It’s summer! Keep your pet safe and happy when you hit the road

By Boyd Harrell, DVM

For many of us summer is travel season; a time when the entire family finally has some precious time together for rest, relaxation and recreation. Of course, if you are a pet owner and lover like me, your pet is likely to be traveling with you. So don’t let poor planning for your pet’s travel turn your vacation into a disaster. Here are some pet travel basics to follow and pitfalls to avoid:

Top 5 Pet Travel Concerns

Use versatile Pet Deodorizer wherever it's needed in your pet's environment to neutralize odors. Non-toxic and safe enough to use directly on your pet!

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- Buy your puppies only from a reputable breeder where you can see the puppies and their parents in their home environment before you even consider buying. Or go to an animal shelter and rescue a puppy or dog that desperately needs a good home.

- Never, never, never buy puppies from pet shops – it perpetuates the whole puppy mill industry and keeps it going. You contribute to the cruelty by buying a dog from a pet shop.

What the dogs and puppies would say to you if they could speak:

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I've had several requests from readers for an article on this topic.  Personally, I must admit to finding the topic a very emotional one to even contemplate, so I was pleased to get someone else to write this one for me. … 

So here is a step by step guide to assist you if you are considering the ultimate decision for your pet.

If you and your family have found yourselves in the difficult position of wondering whether or not to euthanize your pet, follow these steps:

Step 1: If you suspect that your animal’s life is nearing its end, make an appointment with your veterinarian to get a professional opinion on the prognosis of your pet. The veterinarian will be able to talk with you about pain management options and ways you can make your pet more comfortable, but ultimately the decision to euthanize will be in your hands.

Step 2: If your pet is ill, consider the factors that will contribute to his care and attention. Do you have the time, resources and finances to care for your ailing pet? If you’re unable to spend quality time with your pet through his illness, or if you are unable to afford the medications required to keep him comfortable, you will need to keep those considerations in mind.

Step 3: If your pet is in pain, you need to consider how comfortable you can make your pet during the time he or she has left. If the vet is unable to provide pain management, or if your pet is nonresponsive to the pain management, you may need to consider euthanasia sooner than later.

Step 4: If your dog is not in pain but you fear he is no longer getting enough enjoyment out of his life due to his age or other health factors, begin journaling his activities. Make a commitment to journal his activities for a week, making note of his appetite, sleeping habits and exercise or activity level.

Step 5: Before you analyze the journal, determine with other family members what criteria you need to see in order to determine if it’s time to euthanize. For instance, if your pet slept for 20 or more hours a day, would you consider that sufficient evidence that he is not experiencing a high quality of life? Or, if he is excited to greet you at the door but remains inactive throughout the rest of the day, is that enough activity to warrant that he is enjoying his life? Only you and your family members can create and answer questions such as these.

Step 6: Gather decision making family members to analyze the journal and come to a consensus as to whether or not it’s time to euthanize your pet. Allow the opportunity for all involved family members to share their thoughts and feelings, however try to keep emotions out of the final decision and instead focus on what is best for your beloved pet.

Step 7: If you make the decision to euthanize your pet, decide whether he or she will be cremated or buried. Begin collecting special memories of your pet, perhaps a paw print or a few final photos.

Above all else, spend as much time with your best friend as possible, making him as comfortable as possible until the time comes to mourn his life. Also, although you will be heartbroken, don’t forget to spend time celebrating the life of your beloved pet and the special memories you’ve shared together.

This article was written by the authors at pet super store an online pet shop that carries dog beds, patio pet doors, and dog houses.

And remember, if your dog could write a Will, this is probably what your dog would bequeath to you.

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People love to closely interact with their pets — to snuggle, hug and kiss them. When they have bad breath, snuggles, hugs and kisses don’t happen as often. Fresh breath can help improve the human-pet bond, making pets and people happier.  Find out how to keep your dog's breath fresh all the time!
 

A Healthy Mouth Feels Good to Your Dog

Dog dental disease can cause severe inflammation of the gums and socket of the tooth. Inflammation also means the pet is in pain — even if they don’t show obvious signs of discomfort. 
 

