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Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Heatstroke: Are Your Dogs at Risk?
It is not uncommon to hear about someone who left their dog in a parked car, even for just a few minutes, and came back to find them suffering from heatstroke or already dead.
If temperatures are about 70-80F a car can heat up to 100F within minutes. If the temperature is 85F and the windows are slightly open the temperature inside can reach 102F in ten minutes and in 30 minutes it can reach 120F.
On hot and humid days the temperature inside a car parked in the sun can increase more than 30F each minute. That quickly becomes lethal since at 110F a dog is in danger of heatstroke.
The best thing you can do is leave your dog at home when you go out on errands. Even if you dont plan on leaving your dog in the car, there is always the risk that your cars air conditioning will fail and you and your dog end up driving around in an oven on wheels.
Fresh, cool water and shade are the two most important things for a dog that spends a lot of time outdoors. Dogs dehydrate very quickly and their water bowls need to be refilled several times a day with cool, fresh water.
Another thing you can do is provide a little pool for your dog or let him run through the sprinklers. Some dogs love to cool off with the hose. If you provide a pool, be sure to empty it and refill it often to prevent mosquito larvae from growing.
If your dog is left outside during the day, be sure to provide plenty of shade. Even if your yard is shaded naturally it is important to set up some kind of shelter from the heat. Set it up in the shade of a tree, for example, and make sure that the shelter is large enough so that air can pass through it freely.
Your dogs footpads are very sensitive to the heat. Hot pavement can cause severe burns. Avoid walking your dog on hot pavement and cool his paws in cool water when you get home from a walk.
Some dog breeds have more problems in the heat than others. Boston Terriers, Pugs, Boxers and other dogs with pushed up snouts have a tougher time in hot weather than others. They will need extra care to make sure they keep comfortable and safe from the heat.
There are other breeds that just arent meant to live in areas that reach higher temperatures. These include the St. Bernard, Alaskan Malamute, Huskie, Old English Sheepdog, Newfoundland and any other breed that has a dense, heavy coat.
A visit to the groomer for a nice, short haircut can help these dogs keep comfortable in warmer weather. Other dogs that would feel better with a short summer haircut include dogs with a double coat, such as the Chow and Collie.
If you think your dog has heatstroke, get him or her to the vet immediately. Use cool water, not ice water, to cool your dog. Be careful not to use very cold water as that will cause constriction of the blood vessels and slow down cooling.
Signs of heatstroke include, among other things, a body temperature of 104-110F, excessive panting, dark or bright red tongue, seizures, bloody diarrhea or vomiting, coma, and death.
If the dogs temperature is 103F or lower, do not aid cooling as some animals can get hypothermic. But if your dog is cooled off and seems okay, do not assume everything is fine.
Internal organs can be negatively affected by a rise in body temperature and blood tests and a vet exam are needed to assess any damage. There is a fatal blood problem called DIC that can result from heatstroke.
To best help your dog handle the heat this summer, keep him at home and NOT in a hot car. Make sure he has a steady supply of cool, fresh water and shade, provide him with air conditioning or a wading pool to keep cool in, decrease his amount of exertion, and exercise him and do any dog training in the cooler times of the day. Following these simple steps will ensure that your dog has a happy, healthy summer.
Copyright 2006 Carol Stack
Carol Stack has been working with dogs for more than three decades. She and her daughter, Christy, have created a web site especially for dog lovers, http://www.christysdogportal.com
¶ 5:40 PM 0 comments
If temperatures are about 70-80F a car can heat up to 100F within minutes. If the temperature is 85F and the windows are slightly open the temperature inside can reach 102F in ten minutes and in 30 minutes it can reach 120F.
On hot and humid days the temperature inside a car parked in the sun can increase more than 30F each minute. That quickly becomes lethal since at 110F a dog is in danger of heatstroke.
The best thing you can do is leave your dog at home when you go out on errands. Even if you dont plan on leaving your dog in the car, there is always the risk that your cars air conditioning will fail and you and your dog end up driving around in an oven on wheels.
Fresh, cool water and shade are the two most important things for a dog that spends a lot of time outdoors. Dogs dehydrate very quickly and their water bowls need to be refilled several times a day with cool, fresh water.
Another thing you can do is provide a little pool for your dog or let him run through the sprinklers. Some dogs love to cool off with the hose. If you provide a pool, be sure to empty it and refill it often to prevent mosquito larvae from growing.
If your dog is left outside during the day, be sure to provide plenty of shade. Even if your yard is shaded naturally it is important to set up some kind of shelter from the heat. Set it up in the shade of a tree, for example, and make sure that the shelter is large enough so that air can pass through it freely.
Your dogs footpads are very sensitive to the heat. Hot pavement can cause severe burns. Avoid walking your dog on hot pavement and cool his paws in cool water when you get home from a walk.
Some dog breeds have more problems in the heat than others. Boston Terriers, Pugs, Boxers and other dogs with pushed up snouts have a tougher time in hot weather than others. They will need extra care to make sure they keep comfortable and safe from the heat.
