Do Dogs Go To Heaven

"One day, we will see our animals again in the eternity of Christ, Paradise is open to all Gods creatures." Pope Francis

Pope Francis consoled a boy at the Vatican  who's beloved pet had recently died. He told the boy that one day we will be reunited with our pets in Paradise.

Pope Francis took his papal name from Saint Francis of Assisi the patron saint of animals.

The Popes statement goes against the conservative catholic church that does not believe dogs have souls hence they can not go to heaven.

Charles Camosy professor of Christian ethics at Fordham University agreed that this statement from the Pope has caused a new debate on whether animals have souls, suffer and go to heaven.

Pope John Paul II was also a believer that animals do have souls "as close to God as man" but Pope Benedict rejected the idea that animals have souls "when an animal dies it just means the end of its existence on earth".

The Rev. James Martin, a Jesuit priest and editor at large of America, the Catholic magazine, said he believed that Francis was at least asserting that “God loves and Christ redeems all of creation,” even though conservative theologians have said paradise is not for animals.

Many are of the opinion that you can see more soul when you look into a dogs eyes than you will ever see in a person.

Dogs and Hayfever

Like humans dogs may suffer from hayfever.

Dogs are most prone to hayfever during the Summer months and early Autumn. But they may suffer as early as April.

They suffer due to  tree pollen and  grass pollen.

The inhalation and  skin contact with pollen causes hayfever in dogs.

A dog usually will show the first signs of hayfever between 1 and 3 years old.

A dogs reaction to hayfever is different to humans due to the fact that the histamines are released through their skin not their nose and eyes like humans.

The Symptoms Of Dog Hayfever

They will be itchy all over their body.

The dog may bite and scratch themselves.

A rash may be visible on their face and feet.

Reoccurring ear infections.

The hair around their eyes and feet will thin.

Coat loss due to extensive biting and scratching.

Sensitive to being touched.

Extra licking of their paws.

Rubbing their faces on the floor and furniture.

They may have watery eyes, a runny nose and sneeze but these symptoms are less common in dogs.

The skin may appear red and inflamed due to the scratching.

The dog is at risk of catching a bacterial infection when the skin surface is broken from the biting and scratching.

Reducing Hayfever In Dogs

Ensure that your dog has a well balanced diet with enough essential fatty acids that will keep your dogs natural skin defences in peck condition.

Keep your dog out of long grasses and gardens during high pollen days.

Keep your dog well groomed. Daily brushing and dematting of the dogs coat is needed.

Wipe down your dog if he/she has being in the garden or field. The wiping down with a wet cloth will remove any pollen on the coat.

Invest in a dog shampoo that's specially made for irritated skin.

There are pet brushes and shampoos that are specifically catered for dogs with hayfever.

Supplements and homoeopathic treatments should ease the dogs symptoms if used over a period of time.

Wash your dogs bedding weekly.

In more severe cases you may need to consider allergen shots for your dog.

Dog Quote

Dogs are our link to paradise. They don't know evil or jealousy or discontent. {Milan Kundera}

Object Suckling In Dog's

Harry at nearly 2 months old suckling on a sock

Just like human babies puppies can become attached to certain objects to sooth themselves. It is not very common but its a habit that is seen in some puppies and dogs.

Human babies grow out of their habit of suckling on a dummy or having a blankie.

The puppy usually continues their habit of suckling on something for comfort into adulthood. 


Adult dog suckling is not a bad behaviour, the dog should not be punished for it.

Puppies instinctively know how to suckle so that they can nurse of their mothers. Most puppies stop suckling when their mothers milk drys up, they start to eat solids but some puppy's want to suckle into adulthood.

The weaned puppies and adult dogs find great comfort in suckling on a non food object.
They will normally suckle on a a special toy or blanket. Something that has a familiar smell or feel.
They  may suckle for just a few minutes or hours.

Object suckling can occur in any breed of dog but it seems to be more common in working dogs such as border collies.

Even dogs that have had a perfect puppyhood, that stayed with their mothers and siblings the perfect amount of time have been known to be object sucklers into adulthood.

The gene has been discovered that is related to object suckling, it is believed to be the same gene to cause canine compulsive disorder and it is similar to the OCD gene in humans.
This was discovered through a collaboration between Cumming School of Veterinary Medicine, the University of Massachusetts Medical School and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Harry suckling a sock as a little puppy  

Why Do They Suckle

There a different schools of thought on why the dog wants to suckle on a non food item.

Some believe that it is due to a form of anxiety and  the suckling is done to calm themselves down.

