Free Rachael Ray Nutrish Dog Food Sample

We've had free samples of Rachael Ray Nutrish premium dog food posted on All About Labradors before that have expired. For those of you that missed out on her free dog food sample, over at her website they are still offering free sample.

Information from Rachael Ray: "Working with a team of pet nutrition experts, Rachael Ray created Nutrish super premium food and treats for dogs. Made with simple, natural ingredients. Nutrish contains no by-products, artificial flavors or artificial preservatives."

Rachael Ray Nutrish™ has:

• Real meat — like chicken or beef — as the first ingredient
• No meat by-products, fillers, artificial flavors or preservatives
• Simple, natural ingredients for overall health and wellness
• 100% complete and balanced nutrition"

Fill out the form on the Rachael Ray website to request your Free Rachael Ray Nutrish Dog Food Sample.

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Where to Find the Best Dog Food Reviews on the Internet

Finding the most suitable dog or puppy food for your own particular pet can be a difficult task. There is a huge variety of foods available from supermarkets, pet stores and vets. All of them of course claim that theirs is the best! Adding to the confusion are advertisements showing healthy dogs loving to eat their food, with the a claiming that this is the result you will get of you feed your dog that food.

When choosing a dog food many people use price as an indicator of quality. In fact, this is not necessarily a good measure of quality at all; many companies (particularly the large ones) have huge marketing costs and these have to be built into the price you pay. After all, the advertisements on television or in magazines - and even the signs at the vet clinic - all have to be paid for from the sales of the food (this is one reason smaller pet food companies can often offer better value, even if they are not so well known).

You could also try to look at the ingredients, but this is not as straightforward as it seems. Many ingredients on labels are confusing and difficult to understand. There is a high degree of leeway in the marketing of these and other pet foods. For instance, did you know that if a food says "with" a certain ingredient (for instance "with real chicken") then by law it only needs to contain a minimum of 3% of that ingredient? The rest of the food may well be filled up with low quality cereals and by products which do little for the health of the dog.

Another alternative which many people use is to ask a salesperson at their local pet shop or vet clinic. However, they may not know much either; after all, they usually want to sell you the products they have without having done a lot of independent research into dog or puppy nutrition.

Fortunately, with the internet, there is a solution: dog food reviews. There are now a number of websites which review dog and puppy foods. A word of caution, however: it is very important to only take the word of independent reviews that look at the food based on the ingredients. That is why the websites of a particular food manufacturer are not usually a good guide, unless you can find the ingredients and understand them yourself to make up your own mind.

Here are two websites with independent dog food reviews that are excellent:

www.dogfoodadvisor.com

This website not only reviews products by brand, but they also have a lot of other useful information that pet owners would find very helpful. There is also the opportunity to post questions and comments.

Dogfoodanalysis.com

This is another website of reviews. Like DogFoodAdvisor above, it uses a star rating system to grade the foods by quality.

www.dogfoodproject.com

Although not a site with actual reviews of brands, this is a very informative website that goes into a lot of detail about what really is in dog foods and the effects on animals. If you are wanting to learn more about ingredients and overall dog nutrition this is highly recommended.

Fortunately, the internet now provides a way to navigate through the confusing world of dog food and find the right one for your dog or puppy. Dog food review websites such as those above provide excellent - and independent - advice.

For more about selecting the best food for your dog or puppy visit http://www.petfooddirect.co.nz.

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Is Your Dog Too Bored to Behave?

In our modern world it seems as though the media is full to capacity with dog owners wanting to find the answers to cure their pet's behaviour. Everybody appears to live within the confined boundaries of their family's busy and hectic life. Breakfast is rushed, the commute, the school run, shopping trips, social activities and yet more and more households still wish to own a trusted companion.

When people think of living their perfect lifestyle, there is always the picture in their minds of the family group, made complete by the adorable dog sitting by their side.

Problems occur today when the puppy matures into an adult dog. So often once a dog has been house trained, people assume the animal will be capable of staying alone for a few hours every day. Here is where the difference between modern life in today's world stands in comparison with the households of yesteryear. Just a few years ago the average house had someone at home for most of the time and the family dog was rarely left unattended.

