Minties Dog Treats - Free Sample

For those of you that missed our previous post, here is a new link for you to try a Free Sample of Minties Dog Treats.

Minties™ have a vet recommended, triple action formula to help clean teeth, freshen breath and reduce plaque and tartar – in a treat your dog will love.

Minties™ support total dental health:

- Unique texture and hardness helps clean your dog’s teeth and reduce plaque and tartar as he chews

- With 5 natural breath fresheners to freshen your dog’s breath from the inside out

- In preference tests, dogs love Minties™

- Products available for Small, Medium, Large and Extra Large Dogs

- Great everyday value!

- Made in the USA

To get your Free Sample of Minties Dog Treats, 'Like' the VETIQ Pet Care Facebook page and fill in the form. Available while supplies last.

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Free Dog Treat Sample from Nashville Dog Company

Nashville Dog Company is offering Free Samples of their all-natural dog treats.

The Nashville Dog Company specializes in all-natural dog treats, free from preservatives, chemicals and dyes. Their specialty is eco-sensitive and dog-friendly treats, sourced from the highest quality ingredients found anywhere.

To get your Free Dog Treats Sample, join the Nashville Dog Company mailing list.

Educational Reading: Natural Dog Treats

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FREE Dog Food Sample: Nature's Variety Instinct Healthy Weight

FREE Nature's Variety Instinct Healthy Weight Dog Food Sample!

Instinct has continued its commitment to empowering people to transform the lives of pets with the introduction of Instinct Healthy Weight foods for dogs and cats. The specially formulated diets help pets lose or maintain weight. Healthy Weight is available in canned and kibble form. Each grain-free kibble formula is made with less fat and fewer calories, while still preserving the high protein levels Instinct is known for with the added Raw Boost freeze dried raw pieces.

Register for a FREE Dog Food Sample of Nature's Variety Instinct Healthy Weight while supplies last (U.S. residents only). Canadian residents complete the form and receive a $4.00 off coupon.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate link(s), which may result in compensation for AllAboutLabradors.blogspot.com. For more information about All About Labradors please read our Disclaimer and Disclosure Policies. We've shared this information to inform you of your option to either use our affiliated links or to go directly to the site of interest.

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PetSmart Coupons - Save on Dog Beds, Dog Collar, Leashes and More

PetSmart has a bunch of new coupon listed for you to print out and use in store.

As of this post, the following PetSmart Printable Coupons are available:

• Save $2 on any apparel
• Save $5 on any dog bed
• Save $3 on any collar or leash
• Save $5 on any wire crate or plastic carrier for dogs
• Save $2 on any stain & odor or potty pads for dogs
• Save $2 on any toy

All of the listed PetSmart coupons are valid through 9/15/13 or while supplies last.

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The Amazing Dog Poop Ass Bag

Ingenious or just plain stupid?

Gadget after gadget have come out for ways of dealing with picking up your dog's waste. Some are clever and some are so silly.

Our thoughts on this product: If you don't like picking up your dog's poop, don't get a dog. What do you think?

PS: This video is old and I can't seem to find any further information on The Amazing Dog Poop Bag. Guess it didn't catch on that well!

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Nutri-Vet and Best Pet Health Monthly Giveaway for August

Nutri-Vet and Best Pet Health are giving you the chance to win Nutri-Vet products for your Labrador Retriever!

Nutri-Vet offers a wide range of unique, veterinary formulated animal supplements and complementary external products that promote health and well being in dogs, cats and horses. Sophisticated formulas combined with innovative delivery systems and high palatability profiles have positioned Nutri-Vet as the leading provider of natural animal products in North America.

Enter the Nutri-Vet and Best Pet Health Monthly Giveaway for your chance to win $50 worth of Nutri-Vet products for your dog or cat (Nutri-Vet will pick Nutri-Vet products based on your pet's needs).

The Nutri-Vet and Best Pet Health Monthly Giveaway ends August 31, 2013 and is open to the USA and Canada.

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Free Beneful Healthy Smile Adult Dog Food and Snacks Sample Pack

Beneful is offering a Free Sample pack of their Healthy Smile Adult Dog Food and Snacks.

Our new dog food and treats can help keep your best buddy's smile happy and healthy. Try Beneful® Healthy Smile Adult Dog Food, and Dental Dog Treats in Twists or Ridges.

To get your Free Sample Pack of Beneful Healthy Smile Adult Dog Food and Snacks, “Like” the Beneful Facebook page and click on the “Coupons and Offers” tab.

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How to Deal with Dog Separation Anxiety

Inside the Pet Quarterly - Winter 2013 issue, you'll find an informative article on how to deal with separation anxiety in dogs. Written by Debra Horwitz, DVM, DACVB and Amy Pike DVM, the article provides help in easing your dog's distress if it is suffering from separation anxiety.

Separation Anxiety is a distress response that dogs can experience when separated from familiar or favorite people, or if they are anxious about being home alone due to other fears or phobias."

Topics covered in this dog separation anxiety article include:

• Does my dog have separation anxiety?
• What are the common signs and symptoms of dog separation anxiety?
• Key points of canine separation anxiety.
• Behavior modification for dog separation anxiety.
• What's the solution?

Other informative article covered in this issue of Pet Quarterly include:

• Food Allergy Remedies
• You found what? Benefits of dental x-rays
• Watching your senior pet's water intake
• Ways to keep your pet moving year round

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate link(s), which may result in compensation for AllAboutLabradors.blogspot.com. For more information about All About Labradors please read our Disclaimer and Disclosure Policies. We've shared this information to inform you of your option to either use our affiliated links or to go directly to the site of interest.