Pets with Healthy Mouths Live Longer – Yes, They Really Do!

Pets free of dental disease may live three to five years longer. The stress placed on the immune system and the bacteria that escapes the mouth and makes it's way into the bloodstream can cause major organs like the lungs, heart, kidneys and liver to age prematurely, thereby shortening their potential life expectancy. Find out how to lengthen your dog's life by keeping your dog's teeth healthy!
 

Pet Owners are Looking for a Convenient Solution for their Dog's Teeth

Brushing is the gold standard for keeping the teeth free of tartar, the mouth healthy and the breath fresh. Apparently fewer than one out of 20 pet owners are willing or able to brush their pet’s teeth on a regular basis, and many therefore end up having their veterinarian clean their dog's teeth under anaesthetic, which is both costly and risky! That means 19 out of 20 pet owners are looking for a more convenient way to control dental disease and doggie breath. Dog oral care is it!

You can prevent doggie breath by feeding a healthy diet, brushing your dog's teeth, or by easily adding a solution to your dog's drinking water. – Click here for more info.
 

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Perhaps fireworks cause terror in your dog? Some dogs are not bothered by unusual noises at all, while others can shiver and shake and cower in corners, and generally behave like real sooks. And the sad thing is that we can't explain to the dog that there's nothing to be afraid of.

But I suppose it's like phobias with people. I confess – I'm terrified of spiders. I know they can't hurt me (the non-poisonous ones, anyway), and I know they're a fraction of my size so I could beat them in any fight! But nevertheless, I become a blithering idiot if I even see a spider anywhere near me. It's a totally irrational fear.

The same with dogs who are afraid of loud noises, I suppose.

My Rottweiler, Kara, is one of those dogs afflicted by an irrational fear of thunder, fireworks, and any sudden, loud noise.

It's a bit embarrassing, really – you'd expect a Rottweiler to be fearless. But mine's a pussy when it comes to this sort of thing!

One New Year's Eve when I was away, Kara dug her way under the house and escaped (due to being terrified of the fireworks which were going off).

My neighbors had to pick her up from the pound the following morning. Apparently the dog catchers are out in force on New Year's Eve because they round up many dogs and impound them! A nice little revenue booster for the local authorities. From memory it cost about $100 to get her back.

So what causes a dog to jump a 6 foot fence or burrow their way out under the house when you thought it was impenetrable?  It's anxiety. Dog anxiety.

And there are things you can do for it.

I've found that peppermint oil applied to the pads of her paws has some calming effect.

And a natural stress remedy also works very nicely.

Anxiety in dogs can be caused by any number of things – illness, travel, thunderstorms, death in the family, separation, or they may develop unexplained phobic or neurotic behaviour, or barking or other antisocial behaviour.

If you can identify the cause of the anxiety, then the best solution to the problem is to remove the cause.

This is not always possible, though. If your dog is experiencing separation anxiety every time you leave the house, and you work full time outside the home, you've got a problem! I suppose you could give up work and stay home with your dog, but sometimes we need to be a little realistic!

For this particular problem there are a number of things you can do to alleviate your dog's anxiety when you leave – many people have found that playing soothing music while they're out works wonders.

Mozart? – that certainly used to calm my hyperactive son down a little, so Mozart would be my personal first choice, but there are many soothing classical and new age, or even some light rock or jazz music might work – try out whatever you have in your CD collection for starters.

Another wonderful idea I read about recently is making a tape recording of your own voice and playing that on a continuous play while you're gone.

And there are certain homeopathic and herbal remedies which really do calm your dog. So those may well assist with your dog's separation anxiety.

Some years ago, before I became interested in natural remedies for dogs – actually it was following the fireworks incident I mentioned earlier – Kara became quite determined to continue escaping, for some reason.

I suppose once she realized she could get out, she just kept on trying. It became a behavioral issue – a compulsion, even.

Ever heard of a dog with obsessive compulsive disorder? (Just kidding, but it really was becoming a serious problem). She was even destroying part of my house in her determination to try to get through the thick wooden boards I had put up to prevent further escapes.

