quality are sold on a spay/neuter contract.
Show quality simply means that the dog has traits that closely meet the standard for that particular breed. If a breeder is lucky, there may be one or two show quality dogs in a litter. The rest are usually sold as pet quality. This overall means very little if you’re only looking for a companion. There may be some minor faults that would disqualify or cost the dog points in the show ring. Pet quality dogs make great pets, but are not suitable for breeding. If the person selling you your dog doesn’t care if you breed him or have him neutered, avoid it.

-Dogs are tested before breeding, ALWAYS.
Testing does not mean having the dog looked over by a vet. There are many tests that should be done on the parents. Depending on the breed there may be more or less.
A few commonly done tests are:
OFA (Orthopedic issues)
PennHIP (Hip Dysplasia)
BAER (Hearing)
CERF (Eyes)
Please keep in mind that many of these tests can’t be done
Please keep in mind that many of these tests can’t be done until the dog is over two years old. If one of the parents are under that age, go elsewhere.

-Responsible breeders usually only have 2 or 3 breeds at the maximum.
While most only have one breed, many are very focused on other breeds of dogs. Keeping track of 2+ breeds is a real job. If you are looking at a breeder and you notice they have 4, 5, 6, or even more breeds of dogs, most likely they aren’t reputable and are pumping out poorly bred puppies for a quick dollar.

-Litters are available once a year or less frequently.
Having a litter of puppies is a very difficult and time consuming task. If you notice that the breeder you’re looking at has puppies available very often, use the other tips given to decide if they’re responsible.
Remember, no matter where you get your new friend from, spay and neuter! If we were to home every animal in the US alone, every person would need to own 6 dogs and 9 cats. That means a family of
a family of four would have 24 dogs and 36 cats. There are many benefits to fixing your pets. For the girls, spaying completely stops messy heat cycles, reduces the risks of mammary gland tumors and ovarian and uterine cancer, and may extend her life. For the boys, neutering may stop your dog from marking and wandering, may reduce aggressive behavior, eliminates the risk of testicular cancer, and minimizes the risk of prostate disease. If you still have any concerns talk to your vet.

Thank you everyone so far, PP thank you a lot too. I’m glad I posted it because I didn’t notice a lot of those mistakes.

My doggy has heartworms! I need some consolation please?

About a year ago I adopted Lola (a pit bull mix) from my brother, cause he was not able to take care of her. I knew she had gone to the vet before but I just found out she had never completed her full checkup and vaccinations. So, I brought her in on Wednesday. She is an active, healthy two year old now and I thought it would be routine. You can imagine how my heart fell when the vet said she had heartworms!

Lola is my baby, I am so upset. I am going to have her treated. She is going in this coming Wednesday for her initial blood work and chest x-rays to make sure she is up to it. The vet says she probably is cause she is in good health despite the worms. Better safe than sorry though.

I have done my research about heartworms and the treatment. I am glad that I am doing something about it but I am worried about the “quiet period” for the 30 days after the shots. Lola is an inside dog and I am with her often so I can control her, but she always has these crazy moments when she will just run in circles, even in the house. Has anyone gone through these treatments with an active dog? Any tips on how to get through the “quiet period”?

I just feel horrible that she has to go through this. I have always given her flea treatments but never thought of the heartworm preventative. Now that I have been reading up on heartworms, I realize that I am living in an area of high prevalence (South Louisiana-hot humid and chock full of mosquitoes). Heartgard is $50 for a 6 mo supply, so less than $10 a month for large dogs, less for smaller dogs. If you love your dog, it is so worth it!

Anyways, I am still a bit upset but I have read some similar questions from other askers and I know I am not alone. Thanks for any tips you can give me to help me get my dog through this safely.
Wow, so many positive comments already! Thanks so much! I know it will be hard but it is for the best. I am willing to do whatever it takes to make her healthy again.

Eco Friendly pet health tips?

Hi everyone!