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Coconut Oil Benefits for Dogs

In the following video, Dr. Karen Becker of MercolaHealthyPets.com discusses the importance of coconut oil in your pet's diet.

Coconut oil is one of the richest sources of medium chain triglycerides. It's a rich source of energy for your pets and it contains lauric acid, which is beneficial in terms of helping the immune system. Lauric acid is antiviral, antifungal and antibacterial and does a great job of helping to balance the immune system.

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Purina Deal-A-Day Giveaway

Purina® is running a Deal-A-Day Giveaway where you have a a chance to win coupons for Free products every day. There are over 35,000 prizes, waiting to be won!

Plus, just for registering, you'll be entered for a chance to win FREE Pet Food for a Year!

Purina Deal-A-Day Giveaway Daily Prizes include:

Purina® Beneful® Dog Food
Purina® Busy® Chew Treat
Purina® Dog Chow® Dog Food
Purina ONE® Dog Food
Purina® Busy® HeartyHide™ Chew Treat
FREE Purina® Beneful® Dog Food Prepared Meals™,
Moist & Meaty® Dog Food
Purina® Beneful® Baked Delights™ Dog Snacks
SmartBlend® Adult Dog Food
Purina® Beggin’ Strips
Purina® T Bonz®
Purina® Mighty Dog
Purina® ALPO® Dog Food
BE HAPPY® Dog Food,

There will also be 15 Grand Prize winners who will each receive a one- (1-) year supply of Purina® brand Pet Food awarded in the form of twelve (12) coupons, each redeemable for one (1) free, up to $25.00, bag of Purina® brand Pet Food, any size, any variety.

For those of you that also have cats, there are also cat food and treat prizes given away daily.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate link(s), which may result in compensation for AllAboutLabradors.blogspot.com. For more information about All About Labradors please read our Disclaimer and Disclosure Policies. We've shared this information to inform you of your option to either use our affiliated links or to go directly to the site of interest.

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Dog Allergies: Relieving The Itch

Allergies and our Labrador Retriever are very common and a big question sent in by our readers. As we come across information on dog allergies, we put it in a folder on our computer to read through and then share any new information with you guys.

Image Credit: Puppies Make Love Blog

The following list contains a bunch of PDF files, that we have saved through the years. They contain some wonderful information in regards to dog allergies, that we thought we be helpful for our readers. Under each dog allergy PDF are some of the topics included.

Relieving The Itch For Allergy Dogs:

• What are allergies?
• What are the signs that a dog has allergies?
• Conventional treatment for dogs with allergies
• What can I do for my allergy dog at home?
• Ear infections
• Topical ointments
• What about supplements for my dog?

Allergies in Dogs - Bodhi Veterinary Clinic & Animal Hospital:

• What are allergies and how do they affect dogs?
• Is there more than one type of allergy?
• I have been told that my dog is atopic. Is this the same as inhalant allergy?
• What exactly causes an inhalant allergy?
• What happens to the dog when this occurs?
• My dog only itches in the spring and I have been told she has a seasonal allergy. What does this mean?
• When my dog's allergies are bad, she seems to have a terrible smell. What causes this?

Common Skin Disease of the Dog Allergies:

• Types of Allergies
• Major Complications of Allergies
• Two Major Canine Allergies for Discussion

Diagnosis of Atopic Dermatitis in Dogs:

• What is atopic dematitis?
• Clinical features of canine atopic dermatitis
• Diagnosis of canine atopic dermatitis
• Differential diagnosis of canine atopic dermatitis

Allergic Skin Disease:

• Inhalant Allergies (Atopy)
• Food Allergies
• Flea Allergy
• How to Conduct a Food Elimination Trial

Image courtesy of Victor Habbick / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Got Allergies? - Aloha Animal Hospital:

• Search For Clues In The "F-Places"
• Sleuther’s Notebook: The 3 Most Common Pet Allergies
• Dr. Chang’s Recommended Elimination Diet
• Use The Process Of Elimination To Solve The Case
• ALLERGY Q&A WITH THE CHIEF INSPECTOR, DR. CHANG

Allergy in your pets.pdf - Vetland Animal Hospital:

• Allergies: Common Symptoms
• Shampoos
• Foods
• Medication
• Essential fatty acids

Allergies - Victory Square Vet Clinic:

• Atopy
• Flea Allergy Dermatitis
• Food Allergy

Dog Allergies - Symptoms & treatment of canine allergies:

• What exactly are dog allergies?
• Dog Allergy Symptoms
• Diagnosing and treating dog allergies

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate link(s), which may result in compensation for AllAboutLabradors.blogspot.com. For more information about All About Labradors please read our Disclaimer and Disclosure Policies. We've shared this information to inform you of your option to either use our affiliated links or to go directly to the site of interest.

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Earth Rated Dog Poop Bags - Save 37% Off

Here's your chance to save some money when picking up after your lovable Labrador Retriever. Right now you can score a deal on Earth Rated Dog Poop Bags with handles, as Amazon has them on sale. You’ll get a box of 120 bags for $6.29 (Reg: $9.99 reg).

PoopBags was created to help care for the environment and to make picking up poop a little more fun - all while keeping your pocketbook happy.