Others believe that it is due to being weaned too early or taken away from their mother and siblings too soon.
Psychologist David M. Levey tested the theory that puppies weaned too early or not having their needs totally fulfilled by their mothers were prone to adult suckling.
He verified this theory by removing puppies too early from their mothers.

Puppies from large litters also suffer more from under fulfilled needs and therefore  are more prone to object suckling.
Deprived puppies start suckling on objects and continue into adulthood.


Orphan puppies are also known to be more prone to suckling into adulthood.
Harry the puppy in the pictures is an orphan puppy. We feed him milk from a puppy bottle until he was 8 weeks along with his puppy mush. 


There are two types of suckling that your pet may display. There is the habitual suckling which only lasts a few minutes usually before they go to sleep.
Then there is the obsessive suckling that last a few hours and the dog will not allow any interruption such as play, exercise, meals etc.
If your dog is very obsessive about his suckling you should contact your vet.

Harry a bit older still suckling a blanket

Harry suckling on a towel

If you remove your pets favourite suckling object the dog will usually replace it with something else.

If its not too much of a problem you should let the dog continue with his suckling.

A more problematic form of suckling is when the dog is suckling on their body. They usually will suckle on their flank. This suckling can damage the skin and needs to be taken more seriously. 

This type of suckling should be discouraged as it can lead to health problems.

Harry  at one years old suckling on a blanket

Harry suckling on the blanket his older sister Spot has no interest

Harry the dog in the pictures it seems was destined to become a suckle lover. He sadly became an orphan at a few days old. He is a working dog breed border collie. He had domineering sisters to give him anxiety. 

Harry luckily only suckles on blankets socks and toys he does not suckle on himself.

He does have favourite blankets that is washed regularly. He loves freshly washed blankets.

Dog Quote

All knowledge, the totality of all questions and all answers is contained in the dog.
{ Franz Kafka }

Dog Quote by Agatha Christie

Dogs are wise.
They crawl away into a quiet corner and lick their wounds
and do not rejoin the world until they are whole once more
{Agatha Christie}

Do Dogs Have Accents

According to a study  in England dogs develop a bark similar to the sound of their owners regional accent.
It was discovered that dogs in Liverpool have a higher pitch than dogs from other regions.
Scottish dogs have a lighter tone to their bark.
It was noted that there was a difference in the tone and pitch of the dogs bark throughout England.

The pitch, tone, volume and length of the dog sounds were measured.

Different breeds of dog may have different kinds of bark.

The closer the bond between a dog and its owner the more likely it is to have a similar accent to the owner.

Dogs can have posh accents like their owners or rough accents like their owners.

Its possible to recognise an individual dogs bark just like an individual persons voice.

Dog Quote

The dog is the virtue which not being able to become a man became an animal

{Victor Hugo}

Dog Quotes

Tis sweet to know there is an eye will mark our coming and look brighter when we come. {Lord Byron}

Homemade Raw Dog Food

 

If you are worried about the preservatives and additives that are in your commercial dog food you should consider a raw homemade diet for your pet. Raw dog food diets are controversial but they are becoming more popular.

A lack of red meat in a dogs diet can cause health problems. Wolves in the wild do not have as many health problems as our domesticated pets.

There can be risks for humans and dogs with  bacteria in the raw diet.

Many pets have depressed immune systems and health problems which are linked to improper nutrition.

This method of feeding is often called Raw feeding. Raw feeding is the practise of feeding your dog a diet primarily of uncooked meat, bones and organs.

Supporters  of the raw diet claim that the dogs health vastly improves when eating raw, their coat becomes thicker and glossier ,their eyes brighter, teeth and breath problems are eliminated, their behaviour problems reduced and an increase in energy and alertness.
The critics of the raw food diet say that there are too many risks with the raw food diet such as foodbourne illnesses, nutritional imbalances and intestinal perforations.

 

With raw dog food you can hope to give your dog healthy and dog palate pleasing meals.
A dogs raw meal should consist mostly of raw meat with extras such as dairy products and vegetables.
You can supplement your dogs diet with dog  vitamins to ensure they get everything they need especially while growing.
There are commercial raw food diets available such as Nature Variety's Instint Raw Frozen Formula's
http://www.naturesvariety.com/Instinct/dog

You need to study what nutrients your dog needs before you attempt the crossover from shop bought dog food to home made raw dog food.
A dog should have a large portion of its diet consisting of protein at least 50%.
This protein can be sourced from beef,chicken,lamb and turkey. Vegetables and eggs can also be a source of protein but not a large portion.
Your dog can eat grains and vegetables but they need to be cooked before the dog is fed them.
Dogs are carnivores and are not as efficient in breaking down vegetables as they are meat.
A dog will not thrive if it is fed a diet heavy in grains.
With the raw food diet the dog is less likely to suffer from obesity and obesity related diseases.

