By Jeff Nenadic

There are typically two aspects of a dog’s behavior and life that determine their resistance levels to extreme temperatures – obesity and old age. Dogs that have a “pushed in” type of facial appearance normally have some respiratory issues anyway, but they become much more susceptible to the respiratory side effects of temperature extremes than dog’s that have a normal appearance.

Remember first and foremost that dogs do not perspire like humans do, so they normally eliminate excess heat through their respiration – i.e. panting. Regarding the types of dogs that have a pushed in countenance, when they are left to roam about outside, they cannot endure long periods of direct exposure to sunlight and higher temperatures like the other breeds of dogs can. Leaving them exposed to these conditions will most likely result in them suffering with heat stress, especially if they are confined or restrained as in being left in a vehicle.

Heat stress can become life-threatening, so be cautious. The following signs are clear indicators that your dog is beset with this condition:

* a dazed look

* a hot and dry tongue

* a rapid heartbeat

* may lapse into unconsciousness

* red mucous membranes in the mouth

* very dry skin

Prolonged periods of exposure to high temperatures will oftentimes result in the dog’s body temperature not returning to the normal level and there is a greater likelihood that they can also suffer irreversible damage.

You cannot delay with this issue if you have determined that they are suffering with heat stress – it can be deadly and that cannot be stressed enough! The best immediate option is to bring the dog indoors to a cooler environment in the hopes of their body temperature attempting to return to its normal level. Call your vet immediately after you have brought the dog indoors.

If there is a considerable distance that you will have to travel, then get some instructions over the telephone so that you can begin treating the dog at home. This will assist you in stabilizing the dog so that you can get them in your vehicle and transport them to the veterinarian. The ability to contact your vet combined with the distance to their facility will determine whether or not you need to begin remedial treatment on your own.

Your first remedial step would be to immerse the dog’s body in cold water in order to begin the temperature lowering process taking care to prevent the dog from collapsing in the water. Stimulate the flow of cooling blood to their brain and heart by extending the legs and massaging their skin. If you can, check their temperature rectally ever 10-15 minutes so you can see if their body temperature is dropping. It should drop continually but be careful that it doesn’t fall below 103 °F (39.4 °C).

Once the temperature has rescinded to a normal level, remove the dog from the cold water, dry them off, and then continue checking their temperature every 10-15 minutes for the next 45 minutes to an hour. Their temperature should not rise again, but if it should, then re-immerse the animal and attempt to contact the vet.

About the Author: Written by Jeff Nenadic from

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By Mike Lee

With all the recent and argumentative pet food recalls, it is no wonder that pet owners have preferred making homemade dog food for their furry friends in lieu of commercial and, quite possibly, bad dog food and cat food considered as contaminated. So what’s all the fuss about? What horrible things can bad contaminated dog food do to your canine companion, and more importantly, what can you do to prevent it? Just what is in these supposedly nutritionally balanced meals that has got animal lovers in an uproar?

People are discouraged from consuming too much canned goods for various health reasons. The same holds true for dogs.

Moist dog food is packed in cans. You can just visualize all the unnatural ingredients injected into the whole package, mostly to intensify flavors, enhance palatability, and even improve appearance.

What’s truly disconcerting is the truth that animal by-products, the main components of pet food, are already bombarded with chemicals long before they reach the processing plant. So even if the can’s label provides a different information, there’s really nothing like a ‘No Preservatives’4 guarantee.

Dry dog food is even worse. Since canning in itself is already a preserving process, moist dog food contains less of the contaminated materials used to prolong shelf life compared with its dry counterpart.

A different predicament is the ingredients themselves, usually meat, poultry, and grains. Anything that is known to be harmful for people to eat, such as innards, blood, and bones, make up the by-products that are ground and blended into what we know as pet food. In reality, they are bad dog food.

The thing is, it is not always slaughtered animals that make their way into these meals; but oftentimes, diseased carcasses and euthanized creatures are included also. And the drugs and bacteria like Salmonella and Escherichia coli thriving in these meats do not always die during manufacturing.

Furthermore, when moldy grain is thrown in, as well as all the other artificial ingredients the numbers of which are too many to count with both hands, you then have a lethal canine cocktail. It doesn’t take a nutrition expert to know that this spells disaster for the end user, i.e., innocent little Fido.

Injuirous outcome of bad dog food include vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of appetite. But that’s just for starters. The more dangerous toxins, like cf1 butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), and ethoxyquin, which are all given in small doses, can cause cancer, organ failure, and ultimately, death when consumed over a long period.

So what can you, the dog owner, do about all this? Voice your concerns. Call pet food manufacturers and demand for better quality products so you get what you’ve paid for. Better yet, try making your own homemade dog food. At least then, you can be sure about what your beloved pet is actually eating. If you have any doubts on the food you’re feeding your dog, consult your veterinarian immediately.

Your loving and dedicated pet deserves more than just a mouthful presence of contaminated bad dog food. Don’t you think it’s time you showed him just that?

About the Author: Know the life-saving secrets that most dog-lovers will never know about detecting bad dog food and solving dog health problems at

20daypersuasion.com/dogs-exposed.htm

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