The Help Tabloid

If you too like me hate obtaining a caterer and hate making sure that what they are cooking is exactly what you want, then there is different simpler and more magnificent way of catering. It’s not a new way in fact it’s over five hundred years old and in my opinion is the best way to feed hundreds of hungry people. Having a hog roast. In England hog roasts have been a favourite way of catering large parties or events for a very long time. Hog roasts are a lot less formal than a lot of other catering techniques and therefore is a wonderful option, not only this but it is comparatively cheap regarding what you are getting. The things you will require for a hog roast include all the cooking equipment and a chef for the day, the animal you want to roast and all the needed side dishes and sauces, commonly a hog roasting company will be able to provide you this complete service. The company that i employed made sure that i had everything that i could perchance require and were really good at carving the meat and serving my invitees, i discovered this company on the internet, the chef turned up at my house (where i was having my party) in more than enough time to cook the hog in time for when i required to eat. I hope that the next time you have a party or event that you will think of having a hog roast.

Many Americans today live with being overweight or obese, and recent studies show that America’s pets are now suffering from these problems as well. Obesity became a serious problem for Americans in the 1990’s when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found a 61% rise in the number of obese Americans and a 49% rise in the number of Americans with diabetes. These data are directly related to the fact that during this rise, 27.3% of people did not engage in any physical activity at all. It seems that Americans just don’t like or don’t have time for exercising. The average American diet only makes the situation worse. The enormous fast food industry has become an unhealthy pillar of American culture over the past decade. The crucial difference between human and Pet Obesity is that pets don’t have control over their diet or exercise program. People that abuse their own bodies with poor food and exercise choices seem to be passing that abuse on to their pets. The National Academy of Science said that today 1 in 4 pets are overweight while other surveys say that as many as 40% of dogs and 12% of cats presented at clinics are either overweight or obese. It seems as though American’s bad lifestyle habits have started to affect man’s best friends. Many medical problems have been linked to obesity both in humans and animals. Heart disease and diabetes are just a few ailments on a long list of problems related to being overweight. Pets are known to also suffer from joint disease, stroke and fatigue at much higher rates when overweight. So what can pet owner’s do to help their furry loved ones live longer, healthier lives? It boils down to the same to the same two things for Americans and their pets, diet and exercise.

For any weight loss program, human or animal, diet is the first essential part. The first step is to consult with a veterinarian to ensure that the weight gain is not related to a medical condition such as hypothyroidism. The vet will also help construct a diet plan specific to the pets needs. A common misconception is that healthy dogs and cats must eat every day when in fact they do not. Smaller breeds are an exception, but even then pet owners must take care not to overfeed. This being said, the easiest way to cut calories is to simply reduce the amount the pet eats. One method is to reduce a pet’s daily food intake by one third. If in two weeks there is no weight loss, then the amount should be reduced by a third again until results are seen. It may seem cruel, but it’s crucial to remember that they will live much better lives for it. Things such as sugary foods and table scraps should never be allowed in a pet’s diet, and pet treats should be given in moderation. Another issue to consider is the effectiveness of specially formulated, low-calorie pet food. With the rise of Pet Obesity, pet food companies raced to offer the public low-calorie alternatives. Some veterinarians say the low fat and high fiber content is beneficial, however, there are others that attest the amount of carbohydrates is far too high. As many low-carb dieters know, high carbs equal high insulin levels which leads to the storage of fat.

The other necessary part of battling pet obesity is to increase their daily amount of exercise. This means giving more walks for dogs and more playtime for cats and dogs. While it’s suggested that people work out 30 minutes most days of the week, dogs need about 45 minutes to an hour of good exercise every day. This requires commitment and love on the part of the owner, but as an incentive, the pets who don’t exercise have been shown to shorten their life span by as much as two years and suffer many more ailments. Besides walking, playtime is an excellent opportunity for pet exercise and for human entertainment. This is as simple as investing in good pet toys. For cats, cat nip toys have been shown to especially encourage a flurry of activity. If an owner sticks to giving their pet the best diet and exercise, they will enrich the pet’s life and their own as well.

Grant Carroll proud father of three dogs and co-owner of http://www.littlepamperedpets.com with Dog Clothes and Small Dog Sweaters.

Also visit Little Pampered Babies where you can find Unique Baby Clothes and Toddler Clothing

Exercise is essential to keep your dog in tiptop shape. Frequent exercise means that a dog will be more alert and content, will sleep better, have more energy and is more socialised. Dogs are also keen on routine and it is hard to avoid the disappointing look when a walk is not forthcoming. So, establish a routine and consider that a half hour walk twice a day is enough to exercise your pooch, but this will vary depending on the type of dog you have.