However there is nothing wrong with today's family household owning a dog, but judging by the amount of searches made daily on the internet for obedience training, then obviously some changes have to take place in order to satisfy your pet's needs.

The problems with what the owners are classifying as disobedient stems from pure boredom on the dog's behalf. Try to imagine being stuck indoors, restless wanting to exercise and run but cannot. Suddenly anything that is close at hand, pillows, rugs, shoes provide a challenge, something that they could chew and play with. If left indoors for too long then accidental puddles will occur, not for one to blame the dog for. But there are many ways that you can help your dog to settle into a new routine, which would still include time spent alone at home.

It is vitally important that you exercise your dog before you leave him alone and this has the added benefit that you can gain an extra fitness routine. Take a look around your local pet store, there are many toys available today that are designed for dogs to enjoy when you leave the house. Several items resemble balls and objects that contain treats within; the dog is then occupied trying to work out how to release the snack.

After working on these types of projects it is quite natural for the dog to nap afterwards. If you have reason to believe that your dog cannot wait to relieve itself before you return, then training him to use paper or puppy pads left by the door should alleviate this problem.

In our busy occupied lives it is so easy to actually forget the dog is there when you are at home. How often have you spent time working at the computer or watching television, completely unaware that your dog is curled up in some corner of the house feeling left out of the family group. Try to include your dog in as many household activities as possible. Call him and stroke his head as you relax after work.

Ensure that you allow plenty of time for an evening walk, dogs do like routine and knowing that following a meal he can then look forward to a game in the park. Pets enjoy regularity, try to keep each day to the same schedule for him and you will notice how much calmer your dog will be.

For more information, check out http://k9schooltime.blogspot.com/

Pet Article courtesy of http://pet-articles.blogspot.com.

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Simple Steps To Handle Seizures In Dogs

Having to watch seizures in dogs can be a very frightening and traumatic experience. If you own a dog, then it is important to know the simple steps to take should your dog have a seizure. Knowing how to respond can be very important during this difficult time for your pet.

The most important thing yet the most difficult thing that an owner needs to do is remain calm. Although one cannot say for sure, many would like to think that a dog can perceive when you are nervous. If they can feel you are worried or if you panic, it can agitate the dog.

The next thing is to place something soft under his head. It can be a towel or even a blanket. This should be done to prevent your pet from further hurting himself or his head during the convulsions. Make sure that you have removed everything around him. Do not have toys or any type of hard surface around him or her while they are experiencing the seizure. If they are near a wall, move them further away from it.

Do not reach into your dog's mouth to hold its tongue. During this time your pet is not aware of what he or she is doing and can clench their jaws on your hand. This can be pretty painful and can cause severe damage to your hand. Do not worry about him choking on his tongue, he will not swallow it.

The next thing you can do for your loved pet is sit next to him to give reassurance. Knowing that you are there can be really helpful during this time. Talk in a soothing voice while petting your pet to help them during the seizure. Even after the convulsions have stopped, encourage your pet to remain laying down for a while.

Try to keep track of when the seizure started as well as how long it lasted. This information is important to your vet when you take your dog in. If your dog has had seizures before then you should know that you do not need to take your pet in every time he has one. Your dog should be taken to the vet if he is having continuous seizures within 5 minutes.

After the seizure has stopped, give him some sugar. Low blood sugars can be one of the causes of the seizure. One or two teaspoons should suffice. Do not give him too much of it as this can also be bad. Vanilla ice cream is preferred, but if you have another flavor instead in your refrigerator (except chocolate), that should do. After feeding your pet ice cream, try and give them dog food to help maintain the sugar given.

Seizures in dogs can be scary but knowing what to do during this time can really help both of you. Remember to let your veterinarian know everything that happens, and if it is not the first time, you do not need to take your pet every time a seizure occurs. If it is more than one occurring, or if the seizure appears to be very severe, take your pet to a veterinarian emergency room.

Author Information:

Sandra DeMers is the author of "Cory's Story," the story of a yellow Labrador retriever suffering from seizures in dogs that will absolutely AMAZE you. Cory is alive, happy and healthy at the age of 13 and hasn't had a seizure in over 5 years. Visit www.corysstory.com to learn Sandra's secret to good canine health--you'll be surprised when you learn the truth.

