Pets Best Newsroom

Blog posts Categorized under ‘Pet Health News’

Correcting your puppy’s bad behavior

Posted on: January 18th, 2011 by

A puppy with pet insurance cuddles in a red blanket.

After adopting a new born puppy you’ll likely begin the search for the best pet insurance you can find. After awhile, you are bound to have behavioral problems– which is when pet behavior training can be a useful tool in correcting these issues. Puppy behavior problems can turn into serious issues if they are not addressed immediately.

Common puppy behavior problems can be fixed with simple adjustments to your routine. Puppy barking can be one of the most disruptive problems. Puppies bark for various reasons, the main reason being attention.

If your puppy is barking for attention, it is important that you don’t reward this behavior. You want the behavior to stop so you need to give the puppy a correction. The correction can either be a verbal one or a physical one, but never hit the puppy. An example of a physical correction might be touching the dog to get him to hush. Once the puppy has stopped barking and is relaxed, you can give them affection. You are then praising him for not barking.

Another example of a puppy behavior problem is chewing. Puppies often chew of out boredom, so make sure that your puppy is adequately exercised daily to help curb this behavior. Daily exercise helps your puppy to be both mentally and physically stimulated. An excellent way to exercise your puppy is to take them on a walk.

Advantages of puppy training classes

Posted on: January 12th, 2011 by

A puppy with pet insurance learns to shake.

Once you have welcomed your new puppy home, you should begin investigating pet insurance and look into signing your pet up for behavior training. Enrolling your puppy in a dog obedience training class will help make them well rounded and adaptable.

Puppy obedience classes are an ideal opportunity for you and your dog to bond. Creating a strong bond between you and your new puppy will help build a stronger relationship in which you are the the leader. Being the leader in your puppy’s life will help to ensure they follow the rules your have established.

Another advantage to enrolling your puppy in puppy obedience training classes is socialization. Your puppy will get a chance to socialize with a variety of other breeds. Exposing puppies to other dogs early in their life is crucial for future experiences with dogs. Puppies need to learn how to play and get along with other dogs. In addition to socializing with other dogs, puppy obedience classes allow your puppy to socialize with other people.

It is important to take advantage of any instance where you can socialize your puppy and introduce them to different settings and situations. Experiences that puppies have when they are young help shape them into the type of dog they will be when they are adults.

Other benefits of puppy classes include learning commands such as sit and stay. Puppies also learn how to walk properly on a leash. The trainers will also offer dog training tips to help make training your puppy easier.

Advantages of crate training new puppies

Posted on: January 7th, 2011 by

A dog sits in a crate.

Crate training both older as well as new born puppies offers several advantages to pet owners who are just beginning the puppy training process. When used properly, crates are a valuable training tool for both puppies and adult dogs.

When choosing a crate for your new born puppy, it is essential that the proper sized crate is used. Choose a crate that is just large enough for your puppy to stand up and turn around. If you have a puppy that will grow significantly larger, then you may need to get a larger sized crate later on. A great choice for crates are the ones that include a divider. The divider allows you to adjust the size as your puppy grows.

Crates become a haven for dogs. They provide a safe place where they can go when they need to rest. New puppies that are crate trained also house train faster than those that are not trained using a crate. In addition to helping with house training, crates provide a safe place for your puppy when they can’t be supervised, and are the ideal place for puppies to stay when you are away from home.

Remember to make the crate a positive place for your puppy. Crates should never be used as a place for punishment.

Neutering male dogs: Debate or debacle?

Posted on: January 6th, 2011 by

A neutered male dog waits for his owner.
Does it seem like spaying and neutering dogs and cats is a more “heated” debate when it comes to male dogs?

Ask the owner of an unaltered male dog why the dog is not neutered, and chances are you will hear a response that is more reflective of the owner’s feelings on macho pride than the dog’s health or well-being.

Every day in the United States, nearly 20,000 animals are euthanized in our shelters due to a lack of homes. Northeast Arkansas for Animals makes a good point on their web site: “At least 50% of the overpopulation problem is non-neutered males. Females can’t do it alone.”

Many people worry that neutering male dogs is a painful process or claim it makes the dog “less manly.” The truth of the matter is that unaltered male dogs tend to be more aggressive, more likely to run away from home, and more likely to develop life threatening diseases. It is estimated that over 60% of male dogs that are left intact develop prostate cancer at some point in their lives; a condition that is life-threatening and costly to treat, especially for those without dog insurance. Spaying and neutering dogs not only improves the quality of your best friend’s life, but can also add years to a dog’s life span.

Neutering dogs requires a simple surgery (much simpler than spaying a female) that heals quickly. Most dogs will only be in mild discomfort for a day or two following the surgery, and many owners report no difference in their dog’s energy levels post-surgery. In fact, my own male puppies were just as playful only hours after being neutered as they were prior.

In an effort to help prevent the costly medical problems that can arise with intact dogs, many pet health insurance plans include the cost of spaying and neutering in the policy price. Most consider the surgery a necessary part of a puppy health care plan. For more information about pet insurance visit www.petsbest.com.

Pet health dangers of antifreeze

Posted on: January 4th, 2011 by

A dog that ingested antifreeze is cared for by a vet.

Antifreeze is a sweet smelling chemical that is used to keep a car’s engine from becoming overheated in the summer and freezing in the winter.

The sweet smell attracts dogs and cats and causes them to ingest it.

According to Dr. Justine Lee, associate director of Pet Poison Helpline, “The most important thing to know about antifreeze is you have a really narrow window for treatment.” Dogs must get the antidote within 8 hours of ingestion, while cats must get the antidote within 3 hours.

If the pet receives treatment in time, the recovery prognosis is excellent. The treatment consists of a hospital stay of several days. For a medium sized dog, treatment can easily cost a few thousand dollars. This is one of the many reasons pet owners should have their pets covered by pet health insurance. Not only do companies like Pets Best Insurance offer affordable premiums, but having pet insurance provides owners peace of mind.

Antifreeze poisonings have two stages of symptoms:

• After ingestion, the pet will appear to be drunk with signs including lethargy, uncoordination, staggering, or disorientation. These symptoms will occur approximately 30 minutes to one hour after ingestion and can last for several hours.

• After the initial symptoms subside, the pet may then seem to be better. Symptoms that occur in the second stage can include vomiting and oral and gastric ulcers. During this stage, crystals begin to form in the kidneys. If left untreated, pets will go into kidney failure which will eventually cause death.

Anytime your pet is behaving abnormally or showing signs of pet illnesses, they should be examined by your veterinarian.

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