Animal-to-Human Transmittable Diseases Resulting From Pet Worm's

A zoonotic disease, loosely defined, is a disease that can be transmitted from an animal to a human. These diseases can be transmitted by direct contact, by vectors or by the consumption of animals and/or animal products.

While many animal diseases are zoonotic, we are going to highlight some of the more common ones caused by worms.

A) Hookworm (Ancylostoma caninum)

These are distributed worldwide and are found wherever dogs live.

In dogs they can cause anaemia(bloodloss), weight loss, loss of appetite, poor growth,bloody stools, coughing and localised skin inflammation, especially of the feet, legs and abdomen.

In humans they are responsible for a condition known as Cutaneous Larval Migrans. The migration of the larval stages causes localised skin inflammation, especially in the lower leg region

Preventative measures include:

1) Regular removal of dog faeces from the environment and avoiding contact with dog faeces and soil contaminated with dog faeces. 2) Disinfection of Kennels etc 3) Regular Deworming (pets and people!) 4) Basic Hygiene - washing hands after playing with dogs, before meals etc.

B) Roundworm (Toxocara canis) are also distributed worldwide.

Usually only dogs up to about 8 months old are infected. Symptoms include poor growth, weight loss, pot bellied appearance, coughing, occasional vomiting, slimey diarrhoea with worms sometimes visible.

In humans they are responsible for a condition known as Visceral larval Migrans. The larvae migrate through the body and the symptoms experienced by the person depend on where the larvae end up in the body.Common symptoms include a fever, muscle pains, coughing, loss of appetite, blindness (usually only one eye) etc.

Prevention is the same as for hookworm.

C) Toxoplasmosis

Toxoplasmosis is one of the best known of the zoonotic diseases that involve pets and is the disease that leads many pregnant women to (unfairly) toss the pet cat out the door!

Although cats play a major role in the life cycle of Toxopllasma gondii, the causative organism, humans can in fact become infected 3 different ways, only one of which is direct contact with cat faeces.In fact, cat ownership is not a big factor for human infection with Toxoplasma.

The three ways that humans can become infected:

1) Eating undercooked meat This is THE major route of infection for humans, NOT contact with cat faeces. In one study , up to 60% of infections were as the result of the consumption of undercooked meat.

2) Transplacental Infection The foetus is infected while still in the uterus. This infection is the result of the mother becoming infected during pregnancy.

3) Ingestion of the organism shed in cat faeces.

Preventative measures thus involve cooking meat properly, wearing gloves when gardening, washing hands and utensils after working with raw meat and cleaning litter trays out daily.

Dog Food SECRETS™ will show you how to avoid these problems from occuring through a controlled diet and also by following a simple health regimen.

Click here to discover how..

May your dog have a long and happy life,

Andrew Lewis

Click here to learn the truth about Dog Training.

Healthy Dog Food

The Secret To Canine Longevity

Have you ever heard of a dog living into his late teens? I personally have never met such an age-defying dog but it does happen. Did you know, however, that many veterinarians and scientists today estimate that the life span of a dog should be into the late teens and even into the twenties? It is a wild idea, but many see it as attainable.

Science advances rapidly. It seems as if every day we read of a new advancement, a new wonder-drug, a new technique for improving both the quality and the longevity of our pets and ourselves. These advancements are wonderful. It was only a generation or two ago where simple infections could mean certain death for our pets, where a difficult labor would be the downfall of both mother dog and puppies, where diseases were common due to lack of vaccinations and proper treatments. I applaud science and hope they continue in their march toward a higher quality of life.

With all these dog health improvements and human life spans increasing, why the heck aren’t our dogs living up to their true potential life spans? I believe that the factors are many. The main factor, in my opinion, is the nutrition that we give our dogs.

Did you know that the pet food industry is largely unregulated? The pet foods that you pick up at the grocery store are made by companies owned by some of the largest companies in the world. These mega-companies make largely human consumer products and their dog foods and pet foods are manufactured from the by-products that weren’t fit for human consumption.

I know, I know. This sounds like a conspiracy theory, but it’s true. What kind of things are they able to get away with? Dog foods are made with leftovers. It is well documented that these dog foods are manufactured with dead and rotting carcasses. These are often carcasses from animals that were diseased, sickly, or otherwise not fit for human consumption so they were used in dog food. These carcasses are gathered and sit around a lot rotting and putrefying often for days before it is their turn to make it into the dog food bag. Other non-nutritional products like hooves and horns are also ground up and thrown into the mix. Have you ever wondered what happens to all that grease and oil that fries up those potatoes in fast food joints? Yup, it’s true. Dog food companies buy leftover grease by the ton and use it as a coating on dog food that you may be giving your dog. Why would they do that? Well, that grease is pretty tasty (albeit nutritionally abominable) to your dog. The dog food companies know that the unpalatable product they make will be eaten if they cover it with this leftover fat.