So I took her to the vet, as I was at a complete loss to know what to do with her. She was prescribed an anti-anxiety medication. This made Kara quite dopey, and seemed to take some of her personality away somehow. In other words, I suppose she appeared drugged. I didn't like it at all.

Now I know that there are much more pleasant, all natural anxiety treatments for dogs, which have no nasty side effects. And they really do work just as well as the drugs.

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Ideally, dog teeth cleaning should be a routine part of your pet's regular care and their teeth should be brushed on a daily basis, or at least every other day or so. Because dog teeth are just as susceptible to disease and decay as are human teeth, it's extremely important keep tartar and plaque at bay to protect your dog's precious health.

Dental Disease and Your Dog's Health

Diseases of the mouth, teeth, and gums can be very painful for your pooch and because they aren't able to tell us when they have a toothache, as pet owners we must be diligent in keeping up with our dog's dental care. If left untreated, a tooth infection may develop into serious complication for your dog and affect vital organs such as their heart, liver, or kidneys.

Your dog's diet definitely has a direct effect on your dog's dental health. Choosing foods and treats that are fortified and designed to keep their teeth and gums healthy are an easy way to implement dental hygiene into your dog's life. Although professional cleaning by a veterinarian is an option, this should only be considered in extreme cases as unnecessarily having your dog anesthetized is not only expensive, but it also puts undue stress on your pet.

Cleaning Your Dog's Teeth

Even if your dog is no longer a puppy you can train them to accept having their teeth brushed with some patience and perseverance. Both dogs and puppies alike can be acclimated to having the toothbrush in their mouths simply by starting out using your finger and a dab of peanut butter.

As your pet licks your finger and the peanut butter, begin rubbing the teeth and gums while offering plenty of praise. After a day or so of this, or as soon as your dog begins accepting this new process, use a piece of gauze wrapped around your finger and do the same thing as above. Rub the gauze around the teeth and gums using a circular motion as you would with the toothbrush. Once they are used to this, it's time to introduce them to the real thing.

Never use toothpaste intended for humans on your dog as ingredients such as baking soda will upset their stomach. Also, dog toothpaste is specially formulated for their teeth and will have an appealing smell and taste to help make the process a bit easier. Start out by letting your dog lick a dollop of toothpaste off of the brush first, then use more to finally start brushing.

Lift the sides of your dog's gums so you can access their upper teeth, aptly called the canines, and hold the toothbrush at a 45 degree angle for the best results. This allows you to clean the gum line as well as the teeth to keep the gums equally as healthy. Brushing two to three teeth at a time, brush in a circular motion anywhere from eight to ten times or so in order to get each area clean. A dog's upper back teeth tend to be the most susceptible to decay and periodontal disease, so if anything, focus your efforts there first.

Dog teeth cleaning should always be a happy, positive event. However, you will want to remain upbeat, but also low-key to keep your dog on the same wavelength and from becoming overly excited. Usually no more than one minute or so is long enough before your dog loses interest, but after practicing for a bit, you'll find that that's all it takes to keep your dog's teeth clean, keeping them happy and healthy.

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Step 1: It might sound odd, but the best way to start a bath is with a walk. Seriously. A walk will tire your dog out and make him feel grateful to you before you lather him up. 

Step 2: Brush out all the tangles that can be found on his body. There’s only one thing worse than dry tangles and that’s wet tangles. This might also be a good time to trim your dog’s nails as that is an essential part of dog grooming.

Step 3: Choose your location. Some people choose to bathe their dog outside because of the concern of the mess, but ideally a contained location such as an indoor tub is preferable. Also, water outside is typically cold and that can be very uncomfortable for your pet. 

Step 4: Gather your supplies. You will need a dog shampoo (we know from experience that human shampoo isn’t a good idea…), a pitcher or cup for pouring water and several soft towels.

Step 5: Get the running water to a lukewarm temperature before you place the dog in the tub. Once the dog is in the tub, pour pitchers of water over him until his entire body, with the exception of his head, is wet. Massage him while you do this so it feels good and he feels calm. 

