Edie MacKenzie

Edie MacKenzie is a published author, traveler, dog lover, and tortoise enthusiast. Passionate about what she does, her books provide peopel a firm grounding in the dog breed and their unique characteristics with a nice touch of humor.

The Classic Toilet-Drinking Dog Issue (Part 2)

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A dog who drinks from a stagnant puddle, a lake, or a pond is exposed to more potentially hazardous germs than one who drinks from a toilet.

This doesn’t mean that dogs can’t get sick from drinking toilet water. A toilet that’s stopped up or hasn’t been cleaned in a long time will contain enough germs to trigger a day or two of diarrhea or vomiting. More worrisome than germs are chemicals.

In our perpetual battle to keep bathrooms clean, we pour all sorts of chemicals into toilet bowls and tanks. Some of these products taste perfectly fine to dogs, but can make them ill if they drink enough.

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Even though toilets are sanitary enough for quenching canine thirst, most people prefer to keep the lids closed. Mainly, it’s about etiquette. No one wants to listen to their dog noisily lapping up a toilet-water cocktail. And no one wants to clean up the trail of spittle and water that invariably follows.

Get A New Water Bowl

Some dogs drink out of the toilet because they like the taste. Others do it because they dislike the water in their regular dishes. It’s not the water itself that’s usually the problem, but what the water is served in. Plastic dishes, for example, absorb odors and may give water an off taste. Switching to a metal or ceramic dish – and washing it regularly – can make your dog’s usual water supply a little more palatable – and make him less interested in finding alternatives.

Try Placing The Water Bowl Where It Will Be Cooler

Dogs definitely like their water cool. Water that sits in a sunny kitchen may be 10°F warmer than water that’s kept in a cool, tiled bathroom. If you don’t have a different place to keep the bowl, put in a few ice cubes every time you change the water. Dogs will appreciate the extra coolness as well as the crunchy ice.

Final Toilet Avoidance Tip

The easiest way to keep dogs out of the toilet is to lower the lid. Unless, that is, you happen to live with a very smart and determined dog who learns to uncap the toilet on his own. If that happens – and some dogs like toilet water so much that wedging their noses under the lid is hardly an insurmountable obstacle – you’ll either have to keep the bathroom door closed or secure the toilet lid by putting something heavy on top.

The Classic Toilet-Drinking Dog Issue (Part 1)

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To people, a dog who drinks from the toilet is just gross. But to a dog, the toilet is a constantly freshened source of good water. This is completely understandable. Just think back before dogs had people laying out their food and water every day – they had to provide their own refreshments. They developed a knack for choosing the cleanest, freshest water from the sources they had available.

Those who didn’t were sure to get parasites or other water-borne diseases. With no veterinarians or medications in sight, these dogs passed away. Those who learned the ropes, on the other hand, lived to reproduce, and their puppies instinctively knew what they should and shouldn’t drink.

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While their judgment certainly isn’t perfect, dogs have good reasons for choosing the toilet bowl over their water dishes. Consider how people like their water: cool, freshly poured, and out of a clean glass. The toilet is probably in the coolest room in the house. The water in the toilet gets changed more often than the water in their bowls. And porcelain make a nice goblet that doesn’t alter the taste of water like metal or plastic bowls may.

Dogs Love Bathrooms With a Toilet

People tend to be squeamish about bathrooms. We worry about germs. We scour and scrub to eliminate every last scent. We shut and lock the doors and demand total privacy. We do everything we can, in short, to keep our bathrooms separate from the rest of our lives.

Dogs, on the other hand, aren’t squeamish at all. Consider their usual habits. These are animals who will eagerly sniff, roll on, and devour month-old roadkill, who view cat boxes as convenient sources of takeout, and who greet each other (and people) by sniffing backsides. From their point of view, the bathroom is just an extension of their naturally earthy tastes. They don’t think about off-putting odors when they drink from the toilet. If anything, they probably like the smell.

There’s no question that toilets environments that do contain germs, but so does most everything else around us. Even an immaculate, freshly scrubbed bowl contains thousands, if not millions, of bacteria. But dogs don’t care. After all, they didn’t evolve in the dining room at the Plaza Hotel. For most of their evolutionary history, they lived in pretty rough surroundings.

As a result, their immune systems are remarkably sturdy. A toilet may not be clean by our standards, but for dogs they’re almost as hygienic as Perrier.

Dog Health: What You May Find When Visiting A Clinical Veterinarian

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Every veterinary practice and Veterinarian has a distinct “personality” that influences its clientèle and their pets. From the first call for an appointment, to the contact with receptionists, technicians and doctors, personal impressions are made that influence the way the client anticipates their dog’s treatment.

