How to brush a dog's teeth

Brushing a dog's teeth is the most effective way to controll plaque.  When you're buying a toothbrush for your dog check for soft bristles and toothpaste designed just for dogs. Don't use human toothpaste for dogs as it can upset your dog's stomach.

When brushing your dog's teeth, start by using your finger and then introducing the toothbrush once your dog is comfortable with you massaging her gums with your finger.

Stop brushing immediately if your dog resists and try again later. Like any training procedure for dogs, toothbrushing requires time and patience. After successfully brushing your dog's teeth, reward them with a favorite (non food) treat such as a game or walk and of course, lots of praise.

If all else fails consult your vet for dog toothbrushing advice.

Three New American Kennel Club Official Breeds

The American Kennel Club has announced that three new dog breeds became eligible for AKC registration on January 1, 2011. There are now 170 registered breeds reckognised by the American Kennel Club. 


The first of the new breeds is the Entlebucher Mountain Dog. The EMD was first bred to move cows from pasture to pasture in the Swiss mountains. It is medium-sized and strongly muscled. The Entle dog is a hard worker and can excel at canine sports.

Originally breed for puffin hunting, the Norwegian Lundehund makes a loyal and playful family companion - but is not suitable for families with puffins! :)

The Xoloitzcuintli, one of the world's oldest and rarest dog breeds,  are still considered "healers" in remote Mexican and Central American villages today. The breed's name is pronounced show-low-etz-queent-lee.

Here is the full alphabetical list of AKC reckognized dog breeds:
 
Affenpinscher


Afghan Hound

Airedale Terrier

Akita

Alaskan Malamute

American Eskimo Dog

American Foxhound

American Staffordshire Terrier

American Water Spaniel

Anatolian Shepherd Dog

Australian Cattle Dog

Australian Shepherd

Australian Terrier

Basenji

Basset Hound

Beagle

Bearded Collie

Beauceron

Bedlington Terrier

Belgian Malinois

Belgian Sheepdog

Belgian Tervuren

Bernese Mountain Dog

Bichon Frise

Black and Tan Coonhound

Black Russian Terrier

Bloodhound

Bluetick Coonhound

Border Collie

Border Terrier

Borzoi

Boston Terrier

Bouvier des Flandres

Boxer

Boykin Spaniel

Briard

Brittany

Brussels Griffon

Bull Terrier

Bulldog

Bullmastiff

Cairn Terrier

Canaan Dog

Cane Corso

Cardigan Welsh Corgi

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Chesapeake Bay Retriever

Chihuahua

Chinese Crested

Chinese Shar-Pei

Chow Chow

Clumber Spaniel

Cocker Spaniel

Collie

Curly-Coated Retriever

Dachshund

Dalmatian

Dandie Dinmont Terrier

Doberman Pinscher

Dogue de Bordeaux

English Cocker Spaniel

English Foxhound

English Setter

English Springer Spaniel

English Toy Spaniel

Entlebucher Mountain Dog

Field Spaniel

Finnish Spitz

Flat-Coated Retriever

French Bulldog

German Pinscher

German Shepherd Dog

German Shorthaired Pointer

German Wirehaired Pointer

Giant Schnauzer

Glen of Imaal Terrier

Golden Retriever

Gordon Setter

Great Dane

Great Pyrenees

Greater Swiss Mountain Dog

Greyhound

Harrier

Havanese

Ibizan Hound

Icelandic Sheepdog

Irish Red and White Setter

Irish Setter

Irish Terrier

Irish Water Spaniel

Irish Wolfhound

Italian Greyhound

Japanese Chin

Keeshond

Kerry Blue Terrier

Komondor

Kuvasz

Labrador Retriever

Lakeland Terrier

Leonberger

Lhasa Apso

Löwchen

Maltese

Manchester Terrier

Mastiff

Miniature Bull Terrier

Miniature Pinscher

Miniature Schnauzer

Neapolitan Mastiff

Newfoundland

Norfolk Terrier

Norwegian Buhund

Norwegian Elkhound

Norwegian Lundehund
Norwich Terrier

Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever

Old English Sheepdog

Otterhound

Papillon

Parson Russell Terrier

Pekingese

Pembroke Welsh Corgi

Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen

Pharaoh Hound

Plott

Pointer

Polish Lowland Sheepdog

Pomeranian

Poodle

Portuguese Water Dog

Pug

Puli

Pyrenean Shepherd

Redbone Coonhound

Rhodesian Ridgeback

Rottweiler

Saint Bernard

Saluki

Samoyed

Schipperke

Scottish Deerhound

Scottish Terrier

Sealyham Terrier

Shetland Sheepdog

Shiba Inu

Shih Tzu

Siberian Husky

Silky Terrier

Skye Terrier

Smooth Fox Terrier

Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier

Spinone Italiano

Staffordshire Bull Terrier

Standard Schnauzer

Sussex Spaniel

Swedish Vallhund

Tibetan Mastiff

Tibetan Spaniel

Tibetan Terrier

Toy Fox Terrier

Vizsla

Weimaraner

Welsh Springer Spaniel

Welsh Terrier

West Highland White Terrier

Whippet

Wire Fox Terrier

Wirehaired Pointing Griffon

Yorkshire Terrier

Xoloitzcuintli
In the AKC's Miscellaneous Class is now:


American English Coonhound

Bergamasco

Boerboel

Cesky Terrier

Chinook

Dogo Argentino
Finnish Lapphund

Rat Terrier

Russell Terrier

Portuguese Podengo Pequeno
Peruvian Inca Orchid

 Pumi

Sloughi

Treeing Walker Coonhound

Wirehaired Vizsla

2011 CanadaVet Pet Photo Contest Coming Soon!

Our Annual CanadaVet Pet Photo Contest will be kicking off again in the beginning of March.  This year we will also be giving out special prizes for themed pet photos such as Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years.

