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Heart disease is one of the most frequently seen problems in dogs. Different diseases involving the heart valves or heart muscle can lead to heart failure. Mitral insufficiency is by far the most common type of heart disease seen in dogs.

Mitral insufficiency involves the heart valve that separates chambers in the heart. If this valve becomes diseased and fails to close properly, blood is allowed to flow backward, which reduces blood flow forcing the heart to work harder to keep up with the body’s demand for blood. This over working of the hart eventually leads to premature heart failure.

This disease can result from normal wear and tear associated with age, or it can appear secondary to other diseases, normally periodontal disease. Bacteria from the diseased teeth and gums can enter the blood stream and attach to the heart valve, setting up infection and inflammation. Over time, the heart valve becomes damaged and scarred, making it unable to function properly. The end result is heart failure.

The clinical signs associated with a failing heart include coughing, especially at night and after exercise, breathing difficulties, distended abdomen, weight loss, and exercise intolerance. Your veterinarian can diagnose heart disease by x-rays and electrocardiogram.

Many forms of heart disease are accompanied by heart murmurs. A heart murmur is nothing more than an irregular sound caused by the disruption of normal blood flow within the heart. Heart murmurs are usually classified according to their intensity as heard by a stethoscope. Your veterinarian can identify which portion of the heart is affected by pinpointing the area on the dog’s chest where the murmur is the loudest.

Unfortunately, most cases of heart disease are nonreversible. The treatment for any dog suffering from such is to create an environment that relieves some of the workload on the heart. Special diets and medications can be used to improve the quality of life and extend the animal’s life expectancy. Early detection is the key here. At the first sign of clinical problems mentioned earlier you should get the dog to a veterinarian as soon as possible.

Randy Jones and his partner Brent Jones have been in the pet industry for a long time. Recently they formed http://Joncopets.com. On the site, customers can shop for the latest leather dog collars, small dog clothes, pet supplies and more. Check them out at http://www.joncopets.com.

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A custom pet portrait will hold a special place in the heart of the person who receives it. It is a loving gift that will create memories to last a lifetime. Whether it is of a current pet or of one who has passed away, a custom pet portrait can be given as a unique gift to commemorate any occasion.

Unique Gift Ideas

Commissioning a custom pet portrait is a great birthday gift idea and would make a unique Christmas gift. Something with the special meaning that is enclosed in a pet portrait would even work for smaller occasions such as a housewarming gift. If someone you care about have a much-loved pet in their lives, it may be worth the effort and expense to have an oil painting made from a photo of that pet.

Painting from a Photo

Almost any pet photo is able to be translated into an oil painting. A simple snapshot may be good enough, but be sure that it is clear and does not have a lot of background distractions. Another idea would be to have a professional photo taken and use that for the oil painting portrait.

While many artists are capable of rendering an oil painting from a photo, its important to choose an artist who is well-verse in painting pets. An oil painting on canvas is able to be produced by many artists; however, there are many artists who specialize specifically in custom pet portraits. A professional painter whose specialty is painting pets will be able to capture the true likeness, expressions and personality of a much-loved pet. This is important as a custom pet portrait will be cherished for many years by the person who receives it.

Add Spice to your Gift

As part of a great Christmas gift idea, an artist may be able to manipulate the background and include seasonal elements such as a tree or themed decorations or even add specialty items to the pet itself, such as a small hat. Before choosing a particular artist to render an oil painting from a photo of a pet, take a look at their portfolio of work to see what else they have done and how you feel it has turned out.

A canvas oil painting is a classy way to present a timeless gift that the received will always remember. Whether it is used as a birthday gift idea or for another occasion, the effort and expense will be worth being able to give a gift that will be cherished and loved by someone you care for. It will speak volumes about not only your feelings for them, but also show that you understand their love for their pet.

