The Miniature Schnauzer is a small dog that has its origins in Germany. It is one of the most popular dogs due to its alertness and territorial instincts. Squarely proportioned and as small as 12 to 14 inches, these dogs make great guard dogs and watch dogs. Full of spunk and pep, the Miniature Schnauzer is a friendly and intelligent dog. However this breed is extremely suspicious of strangers and will assume a wary stance until the master greets and welcomes the stranger. Dog breeders and information can be found at Pets4You.com.

Miniature Schnauzer Dog Breed

Feeding and Grooming

The best foods for your Miniature Schnauzer are homemade lean meats and vegetables. Commercial food should be avoided if it can be since the digestive tract of Miniature Schnauzers is relatively weak and susceptible to problems. Some pure breed Miniature Schnauzers may also be allergic to high cereal content, something that is a mainstay of cheaper commercial dog foods. Consulting a veterinarian for a Miniature Schnauzer diet plan is an option you should consider if you want to give a proper and balanced diet that is fir for your loving dog.

Some people refer to Miniature Schnauzers as ‘non shedding dogs’. While this breed does shed, the levels of shedding are minimal and goes unnoticed. However, Miniature Schnauzers have long hair on the legs and the ends that need to be combed every single day. However, all that you need is to brush the coat and untangle the hair. Whiskers should be cleaned after meals. Clipping twice a year by a professional is recommended. Additional care needs to be taken for the Miniature Schnauzers ears especially if they are not cropped. Checking and drying ears after a swim or a bath is extremely important to avoid infections.

Exercise

Miniature Schnauzers do not require too much exercise and are happy to stay indoors. They are therefore extremely good companions if you live in an apartment or a condominium. Small walks are all that is required to keep a Miniature Schnauzer fit and healthy. If you have a large yard, then even the walks are not necessary since the Miniature Schnauzer can get adequate amounts of exercise while playing in the yard without a leash.

Special Care and Health Concerns for Schnauzers

With a life span of 12 to 14 years, the Miniature Schnauzer has a long life. However, some of the major concern that is associated with this breed is urolithiasis and bladder stoned. To avoid this, plenty of clean fresh water should always be made available to Miniature Schnauzer. Other minor issues are follicular dermatitis and esophageal achalasia. Cataract, pulmonic stenosis and Legg Perthes have also been seen at times.

The Schnauzer breed can be susceptible to diabetes, bladder stones, and eye problems. Foods with fatty acids and sugars should be avoided to prevent these conditions from occurring. Heart related conditions that occur due to high fat levels like hyperlipidemia can also occur. This increases the chances of pancreatitis.

Eye problems that are genetic in nature can also occur. Since conditions such as cataract and retinal dysplasia are linked to hereditary there are many Miniature Schnauzer owners that need to live with a pet with such a condition.

Pet owners that travel have difficulty finding pet sitters but now there is a solution – Pet Hotels.  Across the country hotels for dogs and cats are springing up that provide high quality accomodation for your pet as well as spa services.

 

Hopefully this trend is continuing with more pet owners who like to keep their pets pampered while they are away from home.  We spend 4 billion dollars a year on pets we love and the hotel industry is making rooms available for people with pets.  What were once called ” kennels” are now becoming luxury spa hotels for our best friends.

 

Vancouver in British Columbia has become “Canada’s Dog City” which is listed as a very friendly place for dogs to live in North America.  Situated on Canada’s pacific west coast it is likened to a Los Angeles for northerners along the Rocky mountains.

 

Vancouver has approximately seven beaches and 2o off leash dog parks where you can let your dog run a few laps.  At the Three Dog Bakery in Kitsilano an upscale area of Vancouver your buddy can sit in a booth and enjoy a deli meal.  Another Pet Spa boasts indoor treadmills to shed those extra doggy pounds followed by a relaxing Reiki treatment.  There is no end to dog pampering in Vancouver with spa treatments for pets.

 

In the United States, Boston also holds high regard for our canine friends, where you can bring your dog into some of the shops and are allowed in outdoor cafes which are opening up to pet owners.  England is also a pet friendly country with inns and spas dedicated to pet hotels.

 

Rex Hotel and Spa:

 

The Rex Hotel facility in Vancouver has both indoor and outdoor 24 hour supervised care in a boutique style hotel atmosphere.  Some amenities include: tunnels, ramps and ring equipment for play time.  Loft style lounges and water ball launchers with plenty of loving pats from the hotel team staff.

