Articles by Jack

Anyone who has kept a fish tank knows how dirty the water gets. In fact, even though fish are tiny, they are also rather messy critters, and the water wishes constant maintenance. Even if you make it a practice to change the water and wash out the aquarium on a once-a-week basis, you’re still going to need some assistance with the monumental task of maintaining a healthy environment for your fish. One of the things that will help you is a good filter. Filters can be biological or chemical, but one of the handiest filters you can buy is one that uses diatomaceous earth as it’s filtering medium.

As the name suggests, diatomaceous earth comes from the soil. Diatoms are tiny organisms that die and leave fossilized remains in the soil. By so doing, they fill the soil with minute cavities which may be employed effectively in filtering waste out of water, including the water in aquariums. These are the same kinds of filters which are employed in swimming pools and municipal applications, and they are wonderful for capturing even the littlest particles in your water. In fact, they corral particles that are too little to be caught in most other kinds of water filters.

Vortex Diatom Filters are high speed mechanical filters which are designed to fine filter water in aquariums without disturbing the natural, and desirable, level of bacteria. Although most of us have been conditioned to think about bacteria as being a bad thing, there are many alternative sorts of good bacteria that we depend on every day, so it is important that we not rid any ecosystem of the good bacteria that it needs for plants and animals to survive. A filter which damages the balance could prove dangerous for your fish.

A System one Pressure Filter from Aquarium Products will polish tank water at the rate of 300 gallons an hour. It may be employed both in saltwater and freshwater aquariums successfully. By filling the filter jar with diatomaceous earth, which can be bought separately, it will run for about 3 hours at a time. It must be turned off after 3 hours, because running it longer will cause the motor to burn up. However, in that 3 hours, you will have filtered and polished the best quality of water on the market today.

Although it may appear a little weird to use soil to clean your tank, diatomaceous aquarium filters are so popular that they are on back order at most online shops. With persistence you will be able to find the filter you need to keep your aquarium clean and your fish healthy.

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My friends usually call me a “good Googler.” In other words, I can find out just about anything you want to know by using Google. My curious nature leads me to dig deeper and find the answers even when my friends searched but have not been able to find what they are looking for. Canine Chiropractic

I found the site of Dr. Ava Frick, a veterinarian online. What caught my attention was the fact that Dr.Frick has had great results treating pets by using microcurrent therapy. She has cured her canine, feline, and equine patients who suffered from depression, anxiety, pain, and many other problems.

Most people are alarmed as I mentioned “microcurrent therapy” so please do not confuse this treatment with those awful collars other people use to keep their dogs from barking. You actually know what I am pertaining to. These collars respond to the dog’s barking by emitting an electric shock to scare the poor dog, and the dog soon stops barking to avoid severe pain. Those collars are nothing but torture, so why would you treat a beloved pet this way?

Since I am lucky enough to live within driving distance of Dr. Frick’s clinics, Midwest Microcurrent and Animal Fitness Center, in Union, Missouri, she treated my cat and added us to her long list of success stories. To provide your cat, dog, or horse with the best environment and enable healing plus relief in a highly controlled environment, she uses this state-of-the-art technology.

The history of microcurrent therapy, Dr.Frick told me, goes back a long way. Actually, its use has been running for more than 2000 years.

I am grateful to Dr.Frick and her knowledgeable staff for bringing relief and comfort to my cat. I encourage you to research and do whatever you can in order to make your pet feel better if something seems to be wrong with your pet. Canine Chiropractic

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If you own or are considering owning a greyhound you need to be aware that they have very specific dietary requirements.It is believed that over 50% of behavioural problems with dogs is attributed to the additives in their food, the same as is often said of children.Behavioural problems with greyhounds also generally lie within what they are fed so a good quality food with no artificial flavourings or preservatives and no genetically modified ingredients is essential.

Retired and rescued greyhounds should be fed a low protein complete Greyhound Food mix that is specially designed for retired and non-working dogs.Greyhounds are not greedy by nature, so if you feed your dog a specialist food you don’t need to be too worried about excessive feeding.

Fish oils are good for the brain, skin, hair and joints and will produce a nice glossy coat and help to maintain bones in later years.To increase your greyhound’s oil levels you can always add a teaspoon of cod liver oil to one of their feeds. Or perhaps as a treat you could feed them an oily fish such as sardines or tuna (just check for bones first).As with all pet food, if you feed a dry food product you need to also provide a dish of fresh water.

Dogs are able to digest raw meat easily, but don’t encourage it.If you are feeding raw meat make sure you never feed poultry or pork.As dogs are not carnivores (they are actually omnivores) you need to ensure that you feed a good mix of carbs, proteins and fats.

