Round worms are the ones most prevalent in puppies and they generally look like small white pieces of string of about three inches in length.
They can grow up to twice this size in a full-grown dog.

Round worms live in the small intestine of the dog and can become so concentrated that they will block the passage.
They can be passed by the bowel and this can obviously affect other dogs that are in contact with dogs that have round worms.

It only takes a matter of days for the worms to become fully developed and it is easy for them to spread quickly from one dog to another.

Read: How often should I worm my dog?

The speed by which they can breed and multiply has been one of the reasons why many people originally assumed that puppies were always born with round worms although it has since been proven that this is not the case.

More often than not the puppies have got the worms from their mother in the confines of their kennel.

There are so many different symptoms that can appear when a dog has worms that anything you notice outside of the ordinary behavior of your pet should be addressed by a visit to your vet as a worm infested dog can become a very unhealthy, unhappy dog very fast.

Left untreated worms can kill a dog so it is better to be safe than sorry if you suspect your pet might have worms or have been in contact with other dogs that might have worms.

Identifying The Symptoms of Dog Worms is a post from: K9 Online

Never give up on your dog, no matter how exhausted you are. Without reinforcement, your dog will revert to his old behaviors. The learning process for dogs is a constant one; with reminders and reinforcements needed along the way.

During inappropriate chewing training, set your dog up for success. Even more so, an inappropriately-chewing dog needs to be protected. Items like hairbrushes can cause a dog to choke or could block their airway.

If you have a puppy that likes to chew on everything when you are away from home, the easiest solution is to consider an indoor or outdoor kennel to use in your absence. If this is not an option for you, the simplest way keep him from chewing is to close the doors to rooms that have appealing items and put other tempting items out of his reach.

Interesting dog health tip: Read up on food intolerance in dogs your dog's behavior is directly influenced by their diet.

Accidents will happen sometimes when you house train your pet. Make sure to clean up accidents as soon as they happen. If the accident is left behind, the smell will make your pet think it's okay to eliminate in that spot. It will be difficult to discourage his eliminating in that spot once a habit is formed. Many cleaning products are made just to eliminate this order, you can find them at any pet store.

If you are looking to train your dog to not use the bathroom inside, housebreaking pads are counter productive. Wee-wee pads are prone to leaks, which make your dog think that it is okay to eliminate in that area due to the smell. Housebreaking pads encourage dogs that indoor bathroom use is okay; similar objects the shape and size of the pads may be used by a mistaken puppy. Always teach your pet that he must go outside to use the bathroom.

The most important part of dog training is to ensure that dog know its name. If you want to have control of your dog, you have to teach him to respond to you. Call them to you at least ten times a day. Never call your dog over to you in order to punish it, either.

Get your dog the proper nutrition required for canine health. An unhealthy diet can have several negative effects on your dog. If your dog isn't getting what it needs to stay healthy, it could really struggle to find the energy for training or may act out in other ways. By making small changes to your dog's diet, you can alter their receptiveness to the training.

If your dog has problems with destructive chewing, he may be suffering from anxiety or boredom. Enclosing him in a crate will prevent accidents from occurring and leaving him a chew toy will discourage destruction of your property.

People are often amazed about how easy it can be to train your dog and how quick they see changes. If you are having behavior problems with your dog, read on for some solutions.

A Simple, Easy Dog Training Plan For 2012 is a post from: K9 Online

Obesity in cats and dogs is preventable with a good diet and regular exercise, but it can cause health problems. A good pet insurance will cover vet’s bills, but owners need to do their bit to make sure obesity-related health problems are kept to a minimum.

Once your pet crosses the line from cute and cuddly to obese, it can be at risk from serious health problems, including diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and cancer. Lack of mobility and carrying extra weight can lead to problems with walking and orthopaedic disease and difficulty breathing.

Older dogs and cats are at risk from obesity, mostly due to their sedentary lifestyle, and certain breeds are more prone than others.

The RSPCA suggests carrying out a few checks to make sure your pet isn’t heading for obesity:

- You should be able to see the outline of your pet’s ribs, and feel them, as they shouldn’t be covered by excess body fat.

