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Sunday, July 30, 2006

How Much and How Often do dogs need vaccination?

How often do you find yourself saying: "I wish I knew how to learn more about vaccinating dogs"

Well, we were listening! And this article is the result.

Pet lovers know that it is very important to vaccinate their dogs, but how early and how often are two questions that are currently much on their minds as well as on the minds of the veterinary community at large. While vets agree that it is still vital to vaccinate puppies at 6 weeks for distemper and measles if they did not nurse during the first few hours after they were born and again at 8, 12, and 16 weeks for
Distemper, Canine Infectious Hepatitis, Leptospirosis, Parainfluenza, Parvovirus, and Coronavirus (DHLPPC), there have been questions as to whether the traditionally recommended (and in some states required) annual vaccinations are necessary. Puppies are also vaccinated for rabies at six months and this, too, is repeated annually.

The concerns that some dog owners have is whether the repeated dog vaccinations are really necessary and whether they are, in fact, doing more harm than good. Vaccinations work by stimulating the dog's immune system, encouraging it to readily produce antibodies to fight against specific types of bacteria and viruses. Stimulating the immune system this way comes at a price - the actual introduction of the offending agent in some form to the dog's system, leading to the concerns of dog lovers and vets alike.

Interesting, isn't it? In the rest of this article, you'll discover even more insider stuff about the topic - and it is simple and easy to follow.

The questions on the minds of those concerned are "is it dangerous to repeatedly vaccinate my dog each year" and "how much vaccine should a dog receive and how often?" Fortunately the experts do agree that the answer to the first question is a resounding "no." While there are rare cases of dogs that have become very ill or even died as a result of vaccination, there is no evidence to suggest that this practice poses any real danger to the dog. The animals adversely affected may have already been sick unbeknownst to their owners of had some form of allergy to a specific part of the vaccine. The answer to the second question is less encouraging because, the truth is; no one knows for sure how much vaccine is really necessary and how often it really should be given. This is currently a topic of much discussion and debate in veterinary circles.

The best advice that dog owners can take is to continue vaccinating their dogs according to local laws and the recommendations of their vets. Since the annual vaccines are not harming the dogs in any evident way, there is no cause for alarm and no harm in continuing the same routine until the veterinary community makes up its collective mind that a change is in order with regard to dog vaccinations.

What you've just read is only the beginning of a fascinating journey into the subject. There are many more useful resources on this site - I invite you to spend some time exploring them and learning even more.

Read More About Dogs at dog and dog health.

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Thursday, July 27, 2006

Dog - Pet Doors Can Solve Many Problems For You and Your Dog


Pet doors are advantageous for both dogs and the owners. Because with pet doors, a dog is given the freedom to come and go as he pleases, he gets a new sense of security! He will not have to ‘hold it’ while he waits for his owner to open the door for the pet to go out or come in the house. The pet can play outside when the weather is nice and come in when it is not.

Pet doors have also gives dog owners a new sense of freedom. They do not have to leave a party early anymore because they feel guilty knowing their dog is about to pop. This door puts an end to accidents, incessant door scratching, and three a.m. wake up calls from your dog. These doors are the best kept secret, but why?

Many people disallow considering pet doors because they are afraid intruders will use them to get entry into the house. Even though this is a legitimate fear, there are ways around this. Possibly an excellent way around this is an electronic pet door. This door opens automatically from a censor device placed on the dog’s collar; stopping anything not wearing the collar from coming into the house.

Placing a pet door on the backside of the house where intruders are less likely to be is another possibility. For the truly frightened person, you can hide the pet door. How do you do this? With a doghouse! If you want to hide it, a dog house with a door cut in the back can be pushed against the wall covering up the pet door; no one will ever know it is there, except of course, the dog.

I'd like a pet door in my house, but I am a renter! Do I have any options?

Many renters are uncertain about installing pet doors in fear of displeasing the home owners. Now days there is even a solution for that. Sliding glass pet doors for your dog! These doors are cut in an actual sliding glass door. You simply take off the existing door from its hinges and hang the one with the pet door in its place. When it is no longer needed the original door can be put back in.

Some people are very selective about their homes and do not desire to compromise the aesthetics with unattractive pet doors. These people have a excellent alternative in wall installation. The home owner can install it into the wall of a room that has hardly any traffic. If the idea of the door being visible from the outside bothers them, the door can go undetected by putting the doghouse against it.

There are so many new innovative products on the market these days that consumers has the capacity to have the dog problems solved. Pet doors are an astonishing product that people with inside/outside dogs should know about! Check them out, your dog will love you for it.

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