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Reduce Your Dog's Paw Licking and Chewing by 50% with This Simple Solution

In this short video, Dr. Karen Becker explains why you should give your dog regular foot baths and demonstrates several different ways to get the job done.



Today I'm going to demonstrate a foot soak.

Many of you know I often stress the importance of removing pesticides, herbicides, ragweed, grasses, pollens, molds, dust mites and other pollutants from your dog's feet on a regular basis.

This is because dogs are naked. They don't wear clothes, or shoes and socks. They don't shower every day. In other words, their bodies collect a lot of allergens and chemicals in the environment, and it builds up quickly.

Your dog's feet can gather a pretty heavy toxin load in addition to allergens, and this can become extremely irritating to his paws.

Common sense seems to dictate we need to remove all that stuff, yet in veterinary medicine, it's rare to hear anyone recommend it to pet owners. I certainly didn't learn about foot soaks in vet school. But I learned after becoming a vet that 50 percent of foot licking and chewing can be alleviated by mechanically removing allergens and other irritants collected on a dog's paws.

'Mechanically removing' simply means rinsing them off.

It's the 'How' and How Often That's Important

Believe it or not, a washcloth isn't nearly as efficient at cleaning your dog's feet as dunking them is. So when I say foot 'soaks' or 'rinses,' I mean exactly that.

You don't need to do the soak in a big tub like the one I'm about to use. For instance, if your dog is a big guy, you can use a bucket and soak one foot at a time.

If you have a little dog, you can use your kitchen or bathroom sink.

So it doesn't matter where you do it or whether you rinse all four paws at once or one paw at a time. What's important is to soak those paws at the end of any day when your pet has been in contact with allergens, lawn chemicals, or anything in the environment with the potential to irritate her feet.

Keep in mind the only places dogs sweat from are their noses and the pads of their feet. So those damp little pads can collect a really heavy load of irritants.

A soak at the end of the day will reduce the chemical burden on your dog, as well as the potential for irritation.

Doing the Soak

I've put a couple inches of water in my tub here. You need enough water to cover the pads of your dog's feet.

Rosco's a little man, so he only needs a couple inches of water for his soak.

My favorite solution for foot soaks is povidone iodine. (Sidney the umbrella cockatoo, who is here in the room with Rosco and me, apparently has a few comments he'd like to make about povidone iodine as well!) Povidone iodine is an organic iodine solution. It's safe, non-toxic, antifungal, antibacterial, and anti-yeast.

Obviously at an animal hospital we have the stuff in gallon jugs, but you can buy it at any pharmacy in smaller quantities. You want to dilute the povidone iodine with water to the color of iced tea, using just your eyes – no scientific formula is involved! If it comes up too light, just add a bit more of the iodine. If it's a bit dark, add more water.

I'm just swishing this around now in the tub while Rosco stands in it. I recommend you let your dog stand in the solution for from two to five minutes.

You don't have to do anything to the feet or toes -- the solution will do the work for you. So you can just stand and sing to your dog while he soaks, or talk to him and tell him how handsome and well behaved he is.

If your dog is nervous about being in water, you can offer treats. Treats always help pass the time for Rosco. So having some snacks handy is a good idea.

If your dog is truly fearful of water, rather than plunk her in the tub or sink, you can do a little mini-soak like I've also got here. I've put a little povidone iodine in a small blue tub, added water, and created a little mini foot soak. You can just plop each little foot in the mini-soak one at a time, making sure each entire pad surface is covered with the mixture, and it shouldn't be nearly as scary for your dog as being put in the bathtub.

Remember, the key is to get the feet submerged in the solution, which will wash away any type of yeast that might be growing, as well as mild bacterial infections, allergens, and other contaminants.

Pat Dry and Go!

After you've soaked each foot for two to five minutes, there's no need to rinse the solution off your dog's feet. This is another great feature of povidone iodine.

Just lift your dog out of the bath or remove that last foot and pat the paws dry. Done!

If you're short on space or time, you can re-use a container of foot soak for two or three days. Some people leave a pail of the mixture on their deck and make a fresh batch every few days.

Others keep a garden hose handy and fill up a bucket, a small plastic tub or even a coffee can and mix in the iodine solution, dumping after each use.

