6 Diseases that Dogs Should Be Vaccinated Against

Vaccinations are essential to the health of your dog. Through the prevention of diseases, your dog will be able to enjoy a longer and healthier lifestyle. Family and friends will also be safeguarded from the terrible symptoms brought on by serious diseases. Below are six diseases that vaccinations—like those available at A to Z Vet Supply—will help to prevent against:

Rabies

As soon as the symptoms of Rabies begin to surface—the disease is inevitably deadly. Passed on to humans through the bite or even the scratch of an infected animal, the virus rapidly advances to the brain and central nervous system. The law requires, in fact, that your dog is vaccinated against rabies.

Canine Distemper

Coughing, nasal discharge, vomiting and diarrhea, and seizures are all symptoms of dogs that are infected with canine distemper.  Direct contact with a sick dog, or with an area contaminated by that dog, will cause other dogs to become infected with the disease. It’s strongly recommended that every dog is vaccinated against canine distemper, which will usually start with a number of shots when they are a puppy.

Canine Infectious Hepatitis

This hepatitis virus is transferred through urine or secretions from the eye or nose of an infected animal. Canine infectious hepatitis is a viral disease of the liver and can lead to serious and potentially long-lasting damage. It’s important to vaccinate against this disease to ensure that your dog does not have to experience permanent complications.

Canine Parvovirus

Life-threatening dehydration, vomiting and bloody diarrhea are common symptoms associated with this incredibly contagious virus. Since this virus continues to be infectious in particular environment, it’s strongly suggested that dogs are vaccinated against this disease to avoid severe problems and even death.

Canine Parainfluenza

Generally referred to as “kennel cough” in dogs, this disease is one contributor of respiratory infections. This infection can be transmitted through the air and leads to coughing and sneezing in suffering dogs.  

Bordetella Bronchiseptica

Bordetella is a bacteria known to contribute to kennel cough in dogs and is similar to parainfluenza in that it’s spread through the air and highly contagious. Dogs that are infected with this disease usually spend a significant amount of time in the same proximity with a number of other dogs—which is exactly why experts urge owners to vaccinate their dogs against this disease prior to attending a highly populated dog environment.   

To find vaccines for dogs for sale go online and explore websites such as A to Z Pet
Supply to  buy pet vaccines. Protect the health and wellbeing of puppies and dogs by giving them the immunity they need. Be prepared to defend against the deteriorating and deadly
diseases that are brought on by aggressive viruses by seeking an expert of dog
vaccinations.

Go to A to Z Pet Supply’s website to find out more information about how to protect dogs and other pets from damaging diseases:

http://www.atozvetsupply.com/

  

It’s Doggy Bath Time!

With the fall behind us and winter still going strong, we’re pretty sure most dog-owners have had to at least consider bathing their pet. And since we stock a wide variety of dog supplies, including grooming and bathing products, giving some bathing tips seemed appropriate. Whether you haven’t owned a dog before and don’t know what a hassle bathing a dog can be, or have plenty of experience with the said hassle, we hope these tips will come in handy.

    

How Often Should You Bathe a Dog?
Well, it depends on the dog. Unless your dog has a skin condition that requires special attention like regular bathing, how regularly you bathe your dog depends on how fast they get dirty and how much stink you can stand. A dog can go through a lifetime without having a single bath, or get a bath once a week. It’s up to you.

What Shampoo to Use?

It’s better to use a shampoo specifically designed for dogs. The biggest risk in using a regular or otherwise unsuited shampoo is that it’s not mild enough and will strip away the necessary oils from your dog’s coat, leaving your pet with a dry, itchy skin.

How to Wash and Dry?

One of the most important things when washing your dog is to remember that their eyes, mouth and ears need to be protected from the water and the shampoo. The best way to do this is to start the washing at the neck, and work your way down from there. A dog’s head doesn’t need to be washed, and it it’s dirty you should use a towel or a washcloth instead. When drying your dog, any kind of a blow dryer can be a bad idea, because it can dry your dog’s skin and frighten them. Consider a soft towel drying before letting the fur dry the rest of the way on its own.

There you go! We hope those were useful tips, and if you are looking for quality dog shampoos or other discount dog supplies, make sure to visit our website for the latest offers!

The Strangest Pets to Own – Think Twice…

Have you ever looked at your pet doing something weird and thought to yourself that you must have the strangest creature in the world as a pet? Well, fear not, in the spirit of having some fun, we’re here to prove that you probably don’t have the strangest pet in the world. As to who does, well…we’ll let you make your own conclusions.

Capybara

Yes, a capybara. You can start by trying to figure out how to pronounce that, but a capybara is, in essence, a gigantic guinea pig. And we mean gigantic. As in if there was a city of guinea pigs and this guy showed up, they’d name him Godzilla. The biggest rodents in the world, adult capybaras can be as tall as 4 feet and they can weigh up to a hundred pounds. So if you’re in the market for a hundred-pound guinea pig, google capybara. And yes, people do have capybaras as pets, although that is admittedly very rare.