There are other breeds that just arent meant to live in areas that reach higher temperatures. These include the St. Bernard, Alaskan Malamute, Huskie, Old English Sheepdog, Newfoundland and any other breed that has a dense, heavy coat.
A visit to the groomer for a nice, short haircut can help these dogs keep comfortable in warmer weather. Other dogs that would feel better with a short summer haircut include dogs with a double coat, such as the Chow and Collie.
If you think your dog has heatstroke, get him or her to the vet immediately. Use cool water, not ice water, to cool your dog. Be careful not to use very cold water as that will cause constriction of the blood vessels and slow down cooling.
Signs of heatstroke include, among other things, a body temperature of 104-110F, excessive panting, dark or bright red tongue, seizures, bloody diarrhea or vomiting, coma, and death.
If the dogs temperature is 103F or lower, do not aid cooling as some animals can get hypothermic. But if your dog is cooled off and seems okay, do not assume everything is fine.
Internal organs can be negatively affected by a rise in body temperature and blood tests and a vet exam are needed to assess any damage. There is a fatal blood problem called DIC that can result from heatstroke.
To best help your dog handle the heat this summer, keep him at home and NOT in a hot car. Make sure he has a steady supply of cool, fresh water and shade, provide him with air conditioning or a wading pool to keep cool in, decrease his amount of exertion, and exercise him and do any dog training in the cooler times of the day. Following these simple steps will ensure that your dog has a happy, healthy summer.
Copyright 2006 Carol Stack
Carol Stack has been working with dogs for more than three decades. She and her daughter, Christy, have created a web site especially for dog lovers, http://www.christysdogportal.com
¶ 5:40 PM 0 comments
Labrador Rescue Denver, Colorado
Labrador rescues in Colorado are frequent, which is both good and bad news. It is good news in that more Labrador rescues means fewer Labs that are left to a cruel fate in animal shelters. It is bad news in that more Labrador rescues means more people have not thought about the responsibility they were incurring when they bought a cute Labrador puppy.
Labrador rescue in Denver alone is responsible for hundreds of Labrador Retrievers going to good homes instead of being left on the streets.
Labrador rescues in Colorado are accomplished in several ways.
* Labs may be rescued from shelters. If a Lab remains in the shelter a certain length of time, and no one chooses to adopt it, Labrador rescue comes to its aid, preventing euthanasia.
* Sometimes, Labrador rescues in Colorado are made, not by going out and getting the dog, but by the dog being delivered to the rescue group. Families that decide they can no longer provide the kind of home the Lab needs donate the dog, hoping it will find a good "forever" home.
* From time to time the Labrador rescue in Denver, Colorado receives Labs that were left behind when their owners died.
Labrador rescues in Denver, Colorado are not very different from those in other cities and states, of course. Many places are rescuing Labrador Retrievers and finding permanent homes for them.
Safe Harbor Lab Rescue
Safe Harbor Lab Rescue is a non-profit organization in Golden, Colorado a western suburb of Denver. Like so many other Labrador rescue groups, Safe Harbor Lab Rescue is run by volunteers. Their purpose is to care for stray or surrendered Labrador Retrievers until a permanent home can be found for them.
Safe Harbor is in urgent need of foster homes in the Denver-Boulder area to help save the lives of lovable Labs.
Labrador Rescue Stories
Read stories of Labrador rescues, and you will see that these groups provide an important service. Just one story will give the idea.
Labrador rescue saved a 7-year old Lab from life in a small crate. From the time it was a puppy, this dog had been confined to its crate most of the day. It received little attention. It received little exercise. It had grown to be nearly 100 pounds, and had been house-trained, but still it remained in that small crate. Imagine its joy when Labrador rescue got it out of the crate and into a place where it could run and play. With the boundless energy of a Labrador Retriever having been held back for so long, a dog like this appreciates whoever gave it a second chance. Now this particular lovable Lab is just waiting for someone to give it a permanent home similar to the one it has at the Labrador rescue home.
Labrador rescue dogs are not always comfortable when they first go to a permanent home. They remember being in a home before. They may have had a bad experience. Many times, Labrador rescue dogs are afraid of everything in the new home. They hide behind furniture or in closets. They are very adaptable, however, and with patience and lots of love, new owners can turn a Labrador rescue dog into a lovable Lab.
Finding a Labrador Rescue Group
If you think you would like to adopt a Labrador rescue dog or puppy, you can easily find a Labrador rescue group. Use you favorite search engine, and enter the words "Labrador rescue" without quotation marks. If you have trouble finding one near your home, contact one of the others on the Internet and ask for help. They will often know, or can find out, whether there is a Labrador rescue home in your area.
©2007, Anna Hart. Anna Hart invites you to read more of her articles about Labrador Retrievers at http://www.lovablelabradors.com. Anna has posted additional information on that site about training Labrador Retrievers. If you are interested in information on Labrador Retriever training, youll enjoy Annas perspective on the subject.
¶ 10:46 AM 0 comments
Labrador rescue in Denver alone is responsible for hundreds of Labrador Retrievers going to good homes instead of being left on the streets.
Labrador rescues in Colorado are accomplished in several ways.
