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When you get a puppy, it’s best to start training to encourage good walking habits on a lead straight away.  It’s a common sight to some an harassed bedraggled dog owner being dragged by their exuberant dog.  It can be particularly problematic in large breeds which due to pure strength and weight become difficult to control if they are not taught walking etiquette from an early age.

In the same way a puppy learns to connect the appearance of a tin opener with its favourite teatime treat and the jingle of the lead with a walk, they can soon learn that the command ‘heel’ means not pulling on the lead.  Here’s some top tips for training a puppy to heel:

• Take some small pieces of food or a squeaky toy with you to create interest in you from your dog and to reward his good behaviour.
• Say the command ‘heel’ and walk forward with the lead and collar on.  Keep the food or toy visible as you go.
• If your puppy becomes distracted speak to it or touch it to encourage it to pay attention and then try again.  A pup will generally quickly follow you if you walk off.  Then offer a treat as a reward.
• Turn left and right repeating the command ‘heel’ keeping food visible each time you turn.  Treat him and praise him.
• Keep the training to one minute long and then treat him and play with him.

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Types of Treatments for Pets with Cancer

Caring For a Pet with Cancer

Caring for pets with cancer can be a very emotional and trying time. Depending on what type of cancer and the treatment suggested by the vet will determine what type of special care they will need. To make this time a little less trying on your family you might want to consider whether it would be worth the cost for you to buy pet insurance when you first bring your new pet home. That way no matter what happens during their lifetime you will have the peace of mind of knowing you will be able to provide any expensive medical care needed.

Surgery

If your pet has been diagnosed with a removable tumor; surgery will be necessary. Your vet will probably give you instructions on what to do to prepare your pet for the surgery. When they are allowed to come home they will need extra tender loving care. They will probably be a little slower than usual and will have to be kept inside.

You will want to keep the pet as calm as possible, which can be hard to do because everyone in the family will want to spend extra time with them. Your vet will give you instructions on what your pet can do and not do. You will have a follow-up vet appointment to make sure your pet is healing properly.

Pet insurance is like having health insurance on yourself, it is there when you need it for those unexpected large health-related bills. By having this kind of insurance you can ensure that your four-legged loved ones will get the best treatment if they are ever diagnosed with having cancer. You can also get dog insurance or cat insurance on older pets. They don't have to be puppies or kittens to be eligible; as long as you keep the premiums up they will be covered for their lifetime.

Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy

The radiation or chemotherapy treatments given to dogs and cats are done over a period of time. This will mean many visits to the vet's office for treatments. The drugs used in treatments are they same as used on humans but in lower dosages.

Fortunately, animals don't seem to have the harsh side effects as humans do. You will have to keep your pet as comfortable as possible during this time and be on the alert for any signs of side effects. Your vet will give you detailed instructions on how to take care of your pet and what to look out for.

Today with things such as the cost of medical treatment at its highest and still increasing your smart move is to buy pet insurance. This will give you piece of mind and the ability to take care of your four legged family members incase they need treatment for cancer. For just a few pounds a month you will be able to provided the best medical treatment for your pets to insure a long a healthy life.  For more on pets with cancer click on the orange link

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Surgery is a very common treatment for cancer in pets when the cancer is a solid tissue tumour. If the tumour is detected early; usually removal of the tumour will cure the problem. Chemotherapy is used to control tumour growth and can be done alone or combined with surgery. The drugs used are the same anti-cancer drugs used for humans. Fortunately animals don’t seem to have the negative side effects that are seen in humans using chemotherapy.

Radiotherapy- sometimes called radiation- is used to kill malignant cells in a localized area in your pet. This type of treatment is usually easily tolerated in animals.

Cancer treatments can be very costly, and sadly, cancer is becoming more common in pets. It would be wise to prepare and have the ability to provide for your beloved pets in the future. Buying pet insurance can help alleviate some of the strain on your budget if you were faced with expensive vet bills. There are a variety of policies to choose from which will meet your needs, and different levels of cover including full lifetime cover which could help with the soaring cost of treatment.

Animal Friends offers many different policies to help protect your pet and your budget. They are a not-for- profit organization, which means all of the net profits from their Pet Insurance and Life Insurance policies go directly to animal charities around the globe. If you were to decide to buy pet insurance through Animal Friends it would be two-fold; you get peace of mind from knowing you will be able to provide medical help for the four-legged members of your family and you will also be contributing to charities around the world who help animals in need.

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Along with getting a good vet and taking out pet insurance, toilet training your puppy will be one of your top priorities.  If you’re lucky and you’ve bought your puppy from a kind breeder he’ll be partly toilet trained before you bring him home.  However, even if that is the case often in the whirl of strange scents and new surrounding the new frightened puppy can forget all his toilet etiquette and revert back to having accidents.  Be patient as the new sights and sounds will upset and confuse him initially.  He’s probably away from his mother for the first time as well as the rest of his litter.  There’ll be new people and possibly other pets to contend with which can lead to all too much excitement and many a puddle on your carpet.

