06.30.08
Assessing Dog Facilities
There are a lot of things a dog owner needs to understand before dropping their dog off to a doggie daycare, kennel, or any other type of facility. There have been incidents where the professional at the facility have been bitten or a dog went missing, because the professionals at the facility weren’t aware that a dog knew how to climb / jump fences.
To prevent these type of mishaps from happening when you one day need to bring your dog to a facility, there are a few things that need to be taken into account:
- Tell the facility anything you feel is important for them to know such as: if they need to have their ears cleaned, know how to climb fences, etc.
- Examine the facility - It should be clean!
- Ask to meet with the entire staff and not just the person who handles the front desk, because these will be all of the professionals who will be helping to care for your dog
- Ask for references
- Depending on the state you reside, some facilities are guided by the Animal Control licensing. If this is applicable to your state, contact them to see if any claims were filed against the facility for misconduct or abuse.
06.21.08
Groomer Has It
Animal Planet has a new show called “Groomer Has It”. The show is hosted by Jai Rodriquez, who is famous from “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy”.
Groomer Has It is about 12 dog groomers who live together in the Dog House and compete against each other to become America’s Best Dog Groomer and win a prize of $50,000 and a mobile grooming salon.
Each week, there’s the “Quick Sniff Challenge”, which requires dog groomers to do a task that will lead to helping and improving their grooming career. The winner of each challenge is then safe in the elimination challenge and the groomer who underperformed is then eliminated.
The show airs every Saturday at 9PM E/P. To apply for Groomer Has It Season 2, click here for casting information.
06.16.08
Are More Dogs Becoming Beer Drinkers?
Another non-alcoholic doggie beer has entered the market 3 Busy Dogs’ Bowser Beer. The doggie beer is sold as a 6-pack of 12 oz. bottles and is not made of hops, carbonation or alcohol, which can be harmful to dogs. The product is however made of ingredients that are good for your dog’s joints such as: is made of human-grade ingredients including barley, beef extract and a bit of glucosamine.
It costs $19.95 per 6-pack. For more information, please visit www.3busydogs.com or call 703-850-9995.
06.08.08
Dogs Can Get Skin Cancer Too
Just like people, dogs are in danger of getting skin cancer when being exposed to the rays from the sun. Dogs are just as easily able to get sunburns as people. Most of the time, sunburns are identified on bare areas of dogs. When a dog has a sunburn, they undergo the same painful experience that people do. Repetitive or prolonged sun exposure can increase the risk on skin cancer for dogs.
According to Pet Product News International, certain breeds are at higher risk for developing skin cancer when having frequent sun exposure such as: Scottish terriers, bull mastiffs, Basset hounds, Weimaraners, Kerry blue terriers, Chinese cresteds, white poodles and Norwegian elkhounds. Factors that play a role in certain breeds being more prone than others are: skin color, coat type and hair pattern.
Dogs that have lighter or paler skin have less pigment to protect them from the sun’s rays. Also, dogs that have a thinner coat are more likely to be at risk, because the sun’s rays are able to still reach the dog’s skin. “Any bald patches or areas of scant hair show increase risks for cancerous tumors. The muzzle, ears and belly areas of a dog’s body are at higher risk.”
There are ways to protect your dog from the sun such as buying:
- UV protective clothing: T-shirts and body suits
- Custom-fitted sunglasses
- Leave-in conditioning sprays with SPF
- Pet-safe lotions for exposed bare patches
If your dog already has a sunburn, the Pet Product News International recommends that you should to the following to help soothe the pain:
- Get your pet out of the sun as soon as possible
- Hose down your dog with cool water or place a cool, damp compress on the affected area
- Mix two parts water to one part witch hazel and gently apply to the coat
- Baking soda in a cool bath helps take out the sting
- Aloe Vera spray gel on sensitive, exposed areas helps soothe irritation
06.05.08
Preparation Before Getting A Dog
So many people think it’s so easy to get a dog and do little reading on what type of breed is an appropriate match for their personality. This can lead to issues later on for a dog owner and therefore it’s important for people to do some reading before getting themselves a dog. A person will be able to avoid making a rash decision of getting a dog because it’s cute, but will be able to make an educated decision, because they already learned about the breed’s mannerism, how difficult or easy it will be to train a specific breed, and the responsibilities involved with caring for a breed.
Before getting a dog, here are a few tips to help you prepare along the way:
- Do research on the different type of breeds you’re interested in. When deciding on the breed, you should take into consideration how the dog will be able to interact with both you, the people living with you (if applicable), and your lifestyle.
- Understand the mannerisms for specific breeds. Do you want a dog that is very obedient? Or do you prefer a more dominant or aggressive dog?
- Think about the time you have available to train a dog. Certain dogs need you to dedicate more time in training them such as Springer Spaniels, while others require a shorter time for training such as Pugs.
- Reward your dog! When your dog does something good, make sure you provide it with lots of positive reinforcement and praise. Toys or regular food treats will also work just as well.
- Be consistent and patient. Though you may get frustrated with training your dog, don’t show any negativity. “Dogs can sense your negative energy and will shut themselves down. Give your dog time to process the information that you’re giving”.
- Consider help from professionals in the industry such as: boarders, daycares, groomers, sitters, trainers, walkers, etc. Check out our dog service directory to find dog services in your local neighborhood.
06.02.08
Power Bones Energy Treats For Dogs
There is a new doggie treat called Power Bones, which is designed to give your dog extra energy during activities. These treats do not contain any wheat, corn, or soy, which are ingredients that many dogs are allergic to. These bones also do not have any artificial coloring or preservatives added and therefore is all natural. It is however made with carrots for Vitamin A, ground flaxseed for Omega-3 Fatty Acids and whole grains for fiber, protein and minerals. There’s also apple and blueberries to help with digestion and provide anti-oxidants.
The product is manufactured in the U.S. and available in three flavors: beef, chicken and peanut butter. A five-ounce bag is $5.59 and is available at Zukes.com or local pet boutiques.
06.01.08
Longer Living Pets, Increase Expenses For Dog Owners
More and more people consider their pets a part of their family. As a result, the cost of health and medical costs associated with pets are rising. According to the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association (APPMA), pet owners spent $10.1 billion in veterinary care and $9.8 billion in pet supplies and OTC drugs within the last year. The American Veterinary Medical Association found that $24.5 billion was spent on veterinary medicine in 2006, which is more than double the spending 10 year ago.
Years ago, there weren’t these advances in technology available for pets and when a pet was suffering from a severe sickness, the only option was for them to be euthanized. However, in today’s day and age, there is technology that is available to help keep pets living longer – MRIs, Ultrasounds and CAT scans. There is also surgery that’s available such as heart surgery, liver transplants, laser surgery, and chemotherapy. There’s even acupuncture that’s also available to pets. Consequently, pet owners are confronted with a much greater expenditure to keep their pet healthy and living longer. Because of the advances in medical expertise and technology that’s available, pets are now living longer and pet owners are not only spending more on medical and health expenses, but also vitamins and food.
It’s great that there is all of this help that is available to keep pets living longer but all of this eventually becomes more of a moral dilemma for pet owners. If the pet needs surgery, for some pet owners who don’t have the money, it’s a tough choice for them to decide, should I spend the thousands of dollars to save my dog who I love? Or should I use it to pay for credit cards or other expenses so that I don’t fall behind?
For pet owners who don’t have the finances needed, there are nonprofit organizations such as animal rescues that may have low-cost options available.