The homemade raw dog food includes the raw meaty bone. One must note that a raw bone is not harmful to a dog but a cooked bone is. Don't give your dog a cooked bone as it can splinter and be a health hazard for your dog.
The raw meaty bones that are suited for dogs are chicken necks backs and legs, lamb breast and neck and  pork breast and necks. The raw meaty bone can make up 20% to 30% of the dogs diet. Too much bone can cause  constipation. If your dog is straining when going to poop or if the poop comes out white and crumbly then reduce the amount of bone in their diet.
Your dogs meals should never be spicy or greasy.
Some small dogs may not be suitable for the raw meaty bone as it may be a choking hazard.
You can also serve the raw meaty bone ground up, it still has all the health benefit's but  is easier for your dog to eat and safer.

When you are changing over to a homemade raw dog food your pet may have a change in their poop. Your dogs digestive system needs to adjust to the change.


Organ meats are important in your raw food dog food. They should make up around 5% of your dogs meal. The liver and kidneys provide alot of nutrients. You can also include heart and other organs in your dogs diet.

Muscle meat needs to be included in the raw dogfood plan. Its recommend that it is 70% to 80% of the diet. Use lean meat not too fatty. You can use beef, chicken, turkey or lamb.

There should be a variety in what food you use for your raw dog food diet. Don't feed your dog only on beef. You should never feed one kind of food as more than half the diet.

You can include natural yogurt and cottage cheese in your dogs diet.
Eggs can be fed cooked or uncooked with the yolk or without. Some believe its best to serve the whole egg with shell  to get the most nutrition out of it.

Puppies can also benefit from the raw food diet. When dealing with puppies you need to be extra precise in your portions. You can add goats milk to their meal. Don't over feed  with bone ensure that there is enough meat on the bone so that they don't  have problems with over exposure to calcium. You should include puppy supplements to their diet.

 

 

Vegetables, Fruits ,Grains

Dogs do not require carbohydrates in their diet.
In the wild carbohydrates would only be a small percentage of their natural diet.
Vegetables should not be a large percentage of the dogs diet. Dogs digestive systems are not able to break down whole uncooked vegetables so its best to cook the vegetables before you feed them to your pet. Dogs do not have the digestive enzymes to break down the cellulose walls that are found in the outer layers of fruits and vegetables. The cooking and steaming of the vegetables help break down the cellulose walls. Some vegetables will be sufficient when they are put through the blender. If some types of vegetables are not cooked they will have little nutritional value for your pet.
One should aim to provide their dog with organic produce  as the less additives and preservatives your dog is exposed to the better.
Vegetables that are dog friendly are carrots, broccoli but don't feed broccoli in large amounts as it can depress the thyroid function, kale, green beans, pumpkin which is great for your pet if they are prone to constipation or diarrhoea only one or two tablespoons in your pets diet make a great difference, sweet potatoes, cucumber and celery.
Some dogs really turn their noses up at vegetables if this is the case you could try to use fresh food supplements that are catered for dogs.

Most fruits just need a spin in the blender then they are ready to serve for  your pet.
There is a long list of fruits that are viable for your pets diet.
Cantaloupe, apples, papaya watermelon, blueberries, cranberries, pears, bananas and mangoes to name but a few.

But you must be aware of the fruits and vegetables that need to be avoided for the health of your dog.
Avoid onions, onions can cause a severe reaction in some dogs.
Avoid grapes and raisins, grapes and raisins are extremely toxic to dogs and can lead to acute renal failure.
Spinach can affect calcium absorption in dogs.
Peppers can aggravate arthritis in dogs tomatoes and eggplant can also be problematic. Use sweet potatoes instead of potatoes as potatoes can aggravate arthritis in dogs.

Grains can cause many health problems in dogs. Grains may be less expensive but a dogs health will be improved with the reduction of grains in his diet and an increase in animal based foods. This is the problem with many cheap shop bought dog foods. There is a high grain content and a small amount of meat content.
Over feeding of grains can cause IBD, arthritis, allergies, incontinence, digestive disorders and chronic ear infections.
A dog on a high grain diet will be over weight and have a poor muscle mass.

