people in all the developed countries are getting steadily fatter, and it seems as if the public health campaigns can do nothing to reverse this trend. Unfortunately dog owners are now visiting this modern epidemic on their pets, with catastrophic effects on their dogs’ health. They are literally killing their best friends with kindness, as an overweight dog gets similar health complications to humans. Diabetes, heart attacks, strokes and arthritis are just some of the ailmenst associated with excess weight in dogs. Next time you visit the vet, pop your dog on the scales and check his weight. If you can’t do that, then feel along your dog’s tum. You should be able to feel the ribs easily. If not, then it is time to cut out some treats and pump up the exercise routine.

8 Ways Not to Get Eaten by a Crocodile in the Nt Waterways.

Want to visit the Northern Territory, Australia, but are too afraid of the saltwater crocodiles? Well, there is no need to be afraid. Even though the saltwater crocodile is the world’s largest reptile, averaging five metres(15 feet), if you take notice of the following tips, you should stay safe.

1. KEEP OUT OF THE WATER.

Staying away from the waterways, lagoons, billabongs and creeks is the best way to ensure that you will never get eaten by a saltwater crocodile. However, this is not really the answer that people want to hear. But if you are in crocodile country stay at least five metres away from the water. Although on land they can produce a sudden burst of speed to catch unwary prey. You will not get away. Read more »

I like playing games – well, it is in my DNA, of course. I also like trying to win money so I sometimes play online for gain. It is hard to be sure which sites are legitimate, and whether you will get a fair hearing in a dispute so I prefer to use
Paypal bingo sites where I do not have to give my credit card details. I was lucky enough to find a review site that lists bingo sites that accept Paypal. It also includes user reviews for UK regulated Bingo Sites, giving extra reassurance. There is a search feature to help you identify sites according to features like payment method, software, country, language and currency. The best sites in my opinion give a no deposit bingo bonus, and you can find a list of them here.

My Mum always said that I was a highly intelligent lad, and in fact she registered me at a number of sites, with the result that one company actually rang us asking for me by name. But her real weakness is online casinos, and especially the USA online casino review site. That is the place to find out where the best deals are being offered, and the safe sites to visit – that is important when you are going to be depositing money. When they review a site they will tell you the payout rate as a percentage of bets placed, the range of games available  and the customer servise opening times.  And of course whether the games and graphics are well designed.  You can also find out where the casion is registered and teh amount of signup bonus offered.  At the end of the casino review each site is given a rating out of ten, so you can decide where to go if you like to play for money online.

Dog’s Head out the Car Window: A Dangerous Habit

For most pups, the best part of a car ride is feeling the breeze in their furry faces as they stick their head out the window. Despite the feel good nature of this pleasurable experience, it’s actually a very dangerous habit.

In the early days of automobiles, most cars did not have windshields and their top speed was approximately 45 mph. Given those conditions, drivers wore goggles to protect their eyes. Now that we have windshields to protect us, you wouldn’t consider sticking your unprotected head out the window at 45 mph. Then why let your dog?

Allowing your dog to let it stick its head out the window is a very dangerous habit. Their eyes are exposed to dirt, rocks, dust and other debris. These materials can easily puncture and scratch your dog’s eyes. A line of pet goggles have come out which are to help prevent these types of injuries. However, even if you can train your dog not to paw them off their heads, there are still many other dangers when your dog’s head is out the window while driving.

Damage to the ears is another big concern. When the dog’s ears flap in the wind, their soft earflaps (pinnae) can easily become irritated, swell and become very tender. The constant and rapid flapping of the pinnae against your dog’s head from high-speed winds causes trauma to the ear and results in swelling. Repeated trauma such as this can cause lifelong problems for your pup.

Allowing your dog to stick its head out the window can also lead to more severe outcomes, such as falling out of the car or getting their head stuck in the window opening. Taking a turn a bit too fast, traveling over bumpy terrain or an overly excited pup can cause your dog to lose balance and easily fall out of the window. These types of incidents occur more frequently than one might imagine and can cause severe injury or death to dogs.

It should go without saying; but another very dangerous idea is to allow your dog to ride in the bed of a pickup truck. All of the dangers of sticking its head out the window from inside the car are increased, since the bed of a pickup offers little or no protection from wind, debris, or falls. In addition, a pickup’s metal bed can reach dangerously high temperatures on hot days, which can cause you to need acne skin products damage to the soft tissue on a dog’s paws.

The best place for your dog to ride is in the back seat or cargo area of your vehicle, properly restrained of course. Utilizing a pet safety belt, car seat, vehicle pet barrier, or a travel crate is the best ways to ensure that your pup’s travels are happy and safe. Sure, crack the window, but no heads out!

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Kim Salerno is the President & Founder of TRIPSwithPETS.com. She founded the pet travel site in 2003 and is an expert in the field of pet travel. Kim is a veteran of the travel industry – formerly serving as Director of Internet Marketing for Certified Vacations. Her mission is to ensure that pets are welcome, happy,and safe in their travels. Visit her company website at http://www.tripswithpets.com

Bad Dog Training Tricks – Obedience Training for Dogs

Training a dog in obedience is not a simple task when the dog’s owner has not received proper training himself. The majority of dog owners do not know how to train their dog and expect the animal to think like humans, which lead to quite a lot of disappointment. There are simple methods that can be learned by reading obedience training books or watching dog training DVDs in addition to attending dog training classes with a qualified dog trainer, dog and owner together. Read more »