I am currently working on a newsletter for the vet clinic where I work and was looking for quick input. The theme is “Going Green: Eco friendly pet tips” and will cover natural foods, biodegradable litter, composting, and other environmentally friendly products on the market for pet care. Any suggestions on what you do to promote a green pet (cat, dog, fish, pocket pet, horse, anything!) would be greatly appreciated. I just recieved the assignment today and would love to hear from as many of you as possible as soon as possible.

Tell me what you do to go green. Even if it just using recycled materials, I would love to hear and share your suggestions (with your permission – so if you post, it may be published, so by posting here you are giving permission!) with our community, staff, and clientele.

Also – is there one big area of focus you are interested in as pet owners? While the major article will focus on tips in general, I have a secondary and tertiary article to address a particular area of eco friendly pet care in depth. What specific themes would you (as a pet owner) want to know more about? Would you rather read more about natural diets, grooming, waste disposal, specific products.. etc?

Thank you in advanced for all of your ideas and input. If any of you are interested in reading the final product, let me know and I will link you to it (it is posted online as well).

Just as a note so no one gets upset – I will be posting this question under general pet, dogs, and cats to make sure I can recieve a wider range of answers!
Yikes! Not a pet lover are we. Just to note though, animals on thier own are perfectly eco freindly (as they are a natural part of the environment and ecology). What makes pets not eco friendly is the support they require from humans, meaning it is the owners that are not eco friendly. All I am asking is for other people’s opinions on eco friend ways for the owners to care for thier pets – reducing that impact on the environment. If there is nothing educational or informative to be gained, then don’t bother to answer.

Eagle Pack Vs. Innova?

So I’ve heard many different opinions about many many different dog foods. I’d narrowed it down to two kinds Eagle Pack and Innova. Finally I’d decided on Innova after doing a lot of research and hearing different opinions. One of the main reasons was because Eagle pack has ground corn in it, a common allergen of most dogs. But now I found out that innova along with California Natural, Evo, etc has been sold to P& G. The same company that sells Iams and tons of household products. And now I’m noticing that these holistic high end foods are being sold at pet stores which was not the case before Natura (the old owner of Innova, Evo etc.) was sold to P& G. And we all know that Iams is crap dog food along with the other supermarket brands ;Purina, Pedigree etc. And has been known to cause dogs to get cancer. Yes, research has proven this. Anyone that disagrees please read the ingredients on your dog food bag, chicken by-product means like beaks, feathers, feet it doesn’t have to be actual meat. and corn gluten? Terrible. Anyway thats beside the point, now that it’s been sold to a company that doesn’t really care about the food we’re feeding our dogs I’m pretty sure I’m switching to Eagle. Anyone else have thoughts? Oh and the dog I’m feeding this food to is a Great Dane. They have very sensitive digestive systems.
Actually its not a myth. Most dog food brands use the 4 D’s : Dead, Dying, Disabled, or Deceased when making dog food. While the lean muscle is cut for human consumption all else is fair game for dog food. Which means teeth, feet, lungs, intistines, bone feathers, fur etc. And in some cases dog food plants actually used euthanized dogs and cats. Its disgusting and if your dog food bag says “by product” or “meal and bone” your dog is eating this. And it is legal because the standards for dog food is so low it would be considered toxic for humans (even if we didn’t actually die from it) Most of the ‘inspectors” own shares in the companies they are inspecting so why would they report them? Also AAFCO is a joke. How do i know this you might wonder? A. I’m a research junkie B. I volunteer at my vet’s office and these are topic we discuss and C. My uncle used to work for P & G up until 2 years ago and yes he worked where they made the dog food Iams. Thank you.

Can I feed my puppy…?

Innova Dry puppy food?
I feed her Royal Canin right now, but I was disappointed when I looked at the ingredients. There is so much by-products and fillers in that food (big mistake for feeding her that). It is also rated a 2 star by http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/dog_food_reviews/showproduct.php?product=1534&cat=6
I now want to feed her high quality food.

She is a 9 week old, 1.12 lb shih tzu puppy. She’s an indoor dog and only gets walks for now. She does get additional exercise when we play with her, but that’s it (that’s what her vet recommends for now since she is still too young and tiny).

