Curious About your Dogs DNA?

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Have you ever wondered what mix of breeds your lovable pooch is? Using a new test marketed by Canine Heritage pet owners can now test their dogs DNA to find out.

Collection of the DNA is performed by using a small soft-bristled brush to gather skin cells from the inside of your dogs mouth. The test is able to identify genetic markers for 38 different breeds. This covers 75% of the most common breeds of dog in the United States.

Other than settling family dispute about whether Fido is a Lab/Jack Russell mix or a Lab/Terrier mix there are other practical benefits to knowing the breed of your pets. With knowledge of the breed you can investigate possible genetic health issues and have the opportunity to better manage the health care of your pet to prevent the onset of disease.

The test is also being marketed to shelters and animal rescues so that they are able to offer prospective owners more information about the dogs.

The test costs $65 plus shipping and handling and you test results are available four to six weeks after submitting the DNA sample. The test is marketed as being 90% accurate. Owners will receive a certificate that shows the primary breed, secondary breeds, and other breeds that are in the mix of DNA.

For more information about dog DNA testing visit Canine Heritage.

Pet Product - Home Pet Health Testing Kit

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A couple of days ago I stumbled on a unique home health screening kit for pets that can be used between vet visits for early detection of disease - ThePetCheckUp. I have never seen this type of product before and imagine that most pet owners are not aware of it either.

Petcheckup advertises that a monthly urine analysis using the kit can pick up early warning signs of diseases such as kidney disease, diabetes, kidney infections, bacterial infections, hepatitis and liver conditions. If these diseases are detected early the treatment can be much simpler and less expensive and can reduce the pain and discomfort of the pets.

This product would make a great add on product for pet care professionals to recommend or sell to their customers. Has anyone used it?

Here is an article by PetCheckup that describes development of the product and it’s benefits:

The Story of ThePetCheckupâ„¢

(How This Home Health Screen Came About)
by Bev Allen

The other day a man named Jim emailed me to say how grateful he was for ThePetCheckUp. With this home health screen, Jim was able to find a urinary imbalance in his eight-year old dog, Sammy, and get veterinary care for Sammy before the problem became serious. In his email, Jim said, “I’d be curious to know how you ever got the idea of a home health screen in the first place.” Well, I got the idea from my black cat, Oliver.

My love affair with black cats began with Oliver. Always a playful fellow, I often thought Ollie must have some pony in him, as I watched him zoom around the house. He loved to run down the stairs at full speed, leap onto a throw rug at the bottom of the stairs and sail across the floor. Evidence of his many wipeouts appeared on my newly refinished floors. Ollie made me laugh every day and taught me not to take things so seriously.

When Ollie was four years old, lab work at an annual veterinary exam detected a kidney infection. I was surprised because I thought he was perfectly healthy. He went on antibiotics and was completely cured in a couple of weeks.

I thought of myself as a caring and observant guardian to my animals, and so it was unsettling that Ollie could have a kidney infection without my noticing any changes in him. I did a little research and found that almost two thirds of all dogs and cats will have a serious illness at some time in their lives. It got me thinking.

More research turned up another disturbing fact: that a dog or cat can lose as much as 2/3 of their kidney functioning before symptoms appear! I realized that if Ollie’s kidney infection had not by chance coincided with his annual veterinary checkup, it could have become quite advanced before I noticed anything was wrong.

Everything I read emphasized that catching an illness at an early stage could make all the difference in the chances for a successful treatment. And Ollie’s veterinarian wholeheartedly agreed.

An idea came to me. What if we could use traditional urine tests at home to supplement regular veterinary exams? And not just for Ollie, but for everyone’s dogs and cats? I found that the standard urinalysis dipstick can detect imbalances that are indicators of over 12 very common illnesses. I talked with veterinarians and people who I knew to be caring pet guardians. They were enthusiastic about the concept, and I proceeded.

A fellow animal lover with a marketing background joined me. We ran focus groups and asked people: “How often do you think about your animal’s health?” I saw we were not alone in our concern for our dogs and cats when the number one answer we received was “everyday”.

