26 Dogs for 26 Acts of Kindness

In light of the devastating tragedy in Newtown, Conn., people all over the country have been participating in the "26 Acts of Kindness campaign. The campaign, honoring the 26 victims of the Connecticut shooting, urges participants to engage in 26 random acts of kindness over the coming weeks. A dog trainer from Tuscaloosa, Alabama caught wind of the movement and was eager to lend her talent and resources to the cause.

Heather "Red" Litz is the owner of Tuscaloosa K9 camp, and intends on giving away 26 trained dogs - 1 police and 25 personal - to people who need them. The 25 personal dogs will be used as aids in assisting sufferers of trauma or physical disabilities. These dogs can retrieve objects, open doors, and even activate light switches for their owners.

This news comes as an encouraging reminder of the therapeutic effects that animal companionship can have. An assistant pet can be invaluable to people with physical disabilities, but can also be an enormous help in providing emotional stability to its owner. The article can be viewed here, and more information on the 26 Acts movement can be viewed on its Facebook page.

Image courtesy of riekhavoc.

The Truth About Fat Dogs

Fat dogs are cute. In fact, they are uber cute, but did you know that feeding your dog too much won’t be cute anymore when he or she gets sick? If you think your dog is obese, it is best to go see your veterinarian as soon as possible.

Like obesity in human beings, obesity also causes certain illnesses in dogs but how common is it? And is it difficult to treat? Find out if your dog is obese by reading further.

Problems with canine obesity include torn or strained ligaments as well as arthritis. Respiratory problems are also experienced by dogs that are overweight and when overworked, they are also susceptible to heart problems. Liver disease, diabetes, skin problems, constipation, lowered resistance to disease, and even heat stroke can befall your canine companion if he or she is obese. These things are not any of those things any dog lover would want for his or her dog but fret not, canine obesity can be treated.

Basically, dogs that are obese have a shorter life span than those who aren’t. What causes canine obesity though? Over feeding your dog can cause them to gain more weight than they should but of course even if this is the case 90% of the time, there are dogs that overeat because of emotional trauma or hormonal imbalances.

What should you do if your dog is obese? Turn to your Frisco Veterinarian. Do not put your dog on a diet as if it’s a human being, you should talk to your veterinarian and feed your dog the recommended diet for it to lose weight. Increasing your dog’s activity level is also a good idea but this should be done gradually. When you are helping your dog to lose weight, you should go to the vet frequently so that he or she can monitor your dog’s weight loss and whether your dog is losing the right weight at a proper rate.