 

The Rex provides softy cozy beds in the sleeping lounges to insure maximum comfort with rates starting at:  $ 60.00 a night.  This does not include Group walks, or individual walks for 30 or 60 minutes daily.  Oh yes people are not allowed.   For reservations check out: Rex Hotel Vancouver

 

 

Cat Utopia Spa:

 

This cat hotel for cats only has 34 private rooms with a viewing window ledge. The added luxury of plush cat beds, climbing posts and individual litter boxes makes your cat feel at home.  Each suite has in floor heating which is nice on the paws, and state of the art ventilation systems for a fresh clean atmosphere.

 

Tile flooring insures sanitation and sterilization standards above regular people hotels and provide a clean healthy environment.  Deluxe rooms start at $19.00 per night to $ 29.00 for a Premium upgrade which goes up to a Presidential Suite.

 

Guests may indulge in the same Five Star amenities such as: organic cat nip, fresh cut grass, and evening treats.  There are even fireplaces to cuddle up to on overstuffed couches while being entertained by virtual aquariums and on site bird feeders.

What cat would ever want to come home?

For reservations see:  Cat Utopia Spa

 

Where ever you travel these days you are sure to find a pet friendly hotel to bring you best friend and more and more businesses are catering to pet lovers.

 

Written By:  Teri Salvador

 

Tags:

 

Pet Pampering Hotels for Dogs and Cats, Pet Hotels, pet friendly hotels, Rex Hotel, Vancouver, Cat Utopia Spa, Pet pampering, hotels for dogs and cats, hotels, hotels for dogs,

 

 

Saying for the Dog Lover: 

 

“ If you think dogs can’t count, try putting three dog biscuits in your pocket and then give him only one of them”.

 

-Phil Pastoret

 

 

 

 

 

 

As we enjoy summer there are some handy tips to keep the itching to a minimum.

Itch Tips:

Bathe your dog for 10 minutes with a non commercial soap, using baking soda, Epsom salts or oatmeal organic shampoo will ease the itch for a day or two and calms the inflamation of the skin.

Do not use hot water use warm water, or rub the skin, and do not use a hairdryer, this will irritate and cause more itching. A light squeeze with a towel will help and air dry outside preferably in some sunlight.

Give your dog some EFA’s ( Essential Fatty Acids) such as Primrose Oil and Fish Oils to keep the skin healthy.

Yeast Infections, Bacterial and Fungal Infections: Yeast infections are a result of environment and inflamed skin, either by diet, air or water environmental toxins affecting your dog.  The dog is most likely on a toxin overload, and waste products are not being eliminated.

Mites live and reproduce just under the skin on the fur follicles and cause baldness, and scaly patches developing into mange.

For natural sources to eliminate these problems with no chemicals or commercialized products visit:  All Natural Dog Care Supplies.

TAGS: 

Mites, Fleas, Dog Itch, Dog itch season, fur follicles, mange, all natural dog care supplies, Yeast Infections, Bacterial and Fungal Infections, itch tips, allergens, pollen, dog itch and scratching, Evening of Primrose Oil, EFA, Fish Oils.

Written By:  Teri Salvador

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The most common problem with our pets is skin and coat issues that can be severe causing itching, a dull look, and a good amount of shedding of fur.

These problems can lead to a bad smell, a greasy look to the fur, matting, or rashes that lead to incessant scratching by your dog. 

If your pet’s fur appears broken and or there are tiny bumps it could be a condition called Mange.  If your pet is healthy it will not have mange, but if it has a poor diet, or lack of vitamins it can develop through a bug that lives in the intestines.

Remedy:  Vitamin C, E, Zinc and Lecithin are recommended.

Chinese Herb:  Astragalus, and Echinacea.

 

 

Natural Remedy:  Soak a dozen or two lemons and the peels along with 6 mashed garlic cloves, in a pot of water, boil and let cool. Bathe your dog in this mixture avoiding the eyes and genitals. Rinse the fur thoroughly and this should take care of the problem.

 

Quality Pet Foods:

 

The choices of natural foods will also improve your dog’s immune system to ward off these little pests that cause major problems with fur.

You must consider the sources of you dog’s disease and primary causes of those vulnerable areas of which you have great control and that is what goes into your dog’s mouth.

The optimum quality of food that you feed your dog contains vital nutrients that repel diseases, including skin disease.  The equation is very simple, you increase the quality of food and you decrease the causes of illness. 