Earth Rated Dog Waste Bags with Handles, Lavender Scented, 120-Count

• 120 bags with handles for easy-tie, not on rolls.
• Ultra wide 7 x 13 inches, so you or your sleeve never make unwanted contact.
• Big enough for a Great Dane's pile.
• Scented with lavender so you won't mind holding on until you properly dispose it.
• Extra-thick for a chore you can't mess around with.

You can get the Earth Rated Dog Poop Bags and be eligible for free shipping on purchases over $25, or free 2-day shipping with no minimum, for those of you that are Amazon Prime members.

For those of you that aren't members, you can signup for a Amazon Prime Free 30-Day Trial, where you'll get free 2-Day shipping with no minimum order size and other great benefits!

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Free Purina Dog Chow Light & Healthy Food Sample

For a limited time, Purina is offering a Free Sample of their Dog Chow Light & Healthy Food.

Crunchy and tender textures, with real chicken, help make it delicious. 22% fewer calories than Purina® Dog Chow® Complete & Balanced make it a calorie-light way to help your adult dog maintain a healthy weight.

Fill out the form and submit, to try a Free Sample of Purina Dog Chow Light & Healthy Food

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate link(s), which may result in compensation for AllAboutLabradors.blogspot.com. For more information about All About Labradors please read our Disclaimer and Disclosure Policies. We've shared this information to inform you of your option to either use our affiliated links or to go directly to the site of interest.

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Denver The Guilty Labrador Retriever

Is Denver Guilty? Watch this very funny Labrador Retriever video, as Denver's owner searches to find out who ate the cat treats.

Watch the expression on this adorable, yellow Labrador Retriever's face and her mannerisms. Priceless!!

Denver has gained global recognition since her video aired and she has made appearances on Good Morning America, Fox News, Inside Edition, Fox 45 Baltimore, Fox Delmarva News and Fox WTTG DC TV.

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Luxury Dog Bed Giveaway

Here's your chance to win two luxury dog beds for your Labrador Retriever(s)!

Enter the Luxury Dog Bed Giveaway for a chance to win two Scandia Pillow Dog Beds and two covers for each bed (value of $830.00).

The Luxury Dog Bed Giveaway ends at 11:59 p.m. ET on July 7, 2013 and is open to US residents, 18+.

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Labrador Retriever Infographic from AdoptaPet.com

Adopt-a-Pet.com has provided All About Labradors with a helpful infographic in regards to Labrador Retriever adoption. You'll learn what to expect and how to best raise your new Labrador Retriever or puppy.

Looking for a Labrador Dog or Puppy? Why Not Adopt!

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Free Nutrabar Sample

Nutrabar is offering Free Samples of their Nutrabars.

The first and only all natural, ali American, super premium, true food bar with 27% protein for dogs you can take anyhere, anytime.

To get your Free Nutrabar Sample send address to: nutrabar@gmail.com

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Free Prairie Dog Food Sample (Chicken and Brown Rice Recipe)

Prairie is giving your the chance to try their chicken and brown rice recipe dog food for free.

Prairie® holistic pet food delivers optimal nourishment through a variety of simple, natural ingredients. No fillers, no corn, no wheat, no soy.

Free Dog Food Sample from Prairie, just visit their Facebook page, 'Like' them and fill in the form. Allow 6-8 weeks for delivery.

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Free Dog Dental Treat from Minties

Minties is giving out free samples of their Dog Dental Treats and a coupon.

Minties™ have a vet grade, triple action formula to help clean teeth, freshen breath and reduce plaque and tartar – in a treat your dog will love. Minties™ support total dental health: - Unique texture and hardness helps clean your dog’s teeth and reduce plaque and tartar as he chews

To try out a Free Dog Dental Treat from Minties, head on over to their Facebook page, 'Liked them and fill in the form. Samples available while supplies last.

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Labrador Retriever Hair Cut

The following question was sent in by TJ, owner of a very adorable 19 month old, yellow Labrador Retriever named Nicki.

TJ's writes in regards to cutting his Labrador Retriever's hair. The Labrador Retriever Hair Cut is always a popular one here at All About Labradors as the weather warms up.

Readers Email - TJ Writes:

Thank you for being so generous with all these question. I have a great yellow lab, Nicki, a free gift in front of the local grocery store and love her dearly. She is 19 months old and I have be cutting her hair, pretty much every 4 months since we got her at 6 weeks old, is this totally wrong?

The main reason for cutting her hair is to help in drying her off after swimming, we have a pool and she loves to swim and she’s a spoiled indoor dog (smile), I should also mention, not only the pool but don’t ever leave the door open in the bathroom when filling the bathtub. Keeping the hair short allows her to swim as much as she like and I can quickly dry her off, so she can come back in the house. We are cautious with the sun, she has never sun burned, the backyard is fully shaded. Is cutting the hair really bad for this breed?

Thank you, TJ

All About Labradors Answer:

Hello TJ, thanks for your question and the wonderful photo of Nicki. This is a popular question that we get asked many times and our answer is always NO (unless needed for medical purposes).

Labrador Retrievers owners believe that by cutting or shaving their dog it will keep them from shedding or keep them cooler in the warmer weather. The undercoat that they cut or shave actually helps to keep your Labrador Retriever cool and helps provide insulation from the heat and sun.

What we do believe in is grooming thoroughly. I provided the answers to your question in a previous post on this blog that should provided the answers you seek: Does a Labrador Retriever need a Haircut.