That’s not all, though. Most commercial dog and cat foods are full of fillers, preservatives, baked in a manner that strips the food of nutrients, and so chemically treated that they resemble Twinkies more than they resemble nutrition for your pet.

What is the solution? Well, there are many but the first step is to switch to a premium food. Feed your dog a food that uses human grade ingredients, doesn’t cram the food with fillers, and leaves out the chemical enhancers that give commercial dog food the shelf life of uranium.

Dog Food SECRETS™ Gold Package includes "The Confidential report: 9 Best Commercial Dog Foods in all of North America". A guide created by a professional field researcher that Andrew Lewis contracted to find the best of the best foods so he could feed his dog commercial dog food without fear of guilt.

Now you can do the same.

Click here to discover how..

May your dog have a long and happy life,

Andrew Lewis

Click here to learn the truth about Dog Training.

Dog Worms

The Types and Descriptions

Your dog's health is a very important part of overall care, and when you have a dog: Worms are a common problem. Puppies tend to get worms more often than grown dogs do. Here are common types of worms puppies and dogs get, and the various side effects that can result:

In general, puppies or dog's with worms can become sick. Symptoms include weight loss, weakness, being listless, having an upset stomach, not growing well, and sometimes even lung and breathing problems.

A puppy who's extremely thin could be having health problems with worms. A very shoddy looking coat is another sign of health problems, and even a potbelly could be an indication the puppy is worm infested.

Grown dogs may not show any outward signs when they have worms, but unfortunately they tend to spread them more than puppies do, because they pass large amounts of worm larvae, or eggs, through their feces.

There are several different types of worms that can jeapordize your dog's health: Tapeworm, roundworm, ringworm and heartworm are the most common.

Tapeworms have flat, segmented bodies and can sometimes be seen as rice-like segments or chains in the droppings of your dog or puppy. These are a common type of dog health problem, and they tend to be combined with flea infestations. Because of this, you'll often find dog health remedies that treat both fleas and tapeworms together.

Roundworms (toxocara) live and produce hundreds of eggs in the intestine, and are easily passed onto children.

Roundworm eggs are very hardy, resistant to heat and cold, and can survive up to 7 years in the soil. The eggs can pass on to children through ingestion and cause them to fall sick as well.

As a precaution, it's a good idea to train your dog or puppy to use a bathroom area which is not played in by children. Having a specific area also makes it easier for you to pick up and dispose of the droppings safely. Also be sure to have children wash their hands after handling puppies, and teach both the children and puppies to not lick on the hands or face.

All dogs and puppies should be "de-wormed" every 6-12 months, depending on the area you live in. Consult with your veterinarian for the best schedule in your area.

Dog Food SECRETS™ teaches you how to avoid this happening to your own dog by using good nutrition and eliminating toxic foods like commercial dog food, act now while your dog is still healthy.

Click here to discover how..

May your dog have a long and happy life,

Andrew Lewis

Click here to learn the truth about Dog Training.

Does Your Dog Have Otitis Externa?

- Dog Ear Infection -

Does your dog shake his head excessively? Are his ears red? Is there discharge from the ears? If you answered yes to any of these then he could have Otitis Externa which is simply another name for a dog ear infection.

The dogs ear has 3 parts, the outer ear, the middle ear and the inner ear. Otitis Externa is an infection in the outer ear canal where 90% of ear infections in dogs occur. Dogs are prone to ear infections because of the anatomy of their ears. They have a horizontal and a vertical component to them, so it is hard for anything in there to drain out, like water or debris.

There are several causes of ear infections. The most common cause of ear infections are due to allergies. Some dogs are more prone to allergies than others; therefore they get more ear infections.

Another common cause is sporting dogs that swim. They get water inside their ears, and provided their difficult anatomy, the water in the ears cannot drain out. Therefore, this provides the perfect environment for bacteria and yeast to grow. It is recommenced that if you let your dog play in the water you dry your dog's ears thoroughly afterwards.

If your dog does have an ear infection it is important to properly clean your dog's ears before applying any medication.

To clean your dog's ears, start by placing a few drops of an ear cleanser into the ear and massage the ear to help loosen any debris that is in the ear. Then use a cloth or cotton gauze to whip the dirt out.

After your dog's ears are thoroughly clean, then you can apply your medication. Follow your veterinarian's advice about how much medication to apply to the ear, usually a few drops.

The treatment your veterinarian will prescribe will vary depending on the cause of the ear infection. For yeast infections they prescribe anti-fungals, for bacterial infections they will prescribe antibiotics. Normally treatment is applied directly into the ears, but in severe cases systemic treatment may be needed. This usually means have to give your dog pills orally.