Sugar Glider

Even though a sugar glider sounds like a ride at a Hershey team park, it’s actually an animal that’s a part of the possum family and native to Australia. So what makes this pet weird? Well, let’s start with how it looks. It is probably the most wide-eyed creature in the world, perpetually looking like it has indulged in a lot of something inappropriate. In addition, it has very sharp teeth and claws, and it’s only active during night-time. So it is pretty much everything that one looks for in a pet: dangerous and unavailable.

Globe fish

And last, but most certainly not least, we have the globefish.  It’s known as the most poisonous fish in the world, the one that can puff itself into a globe-shaped form and, depending on the specific species, sting you with its lethally poisonous spikes. Fun, right? Well, among aquarium lovers in certain parts of the world this is a relatively popular pet – maybe some people just enjoy living on the edge. Speaking of which, some species of globefish are also famous as a Japanese delicacy. They’re carefully prepared by expert chefs who know which parts of the fish are safe to eat, so please don’t get a globefish and try cook it in butter. Also, even the professionals get it wrong sometimes, and deaths from globe fish dinner poisonings aren’t uncommon.

So there you have it, people are strange but some pets are even stranger. As one of the leading veterinary supply stores, while we can’t promise you we stock sugar glider cages or capybara grooming supplies, we do stock pretty much everything else that you could need as a pet-owner….come visit us and see for yourself!

Worried about canine parvo?

Worried About Canine Parvo ?  As a Breeder you should be............

7 Canine Parvo Myths and Facts that will help you avoid Canine Parvo Outbreaks:

                   

  "Prevention is worth a pound of cure ! "

MYTH: "Vaccinating puppies with 5-way vaccines will protect them from Parvo"

FACT: 5-way vaccine do not work in the presence of a puppies maternal antibody. Maternal Antibody confliction is what makes five way fail to provide protection. To provide protection you must use single antigen high titer vaccines when addressing the immune system. In using high titer single antigen vaccine you accomplish maternal antibody override and start the immediate production of protective antibody builds. This must be accomplished to produce protection within young puppies.

MYTH: "All vaccines are created equal and there is not difference"

FACT: All Combination vaccines are pretty much create equal. Meaning they fail in providing protection to puppies under twelve weeks of age. Again you must use high titer vaccines to induce protection and drive antibody production in a puppies immune system.  To prove how weak your average combination vaccine in today's market please watch our vaccine challenge test.  The Canine Vaccine Tests

Our Choice for High Titer Single Antigen Canine Vaccine is NeoPar (Parvo Only) and NeoVac DA2 (Distemper and AdenoVirus) Vaccines.  

MYTH: "If I vaccinate a puppy it will infect other puppies or adults with that virus"

FACT: All vaccines must go through what the government calls back passage test. In short this is simply a series of test that are performed with the puppy and the vaccine to make sure that the vaccine can not shed in the feces and then produce a passing of those virus to un-vaccinated or protected dogs. This has to be proven by all manufactures to the government before the vaccine can be deemed available for use in canines. 

MYTH: "Waiting later in life to vaccinate a puppy is better than vaccinating him early"

FACT: This is simply not necessary as we have the vaccines today to protect puppies by the age of eight weeks. This of course is critical for dog breeders and rescues as breeders produce puppies to be sold by eight to twelve weeks of age and rescue organizations are so susceptible to Canine Parvo within their own facilities. With dog breeders we can provide complete protection to puppies by eight weeks of age. For Rescue and SPCA organizations we can provide immediate protection for puppies and adults no mater the age.

As always prevention is the key to healthy animal success. By giving puppies a clear and healthy path to development and un-vaccinated dogs the ability to get a new lease on life. We here at A to Z Vet Supply specialize in science based prevention plans. If you are interested in a free prevention plan that has been product tested and health approved. Please send your name address and phone number to the email below. Please state whether you a dog breeder or rescue organization as we have developed different plans for each of you.

Send your contact info and what you are to :click here

Horse Care Basics

There’s a lot you have to take into consideration if you’re planning to become a horse-owner, especially if you’ve never owned one before. For example, the horse’s age, activity level, breed and health situation will all affect your daily routine. The one thing, though, that can be said for certain is that regardless of the horse (even if it’s just a pony), you should be prepared for the fact that the caretaking is time-consuming and will definitely tie you to it on a daily basis. On that note, we wanted to discuss some horse caretaking basics with you – if you’re an experienced equestrian you probably know all of this already, but it’s always good to make sure you’re taking the best possible care of your horse.

Rest and Exercise

Not all horses require extensive amounts of exercise (for example, older horses or ones that are in the late stages of breeding), but on average horses are meant to move. They are also herd animals, so isolating them in box stalls without sufficient exercise will easily lead to behavioral problems, as the horse suffers from lack of exercise, companionship and mental simulation.

Grooming

Depending on your horse, it will have a lot of different grooming needs, from brushing its coat to keeping it clean and shiny to using a mane comb to detangle the horse’s mane and tail. Going through tangles, particularly, requires a gentle touch and patience. The horse’s hooves also needs to be cleaned with a hoof pick whenever they need it, which is almost all the time. And you should make sure your horse’s hooves are trimmed every 6-8 weeks to avoid any issues. You may also need to wash your horse regularly (depending on the conditions) or at least use a curry brush or a dandy brush to remove the excess dirt off its coat.