1. Will Innova’s protein content be too much for her?
2. Is Innova all natural, organic and holistic food?
3. Please suggest other high quality brands for my baby.

Thank you. 10 points for best.

PS: I don’t care about the price. I want the best for her.

What’s the difference between an ethical-vegetarian and a vegan TO YOU?

I don’t consider neither “just a diet” at all. I find both to be lifestyles about caring for animals. A very small amount of people do it for just a diet.

Vegans don’t eat meat or any animal products, and go as far as not even having pets because they feel animals aren’t property or should be used by human benefits at all. Basically don’t want to have anything to do with animals in general. If so, then you aren’t vegan. I find this to be like following a book of rules. Too far. Even if some do have pets, they feed them “vegan” food because they don’t want to touch anything made out of animals. Cats and dogs are natural carnivores and need to eat a meat-based diet, and some vegans ignore this. I consider this wrong and 100% hypocritical if you went vegan because you care about animals. I have heard of vegans pets dying from malnutrition because they won’t feed them what they need, because of their beliefs.

I’m an ethical-vegetarian. I don’t eat meat, but I do consume honey, eggs and dairy. I don’t use anything made from dead animals, like fur and leather. I care about the welfare of living animals and don’t want to kill animals for human use. I’m looking for ways to stop animal cruelty, and I’m all for people having their own pet chickens for eggs. If they take care of them, then I see nothing wrong with him. Same with other pets.

I really don’t see a difference, other than vegans being extremely strict about it. I agree with them on most stuff, but some of them take things out of hand. Some make people stray away from wanting to be vegans because they look down on people that aren’t 100% certified vegan.

How about you?
I wasn’t trying to offend anyone, but it’s just how I get information based on people on the internet and real life.
I don’t think people are reading everything I said. I don’t listen to what websites like PETA. I never seen 100% proof that the dairy and egg industries are as bad as slaughterhouses. It’s all coming from biased sources.

Honestly, have any of you vegans actually did anything for animals other than not using them? Did any of you adopt pets and take food to pet shelters? Do any of you take trips to places like Africa to help abandoned baby animals into a sanctuary to take care of? More than likely not.

I’m an ethical-vegetarian because I believe animals should be cared for and not killed for us. You have to at least give vegetarians credit for trying.

I see people still agree with feeding their carnivore pets vegan food. I don’t believe these pets of yours are healthy. Just because they aren’t underweight, it doesn’t mean they’re healthy. The rice plenty of vegans tell people they feed their animals contains carbs, which makes an animal gain weight. I do not advise you to feed your

What to do about 13 year old shih-tzu mix’s warts?

My poor baby (er, he’s actually really old) shih-tzu has these crazy warts popping up all over his body. I went to the vet a few months ago for his check-up, and she told me that it’s very common for older dogs to have warts, and that they shouldn’t be a big deal.
However, the warts are EVERYWHERE and I can’t pet his head or stomach, or even scratch his belly and legs, without feeling his little pimples. There’s just so many warts of all different shapes and sizes: large seemingly fluid-filled ones, inflamed medium-sized ones, and just little white cauliflower-ish bumps dotting his skin. They seem to be itchy and causing him a lot of discomfort, since he keeps scratching them and licking them (or, at least the ones he can reach) until they bleed. I’ve been cleaning his warts with doggy first aid solution so they don’t get infected, but that’s basically all I can do to take care of them until I know what else to do.
I’ve cut down the frequency of his bathing, so his skin doesn’t dry out from all the natural oils being washed away, and don’t use any products that are harsh on his skin. I don’t know what else to do. I really want to take him to the vet, but I can’t afford to take him (I’m only a teenager) if I’m only going to hear that his warts “are normal for a dog his age,” because it breaks my heart to know that he is uncomfortable and that I can’t do anything to relieve his pain.

hey cat owners, have you heard about this yet?

California-based Primal Foods, a company that makes raw foods for cats and dogs, is issuing a voluntary recall on one of its feline products because it may be contaminated with Salmonella.

The affected product is Feline Chicken & Salmon Formula, 4 lb. chicken and salmon nuggets (UPC# 8 95135 00025 0), with a “best by” date code of 043112-17. The date code is located on the front of the package to the right of the product label. This product was distributed through retail stores in the United States.