If your dog is not fit, start the new program slowly and work up your dog’s fitness level gradually. The loyal dog will never say no which means it’s up to you to monitor the level of exercise your dog is suited to. For overweight dogs, older dogs and puppies, the fitness program should be structured to suit their requirements. Always consult your veterinarian for advice. A puppy is still developing, so too much vigorous exercise can damage bones and joints. Older dogs will require exercise, so gentle walks during the cooler parts of the day are ideal.

Be prepared!
Invest in a small carry bag that can be slung over your shoulder or one which clips onto your belt. This means you can carry plastic bags for picking up poo, a collapsible canvas water bag ideal for longer walks, a whistle or clicker, a few tasty (and healthy) dried treats and a ball or toy that your dog likes to fetch.

A popular exercise routine for many pet owners is to walk their dog on a leash to their local leash-free dog park or beach, or you may have to drive to the location. Some councils are now outfitting parks with dog agility courses which is great way to exercise together and practice training. Contact your local council for a list of leash-free parks in your area.

Jogging
Most dogs are not suited to jogging, but if you have a Kelpie or Border Collie, a good run is one way to give them the level of exercise they need. Fitness should be fun, however, and dogs like to stop and start, sniff the territory and mark their scent. By nature they are not inclined to jog consistently so run in bursts and then walk.

Dog’s paws are susceptible and remember that you are the one wearing shoes. Check the bitumen with your hand and if it is too hot do not exercise your dog along pathways.

Fun Fitness
Dogs like routine, but walking around the block can become tedious. If you are really keen to get fit with your dog you might like to consider two fun dog sports: agility and flyball. Agility is a sequence of obstacles such as hurdles, tunnels and weave poles which the dog learns to negotiate without errors against the clock. The dog that completes the obstacles correctly within the time set will achieve a ‘Clear Round’. The winner is the quickest of these dogs.

Flyball is a sport in which any dog can participate regardless of breed, shape or size. It encompasses chasing, jumping, catching and retrieving - all the things that dogs love to do. Flyball is a relay race between two competing teams. Each team has four dogs. One from each team (racing side by side) must go over four hurdles, trigger a flyball box pedal, catch (retrieve) a ball and then return over all four hurdles to the star/finish line where the next dog eagerly awaits.

Heat exhaustion
Avoid exercising your dog on very hot or humid days. Dogs cool themselves by panting and if panting does not reduce the body temperature the dog will develop heatstroke. Animals suffering from heat exhaustion will pant, lie on their side and be listless and disoriented. If you think your pet is suffering from heat exhaustion it must be cooled promptly. Put the animal in a cool and shady area. Damp it down with tepid water (never ice) and fan the animal. Contact your nearest veterinarian but do not transport the animal in a hot car. Only place it in a vehicle that has air conditioning or is cool and airy. Keep the animal damp with cool air playing over its body during the car trip. If the animal is conscious, offer cool, not cold, drinking water. Do not allow the animal to gulp large amounts of water.

For lots of easy to read articles, full of useful information that is sure to help you out with your pet or pets, go to http://www.P-E-T-S.info. While you are there sign up for the PET NEWS email newsletter - it is FREE and packed with handy tips for pet owners.

It can be hard to talk about turtles properly in North America because what we refer to as turtles is not really what a turtle is. While traditionally we use the word to describe those shelled reptiles that live by the water it really refers to any shelled reptile there is. In this part of the world we generally refer to the land turtles as tortoises.

So though we separate the species in our minds by assigning different words, they are really all one. These are little guys that are born with a shell. It is a bony leathery shell that grows with them and is pretty much carried with them for life.

Turtles are resilient creatures and perhaps one of the best examples of evolved life on Earth. This is because they have survived longer than most any other species that has come along. The earliest known turtles lived so long ago that dinosaurs were walking the earth with them, but when the disaster struck to wipe out the dinosaurs the turtles managed to survive. They also survived another life altering disaster a few million years later.

Now these guys back then were so well evolved, that is to say they were such a perfect specimen of what they should be, that the oldest fossils we know of are not much different than the ones that roam around today. That means that in the past millions of years turtles have not changed, and have not had to change, all that much in order to survive. Compare that with humans who have evolved dramatically from where we were just a million years ago.

These days turtles can be found everywhere. Populated or remote areas, in personal aquariums or you can find some really big and old turtles in any number of zoos.

Van Whitsett has published a number of articles, both online and offline. For more info on turtles, visit: Turtle Pond

Why Behavior Consultations?

More than half of all pet owners experience behavior problems
with theirs pets. Unfortunately, many times the early signs of a
behavior problem may go unrecognized or little is done to try to
treat the initial problem until it becomes more serious. Many
pet owners simply put up with the problem behavior and suffer
the consequences or, ultimately, have to give their pet away.
Fortunately, if help is sought early enough and if an
appropriate treatment plan is followed, often the behavior
problem can be cured.