It’s such a great time of the year to get the camera out and capture all the special moments that the festive season brings for your pets and we can't wait to see all of the great photos that will be entered.

If you haven't taken any photos of your pets lately, then now is the perfect time and when March comes you will be able to share your pics with the whole CanadaVet community, and maybe even win some great prizes too!

Click here to view our last year's pet photo contest winners.

Click here to view a video of our last year's pet photo contest entrants on YouTube.

A Delicate Question - Worm Farms and doggy doo doo

We recently received a question from a customer which we would like to share with you. It's not pleasant but I expect its of interest to others as well, so we wanted to share it here and our customer has given us permission to do so (thanks Candice!):

Hi, I have been shopping at CanadaVet.com for about 3 years and I love your online pet store and prices. I have a bit of a "nasty" question and not being sure who to ask, I thought I would see if you know the answer.

Anyway, here it is - can I put dog doo doo in my worm farm? My husband says its OK to put dog poop in with the rest of the kitchen waste, but my mom says no way and that the kids could get nasty worms from it. Do you have any advice?

Candice

A:  Now that is a good question Candice, and I am sure you are not alone in wondering whether you can put dog poop  in worm farms.

Dog, cat and other pet :waste are all rich in nitrogen and in principle should work well in a worm composting system.

The big health concern here is transferral of disease or parasites from your pet to humans. Of course, you will be regularly treating your pets for worms and other parasites, but you must never be too careful when it comes to health matters.

As far as health concerns go, cat and and dog waste contain fecal coliform bacteria and possibly other potentially nasty pathogens.


Cat waste in particular warrants extra caution, since it can also contain a parasitic protozoan called Toxoplasma gondii. This organism is relatively harmless for many people who become infected, but as most people know, it can be a serious threat for pregnant woman (since it can harm the unborn child) or those with compromised immune systems.

(Just so you know, according to Health Authorities , most cases of Toxoplasmos is actually result from the consumption of raw meat, NOT from contact with cat feces but you still need to take good care!)

There is also the issue of smell, and one worm farmer also told me that worms will only eat doggy doo doo if there is nothing else available.

For this reason, my advice is that you only dispose of dog poop or cat doo doo in a worm farm if it is a separate system kept just for that purpose and never use the "worm tea" on plants which you might eat.

Do Goldfish have a 3-second memory?

A recent University study has busted the "goldfish myth", by proving that fish rely on both long-term and short -term memory.

Researchers at the Macquarie University say fish learn from experience and by watching other fish. In fact, they learn best from each other!

Independent CanadaVet.com Review

Well its always nice when someone says something nice about you, and one of our customers recently told us that they had read the positive review of CanadaVet.com on independent review site Factoidz.com.

Here's what Factoidz* had to say about buying discount pet meds at Canadavet.com:

Here are the reasons why you should opt for CanadaVet products, and why you should purchase CanadaVet products:


•If you value quality. CanadaVet products are screened by licensed veterinarians.


•If you wish to save money and at the same time maximize the potentials of your product. CanadaVet products are cheaper than its competitors because they are sourced outside the United States. Mandy_643 has this to say (December 08, 2009): “I have been shopping with canadavet.com for about 3 years. Good services and great prices. They had some trouble with their call center a few years ago, but that is all sorted. Great low prices on pet meds. i save about 80 bucks a year for my two dogs.”


•If you want prompt delivery for your product. CanadaVet guarantees prompt delivery of your orders within 14 days. Customers across the United States normally receive their orders within 7 to 10 days.


•If you are not satisfied with your product, there is a money back guarantee.


•If you really love your pet, and wish to give them topnotch grooming, and if you wish them to have a healthy type of lifestyle and diet.


•If you value security as far as your online payments are concerned. CanadaVet utilizes the latest 256 bit encryption technology (SSL). Credit card details are never sent via email. Details are never disclosed without your permission.


•If you wish to know everything about your pet, CanadaVet website offers and online library with articles that cover everything you wish to know about your pet, with topics ranging from dental care to diet and nutrition, fleas and ticks, pet care to general health, and more.


•You can save more cash with CanadaVet deal coupons, discounts and bargains.


•If you value great service. Marie H. Crossville of Tennessee has this to say: “I have been with Canada Vet for a couple of years and would not consider switching to another company. Thank you for your service.”


•Orders worth over $68 receive free shipping.

Thanks Factoidz!
 
(*Factoidz.com is an independent review and business information site not related in any way to CanadaVet.com. Canadavet.com did not pay for the review or influence it in any way. )

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year Everyone! We hope you and your pets had a fantastic festive season, and that the year ahead is a wonderful one.

We look forward to serving you even better in 2011, with heaps more discounts, contests and giveaways and of course, the same great service you've come to expect from Canadavet.com

If you haven't already, please make sure you "like" us on Facebook, so that we can keep you up to date with all that's happening.

The CanadaVet Team.