Author: Callie

The last part in our safety series are two things BBS never hopes you have to do, but once again, we want all of you to be ready for any potential doggie emergency. CPR, or Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, and the Heimlich maneuver are two live saving techniques that could potentially save your dog.  

We could have easily written a very lengthy article about how to complete both of these procedures, but we decided to show off the great potential of the internet and show two instructional videos. These videos are very informative and concise and you’ll have a good understanding of how these should be done by the end of each. 

CPR 

Heimlich Maneuver 

We hope this series has in the least prodded you to begin thinking about first aid for your beloved furry family member, and at most, truly prepared you for any potential emergencies. 

Best Bully Sticks Breed Spotlight finishes off our new AKC breeds this week with the Finnish Lapphund. This dog has a very interesting ancestry and unique features, which makes it clear why it is one of the newest breeds recognized by the AKC. Read to find out more!

History & Background: The Finnish Lapphund is historically known as the helper dog of the Sami tribe, a semi-nomadic tribe in what used to be Lapland (now the northern region of Finland, Sweden and part of Russia).  After the Sami people settled down, they kept reindeer herds which the Lapphund helped herd and maintain. With the invention of the snowmobile, the popularity of this dog lessened. However, in Finland and Scandinavia, they are still extremely popular pets.

Height: 18-21 inches (male), 16-19  inches (female)

Weight: 33-53 pounds (depending on size)

Coat: The Finnish Lapphund has a very thick double coat.  The outer layer is straight, long and water-repellent. The Lapphund's under coat is soft, dense and fluffy. Males have a very thick mane of fur around the neck. This very thick and abundant coat makes this dog resistant to extreme cold.  Because of this, the Lapphund is only one of two dogs legally allowed to be kenneled outdoors during winter in Finland.

Color: This breed has many different color variations, but there is usually one predominant color. Black, white, brown red, sable and wolf-sable are often seen.  One of the most common combinations is black and tan (mostly black with tan legs and face.) Facial markings are often seen on Lapphunds, one of the most unusual being "spectacles."  These are a light rings that appear around this dog's eyes and gives the impression of wearing spectacles. Read more

Best Bully Sticks knows these homemade biscuits are sure to make an impression.  Packed full of chicken flavor, these adorable treats are great for everyday pup snacks or a puppy play date. We think you’ll have as much fun making them as your dog loves eating them!

Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for surface

1/2 cup wheat germ

1/2 cup brewer's yeast

2 teaspoons salt

3 tablespoons canola oil

1 1/2 cups homemade or store-bought low-sodium chicken stock

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment.

2. Combine flour, wheat germ, brewer's yeast, and salt in a large bowl. Pour canola oil in a large bowl. Add flour mixture to oil in 3 increments, alternating with 1 cup stock; mix until combined.

3. Knead dough on a lightly floured surface for 2 minutes (dough will be sticky). Roll out dough to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut out rounds using a 2-inch fluted cutter (bakedeco.com). Transfer to baking sheets.

4. Make an indentation toward the bottom of 1 circle using your thumb, then press dough to make an arch of 4 small circles on top of the thumbprint using the tip of your pinky. Repeat with remaining rounds. Freeze for 15 minutes.

5. Bake for 20 minutes, rotating sheets and lightly brushing with remaining 1/2 cup chicken stock halfway through. Turn oven off, and let stand in oven for 40 minutes.

Makes about 2 dozen

Recipe Tip:

Dog treats can be stored at room temperature for up to 1 month.

(courtesy of Martha Stewart)

A few weeks ago, Best Bully Sticks ran a Free Bully Sticks for a Year contest in which we asked people to send in videos of their dogs chewing on a BBS product.  We had a lot of great videos flooding in yet one in particular was receiving a lot of attention. The video was simply called “Bruno loves his Best Bully Sticks.”  Bruno was immediately getting a lot of votes, so after a little research, we learned Bruno had quite an amazing story and his foster family and other volunteers from Castaway Pet Rescue were truly looking out for this special pup.

“Bruno was found in an alley in Chicago with no use of his back legs at 4 weeks old!!!

Someone brought him into CACC and he was to be put to sleep. However Castaway Pet Rescue saw this little man fell in love with his on site and knew they had to save him!"

Here is a video recapping the rest of Bruno’s story.

Karen Erbach is Bruno’s foster mom and because is a professional videographer, she saw our Free Bully Sticks for a Year contest and immediately set to work. Read more

This week in our 101 Dog Tips Dog Safety series, Best Bully Sticks focuses on treating bites on your dog and any reaction they might have. Dogs are naturally curious creatures, so bites may be unavoidable. Bites and stings come from other insects and animals such as flies, spiders, ticks and snakes. Most of these critters can find a way into your house as well, and as unpleasant as that thought is, if you’re dog is bitten you’ll want to know what actions to take to treat your pup.

Insect Bites

Insect bites can range from flies, to spiders, to ticks.

Flies don’t cause much of a problem, but can leave you dog with red sores or scabs. Most commonly, dogs who live near farms or livestock have more of a problem with deer flies or horse flies, which are more painful.  Flies also tend to bite on dog’s ears. To treat a dog with small fly bites, usually a bit of antibiotic cream will help. If the dog’s ears have been bitten, use warm water and antiseptic soap to clean the bites and then use antibiotic ointment afterward to treat the wounds.  Prevention of these bites can include applying a topical insecticide to the dog’s ears, spraying the dog’s outside living quarters with a non-toxic bug repellant and keeping food waste and garbage cleaned up as not to attract bugs.

Spider bites are more severe and usually the culprits are black widow and brown recluse spiders.  Both of these spiders are venomous, but the severity of these bites depends on the location of the bite as well as the species and its size.  Here are signs to identify which type of spider bite and the symptoms.

A black widow spider bite causes immediate tenderness to the location of the bite and numbness and abdominal swelling and sensitivity. Seizures are possible as well as respiratory problems. If you notice any of these and you see a bite, it’s best to call ahead to your vet and then go there as well. Read more