Allan Holder is the founder and owner of http://www.mypicturepainter.com which is a site dedicated to the revival of the lost art of portrait painting. In today’s fast paced world, sitting for a portrait painting is simply not practical. We allows the user to submit a photo to our network of talented artists who will paint a personal oil painting from your photo.

If you are among the people who are really passionate about traveling, have you been really thinking about enjoying it cost-effectively? Or you just prepare the money to get all the luxurious pleasure no matter how much it will be?

Well, you probably do have a lot of money, but it’s not really a bad thing if you could save more yet still have the enjoyment you’ve been dreaming of. It is true. You have the same excitement yet with spending less money that you’ve calculated before. How do you do it?

Here are 5 top tips you should take into account

1. Find out alternate routes to your destination.

Sometimes, a combination of two flights is cheaper than one flight. Or, you can also say that the direct route is not always the cheapest. For example, if you’re planning to go overseas, it will be much cheaper if you’re willing to make a domestic flight first prior to switching to an international one.

2. Reduce the food costs during your trip by shopping in local supermarkets rather than dining out.

You can buy some healthy snacks and fresh food from a market to eat during your outings. It is a far better idea instead of stopping for lunch at a touristy restaurant. However, if you still want to dine out, it’s best to do it on truly local cuisine. Besides you’ll save a lot of money, you’ll experience a more interesting cultural atmosphere and get much cheaper local food.

3. Look into renting an apartment.

That’s what you should do if you’re planning to stay long in the place you go to. Why? Because it is usually much cheaper than even the cheapest of hotels. Another advantage is that you will be able to cook in the apartment.

4. Make your trip much more affordable by being flexible.

This is probably the most important concept overall in terms of discount travel. If you can be flexible and open to new things in regards to your destinations, you have the opportunity of taking whichever is cheap. Thus, you will often save lots of money.

Here is one example: You’re going to South America, where rum will be incredibly cheap and other types of alcohol will be fairly pricey. You don’t really like rum, but in this situation, you do when you’re in the country.

5. Consider the value of staying put for a while.

Traveling doesn’t always mean the flight to your destination. You will not only have huge savings on transportation and accommodation, but also take pleasure in far more exciting and valuable occasions and experiences.

Of course it is very tempting to try and see as much as possible in a foreign country by constantly moving. But, it’s dubious that you will also get a good sense of what the country is like. If you’re willing to stay for a while, for instance by renting an apartment for a few weeks in a particular city, you can experience the culture a bit more, meet and indulge with some locals, dine in local restaurants, and of course, save more money.

So, have you decided where you want to go now? Have you checked out the flights and the prices? Hope you enjoy your traveling!

Adwina Jackson is a working mother of a gorgeous young boy. Join her free e-mail guides about Easy Discount Travel Tips at http://insparenting.com/reports/discount-travel.php. Visit her daily blog now where you can get helpful parenting stories and tips on: http://www.insparenting.com

Buying a car is an expensive thing. But, does it have to be? There are a number of things that you can do to get the car that you want for much less. Simple and a bit more complex, these tips will help you to save money in the long run. Buying a car can be affordable.

Here are five tips for saving money on your next car purchase.

1.Get your financing in order before you leave to look at cars. While many car dealerships are offering financing for vehicles, this can be one of the more costly options. Make sure you talk to online financing companies, your local bank and your credit union. You probably will save a good amount of money here.

2.Do the down payment. Even a bit of a down payment can help you to save considerably down the road. You can save a good deal of money if you invest wisely. But, adding a bit of a down payment to the purchase will help to lower the amount of principal that you actually owe on that vehicle purchase.

3.If your credit is bad, get a co signer. Having someone else that can help you to get your car is a great way to secure a vehicle for a more affordable price. This helps to lower the amount of risk that you present to the car financer. The lower the amount of risk you prove to be, the better your chances of paying less for that car.

4.Trade-ins are good too. If you have a car that you plan to trade in, you may be able to get a good price for it. To improve the amount you get, make sure that the car is as clean as possible, is running well and has been taken care of. In addition to this, make sure that you know the value of it by looking it up on the web. Know what its worth so you do not get taken. The value of the trade in will lower the amount you have to have financed on your vehicle.

