Did you know that more than one million North Americans will be bitten by dogs this year, and about one million dog bites will go unreported.

It's sad but most of the victims will be children. These dog bites will come from animals known to them. Unleashed dogs will account for most of the bites inflicted.

What Makes Dogs Bite

Not being educated and pet owners not being committed on training their pet is what leads to most of these dog bites. We must realize that dogs don't normally become a part of our families already trained.

Why Then Do Dogs Bite?

1.They will bite if scared, angry, or threatened Even a dog thats friendly will bite.

2.If he feels he's cornered or crowded.

3.They will protect what they think belongs to them. Like their food, toys.

4.Dogs will protect their space such as sleeping area, yard, porch, cars and home.

5.Dogs are predatory by nature and love to chase and attack.

6.A stray dog may feel upset being lost or hurt and bite with alot less provocation.

7.A dog being startled may lash out and bite.

How to Prevent Bites

8.Teaching young children to be careful around pets. Don't allow children to play rough or allow puppies to bite. Not even play biting.

9.Teach your children never get close to strange dogs.

10. Leave a dog's things alone like food, toys, bones, etc.

11. Most injuries are caused by getting too close to a dog's face with your own.

12. Refrain from running past a dog. They love to chase. Avoid getting a dog excited or aggressive, by yelling and screaming.

13.You never want to pet a dog that's eating, sleeping or caring for its puppies.

14. Stay away from dogs that are tied up or in cars.

15. You should always ask permission from a pet owner to pet his dog. Even if he's present and the dog's on a leash.

16. Refrain from swinging your arms or things you have at a dog. It may think its an invitation to bite.

17. You should never pet stray dogs or ones running loose.

It's great to have a dog go on a hike or walk on a trail with you but we humans need to treat dogs with respect. Just remember to teach your children how act around dogs, it will keep them safe.

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How can you recognize feline Urinary Tract Infections early on, to save your kitty needless pain, and damage to your home from her cat urine?

This article will outline the steps you can take to prevent kitty's pain from feline Urinary Tract Infection and the damage done to your home from her urine.

Possibly the single biggest cause of cats not using the litter box is a medical condition called Feline Urinary Tract Infection (UTI). It used to be called Feline Urological Syndrome (FUS), but you don't often see that term anymore.

Feline UTI can be sneaky and hidden, because your cat often may not display outward symptoms of discomfort and pain early on. It's only after your kitty feels significant pain, time and time again, that she stops using her litter box because she associates her urinary pain with the cat litter box.

This is when you sit up and take notice, since there's nothing like a smelly puddle of cat urine on your beautiful floor or furniture to get your attention!

However, there are a few signs you should be on the lookout for. While none of us really want to watch our kitty use the litter box, it's a good idea to observe her a couple times a week. This way, you can separate normal litter box behavior and habits from those that indicate something is not quite right.

By knowing what is normal for your kitty, you can stop health problems before they manifest themselves into cat urine odor puddles and stains around your home, create immense frustration for you trying to figure out what's wrong, and spend needless time spent cleaning your house after every episode.

And what are we looking for?

First, we are looking to see if our cat cries or howls in obvious pain while she's urinating. If this is the case, run, don't walk to the phone, and call your vet immediately!

Next, even if kitty does her business in silence, look at the urine ball (or puddle) before she buries it. If you see any tinge of red or pink - get your cat to the vet as fast as you can, because she definitely has a UTI in full bloom.

This was how I finally figured out the root cause of Scout not using her box. I just happened to see her use the box to urinate, and I was so happy, I decided to scoop the urine ball immediately, to keep her box clean. The urine ball was reddish in some spots. I called the vet right then and there, and while I didn't know it at the time, I had finally found the source of Scout's discomfort with her litter boxes!

NOTE: If your cat stops using the litter box, but you find her squatting in either the bathroom sink or tub, you can easily see the color(s) of her urine - lucky you!

Why is this lucky?

- Because your cat's urine will show up brightly against the porcelain;

- It's easy to clean up;

- She has the right room and idea, but the wrong appliance!

Here's another clue your kitty will give you:

After she uses the box and covers her business, if she licks her genitals excessively, and meows, you can be pretty sure she has a feline UTI. So, it's time for a consultation with your friendly neighborhood vet, and some testing to determine if a UTI is haunting your kitty. Particularly if you see this behavior coupled with “accidents” around the house, you can be pretty certain the vet will conclude kitty has a UTI.

