What To Do If Your Dog Has a Cold

It’s hard to imagine your pet having the same illnesses as you do during the winter months; but it’s true that dogs, just like their companions, can contract viral infections that cause cold-like symptoms. If your dog has a cold, you can help him stay comfortable and recover. A veterinary examination is often necessary for these infections, but you can also treat viral illnesses at home a number of ways.

First it’s important to recognize the symptoms of a cold. Common symptoms of a canine cold include: lethargy, runny nose, watery eyes, coughing and sneezing.

What you can do to treat and reduce the duration of your dog’s cold:

1) Food and Water

Provide your dog with as much food and water as it wants while sick. He/she needs the energy to fight off the infection. Water is extremely important if your dog has a cold, so you should make sure that clean, fresh water is available at all times to prevent dehydration.

2) Healthy Food

Speaking of food… healthy food only. Just because your dog is sick doesn’t mean you can feed him an abundance of treats or people food. Provide him with food that is rich in nutrients that will help to improve his condition. Food that is not meant for dogs can only make the situation worse.

3) Be Aware of Dehydration

Sick dogs are prone to dehydration because they do not feel up to drinking, and running a fever can cause fluid loss. As stated above, make sure water is available to your dog all day long, and encourage him to drink it whenever you can.

4) Try Broth

Just like humans love soup and broth when they’re feeling under the weather, dogs do too so try giving your dog warm broth if he …

Teaching Your Child How to Handle Pets

Once you have chosen a pet for your kids you will need to teach them how to handle the animal correctly. Often kids are so excited to have their pet that they can accidentally frighten the poor animal. Most pets can be touched safely but we need to teach our kids how to hold and carry their new pet. This advice is focused on animals that can be touched, like cats, dogs, birds, hamsters, rabbits, and the like.

When you first bring home your pet walk slowly around them always trying to keep your voices low and gentle. Animals can react aggressively to abrupt loud movements. If you kids run suddenly towards a pet, they might defend themselves. If your kids run away from them, they might attack them. Let your new pet get used to you and your home.

Teach your kids to leave a pet that is eating or chewing something alone. Animals can be very protective of food and may get aggressive if your kids try to remove them from it. You must teach your kids to be gentle with their pets. Show your kids how to play with their pets without hurting them. Make sure your kids know not to grab an animal by its tail or legs as these places are very sensitive and this will hurt your pet. Teach your kids how to stroke their pet and rub scratch them in the places your pet likes, For instance our dog loves to be scratched just under his ears

If you have another pet at home introduce the new pet slowly and carefully. If they suddenly fight, don’t separate them with your bare hands. Instead, try throwing water on them or distracting them with some objects, like a pole or chair. Don’t let …