In the "Does a Labrador Retriever need a Haircut" post I refer to a tool called the Furminator. I've posted a review on that tool, which may also be of help: FURminator Dog deShedding Tool.

Last but not least Woodhaven Labradors provides a wonderful article on Grooming Your Labrador Retriever.

I hope this will be of help to you and if you have further questions, please don't hesitate to ask. Take care of yourself and Nicki.

The information given here is to help you learn more about your Labrador Retriever and not to replace your veterinarian's advice. Disclaimer

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Can a Dog have Allergies?

Many dog owners might not realize that there are a wide variety of allergies that dogs can suffer from. Common allergens that affect dogs are things they inhale (molds, dust mites, pollens) or the type of food they're eating, and skin irritants, among others...Achoo! Tips on helping your dog beat allergies

According to the Pet Allergy Worldwide Survey (PAWS) sponsored by Novartis Animal Health, 44 percent of pet owners are unaware that their pet can suffer from chronic seasonal allergies...Does your pet have seasonal allergies?

Dogs can suffer from a wide variety of allergies just like their human companions. These allergies usually manifest themselves as skin conditions. This will cause the immune system of the dog to overreact with a number of different symptoms, most notably a skin irritation...Just like us, dogs suffer from allergies

The much anticipated arrival of spring with the accompanying warm weather brings many blooming and growing things. This means that springtime allergies for pets are going to follow shortly behind. Pets are sensitive to the same grasses and pollens that trigger reactions in people. However, the manifestations of these allergies are quite different...Spring allergies can make pets miserable, too

Some of the most preventable dog skin problems are caused by dog allergies. Dog allergies may be the result of seasonal conditions, environmental factors or symptoms of food allergies. Many dog owners are surprised to learn that food allergies are not always related to a new food or diet. A dog may develop intolerance to foods that they have been eating for years...Dog Allergies - Dog Skin Problems

Atopy is a hereditary disorder that causes an allergic response to environmental allergens. In humans, such an allergic response can cause a runny nose, sneezing and itchy eyes. However, airborne allergens can cause different clinical signs in dogs and cats...Just as in people, it’s important to treat allergies in pets to relieve symptoms

Unlike humans, dogs and cats won’t sneeze or cough excessively when they are allergic to pollen. They lick, bite and scratch themselves a lot. That’s because pollen falls on their fur, ears and the pads on their paws. The pollen is then absorbed into the skin through those areas. Allergic dogs and cats try to soothe themselves by licking, chewing and scratching those affected areas. Too much of this can lead to hair loss, scabbing and ear infections...How to Help Your Pet Cope with Pollen Allergies

The absence of Wheat in your Dog's food, can help him in many ways. By eliminating wheat from his diet, helps your best friend from contracting many allergies. These allergies can affect his health in many ways, including but not limited to degestive disorders...One Way To Protect Your Dog From Allergies Is To Delete Wheat From His Dog Food

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate link(s), which may result in compensation for AllAboutLabradors.blogspot.com. For more information about All About Labradors please read our Disclaimer and Disclosure Policies. We've shared this information to inform you of your option to either use our affiliated links or to go directly to the site of interest.

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Labrador Retriever - Testing for Health

Dr Frances Smith, DVM, PhD provides us with information about Labrador Retrievers and their health. Dr Smith let you know if there are tests that you should be doing and goes through some diseases that your Labrador Retriever could be prone to.

Topics include:

Hip Dysplasia - "An inherited condition resulting from an improperly formed hip joint. Because the joint is loose, the dog's leg bone moves around too much, causing painful wear and tear." Hip Dysplasia in Dogs

Elbow Dysplasia - "A condition involving multiple developmental abnormalities of the elbow-joint in the dog, specifically the growth of cartilage or the structures surrounding it." Elbow Dysplasia in Dogs

Eye Diseases - "The Labrador Retriever is a breed of dog that is at risk for the development of a number of different hereditary eye diseases." PRA and the Labrador Retriever

Exercise-induced Collapse - "Dogs affected with EIC develop muscle weakness, incoordination and life-threatening collapse after just five to fifteen minutes of field exercise and cannot participate in many types of strenuous activities." Exercise Induced Collapse in Labrador Retrievers

Centronuclear Myopathy - "A disabling disease that affects Labradors from all over the world." Centronuclear Myopathy (or Canine Muscle Myopathy, CNM)

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate link(s), which may result in compensation for AllAboutLabradors.blogspot.com. For more information about All About Labradors please read our Disclaimer and Disclosure Policies. We've shared this information to inform you of your option to either use our affiliated links or to go directly to the site of interest.

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Pet First Aid: Are You Aware and Prepared?

Even the most vigilant pet owners happen upon the occasional accident and must be prepared to respond with proper care. By being prepared in advance of pet emergencies, we can do so much more to prevent a disastrous outcome.

The following infographic, coutesy of 1800PetMeds, focuses on raising awareness for pet first aid facts and offers helpful tips for pet owners in the event of a pet emergency.

You'll learn more about common call for pet first aid, poison/toxin ingestion, pet CPR, dangers on the road/household, assembling a complete first aid kit and more.

Take a moment to review this infographic and help raise awareness of Pet First Aid by sharing what you learn with fellow pet owners.


Courtesy of: 1800PetMeds.com

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Breeder’s Choice Recalls Active Care Biscuits Healthy Dog Treats

Breeder’s Choice, a Central Garden & Pet company, has issued a voluntary recall for a single batch of Active Care Biscuits-Healthy Dog Treats due to mold.

