The Rewards For Caring for a Pet Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Rewards For Caring for a Pet - Essay Example Having a dog as a pet is a big responsibility and requires that the owner give as much to the pet as they expect in return. A dog can't get to the doctor, shop for dog food, or open the door to go outside. The well cared for dog needs a human's attention on a regular basis. The rewards that are gained from a happy and healthy dog come from giving your dog the proper care and treatment that they need. The care for any new dog in the household begins when the puppy is just a few weeks old and lays a foundation for its future good health. As a puppy, the first trip outside the home will probably be to visit a veterinarian to get the preventative care that they need to stay healthy. The veterinarian will typically give the dog a series of shots that prevent the dog from acquiring such illnesses as distemper and rabies. This will usually be followed up at a later date by the second series of booster shots, including de-worming, that ensures that the dog will have a lifetime of immunity to the diseases that most commonly afflict dogs. These initial vet visits will be augmented throughout the life of the dog by ongoing treatments for other threats to a dog's health. The veterinarian gives the dog the first line of defense against the major canine ailments, but it is up to the owner to provide regular and ongoing treatment for additional problems that face the dog. The veterinarian can give the dog a pill that kills any existing worms and will need to work with the owner to maintain a regimen of ongoing treatment to eliminate the possibility of a lethal case of heartworms (Crans). In addition, a dog can be subject to fleas, mites, skin conditions, and ear infections that may require additional treatment. The owner needs to regularly observe the animal for signs of unusual scratching or behavior that might indicate a health problem. There are many products such as flea collars, pills, and drops that provide lasting prevention for fleas and ticks (Potter). In addition, the dog's ears require regular cleaning and many other conditions can be attended to with over the counter medicines or with the help of a veterinarian. A dog that is in good health will have a healthy appetite and it is essential to maintain a proper diet to make a happy dog. While many dogs enjoy people food, it can be a recipe for bad health. A steady diet of table scraps is usually not well balanced in terms of the fat and protein that fit the special needs of a dog. Improper feeding or overfeeding can cause a dog to become overweight and places undue strain on the dog's well being. The dog's diet should reflect the proper mix of protein, fat, carbohydrates, and vitamins. The dog's veterinarian, or reliable Internet information, can recommend good food or provide the nutrient requirements that are required for a healthy dog. Dog owners can usually do very well if they buy a high-quality dry dog food and add some meat broth, leftover vegetables, or lean meat scraps (Building a Balanced Diet). In addition to eating the correct food, it is important to not overfeed the dog. Some dogs may eat until the food is gone and the quantities will need to be monitored. The correct amounts are printed on all dog food packaging to make the owner's job easy. Following these simple steps will result in a dog that is fit and trim.

Test for Effectiveness of Appetite-Reducing Drug Essay

Test for Effectiveness of Appetite-Reducing Drug - Essay Example Describe the four different threats to internal validity [intact groups, extraneous variables, subject loss, and expectancies]. How do these threats apply to the following study? There are four threats to internal validity in experiments. The assignment of intact groups, rather than individuals, compromises the randomness of the sample and therefore skews the results. The presence of extraneous variables confounds the findings and renders them uninterpretable. Subject loss due to any one particular condition more than others renders some subjects unable to continue. Finally expectations held by either the subjects or experimenters, or both, tend to affect their conduct during the experiment which may affect the results. Internal validity is compromised in this experiment. The biggest threat to the experiment’s internal validity is the presence of expectations of the experimenter which may create a bias in the results obtained. In the given situation, the experimenter is not bl ind as to who among the students are given the placebo, the tested drug, and the new experimental drug. While it is mentioned that the experimenter is determined to remain unbiased, this is not enough as psychological bias may be unintended but nevertheless present in the results. External validity does not seem to be an issue here, because the sample chosen was randomly selected and therefore may be assumed to represent the relevant population of KU students. Also, since all groups are given the same examination that covers the contents of the full ten week course, and no other variable had been varied except the test variable (the experimental drug), then chance variables... The objective of the experiment to be designed should determine whether or not the experimental drug is effective in reducing the appetite of the individual ingesting it. Â   The procedure would involve administering the drug to the test group and monitoring the progress in the food consumption (proxied by the relative change in weight of the subjects) Â  of the test group against a control group. Â  In order for the control group to be blind to which group they belonged, they will be given placebos which are known to have no effects on the appetite. The experimental method to be used would be the independent group design, the alternative to the repeated measures design group. Â  Repeated measures design is not applicable to this assignment because for repeated measures, the same subjects repeatedly undergo all the procedures at intervals, and reactions to the test condition are observed when the condition is applied and when it is withdrawn. Â  This will not do because the succ essful administration of the drug would presumably include a weight loss, and repeated treatment (to reduce appetite) may reasonably cause a drop in weight. The loss in weight would be a permanent change to the subject, whether as a result of the treatment or not, and withdrawal of the treatment does not necessarily cause a reversal to pre-treatment conditions. It therefore defies the reason for the alternate application and removal of treatment. Â  Furthermore, it is ethically questionable to withdraw a treatment.