While going thru my local newspaper I came upon this clip and decided to post it-

New Breed Standards:A Britain's Kennel Club has announced major reforms to breed standards and accepted breeding practices for purebred dogs.  The changes come in response to concerns that purebreds have serious health problems as a reult of breeding for the show ring.  Prominent among affected breeds is the bulldog, the Chow Chow, the Chinese Shar-pei, the German shepherd and the Labrador retriever.

This was posted in the Minneapolis Star Tribune Thursday, January 15, 2009.

‘People foods’ that can kill your pet
Created on May 14, 2008 7:28 AM by grandma_spoils_anya (55)
From chocolate to raisins, here’s what not to feed Fido — even if he begs

By Sloan Barnett
TODAYShow.com contributor
updated 4:07 p.m. CT, Fri., May. 9, 2008

It feels good to treat your pet to human food every once in a while. Those puppy-dog eyes are hard to resist as they watch you eat and try to convince you that they are starving! It makes you want to give them a taste of everything you eat. But beware: Giving in to those eyes and giving dogs human foods can actually harm them.

In 2007, the ASPCA's Animal Poison Control Center received more than 130,000 calls. Most cases of animal poisoning were caused by common human foods and household items.

Many foods we enjoy can be dangerous to animals. It's best to stick to pet food and a diet recommended by your vet. Here are a few of the most toxic foods that can harm your pet:

Bad news foods
Avocados
They contain a toxic component called persin, which can damage heart, lung and other tissue in many animals. This fruit is very toxic to dogs, cats and most animals.

Beer
Alcoholic beverages can cause the same damage to an animal's liver and brain as they cause in humans. But the effects can be deadly on animals since they are much smaller than us. The smaller the animal, the more deadly the effects can be. Even a small amount of alcohol may cause vomiting and damage the liver and brain.

Nuts
Walnuts and macadamia nuts are especially toxic. Effects can be anything from vomiting to paralysis to death. Within 12 hours of eating the nuts, pets start to develop symptoms such as an inability to stand or walk, vomiting, hyperthermia (elevated body temperature), weakness, and an elevated heart rate. These symptoms can be even worse if your dog eats some chocolate with the nuts. The effect can cause kidney failure, often leading to death.

Chocolate
Chocolate contains theobromine, which can kill your pet if eaten in large quantities. Dark and unsweetened baking chocolates are especially dangerous. Giving your pup a piece of chocolate cake or even letting him lick the chocolate icing on the cake could cause him to become ill. Theobromine can also cause a dog or cat's heart to beat very rapidly or irregularly, which could result in death if the pet is exercising or overly active.

Candy
Candy or anything containing Xylitol (a common sweetener found in some diet products) can cause a sudden drop in an animal's blood sugar, loss of coordination and seizures. If left untreated, the animal could die.

Caffeine
Coffee, tea or any product that contains caffeine stimulates an animal's central nervous and cardiac systems. This can lead to restlessness, heart palpitations and death, depending on how much the animal consumes.

Grapes and raisins
Grapes and raisins can lead to kidney failure in dogs. As little as a single serving of raisins can kill them. And the effects are cumulative, which means that even if a dog eats just one or two grapes or raisins regularly, the toxin that builds in his system will eventually kill him.

Onions
Onions are another common food that can be highly toxic to pets. They can destroy an animal's red blood cells and lead to anemia, weakness and breathing difficulties. Their effects are also cumulative over time.

Medicine
Hide medicine from your pets just like you would from your children. The most common cause of pet poisoning is from animals ingesting a medicine or drug normally prescribed for humans.

And this is not just because furry pals are getting into their pet parent's medicine cabinets. In many cases, pet owners give their feline and canine friends an over-the-counter medication to ease an animal's pain. But acetaminophen and ibuprofen, the active ingredients in many common pain relievers, are extremely toxic to dogs and cats. They can cause gastric ulcers, liver damage, kidney failure and sometimes death.

Good news foods
There are a few things that you CAN give to your furry pal. However, you should always consult a veterinarian before introducing a new food item to your pet.

Although these foods are normally harmless, some animals have sensitive gastrointestinal tracts. So even these healthy treats should be avoided if they cause gastrointestinal upset for your pet. Keep in mind that these and other "extras" should not make up more than 5 to 10 percent of the pet's daily caloric intake.

Lean meats
Any cooked lean meat should be fine for most dogs. High-fat meats, chicken skin and fat from steaks or roasts are not recommended. Ingestion may lead to gastrointestinal upset or even pancreatitis. This can be a very painful condition for dogs. In addition, most companion animals do not need extra fat in their diets. Never give your pet meat with the bone in it. Animals can choke on the bones, and they can splinter as well.

Vegetables
Carrot sticks, green beans, cucumber slices and zucchini slices are all OK.

Fruit
Apple slices, orange slices, bananas and watermelon are all OK. Make sure the seeds have been taken out; seeds are not good for your pet!

Baked potatoes
Plain baked potatoes are fine, but make sure they are cooked — no unripe potatoes or potato plants.