Step 6: Put a small amount of shampoo at his neck and begin massaging, moving towards the tail. Lather his entire body with the shampoo, taking care to get his underbelly and underarms and legs. Afterwards, use the pitcher to pour water over his body, rinsing him clean of the shampoo. If you don’t thoroughly rinse the shampoo out of his hair, you will have one itchy dog!

Step 7: Step back. This is the time when your dog will shake all over and get you soaking wet. Hopefully, you’ll have put on old clothes for this task.

Step 8: Use the soft towels to dry him off. If possible, coax him to lay on another dry towel over the next hour or so. 

An important thing to remember after you’ve bathed your dog is try not to let him outside for two reasons: the air may cause him to catch a chill and he will definitely try to roll in the dirt, undoing all of your hard work.

This article was provided by pet-super-store which is an online pet shop featuring patio pet doors and large dog beds. 

 And for more on caring for your dog's skin and coat – click here!

Love your clean dog!

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Before you look for a home remedy for puppy parvo, it is important to know what this condition is.  Parvo is a viral disease the affects dogs, generally puppies more so than adult dogs, but adult dogs are certainly not immune. The virus is attracted to areas of the body where there is rapid cell growth, such as the lining of the intestine. Here, the virus will attack and kill those cells. This can cause symptoms such as bloody diarrhea, depression and a drop in the white blood cells of the animal. Additionally, parvo can infect the muscles of the heart. When this occurs, it can lead to sudden death.

Prior to trying any treatment, you should know the symptoms of the condition. Because the virus attacks the lining of the digestive symptom, many puppies are unable to take in the nutrients and fluids they require, causing them to be undernourished. Other symptoms include lethargy, loss of appetite, and a high fever. In some situations, the puppies that go without treatment can face dehydration, which leads to shock and probable death.

There are prevention and treatment options. The most common parvo prevention is parvo vaccinations, which are commonplace all over the world. These vaccinations allow the body to receive a very small, weakened dose of the virus that allows the body to develop antibodies for it.  Yet, for many people, giving their pets these vaccinations is not acceptable or possible. 

In these situations, finding a home remedy for puppy parvo is important. One of the best solutions for preventing parvo, and indeed for treating parvo in puppies without a vaccination is to use Parvaid and Colloidal Silver, called CS. This type of prevention or treatment is an option for many people who prefer not to vaccinate their dogs.  With the use of this type of natural parvo prevention or treatment, you can see a good increase in the puppy's ability to eat and to stop vomiting. The Parvaid products work well, either as a preventative, or when given to infected puppies quickly and with constant treatment.

If your puppy has not been vaccinated for parvo, your pet is at risk for catching this virus. It does not have to spread just from one dog to the next. In fact, if another animal comes in contact with the virus, they can take it into their homes and infect dogs this way. This highly contagious condition is not one to look at lightly.

The best, and most responsible, thing to do is to have your puppy vaccinated for parvo OR use natural "home" remedies for puppy parvo prevention. 

If you don't take one of these options, or if the vaccination fails to provide adequate coverage (as it does – more often than people realize), your puppy may well contract this deadly disease.

If this happens, getting puppies urgent treatment for parvo is important. Home remedies for puppy parvo like Parvaid do work, but you still need to seek out medical attention for the pet whenever possible. If you plan to leave the pet at home alone while ill, he or she could die from dehydration (these pets will stop drinking water on their own). In some situations, the only way to get the treatments to work is through the use of IV fluids, which may need to be administered by a vet.

While the cost of vaccinating your puppy may be high, the risk of death from parvovirus is incredibly high. Take note of any symptoms in your puppy and get them help as quickly as possible.  Parvo treatment options for use at home are limited, but there is help in treating parvo is undertaken quickly enough.
 

Click Here!

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Fleas can carry disease and other parasites, including tapeworm.  And fleas are extremely irritating for your dog. They often cause intense itching, which in turn can cause your dog to damage his/her skin by vigorous scratching.

Some dogs are allergic to flea bites. If this is the case with your dog, then even after the fleas have been doused with flea poison and killed, the cycle of itch, scratch, itch, scratch, can remain for quite some time, due to the inflammation from the allergy to the flea bites.