5.Shop around and haggle. There is no shame in saving money. Dealers are selling cars to make a commission. How much will they make off of you? Do your homework out the type of car you are looking for and know its worth. Look at several dealerships to find the right car at the right price. Don’t forget to haggle with the dealership salesmen. But, whatever you do, do not be insulting to them. That’s the wrong way to get your price down.

Take these five ways to save on the next time you buy a car and you will walk way with the benefits that you deserve. You can save a good amount of financing and interest charges this way.

Michael Lewis writes for http://www.actualcars.com/ where you can find more articles about collecting and rebuilding cars.

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Are you a biking enthusiast? If you are, then you probably know how problematic buying the perfect mountain bike can be. If you are a newbie and wish to buy your very first mountain bike, you have to be prepared for a tough hunt. You should never settle for anything less than satisfactory. If it is anything to go by, you should settle for the best there is in the market. Quality and price do come hand in hand, however, and it is a reality that we all have a specific budget range. But that is of little consequence. There are so many quality mountain bikes that you can afford. It’s a matter of looking for the best deals.

First thing to consider when buying a mountain bike is your budget. Do some research on the different price levels of available mountain bikes. You need not go inside every sporting goods store to compare prices. The internet will do just fine, maybe even better, as there are countless of online stores and biking websites from which you may get the information you need. When you have an estimate of how much a mountain bike costs, you can set out and begin looking for the bike that you want. Here’s a little tip - try buying from a local community sporting goods or bike shop. The prices are considerably lower than those from mass merchant stores like Wal-Mart.

What is your style? Mountain bikes are manufactured differently from one another. The reason for this is that there are different specifications and requirements on mountain bikes depending on your riding style and the terrain types that you will be conquering. Among the different styles of biking are - smooth riding, cross country racing, mountain cruising, or lift accessed downhill. You need to know which of these styles you will be embarking on. This is very important in finding out the right mountain bike for you. Here’s another tip - salespeople are in it for the commission. Don’t listen to their tiny voices which say you need to buy this or that bike because they are top of the line. Buy according to your needs and style.

There is another very important point that you need to consider when buying a mountain bike. Full suspension or hard tail? To be honest, a full suspension mountain bike is the best choice. That is, if you can afford it. However you can still choose a hard tail. If you opt for the hard tail, which means the bike has no rear suspension, the bike will be much lighter and pedal more efficiently. Full suspensions are of course the most comfortable. However, since there is a satisfactory alternative in the presence of the hard tail, this decision will be based on what you really want and what your budget is.

Don’t forget to take the bike for a test ride. Try testing out several different bikes, so you will be sure which one works best for you and with you. Also, try checking out seasonal sales and promos. This way, you will be able to save some money and afford the best possible mountain bike within your price range.

I hope that this little guide was able to help you. With the tips given, I am sure that you and your new bike will work together for that ultimate mountain biking adventure.

Luke Cameron is owner of Sports Blog Inc - an online magazine offering news, tips and articles on Sport related topics. His website can be found at: http://www.sportsbloginc.com and http://www.fitnesscubicle.com.

I know we all speed - well almost all - from time to time, but we all know speeding is illegal. We may not thinks the speed limits are right - after all, most were introduced when cars didn’t have ABS or the good tires and systems we have now.

Even so, speeding is illegal and get you into hot water if you keep doing it. But here is a way of getting out of trouble.

You see, you can’t always beat the speeding ticket, but you may be able to reduce the consequences. But remember this:

If you keep getting tickets in some territories you will lose your licence for 3 or 6 months, a year or even longer. In places where they take speeding very seriously, repeated offenders can even go to jail.

The risk of going to jail for just going too fast several times should be enough to stop you speeding on the road - if you must speed then you need to do it on a track. But that won’t help with your speeding ticket.