Bread
Plain cooked bread is fine; just make sure there are no nuts or raisins added.

Rice and pasta
Plain, cooked pasta and white rice are OK. Often veterinarians recommend plain rice with some boiled chicken when gastrointestinal upset is present.

In case of emergency
Despite all the precautions you take to keep your pet pals safe, accidents do happen. That's why the ASPCA, Humane Society and animal advocates advise pet owners to keep the telephone numbers of their local veterinarian and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center — (888) 426-4435 — in a prominent location.

Common signs of poisoning include muscle tremors or seizures; vomiting and diarrhea; drooling; redness of skin, ears and eyes; and swelling and bleeding.

If you suspect your pet has consumed, inhaled or come in contact with a toxic substance, stay calm and call for help immediately. If you see your pet consuming anything you think might be toxic, seek emergency help immediately even if she or he is not exhibiting any symptoms.

Before you start making your own homemade dog food, you need to know a couple of things. You need to find out what foods are toxic to your dog. You also should understand that preparing home made dog food may not be as easy as it sounds because it's very much like to preparing food for your children. Making homemade dog food is not the same thing as gathering up your leftovers and scraps and throwing them in a dog bowl. Keep in mind, your reason for preparing home made dog food is provide you dog with a healthy diet. On the bright side, making homemade dog food can be cheaper since you can include your dog's dietary requirements in your normal food shopping expenses. Dogs are omnivores just like people. This means they can eat vegetables and grains as well as meat.

Though people and dogs have different physiologies, there are a few things in common when it comes to diet. So many times, you'll be able to make your homemade dog food while making your people food. For example, most home made dog food recipes will consist of a ratio of two thirds meat to one third vegetables. It's all a matter of healthy cooking for both you and your dog, and making homemade dog food is a great way to start.

Panosteitis is a bone disease which generally occurs in the young dogs that belong to some of the larger breeds, such as German shepherds, great Danes, Doberman Pinschers, golden retrievers, Labrador retrievers, and basset hounds. It is the most common in German shepherds. Beyond being common in the younger members of large breeds, the cause of panosteitis is not really known, although some suspected causes are viruses, vascular problems, parasites, allergies, and changes in the dog’s hormones. Panosteitis is seen in males more than it is seen in females.

The problem itself generally affects the long bones in a dog’s body, namely the humerus and the femur, which make up the bones in the upper parts of the forelimbs and hindquarters. In some cases, it affects the lower part of the limbs as well. For the most part, dogs who get panosteitis are between the ages of six months and eighteen months, but sometimes older dogs get it as well.

So what should you do when your dog gets panosteitis? First of all, make sure that your vet sees your dog, because he will be the best person to diagnose the problem. Panosteitis basically causes your dog to be lame and this lameness, while more common in the forelimbs, can shift between legs. You will be able to see a very pronounced limp. Other signs of panosteitis include loss of appetite, fever, lethargy, and the atrophy of the muscles in the affected legs. Together or separately, these symptoms do not necessarily always point to panosteitis, which is why it is better to get your dog to the vet as soon as possible.

Dogs are great pets, always pleased to see their owners shown by the wag of their tails. They do not complain and are a way to de-stress from everyday life. Taking your pet out for a walk or for a simple game with the Frisbee can ensure a healthy workout for you and in the most enjoyable manner possible. Your pet gives you silent company on lonely evenings and is more than happy to take a backseat when you are surrounded by your friends and family. They will never complain that you don't have the energy for that walk you promised them the day before, or the bath they so desperately need.

It is not very often that we are able to show our appreciation the way your dog displays theirs for you, but keeping them healthy is one way and a good dog insurance plan is a way we can give something back. Various pet insurance policies exist and how complete they are will depend on the provider as some will incorporate routine visits to the vet to check your dogs health in addition to situations like accidents or even illness. Even the healthiest of dogs can become sick and knowing you have a dog insurance policy that will pay for medical attention means the cost is never a concern.

There are 72,114,000 dogs in the United States, according to the 2007 census. With over 72 million dogs in a sales demographic, you can see why there are so many different types and varieties of dog food. The dog food industry definitely has some competition.

With so many different dog food companies vying for your dog food dollar, how do you know which dog food to choose to keep your dog healthy? Do you choose dry, moist, or a combination of both? High protein, low protein, other nutrients, what exactly do you look for?

You want the best for your dog that your money can buy. You want to keep your dog healthy and satisfy his hunger at the same time. What do you do? Do you go with what everybody else is buying? Do you ask your family and friends?

THE DOG, THE DIET, THE FOOD.

The real issue when choosing a dog food for your dog is that every dog is different. I am not just talking about breeds, though they differ to, but two dogs of the same breed may not even have the same eating habits. There is no single silver bullet cure unfortunately.

So to find the right dog food to keep your dog healthy, you are going to have to do a little detective work.

Breed. Start with the type of dog you have. Obviously a small lap dog is going to have different requirements than say, a Great Dane. Size is a large factor in energy levels and digestive systems.