At this time, no human or animal illnesses have been reported in connection with this lot code.

Consumers who purchased the recalled product can contact Primal Pet Foods directly at 866-566-4652 Monday though Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. PT for assistance in receiving a full refund or replacement from the place of purchase. Unopened packages should be returned to the local retailer. Opened packages should be disposed of in a covered trash receptacle and receipts (or the empty package in a sealed bag) brought to the local retailer.

Salmonella can affect humans and animals. People handling raw pet foods can become infected with Salmonella, especially if they have not followed proper handling procedures.

Healthy people with Salmonella infections may experience some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping, or fever. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with the affected product should contact their health care provider.

Pets infected with Salmonella may become lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, or vomiting. Some pets may experience only a decreased appetite, fever, or abdominal pain. Infected, but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed any of the affected products and is experiencing any of these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.

Please see the Primal Food’s website for a list of Frequently Asked Questions about the recall.
susan, i had not thought to post it in dogs since they were only recalling the cat food…do you think i should post it in dogs as well?
gerry…i also feed purina, but i know many feed raw, so when i saw this i thought it wouldnt hurt to spread the word.
@ show…everyone has a right to their own opinion. since i have started feeding my cats purina several yrs ago, they have never been healthier. they have soft, shiny coats, healthy stools and they are satisfied. purina has been researching pet nutrition for over 100 years. i think my cats health speaks well enough for the food they are eating.

8 week old puppy with possible Pernial Hernia?

Earlier I asked a yahoo question because my dog had diarrhea, and we thought it was just worms. We took it to the vet, and it turns out it did. But it also had inguinal hernias, was hypoglycemic, and may have Pernial Hernias. The vet said that the puppy was to young and small to be checked for pernial hernias. They also said surgery would cost $500-$1000. This isn’t even exactly a question. I would just like any information you can provide on any of these subjects. How common are they? Is that the correct cost estimate? How old DOES she have to be to get checked for them and have them fixed? How will her health be after? How likely is she to be healthy afterwards? What kind of care does hypoglycemia entail? I don’t know…just any helpful information. Much appreciated, thanks :/
Just a dog breeder. I’m not quite sure, because my dad got her. He bred Jack Russells. She was the runt of the litter..

sticky situation.. what should i do?

i just took a dog from a woman on craigslist yesterday. she told me that the dog was up to date on shots, etc. she gave me an envelope and when i got home, i realized that it was papers from when she adopted the dog from a shelter that had given it shots in 2009! i freaked out because right before noticing this, i realized that the dog had green diarrhea! at this point i was completely freaked because i have a beautiful, healthy 10 month dog that i don’t want to get sick. she is up to date on all her vaccinations and heartworm preventative, but there is always a chance. it is really hard to keep them seperated because i live in an apartment and the new dog is EXTREMELY loud whenever i put him in his own room. i can’t risk it.

i took the dog to the vet into, who stressed to me that it might be parvo. so i took a parvo test and it came back negative. i have him on antibiotics and had a fluid-vitamin shot done, but still, i really don’t know what to do?? i don’t think i can handle this type of health issue right now.. i don’t have the money for it. the vet visit today took everything i had!
i wish i could find someone that would be able to take better care of him, but i doubt i can find that unless i take him to a shelter!
i do NOT want to ditch the dog.. my main concern is for it to get healthy, but then again, i can’t spend my entire life savings on the health of a dog i just received yesterday without the assurance it can even survive

something red in dogs stool.?