* Labs may be rescued from shelters. If a Lab remains in the shelter a certain length of time, and no one chooses to adopt it, Labrador rescue comes to its aid, preventing euthanasia.
* Sometimes, Labrador rescues in Colorado are made, not by going out and getting the dog, but by the dog being delivered to the rescue group. Families that decide they can no longer provide the kind of home the Lab needs donate the dog, hoping it will find a good "forever" home.
* From time to time the Labrador rescue in Denver, Colorado receives Labs that were left behind when their owners died.
Labrador rescues in Denver, Colorado are not very different from those in other cities and states, of course. Many places are rescuing Labrador Retrievers and finding permanent homes for them.
Safe Harbor Lab Rescue
Safe Harbor Lab Rescue is a non-profit organization in Golden, Colorado a western suburb of Denver. Like so many other Labrador rescue groups, Safe Harbor Lab Rescue is run by volunteers. Their purpose is to care for stray or surrendered Labrador Retrievers until a permanent home can be found for them.
Safe Harbor is in urgent need of foster homes in the Denver-Boulder area to help save the lives of lovable Labs.
Labrador Rescue Stories
Read stories of Labrador rescues, and you will see that these groups provide an important service. Just one story will give the idea.
Labrador rescue saved a 7-year old Lab from life in a small crate. From the time it was a puppy, this dog had been confined to its crate most of the day. It received little attention. It received little exercise. It had grown to be nearly 100 pounds, and had been house-trained, but still it remained in that small crate. Imagine its joy when Labrador rescue got it out of the crate and into a place where it could run and play. With the boundless energy of a Labrador Retriever having been held back for so long, a dog like this appreciates whoever gave it a second chance. Now this particular lovable Lab is just waiting for someone to give it a permanent home similar to the one it has at the Labrador rescue home.
Labrador rescue dogs are not always comfortable when they first go to a permanent home. They remember being in a home before. They may have had a bad experience. Many times, Labrador rescue dogs are afraid of everything in the new home. They hide behind furniture or in closets. They are very adaptable, however, and with patience and lots of love, new owners can turn a Labrador rescue dog into a lovable Lab.
Finding a Labrador Rescue Group
If you think you would like to adopt a Labrador rescue dog or puppy, you can easily find a Labrador rescue group. Use you favorite search engine, and enter the words "Labrador rescue" without quotation marks. If you have trouble finding one near your home, contact one of the others on the Internet and ask for help. They will often know, or can find out, whether there is a Labrador rescue home in your area.
©2007, Anna Hart. Anna Hart invites you to read more of her articles about Labrador Retrievers at http://www.lovablelabradors.com. Anna has posted additional information on that site about training Labrador Retrievers. If you are interested in information on Labrador Retriever training, youll enjoy Annas perspective on the subject.
¶ 10:46 AM 0 comments
Using Reciprocal Linking To Drive Traffic To Your Website
Reciprocal linking is a great way to improve your ranking in search engines. All reciprocal linking is, is asking other webmasters to link to your webpage and in return you link to their webpage. The more links you have the better. The one disadvantage of reciprocal linking is it can be very time consuming.
So first you should look for websites who have customers who can benefit from your product or service. For example, let's say you are selling dog food. You should look for websites that sell dog supplies, or things relevant to dogs. But you would not want to link up with a site that only sold dog food. It would not make sense.
You can find websites to link with on Google, Yahoo or any other search engine. After you find the sites you want to link with, go ahead and email them. If your site does not produce heavy amounts of traffic, some of the sites with loads of traffic may not want to link up. This is where you can get a little creative. Try offering them a deal that the webmaster will benefit from. For instance offer the webmaster 10% of all the sales that come from his site.
In order to be effective you should at least contact 25 new webmasters a day. The pay offs can be huge using this method to generate traffic. Also make sure to add the links you are supposed to add to your link page. Lastly make sure you visit the sites you have exchanged with to make sure they have added your link to their webpage.
Eric Fields has been helping people succeed in business for over 25 years. To get more of his techniques for free. Visit http://www.leadgenerationworld.com.
¶ 2:07 AM 0 comments
So first you should look for websites who have customers who can benefit from your product or service. For example, let's say you are selling dog food. You should look for websites that sell dog supplies, or things relevant to dogs. But you would not want to link up with a site that only sold dog food. It would not make sense.
You can find websites to link with on Google, Yahoo or any other search engine. After you find the sites you want to link with, go ahead and email them. If your site does not produce heavy amounts of traffic, some of the sites with loads of traffic may not want to link up. This is where you can get a little creative. Try offering them a deal that the webmaster will benefit from. For instance offer the webmaster 10% of all the sales that come from his site.
In order to be effective you should at least contact 25 new webmasters a day. The pay offs can be huge using this method to generate traffic. Also make sure to add the links you are supposed to add to your link page. Lastly make sure you visit the sites you have exchanged with to make sure they have added your link to their webpage.
Eric Fields has been helping people succeed in business for over 25 years. To get more of his techniques for free. Visit http://www.leadgenerationworld.com.
¶ 2:07 AM 0 comments