Pure unadulterated, and unaltered foods in their wholesome natural state, as they are from nature, like vegetables, wholesome grains and real chicken, and beef. 

I do not know too many pet owners that are feeding their dogs anything but wholesome natural foods and have changed their dog’s diet. If not, the result is a series of expensive veterinarian bills and deadly diseases.

 

Deli Fresh Pet Foods:

 

I recently was approached by a major Natural Dog Food Manufacturing company who saw my site and sent me a request to try their new pet food.

The company is called Deli Fresh Pet Food and their new line of product is called “Pet Fresh” which is a natural fresh dog food.  I agreed on the basis that if my dog Whoopie ate the food as we all know she is a very picky eater that I would talk a little about this product.  No promises though because I have been disappointed in what passes for food for pets these days, I thought it was going to take some convincing for me and for the Whoopster. Well here is the proof of my experience with Deli Fresh.

Well to my surprise I put the food which comes in a sausage like form and is kept chilled in the refrigerator, into her bowl and walked away as she likes to eat alone, thank you very much. 

I was surprised when she bounded into the room I was in and wagging the tail and the whole back side, she was jumping up and down.  I went to her bowl to give her praise for eating all her food.  The bowl was completely clean, and I mean not a speck in sight of any remnants of food- not one morsel.

 

I was so amazed at this I said well thank goodness they sent me two packages!!

In 2005 a group of pet food experts and nutritionists got together and formed a company that started a new product called Deli Fresh and Homestyle Select. The combined expertise gives you the consumer over 100 years of experience in a formulating a healthy diet just right for dogs.

 

The food is gently cooked at low temperatures and includes anti-oxidant vegetables and vitamins.  The best part is when I opened the package and caught a whiff of the food; it actually reminded me of a good cognac pate.  That is because it contains human grade food, so my nose is working fine, but also it was a scent of a stew or something cooking on the stove, indeed it is fresh wholesome quality dog food.  Added value for you dog’s coat are ingredients such as Sea Kelp and Flaxseed Oil which provides a shiny healthy coat.

The products come in: Beef, Chicken or Turkey and contain peas and carrots, my dog eats both peas and carrots and loves green beans.

 

 

From their website you can see what they mean by Fresh:

“Pandean or PAN diets stand for Pasteurized, All Natural, and Nutrient Dense. PAN is a scientific descriptor for fresh pet foods that adhere to the principle of minimal processing to retain nutrient value, are fresh meat-based and contain all natural ingredients (fresh vegetables, brown rice for fiber, etc.). “ 

The Deli Fresh sanitary plant in New Jersey is spotless and you would think it was processing human food with the quality control standards upheld by this company.

 They are opening stores daily so check their website for updates on new locations.

You can buy this fresh dog food here :   Deli Pet Fresh Foods

Keep your eyes peeled for this product – and let me know if you get a clean bowl too.

Grooming: 

There is nothing like giving your dog or cat a good brushing -they seem to balk at the brush initially but when you get going they really seem to enjoy the benefits and that is a good back scratch in the process.

The brushing removes loose fur, cleans out leaves, stimulates the skin and blood flow below the skin and in general gets themats out of the fur.  You can also get a wet washcloth and give a rinse over on the fur followed by a dry towel rub; it also stimulates the skin of your dog.

Bathing is not a bad thing either considering MRSA and other bacteria available these days.  I bathe my dog once a month in winter or spring she enjoys the after effects and I use an oatmeal shampoo which contains no chemicals.

You can try natural shampoos with other ingredients that do not contain chemicals at the link in the Blogroll called:  For Pets.

 

Teri Salvador

Author. 

The most common problem with our pets is skin and coat issues that can be severe causing itching, a dull look, and a good amount of shedding of fur.

These problems can lead to a bad smell, a greasy look to the fur, matting, or rashes that lead to incessant scratching by your dog. 

If your pet’s fur appears broken and or there are tiny bumps it could be a condition called Mange.  If your pet is healthy it will not have mange, but if it has a poor diet, or lack of vitamins it can develop through a bug that lives in the intestines.

Remedy:  Vitamin C, E, Zinc and Lecithin are recommended.

Chinese Herb:  Astragalus, and Echinacea.

Natural Remedy:  Soak a dozen or two lemons and the peels along with 6 mashed garlic cloves, in a pot of water, boil and let cool. Bathe your dog in this mixture avoiding the eyes and genitals. Rinse the fur thoroughly and this should take care of the problem.

Quality Pet Foods:

The choices of natural foods will also improve your dog’s immune system to ward off these little pests that cause major problems with fur.

