Many dog owners refer to their fat dogs as cute and cuddlesome. Fat dogs are often mistaken as healthy canines without realizing that obesity is a serious problem, which needs immediate attention.
Dogs tend to lose weight more easily than gaining it, by skipping, leaping, hopping and playing. Despite this fact, roughly 25% pet dogs brought to vets are overweight. This brings us to the conclusion that it is often a wrong dietary pattern, which is the root of this disorder. The causes may also include some genetic inclination or improper functioning of certain hormones secreted by the thyroid and pituitary glands.
Obesity requires serious thought and treatment, especially when it comes to dogs. Dog breeds like Labrador, Dachshund, Beagle and Spaniels are usually at more risk for obesity.
Fat dogs are prone to innumerable disorders such as nervous tension and pressure on the bones, liver, lungs, kidneys and heart. They are likely to be lethargic and less resistant to other diseases. It also hinders normal functioning of the respiratory and reproductive processes.
Treatment:
The key solution to decreasing obesity in your pet is to increase its level of activity. It is equally vital to note the factors for its obesity, and carry out a proper exercise schedule with the vets advice. This includes taking it for a regular walk and involving games that will enable it to burn its calories.
Prepare a dietary plan that suits the dogs energy needs and accordingly switch to a dog food product, which ensures comparatively less calorie and more fiber intake. Thus instead of supplying high-calorie and low-nutrition items such as cakes, buttered sandwiches or cookies, it is better to give slices of carrots, bananas or oranges.
Your vet can assist you in determining the best dog food for your dog. There are many dog foods on the market and many of them are specifically developed for weight control. Your dogs age and other health issues should be considered when choosing the dog food. Dry dog food is best for their teeth.
Dog owners enjoy giving their dogs treats. Keep their diet in mind when giving treats to your dog. Instead of feeding them table scraps from the table, give them a dog treat that takes them awhile to eat, such as a milk bone.
The owner needs to follow many other habits along with these measures. It is also essential to keep a continuous watch on your dog to keep it away from garbage cans and areas where your dog may eat unhealthy and unsanitary items.
Dog owners should view obesity in their pets as an indicator of the dogs health. Determine appropriate portions for your dogs size and age in order to avoid overfeeding. Instances of overfeeding often occur because the owners yield to their pets wishes. They give it what it likes, instead of giving it what it needs.
It is the vet who can brief the owner correctly regarding their pets needs and provide a suitable solution to deal with fat dogs. It is therefore, important that the owner make correct choices and implement them with the aid and advice of a good vet.

An ingenious way to curb this occurrence and return the lushness to your lawns in a matter of a few weeks, is by using mineral enriched dog rocks. Stones used as Dog rocks contain traces of zeolite in it. What this mineral does is, it discards away the ammonia and nitrate compounds from the water by filtering the elements out. Zeolite is many a times used in fish aquariums to perform a similar function. The result is that when the dog drinks the water from a container placed with a dog rock, it is actually consuming water with a slightly lowered level of Nitrogen. Consequently, when it urinates, the liquid contains lesser Nitrogen density than usual, thus protecting the grass on the lawns from burning out. Please note that it is just a marginal discrepancy, but enough to generate the desired results in most cases.

However, in many cases, it also depends on the type of grass under attack. Some grass varieties which are very fine and delicate can be quite sensitive, and in spite of all your efforts with dog rocks, they might still burn due to dog urine. Nowadays however, a lot of turf dealers are using tougher grass varieties. The major influence is always the heavy presence of Nitrate compounds in dog urine. If your canine pet has a high protein diet, it will amplify the nitrogen content in their urine, because when proteins break down in the body, they release various nitrogen compounds. Dog Rocks absorbs enough amounts of nitrates from the water for it to produce the desired results. Reversely, Dog Rocks become quite ineffective in case a dog is fed very high protein meals on a regular basis, like red meat raw.

Dog rocks are the fastest, easiest, cheapest and the most natural way to get a hold on this problem. The only other feasible alternative is to water your lawn immediately after your pet has urinated on a frequent basis. Many pet owners believe that the burn marks are caused due to the p/h balance in the urine of the dogs. The fact is, increasing or decreasing the acid content of urine will hardly have any effect on the grass. Actually, it can be quite perilous for the p/h balance to be changed, because it can result in various side effects in the pets like stone formations in the bladder or kidneys. Dog Rocks do not tamper with the p/h balance.

Dog Rocks are a convenient and safe solution to your lawn burning issues caused by dog wee. They do not need to be replaced for at least a couple of months. You just need to make sure that your dog has no other source for drinking water, like a nearby water body, and dog rocks should work like a charm for you.

Boston Terriers share many common dental characteristics with their human companions, including gum disease, gingivitis, periodontal disease, and tooth fractures.

There are several noted differences

• Boston Terriers usually do not get cavities • An adult Boston Terrier has 44 teeth (humans have only 32) • A Boston Terriers teeth are designed for their carnivorous (meat-eating) diet and humans teeth are designed for their omnivorous (eating meat and vegetables) diets

Like humans, a Boston Terrier’s teeth can loosen in their sockets, opening the opportunity for infection. This infection can travel through the bloodstream and cause kidney and heart disease. Antibiotics can suppress the infection, but only tartar removal can prevent recurrence.

The second biggest problem for the Boston Terrier’s teeth is tooth fracture. A Boston Terrier can break their teeth surprisingly easy by crunching down on rocks, bones, and other tough substances.

Supplies Needed

A canine toothbrush or child’s soft toothbrush.