Nutrition

The basis of any horse’s diet is grass and hay, but you need to make sure the hay doesn’t have any dust or mold (those creep in easily during storage). Depending on the amount of exercise your horse gets, typically if it’s highly active like a race horse, you may want to add grains or nutrients, but please make sure to consult experts before you make those decisions and also remember that a horse needs to get used to a new diet gradually.

In addition to these basics, it’s also essential that you make sure your horse is regularly vaccinated and dewormed. If you’re looking for either more information on some of the products, from brushes to vaccines, that we mentioned or any other vet supplies online, please don’t hesitate to visit our website or to contact us with questions. We stock one of the largest varieties of affordable, high-quality horse maintenance gear, vaccines and medications. 

Puppy Products 101

We’re very aware of what an overwhelming experience preparing for the arrival of a new puppy can be, which is why we have stocked our online store with puppy-specific products, and also want to give some general tips on what you should remember when you’re shopping for you brand new family member.

Puppy Food

Puppies that have been weaned are usually recommended to be fed three to four times a day to avoid digestion problems and to keep the puppy energetic. You’ll also need dog food specifically designed for puppies, which means it will have a higher calorie and nutritional supplement amount. The high calorie amount is necessary for a growing puppy, but once your dog begins to reach maturity, make sure to transition to regular food to avoid overfeeding your dog.

 

Crate or No Crate

There are people who aren’t enthusiastic about crates, but we think it’s important to remember that many dogs are den animals that often prefer to sleep in enclosed spaces. As long as you don’t force your puppy or dog to spend inordinate amounts of time in a crate, it can help you with training and traveling as well as create a safe haven for a tired puppy. Please remember puppies under the age of four months are recommended to be let out of the crate every 1-2 hours and no dog should ever be in a crate for more than six hours a day.

Puppy Toys

Chewing for puppies and dogs alike serves to relieve stress, bring joy and help with boredom. However, at the puppy age is when you should teach your dog the right chewing habits (for example, not to chew on rugs, furniture or your decorative cushion): buying products like Nylabone’s puppy toys is a great idea as they’re made out of materials that don’t remind the puppy of the material regular objects around the house are made out of, like your shoes or kids’ toys. This way you give your puppy a chance to naturally and easily learn what is OK to chew. You also need to keep safety in mind: you’ll need durable toys so that the puppy can’t tear off and digest parts of them.

Vaccinations

It’s generally recommended to book an appointment with a vet for your new puppy as soon as possible after the puppy has arrived, because from parvo vaccines to hepatitis vaccinations, there’s a lot to take into consideration when it comes to your puppy’s health. Your veterinarian will be able to schedule the right vaccinations for you puppy based on the medical history given by the breeder, just remember to make sure you schedule the appointment promptly. 

Choosing the Right Collar and Leash

Choosing the right collar and leash for your pet can entail a surprisingly large number of concerns, from the breed, size and behavior of your dog to whether it’s a puppy or not. As one of the leading online providers of pet vet supplies, we recommend doing some background research on the specific breed, age and behavior of your pet. To get you started, though, we want to give you some introductory information on what kinds of collars and leashes are usually recommended for different types of dogs and situations.

Regular (flat) collar and leash

 

The simplest solution out there is a regular leash and collar. A regular collar means a collar that’s not a prong, choke, training or other kind of a ”modified” collar. It has some downsides to it, like the fact that a dog that pulls on it is in danger of injuries, and a dog with behavioral problems will escape the leash more easily. That’s why regular collars and leashes are usually recommended for adults with little to no obedience problems and easy-going personalities. An example of a regular collar is the Leather Town Collar.

Slip collar/leash

Slip collar/leash can have both the collar and leash in the same package, as the leash is often wrapped around the dog’s neck to form a light version of a choking collar. It’s often recommended for dogs that have minor behavioral issues like getting distracted by other animals, traffic and similar things during walks. It’s a type of a collar that requires the dog walker to keep the animal’s safety in mind, so we urge everyone considering it to search for more information on its usage or to consult a professional.

Harness

   

To avoid any damage that even a regular collar – let alone a choking collar – can cause the dog, a harness can be a great option. There are different kinds of harnesses (ones that connect to the dogs back, chest or both) and the choice depends on whether your dog pulls on the leash: the harness where the leash clips on at the back is great for dogs that don’t pull a lot while chest-led harnesses are recommended for dogs that do have a tendency to pull on their leash. One example of the various kinds of harnesses we stock is the Red Dingo Bucklebone Harness.

Retractable Leashes

There are various pros as well as cons to retractable leashes but, generally speaking, they can be great when used the right way and in the right environment. For example, they are good for when you are at the park and want to give your dog the opportunity to run but can’t let him out of his leash. It should be noted, though, that you need to be careful about using a choke collar with a retractable leash, as it will counter the effects of the leash as well as provide additional risks of injury. Most experts also advise not using retractable lashes on roads, in traffic or near any kinds of hazards, as there is a definite possibility of the dog getting out of control and putting itself in danger. We offer options on retractable leashes, among them the Flexi Classic Cord Leashes.