Tag: Rohit Agarwal

Another fabulous guest post from Rohit.

Three years have passed by; just like that!

In the first couple of weeks of the New Year in 2014 I received an email from Rohit Agawal asking if I would like to receive a guest post. Of course I said yes.

That started a wonderful series of guest posts coming in from Rohit.

Here is his latest.

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Five Questions to Ask Before Adopting a Dog
Dogs are like children in a broader sense and when you decide to adopt one, there are many things that you need to be responsible for. There is not much difference between adopting a dog and having a child as you will need to take responsibility for another living being by giving him the necessary care and support.

Therefore, adopting a dog is a huge decision and should not be taken on a random impulse. You need to be aware of all the pros and cons before taking your decision and a major part of estimating them involves asking yourself some important questions. To help you get ready for an important life changing decision, we have listed a couple of questions that you need to ask yourself before adopting a dog and therefore without any further ado, let us get started!

  1. Can You Afford to Buy and Maintain a Dog?

The first question that you need to add yourself is quite obvious because a dog will need constant love and support throughout its whole life. To give him the best, you will need to shell extra bucks. The expenses that are involved include adoption or buying fees, spraying (no needed if you are adopting a dog from any rescue shelter), dog food, dog accessories like collar, dog crates (you can visit this website to explore your options) etc and annual veterinarian checkups for your pet’s well being.

Additional expenses can also include monthly heartworm medicines and flea and tick prevention but these vary from dog to dog.

  1. Do you have the time?

Dogs are tactile beings and they need to be given a suitable amount of time. Young puppies without their mothers will need an extra touch and support. The amount of tactile contact is different for different breeds but all domesticated dogs do need their owner’s love and affection to survive. You would also need to dedicate some time to go on walks as a dog needs to out at least 8 hours a day. If you are busy with work the n employ dog walkers.

  1. Are you prepared to commit for a long time?

This is an important question that you need to ask yourself at every step of the process. Dogs can live up to 18 years and therefore you need to be prepared for a lifelong commitment and not change your mind after actually adopting one. Abandoned dogs are a common sight and this is even true with fancier and smaller breed that people adopt for certain reasons and wash their hands off their pets after a few years, citing reasons like job relocation, marriage etc. A dog deserves a stable home and if you can’t provide that for a long duration then it is better to not adopt.

  1. Select the Dog Breed That Suits Your Lifestyle

When you finally decide to adopt, the first thing that you need to select is the breed that you want. Now different types of breeds have different needs and wants. You need to know everything about the same before you select any breed and therefore concentrate on conducting an extensive research about the same.

Also make sure that the dog you adopt will be able to adapt to your lifestyle.

  1. Dogs get sick and are you ready to handle that?

Dogs are prone to sickness and you need to accept that you would need to shell out extra money for healthcare emergencies. It can be something simple as a weight issue or it can also be a serious condition that might require surgery. Pet insurance is a great option that dog owners can look into to cover any emergencies.

So these were some significant questions that you need to ask yourself when you adopt a dog. It might seem too much of work but the joy that a dog will bring in your life will be second to no other and I promise that you will never regret your decision if you take all the necessary steps.

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Author Bio: Rohit is a dog lover and pet enthusiast; he owns two adorable and wonderful dogs that include a German shepherd and a Labrador retriever. As work keeps him away from home, concerns arise about the safety and comfort of his pet friends, which made him try out various products that facilitate the same.

As Rohit makes so clear at the end, the joy that a dog will bring in your life will be second to none

Protecting our cats

There are some foods that are potentially very dangerous for cats.

Over two years ago I published an article that had been written by a guest. His name is Rohit Agarwal and the article that he wrote for Learning from Dogs was called Dogs and Fences. As it is likely that some readers may not have recalled Rohit’s piece and my introduction, let me repeat a part of what I said in that introduction:

I had no foreknowledge of Rohit, who described himself thus:

Author Bio: Rohit is a dog lover and pet enthusiast; he owns two adorable and wonderful dogs that include a German shepherd and a Labrador retriever. As work keeps him away from home, concerns arise about the safety and comfort of his pet friends, which made him try out various products that facilitate the same. Recently he was worried about leaving his dogs in the yard of his house and tried the underground fence for dogs, which worked great.