Age. Puppies are growing and require lots of good stuff to help them grow and to keep their energies up. They should be feed small amounts many times throughout the day just like a baby. In the dogs prime, say 3 years old to about 6 years old, they might have a very healthy appetite at each feeding, but only eats maybe twice a day. On the other hand the older adult isn't running after everything he sees anymore and like the "early bird special" older humans, they eat earlier in the day and not so much. Then bed time is much more craved than a bowl of food after 7pm. Just saying.

There are lots of questions that dog owners should ask regarding their dog’s safety and health.

How often should the dog visit the veterinarian? For most dogs, they should visit their vet once a year for their vaccinations. For puppies, they should visit their vets more often since they require frequent vaccination boosters. If your dog has a medical problem, he should visit the vet more often. When your dog is six years old, you can take him to the vet twice a year for a thorough check up to find out if he is healthy or if a budding disease may be cropping up that needs immediate attention.

How do I know if my dog is sick? It is important to know your dog well and watch out for any changes in his over all appearance, behavior, eating, and drinking patterns. Other common signs include not having any appetite for food, changes in water consumption, changes in consistency of his wastes, vomiting, changes in behavior, weight loss, and frequent urination are other tell-tale signs of problems. Some obvious signs include whimpering in pain and limping.

Should I neuter my dog? If you are not planning on breeding your dog, then you can choose to neuter him. Health advantages include less aggressive behavior. Furthermore, neutering reduces their risks of developing testicular and prostate cancer in male dogs. Female dogs won’t get mammary cancer, womb infections, and diabetes. Neutering is usually performed on dogs that are six months old, although it can be done in very young puppies.

There was a time when no one gave a second thought to whether their dogs nutritional needs were being met. At that time, any old dog food would do. Now however, after study and research, we have learned that a quality food, wet or dry will impact our dogs health. A quality dog food has minimal fillers, added vitamins and minerals, and is appropriate for the dogs life stage. Dogs do not naturally produce all the nutrients they require so they depend on us to feed then quality, nutrient rich dog food.

There has been a trend lately to feed dogs bones and raw food, or "BARF" as it is known. The idea is to feed dogs what they ate in the wild, before they were domesticated. The truth is, it is hazardous to your dog due to toxins, food borne bacteria, intestinal obstruction and the possibility of intestinal perforation. If you stop to think about it, you will realize dogs did not live as long or as well in the wild as they do now.

In this article, I will discuss just a few of the important nutrients required for a healthy dog. One nutritional element you may not be familiar with is Iodine. Iodine is crucial for proper functioning of the thyroid gland. Just as in humans, the thyroid plays a major role in regulating metabolism and growth. Symptoms of hypothyroidism, which is not enough thyroid hormone, include poor growth, weight gain and hair loss, as well as weakness and irritability.

Knowing when to take your dog to the vet and when to let him "self-regulate" is a pretty tricky business - how do you tell when he needs to see a professional? After all, it's not as if you can rely on your dog to let you know.

Nobody likes forking out $80 for a needless visit to the vet, but then again no conscientious dog-owner can bear to contemplate their dog's suffering, either! Frankly, it's a bit of a quandary.

I've owned dogs on and off my whole life, and this is still something that I've never been 100% comfortable with: of course, I'd always rather be safe than sorry (a viewpoint which has resulted in many, many unnecessary trips to the vet over the years, just to set my mind at rest) ... but I've also always wished for the kind of solid grounding in canine medical basics which would enable me to confidently decide for myself when my dog needs to see the vet - and when I can save both him and myself the hassle!

Stress-Free Dog Care

You can imagine the relief I felt when I happened across The Ultimate Guide to Dog Health (by Malcolm Fields - dog-care professional) on the Internet. It was uncanny: this guide is exactly what I was looking for. It's complete and detailed, covering all the common health problems (both serious and not) that dogs suffer from; the overall focus is on being prepared and taking preventative action; it teaches you how to accurately self-diagnose (with the assistance of step-by-step flowcharts which tell you whether he'll be fine by himself, whether he needs to see the vet, and how urgently the vet should be seen); and, while it's packed with knowledge and advice from veterinarians and trained dog-care specialists, it's easy on the eye and reader-friendly ... you can actually understand what they're trying to say!

Most dog owners in America have not arranged for pet health insurance, and I'm not quite sure why. We all know just how important it is to have health insurance; so it makes sense that we should consider veterinary pet insurance to protect our pets.

It may at first look like just another regular expense; that is until dog owners are face to face with the expensive vet bills after their pet has an accident or gets sick. With everything around us is costing more and more money everyday, it is not surprising that vet fees have also risen as well; of course the knock-on effect has been a rise in pet insurance premiums. That being said, policies are much more affordable than you might expect.

The rising cost of medicine is one point to consider but is there any others to consider? Unfortunately, animals become sick from time to time or are involved in an accident. This can happen at any time and usually does when you can least afford it!

If this situation should occur, sometimes unfortunate choices have to be made; you know that treating your animal will place financial strain on you.