I wouldn't go more than two or three days using the same foot soak solution.

And keep in mind you don't have to use a lot of water or povidone iodine – just enough to fully cover your dog's foot pads with a solution the color of iced tea. This saves both water and iodine, and if your dog has a water phobia, it will also reduce her anxiety to use only the amount of water necessary to get the job done.

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Dog Nutrition - Wheat Free Dog Food Reduces Food Allergies

Over 10% of all dog allergies are food allergies. Many dogs suffer from a wheat allergy and using a wheat free dog food can be the solution to these allergy problems.

Symptoms of A Wheat Allergy

1. Itchy skin and Dull coat
2. Vomiting and Diarrhea
3. Sneezing and Seizures
4. Inflammation inside ears
5. Breathing symptoms which are similar to Asthma
6. Excessive gas formation

How Do Wheat Allergies Develop?

Many dog owners find it hard to believe that their dog is suffering from a wheat allergy as they have been feeding the same diet for years now and the problem has surfaced only recently. The reason such a thing is possible is that food allergies sometimes develop overtime and a dog may not have allergy previously but have developed it now and a wheat free dog food is the solution to prevent occurrence. A diet with wheat in it could also result in digestive disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease and removing wheat from the dog's diet is the ideal thing to do in such a situation.

Is My Dog Suffering From A Wheat Allergy?

To find an answer to this question you will have to put your dog on an exclusion diet. In this method the dog is fed homemade diet with ingredients that the dog will not be allergic to and consult your vet before starting this diet.

If in a few days it is noticed that the symptoms are improving then move back to the diet dog was on to know if symptoms resurface. In case the allergy starts again that you will be confirmed that there is something in dog's diet which is causing the allergy. Next you will have to shift back to the exclusion diet and reintroduce ingredients from dog's original diet one by one at an interval of few days to see the effect of their inclusion. If you find the symptoms resurfacing then you would have identified the allergen.

Other Reasons to Stop Wheat From The Diet

A wheat based diet is carbohydrate rich which needs to be broken down by dog's digestive system by enzymes and dogs do not have enough enzymes to break these down properly. As these wheat diets remain undigested, they result in gastrointestinal problems as well as intestinal inflammations. Thus a diet which is rich in vitamins and proteins and has less percentage of carbohydrates or starch is more beneficial for dogs.

Advantages of Wheat Free Dog Food

The advantages of wheat free dog food are that these do not have wheat ingredients as fillers as a means to bulk up the dog food. Instead these wheat free dog foods have greater percentage of proteins in them helping to meet nutritional needs of a dog which much lesser quantity of the food compared to a diet which has wheat used as filler.

A Final Note

To prevent allergies and also to make the diet more digestive for your dog, it is advisable to shift to a wheat free dog food. There are numerous options available in the market nowadays which are good replacement for wheat diet and maintain the desired nutritional level in your dog's diet.

Wheat free dog food help offered by PetVitaminRep.com- the best natural dog vitamin supplement designed to boost your pet's immune system and overall health. Visit http://www.petvitaminrep.com/ today to learn more about our natural multivitamin for dogs and the best natural dog food that is wheat free.

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Iams ProActive Health Smart Puppy Food Recall

Iams ProActive Health Smart Puppy Food recall due to aflatoxin levels that were detected above the acceptable limit!



Per the Iams Press Release:

CINCINNATI, Dec. 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Procter & Gamble Company (P&G) has voluntarily retrieved a single production lot of dry dog food due to aflatoxin levels that were detected above the acceptable limit. This product has already been retrieved from store shelves. No illnesses have been reported in association with this production lot to date, and no other Iams pet food products are involved.

Product affected by this announcement:

Iams ProActive Health Smart Puppy dry dog food with Use By or Expiration Dates of February 5 or February 6, 2013

7.0 lb bag, Code Date 12784177I6 UPC Code 1901402305
8.0 lb bag, Code Dates 12794177D2, 12794177D3, UPC Code 1901410208
17.5 lb bag, Code Dates 12794177K1, 12794177K2; UPC Code 1901401848

The affected product lot was distributed to a limited number of retailers located in the eastern United States (AL, CT, DE, FL, GA, LA, MD, ME, MS, NC, NH, NJ, NY, PA, SC, VA). These retailers have already removed this product from store shelves. No other dry dog food, dry cat food, dog or cat canned food, biscuits/treats or supplements are affected by this announcement.