The best way to approach this is to be prepared by putting down newspaper in the rooms he’s allowed to frequent.  As a puppy he’ll have a small bladder and the muscles within the bladder will still be strengthening and developing.  If he wants to go, it will be immediate.  Put the bulk of the paper near the back door to signal this is where he should go.

Keep your eyes peeled for him sniffing and circling.  This is typical pre-toilet dog behaviour and should signal you to grab him and put him on the paper.  If he does have an accident, don’t get angry and don’t smack him or try to rub his nose in it.  If you’re not quick enough to catch him in mid flow he’ll have no idea why you are angry with him and will get frightened and confused.  The more you catch him and place him on the paper the more he’ll start to cotton on.

If you’ve set your heart on a new kitten then before you look anywhere else take a trip to your local cat shelter.  It’s a sad fact that cat shelters these days are full up with cats and kittens desperate for a new loving home.  Unless you have a burning desire for a particular breed of cat, make this your first port of call.

There are many reasons to go to a cat shelter but perhaps the most powerful is the feel-good factor.  As the number of abandoned pets rises you can feel warm in the knowledge that you have helped to give a cat a promising future and the type of life it deserves.  You’re also helping to keep the ever increasing cat population under control as buying from a cat shelter comes with conditions.  You must commit to getting your cat spayed or neutered but often the cat shelter will do this for you at a reduced price.

When looking for a kitten, remember that there is often a huge demand for younger cats.  Try to go with an open mind.  There are thousands of adult cats abandoned and brought to cat shelters every year.  The benefit is that you will be able to get an idea from the shelter volunteers as to what type of personality the cat has.  A kitten to some extent is an unknown entity.

Before you’ve even entered the cat shelter make sure you have considered what you are committing to.  Although it is true that cats are much more independent than dogs and do not need you to walk them they still require love, care and attention.  A healthy cat can live to the ripe old age of 20 years.  There will be vet bills to pay so good cat insurance is a must.

If you’re sure you want to commit then enjoy searching out your new feline companion and welcoming them to their new home.

Old age catches up with all of us and your feline friend is no exception to that rule.  When you decide to have a cat as a pet you need to be prepared for the inevitable aging process that will occur as your cat grows older.  This means you should expect to visit the vet more often than you did in the past and for your cat to develop aches and pains that he didn’t suffer from before.  Although when you first get your fuzzy, cheeky kitten it may seem a long way off, investing in a good pet insurance that covers your cat into old age is a sound investment.

The biggest difference you will observe in your cat as it gets older is that it will tend to slow down dramatically and sleep for longer.  Older cats are real cozy toes and their health will benefit a great deal if you ensure your cat has got plenty of safe, warm areas to snooze in.  There are some excellent cat beds available in some of the major pet stores which provide your cat a cozy haven.  There are various colours, styles and sizes of beds which can be machine washed to keep them fresh and attractive to your cat.  Place the cat bed away from drafts in the warmth.  This will ensure your cat is not exposed to cold which could set off a complaint.

The main area that seems to suffer in old age is the cat’s teeth.  Wear and tear plus the build up of plaque over time can mean that your cat’s teeth deteriorate rapidly.  Regular visits to the vet should highlight any problems before they get out of hand.  Try to make a visit every six months and your vet can recommend the best foods to give your cat to protect their teeth plus any plaque removing techniques you may need to employ.

As your cat gets older he’ll need more care and attention but by taking some simple steps you guarantee your cat a happy and healthy old age.

Taking a trip out with your pet dog can feel similar to exercising a military operation at times.  However taking some time initially to research the best equipment to take will ease any stress and ensure you and your dog have a wonderful day out.

The first thing to consider is where you will place the dog to ensure they are safe and secure in the car.  You don’t want your dog roaming unrestricted in your vehicle as this can be potentially very dangerous for both you and your pet.  If you have a hatchback then putting the dog in the boot is the safest choice.  You can buy railings which fit securely between the floor and the ceiling keeping the dog contained.  If your boot isn’t ideal then there are harnesses that click into the seat belt fastening to restrain the dog.  You can also section off the back seat of the car with railings. Another idea is to use a crate but your car needs to be big enough to accommodate this.

The next thing is to protect your car from all the dirt, grime, hair and slobber that your dog will so lavishly bestow upon you car seats if you don’t cover them.  There are plenty of waterproof sheets and covers available to fit all varieties of cars and areas.  You can also buy zip in towels.  You simple stick your muddy friend inside and zip it up keeping him warm and your car mud free.

Clicker training is fast becoming one of the most popular ways of training your pet dog.  The idea behind clicker training is that an animal learns certain positive behaviour through a conditioned reinforcer.  This means that a good behaviour is reinforced or ‘marked’ with a click.  This is then further reinforced with a treat or praise.  It’s not long before the dog recognizes that if he performs good behaviour he’ll get something positive in return.

It can be fun for you and your dog to learn together and can help to develop a strong partnership between you both.  If you want to start agility classes then clicker training can also be used to guide your dog through tunnels, over jumps and around weaves also.

Clicker training is so successful not because of the treat or the clicker but because you can highlight good behaviour in your dog very easily.  In addition to this it’s equally as effective in puppies as it is in adult dogs.