If the reception staff appears relaxed and friendly, and greets clients warmly, taking a moment to explain the forthcoming treatment, clients tend to relax.

On the other hand, when the staff appears rushed and harried, or cool and officious, clients tend to respond in kind.
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Basic Vet Issues At Home

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While observing the socio-emotional ambiance of hundreds of veterinary practices, researchers have also noted its effects on clients’ dogs. When the Veterinarian and their staff has a positive attitude, the pets tend to relax.

Conversely, when the staff projects a harried, or worried attitude, clients and dogs appear tense.

Whether this tension erupts into problems on the treatment table or on the next visit depends on the dog’s ability to adapt to the stress involved. In other words, the general mood of a veterinary practice can profoundly affect the behavior of dogs under treatment.

When an owner purchases a pup or adult dog, the Veterinarian is usually the first professional consulted. This affords a prime opportunity to educate clients about the owner’s role in preventing or correcting behavior problems, as well as matters of physical health. Many veterinary practitioners now offer “puppy kindergarten classes,” which bring several owner families and pups together for 6 weekly meetings at the clinic. During these meetings, pups are given the chance to socialize with other dogs, adults and children. A veterinary staff member, knowledgeable in behavioral development, can discuss emerging problems and offer effective remedial advice.

Special brochures are available to educate dog owners on various aspects of behavior and behavior problems. These brochures address virtually the entire spectrum of behavior problems encountered in dogs from puppy-hood to old age. Some behavior consultants offer telephone consultations to clients who have no personal access to qualified behavioral assistance. An increasing number of veterinarians find that taking a few additional minutes themselves to speak with clients about behavior problems in their dog pays off in increased goodwill, client retention and referrals. This service allows the practitioner to evaluate the problems holistically.

Dog owners rarely mismanage their pets with malicious intent. It is usually due to ignorance of the effects of their own feelings and behavior on the dog. Behavior consultants need not attempt psychotherapy of their human clients, trying to improve self-images and bring about personality changes.

Rather, the pet behavior consultant’s role is to understand the client’s situation, properly diagnose the problem, and then educate the client concerning the diagnosis and treatment program. This counseling function may readily be fulfilled by any clinical veterinarian who takes the time to study and practice it.

3 Tips To Help You Find The Best Veterinarian

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Choosing a Veterinarian

Since you do not have much time to spend researching for the ideal veterinarian once you have your dog, it is a good idea to do your search ahead of time, before you bring the puppy home.

But before you reach over for your phone book, check out for other resources and find out what you can get “through the grapevine”.

First, see if your breeder can recommend you to his or her Veterinarian. Also ask for recommendations from other dog owners that you can trust. You can learn a lot from their experiences, but use your own judgment because their opinions are going to be subjective and may not necessarily be accurate.

If you do not know anyone who owns a dog, your next bet is to go to the Yellow Pages or go to the Internet and look for vets in your area.

Below are 3 factors to consider when choosing the right Veterinarian.

1. Is the Veterinarian close to your home? Try to find an office as close to your home as possible, preferably within a 10 minute driving distance.  It’s very important to know that help is just a few miles away, especially during an emergency.

2. If your dog is suffering from a specific type of health problem, such as cancer or some kind of behavioral problem, look for a Veterinarian who specializes in that type of field.

3. Similar to human health care, veterinary care is either done in a small practice (where you are able to see the same vet on every visit  throughout your dog’s life), or a large practice (where you get to see the first available vet on duty). In a small practice, your Veterinarian will be able to get to know your pet on a more personal level. This will help him with his diagnosis and keep track of your dog’s health better in the long run.

On the other hand, it may be more practical to choose a Veterinarian that belongs to a large practice because it is quicker to get an appointment in an office where there are more doctors available.

This having a Veterinarian to contact is crucial, especially during an emergency.

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Here’s Dog Trainer Chet Womach On How To Save Money By  Handling
Basic Vet Issues At Home

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To discover how to treat your dog at home with over 1000 at-home
health remedies, Click Here.

Dog Health – Are You Avoiding Veterinary Check-Ups For The Family Dog?

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Dog Health – Vet Visits

Recently, waiting to welcome a friend at the airport, I witnessed many departures and arrivals. The one I liked best involved a young couple returning from some far-off island who couldn’t wait to see their “son.”

“How is he?”

“Did he sleep?”

“Did he eat alright?”

“Where is he?”

