Isn't it funny how we claim to be the better and more intelligent species yet we do the things we do to ourselves and to others? How can we be greater than the pets we own when our lifestyle is not worth owning any animal at all? Humans have done so many horrible things to other people and animals of course, it would be just too heart wrenching to list them all. From wars, to hunting, to racism to greed and just pure evilness.

But can you imagine if people were more like dogs? How wonderful and peaceful the earth would be. We would have a race of humans created out of pure love and commitment. If people were more like dogs, they would be:

So many of my readers have asked the following question I just had to do a post on it. One of the most common question asked is: Can cats eat dog food? And, Can dogs eat cat food? The answer to that is Yes and No. Yeah, I know you were either looking for a straight yes or no but things get a bit more complicated when it comes on to switching meals between cat and dog.  Let's first take a look at can foods and do a bit of comparison to see if both cat and dog can eat the same canned food.

What Really Is Meat By Products?
When animals which produce the meat many of us consume, certain area of the animal (rejected meat or offal) is basically set aside for other purposes.  The offal of the animal consist of intestines, liver, kidneys, head, heart, feet etc.  Pet food makers will use a mix of these meats to create wet pet foods or as we know them as tinned pet foods.  Although these areas of the animal are rejected, there is nothing wrong in consuming theses meat areas as they are indeed rich in protein. Some even richer than other cuts of meat consumed by humans.

Pet food makers will by these meat by products and transport them to their processing factory where they are processed according to certain pet food standards. Most meat by products are either broken down into bite sized chunks or basically grounded out into much smaller pieces. After processing, these meats are separated for different pet groups and canned. This means that the same meat which goes inside a dog canned food is basically the same meat which goes into cat canned food with little difference.

So, Can cats eat dog canned foods and can dogs eat cat canned foods? Yes.
So when it comes onto your dog eating your cat’s canned food, there is nothing wrong as the cat food is enriched with much more protein than the dog food. As a matter of fact, dogs just can't get enough of the cat’s food. But it should never be fed to your dog on a continuous basis as these foods are processed specifically for cats.
Cats can also indulge in dog canned food but should never be a habit as cats need rich protein foods. Cats also get most of their moister from the foods they eat and will require food with enough water content to prevent urinary tract infections.

Dry Pet Food Kibble
Kibble or dried pet food is the worst thing you can give a dog or cat. Most kibble or dried pet food is made from meat by products such as beef, chicken and eggs, as well as grains, cereals, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.  The ingredients are squished together and backed to make to make kibble.  The thing about kibble is that it has to be packed with preservatives.  Kibble also contains synthetic taurine. Dogs and cats normally get taurine from eating fresh meats, but the process of creating the dried and died pet food kills the natural taurine, hence the fake taurine is added.  The lack of taurine may lead to blindness and heart disease in cats as well as dogs.

Dogs will be able to manage dry pet foods much better than cats. Since dogs will consume water readily and much easier than cats. Cats do not drink as much water and will suffer urinary problems if fed kibble alone.  Kibble for cats many times are consumed by dogs as it goes through the same processing and uses the same set of ingredients to make.  Cats will also have a few chews on kibble for dogs and will be quite fine also.

But remember, I recommend that you always feed your cat much more wet food than kibble.  My ration would be 90% wet and 10% dry for cats. For dogs, 70% wet and 30% dry should be OK.  And don't worry, you dog will not be meowing any time soon after eating cat food and your cat will not be barking after eating dog food!

What Causes Dogs To get Worms?
Worms in dogs are usually caused by the digestion of rotten or contaminated foods. Dogs also become infected with roundworms by eating eggs from contaminated soil or stool, or by eating infected rodents like rat and mice. Hookworms are contracted by ingestion of microscopic larval by mouth or from larval entry through skin, usually on the feet. Once these worms get hooked to the stomach, they will live and reproduce if not properly treated.

What are the different types of intestinal worms in dogs?  

1. Roundworm in dogs. There are two species of roundworm which can affect dogs; Toxocara Canis and Toxascaris Leonin.  These two species of roundworm basically carry out the same destruction on your dog. Both are long, white and spaghetti-like in appearance and takes away much needed nutrients from the infected dog. These roundworms are commonly spread in feces or during pregnancy or nursing. The Toxacara Canis is a burrower and will move from the intestine to the dog's lungs for further growth.

It then will move up into the airway where it is coughed up by the dog and then swallowed again. Then the cycle of this roundworm continues. This worm may cause serious illness in your dog or worst, your puppy.  When you feed your dog which is infected with roundworm, you are basically feeding the worm also because it interns feed off the food of it's host. This can lead to diarrhea in your puppy and other ailments which can be fatal to your pup. The Toxascaris leonina do not move around the body of the infected dog and have a far simple and shorter life cycle.