The Breeder’s Choice Recalled Product includes the following information:

Product Name: Active Care Biscuits-Healthy Dog Treats

Product Code/SKU/ Material #: BCP-080

UPC Code: 0130104895

Size: 24 oz

Best Before Code: 19-Dec-2013

Product and product lots that do not appear above have not been affected.

According to a release from the manufacturer, the mold seems to have occurred due to varying dryer temperature settings for drying biscuits. This exposed the recalled product to excess moisture and has since been remedied.

Pet owners who fed their pets the recalled biscuits should watch for symptoms that may develop. Common symptoms associated with mold exposure include gastrointestinal issues such as loose stool. At the time of this release, there have been no reports of human or pet illnesses associated with this recall.

For more information, call the Central Customer Care line at (866) 500-6286 or visit goactivedog.com.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate link(s), which may result in compensation for AllAboutLabradors.blogspot.com. For more information about All About Labradors please read our Disclaimer and Disclosure Policies. We've shared this information to inform you of your option to either use our affiliated links or to go directly to the site of interest.

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Anneli and Cece - Black Labrador Retrievers

Here is a very cool slow-motion video of 10 year old Anneli and 2 year old Cece.

"First weekend that really felt like spring, so we took the 10-year-old and the 2-year-old out for some fun (giving me a chance to mess around with the new camera)."

Watch as these two beautiful black Labrador Retrievers frolic in the snow and play fetch!

Video from: Neil (United Kingdom)

Labrador Retriever Gifts:

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PetHub.com’s Award-Winning Pet ID Tags Embedded with NFC Wireless Communication Technology

"Just in time for National Pet ID Week (April 14-20), new technology makes it possible for a lost pet to be reunited with their owner-- by simply tapping a cell phone to the pet’s ID tag.

Near Field Communication (NFC) technology is now embedded into PetHub’s award-winning pet ID tags, which are already equipped with a unique QR code, web address and traditional toll-free phone number.

The American Humane Association says that 1 out of 3 pets will be lost at some point during their lifetime and that only about 17 percent of lost dogs and two percent of lost cats will be returned to their original owners. You can imagine how much pet owners will love this new tech-enabled pet ID tag!"



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Why Is Your Dog AWESOME Photo Contest

Sending in a photo of your dog from a chance to win a $250.00 Petco gift card or other great prizes from SiritClips.

It’s your turn to show how awesome your dog is in the Why Is Your Dog AWESOME Photo Contest. Send in a photo that proves your dog is a hero in your life by being loving, funny, mischievous, or just plain adorable.

The Grand Prize winner in the Why Is Your Dog AWESOME Photo Contest will receive a $250 PetCo Gift Card.

2nd Prize - $175 Petco Gift Card

3rd Prize - $50 Petco Gift Card

Five (5) 4th Prize Winners receive A Roku Streaming Video Player every week and all winners will receive a 1 year membership to SpiritClips from Hallmark.

The Why Is Your Dog AWESOME Photo Contest is open to legal U.S. residents 18 years & older and ends April 26, 2013 @ 11:59 pm (PDT).

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate link(s), which may result in compensation for AllAboutLabradors.blogspot.com. For more information about All About Labradors please read our Disclaimer and Disclosure Policies. We've shared this information to inform you of your option to either use our affiliated links or to go directly to the site of interest.

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BARF World Dog Food Recall

BARF World announced a voluntary recall of three of its products due to possible contamination with Salmonella bacteria.

"While none of our products made that day have been tested and found positive for salmonella, our duty to you, your pets, and the rest of your family is to make sure we make every effort to keep you safe.

As a precaution, BARF World will be voluntarily recalling the following three products with a white “Use By” date sticker of 07272013:

BARF LAMB PATTIES

BARF COMBO PATTIES

BARF COMBO PATTIES

For furhter information about this BARF World voluntary recall, check out their Frequently Asked Questions page. You can also get in contact with their Customer Service Manager, Christopher Hampson toll-free at
1-866-282-2273 Monday through Friday from 9:00am to 5:00 Pacific Standard Time or email your questions to ChrisHampson@barfworld.com.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate link(s), which may result in compensation for AllAboutLabradors.blogspot.com. For more information about All About Labradors please read our Disclaimer and Disclosure Policies. We've shared this information to inform you of your option to either use our affiliated links or to go directly to the site of interest.

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Itchy, Smelly Dog? This May Be the Problem...

In this video, Dr. Karen Becker discusses the stubborn, stinky problem of canine yeast infections. Learn how to spot a yeast overgrowth, how to treat a flare-up, and tips to prevent the problem from recurring.

Dr. Becker's Comments:

Today I want to talk about yeasty dogs. Yeasts are budding, spore-like forms of fungi.

Both people and dogs have a normal amount of healthy levels of yeast that occur naturally on the body. The typical normal, healthy flora of dogs is a naturally occurring staph, as well as a light layer of naturally occurring yeast. These healthy levels of flora are possible thanks to a balanced immune system.

How a Yeast Infection Occurs

On the immune system spectrum, balance is in the middle, and that's what you want your dog's immune function to be – balanced.

An underactive immune system can lead to yeast overgrowth, because it can't control the balance. The other end of the spectrum is an overactive immune response where allergies are present. This can also lead to problems with yeast.