While no health effects related to this product have been reported, P&G retrieved this product as a precautionary measure. Consumers who purchased the product listed should stop using the product and discard it and contact Iams at the number below for a replacement voucher. Aflatoxin is a naturally occurring by-product from the growth of Aspergillus flavus and can be harmful to pets if consumed in significant quantities. Pets which have consumed this product and exhibit symptoms of illness including sluggishness or lethargy combined with a reluctance to eat, vomiting, yellowish tint to the eyes or gums, or diarrhea should be seen by a veterinarian.

For further information or a product replacement or refund contact P&G toll-free at 866-908-1569 (Monday – Friday, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM EST) or http://www.iams.com/.

FDA Recall Notice: P&G Voluntarily Recalls One Production Lot of Dry Dog Food

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16 Dog Care Tips that Could Save your Puppy's Life

The essential guidelines for puppy-proof your home and identifying illness

As a new puppy parent, it's important to learn about common puppy behavior, safety concerns and common symptoms of illness so that appropriate action can be taken if your puppy gets sick or hurt. When you bring a new puppy home, you are suddenly responsible for an innocent life—one that’s completely dependent on you. However, when puppy poops on the floor or whines all night long, you might be thinking, “What the heck have I gotten myself into?”

Between managing the puppy’s training and worrying if you’ve puppy-proofed your house adequately, new dog ownership can be overwhelming. Proper dog care and training are critical during your puppy’s first few months in their new home. If you suspect your puppy might be sick, take him or her to the vet immediately. For common digestive ailments and bumps and scratches, your vet will probably prescribe an over-the-counter human treatment, like Pepto Bismal or an anti-biotic ointment, to treat upset stomach and abrasions. However, for more serious conditions, like kennel cough, your vet will likely prescribe more expensive animal drugs. A great way you can save money of on medication is to buy affordable Canadian drugs from a reputable online pharmacy.

It’s a good rule of thumb, to check with a veterinarian first if you suspect your pet is hurt or ill, however to make things easier on you and safe for puppy at home, we’ve put together a list of essential puppy care tips that will help you puppy-proof your home and identify if your puppy is sick:

1. Get a crate for your puppy—and use it

A crate not only makes housetraining easier, it a fantastic tool for managing the safety of your young pup. A crate is a private area for your puppy where they feel secure and stay safe when you’re not at home from dangerous household items, such as electrical wires, household cleaners and poisons, or choking on foreign objects. An added bonus is that the crate will help the housebreaking process and discourage any bad messing behaviors.

2. Put puppy’s crate next to your bed for the first few nights

This will help establish the crate as a safe haven for your pup. If you make him or her sleep the first few nights in the dark basement or laundry room the pup will develop fright towards being crated.

3. Get a baby gate (in this case a puppy gate)

Use the gate the same way as you would for a child to keep the puppy out of places that pose a danger, for example, block out living rooms with exposed electrical cords or stairwells when you’re not supervising.

4. Supervise your new pup

Just like a new crawling baby, you have to watch your puppy with an eagle eye until he or she adjusts to their new surroundings or else their curiosity may find them choking or falling down a flight of stairs.

5. Set up a puppy routine

Puppy’s day, as well as yours, will go a lot more smoothly if you develop a regular routine. That way puppy will know what to expect from the day and not seek out foreign things to chew and get into out of boredom.

6. Enroll puppy in dog training

Basic obedience if of benefit to puppy and you. Obedience classes teach a pup to socialize with other puppies and people—and curb nasty habits like biting or aggressiveness.

7. Develop a puppy playlist for the entire family

Puppy should follow the same routine and rules, regardless of which family member is on dog duty. Sit down as a family to discuss training cues, housetraining and walking rules and agree that everyone stick to them.

8. Get your pup used to being touched

If you regularly touch his or her feet, nails, tail, ears, mouth, teeth, and belly with love—puppy will be more responsive during vet checkups.