My Rottweiler has been terribly affected two or three times now by this self-perpetuating cycle caused by her allergy to flea bites. Most of the skin damage has been caused by Kara incessantly scratching and injuring herself.  When this has happened, it's been necessary to treat the flea bites as well as get rid of the fleas.

Now I make sure I keep fleas away with natural flea prevention measures, so as to avoid the fleas in the first place wherever possible.A dog with an infestation of fleas is neither not a happy dog. And s/he's not a healthy dog, either.

So at the first sign of a flea, it's important to treat your dog for this very common problem. And those pesky fleas don't always readily show themselves. So if your dog is scratching more than usual, the first thing to do is an extremely thorough search through your dog's coat.  (Note that fleas can often be very difficult to see – it's essential that you do look very thoroughly).

If you can see even one flea, treat your dog immediately. Some people treat routinely just because it's flea season, and still others actually treat throughout the year. And of course, it goes without saying that if you have more than one animal, you must treat them all at the same time.

If you're using one of the chemical flea treatments, you might be reluctant to treat your dog for fleas all year (I certainly would be).  But if you use a natural flea prevention and natural flea treatment regime, you don't need to worry about any adverse consequences the chemicals may have.

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In order to provide at-home care for your pooch, your pet should be comfortable with you handling his paws. That way if some sort of injury comes up, you will be able to help him out. Some pets love for you to touch their feet, while others hate it. Start with the handling at home. Take your pet to a quiet area and just give him a mini foot massage. Be gentle, and pet his feet just like you would his head. Try to work your way up to where you are able to touch his feet anytime you are petting him. He’ll soon get comfortable with the feel, so you will be able to examine his feet if you suspect a problem.

Accidents are out of your hands, but there are ways you can prevent unnecessary injuries. A pet can suffer greatly from long or broken nails. You must keep your pet’s nails clipped. If you go to a groomer regularly, then the groomer probably provides this service for you. If you take care of grooming at home, then you should be able to recognize when your dog’s nails need clipping and how to clip them. In addition to clipping his nails, the hair around and between the pads of his paws should also be clipped. Both the nails and the hair should be groomed at least once a month.

If your pooch is limping, holding one foot off the floor, refusing to walk, or is obviously in pain, then you need to check his paws immediately. Your pet is always barefoot, so paw injuries are not uncommon. Be gentle when you check the problem; your pet is in pain and he may snap or bite at you as a way to protect himself. This is where the foot handling that you have been working on comes in handy.

If you have had your pooch in the great outdoors, then he could be suffering from an object that is lodged in his toes. Thorns, spurs, small rocks and gravel can all be culprits. Grab a pair of tweezers and gently remove the item. Once removed, cut back the hair on your pet’s paw pad to keep mats and tangles at bay. If the item cut his paw, then wash his paw with soap and water.
In the summer, your pet can suffer from burning and blistering caused by hot surfaces. A burned paw may appear raw, while a blistered pay may have a loose flap of skin (just like when a human gets a blister). Don’t remove the blister, because it will come off naturally. Plus, the skin beneath the blister is still raw. Instead, wash the paw and wrap a clean bandage around it. Change the bandage each day for a couple of days until the blister heals. Dry, cracked pads can also be painful for your pup. If his pads seem excessively dry or are cracking, then buy a tube of paw cream from the pet store. It will help soften the pads of his feet.

As tough as it seems to be, the paw pad can also be cut. If the cut is deep or bleeding profusely, then you need to see the veterinarian immediately. If the cut is small, then clean out the wound with soap and water. Wrap the paw with a bandage, and change the bandage everyday or every two days. You may need to use a special collar during this time to keep your pet from pulling off the bandage. If the wound is not showing any signs of healing within three days, then take your pooch to the veterinarian.

Your pooch depends on his paws and paw pads, so you should take care of them. Being outside can pose many hazards for your pet’s feet, so you need to be able to prevent unnecessary injury and provide care in case of an accident. Blisters and lodged objects between the toes can be treated at home. Deep cuts or non-healing wounds should be treated by the veterinarian. Use your best judgment when caring for your pet.

This article was provided by pet-super-store.com an online pet shop featuring the latest in designer Pet Carriers and Dog crates.

And for more on dog crates, click here.

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