The easiest way of providing a balanced and nutritious diet in every bowl of food you serve is by feeding a specialist greyhound food product.

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Most people believe that feeding their dog is the easiest part of owning it. However, this is not necessarily true.The two things to focus on are quality of food and portion sizes.

When shopping for dog food you should really try and base your purchasing decision on the quality of the food, rather than the price tag. By choosing quality over price you are likely to be buying the best dog food for your pet.Choosing the appropriate dog food can enhance your canine’s skin, eyes, teeth, energy, and overall health.A good way of choosing the right dog food is by taking the time to read the ingredients list which should be shown on the packaging.

Dogs are carnivores which means they like to eat meat.With this in mind you need to find a dog food where the very first ingredient is meat, whether this is chicken, beef, lamb, pork etc.If the ingredients list shows meat by-products don’t buy it. Meat by-products can include skin, fat, crushed bone and even feathers and offer no nutritional value.Soya is another ingredient to avoid. It has been discovered that numerous dogs are allergic to soya products.

Many pet owners look to their dog’s food to enhance a particular characteristic of the canine.The variety of specialist dog food is growing and there are foods which can for example help to clean your dog’s teeth whilst she chews, or food ideal for dogs with sensitive skin.Omega 6 and 3 oils are becoming an increasing element of any good quality pet food and are vital if you want your dog to have health skin and a glossy coat, so look for food containing such oil.

If you have an active dog and are struggling to satisfy her appetite then you should consider purchasing foods high in both protein and carbohydrates as these will help to keeo her energy levels high.Older, less active dogs will not need as high of a calorie diet as those that are younger and more vibrant.
Just as with dry dog food, if you buy canned food remember to always check the ingredients label and avoide buying if the main ingredient is water or animal by-products.The cheaper canned dog foods often add a significant amount of water to their product in order to lower the cost for consumers.A diet based on canned, wet food should be supplemented with a daily dry snack which your dog can chew on, such as a bone or chewy stick.

Giving your pet a high quality food with maximum nutritional value is an excellent way to add energy in your dog’s life and enhance the appearance of his coat, eyes, teeth, and physique.The ticket price of premium dog foods is generally higher but portion sizes are usually smaller, so the cost per bowl will often work out the same as a cheap supermarket type feed.

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Every person that has a dog needs to make sure that the dog is properly trained. A well trained dog will not scare guests or jump on them without a reason. Most importantly, a dog must not bark so loudly that it bothers people who live with you or around you. This can be a nuisance to not only the owners of the dog but also the neighbors and guests in the home.

The constant barking, when it’s not related to health problems, might make it impossible for people in the house to enjoy a simple conversation, at which point a citronella bark collar becomes almost a necessity.

Citronella Bark Collar? What’s That?

The citronella bark collar is highly effective. It’s the collar that’s preferred by people who don’t agree with other methods of anti bark correction, specially those that involve static electricity. This collar’s mode of operation doesn’t create any pain or discomfort for the dog at all. It operates with a small dose of citronella spray that’s shot right in front of your dog’s nose.

Once the dog detects the smell of citronella with its highly developed sense of smell, it will instinctively try to figure out what is going on. Because the attention of the dog will be diverted from the object that it was barking at to this new, strange smell, the barking will stop while the dog “investigates” what happened.

With time and practice, the dog will understand that it’s its own barking that’s triggering the release of the citronella smell. The smell won’t hurt the dog, of course, yet the dog will know that the only way to keep that smell away is by not barking when not necessary. Because it’s harmless, this type of collar has been gaining in popularity lately. Dog owners like this collar because it goes easy on dogs, yet it delivers the results they were looking for.

The citronella bark collar can be found in almost every pet supply store, among other types of anti bark collars. The ultrasonic bark collar for instance is a different take on the citronella version. The ultrasound collar is another harmless collar, but instead of squirting a bit of citronella, it will produce a high pitched sound that’s detectably only by dogs.

The reason why manufacturers selected a sound so high pitched that humans can’t hear it is so that you don’t have to put up with it in addition to the barking of your dog. Otherwise, it would be even more difficult to be in the presence of the dog.

The citronella bark collar is a terrific investment for any dog owner who wants to get their dog to stop all that unwanted barking

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If you have just picked out a new dog or puppy and plan to keep him or her inside, getting your new pet house trained should be your first priority. There are several dog potty training techniques that will help you out and the method you choose to use will depend on your own personal preference and your family’s lifestyle.

One dog potty training technique is called paper training. The basic idea here is to teach your new dog or puppy to do their business on a paper somewhere in your house. You need to praise them when they do it right and make sure you scold them when they go where they are not supposed to. You can combine this with the next technique to encourage them to go outside when possible, but use the paper if they have to go inside.

