Posted on June 15, 2013 by | Leave a comment

Ah, it’s summertime, a chance for dog owners to enjoy the great outdoors with their dogs. Although I have always enjoyed going to dog parks with my dogs, I’ve recently read some cautionary tales I thought I would share with you.

According to Dr. Susan Nelson, a clinical associate professor at KansasStateUniversity’s VeterinaryHealthCenter, you need to be aware that dog parks can be a breeding ground for germs, bacteria and parasites found not only in the soil but the air as well. She suggests making sure your dog is properly vaccinated before venturing to a dog park. Additionally, if there is a large number of dogs socializing, kennel cough can be another hazard.

Dog parks can indeed be a cesspool of disease if dog owners bring dogs with fleas, ticks or dogs that are not vaccinated.

Here’s some tips from Bark Busters top keep your dog healthier:

  • Always bring your own source of water – never let your dog drink out of a communal water bowl where bacteria could be present that contributes to giardia.
  • Never let your dog out of your sight. Don’t think of a dog park as a canine babysitter. You never know when the pack mentality can kick in, causing your dog to end up on the receiving end of a dog fight.  Small dogs can be at a distinct disadvantage of there are too many big dogs around. Dog owners still need to watch and understand their dog and his body language so that they can head off any altercations that may be brewing.
  • Always pick up after your dog. Bring extra plastic bags for the waste.
  • Follow the dog park rules. Some parks have segregated places for small versus large dogs. Other parks may only allow spayed or neutered dogs.
  • Go to the dog park off-hours when there is not so many dogs around.

Although dog parks can be great fun for your dog, there can be risks involved. Any time you have a group of dogs together there is a risk of injury. By keeping a close watch on your dog, you can interrupt anything you don’t like before it becomes a problem. The main thing is you want your dog to have a safe experience.

Additionally, not all dogs are dog park dogs. No worries, there are plenty of other outdoor activities you and your dog can do together.

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Are You A Step Mom To A Dog?

Posted on June 7, 2013 by | Leave a comment

Being a step mom to children can be challenging. Blending families is never easy, especially when you have lived as two separate families for so many years. There’s always jealousy, fighting and the occasional screeching “you’re not my Mother!”

When I married my second husband, I expected to have issues with the kids as we moved into his house. What I didn’t anticipate was there would be problems with the dogs! I have a maltese (Prince) and he has two large Labradors (Buddy and Oscar). I like little dogs and my husband  likes big dogs. So Prince had to adjust not only to a new environment, but to having step dog siblings as well. He was used to being an only child, so you can imagine the behavioral issues that arose.

Believe me, it was chaos and somewhere along the way, we lost control of the situation.

Suddenly, Buddy became very aggressive and would just growl at Prince.. This led Prince to cower and then poop in the house. And if that wasn’t bad enough, Oscar took to chewing our brand new leather sofa. The Brady Bunch we definitely weren’t.

Bedtime was even worse. My husband and I decided that even though the dogs slept with us when we were single, three dogs in a bed was three too many. So we strategically set up their beds in different room and closed our bedroom door … then the howling began!

If my kids were having adjustment issues, I would take them to a counselor, so I figured hiring a doggie therapist was the best thing to do.

And I was right.

The Bark Busters behavioral therapist came to our house where most of the issues were occurring. They worked with our whole family on our vocal commands (how we talked to the dogs) and our body language. We found out that our constant attempts to just scream “no” was ineffective! They gave us a plan of action and we followed it daily. It was relatively easy and more importantly it worked! Prince stopped pooping in the house, Oscar stopped his incessant chewing and Buddy stopped barking at Prince.

Peace was restored in our household.

My advice is this: don’t wait too long and suffer before calling in a dog behavioral therapist. We were in way over our heads, and unfortunately most of our solutions were wrong. We could have saved a ton of headaches and stress if we had called in a dog trainer right from the start … it would have made the adjustment easier for everyone.

Now if only I could get my children to respond to my vocal commands as well as my dogs!

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Want To Know Your Dog’s DNA?

Posted on May 28, 2013 by | Leave a comment

Many times dog owners rescue dogs from animal shelters or rescue organizations, and they have no idea what breed the dog is. You may think your dog is part lab, part golden retriever, but you don’t really know. Or you may even wonder if your dog is a purebred or why he doesn’t like to swim.