Raw Dog Food Recipe              

175g Raw meaty bones             

225g Lean muscle meat           

60g   Liver or Kidney                

1       Egg                                   

100g Carrots

 

Puppy Chow 8-12 Weeks
 

1/2 lb      Ground Beef

1/2 tsp    Bone Meal

1/2 cup   Blended 

1/2 tsp    Flax Seed Oil

 

1 lb          Beef

1-1/2      Cups Greens and Carrots

1 tsp       Kelp Flakes

1 tsp       Flaxseed Oil

Half Cup Cottage cheese
Half Cup Grated carrot
5             Chicken Wings
1tsp        Flaxseed oil



The amount of ingredients in your raw dog food depends on the weight of your dog.
You should be feeding the dog 2% to 3% of the dog body weight or 1/2lb of food to 25lb of body weight.
Puppies should be feed 10% of their body weight.

Suggested in the preparation of raw feed diet.
80% of muscle meat
10% of organ meet
10% of raw meaty bone

If there is a good amount of meat on the raw meaty bone it can take a higher percentage in the diet.

1 egg, some think that an egg a day is too much.
Green tripe can make up to 15% of the overall diet.

Your dog will go through a detox when changing to organic raw homemade dog food.

There are dog supplements available. If your dog is getting a well balanced diet they may not need these. But adding them into the diet could add extra health benefits.

Keep an eye on your dogs weight ensure that its appropriate for their breed and age.

Consider adding  kelp, chia seeds or  flax oil to your dogs meals.

You should fast your dog for 24 hours before introducing the raw food diet. But ensure that your pet has access to water.

You can give your dog raw honey for its antibacterial benefits.

Do not mix kibble and raw as it takes longer for the dog to digest the kibble and this can cause stomach upset.

You can buy readymade raw dog food http://dogsfirst.ie/raw-dog-food/

Remember meat not grain for a healthy, happy hound.

Dog Quotes

A man's soul can be judged by the way he treats his dog.
{Charles Doran}

Can A Dog Catch A Cold

Just like humans dogs can catch a cold . Even though there is a difference in the type of viruses that cause human colds and dog colds, they suffer from the symptoms just as much as us.

The symptoms of a dogs cold are some or all of the following watery eyes, coughing, sneezing, stuffy noses or a runny nose and a general feeling of unwellness. These can also be signs of other problems such as allergies and infections.

One good thing is that that you can not catch your dogs cold and your dog can not catch yours.

You must be able to differentiate between the dog cold and other more life threatening conditions that a dog could contract. Such as kennel cough and canine distemper.

A parasite infection can also mimic the symptoms of a dog cold with coughing and breathing problems.

Dog asthma and allergies can cause coughing and sneezing fits in dogs.

You can help prevent your dog from catching a cold by keeping the dog inside during cold and wet weather.

Ensure that your pet lives clean with a nutritious diet and plenty of exercise.

If your dog gets wet while out in the rain ensure that you dry your pet off well when you return home.

 

How To Treat Your Dog's Cold

 

• If your dog is having mild symptoms and is not very ill you can treat the cold with lots of liquids.
 
• You should keep your dog warm and comfortable.
 
• Check their temperature.
 
• You could give your pet access to a humidifier.
 
• When your pet is sick you will need to clean his bedding, area and bowls more often. 

• If you are unsure about anything its always best to contact your vet so that something more serious does not go uncovered

• You can make a nice chicken broth for your dog leaving out the dog unfriendly ingredients
 
• A course of antibiotics may be needed in some cases
 
• The cold should clear up within a week
 
• Like humans the very old and young suffer more and may need more care and attention with vet intervention to clear the cold
 
• Keep your sick dog away form your other dogs so that they don't catch the cold

How Much Exercise Does Your Dog Need

The right amount of exercise will improve their health and behaviour.
Dogs have lots of energy and they will release this energy constructivly through exercise and active play or distructivly through barking, digging, ripping up furniture etc.

The amount of exercise your dog needs depends on the age, size breed and general health. All dogs need at least 30 minutes of exercise a day.
Active dog breeds will need at least one hour of hard aerobic exercise a day.
You should aim to exercise your dog physicaly and mentaly. Have variety in your exercise routine. Go hiking in new areas, try different streets to walk on, use different toys find a dog buddy for your dog to exercise with.

Inactive dogs are usually overweight. Overweight dogs are prone to many health problems such as heart disease, diabetes, worsening arthritus and respiratory diseases. The dogs joints and musels are stressed when they are overweight also. An overweight dog is a miserable dog.

Dog parks are a great place to exercise your dog, ensure that your dog is fully inoculated before you bring him/her to the dog park.
Dont exercise your dog outside if the weather conditions are extreme.

Puppies have lots of energy but they need to have frequent but short exercise sessions.
Puppies need rest for their bodies to grow. Exercising your puppy is a great bonding experience.