- When you look at your pet from above, you should be able to see and feel your pet’s waistline.

- Your pet’s stomach should be tucked up, rather than hanging down, when you look at it from the side.

If you’re in any doubt about whether your pet’s weight is within the acceptable limits, your vet should be able to weigh them and advise you on how to start a weight-loss plan if necessary.

There are many steps you can take to prevent obesity in your cat or dog:

Give them regular exercise:
With dogs, this is as easy as going for more, longer walks. A cat may benefit from having a new toy to chase to get it moving around.

Don’t overfeed:
Cats and dogs can be crafty when it comes to “asking” for food, but controlled portions and regular mealtimes are good for them.

Limit the treats:
You might think you’re being kind giving your pet sweet treats, but they don’t need them in their diet. If you automatically throw your leftovers into the dog or cat bowl, think again as the calories can really add up.

* www.pdsa.org.uk/about-us/media-pr-centre/news/1240_pet-slimming-champs-reveal-their-vital-stats

Company Profile:

John Lewis Insurance offers a range of insurance services selected by the John Lewis Partnership. These include car, home, life, travel, wedding, event and pet insurance quotes.

For more information about John Lewis Dog Insurance please visit the website here – www.johnlewis-insurance.com.

John Lewis Insurance is a trading name of John Lewis plc. John Lewis plc is an appointed representative of AXA Insurance UK plc which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.

Terms, conditions, limitations, exclusions and eligibility criteria apply. A full copy of the policy wording and the insurance complaints procedure are available on request.

Pet Insurance and Obesity is a post from: K9 Online

The UK’s lucky canines can expect to enjoy the festive season as much as their owners as an incredible 49% of owners will be preparing them their very own special doggie dinner this year.

According to the recent survey carried out on behalf of Direct Line Pet Insurance, of the 1,021 dog owners questioned, almost half (49%) are planning to make a special Christmas meal for their dogs and with 46% planning a special family walk with their dog, it will soon be walked off!

Adam Whiteley, head of pet insurance at Direct Line, offered this advice to dog owners: “Dog owners going to the trouble of cooking a special Christmas dinner for their best furry friend are clearly doing so out of love and festive spirit. It’s worth remembering that there are a few things dogs shouldn’t eat at all, even on special occasions, as doing so can make them very ill or even cause death in extreme cases. Chocolate, raisins, onions, and added salt should all be avoided, as should sharp or small bones. It’s a good idea to make sure that all food items and treats are stored well out of reach of pets, during the holidays and all year round.”

According to the survey, 89% of Britain’s dogs can expect a delivery from Santa left under the tree for them to spend the holidays enjoying.

40% Britain’s dogs will have an average of £10 on presents spent this year with a lucky 9% having gifts worth more than £100 awaiting them.

Toys are the most favoured present of choice, but pampering with collars, leads and clothes also top the list of most desired presents.

However, with 26% of Britain’s dogs enjoying chewing presents, it might be advisable to make sure Santa’s little four legged helpers have someone keeping an eye out for them.

K9 Magazine editor Ryan O’Meara offered this thoughts on the findings,“The fact that nearly half of all dog owners are preparing to fully include their canine pals in the Christmas festivities is indicative of just how much the relationship between pets and their owners has changed in modern times. Dogs are now considered fully fledged members of the family and this research highlights just how seriously owners take that relationship. Dogs bring us so much joy every day, it’s nice to hear that owners take great delight in including them at this special time.”

Special Christmas Meal Awaits Half Of Britain’s Dogs is a post from: K9 Online

While home may be the ideal destination this time of year, many pet owners find that there is no place like the vet's office for the holidays. Unfortunately, the most wonderful time of the year is also one of the most dangerous for pets.