I knew that testing animals at home is a new concept, and therefore people were not even looking for this product. But, those who found it were overwhelmingly supportive. Soon we were getting reports from people who used ThePetCheckUp and discovered potential imbalances, such as early stages of diabetes, kidney infections, urinary tract infections, bladder infections, and others. They were extremely grateful for the early warning ThePetCheckUp gave them—and the ability to get medical help at the most promising stage of treatment.

Sometimes we get heart-wrenching calls from people who tell stories of their animals going from what seemed to be perfect health to a life-threatening illness, almost overnight. One caller said his dog went blind from diabetes, when he’d had no idea she had it. We got another call about a cat who had been healthy and carefree a week ago, and now was fighting for his life with crystal blockage in his urinary tract.

These people wanted to know if ThePetCheckUp could have averted the extreme health problems and suffering their animals were now experiencing. There is no guarantee, of course, but if ThePetCheckUp is used monthly, as recommended, the odds are certainly high that an abnormality would have shown up on a test.

ThePetCheckUp, like any urine test, does not detect signs of every illness. While it tests for many of the most common illnesses that can affect our dogs and cats, it cannot test for heart problems, tumors, respiratory illnesses and many others. And it does not diagnose an illness. But used monthly, in addition to routine veterinary visits, it can help you know that something may be off with your pet and that he or she requires medical attention.

The length of our pet’s lives, like our own, is not guaranteed from one day to the next. One of the gifts our pets give us is showing us how to appreciate the moment. Even so, some day my pets will pass from my life. But when they do, I think I will have the peace of mind of knowing that I gave them the best care I could.

Bev Allen
http://www.thepetcheckup.com/
ThePetCheckUp—the at-home, early detection health screening kit for dogs and cats.
Now there is something you can do in your own home to help your dog or cat live a longer and healthier life.

Pet Steps - An Innovative Product for Your Pet

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Pet StepsPet Steps (aka Pet Stairs or Dog Stairs) help pets up and down from higher places such as a bed or couch. Older pets, as well as those pets with injuries or who are ill or overweight, can have trouble jumping up on beds, clearing the span of high steps, making it up onto the couch or jumping into cars.  This can be painful and could further damage arthritic joints, exacerbate health problems such as heart conditions or cause injury.  Lifting pets can also exacerbate back problems or other health problems for owners. 

Pet steps provide a safe and effective way to get up on all of those high places pets often struggle with, but make sure you choose the best steps.Pet steps should be just like a staircase in a home. What that means is they should be stable, attractive and safe. When purchasing pet steps you should think about your pets safety, as well as, other family members like children or grandchildren who might use or play on them. This is why it is important to pick quality stable pet steps that will make you to feel safe in your home.

Wooden pet steps are constructed from wood lumber and then fully carpeted. This type of step is recommended for all types of large breed dogs, but also works well for small dogs and cats. Wooden pet steps will usually hold over 200 pounds and should last a lifetime. When choosing a set of pet steps look at the quality and different options available. Wooden pet steps are offered in many colors, and can even come with storage and wheels to maneuver them around the house. Remember, extra features like storage can be beneficial for tucking away your pet’s toys, grooming aids or leash for easy reach. 

Be careful of china made plastic pet steps. Only very small dogs can use these steps and they are only 12 inches tall. Therefore the only place you can use them is next to a couch or car. They can not be used for large dogs, cats, or people. These steps are so light your pet can tip them over easily upon use. As you can imagine this frightens pets and they will be hesitant to ever use them again. Keep away from these cheap pets steps that only harm your pet. 

With pet steps a dog or cat can easily step up and down onto and off of the couch or bed or into and out of the car without jarring arthritic joints, straining a sore back or straining for breath because he or she is overweight or has a health condition.  This helps owners as well.  No more having to lift a dog or cat onto the couch and run the risk of straining a back. This is especially beneficial for elderly people who live alone with an aging or ill pet. Don’t wait any longer, purchase a set of steps today, and help your pets. 

The Best Pet Steps.  The #1 Choice for Pet Steps!    Click Here to Learn More

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