Dog Blog

Changes in routine and the strange sights and sounds associated with Halloween can cause stress in a normally placid family dog. Keep dogs out of the fray by securing them away from the door and providing a long-lasting chew treat. Teach kids to Be a Tree and stand still if any dogs come near them on Halloween.

Halloween is lots of fun for kids, but many dogs will be confused or upset by kids in strange costumes and by lots of people coming to the door, but never being invited in. Doggone Safe offers the following tips for dog owners, kids and parents:

Dog owners:
1. Secure your dog behind a closed door or in a crate in a room away from the front door or the party if children are meeting at your house.
2. Give him a juicy bone from the butcher, a sterilized bone or Kong stuffed with hotdog, Rollover or other soft dog treats or a pre-stuffed bone from the pet store.
3. Play music or leave a TV or radio playing in the dog’s room to help mask the sounds of the activity at the front door.
4. Close drapes so that the dog does not see people coming and going through the window.
5. If you have a dog that barks at the sound of the doorbell, disconnect it or watch for trick-or-treaters so that they do not have to ring or knock.
6. Puppies and dogs that like to chase can get overly excited by costumes with dangly bits or streaming material. Supervise very carefully if you have a dog that may try to play with your children’s costumes while they are wearing them. Teach kids to Be a Tree and stand still if the dog does start nipping at their costume since the more they move, the more exited the dog will get.
7. Keep your dogs (and cats) indoors around Halloween time. Pets have been stolen, injured or poisoned as part of Halloween pranks or other rituals.

Kids and Parents:
1. Avoid houses if you can hear a dog barking behind the door, you can see a dog behind a screen door or you see a dog tied up in the yard or barking behind a fence.
2. Never approach any dog, even if you know him. He may not recognize you in your costume.
3. If an owner opens the door and there is a dog there, just stay still and wait for the dog owner to put the dog away. You can tell them you do not want to come near the dog. Do not move toward the person and dog. Wait for them to come to you to give you your candy. Wait for them to close the door before you turn and leave.
4. If a dog escapes just stand still and Be a Tree (hands folded in front, watching your feet). He will just sniff you and then move on. Wait for the owner to come and get the dog before you turn away.
5. If you meet a loose dog, Be a Tree and wait until it goes away.
6. It is best to ignore other people’s dogs on Halloween if you meet them out walking. The dog may be worried about all the strange creatures that are out and about. Even if you know the dog, he may not recognize you in your costume.

Doggone Safe wishes everyone a safe and happy Halloween!

For general information please visit the Doggone Safe website at www.doggonesafe.com, call 1-877-350-3232 or email.

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Face it. Being proactive about our health is not just a choice, but a critical part of a healthy, happy life. And that goes for our pets too.

“Being proactive about your pet’s health will allow you to catch a disease process early and allow for a longer, better quality of life for your pet,” says Dr. John Robb, Veterinarian and Founder of Protect the Pets™ – a national network of veterinarian professionals and pet owners committed to making a positive change in animal care, promoting high quality care that values pets over profits.

Here is a look at important preventative care measures you should take to improve the health of your pet:

KNOW YOUR BREED
Understanding breed specific problems can give you the lead in taking preventative care of your pet. This means regular visits to the veterinarian for laboratory testing and diagnostic procedures that address a breed’s unique concerns. For example, pugs are more prone to dry eyes because of their anatomy. With regular testing for tear production, a pet owner can detect a decrease early on, and apply artificial tears to protect the cornea before there is damage.

HEALTHY BITES
“Regular dental care is very important,” urges Dr. Robb. “Up keeping your pets’ dental health prevents periodontal disease which can affect the whole animal and avoid unnecessary gum pain.” Dr. Robb says brushing is best and should be done regularly if your pet allows. Other primary choices are gels that can be applied by fingers or supplied applicators. If your pet does not cooperate, you can add supplements to your pet’s drinking water that will help kill bacteria in the mouth. These dental care products can be obtained through your veterinarian or online pet product retailers.

TESTING, TESTING:
Be sure to have baseline tests done on your pet for future diagnostic purposes. This allows your veterinarian to understand your pets’ unique health profile and better track trends and identify health problems, even if they appear healthy. These tests should be done in the early years of a pet’s life, and/or in the first visits with your veterinarian.

If your veterinarian does not conduct these test, be proactive and request them. “If your veterinarian is not practicing this measure, you may want to re-evaluate if they are providing the best care for your pet,” says Dr. Robb.

WEIGHTY ISSUES
“A fat cat is not a healthy cat, and that goes for dogs too,” says Dr. Robb. Obesity in animals can have major health consequences, so don’t be complacent about your pet’s weight,” he says. Dr. Robb has seen dogs rupture a ligament as a result of their being overweight, and cats suffer from liver failure. “The health concerns around obesity and the importance of a good diet are not stressed enough,” says Dr. Robb. Be sure to be proactive and work with your veterinarian to get your pet to a healthy weight.

THE GOLDEN CHILD
If you’re pet is a senior, preventative care is even more critical to the good health, comfort and happiness of your pet. Increase the number of visits to your veterinarian from one year to every six months to detect any problems early on. In addition to maintaining regular physical activity and a healthy diet, Dr. Robb says not to overlook the psychological needs of a senior pet. “As our pets get older they start to lose their sight and hearing, and with it, their sense of their environment,” he says. Be sure to give your senior pet more attention and engagement with people and other pets to help deter some of the psychological problems that can develop with age.

http://www.protectthepets.com/

1. Golden Retriever: The sun is shining, the day is young, we’ve got our whole lives ahead of us, and you’re inside worrying about a stupid burned out bulb?

2. Border Collie: Just one. And then I’ll replace any wiring that’s not up to code.

3. Dachshund: You know I can’t reach that stupid lamp!

4. Rottweiler: Make me.

5. Boxer: Who cares? I can still play with my squeaky toys in the dark.

6. Lab: Oh, me, me!!!!! Pleeeeeeeeeze let me change the light bulb! Can I? Can I? Huh? Huh? Huh? Can I? Pleeeeeeeeeze, please, please, please!

7. German Shepherd: I’ll change it as soon as I’ve led these people from the dark, check to make sure I haven’t missed any, and make just one more perimeter patrol to see that no one has tried to take advantage of the situation.

8. Jack Russell Terrier: I’ll just pop it in while I’m bouncing off the walls and furniture.

9. Old English Sheep Dog: Light bulb? I’m sorry, but I don’t see a light bulb!

10. Cocker Spaniel: Why change it? I can still pee on the carpet in the dark.

11. Chihuahua: Yo quiero Taco Bulb. Or “We don’t need no stinking light bulb.”

12. Greyhound: It isn’t moving. Who cares?

13. Australian Shepherd: First, I’ll put all the light bulbs in a little circle…

14. Poodle: I’ll just blow in the Border Collie’s ear and he’ll do it. By the time he finishes rewiring the house, my nails will be dry.