Many dog owners that have house dogs, will want to train their dogs to go outside. The best way to do this is to take them out very often and praise them when they go to the bathroom. As I mentioned above, make sure you scold them when they make a mess in the house. If you want to combine techniques, you can praise them a lot when they go outside and a little when they go on the paper. This will help them know you want them to go outside, but it is ok if they have to use the paper.

There are other techniques like crate training you may want to explore. Check out the links at KDMGermanShepherds.com and get more information on obedience training for dogs including the Ultimate House Training guide and the Secrets to Dog Training program which will help you teach your dog to be a little angel.

For anybody that has a German Shepherd as part of their family, be sure to check out the German Shepherd puppy training page we put together at KDMGermanShepherds.com. You will find useful tips for German Shepherd puppies as well as more information about the best dog training courses available on the internet.

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Being a huge movie buff, one of my all-time favorite teen flicks being “Clueless” starring Alicia Silverstone, Paul Rudd, who later went on to “Friends” and other movies, and Brittarny Murphy. So I was stunned last December, when the news broke about Brittany Murphy’s sudden death. Pet Chiropractic

While they laid her to rest, following her funeral at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Los Angeles, California, my heart went out to her mother and her husband, Simon Monjack. News reports have listed the 32-year-old actress’ death as being caused by a heart attack at the home she shared with her husband in LA on December 20, 2009.

As I clicked through her husband’s web site I saw breathtaking photos that Simon had taken of Brittany. Such a shame for someone so beautiful and talented to be taken from us too soon.

While the loss is tragic for her family and fans, what truly broke my heart was when I learned of Brittany’s female Maltese named Clara. Being an animal lover, I cried when I read online from people magazine’s web site that the dog was experiencing a change in behavior since Brittany’s death, according to Brittany’s husband.

“One of the saddest things is that Clara has looked everywhere for Brittany and can’t find her”, she looked in every place Brittany could be, she couldn’t understand why Brittany was not in the bed or in the bathroom, and she looked in every inch of the house,” as quoted by Simon Monjack in People magazine. Describing Clara as “a humongous personality in a tiny package,” Brittany named her after the silent film star Clara Bow. She is treated not as a pet but as a family member.

Though I had never really given much thought, this tragic turn of events make me wonder how pets react to their owner’s death. Do pets have the ability to mourn? If so, how do survivors help the pet’s physical and emotional health during the mourning period?

My pet’s veterinarian, Dr.Ava Frick, is a specialist in pet behavior. In fact, she has been using Alpha Stim technology treatments on one of my dogs due to problems with his excessive barking and showing aggression toward my other two dogs.

At our next appointment, Dr.Frick and I discussed Clara and pets’ ability to mourn. She said that undergoing a mourning period after the loss of a human or animal companion is common for a dog. In fact, the symptoms can be exhibited for days or even weeks afterwards, including decreased appetite, lethargy, and changes in the dog’s behavior.

She said that keeping a dog in its normal routine in such cases is important. Exercise can do wonders to relieve stress for pets as with humans who are going through issues. Being with familiar people, and even meeting a few new friendly faces, can boost the pet’s mood, as well.

It is a wise move to seek for professional advice if the pet’s mourning period seems to carry on. Physiologic abnormalities, which might be contributing to the dog’s depression can be determined by a veterinarian.

Alternative therapies like acupuncture, herbal supplements, and dietary modification fit for those dogs who are mourning and experiencing depression. Dog Pain Relief

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My 13-year-old Golden Retrieve, Orville, has always been my “baby”. I have spared no expense in his care, including the best trainer, groomer, food and supplements, and veterinary care. Pet Chiropractic

Lately, I notice signs that his hips and joints might be having some trouble. Chalking it up as one of the signs of aging, I wasn’t too concerned at first. However, once I looked this up online, I was startled to learn that Orville might very possibly be in pain. Then I inquired from friends who have a couple of older dogs as I do not want my beloved companion hurting. They had experienced something similar, and took their dogs to a veterinarian who specializes in chiropractic care for their canine, feline and equine patients.

Since my friends recommended her, I set up an appointment with Ava Frick, DVM with her Animal Fitness Center, near St. Louis, Missouri. They praised Dr. Frick and were convinced that her care had made a difference in the quality of their dogs’ lives.

Orville had his initial appointment with Dr. Frick a month ago and just had his second appointment this afternoon.

Including pain that the pet might be experiencing in their back, leg, or even in their tail, Dr. Frick told me that she offers chiropractic care for dogs due to many reasons.

Traditionally, chiropractic care focuses on disorders of the human nervous system, musculoskeletal system and how these systems impact our overall health. Since it concentrates on the dog, cat, or horse and its nervous system, muscuskeletal system and their impact on the pet’s health, animal chiropractic care is similar.