K9 Magazine has advised dog owners to be more vigilant and expands on this advice with a short guide entitled 5 Tips To Save Your Dog's Life which includes guidance on issues such as:

- Know the normal temperature for a dog
- Spot symptoms of illness in dogs
- Teach dogs to come back every time

Ryan O'Meara, K9 Magazine editor and publisher:

"Christmas brings with a lot of fun, food and excitement. Unfortunately this break in routine can lead to accidents involving dogs. It's always wise to try and keep your dog's normal routine as close as possible even throughout the seasonal festivities. Too much rich food or access to objects left lying around can be the cause of many vet trips each year."

Every year PDSA vets and nurses treat hundreds of pets that have swallowed 'foreign bodies' such as toys, string and stones. Around Christmas, there are always pets brought into PDSA PetAid hospitals needing emergency treatment after swallowing decorations or getting hurt by falling Christmas trees – such as Charlie the Yorkshire Terrier who swallowed a star shaped decoration last December.

[Distributed by petbuzz]

K9 Magazine’s Christmas Dog Safety Warning is a post from: K9 Online

Festive Pet Eats Entire Advent Calendar is a post from: K9 Online

A) There are several variations of the Lungworm parasite, and the majority are found in warmer climates, and are not found in dogs. Different types of the parasite have often been found in farm animals like cattle, and some strains can affect our cats, although this is not common, and those parasites cannot be passed to dogs.

Source: www.dogworms.co.uk

Why Do Dogs Get Lungworms? is a post from: K9 Online

Two questions, really. First, what are your opinions on fasting? Do you do it? Why? And secondly, does anyone know (or know where I can find) any scientific explanation of why fasting may / may not be good for a dog?

Is Fasting Safe For Dogs? is a post from: K9 Online

”I just wanted to know why does my girl constantly lick my girlfriends dogs face and her sisters dogs face. It’s weird because she really goes for it and tries to get their lips etc. She shows alot of dominant behaviour around them though e.g. Ears up, hair on end, tail dead stiff and looking from the side etc trying to get proper eye contact and showing the white of her eyes. I heard the lip licking was a submissive behaviour so i’m quite lost. It’s almost as if she’s obsessed with it and shes always trying to get in my girlfriends dog and her sisters dogs face by doing it. I’m not sure if I should stamp it out or jsut let her get on with it etc? Any ideas guys?”

”hmm its strange because my girl is really not submissive at all shes doing lots of dominant features which I said previously. So i’m a bit lost”

”yeah i believe that she does just want to be friends with other dogs she seriously does like their company but she goes about it the wrong way..i think she wants to be around other dogs but is saying hey dont try any funny business etc….”

”Sorry back to the thread again. The licking is still going on but now they are licking/nipping each other. Not hard but it’s strange I really do want to resolve this and find out why as I don’t want to cause any long term damage.”

Why do dogs lick obsessively? is a post from: K9 Online

We live on what is still a building site, and i just took henry out for a quick walk, as he was watering the weeds, one if the builders turned the corner and stopped in front of him to say hello. blocking his way. As henry is still very excitable he jumped up, and as he was coming down the guy stepped back clutching his leg saying that henry had bit him, which made henry stand there and bark at him- to me it looked like he might have scratched him with his claw. But this big guy just stood there clutching his leg and not even looking at it. He said what is he a weimeraner or a rottweiller??? sarcastically. I apologised and said have a look and see if your leg is okay, which he wouldn’t. Then he walked off (okay mind, no sign of a limp or anything), muttering it’s a good job he wasn’t a kid.

Now Henry has had his problems, but biting people isn’t one of them, and this guy did get right in front on henry before i could move him out of the way. I’m just more annoyed that since having henry i’ve noticed how rude, ignorant and annoying other people can be.

Another example was i took henry to the park, and we we strolling along, and suddenly this old lady came whizzing past on her bike. She made me jump, and Henry too, which of course made him bark, as we didn’t hear her coming. She had the cheek to get off her bike and tell me to control my dog better! And if she had been a child it would have been terrified. So i had to turn round and tell her that if she had rung that bell on her bike i would have known she was right behind me, and if i’d had a child where henry was, she probably would have hurt it, as she wouldn’t have seen it. Raaahhhh

How do you peeps handle things like this when they happen?

Why Do Some People Hate Dogs? is a post from: K9 Online