Rohit also made clear that he is a contributor to Petstek.com, the company behind the link in the last sentence of his bio.

Rohit’s article was well received so when he recently offered a further guest piece I had no hesitation in saying yes. Here it is.

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Six Foods Cats Should Never, Ever Eat!

cat-eating-icecream

We all are guilty of sneaking our animal family members some human food. In the case of our felines, they often sneak their own tasty treats. It is all fun and most food is generally safe for cats to eat. Unfortunately, not all of our food is considered safe for cats to consume. Here are a few foods to avoid.

Image Credits ThePixelman, CC0 1.0

Raisins

Raisins seem like a totally safe option for an animal, but unfortunately they are quite dangerous for felines. Scientists haven’t figured out the toxin, but consuming raisins can lead to sudden kidney failure in cats. This also means that grapes are off limits. If you notice that your cat has consumed either grapes or raisins, watch them closely for signs of toxicity. These signs include diarrhea, lack of appetite, lethargy, and abdominal pain. Usually, to cause death, large amounts have to be consumed, but even small amounts can lead to sickness.

Onions

Onions can potentially destroy a cat’s red blood cells which can cause a number of blood problems, such as anemia. This holds true for onions in any form, such as powdered, raw, and cooked. Onion powder can be in a multitude of food so be sure to read labels if you think you might give your feline friend a taste of dinner. Garlic is in the same family as onions, so therefore, all of this holds true for garlic in all forms. Garlic is less toxic.

Raw eggs

Humans are supposed to avoid eating raw eggs, so it make sense that our felines should avoid it as well. Eating a raw egg contains a risk of a bacterial infection which is called food poisoning. Your cat could potentially get salmonella or E.coli. Both of these infections could easily lead to death in such a small animal.

Alcohol

Now, this one might seem obvious, but cats are known for being sneaky and taking a lap of their owner’s drink. Consuming even small amounts of alcohol can lead to intoxication and alcohol poisoning. Because of their size, it can take as little as two teaspoons to do damage to their system or cause the cat to enter into a coma. More than two teaspoons can quickly lead to death.

Caffeine

Just like in canines, caffeine is not recommended for any breed of cats. In large quantities, caffeine is capable of being fatal. It is a diuretic that can lead to dehydration. Caffeine also overstimulates the heart and nervous system. If your cat consumes any, watch for signs of caffeine poisoning which includes restlessness, rapid breathing, heart palpitations, and tremors. Remember, caffeine isn’t just in coffee and soda; it is also found in tea, cold medicines and chocolate of all forms.

Chocolate is also lethal to cats, just as it is extremely dangerous for dogs. The agent in chocolate that leads to death is called theobromine. It can be found in all forms of chocolate, but it is especially dangerous in unsweetened baking chocolate. Eating chocolate can lead to tremors, an abnormal heart rhythm, seizures, and death.

Fat Trimmings and Bones

This one doesn’t seem so obvious; felines eat meat so one would assume fat trimmings would be safe. Consuming fat can lead to intestinal issues such as vomiting and diarrhea. It can also cause pancreatitis. Signs of pancreatitis include lethargy, dehydration, and loss of appetite. Sometimes, a cat can also run a fever. Avoiding bones does make more sense. Small bones can easily splinter which could cause lacerations in the stomach or choking.

If you believe that your cat has eaten any of these foods, you should watch them closely for any signs of illness. Contact your veterinarian if concerned. Prevention is key to keeping your feline friend safe.

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 Let’s keep all our lovely animals safe!

Dogs and fences.

Yet another guest post; about dog fences!

It’s fair to say that today’s guest author writes about a topic as far removed from yesterday’s eloquent post as one could imagine.  Readers will recall that yesterday’s post from Georgiana was on the subject of Man’s best Friend.  It was called Just love.

Today’s guest post is all about dog fences!  As I said very different from Georgiana’s essay.  Yet there is a link. Both guest posts are about dogs.

