• You should provide a balance of grains, proteins, and some vegetables. Proteins come from animal sources, meats, fish, poultry, and dairy.

• Pregnant or lactating dogs require more protein and fat and less carbohydrates than other dogs.

• There are some foods you should avoid, including artificial sweeteners and fats, chocolate, garlic, onions, grapes, raisins, and raw meat (which may contain bacteria, salmonella, or parasites).

• Good foods to include are meats, poultry, eggs, yogurt, buttermilk, rice, potatoes, beans, legumes, bran, fresh vegetables, and whole grains.

You can find a wide variety of recipes all over the Internet by searching for “make your own dog food” or you can purchase one of these cookbooks:

Better Food for Dogs, by David Bastin, Grant Nixon, and Jennifer Ashton, $13.57 at Amazon

Offers a complete cookbook and nutrition guide.

Everything Cooking for Dogs Book, by Lisa Fortunato, $10.36 on Amazon

Contain 150 quick and easy recipes.

The Healthy Dog Cookbook: 50 Delicious and Nutritious Recipes Your Dog Will Love, by Jonna Anne, $13.57 on Amazon

Has menus for every type and size of dog.

Real Food for Dogs: 50 Vet-Approved Recipes for a Healthier Dog, by Arden Moore, $8.58 on Amazon

Includes some recipes for humans that can be used for dogs with slight modifications.

• Don’t go on a long trip until you’ve trained your pet to handle shorter drives.
• Purchase a cat or dog carrier. While it may be cute to have your kitten climbing on your shoulder while you’re heading up the highway, this can be the cause of a major disaster should you become too distracted.
• When visiting major cities like New York, San Francisco, and Chicago, make sure to look up all available dog parks that are located near pet friendly hotels.
• Take rest stops. Even if your dog or cat seems fine with the distance you’re traveling, make sure to give them time to roam and stretch their legs.
• Harness train your cat prior to the trip so that he or she is comfortable walking alongside you at rest areas.

InnovaEVA

Cost:

• $2.45 per 13.2 ounce can

Why Buy:

• High-protein, based on ground chicken & turkey meat, bones, fat, cartilage and connective tissue
• No fillers, poultry-by-products or animal fat
• Preserved naturally with vitamins C and E

Keep in Mind:

• InnovaEVA is comparatively expensive
• Some dogs have difficulty digesting food with high levels of protein

Canidae

Cost:

• $1.39 per 13.2 ounce can

Why Buy:

• Contains high levels of high quality meats, chicken, lamb and fish
• Contains good carbohydrate sources, like brown rice and barley
• Contains skin & coat conditioners to maintain a healthy luxurious coat

Keep in Mind:

• Canidae recently increased its protein content and lowered its carbohydrate content, which caused some pets to become ill.

Natural Balance

Cost:

• $1.25 per 13.2 ounce can

Why Buy:

• Does not include typical food allergy irritants
• Has healthy brown rice and oatmeal, as opposed to corn or flour
• Highly rated by consumers (166 customers gave it 3.7 out of 5 stars on RateItAll
• Easily digestible

Keep in Mind:

• Natural Balance got some negative reviews in 2007, mostly because it was involved in the pet food recalls. After that, Natural Balance instituted a Buy with Confidence program which allows customers to view the product testing information online.

Ever wondered if certain traits about your dog are pre-destined? Turns out that man’s best friend, just like their human counterparts, have traits that tie directly to their astrological background.

Aries (March 21-April 20): Aries dogs are born explorers. This means that you’d better keep an eye on your Ram, as he’ll make a run for it the second you open the back door. Aries dogs are extremely loyal and tend to dislike major changes (rearrangement of furniture, new types of pet food).

Taurus (April 21-May 20): Taurus pooches are known for their love of luxury. This makes your dog a big fan of costumes, lush puppy beds, and your satin bed sheets. Taurus dogs are gentle and have a high tolerance for playful children.

Gemini (May 21-June 21): Dogs of the Gemini persuasion have more energy than they know how to handle. Don’t be fooled by these charmers, as Gemini pooches will try to manipulate you with sad puppy eyes and woeful expressions.

Cancer (June 22-July 22): A Cancer dog immediately assumes that he’s part of the family. Full of nervous energy, your Cancer pup can be a bit moody when you don’t treat him like he’s just as important as your firstborn.

Leo (July 23-Aug 22): Dogs who are born under the Leo sign are both leaders and class clowns. Leos love to show off and will whine if you don’t pay attention to every move he or she makes.