A finger brush.

Toothpaste for dogs comes in several flavors.

a. Nutri-Vet Canine Toothpaste, Chicken Flavor b. Canine Enzymatic Toothpaste c. KissAble Toothpaste d. CET Pet Toothpaste e. Petrodex Enzymatic Toothpaste f. Triple Pet All Natural Toothpaste g. Virbac Toothpaste Dog – Natural

A good canine diet.

Adequate clean water.

A large dose of love, patience, sweet talking, and praise.

Your Boston Terrier’s Dental Care Begins With Proper Diet

Dental distress can be caused by the wrong kind of foods. The mild abrasiveness of dry food can help remove the bacterial plaque that can harden into tartar. Dry food also provides adequate chewing exercise and stimulation.

Feeding your pet sweets and table scraps may increase plaque and tartar formation. So avoid feeding your pet these items.

If your Boston Terrier is prone to dental problems your veterinarian may recommend a special dry food designed to reduce plaque and tartar.

Tartar buildup can be reduced by modifications in diet, but only regular brushing can reach the critical areas at and below the gum line.

Brushing Your Boston Terrier’s Teeth

Brushing your Boston Terrier’s teeth may be easier than brushing your own. Your Boston’s teeth are narrow and more widely spaced, so the need for flossing is eliminated.

There are several noted differences in brushing your Boston’s teeth as opposed to brushing your own teeth. Because your Boston cannot rinse or spit out toothpaste, the toothpaste must be specially designed for dogs. Human toothpastes can irritate your Boston’s stomach and fluoride can cause mottling of the tooth enamel.

Getting Started

For the first few dental care sessions with your dog, do not even use a toothbrush.

The first step is selecting a good time. This should be a time in which the dog is relaxed, drowsy is good.

Gently stroke the outside of your Boston’s cheeks with the tip of your finger.

When your Boston becomes comfortable with that, place a small dab of toothpaste on your fingertip. Let your dog sniff it and then lick it off. Repeat this process several times.

Do not rush your Boston. Be patient. The last thing you will want is for your dental care time to be traumatic. You should not have to force your Boston. It may take days or weeks before your Boston becomes comfortable. You may need to back up and try days or weeks of gently stroking on the outside of their cheeks.

Gently rub several teeth with your fingers and a small dab of toothpaste.

Gradually increase the number of teeth brushed.

Remember, it is extremely important to brush the back teeth where plaque and tartar have an increased tendency to accumulate. Go slowly. Stop brushing after just a few minutes and long before you Boston begins to fuss.

If your Boston begins to dislike the procedure, back up to the step of gently stroking the outside of your Boston’s cheeks with the tip of your finger. Repeat this step for days or weeks until your Boston again becomes comfortable with you manipulating their mouth area.

Always remember to be patient. You do not want this time to be wrought with anxiety for both you and your Boston.

Next, introduce a small dab of toothpaste on a toothbrush to your Boston’s mouth. When your dog has tasted the toothpaste, reapply a small dab to the toothbrush and brush gently in a circular motion to their front teeth. Praise your Boston often, stroke their neck gently, speak softly. When your Boston is relaxed, pull their lips and cheek back gently to gain access to the side and back teeth. Brush softly.

Boston Terriers do not accumulate much tartar on the inside of their teeth, so it is important to worry only about the outside surfaces. The back teeth are very important.

Try to make your Boston’s dental care time pleasurable. Stop each session and lavishly praise your dog.

Your Boston Terrier may actually start to look forward to their dental care time.

Consult your Boston’s Veterinarian for brushing frequency. Most will recommend at least twice a week. Boston’s with stubborn dental problems may need more frequent dental care.

While brushing your Boston’s teeth twice a week may seem daunting, it will become easier with practice and patience. By caring for your Boston’s dental hygiene, you will assure good dental health, and may prevent more serious dental and medical problems as they age.

Professional Dental Cleanings

Consult with your veterinarian to determine frequency of needed professional dental care. Most will recommend an interval of one to three years.

Professional dental care is performed under general anesthesia. It will consist of scaling (to remove tartar above and below the gum line); polishing (to smooth the surface of your Boston’s teeth); and flushing (to dislodge both tartar and bacteria).

A professional dental cleaning may consist of:

a. Anesthetizing your Boston Terrier. b. Taking x-rays to assess the health of their teeth and surround bone areas. c. Flushing their mouth with antibacterial solution to kill bacteria d. Using an ultrasonic scaler to clean the teeth. e. Polishing the teeth to remove scratches f. Examining each tooth and the surrounding gums for signs of disease g. Reflushing the mouth again with the antibacterial solution. h. Applying a dental agent to retard plaque buildup. i. Documenting any abnormalities on your Boston’s chart. j. Recommending follow-up and determining a home care regimen for your Boston Terrier.

The typical cost of a professional veterinarian’s dental care for your Boston Terrier is between $70 and $350. Costs may increase if your veterinarian may determines that your dog may need pre-anesthesia blood work. A need for a more extensive cleaning may also increase the costs.

February

Remember that February is National Canine Dental Month.

If you have not had, your Boston Terriers’ teeth examined by your veterinarian, then now is an excellent time. They may recommend a home care regimen that will prevent further problems. Glossary

Plaque – a film of saliva, mucus, bacteria, and food residues that builds up on the surface of teeth and can cause gum disease.

Tartar – a hard deposit of mostly organic material that forms on teeth at the gum line and contributes to dental decay if not regularly removed.