When a traditional veterinarian sees a dog with allergies – a sign of an overactive immune system – he or she will typically prescribe steroid therapy to shut off the immune response. (This improves symptoms but does not fix the underlying cause of the allergies.)

When your dog's immune system is turned off with drugs, it can't do its job of regulating and balancing normal flora levels, so your pet ends up with yeast blooms.

When conventional vets see dogs with allergies and possibly secondary skin infections, often they prescribe antibiotics. Antibiotics are well-known to destroy all good bacteria along with the bad, wiping out healthy yeast levels in the process, so these drugs often make a bad situation worse.

Another reason an allergic dog, in particular, can end up with a lot of yeast is he can actually develop an allergy to his yeast. Intradermal tests often reveal that a dog is having an allergic response to his own natural flora.

This situation can be very problematic because the dog's allergic response can affect his whole body. These dogs are often red from the tip of the nose to the tip of the tail – their entire bodies are flaming red and irritated.

So dogs with an underactive immune system or that are immuno-suppressed can end up with a yeast infection, as well as dogs that have overactive immune systems, or allergies.

Signs and Symptoms of a Yeasty Dog

Definitive diagnosis by a vet of a yeast infection is accomplished either by cytology (looking at a skin swab under a microscope) or by culturing (submitting a sterile swab of the skin to the lab where the cells are grown and identified on a petri dish).

But as a pet owner, you'll be able to tell if your dog has a yeast infection just by her smell. Yeast has a very characteristic odor. Some people think it smells like moldy bread; others liken the odor to cheese popcorn or corn chips. In fact, some people refer to a yeast infection of a dog's paws as 'Frito Feet.' It's a pungent, musty, unpleasant smell.

The odor of a yeast infection is not a normal doggy odor. Healthy dogs don't have a 'doggy odor.' So if your pup has stinky paws or musty-smelling ears, chances are she's dealing with a yeast overgrowth.

Another sign your dog is yeasty is scratching. Yeast overgrowth is tremendously itchy. If it's a problem with her paws, she won't be able to leave them alone. The same goes for her ears. A lot of butt scooting can also be a clue.

If your dog is spending a lot of time digging at herself to relieve intense itching, take heed. Whether it's a bacterial or yeast infection, she needs your help to solve the problem.

Step #1 in Clearing a Yeast Infection: Address the Diet

If your pet is dealing with yeast overgrowth, there are a couple of things you'll need to do.

Number one, you must address his diet. It's rare that a dog has yeast in just one spot – one ear, for example. If that's the case with your pet, you can probably get by just treating that ear for yeast and keeping your fingers crossed his immune system responds to re-balance his natural flora.

But if your dog, like the majority, has yeast in more than one spot, for example on all four paws or both ears, or especially if his entire body is yeasty, you have no choice but to look at what he's eating.

Diet is the foundation of health. The way you nourish your dog is either going to help his immune system manage yeast, or it's going to feed a potential or existing yeast overgrowth situation.

I encourage you to put your pet on what I call an 'anti-yeast diet.' The beauty of an anti-yeast diet is it is also an anti-inflammatory and species-appropriate diet.

Yeast needs sugar as a source of energy. Carbohydrates break down into sugar. Both MDs and veterinarians advise patients with yeast to get the sugars out of their diets.

Dietary sugar isn't just the white kind added to many pet treats and some pet foods. There are 'secret,' hidden forms of sugar that can also feed yeast overgrowth, for instance, honey. Although honey can be beneficial for pets in some cases, it does provide a food source for yeast. So if your dog is yeasty, you'll need to carefully read his pet food and treat labels and avoid any product containing honey, high fructose corn syrup, and even white potatoes and sweet potatoes.

If your dog has a significant yeast problem, I recommend you go entirely sugar-free. Feed low-glycemic veggies. Eliminate potatoes, corn, wheat, rice – all the carbohydrates need to go away in a sugar-free diet. This is really an important step. I wish I could tell you yeast is easy to treat and avoid without addressing diet, but it isn't. Your pet needs to eat a diet that helps keep his normal flora levels healthy and balanced.

The second thing I recommend is adding some natural anti-fungal foods to his diet, like a small amount of garlic or oregano. These foods are both anti-fungal and anti-yeast and can be beneficial in helping reduce the yeast level in your dog's body.

Disinfecting Yeasty Ears

In addition to providing an anti-yeast diet and anti-fungal foods, the third thing you must do to help your dog overcome a yeast infection is to disinfect yeasty body parts.

This is actually an often overlooked, but common sense, almost-free step in addressing a yeast overgrowth in pets.

In human medicine, it is routine for internists and dermatologists to give patients with yeast specific protocols for cleaning affected parts of the body. The same instruction is rarely given in veterinary medicine, which makes no sense and is really a shame.

Typically, a vet will hand a client with a yeasty dog a cream, salve or dip, with instructions to just keep applying it to the infected area. The problem with this approach is that as yeast dies off, it forms layer of dead yeast on top of layer of dead yeast. Unless you remove the dead layers of yeast and disinfect the skin, adding loads of ointment to layers of dead yeast can actually exacerbate the problem.

So disinfecting the parts of your dog's body that are yeasty is very important. There's no pill or cream that can disinfect your pet – you must do that yourself.

If your pet's ears are yeasty, you'll have to disinfect them daily. Just as some people produce lots of earwax and clean their ears daily, while others produce almost no earwax, the same applies to dogs. Some almost never need their ears cleaned, while others need a daily cleaning.