Don’t go to jail - beat the speeding ticket by going to school

One secret way of avoiding the speeding ticket is to attend a driving school - or a speed awareness course as they call it in the UK. When you get your ticket you plead “not guilty” and appear in court.

If this is not your first offence, consult a specialist first, and you may want to be represented by a lawyer. Lawyers who specialize in the area of traffic offenses understand the importance of a driver’s licence and will work hard to not only make certain that you keep your licence but will also work hard to keep you out of jail.

In this case, the lawyer will explain that you want to improve your driving skills so that you can drive safely without speeding. To do so, you are willing to attend a special driving school. The judge will see this as a sign of good faith on behalf of the motorist.

It shows you understand that your driving skills are lacking and time with a certified driving instructor explaining the basics of driving will work towards improving your speeding problem. Because you will spend time not just in the classroom absorbing the basics of driving and time driving with an instructor, the judge might be convinced that you are trying to reform your bad habits.

If the judge agrees, you will spend several hours studying in a classroom with others. Then, you will take part in in-car training with a qualified instruction. There you will be given the skills you need to safely operate a motor vehicle including instruction on maintaining the legal and safe speed.

After you have completed a written and a practical test your results are sent to the court. If you fail any part of the course, you will have to appear again in court to face sentencing. If you pass, their lawyer may request that the last ticket be dismissed. That will improve your record and reduce your car insurance premiums.

You will then be expected to continue driving as you did with the instructor, which is safe and below the legal speed limit. Make sure you pass the tests, and do not take them lightly, as this is a good way of beating a speeding ticket.

John Hartley is editor of http://www.endspeedingtickets.com, a website designed ti help you avoid speeding tickets. He has written from many of the world’s top auto magazines, and has written many books about cars and the auto industry, including ‘Suspension and Steering Q&A’ and ‘The Electronics Revolution in the Motor Industry’.

Dog earrings are well loved by all dog lovers. If you are looking for a gift to get that dog lover in your life, you should give her earrings with dogs on them. If you can find earrings with a dog on them that looks like a dog she has, all the better. She will love getting them as a gift, and will love wearing them as well. As you know, there are many styles of dog earrings that you will find. Below are the most popular ones.

1. Dalmatian Dogs
Any dog lover would love dog earrings with Dalmatian dogs on them. The dogs from the Dalmatian movie are all so cute. Every time you put them on, you will think of the movie and wonder what you would do with 101 Dalmatians yourself. You will absolutely love wearing dalmatian earrings, and showing them off as well.

2. Sweet Dog Faces
There are so many different kinds of dog earrings with dog faces on them. Most of these earrings are hand made and really cute. Some are made from glass beads that are painted to look like the face of a dog. You will find that most are painted with a puff paint for their features, as this makes them really stand out. This style of earring with dogs on them, can either dangle or you will also find them in the stud style. Any little girl that loves dogs would love wearing a pair as well.

3. Adorable Front and Back Dogs
You will find that there are some really cute front and back dog earrings on the market for you to choose from. On one ear will hang the front of the dog and on the other ear will be the back of the dog. It looks as if the dog is coming on one side and going on the other side. These are really adorable earrings that every dog lover will love to wear.

4. Boxer Dogs
Who does not love boxer dog earrings? Well, any dog lover would love these earrings, and enjoy wearing them all of the time. A boxer dog has a distinguished nose that you can tell is a boxer on the earrings. The nose of this dog will give away that you love all boxer dogs as well when you wear these earrings.

5. Whole Dogs
While you are shopping for dog earrings, you might even come across a pair of whole dogs. These are adorable little earrings. The head of the dog will go through the hole in the front of your ear, while the body of the dog is attached to the back of the earring that you close it with. This will then make a whole dog that will look just adorable and any dog lover will love wearing these earrings.