When the “son” was brought forward and turned out to be a tiny, quite excited Pomeranian, we wondered why we weren’t more surprised. Then we remembered that it is not at all uncommon for dog owners to regard their pets as children. There doesn’t seem to be anything wrong with such a situation; neither owner nor dog appears any worse for it.

The trouble is that it often doesn’t go far enough. Right now, for instance, with Jack Frost waiting in the wings, many of us are telling one another to get down to the doctor’s office for a flu shot, and while we’re there, we’ll have our annual check-up.

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Here’s Dog Trainer Chet Womach On How To Save Money By  Handling
Basic Vet Issues At Home

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To discover how to treat your dog at home with over 1000 at-home
health remedies, Click Here.

For Optimal Dog Health Dogs Require Check-Ups Too

But what about the tiny Pomeranians and all their canine brothers and sisters? They require an annual check-up too.

Indeed, according to no less an authority than thousands of professional veterinarians, a yearly check-up is five to seven times more important to a dog than it is to an owner, because dogs mature five to seven times faster than humans. From a dog health perspective, a dog ages as much in its first year as his owner does in twenty!

Many dog owners put off taking their family pet to a veterinarian until they notice something wrong. The dog won’t eat, or he sleeps all the time, or he’s biting everybody on the block. Perhaps, had he been checked by a veterinarian long ago, none of these conditions would prevail.

Also, it is well to remember that dogs are subject to many hidden hazards, just as we are. Dogs get arthritis, they suffer from tumors, heart trouble, kidney ailments, etc. Caught in time, a lot of pain can be avoided.

What does a visit to the veterinarian involve? Some owners we’ve talked to think it’s an all-day affair, costing a fortune. Not so. The cost is moderate and the time consumed is seldom more than an hour. Most often, it’s a matter of minutes.

The doctor will use a stethoscope, an otoscope, and an ophthalmoscope, the last two instruments for the ears and eyes. He will have a good look at the dog’s teeth and gums (dogs can get pyorrhea), he’ll check the dog’s coat, weight, pulse, and temperature.

Most dogs learn to enjoy their visits to the veterinarian. Incidentally, it’s a very good idea to take the dog to the same doctor each visit, just as you would yourself.

When it comes to dog health, in their own way, some dogs even demand it!

Dog Health – Proper Nutrition For Your Working Dog

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Dogs that lead a very active lifestyle demand a more comprehensive diet than average dogs require to ensure proper dog health.

Examples of these hard-working dogs are those that participate in agility competitions as well as those that team up with law enforcement on a search-and-rescue mission.

For the best possible dog health, these dogs require nutritional needs that are different from an average household pet.

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Most of these sporting and working dogs participate in intermediate activities as well.

These are activities that require low to moderate duration and intensity. Examples include: Competition or agility, service, search and rescue, tracking or hunting, police or guarding, detection, and even managing livestock.

Essential Nutrients For Dog Health And Your Busy Canine Athlete

Because your dog is always on the go, you need to provide him with larger doses of food and certain types of nutrients.

This is especially important in times when they are most active. A typical working dog would need about 2 – 5  times more calories than a sedentary dog.

These extra calories are converted into energy that helps your dog health and canine athlete perform better.

Four Key Nutrients For Busy Dogs and Dog Health

1. Carbohydrate: Once your dog reaches adulthood, he has no need for carbohydrates in his diet, although he is able to absorb this nutrient if eaten. Less carbohydrates in the adult dog’s diet creates better performance. Therefore, minimum amount of carbohydrates is required for the working dog or any dog that participates in any kind of activity that lasts for more than two minutes.

2. Protein: Protein contains amino acids, which are the building blocks for hormones, tissues, and enzymes. This nutrient provides energy and helps develop muscle mass for extra size and strength. Keep in mind, however, that too much protein in your dog’s diet can lead to excessive protein breakdown. A busy dog should have a diet that includes high-quality protein, enough to provide for muscle and structural repair.

3. Fats: The main source of energy for intermediate athletic dogs comes from fats. This nutrient contains about twice as much energy as carbohydrates and protein provides. Adding more fat to your dog’s diet is the best way to increase his energy and strength. A diet high in fat is more appealing to your dog while at the same time providing him with better endurance. Therefore, it is very important to supply him with adequate amount of essential fatty acids along with saturated and unsaturated fats.

4. Water: A hard-working dog normally loses more water during laborious activity so it is very important to provide him with an ample supply of water to keep him hydrated.

This is even more important for dog health when your dog is under extreme temperatures (both hot and cold weather).

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