When I took my 2 year old dog for a walk this morning he had a normal bowel movement. This afternoons walk, he did a little poop and it had something red in it. It was not diarrhea but firm but when we scooped it up in the bag it looked darker and looked redish. Not black, not bright red. So when we got home we checked (gross but I love my dogs and always take care of them) There were red pieces of something in the stool. Best way to describe it, was like tomato skin, same texture. There were a few bits like this and the rest was normal. My dog was at the vets last week, for his annual heartworm tests and such and he is in perfect health. He just finished a course of antibiotics for a ear infection. I watch him all the time, and he is walked on a leash so never free to roam. I worry about him cause he was sick as a pup, but since then fine. I am not sure if I should even call the vet because I usually do for everything but do not want to over re-act. We rinsed it off and it was still red so not sure if its blood I gather it would rinse away..The rest of his stool was normal. Sorry if I am being gross. He ate his dinner, fine, is running around and bright eyed. The only thing that he had to eat that was red was yesterday evening he had some water melon.
No worms, he was just at the vets. I use revolution for parasites and such. He had all his tests, no worms, nothing.

Our puppy is sick, we need help figuring out whats wrong with him!!?

I have a one year old longhaired mini dachshund that we have been having some health problems with. He had had abnormal poop for about 6 months now ( sometimes it will have a gel like subsance in it) those are the only symptoms that have been going on for that long. For the last 2 weeks he has had diarrhea mixed with the gel like stuff in it. In the morning when after i feed him he gets really restless to the point where he whines when he trys to get comfy that lasts for about half an hour. Every few days he throws up either in the morning or late afternoon. More and more often he is extremly lithargic and doesnt want to play with his brother or us. The first time we took him to the vet he gave us anit-diarrheal gel, that worked till the meds where gone, that visit he didnt have a temp and his stomach didnt hurt to the touch. The second time we took him in he suggested we feed him chicken and rice in case its food allergies and gave us some pills for giharrdia that was monday as of now im not seeing any change. Were taking him in again thursday to have xrays done. My other doxie isnt sick so its nothing thats contagious, and my puppy has no temp or any other symptoms. If anyone has any ideas, please help!! We will continue to take him to the vet untill we get him better but it would be nice to have other people thoughts!!! My dogs are my life, my babys, this is a serious problem and i only want serious answers please. the last time i posted something people where rude and mean, i dont need that, i am taking care of my dog and he is going to the vet and he is not being mis-treated. Thank you for your time.

Would you rather take care of a dog for the whole day or do dishes?

These are chores my sister and I alternate between.
When its your dog day, you have to walk him or give him what he wants when he wakes you up. That could be from 3am-7am
( I have a spoiled dog I know)

What diseases do dogs get at day care, boarding or dog parks?

My puppy has giardia for the 3rd time. We went to the vet 4 days ago. The last time he was checked and the test was negative. My puppy is 11 months. With your experience with diseases, do you keep your dogs away from any of the following: Dog Parks, Dog Beaches, Day Care or boarding, Ponds/Lakes? I am tired of the giardia problem and not sure if I want to take him anywhere now. Two months ago he was badly attacked by a boxer / pit mix at the dog park also so never going back there.
Kennel cough for sure. But what other diseases have your dogs gotten?
Forgot to ask. Is the community water bowl a dangerous thing? I think the day care has them on the ground. What if the dogs step in the bowl. Seen this at dog parks.
Forgot to ask. Is the community water bowl a dangerous thing? I think the day care has them on the ground. What if the dogs step in the bowl. Seen this at dog parks.

How to start a dog-sitting, day care?

Okay, I am almost 14 and would like to start a doggy day care.
I have 4 cats in the house, one indoor out door, two indoor that play all over the house, and one the says down stairs most of the time.
i am planning on getting a pet mouse, and I will soon have my own room…
We have i really big yard, our neighbors have dogs. but i do live on a busy road… and in the past 1-2 years 2 dogs have been hit by cars…
My family had a dog once… (although I don’t think we still have anything from him)
i have been Google ing… stuff about dogs and what not.. I would like to know how I would get started… I really don’t know a lot of ppl in my area.
any help would be nice! please and thank you!!!!!
Okay, I don’t want to want till I am older…
and please no MEAN comments! I hate reading those things!

And FYI i am sure ppl out there will let a girl almost 14 take care of their dog. and I have adults around so it’s not like I would be alone…

how long could a dog stay at a day care?

you know how there’s an overnight stays and things like that? what if the whole family was going on vacation, for, lets say, 3 weeks and cant bring the dog along. would it be reasonable to leave it at a doggie day care (where overnight stays are allowed) for three weeks? (expecially when there’s no neighbor or friends with pet friendly homes to take care of the dog)

do i need a licence for dog day care?

we are in angus scotland

Any tips on giving this dog a better life? ?