6. Bull Dogs
Anyone that loves dog earrings will love the bull dogs as well. These bull dogs that are seen on earrings look so much like a real bull dog, you might think that it is. They are such cute dog lover earrings and you are going to love wearing them or giving them as a gift.

As you can see, there are many styles of dog earrings to choose from. You should have no problem finding earrings with dogs on them that you will love to wear and wear all of the time. Many jewelry stores will sell earrings with dogs on them as well, and you will have such fun wearing them and showing the world how much you love dogs.
Laci Gerveler has been in the fashion industry for more than 20 years and has recognized several trends in the jewelry industry. She has recently decided to write about the many different earrings that can be found at her website, http://www.earwears.com and offer information for potential buyers.

Are you a public speaker who thinks it’s hard to find speaking audiences? Or are you a relatively new speaker or wannabe who finds it hard to get started? Perhaps you are in a services business and want to add speaking to your marketing to grow your business. Or you might be looking to add another revenue stream. Don’t let finding your speaking audience keep you from sharing your message.

Imagine walking into a room filled with your target market. Here’s a key to reaching more people so they can hear you and hire you. And the good news is, the same key ingredient is also the secret to your success at marketing yourself as a service provider.

THE SECRET HAS TWO PARTS: You need to know your WHO and your WHAT. First, get clear on your target market audience, or your WHO. This is who you serve.

Second, determine the outcomes you deliver, or your WHAT. This is what you do for this population of people.

Sounds pretty simple, right? And yet I’m one of hundreds or thousands who resisted narrowing my target audience and niche for a long time; years. I didn’t want to exclude anyone and, as a new business owner, I didn’t want to turn people away and I would happily work with anyone so I started making money! The surprise, which might seem counter-intuitive, is that choosing a narrow market and specialty is THE best step to market your business, get invited to speak, and to receive referrals.

WHO YOU SERVE. Think of a population of people who you enjoy being around, care about, and whose problems you are familiar with. Consider with whom you have an affinity and the problems they typically have that you enjoy solving. Think in terms of their demographics; age, gender, profession, level of education, location, interests. Examples: women dentists, mid-life women, divorced fathers, first-time home buyers, single professional women, young male lawyers in their first 2 years of practice.

WHAT YOU DO. Now that you have identified a sub-group of people with some characteristics in common, what problems or complaints do they share? Think in terms of outcomes. What results do people have after they’ve worked with you? What problems do you solve? EXAMPLES: Going back to our sample target markets above, you might help women dentists get more clients or help mid-life women build a first-time business or plan for their retirement activities or retirement finances.

WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT? Generally, in terms of marketing, once you can identify a sub-population of people, you can begin to figure out where they “hang out.” As a speaker, this also helps you find your speaking audience! Does an association exist for these people? Is there a specialty sub-group in the Chamber of Commerce for this population? Perhaps they read the same publications and hear speakers in an organized setting. This is a great avenue for you to publish articles they might read and to get invited to speak at their meetings.

Knowing WHAT you do for your audience also helps you prepare to speak by handing you your topic! By knowing the minds of the people in your speaking audience, you also know the problems they have in common and can provide them with answers, resources and a taste of what it’s like to work with you.

TAKE THE NEXT STEP. It’s time for you to get in action to find your speaking audience. Ask yourself the questions above to see who you have the strongest desire to work with. You can also make a quick review of your past and current clients, find your favorites, and then observe all their identifying characteristics, both demographic and by personality and behavior. Notice any patterns? Make a choice and claim your target market so you can find your speaking audience. They are waiting to find you, hear you and hire you!

Gail Sussman Miller teaches women soloprenuers and corporate teams how to love business obstacles (like speaking) and overcome them with greater ease, less stress and more success. Hear a free teleclass on the topic of this article and other offers at http://www.howtolovespeaking.com.

“Thank you so much for making Toyota number one,” the chairman of Toyota, Fujio Cho, said to Richard Wagoner, the CEO of General Motors, and leaned across the conference table to shake his hand.