2. Hookworm in Dogs. Hookworms are short, blood sucking parasites with teeth. Sounds like a vampire if you ask me. An infected puppy left untreated will loose blood and nutrient on a rapid basis and eventually die. On of the bigger problems is that these hookworms don't stay put. They have similar life cycle patterns to it's cousin parasite, the roundworm Toxocara Canis.They will move about the body of the pup to the lungs to mature before re-entering the intestine.

3. Whip Worms in Dogs. Whip worms live in the large intestine and don’t extract as many nutrients as other types of worms. Unless the worms burrow into the intestinal tissue, they pose few problems and rarely cause symptoms. They do occur in the UK but aren’t common.

Tapeworm in Dogs. They live in the small intestine of the infected dog. Like any other parasite, they grab on to the host and begins to absorb nutrients digested by the animal.  They are long – half a foot or more in length – and flat in appearance. Unless the dog is extremely active, the parasite does not harm the pet, as there are plenty of nutrients to serve both host and tapeworm. When excreted, the worm normally splits into segments which look like small grains of rice.

Heartworms. Are spread to dogs through mosquito bites. Up to 14 inches long, a heartworm lives in the heart and the arteries that carry blood from the heart to the lungs. Heart-worms affect how the heart functions and how blood clots and is likely to cause death if untreated. Monthly heart worm preventives are effective. If infected, your dog may cough, have trouble breathing, and experience other symptoms. Treatment may involve two or three injections of arsenic-based drugs, followed by at least a month of res

How Often Should You De-worm Your Puppy?
Well, one has to remember that puppies are born with worms and must be dewormed early. Puppies are much more vulnerable to worms and other illnesses due to low immune systems, they will need to be dewormed much more often than large or adult dogs. Waiting until 6-8 weeks of age to worm puppies and kittens allows them to spread worm eggs that will contaminate the soil and re-infect them. Puppies should be dewormed once every two to three weeks up to age 3 month.  After they pass the three month period, deworming should be slown down to to once per month until age of 6 month.

Sanitization for Homes From Zoonotic Infection
If the home has residents of immune compromised persons, small children or baby.  Pets must be dewormed according to schedule to prevent the spread of Zoonotic infection. Zoonotic infections are occur in pets and can be transmitted to people. A zoonotic disease is a disease spread between animals and people. Zoonotic diseases can be caused by viruses, bacteria, parasites, and fungi. People with zoonotic infections can be very sick but for some people, they exhibit  no symptoms and do not ever get sick. Symptoms of a Zoonotic infection includes:

• Diarrhea
• muscle aches
• fever.
• Tiredness

Symptoms of Worms in Dogs
These are the most common signs that your dog has worms.

1. Diarrhea
   
2. Pot Belly
   
3. Coughing
4. Low Energy
5. Weight Loss
6. Vomiting
   
7. Lost appetite
8. Dull Coat

Controlling worms in your pet's environment

Clean up feces immediately. Don't let dog poop fester in the ground and lay eggs in and under the dog's feces. Dogs will become reinfected with worm even after a deworm simply because these worm eggs are living in the dog's environment.  If you suspect that worms are living in the soil. Dig up and use hot water to pour in the area where you think worms are breeding.  Or use bleach to destroy the infected area.  Ensure that your puppy or adult dog is not prone to swarms of mosquito bites. Get a good deworming treatment and deworm your large dogs once every three months to prevent infections and reinfection.

Get the right worm protection: You can get the right worm protection for your dog to mitigate against becoming infected or simply getting rid of worms in dogs. 

Have you ever been to the vet and notice a few dogs with what looks like a cone around its neck? That is not a new fashion statement that the vet is promoting and there are no modeling agent waiting outside to give the dog a contract. That cone that is placed around the dog’s neck actually serves a couple useful purposes. It is known in the dog community as the cone of shame. But the real name is the Elizibethian Collar It is also referred to as, E-Collar, Buster collar or pet cone. Why is it called that? I thought you would never ask. Back in the old time colonial days when Britain decided that every piece of land on district Earth was belonged to the queen, there were fashion statements being made in the Palace. Queen Elizabeth had a fancy way of dressing where she wore dresses with enormous collars that ascended from her neck line all the way up to her mouth area. These were royalty wear and many prominent English ladies also did the same.  