Taking a few minutes out of your schedule each week, watching your kitty use the box, and quickly analyzing her urine production can save you a lot of heartache and puzzlement down the road.

And, by evaluating her behavior in the litter box, you're saving kitty lots of pain and agony from a feline UTI. You're also saving time and money by not having to seek out and clean up multiple cat urine spots on your floors and furniture.

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One of the most common causes of Feline Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD) is what your cat eats. A feline diet that is too high in carbohydrates and magnesium, and low in protein can lead to FLUTD. When their cat is initially diagnosed with FLUTD, feline owners will usually first try to get their kitty to eat the prescription food recommended by their vet.

But what if the cat rejects their offering? As an alternative, there are specific, non-prescription cat foods available to maintain your cat's urine pH balance at 6.6. A high urine pH value indicates struvite crystal formation in your cat's urinary tract. The challenge is to find the right cat food that appeals to kitty, contains the proper amount of protein and magnesium, and has few or no by-products.

If you turn out to be one of those owners who has to find an alternative cat food, then here's five things to evaluate when selecting cat food to prevent future FLUTD occurrences in your kitty:

1. What's the Most Common Ingredient?

The first and most common ingredient that should be listed is protein - meat or fish. Read the label carefully - here's some variations you could see:

Canned cat food:

Beef
Chicken Liver
Deboned Chicken
Beef Broth

Dry cat food:

Chicken
Organic Chicken
Herring Meal
Chicken Meal

Some other good ingredients that will help your kitty maintain good urinary tract health are blueberries and cranberries. Vegetables such as carrots are good, and rice is a good grain
for your kitty to consume.

2. Are There Any By-Products?

Are by-products listed as one of the ingredients? If so, put that food back on the shelf and keep looking. By-products are filler material, and have limited nutritional value for your kitty. By-products are typically carbohydrates, and since cats are carnivores, they need protein, not carbs, for proper nutrition.

Here are some examples of by-products:

Canned cat food:

Corn gluten meal
Ground yellow corn
Soybean meal
Beef By-Products
Meat By-Products

Dry cat food:

Ground Yellow Corn
Chicken By-Product Meal
Corn Gluten Meal
Wheat flour
Corn Meal
Soy flour

3. How Much Moisture Is In the Cat Food?

What's the percentage of moisture in the cat food you're evaluating? The higher the number, the better for your kitty. More moisture means your cat will urinate more. Increased urination will flush out any crystals that may be trying to form in your cat's urinary tract. Canned cat food has a higher moisture content than dry.

4. How Much Magnesium Does the Cat Food Contain?

An excess of magnesium will contribute to struvite crystal formation (FLUTD). Some magnesium is necessary, but generally look for cat food that has a maximum of 0.025% magnesium to prevent struvite crystals.

5. Does the Cat Food Contain DL-Methionine?

DL-Methionine is an amino acid with sulfur, which helps regulate ammonia formation in urine. This amino acid helps maintain your cat's urine pH balance around 6.6, which is normal and does not encourage crystal formation.

And…since cats are cats (which means they are in charge!), be aware that what you select for them may not be what they want to eat, if they don't like the taste. If this happens, you'll need to start over again until you find a wholesome, nutritious cat food that merits two paws up from your feline!

Keep these five factors in mind when shopping for cat food to maintain your kitty's urinary tract and prevent FLUTD.

And remember, when you're considering changing your cat's diet, consult with your vet. She or he will give you expert guidance and information to make the transition easier for you and your kitty.

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Basic Needs — All puppies will need a water bowl, a food bowl, and a place to sleep. Some pet owners get automatic feeders and water dispensers for the convenience. For sleeping, there are various sized doggie beds and crates. Many people crate train their dogs for sleeping and while the owner is away from home.

Play Time — Pets need exercise. You should walk your dog once a day if possible. You will need a collar, a leash, and some disposable plastic bags to take with you to clean up any unsightly messes. A good leash to use is the retractable type. Also included in play time are toys, toys, and more toys. A good game of fetch is a great way to get exercise.

Health — All new puppies need to be taken to a good vet. They need shots and heartworm medicine.

Training — A good way to train your dog is to get a good book on the subject. Also needed are small treats that you can keep in a pocket while training. Dogs live for treats!

A puppy can be a lot of fun and will give you a ton of love over time. So be sure to have on hand all the things you'll need for your puppy to be happy healthy, and secure in its surroundings.

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Just like parents often put poisonous things into a baby