“Think nothing of it,” Mr. Wagoner replied, obliging the Japanese exec. “The credit belongs entirely to you and your quality-obsessed company.”

“No, no,” the Japanese CEO insisted. “We could never have done it without your reliable incompetence.”

“On the contrary, sir,” the GM CEO replied, eyeing the other American and Japanese executives arrayed around the conference table, “the credit is entirely due to your astonishing competence. After all, you and your company have figured out how to make cars people actually want to buy - form and function, attractively combined.”

“Yes, I think that’s true,” the CEO of Toyota conceded.

“And you’ve figured out how to make cars that are legendarily reliable,” Wagoner went on.

“Yes, I must also agree with that.”

“Then how is it possible that you are thanking me for helping to make you number one?” Mr. Wagoner wanted to know. “I do not deserve any of the credit whatsoever!”

“But, don’t you see, Mr. Wagoner? We owe our success to the fact that you have not quite figured out how to make cars that people actually want to buy!”

“We’re working on it,” the CEO of GM replied.

“And have you figured out how to make legendarily reliable cars?”

“We’re also working on that.”

“May I ask if you have been successful at either endeavor?”

“I said we’re working on getting there.”

“But, Mr. Wagoner, how is it possible that after all these years of making cars you are still working on two such important objectives? Of course, I am not referring to you and your highly competent current executives, but only to your predecessors, and I am sure you will do much better.”

“Thank you. I’ll tell you why we’re having a difficulty or two. Your company came along, Mr. Cho, and set the bar higher than it was.”

“We did?

“I insist. Much higher.”

“And how were we able to set it higher?”

“You tell me.”

“Because you set it so wonderfully low.”

“We did?”

“What other explanation can there be, Mr. Wagoner? And now you are struggling to catch up, which, if I may be frank, is another way of saying you have failed to do so.”

“But -”

“- I beg your forgiveness, my distinguished friend, but if that isn’t incompetence, I don’t know what is. Of course, as I said, not your incompetence, only that of your predecessors. Yet, if I may be so bold, please, accept my gratitude.”

Tom Attea, humorist and creator of http://NewsLaugh.com, has had six shows produced Off-Broadway. Critics have called his writing “delightfully funny,” “witty,” with “good, genuine laughs” and “great humor and ebullience.”

Dating on the internet can sometimes become tedious, and understanding how to resolve conflicts is of crucial importance. If you notice that your partner is not answering your emails, you should automatically terminate the date and move on to someone else. Failing to answer emails is rude unless they have a good reason for doing so. Lying is also a common problem for people who are dating.

To understand the concept of lying, you must first understand why people lie on dates. Many people lie in order to avoid what they see as being a potential conflict. For example, you may ask your date a question, and they may give you the answer that they think you want to hear instead of what they honestly think. This is problematic, because these people are creating false impressions. They are attempting to make you think they agree with you so that you will like them. However, their actions will eventually speak louder than their words. Being up front and letting you know they don’t agree with you will show that they are honest.

Another reason why people lie is to avoid making changes to their lifestyle or behavior. However, by doing this, they are breaking one of the most important rules of dating, and this rule is to be yourself. When you lie to your partner so that you can avoid having to make changes to your life, you are being unfair to them, and you are being unfair to yourself. You are being unfair to your partner because you are deceiving them, making them think you’re someone you’re not. No matter how hard you try, your true colors will eventually come forth. You are also being unfair to yourself because you are trying to play a role that does not reflect your true personality.

A lot of people believe that lying or deception will allow them to avoid conflicts in their relationship. However, it will only make things worse in the long run, especially if you should decide to get married. A person that is telling the truth will have consistency in the things they say, while a liar will constantly have inconsistencies, and will need to cover up one lie with another.

Ron Zvagelsky has a degree in Business Administration from the University of Southern California. He graduated Magna Cum Laude in May 2006. He is currently the Chief Executive Officer of PlanJam — a new interactive planning website for relationship advice.

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