The guessing game is over. Now there is a 3-in-1 do-it-yourself DNA test on the market which can identify your dog’s breed.

The Wisdom Panel® 2.0 from Mars Veterinary™ is highly accurate in identifying over 200 breeds of dogs and 100% accurate in identifying American Kennel Club registered breeds.  All you have to do is swab your dog’s cheek, and you’ll have an explanation for why your dog looks the way he does or displays certain behaviors.

If you think your dog is purebred, you can identify if the dog’s ancestry consists of a single breed over three generations. If you are interested in the background of your designer dog, this dog DNA test will show you whether the dog’s profile matches a first generation cross between two purebred dogs from different breeds, which by definition is a true designer dog.

Knowing your dog’s background can be helpful in explaining certain behaviors (herding) or if he is prone to certain diseases.  Just like people who want to trace their roots, this dog DNA test can tell you the origins of your beloved pet!

How The Dog DNA Test Works
This dog DNA test costs $79.99 and can be purchased at www.wisdompanel.com. You will receive   ”do-it-yourself” cheek swabs, allowing you to administer the test at home and mail back the sample in a pre-paid package. Within three weeks of receipt of the swab sample, dog owners will be emailed an official Ancestry Report revealing their dog’s genetic background.

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What To Do If Your Dog has Allergies

Posted on May 22, 2013 by | Leave a comment

Two of the most common sources of allergies are fleas and food. Fleas can be controlled with a flea control program, and food allergies involve trial and error in changing dog foods. The hardest allergies to combat are the environmental ones. It is best to talk with your vet before starting any program so the dog’s allergies can be pinpointed. Here are some suggestions to help your dog if he is experiencing allergies.

  1. Make sure to wash his dog bed at least once/week, and vacuum floors, carpeting and anything else that gathers dust.
  2. Certain dogs may need to be bathed weekly to remove the allergens from your dog’s skin and relieve any itching. Discuss with your vet the best shampoos for your dog, because frequent bathing can dry our your dog’s skin.
  3. There are several flea-prevention products that can be applied monthly to your dog’s skin.
  4. Certain antihistamines such as Benadryl with omega fatty acid supplementation can be helpful. This medication counters the release of histamines, which are responsible for the itching and irritated skin. Just like with humans,  you may have to try different  antihistamines to find the one that works best for your dog because different dogs respond differently to different medications.
  5. In extreme cases, cortisteroids may be prescribed by your vet on a short term basis to break the itch-scratch cycle. These are not recommended on a long-term basis because of the side effects.

Although most dogs love to be outside, you may have to keep the dog indoors when airborne pollen is high, which is usually during early morning and evening hours.

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Posted in Dog Care Tips

Does Your Dog Have Allergies?

Posted on May 15, 2013 by | Leave a comment

Achoo! This is a sound heard around our household as Spring and Summer sets in and everything begins to bloom. Think about how miserable you are – your eyes running, your nose dripping and a general feeling of sluggishness. Just like their dog owners, dogs can have allergies too!

Dog allergies are known as canine atopy and although there is no cure, dog allergies can be managed. An allergen may be inhaled or the dog may absorb it through direct contact with his skin. Many dog allergies occur between 1 – 3 years and can be seasonal, while other dogs will experience allergies year round.

According to the ASPCA, here are some symptoms to look for and potential causes of allergies.

Symptoms of Dog Allergies

  • Itchy, red, moist or scabbed skin
  • Increased scratching
  • Itchy, runny eyes
  • Itchy back or base of tail (most commonly flea allergy)
  • Itchy ears and ear infections
  • Sneezing
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Snoring caused by an inflamed throat
  • Paw chewing/swollen paws
  • Constant licking

What Can Dogs Be Allergic To

  • Tree, grass and weed pollens
  • Fleas
  • Food
  • Mold spores
  • Dust and house dust mites
  • Dander
  • Feathers
  • Cigarette smoke
  • Prescription drugs
  • Fleas and flea-control products (The bite of a single flea can trigger intense itchiness for two to three weeks!)
  • Perfumes
  • Cleaning products
  • Fabrics
  • Insecticidal shampoo
  • Rubber and plastic materials

 

 

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