You may not think that dogs can get sick because they have furry little coats, but that is not always the case.  My dog, Chuck, got sick the other week, primarily because we went out for a jog in the rain.  A few days later, Chuck was sneezing every few seconds and acted like a lethargic toddler.

While the vet said he just caught a little cold, he not only suggested a coat for times I may be walking my dog out in the cold, he also suggested that I consider dog boots.  A little while afterwards, I bought him one and now when we decide to go off on a drizzling jog, I don’t have to worry about him getting sick.

When a puppy comes into a new family, definitely aside from love, the pup needs proper care and attention in order to make sure that he grows healthy. From day one each day should be able reaffirming the basic commands and show leadership of the new addition to your family. Here are some essential items you will want to consider having for your puppy:

• a dog bed suitable for his size
• a bowl, sized to match your dog
• a collar like this can also serve as his identity tag
• health products and supplements
• variety of toys to keep him busy and entertained
• dog clothes especially for breeds with thin coats as it protects them during cold season

What a fantastic product Wysiwash is!  I could not believe how easy it was to get the gunk out of my dog kennel.  It is a one step and you don’t get your hands dirty.  I found it was an affective way to eliminate odor causing germs from my house.

The trick is that it turns the sodium hydrochloride tablets into a solution and the dirt just rinses away.  The information on Wysiwash was dead on, it really does turn water into magic.  This should be part of everyone’s dog supplies, no question about it.  I absolutely recommend it to anyone that likes a clean antiseptic environment.

Dogs love to be cuddly and warm. This is clear when they incessantly burrow under blankets and snuggle in bed with you. But dogs who shed a lot or have flea problems may not be welcome in bed with you. You can curb this behavior by buying your dog a super warm, comfortable bed that they simply won’t want to get out of.

A orthopedic dog bed is the perfect solution. A soft fleece bed with cushions will fill his need for surrounding warmth, harkening back to his days as a puppy sleeping with his littermates. Look for a bed that features non-pilling fleece and is machine-washable. Your dog – and your bed – will thank you!

Some dogs need to spend some time outside during the day.  It is good for them to get fresh air, just like it is good for the rest of us! Just as dogs love having a crate inside the house, it is nice for them to have a doghouse outside that can keep them out of the sun but also protect them from really cold weather.

It is a nice thing for them to have a dog house, or a “place of their own” to relax while they are outside, in case  of heat or cold.  There is nothing like awooden or even a good solid plastic or fiberglass dog house.  A dog may be kept comfortable by providing him the necessary shelter.  A good dog house is recommended.  Build one yourself, order a custome made one.

PetSmart (NASDAQ: PETM) is extending a voluntary recall on beef hoof products to include a total of 14 products. These items were manufactured by Pet Carousel, Inc. in Sanger, Calif., and include beef hoof chews as well as certain rope toys with hoof or bone components. The date range for purchasing affected products has been expanded to include products purchased from Sept. 1, 2009 to November 6, 2009.

PetSmart announced it was voluntarily recalling two Dentley’s beef hoof products on November 3, 2009, after learning they may have been contaminated with Salmonella during the manufacturing process (Dentley’s Bulk Cattle Hooves and Dentley’s Choobles 10-Pack Beef Hooves). Twelve additional products have since been added to the voluntary recall.

The complete list of recalled products includes the following items:

• Dentley’s bulk cattle hoof
• Dentley’s Choobles 10-pack beef hooves
• Choo-Hooves stuffed with cheese-bacon
• hoo-Hooves stuffed with peanut butter
• Flossy Chews choo-hoove roper two-hoove
• Flossy Chews roper bone buddy
• Flossy Chews beef bones with rope toy
• Flossy Chews white bone rope
• Knucle steaks 2-pack
• Choo-Hooves dog chews 3-pack
• 3-pack smoked hooves
• 5-lb cow hooves
• 5-lb. Smokies – hooves
• 60-pieces smoked hooves

Customers who purchased the recalled products should discontinue use immediately and return the product to any PetSmart store for a complete refund or exchange. Customers who have concerns about their health or their pet’s health should consult a medical professional. For additional information about the recall, customers can visit www.petsmartfacts.com, www.petsmart.com, www.fda.gov or contact PetSmart Customer Service at 1-888-839-9638.

Salmonellosis is an infection with bacteria called Salmonella. Most persons infected with Salmonella develop diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after infection. The illness usually lasts four to seven days, and most persons recover without treatment. However, in some individuals, the diarrhea may be so severe that the patient needs to be hospitalized.

Many dogs do not show clinical signs of Salmonella. However, when they do, they often have diarrhea or other signs of systemic infections.

PetSmart, Inc. is the largest specialty pet retailer of services and solutions for the lifetime needs of pets. The company operates more than 1,145 pet stores in the United States and Canada, 156 in-store PetSmart PetsHotel® cat and dog boarding facilities, and is a leading online provider of pet supplies and pet care information. PetSmart provides a broad range of competitively priced pet food and pet products; and offers complete pet training, pet grooming, pet boarding, Doggie Day Camp(SM) pet day care services and pet adoption services. Since 1994, PetSmart Charities, Inc., an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit animal welfare organization, has funded more than $87 million in grants and programs benefiting animal welfare organizations and, through its in-store pet adoption programs, has helped save the lives of more than 3.7 million pets.

When selecting a bed an ideal candidate should be one that is  slightly elevated with soft polyfill conserves heat also the elevated style protects your pet from floor drafts. This type of dog bed combines softness and comfort with durability.

It is most important to choose a style with a machine washable cover that can easily be thrown in the washing machine when dirty or soiled.

We all know that exercise has massive health benefits. From lowering blood pleasure and cholesterol to maintaining a healthy weight, exercise can greatly improve your quality of life. Just like humans, your pets need exercise to stay healthy too.

For people who live in urban areas or cold climates, it can often be difficult to take your animal outside for exercise. To keep your pet in shape, consider purchasing some tools to allow them to exercise inside, like dog exercise pens. Not only will it save you time, but it will also increase your pet’s life span and quality.

A dear friend of mine, who I will call “Uggo”  because that is what I have always called her, and her husband Bill (I don’t have a nickname for him) own 2 beautiful English Springer Spaniels named Barnum and Bailey. (Uggo and Bill aren’t too original with dog names.) Recently, Barnum was diagnosed with progressive retinal degeneration, a disease that will eventually lead to blindness.  My friends are heartbroken over this, they love these dogs like children and are devastated that Barnum will have to endure blindness.

I don’t know much about the disease so I decided to find out.

Fleas and ticks are a common pet health problem for dogs. Fleas and ticks both carry a host of diseases that can be quite dangerous to your pet if they are not treated in the early stages. These creatures can also make themselves at home in your house and yard, making it a challenge to get rid of them once and for all. In many cases, prevention is the best medicine, and there are effective products that can achieve this goal. Let’s take a closer look at these microscopic pests and the big havoc they can wreak on pet health.