You must consider the sources of you dog’s disease and primary causes of those vulnerable areas of which you have great control and that is what goes into your dog’s mouth.

The optimum quality of food that you feed your dog contains vital nutrients that repel diseases, including skin disease.  The equation is very simple, you increase the quality of food and you decrease the causes of illness. 

Pure unadulterated, and unaltered foods in their wholesome natural state, as they are from nature, like vegetables, wholesome grains and real chicken, and beef. 

I do not know too many pet owners that are feeding their dogs anything but wholesome natural foods and have changed their dog’s diet. If not, the result is a series of expensive veterinarian bills and deadly diseases.

I recently was approached by a major Natural Dog Food Manufacturing company who saw my site and sent me a request to try their new pet food.

The company is called Deli Fresh Pet Food and their new line of product is called “Pet Fresh” which is a natural fresh dog food.  I agreed on the basis that if my dog Whoopie ate the food as we all know she is a very picky eater that I would talk a little about this product.  No promises though because I have been disappointed in what passes for food for pets these days, I thought it was going to take some convincing for me and for the Whoopster. Well here is the proof of my experience with Deli Fresh.

Well to my surprise I put the food which comes in a sausage like form and is kept chilled in the refrigerator, into her bowl and walked away as she likes to eat alone, thank you very much. 

I was surprised when she bounded into the room I was in and wagging the tail and the whole back side, she was jumping up and down.  I went to her bowl to give her praise for eating all her food.  The bowl was completely clean, and I mean not a speck in sight of any remnants of food- not one morsel.

I was so amazed at this I said well thank goodness they sent me two packages!!

In 2005 a group of pet food experts and nutritionists got together and formed a company that started a new product called Deli Fresh and Homestyle Select. The combined expertise gives you the consumer over 100 years of experience in a formulating a healthy diet just right for dogs.

The food is gently cooked at low temperatures and includes anti-oxidant vegetables and vitamins.  The best part is when I opened the package and caught a whiff of the food; it actually reminded me of a good cognac pate.  That is because it contains human grade food, so my nose is working fine, but also it was a scent of a stew or something cooking on the stove, indeed it is fresh wholesome quality dog food.  Added value for you dog’s coat are ingredients such as Sea Kelp and Flaxseed Oil which provides a shiny healthy coat.

The products come in: Beef, Chicken or

Turkey and contain peas and carrots, my dog eats both peas and carrots and loves green beans.

From their website you can see what they mean by Fresh:

“Pandean or PAN diets stand for Pasteurized, All Natural, and Nutrient Dense. PAN is a scientific descriptor for fresh pet foods that adhere to the principle of minimal processing to retain nutrient value, are fresh meat-based and contain all natural ingredients (fresh vegetables, brown rice for fiber, etc.). “ 

The Deli Fresh sanitary plant in

New Jersey is spotless and you would think it was processing human food with the quality control standards upheld by this company.

 They are opening stores daily so check their website for updates on new locations.

You can find them at:   Deli Pet Fresh Foods

 Or call:  1-866-789-FRESH (3737) 

Keep your eyes peeled for this product – and let me know if you get a clean bowl too.

Grooming: 

There is nothing like giving your dog or cat a good brushing -they seem to balk at the brush initially but when you get going they really seem to enjoy the benefits and that is a good back scratch in the process.

The brushing removes loose fur, cleans out leaves, stimulates the skin and blood flow below the skin and in general gets themats out of the fur.  You can also get a wet washcloth and give a rinse over on the fur followed by a dry towel rub; it also stimulates the skin of your dog.

Bathing is not a bad thing either considering MRSA and other bacteria available these days.  I bathe my dog once a month in winter or spring she enjoys the after effects and I use an oatmeal shampoo which contains no chemicals.

You can try natural shampoos with other ingredients that do not contain chemicals at the link in the Blogroll.

 

Teri Salvador

Author. 

What with doggie day care centers, dog spas, dog hotels, and now dogs can go to some restaurants it really is a dog’s life.

Pampering a dog consists of a nice bath, in most cases an oatmeal product that does not irritate the skin. A good cut, nails trimmed, ears cleaned and trimmed, brushing, drying, and more primping can enhance your dog’s life.

However pet owners, especially dog owners are dealing more with allergies today. Do food additives contribute to allergies, could it be the environment? As with humans, pollen, dust mites, insect bites can set off skin allergies in dogs or cats.

Read the rest of this entry »