9. Groom puppy early on and regularly

This will, again, establish a good pre-vet routine. Also, the act of grooming let’s you examine the pup for broken nails, teeth, sores or lumps that could be more serious if not caught early on.

10. Let your pup experience it all

From people in hats to car rides and from walking on a busy street to other animals, if you socialize your pet they won’t be traumatized or frightened by things and bite or run, which could endanger their wellbeing.

11. Get puppy a teething tool

A non-consumable Kong toy filled with peanut butter or a frozen wet wash cloth all ease pups growing teeth and strengthen their teeth and gums.

12. Pick up anything puppy might chew

If you leave lose objects around your house, puppy could choke or injure their mouth or teeth chewing on sharp objects.

13. Get your pup micro-chipped

If a scared or excited puppy runs away, a micro-chip could be your best hope of finding them. Vets provide dog micro-chipping for around $25 to $40.

14. Check out what puppy poops

I know it’s gross, but a quick poop check could save your puppy’s life if you notice diarrhea or blood in stool. Abnormal bowel movements are a sign of ill health and mean you should take your dog to the vet immediately.

15. Give puppy his or her own toys

If you provide your pup with designated toys, he or she will less likely to chew on your couch, furniture and household items that could put them in danger.

16. Remind yourself regularly that your pup is still a baby

And human babies don’t do much. Be patient and rather than using sever discipline to force your pup to sit or stay. Aim to socialize your puppy with other people and dogs—and develop a bond!

Bio: Bernice Spradlin is an avid hiker and runner. She works at a gym in Brooklyn, New York, where she gets great inspiration for her freelance health-related articles and blogs. In her off time, you can often find Bernice jogging the East River path along the waterfront and enjoying the cool breeze. Bernice is currently looking for freelance writing work, and can be contacted at BerniceG.Spradlin@gmail.com

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Free Riddick’s Dog Treats Sample

Riddick’s Dog Treats:

"All of our natural jerky is made with your dog's health in mind. Our treats are additive free, preservative free, grain free and filler free. We use only pasture fed, free range animals and ensure the safest conditions. Our dog treats are designed with your pet in mind so that you can love and reward your dog freely without worrying about your pet's allergies."

Request your Free Riddick’s Dog Treats Sample.

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Alfie

Alfie, aged 18 months, wet and wild off the coast of Pembrokeshire, Wales.



Photo from Lisa (UK)

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Hiking with Dogs

Guest Post: Hiking with dogs by Jess Spate

Most dogs like nothing better than a nice long walk, and hiking is a pretty popular hobby amongst people too. With a little care there is no reason why your pooch can't join you on a hike and you can both have a great day out. However, it's not quite as simple as clipping on a leash and heading out there door.

If you want to hike with your dog in a State Park or another area with conservation value, do some homework first. Some parks welcome responsible dog owners but others don't, and the last thing you want is to arrive at the trailhead only to find a 'No dogs' sign blocking your way. Those places that don't allow dogs often do so for very good reasons so it's well worth paying attention to signage. Nobody wants their pooch to cause any harm.

No matter where you walk your dog, it's important that they be well socialised and friendly to people and other animals they might meet along the way. They need to come when called if you're going to allow them off the leash, no matter what temptations they might face. Breeds like Labrador retrievers are almost always good with children and other hikers but it takes training to resist running after wildlife, for example.

Chasing deer or other large animals isn't the only problem you might encounter. In many places it's quite common to see snakes sunning themselves on hiking trails in the summer months. In the overwhelming majority of cases they slither away as soon as they catch sight of people, but a curious dog might not want to let this interesting new thing go so easily. Keep your dog close by even when not on the leash and make sure they'll come when you call, every time.

It's great to start training your dog into good hiking etiquette from a young age, but do remember that puppies are just like kids. They might start out with boundless energy but they get tired easily. Start with short hikes and work your way up as your dog gets older, stronger, and more experienced. Special care should be taken when allowing puppies who aren't yet fully vaccinated out on the trail- it's usually best to wait until they're fully protected.

Jess Spate is a hiker, a rock climber, and a dog lover since childhood. When not out on the trail somewhere she works for Appalachian Outdoors (a company that stocks a wide range of dog gear and edits a British outdoor clothing website.

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