The Dog Site

Which is the best pet insurance plan for your family? This is a serious question that many pet owners have found themselves asking. Pet insurance is very similar to our health insurance.  It helps you cover medical expenses, especially during medical emergencies.

Vet bills can quickly get to be quite costly, so to ensure that you will be able to afford to keep your pet alive and healthy, pet insurance is ideal.

Finding the Plan That’s Right for You

Whether you are in the market for cat insurance, dog insurance, or a best pet insurance plan in general, you’ll be better off if you do your research. Finding the best pet insurance plan does not have to be difficult, but you will want to weigh out the advantages and disadvantages of each.

There are a few things that you want to think about when you are trying to choose the best pet insurance plan. If the breed of animal that you have is prone to medical problems for instance, this is something that will be important to keep in mind and use to make the decision on which is going to be the best pet insurance plan.

The health of your pet today (whether they are healthy or sick) is also going to impact your insurance decision. Find out whether or not your current vet is covered by the pet insurance plans you are considering. Like some health insurance companies, some pet insurance companies will specify which veterinarians you can choose from.

Of course, you’ll also want to know what is covered by your pet health insurance plan. Too often, people will purchase a pet health insurance policy without actually knowing what’s covered.

Just make sure that you take your time, use common sense, and that you are aware of all the details before making any final decisions. The most important thing is that your pet is going to be protected and covered by insurance so that if anything ever does go wrong and your pet needs medical attention, you will have the funds for it.

Your pet is a member of your family. Why risk their well being by being unprotected financially when they fall ill? As a loving owner it pays to do a little research into the available pet insurance plans available. Take a look at our Embrace Pet Insurance review for a good place to start.

By: Dr. Robert Sleeter

If you think all you have to do is play with your puppy and feed him in order to take care of him, think again.  Puppy care is a huge responsibility and it is much like taking care of a small child.If you have a full breed puppy, you have to find out how to take care of the specific breed because the protocol can be different.For example, Chihuahua puppy care requires certain types of food for optimum health and different vaccinations than other breeds.

Food Basics of Puppy Care

Choose a dry food and avoid cheap, generic brands in puppy care.  Buy only brand name dog foods to make sure you are getting a quality product.  If you have a large breed dog, choose food made for large breed dogs.  Don’t judge dog foods by their vitamin and mineral content because often times over-supplementation of vitamins and minerals can lead to hip dysplasia.  
Try not to give your puppy too many special treats like milk bone biscuits in puppy care because they are not that nutritional.  Canned dog food is okay on occasion but it is best to stick with dry food because it is inexpensive, easy, and better for your puppy’s teeth.  In puppy care it is important to avoid giving human food to your puppy because it can cause digestive problems.

In young puppy care, it is best to offer food three times a day.If your puppy doesn’t feel hungry that often, you can reduce the frequency and when he reaches around 10-12 weeks of age you can start feeding your puppy twice a day.  It’s not good to feed your puppy only once a day because he will get so hungry in between meals that he will overeat at the next meal.

In puppy care, it is best to let your puppy eat as much as he wants during a 15 minute period and then take the dish away.  It’s not good to provide freely available food.  This can lead to your puppy becoming overweight and getting hip dysplasia and other health problems later in life.When overfed, your puppy will also stop enjoying food altogether.  

The Importance of Shots in Puppy Care

Your puppy loses his natural immunity to disease somewhere between six and sixteen weeks of age.  Fortunately there are new vaccines that can protect your puppy from most diseases.It is very important to take your puppy to the vet and get vaccines but until then, make sure your puppy stays away from areas frequented by other dogs.  Also avoid letting your puppy come into contact with stray dogs and sick dogs.

So there you have it.  Puppy care may not be as easy as you thought it was but by following the right protocol your puppy will be healthy.  The most important aspects of puppy care are proper feeding and shots.  If you follow these basic steps, your puppy will be healthy and vibrant and will rarely have to see a vet.

For more about puppies please visit www.puppycareblog.com

A shih tzu puppy may be a wonderful addition to your family but you have to be versed in how to care for these delicate puppies.Shih tzu puppy care is not as complicated as say, beagle puppy care, because shih tzu puppies do not need much exercise or to go outside often.However shih tzu puppies do need a lot of rest during their first few weeks of life and you need to be careful not to play with them too much during this time.  It is also essential to keep shih tzus from feeling any stress because this can have detrimental effects.

The Importance of Love and Attention in Shih Tzu Puppy Care

Like any breed, shih tzu puppies need love and attention but this breed is particularly needy.Shih tzu puppy care may be difficult for people who are forced to leave their puppy alone for an extended period.In order to thrive, shih tzu puppies need constant love and attention.  If you have a busy schedule and don’t think you will be able to spend much time with your puppy, you might want to reconsider getting a shih tzu.

Leave your shih tzu puppy with a big stuffed animal as a companion and leave him raw hide bones to chew on.  Shih tzu puppies need bones and chewing toys during their teething stage because otherwise they tend to chew on wooden furniture.

Shih tzu puppy care and training is made easier by the fact that shih tzu puppies are very good at learning and following commands.Shih tzu puppies respond well to the “ee” sound so you should give them a name that incorporates this sound.If you do so, you’ll find that when you give commands your shih tzu will respond more quickly.  When your shih tzu does something wrong such as by eliminating in the wrong place, never respond by hitting him. Scolding goes a long way.

Use potty pads for your shih tzu to eliminate on.  Shih tzu puppies are fast learners and will eliminate on potty pads.You will be able to tell when your shih tzu puppy wants to eliminate because he will squat.  By taking your puppy immediately to the potty pad when he does this, you will teach him to do it on his own.Reward your puppy with a special treat if he does it on his own.

Shih tzu puppies between six and twelve weeks of age often suffer from hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar.This condition is often caused by stress.  If your dog is listless, wobbly, depressed, or starts vomiting, this may be a sign of hypoglycemia.  This is one of the most difficult aspects of shih tzu puppy care because it can come on suddenly and often as a result of the puppy being placed in a new home or being shipped.If your puppy goes unconscious, put a Nutri-cal tablet on his tongue and hold his mouth shut for one minute.  Wrap him up in a blanket and take him to the vet immediately.

Feeding your shih tzu puppy a high quality kibble diet of lamb or chicken can go a long way in preventing these attacks from occurring.  
While this only describes the beginning of shih tzu puppy care, don’t feel overwhelmed.Shih tzu puppies make great companions but there’s no denying that the first few weeks of shih tzu puppy care take some getting used to.After you find your rhythm you’ll find that a shih tzu puppy is relatively easy to take care of and makes a wonderful addition to the family.

For more about puppies please visit www.puppycareblog.com