In some dogs with severe ear problems, the veterinarian will usually clip the hair around the ear to help let more air into the ear. In extreme cases your veterinarian may recommend surgery to reconstruct the ear canal to let it drain easier.

Some dog breeds are more prone to ear infections than others, although all dogs can be get them. Dogs with large ears and ears that flop over as well as dogs with a small ear canal can be more susceptible than others. Ear infections in dogs need to be treated by your vet, so the next time you see any symptoms in your dog, take action!

Dogs eating commercial dog food are much more susceptible to ear infection. They are also more susceptible to worm infestation and flea infestation. In fact, your dog will be more susceptible to any kind of parasitic infection.

Dog Food SECRETS™ teaches you how to avoid this happening to your own dog, act now while your dog is still healthy.

Click here to discover how..

May your dog have a long and happy life,

Andrew Lewis

Click here to learn the truth about Dog Training.

Your Dog's Health is Your Responsibility

Your dog's nutritional health is in your hands. One hundred percent, completely in your hands. Only you can control and provide the nourishment he needs for a smooth, shiny coat, dental health, bone growth, muscle tone, energy requirements and proper digestive function.

A dog's loyalty, love and trust in you make him an easy target for substandard care. We are all guilty, from time to time, of not treating our dogs as well as they deserve. But since they aren't likely to complain, we in turn can find it easy, too often, to turn a blind eye to his blind trust.

After all, isn't it a betrayal of trust and a void in our personal integrity to knowingly feed our dogs food that is nutritionally inferior? Would you feed yourself or any other member of your family from a can, for every meal, day after day? And you do consider your dog a member of your family, don't you?

This is one time you don't want to let yourself off the hook. Don't take your dog's silence as absolution. Their final act of innocence may be a slow, painful and tragic death. The guilt you will feel will be insurmountable.

I fed my dog substandard food and he did die a slow painful and tragic death, don't make the same mistake.

And the real kicker of it all -- giving your dog the best possible diet is easy! It can seem daunting, at a glance. But, in reality, it doesn't take a whole lot of time, effort or brainpower to do the right thing.

While the loose regulations on dog food labeling leaves us somewhat in the dark as to what exactly we are feeding our pet when we use commercial dog foods, good home cooking allows for flexibility and purity. It also gives us total control over our dog's nutritional needs. We can be assured that all ingredients are of the highest quality, and add up to a balanced, toxin-free diet. We can also maintain complete caloric discretion, modifying as necessary to accommodate our dog's ever-changing demands.

And, let's not diminish the importance of the one ingredient that only we can add, and which most certainly will be lacking in any commercial dog food -- love.

Don't you owe it to yourself, and to your "best friend" to give him the best possible chance at a long, healthy life? We think so, too.

That's why we have written this ebook, replete with useful, easy-to-understand information concerning dog nutrition. We provide healthy, easy-to-prepare recipes for your perusal. We offer tips on all aspects of canine health, including veterinary visits, vaccines, grooming, exercise and first aid -- so that all the information for your dog's health is at your fingertips.

Because, as we said, your dog's health is in your hands. And, we wish you and your dog many healthy returns.

Dog Food SECRETS™ is your guide to being a responsible friend and parent to your dog.

Click here to learn more..

May your dog have a long and happy life,

Andrew Lewis

Click here to learn the truth about Dog Training.

Snacks For Dogs.. Good or Bad?

Oh those puppy-dog eyes . . .who can resist them? There's a reason that turn of phrase "puppy-dog eyes" is used to describe the very deliberate emotional blackmail specifically tendered by basically anyone with the wherewithal to ride the cute train to anywhere. The phrase most assuredly originates with its namesakes. You know the look -- the slight head tilt, the pleading eyes, perhaps a barely perceptible whimper, just for emphasis.

From your pup, that look can say a lot of things, but often it's a transparent plea for a snack. He seems to be saying, "see how cute I am? Don't I deserve something special?"

So of course you yield to his entreaties, because what kind of a dog owner would you be if you didn't agree wholeheartedly?

Well, believe it or not, rejection would actually make you a very responsible and loving pet owner.

The fact is, digestively-speaking, your dog doesn't need extra snacks to get him through the day. Giving in and handing over a fistful of snacks, only contributes to the (literally) ever-growing issues with obesity that we are seeing in dogs. Obesity causes serious health concerns for dogs, including diabetes mellitus and orthopedic, musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, endocrine, respiratory, immune and reproductive disorders. Fat dogs are more at risk in surgery, more prone to injury, and have more stress on their heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, and joints.

Snacks do have their place, however. They can be a very effective training tool, for example. So, the key component here would be not to eliminate snacks, but to censure them.