Virgo (Aug 23-Sept 22): If you’re looking for a dog who is concerned with cleanliness, a Virgo pup is your best choice. Easy to train, your Virgo dog loves to learn new things.

Libra (Sept 23-Oct 22): Libra dogs are clever and crafty, which means you should never leave something desirable in the middle of the table because your Libra pooch will find a way to get it. Watch out for Libra’s stubbornness, as you might find yourself spending a lot of time coaxing your dog to perform simple tasks.

Scorpio (Oct 23-Nov 22): The loyal Scorpio pooch is helpful and loving. Charming and entertaining, your Scorpio dog will never let you stay down in the dumps for too long.

Sagittarius (Nov 23-Dec 21): Easily teachable, Sagittarius dogs are fun to train and live up to the expectations most people have about raising a puppy. Sagittarius dogs are hunters, but will not harm other animals unless threatened.

Capricorn (Dec 22-Jan 20): The word that describes a Capricorn dog best is “wise”. Your Capricorn puppy will often seem knowledgeable beyond his years, especially when he makes the effort to corral other pets. Capricorn dogs are also excellent sheep dogs and cattle herders.

Aquarius (Jan 21-Feb 19): Try talking to your Aquarius dog and you’ll find that your pup can actually understand what you’re saying. Aquarius pooches only need to be punished once before they get the point.

Pisces (Feb 20-March 20): If you want to make your Pisces dog happy, take him to the water. An outdoor lover, your Pisces pooch often paces restlessly until you let him release his energy. Keep an eye on this one, as Pisces dogs tend to be more accident-prone than dogs born under other signs.

1. InnovaEVO

Cost:

• $25 per 13.2 pound bag

Why Buy:

• There are no grains—carbohydrates come from potatoes (making it ideal for dogs with skin and fur problems)
• The four top ingredients are all meat products: turkey, chicken, chicken meal, and turkey meal
• The food is highly concentrated; your dog doesn’t need as much to feel satisfied making it very cost-effective

Keep in Mind:

• Some dogs experience stomach problems because of the high protein content
• You should measure portions carefully to prevent digestive troubles

2. Orijen

Cost:

• $35 per 15.4 pound bag

Why Buy:

• Orijen is low carbohydrate and grain-free with essential fats from animals, not plants
• The food is never frozen and preservative-free
• Meats come from antibiotic/growth-hormone-free animals deemed fit for human consumption

Keep in Mind:

• Orijen is relatively pricey and somewhat difficult to find
• The food has a higher caloric value, so you should feed less than you would with a lower quality brand

3. Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul

Cost:

• $23 per 18 pound bag

Why Buy:

• Contains plenty of meat—turkey, chicken, and chicken meal—and no low-quality fillers or byproducts
• Less expensive than premium dry food
• Has higher nutritional values than brands with similar prices

Keep in Mind:

• This brand contains more grains than other dog foods, though they come from better quality sources (low-quality grains can lead to serious health problems)
• Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul may be difficult to find

Believe it or not, puppies suffer from separation anxiety just like humans do. They begin to act out by chewing on your stuff, whine or barking while alone, and having “accidents” on the carpet.

Short of dressing your puppy in a straight dog costume and stuffing diapers in his dog clothes, here are some suggestions for improving your situation:

1. Stop making such a big deal out of your comings and goings.
Instead, sneak out the door when your pet is not paying attention and be equally stealth when you make your re-entrance. If you do this well, your dog may not even realize you’re gone half of the time.

2. Don’t always respond to your pet’s bids for attention.
When spending time with your dog, make it clear. When you are needing to work on something else, ignore your pet so that he gradually learns to feel independent.

3. Consider leaving your TV on so that your pet feels like there is someone at home.

4. Invest in pet toys so that your dog has something to distract himself with when you are out and about.

Reasons to consider plunking down the cash:

• To protect your animals from the attacks of other creatures.

• To save you serious cash should your animal contract a terminal illness.

• To make your yearly vaccinations cost less out of pocket.

• To cover X-rays when your dog or cat has developed a strange limp.

• To pay for your pet’s allergy medication.

• To cover foreign object ingestion (ie: when your dog swallows your child’s Legos.)

• To pay for the cost of getting your pet’s stomach pumped should he or she accidentally lap up something poisonous.

• To reduce the costs of preventative care for your animal.

What makes the experience even more stressful is the uncertainty. Is it a 24-hour bug? Is a minor problem causing the symptoms? Is it something more serious?