The frequency is entirely dependent on how much debris your dog's ears produce. So if your Lab has soupy ears throughout the summer months, you'll need to clean them every day during that period.

If you check your dog's ears and they're clean, dry and have no odor, you can skip a day of cleaning. Again, the amount of cleaning should correlate with the amount of debris built up in the ear. If you don't clean out that debris, it won't magically disappear on its own. It will grow from wax, to yeast, to a fulminating bacterial infection unless you deal with it.

You can disinfect your dog's ears with either a store bought solution or with witch hazel and large cotton balls. Use as many cotton balls as it takes to remove all the debris from the ears at each cleaning. Do not put Q-tips down into the canals of your dog's ears.

Disinfecting Yeasty Paws

Yeast thrives in a moist environment and in crevices – between your dog's foot pads, for example, in armpit and groin creases, and around the vulva and anus. So disinfecting those parts of a yeasty dog is really important.

Since the only body parts that sweat on your dog are his nose and the pads of his feet, during hot humid months when yeast tends to thrive, you'll need to disinfect those paws.

Depending on the size of your dog, you can use one of those Rubbermaid sweater boxes filled with water from a hose, or if your dog is small you can just pop him in the kitchen or bathroom sink. If you have a giant size breed, you can try a coffee can or cup filled with water. The goal is to dunk the feet, then pat them dry.

Spraying or wiping down a dog's paws won't get the job done. Yeast lives under the nail beds and in all the creases you can't get to if the paws aren't submerged in a foot soak.

I recommend a gallon of water, a cup of hydrogen peroxide, and 1-4 cups of white vinegar as a foot soak solution. You can use this solution as many times a day as necessary to keep your dog's feet clean. 'Clean and dry' needs to become your mantra.

After you dip your dog's feet in the astringent solution of water/hydrogen peroxide/white vinegar, there's no need to rinse. Just pat the paws dry. Leaving the solution dried on your dog's paws serves as an antifungal and should also reduce licking and digging at the paws.

Anti-Yeast Baths and Rinses

If your dog has yeast overgrowth on her skin, I recommend disinfecting her entire body with a natural, anti-fungal shampoo. And yes, you can do this as often as necessary.

It's no longer true that you shouldn't bathe dogs regularly. Back in the days of very harsh shampoos made from coal and tar derivatives, this was good advice. But there are now plenty of safe shampoos on the market that will not over dry your pet's skin or damage her coat.

Since carbs and grains ultimately feed yeast overgrowth, I don't recommend you use oatmeal-based shampoos. Oatmeal is a grain which provides a food source for that yeast on your dog's skin.

Use an anti-fungal shampoo made from, for example, tea tree oil or an herbal blend. These will help control the amount of yeast growing on your pet.

I also recommend anti-fungal rinses during the summer months, from one to three times per week after shampooing. I use a gallon of water with a cup of vinegar or a cup of lemon juice. You can also use 20 drops of peppermint oil. All three will make your pooch smell nice.

After shampooing with, say, a tea tree shampoo and rinsing thoroughly, follow with one of these natural anti-fungal astringent rinses to knock down the amount of yeast.

You should never pour these rinses over your dog's head or into her eyes. Pour from the collar, back. Pour the gallon of solution over her and rub it into her coat and skin, focusing on body parts that tend to grow yeast -- armpits, feet, groin area and around the tail. Then towel dry without rinsing. Your dog will not only feel better, the yeast won't replicate as quickly.

One word of warning about using both lemon juice and hydrogen peroxide: they can bleach a black dog's fur. If you have a black coated dog, you should go with vinegar to avoid a lightening effect.

For Dogs with Stubborn or Recurring Yeast Infections

For many dogs, yeast problems are seasonal. When the temperature and humidity levels rise each year, they get yeasty and stinky. If this is the case with your dog, the summer months are when you'll need to be vigilant about disinfecting your pet and addressing any dietary issues that might be contributing to the problem.

However, if your dog has year-round yeast problems – whether it's 90 degrees outside or the dead of winter – you should be thinking about potential immune system issues.

If your dog is overwhelmed with an opportunistic pathogen like yeast, it's likely his immune system isn't operating at 100 percent.

In my practice, when I see a pet with a stubborn yeast infection, I do immune testing to measure his immunoglobulin levels (IgG, IgM and IgA). Generally these levels are low in a dog with constant yeast overgrowth.

If your dog is producing healthy levels of immunoglobulins, he should be able to overcome almost any infection, and particularly an opportunistic yeast infection.

Itchy, Smelly Dog? This May Be the Problem... By Dr. Becker.

Dr. Karen Becker is a proactive and integrative wellness veterinarian. You can visit her site at: MercolaHealthyPets.com.

Her goal is to help you create wellness in order to prevent illness in the lives of your pets. This proactive approach seeks to save you and your pet from unnecessary stress and suffering by identifying and removing health obstacles even before disease occurs. Unfortunately, most veterinarians in the United States are trained to be reactive. They wait for symptoms to occur, and often treat those symptoms without addressing the root cause.

By reading Dr. Becker's information, you'll learn how to make impactful, consistent lifestyle choices to improve your pet's quality of life.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate link(s), which may result in compensation for AllAboutLabradors.blogspot.com. For more information about All About Labradors please read our Disclaimer and Disclosure Policies. We've shared this information to inform you of your option to either use our affiliated links or to go directly to the site of interest.