Like humans there are many different ways your dog can be exercised they can go hiking, swimming, play catch or frisbee, do  agility courses, go jogging or running with you etc.
Trying different activities this will make it more exciting for you and your dog.

Dont over do the exercise with your dog, learn your dogs limits and know when he/she is overtired. If your dog is panting heavily or falling behind let the dog rest for a little and then resume the fun.

Keep your dog hydrated while exercising. Older dogs prefer shorter but more frequent exercise sessions.

When your dog is getting enough exercise they will sleep well,  have a good appetite, a relaxed apperance and will look great.

When you are exercising your pet in different terrain keep an eye on their paws. Check their paws for injuries such as foregin objects.

Homemade Puppy Popsicles

Homemade puppy popsicles are great for keeping your puppy cool on  long hot summer days. They are economical and easy to prepare.

 

 Recipe 1

 

 

 1        cup of plain yogurt

 1        banana

 2tbs   honey

 2tbs   natural peanut butter

 

Mash up the banana and blend all the ingredients together. Place in ice cube tray. Freeze in freezer.

 

Recipes 2

 

1           tin of tuna

2           cups of natural plain yogurt

1/2       cup of shredded carrot

 

Mix all the ingredients together and place in small paper cups. Freeze in freezer.

 

 

Spoon some cottage cheese into ice cube trays or small paper cups. Sink small pieces of chicken into each space. Freeze in freezer.

 

 

 

 

You can put dog treats in icecubes. You can also give your pup plain ice cubes to knaw on. Mixing some gravey and water and placing the mixture in  icecube trays to freeze is a quick economical treat.

 

How to Whiten a Dogs White Fur

A dogs white coat can be difficult to maintain. Even after a good wash there can still be brown stains left behind on the fur. The white shows off the colour stains and some soiling can be difficult to remove from the coat especially if it is thick fur.

Dog tears  cause brown stains on the face fur and are difficult to remove. The dog uses the tears to clean their eyes. The dogs tears leave an iron sediment on your dog which can rust, hence the brown stains around the eyes.

Water that contains a high mineral content can also cause brown colouration of the fur. When the dog drinks water with a high mineral content and then drools and licks her lips iron sediment is deposited on the fur which rusts causing discolouration around the pets jaw. This problem can be solved  by giving your pet quality water.

Shampoos that are not suited to your dog can cause discoloration of the fur.

Some dogs loose their beautiful white coat shine as they get older.
Regular grooming will greatly improve the appearance of your dogs white coat.
A good dog diet will ensure that your pet will have the healthiest and brightest coat possible.
There are special dog shampoos that are great for whitening and removing stains.

Wash your dog as he/she gets dirty.
Use gentle products that will not strip your dogs coat of essential natural oils.
Apply a conditioner after shampoo to prevent drying and damage.
Ensure that you rinse your dogs coat well.
Use a hypoallergenic shampoo and purified water as tap water may contain hard minerals that dull the white coat.

Cornstarch is a product that most have in the kitchen and can be used to improve the white shine of the dogs coat.
First you should wash condition and  thoroughly dry your dog with a high quality whitening shampoo.
Apply some cornstarch through your dogs fur until it is not visible. You can apply the cornstarch once a week.

How To Treat Puppy & Dog Bee stings

Bee and wasp stings can have different effects on a puppy and dog. Like humans some puppy's can have an allergic reaction to the sting. The effect of the sting can vary from not serious to very serious and even death. Some puppy's and dogs love to chase bees and wasps. One bee sting may not do much harm but if the puppy gets several stings or stung in the mouth a trip to the vet is needed.

If your puppy is allergic  it will have different reactions depending on how allergic it is to the bee sting. The most common symptoms are some irritation, hives and swelling. But in the more severe cases your puppy may vomit have diarrhoea and have breathing problems.

 

 

 

In your puppy emergency kit always ensure that you have pet antihistamine. Speak with your vet on the best antihistamine for your pet and how to administer it.

 

• Administer the antihistamine to your pet

• Using a tweezers remove the sting from your pets skin to prevent more venom being released into your pet

• Wash the wound and apply a cold compress to reduce swelling. Apply the cold compress for 5 minutes at a time.

• Applying a mixture of baking soda and water to the sting area will bring some relief to the puppy.

• Keep a close eye on your pet if they start to show signs of a severe reaction of anaphylatic shock contact your vet and get to the vets office straight away. Keep your dog conscious and wrapped in a blanket on the way to vet.

• Signs of the severe reaction are weakness, shakes, trouble breathing and pale gums and a large amount of swelling.

• Contact your vet also if your pet vomits and has diarrhoea