The E Collar or Pet Cone as simple as it seems is quite ingenious. When dogs go to the vet for various illnesses. If the animal receives surgery, stitches, patches over rounds or anything of that nature. The animal will always tend to lick the area where any foreign matter is such as those stitches and patches. Pet cats and dogs have been known to gnaw away and even chew out stitches and patches causing wounds not to be properly healed. If the animal licks and chews those unhealed wounds, it can cause irritation and infection, which may leave a hairless, discolored, ugly scar for life. The cone of shame or E-Collar is placed over the dog or cat’s head and prevents the movement of the head to chew at those tender areas of the animal. The cone serves the same purpose as a claw wrapping which would prevent the animal from scratching away at wounds to create further damages.

Not many dog owners are fund of the cone of shame and of course, no dogs like to have that big old plastic thing around its head looking liking a barking bulb.  So they have had several alternatives to this E-Collar.

Can my dog eat with an E collar on?
If your dog normally eats or drinks from a deep bowl but refuses to eat with the collar on, try offering food in a shallow dish or plate. If you feel you must remove the protective collar, make sure your pet is supervised while eating, and replace it as soon as the meal is finished. But why go through all of that when there are good alternatives to the cone of shame.

2. Comfy Collar
Who wants a plastic cone around their dog’s neck causing the animal discomfort when they can get a comfy collar to replace the cone of shame. This comfortable alternative to the cone of shame is made from nylon and foam material which brings flexibility along with comfort for your dog. This comfy collar allows your dog to have the natural abilities to feeding and drinking because it has “Stays” which are removable. These “stays” keeps the foam structure intact. The cone remains secure and holds its shape by attaching it to the pet’s collar using loops on the device. The Comfy Collar features a reflective fabric to keep you and your pet safe while going outside at night. This medical device comes in six sizes and can protect both canines and felines.

Ditch The Cone of Shame.
Your vet will not supply these fancy collars, they will definitely fit your dog with that cone of shame. If you know that your dog may be up for stitches, wound cleaning or another vet service. Ensure that you get the dog a collar which will make him/her comfortable even after leaving the vet.

Being a dog in Dubai may be one of the best things to happen to any canine. Dogs that have become strayed either by owner passing off or owner migrating and leaving everything behind, including their pets, will find refuge at dibai's cool air conditioned dog park.

DUBAI // Tight rules on where and how dogs can be walked in the emirate have left few options for people who wish to let their pets run free.
That is changing, thanks to a joint project by a Saluki breeder and two pet lovers who have opened Dubai’s first outdoor park designed for dogs.
The site in Al Awir, backed by Dubai Municipality, is the only outdoor space where dogs can run without their leads in a safe environment.
Jan Al Mheiri, a Scot who has been in the UAE for more than 25 years, encouraged her Emirati husband to donate farmland near their home in Al Awir.
The Bark Park has been developed with irrigation and electricity and opened as an official dog-walking facility.
Mrs Al Mheiri, who owns two Salukis and a Golden Retriever, said it would encourage responsible dog ownership.
“We are a work in progress but we have very big plans for the future,” she said. “It is a traditional place but it has all the things that dogs need.
“The municipality has a thankless task with regards to animal welfare issues, but they have been very helpful and supportive. It would not have happened otherwise.”
In Dubai, dogs are banned from all beaches and public parks, and in most newer developments.
The Bark Park encourages owners to socialise and can be used for a fee that funds the project.
“We needed to have permission to have the dogs running free on the land and that took time,” Mrs Al Mheiri said.
“I had to provide compelling reasons why this was a good idea and helped with animal welfare issues. Attitudes towards dogs are changing here but it is a very slow process.”
Saturdays are reserved for Salukis, the traditional Bedouin dogs, which can run as fast as 70 kilometres per hour.
Hamad Al Ghanem, founder of the Salukis of Arabia Club, helped to develop the park project.
“We approached the landowner with the idea, as we were looking for somewhere to run the Salukis,” he said. “It was important that it was somewhere away from camel farms and safe for the dogs.
“We had to have the area checked to ensure that they can’t escape if they are running free. It needs more trees and shade to make it more like a park, but it has great potential.

“I have helped with ideas, as I know Salukis so well. This park is perfect for all dog lovers.”
Other plans include a barbecue area and a site office. Dogs which use the park must be vaccinated and microchipped, and nervous dogs should be muzzled as a precaution.
Children younger than 12 are not allowed in the park. There is an area reserved for smaller dogs.

Entry fees are Dh50 for the first dog, and Dh25 for a second and third.
A maximum of 20 dogs are allowed in the park at any time.
Anna Bensalah has been volunteering for the park project and promotes events such as the Saluki Fun Run, which she has been organising with Rooster Tail Sports and Entertainment.

“The Saluki Fun Run was popular, so we realised there was a demand for a more permanent outdoor park for dogs to enjoy,” she said.
“All dogs need to run free but Salukis in particular are bred to run free. They can run long distances, up to six kilometres. So for them to be healthy and happy, they have to run but they also need to be safe.”