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How to Train a Labrador

The Labrador retriever is a relatively simple dog. Not only does he 'asks' few questions, but he also has plenty of love to share. However, if a dog breed had an emotional intelligence capability that breed would be the Labrador. These dogs were originally bred as hunting dogs, to retrieve dead or injured birds, thus their name. The Labrador is still widely used for these purposes and is also a common family pet.

This dog breed is extremely trainable and is of great assistance to seeing impaired people as well as to police officers. In other words, you can not only teach your dog a lot of tricks and therefore have a lot of fun together, but also teach him to be a better companion around the house, not causing any troubles.

Training your Labrador starts with monitoring his behavior around food. Most dogs of this breed are hungry all the time. Therefore, if you don't keep a strict eye on your dog's diet, he may put on a lot of weight, putting strain on organs and joints. Luckily, Labradors tend to accept almost all types of foods. That's why even cherry tomatoes and carrots can be good training treats.

Teach your dog to focus. The majority of Labradors, especially the female ones tend to scare easily, that is, they develop a spooking behavior – barking or growling at a stimulus. If not overcame, this can turn into a sort of a bad habit.
Preventing this behavior is of crucial importance. The element of surprise can be taken away by distracting the dog from everything, which can cause a reaction. When you are out with the dog, encourage him to regularly look at you. Whenever he does, reward him with a treat. Practice this type of keeping the attention by using various treats and withhold the reward gradually. Use this method until the dog learns to focus.

You will also need to teach your dog how to greet and behave in a social manner. Labradors jump at every person possible if not trained otherwise. This is because Labradors enjoy human contact which is why they are so overly joyous. However, if you don't control that behavior, your puppy will grow up and become a bouncy and uncontrollable adult dog.

When the dog is still a small puppy, jumping is, in a way, encouraged, as there is nothing cuter than to see a small bouncing doggie in play. However, your Labrador grows up and this behavior establishes until you end up with a seventy pound dog that jumps all the time and you don't know how to deal with.

Luckily, teaching your four legged friend to stay on his paws when he has to requires a minimal effort. Teach him a sort of alternative behavior. It could be quite easy with some positive reinforcement and food reward. Teach your Labrador to greet while sitting rather than to jump at people whenever he is glad to see them. You can utilize the Clicking training method, which can bring great results. Of course, as already noted, food rewards will greatly help, but they need to be given up to a certain point. And if your Labrador jumps at the food, turn away and hold the treat above your head. This will make the dog realize that jumping will simply not help. After that, only a certain command word, like the obvious 'Sit' has to be more than enough to stop your dog from jumping.

The article has been provided by Angela Harpert - a devoted mom and wife who gladly shares her Colliers Wood house moving experience and other family tricks for happiness, among which how to deal the boys and the labradors.

Labrador Retriever Training Help:

• The Everything Labrador Retriever Book
• The Labrador Shooting Dog: Training the Labrador Retriever as an All-Around Sporting Dog
• Labrador Puppy Training: The Ultimate Guide on Labrador Puppies
• Labrador Retriever DVD + Dog & Puppy Training Bonus

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate link(s), which may result in compensation for AllAboutLabradors.blogspot.com. For more information about All About Labradors please read our Disclaimer and Disclosure Policies. We've shared this information to inform you of your option to either use our affiliated links or to go directly to the site of interest.

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California Natural, Innova, EVO and Healthwise Dog Food Recall

March 18, 2013 – Natural Pet Products announced it is is voluntarily recalling four brands of dry dog due to possible contamination with Salmonella bacteria.

The following four brands that are being recalled include:

• EVO
• Innova
• California Natural
• HealthWise

No Karma, Mother Nature, wet or treat products are included in this recall.

See the following "Dear Natura Family" from Natura Pet for more information:

"Dear Natura Family,
As pet parents and dedicated pet health advocates, it pains us to inform you of the first recall in our company's 21-year history.

During a recent random sampling, the FDA confirmed the presence of salmonella in one of our products. We take this extremely seriously, because your pets are like ours – they're part of the family – and we aren't taking any chances. As a result, we have voluntarily recalled a number of our products as a precautionary measure. Fortunately, there have been no reported animal or human health issues associated with these products, and we have confirmed that this is not a widespread issue.

Natura was founded on the commitment to provide the healthiest natural pet food in the world. As Natura employees who live this commitment every day, words cannot express our disappointment with this finding. We place quality as the cornerstone of our products. It is a process of ongoing improvement, and we will continually review and raise these standards. Unfortunately, salmonella and other contaminants pose a great challenge to the food industry, and no company is immune.

We want to assure you, our valued customers, that we are more committed than ever to animal and human safety. We have fully investigated and identified the cause of this incident. Our production is ongoing, and you can continue to feed any Natura products outside of this incident with confidence.

We know that trust is earned. This incident further fuels our passionate commitment to your pet's health and safety. We promise to demonstrate this commitment through our actions now and in the future.

Click here for details on the recall products. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us at (800) 224-6123.

Sincerely,
Employees of Natura Pet Products"

Download the Affected Products (PDF) to see a full list of which products are affected by the voluntary recall.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate link(s), which may result in compensation for AllAboutLabradors.blogspot.com. For more information about All About Labradors please read our Disclaimer and Disclosure Policies. We've shared this information to inform you of your option to either use our affiliated links or to go directly to the site of interest.

Continue Reading...