What Is Involved?

In order to make it easier and more affordable for our clients
to address behavior problems before they get out of hand, Linda
Mar Veterinary Hospital staff veterinarian Ilana Strubel, DVM,
MA provides in-office behavior consultations.

Consultations take approximately one hour and must be scheduled
in advance. The presence of all family members over the age of 6
and any pet involved in the problem is requested so that any
underlying dynamics contributing to the problem behavior can be
identified.

A comprehensive medical and behavioral history questionnaire is
provided for the client to complete and return in advance of the
appointment. In some cases, a videotape of the pet’s problem
behavior at home may also be requested. This information allows
the doctor to become familiar with the presenting behavior
problem so that she may best utilize the time spent with the
patient and client during the consultation.

During the appointment, the doctor will ask further questions
pertinent to the history of the problem and form a tentative
diagnosis. Once the diagnosis of the main problem is made, Dr.
Strubel is able to provide a thorough explanation of the pet’s
behavior problem and a customized plan for solving it.

If appropriate to the problem, the doctor will demonstrate the
proper use and fitting of training collars and/or head halter.
For all problems, handouts explaining the behavior and outlining
steps for correcting it are provided to assist the client with
implementing the treatment plan.

If drug therapy is advised, it may be necessary to collect a
blood sample for baseline values to help ensure the patient’s
safety and to avoid possible side effects. All animals given
prescriptions for behavior medications will need to be closely
monitored by the prescribing veterinarian. The cost of any
medications or products prescribed during the appointment is not
included in the consultation fee.

The consultation fee includes two follow-up phone calls during
the first few weeks after the consultation to assist with any
problems or questions that may arise. It is advised that all
behavior modification protocols be implemented slowly and
precisely to ensure greater long-term success.

Depending on the type of behavior problem it may be necessary to
introduce the training program in stages, and a follow up visit
in one to two months may be recommended. This can be scheduled
with Dr. Strubel as a regular 20-minute office visit or as a
full hour, if desired. Dr. Strubel may also consult with Board
Certified Veterinary Behavior Specialists regarding more
challenging behavior problems and assist in scheduling a
referral if indicated.

What Are The Behavior Consultant’s Qualifications?

Ilana Strubel, DVM, MA is a general practitioner with a special
interest in behavioral medicine. Dr. Strubel received her
Bachelor’s degree in ethology (animal behavior), ecology, and
evolution from the University of Illinois. She then earned a
Master’s degree in marine biology with a special focus on marine
mammal behavior from Boston University. Dr. Strubel then
returned to the University of Illinois where she completed her
doctorate in veterinary medicine.

Since 1995, Dr. Strubel has practiced small animal medicine and
surgery. She has trained with the Behavior Service at the
Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital at the University of
California, Davis, and is currently a member of the American
Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior.

Dog Fleas & Ticks.

Fleas.

Dog fleas are different to those which infest humans and cats. When a flea bites, it injects saliva to stop the blood clotting whilst it sucks it up. The saliva contains chemicals which often cause an allergic reaction in the dog.

The signs are :-
Bites which look like small red pimples.
Black, gritty material in the coat, and areas of inflammation on the animals back.
Scratching.

What is the treatment ?
Spring-clean the house and treat the dog’s favorite places with a suitable insecticidal spray. Flea tablets or collars are a good extra precaution, and spray badly affected animals frequently with insecticide during the summer months. (the flea season)

Ticks

The common tick seen on dogs is the sheep tick. this has a large abdomen that stretches as it fills with blood. It hangs on to the dog’s hair and sticks it’s mouth parts through the skin to suck blood.Ticks are usually found on the underside of the dog, under the forelegs and on the head.

What is the treatment ?
Try to remove every tick when you see it. It is important to extract the head, otherwise an abscess may form. If the head is left in, warm compresses help draw out the infection, combined with antibacterial washes and creams.

Removing a tick.
A good method is to get the tick’s head to relax or die by dabbing it with alcohol. Wait a couple of minutes, then use fine-pointed tweezers to extract the tick. Grasp it near the mouth parts, and give it a sharp jerk. This should dislodge it.

Alternatively, flea sprays can be used locally on ticks. The tick will then die and can be removed the following day. Regular use of a flea spray in tick areas often keeps them away.

When my own dogs have suffered with ticks or fleas in the past, I’ve always managed to deal with them myself, but if you’ve any concerns at all with your own dog, then consult your vet as a precaution.

Author John Moore ..please use my link
http://www.pet-dog-cat.com
About the Author

Author - John Moore
http://www.pet-dog-cat.com