The truth is there are many possible causes for vomiting in dogs. They include:

• Metabolic disorders, like thyroid disease or diabetes

• An obstruction in his stomach, like a piece of bone or ball

• Bacterial infection or parasites

• Bladder obstruction or rupture

• Dietary changes

• Eating something he shouldn’t have, like chocolate, citrus oil, or grass

• Epilepsy

• Food allergies/food poisoning

• Gastric disease (stomach or intestines)

• Glandular disease

• Ingesting a chemical or toxin

• Kidney or liver failure

• Pancreatitis or pancreatic tumors

• Poor esophageal muscle condition

• Side effects of medication

• Stomach cancer

• Stress or anxiety

• Viral infections, like parvovirus or distemper

• Worms (common in puppies)
  
  Treatment for dog vomiting depends largely on the cause. If he exhibits other symptoms, like diarrhea, fever, or heaving blood—especially if he vomits more than once—make an appointment with your veterinarian for a proper diagnosis.
  
  If the vomiting is an isolated symptom, you may be able to treat the problem at home by following these steps:

• Withhold food for 8–12 hours so his stomach can recover.

• If he stops vomiting, offer him a few ice chips to prevent dehydration, and repeat every 2–3 hours.

• If he tolerates the ice chips, give him a small amount of water. You may want to give him a 50/50 mix of water and unflavored Pedialyte to help with dehydration. Since he’ll likely lap it up quickly—which can worsen his upset stomach—you should dole it out in small rations.

• If he won’t drink water, try a low-sodium broth or non-citrus juice.

• After 24 hours, offer a couple bites of a bland homemade food—for example, white rice with boiled skinless chicken. If he keeps this down, offer a slightly larger portion in four hours.

• In 4 more hours, offer him more of this bland food, once again in a slightly larger portion.

• Maintain this diet for a few days, slowly introducing his usual food by mixing the two. Start with 75% of the bland food and 25% of his usual mix; next, switch to 50/50, and then 25/75; and finally, replace the homemade food with his regular brand.
  
  If you’re dealing with a vomiting puppy, it’s important to seek veterinary attention quickly, as younger dogs dehydrate much more quickly than older ones. Worms are quite common among puppies, and this can cause serious damage, or even worse, lead to death.
  
  To help prevent vomiting episodes in the future, be sure your dog eats at a reasonable pace to avoid swallowing air. You can accomplish this by feeding smaller portions more frequently, or by placing large objects in his bowl so he must eat around them. Also, seal your garbage tightly so he can’t get in, and keep your home free of all foods known to poison dogs.
  
  Lastly, you might want to enhance your dog’s diet with a supplement to help his stomach, like digestive enzymes or probiotics.

Most commercial pet foods lack Omega-3 fatty acids—necessary for the proper function of nearly every cell in the nervous system—and compensate with an excess of Omega-6.

This imbalance can cause a number of problems, including degenerative diseases. For this reason, you may want to supplement your dog’s diet with an Omega-3 fish oil capsule or liquid. This could help prevent a variety of conditions, including:

• Allergies and autoimmune conditions
• Arthritis
• Atopic dermatitis
• Cancer cell growth and spread
• Cardiovascular problems like blood clots and hypertension
• Dull hair and dry, itchy skin skin
• High cholesterol
• Inflammatory disorders, including ulcerative colitis and inflammatory bowel disease
• Kidney disease
• Mental deterioration
• Obesity
• Renal damage
• Thyroid conditions
• Yeast infections in the skin and ears

If your dog’s in good overall health, you should add a 1,000 mg fish oil capsule to your his daily diet. You don’t even need a supplement specifically for dogs—the human variety works just fine. Just be sure to select one with a high DHA level, around 250mg.

If you’re looking to treat a specific condition, speak to your vet to determine the right dosage, as too much fish oil can act as a blood thinner. Within 3–4 months of using fish oil, you’ll notice changes in your dog’s appearance and health. In fact, he’ll likely have an extra bounce in his step!

Female dogs can first come into heat—also known as estrous—as early as six months old, all the way up until fifteen months.

The cycle lasts about three weeks: one week going into heat, one fully in it, and one going out of heat. You’ll notice bleeding during the middle portion of the cycle, and possibly some on the end, as well.

Dogs generally go through estrous twice a year.

Signs of heat include swelled vulva, vaginal discharge, increased appetite, change in temperament, and increased urination.

During this time, keep a close watch on her, as she will attract male dogs, even from great distances.

If you don’t want 4–5 puppies running around, you should seriously consider having your dog spayed.

In addition to preventing pregnancy, this will also eliminate her chances of contracting mammary cancer and ovarian cysts.