It is very important to limit snacks to those of the healthy variety, and to always, always, always, and, without fail, include them in your dog's daily calorie count. You can see the results of snacking yourself (Dare we point out those those "love handles" you've been ignoring?). It is important to remember that those same results will be seen in your dog, even if it is less evident at a glance.

When it comes to snacking, there are a few basic rules of thumb to follow:

Snacks should never account for more than 5% of the total daily diet, as measured in calories.

Avoid fatty snacks, such as the commercial imitation bacon and sausage types, which only serve to upset the digestive system.

Don't tempt your pet with easily accessible goodies around the house.

Remember that anything labeled as a snack should be considered supplemental in nature, and should never be used as a substitute for a complete and balanced diet.

Healthy snacks can include fruits and vegetables, and even some homemade "cookies" and biscuits. As a companion to our Delicious Doggy Cuisine, we have compiled such homemade treat recipes for your dog's enjoyment. They are fun to make, and even more fun to serve. Many can be made in "bulk" amounts, so you can store the extras for later use. Take a look, you'll find a complete listing if the recipes includes on this page!

So there you have it -- you now have our blessing. When he's giving you that look you just can't resist, go ahead and cave. But, for your dog's health, when you cave, please cave responsibly.

Dog Food SECRETS™ shows you how to work snacks into your dogs diet without adversely effecting their health, this is the one skill most people never learn and resultingly their dogs become overweight and eventually sick.

Click here to discover how to have a heathly dog that can also enjoy snacking..

May your dog have a long and happy life,

Andrew Lewis

Click here to learn the truth about Dog Training.

Understanding Canine Digestion

Why It Matters

Last time we spoke about the workings of canine digestion. Today I'll tell a little about why it's important and the effects of providing your dog with substandard food typically found in commercial dog food.

Your dog's digestive capabilities are no accident. They are a very carefully construed mechanism of its teeth, stomach and large and small intestines.

Beginning with his sharp, jagged molars, which are designed for gripping, tearing and shredding, and ending with the large intestine, which aids in the elimination of waste, all parts of the system work together to process the consumed food with purpose and deliberation.

With their short and simple digestive tracts, large amounts of vegetation, grains and fiber are difficult for dogs to process. Their systems are much more conducive to the breakdown of animal proteins and fat.

As such, pet foods which boast corn, soy or their corresponding meals as their primary ingredient are of little use to your dog, nutritionally-speaking. The "Crude Protein" analysis on pet food labels is only a measurement of the amount of nitrogen in a food -- not the quality of the protein. Because of this, pet food companies can use the cheaper by-products of human food production, such as soybean meal, to "boost" protein numbers. Animal-based protein is nutritionally superior for dogs. Animal-based protein is better absorbed and retained and is higher in essential amino acids like methionine, arginine, and taurine, all of which are absent in plant-based proteins.

Pancreatitis and Fatty Liver (Hepatic Lipidosis) are diseases that can be caused by a variety of factors such as infection, exposure to toxins, stress and improper diet. Pet food that is very high in saturated fats can certainly be a contributing factor.

Diabetes is a chronic degenerative disease of dogs that can be caused by a variety of factors such as genetics, stress and diet -- specifically, the feeding of excess amounts of simple carbohydrates. Many pet foods are loaded with simple carbohydrates such as white flour, sucrose, glucose and fructose. These are cheap, highly processed carbohydrate sources that can stress the pancreas, leading to diabetes.

In addition, clinical studies suggest that the long term feeding of chemical antioxidants (preservatives such as BHA, BHT and ethoxyquin) have extreme adverse health effects on animals.

As such, for optimal digestive health, it would seem to be a no-brainer to feed your beloved dog a diet rich in animal-based proteins and fats, moderate in carbohydrates, and free of chemical additives and preservatives. When perusing the commercial dog foods available in the grocery store aisles you might find this to be a tricky proposition. It seems most are nutritionally substandard, in at least one respect or another, with many failing in nearly all respects.

This is made even more difficult because dog food manufacturers use deliberately confusing double-talk to make the food appear much more nutritious than it really is. In fact, they lobby against the FDA for their 'right' to keep it confusing.

The ideal solution is to feed your pet freshly prepared food, thereby giving you the power to provide all the nutrients he needs to maintain a healthy body. Combining animal-based proteins with vegetables, pasta, rice, cereals and other foods will furnish all the requisite protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals, without all those pesky by-products, fillers and chemical additives and preservatives.

Good home cooking is really the best way to ensure that, "all systems are go."

In Dog Food SECRETS™ and it's companion books, you will discover precisely how to feed your dog, how to read dog food ingredient labels, a massive list of recipes and even get a list a the top 9 brands in Nth America that I had prepared by a professional field researcher because they're the tools you need.

Click here now to get started..

May your dog have a long and happy life,

Andrew Lewis

Click here to learn the truth about Dog Training.