About a month ago, I received an email from a Rohit Agarwal offering to write “a well written and resourceful article on topic related to dogs.”  When I discovered that the article was about underground fences, I was sceptical about the value of such an essay.  Then when I read the essay it struck me as a very sensible topic; the one of keeping dogs safely within their own property.

I had no foreknowledge of Rohit, who described himself thus:

Author Bio: Rohit is a dog lover and pet enthusiast; he owns two adorable and wonderful dogs that include a German shepherd and a Labrador retriever. As work keeps him away from home, concerns arise about the safety and comfort of his pet friends, which made him try out various products that facilitate the same. Recently he was worried about leaving his dogs in the yard of his house and tried the underground fence for dogs, which worked great.

Rohit also made clear that he is a contributor to Petstek.com, the company behind the link in the last sentence of his bio.   So here is the article.

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Rohit

Five Reasons Why an Underground Fence is Right for Your Dog.

Most of us love the company of a cuddly and playful dog, as dogs are the considered to be the best pets since their very existence. While it’s great to keep the friendly and loyal canines in your house, one often needs to take care of the dog and protect them from their surroundings while still making sure that the dog gets adequate freedom within your house’s boundaries without it feeling like it has been incarcerated in a concrete prison. We all have tried using leashes, chains and cages, but we know that those methods to contain are not only old fashioned but also to a certain degree, inhuman, especially for the dog that is so friendly and loyal to you. Modern technology today has brought forth a new revolutionary technology called in-ground or underground fence for dogs.

The underground dog fence is a virtual fence which is installed using a special wire that is buried according to the perimeter you want to set for your pet. The wire is coded with signals, and a special collar is worn by the dog, as soon as the dog approaches the buried wire, the collar around its neck makes a warning signal, and as soon as the dog gets too close to the virtual fence, it receives a minor electric shock via the collar which is technically harmless to the pet. Let’s discuss the advantages of installing this system.

1. Freedom To The Dog

Well, we like to have our pets without leashes or chain bound, and we’re sure that no one gets a dog to keep it chained all the time, the underground fence not only provides the dogs adequate freedom of movement but also is more effective and ‘humane’ than chains and leashes. It’s a great solution for the busy pet owners who get a little less time to take their dogs for a walk, but one cannot keep the dog on a leash or in a cage all the time, making it an effective solution.

2. Cost Effective As Compared To Real Fencing

The underground fence for dogs is certainly more cost effective than installing a real fence, which in turn requires really expensive maintenance. Not to mention its increase in cost depending on the material you choose and the installation cost is just a cherry on top of the icing that can totally topple your budget into smithereens. To make sure your pocket doesn’t come between the relationship that you share with your dog, the underground fence is a great option to save you from the regret of ever adopting a pet.

3. A Perfect Solution For Zoning Laws

In many cities or townships there are zoning laws that prohibit you from building fences around your house. If not the laws, then many a times your beloved neighbour might not like you building huge fences around your house and is often backed by the neighbourhood associations. An underground fence for dogs is a great option to keep your loyal guard away from them nosey neighbours.

4. Protection For The Dog And The Environment

It not only keeps your dog protected from straying into places you wouldn’t want it to go, but also is a great solution to keep certain areas of the house such as pools and your wife’s kitchen garden protected and out of reach of the ever curious dogs. Especially from that trash can you don’t want your dog snooping around and creating a litter you might have to clean up. It’s also a great way to keep your neighbours who often complain about the dog strolling and littering their yard.

5. Well Hidden To Maintain The Look Of Your House

While fences might work great for some, most of the time they look ugly, especially when none of the houses in your neighbourhood have fences. The underground fence is a great solution to such a problem. It works as a virtual barrier to not only keep your pet protected from straying in the hostile outside world, but also maintain that great look of your beloved abode.

The underground pet fence with the aforementioned advantages is a great option to keep your pet safe and well contained while giving it freedom of movement which is entirely unhindered and free from any leashes, cages or visible boundaries as we all know that ‘happy pets make happy owners’.

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Thoughts from readers?