Same expectations from the first time you consult any doctor or veterinarian, our first appointment involved providing Orville’s health history. It is important for a thorough, accurate history to be established when you visit a health care provider for the first time, which is why a visit to a veterinarian is no exception. Dr. Frick asked queries about Orville’s current state of health as well as the reason why we made an appointment.

She had Orville lie down so that she could exam him and adjust his spine, similar to what I have experienced when I visit my own chiropractor. Orville was fine throughout most of the exam. In fact, he has always loved to be messed with and it seemed like he was relaxing during a massage. That is, until Dr.Frick paid attention to his hips. For the rest of the exam, Dr. Frick was even more careful in that area when Orville snarled a bit.

Following the exam, Dr. Frick spoke with me about the importance of making sure Orville gets more exercise. We needed to strengthen the muscles in his back legs, she said. Each day of small amount of exercise would prove beneficial. Something that I thought was really interesting was Dr.Frick’s advice to tickle Orville’s tummy while he was standing. She said that this would help his spine since a dog will automatically hunch up when his stomach is touched.

I am so glad for achieving such great results without stuffing pain pills into my dog and was impressed with what has been provided by Dr. Frick. Horse Pain Relief

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Bark collars tend to be put on the back burner as an option when it comes to training a dog not to bark unless for particular reasons, and that is simply because many people don’t understand how they were designed to be used. In lots of cases bark collars are not used properly in the first place which is yet another deterrent for some once they learn about their friends’ problems with the collars.

To get permanent results with a bark collar, it’s imperative to learn how the bark collar in question works to correct and reduce excessive barking, that way you will know if it’ll work with your dog. Fortunately, bark collars come in different sizes, models, and ways of operations, so you can take some time comparing them before you get one.

The Types of Bark Collars Available

Bark collars come in a few different varieties, 3 to be exact. The citronella spray collar is one of the favorite choices of dog owners, and works by spraying the dog’s muzzle with a bit of citronella smell in order to distract it from the source of barking.

Shock collars are the most famous type of bark collars, although there are many people that believe that they are dangerous or cruel to dogs, and thus they have a bit of a bad fame. These collars follow the same distraction method of citronella spray collars, but they use small, mild shocks for calling the attention of the dog instead of citronella smell.

The third category includes ultrasound collars, also known as ultrasonic collars, which are widely available in any pet store. Like the spray and shock collars, the ultrasound collar distracts the attention of the dog from whatever it’s barking at and focuses it to something else, in this case a high pitched sound. The noise is loud enough for the dog to understand but too loud for most humans to ever hear.

Benefits of Using Bark Collars

Unlike oral training, bark collars don’t need a trainer to be with the dog all the time to reinforce the idea that excessive barking is not allowed. The results of bark collars are so effective that dogs eventually learn to restrict their barking on their own and don’t need the collar any more.

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Are you fed up with constant barking at late hours of the night? Even the most experienced dog trainers sometimes have to face the fact that regular anti barking training isn’t working and a bark collar has to be brought in. Yes, a bark collar may not be the most dog friendly training gadget on the planet but it serves its purpose.

Because each dog is different and reacts differently, it pays to spend some time evaluating the different types of bark collars there are. If you are serious about getting a bark collar, here you have some common types and some basic information on how they work.

The Ultrasound Bark Collar

This collar is one of the most popular collars that are available for the general public. Like a gadget from a James Bond movie, this bark collar emits a very high pitched sound when it detects excessive barking. The objective of the sound is to distract the dog from whatever he was barking at and make him focus on the sound. The high pitch sound produced by the collar is inaudible to the human ear so you won’t be bothered by its sound. Some people think that the exposure to a high pitched sound is harmful to the dog, but in reality it’s as harmful as listening to the highest note on a piano is to you. Besides, most dogs stop barking upon hearing the high pitched sound from the collar so they won’t be exposed to it for a long time.

The Spraying Collar

This type of collar can detect barking and counteracts it by spraying the dog’s muzzle with citronella smell whenever the dog barks. Citronella is annoying to a dog’s taste. When dogs finally realize that their own barking is what triggers the citronella spray, they start to reduce their barking. The problem with this type of collar is that the smell of citronella sometimes stays on your dog’s nose well afte the barking has stopped. Some dogs might believe that the punishment still continues and might not make the connection with the barking. If your dog is extremely sensitive or irritable to citronella, then this type of bark collar is not your best choice.

Electrical Shock Collar

The shock collar is well known among dog owners, but it’s also somewhat despised, despite it’s proven effectiveness in reducing innecessary barking in dogs. Note that the shock collar sends electric pulses to your dog’s muscles whenever it barks. The electric shock is painless to dogs, but some people think it can be cruel.

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