I’m talking about this tiny female chihuahua (I’d say about 2 pounds)… my aunt bought her 4 years ago in Mexico, and she was her baby but then she got pregnant and now her daughter (2 2/1 years) is obviously her baby now. she never pays attention to it and the dog is frightened by the little girl. my aunts husband hates the dog and he wants it out.
So…I’m turning 15 soon and instead of a huge quinceañera I got my moms permission to get a dog and Im going to ask my aunt for her dog. I’ve asked my other aunts and they say she would happily give me her dog. but the thing is this dog is going to need some help if I’m going to give her a better life. so what do u guys think I could do to improve her mouths health or atleast make it more comfortable for her? she gets fed dried food and she has a really hard time chewing it. I heard giving a dog soft food always is bad..is that true? so what should I do? I’m thinking of getting puppy kongs do u think that would help? and I’m worried she has a bladder problem since she rarely goes to the bathroom cuz they don’t give her a lot water so she won’t pee :/ and she’s shy around people I’m sure she gets scared because of her size..but she’s not aggressive. she’s terrified of other dogs so to help that do u think some obedience classes would help? or do u think she would get even more terrified since she will see more dogs and be in a strange environment? thanks (: and I’m positive I can care for this dog..i volunteer at the animal shelter walking dogs and I have socialized a bunch of rodents. and also any tips for making sure I don’t over spoil her? and making sure she knows her place?
shes getting a lot of bald spots too? :S

Anyone have a distemper-survivor dog and, if so, any tips for caring for one?

I adopted Zeus from the shelter not knowing he had distemper but I kept him and nursed him through it despite the vet bills. Now he has the discolored teeth but, otherwise, the vet says he’s great. Is Zeus going to be more likely to have health issues down the road?
When I adopted him, I knew he’d been exposed to a dog with a cough but assumed it was kennel cough. When I learned it was distemper, a friend suggested I take him BACK to the pound (like he was defective merchandise) but I could not do that! He’s my “son” in every sense of the word, a member of the family

guinea pig care tips?

okay well i’m 12 and i want a guinea pig.I want to know do guinea pigs NEED another pig for their health?and also, will the piggie be bothered by my cat and 2 dogs? the piggie will be in my room with the door shut when i’m at school. and sense the school year is ending in 2 weeks for me, i want to get a guinea pig then so i could get to know him better. i found a really cute one on petfinder at my local animal shelter, he doesn’t have a cagemate and he is sorta long-hair. do i have to get him a lil buddy or can he live alone, either way hes going to be spoiled! haha also, do they have to go to the vet every year to get shots or only if there sick? and can i take my piggie on a walk on my street?and how do i convince my parents to let me get one?? thanks so much for any helpful answers!

what type of dog should i get?

i’m 15. i’m moving to a new house soon, and i’m hoping i can get a dog. i live in nh, and i’m looking for a small dog that doesn’t have a history of health problems (my aunt has a bulldog, who has health problems, she’s always had bulldogs and i’m pretty sure this is common for them, as she takes very good care of them). i’d like a dog that doesn’t shed too much, i really need a dog that is fun and has energy, and isn’t aggresive. i know it’s hard to tell unless there’s a specific dog that you get to know, but i know some animals are just more aggressive. if not a small dog, then a medium size dog. i like to jog and i’d enjoy bonding with him/her while excercising and playing outside (would this be a good way to bond?). sites, tips, and personal experiences would be greatly appreciated. thank you!
oh, and i’m adopting/rescuing from aspca.
is this a good idea?

what does my dog need?

ok, im going to get a pomeranian in a copuple of weeks, i know basic food water, health checks, ive had dogs before… but a pomeranian seems more high matience… what are some tips and what could i use extra to care for a high mantanence dog? like dog blow dryer and matting comb…. please and thank u
also i have wood floors, any help on that so i dont ruin it?? thank u!